BLOG TOUR: NEAR AND FAR by NICOLE WILLIAMS ~ REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the Near & Far Blog Tour!

I am so excited to be participating in this event, hosted by AToMR. Follow the tour to see all the reviews and extras. My stop includes a review and tour giveaway.

Series: Lost and Found #2

Category/Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Self-Published

Publication Date: 7/30/13
Format: eARC
Source: Received from author for review
Rating: 5 stars

There’s optimistic. And there’s Jesse Walker.

If he wasn’t so charming, his sunny disposition and incessant grin would get annoying. Fast.

Falling in love with the girl who had at first seemed immune to it, was the best thing to happen to Jesse since the Walkers adopted him into their family when he was five. But loving the girl who has her fair share of secrets is about as easy as that same girl loving the boy who seems to have none.

As Jesse’s life continues at the ranch, and Rowen begins making her mark in the Seattle art community, they begin to wonder where the middle ground is. Or if there even is one.

As push comes to shove and choices aren’t only needing to be made, but forced to be made, Jesse and Rowen have to face what their lives might look like without the other.

Can two people with such tragic pasts and different presents, go on to expect a promising future? Whatever the answer, they’ll need a lot more than love to make it.

 

Oh. My. HEART. What can I say about Near and Far? Well, I guess I can start by saying that my clock currently reads 2:54 am, I just finished reading Near and Far, and my emotions are so pumped up that I can't sleep.

I will admit that for as excited I was to read Near and Far, my anxiety was just as high. I loved Lost and Found so, so much. I loved Golden Boy Jesse Walker and complicated former bad girl Rowen Sterling. She was a character I could reaaallly relate to, and he was the kind of guy that every girl deserves. Their story was beautiful and magical and represents what true, unconditional love is made of and just how transformative love and respect can be.  Lost and Found left Jesse and Rowen at a realistic and very hopeful place. Did I really want to see them put to the test?

Truth is, I wanted Rowen and Jesse any way I could get them, but I was afraid of what might come between them. Would it be temptation while they are apart? Or would it be that their radically opposing lives would give them doubt? What I was surprised by in Near and Far is that the issues that test these two are not from outside, but are actually internal. Surprising. Painful. Soul Crushing. Rowen is following her dreams, but also being a part of a long distance relationship. Jesse is living the only life he's ever know, and the distance is hard.

Near and Far was for me, though, Jesse Walker's story. In Lost and Found, the focus was more on Rowen, but we learned a tiny bit about Jesse's early childhood. In Near and Far, the past and the present are on track to come crashing together around Jesse, testing his outlook on life and love, making him doubt his worth. Jesse showed Rowen that she was worthy, brave, special. He won't have any hope of a future unless he can learn to live by his own words.

I really, really loved Near and Far. Jesse is one of the sweetest leading men you could hope for. He's loyal, honest, and his heart is immeasurable. Rowen has come so far since we first met her in Lost and Found. Her strength, unwavering love, and devotion to Jesse made me love her even more. This is a couple that I could put on a pedestal when it comes to

Hmmm....am I forgetting someone? Oh yeah, Garth Black. Garth was the bad boy of  Lost and Found, in which had me both scowling and laughing at him. Near and Far had me laughing again - a whole lot of laughing - and dare I say, swooning a bit. With his never-ending smart alec (and sexy) mouth, and a few wise words, Garth tried to steal this book more than a few times, so it's a good thing he's getting his own.

Near and Far is everything I hope for in a sequel. It wasn't forced story. And by that I mean, it wasn't just thrown together with a bit drummed-up conflict, and some angst, just so there could be another book. Jesse and Rowen's story wasn't quite finished. Nicole Williams had a story to tell in Near and Far; a heartbreaking and beautiful story to tell. She truly did Jesse and Rowen, their story, and her readers justice.

Favorite Quotes:

  That girl, that woman, was mine. And even though that was a hallmark I was intensely proud of, I was more sure and proud of something else.

  I was hers.   ~eARC, 2%

  I might not have been lost anymore, but I still liked Jesse Walker finding me. Even if it was only in a room of people.  ~eARC, 14%

  "Jesse mentioned a T.A. slash friend of yours who hooked you up with some last minute sweet art gig...show...rodeo...thing."

  "Art rodeo? Really, Black?"

  "I don't know what all you art people call your snooze-fest get-togethers. Give me a break, Rowen. I don't speak Lame."  ~eARC, 27%

  His hands fisted into my shirt, and he kissed me back, hard and unyielding. Our chests rose and fell in time, reminding me that when we were together, everything made sense. Life didn't seem so confusing; the answers didn't seem so complex. When Jesse and I were close enough to share the same breath, confusion and uncertainty were distant memories.  ~eARC, 67%

The Lost and Found Series

(click on cover for GoodReads page)

Purchase Near and Far

   

GIVEAWAY

 2 Print copies of Near & Far - International
$50 Gift Card from Amazon.com - International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

I’m the New York Times and USATODAY bestselling author of the LOST & FOUND series, the CRASH series, and a handful of others. Basically, I get to do what I love. Every single day. I write romance because I’m a sucker for a good love story, and I write happy endings because there are too few of them in real life.

Connect with Nicole:

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook

COVER REVEAL andGIVEAWAY: UNLOCKED by MAYA CROSS

Today is the cover reveal for Unlocked, book three in The Alpha Group Series, by Maya Cross. I also have a teaser and a giveaway to share.

I have really enjoyed this series, and cannot wait to read this one!

 

 

 

 

  

Series: The Alpha Group #3

Genre: Erotic Romance

Publisher: Maya Cross

Publication Date: 8/18/13

 

 

The breathtaking conclusion to the USA Today best selling Alpha Group Series.


Who is Sebastian Lock?

The heart can lead you to dangerous places. Abandoned by the man she loves, with nothing more than sweet words and riddles for an explanation, Sophia Pearce felt like her life was crumbling before her eyes. And then they came for her. Now, things will never be the same.

Confronted with the truth about Sebastian’s identity, she’s thrust into a high stakes world beyond anything she could have imagined. A world that threatens much more than just her feelings. Sebastian’s enemies will stop at nothing to get what they want, and they want her.

The energy between them is as intense as ever, but as the danger mounts, and loyalties are tested, Sophia must answer one simple question. What is she willing to risk for love?

This book will be approximately 45,000 words, or about 160 printed pages. It contains erotic content and a dominant man who always gets what he wants in the bedroom. It is intended for readers aged 18 and over.

 

 

 

 

TEASER

 

  The third or fourth time I woke, it was with a sob. Moonlight cast the room as a series of jagged silhouettes, and despite knowing that I was somewhere safe, the unfamiliarity of my surroundings sent something sharp skittering through my chest. Suddenly, it felt like everything was closing in around me. I let out another cry and burrowed deeper under the covers, feeling fresh tears welling in my eyes. I didn’t want to be this person, this person who cried at shadows, but I didn’t know how to deal with the emotions that were roaring up inside me.

  I felt another bolt of fear as I heard the door open, but in a moment there was a familiar weight on the bed, and then Sebastian’s arms were circling my body from behind.

  “It’s okay,” he said softly. “Let it out.”

  I have no idea how he knew I was in distress, but in spite of everything that was still unresolved between us, I loved that he’d come. The sheer strength of his presence dwarfed everything else, dulling the fear. He was like an anchor, and I clung on for dear life lest I slip back below the surface again.

  He didn’t say anything else, and so neither did I, but just the act of being together was enough. I lay there, listening to the sound of his breathing, enjoying the sensation of that solid chest rising and falling against my back. Gradually, my turmoil began to dissipate. I had no idea how he had such a calming effect on me. When we were together, nothing else seemed to matter.

  He felt like home, and for just that night, I pretended like he still was.

 

 

 

 

The Alpha Group Series

 

 

Purchase at:

Amazon  |  Amazon UK  |  Barnes & Noble  |   Kobo

GIVEAWAY

Author Maya Cross is giving away 10 copies of Locked and Lockout!

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

About the author

Maya Cross is a writer who enjoys making people blush. Growing up with a mother who worked in a book store, she read a lot from a very young age, and soon enough picked up a pen of her own. Her previous work spans many genres including horror, science fiction, and fantasy, and she has now started this pen name as an outlet for her spicier thoughts (they were starting to overflow). She likes her heroes strong but mysterious, her encounters sizzling, and her characters true to life.
 

She believes in writing familiar narratives told with a twist, so most of her stories will feel comfortable, but hopefully a little unique. Whatever genre she's writing, finding a fascinating concept is the first, and most important step.

The Alpha Group is her first attempt at erotic romance.

When she's not writing, she's playing tennis, trawling her home town of Sydney for new inspiration, and drinking too much coffee.

Connect with Maya at:
Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  GoodReads 

 

 

 

COVER REVEAL AND GIVEAWAY: BLIND STUDY by JACQUELYN SYLVAN

I'm happy to be participating in a cover reveal and giveaway for Blind Study, by Jacqueline Sylvan.

This reveal was coordinated by April at SimSational Books.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Release Date: August 20th, 2013
Category/Genre: YA Paranormal Thriller
Format: ebook  ~ Will be available at Amazon / B&N/ Kobo


Eighteen-year-old Alice has spent the last year of her life in a hospital bed, held hostage by pain from a freak accident. Doctors can neither explain nor cure her condition, and her medical insurance is about to run out. Then, she’s offered one last chance—inclusion in a study for a revolutionary new pain medication.
Miraculously, the medication works. There’s only one side effect—vivid, terrifying nightmares, of imprisonment in a pitch-black cell, with no memory of her identity or how she got there. At least, she thinks that’s all they are, until someone from her dreams shows up in real life.

When other sinister happenings cross the boundary between dreaming and waking, Alice must choose: return to a half-life of isolation and agony, or confront the malevolent force behind the dreams, before she and those she cares about are trapped in their nightmares forever. But by the time she makes her choice—it may already be too late.

 

EXCERPT

 

On the day it happened, I was out for a hike with Jonathan. It was, we both knew, the last hike we’d be taking together for a long time, possibly forever. We’d graduated high school in the spring, and in less than a week, we were headed to college—Jonathan to California, me to Maine. We hadn’t talked much about it, but I, at least, was quietly realistic about the chances of our relationship surviving the separation.

Since it was an undeclared special occasion, we made the hour drive to Glen Wahnetah to see the falls. If you’re familiar with the park, you know they now have safety rails leading up the mountain to the falls. If you don’t know what prompted the decision to install them, you’re about to find out.

As we walked, I kept Jonathan to the outside, between me and the sheer sixty-foot-or-more drop the trail skirted. I wasn’t a fan of heights, never have been, and stepping within even three feet of the edge gave me the sort of shiver that reminds you intensely of your bladder.

I’d been here before, but never on a weekend, and I was shocked and a little horrified to see there were people up here with strollers. Kids running amok, scampering over spray-slick rocks where the path narrowed ahead and met the falls, screaming and chasing each other with sticks mere feet away from the yawning chasm.

As we came around a curve, a woman and man stood with their infant, safely strapped into his stroller, and an unrestrained little girl in a white dress with tiny strawberries printed all over it, her cornsilk hair in little red plastic barrettes. She couldn’t have been more than three. While Mom and Dad struggled to unwedge a bushy branch from the wheel of the stroller, Little Miss Strawberry bolted toward the seductively forbidden cliff edge.

I remember saying, “Whoops!” A high pitched, light-hearted warning, meant to stop the girl, or slow her down. When she didn’t stop, I darted across Jonathan in a few long strides, meaning to step between the baby and the ledge.

But the grass tuft I stepped on was a lie; it curved out and over the edge of the cliff with no solid ground beneath it. One minute I was walking on my own two legs; the next, the cliff was gone, and my body was full of hollow, jolting terror. The ground was so abruptly not there, I didn’t even have time to try and catch myself.

 I remember trying to force my body to go limp as I curled into a loose ball, protecting my head and face as I bounced off the rocks, down and down and down. Through the bump and crack and rattle, I could faintly hear screaming. I’m still not sure whether the screaming was my own, or if it belonged to the people watching me fall.

When I landed, spread-eagle on my back at the bottom, I had a broken leg and wrist, a few cracked ribs. And I knew that. I remember looking up at the cliff, faint with the knowledge I’d fallen all that way, and all I had was a few broken bones and some bumps and bruises. For a moment, I was the luckiest girl in the world.

Until the basketball-sized boulder I’d dislodged in my fall dropped like a cannonball onto my lower belly. The world flared red, and disappeared into black.

I don’t remember much else: flashes of people yelling my name, telling me to hang on, during the six hours it took a rescue crew to get me out. They had to bring in climbers and one of those special basket-stretchers. I’m told I was awake, but all I did was scream. Sometimes I wish I could still get away with that.

The girl’s family wanted to visit me, once I’d been through surgery a few times and been stabilized, but I refused to see them. Even if I managed to keep my mouth solely to the words, “Thank you for coming,” and “Nice to meet you,”…I didn’t think I could disguise the hatred in my eyes. For the parents, who decided to bring their infant children to the top of a cliff and not keep an eye on them. And yes, for Little Miss Strawberry. I probably would have given my life for her, if death was all I had to face. But now I was trapped, and burning, and if I’d known at the moment Strawberry bolted what I’d be forced to endure…I might have stayed put.

This is the person I was now, all humanity and kindness and nobility stripped from me. All that was left was pain, and the poisonous bile it produced.

 

 

GIVEAWAY

 

 3 Blind Study ebooks

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

About the author:
Before Jacquelyn Sylvan became a writer, she worked as a waitress, video store clerk, trail-riding guide, and veterinary technician, among other things. She’s a few inches shy of five feet tall, which means she’s sometimes mistaken for a child when she rides her bike, and often looked at suspiciously by amusement park ride operators. When she’s not writing, you’ll probably find her watching Vampire Diaries or trying to warn people about the impending penguin apocalypse. Jacquelyn lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two cats, and two very large dogs. Her YA novel, Blind Study, a supernatural thriller, comes out August 20, 2013.

Connect with Jacquelyn:
 Twitter  |  Facebook  |  GoodReads  |  Blog  |  Tumblr

 

 

 

 

REVIEW: WICKED BEAT (SINNERS ON TOUR #4) by OLIVIA CUNNING

Series: Sinners on Tour #4
Genre: Erotic Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: 8/6/13
Format: eARC
Source: Received from publisher for review
Rating: 5 stars

From the moment he lays eyes on Sinners’ new front of house soundboard operator, drummer Eric Sticks knows he has to make Rebekah his. Unfortunately, she’s too busy trying to seduce guitarist Trey Mills to pay him much attention. Rebekah never planned to fall for the tall, goofy drummer with the weird sense of humor and a heart the size of the galaxy. But Eric makes her laugh and his constant attention makes her feel sexy and irresistible–exactly what she needs after the things her last lover said to her. A woman who gives as much as she takes, Rebekah makes Eric feel like a total stud–exactly what he needs after surviving a decade of watching the incredibly talented members of Sinners from the wings.

So. Wicked Beat happened ... and IT WAS AWESOME. Guys, this book gave was full of happy, sexy times. Flat-out fun and sexy and yeah, it was wicked.

I've never made it a secret that Eric Sticks wasn't high on my list of Most Wanted Sinners. It was never that I didn't like and enjoy him. I mean, come on, Eric has been involved in some truly epic scenes throughout the Sinners on Tour series. Who can forget the bathtub scene in Backstage Pass, when Eric treated Myrna to a lovely hair conditioning? Or in Hot Ticket, when he was a lively participant in Jace and Aggie's bedroom shenanigans? Eric's always been around -- watching-- the other guys meet their special ladies and fall in love. So yeah, I've always liked Eric a lot, but never really considered him as a man to really covet.

Consider me a changed woman, because not only do I now love Mr. Sticks, but he now joins Sedric Lionheart at the top of my Sinners list. And believe me, I have spent much time talking, considering, and reconsidering this list throughout the series, and I do not take the rankings lightly. I have major love for Sed, so to put Eric by his side, that truly tells you how much I loved him. I think most readers will come away from Wicked Beat with a new perception of Eric. He's still the funniest guy in the group, but now I know how thoughtful and loving he is. Eric also has a lot of insecurities, which was something I never saw coming. This made him so endearing to me. I just wanted to snuggle and smoosh Eric until he could see how truly amazing he was. I am beyond thrilled that he finally found his perfect match in Rebekah.

Rebekah. I guess I am full of declarations because now I have to say that Rebekah is my new favorite Sinners Lady. Rebekah saw Eric for who he was: funny, sexy, and amazing. She not only accepted his goofy nature, complete lack of verbal filter, and constant honesty, she embraced it. Rebekah and Eric complemented each other in every way. And their playfulness, it was so cute. Speaking for someone who feels waaaaay more comfortable being silly and playful than super intense and sexy (as if) I appreciate that Cunning made these two into such relatable characters.

Now here's where I get sad. Wicked Beat is the last of the Sinners on Tour books to be released, though not technically the last in the series. I am not known for my control, and there was no way I wasn't reading Double Time the moment I got it in my greedy little hands. That means this book, it's the end of a really fantastic, and actually life-changing time for me. I know, I know, I sound really melodramatic here, but it's true.  Olivia Cunning's books marked a shift in the books that I read and enjoy, found me a lot of new friends, and changed how I looked at a lot of aspects of love and life. I have honestly had some of the best reading moments from these books. I've had a lot of fun conversations with many fellow readers. Particularly about cherry suckers. Yeah, those conversations aren't fit for polite company.

Wicked Beat was so entertaining, so freaking hot, romantic. I love the Sinners even more than before and I wish this darn band was real! Eric and Rebekah were so endearing, and a fabulous couple. I had high expectations for Wicked Beat. It was everything I hoped for. And so much more. Thanks OC.


Favorite Quotes:

  She laughed. "You're like Mr. Romance and Mr. Porn Star wrapped in one."
  "Sorry. I have this bad habit of saying everything that pops into my head. I know it's a total turnoff. I'll try harder to stay quiet."
  "Actually, I kinda like it."
  He quirked an eyebrow at her. "You do?"
  She nodded.
 "You're weird."
  "You're weird, too," she said defensively.
  "I guess that means we're perfect for each other." He stared into her eyes, challenging her to deny it. 
  "I guess so," she said.  ~eARC, 23%



  "Is it too soon to tell you I love you?" She snuggled her face into his chest so her words were muffled. "If it's too soon, I won't say it."
  His heart swelled to bursting. He was pretty sure he was going to start crying if he said more than a few words, so he said only three.
  "I love you."  ~eARC, 38%

Sinners on Tour Series

 (click on cover for GoodReads page)

My Reviews of:
Backstage Pass  |  Rock Hard  |  Hot Ticket  |  Double Time

Purchase Sinners on Tour Series at:

      

About the author

Combining her love for romantic fiction and rock ‘n roll, Olivia Cunning writes erotic romance centered around rock musicians. Raised on hard rock music from the cradle, she attended her first Styx concert at age six and fell instantly in love with live music. She's been known to travel over a thousand miles just to see a favorite band in concert. As a teen, she discovered her second love, romantic fiction -- first, voraciously reading steamy romance novels and then penning her own. Growing up as the daughter of a career soldier, she's lived all over the country and overseas. She recently moved to Galveston, Texas.

Connect with Olivia Cunning at:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY ~ AGAINST THE ROPES

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selection is...

 

Series: Stand alone

Category/Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Publication Date: 9/3/13

    

He scared me. He thrilled me. And after one touch, all I could think about was getting more…

Makayla never thought she’d set foot in an underground mixed-martial arts club. But if anyone needs a medic on hand, it’s these guys. Trouble is, at her first sight of the club’s owner she’s the one feeling breathless.

All sleek muscle and restrained power, the man they call Torment...more

He scared me. He thrilled me. And after one touch, all I could think about was getting more…

Makayla never thought she’d set foot in an underground mixed-martial arts club. But if anyone needs a medic on hand, it’s these guys. Trouble is, at her first sight of the club’s owner she’s the one feeling breathless.

All sleek muscle and restrained power, the man they call Torment plays to win at any cost. Whether it’s in the ring or in the bedroom, he knows exactly when to use a soft touch and when to launch a full-on assault. He always knows just how far he can push. And he’s about to tempt Makayla in ways she never imagined.  

 

 

 

Why I'm Waiting ~  I actually have a copy of this book, and I can't stop staring at it. I can't wait to see if the inside is as hot as the outside!

 

 

What are you waiting on this week?

 

 

 

{REVIEW} SHARK OUT OF WATER (GRAB YOUR POLE #3) by JENN COOKSEY

Series: Grab Your Pole #3
Genre: Mature Young Adult Contemporary
Publisher: self-published
Publication Date:
Format: eARC
Pages: 350
Source: Received from author for review

 With the Amazon Bestseller Shark Bait, the first novel in the Grab Your Pole series, debut author Jenn Cooksey delivered a fun, snarky, and realistic beginning to a larger story that has found its way into the hearts of readers everywhere. Thus, many were unprepared for what was coming in the second installment of the GYP series, The Other Fish in the Sea, when Cooksey took us on a runaway roller coaster ride of emotion and solidly landed hit after hit, including a brutal sucker punch that left readers around the globe reeling.

In Shark Out of Water, the highly anticipated third installment in this humorous yet honest and real coming of age story, we delve even further into the lives of the GYP gang and many questions are sure to be answered, however, are you really ready for what lies ahead in the continuation of their adventure? Well, grab your pole and let’s find out.

Well, damn. I just don't even know where to begin with Shark Out of Water. I can sincerely say that it is one of the funniest, saddest, most enlightening, and intense stories I've ever had the pleasure of reading. When I started the Grab Your Pole series, I was thinking I was going to dive into a fun, witty coming-of-age story about a girl, a guy, and their circle of friends. But what I got was simply stunning.  Jenn Cooksey hooked me with her witty, completely unique way of storytelling; she's been reeling me in ever since.

When book two, The Other Fish in the Sea, ended, things were really, really bleak for Camie and Tristan. His actions were shocking, and more than a little infuriating and heartbreaking. Like Camie, Jeff, and most of the others, I just could not begin to wrap my head around why things went down like they did. Shark Out of Water picks up immediately, and the intensity only cranks up. I know that I will use the word intense waaay too many times in my review, but that is the best way to describe this story. And really, that's only the tip of the iceberg. (Titanic joke, y'all!)

Where book two was the girls' story, now it's the guys' turn to speak. And boy do they know how to tell a tale. These boys, they have so much depth and Cooksey made them shine. She has a true gift for an authentic teen male voice. And what makes it great is that not only do the guys tell their own story, but through insightful observation, they tell each other's story.

Tristan Daniels, gorgeous and cocky, there's more to this massively intense guy than I ever thought. His depth of emotions, what he feels for Camie, how much he truly punishes himself, was utterly heartbreaking. And Cooksey does not hold back with Tristan. He goes to some very deep dark place in his psyche and the amount of self-loathing he feels is staggering. I was scared for him. Jeff is still pretty freaking great. I love his devotion to his friends and Kate. He is still trying to deal with the tragedy in book two. He's trying to hold his friends together, and goes to extraordinary lengths to bring Tristan back, psychologically. There is a deeply intense scene between these two boys that had me literally sobbing and holding my chest. I have rarely ever felt that sort of pain from any story.

Now the other guys, Pete and Brandon, their stories aren't as dark and intense, but, oh how I love them. In Shark Bait, Pete was sort of a periphery character. Brandon, too. I loved the small parts they played, and am immensely happy that they are now huge parts of the story. Sneaky, sneaky Pete, he is the best, the glue. And Brandon! That sexy, sexy bad boy who stole my heart in The Other Fish in the Sea. He plays it cool, but the boy has a lot going on in that beautiful head of his. Insightful and sexy? Brandon is a WINNER.

To be honest, I can't even make myself really lay out what happens in Shark Out of Water. I'm so close to this story and the characters that it hurts. Cooksey has managed to take these people (because I refuse to believe they're not real) and makes you see them, hear them, and most definitely feel them. There were Aha! moments, one in particular that made my jaw drop and burst out in tears because I was so shocked and so happy at the same time. There were enlightening moments that spoke of trust, loyalty, learning to control emotions and communicate healthy ways.

I know that I've talked about Intensity Intensity Intesity (and boy is it ever!), but the story is truly heartwarming, insightful and hysterical. I love that Cooksey interspersed laughter among the tears and lessons. And that, that there is why the Grab Your Pole series is so special to me.
 

 

The Grab Your Pole Series

 

(click on cover for GoodReads page)

 

My Reviews of
 Shark Bait  |  The Other Fish in the Sea

 

Purchase the Grab Your Pole series 

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

 

 

About the author:
Jenn Cooksey is a Southern California girl born and bred, however she's no longer a resident of heaven on earth, but instead she currently resides in the 7th Ring of Hell with her husband, their three daughters, and a goodly number of pets. Aside from her husband, one cat, and three out of five fish, everyone living under the Cooksey's roof is female. She's sure her husband will not only be awarded sainthood when he kicks the bucket, but that Jesus will welcome him into heaven with a beer and a congratulatory high-five. Jenn is also of the belief that Bacon should be capitalized and that just being yourself is the best way to go. That is, unless you can be Batman. Always be Batman.

You can learn more about Jenn and her books at:
Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  GoodReads  |  Pinterest

COVER REVEAL: ONLY FOR YOU (BOYS OF THE SOUTH #2) by MARQUITA VALENTINE

I am so suuuuper excited for the cover reveal for Only For You, by Marquita Valentine. This is the second book in the Boys of the South Series. The cover was designed by Marquita and the reveal was coordinated by AToMR.

Series: Boys of the South #2
Category/Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romacne
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: 9/2/13

Loose ends left loose for too long tend to strangle.

Cole and Violet knew it wouldn’t be easy. They knew their relationship would take work. But when the press finds out about Violet Lynn’s newest boyfriend, they start digging.  And when his past come to light, exposing all of his family’s secrets, their relationship begins to fray.

Country Music’s Golden Boy, Jaxon Hunter, has it all, except the girl that got away. What she saw, she really didn’t. What she thought happened, he allowed her to believe for reasons so insane that no one would ever have believed him if he had confessed. But now that everything’s out in the open, he’s going to do his damndest to convince her that he’s the only one for her.

Now Violet must choose between Jaxon— her first love and the guy she thought had cheated on her—and Cole—the guy who helped her heal and love again.

Or will one of them make the decision for her?

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

Boys of the South Series

 
(click on cover for GoodReads page)

About the author:

New York Times Bestselling Author, Marquita Valentine, writes sexy heroes that make you swoon and sassy heroines that make you laugh. She’s the author of the bestselling contemporary romance series, Holland Springs, and the new adult romance series, Boys of the South.

 Marquita met her husband aka Hot Builder at Sonic when they were in high school. She suggests this location to all of her single friends in search of a good man—and if that doesn't work, they can console themselves with cheesy tatertots. She lives in North Carolina in a very, very small town with Hot Builder and their two children. 

Connect with Marquita at:

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COVER REVEAL: A PERFECT MESS by ZOE DAWSON

I am happy to be taking part in the cover reveal for A Perfect Mess, by Zoe Dawson. This is the first book in the Perfect Secret Series. This reveal was coordinated by AToMR. The cover was designed by Okay Creations.

 

 

 

 

 

Series: Perfect Secret #1

Category/Genre: Adult Contemporary/Mystery

Publication Date: 6/17/13

 

I know what you did last summer.

Aubree Walker, the perfect girl most likely to succeed, is sure there’s only one person who knows what she did.

Booker Outlaw, one of the three Outlaw brothers—all identical, all gorgeous, all from the wrong side of the tracks, and all pure bad boys. He was always the unpredictable one, the one who would be brash enough to make it big self-publishing horror novels on the internet. He promised never to tell, but everyone knows you can never trust an Outlaw.

Then a year later, in the middle of the night, she receives a phone call at Tulane. Her aunt, who took her in after her mother’s death, has passed away under suspicious circumstances. Now she has to face that one person who knows all about what she did that summer—sexy Booker.

Returning to Hope Parish to lay her beloved aunt to rest, stirs up all those ugly memories. When Aubree starts getting threats, she can’t help but wonder if what she did last summer was tied to her aunt’s death. Afraid, she turns to the only person who knows the truth and Booker doesn’t hesitate to offer his broad shoulder for her to lean on. But Booker has a secret of his own that could crush their fledgling relationship.

As the hot, sultry summer days move on, she finds that even a perfectly smart girl can lose her heart to a perfectly bad boy. What is she going to do when someone starts asking questions Aubree doesn’t want to answer? She’s knee deep into a terribly dangerous, wholly life changing, who-can-she-really-depend-on perfect mess.

A Perfect Secret Series: Three perfect girls, three perfect secrets, one unholy trinity.

 

 

 

About the author:

Zoe Dawson is the alter ego of Karen Anders, award winning, multi-published author. Her writing journey started with poetry and branched out into fiction. With a couple of college English courses under her belt, she penned a historical, then moved onto contemporary romance fiction. Today, she is happy producing romantic suspense, romantic mystery, new adult, urban fantasy and paranormal novels. The words feed her soul and the happily ever afters feed her heart.

 

Connect with Zoe:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Blog | Goodreads | Newsletter