Giveaway & Review – Tasting Temptation by Aria Glazki @AriaGlazki

Posted on June 30, 2016 by fundinmental

I am excited to have Aria Glazki, a long time blogging buddy and author, to fundinmental today to share her new release Tasting Temptation. I hope you are ready for some sweet lovin’, because Aria is going to tell us…take it away Aria…

Why Have Sex? (in Fiction)

Readers who are familiar with Mending Heartstrings might be shocked by the explicit scenes in Tasting Temptation. Those who’ve read my previous posts about writing sex shouldn’t be, because—as always—it’s all about the characters.

For Sabella and Kane (Mending Heartstrings), the relationship progressed in a more “traditional” manner. The two of them got to know each other, became comfortable together, and developed a sense of emotional intimacy before things ever became physical. Add to that the fact that Sabella especially is a bit more private about physical intimacy, and very little of her and Kane’s sexual relationship ended up on the page.

For Gina and Hunter (Tasting Temptation), everything is different. The start of their relationship is nothing but sex—and Gina is anything but shy. At first, these two don’t even know each other’s names. The one and only way they relate to each other is physically. So, of course, those moments are what the reader sees.

Naturally (this is a romance), Gina and Hunter’s relationship grows from that place of simple physicality. As the way they relate to each other changes, so too do the details of how they have sex. In fact, shifts in their approach to the other person, bits of feelings they aren’t ready to express, and more—all of it is visible first in these moments where they retreat to something as basic and as complicated as sex.

Were these scenes not included, or had they been glossed over, much—or maybe even most—of Hunter and Gina’s relationship would be lost. Rather than witnessing the development of their emotions, the reader would be left adrift amid disconnected snapshots culminating in a sense of intimacy that would feel unfounded, and false. So in this book, there is a fair amount of explicit sex, but no moment is gratuitous. Like with the other scenes, every moment when you see Gina and Hunter coming together is an integral puzzle piece contributing to the picture that is their story.

Thanks for sharing, Aria. It has been a pleasure having you visit! Congratulations on the new release and I wish you all the best.

Now…lets check out Tasting Temptation by Aria Glazki. Shall we start with the cover?

What do you think?

MY REVIEW

I love the pretty cover for Tasting Temptation by Aria Glazki. It is simple, yet hints at more than meets the eye. I think it perfectly portrays Gina, who is broken, and I want her whole again. Will she meet the man who can help her?

Tasting Temptation is Book II in the Foraging Forever series. I have read Mending Heartstrings, Book I, and wonder why I only gave it three stars after reading Gina’s story. I think because the characters are polar opposites and I can relate to Gina better than Sabella. Sabella is the goody two shoes kind of gal, while Gina is carefree and flirty with sexual innuendos lacing her dialogue. Her defenses are up and the walls are high, after being badly burned by a rich playboy and I wonder at the type of man that can heal her.

The story starts out hot and heavy and immediately grabbed my attention. To Gina, Hunter is a hot and sexy boy toy and I think I would like to play with him too. Gina meets him at the vineyard where her best friend, Sabella, is getting married. She kept telling herself the single life and casual sex with a yummy guy was for her. I think she is in for a wake up call. I think we all know what is to come, but at 18% into Gina’s story, I am hooked and loving every minute of it. We are getting to the heart of the matter and I am eager to see how it plays out.

Her past nightmare playboy has entered the picture and the abuse of wealth and privilege and his need for revenge creates an insidious evil that touches everyone who comes near her. I am so pissed at him that my anger brings tears to my eyes and I want to reach through my kindle and wreak my own havoc. I didn’t cry…until I was 90% into the story.

Novels that are strictly romance are not big on my hit list, but I love Gina and Hunter. Their romance left me as breathless as Gina was. Even though I know how Tasting Temptation will end, I can hardly wait to get there. I knew there would be a happy every after and Aria Glazki’s writing had me unable to quit until I reached it.

I received a copy of Tasting Temptation by Aria Glazki in return for an honest review.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 4 Stars

Tasting Temptation Blurb:

After last summer’s failed attempt at romance, Gina is absolutely done with men. And especially with millionaires. She has a good job as a fashion editor and amazing friends, and she’s decided she needs nothing else. All she really misses is the sex. But that rush just isn’t worth the risk of being ensnared in another relationship. When the hot bartender at her best friend’s Sonoma wedding suggests some harmless stress relief, she takes him up on the offer. When it’s sufficiently satisfactory, she indulges in a repeat–for the road. When she learns he’s actually the wealthy owner of the vineyard, the mix of fury and fear is damped only by the knowledge that she never has to see him again.

Hunter Cavaliere is determined to honor his grandfather’s legacy, and so far, he’s right on track. The vineyard is thriving, he has plans for expansion, and his wines speak for themselves. The only thing missing is the right woman to share it all. But through his grandparents’ marriage, Hunter learned what true love is, and he’s unwilling to settle for anything else. A woman who judges him because of his money definitely isn’t high up on his list. Still, when circumstance unbelievably keeps bumping him into the intriguing brunette from Portland, he can’t shake the feeling that she is someone he should pursue.

Gina’s poised to run the other way, but one more taste of Hunter may just prove too tempting to resist.

Add me to Goodreads

BUY LINKS

Amazon: US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FPNK182

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01FPNK182

CAN: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01FPNK182

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/tasting-temptation/id1114609688

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1123809512?ean=9781943572069

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/tasting-temptation-2

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/636629

Autographed print copies: ariaglazki.selz.com

ABOUT ARIA GLAZKI

Aria Glazki’s first kiss technically came from a bear cub. Though no fairytale transformation followed, she still believes magic can happen when the right people come together—if they don’t get in their own way, that is. So now Aria writes heartfelt romances about relatable people overcoming real-world obstacles to build love that lasts.

Social media links:

Website / Newsletter / Facebook

Twitter / Instagram / Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
Leave your link in the comments, I’ll drop by to see what’s shakin’.
Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Check out her other stories and my review links below:

Mending Heartstrings

Mortal Musings

Life Under Examination

Save

Giveaway – Defending Hayden by L P Dover @LPDover @XpressoReads

Posted on June 29, 2016 by fundinmental

Defending Hayden
L.P. Dover
(Second Chances #7)
Published by: Loveswept
Publication date: June 28th 2016
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense

No one’s tougher than Carolina Cougars linebacker Derek McLaughlin. But when a fatal car accident claims the life of his girlfriend, Derek finds himself caught in a destructive spiral of drugs, alcohol, and meaningless sex. But not even a string of one-night stands can ease the hurt. Football is all he has left. Then fate leads him back to the scene of the crash, and into the arms of a kind, gorgeous woman who sees past his façade to the man he once was . . . and can be again.

When a chance roadside encounter brings Derek into her life, veterinarian Hayden Hunter isn’t fooled by his bad attitude: All bark and no bite, he’s hiding a wounded heart beneath that gruff demeanor. And Hayden wants to be the one to kiss it all better. Soon they both find that a dose of passion is potent medicine. But when a hidden enemy lashes out at Hayden, Derek steps up to do what he does best: put his body on the line in the name of love.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

—

EXCERPT:

Guilt plagued me and I felt sick. Getting out of bed, I paced the room, running my hands angrily through my hair. I didn’t want to hurt Hayden. Keeping her away would protect her from my life. She was bound to leave me anyway. I’d fuck up somehow and it would ruin her. What the hell was I talking about? I’d already fucked her up.

“Derek?” Her voice was like honey, silky and sweet. I’d imagined what it would be like to hear that voice screaming my name as I fucked her over and over. Last night had been the best night of my life, but it had scared the shit out of me. I couldn’t shake it. “Derek, are you okay?” she asked. Stopping midstep, I turned to face her, and her eyes widenened when she got a glimpse of my face. I could only imagine what she saw. So many emotions battled inside me. She held the blanket to her chest, and her lips trembled. “Please tell me this wasn’t just a game to you,” she whispered.

Swallowing hard, I sat down on the edge of the bed and reached for her. She recoiled from my touch. “None of this was a game, Hayden. Last night was fucking amazing.”

Her eyes glistened, but her jaw was firm. “Then why are you looking at me like that? Like you regret what we did.”

I wanted to touch her, but last night had been my only chance. She’d never let me close to her again. “I don’t regret it, but eventually you will. You’re not the only one who’s lost someone they cared about. I can’t go through it again. It’s best to stop this before it goes any further.”

“Any further?” she scoffed. She waved her arm around the room, her anger so thick I could cut it with a knife. “If you didn’t want it to go any further, then why did you bring me here? Why would you do that to me?”

“Because I care about you,” I said, knowing it made no sense to her.

“Then why are you pushing me away?” she cried.

Standing, I got up and walked over to the window. “You wouldn’t understand.”

Author Bio:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, L.P. Dover, is a southern belle residing in North Carolina along with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she even began her literary journey she worked in Periodontics enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.

Not only does she love to write, but she loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes, white water rafting, and you can’t forget the passion for singing. Her two number one fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime and those songs usually consist of Christmas carols.

Aside from being a wife and mother, L.P. Dover has written over seventeen novels including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, the Gloves Off series, and her standalone novel, Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read is romantic suspense and she also loves writing it. However, if she had to choose a setting to live in it would have to be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.

L.P. Dover is represented by Marisa Corvisiero of Corvisiero Literary Agency.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Release Day Giveaway – Unbridled Trails by Bonnie R Paulson @bonnierpaulson

Posted on June 28, 2016 by fundinmental

A vengeful cowboy seeking justice loses his heart to a damsel-in-distress, but can the results of saving her outweigh their chance at love?

Kyle Darby doesn’t want to be a lonely ranch hand forever. If he can help his cousin run a ranch, his chances at future foreman will be drastically increased. But his need to find revenge for his sister clouds his logic.

Sherry isn’t into dating or anything normal – she studies bugs for crying out loud. When Kyle rescues her one night at a bar, she finds it hard to believe his continued interest is sincere. Used to saving herself and her heart, Sherry has to accept that sometimes she needs help.

With her life hanging in the balance, Sherry has to learn to rely on someone else – Kyle.

Can she do it without losing her heart? Or are they both destined to just be along for the ride?

Buy on Amazon / iBooks / Kobo / Nook

About Bonnie R. Paulson Bonnie

Bonnie R. Paulson mixes her science and medical background with reality and possibilities to make even myths seem likely and give every romance the genetic strength to survive. Bonnie has discovered a dark and twisty turn in her writing that she hopes you enjoy as much as she has enjoyed uncovering it. Dirt biking with her family in the Northwest keeps her sane.

Follow on:

Facebook / Website/ Twitter / Goodreads / Newsletter/ Literary Addicts / Amazon

Reader Giveaway – Boxed Ebook Set of Westerns, cowboy soap, & $10 Amazon Gift Card. Fill out the form to enter. US addresses only 18+
a Rafflecopter giveaway

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
Leave your link in the comments, I’ll drop by to see what’s shakin’.
Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Book Blast – Schism @BrittHolewinski

Posted on May 23, 2016 by fundinmental

“Schism” is the first book in a new dystopian trilogy that tells a tale of survival, of good versus evil, and of constructing a future with only memories of childhood.

A government-created virus is accidentally released before testing is complete and within weeks it kills six billion people, children are the only survivors. Andy Christensen and her two friends travel across the country searching for a safe place to live, but nowhere, it seems, is capable of resurrection.

“SCHISM is an engrossing page turner that skillfully deals with dark subject matter in a compelling, through-provoking manner…The writing is crisp and clear, and the novel’s details are well-researched, down to the names of local roads and landmarks and the types of technology used by the survivors.” -IndieReader.com

“This apocalyptic teen drama’s character interactions may draw readers in, but its vigorous story will keep them hooked.” – Kirkus Reviews

Amazon/ iBooks / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords / Over Drive / Blio / NetGalley / Story Cartel

“Born in Boston, Britt Holewinski lived in six different houses across the United States during her childhood, MRock-BHolewinski-2014-8-828x1024 sparking her interest to write about characters who must continually adapt to new situations and locations.

Early on, she dreamed of becoming an astronaut; however, shortly after completing her graduate degree, she was offered a job with the CIA. Her years working for the Agency opened her eyes to the world we live in and gave her rare glimpses of what living in a crumbling, post-apocalyptic world might be like.

In her spare time, Britt loves to go hiking anywhere with a view, learn French, and visit historical Revolutionary and Civil War sites along the East Coast.”

Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Tumblr / Google + / Wattpad / Website

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
Leave your link in the comments, I’ll drop by to see what’s shakin’.
Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Giveaway – Queen of Likes @HillaryHomzie

Posted on April 21, 2016 by fundinmental

I saw so many fun things about his book, I wanted to share it with you. If you have kids, now is the time to some summer reading, so check it out and let me know what you think.

Queen of Likes by Hillary Homzie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: middle grade/tween

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB

Like everyone at Merton Middle School, Karma Cooper’s smartphone is almost another body part. She’s obsessed with her LIKES on Snappypic. When her parents shut down her social media account and take away her smartphone, Karma’s whole world crumbles. She has to figure out what she actually likes and how to live life fully unplugged. This book will jumpstart conversations about how social media is changing the ways tweens are growing up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GUEST POST

Why I named my main character Karma

Names are powerful. In the Judeo-Christian, we believe that the creator spoke the world into existence. It’s definitely not quite as quick on my end. But certainly there’s great power in a name. In fact, I spent quite a bit of time naming my characters. I wanted to make sure that names fit their personalities. In another words, I want to imbue their names with their essence.

Today, I thought I’d tell you a little bit about naming my main character of my new middle book, Queen of Likes. Before telling you why I named my character I’d like to describe her to you. Twelve year-old Karma Cooper lives in Portland, Oregon. Her parents were originally from San Francisco and discovered the Portland area while on a retreat (so they are former hippies). Karma’s a seventh grade and has achieved a certain status in her middle school because of all the followers she has on her social media account, Snappypic. By the way, this is a fictional social media platform so don’t go looking for it! I wanted to make sure that I kept the book feeling timely. After all, what social media platform is en vogue changes from year to year, month-to-month, sometimes even week-to-week. That’s why I thought it would be best to make up a site.

Karma is someone who in sixth grade was shy and didn’t receive a lot of social attention. However, when she began to post photos online, they generated some attention. She started to get more and more followers, which gave her a sense of belonging and increased her self-esteem. Unfortunately, she began to look outside of herself for validation. She viewed the number of likes she got on Snappypic as a measure of her value as a person.

I chose the name Karma because of two reasons. The first reason is because when my second son was in middle school he was friends with a girl named Karma, and I just thought it was such a memorable name. As a bonus, this girl a dynamic person and an independent thinker. I decided I’d really love to use that name from one of my books one day.

The second reason is that karma in Hinduism and Buddhism means the sum of the person’s actions in this and in previous states of existence and that sum decides your fate. Unfortunately, Karma thinks that all of her posts determine her fate. She’s not looking at the posts themselves but at people’s reactions to her posts. What she needs to learn is to look inside herself for what she likes versus what other people think of her. Her life doesn’t go the way she wants to go. At least at first. Her parents cut off her social media account and take away her phone. However, when she does a service project and volunteers in the local historical society (and takes a photography class), she learns to value herself. She stops looking outside of herself for validation. When this begins to happen, Karma’s life heads in a more positive and fulfilling direction.

EXCERPTS

Where are all my likes? I refresh the page. And . . .

Nothing.

I shake my phone as if that might help.

Still nothing.

This doesn’t make sense. I used the filter that everyone else on Snappypic is really into. It makes everything seem dreamy. But with only 45 LIKES, the sun is losing its brilliance and looks lonely and unloved.

Maybe I need to turn it off and on?

I turn off my phone and restart it. I text Ella Fuentes: Did you see my photo? I add a smiling emoji.

No response.

I know Ella’s up. It’s late morning. She’s my best friend. Maybe she’s reading or drawing, but she’s definitely up.

If she wasn’t doing something else, I’m sure she’d like my photo. I try a couple of other girls I know. Nothing. It’s late Saturday morning and all my followers have to be up by now.

As of 11:07 a.m. today, I have 12,032 followers on Snappypic. My followers are pretty much all the kids at Merton Middle School and a bunch of other middle schools around Portland. But I have two middle schools in Mission Viejo. That’s all the way down in Southern California. I didn’t know where it was until I checked it out in Google Maps. Usually between four hundred and nine hundred followers give me a thumbs-up on anything I post. So yeah, I get more LIKES than anyone I know at school.

Sometimes I have to pinch myself that this is happening to me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links

Hillary is the author of the tween novel, THE HOT LIST (Simon & Schuster/M!X) which Booklist says “captures the angst of young teen friendships and fragile identities.” She’s also the author of the middle grade novel, THINGS ARE GONNA GET UGLY (Simon & Schuster/M!X), a Justice Book-of-the-Month, which was just optioned by Priority Pictures, and the forthcoming QUEEN OF LIKES (Simon & Schuster/Aladdin M!X, April 2016), which is about social media, as well as the humorous chapter book series, ALIEN CLONES FROM OUTER SPACE (Simon & Schuster/Aladdin), a Children’s Book-of-the-Month Best Books for Children. Emmy-nominated Suppertime Entertainment developed the books to become an animated television series and it was sold to ABC Australia. Hillary’s young adult fiction has been published in TEEN MAGAZINE and anthologized (MUDDVILLE DIARIES, Avon Books). She has sold non-fiction and fiction projects to Klutz Press/Scholastic Books, The Learning Company and John Muir Books. With her frequent writing partner, Steven Arvanites, she has had film projects developed by Brooklyn Weaver’s Energy Entertainment. Hillary got her start performing and writing sketch comedy Off-Broadway, and was a Heideman Playwrighting Award Finalist. Hillary holds a master’s degree in education from Temple University and a master’s of arts degree from Hollins University in children’s literature and writing. Currently, she’s a visiting professor of children’s literature and writing at Hollins University. Visit her on the web at www.hillaryhomzie.com and follow her on Twitter @HillaryHomzie and visit her on Facebook.

Queen of Likes buy Links: Amazon / B&N / Indibound / BooksaMillion

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER

Hillary Homzie will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER HERE

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Making Hard Choices – I’m With You @taylordeanbooks Tag Team Giveaway

Posted on March 29, 2016 by fundinmental

$tag you're it photo: Tag! You\'re It! AnyOccasion-TagYoureIt-May2007.jpg$

Welcome to my Tag Team Event! Laura and I are the Tag Team Bloggers. You can find Laura at fuonlyknew. We Tag Team an author and publish our posts at the same time. Whether it’s for a cover reveal, giveaway, review, interview, or something more, the author will be tagged by us and you will be alerted to go to Laura’s blog or mine to see additional content. It’s really fun to see how differently we view the same book and you get an extra chance to win with our giveaways!

~~~

Taylor Dean’s I’m With You will not only tug at your heartstrings, it will break your heart and put it back together again. Making the hard choices is when you really know you are alive.

Add me to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

I cannot imagine the paralyzing effect losing a child would have on me. Taylor Dean does an amazing job of wringing every drop of emotion from me, but leaving me satisfied at the end.

Child loss. Trisomy 18 – incompatible with life.

The heartwrenching decision. Hope. Compassion. Love. Romance.

Taylor even includes a couple of cleaning tips while Chloe is cleaning house. It is writing like this that keeps Taylor Dean’s stories “real”.

Catastrophes draw some people closer, while tearing others apart. Each person must find their way of dealing with what little control there is left in life when tragedy strikes. . The characters are so developed and complex, I feel as if I know them, some friends, others not so much.

Two women, so totally different…and Jack. Chloe is just too nice, in my book. I want her to kick some Tanya ass and maybe even smack Jack up side the head and tell him to get real. I got very pissed at Jack, and even Chloe at times. I wanted to punch Mark in the face. What a dip shit. I was so angry the last third of the book…Men…but, it is true, Men Are From Mars and Women Are From Venus. We all deal with things in our own way…to survive.

When I think the worst is over, Taylor throws even more terrible angst my way. I knew it was too easy for Happy Ever After. Something else had to happen. I kept waiting for the proverbially other shoe to drop. It did more than drop, it collapsed!

I’m With You left me wrung out, emotionally spent. I sat in silence, regrouping.

As I read about Jerad tears filled my eyes. I had to pause before reading Taylor’s note. Trisomy 18 is real and personal for her and her family and I would like to thank them so much for sharing their story.

5 STARS

For a review with another perspective and another chance at the great giveaway shown below, be sure and check out Laura @ fuonlyknew.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Taylor Dean lives in Texas and is the mother of four grown children. Upon finding herself with an empty nest, she began to write the stories that were always wandering around in her head, quickly finding she had a passion for writing, specifically romance. Whether it’s paranormal, contemporary, or suspense—you’ll find all sub-genres of clean romance in her line-up.

To find out what Taylor Dean is up to, follow the links below:

Website/Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

~~~~~~~~~~~~

MY REVIEWS FOR TAYLOR DEAN’S BOOKS

Tears of Love – For Nick by Taylor dean ( Review)
A sweet romance – Joshua’s Folly by Taylor Dean (Review)
sierra by taylor dean – Come on over and take a peek (Book trailer)
Missing Any Memories? i have people by taylor dean (Review)
sierra by taylor dean (Review)
the middle aisle by taylor dean (Review)
Is he a ghost? A vampire? Is he even real or just a figment of her imagination? (Lancaster House Review)

GIVEAWAY

Three winners!

To enter answer the question or leave Taylor Dean some love below and leave your email so you can be notified. Giveaway ends October 7, 2015.

What is your happiest or most tragic memory?

Giveaway 3/29/16 – 4/8/16. .

For a review with another perspective and another chance at the great giveaway shown below, be sure and check out Laura @ fuonlyknew.

Grand Finale – Her Summer Crush @lindahopelee

Posted on March 28, 2016 by fundinmental

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Launching the Book Tour for
Her Summer Crush
By Linda Hope Lee

We hope you enjoyed the reviews and excerpts shared during the tour! If you missed any of them, go back and check them out now…

Launch – Introduction to Her Summer Crush

After I finished Eva’s Deadline, I kept thinking about Luci and Cody. Did she get over her crush? Did Cody get to follow his dream? What happened to these two people? Soon I was playing the “what if?” game and writing Her Summer Crush

Bookworm Lisa – Excerpt

“CODY JARVIS! What’s he doing here?” Luci Monroe stared at the man who’d just stepped out the back door of her parents’ home.

Singing Librarian Books – Excerpt

The ocean sparkled under a sun about to slip below the horizon, and the waves made a soft shushing sound as they rolled onto the shore. If only she could escape there now. When something upsetting happened, a walk on the beach always helped to calm her. Cody’s unexpected appearance was certainly one of those times. As soon as the party was over…

Bookworm Nation – Review

“I thought this was a fun read, a nice escape in a charming small town setting. If you enjoy contemporary romance this is a good one!”

I Am A Reader – Excerpt

“Are you finished now?” Her words came out sharper than she’d intended. She must be in worse shape than she’d realized.

He frowned. “Not okay to take your picture? You’re the guest of honor. Besides, you’re a good subject.”

Wishful Endings – Review

“It was a fun and sweet story from beginning to end, with fun characters, complex family relationships, and a light romance.”

Katie’s Clean Book Collection – Review

“I always enjoy the characters journeys of growth and overcoming hard things. I really loved the setting–I love the beach and could picture living in this great, small town. I also loved the relationships between each character and his/her family members, as well as Luci in the role of a mentor to Tessa. This is a gentle, sweet, and clean summer romance, perfect for a pool or beach read.”

Rockin’ Book Reviews – Excerpt

“Cody sat at the table, put down his mug and clicked the mouse. A new picture flashed onto the screen. Another shot of Lucy. He chuckled. He’s taken more pictures of her tonight than of anyone else.”

Love, Laughter, Friendship – Excerpt

“I like my place,” he said. “It’s cozy and has everything I need.”

“Maybe so, but do you think you’ll ever find a woman who’ll put up with all this?” Olive went to the sofa and plumped up the loose cushions.

“Not a question that needs to be answered, because I’m not looking. Not right now, anyway.”

Thoughts of a Blonde – Review

“I enjoyed this story. The characters are fun with a lot of potential there — would have liked to have seen them decide to test their relationship waters earlier in the book.”

Her Summer Crush
by Linda Hope Lee
Adult Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 368 Pages
March 1st 2016 by Harlequin Heartwarming

She’s over her crush…isn’t she?

Luci Monroe is on top of the world. She’s just graduated from journalism school and she’s already landed her dream job in PR. Then Cody Jarvis saunters into her office. Nothing like finding out that your teenage crush, now a gorgeous, globe-trotting, freelance photographer, is going to be your staffer for the summer. Never mind. They’re both professionals. And she’s over him. Kind of. Anyway, he’s not interested. Cody is always waiting to disappear on his next assignment, and Luci needs someone stable. Someone who wants to build a life right here in Willow Beach…

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Harlequin│Kobo

Linda Hope Lee writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and mysteries. She enjoys traveling especially to small towns in search of story ideas. She’s also an artist, specializing in watercolor, pen and ink, and colored pencil. Photography provides inspiration for both her writing and her art. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, where many of her stories are set.

Website│Goodreads│Facebook│Twitter

Other Books by the Author

Tour Giveaway

$50 Amazon eGift Card
3 copies of Her Summer Crush (print if US, ebook if international)
Open internationally
Ends April 1st

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Teaser Tuesday #64 – I’m With You @taylordeanbooks

Posted on March 22, 2016 by fundinmental

.
TeaserTuesdays-ADailyRhythm3 Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Booksandabeat.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read. Open to a random page. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

~~~~~~

Taylor Dean’s I’m With You will not only tug at your heartstrings, it will break your heart and put it back together again. Making the hard choices is when you really know you are alive.

I will be doing a Tag Team review and giveaway along with Laura at fuonlyknew on 3/29/12.

If I’m With You by Taylor Dean sounds like a book for you, be sure and come on by to enter. Taylor always has a lovely giveaway and we look forward to seeing you there.

Add me to Goodreads now.

MY TEASE

“I’m fine Renee. I really am. Please don’t worry about me. It takes to recover from…

“It’s been a year. We’ve all been patient with you, especially Mark. You have to do your part.”

What did they want from her? She didn’t understand. Not at all. Did they really expect her to erase the incident from her life? Why couldn’t she talk about it? Why couldn’t she remember it? Why did it bother everyone so much that she didn’t want to forget?

(page 100 in paperback)

How does a mother get over losing her child? How long does it take. I have never lost a child, so I cannot say, but I would guess it takes as long as it takes and sometimes a person never does get over it. I cannot imagine the pain and anguish of letting your child go. Trisomy 18 is real and personal for Taylor Dean and her family and I would like to thank them so much for sharing their story in the form of a novel.

GOODREADS BLURB

Can three little words irrevocably change your life?

When the doctors inform Chloe Brennan that her pregnancy is “incompatible with life,” her subsequent choices will change her path forever.

She becomes one of the quiet, unsung heroes of this world, incredibly strong, yet somehow wrongly looked upon as damaged.

Three people will pierce Chloe’s existence: her husband, a stranger, and a precious baby.

One will say goodbye, one will say hello, and one will say both at the same time.

I’m With You is a novel about selfless love and the sacredness of life.

Please note: While this book is a romance novel, it also deals with the sensitive issue of baby loss grief.

The emotions are real, and sometimes dark.

If you are sensitive to this issue, this may not be the book for you.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.
If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
Problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Giveaway – Breaking the Story @AshleyWFarley

Posted on March 19, 2016 by fundinmental

Breaking the Story
Ashley Farley
Publication date: March 17th 2016
Genres: Adult, Suspense

Passion, peril, and a scandal that will rock American politics.

Scottie Darden’s life is a disaster. Her marriage has become toxic, and her career as a photojournalist has stalled out. To attract the attention of the main players in the news industry, she needs a standout story with a unique perspective. What she finds is a scandal that could turn the 2016 presidential election upside down. But before she can release her damaging images to the media, Scottie must uncover the truth behind the photographs. She turns to handsome mystery man Guy Jordan for help. When they join the campaign trail in search of answers, their investigation quickly becomes deadly.

Hop on board for a wild ride of adventure where desire ignites, lives are threatened, and secrets are revealed.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iTunes

BOOK TRAILER:

EXCERPT:

Her cell phone lit up on the seat beside her, and Brad’s name appeared across the screen. She reached for the phone and powered it off. The next time she communicated with him would be through an attorney.

Scottie contemplated her options for a place to spend the night. Already approaching the fifty-mile mark, she couldn’t drive much farther on her spare tire. Her best friend, Anna, had been avoiding her since Christmas, since Scottie had inadvertently placed Anna’s husband in danger of losing his medical license. The rest of her friends would undoubtedly be spending quiet weekends at home, nursing their babies and making love to their husbands. She could drive to Church Hill to her brother’s house, where she knew she’d find a sympathetic shoulder to cry on. But Will would want all the details, and she wasn’t ready to give voice to her drama. Tonight, she needed time alone to think. Tonight, she needed to drink tequila.

She took a right-hand turn onto the Boulevard, drove one block, and then turned left onto Franklin Street. She parked under the portico in front of the Jefferson Hotel, handed her key to the valet, and went inside to the front desk. After booking the cheapest room available, she wheeled her suitcase around the corner and rode the elevator to the third floor. The consolation prize to having the smallest room in the most luxurious hotel in the city was the stunning view overlooking downtown Richmond.

Author Bio:

Ashley Farley is a wife and mother of two college-aged children. She grew up in the salty marshes of South Carolina, but now lives in Richmond, Virginia, a city she loves for its history and traditions.

After her brother died in 1999 of an accidental overdose, she turned to writing as a way of releasing her pent-up emotions. She wrote SAVING BEN in honor of Neal, the boy she worshipped, the man she could not save. SAVING BEN is not a memoir, but a story about the special bond between siblings.

HER SISTER’S SHOES—June 2015—is a women’s novel that proves the healing power of family.

Merry Mary—October 2015—a holiday novella, a young woman longing for a child stumbles upon a Christmas miracle.

BREAKING THE STORY is scheduled for release on March 17, 2016. A romantic political suspense. Passion. Peril. And a scandal that will rock American politics.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:

Release Day Blitz Giveaway for Ashes in the Sky @chapterxchapter @JenniferMEaton

Posted on March 16, 2016 by fundinmental

AshesInTheSkyRDB

Happy Release Day to

Ashes in the Sky (Fire in the Woods #2)
by Jennifer M. Eaton!!

Join us in celebrating this release from Month9Books!

Enter the giveaway found at the end of the post.

Happy Book Birthday,Jennifer!

After inadvertently saving the world, eighteen-year-old Jessica Martinez is ready to put adventure behind her and settle back into the familiar routine of high school.

Though when she’s offered an opportunity to photograph the inside of an alien space ship, Jess jumps at the chance. After all, she’d be crazy to turn something like that down, right?

Spending time with David on the ship has definite advantages and the two seem to pick up right where they left off. But when Jess discovers a plot to sabotage David’s efforts to establish a new home for his people on another planet, neither David’s advanced tech nor Jess’s smarts will be able to save them.

ASHES IN THE SKY is an action-packed, romantic Sci Fi adventure that will leave readers screaming for more.

Ashes in the Sky (Fire in the Woods #2) by Jennifer M. Eaton
Publication Date: March 15, 2016
Publisher: Month9Books

OTHER BOOK(S) IN THE SERIES:

When a plane crashes in the woods near Jess’s home, the boy of her dreams falls out of the sky—literally. But David’s not here to find a girlfriend. He’s from another planet, and if Jess can’t help him get back to his ship, he’ll be stuck on Earth with nothing to look forward to but the pointy end of a dissection scalpel.

But her father runs their house like an army barracks, and with an alien on the loose, Major Dad isn’t too keen on the idea of Jess going anywhere. Ever. So how the heck is she supposed to help the sweetest, strangest, and cutest guy she’s ever met?

Hiding him in her room probably isn’t the best idea. Especially since her Dad is in charge of the squadron searching for David. That doesn’t mean she won’t do it. It just means she can’t get caught.

Helping David get home while protecting her heart—that’s gonna be the hard part. After all, she can’t really fall for a guy who’s not exactly from here.

As they race through the woods with Major Dad and most of the U.S. military one breath behind them, Jess and David grow closer than either of them anticipated. But all is not what it seems. David has a genocide-sized secret, and one betrayal later, they are both in handcuffs as alien warships are positioning themselves around the globe. Time is ticking down to Armageddon, and Jess must think fast if she’s to save the boy she cares about without sacrificing Earth—and everyone on it.

About-the-Author2

Jennifer M. Eaton

Jennifer M. Eaton hails from the eastern shore of the North American Continent on planet Earth. Yes, regrettably, she is human, but please don’t hold that against her. While not traipsing through the galaxy looking for specimens for her space moth collection, she lives with her wonderfully supportive husband and three energetic offspring. (And a poodle who runs the spaceport when she’s not around.)

During infrequent excursions to her home planet of Earth, Jennifer enjoys long hikes in the woods, bicycling, swimming, snorkeling, and snuggling up by the fire with a great book; but great adventures are always a short shuttle ride away.

Who knows where we’ll end up next?