Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Release Day - 'Returning Home' by A.L. Parks

Returning Home (Return to Me #4)
A.L. Parks
Genre: Contemporary / Adult / Romance


Release Date:  October 28, 2014






Clarissa wants nothing to do with her father – even in his death. But she can’t escape returning to Newport to settle her father's estate. The safe world she has established starts to crumble and secrets she has locked away threaten to be exposed. Meeting Griff, her father’s partner, provides the only peace and happiness in the darkness that suddenly surrounds her.


Griff has built his custom bike shop from nothing into a thriving success. After the sudden death of his silent partner, Griff finds himself in a fight to save his business from the grieving widow. But falling for his partner's headstrong daughter may cost Griff everything.


Brandi has become accustomed to certain amenities in her life - money and men. She refuses to allow the death of her philandering husband to inconvenience her comfortable lifestyle. Setting her sights set on her husband’s very young, very sexy partner, nothing will get in the way of what she wants - even if it means destroying Clarissa to get it.


He had his back to her completely unaware she was standing there. She was about to announce her presence, when she heard him singing softly along with the music. Her eyes travelled over his tight black t-shirt. The bike shop logo was imprinted on it, and pulled across the taut muscles of his back and the broadness of his shoulders. He had on worn jeans that looked as if they had permanent oils stains on them. They were faded and frayed, and formed perfectly to his body. He had an ass to die for, at least what she could tell from the way the jeans clung to the near perfect roundness of it.
How had she missed how hot this man was when she had seen him at her father’s house a day or two earlier?
He turned and caught sight of her standing in the doorway staring at him.
“How long have you been here?” he asked. There was no amount of cordiality in voice.
“Good morning to you, too,” she snapped back. “I just came in a minute ago.”
“Well, manners would dictate that you announce your arrival when you enter a room, or does your net worth prevent you from having manners?”
Whoa! What the hell?
“One, I was just about to say something when you turned around. Two, my net worth doesn’t prevent me from doing anything. In fact, it allows me to do pretty much whatever I damn well please.” She never flaunted her wealth, it made her uncomfortable. But Asshole had tripped her meter, and she wasn’t going to stand around and let him insult her. At least she remembered why she didn’t find him attractive. His mouth negated any sexy he had.
They stood starring at each other, neither backing down, each assessing the other’s formidability as a foe. There was no way she was going to let this jackass get the better of her. She dealt with men not giving her credibility simply because she was a woman. It was a load of crap and she was getting a little tired of having these pissing matches just to prove she could go toe-to-toe with a man.
He dropped his head, shaking it slightly. When he raised his eyes to hers, they were less hard. “Okay, truce. Let’s try this again. I was making coffee, and haven’t had a cup yet, obviously. Can I offer you one while I get some for myself?”
Dragging in a deep breath, she attempted to relax a bit. “Yes, that would be great, thanks.”
“Take anything in it? Sugar? Cream? We only have the powdered stuff, though.”
She took a step into the room, closing some of the distance between them. “Black, please.”
“Really?” he asked, cocking an eyebrow at her.
“Really. You learn quickly to drink it that way when you’re miles away from civilization with only a thermos and none of the extras. It’s a pain in the ass trying to add cream and sugar into a travel mug while perched in a tree getting a close-up of a nest of newborn birds before their mother comes back and starts pecking arms, hands…face. Black coffee is more conducive to those situations.”
He handed her a mug. His face was blank, but his eyes had softened and brightened a bit. Clarissa wasn’t sure what that meant, but he didn’t seem to be pissed at her anymore, so that was at least something.
“Yeah, I guess I’d switch to drinking it black, too.” He smiled, sending flutters through Clarissa that invaded her stomach. The smile, along with the beautiful eyes, where enough to make her forget her own name. Sweet, but in a sexy way. And Clarissa was sure no man had ever smiled at her that way in her life. He looked away, snapping her back to reality.
Get a grip, girl. You do not fall for men like him that can’t decide if they resent you or just want to fuck you.
“I guess we’ve never been properly introduced. Robert, right? Or do you go by Rob?”
“Neither. Griff,” he said, and left it hanging there like unfinished business.
“Griff?” she asked with a touch of disdain she hadn’t intended.
His eyes went dark and flat. “Yeah, Griff. Not quite as sophisticated as Clarissa, but we can’t all be as high and mighty as you.”
“Were you born with that chip on your shoulder, or is it something you’ve cultivated over time?”
“Just calling it like I see it, sweetheart.” He walked past her and out the door.
“Maybe you should look into getting some glasses, then,” she murmured, following him down the hallway and into the office. He pointed to an empty chair as he made his way behind the desk and sat down.
“Let’s just get this over with so you can be on your way back to merry ol’ England.”
“That sounds lovely, Robert.”
“Griff.”
“Whatever.”








Amazon:







Author Bio
Born and raised in the Rocky Mountains, A.L. Parks has spent the last 25 years moving all over the United States. Married to the Navy - well a man in the Navy - Parks has lived in various places throughout the United States. She currently resides in the Washington D.C area, with her husband, four children, and one spoiled German Shepard.


2013 marked her debut in publishing. Her first novel, Strangers, released on her 45th birthday. She was amazed at how many people fell in love with a story about two people dealing with grief, and finding love again. Abby and Bryce were the perfect couple to introduce Parks as an up-and-coming author.


She released the first of the Return To Me series (an anticipated 4.5 book series) in December 2013. A wonderful Christmas romance, The Return introduced readers into the whirlwind romance of Eve and Jake, and proved that second chance romance can be even better than first love. Book two, Return To Newport, followed the struggles that come while on a journey to happily ever after.


Parks unique style of writing, along with her depth of characters and emotions, is carving out a niche in romance for those who crave love and romance a second time around. While many current novels focus on first love, Parks' novels seek to find happily ever after when first love has failed. They are a testament to second chances at true love that lasts forever.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Review - 'Fire of the Wolf' by Lori King



My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Blurb


Introverted nurse Caroline Trainor’s apartment burns to the ground, and she is rescued by a sexy fireman. Waking up in the hospital, she finds the delicious fireman and his identical twin brother waiting for her.

Devin and Damon Gray claim that they are alpha leaders of a pack of werewolves, and that she is destined to be their mate. Her logical nature resists this unreal situation, but her body craves their every touch. Struggling with unresolved pain from her past and her need for her own identity, she has no desire to be their house wolf—until another wolf pack’s alpha threatens their lives and relationship with a challenge to the death.

Scared to lose the men she has grown to love like she lost her parents, she runs directly into the arms of the lethal alpha challenger, and the brothers must save her before they all wind up dead.

 
Review 

I won this book, as well as the whole series (up to book 5), in a contest/giveaway. Thank you, Lori King, for this wonderful set. I am not paid or compensated for this honest review.
Caroline Trainor suffers from a personal tragedy and lives her life from day to day without really living until she wakes up in the hospital and everything changes. Devin and Damon Gray are sexy firemen werewolves who just found their mate. Since they’re twins, it’s common for twins to share a single mate. Without giving away too much of the story, they spend a lot of time seducing Caroline and gaining her trust. The sex scenes are super hot and the reader can feel the personal and emotional connection the men have with their woman, and how she feels toward her men. Although I think their feelings for love and trust happened too quickly, too easily in the story, it makes sense because the three of them are destined to be together. And when destiny is involved, the wildest things can happen.
The side characters are a wonderful addition to downplay the rampant sex that sometimes takes over the book. Jim and Sienna, the twins' parents, are so kind and accepting of Caroline. Although very sweet, the love they showed Caroline so early on bothered me a little. It’s just hard for me to fathom how two strangers can love another stranger so unconditionally, without fate or destiny being involved.
The other side characters--Liam, Cash, Owen, Rafe, and Riley--are fun, sexy, dark, and completely edible. And, of course, all wolf. The buildup for the second book is with Liam and Tina, Caroline’s emotionally-scarred best friend, and I can’t wait to read Reflections of the Wolf.
The bad guy, Barton, is just a nasty person/wolf. I was happy to see him meet his fate.
This plot was great but I was shocked by the typos (misspelled words, little words missing in the sentence, etc). The typos took me out of the story and I had to reread a few sections to find out who was talking or what was going on. All the book needs is a proofread and edit to fix these little mistakes and then it’s an easy 5 Star book in my opinion.
I definitely recommend this story despite the typos because I loved the characters and overall plot. It’s just a really good book and I’m anxious to read more about the Gray Pack.
4 Stars.

View all my reviews

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

The Love List Blog Tour - Oct 15-30, 2014


The Love List Series Books 1- 4

 Single, successful and lonely in a small town. Would you let your girlfriends choose your man?

Tegan, Chloe, Becca and Laura do in The Love List.

When you're part of The Love List you never know who you will end up with.

 Love Uncorked (The Love List Book 1)

Tegan Taylor is the owner of the Que Syrah Syrah wine shop in Vine grove, the heart of wine country. After her plan of starting a book club to meet single, local men falls flat, her new found friends come up with The Love List. Each dropped a name of a nice guy their friends may like but just not a guy they'd date. Or think of romantically.
Tegan chooses Richard. After one disastrous meeting with him, Tegan wonders if The Love List isn't a terrible idea.

Richard’s a jerk. But, when handsome Australian cowboy, August, shows up, things may take a turn.

Read book one in the Love List Series as Tegan, Chloe, Laura and Becca try to find love in a small town.




You can find Jennifer Conner here:








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Love Found Me (The Love List Book 2)

When it’s Chloe Miles turn to pick a name out of The Love List she didn’t expect to find true love. She just wanted to go on a date with a nice, available guy. Not one who drank too much, or was unemployed and wanted to stay that way. Or especially one who didn’t know what monogamy means.

Mitch Brodin didn’t know his heart was in the hands of The Love List. His Fate was set the moment he set foot into Roy's Pet Rescues looking for advice on how to care for new born kittens.

Chloe is vivacious, unpredictable, and tons of fun, while he is methodical, predictable, and well… cynical. He surely hadn’t planned on falling in love. But that’s what you get when you’re not looking for love.




You can find Sharon Kleve here:













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Blind Tasting (The Love List Book 3)


Dr. Rebecca Miller is devastated over her fiancé's affair...with her best friend. Country charm is the best medicine. Along with a good friend and a bottle of wine.
In the heart of wine country, four friends spice up their book club and create The Love List. Love is the last thing on Becca's mind until she's matched with Chase Tanner.

Chase discovers the love list and believes to be fooled. Can Becca convince him she really does love him?







You can find Angela Ford here:






Twitter @AngelaFord67




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Building up to Love (The Love List Book 4)


Story 4 in the best-selling series, The Love List from some of your favorite sweet romance authors.

A small town can be a friendly place to call home and an impossible place to find a date. A shop owner starts a singles-mingle but only has three attendees—not a single man in sight. The women continue to meet, and change their name to The Love List. Each write names of single men and drop them into a basket. The Love List seems a success as each of the women finds their true love, except Laura. She is certain the basket is cursed.

Travis Jerome is new to town. He jumps at the chance to work on Laura’s B&B remodel, to once again have the feel of a hammer in his hand. For something to last a lifetime it must start with a strong foundation and build up from there.




You can find Joanne Jaytanie here:







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Each author will give away a $25.00 gift card at the end of the tour.


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Blog Tour Stops


Books To Go Now  Oct 15th





Book Pimpers  Oct 15th


Girl With Pen  Oct 16th


M.S. Spenser  Oct 17th



Free To Be Me  Oct 17th



Romance Junkies  Oct 19th

Triple A  Oct 20th




Ella Medler  Oct 22nd




Write Stuff  Oct 24th


Book Flirts  Oct 25th

Jackie Marilla  Oct 26th



My Book Fairy  Oct 28th



Traveling Cats  Oct 30th