Saturday, March 30, 2013

Light in the Shadows by A. Meredith Walters

LIGHT IN THE SHADOWS by A. Meredith Walters

                              
How do you keep going when you feel like your life is over?

Maggie never thought she’d see Clay again. So, she attempts to put her life back together after her heart has been shattered to pieces. Moving on and moving forward, just as Clay wanted her to.

Clay never stopped thinking of Maggie. Even after ripping their lives apart and leaving her behind to get the help he so desperately needed. He is healing...slowly. But his heart still belongs to the girl who tried to save him.

 When a sudden tragedy brings Maggie and Clay face to face again, nothing is the same. Yet some things never change. Can the darkness that threatened to consume them be transformed into something else and finally give them what they always wanted? And can two people who fought so hard to be together, finally find their happiness? Or will their demons and fear drive them apart for good?

The thing about love, is even when it destroys you, it has a way of mending what is broken. And in the shadows, you can still see the light.




 


Wendy's Review of Light in the Shadows

6 page turning, gut-clenching, fall in love all over again stars! 

"The saying goes to err is human; to forgive, divine.
As if it was so easy to accept. No word in the history of words was harder to give and even more difficult to receive. But I needed it. Craved my redemption deep in my bones" 


 
 Thank God!!! 
After the to die over cliffhanger from FIND YOU IN THE DARK, I desperately needed these words from Clay. It was almost like an affirmation of his resilience. 

And then, 

"I didn't deserve the love of the girl who I had destroyed. But it didn't stop me from chasing after it. And I wouldn't stop until I caught it. Until I caught her."

How can you not love Clayton? Seriously, this guy is just.......wow.....you've got to know how much he tries and all for the love of Maggie. And, how he loves her. *SWOON*

Meredith Walters delivers IT with this much needed HEA for Clay and Maggie's story. It's gripping in all it's disturbing, but so realistic, words. I couldn't put the book down. 
Clay is someone you just need to figure out. Maggie is the girl you want to feel for, but almost want to smack for being so naive at times. In the end, I adored her for being so strong. 
This is a page turner of a book based on, how I saw it, LOVE conquering literally all barriers.
Light in the Shadows is all about the relationship between Clay and Maggie and their determination to crawl out of the darkness. To see the light

It's touchingly beautiful, heart pounding and butterflying AMAZING!

"You are everything good in my life. Even when I thought all I had was the darkness, you were there. And you gave me something to live for. I couldn't let you go. No matter how hard I tried. I know now that's because to lose you would be losing the very best part of myself."

The emotions I had while reading this story were unexplainable. I was on the edge of my seat in anticipation for something drastic to happen, and let me just say, I'm beyond grateful that the tears I shed for this story, were worth every cent spent on the box of tissues I used. 


 


My cast: 

Maggie  

Clay  







Author Bio:
The New York Times bestselling author of Contemporary and Paranormal romance including Find You in the Dark, Cloud Walking and Bad Rep.

A. Meredith spent ten years as a counselor for at risk teens and children. First working at a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault program and then later a program for children with severe emotional and mental health issues. Her former clients and their stories continue to influence every aspect of her writing.

A. Meredith recently moved to England and is trying to get used to driving on the other side of the road, eating fish and chips and all things British :-)

  



Website
http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Meredith-Walters/311504738868378
twitter username
http://www.twitter.com/AuthorAMWalters
Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Meredith-Walters/311504738868378
Goodreads Page
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5416410.A_Meredith_Walters
Goodreads book link
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17155039-light-in-the-shadows






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Thursday, March 28, 2013

Falling Into You by Jasinda WIlder


I wasn't always in love with Colton Calloway; I was in love with his younger brother, Kyle, first. Kyle was my first one true love, my first in every way.
Then, one stormy August night, he died, and the person I was died with him.

Colton didn't teach me how to live. He didn't heal the pain. He didn't make it okay. He taught me how to hurt, how to not be okay, and, eventually, how to let go.


Here is Chrissy's Review 5+++ Stars!
After a week of letting my feelings for this book stew and my high to wear off, and I most definitely had a high from this book, I'm finally able to write up my review. I honestly feel like there are no words that are good enough to describe how I feel about this book.It's just WOW! It's so amazingly tragic and hopeful. I was drawn in from the first page and couldn't stop reading until I was finished. It's a story about healing so that you can learn to live again and move on with life. It was soul shattering and heart wrenching. I felt it. ALL of it. Every single emotion that the characters were feeling, I felt too. This also happens to be my first book to hit my Top favorites of 2013.

I did a lot of this
 photo da768495_zpsf95dfafc.gif
and I was Swoony
 photo SWOON_zps9650f065.gif


And the sex scenes had me doing a lot of this fanning self photo: fanning self tumblr_ln4bxpSbth1qiwtq1o1_500.gif






Wendy's Review for FALLING INTO YOU

I rarely do this. In fact I've only ever given 2 other books my rating, but this will be my third and for reasons you will find out when you READ THIS BOOK!!!

It's a gut-wrenching, heart-pounding, head-spinning whirlwind that I never wanted to end.

I am completely      by this book!

Every emotion I've ever felt was brought forth and it was beyond welcome!

Nell and Kyle's story from the beginning was this beautiful portrayal of young love and all the firsts that people experience.


And then,

Two years, a proposal and a fallen tree are the end of one chapter in Nell's life and the beginning of something altogether more fulfilling.


All tragic events have a way of making us
to feelings and life in general. Nell was blind to any emotion other than pain for so long after her loss.

"I wasn't always in love with Colton Calloway; I was in love with his younger brother, Kyle, first."

Enter Colton and Nell's life is in for an unexpected change.

"But we have to learn to be be free. We have to, Nell. Doesn't mean happy all the time, or okay all the time. It's okay not to be okay. I told you that, but I'm relearning it myself. But not being okay doesn't mean you stop living."

Together they would learn to live again.

"I'm not just falling in love with you, Nell. I'm falling into you. You're an ocean, and I'm falling in, drowning in the depths of who you are"
This has to be by far one of the most emotionally charged lines I've EVER read in any book. Absolutely beautiful! 

I can't get over the pull that Falling Into You has on me. I'm in serious book hangover from this and I'm not sure if I even care if it passes anytime soon.

I absolutely cannot express how much I love this book!!!


I wish I had more words to describe the way that this dynamic between characters has touched me. The internal struggle I'm having with putting words down for this review has been incredibly difficult for me because I keep replaying every emotion I've ever felt, which that in itself goes to show how truly magnetic this story is. Not everything is perfect in life and love but when it's this good even on a bad day, it shouldn't matter.

Colton and Nell are passion personified!



My cast:

Colton



Nell



Kyle


BIO:
Jasinda Wilder is a Michigan native with a penchant for titillating tales about sexy men and strong women.
When she’s not writing, she’s probably shopping, baking, or reading.
Some of her favorite authors include Nora Roberts, JR Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Liliana Hart and Bella Andre.
She loves to travel and some of her favorite vacations spots are Las Vegas, New York City and Toledo, Ohio.
You can often find Jasinda drinking sweet red wine with frozen berries and eating a cupcake.
 
Links to connect with Jasinda:
twitter: @JasindaWilder  https://twitter.com/JasindaWilder


http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Falling-Into-You/book-hSlZW8ySH0KobC0xr5Agrg/page1.html?s=_7CBFlShhUiXXSEm0jHr3A&r=1





Giveaway:
1st place winner ~ $100 Amazon gift card
2nd place winner ~ signed paperback copy of Falling Into You
3rd ~ 6th place winners ~ each will receive an e-copy of Falling Into


 
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Telesa


 
Telesa: The Covenant Keeper (Telesa, #1)
4 stars
 
Synopsis
When Leila moves to her new home, all she wants is a family, a place to belong. Instead she discovers the local ancient myths of the telesa spirit women are more than just scary stories. The more she finds out about her heritage, the more sinister her new home turns out to be. Embraced by a Covenant Sisterhood of earth's elemental guardians - what will Leila choose? Her fiery birthright as a telesa? Or will she choose the boy who offers her his heart? Daniel - stamped with the distinctive tattoo markings of a noble Pacific warrior and willing to risk everything for the chance to be with her. Can their love stand against the Covenant Keeper?

A thriller-romance with a difference. If you enjoyed Twilight, then you will be enthralled by Telesa as it blends the richness of Pacific mythology into a contemporary young adult love story that will stay with you long after you have turned the final page.
Review
I want to start by saying that this book is not something I would typically read. I had a hard time connecting time with the characters in the beginning, but once I actually got quite a few chapters I actually found myself enjoying the book. Leila is an 18-year-old girl who has loses her father, then is forced to live with an overbearing grandmother, so she decides to take off to Samoa to find out more about her heritage. The problem is, she doesn’t feel any more welcome in Samoa than she did back home. Her Aunt and Uncle are less than enthusiastic that she is there, and once she is settled in they set strict rules for her. Leila is happy to have the opportunity to be in Samoa and doesn’t want to seem ungrateful, so she does as they ask. At school she ends up meeting some friends and the most beautiful boy she has ever seen, Daniel. She tries to ignore her feelings, but she is drawn to him, as he is to her. Shortly after she arrives in Samoa she begins to feel ill, especially at night, She feels like she is on fire. Leila’s biggest problem is that no one will discuss her mother with her. As Leila and Daniel’s relationship gets more intense, so does her fever, then something happens which completely changes everything. One day after school Leila comes home and finds someone there she never expected….someone she believed was dead….and Leila’s life as she knew it changes forever. The end of the book was definitely action packed and had a lot of unexpected twists and turns.
I definitely feel as though the ending was the saving grace for this book and, the end of the book definitely left room for another story which I will be making an attempt to read, I just hope that in the next book there is room for a greater love affair between Leila and Daniel.
 Authors Bio
I was born and raised in Samoa - in a family of six children. I spent a lot of time sitting in mango trees, reading books and hiding from chores and pesky younger siblings. I'm a mongrel mix of Samoan, NZ Maori with generous servings of German/English/Scottish white stuff. As a child, I wanted to be a lawyer, famous writer, the Prime Minister, start an Animal Rescue shelter, and be best friends with Laura Ingalls Wilder. I also wanted to find the Narnia wardrobe that would get me the heck out of here and take me to magical realms of adventure. Instead I grew up and became a high school English teacher. And then a full-time mother/slave. I have achieved one of my life goals already - I can make my own soap, pickle, preserve and bake stuff - which qualifies me as Little House on the Prairie material. Still working on the others...
Very busy with being busy, I kept telling myself I would be a writer "one day when I grow up." And then I woke up and realized I was old and I better hurry up and get writing. I write books about strong, vibrant Pacific women, fabulous gifted fa'afafine - and with some tattooed, chiselled men added in for good measure. Fiery fantasy romance for the Forever Young in all of us.
Oh, and that doorway to magical realms of adventure and imagination?
Found it.
Author Links

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Cover Reveal: If I Fall by Anna Cruise

Meg Calloway is at the edge.

Reeling from her parents' sudden divorce, fifteen-year old Meg has never felt more alone. Her father is about to marry a woman she can't stand and her mother's only companion is an endless supply of alcohol. WhenAidan Matthews, an older boy at school, shows interest in her, she grabs on and doesn't let go, thinking he's exactly what she needs to help stem her loneliness and despair. She quickly learns that Aidan lives a darker, more dangerous life than she does and the more isolated she feels from her family, the more willing she is to step into Aidan’s world.

As Meg drifts further from her friends, she tries to find comfort with a boy who is opening her eyes up to new things, none of them good. Will she listen to those around her who are warning her that she's headed down a path of self-destruction?

Or will she fall too far...too fast...too deep?
 
Here is the link to add it to Goodreads.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17694116-if-i-fall


Author Bio: Anna Cruise has been writing and drooling over boys since middle school. Lots of years have passed but some things never change... IF I FALL is her second novel. Anna loves to hear from readers and authors. Email her at authorannacruise@gmail.com. You can also like her Facebook page, find her on Twitter @AnnaCruiseBooks or friend her on Goodreads.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Release day for Music Of The Heart by Katie Ashley

For Abby Renard, the plan was supposed to be simple—join her brothers’ band on the last leg of their summer tour and decide if she’s finally ready for the limelight by becoming its fourth member. Of course, she never imagined stumbling onto the wrong tour bus at Rock Nation would accidentally land her in the bed of Jake Slater, the notorious womanizing lead singer of Runaway Train. When he mistakes her for one of his groupie’s, Abby quickly lets him know she sure as hell isn't in his bed on purpose.

Jake Slater never imagined the angel who fell into his bed would resist his charms by promptly kneeing him in the balls. Of course, the fact she seems like a prissy choir girl makes her anything but his type. So he is more than surprised when after betting Abby she wouldn’t last a week on their tour bus, she is more than willing to prove him wrong. But as Jake’s personal life begins to implode around him, he finds an unlikely ally in Abby. He’s never met a woman he can talk to, joke with, or most importantly make music with.

As the week starts comes to a close, neither Abby nor Jake is ready to let go. Can a sweetheart Country songstress and a bad boy of Rock N Roll actually have a future together?



AUTHOR PROFILE:

Katie Ashley is the New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon Best-Selling author of The Proposition. She lives outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her two very spoiled dogs and one outnumbered cat. She has a slight obsession with Pinterest, The Golden Girls, Harry Potter, Shakespeare, Supernatural, Designing Women, and Scooby-Doo.

She spent 11 1/2 years educating the Youth of America aka teaching MS and HS English until she left to write full time in December 2012.

She also writes Young Adult fiction under the name Krista Ashe.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website:  http://katieashleybooks.blogspot.com
FB Page:  https://www.facebook.com/katieashleybooks
Twitter:  @ katieashleyluv
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6546441.Katie_Ashley


Friday, March 22, 2013




Synopsis:
“I'm dying to be beautiful.”
My story isn't unique. You've heard it before. I'm just a girl who doesn't eat as much as she should. See, I have goals, big ones, and nobody is going to stop me, not even a boy named Emmett. He has good intentions and he's hot as hell, but he doesn't understand what it's like to want something so bad that you'll do anything for it. I'm going to become a model, even if it kills me. Dream big or go home, that's what they always say, right?

Book Links:
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17455732-paint-me-beautiful



Author Bio:
C.M. Stunich was raised under a cover of fog in the area known simply as Eureka, CA. A mysterious place, this strange, arboreal land nursed Caitlin's (yes, that's her name!) desire to write strange fiction novels about wicked monsters, magical trains, and Nemean Lions (Google it!). She currently enjoys drag queens, having too many cats, and tribal bellydance.
Always a fan of the indie scene and 'sticking it to the man,' Ms. Stunich decided to take the road less traveled and forgo the traditional publishing route. You can be assured though that she received several rejections as to ensure her proper place in the world of writers before taking up a friend's offer to start a publishing company. Sarian Royal was born, and Ms. Stunich's books slowly transformed from mere baking chocolate to full blown tortes with hand sculpted fondant flowers.
C.M. is a writer obsessed with delivering the very best and scours her mind on a regular basis to select the most unusual stories for the outside world.

Author Links:
Official webpage: http://cmstunich.com








Sunday, March 17, 2013




Suicide Note Synopsis:

Everything happens for a reason.
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Teresa Mummert. A soldier returning for mid-tour leave decides to stay with a cousin in Maine, after his fiancé leaves him for someone else while he is away at war. His cousin is going through his own devastation and is struggling to pick up the pieces and move on with his family. As they try to help each other through the pain, Shane's path crosses Jenn's and he soon learns that everything happens for a reason.
This novel does not contain any acts of suicide and has a HEA.(less)

My Review 4 Stars 
First off I want to thank Teresa Mummert for the opportunity to read an ARC of Suicide Note.

There is Shane who is in the military and has lived a life of loss. You can only imagine the pain he is going through. I loved Shane he is everything a book boyfriend is supposed to be. Tall, dark and handsome. He cares quickly and intensely for Jenn. (I'll get to her in a second.) I could feel the protectiveness he felt for her. Jake (Shane's cousin) and Shane have a true brotherly relationship. He and Shane look out for each other. You can tell they have done this their whole lives. Shane's relationship with Jake's wife is refreshing. The love their small, close knit family has for one another and the ordeals they pull each other through is something a family hopes for and few have. A message I got from this book is that family counts and family helps; it doesn't matter who or what that family consists of. As in Shane's case it's a dog, Roxy his cousin Jake and Jake's wife May and a sweet girl that he believed he was saving. 

Feeling pressure from her parents, abandoned from her ex-fiance and thoroughly hurt by her sister; Jenn felt all alone. She wasn't where she wanted to be in her life as far as her career is concerned and she didn't see herself advancing in her career. Not with a jerk of a boss that barely talked to her. Jenn is a quiet girl, who I first saw as someone that was weak. Someone that let others including her parents walk over her. Her parents always compared her to her sister and she felt she never measured up. Jenn changed when she met Shane the handsome stranger that came in looking for her boss. Jake. Shane strengthened her. He gave her hope. 

The relationship between Shane and Jenn was a whirlwind of emotions, hurt, pain from their pasts and happiness. Happiness that they brought to each other. 

I enjoyed this book. I liked these characters. I recommend this book to anyone that loves a great contemporary book. Thank you again Teresa for the chance to read your story.

You can find Teresa Mummert on Facebook at

Twitter

Website 

You can get SUICIDE NOTE at
Amazon

Barnes and Noble 

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Give Me Love

5 Star Rating

Synopsis:

Evie Jamieson, a former wild child, is not only a headstrong, smart-mouthed trouble magnet, she is also a lead singer with a plan. That plan involves relocating her band, including her two best friends guitarist Henry and band manager Mac, to Sydney to kick off their dreams of hitting the big time.

Jared Valentine is the older brother of Evie's best friend Mac and also the man determined to make Evie his. They strike up a long distance friendship which suits Evie because she's determined to avoid the distraction of love, not only because it doesn't fit in with her plan but because twice in the past it has left her for dead. Moving to Sydney however, has put her directly in Jared's path and he has decided it's the perfect opportunity to make his play.

Unfortunately Jared, co-owner in a business that 'consults' in dangerous hostage and kidnapping situations, makes an enemy who's determined to enact revenge. When this enemy puts Evie in his sights, Jared not only has a fight on his hands to make her his own, but also to keep her alive.

Is accepting the love he's so desperate to give worth the risk to both her heart...and her life?

 Review:
Kate McCarthy’s first attempt at writing is amazingly awesome. Give Me Love is a novel centered on the relationship of Jared Valentine and Genevieve “Evie” Jamieson. I was a little overwhelmed in the beginning of the book; I had to think about some of the Aussie terminology. There was a lot of information given at the beginning of the book and I had to get use to a lot of characters and the nick names they had for each other. The characters have such a playful fast whit rapport with each other that it was heartwarming. The more I read the more I fell in love with the characters and the further I got into the book the more interesting the each story line got, there are several story lines wrapped up within this book. Evie and her friends are emerging rock stars, Jared and his friends are Jameson and Valentine “The Bad Ass Brigade" special consultants (think Commando types) and there is PLENTY of romance.

"I feel like everything is so much brighter when I'm with you. When you're not there it's like someone turned out the lights."

This book is the total package it has romance, suspense, rock stars, black ops, all rolled into one. This story was a great there was danger, action, and lots of love involved. It also had plenty of drama, misunderstandings, fear, and trust issues. There was so much against this couple that could have easily kept them apart but in the end, love does prevail but not without a good bit of work. Kate McCarthy managed to write a novel that contains both romance and suspense. There is also quite a bit of humor as well my favorite was the nicknames they had for one another as well as Evie and Jared’s texts to one another.

"Because one day you'll belong to me, Evie, and I'll know everything about you."

Jared and Evie had friendship first, they were so much fun together, they also had chemistry, and a crazy attraction to one another. It was incredibly obvious to everyone that the two are meant to be together, but Evie has had 2 major heartbreaks and Jared has some secrets of his own. Evie's refusal to see what was going on sometimes made me want to scream but once she finally gave in it was all worth it. I really was super excited what they decided that they were going to be together.

 By the end I was totally invested in this couple, then I saw The End, I wanted to cry……… I loved that she gave us an epilogue, I loved how it all ends, and I felt a little bit of closure. I hope that the author will write more about this “Family” I would like to see more books in this series with more of the other characters. I really want to see books for Mac, Travis, Henry, Casey, and possibly Coby. What a great debut by Kate McCarthy.

Good Reads Link:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17204058-give-me-love

Authors Facebook Link:
ttps://www.facebook.com/groups/341036895997607/343465875754709/?notif_t=group_comment_reply#!/KateMcCarthyAuthor?fref=ts a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

COVER REVEAL: Trying Not To Love You by Megan Smith


Release Date May 17, 2013

Synopsis:

Mackenzie Cahill has dealt with overbearing and overprotective
brothers her entire life; making it near impossible to enjoy her
teenage years. Having a boyfriend was practically impossible until she
met a guy that wasn't afraid to stand up to them - Dominic. He was
sweet, thoughtful, and everything Mackenzie ever wanted in a man.

But when they go away to college at Old Dominion University, Mackenzie
sees a whole new side of Dominic and begins to wonder if he really is
different from every other guy.

Her world is turned upside down after a party, and her brother's best
friend, Hunter is the one there to offer her a shoulder to cry on. The
chemistry between them is electric, and feelings for each other that
have been hidden for years are finally voiced.

But is Hunter willing to be disloyal to his best friends in order to
be with the one girl he's always secretly wanted?


Goodreads link:
 http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17412570-trying-not-to-love-you?auto_login_attempted=true

Here's Megan's Author Bio:

When Megan Smith is not writing she is a wife to her high school sweet heart and a mom to her son. She lives in the New Jersey. At the end of the day when she is done work and being a mom you can find her curled up with a good book or writing on her current story.

Author link:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-M-Smith/225762494227939


Author Megan Smith is offering a $10 Amazon gift card Giveaway. For a chance to win enter at the rafflecopter below.

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Monday, March 11, 2013

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Set two years after we left Devi and Seth in My Misery Muse, comes Faith where Drake Porter and Mags Sands’ story unfolds.

Mags is a single mother, running her own business, trying to make ends meet. Drake is an A&R guy for a local indie record company who has been working nonstop for a year. When both finally take a vacation with family and friends, they are forced to finally admit, at least to themselves, that they have feelings for each other.

When they go home, they find it even more difficult to put the past in the past and maintain a relationship strong enough to face the challenges ahead. Follow along as they try to make a relationship work while fighting demons of their own, through circumstances not of their making, and with family and friends trying to help.

Teaser:

“So, about the last time we saw each other…” I started.

He nodded his head. “It was fun; we should do it again soon.”

I shook my head. “No, I don’t think we should.”

“Fine, Mags, what do you need to tell me so we can get back to the party?”

“I’m pregnant.”

He stared at me slack jawed then snapped it closed. “Well, it’s not mine, we used a condom.”
 
 
 
And now......................
 
 
 
the cover.................
 
 
for..................................
 
 
 
 
FAITH by Brei Betzold
 
 
 
 
 
links for Brei:
FB Author Page:
Blog Page:
Goodreads Author:
Goodreads Faith:
Twitter: