Review & Giveaway ~*~ A Lucky Second Chance by Nickie Seidler

Synopsis:
What do you do when life doesn't go as planned?

Nobody plans to be abused. Emma Dunn certainly didn't. When life with her fiance' takes a terrifying turn, she flees to her hometown of Chicago without looking back, and her brother Kevin takes her in. Life is slowly getting better for Emma, thanks in no small part to real-life Prince Charming, Nathan Weber. He sweeps her off her feet, almost literally, and dotes on her from day one.

But when the unexpected happens and their pasts catch up with them, can their fairy tale still have a happy ending?

Even the strongest can break. Love has the power to consume, but also has the power to break.

Add to Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17874189-a-lucky-second-chance

Purchase Links 

Amazon   |   Barnes and Noble   

Excerpt ~*~

“I'm sorry. I had to pinch you and make sure this moment was real.” I smiled up at him. “That was wonderful. I've felt the same way.” I was struck by another daze as his touch sent ripples of sensation down between my legs as he rubbed my back up and down. I ran my hand across his chest, feeling how tight his muscles were through his black dress shirt. “I don't know how to say this, because we don’t even know one another, but please, don't leave me.”

As if he completely understood me, he kissed me again, ever so gently on my lips.

“I won’t go, I want to get to know you, Emma.” He ran his fingers through my hair.

“You may not like what you get to know.” A tear fell down my cheek.

“Let me take that risk,” he whispered. Then tenderly, he kissed my forehead. “Come on, let’s go get some coffee. You like coffee, right?” He grinned.

“I love coffee. I need coffee.” I chuckled.

4 Star Review ~*~

What to say about A Lucky Second Chance.  I am seriously at a loss for words. There are so many elements in this story that would usually turn me off yet I was absolutely compelled to keep reading this story.  Nicki Seidler has made a fantastic splash with her debut novel and I hope to see a lot more from her in the future.

Emma has so many moments I just want to slap her, but I can still understand her after an abusive relationship, trust and intimacy of any level is difficult. Nate is just so perfect and sweet my teeth ached, yet I couldn't help but love him.

A Lucky Second Chance will take you on a wild ride of emotions with these characters who have been through so much and still have so much yet to get through.  Every time I thought the story was reaching a conclusion there was one more twist for Emma and Nate to overcome.  Nickie really kept me on the edge of my seat and quickly turning each page to see what these two would deal with next.  So even with all the elements I avoid in stories, A Lucky Second Chance is a winner.  I don't know how Nickie hooked me, but she did and I am really glad!

Praise from others ~*~

"A Lucky Second Chance is filled with love, suspense and plenty of twists. I loved Emma's integrity and Nate's ability to help her overcome her past." Author Sophie Monroe USA TODAY and Amazon Best Seller

"A Lucky Second Chance is an emotional ride and demonstrates the power of love. Emma captures your heart and you feel her pain. The descriptions Nickie Seidler includes truly paints a clear picture. Be ready to cry and smile because this book has it all." Author S. Moose

"A Lucky Second Chance is a journey of self discovery filled with mystery, suspense, and intense love. Emma and Nate are a power couple that help each other heal their pasts as they give us hope for the future." Author MJ Carnal

About the Author:

Born and raised in the Chicago-land area, Nickie Seidler is a up and coming young author. Her new-found dream of being a writer has led to the completion of her first book "A Lucky Second Chance". Nickie is married, and when not writing, enjoys cooking new recipes for them to try, water aerobics, car racing and spending quality time with family and friends. She is currently writing her second book to be released early 2014.

Author Links
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7073035.Nickie_Seidler
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author.Nickie.Seidler
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorNSeidler


Giveaway ~*~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received a complimentary copy of this book  in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Cover Reveal ~*~ Just Human by Kerry Heavens

Release Date: July 22, 2013

Title: Just Human
Author: Kerry Heavens
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Hosted By: Romance Addict Book Blog - http://www.romanceaddictbookblog.com/


Synopsis ~*~
Meet Liv and Danny…

Liv loves Danny. She knows she loves him more than he loves her, so she lets him go without a fight when his parents make him move back to America. She knows she will never love anyone like she loved him, but she has to move on.

Danny loves Liv. He knows he loves her more than she loves him, because she does nothing to get him to stay, so he goes quietly when his parents leave the UK. He knows he will never love anyone like he loved her, but he has to move on.

Twelve years on, they have made a good job of pretending, they may have almost forgotten. But when they get in touch via Facebook, it seems that it is all still there. They quickly find that they are intensely compatible in ways they hadn’t even begun to explore before they were forced apart.

Can they put aside their fears and give it a go? Or will deep rooted doubts and insecurities tear them apart?

Add to Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17928713-just-human


Author Bio ~*~

'I am what I am,' as the song goes. 'I don't want praise, I don't want pity. I bang my own drum, some think its a noise, I think its pretty. So what if I love each sparkle and each bangle. why not see things from a different angle? Your life is a shame 'til you can shout out, I am what I am."

So here goes...I'm Kerry, I live with my family outside London. I am married to the love of my life and we have two amazing, beautiful children and a nutball Boston terrier, called Betty.

I graduated from the Surrey Institute of Art and Design with a degree in Fashion. I realised straight away that the industry wasn't for me, so I've been creatively frustrated ever since. I have tried a bit of everything to satisfy my need for a creative outlet. Nothing keeps me happy for long. Until I discovered writing. Writing a book has always been a dream, but I had no clue where to start. Then one day, parking my car at the supermarket, Liv & Danny came to me like a thunderbolt. I don't know where they came from, but I raced home and started making them real. Now I have two books to publish and lots more ideas to work on.

I am extremely prone to crushes on boys in books...on trains, in the street, wherever. From my early infatuation with Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing and Tom Cruise in Cocktail, to my recent obessions with book-boyfriends like Christian Grey, Travis Maddox and Kellan Kyle, I have always been the same. For the time it takes me to read a book I have an intense love affair with the characters, sometimes they stay with me for a week, sometimes its for life. Sometimes I feel like I will need therapy to cope with the fact that they are not real and will never be mine! Even though I am devoted to my husband, I'll never change, not as long as brilliant, creative writers keep giving me deeply flawed, yet perfect men to love... I hope, I dream, that these are the types of characters I can one day create to be obsessed over.

Author Links
Website: http://www.kerryheavens.com
Email: kerryheavens@kerryheavens.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kerry-Heavens-Author/115418515310548?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kerryheavens
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/kerryheavens/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7092719.Kerry_Heavens

Review & Giveaway ~*~ Hidden Agenda by Laurie Larsen

Blurb ~*~

Can love survive when secrecy is the hidden agenda? A sizzling tale of a millionaire businessman and an ambitious, beautiful advertising executive, and the little girl at the center of a long-held secret that draws the two of them together, but could ultimately tear them apart.

Excerpt ~*~

They walked to the elevator and waited. They stepped on, the only passengers inside. She pointedly walked to the opposite corner from him for the ride.

He watched her for a second more, and then with a groan, he covered the short distance between them, leaned in close and captured her lips with an unexpected kiss. She gasped as his lips landed on hers. She absorbed the sensation of his warm, soft lips brushing over hers, his luscious tongue entering her mouth and the fireworks he released in her body. Short moments stretched into longer ones, and she closed her eyes to push away the realities of time and place, and just concentrate on the sensations.

She reached up and gripped his jacket lapels with both her hands, twisting her neck to allow him deeper penetration. Their tongues played an urgent but soulful game of wrestling, over and under and back again, until one of them, she wasn’t sure which, ended the kiss and pulled away. She backed up, panting, and brought her fingertips to her lips. She gazed up at his face and saw that he was undone as well. She wiped some lipstick from his lips with her thumb.

He smiled. “I know that was uncalled for.”

4 Star Review ~*~

Hidden Agenda is he perfect title for this story!  Everyone except sweet Caroline seems to have either an agenda or something hidden that they don't want to share!

Alyssa and Grant meet by chance, but he knows her and is determined to spend more time with her.  See Grant has a Hidden Agenda for running into Alyssa time and time again.  And it could cause Alyssa a lot of pain or a lot of happiness depending on how things play out.

Hidden Agenda is a really sweet story and I have to say little Caroline steals the show.  She is cute and funny and really made me laugh and smile.  Alyssa is a great character as well.  A single mother determined to raise her daughter the best way she can, even if that means making a few moves to further her career to make things better in the long run.  Grant is a gentleman that has an obsession.  There are times you have to wonder if he is dangerous or determined.  There are so many ways the story could go!

Pick this one up if you are looking for a sweet romance that has some laughter and high emotions.


Author Bio and Links ~*~

Project Manager by day in the fast-paced world of Information Technology, Laurie escapes her demanding day job to wrap herself in the joy of writing stories about everyday life, with just a touch of worst case scenario. Known for her sentimental and emotional love stories, Laurie became an award-winning author when her novel Preacher Man won the 2010 EPIC Award for Best Spiritual Romance. Laurie is a wife and mother of two sons and lives in Central Illinois.

Keep in touch with Laurie!

Website : http://www.authorlaurielarsen.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorlaurielarsen

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorLaurie

Random Moon Books: http://www.randommoonbooks.com/


Giveaway ~*~
Laurie will be awarding a $25 gift certificate to Amazon or Barnes & Noble or another eBook retailer (winner's choice) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/05/virtual-review-tour-hidden-agenda-by.html

I received a copy of this book from Goddess Fish in exchange for my honest opinion

Summer Book Crush ~*~ Sale

Hot sun, hot sand, cool drinks, dark tans. Ahhhh. But your summer won’t be complete until you land a new BOOK BOYFRIEND, right? Lucky for you, we’ve got you covered!  

  SUMMER BOOK CRUSH offers 50+ titles in many genres. This means 50+ chances to (fictitiously) fall in love. And the best part? Each of these gems is only 99¢, but for a limited time only. The SUMMER BOOK CRUSH event starts on June 26th and ends (yes, even the best things in life end at some point) on June 28th. So don't wait up! Mingle with our BOOK BOYFRIENDS and invite all your friends to participate too. There are plenty of BOOK BOYS to share!

  Find your summer’s fling between the pages of a book. And don't stop on one - after all we have many BOOK BOYFRIENDS for you to mingle with.

* HAPPY READING * HAPPY SUMMER *

 

Spotlight ~*~ Two Are Better Than One by Suzanne Rock

Book Description:
Quinn and Declan enjoy having sex together, but love sharing a woman more.

After months of searching, they’ve lost hope of ever finding a permanent third to complete them.

Then they meet shy, reclusive Hannah and everything changes. The sexual energy between them is incredible and the men soon realize that no other woman will do. They decide to confront her at the department’s summer kick-off party.

Will the straight-laced Hannah be open to a three-way relationship? They’ll have to do everything they can to convince her that two men are better than one.

Amazon    Barnes and Noble   All Romance Ebooks    Kobo    iTunes

Excerpt ~*~

“Did you find her?”

Hannah stopped walking as she recognized Declan’s voice.

“No. I looked everywhere.”

Quinn. Hannah knelt down behind the dune and angled herself until both men came into view. The setting sun cast a red-orange halo around them both, creating a beautiful, romantic picture.

“Damn Greg.” Quinn fisted his hands. “He’s such an ass.”

“I never liked him,” Declan agreed. “Now he’s scared off Hannah and I’m not sure if we’ll ever find her.”

Hannah stared at the men. They were looking for her?

“I’d love to punch his face in.” The normally jovial Quinn slammed his fist in his palm.

“Come now, you know violence isn’t the answer.” Declan sighed. “I just wish I knew if Hannah was all right.”

“You don’t believe that she had sex with Greg, do you?”

“I don’t think anyone believes him. He’s an ass, remember?”

Quinn shook his head. “I’m worried about her.”

“Me too.”

“If only we weren’t running late. We could have stopped it.”

Hannah stood and was about to reveal herself when she saw Declan reach out for Quinn. She hunched back down behind a sand dune and watched as Declan wrapped his arms around Quinn’s shoulders. The act was gentle and affectionate. Soothing. It seemed almost as if he was consoling a lover.

Desire sparked in her lower abdomen. She imagined herself between the two men, their hard, naked bodies pressed up against her like in one of her erotic novels. She had never participated in a three-way, but she guessed that with Declan and Quinn it would be so much more intimate than what she had read about, more intense. To be surrounded by all of that warm skin, to feel their hands and lips on her body, would be like a dream come true.

“Don’t worry, we’ll find her.” Declan hooked his finger under Quinn’s chin and raised his head to meet his gaze. Then he closed the distance between them and covered his lips.

They were…kissing? Hannah gasped and put her hand over her mouth. They were lovers? A hollowness formed in the pit of her stomach. She was such a fool to think that they’d be interested in her. Damn Becky for putting the thought in her head. Declan and Quinn were lovers—lovers! Tears once again stung her eyes and a sob escaped her throat.

Declan broke the kiss and pulled back from Quinn. “Did you hear that?”

Quinn stepped out of his lover’s embrace. “There’s someone here.”

Hannah stood and turned to go.

“Wait—don’t leave.” Quinn’s voice rose up from the dunes.

Hannah closed her eyes. Could this evening get any worse? She couldn’t run away now. She’d have to talk to them. Hannah decided she’d be curt and quick, then get out of there and go home as soon as possible.

Hannah had let Becky give her hope for something more than a life of seclusion, and now she was paying the price. Hannah was better off with her cat and her erotic novels.

It was best to get this over with as quickly as possible. Slowly she turned around.

Both men started moving toward her.

“Hannah,” Declan was faster than Quinn and reached her first. “My God, we were worried about you.”

“Were you?” Hannah looked from Declan to Quinn. “Just now you were kissing. You couldn’t have been that worried.” Hannah winced at the men’s stunned expressions and immediately regretted her words. She held up her hands between them. “I mean, it’s none of my business—”

“You saw that?” Quinn asked.

Declan took a step forward. “Did it disgust you?” He took another step. “Scare you?”

“A little.” She shook her head. “I mean it didn’t disgust me. I just didn’t know that you two…” She waved her hands in the air between them.

“We are lovers, yes.” Declan stopped and held his hands out at his sides. “Does that bother you?”

“No. Yes.” She sighed and dropped her hands. “I don’t know.”

“There’s more,” Quinn said.

“More?”

Declan glanced at Quinn, and then refocused his attention to her. “We like kissing each other, but we find it much more erotic to both be kissing another woman.”

“Much more erotic,” Quinn said as he stepped closer.

About the Author Suzanne Rock: 

A lifetime New Englander, Suzanne married her college sweetheart and has been with him for over twenty years.

Every summer she drags her husband and two daughters to Maine on a quest for the perfect lobster dinner. Every fall she can be found down in Foxboro, Massachusetts cheering on her favorite football team.

In between those trips, she’s a chauffer, a maid, a chef, an event planner, a hairdresser, a wardrobe stylist, a tutor and a sometimes masseuse.

To keep her sanity, she often drinks copious amounts of coffee and stares at the blank screen of her laptop, dreaming of great adventures. Sometimes she even writes them down for others to enjoy.

Suzanne loves hearing from her fans, and can be contacted through her website:

www.SuzanneRock.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Suzanne_Rock

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SuzanneRockAuthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/Suzanne_Rock

Romance on a Budget: http://www.suzannerock.wordpress.com

Review, Excerpt & Giveaway ~*~ Witch Weigh by Caroline Mickelson

Book Description:
Tessa Von Hellengaard is a real witch. Magical spells aside, she’s snarky and selfish, and the other witches in her silent spell coven are fed up with her. Their plan to reform Tessa involves taking away her magic, saddling her with one hundred extra pounds, and sending her to a weight loss spa.
For good measure they call in Liam Kennedy, a charming and sexy fairy godfather, to teach her some manners. Desperate to regain her magic and determined to shed the weight, Tessa soon realizes that protecting her heart from Liam will prove to be her greatest challenge.

Excerpt ~*~
     “Hey, lady, anyone ever tell you you’re a real witch?”
     “More times than you can imagine.” Contessa Von Hellengaard, Tessa to her few friends and many enemies alike, eyed the obstinate construction worker who blocked the path of her sleek black Mercedes.
     She wondered how this mere mortal would like being turned into a fluffy skunk. Her fingers itched to work their magic, but she kept them gripped on the steering wheel. She was already in enough trouble with the Upper Hallows Witch Council without casting what they would consider another unnecessary spell. If she was detained any longer she’d be late for her meeting with said council. Tessa knew they were already ticked off enough without her adding another infraction to their precious list.
     She leaned out the window. “Remove your overfed self from my way immediately. I need to use this road and I don’t have time for your ridiculous detour.”
     “Guess you should’ve used your broomstick then because there ain’t no way I’m letting your car get through here.” He crossed his beefy arms over his chest.
     He seemed altogether too amused with his juvenile humor for Tessa’s liking. Broomstick indeed. She revved the motor to let him know she meant business.
     He couldn’t say he hadn’t been warned.
     She pushed up her black lace sleeves and pointed to the orange and white barricade. “Last warning. Remove yourself and that thing from my way.”
     He laughed at her. Laughed. At her.
     She narrowed her eyes. This sorry excuse for a government employee was not going to make her late for her meeting. Removing him from her path, she decided, was a very necessary act indeed. She could make the council members understand. But only if she got there on time.
     With the tip of her red lacquered fingernail she traced a circle in her palm, silently reciting the spell that would get her what she wanted. A small, satisfied smile tugged at her lips as the man in front of her began to levitate. She stroked her index finger sideways to help direct his ascension. His shocked expression and angry torrent of curse words bothered her not at all. He continued to fuss and kick even after he was hooked on to the high crane by the back of his overalls. At over forty feet above the ground she could barely make out his foul words.
     Tessa flicked her finger across her palm with one last quick swipe and waited while the barricade went flying to the side of the road and crashed on a pile of rocks.
     She waved farewell to the construction worker as she slipped her Mercedes into drive. The fool would be wise to quit struggling or he’d soon have a painful wedgie.
     Silly mortal. He had no reason to panic. Someone would be along to get him down. Eventually.


3.5 Stars Review ~*~
Witch Weigh sounded so cute and funny that I was hooked by the blurb and really wanted to read this book.  It lived up to the cute and funny part with no problems. The concept was great, the writing style was fabulous, the characters were a hoot and I really liked them.

Witch Weigh fell short for me because it felt rushed and while the characters were funny, witty, and charming, there wasn't much depth to them.  While we learned about Liam and Tessa on a surface level and things that people feel Tessa needs to change about her.  There is a lot of glossing over her changes, especially on an emotional level.

Witch Weigh, is a book I recommend if you are looking for something light and funny.  It is a quick read (I finished it in about an hour).  It's a feel good story that will make you smile and probably chuckle out loud a few times.

And best of all, It's FREE until 6/28 . . . Pick it up and check it out for yourself!  

About the Author:
Caroline Mickelson loves her family and loves to write. She also loves a good adventure, among her favorites thus far were attending graduate school in a Scottish castle, riding a camel around the Pyramids in Giza, and taking a best-in-a-lifetime road trip to Graceland. Caroline lives in the American southwest with her husband and their four children, affectionately known as The Miracles.
www.carolinemickelson.com
https://www.goodreads.com/CarolineM67
twitter: authorCarolineM

Yes, there is a giveaway . . . 

You can click on this button right below here and pick up your copy for FREE

1000 Like Giveaway

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We are starting this a little early...

It will run thru Saturday 6/29 or 1000 likes whichever takes longer... (we are only 10 away)

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Review & Giveaway ~*~ Retribution by Winter Austin

     Called to the homicide of a Dallas criminal lawyer, Detective Remy LeBeau stares at a scene that drags him back into his past. To another murdered lawyer in New Orleans. A case that put Remy on a collision course with death.
     Cody Lewis struggles with the horrific memories of her kidnapping and the need to numb the pain. The battle she puts up causes her to avoid Remy and their undetermined relationship. But the flashbacks and nightmares are proving more potent than Cody thought and she’s having a harder time resisting the cravings for alcohol.
    As the case takes a turn in revealing a professional assassin is behind the death, Remy begins to make decisions that could cost him his job and Cody. Because the deeper he sinks, the closer the enemies of his past come to finding him.

“Relentless is an intensely suspenseful book that will have you turning the pages.” —The Romance Reviews

Romantic Suspense
Sensuality Level: Behind Closed Doors

3.5 Star Review ~*~
Retribution is the second book in the Degrees of Darkness Series.  It can be read and enjoyed without reading book one, but I highly, highly recommend reading book one, Relentless, since the characters are the same and there is a bit of history that is nice to have when reading book two.  (links are at the bottom of the page for both book)

Retribution started rather slow for me.  While it starts with action, there is a lot of backstory that is repeated from Relentless and at 30% in I was feeling a little restless myself.  There are many secrets between Cody & Remy that need to be resolved as they dance around their relationship.  And even more secrets that affect their work and other people around them.  With an assassin on the loose and trouble around every corner, Winter Austin takes readers on a wild ride with each flip of the page. 

If you like romantic suspense stories that are light on the sensuality level and heavy on the suspense as things get tangled and others untangled, then pick up Retribution and let Winter Austin take you on a ride like no other.  


Buy Links ~*~ 
Amazon : http://www.amazon.com/Retribution-Crimson-Romance-ebook/dp/B00D0AGZLU/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1369776096&sr=1-3&keywords=winter+austin
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/retribution/id654087721?mt=11
Add to Goodreads Shelf: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17861404-retribution


Author Info ~*~

     Winter Austin was once asked by her husband if he could meet some of the people who took residence in her head. She warned they weren’t all characters he wanted to meet, as killers walked among them. Needless to say, that conversation ended abruptly.
     A lifelong Mid-West gal, Winter swears she should have been born in the South, Texas or Louisiana preferably. But then she’d miss the snowy winters.
    Dividing her day between her four children and their various activities, a growing pet population, and her Beta-with-Alpha-tendencies Hero, Winter manages to find time to write chilling thrillers between loads of laundry.
      Don’t worry. You won’t find any of her mouthwatering culinary dishes poisoned. Unless you’re one of her fictional creations.


Author Links ~*~
http://www.winteraustin.com/
https://www.facebook.com/w.austin.degressofdarkness
https://twitter.com/WinterAustin_
http://pinterest.com/winteraustin/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6880807.Winter_Austin


Link to Follow the Tour: http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2013/05/now-booking-tasty-virtual-book-tour-for_11.html

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Massive Giveaways ~ Sponsored by Bewitching Book Tours

Ok Gang, The Rafflecopters are soooo Long with the prize lists that I am just putting links for this giveaway ~

 Click on either the picture for each giveaway or the Rafflecopter link. . . 

Remember, there are 4 Rafflecopter Giveaways

 ~*~ Enter them all

 Giveaway One ~ Kindle & Swag Packs~*~ 

~~Kindle and swag packs 1 Kindle HD -30 authors joined together to offer a spectacular grand prize A Kindle Fire HD 8.9” screen , Wifi ,16GB $269 value Open to US shipping, if outside US you can receive an equal value Amazon Gift Card
~~1 huge package of book swag from Bewitching Book Tours filled with fun goodies from Bewitching Book Tours, owner Roxanne Rhoads and numerous Bewitching authors including a Starbucks giftcard from Gina Conkle
~~ 4 packages of book swag from Bewitching Book Tours- filled with fun goodies from Bewitching authors
~~ 1 mixed swag pack of various book swag from Milly Taiden 
~~1 book swag from Constance Phillips
~~ $15 Amazon gift card from Sky Purington

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Giveaway Two ~ Print Books~*~ 

1 set of Bleeding Hearts (Demimonde #1) and Blood Rush (Demimonde #2) by Ash Krafton- US Shipping
2 sets of Her Dear & Loving Husband and Her Loving Husband's Curse by Meredith Allard open to US Shipping
1 Kidnapped by Maria Hammarbald us shipping
1 ROGUE ORACLE and DARK ORACLE by Alayna Williams- us shipping
1 EMBERS and SPARKS by Laura Bickle- US shipping
1 Fall of Sky City by SM Blooding US Shipping only
1 signed set of DARK LIGHT OF DAY and FIERY EDGE OF STEEL by Jill Archer
1 Life After the Undead and Death to the Undead by Pembroke Sinclair- US shipping
1 DiSemblance by Shanae Branham
1 Shield: Allie's War, Book Two by JC Andrijeski (or Revik: Allie's War, Early Years) by JC Andrijeski
1 signed copy of VICIOUS CIRCLE by Linda Robertson (or any other title written by her if winner already has VC)
1 DiSemblance by Shanae Branham open to International Shipping
1 The Necromancer’s Seduction by Mimi Sebastian open to International Shipping
2 print copies of The Chosen by Annette Gisby, US/Canada and UK entrants
1 Print or ebook Copy of Night Hawk by JE Taylor to US residents or ebook (mobi or epub) for international folks. If US resident would prefer ebook - that can be done as well.
1 Print or ebook Copy of Hunting Season by JE Taylor to US residents or ebook (mobi or epub) for international folks. If US resident would prefer ebook - that can be done as well
1 Winner’s choice of print or digital (.mobi or .epub) of Royal Street or River Road by Suzanne Johnson, in either U.S. or U.K. editions; open to international.
1 Winner’s Choice of print, audio, or digital (.mobi only) of Redemption, Absolution, Omega, or Storm Force by Susannah Sandlin open to international.
1 All three books in the Phaeton Black, Paranormal Investigator series The Seduction of Phaeton Black, The Moonstone and Miss Jones, The Miss Education of Dr. Exeter by Jillian Stone. Print or eBook any format, reader's choice Ebook open international

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Giveaway Three ~ YA Books~*~

1 Signed print copy Portal by Imogen Rose- US Shipping
1 Signed print copy of INITIATION by Imogen Rose- US Shipping
1 print copy Hollow's End by Marianne Morea- US Shipping
5 print copies Visionary Unleashed by N. Dunham US shipping
1 THE HALLOWED ONES by Laura Bickle- US Shipping
1 print copy The Ifs (middle grade book) by JD Pooker
1 print set of Reckoning and Relentless by Molly Hall- US shipping
1 ebook copy of Soul Meaning by AD Starrling
1 ebook copy of King's Crusade by AD Starrling (
1 ebook copy Hollow's End by Marianne Morea
5 ecopies Visionary Unleashed by N. Dunham
5 ecopies of Portal by Imogen Rose
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Giveaway Four ~ E-Books~*~

1 ebook copy Flashback by Maria Hammarblad
10 ebook copies of Shield: Allie's War, Book Two by JC Andrijeski (or Revik: Allie's War, Early Years)
1 Tyrant of Tarsit (Time travel romance) by Holly Hunt
2 ebooks of New Zealand with a Hobbit Botherer by John Gisby (international)
1 each Bleeding Hearts (Demimonde #1) and Blood Rush (Demimonde #2) by Ash Krafton
2 copies each Her Dear & Loving Husband and Her Loving Husband's Curse by Meredith Allard
1 Winner’s choice Caged Heat or Wolf Protector by Milly Taiden
1 ecopy Resurrecting Harry by Constance Phillips
1 The Cat's Meow by Stacey Kennedy
1 Stavros is giving away 1 of each- eBook copies of Dead Girl: A Romantic Zombie Tale of Revenge, Blood Junky, and Love in Vein
1 Murder on Mars (A New Orleans Mystery) by MM Shelley
1 Little Red Riding Wolf by Jessica Aspen, mobi or epub available
1 Cindy Spencer Paper is giving away an E-book - winner’s choice of any available on her website.
1 eCopy of The MacLomain Series Boxed Set by Sky Purington (Books 1-4), PDF or gifted to Kindle
5 free copies of DRAGONSTONE by Paula Millhouse : pdf, emobi, ePub
5 ecopies of THREE WISHES by Paula Millhouse pdf, mobi, ePub
1 ecopy SMOKE AND MIRRORS (The Gifted, Book 1) by Marie Treanor
1 ecopy SERAFINA AND THE SILENT VAMPIRE (Serafina’s, Book 1) by Marie Treanor
1 BLOOD GUILT (Blood Hunters, Book 1) by Marie Treanor
1 Annie Nicholas is giving away Reader's choice of any ebook from her backlist winner’s choice of .pdf, epub, mobi.
1 one e-book set of the first two books in the Seven Seals Series (Seal of Destiny and Seal of Surrender) by Traci Douglass
1 ecopy Wucaii by Pembroke Sinclair
2 ebooks of Silent Screams by Annette Gisby (international)
2 ebooks of Shadows of the Rose by Annette Gisby (international)
3 EBOOKS (one set): THE CROSSE HARBOR TIME TRAVEL TRILOGY by Barbara Bretton
1 More Than Friends by Jessica Jayne (.epub, .pdf, .mobi)
1 In Flames by Jessica Jayne (.epub, .prc and .pdf)

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Review, Guest Post & Giveaway ~*~ Daddy's Girl

We are uber excited to welcome J.M. Kelley to the blog today!

She has graced us with her presence and knowledge about how to make characters believable!

Making your characters believable—that is a battle most authors can sympathize with, isn’t it? I have quite a few techniques I rely on, in that eternal quest for realism. Some are easier than others. The simplest method I use is to pay close attention to the dialogue. The best way to sell a character is with his or her words. Speechifying is a trap it doesn’t take much to fall into. Cut the description, and let the characters tell it like it is. That…just doesn’t work. And believe me, I fall into that trap, myself. Thank goodness for second and third rounds of editing, because when I catch myself using the speechify approach, I want to cringe. Also, keep in mind that natural speech isn’t smooth. It doesn’t flow like a gentle river. We stutter, stammer, fumble and choke on words. It is very important to remember that a realistic character shouldn’t always have the perfect response every time. But, that’s just one aspect of keeping your characters real.

There are a few golden rules I try to adhere to when developing my characters, and I’d like to share a few of my favorite rules with you.

1.  Real People Are Flawed.

It is tempting to create the Perfect Man or the Perfect Woman. Think about how much writing time you save by having your heroine drawn to a man who can do no wrong. But, that’s pretty boring. So, in my world, I work hard to keep my characters flawed, without them being broken or unredeemable. In my first novel, Drew in Blue, Drew was a bit of a self-absorbed schmuck, emotionally stunted, and not very sociable. His redemption comes in the form of a son—his first experience with unconditional love. With that new experience, Drew finds his place in the world, and grows into a wonderful father.  In Daddy’s Girl, Janie is stand-offish, can be rude, speaks without thinking, and is really good at alienating the people around her. Problem is, she’s been hurt a few times, so her flaws are really just a way to shield a delicate heart. David, however, might be just the guy, despite his own flaws, to break down her walls .

     2. Real People Are Dumb.

They say and do some pretty stupid things. Conflict doesn’t always have to be carefully plotted and placed in just the right place. Sometimes, depending on the story you are telling, saying the wrong thing at the wrong time can set off fireworks. Granted, one must find a way to deliver this in a manner that keeps the reader hooked, but conflict can be subtle. In Daddy’s Girl, conflict doesn’t always need to be high drama. Life is stressful in the McGee house, what with Joe’s illness, and the unexpected sexual tension between Janie and David. And life on the fringe of McGee family dynamics can fray David’s nerves as well. Sometimes, all it can take is an ill-timed remark to start a war. And sometimes, in David and Janie’s world, all it takes is a shovelful of snow….

     3. Real People Have Weird Taste in Mates. 

I’m sure we can all look back at our own dating history and nod emphatically at this statement. We are drawn to people that don’t always make sense. Our friends don’t see what we see and ask what we’re thinking. Our fathers want to break out the shotgun. Our mothers pray we’ll come to our senses. In romance, though, the Opposites Attract rule is nearly an imperative. This is where we get the drama, the excitement, and that sense of reality. The good girl and the bad boy. The bad girl and the bookish boy. The rocker and the librarian. The cop and the jewel thief. We want to know what life is like on the other side of the fence. Is the grass greener? Is life more exciting over there? It’s a natural point of curiosity, and it’s a rock solid theme to use in a romance.

So, there you have it. Obviously, the rules I’ve shared don’t cover all the bases, but I believe remembering points like these are a good basis for tackling the problem of keeping your characters believable. The easiest thing, however, is to pay attention to the people around you. You have an enormous cast of characters milling about you every day of your life. Observe. Listen. Take notes. The world around you will always be the best teacher you could ever hope for.

Thank you again J.M. for joining us and sharing your knowledge!  

Blurb ~*~ 

Sometimes, returning home isn’t about confronting your past; it’s about discovering your future.

Janie McGee, the black sheep of her family, is free-spirited, uninhibited, and never one to stay in the same place for too long. When Janie learns her father, Joe, is gravely ill, she reluctantly returns home to rural Pennsylvania to care for him. Joe’s neighbor, David Harris, sports a pocket protector, collects coins, and is addicted to Antiques Roadshow. Everything about him rubs Janie the wrong way, from his nerdy wardrobe to his enviable friendship with Joe. And to make matters worse, her father thinks they’re perfect for each other, proof positive of how little Joe knows his own daughter…or so Janie thinks. 

A shared devotion to the elder McGee begins to close the gulf between Janie and David, but a burgeoning romance opens the door to new problems and unexpected consequences neither could foresee. Joe, however, remains steadfast in his resolve to show Janie that Daddy knows what’s best for his little girl. Can Janie finally open her heart to David while watching the first man she ever truly loved fade away?


Excerpt ~*~
 Before he even opened the door, David knew something was off. Late night visitors, in his experience, rarely brought good news. When the visitor turned out to be Janie, his heart leapt into his throat. “Janie,” he said when he threw open the door. “What’s wrong? Is Joe okay?” 

 “Yeah. He’s fine.” Relief hit him so hard he took a step back and leaned against the doorjamb. 

 “You scared me.” 

 “I didn’t mean to.” Janie rubbed her hands up and down her arms and looked over her shoulder. “It’s cold out here. Mind if I come in?”

“Oh. Right.” David gestured for Janie to enter. “Come inside.” He followed when she slid past him and walked into the living room. 

 “It’s late.” As if she needed to tell him. The atomic clock on the wall, a Christmas gift from his mother, showed the time at almost two in the morning. Janie stood in the middle of the room and focused her gaze on the bookcase in the corner. “I didn’t wake you, did I?” 

“I was reading. A little too wired to sleep, I guess.” David moved up behind her and raised a tentative hand to her shoulder. “Are you sure everything’s okay?” 

The sound of his voice jolted her out of her thoughts and she jerked her head toward him. Her movements were stunted. Wooden. “Ever have one of those moments when you’re convinced you may float away, and no matter what you do, you can’t keep yourself grounded? And you need to hang on tight to something until the sensation passes?” 

Whatever was going on, he thought, she was not in a good place. David gently spun Janie toward him and gazed at her. “Tell me what you need from me.”

Janie closed her eyes and lowered her forehead to David’s shoulder. “Ground me, David,” she whispered and laid her hand on his chest.


4 Star Review ~*~
Before you venture on the journey to read Daddy's Girl, make sure you have a box of tissues nearby and are ready to laugh and cry, sometimes all at once. I will readily admit the subject matter may be touchy for some, but I would recommend Daddy's Girl to just about anyone at any time. 

Janie and David are a unique couple.  It is rare to read about the man being the bookworm, OCD, neat freak and the woman being more carefree and spontaneous.  They were really well matched.  Then you get the drama of the McGee family and dealing with Janie's dad, Joe, and his terminal illness.  As Janie tries to hold steady that this is not the right time for love, she can't turn David away completely.

Every character is Daddy's Girl is so realistic that you know someone just like them, heck maybe it's even you.  If you are a Daddy's Girl, like me, this story will really hit home because we never want the first man in our lives to go away.  There are so many emotions and relationships to heal and grow that this is a story that will tear you apart and lift your spirits.

A highly recommended read ~ especially when you need an excuse to cry!  

Author Info ~*~

Three years ago, native Pennsylvanian J.M. Kelley packed her bags and moved south. Now, the wannabe Carolina Girl can’t speak a single sentence without adding the word y’all at the end of it, and regards a blast of snow flurries as a doomsday-level event. When the day job allows, and when she can pull herself away from George Takei’s Facebook fanpage, she likes to go on writing jaunts to her favorite lake, or a local coffee shop with delicious shakes and questionable Wi-Fi connections.

J.M. Kelley is a proud recipient of a Carrie McCray Memorial Literary award, and is a member of The South Carolina Writers Workshop and Romance Writers of America (PAN). Readers interested in more information may visit her website at www.jmkelleywrites.com.


Links ~*~
Email: readers@jmkelleywrites.com 
Website: http://www.jmkelleywrites.com 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/JM-Kelley/108021242585994 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorJMKelley
Daddy’s Girl purchase links: 
Turquoise Morning Press: http://www.turquoisemorningpressbookstore.com/products/daddys-girl-by-j-m-kelley 
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Daddys-Girl-ebook/dp/B00B76P58S/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1359433661&sr=1-1&keywords=daddy%27s+girl+kelley 
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/daddys-girl-jm-kelley/1114255053?ean=2940015960969&isbn=2940015960969 
Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Daddys-Girl/book-KHCuDTSR9E2C7bbOEw-87A/page1.html?s=E-llxuUKm0m_cW4LB0jGNA&r=1 
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/279529 
AllRomance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-daddy039sgirl-1049844-149.html 
Omnilit: https://www.omnilit.com/product-daddy039sgirl-1049844-232.html?oid=19


Giveaway ~*~
J.M. will be awarding a gift basket of some of the author's favorite things, including a $25 gift card from Amazon and a signed copy of the Foreign Affairs anthology from Turquoise Morning Press to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/04/virtual-book-tour-daddys-girl-by-jm.html

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Goddess Fish Promotions.