Too Close to See, Book 3 (A Southern Series Book 3) by Angela March @AngelaMarch3 #Review

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

Virginia Costello’s story continues. Well well well…I loved the first two books so of course this was an easy read, or so I thought. The title is a clue and Id like nothing more than to squeal but I cant. Anyways If you didnt read the first two, then go read them. For those that have then its no secret that things with Eli are continuing. Personally knowing the author and always thinking its about me, I ask “Was it necessary to torture me, Virginia, and my all time fave gay’s Ian and Jasper??”

I tried to move along from the angst and it was easy because in this book because of Jasper and Ian. Virginia equally annoyed me, made me cheer for her, and scream. all are good I suppose. With characters like these you just can not go wrong. I will also add that there is a lot of steam too. Aside from that, this book brings out a new element to the author’s writing. For me I saw a lot of comedy woven into the plot. With Ian and Jasper its almost impossible not to have a few I love Lucy moments.

Lastly was Liezel. Good GOD this woman is a thorn pricking anyone she comes into contact with. The reveal here was explosive.

The Liezel saga continues and we get the answers

YES we do

Boone always will be BOONE

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Meet Virginia (A Southern Series (Book 1)

Georgia Girl (A Southern Series Book 2)

Too Close to See Book 3

Angela March has accomplished another “Life Goal” of writing a book series. Angela has always loved any and everything creative. She has taken all the aspects of the stories she likes to read, compiling them into her writing style. Add her own personal life experiences along with a dash of humor. Her *A Southern Series* (3 book series) were written loosely based off her life experiences thus far. Angela’s life motto is… You have one shot at life.. When my time is up I want to slide into home saying what a ride… what a wild ride.

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22Feb2015

Too Close to See, Book 3 (A Southern Series Book 3) by Angela March @AngelaMarch3 #spotlight

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

Too Close to See, Book 3: A Southern Series

Virginia Costello thought she had everything worked out in her life, until Trumann Devereux crossed her path. Tru’s take no for an answer personality, along with his carefree, non-beige lifestyle throws Virginia into a self-assessment of her life, questioning herself yet again. Virginia is trying to rehash her relationship with her ex, Eli Heley. Once the trust is gone, can you ever really trust someone again?

Virginia finds herself in a whirlwind of turbulence when South magazine, her only form of a stable foundation as an adult suddenly receives an offer she and her partner can’t refuse, and they decide to sell.

Jeremiah James Boonesfield aka, Boone, has also made a surprise reappearance. When Virginia’s best friend Jasper, thinks his partner Ian is having an affair, when actually he and Boone have become close friends, keeping Boone’s presence in Atlanta a secret.

Selling the magazine and the realization that Boone has never left Atlanta, this sends Virginia running into the arms of Trumann Devereux.

Will Virginia stop running and finally see the things that are too close to see? On the other hand, will she crash and burn with her choices? Virginia Costello is about to hit an emotional wall. This time she has to rely on herself to make the right decision, or face a life of being alone with her life choices.

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Meet Virginia (A Southern Series (Book 1)

Georgia Girl (A Southern Series Book 2)

Too Close to See Book 3

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19Sep2014

Beautifully Done (Beautifully Awake #2) by Riley Mackenzie #Review @Literati_Lit @authorsrileymac

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

Title: Beautifully Done (Beautifully Awake #2)

Author: Riley Mackenzie

Genre: Contemporary Romance 18+

Publication Date: July 16, 2014

This book takes place AFTER book 1 so if you haven’t read it yet then what are you waiting for? STOP go get book 1 Beautifully Awake HERE and read it first.

NOW this Beautifully Done book is just that, its beautifully done. We get Asher’s point of view. Asher is an attorney with attitude. He has a way with words like this quote:

Andrew Kent the second, also known as Drew, had zero and absolutely no substance. He sort of reminded me of gagging on Farina. Not sure what Ave was thinking that day. She totally did drugs in college.Read more at location 397

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Asher is smitten with Talia and has been for a long time. He doesnt understand what happened or why she moved to California. He tracks her down and she is a Dermatologist in San Diego with a thriving practice. The blending of these two characters creates a few big reveals. Now there were reveals in book 1 but this one took my breathe away. I cant tell you what it was but Asher’s trouble is an eye opener. As an avid reader I will say I never saw it coming and when it came, well I never expected it.

Now that takes me a while to recover. We re-visit Lil and Chase and then Seirra and Dodd. Each has a reveal and YES if you thought I was joking before this will show you I was not. All the while learning more about these complex characters proved to be loaded with angst. The families especially Asher’s Dad with afflicted with Alzheimer’s, made me want to scream

Such a real problem for so many people and ya know I never saw that in a book. So bravo!!

Now I was trippin that Talia could say

It wraps things up in a tear jerking sort of way. I will sing the praises of these marvelous girls called Riley Mackenzie. A book that is just all that rolled into a neat package IM DONE

Some quotes I loved that don’t give any plot secrets away:

Add a note

I heard she sang you right back to sleep. That was so sweet of Talia, but next time you need to come find Mommy and Daddy. Uncle Asher and Talia were still sleeping.” “Theys not sleeping. Hers awake. I heard hers. Hers moans a lot.”

I fucking spit my coffee across the kitchen island before my sharp inhale caused me to choke and laugh my ass offRead more at location 2130

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About the Authors

Yep. That’s an “s.” There are two of us!

We’re East coast girls separated by Long Island Sound who met in Physician Assistant School and have been besties ever since. We can safely say that thirteen miles of water does not get in the way because we talk or text, no exaggeration, at least 150 times a day. No, really, we do—about everything and nothing. Shockingly, we never (we mean never) run out of things to say. Umm, ever. We definitely laugh A LOT and we’re a tad sarcastic. And if we’re being totally honest, one or two people might have, on occasion, used our names and ‘dramatic’ in the same sentence. But it’s hard to trust the sources since they married us.

It only took twelve years, two husbands, five kids, two dogs, and a two-week vacation in Cape Cod later to decide the romance world needed a splash of medicine. Write what you know.

So you can easily find us at 4 o’clock on Bank Street beach with a glass of cold Prosecco brainstorming. And guaranteed if we bump into you, literally, it’s only because our iPhones are glued to our hands (totally out of our control) either writing or editing our next novel (and yes, it is possible to do from your iPhone, we mastered it … damn those straight quotations).

When we are not working on our book or reading the latest angsty romance on our kindles, you basically name it and we have it going on. Soccer, lacrosse, golf, swimming, dance, gymnastics, football, chess, baseball, basketball, skiing, ice skating, school, homework, and more school. Oh yeah, did we forget to mention our careers in medicine?

Needless to say, we realized fast that something had to go, so we opted for sleep. It’s completely overrated (yet so AMAZING) and delirium makes everything funnier. Good thing we share a brain and can pretty much complete each other’s sentences (definitely weird, we know), otherwise it might have taken us two years to write Beautifully Awake rather than one.

So that’s our story, who we are … just add AUTHORS to the list!

Connect with the Authors

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Giveaway

One Signed Set of Books (US Only) and 5 $10 Gift Cards (Amazon) Open Internationally

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18Sep2014

Beautifully Awake (Beautifully Awake #1) by Riley Mackenzie #Review @Literati_Lit @authorsrileymac

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

This was unbelievably great. Sometimes a reveal, like the two Chase had, are so out of left field that you gasp out loud. Well I did that gasp a few times.

Totally engrossing book. The story of Chase and his profession are something else! He is a real doctor. By that I mean he is so focused on giving the best care he can that you learn more about him, thus creating the stigma about beside manners. I would actually say that part of the character is enlightening. Most would agree, go in there, do the surgery and I could care less if you chit chat with me, just heal me! Chase does just that.

In the character mashup of the original four= Asher, Chase, Kimi and Talia all makes appearances, some much more prevalent than others. The story of their growing up, their dreams and their rock band were some of the special things that make you feel what you feel when their reveals happen…..I know their secrets! in a word explosive. OK one last thing about the reveals, they are spaced out in a sort of breadcrumb trail. I was thrilled when a few happened because it is SO out of left field, really good, great, shut up and read it sort of thing!

Lastly Lil, she is the medicine that the entire hospital needs.

She is a case manager that cares. She is responsible for the happiness of many and one man in-particular. The romance part is really well written, so the steamy scene lovers will gobble it up.

Take my advice especially if you like drama and angst. I say read it now!

NOTE about the medical parts. This is fascinating to read especially as a nurse. The dialogue and the medical terminology with the treatments was great. I felt it added the perfect amount of smart to the book! So this nurse approves! I’m starting nook 2 now

My quotes and things in general that amused me:

“Switched with Martin. He loves that plastics shit, and I’d rather not waste a month doing facelifts and fucking boob jobs. Why? You sick of me yet?”Read more at location 146

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He told you? Our fucked up pasts shared so many commonalities, no wonder Chase feared our relationship. That we were unhealthy. I was the reminder Read more at location 4514

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Who-brought-the-cool-kid look, making me laugh even harder. My sides stabbed. I had no clue the last time I laughed this hard, really laughed. How sad was that? Good thing I went to the bathroom when we first got back to the apartment, or instead of the inevitable two-drop dribble that always snuck out before you remembered to clamp your thighs together in the mother of all Kegels, I might have pissed my pants. Sandwiched between two of the most handsome men I’d ever met, the thought of peeing my pants made me roar. Talk about a tension release … weeks in the making.Read more at location 4812

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Yep. That’s an “s.” There are two of us!

It only took twelve years, two husbands, five kids, two dogs, and a two-week vacation in Cape Cod later to decide the romance world needed a splash of medicine. Write what you know.

Connect with the Authors

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads Author Page

Giveaway

One Signed Set of Books (US Only) and 5 $10 Gift Cards (Amazon) Open Internationally

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17Sep2014

Beautifully Awake (Beautifully Awake #1) by Riley Mackenzie #Spotlight @Literati_Lit @authorsrileymac

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

Title: Beautifully Awake (Beautifully Awake #1)

Author: Riley Mackenzie
Genre: Contemporary Romance 18+

Publication Date: September 26, 2013

Event Organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.

Synopsis

Diagnosis: Sleep-running

Treatment: Truth

Prognosis: Beautifully Awake

Lili Porter hates the rain. Bad things happen in the rain. As a small town social worker dedicated to protecting children, she is forced to start over to escape her rural disaster. Determined to follow her father’s advice—head up and chin high—Lili finds herself in a new city, taking on a new system, this time healthcare. In doing so, she gets something she never expected, an intimate behind-the-scenes look at life in the hospital.

Lili learns that a surgeon’s hands have the power to heal more than physical wounds. And a prescription for truth can cure three years of sleep running and leave you beautifully awake

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Title: Beautifully Done (Beautifully Awake #2)

Author: Riley Mackenzie

Genre: Contemporary Romance 18+

Publication Date: July 16, 2014

Synopsis

Diagnosis: Borrowed time

Treatment: Trust

Prognosis: Beautifully Done

Asher Craig drives fast, flies high, and screws hard. But make no mistake, he’s a gentleman.

He learned way too young that we’re all on borrowed time. Fair or unfair, you only get one ride.

He vows to live for the moment because it’s the only time he owns. The past is beyond his control and the future may not exist. With his only loyalties being his family, he thrives for that edge where plunging over is always in the realm of possibility.

When a beautiful familiar face tilts his axis, he re-examines everything and realizes that second chances are overrated and a lifetime of firsts are irreplaceable. In the end, it’s not her medical degree but his trust that needs to prove that the ride together is worth it … until it’s Beautifully Done.

***Author’s note***
Contains spoilers from Beautifully Awake. We highly recommend reading Chase and Lili’s story first. For readers 18+

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About the Authors

Yep. That’s an “s.” There are two of us!

It only took twelve years, two husbands, five kids, two dogs, and a two-week vacation in Cape Cod later to decide the romance world needed a splash of medicine. Write what you know.

Connect with the Authors

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads Author Page

Giveaway

One Signed Set of Books (US Only) and 5 $10 Gift Cards (Amazon) Open Internationally

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10Sep2014

Fat Girl by Leigh Carron @LeighCarron #Review

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

The main character in this book Dee aka Deeana Chase is amazingly REAL. I loved her as well as her faults. I will say the author does a wonderful job by creating Dee and her issues. Sometimes I didnt think they were issues I thought maybe she was normal and looking at Elle or Vogue wanting a “look” she saw but NO. There is a little eating disorder, therapy, binges and real life within these pages. I really recommend this one.

Now for the others. It is not easy to give a review without a synopsis but the other characters are equally as grand as Dee. Micah was someone who got away. I really think that the separation, which was revealed and is stunning!, had to happen. Micah was under the thumb of an abusive law enforcement dad. It was heartbreaking to read about these kids brought together by a common bond- foster homes.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I AM a BIG basketball fan. I have virtually no life when October comes, its all my ballers! Micah is a basketball player who played for the Heat and then the Bulls. WOW just my ideal guy.

His career is now over and he enjoyed 15 years of fame with the perks and notoriety, but something is missing… and I think it is the love he lost.

If you want a real moving story with some sexy chick lit vibes then grab this you wont be disappointed. I loved it! I want more from this author pronto!!

FAT GIRL is the first book in this provocative two-part series about love and self-acceptance

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Smashwords

An American living in Canada. Chocolate snob. Recovering yo-yo dieter. Devoted mom and wife, blessed with a brilliantly witty daughter and unintentionally humorous husband. My wacky family feed my creativity and fuel my passion. Most nights, you will find me either curled up with a great book or, more often, sitting at my computer, tapping out the countless visions in my head.

To me, there is nothing better in a narrative than perfectly flawed but strong characters and intense romance that is sexy, deep, and sensual. Mm…I liken such stories to a box of Godiva. Decadent and delicious! You can’t stop at just one. In fact, I’m now hard at work on my next novel—A Naked Beauty, the conclusion to Fat Girl.

9Sep2014

CAN’T RESIST SERIES by Violet Duke‏ @VioletDukeBooks @ReadLoveLust

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

RESISTING THE BAD BOY BOOK SUMMARY:

“A heartfelt, fast-paced, and fun read!” — NYT Bestselling Author Lauren Blakely

The book that started it all. Book #1 of the Nice Girl trilogy, the acclaimed three-book serial that began the New York Times & USA Today bestselling CAN’T RESIST series.

Abby Bartlett is the quintessential nice girl. Between teaching, volunteering, completing her PhD, and helping her best friend raise his daughter, Abby never gets the chance to be anything but nice. That is, until the all-wrong-for-her man she’s only ever known from afar starts daring her to simply take that chance for herself. His sage advice? Try something wild and fast.

Preferably him.

An unbridled, hotshot attorney with a not-so-little black book, Connor Sullivan has earned himself quite the bad boy reputation. But in his defense, he’s a very conscientious one. He knows far too well that sometimes in life, love isn’t enough…or worse, not even a factor at all. To avoid that misery—and repel the drama—Connor always makes his one and only rule crystal clear right from the start. Absolutely nothing more than a month.

Turns out, a whole lot can happen in one month.

Note: This is NOT a standalone. This is the first book in a three-book serial.

This three-book serial is part of the CAN’T RESIST series. Books #1-3 (Abby’s story) must be read in order. While Books #4-6 are separate standalones, it is recommended that they be read after the trilogy. Books #1-3 are also available as a bundled boxed set.

Buy the Box Set Nice Girl to Love: Trilogy Boxed Set (#1 Resisting, #2 Falling, #3 Choosing) (CAN’T RESIST) Amazon
*Also available as a three-book bundle in the Nice Girl trilogy boxed set

THE CAN’T RESIST SERIES:
BOOK 1: Resisting the Bad Boy* Amazon
BOOK 2: Falling for the Good Guy* Amazon
BOOK 3: Choosing the Right Man* Amazon
BOOK 4: Finding the Right Girl Amazon
BOOK 5: Keeping the Rebound Fling- Coming 2015
BOOK 6: Having the Real Thing- Coming 2015

PRAISE FOR VIOLET DUKE:

“Emotionally charged with wonderful characters! Violet Duke made me laugh and cry in this incredible romance. One of the best I’ve read this year!” — NYT Bestselling Author J.S. Scott

“A sexy, emotional treat!” — NYT Bestselling Author Lexi Ryan

“A unique series that will take you on a roller coaster of emotions. I couldn’t put these books down!” — NYT Bestselling Author Carly Phillips

BUY LINKS

Resisting the Bad Boy – FREE

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AUTHOR BIO

NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY bestselling author Violet Duke is a former professor of English Education who is ecstatic to now be on the other side of the page writing wickedly fun contemporary romance novels. Her NYT and USA Today bestselling books have been Top 10 bestsellers on Amazon, iTunes, and Barnes & Noble, and featured on IndieReader and GalleyCat as breakout hits. When she’s not writing or feeding her book-a-day reading addiction, Violet enjoys tackling reno projects with her power tools, trying pretty much anything without reading the directions first, and cooking ‘special edition’ dishes that laugh in the face of recipes. She lives in Hawai’i with her two cute kids (daughter Violet & son Duke) and similarly adorable husband.

AUTHOR WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA

WEBSITE

www.violetduke.com

FACEBOOK PAGE

https://www.facebook.com/VioletDukeBooks

GIVEAWAY

Excerpt from Resisting the Bad Boy © Violet Duke

“Doesn’t sound like you have that much time for yourself. What do you do for fun?”

She got up to grab them another two beers from the kitchen. “Honestly, I’m a homebody. Never got into the nightlife scene here. Plus, by the time I was twenty-one, I was basically babysitting Skylar all day every weekend, and nearly all my weeknights. Since that pretty much carried on clear until last year, I guess my idea of fun is hanging out with her. Lame, I know.”

He felt like he was talking to a martian. He hadn’t realized she’d spent even more time babysitting Skylar than he had. And he knew for a fact—from Brian’s complaints about it—that she hadn’t taken a single cent from them for babysitting.

For God’s sakes, she was just so nice.

“So you don’t do anything just for yourself? Just for fun?”

“Well, I have been privately executing my mission to learn how to cook the most beloved dishes from every country in the world,” she returned with a smile. “That’s fun.”

It was possible baby bluebirds helped her get dressed in the morning.

She was just that sweet.

“You’re driving me crazy.” He swept an arm around her waist and lifted her right up onto his lap.

“Connor!”

He slid a hand into her hair, rubbed a thumb over her heated cheekbone as he brought his lips to within inches of hers. “I shouldn’t want you this much. You’re everything I’m not, and I’m everything you couldn’t possibly want. I know I should leave you alone, but I just can’t. I can’t stop myself from wanting you.”

Her breathing had grown so erratic, he was actually starting to get concerned. “Say something, sweetheart. I’m baring my soul here.”

“I shouldn’t want you either,” she whispered, “but I do.”

His arms locked around her, instinctively staking a claim on her. Mine.

For now.

The two words were his only anchor keeping him in the reality he maintained for himself. He had to be brutally honest with her, with them both. “I meant what I said earlier, Abby. I’m never going to break my one-month rule.” Feeling like the lowest piece of scum, he hammered that last nail in, “Not for anyone. Not even you.”

She was silent for a long while, and Connor started preparing himself for the rejection to come.

“I know our fifteen minutes of friendship are up but can I ask you something as a friend? Will you answer me as one?”

He tensed. “I’ll try.”

She chuckled. “Again with the copout.” Raising her warm doe eyes up to his, she asked quietly, “If you weren’t trying to get in my pants, if you were just my friend and I asked you what one thing I could do to stop being ‘a nice girl’ for just a little while, what advice would you give me?”

That was easy. “I’d tell you to try something new. Something that excites you. Something that’ll take you from zero to sixty just as fast as it could take you back to zero whenever you were ready to return.”

“Something wild and fast…” She loosened her death grip on his shoulders, slid her hands down his back slowly. “That’s good advice.”

He saw her gaze travel down to his lips and it took everything he had not to kiss her right then and there.

“Are you volunteering, Connor? To be that something wild and fast for me to try?”

“No,” he replied raggedly, “I’m insisting. Requiring.” He dropped his forehead against hers. “Asking.”

Christ, that was close.

But just when he’d gotten a handle on his roiling emotions, just when he thought he could be the good guy for a change, he felt two gentle hands smooth over the sides of his face.

And he was lost.

9Sep2014

All Or Nothing by Kendall Ryan @KendallRyan1 #Release @InkSlingerPR

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

You’ve met Ben Shaw. Now meet Braydon Kincaid, the devil-may-care male model who nearly stole the show in Working It by New York Times bestselling author Kendall Ryan.As one of the world’s most sought-after male models, Braydon is no stranger to the finer pleasures in life. The last thing he wants to do is limit himself, especially
when it comes to women. His best friend, Ben, might’ve settled down, but
Braydon doesn’t want to waste his youth on the messy complications of
commitment. He wants fun. He wants easy.Ellie isn’t looking for a casual relationship, but her tough and sassy personality instantly attracts Braydon, who proposes a “friends with benefits” arrangement. Unable to resist the powerful pull of the charming bad boy, Ellie eventually relents, though she longs for all-consuming love.

As the two spend more time together, Ellie soon realizes that Braydon’s posing skills extend off the runway. His carefully crafted façade masks a secret hurt that he’s reluctant to share with Ellie, even as they embark on a passionate affair that
sends them hurtling toward a fate neither expected. Can Ellie risk her heart
while she waits for Braydon to let her in, or will she be forced to demand all
or nothing?

AMAZON

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A story of heart-stopping, toe-curling passion by the beloved
bestselling author of Hard to Love, Resisting Her, and The Impact of You.

Straight-laced and well-mannered southerner Emmy Clarke is out of her depth in New York City’s fashion world, but when she lands a job as an assistant at a modeling agency it
seems like the perfect mix of business and pleasure. Working under the notoriously tyrannical Fiona Stone is a nightmare, but there’s one distinct perk: ogling the ridiculously hot male models who parade through the office—particularly rising star Ben Shaw.

Ben is everything Emmy’s not: exquisitely gorgeous, highly paid, and well-traveled.
He’s also got more issues than Vogue. Emmy looks after Ben on photo shoots, but she refuses to become another one of his lusting groupies. Ben finds Emmy’s refreshingly real attitude to be surprisingly attractive.

Against a backdrop of the most fashionable cities in the world, casual flirting turns
into an illicit affair, but when Ben’s twisted past is revealed, and the bitter Fiona catches wind of their relationship, their careers and hearts are threatened.

Buy Links:

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In Working It, New York Times bestselling author Kendall Ryan delivered a sexy
and addictive contemporary romance about Emmy Clarke, a sweet southern girl out
of her depth in New York City’s cutthroat fashion industry, and Ben Shaw, the
hot male model who introduced her to a world of pleasure. But their story is far from complete…Emmy Clarke is no quitter. Toughened by her experience working for fashion
heavyweight Fiona Stone, Emmy has come a long way from her country girl roots,
embracing her fast-paced and unpredictable life in New York City.Though that life comes with more than a few complications.

First there’s the mystery of Fiona’s pregnancy, which may or may not involve Emmy’s
boyfriend, superstar male model Ben Shaw. Emmy has always known that Ben comes
with more baggage than she can handle—and not the Louis Vuitton kind. Yet Ben is the only man who has ever loved Emmy for who she is, and she wants nothing more than to do the same for him, even if it means forgiving his past and overlooking their wildly different lifestyles.

But when a shocking secret from Ben’s past comes to light, unraveling all of their
progress, Emmy must decide if their relationship is worth the fight, or if it’s time to ignore her passion for him and let go.

AMAZON

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Kendall Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling
author of contemporary romance novels, including Hard to Love, Unravel Me,
Resisting Her and When I Break.

She’s a sassy, yet polite Midwestern girl with a deep love of
books, and a slight addiction to lipgloss. She lives in Minneapolis with her
adorable husband and two baby sons, and enjoys hiking, being active, and
reading.

Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras

Links:

NEWSLETTER

TWITTER

FACEBOOK

PINTEREST

GOODREADS

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

8Sep2014

Bang Bang by Rachel Van Dyken @RachVD @InkSlingerPR #Excerpt

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

He was my best friend.

Until he became my enemy.

All within the span of one night.

Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang.

The rapid fire of gunshots became the soundtrack
to my life.

This is the Mafia. Lines are blurred. Choices
are never black and white. And the life you thought you knew is… one giant lie.

He was dead.

And I didn’t want his life to be in vain, so I
tried to make something of myself. I tried and failed.

Now he’s back. Alive. And he wants something…

Me. Nobody ever said the mafia played fair.

Welcome to The Family.

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EXCERPT

I wanted his lips
more than I wanted my next breath, but how long before those lips were taken
away? How long before my heart would get ripped from my chest a second time? I
almost didn’t survive the first — I knew I wouldn’t live through the second.

With a jerk I
pulled back and slapped him across the face. “How dare you!”

Ax swore and hit
the steering wheel. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry I shouldn’t have assumed—”

“Assumed, what?” I
yelled. “That I wouldn’t be completely pissed off? That I wouldn’t be
shattered!” My voice wavered. “Totally wrecked forever because I’ve been
mourning the loss of my best friend for five damn years only to find out he’s
very much alive and suddenly wanting to play the white knight?” My body started
to shake. “I died that day!”

Ax’s face twisted
with pain. “Amy, I had to protect you… at all costs I had to protect you.”

“Your protection
broke my heart,” I whispered.

He sighed, running
his hands through his hair before answering. “Ames, sometimes what’s the best
for us — is exactly what hurts the most.”

I refused to look
at him. Instead I looked down, down at my bare legs, at the outfit I’d almost
paraded about in before a crowd of horrible drunk men in order to make money. I
wasn’t the same girl he’d left. I was damaged in the worst way. Because by
saving me, Ax had taken away all purpose from my life. When I thought he’d
died, my only goal was to live because he hadn’t.

And now? Now the
shame of my situation was crippling.

Foster care kid.

Unwanted.

Unloved.

And completely and
utterly alone. Abandoned, even by my best friend.

“Five years, Ax.
And now you come for me…” I licked my lips. “I’m not vain enough to think it’s
because you can’t find anyone to warm your bed at night, and I’m not confident
enough to think it’s because you missed me so much you just couldn’t stay away.
What do you want?”

“You.”

“Try again.”

He swore and looked
away. “It doesn’t have to be like this. Had I known you were in this position—”

“What?” I snorted
then bit down on my lip to keep from crying. “You would have driven here
faster? You would have rescued me sooner? Pitied me more? Take your pick, Ax.
Now tell me the truth. Don’t start off this new-found relationship with a lie.”

He was silent for a
while then whispered, “You have something I need.”

“A brain?”

Ax’s smile nearly
took my breath away “Besides that.”

I pressed my lips
together and looked out the window at my dark and cramped apartment. “I have
exactly one stuffed animal from my old life, the one you gave me when I was
six. I have a Polaroid picture, a toothbrush, enough clothes to get me through
a week and a half of living, a hairbrush, two elastic hair bands — Do you see
where I’m going with this?” I sighed and ran my hands through my hair. “I have
nothing you need, let alone want. Believe me.“

Ax studied my face,
his expression softened as he said, barely above a whisper, “Let me be the one
who decides that.”

I looked away.

“Don’t do that,
Ames,” he murmured. “Don’t shut me out.”

“Five years, Ax.” I
looked straight ahead. “Five years where my tears were the only thing keeping
me company at night. I think you lost the right to tell me what to do.”

He swore. The car
door opened. I gasped as humid air filtered in. “What are you doing?”

“Getting out of the
car.” He shrugged and gestured at the building. “Going into your apartment and
packing you up. We’ll stay at a hotel tonight.”

I snorted. “My
apartment not good enough for you?”

“No.” He pulled a
gun from his jeans, thumbed off the safety, and held it out in front of him. “I
just hate getting woken up in the middle of the night with gunshots ringing
out, don’t you?”

“Yeah.” I gulped,
my eyes still trained on the gun.

“Guns don’t hurt
people… people do,” Ax said softly. “Remember that.”

“I do.” I met his
gaze. “Because in the end, it wasn’t the gun that broke my heart — it was you.”

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street
Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances.
When she’s not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and
plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband and their snoring Boxer, Sir
Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers! You can follow her writing
journey atwww.rachelvandykenauthor.com

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Fearless Love by Kennedy Kelly #review

Posted in Book Titles by ReadingRenee

The book starts after the tragic loss of Miles Cole, Audra’s husband. It is a sad story because of how he dies. I wont spoil it, but it was a shocker. The characters are different in the fact that they are a little older, Audra is 35 and a professor. She has a lot of life to live and she is in that transitional stage of grief. She is not a shut in, she goes about life and sort of just exists. I was glad that the author didnt create a great depression out of this character. She has some great friends that aid in trying to balance out her grieving process. The book starts with Audra on the cusp of healing from the loss of her husband Miles.

I liked Audra and of course Jace and Jackson, her children. Now, there is her best friend Quinn who was comic relief for me. Audra has a nickname for Quinn; she calls her “hooker”. Not ideal, but for Quinn I think it fits well. I laughed anyway and that is all that matters. It was good to have a funny and light character to balance both Audra and Brecken. When the girls go out she runs into Brecken and it turns out he took one of her classes. He is a few years younger, but lucky for me nothing huge. I am glad he was self-sufficient.

Audra was a professor but that aspect of her life wasn’t really spoken about much. She wasn’t an old English professor reading Hamlet so for that I was thankful. She was the perfect blending of smart, sexy and well read. It was an enjoyable read that made me smile even though grief was the main subject.

Brecken comes to give an estimate for work to be done on Audra’s house. I was sort of glad that she was doing a little remodel, I think it was helping the healing process. So hottie Brecken enters to give an estimate. Great story there. Some pretty emotional parts, making it worth the read! The end of the book meant the end! Another book completed, no series or cliffhanger. There was yummy steamy scenes too.

I was born and raised in Kansas City, MO where I grew up with four older brothers. I now reside in Overland Park, Kansas. I’d always loved to write as a child. My teachers would call home not because I was in trouble but because I had a creative imagination and they wanted my parents to know about the crazy stories I was writing. I’ve always been a hard worker. I started working with my family’s company when I was 15 and still haven’t stopped. I am a wife, mother of two, hold down a full time job and am now trying to be an indie author. I have a passion for reading and before I started writing I could be found with a Kindle in my hand morning, noon and night. I’m a picky reader so it’s hard to please me but I feel like I have a keen eye for a good book.

I hope you all will join me on my new journey as I release my first book Fearless Love. It can be very scary but with my passion for the written word I hope it will be well worth it.