Monday, April 29, 2013

Sliding Beneath the Surface Review

Sliding Beneath the Surface
By Doug Dillon
Paperback: 294 pages
Genre: YA Paranormal
Presented by: As You Wish...


Synopsis:
In old St. Augustine, Florida, fifteen-year-old Jeff Golden’s recurring dream of being stabbed in the chest and bleeding all over his bed is driving him crazy. It’s causing him to lose sleep and giving him severe headaches. When his psychically gifted friend Carla and an ornery Native American shaman named Lobo try to help, Jeff is inundated with terrifying paranormal experiences. Reaching out of Florida’s distant past, something increasingly entangles Jeff in tentacles of danger that threaten his sanity and eventually his life. But the harder he tries to understand, the deeper he gets. When comprehension finally dawns though, time has almost run out. Lobo does his best to prepare Jeff for what he must face in order to survive but it may be too little and too late. It’s at this point that both Jeff and Carla find themselves swept headlong into an alternative reality from which they may never return. If they don’t quickly and fully adapt to this situation, all hope is lost. From Lobo they know how it might be possible to change what is happening but the question is, can they? Repeatedly, Lobo has told both teens, “You create your own reality whether in this world or in another.” If acted upon properly, that advice just might save their lives and end suffering on an even wider scale.

My Review:
 
I was pleasantly surprised that, in just reading the prologue, I WAS HOOKED!
The story is written in Jeff's point of view, but it's not a typical first person storyline...it literally read like Jeff was my best friend that was telling me about the crazy weekend he just had.

"I know, I know. What I‘ve said to you so far probably sounds crazy, but hang in there with me, and I‘ll tell you everything I can remember."

"I know what you're thinking. You're sure I must have been hallucinating all of that or something. I don't blame you. To be perfectly honest, I thought the same thing at first, but that cold, wet fog was very, very real."

Doug Dillon did an excellent job writing this book. The descriptions are plentiful without taking away from the story line.
This is a Paranormal YA that is certain to become a success, the synopsis doesn't do this story enough justice.  I am excited that we can expect two more books to complete the St. Augustine Trilogy.
 
~Carole


BOOK EXCERPT:
Someone called my name as if from very far away. It sounded like Carla, but I couldn't tell for sure.
I kept staring at the stained glass window with its surrounding mirrors and the clear glass oval as it hung there in the fog all by itself.

"Jeff?" It was Carla's voice. Carla and Lobo somehow appeared directly in front of me with the stained glass window behind them set in its door as it should be. How that all happened so quickly I had no idea.
The fog was gone and Lobo's house looked like it did when I first saw it. Once again, I stood on the porch.
"Are you OK?" Carla asked in a worried voice. "What is it? What's going on?"
I didn't say anything at first. Guess I was just too stunned. The change out of that horrible, dark fog had been so quick I found it hard to believe I had come back to Carla and Lobo. Where I had gone, I didn't know, but Lobo's words leaped into my mind: "Worlds within worlds within worlds."



Author Bio
Doug Dillon has been writing for adults and young people since 1984, especially in the paranormal realm. An award winning educator, he spent many years as a classroom teacher, school administrator, and coordinator of programs for high-risk students.  Prentice Hall, Harcourt, Mitchell Lane Publishers, Boys' Life magazine, Learning Magazine and The Orlando Sentinel have all published his work.

Friday, April 26, 2013

Author Charlie Daye's New Release


Synop:

My name is Sicily Chase. All I wanted was one last, fun filled girls's weekend in Vegas before summer break was over.  I wanted to hang out by the pool, do some shopping, hit the clubs, meet a hot guy  - you know let loose.  Well, I did all that and then some but little did I know that my one night stand would turn into so much more not to mention introduce me into a supernatural world I never knew existed.

Blurb:

My eyes were closed and my body was moving seductively to the beat when I felt a pair of warm hands caress the bare skin of my arms. I frowned thinking Wade had followed me up here but when I turned to tell him to back off I was overwhelmed by the site of godly perfection. Standing before me was a man who must have been carved out of stone by the capable hands of Michael Angelo. He was well over six feet tall, with pitch black hair and bright blue eyes. He had copper colored skin and looked like he should be playing football for the 49ers.
            Perhaps I should have been concerned at the time when my head was telling me to run for the hills while my body moved right into his arms. It was almost like I had no control over my actions. It was like being caught in a fisherman’s snare except the trap I was caught in was the pulsing of bright blue eyes which was ridiculous since eyes don’t pulse like they have any inner light of their own. I brushed it off to the flicker of strobe lights in the club.
            Once I stepped into his body, he placed his hands on the small of my back and pulled me the rest of the way into his chest. I gasped when my breasts smashed into solid muscle. I rested my hands on his upper arms and swallowed. “Hi,” I breathed.
            “Hi,” he replied. His voice was rich and thick like honey and it coated my body in a longing I had never felt before making my insides quiver and heat pool between my legs. “Can I get you a drink?” he offered.
            I licked my lips, which he watched with rapt attention and said, “Yeah, I’d love a drink.”

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Breeders-ebook/dp/B00CI9URW2/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366897787&sr=1-1&keywords=breeders%2C+charlie+daye
Author's Facebook Page Link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Charlie-Daye-Author/344922355541838
Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5778139.Charlie_Daye



~Tonya


Translation of Love Tour






English Playlist

Beyonce Halo

Rhianna – Stay

Justin Timberlake- Mirrors

Phillip Phillips- Home

Coldplay- Yellow

Girls like boys- Two is better than one

Snow Patrol- Just say yes

Adele- Make you feel my love

One Republic- Say (All I need)

Usher- Stranger


Spanish Playlist

Chayanne- Centro de mi Corazon

Christina Aguilera- Contigo en la distancia

Enrique Iglesias- Tres Palabras

Shakira- Ojos Asi

Sin Bandera- Y Llegaste Tu

Franco de Vita- Te Amo

Juanes- A Dios le Pido

Sin Bandera- Entra  En Mi Vida

Ricky Martin- El Amor De Mi Vida

Cristian Castro- Si Tu Me Amaras


 Sarah’s Book Blog
Book 2 Teasers: Desperation of Love (Alex & Jordan)

Looking at him now, I can see something there that I haven’t noticed before, it’s pain. He keeps it hidden and he’s good at it, I would know, I’ve been doing the same thing for years, maybe that’s why we’ve always been drawn to each other, now I can’t help but to wonder what has put that look on his face. What or who has caused Alex pain? “Come on princess, let’s go get our feet wet.”

“Yeah?” I can feel the shift in his mood and it’s infectious, I like when Alex is in a playful mood, it makes me giddy.

“Yeah.” He gets out of the car and comes around to open my door. I hop out and take his cue, taking off my shoes and rolling up the bottom of my jeans so that they don’t get wet. He takes my shoes from me and tosses them in the backseat along with his. He grabs my hands as he walks backwards, pulling me forward as he goes. “You ready?”

“Yes.” I squeal.

“It’s probably cold.” he warns.

“Just don’t do anything crazy alright.”

“What? Like this?” He tugs on my hands and jerks me forward until our chests are touching, he bends down and pulls me over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold.

“Alex!” I shriek, laughing at the same time. “Put me down, if you throw me in that water I swear to God, I’ll kill you!”

“I can’t hear you over the sound of the waves, what did you say?”

“Alex please, don’t throw me in.”

“Say it again baby, I like it when you beg.”

“Alex please!”

He laughs,  “Alright princess.” He says as he plants me back onto the floor, my feet coming into contact with the chilly water. I try to hit him on the chest but his arms are around my waist before I can move. He pulls me closer, until our bodies are touching, I have to look up in order to meet his eyes. I regret it as soon as I do, because his lips swiftly crash against mine before my brain can even register what’s happening. I want to pull away, I know that I should pull away but this is how he does it, how he draws me in every single time we’re alone together.

Confessions of a Book Heaux
TOL Excerpt:
“Come here.” I can’t move, my feet are rooted to the ground. “Baby, come here.” I take a deep breath and walk to him just outside the open shower door. Victor grabs my hand and pulls me into the shower fully clothed. 
I let out a squeal of shock. “Are you crazy?” I cry, the water rushing over me as he puts his hands on my hips.
“No.” he says, dipping his head, placing a gentle kiss on my lips. “I’m just trying to help you out.” His heated stare is melting through me. Grabbing the hem of my shirt, he swiftly lifts it over my head dropping it on the shower floor. As if on cue his lips drop down and begin a slow assault on my breasts. A moan escapes from my lips caused by the currents of pleasure coursing through my body. The pleasure is intensified as his fingers find the waistband of my boyshorts and tug them down until they’re gone. “Next time we do this maybe you’ll be brave enough to strip yourself.”

Book Addict Mumma
Victor’s POV

The autograph signing dragged on for what felt like forever, as much as I love my fans I hate doing stupid shit like this. This book has nothing to do with my music, it’s just another way to try to make money off of me. I’m starving by the time the last book is signed, I just need to get out of here and unwind.

My bodyguard Rob and the extra event security escort me out to the waiting SUV, I hop into the back and ask to be taken to a nearby restaurant. As we drive my mind wanders back to earlier in the night, and the girl in the bookstore, shit she was beautiful. If there hadn’t have been so many people waiting on me there’s no way I would have let her walk away so fast.

She was affected by me, I could tell by how nervous I made her, I don’t normally go for the shy type but there was something about her. A look in her eyes that made me want to keep her close, protect her from whatever it is that put that look there. The SUV comes to a stop at what appears to be the main street in this town. I hop out and start walking, I turn my head to see Rob walking a few steps behind me as I make my way toward a quiet restaurant. He always prefers for me to wait for him to let me out of the car but in a town like this in the middle of New Jersey, not too many people would know who I am. Before I have a chance to look forward I feel my body hit something. Shit, I turn around to see a girl on her hands and knees on the floor.

Damn, I knocked the poor girl down, “I’m so sorry,” I say as I move to help her up off of the ground.  I pull her up and apologize again as I steady her, “Are you okay, Miss? I’m so sorry I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.” I let her go, and she turns around to face me.

“No, It’s okay,” She says, as her eyes meet mine, I see the shock register in her eyes at about the same time they register in mine. “Wha…”

It’s her, the girl from the bookstore, I’m stunned to see her but I’m also fucking thrilled. My night has just gotten that much better. “Oh, wow! Hi. Twice in one night, huh?”

She takes a step back, if I didn’t know any better I’d say she almost seems scared. “Um, yeah… That’s strange.” She says hesitantly.

“Elizabeth, right? Are you sure you’re okay? Did I hurt you?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I’m sorry I wasn’t watching where I was going either.” She looks at me almost expectantly. “I didn’t catch your name earlier.” She says. Just hearing her ask my name makes me smile.

“It’s Victor.” I reply, not once taking my eyes off of hers.

“Victor, well I’m sorry to keep running into you like this.”

I shake my head at her, “I’m not. I think it must be a sign, don’t you? Fate maybe? I mean what are the odds of running into a beautiful woman twice in one night?” I’m laying it on thick but I’m trying to get some type of reaction from her. I see her blush at my comment. “A sign? You believe in signs?” She’s engaged in the conversation now, I’m not leaving here without at least a phone number.

I grin at her and nod my head. “I do. I think if you pay attention, you’ll notice signs everywhere, the universe is always trying to tell you something.” What the fuck am I talking about?

She tilts her head and smiles a bit, “So what’s the universe trying to tell us now?” she asks in a flirty tone.

I try to look serious, pretend that I know what the hell I’m talking about. “Well, seeing as though we’ve crossed passed paths twice in the last few hours, I think the universe is trying to tell us that we may need to get to know each other a little bit better.”

She lets out a nervous giggle, drawing my gaze down to her mouth, I grin at her and have to look up quickly before the urge to kiss her is too much.  “Is that so? You seriously believe that?”

I’ve got her attention, now it’s time to go in for the kill, I look her square in the eyes, “I do, Elizabeth. I think that we owe it to ourselves to listen to what the universe is telling us. We wouldn’t want to throw off the balance of things.”  I sound like a fucking fortune cookie but I don’t care as long as it buys me some time with her.

She contemplates what I’ve said for a moment, “And how exactly do you suggest we get to know each other better?” She looks like she regrets the words as soon as they’ve left her mouth but it’s too late, I know she’s interested.

“Well, I’m assuming you’ve already eaten since you’re coming out of a restaurant but can I buy you a drink?

She’s hesitant, I can tell she’s weighing her options, “I’m sorry, but it’s late and…”

“Come on, Elizabeth, just a drink. I don’t bite and I really do feel terrible for knocking you down. It’s the least I can do.” I smile at her, and her trepidation dissipates, she’s mine.

“Okay, just one drink.”


Book Bitches Blog
Book 2 Teasers: Desperation of Love- (Alex & Jordan)

He feels too good against me, the size of him envelops me, making me feel warm, protected, I can’t get enough of this feeling. I part my lips and he takes full advantage, slipping his tongue inside, sending me into a heated frenzy. I wrap my arms around his neck bringing myself up on my toes and begin to kiss him back. His hands start to roam up my back until they’re tangled in my hair, giving him total control over me. I’m lost and I’m not sure how I got here, but I’m sure that if I don’t pull away now, I won’t be able to do it later.  I break the kiss, and place my forehead on his chest, he kisses the top of my head and releases my hair, grabbing hold of one of my hands instead. “come on, let’s walk a bit.”

We start to walk hand in hand, both ignoring what just happened, me not wanting to encourage it and him not wanting to argue about it. For some reason it just seems easier to let it go, perhaps if I don’t acknowledge it, it isn’t real. It’s a game we’ve been playing for months, and I was comfortable with it for a while but now he’s changing the rules and the stakes are just too high.


Book Crush
Victor’s POV:

I show Ellie around my penthouse and then we eat the Chinese food I picked up before she got here. We eat in silence but having her here in my space is nice, it just feels right, like everything else where she’s concerned it just clicks. I can’t help but stare at her ass, as she picks up our empty plates and begins to rinse them. I’m trying to take things slow for her sake but the urge to take her upstairs and finally make love to her is starting to take over. I need to get my mind out of the gutter.

“How did it go at work with your program installation?” I ask, hoping that talking about work will provide the necessary distraction.

“I was able to get all of the glitches out in the testing phase and, thank God, the installation went perfectly.”

“That’s great, Babe. I’m glad you were able to get it all done.”

“Thanks.” She responds. I can tell she hates her job but she’d never admit it. Her face goes blank every time she talks about it. “What about you?”

“What about me?” I question.

“How’s it going in the studio?” She asks.

I get excited just thinking about it. Being in the studio is absolutely my favorite part of this job.

“It’s going really good. I think we’ve got a couple amazing songs.”

“Oh! Guess what?”

She’s almost shouting and the excitement in her voice makes me smile. I love to see her like this, free to be who she wants to be. “What?

“Rob played me some of your music on the way up here.”

I smile huge now. I’m happy and a little surprised that she was listening to my stuff. “Really? What did you think?”

“Baby, it was amazing,” she says, she turns around to face me and leans her back against the counter. It drives me crazy when she calls me baby because I know the effort it took for her to get this far. For her to say it without even thinking about it means that it comes naturally to her and that’s huge. “I mean I didn’t understand a fucking word you were singing but somehow I swear I felt every single emotion you were trying to convey. You have the most beautiful voice.”

And there you have it, I’m done. Done being patient, done taking things slow, done waiting. I fucking adore this girl and tonight I’m making her mine. “I’m glad you liked it. You want dessert?”

“Not really.” She reply’s, shaking her head, the look of confusion hitting her face.

“Good.” I come around the bar to where she’s standing, grab her by the hand and practically drag her upstairs and into my bedroom. It’s not the most romantic way to do this but I’ll make up for it later. I shut the door and before she realizes what’s happening, she’s up against it, with her hands pinned and my mouth is on hers. I coax her lips open with my tongue and I know she’s lost in the moment.

I break the kiss but keep her pinned against the door. I bring my mouth down to her ear, biting it gently. Her quiet whimper sends me over the edge.

“The last shred of self control that I had is gone, Babe. I want you.” Her breathing speeds up and I know she wants me too.

“What happened to taking it slow?” She teases.

I kiss her forehead and reply, “We both know it can’t go any slower, this is mutual.”

I give her lips a graze and release her, turning and walking across the room. I sit on the edge of the bed and just stare at her for a minute. “Come here.” I say. I watch her as she walks across the room and comes to a halt directly in front of me.  I’m very aware that the next few moments will decide the outcome of this night. I love this girl so much, no one has ever been able to get under my skin the way she has and even though she can’t say it, I know that she loves me too. She just can’t verbalize it, if she does what I ask, I know she’s giving herself to me freely and that’s enough of a declaration for now. “Take off your dress, Ellie.” I command, she knows it’s a test, she knows what it will signify if she does it and without a moment of hesitation or embarrassment she does as I ask, and in this moment we both know that she’s mine.



Seductive Romance  Reviews
Deleted Scene:

The first night of Victor’s farewell tour begins tonight in Mexico City. It’s an outdoor concert with an estimated 50,000 people coming. There is no venue big enough here to hold that many people so they had to convert an humungous old parking lot into a makeshift stadium. It’s insanity here, everyone is on edge, running around trying to fix kinks in the lighting, getting wardrobe in order, a hair and makeup trailer set up which Victor refuses to sit in anyway. It seems like everyone around us is frantic, everyone except for the star of the show. Victor is sitting in our trailer playing his PS3 while I pace back and forth. I don’t understand how he can be so calm when in a matter of hours he’s going to have to step on a stage and perform in front of 50,000 people. 

“Babe. Seriously? You’re making me nervous, sit down before you burn a hole in the ground.” He says, eyes never leaving the TV.

I stop pacing and just stand there staring at him for a minute. “How can you be so calm? Do you know what’s about to go down here?”

He grins at me and gets up to turn off his game. He sets the controller down and walks over to me, he brings his hands to my hips and kisses my forehead. “Yes Love, I know what’s about to go down here, but I’ve done this a million times. I’ll be a little anxious before I hit the stage but that’s about it. This is a normal occurrence for me.”

“Why is everyone so frantic?”

“Because it’s opening night, once we’ve done a few shows everyone will get into a rhythm and things will be a lot less hectic.”

“I guess that makes sense.”

“Feel better?”

“No. I’m freaking out, what if something goes wrong?” I question, the feel of his hands sliding to the front of my shorts make me drop my gaze just as his fingers begin to undo my button, “What if the microphone doesn’t work?” I ask as he lowers my zipper.  I let out a sigh, trying to keep my composure, “What if you forget the lyrics?” He smiles and lowers his mouth to my neck, placing a kiss there. “Victor what are you doing?” I ask as he starts to tug at my shorts.

“Trying to make you feel better, calm you down before you combust.” He says, as he slides his hand down the inside of my shorts.

“Oh my God.” I say nearly inaudibly at the feel of his hand there. If there’s one thing Victor is an expert at it’s calming me down, and right now, the only thing I can think of is what he’s about to do to me. My whole body is humming with desire and he’s the only one that can give it what it needs.

“Not God baby, it’s just me.” He says, causing me to giggle. I run my fingers through his hair and grab on.

I bring my lips to his and kiss him gently. “It is you, only you.” I reply. His fingers start to move in a delicious pattern sending my nerves into a state of sensory overload. “Oh shit, don’t stop.” I say with a whimper.

I feel Victor’s whole body tense up and his hand stops moving, before I can ask what’s going on he starts to chuckle in my ear. “You might want to zip these up Love” he says, closing the button on my shorts. Laughter erupts from behind me and I turn my head to see Alex and Rob standing there.

“Are you serious? Don’t you people knock?” I yell, trying to fix my shorts, I can feel the familiar burn in my cheeks.

Alex pulls himself together first but the grin on his face tells me that he’s never gonna let me live this down. “Sorry Ellie, we need Victor on stage for sound check. Although we might put a mic on you so everyone can hear just how pretty you sing.”

“Alex!” Victor calls to his brother, giving him a look that would scare any body.

Alex puts his hands up as if to say he surrenders. “Sorry Bro, It was just too easy.”

Rob is smiling from ear to ear, “Would you like me to get you a Do Not Disturb sign Elle?” He asks with a chuckle.

I shake my head and look back at Victor. “This is so embarrassing.” I huff.

He gives me his knee melting smile, and shrugs his shoulders at me, “It’s not the first time we’ve been caught babe, it probably won’t be the last.”

A Novel Affair
Excerpt:

I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my head on his chest. I can’t believe I’m standing here, out in public, hugging him but the truth is, I love it. I love how affectionate he is with me and how considerate he is. As much as it scares me, I’m starting to let go and soak up the attention. I find that I’m allowing myself to get lost in him more and more.

“Elle?” I hear my name called out and I freeze in a moment of sheer panic. Oh my God, please tell me it’s not…I lift my head from Victor’s chest and turn to see my dad standing in front of us with coffee in hand.

“Dad?!” At the sound of my voice, Victor stiffens up as well and releases his hold on me. I’m thinking that’s a smart move on his part. The look on my father’s face is positively glacial. I walk to him and give him a hug and a kiss. “What are you doing here?”




My Review:

I actually really enjoyed this novel. I would give Alice Montalvo-Tribue a 5 star review. 
This is going to be a short and sweet review cause I am always terrified of giving away spoilers. And we don't like spoilers, do we?
This novel held my attention 100% and left me wanting more. If you like romance novels I would suggest reading this one. But always remember to leave the wonderful author a review.
Enjoy the novel its well worth all the attention :)

Interview With Alice Montalvo-Tribue:

About Your Work:

1--What is this novel about?
Without giving to much away, Translation of Love is a novel about a women who has been broken by past events and because of this has closed herself off of the possiblities of ever finding love. She meets a man who is like none other  that she's ever meet before and thus begins there journey. Sometimes all it takes is one person to help you see who you really are. 
2-Did you get any idea's for this novel through real life experiences or was it all made up in your wonderful brain?
The premise of the story is made up. Growing up I did have alot of Spanish artists that I loved listening to, I remember thinking how I got to see someone like Enrique Iglesias or Ricky Martin before anyone in the states really knew who they were and the idea that they were huge superstars all over the world and could come to almost any state and be a normal person is what stemmed the idea of a character like Victor. 
3-How long did it take you to write this novel?
The idea had been swimming in my head for months but I never did anything about it. Then this past December I lost my job and found myself with alot more time on my hands, I started out writing one scene and about two months later, Translation of Love was complete. I am back to work now so book two is definitly taking me alittle longer to write. 

About YOU:

5-What do like to do in your free time when your not writing?
I try to read every single day, I can't live without my Kindle. I love hanging out with my daughter and in the summer time you will find me on the beach. 
6-Tell me about how you started writing?
Writing has always come naturally to me, I remember when I was in High School my best friend would come to me and ask me to write her poems for her boyfriends. Then in College I took a screenwriting course and found that I really loved it. 
7-How old was you when you started writing?
I was probably around 13 or 14 when I realized that I had a talent for writing but I never thought to use it as a career until much later. 

Quickie Questions :)

8-Whats your fave color?
Light Blue 
9-Whats your fave food?
Lasagne 
10-Whats your fave genre to read?
Adult and New Adult 
11-Fave Author and book to read?
When I was younger I use to love V.C Andrews. 
Now I have so many faves. I love just about any Kristen Ashley book, S.C Stephens and the whole Thoughtless Series. C.J Roberts Dark Duet was amazing. I love Jasinda Wilders Wounded and Falling Into You and most recently Madeline Sheehan's  Undeniable blew me away.
I could go on and on......
12-If you could visit one place in this world where would it be and why?
Its a toss up between London and Italy, I have no idea why they just popped into my head first. However, I am a Caribbean junkie, I love all the islands. 

Thanks for letting me do this interview with you. I had fun coming up with these questions for 
you.

 Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Translation-of-Love-ebook/dp/B00CDZFDAC/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1366717528&sr=8-1&keywords=translation+of+love

B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/translation-of-love-alice-montalvo-tribue/1115118236?ean=9781482776478&itm=1&usri=9781482776478

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17404851-translation-of-love

Twitter https://twitter.com/AMTribue

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alice-Montalvo-Tribue/216980565108887?fref=ts
Blog http://alicemontalvotribue.wordpress.com

~Tonya

Playing Patience Release Day Blitz!

 
Book Title:  Playing Patience
Author:  Tabatha Vargo
Release Date:  April 26th 2013
Genre:  New Adult/Romance/Contemporary
 
I know I am not the only one who has been waiting for this day! All the teasers and edited photos giving me a taste of what author Tabatha Vargo has in store with this book, have made it a little difficult to stay patient (pardon the pun). Now it is finally here! Woot!
 
***Warning: this book contains graphic language, sex, and violence. Mature readers only. Not intended for young adult readers.***
 
If you haven't seen this shmexy cover yet, allow me to share with you...
 
 
Yummo! Am I right?
Want to know more? 

 
Sometimes all you need is Patience.

Life’s been hard for Zeke. Being a punching bag for his alcoholic father has turned him into stone. Not even the dodgy trailer park he lives in can scare him. Fighting is his release and sex, drugs, and his guitar bring him peace, but deep down Zeke isn’t quite as hard as he makes himself out to be. When he meets Patience, she finds all his broken pieces and puts him back together, but she’s a ray of light in his shadowed life and the last thing he wants to do is bring her into his dark world. Playing careless is easy, playing the bad guy can be fun, but playing Patience is impossible, especially when she can see right through him.

Zeke isn’t the only one who’s broken, and for the first time, in a long time, Patience feels alive. Her black and white world gets a shot of color when she meets Zeke. He’s unlike anyone she’s ever met with his tattoos, piercings, and blunt honesty. She wants nothing more than to let go and ride the wild side with him, but some wounds never heal and the broken pieces of Patience aren’t so easy to find.



You had me at tattooed-pierced-guitar player! There's always room for another book boyfriend with those qualifications. And if that isn't enough to convince you, take a look at this excerpt...

"She reached up, tucked her hair behind her ear, and bit at her lip like she knew what I was thinking. She closed her eyes and sighed when I ran my thumb across her bottom lip.
“I think I want to kiss you.”
There. I’d said it. It was out there and there was no taking it back. I hadn’t kissed a girl since I was fourteen. Mainly because it felt entirely too personal, but with Patience I wanted to be personal. I wanted to taste her in ways I hadn’t tasted other women, and kissing was the only way I could do that.
Her eyes widened, and her throat bobbed up and down as she swallowed hard. Her breathing accelerated as I gave her a minute to let my words sink it. If she wasn’t okay with being kissed good and hard, I was giving her plenty of time to say so. I had a feeling that once my mouth connected with hers it would take a lot for me to stop.
“I think I want you to kiss me,” she whispered.
I looked down at her sweet mouth and bit at my lip ring. I tilted her head up to meet mine and moved in. I let my lips skim hers and they were every bit as soft as they looked. A tiny noise escaped her mouth and I lost it."

 
*Eep!*
 Did I just make that noise?
Ahem, Right. Back to business.
 
Where can you get your very own copy? I'm glad you asked.
Visit these links to purchase Playing Patience and Tabatha's other books:
 
 
 
Here's a bit about the lovely author, Tabatha Vargo:
 
 
Tabatha's been writing since she could pick up a pencil. Her first publication was a little poem in her elementary school paper, from that point on she was hooked. When she was a teenager, she traded in her girly magazines for personalized writing notebooks.

At nineteen, she met her own personal prince charming and writing took a back burner for a while. She's now married to that prince and the mother of a beautiful seven-year-old princess/rock star. Once her daughter was born, writing came back into her life, and she finished her very first novel, Wicked Fate, in May of 2009.

She's now pursuing her English degree and she hopes to one day teach while continuing to write.

 
 
 
STALKER LINKS
www.facebook.com/tabathadvargo www.twitter.com/tabathavargo www.tabathavargo.blogspot.com http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6527314.Tabatha_Vargo
http://www.amazon.com/Tabatha-Vargo/e/B00CD5U6WW/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1366122177&sr=1-1

 
I know how I will be spending my weekend, so if you don't hear back from me real soon it's probably because I'm ...getting to know Zeke!
<3 Carole/9
 

 


Thursday, April 25, 2013

Forever My Lady Blog Tour


Title: Forever My Lady
Author: Jeff Rivera
Genre: A Contemporary Romance | New Adult
Page Length:
Dates:

Synopsis:

**Ages 18+ due to mature content and strong language.**

Dio Rodriguez grew up on the streets and knew all too well the hard, cool feeling of the barrel of a gun tucked down the back of his jeans. But his hard exterior softened when he met Jennifer. Jennifer understands Dio like no one else and makes him want to be a better man. Suddenly a drive-by shooting lands Dio in a prison boot camp and sends Jennifer to the hospital. When Dio learns that Jennifer is pregnant, he realizes that he must find a way to turn his life around and return to his lady. But can trainee Rodriguez get his act together among the hardcases in prison? And will Jennifer be waiting for him if and when he does?

Author Bio:

Jeff Rivera is an author and inspirational media personality. He has appeared on national television, radio and print in such outlets asForbes.com, The Boston Globe, Publishers Weekly, Right On! Magazine, Rotarian Magazine, TMZ, WABC, WNBC, WCBS, SITV, American Latino and NPR.
His humble beginnings of living in American poverty on welfare and food stamps as the child of a single mother, to his days living in his car and final rise to becoming a published author, journalist and media personality have inspired many.
Links:
Official Website: http://jeffrivera.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrjeffrivera
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Jeff-Rivera/e/B001IZT9ZS
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6589005.Jeff_Rivera

Interviews:

Reviews:
http://enduringromance.blogspot.com/2008/10/forever-my-lady-by-jeff-rivera.html




~Tonya





Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Anastasia FREE TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY


Anastasia’s entire family had been killed by something quite un-natural. She has her own obstacles to face lets follow the journey to see what happens with Anastasia and The Dregg Chronicles.
 
Anastasia's Surrender Blurb:
With the help of the Carnies, Anastasia has come to the realization she will forever be altered by her family’s tragic demise. Will Anastasia give into her new self or will she fight it all the way?


~Tonya




Morrigan Blog Tour


Title: Morrigan
Author: Laura DeLuca       
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Tour Host: Lady Amber's Tours


Synopsis:
Shuffled from place to place in the foster system, Morrigan doesn't know the meaning of home. Plus, she is different. She has power over fire, the ability to move objects with her mind, and glimpse into the future. Just when she believes her life can’t get any stranger, she discovers her true identity.

Filtiarn, a knight with a dark past and a surprising secret, has been tasked with guiding the heir of Tír na NÓg through countless perils to be returned to her family. Once Morrigan has been reunited with her mother and grandmother, their triad can save the forgotten land of magic from being devoured by an ancient evil.


Author Bio:
Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart.  In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the editor of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years.  Her current works include Destiny, Destiny Unveiled, Phantom, Morrigan, Player, and Demon.



Find the Book


Short Excerpt:

“Guardians!” A low snarl emanated from the back of his throat. “What are you doing with Guardians?”
“Stop it! Sit down!”
Morrigan wasn’t sure who she was addressing, the man or the animals. Luckily, they both obeyed her command. She stepped in between them to avoid any further confrontations. The cats took a seat on either side her legs, but their posture hardly relaxed. They still glared warily at the newcomer, even though their hisses died down to an occasional soft growl.
“Dirty, filthy beasts!” Tiarn snarled as he climbed to his feet. “I hate Guardians.”
“They’re just little cats,” Morrigan told him. “What’s the big deal?”
“Just cats! Hah!” He was standing at a careful distance, even though they had started licking their paws nonchalantly. “They are much more than simple cats! Though even those I find distasteful.”
 Morrigan narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Never mind. It does not matter.” Tiarn dismissed her question with a wave of his hand. “They are not coming with us.
 “They most certainly are coming!”
Tiarn growled again. “I beg to differ with you, Your Highness. They would only get in the way.  Possibly even get killed.”
Danu raised her head from her grooming to hiss at him again, as though she had taken that last statement as a personal threat. The strange reaction of her faithful sidekicks made Morrigan wonder again just how much Tiarn could be trusted. She also wondered why, when she wasn’t sure she could trust him, she still felt the undeniable urge to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him.
 “If they stay here alone, they’ll definitely get killed or at least sent to the pound,” Morrigan told him. “I can’t let that happen. So, they’re coming. End of story.”
Tiarn’s eyes flashed dangerously, and he looked like he wanted to argue, but thought better of it. “Very well, Princess. Bring your mongrel felines. Just keep in mind that Guardians and lycans do not mix well.”
“Lycans?” Morrigan repeated.
A sick feeling started to settle in her stomach, as the truth of his words sunk in. It all started to make sense—his hairy arms and chest, his reaction to the cats, even his earlier comment about smelling her out. Her dark knight had a much darker side than she had ever seen in her dreams.
 “Why yes, Your Majesty. Did you not realize? You are a witch and a sorceress. And I, your faithful traveling companion, am a lycan—a werewolf.”

Long Excerpt:

Morrigan took out a white candle and a stick of dragon blood incense, and set them up in the corner of the room. She sat cross-legged, and leaned forward to light them. No matches were necessary. No lighter either. She simply touched her finger to the end of the wick, and with an iridescent spark, the candle flickered to life. It shone at first with a bright blue flame that gradually settled into a more normal orange. It was the same with the incense—another reason why she preferred not to have an audience.
She stared into the candle for a moment, and took a few deep breaths to clear her mind of all thoughts but those of the magic she intended to perform. Danu and Dagda sat on either side of her, instantly falling into silence, as though they knew she needed her complete concentration. Their energy beside her only seemed to add to the growing sense of power that charged the room.
Morrigan closed her eyes and began to shuffle the cards. As she did, she allowed her breathing to become more even. A silence filled the room as the rest of the mortal world fell away. Soon the only sound she heard was the light thump of her own heartbeat, echoed by the quicker, fast paced beat of the cats’ hearts. She wasn’t sure how much time passed as the cards slipped through her fingers. It might have been minutes. It might have been hours. When she allowed herself to fall into a trance, time became insubstantial, irrelevant.
The tarot cards were so old; the designs on the back were almost completely worn away. She had to shuffle gently to keep them from crumbling to pieces in her hands. Yet they held a power that she knew no newer cards could offer her. As she shuffled them, she focused her energy into them, silently requesting to be given the answers she was seeking.  She allowed the image of her mother to fill her mind. When she finally felt the cards had fallen into the order they were meant to be in, she placed the deck face down on the floor, and cut them with her right hand. Then, taking one last, calming breath, she lifted the top card from the pile. With a trembling hand, she laid it down and read it.
 “Wheel of Fortune,” she said aloud.
In the center of card was a wheel. As she stared at the picture, that wheel seemed to turn clockwise. The movements made her feel slightly dizzy. The bedroom around her became more and more surreal.  The scene on the card became her reality. The figure of the sphinx that sat on top of the turning wheel looked so very real. It might have turned its head to look at her. Its lips may or may not have moved. Morrigan swore she heard a deep, resonating voice whispering the meaning of the card into her ear. Destiny approaching. An unexpected and sudden change was coming—change that could lead to good fortune.
It was the card of fate and karma returned. It meant that she needed to be prepared—to expect the unexpected. Morrigan knew the cards were telling her something was going to happen—and soon. Her destiny, whatever it was, was about to be realized. Even if it did bring fortune, it still scared her to death. She considered packing up the cards right then and there. Her rational mind had every intention of doing just that. Her hands didn’t get the message her brain was sending. Before she knew what she was doing, she had already flipped over the second card.
“The Empress,” she whispered. She exhaled deeply. “My mother.”
It was the only interpretation imaginable. Even as she said it, the pregnant woman, crowned with stars and adorned in a gown decorated with pomegranates, turned to her and smiled. She was no longer a vague featureless stranger, but the same woman Morrigan had sketched earlier that day—a face that mirrored her own. It was an older version of herself, which she saw in the reflection in the nearby full length mirror, had turned chalk white.
The Empress was a symbol of maternal power—of strong feminine influence. But could it mean that her mother was returning? She had never allowed herself to consider such a possibility. To dwell on something so unlikely would have been too painful. But now, with just the flip of a card, she found herself daring to dream. There was only one way to find out for sure. She had to keep going with the reading.
 “Six of Cups.”
The third card in the spread represented her past, and even her immediate present. The six of cups specifically symbolized childhood, and she was, technically, still a child. But she had a feeling that her childhood was about to end quite abruptly. The cups in the picture were lined up across a high stone wall, each cup holding the memories of her past.
Her past. It was nothing but a childhood filled with longing—longings which were perhaps about to be fulfilled. She visualized herself taking each cup down from the wall, and pouring the troubling memories away. It was time to start fresh. A new world was about to open up for her. She had known it as soon as she had seen the image of her mother’s face. But what would that world be like? What was waiting for her in the future?
Morrigan turned over the fourth card.
“The Knight of Wands.”
The man on the horse carrying the staff had her baffled. Not because she didn’t know its normal meaning, but because as she stared at the card, it began to take on the physical attributes of the knight in her drawings. He had the same long dreadlocks, the same bewitching stare, even the same cocky smile. The familiarity did not cancel out the meaning of the card. The knight of wands was representative of a dark man filled with a kind of honey-tongued charm. He was also fiery and arrogant, a man with a definite possibility of a dark side. If the knight of wands was coming into her life, she knew she needed to proceed with caution.
She thought she was done with the fourth card, and was preparing to move on to the next, when once again, she found she had lost control of her body. This time, her hands refused to move, while her eyes forced their way back to the knight in the card. She watched as the long haired stranger began to move forward—wandering over various landscapes, some high mountains, some meadows and fields ripe for the harvest. He kept looking back over his shoulder, as though he were speaking to someone. He was on a journey, and he wasn’t alone. Morrigan didn’t need to see his companion to know who it must be.
So, her journey would soon begin, and she wouldn’t be traveling alone. She would have a guide. Whether or not that would be a good thing was another question best left to the cards to answer. The next card told her nothing she didn’t already know.
“The Moon,” she said. “Caution.”
It was a scary card. It warned of tricks and illusions. The two howling wolves that stood under the moon looked back at her menacingly, growling, showing their pointed fangs in a snarl. For the first time since she began the reading, Danu and Dagda made their presence known by lifting their heads and hissing threateningly in the direction of the beasts.
Even the cats sensed it. The journey she was about to embark on wouldn’t be all fun and family reunions. There would be obstacles and deceit, most likely from people she thought could be trusted. The moon was a sign that danger was certainly awaiting her. In was an ominous omen.
“Shhhh.”
She hushed the hissing cats, and gave them each a gentle stroke to try to settle them down, though she was far from settled herself. Again she felt the urge to stop the spread. Her instincts were telling her that no good was going to come out of this reading. She was only going to scare herself. She should never have done it in the first place. When would she learn that sometimes it was best to let life play out without interference or prophetic warnings? Then again, she knew that to be forewarned might be her only advantage. So with more bravery than she felt, Morrigan flipped over the final card.
 “No . . . .” she gasped when she looked down at the terrible, skeletal face. “Oh no.”
She should have known. She thought a part of her did know even before she glanced down at the gruesome scene—a skeleton with a scythe in a field of body parts. With the divination going in the direction it was, what else could be the final outcome?
“Death,” she whispered. “Death.”
She knew that in most cases, the death card was a symbol of personal transformation rather than literal death. But a deeper sense of understanding told her that this time the card was meant to be taken literally. She saw only glimpses and shadows in her mind. Brief flashes of faces, some familiar, like her mother and the knight—some still strangers, like a beautiful, almost angelic blonde woman in a flowing white gown. But around them all, including herself, she saw the shadows of death.
Morrigan felt decidedly shaky as she gathered up her tarot cards. She placed them securely in the bottom of her bag just as she heard the door downstairs slam shut. The reading hadn’t made everything as crystal clear as she had hoped, but one thing was certain. Her whole life was about to change.







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~Tonya