BACK TO YOU BLOG TOUR ~ REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the Back to You Blog Tour! The tour is being hosted by AToMR Tours, you can find the complete tour schedule here. My stop includes a review and tour giveaway.



 Series: Stand alone
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: 10/20/12
Format: ebook
Pages: 328
Source: Received from author for review.

When Lauren Monroe first laid eyes on Michael Delaney back in high school, she had every reason to stay away from him; within minutes of their first encounter, his volatile actions confirmed his notorious reputation. But Lauren saw something in him that caused her to question his bad-boy persona, and against her better judgment, she took a chance. She had no way of knowing that the unlikely friendship they formed would become so important to her.

Or that it would end so painfully.

Eight years later, when Lauren begins her new job at Learn and Grow Day Care, Michael is the last person she expects to see. Refusing to revisit the hurt and confusion of their past, Lauren vows to keep her distance from him. But staying away from Michael proves to be more difficult than she thought, despite her lingering grief and her instincts for self-preservation.

As Lauren and Michael recall the friendship that changed them forever and the events that tore them apart, will they finally be able to heal? Or will the ghosts of Michael’s past prove to be too much to overcome?

A emotionally wrenching story of First Love and Second Chances.  

Michael and Lauren were the best of friends. Michael is the school's bad boy, with a demeanor meant to cover his private pain. Hostile, quiet, and seemingly dangerous, only Lauren can see the boy behind the facade. As the two become friends, against the odds, Lauren becomes Michael's safe place, a girl who sees his pain without pity, and keeps him in check. Michael becomes the boy who owns Lauren's heart, as she quietly and slowly falls in love with him. In a desperate move to get away from the home, the life, that has caused him such pain, Michael leaves Lauren behind, never to be heard from again. Until...eight years later, when Lauren and Michael again cross paths. Michael is a changed man, with a small daughter and years of regret. Lauren is also changed, determined to keep Michael at bay, and spare her heart another devastating break. Back to You is a love story, told in the past and the present, and is a story of a love that won't be denied.

I have a soft place in my heart for stories of friends who fall in love. I also have a soft spot for stories in which, after a bad split and many years apart, two people reconnect and rediscover love. Back to You gave me both. Instead of just telling the reading what happened in the past, author Priscilla Glenn did a lovely job of moving between the present and the past, and letting Michael and Lauren's story unfold.


Michael and Lauren both stole my heart. I am an easy sell for broken boys, which makes me seem kind of cruel! I guess it's that I can relate to loving someone a bit like Michael. The pain he experienced as a child and teen made me want to love and shield him.

"His face, like everything she knew about him, was purely contradictory. That cherubic mouth with those penetrating eyes: he was too lovely to be menacing, but too intense to be innocent."

Then, to see what kind of man Michael became made me love him even more. I also loved Lauren. Quiet, but strong, she is a girl who almost always does the right thing.

"She was one of the most genuine people he'd ever met, and he knew at that moment that if he did nothing else in his life, he wanted to be friends with Lauren Monroe."

Lauren could have easily been a bland character, but she wasn't in the least. Her huge heart, understanding nature, and determination made her completely endearing.


I'm so happy that I took the time and had the opportunity to read Back to You. It was a beautifully written, engaging story that made me feel so much. For lovers of Contemporary Romance, or those who simply love a sweet, emotional story full of  love and redemption, Back to You is a must-read.

Favorite Quote:


  Because something about him, something in his eyes, divulged the secret; there was a whole world in there somewhere, thriving just below the surface where no one could see it.


  He looked so young in that moment.
  So vulnerable.
  And right then, her heart broke for the little boy who wasn't taken care of, but it swelled for the person who, despite everything was able to maintain such kindness inside him, regardless of what everyone else thought they knew about him.
  And she realized right then, even if she never felt it again for the rest of her life, she knew what true, unadulterated love felt like.


  She closed her eyes, remembering the incapacitating pain. The double loss. Not only was her love unrequited, that in itself would have been painful enough to deal with, but in the same shot, she also lost her best friend in the world.
  And she never could figure out which one hurt more.  

Purchase Back to You at Amazon.

Priscilla Glenn lives in New York with her husband and three beautiful children. She has been teaching English Language Arts at the middle and high school levels for the past eleven years. Glenn has written three books, although Back to You is her first published novel. Her guilty pleasures include great books, good wine, anything chocolate, and Robert Pattinson :)

Twitter | Facebook

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COVER REVEAL ~ LENNON'S JINX by CHRIS MYERS

I'm happy to be sharing another great new cover with you all. This time, I have Lennon's Jinx by Chris Myers. The cover was designed by Chris Myers (Shutterstock photo by Coka) and the reveal was organized by AToMR Tours.

Expected Release: 1/15/13
Genre: Contemporary New Adult

 

Sometimes, we don’t get to choose who we fall for.

Lennon spends most of his time raising his little sister Currie while trying to skate through his senior year of high school. He prefers groupies with no-strings attached but finds himself strangely attracted to Jinx, the straight-A student in his choir. Lennon’s curiosity overrules his good sense as he tries to peel away the layers to discover the reason for Jinx’s skittishness.

Jinx conceals the black truth about herself from her friends. She won’t admit to them that she screwed up big time, losing her first love and what she once held most precious.

When Lennon’s band holds auditions to replace their keyboard player, Jinx comes to tryout and almost leaves after seeing Lennon. Despite the fact she despises him, she joins the band to nurture her love of music that will hopefully ease the guilt gnawing away at her.

Like the rest of his band mates, Jinx soon witnesses Lennon battling his infamous father for the custody of Currie. While confronting his pent-up anger at his dad, Lennon exposes vulnerabilities he had no intention of letting any girl ever see, especially Jinx. Their reckless pasts may bring them together or further complicate their already messy lives.

** I really like this cover! And I think Lennon's Jinx sounds really cool. ** 

 

 

Chris Myers suffers from an overactive imagination. In second grade, Sister Bernice produced Chris's first play about pumpkins mauling and eating children. Apparently, the nuns didn’t catch the underlying meaning. This instantly raised Chris to stardom amongst her peers for the several days off from schoolwork while in production. She spent her high school years writing torch songs for fantasy guys then moved onto writing thrillers and young adult. Chris lives in Colorado with her daughter, her better half, and BeBe, a rambunctious Bichon.

Chris literally has very few photos of herself, even though photography put her through college. Here she is with her sisters and daughter. Chris is the one with the vino.

Chris started out as an art major, then moved to bio-chem, hoping to play Victor Frankenstein as a genetic engineer or messing with people's minds as a psychiatrist. Just as she was about to graduate, she decided being broke for another four to ten years wouldn't work out for her adventurous spirt and traveling. She ended up with an electrical engineering degree then a masters. As it turns out, she should've finished her first novel twenty-five years ago and stuck in the make-believe world where she is happiest.

BLOG TOUR ~ THE WINEMAKER'S DINNER:APPETIZERS by DR. IVAN RUSILKO and EVERYLY DRUMMOND

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on THE WINEMAKER'S DINNER Blog Tour. The Winemaker's Dinner was written by Dr. Ivan Rusilko and Everly Drummond, and  published by Omnific Publishing. The  tour is being hosted by AToMR Blog Tours. You can find the complete tour homepage here, and the tour schedule here. My stop includes my review of the book.


Series: The Winemaker's Dinner
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Publication Date: July 31, 2012
Format: ebook
Pages:246
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Recently named executive chef at one of Miami Beach’s hottest restaurants, Jaden Thorne is determined to make her culinary mark and fulfill her professional dreams. When Jaden is given highly coveted tickets to the ultra-exclusive Winemaker’s Dinner, she jumps at the opportunity to meet South Florida's wealthiest and most influential food and wine enthusiasts.

Jaden’s eyes are drawn to the VIP section even before the appetizers appear, but she soon finds herself thinking less about networking and more about the intriguingly sexy stranger eying her from across the room. After dinner, what begins as a light-hearted flirtation unexpectedly catapults into a night of explosive passion. But when morning dawns, Jaden leaves her sleeping Mr. Oh So Sexy behind, sure they’ll never see each other again.

Dr. Ivan Rusilko, a handsome, young physician, boasts an extensive resume’ and a well-established position on Miami Beach’s social scene. But despite his success and glamour, he’s routinely had to suffer uninspiring dates and doomed relationships. With a romantic heart, Ivan’s not the love-‘em-and-leave-‘em type. But when he awakens to find that the girl in the red dress has done exactly that, he resolves to find her--only if it’s just to ask why she left without even a kiss goodbye. The Winemaker’s Dinner is a fictionalized erotic memoir inspired by the romantic triumphs and tragedies of Dr. Ivan Rusilko’s real life. Weaving fact with fantasy, authors Everly Drummond and Dr. Ivan Rusilko have gifted readers with a swoon-worthy flesh and blood romantic hero and the intoxicating bouquet only a heartfelt tale of passionate love can create.

The Winemaker's Dinner:Appetizers is the story of Jaden and Ivan, falling in love. They are both successful professionals living in Miami, him being a Doctor and she an Executive Chef. Upon meeting, they have an instant, passionate chemistry that leads to the start of a very beautiful relationship. A relationship that features cozy dinners, exhilerating adventures, and steamy nights.

Jaden was a charming character. I felt she was relatable, despite the lifestyle she leads. She is secure with herself and in her burgeoning relationship with Ivan. As for the good doctor? I did like him, but didn't feel that much of a connection, despite seeing the story through his point of view as well. It wasn't any one thing about him that didn't resonate, but moreso his lack of any flaws. I kid you not, there isn't one thing in this entire world that man doesn't know how to do, and do it better with his eyes closed and one hand tied behind his back. He's a doctor, he's a model, Mr. USA, unfailingly even-tempered, he can even make jewelry. It's enough to make most women crawl under a rock with shame. But not Jaden, thankfully.

With it's nearly perfect characters leading nearly perfect lives, The Winemaker's Dinner was a nice, but not especially exciting read. I did enjoy it, but never felt as if I couldn't get enough. I will say, though, that the steamy scenes were pretty awesome. They were spicy enough to raise the temperature in the room, but not so much that you feel as if you need a shower after.

Full of passion and an over-the-top love affair, The Winemaker's Dinner is sure to appeal to readers looking to be swept away by romance.



Favorite Quote:

" 'You were watching me?'
   'No,' he corrected her with a hint of amusement. 'I was watching you watch me. There's a difference.' " (ebook, 5%)

"Sure, I've traveled the world and done things some people only dream of doing. So what? That's what I've done, not who I am. Right now I'm just a guy...desperate for you to give him a chance. Nothing more." (ebook, 17%)


You can purchase The Winemaker's Dinner at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository


Learn more about The Winemaker's Dinner at the  series website and  Facebook page.

Connect with Dr. Ivan Rusilko and  Everly Drummond on Twitter.

 

GIVEAWAYS

There are two blog tour giveaways, courtesy of the publisher.

US/Canada Giveaway

• Signed print copy of The Winemaker's Dinner
• Signed Bookmark
• Sea Turtle Keychain

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International Giveaway

• The Winemaker's Dinner (ebooks)

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BLOG TOUR ~ MADLY SERIES by M. Leighton {CHARACTER INTERVIEW and GIVEAWAY}

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the Madly Series Blog Tour. This tour is being hosted by the ladies at AToMR Blog Tours. You can find the complete blog tour schedule here. My stop includes an interview with the fabulous Madly. You can also check out my Madly Series review here. But first, take a look at the books.

Series: Madly #1
Publisher: M. Leighton Books
Publication Date: June 2011

Madly is your average nearly-eighteen year old girl—for a princess, that is.

Madly James is thoroughly enjoying her internship in the small town of Slumber when the unthinkable happens—there’s a prison break in Atlas, the magically-protected home of Madly’s race. A traitor has set free eight Lore, the spirits of what humans know as fairy tales, and they are making their way to Slumber to awaken their descendants.

In order to save her home, the lives of her family, and all of humanity, Madly must learn to wield her exceptional powers and recapture the Lore before it’s too late and all is lost. But Madly’s only help are her two best friends and the Sentinel, Jackson Hamilton, that threatens both her heart and her destiny. Madly has loved Jackson as long as she can remember, but he is the one thing even a princess can’t have. Can she resist love to become the queen she was fated to be? Or can she find a way to have both?

This novelette introduces you to Madly and prepares you for the quest of a lifetime. ~From GoodReads

Series: Madly #2
Publisher: M. Leighton Books
Publication Date: July 22, 2011

Madly is your average nearly-eighteen year old girl—for a princess, that is.

Madly James is thoroughly enjoying her internship in the small town of Slumber when the unthinkable happens—there’s a prison break in Atlas, the magically-protected home of Madly’s race. A traitor has set free eight Lore, the spirits of what humans know as fairy tales, and they are making their way to Slumber to awaken their descendants. The first spirit to arrive is that of Ulrich Wolfhardt, a man that was once obsessed with wolves and a young maiden he would follow through the woods. After a bite from a wolf, Wolfhardt’s obsession with the girl became an unnatural hunger and the young maiden’s grandmother cursed him with a fate worse than death. And now he’s back…with a vengeance and a bite that can infect others as well. Madly must learn the identity of Wolfhardt’s descendant and stop him before he kills again and spreads his curse across the earth. But the only person strong enough to help Madly is Jackson, the Sentinel who vowed to protect her and the one person capable of breaking her heart. Can Madly resist forbidden love long enough to save the world from Wolfhardt? Or will she have to sacrifice her heart and her destiny to save the ones she loves? ~From GoodReads

Series: Madly #3
Publisher: M. Leighton Books
Publication Date: May 29, 2012

How deep does love run? Deeper than the ocean? Deeper than memory? Deeper than magic?

Following their plan to save Atlas, Madly and Jackson return the spirit of Wolfhardt to his prison beneath the sea. But even the best laid plans couldn’t account for the surprises they find. This time, Lore aren’t their only challenges. Madly is special in ways no one could have guessed and dark forces seek to control her. They want her power, but first they must weaken her. They need her beaten. Vulnerable. Near death. And alone. But that task isn’t an easy one with Jackson at her side. The strongest of their kind, the only way to separate Jackson from Madly is to destroy his love for her, to erase it from his mind. And his heart. Is it possible to steal Jackson’s love from Madly? Or is their love the only truly unbreakable thing? ~From GoodReads

And  now, my Interview with Madly... 

What is the hardest thing about being a royal? 

Madly: Putting people you’ve never met and ideals that you don’t always agree with above everything you love, everything you want.

What do you miss the most about Atlas? 

Madly: My family. They drive me crazy, of course, but I love them. And I worry about them. 
 

Jackson…what are your first thoughts when I say his name? 

Madly: *smiles* Strong. Handsome. Protective. Good kisser. *laughs*

Jersey cracks me up! What do you love most about her? 

Madly: Jersey gets me. I don’t know how, but she can do and say things that don’t seem to make sense, but, in the end, they make sense to me. It’s like she knows what I need, even when I don’t. It’s really weird. Plus, I love her. She’s like family. No, Jersey is family.

What is one thing you would do differently if you could? 

Madly: I would stand up to my father and fight for Jackson. I would never let him talk me into seeing my feelings for him as something to hide or kill or be ashamed of. I would make him see how wonderful Jackson is and how we belong together. Jackson makes me a better person. That will always be a good thing for Atlas.

What are you the most afraid of?

Madly: Losing the people I love. Making a mistake that costs their lives. I know I shouldn’t care about anything more than the safety of Atlas and our people, but I do. I can’t help it.

Thanks, Madly, for taking the time to answer my questions. Maybe.. maybe next time bring Jackson with you, okay?

You can get  Madly (Madly #1) for FREE at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

You can purchase Madly & Wolfhardt (Madly #2) at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

You can purchase Madly and the Jackal (Madly #3) at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

GIVEAWAY

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I was born and raised in the United States, and I’ve lived in several of the fabulous fifty. Though I currently live in the deep South, I spent much of my childhood up North and hope to return there one day. A few other things about me: I believe that sometimes you have to look really, REALLY hard to find the good in people, but it's there. I believe that I'm shrinking (I swear five years ago I was two inches taller). I believe my husband is quite possibly one of the most amazing men in the entire world (I can't be sure because I haven't met all of them). I believe coffee and chocolate, when combined, could be the basis for world peace. I believe that Jesus rocks and communism doesn’t. I believe that white makes me look fat and black collects lint. I believe summer's too hot, winter's too cold and fall was made for football. I like dogs better than cats and the first movie in a trilogy is invariably the best. But most of all, I believe that love conquers all.

Connect with author M. Leighton at:
her website | Twitter | GoodReads page | Facebook



Blog Tour ~ Blood of Anteros (The Vampire Agape Series #1) by Georgia Cates

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the Blood of Anteros (The Vampire Agape Series #1) Blog Tour. The tour is being hosted by AToMR Book Tours. You can find the complete tour schedule here. My stop includes a review of Blood of Anteros by Georgia Cates.

Series: The Vampire Agape Series #1
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: September 21, 2011
Source: Received from author for review.

"I was tantalized by the mystery of her. The leech inside me came out to find prey, but found none in this enigmatic girl. The close proximity of her essence didn’t entice the monster within, so what did that make her? I had more questions than answers, but one thing was unmistakable; although she released me from her embrace, her hold on me remained."

Cruel circumstances turned Curry Brennan into the wretched monster he hates and refuses to accept, but when an expected turn of events releases him from the bond of his obsessive maker, he returns to the home he knew 161 years earlier and finds the return of happiness and joy in something he didn’t know existed. Puzzled by his growing attraction to Chansey Leclaire, a human, he is unable to resist the captivating relationship that threatens to reveal his existence as a vampire. He eventually discovers the reason he was destined to find what he didn’t know he searched for and is faced with the cruel realization that the living and the immortal undead will always be separated by one thing. Eternity.

Blood of Anteros opens with a rare eclipse and a broken curse. The promise of a blessing and a gift. With such an intriguing opening, the story captured my attention.

I've read so many vampire-centric books. Haven't we all? So I'm always hoping that an author will bring something new to the table, and author Georgia Cates definitely does so. Her vampires aren't a new offering, but her lore of the Agape, or Daughter of Anteros, certainly is. The Agape is a human with supernatural aspects that is meant for one vampire mate. Their bond is strong, and lasting, but not without complications. Naturally.

Blood of Anteros is told from Curry's point of view. Curry is a vampire, over one hundred, sixty years old, who has returned to his former home. He soon meets a girl whose very essence seems to call for him. I liked the story is told through the male vampire's perspective. It's a nice change from the usual human girl's point of view. The voice for Curry is authentic. He speaks like a Southern man from the 1800s (think Bill Compton). He's a proper Southern gentleman is his actions and words.

The object of Curry's love, Chansey, was lovely. I didn't feel as if I knew her all that well, since I didn't get her perspective. She's very accepting of Curry and his ways, but also strong when she needs to be. I look forward to knowing her better in the next book. The fact that Chansey is not fully human does help make up for the fact that her reactions to the events in the story don't always ring true.

There is one aspect to the story that didn't sit well with me: Curry sneaks in Chansey's bedroom at night and watches her sleep. I know, he's so in love and is protective over her. But, in my world, sneaking in my room and watching me sleep only earns you a whiffle bat to the face. Does that make me an unromantic grump? Maybe. I can't help it. Starey eyes creep me out.

Blood of Anteros was a book that I did enjoy, but didn't fall head over heels in love with. But that happens a lot with me and first books in a series. I did find author Georgia Cate's writing to be quite lovely and very romantic and am looking very forward to reading book two, Blood Jewel, soon.


Favorite Quote:

"The monster, deep within me, unexpectedly resurfaced. He no longer lay dormant as he screamed in agony, begging to be set upon this innocent creature. He pleaded with me for one taste. Didn't he deserve it? It has been so long." (ebook, 19%)

You can purchase Blood of Anteros at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Smashwords

GIVEAWAY

Author Georgia Cates is giveaway readers a chance to win print copies of  both books in The Vampire Agape Series, Blood of Anteros and Blood Jewel.

The giveaway is open to US Residents only.

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Meet Georgia Cates -

I am a wife, mother of two daughters and a labor and delivery nurse. I have recently added Paranormal Romance Writer to my list of things to keep be busy, but I am ecstatic to release my debut novel, Blood of Anteros, the first book in The Vampire Agápe Series. Like others that enjoy a great story of paranormal romance, I am easily bored by the tale of an obtainable, ordinary romance and was inspired to create The Vampire Agápe Series. When I am not tied up with my family or delivering babies, I am working feverishly on the second book in The Vampire Agápe Series.(from Georgia Cates.com)

Connect with Georgia Cates at:
GoodReads | her website | Twitter | Facebook