Sunday, March 31, 2013

** Blog Tour & Giveaway ~ Dual Review ~ Leashed & Groomed for Murder ~ Zoe Dawson**

Hi everyone! I have the pleasure of being a stop on the blog tour for Zoe Dawson's Groomed for Murder today. Groomed for Murder is the second book in the Going to the Dogs series. I'm reviewing both Groomed for Murder as well as Leashed, which is the first in the series. Check back on April 2, when I'll be interviewing Zoe Dawson! There is also a giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift Card as well as a doggie mug. :) This blog tour is being presented by FanGirl Hostess.


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Title: Leashed
Leashed (Going to the Dogs, #1)Series: Going to the Dogs #1
Author: Zoe Dawson

Synopsis from GoodReads:
First book in the Going to the Dog series and is a short novella at 26,000 words.

Jack has some ‘splainin’ to do!

That's right! Callie Lassiter's normally well-behaved Great Dane Jack has run off and done the wild thing with the neighbor's dog. It must be puppy love! It's doubly embarrassing since she's a professional dog trainer. Of course, the neighbor would have to be hot, hot nightclub owner bad boy Owen McKay, just the kind of man Callie is determined to avoid.

Owen’s comfortable with his playboy status and the hype in the media. But the ground moves beneath his feet when he gets an eyeful of the girl next door. The Dog Whisperer never looked this good! How can he convince this wholesome honey that his player days are behind him? Maybe Jill, his Great Dane can help him with this dilemma now that she’s pregnant and Callie’s dog is to blame.

Is this bad boy a bad bet?


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Leashed was such a sweet read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is the first in the Going to the Dogs series so in addition to its storyline, it also introduces characters for the next books in the series. It is a short read but Ms. Dawson did an excellent job is fitting in a great story along with setting up the series.

The series revolves around a group of girlfriends who met at a dog park. All their lives involve dogs in some way. Leashed is Callie's story. Callie was raised in a family of dog breeders (Great Dane). She now owns Sit Happens, a dog obedience school. Callie has had some bad luck with bad boys so the only good guys in her life are her dad, her brother, and her Great Dane, Jack. Of course, there's this gorgeous guy living across the hall from her whom she knows is the epitome of a bad boy womanizer. However, once Jack meets said guy's dog, Jill, things get interesting.

Owen McKay owns an exclusive club in New York, suffered a difficult childhood (which serves as the reason behind his commitment phobia), and has recently endured the loss of his beloved Great Aunt Tilly. Tilly took him in and gave him a home as well as love. Owen inherited Jill from his great aunt, who didn't want him to be lonely.

Neither Callie nor Owen want to be involved with the other. But they have this physical chemistry that they can't deny. Their dogs do as well! :) But what made this story so adorable was that Callie and Owen fight their attraction and develop a friendship first. They bond over their dogs. And the dogs...well, that was another element that I loved. It was so much fun!

Leashed is well written and also entails a bit of a mystery. The only negative for me was it's length. I would have liked to have seen more of the relationship development between Callie and Owen. But as I said, Ms. Dawson does a great job of creating a tight storyline despite the length. I'm looking forward to seeing the continuation of this series.


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Groomed for Murder (Going to the Dogs, #2)Title: Groomed for Murder
Series: Going to the Dogs #2
Author: Zoe Dawson

Synopsis from GoodReads:
Can a dog have a bad hair day?

Brooke Palmer owns Pawlish, an exclusive doggie spa and grooming business in upper Manhattan, but when a client’s champion poodle gets a bad poodle cut and has to undergo therapy to recover, the client sues. The lawyer they send is drop dead gorgeous, but Brooke won't be wooed by a corporate shark in a sharp suit.

Corporate lawyer Drew Hudson has better things to do then take on this ridiculous lawsuit, but since he works for the client’s husband, he has no choice. After meeting the beautiful, sweet-tempered owner, he can’t keep his mind on the silly case. But when the client turns up dog gone dead, Brooke may be a conflict of interest when she’s charged with the murder. All Drew wants to do is prove that this sexy entrepreneur is not dangerous, except to his heart.

Can she take a chance on him?


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We met Brooke in Leashed, of course. And Groomed for Murder is a fantastic sequel. I liked getting to know Brooke better as well as seeing Callie's wedding plans proceed. And I'm really excited for Poe and Harper to have their stories as well...but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Brooke Palmer has had a challenging childhood. Her parents were more the absentee type and after completing college (earning a degree they chose), she rebels and choses her own career path. Her parents respond by cutting her off. Her only consolation is her English Bulldog, Roscoe. She now owns a posh dog salon called Pawlish. As you might imagine, the clientele can be difficult sometimes. But Brooke can always handle those customers. However, one day a particular customer goes too far and Brooke won't give in to her demands. So the customer swears to ruin Brooke's business.

Enter Drew Hudson. Drew has endured tragedy in his life but has worked hard and long to earn his place in his law firm in order to provide for his little sister. He is wrangled into his boss' wife's lawsuit over her dog's bad haircut. And that's where he meets Brooke. 

Both Brooke and Drew know it's a bad idea to become involved when there's the lawsuit to contend with. But neither one can ignore the feelings that develop between them - even though their interactions begin under nefarious circumstances. And then, the client who was suing Brooke is found dead, and Brooke is accused of murdering her!

Groomed for Murder is a deeper story - one where we get a bit more detail on Brooke and Drew and we get to see their relationship develop a bit more. There's more drama with the threat of prison for Brooke. And it's also very poignant...because Roscoe, oh he stole Drew's heart and mine! (I can hear him snoring now.) I really liked this book, not only for Brooke and Drew's story, but also getting a closer look at the other girlfriends in the group. Groomed for Murder deals with the transience of life, how people change and rearrange, but those deep rooted connections with great friends...those bonds last! And the dogs...*sigh* Yeah, they're some of our best friends too. :)


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About the Author
Zoe  DawsonZoe Dawson is the alter ego of multi-published, bestselling author Karen Anders. Karen started her career because her grandmother gave her a book to read. That book made her fall in love with romance and started her on the trek to getting published. She achieved that goal in 1996 with the publication of Jennifer’s Outlaw for Silhouette. Even with eighteen books under her belt, she can’t wait for that next idea, that next exquisite sentence and, of course, the next hero and heroine who fall in love. So, maybe Zoe has more than two sides. Stick around and find out and read a few books while you’re at it.

Zoe is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card as well as a doggie mug (winner's choice). To enter, obey the rafflecopter! :)



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To see the list of all the blogs stops on this tour, click here.  

Friday, March 29, 2013

**Fangirling Over J.A. Huss ~ Day 5**

Welcome to the final day of my Fangirling Over J.A. Huss event. I'm kinda sad that it's over, BUT I am part of the blog tour for Range (my stop is April 10th) AND when book 5 of the series releases in December, you can bet I'll be fangirling some more. Plus, Ms. Huss is releasing Tragic in May. So I'll have plenty more fangirling opportunities! :) 

Today, I'm reviewing The Magpie Bridge. It's amazing, of course! And you can still enter the giveaway for one of the books in the I Am Just Junco series! 

Warning: Fangirling ahead....



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The Magpie Bridge  (I Am Just Junco, #4.5)Title: The Magpie Bridge
Series: I Am Just Junco/I Am Not Junco #4.5 
Author: J.A. Huss

Synopsis from GoodReads:
Raubtier Aves, 039-1, AKA: Tier
Son of Lucan
Ranking Officer of the Avian military
Powerful
Ruthless
And devoted to Junco, no matter what

Tier was left with one specific order and he’s not about to screw it up. He might lose all his allies, his brothers, his shot at defeating the High Order, and his own Eternal Salvation - but he’s willing to risk it all to keep one small girl alive.

Tier reveals his part in the epic tale of The Seven Siblings, spilling secrets and motivations that will leave you breathless and wanting more.


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*sigh* I love Tier! ;)

I must point out the irony of Tier being someone who told Junco she had trouble seeing the obvious when he has the same issue. :) Of course, I had trouble seeing clearly as well... This entire series is one of details. I adore this in books - love looking for all the details, having to really think - so I've been constantly bookmarking and highlighting while reading Junco's story. But I have to admit that I missed some things. :)

Ms. Huss definitely packed a lot into this little book. The Magpie Bridge picks up right at the last scene of Range. It is fascinating being in Tier's head for once. And I was rapt watching as he fits all the "puzzle pieces" together. In my review of Clutch, I believe I commented on my love of the mythology that Ms. Huss has woven into Junco's story. It's something I've paid attention to - bookmarked - but I had no idea the importance the mythology would have. Ahh, puzzle pieces fitting together indeed.

The Magpie Bridge is an integral part of the story. I loved every word. I still have questions and things to mull over but I know all will be illuminated on December 2, 2013! ;) And I love finishing a puzzle! :)




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**Feature & Follow #19**


Welcome to the Blog Hop! And check out the amazing new button! :)

Feature & Follow is a weekly blog hop hosted by the talented ladies behind AlisonCanRead and Parajunkee's View. The intent of this blog hop is to get out there and meet other bloggers and gain new followers yourself. What sets this blog hop apart is the Feature. Each week, two blogs are featured, one at AlisonCanRead and one at Parajunkee's View. So make sure to hop over to those blogs to check out this week's Features.

This week's Features are:
Book Sniffers Anonymous
Insightful Minds Reviews


Question of the week: What is the most emotional scene you've ever read in a book - and how did you react?

Well, I'm not sure I can name just one...I've had some pretty intense reactions to some very emotional scenes...but the two that immediately came to mind were:

1) The last scene of Range by J.A. Huss...I can't say what happens without being spoiler-y but it was INTENSE and made me pretty emotional. I will say this, I didn't see it coming. Well, partially yes, but the part that made me cry? No!

2) The last scene of If I Stay by Gayle Forman. I was boohoo-ing when I finished this book! Again, I can't give details without being spoiler-y, but it's a great book!

**Speaking of J.A. Huss, check out my reviews of her I Am Just Junco series (Clutch, Fledge, Flight, Range, and The Magpie Bridge) and you can also enter a giveaway to win one of her books! She's a fellow FF blog hopper - New Adult Addiction and Clean Teen Reads.**




**Book Blitz & Giveaway ~ Resisting the Bad Boy ~ Violet Duke**

Vilolet-Duke

Resisting the Bad Boy sounds like a really fun read! Check out the blurb and the excerpt below. Also, make sure to enter the giveaway. Violet is giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card! :)


RESISTING THE BAD BOY  Blurb: 
Abby Bartlett is the quintessential nice girl. Between teaching, volunteering, completing her PhD, and helping her best friend raise his daughter, Abby never gets the chance to be anything but nice. That is, until the all-wrong-for-her man she’s only ever known from afar starts daring her to simply take that chance for herself.  His sage advice?  Try something wild and fast.

Preferably him.                                                   

An unbridled, hotshot attorney with a not-so-little black book, Connor Sullivan has earned himself quite the bad boy reputation.  But in his defense, he’s a very conscientious one. He knows far too well that sometimes in life, love isn’t enough…or worse, not even a factor at all.  To avoid that misery—and repel the drama—Connor always makes his one and only rule crystal clear right from the start.  Absolutely nothing more than a month.

Turns out, a whole lot can happen in one month.


EXCERPT:
“Why you little—”
Connor launched at Abby as she shrieked out in laughter and tried ducking around him to make for the door.  Snatching her around the waist, he hoisted her cackling body over his shoulder and upended her back onto the bed.  “You set me up.”
Now unliddable, her giggles effervesced, giving zero credence to her perfectly scandalized denials.  He trapped her under him and buried his grin against the curve of her neck, feeling disproportionately victorious at the gasp she couldn’t contain when he skimmed his lips over her collarbone. 
The woman was getting to him.  This time, when his lips found her soft skin again, it was with purpose.  “You planted that wicked little bag-o-fun there for me to find, admit it.” 
She gave an Oscar-worthy gasp at the accusation. “What?  What possible reason would I have had to do that?”
“To drive me up the wall?  Send me bursting through my zipper?”  He nipped at her earlobe playfully.  “Though I guess I should be flattered to be the reason you bought all that stuff.”
The cutest derisive snort he’d ever heard shot out of her like a torpedo with impeccable aim.  “Breaking news, Connor: scientists have in fact discovered that the earth doesn’t revolve around you.  Women buy toys for themselves all the time.”
He nearly bit off his tongue to avoid even thinking about Abby having any sort of toy-based fun.  “I still call foul.  When you and I agreed to this who’ll-beg-first stint, you didn’t say you’d be weaponizing your attacks.” 
“Weapons?”  She blinked innocently.  “You make them sound so sinister.  I’d say they’re more like…private tools.  Survival tools, if you will.  For my time here.  Naturally, you were never meant to see them.” 
Bull.  Next, you’ll tell me the snowflake masquerading as underwear in that bag is worn strictly for comfort.  Hell, I’ve seen more fabric on the teeny doilies in Skylar’s toy tea sets—”
“Aw, I remember those,” she cut in softly with a smile.  “She used to go on and on about how her ‘bestest Uncle Connor’ hosted the fanciest dress-up tea parties.”
“I wore suits,” he clarified gruffly, “and don’t change the subject.  Why buy sexy lingerie if not to have them be seen?” 
By me.  He didn’t have to say it out loud, they were both thinking it.  And his ego was celebrating it. 
“Easy access,” she eventually answered, straight-faced.
His imagination went nuts.  Picturing Abby wearing the microscopic scrap of white lace he saw earlier for private ‘easy access’ unhinged him.  He shackled her wrists above her head with one hand and began tickling her ribs.  “Another foul.”
“Stop!” she screeched and dissolved into a breathless puddle of mirth.  “Okay, I admit it!  It was a dirty, dirty foul on my part.  You should definitely take a free throw shot.”
He paused, wondering where she was going with this.
She pointed to the trash can.  “There’s the basket; my new panties can be the ball…since yours are clearly in a twist.”
Incredulous, he dialed up the tickle torture to merciless.
Her squealing ‘I-take-it-backs’ became unintelligible as she wriggled and squirmed and bucked until soon, he was fairly certain he was suffering more than she was. 
Breathing hard, he released her wrists and rolled onto his back beside her.  “You’re planning to drive me completely crazy these next few weeks, aren’t you?”
Limbs all akimbo, head dangling off the bed, she heaved between breaths, “Like you wouldn’t believe.”


About Violet

VIOLET DUKE is the pen name for Nina Nakayama, former professor of English Education turned author who now spends her days on the other side of the page writing wickedly fun contemporary romance.  When she’s not catering to the whims of her story characters or feeding her book-a-day reading addiction, she enjoys randomly rearranging the furniture in her house, tackling reno projects with her power tools, cooking ‘special edition’ dishes that laugh in the face of recipes, and trying pretty much anything without reading the directions first.  Nina lives in Hawai‘i with her two cute kids and similarly adorable husband.  Learn more about her and her books at http://www.violetduke.com.


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Stop by all the blogs participating in the RESISTING THE BAD BOY book blitz to increase your chances to win.

Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
Regina May Ross's
Bookworm Brandee
Lebooksquirrel
BadBarbsPlace
i love lady porn
Jen Duffey
Harlie Williams, Writer
Shh Moms Reading
Talk Supe
The Book List Reviews
Cocktails and Books
Read Your Writes Book Reviews
The Little Black Book Blog
Sultry Storyteller
Book Bitches Blog
Italian Brat's Obsession
Blackraven's Erotic Cafe
AJ's Reading Nook
Blackraven's Reviews
The Readers Roundtable
A Dream Within A Dream
Busy Moms Book Reviews
Passionate About Books
Hesperia Loves Books
Scandalicious Book Reviews
Mrs Condit & Friends Read Books
Books Books and More Books
Love N. Books
Fictional Candy
We Love Kink
Reading, Eating & Dreaming
Reviewing in Chaos
Review Enthusiast
Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews
Tiffany Talks Books
Simply Ali
My Secret Romance
Smardy Pants Book Blog
Romantic Book Affairs
HEA Romances With A Little Kick
Under the Covers
SnifferWalk Books
Kindlehooked

Thursday, March 28, 2013

**Fangirling Over J.A. Huss ~ Day 4**

Hey y'all! It's Day 4 of my Fangirling Over J.A. Huss event. Welcome to Junco's World! If you aren't a card-carrying member of the Junco Fan Club, read on to learn all the reasons why you should be! :) Today's post is my review of Range, the fourth book in the I Am Just Junco series - or I Am Not Junco... I was going to review The Magpie Bridge today as well, but I'm having so much fun with these posts, I decided to have one more day of fangirling. So that review will post tomorrow.

My reviews of the previous books in the series can be read by clicking on their titles below:

Clutch
Fledge
Flight

Remember to enter to the drawing to win a digital version of an I Am Just Junco book! 

Now let's get to the fangirling!


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Range (I Am Just Junco, #4)
Title: Range
Series: I Am Just Junco/I Am Not Junco #4
Author: J.A. Huss

Synopsis from GoodReads:
Two years have passed since Inanna stole Junco away from Lucan. Two years of unimaginable pain. Two years of isolation, mutilation and torture. Two years of fear and loneliness in a morph tank. And that’s not something you just get over, even if you are psycho-assassin, Junco Coot.

Now Junco has to learn to live with the consequences. Her Siblings are suspicious and angry, half her team is dead, Tier is wreaking death and destruction, Lucan is holding his secrets close, and she is spiraling out of control.

There is only one partnership that matters anymore – only one person she will trust and take direction from – and only one way out of the Hell she’s been sentenced to.

Junco is tired of fighting and death. She’s had enough and this time she means to end it – once and for all.


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Range is exactly what I've come to expect from Ms. Huss' writing. It is extremely well written, has white-knuckle suspense and action, and continues the unique story that is Junco Coot. Range is a bit darker than the previous books, and that's saying something. We get a deeper look into Junco's psyche and quite honestly, it's a rather scary place to see.
"It's so much easier to just do what you're told and besides, this is my one true purpose and you can't be half a killer. You just gotta embrace your inner evil, that's what I think. Just be who you were born to be."
One recurrent theme with Junco is her feeling of loneliness and her desire not to be alone. We witness and many characters have commented on her habit of looking at the stars. Junco explains this,
"They always come back because they are constant. They never leave me, they make their celestial orbit and move through the night, but they are one hundred percent predictable."
The action in Range revolves around Junco and her fight with sanity as well as the End of Days events leading up to the angels arriving and the war that will ensue. I'm not gonna lie - this is some deep shit. Ms. Huss says she likes to keep her readers guessing and asking questions. Well, I'm making attempts to guess where this will go and asking lots of questions...the most pertinent of which being "When do I get to read book 5?!?"

 Junco is vulnerable, confused, and lonely in Range. You would be too, if you'd been through even half what this girl has been through. And she's being asked to endure even more. The story line seems fractured with the memories Junco is experiencing and the present. I think this is intentional and works well in portraying Junco's inner turmoil. One observation I've made several times about Junco is how much I admire her resiliency. She seemingly can survive everything thrown her way. So I'd like to say that she's still a bit bent but not broken...but I'm not entirely sure that's true anymore. I'm certainly anxious to learn the outcome.







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**Cover Reveal & Giveaway ~ Thursday Nights ~ Lisa N. Paul**

It's my pleasure to present the cover for Lisa N. Paul's Thursday Nights, the first in her Charistown series. This cover reveal is presented by Brandee's Book Endings. Oh, and FYI, Lisa N. Paul is the blogger Lisa's Reads! ;) This is her first novel.




Book Title: Thursday Nights (The Charistown Series, Book #1)
Author: Lisa N. Paul
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Expected Release date: May 13, 2013
Cover Designed By: Okay Creations

Lisa N. Paul (Author) Facebook Website Goodreads


Book Summary:
“Pain can leave even the strongest of people weak and hollow.

Max DeLucca has spent seven years trying to forget the betrayal of his past. He lives his life from day to day never looking forward and never looking back. The walls around his heart keep anyone from getting too close and prevent him from feeling too much… until he meets her.

Her entire life, Janie Silver searched for the kind of love that wouldn’t leave her broken and more importantly, wouldn't leave her behind. She longs for a love that can heal the wounds of
her past and give her the future she knows she deserves. She thought she was looking for something that just didn’t exist…until she meets him.

Danny’s on Main is where their story begins. A neighborhood bar where strangers become friends, friends become family and some … become lovers

… it all started on Thursday Nights”



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Brandee, at Brandee's Book Endings, has also created a Blog Tour Event on Facebook – feel free to participate!

And don't forget to enter the drawing for a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

**Fangirling Over J.A. Huss ~ Day 3**

Greetings and welcome to Day 3 of my Fangirling Over J.A. Huss event. In case you've been lost in a good book :) and missed it, I've recently become a bit of a fanatic over Ms. Huss' I Am Just Junco series. I don't really have the words for how much I adore this series y'all. I wanted to do something special to share the books and Ms. Huss with you. So I decided I'd do some fangirling! :) And this week, not only am I sharing my reviews...I'm also hosting a giveaway! I will be gifting TWO lucky (although Junco would say you don't want luck to have anything to do with it ;) winners ONE digital copy each of a title from the series. That way, if you haven't read the series, you can get started. And if you have, I can get your further along. 

You can read my reviews of Clutch (#1 I Am Just Junco) and Fledge (#2) by clicking on their title. And as long as I'm fangirling over Ms. Huss, click here to check out the cover and book trailer for her NA Contemporary Romance, Tragic, releasing in May. 

Today, I'm reviewing Flight, the third book in the series. And tomorrow, I'll be reviewing Range and Magpie Bridge, books 4 and 4.5.

Alright, alright...let's get to fangirling!


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Flight (I Am Just Junco, #3)Title: Flight
Series: I Am Just Junco #3
Author: J.A. Huss

Synopsis from GoodReads:
You don’t want to owe that Luck bastard anything. It always asks for something in return.

There’s a new twist on an old prophecy and this one brings the End of Days. Junco must make a choice – human or avian? Only one race can survive.

Lucan has secrets and the lies are flowing like a mountain river during spring thaw. But he needs Junco to cooperate just a little bit longer or it all falls apart.

The Siblings on Earth are waiting for the Seventh to return and pull their clutch together. But Earth has secrets too – secrets that change everything.

Junco has survived against impossible odds, but the cost of survival is higher than she ever imagined. Luck is about to catch up with Junco Coot and her debt must be paid.

CONTENT WARNING - You know the drill...this is Junco we're talking about, right? Bad language, no qualms about killing.


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And it's all been leading up to this! This is what Junco's been trained for - to extract her six siblings so they can save the avians and to set the prophecy in motion. But this is Junco - and nothing goes according to plan. Flight is another tension-filled, action-packed thrill ride of a read!

Before the Aves can start the mission, Junco must endure a twine with Isten. As a side note - I love that we get to know secondary characters so well and that it's a different one in each book. - Anyway, Junco agrees to the twine and this enables both she and Isten to perform in battle at an even higher level and it links them indelibly.

Once the mission is in play and the team is on Earth again, Junco must, once again, decide who she can and can't trust. She is reunited with her mother and father, and a childhood friend whom she has lost memories of.

Not only does Junco have to deal with or avoid the political machinations of her parents but she has to convince the Six Siblings to come with the team back to The Band. And thereby, trigger the prophecy. All before the nuclear reactor powering the Mountain Republic blows!

However, Junco is faced with some startling revelations during her escape attempt. Some of these revelations have me realizing there is so much more going on here that I realized. Junco does have a destiny to fulfill. And a choice to make. 
"Yeah, well, I know for a fact I won't die here, Gideon. I've got a destiny and it isn't to be slashed to pieces by my brother's clones. So, yeah, I'm good with this, let's go."
-Junco to Gideon
With each book in this series, Ms. Huss provides us with answers to questions posed in previous books. But she also leaves us with new unanswered ones and Flight is no exception. At the end, I was gasping and saying "Wait. What?!?"

In Flight, I delighted in another tightly written, pulse-pounding story. Junco's world is just as gritty and violent as ever, but Ms. Huss' description of it and the action that occurs is brilliant! I'm ever so pleased to be on this journey with Junco. I find I identify with her wanting to believe in people - even though she has no reason to. 


"You're too trusting, for all the shit you've been through, you are way too trusting. Sera was right. You want to believe so bad. But don't. Don't believe anyone."
-Gideon to Junco
I can't get enough of Junco!



**Giveaway
As I said, I'll be gifting 2 digital copies of one of the books from the series - so 2 people can win 1 copy each. 



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Tuesday, March 26, 2013

**Blog Tour ~ Interview ~ Appearances and Other Stories ~ Margo Krasne**

Today, I am pleased to present my interview with Margo Krasne. This is my second stop on the blog tour for Appearances and Other Stories, which is being presented by Virtual Author Book Tours.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway. :)


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In this debut collection, Krasne wields insightful irony and cathartic black humor to illuminate her themes of loss, yearning and survival, bringing to it a biting female perspective. An adept stylist with an ear for dialogue and an eye for personal foibles, Krasne cleverly captures the distinct voices of her characters as they strive to negotiate the subtle and not-so-subtle minefields of family obligation and personal conflict. She has a knack for getting inside her characters’ heads as they strive to keep up appearances. Readers will most surely recognize themselves, their friends and family members in all of these beautifully rendered stories.



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INTERVIEW


BB: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? (other than what's listed in bio)

MK: I would be delighted. I am a born and bred New Yorker, 75 years of age. I’ve been writing on and off for years and finally decided the drawer full of stories needed to be emptied. Two years ago I finished a play called Attachment which had a few
readings and which has yet to be shelved as it’s still making the rounds.

BB: What do you do when you are not writing?

MK: I am a presentation coach working with Fortune 500 companies. (Website: www.margotspeakup.com.) Between work, writing and friends it is a full life.

BB: Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?

MK: Believe it or not – and truthfully I am still not sure why his influence has been so strong since often he infuriates me—Philip Roth. His voice is powerful and voice is what I look for in a writer more than anything else.

BB: Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers?

MK: Only that I hope the stories keep them involved while they’re reading and perhaps stay with them for a time after. And of course that they enjoy.

Find Margo here:
Facebook




Margo is kindly offering a print copy of Appearances to one lucky winner. Sorry, this is open to US only.


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Monday, March 25, 2013

**Blog Tour ~ Review ~ Appearances and Other Stories ~ Margo Krasne**

I'm so happy to be today's stop on the blog tour for Margo Krasne's Appearances and Other Stories. This blog tour is being hosted by Virtual Author Book Tours. Today you'll find my review of Ms. Krasne's book as well as a tour wide giveaway. Check back tomorrow to read my interview with Ms. Krasne. 

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Publisher: Wasteland Press, October 23, 2012
Category: Fiction- Short Stories, Literary Fiction, Relationships
Tour Dates: March, 2013
Available in: Print, 160 pages
In this debut collection, Krasne wields insightful irony and cathartic black humor to illuminate her themes of loss, yearning and survival, bringing to it a biting female perspective. An adept stylist with an ear for dialogue and an eye for personal foibles, Krasne cleverly captures the distinct voices of her characters as they strive to negotiate the subtle and not-so-subtle minefields of family obligation and personal conflict. She has a knack for getting inside her characters’ heads as they strive to keep up appearances. Readers will most surely recognize themselves, their friends and family members in all of these beautifully rendered stories.

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MY REVIEW:
Appearances and Other Stories is a lovely collection of short stories. They all have a common thread so they flow together very nicely. Also, they are written so very eloquently. I was shocked when I turned the page and I had reached the end.

The first part of the collection is entitled The Wallachs. It is a story of the Wallach family, a Jewish family living in New York, but centers mostly on the youngest daughter, Alice. It was an interesting glimpse into family dynamics and perceptions. I was riveted by Alice's story and heartbroken for her to find all that she did when dealing with the grief at the end of her different family members' lives.

There is also the story of Janet, a former cabaret sginer dealing with a life after the death of her husband and pianist. Her story spoke to new beginnings and also how one can never completely let go of the past.

Then there is the story of Laura and Betts, two college friends who reconnect only to drift out of one another's lives again. 

And finally, the story of Rita Sopher, or "Soph". Soph finds herself at the end of her life sooner than she'd anticipated. She must determine how to deal with the time she has left as well as the legacy she wishes to leave.

All in all, Appearances is a collection of stories about how we all live our lives, peoples' different perspectives of others' lives and their own and the influence others have on our lives, both real and perceived. It is beautifully written and deeply moving. For me, it inspired personal reflection as each of the characters' revelations are revealed. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to read it.



** 4 1/2 Worms


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Buy Appearances here:
Amazon (print)
Amazon (Kindle)
Barnes & Noble

Margo is kindly offering a print copy of Appearances to one lucky winner. Sorry, this is open to US only.


a Rafflecopter giveaway






**Cover & Trailer Reveal ~ Tragic ~ J.A. Huss**

Okay, as y'all are probably aware, I'm sorta, kinda, maybe just a little bit of a fan of J.A. Huss. So I'm beyond thrilled to be involved in the cover and book trailer reveal for her NA Contemporary Romance novel Tragic. AND there's also a book trailer...which the talented Ms. Huss created herself!

Enjoy!!


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The front cover



The whole cover




Tragic by J.A. Huss
Publication date:  May 20th 2013 
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance


Synopsis:
Rook Walsh is TRAGIC

Because life so far – just sucks.  Some girls get parents.  Rook got the foster care system.  Some girls get Prince Charming.  Rook got an abusive frog.  Some girls get lucky…

Rook got a second chance.

And she took it.  Because when fate throws you a bone – you grab it with both hands and run.

Antoine Chaput knows the minute he spies Rook in his photography studio that she’s got The Look.  The dark and desperate look he must have to land the exclusive TRAGIC media contract.

Rook is paired up with top model, Ronin, and he’s everything her abusive ex-boyfriend wasn’t. Patient, gentle, happy, attentive, and sexy!  He knows exactly what to do to make Rook blush for Antoine’s portfolio.

Rook’s luck changes in an instant and suddenly she’s the darling of the modeling world.  It’s a dream job to go with a dream guy and all she has to do is look pretty and follow directions. But there’s always a price to pay – and Rook is about to get the bill.

TRAGIC is a new adult contemporary romance.








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AUTHOR BIO
J. A. Huss likes to write new adult books that make you think and keep you guessing. Her favorite genre to read is space opera, but since practically no one reads those books, she writes new adult science fiction, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and books about Junco (who refuses to be saddled with a label).

She has an undergraduate degree in horses, (yes, really–Thank you, Colorado State University) and a master’s degree in forensic toxicology from the University of Florida. She used to have a job driving around Colorado doing pretty much nothing but shooting the breeze with farmers, but now she just writes, runs the New Adult Addiction and Clean Teen Reads Book Blogs, and runs an online science classroom for homeschoolers.

Author links: