REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: CONCEALED by Victoria Michaels

Title: Concealed (Hidden #1)

Author: Victoria Michaels

Genre: Romantic Suspense 18+

Publication Date: December 10, 2013

Publisher: Crazy-Bee Press

Event Organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.

Synopsis

Life has been complicated for Sydney Ross. Desperate for a new start, she leaves home but, during

her travels, witnesses something that will forever alter the path of her life. On the run for the last six

years, Sydney finds herself living the life of a nomad until she one day stumbles into a small town

and hopes she's finally found a place to put down roots. With a good job in a local diner and, for the

first time ever, friends who feel like family, things start looking up for Sydney. The biggest shock of

all is catching the eye of the town’s most eligible bachelor, the sexy sheriff, Wade Jenkins.

Sparks fly between them, and it's not long before Sydney believes Elton, Missouri could be the home

she's always wished for. But Sydney's past and her secrets have a way of catching up with her. When

a brutal murder shakes the small town, Sydney is terrified that the countdown has begun on her time

in Elton.

Have the shadows from her past found her again? The people who mean the most want her to stay,

but that would put everyone, including her daughter, at risk. Can Sydney put her faith in Wade or

will she keep running from a danger that even she doesn't fully understand?


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Purchase Links Amazon/ Barnes & Noble/ Kobo/ Createspace

About the Author
Victoria Michaels is a wife and mother of many who lives her life in what seems like a

constant state of motion. Kids’ sports, meetings, homework and general family fun take

up twenty-seven hours of her day. In her thirty seconds of free time, Victoria likes to

read, write and travel the country with her husband.

She most enjoys writing about love and laughter, two things that are central to her

everyday life. If you would like to know more about what’s coming next from Victoria,

please check back at victoriamichaels.net for updates, news and sneak peeks of future

releases.

Connect With Victora
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Website

Erin's Review
 Concealed is suspense from the first page to the last word. I couldn't put this down! The prologue  introduces us to Sydney, a scared, pregnant, young woman who happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, but a place that gives her the greatest gift of all.
 Hiding in a small town isn't easy as Sydney finds out. There is something different about Elton though. She is making friends, her daughter is in school and she has a good job. Maybe it's time to put down roots. Then catching the eye of the sheriff, Wade Jenkins, just complicates matters further.
 Her best friend, underhandedly,  gets Sydney and Wade on a date. Melissa knows he is in to Sydney and vice versa, so she just thought a gentle nudge would help them out a bit.
 Sydney tries to keep her secrets hidden from Wade but the past she keeps running from, catches up to her. Bodies start appearing too close for comfort for Sydney and she knows she has to go, and fast. She has to protect her daughter.
 The cast of characters in this book gives it a true hometown feel. From the eccentric Agnes to the well meaning Pete and Cora, you want to call Elton home yourself and head on over to the diner for a piece of pie. My personal favorite is Agnes. That is one spunky lady! She's like Doomsday Preppers, Grandma style. She's awesome.
 Sydney and Wade grow closer together and both just wish they could forget the past. Wade has secrets of his own, one especially that keeps popping up like an unwanted cold sore. He learned long ago people will believe whatever it is they want and in a small town, everyone has their own opinion. Sydney sees Wade for himself and can't help falling in love with him. Wade knows Sydney has secrets but she won't open up to him. She can't afford to trust him. But she needs help, the past is too close, and it is threatening to take her future.
 The end had me shocked. That was a twist I never saw coming. Very well written too, I might add. Just when you think you have the end figured out, you don't. Not even close. There is not even one hint anywhere in the book-believe me, I read it again just to check.
 You want romance, this book has it, you want suspense, this book has it. One of the best romantic suspense books I have read in a long time!


                                           TOUR WIDE GIVEAWAY


a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW: Race to Kill by Rachel Kall

Race to Kill (Book 1 in the Love and Scandal Series)

Rachel Kall

When fiercely independent Vivian Reese is thrust onto the national stage during a heated presidential campaign, she doesn't expect to become a media darling. She also doesn't expect to start to fall for her sexy new bodyguard, Marcus Locke. But when threats start surfacing against the sitting President's campaign and all evidence points to Vivian, she doesn't know who to trust.

Delta Force Operator turned FBI agent Marcus Locke is supposed to be investigating campaign finance crimes. He's not supposed to be checking out the sexy, eloquent campaign spokeswoman Vivian Reese, who's one of his prime suspects! But when they are caught in the middle of a presidential race that is quickly turning deadly, he is forced to put both his heart and his job in the line of fire.

Tempers flare and passions ignite as the campaign gets dangerous, but when bullets start to fly will either of them survive?

Information about the author:

Rachel Kall writes romantic suspense. She likes writing spicy and suspenseful stories to keep readers guessing. Rachel is a member of Romance Writers of America, Kiss of Death, and Georgia Romance Writers. She loves animals and is active in animal rescue. She enjoys adding loveable pets to her stories. She lives in Georgia with her husband and five furkids—two dogs and three cats.

You can find Rachel here:

www.rachelkall.com

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRachelKall

http:www.twitter.com/rachelkall

Links:

Kindle: http://amzn.com/B00FNT5RBU

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/race-to-kill-rachel-kall/1117049956?ean=2940148792628

Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/book/race-to-kill/id714513866?mt=11

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/race-to-kill

Excerpt:

The next afternoon Viv stepped out of her car and smoothed down her black pantsuit and adjusted her purple blouse. This isn’t that big of a deal, she told herself. This was a trial run. Yeah, it was a national TV spot, but it wasn’t going to be a hostile interview. They’d chosen her first foray on the national news as the new spokesperson wisely. Or Abby had. And she would be doing the show via satellite from campaign headquarters.

She walked up to the main entrance and swore, realizing she’d left her credentials and badge in the car. Oh well, someone there would know her. She’d spent a lot of her time lately in the Florida office. Florida was a key swing state in the election. But now with her unexpected promotion, she would be working out of the Washington, DC office. A perk of working for a Senator from Virginia. Arthur had made the strategic decision to set up shop there because he thought it made Nelson seem more presidential. And while she was glad to be living back home in her own condo, Viv questioned his position. She thought it made the Senator seem more inside the beltway than he already was. That’s one reason she enjoyed working in the South Florida office of the campaign. She felt connected to people in the local community; real people, with real problems.

Viv walked through the door and ran into a human brick wall.

“Sorry, ma’am. I need to see your identification,” a deep voice said.

Viv looked up—way up into the dark chocolate eyes of the huge man blocking her way. Good grief, he had a foot on her. At least. She hadn’t worn her highest heels today because she knew she’d be sitting for the interview. Now she wished she had.

“I left my badge in my car,” she said. She tapped her foot with impatient nerves.

“I’ll need you to go get it.” His face remained passive, and he didn’t break eye contact.

“I’m going to be late.” She looked down at her watch. “Crap, I’m going live in less than ten minutes. This is a national TV spot. I can’t be late. Let me by.” She took a step forward, and he blocked her path. Obviously she wasn’t going to get past him if he didn’t want her to.

He cocked his head to the side. “I haven’t seen you around here before.”

“And I haven’t seen you either. I’m taking over for Gene.”

“You’re the new spokesman?” His eyes widened.

“Spokesperson,” she corrected him.

“Excuse me.” He smiled and shifted his weight. “Anyone around here who can vouch for you? How do I know you’re not here to harass the Senator?”

 “Give me a break.” She was exasperated by his tactics, but she couldn’t help but look closer at him. His arms bulged under his tailored navy dress shirt. His dark brown hair was cut short, and a hint of tiny stubble covered his jaw.

“God, where have you been?” Abby’s voice rang in her ear.

“Sorry, I got detained by—I didn’t get your name?” She motioned to the security hunk.

“Name is Marc. Marc Locke,” he said, his eyes twinkling.

“Great, you’ve met the private security.” Abby grabbed her arm. “We’ve got to get going.”

Adri's Review: 

Need a story with Suspense and Romance… than Race to Kill is the one for you.

Vivian is a strong independent character but when she suddenly finds herself in trouble she needs to allow Marc Locke a security specialist with the Nelson Campaign to watch over her. 

Marc finds himself falling for the woman he is supposed to be protecting. But he has another problem, he’s supposed to be investigating the Nelson Campaign. Will him being undercover for the FBI cause him to lose the possibility of wonderful things in the future?

The suspense of not knowing who is after Viv or setting her and the Nelson Campaign up will have you guessing the whole time. First off Viv has a stalker that suddenly is killed. Then, she is accused of vandalizing the President’s campaign. 

Marc worries that there isn’t anything he can do to protect Viv. When the truth of what he is doing comes to light will Viv’s life be put in danger. 

All these questions can be answered if you run out to buy the book.

Happy Reading… Adri

Note From Adri

Hello, I promise to make this a quick note.

Sorry I don't have a review to include with this, but I promise one will post soon enough.

Now the point to this is to let you all know that due to some personal reasons, I won't be around the blog as much as I have been. There are somethings that I want to accomplish this year and wouldn't be able to if I spent all my time reading and reviewing. Now I'm not completely disappearing. I will have sporadic reviews and will do some background work, (like updating the Goodreads account for the blog) but it won't be the same as it's been lately.

I want to thank Sarah for her understanding and Erin for stepping in to help get the books out to you as much as possible. Both those ladies live very busy lives so I can only imagine how my reduced reviews will affect them.

To all the authors who allow us to review their books... Thank you for understanding that reviews might be slower but I know the ladies will get them done.

Thank you again... Happy Reading... Adri

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Life Flight by Shauna Wolf

LIFE FLIGHT

by Shaunna Wolf

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Malachi Blackfeather has spent twenty years in the Army. Two of those years as a Vietnam POW. Now that he's out, all he wants is some peace and quiet to figure out what to do with the rest of his life. Between the flashbacks, and an over interest in sex that is now being called sex addiction, finding his path isn't easy.

Kat is trying to escape an abusive marriage. Her soon to be ex is a master at manipulating the system, and her family thinks she should stay with him, "because no other man will want her". She's looking for escape in any form she can get it.

When they meet, sparks fly. Trapped by a blizzard, can two damaged people, who think there is no chance of love in the world for them, find each other, and survive an unforeseen circumstance that puts both of them in danger?

Mystery, romance, and danger, fill this novel, with a story that will draw you in and not let go.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

I picked up the half brick holding the door open, and the TV set exploded in a shower of glass.  For a moment Frank stood staring at the TV as if he thought it shattered on its own.  He spun to face me.

I continued to stand with my arms folded over my chest and my shoulder against the door frame.  He looked around as if the spiders in the place would come to his rescue.  I tugged on the cuffs of the leather gloves I wore.  Flexed my fingers.  When his hand tightened on the pool stick he held, I wanted to tell him that a wooden stick wasn’t much use in a gun fight.  But unless he went for a gun, I wasn’t going to shoot him, not yet anyway.

“Get the fuck off my property,” he said.

A block of wood nailed into the door served as a supplement lock.  I reached up and spun it closed, and while keeping him in my field of vision, I hooked the eye bolt as well.  I hadn’t seen a phone in the shed, not last time I was here, nor this time.  But that didn’t mean some pal of his wouldn’t show up--and anyone pals with this guy would have to be a cast member of the same loony-toon’s show.

“Where is Kat?” I asked him.

“You stooo-pied?” he said back, drawing out the word stupid in a juvenile manner.  “I already told you, she’s my wife, and that if you kept trying to bother her, I’ll have you arrested.”

“You see any cops?  I don’t.”  I moved over the concrete floor and stood near the bar.

He found some brain cells and kept the pool table between us.  Held the pool stick in both hands.  Glanced at the door.

“I have security cameras.  The company already called the cops.”

“Well then, you don’t have anything to worry about,” I said back.  I’d come across a few pathological liars in my lifetime, but never someone who thought the rest of the world had an IQ of less than 80 and would believe whatever came out of their mouth.  “How should we entertain the people watching us until they get here?”

Confusion ran over his face.  His lies didn’t make me edgy, his particular flavor of insanity mimicked a bully.  Lots of words of bravado that he expected others to be frightened of--no matter how absurd.  He was strong, of that I had no doubt, he worked at a labor intensive job, but he was filled with so much fear it surrounded him in a shimmering cloak.  Just like the sweat on his forehead.

I walked along the edge of the pool table.  Picked up the ten ball with it’s marred blue stripe.  Rolled it across the table and bounced it off the rail on the other side of the table--caught it when it came spinning back.

“Where’s Kat?”  I tossed the ball from hand to hand.

“That’s for me to know and you to find out,” he said. 

I let the ball fly.  It hit him in the right shin.  He bent over with a yelp.  He edged towards the door, dragging his right foot.  I spun the eight ball across the table, caught it, tossed it from hand to hand.

“Go for that door and the next one hits your head.” 

He stopped and pulled himself up straight.  Dug in his pocket and got out a pathetically small knife.  He opened the blade and held it out in front of him.  Laughable.  Unless he stuck it in my neck, he couldn’t even hit an artery with it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Facebook Author’s Page: http://www.facebook.com/srhowen1  

Blog: Critters at the Keyboard http://srhowen1.blogspot.com/

Author Web page:  http://ww.srhowen.com

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/srhowen/boards/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SRHowen

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3119305.Shaunna_Wolf

Book Blogs: http://bookblogs.ning.com/profile/SRHowen

Authors Den: http://www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?id=166698

 Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/

Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/shawn-rh/54/1a7/9b6

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Shaunna-Wolf/e/B008HT798M/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1387060643&sr=8-1

Freya’s Bower:  http://www.freyasbower.com/mystery-c-13/life-flight-p-294.html

Interview with Author: 

Do you ever wish you were someone else? Who?

When I was a kid, I wanted to be Wonder Woman, I thought having that invisible airplane would be the neatest thing in the world.  The golden lasso and those bracelets wouldn’t be bad either, and who could beat that costume and her figure!

What did you do on your last birthday?

My daughter and I had pizza and watched Dexter from season 1 to season 7 over the course of a few days.

Do you have any tattoos?  Where? When did you get it/them? Where are they on your body?

Me and my Bobcat Kitten plead the 5th!

What are you working on right now?

I am working on the 3rd book in the Medicine Man series, the second book in the fantasy Tales of the Zingari series, and a second Forge book, I’ve also started a new supernatural suspense novel with Indian characters.  

THE AUTHOR WILL BE GIVING AWAY: 
Prizes for the tour are as follows:
• One randomly chosen commenter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
• Three randomly chosen hosts will each receive a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sarah's Review:

Thanks to Goddess Fish and Shaunna Wolf for the chance to read this story.  This story captured my attention because of the Military aspect of it.  This story is not one that I probably would have found if not for the tour. 

WARNING: This story deals with elements that could be trigger inducing if you have had traumatic experience.  As a social worker, I need to give the warning.  

I truly enjoyed Malachi and Kat as characters and I enjoyed their story line together.  There were aspects that I didn’t enjoy, but overall, they won me over.  With their backgrounds, I wonder if fate actually leads these characters to each other.  

Secondary characters had a few that I really liked and a few I couldn’t stand.  That’s normal for me though.  Some characters I was immediately had distrusted and some that concerned me, but I did have a surprise with what actually happened.