Teaser Tuesday: Laguna Nights by Kaira Rouda

TITLE: Laguna Nights (Laguna Nights, 1)

AUTHOR: Kaira Rouda

Adult Contemporary Romance

Cover designer: Okay Creations

Goodreads

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/qhzwkdx

iBooks: http://tinyurl.com/ogj9tdg

Blurb:

Madison Alcott left her Laguna Beach childhood in the past as soon as she could, never imagining she’d be forced to return. Caring for her ill mother and holding down a high-pressure position at the best resort in town, Madison’s life is as good as it could ever be in Laguna Beach. And blissfully, nobody knows her as Holly anymore, the name she used on television. Everything changes when her high school boyfriend appears in the lobby. He was the reason she’d left Laguna in the first place when he humiliated her on national television.

Josh Welsh’s star has been dimming ever since he shot to fame as the high school heartthrob on the reality TV series Laguna Nights. Hoping to reignite his career, he agreed to host a travel show, with the first episode shooting in his old hometown of Laguna Beach. Of all the negative scenarios associated with filming in Laguna, Josh hadn’t calculated a run-in with Madison, or that the same deep connection he felt for her in high school would still be there.

Madison and Josh’s reality TV relationship exploded years ago but when the new series forces them together, they must face Laguna Nights past and present.

About the Author:

Kaira Rouda is an Amazon #1 bestselling, multiple award-winning author of three women’s fiction novels including HERE, HOME, HOPE, ALL THE DIFFERENCE and IN THE MIRROR.

Tule Publishing Group’s Southern Born imprint is publishing her new contemporary romance series set on INDIGO ISLAND: WEEKEND WITH THE TYCOON, Book 1; LINES IN THE SAND, Book 2; THE TROUBLE WITH CHRISTMAS, Book 3; and THE BILLIONAIRE’S BID, Book 4. Three more books in the series will be out in 2015.

Her nonfiction title, REAL YOU INCORPORATED: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs, continues to inspire women internationally.

She lives in Southern California with her husband and four almost-grown kids, and is at work on her next novel. Connect with her on Twitter, @KairaRouda, and on Facebook at Kaira Rouda Books. For more about Kaira and her books, please visit wwww.KairaRouda.com.

Teaser Tuesday: Taming Lily by Monica Murphy

 

BLURB:

Perfect for fans of Christina Lauren, Emma Chase, and Maya Banks, the anticipated finale in New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy’s sexy contemporary romance series about three fiery and determined sisters with their own ideas about life and love.I’m in trouble. Again. And instead of facing my problems head-on, I’ve run away. Far away this time, and no one can catch me—not my two younger sisters, Violet and Rose, not my father, my grandmother, or that witch Pilar who wants to take control of my family’s cosmetics company. Now I’m in Hawaii, enjoying the sun and sand and water, where nobody knows the hot mess known as Lily Fowler. And I’m loving every minute of it.

But someone is watching me. Following me. He’s gorgeous. Soon we’re talking, and against all my instincts, I reveal bits and pieces of myself to Max. It feels good, though I know he can’t be the man for me. These sudden feelings we share are way too complicated, too fraught, too intense.

Then everything explodes and I’m forced to return home. My intentions have always been true, but now everyone’s mad at me. I don’t know who to turn to anymore . . . except to Max. He’s the one I want to trust. But I’m not so sure I should. Maybe it’s worth the risk—what-ifs be damned. . . .

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite with her husband and three children. She’s a workaholic who loves her job. When she’s not busy writing, she also loves to read and travel with her family. She writes new adult and contemporary romance and is published with Bantam and Avon. She also writes romance as USA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson.
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Cover Reveal: Skin Deep by Pamela Sparkman

Title: Skin Deep

Author: Pamela Sparkman

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: July 20, 2015

Cover Designer: Sarah Hansen with Okay Creations

Cover

Synopsis

She hates me.

I’m in love with her.

Her life is a masquerade.

Mine is cloaked in secrets.

She thinks I can’t see her.

But she’s the only thing I can see.

he thinks we have nothing in common.

We have everything in common.

And I’m done being patient.

I’m determined.

She’s stubborn.

You think you know us.

You don’t.

The things you know about us are only Skin Deep.

About The Author

I grew up in Alabama and have always been an avid reader. I had a stack of those Little Golden Books and I can remember reading Three Little Kittens over and over and over again. It was my favorite.

Fast forward and the older I got the more in love with books I became. So, I’m admitting that I am a huge nerd. The only reading I don’t like are those math word problems. And I’m okay with that because no one has ever asked me in real life… “If I give you two bananas and take away six apples, how long will it take the southbound train to collide with the northbound train if Johnny left his house at midnight?” It just doesn’t happen.

So, yeah, books are my thing.

Oh and music. All kinds. Love.It.

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Cover Reveal: Break the Spell by A.M. Bostwick

Break
The Spell

by A.M. Bostwick

Release
Date: September 2015

Fiery
Seas Publishing, LLC

Summary
from Goodreads:

Alone. On the run. Until she came along.

 

 

When Allison Evans walks out of high school the last day of her senior year,
she has no idea that her carefully guarded life is about to unravel.

Ethan Knight is on the run. Accused of dealing drugs and armed with nothing but
a bad reputation and his motorcycle, he takes refuge for the weekend inside the
old high school. Thinking no one will find him and no one does.

Until Allison. Panicked and left with no other choice, Ethan takes her captive.
It should be a nightmare, but together, both of their lives take an unexpected
turn. It’s time for them both to stop running from their problems. 

About the Author

A.M.
Bostwick writes Middle Grade and Young Adult novels. Her debut middle grade
novel, The Great Cat Nap, earned the 2014 Tofte/Wright Children’s Literature
Award from the Council for Wisconsin Writers. An early draft of her young adult
novel, “Break the Spell,” was a finalist in the 2013 Wisconsin
Romance Writers of America Fab 5 Contest. She took third place in the 2014
Rochester Writers’ Summer Writing Contest for her flash fiction piece, “Paint
the Stars.” She holds degrees in both art and earth science. Her young
adult novel, “Break the Spell,” is forthcoming in September 2015 from
Fiery Seas Publishing. A.M. Bostwick lives in northern Wisconsin with her
husband, dog and thrill-seeking cat.

Author Links:

  

Book Review: Lock, Loaded & Lying by Sarah Andre

Title- Lock Loaded and Lying

Author- Sarah Andre

Publisher- Entangled Suspense

Amazon- http://goo.gl/6hHk4c

BOOK SUMMERY:

He might be innocent.
Or he might be very, very guilty…

Olympic skier Lock Roane was on top of the world: smashing world records, collecting medals, and basking in the love of a nation and his beautiful heiress girlfriend. It all comes crashing down after Lock discovers his girlfriend had an affair – then wakes from a drunken bender to find himself covered in her blood. Disgraced and dethroned, Lock awaits his murder trial with dread, not knowing if his girlfriend died at his own hands.

Journalist Jordan Sinclair is out of options. To satisfy her blackmailer, she must get the inside scoop (and its cash reward) on Lock Roane. An attraction to the arrogant athlete was not part of the plan. Neither is trying to find out what really happened that night. Now Jordan risks everything – including her life – to help the man she’s falling for. A man who just might be a cold-blooded killer…

MY THOUGHTS:

I thought that this was a great book, completely appeals to both romance readers and suspense readers. As a fan of books that have a bit of mystery and suspense I like that the romance didn’t over take the story. Yes, it was there but for me it was more about finding out who killed Lock’s girlfriend.

This story was a bit predictable, but I still wanted to know if I was right with my assumptions. As, the chemistry between Lock and Jordan was undeniable. I couldn’t wait for them to officially get together!!

Since this is the author’s debut novel, I cannot wait to see more coming from her!!

Blog Tour: Loving Dallas by Caisey Quinn

Title- Loving Dallas

Author- Caisey Quinn

Publisher- William Morrow & Company

Release- June 16, 2015

Amazon- http://amzn.to/1Gc1j54

BOOK SUMMERY:

Dallas Lark is so close to achieving his dream of making it big in country music that he can taste it. Arriving in Nashville after signing with sexy, successful manager Mandy Lantram, his life goes from tragedy and turmoil to one lucky break after another—except it isn’t really luck because Dallas has sacrificed everything for his career, leaving behind his band, sister, best friend, and high school sweetheart, Robyn, in the pursuit of fame.

Robyn Breeland is a successful marketing coordinator and promotions specialist for a thriving liquor distributor out of Texas. She loves every aspect of her job: coming up with new ideas, traveling, hosting promotional parties and exclusive events—until it brings her face-to-face with the man who broke her heart, prompting her to erect a steel cage around it.

When their paths collide and they’re forced to work together, Dallas and Robyn realize that the old spark they thought they’d extinguished might still be a burning flame.

MY THOUGHTS:

“Yeah I want to love and be loved and I want to smile and laugh and be grateful for all that I have every single day.”

I have yet to read the first book in the Neon Dreams Series, Leaving Armadillo, but that did not stop me from enjoying Loving Dallas. I am also kind of glad I didn’t, from what I read I don’t think I would have liked Dallas in the first book and I completely adorable him in Loving Dallas, he’s my new book boyfriend.

I’m always a sucker for a second chance story and I really liked the one between Dallas and Robyn. I have to admit Robyn did annoy me a lot. I felt like she was repeating the past with Dallas at one point, I’m glad she came to her senses. The drama in the book wasn’t too bad and I’m glad, I’m really one for a lot of drama.

I really want to know what will happen with Dallas and Robyn and where they end up. Hope to get a little bit more of them in the next couple of books in this series!

After reading this story I now need to find out Dixie and Gavin’s story and since I own Leaving Armadillo that’s what I will be reading next!

EXCERPT 

The universe must hate me. No, it must downright fucking despise me.

Of all the concerts in all the world, she has to be at mine. In fucking Denver of all places. Literally the last place in the universe I would expect to see her.

My mind can’t stop replaying our exchange. Or how lovingly that dress clung to her mouthwatering curves. Seeing her conjured up memories I keep firmly locked in the box of Robyn that I never open. Ever.

Seeing her unexpectedly reminded me of the first time I ever laid eyes on her and practically transported me back in time.

“God, I love this song,” she’d announced the night we met. “Come dance with me.”

She’d grabbed my hand with surprising strength for a petite redhead who couldn’t have weighed a hundred pounds soaking wet. She had the kind of raspy voice that instantly made you think of dirty talk. Or maybe that was just me. I had just turned sixteen and was basically a hard-on with a pulse.

Gavin had raised his eyebrows and smirked as she dragged me closer to the truck blaring the music. She shook her sexy ass and sang at the top of her lungs, off key, but proudly off key. I couldn’t take my eyes or my hands off her. For several years.

What Caisey Quinn Loves About Dallas

5. That he knows when to be a gentleman…and when not to be.
6. His tight jeans and cocky, country book swagger.
7. His sweet smile.
8. His singing voice.
9. How deeply he loves. ❤

Caisey Quinn Top 5 Songs on iPod While Writing Loving Dallas

1. Smoke – A Thousand Horses
2. Wheels Rollin – Jason Aldean
3. Hope You Get Lonely – Cole Swindell
4. Love You Like That – Canaan Smith
5. Walk the Line – Johnny Cash

LOVING DALLAS PLAYLIST

“Crazy Town,” Jason Aldean

“Ho Hey,” Lumineers

“Smoke,” A Thousand Horses

“This Town,” Clare Bowen and Charles Esten

“Even if It Breaks Your Heart,” Eli Young Band

“I See You,” Luke Bryan

“Texas Was You,” Jason Aldean

“Springsteen,” Eric Church

“Distance,” Christina Perri featuring Jason Mraz

“Dancing Away with My Heart,” Lady Antebellum

“Hope You Get Lonely,” Cole Swindell

“Wheels Rollin’,” Jason Aldean

“Easy,” Rascal Flatts featuring Natasha Bedingfield

“Make You Miss Me,” Sam Hunt

“Come Over,” Kenny Chesney

“Love You Like That” Canaan Smith

“It Goes Like This,” Thomas Rhett

“I Walk the Line,” Johnny Cash

“Save Your Breath” Josh Dorr

“Let Her Go,” Passenger

“Mine Would Be You,” Blake Shelton

“More than Miles,” Brantley Gilbert

“Run Away with You,” Michael Ray

“Crash My Party,” Luke Bryan

“I Won’t Give Up,” Jana Kramer

“Simple Man,” Lynyrd Skynyrd

“Say You Do” Dierks Bentley

“Play It Again,” Luke Bryan

Book Review: Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Title– Fish in a Tree

Author- Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Publisher– Nancy Paulsen Books

Amazon- http://goo.gl/QlNdx6

BOOK SUMMERY:

Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions.  She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label, and that great minds don’t always think alike.

MY THOUGHTS:

“You know, a wise person once said, ‘Everyone is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, its will spend its whole life thinking that its stupid.”

I loved, loved, loved this book!! It might be because I am a teacher and I work with many special education students, but this story really touched me. As a teacher I see some students struggling everyday.

As much as I loved Aly and all her friends, I thought that the teacher stole the show for me. Mr. Daniels was funny and able to teacher at the same time and the students in the book seemed to really like him. I also like that he was able to pinpoint what was wrong with Aly and that she just wasn’t trying to act up, she was acting up because she needed the help.

I think that every student in this wonderful class grown together and learned that everyone is different and that doesn’t mean that they are dumb or a freak. Making this a great book for young readers to read. Maybe that one child will have this book read to them and they could find that they are similar to Aly or maybe one of the other characters.

This was of course a great read and I am so happy it was recommended to me. It was a heart-warming easy read that was hard to put down!!

Book Review: Life, Love & Lemons by Magan Vernon

Title- Life, Love & Lemons

Author- Magan Vernon

Publisher- Beautifully Broken Books

Amazon- http://goo.gl/oGjoQi

BOOK SUMMERY:

When life hands you lemons, sometimes you have to say screw the lemons and bail.

Seventeen-year-old Bentley Evans had it all. Then her Dad got laid off.

Now she has to move across town to a small apartment and leave her life of luxury for public school and a job at the local burger place. Just when her world seems like it’s crumbling she finds solace in the unlikely punk boy next door, Kai Stone. But as their relationship blossoms, a jealous ex-girlfriend and a secret to tell that threatens to bring disaster back into Bentley’s life.

MY THOUGHTS:

What a cute story for young readers! This story was about Bentley who’s world just got turned upside down when she needs to change schools and move to an apartment after her father gets laid off. Bentley learns that her friends might not be the people she thought and sometimes you find love in the least expected place.

I really liked that the hero in this story wasn’t your normal guy; he was a punk rocker that Bentley could relate to. I also have a bit of a sweet sport for those rocker boys especially when I was in high school. Both Kai and Bentley were very liable characters, we never saw the stuck up girl in Bentley, unlike her friend Taylor. Kai was just likable and what he did in the end was GREAT!

Magan Vernon did a great job of showing the emotions of what Bentley was going though by her dad getting laid off. Many teens could probably relate to this experience too.

The only thing about this story is at times it seemed a little slow, but all in al it was a very enjoyable story!

Book Review: Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone

Title- Every Last Word

Author- Tamara Ireland Stone

Publisher- Disney-Hyperion

Amazon– http://goo.gl/J2JXKH

BOOK SUMMERY:

If you could read my mind, you wouldn’t be smiling.

Samantha McAllister looks just like the rest of the popular girls in her junior class. But hidden beneath the straightened hair and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can’t turn off.

Second-guessing every move, thought, and word makes daily life a struggle, and it doesn’t help that her lifelong friends will turn toxic at the first sign of a wrong outfit, wrong lunch, or wrong crush. Yet Sam knows she’d be truly crazy to leave the protection of the most popular girls in school. So when Sam meets Caroline, she has to keep her new friend with a refreshing sense of humor and no style a secret, right up there with Sam’s weekly visits to her psychiatrist.

Caroline introduces Sam to Poet’s Corner, a hidden room and a tight-knit group of misfits who have been ignored by the school at large. Sam is drawn to them immediately, especially a guitar-playing guy with a talent for verse, and starts to discover a whole new side of herself. Slowly, she begins to feel more “normal” than she ever has as part of the popular crowd . . . until she finds a new reason to question her sanity and all she holds dear.

MY THOUGHTS:

I work in special education and I see a lot of different children with different needs. I always thought that there should be more books that explore both mental illness and learning disabilities; I think that’s why I jumped at the chance to read this story.

I thought this story was written in a very respectful way to children/ teens that deal with mental illness. I felt as though this story touched upon many different issues like; depression, anxiety, the pressure of high school and fitting in.

All the characters were likable (except a couple of the crazy eights). I loved Sam, AJ and Caroline and the rest of the kids in the Poet’s Corner. Each of them was dealing with their own issues and found their outlet in poetry and songs.

I also liked the fact that there were some things that completely surprised me! I was not expecting something that happened in the end and ended up being perfect.

I do think this is a great book for teens to read maybe they can find a part of themselves in one of the characters.

Book Review: The Girl I Was Before by Ginger Scott

THE GIRL I WAS BEFORE by Ginger Scott is finally here! Check out the review and giveaway below!

THE GIRL I WAS BEFORE (Falling #3)

 NA Contemporary Romance

Scheduled to release: June 23, 2015

Goodreads

Amazon

Google Play

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

BLURB:

I’m the selfish one. I suppose that’s the nicest thing people say about me. I’ve heard the other things, too. “Paige Owens is a pretty girl with nothing else to offer. She’s just a good time at a party. She’s stupid, heartless, cold and useless. All she cares about is getting a guy to look at her. Why would anyone want to be her friend?”

Some of those things are true. Others were true. They’re all hurtful.

None of it matters.

I’m ready to make the hard choices. I’m ready to face the consequences. I’m ready to be the girl I was before, and I’m done being the one who lost her way.

I’m ready to become the girl Houston Orr sees when he looks at me.

Houston isn’t a star athlete. He doesn’t play in a band. He’s never going to be president, and his life is so far away from simple and easy it isn’t even funny. He wasn’t part of my plan. But I’m starting to think plans are overrated, and maybe our stories are what we make them. And mine depends entirely on me, and the choices I make…starting now.

Houston is my fairytale. He’s perfectly imperfect. He’s poetry and life. He’s truth and heartbreak, all rolled up in a tall body with dark hair, broad shoulders and green eyes that lull me into submission. He’s nothing I ever thought I wanted, but the very thing I need. He’s the only guy I’ve ever really loved, and he thinks I’m a princess. I fell into him, and now I’m holding on.

But sometimes life takes away our ability to choose. Sometimes…things aren’t in your control. Sometimes, it hurts to be selfless. My only hope is that when it comes time to choose, I get it right.

Welcome to my once upon a time and wish for happily ever after.

My Thoughts:

I absolutely love Ginger Scott and all of her books (I have read them all more than once). I also think by now everyone knows how much I adore her though all the reviews I have previously posted.

So far in the Fall Series, we have met Nate/Rowe and TJ/Cass. Now its Paige’s turn and I have to admit I thought I wasn’t going to like it. Readers met Paige in the previous installments and she was a very unlikable character. Yes, I admit I went into this book saying I would never like Paige, and boy was I wrong. Ms. Scott wrote her in a way where she grew on me. Paige grew so much though out the book and I loved seeing the changes in her. Then there’s Houston, he maybe my favorite male in this series, I think I may just have a soft spot for the type of guy he is.

I don’t want to write too much because then I will give away major parts of the book and I don’t want to do that since EVERYONE should read this whole series for himself or herself. I will leave you with one more thing; this book was engaging and full unexpected moments!!

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4a501259518/?

About the Author:

Ginger Scott is an Amazon-bestselling author of eight young and new adult

romances, including Waiting on the Sidelines, Going Long, Blindness, How

We Deal With Gravity, This Is Falling, You and Everything After, Wild

Reckless and The Girl I Was Before.

A sucker for a good romance, Ginger’s other passion is sports, and she

often blends the two in her stories. (She’s also a sucker for a hot

quarterback, catcher, pitcher, point guard…the list goes on.) Ginger has

been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines and blogs for more than

15 years. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors,

scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns. For more on her and her work,

visit her website at http://www.littlemisswrite.com.

When she’s not writing, the odds are high that she’s somewhere near a

baseball diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce

Harper or cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona

Diamondbacks. Ginger lives in Arizona and is married to her college

sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork ’em, Devils).

Social Media Links:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GingerScottAuthor

Twitter: @TheGingerScott

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/thegingerscott/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GingerScottAuthor

Google: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+GingerScottAuthor/posts

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/GingerScott

Website: http://www.littlemisswrite.com