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April Parmelee
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Author Archives: ReadingRenee
Heartstrings By Sara Walter Ellwood @sara_w_ellwood **Spotlight**
Blurb:
He’s determined to set things right, no matter the cost.
The last person Abby Crawford wants to face down is country music superstar Seth Kendall. Last time she did, she flat-out lied so he’d go to Nashville without her. She’s never understood why their mutual best friend proposed, but she went with it so her baby wouldn’t be fatherless. Now she’s a divorced mother of a teenager, and secretly Seth’s biggest fan.
Seth is home in McAllister, Texas for his father’s funeral…and a chance to meet the daughter he’s never known. He’s willing to face the music of his own making and admit he’s known about his little girl all along. For fifteen years he’s kept his distance because Abby told him to follow his dreams without her, insisting she didn’t love him. But now he won’t leave until he knows his daughter and she knows him, even if it means facing the woman who broke his heart for good.
Confessing she’s lied about her daughter’s paternity all these years won’t be easy for Abby, especially with her ex blackmailing her to keep the secret. And Seth doesn’t know the hardest truth of all: Every love song he plays on his guitar still plucks her heartstrings.
CONTENT WARNING: Spicy sex.
Excerpt:
Seth leaned in. His lips were close enough to kiss, and his scent of sandalwood and something exotic enveloped her, taking her back to that night on the beach. His eyes flashed with the dangerous fire of his temper. It was similar to the flame of the passion she’d once seen in the green depths. Abby didn’t expect or want the heat curling in her belly, and shivered with a sudden and fierce desire.
“I’m her father, Abigail. I wanted to be her father after she was born. It was you and Mike who insisted I had no business messing things up.”
“I never said any such thing. You never tried. You just left.”
He pounded a fist on the counter top so hard she jumped. “Yes, I left! I wasn’t welcome at home. Dad ran me off with a shotgun. Mike wouldn’t even let me see my daughter. He made it quite clear you and he were happily married, and I had no place in your life. I was under contract to be in Nashville to start recording my first album.”
What did he mean, Mike wouldn’t let him see Emily?
Before she had a chance to voice her question, his eyes darkened as the pupils dilated, obscuring the stormy green. “But I’m no longer nineteen and scared shitless. I could make things very rough for you and this fantasy you’ve got working.”
A cold lump quickly replaced the tangle of heat in her belly. “What-what do you mean?”
He backed off and tapped the countertop. “I’m talking a custody battle. I could have a judge order a paternity test. I think we both know the media hoopla the results would cause.”
Her heart slammed into her chest wall. “You wouldn’t do that.”
“Try me. Now that I’ve met Emily, I want to get to know her.” He walked over to look out the kitchen window. The hard line of his jaw melted, and he swallowed so hard his throat moved up and down. “I was a fool when I let Mike talk me out of being in her life after she was born.”
“What do you mean?”
He glanced at her. “Don’t pretend you don’t know.”
The strings of guitar music provided a soft counterpoint to the hard tension in the kitchen. Emily was outside on the patio playing around with her guitar, waiting for them to finish with the dishes she and Seth had insisted on doing.
“All I want is to have some time with my daughter. That’s all I’m asking for.” When he looked over his shoulder at her, sadness replaced the anger in his eyes. “I’ll keep your little secret. I’ll just be her favorite singer. The family friend who made it big in Nashville. I don’t want to hurt her. As much as it galls the hell out of me, I see what Mike means to her.”
He moved toward her and shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Besides, I don’t want to hurt Carolann or Frank any more than you do.” He glanced outside again, his voice husky as he spoke. “But I’ll sue you if I have to.”
A part of her wanted to give in to him, but a larger part wanted to punish him. Let him take her to court; she’d make sure the world knew what kind of jerk Seth Kendall really was.
She gritted her teeth and fisted her hands by her sides. “I’ll let you have tonight, Seth. But don’t ask for more.”
She turned away and strode through the French doors.
Bio:
Sara Walter Ellwood is an award winning author whose novel Gambling On A Secret was named by bestselling author Carolyn Brown in the Happy Ever After Blog on USA Today as one of her favorite romances of 2012. Although Sara has long ago left the farm for the glamour of the big town, she draws on her experiences growing up on a small hobby farm in West Central Pennsylvania to write her stories. She’s been married to her college sweetheart for nearly 20 years, and they have two teenagers and one very spoiled rescue cat named Penny. She longs to visit the places she writes about and jokes she’s a cowgirl at heart stuck in Pennsylvania suburbia.
She also writes paranormal romantic suspense under the pen name of Cera duBois.
Buy Links:
Lyrical Press: http://lyricalpress.com/heartstrings/
Author Links:
Twitter:
A Terrible Love by Marata Eros @MarataEros @tale_of_reviews
Book Description:
Jessica Mackey is living a meticulously fabricated lie of necessity. She’s left the secret tragedy of her past behind along with who she was and is forging ahead with a clean slate. Jess soon discovers that passion can’t be left behind; her own and that of the one man that sees who she really is. Whose presence caresses her soul in a way that may breach the peaceful life Jess has made for herself.
Devin Castile sees a young woman who is the missing puzzle piece to his existence and who is also the victim to a heinous crime. Devin convinces himself that he can remain emotionally distant even while indulging his physical desire for her. When the lies that Jess has made crumble before their attraction and the truth is revealed, one of them might pay with their life… or their very being.
Review:
As I read this I was thrown for a loop. The main character Jessica is as aspiring designer. She has worked so hard to move along and forget the tragedy that her life once was. After starting a somewhat new life, she starts to work on being forgettable. When you read through the prologue, it is clear this is a fast read and page turner. I loved the way the tragedy in the beginning shaped Jess into her adult life. That was one of the saddest parts for me. I am trying to find how I can describe the richness of the cast but it is too hard without destroying the plot.
When you are introduced to Devin Castile (Cas) he is the bad boy control freak who is in college but always seems to be right there when Jess needs him. I will tell you the Cas is one of the biggest alpha males I have seen in a while. You will smile when they reach a friends with benefits compromise. I would be jumping on the boat too! There are a few reveals that are woven in to become one of the best romantic suspense books I have read. One of the best lines is about the title. She says if we ever did fall in love it would be a terrible love. OMG squeals of joy as I take the ride with Jess and Cas.
The university and all of the supporting cast members are brilliant. When Jess starts doing ballet again it just ignites her passion. The fact that she comes out of her shell a little to go and try out for this important ballet auditions, is a nail biting chapter. A must read with all of the twists and turns you will be glued. Seriously read it!
Amazon –
Tour Giveaway:
(5) Print Copies of A Terrible Love – US Only
(5) eBook copies of A Terrible Love – International
US Only code
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About the Author
Marata Eros is a mixed-genre writer of dark erotica and fantasy with elements of romance and horror. She has completed her first contemporary romance, A TERRIBLE LOVE as her next new release. Marata is a passionate reader who loves interacting with her readers and is more grateful than she can express for their support.
Author Social Media Links:
Blog: http://marataeroseroticaauthor.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarataEros
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marata-Eros/336334243087970
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5052261.Marata_Eros
Unexpecting by Lori Verni-Fogarsi @LoriTheAuthor **review**
I first must say Thanks for reading my blog, now if you are here PLEASE read Momnesia! It is the first book and a must read. This should be a series, in fact I demand it become one! So, I am not too full of myself there am I? Who cares if I am? I will even beg her if I must. The structure of Momnesia and now this must be built upon. I think it would be an injustice to leave this one alone as a two book series and not a trilogy. I think that is not the boys Grace and Rose are in need of a book. There I will beg more later.
This takes place a few years after Momnesia, and Sweet Shelley Bean and David are married an almost empty nesters. the way it starts just warms little heart, then the bomb drops, Davis has a daughter Alexandra he didn’t know about. He had a little short lived fling with Patsy and she is the result. She passed away and I was so darn emotional over it! the poor girl stayed with a friend and then literally had to sleep in her Ford Fiesta with her dog “Tiny” who is a mini moose. the fact that she had a few months before she turned 18 and nobody to go to, she finds Shelley and knocks on the door.
This was totally different from Momnesia! It was not funny and quirky, but very real. I love saying epic when it comes to a book and this was for sure epic! I think Alex and her struggles (that you need to read about) are so current and real. It was very strong and emotional. The children are all back and grown up. I think it was nice to see how they evolved and matured. There was not one thing I didnt like about this book.
Several times you will get a little chuckle, but Shelley and David are a super hero couple who have endured and come out on top. A very emotional journey that must be read! The author has such a grasp on character growth and reality it will be a favorite and I know a best seller. Just to shut me up READ It NOW!
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About Lori
This site is brought to you by me… Lori V. Fogarsi. Having been self-employed my entire life, my career has developed in an interesting way: What began as owning a dog training school developed into becoming a professional speaker, journalist, columnist, business consultant, and published author. (For the full story, please scroll down.)
A combination of all of my endeavors, you can enjoy a plethora of information from all areas of my career, right here at LoriTheAuthor.com!
- Author: Of full-length books. “Momnesia,” contemporary women’s fiction/chick lit, published 2012, designated as finalist in Indie Excellence Book Awards. Nonfiction book, “Everything You Need to Know About House Training Puppies and Adult Dogs,” published 2005, has been widely acclaimed in its genre by vets, groomers, rescue personnel and other pet professionals.
- Professional Public Speaker: Have taught seminars at colleges, private, and corporate venues for 15+ years.
- Certified Master Dog Trainer: Owned two dog training schools for a total of 15 years.
- Writer: Freelance, journalist, and columnist. Have written for a multitude of magazines and newspapers, including a syndicated column.
- Small Business Consultant: Work with small businesses on a case-by-case basis, providing individualized creative marketing, business improvement, expense reduction, and event coordination services.
FULL BIO:
Lori Verni-Fogarsi has worked as a freelance writer, journalist, columnist, and seminar speaker for more than fifteen years. MOMNESIA is her first novel (publication date 3/16/2012) and she is the author of the nonfiction book, EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HOUSE TRAINING PUPPIES AND ADULT DOGS(published in 2005), which has been widely acclaimed in its genre.
Verni-Fogarsi began her writing career in an unusual way: With a monthly newsletter for her small business–a dog training school! Over time, she became well known not only for her dog behavior knowledge and writing skills, but also for her business acumen. She was surprised at first when she was approached by magazines and newspapers requesting articles on pet behavior, small business, and parenting, as well as universities and advanced placement programs requesting seminars on pets and business marketing.
For 15+ years, her articles have appeared in a multitude of publications including“New York Parent,” “The Pet Gazette,” “Franchise Advantage,” and many more. She has worked as a journalist and columnist for the Heartland Publications family of newspapers, and has taught seminars at Nassau Community College, North Carolina State University, and many private and corporate venues.
Major media appearances have included being a featured speaker for a live Lifetime Women’s Network event, television appearances including theMy Carolina Today Show and many major network news pieces, a radio guest on a multitude of programs including Joe Wade Formicola, a feature article in Oprah Magazine, a live online chat host for The Boston Globe, and many more.
Most recently, Verni-Fogarsi’s novel, MOMNESIA, was published. A fun and feisty read, she is excited to bring you this funny, yet thought-provoking story of a suburban mom trying to find balance between her “momminess” and her “sexiness.” Enhanced by custom-painted artwork, a Reader’s Discussion Guide, and a national and virtual book tour, MOMNESIA has become a big hit with book clubs, discussion groups, and more.
Verni-Fogarsi is a happily married mother of two and step mom of two more. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband, Mark, as well as reading, dining out, boating, napping, and hitting the town. Many of their weekends are also hectically enjoyed attending their childrens’ various activities, including dance competitions, drill team meets, chorus, and theater performances. She has two cats, both rotten.
Originally a native New Yorker, Verni-Fogarsi now divides her time between Raleigh, NC, and Lake Gaston, VA, where she is hard at work on her next novel,UNEXPECTING, about a couple of almost-empty-nesters who are faced with the sudden appearance of a pregnant teenage daughter they never knew existed.
She invites you to peruse this website, and also join her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LoriTheAuthor.
If you’d like to contact her, you may do so here.
The Blasphemy Box by Mandy Behbehani @Tale_of_Reviews @mandyscribeista
Bridget Jones meets Nora Ephron. That make me a little sad I never read Bridgett Jones or anything written or visual of Nora’s. Maybe I should. I know exactly who would LOVE this book like I did, any woman who was in a long term relationship or married. I go the biggest kick out of it. So meeting Maddy Nelson has had an effect on me. She is what I would call “a regular girl”. Her husband is a moron and she feels lower than low. Until someone suggests to her that she write a blog. Why not write a blog about the ending of a marriage and spark her writing career. She always aspired to do more than just columns and journals maybe, a best seller is next on the list.
Steven announcing that he’s leaving her for a woman half her age. And a third of her size certainly makes for some humorous one liners! Then she begins the lawyer and divorce process and that is also equally as daunting, but has a few humorous parts too. Her outlook is sort of blah and her coping mechanism is her blog and it is sometimes useless. Her Mother is just blunt and makes her feel awful too.
Going through the single stage, single parenting, internet dating, and her job is a funny and sometimes sad ride. The Blasphemy Box, is her “throw a quarter into it for being a potty mouth” box. I loved the idea and when she says she is from Europe and they swear too much I cried laughing. I know a lot of the demographic over 30 will relate to her adventures and surely this will grab the audience that I feel the book is intended for. So if you are married, divorced, or have had a friend , sister, lover got through one, READ this book. I know I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Publisher: Breedon Avenue Books
Link to the book:
About the Author
Mandy Behbehani grew up in England and now lives in Northern California. She is a professional journalist whose work has appeared in a variety of publications from the Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle to W magazine, Town & County magazine and Travel & Leisure magazine.
For a wonderful debut!
Winners You and Tequila by Crystal Donahue @CDonahue_Writes
Congrats to Melissa B and Cassie P
You both won a Kindle copy of You and Tequila by Crystal Donahue
&
a You and Tequila logo notepad with a charm book marker.
Entry #206Melissa B.
Entry #232Cassie P.
Stormy Surrender Book One of the New Hope Series by Nicole Andrews Moore @thenicknick *Review*
The Review:
The great thing is I was in on book one, the bad is..Where the hell is book 2. How long do I need to wait? The torture! The book started out so nice and fluffy. I was as happy as a clam, then the angst set in. Martha poor Martha! She married a schmuck named Blaine. How they lived in Vermont I don’t know, I would have stuffed his ass on a chair lift in St Johnsbury and pushed play! Maybe when mud season arrived in April they would find him. He was a plastic surgeon who “did” his office assistant. Typical d bag. The spoiler is here, I won’t say a peep! Anyways the story was one of redemption and healing. Poor Martha I knew she was fragile and in need. She just picked up to go to North Carolina and started a new life. Well maybe not so new, she expected Blaine the big *** to follow and move his practice.In other words she was HOPEFUL.
The small town feel of New Hope and the towns people who befriend her were so sweet. I loved the Inn keeper Keely and Laurel who ran the fave lunch spot in town. When she gets there and begins to get a feel of the town, quickly decides that she wants to buy a house and move there. Now feeling inspired and somewhat HOPEFUL she begins a new venture. She meets Joe the local lady’s man and they form a working relationship. Joe is totally HOPELESS and probably in just as much need.
The reason why he lives there and how he got his house are spoilers and I have HOPE it will come as a surprise.
It was a touching story with four, count them 4, reveals. One is sort of sad, but funny and that is where the title comes from. You will feel New Hope gives HOPE. I loved it and I am going to read the author’s other books for sure. Now I am so in love with Hope and being HOPEFUL I am giving away a few copies of Stormy Surrender the New HOPE Series. I will of course ask that Laurel and Keely get their books.I liked them both so much and their no-nonsense approach to Joe was a high point for me. Enjoy
Meet the author …
Nicki has lived in Charlotte, North Carolina with her children for the past eleven years and her husband for the past three years. Her journey has barely begun and she loves every minute of it. Every day of her life seems to bring new adventures, some bigger, better, shinier and prettier than others. She’s still getting used to that new life smell she’s experiencing, a combination of hope, love, and happiness. (The perfect scents to build a new life on…)
For fun, she spends time with those she cares about, cooks, reads, writes, and especially lives to travel. The current travel goal: visit every Margaritaville. Two down! (Eleven to go?)
In addition to writing on Suddenly Single Journey, Nicki is a contributor for Project Underblog. Her writing can also be found on Shine, where she is a Shine Parenting Guru and an award winning Yahoo! Contributor on YourWisdom as the relationship and dating expert. And she has been published by McClatchy News in their syndicated papers.
Buy Links:
#FeatureFriday- The Depot by Carmen DeSousa is FREE!!!!
Bestselling author Carmen DeSousa’s Romantic Suspense short story is FREE on your favorite eReader! Grab your copy today and get a taste of her 5 Star selling books!
They say The Depot is haunted. But in all the years homicide detective Mark Waters has visited the ancient train station turned restaurant, he’s never seen proof. Until now.
As he investigates a supposed suicide by train, he learns secrets of a murder that took place eighty years ago may directly affect his case.
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Check out more of Carmen’s 5 Star Rated novels today!
Carmen characterizes her stories as modern-day fairytales, as they overflow with romance, mystery, suspense, and of course, tragedy. After all, what would a fairytale be without a tragic event…
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Surviving Raine by Shay Savage @Savage7289 **Excerpt** @CBL_Blog
Teaser of Surviving Raine:
“What’s your problem?” I snapped again. I hadn’t really meant to, I was just tense and pissy.
The smoke was helping, but what I really wanted was a drink. I didn’t suppose anyone packed any of those little tiny airplane-sized booze bottles in the survival kits.
“I…um…” she stumbled over her words and looked away. Even under her darkened skin, I could see red creeping into her cheeks.
“What?” I was annoyed now. If she was going to complain about my smoking, I was going to lose it.
“I…have to go to the bathroom.”
I laughed. I took one last long drag, getting it all the way up to the filter before I tossed the butt out onto the waves.
“Then fucking go!”
“Where?”
“Didn’t you notice the en suite bath?” I laughed again, and then took a smidgen of pity on her. “Over the side, where do you think?”
“Well…how?”
All right, she did have a point there. Or rather, she didn’t have a point. Or a pointer. I had to laugh again at my internal joke.
“Just…I don’t know…hang your ass out over the edge. Or get in the water.
Whatever.”
“I’d have to take off my suit.”
“So?”
She blushed again.
“What? You want me to hang out in the next room for a few minutes? I promise I won’t gawk at you.”
She didn’t move. Well, actually, she was still fidgeting around; she just didn’t make a move to actually solve her dilemma. If she kept this up, she was going to pee in the fucking raft.
“If it makes you feel any better, I’ve already checked you out front and back, had my mouth on yours and my hand on your tit, so it’s not like…”
She gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. I realized how what I had said sounded, considering she had been unconscious the entire time. I shook my head.
“I didn’t mean…ah, fuck.” I grabbed my shirt and flopped down on my back, covering my whole face up with the garment. I lay there for a moment but didn’t hear her moving at all, so I yelled at her again. “Get on with it!”
She moved. I could hear her shuffle over to the front of the raft and then move around in one place, presumably taking off her shorts and her bathing suit.
“If you are going to get in the water, put the life preserver around your waist first and hold on to the fucking ladder. I don’t want to have to dive in after your ass again.”
“Okay,” she said. “Um…where is it?”
“Right outside the opening – on the left.”
“Thank you,” she said.
“Whatever.”
I listened to her move around a bit more and then felt her move closer to the opening and off to the side. There was a soft splash, and a minute later I heard her pulling herself back up onto the raft.
“There’s something similar to a towel over there,” I said – flinging my arm out in the
direction of the back of the raft and waving my hand around. “Make sure you dry off the floor, too.”
“Thank you,” she said.
“Whatever.”
I listened to her move around some more, getting pretty fed up with just lying there, baking, with my fucking shirt over my head.
“Are you done yet?”
“Almost,” she said quietly. Her voice still sounded scratchy. “Okay, I’m done.”
I grabbed the shirt off my face and sat up, looking over at her. She was adjusting the straps on her suit and still blushing.
“Do you know why my…um…throat hurts?”
“Yeah,” I said. I didn’t elaborate. After a minute she finally asked.
“Why does my throat hurt?”
“Because you inhaled a shitload of salt water,” I stated. “It fucks up your throat and your vocal cords. Give it a day; it’ll be better.”
“Thank you,” she said, again.
“Whatever,” I replied, again.
I shoved my hand down into the sealed up container for rations and pulled out a carb bar. I tore it in half and threw one of the pieces at her.
“Eat it,” I instructed. “You can have the other half in six hours.”
“Six hours?” she repeated.
“Are you a fucking recorder? Yes, six hours.”
I knew I was being a bastard, but my brain was working overtime trying to figure out what our best course of action might be. Having her here made it ten times more difficult. If it was just me, I was pretty sure I would be fine. There was plenty of food and water for just me. I could fish, I could take care of myself, and I could stay alive under pretty extreme circumstances.
Having her here with me just…complicated everything.
Author Bio:
Shay Savage lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband, two children, and a variety of household pets. She is an accomplished public speaker, and holds the rank of Distinguished Toastmaster from Toastmasters International. When not writing, she enjoys science fiction movies, and loves soccer in any and all forms. During the fall, she coaches her daughter’s soccer team. Though she currently works in the technology field, her school background is in psychology, and she brings a lot of that knowledge into the characters within her stories.
Author Contact Links:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AP5NNWC/
Surviving Raine by Shay Savage @Savage7289 **cover reveal** @CBL_Blog
Summary:
As the captain of a schooner catering to the elite on the Caribbean Seas, Sebastian Stark does his
best to avoid any human encounters. Interacting with people isn’t his thing, and he prefers the
company of a bottle of vodka, a shot glass, and maybe a whore. There’s no doubt he’s hiding
from a checkered past, but he does well keeping everything to himself…
…until the night his schooner capsizes, and he’s stuck on a life raft with one of the passengers.
Raine’s young, she’s cute, and Bastian would probably be into her if he wasn’t suffering from
alcohol withdrawal. As the days pass, DTs, starvation, and dehydration become the norm. Even
the most closed person starts to open up when he thinks he’s going to die, but when she realizes
their traumatic pasts are connected, it’s no longer the elements that have Bastian concerned.
He has no idea how he’s going to Survive Raine.
***
Bastian isn’t the most pleasant guy Raine could have ended up with in the middle of the ocean
with no chance of rescue, but he has an uncanny knack for survival. As she digs through the
walls surrounding the stubborn and challenging man, she finds something surprisingly different
buried inside…
…and he can answer the question she’s asked for years.
As she learns more about what has brought him to this fate, Raine is determined to drag this self-
destructive man back from the edge of the wave. Isolation is her only chance to tear the man out
from inside of the animal, but this one has been abused for a long time.
She also has to live long enough to get through to him.
Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17447588-surviving-raine
Genre: Adult Romance
Release Date: May 21st, 2013
Author Bio:
Shay Savage lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband, two children, and a variety of household pets. She is an accomplished public speaker, and holds the rank of Distinguished Toastmaster from Toastmasters International. When not writing, she enjoys science fiction movies, and loves soccer in any and all forms. During the fall, she coaches her daughter’s soccer team. Though she currently works in the technology field, her school background is in psychology, and she brings a lot of that knowledge into the characters within her stories.
Author Contact Links:
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