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September 30, 2014

Seaside Dreams by Melissa Foster ~ Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway


Welcome to my stop on the Seaside Dreams Blog Tour hosted by Brook Cottage Books! Click here to follow along with the full blog tour!



Title: Seaside Dreams
Series: Seaside Summers #1
              Love in Bloom #21
Author: Melissa Foster
Publication date: August 25th 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Copy for review

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | Smashwords  







SEASIDE SUMMERS is the newest addition to the LOVE IN BLOOM series, featuring a group of fun, sexy, and emotional friends who gather each summer at their Cape Cod cottages. They're funny, flawed, and will have you begging to enter their circle of friends. You met them in READ, WRITE, LOVE (The Remingtons, Book 5), follow these friends on their search for forever love in the Seaside Summers series.

Bella Abbascia has returned to Seaside Cottages in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, as she does every summer. Only this year, Bella has more on her mind than sunbathing and skinny-dipping with her girlfriends. She's quit her job, put her house on the market, and sworn off relationships while she builds a new life in her favorite place on earth. That is, until good-time Bella's prank takes a bad turn and a sinfully sexy police officer appears on the scene.

Single father and police officer Caden Grant left Boston with his fourteen-year-old son, Evan, after his partner was killed in the line of duty. He hopes to find a safer life in the small resort town of Wellfleet, and when he meets Bella during a night patrol shift, he realizes he's found the one thing he'd never allowed himself to hope for - or even realized he was missing. 

After fourteen years of focusing solely on his son, Caden cannot resist the intense attraction he feels toward beautiful Bella, and Bella's powerless to fight the heat of their budding romance. But starting over proves more difficult than either of them imagined, and when Evan gets mixed up with the wrong kids, Caden's loyalty is put to the test. Will he give up everything to protect his son - even Bella?   

 




Seaside Dreams is the second book I've read by Melissa Foster, and I do think her stories tug on the heartstrings. This book is no different. I felt so many different emotions for Bella and Caden, rooting for them to make it as a couple. I wanted Bella to give him a chance!  

I loved Bella and her group of friends. They reminded me a lot of my friends, and the silly pranks we used to play. It would be so awesome to spend every summer together at a cottage like the one Bella and her friends stay in. I was totally jealous of them! 

Bella has quit her job, is selling her house, and has taken on a temporary job at the local high school. She was badly hurt by a man she dated who worked with her at the job she just quit. She doesn't want to date or commit to anyone - she's decided she can't trust men. And then she meets Caden, probably one of the most trustworthy guys she'll ever meet. But she can't seem to let go of her preconceived notions. 

Caden is a great guy, raising his son by himself after the mother took off when their son was a newborn. He's the kind of guy you can tell will be in a relationship for the long haul through the good times and bad. But as much as I could see that, Bella didn't want to see it for herself. Of course, it's always easier looking in from the outside.    

While I rooted for them to get together, I think their relationship happened too quickly - it needed more time to develop and grow in my opinion. I was kind of shocked how quickly they became physical. But they were super hot together. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series and will be reading it for sure.    

My Rating:







Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes contemporary romance, new adult, contemporary women's fiction, suspense, and historical fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. 

Her books have been recommended by USA Today's book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the World Literary Cafe and Fostering Success. When she's not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa has been published in Calgary's Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine. 

Melissa hosts an annual Aspiring Authors contest for children and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, D.C. Melissa lives in Maryland with her family.

Visit Melissa on social media. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with books clubs and readergroups, and welcomes an invitation to your event. 








Requiem by T.G. Ayer ~ Release Day Blitz: Excerpts & Giveaway!



Welcome to the Release Day Blitz & Giveaway for T.G. Ayer's Requiem, the second book in the Chronicles of the Irin series, hosted by Book Chatter Promotions! Below you'll find excerpts from the book as well as an awesome giveaway! I'm excited to check this series out!! 




Requiem 
(Chronicles of the Irin, #2)
by T.G. Ayer
Release Date:
September 30th 2014
Publisher: Infinite Ink Books









Pre-Order Links: iTunes | Amazon






Her name is Evangeline and she is Nephilim.


Evie is stuck in the Underworld until she can find a way to be released from her newfound role as Hades. And the longer she remains in Hades the more secrets are revealed about her true origins. A confrontation with a Dark Angel brings two revelations to the Evie - the true identity of Daniel, the Master of the Irin's assistant, and who is he to Evie herself.

While a trip into the depths of Hades leads Evie into the fiery depths of Tartarus and eventually to the eternal peace of Elysium, will Evie find the peace she seeks? And what about the smoking hot Julian, god of Hades? How far is he willing to go to keep Evie at his side?




Chapter 1 

Two weeks to the Ascension Ceremony



Evie stared at her hands and wondered, not for the first time, why they didn't shine with the blood she'd spilled a few days ago. She flexed her fingers, turning her hands over to study them in the light of the blazing fire. Long lean fingers, neatly manicured nails. Elegant hands for a cold-blooded killer. Only the slightly darker calluses on the inside of her fingers hinted at the hours of weapons-practice, hours of using weapons to kill.


She was used to being the executioner, although never guilty of ending an undeserving life. Not until the insidiously evil Marcellus Bactor had taken over as the Master of the Brotherhood of the Irin. As a warrior under the Brotherhood she'd performed missions of charity, missions of freedom, and of course missions of death. But under Marcellus death had become the sole function of the Irin.


Breakfast had not appealed to her at all. She hadn't expected to feel so strange after dispatching Marcellus. He'd been running the Brotherhood, his own needs more important than those of the humans whom they were all meant to protect. And, now she knew he'd killed her guardian, Patrick, and robbed her of the only father she'd ever known.


And yet here she was, feeling as though she ought to receive some sort of punishment for murdering the Master of the Irin. And for the first time she wondered what the Brotherhood and all her fellow Nephilim were doing right now. Choosing another Master? Perhaps Daniel? She shuddered at the thought. What was that saying? Frying pan and fire.


She sighed and shifted in the sofa, moving her cheek away from the warm flames of the fire. Julian's study was warm and cozy, and modern. Unlike anything she'd ever expected to see deep within the bowels of the earth. Dark wood shelves covered the walls filled to overflowing with books from every age, in every language. Comfortable sofas in earthy tones were scattered around the space, convenient spots for curling up with an interesting read. She tossed her dark hair over her shoulder and away from the heat from the fireplace.


She smiled at the memory of Castor's reaction to Marcellus' death just hours ago. He'd barely blinked on seeing the bloody remains of their old Master. Not that she should have expected tears considering Castor had borne the brunt of Marcellus's fury when Evie had left Greylock Estate in search of the Underworld. Evie's stomach tightened when she thought of Castor's little home on the grounds of the estate. A place the half demon had loved, a place now burnt to ash. But Castor's woes didn't seem to worry him too much right now. He was being well entertained by Pollo and his eclectic band of servants.


Julian had gone off on an errand in a bit of a hurry; something about a volcanic eruption in the South Pacific. That left Evie to her own devices, which wouldn't have been so bad if she had not needed to worry about Persephone. Evie was constantly on guard where the cold-hearted goddess was concerned, what with Persephone having already tried once to kill her. But so far she didn't seem to want to repeat the attempt. Maybe she was concerned about what Julian would do to her should she succeed. Evie snorted. No chance she'd let her guard down though.


Evie's skin tingled and she glanced at the shifting letters tattooed into her skin. They seemed alive, twisting and writhing beneath the surface of her pale skin like living things. Something Evie was yet to get accustomed to. She studied the markings then returned her attention to the pages of the ancient book lying open on her lap.


A book of dead languages, scripts from a time long gone. Perhaps a source of information, perhaps a way to undo this curse that she'd brought upon herself. Twelve seals to make a god. Not a bad way to turn an angel into the King of the Underworld.


She suppressed another sigh and rubbed her forehead. Suddenly the room seemed to close in on her and she felt desperate to leave the confining comfort of the study. She'd been on edge for hours now. What she probably needed was a sparring session. Something she wasn't likely to get down here.


She shut the book and left it on the sofa, heading for the door on feet that seemed to think she was in a hurry to be somewhere. Outside, the cool air from the shadowed tunnels teased her overly warm cheeks. She glanced up and down the passage listening for the sounds of approaching feet or hooves. Nothing. Torches shone at both ends of the tunnel, their flickering yellow light dancing and reflecting against the ominous jagged black stone of the tunnel walls.


Evie let her feet guide her, although part of her knew exactly where they were leading her.


SHORT EXCERPTS



She felt awkward standing there in front of him. Until he rested his hand on her arm. The touch of his skin to hers set off a million tiny sparks, sending a shiver of anticipation up and down her spine.


***



She moved forward and so did Julian, until their lips were a hairs-breadth from meeting. Electricity sizzled between them and for a moment Evie's legs wobbled. She tipped forward toward him, reaching for Julian's shoulder to help steady her. Only touching his hard, muscled arm didn't help to steady her in any way.


***



Touching him set her body on fire, and she felt him shift, move toward her. He cupped the back of her head, tilting her face, giving him access to her lips.


And then he kissed her.



This time his exploration was not tentative. He kissed her hard, with a pent-up passion that felt dangerous and delicious all at the same time. Evie's heart thundered against her ribs as she kissed him back. She curled her arm around his neck and pulled him closer.

***




RETRIBUTION 

(Chronicles of the Irin, #1)
  Release Date:
March 14th 2014
Publisher:
Infinite Ink Books







PURCHASE LINK





Her name is Evangeline and she is Nephilim.


Evie belongs to the Brotherhood Irin and together with all the other Nephilim of the world she is protector to humanity, protector against evil. But evil has found its way into the Brotherhood. Someone has murdered her guardian and Marcellus, the New Master makes demands of the warriors that go against all they stand for. Demands Evie just can’t carry out.

Evie uncovers Marcellus’ plan to collect a set of special seals, but when a high-level demon reveals the truth behind the Seals of Hades, Evie know there is no way she can allow the Master of the Irin to get his hands on them. But will keeping the Seals from Marcellus cause her to sacrifice more that she should? Will vengeance for her guardian’s death be enough or will she need more to satisfy her Immortal soul?




I have been a writer from the time I was old enough to recognize that reading was a doorway into my imagination. Poetry was my first foray into the art of the written word. Books were my best friends, my escape, my haven. I am essentially a recluse but this part of my personality is impossible to practice given I have two teenage daughters, who are actually my friends, my tea-makers, my confidantes… I am blessed with a husband who has left me for golf. It’s a fair trade as I have left him for writing. We are both passionate supporters of each others loves – it works wonderfully…

My heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where my old roots still remain, and my heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. My love for Ma Afrika will never fade. The other half of me has been transplanted to the Land of the Long White Cloud. The land of the Taniwha, beautiful Maraes, and volcanoes. The land of green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because I am so torn between these two lands – I shall forever remain cross-eyed.






*Open Internationally*



Bone Deep by Brooklyn Skye ~ Release Day Launch with an Excerpt & Giveaway!

Bone Deep RDL baner 

 After reading Brooklyn Skye's Stripped and Fragile Line, I'm definitely a fan and am so excited for this book! I can't wait to read Bone Deep! Check out this amazing book and be sure to enter Brooklyn's giveaway!!

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Bone DeepAbout Bone Deep: The boy who wants forgiveness… 

Haunted by the train accident his father instigated, college freshman Krister Ledoux is obsessed with finding the person sending him cryptic hate mail. He knows it’s one of them—a family member of one of the accident victims, and he’s willing to go to hell and back to find out which one. 

The girl he can’t forget… 

She was a stranger who kissed him in the middle of the train station, and now she’s the girl who pleads with her eyes for Krister to be the distraction she’s so desperate for. Krister doesn’t know what it is about her, why he’s sucked into playing Cambria’s game… All he knows is that when he’s with her, he isn’t consumed with thoughts of the crash. 

The collision that can’t be avoided… 

Cambria doesn’t know who Krister is—that he’s the son of the town’s most infamous killer, and he knows if his true identity surfaces he’ll lose her forever. However secrets can’t stay buried forever, and now Krister must fight to prove that their bone-deep connection is far more powerful than the hatred she now has toward him.




Amazon | Barnes and Noble


She stares at me, tracing her finger over my face, my eyebrows, the two-day-old stubble on my jaw. I catch her hand and kiss her knuckles, then wrist. "It's just..." Jesus, how do I say this? "My life's a little complicated right now, and I'm trying not to drag you into the middle of it." The look she gives me is one I'm starting to recognize. The one that makes it seem like she understands there's something more I want to tell her, but can't. Or don't know how. "On top of that...I'm a dickhead. And being with me will ultimately result in me hurting you, and I don't want to hurt you." 

"Actually..." She lowers my palm to her thigh, narrowing her gaze onto mine. "...you being concerned about hurting me is very non-dickhead-ish of you." Little by little, she slides my hand up her leg and around her ass. "Besides, what if I want to be in the middle of it?"

I slam my eyes shut, my fingers burning at the touch of her. She doesn't know what she's asking for. Being with me - being constantly reminded of her dead mother - will slowly but surely kill her inside. And I'm not a murderer like my father. 

Brooklyn SkyeBrooklyn Skye Bio: Brooklyn Skye grew up in a small town where she quickly realized writing was an escape from small town life. Really, she’s just your average awkward girl who’s obsessed with words. She writes young adult and new adult fiction. You can follow her on Twitter as @brooklyn__skye or visit her web site for updates, teasers, giveaways, and more. www.brooklyn-skye.com She is the author of FRAGILE LINE, STRIPPED, Without You, and STRIPPED Without You 
Enter Brooklyn's giveaway!!

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