Posts Tagged Romance
SALE TODAY ONLY! LOVE, CHOCOLATE and BEER (A Cactus Creek Novel)
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News on March 14, 2014
Buy Links:
Love, Chocolate, and Beer (Cactus Creek)
http://tinyurl.com/n4q63s2
http://tinyurl.com/ChocolateBeer-BarnesNoble
http://tinyurl.com/ChocolateBeer-iTunes
http://tinyurl.com/ChocolateBeer-Kobo
Synposis
Romance has met its most unlikely match-up…
Luke Bradford is a chocolatier on a mission. After moving his chocolate shop, and newly single life, to the quirky town of Cactus Creek, Luke wants nothing more than to devote all his energy into making his business a success—by taking the romance market by storm. But his grand plans get thrown for a loop when he locks horns with the feisty beer-brewing beauty next door who calls his ‘romantic idealism’ a load of fairytale bull. Soon, driving the woman sparking nuts becomes another wickedly fun priority he simply can’t get enough of.
In his defense, she’s addictively easy to incite…and plain impossible to resist.
Beloved local brewmaster Dani Dobson is beyond riled up. It’s bad enough the new shop owner in town comes locked and loaded with both a distractingly rugged charm and sexy flashing dimples, but the whole only-in-the-movies variety of romance he’s selling—the kind her world has been crushed by before—is really doing a number on her allergy to unrealistic clichés. What’s worse, he’s created an annoyingly clever ad campaign that dubs ‘beer joints’ like hers as the “cave where romance goes to hibernate.” The nerve of that man.
Combustible chemistry or not, damn it, this means war. The stakes…very likely, her heart.
Excerpt
“HEY, DANI. Why isn’t the coffee started? Breakfast is getting—OH!” Xoey dropped the box of bakery fresh doughnuts in shock at the foot of Dani’s bed.
Dani estimated the level of Xoey’s shock was pretty high up there. Not just because she was still in bed this late in the morning, but more so because she wasn’t in said bed alone.
“Get out!” Dani launched a pillow at her.
Xoey shot out of the bedroom. “I’m so sorry!” she shouted as she closed the door behind her. “I figured it was safe! I thought you two were waiting till your fifth date to…hey, wait a sec, did I count wrong?”
“Just stop talking and go wait outside! Or better yet, wait down in the brewpub!” Dani jumped out of bed, and instantly dropped flat as a pancake onto the carpet.
Good lord, she was naked.
And, criminy, she totally just gave herself a carpet burn on her belly.
Where the heck did her towel from last night go?
At the soft whoosh of falling terry cloth landing inches from her face, she muttered, “Thanks.”
“No problem,” came Luke’s amused reply.
Dani tucked the now dry bath towel around herself securely before peeking just her eyes and the bridge of her nose up from behind the tangle of goose down comforter lined-up like a trench barricade on her edge of the bed.
“Good morning, beautiful.”
She popped her head up fully like a prairie dog, and asked the first burning question that swirled around in her head. “Did we—ˮ
The heated look he blasted her stopped her from finishing that sentence.
“Honey, if we had, the trench barricade my soldier is failing to hide behind wouldn’t be taller than yours right now.”
Oh my. A quick glance toward the center of her bed had her rising to her feet quicker than the sound of the national anthem had ever inspired. Furthermore, she wasn’t the one saluting the flag in this case.
Before she could do so much as gape, however, he dragged the comforter over himself, and pulled her back up onto the bed beside him in one easy swoop.
With a sleepy morning growl, he gathered her into his arms and laid warm, rumbly kisses down the side of her neck. “Believe me Dani, the next time you wake up next to me in bed, you won’t be wondering if we did, you’ll damn well know it, remember it, and want more of it.”
All evidence in front of her would certainly suggest so.
He nipped at her earlobe. “I can practically see your thoughts, sweetheart. Before you slaughter my control even more than you already have, put some clothes back on me in that pretty little head of yours and go take care of Xoey. I’m going to see how cold I can get your shower to run.”
As she rushed out of the room to go demand her spare key back from Xoey, it registered belatedly that Luke had spent the entire night lying next to her, fully clothed and on top of her bed spread, just holding her hand.
A total gentleman.
With whom she fully intended to renegotiate the intolerable terms of their pesky five-date waiting period. Seriously, whose crazy-ass idea had that been anyhow?
About This Literary Chef:
New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Violet Duke is a former professor of English Education who is ecstatic to now be on the other side of the page writing wickedly fun contemporary romance novels. When she’s not arguing with her story characters or feeding her book-a-day reading addiction, Violet enjoys tackling reno projects with her power tools, trying pretty much anything without reading the directions first, and cooking ‘special edition’ dishes that laugh in the face of recipes. She lives in Hawai’i with her two cute kids and similarly adorable husband.
Website: http://www.violetduke.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VioletDukeBooks
Sign-up to get Sale & New Release Alerts: http://www.violetduke.com/p/join-email-list.html
Cover Reveal & Giveaway! WOLF HUNGER (Book 3 of the Dragon Heat Series) By: Ella J Phoenix
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News on March 14, 2014
Blurb:
When the last box of deadly bullets is stolen, the hunt is on and the Vampire King’s band of fighters is set for the challenge of recovering it. But Yara, the shifter-witch, has other problems to face. She must help her leader to overcome the strange illness that has befallen her before it’s too late. For that, she must go back to the only place she swore never to return – her home land.
Rafe is a typical lone wolf who spends his nights earning his bucks in the fighting ring. When he was offered a pardon for his debts in exchange for the Vampire King’s head, he didn’t even blink, thinking it would be a hard mission but not impossible. He just wasn’t expecting the saucy shifter-witch to cross his path and ruin his plans. Now, he can’t get her out of his mind and the clock is ticking for him to make good on his word.
This is the third novel of the Dragon Heat series – a paranormal lover’s delight with vampires, shifters, dragons, witches, bathed in magic.
***Warning: this novel contains hot, steamy, descriptive sexual scenes. Enjoy.***
Giveaway Link:
Excerpt:
Hidden in the shadows, Yara cracked her neck, left, then right, then carried on wrapping her hands with the protective cotton straps. After ensuring both her wrists, knuckles and thumbs were safely strapped, she pushed off the stool and stretched her calves. In the corner of her eye she saw Dyam, her vampire friend and brother-in-arms of sorts, leaning against the bar. His silky-smooth long hair and olive skin contrasted heavily against those of the other patrons, who were basically a bunch of supernatural, stinking low-lifes. His chocolate gaze briefly met hers. He gave her a quick nod, then returned his focus to the octagonal cage-like ring in the middle of the club. Yara roamed her eyes over the crowd and spotted her other co-pilot in the mission, the vamp Joel, standing a few feet from Dyam. Just like his counterpart, the royal bodyguard exuded a calm that was as reassuring as it was deceiving. Yara had no doubts that he was ready to pounce at anyone or anything to protect her.
About This Literary Chef:
I discovered I was addicted to the paranormal when I was quite young – I blame it on the super heroes. Damn you, Wonder Woman! That passion led me to a number of amateur theatre productions in my home town, then ultimately to a bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts.
It wasn’t very cool to spend five years working my ass off for no money. But, I have to say, it was then that I made my first attempts into the literary world. The first ones were writing children’s plays for my family’s language school. After a couple of blunders, I decided to translate Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream into a dancing and kicking play. It was so much fun that after that, let’s just say that I caught the bug.
Social Links:
Facebook page link – www.facebook.com/ellaj.phoenix
Twitter – twitter.com/ellajphoenix
Review: TRUE COLORS (The Masks Series #1)By: Melissa Pearl
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Reviews, YA Fiction on March 12, 2014
BLURB:
Caitlyn Davis always cruised through life, not being the type to ruffle feathers or involve herself in high school drama…until a chance encounter with a strange, homeless man changes everything.
Suddenly, Caitlyn has the ability to see behind people’s masks. She discovers that her life isn’t as simple as she imagined and her high school is filled with secrets…some very sinister ones.
Unable to ignore her new gift, Caitlyn embarks on a mission to learn why one of her friends now appears terrified, but masks her fear behind a bright, smiling veneer. Will Caitlyn’s new ability lead her into hot water? Or is her new found vision a blessing that will expose her friends’ true colors?
Her quest will lead Caitlyn to lose friends, stand up for those in need, and even find love.
At Palisades High School every face tells a story…
REVIEW:
The creative and beautiful cover for this novel is an exemplary example of what lies underneath.
I was immediately taken by the sweet and naïve heroine, as I was much like the young woman in my youth. After her true nature is tested, Caitlyn is given an unusual gift that jolts her face-first into reality. We all hide our true selves at some point, be it to spare feelings, or simply to protect our own. While Caitlyn was aware of how many times she had done this in the past, she had never considered someone hiding a dark agenda behind the façade. Being a pure soul, she soon finds herself unable to ignore her new talent, and follows her heart. Of course, the young tend to forget their mortality, which means danger is never too far behind.
This is an extraordinary YA novel with a wonderfully unique concept! It’s always a treat to discover a fresh story line with a superb cast of characters. The slight touch of romance is sweet and fitting, considering our hero and heroine, and beautifully written. Full of suspense, comedy, and the paranormal to boot, I highly recommend this novel to all YA fans! I cannot wait to read more from this splendid author!
WHERE TO FIND THIS LITERARY CHEF:
https://www.goodreads.com/MelissaPearl
http://melissapearl.blogspot.com/
TWITTER: @MelissaPearlG
This novel was provided to me via:
COVER REVEAL! LET LOVE BE By: Melissa Collins
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News on March 11, 2014
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000026_00037]](http://bookenthusiastpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/LLB_FrontCover.jpg)
Book Title:Let Love Be
Author: Melissa Collins
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date:April 7, 2014
Hosted by:Book Enthusiast Promotions
BLURB:
What would bring you happiness in a world that was suddenly empty?
For Lucy Crane, the answer is simple: her daughter. When her husband is killed in a tragic accident, Lucy loses her desire to live, but only one thing keeps her going – her unborn daughter. Focusing on being a mother helps Lucy cope with her loss, but kids grow up and they leave home, eventually. Eighteen years after losing her first and only love, Lucy is faced with the opportunity to find the happiness for which she’s always longed. Her own fears become her worst enemies as she learns how to embrace love once again.
Evan Donovan is also facing his own struggles. Forced to retire from the FDNY because of lung damage caused by 9/11, Evan moves to upstate New York where he hopes to find a little peace and quiet. Old habits die hard, and Evan’s hero complex and survivor’s guilt constantly remind him of how difficult it is to be vulnerable. But for the first time in his life, he’s tired of being alone.
Drawing strength from one another, Lucy and Evan discover how beautiful it is to let love be a part of their lives.
EXCERPT:
“Oh, I love this movie.” She settles on Forrest Gump as I grab my second slice.
“So, you already know about my history. What about you? Have you ever been married?” Forrest’s proposal to Jenny plays in the background.
“No. I mean, I’ve had a few relationships here and there, but work always got in the way. Staying single was somehow easier.”
“Same here. I mean, when Melanie was a kid, it was much easier to just focus on that part of my life.”
“Now?” I hazard a question that takes even me by surprise.
She puts her plate down on the coffee table and swallows back a large sip of water. “Now, I’m not so sure.”
Suddenly, my mind races with the possibilities of what her words mean. It’s crazy to think how just a few encounters with Lucy have made me re-evaluate my feelings. Obviously, she feels the same way. A calm and peaceful air falls on us as a small smile curls at my lips.
A comfortable silence fills the space as we watch the movie, recalling some memories when certain scenes come up.
Nothing prepares me for Lucy’s reaction when Jenny and Forrest get married and she tells him she’s sick. I try not to look at her, wanting to avoid making her feel like she’s in the spotlight or anything like that. I do notice a few stray tears streaking down her cheeks so I can only imagine what’s to come.
As we watch Forrest sitting beside Jenny’s grave, reading a letter from their son, Lucy reaches for a napkin. Clutching it to her chest, I can see her breathing rapidly. What were just a few tears earlier is now a steady stream. She doesn’t say anything, won’t even look at me, but I can’t watch her cry like this.
I shift on the small, overstuffed sofa and drape my arm around her. The top of her head fits perfectly into the crook of my shoulder. The scent of her hair takes over my senses; the sound of her softly sniffling through her tears tugs at my heart.
I alternate between squeezing her arm and tracing my fingers up over her shoulder. When she seems to have gathered her emotions, calming down a bit, my instincts take over and I act seemingly without thinking.
Or maybe I am thinking and I’m just afraid of what I’m thinking.
Gently pressing my lips to the top of her soft, brown hair feels like second nature. She tenses momentarily, and I realize I may have just overstepped my boundaries.
“Sorry about that.” I straighten in my seat and try to move my arm, but her fingers fall to my forearm. She looks up at me through long lashes with puffy, red eyes from crying.
“Don’t be.” Her voice is soft, angel-like. “It’s nice to be held.”
That piece of information prompts me to pull her even closer. “Well, I’m glad I could be of service.”
She laughs softly and then takes a deep breath before she shifts to move away from me, which just makes me pull her close once again. “Don’t,” planting another quick kiss to her head, “it’s nice to have someone to hold.”
Where To Meet This Literary Chef:
Melissa Collins has always been a book worm. Studying Literature in college ensured that her nose was always stuck in a book. She followed her passion for reading to the most logical career choice: English teacher. Her hope was to share her passion for reading and the escapism of books to her students. Having spent more than a decade in front of a classroom, she can easily say that it’s been a dream.
Her passion for writing didn’t start until more recently. When she was home on maternity leave in early 2012, she read her first romance novel and her head filled with the passion, angst and laughter of the characters who she read about it. It wasn’t long before characters of her own took shape in her mind. Their lives took over Melissa’s brain and The Love Series was born.
Web – www.melissacollinsauthor.com
Facebook – www.facebook.com/melissacollins.author
Twitter – @mcollinsauthor
Book Trailer:
Social Links:
Let Love Be
Let Love Shine
Let Love In
Let Love Stay
Let Love Heal
Purchase:
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000026_00037]](http://bookenthusiastpromotions.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/LLB_FullCover.jpg)
Review LINGERING ECHOES By Erica Kiefer @EricaRockKiefer
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Reviews, YA Fiction on March 1, 2014
Description
She’s broken with guilt.
He harbors a chilling past.
It’s safer if they keep their distance…
But, the echoes that linger connect them.
Returning to Hidden Pines is the last thing Allie Collins wants to do during her final summer before college. For her, the family cabin she spent her youthful summers in, now holds a dark memory that has haunted her every day for the last year.
While struggling to forget her past, Allie runs into Damien, a local rebel with secrets of his own. He’s dark, dangerous and he keeps showing up when Allie least expects him to. She has every reason not to trust him. So why does she find herself opening up to him in a way she hasn’t been able to with anyone?
As pieces of Damien’s identity emerge, answers to a rumored mystery begin to unfold. By the time Allie unearths the secrets of Damien’s past, she realizes just how intricately they are connected. Now she is caught in a dangerous battle that threatens her life and those she loves.
Review
I was absolutely captivated by this tragic, yet beautiful, novel.
Young love is such an adoring subject that never grows old for me, but this author has added a few exhilarating twists that will leave you unable to put this book down until the end. The personal demons that Allie and Damien fight are believable, as is their immediate reaction to choose solitude over solidarity to deal with the pain. The intense, gut wrenching suffering resonated more powerfully than I expected, which made me very emotional at times. The characters involved are entertaining, though I didn’t know who Allie could trust with each turn of the page. The author writes the perfect blend of mystery, romance, drama, and turmoil, making this remarkable tale a must read! I highly recommend this to all YA fans!
THE PREQUEL TO THIS NOVEL: FREE ON AMAZON AND B&N
Allie Collins wants nothing more than to forget the past and move beyond the recent death of her beloved cousin. If only it were that simple.
Upon returning for her senior year of high school, rumors quickly spread about the tragic summer accident that left the school’s star athlete grieving in the shadows. Now, the last thing Allie wants is the limelight. But the relentless pressure for normalcy from her friends and family leaves her with no choice but to surrender. Rejoining her basketball team and spending time with popular boys might seem like the perfect senior year, yet Allie struggles to embrace this identity that once came so naturally.
With the help of a special teacher, she learns that some things cut so deep, the scar lasts forever. Sometimes you can’t go back to the way things were, but must find the way to become who you are meant to be.
Still, tragedy is no stranger to Allie.
As the gossip swirls, influencing Allie’s every decision, the events that unfold will draw readers into a well of emotion in Rumor’s, a Lingering Echoes Novella.
Rumor’s is a prequel novella to the best selling book: Lingering Echoes by Erica Kiefer.
About the author:
Erica Kiefer was born on Christmas Eve in Southern California to an American father whose ancestors arrived from Europe during colonial times and a Thai mother who moved to the US during high school. Adding to her rich and varied heritage, Erica grew up living abroad in Asia, including Taiwan, Fiji, Thailand and Indonesia. She gained a great respect for the beautiful mosaic of cultures found in various parts of the world. After graduating from International School Bangkok, she attended Brigham Young University in Utah, where she earned a degree in Recreation Therapy. Her career as a Recreation Therapist has allowed her to work with at-risk youth since 2007.
Erica made the best decision of her life by marrying her husband in 2005 and is currently a mother of three, one of whom awaits her in heaven. Erica also loves singing, reading, writing, and satisfying her sweet-tooth with chocolate-chip cookies. Playing collegiate rugby was one of the most memorable experiences of her life, thus far.
Erica’s first book is titled Lingering Echoes, which was published by Clean Teen Publishing in November, 2013. Her newest release titled Rumors, was released in late December 2013 and is a prequel novella to Lingering Echoes.
Links
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RELEASE DAY BLITZ! THE HARDER I FALL By Jessica Gibson
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News on February 23, 2014
B&N Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-harder-i-fall-jessica-gibson/1118728685?ean=2940148271826
Becca Langer was not a normal girl, she didn’t have normal girl problems. For most of her life, she’s had to take care of herself, her younger brother Chad, and her drunk mother. She’s lived under the shadow of what her father did when she was ten years old. Forever branded by his actions.
College was her escape, she could get away and finally live. Her dream was to make it in the New York Ballet Company one day. That for her meant a long road full of hard work and dedication. She didn’t have time for distractions, and Levi Klein was definitely a distraction.
Will Levi be able to crack through her tough exterior and really see the wounded soul underneath? Becca needs to be loved, but the question is, will she let Levi love her?
Come to the Facebook Party Release Event!
Teaser
About Jessica Gibson
Jessica Gibson is a recovering bookaholic, she’s down from four books a week to a more reasonable one. It was that love of words and creativity that made her dream about writing her first book. That dream was hidden for years, always put on the back burner, filed away in the “someday” section, until her husband Matt gave her the kick in the pants she needed to actually get off her butt and write.
Jessica and Matt live in Southern California and have a serious addiction to reality tv shows like Pawn Stars and American Restoration. They have one son and hope to add to the family in the near future.
Aside from writing, she runs an online event planning business called the Release Day Diva. In addition to novels, Jessica writes and maintains the blog Book on the Bright Side. Keep up with Jessica and her latest releases and events on her blog.
Website Blog Facebook Twitter Goodreads
FREE KINDLE BOOKS!!
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News on February 5, 2014
Feb 5th
Free Kindle Books
Book Info
Click here to claim your free copy on Amazon today only!
Click here to claim your Free copy on Amazon today only!
Sale Only 99¢!!
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News on February 3, 2014
BLURB:
CATEGORY: ADULT
CONTAINS GRAPHIC LANGUAGE AND SEX.
The Earth’s atmosphere is swiss cheese. To avoid the oncoming oxygen crisis, black-sheep heiress, Maeve Aypotu, has been chemically suspended in one of the Archive’s plush, multi-million dollar chambers, located underground. Scientists claim they can patch everything up in about 15 years, so, just to be safe, the Archive programmed the chambers to open in 17 years.
And then, everything on Earth went wrong.
Up on the surface, Pluto has taken control of the planet, scorching away all signs of human civilization and reconstructing the environment to suit the Plutian’s lucrative dragon trade. Humans that survived weree forced to be laborers, divided into five Houses, each handling a different stage of the dragon harvest. Survival and repopulation have become a currency among the Houses. To make matters worse, Rha Diem, the rugged leader of the Fly House, has gotten word that the cost of existence just rose to a price that no human should have to pay. And now there is a whole Archive of survivors that will be expected to pay too.
Learning to trust one another may need to start small–with the fusion of one powerful Rha and one bad ass black sheep–before a damaged race can even hope to regain control of their alien Earth.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20332020-the-fly-house
Connected by the Sea (Hawaiian Crush Book One)
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Reviews on February 1, 2014
Blurb:
Sydney is attending University of Hawaii on Oahu where she’s majoring in Marine Biology. She loves her friends, her job, and her school. Since her ex-boyfriend cheated on her six months ago, she hasn’t moves onto anybody new yet. When Coen catches her eye, she’s immediately attracted to him in a very carnal way. She refused to let herself feel that way because he’s a heartbreaker just like her ex was. But when she’s called to her professor’s office because she’s asked to tutor someone, she doesn’t realize it’s Coen. Will he convince her that he really is boyfriend material or will he turn out just as she suspects?
Review:
This debut was a quick, romantic read!
Ah, to be young again! Sydney’s a sweet and very intelligent college student, that’s full of ambition. Her brilliant mind, academically, isn’t matched with common sense; however. She’s in denial about her best friend, too accepting about her “family”, and not aggressive enough with her own needs. I couldn’t help but like her, though, as she has a heart of gold and carries a tragic secret that would break a weaker person.
Coen’s my type of hero. A sexy bad-boy with a reputation was always my green flag, and I just love the quiet ones! The stories have a way of twisting into the worst thing imaginable, which leaves no room for the truth. In Coen’s case, he’s been pegged both right and wrong. I had fun as he revealed both the devil and angel inside of him to Sydney.
There were scenes that were sensually enticing, and some that were downright erotic. I was entertained, frustrated, and intrigued throughout. The ending satisfied a few things, but left plenty of room for more. I look forward to the rest of the series!
Book Links:
Connected by the Sea (Hawaiian Crush #1)
Author Link:
NEW RELEASE only 99¢
Posted by The Literary Melting Pot in Book News on January 31, 2014
Feuding with his houseguest’s brother and torn between worry and frustration over his twin, Slate MacCallister brings the rural doctor to his ranch in a record-breaking snow storm to save the boy Slate loves like a son.
Dr. Becky O’Donald is a city girl stuck in Nowhereville, Montana trying to hack down her massive student loan debt. Thrown into a medical nightmare by MacCallister and certain there is more going on with the lonely, melancholy Amelia, Becky is taken aback by the boy mirroring her host down to the dimple in his cheek.
Closeted on the sprawling ranch, surrounded by white, Becky fights the pull of the country life and the man exuding it.
Certain he’s with Amelia, the boy is his, and he’s lying about having a brother, Becky denies her heart. But how long can she hold out against the man who rides to her rescue and kisses her knees weak?
Link:
Spurs and Lace (Lonely Lace Series)
AUTHOR LINK:
The Literary Melting Pot 