Monday, December 30, 2013

Review Tour & Giveaway: Perfect Lie by Teresa Mummert

Perfect Lie
By: Teresa Mummert
 
 
Sometimes love burns so hot in your veins that it consumes all rational thought.

That’s why Brock and I never had a chance. I had to start my life over. College was my chance to become someone new. I changed everything about myself to fit in, but one person saw through my facade.

The attraction between Abel and I was undeniable, but I still hadn’t healed from the painful secret I carried around with me. Abel struggled to get me to face my past in order to move forward. In doing so, he revealed a secret of his own; one that changed everything I thought I knew.

A secret that would bring Brock back into my life and force me to face the truth of what really happened the day I lost him.
 
 
*ARC provided by author for an honest review*
 
Lie is a girl who has been dealt a crappy hand in life. Born to a mother who never really wanted her and made it her goal in life to remind her of that as often as possible, Lie has never truly known love. She is the outcast at school, so she has no friends. She truly is alone in life. 

Until she meets Brock. 

Unfortunately, you get very little of their developing relationship (only bits we so get are in flashbacks) so I can't say really say much about it. What little I did get, it seemed to be two lost kids that connected. Probably more so for Lie since she has never really had someone want  her

Then there is Abel. Again, you really don't get much of his story either. All you really know is something has happened in his past that wasn't good. But what you do get is his insane attraction to Lie. But he believes she has a boyfriend. So, instead of him just telling her how he feels, he does some really douchebag stuff. 

Overall, I liked the book.There were some parts (like the ones between Abel and Lie) that I really enjoyed. You could feel their chemistry. But at the same time, it was frustrating because Brock is always between them. And then there is Lie's roommate who I wanted to throat punch more than once! Hated that chick with a passion! She was the WORST kind of friend, the two faced kind!

And then we have the plot twist!! 

Okay, I would have never guessed in a million years where things were going with the storyline. It is definitely unique. Which could have been a great thing, but I felt it left too much unanswered. I had more questions once things were revealed but didn't get many of them answered. The story just felt too rushed to me at the end. Lie was too accepting of what she discovered. There are more things that left me confused but can't say what without ruining the plot for everyone. But it is because of those things that I went with 3 stars. I just needed more there at the end to make the story feel more complete to me.
 
So, while I didn't love it, it is still one I would recommend taking a chance on.
 
 
Amazon:http://bit.ly/PerfectLieAmazon
Barnes & Noble:http://bit.ly/PerfectLieBN
Kobo:http://bit.ly/PerfectLieKobo
 
 

I was a Russian spy at the ripe age of thirteen, given my uncanny ability to tell if someone was lying ( I also read fortunes on the weekends). By sixteen I had become too much of a handful for the Lethal Intelligence Ensemble (L.I.E.). I was quickly exiled to the south of France where I worked with wayward elephants in the Circus of Roaming Animals and People (C.R.A.P.). I was able to make ends meet by selling my organs on the black market for pocket change and beer money. At the age of twenty three I decided to expand my horizons and become a blackjack dealer in Ireland. I loved the family atmosphere at Barney's Underground Liquor Lounge (B.U.L.L.). People couldn't resist the allure of Liquor up front and poker in the rear. Eventually I became tired of the rear and headed off to the United States to try my hand at tall tales. That is what brings us here today. If you have a moment I'd like to tell you a story.
(This bio is not to be taken seriously under any circumstance.)
Teresa Mummert is an army wife and mother whose passion in life is writing. She is the author of the New York Times and USA Todaybestselling novels White Trash Beautiful and Suicide Note. Born in Pennsylvania, she lived a small town life before following her husband's military career to Louisiana and Georgia. Check out her website for samples and updates! TeresaMummert.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

 
 

 

 
 



Release Blitz, Review and Giveaway for Return To Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia


Return To Poughkeepsie by Debra
Genre: Suspenseful Romance
Released On: December 30th, 2013


Beckett Taylor is a murderer. His calling, his craft are destruction and intimidation—whether he wants it that way now or not. He left Poughkeepsie to keep his brothers safe, to keep Eve safe. Set up with happy lives to live, they’re better off without him, right?

But all his willpower crumbles when he hears his brother Blake’s frantic voice on the phone. An unknown enemy has moved in on his old territory, and Livia’s been taken. In an instant, Beckett knows it will take an attack only he and Eve can execute to bring her back. All his self-imposed embargoes are torn to shreds, perhaps along with the new man he’s struggled to become.

“Brother, call Eve. I’ll be there soon.”

In this emotional and action-packed sequel to Poughkeepsie, Debra Anastasia conjures a tale of love at its most raw and ragged. With Beckett and Eve, how could we expect anything less? But even when it’s messy, not magical, true love perseveres. Real love finds a way—for better or for worse until death does part.





If you have not read Poughkeepsie yet then you really need to, it is one of my favourite books, in fact I have it in e-book, audio book and paperback so I can share it round all my book loving friends :)

We all wanted more Beckett, Debra delivered and completely exceeded my expectations.  Once I started reading this I could not put it down.

At the end of Poughkeepsie Beckett leaves town so that his brothers and Eve can have the happy lives they deserve.  He set them all up financially but he has so many enemies (and an arrest warrant) that being near any of them can potentially endanger their lives so leaving was his only option. 

A year after leaving he returns for a brief visit to see how Livia (Whitebread), Blake, Cole & Kyle (Fairy Princess) are doing and he is glad to see that they are all happy, although missing him terribly.  He is also determined to see Eve just one more time.  He does see her, albeit briefly and then makes a pledge to himself to change his life and to become someone worthy of a woman like Eve.

Four years later Beckett gets a frantic call from Blake, four hours later he returns to Poughkeepsie.  His brother needs him.  An unknown enemy is making waves and trying to claim a stake on Poughkeepsie.  Livia has been kidnapped and Beckett will do anything to keep his family safe, he teams up with Eve again and hold on tight because this is a full on, nail-biting ride.

This book had me on the edge of my kindle and there was no way I would be getting any sleep until it was finished.  I also really loved seeing another side to Beckett, he is all about protecting those he cares for and has an immense heart.

Debra is a kick arse author and I really recommend following her on Facebook/Twitter cos she is freaking hilarious.
 
I give this book 5+ sun loving stars.
*ARC received from author for an honest review*

 


MILD SPOILERS -mature content reader discretion advised
4 HEARTS out of 5
Genre: Suspenseful Romance

I am mixed bag of emotions people. SO MUCH goes down in this book I have no clue where to start. We have characters set with nothing but revenge on their minds and revenge is the catalyst that puts everything in to motion.

In Return to Poughkeepsie both Eve and Beckett are separately on a mission to keep the ones they love safe and alive. Danger strikes close to home and they both find themselves in a tangled web of deceit.

Ground work is laid in the first half of the book. In the first 50% we get to see the original characters and integrated in to their stories we meet some new very interesting characters.  Three of those newbies play big roles in the lives of Beckett, Eve, Cole, Kyle, Livia and Blake.

The Characters


“Loving him is life sentence.” - Eve

January
Nothing Eve does is for naught. She always has an agenda and working for Mary Ellen as one of her “girls” is all designed to help Eve infiltrate and get answers. But getting those answers come at a price when she discovers that Mary Ellen is off her rocker.

“Can you see Jesus yet?” – Beckett

Meanwhile Beckett is off trying to get himself on the straight and narrow. He encounters a bunch of misfits that he takes in and offers legal paying jobs to. It isn’t until one of his employees, a woman named Chery, has a violent encounter with her boyfriend that has Beckett resorting to his old ways.

”I’ve got secrets of my own.”  -Ryan

Ryan is an undercover that is setup in the rough side of Poughkeepsie to get a pulse on what’s going in the streets. His job calls for him to come across as a shady cop to get close to criminals however Ryan has his own agenda. Revenge runs heavily in his veins. Meeting Eve was never part of his plan but it was top priority in hers.

“Lick. Bite. Blow.”  -Blake

All hell breaks when Livia is kidnapped; Blake makes the one call that he knows will up his chances of ever seeing his wife again. He calls his brother. Beckett.

BOOK HIGHLIGHTS

- Hands down EVERYTHING involving “Angry Trish” will make you piss your pants in laughter.

- Just about EVERY scene with Beckett and Eve are EXPLOSIVE

I will be honest I once again found myself having a hard time trying to figure out how to rate a book. For me personally I was completely thrown off by one of the characters and…well that persons whole reason for…being. Aside from that the writing was good.

Debra Anastasia brings us these two dynamic characters (Eve and Beckett) both are emotionally broken and the love they have for one another is the only thing that is certain. Both are violently passionate and that passion jumps off the pages; readers are sure to enjoy it!

I think there was a flex of muscle in this book as Anastasia shows off her comedic writing chops. There was a character who we barely meet yet what they do in the book makes an impression on readers left and right. Which I for one thought was GENIUS. Damn, I hate when I can’t give good details without spoiling the story. *shake my head* Oh well, READ THE BOOK!

Now, before I let you go I really want to talk about the fact that it’s possible for some readers to get confused during the story, however it is important to keep reading. Things are revealed in due time. Once again we have multiple story lines all coming together building in to an arc that sends one character over the edge. AHHHH, okay shutting up now.

My Rating and Why
I gave Return To Poughkeepsie 4 stars because I managed to fall back in love with this set of characters all over again! I don’t recall there ever being a dull moment either. If you loved Poughkeepsie you will definitely love this!

My Ratings
Characters- Sexy, Lovable, Sweet, Crazy and Complex
Writing Style- Witty, Strong and Intense
Plot/Storyline- Told in multiple pov’s we get Beckett Taylor as the main character, he was a notorious king pin among other things in Book #1. In this book he is brought back to Poughkeepsie to help his family.
Steam Factor- High/Very Steamy on a scale of 1-10 I say 7.5
Overall- I enjoyed the book!!
My Recommendation: READ IT!!

Now go forth and read. Then come tell us about it!




 YouTube Trailer


Debra Anastasia is busy, just like every other mom. There's dinner, the dogs, the two kids, the two kids, and her ongoing battle with...ahem... digestive issues, which combined with her adolescent boy sense of humor makes for colorful and sometimes cringe-worthy social media updates. Her first love and crowning achievement is her thriving career as the weirdest mom on the block.


Her writing started a decent handful of years ago when--along with the animals and humans in her house--the voices of characters started whispering stories in Debra's ear. Insomnia was the gateway to plots that wouldn't give up, wouldn't let go. Now they stalk her everywhere. Halfway through making lunches, a twist takes hold and--fingers full of peanut butter--she finds somewhere, anywhere to write it down.
She's eternally grateful to Omnific Publishing, which has now published four of her books: two in the Seraphim Series and two in the Poughkeepsie Brotherhood Series, as well as her novella, Late Night with Andres. That one is special because 100% of the proceeds go to breast cancer research. (So go get it right now, please!) She also very much appreciates her open-minded readers, who embrace everything she has to offer, with a focus on anti-heroes and bathroom humor.











Sunday, December 29, 2013

Goodbye...........

It is with a heavy heart that I (Michele) will be leaving Reality Bites at the start of the New Year.

I started this blog in September of 2011 (I believe) and have loved meeting all of you wonderful people and working with the amazing authors.

When I first started, I thought I’d never see the day when the Reality Bites page hit 50 likes on Facebook. When it did, I was so ecstatic…and then it kept growing and kept growing. And now it’s over 6k likes! I’m floored. Totally utterly floored. Thank you! 

But I owe it all to Becky and Alexis. Words cannot express my love and gratitude for them. I remember when I was at my wits end and couldn't handle everything by myself. I put out a little Wanted Ad and it was the best move that I could have made. It brought two wonderful, bright, amazing women into my life whom I cherish. Not only have these two women supporting me in my journey, their encouragement through this process has given me the strength the spread my winds. I will never be able to thank them enough.

These two beautiful women will be carrying on Reality Bites and all the amazingness the blog represents. They will continue to bring you all the new releases, cover reveals, sales, book tours, giveaways and everything else author related, nothing will change, except my absence.
It was a hard decision to leave. Tears were shed and it took some getting used to, but I know it’s the right decision for me.

While I love reading and will continue to do so along with sharing those books I love, I recently started a new challenge, writing. For me personally, I find it difficult to critique someone else’s work when I know the blood, sweat and tears that went into every word that my eyes just read. It was wearing on me and I’m just not able to do it anymore. This is what anchored my decision to leave RB along with wanting to put my focus on my work. I currently have two books out Safe and Wanting You under my name Ryan Michele. I have a new book, which I am super excited about, Ravage Me (Ravage MC#1) that will be out February 6th.  

For those of you who are currently my friends on Facebook under Michele Realitybitesblog, it will be changing to Ryan Michele-Author—but it’s still me. J I still love talking about all the hot men in the books I love (alphas are the best) and of course SOA.  

Also, to all you wonderful authors who send me requests to read your books/review them or post sales and teasers, I will no longer have any access to the Reality Bites blog, twitter or Facebook page. If you would like those things, you will need to contact Becky or Alexis on the Reality Bites FB page or email at realitybitesletsgetlost@gmail.com.  

I want to thank you all for being part of the Reality Bites family. My best goes out to Becky and Alexis who I know will do an amazing job continuing to bring you all the best book information. And I look forward to seeing and hearing from you on the author side of this reading world.

If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. I will be more than happy to answer them.

<3 Michele  

Ryan Michele
@Ryan_Michele



Ravage Me: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19569028-ravage-me

Spotlight on A Woman Gone Mad by Kimber S. Dawn

A Woman Gone Mad by Kimber S. Dawn
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Released on: December 25, 2013


Forget everything you know about fairytales. There comes a point in a woman's life when she realizes not everyone gets a happy ending.

And no one knows this better than Lillian Shaw.

The safety of a small southern upbringing and a happy normal family couldn't keep life from chipping away at her.

And nothing leaves its mark like the bite of a broken heart.

Blow after blow, Lillian tries to stay optimistic, but when faced with a choice that could destroy her future, she gives in to the temptation.

When your first true love comes crashing into your happily ever after, you're supposed to walk away. Not fall back in love.

But saying no to Leo was something Lillian could never do...

Once lines are crossed is there any going back?

Or is the risk that Lillian Shaw takes going to leave her broken again...

And this time be enough to make her A Woman Gone Mad?

***Warning: This is not a shy and tender fairytale love story. It's a raw, tragic, and gritty story inspired by true events. This book is not for the faint of heart, it contains graphic language, sex, violence, and drug use. MATURE Audiences Only. Not intended for young adult readers.***







 





 
What the hell is up y'all?! I'm Kimber, and I really freaking hope y'all enjoy AWGM! If you get a chance, throw me a review up on my FB page, www.facebook.com/AWGMbyKimberDawn or Goodreads if you loved it! I am a whore for reviews. 
Ahh... let's see, what can I tell you about my self... Well, first of all I'm a straight up whore for many, many things. I'm a wine whore, some would say I'm a functional alcoholic, and I'm totally cool with that title. Now the day my cheese completely falls off my cracker and I lose the functional in that title, well yeah never mind. Even then I'll deny that shit. I'm a whore for Victoria's Secret, no seriously, like my VS Angel's Credit Card stays maxed out, hey, they got cool shit. I have a whole lot of hats, meaning I can be called a billon different things, daughter, wife, mother, labor unit nurse, I sell pussy on the side *coughs* that would be persian kittens, thank you you dirty minded scoundrel, I'm also compulsive blackjack addict, book blogger, book pimp, book whore, Jack Daniels is my favorite boyfriend and my biggest dream, the day I'll acknowledge that I've succeeded in life and can a die a happy woman is the day I get to go two stark naked hour round sexual bouts with Jason Statham. *Sighs* I started writing poems and short stories very early in my life, you know for the Michael's and Leo's and Nick's in my life. I've been a book hoarder since I was eleven years old, but then a couple years ago something wonderful happened! The 50 shades of Grey craze brought to life my inner smut whore where I commenced to read anything and everything smut affiliated. When reading wasn't enough any anymore and I noticed that so many of the authors of my favorite books weren't getting the exposure their work deserved I turned it into a mission, starting my own blog, buying their books and reading them one by one, I then wrote my reviews for my blog and didn't hold back in writing them. I've never done a single thing in my life half way, I always go all in. After the success of my Blog, and the insistence of one of my bestest friends, my sister from another mister, Trina Taylor of Bad & DirtyBooks I was ready to finally take the plunge and write the story that's been restlessly clawing to get out of my head and onto paper for a VERY long time. I'm a southern girl to my core, a self proclaimed smut whore, and I guess now we can add aspiring author to my hat collection as well. 
Tattooed across my ribs are the words I have always lived by 'Aut viam inveniam aut faciam tibi' Latin for: If I can not find a way, I will make my own.




 
 
 
 
 



Saturday, December 28, 2013

Blog Tour and Giveaway for Private North by Tess Oliver


Private North by Tess Oliver
Genre: New Adult Romance
Released On: December 10th 2013



 An internship cataloguing ancient pottery.  A war-hardened soldier who’s impossible to resist. A priceless Egyptian artifact. And a devious scheme that is fraught with danger. Antiquities major, Auggie Stonefield, is about to experience a winter break she will never forget.













Dalton North POV:
This isn't in the book, Tess has written it just for the blog tour for us.
The throbbing in my head took my mind off the relentless pain in my leg. It had become my sort of twisted way of dealing with the constant agony. Get drunk enough for a skull-pounding hangover and it dulled everything else.
I made a stupid-ass attempt to mask the uneven sounds of my footsteps, but the wooden hallway floor made it pretty damn laughable. I wasn’t even completely sure why it mattered, except that I knew the girl was standing just around the corner in the kitchen. I’d heard her silky laugh twice before I’d even left my bedroom.
She stood in the kitchen helping with breakfast. Long auburn hair cascaded down the back of her sweater and I could see only the side of her face as she smiled sweetly at my dad. I’d been in a desert that was so hot just taking a breath hurt, a place where you learned not to trust even your own shadow, a place that could only be described as hell, and the only way to survive the nightmare of it all was to believe that somewhere else in another place, another time, another dimension angels existed. And now I’d come home and found one standing over the waffle iron in the kitchen.
She looked up as I entered the room and that was all it took. I could not look away. Her thin fingers trembled almost imperceptibly as she tucked her hair behind her ear. I dragged a chair out from the table and sat down hard and watched her. She grew more and more flustered by my scrutiny but I couldn’t stop myself. She was a piece of heaven that had floated in through the darkness and I wanted to watch her. And, even though she nearly bit through her plump, highly kissable bottom lip with agitation . . . it seemed . . . that deep down she wanted me to watch her.




Book Excerpt:
I pulled the cover up to my chin like I’d done as a young girl when I was certain the closet monsters were coming out to get me, but I couldn’t relax enough to sleep. The house was quiet and dark again. I climbed back into my slippers. I peeked out into the hallway and everything was still. I tiptoed to the kitchen hoping a glass of milk would make me sleepy.
I scuttled around the corner, and a gasp stuck in my throat. The refrigerator door was open, and the light pouring out illuminated his broad bare back, showing every line of hard muscle . . . and every small scar. There were many. His pajama pants hung low on his narrow hips, and I stood as quiet as a mouse for a guilty second and stared at his incredible physique.
He still had not heard me, and I wondered if he was still lost in the agony of his bad dream. I tiptoed without a sound, but as I neared he seemed to sense me. He continued to stare into the refrigerator as if he expected something to jump out into his hands.
“I’m sorry if I woke you.”
“Please don’t apologize.” His shoulders tensed as I moved closer to him. Even in front of an open refrigerator, heat rolled off of him in searing waves.
He shut the door but didn’t turn around. He leaned his forehead against the freezer door. I stepped closer. My hand trembled slightly as I reached up and touched him. The muscles of his back tightened and then relaxed. I trailed my fingers over the tiny scars that were splattered across his shoulders. The tiny ridges were hard, and I could feel the pain of each one in my fingertips. I stood on my toes and lowered my mouth to his skin. He sucked in a sharp breath as I pressed my lips to the scars. I kissed him over and over again wanting to absorb the pain that still clung to him physically and mentally. And he let me kiss him. His broad shoulders lifted and fell with each shallow breath as I ran my lips across his marred skin.







Tess Oliver is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of Freefall (Custom Culture, #1). She is also a full time teacher and lives in California with her husband, two kids, and a pack of pampered pets. She loves horses, chocolate, and Jane Austen books. She has a BS in Nutrition Science and a MA in Curriculum and Instruction.










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