in

Saturday, May 17, 2014

ARC Review: Slightly Spellbound by Kimberly Frost


Tammy Jo Trask is an armed, cake baking, nature loving half witch and half fae. The two halves battle for Tammy’s attention. They have competition from her ocelot, Mercutio, and her boyfriend, Bryn. He’s a wizard. Mingling their magic makes both of them stronger. Luckily, they enjoy mingling. Wizards and the fae are sworn enemies, but Tammy’s in love. Her ex-husband, Zach, and ghost aunt, Edie, don’t like Bryn. He has black Irish looks and a black Irish heart. Exactly, a successful lawyer/ bad boy rolled into one. They've exchanged rings to strengthen their bond of celestial and earth magic. Lately, her fae side is calling to her. Tammy is more comfortable barefoot and outside. Tammy is being visited by a skeleton, fairies, and water witches. Evangline ‘Vangie’ Rhoades, a witch, shows up looking for help and cake. Her wizard father is dead and she believes her stepmother killed him. She stands to inherit her father’s library. Many ancient spell books are the prizes of his collection. If anything happens to Vangie, the stepmother gets it all. Vangie’s engaged and anxious to move on with her life. When she disappears, Tammy and Bryn are on the trail to find her. They come across creepy goings on in the forest. Black magic has been used to create a voodoo doll of Tammy. The stepmother has it and is trying to kill Tammy. Her Aunt Edie’s killer is back for more bodies. Edie seizes the opportunity to return to the land of the living. Plus Tammy meets a family member who’s been haunting her dreams. This is a continuing series and I’m looking forward to reading it from the beginning.

Tammy has two men vying for her attention. Zach and Bryn are worthy of her and perfect adversaries. Tammy is engaging and interesting. She knows she has magic, but different powers continue to manifest themselves. Aunt Edie plays the role of parent, adviser, and scold. Their relationship is fun because Edie has an opinion about everything and everyone.

This book includes many paranormal characters. Wizards, fairies, vampires, and witches match their powers for and against each other. It’s interesting to see them trying to coexist in the same town. Tammy has leadership abilities and could build a coalition, which would invite more trouble. Well done.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |



Feature and Giveaway: Entice by Rachel Van Dyken


From #1 New York Times Bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken comes the third book in the bestselling Eagle Elite Series...

“As burns this saint, so burns my soul. I enter alive, and I will have to get out dead.”

Chase Winter let the love of his life slip through his fingers and into the hands of his best friend and mafia boss of the Abandanato family. Now that he's been given a second chance to right a wrong--he refuses to let his own selfishness stand in the way. The only problem? He's not fully in possession of his heart, so when Mil De Lange, the girl who's innocence he stole, and heir to the worst of the worst mafia families in the US, asks him for a favor. He actually says yes, not realizing that that one yes has the power to destroy them all.

Mil's been in love with Chase as long as she can remember, but as the years went by, the love turned to hate, and now that he's agreed to help her, she's wondering if she made a fatal error. Because Chase isn't a teenager anymore. He's a hot blooded male, bent on owning every part of her body and soul, and willing to kill anyone in his path who dares stand in the way.

It's time for secrets to finally be revealed...but make no mistake, it's going to take a lot of bloodshed for those truths to be discovered.
You've never read a New Adult Mafia story like this before...loyalties will be tested, lovers reunited, and friendships obliterated. Welcome to the Family. Blood in--No out.

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |

ARC Review: Entice by Rachel Van Dyken


Entice is the third book in Rachel Van Dyken's Eagle Elite series, and it picks up right after the ending of Elect. This book should only be read after you have finished Elite and Elect. I have been ready for Chase's story ever since he was first introduced, and it was better than I ever expected. This series is fantastic, and I absolutely love these characters. If you are a new adult fan, this series is an absolute must read. I have never read anything like these books before, and I love that I never know what will happen next!

Chase Winter was left heartbroken when the love of his life slipped through his fingers and chose his best friend Nixon. Needing to focus on something else, Chase says yes to a favor from Mil and decides to think about someone else for the first time in his life. That favor turns out to be marriage to the girl whose innocence he stole when they were kids, and who also happens to be the new boss of the De Lange family. Mil has always loved Chase and knew that he would keep her safe, which is why she chose him when she needed help. But now that they are married, she begins to wonder if she made a mistake. Chase took her heart years before, but now she needs to shut herself down in order to keep him from also taking her soul. But when more secrets are revealed and their lives are once again in danger, will she be able to stay away from her sexy husband?

I have loved Chase since the very beginning of this series. He is so easy to like and fall in love with. He is such a great guy and would go to the ends of the earth for those he loves. He has always had this easy going vibe about him and was always the one to offer comfort to those in need. But he also has this whole other dangerous side to him, and you could tell that he wasn't afraid to unleash it when needed. I loved that he was so fierce about those he cared about and he was even that way about Mil before he realized his feelings for her. I liked seeing him realize that his friendship with Tracey and his love for her were not what he had originally thought. They were friends and had a strong connection, but Mil was actually the love of his life. I loved seeing them fall for each other and build on the connection that had started between them so many years before. I liked Mil a lot. We didn't really know her that well before Entice, but she grew so much over the course of this book. With Nixon and Chase's help, she went from being a tough girl to being a mob boss. She was strong and feisty, and she was scary when she had to be. I liked that even though she was tough, she was able to show her softer side with Chase. They were great together, and I think that they were the perfect match for each other. They also had a ton of chemistry and I loved that they had such history together.

Overall, this was another fantastic addition to this series and these books just keep getting better! I absolutely love every thing about these stories and characters, and they are so unique. Rachel Van Dyken has a way of creating these characters that seem so real and believable, and even when they are doing crazy things you never stop rooting for them. I cannot ever remember reading a series when I love all the characters and can't honestly give you a favorite. Usually there are at least a few that stand out, but honestly with the Eagle Elite series I love them all for completely different reasons. They are all different and original, and yet with each new character introduced you can't help but love them just as much as those that came before. I will admit that Tex completely surprised me in this book. I had known there was more to him and that we had just barely scratched the surface with his character. But after Entice, I feel like I didn't really know him at all! I am so intrigued with him and Mo and can't wait to get their story next! This book was darker than Elite, but like Elect I really enjoyed seeing more of their world and getting more of the details and their history. This series is an absolute must read, and I feel so invested in these characters and the stories. I highly recommend this series and I look forward to reading more from Rachel Van Dyken.

**ARC Provided by Inkslinger PR**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | The Book Depository |




Friday, May 16, 2014

ARC Review: Dare to Resist by Laura Kaye


I'll be honest, when I found out that Laura Kaye was releasing an Entangled Brazen book about my favorite trope (brother's best friend and little sister) I didn't even need to read the blurb to know that this story was a must read. I loved the cover, I am a huge fan of Laura Kaye, and with this trope I knew this one was going to be amazing. This novella was so good, and after reading I found out that this is actually the start of something really cool. This prequel novella is the start of the Wedding Dare series, and is the story about how Kady and Colton start their relationship. Their wedding is the event that the other four books will center around. I can't wait for June 9th when the other books will be released, and we get the stories about Kady and Colton's friends and family!

Kady and Colton have always had sort of a love hate relationship. They bicker and argue, and generally do everything that they can to annoy each other. Colton is six years older than Kady and is her older brother Tyler's best friend. While they have always irritated each other, there has also been attraction between them as well. Three years ago they gave in to the passion, but Colton pushed her away after and they have barely spoken since. Now three years later, they are both vying for the same security services contract. When they get stranded because of the weather and are forced to share a room together, things explode between them. There are still obstacles that stand between them and a relationship, but the more they get to know each other the more they realize how perfect for each other they actually are.

Colton and Kady were amazing. I loved both of them so much, and they were absolutely perfect for each other. Colton is strong and sexy, and also really smart. He is good with computers and runs his own successful business, but he is also completely built being former military as well. He was dominant and had been scared to pursue anything with Kady because of his darker desires as well as her being Tyler's little sister. He never imagined that she could crave the same things that he did. Kady was smart and sassy, and I loved that she worked so hard to be successful. She was determined, and didn't take crap from anyone. I loved how playful and witty she was with Colton, and even though they would snipe at each other you could tell it was because they both had feelings for each other. They were so much fun, and had a great connection on all levels. They were also smoking hot together and had some seriously strong chemistry between them. Once they finally went there with each other, these two were super intense and generated serious amounts of steam.

Overall, these two were fantastic and I loved seeing them take their feelings and lay everything out there. I was so glad to see them finally be open with each other, and find out how right they were together. Kady and Colton connected on every level, and they just clicked perfectly. My one complaint with this novella, and the reason for my rating being a 4 rather than a 5, is that I felt like they should have had another or chapter or two to their story. I know that the end of their story is the wedding that will take place in the next four books, but I just felt like we are missing the portion of where the novella ends and their wedding. I really wanted to see what happens in the middle, and how they get to the wedding. I still really loved Dare to Resist though, and I am so excited to see how the rest of this series plays out. I am really looking forward to seeing where Tessa Bailey, Diane Alberts, Katee Robert, and Samanthe Beck take Kady and Colton's friends and family. I think that this series is bound to be amazing with all these great authors writing the stories, and June cannot get her fast enough! I highly recommend this novella, especially if you are a fan of sexy stories that will leave you wanting more.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |



Feature and Giveaway: A Beautiful Distraction by Kelsie Leverich


A brand new novel in the New York Times bestselling Hard Feelings series—where nothing’s more dangerous than a bad boy with a broken heart…

First Sergeant Rafe Murano did everything to the extreme. He trained harder, he fought harder, and, unfortunately, he loved harder. And falling for the wrong woman nearly destroyed him.

Home from a deployment, and without his missions to consume him, Murano is ravaged by memories of his heartbreak. So he drinks until he’s numb and drowns himself in meaningless one-night stands. But they only take the edge off…

Until he meets Fallon.

Haunted by her past, Fallon Kelly knows all too well about the desperate desire for an escape. So when she sees the tatted-up bad boy who’s one punch away from a ride in the back of a squad car, she offers a distraction—one that quickly becomes an addiction.

Little does she know, this bad boy can love so hard, it can break her…

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |

ARC Review: A Beautiful Distraction by Kelsie Leverich


A Beautiful Distraction is the newest installment in Kelsie Leverich's Hard Feelings series. I was really excited to read Rafe's story after reading the blurb, and I just knew he was going to be a character that I loved. While I did really like his character, this book was not really what I had been expecting and I was left with mixed feelings about the story.

Rafe is home after another deployment and without things to fill his mind, he is left dwelling on the woman who broke his heart. He fills his time with drinking and women, and he is quick to use his fists when he gets angry. He goes to a club with his friend one night and meets Fallon. Not only is she the club owner, but she is a beautiful dancer as well. He is instantly drawn to her. Fallon has a set of rules that she lives by after her horrible past. When she meets Rafe as he is defending one of her girls, her rules go right out the window. The attraction between them is so strong that she ends up giving into the passion that they are both feeling. Rafe makes Fallon feel more than she has in a long time, and that scares her. Rafe is still trying to get over his heartbreak and hasn't felt anything like what he does for Fallon in a long time. Can they both get over their pasts and take a chance on a future together?

I liked Rafe. He was a really great guy and he felt things so strongly. He looked out for those he cared about and also for those that couldn't look out for themselves. I liked that even though it wasn't always the best way or what he should do, he always seemed to stand up for what was right. He was a total hot head, but he had good intentions behind everything he did. He was sweet and kind, while being completely sexy and commanding. I loved that he wouldn't let Fallon get away with keeping him at a distance, and he was determined to show her that what they had was worth taking a chance on. Fallon was harder for me to like and relate to. At times she was really nice and strong, and at other times she was a bit of a bitch. I thought that she pushed Rafe away a bit too much and she was a little cold at times. I know that she was scared, but it got old after awhile. Especially considering how great he treated her and how he was open and honest with her. He really wore his heart on his sleeve with her, and so it frustrated me to see her continue to do the things she did with him. I thought that they had good chemistry and they had their steamy moments. I liked that Rafe was able to open up to her and really tell her who he was and even share the things that he wasn't proud of. I feel like Fallon didn't really open up to him as much though, and it almost seemed like her sharing with him was more out of default than her choosing to share. He caught her at a weak moment and wouldn't allow her to escape without explaining. I think it hurt the emotional connection that they were forming that she didn't explain herself without being basically forced to. I just didn't find their connection to be as strong or believable because of it.

I also thought that this story was really slow. The first 30% was extremely slow and there were several times that I put the book down and had to walk away. It was really hard for me to get into the story, and there were times that I thought I wasn't going to be able to finish. It started to pick up a bit after the 30% mark, but it still had its slow moments after that. This one just never fully captured my attention, and as much as I liked Rafe there just wasn't a lot that kept me interested. I didn't really find the relationship developing between them to be what I had hoped for and I think that is mostly because of Fallon. I just wasn't able to connect with her and I think that kept me from really being able to root for their relationship. I also thought that everything was a little bit too conveniently connected. With each new character or problem introduced, somehow they were all tied together. It just was a bit too coincidental for my liking. I couldn't believe that it would all happen like that for real, so it really just didn't work for me. As much as I had wanted to love this story, it just never happened. I kept reading and ended up giving this one the rating I did because I really did like Rafe. He was the only reason I stuck with this one and was definitely the highlight of the story. I did like the way things ended up and I thought that it was a good ending. I just wish that I had been able to enjoy the whole book and all of the characters more than just me liking Rafe. I think if you are a fan of this series or Kelsie Leverich you will enjoy this book, and if you like sexy uniformed heroes you might give this one a shot.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | The Book Depository |




Thursday, May 15, 2014

ARC Review: Hell for Leather by Julie Ann Walker


Delilah Fairchild owns a biker bar and would like to get the attention Bryan ‘Mac” McMillan. The interest is mutual. His friend describes her as “a woman you hate to see leave, but you love to watch her go.” Mac pretends to be a motorcycle mechanic, but is part of a clandestine government defense group called the Black Knights. Delilah also moonlights as a forensic accountant. Her Uncle Theo has raised her since her parents died; now he’s missing. And so is his friend Charlie. Both are former Marines who served in Vietnam. She’s attacked in her apartment and the Black Knights offer to help find her uncle. Terrorists have Theo because he knows where nuclear warheads are hidden. The CIA is interested too and sends an old friend to help. The Knights and agents tangle over jurisdiction and bragging rights. Delilah only wants her uncle back. She is caught and taken to a cave. After she’s found, Mac still can’t commit to a relationship. Memories of his parents’ marriage and breakup haunt him. He goes as far as buying back the family ranch and moving away to find peace. How much will Mac and Delilah sacrifice for love?

Delilah’s actions live up to her flaming red hair. She’s determined to find Theo, with or without help. She’s captured, but battles the whole time. She loves Mac, but doesn’t push. She’s used to the strong silent types. More than capable, she seeks out Mac, knowing he’ll help. She opens her heart to him and he’s worthy of her love.

Mac is a protector with a soft side. He offers comfort and support to Delilah. He is also a leader. Very appealing, he’s a man who saves a dog and the day. Even after Delilah stabs him by mistake, he pushes on.

Given the subject matter, there is violence. The Black Knights don’t take prisoners. They have an outlaw vibe, even though they are the good guys. The dialogue between them borders on insults and is entertaining. All in the group are a family unto themselves. The Knights are devoted, honest, and committed to seeing their assignments through to the end.

This book is one of a series. I haven’t read the others, but look forward to finding them.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |



Review: Make Me Crazy by Codi Gary


I really enjoyed Make Me Crazy by Codi Gary. It was cute and sweet, and I love the friends to lovers trope. The characters were all likable and I really enjoyed Gary's writing style. I felt invested in these characters and their HEA right from the start, and I was able to just lose myself in their story.

Miranda "Rand" Coleman grew up seeing that love can destroy a person, and since then she has been against love, marriage and kids. When her grandpa dies and leaves her the Double C Ranch, she is glad to be able to continue living the life she loves. But when she finds out that in order to keep the ranch she must get married in three months she begins to panic. She turns to her two best friends Red and Jake to help her find eligible men in town that she could marry. When she decides to after the town veterinarian, Jake agrees to help her make him jealous and give him a bit of competition. But soon the feelings between Jake and Rand start to become more about them and less about helping her secure a husband. As Jake and Rand grow closer, they begin to think about the possibility of them getting married instead. But Jake has never done commitment and Rand isn't willing to settle. Can Jake and Rand work things out before it's too late, or will they end up destroying their friendship in the process?

I really liked Jake and Rand. These characters were so real and normal, and I thought that they were extremely easy to relate to. Rand was strong and capable, and I loved that she was so comfortable running her ranch. She wasn't intimidated easily, and I also liked that she wasn't afraid to be herself. It was great to see her start to loosen up a bit with Jake though. I liked that she wasn't a girly girl, but it was great that she started to try something new and that she would think about Jake and what he would like. He really brought out more of her feminine qualities, and it was nice to see her show that side more. Jake was sweet and easy-going, and I loved the friendship between him and Rand. Jake knew her so well, and yet he started to see so much more to her than he ever had before. I liked seeing him start to develop real feelings for her and see that he was capable of more than just casual with someone. Jake and Rand were a great match because of their foundation as best friends, but beyond that they had great chemistry together and worked really well as a couple. These two were really hot together, and I loved seeing them take their friendship to the next step. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It was sweet and fun, and I had a really good time reading it. This book had it all, and I loved how it was sweet and playful but also sexy and intense. Rand and Jake were great to read about, and I loved watching their growth as a couple but also as individuals. I highly recommend this book to contemporary romance fans. I think this is a book that has something for everyone, and a lot of people will really enjoy this story just like I did. I can't wait to read more from Codi Gary, and I look forward to the next book in this series.

**Copy Provided by Literati Author Services**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | The Book Depository |




Feature and Giveaway: House of the Rising Sun by Kristen Painter


Augustine lives the perfect life in the Haven city of New Orleans. He rarely works a real job, spends most of his nights with a different human woman, and resides in a spectacular Garden District mansion paid for by retired movie star Olivia Goodwin, who has come to think of him as an adopted son, providing him room and board and whatever else he needs.

But when Augustine returns home to find Olivia's been attacked by vampires, he knows his idyllic life has comes to an end. It's time for revenge—and to take up the mantle of the city's Guardian.

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

ARC Review: Out of Mind by Jen McLaughlin


Out of Mind is the third and final book in the Out of Line series by Jen McLaughlin. This is the conclusion to Finn and Carrie's story, and I have been dying to get my hands on this one! I love Finn and Carrie so much, and they have had so many things to get past. I knew this one was going to be a tough one to get through, but it was so worth it. Out of Mind was fantastic! This book has to be read after reading the first two books, and if you haven't read them yet you are seriously missing out. Finn and Carrie are definitely worth it and these are absolute must reads for me.

Finn survived the horrible ambush that killed everyone on his team. He is left scarred and injured on the outside as well as the inside. His headaches and nightmares are causing him to fall apart and turn to drinking and pills to try and cope. Carrie is trying to be supportive and give him the space he needs, but he continues to push her away. Once their biggest concern, her father has finally started to accept their relationship and is allowing Finn to stay with them at his home while he recovers. When Finn's father's health starts to deteriorate even more, Finn is left feeling as though he is losing everything and everyone. He knows that he is no good for Carrie the way he is, and has to figure out how to let her go. Carrie is determined to show Finn that they are meant to be and can make it through anything. But sometimes love isn't enough, and they are both different than they were before everything changed.

I love Finn. I have loved him from the start, and I knew going in that he was going to be a different character the the Finn we first met and fell in love with. We really got to see a deeper side to him as he struggled with everything that he had been through. He was more serious and vulnerable than the lovable and fun surfer. His love and sacrifice for Carrie though was both beautiful and heartbreaking. He really believed that he was doing the right thing for her and that she was better off without him. He was willing to break his own heart in order to give her a chance at the life he thought she deserved. It was really sad to watch him suffer so much before he was finally able to start to heal himself. I was so glad that he was able to get the help he needed though and it was nice to see him start to work his way back to who he had been. Carrie was so strong and patient. She didn't know how to deal with Finn and what he was going through, especially since he wouldn't talk to her and kept pushing her away. She did treat him differently and there were times that I wanted her to just treat him like normal because it was what he needed. Her intentions were always good though, and she was struggling right along with him. She is such a great heroine though because her love and commitment to him never wavered. She loved him despite any changes to his physical appearance and continued to see the same man that she fell in love with. I'm glad that she had her friends to lean on while going through everything, and it was nice to see her parents supporting her finally. They seemed to really grasp that she was happiest with Finn and she needed to make her own decisions. Finn and Carrie have such a strong bond between them, and they really are perfect for each other. They are one of my all time favorite book couples, and their chemistry and connection is truly one of a kind.

Overall, this series was such a journey and this book was definitely the hardest part. It was written so beautifully though, and although it was heartbreaking at times it was also filled with hope and love. Finn and Carrie really grew and changed over the course of these three books, and they had a love unlike any other. They drew me in from the very start, and I felt instantly invested in these two. Their relationship wasn't always easy, and they had a lot of obstacles placed in their way but I never stopped rooting for them. Jen McLaughlin did such a great job with these books and characters, and I really feel like she wrote their story perfectly. It was all so real and believable and I think that she did all the characters justice. I can't see anything being done differently and I think that this could not have been written any better. I am sad that this series is now over and that there won't be any more of Carrie and Finn. But I know that I will continue to read their story over and over because these characters will always stick with me. I am looking forward to reading more from Jen McLaughlin in the future.

**ARC provided by Inkslinger PR**

Purchase: Amazon | B&N |



Review: Two for One by Ann B. Harrison


Two for One is the first book in Ann B. Harrison's The Club series. This was a quick and steamy read that was enjoyable and easy to get into. I liked the characters and the story. I think that Two for One was a great start to the series, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Lizzie isn't satisfied with her life. She has a boyfriend who doesn't know how to please her, an awful job and more debt and bills piling up thanks to her loser of a brother. When her best friend comes up with a solution to all of her problems, Lizzie is skeptical. But after a makeover, she signs up to be auctioned off at The Club for a weekend of sex with a hot guy in which she will paid a large amount of money. She is bought by the brothers Trace and Ryan that own The Club, and gets more than she ever expected with them. They are both extremely hot, but they are completely different. While Lizzie and Ryan get along great in bed and out, Trace is the one that she feels drawn to. Trace has trust issues though because of his past and isn't willing to make their arrangement anything more than the original weekend. Can Ryan convince Trace that his feelings and connection to Lizzie are worth taking a chance on though?

I really liked Ryan and Trace. Ryan was sweet and easy going. He was so open and honest, and he had a really great way of easing Lizzie's fears and making her feel comfortable. He was supportive and friendly and exactly what she needed. He was hot and tattooed and the fact that he was a fighter made him that much more sexy. Trace was more serious and reserved though. He was sexy in a well put together way. He wore suits and ran The Club. He was one of those guys that just seems untouchable and really intense. He was drawn to Lizzie right away and you could really tell that she made him feel things that he was uncomfortable with and that he tried to fight. Lizzie was insecure and vulnerable after her boyfriend had put her down so much. She thought that she was not attractive or worthy of guys like Trace and Ryan. I was glad to see her start to see herself differently though after her friend helped her and with the guys reassuring her that she deserved more out of life. She grew and really found herself not just sexually but also in what she wanted out of life. I thought that she was great with Ryan and their relationship was easy and friendly. But there was more of a connection between her and Trace. Trace and Lizzie were really hot together and you could feel the growing connection between them, but all three of them were really steamy too.

Overall, this was a good start to this series and I thought that Two for One packed a lot of steam in a short amount of pages. This one was a quick and sexy read, and the sex scenes were written really well. I thought that the story could have been a bit longer though, and I felt like the feelings and relationship were a bit rushed. I would have liked to have seen things develop a bit more to truly believe that it was more than just lust and fondness between Trace and Lizzie. I really liked Lizzie's friend Bel and Ryan a lot, and thought that they added a lot to the story. I am excited to read Ryan's story next and see what awaits him. I think that if you are looking for a sexy and fun short read, you should give this one a shot. I found it to be enjoyable, and I will look for more from Ann B. Harrison especially the rest of this series.

**Copy provided by Between the Sheets Promotions**

Purchase: | Amazon |



Guest Post with Theresa Romain and Giveaway


Historical romance author Theresa Romain pursued an impractical education that allowed her to read everything she could get her hands on. She then worked for universities and libraries, where she got to read even more. Eventually she started writing, too. She lives with her family in the Midwest, where she is working on her next book.

Find Theresa at:
Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |


Guest Post with Author Jen McLaughlin and Giveaway

Meet Jen McLaughlin, author of Out of Mind.

Jen McLaughlin is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She writes steamy New Adult books for the young and young at heart. Her first release, Out of Line, came out September 2013. She also writes bestselling Contemporary Romance under the pen name Diane Alberts.Since receiving her first contract offer under the pen name Diane Alberts, she has yet to stop writing. She is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, a cat, and a Senegal parrot. In the rare moments when she’s not writing, she can usually be found hunched over one knitting project or another. Her goal is to write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

Places to find Jen:
Site Blog | Facebook Twitter |

Feature and Giveaway: If I Stay by Tamara Morgan


Ryan Lucas would rather be anywhere but Ransom Creek, Connecticut. After losing his high-adrenaline career as a Hollywood stunt driver, he's had to tuck his tail between his legs and take up employment as a chauffeur for the Montgomerys, a wealthy hotelier family.

Amy Sanders has returned home to Ransom Creek to take over her mother's former position as nanny to the Montgomerys—bringing her close to dashing Jake Montgomery once again. She grew up with a major crush on Jake, and it's not easy to leave those feelings behind, even though her friendship with the hard-edged family chauffeur, Ryan, has a sizzling undercurrent of undeniable attraction.

Amy's determined to prove to Ryan that life at Montgomery Manor isn't all bad, but each time they draw closer Jake swoops in. Amy is torn between two men—and two worlds. And Ryan is rapidly coming to learn that if he wants to make Amy his, he'll have to prove to her that life downstairs can be everything they both want.

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N | iTunes |

ARC Review: If I Stay by Tamara Morgan


If I Stay is the first book that I have ever read by Tamara Morgan, but I had heard great things about her work. I was really excited to read this one, and the blurb sounded really good. I have to admit that while this story was cute and had some likable characters, I just wasn't really able to ever connect with either the characters or the story. This one was a good read, but I found my attention wandering and as soon as I would put the book down it was forgotten.

Amy Sanders has gone back home to Ransom Creek to be a Nanny for the Montgomerys. Her mother held the position before her, but her health has caused her to not be able to handle the job anymore. Working there is Ryan Lucas a former Hollywood stunt driver, now the chauffeur and car care-taker for the Montgomerys. Amy and Ryan feel a connection between them, but Amy has always been drawn to Jake Montgomery. Now that Amy is starting to feel closer to Ryan though, Jake shows up and seems to really notice Amy for the first time. Ryan is biding his time and hoping to get back to Hollywood and the job he loves, but will his connection to Amy be enough to keep him in Ransom Creek? And will Amy choose the guy she grew up having a crush on, or the hardworking guy that she feels a connection to?

I thought that Ryan and Amy were both likable characters. They each had some great qualities and were entertaining. I guess I just felt detached from them the entire story though. I just wasn't ever able to feel fully invested in them and I wasn't ever able to connect with them at all. I thought that they were good people and deserved to be happy, but honestly I didn't really care what happened to them. I also felt like the love triangle angle wasn't ever really a factor. Jake was pretty much a total jerk most of them time, and he was just too confident and cocky. He never did anything to redeem himself at all, and I honestly thought that he had no connection with Amy at all. It was always about Amy and Ryan.

I felt like this story was sort of hard to get into, and to me it didn't really seem to have a beginning. It almost seemed like the reader was dropped into the story in the middle, and that we had been missing something. I'm not really sure why this one gave me that feeling, but I just felt like I should have known about these characters and the story more than I did. This book wasn't a bad book at all, I just think it wasn't for me. I liked the characters, and I thought that the premise of the story was a good one. I think that fans of contemporary romance stories might want to give this one a shot. I just personally wasn't able to enjoy this one as much as I had been expecting and hoping for. The story was nice though, and I think readers will enjoy Ryan and Amy's story.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | B&N |