Friday, January 31, 2014

Blog Tour: Wish For You by Marquita Valentine







WISH FOR YOU


By Bestselling Author Marquita Valentine
A Boys of the South Novel
Released January 20, 2014
New Adult Contemporary

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks



From New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Marquita Valentine, comes the 4th book in her new adult series, BOYS OF THE SOUTH.

There's only one place in the world Lacey Evans feels normal- the roller derby track. When she laces up her skates and fastens her helmet, she's powerful and in charge. She knows exactly what to do and what to say. The rules are clear and penalties are enforced for those who don't follow them. But in the read world, she's far from powerful and in charge. She never knows exactly what to do and say. For years, she counted on one person to be exactly who he said he was--her best friend, Wyatt Tanaka. Only she changed the rules on him, without any warning, and now she's the one being punished.

Marine veteran, Wyatt Tanaka, came home to a heroes welcome. But he's hiding a secret, one that could potential destroy his life. He's doing the best he can, trying to cope with the guilt and the pain of the girl he loves pushing him away by doing all the things he'd sworn not too. Women, bars, drugs and drinking are what consume him. With Lacey's new rules, he has nothing to hold on to. Nothing to keep in from feeling dead.

Then one night, he goes too far, gets in too deep, and when the truth comes out... will Lacey keep pushing him away or help save him?

Having not read any of the books leading up to this one, I did not know what to expect.  What I found was an extremely engaging, well-written story about two extremely broken people that don’t realize they are each other’s strength.  






You meet Wyatt, since returning home from his tour in Afghanistan he is saddled with a arsenal of guilt and a psychiatrist that is trying to help him.  He returns to find his girl, his best friend, his glue and his heart has decided they need to go back to friends only status.  This does not bode well for his recovery.  When her kisses are what he lived for, he now looks to numb his pain with drugs and nameless women.  Ghosts mar his daily life, feelings of guilt for surviving, all of this lead to his mental destruction.




Lacey is a simple, church going girl that suffers from panic attacks and has to be fully prepared to face what is in front of her.  Some may find her character weak, I am not one of them.  Sometimes it’s the quiet strength that forms the connection and she had that.  Fearful that she would somehow tarnish Wyatt with her faults she denies herself what she wants more than anything..him!  



When the truth finally comes out, both Lacey and Wyatt have to battle their internal struggles, addictions and fears to find what they both want..their own happy ever after!



I enjoyed this book, it had angst, heart and I fell in love with both of these broken people and was rooting them on all the way through..

Giveaway


(1) Engraved set of dog tags from Things Remembered – Continental US Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway
(1) $100 USD Gift Card to Amazon or Barnes and Noble - International
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway





About the Author




New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Marquita Valentine, writes sexy heroes that make you swoon and sassy heroines that make you laugh. She’s the author of the bestselling contemporary romance series, Holland Springs, and the new adult romance series, Boys of the South.



Marquita met her husband aka Hot Builder at Sonic when they were in high school. She suggests this location to all of her single friends in search of a good man—and if that doesn't work, they can console themselves with cheesy tatertots. She lives in North Carolina in a very, very small town with Hot Builder and their two children.



Website | Facebook | Twitter

Thursday, January 30, 2014

NEW Cover Reveal: Beautiful Failure by Mariah Cole

BeautifulFailure_Revised_CVR_LRG (1)

 Synopsis

If you're looking for a heartwarming story about a girl who falls deeply in love with a troubled boy who changes her life--a sob story with pretty metaphors and a million ways that'll tell you how "broken" she is, STOP. Don't read another word of this. 
I'm not that type of girl. 
My name is Emerald Anderson and I'm not going to bullshit you: I flunked out of college after my sophomore year, I've been fired from every job I've ever taken, and I've never had a fully functioning relationship in my life. 
I wish I could say that I had a cheerleader in my corner, someone who says, "No, Emerald--You're great and you are good at something!" but I don't. My grandparents are completely oblivious to my life, and my mother's dying words to me were "You're going to end up just like me one day. A beautiful nothing." 
She was right.
As I decide to start my life over and take two jobs that will forever change me--one from the inside, and one from the outside, I keep my mother's words close to my heart so I can keep the sexy and mysterious Carter Black away. 
He's the first man who's ever pursued me, the first man who seems bent on finding out why I am the way I am, but he's wasting his time. 
I'm not broken. I don't need to be fixed. I'm perfectly fine being a beautiful failure...
BeautifulFailure_Revised_CVR_LRG (1)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18625288-beautiful-failure?from_search=true

  My mother was a whore. Her name was Leah Isabelle Anderson—“Leah Belle” for short, and she was one of New Jersey’s most sought after escorts. With deep green eyes that could take any man’s breath away, and skin so porcelain and smooth that it looked too perfect to touch, she was breathtakingly beautiful. Often compared to a supermodel, her raven black hair fell past her shoulders, and her naturally long eyelashes were always coiffed to perfection. Growing up, I had no idea what she did with the men who picked her up in their shiny and expensive cars—the men who wore thousand dollar suits and patted me on the head while saying, “Your mom is really something special.” In a way, these strangers became the closest thing I had to a family since I never knew my father: Her regulars, Christian and William, sent me gifts every Christmas. Arnie bought me my first bike, Steve taught me how to change a tire, and her most ruthless suitor—Vincent, took me shopping for designer clothes once a month. Leah Belle—she never ever let me call her “mom,” wasn’t exactly a mother to me; she was more like an older friend. An older ‘I’ll-be-there-when-it’s-convenient’ friend. She missed every elementary school play, every middle school writing competition, and never gave a damn about my grades. At first, the involuntary loneliness bothered me, but after I created an army of invisible friends and easily accessible fantasies, I came to terms with her neglect and happily accepted any attention she was willing to give me. When I became a teenager, she started to hang around me more often—promising that she would do better, promising that she would make sure that “from here on out, [we’d] be best friends.” Since she’d run away from her parents after having me at sixteen, she made a point to never lecture or discipline me. She did however, teach me three very important lessons: 1.) “Always put tons of effort into the way you look. You need to be beautiful on the outside, no matter how fucked up you are on the inside. If you ever feel sad or depressed, suck that shit up and add more mascara.” 2.) “Don’t make friends. Make sponsors. If you can’t get anything out of someone or use them for a specific purpose, kick that person out of your life ASAP.” 3.) “Beauty wins over brains every time. Your body will always be your most important asset. Remember that.” For my fourteenth birthday, she poured me my first shot and offered me a short line of coke, saying, “Welcome to life, Em!” I shook my head at the coke—I’d read about the effects, but I happily took the red shot glass from her hand. “To the best fuckin’ daughter in the world!” She lifted her glass in the air, waiting for me to do the same, and then she ordered me to toss it back. The initial burning sensation was painful—disgusting, but in the years to come, that bitterness tasted better and better, and I looked forward to the two of us drinking together. It was the only time that she gave me her undivided attention. In those moments, I would tell her about another writing competition I’d won or how I’d received more early college scholarships. When it was her turn, she would tell me about “turning tricks” like other parents told their kids about a day at the office. “I can’t tell you how weak Ben’s dick was today,” she’d say. “I mean, I feel like I should be charging him double for the weak ass fucks he puts me through.” “You don’t enjoy it with him? Ever?” I’d ask. “No. Never with him. But he’s a sponsor, I’m getting his money, and that’s all that matters. I just lie there, scratch his back, and say ‘Harder… Harder’ to make him think I’m into it until—” “Until he cums?” “Yep.” She’d pass me a cigarette before sighing. “With him and a few others, I usually have to take a few shots beforehand to numb my mind. With the really good ones, all I have to do is relax. Sex can be fucking incredible when it’s done right…” One particular Friday, after she let one of her regulars take me shopping for a Chanel bag, I unlocked the door to our home and saw droplets of blood all over the floor. “Leah?” I set my shopping bag down. “Did you get another nose bleed?” No answer. I headed into the kitchen, looking for her usual remedies—hot tea and Q tips, but she wasn’t there. “You here?” I walked around our living room and checked all the rooms upstairs. Confused, I pulled out my cell phone and called her. No answer again. I shrugged and opened a bottle of vodka, tossing back a few shots. I figured she’d left with one of her sponsors for a quickie and would be back by the time our favorite show started. I decided to take a shower before it came on and headed into the downstairs bathroom. The second I hit the lights, my heart fell out of my chest. I wanted to believe that what I was seeing was simply a sick joke by my imagination—a twisted fantasy I’d snap out of in seconds. Pale and blue, Leah’s body lay lifeless in our tub. Her left arm was dangling over the edge, and the small velvet bag where she kept her cocaine was dangling from her fingertips. Scattered across the floor were hundreds of prescription pills and empty orange bottles that bore the names of strangers. On the vanity, there was an empty syringe and a folded note that read “For my Em…” Trembling, I rushed to her side and pressed my finger against her neck, hoping for a pulse. Nothing. I tilted her head back and tried to breathe life into her—pressing her chest with my hands every few seconds, but it was no use. She was gone. I sank down to the floor in tears—cursing her, hating her, for doing this to me. To us. I had no friends to call, no family either, so in my numb and dazed state I somehow managed to call 9-1-1. While the operator attempted to calm me down by asking me to take deep breaths, I walked over to the vanity and unfolded 
 
Leah’s last note: 
Em, I know you’re confused right now, but I want you to know that I love you. I love you so fucking much… You were the only thing that made my life worth living, and I wish I was strong enough to keep that in mind… I’m not. I’m tired of living a lie and I haven’t been happy in a very long time… I just can’t take it anymore… I’ve fucked up a lot of things in my life, but the biggest regret I have is the way I raised you…I’m so sorry… This is going to be hard for you to believe—especially since I’m gone, but I need you to forget all that shit I taught you. Right now. Fuck using your looks to get what you want. Go to college and do some good shit with your life, like write or something. You’re a good writer, you’re very smart, and you need to use your brain to get ahead. Can you promise to do that for me, Em? Then again…It’s probably too late and I’m willing to bet that you’ll end up just like me: A beautiful nothing… It won’t be your fault though. It’ll be—

 I stopped reading and flushed that note down the toilet. Her last words were clearly written out of sadness and they were only compounding my pain. As far as I was concerned, Leah had raised me the best she could and she was far from a “beautiful nothing” in my eyes. In fact, I cherished every single thing she’d taught me. Even though I was beyond hurt that she’d selfishly left me all alone, I was determined to remember her at her best and for everything she was to me: My mother. My best friend. My role model.     

Teaser



Mariah Cole is a Starbucks addict (hazelnut shots, please!), New Adult author, and an incessant daydreamer. Known for pushing the envelope, she's an avid reader of indie books and is always looking to chat with readers and authors alike.

Giveaway

Hosted by:
  EJ Button

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Blog Tour: One Ride (A Hellions Novel) by Chelsea Camaron

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18526139-one-ride

Title: One Ride (The Hellions Ride)
Author: Chelsea Camaron
Genre: Erotica
Publication Date: December 19, 2013


Delilah “Doll” Reklinger never imagined her life with anyone that wasn’t a Hellion. She never imagined a Hellion would come along and prove himself worthy enough to her father, Roundman, Hellions Club President. Content in living in the bubble of safety the motorcycle club family has always provided, Doll never thought that danger surrounded her.

Roundman has kept the Hellions contained for the last thirty years by controlling the chaos surrounding their lifestyle. When the dangerous side to their business comes knocking on his door, he realizes his precious Doll isn’t safe. The Hellions code may be that women and children are off limits in any altercation or dispute, but that doesn’t mean their enemies follow that same moral compass.

His only child, now in danger from the association to him and his club, Roundman makes a decision. He sends her away to a charter club, in hopes that the trouble won’t follow.

One ride across the country. One simple ride. Talon “Tripp” Crews has been ordered to take Doll on one ride away and to keep her safe. She’s off limits, his head knows this, but his body can’t deny the sparks between them. She’s feisty, fierce, and fearless. Constantly in close confines together, can they deny the chemistry? Will they give into the attraction between them? Can one ride turn lust into love?







I love any and all books about motorcycle clubs and this one was no different. There is just something about the story that sucks you in and makes you want to live in the world with all the protection of family that isn’t blood, but sometimes more than blood. I thought the writing in the story was good and kept me wanting to continue to find out more about Doll and Tripp.
Doll has lived her life as a Hellion it’s all she knows. She’s tough, caring and full of sass. I really enjoyed reading her character. I loved the immediate attraction between her and Tripp and the fact that from the very beginning Tripp felt possessive of her. I loved Tripp and at times he pissed me off (ok one time) once again I found myself looking over it. He was fighting the attraction to Doll knowing that he could never be the safe bet that she needs in her life. Sometimes caring and loving someone  will only turn out bad in the end.
Although at times I thought the book was a little to descriptive and would have enjoyed more dialogue time with Tripp and Doll together I found myself endeared to the story. Once they met it really picked up for me. I loved Sass and Tank and hope they  get their own book.





I know I have stated this many times, but somethings just need to be reiterated..I love me a biker boy!  Their possessiveness, their lack of full sentences, their bikes and their tattooed bad ass bodies.  What I do not like is when they are cheating ass dogs..not a big fan of that!  So Tripp won me over in this story..with small exceptions (funny how I can make them for the right boy)!



Tripp and Doll don't really connect until just about half way through the book and that is a shame. I feel the set-up to getting to the connection was a little much.  If rating this book from 40% on it would have been higher for me.  I was hooked with their relationship.  The journey to get there was a little long for me.

The road trip to relationship was paved with hallway disasters and hearts on the line.  The beauty of a road trip is you have nothing but the wind in your hair and different beds to get busy with on each night.  The downfall can be it's not "real life" so the closer you get to home the more unsettled you can become. 

 

I really enjoyed the love story between these two and loved the falling for each other even with the obstacles in their lives.





 
Tripp The thoughts of having her like this for my lifetime brings warmth deep inside of me. Today, I bring her back to my house. Tonight, I will have her in my bed. Tomorrow, I return her to her world. Tomorrow, I say goodbye to my lifeline. Tomorrow, I say goodbye to my heart because when I leave, I leave it with her. As much as it’s going to suck, I’m going to leave her. It’s going to crush me, but I’m going to walk away. The other thing Pop’s always said, “Don’t give your woman unnecessary pain.” My life would be unnecessary pain for Doll. I have all of today, tonight, and tomorrow’s ride to make sure Doll knows she’s my treasure. Starting in this moment, when I gently rub the back of my hand against her face. Knowing she’s asleep, I share what’s on my mind. Whispering to her, “You’re everything, Doll. You’re the good in me. When the days get long, you’ll be what pulls me through. I’m gonna let you go, but I’m always gonna carry you with me.” I watch her breathing. No longer able to contain myself, I move to kiss her forehead. Rolling her over, I kiss her cheek, then her neck. She’s waking up under me. I take my time trailing kisses over her neck and collar bone. She reaches up, running her fingers through my hair. Our eyes meet. The words are on the tip of my tongue, but unable to come out. I see the love this woman has for me in the depths of those piercing blue eyes. Does she see what I feel for her? Does she see the man behind the bike? Rather than speak the words, I spend my morning making love to her body. Taking in every second of this and committing it to my memory in a way to last me a lifetime. Tomorrow, she’ll be home. Tomorrow, our ride will end. Tomorrow, I’ll be man enough to walk away. We’re in too deep. I never should’ve let this happen, emotions and entanglements are things I don’t do. Today, I’ll give her all of me. Today, I’ll take everything I can. Today, I’ll let my weakness for her consume me.




http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HG15RHM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00HG15RHM&linkCode=as2&tag=sizzpageromar-20http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-ride-chelsea-camaron/1117780940?ean=2940149008094


Sizzling Giveaway






Chelsea Camaron was born and raised in Coastal North Carolina. She currently resides in Southern Louisiana with her husband and two children but her heart is always Carolina day dreaming.

Chelsea always wanted to be a writer, but like most of us, let fear of the unknown grab a hold of her dream; she realized that if she was going to tell her daughter to go for her dreams, that it was time to follow her own advice.

Chelsea grew up turning wrenches alongside her father, and from that grew her love for old muscle cars and Harley Davidson motorcycles, which just so happened to inspired her ‘Daddy’s Girls’ series. Her love for reading has sparked a new love for writing and she currently has a few more projects in the works.

When she is not spending her days writing you can find her playing with her kids, attending car shows, going on motorcycle rides on the back of her husband’s Harley, snuggling down with her new favorite book or watching any movie that Vin Diesel might happen to be in.

She hates being serious and is still a big kid at heart. She is a small town country girl enjoying life and, Chelsea hopes that her readers remember not to take life too seriously and to embrace your inner five year old, because five year olds know how to enjoy the simple things in life and how to always have fun.

www.authorchelseacamaron.com

http://www.facebook.com/authorchelseacamaronhttp://www.twitter.com/@chelseacamaron


Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...