BLOG TOUR: TRULY, MADLY, DEADLY by HANNAH JAYNE

Welcome to the Truly, Madly, Deadly Blog Tour, presented by Sourcebooks.
Thanks for stopping by!
 

 

 

Genre: Contemporary Young Adult

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Publication Date: 7/16/13
Format: eARC
Pages: 272
Source: Received from publisher for review
 

Sawyer Dodd has it all. She's a star track athlete, choir soloist, and A-student. And her boyfriend is the handsome all-star Kevin Anderson. But behind the medals, prom pictures, and perfect smiles, Sawyer finds herself trapped in a controlling, abusive relationship with Kevin. When he dies in a drunk-driving accident, Sawyer is secretly relieved. She's free. Until she opens her locker and finds a mysterious letter signed by "an admirer" and printed with two simple words: "You're welcome."

 

 

Several years ago (okay, more like ten to fifteen), I was a huge fan of teen suspense/thrillers. I read books like I Know What You Did Last Summer, watched a lot of suspenseful and scary movies and I loved it. Somewhere along the way, I became a huge baby about getting scared, and I'll blame that on Scream 2. It was not pretty. My point is, Truly, Madly, Deadly represents what I've always loved about those teen thrillers, and was a much welcomed change for me.

 

Truly, Madly, Deadly begins a few days after the death of Sawyer's boyfriend Kevin. On the outside their relationship seemed perfect, but Sawyer was hiding the fact that Kevin was abusive. The very same night Sawyer has the courage to walk away is the same night Kevin died while driving drunk. Sawyer has no reason to believe otherwise, until she receives a card with the message "You're welcome." After that, Sawyer's world slowly begins to unravel. Whomever was "protecting" Sawyer from Kevin isn't finished yet, and no one who hurts her isn't safe. Little clues throughout the story slowly clue Sawyer in that she's being watched. The more she wants to seek help, the more dangerous the situation becomes, and eventually Sawyer's "protector" becomes her biggest threat.

 

Truly, Madly, Deadly's heroine, Sawyer, was well-written. I found her conflicting feelings about Kevin, sadness over his death, yet relief he could never hurt her again, to be realistic. Did she always make the best decisions? Eh, probably not, but what's a good story when everyone does what they should do? In the midst of her life turning into a crime scene, Sawyer becomes closer to Cooper, a new guy at her school. Now, I love a cute guy as much as anyone, but when people around you are dying, the focus is on staying alive and not a new relationship, right? The author totally made a good call on this aspect. I was thrilled that Sawyer kept her head, deciding that yeah, she does like Cooper, but first she needs to find out who's protecting her. I loved that she remained focused, despite the lure of a new guy.

 

Truly, Madly, Deadly wasn't terrifying, thank goodness, but it was without a doubt suspenseful. I love a good mystery, and am generally good at calling who the bad guy is. The author did a really great job of not being too obvious with the clues. Over the course of the story I had three people who were up for suspicion, before settling on a culprit at the halfway mark. I am not sad to say that I was wrong, because the killer was not my main suspect. While I didn't find the reveal to be a complete shock, I was definitely surprised by the motivations, and how sad it made me for everyone involved. The story's pace was just right, with each turn of the page leading a tiny bit closer to the revelation, never lagging or rushing through.

 

Truly, Madly, Deadly was a thrilling mystery with a great suspense, and an admirable heroine. It will definitely leave you guessing until the very end.

 

 

Favorite Quote:

 

  Memories crashed over Sawyer like so many waves, breaking like shards of glass at her feet. She felt ashamed, alive, and free as Cooper's arms slipped around her waist, pulling her close to him. His touch was soft but strong, and Sawyer loved the way he held her, making her feel safe and wanted at the same time.  ~eARC, 24%

 

 

 

Purchase Truly, Madly, Deadly at:

       

 

 

 

 

 

About the author:

Hannah is the author of the UNDERWORLD DETECTION AGENCY CHRONICLES from Kensington books and the upcoming young adult thrillers TRULY, MADLY, DEADLY and SEE JANE RUN available from Sourcebooks, Inc. When she's not battling the demons of the Underworld or tackling a murderer at Hawthorne High, Jayne kicks her feet up in her San Francisco bay area home and attempts to share couch space with two enormous cats.

 

Connect with Hannah Jayne at:

Website  |  Twitter

 

 

 

 

 

 

COVER REVEAL: CIPHER by CINDI MADSEN

 

I'm so happy to share today's cover reveal with you, Cipher, by the always awesome Cindi Madsen.

Cipher is a Contemporary Young Adult, with magical elements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series: Cipher #1

Category/Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Publication Date: 7/13

 

Summer Davis sees deaths before they happen. She attempts to live a normal life by focusing on the dance team and her quarterback boyfriend. But then the way-too-cheery Angel of Death shows up and tells her she’s a Cipher—a person chosen to help people who are going to die resolve problems with their loved ones. Ashlyn Moore, one of Summer’s classmates, is going to die, and she needs Summer’s help before that happens.

It’s nearly impossible to get through to Ashlyn, who surrounds herself with chess nerds and geeks and makes it clear she doesn’t want to be friends. Desperate to complete her Cipher task before it’s too late, Summer turns to Troy, the guy who’s always been there for her and one of the few people she can trust. With his help, she makes progress. In fact, the closer she gets to Ashlyn and her friends, the more she feels like she’s finally found where she belongs.

As the clock starts running down on Ashlyn’s life, Summer decides to change her objective. She’s going to save her new friend before it’s too late—even if it means messing with fate.

 

 

 

 

Be sure to add Cipher to your to-read list!

 

 

 

 

About the author:

Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children. She is the author of YA books All the Broken Pieces, Cipher, and Demons of the Sun and adult romances Falling for Her Fiancé, Act Like You Love Me, and Cinderella Screwed Me Over.

Connect with Cindi at:
her website | Twitter | Facebook | blog

 

 

EXCERPT AND GIVEAWAY: FIXED ON YOU by LAURELIN PAIGE

Today I have an excerpt and giveaway to share with you, from Fixed on You, by Laurelin Paige.

This event was coordinated by AToMR.

 

 

Series: Fixed #1

Category/Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Mandevilla Press

Publication Date: 6/24/13

Stalking and restraining orders are a thing of Alayna Pierce’s past. With her MBA newly in hand, she has her future figured out—move up at the nightclub she works at and stay away from any guy who might trigger her obsessive love disorder. A perfect plan. But what Alayna didn’t figure on is Hudson Pierce, the new owner of the nightclub. He’s smart, rich, and gorgeous—the kind of guy Alayna knows to stay away from if she wants to keep her past tendencies in check. Except, Hudson’s fixed his sights on her. He wants her in his bed and makes no secret of it. Avoiding him isn’t an option after he offers a business proposition she can’t turn down and she’s drawn further into his universe, unable to resist his gravitational pull. When she learns Hudson has a dark history of his own, she realizes too late that she’s fallen for the worst man she could possibly get involved with. Or maybe their less than ideal pasts give them an opportunity to heal each other and finally find the love their lives have been missing.

 

 

 

EXCERPT

 

  I moved to the door and placed my hand on the knob. But Hudson’s palm pressed on the top of the door, holding it closed and trapping me between him and the wall.

  He lowered his head to my ear. “Wait, Alayna.” His breath tickled and burned simultaneously. I closed my eyes, taking it in, bearing it. “I apologize for overwhelming you. That wasn’t my intent. But I want you to know that whether or not you decide to help with my situation, I will continue to seduce you. I’m a man who gets what he wants. And I want you.”

  Um, holy wow.

  Turned on did not begin to describe how his statement made me feel.

  Then his mouth was on me, nibbling at my earlobe. I drew in a sharp breath. Involuntarily, I let my head roll to the side, granting him better access.

  And, man, did he take what I gave, nipping a trail down my neck, sending ripples of desire through my belly. I moved my hand off the doorknob and grabbed his arm to steady myself. He curled his other arm around me, his hand settling on my breast. I gasped at the contact, leaning in to his touch.

  He kneaded my breast as he nuzzled his face in my hair. “I should have told you earlier,” he said softly. “You look absolutely beautiful tonight. I can’t keep my eyes off you. Serious and sexy wrapped into one package.” He pressed against me and I could feel his erection at my lower back. “Kiss me, Alayna.”

  It was so hot how he used my name freely. As if it was his to use. And in many ways it was. Almost no one called me anything but Laynie. He’d claimed my name when he claimed me.

  All that was left was for me to accept it.

 

 

 

Purchase Fixed on You at:
(I receive no monetary compensation for purchases.)

      

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY
20) shot glass swag packs – US Only
(20) ebooks of Fixed on You available in epub or mobi - International
(1) $50 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card – Countries that can accept Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Cards

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

About the author:
Laurelin Paige is a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Mad Men and the Walking Dead, or dreaming of Adam Levine. She is represented by Bob Diforio of D4EO Literary Agency.

 

Connect with Laurelin:
Website  |  Twitter  |   Facebook  |  GoodReads

 

 

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BLOG TOUR: BLESSED FATE by H.B. HEINZER

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the Blessed Fate Blog Tour!

The tour is being hosted by InkSlinger PR. My stop includes a review and tour giveway.

Series: Blessed Tragedy #2

Category/Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Self-Published

Publication Date: 6/18/13

Format: eARC

Source: Received from publicist for review

Colton Bradford never believed in love at first sight. And then, Rain Maxwell walked through his buddy's front door. He knew there was something special underneath the shy, guarded exterior and was determined to find out what it was.

The problem? Rain had devised her own set of life rules and “Never get involved with a band mate” was right near the top of that list. She allowed Colton into her heart as one of her closest friends, but pushed him away at the mention of anything more.

When tragedy strikes Rain's personal life, Colton is determined to be there for her in whatever way she'll allow. Will she finally open up to him and consider taking things to the next level? Will Colton's ways of trying to bury his feelings for Rain in the past ruin the possibility of a future for them?

Blessed Fate is the story filled with rockers, steam, and angst.  It's no secret to anyone that if I see the words "rock" and "band", I'm going to be interested in a story. So when this book came my way, I had to give it a try.

Blessed Fate is actually not a rock band story so much, but the story of two people, struggling with the pressures of fame and trying to make a relationship work when insecurities move in. Colton and Rain's  story, of moving beyond friends to lovers. It seems that I often prefer the book hero over the heroine, but in this case, it was the reverse. Rain was pretty cool. She was a kick butt rocker who is no wilting flower. She was tough, brave, and not willing to take anyone's crap. She wasn't perfect by any means, but she was a force and I love book girls like that. Though he was no Rain, I liked Colton too. I loved his devotion to Rain, even though he didn't always make the best decisions. And I actually didn't hold some of those against him. I liked that even though he usually tried his best, he did act like a human, and not the perfect book boyfriend. It made him feel more real to me. Colton's  willingness  to whatever it took to make Rain happy and healthy earned my respect.

 So I mentioned that Blessed Fate was less of the story of a rock band, and more about the relationships inside that band, particularly Rain and Colton's. This was a slow burning relationship, which I did like. I liked that Rain held Colt accountable for his actions, and made him earn a relationship with her. But once they got to together, it wasn't smooth. Their relationship felt authentic to the situation. I will say that the first part of the book didn't seem to have a real direction. I felt like I was just coasting along on a nice little story. Once I got a feel for where the story was going, I did enjoy it more. There's a lot of angst in Blessed Fate, but again, it gave it a sense of authenticity. I did like how the story progressed and ended.

Blessed Fate was an angsty, fast-paced story. It should be a good fit for fans of rock star drama.

Purchase Blessed Fate at:
(I receive no compensation for sales)

    

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Schedule:

June 17: Lovin Los Libros AND Brianna Lee Reviews

June 18: RELEASE DAY LAUNCH

June 19: The Book CellarX

June 20: Tanya’s Book Nook

June 21: Globug and Hootie Need a Book

June 22: A Good Addiction

June 23: Rose Caceres

June 24: BookCrush AND TalkSupe

June 25: Shhh Mom’s Reading AND Reviews by Tammy & Kim

June 26: Hesperia Loves Books AND Peace Love Books

June 27: Romancing Rakes AND Sizzle & Swoon

June 28: The Book Enthusiast AND Book LaLaLand

June 29: Lori’s Book Blog AND Two Tall Tales

June 30: The Bookish Babes AND I Love Lady Porn

About the author:

With the exception of three years in Nebraska, H.B. Is a Wisconsin girl through and through. She lives with her husband, two kids and roommate (also known as the “bonus parent”) in the middle of nowhere but close enough to civilization to maintain a shred of sanity.

 She credits her father introducing her to an APAzine in the mid-90s for her love of writing. Bent, her debut novel, was a NaNoWriMo challenge to write 50,000 words in one month. After years of attempting and failing, she finally got through it and this is the result!

Connect with H.B. at:

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  GoodReads

EXCERPT AND EPIC GIVEAWAY: DAMAGED 2 by H.M. WARD

I'm happy today to be able to share an excerpt and two giveaways for Damaged 2 by H.M. Ward. This event was organized by AToMR Tours.

 

Series: Damaged #2

Category/Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Laree Bailey Press

Publication Date: 6/24/13
 

 

The steamy sequel to the New York Times bestselling New Adult novel DAMAGED by H.M. Ward.Home isn't supposed to be dangerous, but for Sidney it is. Returning home means that she has to face her past. It's not just the man who hurt Sidney that makes it horrible, but the family that didn't believe her. They were dead to her, but now that her mom is really dying things seem different. It's a chance to set things right.

What Sidney doesn't realize is that she's dragging Peter into a collision course with his past. Peter must deal with the demons haunting him if he wants to move forward with Sidney. He's willing to give up everything for her, even wade deeper into his past life to help her move forward. But, Peter isn't sure if he can get over what happened to him in New York.

 

 

EXCERPT

 

  Tension lines Peter’s neck and shoulders. His jaw shifts from side to side, like the conversation he just had pissed him off. His eyes flick up from the floor and meet mine. “My brother’s an asshole.”

  I smile at him. “So is mine.”

  Peter watches me for a moment and sighs. He runs his hands through his hair and stretches. The anger that was there washes away, but it’s not totally gone. “I need to tell you something.” The way he says it makes my stomach dip. The tone, and the way he looks away from me, sends a shiver down my spine.

  Peter takes my hands and pulls me over to the couch. At first we’re seated next to each other and he’s holding my hand, but it’s like he can’t sit still. Peter is up and on his feet a few moments later, pacing. Every few seconds he tries to tell me something, but can’t choose the right words.

  Peter makes an aggravated sound in the back of his throat. When he turns and looks at me, I know there’s something wrong. His dark brows lift and bunch together as his lips part. He stares at me for a moment, and then manages, “I didn’t want to bring this up, not now, but you need to know something about me.” He swallows hard and looks away.

  I push off the couch and walk over to him. “You can tell me anything.” When I touch his arm, Peter jumps. It makes me nervous. Why is he acting this way? I grin at him. “You’re not the one who put the squirrel outside the bathroom window, are you?”

  Peter snorts a surprised laugh and looks over at me. He takes me in his arms and pulls me to his chest. It feels so good, so safe.

   He kisses the top of my head and says, “Do you know anything about the Ferro family?”

 

 

 

Purchase DAMAGED 2 at:
(I receive no compensation for purchases)
 

 

 

GIVEAWAYS
There are two giveaways for this event!

Grand Prize
(1) Kindle Fire Prize Pack: Contains 1 Kindle Fire, a Signed copy of DAMAGED 2, plus all of H.M. Ward’s romance ebooks: DAMAGED 2, New York Times & USA Today Bestsellers: DAMAGED & SCANDALOUS, SCANDALOUS 2, New York Times & USA Today bestselling series: THE ARRANGEMENT VOL 1 -7, SECRETS 1-5, THE SECRET LIFE OF TRYSTAN SCOTT 1-4, and CHRISTMAS KISSES. (Value is $240 USD)

a Rafflecopter giveaway


 Blog Giveaway

One winner will receive an ecopy of Damaged 2, via Smashwords coupon code. (Value $3.99)
Must be 18 years of age

Open Intl

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About the author:
NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY Bestselling author H.M. Ward is a native New Yorker living in Texas.

Ward was featured in the Washington Post for her debut novel Demon Kissed. Series by H.M. Ward include Secrets, Scandalous, The Arrangement, Demon Kissed, Vampire Apocalypse, and The Secret Life of Trystan Scott.

You can interact with this bestselling author at: www.facebook.com/demonkissed. Don't want to miss a release date: Text AWESOMEBOOKS to 22828 and get an email reminder on release dates.

Connect with H.M. at:
Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

 

 

THE WEEKLY REWIND, #57: BOOK HAUL AND GIVEAWAY

THE WEEKLY REWIND is a weekly post in which I recap the bookish awesomeness from the past week, and post a book haul. Warning: I tend to ramble in my vlogs. Sometimes I get excited about things and I flail. Enjoy.

Book Haul

  

For Review:

• Uncharted: An 'On the Island' Novella by Tracey Garvis-Graves
• Run to You by Rachel Gibson
• The Last Husband (Forever Love #2) by J.S. Cooper
• Dragonfly (Dragonfly #1) by Leigh Talbert Moore
• Jack Stone ~ Wild Justice by Vivien Sparx
• Cipher (Cipher #1) by Cindi Madsen ~ Cover Reveals tomorrow!

Bought:

• Subject to Change (Picturing Perfect #2) by Alessandra Thomas

Amazon Freebie:

•  Wicked Games (Games #1) by Jessica Clare/Jill Myles ~ It's a story set on a show like Survivor! (Yes, I know who the cover models are.) :-)
• Three to Tango by Chloe Cole and L.C. Chase

Thanks to:

•  Penguin
• Avon Books
• J.S. Cooper
• Leigh Talbert Moore
• Vivien Sparx
• Cindi Madsen

In other news:

I'm at Book Bash this weekend. Actually, I will be working Book Bash, which sounds like it will be very, very busy, but fun. I can't wait to see some authors I've met before, meet new authors, and see some blogger friends too. I'll have pictures next week!

GIVEAWAY

I must get rid of some (okay, a lot) of books!

These books are in great shape.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

SEXY SUMMER SATURDAYS: BREATHING HIS AIR by DEBRA KAYN

 

Sexy Saturdays is a weekly post we started to challenge ourselves to read more steamy books and have a lot of fun. Feel free to join in. (let us know so we can add a link to your post).

The Autumn Review

Sim-Sational Books

Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Reviews

Insightful Minds Reviews

My Secret Romance

Globug and Hootie Need a Book

**The books featured on SEXY SUMMER SATURDAYS are for adults. If you are under 18 years of age, or do not like smexy books, please stop here. **

Series: n/a

Category/Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Crimson Romance

Publication Date: 4/22/13

Format: eARC

Pages:

Source: Received from author for review
 

She is love advice in a coffee shack, he's protection in a biker bar. When her past meets his present, it's a killer cocktail that might get them shot, stabbed, or otherwise dead.

Tori Baldwin spends all her time traveling the states, running a mobile coffee shack and handing out love advice with every cup. She’s staked her rig in the parking lot of Cactus Cove—a local biker bar by all appearances— and plans to stay put for three months. Just long enough to make some money, without making any friends, before she moves to her next destination as she tries to stay ahead of a painful past.

Rain Brookshire is the leader of the Bantorus motorcycle club, and owner of the Cactus Cove in the small town of Pitnam, Washington. He wants the Lagsturns, a rival-bad-news motorcycle club, to leave town before they infect his town with trouble.

With bullets flying and the Lagsturns putting on the pressure, the only way to keep Tori safe—since she refuses to leave town—is for Rain to claim her as his woman. She has no idea that Rain’s played his hand for all to see in the biker world. It doesn't help that Tori exhibits the three ideal classifications of his ideal woman—Classy, Sexy, and a total Goof— and he can't help but posture and lay down the law. But, when it appears Tori’s life is in danger, and the Lagsturns are innocent, he isn’t going to let the law stop him from keeping his woman safe.  

 

Breathing His Air was my first "motorcycle club" book, and now I definitely know what I've been missing. I will be the first to say that I know next to nothing about the culture, but I do know that in this story I learned a lot. These men and women were more than members of a motorcycle club, they were family. The respect and care they have for one another was so admirable. I know that I will definitely be reading more books like this in the future.

Breathing His Air centered around Tori and Rain, two people who seem like they are complete opposites, but who are completely right for one another. Tori is a woman who is running from memories of a troubled past. She moves from town to town with her mobile coffee shack, offering up love advice along with the coffee she sells. Tori was a really sweet character, and was easy to like. I think what I enjoyed most about Tori was her silliness. It's not that she was a ditz or couldn't take anything seriously, it's that she could find the humor in most situations. I tend to be like that myself, so I could identify with her a lot in that way. Tori's childhood was very strange and very traumatic, and this causes her a lot of issues too, making her consistently feel like she's trouble for those around her. It takes a lot of continual convincing from Rain for her to stay, and that she is wanted. Insecure Tori could get a bit tiring after a while, so it was nice that she managed to shake it off most of the time and be the sweet and fun Tori.

As for Rain? Holy geez, this guy was a Super Alpha. Now, I know there are those who don't like the alpha men, and that's cool. But if you do like sexy, bossy, and take control men in your books, then Rain Brookshire should definitely please. I love how he just claimed Tori as his woman (for her protection) and there was no discussion. The way he talked to her, with a bossy yet very sexy tone, gave me shivers. Tori definitely held her own against Rain, though, and drove him absolutely bananas at times! Their chemistry was hot and I was anxious for them to take act of that chemistry. Believe me, I would not have liked Rain if he was a jerk or acting out of anything less than a caring and protective nature. I like my men bossy, but I also like them nice. The author did a really great job of portraying Rain as a man who takes his responsibility toward his club, the town, and everyone around him very seriously, and it's clear that he is a good man. That's not to say that Rain doesn't totally enjoy having the gorgeous Tori in his care, he does. The two head towards love very quickly, and it did seem a bit rushed, but I really didn't care. It fit them.

Breathing His Air was not only the love story between Rain and Tori, but it was also had some suspense too. At the beginning of the story, a rival club has come to town, and they start off on a really bad foot, by threatening Tori. As the trouble keeps coming, Rain and his group start to realize that the threats are not only towards them, but also are targeting Tori. Not only are they causing trouble, but so is Rain's ex-girlfriend, who wants him back in a bad way. Who is threatening Tori? And why? It seems like a no-brainer, but the author did a good job of sort of leading in one direction, then realizing that maybe things aren't as obvious as they seem.

Breathing His Air was a fast, sexy, and fun read. If your looking for a story with a sweet heroine, a sexy hero, and a bit of a mystery, this might be a great fit.

Favorite Quote:

  "Babe?"
  "Yeah?"
  "Next time you stand there with your tits pointed at me and your legs giving me more ideas than is legal, I'll want more than cookie dough from you."  ~ebook, 8%


  "You can't tell me what to do." She lifted the clutched rock above her shoulder and let it fly in his direction. "I'm not your woman."
  He dodged the rock. "You are."
  "No, I'm not." She picked up another stone and threw it toward him. "And no more kissing me."
  He spread his arms out to his sides and dodge the rock sailing through the air at him.
  "Keep throwing rocks at me, and I'll walk over there and do more than kiss you."  ~ebook, 11%

 
  "Don't let me run. Whatever happens, don't let me run away," she whispered.
  "I promise never to let you run. If you ever get the urge, I'll run with you."  ~ebook, 38%

 

Purchase Breathing His Air at:

 

     

 

 

About the author:

Top Selling Romance Author, Debra Kayn, lives with her family in the beautiful coastal mountains of Oregon on a hobby farm. She enjoys riding motorcycles, gardening, playing tennis, and fishing. A huge animal lover, she always has a dog under her desk when she writes and chickens standing at the front door looking for a treat. She's famous in her family for teaching a 270 lb hog named Harley to jog with her every morning.

Her love of family ties and laughter makes her a natural to write heartwarming contemporary stories to the delight of her readers. Oh, let's cut to the chase. She loves to write about REAL MEN and the WOMEN who love them.

When Debra was nineteen years old, a man kissed her without introducing himself. When they finally came up for air, the first words out of his mouth were…will you have my babies? Considering Debra's weakness for a sexy, badass man, who is strong enough to survive her attitude, she said yes. A quick wedding at the House of Amour and four babies later, she's living her own romance book.

 

Connect with Debra at:

Website  |  Twitter

REVIEW: THE NEWCOMER (THUNDER POINT #2) by ROBYN CARR

Series: Thunder Point #2
Category/Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Harlequin Mira
Publication Date: 6/25/13
Format: eARC
Pages: 368
Source: Received from publicist for review

With humor and insight, #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr looks at letting go of the past-and knowing when you've found something worth building your future on 

Single dad and Thunder Point's deputy sheriff "Mac" McCain has worked hard to keep everyone safe and happy. Now he's found his own happiness with Gina James. The longtime friends have always shared the challenges and rewards of raising their adolescent daughters. With an unexpected romance growing between them, they're feeling like teenagers themselves-suddenly they can't get enough of one another.

And just when things are really taking off, their lives are suddenly thrown into chaos. When Mac's long-lost-and not missed-ex-wife shows up in town, drama takes on a whole new meaning. They're wondering if their new feelings for each other can withstand the pressure...but they are not going down without a fight.

Step into the world of Thunder Point, a little town on the Oregon coast where newcomers are welcomed, hearts are broken and mended, and the dramas of everyday life keep the locals laughing, crying and falling in love.

 

I read and adored The Wanderer, book one in the Thunder Point series, when I read it earlier this year. So when I learned that the series was to be continued in The Newcomer, I was so happy to be able to jump back into this series. What I loved most was that the story was much bigger than I expected. So not only did I get a story about Coop (The Wanderer), but also a diverse and great cast of characters.

The Newcomer continued in that same vein. The Newcomer was not only about, well, the newcomer, but also revolved around the characters who made up book one. Which to be honest, I'm not sure how well this title represents the story because I'm not even sure "who" the newcomer was. Was it still talking about Coop, who by this point is an established member of the community? It's certainly not Mac, who by reading the synopsis, you would think it's about, and so maybe it's a character who came into the story later in the book, but wasn't a central character. I don't know, and I guess it doesn't matter because I adored the story. I just wanted to point out that the title doesn't really fit the story.

The Newcomer still centers around Coop and Sarah, who are still in love, but also establishing their relationship. Things are tough for the two in this book. Sarah is still raising her teenage brother, with a lot of help from Coop, who has a HUGE surprise in this story. The two also must make big decisions about their future. Along with those two, are Mac and Gina, whom I adore. These two have not allowed themselves to have love for so many years, and I loved seeing their relationship move forward while also dealing with the struggles of parenthood and former relationships.

What really surprised me about The Newcomer was that the teens of Thunder Point played a huge part in this book. I personally liked this for the most part, but I'm guessing that some readers who are looking for a more straightforward adult romance won't. I loved the prominent teen characters: Landon, Eve and Ashley. Landon is pretty dreamy and such a good kid. He's a great boyfriend to Eve and I loved their relationship. Ashley, pooooor Ashley. This girl had such a rough time in The Newcomer, but I appreciated the journey and it was an important message.

I admired how realistically Carr portrayed teen lives and relationships, particularly breakups and sexuality. One of the teens goes through a really bad breakup in the story, and the fall-out was pretty brutal. Mental health, sexting, online bullying, and the importance of teens having their own identity while being in a couple were all touched on, and rather well. And although the scenes were never in the story directly, these were teens who were either already sexually active or considering it in the near future. This brought up the importance of comfort in making decisions about the body, safety, knowledge, and communication. I kind of loved that this was all handled in a very even-handed manner. I will say there were times when the conversations between the characters about the topics did become overdone at points, and seemed a bit unrealistic. It was literally like a PSA.

I really enjoyed revisiting Thunder Point. The Newcomer was a good addition to the series, and definitely worked to move all of the characters and their stories ahead. The Hero is about a character introduced in The Newcomer, and I have a feeling his story will be another great Thunder Point book.


Favorite Quote:

  "It's not about him anymore, Frank. It's about me. I was so into Downy, it was almost like he absorbed me or something. It seemed so cool to have this popular senior like me, promise to love me forever...Then when he left me, I couldn't find myself again. I was so broken. Now my work is to figure out who I am. I want to go back to who I was--I want to be that strong girl again."  ~eARC, 62%


 "The best place in my life is when I'm near you, when I'm holding you, when I'm spooning you in bed. That's my peace. That's my anchor."  ~eARC, 80%

The Thunder Point Series 

(click on cover for GoodReads page)

My Review of The Wanderer

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About the author:

A RITA award-winning author of 25 novels, Robyn Carr has found a whole new following with her stories about the independent women and former marines of Virgin River."

RT's Career Achievement Best Author Award winner (2010) for Contemporary Romance.

Connect with Robyn at her website.