Posted in 4 paws, Blog tour, New Adult, Review, romance on July 17, 2013

 

 RomancingBookworm_Cover

 

Title: Romancing the Bookworm

Author: Kate Evangelista     

Release date: July 9, 2013

Publisher: Omnific Publishing

Age Group: New Adult

Genre: Contemporary romance

Tour organized by: AToMR Tours

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Links to find/buy:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

 

Book Description:

Sometimes, even the best-laid plans can unravel.

It’s spring break, and Tamara Winters would rather stay on campus and read romance novels than flaunt her size-fourteen body on a beach. But her best friend, Ronni, has other ideas. Against her wishes, Tamara is whisked away to picturesque Maverick Bay, where she’s wrangled into waiting tables with Ronni at the Shore Shack for its busy week leading to Maverick’s Surf Invitational. There she meets fellow schoolmate Xavier Solomon, the Invitational’s organizer and campus womanizer by reputation. From the moment Tamara sees him emerging from the waves like a hero in of one of her romance novels, all she wants to do is run away from the feelings he inspires in her.

Little does she know Xavier has been watching her for weeks now. In fact, after failed attempts at asking her out on campus, he’s concocted a crazy plan: fabricating romantic situations straight out of her favorite books. Xavier quickly realizes that if Tamara gets a whiff of his designs, he might as well spell CREEPER across his forehead. Yet as they grow closer, he’s convinced it’s a risk worth taking. What he hasn’t planned on, of course, is his drug-addicted, alcoholic stepbrother, who decides to join the fun and put a wrench in Xavier’s scheme.

Spring break is proving hotter than Tamara expected. Will her romance novels be able to compete?

Review:

This was such a fun read!  Tamara is a self-proclaimed bookworm (reading up to 3 books per day!  boy wish I had that kind of time) but life is passing her by because she can’t see past the pages in the book because of a trauma when she was younger.  However, she goes on Spring Break with her roommate Ronnie and is treated to a whole new world that has her realizing that maybe all this time spent wrapped in books isn’t such a good thing.  Of course this is all a set up by Xavier because he wanted to get to know her and previous efforts weren’t working.

I liked how the story went back and forth between Tamara and Xavier’s view points.  You could see how she was feeling and what she was thinking in different situations.  The same goes for Xavier.  Plus I think it also gives the reader more of an insight into the characters.  I also liked that Tamara is a curvy female and a size 14.  Not all women are thin but they do find love no matter their body size.

We give this 4 paws and if you are looking for a good beach read, pick this book up!  Doesn’t hurt that they spend lots of time on a beach because of a surfing invitational!

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About the Author:

Kate Evangelista

 

When Kate Evangelista was told she had a knack for writing stories, she did the next best thing: entered medical school. After realizing she wasn’t going to be the next Doogie Howser, M.D., Kate wandered into the Literature department of her university and never looked back. Today, she is in possession of a piece of paper that says to the world she owns a Literature degree. To make matters worse, she took Master’s courses in creative writing. Ms. Evangelista lives in the Philippines.

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Book Trailer:

 

 Romancing the Bookworm Tour Button

 

Tour Schedule

 

Tour Giveaway:

(1)   Print copy of Romancing the Bookworm – international – value $18.99 USD

(1)   Book inspired necklace that says “Surf” – international – value $15.00 USD

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(8) eBooks of Romancing the Bookworm – International – value $3.99/copy USD
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**Reviewers received a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy by the publisher in exchange for their honest thoughts/review of the book. The provided review copy was not a finished copy on sale.

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Posted in 4 1/2 paws, contest, e-books, Giveaway, New Adult, Review, romance on June 30, 2013

dancers & divas blog tour button

Passion and Pain final cover

Synopsis:

Does passion and desire guarantee success?

Can friends really be trusted?

Can true love be found beneath lust and deceit?

 

These are questions street dancer Elena Martinez faces as she struggles to compete against the most talented students at New York’s top Performing Arts High School. Along with her best friend, the cheeky and mischievous Sebastien Duval, they are determined to make center stage. But the singing diva Letitia has other plans. Beautiful, talented and popular, her desire for power and revenge could ruin everything for Elena and Sebastien. Now, they must fight against prejudice, treachery and deceit as Letitia sets out to destroy Elena’s friends, her romance, her dignity and her dreams. Can Elena win the battle for true love, happiness and success?

Review:

When Kathy contacted me about reviewing her book, I asked her how much sex was in the book….let’s just say I have been surprised a lot lately.  She said there was 1 scene so I said I would be happy to read and review the book.  I’m not a prude, I’m all for some spicy scenes, but I am trying to keep the blog as clean as possible.  Anyway, this book reminded me of the TV show Fame….high school age students at a dramatic and performing arts school.   The students had a wide variety of personalities, talents and personal histories.  It made for an eclectic group of students.  And of course there always has to be the “mean” girl….trust me you won’t like Letitia!  It was interesting to see how thin the students seemed to stretch themselves in what they participated in during the school year….plays, musicals, dance classes, show choir…the list goes on and on.

Elena, one of the main characters, has a lot going against her from her background to being the subject of ridicule and bullying by Letitia.  She does persevere but without letting her insecurities get the better of her.  I also felt a wide range of emotions from her in the different situations she was placed.

We really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read book two, Bitter Sweet and give the book 4 1/2 paws.

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About the Author:

Kathy Petrakis - color

Kathy was born and raised in Sydney Australia to Greek immigrant parents.  She has always loved the performing arts – dancing, acting and singing but considered them merely hobbies with the expectation of a ‘serious’ professional career.  She won an award at 11 for a short story competition but didn’t pursue any sort of creative writing at that point. Her mother always encouraged her to keep writing but the most she did was entertain friends via emails about her endless travels overseas.

After nearly twenty years in the corporate world, her means of financing her passion for dancing, singing and acting classes, she decided to live in London for an indeterminate amount of time.  She did not know why but found herself with a desire to rekindle the creative writing, the first novel burning in her head. Thus began the birth of the Dancers and Divas Series. It began as one book and has evolved as a trilogy. Since then, she has not been able to stop and has so many ideas constantly begging to be written.

She is also playing with Play and TV Script formats as alternate way of telling stories. Maybe the Dancers and Divas series will be a TV series one day – it is definitely the right type of story for it!

Twitter * Facebook * Website * Mailing List * Goodreads

Buy the Book:

It is a steal at just $0.99 during the blog tour – available on Amazon or Barnes & Noble

The Giveaway:

Paperback and ebook giveaway

 

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Up to $1000 Fan giveaway in either Amazon, Book Depository or PayPal credit – Terms and Conditions

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**a copy of this book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review

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Posted in Cover Reveal, New Adult, romance on June 28, 2013

This Time Around Cover

 

Title: This Time Around

Author: Ellie Grace

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Group: New Adult

Expected release date: July 15, 2013

 

Nora Montgomery left home and heartbreak behind in South Carolina when she moved to New York City after her high school graduation. Now, four years later, she returns home and is forced to confront the past she left behind and the reckless boy who broke her heart. It’s not long before the pieces of her past begin to blur with the present and she realizes that the feelings she had for her first love never really went away. As old dreams resurface and new truths come to light, she begins to question the future she’s always planned on.

Jake Harris has spent four years regretting the night he let her get away. When she finally reappears in his life, he is determined to win her back and prove how much he’s changed. She might never forgive him for that night, but if he tells her the truth about what really happened it will shatter the world she thought she knew. If he doesn’t, he might not get a second chance. He’s already lost her once and he won’t lose her again.

They come from two different worlds that are threatening to tear them apart…can they make it this time around?

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Teaser

Nora hopped into the back and started handing me the heavy boxes so I could bring it all into the house. When it was all unloaded she stood on the tailgate and held out her hand so I could help her to the ground. Instead of grabbing her hand, I wrapped my arms around her thighs to lift her, letting her body slide down mine until her feet touched the ground. I kept my hands on her hips and looked her right in the eye so she would know exactly what was coming.

“Jake – don’t,” she stammered, but didn’t pull away.

“I have to,” I told her, as I leaned forward and gently placed my lips on hers. I held them there for just a moment before pulling back to look at her, and my heart felt like it was beating out of my chest.

“I – I can’t do this, Jake.”

“Then don’t kiss me back.”

I leaned in to kiss her again and tightened my arms around her. Cautiously I moved my lips against hers and brought my hand up to touch her face. I heard her moan softly against my lips and it was all the encouragement I needed. I pressed up against her and when I felt her lips part for me, I let my tongue find hers and tilted her head as I deepened the kiss. As my lips began moving more intensely, she wrapped her arms around my neck and crushed her body against mine.

The need I felt for her turned me completely inside out. I hadn’t planned on kissing her today, but when I looked up at her standing on the tailgate, illuminated from the light of the setting sun, I knew I couldn’t wait. I had to know what it was that I was feeling, and if it was something real or if it was just remnants of the past clouding the present. Still, I wasn’t expecting this. Instead of curbing my appetite for her, it only intensified it. I’d never needed anything as much as I needed Nora.

When I finally pulled away, I brushed my thumb against her cheek and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “God, I missed you, Nora.”

“This doesn’t change anything,” she said breathlessly, “I still have to go back to New York.”

“We’ll see,” I said simply.

 

About the Author

 photo EllieGraceBioPhoto_zps2d92f99d.jpg Ellie Grace is an avid reader, chocolate lover and caffeine addict. When a story popped into her head that she couldn’t seem to shake, she decided to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a writer. When she’s not writing, she’s usually curled up with a book by one of her many, many favorite authors.

 

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Posted in 4 1/2 paws, Blog tour, contest, Giveaway, humor, New Adult, romance on June 25, 2013

ParisLoveMatch

 

Title: Paris Love Match                                        

Author: Nigel Blackwell

Publisher: Bandit Publishing

Release date: May 2, 2013

Genre: Romance humorous

Age Group: New Adult

Tour organized by: AToMR Tours

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Amazon * Barnes & Noble

 

Synopsis:

Getting a taxi in Paris can be hell.

Piers Chapman expected a boring business trip to Paris.

What he didn’t expect was to fight over a cab with a beautiful girl.

 

After a bad meeting, Sidney Roux just wanted to hail a cab, go home, and have a glass of wine.

She didn’t expect to fight over a cab with some pompous British tourist.

 

Neither of them expected another man to jump in their cab.

Or to be involved in a gun fight.

Or a car chase through the streets of Paris.

Or for the man to die.

 

But they’re thrust together when the mob demands they return what the dead man stole.

 

Will Piers and Sidney work together?

Will they find what he had stolen?

Will they stay alive?

 

And will they do the last thing they expected?

Will they fall in love?

 

Review:

This is quite a charming story….and by charming I mean funny!  It was like a comedy of errors reading the trials of Piers and Sidney and Little and Large (you’ll have to read the story to figure that one out!).  I truly enjoyed this and this is the kind of book I like, one that draws me in and is funny and makes reading the book seem like a flash.  I know I was sad when the book was done and hope that Nigel will be writing more books like this one.

We give it 4 1/2 paws and suggest you sign up to win a copy for yourself and if you don’t, well then go buy a copy!

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Trailer:

To see other stops on the tour for reviews, guest posts, and excerpt click here.

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Tour schedule

About the Author

nigel

Nigel Blackwell was born in rural Oxfordshire in England. He has a love of books, a PhD in Physical Chemistry, and a black belt in pointing out the obvious. As a teenager he toured Europe and loved seeing the wonders of the world and the people in it. Since then he has been fortunate enough to travel across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Japan, and hasn’t been anywhere that doesn’t have the potential for a story.

He now lives in Texas with his wife and daughter, where they enjoy the sunshine and listen to the coyotes howl at night.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

 

 

Tour Giveaway:

(2) signed Paperback copies of Paris Love Match – US Only

(3) eBook copies of Paris Love Match – International

 

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International Giveaway:

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Posted in Cover Reveal, New Adult, romance on June 25, 2013

NEW Naturally Charlie Front Final1 5-28-13

Title: Naturally, Charlie

Author: S. L. Scott

Release date: Re-launch June 25, 2013

Genre: Contemporary romance

Age Group: New Adult/Adult

Cover designed by: Jada D’Lee of Jada D’Lee Designs

 

Twenty-five year old Charlotte “Charlie” Barrow is caught between her old life, and the one she is beginning to build, when she crosses paths with a handsome stranger on the subway. Not looking for romance, she closes her heart off to the possibilities of love. With a knack for mishaps, Charlie maintains her sense of humor while befriending the kind stranger who seems to be there at all the right times.

New York freelance writer, Charlie Adams, is forging his own path beyond the expectations of the society circles of his childhood. Rejecting family money, and fast-lane friends, he is snubbed by his family as he follows his own compass to a life more extraordinary.

Through a coincidence of events, they come to rely on each other for comfort. This is the tale of two Charlies learning to trust again while fighting their fates to create their own destiny.

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Interesting Facts about Naturally, Charlie

  1. Charlie Barrow (girl Charlie) is Charlie B and Charlie Adams (boy Charlie) is Charlie A.
  2. Charlie B says what I call Charlie-isms. There are 20 words that she has made up or are ultra-slangy that she uses as everyday language, including three different forms of smug: smugginess, smuggsters, and smuggy.
  3. Charlie Adams eyes are a blue-grey. More blue when he’s happy. More grey when he’s tired, sleepy, or sad.
  4. The basenotes Charlie B. smells of Charlie A’s cologne are sandalwood, peppermint, cedar, and coriander. Do you know what cologne he’s wearing that day?
  5. Charlie B’s local coffee house is called The Coffee Hut. Charlie A’s is The Bagelry where we spend some time in throughout the book.
  6. The two main characters may share a name, but it’s never a big deal to them. The other characters find it funny though and do tease them about it.
  7. Charlie loves to bake, mainly cupcakes, and likes to experiment beyond the basic flavors.
  8. Charlie B has a thing for Charlie A’s lower back dimples which seem to get exposed a lot when he bends over.
  9. Charlie A is much neater in his apartment than Charlie B is, but hers feels more homey to them both, which why they spend so much time there.
  10. Charlie A is a successful freelance writer. He shares his observations and photos about New York City, but tries his hand at fiction Charlie B inspires a story.

 

About the Author

S.L. Scott has a degree in Journalism and is the author of the novel, Naturally, Charlie, and several novellas, including Sleeping with Mr. Sexy and Morning Glory–all currently available on Amazon. Pursuing her passion for telling stories, she spends her days escaping into her characters, letting them lead her on their adventures. She is a Contributor to Huffington Post as well as writes for her own blog along with several other popular sites.

Travelling, music festivals, and surfing are a few of her hobbies she loves, but she doesn’t get to enjoy on a regular basis. She has an obsession with movies, a varied taste in books, and collects Fitz & Floyd teapots. With a memory full of useless trivia facts, and a Keurig addiction, she loves a fun night in with her family as much as a loud night out with her friends.

Scott lives in the lively city of Austin with her husband, two young sons, and two Papillons, enjoying life in the beautiful hill country of Texas.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon | Goodreads | Pinterest

 

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Posted in contest, Giveaway, New Adult, Spotlight on June 22, 2013

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Title: CONQUER YOUR LOVE

Author: J.C. Reed

Release date: June 8th, 2013

Genre: Mature New Adult/ Adult Contemporary Romance – recommended for ages 18 and up

 

Synopsis:

Meeting Jett was like bad luck. Dangerous. Unpredictable. And better avoided. In his game, the stakes are high. But are they worth the risk?
Brooke Stewart, a realtor in New York, finds forgetting is hard, but forgiving is harder. When the man she trusted, betrayed her, the only way to forget is to move on. Brooke is determined to start a new life, until she meets him again: the green-eyed, sexy as sin, six foot two sex god. The man who played dirty. The man who played her.
Sexy, handsome, and arrogant Jett Mayfield knows he has made mistakes. He could have any other woman, and yet it’s Brooke he wants. When second chances collide with secrets and Brooke is threatened by the past, Jett is determined to protect her. She accepts his help unwillingly because she needs him but she wants to play his game on her own terms. And she has no intention to forgive or let him back into her bed.
When the man she is supposed to hate is the one she should trust, will he conquer her…or lose her forever?
A woman who can’t forgive.
A man who has made mistakes.
Two lives that are about to cross again and more secrets laid bare.
conquer

About the author:

J.C. Reed is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of SURRENDER YOUR LOVE. She writes steamy contemporary fiction with a touch of mystery. When she’s not typing away on her keyboard, forgetting the world around her, she dreams of returning to the beautiful mountains of Wyoming. You can also find her chatting on Facebook with her readers or spending time with her two children. To get in touch with Jessica use the contact form below. She tries to respond to each and every email in a timely manner.

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Giveaway:

The author is giving away a $100 gift card to Amazon.  Open internationally

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