Review and Giveaway: Up to Me (Shore Secrets #1) by Christi Barth

Series: Shore Secrets #1

Genre: Contemp Romance

Series: Shore Secrets #1

Series: Shore Secrets #1
Genre: Contemp Romance

Publisher: Carina Press

Publication Date: 6/23/14

Format: eARC

Pages: 232

Source: Author

Rating: 4 stars

GoodReads  |  Amazon  |  B&N

Ella Mayhew's always appreciated the beautiful view of Seneca Lake from the spa window of her family's hotel.But the view improves dramatically when a hot stranger runs across the grounds—shirtless. He's the first man to kickstart her hormones in the three years since she lost her parents, and she doesn't even know his name.

Graydon Locke's on his umpteenth undercover assignment. The routine's always the same: assess a business, recommend it for closure, then roll out before anyone discovers his decisions impact hundreds of lives. He's always believed nothing good comes out of small towns. Why would this one be different? Then he makes two classic rookie mistakes—falling for the sweet, sexy girl who owns the very business he's on the verge of axing. And letting the town's residents get involved in both his life, and his relationship with Ella.

Ella's the best thing to ever happen to Gray, but he's lied to her from the start. If he pulls the plug on Mayhew Manor, the entire town may crumble. Ella couldn't save her parents, but it's up to her to save their hotel. Even if that means turning her back on true love.

Review

 

After being practically driven out of town because of his father's actions, corporate hitman Graydon Locke loathes small towns. It doesn't matter how quaint, how heartwarming the town is, he wants no part. On assignment in upstate New York, Gray is undercover in the small town of Seneca Lake. He's there to learn about Mayhew Manor, specifically whether the company he works for should take it over. His first day there, though, Gray meets Ella, "just Ella", and is instantly taken with the pretty, witty massage therapist. The two quickly become close, knowing that their romance will only last as long as Gray's in town. That attraction continues to flame, and when Gray learns that "just Ella" is actually Ella Mayhew, the owner, it's too late to control the fall-out.

 

Relationships formed under deception are always iffy for me. The premise is kind of great, and I love the conflict it creates. But I always have to worry if the powerful man will, in fact, help destroys his woman's business. This has actually caused many books and movies to completely lose me. I don't care how charming Tom Hanks was in You've Got Mail, he helped close Meg Ryan's business, and peeps, that ain't cool. Though this remains a question throughout Up to Me, I was still heavily invested in the story, assuming that a trusted romance author wouldn't do me that way.

 

I was heavily invested in Up to Me because of the characters. I just couldn't help but like Ella and Gray. Ella is a woman who's struggling to keep her family's business afloat, and working to move forward in her life. Three years prior, Ella's parents were killed -in front of her- in a tragic accident. Due to conflicts in her future, she and her parents had a bit of a temporary strain in their relationship, and Ella feels responsibility. Because she feels her bad choices caused the accident, Ella consults "the journal" when she needs to make decisions. I'm not going to go into details on the journal, but I loved this touch to the story! The people of Seneca Lake lifted her up in her time of need and sorrow, and the kinship she feels with the community was very sweet.

 

Despite his duplicity, I really liked Gray as well. Gray is a man with a complicated background, not one of his doing but one he's paid for regardless. He's in an awful position with Ella and his job, one he never intended to start. I actually felt sorry for Gray, knowing that he wants to help Ella, keep his job and support the one person he feels obligated to. He keeps his head and his integrity in this crazy situation, even though he feels enormous pressure from all sides. And oh, he does know how to make a woman melt.

 

Of course, you know the big reveal is always around the corner, and when it did, I felt like my heart was in my stomach. The author did a nice job of making me feel equal sympathy for both parties. The fall-out was ugly, and I had no idea how the issues would be resolved in a way that felt believable to me. A good hero needs to grovel when he's done wrong, needs to earn his way back into good graces. I will say that I came out of Up to Me with a smile and iPad intact.

 

Up to Me is a good start to the Shore Secrets series. Given that there are several interesting characters, we have great potential for the future stories. I'm crossing my fingers that Ward and Piper are up next!

 

 

Favorite Quote

 

  There it was--the matching hunger, the naked lust. Ella wrapped her legs tight around his waist and entangled her fingers in his hair. Wished with all her might that there weren't two layers of clothes between all their body parts, which were currently touching.

  Ripping his mouth away, Gray growled against her neck. "You brought a match to a bonfire. You ready to burn up?

  "Too late. I already am."

 

 

  [...] Then he cradled her face, broad thumbs tracing the line of her cheekbones.

  "You're the one who's smooth. Ella, you smooth over all the cracks in my heart. Filling in spaces I didn't even know I still cared about. Thank you."

 

 

I have one print copy of Up to Me to give away, courtesy of the publisher.

Must be 18+ years of age; open to US only.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About Christi Barth

Christi Barth earned a Masters degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage.

A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes contemporary romance. 

Christi is President of the Maryland Romance Writers and lives in Maryland with her husband.

Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Pinterest  |  GoodReads

 

 

COVER REVEAL: BAD BOY SERIES by M. LEIGHTON + EXCERPT from EVERYTHING FOR US

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I am thrilled today to be involved in the cover reveals for the paperback version of M. Leighton's Bad Boys series! I adore Michelle and am so happy for her success. I also have an excerpt from the third book in the series, Everything For Us.

 

 

Series: Bad Boys #1

Publisher: Berkley Trade

Publication Date: 7/2/13
 

One girl. Twin brothers. An uncommon triangle.

When college student Olivia Townsend returned home to help her father run his business, she never imagined a complication like Cash and Nash Davenport—twin brothers different in so many ways but with one thing in common: an uncontrollable desire for Olivia.

Cash is dangerous, sexy, and bad to the bone—a man whose kisses make Olivia forget she is playing with fire. Nash is successful, reliable and intensely passionate—and already taken. But all it takes is one soft stroke to make Olivia forget he belongs to someone else.

However, Olivia is in for a surprise. These boys have a secret that should make her run away as far and as fast as she can. If only it wasn’t too late. A sensual game between three players has begun, and it’s about to spin deliriously out of control.

Series: Bad Boys #2
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Publication Date: 8/6/13

M. Leighton’s Down to You was just the beginning. �Up to Me has even more shockers in store!” (Examiner.com)

For Olivia, romantic bliss has never felt so right as it does with Cash. Unpredictable, except when it comes to satisfying her desires, Cash’s �bad boy’ reputation is well-earned, but he’s turning his life around with the one woman who accepts him for who he is.

Until strangers from the past turn Olivia and Cash’s world upside down. What they want is something only Cash can give them. And if he doesn’t deliver, then they’re taking the one thing that Cash values the most.

Olivia always knew that in falling for Cash she was likely to get burned. But this new threat is beyond anything she imagined. Now she has to trust Cash with her life—and for Olivia that’s much easier than letting go, and trusting him with her heart.

Series: Bad Boys #3
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Publication Date: 9/3/13

When it comes to passion this hot, it’s all or nothing.

Olivia Townsend’s wealthy cousin Marissa had everything a girl could ask for—a great job, a privileged life, and all the friends she wanted. Or, at least, all the friends money could buy. But one case of mistaken identity has turned her privileged world upside down.

An abduction gone wrong lands her right in the lap of the sexiest, most dangerous man she’s ever met. To Marissa, he’s an enigma, but one to whom she’s irresistibly, inexplicably drawn.

With him comes a new world of freedom and passion, of dark shadows and dangerous secrets, a world where nothing is what it seems—except for the blind passion that Marissa can’t escape—or maybe even survive.

Excerpt from Everything for Us 

 

“They’re just parts, like any other woman’s,” she replies breathlessly, trying to be casual.

“I’d be willing to bet your parts are exceptional. In fact, now might be a good time to warn you that if we come back to this library, I’ll find out for myself. In this very spot. I’ll push you up against the books in the corner and I’ll put my hands on you. I’ll do things to you. In the quiet. And you won’t be able to make a sound. Not a whimper, not a moan. You’ll have to bite your lip to keep it all inside. And you know what?” I ask, reaching up to trace my index finger along her full, trembling lower lip.

“What?” she whispers, her pupils two dilated dots of excitement.

“You’ll love every second of it.”

With a wicked grin, I take the books from her arms and turn to walk back the way I came.

EEEEE!!! I can't wait to read Everything for Us!!! Be sure to add the books to your to-read list.

 

 

Preorder Down to You at:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble 

 

Preorder Up to Me at:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

 

Preorder Everything for Us at:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

 About the author:
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
 

UP TO YOU RELEASE EVENT + GIVEAWAY

I have a special treat for you guys! In honor of the celebration of the release of Up to Me by M. Leighton, I have an excerpt and a giveaway of book one in the series, Down to You. This event was coordinated by AToMR Tours.

Take a look at Up to Me...


Series: The Bad Boy Series #2
Publisher: M. Leighton Books
Publication Date: 1/6/13
Format: eARC
Source: Received from author for review.

Happily ever after doesn’t come easy.  But for love, it’s always worth the fight.

 

Olivia finds bliss unlike any she’s ever known in Cash’s arms.  He sets her skin on fire and melts her heart right inside her chest.  Unfortunately, their happily ever after is short-lived when a shadow from Cash’s past threatens to turn their world upside down.

   Dangerous people from his father’s world have discovered that Cash holds information that could put them away for a very long time.  And they’re willing to do anything—and hurt anybody—to get it back.  Giving it up means Cash must choose between the life of his father and the life of Olivia.

Having nearly overcome her wariness of bad boys, Olivia’s trust is shaken when this new threat arises.  Now she finds that Cash is not only a danger to her heart, but his family has associations that are a danger to her life as well.  She soon discovers that there are some situations in life where trust is a girl’s only option.  And this is one of them.  If she’s to live, she must trust Cash with her life.  But to Olivia, that’s much, much easier than letting go and trusting him with her heart.

 

 

Excerpt
 

 

Cash’s back is to me. I see him run his fingers through his hair and I hear him sigh again.  “I’m asking you to trust me, Olivia.”  He turns to face me.  “Trust in what you know about me.  Because I know, if you stop listening to your fear, you know who I am.  Deep down.  You know me, Olivia.  You know me.”

His voice is sincere. His expression is urgent.  I close my eyes against his face, his handsome face, the face that haunts both my waking and my sleeping world.  I open them again when I feel warm hands cup my cheeks.  Cash is a breath away, his eyes pools of midnight, drawing me in.

“It’s me,” he says softly.  “Stop listening to everything else.  Remember the way you feel when I’m kissing you and touching you.  Don’t think with your head.  You know me.  And when my lips are on yours, you trust me.”  As if to make his point, he dips his head and brushes his mouth over mine.  Sparks fly between us.  As always.  “You trust me, when my hands are on your skin.”  He runs his palms down my arms and then over to my waist where he pushes them up under the edge of my shirt.  Chills break out down my back.  “You trust me when you turn your mind off, when you just feel.”

** Oh boy, I loved that scene!**

 

Publisher: M. Leighton Books

Publication Date: Sept 23, 2012

Format: eARC

Pages:

Source: Received from author for review.

The scorching tale of one girl, two brothers and a love triangle…that’s not.

Olivia Townsend is nothing special. She’s just a girl working her way through college so she can return home to help her father run his business. She’s determined not to be the second woman in his life to abandon him, even if it means putting her own life on hold. To Olivia, it’s clear what she must do. Plain and simple. Black and white.

But clear becomes complicated when she meets Cash and Nash Davenport. They’re brothers. Twins.

Cash is everything she’s always wanted in a guy. He’s a dangerous, sexy bad boy who wants her in his bed at any cost. He turns her insides to mush and, with just one kiss, makes her forget why he’s no good for her.

Nash is everything she’s ever needed in a guy. He’s successful, responsible and intensely passionate. But he’s taken. Very taken, by none other than Marissa, Liv’s rich, beautiful cousin. That doesn’t stop Olivia from melting every time he looks at her, though. With just one touch, he makes her forget why they can never be together.

Black and white turns to shades of gray when Olivia discovers the boys are hiding something, something that should make her run as far and as fast as she can. But it’s too late to run. Olivia’s already involved. And in love. With both of them.

Both brothers make her heart tremble. Both brothers set her body on fire.

She wants them both.

And they want her.

How will she ever choose between them?

 

 

You can purchase Down to You at:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

You can purchase Up to Me at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 

The Bad Boys Series

(click on cover to read my review)

 

GIVEAWAY

 

I have one ecopy of Down to You to offer a lucky reader. Just enter the Rafflecopter form.
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


About the author:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

 

About Michelle:  I love coffee and chocolate, even more so when they are combined.  I'm convinced that one day they could be the basis for world peace.  I also love the color red and am seriously considering dying my hair.

her website | Twitter | GoodReads page | Facebook

{REVIEW} UP TO ME (THE BAD BOYS SERIES #2) by M. LEIGHTON

Series: The Bad Boy Series #2
Publisher: M. Leighton Books
Publication Date: 1/6/13
Format: eARC
Source: Received from author for review.

Happily ever after doesn’t come easy.  But for love, it’s always worth the fight.

 

Olivia finds bliss unlike any she’s ever known in Cash’s arms.  He sets her skin on fire and melts her heart right inside her chest.  Unfortunately, their happily ever after is short-lived when a shadow from Cash’s past threatens to turn their world upside down.

   Dangerous people from his father’s world have discovered that Cash holds information that could put them away for a very long time.  And they’re willing to do anything—and hurt anybody—to get it back.  Giving it up means Cash must choose between the life of his father and the life of Olivia.

Having nearly overcome her wariness of bad boys, Olivia’s trust is shaken when this new threat arises.  Now she finds that Cash is not only a danger to her heart, but his family has associations that are a danger to her life as well.  She soon discovers that there are some situations in life where trust is a girl’s only option.  And this is one of them.  If she’s to live, she must trust Cash with her life.  But to Olivia, that’s much, much easier than letting go and trusting him with her heart.

 

 

** This review does not contain spoilers for Up to Me.**

 

 

Oh my gosh! It is going to be a tough, tough job to review Up to Me without giving spoilers! Hmmm... what can I say about Up to Me? It's scorching hot; this is Cash we're dealing with here. It's suspenseful, going in a direction I honestly never imagined when I began this series. And it is shocking. SHOCKING, I say! Yeah, I better stop right there because I seriously want to just shout it out. But I won't. You're welcome.

Okay, I really enjoyed Down to You, it was funny, sexy, and surprising. I didn't love every decisioin the characters made, but that's life. People don't make smart or logical choices at least half of the time. I also felt that Olivia was a little too accepting of Cash and his misleading lifestyle. Because of this, I was a bit scared to start Up to Me. Would all the lies be glossed over? Would Cash and Olivia be blissfully in love without a care about the past?

I am happy to say that Leighton handled the newly formed relationship between Cash and Olivia very well. Olivia is with Cash, and she does believe in him, but there are doubts. And questions. And even if I personally would push an issue like that with my guy, until we both went crazy, Olivia chooses to trust Cash, what she feels, what she sees in his eyes, and let her heart take the lead. I think she's made a great decision. ;-) And to that, I'll add: Really, there are no guarantees in love.

Besides the relationship between Cash and Olivia, we also have an insanely intense plot in Up to Me. Bad things happen. Shady people from Cash's past, not of his own doing, come back to take away what's his. There is a lot of maneuvering and manipulating to get through this doozy with everyone safe and sound. An upside to this scenario is Gavin, an old friend and ally of Cash's. He is so sexy and great with a funny line to ease the tension. I WANT MORE GAVIN. And like I mentioned at the beginning of my review, the shocker. I want to talk about this sooooo badly. *slams head on desk repeatedly*

Michelle Leighton delivered a real treat with Up to Me. Fans of Down to You are going to love it.



Favorite Quote:

  I run my fingers through my hair again. My hard-on isn't a problem anymore; the sound of Marissa's voice took care of that. In fact, it almost gave me a damned vagina.


  "It's me," he says softly. "Stop listening to everything else. Remember the way you feel when I'm kissing you and touching you. Don't think with your head. You know me. And when my lips are on yours, you trust me." As if to make his point, he dips his head and brushes his mouth over mine. Sparks fly between us. As always. "You trust me, when my hands are on your skin." He runs his palms down my arms and then over my waist where he pushes them up under the edge of my shirt. Chills break out down my back. "You trust me when you turn your mind off, when you just feel."


  "You're crazy, you know that, right?"
  "Of course. Was it supposed to be a secret?"
  "No, I think that ship has sailed."
  I turn my head slightly and bite his flat male nipple.
  "Ouch! Keep doing that and you'll get the best damn spanking you've ever had."
  "I've never been spanked befor, so the bar is set very low."


  No one says anything for a few minutes, not until Gavin breaks the tense silence. "Damn, that woman is one mighty bitch. I think my balls just now dropped back down." 

 

The Bad Boys Series

(click on cover to read my review)

 

 

You can purchase Up to Me at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble


About the author:
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

{COVER REVEAL} UP TO ME (THE BAD BOYS SERIES #2) by M. LEIGHTON

Happy Tuesday. I have just the thing to get your day off to a super sexy start. M. Leighton is revealing the cover for the sequel to Down to You, titled Up to Me. Up to Me (The Bad Boys Series #2) releases January 6, 2013. So in the meantime, the cover...

**Have you recovered yet? That's okay, take a moment, then read the synopsis. **

 

Happily ever after doesn’t come easy.  But for love, it’s always worth the fight.

 

Olivia finds bliss unlike any she’s ever known in Cash’s arms.  He sets her skin on fire and melts her heart right inside her chest.  Unfortunately, their happily ever after is short-lived when a shadow from Cash’s past threatens to turn their world upside down.

   Dangerous people from his father’s world have discovered that Cash holds information that could put them away for a very long time.  And they’re willing to do anything—and hurt anybody—to get it back.  Giving it up means Cash must choose between the life of his father and the life of Olivia.

Having nearly overcome her wariness of bad boys, Olivia’s trust is shaken when this new threat arises.  Now she finds that Cash is not only a danger to her heart, but his family has associations that are a danger to her life as well.  She soon discovers that there are some situations in life where trust is a girl’s only option.  And this is one of them.  If she’s to live, she must trust Cash with her life.  But to Olivia, that’s much, much easier than letting go and trusting him with her heart.

 

Okay. So Up to Me sounds super intense. Can't wait to find out how Cash and Olivia work through this. Be sure to add Up to Me to your TBR.