First Chapter and Giveaway, Salem's Vengeance by Aaron Galvin

Salem's Vengeance

Aaron Galvin

Sixteen-year-old Sarah Kelly never expected to meet the Devil’s daughter. She only sought innocent dancing in the moonlight, not a coven entranced by their dark priestess. When her friends partake of a powder meant to conjure spirits - and the results go horribly awry - Sarah is forced to make a choice. To keep their secret risks her own damnation, but to condemn them may invoke the accusing remnants of Salem to rise again.

Hey everyone!  So Salem's Vengeance, that's what's up today.  Sounds scary, right? Well today I have the first chapter and a giveaway, so you can get a bigger taste, and a chance to win it for yourself!  Thanks for coming and good luck!

The Horde Without End, a review (Nazarea Andrews)

Title: The Horde Without End
Series: The World Without End #2
Author: Nazarea Andrews
Published: July 17, 2014
Format: Ebook provided for review

It was supposed to be over…

Returning from Haven 18 was supposed to be the end. But nothing is ever easy—and in a world full of zombies, finding the missing is next to impossible. There are breadcrumbs. Tiny clues. But what are a few tiny clues in a world of the dead? 

Nurrin is desperate to find her brother, but that will mean trusting Finn O’Malley. A man shrouded in secrets, who kills as easily as breathing. And the more she learns about him, the more questions she has. But she has learned one thing—the zombies are changing. Adapting. And this time, the Haven walls won’t keep them out.

In the end of book one, The World Without End, Nurrin and Finn returned to the cave to find Collin, Nurrin's brother, gone - along with Dustin, her boyfriend.  In The Horde Without End, we pick up right there, and Finn and Nurrin decide to find them.  Their journey definitely takes them on what seems to feel like a wild goose chase at times, they seem to be one step behind them the whole way.  My fear coming into The Horde Without End was that it just wouldn't live up to the awesomeness that was The World Without End.  I'm happy to report it definitely lived up to the challenge!

Review & Giveaway of Whisper of Dreams by Keta Diablo

Title: Whisper of Dreams
Series: Sequel to Cradle of Dreams
Author: Keta Diablo
Published: July 14, 2014
Format: Ebook received for review

Sarah must get her son out of New Bern, North Carolina before he succumbs to an epidemic of yellow fever. Yankees have taken over the town and there is only one man capable of smuggling them out—Captain Elijah Fortune. Even though she betrayed him once, she appeals to the champion of her childhood for help. He’s more than happy to accommodate her, but the price of risking his life is steep. And the cost has nothing to do with money.

Last week I posted a review for Cradle of Dreams, which I loved.  Right after I finished reading that, I jumped right into Whisper of Dreams - and I'm so glad I did. Keta Diablo definitely has a talent and a skill for bringing the reader right in and capturing their attention.

Scent of a Mate, Re-Review (Milly Taiden) & GIVEAWAY!

Scent of a Mate

Milly Taiden

Mission: Scent a Mate 

Jordan Alvarez knew that a promise to her best friend involved staking out the local wolf pack's scenting ceremony and recording the graphic details, but she was the writer and the only one with the balls to finish the task. No one would know that four human women had sneaked proof of their rituals, or at least, that was the plan until Aric Wolfe showed up. 

Mission: Stake a Claim 

Aric Wolfe knew his baby sister was up to something, and expected her best friend, Jordan, to be in on the chaos. He finally had an opportunity to lay claim to a mate that had been under his nose for years. Jordan's scent called to both the man and the animal, and he was done fighting the call of the beast. It was time to mark his mate. 

Mission: Survive an Alpha 

When a good intention creates a problem for the Wolfe family, Jordan finds herself being stalked by a woman intent on claiming Aric as her own. Battle lines will be drawn, love will be put to the test, and Aric will have to fight Jordan's strong personality to keep her alive. Two alpha hearts seeking control will either find the balance or risk losing their love forever.

It's Friday again, that means I'm taking it easy!! last Friday I brought you Their Second Chance by Milly Taiden, and this week it's Scent of a Mate.  I love Milly (hello, captain obvious here)  and I read this book around last Halloween time.  I can tell you it ROCKS.   So check out my review (reposted here) and enter to win in Milly's Summer Bash Giveaway!

Cradle of Dreams, Historical Romance (Keta Diablo, review)

Title: Cradle of Dreams
Series: Yes - name?
Author: Keta Diablo
Published: May 2011, Keta Diablo
Format: Ebook provided for review

With visions of battle still fresh in his mind, Roane Bradfield returns home to find the woman he loves betrothed to another. He corners Kendrick Moreland at Dowager Huggins’ Grand Ball and whisks her into the secluded library. One way or the other, he will know the reason the duplicitous beauty cut him from her life when she promised to wait forever. 

Oh, Kendrick was a cool witch. She wouldn’t be when he finished with her, took her down a notch, made her suffer as he had suffered. In his mind, the battlefield surfaced—the stench of death, the acrid smoke from the howitzers, and the blood-drenched soldiers searching the ground for lost limbs. He placed his hands behind his back so she wouldn’t see the onset of tremors. The affliction would pass soon and he didn’t want her pity. He wanted her, needed to taste every inch of her delectable skin, suck the tongue from her luscious mouth and bury himself deep inside her.

Keta Diablo is one of those authors that makes me enjoy a genre I don't normally read - historical romance.  Really, I stay away from the genre on the whole.  And this book even has something else I'm not a fan of - time travel.  You'd think this was a losing battle, right?  Wrong.  I've read Keta Diablo's writing before, and I knew I was in for a treat.

Happy Birthday To The Page Girls! (Invitation for FUN & a Giveaway!)

Recently I was contacted by one of The Page Girls about their new online mag.  I took a look, and I got a great big girl crush.  Their site is SO much fun!  Go ahead, click on the graphic above to go visit, I'll wait here while you do....

Kingdoms of War by Lisa Beth Darling (Excerpt and Giveaway)

Kingdoms of War

Lisa Beth Darling

With nearly four billion souls lost to the ravages of anarchy and the dreaded disease Major Falls, Ares and Raven journey the Mortal World vainly reaching for a sliver of what was only to discover what will be. Unleashed by Apollo, Major Falls—a weaponized version of the flu and rabies-- has wiped out every person of watery Mortal Blood. 

From the fiery wreckage a new world is slowly arising one where the descendants of Olympians, Celts, Dark Fae, and all manner of Magickal Being will rule. For the last millennium the Dark Kingdom has sent small legions of its Daughters in search of its Lost Queen. Among their number is Lenora, a sharp tongued Dark Fae who joins up with ARES hoping to get close to its leader, Raven. And she does.

The Wolf inside the God of War contracts Major Falls. As Ares and Athena wander the world hoping to curtail further damage by obliterating weapons of mass destruction he slowly succumbs to the sickness taking over his fevered rabid mind. Ares may not live to see the glory of Olympus restored nor fight to keep his Wife. If he does, how high will be the price for Ares' life? How long will Alena have to keep paying Apollo?

Hey everyone!  So Kingdoms of War is book 6 in the Of War series.  I've heard good things about this series!  Check out this excerpt, and good luck on the giveaway!

Hot Shot by Lynn Raye Harris with a chance to win a COACH bag!

Hot Shot

Lynn Raye Harris

Cool under pressure… Until now.

Hostile Operations Team sniper Jack “Hawk” Hunter is cool, methodical, and utterly lethal. Nothing rattles Jack’s calm. But that was before he learned he fathered a child three years ago—a child who has just been kidnapped.

Gina Domenico is a superstar, a pop sensation with a string of hit records. But deep inside, she’s still the lonely girl she’s always been. When Jack saved her from an arms dealer, they spent three unforgettable days together waiting for rescue—and Gina fell hard for the sexy soldier before he walked away forever.

But now she needs his help and she’ll do anything to get it. Though Jack can never forgive Gina for keeping his child from him, he’ll do everything in his power—and HOT’s—to bring their son home safely.

Nothing is what it seems, however, and their fates hang in the balance as someone else pulls the strings…and brings them ever closer to an explosive confrontation that could either save their son—or cost them everything.

Hey everyone!  Having a wonderful Saturday?  It's just starting here, but before I get my day going, I wanted to bring you this awesome book and a chance to win a COACH bag with some signed copies of Hot Shot!!  Awesome, right?  I'm pretty excited.  Good luck to all of you!

Quickie spotlight on Their Second Chance, and a giveaway (April Angel)

Their Second Chance

April Angel

After five years with a man she loved, Ariana Parker held the divorce papers in hand. From the moment she met him, Nick was the only man to make her body burn and fill her heart with joy, but somewhere along the way, they lost their ability to communicate--in any language.

Nick Parker lost the woman he loved to the trials of conception. Their inability to cope with their failure broke down their relationship and their friendship. And now, he's left with a woman he lusts after, longs for, and doesn't know how to reach.

One locked door and plenty of time to hash out their problems will either leave them broken forever or might just be the glue that holds them together.

Two Week Seduction by Kathy Lyons had me seduced! (review)

Title: Two Week Seduction
Series: Standalone
Author: Kathy Lyons
Published: June 30, 2014 - Entangled Publishing
Format: Ebook received for review

She’s going to break all of his rules…

Tech Sergeant John O’Donnell was never fond of his hometown. Too many reminders of poverty, his rocky family life, and the girl he was never allowed to have. Now he has exactly two weeks to sort out his mother's finances before he heads back overseas. Two weeks that he's determined to spend as far from his best friend’s little sister as possible.

Alea Heling has a naughty streak a mile wide. Sweet and simple? Boring.She’s been craving a bad boy like John since their wild days together in high school, and this time, she’s not taking no for an answer. But with every panty-meltingly hot encounter, Alea forgets one hard, cold reality—this soldier won't let a fortnight turn into forever...and forever might be exactly what they both need.

I love military romances. Heck, I know you all do too. Something about a big ol’ strong man in uniform finding that true love (that we wish was us!!) Sigh. It gets me every time. Two Week Seduction was no exception – I loved every word of this book.

I'm moving...to Hemlock Grove!! (Brian McGreevy, review)

Title: Hemlock Grove
Series: Standalone
Author: Brian McGreevy
Published: March 2012, FSG Originals
Format: Print Copy received for review, FSB

An exhilarating reinvention of the gothic novel, inspired by the iconic characters of our greatest myths and nightmares.

The body of a young girl is found mangled and murdered in the woods of Hemlock Grove, Pennsylvania, in the shadow of the abandoned Godfrey Steel mill. A manhunt ensues—though the authorities aren’t sure if it’s a man they should be looking for.

Some suspect an escapee from the White Tower, a foreboding biotech facility owned by the Godfrey family—their personal fortune and the local economy having moved on from Pittsburgh steel—where, if rumors are true, biological experiments of the most unethical kind take place. Others turn to Peter Rumancek, a Gypsy trailer-trash kid who has told impressionable high school classmates that he’s a werewolf. Or perhaps it’s Roman, the son of the late JR Godfrey, who rules the adolescent social scene with the casual arrogance of a cold-blooded aristocrat, his superior status unquestioned despite his decidedly freakish sister, Shelley, whose monstrous medical conditions belie a sweet intelligence, and his otherworldly control freak of a mother, Olivia.

At once a riveting mystery and a fascinating revelation of the grotesque and the darkness in us all, Hemlock Grove has the architecture and energy to become a classic in its own right—and Brian McGreevy the talent and ambition to enthrall us for years to come.

Recently I was introduced to the world of Hemlock Grove. Have you heard of it? Odds are, if you have, it might be because of the Netflix show. But I was lucky enough to get ahold of the book, written by Brian McGreevy – and I fell in love with this world. I haven’t watched the show yet – but I totally restarted my Netflix membership so that I can start writing it after I post my review!!

Just say YES to His Marriage Bargain! (Sidney Bristol)

Title: His Marriage Bargain
Series: So Inked #3
Author: Sidney Bristol
Published: June 2014
Format: Ebook received for review

A woman who loves too much…

When Autumn’s best friend proposes a pretend marriage, the chance to make all the kisses she’s imagined real is too much for her to pass up. She seduces him with her body and enjoys pushing his boundaries and fulfilling their sexual fantasies—but her heart isn’t supposed to be part of the bargain.

A man about to take his last breath…

Sammi has just weeks left to live out his dying wish—the white picket fence, the house and the wife. If Autumn is the last woman he gets to taste he’ll die a lucky man. Her body, her heart—everything about her calls to him. But love isn’t supposed to be in the plans.

In the crucible of passion, these two lovers will find out what they’re really made from, and just how long I do lasts.

By this point, I've read a couple books by Sidney Bristol.  I just love her writing.  Every book I've read from her has been crazy different, yet entertaining and awesome.  His Marriage Bargain happens to be book three in the So Inked series, but it can be read as a standalone.  I know this is for a fact, because I've not read the other two books and not once did I feel lost or confused.  And I totally adored this story!  There was definitely a lot packed into these pages!

Meet Jessica from Crossroad Reviews (Blogger On Blogger Interview)

So it's been a while since we've had a Blogger on Blogger interview.  It's about due time, eh?  This week we have Jessica from Crossroad Reviews!

I'm reading Hemlock Grove, and I'm giving you a taste! (Brian McGreevy)

Hemlock Grove

Brian McGreevy

The body of a young girl is found mangled and murdered in the woods of Hemlock Grove, Pennsylvania, in the shadow of the abandoned Godfrey Steel mill. A manhunt ensues—though the authorities aren’t sure if it’s a man they should be looking for. 

Some suspect an escapee from the White Tower, a foreboding biotech facility owned by the Godfrey family—their personal fortune and the local economy having moved on from Pittsburgh steel—where, if rumors are true, biological experiments of the most unethical kind take place. Others turn to Peter Rumancek, a Gypsy trailer-trash kid who has told impressionable high school classmates that he’s a werewolf. Or perhaps it’s Roman, the son of the late JR Godfrey, who rules the adolescent social scene with the casual arrogance of a cold-blooded aristocrat, his superior status unquestioned despite his decidedly freakish sister, Shelley, whose monstrous medical conditions belie a sweet intelligence, and his otherworldly control freak of a mother, Olivia.

At once a riveting mystery and a fascinating revelation of the grotesque and the darkness in us all, Hemlock Grove has the architecture and energy to become a classic in its own right—and Brian McGreevy the talent and ambition to enthrall us for years to come.

Hey everyone!!  So today I have a spotlight and excerpt on Hemlock Grove.  Does that name sound familiar?  It should, it's a show on Netflix.  I'm currently reading the book right now, and let me tell you - it is fantastic.  In fact, it's so good that I restarted my Netflix account so I can catch up for Season 2 which starts tomorrow (July 11)!  So I hope you enjoy the excerpt.  Have you read this book, or have you seen the show?  Let's chat!! 

Tuesday Jams is all about where I'm at this week!

Want to share that song you been loving like crazy lately? Just grab the image above or make your own...and whether you have a blog or not, you can either leave your link in the linky below OR in the comment section. 

You can show a video, a music player..whatever suites your fancy. Just remember to have some fun!

Today I choose....

Little Black Book... I need to add my number!! - Review & Giveaway (Tabatha Vargo & Melissa Andrea)

Title: Little Black Book
Series: Standalone
Authors: Tabatha Vargo, Melissa Andrea
Published:  June 1st 2014 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Format: Ebook received for review

My name’s Sebastian Black, and I want to buy you. I could have any woman I want, but I choose you. 

NO RELATIONSHIP, JUST SEX. 

Here’s my offer… 

I’ll put your name in my LITTLE BLACK BOOK, and when I want you, I’ll call you. When I call, you’re going to come, in more ways than one. It will be mutually pleasurable for both of us. 

There are only two rules: 

DON'T EVER DENY ME. 

DON'T FALL IN LOVE. 

If you do either, I’ll remove you from my book and payment stops.

Do we have an understanding?

So last week I read Little Black Book - and I was looking forward to it so much!!  I'd never read either author, so this tour seemed like a great opportunity to try them out.  While this book didn't really delve far into the depths of emotion, the story was quite enjoyable and had enough twists and turns to keep me interested.

Real really did it for me! (Katy Evans)

Title: Real
Series: Real #1
Author: Katy Evans
Published: April 2013
Format: Galley

A fallen boxer.

A woman with a broken dream.

A competition…

He even makes me forget my name. One night was all it took, and I forgot everything and anything except the sexy fighter in the ring who sets my mind ablaze and my body on fire with wanting…

Remington Tate is the strongest, most confusing man I’ve ever met in my life.

He’s the star of the dangerous underground fighting circuit, and I’m drawn to him as I’ve never been drawn to anything in my life. I forget who I am, what I want, with just one look from him. When he’s near, I need to remind myself that I am strong–but he is stronger. And now it’s my job to keep his body working like a perfect machine, his taut muscles primed and ready to break the bones of his next opponents . . .

But the one he’s most threatening to, now, is me.

I want him. I want him without fear. Without reservations.

If only I knew for sure what it is that he wants from me?

Wow.  This book.  Wow.

I'd seen reviews on this series from the awesome Nomi's Paranormal Palace, and I'd been positively obsessed ever since.  Then recently I saw this book being offered up on NetGalley and I jumped at the chance.  And whew, am I ever glad.  Real was amazing.

Betrayed Blitz and Giveaway (Rebecca York)

Betrayed

Rebecca York

There is a spy in S&D systems who is leaking top-secret information that could lead to extreme distaster. It's up to Shane Gallagher to uncover the mole and set things right.

Systems analyst Elena Reyes had no intention of stealing company secrets until her brother's life was threatened by the cruelest of mobsters. When Elena finally confesses her deeds to Shane, he's ready to do everything he can to keep her out of danger. But will Shane's help be enough to protect them, or will his good intentions leave them all for dead?

Hey welcome to the blitz for Betrayed!!  I have this book on galley, and I'm pretty excited to read it - so check out my review later this month!  And how about that cover?!?!  Whew, it's definitely getting hot in here!  Be sure to enter the awesome giveaway before you leave!!