Friday, February 28, 2014

Blog Tour: Rare and Precious Things by Raine Miller


Title: RARE AND PRECIOUS THINGS
(The Blackstone Affair Book 4)
Author: RAINE MILLER
hosted by: The Book Avenue



The fourth part in the New York Times bestselling series, The Blackstone Affair: A bright beginning for two damaged souls fighting for their hard-won love, and the promise of a new hope to secure their happily ever after.

Fresh from an idyllic honeymoon along the Italian coast, the Blackstones prepare for the birth of their precious baby and the challenges of settling into a new home. But things get complicated when specters from the past reappear to threaten the very foundation of their relationship. Ethan and Brynne will have to fight harder than ever for each other. Rare and Precious Things is the story of two people who both need the other in order to be complete, but learn just how "rare" their brand of love is when they have to risk everything in order to hold onto it.


4 Star Review by Alison East

The book opens with Ethan and Brynne waiting to consummate their marriage. Seems like it has taken forever to get here- especially for me, because I have read all the other Blackstone Affair books.  They are finally married! Ethan has won over his girl.  I forget how short their time has
been together, but boy has it been a firecracker of a relationship.

Married and expecting her first child. Brynne Blackstone had no idea that in the coming months, she would go from being single, to married and expecting a child. She and Ethan are made for each other, they both have a great wit, and sense of humor about everything. Even when the hard times come.

The Blackstone's have come so far, but they still have things to get past in their lives together. Things that keep coming back and haunting them. The have to talk to one another, and not bury these issues deep down. That leads to bigger problems overall.  Ethan found a way to move forward from the things that haunt him. Being able to open up and talk to anyone about his past is a big deal for him. He is such a great hero! He is one of my favorite book boyfriends, that remains that way through all four of these books. He is sweet and sentimental, but also dirty and filthy in all the right ways. And Brynne is still the only girl for him.

The connection these two share throughout the book is stunning, as always. Even with Brynne being pregnant, pretty much the majority of the book, you can still see the spark that they have always shared. They interact in perfect harmony.

Written from both points of view like the previous book, you get to see both Brynne and Ethan's thoughts unfold. Both of these characters have been broken in the past, and they need
each other to heal. I love it. The Blackstone series ends in perfection- as it began. I loved how book three ended, so I was more than a little worried this book would muck up all those feelings. But the readers will get an insight into the couple and how they operate. And some steamy hot sex scenes
as always from Raine. I always recommend these books, and this one just takes the cake. I love Ethan and Brynne and if she wrote of them forever, I would devour each one just as ravenously.






1. When you are in the process of writing, do you have your storyline mapped out and you do your research of people, places, buildings, scenery, etc. based on that or have you ever written a scene in any of the books based solely on an image or picture you've come across and that image/picture spoke to you so profoundly that you incorporated a storyline into a book based on it?

I’ve written whole scenes because of a picture I’ve seen. An example of this is when a fan sent me a picture of a man with angel wings tattooed on his back and his baby sleeping on top. I loved it, so you will see that scene in Rare in Precious Things with Ethan and his _______. I do it all the time. In fact, the whole inspiration for the first book, NAKED, was because I found the image on Shutterstock one night and the idea for the story came into my head. Images are huge in giving me inspiration to write. I make Pinterest boards now for books while I am writing.

2. How long from concept to publishing?

Ten Months. I knew as I was finishing Eyes Wide Open that I really needed to do a fourth book in order to give Ethan and Brynne the complete resolution to their life together.

3. When you first knew of David Gandy and have you ever met him?

I knew of him over three years ago, and no, I have never met him. He did chat me a little and send me a birthday wish last year though. He is my muse for Ethan, and was from the first page I wrote about Mr. Blackstone.

4. Out of all your books, which one has been the most challenging to write?

That would be Rare and Precious Things. It was a challenge because when you are at the end of a story arc, everything must be resolved and tied together. You have to have reasons for the character’s behaviors and actions, their motivations have to make sense. Another difficulty is to give page time to all of the side characters that have been introduced into the story and the tangled web gets very big.

5. Living in the UK myself, made this book easier to read, envisioning the places, characters, Olympics etc, Why choose this place at this time for the books to be set in?

I am a certifiable Anglophile and I always have been. I really liked the idea of having an American heroine and a British hero, so the idea of setting up the story in that way appealed to me. I found out it appealed to many other women readers too!!! LOL Talking dirty in an English accent is pretty smokin’ hot I guess.

6. If you could be a character in any fictional book, who would you want to be and why?

Jane Whitcomb. Because she is loved by Vishous. Read Lover Unbound, by JR Ward if you have no idea what I am talking about.

7. When you started writing the books, did you have the idea for the historicals first or Naked?

I wrote the historicals first and knew the world in which they were set. So when I began writing Naked and Brynne was an art conservationist, I just used my fictional artist I had already created in my historical novel The Muse, which has yet to be published. I had so much fun doing the connections I continued to do it in every book, and will probably do it for every book I write from here on.

Raine Miller has been reading romance novels since she picked up that first Barbara Cartland book at the tender age of thirteen. And it's a safe bet she'll never stop, because now she writes them too! Granted Raine's stories are edgy enough to turn Ms. Cartland in her grave, but to her way of thinking, a hot, sexy hero never goes out of fashion. A part-time teacher and writer of sexy romance stories every other chance she gets pretty much fills her days. She has a handsome prince of a husband, and two brilliant sons to pull her back into the real world if the writing takes her too far away. Her sons know she likes to write stories, but gratefully have never asked to read any, thank God! Raine loves to hear from readers and to chat about the characters in her books.






OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES


NAKED (BOOK 1)
Goodreads | Amazon US | B&N | Kobo 

ALL IN (BOOK 2)

EYES WIDE OPEN (BOOK 3)


CHERRY GIRL (BOOK 3.5)
Blackstone Affair spin-off, yet can be a standalone




Blog Tour: All for Maddie by Jettie Woodruff


Title:All for Maddie
Author: Jettie Woodruff
Genre: Adult Romance
Publication Date: December 13, 2013



I believe in love at first sight... because I am a mother.

Living a complete lie, holding on to a secret that could cost me the most important thing in my life was about to surface. I couldn’t breathe without Maddie. Maddie was my life. The saying about dying for your child is the absolute truth. The other things you would do are comparable to that of death. I know, I did those things. I did unthinkable things, all for Maddie. I continued the lie, the secrets with the one man who had no right. People say you always have options. That’s a lie. I had no choice. I did it all for her... for my Maddie.

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4.5 Fantastic Stars
Review by Jen Hagen  

Four years ago Whitley’s life was forever changed when she met Alex Wesson.  Alex Wesson was a wealthy senior in college and had his family’s prestigious last name.  Whitley was looking to the future of finishing her senior year of high school and going to college with her best friend.   At that time Whitley was young, naïve and scared to tell the truth for fear nobody would believe her.  All of Whitley’s dreams for her future were suddenly changed with the impending arrival of Maddie.  Maddie is now a spunky 4 year-old who has her mother and grandfather wrapped around her fingers.   Little does she know that she will soon have her father wrapped around her fingers. 

In a chance encounter, Alex and Maddie come face to face with each other and he immediately sees his resemblance in her eyes, the same cowlick in their hair, and their shared long dark lashes.  There’s no question that he is her father.  No words are spoken between Whitley and Alex, and Whitley believes she is in the clear when after several weeks she doesn’t hear anything from him.  Unfortunately, Alex has motives behind his carefully laid plans.
“What do you want, Alex?

“I want my daughter.  The one that you chose to keep from me for three years.”

Alex does not want to be a weekend father.  This is Alex’s once chance to be a father and he wants full custody of his daughter.  He pulls out all the stops and will stop at nothing to make it appear that Whitley has been an unfit mother.  Pictures don’t lie, right?  Whitley realizes there’s no way out of this and agrees to let him see his daughter.

Please don’t like him…don’t hold his hand.

Whitley’s life is once again changed by Alex Wesson.  He holds the upper hand and holds his control over Whitley’s head knowing that there’s nothing she can do to stop him.  He has forced them to live a charade of happiness without anyone ever knowing the truth. 

I wanted him dead.  I wondered how much a hit man cost.  Where did you find those guys?
                                                                                                                                                                                      
Alex’s proposition to keep both of them involved in Maddie’s life is not ideal, but it allows both of them to be active parents.  Neither one of them is willing to give Maddie up to become a weekend parent, and Whitley is fully aware that she would lose if it came down to a court’s decision.   Alex is a very smart man and he has covered all his bases for every scenario.

He covered his tracks like a cat covers shit.  He had me.  He was going to take Maddie.  Everyone was on his side.  They all believed him. 

Alex’s charade of a happy life with Whitley is so good that even Whitley’s father gives them his blessing.  Whitley has nobody on her side.  At this point I agreed with Whitley…she needed away from Alex.  I could not believe the things he was capable of doing!  He was manipulative, conniving, bossy and downright scary as to the lengths that he would go to guarantee custody of Maddie, but yet he was a wonderful, attentive father and it was evident how much he loved his daughter.  It was clear he would do anything for Maddie.  It’s hard to believe, but there is a softer side to Alex and we begin to see glimpses of it.

“Whitley.  What do you want?  I don’t know how to make you happy.” 

Can Alex make Whitley happy or is the past too difficult to let go and move forward?  Above anything else, it’s too much for Whitley.   Whitley has finally had enough of living a life of lies.  All of Alex’s threats and mastermind planning has finally broke her. 

“You win, you f*ck face.  I will be the weekend mom.  I will do whatever I have to do to get the f*ck away from you.”

I loved this book.  I went from hatred for Alex, to thinking he’s a great father and he’s starting to show genuine feelings for Whitley, only to be thrown back into the ring of hatred and then pulled into the corner of compassion.  What???  How could I feel this way for the man who was an ass?  Only Jettie can make you second guess yourself and every belief you possess.  I can’t believe I fell in love with him.  I couldn’t let go of the story after I finished reading it, so I immediately went back to re-read it.  I loved it that much!!  I still can’t believe that Alex could make me feels things in my heart for him when I know that I shouldn’t feel that way after all the manipulating he has done.   He had me crying for him…can you believe that?!?!  

“Whitley.  I need you.  I need Maddie.  Please let me try this again.”

I have placed this book on my top reads of 2013.  In addition, I also have Jettie’s novel “Underestimated” on the same list.  If you have never given Jettie’s books a try, you truly are missing out on hidden treasures. 


“Papaw, you watch dis wif me?” Maddie asked, holding up her princess movie.
My dad stood and went to her. I instantly jerked my hand from Alex’s, giving him a dirty look. He smirked. I wanted to punch him.
“Papaw has a better idea. Why don’t you stay here with papaw and nana tonight and let mommy have an adult night?” he offered, smiling over at me.
Man, this sucked. I didn’t want his smiling approval. I didn’t want him to like Alex. How could he like Alex? Alex was a conspirator. He couldn’t like Alex.
“No Dad, Alex came here to spend the weekend with her,” I tried.
“Alex is going to take her away from me. Alex can deal with it,” my dad joked, with Alex.
“Its fine, sweetie. She can stay if she wants to,” Alex approved, smiling at me.
I got up to go to bathroom. I had to. I was going to vomit, on him! I leaned in to Alex, catching the smile on his face when he thought that I was going to play his make believe game and kiss him or something. “You’re going to a hotel,” I seductively whispered in his ear.




Writing is more than a passion for me. I write adult books, romance and erotica. I did recently try my hand at a young adult romance, but because of the gutter that my mind seems to fall into. It quickly went into rated R mode. I reside in Ohio. I love living in Ohio, except maybe the cold winters, and the snow, well maybe the hot summers too. Ah hell, I hate Ohio.

I love to push my limits in writing, fuel the senses and emotions of my readers. I have some great supporters and love them all dearly.

Facebook - Twitter - Author’s Website - GoodReads Author Page - Amazon Author Page






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Release Day Blitz: Break Me by Amanda Heath

Break Me Release Day BannerSynopsis
“Wes, I don’t know what you want me to say here.” Royal’s voice is broken. Maybe he is broken. Maybe I broke him. Lord knows I’m broken myself. “Don’t say anything.” I start off with. There are so many things I want to tell him. The one thing I want him to know, that I want him, I will never say aloud. “When push comes to shove, Royal, you’ll break me. I’d never be the same after you. I’d be a shell of this girl.” His face pales but he doesn’t step away. Something I had planned on. His hands caress my face before he says, “You have that wrong, Wesley. You’ll be the one to break me.”
Wesley Bridges was lost between the living and the dead. She was clinging to her boyfriend, who passed away unexpectedly. She was left with having no way to move on. Her best friends, Annabella and Pierce were to caught up to save her. Even her family turned a blind eye, not able to bare her grief. Then one day, Royal Sanders walked into her life. Tall, dark and sinfully handsome but aren’t all the unattainable ones? At first it was nothing. She was asked to tutor him and found he’s different then even she thought. She even turned to Royal when things got too hard. And when she falls for him, she falls hard. But Royal’s the enemy. A long drawn out hatred brews between her friends and Royal’s. That doesn’t seem important to her, considering she’s still in love with her dead boyfriend. A love triangle between life and death…who will win? Grief is a powerful emotion but there are several different kinds of grief. Betrayal and heartache are still knocking on her door. Things are about to come crashing down around her. It will definitely break her, but will Royal be enough to save her?


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When I wake up later that afternoon, I can’t help myself I kiss Royal. It might be a little creepy, but I don’t care. His handsome face is relaxed in sleep, so I lean in and press my lips against his. My hand rises up and pushes through his silkily locks.
When his tongue snakes out and licks at my closed ones, I groan, not realizing he was awake. “That’s a way to wake a guy up, Duchess.” He whispers his voice low and full of promise. His tongue enters my mouth when I open my mouth to reply. It duals with mine, seeking dominance and I let him have it.
He breaks away from me, breathing hard and shallow. Something in his eyes sets my entire body on fire. Before I know it I’m taking my t-shirt off, leaving me only in my pink bra and jeans. “Fuck,” he groans closing his eyes and throwing his head back against the headboard.
His hands glide up and down my sides and I smile a secret smile, getting off on the power. When those hands stop at the back of my bra, I know things are about to get real. I should say something to stop it, but I don’t. After the talk we had earlier, I’m about to throw my heart at Royal and never look back. Though I’m not quite there yet.
My bra comes off quickly and that’s when he opens his eyes, taking in my exposed breasts. He doesn’t speak, but he does lift his head to suck on nipple into his mouth. Now my eyes close and I open my legs to straddle his hips. He’s already hard and I grind against it, loving the friction. When he switches to the other nipple, flicking it hard with his tongue, I decide that’s not my favorite part of sex.
“You taste like heaven.” He murmurs, my nip still in his mouth.
“You feel like heaven,” I gasp, my hips grinding even harder. His start to lift up making the sensation even better. Okay that’s my favorite part.
 
MeetTheAuthor
Amanda Author Photo
I live in southern Arkansas with my husband and young daughter. There is also an insane Boston Terrier running around. I've always been a lone wolf and find my friends in books. I started writing at a young age and I haven't stopped since. Most days you can find me either glued to my laptop or my kindle. My first novel, This Beautiful Thing was an Amazon best seller for 11 weeks and a year later I'm still tickled to see people enjoy it. I may not be a huge seller but I have the best fans ever and I thank God everyday for every single one of them.
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Release Day Blitz: Breaking Spades by W. Ferraro




TITLE:  Breaking Spades
AUTHOR:  W. Ferraro
RELEASE DATE:  February 28th



SYNOPSIS

Cecille “CeCe” Cervetti lives her life by one rule: Never let a man control her heart, ever again.

CeCe has built a life to be proud of--she’s successful in business, and in lust. Men are her playground, to take from, and use to her body’s content. They can only have what she is willing to give, so don't try asking for more.

When an unknown stalker raises the stakes, ripping away her hard won control, CeCe reluctantly seeks help from the first, and last, man she gave her heart to before he vanished from her life--Jarod Gates.

As they struggle to unmask the stalker, CeCe and Jarod learn of each other’s scarred pasts—scars that made them who they are today. But when her body screams for Jarod’s touch, can CeCe manage to keep her control? Or will Jarod make her question the one rule she’s built her life on?


EXCERPT

“Can I ask you something?” Jarod asked, now with his full attention on her.  Standing this close to him, in her bare feet, their height difference was so evident, almost a foot. 
“What do you see in Lowell?”  
She looked at his straight on blue gaze and suddenly the room felt small. 
“Just tell me, is that what you want?  I’m sorry.  I’m just curious.” He stepped away from her, running his hands over his face, he’d taken a deep breath before turning back to face her.  “From the outside looking in, I don’t like him with you.  He isn’t right for you.”
She should have known he would turn this cordial meal into anything but.  Raising her head praying for strength and knowing even if it was to come from above she would never wait for it.
“How the fuck do you know who is and isn’t right for me?” her breasts heaved from the seething shout. Breaking the distance, she poked his chest again with her index finger emphasizing every word, “you’ve reappeared in my life what three days ago and all of a sudden you are an expert on what and who is best for me?”
Grabbing her finger with a gentle hand, he tried to stay calm, but whenever he is around her fury just explodes out of him, “I don’t like him with you!”
She laughed a malicious laugh, but didn’t move, “and why the fuck not?”
“Because he isn’t me! Alright?” he shouted.
“What?”
“You damn well heard me,” he said softer, but closer to her.  Their bodies touched on every line.  “You are just as much affected by me as I am by you.  Admit it.”
“You are fucking insane, that is what you are.” She pulled away, taking refuge over by her workstation.
“Are you denying it?”
“You are damn right I am!”






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Cover Reveal: Blissful Surrender by BJ Harvey


Title: Blissful Surrender ( Bliss #3)
Author: BJ Harvey

This is a story of Sean Miller, a dom that will have your panties diving for cover with an eyebrow quirk. That will have even the strongest woman dropping to their knees in submission with a piercing stare, and Samantha Richards, a female cop who’s tough, seemingly impenetrable shell is strong enough to resist everyone except the one man it was build up to protect her against. 

**Disclaimer – If you thought the first two Bliss books were hot, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Creative use of handcuffs, batons, a club scene you have to read to believe, and a tough as nails dominant who is blindsided by the one woman strong enough to threaten his resolve not to let his past dictate his future.**

Like the other books in the Bliss series, this book can be read as a stand alone. There are common characters in the books but it is not necessary to read the first two books in the series to read this one.

“Sean, I—”

No. She’s not getting another moment to talk herself out of this, out of us. She’s been running for way too long. This time it’s for keeps. This time, I’m not letting anything come between us—not my brother, not her mother, not her job and not some convoluted idea she gets in her head that she is not the submissive I need her to be. I’m sick of the bullshit, and this time I want what is mine.

And Sam is mine.

Wrapping my arm around her waist, I pull her body tight against mine and slant my head, slamming my mouth to hers as she gasps in shock. My hand grabs her blonde ponytail, holding her in place. Her tight muscles relax when my tongue rolls over hers as I set out to rediscover the beauty that is Samantha Richards. Her taste is intoxicating, and I find myself wanting to consume her, to lose myself inside of this gorgeous woman whose mind continues to deny the connection between us. In this moment, I want to show her everything I am, everything I can do to her, every possible way I can make her feel. I know I’m losing control, but with Sam, I don’t care.

I press my hips into her, pressing my hard as steel cock against the softness of her stomach. I feel her arms move between us, and I expect her to push me away, but she fists my shirt and pulls me closer, thrusting her hips into me in silent invitation.

She may not be able to admit the words, but she can show me with her body, with her actions—she can no longer deny the spark between us.

I pull my head back slightly, raking my teeth against her bottom lip. I scan her face, looking for any remaining uncertainty. If she said no it would hurt like hell, but I’d let her go. Again. But all I can see are swollen, pink lips and half-cast eyes full of want, and I know in that moment that I have my Sammy back. Even if it’s just for a few moments, a few hours, or maybe the night…if that is all I get with her, then I’ll take it willingly.

If this is the only chance I get with her, I’m going to make it count. I’m going to draw it out and make it last until neither one of us can move; until neither of us can breathe.

“You were saying?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.



BJ Harvey is the Amazon Bestselling Author of The Bliss Romantic Comedy Series and The Lost Romantic Suspense Series. An avid music fan, you will always find her with headphones when writing, and the speakers blaring the rest of the time. She’s a wife, a mom to two beautiful children, and a full-time university student. BJ resides with her family in what she considers the best country in the world—New Zealand.


OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES


Temporary Bliss (Bliss #1)



True Bliss (#2)
B&N | iTunes


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