Sunday, May 6, 2018

Blog Tour Review—My Oxford Year by Julie Whelan



Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Published: April 24, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Source: Print ARC
Rating: 5


Blurb-
Major Motion Picture Already in Development with Temple Hill Entertainment

Set amidst the breathtaking beauty of Oxford, this sparkling debut novel tells the unforgettable story about a determined young woman eager to make her mark in the world and the handsome man who introduces her to an incredible love that will irrevocably alter her future—perfect for fans of JoJo Moyes and Nicholas Sparks.

American Ella Durran has had the same plan for her life since she was thirteen: Study at Oxford. At 24, she’s finally made it to England on a Rhodes Scholarship when she’s offered an unbelievable position in a rising political star’s presidential campaign. With the promise that she’ll work remotely and return to DC at the end of her Oxford year, she’s free to enjoy her Once in a Lifetime Experience. That is, until a smart-mouthed local who is too quick with his tongue and his car ruins her shirt and her first day.

When Ella discovers that her English literature course will be taught by none other than that same local, Jamie Davenport, she thinks for the first time that Oxford might not be all she’s envisioned. But a late-night drink reveals a connection she wasn’t anticipating finding and what begins as a casual fling soon develops into something much more when Ella learns Jamie has a life-changing secret.

Immediately, Ella is faced with a seemingly impossible decision: turn her back on the man she’s falling in love with to follow her political dreams or be there for him during a trial neither are truly prepared for. As the end of her year in Oxford rapidly approaches, Ella must decide if the dreams she’s always wanted are the same ones she’s now yearning for.
 

Review-
“Some people have friends with benefits. You have sex with benefits. You never pretend this is about anything other than what it is.”

I don’t know why this quote stuck with me so much throughout the whole story. I’ll get back to that quote here in a sec. Our main characters, Ella and Jamie, we some of the best I’ve read this year. They had so much more going on
for them then meets the eye. This is a book about love, hope, and finding oneself. It’s also about this beautiful and messy thing we call life. 

Ella has dreamed about going to Oxford and studying for abroad since she was a little girl. She wins a prestigious scholarship to do just that—on her first day there, she meets a man who knocks into her...literally. 

Now about the quote I love so much. Both Ella and Jamie aren’t looking for a long term relationship. They’re looking for something more casual. Which begins the lovely non-relationship of “friends with benefits”. But it never truly was that way at all—they had too much of a connection for it to ever remain like that. Can two people with chemistry such as them, ever truly just remain friends?

Then we learn Jamie’s secret. One that I honestly didn’t see coming. The last half of the book is centered around that plot—one that I thought brought the story from a four star read, to a five star. Mainly because it made me feel so much. I loved the characters and everything they represented. Overall, if you’re looking for a book that has a strong female lead and is romantic in all the best ways, this is for you!

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 




About the Author:
Julia Whelan is a screenwriter, life-long actor, and award-winning audiobook narrator. She graduated with a degree in English and Creative Writing from Middlebury College and Oxford University. While in England, her flirtation with tea blossomed into a full-blown love affair, culminating in her eventual certification as a tea master. When not writing her own books, you can find her reading other people’s out loud into a microphone.


Connect with Julia
Facebook: @justjuliawhelan
Twitter: @justjuliawhelan
Instagram: @justjuliawhelan

BUY LINKS for MY OXFORD YEAR
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/2qPk5gL
Books-A-Million: https://bit.ly/2qPZ8l5

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Thursday, May 3, 2018

Cover Reveal—#1 Lie by T. Gephart


Today we are sharing the cover reveal of #1 LIE by T. Gephart! This is a contemporary romance, standalone title that you won't want to miss! You can pre-order it exclusively on iBooks right now for just $3.99. This novel is part of T. Gephart's #1 Series, and #1 LIE releases on June 6th.

Sign up for T. Gephart's Newsletter for exclusive news about the book.

Pre-order Now on iBooks

#1 LIE by T. Gephart (#1 Series, #4)

Coming June 6

Pre-order Now on iBooks

 

Synopsis:

Working in Hollywood meant Jessica Dawson was used to lying. As an assistant to one of the biggest agents in town, biting her tongue and spewing out sugarcoated untruths were an almost daily occurrence. But fabricating alternate realities never spilled into her personal life, until three months ago when she told the biggest lie of all.

While her dear gran lay on her deathbed, Jessica mentioned she’d met her soul mate. It had been Gran’s last wish to see all her grandkids settled down before she went to see Jesus. And as the only one still single, Jessica didn’t have the heart to disappoint her.

No one expected Gran to make a miraculous recovery.

Now, Gran was expecting to meet Jessica’s perfect man at her cousin’s wedding, which meant she needed to find a perfect man fast. Hiring a professional was the only solution.

Enter Dave Larsson, younger brother to one of Hollywood’s elite.

Sexy, funny and just as smoldering hot as his super-famous sibling—he had talent and charm to spare. But most importantly, he was affordable and available.

All she needed to do was haul Dave home, have him meet Gran and the family, then shortly after the wedding, “break up” with him.

It was either that, or admit to her #1 Lie.

Only thing she didn’t plan on was the bigger lie she would need to tell herself when it was time to let him go.

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PURCHASE THE PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

 

T Gephart is a USA Today and International bestselling author from Melbourne, Australia.
With an approach to life that is somewhat unconventional, she prefers to fly by the seat of her pants rather than adhere to some rigid roadmap. Her lack of "plan" has resulted in a rather interesting and eclectic resume, which reads more like the fiction she writes than an actual employment history. She'd tell you all about it, but the statute of limitations hasn't expired yet. But all those crazy twists and turns have led her to a career she loves—writing romantic comedy.
When she isn't filling pages with sassy and sexy characters with attitude, she's living her own reality show in the 'burbs of Melbourne with her American husband, two teenage children, and her fur child—Woodley.
She loves adventure, to laugh, travel, and strives to live her life to the fullest.
AUTHOR LINKS:
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Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Cover Reveal—Piece of Work by Staci Hart

POW-CoverRevealcover-wrap-380Piece of Work, an all-new sexy romance from Staci Hart, is coming May 17th!

Title: Piece of Work

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publishing Date: May 17th

Cover Designer: Staci Hart

Photographer: Periwinkle Photography

cover-pow

Marble isn’t the only thing that’s hard at this museum.
His body is as chiseled as Adonis. His lips are as sculpted as David. And his ego is the size of the Guggenheim.
You know the type—wolfish smile and the gravity of a black hole. The kind of man who sucks all the air from the room the second he enters it. My cocky boss thinks this internship was wasted on me, and he doesn’t hesitate to let me know.
But he’s wrong, and I’m going to prove it to him. If I can stay away from his devil lips, that is. Lips that cut me down and kiss me in the same breath, leaving me certain he’s on a mission to ruin my life.
And maybe my heart.

Add to GoodReads

About the Staci

StaciHartStaci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life -- a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can't forget that. She's also been a mom, with three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She's been a wife, though she's certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She's also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she's been drinking whiskey. From roots in Houston to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she's not writing, she's reading, sleeping, gaming, or designing graphics.

Connect with Staci

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Blog Tour Excerpt ft. Giveaway—Lie to Me by Natasha Preston

 

We are so excited to be sharing the release of #1 New York Times bestselling author Natasha Preston's LIE TO ME with you today. LIE TO ME is a brand new standalone contemporary romance lovers won't want to miss--be sure to grab your copy today!

 

About LIE TO ME

At nineteen, Savannah Dean escaped her family, leaving behind a note and the people who caused her so much pain. Now, she lives on her own and keeps to herself. At nineteen, Kent Lawson’s girlfriend betrayed him, leaving him behind with a broken heart and a whole lot of mistrust in women. Now, he lives on his own and shares himself with nearly every pretty thing that walks by but only for one night. When Savannah and Kent meet, they can’t stand each other. Kent knows she’s hiding something, and he despises liars. And Savannah has nothing but secrets. Add LIE TO ME to your Goodreads TBR here!  

Grab your copy of LIE TO ME today!

Amazon US / Amazon UK / iBooks / B&N / Kobo

   

Read an excerpt from LIE TO ME

  Wednesday rolls around way too fast. I have a whole evening with Savannah. It’s been really nice these past four days that she’s been out of my life. Yet, the whole time, I’ve been craving the way we snip at each other. I need help. I cut my engine outside her building and look up. Apparently, she lives up on the first floor and faces out toward the road. Is she looking at me right now? Why I feel the need to get out and buzz her apartment, I don’t know, but somehow, I find myself getting out of the car and walking toward the building. I stop at the front door, realising that Heidi told me what floor Savannah is on but not the number. Or she might have told me, and I just didn’t listen. This is a great start. I’m about to call my sister when I see Savannah through the glass, walking down the stairs to ground level. Fuck me. Has she always looked like that? She’s wearing a pair of dark blue skinny jeans and a grey off-the-shoulder shirt, but she looks sexier than any other woman I’ve ever seen in a little dress. Why don’t I like her again? Her steely eyes, looking even more prominent with the colour of her top, warily eye me. Our last encounter wasn’t exactly pleasant. She opens the door and smiles. “Hi, Kent.” My back stiffens. “Savannah.” “Are you sure you don’t mind taking me tonight? I can Uber.” And there it is. This is why she fucking bothers me so much. I feel like telling her to call a fucking Uber then. She always sounds so unsure of herself, like every tiny thing a person does for her is some massive inconvenience. Why? “It’s fine,” I spit. She folds her arms, carefully because her fractured arm hasn’t healed. It does take away a little of the dramatic flair she was going for. “Do you need to take a nap before we go?” “What?” “You’re cranky.” “You’re too polite.” “Being polite is a bad thing?” I flex my jaw. “Yes.” “Fine. Get in the car, and take me.” The intent behind her words is clear; however, I hear it completely different and laugh. She rolls her eyes. “Don’t be a knobhead, Kent. Take me to your parents’ house, I mean.” “Knobhead. I’ve not heard that one in a while.” Savannah takes another long breath. “I really don’t know why I thought accepting a lift from you would be a good idea. In fact, I didn’t. I stillthink it’s a bad idea.” “You always follow through with bad ideas?” “Tonight, I am.” Fuck yeah. I love this fighting side of her. It’s like, when I rile her up enough, the cover slips, revealing the real Savannah. I’m not sure if she’s hiding something the way Freya was. “You should work on that. I don’t do anything I don’t want to.” She tilts her head to the side, fire and determination in her eyes. “Oh, you wanted me to come tonight? And you wanted to be the one to pick me up?” “You’re hot when you’re angry, Savannah.” Actually, she’s hot all the time. It’s just, right now, she’s the whole package. “You always use bullshit like that to deflect from someone calling you out?” “You’re the first woman to call me out.” “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” she mutters. “Do you want to argue on your doorstep all night or get to my parents’ for dinner? I’m cool with either, just checking to see which way you’re leaning.” She drops her arms, one still bound tightly in a splint. “I’m hungry.” “Excellent, let’s go then.”    

Don't miss Natasha Preston's other contemporary romance reads!

Silence / Broken Silence / Players, Bumps & Cocktail Sausages / Reliving Fate / Second Chance / Our Chance / With the Band / Save Me

 

About NATASHA PRESTON

UK native Natasha Preston grew up in small villages and towns. She discovered her love of writing when she stumbled across an amateur writing site and uploaded her first story and hasn’t looked back since. She enjoys writing contemporary romance, gritty Young Adult thrillers and, of course, the occasional serial killer. Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
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Sunday, April 29, 2018

Blog Tour Review ft. Giveaway—Unbreakable (Book 3) by Sara Ella




ABOUT THE BOOK

Unbreakable
(Unblemished #3)
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: May 1, 2018
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis:

Eliyana Ember is stranded in a foreign country in the Third Reflection with no passport, the inability to mirrorwalk, and zero clue where the nearest Thresholds back into the Fourth or Second might lie. Her mind is a haze, her memories vague. She knows a wormhole from the Fourth sent her here. She remembers her mom and baby brother Evan. Makai and Stormy and Joshua . . .

Deep down El realizes she must end the Void once and for all. Is there a way to trap the darkness within its current vessel, kill it off completely? To do so would mean sacrificing another soul—the soul of a man Joshua claims is a traitor. But he’s lied to her before, and even El senses Joshua can’t be fully trusted, but one thing is certain . . .



The Void must be annihilated. And only the Verity—the light which birthed the darkness—can put an end to that which seeks to kill and destroy.

Review-
The Unblemished Trilogy is a unique and beautiful story featuring a young woman and her trials to store the world order between light and dark. Along the way we are graced with a love triangle, monsters, good guys, and a plot that keeps you engaged. When I say this was different, it was. There were moments that I loved and of course moments that I didn’t love. 

Eliyana is a character I felt like I had a love/hate relationship with. In the first book, I deeply disliked her—she was whiny, annoying, and selfish. Luckily, the story was interesting enough to keep me engaged. I’m happy to say that she grew as a character and even though at times I felt like she was slipping back into her old ways, it wasn’t enough to annoy me. 

Josh and Ky—mainly Ky, were my sole reason for reading. I loved them both. This book was able to shed a new light with a wonderful POV coming from Ky. I liked being in his head; I think I just liked him. He wasn’t perfect but flawed. Flawed characters are some of my favorite. Most of the time. 

If you haven’t started the trilogy yet, I think you should give it a go. It not for the fact that it has an interesting premise. The third and final book was good but still left me feeling a little bit disappointed. But I still have no doubt that fans and new readers alike will gravitate towards it. 

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 


BOOK LINKS



TOUR SCHEDULE





ABOUT THE AUTHOR



Once upon a time, SARA ELLA dreamed she would marry a prince (just call her Mrs. Charming) and live in a castle (aka The Plaza Hotel). Though her fairy tale didn’t quite turn out as planned, she did work for Disney—that was an enchanted moment of its own. Now she spends her days throwing living room dance parties for her two princesses and conquering realms of her own imaginings. She believes “Happily Ever After is Never Far Away” for those who put their faith in the King of kings.

Social Media Links: 

http://saraella.com
http://twitter.com/saraellawrites
http://instagram.com/saraellawrites/
https://www.goodreads.com/saraella 
http://pinterest.com/joellesa
http://saraellawrites.tumblr.com
http://facebook.com/writinghistruth
http://plus.google.com/+SaraElla





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Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Blog Tour feat Review and Excerpt:
Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas!!

Buy a Copy Here

Amazon / Amazon CA / Amazon UK / Amazon AUS



Title: Birthday Girl
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Author: Penelope Douglas
Release Date: April 17, 2018


Synopsis:

JORDAN

He took me in when I had nowhere else to go.

He doesn’t use me, hurt me, or forget about me. He doesn’t treat me like I’m nothing, take me for granted, or make me feel unsafe.

He remembers me, laughs with me, and looks at me. He listens to me, protects me, and sees me. I can feel his eyes on me over the breakfast table, and my heart pumps so hard when I hear him pull in the driveway after work.

I have to stop this. It can’t happen.

My sister once told me there are no good men, and if you find one, he’s probably unavailable.

Only Pike Lawson isn’t the unavailable one.

I am.

PIKE

I took her in, because I thought I was helping.

She’d cook a few meals and clean up a little. It was an easy arrangement.

As the days go by, though, it’s becoming anything but easy. I have to stop my mind from drifting to her and stop holding my breath every time I bump into her in the house. I can’t touch her, and I shouldn’t want to.

The more I find my path crossing hers, though, the more she’s becoming a part of me.

But we’re not free to give into this. She’s nineteen, and I’m thirty-eight.

And her boyfriend’s father.

Unfortunately, they both just moved into my house.

*BIRTHDAY GIRL is a stand-alone, contemporary romance suitable for ages 18+.


My Review:

**INSERT REVIEW HERE**


Excerpt:

Jordan is working at a bar, and Pike comes in to meet friends.

PIKE

“What the hell is she wearing?” I grumble, sliding into the booth.

Dutch turns his head toward me, his drink inches from his lips. “It’s the lingerie show,” he tells me. “They have it every Thursday night. The bartenders and servers don nighties or corsets and serve drinks and food. It’s fun.”

No, not really.

But I look around and see a few other ladies carrying out appetizers and bringing drinks, some of them in very thin attire. At least Jordan’s corset looks as thin as armor.

“But Jordan’s never done it before,” he goes on. “That’s what shocked me. Thought you should know.”

“Why the fuck would I want to know?” I pull a beer out of the ice bucket on the table.

“Yeah, sorry.” He turns away, mumbling into his glass, “You seem like you couldn’t care less.”

I shoot him a sideways look, hearing the laughter in his words.

Sticking the beer back in the bucket, untouched, I rise and head to the bar. I hear a snort behind me, but I don’t care. She’s kind of my responsibility, and I don’t want her doing things like this, because she thinks she needs money.

There’s only one bartender besides Jordan. The owner, Shel. I’m sure she hasn’t forgotten me, so I veer to the opposite end and catch Jordan’s attention as she pops the tops from a line of six bottles of beer.

“What the hell are you wearing?” I lean in, speaking as quietly as I can.

She jerks her head toward me, meets my eyes, and quickly turns away again like I’m the last person she wants to deal with right now.

She hands over the beers, collects the cash and spins around, punching the screen in front of her. “It’s fine,” she assures me. “It’s just a corset, Pike.”

“They are all looking at you.”

She nods, smiling sarcastically. “That’s the point.”

“Jordan,” I sigh, trying to whisper as I squeeze around some old dude at the bar. “This is a small town. What if your father were to walk in?”

“He doesn’t come in here,” she says, closing the register drawer and finally looking at me. “And neither do you, normally.” A blush crosses her cheeks. “Besides, I’m not stupid. I wouldn’t take part in something I thought would humiliate me.”

She turns and hands the change back to the customer, but he waves her off, letting her keep it. She smiles and turns back around, dropping the bills into an already overflowing canister.

“What are you even doing here?” she says, starting to mix another drink. “I thought you were sitting the bachelor party out, because…” She sets the bottle down and does air quotes as she imitates my growling voice, “‘there needed to be at least one sober person at work tomorrow’.”

I arch a brow at her. I don’t sound like that.

Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the flyer and push it over the bar at her.

She stills, and her face goes ashen. “Where did you find that?”

She grabs it and dumps it somewhere under her. To a trash can probably.

Taking a napkin, she sets it in front of a customer and gives him the fresh drink she just made.

“If you need money,” I tell her, “I’ll lend you whatever you need, okay?”

And she stops, slowly turning her eyes on me. Her gaze sharpens, angry, and she looks like she wants to yell at me, but she doesn’t. Instead she whips around and barrels down the bar and through the partition, turning only enough to crook a finger at me before she twirls back around and heads down the hallway.

My stomach sinks. I really don’t mean to piss her off as much as I do. What did I say now?

Veering through the crowd, I make my way down the empty hallway, finally coming to the same room she was crying in when I pissed her off the last time.

Entering through the open door, I see her standing with her hands on her hips and her head cocked at me.

“I would rather eat from a dumpster than take money from you,” she bites out.

I should shut up. But God help me, I can’t. “Hate to break it to you, but you already do,” I tell her. “You live in a house where you pay no rent or utilities, young lady.”

“I cook and clean for you!” she shouts, but I doubt anyone can hear us back here and through the music. “I pay my way, you arrogant prick!”

“Alright, alright,” I growl, blinking long and hard. “You’re right, okay? But, Jordan, men will get ideas. They’ll think they have a free pass and they can touch what belongs to my son. You’re embarrassing him.”

“Your son?” she mocks, laughing. “Well, you just missed him, actually. He already saw me, and he doesn’t care, Pike. He thought I looked good, and then he left with his friends. He doesn’t care!”

“Well, I care!”

The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them, and I freeze, almost too afraid to breathe.

Oh, shit. What did I just say?


About The Author:

Penelope Douglas is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Her books have been translated into thirteen languages and include The Fall Away Series, The Devil’s Night Series, and the standalones, Misconduct, Punk 57, and now Birthday Girl. Please look for Kill Switch (Devil’s Night #3), coming later this year, and the standalone, Motel, coming in 2019.

She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and their daughter.

Subscribe to her blog: Click Here

Be alerted of her next release: Click Here

Follow Her Here:
Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Instagram, Pinterest


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Monday, April 23, 2018

Cover Reveal—Quit Your Pitchin’ by Lani Lynn Vale


Today we have the Cover Reveal for QUIT YOUR PITCHIN' by Lani Lynn Vale. Check it out and pre-order your copy today!

Title: QUIT YOUR PITCHIN’ Author: Lani Lynn Vale Genre: Sports Romance Model: Chase Ketron Photographer: Furiousfotog Designer: Lani Lynn Vale Release: July 20, 2018

About QUIT YOUR PITCHIN'

What’s wrong with my butt? She means those words to be directed toward the woman beside her, not him. But he can’t stop himself from answering. Not when her ass is the most magnificent thing he’s seen in his life. Apparently, answering her with ‘not a damn thing’ wasn’t what she was expecting. She likely wasn’t expecting the baseball she took to the face at his next at bat, either. All it takes is one ill-fated foul ball, and George Hoffman, Lumberjacks center fielder, falls head over heels in love with Wrigley Field—and yes, that is her real name. From that point forward, George and Wrigley fall into a fast whirlwind love that ends with them eloping to Vegas. And he has his potty mouth, titty bar owning, pain in the ass grandmother to thank for it. Not that he’s complaining or anything. Who wouldn’t want to be married to a woman that made his heart race like he was in the final game of the World Series? The only problem is trying to convince her of that.

Pre-Order NOW

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

Add to Goodreads


About Lani Lynn Vale

Lani Lynn Vale is a USA Today Bestselling Author of over thirty titles. She is married with three children, two dogs, two cats, a donkey, and a couple (a couple also meaning over twenty) chickens. When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up in her favorite chair reading. Lani is married with three children and lives in the Great State of Texas.
 

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