Thursday, March 26, 2015

EASY WITH YOU by Kristen Proby - Blog Tour


Blurb

Nothing has ever come easy for Lila Bailey. She’s fought for every good thing in her life during every day of her thirty-one years. Aside from that one night with an impossible to deny stranger a year ago, Lila is the epitome of responsible.

Steadfast. Strong.

She’s pulled herself out of the train wreck of her childhood, proud to be a professor at Tulane University and laying down roots in a city she’s grown to love. But when some of her female students are viciously murdered, Lila’s shaken to the core and unsure of whom she can trust in New Orleans. When the police detective assigned to the murder case comes to investigate, she’s even more surprised to find herself staring into the eyes of the man that made her toes curl last year.

In an attempt to move on from the tragic loss of his wife, Asher Smith moved his daughter and himself to a new city, ready for a fresh start. A damn fine police lieutenant, but new to the New Orleans force, Asher has a lot to prove to his colleagues and himself.

With a murderer terrorizing the Tulane University campus, Asher finds himself toe-to-toe with the one woman that haunts his dreams. His hands, his lips, his body know her as intimately as he’s ever known anyone. As he learns her mind and heart as well, Asher wants nothing more than to keep her safe, in his bed, and in his and his daughter’s lives for the long haul.

But when Lila becomes the target, can Asher save her in time, or will he lose another woman he loves?

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Excerpt

“You didn’t ask for her number.” She scowls and pokes her finger into my chest. I look down at it, then glance up at her with a raised brow.

“You just assaulted an officer.”

“I did?” She swallows hard.

“Yes. I might have to arrest you.”

“With handcuffs?” She smiles gleefully, clearly excited at the thought.

“Would you like me to arrest you with handcuffs?”

“Hell to the yes!”

“Kate?” There’s suddenly a very tall, very irritated man standing behind the fiery redhead, staring daggers into me. I can’t help but laugh.

“I’m talking to the hot Asher,” she says, not turning to look at him. “I assaulted him, and he’s a cop, and he’s going to put me in handcuffs.”

“No, I don’t believe he will.”

I laugh again. “There’s nothing going on here, man.”

“Come see Lila!” Kate takes my hand, pulling me from my stool to the table behind us. Most of the women have cleared out, leaving just a few, including the sexy as fuck woman I met on the plane yesterday. “Where did everyone go?”

“Declan took them home,” Lila replies, and her hand stops midway between the table and her lips, holding her drink. Her violet eyes widen when she sees me. “Hi.”

“We meet again.” I sit next to her, my fingers itching to plunge in her dark hair and brush it over her shoulder. “How are you, Lila?”

“Fine.” She clears her throat and smiles at me. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”

“A happy coincidence,” I reply softly. “You look beautiful.”

And she does. Her eyes are a bit glassy from the alcohol, her cheeks just a little flushed. Her hair is straight and falls down her back and over her slim shoulders. Before I can ask her questions about her trip here, or anything about her, we are soon pulled into the conversation with the others at the table. But when Kate asks Lila if she’s ready to go, I’m shocked when Lila responds with, “I’m gonna have Asher take me home.”

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About Kristen Proby

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Kristen Proby is the author of the popular With Me in Seattle series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong characters who love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type—fiercely protective and a bit bossy—and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves. Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, and sunshine. And naps. Visit her at KristenProby.com.


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Tuesday, March 24, 2015

EASY WITH YOU Release Day Blitz


Blurb

Nothing has ever come easy for Lila Bailey. She’s fought for every good thing in her life during every day of her thirty-one years. Aside from that one night with an impossible to deny stranger a year ago, Lila is the epitome of responsible.

Steadfast. Strong.

She’s pulled herself out of the train wreck of her childhood, proud to be a professor at Tulane University and laying down roots in a city she’s grown to love. But when some of her female students are viciously murdered, Lila’s shaken to the core and unsure of whom she can trust in New Orleans. When the police detective assigned to the murder case comes to investigate, she’s even more surprised to find herself staring into the eyes of the man that made her toes curl last year.

In an attempt to move on from the tragic loss of his wife, Asher Smith moved his daughter and himself to a new city, ready for a fresh start. A damn fine police lieutenant, but new to the New Orleans force, Asher has a lot to prove to his colleagues and himself.

With a murderer terrorizing the Tulane University campus, Asher finds himself toe-to-toe with the one woman that haunts his dreams. His hands, his lips, his body know her as intimately as he’s ever known anyone. As he learns her mind and heart as well, Asher wants nothing more than to keep her safe, in his bed, and in his and his daughter’s lives for the long haul.

But when Lila becomes the target, can Asher save her in time, or will he lose another woman he loves?

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A Message from Kristen Proby

Dear readers,

As you know, the With Me In Seattle series came to a close earlier this month with the eighth and final installment, FOREVER WITH ME. I've been steadfast in my decision that there would be no further stories from the series, no spin-offs, nothing more. In my mind, it was complete.

And I still feel that the Montgomery/Williams families are complete, and I maintain that I'm happy with their happy-ever-afters.

But, I've also heard you when you've said that Asher, Matt Montgomery's partner in TIED WITH ME, deserves to have a happily ever after for himself and his daughter Casey. So, when the lovely ladies from 1001 Dark Nights asked me to participate in their wonderful project, I thought long and hard about whose story it should be about. Seattle is finished, and I've moved on to New Orleans for the new Boudreaux Series... And then it occurred to me: why not do both, and offer a companion novella to each of the series?

And so, because you, the reader, has been so insistent that you want to see Asher and Casey find their perfect person, I'm excited to introduce you to EASY WITH YOU. I think you're going to love Asher and Lila's love story this spring...

Happy Reading,

Kristen Proby

Buy Easy With You

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About Kristen Proby

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Kristen Proby is the author of the popular With Me in Seattle series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong characters who love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type—fiercely protective and a bit bossy—and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves. Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, and sunshine. And naps. Visit her at KristenProby.com.


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Thursday, March 12, 2015

Nichole Chase: Special Announcement

Fans of Nichole Chase’s Royal Series, we have a SUPER exciting announcement:

The American Royalty Series is coming!!!

HarperCollins will be publishing Nichole’s new series The American Royalty Series in Winter 2016, and you are NOT going to want to miss what Nichole has up her sleeve!

Things to Expect from The American Royalty Series:
  • Humor and witty banter
  • West Wing meets Scandal meets Suddenly Royal Mashup, anyone?
  • A cameo (or two) from the Royal Series
  • Drama
  • Jake. Jake. Jake.
  • Um….did I mention Jake?
  • The easy and beautiful writing you’ve come to know and love from Nichole Chase

A Message from Nichole

I'm very excited to be working with HarperCollins to bring the American Royalty series to life. I'm very interested in the life of politics--there is so much that goes on behind the scenes that most people never hear about and it intertwines with our daily government and in some ways, affecting everyone. As I was thinking about that fact, Jake and Maddie's story began to take form and I found myself enthralled by the challenges they would face and just what their happy-ever-after would entail, if there could *be* a happy-ever-after.


About Book 1 (Title to be announced)

Color me jaded, but coming home just isn’t the same when you have to go through security before you can see your dad. Don’t get me wrong, everyone had to go through security to see my dad. Even Kings, Queens, celebrities, my step-mother and half-brother we’re given the metal detector treatment. It wasn’t like I was a hooligan being singled out. It’s just part of life when your father is president. Go figure.

Maddie’s father is in his second term as president and she could care less. Being a politician’s child has made her world weary and leery of being manipulated. When she comes home from college for her summer break, she thinks it’s the last time she’ll be in the white house. Her father’s term is almost over and she’ll finally be able to live the life she wanted. What she doesn’t count on is facing her nemesis, Jake Simmon, back from the war. As the son of the Vice President, she had constantly been paired with him for events and during campaign tours. The tabloids loved to speculate about a possible relationship, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Jake was the perfect politician’s son. He always did as he was asked, always smiled, and to her absolute horror always looked dreamy.

In other words, he was her exact opposite.

Jake was finally home, but he couldn’t wait to escape. Instead of searching for peace and quiet after losing his leg in Afghanistan, he was sitting in on campaign meetings and giving interviews. He had never felt so helpless in his life, not even after waking strapped to a table in a blistering hot med tent. His mother was intent on using his brand new disability as a campaign tool. Show off her wounded son so people would find her relatable. The only positive thing he had to focus on was the fact that he would get to see Maddie again, which was pathetic when you considered that they hated each other. She’d always gotten under his skin, throwing caution to the wind and doing what she’d wanted while he had walked the line. In a world where everyone looked at him with sympathy, he knew she wouldn’t hold back. And though he was loathe to admit it, one of his favorite past times was verbally sparring with the spunky brunette. What he isn’t counting on is how much they have both changed over the last two years.

About Nichole Chase

Nichole Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Suddenly Royal, Flukes, The Dark Betrayal Trilogy, and several short stories. She is also the instructor of Say What? a dialogue class at the Romance Academy.

Nichole lives in Georgia with her husband, energetic daughter, superhero dog, Sulcata tortoise, and two cats. When not writing, you may find her reading, painting, crafting, or chasing her daughter around the house while making monster noises.


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Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday #17

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event splotlighting upcoming releases that we readers are eagerly anticipating and is hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Beckon Me
by Cindy Thomas
Publication Date: April 13, 2015

From Goodreads:

Everything nineteen-year-old Karina Mitchell knows about death changes the instant that she and her best friend, Rainey, are shot. For one, souls don’t die. They cross over. Only, Rainey’s soul hasn’t, and her ghost is hell bent on haunting Karina.

When Karina begins her sophomore year of college and moves into the apartment that she was supposed to share with Rainey, she learns a few shocking truths from her mysterious and gorgeous blue-eyed neighbor, Eli.

One: Karina has been chosen to become a Beckoner—an immortal conduit of the dead who helps safely guide souls to the other side.

Two: She’s the reason that Rainey’s soul can’t cross over—Rainey followed her back from death and missed her window to be at peace.

Three: Eli is hot. As in swoon-worthy, to-die-for, will-make-you-forget-yourself hot. And it turns out, Eli is a Beckoner, too.

Despite her attraction to Eli, the decision to become a Beckoner isn’t an easy one—it would mean giving up her own mortality … her own soul. But if she doesn’t, her best friend will be left to suffer an eternity at the hands of the evil Ceptors, dark creatures that feed on the souls left behind. After all, it’s her fault Rainey is haunting her.

Time is running out, and Karina needs to decide: Are love and loyalty worth sacrificing her soul?



Tuesday, March 10, 2015

FIERCE - Release Day Blitz


Fierce: A Fantasy Collection Synopsis:

As Featured On USA Today!

Join epic fantasy legend Mercedes Lackey and fifteen additional New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling authors on the adventure of a lifetime!

Over one million words and sixteen realms of fantasy brought together for your reading pleasure. Discover courageous characters fighting for justice and order. Journey between kingdoms of dragons and lands of anarchy as tales of magic and mayhem unfold.

Grab it today, before it's gone!


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http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U5CAAZS

 

Friday, March 6, 2015

Giveaway: THE BEAUTIFUL ASHES

I had the wonderful opportunity a while back to hear Jeaniene Frost speak about her new book The Beautiful Ashes at BookPeople in Austin. It was great hearing all about a book that has definitely spiked my interest. I also wanted to do something fun to celebrate my new blog. So I decided what better way to celebrate than share in the goodies!

About The Beautiful Ashes

In a world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate.

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse—her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who's bound by an ancient legacy to betray her.

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn't mean he can change his fate…no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn't: that every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side and Adrian on the other. And nothing but ashes in between…


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Here's what I have to giveaway! 

Contest rules
  • In order to participate this giveaway all you have to do is enter your email address in the Rafflecopter widget below. It's that simple. You do not have to do the other options at all. No pressure here. Those are simply if you want to and to get extra chances.
  • There is no purchase necessary. 
  • This giveaway is open to all US residents 18 years of age and over. 
  • Giveaway begins Friday, March 6, 2015 and ends at 12am (Central) on Friday, March 13, 2015. 
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply to email stating winning status with a valid mailing address. I reserve the right to pick another winner if no response is received.   
  • For the full list of rules and regulations see my page about contests.

Good luck!!! 

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Blog Tour: WHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING by Heather Graham


Title: When Irish Eyes are Haunting
Author: Heather Graham
Release Date: February 24, 2015

Blurb


Devin Lyle and Craig Rockwell are back, this time to a haunted castle in Ireland where a banshee may have gone wild—or maybe there's a much more rational explanation—one that involves a disgruntled heir, murder, and mayhem, all with that sexy light touch Heather Graham has turned into her trademark style.


Excerpt


“What happened back there.”

“Rocky, I don’t know!” Devin told him, her beautiful blue eyes meeting his with concern. “There was something there—some kind of a presence.”

“A ghost?” he asked. “Perhaps Collum?”

She shook her head. “No, it wasn’t like any ghost I’ve met before,” she said. “It was different; it was dark…like a shadow.” She hesitated a bit awkwardly. It was strange. They weren’t just both Krewe. They were husband and wife. They usually said whatever they were thinking—no matter how absurd it might sound to someone else.

“I felt it—or saw it—before. Last night. It seemed to settle over the castle. Just a—a darkness. Like massive raven’s wings, or…a huge shadow,” she finished, shrugging and looking at him a bit lamely.

“Darkness—like some kind of evil?” he asked. He hoped there was no skepticism in his voice. He knew what it was like when people doubted your judgment—or your sanity. She smiled. “No, not evil. Just—something different. And I almost felt as if the darkness…”

“What?” he asked.

“Wanted to touch me,” she said softly.

A strange ripple of fear went through him. “You’re not a Karney,” he said gruffly. “But if you even begin to think that you might be in danger—”

“Hey!” she protested. “I’m trained, experienced, and tough,” she reminded him. “I became part of the Krewe. But, it’s not like that. I mean, you said it yourself last night—we’ve never known a ghost to kill anyone. Ghosts linger to help the living or find justice or…in some instances, because they feel like they are an integral part of history. I didn’t feel that. Just…something different.”

“Well, stay close, kiddo, okay?” he asked, his tone still a bit too husky. Sometimes, he wasn’t easy. A man’s natural instinct was to protect the ones he loved—to protect his wife. He knew that he sometimes had to remember that yes, she had gone through all the courses. She was a government agent. She was trained, and she—just as he had—had chosen her own course in life. He didn’t have the right to try to lock her in a closet until danger was gone.

The instinct still remained.
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Buy When Irish Eyes Are Haunting

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About Heather Graham


New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. After some trial and error, she sold her first book, WHEN NEXT WE LOVE, in 1982 and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, romantic suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, and Christmas holiday fare. She wrote the launch books for the Dell's Ecstasy Supreme line, Silhouette's Shadows, and for Harlequin's mainstream fiction imprint, Mira Books.

Heather was a founding member of the Florida Romance Writers chapter of RWA and, since 1999, has hosted the Romantic Times Vampire Ball, with all revenues going directly to children's charity. She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty languages, and to have been honored with awards from Waldenbooks. B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, and more. She has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, People, and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including local television and Entertainment Tonight.

Heather loves travel and anything having to do with the water, and is a certified scuba diver. Married since high school graduation and the mother of five, her greatest love in life remains her family, but she also believes her career has been an incredible gift, and she is grateful every day to be doing something that she loves so very much for a living.

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Monday, March 2, 2015

Blog Tour: REBOUND by Noelle August (+ Giveaway)


Title: Rebound (Boomerang #1)
Author: Noelle August
Release Date: February 24, 2015
Publisher: Harper Collins

Blurb


At Boomerang, one night can change everything…


Noelle August has taken the New Adult genre by storm, and readers can’t wait to see what chaos, confusion, and connections arise at the Boomerang offices next.

Adam Blackwood has it all. At twenty-three, he’s fabulously wealthy, Ryan Gosling-hot and at the top of his game in the business world. His life is perfect, until a scandal from his past resurfaces and threatens to knock the tech wunderkind down and throw his company, Boomerang, a hook-up site for millennials, into chaos.

Alison Quick, the twenty-one-year-old daughter of a business tycoon—and the very ex-girlfriend of Boomerang’s former intern, Ethan—has a problem of her own. After nearly flunking out in her senior year of college, she has one chance to redeem herself to her father by proving that she deserves a place in his corporate empire. That means spearheading her father’s plan to sink big money into Adam’s company and launch it into the stratosphere—provided Adam has no skeletons in his closet.

When the two meet, their sizzling chemistry makes it tough to keep things strictly professional. But when Alison discovers Adam’s secret, she knows she should bring it right to her father, who’ll leverage it for his own gain and use it to ruin Adam. The only problem: she’s falling for Adam—hard.

Will earning her father’s approval come at the price of losing her first real love? Or can Adam and Alison leave behind past mistakes and conquer the world—together?

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Excerpt


Adam POV


Ali laughs. Her gaze feels like sunshine on my back, but I don’t turn around. I pull my wetsuit up to my waist, adjusting myself so I’m comfortable. The cool Neoprene layer feels familiar and my body responds, my heart thumping hard, anticipation rushing through my veins. The prospect of the ocean always does this to me. This has nothing to do with the girl behind me.

“Adam?”

Ali’s voice is close. Turning, I almost bump into her.

Her wetsuit is all the way on, which is good. And terrible.

“What’s up?” I ask.

She smells like suntan oil and peaches. This close, I see that her cheeks are turning slightly pink from the sun. With her hair pulled back, no makeup, and the wetsuit covering her completely, she looks better than she has all week at the office. Better than she did in the Catwoman costume. There’s something powerful about her now. The way her slender legs are planted firmly on the swaying boat, like she’s not trying at all. She’s at home on the water. This from an admitted equestrian. I can only imagine what she’s like with her horses.

“Sorry, but . . .” She smiles and points at her back. “My zipper’s jammed.” She turns around and pulls her ponytail up. “Can you help me out?”

“Sure. You want this on, right? Just want to be sure.”

I can’t see her face, but I know she’s smiling. “Yes. On please.”

I allow myself a moment to enjoy the way she looks right in front of me. Then I take the zipper leash, letting my knuckles drift over her back, just above the knot of her bikini.

If I weren’t completely focused on her, I’d have missed the way she curls slightly toward me.

Focus, Blackwood. Zip the wetsuit up.

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My Review


I wasn’t sure how I was going to like this book at all since it Alison was the main character. But, as they say, there are two sides to every story. And I loved Boomerang, so how could I not love Rebound? Much to my surprise, Ali was a very likeable character. I found myself feeling sorry for her. She is a broken person, who makes mistakes, and deserves her own happy story.

And Adam, swoon. He’s such a wonderful character. His painful past is what led to him creating Boomerang in the first place. One slip and he could lose it all. Everything he worked so hard for. And Ali could be his complete undoing, or the one to put him back together again.

By the end of the book I found that I loved Ali as much as I loved Mia. This was a great redemption love story. And I can’t wait to read Bounce, Grey’s story, next. His behavior in Rebound really made me curious about his story. Noelle August might just be my new favorite contemporary new adult author duo. I’ll devour anything they write.


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Check out the other two books in the Boomerang series.

Boomerang

Bounce

About Noelle August


Question: What do you get when friends pen a story with heart, plenty of laughs, and toe-curling kissing scenes? Answer: Noelle August, the pseudonym for renowned editor and award-winning writer Lorin Oberweger and New York Times bestselling YA author Veronica Rossi, the masterminds behind the Boomerang series.

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