Tuesday, 4 February 2014

Release Day Blitz - Girl in Love by Caisey Quinn | #giveaway & #review


The highly anticipated conclusion to the Kylie Ryans series is 

AVAILABLE NOW! 


Coming soon to iTunes and Kobo!



SYNOPSIS

She's living her dream...

Kylie Ryans is the biggest thing to come out of Nashville since, well, since Trace Corbin. With a hit album and a powerful label behind her, she appears to be the girl who has it all.

But appearances can be deceiving.

Fresh out of rehab, Trace Corbin is ready to take on the world. Just not the girl he walked away from. Because if there's one thing he knows for certain, it's that the people you love are the ones who have the power to destroy you.

As their worlds collide, they'll have to make the ultimate choice. Follow their dreams, or give it all up for love.

They say love conquers all, but for Kylie and Trace, it just might wreck everything they've worked for.


TRAILER





EXCERPT 


“I don’t want to be involved in anyone’s game. Not his and not the label’s. That’s how I started out, and I’ve put it behind me. My career is about me. Not about him and not about whatever the label wants to spin us as. He and I are nothing and it’s going to stay that way.”
“He who?” Maude Lowenstein prompted. “If your feelings for him aren’t an issue, then how come you haven’t said his name? He’s not Voltemort, last I checked. Saying his name won’t conjure him out of thin air.”
Kylie resisted the urge to fold her arms and glare at the surprisingly sharp and callous woman in her late sixties. And to storm the hell out. She took a deep breath and shrugged.
“Trace. His name is Trace. And while I fully support his A Hand Up charity-thing, I have no interest in being involved in his benefit concert. I’ll donate a signed guitar or something. But I’m not going to it. I wasn’t even technically invited. We done here?”
She began to scoot out of the booth, but her manager reached out and put a hand on her arm.
“You were invited, Kylie. He’s having a hard time. The venue pulled out because of his rehab stay and so did some of his family-friendly sponsors. The event’s been moved to his property in Macon and his sister called me personally and invited you.”
He’s having a hard time.
The words wrapped around her heart and squeezed. Kylie swallowed and looked up at the ceiling. She sucked in a lungful of air and glanced from her agent to her manager.
“All I have to do is show up?”
The other two people at her table exchanged glances and Chaz cleared his throat.
“Um, not exactly. The label was hoping you and Trace would sing The Other Side of Me. On the tailgate of some truck that’s being donated to his charity.”
Kylie’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Why do they want us to sing it at some benefit? I don’t see how that would make any difference to them.”
“We don’t know for sure,” Maude answered. “But if I had to make an educated guess, I’d say they’re playing with the idea of sending you two on tour together. Again.”



GIVEAWAY






Girl with Guitar  |  Girl on Tour



ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Caisey Quinn lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband, daughter, and other assorted animals. She is the bestselling author of the Kylie Ryans series as well as several New and Young Adult Romance novels featuring country girls finding love in unexpected places. You can find her online at www.caiseyquinnwrites.com. 




Source: eARC for Honest Review from Author
Genre: NA/Adult Country Contemporary

My Review....

So I have mixed reviews on this because 1) I love this series and all things Trace Corbin and Kylie Ryans but for some reason in this book I wanted to throttle Kylie throughout most of the book for being so damn daft and stubborn.
"I'm still just a girl with a guitar, Tonya. Not much has changed except that people actually pay to hear me sing now."
Kylie thinks she is the same person but NOPE she has changed and maybe not for the better. This has nothing to do the the writing or the author but it is one of my biggest pet peeves lately when the majority of the storyline is one big ass assumption after assumption.

"He doesn't love me. Regardless of how I feel or felt about him, he never loved me." 

I wanted to pull out my hair or throw my kindle out so many times when either of them jumped to the wrong conclusion over and over and over again. 


 "Did you even listen to the lyrics to his song tonight? The whole damn thing was about how much he loves you..."

Then FINALLY they both get their heads out of their asses especially Kylie where her head was firmly planted, I'm finally loving it again and for all the reasons that I love this series but then wait for it..... Kylie does the unthinkable and jumps to another bloody conclusion WITHOUT waiting for an explanation and runs a friggin' again.


I think I read too many books which causes me to be jaded sometimes since I run into this particular storyline so much that it drives me mad. My husband asked my why if I get so frustrated do I keep reading it and my answer was simple because even with that frustration I still love the characters and the potential of a story and of course I am chasing for my HEA and once Kylie finally got her shit together I got it in spades.


This book is about the effect of Trace's choices of going to rehab and the aftermath of those choices.  Kylie and Trace are a hot dysfunctional mess individually but together they are something magical.  Trace so sold me this whole book. I have loved him through the whole series but this book by far showcases him and his awesomeness.  Where the first two books was about the hot head that is Kylie Ryans whom is strong and passionate and so full of love for music and all things Trace Corbin.  In these books she is the strong one while Trace is breaking and trying to heal and become the man he believes Kylie deserves.  In this book Trace is that man and then some where Kylie is now the broken one who needs a hand that only true love and music can help her.


This series is an emotional roller coaster about love and music featuring two very dysfunctional but beautiful characters who in the end get the HEA and success that they deserve.   Even though a big part of this particular storyline didn't jive with me I still loved the book, the series and the author.  In the end it is a definite must read for me.

4 Frustrating but still loved it thumbs up!
thumbs upthumbs upthumbs upthumbs up

Release Day Launch - Be With Me by J. Lynn | #excerpt, #giveaway & #review

We are extremely excited to say that J. Lynn's BE WITH ME has been released!!! BE WITH ME is a New Adult contemporary romance being published by Avon (William Morrow), an imprint of HarperCollins, and is a part of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s With You Saga. This book is smoking hot and one you need to go get today!

  Be With Me - Cover    

BE WITH ME Synopsis:

From the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Wait for You
Do Teresa and Jase have a real shot at getting together or will life get in the way?

Teresa Hamilton is having a rough year—she's in love with her big brother's best friend, but he hasn't spoken to her since they shared a truly amazing, mind-blowing, life-changing kiss. Then she got out of a terrible relationship. Now an injury is threatening to end her dance career for good. It's time for plan B: college. And maybe she'll have a chance to convince Jase that what they have together is real.

Jase Winstead has a huge secret that he's not telling anyone—especially not his best friend's incredibly beautiful sister. Even though he and Teresa shared the hottest kiss of his life, he knows that his responsibilities must take priority. He certainly doesn't have time for a relationship. But it doesn't help that all he can think about is kissing the one girl who could ruin everything for him.

As they're thrown together more and more, Jase and Teresa can't keep denying their feelings for each other. But a familiar danger looms and tragedy strikes. As the campus recovers, the star-crossed couple must decide what they're willing to risk to be together and what they're willing to lose if they're not. . . .


EXCERPT: 

“You got a visitor, Tess.” He rested his chin atop my head, which caused my pulse to try
to outrun my heart. “Two of them to be exact.”
“Okay.”
There was a pause. “Are your eyes closed?”
“No.”
His chin slid off my head and then his chest rumbled as he laughed. “Your eyes are
closed.” He laughed again. “Open them up.”  
Cursing under my breath, I pried one eye open and then jerked against him. His arm
tightened. “Oh wow …”
The black-and-white horse was the closest, standing mere feet away from me. The brown
one wasn’t too far, shaking its head and making soft snorts. My eyes were wide as they bounced
between the two creatures. “They’re not carnivorous, right? Because at their size, they could eat
me.”
Jase laughed deeply as his hand shifted up, resting in the center of my stomach, just
below my breasts. “Horses do not eat people, you little idiot.”
I started, eyes narrowing. “There’s always a first.”
The lips pulled back on the black-and-white horse as if it was smirking at me. 
            “This one right here? Mr. Friendly? Jack calls him Bubba One,” he said in a quiet,
calming voice. But air hitched in my throat when his thumb moved in a slow circle over the thin
material of my tank top, hitting against the wire in my bra. “And the brown one is Bubba Two.”
Mouth dry, I wetted my lips. “That’s good for remembering names.”
He chuckled as his pinkie and forefinger started to move up and down, reaching my belly
button and then sliding back up. It was almost as if he was unaware of what he was doing, or the
electrifying response the tiny motions were dragging out of me. “I think so too, but his real name
is Lightning.”
Said horse shook his head, tossing the shaggy mane.
“Lightning seems to be a more suitable name,” I admitted, relaxing as the seconds
passed. Maybe that was his intention. Distract me with the soft, almost innocent touches. It was
working. “What about Bubba Two?  
“Ah, the one who is staring at the pail like it’s the holy mecca of grain?” His cheek
grazed mine as I laughed. “That’s Thunder. And we’re going to feed them. Together.”
The friction his fingers created with my shirt sent tiny shivers up and down my back.
“With our hands?”
His answering laugh tipped the corners of my lips up. “Yes. With our hands.”
“After checking out the choppers on them, I’m not so sure about that.”
“You’ll be okay.” He slid his hand off my stomach and wrapped it around my wrist.
Slowly, he lifted my hand out in front of me. “Hold still.”
My heart lurched. “Jase—”
Lightning trotted forward and pressed his wet nose against my hand. I cringed, waiting
for him to eat my poor fingers. The horse didn’t. Nope. It nudged my hand as it whinnied softly. 
He guided my hand up over Lightning’s jaw, all the way to the pointy, twitchy ears.
“See?” he murmured. “That’s not too bad, is it?”
I shook my head as my fingers curled along the soft coat. Lightning seemed to anticipate
the direction of the petting, pressing his long head against my hand as my fingers tangled in his
mane. It wasn’t bad at all. 
Jase shifted behind me, and in an instant all thoughts of the horses evaporated. His hips
lined up against my backside, and I bit down on my lower lip as I focused on the white splotch
covering Lightning’s muzzle. 
I could feel him—feel Jase. And there was absolutely no doubt in my mind that he was
affected by how close we were standing. That knowledge and the hard length of him left me
dizzy, just like it had done that Saturday night. An all too warm flush spread down my neck. In
the back of my head, I was rationalizing his physical reaction. He was a guy. Our bodies were pressed
together. If a wind blew on a guy’s private area, they got hard. So I should just ignore it,
but my body was so not on board with my head. My body was operating on a different playing
field. An ache centered low in my stomach. A sharp and sweet yearning raced through my veins. 
“Not so scary, right?” His voice was deeper, richer. “They’re like dogs. Well, like a dog
that can carry around two hundred pounds, if not more.” Hand sliding off mine, he stepped back,
and the sudden emptiness of his body was like a cold shock. “Trust me.”
Then he smacked my ass.
 
Buy Links: Amazon Barnes and Noble   

Author Photo
Jennifer L. Armentrout/J. Lynn Bio:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.


Release Day Launch 


 Links: 

Source: eARC for Honest Review from Williams Morrow/Harper Collins via Edelweiss  
Genre: NA Contemporary

My Review...

There is just something so beautiful about this series.  

After falling in love with Cameron Hamilton I wasn't sure if I had much more love to go around, but I sure did when it came to Jase Winstead. 


Jase, I knew he had some secrets but finally finding them out broke my heart. Poor Jase.

For Teresa after a potential career ending injury she is forced to go to college temporary while she heals.  So she decides to follow in Cameron's foot steps and go to the same college but lo and behold so does Jase who also happens to star in every one of Teresa's fantasies. 

Teresa and Jase have a connection but it's complicated with both of their pasts and Cameron.   While Teresa is finding her way at college she is also forced to deal with her past demons at the same time she can't seem to stay away from Jase.  After realizing the inevitable Teresa and Jase finally realize that the potential of them is worth the risk until too many emotions get involved and pasts come to light. 

This was a beautiful journey of Jase and Teresa finding love and life in a world of wrongs. It was touching, emotional & sweet and so worth the read.

I think I may have a little author crush on J.Lynn so I'm going to gush for a bit here.  I love the way J.Lynn captures the heart and the emotions in her books.  From the very beginning on all the books that I have read of hers I have been hooked and invested of what is to come. This series by far is one of my favorite NA series and I can't wait to read more.

4.5 Stunning Thumbs up!
thumbs upthumbs upthumbs upthumbs up . 5 
Lauren


Monday, 3 February 2014

Book Boyfriend Monday - Jacob 'Deck' Decker

Oh Boy! Kristen Ashley has done it again by giving me yet again another beautiful man to covet over.  This week Book BF Monday goes to the very deserved Jacob 'Deck' Decker from Kaleidoscope (Colorado Mountain #6) by Kristen Ashley

Oh beautiful beautiful Deck who stole my heart utterly and completely.

I fell for Deck because...
  1. He is so loyal
  2. He is so beautiful and loving
  3. He is so strong and willing


Some of the reason why Deck stole my heart:




All phrases and quotes from eARC of Kaleidoscope by Kristen Ashley courtesy of Forever via NetGalley

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D5YWZFQ/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00D5YWZFQ&linkCode=as2&tag=lirebr-20

Kaleidoscope (Colorado Mountain #6)

by
When old friends become new lovers...anything can happen.

Sexy, gifted, and loyal, PI Jacob Decker is a tall, cool drink of perfection who had Emmanuelle Holmes at "hello." His relationship with Emme's best friend kept them apart for years, but things have changed. Now that a case has brought him to Gnaw Bone, Colorado, the road is wide open for Emme and Deck to explore something hotter and deeper than Emme dreamed possible. So why is she sabotaging the best thing that's ever happened to her?

It isn't easy to catch Deck off guard, but Emme does just that when she walks back into his life after nine long years. The curvy brunette had her charms back in the day, but now she's a bona fide knockout . . . and she wants to rekindle their friendship. Deck, however, wants more. Emme's always been the one; she excites Deck's body and mind like no other woman can. But a dark chapter from Emme's past overshadows their future together. Now only Deck can help her turn the page-if she'll let him . . .



Brazen Release day blast & #giveaway | Staking His Claim (Line of Duty #5) - #review


If you like your heroes hot, the sex hotter, and a swoon-worthy romance to swoop in and save your happily ever after, Brazen has the story for you. Sinfully sexy soldiers. Alpha cops who demand control. Sweet guys with a naughty side in the bedroom. At Brazen, they've got the hero destined to melt your... heart. Visit the Entangled website, the Brazen Blog, follow them on Twitter, Like their Facebook page, and follow them on Pinterest.


Introducing Brazen's Feb 3rd releases:

She thought she'd sworn off military men for good...

Find out More!


Special $0.99 Introductory Price!

Amazon   B&N   Kobo   iTunes
He wants her. 
All of her.

Find out More!


Special $0.99 Introductory Price!

Amazon   B&N   Kobo   iTunes
This soldier's the perfect hoax if she doesn't fall for him first.

Find out More!


Special $0.99 Introductory Price!

Amazon   B&N   Kobo   iTunes


Join the The Boys of Brazen Military Bash on 2/10 from 7-10pm EST. Four fabulous Brazen authors (and their men!) will read steamy scenes from each other's Military Hero books. As an additional treat, several other Brazen authors will be stopping by to help celebrate the hunky heroes of the military. 
 Throughout the event authors will be asking readers questions and giving away prizes. Hope to see you there! 
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Staking His Claim (Line of Duty #5)

by
He wants her. All of her.

NYPD sniper Matt Donovan is in Hell. Instead of driving his best friend’s little sister home from college, he’s stuck with her roommate—a fresh-faced ray-of-sunshine with a body that makes grown men weep. There’s no way he’ll allow himself to taint the little vixen, no matter how hard she tries to tempt him, so he resigns himself to the longest—and hardest—drive of his life.

Matt’s obvious attraction suits grad student Lucy Mason just fine. She had no idea her brother’s best friend was so deliciously hot. Knowing he’d never have his wicked way with his buddy’s sister, she lies about her identity and seduces him. But Matt’s no fumbling college boy. His desires run deep—and dark—and he wants to teach Lucy what wicked really means.

Matt’s demanding appetites only make Lucy want more. But when her cover's blown, he’s furious—even as his hunger for her becomes insatiable. Matt can’t trust anyone, least of all himself. And he knows all too well that darkness always destroys the light…


 
Source: eARC for Honest Review from Brazen/Entangled 
Genre: Adult Contemporary

My Review...

Damn Tessa Bailey! She sure does know how to write some dirty talking dominating men.

Let's start with that I love this series!!!! 

Here we finally get to find out what Matt is hiding from his wise words of wisdom.  From the other books we know that Matt is a man of few words and has a reason for being the way he is but never really sure why.   


Lucy who is Brent's little sister has always been a nuisance or trouble maker well according to everyone else.  For Lucy for once she just wants to be seen and loved for her.  

As Lucy is waiting for a ride home from her brother's friend she quickly finds out that he already has an opinion of her but doesn't know what she looks like so she chooses to pretend to be her best friend Sasha instead of Lucy.  

For Matt the minute he sees 'Sasha' he is instantly attracted to her and tries not to give in to his urges but with circumstance and Lucy's power of persuasion Matt finally gives in to his urges and takes 'Sasha'. 


Regretting the choice of lying Lucy tries to forget what happened with Matt but since he is Brent's friend her lies quickly come to the surface. 

Matt has his demons and the one thing he does NOT tolerate is liars....but that doesn't mean he can stop thinking about Lucy. 

There chemistry is through the roof and it can't be denied on both accounts but trying to do right by Lucy and making bad decisions causes Matt to almost lose everything. 

"...She's not your sister to me. She's Lucy. She's the girl who makes me feel human." 


 "Holy hell, Matt"  Her voice wavered. "Have I mentioned that when you talk, you really make it count?" 

There is just something terrific about this series with the great banter, great chemistry and a great balance of angst and romance. 

4 Staking Thumbs up!
thumbs upthumbs upthumbs upthumbs up
Lauren


 

Sunday, 2 February 2014

Kaleidoscope (Colorado Mountain #6) - #review

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D5YWZFQ/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00D5YWZFQ&linkCode=as2&tag=lirebr-20
Kaleidoscope (Colorado Mountain #6)

by
When old friends become new lovers...anything can happen.

Sexy, gifted, and loyal, PI Jacob Decker is a tall, cool drink of perfection who had Emmanuelle Holmes at "hello." His relationship with Emme's best friend kept them apart for years, but things have changed. Now that a case has brought him to Gnaw Bone, Colorado, the road is wide open for Emme and Deck to explore something hotter and deeper than Emme dreamed possible. So why is she sabotaging the best thing that's ever happened to her?

It isn't easy to catch Deck off guard, but Emme does just that when she walks back into his life after nine long years. The curvy brunette had her charms back in the day, but now she's a bona fide knockout . . . and she wants to rekindle their friendship. Deck, however, wants more. Emme's always been the one; she excites Deck's body and mind like no other woman can. But a dark chapter from Emme's past overshadows their future together. Now only Deck can help her turn the page-if she'll let him . . .








Source: eARC for Honest Review from Forever via NetGalley
Genre: Adult Contemporary

My Review...

OMG I loved it!  While reading this book I was reminded why I first fell in love with KA's writing and her alpha males.

This was perfection. I loved everything about it. 

Oh beautiful beautiful Deck who stole my heart utterly and completely. 

I loved the beautiful journey of Emme and Jacob. So heartfelt so right.


For Deck he's a strong loyal man who once loved and was burnt badly.  With the loss of his love, he also lost one of his best friends and closest confidantes.   Deck finally sets root in Chantelle  close to one of his best friend's Chace from Breathe book #4.

Nine years later he literally runs into Emme on the street in Gnaw bone when he is asked in to be part of an investigation of a B & E ring that has already caused the death of one young teenager.  When Deck sees Emme again who has drastically changed Deck didn't even recognize her except for her voice and demeanor.


With this new investigation Emme and her boyfriend are front and center. Deck takes on the investigation to not only clear Emme but also get the chance to get close to her again.

With Emme and Deck their friendship is rekindled like they never had time apart.  Instantly Deck realizes that when he thought he got burnt from love, his loss wasn't his love but the loss of Emme that truly burnt him so he vows to quickly change that.


For Emme she is friggin' adorable with her lame attempts to contact with Deck not realizing that she  wants him more than just a rekindled friendship.

Deck bulldozes into a new found relationship with Emme wasting no time since they had already lost so many years but the further they take their relationship the more Deck realizes that Emme is very broken from her past and for the first time he doesn't know how to fix this situation.


Ugh! I absolutely love the journey of Emme and Deck and their love.

Just turn the dial.
He didn't turn the fucking dial.
Not for a long time.
Then he did. He'd turned the dial.
You're everything to me.
And found beauty.

Such a great story! I so recommend this story, this series and let's be honest basically anything from Kristen Ashley.

5 Beautiful Thumbs up!
thumbs upthumbs upthumbs upthumbs upthumbs up
Lauren



Saturday, 1 February 2014

Top 10 Favorite Fictional Couples | Sweetheart Blog Hop & Givewaway

Valentine's Day Giveaway 2014

Welcome to the 
2014 Sweetheart Blog Hop & Giveaway!

Enter to win a 
$100 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal Cash!
&
Browse & link up your Valentine's Day related 
posts in the linky below! 

February 1st - February 14th, 2014

Host:

Sponsors: 


Ready to Party? Great, let's get started!

Enter the Sweetheart Giveaway 
for a Chance to Win a $100 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal Cash!



Disclaimer: VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Must be of legal age to enter. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Rafflecopter and other social media sites are not related to, or affiliated with this giveaway in any way.  So Simply Stephanie is responsible for winner notifications and prize delivery. One winner will be selected via the Rafflecopter and will receive their choice of a $100 USD Amazon Gift eCard or $100 USD PayPal Cash. Winner will be selected on February 15th, 2014, and announced on SoSimplyStephanie.com. Winner will also be notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond. If winner does not respond another winner will be selected. 


In the spirit of Valentine's day coming closer and the Sweetheart blog hop I want to focus on Love and what better way to honor this then celebrating with some of my favorite fictional couples.  In no particular order here is my list.

My Top 10 Favorite Fictional Couples

1) Zsadist & Bella from Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward
2) Kellan and Kiera from the Thoughtless Series by S.C. Stephens
3) Christian and Anastasia from Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
4) Max & Nina from The Gamble (Colorado Mountain #1) by Kristen Ashley
5) Horse & Marie from Reaper's Property (Reaper's MC #1) by Joanna Wylde
6) Tate & Lauren from Sweet Dreams (Colorado Mountain #2) by Kristen Ashley
7) Dean & Liv from The Spiral of Bliss Series by Nina Lane
8) Jesse & Ava from the This Man series by Jodie Ellen Malpas
9) Proph & Tommy from The Hell or High Water series by S.E. Jakes
10) Tack & Tyra from Motorcycle Man (Dream Man Series #4) by Kristen Ashley


Now it's Time to Link-Up Your Valentine's Day Blog Posts! 
Please be sure to visit others and comment to let them know you stopped by. Your submissions can include crafts, recipes, romance books,  activities, Top 10 lists, and anything else Valentine's Day Related! Plus, browse other great posts, and vote for your top 3 favorites!


Thanks for stopping by! If you haven't already, be sure to visit our Sponsors! They all donated to the giveaway to make this event possible!