5 Star Review: Sea of Stars by Amy A. Bartol- Kricket Series- Book 2

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Sea of Stars

The Kricket Series – Book 2

By Amy A. Bartol

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Synopsis

Eighteen-year-old Kricket Hollowell was looking for her place in the world when she discovered that the universe was bigger—and more dangerous—than she had ever dreamed. Now, whisked across space to the planet Ethar, Kricket learns that her genetic ability to see the future makes her a sought-after commodity…and the catalyst for war between her star-crossed parents’ clans. According to Alameedan prophecy, one house will rise to power and the other will be completely wiped out, and Kricket’s precognition is believed to be the weapon that will tip the scales.

A target of both the Rafe and the Alameeda houses, Kricket finds protection—and a home—in the arms of Trey, her Etharian bodyguard-turned-boyfriend. But her visions of what’s to come disturb her deeply, especially since she must discover whether the gift of foresight will allow her to rewrite the future, or if her fate is as immovable as the stars.

The highly anticipated sequel to Under Different Stars, winner of four 2014 utopYA Awards.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble 

5Star

Robin’s Review

If you have not read the novel Under Different Stars, this review may contain spoilers. I would like to express my appreciation to NetGalley and 47North for the opportunity to read and review Sea of Stars.

I’d like to introduce you to the world of author Amy A. Bartol. She writes novels in the young adult genre. Paranormal, science fiction and fantasy with a touch of romance. She is probably better-known as the author of the Premonition series. I plowed through every novel of the Premonition series during the early months of 2013. Although her paranormal romance series about angels continues to be a work in progress, Bartol surprised readers with something completely different back in December of 2013. It was a novel titled Under Different Stars, and it was the first novel of a brand new series.

The Kricket series is a combination of science fiction and fantasy. Science fiction is not my usual cup of tea, but I knew Amy A. Bartol was capable of writing a creative and exciting new story. This review is specifically for the second novel of the Kricket series, Sea of Stars, but I’ll give a brief summary of Under Different Stars for readers who are interested in this series.

In Under Different Stars, we learn eighteen-year-old Kricket Hollowell grew up in the foster care system of Chicago, Illinois. In recent years, Kricket has become an expert at evading case workers, learning how to blend in and live on her own. She has always longed for someplace she could call home. Trey Allairis is given the assignment of locating Kricket. He is to retrieve her from Earth and bring her to Ethar. Kyon Ensin knows just how special Kricket is. She’s not just your average teenager from Chicago, and he is also in the process of locating Kricket.

Trey is from the House of Rafe; Kyon is from the House of Alameeda. Kricket learns her father is Rafian, and her mother is a Priestess from the House of Alameeda. She learns her ability to see the future is a catalyst for a war between her parent’s clans. Under Different Stars is a fantastic start to the Kricket series. We learn about the differences and conflict between the five houses of Ethar and why Kricket is so important to their future.

This brings me to Sea of Stars. If you have read any of her novels, you already know Amy A. Bartol has a fantastic imagination! Under Different Stars sets the stage for the rest of the Kricket series. We are introduced to the world of Ethar, which is very different from Earth. When I think of the differences, it makes me realize the amount of thought Bartol put into this series! Bartol created a unique language specifically for the Etharians. When I sat down to read Sea of Stars, it had been months since I read Under Different Stars. I had forgotten what many of the Etharian words mean, so I was very happy to discover Bartol included a glossary for her readers to refer to. And that glossary was a lifesaver for me – don’t be afraid to use it!

Sea of Stars is full of strategy and nonstop action and completely unexpected twists and turns! I really thought I understood who the bad guys were after reading Under Different Stars, but now I’m not so sure. We have an antagonist who I am strangely empathizing with. This is confusing for me because I absolutely love the relationship between Kricket and Trey. We are introduced to new characters who are in pursuit of Kricket in Sea of Stars. What are their agendas? Do they have good or bad intentions? And, finally, war breaks out on Ethar. All of that nonstop action that I mentioned earlier? Sea of Stars just steamrolls into pure awesomeness throughout the entire story!  It keeps getting better and better until we finally reach the climax! For all of these reasons, I am giving Sea of Stars a 5-star rating and placing it on my list of 2015 favorites! Don’t be afraid to try something different. I highly recommend the Kricket series!

 

The Kricket Series

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Under Different Stars

The Kricket Series- Book 1

By Amy A. Bartol

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Synopsis

Kricket Hollowell never wished upon stars. She was too busy hiding in plain sight, eluding Chicago’s foster care system. As her eighteenth birthday approaches, she now eagerly anticipates the day she’ll stop running and finally find her place in the world.

That day comes when she meets a young Etharian soldier named Trey Allairis, who has been charged with coming to Earth to find Kricket and transport her to her true home. As danger draws close, he must protect her until she can wield the powers she cannot use on Earth…and he soon realizes that counting a galaxy of stars would be easier than losing this extraordinary girl.

Kyon knows the powerful depths of Kricket’s gifts—gifts he’ll control when he takes her for his tribe and leads the forces that will claim Ethar and destroy his enemies, starting with Trey Allairis. Now, Kricket faces the most difficult choice of her life: whether to wage a battle for survival or a fight for love.

Winner of four 2014 utopYA Awards, including Best Book of the Year and Best Sci-Fi Book of the Year.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

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amy bartolAuthor of Inescapable: The Premonition Series (Volume 1), Intuition: The Premonition Series (Volume 2), Indebted: The Premonition Series (Volume 3) , and Incendiary: The Premonition Series (Volume 4). Currently working on a fifth novel in the Premonition Series entitled Iniquity.

Under Different Stars (Kricket Series Book 1)
Sea of Stars (The Kricket Series Book 2) – (Release date 3/31/15)

The Divided – A Science Fiction Romance short story, which is included in the Take Me To Your Reader: An Otherworld Anthology.

I live in Michigan with my husband and our two sons. My family is very supportive of my writing. When I’m writing, they often bring me the take-out menu so that I can call and order them dinner. They listen patiently when I talk about my characters like they’re real. They rarely roll their eyes when I tell them I’ll only be a second while I finish writing a chapter…and then they take off their coats. They ask me how the story is going when I surface after living for hours in a world of my own making. They have learned to accept my “writing uniform” consisting of a slightly unflattering pink fleece jacket, t-shirt, and black yoga pants. And they smile at my nerdy bookishness whenever I try to explain urban fantasy to them. In short, they get me, so they are perfect and I am blessed. Please visit me at my website: http://www.amyabartol.weebly.com

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Happy Release + 6 Star Review + 2015 Favorite: Choose Me by Heidi McLaughlin- The Archer Brothers Series- Book 2

We are so excited to share with you the cover for CHOOSE ME, book 2 in The Archer Brothers Series by Heidi McLaughlin releasing on April 1st. This is a MUST READ series – make sure to add it to your TBR! Isn’t the cover gorgeous?!?!?!

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Choose Me

The Archer Brothers Series- Book 2

 Release Date: April 1, 2015

By Heidi McLaughlin

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Buy: Amazon / B & N / KoboSynopsis

Two brothers.

One woman.

One son.

One choice.

Lives ripped apart, shattered and rebuilt.

Evan and Nate Archer: Brothers, best friends, warriors and now enemies. Both in love with the same woman. Both determined to fight for what they want.

Nate Archer promised to protect Ryley Clarke in the event Evan didn’t make it back. It’s a promise between brothers since the early days of basic training. Nate never considered that his feelings, long buried since high school, would resurface and grow stronger.

Evan Archer wants answers. He wants someone to pay. After being gone for an unprecedented amount of time, nothing is making sense now that he’s home. Most of all, he can’t understand how his brother ended up engaged to his fiancée. Evan is determined to uncover the mystery, and win back his family.

The Archers are about to fight dirty.

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Cover Designed by Sarah at Okay Creations

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6+star

Michel’s Review

The moment I woke up on April 1, 2015 the first thing I had to do was check my kindle.  I was anxiously awaiting for Choose Me by Heidi McLaughlin.  It is the sequel to Here With Me, the first book in the Archer Brothers series.  Low and behold it was there on my kindle just waiting for me to read.  After I rushed my kids off to school and shoo’d husband out the door, I sat down to read.  I could not put this book down until it was finished.  Hours later as I read the last word, I realized I had not gotten out of my pj’s, had not showered, and had not ate a thing.  I was captivated by The Archer Brothers story and how it ended.

As I expected, it was another 6 + Star book that would go on my 2015 Favorites list.

Choose Me cannot be read as a stand alone novel.  It is the sequel to Here With Me.

Here With Me ended on a major cliffhanger.  Nate Archer had returned home from training exercises to find his dead twin brother, Evan Archer, alive and well.  Not only was he alive and well, he was also with his fiance and son.  He was a threat to his family, his life, and his happiness.  It was hard to overjoyed to see his brother alive and well.  Where had he been for the last six years?  Was it really him or an imposter?  What would this mean to his life as he knew it?  Would he have to give up the woman he loved and the son he raised because his brother was the biological father?  What had the Navy done to their lives?

As this emotional story unfolds, it will pull at all of your heartstrings.  Nate Archer is not a bad guy, in fact he is a very honorable good man. He stepped up to plate when his brother lost his life.  He was there when his brother’s son came into the world.  He has raised the boy as his own.  He didn’t purposely set out to fall in love with Ryley, he just wanted to take care of her like he promised his brother he would.  He has made sacrifices so that his brother’s memory would be honored. He has everything to lose and nothing to gain except a shattered heart.

 Evan Archer has lost everything he loved including his twin brother.  He has had to fight for every moment with his family since his ascension from the grave.  His own son, flesh and blood, is calling his brother daddy.  His woman is wearing his brother’s ring.  His brother may be responsible for his demise. He wants his life back.  He has nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Ryley is in a situation that no woman would ever want to be in.  She is in love with two brothers.  One was her first love. He was her once in a lifetime kind of love. He captured her heart and gave her a son.  He was her first for every emotional experience she would encounter, including grief.  The other brother was there to pick up the shattered pieces.  He shared her grief and experienced the same loss.  He supported her, he nurtured her, he gave her friendship, and finally gave her a new love to look forward to.  He has been a father to her son.  How can she chose between two extraordinary men?  Both have important places in her heart.  How will this affect her son?  He is the one innocent victim that is going to suffer from the decisions the adults make in his life.

Not only are there decisions about life to be made.  There are still questions about the mission that destroyed all their lives.  This mission did not only affect the Archer family, it affected and destroyed the lives of the three other men on this six year mission.  Why would the Navy do this and cover it up?

As they start to question all the facts, the danger begins to escalate.  Their lives are being threatened.  The more they uncover, the more dangerous it becomes.  When they finally get the truth of what happened it will be devastating for all that are involved.

In the end they will have the answers they needed but their lives will be forever changed. There were no victors in this story.  Each person walked away scarred in some way.  They will all find the peace they need to move forward in life.  They will find that love comes in many ways.  It’s not always what we thought it was.

Heidi McLaughlin has written a story that readers will never forget.  It digs deep and touches your soul.  The reader will experience every single emotion a person can experience throughout this book.  Each of the characters is equally important.  There are no heroes or heroines.  They are real people trying to survive their lives.

Everyone may not get the happy ending they were hoping for.  That is the way life is.  When one door opens another one closes.  Sometimes what we want is not what really need.  In the end the most important thing is to love to the best of our ability.  Give the best of ourselves.  Give respect to the other people in our lives.  Always put family first.

This is one the most emotional series I have read.  Heidi McLaughlin has risen above her high standards and went beyond excellence with her Archer Brothers Series.

See the review for Here With Me, the book that started it all below……

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Don’t Miss Out on book one in The Archer Brothers Series

Here With Me

A Smut Book Junkie Reviews 2014 Favorite & 6 Star Review

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6+star

Michel’s Review

October 24, 2014

Here With Me by Heidi McLaughlin is the first book in her new series. This series is called The Archer Brothers. Being a huge Heidi McLaughlin fan, I had to one click this book the moment it went live. I devoured the book and am experiencing the ultimate reading hangover.

Wow! Here With Me by Heidi McLaughlin is her best book yet. The writing was superb! Heidi reached deep within the realm of emotions and executed them flawlessly throughout the book. The reader instantly becomes invested in the characters and feels every emotion they are experiencing. The characters are larger than life and jump off the pages. The secondary characters are an all-star supporting cast that completely makes this story surreal. The plot has been intricately woven into a book that reaches far beyond a second chance romance. Heidi adds suspense, drama, and an impossible love triangle. She adds the important elements that make these characters lives become even more real. Their families, their friends, and their support networks validate their lives. What holds all these characters together and makes them work harder to accept the unacceptable is a young boy. The five year old son that loves unconditionally. The book is written from duel POV ‘s. It flashes from past to present. The reader gets a strong sense of what brought this young couple together. They share their young love, their passion for one another, and their growth as a couple. We see them grow from teenagers to mature adults. We see their strengths and weaknesses. The one thing the reader can count on is their love for another. It is unquestionable. Their love is not the problem, it is their lives in the present, and their futures. There are difficult choices to make. Not only will these choices determine the future, they will destroy the fragile lives they have built. There is no winner. Each person will walk away hurt in some way.

Evan Archer was a Navy Seal. His last assignment should have been easy. An in and out. That mission stretched into six long years. When his team is finally able to come home they are in for a complete surprise. There are no welcoming committees, no military personal, and no transports home. Why? Because they are dead! They have been dead and buried for over five years. The lives they once had are gone. Their loved ones have moved on in life. Imagine the shock.

The only thing Evan wants is to return home to the love of his life and meet his son face to face. Riley Clarke has held his heart since he was a teenager. Imagine his shock when he finally meets up with Riley and she is not happy to see him. Imagine finding out that she is now engaged to another man. Imagine finding out that man is your twin brother. Imagine your son calling that man daddy.

Riley Clarke lost the love of her life when Evan was killed in action. She has spent the last six years moving on from that devastating loss. She had to give birth to her son alone. She has watched him grow alone. The only thing that held her together was the support of her family and Evan’s twin brother Nate. The two of them have mourned together, supported each other, and built a strong friendship that led to a loving relationship. When the man that owned her heart rises up from the grave she is once again devastated. She is angry with the world. She feels powerless and out of control. How can she choose between the man that owned her heart and the man that brought her heart back to life. Any choice she makes will destroy one of these men. Any choice she makes is going to forever break their brotherly bonds. It is going to destroy them all.

On top of all the emotional turmoil are the underlying facts about the mission. Clearly something went wrong. As the story unfolds it will raise many more questions.

I loved all the characters in this book. I am definitely rooting for Evan. I loved how he not only loved Riley as a teenager and grown woman, but how he respected her feelings and emotions at all times. He is truly a very good man. The readers did not get know much about Nate in the present times. We got to know him through memories and passages of the present. I think we will get to know his character in the next book. I think he is going to be more complex than we are anticipating.

This book ended on an emotional cliffhanger. It left the readers with so many questions. It also left the readers wanting to know Nate’s POV. I cannot wait for the next book, Choose Me by Heidi McLaughlin. I need it now!

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81sdYN8QTAL._SL1500_Ryley Clarke has grown up with the military in her blood, with both parents serving their country. Ryley knows the risks of being married to the military. But when the unthinkable happens, and her future husband is killed in action, Ryley can barely survive… until Evan’s twin brother, Nate, helps her pick up the pieces.

After serving on a special mission with the military for six years, Evan Archer returns home to find the unthinkable – the love of his life, Ryley Clarke – engaged to his brother, Nate. With Nate on deployment, Evan needs to figure out what happened in his absence, and more importantly, how to win Ryley back from the man he once considered his best friend, but now thinks of as his rival.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / Kobo

 

AboutTheAuthor
Heidi Bio Pic
Heidi is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup, two Parakeets, Gonzo & Hedwig, and their newest addition of a Highland West/Mini Schnauzer, Jill.

During the day Heidi is behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, she’s writing one of the many stories planned for release or sitting court-side during either daughter’s basketball games.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Books by Heidi McLaughlin

Forever My Girl – The Beaumont Series #1

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

My Unexpected Forever – The Beaumont Series #2

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Finding My ForeverThe Beaumont Series #3

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Finding My Way – The Beaumont Series #4

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

My Everything – A Beaumont Series Novella

Amazon

12 Days of Forever – A Beaumont Series Novella

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Lost in You

Amazon

Lost in UsA Lost in You Novella

Amazon

The Archer Brothers

Here with Me

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Choose Me

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

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Cover Reveals & Announcement: Fury Release Date + New Covers for Vain and Greed- The Seven Deadly Sins Series- Books 1-3

The much anticipated release of Fisher Amelie’s third standalone installment of The Seven Deadly Series, FURY, finally has a release date! Stay tuned below for the reveals of her new covers for VAIN and GREED, a chapter from FURY, as well as the heart-stopping trailer for FURY, due out May 4th, 2015.

Prepare Yourselves.

About FURY:

Revenge is an euphoric thing. Trust me on this. Nothing compares to the release you get when you ruin someone’s life. When they’ve stolen important things. Things that didn’t belong to them. Things I revel in making them pay for.

What? Have I offended you? I’m not here to appeal to your delicate senses. I have no intention of placating your wishes or living within your personal belief system nor do I care if you hate me. And you will hate me. Because I’m a brutal, savage, cold-blooded murderer and I’m here for my revenge.

I’m Ethan Moonsong…And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most sacrificing man to the most feared and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

Fury May 4

The new cover for the first standalone in The Seven Deadly Series, VAIN.

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Amazon ** Barnes and Noble

The new cover for the second standalone in The Seven Deadly Series, GREED.

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Amazon ** Barnes and Noble

And now for an excerpt from FURY, due out May 4th, 2015…

I heard a snap and the light cracked on, piercing through my closed lids. My head pounded and I groaned then rolled over, pulling my cover over my head to drown out the source of my pain.

“Get up,” a deep voice commanded. “Get up,” he continued, kicking my shoe.

“Dad,” I rasped. “I’m hungover and feel like shit.”

He was silent for a moment so I pulled the cover down just enough to see his face. He was not amused.

“Ethan, watch your language, get your butt up, and find a job.” I didn’t answer him. I had nothing to say that would please him. “And while you’re at it, stop this ridiculous drinkin’, son.”

I sat up, ran my hands through my long black hair and wrapped the length around my fist. I sat back against the wall, reveling in how cool it was, and tried not to vomit.

“Did you see them today?” I asked him, unable to help myself.

My dad removed his hat and leaned against the jamb, scrubbing his face with his free hand. “You like to torture yourself,” he said, shaking his head then sighing. “You remind me so much of your mama.”

The mere mention of my mother sent me spiraling down once more in depression. We’d lost her a few years before and I was still in agony. That, coupled with the fact that Spencer Blackwell stole my girl right out from underneath my nose, was enough for me to drink to excess every night. I hate him.

“Are they,” I swallowed, afraid of his answer, “are they together now?”

My father sighed again. “Ethan, get dressed.”

“Are they?” I asked again, letting my hand drop to my side. My hair slid with it and cascaded down my back.

“You are a stubborn boy. Yes, okay? Yes, they’re together. All the more reason to move on, son.”

My body suddenly weighed a thousand pounds and I felt my head reeling. So it was true then. They were together and they would probably get married and I was going to have to sit there in that godforsaken small town and watch it all happen. I was going to get a front row seat to my own misery.

I nodded once, rested my hands on my knees for a brief moment, then ran past my dad, shouldering him as I did so and nearly knocking him over before making it to the small bathroom across the hall and retching everything in my stomach into the toilet.

My dad stood in the bathroom doorway shaking his head in disappointment. When I was done, I fell back into the wall. That look shamed me to my core. Any time my dad felt let down, I felt the weight of my disgrace so heavy the only thing I could think to dull the ache was to drink myself into a stupor. It was a vicious cycle.

I let my hair cascade over my face. I heard the old wood floor creak beneath his feet as he left without another word and jumped when the front door slammed. My eyes closed as my head pounded.

The claw foot tub sat to my left so I leaned up and turned on the water, slowly removing my clothing one piece at time. Each movement felt like a hammer slamming into my head.

“God,” I groaned. “I am an idiot.”

I stood then stepped underneath the warm water and just stood in silence, letting the water absorb into my hair and seep into my skin. I breathed in the steam deeply. I was miserable. Not just physically but my heart was the heaviest it’d felt since my mom passed and I had no one to blame but Spencer Blackwell for that.

The asshole who rode into my life under the guise of helping his sister only to yank what I thought was a stable foundation right out from underneath me. He stole from me, a bona fide thief, and I wanted to make him pay. No, I needed to make him pay.

But how?

I finished showering and threw a towel around my waist, stepping from the tub and toppling onto my bed when I reached my room and fell to sleep, not even bothering to dress myself. I fell quickly, fantasizing about my revenge.

I must have slept for hours because when I woke, it was pitch black outside. I rolled onto my side and checked my alarm clock. Eleven o’clock. Perfect timing, I thought.

I sat up and tucked my towel around my waist a little tighter, stood and went straight for my dresser. I grabbed a pair of boxers and socks and put those on before heading for my closet and tossing an old, worn pair of jeans on, a thermal and an old tee. I brushed my teeth, grabbed my wallet and keys, threw on my boots and headed toward my piece of shit truck.

I knew exactly where I was going because it was where I planned on going every night until I forgot about Caroline Hunt.

My truck started but barely and I tore out of our driveway not bothering with my seatbelt, kicking up dust and rocks as my tires spun against the loose gravel. I’d replaced my stereo because I couldn’t stand radio, at least not Kalispell radio, and plugged my phone into the audio cable. Bastille’s Dreams remake blasted and I turned it up, letting the painful lyrics wash over me, fueling my desire to get plastered as quickly as possible.

I entertained myself with thoughts of strangling Spencer Blackwell with both hands then beating the crap out of him with my fists. Bastard. I pulled into the local pub and put my piece into park before tucking my left foot into the emergency brake.

I disconnected my phone and the stereo went silent, reminding me of how alone I really was. I turned the engine off and absolute silence surrounded me. I couldn’t take it. My door creaked with age as it swung open and I slammed it shut, unable not to. The fury raging in my blood was more than I could contain.

Before heading inside, my hand went to the empty space between the cab and the bed and searched for the bottle of whiskey I always had wedged in between. I took a large swig, not wanting to spend too much of my savings on the liquor inside the crap establishment. After all, I was going to need it. Revenge was a costly business.

I took one more swig for good measure and wedged it back in its usual place then wiped my mouth on the back of my sleeve. My hair swung heavy in my eyes. It was still a little wet from my shower and I thought about tying it back with the extra leather tie I usually kept in my glove compartment but thought better of it. It helped me hide and I wanted to hide.

I looked around me. The lot was full but I only recognized a few cars this time which was good because I had no intention of making conversation. Regardless, most of Kalispell had stopped trying because I’d rarely done any responding since Cricket cut out my fucking heart and ate it raw. The hair was only insurance.

I took two deep draws of air, gulping it down, desperate for it to soothe me but, of course, it didn’t. I let each escape my lips in shaky breaths and clenched my fists over and over before deciding to head inside.

My boots crunched the gravel beneath my feet as I headed toward the door. When I entered, I ducked my head toward the floor and let my hair cover me, not that it did any good other than to conceal me. I could still feel the heat of their stares, though, still feel the pity in their gazes. I wanted so badly to yell at them to fuck off but I kept as much composure as possible. I couldn’t get kicked out of the only real bar in Kalispell.

I picked a stool at the end of the bar, the same stool I always did in the corner and in the back because it was dark. I sat and met Vi’s eyes. She sauntered over to me, placing her elbows on the bar top, giving me a clear view of her generous chest. I held back my eye roll.

“Hello, darlin’,” she drawled. “You look like shit.”

“The usual, Vi,” I told her as quietly as I could.

“How ‘bout a kiss then first?” she asked, leaning in a bit more.

“Christ, Vi, how many times? Huh? Just get me the gosh damn drink.”

She laughed. “Already worked up then, I see. I like it,” she said, winking.

Vi, or Violet, was thirty-nine years old, had lived in Kalispell her entire life, and had worked as a bartender for over fifteen years. I could tell at one time Vi had been a beautiful woman but I could also tell she had heard many hollow promises from equally hollow men and that she obviously believed them all. Otherwise, why would she still be there? I watched her tired eyes and her slightly too-forced smile. She had the look of someone who used to be chased but had graduated to the chaser. She looked miserable.

She left and returned with an empty glass and a bottle of Jack. She set the glass on the bar and filled it to the brim. She was being generous. She was always this way. She told me once she hoped I would drink it all away and decide to take her up on her offer. I told her that would be a cold day in hell, to which she only laughed.

“Drink up, buttercup,” she said, smiling lasciviously.

“I will,” I told the bar top.

I watched the world around me through the breaks in the hanging strands and six glasses later, I was starting to finally feel numb. I lifted my head a little feeling slightly relieved, feeling like I could breathe a little deeper now that the ache wasn’t so severe. I continued to search the crowd, not knowing who I was really looking for.

A quiet but persistent nagging awareness took residence in my chest for some unknown reason as I watched a girl dance on her own in the middle of the dance floor. Others around her paid no attention to her but she was the first person my eyes were drawn to. I studied her.

Her hair was tucked into a blue scarf, little tendrils peeking through and grazing across her neck whenever she moved. She was extraordinarily tall and her hips and rear end were more indulgent than I’d ever considered before. She turned slightly, giving me her silhouette. Her stomach was flat and her breasts were full. She was beautiful, I could tell, even if I couldn’t see her fully through the low lights.

“Jeez,” I said, swiping a hand down my face. “I’ve had too much.”

But I still couldn’t stop watching her. She wore worn jean cut offs, a fitted button up with the sleeves rolled up her forearms and ankle boots. She rolled her shoulders playfully, enticing someone she knew just off the dance floor. Another girl joined her side and they did the robot. She threw her head back and laughed.

This shocked me almost sober. “That laugh,” I whispered to myself. “That laugh,” I repeated. I knew it but couldn’t quite place it.

She took her friend’s hand and twirled her around the floor vivaciously. She was so full of life. So my exact opposite.

She lightheartedly skipped in place and raised an arm in salute to her friend before turning toward me.

That’s when I got a good, clear look at her. I gasped out loud and placed my hand on the back of my head, my elbow on the bartop, ducking my head down lower to hide myself further.

Please, please, please do not recognize me, I thought, still watching her from the corner of my eye.

She stood two seats down from me. “Vi!” she said, laughing a little. “Vi!”

Vi turned toward her. “Hey, baby! What’ll it be?”

“Can I have a water, please?” she asked, sitting down and releasing a breath of exhaustion. She continued to smile, though, and it ate a little at my gut.

“Of course,” Vi answered and started to pour water into a clear plastic cup. Vi’s eyes pinched a little. “Hey?” she said.

“Yeah?” she asked.

“How come I never see you drink anything harder?”

Her face fell a little but picked right back up. No one would have noticed it but me. “I’ve never had good luck with alcohol,” she admitted a bit sadly.

Vi was quick enough to recognize something there that didn’t want to be said and let it go with a nod, handing over the water without another word.

“Vi!” someone else called out and she walked their direction.

She took a long drink from her water and set it down, turning toward the crowd and surveying the dancers. A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, some private joke she shared with herself.

I looked on her for a long time. Long enough for my heart to calm itself. Long enough to struggle with myself in an internal argument. Finally, I decided that I wasn’t watching her because I found her attractive, though I knew she was. Only that I was wondering what she was doing there.

She turned around in her seat after catching her breath and glanced at me. For a moment, I believed she didn’t recognize me but I was wrong. A second scan confirmed it for her. She leaned in and narrowed her eyes. Shit.

Ethan?” she asked. “Is that you?”

“Hello, Finley,” I answered.

Check out the FURY Trailer!!

 

FisherAmelieAbout Fisher Amelie:

Fisher Amelie resides in the South with her kick ace husband slash soul mate. She earned her first ‘mama’ patch in 2009. She also lives with her Weim, ‘Jonah’, and her Beta, ‘Whale’. All these living creatures keep the belly of her life full, sometimes to the point of gluttony, but she doesn’t mind all that much because life isn’t worth living if it isn’t entertaining, right?

Fisher is the author of The Seven Deadly Series, The Sleepless Series, and Leaving Series, and was a semi-finalist in Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Award.

Find Fisher on Amazon!

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Fury May 4

Happy Release + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Holding Strong by Lori Foster – Ultimate Series – Book 2

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Ultimate Series – Book 2

By Lori Foster

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Synopsis

An up-and-coming MMA fighter wants more than just one night from a woman fleeing her past in New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster’s irresistible new novel

Heavyweight fighter Denver Lewis plays real nice, but he doesn’t share. That’s why he’s been avoiding top-notch flirt Cherry Peyton. But a man can only resist those lush curves for so long. Their encounter surpasses all his fantasies, bringing out protective urges that Cherry’s about to need more than she knows…

Denver’s combination of pure muscle and unexpected tenderness has been driving Cherry wild. Yet no sooner does she get what she’s been craving than old troubles show up on her doorstep. And this time, Cherry can’t hide behind a carefree facade. Because the man by her side is one who’ll fight like hell to keep her safe…if only she’ll trust him enough to let him…

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

5Star

Tina’s Review

Five Smoldering, Sexy but Sensitive Stars!
What’s better than being roommates with Cannon Colter’s sister, Merissa? Maybe being friends with all the hot, uber alpha males at the rec center because of it. Wait… no, it’s those protective males banding together when trouble comes looking for Cherry – and Denver is leading the pack! Denver is, without a doubt, a total Alpha male. There’s kind of a role-reversal here at the beginning… Cherry’s the life of the party and Denver does not want a casual one-nighter with her, he wants her for the long-term. That’s incredible hot.
He growled, “Don’t fool yourself, girl. I could never ignore you, no matter how hard I tried.” He lightly bit her shoulder, then smoothed the spot with his hot tongue. “Anytime you were around, I knew it. I *felt* it. Clear down to my bones.”
I love Denver and Cherry’s characters, individually and as a couple. The standard fair of secondary characters (all the rec fighters, plus a few cameo cross-overs from Love Undercover and SBC) made an appearance. Dialogue and interaction was natural, realistic and believable. The plot is full and dynamic. My only complaint is that it was a little TOO full. Pamela… ugh! There were undercurrents for Armie and Rissy, leading me to believe they’ll be getting their book sooner than expected. Stack and Vanity obviously are next in the line up. There were a few spots that I worried that they were trying to take over the book. Ms. Foster managed to rein them in, but just barely. The flow of the book is exactly what you’d expect of Ms. Foster. This one did, however, feel more emotionally focused than suspense and action seeded. I’m okay with that, but there may be some out there that anticipated more action than was given. There are plenty of conflicts, but calm and controlled Denver always manages to resolve them in a quick and efficient manner (while apologizing profusely when he’s being a bonehead). Predictability was very low. The climax of the story is fast-paced and exciting, leading into a conclusion which is solid. There’s even a Cannon Colter Bonus scene further hinting at what’s to come. This was a truly enjoyable read and I look forward to TOUGH LOVE, due out August 2015.

5Star

Michel’s Review

What’s better than an MMA Fighter romance?  I will tell you what is better….when Lori Foster adds her magic touch!  The results is one swoon worthy hot Alpha fighter that will take you down in flames.

Put one Alpha fighter, one party girl, and pack of other fighters willing to protect said party girl.  Add a whole lot of trouble, a whole lot of chemistry, and one bone tingling romance and you get the perfect book, Holding Strong by Lori Foster.

I absolutely loved Denver and Cherry.  Both were strong, yet vulnerable characters, that had depth.  As a couple and as individuals, they pulled at the readers heartstrings.  Their story is packed full of emotion.

I could not put this book down.  It had every element I look for in a book.  The characters came to life, the romance curled my toes, and the overall story kept me entertained to the very last word.

Lori Foster has another winner by unanimous decision in Holding Strong!

The Ultimate Series

81k4a1GiZAL._SL1500_Hard Knocks- Prequel Novella

In the stunning prequel novella to her new mixed martial arts series, New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster brings together an elite fighter and the woman he’s determined to win.

Power. Brute strength. Unforgettable moves. It’s no wonder Harper Gates hasn’t been able to get her fling with Gage “Savage” Ringer out of her head. Months have passed since she laid eyes—or any other body parts—on him. Months without a word of contact…until, sidelined by injury, he comes back to town.

Staying focused on his training seemed like a smart move to Gage, even if he thought about Harper every day. Seeing her again only makes it clear how much is at stake. He’s got one night to earn back her trust. One night to show her that behind his breathtaking skill and ripped body is a man who’ll give her everything she needs.

Don’t miss No Limits, the first novel in Lori Foster’s Ultimate series.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

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A surprise inheritance reunites a mixed martial arts fighter with the woman he’s never forgotten in the first in a smoldering new series from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster

Cannon Colter is quintessential hero material: chiseled jawline, shredded body—the works. He’s also the guy who rescued Yvette Sweeny from kidnappers, only to put an end to her romantic dreams. These days, she’s older, smarter, determined to face whatever life throws her way. Even the prospect of sharing a house and business with Cannon.

Cannon knew Yvette wanted him three years ago. But she was young—and some things are worth waiting for. Thrown together by her grandfather’s legacy, he realizes how deep Yvette’s scars really go, and how much danger lurks in their quiet town. As pent-up desire explodes between them, protecting her becomes the only fight that matters. And he’ll break all the rules to do it….

Buy: Amazon/ Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

holding strongHolding Strong- Book 2

An up-and-coming MMA fighter wants more than just one night from a woman fleeing her past in New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster’s irresistible new novel

Heavyweight fighter Denver Lewis plays real nice, but he doesn’t share. That’s why he’s been avoiding top-notch flirt Cherry Peyton. But a man can only resist those lush curves for so long. Their encounter surpasses all his fantasies, bringing out protective urges that Cherry’s about to need more than she knows…

Denver’s combination of pure muscle and unexpected tenderness has been driving Cherry wild. Yet no sooner does she get what she’s been craving than old troubles show up on her doorstep. And this time, Cherry can’t hide behind a carefree facade. Because the man by her side is one who’ll fight like hell to keep her safe…if only she’ll trust him enough to let him…

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

About Lori Foster

lori-foster-8Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Berkley, Silhouette and Samhain. She is currently with Harlequin.
Lori believes it’s important to give back to the community as much as possible, and for that reason she ran special contests in conjunction with a publisher, facilitating many first sales for new authors. She routinely organizes events among authors and readers to gather donations for various organizations.
Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

— #GIVEAWAY —
(3) swag packs, including: a set of Ultimate magnets, a Holding Strong keychain, and various Lori Foster bookmarks, etc.
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holding strong

Happy Release Day: Sea of Stars by Amy A. Bartol – Kricket Series – Book 2

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Sea of Stars

The Kricket Series – Book 2

By Amy A. Bartol

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Synopsis

Eighteen-year-old Kricket Hollowell was looking for her place in the world when she discovered that the universe was bigger—and more dangerous—than she had ever dreamed. Now, whisked across space to the planet Ethar, Kricket learns that her genetic ability to see the future makes her a sought-after commodity…and the catalyst for war between her star-crossed parents’ clans. According to Alameedan prophecy, one house will rise to power and the other will be completely wiped out, and Kricket’s precognition is believed to be the weapon that will tip the scales.

A target of both the Rafe and the Alameeda houses, Kricket finds protection—and a home—in the arms of Trey, her Etharian bodyguard-turned-boyfriend. But her visions of what’s to come disturb her deeply, especially since she must discover whether the gift of foresight will allow her to rewrite the future, or if her fate is as immovable as the stars.

The highly anticipated sequel to Under Different Stars, winner of four 2014 utopYA Awards.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble 

The Kricket Series

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Under Different Stars

The Kricket Series- Book 1

By Amy A. Bartol

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Synopsis

Kricket Hollowell never wished upon stars. She was too busy hiding in plain sight, eluding Chicago’s foster care system. As her eighteenth birthday approaches, she now eagerly anticipates the day she’ll stop running and finally find her place in the world.

That day comes when she meets a young Etharian soldier named Trey Allairis, who has been charged with coming to Earth to find Kricket and transport her to her true home. As danger draws close, he must protect her until she can wield the powers she cannot use on Earth…and he soon realizes that counting a galaxy of stars would be easier than losing this extraordinary girl.

Kyon knows the powerful depths of Kricket’s gifts—gifts he’ll control when he takes her for his tribe and leads the forces that will claim Ethar and destroy his enemies, starting with Trey Allairis. Now, Kricket faces the most difficult choice of her life: whether to wage a battle for survival or a fight for love.

Winner of four 2014 utopYA Awards, including Best Book of the Year and Best Sci-Fi Book of the Year.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

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amy bartolAuthor of Inescapable: The Premonition Series (Volume 1), Intuition: The Premonition Series (Volume 2), Indebted: The Premonition Series (Volume 3) , and Incendiary: The Premonition Series (Volume 4). Currently working on a fifth novel in the Premonition Series entitled Iniquity.

Under Different Stars (Kricket Series Book 1)
Sea of Stars (The Kricket Series Book 2) – (Release date 3/31/15)

The Divided – A Science Fiction Romance short story, which is included in the Take Me To Your Reader: An Otherworld Anthology.

I live in Michigan with my husband and our two sons. My family is very supportive of my writing. When I’m writing, they often bring me the take-out menu so that I can call and order them dinner. They listen patiently when I talk about my characters like they’re real. They rarely roll their eyes when I tell them I’ll only be a second while I finish writing a chapter…and then they take off their coats. They ask me how the story is going when I surface after living for hours in a world of my own making. They have learned to accept my “writing uniform” consisting of a slightly unflattering pink fleece jacket, t-shirt, and black yoga pants. And they smile at my nerdy bookishness whenever I try to explain urban fantasy to them. In short, they get me, so they are perfect and I am blessed. Please visit me at my website: http://www.amyabartol.weebly.com

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Happy Release: Sail by M. Mabie- The Wake Series- Book 2

 

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The Wake Series- Book 2

By M. Mabie

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Synopsis

This isn’t just a two-year long one-night stand. It’s my life.

This is my life. Our life. It isn’t just some careless affair.

I’ve made the worst decisions a woman could, but I’ll earn my second chance.

She can try keeping all the guilt for herself, but I’m just as much to blame.

Loving Casey wasn’t my biggest mistake. Fighting it for so long was.

I’ll show her how fearless our love makes me. I’ll protect her torn heart.

He still has magic in his eyes. He’s the man who makes me happy.

Her voice still brings me to my knees. She says my name like it’s sacred.

I live for the day when I’m his. To take care of him. To love him the way he deserves.

I can’t wait to be all she needs. I can give her a happy life, security and so much love.

Sometimes two ships never meet in the night, but ours did.

Sometimes the water is rough. It beats you all to hell until you have no choice but get stronger.

Our love story reads more like a tragedy, but to me it’s clean and pure.

Let them point their fingers. Without a love like ours, they haven’t really lived. I pity them.

I’m a cheating wife and a villain. I am his honeybee.

I’m a snake in the grass and I sleep best when I’m lying next to his wife.

I want to be his everything.

I’m nothing without her anyway.

This isn’t even close to over.

It’ll never be over.

Sail is the second book in the continuing Wake Series.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

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Bait

The Wake Series – Book 1

By M. Mabie

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Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

He was trouble from the start, but I couldn’t resist.
[She was the best kind of trouble. The kind that was so wrong, it felt right.]

I’ve tried and failed to stay away from him.
[I’ve done everything in my power to make her mine and keep her.]

He’s almost impossible to say no to.
[She never tells me yes.]

We’re always fighting.
[When we’re not fighting, we’re… well… making up.]

He makes me laugh so hard.
[I miss her laugh the most.]

I’m a liar.
[She knows the truth, but won’t admit it.]

Sometimes, I wish I’d never met him.
[I wish we could meet all over again. I’d do better.]

His girlfriend knows.
[The guy she’s with is a fool.]

I’ll never love anyone like I love him.
[She doesn’t love me enough to choose us.]

It was the wrong place.
[It was the wrong time.]

It should have been him.
[It will always be her.]

*This book contains adult situations and is recommended for adult readers.

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Author Bio:

7420449M. Mabie lives in Illinois with her husband. She is the author of the steamy comedy Fade In. Her sophomore release, Bait, is the first book in the angst-filled erotic Wake Series. She writes unconventional love stories and tries to embody “real-life romance.”

She cares about politics, but will not discuss them in public. She uses the same fork at every meal, watches Wayne’s World while cleaning, and lets her dog sleep on her head. She has always been a writer. In fact, she was born with a pen in her hand, which almost never happens. Almost.

M. Mabie usually doesn’t speak in third-person either. She promises.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Newsletter

 

Sail cover

 

Cover Reveal + Giveaway : Etched In Stone by Mayra Statham- Six Degrees Series- Book 2

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Etched In Stone

Six Degrees Series – Book 2

Release Date: April 14, 2015

By Mayra Statham

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Synopsis

One look, one moment and I was completely defenseless.

One touch, one embrace and I was utterly consumed.

tOne kiss, one caress and that’s all it took.

One look and thirty-four year old Parker Stone knew his life would never be the same. She called to him unlike anything ever had in his life, sparking an unbridled desire and captivating him completely.

One touch and twenty-eight year old Liz Del Rio wasn’t sure she’d be able to walk away. Experiencing a life full of disappointment and heartache, she wasn’t looking for a relationship, let alone love and all the risks that came with it. Every time life had taught her the same lesson: not to let people in because they always leave and when they leave, it leaves scars upon your soul.

One kiss sealed their fate and they knew they would never be able to live without one another.

Liz and Parker embed themselves into each other’s world. Passion burns bright and fast, but what happens when your lives are connected in ways you could have never imagined?

Secrets from Liz’s past threaten to break not only what they have, but who she is as they learn that once love is etched in stone nothing can make it crumble.

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Release Day Shindig

https://www.facebook.com/events/1593912670824445/

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The Six Degrees Series

mybookCrown’s Chance At Love

 Book 1

Sabrina Miller lives in darkness. Having lost the love of her life just three years ago, she is content to live her life in muted grey just so she doesn’t have to feel. As a single mother of three she immerses herself in her career and daily routine all while letting her inner light extinguish.

One Tuesday morning, a chance encounter with Michael Crown threatens to break down all of the barriers she’s worked so hard to build around her. But who really Is Michael Crown?

Despite his struggles with his own darkness, Michael Crown finds himself at a crossroads with Sabrina. He has a chance to completely let his guard down and let love in, but it may come at the cost of losing the only woman he’s ever really ever loved. Can he find the redemption he so desperately needs and let Sabrina Miller in?

Buy: Amazon 

MAYRACR

Author Bio:

proooooooooMayra Statham resides in California. She is married with kids. Her addiction to romance novels and being an avid reader in the genre has made her dream come true. She enjoys going to book signings with her sister. She also loves helping others indies by promoting their work. Some of her favorite authors are Kristen Ashley & Roxie Rivera . She loves being contacted by readers.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon Author Page

Giveaway

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Happy Release + 5 Star Review + Giveaway : Jake Understood by Penelope Ward

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Jake Understood

Companion & Sequel to Jake Undone

By Penelope Ward

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Release Day Sale-2

**ONLY SALE OF 2015. $2.99 RELEASE DAY ONLY!**

Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author of Jake Undone, comes a full-length standalone companion novel and sequel.

A different side to the story: Jake’s side.

“We’re getting a new roommate,” they said.

I thought nothing of it…until she walked in the door. Her hand trembled in mine as she looked at me with fearful eyes. My entire world spun on its axis.

Nina…

It was a mismatch made in heaven: innocent girl from the boonies moves in with tattooed, pierced, badboy engineer.

I came up with a bet, a plan to tutor her in math and coach her through her phobias. What I wasn’t betting on was becoming addicted to her.

But I was living a double life on weekends, and once she found out about it, she’d be gone.

I had to protect myself and that meant one thing: I couldn’t fall in love.

 

In Jake Understood, pivotal scenes from Jake Undone are retold from Jake’s point of view combined with ALL-NEW material from both the past and present time where Jake Undone left off. It can stand alone but if both books are read, should follow Jake Undone. Contains graphic sexual content and harsh language. It is only appropriate for adult readers age 18+.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

Release Day Sale-2

5Star

Tracey’s Review

In Jake Undone, Penelope Ward gave us the story of Jake and Nina as told from Nina’s point of view. Jake Understood, the companion novella to the first book, follows the same timeline, but is from Jake’s point of view. Unlike some other series, though, this is not just a retelling of the same events in a ‘he said, she said’ kind of way. With Jake Understood, Penelope shows us the whole picture of who Jake is, what motivates him, and leaves us with a deeper understanding of his character. And, if I loved Jake in the first book, then I can say that I absolutely adore him in this second one.

“I think sometimes people come into our lives at a certain time for a reason.”

Penelope is a master at writing the angsty read. Her characters are real, having known real heartache and managed to rise above it. Both Jake and Nina have been shaped by painful pasts. I think, though, that it is their pasts that draw them together, that make them perfect for each other. Jake is the strength that Nina needs to overcome her fears, and Nina is the hope to his hopelessness.

“Adversity only strengthens the kind of love we have. When you’re with the person you’re meant to be with, that’s what happens.”

As a counterpoint to all of the trials that they encounter, there is such humor and love in the way that Jake and Nina relate to each other. I found myself smiling at Jake’s internal dialogue, at the poems that he wrote, and those that he didn’t, in the origami bats, and at his ingenuity and tenacity when helping Nina overcome her phobias.

“So, Nina, what’s been your favorite part about today so far?”
“Hmm…let’s see. There were lots,” she said facetiously. “But I think number one goes to…p**ssing my pants a little when you popped the cork, causing me to actually believe for a moment that the elevator had exploded into a ball of fire. Thanks for that.”
“That’s what I’m here for, Kodak moments like that.”

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Jake Understood, and seeing things through Jake’s eyes. I also appreciated the way that Penelope brought closure to all of the things not quite answered in Jake Undone. And, having regular appearances by Jake’s sister and brother-in-law and my other favorites, Skylar and Mitch, made this an even more endearing read. Five heartfelt stars for Jake Understood, one of my favorites of 2015, and a must-read addition to your bookshelf.

 

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Don’t Miss Out….

RARE LIMITED TIME .99 SALE! (Reg. $3.99)

Jake Undone

 

From the New York Times Bestselling author of Stepbrother Dearest…

Nina Kennedy was alive…but not living…until she met him.

Planes, trains, heights…you name it, Nina was afraid of it and led a sheltered life ruled by irrational fears and phobias. When she moves to Brooklyn for nursing school, that life is turned upside down, as she develops an intense but unwanted attraction to her gorgeous roommate, who’s pierced, tattooed and just happens to be the smartest person she’s ever met.

Behind Jake Green’s rough exterior and devilish smile, lies a heart of gold. He makes it his mission to change Nina’s outlook on life. When he agrees to tutor her, they forge a bet and the stakes are high as Jake forces Nina to face her demons. He just wasn’t expecting to fall hard for her in the process.

What Nina doesn’t realize, is that Jake has been living his own private hell. Once he drops a bombshell, will their love survive it?

Told in two parts from both Nina and Jake’s points of view, Jake Undone is a STANDALONE story and a companion to the novels Jake Understood, My Skylar and Gemini.

***Author’s note: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes / Kobo

Author Bio:

 b2ca1162840c0a8c0911d0.L._V366446166_SY470_Penelope Ward is a USA Today Bestselling author.

She grew up in Boston with five older brothers. She spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family-friendly career.

Penelope lives for reading books in the new adult genre, coffee and hanging out with her friends and family on weekends.

She is the proud mother of a beautiful 10-year-old girl with autism (the inspiration for the character Callie in Gemini) and a 8-year-old boy, both of whom are the lights of her life.

Penelope, her husband and kids reside in Rhode Island.

 

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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Exclusive Smut Book Junkie Reviews Giveaway….

See Our Facebook Page to Enter…….

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Blog Tour + Review: Only For Her by Cristin Harber- Only Series – Book 2

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OFH Amazon (1)

Only For Her

Only Series – Book 2

Sequel To Only For Him

By Cristin Harber

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Synopsis

The second installment in the Only series. Must read book one first!!

First loves never die but Grayson Ford comes close. Bleeding out in a war zone, he barters with God. Bring him back alive, and he’ll make it right with his girl.

All I want is Emma. I need her, and I fight for her memory. A story. A smile. Anything. But it’s all blank.

 

Emma is not his girl anymore. Time has skipped by and life’s been hard. She strips to pay the bills, waitresses to fill the hours between classes and her third job. All while working to be the best mama she can be to the little girl who will never know her daddy. Even though Grayson abandoned her, she mourned his death. Until he calls, and everything she knew was wrong.

It’s him. The him that ruined my life. That made my life. That confused my mind to the point that I can’t figure out if I’ve been destroyed or set free. The him that… is… dead.

He’s back with one objective–Emma Kingsley–and she never sees it coming.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

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4 Star

Michel’s Review

Only For Her is the second novella in the Only series by Cristin Harber.  The first book, Only For Him , left off with a major cliffhanger.  Gray left Emma walked away from Emma without so much as a goodbye, let alone an explanation.  Their one and only night together should of been the beginning of a love that lasts a lifetime.  What it left instead was heartbreak and a baby.  It left Emma alone to pick up the pieces of her shattered heart.  She had to give up her dreams of a life with Gray and her dreams of college life.

This book fast forwards to three years later.  Gray is in the middle of combat.  Emma is in the middle of surviving her life as a single mother to a beautiful little girl.  Neither one is in a happy place in their lives.  Gray is losing his solid memories of Emma, the one thing that always kept him going.  Emma is harboring anger and resentment towards Gray for leaving her.

When the unspeakable happens it will change both of their lives once again.  Emma believes that Gray is dead.  Gray wants to find Emma as soon as he is able to because he has finally realized he needs more than her memory to survive.

When he finally finds Emma, he finds a very different girl than he left behind.  He is also a very different man.  He is beyond damaged physically.  He suffers from the guilt of abandoning Emma, survivors guilt, PTSD, and still carries the scars of his childhood.  The one thing that he is determined to do is make things right with Emma once again.  He is determined to prove that she is the only person he can ever love.

It may be too late.  He is in for the shock of his life.  He is father.

Is he capable of being a good father? Is he capable of loving both Emma and his daughter?  Will Emma ever forgive him?  Can he forgive himself? Can he overcome all of the emotional scars in his life?

The second novella moved a bit fast for all of the issues that needed to be dealt with.  It was still very emotional and touching.  I am deeply invested in these characters and their lives.  I am looking forward to the third book, Only For Us.  I am hoping it will be a bit longer and resolve their lives.

Only For Him Series

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Only For Him

Only Series – Book 1

Genre – New Adult

By Cristin Harber

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Synopsis

Grayson Ford and Emma Kinglsey–close since they were kids, opposites in every way. He’s the stuff high school crushes are made of, Mister Popular, and captain of every team. She’s artsy, cute, and not in his league, though fully aware of Summerland’s “I Dream of Dating Grayson Ford” support group.

I can’t say no. The girl’s had my heart since before I knew it went missing.

He hides a life of hell. His father hates him, his mother’s gone. Emma is his only savior, yet she doesn’t know her power over him. She’s the only girl he wants, the only one he could ever tell–though he won’t.

I’m stronger, bigger, more of a man than he’ll ever be, but because I ruined his life, I’ve taken his crap, his attacks, the vulgar nature of his existence.

Until she discovers Gray’s embarrassment, his humiliation. Emma fights for him and for a chance. Theirs is a Cinderella story that she believes impossible. But as the layers peel back, it’s just a guy who needs a girl in order to keep breathing.

My mind is already doodling Mrs. Grayson Ford in imaginary notebooks. He has no clue where my head is at… But, given that I didn’t see what just happened coming, maybe I have no clue where his head is at either.

Only for Him. Only series, Volume One.
All novellas will release Spring 2015.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Coming Soon – Only For Us – Book 3

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Only For Us

Only Series – Book 3

Release Date: April 14, 2015

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The third installment of the Only series. Must be read in order.

Grayson and Emma. First love. True love. And… they have a daughter. Abandonment is his curse. He left his woman, survived his team, and missed the moments most precious to a father. Until now.

I didn’t know you were killing yourself with work. I didn’t know you’re raising our daughter. So help me God, had I known, there is no military force on earth that would’ve kept me from you.

Love needs to heal all, or they won’t survive the collision of their separate lives. Emma must reach deep into her heart that is barely hanging on and find forgiveness. Grayson, wrecked with PTSD-filled nightmares, must prove that he’s here to stay and able to rebuild his family against all odds.

I need to say I love you. But what I mean is I love you–in a way that defies definition and exists only in a world that you and I are in.

Only for Us is the third installment in the Only series. All novellas will release Spring 2015.

 

 

ABOUT CRISTIN HARBER

cristin harberCristin Harber is a USA Today bestselling romantic suspense and military romance author. Fans voted her onto Amazon’s Top Picks for Debut Romance Authors in 2013, and her debut Titan series was #1 romantic suspense, #1 military romance, and a USA Today Top 100 bestseller.

She lives outside Washington, DC with her family and English Bulldog.

Website | Newsletter | Facebook  | Twitter | Goodreads

 

You can become a Titan Agent for exclusive scenes, details, and more! Visit the official Titan website here!

 Text TITAN to 66866 to sign up for exclusive emails!

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Cover Reveal: Traveling Woman by Jane Harvey-Berrick – The Traveling Series – Book 2

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The Traveling Woman

The Traveling Series – Book 2

By Jane Harvey-Berrick

Release Date: April 7, 2015

Pre Order: Amazon

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Synopsis

THE CONCLUDING STORY of Aimee and Kestrel, begun in THE TRAVELING MAN
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

How many times do you gamble on love? When love has knocked you down, should you give it another chance? When does optimism become stupidity?

And what happens when the man you’re in love with is never still, always moving, always traveling? Do you say goodbye, or do you leave behind everything that you’ve worked for, everything that you’ve ever known? Can a traveling carnival be my home?

Oh. You thought I had the answers. No, sorry. No answers, just a lot of questions—and a heart that wants to rule my head.

Can one person be my home?

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The Traveling Series

 

 

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SBJ2015FavoriteTraveling Man

The Traveling Duet Series – Book 1

By Jane Harvey-Berrick

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Synopsis

I was ordinary. Nice.

He was extraordinary. And he wasn’t always nice.

Moody and difficult, brilliant and beautiful, Kes scared me and he protected me. He could be incredibly hurtful and incredibly thoughtful. He wasn’t perfect, but he was perfect for me. He challenged me, he took me out of my safe little box and showed me the world could be magnificent. He was everything I wasn’t.”

* * * *

Aimee Anderson is ten when the traveling carnival first comes to her nice little town. She doesn’t expect her world to change so completely. But meeting Kestrel Donohue puts her life on a different path.

Even though she only sees him for the two weeks of the year when he passes through her home town, his friendship is the most important of her life. As a child’s friendship grows to adult love, the choices become harder, and both Kes and Aimee realize that two weeks a year will never be enough…

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

6 Star Review: http://smutbookjunkie.com/2015/01/28/traveling-man-by-jane-harvey-berrick-2015-favorite-6-star-review-giveaway/

 

About Jane Harvey- Berrick

qupVbuSBI lived in London for over 10 years and have a love affair with New York. It’s only since I have moved to the countryside, that the words have really begun to flow.

I live in a small village by the ocean and walk my little dog, Pip, every day. It’s on those beachside walks that I have all my best ideas.

Writing has become a way of life – and one that I love to share.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

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