Book Blitz: Ruin

About the Book:
Title: Ruin
Author: Clarissa Wild
Publication date: September 20th 2016
Genres: New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

Maybell Fairweather was the girl of my dreams.
Always smiling brightly, she kept going, despite the names her classmates called her behind her back.
She was full of curiosity and independence, the extent of which I could only be jealous of. Even though she had all odds stacked against her, she knew what she wanted from life and pursued it, no matter the cost.
She was completely my opposite in every way.
Perfect, even though she couldn’t see it.
Perfect … until me.
Because this is the story of how I ruined her.

Based on a true story. Standalone Romance. No cliffhanger.

Goodreads / Amazon 

This gorgeous Limited Edition cover is available in Paperback ONLY and can be purchased here!

—

EXCERPT:

He winks, and somehow, it makes me blush.
For some reason, it’s hard to look away too.
“What’s your name?” I ask.
“Alexander Wright.”
I smile. “Maybell Fairweather.”
“Hmm … Maybell … nice name.”
“Thanks.” I blush.
I don’t know why or what it is about him, but he has this gentleness about him that soothes me and makes me want to ask him to stay, even if I don’t have a reason for it.
But then I realize it’s not the only reason I’m looking at him.
Something’s felt off since we met, and I couldn’t put my finger on it, but now, I can.
“Wait …” I mutter. “I know you, right?”
“Yeah, I’m that guy who ate a sandwich with you the other day. You don’t remember? Should I call a nurse?” He chuckles.
I roll my eyes. “No. I mean …” I recognize him from somewhere. “I know you from … school, right?”
His eyes suddenly widen, and he slams his lips shut.
HA! I knew he looked familiar. “No way! I knew it.”
The muscles in his face tighten. “Oh, boy.”
“I’ve seen you at school a few times.”
“Really?” he says, scratching the back of his neck.
“Yeah … don’t tell me I’m making this up. I’m not crazy … right?” I pout.
He smiles, his dimples making me wanna pinch his cheeks. “No, you’re not crazy. It’s just a surprise that you’d even recognize me. People usually don’t even see me. I’m invisible.”
“Yeah?” I bite my lip and frown. “Same here.”
He lowers his arm. “No … you’re not invisible at all,” he says, looking at me with half-mast eyes. “I see you. All the time.”

Author Bio:
Want to be the first to get your hands on new books & get access to free short stories, giveaway prizes, previews, and more? Sign up here http://eepurl.com/FdY71
Clarissa Wild is a New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author, best known for the dark Romance novel Mr. X. Her novels include the Fierce Series, the Delirious Series, and Stalker. She is also a writer of erotic romance such as the Blissful Series, The Billionaire's Bet series, and the Enflamed Series. She is an avid reader and writer of sexy stories about hot men and feisty women. Her other loves include her furry cat friend and learning about different cultures. In her free time she enjoys watching all sorts of movies, reading tons of books and cooking her favorite meals.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Fan Club

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~Cassie

Waiting on Wednesday #66

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Jocelyn's Waiting On: 

Honor (The Breaking Point, #1) by Jay Crownover  
Publication Date: October 18th, 2016 

Synopsis: 

Don't be fooled.

Don't make excuses for me.

I am not a good man.

I've seen things no one should, done things no one should talk about. Honor and conscience have no place in my life. But I've fought and I've survived. I've had to.

The first time I saw her dancing on that seedy stage in that second rate club, I felt my heart pulse for the first time. Keelyn Foster was too young, too vibrant for this place, and I knew in an instant that I would make her mine. But first I had to climb my way to the top. I had to have something more to offer her.

I'm here now, money is no object and I have no equal. Except for her. She's disappeared. But don't worry, I will find her and claim her. She will be mine.

Like I said, don't be fooled. I am not the devil in disguise… I'm the one front and center.

Whaaaat? Is this New Adult or Adult? I'm seeing some conflicting genres on Goodreads... well whichever it is I'm SO down to read this book! I'm obsessed with dark romance books so I can't wait for this one to come out! 

Cassie's Waiting On: 

Fate of Flames (Effigies #1) by Sarah Raughley 
Publication Date: November 22, 2016

Synopsis:

Four girls with the power to control the elements and save the world from a terrible evil must come together in the first epic novel in a brand-new series.

When Phantoms—massive beasts made from nightmares and darkness—suddenly appeared and began terrorizing the world, four girls, the Effigies, each gained a unique power to control one of the classical elements: earth, air, fire, and water. Since then, four girls across the world have continually fought against the Phantoms, fulfilling their cosmic duty. And when one Effigy dies, another girl gains her power as a replacement.

But now, with technologies in place to protect the world’s major cities from Phantom attacks, the Effigies have stopped defending humanity and, instead, have become international celebrities, with their heroic feats ranked, televised, and talked about in online fandoms.

Until the day that New York City’s protection against the Phantoms fails, a man seems to be able to control them by sheer force of will, and Maia, a high school student, unexpectedly becomes the Fire Effigy.

Now Maia has been thrown into battle with three girls who want nothing to do with one another. But with the first human villain that the girls have ever faced, and an army of Phantoms preparing for attack, there isn’t much time for the Effigies to learn how to work together.

Can the girls take control of their destinies before the world is destroyed forever?

I'm so happy that Jocelyn is finally getting on the Jay Crownover bus!! Jocelyn's pick has been pre-ordered for so long for me, and I seriously can't wait to read Honor! But I'm also excited for my pick...it sounds new and different, and is sounds like an amazing start to a series. Plus, isn't that cover awesome?!

Blog Tour: Fall of Thrones and Thorns

About the Book:
Title: Fall of Thrones and Thorns (Threats of Sky and Sea #3)
Author: Jennifer Ellision
Publication date: September 27th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Synopsis:

War hurtles in, a typhoon over the sea.
After Bree’s life was torn apart, Nereidium had represented a haven to her. A place that—if she could save it—was beyond the King’s reach.
And, at last, she’s arrived upon its shores. But things in Nereidium are not what they should be.
The land is plagued by a rash of mysterious earthquakes, the likes of which it’s never known. The governors are distracted by old traditions, while Bree and her friends grapple with changing identities and the sense that the longer they wait to take action… the greater the danger from Egria grows.
Bree is tired of living under the shadow of King Langdon’s power. And she’s tired of waiting for him to be the first to act.
In this final chapter of the Threats of Sky and Sea series, it all comes down to Nereidium or Egria. To Bree or the King. It’s kill… or be killed.
And not everyone will escape the battle unscathed.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iBooks / Smashwords

Previous books in the series:

Author Bio:

Jennifer Ellision was born and raised in South Florida and lives in perpetual fear of temperatures below 60F. She spent a great deal of her childhood staying up past her bedtime with a book and a flashlight. When she couldn’t find the stories she wanted to read, she started writing them. She has an OTP, loves character analysis, and is a master of the fangirl flail, with a particular soft spot for fanfiction. She frequently bursts into song (and they are often of a Disney persuasion). Sailor Moon is one of her favorite things on this planet.
Threats of Sky and Sea is her first novel.
She also blogs at The Bevy Bibliotheque, where she talks about books, TV, movies, and other things that she goes fangirl over. For review requests or blog inquiries, please visit http://www.thebevybibliotheque.net to contact the blogger who best suits your request.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Review:

I am incredibly sad to know that this is the last book in the Threats of Sky and Sea series, but boy did Jennifer Ellision deliver! I fell in love with this series as soon as it came out in 2014, and it certainly has been a thrilling journey. Jennifer Ellision delivers a satisfying conclusion that will leave fans of the series happy and breathless with all of the twists and turns. Ms. Ellision's writing is wonderful and I truly wish this series got more attention because Bree's story is so unique and exciting that it instantly grips you and never lets you go. I found myself thinking about these characters long after I finished reading this book, and I honestly wish we could have more from these characters. 

This book picks up right where Riot of Storm and Smoke left off...the truth has just come out about Bree and Aleta, and the shock that results resonates continuously throughout the novel. One minor complaint I had about this book was that the beginning was a bit slow/anti-climatic due to the revelation at the end of the last book. The start of the story was mainly focused on the fall out of the truth and how the individual characters dealt with the news. Granted, this did help move the story along and affected relationships, but it did provide a bit of a slow start to the book. Nevertheless, I'm glad that the author chose to include this aspect in addition to multiple POVs because it allowed us to truly understand the minds of all the characters. Plus, this slow start was more tolerable because of these multiple perspectives.

The multiple perspectives also allowed for much more character development than in the previous books. Not only did we get a peek into Caden and Aleta's minds, but also we had an inside look at what was going in Egria while the gang back in Nereidium was trying to figure things out. Again, this approach allowed for a more well-rounded story and kept things exciting. There definitely was a lot of politics in this novel as well, which also contributed to some slow moments, but honestly, I didn't mind it at all because these are the things that came with Bree's new life. I enjoyed being able to see her finally become the true queen I knew she was. But the one thing I loved most about Bree's character is the fact that she learned from mistakes in her past, and fought to be the strong leader that Nereidium needed. Bree and Aleta's friendship definitely was in some rocky waters after the truth came out, but I also liked how they did come together and form an even stronger friendship in the end. They both had things they needed to work out, and they handled things maturely. Both characters realized they needed to fight together for the future of their kingdom. 

There wasn't much romance in this story...it definitely was more secondary to the danger and evil that was coming for Bree and company. While some people didn't like this, I actually didn't mind it at all only because it wasn't the true focus of this story. There was so much else going on that if Jennifer Ellision would have added more romance it would have felt out of place (at least in my opinion). Did I want a little more of Bree and Caden? Yes! But I also knew that they have the future for their romance to grow and blossom into something beautiful. 

The action was intense, and the conclusion of this story left me blown away. There was nonstop action that was written expertly, and I felt as if I was right there with all of these characters battling the imminent threat that sought to take away everything they held dear. I do hope that there will be some novellas in the future just to let us know how things are going for these amazing characters. I highly recommend checking out this series for anyone who is looking for something different. It's a fun series that you'll be revisiting over and over again.

                                               

Happy reading :)

~Cassie

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Book Review: Somewhere In Between (Madison Square #1)

About the Book:
Title: Somewhere In Between (Madison Square #1)
Author: Samatha Harris
Pub. Date: November 10, 2015
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Pages: 349 
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Synopsis:

Alexandra McCabe​​ is disconnected from the world, grieving the loss of her parents...

Content with studying and keeping to herself, Alex has no interest in the campus playboy, Drew Collins, trying to get close to her. But even dousing him with beer doesn't deter the easy-going charmer, and against her better judgment, the pair fall into a reluctant friendship.

Drew is bored with college life, and Alex's romantic rejection intrigues him...

Their friendship is good for both of them, but Drew is used to getting what he wants, and he's tired of shallow sorority girls. He's much more interested in the feisty redhead, but despite his growing feeling, Alex keeps him firmly in the friend zone.

Old heartaches and new tragedies deepen a complicated relationship...

Whatever life throws their way, Alex and Drew remain best friends with their own traditions. Drew is Alex's family, her rock, and Alex keeps Drew grounded, always challenging him to better himself.

When years of buried feelings rush to the surface, they threaten to change everything...

Drew promised his mother he'd tell Alex how he feels, when the time is right-but how will he know when that is? Alex is terrified to reveal those 'three little words' certain Drew doesn't feel the same, and she'll lose the only family she has.

Should Alex and Drew open their hearts, and risk being crushed? Should they be satisfied with a deep, lifelong friendship? Or does the only chance for happiness lie...

Somewhere In Between? 

Review:

I am blown away by this novel from debut author Samatha Harris! This story truly swept me away, and had me hooked from the very first chapter. I never wanted to stop reading...in fact, I finished this in one sitting! It's that good! Every single thing about this book was perfect and the story read like a seasoned author who has written countless novels before this. Every character is so well developed and the two main leads are simply amazing. I felt a connection with them instantly, and fell more and more in love with them as the story progressed. Ms. Harris's writing is brilliant and it is very clear that she has a great talent that needs to be more recognized.

Alex (aka Red) and Drew are our 2 main characters in this book, and the story is told from both their perspectives. However, it is unique in that Drew's perspective is from the past, whereas Alex's POV is in present day. I thought this was such a great way to tell the story and incorporate the slow burn of Alex and Drew's relationship. This different way of telling their story allowed the reader to understand and grow with both Alex and Drew. You get to see how their friendship formed and see them slowly fall in love with each other. I simply adored their relationship and it is exactly what every person should have. They had a great balance and are the epitome of relationship goals. 

As I said, their relationship is a slow burn buildup throughout the story. Normally, this can go one of two ways for me...super annoying and I get frustrated or it makes the story. Luckily, this is the latter. The slow buildup of their relationship made the story. Granted, there were times I wanted to just throttle them and say, "Get together already!" But at the same time, I adored their friendship and felt that it was a very realistic progression of friends to something more. Their banter is pure gold, and Ms. Harris did an excellent job at creating a real and fun relationship.

I highly recommend checking out this novel if you love fun, flirty romance. You don't want to miss out on this great start to a series. While each novel can be read standalone, it's great to connect to the other characters and get to know them while reading. You easily form a connection with all of the characters, and I can't wait to see what's in store for them as well!

Happy reading :)

~Cassie

Blog Tour: Choosing Happy (Madison Square #2)

About the Book: 
Title: Choosing Happy (Madison Square, #2)
Author: Samatha Harris
Publisher: Limitless Publishing
Publication date: September 20, 2016
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

Madison Buchanan’s life has imploded…
Her husband left her for his nineteen-year-old intern, leaving her alone and faced with starting over in her forties. With the help of her feisty best friend, Madison reinvents herself, armed with a new look and open to new possibilities.

Sean Taylor is gorgeous, fun, and young—very young…

He hasn’t had the best of luck. Sean’s track record with women is less than stellar, but when he walks into The Den one day, he just can’t help but be captivated by a dark haired beauty with the sad eyes and killer legs. She’s a little older, but he doesn’t discriminate. More than anything, he wants to be the one to make her smile.

Sean personifies the only thing that has eluded Madison all of her life—joy…
It was meant to be a fling, something fun, with no strings and zero drama, but Sean wants something more, and Madison is just not ready. She’s lived by the rules her family, her friends, even her boss have laid out for her, but her new life is not what she expected. Being with Sean opens feelings she never thought she’d experience.

The the demands of her family and her job throw her boring, simple life into chaos, and Sean is no exception…

Madison is left with a choice. Give in to the expectations of the world around her—or choose to follow her heart and be happy.

But choosing happy is so much harder than it seems.

Links: Goodreads / Amazon

Review:

This is a fantastic sequel from author Samatha Harris, and I'm incredibly excited to check out more from her in the future! Choosing Happy is the second book in the Madison Square series, and while I didn't like is as much as I liked the first novel, I still enjoyed this one a great deal. Ms. Harris has an amazing talent, and is definitely an author to watch. I honestly didn't want to stop reading this book because I was invested in how Madison and Sean's story would end. This was such a refreshing read, with fantastic lead characters and wonderful writing.

Madison, who is in her early 40s in this novel, is a newly divorced woman after her husband left her for a much younger woman. Obviously, this sends her into a tailspin and she makes some dramatic choices. She lets her best friend completely make her over giving her a drastic new look, and then becomes involved in a hot and heavy relationship with a younger man. The one thing I greatly enjoyed about this story was how well written the relationship was between Madison and Sean. What started out as something fun for both of them, turned into something more. You could tell from the moment they met that Madison and Sean were meant to be, and you'll be cheering for them from the get go.

This was definitely new territory for me since I never read a book before where the female lead is much older than the male lead, but it worked beautifully in this story due to Ms. Harris's fantastic writing. I know other stories where authors tried to attempt this, but reviews weren't so great. But don't worry at all about this story because what made this book work was how Madison had a constant struggle over whether or not to actually take a chance and explore the relationship with Sean. To me, it seemed like a very realistic approach (as I'm sure any woman would worry about how this relationship would look, even though they shouldn't at all, since who you love is who you love), and that made the book a much more enjoyable read. 

Madison herself is such a strong main character, and while there were times she got on my nerves a bit because of some decisions she made, it was all apart of her learning how to choose/love/live for herself and "choose happy." Sean definitely is there to help her with this discovery, but it truly is all her. I loved her attitude at the end of this book because it showed how far she came since the beginning. Honestly, Madison's character development throughout the novel was one of the best I have seen. All of this makes the title of this book absolutely perfect.

Sean was someone that I loved and wanted to know more about after reading the first book, Somewhere in Between. I'm so glad that we got to see inside his brain because we see how amazing of a guy he is...much more than the fun jokester that he portrays to everyone around him. Both Madison and Sean have a lot of baggage that they bring to their relationship, but they have a nice balance and help each other through things...supporting each other where they need it most. And that's exactly what a relationship should be.

There is a bonus chapter that I highly recommend reading. It adds a lot to the story, and while I don't want to give away any spoilers, it is a bit of a difficult read because it gives us insight into Sean's childhood. My heart broke for him, but it made the story come full circle, and I appreciated that the author included it. 

I highly recommend checking out this series because it's a simple, fun, sexy read that will sweep you away and leave you wanting to read more from this author!

Happy reading :)

Check out Book 1 in the series:

I'll be posting my review for Somewhere In Between next week, so stay tuned!

Author Bio:

Samatha “Sam” Harris lives near Baltimore, Maryland with her husband David and daughter Ava. Born in Florida, she migrated north which most people agree was a little backwards. She has been an artist all of her life, a Tattoo Artist for more than ten years, and a storyteller since she was a kid.

Sam has a slightly unhealthy love for Frank Sinatra, classic movies, and Jazz and Blues music, but her first love will always be reading. From Romance, to Thrillers, to Historical Fiction and everything in between, she loves to become a part of the story. As a writer she tells the stories that she would want to read.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!
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~Cassie

Waiting on Wednesday #65

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Jocelyn's Waiting On: 

The Weight of Zero by Karen Fortunati 
Publication Date: October 11th, 2016 

Synopsis: 

Seventeen-year-old Cath knows Zero is coming for her. Zero, the devastating depression born of Catherine’s bipolar disease, has almost triumphed once, propelling Catherine to her first suicide attempt. With Zero only temporarily restrained by the latest med du jour, time is running out. In an old ballet shoebox, Catherine stockpiles meds, preparing to take her own life when Zero next arrives.

But Zero’s return is delayed. Unexpected relationships along with the care of a new psychiatrist start to alter Catherine's perception of her diagnosis. But will this be enough? This is a story of loss and grief and hope and how the many shapes of love – maternal, romantic and platonic – impact a young woman’s struggle with mental illness.

This book isn't even released yet and I've already heard so much praise surrounding it. You all know that I'm a huge fan of books involving the topic of mental health so honestly this book just seems perfect for me! 

Cassie's Waiting On: 

Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst 
Publication Date: November 22, 2016

Synopsis:
Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile lands. But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous gift for the future queen of a kingdom where magic is forbidden.

Now, Denna must learn the ways of her new home while trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn to ride Mynaria’s formidable warhorses before her coronation—and her teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and unconventional Princess Amaranthine (called Mare), sister of her betrothed.

When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the culprit. As the two work together, each discovers there’s more to the other than she thought. Mare is surprised by Denna’s intelligence and bravery, while Denna is drawn to Mare’s independent streak. Soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more.

But with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to save their kingdoms—and each other.

This novel sounds like a thrilling debut from author Audrey Coulthurst! With forbidden magical powers, princesses, and a mystery, this book definitely sounds like a win!  I also love the fact that the author is incorporating a same sex female relationship...this is something not commonly done right now and I'm glad we're seeing more of it :)

Book Blitz: My Lord Ghost

Today, Novels and Necklaces is excited to announce the release of My Lord Ghost, book two of The Grace Sisters Trilogy. Sweet, warm and alluring, My Lord Ghost is the new romantic novel by award winning author Meredith Bond that promises to captivate your heart.

My Lord Ghost is available on sale at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Smashwords. Also, read on and find out how you can join My Lord Ghost Giveaway Contest and WIN!

About My Lord Ghost

Series: The Grace Sisters Trilogy, Book 2
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance

She only wanted to save his soul. He needed to save her life.

Laia Grace wasn’t raised in society and besides, meeting men was so much fun! But when the naive Regency miss introduces herself to the wrong person, her father decides that it’s time she grew up. If only he knew that the house he was sending her to had a ghost in residence.

Marcus is haunting his own home, living in the secret passages and priest holes while he tries to deal with the horrific events that led to his brother’s death. But when an angel shows up and coaxes him into telling her his story, he discovers a reason to live.

Will he be willing to risk both his own life and his heart to save her?

Grab your copy today! Available at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords

Giveaway

Join My Lord Ghost giveaway contest!
Get a chance to win A Dandy in Disguise eBook by Meredith Bond (Book One of the Grace Sisters Trilogy) and a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Click here to join the Rafflecopter Giveaway contest!

Other Books by Meredith Bond

Be sure not to miss Book One of The Grace Sisters Trilogy by Meredith Bond.

A Dandy in Disguise The Grace Sisters Trilogy, Book 1 If you gamble with your future, you’re bound to lose. Rose doesn’t realize this when she puts her money down. She’s new to society, and mistakenly thinks everyone is who they claim.Fungy doesn’t know who he is anymore, but Rose makes him want to be the best he can be. But is he the best man for her? A turn of the cards might have the answer. Available now: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | iTunes | Kobo | Google Play | All Romance eBooks

About Meredith Bond

Meredith Bond's books straddle that beautiful line between historical romance and fantasy. An award-winning author, she writes fun traditional Regency romances, medieval Arthurian romances, and Regency romances with a touch of magic. Known for her characters “who slip readily into one’s heart”, Meredith’s paranormal romances include her Storm series set in during the English Regency, her post-Arthurian fantasy series, The Children of Avalon, and a series of traditional Regencies—without magic—called The Merry Men Quartet. Her newest series, The Grace Sisters, is a spin-off from The Merry Men Quartet. She has also written two non-fiction books: Chapter One: A Fast, Fun Way to Write Fiction and Self-Publishing: Easy as ABC.

Want to know more? Come visit Meredith at her website, http://www.meredithbond.com/ or chat with her on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/meredithbondauthor/) or Twitter (@merrybond). If you’d like to be one of the first to know of Meredith’s new releases and get a free short story every month, join her email list here http://meredithbond.com/blog/newsletter-sign-up/

Visit the Official Meredith Bond Website: http://www.meredithbond.com

Connect with Meredith Bond on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Goodreads, Tumblr

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In partnership with

~Cassie

Book Blitz: Material Witness

Welcome to Novels & Necklaces! Today we're featuring an amazing deal on what sounds to be an awesome book (and I'm not just saying that because my name is the same as the main character in this book). I've heard great things about this book, so if you're a fan of crime novels, definitely add this to your TBR! The book is on sale for $.99 (regular price $4.99) and it only lasts until September 18th, so get your copy before the price goes back up!!

About the Book:

Series: Heroes of Providence, Book 1
Genre: Romantic Suspense

Who does she trust when the horror of one of her crime novels turns into a deadly reality?

Bestselling crime novelist, Cassie Alvarez, aka Cassie Lang, had murder on her mind when she walked into Rory's Bar under dressed and under cover to research her latest crime novel. Researching the cool, blue-eyed and dashingly handsome man at the end of the bar stirred her senses more than she wanted to admit. But was this man of leather armor all he appeared to be?

Playing White Knight to an innocent wasn't how Detective Jake Santos planned to spend his time under cover. But there was no way "CJ" was what she claimed to be and that nagging tightness in Jake's chest told him he'd better take her home to safety and leave it at that. Then the barroom exploded with gunfire, leaving a trail of dead that includes a notorious Providence organized crime boss and an undercover FBI agent. When Cassie’s name is leaked to the media as the only witness to the grisly murders, Cassie insists she only trusts Jake to protect her.

The FBI wants their star witness happy and will do anything to make sure Cassie testifies. But someone wants vigilante justice and it is clear to Jake that the shooter isn’t the only person who wants Cassie dead. Not knowing who to trust, he vows to protect Cassie at all cost despite the fact that guarding the beautiful novelist is a serious distraction.

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“Mondello's latest, a pulse-pounding, pitch-perfect addition to the romantic-suspense genre...the nimble tone that shifts from breezy to thrilling and back again with masterful precision. … Terrific escapist entertainment, as good as anything in Janet Evanovich's oeuvre.”

- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

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Buy now for 99 cents only (Regular price: $4.99)! Offer ends September 18!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play

Other Books by Lisa Mondello

Also, don't miss the next book in the Heroes of Providence series by Lisa Mondello.

SAFE HAVEN Heroes of Providence, Book 2 Learning her ex hired a hitman to kill her terrified Daria Carlisle. But Detective Kevin Gordon's request that she flee the only home she'd ever known was insane. She wasn't leaving. Kevin has no choice but to protect her. But can Kevin spend 24/7 sleeping on her doorstep just to keep her alive without risking his heart to love? Buy now at Amazon.com.

About Lisa Mondello

New York Times and USA TODAY Bestselling Author, Lisa Mondello, has held many jobs in her life but being a published author is the last job she'll ever have. She's not retiring! She blames the creation of the personal computer for her leap into writing novels. Otherwise, she'd still be penning stories with paper and pen. Her book The Knight and Maggie's Baby is a New York Times Bestseller. Her popular series includes TEXAS HEARTS, DAKOTA HEARTS, Fate with a Helping Hand and the new SUMMER HOUSE series.

Writing as LA Mondello, her romantic suspense, MATERIAL WITNESS, book 1 of her Heroes of Providence series made the USA TODAY Bestsellers List and was named one of Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2012. You can find more information about Lisa Mondello at http://lisamondello.blogspot.com and sign up for her newsletter to receive new release information at http://eepurl.com/xhxO5.

Visit the Official Lisa Mondello Website: http://www.lisamondello.com

Connect with Lisa Mondello on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter

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In partnership with

~Cassie

Waiting on Wednesday #64

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Jocelyn's Waiting On: 

What Light by Jay Asher 
Publication Date: October 11th, 2016 

Synopsis: 

Sierra's family runs a Christmas tree farm in Oregon—it's a bucolic setting for a girl to grow up in, except that every year, they pack up and move to California to set up their Christmas tree lot for the season. So Sierra lives two lives: her life in Oregon and her life at Christmas. And leaving one always means missing the other. 

Until this particular Christmas, when Sierra meets Caleb, and one life eclipses the other.

By reputation, Caleb is not your perfect guy: years ago, he made an enormous mistake and has been paying for it ever since. But Sierra sees beyond Caleb's past and becomes determined to help him find forgiveness and, maybe, redemption. As disapproval, misconceptions, and suspicions swirl around them, Caleb and Sierra discover the one thing that transcends all else: true love.

This looks like the PERFECT thing to read during the month of Christmas time!! I feel like I'm always looking for wintery books to read and this looks like the most amazing thing. I just am not sure that I can hold out for two months after publication date with this book. 

Cassie's Waiting On: 

The Girl in the Picture by Alexandra Monir
Publication Date: November 15, 2016 

Synopsis:

Nicole Morgan has been labeled many things — the geeky music girl, the shy sidekick to Miss Popularity, and the girl with the scar. Now only one name haunts her through the halls of Oyster Bay Prep.

The Girl in the Picture.

After high school heartthrob Chace Porter is found dead in the woods near the school, the police are in search of the girl whose picture with Chace is the only clue found amongst his personal belongings. A girl who no one knew was even close to Chace–and whose dormmate, Lana Rivera, was Chace's girlfriend.

Nicole is that girl and now she's the primary suspect in his murder.

But what really happened that night? Were Nicole and Chace dating behind Lana’s back; were he and Lana over? Could either of them have killed him?

Told in alternating points of view, that of our suspect, Nicole Morgan, and her former best friend and roommate, Lana Rivera, readers will piece together the story of a starcrossed love, a fractured friendship–and what really happened the night Chace was killed.

I'm excited for Jocelyn's pick (hopefully this new Jay Asher book will be as good as 13 Reasons Why!), but I'm also excited for this new read by Alexandra Monir.  She writes amazing stories that just sweep you away.  Even though this is a genre that's completely different for her, I'm looking forward to seeing her write something new! This definitely sounds like a thriller for sure!

Cover Reveal: The Trouble With Ghosts

The Trouble With Chosts (Here Witchy Witchy Book 3)
A.L. Kessler
Publication Date: November 7, 2016
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Synopsis:

Poltergeists, severed thumbs, and lies… 

PIB agents Abigail Collins and Nick Averin are rattled when a handful of severed thumbs are found at an abandoned house, but neither of them expected it to link to a decades old murder with strange ties to the paranormal world. When Abby’s greatest enemy seems to be helping her from afar, it’s clear that there’s more to this case than the duo first believed. 

Past cases come back to life… 

Levi is avoiding questions and being even more vague than normal when a new vampire comes to town claiming to be on the case involving blood starved vampires. It’s a fight against time and lies for the two agents. 

Preorder: Amazon

Other books in the series:

No More Black Magic: Free on Kindle Unlimited

http://bit.ly/NMBMKindle

Explosions, body parts, and black magic are all part of Abby Collins’ typical day. As the top Paranormal Investigation Bureau agent, she only gets the best cases, but when the Cult of Ra comes to play she might be in over her head. Finding a murderer while up against a hex, an overprotective coven, and a stubborn werewolf reminds her that nothing in the paranormal world is easy. As the death toll rises and a decades old crime, linked to Abby, is uncovered, disturbing information is brought to light. Abby must unlock an ancient language steeped in black magic to uncover the truth before the murderer comes for her.

Deathly Magic: Free on Kindle Unlimited

http://bit.ly/deathlymagic

Zombies... When Abigail Collins heard Nick’s theory on their current case, she knew he had to be crazy, but when a zombie shows up in her apartment she has no choice but to believe him. A renegade necromancer bent on manipulating witches and murdering innocent people runs amok in town and Abby and Nick have to stop them before more bodies pile up. Further complicating matters two PIB agents step onto the scene, claiming a link between their case and Abby’s. To top it all off, blood starved vampires are causing chaos in the city. It’s just another day for PIB Agent Abigail Collins, full of blood, monsters, and explosions.

A.L. Kessler is a paranormal romance and urban fantasy author known for her best selling Here Witchy Witchy Series. She’s a member of the Pikes Peak Writers and Midnight Writer’s in Colorado Springs, CO. Her most recent work is the fifth book in her Dark War Chronicles, the Edge of Darkness and plans on releasing the third book of the Here Witchy Witchy book in November 2016. Her addictions to coffee and chocolate keep her fueled through her busy life of being a mom, author, student and wife. You can learn more about her on her website www.amylkessler.com

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1bxMfMw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/A_L_Kessler

~Cassie

Book Review: Starlight (The Dragonian #5)

About the Book:
Title: Starlight (The Dragonian #5)
Author: Adrienne Woods
Pub. Date: March 28, 2016
Publisher: FireQuill Publishing
Pages: 671 
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Synopsis:

In the Fifth and final part of the Dragonian Series, eighteen-year-old Elena Watkins and her dragon, the Rubicon, need to find the missing ingredients in order to free her father from Etan.

But what could the missing ingredient be?

And will she be willing to sacrifice her life if they don't find it before time runs out?

Review:

This review is breaking my heart to write. I have been in love with this entire series since I first picked it up back in 2013. I have had a special place in my heart for all of these characters for so long (don't worry...I still do!!) but this finale was a let down in many ways. I actually considered not writing a review for this because I simply didn't want to write a review that wasn't raving over this book. However, I feel it's important to express my opinion on why I didn't like this book as much as the other 4 books in the series. 

At the heart of this novel, the story was very good. Yes, there were a lot of elements of this book that I didn't like, but I do want it be known that I did enjoy the book. I just didn't enjoy it anywhere near as much as the previous novels. If you took out all of the elements that caused problems, this book would be about 200-300 pages shorter, and would be nonstop action--and if this happened--I would have rated this book probably 5 stars (or at least a 4). Unfortunately, that isn't what happened, and it left me feeling like this

My first complaint was the countless grammar/spelling errors in this book. I'm not kidding when I say that I think I found at least 1 glaring error on every page. I can deal with a couple errors here and there, but not to this extent. It got to a point where it was incredibly distracting and even made scenes confusing because of the words being used. I felt as if I was reading a first draft of the novel, rather than the final, published book. My next major complaint was the (extremely) pointless drama between Elena and Blake. This was my face for most of the scenes in this book

I would have been fine with a little back and forth, but literally 60% of this book is ridiculous drama that shouldn't exist at this point in Blake and Elena's story. The drama was unnecessary and was just a series of misunderstandings. I'm not sure why this direction was chosen for Blake and Elena, but it was neither wanted or needed. This drama led to this book dragging on and on, and made me lose a lot of interest in the actual story. But the biggest problem with all of this drama was that it distracted from the great romance that exists between Elena and Blake. All of their drama overshadowed the supposed "greatest love to ever exist" and it left me extremely disappointed. I was looking forward to Blake and Elena finally, FINALLY being together, and it just fell apart. 

The root of all of this drama though leads me to another problem. Who was the root of all this drama you ask? It was Elena. Don't get me wrong, Elena always had her moments, but she was always a very strong character. That basically went out the window in this novel, which is something I never thought I would say. She became extremely annoying and acted like a toddler for most of the story. She didn't want to listen to anyone, and god forbid anyone would try to actually talk some sense into her. Nope, Elena definitely wasn't having any of that. Ultimately, she became very immature in this book, and was not at all like the character I loved so much. 

As I said, when this book was focused on the actual plot, it was great. But these scenes were few and far between for a good chunk of this novel. The action was virtually non-existent until the end (when it should have been a huge part of the entire book), and even when the story reached its climax...well it fizzled out. There was action, but not what the action should have been. Moreover, I still had a lot of questions. Now these questions might be answered in the spin-off books she is doing (Moonbeam being the first of these, which focuses on Blake and Elena again if I'm remembering correctly). So, I'm still holding out hope that because she is currently writing this book, answers will be revealed in the future. 

Overall, I'm not sure what to say about this book because it truly let me down in many ways. I enjoyed it, but this was not what I was expecting of a finale for one of my favorite series--a series I recommend to everyone. I'm not giving up yet though, and have high hopes for Moonbeam!

Happy reading :)

~Cassie