Score One For Love Box Set #Romance

#Review Risking Hearts by Iona Findley #ContemporaryRomance

Title: Risking Hearts

Author: Iona Findley
Rating: 4 stars

I was given this book by the author for an honest review.

This is the second book I've read by this author and the second in her Hero's Heart Series. To read my review of the first book, Opening Hearts, click here.

One of the things that impressed me about this second book was the improvement I saw in the author's writing. The pacing was much better and so was the character development. There was a lot more focus on the main couple in this one and I liked that.

Jake was very easy to love. He did a few things in this book that had me getting that warm feeling in my chest. Hope was a very interesting character as well. The author did a very good job with the evolution of her character.

While there was distinct improvement in this book over the first one, there were still a few issues. I found minor editing issues as I did in the first one where words, commas, or periods were missing. However, as far as grammatical errors go it was nothing that couldn't have been fixed by a good proofreader. The biggest issue I had, though, was in regards to research. There is a flight Jake makes that is highly improbable and actually violates FAA regulations. If he was presented as a reckless pilot, this might be able to be explained but he's made out to be just the opposite.

Even with those issues, I highly enjoyed the story. I think this is an author to watch and one I hope to continue following.

I would recommend this book to anyone show is looking for a solid contemporary romance with a little bit of heat.

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Author Bio

Iona Findley embarked on her career as a romance writer with her very first words, "love, love, love," which she carefully dictated to her mother. Despite spurious rumors, probably the work of a jealous sibling, that her words might actually have been, "lub, lub, lub," (surely not!) or even "blub, blub, blub" (horrors!), Iona pursued a vocation in romance writing with enthusiasm. Writing fulltime now Iona fulfils the promise of her early words crafting intriguing novels of "love, love, love." 

For a complete listing of books, and news about upcoming releases visit IonaFindley.com. For readers who would like to contact Iona directly—please do! Iona can be reached via email at IonaFindley@gmail.com. She also loves to connect with readers via Facebook and Twitter. 

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#TeaserTuesday Get the MORE Box Set For Only 99 cents

For the first time, T.M. Franklin's action-packed MORE Trilogy will soon be available as ONE combined volume. And for a limited time, you can grab ALL THREE books for only $.99! Pre-order today!

Read on for a little teaser from MORE, the first book in the Trilogy.

Ava Michaels used to think she was special.

As a child, she fantasized about having magical powers . . . making things happen. But Ava grew up and eventually accepted the fact that her childish dreams were just that, and maybe a normal life wasn't so bad after all.

Now a young college student, Ava meets Caleb Foster, a brilliant and mysterious man who's supposed to help her pass physics, but in reality has another mission in mind. What he shows Ava challenges her view of the world, shaking it to its very core.

Because Caleb isn't quite what he seems. In fact, he's not entirely human, and he's not the only one.

Together, the duo faces a threat from an ancient race bound to protect humans, but only after protecting their own secrets--secrets they fear Ava may expose. Fighting to survive, Ava soon learns she's not actually normal . . . she's not even just special.

She's a little bit more.

The Complete Young Adult Fantasy Adventure - For One Low Price!

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Was that . . . ?
Were those footsteps?
Ava’s heartbeat quickened, her palms growing moist even in the brisk cold. She flipped the safety off the pepper spray, her thumb poised over the button. As she neared the bridge marking the halfway point to her dorm, she glanced over her shoulder quickly. Seeing nothing, she hurried over the bridge, cursing the burned-out bulb that left it in darkness.
Suddenly, a stifling feeling overcame her—like a dark blanket had been thrown over her head to suffocate her—and she whirled around, her backpack clattering to the ground as she whipped the pepper spray out of her pocket and held it at arm’s length. Ava gulped for air, eyes frantically darting about, and the trembling hand holding the pepper spray flailing as wildly as her gaze. She was sure someone was there. She swore she could feel them. She stood frozen with fear, waiting . . . watching.
After a few long moments, she shook her head, glad nobody had witnessed her desperate panic. With a heavy sigh, she pocketed her pepper spray, embarrassed at her own ridiculousness. She had to stop this nonsense. She was driving herself crazy. It was just a dream making her jumpy, nothing else.
Just a crazy, scary dream.
Ava bent to pick up her backpack, sliding it onto her shoulder as she scanned the horizon one more time. With a self-deprecating chuckle, she turned around to continue home.
Only to stop short in terror.
A man—a huge man—stood before her, mouth twisted in rage. He towered over her, at least six and a half feet tall, his shoulders wide, and arms banded with muscle. Shaved close to his head, his dark hair shadowed his skull, and his intimidating appearance was only enhanced by the jagged scar running down the right side of his face, from forehead to chin. He didn’t wear a coat, only a tight, black shirt and fatigues, black boots on his feet, and a wide leather belt with a mean-looking gun holstered at his hip.
It couldn’t be. But it was.
It was him. The man from her nightmares.
Ava scrambled back, but he reached out in a flash, gripping her upper arms and lifting her up so her toes barely brushed the ground. One hand slid to her throat, and he held her easily, pulling her closer to his frightening face.
“Please,” she begged, the word catching as she fought to breathe.
The man’s glare tightened, and Ava stared in morbid fascination at his mismatched eyes—blue and green—odd and vividly terrifying. She struggled, reaching for her pepper spray, only to have it slip from her fingers as she kicked out at the man.
He responded by laughing humorlessly, flipping her around and banding one arm around her torso. His grip was like iron, and she could barely breathe.
“Please,” she said again, dizziness closing in. “I can’t,” she gasped.
A press of metal to her temple transformed her fearful trembles into horrified shudders. She had no doubt. She was going to die. Her eyelids fluttered shut in defeat as he cocked the gun, the loud click echoing off the trees.
Then, a flash of black, a gust of wind, and suddenly she could breathe again. The man’s grip loosened, but he didn’t release her.
“Damn you,” he growled. “Stay out of this!”
Ava pushed him, her efforts in vain, as he hitched her up in response, tucking her under his arm like a bag of groceries. She kicked her legs, flailing desperately as the man spun about, pointing his gun into the darkness.
“Show yourself, you coward!”
The same flash of black, another blast of wind, and Ava fell to the ground, her head cracking on the concrete. She curled onto her side, moaning, lifting a hand to the back of her head, and squinting in shock at the blood that came away, streaking across her trembling palm.
Low grunts and the crack of bone on flesh floated on the air toward her, muzzy with her disorientation. She tried to focus, but could only make out two dark figures exchanging blows. Ava tried to sit up, but collapsed back onto the icy ground, overcome by a shock of dizziness and nausea.
Suddenly, the two dark beings seemed to meld into one, and in the next moment, she felt herself floating. She blinked; a face took form above her briefly, the features cast in shadow.
“Do I . . . do I know you?” she mumbled, fighting for consciousness.
“I’ve got you,” a low voice replied, and Ava nodded as a cool palm stroked her forehead, and the darkness consumed her.
-MORE, Chapter 4

T.M. Franklin writes stories of adventure, romance, & a little magic. A former TV news producer, she decided making stuff up was more fun than reporting the facts. Her first published novel, MORE, was born during National Novel Writing month, a challenge to write a novel in thirty days. MORE was well-received, being selected as a finalist in the 2013 Kindle Book Review Best Indie Book Awards, as well as winning the Suspense/Thriller division of the Blogger Book Fair Reader's Choice Awards. She's since written three additional novels and several best-selling short stories...and there's always more on the way.

Connect with T.M. Franklin
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#Review Maid For The Rock Star by Demelza Carlton

Title: Maid For The Rock Star
Author: Demelza Carlton

Rating: 3 stars

I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

It was difficult for me to figure out how to rate this book. To say it's not your traditional romance is putting it mildly. Also, I didn't realize going into it that this was going to be a series, and somewhat of a serial series at that. So I settled on three stars because, well, I didn't know what else to do.

Let's start with what was good. The story itself is solid. It flowed well and it was well edited. I liked Audra, even though I didn't always agree with her decisions.

Now, let's get to what had me scratching my head over what to rate this book. Jay, the hero, was a very hard man to love. One minute I'd like him, and then the next I'd want to throttle him. I have a serious issue about cheating in books, and yes, this has that in it...sort of. Seriously, it's almost impossible to explain without giving away spoilers.

As I said above, this is the first book in a series and I did confirm with the author that Jay and Audra will both be in the next book. She also let me know a little of what would be in that next book and I'm not sure how I feel about that either. I'm curious about the evolution of these two and their relationship, but I'm not sure how the author will ever get me past what I view as huge flaws in the hero himself.

Will I read the next book in the series? I have no idea.

I would recommend this book to those who like flawed heroes and don't mind cheating.


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Author Bio

Demelza Carlton has always loved the ocean, but on her first snorkelling trip she found she was afraid of fish. 

She has since swum with sea lions, sharks and sea cucumbers and stood on spray drenched cliffs over a seething sea as a seven-metre cyclonic swell surged in, shattering a shipwreck below. 

Sensationalist spin? Hardly. She takes a camera with her to photograph such things to share later. She asserts that sharks are camera shy. 

Demelza now lives in Perth, Western Australia, the shark attack capital of the world. 

The Ocean’s Gift series was her first foray into fiction, followed by her Nightmares trilogy.

Website

Happy 4th Birthday to the Finding Anna Series by Sherri Hayes #giveaway

Four years ago on July 26th, Slave, the first book in Sherri Hayes' Bestselling Finding Anna Series hit the market.

Genre: BDSM Romance Series

Buy Links: Amazon | B&N | iBooks

Stephan has lived the lifestyle of a Dominant for five years. After several rebellious teenage years, it gave him the stability and control he had been seeking after his parent’s death.

As president of a not-for-profit foundation, he knows what his future holds and what he wants out of life. All that changes when a simple lunch with his college friend and Mentor, Darren, leads him to buying a slave.

Thrust into a situation he never thought he’d be in, Stephan can’t walk away. He is compelled to help this girl in the only way he knows how.

Brianna knows only one thing, she is a slave. She has nothing. She is nothing.

Can Stephan help Brianna realize that she is much more than just a Slave?

Readers Have Fallen In Love

Slave now has over 100 4 and 5 star ratings on Amazon.

"Slave was a very intense read for me, beautifully written, and left me wanting more." 
~In The Book

"Describing this read is simple- AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! I found every aspect of it to be so good. I couldn't put it down."
~AndreaAH

Finding Anna

Slave is the first book in Sherri's Finding Anna Series. A 4 book serial series that follows Brianna and Stephan through their journey.


"I talk to a lot of readers and the one thing they consistently say is that this is unlike anything they've ever read before. Some see the cover of Slave and assume it's a traditional slave/capture story. That couldn't be further from the truth. Slave, and the rest of Finding Anna, is about a young woman who has to figure out who she is and what she wants to do with her life after suffering through immense trauma. Finding Anna starts where all the other slave/capture stories end...with the rescue." ~Sherri Hayes

As Brianna comes to terms with the realization that she is no longer a slave, she must figure out what she wants for her life. Forgetting her past isn’t an option. It is an integral part of who she is now, and it will forever shape her view of life. The one thing she knows is that she cannot imagine her life without the man who saved her, but can she be what he needs? 

Stephan never imagined falling in love with the woman he rescued, but the thought of her no longer being part of his life is physically painful. The scars from her past continue to haunt her, and he is helpless to stop them. All he can do is try to help her work through the traumas of her past. Can he be everything she needs and help her move on?

The two must figure out how to navigate not only their relationship with each other, but also the outside world. A friend from Brianna’s past shows up where she least expects them, and Uncle Richard continues to enforce his well-meaning agenda to get Brianna more traditional help. As forces, both friend and foe, threaten to tear them apart, Stephan and Brianna have to navigate the turbulent waters and find what they need in each other.

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For the last two months, Brianna has discovered something she never thought she would again. Hope. After the horror of being Ian’s slave for ten months, a fate she never imagined she’d escape, it feels as if she is living a dream. She has freedom she hadn’t expected to have again, and she wakes up every morning not fearing what the day will bring. There is also Stephan. The man who saved her from the daily torture she had to endure at the hands of Ian and his friends. The same man who makes her heart race with just the thought of him. Life is good.

Outside forces are determined to conspire against them, however. When Brianna’s father shows up on her doorstep, it sends her world spiraling out of control. He brings with him new information about how Brianna ended up in Ian’s clutches, but will it make a difference? Will Stephan be able to find a way to make Ian pay for all he made Brianna suffer? As Brianna and Stephan try to find out the truth, their relationship is tested. She is forced to face her past head on, and deal with the ugly reality of what happened to her. Will Stephan’s love be enough to see her through her newest challenge, or will the fragile trust they’ve built come crumbling down around them as the truth makes itself known. 

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Brianna is lost for the fourth time in her life. Each time was unexpected, and each changed the course of her future. The first life-altering event occurred when her mother died, and she moved to Minnesota to live with her father.

The second was when she was kidnapped at the age of seventeen and forced to be a slave. She would never forget those ten months. Brianna thought her life was over.

Everything changed again the day Stephan steamrolled into her life and brought her home to live with him. She had no idea what to expect—what life with her new Master would hold. That first month with Stephan was, in some ways, more confusing than the prior ten. As a slave, she’d known her place. With Stephan everything was new and different. He’d given her freedom and so much more.

Five months after Stephan rescued her, Brianna once again finds her life flipped upside down.

In this fourth, and final, installment of Finding Anna, Brianna must unearth strength she never knew she possessed. Stephan can no longer protect her from the outside world. She must learn to trust herself, embrace who she is, and discover who she wants to be. Only by facing her demons can Brianna find true happiness and peace.

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Finding Anna Box Set

Download all 4 books for only $9.99.

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Giveaway

Grand Prize - $10 Amazon Gift Card

2nd Prize - Sherri Hayes Swag Pack

3rd Prize - Set of Signed Finding Anna Bookmarks

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#TeaserTuesday Coming Out to Play by RE Hargrave

Books for Boobies 2015 Anthology

I've been asked to contribute an exclusive future-take from the The Divine Trilogy to the Books for Boobies 2015 anthology which will ONLY be available during October 2015. 

You won't get to read Coming Out to Play anywhere else! 

. . . but here is unedited excerpt to entice you:

“Daddy home, Momma. Daddy home!” Matt clapped when the sound of the front door closing echoed through the house.

Erin continued pulling plates down to set the table. “Here we go,” she thought and sucked in a breath when her son disappeared from the kitchen. Squaring her shoulders, Erin went about her task.

A few minutes later Jayden appeared, their boy riding his hip and talking animatedly. Her lids dropped to the floor to avoid eye contact while she stayed busy laying dinner out. Matt chatted away, certain words catching her attention like “nanas” and “hunee,” and then a giggle followed by, “Aye, momma a bad girl.” Perfect.

Taking her seat, Erin looked up into the dark glare of her Master. Months had passed since she’d gotten wet so fast, and now, tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.

TO SERVE IS DIVINE

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A DIVINE LIFE

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SURREAL 

#2015GoldenFloggerAwardFINALIST

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While the book won't be available until October, right now there's a KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN 

running for everyone who wants to help and for those who are looking to get some seriously COOL swag, too. Books for Boobies is a collaborative group of Authors, bloggers and readers united to help raise funds and awareness towards breast cancer charities, such as the National Breast Cancer Foundation, that provides free and low cost mammograms to women in need. Last year, we held our first ever online event and raised nearly $1000 that was donated to that charity. This year we will be hosting an online event in October, but we also have an anthology that will be published for the month of October 2015 only. This collection is a sizzling hot compilation of 30 of todays HOTTEST authors, with each having their own short story of new material from some of their most beloved characters. This collection is only for those 18 years or older due to mature and sexual content. This Kickstarter campaign is to cover costs of promotional items for the anthology.

Please visit to to learn more about us.
Books for Boobies Website

Books for Boobies on Facebook

Pledge Levels from $5-$200+ will get you everything from a tagged shout out up to a signed paperback of the anthology along with custom swag

Pledge $5 or more
Your donation of $5 will entitle you to a tagged shout out thanking you on Facebook and Twitter by your favorite contributing author from the anthology.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2015

UP TO

Pledge $200 or more

Your $200 donation entitles you to a Books for Boobies bumper sticker, a mention in the acknowledgements page of the book, a commemorative postcard of the cover of the book, a free digital copy of the book, a special edition Books for Boobies tote bag, a Books for Boobies tank top and a paperback copy of the book SIGNED BY EVERY CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR.

Estimated delivery: Dec 2015

Only ships to: Australia, Canada, United States, European Union

The Author Roster SO FAR:

#Review Sunrise Ridge by Shirleen Davies

Title: Sunrise Ridge

Author: Shirleen Davies
Rating: 3 stars

I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

It's been a while since I've read a historical romance. I tend to prefer contemporary, but I do, on occasion, pick up a historical if it peeks my interest.

Unfortunately, I wasn't all that impressed with this one. From the blurb I was expecting a heartfelt romance with the hero struggling with the ghosts of his past. While I liked Noah well enough, the blurb made it sounds as if he'd be dealing with issues from his time as an officer in the Union army during the Civil War. Instead, the war had nothing to do with what was keeping him from going after the woman he wanted.

Abby was a good character and for the most part I enjoyed her. While there were a few things she did that irritated me, I had to remind myself that she was only twenty years old and living in a very different time.

There were a lot of characters in this book and a lot of point of view changes. The romance between Noah and Abby ended up getting pushed to the side with everything else going on. I felt the driving romance took a backseat to setting up future stories.

Also, I feel I should mention that this is a 'fade to black' romance. There is a lot of angst...a lot of build up...and then nothing. We make it to the bed with them, and then it's the next morning. After all that build up I was expecting more.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a sweet romance set in the frontier west.


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Author Bio

I have been writing most of my life, but only recently began the transition into fiction. Historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and short stories are what keep me reading, so that is the focus of my writing. 

I was born in California, grew up between a growing beach town and a small town at the base of the San Bernardino mountains. My mother originally planned to name me Katherine, but she read an article in the paper about a woman named Shirleen shortly before my birth, so instead of having a cool nickname, like Kate, I am simply Shirleen. My mainstays growing up were all the Nancy Drew mystery books; I loved them. Eventually I moved on to mysteries, suspense stories, crime novels, and romance. Pride and Prejudice will always be one of my favorites.

Besides California, life changes have allowed me to live in Oregon, Colorado, and Arizona. Everywhere I have lived has been inspirational in one way or another, giving me the opportunity to meet remarkable people with their own stories to tell. I've sailed, skied, owned horses plus lots of other animals, and ridden various off-road vehicles. I enjoy dancing, fishing, hunting, being the back-seater on my husband's Harley, traveling and, of course, reading and writing.

Prior to transitioning to writing fiction, I worked for Fortune 500 and many smaller, start-up companies. Fortunately, I regained my sanity long enough to start my own consulting firm, which I still maintain today. 

My husband and I spend most of our time at our main home in the mountains of Arizona and our second home in Southern California. Between us we have five boys with growing careers and families of their own. So, from my perspective, my life is a success and always an adventure. I wouldn't change a thing; well, except finding more time to write.

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