Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Sunday, September 8, 2019
Battle Scars Book Blast
Battle Scars
The Arsenal, Book 5
Blurb
Scars don’t always heal…Jesse Mason chose duty over love and endured the hell of captivity comforted only with thoughts of the woman he left behind. Though the physical damage has healed, the emotional battle continues now that he’s home. He fakes happy and whole until Ellie is thrust back into his life. She’s everything he ever wanted but can never have. Getting wrapped up in her problems is not an option, but neither is leaving her in danger.
Without her he’d be nothing.
Scars aren’t always visible…
Ellie Travers salvaged her scarred heart and landed headfirst in a horrible marriage. Now divorced, broke, and desperate to care for her ailing mother, she accepts the only job offered—Office Manager at The Arsenal. Working for the man who broke her heart should be simple compared to escaping a hellacious marriage. But only she can help Jesse win the final war for his soul, and she’ll do anything to save him—even at the risk of losing herself.
The battle lines have been drawn. Together they must navigate the minefields of love and sacrifice because failure is not an option.
Excerpt
“Out,” Jesse growled.The women stilled. Addy chuckled as she entered and leaned against the wall beside Levi.
“This isn’t a show. Get the fuck out,” he repeated.
“Not happening,” Addy said. The redheaded operative terrified the hell out of Ellie. She was like Wonder Woman, if Wonder Woman had also been James Bond. Maybe? Either way, she was so kickass she gave every operative at The Arsenal pause.
Even Vi’s husband Jud—and he’d been an assassin. Yikes.
Ellie swallowed as she processed the protective solidarity of her new friends—her tribe. The fact that she had one was a shock. She’d only ever had Jesse as a friend. Then he’d gone, and she’d had…
“There a reason you’re coming in here like you’re about to start World War III?” Vi asked. “Your growl doesn’t scare me, Jesse.”
Nothing scared Vi. All the women gathered around Ellie were amazing—each in her own unique way. The fact that any one of them had friended her was wild. All of them?
Jesse dropped something on her desk. Her pulse quickened as she watched the small object bounce a couple times then roll to a stop by her stapler. Silence descended as everyone looked at the piece of metal.
Addy and Vi cursed. Bree reached out and grabbed it.
“Why are you bringing this in and getting mad at Ellie?” The blonde looked at Ellie. “Why is he bringing this to you?”
Ellie took a moment to snap the pieces together. Someone had shot her tire out. It hadn’t been a blowout. Fear crawled through her, but the anger doused it quickly enough.
Phil.
That son of a bitch.
“Medina has a loud mouth,” she muttered, unsure what else to say.
“No. Don’t put this on Medina. He did what you should’ve done,” Jesse said.
“Actually, she should have called us when this shit went down instead of changing her tire on the side of the road after someone shot it out,” Levi commented from the wall.
Riley gasped. “When?”
“I’ve got Cord and Zoey finding the footage now,” Jesse said. “You want to tell me who shot your tire out and why?”
Ellie shook her head. “I didn’t know it was shot out. I thought it was a blowout. I swear.”
“What happened?” Jesse’s voice was low, but gritty like he’d swallowed sandpaper. His green gaze flickered with rage. His entire body vibrated with unspent anger. She’d never fully understood how, but she could read him easily.
Ellie looked around.
“We do this here or in the whiteboard room with the rest of the crew that isn’t here,” Vi said.
Jesse moved to her side of the desk and grasped her arm. Though his touch was gentle, he’d grabbed the same area Phil had used to yank her from the truck. Pain sliced through her body. A sound rose from her throat.
His gaze darkened as he removed his hand and rolled her sleeve up.
Though not much time had passed, bruises were forming in a distinct pattern. Fingers.
Tension struck the room. Everyone started talking at once.
Jesse leaned down until he was in her personal space. “You and I need to have a conversation about this, Peanut. You want to do this with just you and me, or do you want them involved? Either way they’ll know whatever you tell me.”
She’d sat in plenty of Arsenal briefings. The Masons, the women gathered around her, and the team leaders all converged and went over every speck of detail about a case. No stone went unturned. They hacked their way into impossible-to-get intel without thought.
Mary and Vi led the discussions and used the system they’d created. HERA. Ellie didn’t fully understand it, but Marshall and Nolan had both told her every government organization and country in the world wanted it.
Her stupid problems with Phil didn’t need their level of intensity. He was a pissant compared to the real terrorists, drug lords, regimes, militias, spies, assassins, and dictatorships they battled on a regular basis. Nolan said Mary and Vi had never failed on a mission. While Ellie really, really wanted kickass commandoes like Jesse and The Arsenal kicking Phil’s ass, more important and deserving people needed them more.
“It’s nothing.”
“Nothing doesn’t shoot out tires,” Jesse said. “Nothing doesn’t leave marks on you.”
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks2read.com%2Fu%2F4AQDJe%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0GvdC6E8Mlmqwxd1S-i3KajB4uv5-JRUODP44fXsd2F89oUGWXt2uS2Ho&h=AT1w_YqZPDqp6T7isFwvdeHyi8jtrajMny5ZAHJfm6LjQZX6LOU9Sj4i71CPbWMPI-6H4YPJ4MJ5EAyFRj7X7QOcXU_bxTyxxrJIOXyjkK1vhrwsraEzefwF0FznYF5QHhs-ElKqUa2JL_pFGmsq4wAUTHOR BIO
In reality, her fascination for enthralling worlds took seed somewhere amidst a somewhat dull day job and a wonderful life filled with family and friends. When she’s not cemented to her chair, Cara loves travelling, photography and reading.
Author Social Media links:
Website: www.caracarnes.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/caracarnesauthor/
FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/457844991039936/?source_id=120084538047868
Newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/d6r0q6
Twitter: https://twitter.com/caracarnes?lang=en
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/cara-carnes
Amazon Author Page : http://bit.ly/CaraAuthorPage
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Review: Tricky Twenty-Two
Tricky Twenty-Two by Janet EvanovichMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I could put this right up there with some of my favorite books of all times! Well, for this series anyways. Outside this series, the tops are just too hard to choose! But that's another story. This was the normal roller coaster that is Stephanie's world. It's less dramatic these days than it used to be. I just take that to mean she's getting more experienced.
Who couldn't love this vivacious characters? We have Stephanie who tries her best. She's under a lot of pressure to meet expectations though. We have Lula who's going to be who she wants to be despite what people think. We have Grandma Maazur who's just a hoot and a half! Then we have the wonderful and fearless Ranger and Morrelli. I will gladly call either of these my book boyfriends any day. The other characters are just as great. Some could use more book time. Just saying.
I really enjoy this series. I can't get enough of it. I reread the first several because I'd forgotten where I left off. I'm so glad I did. I definitely didn't remember half of what was going on. I remembered the characters. I'm still floored that Rex is still alive! A hamster!! It's just insane!
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Saturday, September 7, 2019
Review: Waiting for Aegina
Waiting for Aegina by Effie KammenouMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book continues from Evanthia's Gift. Both books were incredibly beautiful. They follow Greek families that become one big family over time. The story covers many generations growing up. It highlights the good moments and the bad moments. The beautiful and the heartbreak. It's one of the most real and emotionally gripping stories I've ever followed. I am so ready to continue with book three.
I don't even know where to begin talking about the characters. They were all so beautiful. It's hard not to develop a connection to each and every one of them. As you follow their lives, you see each one for better or worse. You see them at their lowest and their highest. It's really beautiful. I couldn't get enough.
I was impressed with the Narrator was well. She did a fantastic job. It was very obvious that she was just into the story as I was. I'm convinced that the emotions in her voice actually pulled me into the story more than I already was. That's saying a lot. She did great in the first book as well.
I really enjoyed this book. As somebody who had a broken family, it was so beautiful to see this big beautiful family always there for each other when you need it. It's kind of like a fairy tale to me since I don't know what it's like to have family like that. Not only that, but this book is so educational. I've learned so much about the Greek culture because of these books. They even have some nice recipes scattered through the books. I'll definitely be trying them.
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Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Review: Forbidden Bonds
Forbidden Bonds by Lexi C. FossMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was assuming that we would follow the same characters from the first book with the second book. However, instead of Issac and Stas, we got Tom and Amelia. I didn't have a problem with this at all. It was very refreshing to get to know them. I'll go ahead and assume the rest of the series will be this way. Following along with the story but changing points of view.
I really do care for all the characters. I also love the unique twist on paranormal beings. It makes the story much more enjoyable. I can't wait to read the rest of the series and get to know more of the characters as I go along. Especially my mind reader book boyfriend who is referred to commonly as B in this book.
The narrator was fantastic, but I was a little disappointed not to have Sarah Puckett perform in this one as well. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying Joel Froomkin wasn't good enough. He was great. I'm just biased. Also, I like when narrators stay consistent in series.
This story is very unique and very amazing. It was hard to not want to read this one and Blood Laws in one sitting. I've read a few other books by Lexi C. Foss and it was the same. She's a fantastic writer. She's quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
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Monday, September 2, 2019
About Face by D.E. Haggarty Now Live!!!!
Information for Spotlight Posts
Book title: About Face
Series: Love in
the Suburbs, #1
Published: August
29,2019
Word count: 56,000
approximately 234 pages
Blurb:
To be painfully specific, my
seventy-five-year-old grandmother thinks a little hanky-panky would cheer me
up. Direct quote. Since I’m currently living with her, I can’t escape the endless
line of grandchildren of friends who keep ‘dropping by’ for dinner. Literally,
I can’t escape. I can barely manage the trek to the dining room at this point.
While Grandma’s determined to find me a
husband, I’m determined to learn how to walk again so I can walk away from her
matchmaking skills. Spoiler alert: She has no matchmaking skills.
But then I get a brilliant idea. I can fake
date my physical therapist. Only he wants a real date. Gulp. A real date with
me? Is he for real? I’m no longer the stylish girl with the glamorous
job. Now, I’m a woman with a shattered leg and a scarred face.
If I’m going to learn to live with my new reality
and give love a chance, my attitude needs to do an about-face. Easier said than
done.
Buy links:
Apple: https://apple.co/2Ge7MCy
Universal
link: https://books2read.com/u/mgG0Vx
I grew up reading
everything I could get my grubby hands on, from my mom's Harlequin romances, to
Nancy Drew, to Little Women. When I wasn't flipping pages in a library book, I
was penning horrendous poems, writing songs no one should ever sing, or
drafting stories which have thankfully been destroyed. College and a stint in
the U.S. Army came along, robbing me of free time to write and read, although
on the odd occasion I did manage to sneak a book into my rucksack between
rolled up socks, MRIs, t-shirts, and cold weather gear. After surviving the
army experience, I went back to school and got my law degree. I jumped ship and
joined the hubby in the Netherlands before the graduation ceremony could even
begin. A few years into my legal career, I was exhausted, fed up, and just
plain done. I quit my job and sat down to write a manuscript, which I promptly
hid in the attic before returning to the law. But practicing law really wasn’t
my thing, so I quit (again!) and went off to Germany to start a B&B. Turns
out running a B&B wasn’t my thing either. I polished off that manuscript
languishing in the attic before following the husband to Istanbul where I
decided to give the whole writer-thing a go. But ten years was too many to stay
away from my adopted home. I packed up again and moved to The Hague where, in
between tennis matches and failing to save the world, I’m currently working on
my next book. I hope I’ll always be working on my next book.
Author links:
Blog:
https://dehaggerty.wordpress.com/category/mymusings/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dehaggerty
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dehaggerty
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/dehaggerty/
Newsletter signup: https://mailchi.mp/027b2768aa1c/newsletter-sign-up-for-a-writers-life-by-de-haggerty
Bookbub author page: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/d-e-haggerty
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/d-e-haggerty-4b49a29/
Excerpt:
“Now, young man.” I chuckle. Bert is not young by anyone’s
measure except Grandma’s. Based on his receding hairline and the white tinting
his beard, I’m guessing he’s somewhere in his late thirties if not older.
“What’s this about you having a girlfriend?”
Bert, who just stuffed a huge portion of pork chop into his
mouth, chokes but holds his hand up when Grandma stands and pulls her arm back
as if to whack him on the back. He takes a drink of water and manages to
swallow his food. “My grandmother Alma doesn’t approve of my relationship.”
“Why not?” Grandma asks as she sits down. “Are you a
homosexual? Do you need me to talk to Alma? She should know better in this day
and age than to discriminate against you gays.”
Bert starts choking all over again. This time on mere air.
When he gets control of himself, he shakes his head. “Um, no. I’m not gay. I
have a girlfriend,” he explains
making sure to emphasize ‘girl’.
“Why doesn’t she approve of your relationship?” I ask before
Grandma can start on some other inane theory.
“My girlfriend is in prison.”
My eyes widen at his answer. I can honestly admit of the
dozen scenarios running through my head – drug dealer, too young, single mother
– ‘girlfriend in prison’ never entered the realm of possibilities. “What’s she
in for?” His lips turn down at my question. “What? Is it not proper etiquette
to ask?” Like I care. I will find out what crimes his girlfriend committed.
He shrugs. “I guess I can tell you as you’ll probably never
meet Shayla. She was arrested for intent to distribute drugs.”
My mouth gapes open. “Your girlfriend is a drug dealer?”
Bert’s eyes narrow on me. “No, she is not. She has a problem
with addiction for which she’s being treated.”
Sure, she’s not. “Does she get treatment in prison?”
“She’s going to NA.”
I nod. NA is better than nothing I guess, although I
wouldn’t be surprised if she was ordered to attend NA as part of her sentence.
Wow. These blind dates are making me cynical. I take a bite of pork chop as I
consider my next question. “How did you two meet?”
“Online.”
“Like online dating before she went to prison or…” I trail
off when I see him shaking his head.
“No, I met her on this website for dating prisoners.”
There’s a website for dating prisoners? People, who are not in prison
purposefully choose to find a prisoner to date? Fascinating. I have to find
this website. Maybe his girlfriend is still listed on there.
“But you have met her in person, right?”
“Of course.” Bert smiles. “I drive down to the prison about
once a month to visit her.”
I lean forward and whisper. “Can you like touch each other
and kiss and stuff when you visit?” Is it rude to ask someone if they can have
sex with their prisoner girlfriend at the dinner table? I sneak a peek at
Grandma whose mouth is hanging open as she stares at Bert. Okay, probably not
best to ask about sex then.
Bert’s face goes nuclear red. Even the tips of his ears are
red. It’s kind of adorable. “Not really. But she’s out soon…” The implication
is clear. He can’t wait to do the horizontal mumbo jumbo with his prisoner
girlfriend.
Grandma clears her throat and stops any further questions of
which I have about a gazillion. I’ve never met anyone who dated a prisoner
before. I don’t think I even know anyone who’s been to jail, let alone prison. I’m
intrigued.
“What about in the meantime?” Grandma asks.
“In the meantime? What do you mean?” Bert asks, but I have a
sneaking suspicion where Grandma is going with this line of inquiry and I don’t
like it one bit.
“Don’t you need some female companionship since your girl is
… um …. unavailable?”
Oh my god! Is my
grandma trying to pimp me out?
Sunday, September 1, 2019
Review: Hell's Calling
Hell's Calling by Skye MacKinnonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this story a lot more than I thought I would. I really didn't care for the beginning. I thought it was going to be a corny and predictable story. I think I'd of preferred to see some flashbacks sprinkled through the story to give it more flair. I'd of also liked to see more points of view. Either way, it was a very nice read.
The characters were okay. I can't say that I connected with any of them. I felt a great deal of empathy to the main character for losing her sister, but I didn't connect with her. That doesn't mean I hated the characters. They just aren't characters I can relate to. I would like to get some more background information on the main characters in the story.
The narrator did a very good job. The only critique I have about the narration is that some of the male characters weren't really emphasized well. I couldn't tell when it switched from narration to them sometimes. But for the most part, she did a terrific job.
I'm unsure at this moment if I will continue on with the series. There's a chance that I will, but I'm not sure. While I really didn't hate this story, I didn't really consider it a favorite either. It wasn't a story I could gush over. I'm sure there are many readers who will disagree with me. I'm completely okay with that.
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