Book Description: First, I Love You
If Mario Puzo and Jane Austen crossed the time-space continuum and mated, “First, I Love You” would be their literary baby. Imagine being a detective with a mobster for a father, or a mobster with a straight arrow, good cop for a son. This is a relationship that is tricky on its best day. Add in some well-meaning meddling from a mob princess sister, an arrogant DEA agent, and gangsters running a human trafficking ring and you have a recipe for a book that refuses to follow the rules. Told from the perspective and point of view of each the six main characters this is the first novel in a trilogy about love, loyalty, revenge and redemption.

Omaha Detective Tommy Gates has kept his gangster father at arm’s length his whole life. Mickey Downey has spent the better part of the last two decades trying to find ways to get back the son he lost through Witness Protection. Now Tommy has taken an opportunity to work on a Federal Human Trafficking Joint Task Force in Chicago where his father lives. Tommy’s sister Kiki and his mother Mary see this as an opportunity to build a relationship between the two. Tommy’s new DEA partner James Hoffman sees it as an opportunity to gain leverage over Mickey Downey. Tommy’s other partner, FBI Agent Ginny Sommers wants to keep Tommy’s family as far from the case as possible. When Kiki and James join forces, sparks fly and it sets fire to a maelstrom of unexpected consequences for everyone involved.

One part The Godfather, two parts Emma and a dash of Casablanca mixed together, “First, I Love You” isn’t a detective novel, a gangster novel, a mystery, a romance or a family saga. It’s a little of all of the above.

Giveaway ENTER

Tour-Wide Giveaway:  (10) set digital copy of First, I Love You and Second of All

 Genevieve Dewey Author Bio

Genevieve Dewey is the author of The Downey Trilogy (First, I Love You & Second of All) and the short stories Bird Day Battalion & V-Day Aversion. She is a wife, mother, sister, friend and Anthropologist. She was raised mostly in Nebraska, partly in Arizona. She has a Master’s in Anthropology and worked as an Applied Anthropologist for years (even ran her own research company for a while) before deciding to be a stay at home mom. She loves passionate (rational) debates, reading, and libraries… oh, and Chicago and high-heels and chocolate and target practice and gangster flicks and anything with the FBI in it and run-on sentences. She lives in Nebraska with her three brilliantly diabolical children and one incredibly funny husband.

www.GenevieveDewey.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/GenevieveDewey

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GenevieveDewey

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6441991.Genevieve_Dewey

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Genevieve-Dewey/e/B00936QL2S/

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/genevievedewey/

~ Synopsis ~

It’s an emotional story that will take the reader back to those feelings that made the late teen years such a powerful time.”

Late one night Nicki Johnson plays with emotional fire and Googles her high school love, only to find his name splashed across the British gossip columns. Back in his native England, Adam Kincaid is successful and dating a woman from an aristocratic family like his own. With a career in politics, Nicki’s no slouch, but she knows Adam is living a world away from her life.

Yet there was a time he was no farther than the next locker. Nicki will never forget their year together in high school—the year of her sister’s death, the year her mother checked out. Adam helped Nicki through suffocating grief, and she led him through a coming of age. Was it just high school, or was it something more?

5- Star Review

I’m not sure what to even say or what to write after having just finished Beside Your Heart. I am emotionally spent after having read the 351 pages of this beautifully written novel. I cried, and quite honestly, you don’t see me cry often while reading a book. But I did with Beside Your Heart. 

This is a story of first loves. But to describe it as such would be nothing short of oversimplifying a story that transcends one genre. Yes it is a romance. It’s an incredibly enchanting tale of two teenagers, who in their last year of their high school career, have fallen hopelessly and irrevocably in love with the other. But beyond the romance, there is a dramatic backdrop story of Nicki Johnson. She is the girl, who in the beginning of senior year, is desperately trying to deal with her feelings of grief and loss over her younger sister, Lauren, from a recent car accident. Nicki and her mother were in the car but had survived. But unlike her mother who was unconscious after the accident, Nicki had heard everything. While still in the mangled vehicle, Nicki is aware of the moment her sister, Lauren, passes away.

 Nicki has spent the entire summer trying to mend her body from the traumatic injuries she incurred. Multiple scars mark her petite frame.

 She is left alone to grieve, internally hiding her despair. No one wants to speak of Lauren, even her best friends Lisa and Rachel try to ignore the fatality, knowing this would only beget more pain and sorrow for Nicki. How befitting it is that this author allows realistic character traits in Nicki’s close friends and even Nicki’s mother. More often than not, in the case of a lost loved one, ignoring the incident is a practical defense mechanism. And Nicki is fine with ignoring it, at least, she thinks it is. 

 Then this boy, Adam, steps into her life. Originally from Great Britain, his family has temporarily relocated to the area and has lived there for the last few years due to his father’s work. They are locker neighbors this senior year, and Nicki doesn’t think she falls within his radar of girlfriend material. So she is skeptical about Adam’s attentions towards her. 

 But there is strength about Nicki that tugs at Adam’s heart. Slowly he helps Nicki to heal the wound that has festered; and like a lancet, he opens the wound freeing the emotions that were once bottled up. Eventually she is able to talk about Lauren again without the feelings of hopelessness and despair that she once felt. 

 The bond they share oversteps the basic boy-girl relationship. There’s is so much more. The journey they take us on, from the blooming flirtatious friendship, to the wanton abandon of love they feel for the other, is intense. Likely, for me, it will be unforgettable. 

I’m not sure that 5 stars would be enough for this story. It could be that I’m partial to the story line, having married my high school sweetheart, and in the beginning had our own issues to deal with. But there is no denying the author’s exceptional skills at writing, and her ability to weave a story is nothing short of phenomenal. To say I am anxiously awaiting Book 2 would be a complete understatement.

by Rosette at Literati Literature Lovers

 Meet Mary Whitney

Even before s

he graduated from law school, Mary knew she wasn’t cut out to be a real lawyer. Drawn to politics, she’s spent her career as an organizer, lobbyist, and nonprofit executive. Nothing piques her interest more than a good political scandal or romance, and when she stumbled upon writing, she put the two together. A born Midwesterner, naturalized Texan, and transient resident of Washington, D.C., Mary now lives in Northern California with her two daughters and real lawyer husband.

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Today I’m happy to have author Marie Lavender stop by and talk about her latest book.

1. Greetings, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Sure.  I’ve been writing since I was a kid.  I’ve always wanted to be an author.  I have published sixteen books.

2. What genre, or genres, do you write?

I write romances, both contemporary and historical.  I have written literary fiction before, and I am trying to get into writing paranormal stories as well.

3. What is your latest book called and what it is about?

Upon Your Return is a historical romance novel.  It is about a young heiress who gets herself into all kinds of trouble by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  This sets off a whole chain of events that is both challenging and compelling.  She has to rely on a strange man for protection, and of course, they cannot help but fall in love.  This book was released in e-book form on February 13th.  The print version will be out in May or June.

4.  If you had to rate your book, would it be G, PG, PG-13, or R?

LOL!  Well, I’d have to say R.  It’s not overly graphic, but I definitely wouldn’t let a child read it.

5.  What makes your book unique?

I think the character, Fara Bellamont, is a pretty strong character who, despite of all the social norms of the time period (Victorian France), still manages to be an individual.  She does not like to be dictated to, and she puts the hero in his place several times.  She makes some decisions that society probably would not have accepted then and she gets a lot of flak for it, but that is what makes her unique.

6.  Do you plot ahead of time, or do you let the plot emerge as you write?

A little of both.  I usually have a good idea of where the story is headed, but I also get surprised at where the characters want to go too.  The longer I write, the more I realize how important all those little things that go into a book are (setting, research, etc.).  So, even if it might take time, I do plot on some level.  I am pretty casual about my writing usually, letting it just come out however it wants, but when I’m focused on a book, I get kind of obsessed with it.  With Perfect Game, one of the books I released under the pen name Erica Sutherhome, I did a ton of research on that, and I think it turned out pretty well, even though when it was just a seedling, I had no idea where it was going.  The books still manage to surprise me!  In high school, if you had told me I’d not only have a historical romance novel published, but be writing the sequels, I’m not sure I would have believed it.

7. Where can we buy your books?

Upon Your Return is available on Amazon and Solstice.  You can also link directly to any of my books through my website at http://www.marielavender.webs.com/   The rest of my books are available through Amazon and Lulu Press.

8. What’s next?

I am working on the sequel to Upon Your Return right now.  It will be titled Upon Your Honor.   I also have plans for many other books in the coming years.  I am working on a romantic suspense, and as aforementioned, I would like to write paranormal books.  I have plans for a couple of series about witches, and two vampire books.

Book Blurb for Upon Your Return

Fara Bellamont has been back in society for a year after leaving Cluny Abbey, where her uncle sent her long ago. When he chooses a suitor for her for marriage, she fears that she will be forced to marry a stranger and live a miserable life.

But, Fara finds herself thrust into an adventure of a lifetime when unforeseen circumstances cause her to place her trust in a strange man for protection. His intervention not only saves her, but puts her in an even more compromising position.

Grant Hill, a trading captain, is enchanted by the young heiress not only because of her beauty, but because she is hardly conventional. Underneath her ladylike exterior lies a tigress. Grant cannot help but offer his protection as she is in need and he is far from immune from her charms.

Fara just never bargained on the passion that she feels for Grant Hill. As events unfold, she must decide whether her desires and the dictates of her heart should trump the rules of society in this exciting tale.

Author Bio

Marie Lavender lives in the Midwest with her family and three cats. She has been writing for over twenty years. She has more works in progress than she can count on two hands.

At the tender age of nine, she began writing stories. Her imagination fueled a lot of her early child’s play. Even growing up, she entered writing contests and received a certificate for achieving the second round in one. She majored in Creative Writing in college because that was all she ever wanted – to be a writer. While there, she published two works in a university publication, and was a copy editor on the staff of an online student journal. After graduating from college, she sought out her dream to publish a book.

BUY 

Kobo:  http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Upon-Your-Return/book-S9j9kHxqnUOxEUK4IkjFRw/page1.html?s=sGcZru_xmE2NIc-tjelWvg&r=1

Book Description:

Katie and Adam are afraid of love.

She carries the scars of a first kiss gone terribly wrong.

He uproots his life to flee the stinging betrayal of an ex.

When trust is no longer an option, all romance is suspect.

As a young paramedic, Adam rescues people for a living but cannot save himself. Katie, just out of high school, struggles with a tortured home life she cannot escape.

Everything changes when Katie hops into the front seat of Adam’s ambulance. Overwhelmed by what they are feeling, neither possess the confidence to make the first move. They walk away from each other, full of regret.

To find her, Adam risks his future. To be with him, Katie sacrifices her security.

Little do they know, what little time they do have, is being measured by a heartbeat that is slowly dying out.

HEARTBEAT series is only 99 cents on Amazon!

http://www.amazon.com/Heartbeat-ebook/dp/B00B4Y9296

  Random Things about Author, Faith Sullivan:

 – She was so much smarter as a teenager.

 – She’s a slow reader.

 – She tends to like a book more for its characters rather than its plot.

 – She appreciates people who are genuinely kind and come through when you need them.

 – As a creative person, she’s not always fun to live with, but she keeps things interesting.

 – She misses the days when all she had was a rotary phone that didn’t even have an answering machine.

 – She’s a child of the 1980s, and a teenager of the 1990s.

 – She loves her dog.

 – She likes to travel and see new places – when her limited budget allows.

 – She thinks in another lifetime she lived in the UK somewhere by the coast.

 – When she feels an emotion, she feels it deeply. It’s a curse.

 – She has an overactive imagination. Writing helps alleviate that problem.

 – Nine times out of ten, she believes a good book trumps reality.

New Adult author of HEARTBEAT and UNEXPECTED

 Author Links:

 Blog     Amazon      Twitter @_faithsullivan_     Goodreads

“If you’re broken, I’ll fix you…”

I must admit, I could not believe the harsh self punishment Maggie, the main character put on herself.  She had no confidence, no value and actually made me feel so sorry for her. There are a few secrets that were given out in very small doses. What I thought about the secrets was WOW. They were pretty good, very unique and set up in a way that left you wanting more. They were excellent reveals. Her family, although I can’t discuss them were a case for Dr. Phil or Maury.

What I did not like was the fact that she let people call her names and live to repeat them over and over. What I also did not like was the fact that she thought she was worthless. I guess that makes a good writer. I mean if they get you amped up and pissed off then they did a good job right?

Maggie let herself believe she was useless and worthless. Pretty much damaged goods. A slut. A failure. The story is told in and around a very small town. Think that before you read it. If you have never experienced the close knit small town feels, this book will make you want to run from any town with a population of less than 10,000

When Maggie has an epiphany about Asher, she gives him a chance. He was the bright spot of the book. Asher Logan helps her using his own life lessons. The high profile life he leads shows Maggie that he can overcome so she can too. 

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17841451-unbreak-me

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Ryan writes romances with humor, heat, and heart. Her books are described as fun, flirty, and wickedly sexy. A lover of learning, Lexi has been in the classroom all her life and currently holds the title of assistant professor of English at her local community college. Lexi is a proud member of Romance Writers of America. She lives in rural Indiana with her husband and two children.

Website: http://www.lexiryan.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexiryanauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/writerlexiryan

“If you’re broken, I’ll fix you…”

I’m only twenty-one and already damaged goods. A slut. A failure. A disappointment to my picture-perfect family as long as I can remember. I called off my wedding to William Bailey, the only man who thought I was worth fixing. A year later and he’s marrying my sister. Unless I ask him not to…

“If you shatter, I’ll find you…”

But now there’s Asher Logan, a broken man who sees the fractures in my façade and doesn’t want to fix me at all. Asher wants me to stop hiding, to stop pretending. Asher wants to break down my walls. But that means letting him see my ugly secrets and forgiving him for his. 

With my past weighing down on me, do I want the man who holds me together or the man who gives me permission to break?

Title: Unbreak Me

Author: Lexi Ryan

Release date: May 27, 2013

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Group: New Adult

Publisher: Lexi Ryan/Ever After, LLC

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17841451-unbreak-me

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Ryan writes romances with humor, heat, and heart. Her books are described as fun, flirty, and wickedly sexy. A lover of learning, Lexi has been in the classroom all her life and currently holds the title of assistant professor of English at her local community college. Lexi is a proud member of Romance Writers of America. She lives in rural Indiana with her husband and two children.

Website: http://www.lexiryan.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexiryanauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/writerlexiryan

Don’t forget to enter the $70 giveaway after leaving your review: http://stacyclaflin.com/2013/05/15/reader-appreciation-month-70-giveaway/

 

Stacy Claflin, Author

Visit StacyClaflin.com to learn more about my books.

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