STUMBLING IN - M.R. Joseph Tour Stop

BUY LINKS:

iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/stumbling-in/id1012500044?mt=11

Kobo

https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/stumbling-in

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Stumbling-Shore-Book-Kathy-Krick-ebook/dp/B010ECM1F0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1435344842&sr=1-1&keywords=stumbling+in

SYNOPSIS:

Everyone in Sandy Cove knows that Willow Taylor and Max Vincent are like oil and

water. They live to torment one another and if they survive being in the same room together, it’s nothing short of a miracle. Sure, Willow is rich, blonde and beautiful and Max is an achingly hot and talented up and coming rock star—but that just makes it easier for them to hate one another!

Until one night. One drunken night. It was just supposed to be a night of celebration after each of their best friends’, Harlow and Cruz, were reunited. But a few hours of civility leads to one night of unbridled, earth-shattering, cataclysmic sex. It doesn’t help that the details are sketchy in their minds because the off-the-charts after effects still linger. One thing is clear…that night changed everything. 

From that moment on, sabotaging each other’s hook-ups was their primary goal until a truce is made. A pact. No strings attached, no feelings, just more of what their bodies crave whenever they see one another. They both get what they want and no one gets hurt. 

Until someone does. Until love and tragedy gets in the way. The heat between Willow and Max is undeniable but will that spark of desire be enough to sustain them through the pain and heartache that threatens them?

Excerpt From Max-

Stumbling In-The Shore Series Book 3

I go to her and place my hand on her shoulder, and she turns around and I’m faced with the most unexpected thing that I think has ever happened. Willow turns around and grabs handfuls of my shirt and pulls me to her soft, wanting lips. She kisses me, and it’s just not a kiss that breathes lust but it breathes the fire of passion, of meaning. It makes my hair stand on end and leaves the skin beneath electrified. The soft motion of her mouth with mine, the scent of her hair and the taste of her tongue dancing inside my mouth, spins me into oblivion. There’s more to this kiss. I feel it in my bones. I feel it in my soul. She kisses me like we are music. We are the rhythm joining together with the notes and the melody. I grasp the back of her head and thread my fingers in her hair softly. I deepen the kiss and I reach the point where I swim in this moment so deep that I don’t want to come to the surface… and that’s when she pulls away and I know I’m fucked. 

I’m so fucking fucked.

She holds her lips with her long, slender fingers. Her eyes find mine and I’m still lost in whatever that was. I can’t even ask her because I can’t even speak. It wasn’t the normal wanton kiss that happens between us when we just use each other. No, oh no, this was something else. 

“Willow…” She holds up her hand to stop me.

“Let’s just leave it at that, Max.”

I walk past her slowly as I hear the relentlessness of the bus’s horn and slide open the door to her room. I turn around and she’s already back to leaning on the rail. Her body turned to the calm waters. The sun shines down on her bare, bronzed shoulders and the wind picks up and blows her hair around again. It’s the last time I’ll see her in person for a while and after that kiss, my head and something else right at this very moment doesn’t want it to be the last time. It’s not the right time to analyze what that kiss was. Maybe it was a goodbye kiss. A proper send off. The end of whatever we were to each other. Was it a blessing for me to go and see where it goes with Cora? What was that? I’ll tell you what it was. The unexpected.

“I’ll miss you, Willow.” Not being so sure she can hear me, I say it as I walk out the door.  I leave her with my brain consisting of mush and my lips already feeling some sort of loss. 

Most of all… a lot to think about.

My Review:

4 Chirps

Giving In and Always In, I loved Willow Taylor.  She was the snarky and loyal best friend to Harlow, and outwardly she didn't give a hoot what anyone thought of her.  By the end of Chapter 1 in Stumbling In, I didn't like her at all.  In face, I might have hated her a little bit.  I thought that she was a spoiled, bitchy wench with a superiority complex.  I hated the way she referred to Max in her mind, particularly her checklist of why she hated him, and I really despised the way that she responded to Harlow and Cruz reuniting. 

The further the story went along, the more I thought that she just hadn't found anything in life that made her want to be a better or more mature person.  She hadn't experienced loss or rejection in her life.  Without either of those experiences, a person is bound to have a chip on their shoulder the size of Texas.   

Max on the other hand had experienced both.  When he was young, his mother took off, leaving his father to raise him.  His father seemed to want the best for him, but didn't understand that what was best for him was more than power and financially security.   He needed the fulfillment of his music. 

Without even really realizing it, Max and Willow find their stride in their friendship.  They learn that there is truth to "opposites attracting", and that even though they are opposites on the surface, when they let themselves relax, they have a lot more in common than they would have ever thought.  Eventually, Willow even becomes not only Max's number 1 fan, but his biggest supporter, too.  Through her father, she helps Max and his band gain a spot on a summer tour.  Unfortunately for her, he loves as soon as she realizes that she might be in love with him.   And she never steps up to tell him the truth.

But, if there's one thing that M.R. Joseph is famous for, it's pulling the rug out from under you.  Once again, I was silly enough to believe that my suspicions in the beginning were unfounded and I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.  The happily ever after without the grief.   I mean, I only had 30% of the book left for Heaven's sake.   And then it happened.   SLASH!  She  took me out at the knees!  SLICE! While I lay there helpless to defend myself, she took a machete to my heart!  And the whole time I sat in my dining room crying like a child who's lost their favorite teddy bear, I remembered her words.  I had shared my suspicions for Willow's fate, and rather than "oh no, don't worry, your heart is safe and so is her's", I got a sassy little "oh, you know me *winky face*".  Ok, so she actually sent the emoticon, but I think typing it out has more affect in this situation.   

 But, the best part is that it all worked out in the end.  Max and Willow not only found their happy endings with each other, but with their families and friends as well.  Once again, M.R. Joseph delivered me a wonderful story with growth and heartache and laughter, everything that makes my heart and mind happy with a story.   

AUTHOR BIO:

I'm a book nerd turned writer who loves the 'Happily Ever After' mixed with a bit of suspense, drama, and the occasional cliffhanger! My love of books started me on my writing journey. I began writing my first book in July 2012 and since that time I have created 2 series. The first series 'The Reunion Series' debuted in November 2012 and two books followed. My new series 'The Shore Series" debuted in March 2014 and claimed Best Selling status shortly after the release of the first book. There will be 6 Shore Series books in all. I’m also the author of the Romantic Comedy, 39 & Holding. I live in Philadelphia with my adoringly handsome husband, and pretty cute kids if I may say so myself. You can always find me with the Kindle glued to my hands or in my car with the music turned up while
embarrassing my children with my mad car dancing skills.


AUTHOR MEDIA LINKS: 

Goodreads ~ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6936575.M_R_Joseph
Facebook ~ https://www.facebook.com/authormr.joseph
Twitter~ @redkar_m
Amazon ~  http://www.amazon.com/M.R.-Joseph/e/B00E7TME2C/ref=sr_tc_2_0?%20qid=1432653313&sr=1-2-ent
Email ~ mrjosephwriter@gmail.com

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REVIEW : SAFE AT LAST - Maya Banks

 Buy Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Over the years, I have heard nothing but rave reviews for Maya Banks.  So naturally, I was thrilled when given the opportunity to review her newest release in the Slow Burn series - Safe At Last.  And given my weakness for a second chance romance, I was sure that this would be a home run for me.  Unfortunately, that was not the case.  Don't get me wrong, the writing was great, and the story showed great promise.  Where the story struck out for me was in the content. 

First we are introduced to Zack Covington, former NFL star turned private security.  Zack is down on himself for having failed his first love and devastated at having lost her without a trace.  He's turned to security as a means to continue his twelve year search for her, even knowing there is a good chance that she is no longer among the living. 

Enter Anna-Grace Hill, a.k.a. Gracie, Zack's mystery love.  A chance meeting throws them in each others' paths, and Gracie is terrified.  Not only did Zack fail to protect, in her mind he is the cause of her destroyed life.  He orchestrated her demise, or so she believes.  She wants nothing to do with him, yet he won't leave her alone.  And the more time she spends with him, the more she is convinced that maybe her gifts of insight were what failed her and it was never really Zack's fault in the first place.

Sounds good, right?  Shows a lot of promise.  But here's where the book struck out for me.  Based on the length of this novel, I would have loved to have seen more depth to the story.  I struggled to really connect with the main characters.  We never learned more about them than their sadness or anger or confusion of the events that had or hadn't transpired between them.  For more than half of the book, it was a back and forth of Gracie's accusations and Zack's bewilderment.  When Gracie was finally forced to unveil the truth to him, Zack immediately disappeared, only to return in time for Gracie to have forgiven him.  End scene.  Happily ever after.

For me, this book was no more than a 3 star review.  I did like the bit of back of story we got about Zack's employers, and I would go back to read the first two in the series.  I don't fault the author at all for my mediocre feelings about the book, and I'm sure there are people who will enjoy Safe at Last immensely.  If you like a second chance romance with a truly angst filled back story, this will be the one for you. 

MANWHORE +1 - Katy Evans Excerpt Reveal

The unexpected love story that began in MANWHORE continues heating up the pages in MANWHORE +1 by New York Times bestselling author Katy Evans...

Billionaire playboy? Check.

Ruthless businessman? Check.

Absolutely sinful? Check.

Malcolm Saint was an assignment. A story. A beautiful, difficult man I was supposed to uncover for a racy exposé.

I intended to reveal him, his secrets, his lifestyle--not let him reveal me. But my head was overtaken by my heart and suddenly nothing could stop me from falling. I fell for him, and I fell hard.

Malcolm Saint is absolute Sin, and I've become a hopeless Sinner.

Now that the assignment is over, Saint wants something from me--something unexpected--and I want this wicked playboy's heart. But how can I prove to the man who trusts no one that I'm worthy of becoming his plus one?

EXCERPT

 FOUR WEEKS

I’ve never been so hopeful as when I board the pristine glass elevator at the M4 corporate building. A handful of employees ride along with me, murmuring perfunctory greetings to each other and to me. I think my mouth must be on vacation because I can’t seem to force it to speak. But I smile in reply—my smile nervous, nervous but hopeful, definitely hopeful. My riding companions step out on their floors one by one until I’m alone, riding up to the executive floor on my own.

Toward him.

           Toward the man I love.

           My body is raging. My blood is pumping—my blood is storming—my thighs are shaking. My stomach feels filled with little earthquakes that just won’t quit, then they turn into a full-fledged roil when I hear the elevator ting at his floor.

          Stepping out, I’m in corporate nirvana, surrounded by sleek chrome and pristine glass, marble and limestone floors. But I hardly have eyes for anything except the tall and imposing frosted glass doors at the far end of the room.

           Framing those doors to each side is a pair of sleek designer desks, for a total of four.

           Behind these desks are four women in identical black-and-white suits, sitting behind their gleaming dark-oak desks, working quietly behind their flat-screen computers.

           One of them, the forty-year-old Catherine H. Ulysses—right hand of the man who owns every inch of this building—stops what she’s doing when she sees me. She arches her brow, then seems both tense and relieved as she lifts the receiver on her desk and murmurs my name into it.

           I. Am. Not. Breathing.

           But Catherine doesn’t miss a beat as she motions me toward the huge frosted doors—those intimidating doors—that lead into the lair of the most powerful man in Chicago.

           The human being with the most powerful effect on me.

           This is what I’ve been waiting for, for four weeks. This is what I wanted when I left a thousand messages on his phones and what I wanted when I wrote a thousand others that I left unsent. To see him.

           For him to want to see me.

           But as I force myself to step forward, I don’t even know if I’ll have the strength to stand before him and look him in the eye after what I did.

           I’m wracked so hard with nervousness and anticipation and hope—yes hope, small but bright, even as I shake like a leaf.

           Catherine holds the door open, and I struggle to hold my head high and walk into his office.

            Two steps inside I hear the swoosh of the glass door shutting behind me and my systems halt at the familiar sight of the most beautiful office I’ve ever been in.

           His office is all vast marble and chrome, twelve-foot ceilings, and endless floor-to-ceiling windows.

           And there he is. The center of its axis. The center of my world.

           He’s pacing by the window, speaking into a headset in a low, low voice—the kind he uses when he’s pissed. All I can make out are the words have to be dead to let her fall into his clutches …

           He hangs up, and as if he feels me in the room, he turns his head. His eyes flare when he sees me. His green eyes.

           His achingly familiar, beautiful green eyes.

           He inhales, very slowly, his chest expanding, his hands curling a little at his sides as he looks at me.

           I look back at him.

           Malcolm Kyle Preston Logan Saint.

           I just walked into the eye of the most powerful storm of my life. No. Not a storm. A hurricane.

           Four weeks, I haven’t seen him. And he still looks exactly as I remember. Larger than life, and more irresistible than ever.

           His striking face is perfectly shaven today, and his sensual lips look so achingly full I can almost feel them against mine. Six-feet-plus of perfectly controlled male power stand before me, in a perfect black suit and a killer tie. He’s the very devil in Armani; strong-boned, square-jawed, gleaming dark hair and those penetrating eyes.

           He’s got the best eyes.

           They twinkle mercilessly when he teases me, and when he doesn’t tease me, they’re mysterious and unreadable, assessing and intelligent, keeping me guessing about his thoughts.

           But I had forgotten how cold those eyes used to be. Green arctic ice looks back at me now. Every fleck of ice in those eyes gleaming like diamond shards.

           He clenches his jaw and tosses the headset aside.

           He looks as approachable as a wall, his shoulders stretching his white shirt, which clings to his skin like a groupie. But I know he’s not a wall; I’ve never wanted to throw myself at a wall like this.

           He’s walking towards me. Every step he takes makes my heart pound as he moves with that quiet and confident own-the-world stride of his.

           He stops a few feet away and shoves his hands into his pants pockets; and he seems so big all of a sudden, and he smells so utterly good. I drop my eyes to his tie as the little candle of hope I walked in with starts to flicker with doubt.

For every sin there is a sinner!

Manwhore + 1 is now available for pre-order

at the following retailers:

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PRE-ORDER SURPRISE!

Submit your proof of pre-order and get an early peek at Ms. Manwhore, the last of Saint and Rachel's passionate love story. Click here to enter: http://www.katyevans.net/pre-order-bonus/

Manwhore (Book One)

Now Available

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About the Author:

Hey! I’m Katy Evans and I love family, books, life, and love. I’m married with two children and three dogs and spend my time baking, walking, writing, reading, and taking care of my family. Thank you for spending your time with me and picking up my story. I hope you had an amazing time with it, like I did. If you’d like to know more about books in progress, look me up on the Internet, I’d love to hear from you!

Website: www.katyevans.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKatyEvans

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorkatyevans

Email: authorkatyevans@gmail.com

Arrow's Hell by Chantal Fernando, Wind Dragons MC #2

Arrow's Hell by Chantal Fernando
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After finishing Dragon's Lair, I dove right into this one. This was a wonderful stand-alone if I've ever read one, but that threw me a bit as the ending of Dragon's Lair was anything but standalone. I had hoped that we would learn more of Faye and Sin, the big events that we missed in the end, but they made only small cameos throughout the book. This story was centered on Arrow, Rake, and Rake's sister Anna. Odd that I would word it that way, but the story seemed to be just as much about Anna reconnecting with her big brother as it was about her desire for Arrow.

Set 5 years after the death of Mary, Arrow hasn't forgiven himself for luring a good woman in to the MC life. He refuses to allow happiness into his life, because he doesn't feel he deserves what Mary couldn't have. And for all intents and purposes, he has decided to give her in death what he couldn't give her in life.

Enter Anna, the sexy baby sister of one of the brother's (Rake). Arrow knows she's off limits for that reason alone, not to mention that she is smart, funny, sweet, and feisty. All things that a man who lured a woman to her untimely death doesn't deserve. Anna is of a different mind, though, and it quickly becomes clear that she is made for him. Also that he is the only one who believes he's unworthy of happiness.

I loved that this book contained humor, a spunky woman able to hold her own under any circumstances, and the message that "sometimes you have to make your own family". This was a sentiment Dex/Sin shared with Faye in book 1, and Rake explained to Anna. I also appreciated that there were no time lapses, and the development of their relationship was very, thorough. My only complaint would be that Anna's thought process was much younger than her actions, and even her speech. I felt like there was a level of "fluff" when we were given insight into her mind, because she would circle around and word the same thought several different ways in the same paragraph. Aside from that, I would have given this book 5 stars, and still wish there was a half star option, as this book was good enough that I could not put it down and finished in one sitting.

View all my reviews

Searching for Beautiful by Jennifer Probst

Today we are celebrating the release of SEARCHING FOR BEAUTIFUL by Jennifer Probst. This is the 3rd book in the Searching For series and it is published by Gallery Books. Check out the teaser and giveaway below for a chance to win a necklace and signed book.

 

SEARCHING FOR BEAUTIFUL Synopsis:

The highly anticipated third novel in the Searching For series from Jennifer Probst, “one of the most exciting breakout novelists” (USA Today), featuring a runaway bride and the man who wants to be more than just her best friend...

Genevieve MacKenzie has her life completely under control. About to wed the charming Chief doctor at the local hospital, she’s an up-and-coming surgeon with everything she could ever want. Until an escape through the church window on the day of her wedding sends her life into a tailspin...and flings her right into her best friend’s arms. When Wolfe catches his best friend falling out a window on her wedding day, he doesn’t ask questions. He whisks her away, determined to watch over her and discover the truth behind her desperate escape. But when his feelings turn more than platonic, he realizes he may risk his most important relationship in order to protect his damaged heart, and the woman he loves. Can Genevieve and Wolfe’s friendship turn into something deeper—or is it already too late for true love?

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My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jennifer Probst delivers a heartwarming and humorous story wrapped in what could be considered a warning of sorts. She reminds us through Genevieve MacKenzie that despite what we may believe, a love that requires us to change is not love at all.

Alone in the minutes before her wedding, Gen begins to hear her not-so-familiar inner voice, one that she had silenced in the years leading up to that moment, telling her to RUN. Unable to shake the feeling that going through with the marriage would be in her worst interest, Gen takes flight and shimmies her way through the small church window. As fate would have it, her best friend - only known as Wolfe - is procrastinating outside the church. When he sees the fluff of white drop down near him, he knows that something is off. Rather than wait for her to change her mind, he romantically scoops Gen up in his arms and makes his way to his car. Lost in the blur of chaos, Gen doesn't see the romance of the actions - she only sees that her best friend was late to her wedding. Why else would he have parked so far away?

For those of you that have read Jennifer's past stories, you'll know that we met Wolfe in The Marriage Merger. We were reintroduced to him in Searching for Perfect, where we see that Sawyer's mentoring was the best thing to ever happen to him, as he's now a successful and wealthy adult - with a hidden heart of gold. He doesn't allow many inside his walls.

The weekend that ensues after Gen's narrow escape from wedded hell is both endearing and comical. We see the damage done by Gen's emotionally abusive ex-fiance, and we see Wolfe's anger at the loss of his best friend's self-esteem. He spends the weekend reminding Gen that fun is not something reserved only for youth and naivety, but something that should be a regular part of life.

Upon returning to the mess left behind by the runaway bride, Gen makes attempts to reassure her family and friends of her mental well-being. As it turns out, this is not such an easy task, and never before have I felt such a prominent hatred for a secondary character.

But as it might seem, the story is not only about Gen's healing, but also about Wolfe's. We learn so much more about his past, and what has helped him recover from those events. Sawyer and Julietta, as well as a number of other members from the Conte clan, make their presence known in heart warming ways.

Wolfe Wells and Genevieve MacKenzie took hold of my heart, and had me rooting for each of them individually within the first chapters, but had me utterly engrossed in their romantic resolution by the end. I wanted nothing more for them to be whole as a couple, and on their own. Jennifer's words had me running the gamut of emotions, experiencing everything from happy tears to ghetto anger to falling off my chair laughter. As a loyal fan, I think it's fair to say that this is her best work yet.

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Jennifer Probst - Bio: Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again.

She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean. She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon's Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team at www.jenniferprobst.com.

LINKS:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads