Friday, February 27, 2015

Finding Haven Review

Finding Haven
by T.A. Foster

Power. Money. Control. Love.

He has all but one.

When movie star, Evan Carlson, discovers his girlfriend’s picture with another man splashed on the cover of gossip magazines, he decides he’s had enough of his fishbowl life and attempts to outrun the media frenzy his relationships have become. Driving until the road stops, he ends up on the remote and quaint Perry Island, where a heartthrob can blend in like the locals and be a beach bum as long as he wants. All that changes when Evan meets Haven Owen, aspiring songwriter and the girl he just can’t get enough of. A summer romance turns into something much deeper and Evan gets tangled in his own web of lies to keep Haven in his life. But when his ex tracks him down, Evan learns there are some things you just can’t outrun.

Is the cost of love, losing all control?

My Review


I really loved the idea of a celebrity wanting to escape the fame and have a normal life. Evan just needs to escape the media frenzy that has become his life. While hiding out on Perry Island he meets Haven. Things move quickly between Evan and Haven, even though Evan is hiding his true identity.

I could see the train wreck coming with all the lies Evan told to Haven. When everything gets out of control with the paparazzi, I felt for Haven. She was blindsided. Everything she thought she knew was a lie.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars. I really enjoyed Finding Haven and jumped right into reading Red Lines to find out what happens with Evan and Haven.

For a limited time Finding Haven is FREE! Amazon | B&N | Smashwords | iTunes

Want more of Evan and Haven's story? Red Lines, the second book in the series is available now!

About the Author


T.A. Foster is a Southern girl whose heart and spirit are connected to the beach. She grew up catching rays and chasing waves along the North Carolina Outer Banks and now resides in the state with her adventurous pilot husband, two children and two canine kiddos.

Her long love affair with books started at an early age and as soon as she was able, she transformed imaginative stories into words on paper. T.A. has an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. When she’s not chasing her two-legged and four-legged children or trying to escape for date night, you can find her reading, writing or planning her next beach trip.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

When Joss Met Matt Blog Tour and Giveaway



When Joss Met Matt
By Ellie Cahill

In the tradition of New Adult superstar Jessica Sorensen, Ellie Cahill’s debut novel is a charming friends-with-benefits story . . . with a twist!

What if after every bad breakup, there was someone to help “cleanse your palate”—someone who wouldn’t judge you, who was great in bed, someone you were sure not to fall in love with? “Sorbet sex” could solve everything—as long as it never got too sweet.

Joss and Matt have been friends since freshman year of college, meeting one night after Joss is dumped by her boyfriend. After a few drinks, Matt humors her with a proposition: that he’ll become her go-to guy whenever she needs to heal a broken heart. In return, she’ll do the same for him. The #1 Rule: They’ll never fall in love with each other. People scoff at the arrangement. But six years later, Joss and Matt are still the best of friends . . . with benefits.

Through a string of boyfriends and girlfriends—some almost perfect, some downright wrong—Joss and Matt are always there for each other when the going gets tough. No strings. No attachments. Piece of cake. No problem. After all, since they wrote the rules, surely they can play by them. Or can they?

My Review


When Joss Met Matt is not your typical friends with benefits story. I thought the idea of Sorbet Sex was interesting, and I really wanted to see how it played out for Matt and Joss.



I really loved the Present/Past format of the story. It felt almost cinematic and added interest to the story. It drew me in from early on , I just wanted to keep reading to discover Matt and Joss's fate!

Since the story is told from Joss's perspective, you can tell in college that she starts to develop feelings for Matt, but she's just not ready to admit that maybe he is her type. It's a little harder to determine Matt's feelings, which keeps this story a page turner.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars. I really enjoyed When Joss Met Matt! It's a super sweet love story that handles Sorbet Sex very well. Get your copy on Amazon today!


About the Author


Ellie Cahill is a freelance writer and also writes books for young adults under the name Liz Czukas. She lives outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her husband, son, and the world’s loudest cat.

Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Blog  |  Instagram

Giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, February 20, 2015

The Surrender Gate by Christopher Rice


I am a HUGE Christopher Rice fan! I read A Density of Souls and Snow Garden when they first came out and LOVED them! And being from the New Orleans area, I really appreciate all the details he includes in his stories. I am so excited to bring you the Excerpt Blitz for Christopher Rice's THE SURRENDER GATE! THE SURRENDER GATE is an Adult Fantasy and the first book in Christopher’s Desire Exchange Series

Excerpt


“I’m sorry,” Marcus says.
“For?”
“For the fact you so totally and completely misinterpreted what I said.”
“I’m hanging up now. It’s a little late for mansplaining.”
“And for not turning you around and taking you right over the hood of that Aston Martin to show you how wrong you were.”
Her breath catches, but another Emily responds. “Charming,” she whispers.
“Your hand seems to think so,” he says.
He’s right. The warmth she’s been feeling against her thigh is coming from her own palm. Just the sound of his voice has charmed her fingers onto her thigh. And he can see it all. The parted taffeta drapes blowing in the breeze, the tangle of silk sheets sliding down across her white T-shirt, the rise and fall of her chest as she tries to get back the breath he just stole from her.
“It’s not gonna be that easy,” she says.
“What? What isn’t going to be that easy, Miss Blaine?”
“Put a little distance between us and then you turn into Christian Grey, when there’s no risk and you don’t have to—”
“Don’t have to what?”
“I want to hear what you said.”
“When?”
“Arthur said he assigned you to me because you made some comments about me that got back to him. I want to hear them. The comments.”
“They weren’t comments,” Marcus says.
“Then what were they?”
“Observations.”
“About my weight?”
“About your eyes. You were coming down off the front porch of the main house one day and when the sunlight hit your eyes, they were so beautiful they looked like a painting.”
“Well, now…that’s kinda sweet.”
“And then I said if I ever get inside that woman I’m going to do whatever it takes to make her look into my eyes the whole time. To make her feel like there’s no one else except for me, and nothing else in the world except for what I’m doing to her body.”
She hopes her sharp intake of breath is too soft for the microphones to pick up, but she doubts it. And besides, her silence is telling enough.
“Watch that hand, Emily.”
“Is that how you said it? In exactly those words?”
“I said it in a way Scott could understand. He was the other guy on duty that day. He doesn’t read books with big words. Just magazines with big guns.”
“I see…”
“I see too,” he says. “But I’d like to see more.”
Before she can think twice about it, she draws the sheet back a few inches, exposing the crotch of her panties to the ocean breeze, revealing it to the darkened bedroom and it’s myriad of hidden but prying eyes. Revealing it to Marcus’s tortured hunger for her, on which he seems to temporarily lose his grip every few hours or so.
Me, I’m the reason he loses control. I’m the thing he wants but doesn’t want to want…yet.
Fear sends gooseflesh up her thighs, fear of being exposed, fear of moving too fast, fear of giving too much of herself away too soon. But they’re her thighs and her panties, goddammit, and for the time being, this is her bedroom, and she’s technically alone, so what is there to be afraid of—
“Are the cameras recording?” she asks the darkness.
“Not unless I tell them to.”
“Don’t tell them to.”
“Then show me more. Quid pro quo, you know.”
“Never reference Silence of the Lambs when you’re trying to get a woman naked.”
“You have a real mouth on you, Miss Blaine. Do you know that?”
“I do. And that’s why you keep talking to me.”
“Or it’s just my job.”
“There are other jobs, with quieter people.”
“Smart girl.”
She tries to suppress a smile. Beneath the sheet, she works her arms out from her T-shirt, then slides the entire thing up and over her head before dropping it to the carpet. Just at the moment when Marcus probably believes she’s about expose her breasts to the open air, she rolls over onto her stomach.
Marcus growls.


About The Surrender Gate



New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice’s first foray into erotic romance, THE FLAME, earned accolades from some of the genre’s most beloved authors. “Sensual, passionate and intelligent,” wrote Lexi Blake, “it’s everything an erotic romance should be.” J. Kenner called it “absolutely delicious,” Cherise Sinclair hailed it as “beautifully lyrical” and Loreli James announced, “I look forward to reading more!” Now, Christopher returns you to the world first introduced in THE FLAME with an all new novel of The Desire Exchange…

Emily Blaine’s life is about to change. Arthur Benoit, the kindly multi-millionaire who has acted as her surrogate father for years, has just told her he’s leaving her his entire estate, and he only has a few months to live. Soon Emily will go from being a restaurant manager with a useless English degree to one of the richest and most powerful women in New Orleans. There’s just one price. Arthur has written a letter to his estranged son Ryan he hopes will mend the rift between them, and he wants Emily to deliver the letter before it’s too late. But finding Ryan won’t be easy. He’s been missing for years. He was recently linked to a mysterious organization called The Desire Exchange. But is The Desire Exchange just an urban legend? Or are the rumors true? Is it truly a secret club where the wealthy can live out their most private fantasies?

It’s a task Emily can’t undertake alone. But there’s only one man qualified to help her, her gorgeous and confident best friend, Jonathan Claiborne. She’s suspected Jonathan of working as a high-priced escort for months now, and she’s willing to bet that Jonathan has uncovered some possible leads to The Desire Exchange—and to Ryan Benoit. But Emily’s attempt to uncover Jonathan’s secret life lands the two of them in hot water. Literally. In order to escape the clutches of one of Jonathan’s most powerful and dangerous clients, they must act on long buried desires—for each other.

When Emily’s mission turns into an undercover operation, Jonathan insists on going with her. He also insists they continue to explore their impossible, reckless passion for each other. Enter Marcus Dylan, the hard-charging ex-Navy SEAL Arthur has hired to keep Emily safe. But Marcus has ulterior motives for taking the job; he, too, has a burning passion for Emily, and he turns out to be as rough and controlling as Jonathan is sensual and reckless. As Emily searches for a place where the rich turn their fantasies into reality, she will also be forced to decide which one of her own long-ignored fantasies should become her reality. But as Emily, Jonathan, and Marcus draw closer to The Desire Exchange itself, they find their destination isn’t just shrouded in mystery, but in magic as well.

The Surrender Gate is available on Amazon Kindle &  Amazon Paperback, get a copy today!

About Christopher Rice


After publishing four New York Times bestselling thrillers by the age of 30 and being declared one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive, award-winning writer Christopher Rice became the first author to make his erotic romance debut part of the 1,001 DARK NIGHTS series. THE FLAME: A Desire Exchange Novella kicked off a steamy new series set in New Orleans, featuring magical candles and a sexy new breed of supernatural beings, The Radiants, who are devoted to helping heroes and heroines realize their heart’s desire. THE FLAME earned accolades from some of the biggest names in erotic romance and was quickly followed up by THE SURRENDER GATE: A Desire Exchange Novel, available from Evil Eye Concepts as a Blue Box Special. Aside from authoring eight works of dark suspense, Christopher is also the co-host and executive producer of a streaming Internet radio show he launched with his best friend, New York Times bestselling author Eric Shaw Quinn. Each Sunday at 8 PM ET/ 5 PM PT, THE DINNER PARTY SHOW WITH CHRISTOPHER RICE & ERIC SHAW QUINN brings you a new episode at TheDinnerPartyShow.com

Website  |  Twitter  |   Goodreads  |   Novel Goodreads



Friday, February 13, 2015

50 Shades of Grey: The Movie

I was so excited to see 50 Shades of Grey last night. I went in with low expectations, really expecting it to be terrible since most book to movie adaptations are. But I was surprised! Overall the movie was good, they really stayed true to the book which I appreciated.

When I first heard Dakota and Jamie were cast as Ana and Christian, I wasn't pleased. I thought Dakota was too mature for the virginal role. I was so wrong. She was great as Ana, she carried the entire movie. Where as Jamie was flat and one dimensional for me. I couldn't see the attraction he had for Ana. I hope he relaxes into the role as Christian for the next 2 movies.

I feel like there was another main character that helped shape the movie: The Soundtrack. First off - Danny Elfman - HELLO, you know it's going to be good. The songs were woven into the movie so beautifully, it really set the mood and added much needed drama to the sex scenes.

A personal note about this movie: If you are going to see 50 Shades please be aware of what the movie is about. There is going to be SEX. I was very annoyed by all the awkward giggles from the audience during some scenes. Also, please don't loudly shout "OMG" or "WTF" or be disgusted or outraged. You should know something about a movie before you see it. And in this case I would recommend you read the book first, it would help you have a better understanding of Ana and her and Christian's relationship.

I will admit, the sex scenes were more naughty than I expected for an 'R' movie. And there could have been a little less Ana nudity (IMO). I appreciated the little bits of humor, mostly from Ana. It helped keep a nice balance to the story. A few scenes were left out that I thought helped show how much Christian cared for Ana.

My two favorite scenes, that MADE the movie were the contract meeting and the glider. I loved how the power/control visibly shifted at the contract meeting. It became very apparent that Ana was the one holding all the cards and she knew it. Christian would "compromise" for her. When Christian took Ana in the glider, I was grinning just like Ana was. You could feel the excitement and happiness. This is a scene where just the soundtrack and actors faces really told the story.

Was I expecting an award winning movie? No. But what I got was 2+ hours of entertainment. If you've read the book I think you will enjoy the movie. My boyfriend who's never read the books didn't hate it either. So grab your Valentine's Day dates and go see 50 Shades of Grey.

If you are one of the 7 people on the planet who haven't read the books, please buy and read them now!


Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Red Lines Blog Tour and Giveaway




Red Lines
By T.A. Foster

Goodreads Summary

Love on remote Perry Island was one thing, but with the flash of a camera everything has changed.

Movie star Evan Carlson has just landed the role of a lifetime, playing the infamous Dexter Red. Fans can't get enough of the sexiest, most-talked-about guy to ever hit paperback pages.

Haven is in Austin working on her songwriting career, and Evan's faith and commitment are put to the test. No matter which way he turns, Hollywood keeps getting in the way.

Does realizing their career dreams mean losing their relationship? Can they survive the headlines and media frenzy surrounding Evan's new role?

When it comes to love, some lines are meant to be blurred.

My Review

 

Red Lines is the follow up novel to Finding Haven - I would recommend reading the books in order.

Haven and Evan have left the privacy of Perry Island. They both are ready to move forward with their careers, which leads to spending less time together. On top of that Evan is starring in a sexy movie with his ex!

Dealing with the tabloids and rumors is difficult, but Evan and Haven will get their happy ending. They are able to work out the distance, exes, Hollywood drama and rumors to make their relationship work.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars. Red Lines is a great happy ending to Haven and Evan's story.

Buy Red Lines on Amazon  |  B&N  |  iTunes

And be sure to get Finding Haven which is FREE for a limited time!

 

About the Author

 

T.A. Foster is a Southern girl whose heart and spirit are connected to the beach. She grew up catching rays and chasing waves along the North Carolina Outer Banks and now resides in the state with her adventurous pilot husband, two children and two canine kiddos. 

Her long love affair with books started at an early age, and as soon as she was able, she transformed imaginative stories into words on paper. Time Spell is T.A.’s debut novel, and the first in a series about a very adventurous, clever, and magical girl named Ivy.

T.A. has an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. When she’s not chasing her two-legged and four-legged children or trying to escape for date night, you can find her reading, writing or planning her next beach trip.

Blog  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Goodreads

Giveaway

Win 2 Fandango Movie Tickets, and a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Paper or Plastic Blog Tour





Paper or Plastic
by Vivi Barnes
Release Date: 2015
Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:
Welcome to SmartMart, where crime pays minimum wage...

Busted. Alexis Dubois just got caught shoplifting a cheap tube of lipstick at the local SmartMart. She doesn’t know what’s worse—disappointing her overbearing beauty-pageant-obsessed mother for the zillionth time…or her punishment. Because Lex is forced to spend her summer working at the store, where the only thing stranger than the staff is the customers.

Now Lex is stuck in the bizarro world of big-box retail. Coupon cutters, jerk customers, and learning exactly what a “Code B” really is (ew). And for added awkwardness, her new supervisor is the totally cute—and completely below her social sphere—Noah Grayson. Trying to balance her out-of-control mother, her starting spot on the school softball team, and her secret crush on the school geek makes for one crazy summer. But ultimately, could the worst store in the world be the best thing that ever happened to her?

My Review

Alexis made a mistake and now has to spend the summer working at SmartMart. What could be a terrible punishment, turns into just what she needs. She gets to know Noah, the cute manager who happens to be her best friend's nemesis. 

Noah and Lex go through a lot over the summer - family issues, natural disasters, school friends. By the time school starts will their love be stronger than the social pressures at school?

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars. This was a great story of growth for both Alexis and Noah. It was fun to go on this journey with them and see how it all worked out.

Buy Paper or Plastic on Amazon  |  B&N  |  KoBo

About the Author

Vivi Barnes is the author of Olivia Twisted and the upcoming release, Paper or Plastic. She was raised on a farm in East Texas where her theater-loving mom and cowboy dad gave her a unique perspective on life. Now living in the magic and sunshine of Orlando, Florida, she divides her time writing, working, goofing off with her husband and three kids, and avoiding dirty dishes. 

www.vivibarnes.com


Giveaway

Book Tour Organized by: