Monday, March 17, 2014

Must Love Otters by Eliza Gordon

Must Love Otters
Book: Must Love Otters

Author: Eliza Gordon

Genre: Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Chick-Lit

Book Synopsis:

Hollie Porter is the chairwoman of Generation Disillusioned: at twenty-five years old, she’s saddled with a job she hates, a boyfriend who’s all wrong for her, and a vexing inability to say no. She’s already near her breaking point, so when one caller too many kicks the bucket during Hollie’s 911 shift, she cashes in the Sweethearts’ Spa & Stay gift certificate from her dad and heads to Revelation Cove, British Columbia. One caveat: she’s going solo. Any sweethearts will have to be found on site.

Hollie hopes to find her beloved otters in the wilds of the Great White North, but instead she’s providing comic relief for staff and guests alike. Even Concierge Ryan, a former NHL star with bad knees and broken dreams, can’t stop her from stumbling from one (mis)adventure to another. Just when Hollie starts to think that a change of venue doesn’t mean a change in circumstances, the island works its charm and she starts to think she might have found the rejuvenation she so desperately desires. But then an uninvited guest crashes the party, forcing her to step out of the discomfort zone where she dwells and save the day … and maybe even herself in the process.


My Rating

5 - Tears in my eyes from laughing aloud- Stars!  

Favorite Quotes:

“Self-pity is a fickle cow.  She makes you feel worse about feeling worse.”

“Dinner on a date is about so much more than a satisfying meal.  One has to consider a number of factors: too much onion or garlic?  Bad for kissing.  Too much greenery or carbs?  Fodder for the fart factory.  Too spicy?  Could be looking at embarrassing bowel upset.  I also avoid green tea and anything caramel.  Both have resulted in disastrous ends to first dates when my stomach decided that such ingredients are offensive and should be expelled through the lower route immediately, without delay.  Nothing says romance like taking an explosive shit in some stranger’s bathroom.”

“I am glad to see him go, even though I notice - again - how nicely his slacks fit him.  But it doesn’t matter.  He’s an obnoxious mongrel who wouldn’t know how to treat a woman if she gave him an instruction manual with an audiobook and full-color illustrations.  He has to be a total lost cause if he’s still single - he’s gotta be pushing thirty - and living this far from civilization?  He’s probably doing womankind a favor keeping himself out of circulation.”


My Review:

This book is wicked funny!  By page 2 I knew I had found my new favorite author.  Actually, I had an inkling before I even started reading… with the bold heading for Chapter One “Batman Jerry,”… I was already had.  Starting a book with loving otters in the title that contained a first chapter about “Batman Jerry,” well, I could already sense I was going to enjoy the ride.  I must admit – I truly love and adore a clever and snarky heroine who is not afraid to call herself out for being an asshat …you see, I know the type… I personally should be looking for a 12 step program to join.

But I don’t want to give you the impression that this story is all sniggers and giggles.  The whole range of emotions is tapped here.  Many tears. Humiliations.  Betrayals.  Accidents.  And really bad news for Batman Jerry.  Our intrepid heroine, who proves to be more than a bit of a Calamity Jane, has hit a rough patch in her life.  She has finally reached the tipping point of having enough misfortune hit the fan at once, to rouse her from her complacency and bring her to the realization that she is unhappy with her awful job, jackass boyfriend, meager lifestyle, horrid co-workers, distant best-friend, yada yada… and that she deserves more than what she has settled for.  She also knows that she is a large part of the problem and feels… empty and incomplete. Most of us have been there to some extent.  And like most of us when reaching these life-changing epiphanies, she is at a total loss as to what to do about it.  


I instantly liked the title upon first glance as - who doesn’t love otters? They are cute, frisky, and full of funny antics.  It was finding out late in the book why she is so drawn to the otters that squeezed my heart.  As humorous, well written, wily, and brilliantly clever as this story is, there are several points in the book that brought me to a full stop with a, “Wow!  That just got real!” It turns on a dime and runs a crocked obstacle course.  I loved it!  I am still raving about it nearly a week later.  I find I am unwilling to start another book just yet as I am wanting to savor it just a little longer.  Actually, since learning some juicy stuff near the end, I am having a hard time resisting the urge to have the full-on otter experience all over again.  I have a really good feeling that I will enjoy Hollie Porter’s story even more the second time around.  

Empress DJ

Giveaway & Book Blitz: Fury - Clarissa Wild



Fury by Clarissa Wild
(Fierce #1.5)
Publication date: March 17th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:
Would you risk everything for love?
Life has held nothing but hardships for Hunter Bane. Growing up with a learning disability wasn’t easy, especially when you’re poor. With only his brother to support him, Hunter clings to the short moments of happiness in life. Like when he meets Autumn Blakewood.

Autumn Blakewood is a geek at heart. Reading is her passion, and she can’t spend one day without her books. She’s always locked up in her room studying, trying to avoid trouble. Until Hunter comes into her life.

Hunter can’t resist the temptation to get closer to Autumn. She is his complete opposite, and yet he’s drawn to her in ways he can’t explain. But when his brother is caught dealing drugs and sent to prison, Hunter’s world shatters.

To save his brother, Hunter has to join the gang he’s feared his entire life. Now he’s forced to choose between his family and the one girl he loves. Fighting for both, his fury is all he needs…

Purchase:


Amazon I B&N I KOBOGoogle Play I Smashwords I All Romance 

FURY Playlist


You can check them out below, or listen to them on youtube here

"Hold Me Now" by Red
"Demons" by Imagine Dragons
"Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons
"Supermassive Black Hole" by Muse
"Uprising" by Muse
"Glorious" by Muse
"SAIL" by AwolNation
"The Fighter" by Gym Class Heroes ft. Ryan Tedder
"Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls
"The Reason" by Hoobastank
"Wonderwall" by Oasis
"Work B**ch" by Britney Spears
"Dark Horse" by Katy Perry Ft. Juicy J.
"Holding on and letting go" by Ross Copperman
"Army Of Me" by Björk
"Sweet Dreams" by Sucker Punch
"Ni**as in Paris" by Jay-Z & Kanye West
"Rap God" by Eminem
"All Is Full Of Love" by Björk

Listen on Spotify:



AUTHOR BIO
Clarissa Wild is the Amazon Bestselling Romance author of FIERCE, a top 200 and top 15 New Adult Romance novel. She is also a writer of erotic romance such as the Blissful Series, The Billionaire's Bet series, the Doing It Series and the Enflamed Series. She is an avid reader and writer of sexy stories about hot men and feisty women. Her other loves include her furry cat friend and learning about different cultures. In her free time she enjoys watching all sorts of movies, reading tons of books and cooking her favorite meals.
Author Links:



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Giveaway & Cover Reveal: See Through Me - Sera Bright


See Through Me by Sera Bright
(Lose My Senses #1)
Publication date: May 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Designed by Yocal Designs

Synopsis:
There's only one person I want to see when I return home. But I know he won't be waiting. It's the reason I feel safe enough to come back.

I’m so wrong.

Ash Townsend isn't the same quiet boy from next door. He's tall, dark, and demanding answers. He wants me, but he doesn't trust me. Who can blame him? When his own family tried to break him down, he still sheltered me in this town full of liars. And I repaid it by leaving him without a word.

Because I'll do anything to protect Ash. I have the scars on my wrist to prove it.


AUTHOR BIO
When I’m not plotting elaborate schemes in my head, I’m having a fabulous time with my own real life story. That’s what happens when you have three awesome kids, two fluffy (useless) cats, and one very patient husband.

I can cook like a fiend but prefer to eat doughnuts with sprinkles for breakfast. Sprinkles make everything taste better. An avid reader of all genres, I shamelessly admit romance will always be my favorite. And while I enjoy the safe and familiar, I’m always up for an adventure.

My debut New Adult Contemporary Romance novel SEE THROUGH ME will be released in May. You can contact me at https://www.facebook.com/authorserabright , https://twitter.com/SeraBright , or through my website www.serabright.com  





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Goodreads Giveaway:
   

    Goodreads Book Giveaway  

   
        See Through Me by Sera Bright    
   
     

          See Through Me      

     

          by Sera Bright      

     
         
            Giveaway ends May 15, 2014.          
         
            See the giveaway details             at Goodreads.          
     
   
   
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Giveaway & Book Blitz: All Of Me? - K E Osborn


Title: All of Me? (Trust Me? Trilogy)
Author: K E Osborn
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: March 14, 2014


In the second book of The Trust Me? Trilogy, Jeni Taylor and Aiden O’Connell seemed to find life challenging, but as the third book begins, we are faced with the idea that maybe they may not get their Happily Ever After. Jeni is broken and confused after a vicious physical and emotional attack, leaving her with no energy to fight for her relationship with Aiden. She’s terrified and feels like the world is against her. Through some tough love and help from an old friend Jeni finally realises how deeply in love with Aiden she is. She asks him to take her back, but when she discovers Aiden is moving to help run a new business acquisition in Tokyo, is it too late?

Alistair’s taunts and abuse toward Jeni worsen, leaving her already broken and fragile state to deteriorate even further. Will Jeni find the strength to pull her life back together? With jealousy over a possible new love and with tensions high, the conclusion to The Trust Me? Trilogy will take you on a rollercoaster ride. The electricity and love between Jeni and Aiden is undeniable. Will they see past all the hurdles and find their way to each other? In the end, Jeni will be asking the ultimate question: Does Aiden know that he really does have all of me?

Add to GoodReads


K E Osborn was born in September 1984 and raised in Adelaide South Australia. She had a love of writing throughout High School but went down a different path choosing graphic design instead. It wasn't until she had a vivid dream about a three car pile up that the characters of her first book came to life.

Aiden and Jeni are the amazing couple from the Trust me? Trilogy and they were born into the world through the imagination of K E Osborn in 2013.



Facebook: 



All of Me? The Trust Me? Trilogy by K E Osborn is now available for purchase for $2.99 at Amazon and Smashwords.


You can download from Smashwords in the following formats:
Epub for iPads, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo etc.
Kindle for Kindle devices.
PDF for the computer

Trust Me? The Trust Me? Trilogy by K E Osborn is now available for purchase for FREE from the 14-16th March ONLY at Amazon, Smashwords, Apple, Barnes & Noble and Kobo.



YouTube Book Trailer


Love Me? The Trust Me? Trilogy by K E Osborn is now available for purchase for $0.99cents at Amazon and Smashwords.

For Amazon and kindle:

Goodreads Reviews:

YouTube Book Trailer:
Please note: these books are for mature audiences 18+. They contain explicit language and sexual content.


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Giveaway & Book Blitz: Impervious - Heather Letto



Impervious by Heather Letto
(Ascension #1)
Publication date: April 29th 2014
Genres: Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult

Synopsis:
The residents of Impervious are the remnant—survivors of the War of Annihilation. And though the city is chockfull of pleasures to tantalize and entertain, a beast lurks in its corners haunting the residents with its presence. The Beast—a mysterious and terminal illness--has killed off most of Generations One, Two and Three. And as Gen-Four prepares to take the stage a provocative, yet questionable, new method to avoid an untimely death becomes a cultural rage. 

But Fran is counter-cultural. And living off the grid in true rebel fashion, her life is far from opulent. Scurrying through dark tunnels, searching for hot meals and ditching the holographic security team encompass most of her day. However, she views it as a healthy trade-off. Unaccountability means The Council can’t steal her sliver of hope--a belief that she’ll see The Epoch arrive before the beast can pull her into its fetid embrace. 

After losing her mother and then her Rebel mentor, however, she grasps painfully onto the splintered sliver, until a new hope is born. First through Pete. And then through a miraculous discovery. 

But the question still haunts her…

Can she outrun The Beast? 
----

AUTHOR BIO
Heather considers herself but a worker in the field with a desire to share truth through the art of good story.  In real life, she’s the proud mother of two grown sons and lives part-time in Northern Illinois with her husband, but scurries off to warmer climates when the mercury takes a dive on the thermometer. As well as The Ascension Series, Heather contributes to WHOAwomen magazine, The Fit Christian, Tween Girls and God, Devotion Magazine as well as Swagga for Christ Ministry.

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Giveaway & Book Blitz: The Right Moves - Emma Hart




The Right Moves by Emma Hart
(The Game #3)
Publication date: March 27th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:
Her past is wrought with demons.

His past is full of heartbreak.

Yet he’s the one person that can remind her what it means to live.


Abbi Jenkins never thought she would leave the walls of the mental institution that’s housed her for the last year. Now she has, but that doesn’t mean she’s forgotten everything Pearce put her through.

She knows there’s only one way to deal with the depression that claws at her mind each day, and ballet becomes more than a hobby, a dream. Ballet – and Julliard – becomes a reason to live. Something to hold on for.

Blake Smith left London for one reason and one reason only. Running from the heartbreak of his past was never something he wanted to do, but with constant reminders everywhere he turned, it became his only option. When he arrives in New York City, he vows he’ll keep the promise he made to his sister and get into Juilliard.

But he doesn’t expect to be paired with Abbi in class, the girl whose eyes show a world of pain he’s seen before. Pain he knows too well. As each hour they spend together pulls them closer, Blake can’t fight his need to save her from herself.

Lines blur as their pasts are wrenched into the open, and they have to ask themselves whether they’re  too broken to ever to be fixed, or if they’re the healing the other needs.

----
AUTHOR BIO
By day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult author Emma Hart dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to a terrible two year old and growing bump, due September 2013. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of juice and writes books.
She likes to write about magic, kisses and whatever else she can fit into the story. Sarcastic, witty characters are a must. As are hot guys. Emma is currently working too many books to even count - including Playing for Keeps, the companion book to the New York Times and USA Today bestselling novel, The Love Game. She likes to be busy - unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to when all the ideas come to life.

Author Links:
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The Hookup List by Dakota Madison - Empress DJ

Title: The Hookup List

 Author: Dakota Madison

 Genre: YA, NA, Contemporary Romance

 Synopsis:

 A FRESHMAN, HER ROOMMATE, A GUY and A LIST...

THE FRESHMAN: Ana Alves came to college for one reason--to be the first person in her immigrant family to earn a degree. She doesn't want anything to derail her from her pre-med studies, especially a guy.

HER ROOMMATE: Nicki Payne is ready to party and she doesn't waste any time hooking up with a guy in a frat house bathroom. Her motto: College is a time to be young, wild and free.

A GUY: Christopher Knight is the easy-going English major with a sexy smile and killer body who sits next to Ana in her Shakespeare class. Ana finds Christopher intriguing. She just doesn't want to admit that she's falling for him.

THE HOOKUP LIST: A list of freshman girls who are ready for action that's circulated to the freshman guys via a weekly Listserv. When Nicki Payne is one of the first girls featured on The Hookup List, guys start knocking on her dorm door at all hours of the day and night looking to score...

But what happens when one of those guys is Christopher?

  

Favorite Quote:


“All of the times I imagined what it would be like to kiss Christopher were like really bad photocopies of an absolutely stunning original print.”

My Rating:


4 stars

 My Review:


Well written YA, but Dakota Madison always is from my experience.  The characters are a bit whiny, although when I think about it, most young college students are... given their frequent states of hang-overs and sleep deprivation from late-nights.  Serious minded and “good girl” Ana is across the US and away from her close knit, old fashioned, and controlling family for the first time in her life.  Her family has decided she is to be a medical doctor like her aunt, so she sets about fulfilling that duty.  Unfortunately, her roommate, and the roommate’s posse of skanks, are party girls who aspire to nothing more than being at the top of the “Hookup List" of easy females who are rated on the list by how quick they are to get into “action.”  Serious minded Ana has a boyfriend of several years back home, yet is still a virgin.  Hmm, we sense this is not for long.  On her first day, she meets a handsome and smart boy in one of her classes and is instantly attracted, he feels likewise.  The chase begins.  He spouts Shakespeare to her, she eats it up.  Drama ensues.  I liked the story, although it dragged a bit in spots, but a relatively quick and easy read. 

Empress DJ