Sunday, January 11, 2015

Cover Reveal: The Consequence of Loving Colton By: Rachel Van Dyken



RELEASE DATE: APRIL 21, 2015




It’s all fun and games…until someone’s heart is broken.


They’re not kids anymore, but Milo Caro is certain that Colton Mathews will only see her as his best friend’s little sister for the rest of their lives. After all, he made that clear the night before she left for college. But four years later, her brother is getting married and Colt’s the best man—and guess who is the best man’s last-minute date?

Milo vows to use the wedding to either claim the smoldering firefighter’s heart or douse this torch for good. When Max—her best friend from college, who may be carrying a torch of his own—crashes the party, they devise a plan to make Colt see what he’s missing. But after Colt catches on, he decides to cook up his own revenge.


Now it’s personal. Colt and Milo are at war, and between Max’s questionable acting methods, an unfortunate trip to jail, and a maniacal fiancĂ©e, what could possibly go right?













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 at www.rachelvandykenauthor.com











Blog Tour: Don't Close Your Eyes by Hilary Storm


Synopsis 
My life ended the day I answered the door and found out James had died.  Writing has become my only release and secluding myself from the people who constantly judge me for my way of grieving has made me famous.  I'm not ready to love again, in fact it's not even a thought.  Someone needs to tell that to Liam.  He's breaking through all of the walls I've worked so hard to create.  How can one man be so intriguing?  He just gets me, maybe a little too well.


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Chapter One
Olivia
These bags are extremely heavy.  I should've asked Michael to help me, but I'd hate to inconvenience him and his new wife.  There really isn't anyone else to call for help since they've all stepped out of my 'crazy' world; the sudden changes I made scared everyone off.  I can still hear their comments about how unstable I am.  'Who quits their job to write a book?'  Yeah, well bitches, I did.  I've written five novels in a series and I have plans for so many more, but none of them know that.  They seriously think I sit here in my apartment and grieve. 
I didn't become a New York Times bestselling author by crying myself to sleep at night.  I don't have time for tears; there are places to go and people to meet.  I'm headed to a book signing in New York City.  It's a privilege to even be invited to this event.  A part of me is excited and another is dreading this day. 
I just wish I could have one more day with him.  I'd love to show him that I'm doing it, even though our friends and family have zero faith in me.  He always believed in me and supported me in everything I set out to do.  Very few people find a person who truly comes through for them when they have off the wall ideas.  You know, like work as an accountant for six years and then one day decide you'd like to write a book.  I guess it didn't help that I decided to do that exactly one month from the day he died. 
He would’ve been one hundred percent behind me, but he's not here, so I go it alone.  Don't get me wrong, I miss him like crazy, but that won’t bring him back to me.  As for everyone else, they stepped away from me when I needed the support the most.  They got off this crazy train and it doesn't circle back around to pick up passengers who jump ship.  Michael’s the only one who has had much to do with me since I 'went crazy'.
To be honest, my emotions were so out of control that it took me spilling it all onto paper for me to be able to cope with everything.  I miss him so much and everyone wants me to 'talk' about it.  I just can't and it's easier to work through my demons on my own.

I finally work my way past airport security after checking my luggage.  Obviously, security isn't getting any easier to pass through because I had to be scanned separately from the others.  It's probably because they sense the 'crazy' that the others speak of.  This loneliness is partly my fault, but it would've been nice for them to believe in me a little.    

The flight is full of people and should be interesting.  I haven't been in a crowd of people since the funeral almost a year ago.  This is a big step for me, though.  A book signing in New York City is huge for an author to attend, never mind the fact that I've always wanted to go there.  James and I talked about traveling there together many times.
I sit in my window seat and hope for the peace I need to stay focused on my inner strength to get through this weekend.  My ear buds begin to blare one of my favorite Hinder songs and I pull my magazine out of my bag to stay entertained for the non-stop flight across the states. 
The passengers keep piling in and I begin to wonder just how large this airplane is.  I paid extra money to fly First Class in hopes of staying under the radar of any chatty passengers and kids that don't mind their parents.
I’m trying to stay focused on my article while someone is reaching over my head to load his luggage, completely distracting me.  I really should’ve purchased the seat next to me.  Why didn't I think of that before now?  Even with the help of the flight attendant he has to force the bags into the compartment.  How the hell much stuff does he have?
I purposely don't make eye contact with him after he flops into the seat right beside mine.  His leg pushes against mine a few times and he seems extremely restless.  I'm not sure if it's intentional, but it seems that way. 
We begin to prepare for take off so I pull out my ear buds to hear all of the safety information.  Watching and listening to the flight attendant give her instructions kind of overwhelms me, but I'm sure it'll all come to me in case of a true emergency.  It's not like we'll survive if this huge bird has a real emergency anyway.
I slip the buds back in for take off and begin to read again.  It isn't until he presses his leg into mine again that I begin to get irritated.  His posture is slouched and he's noticeably oblivious to the fact that he's invading my space with his huge legs spread open like that.    
"Excuse me."  I yank out an ear bud and let it fall against my chest while I use my hand to gesture toward his leg.  I'm sure my face is telling him exactly how I feel, because it never lies.  I have a very shitty poker face.
"No worries.  You're not bothering me."  The shock on my face from his audacity has him smiling. 
"You're bothering me.  So if you don't mind, please move your leg."  I sit back in hopes of him doing as I ask and grab the ear bud to reposition.
"Nah.  I don't mind.  Sorry, ma'am."  Ah HELL NO.  He did NOT just call me ma'am.  That makes me feel so damn old.  I choose to attempt to ignore him and move to plug my ear again, but hell if it doesn't bother me.  His stare begins to heat my skin—you know, like the weird feeling you get when you can tell someone is watching you.  I shift so that I'm turned more toward the window and try to enjoy the view of the landscape below.  The feel of his leg brushing up against mine again causes me to pull further away from him.  I notice the touch of his finger on my shoulder and everything inside of me wants to stand up and scream for this creep to get off of me.  My head whips around to glare at him when I notice the attendant staring at me in the aisle.
"Would you care for something to drink?" 
"Yes, I'll take a water, please." 
"One water, one Jack and Coke.  I'll be right back."  Why do I let it shock me that this character is drinking at 8:30 in the morning?  It really shouldn't shock me at all.
"Don't you think it's kind of early to be drinking like that?"
"It's okay.  I drink Coke any time of day!"
"Right.... Well, good luck with that."
"You're pretty stiff.  You could probably use a drink like that yourself!"
"I'm not stiff, so keep your comments to yourself, if you don't mind."
"I think you are stiff and you have to live a little, but I’ll work on keeping that to myself."  Who does he think he is?  He doesn't get to judge me after only sitting beside me for a couple of minutes.
"You have no idea what I'm going through, so don't try to judge me based on the few minutes you've seen me today."
"TouchĂ©.  Let me apologize and maybe we can start over."  I wait for his actual apology and find myself waiting too long.  My impatience grows wild and I can't believe I'm letting this guy really get to me.  He enjoys my silence a little longer before he finally speaks.
"I’m truly sorry for calling you stiff.  Please accept my apology and let me buy you a drink."  He watches my face very closely and must finally get a clue that he’s pissing on a ticking time bomb.  He extends his hand in an introduction-like stance.
"Liam Bryant."  The disgust on my face has to be obvious as I refuse to shake his hand or willingly touch anything of his.  His sexy as hell grin flashes across his face and damn if my eyes don't betray me.  Those lips are the kind you want to watch someone run their tongue over.  There is an awkward silence before I begin to reach out to accept his introduction.
"Olivia Drake."  My eyes get caught up in his gorgeous baby blues for a few seconds before I realize our hands are still touching.  I pull back slowly and shift back in my seat. 
"Olivia Drake, what has you headed to New York City?"  Telling a stranger any more about myself is completely out of the question, so I quickly decide to be as vague as possible.
"Business trip."
"Me, too.  Do you travel there often?"
"No, this is my first time." 
The drinks arrive and he immediately asks for a second drink of the same.  "The lady will have what I'm having."  His persistence is such a pain in my ass.  This flight is going to be torture if I continue to let him get to me so I send the flight attendant a smile in agreement. 
He leans back in his seat in such a relaxed state next to my very straight, upright and uptight posture.  Taking note of that makes me realize I am stiff and tense.  I prefer to call it focused and driven, but those words don't really explain my posture.
I try to relax a bit by leaning the seat back and decide to prove to myself that I'm not stiff.  He offers me the Jack and Coke just as I have this epiphany, so I gladly accept his challenge. 


Review
Don't Close Your Eyes (Bryant Brothers Book 1)Don't Close Your Eyes by Hilary Storm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my wow!

So I was crazy excited when I found out Hilary was starting a new series! I have been a fan of The Rebel Walking Series for so long and getting to read yet another amazing series is fantastic. The characters that Hilary creates feel real and you just want to root for them and hope for there happiness. Olivia is they type of female lead I always like she is spunky and drops the f bomb a lot which is great lol. Liam hot damn woman and I thought the Rebel Walking boys were yummy! I am going to be on pins and needles as always for the next book. A must read one click right now! I seriously can't wait for the next book to come out. Hilary just has a way with creating a book you just never want to end. This new series is fantastic and a definite #MustRead!
ARC provided by the author for a honest review
Review done for Nerdy Book Freak

View all my reviews


Giveaway


About the Author
Hilary Storm lives with her high school sweetheart and three children in Enid, Oklahoma. She drives her husband crazy talking about book characters everyday like they are real people. She graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University with an MBA in Accounting. Her passions include being a mom, writing, reading, photography, music, mocha coffee, and spending time with friends and family. She is the international best selling author of the Rebel Walking Series.

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Blog Tour: Secret Santa By: Jennifer Benson







Tonight is the night of the office holiday party and Olive Harper, a paralegal for a New Jersey law firm, was put in charge of the planning. To her surprise, a new employee has been hired at the firm and has brought his brother, Murphy Scott, as his guest. When Murphy wakes up on a strange couch in a strange house, he is curious and concerned until he is greeted by the beautiful woman whom he met last night at a holiday party. Instantly intrigued by her long night shirt and knee high socks, neither Murphy nor Olive could know where a chance meeting at an office holiday party might take them, but thanks to a Secret Santa, they are about to find out.

~ Buy Links ~


~ Read and Reviewed by Nicole ~

Rating: 4 Stars. I would have given it 5 but Murphy liked to call Olive "Woman" and that kinda made me cringe at times. Some may like it but for me it did kinda feel weird. 
POV: 1st POV. You get to be in the minds of both Olive and Murphy. I have to admit that I like Murphy's POV best. That man has some dirty thoughts! 
Series: Standalone 
HEA: YES!! 

Some thoughts about the book: 
This is a quick read and can be classified as a novella. I know some don't like those type of books cause 1. it ends with a cliffhanger and you have to go and spend more money to get the rest of the story or 2. it is so short that there really isn't a story line. 
 Secret Santa is nothing like that. The book had a full story with an ending that I felt was perfect for Olive and Murphy. 
The chemistry the 2 had for each other was out of this world and the sex was HOTTTT!!!!! I have to give it to Jennifer and her writing. This was the first book I read by her and I wasn't sure what I would think especially with the begging not being my favorite part of the book but once Olive and Murphy got together my whole mindset changed. 
Olive and Murphy did have a instant love kinda relationship but it wasn't over played. I love books where the charters have that instant love feeling but I have to admit that sometimes its a little much but this book isn't like that. They didn't start telling each other right away I love you and want to the spend the rest of my life with you. The characters were given time to get to know each other a little better first. 
 So if you are looking for a quick read with some HOT sex and a relationship that will make you smile this is your book! If you are a fan of Instalove like me than this is a must read!






My couch night was made up of my coziest pajama boxer shorts, my softest button down pajama shirt, my softy soft knee high socks and my hair thrown up in a messy bun on top of my head. I settled in to start reading my newest Kindle download. I was reaching for my mug of hot chocolate from the side table when my phone buzzed. I looked toward it and debated on whether or not to even check it, but it might have been Mikella. She had told me she would be working late tonight from home and might be calling…ugh

M: Well it took me five fucking days to finally get your number, but I got it. I had to do a couple of things I’m not proud of and will have flashing before my eyes at my final moments, but they were worth it. How about a little pic to make up for my acts?

O: Who in the hell is this?

M: Wow, you’ve forgotten me already. Well, how about I give you a reminder of your body pressed up against mine in your hallway with you only wearing a flimsy pajama shirt that barely covered the little boxer shorts that barely covered your ass. Your braless tits rubbing up against me causing my morning wood to get even more painfully hard.
O: Holy shit! Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?
M: I kissed your mouth with this mouth and I’d love to do it again and again and again. Then kiss even more places on you.
O: Seriously, who is this?
M: Woman, you had better fucking know who this is. Grrrr
O: Did you just Grrr at me?
M: I did and if you don’t type my name in your next response I’m getting on a plane and I’m going to remind you exactly who I am.
O: Oh Merick. How are you? It has been forever.
M: Woman!!! I have the phone in my hands
O: Oh sorry M… what was it again.
M: I’m dialing the airport…
O: Good! And when you get a hold of them you can tell them that the WOMAN you are coming out here to see is presently wearing another pajama shirt as well as an even smaller pair of boxer shorts and knee high socks. Murphy :p
M: Damn I was hoping to be on the plane by the time you ‘said’ my name.
O: And what would you have done when you got here?
M: Open your front door and find out
O: What? Are you really… stop
M: Olive?
M: Olive?
M: Woman!!
O: They are beautiful thank you :/
M: What is the :/ for? What you don’t like Gerbera daisies and Asters? You have a bunch of pictures of them around your house.
O: No, no. I do I love them, thank you.
M: Then why the :/ not the :D
M: Hello?
O: I’m here. I was just putting them in a vase. They are now up on my mantel. Pic attached
M: Holy Shit! I miss those lips. Did I really just meet you six days ago?
O: Yup. At a wonderful beautifully decorated country club that you drank yourself into a stupor at that required me to bring you home with me. Are you going to tell me what that was about BTW?
M: I had just lost a major deal and was pissed. Then I was dragged by my older brother to his new firm’s holiday party which was held in an awesomely decorated winter wonderland by a lady who has great legs that I would love to have …
M: Has it really only been six days? You’re sure?
O: my legs wrapped around your waist and my back pressed up against my hallway wall
M: as I run my tongue over the seam of your lips then slide in your delicious mouth until you are moaning for more
O: Murphy?
M: Yes
O: I really wanted you to be at my front door when I opened it :(
M: Me too :(
M: can we get back to you moaning my name?








Quick fire


Why did you start writing?

I see stories in my head and feel the need to put them down
Who inspires you to write?
The voices in my head
Who would you love to write with?
Oh my, what a question – so many that I would name – Nicholas Sparks and E.B. White 

 
What makes you start writing?
The constant chattering of the voice in my head
Do you set deadlines?
 I probably should just to force myself to keep on track. I’m easily sidetracked.

 
Any advice for any new starters?
Work with outlines, set deadlines, make friends in the indie world, treat others how you want to be treated, be willing to ask for help and help in return when asking for help.