PROMO & GIVEAWAY Ready for You by JL Berg

Title: Ready For You

Series: Ready #3

Author: JL Berg

Publication Date: May 26, 2014

Summary: A second chance at first love.

Eight years ago, Garrett Finnegan’s world shattered the day Mia vanished from his life. He’s been struggling to pick up the pieces ever since. Haunted by memories and ghosts of the past, he chooses a solitary existence rather than risk his heart again.

Mia Emerson has made one wrong decision after another but none worse than walking away from the boy who stole her heart so long ago. When her new life is turned upside down, she finds herself returning to her roots and the hometown she left behind. Maybe now she can find a way to heal from the devastating mistakes of her past.

When a chance encounter brings these former lovers together, passion reignites in a way neither is prepared for. Can Garrett move beyond his anger and find a way to forgive? Will Mia’s insecurities and fears cause her to once again flee the life she’s destined to live?

Garrett and Mia will soon discover that they must journey into the past to find their way home.

Links:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18621204-ready-for-you?ac=1

Amazon Universal Link: http://myBook.to/readyforyou
BN: http://bit.ly/1ok2Eyz
iTunes: http://bit.ly/S8zowN
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1h53Dk8

About JL Berg: J.L. Berg is the USA Today bestselling author of the Ready Series. She is a California native living in the beautiful state of historic Virginia. Married to her high school sweetheart, they have two beautiful girls that drive them batty on a daily basis. When she's not writing, you will find her with her nose stuck in a romance novel, in a yoga studio or devouring anything chocolate. J.L. Berg is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, LLC.

Website: www.jlberg.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorjlberg 

Twitter: @authorjlberg

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/authorjlberg

Excerpt:

With our bags loaded, we started to make our way back to the car, weaving through the crowd and enjoying the sounds of people talking and soft music playing. I smiled when I heard a child laughing.  I turned to see a child being thrown over his father’s shoulder.
“Garrett! Stop it! I’m too old to be carried!” The child laughed.
“You’re never too old to be tackled, Connor! We’ve got to get you ready for football!”
That voice—even after eight years, I would recognize it anywhere. My stomach fell to the concrete, and my feet cemented to the ground. I was frozen, completely frozen. Everything slowed. The street noise melted away, and each and every shopper disappeared until I saw him. He had the boy slung over his shoulder. They were both laughing and breathless from their horseplay. He looked older, but it was still him. He still had the same jet-black hair, emerald eyes, and dazzling smile. A beautiful blonde woman was smiling at the two of them as they joked around.
My heart finally caught up to my brain, and it felt like a jackhammer was beating hard and fast in my chest. My hands shook, and my knees suddenly felt weak and wobbly. I had no idea how much time had passed since I saw him.
Minutes? Hours? 
I didn’t know, but it couldn’t have been long since Liv was just now noticing my crazy behavior.
“Amelia, are you okay? You look like you just saw a ghost,” she said.
When I didn’t respond, she must have glanced up because I heard her gasp. She’d seen him, too.
“I-I need to get out of here—now,” I gritted through my teeth.
“Are you sure?”
I just nodded and started to turn. I couldn’t face him. He probably hated me.
He had a kid. That hurt. My hand went to my chest, trying to rub out the pain settling there. He had a child. That meant the blonde standing next to him was probably his wife. Garrett was married. It had been eight years. Of course he would be married. I didn’t know why I was surprised, but he wasn’t supposed to be here. He had moved away. He was supposed to stay away. I couldn’t be here if he was still here. I couldn’t breathe if he was still here.
“Come on, sweetheart, let’s get to the car,” Liv said gently, grabbing my arm and guiding me toward the car.
I just gave a brief nod as I let her lead me.
We hadn’t made it three steps before I heard the words that made my heart come to a screeching halt.
“Mia? Mia, is that you?”

Giveaway: a Rafflecopter giveaway


BLOG NOTE:

This post was supposed to be a review, but due to a death in Sarah's family it has been postponed. It will go live within two weeks. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Thank you for your understanding... Adri

REVIEW& GIVEAWAY: BETTER DEEDS THAN WORDS: BY GEORGINA GUTHRIE

  Aubrey and Daniel’s vow to pursue their dangerous romance despite university regulations takes them down a path of secrecy and lies. With only six weeks left to the end of term, they’re under the constant watch of David Grant—Daniel’s “Dean of Students” father. If that weren’t enough to pressure them, Daniel’s checkered past also casts a shadow over the young lovers who continuously tempt fate until one wrong move leads to an inevitable disaster. Can they salvage a relationship when everything seems to be conspiring against them?

Excerpt: 

"Thank you, Daniel."

"For what?"

"For bringing me here. It means a lot that you would share this with me. This place is obviously close to your heart."

He pushed my hood back gently.

"You know you're making quite a home for yourself in my heart too, right?"

I swallowed thickly. Speechless again. I lowered my eyes, but he tilted my face up, kissing me tenderly, his tongue slipping warmly between my lips.

"Your nose is cold," I said as he pulled away.

"Your tongue is hot," he whispered.

I leaned into him, eager for more. He pressed his lips against mine, his hands caressing my face.

"I meant what I said a minute ago," he said. "You're all I think about. Sometimes I feel like I've known you forever, and other times you do or say something that reminds me how much I still have to learn. I wish we had more time together."

"I know what you mean." I snuggled into his neck as he held me close.

“‘I have no precious time at all to spend, nor services to do, till you require,’” he whispered. “‘Nor dare I chide the world-without-end hour whilst I, my sovereign, watch the clock for you.'"

"You wrote that sonnet out for me a few days before Mary’s memorial service,” I reminded him.

"It’s a favorite.”

"The sonnets aren’t my specialty, unfortunately."

"You'd better brush up, Miss Price. I happen to know of an assignment that’ll require some attention to Master Shakespeare's sonnets."

"Jeez, here we go. On with the TA hat." I sighed.

He laughed. "Oh, come on, I've avoided shop-talk all evening. I've been good, haven't I?"

"I'd say you've been very good." I raised an eyebrow.

"And you, my lovely, are incorrigible," he said, kissing me withan intensity that made my heart

gallop.

Erin's Review 
 If you aren't cheering for Aubry and Daniel from the first page, well, you just suck. 
 There is so much tension in this book you can cut it with a knife. You feel exactly what Aubry and Daniel are feeling as they wait the long 6 weeks before they can finally go public with their feelings for each other. 
 These two truly do try to keep their relationship a secret. At times, it appears that the stars aren't in alignment for the couple and you get the feeling that something is going to rip them apart. 
There is a bit of a build up with a bit of a surprising twist that sets the story apart. 
 Forbidden romance is one of my favorites and add to that one that has two people so perfect for each other, made me love this story even more.

COMMENT NOW FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN AN E-COPY OF WEIGHT OF WORDS OR BETTER DEEDS THAN WORDS. GOOD LUCK!!! 

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY : THE SCANDALOUS LOVE OF A DUKE (MARLOW INTRIGUE SERIES #3) BY JANE LARK

Title: The Scandalous Love of a Duke (Marlow Intrigues #3) Author: Jane Lark Genre: Regency Romance (Historical) Publish Date: April 3, 2014 Publisher: HarperImpulse Event Organized By: Literati Author Services, Inc.  

Synopsis

Book three in Jane Lark's Kindle best-selling Regency romance series! Isolated by life and choice, John Harding, the Duke of Pembroke, sees an angel in a pale mauve dress across a room and is drawn closer as lust grips firm and hard in his stomach. The wheat-blonde hair escaping her dull dove-grey bonnet and caressing her neck lures his eyes to a spot he'd like to kiss. She speaks with animation her hands moving. Then as if she senses his gaze the stranger turns and looks at him. A rush of pain and longing spilled from Katherine's heart into her limbs. It was so long since she'd seen John but her reaction was the same as it had been more than half-a-dozen years before. She loved him, secretly, without hope, but a chasm of years and status stood between them.

Add to Goodreads

Purchase Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA

Excerpt

A glass of red wine balanced in one hand, the stem dangling between his fingers, he joined another group of guests, fulfilling his duty. He trusted no one here. God, this was his life now, duty and falsehood. He missed Egypt, he missed adventure and peace and simplicity. He was already bored with people’s endless supplication. Everyone seemed to want something from him. They sought to attach themselves to either his wealth or his power. His grandfather had warned of this. John had had enough. He was seeking his family to escape it for a little while, and looking for Mary particularly. He knew his vibrant sister would bring him back from the cold darkness crowding in on him. He’d passed his mother and Edward in the hall, they’d been speaking with Richard and Penny, they’d directed him in here. His gaze swept about the room then stopped. There was a young woman standing amidst his family, like a blonde beacon of light amongst his dark-haired black-clad cousins. She was an angel in a pale mauve dress. Lust gripped had and firm in his stomach, an intense physical attraction. He’d never experienced anything so instant before. But it was a long time since he’d bedded a woman – far too long. Her figure was a sublime balance of curves and narrow waist. Her spine had a beautiful arch as it curved into the point where her dress opened onto a full skirt. Wheat-blonde hair escaped a dull dove-grey bonnet, caressing her neck and drawing his eyes to a place he’d like to kiss. She was speaking with animation her hands moving. He moved closer and as if she sensed his gaze the stranger turned and looked at him. In answer a lightning need struck his groin, a sharp sudden pain. She was an English Rose among orchids, the sort of woman he had seen nothing of abroad. Her skin was pale, with roses blooming in her cheeks, and her eyes were a vivid beautiful blue, like the bluebells which bloomed in spring, in the woods at Pembroke Place. She was what he had longed for abroad and not even known he’d been lacking. His attention wholly captured, desire slipped into his blood as his groin grew heavy with hunger. This was what came from abstinence he supposed. He’d never had a fancy for fair, fay women before. He did now. She did not look the sort for a fling though, certainly not the she-wolf type who stalked the foreign fields. His mind began rattling through his guest list, but no name fit her, and her dull grey bonnet and shawl did not speak of affluence. Who was she? He smiled as he grew nearer, then realised he was staring and shifted his gaze to the others in the group. It was then he noticed Phillip as they turned to towards him. “My God.” “Your Grace.” “Phillip.” Lord, John hoped Phillip had not come here with a motive. John did not wish to hear oily grovelling from an old friend. His heart thumped in cold anger, not gladness. Then he looked at the blonde and his breath caught as recognition whispered in his head. Kate.


Erin's Review
 This by far, was my favorite book in the series. This book follows, John, Ellen's child from the first book in the series.
 Now John is all grown and ready to step in to the role of the Duke. The role his grandfather primed him for. Upon his return to England, he says goodbye to his grandfather finds himself now the head of the family. It was a position he tried to avoid for he did not want to be like his grandfather.
 Katherine has been in love with John since she saw him swimming in the lake. She loved him in secret, knowing that he could never marry her, for he was a Duke after all, and she a simply dairy maid's daughter. When the two meet again, Katherine discovers her feelings have not changed and John finds himself in awe of Katherine.
 John and Katherine's story is not without struggle. They not only have to fight society, they have to fight John's inner struggle of understanding his childhood. He has trust issues and a discovery that he made shortly after his grandfather's death does nothing to quell his mistrust of just about everyone. Katherine tries everything to show John that you have to put your trust in someone, you cannot fight all your battles alone but he is stubborn. She often refers to him as 2 people, his ducal persona and her John.
 It takes John almost losing her to finally realize his feelings but Katherine is keeping a secret of her own. A secret that could ruin her forever.
 Can the couple overcome their obstacles to get their Happily Ever After or will they let the past get in their way? The story is beautifully written and Jane does a wonderful job at putting you right in the time period. Her characters are well developed and there is a bit of everything in the book. Mystery, intrigue, suspense and most importantly romance. If you love historicals, you will love this book.

About the Author

Jane is a writer of authentic, passionate and emotional Historical and New Adult Romance, and a Kindle top 25 bestselling author. She began her first historical novel at sixteen, but a life full of adversity derailed her as she lives with the restrictions of Ankylosing Spondylitis. When she finally completed a novel it was because she was determined not to reach forty still saying, I want to write. Now Jane is writing a Regency series and contemporary, new adult, stories and she is thrilled to be giving her characters life in others' imaginations at last. You might think that Jane was inspired to write by Jane Austen, especially as she lives near Bath in the United Kingdom, but you would be wrong. Jane's favourite author is Anya Seton, and the book which drew her into the bliss of falling into historical imagination was 'Katherine' a story crafted from reality. Jane has drawn on this inspiration to discover other real-life love stories, reading memoirs and letters to capture elements of the past, and she uses them to create more realistic plots. 'Basically I love history and I am sucker for a love story. I love the feeling of falling in love; it's wonderful being able to do it time and time again in fiction.' Jane is also a Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development in the United Kingdom, and uses this specialist understanding of people to bring her characters to life.

Connect with the Author: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Website

Entry

REVIEW: THE PASSIONATE LOVE OF A RAKE (MARLOW INTRIGUES #2)

Synopsis

The only woman who had power over notorious rake Robert Marlow was now walking away from him, again.

He'd heard Sutton had died, and known Jane was free, but he'd always thought his desire would only be for revenge, not her. Yet here he was, unable to deny what he felt for her…what he’d never felt for any other woman before…









Buy Links 

Amazon 
B&N
Kobo


Erin's Review
We first met Robert Marrow in the Illicit Love of a Courtesan. He was the churlish older brother of Edward. In the second book in the Marlow Intrigue Series, we finally learned why Robert shirked his duties, and it's all due to a woman named Jane. 
 Jane had no choice but to walk away all those years ago. An arranged marriage, that was not of her choice put her in a position that she she HAD to walk away. Robert could never understand. 
 This story is a wonderful story about reunited love. This couple's own worst enemy is themselves. Jane cannot tell him the truth and Robert cannot accept anything but.
 Jane is still being held captive by her dead husband and she tries everything she can do to escape it, the problem is, she needs help. But can she trust the one man that has held her heart for all these years?  And can Robert finally see past his own anger to finally forgive her for something she could not control?
 We are reintroduced to some of the characters from the first book along with some new ones. I can guarantee you one thing, your opinion of Robert WILL change after this book. He might have even edged Edward out as my favorite Marrow. Once again, Jane Lark has outdone herself. A beautiful story about second chances and learning to finally feel what it's like to be free and happy.

REVIEW: Honor Reclaimed by Tonya Burrows

Former Marine sniper Seth Harlan is determined to prove that he can still do his job despite his ongoing battle with PTSD. When an old friend contacts HORNET to rescue a black ops soldier, Seth's stability is strained. He knows all too well what it's like to rot inside an enemy camp, praying for rescue and waiting for death. And he's not about to leave a man behind.

Photojournalist Phoebe Leighton just stumbled into the middle of an arms deal. Teaming up with a ragtag team of mercenaries is the last thing she wants to do--especially when she realizes Seth Harlan is assigned to the mission. He may ignite a passion in her she thought long dead, but Phoebe's hiding a secret that could destroy him.

With a bomb in the mix, HORNET's mission is suddenly about a lot more than an abandoned soldier. Racing against the clock, Seth, Phoebe, and the rest of the team struggle to stop a ruthless warlord bent on power, revenge...and death.

Buy Links: Entangled Publishing / GoodReads / Amazon 

Author: Tonya Burrows

Adri's Review:

I would first off like to thank Tonya Burrows for providing us with a review copy of this book for us to read. 

This review is one of those that are so hard to write not because you didn't enjoy the book, but because you enjoyed it so much you don't know where to start. We are briefly introduced to Seth in the first book of this series Seal of Honor, but all we know about him then is how he's got a past and no one wants to work with him. In this book Honor Reclaimed we find out what that past is and WHY he is so haunted by it. 

Maybe because I now have friends who are deployed in Afghanistan or because I have learned in the last six months or so how much harder the life of a man in uniform is when they are away from home, but with this book I found myself so much more attached to Seth. I was able to relate him to someone I know personally, (actually it happened with a couple of the characters) and was aching to help him, hug him and take his pain away. I found myself crying along with not only Seth but Phoebe as well. 

Phoebe has to learn a hard lesson before she can forgive herself, but she is such a strong character, one that makes it a pleasure to read. She is also willing to put herself at risk for those things she believes in and loves. She took a lesson from life and used it to turn her life around to a more positive place. Again I attribute this to how well written the character is. 

Tonya Burrows did such a fantastic job with this book, I can't wait to see what else she can bring us in the future in the HORNET series.

Happy Reading... Adri 

REVIEW: The Professional by Kresley Cole

The highly anticipated complete novel of The Professional—the first installment in #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole’s scorching Game Maker series, an erotica collection that has readers asking: How hot is too hot?

He makes the rules…
Mafiya enforcer Aleksei “The Siberian” Sevastyan’s loyalty to his boss knows no bounds, until he meets the boss’s long-lost daughter, a curvy, feisty redhead who haunts his mind and heats his blood like no other. Ordered to protect her, Aleksei will do anything to possess her as well—on his own wicked terms.

Rules are made to be broken…
Grad student Natalie Porter had barely recovered from her first sight of the dark and breathtaking Sevastyan before the professional enforcer whisks her away to Russia, thrusting her into a world of extreme wealth and wanton pleasures. Every day under his protection leads her deeper under his masterful spell.

Are you ready to play?
Yet all is not as it seems. To remove Natalie from an enemy’s reach, Sevastyan spirits her into hiding. From an opulent palace in Russia to the decadent playgrounds of the mega-wealthy in Paris, the two lovers will discover that even their darkest—and most forbidden—fantasies can come true…

Adri's Review:

First off thanks to NetGalley for providing us with a copy so that we could write this review.

I have to say that I originally interested in this book because of the blurb. It seemed so interesting, and where it didn't disappoint there were some aspects of it that I didn't enjoy.

Natalie's character is a very strong and she knows how to pursue those things that she wants, but I felt that when it came to Sevastyan she gave in too easily. He is after all a character she meets in a bar and then finds him stalking her in her bathroom. (sorry to me that has creeper factor written all over it). But then again he does sound extremely sexy and alluring. 

There is plenty of fun and sexy times in this book, but I also enjoy that it is full of plot. Now my biggest complaint is the death of one of the characters... it felt slightly cruel on the authors part to unite a father and daughter to just have him die so early in. But I guess that is how the life of a mob boss is.

Happy Reading... Adri

REVIEW: THE ILLICIT LOVE OF A COURTESAN BY JANE LARK

Synopsis
Trapped under the reign of a cruel keeper, Ellen Harding longs to be free. Under his oppression, her soul and conscience have died while her body lives on, fulfilling his dissolute desires. She is empty—a vessel—deaf to the voice of morality and blind to shame.

When her eyes are drawn to a beautiful man for no other reason than his looks, she imagines what it would be like to escape her chains for a night by giving her body to him.

But Edward Marlow is kind and gentle when he touches her, and her subconscious whispers, this man could be her salvation. Yet how can he help her when she has secrets which prevent her freedom?

Edward is restless, lonely, and a little angry with his lot in life—it is his only excuse for being drawn to another man’s mistress. The woman’s dark hair and pale eyes are striking, and he cannot take his gaze off her while she watches him over the top of a fan with an illicit intent in her eyes.

Once he’s known her, he cannot forget her, and once he’s seen the evidence of her supposed benefactor’s brutality, he wants to help her. But how can he when she will not run any more than she will speak of her past?

When a desperate Ellen finally relents and shocks Edward from his sleep, he doesn’t hesitate, he helps her flee. He just doesn’t know he’s running headlong into the secrets of her past.

Buy Links
Amazon 
Kobo 
Google Play 


Erin's Review
 Jane Lark does a beautiful job telling this story. It has a bit of everything, a dashing hero, a damaged heroine, a secret she must keep and a man that will do anything to make her his. 
 There is so much more to Ellen than meets the eye. She is forced in to her lot through the most heartbreaking of circumstances. Left alone with no one to turn to, she did the only thing she could to survive. 
 Her keeper is a cruel man. He does not love her. He keeps her in a guilded cage to bring out only when he sees fit, not knowing the woman underneath the facade she portrays. 
 Edward Marrow is the responsible one. He has been keeping up with his brother's estates ever since his trip gallivanting across the globe and Edward is a bit angry. Ellen draws him in and he can't get her off his mind. He wants her, all of her and damn the consequences. 
 Ellen has tried to protect her secret for so long she finds it hard to trust Edward, but she is left with no choice. Together they face what appear to be insurmountable odds to fight for those they love. And the odds are many, from the scathing eyes of Edward's brother to Ellen's formidable father. Ellen is character that you will fall in love with. You don't feel pity for her, you want to avenge her lot in life. Can she win Edward's family over? Can they forget her past and move on? And can her and Edward finally have the happiness they so truly deserve? 
 One has to read to find out, and uncover all the secrets and intrigue that surround our couple as they forge a new beginning.

COVER REVEAL: THE RAVEN BY SYLVAIN REYNARD

The Raven 

by Sylvain Reynard

Blurb: 

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Gabriel Series comes a dark, sensual tale of romance in a city shrouded in mystery…

Raven Wood spends her days at Florence’s Uffizi Gallery restoring fine works of Renaissance art. But an innocent walk home after an evening with friends changes her life forever. When she intervenes in the senseless beating of a homeless man, his attackers turn on her, dragging her into an alley. Raven is only semi-conscious when their assault is interrupted by a cacophony of growls followed by her attacker’s screams. Mercifully, she blacks out, but not before catching a glimpse of a shadowy figure who whispers to her…

Cassita vulneratus.

When Raven awakes, she is inexplicably changed. She returns to the Uffizi, but no one recognizes her and more disturbingly, she discovers that she’s been absent an entire week. With no recollection of the events leading up to her disappearance, Raven also learns that her absence coincides with one of the largest robberies in Uffizi history – the theft of a set of priceless Botticelli illustrations. When the baffled police force identifies her as its prime suspect, Raven is desperate to clear her name. She seeks out one of Florence’s wealthiest and elusive men in an attempt to uncover the truth about her disappearance. Their encounter leads Raven to a dark underworld whose inhabitants kill to keep their secrets…

Release Date:

Early 2015

About the Author

I'm interested in the way literature can help us explore aspects of the human condition - particularly suffering, sex, love, faith, and redemption. My favourite stories are those in which a character takes a journey, either a physical journey to a new and exciting place, or a personal journey in which he or she learns something about himself/herself. 

I'm also interested in how aesthetic elements such as art, architecture, and music can be used to tell a story or to illuminate the traits of a particular character. In my writing, I combine all of these elements with the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the transformative power of goodness.

I try to use my platform as an author to raise awareness about the following charities: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation, WorldVision, Alex's Lemonade Stand, and Covenant House. For more information, see my Twitter account.

You can find Sylvain at 

         

BLOG BIRTHDAY GUEST POST: Kate Richards

Sarah’s Anniversary Soiree

I’m thrilled to be a part of Sarah Says Read Romance’s blogaversary! What would we do without reviewers and bloggers who help us to share our books with readers? They share their free time to not only read our books, which we hope they will enjoy  but then to write thoughtful reviews where, even if they didn’t love everything about the story, they always find something nice to say. Even if it’s only that the heroine’s name was a good choice. Of course…that tells us they really had to dig deep.

Once upon a time on a site far, far away I was a reviewer. Then I was a review site owner, which is probably the only job more time consuming than being a reviewer. I loved it, but as writing and editing took up more and more of my day, I couldn’t fit it in anymore. Which makes me even more appreciative of Sarah and her staff of awesome reviewers. Since you’ve stopped by, take a look at some of the reviews and tell me which one inspired you to read the book. We will be selecting one random commenter to win a copy of Frontier Inferno, my contribution to the Decadent Publishing Calendar Men series, and some bubble bath because a tub of frothy sweet-smelling bubbles is the perfect place to read a romance!

Happy reading everyone!

 Frontier Inferno

For Heather, Castle, Alaska offers many surprises. A new job—as a nanny of all things—a handsome firefighter whose charisma proves a distraction from her plans, and the danger of discovery. Heather may have to hightail it out of Castle and into the wilderness, or risk being dragged back into the very situation she’d fled.

Romance takes a backseat for single dad Chris Elder, while he focuses on his young son and his job as a firefighter/smokejumper in the small community of Castle. But the arrival of the feisty woman from the lower forty-eight may prove more than his resolutions, or his libido, can handle.

Can the magic of Alaska save these two from a lonely future, or will circumstances force them to step back from their Frontier Inferno?

#frontierinferno  #calendarmen

Kate’s info

Kate Richards divides her time between Los Angeles and the High Sierras. She would gladly spend all her days in the mountains, but she’d miss the beach…and her very supportive husband’s commute would be three hundred miles. Wherever she is, she loves to explore all different kinds of relationships in her stories. She doesn’t believe one-size-fits-all, and whether her characters live BDSM, ménage, GLBT or any other kind of lifestyle, it’s the love, the joy in one another that counts.

She explores the editorial side of things as a partner in Wizards in Publishing and executive editor at Decadent Publishing. In working with authors and editors, she has learned the ins and outs of the author/editor relationship and the value of strength and open communication in such an intimate situation. Preserving the author’s voice, being open to the editor’s input, finding the jewel in a book that may still have some rough edges are all critical to the process.

Book Cover Link http://bit.ly/12ngqA1

Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/133iyDj

AISN: B00CPAUC2O

BLOG BIRTHDAY GUEST POST: Jessica Scott

Memorial Day

What does Memorial Day mean to you? I mean, really mean. And I don’t ask that to be some condescending jerk or anything but I’m thinking about the first time that it *really* hit me what Memorial Day meant. 

I was in Iraq on my first tour and we’d gone to the chow hall. When you’re in Iraq, all the days blend together. Christmas, Mother’s Day, Easter - they’re all the same except for when you go to the chow hall. Then you’ll get a sense that there’s some occasion going on. Our chow hall folks go all out to make the holidays special. 

But Memorial Day that year hit home. We’d already lost a few soldiers on our tour. It was a rough year in Mosul that year. So there we were, going for the chow hall for dinner. It was chicken and rice because you can eat the vegetables at your own peril. 

There were some red white and blue ribbons out there but it was when we walked to the door that it really sank in. 

There were pictures of our fallen. Images of the Vietnam Memorial in DC. Images of the soldier’s cross, the dog tags, boots, helmet and rifle that marked the memorial for our brothers and sisters that we’d lost. 

The war hit me hard at that moment. I remember choking up and just stopping for a minute. It was a powerful testimony to how easy it is to go through your day, do your job and not really think about things other than the immediate next thing. 

Memorial Day is a time for us to celebrate the beginning of summer, with barbecues and time with friends and family. 

But I’d ask that you take a moment to remember those that have given the ultimate sacrifice. To say a prayer if you pray or to take a moment of silence if you don’t. Just take a moment to remember. To honor our brothers and sisters who are no longer with us. 

And hope that it is a long time before we engage in another war where we add to the list of names on our memorials around the nation. 

REVIEW: Shockwave by D.L. Jackson

Shockwave
Calendar Men – Mr. May
D.L. Jackson

“Let’s dance, devil.” Veteran Tanner North disarms bombs in New York City and business seems to be picking up, putting him on alert. While in the military, he faced his share of challenges but when a rescue in Kosovo went bad and a young mother lost her life, he blamed himself for the failure. Could he have saved her if he’d taken different actions? What if he were to have a second chance to test his decision making in a life-or-death situation—one where the outcome is very personal.

“I want him.” Lannie Sawyer needs the job Leo Russo offers worse than she’d care to admit. But how to approach a man who has made his dislike of her clear. In fact, Tanner North has threatened her with a restraining order if she comes around again. Lannie has never backed down from a challenge, and she won’t, not with her grandmother’s happiness on the line.

Aut viam inveniam aut faciam—I’ll either find a way or make one.
 

Genre: Contemporary, military romance, erotic romance   

Heat level: 3 Word count – 22k
Cover art by Mina Carter
 

~Excerpt~
Lannie Sawyer fidgeted while Leo Russo thumbed through her portfolio. She bit her lip as he glanced up and back down. Damn hard reading the man. Did he, or did he not, like her work?

“A Pulitzer.”

“Yes.”

“Huh.” He flipped another page.

“What?”

“You’re great with stories on war and death, but what about something a little more—feel good? Ever do fashion stories or stuff on pet owners looking like their poodles?”

“I’ve done arts and entertainment pieces.” And other things I’d rather not mention.

He furrowed his brow and scanned the contents, sifting through the clips. “I don’t see any—”

“I only included my best.”

“So, what you’re saying is, your best doesn’t include feel-good stories?”

“I didn’t mean—”

“Did you not say, Ms. Sawyer, your samples are of your best?”

She opened her mouth and he lifted his hand, cutting her off.

“I don’t need an article on war orphans.” He turned another page and froze. Leo stared at the photo for what seemed like forever. Lannie squirmed. Seconds later he turned the book around and jabbed his finger onto the image. “I need him.”

“Excuse me?”

~From the Author~
D. L. Jackson is an award-winning author of urban fantasy, science fiction, military romance and erotic romance. She loves to incorporate crazy plot twists, comedy and the unexpected into her worlds. As a U.S. Army veteran, she naturally adores men in uniform and feels the world could always use more. She does her part by incorporating as many sexy soldiers in her novels as she can. When she isn't writing or running the roads, you can often find her online chatting with her peers and readers. Grab a cup of iced coffee, pull up your virtual chair and say hi. She loves emails and blog visits from her readers.

Sarah's Review: 
Thank you to Decadent Publishing and D.L. Jackson for providing a great story for the May!  Normally, I have the Calendar Men stories featured on the 15th of each month, but May has been filled with chaos and my reading time was extremely limited.  I finally was able to read this story once graduation weekend was over.  

If you have been following this blog for a while, you know I am a sucker for books that have a military or former military character.  Hell, any aspect of a man in uniform is something that I will jump at the opportunity to read!  

The tension between Tanner and Lannie is one that is justified based on their past encounters.  What happens when Tanner's stalker begins to increase her claims on Tanner and Lannie is caught in the crossfire?  Tanner comes face to face with demons from his past who he never expected to be a demon.  

Watching Tanner and Lannie come together to fight the threat and overcome their past was something that I really enjoyed and needed to read after an amazing weekend celebrating commencement.  I truly enjoyed reading this story and I hope that Tanner and Lannie will make a cameo in future books.