Dilemma by Jacquie Johnson - Giveaway/Excerpt

Jacquie is offering a prize of a $5 Gift card per day to bookseller of choice (Amazon or B&N) to one commenter and a grand prize of a $20 gift card to bookseller of choice to one person who follows the tour. Readers may enter once per day for a total of 5 chances to win.  Grand Prize form is at the bottom of the post.  Also, no email...no prize for the daily prize.

The tour schedule is also at the bottom so if you miss a day, you can go back and enter.  Good luck to everyone.

Blurb

In Chicago, the name Jon Elliott garners attention. When the legal mastermind offers to mentor Alexis Winters, Bingham, Elliot, and Bright’s newest associate, she jumps at the opportunity sure she will launch her career. But Jon has a dark side, one that demands unquestioning loyalty and willingness to defy the spirit of the law, if not the letter.

Thrust into Jon’s world and expected to play by his rulebook, Alexis grapples with her conscience. On several occasions, Jon’s orders are at odds with what she learned in law school and she finds herself trapped between her profession’s rules of ethics and her own values. When Jon’s biggest client appears to be engaging in questionable activities and he orders her to ignore the behavior, Alexis investigates on her own. Suddenly, she is not only a witness to a horrible crime but a victim in her own right. Going underground, she turns to the one she can trust, investigative journalist Rhyder Prescott, a childhood friend. Together, Ryder and Alexis work to piece together a puzzle that crosses socioeconomic classes, political parties and international borders.

Embroiled in a global conspiracy that costs her the only family she has left, Alexis must decide how far she will go to defend truth and justice. Is she willing to sacrifice life, liberty and the possibility of love?

Excerpt:

Alexis Winters



Ryder Prescott

“No wonder you look dynamite.”

Alexis was thankful the darkness hid her blush. “Thank you, but I exercise because it relieves stress and helps clear my mind.”

Ryder hummed in agreement while taking her hand as they walked through a small park. “Litigating is a demanding job. Do you like it?”

“Parts of it.” A puff of wind blew hair into her face, and she turned slightly toward Ryder, using his body as a buffer. He tugged her a little closer and tightened his hold on her hand. “I love researching. It makes me feel good when I find the needle in the haystack that helps win a case. Plus I like piecing together new theories and setting new precedents. I don’t like the actual court part, though. I mean, I like creating the arguments but hate making them in front of the judge. It’s nerve-racking.” She frowned, thinking about her stomach’s gymnastics each time she set foot in a courtroom.

“What made you choose defense work?” Ryder brushed a small branch aside so it wouldn’t hit her and led her toward a stone bench set back from the walking path.

“I guess you could say it chose me. I really liked criminal law in school and I was good at it. I won several awards for my studies in that area. But when time came to apply for jobs, I just couldn’t go in that direction. I didn’t want to do criminal defense because I couldn’t handle helping people who I thought were guilty even if they were entitled to representation. Prosecuting appealed to me, but it also scared me. What if I put someone innocent away? It seemed like too much responsibility.” She looked down at her hands, uncomfortable with her own admission. It wasn’t like her to share her innermost thoughts with other people. They were supposed to remain locked deep inside her. So why was she sharing her fears with Ryder of all people? She pushed that thought aside for later analysis as she tuned back into the conversation.

“So, why employment discrimination?” Ryder wrapped an arm around her, and she snuggled closer to him, appreciating his warmth and how good he smelled. It had been quite a while since she had enjoyed a man’s company in this way.

Alexis leaned her head against his shoulder and thought about how to answer. She considered giving him the canned answer she used during interviews, but the quiet intimacy of the moment allowed her to admit the truth. “I guess because it’s similar to criminal work in many ways without the safety risk or responsibility.”

“Why defense instead of plaintiff work?”

She laughed softly. “Because they offered me a job and I get paid well. I’d love to work on the plaintiff side or do pro bono work, but I have bills to pay.”

“Still the idealist, though?” His fingers played in her hair, and she closed her eyes, relishing the sensation. “Even though you’re swimming with sharks?”

She could tell he was teasing by the tone of his voice. “I don’t work with sharks, but I suppose I have changed. How could I not?” They sat in silence for a few minutes while she contemplated how to explain. “I still think the same way, but I’ve learned to temper my thoughts and opinions. I don’t agree with what many people do, but since most people live that way, I guess I’ve learned to live with reality. It doesn’t change how I feel inside, though. I just keep it to myself.”

“It’s hard to keep the values we learned at home alive. Time after time, I’ve tried to do the right thing, to report the truth, to showcase wrongs, but more often than not, I either get slammed for it or find out no one really cares. Sometimes I wonder why I pick myself up and do it all over again.”

“But you do.” Alexis tilted her head up and stared at Ryder, the moonlight highlighting his face and betraying how seriously he took the conversation. “I admire you for it.”

“Thank you,” Ryder breathed as he lowered his mouth to hers. The first kiss was soft and gentle, nothing more than a light touch of lips saying hello. The second had considerably more heat behind it and left her breathless. He lifted her chin and stared into her eyes as if seeking permission. Alexis trembled under his heated gaze. She knew what he was asking and didn’t know if she had the strength to deny him—or the courage to survive the aftermath. Ryder was a love ’em and leave ’em type, and she was a commitment kind of girl. Could she accept the night for what it was and live in the moment?

Contact Links

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jacquie.johnson.39

Website http://www.jacquiejohnson.com/
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5754674.Jacquie_Johnson

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008NYGE2I/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Dilemma/book--tyodhdkTECqorGzwCHOtA/page1.html?s=_rmkhwBogku_TT3JCjc2iw&r=1

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dilemma-jacquie-johnson/1112328736?ean=2940014932400

Dilemma Blog Tour Schedule

8/13/21 ~ Simply Ali
8/14/12 ~ Book Reviews and More by Kathy
8/15/12 ~ Harlie's Book Blog
8/16/12 ~ Guilty Pleasures
8/17/12 ~ Books-n-Kisses

Lust on Tap by Liz Crowe

BLURB:

When wealthy brewery owner Dustin Prufrock meets sexy saleswoman Helena Turner, sparks fly—angry sparks. They seem destined to do nothing but clash, until a hot hook-up in a cold beer cooler changes everything.

For Dustin, it’s a life-changing moment and one that sets him on a path away from his birthright. Helena is forced to face her fears about committing to a man considered the playboy of the micro brewing world. The power of pre-conceived notions nearly tears them apart, until they meet up with Erik, Dustin’s old friend from the brewing institute in Munich, who provides them with an erotic and emotional connection that completes them all.

But fate has different plans, and Dustin is forced to take responsibility for his old life as heir to a large business. While he slips back into his expected role, Helena and Erik are thrown together in an attempt to run Dustin’s brewery without him. But the strength and trust of their once-balanced threesome has been shattered, and mutual lust might not be enough to keep them all together.

For info on my back list visit:  www.lizcrowe.com

Friend me on FB: http://www.facebook.com/lizcroweauthor

Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/beerwencha2

Join my street team!  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LizCroweStreetTeam/

Join the Romance for Real Life conversation on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/groups/RomanceForRealLife/

Bio: Microbrewery owner, best-selling author, beer blogger and journalist, mom of three teenagers, and soccer fan, Liz lives in the great middle west, in a Major College Town.  Years of experience in sales and fund raising, plus an eight-year stint as an ex-pat trailing spouse plus making her way in a world of men (i.e. the beer industry) has prepped her for life as erotic romance author.  When she isn't sweating inventory and sales figures for the brewery, she can be found writing, editing or sweating promotional efforts for her latest publications.

Otherwise, look for her doing pounds of laundry for her athletic children, watching La Liga on the Fox Soccer Channel, or trying to figure out what to order in for dinner. Liz loves her Foo Fighters Pandora station, and watching reruns of Deadwood, when there isn't any decent sports on (like during “golf season”).  Her beer blog a2beerwench.com is nationally recognized for its insider yet outsider views on the craft beer industry. Her books are set in the not-so-common worlds of breweries, on the soccer pitch and in high powered real estate offices.  Don’t ask her for anything “like” a Budweiser or risk painful injury.

LUST ON TAP! Available now from Ellora’s Cave. http://www.jasminejade.com/p-10265-lust-on-tap.aspx

Re/Bound by Michele Zurlo Blog Tour - Interview/Giveaway

Good Morning everyone.  Great character interview and don't forget to leave a comment with your email address for a chance at at $5 gift card from Michelle.  Good luck!

Losing her master ripped Darcy's world apart. Falling in love put it back together. Malcolm is an undercover agent, and she's his unwitting asset. Can a relationship built on lies survive the truth?

 Picking herself up after the devastating loss of her master is more difficult than Darcy anticipated. Just when she needs someone the most, a handsome Dom steps in and helps her out. Theo is thoughtful, dominant, and demanding -- everything she needs. He pushes her boundaries, tests her limits, and takes her to new heights. With him, she remembers what it is to feel joy and love and a firm hand on her ass.

Agent Malcolm Legato is after a corrupt businessman, and Darcy is his ticket into the upper echelon of Snyder Corp. As "Theo," he makes contact with her and cultivates her as an asset. Since she's also a suspect in her master's disappearance, he can't reveal himself to her, even when he realizes she's another of Snyder's victims. He falls hard for this feisty submissive, and he knows he'll break her heart the moment she finds out he's been lying to her all along.

When it all falls apart, will Darcy be able to find the strength to forgive Malcolm so they can build a life together and the courage to bring justice to the man she loved and lost?

Interview with Darcy

1. Your lost you first Master, your fiancé, tragically and unexpectedly. What made you decide it was time to move on with your life?

Darcy: That's not an easy question to answer. I don't think I made a conscious decision to move on. I agreed to present at that conference only because I wanted to honor Scott's memory. He was proud of me, of my success in building my grant writing business. He was my rock when things were tough and my cheerleader when I needed encouragement. I couldn't let what we'd built be destroyed because I was sick with grief. Then I met Malcolm, or Theo as he was calling himself then, and I took a chance. I won't lie and say it's been easy. I still struggle with guilt. I still miss him. I think I'll always miss him. It's a little easier now that I know definitively what happened. But I truly believe that Scott wanted me to move on, that he wanted me to find happiness again, and that he wanted me to be with Malcolm. I think he had a hand in sending Malcolm to me.

2. Malcolm really challenges you to redefine your boundaries and you seemed to take it pretty well. Why?

Darcy: I've never been satisfied with the status quo. I've always been driven to challenge myself, to take chances and see what new dimensions those chances add to my life. I'm not reckless or anything. I believe in calculated risk. I took a chance in starting my business, but I do have an MBA, so it's not like I lack the necessary background. I firmly believe a good Dom pushes his sub to become more than what she (or he) was before or is now. Everybody has the capacity for greatness, and it's so much easier to reach that potential when someone you love and trust is standing behind you, ready to prop you up when you think you're going to fall -- literally or figuratively. So really, I expect my Master to push my boundaries, and he needs to expect me to push his. I want us both to work at personal growth. I think I would lose respect for him if he didn't constantly challenge me.

3.  What first attracted you to Malcolm?

Darcy: If I say I was first attracted to him for his devastating good looks, would you think poorly of me? >smile< He's the epitome of a hot geek, and I've always found that dichotomy very knee-weakening. I also liked the fact that he didn't push me. I was in a very vulnerable place and he recognized that. He respected my feelings. He wanted to talk to me, get to know me. I know now that it was part of his cover, but I also know he wasn't faking his interest. A woman likes to know the man she's with appreciated her for her brains and her looks. That's hot.

4. What are Malcolm's best and worst quality?

Darcy: I like his strength of will and his extremely kissable lips. He has a depth to his eyes that almost defies description. A lot of Doms I know really work to be inscrutable, but I don't really think not being able to read someone equates to emotional strength. I think it points to somebody who is emotionally unavailable, and I don't find that attractive. Malcolm doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve, but he doesn't hide his emotions from me. He's also fiercely loyal, protective of those he loves, and a good cook. I cannot overstate the importance of a man who can cook.

Bad qualities? I can't think of any. He's arrogant, but I don't see that as a bad quality. I find it attractive.

5. How has being in a BDSM relationship affected your relationship with your family?

Darcy: That's another dicey topic. My parents don't know. They hated Scott because they thought he abused me. It didn't seem to matter how we explained it, whenever they saw a bruise or a welt or I ended up needing medical care (Scott and I weren't as safe as we should have been when we were first learning about BDSM) they forgot everything we said. Now that I'm with Mal, they've retired to Florida, so I'm just not telling them anything.

Malcolm has been really good for my relationship with my older sister, Amy. He took the time to get to know her, to educate her in a way she could understand. Well, I wouldn't say she understands, but she has a better handle on it. We've become quite close, which is a relief to me because we used to be close when we were teenagers. I missed having that with her.

6. You're submissive, but you're not at all a pushover. How do you balance your insistence on getting what you want with your desire to please?

Darcy: I think that if you're with a Dom who loves you, then he naturally wants to make sure you're happy. A relationship isn't about one person. It's about two people, and there's a lot of give and take involved, and that negotiation isn't limited to sex. Some people are under the impression that being a submissive means you can't have wants or and you need to communicate them to your Master or Mistress. They aren't mind readers. They will appreciate your openness and honestly. If they don't, find someone who will.

7. What advice would you give someone who is looking to experiment with BDSM?

Darcy: Research. Read. Talk to people in the BDSM community. A lot of us are more than happy to be mentors and help you navigate your way through this sometimes strange world. We want you to be safe and develop a healthy practice. You can connect with people in your area. Lots of local events are posted on FetLife. It takes some courage to go to one by yourself or if you don't know anybody, but take that chance. It's worth it!

8. Anything else?

Darcy: Thanks for having me! If you're interested in getting the whole scoop on my relationship with Malcolm, we wrote a book. You can find information at www.michelezurlo.com/rebound.

Tour Schedule

8/12 - Guilty Pleasures Book Review
8/13 - Redheads Review It Better
8/14 - Mrs. Condit and Friends Read Books
8/15 - Harlie's Books
8/16 - Reader's Confession
8/17 - AJ's Reading Nook
8/20 - My Secret Romance
8/21 - Black Raven's Erotic Cafe

Misplace Cowboy by Mari Carr & Lexxie Couper Book Spotlight/Release Day

Misplaced Cowboy is OUT TODAY! Woot Woot! It's the companion story to Misplaced Princess. You've read about Annie's adventures in Australia. Now it's time to find out how Dylan, the stockman, fared in New York City.

Foreign Affairs, Book Two

Flying halfway ’round the world to meet his potential soul mate sounds like a fine idea to Dylan Sullivan—until he discovers said soul mate, Annie, has gone looking for him. In Australia. Now Dylan’s adrift, a bloke from the Outback alone in the bloody big city. Until he’s rescued by Monet, a gorgeous local artist…and Annie’s best friend.

A dyed-in-the-wool New Yorker, Monet has never met anyone like Dylan. Taking temporary care of the sizzling-hot cowboy is easy; he’s friendly, funny and interesting. Keeping her hands off him is decidedly not easy. That horny accent, that killer grin…and as a successful artist, Monet is very much a hands-on sort of girl.

Dylan and Monet hold back until they learn Annie is engaged in her own foreign affair in Oz. Then all bets—and clothes—are off. But it can only be a fling. An Aussie cowboy doesn’t belong in New York any more than a city girl belongs in the Outback.

Now if only their hearts would listen.

Excerpt:

Monet Carmichael knew she shouldn’t be laughing. Nor smiling. The poor cowboy in front of her truly looked like the definition of confusion. But oh boy, what a beautiful definition it was. Okay, not so much that he was confused, but just the way he looked in general. His strong lips and chiseled bone structure, the perfect growth of honey-brown stubble on his jaw and chin, the hat.

Every inch of him screamed MAN. Virile, potent man.

Having grown up a dyed-in-the-wool New Yorker, Monet was experiencing her first in-the-flesh cowboy—and what a cowboy.

Stockman, Monnie. He’s a stockman.

She caught her bottom lip with her teeth again, the junction of her thighs doing a funky little twisty thing she enjoyed very much.

Man was correct. A beautiful man. A goddamn gorgeous, sexy man. Complete with a goddamn gorgeous body his faded jeans and well-worn flannel shirt couldn’t hide at all.

If it wasn’t for the fact he’d flown from Australia to meet her best friend, Monet could quite happily stand there and undress him with her eyes. Render him naked and imagine all the things a woman could do to a male body like—

She caught the wildly inappropriate thought before it could form a wildly inappropriate image in her wildly visual mind.

Just.

“Let me get this straight,” the Australian cowboy said, his light green stare doing all sorts of wicked things to Monet’s resolve. Even his eyelashes were perfect. She could imagine drawing each one in charcoal. Imagine even better the way they would feel against her lips as she—

“Annie flew to meet me in Australia yesterday, despite the fact I flew to the U.S. to meet her?”

Monet nodded. “You sent her an IM with flight details. Well, some flight details. The day, the airline, the arrival time. Although you were wrong by an hour on that last one. Her flight didn’t touch down in Sydney until—”

“Wait, wait, wait.” The cowboy’s confused frown grew deeper, his Australian accent turning the word into a drawling song Monet found quite enjoyable to listen to. “I IM’ed her about a Qantas flight to New York. The one I was thinking of getting. And then the next day I emailed her the actual details of the flight I’d booked a seat on.”

Monet blinked. Annie hadn’t said anything about the email. In fact, Monet had been sitting right beside her best friend when she’d bought her airline ticket to Australia, a Qantas flight touching down in Sydney on the day her online Aussie cowboy…friend…had told her. Surely Annie would have known he was flying over here? How could they get their wires crossed so badly?

She opened her mouth—to say what to the man, she didn’t know. Damn, what was his name? Annie had said it enough times over the last few months, but Monet shut her mouth again when the doorman of their building suddenly appeared at the cowboy’s side.

“Everything okay, Ms. Carmichael?” Tommy’s gaze flicked back and forth between the Australian and Monet. “Mr. Sullivan’s not giving you—”

Dylan Sullivan!

The cowboy’s name popped into Monet’s head, along with an image of a clean-shaven man without a hat smiling somewhat nervously into a camera.

Monet shook her head, unable to take her gaze from Dylan’s still troubled face. “Everything’s fine, Tommy,” she assured him, even as she compared the beautiful hat-wearing male before her, his stubble as sexy as his accent, his accent as mesmerizing as his eyes, to the clean-cut man in the photo on Annie’s laptop.

“Are you sure?”

She flicked Dylan a quick look, her pulse beating far too fast for her peace of mind. “I’m sure.”

“’Cause he was asking about Ms. Prince—”

“It’s okay.” She cut him off with a smile. “I know Dylan. We were just going to catch a cab to the gallery.”

Dylan blinked.

“Oh.” Tommy nodded. “In that case…” He stepped one foot off the curb and let out a sharp whistle.

Before anyone could say a thing, a taxi pulled to a quick halt on the road beside them.

Monet gave the doorman another smile. “Thanks, Tommy.” She opened the back passenger door of the cab and extended an arm toward the grimy interior. “After you, Mr. Sullivan.”

The brim of his hat cast his eyes in shadow, and for a brief moment Monet thought he was going to refuse. And then he gave her a loose, lopsided grin that made her want to grin back. “I take it the lovers sit between us?”

She nodded. “The lovers do.”

“It’s probably better you climb in first then, love.”

Her pulse fluttered, and for the first time ever, Monet found herself totally flustered by a man. Love. Who would have thought she’d get excited over an almost antiquated term. She despised pet names—no babes or hons or sweethearts allowed, thank you very much. But the term “love” coming from Dylan’s lips…

Her reaction to it was unnerving. The whole situation was unnerving. Annie on the other side of the world. Dylan here in New York. Her unexpected response to the man.

She dove into the cab before Dylan Sullivan, her best friend’s would-be Aussie cowboy, could see the flush painting her cheeks pink.

Oh boy, this was…inconvenient.

Misplaced Cowboy is available at Ellora's Cave, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble

Seven Sexy Sins-Guest Post/Review/Giveaway

Oooo, Serenity is here describing Avarice and there is an excerpt at the end.  There is a daily prize, winner's choice, one of Serenity's backlist or $5 amazon gift card.  Please leave a comment and email.  No email, no prize.  Also, there is a grand prize of a $20 Amazon Gift Card, so don't forget to fill out the form at the end. 


Seven Sexy Sins by Serenity Woods

Sin Number Six – Avarice

Hi everyone! It’s wonderful to be here today to talk about my new book from Samhain Publishing.

Samhain have labelled this friends-to-lovers romance as a Red Hot, and that’s certainly relates to both the setting and the heat level! Set in the sub-tropical Northland of New Zealand during a hot and sultry summer, the  story follows the sexual journey of Faith Hillman, a journalist who decides to look around for a partner to help her explore the Seven Sexy Sins. These are based on the seven deadly sins, and relate to seven articles she’s been commissioned to write by a well-known women’s magazine about ways to experiment in the bedroom.

Her brother’s best mate, Rusty, doesn’t like the thought of her carrying out this research with a total stranger, so he offers his services. Of course he’s being completely noble and it has nothing to do with the fact that he’s fancied the pants off her for years! Faith’s excited to think Rusty wants to go to bed with her and accepts his offer, although she does ask him to sign a contract stating their relationship is for the seven sins only. Of course this doesn’t stop her falling for him, and soon she has to figure out a way to prove to Rusty that he is worthy of love, and the family devil that has plagued his father, brother and grandfather hasn’t been transferred to him.

Faith’s sixth sin is Avarice. What better way of illustrating this, she thinks, than greed for orgasms? She and Rusty go away to a beach house on the west coast for a day and a night, and determine to find out how many times a couple can actually do it and still walk the next day. What’s their final score? You’ll have to read the book to find out :-) But by the time they finally decide enough is enough, things have turned dark, and it’s becoming clear they’re not going to be able to walk away easily when the seventh sin is done.

Here’s a clip from the beginning of the scene, when they first arrived at the beach house and decide they may as well get started.


They arrived around eleven and found the house easily. It sat just off the beach on a bank of grass, with a large living room that overlooked the sea. The water was a sparkling turquoise, topped with white surf, the sand a shimmering gold.

“Oh.” She sighed as Rusty opened the sliding doors and let the warm March air into the house. “It’s beautiful.”

He came up behind her and wrapped her in his arms. “It’s nearly a full moon tonight,” he murmured in her ear. “I want to make love to you out here, and watch the moon turn your skin silver.”

She turned around to face him. “‘Make love’?” she said playfully. “When did we start ‘making love’?”

“It’s just a phrase.”

“Sure it is.” She reached up to kiss him, whispering, “And how many times do you think you can ‘make love’ in one day, hmm?”

“I don’t know.” He picked her up, making her squeal, and wrapped her legs around him. “But I think we should get started. I don’t want to run out of time.”

“God forbid.” She kissed him, and he carried her back into the house, up to the kitchen, and lifted her onto the worktop.

“Pre-sex sex?” She tightened her legs around him, pressing his now-very-obvious erection to her.

“Just a warm-up.” He slid his hands under her top, up her ribcage and cupped her breasts.

“So this doesn’t count then.” She arched her back as he slipped his hand inside her bra and rolled her nipple.

“Well, I didn’t say that. I still think it should count toward our golden total.” He stroked her and kissed her until she began to squirm against his fingers. He put his hand up her skirt and pushed aside her panties, and within seconds he was inside her.

She tipped her head back as he pulled her to the edge of the worktop and slid right into her. “Oh…” She looked back at him, her gaze unfocussed. “So what’s your guesstimate, then?”

“For what?” He seemed to be having trouble concentrating.

“How many orgasms can a man have in one day?”

“I’m aiming for half a dozen,” he said as he began to move inside her, “but I expect you to top that.”

“Ooh.” She shivered at the sensual slide of his skin on hers. “Six-plus orgasms? Oh God, is this just the perfect day or what?”

“You have no idea,” he mumbled, increasing his pace. “I can’t believe you made me wait all week.”

“All part of the contract.” Her breath came in gasps. “Jesus, Rusty. You’ve been inside me, like, ten seconds…”

“That’s…what comes…of making…us wait. Fuck.”

They came together, sighing and groaning in turn, and afterward he pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her.

“One-all,” he said.

She started laughing. “You’re going to keep score?”

“Well, isn’t that the point?”

“I guess.”

And so they were off.

I’m talking about the other six sins on six other blogs  - check out Author’s Angels if you want to read more about them!

Serenity x

Review:


I will admit that I'm on the last three chapters of this book.  I know, bad host but with moving, not having internet...

Tease review and I post the rest tomorrow afternoon.  I love Serenity.  I have never read a book from an author that puts in the scene has much as she does.  I can smell the coast of New Zealand; the food that is being eaten; the touches/kisses/sighs of Rusty and Faith.  I'm through Sin 5 now and I've learned a thing or two.  Okay, maybe at least a dozen things at this point. 

Rusty and Faith are two of the most simple yet complicated characters that I have read this year.  Sexy, smart, best friends in the end.  Honest and Oh.My.Word the things that they are doing to each other.  Off the charts, smoking but loving and tender, too.

I will leave you with this thought...reading this book so far has reminded me about the deep friendship that I had with my husband before we started dating.  I wouldn't trade that for the world.

More later...

The Perses Effect - Promo

Harlie has been so behind with her family's recent move that the review for this book will up later today.  I'm very sorry.  Great book, I'll tell you.  On with the promo...

The Perses Effect

By R.E. Robinson Jr

Blurb:

The world has been changed forever. Death and mutation have swept across the planet leaving some of the survivors altered into non-human races and gaining powers that would take time to comprehend. Always thinking ahead Evan Root invited family and friends to live on his farm shortly before the comet that started it all was destroyed.

As the remaining population rebuilds Evan Root and his wife Jordan are producing bio-fuel to use and trade. On a routine trip to the market murmurs of disappearing town’s people span the crowd. While at the market Evan’s group is ambushed and when he finally makes it back to the farm he finds out his wife has been abducted. Evan feels her abduction has everything to do with her power.

Hoping it will lead him to his wife Evan and his companions must discover who or what is behind the disappearances while defending themselves at every turn.

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFxoHUeavP8 

Amazon Amazon Paperback 

Barnes and Noble Hardcover           Nook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Perses-Effect/200288616653927

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10793607-the-perses-effect

 

Bio: 

 

Ronald E. Robinson Jr. served in the US Army and has a criminal justice degree. He lives in Georgia with his family.

Cheeky Blonde by Liz Crowe-Blog Tour/Review

Harlie is pleased, no, honored to have Liz Crowe on the blog today with Cheeky Blonde.  If you have not checked out her books, you are missing out.  Take it away Liz...

Why Beer?

Why not…I mean, I know I can say this here because my host is a Shiner Fan!  Yes, she is.  Love it!  They have a new one out, too.

Craft beer is my world, and the setting for Cheeky Blonde my latest release from Decadent Publishing.  It starts at a national beer fest (there is one: it’s called the Great American Beer Festival and it rocks), when the heroine meets her “hero” who seems a little unlikely since she claims can’t anything about him that doesn’t start with “that asshole.” 

Seems like a fairly traditional set up. But I promise it’s not.

Like most of my books , Cheeky Blonde has elements of what you expect, but a lot of what you don’t.

And because I say “why not beer?” I set it in my world. I won’t bore you with tons of brewing and mundane details but will show you a high-speed romp in a non-traditional setting that’s sexy, and funny and introduce you to one of my favorite new heroes: Sean Garrison, marketing director and founder of the Garrison Brothers Brewing Co. a fictional company in Lansing, Michigan.

Here is a taste of Sean:

“Christ,” he muttered, as he snatched his phone from the floor. Nearly nine a.m. already. He had appointments with distributors in an hour and had to be at some round table thing about marketing at noon, plus another panel discussion regarding the antiquated three-tier distribution system later in the afternoon. To top it off, he was gonna have to jack off in the shower thanks to whoever the hell was yelling his name outside. His head pounded in time with the fist.

“Cool your jets. I’m coming.” He yanked open the door and came face to face with the woman he had only a second before imagined sucking his cock. Her beautiful face was dark with anger.

He made an effort to fix his smirk in place, but his head spun from a combination of too little sleep, too much alcohol, and an intense emotion he had spent the last several years avoiding at all costs. The mix of regret and pure unbridled lust made him grit his teeth.

“You are a colossal asshole,” she said, her jaw tense. He raised an eyebrow. It wasn’t the first time a beautiful woman had said as much.

“Look at this.” She shoved her phone in his face. He leaned back, unwilling to admit he needed reading glasses to see the small screen. “Oh shit. Never mind, I’ll read it to you.” She yanked the device out of his hand.

“What has four feet, four hands, two heads, and lips locked? hashtag breweryhookup hashtag garrisonandbrick.”

“What the fuck is a ‘hash tag?’”

She glared at him. “Don’t be obtuse. Wait, it gets better.”

“Sean and Jenny sittin’ in a brew house, K-i-s-s-i-n-g hashtag brewingconventionsex hashtag whereisdylan?”

“I hate Twitter,” was all he could muster.

Cheeky Blonde:

Blurb

Violence, intrigue, and passion are brewing in the craft beer world. When bitter rivals Jennifer Baxter and Sean Garrison meet, the notorious and handsome owner of Garrison Brothers Brewing stays true to form, seducing his rival at a national brewer’s convention.

Sean arrived at the convention expecting to get down to business, including his stated goal of hiring Jen away from Brick Street Brewery. But the beautiful fellow craft beer expert provides more of a distraction than he expected.

When sabotage strikes their fellow breweries, they unite to solve the mysteries. But fate and rumors brew more than beer as love, lust, jealousy, and misunderstanding collide in a way neither could have expected or anticipated.

Can they overcome the malicious chatter long enough to explore the emotion bubbling beneath the surface? Or will lust fall flat and leave them nothing but memories of the moment that slipped away?

Review:

Why did the book have to end?  I mean really?  Could Liz have written a longer book about the beer business, hot sex and had a great suspense element woven in?  I know that she has written longer and I’m really hoping for a sequel of sorts.  Okay, rant over.  On with the review.

I will admit that I’m partial to Ms. Crowe’s beer books.  My brother worked in the bar business and then beer business for over 15 years so I’m well versed in the basics of brewing, marketing and the tasting of beer.  I love beer myself but sadly, can’t drink a lot of it anymore.  Health issues you see.  I’ve waited for at least 6 months for this book to come out and I was not disappointed.  It had everything I like in a book.  An engaging plot from the start, great sexual tension build up and the suspense element that was woven in was spot on.

Jen Baxter is an up and coming brewery owner that has a great reputation in the business.  She a man in her life, sort of but once she sees the rock star of the beer business Sean Garrison, her life will never be the same.  While trying to fight her attraction to Sean at a beer festival and keeping her wits about her, she is also trying to keep the green eyed monster at bay.

The scenes that took place at the festival were hilarious.  Who knew that you could have that much none sex but still feel the sexual tension build up between two characters?  Some of the best scenes with Jen and Sean were when they were NOT having any kind of sexual anything but the teasing, torture and flirting.  Liz does a spectacular job of this with Jen and Sean.  Yes, they are not celibate, there are other ways but the build up towards them in bed is spot on with me.  Once you finally get there, it’s totally worth it and heartfelt. 

The secondary characters flew off the page for me.  They only enhanced the story and moved Jen and Sean along to their ending.  I really felt for Dylan throughout the whole book.  That said the scenes with Dylan and Julie are great.  Do not skim over the scene at the brew house when they get home from the festival.  Trust me.  I couldn’t decide whether to squirm in my seat or laugh out loud.  You figure it out for yourself.  Liam, Sean brother is important to the story, too.  As Sean’s sounding board and business partner, he has a stake in this, too.

The suspense element that Liz wove into the plot was interesting.  Do not skip these scenes.  They explain what is happening in the background with the saboteur and how it will all play out in the end.  Plus, you might learn a thing or two.  I sure did.

Overall, I loved this book.  My biggest complaint was that I wish it were longer or that a sequel is coming.  Yes, this book is over 141 pages but I’m greedy.  J  Jen and Sean are two people that I could sit down with at a bar and become friends with over their competing beers.  I felt connected with Jen, Sean, Dylan and yes, Sean’s ex-wife Victoria.  Run, don’t walk to buy and read Cheeky Blonde.  You will glad that you did.

5 Harlie’s and a highly recommended read

Buy links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cheeky-Blonde-ebook/dp/B008HIVJQG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342789305&sr=8-1&keywords=cheeky+blonde

ARe: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-cheekyblonde-861962-149.html

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/179345

Decadent Publishing: http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=578&osCsid=2tdovom679e62uo97kvcd8m7j3

BIO:

Microbrewery owner, multi-published author, beer blogger and journalist, mom of three teenagers, and soccer fan, Liz lives in the great middle west, in a Major College Town.  Years of experience in sales and fund raising, plus an eight-year stint as an ex-pat trailing spouse plus making her way in a world of men (i.e. the beer industry) has prepped her for life as erotic romance author.  When she isn't sweating inventory and sales figures for the brewery, she can be found writing, editing or sweating promotional efforts for her latest publications.

Otherwise, look for her doing pounds of laundry for her athletic children, watching La Liga on the Fox Soccer Channel, or trying to figure out what to order in for dinner. Liz loves her Foo Fighters Pandora station, and watching reruns of Deadwood, when there isn't any decent sports on the telly (like during “golf season”).  Her beer blog a2beerwench.com is nationally recognized for its insider yet outsider views on the craft beer industry. Her books are set in the not-so-common worlds of breweries, on the soccer pitch and in high powered real estate offices.  Don’t ask her for anything “like” a Budweiser or risk painful injury.

www.lizcrowe.com

www.brewingpassion.com

www.a2beerwench.com