**#COYER Review ~ Epic ~ Ginger Voight**

Hey y'all! I DID it! Yay! I completed all the books for this challenge. I'm not sure how much I really came out ahead in the end because I added sequels, recommendations from friends, and of course, I had to one-click quite a few yesterday due to some awesome sales. *grins* So, basically, I need to do this challenge every month for, oh, about the next 100 years! 

Thanks Berls @ Fantasy is More Fun and Michelle @ Because Reading is better than real life for hosting this fun challenge!

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Epic by Ginger Voight
Fierce Trilogy #3
Release Date: November 19, 2013
Genre: Coming-of-Age, Romance
Source: eARC from the author in exchange for honest review
Rating: 4 Worms

Synopsis
In book three of the Fierce Trilogy, "Epic" brings this Rubenesque coming-of-age series to a close, tying up the final crises keeping our intrepid but beleaguered reality couple, Jace and Jordi, from their fairytale ending. 

Plus-sized singing sensation Jordi Hemphill is on the quest of a lifetime. Set adrift in the previous book, "Unstoppable," she must fill new, gaping holes in her family tree. It begins as an escape, but it ends up the ultimate confrontation of the demons that continue to haunt her from her abusive past. Worse, she still struggles through current scandals, splashed on every tabloid for the world to see. As a result, her career stagnates while Jace Riga is on a rocket to super-stardom, tearing the star-crossed lovers even further apart. 

Though she has filed for divorce, she is still regrettably tied to Eddie, her weaselly husband in name only. He gleefully proceeds with his plan to woo and ultimately con Jordi's estranged friend, Shelby Goddard, to tap into her family's wealth. He moves to Tennessee to cozy up to her domineering father, Coy, who has just announced his run for the Senate. Together he and Eddie get closer and closer to a seat of power, while Shelby continues to languish in ill health and depression. Jordi debates on whether she can make the sacrifice needed to save her friend, but it could pound the final hammer into her career and end her own dreams of super-stardom for good. 

It doesn't help that a fellow musician, Griffin Slade, drives her insecurities even further down the tubes. This unapologetic ladies man feeds into all of Jordi's insecurities as they are thrust together in project after project. His aloof demeanor only underscores all the rest of her esteem issues, all of which threaten to drive her back to her one true comfort: food. 

Jace remains stubbornly steadfast, trying to save Jordi from her self-destructive behavior. But this final lesson Jordi has to learn alone. She can no longer depend on Jace, her family, or the world giving her the validation she has been denied for so long. She must dig deep, work hard, and let go - or else she'll lose everything she's fought so hard to achieve. 

In the end, only Jordi can save Jordi. This is her journey of self-discovery, and at long last, self-acceptance.

Ginger, you had me in tears at the dedication of this book. I'm making it my new mantra. :) Epic is a great ending to Jordi's story - although I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of these characters. 

Epic is the culmination of all Jordi's been through thus far, plus a few additional hurdles fate has put in her path. We watch as Jordi looks for her birth mother, tries to fit all the pieces of herself together, and ultimately grows into the fierce young woman we knew she could be. At times, I got a little irritated with Jordi. She has a tendency to be overly melodramatic. But then I'd remind myself, she's only 19. Also, she tears herself down repeatedly. She can rationalize her thoughts and habits, but can't seem to steer herself away from that destructive behavior. But I know this is something all girls/women do - I do it. Maybe that's why it was painful to read. One aspect where Jordi's maturity really showed was in the way she put others first. Jordi has always tried to take care of and protect those she cares more for. However, she didn't go about it in the most logical ways. In Epic, she matures enough to realize the right way to care for her loved ones.

Jace isn't as present in Epic and although I understand why - Jordi needed to learn she could stand on her own - it still made me sad. He was busy with this new album and preparing for his tour, but he is always there when he is needed most. *sigh* He is always the voice of reason with Jordi and in this way, he's very much a balancing force. And the yin to Jordi's yang.

We are introduced to some new characters in Epic, and I'm hoping for more from them. Guitarist, Griffin Slade, is instrumental in part of Jordi's emotional growth, and I admit to falling for him...just a little bit. ;) There's also Maya and Diego Palermo, who are pieces of Jordi's puzzle. It was a pleasure to see how they filled in holes in Jordi's soul. And there's a new girl-power band, Unapologetic B!tches! I do hope to see more of them.

Of course, Jordi's journey couldn't be complete without closure between herself and Shelby and Eddie. I was so proud of Jordi for accepting responsibility for her actions where Shelby was concerned - and of course, this included Eddie as well. Eddie - y'all know I think he's a narcissistic butthead. Ms. Voight gives him a fitting comeuppance, and I have to say I didn't see that coming. ;)

There is a political bent to Epic but it fit in well with the story and was done tastefully. Shelby's dad, Coy Goddard, is running for a Senate seat. I delighted in the commentary on relevant issues and the spin Ms. Voight put on this element of Jordi's story.

I did feel like things tied up a little too quickly at the end. I would have appreciated being witness to the resolutions Jordi arrived at rather than being told they happened.

I think I liked Jordi's story even more than that in the Groupie trilogy. I think the reason is that I identify and relate to Jordi in a way I didn't with Andy. I also think Jordi grew more over the course of the series. And I reveled in seeing all Jordi's dreams come to fruition.

**Sidekick Showcase ~ #21 ~ Keeping it in the Family**

Sidekick Showcase (previously known as Sidekick Saturday) is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Jaclyn at JC's Book Haven. There are many secondary characters that are as great as the primaries. In some cases, the sidekicks actually steal the show and you like them better than the heroine or hero. Maybe they didn't have enough page time for how great they were. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Choose a sidekick *or someone other than the hero or heroine* that you would like to put in the spotlight that fits in this week's type
• Share a picture (if possible) and information about the character
• Give the title and author of a book the character can be found in
• Please don't include too many spoilers when describing why the character is such a great sidekick
• Put your link in the Linky thing and comment

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This week's theme is 
Keeping it in the Family - relative of the hero-ine).  

My pick is
Betty, Zara's Grandma
from Carrie Jones' Need Series

I'm thinking it's because I have such an amazing grandma, that when I read this week's theme, Grandma Betty immediately came to mind. Betty is one cool grandma. She's an EMT, doesn't take any guff from anyone, particularly her granddaughter, and, oh, she's occasionally a tiger. Yep, a kick-ass, shapeshifting tiger! Cool, huh? This ability comes in handy when fighting off all those mean pixies!

Zara comes to stay with Betty (Gram) after her stepdad dies. She has been seeing a man, who seems to be stalking her. Zara doesn't know if it's her imagination or not, but her mother sends her to Betty. Zara soon learns Betty was the best place for her, as her stalker is not imaginary.

***

"She's shoving me off to the land zero population growth to keep me sane?"
"Little bitter there, sweetheart?"
"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry."
Betty smiles. "Bitter is better than nothing. From what your mom says you've been awful depressed, nothing like your normal stubborn, save-the-world self."
-Zara & Betty, Need

"You really saw him?" I ask.
"Of course, I did. Why did you ask?"
"You'll think I'm stupid."
"Who says I don't already?" She laughs so I know she's joking.
"You are one mean grandmother."
"I know..."
-Zara & Betty, Need

"Grandma Betty slams out of the ambulance and power strides across the snow, speaking into her radio and hauling her EMT bad. Only a flicker in her eye betrays any emotion. She is all business. There are no hugs from her right  now. She leans toward me, hovers over my face, and checks my eyes."
-Captivate

"Zara, sympathy is just a good excuse to buy greeting cards and make sorry eyes and secretly gloat over how glad you are that you aren't the person whose crap is hanging out there for the world to see," Betty says.
-Captivate

...Betty doesn't ask anyone's permission;; she just pushed a button on the remote and the TV clicks off...
"Why did you shut it off?" I ask, gesturing to the TV.
"It's not telling us anything we don't already know," Betty says. She puts her hands right above her knees and pushed herself up to a standing position. My mother starts to stand too, but Betty barks at her. "You stay put. I'm just getting some tea."
Betty strides off to the kitchen muttering about being stuck in a house with a gunshot victim, a fainter, and a pixie.
-Entice

**#COYER Review ~ Julia ~ Sarah Krisch**

Yay! One more book off my e-reader! I'm loving this challenge and I'm sad it's almost over! Where did November go?!?

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Julia by Sarah Krisch (click on author's name for Goodreads page)

The Good Life Book One

Release Date: August 9, 2013

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Source: Received an epub from the author 

in exchange for an honest review

Rating: 3 Worms

Synopsis
A failed actress, twenty-something Julia McCarthy begins writing a fictionalized blog as a form of self-therapy. Based on her carefree summers at her grandparents' farm, she never expects her little experiment to garner a viral following, but it does. Boy, does it ever.

Now, with thousands of loyal blog followers, and a syndication deal with the Chicago Herald, Julia is approached by GreenTV to adapt her blog into a TV show. The producers see her as a "Rachel Ray on the Prairie-type". She sees herself as a fraud.

In Julia's fictional world, she's successful. She can pay her bills on time. Heck, she even has a fictional gorgeous husband and charming little boy. Ready to realize her dreams, Julia returns to her grandparents' farm to shoot the TV pilot.

Brad Taylor is definitely not her type: he’s rugged, sensible, and oh-so smug about learning that Julia’s blog is a farce. As the manager of her grandparent’s farm, Brad doesn’t have time to deal with whimsical women who don’t even know how to cook. 

Julia can't allow her attraction to Brad to distract her, not when her dreams are about to come true. But are these truly her dreams, her good life? 

A fun, fast (150 pages) contemporary romance

Julia is the first book in a trilogy and I really enjoyed my introduction to the town of Harmony Grove. Ms. Krisch did a nice job of creating a warm, welcoming environment and endearing characters. 

Julia McCarthy is a interesting young woman. She thinks she has her life figured out. She thinks she's a big city girl, dreaming of a career in acting, getting weekly mani/pedis. When her dreams of being an actress go sour, she begins a blog called The Good Life. However, instead of writing about a life and career in acting, she's writing about the farm life and simple living she experienced on her grandparents' farm as a child. Now, with her blog syndicated and about to become a reality t.v. show, her dreams are set to come true. But after spending some time at the farm, Julia has to reconsider her ideas on what makes 'the good life'.

On the McCarthy farm, Julia finds Brad Taylor, a boy she has fond memories of from childhood. Brad, having recently left the military, is now managing the farm. He seems to have found his good life. At first, he and Julia are at each others' throats. But soon, their interactions become fun and flirtatious. Watching as these two figure out how they can both get their good life was a pleasure.

I liked the setting for Julia. My grandparents had a farm, so the McCarthy farm evoked fond memories of my childhood. I also liked Trudy and Guy, Julia's grandparents. They were loving and supportive -- exactly what grandparents should be. :) I delighted in seeing Julia realize what she really wanted out of life. And I found Brad to be a gentleman and a hard worker. There are a few other secondary characters introduced, such as Madi, Brad's sister. I liked Madi but the others didn't make much of an impact. Oh, I adored Goose, Brad's dog, and Tornado, the orchard pig. They added a few giggles to the story. :)

I did feel like the story was rushed in a few places. Especially certain scenes between Julia and Brad. It seemed like some important things were glossed over. I also wished Brad had fought a little for Julia. I understood his reason -- not wanting to stand in the way of Julia chasing her dreams -- but he seemed a little too complacent about it. There were some questions left unanswered and I hope it's all resolved in the continuation of the trilogy.

With the exception of those things, Julia is a charming story. I enjoyed meeting Julia, Brad, Trudy, and Guy, as well as the community of Harmony Grove. Julia and Brad's story is a sweet one, and this was a fast and fun read.

**Release Day Spotlight & Giveaway ~ Death of the Mad Hatter ~ Sarah J. Pepper**

Happy Release Day, Sarah J. Pepper!

Death of the Mad Hatter is **NOW AVAILABLE**

And it's only 99 cents!

You can join the Release Day Party on Sarah's Facebook page

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Death of the Mad Hatter by Sarah J. Pepper

Release Date: November 29, 2013
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance

Synopsis
If the king loses his head, then the Queen with a Bleeding Heart would rule the Red Court until Time ceased to move forward. When a second carried on for infinity, every creature in Wonderland would tip their Hat to the misfit girl with a Boy’s name (or was it a boy with a Girl’s name?) who’d end the Reign of Terror. However, it all hinged on the One-Eyed Hare being able to convince an uninspirable Heir that the impossible was indeed possible—like stopping time—and that Love was worth a Beheading.

Heads would Roll…

Hearts would Break…

In the end, would it matter who Reigned? 

 **Trailer**

Enter the giveaway for a signed copy of Death of the Mad Hatter over on Sarah's blog by clicking this link.

I specialize in dark, paranormal romance – think “happy ever after” but with a twisted, dark chocolate center. Real-life romance isn't only filled with hugs, kisses, unicorns, and rainbows. True-love can be more thoroughly described in times of darkness and tribulation. It’s in those harsh moments where you see what a person is truly capable of – both the good and bad. Sometimes prince-charming isn't always on time, and the glass slipper is a little snug. However, it doesn't mean Charming is not Mr. Right, and who says every shoe is the perfect fit?

Find Sarah here:

Blog ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

**Think Out Loud ~ #10 ~ Being Thankful**

Welcome to Think Out Loud, a weekly meme hosted by Thinks Books. This is a meme where you can post about anything and everything you want...no rules! Make sure you link up over at Thinks Books, too. 

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Today, I'm celebrating Thanksgiving. That means I'll be eating waaay too much and I'll be parked in front of the t.v. for the Dallas Cowboys game. (I said I'd be parked there, not that I'll be watching...I'll be reading, of course. But shhh...please don't tell my family in Texas! ;) In honor of the holiday, I wanted to list a few things I'm grateful for. 

I'm extremely grateful for my happy and healthy family. I'm grateful to live in this beautiful state. I'm also grateful for great books and the fabulous authors who write them. And I'm grateful for all my blogging friends, too. It's been such a pleasure getting to know y'all!!

To those of you celebrating, Happy Turkey Day. To those of you who don't live here in the U.S., please know that I'm thankful for you!

**Blog Tour & Giveaway ~ Death is but a Dream ~ Erin Hayes**

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Erin Hayes' Death is but a Dream. My stop includes all you need to know about the book, my review, and a giveaway. 

This tour is presented by Xpresso Book Tours. If you'd like to check out the other stops on the tour, you can see the schedule by clicking here.

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Death is but a Dream by Erin Hayes 

Publication date: Fall, 2013
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Mythology

Synopsis:

Caught between life and death, all Callie wants is to live again.

Homicide detective Callie Saunders knows that death isn’t all pearly gates and angels. After being hit by a bus, she finds that it's the ancient gods and goddesses of Greek mythology who are in charge of everything.

So when Hades offers her a deal, she accepts. If she wants to be brought back to life, she’ll have to figure out who is trying to kill his son. But if she fails, both her soul and the world will be destroyed.

With the odds mounting against her, it’ll take everything she has within her to wake up from death. But the rules are constantly changing. And someone wants her to stay dead

Wow! Death is but a Dream ended up being quite an incredible read. It had a bit of a rocky start but once Ms. Hayes hit her stride, I couldn't have put this down if I wanted to.

Callie is a young homicide detective who's very dedicated to her job. She works crazy hours, trying to save as many people as she can - all in an attempt to make up for being unable to save her dad. She mistakenly ends up in the Underworld, and you know what that means. To get back to the land of the living, Hades makes her an offer she can't refuse.

Plutus is the God of Wealth. Being the son of Hades and Persephone, you'd think he'd have the world on a string. But Plutus is blind and he walks with a limp. Even though Zeus made him this way, he's persecuted and an outcast among the gods. He's understandably bitter. Then Callie is brought to the Underworld to try to solve the mystery of who is trying to kill him. And his world tips on its axis.

I have to say that Death is but a Dream had a bumpy beginning for me. I had trouble identifying with Callie at first. She came off as tough-as-nails, obsessively dedicated to her job, and I didn't understand her. But as the story progresses, she softens and, I think, reveals her true self. I think she had created a touch exterior in order to protect herself from being hurt. Also, when Callie first arrived in the Underworld, I felt the story didn't flow evenly. And I would have enjoyed witnessing the more of the interactions between Callie and Plutus. The scenes were glossed over and I felt if we'd seen them, their feelings would have felt more genuine earlier. BUT, once some of the secrets were revealed, the tension ratcheted up and the action had me flipping through the pages. I delighted in being privy to Callie and Plutus' time together once they end up on the Surface. Running for their lives, looking for a prophet for help, and meeting some nasty creatures was an adrenaline-pumping experience. 

Death is but a Dream is filled with Greek gods, lesser gods, demigods and all sorts of vividly described mythological creatures. Ms. Hayes admits to using creative license with Greek mythology but I adore the story she's created around Hades and Persephone. She also says the t.v. programs Hercules and Xena influenced the story. Any references to the t.v. programs were lost on me, as I never watched them. But she's spun quite a yarn. She combines several different elements - mythology, of course, along with mystery, police procedural, and fantasy. I felt like she was even offered commentary on greed and vanity. I thrilled at meeting her imaginings of Greek gods I was familiar with as well as those that were new to me. (she even poked fun at not knowing certain figures - as they showed offense when Callie was ignorant of their identity) The inner workings of the hierarchy among the gods was creative as well. 

Overall, despite it's rocky start, and wanting to have seen more of the interactions between Callie and Plutus, this ended up being a fantastic read!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sci-fi junkie, video game nerd, and wannabe manga artist Erin Hayes writes a lot of things. Sometimes she writes books, like the fantasy mystery Death is but a Dream and the sci-fi middle grade book Jacob Smith is Incredibly Average. You can reach her at tiptoegirl87@gmail.com and she’ll be happy to chat. Especially if you want to debate Star Wars.

 Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter

**Blog Tour ~ Entice ~ Erica Crouch**

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Erica Crouch's Entice. My stop includes all the important details for the book and my review.

This tour is presented by Patchwork Press.

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Entice by Erica Crouch

Ignite Series #0.5

Release Date: November 19, 2013

Genre: YA Paranormal

Source: Purchased on Amazon

Rating: 5 Worms

Synopsis
With the aftertaste of Heaven still strong, Pen and Azael cloak themselves in their new demonic destinies, fighting for Lucifer against the angels. Pen, warring against former friends turned vengeful enemies, still struggles with defecting to Hell. But in one short battle, they go from forgotten to famous, thrust into the spotlight where she has no room for uncertainty.

Suddenly top-tiered demons, they’re tasked with seeing through hell’s new agenda: corrupting man. But tarnishing Eden isn’t as simple as they thought it would be, especially when they’re forced to work with another team of demons who are trying to claw their way up the ladder of power.

Entice is the prequel to Ignite. Here we see Pen and Azael in Hell, after their fall but prior to the events in Ignite. We see the events which led to their being on Earth. If you missed my review of Ignite, which I adored, you can read it here.

I've said it before, but I love words. Ms. Crouch's use of words is captivating. She lyrically draws images and her prose is exquisite and delightful to read. I also love her literary references and quotes. :) I somehow managed to miss the significance of Pen's name in Ignite. Pen was a scribe in Heaven - and the importance of that really hit me in Entice. I adore Pen's love of language and stories and her indelible belief in the power of words. I'm curious to see if 'the pen is mightier than the sword' holds true for Pen.

"...Words are never enough; results take action......I agree, not willing to fight over the magic words hold again..." Loc 1437-1441

I loved this look at Pen. In Entice, we see that Pen, despite her fall from Heaven, hasn't lost her humanity. Seeing her compassion in Hell made the transformation Pen experiences in Ignite more meaningful. We are also made privy to the reasons behind her decision to fall with Azael. We witness her struggle with that decision. Pen longs for the acceptance and sense of belonging she once had with Azael. Thought the course of Entice, she realizes that is something she may never have again. But now that she's fallen, Azael is all she has.

Azael isn't much different in Entice than he is in Ignite. He's angry and arrogant. He believes his place is at Lucifer's side - that he deserves that place following his role in Michael's demise. He believes his actions swung the tide of the war between Heaven and Hell.

In Entice, the action revolves around Pen and Azael's mission in Eden. Following the battle which brought about Michael's death, Azael and Pen are give rank as top-tier demons. They are then tasked with bringing about the downfall of man - a race against two other minions of Hell. The tale Ms. Crouch weaves around this well-known story was fascinating.

Ms Crouch's description of Hell is interesting. Hell, in her imaginings, is cold, icy and blue. I rather like this portrayal. It naturally follows that her Heaven is fiery - angels wielding swords of flame. I also appreciated Pen's reasons for being disgruntled with Heaven - not that it meant she wanted to choose Hell.

"I don't believe in censorship," I smirk back at him. "It leads to arroganze, corruption, and secrets." Loc 518

"Secrets and pride corrupt even the so-called incorruptible." Loc 1458

I truly reveled in getting this backstory for Pen. It helped in my understanding of why Pen chose to follow Azael out of Heaven and why she continued following him. It also provided the foundation to explain her actions in Ignite. And it was gorgeously written.

"I tie my tongue around the unwanted gift I've burdened myself with - caring - and bury it in the pit of my stomach." Loc 788

"I think I'll be walking the line between Heaven and Hell forever - swaying toward the darkness but always reaching to the light." Loc 1754

I’m trapped in a sea of screams. The cries of war swell and break like turbulent waves, pulling back for a breath before raging forward again to knock me off my feet and drown me under the noise. Voices claw desperately, a greedy symphony of agony that comes from every direction, and I can’t separate out one wail from another. They all merge into one horrifying howl so loud I’m surprised my eardrums haven’t begun to bleed. 

Maybe they have; there’s blood everywhere. Who’s to say some of it isn’t mine?

I swing out with my dagger and cut an angel across her cheek. She retaliates, quickly loading a small golden slingshot with molten rocks. Her thin fingers wrap around the weapon and she draws it back, her muscles tense. I spot her mistake before she does, and when she lets the sling go, the rocks soar past me, striking one of her comrades. A slight miscalculation, and I live. The angel she struck, however, is not so lucky. His wings catch on fire, and the demon he was locked in battle with uses the distraction to deliver the final blow.

Her eyes grow wide with horror. A scream begins to bloom on her lips but I pluck away her voice before it flowers, plunging my dagger deep into her chest. She falls to the ground, and I turn away from her just in time to see another angel charging me with a long spear that is dripping in already spilled blood. His eyes are feral and dark, and I duck just before the spear skewers me, sending him toppling to the ground. 

Sprawled on his back, the tan angel looks up at me and we lock eyes. Faintly, in the deep recesses of my mind, I recognize him. I know you. And he knows me—but it didn’t stop him from trying to kill me.

I try not to think about what I’m doing, who I’m killing. Burying the thoughts under the screams and making them incoherent is easier than acknowledging the lives I take. I scramble forward and put my boot on his chest, pinning him down to slit his throat.


I add two more tallies in my mind to document their deaths. Five thousand twenty-four.

Erica Crouch is from the always colorful city of Baltimore. Currently, she is studying English and Creative Writing with a specialization in Fiction at Southern New Hampshire University. She is the cofounder and head of editorial services at Patchwork Press. Her debut novel, Ignite, was published June 2013. The e-novella sequel, Entice, is due November 2013, and the last book in the series, Incite, is expected Spring of 2014. Along with the YA series Ignite, she is working on publishing a New Adult series, titled the Undying series, with the first installment, Cut, due 2014. When Erica isn’t writing, she’s reading an overwhelming stack of books, watching an obscene amount of Netflix, and procrastinating.

Erica on Goodreads – Her Website – Twitter – Facebook

Patchwork Press on Twitter – Facebook – Our Website

**Spotlight ~ Billionaire Romance Bundle ~ **

I'm excited to spotlighting the multi-author Billionaire Romance Boxed Set. You get 9 novels/novellas for only 99 cents! That's a whole lot of billionaire hotness! ;)

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Billionaire Romance Boxed Set

Authors: Julia Kent, Aubrey Rose, Krista Lakes, Adriana Hunter, Melanie Marchande, Artemis Hunt, Starla Cole, and Liliana Rhodes

Release Date: October 17, 2013

Synopsis

From powerful businessmen to dominating bachelors who won't take no for an answer, this exclusive Billionaire Romance boxed set includes some of the hottest stories ever published by popular romance authors!

Download 9 scorching hot tales of seduction featuring wealthy men from all walks of life. These irresistible bad boys will take you on a wild ride that will leave you breathless!

This boxed set collection features stories from popular authors including: USA Today & NY Times Bestsellers Julia Kent and Aubrey Rose, Top 100 Kindle and Nook Bestsellers Krista Lakes, Adriana Hunter and Melanie Marchande, and Bestselling Authors Artemis Hunt, Starla Cole, and Liliana Rhodes!

Grab Your Copy Now!

Titles include:

HER FIRST BILLIONAIRE by Julia Kent
Caught between two men- literally- who turned out to be roommates and secret billionaires, Laura makes a startling discovery about her own capacity for passion.

THE WOMAN OF THE BILLIONAIRE’S DREAMS by Krista Lakes
Tracy has been stepped on all her life, but when a car accident leaves her with the ability to enter other people's dreams, an opportunity arises. Will Tracy be able to break out of her shell in order to seduce billionaire Paul Hayes?

SHATTERED by Adriana Hunter
Curvy Katherine is tired of the daily grind. She craves something new... something exciting. There is one thing that she does look forward to every day- the meetings with her ruggedly handsome billionaire boss, Matt Donaldson. Known for his impossibly good looks and unbelievable wealth, he's loved by many and hated by many more. Katherine never thought Matt noticed her until he comes to her rescue.

That sets the pace for a dangerous game of complete submission.

ME, CINDERELLA? by Aubrey Rose
One kind deed can change your life forever...

Brynn has spent her life trying to forget her desires, and Eliot's deep wounds have taken nearly a decade to heal. After so much hurt, will either of them be able to open their hearts again?

THE PRETEND BOYFRIEND by Artemis Hunt
Samantha is clumsy and totally in need of a new boyfriend by this weekend. Her younger sister is getting engaged. Enter Brian Morton. He is gorgeous, rich, snarky, and utterly promiscuous. He was also the bully who made Sam's middle school life a living hell. A series of bizarre events results in Brian losing a bet. His punishment? To be Sam's slave for the weekend... and do anything she wants.

NO REGRETS by Liliana Rhodes
Life hasn't been perfect for plus sized Deborah. Working as a tailor in a department store isn't great, but it has its perks and she meets one in the form of a man she calls "Mr. Sexy". William King isn't just any man though, he's an ultra-private billionaire heir. When Will's mysterious past puts the two lovers in danger, will the truth bring them closer together or finally tear them apart?

I MARRIED A BILLIONAIRE by Melanie Marchande
Maddy has given up on marriage- and men. But when her insanely rich (and sexy) boss Daniel Thorne proposes an arrangement of convenience that would allow him to stay in the country, and Maddy to never work another day in her life, she might get more than she bargained for. By the end of their sham relationship, Maddy finds herself wondering if the money will be enough to repair the cost of a broken heart. But Mr. Thorne may have a secret in store...

THE EXHIBITIONIST by Starla Cole
Erik, a BDSM master Syria met at a bondage exhibition, offers her an opportunity to join his life of beauty, wealth and power as his personal escort and exhibitionist. But on Christmas Eve, Syria will
have to choose between a life of luxury without love, and the Santa stripper who just may hold her heart.

THE BILLIONAIRE'S ULTIMATUM by Cerys du Lys
Falling in love wasn't part of Jessika's temporary job description. Nor, initially, was being asked by billionaire CEO Asher Landseer to become an egg donor and surrogate for his infertile wife. All Jessika wants to do is help, but is she setting herself up for heartbreak in the process?

**Spotlight & Author Interview ~ Getting Rooted in New Zealand ~ Jamie Baywood**

Hey y'all! I recently read about a book that made me curious and made me giggle. :) So I'm thrilled to be spotlighting said book, Getting Rooted in New Zealand, and sharing my interview with its author, Jamie Baywood.

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Getting Rooted in New Zealand by Jamie Baywood

Release Date: April 21, 2013

Genre: Travel Memoir, Humor

Synopsis
Craving change and lacking logic, at 26, Jamie, a cute and quirky Californian, impulsively moves to New Zealand to avoid dating after reading that the country's population has 100,000 fewer men. In her journal, she captures a hysterically honest look at herself, her past and her new wonderfully weird world filled with curious characters and slapstick situations in unbelievably bizarre jobs. It takes a zany jaunt to the end of the Earth and a serendipitous meeting with a fellow traveler before Jamie learns what it really means to get rooted.

**What Readers are Saying**

“I read this book in one night over four hours. I couldn't put it down. It was so, so entertaining. I laughed out loud on numerous occasions - comedy highlights include brain poisoning from complications over a hair perm, eating stale sunflower seeds and the multitude of accent-related mistakes. Jamie is a lovely, endearing protagonist and I can guarantee you'll fall in love with her. A must read for anyone moving to New Zealand. Or anyone moving anyway for that matter.” (5 out of 5 stars) Thomas Sainsbury (Amazon Customer Reviews)

“Getting Rooted in New Zealand is a diary of a California girl's introduction to a completely different life experience in a new country and never has the phrase `stranger in a strange land' been more relevant than in reading her intriguing and often insightful diary entries! Her observations about both culture and language are a wonderful mix of observation about one person's reaction to the differences that make up the wonderful human race and the minutiae of daily living. I'll be looking forward to seeing if Jamie produces another book about her experiences of coming to live in the UK.” (4 out of 5 stars) Linda Parkinson-Hardman (Amazon
Customer Reviews)

"I've got this book and finished read it all so quickly, because I couldn't stop reading it. it's just so hilarious!! I can't wait to read her next book. I highly recommend to read this book for everybody. I absolutely loved it!!" (5 out of 5 stars) S Halls (Amazon Customer Reviews)

“This book is perfect for travel-reading! It's light, in small sections (as a diary), totally hilarious and also quite amazing. So many crazy experiences Jamie Baywood had in one year, some wonderful and some truly horrific, all taken together adds up to fruitful reading indeed. This book is like a rough diamond - I look forward to reading future novels as Jamie becomes more and more polished through life's experiences” (5 out of 5 stars) Anna H(Amazon Customer Reviews)

“Giggle Worthy... It is difficult to write so openly about your life as you have and I found myself keenly reading to see what happened next. All your adventures with those crazy people sounded so dreadful, but provided such amusement in the way you have represented them. You make no real judgment on any person and I can tell that while you respect them as humans, you don't put up with bad behaviour, so that's an inspiration in itself” (4 out of 5 stars.) O. Dale (Amazon Customer Reviews)

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

It was always my dream to live abroad when I was growing up in California. For the past three years, I’ve been disassembling and reassembling my life by moving to different countries. I’ve lived in five countries now America, American Samoa, New Zealand, Scotland and now England.

What made you decide to write this book? 

I consider myself an accidental author. I didn’t go to New Zealand with the intentions of writing a book about my experiences there. I had funny experiences that I had trouble believing were true. I wrote the stories down to stay sane. I wrote situations down that were happening around me and shared them with friends. The stories made people laugh so I decided to organize the stories into a book and publish in the hopes to make others laugh too.

Why were you avoiding dating? 

I know it sounds like a crazy reason, but I needed a serious change in my life and felt I needed to leave the country to do so. I started dating my first boyfriend when we were fourteen and the relationship ended when I was twenty-three. I had never dumped someone and didn’t have the life skills to do so. Between ages twenty-three and twenty-six, I would only date guys I knew I could dump easily. 

Not surprisingly, only dating guys with clear and abundant flaws that were easy to dump, created a lot of chaos and drama in my life. 

When I was twenty-four, I had my second boyfriend who I call Hank, in real life his named rhymed with Hank. Hank had a drug dealer that sincerely went by the name Stank. I took Hank to rehab,
after that I had a string of crazy suitors and ex’s. If you had Hank and Stank in your life, what other choice do you have, but to leave the country and become an author? 

By the age of twenty-six, I was actually much happier being alone than dating, but I was completely bombarded by guys trying to date me. I read in a New Zealand tour book that the country’s population has 100,000 fewer men than women. I wanted to have some me time and an adventure. New Zealand seemed like a good place to do so. 

I found a work abroad company that helped young Americans get work visas in New Zealand and Australia. I had been watching a lot of Flight of the Conchords at the time and enjoyed Bret and Jemaine’s sense of humor and accents. 

Is there anything in your book not based on real life experiences?

Reading my book would be similar to receiving emails from a friend living abroad. I didn’t really come up with the distinct writing style. It’s just how I honestly observed things and described them. I only know how to write my truth. My truth tends to be stranger than fiction. 

It would be impossible to write down every single thing that happen to me in New Zealand for over a year and it probably wouldn’t be interesting to read. My book is 100% true. These are 100% my
experiences. I have changed some the names, but not all of individuals and organizations to preserve privacy. Most of the book was written as the events happened; it just took me a few years to work up the nerve to publish. To write my book Getting Rooted In New Zealand, I relied upon my personal journals, e-mails, and memories. In February 2013, I organized my stories into a cohesive narrative. It went through several rounds of editing and then I published in April. 

What was your favorite job in New Zealand?

The visa I was on only allowed me to work temporary positions. I worked in a basement, with ex-cons, next to a perverted mime and with a girl that wore her dead dog’s collar around her neck. All of the jobs were mundane office work, but the cubicles were filled with curious characters. 

Recently on Twitter, the characters in Getting Rooted in New Zealand are described as, “Wicked. Lots of heroes and villains. It’s a story you can read again and again- it’s laugh out loud shocking in parts and cringe worthy, some office peeps are monsters!” by Colin Mathura-Jeffree, a male model and judge for the TV show New Zealand’s Next Top Model. Colin is one of my favorite characters that I meet in New Zealand. 

I had good, bad and weird experiences in New Zealand. I’m grateful for all the people I encountered, heroes and villains, the experiences I had turned me into a writer. 

I was very lucky in New Zealand to meet a lot of talented people outside of work. I had the opportunity to write and perform for Thomas Sainsbury the most prolific playwright in New Zealand. I performed a monologue about my jobs in the Basement Theatre in Auckland. 

What project are you working on now?

Self-publishing is one person taking on all of the responsibilities typically held by teams of people in traditional publishing companies. It has been a steep learning curve. I’ve designed, published and have been marketing Getting Rooted in New Zealand. 

I am currently booking meet the author events at libraries and book clubs throughout England and Wales between now and June 2014. If you are living in the UK and would like me to come to your library or book club email me at jamiebaywood@gmail.com. All of my events are listed on my Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamiebaywood/events

In my free time I like to do yoga, pilates and run. I also practice Nichiren Buddhism which involves chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo in the morning and in the evening. It’s my way of centring myself and focusing on my determinations. 

I plan to divide my books by the countries I’ve lived in. My next book will be about attempting to settle in Scotland. I plan to publish it late 2014. 

Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?

I love making people laugh more than anything else. I love hearing from readers that my book is making people laugh out loud. The hardest part has been when people don’t understand my humour. I have been in a lot of situations where I had two choices: laugh or cry. I’ve chosen to laugh. I write my experiences from a purely personal standpoint. Compared to other travellers who worked abroad in New Zealand my experiences have been very unusual. I would highly recommend everyone goes to New Zealand to experience their own adventure.

I think readers need to remember this is the dairy of a young, hormonal and confused twenty-something, this is not a travel guide to New Zealand. I am sincerely appreciative of everyone that has read Getting Rooted in New Zealand. I’m absolutely grateful that readers are enjoying the book and reviewing it positively. I love making people laugh. I hope you enjoy Getting Rooted in New
Zealand! 

Jamie Baywood grew up in Petaluma, California. In 2010, she made the most impulsive decision of her life by moving to New Zealand. Getting Rooted in New Zealand is her first book about her experiences living there. Jamie is now married and living happily ever after in the United Kingdom. She is working on her second book.

Find Jamie here:

Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Pinterest

Twitter ~ Amazon Author Page