Thursday, 5 June 2014

Ready For You by J.L. Berg Blog Tour - #giveaway, #review & #excerpt


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KKCU90O/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00KKCU90O&linkCode=as2&tag=lirebr-20&linkId=7SENUOQ4OSNIFYKI
Title: Ready For You
Series: Ready #3
Author: JL Berg
Publication Date: May 26, 2014
SummaryA second chance at first love.

Eight years ago, Garrett Finnegan’s world shattered the day Mia vanished from his life. He’s been struggling to pick up the pieces ever since. Haunted by memories and ghosts of the past, he chooses a solitary existence rather than risk his heart again.

Mia Emerson has made one wrong decision after another but none worse than walking away from the boy who stole her heart so long ago. When her new life is turned upside down, she finds herself returning to her roots and the hometown she left behind. Maybe now she can find a way to heal from the devastating mistakes of her past.

When a chance encounter brings these former lovers together, passion reignites in a way neither is prepared for. Can Garrett move beyond his anger and find a way to forgive? Will Mia’s insecurities and fears cause her to once again flee the life she’s destined to live?

Garrett and Mia will soon discover that they must journey into the past to find their way home.

Links:


About JL Berg: J.L. Berg is the USA Today bestselling author of the Ready Series. She is a California native living in the beautiful state of historic Virginia. Married to her high school sweetheart, they have two beautiful girls that drive them batty on a daily basis. When she's not writing, you will find her with her nose stuck in a romance novel, in a yoga studio or devouring anything chocolate. J.L. Berg is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, LLC.

Website: www.jlberg.com
Twitter: @authorjlberg


Excerpt:

With our bags loaded, we started to make our way back to the car, weaving through the crowd and enjoying the sounds of people talking and soft music playing. I smiled when I heard a child laughing.  I turned to see a child being thrown over his father’s shoulder.

“Garrett! Stop it! I’m too old to be carried!” The child laughed.

You’re never too old to be tackled, Connor! We’ve got to get you ready for football!”

That voice—even after eight years, I would recognize it anywhere. My stomach fell to the concrete, and my feet cemented to the ground. I was frozen, completely frozen. Everything slowed. The street noise melted away, and each and every shopper disappeared until I saw him. He had the boy slung over his shoulder. They were both laughing and breathless from their horseplay. He looked older, but it was still him. He still had the same jet-black hair, emerald eyes, and dazzling smile. A beautiful blonde woman was smiling at the two of them as they joked around.

My heart finally caught up to my brain, and it felt like a jackhammer was beating hard and fast in my chest. My hands shook, and my knees suddenly felt weak and wobbly. I had no idea how much time had passed since I saw him.
Minutes? Hours? 

I didn’t know, but it couldn’t have been long since Liv was just now noticing my crazy behavior.

“Amelia, are you okay? You look like you just saw a ghost,” she said.
When I didn’t respond, she must have glanced up because I heard her gasp. She’d seen him, too.

“I-I need to get out of here—now,” I gritted through my teeth.

“Are you sure?”

I just nodded and started to turn. I couldn’t face him. He probably hated me.

He had a kid. That hurt. My hand went to my chest, trying to rub out the pain settling there. He had a child. That meant the blonde standing next to him was probably his wife. Garrett was married. It had been eight years. Of course he would be married. I didn’t know why I was surprised, but he wasn’t supposed to be here. He had moved away. He was supposed to stay away. I couldn’t be here if he was still here. I couldn’t breathe if he was still here.

“Come on, sweetheart, let’s get to the car,” Liv said gently, grabbing my arm and guiding me toward the car.

I just gave a brief nod as I let her lead me.
We hadn’t made it three steps before I heard the words that made my heart come to a screeching halt.

“Mia? Mia, is that you?”



Source: eARC for Honest Review from Inkslinger PR & Author
Genre: Adult Contemporary

My Ready For You Review ... 

Gah! I absolutely love J.L. Berg and this series. I have been dying to find out what Garrett's deal has been and what a doozy it was.

Garrett has been in love once and she crushed his heart.  Even years later he can't seem to move on from his one true love.  Then 8 years later his past collides with his present threatening to obliterate what is left over of his heart.
"Then, you've got to let it go, man. Love is pure. Don't let something like doubt or anger work its way in and taint it from the beginning. You'll never recover."
Mia thought she was doing the right thing leaving Garrett but she has never been whole since.  8 years is a long time and many secrets have been collected making matters worse.
This is your life. Don't walk away from something based on assumptions and miscommunications.
Mia and Garrett are destined to be together but the past is hurtful and hard to get over.   Mia and Garrett have great chemistry but big hurdles to cross. 




I did like this story but between the three I will admit that Garrett and Mia are not my favorite of the three couples so far but I have to admit it is hard to beat the fabulousness of Clare & Logan and Leah & Declan. I so can NOT wait to read Liv's story in Ready or Not and of course Ready to Wed where we get the wedding of Clare and Logan.



J.L. Berg has a knack of tying up my emotions in a knot and gutting me when I least expect it.  I think secretly she is a sadist when she writes but that is probably one of the big reasons I love her writing.

4 Ready or Not Thumbs up!
thumbs upthumbs upthumbs upthumbs up
Lauren

My Other Ready Reviews : When You're Ready (Ready #1) | Never Been Ready (Ready #2) 





Wednesday, 4 June 2014

Cover Reveal - Ready to Wed (Ready #1.5) by J.L. Berg

 

I can't flippin' wait for this novella as this series is one of my favorites. 



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Cover Reveal
Title: Ready to Wed  
Series: Ready #1.5  
Author: JL Berg  
Publication Date: June 16, 2014  

Summary

“You are my family, my future and my forever.”
After a long road filled with trials and tears, they’ve finally made it to the other side—a place where beginnings are made. Life is always an uphill journey, but together, they are ready for anything.
Be there when Clare Murray becomes Mrs. Logan Matthews…
Ready to Wed…a novella from the bestselling Ready series.
Includes bonus short story, Never Been More Ready, which gives readers a glimpse into the lives of Leah and Declan as they prepared for one of life’s greatest joys – parenthood! 



About JL Berg
J.L. Berg is the USA Today bestselling author of the Ready Series. She is a California native living in the beautiful state of historic Virginia. Married to her high school sweetheart, they have two beautiful girls that drive them batty on a daily basis. When she's not writing, you will find her with her nose stuck in a romance novel, in a yoga studio or devouring anything chocolate. J.L. Berg is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, LLC.

Website: www.jlberg.com 
Twitter: @authorjlberg 



Monday, 2 June 2014

There's Wild, Then There's You (The Wild Ones #3) by M. Leighton - #review

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H87RODE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00H87RODE&linkCode=as2&tag=lirebr-20&linkId=MODWPL34WQJ6NER4
There's Wild, Then There's You (The Wild Ones #3)

by

He’s someone she can’t trust…

She’s someone he thinks he knows…

Violet Wilson is a wallflower. Shy, serious, and accident-prone, she’s got a bad habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The night she’s forced to pose with her friend might just be the worst time of all—that’s when she meets Jet Blevins. She knows better than to get involved with someone like him, but he touches her in ways she never expected, never wanted before.

On the outside, Jet is a typical rocker, an arrogant lead guitarist who unapologetically lives a wild lifestyle. But on the inside, he’s battling demons and using the stage to escape the troubles of his past and the addictions of his present. Until the night he sees Violet standing at the back of the room. She brings his life into focus. She knows his secrets. She’s the girl he can’t forget, and the one thing he craves more than his addiction.

But can they ever hope to have a future when their very foundation is nothing but lies? 



Source: eARC for Honest Review from Berkley 
Genre: NA/ Adult Contemporary
Part of a series but definitely can be read as a stand alone

My There's Wild, Then There's You Review ...

Here's is the conundrum for me.  I did like this book but yet at the same time it wasn't memorable.  I read it last week and now I'm finding it hard to recall the full story to give my review.  

After reading the synopsis, I liked the idea of the book and I'm a huge fan of M. Leighton and this series but with Violet and Jet it left me wanting more from them.  


For Violet who was supposed to be strong, brave and forgiving to me came across a bit of a wall flower and weak instead.  Jet was a rock star with his personal demons. 

They met under the wrong circumstances but at the right time in their lives but they both kept secrets that could have destroyed them.  To me Violet's secret was less damaging then Jet's but there was more damage from Violet's then Jet's that left me a bit baffled.  Because Violet character was a bit meh for me I didn't feel the great epic love connection between the two. 


In the end I do still like this series and I did like this book and Jet and Violet but after the first books in this series I was wanting more substance from these two.  However, it is a book about second chances and righting your wrongs so that always makes me happy. 

3 Not So Wild Thumbs up!
thumbs upthumbs upthumbs up
Lauren

For My Other Wild Ones Reviews click Here 












Heated (Most Wanted #2) by J. Kenner - #review

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FDS79UI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00FDS79UI&linkCode=as2&tag=lirebr-20&linkId=F557NAU2OCOTPN4X
Heated (Most Wanted #2)

by
I knew better than to risk my heart.
But fierce passion comes at a high price.


I grew up believing in right and wrong, good and evil, black and white. I knew better than to trust. And then I met Tyler Sharp.

Bold, charming, and dangerously sexy, Tyler always gets what he wants. But his smile can be deceiving, his dealings sordid, his ambitions ruthless. I thought I was the one woman strong enough to resist him, but our need for each other was too urgent to deny.

One look and I was in trouble. One touch and I was hooked. One night and I became his.

And now that I’ve fallen, there’s no going back.

Heated is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.




Source: eARC for Honest Review from Random House via Edelweiss
Genre: Adult Erotica
Book 2 in a series 

My Heated Review ...

I fell in love with J. Kenner's writing with the Stark Trilogy so I was so excited with this series.  I started with Wanted but was left with 'meh' but I am a loyal reader so I gave Heated a try but sadly I was left with another 'meh'.


The idea of the series is great but for some reason this series is just not doing it for me.  I don't quite know what is not grabbing me.  It could be the fast paced emotions, and escalations of the relationships or it could be that the book is trying to come off super erotic and steamy which leaves it with hollow sex and not a lot of substance.  The idea of substance is there but it is just not bridging to completeness with the couples.
"I've gone with a lot of women, Sloane, but I've only fallen in love with one. I want to make this work."
The criminal and the cop.  There was so much potential with this but for Tyler and Sloane things happened soooo fast that their love came off as phony.  It always chokes me when the story has so much potential and can be so great but the chemistry and/or connection isn't there leaving it flat and wanting more.


I still do love J. Kenner but sadly so far this series has not wowed me at all. My favorite part of this book was the Take me novella (Stark) at the end of the book.

2 to 2.5 Not a lot of substance thumbs up!
thumbs upthumbs up. 5
Lauren

My Wanted Review :  Wanted (Most Wanted #1) 









Arrest (A Disarm Novel) by June Gray - #review

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G3L18J2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00G3L18J2&linkCode=as2&tag=lirebr-20&linkId=R4BMFML3UDMRVUGK
Arrest

by
 
Life begins at happily ever after…

For Elsie and Henry, getting married and buying a house is only the beginning of their passionate new adventure. Elsie is flourishing in her job while Henry embarks on a new career as a police officer. Everything, it seems, has finally fallen into place.

Just when it’s all smooth sailing, they face life-altering changes that make Elsie question her ability to adapt. With Henry’s job putting him in constant danger, she watches helplessly while he slips back into his old habits. Elsie must find a way—through any means necessary—to prevent the past from repeating.

With the sand constantly shifting underfoot, Elsie and Henry have to figure out how to strengthen their bond—before they end up losing what matters most…





Source: eARC for Honest Review from Berkley Trade
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Part of a series but can be read as a standalone 

My Arrest Review ...

"How many more chances can she give you, Henry?" 

So, I LOVED the Disarm Serials/Novel so I could NOT wait to read Arrest to find out what has happened with Henry and Elsie.  However, once I started to read this one I felt like I was reading Disarm again with the same issues but now Henry is a LEO instead of Military.  Which left it predictable and very repetitive. 


Holy cow what a hot dysfunctional mess Elsie and Henry are. Basically their relationship is quite unhealthy. They love each other hugely but can't communicate expect sexually which gets them into a world of trouble.  Henry retreats internally and Elsie pushes and pushes until they blow apart and then on the brink of loss then they pull their big girl and boy panties up and get their shit together.  


I'm torn on how to review.  I did like it but at the same time I was so frustrated and didn't like parts.  When it was from Elsie's POV I felt like it didn't portray her in a good light oddly enough and then when it was from Henry's POV,  Elsie came out all shiny and sweet.  If I read this as a stand alone I think I would have liked it more but since I already read Disarm and it felt like I was experiencing 'groundhog day' by reading almost the same story it left me wanting more. 

I like the concept of the series and even though Henry and Elsie are a hot mess they are real with their dysfunctions and issues.  Even though this book didn't leave me with the warm and fuzzies I can't wait to read Surrender where we get to find a little happiness for Julie. 

2.5 Repetitive Thumbs up! 
thumbs upthumbs up . 5 
Lauren 

My Disarm Full Novel Review :  Disarm: The Complete Novel





Cover Reveal - Crossing the Line (Daniel Brothers #3) by Sherri Hayes

Crossing The Line (Daniels Brothers #3)




Summary

Detective Paul Daniels has spent four and a half years mourning the loss of his wife. He’s been doing his best to raise their daughter, Chloe, with the help of his in-laws. When they inform him right before Thanksgiving that they’re going to be moving over two hours away, Paul finds himself without anyone to watch Chloe—especially when he’s called out to a crime scene in the middle of the night. Little does he know that meeting his baby brother’s girlfriend and her sister, Megan, will change everything.

Megan Carson has taken a few wrong turns in her life, but she’s doing her best to get back on track. When she meets Chloe, the little girl swiftly worms her way into Megan’s heart. The opportunity to help Paul out and watch his daughter appears to be a blessing in disguise. She quickly volunteers to be Chloe’s live-in nanny.

Everything is working well until the three of them head back to Ohio for Chris and Elizabeth’s wedding. Paul has a little too much to drink during the reception, and he and Megan end up sharing a heated kiss. When he wakes up the next day, he has a pounding headache but remembers nothing.

Megan, however, isn’t willing to forget. Over the past few months since she’s been playing nanny, her feelings for Paul have changed. He is everything she never knew she wanted, and now that she knows there might be something there, she’s going after what she wants—Paul.


Sherri spent most of her childhood detesting English class. It was one of her least favorite subjects because she never seemed to fit into the standard mold. She wasn't good at spelling, or following grammar rules, and outlines made her head spin. For that reason, Sherri never imagined becoming an author.

At the age of thirty, all of that changed. After getting frustrated with the direction a television show was taking two of its characters, Sherri decided to try her hand at writing an alternate ending, and give the characters their happily ever after. By the time the story finished, it was one of the top ten read stories on the site, and her readers were encouraging her to write more.


Seven years later, Sherri is the author of seven full-length novels, and one short story. Writing has become a creative outlet for Sherri that allows her to explore a wide range of emotions, while having fun taking her characters through all the twists and turns she can create. She is most well known for her Finding Anna Series about a young woman rescued from being a sex slave by a wealthy Dominant. Sherri’s eighth novel, Crossing The Line, is scheduled to release September 2014.









Check Out Sherri’s Other Titles






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Sunday, 1 June 2014

Fall From India Place (On Dublin Street #4) - #review

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GMY6YXU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00GMY6YXU&linkCode=as2&tag=lirebr-20&linkId=DSTGCVU2A65F6CDG
Fall From India Place (On Dublin Street #4)

by

The New York Times bestselling author of On Dublin Street and Down London Road returns with a story about letting go of the past and learning to trust in the future…

When Hannah Nichols last saw Marco D’Alessandro, five long years ago, he broke her heart. The bad boy with a hidden sweet side was the only guy Hannah ever loved—and the only man she’s ever been with. After one intense night of giving into temptation, Marco took off, leaving Scotland and Hannah behind. Shattered by the consequences of their night together, Hannah has never truly moved on.

Leaving Hannah was the biggest mistake of Marco’s life, something he has deeply regretted for years. So when fate reunites them, he refuses to let her go without a fight. Determined to make her his, Marco pursues Hannah, reminding her of all the reasons they’re meant to be together.…

But just when Marco thinks they’re committed to a future together, Hannah makes a discovery that unearths the secret pain she’s been hiding from him, a secret that could tear them apart before they have a real chance to start over again…



Source: eARC for Honest Review from NAL
Genre: NA/ Adult Contemporary 
Part of a series

My Fall From India Place Review ...

I flippin' love this series and I absolutely love Marco.  I am a huge fan of the second chance love story but ..... I didn't love Hannah as much as I thought I was going to like her in this book.  For the last three books Hannah has been kick ass but in this book how she dealt with everything in regards to Marco made be lose my love for her. 



Hannah has always loved Marco but he breaks her heart so much that it is almost unrepairable. 

After many years Marco unexpectedly comes back into her life and is determined to win her back and make up for all his mistakes. 



They both have secrets and one is ready to move forward where the other is too stuck within the pain of the past. 

The thing I love most about this book was there was such a presence of the others : Braden and Joss, Cam & Jo, Cole, Nate & Olivia, and Ellie and Adam.  If it weren't for them and all their support I don't know if I would have loved this book as much.  Since this book is with Hannah grown up we get the fast forward of the lives of the On Dublin Street gang. (Which I absolutely loved reading) 



Between the ever resilient Marco and the support of Hannah's family and friends she never would have gotten her stubborn hurt head out of her ass.   The powerhouse in this book for me was Marco all the way.  He made mistakes but he fixed himself and he tried to fix what he broke with nothing but love and support.

Samantha Young knows how to get to the heart of the matter and is brilliant at portraying relationship angst.  Even though Hannah sadly wasn't one of my favorites I still love this series and I can't wait to read on with Cole. 

3.5 Marco Loving Thumbs up! 
thumbs upthumbs upthumbs up . 5
Lauren 

My Other On Dublin Street ReviewsOn Dublin Street | Until Fountain Bridge | Down London Road | Castle Hill | Before Jamaica Lane