January 10, 2015 by Caroline Barker

Promo with Guest Post on Publishing Tips ‘Frenzy’ and ‘Daniel Jones Doom’ (The Daniel Jones series, #1 & 2) by Mark King

Hi readers, we are all in for a treat with not only a promo of the post-apocalyptic Daniel Jones series by Mark King, but the author has very kindly written a guest post for us on publishing tips! You can find all info on Frenzy (Daniel Jones #1) and it’s sequel, Daniel Jones Doom, below with links, as well as an author bio. This series is certainly on my reading list for me to review later in the year. We hope you enjoy! – Caroline

Title: Frenzy (A Daniel Jones Story #1)

Author: Mark King

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic

Date released: March 1st, 2013

Published by: Book Guild Publishing

Length: 226 pages

Jacket Blurb:

Daniel leads a peaceful life with his family until he finds out a repulsive secret about the Over-seers, the ‘saviours of humanity’, and his security is blown to smithereens. He enters a world where death is the only certainty and quickly learns to kill – or be killed.

Enter Gwendolyn, with the charm of a snake and a bite that’s twice as dangerous. People skills aren’t her thing but she knows how to survive in a post-apocalyptic world; she’s a hotshot with a bow and arrow and can rustle up a mean rat soup.

Mary is the only person left alive over forty. She’s not too good at fighting but she knows where to find the one thing that could save their lives; the golden shield. Only Mary can remember life before the alien invasion, before humanity was brainwashed into following the procedures.

Pursued by the Over-seers, the Triclops and the barbaric hunters, can the three brave rebels triumph in their quest for the golden shield? The odds are stacked against them – hold tight for a white-knuckle ride through a landscape of devastation!

Back jacket extract:

Bang. Bang. Bang.

And the ground shook.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

And the ground shook with an almighty force.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

And the ground shook with such terrifying power that once again the soul of humanity would cry out in fear tonight.

Silence.

Frenzy (A Daniel Jones Story #1) by Mark King is available at Amazon UK and Amazon US. You can also check it out on Goodreads.

Title: Daniel Jones Doom (A Daniel Jones Story #2)

Author: Mark King

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic

Date released: December 12th, 2014

Published by: Rethink Press

Length: 238 pages

Blurb: Daniel’s peaceful life has been destroyed after discovering the hideous truth about the Over-seers – the new masters of humanity. Hiding in centuries-old flint mines from Hunters and from the terrifying Triclops machines, Daniel’s recurring nightmares lead him, once more, into danger. With mankind brainwashed under the false hope of a glorious new life in the Achievement Centre, he must return home through a devastated landscape to save his father from certain death.

Daniel reunites with two fellow fugitives – Mary and her young companion Gwendolyn – to undertake a rescue mission so dangerous that death is the only guarantee. Is it too late for Daniel’s family or is it too late for humanity itself? Daniel Jones DOOM, the exciting new sequel to FRENZY a Daniel Jones Story, is another fast-paced, engrossing chronicle of three rebels who once again risk their lives in a vividly depicted world peopled by memorable new and known characters.

Daniel Jones Doom (A Daniel Jones Story #2) by Mark King is available at Amazon UK and Amazon US. You can also check it out on Goodreads.

GUEST POST: Publishing Tips by Mark King

After the success of my debut book FRENZY a Daniel Jones Story and now with the release of the sequel Daniel Jones Doom I am asked by aspiring authors for advice on becoming published. I have found it’s a journey that has three distinct parts with each being as important as the others.

Stage one is getting the story out of your head and onto the laptop. I often come across people who have been writing on a manuscript for many years, but because of the daily trials, and tribulations, that life throws up it never quite gets finished. I decided in early 2010 to resign from a secure job leaving me just two years to fulfil my dream before I had to re-join the daily rat race. So set yourself a deadline and keep to it no matter what sacrifices you need to make or what gets in the way.

Stage two is getting a publisher or agent. All new authors are guilty of using the scatter gun approach; sending out reams of paper to dozens of publishers or individuals, and you will only end up propping up the stack of what is commonly known in the industry as the slush pile. With agents you are in a catch twenty two position because they are generally only interested in authors’ that are already published! Go to the local book shop and look at the shelves in which genre your book is based, and then note the relevant publishers. Carry out lots of research on these leads, and if the time is right one or two may be open for submissions. Ask yourself this question. If your manuscript is a science fiction based dystopian novel why bother sending it to Mills and Boon?

Stage three is the marketing and promotion of not only your book, but of yourself as an author. Hundreds of thousands of books are published every year around the world and all are trying to get noticed. I set up a blog called always-hanging-around to connect on a personal level with new people. I also had a professional photo shoot because when the media asked for interviews they also requested photos. I only had holiday snaps either with me pulling a funny face, or I had a drink in my hand. If all else fails then authors are lucky now to live in the age of the Internet and the opportunities that are offered by self-publishing. This option is very popular in the U.S.A and becoming more so in the U.K. and one well worth looking at. FRENZY a Daniel Jones Story and Daniel Jones DOOM are only the start of the journey for me as I now start on my third book in the Daniel Jones series, and if you keep my three points in mind then hopefully too you can follow the same path.

Author bio:

Mark King is a free spirit, lover of life, family, friendships, good food, and travel. He lives in Norwich in the county of Norfolk in the U.K. It’s one of Britain’s most historic cities and a hub for present day literature. Author of the internationally acclaimed book Frenzy a Daniel Jones Story and the sequel Daniel Jones Doom; Mark is also the writer of the world-wide blog at www.always-hanging-around.blogspot.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @author_king and on Google +. Mark is now working on the third book in the Daniel Jones series.

January 10, 2015 by Caroline Barker

Promo with excerpt Revelation: The Todor Trilogy #1 by Jenna Newell Hiott

Title: Revelation: The Todor Trilogy, Book One

Author: Jenna Newell Hiott

Genre: Fantasy

Book Synopsis:

Do you love fantasy adventures? Let Revelation take you on a magical journey that will leave you questioning your own reality.

>>>”Careful, this book is addictive.”

In a land where magic was created through the spilling of blood, turmoil is looming. Grief and despair flood the land of Todor, and its creators–the omniscient Deis–consider destroying it altogether. That is, until a single spot of joy attracts their attention: the idyllic village of Aerie. Believing in the hope found there, the Deis give Todor one more chance. They place three infants within this village who are unknowingly tasked with ending Todor’s suffering and saving all creation.

˃˃˃ “You will fall in love with these characters!”

As the three chosen ones grow, they discover that their beloved village is a haven of secrets, and nothing is as they believe. Can Gemynd, Soman, and Numa move beyond the secrets of Aerie in order to learn the truth about themselves and the world they thought they knew? With impending war, passionate love, and the heartbreak of separation facing them at every turn, will they do what is required to save Creation?

˃˃˃ “Newell Hiott’s gripping style of writing completely immerses the reader in the story.”

An imaginative fantasy debut from Jenna Newell Hiott, Revelation combines intrigue, passion, and magic to create a mythic tale like no other. The first book in the epic Todor trilogy, Revelation introduces readers to a unique fantasy realm, intelligent and layered with hidden truths, it will stay with you long after you’ve read the last page.

Author Bio:

Author, healer, all-around kook, Jenna Newell Hiott boasts of having a limitless imagination, unless it’s nap time. While many of us had an imaginary friend as children, Jenna had an entire imaginary family—complete with a second set of parents and three siblings—all of whom lived in a make-believe world of Jenna’s own creation. One could say she’s been writing fantasy fiction since she was old enough to use words. And she never outgrew it. Out of this hyperactive imagination, Jenna created the land of Todor: a world of magic, intrigue, and power plays.

Links:

http://www.facebook.com/jennanewellhiottauthor

http://www.twitter.com/jennahiott

http://www.jennanewellhiott.com

http://www.amazon.com/Jenna-Newell-Hiott/e/B00J90PD9U/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7696427.Jenna_Newell_Hiott

EXCERPT

“One of the most important laws of Todor that we must follow has to do with the building we’re sitting in right now. Do any of you know why this is called the Wishing Hut?”

Numa shook her head and saw that Soman and Gemynd shook theirs as well. Gemynd glanced at her and the look in his eyes seemed to say ‘now we’re going to find out the real secrets of Aerie.’

“The legend says that many thousands of years ago the ancients came to this very spot because they believed it had the power to grant wishes. Of course, there was no hut on the land then. There was no Aerie either. Just the Baldaquin tree, the waterfall and that piece of rock sticking out of the ground,” Keeper Clary said, pointing at the ground in the back of the room.

Numa looked and saw that underneath the lowest shelf on the furthest wall was a jagged piece of clear rock. It looked like a large, colorless jewel. And it was plain to see that this was only the very top of the rock. The rest of it was buried beneath the ground.

“I never noticed that before,” Soman said.

“Me neither!” Gemynd agreed as he ran across the room to inspect it.

“The ancients believed that rock had very special powers,” Keeper Clary said.

“What kind of powers?” Gemynd said.

“The power to grant wishes. They would come from all over Todor to perform the wishing ritual wherein they would spill their blood upon the rock as they wished for their greatest desires.”

“You mean there’s ancient blood on it?” Soman asked and got up to join Gemynd at the rock.

Keeper Stout chuckled. “Most likely the blood was worn off long ago,” he said. “Now, please join us back over here. Elder Keeper has more to explain.”

“What did the ancients wish for?” Gemynd asked as he sat back down.

“Such a smart boy,” Keeper Clary remarked. “You ask just the right questions.”

Numa gave Gemynd a smile, feeling proud to know the boy who impressed the Elder Keeper. “He always asks all the questions,” she said.

“To answer this one, I am certain the ancients wished for many things. But there were four in particular that are important to us today. One of them came to the rock and wished for a simple life filled with Peace and Joy. Another came and wished for great physical strength while the third wished for superior intelligence. The fourth wished to be able to have control over all of nature itself. And do you know what happened?” Keeper Clary asked and Numa found herself utterly mesmerized. She’d never heard a tale such as this one. “Their wishes all came true.”

Gemynd jumped to his feet again. “I’m going to wish that my father was still here,” he announced and ran back to the rock.

“Gemynd, stay here, please,” Keeper Stout scolded.

Numa didn’t want to get scolded, but she secretly began thinking about what she would wish for as soon as she got the chance.

“The powers of the rock were all used up that day and it no longer grants wishes,” Keeper Clary said and Numa felt her shoulders sag with disappointment. “But the remarkable thing that happened was that those ancients created new races of people. The people who wished for a simple life and those who wished for special powers. And these races divided Todor into regions.”

Numa scrunched up her face and looked to Gemynd to help her make sense of what Keeper Clary was saying. But Gemynd just shrugged and looked as confused as Numa.

“The region of Todor that Aerie is in is called the region of Terrenes,” Keeper Clary continued. “Terrenes are ordinary people-the people who wished for a simple life, just like the people you know in Aerie. But outside of the region of Terrenes live people who have special abilities; abilities that go beyond what a normal person can do. These powers are called glinting. As you grow, it is possible that one or more of you will begin to glint. If this happens, do not be afraid. It is a marvelous thing to be a glinter, or so I am told. If you discover this about yourself, simply come to Keeper Stout and tell him about it. You will then be sent to a special school where you will be trained on how to use your powers. And here is the most important thing to remember: it is against the law of Todor for glinters to live in the region of Terrenes, which includes Aerie. So, if you find that you are a glinter, you may choose to return to Aerie after your training only if you vow to never use your glinting powers. Anyone who glints in Aerie is banished. Now, surely you must have some questions.”

Numa stared wide-eyed at the Keeper and noticed that her mouth had fallen open.

“Are you a glinter, Keeper Clary?” she heard Gemynd ask, though it sounded far away.

“I am a member of Aerie,” he replied simply.

“Are any of the other people I know really glinters?” Gemynd asked.

“All the people you know are members of Aerie and there is no glinting allowed here,” came the reply.

Numa felt dizzy and was only vaguely aware of being ushered from the Wishing Hut to the Meeting Yard to join the feast. She felt disoriented and confused as she was seated between her friends at the head table. Platters of food were placed on the table and there was a swirling of colors before her as dancers glided and spun to music that seemed to be coming from the sky itself. All the things she had learned that day buzzed through her mind. The mine tunnel. The Laws of Todor. Glinting. It was all too much to take in. She looked around, trying desperately to find a familiar face to focus on, but it felt as though she was seeing it all for the very first time.

“Glinting,” Soman murmured next to her. “I guess there really was a big secret we didn’t know.”

Numa looked to Gemynd to make sense of it all. For seven years she had counted on him to be the voice of reason, to figure everything out for her. But now she saw only a far off gaze in his eyes.

“Nothing is what it seems,” he whispered.

January 9, 2015 by Caroline Barker

Review Newly released: Playing the Field (Duty & Desire #4) by C.J. Pinard

Playing the Field (Duty & Desire #4) by C.J. Pinard

FRESHLY RELEASED January 15th, 2015, contemporary military romance/chick-lit

Blurb: An overachiever in uniform…

Jace Lawless is an overachiever, a go-getter, and determined to accomplish everything he sets his mind to. After serving his country in the U.S. Marine Corps, and receiving his college degree, he’s picked up by a popular minor league baseball team, all while continuing his service in the USMC reserves.

When Jace meets a beautiful, breathtaking single mother named Miranda Cates, it takes him by surprise. Her shady past and beautiful little girl are the conundrum that both confuses and fascinates Jace. He can’t tear his thoughts away from Miranda, and eventually he believes he can win her over with his dimpled smirk and witty charms.

Once Miranda becomes his, the part of him she hated the most – the part he had kept secret from her for so long – rears its ugly head. Will Miranda lean on her friend Cara for support while staying by his side once he tells her that duty is calling… or will she decide she can’t handle it and take her daughter and leave?

Playing the Field is the fourth and final installment of the Duty & Desire series. Contains adult situations and minor scenes of war.

REVIEW

After reading Book 3, Boots Beneath My Bed (Miranda’s Story), Playing the Field goes hand-in-hand as the final story of this sweet, contemporary, military romance series focuses on Jace’s point of view, his background with the U.S. Marine Corps and minor league baseball team, as well as his strong feelings for Miranda. If you’re looking for a refreshing, cheeky, fun and romantic read then this is a series for you!

From early on in the story the reader has a sense of just how much baseball and the Marines mean to Jace. As well as both being an enjoyment of his, he is also incredibly talented at both and his skills are noticed. They both play a huge role in his life, but it could all be about to change with Miranda about to enter it.

Not a fan of a military man, as she has been let down more than once, Miranda makes it clear to Jace that she would never date another! This leaves Jace wondering when he should let her know of his background. You can sense his genuine worry of losing her if she found out but knows that she has to know. How can he make her see his point and that he isn’t a player?

We learn that despite Jace’s macho appearance and strong masculinity, he is actually a rather sweet hottie. He is considerate towards Miranda, and yet has the self respect to follow his dream and remain with the Marines until his contract is up at least! But will he be able to convince Miranda to stay with him?

It isn’t too long before Jace realises his feelings for his ex, Samantha, were nothing compared to how he loves Miranda. Not only does he absolute love her delectable, curvaceous body, he also admires her strong will. Yes, Miranda holds his heart both physically and emotionally. And, he also adores her young daughter, Ashlynn, and has a strong sense that he can’t let these ladies out of his life.

Although his relationship is the core of the story, Jace is also tackling nightmares from when he was once deployed. The author writes with such care over these dark and serious events, and yet still manages to keep the read, as a whole, light. As the story continues some of these events are more frequent and add more power as the reader begins to see just how much the Marines mean to Jace, and also how he doesn’t want it to affect a life he longs for with Miranda. This could be one of the biggest battles he has ever had!

Playing the Field is a delight to read and, as the whole series has been, very refreshing! Fans of Duty & Desire books 1 and 2 will also be pleased to hear that Cara and Riley also have an appearance in Playing the Field, as the author carries on a little of their storyline too and how their relationship affect Miranda and Jace (Cara being Miranda’s best friend, and Riley a military man himself with a story to tell of his own). Yes, to thoroughly enjoy I would strongly recommend that the series be read as a whole, as these lives intertwine and each book is from a different perspective. They fit together superbly well and you truly get to see all angles. What a way to honour the military and their families, C.J.!

A copy of Playing the Field (Duty & Desire #4) was provided by the author in return for an honest and fair review.

Playing the Field is available at Amazon US and Amazon UK.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

You can also find Books 1 & 2 available!

Patriotic Duty (Duty & Desire 1) series previously entitled ‘When Riley Met Cara’

Blurb: Newly divorced party girl Cara Reid just wants to have fun. Much too young to even be a divorcee, she and her bestie, Miranda, set off to have fun and maybe a few casual hookups and live life. One night at a military bar, Cara meets Riley Forrester, a hot Army soldier who makes her melt with one look of his deep ocean blue eyes. But Riley is only staying the summer in California and then has to go back to Colorado when it’s over. Cara tells herself he’s just a summer fling and is determined to enjoy herself and let him go once the summer is over. But when Riley receives orders he wasn’t expecting, she’s forced to make a decision on whether she’s going to be there for him when he gets back, or move on with her life. What she wasn’t expecting was to fall so hard for the beautiful soldier boy, and now she’s faced with accepting her feelings or letting him go.

For readers 18+. Contains adult content.

Our review link

Amazon US link – currently FREE (please be aware prices are subject to change)

Amazon UK link – currently FREE (please be aware prices are subject to change)

Tour of Duty (Duty & Desire #2)

Blurb: Army Sergeant Riley Forrester knew all about love, loss, and pain. He knew the love of a woman just to lose it. He had spent the best summer of his life with a beautiful single mother named Cara Reid, and then desperately needed her love to get him through a long, cold deployment. When things went horribly wrong overseas, he decided it was best to let Cara go and let her move on with her life. Cara wouldn’t be forgotten that easily, though. She had seeped her way into his heart and his dreams, and Riley knew he’d never love another like her. Contains adult content, for readers 18 and older. Also contains minor scenes of war.

Our review link

Amazon US link

Amazon UK link

Boots Beneath My Bed (Miranda’s Story) (Duty & Desire #4)

Blurb: Miranda Cates finally graduates from college and is excited to begin her dream career in law enforcement. After the final betrayal and heartbreak of her college boyfriend, Chris, she moves back home with a firm plan in place for her life.

However, the life she has carefully mapped out for herself takes a serious left turn. Miranda finds she not only has to be strong for herself, but for the daughter who hadn’t been part of her plan.

Determined to still believe in true love, life throws Miranda one more wicked curveball. She meets Jace Lawless, a hot minor league baseball player, whose warm aqua eyes and big dimple have her unraveling her carefully laid plans. A man who may be just be too good to be true.

Boots Beneath My Bed (Miranda’s Story) is book 3 in the Duty & Desire series, and while it is recommended to read the books in order, it’s not necessary.

Our review link

Amazon US link

Amazon UK link

AUTHOR LINKS

If you would like to contact C.J. Pinard you can reach her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CJPinardAuthor or you can e-mail her at cjpinardauthor@gmail.com.

January 9, 2015 by Caroline Barker

Promo Hunter’s Haven by Linda Thackeray

Title: Hunter’s Haven

Author: Linda Thackeray

Genre: Dystopian/Action

Publication Date: December 25, 2014

Blurb: After taking revenge on a drug lord and his crew for murdering his sister, John Hunter is a wanted man. It’s 2030 and in the aftermath of the great plague, John makes his way to Haven, craving sanctuary and peace but instead runs into a rogue religious group who wants to play God even as they run rife with corruption. But they haven’t counted on meeting big bad John who’s meaner than they could ever be. And just when they think they’ve put him out of their misery, he’s resurrected from his hospital bed and hell hath no fury like a hunter scorned…who’s become a devil with a cause!

HUNTER’S HAVEN is an action packed thriller that grabs you by the throat and won’t let go until the end of the book. To miss this incredible adventure would be criminal! Get your copy today and enjoy the read of a lifetime

Author Info:

Linda Thackeray is a freelance writer who has only started to self-publish in 2014. When she isn’t writing, she works in the publication of safety standards at a recognized national body. Linda has been writing in numerous genres over the past twenty years, including science-fiction, romance, dystopian and fantasy.

At present, she is working on republishing the very first book she ever wrote ‘Children of the White Star’ while a sequel to the Avalyne series is being edited. She will soon begin work on the second part to ‘The Guardian’ series.

In her spare time, she is an active member of the Author’s Cave, writes reviews on Amazon and also indulges in the occasional Play By Email Role Playing Game. She lives in the coastal town of Woy Woy, meaning Big Water, in New South Wales, Australia with her long-haired ginger cat named Newt and spends more than normal time thinking bout Michael Fassbender.

Website address: http://www.scribe31oz.com/Originals.htm

Twitter: @Scribe31oz

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Scribee31oz

Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/lindathackeray

Book link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QF9OAJM

January 8, 2015 by Tina Williams

RELEASE BLTZ ~ Reining Men The Boot Knockers Ranch, book 3, by Em Petrova

Erotic MMF Romance

18+/Adult read

I had the pleasure of reading Pushin’ Buttons, the first book in The Boot Knockers Ranch series and believe me it is hot, darn hot! Em Petrova’s Reining Men, book 3 in the series looks just as sizzling. Scroll down to check out the blurb and read an excerpt! Tina 🙂

There’s no escaping ranch policy—anything to please a lady…

The Boot Knockers Ranch, Book 3

The Boot Knockers Ranch caters to women in all ways. And now rookie Paul is officially part of the team. He’s had six months to hone his skills with the ladies and prides himself on being a prime catch.

Jack would agree. He can’t get the rugged cowboy out of his system. He wants Paul in his bed more than anything, but his best friend has always been resistant to relations with other men. Jack’s instinct says different, but he values Paul’s friendship too highly to push it.

Then Jack takes on beautiful new client Lissy Lofton and finds himself falling hard for the confident show jumper. He’s not the only one. Lissy has caught Paul’s attention, and the attraction is mutual.

But now Jack has a problem. Lissy’s sexual appetite is so ravenous, he doubts he can last the week without backup. Which presents an irresistible opportunity to invite Paul into their bed—where the incandescent heat brings all their walls tumbling down.

Warning: Contains two smoking-hot cowboys whose drive to please the same woman spurs a desire to please each other.

Excerpt of REINING MEN

Rated ADULT, HOT, GET THE FAN AND GRAB YER PARTNER

“This lower lip is as ripe as a juicy peach. And this upper one”—he dragged his thumb over the rounded edges—“is a man’s wet dream.”

And she planned to take total advantage and make the big fee worth it.

His lashes lowered over smoldering eyes the color of sea glass. As a child she’d gathered the remnants from the beach and kept them in a little wooden box her parents had given her. What had happened to that collection?

Who cared? Now she had a new kind of sea glass to admire.

Jack tipped closer until the brim of his hat bumped her forehead. With a warm chuckle, he nudged it up. “Hat on or off, Lissy?”

Her mind bounced around the question. What did she want her first kiss to be like? He was allowing her to choose her path. Her heart swelled with the knowledge of her own power.

“On,” she whispered, her voice a stranger’s.

He angled his head, nose brushing hers. She filled her lungs with his scent—leather, man, hay. All the things she adored clinging to one perfect cowboy.

Em Petrova lives in Backwoods, Pennsylvania, where she raises four kids and a Labradoodle named Daisy Hasselhoff. Her dream is to buy an old pickup and travel small-town USA meeting people and hearing their stories. Her heroes are hardworking—in bed and out—and she is known for panty-scorching erotic romance.

Website Goodreads Amazon Author Page Blog FB Fan Page Twitter

January 7, 2015 by Tina Williams

REVIEW – Taken by the Sheikh (Boxed Set), by Christina Phillips, Mel Teshco and Cathleen Ross

Erotic Contemporary Romances

Sheer Indulgence! *****

Three Desert Sheikhs, three captive brides……

Bound by duty to honor their father’s dying wish, three royal brothers must marry their destined brides… by whatever means necessary…

One of my Top Reads for 2014

This boxed set was just what I needed to combat the cold winter nights, containing not one but THREE desert hotties to fulfill my fantasies.… I really liked the overarching plot which linked the three stories and characters together. Also kudos to the authors for exploring the cultural differences between the heroes and their three chosen brides and the self-sacrifices those in their position are expected to make for their country. Of course the scorching love making scenes, of which there are many (frantically fanning self) were also a definite plus! Scroll down for the book blurbs and for my reviews. Tina 🙂

Book Blurb

Book 1: Hostage to the Sheikh ~ Mel Teshco

Sheikh Shahzad Salah al Din doesn’t have time for hearts and flowers, not when his parents’ bodies are barely even cold in their graves and his country, Omana, is on the brink of revolt. He has to secure peace by honoring a long ago arrangement to make English rose, Lexi Galvin, his wife. The trouble is strong-willed Lexi isn’t aware of her royal Arab lineage let alone her destiny. There is only one way Shahzad can guarantee she will be his queen … and he isn’t above using force to get it.

Book 2: The Sheikh’s Mistaken Bride ~ Christina Phillips

In order to secure a powerful alliance for his country, Khalid has no choice but to marry a neighboring princess. It’s not what he wants, but duty must come before pleasure. Yet when he meets the beautiful Sanura he changes his mind… only to discover the virgin in his bed is not his destined bride.

Book 3: Sold to the Sheikh ~ Cathleen Ross

He’d paid a fortune for his bride and he was determined to collect, whether she liked it or not. Rafi Salah al Din doesn’t trust easily. In charge of security for his country Omana, he devotes his life to duty. With his parents murdered it is his duty to stabilize his country by finding his parents’ assassin, marry and produce a son to ensure the Salah al Din line lives on. So why does the wife he bought disagree?

My Reviews

Sheer Indulgence!

Erotic Contemporary Romances

Book 1: Hostage to the Sheikh ~ Mel Teshco *****

Mel Teshco’s Hostage to the Sheikh kicks off this sheikh love fest: To secure peace for his beloved homeland and the continuation of his dynasty Shahzad prepares to do his duty and marry the woman selected for him. I loved how bowled over he is by the very sight of Lexi, his unsuspecting bride, who is so refreshingly different to the women he is used to. Observing Lexi from afar he realises that she may not come quietly, and I loved the masterful way he kidnaps her in an emotionally charged and oh so sexy scene! Please note that I am particularly fond of the captor/captive romantic fantasy, where the kidnapper turns out to be ‘the one!’

What follows is a delightfully written tale of seduction amongst the desert sands, where Shahzad tries to convince Lexi to accept her fate. I loved the fact that although she is equally attracted to Shahzad and goes along enthusiastically with their lovemaking, she is no pushover. Indeed, unhappy about being kidnapped and being totally unaware of her Arab lineage, let alone any marriage contract, Lexi has an awful lot to contemplate. This does not prevent the couple from enjoying some sizzling smexing! With a plot that also includes possible threats from rebels and deceit and you have an exciting, emotional and nail biting read.

Book 2: The Sheikh’s Mistaken Bride ~ Christina Phillips *****

Christina Phillips excels at writing erotic romances where the reader experiences each and every emotion felt by the hero and heroines and this was no exception. There are so many emotional ups and downs in this story: one minute I was wiping a tear from my eyes and the next I was immersed in yet another scorching scene between the hero and heroine.

Khalid is my favourite hero from this series, as he is passionate, caring and impetuous. For me fact that he is half French just added to the attraction! At one point however, I did want to smack him, for although he is a real hottie and it is clear he loves Sanura, he does not excel in how he deals with the situation once he realises that he has mistaken Sanura for his bride! Fortunately Sanura is a strong heroine and I really liked how she stood her ground as the tale progressed. I felt Sanura’s heartache but also Khalid’s turmoil too, torn between burgeoning love and duty. Just what is a sheikh to do? I won’t give anything away but I was pleased with how the dilemma resolved itself and loved the dynamics of Khalid and Sanura’s relationship!

Book 3: Sold to the Sheikh ~ Cathleen Ross *****

This read has one of the hottest opening scenes I have ever read, in which the hero and heroine first meet and I was immediately hooked! The way the very dominant Rafi apprehends and abducts May is supremely erotic and I also loved how she tries her best to resist him, despite her attraction. She is desperate to remain in the West for reasons that become clearer as the story progresses. However, the methods Rafi chooses to seduce all her uncertainties away are supremely divine!

Neither Rafi or May are all that they first appear to each other and I enjoyed finding out about them as they revealed themselves to each other not just physically but emotionally as the story progresses. It becomes evident that they have a lot more in common that they first thought. May in particular has a troubled past and I could empathise with her actions.

Rafi is the serious younger brother who blames himself for the death of his parents and who takes his role as head of security very seriously. Although there are certainly a lot of erotic scenes, there is also a lot of action in this story, as the overarching plot is brought to its conclusion and the main characters from all three books are brought together at the end.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

A copy of this boxed set was given to me for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Connect with the Authors

Mel: Facebook Twitter

Christina: Facebook Twitter

Cathleen: Facebook Twitter

Capture Taken by the Sheikh at the special low introductory price of $0.99 for six weeks only!

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January 6, 2015 by Caroline Barker

Double Promo ‘Forgotten’ and ‘Arranged’ by Catherine McKenzie

We are delighted to be working with Catherine McKenzie this year, Canadian author of Spin and Spun (novella sequel to full novel, Spin) – both of which are on my review list, as well as her Forgotten, and due for release on February 1st, Arranged, which is to be reviewed by Tina. These contemporary romance/chick-lit novels have been translated into French, Portuguese, and several other languages, and are international bestsellers, as well as being freshly released in the UK!

Please find below information for Forgotten and Arranged, with links for further details, and a short bio on the author.

Caroline xx

FORGOTTEN

When everyone thinks you’re dead, how do you start your life over again?

Emma Tupper, a young lawyer with a bright future, sets out on a journey after her mother’s death: to Africa, a place her mother always wanted to visit. But her mother’s dying gift has unexpected consequences. Emma falls ill during the trip and is just recovering when a massive earthquake hits, turning her one-month vacation into a six-month ordeal.

When Emma returns home, she’s shocked to find that her friends and colleagues believed she was dead, that her apartment has been rented to a stranger and that her life has gone on without her. Can Emma pick up where she left off? Should she? As Emma struggles to recreate her old life, everyone around her thinks she should change: her job, her relationships, and even herself. But does she really want to sacrifice everything she’s working so hard to gain?

“McKenzie has created a charming character in Emma, witty, extraordinarily level-headed, and blessed with grace under fire in the most trying of circumstances. Forgotten is the story of one young women’s life, broken down, reconstructed, and forever altered. It is an endearing story of discovery and transformation and the importance of turning lemons into lemonade.”— BOOKLIST

For more info on Forgotten please check out the following links:

Goodreads

Amazon UK

Amazon US

ARRANGED

Anne Blythe has a great life: a good job, good friends, and a potential book deal for her first novel. When it comes to finding someone to share it with, however, she just can’t seem to get it right.

After yet another relationship ends, Anne comes across a business card for what she thinks is a dating service, and she pockets it just in case. When her best friend, Sarah, announces she’s engaged, Anne can’t help feeling envious. On an impulse, she decides to give the service a try because maybe she could use a little assistance in finding the right man. But Anne soon discovers the company isn’t a dating service; it’s an exclusive, and pricey, arranged marriage service. She initially rejects the idea, but the more she thinks about it-and the company’s success rate-the more it appeals to her. After all, arranged marriages are the norm for millions of women around the world, so why wouldn’t it work for her?

A few months later, Anne is travelling to a Mexican resort, where in one short weekend she will meet and marry Jack. And against all odds, it seems to be working out-until Anne learns that Jack, and the company that arranged their marriage, are not what they seem at all.

“With good dialogue, three-dimensional characters, and page-turning scenes, McKenzie expertly explores what makes a successful marriage work and the lengths to which some people will go to find true love.” –Publisher’s Weekly

For more information on Arranged please click on the following links:-

Goodreads

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Author Bio:

A graduate of McGill University in History and Law, Catherine practices law in Montreal, where she was born and raised. An avid skier and runner, Catherine’s novels, SPIN, ARRANGED, FORGOTTEN and HIDDEN, are all international bestsellers. She is currently working on her fifth novel, SMOKE, slated for release in 2015. Her novels have been translated into French, German, Portuguese Czech, Slovak and Polish. And if you want to know how she has time to do all that, the answer is: robots.

Website: www.catherinemckenzie.com

January 5, 2015 by Tina Williams

REVIEW ~ Mr X, by Clarissa Wild

Obsession and Dark Love

18+/Adult Read

Author Note: This is not your average romance story. Some people will kill for love.

He’s come to kill me. I’m a user and abuser of my own body. In my darkest hour I sold my soul to the devil and now I must pay the price. With his gun to my head I have no choice but to listen and obey, but I refuse to go down easily. Nothing is stronger than the will to survive. My instincts kicked into full gear the second he stepped into my motel room.Except when I look at him I see my own heart staring back at me. A history tainted by blood.I don’t know his name, but I know he wants me. To save myself I’ll sacrifice my sanity. My body. My soul. Something tells me the x-shaped scar that marks his eye is the only escape I have. He is Mr. X: the man who comes to claim my life. Can I save myself before he demands my heart?

WARNING: This book contains very disturbing situations, dubious consent, breath deprivation, strong language, drugs and alcohol, and graphic violence.

My Review *****

Obsession and Dark Love

18+ Read. No cliffhanger. Stand Alone

Mr X is a compulsive and scorching dark read about two broken individuals! ‘X’, the hero (or should I say anti-hero), is contracted to kill the heroine Jay, a drug addict, who works at a seedy pole dancing club and who sells sexual favours to feed her addiction.

Jay can remember little of her life before she became addicted to drugs and has no idea who could hate her so much to have her killed. However, she has a strong will to survive and sees that her kidnapper is attracted to her despite himself, and she is willing to submit and sacrifice all to live. At first she is restrained by the physical bonds he puts on her but soon she is also bound to him by the realisation that this violent and twisted man is the only one who just may be able to save her, and she could well lose her heart in the process.

X delights in the suffering of others and enjoys the power he wields over his victims as he takes their lives. He has a heartbreaking and totally f****d up past and a terrifying appearance, including an x shaped scar marking his right eye from which he gets his name. He is gobsmacked when he finds out that his latest hit is someone with whom he has a shared past, a woman who he desires like no other but who he wants to make suffer.

He despises Jay for the part that she played in his past and hates that she does not remember her actions or even recognise him. As Jay surrenders her body and soul to this violent and dominant monster in an attempt to survive, her memories begin to resurface and she wonders if she does indeed deserve redemption. Questions arise about who has put a contract on her head and who has played a part in making her what she is. There are twists and turns a plenty as the past is unravelled and their future is threatened.

The novel is written in the alternating POV of Jay and X, which is highly effective as we are able to witness scenes from both perspectives and experience first hand their emotions. There are also some flashbacks which shed light on their shared history. The novel contains much blood, violence (including sexual violence) and gore and some of the scenes I found ‘Tarantinoesque’. If you are looking for a dark, twisted, erotic read than this is a book I definitely recommend!

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Buy Links

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Connect with the Author

Author’s Blog

Facebook

January 4, 2015 by Caroline Barker

REVIEW Drug (The Kassidy Bell trilogy #1) by Lynda O’Rourke

“…. I….feel like I’m in a bad dream…. like I’ve stepped out of reality and into hell.”

A book I was so excited to read, paranormal thriller DRUG (The Kassidy Bell trilogy #1), certainly didn’t disappoint, with surprises around every corner! With plenty of horror elements I am certain Drug will be a story loved and feared by many. And as it is Lynda O’Rourke’s début, I cannot wait to see what else she has in store for us!!

Blurb: Out of work and out of luck, 19 year-old Kassidy Bell finds herself in desperate need of money.

Coming across a mysterious advert in her local newspaper offering a reward, Kassidy believes she’s found the answer to her prayers.

But Kassidy soon realises that if something is too good to be true then it usually isn’t what it first appears to be. Finding herself in a desperate situation, Kassidy realises that she must run if she is to escape the new horrors she has discovered however great the reward might be.

REVIEW

I LOVED Drug, as I am sure many paranormal thriller fans and horror fans will! Volunteering to test a drug in return for money, Kassidy goes to Cruor Pharma, meets the staff and the other volunteers and starts the trial. It isn’t too long before the nightmare kicks in and Kassidy’s adventure of hell begins! If you’re looking for a book packed with panic, horror, demons and the paranormal, and blood and gore, then you have reached your destination!

Lynda O’Rourke hasn’t left out any excitement or thrills. For the first book of a trilogy, Drug is amazing. Lynda has jumped straight into the story and action after the reader has been acquainted with Kassidy and her circumstances.

After losing her father, Kassidy (19) is left alone and owing debts passed down from her father. Without work she is desperately in need of money. After seeing the newspaper ad for volunteers to test a drug, VA20, in return for £2,000, Kassidy had to take the opportunity.

Upon her arrival at Cruor Pharma, Kassidy begins to have doubts whether she is doing the right thing or not, as do some of the other volunteers. As they introduce themselves to each other they begin to reassure each other, especially young hottie, Jude! This puts Kassidy at ease for a while as they all prepare for their treatment. Some of the staff seem a little cold and direct, while Doctor Fletcher (also another hottie!), appears friendlier and more accommodating.

The volunteers are expecting to be in Ward 2 overnight and then be off home the following day. But, over the course of the following hours events are not to be as expected. And the horror begins…

The volunteers are advised to rest once they have had their dose of VA20, but for some of them they sense that the atmosphere isn’t right. There is something heavy in the air and sleep is the last thing on Kassidy’s mind. In a matter of minutes the unexplainable happens and the ward becomes a battle scene. It becomes clear that some of them, if any, won’t survive. What the hell is going on? They need to escape, but it’s clear that some of the staff are a part of what’s happening. The only way out is further through the old hospital building and through the dreaded Ward 1!

Just like watching a horror movie, there are creepy and eerie scenes which build up great suspense before the action, gore and bloody mess scenes take place. Lynda O’Rourke sets the mood perfectly.

“I slipped off the bed, tiptoeing toward the curtain, trying to keep my drip from squeaking. Fear raced through my body in contractions. My hand shook as I lifted my arm, reaching out for the curtain. I gasped in air as I pinched the fabric between my thumb and forefinger.

“Don’t do it,” hissed May, her blanket now just below her eyes.”

And again, later, when some of the volunteers have to keep their wits about them from whatever it is that’s after them – it’s like a scene from The Walking Dead, as the author describes the tension and complete awareness that the survivors must have to keep going:

“Pushing open the door, we followed Jude down the corridor. I wished I had another set of eyes in the back of my head. I was constantly checking over my shoulder at the barred windows and the ceiling for any signs of more bloody handprints. My ears were on constant alert. I flinched at every little noise and gasped at shadows flickering through the windows onto the brick walls.”

Kassidy is given a glimmer of hope in the way of Doctor Fletcher. He is warm and friendly and the volunteers take to him easily. Aside from Kassidy he is my favourite character. He, by and large, goes out of his way to help Kassidy, but at the same time has to hide this from his peers. There are moments when his character changes momentarily which cloud doubt to his trustworthiness, but then why is helping at all? His character is full of mystery and is changeable, but this makes him complex and interesting, as well as keeps the reader guessing!

Escaping Cruor Pharma is the one thing on the group’s mind. The reader can feel the sheer desperation they have, especially Kassidy being the main character. But can she escape?

It keeps the reader thrilled from beginning to end, and then some! You’ll be going crazy to read part II of The Kassidy Bell trilogy after the exciting but intense cliff-hanger ending we are left with in Drug.

Drug (The Kassidy Bell trilogy #1) was provided by the author in return for an honest and fair review.

AUTHOR INFO

Lynda O’Rourke is married and has three sons. Lynda has been the story editor of over thirty bestselling novels.

To connect with Lynda visit her facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lynda-ORourke-Author/1480696118846650?ref=hl

DRUG is available at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

January 4, 2015 by Caroline Barker

REVIEW Help, I’ve Been Abducted by an Alien! by Juliet Cardin

Author: Juliet Cardin

Title: Help, I’ve Been Abducted by an Alien!

Genre: Sci-Fi Romance, Erotica

Release Date: December 15th, 2014

Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press LLC

Length: 66 pages

Blurb: Jen joins an alien-abductee group in order to secretly write an article on the subject. Her plans take an unexpected turn when she encounters a UFO in her neighborhood park and gets abducted for real.

Lysander, her sexy captor, informs Jen he’s not taking her home. Earth, he confides, is soon to be impacted by an asteroid and then invaded by a hostile lizard race. Jen is determined to find a way to escape Lysander–who is hell-bent on having her for himself–and return to Earth, before it is too late to prevent its annihilation.

REVIEW

This short story is a thoroughly enjoyable read. There is so much packed into the story it felt like I had read a longer book. It captures the reader from the very beginning, making it quite a believable read as Jen attends an alien-abductee group to write an article, not believing a word from the attendees – until it happens to her!

Lysander is very likable, and even though he wants to keep Jen from returning home it is clear he means her no harm. But, he does want her to belong to him! Although looking for ways to escape, when she is caught in his intensity (and even at times when she’s not) she cannot help but surrender to his heat!

“Well, if I had to be stranded on an alien planet, I couldn’t have handpicked a sexier companion.”

As well as having the heat turned up, Help, I’ve Been Abducted by an Alien! is also full of adventure. After finding out about Earth’s fate, Jen is desperate to return to Earth and warn the human race. Lysander knows of the consequences and more, which is partly why he keeps her with him. But Jen’s character is strong and so is her will!

As well as having fun, believable characters and an enjoyable storyline, it is also well written and flows nicely. I do love how Juliet Cardin has gained the reader’s attention by beginning the story with Jen as a non-believer in the abductees stories but then having to believe them after she shares a similar experience. It is certainly a read I would love to read again. Any sci-fi erotic romance fan is sure to love this little story!

Help, I’ve Been Abducted by an Alien! was provided by Torrid Press (part of Whiskey Creek Press) in return for an honest and fair review.

Help, I’ve Been Abducted by an Alien! by Juliet Cardin is available at Torrid Press, Amazon US and Amazon UK.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker