Friday, March 31, 2017

Book Review, Giveaway: Harlot by Tracie Podger




Harlot

by Tracie Podger 




Synopsis


Charlotte Kenny is nineteen years old and a prostitute.
Not by choice, though.

When a client is murdered, Charlotte is thrown into a world she believes should be between the pages of a novel.

Beau Mercier is an ass with a dark past.
When Charlotte ends up on his doorstep, he knows trouble will follow.

Two people, who neither trust nor like each other, are forced together in a town where all is not as it seems.

Can Charlotte escape her trouble? Can Beau open up enough to help her?

Both want to, but secret pasts, murder, and intrigue, get in the way.

Harlot accompanies the thrillers, Gabriel and A Deadly Sin, and can be read as a standalone.

For readers over the age of 18.



Excerpt

I slumped into my broken and grubby sofa, wincing at the soreness of my bare feet. I didn’t have the energy to clean them. Instead, I poured myself a glass of cheap wine and gulped it down. My hand shook so much it was hard to hold the glass to my lips. The wine burned its way down my throat, mixing with the bile that was churning in my stomach. I pulled my dirty feet up onto the sofa and curled up. Finally, the tears fell.

I hugged myself, trying to get some warmth into my bones. The trailer I lived in was freezing with just a small gas heater that gave off enough of a smell for me not to want to use it. I pulled a quilt around my shoulders and then cried harder. 

My grandmother had made that quilt; it was the only item I had that reminded me of her.

I missed her bitterly. I had since she’d died but more so then. She would have hugged me; she would have known what to do. I would never have found myself in the situation I was had she been around. I cried out her name, praying she could hear and guide me. Not that I thought I could sleep, but I closed my eyes, hoping that dawn would arrive quickly and I’d have a clearer mind.

A sweep of car headlights across the room disturbed me. I sat up, pulling the quilt tight around me and held my breath. The lights came to a stop outside my trailer. I quietly slipped from the sofa, and in a crouch, I crept to the window. I sat on the floor, my back to the door, knowing if someone looked in, they wouldn’t see me.

My blood froze in my veins when I heard my name being called, more so, when I recognized the voice. If he wanted to get in, one kick would have the front door fly off its brackets. I covered my mouth to stifle the sob when the door rattled.

“I know where you’ve been, whore,” he slurred, before laughing. “You won’t be going back there.”

“Please, go away,” I whispered, hoping for divine intervention. That came in the form of a dog.

Barking echoed around outside, becoming more frantic. I heard his heavy footsteps clomp down the wooden steps, away from the door, and then the headlights swept across the room again. I sat, straining my ears to listen for the engine of his car and breathed a sigh of relief when that sound became faint.

I knew at that point I couldn’t stay there. I had to leave. I scrambled to my feet and rushed into my bedroom. I gathered what few belongings I had, and crammed them into a battered backpack. The last thing I picked up was the quilt. 

I pulled on some socks and my sneakers, still aware of how dirty my feet were, and headed for the kitchenette. Hidden in a cupboard, in a small tin, were my meager earnings, well, the portion of earnings I was allowed to keep. In addition, there was my ‘gift’ of a hundred dollars. At the thought of that ‘gift’ and the person who gave it, tears welled in my eyes again. I would call the police, but I would have to do it anonymously. There was no way I could go forward and publicly report what I’d seen.

I was scared, I was trailer park trash, and I was a prostitute.

Copyright T J Podger


My Rating:





Favorite Quotes:



He was my commander, when I was in the regular army.  Then he was my commander when I joined the irregular army.


One stare from him, Charlotte, and any child would fall immediately into submission.  He was evil, and that evilness rolled off him like a gas, contaminating everything and everyone around.

 


My Review:



“Charlotte the Harlot” was how her cousin/guardian would taunt her.  Some guardian!    Coming from the title and synopsis – this exceptionally well-written and artfully crafted book was not at all what I expected.  Although sex crimes are mentioned, there were no actual sex scenes within the pages. And while some may find that completely incongruous for a book titled Harlot, let me assure you that sex was not needed to sell this gripping read. 

The plot was rife with mind prickling suspense and curiosity tickling intrigue.  The characters were compellingly detailed yet cryptically tight-lipped and holding secrets from each other.  I was unsure whom to trust throughout much of the book as they were each artfully skilled in evasion, and no one was who they seemed.  I feared Charlotte was either being manipulated, set-up, or used as bait, although I was also a bit frustrated by her forked tongue as well.    

The writing was keenly observant, gut twisting, and emotionally intense on every level.  I was quickly ensnared by the Ms. Podger’s word voodoo and immediately fell into Charlotte’s narrative from page one.  Written in an insightful and sharply detailed first person POV, the storyline was eventful, well-paced, and enthralling.  Ms. Podger’s writing was riveting, first-rate, and likely to lead to sleep deprivation.  In conclusion, Tracie Podger is a remarkably talented evil genius.  I am in awe of her mad skills, and maybe a little bit afraid of her now as well. 



Empress DJ




Enter Tracie's giveaway for a chance to win a £50/$50 Amazon Gift Card voucher, signed paperback of Harlot and ebooks of Gabriel and A Deadly Sin.






About the Author



Tracie Podger currently lives in Kent, UK with her husband and a rather obnoxious cat called George. Shes a Padi Scuba Diving Instructor with a passion for writing. Tracie has been fortunate to have dived some of the wonderful oceans of the world where she can indulge in another hobby, underwater photography. She likes getting up close and personal with sharks.

Tracie likes to write in different genres. Her Fallen Angel series and its accompanying books are mafia romance and full of suspense. A Virtual Affair is contemporary romance, and Gabriel and A Deadly Sin are thriller/suspense. The Facilitator is erotic romance.


Available from Amazon, iBooks, Kobo & Nook
Fallen Angel, Part 1
Fallen Angel, Part 2
Fallen Angel, Part 3
Fallen Angel, Part 4
The Fallen Angel Box Set
Evelyn - A Novella To accompany the Fallen Angel Series
Rocco A Novella To accompany the Fallen Angel Series
Robert To accompany the Fallen Angel Series
Travis To accompany the Fallen Angel Series
A Virtual Affair A standalone
Gabriel A standalone
The Facilitator A standalone
A Deadly Sin A standalone
Harlot A standalone

Coming soon
Allana - 2017
Hitchhiker - 2017
Jackson - 2017
Letters to Lincoln 2018
Rocco: The Missing Years 2018

Stalker Links
Amazon Author Page https://author.to/TraciePodger


Thursday, March 30, 2017

Book Review, Giveaway: Curve Balls - The Ball Games Book Six by Andie M. Long

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Book: Curve Balls
Series: The Balls Games Book Six
Author: Andie M Long
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Synopsis

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The much loved Turner family and friends are back in another hilarious novella.

Tyler Turner has had the shock of his life. Is he really ready to be a fully-fledged adult with responsibilities?
Dylan’s had enough of Cam’s business taking over their life together and gives her an ultimatum. With the two at loggerheads, Dora does her usual meddling to get them to see sense.
Beth and Leo are keeping their own secrets, but how long before at least one becomes obvious?
Dora’s period is late, and she’s found out she’s going to be a grandmother. In true Dora style, she runs away. This time on a pre-booked mini-break to Liverpool with her sister.
Life is throwing Curve Balls at the Turner Family and friends.


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My Rating:



Favorite Quotes:



I didn’t get a chance to think about making deals.  My life’s moving that fast I make the Flash look like a sloth.


I need, like, the superpower of freezing time so I can take a breath and have a think about what’s happened and what’s coming.


If women were meant to be without men and their appendages, we’d be born mute with our own penises.


I’m going to watch The Full Monty with Maggie in town tomorrow afternoon.  I hope there’s at least one bloke with a fit arse.  I only see your father’s extremely saggy one now.


I had the exhausting news that I had possibly started the menopause.  Do you understand the mental fatigue from that news?  No more babies of my own.  I’m barren.  I’m on my way down the hill into fugly old woman land.  I even called in the newsagents and bought a bingo dabber.



My Review:



I adore Andie M. Long and her clever and bawdy sense of humor.  Her riotously funny Ball Games series has never failed to give me the giggle-snorts.  Curve Balls is #6 and I am even more enamored with this eclectic, quirky, and extremely colorful group of family and friends.  While it is hard to pick a favorite character, Dora has to be at the top of my list as she is such an outrageous drama llama with her hilarious over-reactions and revenge plots, although she comes by it naturally given her mother’s example.  Curve Balls provided an update on all the couples featured in the previous installments, with the theme of this issue being pregnancy concerns.  The couples were either enduring, dreading, considering, or fearing the possibility of being within the family way.  And I am happy to report I have a newly acquired Brit vocabulary word to add to my list – bint; which means a bit on the side like a tarty girlfriend.  Of course, it would be a shade naughty, I would expect nothing less from Ms. Long.  I’m already looking forward to more of this delightful series and fervently hoping that this talented wordsmith is currently locked in the attic and scribbling away on the next installment. 

Empress DJ



Purchase Links



Excerpt

“It’s this bloody play centre.” Dylan takes a large swig of beer. “I’m fully aware it’s her business and if it goes ‘tits up’ as she keeps telling me, she’d lose all her savings, but she’s never at home. It’s ridiculous. I work full-time and I’m having to come home and cook. She comes in late, eats, and is so tired she then goes to bed and is out like a light, until our alarm goes off and she repeats it all again. We barely speak, barely see each other. Since the engagement party she’s made no inroads into sorting out our wedding. I’m thinking we should forget the whole thing. She’s obviously not interested.”
“Have you tried to tell her?”
We look at each other and burst into laughter.
“As if we tell women anything. We like our bollocks right?” I state. Then I tilt my head at him, “Seriously though. It is time for the talk.”
“Oh God, no. Anything but the talk.”
The talk. The thing that makes a man quake in his boots. When he needs to say something important to a woman and he needs to be listened to. The one that goes something like this.
Man: Darling (always start with an endearment to sweeten them up).
Woman: Yes?
Man: It’s just a small thing but could you possibly fold my socks up rather than leave them in a pile as sometimes one falls behind the sofa and I end up with lots of odd socks.
Woman: Fine.
Man: Fuck, that was easier than I thought. (Goes to sit down.) Thirty minutes later: Hit by balls of socks to the head with a ‘will that do fuckhead?’
“Rather you than me mate.”

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Early Feedback

I adore Andie M. Long and her clever and bawdy sense of humor. Her riotously funny Ball Games series has never failed to give me the giggle-snorts. ~ Goodreads Review

I've said it before and I'll say it again, ANDIE IS THE QUEEN OF COMEDY WRITING! ~ BookLover

I love Andie's Ball Games books, the families and characters are relatable for me and Curve Balls is no different. ~ Goodreads Review


Giveaway 


GIVEAWAY


About The Author 
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Andie M. Long is the author of The Alphabet Game series, Underneath and Quickies. When not writing she can usually be found time wasting on social media. If you ever see her doing housework, step away. It means she's stressed! Prepare to meet the Turner Family in the Ball Games series in 2016 plus other works in progress.

Stalk Andie M Long Here:

(not a street team, just a place to hang and have fun).
Mailing List Free E book of Quickies on Sign up.



Monday, March 27, 2017

Cover Reveal: Get Wilde by Shelly Alexander

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Description

"She wants to get Wilde. She should be careful what she asks for." --Ethan Wilde
There are worse things in life than owning a thriving business in the heart of Manhattan and being labeled one of the Big Apple's most eligible bachelors. Trust me, I know. I've had some bad $h!t go down before I got to where I am.
No matter what curve balls life lobs at me, I take a swing. If I strike out, I learn, adjust, and make the best of it. For instance, when an injury ended my dream of playing in the Bigs, I could've sunken into self-pity. When my fiancée dumped me about thirty seconds after the major league scout did, I could've become a drunk. Instead, I got off my ass, finished my senior year of college, and put the degree my baseball scholarship earned me to work.
Seven years later, I'm living a new dream. I'm single, well-off, and about to take my business to the next level. I've got plans for A Pound of Flesh Fitness gyms to open nationwide.
Except the one person standing between me and my dream has become a fantasy. A hot, redheaded fantasy. My competition...my business enemy, is five feet nothing and packed full of dynamite, and I can't get her out of my mind or my fantasies. Her sexy as sin body, her sultry voice, and her bold personality that's just as fiery as her hair may have gotten under my skin, but there's no way I'll let her stay there.
Because no one gets to Ethan Wilde.
There's just one little detail I can't stop wondering about. The one thing that has brought men down since the beginning of time. I can't leave it alone until I know for sure: Is she a true redhead?
Bestselling author Shelly Alexander brings you this brand new series of super sexy, sizzling hot heroes. It's a fun, flirty, and dirty series written in the male POV.

If you like your romance hot and fun, then grab a comfy spot under a fan and enjoy! If you like them sweeter with a touch of steam, try Shelly Alexander's Red River Series.

It's time to Get Wilde and Pre-Order your copy

It will automatically be delivered to you on the 8th of May 2017


Add to your shelf on Goodreads
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Other books in this series


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Read FREE with KindleUnlimited
ForePlay (A Checkmate Inc. Novel Book 1)
Add to your shelf on Goodreads http://bit.ly/ForeplayGoodreads 


Rookie Moves (A Checkmate Inc. Novel Book 2)

US http://amzn.to/2gSR8wH

UK http://amzn.to/2glZUjp

Add to your shelf on Goodreads http://bit.ly/RookieMovesGoodreads

Coming Late Summer 2017

Sinful Games – Book 4 in the Checkmate Inc. Series

Coming 2018 Wilde Rush - Book 5 in the Checkmate Inc. Series


If you prefer your romances sweeter with a touch of steam, try Shelly Alexander’s Red River Series.

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It’s In His Heart Book 1

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It’s In His Touch Book 2

Amazon http://amzn.to/282SyHr Amazon CA http://amzn.to/1TXzpiO Amazon UK http://amzn.to/2ibGpM6

It’s In His Smile Book 3

Amazon http://amzn.to/1TAZ4L2 Amazon CA http://amzn.to/1OkWFYu Amazon UK http://amzn.to/2hL7dSp

It’s In His Arms Book 4

Amazon http://amzn.to/2fWMeMA Amazon CA http://amzn.to/2f1XDeR Amazon UK http://amzn.to/2hLaWPM

Author Bio

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A 2014 Golden Heart® finalist, Shelly Alexander grew up traveling the world, earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing, and worked in the business world for twenty-five years. With four older brothers, she watched every Star Trek episode ever made, joined the softball team instead of ballet class, and played with G.I. Joes while the Barbie Corvette stayed tucked in the closet. When she had three sons of her own, she decided to escape her male-dominated world by reading romance novels and has been hooked ever since. Now, she spends her days writing steamy contemporary romances while tending to a miniature schnauzer named Omer, a tiny toy poodle named Mozart, and a pet boa named Zeus.

Keep up to date and follow Shelly here

Website http://shellyalexander.net/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ShellyAlexanderAuthor/ Twitter https://twitter.com/ShellyCAlexande Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12166814.Shelly_Alexander BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/shelly-alexander-fe4d94bf-321c-4611-afcb-28a7bb80cc02 Email shelly@shellyalexander.net

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Thursday, March 23, 2017

Book Review, Giveaway: Moments of Beauty by J.B. Heller



 Moments of Beauty

by J.B. Heller 


Goodreads


Amazon US 

Amazon UK 

Amazon AU

Everywhere Else




Ugly. It's the only word to describe my upbringing.

It drove my need to capture every moment of beauty I could find. A glimpse of a mother’s love. A feather floating in the breeze. A ray of sunshine emerging on a rainy day.

And then there was her, Eliza Quinn, she signified everything I didn’t deserve. She showed me more beauty than I ever thought possible. And I took it all, despite knowing I was going to leave her, and never come back.

Leaving her five years ago was my biggest mistake and my greatest regret. Now I need to make amends. I thought leaving her was the hardest thing I’d ever have to do, but that was before I knew I had to win her back.


My Rating:




Favorite Quotes:



I repeat the mantra I’ve been using since he left to remind myself of what I am.  You’re stronger than one boy.  You are a fucking dolphin in a sea full of catfish.  You’re a catch, damn it!


It’s not that I can’t imagine a future without him, it’s that I don’t want to.


I want to be with you, day in, day out.  And I will do whatever I need to in order for that to happen.  You’re it… you’re my one and only.  You always have been.  I’m not going anywhere without you, ever again.



My Review:



Written in my favorite dual POV, Moments of Beauty was a heart-squeezing and emotive tale that stole my breath.  I initially feared I had stumbled into YA, naughty YA, but as the characters were in high school, I began to worry.   Silly me!  I really should know better as I have read this delightfully talented author’s work before.  The storyline was relevant, well constructed, and entertaining, while the writing was poignant, engaging, and captivating.  I cherished and adored this endearing couple. 

Empress DJ


  

About JB Heller

I'm a regular Aussie chic, with a spunky husband and a few kids.
I've worked in many different fields, trying to find my niche. But nothing felt right until now. I have found my fit. I am passionate about reading as well as writing and I have gained some incredibly inspiring friends from this journey.
I write contemporary comedic romance with a bit of spice to keep things interesting.
I like to write fun, interesting characters that grab your attention from the very beginning.
I hope you enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoy writing them. X



Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Book Review: THE LAST CHANCE MATINEE by Mariah Stewart


THE LAST CHANCE MATINEE

by Mariah Stewart


Goodreads

Amazon

B&N

 March 21, 2017

Publisher: Gallery Books

Book 1 in the Hudson Sisters series

Look for Book 2 in 2018 and Book 3 in 2019!



Praise for The Last Chance Matinee:
“The combination of a quirky small-town setting, a family mystery, a gentle romance, and three estranged sisters is catnip for women's fiction fans, and the backdrop of the faded movie palace adds a fascinating element to the story. Stewart’s lively, warmhearted series starter [The Last Chance Matinee] will have readers eagerly awaiting the second installment.”
—Booklist

“A good read, with a nice blend of mystery, family drama, and romance. Readers will look forward to the next installment.”
—Library Journal

About The Last Chance Matinee:
From the New York Times bestselling author Mariah Stewart comes the first novel in her all-new series, which follows a trio of reluctant sisters who set out to fulfill their father’s dying wish and, in the process, discover the truth not only about their pasts but about each other—and themselves—in a way that will forever alter their futures.

When celebrated and respected Fritz Hudson passes away suddenly, he leaves a trail of Hollywood glory in his wake—and two separate families who never knew the other existed. Allie and Des Hudson are products of Fritz’s first marriage to Honora, a beautiful but troubled starlet whose life ended tragically. As his relationship with Honora was unraveling, Fritz was simultaneously falling in love on the Delaware Bay with New Age hippie Susa—but while Fritz adored Susa and fathered daughter Cara with her, he never quite managed to come clean about his West Coast Family.

Now Fritz is gone, and the three sisters are brought together under strange circumstances: there’s a large inheritance to be had, specifically one that could save Allie from her ever-deepening debt following a disastrous divorce; allow Des to open a rescue shelter for abused and wounded animals; and give Cara a fresh start after her husband left her for her best friend; but only if the sisters upend their lives and work together to restore an old theater that was Fritz’s obsession growing up in his small hometown in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains. Will the sisters come together to turn their father’s dream into a reality – and will they come away with far more than they bargained for?



My Rating:



Favorite Quotes:



Cara watched Joe take a bite of his burger and was tempted to whisper, ‘Moo,’ but thought maybe she’d pulled that chain enough for one day. 


I bought champagne to celebrate you.  He doesn’t matter.  You matter… We matter.  We deserve a chance, and this is where we begin.  You in?


I had the best time.  Joe is… The one I thought I’d never find.




My Review:



I enjoyed this engaging story from beginning to end.  The writing was entertaining, amusing, and lushly detailed.  While the storyline initially seemed a bit complicated, it was easy to follow and pleasurable to read.  Upon their father’s death, three women discover they have more family members than they realized - as Papa was a Rollin’ Stone.  According to the “ironclad” will, the three women were required to work together on an extensive and challenging restoration project with firm conditions and stipulations before they would earn their father’s large estate.  Their project required the sisters to relocate to a quaint little town in Pennsylvania, which sparked outrage for Allie - the snide LA diva sister, although she was always on the verge of outrage.  There was a large cast of interesting and vibrantly detailed characters, with each being delightfully unique, easily differentiated, and memorable.  My favorites being Joe - for his clever wit and patience, and Des for her thoughtful insights and gentleness.  All the characters intrigued me, although I would not want to spend one second of my time with the bitter drama llama Allie.  I hope Ms. Stewart is currently locked in her writing cave and banging out the next installment.

Empress DJ




About Mariah Stewart:

Mariah Stewart is an award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of numerous novels as well as several novellas and short stories. She lives with her husband and two rambunctious rescue dogs amid the rolling hills of Chester County, Pennsylvania, where she savors county life and tends her gardens while she works on her next novel. Visit her atmariahstewart.com and follow her on Facebook.com/AuthorMariahStewart and on Instagram @mariah_stewart_books.

Note:
Mariah Stewart’s separate series, the bestselling Chesapeake Diaries, has been a favorite with readers since 2010. The eleventh installment, The Chesapeake Bride, will publish August 29, 2017.