Cover Reveal: All Played Out by Cora Carmack

All Played Out (Rusk University #3) by Cora Carmack

Release Date: May 12, 2015
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: William Morrow (HarperCollins)
Pages: 320
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First person in her family to go to college? CHECK.
Straight A’s? CHECK.
On track to graduate early? CHECK.
Social life? …..yeah, about that….

With just a few weeks until she graduates, Antonella DeLuca’s beginning to worry that maybe she hasn’t had the full college experience. (Okay... Scratch that. She knows she hasn't had the full college experience).

So Nell does what a smart, dedicated girl like herself does best. She makes a "to do" list of normal college activities.

Item #1? Hook up with a jock.

Rusk University wide receiver Mateo Torres practically wrote the playbook for normal college living. When he’s not on the field, he excels at partying, girls, and more partying. As long as he keeps things light and easy, it's impossible to get hurt... again. But something about the quiet, shy, sexy-as-hell Nell gets under his skin, and when he learns about her list, he makes it his mission to help her complete it.

Torres is the definition of confident (And sexy. And wild), and he opens up a side of Nell that she's never known. But as they begin to check off each crazy, exciting, normal item, Nell finds that her frivolous list leads to something more serious than she bargained for. And while Torres is used to taking risks on the field, he has to decide if he's willing to take the chance when it's more than just a game.

Together they will have to decide if what they have is just part of the experiment or a chance at something real.

And don't miss the other books in the Rusk University series:

All Lined Up

(Amazon • B&N • iTunes)

All Broke Down

(Amazon • B&N • iTunes)

About the Author

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, Losing It, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

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Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway: Call Sign Karma by Jamie Rae

Call Sign Karma by Jamie Rae

Release Date: January 5, 2015
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Lyrical Press (Kensington Publishing Corp)
Pages: 270
Format: eBook
Source: ARC for Tour
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Love in the no-fly zone…

Distraught over the loss of her brother in a fighter jet accident, Tinklee Pinkerton decides to follow in his footsteps and prove the tragedy wasn’t his fault. But when she’s chosen as the first woman to fly the Air Force’s F-35, her plan for a life that revolves around work is thrown off course by a handsome, mysterious stranger…

Thanks to Locke’s seductive British accent, sweet nature, and one too many beers, Tink is soon inspired to throw caution to the wind and herself into his arms. She thinks maybe love can heal after all—until she discovers Locke is her superior officer. Tink has no problem risking her life in the air, but with everything on the line, is she brave enough to risk her heart on the ground?


Tinklee Pinkerton—despite the setbacks to being taken seriously of being small, blonde, a girl, and named, well, Tinklee Pinkerton—is well on her way to being a certifiable bad-ass. Her status of being the first woman chosen to fly the Air Force's new baby has made sure of that. Now if she can just convince herself and the boys' club around her she's worthy of the honor, maybe she can finally prove that the accident that killed her brother wasn't his fault.

Enter Locke. He's sweet, sexy, British...and her new flight instructor, as she finds out after one oh-so-very fun night between them. Somehow, Tink doesn't see an indiscretion with her superior helping her with any of these endeavors. But she's determined, and the same tenacity that got her here will carry her through, if only she could move past the weight of her brother's death.

The one thing that I can't stress enough about Call Sign Karma is how incredibly awesome it is to have a female fighter pilot lead. Tinklee's character brings a kind of freshness into military romance stories (an—arguably—otherwise saturated market) that I didn't realize I was waiting for until I read it. More often than not, these types of stories fall into the civilian woman/military man trap without consideration for the fact that there are women right alongside those men, albeit in smaller numbers. It's a foundation to the story that had me hooked from the get-go by sheer force of girl-power appreciation. Tink is by no means perfect as a character—the loss of her brother has left her emotionally stunted and unwilling to let others in, even in the case of sexy British pilots you may or may not be rooting for. But over the course of the story she must face what has happened to her and learn how to be the strong female pilot she needs to be, while also letting herself be vulnerable when it counts.

Which brings me to the romance. While I liked Tink for a whole lot of reasons, I really wanted to smack her a few times. Locke is that charming, sweet, and emotionally supportive. Although—I begrudgingly admit—it ultimately led to a stronger bond between the two, the number of false starts to their relationship made me so crazy I wanted to pull my hair out. But despite my frustration, theirs is an enjoyable relationship with laughs, trials, steam, and one fabulous accent.

Perhaps the most important recommendation I can make for this book is for fans of the more traditional military man male lead stories to give it a shot. While I enjoy those books as much as the next sucker-for-a-uniform, it's beyond refreshing and uplifting to have a story go a step further and show the female perspective. I—like many others out there—love feisty female leads, and this is the perfect set-up for just that. Here's to hoping for more leads like Tinklee and stories like Call Sign Karma!

Giveaway!

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About the Author

Jamie Rae is a New Adult and Young Adult author. She writes with one goal in mind—create stories with a positive message that will stay with the reader long after they've finished reading.

Jamie is an avid reader and loves discovering stories with a great hook, though she will not eat, sleep, or speak until she reaches the end. The Harry Potter years weren't pretty!! Convinced that her Hogwarts letter was lost in the mail, she keeps a watchful eye for owls hoping her children will have better luck!

In her other life, Jamie Rae is an orthodontist, and literary agent. She keeps her heart overflowing with love as a mother of three and has perfected the art of nomadic living as a military spouse and Air Force veteran. Jamie has a passion for critters of all shapes and sizes and you can often find her sneaking them into her own home or volunteering for rescues.

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Cover Reveals: Hard to Be Good and Hard to Let Go by Laura Kaye

Hard to Be Good (Hard Ink #3.5) by Laura Kaye

Release Date: April 7, 2015
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Avon Impulse (HarperCollins)
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Hard Ink Tattoo owner Jeremy Rixey has taken on his brother’s stateside fight against the forces that nearly killed Nick and his Special Forces team a year before. Now, Jeremy’s whole world has been turned upside down—not the least of which by a brilliant, quiet blond man who tempts Jeremy to settle down for the first time ever.

Recent kidnapping victim Charlie Merritt has always been better with computers than people, so when he’s drawn into the SF team’s investigation of his army colonel father’s corruption, he’s surprised to find acceptance and friendship—especially since his father never accepted who Charlie was. Even more surprising is the heated tension Charlie feels with sexy, tattooed Jeremy, Charlie’s opposite in almost every way.

With tragedy and chaos all around them, temptation flashes hot, and Jeremy and Charlie can’t help but wonder why they’re trying so hard to be good…



Hard to Let Go (Hard Ink #4) by Laura Kaye

Release Date: June 30, 2015
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Avon Impulse (HarperCollins)
Pages: 384
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Five dishonored soldiers.
Former Special Forces.
One last mission.
These are the men of Hard Ink.

Beckett Murda hates to dwell on the past. But his investigation into the ambush that killed half his Special Forces team and ended his Army career gives him little choice. Just when his team learns how powerful their enemies are, hard-ass Beckett encounters his biggest complication yet—a seductive, feisty Katherine Rixey.

A tough, stubborn prosecutor, Kat visits her brothers' Hard Ink Tattoo shop following a bad break-up—and finds herself staring down the barrel of a stranger's gun. Beckett is hard-bodied and sexy as hell, but he's also the most infuriating man ever. Worse, Kat's brothers are at war with the criminals her office is investigating. When Kat joins the fight, she lands straight in Beckett's sights . . . and in his arms. Not to mention their enemies' crosshairs. Now Beckett and Kat must set aside their differences to work together, because the only thing sweeter than justice is finding love and never letting go.

And don't miss the other books in the Hard Ink series:

Hard as It Gets

Hard as You Can

Hard to Hold On To
Hard to Come By

Praise for the Hard Ink Series

For Hard as You Can:

"TOP PICK! There is a sinister and desperate edge to this tale that will keep readers glued to their seats. Kaye has dark romantic suspense nailed!"
          ~ RT Book Reviews Magazine

"Hard as You Can is another five star read. The characters Ms. Kaye has created are wonderfully broken and the drama is gritty, but the burgeoning romance and the tight-knitted relationship of the team leaves you with a sense of redemption. A must read series!"
          ~ San Francisco Book Review

For Hard as It Gets:

"Edgy, sexy and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!"
          ~ #1 NYT Bestselling Author J.R. Ward

"Sizzling romance... The intriguing tattoo parlor and military background will appeal to fans of Suzanne Brockmann and Lindsay McKenna."
          ~ Publishers Weekly Review

"Kaye's depiction of sexual tension and her sex scenes are masterful and this will appeal to fans of Maya Banks' KGI and Julia Ann Walker's Black Knight's series."
          ~ Booklist

About the Author

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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Blog Tour + Review: Blind Date Bride by Arlene Hittle

Blind Date Bride (Reality TV Bites #1) by Arlene Hittle

Release Date: June 10, 2014
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 274
Format: eBook
Source: Review Copy for Tour
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Nearly a decade ago, accountant Kari Parker shed 220 pounds of dead weight—her hulking, abusive college boyfriend. The last thing she wants in her life is another man—especially one as tall as a Windy City high rise. Yet when her best friend enters her in Romance TV’s “Get a Love Life” contest, another man is exactly what she gets. As much as she'd love to just say no, she can't turn down the prize money that will allow her to help her parents save the restaurant they've run all her life.

Sparks fly between Kari and her bogus groom, and as she and Damien share close quarters, intimate meals and—gulp—his bed, Kari doesn’t stand a chance of resisting his considerable charms. Even worse? She might not want to. But building a real future out of their sham marriage will be tougher than baking a wedding cake from scratch… with no flour… in a broken oven.


What happens when the day you meet your future husband is on your wedding day? Thanks to a Romance TV contest Kari's best friend Bethany nominated her for, she's about to find out. Now Kari, still burdened with the aftermath of an unhealthy relationship 9 years ago, must try to make it work with a man she just met in order to secure financial security for her parents. Perhaps easier said than done.

Blind Date Bride is the kind of romance that attempts to show every part of life and relationships--from the serious to the sad to the hilarious and embarrassing. There were moments of challenge caused by Kari's past and the Romance TV-meddling in their relationship. Moments that acknowledged the inherent awkwardness of getting to know someone. And all of that is only heightened by the fact that they got married before getting to know each other.

The relationship between Kari and Damien is full of sweetness and heat and, at first, the demons from Kari's past. When their relationship is good, it's so sweet, fun, and lovable. But my one continuing annoyance came from certain references to Kari's past. For instance, the near-constant fixation on Damien's size. I understand that this is something that would be hard for Kari, given her experience, but something about the way it was stated just rubbed me the wrong way. I can't explain it exactly, but it didn't keep me from enjoying the other aspects of their courtship.

For fans of light-hearted romance fair, this book is the perfect choice. The humor and romance are dominant throughout the story, and even when the struggles arise. And the major struggles are not overly drawn-out, so you get to enjoy the periods of happiness. So if you prefer the lighter, fluffier side of life in your books, and laughing while reading is what you you love to do, check out Blind Date Bride!

About the Author

Arlene Hittle is a Midwestern transplant who now makes her home in northern Arizona. She suffers from the well-documented Hittle family curse of being a Cubs fan but will root for the Diamondbacks until they run up against the Cubs. Longtime friends are amazed she writes books with sports in them, since she's about as coordinated as a newborn giraffe and used to say marching band required more exertion than golf.

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Release Day Launch + Giveaway: Call Sign Karma by Jamie Rae

Call Sign Karma by Jamie Rae

Release Date: January 5, 2015
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Lyrical Press (Kensington Publishing Corp)
Pages: 270
Goodreads • Amazon • B&N • iTunes • Kobo

Love in the no-fly zone…

Distraught over the loss of her brother in a fighter jet accident, Tinklee Pinkerton decides to follow in his footsteps and prove the tragedy wasn’t his fault. But when she’s chosen as the first woman to fly the Air Force’s F-35, her plan for a life that revolves around work is thrown off course by a handsome, mysterious stranger…

Thanks to Locke’s seductive British accent, sweet nature, and one too many beers, Tink is soon inspired to throw caution to the wind and herself into his arms. She thinks maybe love can heal after all—until she discovers Locke is her superior officer. Tink has no problem risking her life in the air, but with everything on the line, is she brave enough to risk her heart on the ground?

Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Jamie Rae is a New Adult and Young Adult author. She writes with one goal in mind—create stories with a positive message that will stay with the reader long after they've finished reading.

Jamie is an avid reader and loves discovering stories with a great hook, though she will not eat, sleep, or speak until she reaches the end. The Harry Potter years weren't pretty!! Convinced that her Hogwarts letter was lost in the mail, she keeps a watchful eye for owls hoping her children will have better luck!

In her other life, Jamie Rae is an orthodontist, and literary agent. She keeps her heart overflowing with love as a mother of three and has perfected the art of nomadic living as a military spouse and Air Force veteran. Jamie has a passion for critters of all shapes and sizes and you can often find her sneaking them into her own home or volunteering for rescues.

Website   •   Facebook   •   Twitter   •   Goodreads

Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway: Make It Last by Megan Erickson

Make It Last (Bowler University #3) by Megan Erickson

Release Date: January 6, 2015
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: William Morrow (HarperCollins)
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: ARC for Tour from Edelweiss
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After graduating from Bowler University, the last place Cam Ruiz ever expected to find himself is his hometown. A bad job as a bouncer and worry over his mom’s health make living in Paradise anything but. There’s only one thing that can make his return any harder—running into the only girl he’s ever loved.

Tate Ellison made a mistake when she was eighteen, one that cost her the best thing she’s ever had. She’s always hoped the regret of losing Cam would fade over time. Too bad it’s only grown. She took comfort in the fact she’d never have to face him again, so his presence in Paradise throws her for a loop.

The pull between them is instant and when the truth of what happened years ago tumbles out, they share a mind-blowing kiss...which leads to more. But the past has a way of repeating itself. When all the cards are on the table, Cam and Tate must decide what they are willing to do to make it last.


Make It Last has all of the makings of exactly the kind of new adult novel I really love. For whatever reason, first and childhood love stories just really get to me, and that's exactly what this book offered. Tate and Cam had that kind of love once. Now they're back in their home town together, and they may just find their way back to what they once had.

As a leading lady, Tate holds what felt like the perfect level of complexity. Her decisions, especially with regards to her relationship with Cam, will be all too well understood by anyone who I identifies as a caretaker. She's so focused on caring for those around her that she never stops to let them decide their own fate. It's heartbreaking how relateable it can feel while also being pretty clearly the wrong move. It made her lovable and easy to get, despite my frustration with her choices.

And Cam was just as lovable as his lady. He's sweet and chivalrous in a natural, not overbearing, way. Not to mention he commits all of himself to things in a way that is just delicious. His determination to care for his mother to his own detriment will make you swoon. The care and affection he shows for Tate's family will have him worming his way into your heart. And the ease with which he believes in Tate will render you nothing more than a pile of goo. He's perhaps the best kind of male lead out there as a result.

I personally hadn't read the other books in the Bowler University series, but reading Make It Last really left me wanting to! With that said, this book could definitely be read as a stand alone and I certainly didn't feel like I was missing any important information. So don't let the fact that it's part of a series discourage you if you're like me.

For fans of the new adult genre, this is sure to be a winner. Their relationship is sweet, sexy and filled with all of the complications that come with real life. all in all, it made for a highly enjoyable read that I would recommend to anyone who's a fan of contemporary romances.

So if you're looking for a sweet, fun read, check out Make It Last!

Giveaway!

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About the Author

Megan Erickson grew up in a family that averages 5’5” on a good day and started writing to create characters who could reach the top kitchen shelf.

She’s got a couple of tattoos, has a thing for gladiators and has been called a crazy cat lady. After working as a journalist for years, she decided she liked creating her own endings better and switched back to fiction.

She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids, and two cats. And no, she still can’t reach the stupid top shelf.

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Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway: Forever Found by Nazarea Andrews

Forever Found (Neverland Lost #2) by Nazarea Andrews

Release Date: December 30, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: A&A Literary
Format: eARC
Source: ARC for Tour
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Losing Gwen was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to survive. I’ve never loved anyone the way I love her.

But finding her was never about that. And now that I have found her—now that she knows the truth about me and the Island, I have to trust her to believe. Because her leaving me didn’t just destroy me—its killing Neverland.

I need her to love me. But we all need her to believe again.

Peter Pan has grown up and found the girl who left—but the stakes are higher than ever in this romantic conclusion to the story begun in Girl Lost.


When I read Girl Lost, the first book in the Neverland Lost series, the ending was unsatisfying to say the least. The big reveal that Gwen had not imagined the island or the boy and the Peter was in fact that boy all grown up came, and then...nothing. So once I heard about Forever Found, the continuation of the series, I had to check it out.

Told from Peter's point of view, Forever Found picks up right about where Girl Lost left off, with Gwen learning the whole truth about Peter and her past. Despite Peter finally sharing the truth with Gwen, Belle and the island are still fading. It's up to Peter to really convince Gwen that she truly isn't crazy. She still refuses to believe, but her resolve is cracking. And if Peter is going to save the island and Belle, he has to make sure it crumbles, and possibly risk leaving Gwen even more broken than before as a result.

I still really don't like Peter as a character, so his narration wasn't a selling point for me. The "wild" aspect in him, to me, just came off as overly aggressive, violent, and feral—and not in any appealing way. I missed Gwen's narrative for the calmer, nicer nature, but also for the interesting dynamic that stems from her rather fragile sanity. Peter comes off as more than a little crazy, but with a distinctly more homicidal edge, and that's just not for me.

As far as the story, this was a very short read. As a novella, it didn't have much in the way of plot. It was really comprised of getting into Peter's head a bit, a couple flashbacks, and Peter's efforts to convince Gwen once and for all that he was telling the truth. It made for a quick read that helped to give a much more substantial ending to the story. With that said, there were still a lot of things up in the air at the end, but the story of the island got a real resolution.

I still think that the premise of this story is inventive and cool and made for a fun read. If you are someone who loves fairy tales re-imagined, this is certainly right up your alley. While I didn't like the mechanics of this book as much as the first, if you enjoyed the first book but were, like me, left unsatisfied by the ending, Forever Found certainly manages to alleviate that. Be sure to check it out!

Giveaway!

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And don't miss where it all began...

Girl Lost (Neverland Lost #1) by Nazarea Andrews

Release Date: May 1, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: A&A Literary
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Northern was supposed to be a fresh start—a place where people didn’t know who I was or how I had spent years in and out of mental institutes. People didn't know about my parents death or the island no one heard of. But when Peter sits next to me in lit class, I can’t stop the memories, and I don’t want to. He looks too much like the boy from the island, and despite my best intentions, coaxes my secrets from me.

He’s gorgeous, irresistible, a little mad, and completely lost—we are a pair of broken cogs in a world neither of us truly fits into. He is somehow gentle and fierce, heartbreaking in his devotion and savage in his defense.

When Belle, his best friend, shows up, pale and lovely and sick, Peter pulls away from me, a startling withdrawal. It’s a relationship that scares and confuses me. She is at times warm and friendly, and other times is violent and unpredictable.

Peter says that he wants me, but refuses to let himself get close. And there are secrets, surrounding both of us, that border on nightmares. As the memories close in, as Belle gets sicker and more violent, I’m torn between what is true and what I believe, and what this magical boy knows about my mysterious past.

About the Author

Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She is the author of the University of Branton series, Neverland Lost series, and Edge of the Falls.

She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog. You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

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