New Release, Giveaway: Hurt Me by Jeri Williams

Book: Hurt Me

Author: Jeri Williams

Genre: Contemporary Romance

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Synopsis

Hurt Me the second book in the Me novel series that continues Deklan and Harley's journey from Breathe Me.

What happens when you wake up from the nightmare that you’ve been living? Do you start living a happy normal life, one that you’ve always dreamed of, or do you start a new nightmare?

Harley did it. She survived, thanks to Deklan, but now...she is left with hard truths and different emotions; what she thought was the end, was only the beginning. Harley has to navigate through these changes while deciding on who she is and where she fits in Deklan’s life because she is coming to learn that when someone saves you, even from yourself, you hero worship them. You hero worship them so much they become your everything. Their wants turn into your needs, their needs into your obsessions, their obsessions into your life. Finally you come to a point where this worshiping, this obsession, will either heal you or hurt you.

Will Harley be healed from her past or hurt by it?

Author Bio

Jeri Williams lives a super fabulous lifestyle (by fabulous, she means kinda lame) in the hot Florida sun and loves reading of any kind (except instruction manuals and cereal boxes). She has always written stories and made her family listen to them since she was young, although this is her first book she has ever published. She is a mom of an up-and-coming Jerry Seinfeld (in girl form) and also enjoys being right and knowing everything, although she is hardly ever right and really doesn't know anything and is obsessed with inventing miniature zoo animals you can carry around in your pocket (although not really).

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OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

BREATHE  ME (A ME NOVEL #1)

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Book Review: The Total Package by Stephanie Evanovich

 The Total Package

by Stephanie Evanovich

 Hardcover: 256 pages

Publisher: William Morrow 

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The New York Times bestselling author of Big Girl Panties is back with a funny, sweet, and sizzling novel about love, redemption, and second chances.

Heartthrob star quarterback Tyson Palmer has it all: a million-dollar arm, a winning season and the promise of a Superbowl ring. But more importantly, football’s biggest star is the ultimate comeback kid. After an addiction to painkillers nearly derailed his career, Tyson got sober and went from zero to hero in the eyes of the public.

But one person remains unconvinced: Dani Carr, a sports commentator with high ratings and following of her own.

Dani can’t forgive Tyson’s transgressions or forget a single passionate night with him back in college. To make things worse, Tyson doesn’t realize that the bombshell with huge ratings is the cute co-ed whose heart he once broke.

But can a sports journalist trying to claw her way to the top and a quarterback who knows all about rock bottom make it to the Super Bowl without destroying each other? And what will happen when Tyson—riding high now that he’s revived his career—realizes he needs to make an even more important comeback with Dani? Can he use his million-dollar moves to get past her defenses—or will she sideline him for good?

Stephanie Evanovich is a full-fledged Jersey girl from Asbury Park and the New York Times bestselling author of Big Girl Panties and The Sweet Spot.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

“I’m a weed-smoking, pill-popping alcoholic.  No crack or smack.  I had to draw the line somewhere.”

“Sometimes I don’t know what was harder, straightening out my head or my heart.”

“One look at her in this outfit and the most memorable gift her father got this Christmas would’ve been a stroke.  She pulled at the tags under her arm and caught sight of the designer – Tart Collections.  Never was a garment so aptly named.”

“Her dreams and reality had finally merged, and she was still reeling (although maybe that was thanks to her first, well several, orgasms that had nothing to do with batteries).  Now Dani fully understood what all the fuss was about.”

“Sweetheart.  I would sit with Satan and present a united front if it helped you.  That’s just what mothers do.”

“For way too long now, I’ve kept my distance from people.  Not because I didn’t think they were worthy, but because I didn’t think I was.”

My Review:

I wasn’t sure what to expect but I enjoyed this endearing story of second chances and redemption.  The writing was emotive, insightful, and entertaining and the plot was generally well paced although the characters did go back and forth in their timelines as they recalled their memories and histories.  Toss in a bit of intrigue, clever humor, and some steamy sensual scenes and you have an interesting read on your hands.  This was my first Stephanie Evanovich read but it certainly will not be my last. 

Empress DJ

About Stephanie Evanovich

Stephanie Evanovich is a full-fledged Jersey girl who attended New York Conservatory for the Dramatic Arts, performed with several improvisational troupes, and acted in a few small-budget movies, all in preparation for the greatest job she ever had: raising her two sons. Now a full-time writer, she’s an avid sports fan who holds a black belt in tae kwon do.

Find out more about Stephanie at her website and connect with her on Facebook.

New Release, Giveaway: Parallel by L.J. Stock

Book: Parallel (Mortisalian Saga Book 1)

Author: L.J. Stock

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Romance

Release Date: 14^th March

Goodreads Book Link

Synopsis

Cassandra Collier was only seventeen when her parents dumped her in a psychiatric ward. Seven years later, she still has no hope of leaving. Nothing’s changed. She still hears sounds that can’t possibly be real - sounds of war and brutal deaths that she can’t turn off. At least, not since his voice was silenced in her mind.

After a threat to her life becomes very real, Cassandra is torn from the only world she’s ever known and thrust into the very reality and truth that have been hidden from her since she was born, including the prophecy that is her birthright.

Unsure whether she has the strength to be the woman she needs to be, and more than aware that her decision controls the fate of a world that doesn’t know she exists, Cassandra has to choose between the love of a man who barely registers her existence and loyalty to a father she barely knows.

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Author Bio

From a young age L.J. Stock was led by her imagination. From the moment she could read she fell into worlds where trees could talk and little girls could move things with their minds.

In no hurry to grow up, she found stories all around her, in the forests of Plym Bridge, the moss covered hills of Dartmoor, then, as she grew older, the wide spread city of Houston, where she currently resides and works. A constant daydreamer, she hopes that one day, her passion can become something more than just a hobby for her.

Still led by her imagination, the worlds have slowly grown from childish adventures to urban fantasies and romances. With inspirational authors such as Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl, Judy Blume, John Grisham and Stephen King guiding her through her life so far, L.J. Stock has finally decided that it is time for her to go for gold and try land herself on someone else’s future list of favorites.

Putting words on paper is as essential as breathing to her, but on the rare occasions that she isn’t writing, she can be found with a video game remote in hand or curled up on the couch with her pup and a good book. Music is also such an important part of her life, it’s a wonder there isn’t a background soundtrack playing wherever she goes.

A good girl to most, a bad girl to a few, L.J. believes that every genre should be attempted and is more than likely to have tried to release three hundred series’ ranging from vampires and werewolves, to dystopian and even classic romance, before she reaches even middle age. At least, that’s the plan for now.

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Book Review: The Safe Bet by Shealy James

The Safe Bet

by Shealy James

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There’s no man in the world who won’t break Reagan Anders’s heart… 

At the fragile age of eight, Reagan’s life seemed perfect. But when her beloved father abandoned their tiny family, Reagan was left emotionally scarred. 

Now in high school, not much has changed. Reagan still won’t let her guard down. Not even for her long-time friend, Brock Anderson, who has spent years pursuing Reagan, yet never tearing down her walls. 

If you push hard enough, eventually you’ll get your way... 

By graduation, Brock has finally won over Reagan’s affections. They aren’t a public item, but Brock is content just being hers, even if that means going without the official boyfriend title. 

As usual, Reagan’s fears get the better of her, and suspicions of Brock’s commitment creep in. Surviving their relationship’s tension, they make it to college together, where their game of cat and mouse takes a darker twist. 

Tragedies come in threes... 

But after a tragic car crash that kills her best friend, her mother ships her off to the one person Reagan hates more than herself. Her father. 

When she meets her brother she never knew, they immediately become friends. Years pass until one day when she meets one of her brother’s friends…Brock Anderson—and he’s on a mission to win her back. 

When Reagan and Brock are reunited, the chemistry is stronger than ever. But when uncertainty threatens their future, will Brock be the safe bet, or will he be the heartache she always feared?

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

“The look on my daddy’s face was like he was looking at a big hairy spider rather than his only daughter crying in the middle of Disneyland.”

“There had always been something about Adam.  I was never attracted to him, but he had a way of suckering me in.  The boy gave good woo.”

“My past is coming back to haunt me, and Casper is not a friendly ghost.”

“Oh honey, you have to find yourself a nice man.  You know, my grandson is coming to visit next week.  I can set you up if you’d like.  He’s a good-looking man, but I couldn’t tell you anything about his bedroom skills.  If it’s anything like his dancing, you’re better off looking elsewhere.”

“You know what they say about the ones that are too good-looking?  They’re anything but a safe bet, but you should never kick them out of bed.”

“I will love you with all that I am for all of my days.”

My Review:

This author is wicked.  She frustrated and fascinated me with Reagan – I wanted to throw my precious kindle – but I could not stop reading.  The story squeezed my heart, stung my eyes, constricted my lungs with anxiety, and caused my stomach to churn – but I could not stop reading.  Reagan lives a life of denial and avoidance.  She does not communicate well and tends to run away when situations get intense or overwhelming.  She is immature, cranky, snarky, difficult, petulant, lazy, angry, hostile, pedantic, selfish, insecure, and damaged.  She expects and assumes the worst, often jumping to the incorrect conclusions.  She rejects others before giving them a chance to reject her.  Yet as frustrating and difficult as she is - she is also oddly lovable. 

This second chance romance kept me on edge while it entertained and deviled me.  I was quickly hooked and was not able to put the book down for long without itching to pick it back up.  Shealy James is a gifted storyteller and I want to read her entire listing – but first I would need to restock my wine supply in preparation.   

Empress DJ

About the Author


Shealy James is Georgia native who teaches middle school math during the day and disappears into fiction at night. She is an avid reader and a writer who laughs in the face of middle school angst and welcomes humor, drama, and the all-important happy ending. Shealy is the author of the Finding Series and the Game Changers Series. Book 1 in the Game Changers Series releases August 18.

For more information about Shealy and her books, check out

www.shealyjamesbooks.com.
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