St. Patty's Day Review : GIVING IN by M.R. Joseph (Giveaway at the bottom)

Buy Links : Amazon , B&N

Raphael Cruz doesn't do it. He just doesn't. Cruz doesn't fall in love. He's a "get in and get out" kind of guy. Ladies love him and fall all over him for his swoon worthy good looks and overwhelming sex appeal. He knows how to talk to them and tells them exactly what they want to hear. When he's done making them scream his name, he shows them straight to the door. The meaning of the word love doesn't exist in his world. But that could all change with a wink of a girl's eye... And one hot-as-hell romp in a bar bathroom.

Harlow Hannum is your typical girl-next-door. She has the brains, the beauty, and the money. What she doesn't have is the luxury of being someone's first choice in the game of love. She always comes in a distant second place, leaving her guarded with her feelings. Lies, betrayal, and secrets of her past follow her wherever she goes, no matter how hard she tries to hide them. That is until she's reunited with the one guy who can ignite the spark in her heart that's been extinguished for so long.

With sunny days, heated nights, and love lingering in the air in the beach town of Sandy Cove anything can happen. Especially when fate steps in for Harlow and Cruz. Will their blossoming friendship turn into unexpected love or will the collision of their opposing worlds be the end of what could have been?

 

 

 

Kricket's Chirps : 5  out of 5

 

The book definitely starts on a high note, one that will knock your socks off and leave you blushing.  And after such a pivotal scene, you wonder "WTF man?".

 

M.R. Joseph to me means humor, passion, and heartbreak.  With everyone of her stories she has had me blushing, laughing, crying and even feeling a bit embarrassed for the characters at some points in time.  For this reason, Giving In was highly anticipated for me.  And I was not disappointed.  Harlow and Cruz challenge each other.  Opposites attract.  I remember being asked, who wants a jelly on jelly sandwich when you can have peanut butter and jelly?  That's what these two are for me.  Harlow's personality is sweet with a bit of tart, Cruz is a crunchy peanut butter...he sticks with you, is overall smooth, but there are moments when you either chew or choke.  

 

One of the things that I loved about this was that they didn't just fall into a relationship with each other.  It took time.  They won each other over, became friends dependent on each other, and really didn't even know themselves when they fell in love.  Harlow is there for Cruz when he needs her, when he reveals that deep down he's a nervous little boy, despite his tough, womanizing exterior.  And Cruz treats her so well, supporting her independence and spoiling her in equal measure.

 

Then there is the trademark in all Joseph's stories...the heartbreak.  I kept waiting for it.  I thought maybe if I was prepared for it, I might avoid the ugly crying.  There were so many moments of trial for this couple, and every time I thought I had it figured out, they breezed through it.  Well, not exactly breezed through it, but it could have been so much worse.  And then it was.  I was absolutely wrecked.  And she did it in three words.  That's all it took.  

 

But despite those three words, she ended the book on such a beautiful note, even though it's a cliffhanger.  I was instantly left waiting for the second in the series.  This book only solidified why I adore this author.

 

 

 

 About the Author

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 has brought 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. You Belong With Me & Letters To Luca. Even though a series, each book is a stand alone giving you different stories about reunions. My new series which will be a continuation series called 'The Sandy Cove Series' will release in March 2014. The first book is entitled 'Giving In'. I'm still an avid reader and huge Indie Author supporter! Here's where you can find my books:

http://www.amazon.com/M.R.-Joseph/e/B00E7TME2C/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1389205484&sr=8-1

https://www.goodreads.com/reunionbooks

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Melissa-Redkar?keyword=Melissa+Redkar&store=allproducts

iTunes.com/reunionbooks

 

 

Haven't read it yet?  Leave a comment with your email address below and I'll choose 2 lucky winners to receive an e-copy for their enjoyment :)

 

Unravel by Calia Read : Review

Six months ago, I was happy. I was simply Naomi Carradine. 

One month ago, I was admitted into a psych ward. 

Yesterday, Lachlan visited me. Kissed me. And told me that I’m starting to lose my mind. 

Hours later, Max haunted my thoughts, reminding me I’m not crazy and that he needs my help. 

A few minutes ago, I drifted further from reality, trying to unravel the past. 

And now...everyone thinks I’m insane. But, I know he's real, and I know he needs me. 

Do you believe me?

Ever wondered what it would be like in a psychiatric facility?  Ever read that book that is so twisted you wonder if the author is alright?  How about this...have you ever found yourself so intrigued by something that would normally make you shudder and reach for lollipops and gumdrops?

Calia gives us all of this in her newest release Unravel.

Naomi Carradine...for all intents and purposes is normal.  She's got her best friend, her boyfriend, and a lifestyle that most young women dream of.  Until she meets Max.  The sexy and intriguing entrepreneur sets about turning her life upside down in a single summer.

Returning home to be with her best friend, Lana, Naomi meets Max as the host of a party attended strictly to keep up appearances for Lana's family.  She's choosing to forget about the boy she fell in love with as a child, the one who loves her completely.  She's living her life on her terms...no fear, no judgment, no hesitations.

Until the noises.  Max drops Naomi at Lana's family home, but she doesn't enter the house.  A disturbance from the barn grabs her attention.  And more than Max, what she witnesses unravels her belief in her perfect reality.  Everything really is not what it seems, and Naomi loses her mind trying to identify the truth and save herself, and her friend, from the pain she only recently learned exists in life.

 Calia has always been an incredible story teller.  I do believe she's reached a new level with this one, though.   Your grasping at straws with each page, just trying to figure out what is really going on, who all these people are to each other, what role they will play in the end.  The more you try to understand, the more you want to commit yourself and sit right next to Naomi...telling your own story of how her life left you in shambles.

But what better way to keep that from happening than to ask the author herself?  Go ahead and post your questions below.  Calia will be stopping by to answer a few questions later today, and I'll be giving an e-copy of the book to a few lucky people.  Make it good...Calia's only answering her favorites ;)

 

UNRAVEL Buy Links :

Amazon  , B&N

Calia Read lives in Germany with her husband and their four kids.

She's currently working on the third book in the Sloan Brothers Series, Ruin You Completely.

 Connect with her on Social Media Platforms :

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

Twitter http://twitter.com/caliaco22

Website http://caliareadsandwrites.blogspot.de/

Goodreads Author Link https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6466717.Calia_Read

Goodreads book link  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16466436-unravel?from_search=true

Also, don't forget to enter for a chance to win one of the great prizes Calia is giving away to celebrate her new release below!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Check out these other stops on the tour as well!

March 10^th

Vilma’s Book Blog – Review and Excerpt

Sinfully Sexy Books – Review and Guest Post (inspiration behind story)

March 11^th

Knock Your Books Off

Reading Books Like a Boss – Review and Playlist

Angie’s Dreamy Reads – Review and Excerpt

March 12^th

Book Babes Unite

Holly’s Red Hot Reviews

March 13^th

Little Black Book Bloggers - Review

Kricket’s Chirp – Review and Q&A with Author

March 14^th

Three Chicks and Their Books  - Review and Author interview

A Love Affair with Books – Review and Author Interview

The Autumn Review

Flirty Dirty Book Blog

Shh Moms Reading – Review and Deleted Scene

 

Back in the saddle...

Let's give this another shot.

I created this blog as an outlet for my reading obsession.  My TBR list is crazy long, and I need a place to store the information that filters through reading all these wonderful books.  However, a year ago when I started this page, I had no idea that I would end up pregnant a month later, and struggle with nausea every minute of every day until my little bundle of joy joined us.  I tell ya, when you can't even stand to open your eyes, it makes reading impossible.  Now that he has been here for a few months and we're settled into a routine, I have big plans for this little blog.  Hopefully I can get you all on board with me.  :)

In addition to sponsored blog tours, I'm going to be setting up a standard monthly giveaway.  This giveaway will be visitors choice.  The rules? 

I'm going to post a roll call for my viewers.  On that post, I want a recommendation from each of you.  Each month, I will pick one of the suggested titles to read and review.  When I post my review (a week after the selection), one of the comments that day will earn a lucky visitor an e-copy of the title.  There may also be chances for hard copies, and maybe signed copies.

So stick around, kids.  Feed the addiction, mine and yours!  

Nicki Sosebee : FAKE cover reveal

WAHOO!  It's finally gettin' real!  I love, love, LOVE Nicki Sosebee - and have been waiting as patiently as possible for Jade C. Jamison to give us some more of her antics and adventures.  And it's time!  I've got the cover, and a teaser, for you here :-)

Ready?  Ready?  And, go!

Nicki has come to realize that she can’t fix everything wrong with the world, at least not by confronting the bad guys head on, so she intends to educate people by tackling one small problem at a time.  Now, there’s a woman on city council who’s growing a little too big for her britches and stirring up trouble in Winchester, dividing citizens into two clear sides—her side and the other—and Nicki plans to expose her for what she is.  In the meantime, Nicki hurts Sean and risks losing him for good.

Nicki Sosebee is a strong woman who's not afraid to go after what she wants, whether it's a man or a story. She's tough and her mouth shows it. She's a free spirit and feels no need to apologize for who she is or what she believes in. Fake is #9 in the Nicki Sosebee series.

Teaser from Fake (The Nicki Sosebee Series, #9)

Jade C. Jamison

But she did appreciate that he was feeling apologetic.  So she sat up and stretched out her shoulders and rolled her neck.  Sean held out his hand and she took it but didn’t say a word.

He led her to the bathroom and she walked in.  Sure enough, the tub was full of bubbles and a little steam.  Damn.  Why couldn’t she ever get bubble baths to make bubbles like that?  But she reached in the medicine cabinet and pulled out her toothbrush and toothpaste.  She was going to put him to the task, see if he really wanted to make up for last night, and she wanted to be prepared.

“I made coffee already.  I’ll bring you a cup with that French vanilla creamer you like.”  He walked off toward the kitchen.  Yeah…she’d never seen Sean this pliant.  He must have been feeling really guilty.

She wasn’t going to say anything, although the bath looked tempting.

She was rinsing out her mouth when he brought her the cup of coffee.  It smelled sweet.  She saw his reflection in the mirror and she smiled at him.  She couldn’t help it.  He looked so cute, his damp hair clinging to his head, his blue eyes telling her he was sorry.  She turned around and took the cup from him but set it on the countertop.  He wrapped his arms around her waist and so she gave him a tiny kiss on his lips.  “Thanks for the coffee and the bath.”

“I’ll keep you company if you want.”

“If you do, I promise I will make you late for work.”

His eyes grew darker.  “It’ll be worth it.”  He kissed her and, for a moment, she considered just skipping the bath altogether.  But no.  She’d been waiting since last night.  Another few minutes of waiting wouldn’t hurt.  When she opened her eyes, he said, “One of the perks of owning your own business.”

She grinned.  “If you insist.”  She grabbed a clip and pulled her hair up off her neck, then walked over to the edge of the tub and pulled his shirt over her head, then slid out of her panties and dipped her toe in the water.  The temperature was perfect…not too hot and nowhere near cold.  She stepped into the tub and turned to see that Sean had already taken his underwear off and was approaching her.  He wasn’t hard yet, and that was good, because she wanted to just relax and enjoy the water for a while first.  “Should you get in first?”

He nodded and got in behind her, sat down and rested his back against the tub.  Then she sat between his legs, resting her back on his chest, her head on his shoulder.  The water level rose enough that she could hear it trickling down through the overflow.  It smelled good.  She had no idea Sean even had bubble bath…and it smelled like strawberries.  She realized then that she’d left her coffee on the counter, which was probably okay.  She’d nuke it in the microwave later.  Right now, she was enjoying the warmth all around her body and feeling her back up against Sean.  She closed her eyes and just relaxed.

After a few minutes, Sean finally whispered in her ear, “You still mad at me?”

She smiled.  She loved the feel of his warm breath on her skin.  “What makes you think I was mad at you?”

He chuckled, forcing more air on her neck.  She wasn’t going to be able to resist him much longer.  “You think I don’t know when you’re upset with me?”

She felt her smile grow wider and she opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him.  “Are you implying that I need to brush up on my acting skills?”

“No…your acting is fine.  You forget I know you pretty well.”  He slid his hands off his thighs onto hers.  Yeah…he did know her well, well enough to intuit that she wasn’t going to let him leave the apartment without having a little fun first.  So she wasn’t going to wait any longer.  She turned her head just a little more and touched her lips to his.  And that was all it took to bring her back to the state she’d been in the night before.