Blog Tour: Review and Excerpt from Kiss the Flame by Christopher Rice

Author:Christopher RIce
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Inc
Date of publication: November 2015

In a standalone novella that combines the worlds of THE FLAME and his novel, THE SURRENDER GATE, New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice returns you to a mysterious candle shop in the New Orleans French Quarter where the scents of passion provide the courage to embrace your heart's desire.

Are some risks worth taking?
Laney Foley is the first woman from her hard working family to attend college. That's why she can't act on her powerful attraction to one of the gorgeous teaching assistants in her Introduction to Art History course. Getting involved with a man who has control over her final grade is just too risky. But ever since he first laid eyes on her, Michael Brouchard seems to think about little else but the two of them together. And it's become harder for Laney to ignore his intelligence and his charm.
During a walk through the French Quarter, an intoxicating scent that reminds Laney of her not-so-secret admirer draws her into an elegant scented candle shop. The shop's charming and mysterious owner seems to have stepped out of another time, and he offers Laney a gift that could break down the walls of her fear in a way that can only be described as magic. But will she accept it?

Light this flame at the scene of your greatest passion and all your desires will be yours...
Lilliane Williams is a radiant, a supernatural being with the power to make your deepest sexual fantasy take shape around you with just a gentle press of her lips to yours. But her gifts came at a price. Decades ago, she set foot inside what she thought was an ordinary scented candle shop in the French Quarter. When she resisted the magical gift offered to her inside, Lilliane was endowed with eternal youth and startling supernatural powers, but the ability to experience and receive romantic love was removed from her forever. When Lilliane meets a young woman who seems poised to make the same mistake she did years before, she becomes determined to stop her, but that will mean revealing her truth to a stranger. Will Lilliane's story provide Laney with the courage she needs to open her heart to the kind of true love only magic can reveal?

My thoughts:

Kiss the Flame is part of the 1001 Dark Nights series that multiple authors have been participating in over the past few years.  It is also takes place in the  world of the author's book, The Surrender Gate.  I haven't read that book and after reading this, I kind of wish that I had.  The story involves Laney, who is a scholarship student at a prestigious college in New Orleans.  She is pretty much a loner and has worked hard to be where she is today. She also has a secret crush on her teaching assistant.  The best part is that Michael feels the same way.  But Laney has been hurt too much to trust.

I was really liking the story up through the point where Laney finds the candle shop.  Then, the story started getting confusing.  I'm still not sure I understand who Lilliane is and how she came to be.  I'm assuming more of the story would have come out in the previous book.  But, ignoring that part of the story, I loved watching Michael and Laney fall for each other.  I wish that the story had been a little longer though as I wanted more background on Laney before college.  

So this is worth checking out.  I'm taking off a star for not really holding up as a stand alone, but the romance was worth the read!

Excerpt:

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” These words are the first sounds Bastian makes as he materializes on the roof of St. Louis Cathedral. No doubt he’s referring to the expansive view. Lilliane studies the vast shadowed square below.

At night, the high wrought iron gates, which usually grant admittance to the center of Jackson Square, are closed, leaving the proud statue of Andrew Jackson astride his horse alone in a sea of shadows. Outside the fence, the tarot card readers and street musicians she stood among only seconds before look like small, animated dolls. And just beyond the stream of traffic on Decatur Street, a cargo ship as tall as a high-rise office building glides past the city on the inky black waters of the Mississippi River.

“And to think, most will never see it,” Bastian says.

“See what?”

“The view, darling. It’s not like there’s a viewing platform up here.”

“Don’t attempt to mollify me with talk of my powers,” Lilliane says quietly. “I’m not in the mood, Bastian.”

“Mollify you?” he asks, sounding genuinely hurt. “What a curious word.”

She hands him the suitcase with enough force to knock a normal man back on his heels. But he is not a normal man. At what point are you allowed to stop referring to a ghost as a man?

Bastian is suddenly silent as he hefts the suitcase. He goes about his usual routine; caressing the handle slowly, carefully running his fingers along the array of inset jewels along the top. To a curious onlooker he would look like some kind of leather fetishist. The truth is far stranger. Bastian cannot slip through the cracks in human time carrying any object he hasn’t handled for at least ten minutes. It’s one of the few rules of his existence he’s shared with her.

About Christopher Rice:

After publishing four New York Times bestselling thrillers by the age of 30 and being declared one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive, award-winning writer Christopher Rice became the first author to make his erotic romance debut part of the 1,001 DARK NIGHTS series. THE FLAME: A Desire Exchange Novella kicked off a steamy new series set in New Orleans, featuring magical candles and a sexy new breed of supernatural beings, The Radiants, who are devoted to helping heroes and heroines realize their heart’s desire. THE FLAME earned accolades from some of the biggest names in erotic romance and was quickly followed up by THE SURRENDER GATE: A Desire Exchange Novel, available from Evil Eye Concepts as a Blue Box Special. Aside from authoring eight works of dark suspense, Christopher is also the co-host and executive producer of a streaming Internet radio show he launched with his best friend, New York Times bestselling author Eric Shaw Quinn. Each Sunday at 8 PM ET/ 5 PM PT, THE DINNER PARTY SHOW WITH CHRISTOPHER RICE & ERIC SHAW QUINN brings you a new episode at TheDinnerPartyShow.com.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | KISS THE FLAME on Goodreads

Buy Links:

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Blog Tour: Excerpt of His Contract by Rebecca Grace Allen

Author: Rebecca Grace Allen

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Date of publication:  November 2015

Lawyers know when to play by the rules…and when to break them.

Harvard law professor Jack Archer once balanced his professional life with the private world of dominance, surrender, and trust he shared with his wife. Since cancer stole her a year ago, finding love again—her final wish for him—is the furthest thing from his mind. From his empty house to the classroom, grief follows his every move. Until he meets a young woman with shadows in her eyes even darker than his own.

Once a shining star at law school, Lilly Sterling's dreams died when the Dom she trusted left her heartbroken and lost. She's starting fresh in a new city as a paralegal, but meeting Jack reawakens all her old demons—and her lingering desires.

Jack offers to become Lilly's mentor for both the courtroom and the playroom, but tells himself it's not a relationship. Their carefully worded contract guarantees that. But when their trial agreement starts heating up, both Jack and Lilly must decide what will tip the scales: the letter of the law…or love?

Warning: All rise for a book that contains a wounded submissive and a Dominant who wants to retrain her while retaining control of his heart. Discovery phase may involve spankings, bondage, edging, and blindfolds. Is it hot? You be the judge.

- See more at: http://www.rebeccagraceallen.com/mybooks/his-contract

Excerpt

Jack closed his front door and leaned against it, as if doing so could shut out what he’d felt tonight. As if it could shut Lilly out. He’d wanted to murder Patrick for leaving him alone with her, and yet, during that short time, he’d forgotten how for the last year it had hurt to do anything more than breathe.

Hearing she was at least older than Josh was a small comfort. His age, however, seemed of no consequence. He’d thought she hadn’t read anything into the question, that the attraction that was driving him out of his mind was all one-sided, but Lilly’s blush said otherwise. As did the quick pass of her soft, pink tongue over gorgeously full lips.

Jack groaned and scrubbed his hands over his face, then looked at his scar. He could only imagine what Lilly would think if she knew where it came from, what kind of life he’d lived. The Dominant he once was.

He closed his eyes and saw Eve in their playroom, the two of them beginning their scene with practiced words.

“You are mine, love.”

“I am yours, always, Master.”

Grief shouted from the past. But the image was quickly replaced with one of Lilly looking up at him in the bar. How would she react if he ordered her to strip for him? Would all of her skin bloom with the rosy hues he’d seen on her cheeks? Jack’s mind traveled to a place where he had her bound and naked, telling her to bare everything to him—body, mind and soul.

Realizing where his thoughts had strayed, he tried to shut the fantasy down but it was too late. Lilly had flipped a switch in him, waking the part that had been buried under the ashes of Eve’s death. And now that he’d opened that door, he didn’t know how to close it again.

About the Author

Rebecca Grace Allen writes kinky new adult and hot contemporary BDSM romance. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with a double concentration in Creative Writing and Literary Comparison, as well as a Master of Science in Elementary Education, both of which seemed like good ideas at the time. After stumbling through careers in entertainment, publishing, law and teaching, she’s returned to her first love: writing. A self-admitted caffeine addict and gym rat, she currently lives in upstate New York with her husband, two parakeets, and a cat with a very unusual foot fetish. - See more at: http://www.rebeccagraceallen.com/about

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Blog Tour: Excerpt of The Christmas Bridge by Elyse Douglas

Author: Elyse Douglas 

Publisher: Elyse Douglas  

Date of publication: September 15, 2015

A First Love. A Second Chance.

A young widow travels to New York on business a few days before Christmas. She has reluctantly made a date with a lover she hasn’t seen in 20 years, and she is nervous and apprehensive. Twenty years before, she made a difficult decision that has both troubled and haunted her ever since. She knows she’s about to come face-to-face with her past and she’s hoping for some redemption and resolution. She also wonders if she can somehow pick up where she left off 20 years ago and start again.

An exciting chance encounter changes everything. Now, not only will she face the past with hope to rekindle an old romance, but there is the possibility that this chance meeting will bring her love and happiness she never thought possible.

Once again, she will have to choose. She will have to make the right decision. She will have to believe that Christmas miracles can still happen.

Excerpt:

At the center of the bridge, Olivia stopped, hearing a saxophone in the distance, the musician softly playing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. It was a lovely moment, as snow fell and a gentle, cool wind caressed her face. She leaned against the railing, smiling with pleasure, taking in the railing features, its gothic cinquefoils and interlaced spiral designs. She was reminded of the many sketches she’d drawn of them and of the surrounding paths, the lights, the trees and the skyline over Fifth Avenue that rises up from the trees.

All the anxiety suddenly melted away, just like it always had when she’d visited the bridge. She felt calm and hopeful. She felt revitalized. It was wonderful to feel that girlish freedom again—living life unplanned and uncalculated in the timeless contentment of the bridge—her bridge.

She remained for a time, and although she was cold and hungry, she didn’t want to leave. She hadn’t felt so light and peaceful in years.

She was vaguely aware of someone approaching from the opposite side of the bridge, and wandering toward her. There were plenty of people around, so Olivia wasn’t concerned for her safety. The figure stopped only a few feet away from her. From the corner of her eye, she saw it was a man. He leaned against the railing, gazing out.

They stood there for a while, watching, listening to the music, before he spoke.

“I love it here,” he said, almost at a whisper.

Olivia didn’t respond. She glanced at him with a certain suspicion and reluctance. To her surprise, he was quite good looking. He was in his middle 30’s, hatless, with plenty of brownish hair. He was wearing an expensive Italian leather jacket, blue jeans and white silk scarf.

She lowered her gaze when he continued.

“I always feel better after I’ve been here. Always feel easy. Whenever I have to make a big decision, I either come here or I picture myself here.”

Olivia didn’t respond, aware he wasn’t looking at her. His eyes were fixed on the water and the distant glow of the Fifth Avenue skyline.

Olivia gathered her nerve, but she didn’t look at him. “And do you have a big decision to make?”

He turned, and it seemed to Olivia that he was seeing her for the first time. His eyes cleared and he focused on her. It occurred to her that he may have been talking to himself, completely oblivious to her.

He pocketed his bare hands, nodding. “Yeah… Yeah, I do have a big decision to make.”

Olivia studied him. He was tall and well-built, with a pleasant, handsome face. It was a “boy back home” kind of handsome, appealing and trusting.

He shrugged, loosely. “So here I am, at my crossroads, as my mother used to say.”

They stood, staring, listening to the sax player. “Good music. He really puts you in the Christmas spirit, doesn’t he?” the man asked.

Olivia turned toward the sound and smiled. “Yes, it’s quite lovely.”

“You must be from the South. Georgia…maybe Tennessee?”

“Kentucky.”

“I like Kentucky. I’ve been there. Been to Louisville and Lexington.”

Olivia just nodded, not looking at him directly.

“What about you?” the man asked. “Do you have a decision to make or are you just sightseeing?”

Olivia looked down, her mouth forming a half smile. “I made my decision a long time ago.”

“Oh, I see. And was it a good decision?” he asked, quietly.

Olivia shrugged. “Yes and no, like most things in life.”

“Yeah… like most things, I guess. There’s some good and some bad in everything, so you just have to go for it and hope there’s more good than bad.”

Olivia breathed in, feeling the cold seep into her bones. “It’s cold tonight.”

“Yeah. Going down to 25 degrees, or so the weather people say.”

And then there was an awkward silence. Each wanted to say something to keep the conversation going, but the words wouldn’t come.

“Well… I should go,” Olivia said, but she hesitated. She didn’t want to go.

He studied her, and his gaze was direct before it drifted away. “Maybe you could give me some advice.”

Olivia blinked. “Oh, I don’t know about that. I’m not so good at taking my own advice.”

He grinned. “I doubt that. You seem like the well-grounded type. The steady, confident type. Like you don’t need many warm-up pitches in the bullpen before you go to the mound to throw three strikes and win the game.”

Olivia laughed a little, and she saw it pleased him. She’d never heard that line before. “Well… I don’t really know what to say. I was never very good in sports. I was all legs and tangled feet.”

“My name’s Brett, by the way. I hope I’m not bothering you. It’s just that…I don’t know you from anybody, and I could use an-anybody-I-don’t-know right now…well to help me with this thing—with my decision.”

Olivia wasn’t sure about Brett. He seemed genuine, but maybe he was a practiced New York manipulator.

“I don’t think I’m the one to help you,” she said. “I’m sure you have good friends who know you and could give you good advice.”

“Yeah, I’ve got a lot of good friends, that’s for sure but…” he paused, sighing. “Well, let me put it this way, they see me a certain way and it’s hard for them to see me any other way. Do you know what I mean?”

Olivia looked up slowly, tilting her head, as if trying to read him better. “I’m not sure I do know what you mean.”

“I could explain it to you,” he said.

“I really should go,” Olivia said, ducking her head and moving the strap of her purse from one shoulder to the other. “It was nice meeting you, Brett, and I hope you make the right choice. I hope you find the right person to give you advice.”

She turned and started to walk away.

He called after her. “Did you make the right choice a long time ago?”

She stopped, abruptly. When she turned back to him, she thought he looked distressed.

He moved toward her and then stopped. “Can I buy you a drink?” he asked, hope in his eyes. “Or Coffee? Food? A hotdog? I have this strong gut feeling you could really help me with my decision.”

Olivia considered his offer.

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About Elyse Douglas:

Elyse Douglas is the pen name for the husband and wife writing team of Elyse Parmentier and Douglas Pennington. Elyse’s mother was a painter and her father a textile consultant. Elyse began writing poems and short stories at an early age, and graduated with a degree in English Literature. Douglas grew up in a family of musicians, astrologers and avid readers. His great grandfather lived to be a 134 years old, and was the oldest man in the world when he died in 1922.

Some of Elyse Douglas’ novels include: The Other Side of Summer, Christmas for Juliet,Wanting Rita, The Christmas Diary, The Christmas Bridge and The Summer Diary. They live in New York City.

Website: http://www.elysedouglas.com/

Blog: http://www.elysedouglas.com/blog-index/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elyse.authorsdouglas

Twitter: https://twitter.com/douglaselyse

Buy Christmas Bridge by Elyse Douglas:

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The All Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg

by:  Fannie Flagg
published by:  Random House
publish date:  November 5, 2013

Mrs. Sookie Poole of Point Clear, Alabama, has just married off the last of her daughters and is looking forward to relaxing and perhaps traveling with her husband, Earle. The only thing left to contend with is her mother, the formidable Lenore Simmons Krackenberry. Lenore may be a lot of fun for other people, but is, for the most part, an overbearing presence for her daughter. Then one day, quite by accident, Sookie discovers a secret about her mother's past that knocks her for a loop and suddenly calls into question everything she ever thought she knew about herself, her family, and her future.

Confession time:  This is the first Fannie Flagg book I've read.  I've seen the movie Fried Green Tomatoes, but I've never read the book.  This book was very good.  It was touching but it was also very funny.  
Sookie has lived her entire life under the thumb of her overbearing Southern mother.  Lenore Simmons comes from a long line of Simmons and she can tell you each and every one of them.  Sookie has put up with her larger than life mother for 60 years until she finds out that she isn't even her mother.  She was adopted and never knew about it.  Now, Sookie calls her entire life into question and begins to wonder who she is?  She starts to research her family and learns what a remarkable family she comes from.

I really loved this book.  Firstly, it was a really good story.  I love quirky little southern stories with all their weird characters.  Secondly, this book had some great little nuggets of history in it.  I learned some really fascinating bits of historical trivia like nurses traveling the country inspecting bathrooms and the first female pilots.  I will definitely be looking for Fannie Flagg!

Blog Tour: Seeking the Star by Traci Borum

Author:Traci Borum

Publisher: Red Adept Publishing

Date of publication:  October 2015

One December night, in the sleepy Cotswold village of Chilton Crosse, a drifter named Ben collapses on George and Mary Cartwright’s snow-covered doorstep. As Christmas cheer spreads throughout the village with a Dickens-themed festival, Mary nurses Ben back to health, but she becomes curious about the secrets he seems to carry. 

On Christmas Eve, one of Ben’s secrets accidentally comes to light, forcing him to confront the darkness of his past and to rediscover the faith he once knew. 

Seeking the Star is the third book in the Chilton Crosse series.  I have enjoyed this series so far and was looking forward to this latest installment.  This one was shorter and a lot more serious than the first two.  Ben has been wandering the countryside, trying to run from the nightmares that haunt his days and nights.  When he collapses on the Cartwright's doorstep, he doesn't realize that this town may be his salvation.  

I won't talk too much about plot because it would give too much away.  I will say that this book is both heart wrenching and heartwarming at the same time.  My heart absolutely broke for what Ben was going through.  But I loved how the town just surrounded him with their kindness and friendship. It is a great story that really fits what the upcoming season is all about. The characters from the first two books do make appearances in this one.  It was nice to catch up with them and see them doing so well.  

As I said, I enjoy this series and I look forward to seeing what happens next in this sweet little village.

About the author:

Traci Borum is an insatiable bookworm whose first love is fiction.  As a little girl, she became mesmerized with books—with the textures, the smells, and most especially, the worlds created between the pages.  Years later, she discovered she could create her own worlds by writing.  She’s been scribbling away ever since, writing bits of poetry, articles, and especially fiction.

Traci has been a Creative Writing teacher at a community college for the past ten years.  She's a native Texan and an Anglophile at heart.  She owns two "British" dogs—a Corgi and a Sheltie—and she’s completely addicted to Masterpiece Theater (must be those dreamy British accents!).  More than anything, she treasures the friendships in her life and adores her supportive family.

Traci’s Blog: http://writerscorner-traci.blogspot.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25873786-splintered-souls 

Red Adept Publishing: http://bit.ly/RAPSeekingStar

Blog Tour: Review & Excerpt of Designed for Murder by Avery Flynn

Author:Avery Flynn

Publisher: Entangled

Date of publication: November 2015

Devastated after he discovers the woman he loved and his partner in the role-playing game, Magic Battledome, was a psychotic killer, Maltese Security's resident computer genius, SciFi fan and geek-about-town Carlos Castillo retreats into his work. Tossing aside all ties to the Magic Battledome community, he eats, sleeps and breaths investigations. He's determined to prove to the rest of the team—and himself—that he's not all book smart and street stupid. He pleads for a case and finally gets one the boss thinks is right up his alley. Someone is targeting a Live Action Role Playing (LARP) Magic Battledome team, delivering vicious beatings before robbing them of their costumes. To solve the case, Carlos has to dive back into the world he'd abandoned.

Mika Ito loves creativity in all its forms. As a textile designer and a LARPer, she combines her two favorite things by creating costumes for her fellow Magic Battledome elves. But when someone starts targeting her fellow LARPers and the police don't seem to be much help, she hires Maltese Security to solve the case. If a reformed sinner is the most devoted, then a former LARPer is the most rudely dismissive and Carlos Castillo fits the bill. But when they discover that the material she's been using for the costumes has been soaked in liquid cocaine by someone in her supply chain, they must work together to solve the case. Especially now that the bad guy is doing whatever it takes to retrieve the tainted material—including having lethal designs on Mika's life.

My thoughts:

Designed for Murder is the 4th book in the Maltese Security series, but did fairly well as a stand alone book.  There were a lot of references to a previous book, but it honestly didn't make me enjoy this one any less.  Mika is a textile designer, but her off hours passion lives in the LARP world of Magic Battledome.  Her fellow gamers are being mugged for their costumes and she hires Maltese Security to to figure out why.  The sparks fly when she has to work with Carlos, former gamer and her latest one night stand.

The mystery was really interesting.  I liked how the twist on the reason the costumes were so valuable. That was a unique idea.  The mastermind also came as a big surprise as well.  As for the romance, it sizzled off the pages.  Mika and Carlos were very hot together.  Their love declaration came a little fast for me, but the epilogue wrapped it up nicely.

Now I want to go back and read the other book sin the series.  If you are looking for a quick and steamy romantic suspense check this one out!

Excerpt

“To be irreplaceable, one must always be different.” —Coco Chanel

Carlos Castillo surveyed the Thursday-night crowd at Feeny’s hole-in-the-wall bar. It was a step above a dive bar and several stories below what most people in Harbor City would call a respectable establishment, which made it perfect for Carlos and the other guys from Maltese Security when they needed to blow off a little steam after closing a case. It also happened to be the site of his impending public humiliation at the hands of his fellow investigators who’d come to Feeny’s with him.

“Don’t even think about pussying out, ’Los.” Cam Hardy tapped his shot glass against Carlos’s. “You lost the bet, you pay the price.”

Fuck. What human being could eat fifteen pickled eggs that had been sitting in a jar on the bar for God knew how long? Apparently Cam, who’d chalked up his success to the fact that neither he nor his live-in girlfriend, Drea, could cook for shit and his taste buds had gone into hiding.

“What about one of them?” Will Roscoe asked, nodding toward the trio of women in a corner booth.

“The redhead’s hot,” said Alex Lee before taking a long draw from his beer.

Carlos tossed back the last of his shot before he said anything he’d regret about redheads. The last redhead he’d dated had nearly killed him—literally—and he’d had to return the favor.

“Not his type,” Cam said.

Unlike Roscoe and Alex, who were relative newbies to the team, Cam knew the real reason behind Carlos’s aversion to redheads. While Cam would shame Carlos into embarrassing himself in a bar full of people, he wouldn’t say anything about the shooting that had changed Carlos’s life forever.

Cam nodded toward the women in the booth. “The girl on the end is more his speed.”

Right at that moment, the woman in question slid out of the booth and stood up. She couldn’t be more than five-five even in the thigh-high leather boots with their wicked high heels. She wore skin-tight jeans that clung to her legs like they were made for her tight body and a top made out of some sort of shimmery material that caught the dim lights when she walked, drawing his attention to the way her tits moved as she strutted across the bar like she owned the joint.

The full-body profile view was enough to make him reach for another shot, but then she pivoted at the bar, turning so she faced their table, and he couldn’t do a damn thing but stare. Almond-shaped brown eyes, full pink lips, and more than a hint of trouble in the way she tossed her long light brown hair and laughed at some undoubtedly lame joke from the bartender.

“Roll your tongue back in your mouth, ’Los.” Cam shook his head and finished his shot. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you still spent all of your free time pretending to be a warlock or some shit on the computer.”

The verbal nudge was more than enough to bring him back to reality. After the shooting, he’d replaced Magic Battledome role-play online gaming with the gym and had spent the past year working to make the team at Maltese realize there was more to him than just amazing computer geek skills. And as tonight’s celebration of a job well done proved, he’d done it. He worked cases in real life now, not just at the keyboard.

Carlos settled back in his seat, keeping his gaze locked on the woman as she carried three beers back to her booth. The change in direction gave him an ideal view of her curvy ass. “Like most of the guys in this bar wouldn’t pretend to be a wizard if that’s the game she wanted to play in the bedroom.”

“I would find a cape right fast.” Roscoe raised his shot glass in salute before downing the whiskey.

“Well then, I’d say you found your target.” Cam smirked. “Go get her, ’Los.”

As far as challenges went, it was friendly. But it was still a challenge. And Carlos never backed down from a challenge.

For the past year, there hadn’t been a single one the Maltese team had issued that he hadn’t met head-on—and he always would. This was who he was now; the former geek supreme didn’t exist anymore. He’d pushed that guy and his guilt for pulling the trigger so far into a closet that he would never see the light of day again.

“One dance?” Carlos pushed back his chair and stood, already primed for action—just like any time Scarlett’s ghost came haunting.

“Yep. The longest slow song you can find on the jukebox,” Alex said, barely keeping his laughter in check. “And then she has to buy you a beer.”

Carlos took one last swig of his beer. “You’re all a bunch of assholes.”

Not bothering to stick around to hear their responses, which no doubt would just be an agreement, he strode across the bar, his sights set on the hot brunette with a body made for the best kinds of trouble.

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About the author:

Avery Flynn has three slightly-wild children, loves a hockey-addicted husband and is desperately hoping someone invents the coffee IV drip. She fell in love with romance while reading Johanna Lindsey's Mallory books. It wasn't long before Avery had read through all the romance offerings at her local library. Needing a romance fix, she turned to Harlequin's four books a month home delivery service to ease the withdrawal symptoms. That worked for a short time, but it wasn't long before the local book stores' staffs knew her by name. Avery was a reader before she was a writer and hopes to always be both. She loves to write about smartass alpha heroes who are as good with a quip as they are with their *ahem* other God-given talents. Her heroines are feisty, fierce and fantastic. Brainy and brave, these ladies know how to stand on their own two feet and knock the bad guys off theirs.

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Blog Tour: The Raven Room by Ana Medeiros

Author: Ana Medeiros
Publisher: Diversion Publishing
Date of publication: November 3, 2015

Anything you can imagine. Everything you crave. For the members of The Raven Room, it’s every fantasy fulfilled. But for some, that desire is a matter of life and death.

Drawn by needs he cannot control, Julian ventures to The Raven Room, a secret and exclusive sex club in the underbelly of Chicago. It goes beyond sex. It goes beyond kink. The Raven Room is the only place where Julian finds release from the dangerous urges that threaten to destroy the successful life he’s worked so hard to build.

When the police link the Raven Room to the death of a young woman, it threatens to expose a number of powerful people—people who would kill to stay anonymous…

Meredith’s body can’t get enough of Julian. He has opened her sexual horizons to tempting new possibilities. But out of bed she’s an aspiring journalist, and The Raven Room is the story she’s been looking for. By writing an exposé on the club and its elite clientele, she plans to launch her career.

As Meredith embarks on a sexual journey into the forbidden world that Julian inhabits, questions emerge, and dark appetites threaten to swallow her whole.  How much can she trust the man who has laid bare her erotic nature and how much will she sacrifice in order to protect him?

I'm going to be upfront right away.  The Raven Room was a DNF book for me.  I really had a hard time with this book.  I wanted to like it but I just couldn't get through it. You all know I have read a lot of erotica and not much shocks me.  I have seen clubs like The Raven Room in other stories, so it wasn't that the I didn't like.  I don't mind them, I just do't like to see my main characters get it on with several other people. That was a turn off.

There really wasn't one likable character.   Julian was creepy. I couldn't get past his secret life style and the fact that he was a child psychologist.  That was just too weird for me as those two things are so contradictory.  I had no respect for Meredith who was using Julian to get ahead in her career. Don't get me started on Peter, the new father who can't be with just one woman.  The story felt disjointed and certain scenes felt unfinished.  I didn't really like the switch between multiple points of view.

I have seen rave reviews, so you will have to just try it for yourself. Also, check out what others in the tour are saying in the links below. It just wasn't for me.

About the author:

Born in the Azores islands, Portugal, Ana Medeiros has a background in Photography, Sociology and Psychology. For the last seven years she has worked in the magazine industry. She currently lives in Toronto, Canada, with her boyfriend and two cats. The Raven Room, book one of a trilogy, is Ana’s first novel and is published by Diversion Books.

Visit Ana at her website and connect with her on Facebook.

Ana’s Tour Stops

Monday, November 9th: Bibliotica

Tuesday, November 10th: Why Girls Are Weird

Thursday, November 12th: From the TBR Pile

Monday, November 16th: Ms. Nose in a Book

Monday, November 16th: Patricia’s Wisdom

Wednesday, November 18th: Sara’s Organized Chaos

Thursday, November 19th: The Reading Cove Book Club

Friday, November 20th: Art Books Coffee

Monday, November 23rd: Worth Getting in Bed For

Tuesday, November 24th: M. Denise Costello

Wednesday, November 25th: Books and Bindings

Monday, November 30th: A Chick Who Reads

Monday, November 30th: Seraphim Book Reviews

Tuesday, December 1st: It’s a Mad Mad World

TBD: Queen of All She Reads

TBD: boundbywords

Throwback Thursday: Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn

Author: Carrie Vaughn
First published in 2005 by Grand Central Publishing

Kitty Norville is a midnight-shift DJ for a Denver radio station - and a werewolf in the closet. Her new late-night advice show for the supernaturally disadvantaged is a raging success, but it's Kitty who can use some help. With one sexy werewolf-hunter and a few homicidal undead on her tail, Kitty may have bitten off more than she can chew?

It's been a while since I have read any type of urban fantasy. I'm nto sure how I missed this series, but I was intrigued when I read the synopsis.  Kitty has been living secretly as a werewolf for several years.  When a joke on during her radio show turns into a syndicated talk show about the paranormal, her life is suddenly in danger.

This book was just OK for me.  I felt like I had read this story before.  It reminded me so much of the Anita Blake series and the Mercy Thompson series.  Had I not read those before this one, I might have liked it more.  The characters were just so so. Kitty was very wishy-washy and not consistent. I also was confused by the world building.  The werewolves and vampires live in secret in the beginning of the novel, but by the end it seems everyone knows they exist, but there is no upheaval among the humans.  Maybe I missed something?  I may read the next book because there was a story thread that wasn't resolved.  Hopefully the next book is better!

Blog Tour: Review & Excerpt of Licked by Brooke Blaine

Author: Brooke Blaine

Publisher: Self

Date of publication: November 11, 2015

As the owner of Licked, an eclectic ice creamery and bar, Ryleigh Phillips doesn't have time for that love stuff. Serving up Nibble My Nuts sundaes and Drunken Sailor boozy shakes are as close to an orgasmic affair as she's had in months thanks to her expanding empire—until the night of her ten-year high school reunion.

When Ryleigh's crush, gorgeous ex-football god Cameron Mathis, comes streaking into her life (literally—streaking), she begins to wonder if she really can have it all. 

Wouldn't it just figure that the moment you think life is perfect is when it falls spectacularly apart?

Enter Hunter Morgan, the contractor in charge of Licked's renovations. Devastatingly handsome, and a smartass to boot, he's got his eyes on Ryleigh from the moment he finds her passed out on his couch (yeah, that's a long story). There's just one tiny complication—he happens to be Cameron's best friend. 

When the lines between relationships and friendships blur, and it's impossible to choose between two delicious flavors, what's a girl to do?  Taste a sample of each? Or go out and get LICKED?

My thoughts:

Being a fan of ice cream, how could I not want to give Licked a try?  The book involves Ryleigh who owns a unique ice cream shop.  It caters to the adult crowd, offering ice cream and liquor concoctions with sassy and naughty names.   She goes to her high school reunion to make her secret crush see how much she has changed. Hoping for a hook up, she ends up at his apartment where she meets his equally hot roommate and complete opposite, Hunter.  

I ended up liking Licked a lot more than I was expecting to like it. I was thinking that there would be a love triangle, but there really wasn't one.  I liked how the author handled to whole situation.  The story is funny, awkward, steamy and gut wrenching all at the same time.  Ryleigh was a fun character who realizes that sometimes what you think you have always wanted isn't what will make you happy in the end.  Hunter was a great match for her.  Although, he could often make me want to slap him for being so closed off at times.  I was rooting for them the entire book.

The story also involves Ryleigh's best friends.  They gave the story a lot of color and "flavor".  I hope they are featured in future books. Because, while I liked them, I would love a little more background on them.  There were a few times that I felt the author assumed I knew things about her friends. In those instances, it was like I missed earlier background that I couldn't find.

I do recommend this book.  I hope there will be more books involving this gang in the future.  I hope Cameron finds that special someone soon!

Excerpt

“And then?”

I tugged at the edge of my apron in an attempt to avoid the three pairs of eyes staring bug-eyed at me. “And then he walked me to my car.”

“And then you…?” Shayne asked.

“Went home,” I said.

“Wait a minute, can we talk about the fact that he made you sleep on his couch?” Paige’s eyebrows were raised up to practically her hairline. “I’m sorry, but in what fucking universe is that acceptable? Why didn’t you call Quinn to pick you up?”

“He didn’t make me, geez. He passed out and it was late, and I thought maybe…you know. Morning sex.”

Shayne cocked an eyebrow. “And did that happen?”

“Well, no. Hunter made me coffee, and then Cameron woke up and…that’s it.”

“Wait,” Quinn interrupted. “You slept in an apartment with two guys and both of them had you sleeping on the couch? Jesus, Ryleigh, it’s against man-code for that to happen. Did you wear a chastity belt last night or something?”

I groaned, my head falling into my hands. Of course the girls would give me a hard time. I’d been talking up tackling Cameron at the reunion for weeks, so my body wasn’t the only one feeling let down.

Still, I was seriously regretting inviting them over for a powwow at my shop during our off hours.

“I think I need another shot of vodka in my Feisty Ho-bag now.” Paige pushed her glass stemware toward me, and I grabbed a liquor bottle from behind the bar and tipped some into her glass.

Boozy shakes. They were the bread and butter of Licked during the brunch and evening hours, and the main reason for the expansion next door. I glanced at the black tarp hanging over the doorway that led to the space I’d bought a few months ago and sighed. Construction was running behind, and it was too late to hire another company if I wanted to keep the launch date set.

And I had to keep the date set.

“So are you seeing him again?” Shayne asked, dunking her cherry through the layers of baklava bits and whipped cream on top of her Nibble My Nuts shake. “I will totally get involved if I need to.”

No doubt she’d be successful. She basically ran one of the top matchmaking companies in the city, not that you’d know it from her degrading pay scale. Her boss was a fucking nightmare, but Shayne was convinced she had to pay her dues.

“I don’t need your expert skills this time, but thank you. He’s got my number, so…we’ll see.”

“You can’t just wait around for a guy to call,” she said.

“I’m not waiting. I’ve got all that”—I gestured to the ugly tarp that hid the mess behind it—“to deal with, so I’m actually quite busy at the moment.”

The three of them gave each other “the look.” You know, the one that said, We’ve got to help our poor little friend get laid so she doesn’t end up gorging on the ice cream and boozy shakes she makes and be relegated to spinsterhood.

“Guys,” I said, placing my hands on the counter as I stood in front of them. “I’m not on my way to spinsterhood. I just have priorities.”

“I’m sure you could squeeze Cameron Mathis in,” Quinn said with a wink. “Get it? Squeeze him in…”

“More like blow off the dust, grab a key, unlock that shit, and pray there are no bats,” Paige agreed.

Oh for fuck’s sake. “All right, no more booze for either of you.”

Brooke's Spotify list:

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About the Author

You could say Brooke Blaine was a book-a-holic from the time she knew how to read; she used to tell her mother that curling up with one at 4 a.m. before elementary school was her "quiet time. Not much has changed except for the espresso I.V. pump she now carries around and the size of her onesie pajamas. Flash Point is Brooke's debut solo novel, and she is the co-author of the erotic serial, A Desperate Man, with Ella Frank. The latter has scarred her conservative southern family for life, bless their hearts. Licked, a romantic comedy, will be released on November 11th, 2015. If you'd like to get in touch with her, she's easy to find - just keep an ear out for the Rick Astley ringtone that's dominated her cell phone for ten years.

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Blog Tour: Interview & Giveaway with John E. Wade, author of The Bipolar Millionaire and the Operation

Today we have an interview with author John E. Wade II who is promoting his book, The Bipolar Millionaire and the Operation.  We are also giving away a copy to on lucky winner.  Just fill out the rafflecopter below to enter! (US only)

Author: John E. Wade II
Publisher: Sunbury Press 
Date of publication: July 20, 2015

John E. Wade II, retired CPA, author, investor, television producer, and philanthropist, reveals in his memoir, The Bipolar Millionaire and the Operation, his personal struggle with bipolar disorder and his experience being the focus of an all-encompassing and benevolent entity he calls the Operation. Wade takes the reader through his family experiences, political aspirations and beliefs, spiritual journey, relationship trials and errors, and battle with mental illness, as well as writes about how he feels he has been cured of the detrimental aspects of bipolar disorder. With the help of a unique and powerful network he calls the Operation, and through religious beliefs, personal perseverance, and the help of friends, family, and his mental health professionals, Wade lives an active, creative, and successful life. His memoir doesn't end with contentment at achieving a balance in his life, however. Instead, Wade expresses a determined vision for the future, aiming to assist humanity in what he describes as achieving heaven on earth through his writing, political and spiritual endeavors, as well as through being the focus of the ever-pervasive Operation.

Kari& Autumn: What inspired you to become a writer? 

John: In reality, I don’t know.  I woke up on January 2, 1998 and just started writing.  This resulted in my first book Focus Investing, which was completed and almost published by John Wiley & Sons. I often credit my mother, however, as she majored in English and was very particular about how my siblings and I spoke growing up. Her specific style of speaking can likely be found in my writing style.

Kari& Autumn: Where do you come up with the ideas for your books? 

John: The idea for writing The Bipolar Millionaire and the Operation came from an intellectual property attorney. He suggested I write down the story of my life, especially considering the unique aspect of the Operation.  I’ve been writing about Heaven on Earth since the year 2000 and two books resulted from that.  My first book, Deep Within My Heart was inspired during a period of depression mostly after my second divorce.   Ronald Reagan’s Wisdom for the Twenty-First Century was inspired by the president that I consider the greatest in my lifetime.

Kari& Autumn: What exciting projects are waiting in the wings? 

John: I am reviewing, analyzing, summarizing and adding my own ideas to Henry Kissinger’s wonderful book, World Order.  I am also considering finishing my own book, John’s Vision of Heaven on Earth.

Kari& Autumn: Who is your favorite literary character and why? 

John: Since I only read nonfiction, I’ll just tell you whom my favorite author is: Walter Issacson, the biographer. His writing is superb.  I read for growth, while I do other things for entertainment.  I like to take one of his books on vacation because they are so interesting, well written and factual.

Kari& Autumn: Just for fun, if you could be any animal, what would it be and why? 

John: I would be a porpoise because I understand they are intelligent.

Praise for The Bipolar Millionaire and the Operation by John E. Wade II:

"The book is 5 stars without a doubt."- nursenancy26, Amazon Reviewer " This is a must read book for any caring person.  What an interesting life story! John Wade writes an insightful memoir of his struggles with bipolar disorder while the "Operation" guides his existence and spiritual journey. John Wade's experiences with bipolar disorder and his "cure" should give heart to anyone with the disease and teach the importance of kindness, patience, and respect from those of us who know anyone with the disease."- Rebecca A Morgan, Amazon Reviewer " John Wade has learned to overcome his weaknesses and triumph over his disorder. Everyone who has loved ones with Bipolar Disorder or those who are struggling with it should read this well written book."- E L  Davis, Amazon Reviewer

Praise for How To Achieve Heaven On Earth by John E. Wade II:

"These essays encourage readers to reflect on their own means of achieving peace in their lives, making a fine addition to any general lending library!"-Midwest Book Review "A fascinating octopus of a book on global change, reaching in all directions at once."-Library Journal

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About John E. Wade II:

Bronze Medalist of the 2014 Living Book Award in the category of Social Activism/Charity, John E. Wade II, born in Decatur, Alabama and longtime New Orleans resident, is a philanthropist, an investor, and a retired accountant, who is an active member of his church. Wade began writing in 1998 and has published many essays, blogs, and book reviews, as well as one book filled with his own essays, Deep Within My Heart, and three books that he has co-authored: How to Achieve a Heaven on Earth, Glimpses of Heaven on Earth, and Ronald Reagan’s Wisdom for the Twenty-First Century. In his free time Wade likes to travel the world and learn about other cultures.  He also enjoys exploring his hometown of New Orleans, enjoying the unique food, architecture, and music.  Wade also regularly attends New Orleans Saints games as well as football games at Mississippi State University, where the Davis Wade Stadium was named after his father.

Website: www.JohnEWade.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jwadeii
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnEWadeII Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/JohnEWadeII

Buy The Bipolar Millionaire and the Operation by John E. Wade II:

Amazon  Barnes and Noble  Book Depository  Sunbury Press

 Follow the he Bipolar Millionaire and the Operation by John E. Wade II Tour: 

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