DUAL COVER REVEAL: Something Reckless & Something Real by Lexi Ryan

He talks dirty to me, but I don’t know his name.

He wants to tie me up, but I don’t know his face.

He turns me on, but I couldn’t point him out in a crowd.

I’ve fallen for an anonymous stranger, and tonight the anonymity ends. Tonight I want more than typed secrets and texted promises. I want something reckless. Heat. Passion. The thrill of being entirely possessed.

Because I suspect this anonymous stranger isn’t a stranger at all.

Lizzy Thompson met riverrat69 online through Something Real, a service promising to deliver meaningful relationships by forbidding its users to share names or photos until they’ve reached a certain benchmark. She was looking for love. He was researching an investment. They hit it off. Talked and flirted, hid behind screen names and cartoon avatars.

Now they’re breaking the rules and meeting in person. But Liz is prepared. She’s picked up hints and followed clues.

She’s ninety-percent convinced she’s discovered the identity of her dirty-talking online friend.

She wonders if her ex-lover Sam Bradshaw knows her identity too.

When she rolls the dice on one reckless night, her chance at something real could crumble.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22434551-something-reckless

Expected release: December 22, 2014

Expected release for SOMETHING REAL: February 2015

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About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling romance author Lexi Ryan’s novels have been described as intense, emotional, and wickedly sexy. A former college professor, she now writes full-time from her home in Indiana, where she lives with her husband, two children, and a neurotic dog. Find her on Facebook or Twitter to chat about books, TV, and her children’s latest antics.

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BOOK REVIEW: A Heartless Design (Secrets of the Zodiac #1) by Elizabeth Cole

A Heartless design is the first in the Secrets of the Zodiac series. We have mystery, romance, secrets... my kind of book. I don't often read historical romances; however, sometimes a synopsis will have me intrigued so I feel compelled to read it. I'm really glad I read this book. Cordelia is a strong female character who is considered a spinster (unmarried at 27 in the early 1800's) but not because she hasn't had proposals. She, in fact, has been proposed to by an earl and a prince among many other men. Yet, she turns them down. Why? Well, she has a secret and it must be kept. Sebastian Thorne, a spy for the Crown, crosses paths with Cordelia which makes for a fun read. He's immediately taken with Cordelia but with his lifestyle as a spy, he doesn't know if he can balance the role of a husband with his demanding job.

I found myself reading nonstop. This was an interesting concept and I easily found myself feeling as if I was there in the 19th century along with the characters. I kind of wished there was more back story for the maid, footman, and butler. I felt they could have had a story themselves or that there could have been a novella set before this book that showed how they came to be Cordelia's employees. I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading the others in the series.
Review by Amber

Where to buy

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Alex (Cold Fury Hockey, #1) by Sawyer Bennett

I never thought I'd say these words, but I think Sawyer Bennett may have made me a hockey fan. The way she described the game though Sutton's eyes was beyond amazing.  I really want to go to a hockey game now!  Or maybe it was just Alex Crossman that is peaking my interest.  Alex is the angry broody type, I actually really didn't like him at first.  However, once Ms. Bennett started pealing back all of his layers I was done for.  Underneath that angry man was a heart of gold.

Sutton was an amazing leading lady.  Strong and confident, despite her own demons.  She was exactly the type of woman I've come to expect from Bennett.  Sutton had a hard start in life, but through her family she found a way to over come it and help others though similar situations.   Learning about Sutton's past, and Jim-Dad's role in her life really warmed my heart.  I wish every kid who has to struggle for even a second in life could have a Jim-Dad.  I'm hoping that one day Sawyer will decide to treat us all with a little novela (heck, I'd even take a short story) about Jim-Dad coming into Sutton and her mom's life.

Book two in the Cold Fury Hockey series is due out on February 17, 2014, and this time we get to learn all about Garrett!  In Alex, Garrett really stole the show for me.  He quickly became my favorite character for his snarky comments, tender heart, and his pushy, yet caring ways.  The glimpses we got of Garrett in Alex were great, I am betting his story is going to be fantastic!
Review by Danielle

Where to buy

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBooks

BLOG TOUR AND GIVEAWAY: Alex (Cold Fury Hockey #1) by Sawyer Bennett

Hockey star Alexander Crossman has a reputation as a cold-hearted player on and off the rink. Pushed into the sport by an alcoholic father, Alex isn’t afraid to give fans the proverbial middle finger, relishing his role as the MVP they love to hate. Management, however, isn’t so amused. Now Alex has a choice: fix his public image through community service or ride the bench. But Alex refuses to be molded into the Carolina Cold Fury poster boy . . . not even by a tempting redhead with killer curves.

As a social worker, Sutton Price is accustomed to difficult people—like Alex, who’s been assigned to help her create a drug-abuse awareness program for at-risk youth as part of the team’s effort to clean up his image. What she doesn’t expect is the arrogant smirk from his perfect lips to stir her most heated fantasies. But Sutton isn’t one to cross professional boundaries—and besides, Alex doesn’t do relationships . . . or does he? The more she sees behind Alex’s bad-boy façade, the more Sutton craves the man she uncovers.

Add to your Goodreads TBR list!

Where to buy

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBooks

Review

I never thought I'd say these words, but I think Sawyer Bennett may have made me a hockey fan. The way she described the game though Sutton's eyes was beyond amazing.  I really want to go to a hockey game now!  Or maybe it was just Alex Crossman that is peaking my interest.  Alex is the angry broody type, I actually really didn't like him at first.  However, once Ms. Bennett started pealing back all of his layers I was done for.  Underneath that angry man was a heart of gold.

Sutton was an amazing leading lady.  Strong and confident, despite her own demons.  She was exactly the type of woman I've come to expect from Bennett.  Sutton had a hard start in life, but through her family she found a way to over come it and help others though similar situations.   Learning about Sutton's past, and Jim-Dad's role in her life really warmed my heart.  I wish every kid who has to struggle for even a second in life could have a Jim-Dad.  I'm hoping that one day Sawyer will decide to treat us all with a little novela (heck, I'd even take a short story) about Jim-Dad coming into Sutton and her mom's life.

Book two in the Cold Fury Hockey series is due out on February 17, 2014, and this time we get to learn all about Garrett!  In Alex, Garrett really stole the show for me.  He quickly became my favorite character for his snarky comments, tender heart, and his pushy, yet caring ways.  The glimpses we got of Garrett in Alex were great, I am betting his story is going to be fantastic!
Review by Danielle

About the Author

USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

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RELEASE DAY AND GIVEAWAY: Alex (Cold Fury Hockey #1) by Sawyer Bennett

Hockey star Alexander Crossman has a reputation as a cold-hearted player on and off the rink. Pushed into the sport by an alcoholic father, Alex isn’t afraid to give fans the proverbial middle finger, relishing his role as the MVP they love to hate. Management, however, isn’t so amused. Now Alex has a choice: fix his public image through community service or ride the bench. But Alex refuses to be molded into the Carolina Cold Fury poster boy . . . not even by a tempting redhead with killer curves.

As a social worker, Sutton Price is accustomed to difficult people—like Alex, who’s been assigned to help her create a drug-abuse awareness program for at-risk youth as part of the team’s effort to clean up his image. What she doesn’t expect is the arrogant smirk from his perfect lips to stir her most heated fantasies. But Sutton isn’t one to cross professional boundaries—and besides, Alex doesn’t do relationships . . . or does he? The more she sees behind Alex’s bad-boy façade, the more Sutton craves the man she uncovers.

Add to your Goodreads TBR list!

Where to buy

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBooks

About the Author

USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Event hosted by:

 

Just One More Breath by Leigha Lewis

Talk about all the feels! I was crying within the first 5 minutes.  My heart broke for Nicole immediately and I was rooting for her from the beginning. The strength that she showed through this story was very empowering.

I don't even know where to start with Shawn. Holy swoon. Definitely my new book boyfriend. His selflessness and thoughtfulness throughout this book made every man I've ever met pale in comparison. (Don't tell my husband!) He is the whole package, sweet, compassionate and hot!! I really hope there is more of these characters to come! There is spinoff potential hidden throughout the story and if that happens I'll be beyond thrilled. This is hands down my favorite book of the summer! Though it does have a very difficult story line, be warned, it contains possible triggers.

Review by Jillian

Where to buy

Amazon

Uncivilized by Sawyer Bennett

It isn't often you come across a story that strikes you as truly unique, but Sawyer Bennett has done it with Uncvilized.   Zach is everything an Alpha male should be.  He doesn't know that being anything different is even a possibility.  Life in Amazonia is all about control, and that is exactly what Zach thrives on.  Moria is a modern woman.  Strong, independent, and self sufficient, nothing like the women Zach is used to.  The interplay between Moria and Zach was perfect.  They challenged each other in all the right ways.  

If you are looking for a super hot super steamy read, Uncivilized is for you!  If your looking for a romance with a different twist, Uncivilized is for you too!  A lot of books in this genre lack in the overall story line, but is not the case here at all.  You could remove every single sexy scene and be left with a solid story that would be just as captivating!

Review by Danielle

Where to buy

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

Somewhere Between Water & Sky (Shattered Things #2) by Elora Nicole Ramirez

Check yes! Loved the book. Somewhere Between Water & Sky started out with mystery and some really dark emotions. I was like, "Wow, let's jump right into this!" I really didn't know what to expect from this book. As I kept reading it, I found myself saying, "This would be an awesome back story" or "I hope we find out more about these other characters". Well. Um. Apparently this is the second book. The first is called Every Shattered Thing. Even though there's a first book to it, Somewhere Between Water & Sky can be read as a stand alone and still be an awesome story. I'm just greedy when I find a great book. I just wanted more from the back story because everything else in the plot was full of details. Now that I know there's a book before it, I'm definitely going to check it out so I can reread this book. That's just me though. After I find that a book I read was not the first one in the series, I go back and read those and then reread the one I first got. It's my thing. And it totally gets me loving the book even more the second time around.

So back to this review. I kind of geeked out when I noticed a couple of Doctor Who and Sherlock references. As a Whovian, I had to smile. Every. Time. But seriously, that was just an added bonus because the story is really good. I physically felt that torment that Stephanie, the main character, was going through. She is a strong character (which I love!) and has been through Hell and back with emotional scars to prove it. Seriously, this book was a roller coaster ride - not the deep valleys and peaks, but being at the top of the roller coaster to only find out it goes even higher. What suspense! My adrenaline was pumping the whole time. Anything that can get a reaction like that from me, where I feel for the characters and has tons of suspense, deserves my recommendation. check it out today!
Review by Amber

Where to Buy

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Book 1 - Every Shattered Thing

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BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY: Somewhere Between Water & Sky by Elora Ramirez

I heard it said once that every human is a story with skin.

If this is true, paragraphs would be etched in the scars on my wrists.

Whole chapters could be written about the way my heart pounds when I startle awake.

And every single one of my tears could fill a book.

But stories, with all their promise, only leave room for disappointment. I don’t have room for that anymore. I left it all—the hope, the love, the promise—back in my old life with the ghosts I’d rather forget: Jude. Emma. Pacey.

Kevin.

This is how I dare to move forward and to believe in a new beginning. I let go of the old. I just grab the new and run. I don’t wait around anymore. I can’t.

Waiting leaves room for the voices.

Somewhere between water and sky, I'll find a way to burn these voices to the ground.

Add to your Goodreads TBR list!

Where to Buy

Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Review:

Check yes! Loved the book. Somewhere Between Water & Sky started out with mystery and some really dark emotions. I was like, "Wow, let's jump right into this!" I really didn't know what to expect from this book. As I kept reading it, I found myself saying, "This would be an awesome back story" or "I hope we find out more about these other characters". Well. Um. Apparently this is the second book. The first is called Every Shattered Thing. Even though there's a first book to it, Somewhere Between Water & Sky can be read as a stand alone and still be an awesome story. I'm just greedy when I find a great book. I just wanted more from the back story because everything else in the plot was full of details. Now that I know there's a book before it, I'm definitely going to check it out so I can reread this book. That's just me though. After I find that a book I read was not the first one in the series, I go back and read those and then reread the one I first got. It's my thing. And it totally gets me loving the book even more the second time around.

So back to this review. I kind of geeked out when I noticed a couple of Doctor Who and Sherlock references. As a Whovian, I had to smile. Every. Time. But seriously, that was just an added bonus because the story is really good. I physically felt that torment that Stephanie, the main character, was going through. She is a strong character (which I love!) and has been through Hell and back with emotional scars to prove it. Seriously, this book was a roller coaster ride - not the deep valleys and peaks, but being at the top of the roller coaster to only find out it goes even higher. What suspense! My adrenaline was pumping the whole time. Anything that can get a reaction like that from me, where I feel for the characters and has tons of suspense, deserves my recommendation. check it out today!

Review by Amber

Excerpt:

             Jessa calls me in the morning.

My phone, hidden underneath my hip, buzzes me awake.
“…hello?” I scratch out a greeting, confused and squinting against the sun peeking through the hotel blinds.
Note to self: shut the curtains tonight before going to bed.
“Stephanie. Don’t freak out, but Ren and I are down in the lobby. We’re taking a day trip to San Diego. Come with us to Sunset Cliffs?”
My heart slams in my chest. I pull the phone away from my ear and stare at the screen and see The Best Friend You Never Knew You Had as the contact name.
“What in the actual fuck?”
“…she’s freaking out.” Jessa whispers away from the receiver.
“I can still hear you. How’d you get my number?”
“Listen. We’re not crazy, just curious, and I may have followed you home last night after work. Oh and um…never leave your phone unattended at work. Just trust me. I saved you from many a picture last night. You’re welcome.”
I wrinkle my nose.
“I’m so confused right now.”
“Understandable. But you should also be excited. Two strange people are waiting for you in the lobby to take you on a road trip! It’s like Ren’s dream movie role.”
I hear him snort in the background.
“Seriously?”
Ren’s voice cuts through the line, low and rumbly.
“What will it be, Stephanie? The red pill? Or the blue pill?”
I hear shuffling and Jessa pushing him away.
“Don’t. Be. Weird, Ren. I told you. Harness the Nerd.”
He just laughs and mentions something about grabbing a muffin from the continental breakfast area.
What the hell?
“Jessa…I don’t know you.”
“Fact.”
“You could kill me.”
“Not possible. But I can see how that scenario would play through your mind right now.”
“Do you normally try and kidnap strays who live in hotel rooms?”
“This isn’t kidnapping, sweetheart. And you’re not a stray. This is a rescue mission. You need fun! You mope and grow all self-reflective at the coffee shop. It’s starting to freak customers out.”
“Wait. Really?”
She laughs. “No. But. You do dart around like you’re ready to run at a moment’s notice. And, chalk it up to my dad being a professional counselor, but I can spot the ones who need some extra attention.”
“You’re calling me broken.”
“I’m calling you needing a friend.”
“I can’t believe I’m actually considering this.”
“I’m very convincing butplusalsotoo I think you just really want to get out of that stuffy hotel room. Come onnnnnn. It’ll be fun. See you when you get down here.”
She doesn’t even let me respond. She hangs up and I sit there, staring at the ceiling, the phone still stuck to my ear. I didn’t even talk to her for five minutes and I’m already exhausted. What would a whole day be like? I smile and jump out of bed, grabbing the nearest and cleanest clothing I can find. Throwing my hair into a pony tail, I brush my teeth, slide on some lip gloss and walk out the door. It’s only after I get to the elevator that I realize exactly what I’m doing and I laugh under my breath.

Yep. Certifiable. 

About the Author

Elora Ramirez lives in Austin, Texas with her chef-husband. At the age of four, she taught herself how to read and write, cutting her teeth on books like Dr. Seuss and writing anywhere she could find the space--including her Fisher Price kitchen set, the pages of picture books and Highlights Magazine. Since then, she's grown to love the way words feel as they swell within her bones. Writing holy and broken is her calling, and pushing back the darkness and pursuing beauty through story is her purpose. She embraces the power of story and teaches women from all parts of the world how to embrace theirs. She has a knack of calling things out , the truth and the detail, the subversive threads that make a life a story. She loves hip-hop, wishes she lived by the beach and cannot write without copious amounts of coffee, chocolate, music, and her husband's lavender liqueur. 

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