CeCe's Reading and Writing Safari: 04/01/2014

Wednesday, 30 April 2014

Cover Reveal: The Hekapolis Trilogy #2: Experiment by Ana Bastow

Title: The Hekapolis Trilogy #2 : Experiment

Author: Ana Bastow

Genre: Upper YA/ New Adult Multicultural Paranormal Romance

Intended age: 16 and up, IMO.

Heat level: I want to say hot PG13.

Blurb:

"A betrayal, the Akelarre, a birth, a funeral, a wedding....in that order.

Gabrielle is enjoying her first real boyfriend. Her new family is supportive, but her college friends, especially Tess, think she is going to get her heartbroken by the campus "Petri Dish".
Gabrielle knows his reputation as a womanizer is an exaggeration- knowing a human, in the biblical sense, means madness or death for any wizard. This sadly includes her and -even though William can do feats with his tongue worthy of an R version of Cirque do Soleil- her desire for him keeps growing to the point of almost causing a disaster for the young couple.
Their situation becomes even more trying when Samantha, shielded by the Wizard's redemption laws, ensures her residency with the Wyseman for as long as she is paying for her crimes. And she is not afraid to use all her seduction repertoire to try to win her fiancé back. Gabrielle contemplates the possibility that William might fall out of love with her. Pondering this predicament, William, Maggie and her prepare Gabrielle for her first visit to Hekapolis for the Akelarre, and given that Samantha is banned from the city she is glad to take a break from the competition.
The sanctuary of witches is a paradise of broom races, dragon riders, winged horses, unicorns and people of all backgrounds trading spells and potions with their family and friends from the seven corners of the world.
During the festivities, Gabrielle meets gorgeous Mitali -William's best friend- and she discovers there is a romantic past between them. Shocked by this, Mitali eases her fears by offering her a chance to use her magical gifts so that she and William can have a full physical relationship at last.
But the offer comes with a warning from her new friend: "Once I reveal my potion, you will have to choose between giving yourself to William in body, mind and soul...Or breaking up with him..."
Gabrielle will battle more internal demons and will receive the help of an unlikely ally to figure out her future with William."

Ana Bastow

Happy Release Day + Giveaway: Hold Me Tight by Faith Sullivan

Title: Hold Me Tight
Author: Faith Sullivan
Release date: April 30, 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Ebook available at: Kindle | Nook | Smashwords

HOLD ME TIGHT Synopsis:

He loves me. He loves me not.

Ivy's heart shatters upon hearing Eric's crushing ultimatum. Despite how much she cares for him, she won't give in to his demands. She has no choice but to leave, even if it's the hardest thing she's ever had to do.

She loves me. She loves me not.

When Ivy walks out, Eric can't help feeling betrayed. Unwilling to put her at risk, he values her safety above all else. By refusing to compromise, he's blindsided when she moves in with a man who's already stolen so much from him.

I love you. You love me not.

Lauren sees Eric and Ivy's split as an opportunity to end their relationship once and for all. When Ivy places herself at the mercy of Eric's rival, Lauren plots to destroy the fragile tie binding them together, even if she endangers Ivy's life in the process.

Excerpt:

But there’s something I have to do before this goes any further.

Slowly, I draw my head away from her embrace, finding the courage to finally meet her eyes. Her hair hasn’t been combed and her face is all tear-stained, but she has never looked more beautiful.

She stands, bracing herself against me. Her breath hitches when I gently start unbuttoning her shirt, but her eyes never leave my face. I stop partway up, raising the bottom half of her cami up and over her baby bump. Dropping down, I run my hands across her stomach, feeling her shiver against my fingertips. Looking up at her, I place my lips on her bellybutton, kissing the child that’s growing within her, the miracle we created.

“I will never ask you to choose again,” I say solemnly, my voice nothing but a whisper.

Ivy starts to cry in earnest, placing her hands atop mine.

“You are my heart now. Whatever happens to you happens to me.” I kiss each one of her knuckles as she sighs deeply, like she’s been longing with all her soul to hear me say these words. “I know I’m not as brave as you are, but I promise to try harder.”

“Eric, stop. You’re the bravest man I know,” she proclaims with a tender fierceness, tears shining in her eyes.

“I’m just so afraid of losing you,” I mutter, breaking down.

“Oh, Eric,” she whimpers, sobbing right along with me. “I know, baby... I know.”

I lean back against the wall, guiding her onto my lap. We don’t say anything more. We just sit there and hold each other, savoring the moment.

What readers are saying about HOLD ME TIGHT:

"I'm so excited! Eric's balls grew back! He's going to fight for her. I envisioned the whole scene in my mind. True romance at its finest."

- Rhonda Hofmiller

"You are such a tease! What a way to leave me hanging there, after that scene at the kitchen table. DAMN. Hose me down with cold water please!"

-Natalie Smith

"Hallelujah and praise the Lord, Eric is FINALLY going after what's his! *sigh* What a lovely welcome home present indeed!"

- Ashley Bodette

Books in this New Adult Contemporary Romance trilogy:

About the Author:

Faith Sullivan is an author of New Adult contemporary romances including the HEARTBEAT trilogy, the TAKE ME NOW series and the 9/11 novel, UNEXPECTED. She writes love stories with a little dash of crazy.

Facebook | Twitter | Blog | Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Release Day & Giveaway: Blaze (#2.5 Storm MC Series) by Nina Levine

TITLE: Blaze (#2.5 Storm MC Series)

AUTHOR: Nina Levine

Release Day: April 30th 2014

SYNOPSIS

Passion.

Love.

Forever.

Forever is a long time and takes a lot of hard work.

For twelve years, Madison and J's love story has been wild and uncontrollable. Their road to love has been full of breathtaking highs and devastating lows. Finally, they’ve found each other again and have both sworn that this time it will be forever.

Theirs is an everlasting love.

Or, is it?

Can forever be an impossible dream when two people are as headstrong as these two? Or will the deep love they have for each other win out and give them the forever they've fought hard for?

TEASER

I’d taken half the day off work to spend the afternoon with Madison, but standing here watching her flick through paint chips made me wonder if I should have just let her come on her own. She had six different ones and couldn’t decide which one she liked best. We’d been standing in this hardware aisle, going back and forth over the colours for the past hour. I’d almost had enough but I was sure that she could spend all fucking day doing this.

“Baby, do you think you can narrow it down some more? Like to say, one?” I asked.

She scowled at me. “I knew you shouldn’t have come with me. You have absolutely no patience.”

“I have a lot of patience, but you’ve been trying to decide between these for an hour now.”

“Well, I want to get it right, J,” she muttered, throwing me a dirty look.

“Okay, how about this; if you pick one and hate it after we’ve painted, we can always paint it again.”

Her eyes widened. “Really? You wouldn’t mind?”

“No. So let’s pick one and get out of here.”

A pained look appeared on her face. “I really like two of them.” She held up two and showed me. “Which one do you like?”

I grabbed them out of her hand and inspected them. “This one,” I said, holding up the one I preferred. Fuck, why did women take so long to choose? I did it in three seconds flat.

She snatched them back out of my grasp, shaking her head. “You didn’t even look at them, J.”

“I did, babe. It’s not fucking rocket science.”

She gave me a pointed look. “You have no idea.”

I blew out a breath. “I’m going to go outside and wait for you in the car. You reckon you can be done in five minutes?”

“I’ll be as long as it takes. And you won’t complain if you want more of what I gave you this morning.”

Christ, she had me by the fucking balls. She’d given me the best goddamn head job this morning and I fucking needed more of that shit. “I’ll be in the car, but hurry the fuck up because now all I can think of is your mouth and my cock.” I leaned into her and promised, “I’ll blow your fucking mind when we get home if you’re done in five minutes.”

As I pulled away from her, she curled her hand around my neck to bring me back to her, and murmured, “Baby, you always blow my mind, so there’s no need for me to hurry.”

I shook my head. “Fuck, we’re gonna be here for another hour, aren’t we?”

She held up a paint chip. “This one, J. And I’m not doing any of the work when you blow my mind. This one’s all on you.”

I grabbed the chip out of her hand and headed towards the paint counter. My cock was so hard right now and I figured I could have her under me within fifteen minutes if the dude at the counter hurried his shit up.

SERIES ORDER & PURCHASE LINKS

BOOK #1 STORM:

US AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1b8ytEc

UK AMAZON: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00GSWF888

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/storm-nina-levine/1117477701?ean=2940148841777&itm=1&usri=2940148841777 http://tinyurl.com/pjdaxts

KOBO: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/storm-storm-mc-1

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id760699490

BOOK #2 FIERCE:

US AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1obU689 UK AMAZON: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00GSWF888
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/storm-nina-levine/1117477701?ean=2940148841777&itm=1&usri=2940148841777 http://tinyurl.com/pjdaxts
KOBO: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/storm-storm-mc-1
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id760699490

BOOK #2.5 BLAZE: To be Advise once Live

ABOUT NINA LEVINE

USA Today Bestselling Author Nina Levine, is an Aussie author who writes stories about hot, alpha men and the tough, independent women they love.

When she isn't creating with words, she loves to create with paint and paper. Often though, she can be found curled up with a good book and some chocolate.

I love to chat with the readers of my book so please visit me or contact me here:

FACECBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNinaLe...

WEBSITE: http://ninalevinebooks.blogspot.com.au/

Sign up for my newsletter! I will be starting an exclusive newsletter only serial in 2014! Liam & Roxie's story, featuring the boys from Storm will be coming out soon (only to newsletter subscribers!).

JOIN HERE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Qzgo...

GIVEAWAY

$20 Amazon Giftcard

Deluxe Swag Pack

<a id="rc-33951d15" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33951d15/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>

DIRECT LINK: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33951d15/

Tuesday, 29 April 2014

Cover reveal: Tempted by Brandi Leigh Hall

Title: TEMPTED (A BirthRight Novel #2)

Author: Brandi Leigh Hall

Release Date: May 27, 2014

Blurb:

A sweet Upper YA / NA Paranormal Romance.

What if the very thing to save you—is the one thing beyond your reach?

Torn between the two men who have fallen for her—and the evil who wants to possess her—twenty-year-old Chloe Bishop can no longer remember the fatal vision which threatens her future happiness. But when the magical link is severed between Chloe and her Wiccan family, they must find a way to save her before temptation leads her into darkness—and into the welcoming arms of Mr. Wrong.

B&N Pre-Order: http://bit.ly/1gRFDuH

iTunes Pre-Order: http://bit.ly/1f74Aap

Amazon Print Pre-Order: http://amzn.to/1fbmOYe

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20486768-tempted

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BrandiLeighHall

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/BrandiLeighHall

Website: http://www.BrandiHall.net

Blog: http://www.BrandiLeighHall.wordpress.com

Saturday, 26 April 2014

Review Stop: The Tartan MP3 Player by C.A. Szarek

Book One in the time travel, fantasy romance series, Highland Secrets!

She never believed in magic…

Claire McGowan, Scotophile and historical romance novel addict, finally saves up enough for her dream vacation to Scotland.

She never imagines she’ll get sucked back to the seventeenth century while running on the beach—that’s what she gets for exercising when she should be relaxing.

He knows with a harsh certainty magic exists...

The Fae have taken his brother—Laird of his clan. Duncan MacLeod finds a bonnie naked and confused lass. He’s convinced Claire arrived in 1672 through the Faery Stones—a magical portal he’s been scouring the lands for over the past six months.

At last, he has someone who’s been through the Faery Stones and can help him find them—and get his brother back.

Duncan promises to help Claire get home, even though his desire to have her wars with his vow.

Torn between familiarity of the present and what she wants in the past, can Claire help Duncan find his brother and get back to the future? Will she even want to?

My Thoughts:

I love a good time travel story, and C.A's story didn't disappoint. Claire is practically ripped through time, and lands in the middle of Scotland. She meets Duncan, or rather Duncan while minding his own business finds her, naked and confused on a beach. And ends up taking her home with her. What follows is a a series of humourous events as she tries to fit in this new place.

This was a fast-paced, steamy read and I LOVED the dialogue between the two. (Clare with her advanced wordage from the future and Duncan in Gaealic, and wonderful side characters.

I can't wait to see what Ms Czarek comes up with in this series. :)

About The Author:

C.A. is originally from Ohio, but got to Texas as soon as she could. She is married and has a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice.

She works with kids when she’s not writing.

She’s always wanted to be a writer and is overjoyed to share her stories with the world.