Cover Reveal and Giveaway: An Easy Dare by Rosalie Rousseaux

Cat loved Gabe from the time she was five years old. She thought it would be easy: fall in love with your childhood sweetheart, get married and live happily ever after. But as the years go on, the fairy tale soon falls apart. At twenty, Gabe – penniless, unable to find work, and drinking himself into a bad reputation – leaves New Orleans, believing that Cat is better off without him.

She doesn’t hear from him for three years.

Not until her bachelorette party, when he sends her a $400 bottle of Champagne the night before she’s set to marry Cort Belrose, a wealthy restaurateur that Gabe despises.

It seems the past three years have treated Gabe well. He’s now mysteriously wealthy and the picture of a perfect Southern gentleman – a gentleman who is quietly seeking vengeance on the man who forced him out of the city and stole the woman he loved.

With Gabe’s return, the sweltering heat of New Orleans becomes even more stifling as Cat struggles with the truth about her malicious husband and her consuming lifelong love for the vengeful and troubled Gabe.

I’m a Louisiana girl who loves to write about strong, opinionated women who go after what they want, even if they make a few mistakes on the way. And usually those mistakes involve MEN! (Sound like your life? Yeah, me too, lol). That being said, bad-ass women and the men they love make for great stories, and that’s what I always aim to bring my readers: A great story with lots of drama. A story you wanna keep reading. And while you’re here exploring, why not check out my Facebook page? http://www.Facebook.com/AuthorRosalieRousseaux

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Book Review: Labyrinth (Acropolis Series Book 2) by R.K. Ryals

Author: R.K. Ryals

Title: Labyrinth 

Series: Acropolis Series

Pages: 157 pages

Language: English

ASIN: B009I5KI7S

Book Blurb:

"There are countless wise quotes that wax poetic about choosing a path in life, poetry about the road less traveled, but there is nothing that says either path is easy. Each path requires sacrifice, each path is full of scars." ~Emma Chase

My name is Conor Reinhardt. I am a gargoyle Guardian in exile for killing my own. My mark is safe, the group of hybrids we've led from the Acropolis, secure. There's a new hybrid king in the Outer Levels of Hell, and he needs the Acropolis refugees. I expect the journey ahead. I even expect the danger. I don't expect the shadows that haunt me, those beckoning spirits of guilt that never let me sleep. Guilt from killing my own. I don't expect the things the hybrids learn about themselves. I don't expect many of the challenges in our path. I'm not sure I even expect us to survive The Labyrinth.

My Thoughts:

I actually don't know where to start but I guess I should say how much this book made me feel. R.K Ryals definitely wowed me again! Clearly, she's one of my most favorite authors ever because she's never disappointed me. Every book she has written that I've read had never failed to make me feel every single emotion her characters feels or experiences. Every word and every emotion written on her books affected me to my very core.

Labyrinth is the second book of the Acropolis series. It was two months after the hybrids' escape from the Acropolis. Connor left Emma in the SOS headquarters in Italy to help Dayton and Marcas battle Lucifer. He's confused and guilty because of what he did to free the hybrids. He's conflicted if he did the right thing so he just left without saying goodbye to Emma. A few weeks passed and Connor came back with Marcas as the new hybrid King. Marcas needs the hybrids' help to secure the new kingdom of hybrids. Specifically, he wants Emma to lead his army. The hybrids needs to learn how to become a unit in order to succeed but with their differences and Emma's lack of control of her powers, it seemed impossible. And there's the turmoil of Connor and Emma's cut-short romance.

Labyrinth is a really powerful novel. It's much better than the first. In this book we get to know more about the other hybrids, not just Emma which is really great. I loved these hybrids. In the first book, they were pretty much insignificant. It was always just about Emma and Connor, but in this second book we get to see the depths of the other characters. I love how each character is important and how R.K Ryals made them important and how she made me fall in love with them, flaws and their rough edges.

The plot was so excellently played out. There were times when I didn't expect things to turn out that way but they did and it was shocking and that made this book so good. It was completely unpredictable.

The pacing was good too. It wasn't hurried out or forced. Everything is simply exciting and played out well. The well played out turn of events made me hold my breath and kept me on the edge all through out.

The action in this book is phenomenal! It's well written that sometimes I forget to breathe while reading them.

As I said the characters are really endearing. I loved them all, especially the hybrids. The way they became a unit is simply fascinating. What they experienced together made them stronger as a unit and it's great. They were rough and flawed but also vulnerable, these things made me love them so much. I feel like exactly how Connor feels about the hybrids. Connor slowly sees the depths of the hybrids, not just Emma. He slowly sees them as not just half demons that's capable of evil but as humans too that's capable of good. That these hybrids crave peace and freedom too. They just want a home that they can call their own.

The romance between Connor and Emma is great too. The romance did not took over the whole plot which is nice. The romance was there but it's a process. It was gradual and natural. It wasn't forced out. I loved how Connor and Emma had to really find themselves first before going in too deep into a thoughtless relationship. I loved how R.K Ryals made the romance sensible and natural. I root for Emma and Connor because they deserve happiness.  

Overall, I simply LOVE this book. It's perfect. Labyrinth is a nerve wracking, gut wrenching and an action packed adventure that's full of real emotions that a reader would feel to the depths of the reader's heart. It's simply amazing. If you're looking for all of these on your next read, pick up this book because this is for you and I swear you wouldn't regret it.

PS: I NEED THE NEXT BOOK LIKE I NEED AIR.

BUY HERE:

Labyrinth (Acropolis Series Book 2)

About the Author:

Born in Jackson, Mississippi, R. K. Ryals is a scatterbrained mother of three whose passion is reading whatever she can get her hands on. She makes her home in Mississippi with her husband, three daughters, a Shitzsu named Tinkerbell, and a coffeepot she couldn't live without. 

Visit her at 
http://rkryals.blogspot.com/, or on on facebook at http://www.facebook.com

Blog Tour: Book Review and Giveaway: Frost Fire (Tortured Elements Book 1) by Olivia Rivers

Hi everyone! I hope you're all doing great! Anyways, I'm here to feature another book! It's entitled Frost Fire. It's the first installment of Tortured Elements Series. It's written by the lovely Ms. Olivia Rivers. Well, you'll all get my inside thoughts about this wonderful YA Paranormal Romance book. Plus, there's a giveaway open to everyone!

Author: Olivia Rivers

Print Length: 213 pages
Goodreads: Frost Fire(Tortured Elements #1)

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Red Sparrow Press 

Date Published: November 12, 2012

Language: English

Book Blurb:

“Magic is just like love, Allai. It won’t wait for permission before it destroys you.”   

Like sand in an hourglass, Allai’s future is dwindling away. She’s spent her entire life fighting the Mages who threaten humanity, and dreams of someday eradicating magic. But all it takes is an anonymous phone call for the truth to spill out: Allai is the one thing she despises most. 

She’s a Mage. 

Though ancient law mandates Allai’s death, she still has one last chance of survival. His name is Drake Rhaize, and he swears he can lead Allai to a sanctuary for Mages. Allai hasn’t seen Drake in years, but she remembers him as the Demon boy who used to hold her close and softly whisper that he’d keep her safe. But Drake has changed since then: He’s now suspected of murder, and has been out-casted for betraying his own kind. 

While Allai doesn’t trust Drake, she has no choice but to put her life in his hands and hope he can get her to safety. Because Allai’s father has hired a pack of Demons to bring her back to him, dead or alive–and Demons never stop the hunt. 

"Frost Fire" is a YA Paranormal Romance intended for ages 14+. 

My Thoughts:

Frost Fire is the first book I've read from Ms. Olivia Rivers and I must say that it pleasantly surprised me.

Frost Fire is all about 'the girl', Allai. She was raised by the fierce leader of the Sentinels who have a long standing war against the demons who hurt the humans. They all thought she's just a weak human with a little blood of demon in her but they were all wrong. The truth is Allai is a very powerful Mage and the moment they discovered the truth, they all turned their backs on her and decided to order a kill on her.

The only one who can save her is Drake, the demon who once promised to protect her but tried to kill her years ago... or so she thought.

Frost Fire is a really good book to read. The plot is wisely executed. There were a lot of twists and turns that made it so exciting. 

I loved the characters. They were simply amazing. Allai is the kind of girl who is so brave despite her limitations. She's really strong despite her vulnerabilities. And Drake is simply adorable. The way he values and protects Allai is the one that made me fall in love with him. I also liked Luke. He's an amazing character and I am so intrigue on what would happen to him in the next book.

The chemistry between Allai and Drake is good and I would love to see how their chemistry grows on the next book.

The pacing of the story is quite nice. The start seems a bit slow but it's quite understandable because I think the author is trying to slowly introduce the new world inside the book. I appreciated that.

Overall, I think Frost Fire is a nicely written YA Paranormal Romance book. It has an unforgettable and at times an  action packed adventure every adventure book junkie wants to read. And the nice and sweet romance in it is definitely one you don't want to miss out on. It's definitely on my great reads list for YA Paranormal Romances. 

So, if you guys want all that in your YA Paranormal Romance book, then get your copy of it from your favorite stores because I'm sure you do not want to miss this lovely lovely book!

Buy This Book On:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble: 

Frost Fire

Author Bio:

Olivia Rivers

Olivia Rivers is a high school student, a literary agent intern, and an obsessive-compulsive reader. She has a slight obsession with Kootenai County in Idaho, and she’s pretty sure life will always be awesome as long as Irish accents exist.

 She lives with dysautonomia, a chronic medical condition affecting her nervous system. Portions of proceeds from her “Tortured Elements” series go toward supporting youth with dysautonomia.

Giveaway:

One (1) ebook copy of Frost Fire. 

Open internationally.

Just answer this question:

If you could have any celebrity/book character/book boyfriend with you on a road trip,  who would you choose and why?

Good Luck!

This amazing tour was organized by:

Cover Reveal: Second Chance Boyfriend (Drew + Fable Series Book 2) by Monica Murphy

Second Chance Boyfriend (Drew + Fable #2)

by Monica Murphy

Release Date: April 2013

Cover Designed by: Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations

Cover Reveal Organized by: YA Bound Blog Tours

Summary from Goodreads:

Lost. That one single word best describes my life at this very moment. I lost the last games of the season and both my team and my coach blame me. I lost the last two months because I drowned in my own despair like a complete loser. And I lost the only girl who ever mattered because I was afraid being with me would destroy her. 

But now I realize how truly lost I am without her. She has become my story…and even though she acts like she’s moved on, I know she still thinks about me just as much as I think about her. She’s beautiful, sweet—and so damn vulnerable, all I want to do is help her. Be there for her.

Love her… 

If only I could convince Fable to give me a second chance. Then I wouldn't feel so lost anymore, and neither would she. We could be found together.

Forever.

*** 

Take a look at the revamped cover of One Week Girlfriend:

One Week Girlfriend (Drew + Fable #1)

by Monica Murphy 

Release Date: 01/11/ 13

Summary from Goodreads:

New Adult Contemporary Romance
**Mature situations and sexual content - recommended for ages 17+**

Temporary. That one single word best describes my life these last few years. I’m working at a temporary job until I can finally break free. I’m my little brother’s temporary mother since our mom doesn’t give a crap about either of us. And I’m that temporary girl all the guys want to get with because I give it up so easily. According to the rumors, at least.

But now I’m the temporary girlfriend of Drew Callahan, college football legend and all around golden guy. He’s beautiful, sweet—and he’s hiding way more secrets than I am. He’s brought me into this fake life where everyone seems to hate me. And everyone seems to want something from him. The only thing he seems to want though is…

Me.

I don’t know what to believe anymore. All I know is, I think Drew needs me. And I want to be there for him.

Forever.

About the Author

Monica Murphy is a writer, a wife and a mom. She drinks too much coffee and spends too much time in front of her computer. She likes to read, she watches bad reality TV and she sometimes acts younger than she really is. Though most of the time she's sure her kids think she's a complete buzz kill.
One Week Girlfriend, a new adult/contemporary romance, is Monica's first book. 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

ONE WEEK GIRLFRIEND available NOW

 

Promo Post and a $50 GC Giveaway: Odor of Violet by Ju Ephraime

Hi everyone! I hope you're all doing great! I'm here today to feature the book entitled The Odor of Violet by Ms. Ju Ephraime. Today we're all going to get a glimpse of what's inside the book. Plus the generous author is giving away a $50 GC to a luck commenter. Read on to know more about this giveaway!

BOOK BLURB:

STEP INTO THE SIGHTLESS WORLD OF DAMIEN FALCONER, AS HE STRUGGLES TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THE BLISTERING ATTRACTION HE FEELS FOR HIS NEW PERSONAL ASSISTANT, LISA ANDREWS.

Full of self-doubt as he struggled to regain his independence, the last thing Damien was looking for when he hired his new assistant, was to fall in love. So, he fought it for as long as he could, until the feelings he had for Lisa kept chipping away at him. Exposing a heart he had thought encased in stone, never to love again.

Lisa, a gentle, caring individual, a professional nurse, and inexperienced in matters of the heart, was ill-equipped to deal with the emotional and physical attraction she felt for her boss, Damien Falconer. Fully cognizant of the pitfalls that exist in such a relationship, Lisa fought equally hard to resist the powerful lure of Damien.

The blistering attraction between Damien and Lisa was searing in its intensity. Both were trying desperately to do the right thing, but the fates had other plans for them. Can two hearts that were broken be made whole again?…..

BOOK EXCERPT:

Ms. Andrews walked into the room, and Damien felt the air leave his lungs. He could not see her, but he felt Jake’s reaction also. He was not certain if he was mirroring Jake’s reaction to the candidate or his own overactive imagination. Whatever the reason, he had a physical reaction to whomever it was that walked into his library. She was polite and calm, and he sensed she had a smile onher face because Jake had an answering smile in his voice when he greeted her. Poor Damien, he couldn’t see a thing, but boy, was he aware of her. He could smell the fragrance she was wearing, and it was doing strange things to his body.

There was a hint of jasmine, mixed with a bit of musk, but the overwhelming scent was of violet. He recognized the scent because of the perfusion of violet plants that grew in the garden surrounding his house.

It was his favorite flower. He was never tired of sitting on the porch just inhaling its heady fragrance.

On Ms. Andrews, the fragrance was positively intoxicating. The mixture of violet with her unique scent was overpowering. Damien was almost in pain from the strength of his physical reaction to her. He was uncomfortable in his seat and kept fidgeting and moving to get a more comfortable position. He did not want either Jake or the young woman to notice his discomfort. He desperately wanted to see the woman who was in his library, but he had to be content with just listening to her responses to Jake’s questions.

She sounded a bit flustered because she would begin each response with a slight nervous laugh, and Jake would respond in kind. This exchange between the two infuriated Damien, who wanted to participate in the conversation. He interrupted one of Jake’s questions to her with one of his own.

“Tell me, Ms. Andrews, how long have you been out of school?”

Author Bio:

I can’t recall a time in my life when I wasn’t writing. I know I started a long, long, time ago. I began writing short stories for the local radio station in my home town, which were read on the air at

story time. After I had my children, I went back to school to further my education. I have since earned several degrees, including two Masters and a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration

from Northeastern University in Boston. During the course of my schooling, I wrote and published a working curriculum for a career school, as well as, other literary works. A couple years ago, I revisited my first love, writing for fun and enjoyment.

I live in a small town in Connecticut, where the closest thing to a mall is a shopping strip, so nothing exciting happens there. I’m a mother of three and a grandmother of five. My dog Bondine is my

favorite companion when I take up pen and paper to write.

Many of my stories are set in the places I've visited. The children I encounter during my travels determine the theme of the book. I love to write stories about talented, inquisitive, and curious

children who are thirsty for knowledge.

When I’m not writing my children books, I write romance novels under a pen name. Oftentimes, I take the time to visit the places in which my stories are set, which is the icing on the cake. My second love is traveling, and those times when I can combine writing with traveling, I’m usually in writers' heaven because I’m doing my two most favorite things...

http://www.juliaeantoine.com/default.html
http://www.facebook.com/juephraimeauthor?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/EditorJulia
http://juephraime.blogspot.com/
http://shop.envisionschoolpublishing.com/

Giveaway:

Ju will be awarding a $50.00 Gift Certificate, 

(winner's choice: Amazon, Kobo, B&N, or ENVISION) 

to one randomly chosen commenter. 

Just answer this question: 

What is your favorite fragrant/odor in the world? 

(it could be anything, food, perfume, flower, place.. etc)