Friday, August 29, 2014
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Sweet Fall by Tillie Cole
From
the USA Today Best Selling Sweet Home Series, comes Sweet Fall;
a tale of heartache, beating the odds and finding strength in the most
unlikeliest of places.
Lexington
"Lexi" Hart is a senior at the University of Alabama. Surrounded by
her best friends, her loving family and having fulfilled her life-long dream of
making the Crimson Tide cheer squad, everything is going exactly as she always
dreamed it would. But beneath her happy exterior, demons lurk, threatening to
jeopardize everything Lexi has worked to achieve.
I am at a loss for words after reading this this book. I have so many things that I want to say about this book and I am having trouble trying to get them all out. This book was better than 5 stars. This book made me see things that I never thought about. This book took me by surprise and I really loved it.
We all have secrets.
Secrets well buried.
Until we find the one soul who makes the burden of such
secrets just that little bit easier to bear.
Lexington
"Lexi" Hart is a senior at the University of Alabama. Surrounded by
her best friends, her loving family and having fulfilled her life-long dream of
making the Crimson Tide cheer squad, everything is going exactly as she always
dreamed it would. But beneath her happy exterior, demons lurk, threatening to
jeopardize everything Lexi has worked to achieve.
When
events in her life become too much to cope with, Lexi finds herself spiraling
down into the realm of her biggest fear. Lexi falls hard, victim once again to
the only thing that can destroy her and, on the way, finds herself falling
straight into the dangerous tattooed arms of a guy from the wrong side of the
tracks.
Austin
Carillo, starting Wide Receiver for the Alabama Crimson Tide, must get picked
in this year's NFL draft. He needs it. His brothers need it. Most importantly,
his mother desperately needs it. Brought up in a world where the poor are
forgotten, the sick are left to fend for themselves and no hero miraculously
appears to pull you out of hell, Austin had no other choice but to make a
living on the wrong side of the law—until football offered Austin the break to
get his life back on track.
But
when a family tragedy drags him back into the clutches of the gang he believed
he had left far behind, Austin finds himself falling. Falling back into
criminal ways and falling deep into a suffocating darkness. Until a troubled
yet kindred spirit stumbles across his path, where Austin quickly finds he is
falling for a young woman—a young woman who might just have the power to save
him from his worst enemy: himself.
Can
two troubled souls find a lasting peace together? Or will they finally succumb to the demons threatening
to destroy them?
New Adult/Contemporary Romance novel—contains adult content,
sexual situations and mature topics. Suited for ages 17 and up.
First off let me say that if you are going to read it PLEASE for the love of all that is holy, read the authors message at the beginning of the book. If you do not do this you may not understand Lexi's character. Lexi is a troubled soul. She has a disorder and no I will not tell you what it is. But I felt for her in so many ways that it broke my heart.
Austin sweet, sweet Austin. I think I just feel in love with him. His life is nothing like it would seem. For a star receiver and one of Rome's closest friends sense childhood you would think that he has it together. Well that is not the case. His mother is very ill, dying of a disease that has taken over her body, a brother that is in the worst gang in there area. Another little brother that is just getting started on the wrong path. A gang that he once belonged to. He got out thanks to his older brother Axle but I would not really say what his brother did to get him out was a good thing. That was a BAD thing. Very bad.
As far as Lexi goes, this is one troubled girl who lives with a sickness that she can not escape. She tries with all that can to live with it but it is very exhausting. She meets Austin in a not so good situation that puts her at risk. He scares her and yet for a girl that has never been kissed or around boys she is also drawn to him.
All the time Austin sat there stargazing, I studied him. He was truly breathtaking. From his dark Italian features to his intricate body canvas of ink... his wide array of piercings to his prominent black ear gauges. They were my favorite. I don't know why, but I'd always had a thing for gauges on a guy. I'd always preferred the dark, tortured souls, I guess. Maybe like attracts like?
You will learn right from the start what Lexi's illness is as well and from the very start I just wanted to protect her. Tell her that she is beautiful and strong and all those things that she does not see. She has good parents that love her and her friends really do care about her. She has all these people around her that love her.
Once Lexi and Austin start to hang out thanks to Rome and Molly, they slowly see that they need one another in a way that they can not explain. They have an understanding and give each other the boundaries they have. They respect each other when one will not share the secrets of their past.
"Tears this time ran down my cheeks, and Austin lifted his head, his face full with awe. "No, thank you Pix. Thank you for being so special to be with a goddamn fuck-up like me. I have no idea why you were brought into my life, but I thank God everyday."
After all they have gone through to be together things will tear them apart. This is the part that I will not go into so just read and please, please hold on. This story will break your heart. Austin has the weight of his world on his shoulders, everything comes crashing down on him and he has to make choices that are not good. Choices that will put him and those he loves at risk. So hold on tight.
Lastly I would like to say to Tillie, you are a strong woman for writing this story. I am awe with you and what you have overcome. This story you wrote, will forever stay with me. Thank you for giving us part of your story in this beautiful story named Sweet Fall.
EXCERPT
Crickets chirped outside, and every fifteen minutes, the sound of the campus cops’ radios filled the house. They were doing their rounds—just like good little bitches of the dean—the light from their flashlights illuminating the room, except here behind the couch, where we had our own little pocket of protection.
Hours and hours passed in silence, and I lay on my back just staring once more at the stars through the skylight, the sky brightening with the rising dawn, the dark room now lightened by a hazy orange glow.
I heard Lexi sigh beside me, and I asked, “What do think of when you look up at the stars?”
I caught Lexi’s head tilt to the side and her eyes narrowed in scrutiny.
Minutes passed as she stared silently at the night sky. “Sometimes I wonder what they must make of our world,” she whispered quietly. I didn’t think she’d respond. “Do we fascinate them or disgust them? Do they look down on us the same way we look up at them and wonder what we’re thinking too? Do they see all our problems? Watch our sorrowful excuses for lives with a growing sense of pity? Or do they envy us for just having a life, good or bad?”
Her response surprised me. Sorrowful excuses for lives?
“Ever look at them and feel inferior, feel small?” I added, really wanting to hear her answer.
Lexi fidgeted beside me, lifting her hands to create a frame with her fingers, her left eye closed as she studied Orion’s Belt like she was looking through a telescope. But her hands abruptly lowered and laid flat to her stomach, a guttering expression on her face. “I don’t need to look up at the stars to feel inferior, Austin. All I have to do is open my eyes and look at myself in the mirror.”
My attention snapped to her and a strange feeling rolled my stomach—sympathy?
Lexi yawned beside me and her eyelids began to droop, but she fought to stay awake, never taking her eyes off the stars. I couldn’t stop watching her. Something about her intrigued me. Or maybe it was the fact that she knew about me, about who I was, that drew me to her. I didn’t have to pretend just for right here, right now.
“Go to sleep,” I said after her third consecutive yawn, and she focused on me once more. She was making me fuckin’ tired, and I needed to stay alert.
Lexi simply shook her head and wrapped her arms around her chest, fighting off another yawn.
Damn stubborn chick.
“Lexi, go to fuckin’ sleep. We’re gonna be here all night anyway,” I ordered, and I watched her tired eyes widen.
“Are you gonna sleep?” she asked, and I frowned. Why the fuck did that matter?
“Probably, at some point,” I replied and shrugged my shoulders.
“Okay, then. But…” Her lips pursed in tension. “But please don’t touch me. I… can’t be touched… I’ll stay here hidden, just… don’t touch me.”
“I won’t,” I said vehemently through gritted teeth. Did she think I was gonna grope her in her sleep or some shit? What the hell did she think of me?
Lexi’s eyes closed and, within seconds, she was out, all curled up in the fetal position on the hardwood floor. She looked like a fallen, broken pixie.
I don’t know why I said it, but I leaned down and whispered, “This isn’t who I am, Lexi. I’m not the cold, unfeeling dick you think I am. I just wanted you to know that about me.”
As far as Lexi goes, this is one troubled girl who lives with a sickness that she can not escape. She tries with all that can to live with it but it is very exhausting. She meets Austin in a not so good situation that puts her at risk. He scares her and yet for a girl that has never been kissed or around boys she is also drawn to him.
All the time Austin sat there stargazing, I studied him. He was truly breathtaking. From his dark Italian features to his intricate body canvas of ink... his wide array of piercings to his prominent black ear gauges. They were my favorite. I don't know why, but I'd always had a thing for gauges on a guy. I'd always preferred the dark, tortured souls, I guess. Maybe like attracts like?
You will learn right from the start what Lexi's illness is as well and from the very start I just wanted to protect her. Tell her that she is beautiful and strong and all those things that she does not see. She has good parents that love her and her friends really do care about her. She has all these people around her that love her.
Once Lexi and Austin start to hang out thanks to Rome and Molly, they slowly see that they need one another in a way that they can not explain. They have an understanding and give each other the boundaries they have. They respect each other when one will not share the secrets of their past.
"Tears this time ran down my cheeks, and Austin lifted his head, his face full with awe. "No, thank you Pix. Thank you for being so special to be with a goddamn fuck-up like me. I have no idea why you were brought into my life, but I thank God everyday."
After all they have gone through to be together things will tear them apart. This is the part that I will not go into so just read and please, please hold on. This story will break your heart. Austin has the weight of his world on his shoulders, everything comes crashing down on him and he has to make choices that are not good. Choices that will put him and those he loves at risk. So hold on tight.
Lastly I would like to say to Tillie, you are a strong woman for writing this story. I am awe with you and what you have overcome. This story you wrote, will forever stay with me. Thank you for giving us part of your story in this beautiful story named Sweet Fall.
EXCERPT
Crickets chirped outside, and every fifteen minutes, the sound of the campus cops’ radios filled the house. They were doing their rounds—just like good little bitches of the dean—the light from their flashlights illuminating the room, except here behind the couch, where we had our own little pocket of protection.
Hours and hours passed in silence, and I lay on my back just staring once more at the stars through the skylight, the sky brightening with the rising dawn, the dark room now lightened by a hazy orange glow.
I heard Lexi sigh beside me, and I asked, “What do think of when you look up at the stars?”
I caught Lexi’s head tilt to the side and her eyes narrowed in scrutiny.
Minutes passed as she stared silently at the night sky. “Sometimes I wonder what they must make of our world,” she whispered quietly. I didn’t think she’d respond. “Do we fascinate them or disgust them? Do they look down on us the same way we look up at them and wonder what we’re thinking too? Do they see all our problems? Watch our sorrowful excuses for lives with a growing sense of pity? Or do they envy us for just having a life, good or bad?”
Her response surprised me. Sorrowful excuses for lives?
“Ever look at them and feel inferior, feel small?” I added, really wanting to hear her answer.
Lexi fidgeted beside me, lifting her hands to create a frame with her fingers, her left eye closed as she studied Orion’s Belt like she was looking through a telescope. But her hands abruptly lowered and laid flat to her stomach, a guttering expression on her face. “I don’t need to look up at the stars to feel inferior, Austin. All I have to do is open my eyes and look at myself in the mirror.”
My attention snapped to her and a strange feeling rolled my stomach—sympathy?
Lexi yawned beside me and her eyelids began to droop, but she fought to stay awake, never taking her eyes off the stars. I couldn’t stop watching her. Something about her intrigued me. Or maybe it was the fact that she knew about me, about who I was, that drew me to her. I didn’t have to pretend just for right here, right now.
“Go to sleep,” I said after her third consecutive yawn, and she focused on me once more. She was making me fuckin’ tired, and I needed to stay alert.
Lexi simply shook her head and wrapped her arms around her chest, fighting off another yawn.
Damn stubborn chick.
“Lexi, go to fuckin’ sleep. We’re gonna be here all night anyway,” I ordered, and I watched her tired eyes widen.
“Are you gonna sleep?” she asked, and I frowned. Why the fuck did that matter?
“Probably, at some point,” I replied and shrugged my shoulders.
“Okay, then. But…” Her lips pursed in tension. “But please don’t touch me. I… can’t be touched… I’ll stay here hidden, just… don’t touch me.”
“I won’t,” I said vehemently through gritted teeth. Did she think I was gonna grope her in her sleep or some shit? What the hell did she think of me?
Lexi’s eyes closed and, within seconds, she was out, all curled up in the fetal position on the hardwood floor. She looked like a fallen, broken pixie.
I don’t know why I said it, but I leaned down and whispered, “This isn’t who I am, Lexi. I’m not the cold, unfeeling dick you think I am. I just wanted you to know that about me.”
Tillie Cole is a Northern girl through and
through. She originates from a place called Teesside on that little but
awesomely sunny (okay I exaggerate) Isle called Great Britain. She was brought
up surrounded by her English rose mother -- a farmer's daughter, her crazy
Scottish father, a savagely sarcastic sister and a multitude of rescue animals
and horses.
Amazon UK - http://amzn.to/1pBlocQ
B&N - http://bit.ly/1pBlLUX
iBooks - http://bit.ly/1pBmx4e
Kobo - http://bit.ly/1omDyKf
Amazon US
My Coyote Ugly Life by Jessica Spoon
Coming: September 26, 2014
“How on earth do I get myself in these situations? I swear it’s like a never-ending bad dream. One of all my mistakes that continuously bite me in my size ten ass.”
Azaria ‘Ree’ Gable had her one experience with heartbreak and that was enough for her. She’s perfectly satisfied with her ‘One Month Rule’ and doesn't need her life changing anytime soon.
When circumstances take her back home, she learns things have changed…
A lot…
First and foremost being with the complete and astonishing overhaul and revamp of the Belton Police Department, where apparently the application was changed to state ‘Ugly Men Need Not Apply’ and the only requirement is ‘How Well Do You Look In This Uniform?’
Ree unexpectedly catches the eye of the new ‘gina-quiver inducing Chief of Police Grayson Cole, which starts an endless game of cat and mouse.
Will Ree let go of her misconceptions about relationships and allow Grayson to show her how beautiful life can really be?
“Urmph,” I grunt out as I run smack into
someone, face- planting in their chest because I was more worried about saving
the rolls. “Sorr-,” I begin to say and cut myself off as my brain registers the
police badge that is pinned to the chest of the individual I face-planted
into.
Fuck.
Shit, fuck, fuck, fuckity, shit-fuck!
My heart rate kicks up a notch and my
skin turns electric as my body starts to freak out; knowing, this is when it’s
time to run.
“Erm… sorry,” I raise my head slowly,
dreading looking at the guy, “officer…” my words trail off, not because I’m
speechless, but because I can’t breathe.
Did you hear me?
I.
Can’t.
Breathe!
Why can’t I breathe?
Because I know this guy! Omigod, omigod,
omigod!
“Azaria,” he says my name in a deep
rumbly voice that washes over my skin, making me feel like fairies are dancing
all over my body in jubilation, such is the epic-ness that is his voice.
He leans his head down (way down, because
he is so much taller than me), I look up and notice a halo form around his face
from the sun shining in the window, his caramel colored eyes flash with
amusement as his perfect lips form a half smile. I suck in a breath. (Yep. I’m a fan of the half smile. Sign me
up, for I would love to have that mouth smiling against some very intimate
areas of my body.)
Oh, my God, he smells so good. My body,
completely of its own accord (I swear!) moves closer to him, making it easier
to get a better whiff of whatever body wash it is that makes me want to take a
chunk out of him with my teeth. My ‘gina begins to quiver; the walls vibrating
with fury at not having him the other night.
His head moves to the side of mine where
he whispers, “I missed you the other morning.” Holy donkey nuts his voice is
sexy.
Oh. My. God.
This can’t be happening. Nope. Not
happening.
No way.
“O- officer,” I stumble over my words
trying to think of something to say, and reminding myself that this, after all,
is a cop.
Not just any cop, of course.
Nooo…
According to his nameplate he is ‘Chief
Cole’. Are you kidding me!? Why
couldn’t he just be a gentleman and ignore the whole situation like a normal
American!? No, he goes straight for it. Don’t hold back.
Jerk.
Okay, now how do I play this? I obviously
can’t use the whole ‘Do I know you?’ routine. My ‘gina quiver made sure of
that. I can’t just walk out and ignore him… Can I? Hmm…
I don’t think, I’m capable of pulling off
the whole ‘Show- respect-to-the-officer-because-I’ve-had-too-many-run-ins-with-
the-law-and-I’m-a-bad-person’ routine either.
Okay. Well, that only leaves one option.
I step back, straighten my purse on my
shoulder, get a better grip on my box of rolls and look him straight in the eye
(with a polite, yet detached voice and face) and say, “Chief Cole. Nice to see
you again.”
And, ever so elegantly, I step around him
and head out the door.
Whew! Close one.
“Azaria, wait.”
Shit. He followed me outside! Now what do
I do?
Keep walking.
Yep. Just… keep… walking.
“Ree,” he says as his fingers wrap around
my upper arm, halting my awesome walking away skills.
He turns me around to look at him and I
do a quick peripheral scan of the area to see how many onlookers we have to
what is about to go down; not many. Yet.
“Did you really just walk away from me…
again?” he asks astonished.
“Did it look like I walked away from
you?” I ask, feeling a bit like a society snooty bitch and deciding to go with
it.
I notice a few people start to come out
onto the sidewalks to see what is going on. Great.
Well, they were bound to learn that I moved back sometime. May as well give
them the show they expect from me.
“Yeah. It did,” his voice and face are
completely serious.
“Oh, well. Then I guess I did,” I shrug
my shoulders and smile at him, this time sounding more like a dingbat valley
girl.
Someone call the shrink! Chief Cole is giving Ree
Dissociative Identity Disorder!
My first book, Darkness Deserved, released July/2013. It is the first book in the Shattering the Darkness Series.
I'm crazy and love my friends, family and booze. Yes. Booze. (Don't judge me.)
I used to never read when I was growing up. My mother always tried to get me to read and I wanted no part in it. I figured why read when it's going to be a movie. (Yes, like I said crazy.)
Well a few years ago I jumped on the Twilight band wagon. I've always loved supernatural movies and when I saw the previews I knew I wanted to see it. And see it I did. I immediately went out and bought the books and became hooked.
They came to me at a very special time in my life.
I discovered I loved to read and found my nitch in the paranormal and romance genre. I started a book club with a cousin and all of a sudden these thoughts kept assaulting my brain.
So I wrote them down. Then, deciding that I wanted to write, I contacted some wonderfully amazing women who helped me through the process. This is the result.
I love Breccan and Harper and hope you all do as well. The book is dark and graphic. It pushes the boundaries and will make you cry, (hopefully) laugh and (hopefully) fall in love.
HOSTED BY:
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Breathe Launch Day - Kristen Ashley
BREATHE by Kristen Ashley (August 26, 2014; Forever Mass Market; $7.00)
There's nothing like the first time . . . In Carnal, Colorado, Faye Goodknight is the town's quiet, shy librarian. She may also be Carnal's last remaining virgin. For years, Faye has had a crush on Chace Keaton, but the gorgeous cop has always been unattainable. She's resigned to live contentedly with only her books for company—until Faye suddenly meets Chace alone in the woods . . .
Chace doesn't think he's the good guy everyone believes him to be. He's made a lot of choices he regrets, including denying his feelings for Faye. Through his choices, he's come to believe the pretty librarian is too good for him, but after their time in the woods, Chace realizes that she may be his last chance for redemption. Soon, their long simmering desires grow to a burning passion. Yet always casting a shadow over their happiness is Chace's dark past . . .
Buy Links:
Amazon
My Review
This was way more than a book, it was a full blown story. Every thing that happened in this book had a purpose. Kristen I don't know how you do it just keep on doing it because it is great. I loved this book and fell I love with Faye and Chace. I was not sure I was going to like Faye in the beginning of this book I kinda thought that she would be a push over but I was wrong. This woman has a BACKBONE and she knows how to use it.
At the age of 29 Faye is living a quite life as the towns librarian. She has been in love with Chace for the past 13 years. One night her and Chace have an encounter and he was a total jerk to her. I just wanted to slug him. I got to thinking that I was going to really hate him, I mean REALLY REALLY hate him. He was so mean and knew just what to say to hurt her feelings. Faye well she handled it with maturity that I did not think she had.
"Get this in your head Faye, all I want from you is to leave me the fuck alone."
Chace is attracted to Faye but thinks that he can not have something that is good like Faye. Chace does not see the good in what he had to do with his job and the decisions that he had to make for the town and all the bad people that he worked with. The death of his wife Misty even though he did not like her, the way she died, had left him in a bad place.
What brings them together is a little boy. They believe he is homeless. As they try to earn his trust by giving him the essentials that he needs to be out there in the woods, cold, hungry and alone. So as they work on that together a relationship blossoms. What they both have to give one another is so good. Chace is honest with Faye from the start. He lets her know that he is not wanting to be saved, no one can save him and that he will mess up. Yet he goes for it with the relationship and it just gets better from there.
"Before I go, give me that mouth," he ordered and watched her eyes get wide.
Cute.
Hot.
"Pardon?"
"Baby," he whispered. "Before I go, I want your mouth."
He felt her tremble in his arms. Then he felt her body slide up his as she came up on her toes.
Then she gave him her mouth.
I highlighted so many sentences in this book, marked a lot of pages that I liked. The story of the boy that they are both trying to save and the forces that are pulling at Chace. Everything came full circle. It is hard to give a full review when this book was as big as this one and I feel that you have just got read it to understand what this book is.
Does Faye save Chace? Who is this boy and what is his purpose in this book? Chace and his family. These were some of the thoughts that I had while reading this book. As far as the answers to the questions you need to find out for yourself. There was one big part that stood out and I can say that Faye and her backbone as Chace called it was putting it all out there. For a woman that has not had a relationship before she sure knew how to put a man in his place.
Please go and read the book and come back to me and we can discuss. Happy Reading. Monica-
About the author:
Kristen Ashley grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana, and has lived in Denver, Colorado, and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multigenerational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland, and Kristen grew up listening to the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon, and Whitesnake. Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music and love was a good way to grow up. And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.
Social Media Links:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Indestructible by Angela Graham
Indestructible by Angela GrahamMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Finally I got more of Logan and Cassandra. The ending of the last book had me on the edge of my seat and I was worried for anything an everything that could possibly happen. Cassandra has just been attacked and was recovering. Logan could not have been better. Oliver, little Oliver how can you not love him more.
"Oliver glanced from my eyes to the bandages and back, then bent down and whispered in my ear, "Daddy said that you're not sick, but...you have more Band-Aids. I don't want you to get hurt no more. "Kay?"
As the story continues Logan and Cassandra are faced with more challenges than I could even come up with. The more twists and challenges they were faced with the stronger their love is for one another. I was happy to see Cassandra strong and confident in who she is and her relationship with Logan after all that has happened to her. IF it were me, I would be in a straight jacket. Locked up somewhere.
Lets not forget about out favorite character Natasha. I can NOT stand that woman. She is seriously messed up in the head. She does not even know what the word Love means. She tries to inter fear with Logan and Cassandra's life by using Oliver her own son. This woman tries her best to put a wedge between Cassie and Logan and will use everything that she can come up with to do the job. There was part that I was so floored at what she was capable of. But Cassandra gives it right back to her.
Situations come up in this book that took me by surprise and I was getting a little worried that things may not end the way I wanted to. Logan has some big obstacles that are put in is way. He starts to act weird and pushes Cassandra away. I was starting to break, feared that I was going to be let down by him. Logan really means it when he says nothing happens in his house that he does not know about. I still have not figured out how he always knows everything but he does.
This review is a little short and there are reasons for that. I am sure that you do not want me to spoil this book for you. All I can ask is that you please read the book.
Oh and if I had a son I would want him to be just like Oliver.
View all my reviews
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)