#Review In Too Deep by Tracey Alvarez

Title: In Too Deep

Author: Tracey Alvarez
Rating: 4.5 stars

I first discovered this author when I agreed to read and review the third book in this series, Ready To Burn. I loved it so much that I went looking for more from this author and found that this first book in the same series was free. Of course that meant I had to download it right away and I'm so glad I did.

Hard as it is to believe, I think I fell in love with West and Piper even more than I did Del and Shaye from Ready To Burn. Both West and Piper are strong characters and stubborn in their own way. But everything that happened between the two of them was believable. I completely understood Piper's feelings about what had happened in the past, both between her and West and with her family. It was nice to see the evolution of all of that and how the author both resolved things and also set up the next book in the series.

The editing in this one was almost flawless. There was one plot point that was repeated as if it was new information and it briefly pulled me out of the story. Other than that, I was once again amazed by this authors storytelling.

I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a well rounded romance with a touch of family drama.

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Author Bio

Tracey Alvarez lives in the Coolest Little Capital in the World (a.k.a Wellington, New Zealand) where she’s yet to be buried under her to-be-read book pile by Wellington’s infamous wind—her Kindle’s a lifesaver! Married to a wonderfully supportive IT guy, she has two teens who would love to be surgically linked to their electronic devices.

Fuelled by copious amounts of coffee, she’s the author of contemporary romantic fiction set predominantly in New Zealand. Small-towns, close communities, and families are a big part of the heart-warming stories she writes. Oh, and hot, down-to-earth heroes—Kiwi men, in other words.

When she’s not writing, thinking about writing, or procrastinating about writing, Tracey can be found reading sexy books of all romance genres, nibbling on smuggled chocolate bars, or bribing her kids to take over the housework. 

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#TeaserTuesday The Gates Legacy by Lorenz Font

   

 

Series: The Gates Legacy

Author: Lorenz Font

Genre: Romance / Paranormal

Cover Design: Phantasy Graphics Design

Publisher: The Writer's Coffee Shop

Release Date: June 4, 2015

Available from: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS PH

~~EXCERPT~~

  It was when he brushed his hand down her cheek that she felt his tenderness firsthand. It was a slow caress she hadn’t expected from a man with so much strength in him. Isidora leaned into his touch. “I know you won’t.” She closed her eyes. If this was as far as he’d allow himself to go, it was enough for her. “Issy, you have no idea what your offer is doing to me.” Cyrus’ breathing grew ragged. “What am I doing to you?” She opened her eyes just in time to see the hunger etched in his face, his fangs elongating until they were punching his lower lip. “You make me want to rip off your clothes. Stop teasing a hungry dog with a big bone.” In this quiet moment, Cyrus was all she wanted. The air grew electric, and the magnetism between them was undeniable, so strong she could touch it. Her gaze slid down to the massive tenting in his pants and couldn’t deny her own hunger. “You’re going to kiss me.” “Damn right I will.” He closed the small gap and crushed his mouth against hers, his kiss hard and filled with urgency. Issy rode the tide, tasting, stroking, and feeling the jolt of life from his lips. She pressed her body closer, but he ended the kiss abruptly. Way too soon. “You better run, little girl.” He turned away. “I’m not going to run. Take what is freely given to you.” She touched his shoulder, caressing the taut muscle.    

~~OTHER TITLES IN THE SERIES~~

 

~~SUMMARY~~

The vampires of New York City are breathing easier after the demise of the tyrannical former head of the Vampire Council, Goran. Under Rohnert, the revered and newly ascended leader, their future looks promising. However, an unknown enemy is manipulating events, killing humans and vampires alike, and exposing their secrets to the human world.

This is bad news for new vampire Cyrus and his band of fighters at Tack Enterprises. Events derail his plans to find Zane, the sadistic vampire who tortured Cyrus and forced immortality on him. Armed with hatred deep in his bones, all Cyrus cares about is getting even, and Zane has it coming. Cyrus soon finds himself torn between the crippling desire for revenge and his responsibility to his friends. When he begins to spend time in the company of the beautiful and pureblooded vampire, Isidora, her presence in his life makes him rethink his priorities.

Isidora is able to read minds. The thoughts she hears from the respected and irresistible vampire, Cyrus, are filled with both anger towards Zane and a deep admiration for her. Being closeted all her life, Issy has no idea what to do in the face of the outside world’s war, death, and challenges. One thing is clear. She craves Cyrus, but his need for vengeance is clouding his mind. After discovering a previously hidden family member and being called to serve the Council, Issy is at a crossroads in her life and struggles to find the right path.

Both vampires face tough choices. Should Issy pursue her feelings for Cyrus or wait until he can return her affection? Will Cyrus deny his attraction to Isidora so he can kill the man who made his life a living hell on earth? Every decision leads to a reckoning.

 

~~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~~

Lorenz Font discovered her love of writing after reading a celebrated novel that inspired one idea after another. She is currently enjoying the buzz from her vampire novels Hunted, Tormented and Ascension, Books 1-3 of The Gates Legacy Series, Feather Light, an erotic romance, Indivisble Line, a romance thriller and Pieces of Broken Time, a military romance.

Lorenz’s perfect day consists of writing and lounging on her garage couch, aka the office, with a glass of her favorite cabernet while listening to her ever-growing music collection. She enjoys dabbling in different genres, with an intense focus on angst and the redemption of flawed characters. Her fascination with romantic twists is a mainstay in all her stories.

Lorenz lives in California with her husband, children, and two demanding dogs. She divides her time between her full-time job and her busy writing schedule.

 

~~CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR~~

Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Website

~~OTHER TITLES BY THE AUTHOR~~

 

#Review Always The One by Rochelle French

Title: Always The One

Author: Rochelle French
Rating: 2.5 stars

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

This is the first book I've read by this author and I have mixed feelings about it. I loved the set up, a small town sheriff and a local girl who shows back up in town after spending the last five years in prison. It made for an interesting dynamic.

As I said, this book had potential. And don't get me wrong, it's not a bad book. It's just not great either. Which, in my opinion, is sad because it could have been.

Remy and Coraleen were great characters. I loved their back story...how they met and everything that led up to her going off to prison. They were both good to a fault. Him going above and beyond to uphold the law. And her willing to do anything for those she loved including breaking the law.

What I thought needed work was the execution.There was a lot of repetition of situations and wording. The heroine was in a prison called AZ/PC and that must have been stated at least fifty times in the book. Also, the characters felt the need to continue to refer to the hero by both his first and last name. It felt odd and out of place in a conversation between friends.

I would recommend this book to those who like small town romances with characters willing to go above and beyond for the ones they love.

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Author Bio

Rochelle French is a contemporary romance novelist. She has been reading and writing fiction since childhood. Raised on a farm out in the middle of nowhere—without even a TV—as soon as she learned how to read, books became her best friends. 

Now she lives in Northern California, raising her own children in the same small town where she grew up. She still finds fabulous friends between the pages of novels and is grateful every day that she gets to create new friends in the characters she invents.

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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.

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