Author Archives: ReadingRenee
The Dr Pepper Prophecies by Jennifer Gilby Roberts
The Dr Pepper Prophecies
Mel is a twenty-five-year-old underachiever with a terrible job, too much time on her hands and a perfect younger sister. Her work and love lives hit a new low when she ends up working for her ex.
The one good thing in her life has always been her best friend Will, who has seen her through every crisis from lost toys to pregnancy scares. Now a successful accountant, he looks a prime catch to his girlfriend Natalie, who’s determined to replace Mel as the woman in his life.
Despairing of improving her own life, she sets out to help her friends instead.
After all, what’s the worst that can happen?
A contemporary romantic comedy (chick lit) based loosely on Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’. Similar in style to works by Sophie Kinsella and Jane Costello.
At present this book is only available to buy for Kindle through Amazon.
Jennifer Gilby Roberts
About this author
Jennifer Gilby Roberts has a degree in physics and a postgraduate certificate in computing, so writing fiction was inevitable really. She was born and grew up in Surrey/Greater London, but now lives in Richmond, North Yorkshire with her husband, small daughter, two middle-aged cats and a lot of dust bunnies. She also has a grown-up step-daughter and a large extended family (by marriage).
Her job right now is taking care of her younger daughter (who was born three months premature, but is doing just fine now), but previously she worked many thrilling jobs in administration, including one in an insurance claims office (wholly unrelated to the one in ‘The Dr Pepper Prophecies’…).
She’s written two novels, both in the chick-lit genre, four novellas and a variety of short stories.
Gastien Part 1: The Cost of the Dream by Caddy Rowland #giveaway @CaddyorPims
I LOVED this book so you know I have to give a few copies away so hurry and ENTER
Gastien Part 1: The Cost of the Dream (The Gastien Series #1)
by Caddy Rowland
When young Gastien Beauchamp flees the farm for Paris, the late nineteenth century bohemian era is in full swing. Color has always called to him, beseeching him to capture it on canvas and show people a new way of seeing things. His father belittled his dream of being an artist and tried to beat him into giving it up. The dream wouldn’t die, but Gastien would have had he not left.
He also yearns to become a great lover. After the years of anguish he has endured at the hand of his father, it would be heaven to feel pleasure instead of pain.
However, the city of Paris has a ruthless agenda. Unless a man has money and connections, Paris unfeelingly crushes dreams and destroys souls. With neither of the required assets, Gastien faces living in alleys, digging in trash bins for food, and sleeping where a man is often killed for his threadbare blanket.
Left with nothing but his dreams, Gastien clings to the hope that the impossible is possible. He pushes on, regardless of the cost.
Gastien Part 2: From Dream to Destiny (The Gastien Series #2)
by Caddy Rowland
“I am Gastien Beauchamp, artist and lover. Any Frenchman would tell you that a peasant could never own property in nineteenth century France. Yet here I am, in my very own studio. The personal cost was horrendous. I barely survived the choices I made, and my sanity was pushed to its limits.
Still, I finally now have security, peace, and freedom. For the rest of my life I can spend time “making love to the color”, making love to beautiful women, and enjoying the wild nightlife of bohemian Montmartre. What more could a man need or want?
Then, one night, I see her. One look at Sophie, and my heart wants to betray me! I try to tell myself that I know better. Who needs love, anyway? I am already married-to my art!
No woman would ever understand and accept my lifestyle; nor am I about to give that lifestyle up. Not when I paid so dearly for it! Besides, I am too badly damaged to ever open up my heart…and if Sophie found out about my past she would not want to even know my name. I can’t take that chance. I have had enough pain to last me a lifetime.”
Tristan Michel:Bloodline of Passion (The Gastien Series #3)
by Caddy Rowland
From the bustling streets of New York City to the smoky speakeasies of Roaring Twenties Chicago, Tristan finds huge financial success. Along with respect, tradition, and family, he promises himself that this will be enough. Having achieved peace by forgiving his father his debauchery, he’s certain that there is nothing that could induce him to follow in his father’s lascivious footsteps.
Like father, like son will never apply to Tristan.
Then the urgent whisper that has been telling him there should be more than what he is experiencing with his wife becomes a full blown roar. With a very proper wife that refuses to loosen up, Tristan learns that the passion of the father is very much the passion of the son. To deny it may be impossible, but to embrace it could cost him everything. Book 3 of The Gastien Series.
Secret for a Song S.K. Falls @skfallssc @Giselleco
Saylor Grayson makes herself sick. Literally. The reason why this book was a little better was the unique subject matter. I know it is a topic that is not discussed and I read so much and have never read a character as good as Saylor. From the first chapter you a thrown with no warning into the world of a girl who is in great distress. She causes her own pain and she loves doing it. It is for a variety of reasons. So when she is being kicked out of college for poisoning herself with laxatives, it is home to New Hampshire for Saylor. The psychiatrists call it Munchausen Syndrome.
The family is really important to the story. Read about her parents and her upbringing and it will become clear. Well not really clear, but you get more of a glimpse into the why/when/where aspect of her illness. She gets involved with a wonderful group who have shown her openness and friendship. She has not had any of the before. Drew and his TIDD group were the bright spot in an otherwise tragic encounter. They all have terminal illness and rally together. It is somewhat interesting how she comes to be involved with the group.
Overall a fascinating look at this disorder and how it affects people. I was not too happy with parts of the story, but you need to know this is not something that can be cured overnight. The ramifications have a domino effect on Saylor. In the end there is an end, that I am so thankful for. Lately I have been reading too many books with major cliffhangers. I want to make sure this book is recognized for the unique talent the author has and the research. I know that it was heavily researched. Enjoy! say the All Saylor knows is that when she’s ill, her normally distant mother pays attention and the doctors and nurses make her feel special.
Adriana Ryan is the pen name of writer S.K. Falls.A huge fan of spooky stuff and shoes, I enjoy alternately hitting up the outlet malls and historic graveyards in Charleston, SC where I live and imbibe coffee. My husband and two small children seem not to mind when I hastily scribble novel lines on stray limbs in the absence of notepads.Since no writer’s biography is complete without mention of her menagerie of animals, you should know I have one dog that doubles as a footstool, a second that functions as a vacuum cleaner, and a cat that ensures I never forget that my hands are, first and foremost, for pouring cat food.
Sin at Sea by Emma Nichols #cover #reveal @EmmasErotica
Blurb:
When Alysin decided to surprise her boyfriend at work with dinner, the surprise was on her. Since he was going at it with his secretary on the conference table, she packed a bag and called her BFF. Jolie and Alysin had been traveling the country, working as digital nomads for ten years ever since graduation. Taking this as a sign it was time for a new move, they decided to take a cruise, regroup, and make a plan.Then she meets Mr. Bedroom Eyes. Following her lead, they pretend to be married so that she can rid herself of the guy who started hitting on her before the boat left the dock. Though it was supposed to be a momentary arrangement, he asks her to take it one step farther. Then another and another. The cruise promises to be memorable in every way that matters.Along the way, Alysin learns that she won’t have to fake an orgasm if she’s with someone who knows what to do, that not all men suck, but the best ones suck really well, and that sometimes what starts out as something pretend, can fast become something completely real. Will the woman who lives life with no regrets, regret that she made that stupid rule about not exchanging names and contact info?
Teaser:
All over the ship, the party atmosphere had taken hold. The cruise was predominantly made up of adults, thank god. Nothing will ruin a good time faster than a crying baby or whiny toddler. Shoot, throw in a child with a full-blown temper tantrum and I want to put a loaded gun in my mouth. I seem to have managed to escape any hint of maternal instincts. I have yet to experience a biological clock scare. I’m probably more likely to encounter biological warfare on American soil than suffer from that ailment. Who knows? Maybe I’ll feel differently in five or ten years. At the same time, I seriously hope not.
The aromas of the buffet on the lido deck hit me the minute I exited the elevator. Then I remembered that if I planned to enjoy the buffets and maintain my slim size six figure then I would need to start taking the stairs. I frowned. Maybe I should take the mid-morning Pilates class that seemed to be offered daily, or walk the track. I chuckled. I don’t own a pair of sneakers. Pilates it would be.
After loading a plate with salad, fruit, potato salad, and some nice southern fried chicken, I found a table by the windows that was vacant. Setting the plate down on the granite, I started to pull out my chair when a man came out of nowhere and did it for me. He wasn’t in uniform. This wasn’t a crewmember being helpful. Nope. I had already attracted a new douche. How the hell did they always seem to find me? If this was any indication as to how the rest of the week was going to go, it was going to feel like a year. I’m not the kind to hibernate in the cabin to avoid problems. I find a way to make them go away.
This time would be no different. After he helped me push in the seat, I spoke. “Thank you.” Then I focused on my food and started eating my salad. Sometimes, I just can’t get enough roughage.
“You are welcome, gorgeous.” He smiled at me, a smile that clearly cost him more than most people make in six months. “So, do you have a name?”
I was chewing and didn’t rush that part to answer him. It would be good for him to wait. He needed to be as uncomfortable as he was making me feel…or would have been making me feel if I wasn’t already worn out on men at the moment. Leisurely, I swallowed.
“Yes.” Then I loaded my fork with another bite and kept on eating.
Clearly, I had flustered him…not enough for him to leave me alone, mind you, but his soft underbelly was beginning to show. It was all squishy and pink. He laughed it off. “What is it?” He asked in what was probably his most seductive tone.
“You already guessed it. Gorgeous. It’s right there on my birth certificate. Imagine how that could have gone had I not lived up to the hype.” I looked at him evenly, not even cracking a smile.
Would you believe he just kept talking, like we were old friends or soon to be bedroom buddies. That guy couldn’t have pried his way into my room with a crow bar. Nope. My vagina was closed to him for sure.
Finally I interrupted him, which was just as well since I had tuned out everything after his empty chuckle. “So, dude, what makes you think I was eating alone?” I asked with more than a hint of annoyance.
“Well, you walked in here alone,” he began nervously.
“Yes, well, that’s not the same thing as being alone.” This was the kind of moment that normally Jolie would rescue me from. She would show up and do something to ensure the guy knew we were “lovers.” Maybe this time I was on my own. Then I saw him. He had those classic good looks, pretty without looking feminine; a strong jaw, beautiful warm brown eyes, and rich brown hair that was both thick and curly. Why couldn’t that guy have pulled out my chair?
Standing, I stepped in front of him. “Babe, did you not see me? I was right here. Did you get my Coke?” I could see that he was mildly shocked. I could fix that. In a few seconds he was going to be majorly shocked. I planned to render him speechless…and malleable. I stood on my tiptoes and planted a kiss on the tip of his nose. As I imagined, I was offered a hungrier look. That’s when I made my move. Slowly, I matched my lips to his and then shifted so that I was angled and we were kissing…really really kissing. He played along. Seconds later he had played right into my hand. Wow wow wow.
“Help me, please,” I breathed into his ear.
“Anything for you, sexy.” He sealed his vow with a kiss on my cheek that totally did not suck. He looked over at my intruder. “Who’s this guy?” He asked, jerking his thumb in the guy’s direction.
“I have no idea. I’m sure he was just keeping the seat warm for you though.” I smiled at him and frowned over at the guy who was keeping me from my meal.
“Uh, yeah, I was just leaving,” the man mumbled. Then he stood up as he mumbled and soon walked away.
The new guy sat down. I stared over at him. “Hey, don’t mind me. I just ended up getting drawn into your little charade. Hope you don’t mind if I enjoy my meal while we keep up appearances?” He smiled
“Nope. We’re good,” I replied.
Though I was smiling at him, I had little to say. There was so much going on in my mind…and thanks to Jolie, having an orgasm wasn’t part of that. Still, I wasn’t going to turn down the possibility of some amazing guilt-free sex with a hot guy for anything. Only I wasn’t sure how to gain his attention. My smile hadn’t worked. The kiss hadn’t accomplished anything. What was it going to take to get a man like that to be interested in spending a few meaningless days on a cruise with me?
Author Links:
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Emma-Nichols/244344445704798?fref=ts
Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7084178.Emma_Nichols
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmmasErotica
Sin at Sea Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17985733-sin-at-sea
Your Rafflecopter Giveaway:
http://bit.ly/11WjSaz
First, I Love You by Genevieve Dewey #review @GenevieveDewey @rozette69 @Literati_Lit
One part 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.
Well that says a lot and usually I get suckered into believing this and I am disappointed. This was before I read First I Love You. It is a saga! So the story is a little complicated, but if you pay attention by chapter 3 you are sunk and stay up all night to read it. I loved Mickey and I related to him and the “family” he had to protect. I know he was in love with Mary and not Theresa. Hey, at the time they were together, in this type of family, it is expected. I know all about growing up in Brooklyn being Italian. That being said, I really enjoyed the saga. I did go to Our Lady of Angels in Bay Ridge, so yes it is really real!
What I loved was how the characters and story were seamless. It is important to say pay attention because the history comes up and so do a few other “family”members. It is all about loyalty. In a certain place this exists and it totally rules lives. There is no out once you are IN. Mickey was IN. The descriptive characters and how the past affects Tommy and his half siblings Joe and Kiki will surely rival any saga you have read. It is all about family, trust and loyalty, no matter what. Mickey writes to Tommy and starts every letter with “First, I love You”.
Jump in an enjoy this book. The author took a story and has tightly woven the fabric in a way that leaves you screaming where is book two . The next is Second of All and I am so excited to write about that one too. Even more excited is this is a debut. I can’t believe that it is not only a debut, but the book totally lives up to the description.
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.
You can find Gen online at:
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/
 |
 |
 |
| Website |
 |
| Google Plus |
 |
First, I Love You (The Downey Trilogy) by Genevieve Dewey @GenevieveDewey #spotlight
One part 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.
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.
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.
You can find Gen online at:
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/
Memorial Service
I think everyone that is either in Irvine HS or at Venado Middle School should attend and show support!
Memorial Service in honor of Robin and Christine Cabrera has been scheduled for Sunday June, 9 from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Pacific View Memorial Park, Corona Del Mar. Prayers and Rosary will begin at 1:00 p.m. followed by Eulogies.
May the light of the lord shine on these beautiful girls. My daughter was to graduate with them and their dreams were taken away.
Faded by Mercy Amare @mercyamare #spotlight @TessMWatson
I left Hope – the only place I’ve ever felt at home. So now what? Where do I go from here?
When I left, I didn’t just leave my home. I left my friends, my sisters, and Stephan… I just found them. I can’t lose them now.
I know that I want to do MY music. I need to remember WHY I wanted to play music in the first place. And the only way to get that is by firing my dad, but that may be harder than I thought.
On top of everything, I now have cameras following me around everywhere. Even my own home isn’t safe anymore.
I’ve come to realize that normal will never be an option for me.
Jaded will be ON SALE for the blog tour. It’s normally 2.99 but it will be .99 for 7 days only! Here are the links!!!
SMASHWORDS: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/302647
**Faded is releasing on June 6, so the buy links for it will not be available until then!**
GIVEAWAY
US GIVEAWAY ENTER
AUTHOR LINKS
FACEBOOK � https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mercy-Amare/466953106650292
TWITTER � https://twitter.com/MercyAmare
WEBSITE � http://www.mercyamare.com
GOODREADS � http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6464549.Mercy_Amare
AUTHOR BIO
I am a YA/ NA author of the books: Don�t Tell, You Got Me, and the Rock Star Trilogy: Jaded, Faded, and Hated. I have a slight addiction to the TV series Pretty Little Liars and The Vampire Diaries. I’m 23 years old, and I currently live in St Louis, with my husband of 2 years.
Faded by Mercy Amare @mercyamare #review @TessMWatson
I left the last book and wanted more of Hope, Florida and of course Scarlett. YES you need to read Jaded before this book. This one was a lot better if you can believe that. Scarlett gets a lot of closure. The only thing is that with closure sometimes comes more questions. Sometime, the answers only make more questions. This is the case with book 2. I sort of leaves you thirsty for the rest.
When Scarlett gets through the events in book one, you know she is golden, I mean who can emerge fighting harder? Scarlett of course.
What a great book. For my fans of this genre, it will be a sold out Scarlett tour. I know you all will agree with me that Alex Torch NEEDS his own series. If you dont agree, then tough shut up and lie to me. I definitely loved Ethan and Alec and I think they need their own books. My opinion counts in my little world. NO I am not hearing voices, I am very attached to the characters and extremely emotional this week.
Jaded will be ON SALE for the blog tour. It’s normally 2.99 but it will be .99 for 7 days only! Here are the links!!!
SMASHWORDS: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/302647
**Faded is releasing on June 6, so the buy links for it will not be available until then!**
GIVEAWAY
US GIVEAWAY ENTER
AUTHOR LINKS
FACEBOOK � https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mercy-Amare/466953106650292
TWITTER � https://twitter.com/MercyAmare
WEBSITE � http://www.mercyamare.com
GOODREADS � http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6464549.Mercy_Amare
AUTHOR BIO
I am a YA/ NA author of the books: Don�t Tell, You Got Me, and the Rock Star Trilogy: Jaded, Faded, and Hated. I have a slight addiction to the TV series Pretty Little Liars and The Vampire Diaries. I’m 23 years old, and I currently live in St Louis, with my husband of 2 years.
Reading Renee 
You must be logged in to post a comment.