Sab The Book Eater

Kdrama Segue: Sky Castle

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 15:37:00 +0000

Synopsis from IMDb: A satirical drama that closely looks at the materialistic desires of the upper-class parents in South Korea and how they ruthlessly secure the successes of their families at the cost of destroying others' lives.

Thoughts: It’s been a while since I last watched a 5-star drama that kept me watching well into the morning.

Sky Castle sheds light on the societal perception on education and how success and status are tightly linked to it. It was the perfect balance of drama and satire for me that, despite the stressful plot, I was drawn deeper into the story with every hour long episode.

The finale was a bit too classic kdrama, with all loose ends being tied up neatly. I appreciate sensible open endings more than those that feel like overdrawn epilogues. The last few minutes made up for it though! It showed that society can’t be changed overnight and that sometimes the best we can do is to prepare ourselves for it instead of succumbing to its pressures.

A freaking masterpiece!

Rating: 5/5 stars

Kdrama Segue: Goblin

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 13:09:00 +0000

I've recently started watching Korean dramas because of quarantine (sorry, books!).

I'm sharing my journey.

Synopsis from Asianwiki: In ancient times, Kim Shin (Gong Yoo) is an unbeatable general in wars, but the young King (Kim Min-Jae) is jealous of Kim Shin and kills him. Kim Shin becomes Dokkaebi (Goblin), possessing an immortal life. At first he thinks that he is blessed, but he realizes that he is cursed.

Closer to the present day, Kim Shin has waited 900 years for a human bride to end his immortal life. One night, he saves a dying pregnant woman (Park Hee-Von) who is destined to die. Meanwhile, the Grim Reaper (Lee Dong-Wook) is unable to find the dead pregnant woman. The woman gives birth to a baby girl named Ji Eun-Tak (later played by Kim Go-Eun). 9 years later, Ji Eun-Tak lives with her mother and is able to see ghosts. One night, her mother suddenly dies. On that night, she meets the Grim Reaper.

In the present day, Ji Eun-Tak is a high school student. She still sees ghosts and hears their whisper of “Dokkaebi’s bride.” She now lives with her aunt’s family, but she is mistreated by them. On her birthday, Ji Eun-Tak sits by the sea with a lighted birthday cake. At that time, Kim Shin suddenly appears in front of her. Kim Shin does not know why, but he can hear her voice and appears in front of her against his will. Coincidentally, Kim Shin lives with the Grim Reaper at the same house.

Now, Kim Shin appears in front of her against his will, whenever she turns off the lights. One day, Ji Eun-Tak tells him that he is Dokkaebi and she is his bride.

Thoughts: Would’ve rated this lower had it not been for the second leads. I also liked the Goryeo backstory and the mythology of Grim Reaper and Goblin’s existence. Could not stand Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun together, sorry. The chemistry felt forced. Oh and the storytelling is painfully slow. I normally expect kdramas to get interesting on the 8th or 9th episode but it didn’t happen here. There were far too many flashbacks and recurring problems. I got to episode 14 before I felt any sort of attachment to it.

Ad placement: noticeable, borderline awkward

Rating: 3/5 stars

Don't Go Stealing My Heart by Kelly Siskind is OUT NOW!

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 02:00:00 +0000

Today we are celebrating the release of a romantic comedy title from Kelly Siskind! Don't Go Stealing My Heart just went live, and you won't want to miss this romance! CLICK HERE to grab your copy now, and make sure to follow Kelly for details about all of her books.

Check out the preorder links for the book below.

PURCHASE NOW

Amazon | Apple | Nook | Kobo

Don't Go Stealing My Heart by Kelly Siskind

A Standalone Romantic Comedy

Add it to Goodreads

Book Blurb:

She wants to steal his Van Gogh. He wants to steal her heart.

Some people would call Clementine Abernathy a criminal. She considers herself a modern day Robin Hood, who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. Not exactly on the up-and-up, but she knows what it's like to lose everything. Her latest heist involves swiping a priceless Van Gogh from its owner, who's supposed to be an egotistical trust-fund brat.

Turns out Jack David is a sexy, kind-hearted man...and Clementine is in trouble. Falling for her mark would make her the World's Dumbest Conwoman, but Jack is charmingly persistent, always singing sweet songs in her ear.

And that earth-shattering kiss? She never stood a chance.

Now she's imagining a fresh start with this dashing man, but that means telling Jack about her past. And other nefarious sorts are after the same painting. Too soon, Clementine learns what it means to risk it all for love.

PURCHASE NOW

Amazon | Apple | Nook | Kobo

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

A small-town girl at heart, Kelly moved from the city to enjoy the charm of northern Ontario. When she’s not out hiking with her husband or home devouring books, you can find her, notepad in hand, scribbling down one of the many plot bunnies bouncing around in her head.

Her novels have been published internationally.

FIND KELLY SISKIND:

Pride and Persuasion Blog Tour - Excerpt and Kick off

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 02:00:00 +0000

Today's the first day of the blog tour for Wrenn Montgomery’s PRIDE & PERSUASION. Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today!

Title: PRIDE & PERSUASION

Author: Wrenn Montgomery

Genre: Contemporary Romance

About Pride & Persuasion:

Elliott James is a control freak. After being told she was nothing special by her ex, Baker Williams, she’s spent the last eight years proving him wrong. She’s built a life she loves— prominent attorney, partner at her firm, a luxurious penthouse, and the best friends a girl could ask for. After a harrowing encounter last year, she’s determined to get her life back on track. She’s succeeding, until a case brings her face to face with the one man that’s ever made her want to lose control.

Baker Williams started with nothing but determination to make a better life for himself. He’s built an empire he’s proud of, by acquiring companies and working his way up. So when a rogue employee threatens to bring his kingdom tumbling down, he hires the best to defend his case. His only fault is not realizing that the best is Elliott James, and she’s ready to remind him of all the damage he did years ago.

Eight years ago, Elliott and Baker were matches and gasoline. Explosive and hot. Back then, they both walked away burned. When they’re forced to work together long after the flames have died down, they discover they’re just as combustible as ever. Now, they have to figure out how to save each other without their spark burning down everything they’ve worked so hard for in the process.

Order Your Copy!

About Wrenn:

Wrenn Montgomery resides in North Carolina with her husband and three daughters. She spends her time psychoanalyzing strangers and writing about them in steamy romances.

Connect with Wrenn:

Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

Excerpt:

My eyes fly open but there’s nothing but blackness, thanks to the sleep mask on my face. I jerk it off, looking around for what pulled me out of a nice, dreamless sleep for once. My phone is lit up on my nightstand and there’s one missed call. Panic floods my veins and I take a deep breath. One of my biggest fears is getting a phone call in the middle of the night about someone I love being hurt or in trouble. The panic increases as I see the missed call from a number I don’t have stored in my phone.

I jump out of bed.

Oh my god. Someone’s hurt.

That’s the hospital calling me to tell me.

Okay, gather yourself together, Elliott.

I hit send on my phone and bite my thumbnail as I rush to my closet to get dressed, sure that I’m going to have to go the ER or it’s something equally as urgent.

“Hello?”

The male voice on the other end of the line sounds sleepy and I stumble over my words. “Uh, hi. This is Elliott James, I received a call—”

“Ell, fuck.”

Realization hits me like a ton of bricks. “Baker?”

“I’m sorry, I—”

“You better have a damn good reason for calling me this late. Are you dying?” I ask.

“No.”

“Are you in the hospital?”

“No, Elliott.”

“So, this isn’t an emergency?” I sit back on my bed, the panic and adrenaline fading.

“No. And I’m sorry. I had too much to drink and I wanted to talk to you—”

I can’t stop the sarcastic laugh from bubbling out. “Oh, you did? And what would you need to talk to me about, Baker?”

There’s a long pause before he mumbles, “The case.”

“You called me, at three in the morning, to talk about your case?”

“Well, technically, I called you an hour ago.”

I look back at my clock and shake my head. It wasn’t his call that woke me. “Regardless.”

“Like I said, I had too much to drink. It happens. Don’t flatter yourself,” he says.

The fucking nerve of this man.

“Goodnight, Baker. And please, only use my number for professional reasons from here on out.”

“You got it, EJ.”

I startle at the nickname he called me all those years ago. “Fuck off, Baker.”

I hear him chuckle and I hang up, throwing my phone across the room and hearing it land on the chaise lounge.

It takes me hours to fall back asleep, and when I do, I dream of Baker Williams and watching his sexy-as-sin back walk away from me.

Just like old times.

Audiobook Adventures: The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 02:30:00 +0000

Max: Chill. Sports. Video games. Gay and not a big deal, not to him, not to his mom, not to his buddies. And a secret: An encounter with an older kid that makes it hard to breathe, one that he doesn't want to think about, ever.

Jordan: The opposite of chill. Poetry. His "wives" and the Chandler Mall. Never been kissed and searching for Mr. Right, who probably won't like him anyway. And a secret: A spiraling out of control mother, and the knowledge that he's the only one who can keep the family from falling apart.

Throw in a rickety, 1980s-era food truck called Coq Au Vinny. Add in prickly pears, cloud eggs, and a murky idea of what's considered locally sourced and organic. Place it all in Mesa, Arizona, in June, where the temp regularly hits 114. And top it off with a touch of undeniable chemistry between utter opposites.

Over the course of one summer, two boys will have to face their biggest fears and decide what they're willing to risk -- to get the thing they want the most.

From Goodreads

-----

The romance was cute. I like how the attraction was gradually built. It really kept me cheering for them every chapter. The moment they finally got together was truly satisfying. I also appreciate how the author tackled the serious issues in the book like dealing with addiction, having a difficult home life, and what consent means. It never felt preachy at any point. I was right there with them, feeling their pain and hoping they overcome it. I loved it!

But then the bad parts often bothered me too. The protagonists have separate groups of friends. Max has his dude bros and Jordan has his wives. Both groups felt all too... straight. Now I don't mind straight characters. Heck, I'm a straight woman! But it was as if the author wanted polar opposites to to show the stark difference between gay and straight.

Side note: although... if I'm being honest, it made me question how the LGBTQ is represented in books with straight leads.

Another thing I didn't particularly like was the narrator for Jordan. The actor's voice often sounded shaky though I don't know if this was deliberate. It made Jordan sound frail. He would also read Max's lines whenever they appeared in Jordan's chapters and boy did he sound like a caveman. It's bad enough that he constantly used the words dude bro, the voice acting just made it worse. Is that mean? Oh! And the volume levels weren't consistent. Jordan's was always loud while Max's was just right. Why didn't they catch this in production?

So yeah, I'm in the middle with this book. I wonder if I would've had a better time had I experienced this in book format and not audio.

Blog Guest: Author Brendan Noble

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 14:28:00 +0000

There’s something special about having the opportunity to create a world and the characters within it. The world of my debut series, The Prism Files, has allowed me to almost become an observer more than the storyteller, as I watch the characters within the world act and react to one another. Playing with the features of this world has made me a discovery writer, and I’m as surprised by many events within the books as the reader is, if not more. The first book in series, The Fractured Prism, allows the reader to see the first bits of the extensive alternate America and world that the series takes place in.

The main character of the series is Ivan 181375, an outcast and slave to the socialist government of Northern Mississippi. He is a Red, the lowest level on the color-coded class system created by the government’s Prism Test, which every citizen must take on their 16th birthday. The test, while initially intended to create an equal chance for anyone to succeed, has turned into a loyalty check by the government, and anyone who shows an ounce of disloyalty is quickly moved down a color. For thirteen years, Ivan has fought under the codename “Coyote” as part of the Militia, a group of anti-Prism Orange and Red Tags trying end the government’s tyranny. Every day of his life is a struggle to survive in the ghettos of St. Paul while the elite Purples and Blues look down on him from their towers in Minneapolis.

Everything changes for Ivan when he saves the life of a princess caught in the wrong part of town. Quickly, Ivan finds himself at the center of battles for power within the divided royal ranks. His allegiances will be tested as he becomes caught between the world of the Reds and that of the royals. A Red in the palace is unheard of. A Red in love with a princess is unacceptable.

Northern Mississippi has a complicated history, one that the book begins to explain. The Fractured Prism takes place in 2020, but America’s history is very different than our own. Instead of being a republic, the country became the Kingdom of America after the revolutionary war. Divisions and corruption were rampant, though, and ninety-nine years before the book’s story, the massive Third Civil War divided the country between socialists and monarchists. In the end, America split up, and Northern Mississippi was formed out of what had been Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa. The monarchists were strong in the region, but they surrendered to the socialists on the terms that they and their descendants would be exempt from the Prism. This fracture in the Prism, allowing the royals to be unfiltered, is the inspiration for the book’s name.

In the writing process for the start of this series, I wanted to make the world feel alive. Too often in books, it seems that everything in the world revolves around the main characters, even if they’re very young. Part of the elements you will see if you read the book is an ever changing struggle for power within the various factions within the country and beyond. Some of these struggles occur outside Ivan’s control or even knowledge, creating a dynamic world he must operate in. Every character has their own interests in mind, whether Ivan knows it or not, and the fascinating part about the world is that it’s so extensive that I can only put tiny pieces of it in the series, let alone just the first book. The Fractured Prism has dystopian strife, royal intrigue, forbidden love, and a fight for survival, but its world is far more than that, and to me, experiencing and sharing that world and the stories within it is the best thing about being an author.

The Prism Files series is available now on Amazon.

About the Author

Brendan Noble is a Polish and German-American author who loves creating alternate histories and crafting the stories of people within those timelines. He is fascinated with history, economics, and politics in both reality and fiction.

Brendan is a recent graduate in Economics from Hillsdale College in Michigan. In 2019, he moved from his hometown of Canton, Michigan to Rockford, Illinois when he married his wife, Andrea. Brendan began his writing career in November of 2018 with a challenge from his wife to complete NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), where new authors attempt to write an at least 50,000 word book in a month. At first, he was hesitant to take the first step, but he quickly fell in love with writing, and by the end of November, the first book, The Fractured Prism, was born. In addition to writing, he is a data analyst and soccer referee.

Outside of writing, his top interests include watching both German and American soccer, analyzing political elections across the world, playing extremely nerdy strategy video games, exploring with his wife, and reading.

Check Out This Excerpt from the North to Nara Blog Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Thu, 30 May 2019 09:36:00 +0000

North to Nara Synopsis:

Neve Hall has always admired the good works of the civil servants who brought prosperity back to the Nation. She especially respects the Sufferers—empaths who, with the help of technology, anonymously bear others’ troubles for them. But when her assigned empath is abruptly retired, she uncovers certain secrets. Like the identity of her new Sufferer, Micah Ward... and the fact that behind his kind smile is a life filled with loneliness and pain.

The closer Neve grows to Micah, the more desperate she becomes to protect him from a cruel and gruesome fate. But in a world where only a few are allowed the luxury of love, saving Micah comes with a price: Neve must choose between her loyalty to the Nation or her heart—a decision that will take them both on a race for their freedom, and their lives.

Excerpt:

“It’s you,” he murmurs, studying my face. “I thought it was you—on the trolley, when you looked at me.”

A wave of panic begins to drown me. He must think I’m stalking him—that I’m strange, maybe even dangerous. I bite my lip and struggle for words. Then, I decide to claim innocence. It’s my only defense at this point.

“I don’t understand,” I say. “What do you mean?”

“You’re Neve.”

He says my name, and I can only gape in disbelief. It’s not just me knowing his identity after all—somehow, Micah Ward also knows mine. He grasps my arm, gently but firmly, and he pulls me aside, out of the view of passersby and into a quiet corner behind a founder’s statue. I follow him willingly, without question—I’d follow him just about anywhere, I find myself thinking.

“You know who I am, don’t you?” he asks. “And I recognize you from your pain. I saw you—just in an abstract—but I saw you when you transferred your sadness about what happened to Levi at the Center.”

I squirm uncomfortably. He knows everything. He knows how I feel about him—that I admire him and am attracted to him. I’ve heard before that abstract images sometimes transfer, along with the feelings, while Suffering. They’re said to be like reflections of our self-image, buried in our thoughts. But I never expected the scenes to be clear enough that my Sufferer might recognize me.

“Yes, it’s me—I’m one of your Sieves,” I admit. “You don’t have to worry about the anonymity laws, though—I’m on my way to tell Isla that I broke the rules and need to be reassigned again.”

But Micah’s eyes flash with sudden urgency and desperation. “No, please don’t tell Isla—not yet, at least.”

My eyebrows wrinkle. This isn’t the reaction I expected, one of the Nation’s most highly regarded servants asking me to break the law for him. “Why?”

“The director of the Center is already considering disciplinary action against me for how I helped the traitor at the Commons— and how I said he deserves a second chance. This will make it worse.”

I step back, startled. “Disciplinary action? For treating a man with decency when no one else would?” It’s surprising, maybe even illogical—Micah was only being true to his role as an empath.

Frowning, he nods. “It wouldn’t have been a problem if that man hadn’t been a traitor. He tried to kill people. Years ago, he was part of a plot to bomb the Governor’s Hall. They didn’t succeed, which is why he wasn’t formally expelled, I guess…I didn’t know that when I helped him and said the things I did.”

“Would it have changed anything, if you’d known?” I ask softly.

He hesitates. “No, probably not…” he admits. He avoids eye contact like he’s afraid the truth will disgust me, just as it did his director.

Except it’s not disgust that I feel, hearing this. It’s awe.

Buy Links:

Amazon | Kobo | B&N | Apple Books | Google Play

About Amanda Marin:

When Amanda was a child, her father traveled frequently for business, always bringing her back a book as a present. Whether she was getting lost in the pages of a tale about far-away knights, girls with supernatural powers, or kindly giants, she was quickly hooked on stories.

Over the years, Amanda has followed her own yellow brick road of reading and writing, and although her adventures haven't involved sword fights or saving the planet from certain annihilation, they have involved jobs in scholarly publishing and marketing, a modest amount of travel, and a lifelong love of novels.

Amanda holds degrees in English from Salve Regina University and Boston College. Her favorite things include Starbucks lattes, lazy summer afternoons at the beach, and books with characters that make you go "awww." She lives in New Hampshire with her family and furbaby, Snickers the Poodle.

Connect with the author:

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Tangled Up In You Blog Tour Excerpt

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Mon, 06 May 2019 08:48:00 +0000

TANGLED UP IN YOU

by Samantha Chase

Series: Shaughnessy Brothers

Release Date: April 30, 2019

About the Book

They'll change each other's fate...

One fateful night Bobby Hannigan sustains a gunshot wound that could end his career as a police officer. If that's taken from him, he doesn't know what he'll do. The only ray of hope is Teagan Shaughnessy—a kindhearted single mom who understands his struggles...

Teagan and her young son have just moved back to the Carolina coast to be near family. When she meets Bobby, the timing feels wrong, but everything else feels oh-so-right. Bobby and Teagan each had plans for their own futures. But they're finding that those plans are meaningless if they can't be together...

GET THE BOOK!

Goodreads | Amazon | Apple | Nook | Kobo

Excerpt

He was only five feet from the door when Teagan stepped in front of him. Bobby stopped short so he wouldn’t slam into her.

“Oh no. You are not doing this again.”

“Excuse me?”

With her arms crossed over her chest, she nodded. “This running away crap? I’m done with that.”

He still wasn’t sure he understood what she was getting at, and she must have figured that out.

“First time we met? You walked away after a plate almost slipped out of your hands.”

“Teagan…”

“Then you pretty much sprinted out of here last week after you hurt your shoulder.”

“I had ice cream first.”

She gave him a sour look. “And you didn’t come back like you said you would.” She stepped in close to him. “I prefer it when people honor their word.”

Now he was getting a little annoyed.

“I think if Anna hadn’t asked you to come today, I’d probably never have seen you again. I mean, sure, maybe at some Shaughnessy family event years from now, but other than that, you would have done whatever you could to avoid me. Except thanks to Anna, you did come back, and you’ve played with Lucas and by now he’s got some sort of hero-worship thing going on with you. So if you think I’m going to just let you pull another disappearing act, you’re crazy!”

She was doing her best to keep her voice down, but there was no mistaking how angry she was. Now what was he supposed to do? Or say?

Teagan must have taken his silence for something else because she let out a huff of annoyance and stepped aside, motioning toward the door. “Fine. Whatever. Just go.”

He heard her annoyance, but he saw her disappointment. And that got to him more than anything else.

Instead of walking out the door, he advanced on her. Her eyes went wide and she took a step back, even as he took another toward her.

“You’re wrong,” he said, his voice low and gruff. “I did want to see you again. Since the day we met, I’ve wanted to see you again. Even after I stormed off like a jackass, all I could think about was how good it would be to see you again.”

Teagan took two steps back and hit the wall. Bobby moved in until they were toe-to-toe. “I don’t like asking anyone for help or needing help, but the fact that I kept embarrassing myself in front of you? It was almost more than I could stand.”

“Bobby, you had nothing to be embarrassed about. I totally understand what you’re dealing with,” she argued.

But he shook his head. “You don’t. You can’t,” he countered. “I’m just a man, Teagan, and I can’t help but have a little pride. I don’t like looking weak. I don’t like being weak. If we had met at any other time—”

“But we didn’t,” she whispered.

Yeah, it was crazy to wish for something he couldn’t have. In a perfect world, he wouldn’t have gotten shot. In a perfect world, he would have been confident enough to ask her out. And in a perfect world, he’d have every right to close the distance between them and kiss her.

She swallowed hard, her big blue eyes never blinking, and watched him as if waiting for…something.

“What is it you want from me, Teagan? You want me to apologize for walking away? For not coming back? What? Tell me what it is you’d like me to do.”

He hoped and prayed she wanted the same thing he did.

“I want you to stop running. You have nothing to fear from me,” she said, brutal in her frankness. “I don’t care that you’re still recovering. I don’t care that you may need help from time to time. But I expect honesty from my friends, Bobby. Always.”

Friends.

The kiss of death.

Dammit.

So many retorts were on the tip of his tongue, yet he couldn’t speak. Friends? So the attraction he’d been feeling was all one-sided? For a man who never had to put much effort into getting a woman, this was like being hit in the face with the ball all over again.

“Friends,” he finally said.

She nodded. “It’s all I can offer you.” Apparently, he was that transparent. “My main priority is Lucas, and I’m not looking to get involved with anyone. Especially someone who…” She paused and looked down at the floor.

“Someone who what?” he prompted, feeling more than a little annoyed now.

After a moment, she looked back up at him. “Someone with a history of being a serial dater,” she said defiantly. “If I were single, no kids, it would be one thing, but I have my son to worry about. I don’t get involved in casual relationships. I can’t. As it is, I was scared even to let you come and watch him today, because other than my dad, Lucas hasn’t had any other male role models. Now that I see how quickly he bonded with you, I regret my selfishness.”

“How the hell were you selfish?”

“I was desperate to have a day to myself!” she cried. “To get my nails done and my hair cut and do all the things I haven’t had the time to do in forever. And now I’m going to be hearing all about you for who knows how long!”

Now he was thoroughly confused.

“So now I’m not good enough even to have around as a friend?” he asked incredulously.

“That’s not what I’m saying, Bobby. I’m saying…I don’t want to confuse Lucas. I don’t want him getting attached to someone who has no interest in sticking around.”

Again the questions about Lucas’s father came to mind, but he was too wrapped up in all the ways Teagan was insulting him right now to ask.

He leaned in close. “You don’t know anything about me.” He meant to sound menacing, and he felt like he pulled it off.

“I know enough. People talk,” she replied confidently.

“People? What people?”

“Quinn,” she said with a smug smile. “He told me all about you.”

If he thought he was angry before, it was nothing compared to how he felt right now. How dare his brother-in-law say anything derogatory about him! That crap was supposed to be all ancient history.

“You know my history with your cousin,” he countered. “Of course he was going to talk trash about me. And why would you even ask him? Why not just come to me if you wanted to know something?”

“Because you were usually walking away. When was I supposed to ask you anything?”

Okay. She had a point. But still…

This wasn’t getting them anywhere. He wasn’t doing himself any favors with the way he was acting right now, and thanks to Quinn, she already had a bad opinion of him, one that he would have to fight. Stepping away from her, he raked a hand through his hair and let out a weary sigh. Maybe it was time to just let this go. His life was total crap right now, and she wasn’t looking to get involved with anyone, so why was he fighting this?

When he faced her again, he had his answer.

Because she was beautiful.

Because she challenged him.

Because she had the potential to break his heart.

In a perfect world, all the obstacles would be removed. But this wasn’t a perfect world and he was an imperfect man. And because he had nothing left to lose, he leaned in and kissed her.

About the Samantha

Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than forty titles under her belt! When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.

Connect with the author

Author Interview #27: Ana Tejano | #lovelocal #romanceclass

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Sat, 04 May 2019 06:47:00 +0000

Today we have a very special guest on the blog. I've known Ana for a while now, having read her books and promoting them to anyone looking for Filipino romance books (or even if they're not looking. Tee hee.). So you can just imagine my excitement when she agreed to this interview. :)

Read on and learn more about Ana and her work!

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Hi, Ana! Welcome to the blog! How are you?

Hi, Sab! I'm great, thanks! It's been a while since I did a blog interview, so I'm really happy to be here! :)

Tell us about yourself. Were you always a writer? What got your started?

I'm a writer based in Metro Manila, Philippines and I think this is the only time I'm able to really say that I am a writer not just as a side hobby but also in my day job! I work as a Communications Professional for an Australian payroll and HR company (so if you just happen to be looking for those kinds of software and services, then you can actually reach out to me, too :D), and most of my job there is all about writing and preparing content for marketing and internal projects. Then, as I mention, on the side, I write romance books.

I guess in some ways I've always been a writer, but I really wouldn't have even thought of being one if not for Elizabeth Wakefield and that first time I read a Sweet Valley Kids book and found a character who wanted to be an author. I've been trying to write stories since then, from short stories about friends who fight about a slumber party to pretend Unicorn Club newsletters, Animorphs and Backstreet Boys fanfiction, eventually to longer pieces when I joined National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). It wasn't until 2013 when I joined the first batch of #romanceclass when I actually considered publishing what I wrote.

What inspires you to write?

I am such a wordy person so I can't imagine myself not writing anything. Inspiration hits at the most random times, really, but maybe the most common thing that gets me to think of something is other people's stories. I love hearing how married couples got together, as well as some daily, unfortunate mishaps that would make for good plot devices. At the core of it all, a lot of it is just knowing that there's a story to tell - despite the millions of romance novels out there, there's always still something different that I can contribute because our stories are all unique and unrepeatable.

Are any of your stories and characters based on real events and real people?

Yes, some of them. Haha! Like any other writer, most of the main characters were based on myself when I started writing. The characters eventually transformed when I wrote more with the intention of publishing and they started growing into their own kind of people. The love interests...some of them may be based on some real people but I will never tell who (lol)...except for Nico from Keep the Faith, who just kind of sprung out of nowehere and I'm still really looking for a real-life one, haha. ;) I do admit to naming some of my secondary characters after my friends - and when they get around to reading it, they're always in for a surprise.

Like I said in the previous question, I do take some real-life events into my fiction - not always the exact same scene but similar to it, especially for the ones that I've actually experienced. Best example is in It's a Match from You Could Be the One, I actually was dabbling in online dating at the time I wrote it. Nothing came out from there, but it made for a good story I think.

One thing I noticed and love about your book, Keep the Faith, is the influence of Catholicism. It doesn't entirely revolve around religion but it gives a fresh take on romance. What's it like writing from this perspective? What are the challenges in writing romance this way?

I'm a cradle Catholic and I've been a part of a Catholic lay community almost all my life, so faith and religion always played a huge part in my decisions. This is why I sought for books with characters whose faith played a big role in their lives, too, and while I did find some, most of them were non-Catholic Christians and not Filipino. I didn't really intended to go out and write this way when I wrote Fall Like Rain, but it just came out in Keep the Faith, and from the feedback I've received, I realized that I wasn't the only one who was looking for that particular kind of representation in the Filipino Catholic women. And it felt right to write this, and there's thing we have in #romanceclass where we address the gaps as we see them. I think this is my gap.

Filling the gap is the main challenge, because like I said, there's not a lot of material around so it almost feels like I'm groping in the dark. And also, let's admit it - romance and Catholicism doesn't seem like it really goes well together, what with the rigid "rules" of the religion. There's not a lot of time to explain it, but when you get to dig deeper into the Catholic faith, romance is actually very central in its entire story. Maybe it just needs more people to tell that.

A side story in this - when I was about to graduate from college, I was feeling a little overwhelmed at the decisions that were about to come my way - what will I do after graduation, my job, should I go and become a fulltime missionary, etc. I was about to leave for Davao for a CFC Youth for Christ (the Catholic community I belonged to back then), and during the send-off event, there was a worship and one line from HIllsong's To the Ends of the Earth jumped out at me: "And I would give the world to tell Your story." It's a pretty unremarkable line but it left an impression on me and I knew that I was going to write. It wasn't until a few years ago, while writing my fourth book, that I saw the planner where I wrote that line and I remembered it, and I knew that I was on the right path.

Do you have anything in the works that will take a similar direction?

My next book, Win Meah Over, takes that direction - maybe even more so than Keep the Faith, and that's probably why it took me ages to finish it. But yeah, this next book's love interest has a pretty complicated past, and a group of friends who are part of a fictional Catholic lay community who will eventually be main characters in their own books later on. (You can see a preview of this group in the third story in You Could Be the One).

Lastly, would you pitch your book boyfriends to us? We're dying to get to know them!

Heee. Okay, so Mark (Fall Like Rain) is the artsy, loyal friend who's secretly in love with you but doesn't really know how to say it yet but he will do everything to make you happy, and you can count on him to save you from anything - be it a southwest monsoon flood, or a zombie apocalypse.

Nico (Keep the Faith) may look rough outside but is a complete softy inside, and he will charm you with that smile and the way he works. He provides a steady, reliable presence while you figure out things on your own - no matter how long it takes.

Gabriel (It's a Match / You Could Be the One) is that hot guy you've always had a crush on but has always seemed unattainable, until you become business partners, and you find out that he's also a dork inside. Oh, and he's definitely going to invite you to go for a walk with his dog, Thor, for one of your "business meetings".

Ian (Fake It Till We Make It / You Could Be the One) will always be there for you when you need him, even if it means pretending for months on end that you're together just to stop people from asking you questions...but is he still pretending?

And finally, Joseph is your friend's attractive friend who is a softy around dogs but is just a little snarky around people - especially you! He's going to annoy you with all his questions but when you try to avoid him, you realize that you actually miss how his questions reveal a little bit more about yourself, too.

Super thank you for dropping by the blog and sharing your passion, Ana! So excited to dive into your next book. :)

Speaking of!

Here's the synopsis for Ana's next book, Win Meah Over, coming out in the first half of 2019:

WIN MEAH OVER by Ana Tejano

It's been three years since Meah Constantino hooked up with Joseph Rodriguez in Boracay and it's one night she'd rather forget. No one could ever know what happened between them - after all, she's everyone's shrink, the stable friend, the person who fixes everone's problems. How could anyone trust her if they find out how much she had messed up?

When Joseph shows up in her life again and joins her latest project at work, Meah is determined not to let their shared past affect her. It's just four weeks, and there's many reasons to avoid him: he's arrogant, he asks too many questions, and he seems to enjoy getting under her skin. Joseph is bad news and Meah has no time for that...so why can't she seem to stay away from him?

About Ana

Ana Tejano has been in love with words and writing ever since she met Elizabeth Wakefield when she was in Grade 3. She’s been blogging for years and has contributed several non-fiction pieces in print and online publications using her other name, which isn’t really a secret identity. When she’s not writing romance, she works as a marketing communications manager for a payroll and HR company, extending the marketing things she learns at work back to her author life. She’s an active member of CFC Singles for Christ, lives in Metro Manila with several dogs and cats, and is always trying to catch up on sleep. And she loves peanut butter.

Connect with Ana

Twitter/Facebook/Instagram - @itstimeana

Website: anatejano.com

Buy Ana's books

Ebook/Print International (Amazon): bit.ly/itstimeana

PH Print editions: bit.ly/anatejanobooks

Out Now: Tangled Up in You by Samantha Chase

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 08:30:00 +0000

TANGLED UP IN YOU

by Samantha Chase

Series: Shaughnessy Brothers

Release Date: April 30, 2019

About the Book

They'll change each other's fate...

GET THE BOOK!

Goodreads | Amazon | Apple | Nook | Kobo

About the Samantha

Connect with the author

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Twisted Pride by Cora Reilly

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 06:14:00 +0000

On the last day of the blog tour, I'm sharing an excerpt of Twisted Pride by Cora Reilly. Check it out and make sure to enter the giveaway at the end of the post!

Twisted Pride

by Cora Reilly

Genre: Contemporary Romance

About Twisted Pride:

Remo Falcone is beyond redemption.

As Capo of the Camorra he rules with a brutal hand over his territory – a territory the Chicago Outfit breached.

Now Remo is out for retribution.

A wedding is sacred, stealing a bride sacrilegious.

Serafina is the niece of the Boss of the Outfit, and her hand has been promised in marriage for years, but kidnapped in her wedding dress on her way to church by Remo, Serafina quickly realizes that she can’t hope for saving. Yet, even in the hands of the cruelest man she knows, she is determined to cling to her pride, and Remo soon understands that the woman at his mercy might not be as easy to break as he thought.

A ruthless man on a quest to destroy the Outfit by breaking someone they are supposed to protect.

A woman intent on bringing a monster to his knees.

Two families that will never be the same.

Get your copy today:

Amazon | Apple Books

Excerpt:

Something in Remo’s dark eyes shifted, something hungry and lethal unfurling. He leaned closer, his breath hot against my lips. “You are playing a dangerous game, Angel.”

I smiled. “So are you.”

His lips pressed against mine. I hadn’t expected it. Almost kisses, like threats ghosting over my skin, had been his tactic … until now. This wasn’t a ghost touch. It was substantial, and yet it felt like the promise of a kiss, a threat of what lay ahead. Stunned by Remo’s action, I held his gaze. Finally, I ripped away and raised my palm to slap him, but he caught my wrist. He jerked me closer once more.

“That’s the kiss Danilo would have given you in church, and maybe even later on your wedding night. Polite. Controlled. Reverent.” His voice dipped low. “That’s not a kiss.”

Anger surged through me. “You—”

Remo’s mouth crashed down on mine, fingers bruising my hip as his other hand cradled my wrist between our bodies. His lips conquered mine, his tongue tasting the seam of my mouth, sucking at my tender lower lip, demanding entrance. Heat flushed through me, and my lips parted slightly. Barely. A flicker of submission and Remo plunged his tongue into my mouth, tasting me, consuming me.

About the Author:

Cora Reilly is the author of the Born in Blood Mafia Series, The Camorra Chronicles and many other books, most of them featuring dangerously sexy bad boys. Before she found her passion in romance books, she was a traditionally published author of young adult literature.

Cora lives in Germany with a cute but crazy Bearded Collie, as well as the cute but crazy man at her side. When she doesn't spend her days dreaming up sexy books, she plans her next travel adventure or cooks too spicy dishes from all over the world.

Despite her law degree, Cora prefers to talk books to laws any day.

Connect with Cora:

Goodreads | Facebook | Website | Instagram | Author Group

Enter Cora’s Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Confessional: Why I Read Romance

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 06:49:00 +0000

Whenever I'd tell others I'm reading a romance book, I often feel unnecessarily defensive. Like I have to watch out for any judgment they might throw at me. Sometimes there is, especially if I tell them I'm reading a flat out romance with people showing skin on the book cover. But often I'd receive genuine curiosity in return.

"Ohhhh what are you reading?"

"What's that about?"

"You read romance?"

The last one is where I begin my spiel about how I enjoy romance novels for how they're written. It's not just the romantic scenes. It's how the author puts together the most beautiful string of words in sentences that undoubtedly invite feels.

Romance novels make me feel.

And that's the part I don't share often to people I talk to.

Romance novels fulfill the readers' fantasies, whatever it may be. For me it isn't the hot billionaire or the steamy interactions. It's in the way love is expressed. The affection. The attention. The time spent wooing the main character.

Is it so bad to want to be wooed?

Romance novels make me feel good and I'm not ashamed to say that. They leave me feeling hopeful and positive. Why wouldn't I want that? (Unless of course the plot isn't something I agree with then it leaves me feeling differently. LOL)

So to all romance writers out there: THANK YOU. And keep up the good, beautiful work. You're making plenty of people happy. :-)

------

I'm about to finish my current romance read: The Day of The Duchess by Sarah MacLean, recommended by my friend Lyra. I LOVE I! I wish I don't have finals coming up because reading this now feels so sinful. I'm supposed to be studying. Hah!

Now I'm in the market for my next historical romance read. Feel free to drop some recommendations in the comments section!

A Giveaway and an Excerpt to Celebrate the Release Day of Off the Record by Danae Colbert!

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 03:19:00 +0000

Happy release day to Off the Record by Taylor Danae Colbert! Check out the excerpt below and be sure to grab a copy today! Giveaway at the end of the post.

Off the Record

by Taylor Danae Colbert

Genre: Contemporary Romance

About Off the Record:

“Dax Thatcher?” I ask. “But isn’t he sorta. . .old?”

Ugh. Celebrities. I mean, I know I took a job as a reporter for the Celebrity and Pop Culture department of our magazine, but it was just supposed to be a stepping stone to the more real stuff.

Despite the fact that Dax Thatcher was the subject of many of my teen fantasies--and I may or may not have an entire playlist dedicated to his music--he’s still just another star.

Until I meet him. Until his golden eyes pierce through me that day on his Malibu deck. Until I find myself having dinner with him, going backstage with him, lying on the beach with him.

And then I remember my assignment: a four-issue feature on Dax Thatcher. . .and his upcoming wedding.

I have to focus. I’m a serious journalist, and he is in a serious relationship. But that doesn’t stop me from wondering what those tattooed arms might feel like wrapped around me, or how soft the sheets on his California king bed are.

Yikes. This celebrity stuff might be a little more real than I thought.

Get your copy on KINDLE UNLIMITED!

Exclusive Excerpt:

It’s quiet for a few minutes. I’m not sure what’s running through his head, but I’m sitting here trying to figure out what this is. Is he this nice to everyone that interviews him? Does he make this much time for all reporters?

“Your, uh, ink is showing,” he says, and I catch myself staring ahead blankly.

“Huh?”

He points to my shoulder, which my sweater has abandoned and is sliding down off of. I move quickly to pull it back up.

“I wouldn’t have pegged you for the tattoo type,” he says, sitting back in his chair.

“Then you’ll be interested to know that I actually have four,” I say, sitting back in mine, trying to exude the same confidence that he is. I feel his eyes scanning my body again, searching all my exposed skin. I point down at my wrist at the half-heart.

“My sister has the other half,” I say.

He nods.

I pull my sweater back again, showing him my shoulder. “These are the coordinates of the apartment I grew up in in Brooklyn.”

He nods again, squinting his eyes to see it.

I lift my hair and turn away from him slightly.

“This is just some dumb design I got when I turned eighteen,” I say, letting him scope out the idiotic starburst that trails down the back of my neck. I had drawn it up on a napkin the morning I became legal. It was my first attempt at rebelling, but my parents brushed it off, taking away all the fun.

I drop my hair and turn back toward him.

“And the fourth one?” he asks. I feel my cheeks flush, and I shrug.

“Not for public viewing,” I say, taking a slow sip of my wine.

His eyes flicker with something—a combination of intrigue and impatience, maybe. Then he leans forward, clasping his hands on the table.

“So you’re saying I should take you somewhere private?” he whispers, and my wine breath catches in my throat. I’m all flustered, but I need to keep my shit together. I need to figure out where his head is. I snap myself back to reality, trying desperately to hold on to that fake confidence I had earlier. I lean forward.

“Do you take all of the reporters that interview you somewhere private?” I ask. He leans back slightly, raising an eyebrow at me, that panty-dropping half-smile creeping over his lips.

“Only the ones who’ve seen me naked,” he says, dabbing at his perfect mouth with a napkin.

I swallow.

“And how many is that? Twenty? Thirty?” I ask. He shakes his head.

“One.”

About Taylor Danae Colbert:

Taylor Danae Colbert is a romance and women’s fiction author. When she's not chasing her toddler or hanging with her husband, she's probably under her favorite blanket, either writing a book, or reading one. Taylor lives in Maryland, where she was born and raised. For more information, visit taylordanaecolbert.com.

Connect with Taylor:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Enter Taylor’s Giveaway:

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Author Interview #26: Cendrine Marrouat

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 09:00:00 +0000

Hi Cendrine! Welcome to Sab The Book Eater! I’m Sab.

Hello Sab! Thank you for having me on your blog!

Can I just say, this is a first for me! I’ve only interviewed fiction writers in the past so this is a fun first on the blog.

I hope I will not disappoint. ;-)

To start, tell us five quick facts about yourself.

I am a French-born Canadian photographer, poet, author, and French instructor.

I love crossword puzzles.

Kahlil Gibran’s “The Prophet” is my personal Bible.

My musical tastes have not changed much since my teens -- Genesis, Abba, Depeche Mode, Supertramp, Mike Oldfield…

I love silence. It can actually be quite noisy if you pay attention.

Now on to the books! How did it all start? What inspired you to dive into photography and poetry?

I started writing poems out of the blue in 2005. Photography is a more recent endeavor. I practiced for four years before being confident enough to call myself a photographer, in 2014.

The world is my oyster, really. Everything I see inspires me to write or take photos.

I released my first books in 2006, after friends encouraged me to do so. Our winters are very cold in my part of the world (Winnipeg, Canada), so we tend to avoid going out too much. Working on books and other projects is a great way to keep myself busy and motivated.

I’ve always wondered if authors play favorites on their books the way readers do. Do you? Which book was the most fun to create?

Are you asking me to choose my favorite among my children? ;-)

Joke aside, my answer is no. I love all the books I have released equally, no matter how successful or unsuccessful they have been.

‘Life’s Little Things: The Quote’ (https://www.cendrinemedia.com/Lifes-Little-Things-The-Quotes-Book) is at the top of my most fun books to create, though. I had a great time putting it together. Mixed-media projects like this one (photography and quotes) always work well.

On the flip side, which book gave you a bit of a harder time?

‘In the Silence of Words’, my play, which I wrote in 2007. It was my most personal project. I broach a few topics that make a majority of people uncomfortable. I was not sure how others would react to it. That is the reason why it took me so long to release it.

In the Silence of Words is a three-act play. What was the writing process like for this one?

A play is a complex thing. First, I read many articles and books on the art of playwriting. Then, I spent a big chunk of time researching names and their meanings. I also did a study of movement to understand how it could impact readers / spectators (if I ever direct the play).

When the above was done, I wrote a quick summary of the play and started working on the play itself. I was done after a few months.

Is there any other genre you wish to explore?

I have explored quite a few genres: poetry, photography, theatre, and spoken word. I also wrote a few short stories and started a novel. I have no patience for longer genres. I don’t like writing detailed descriptions and scenes.

About Cendrine

Cendrine Marrouat (pronunciation: “san-drEEn mar-wah”) is a photographer, poet, author, and French instructor. Originally from Toulouse, France, she has called Winnipeg, Canada, her home for 16 years.

Cendrine specializes in nature, black-and-white and closeup images. Her photography seeks the mundane to capture the fleeting, but true beauty of life in its many forms.

Cendrine is passionate about haiku. She has studied the Japanese poetry form extensively and written many pieces since 2006.

In 2015, Cendrine was recognized a Top 100 Business Blogger by BuzzHUMM. Social Media Slant also made Fit Small Business' Best Small Business Blogs of 2015 & 2016 lists.

Walks: A Collection of Haiku (Volume 1) is Cendrine’s 12th book. Other releases include five collections of poetry, three photography books, a play, two social media ebooks, and a spoken word CD.

Poetry:

Sortons des chemins battus (2006)

And They All Rejoiced! Soul-Stirring Poetry (2006)

Short Poetry for Those Who Fear Death (2006)

Project: Heartbeats and Elevation (2009)

Five Years And Counting. A Journey into the Mind of Soul Poetry (2010)

Social media:

The Little Big eBook on Blogging: 40 Traffic Generation Tips (2012)

The Little Big eBook on Social Media Audiences: Build Yours, Keep It, and Win (2014)

Photography:

When the Mind Travels: A Poetic Journey into Photography (2015)

Life’s Little Things - Les petites choses de la vie (2016)

Life’s Little Things: The Quotes (2017)

Theatre:

In the Silence of Words: A Three-Act Play (2018)

Rizen (2010) - Spoken word

Link to all books: https://www.cendrinemedia.com/Books

Connect with Cendrine

Website | Media inquiries: Jerry Doby | Other inquiries: cendrine@cendrinemedia.com

Phone number: +1 204 997 0948 (6-8 p.m. CT) | Skype ID: cendrinemedia

Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

An Excerpt of Needing to Love You by Erin Rylie (Blog Tour)

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 05:00:00 +0000

Today I have the blog tour for Erin Rylie’s NEEDING TO LOVE YOU! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today!

Title: NEEDING TO LOVE YOU

Author: Erin Rylie

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy it on Amazon!

About Needing To Love You:

Carlos Ramirez has always prided himself on two things: being damn good at his job on the Houston police force and being able to land any woman he wants. When a devastating car accident leaves him crippled and in excruciating pain, he begins to rely too heavily on his prescription painkillers. The only person who can help him heal is the only woman who has ever rejected him—and on more than one occasion. Living with Kelsey while he works through physical therapy wasn’t anything he ever expected to happen, but it might just be what he needs.

After a divorce that left her doubting her ability to love, Kelsey Byrne wants nothing to do with relationships. Unfortunately for her, the only man she could see herself loving needs a place to live and help while he recovers. She had a hard time pushing him away after a one-night stand, so how can she possibly keep him at arm’s length when he’s in her house every day, playing with her son, cooking her meals, and leaving her cute notes every morning? Carlos may be working his way into her heart one sweet gesture at a time, but can she give him everything knowing that she’s more than a little broken inside?

Excerpt

She was woken up by the sound of a key turning in the front door. Groggily, Kelsey lifted her head to take in her surroundings. The credits of the movie she and Carlos had been watching were playing on the TV, and his warm, hard body was curled around hers. Momentarily forgetting about the person at her front door, she snuggled back into his warmth, his erection digging into her ass. Sleepily, he ground himself into her and kissed her neck. His kisses were slow and lazy and she could tell he was barely awake.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” Her brother, Dillon, stood above them on the couch, taking in the scene before him looking amused.

Carlos groaned, burying his face in her hair. “Babe, I don’t know who this is, but make him go away.”

“Hot and rude? My kind of guy. Where did you find this one, Kels?”

She elbowed Carlos gently and he took the hint, loosening his hold on her waist. “Dil, what are you doing here?”

“Well, you bitch, we had dinner plans tonight. When you didn’t show up at our usual restaurant or call me, I decided to show up and make sure you were still alive.”

She sat up and pulled down her sweater, which had ridden up above the waistband of her yoga pants. “Shit, I’m so sorry. I completely forgot.”

When she noticed her brother’s eyes lingering on Carlos, she turned around and realized that the way she’d sat up had left his lower half exposed. His very…enthusiastic lower half.

“Hellllooooo, sailor!” Dillon said, saluting Carlos’s erection. Instead of being snarky or embarrassed, Carlos sat up behind her, placing one leg on either side of her body, and wrapped an arm around her waist.

“Sorry, I was sleeping with a hot woman in my arms. It happens.”

With Carlos’s erection hidden from view, her brother took in his face, and a confused expression flitted across Dillon’s features. “Wait a minute, I know you. You sing karaoke at JR’s all the time. You’re not straight!”

“Ummm, your sister and I have been doing some very straight things together all day.”

Kelsey elbowed Carlos in the gut, earning a surprised oomph in reply.

“Okay, let’s lay this out. You come into JR’s, a well-known gay bar—”

“For karaoke, yes.”

“You put on aviators and sing that annoying as hell song from Top Gun every single week.”

“‘Danger Zone,’ yes. It’s a classic.”

“Then there was the time you sang ‘Poker Face’—”

“Hey, who doesn’t love Lady Gaga?”

“Last but not least, you introduced nearly everyone in the bar to your partner. Grumpy looking dude with blonde hair and blue eyes? Often mistaken for the long-lost Hemsworth brother?”

Kelsey laughed, burying her head in Carlos’s shoulder. Only he would be secure enough in his sexuality to walk into a gay bar and introduce his best friend as his partner. Seriously, only Carlos.

“I’m a police officer! He’s my partner on the force, not in life!”

“When you introduced him to me, you had your arm around him and called him Rafey-poo.”

Carlos shrugged. “Well, yeah, it’s a term of endearment.”

Her brother threw back his head and groaned. “Thanks a ton, asshole. I just lost a hundred-dollar bet because of you.”

“Serves you right for betting that I was gay.” Carlos shrugged.

About Erin

I'm a Montana born, Texas raised New Jersey transplant with a degree in hospitality. At 29 years old, I decided it was finally time for me to pursue my real passion in life - writing. I've been writing princess stories and LOTR fan-fiction since I was in middle school, so the transition into romance has been fun!

When I'm not writing, I'm reading (fantasy, sci-fi and romance are my genres) or working. I'm currently obsessed with Brooklyn Nine Nine which should tell you all you need to know about my sense of humor.

Finally, I am 100% an old cat lady. My cats Socks and Kaz are little weirdos and I love them more than most people.

Connect with Erin:

Author Interview #25: Errin Stevens

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Sat, 13 Apr 2019 10:00:00 +0000

My FIRST interview in forever! Can you believe it? If you're new here, here's a quick rundown: I started blogging in 2012, blogged consistently for a few years, then went on and off ever since I graduated college and started working. I call this Sab The Book Eater version 4.0 after so many theme changes and "I'm back!" posts.

So here I am now with a new interview! Everyone, Errin Stevens, author of The Mer Chronicles.

*cue the applause*

Hi, Errin! Welcome to the blog!

Hi Isabel! Thanks for having me!

First off, please tell five quick facts about yourself.

Okay! Here goes:

1. I was born in Grenoble, France…

2. …but my French is rouillé.

3. I’m a rabid – rabid! – mother and homemaker.

4. I think unkindness is the result of insecurity but the insecure usually can’t be saved.

5. I believe in goodness and light and guardian angels.

Now tell us about your books. How did The Mer Chronicles start?

Short answer: I had an insuperable drive to live in my own head as a kid, and as there wasn’t enough to chew on in there when I was a youngster, I read. As in, I mainlined fiction, and the addiction reference is apt! This practice set up a narrative filter I have for ingesting everything I see and feel as if the were a story. Updrift was the first serious daydream I applied to pseudo-reality playing outside my brain… and I couldn’t let go of it. Meaning I wrote another story and then another, and I have a fourth brewing in the same world.

What was the most challenging part about writing the first book, Updrift?

Learning to step outside of my narrative enough to see the problems with it. You need that initial passion, that massive personal investment to give your words resonance. But then you have to develop the ability to ferret out the problems, and that’s hard.

Readers sometimes have a hard time with sequels. It's either we're pressured to like it or we're overly critical of it. Did you experience something similar while writing the sequel Breakwater?

Absolutely. Especially since I played so fast and loose with my premise. And then my first book is more character-driven, the second more plot-driven, which results in a very different feel when you read them. Other writers will tell you the same thing, though: your characters and story guide you, and you have to follow them or you won’t end up with the right tale.

What is your favorite thing about Outrush? Do you have a favorite (non-spoilery) scene?

I think Outrush is a pretty perfect balance of character and plot, especially for readers who read Updrift. I loved explicating the bonds of people who’s lives had been intertwined since childhood, and I loved letting Maya charge after her life with everything she had… and then forgive herself for all she did wrong.

In terms of a scene to share (non-spoily!), here’s one for you:

She despised Aiden – or at least, she wanted to – for stealing her peace of mind so thoroughly after her wedding, she’d never regained it. That awful dance at the reception, where every second felt like an accusation. His recriminations, issued without actual speech, were like an internal battering ram ripping through her insides from the center of her liver. This marriage is a lie you cannot turn into truth. I’m the one you wanted. You’ve made a terrible mistake. When Mitch Donovan shook her hand, his touch was a direct transmission line to the whole, miserable litany.

And no. Just… no. She would not feel that draw again, the attraction to Aiden that had solidified her decision to marry Stu when she was finishing college. Back then, she was struggling for purchase on adult life with very little hope she’d achieve it, thinking maybe she had it in her to go to medical school, and how, if she was lucky, she might be able to build a life with Stuart Evans. Stuart had been a guy who, unlike Aiden, didn’t seem like he’d die without her. Stuart was maybe predictable by comparison, bland even… but he never freaked her out with intense, hungry stares that gave her the impression she was about to fall off a thousand-foot ledge. Mostly he never made her feel crazy, like she could suddenly smell the ocean, or feel a sea breeze on her skin; or think she wanted nothing more than to dive into the biggest, deepest body of salt water she could find. She hated swimming in the ocean. All she could think about when she waded in was a statistic on shark attacks, how most of them happened in three feet of water.

“There are about a gazillion things waiting to kill you out there,” Maya explained once when her friend, Kate, questioned her on her saltwater reticence. “People don’t belong in oceans. That’s why God invented swimming pools.” Kate snickered.

“Laugh all you want, Blake,” Maya retorted. “I’ll be your ER doc when you come in with shark’s teeth lodged in your sternum. Or a Man-O-War wrapped around your neck. Don’t think I’ll forget this conversation, either.”

Lastly, what's next for you?

I’m writing Crosstide! It’s an itty-bitty, baby book at this stage, but I’m tackling the most complex characters yet and building a most improbable love story. It’s glorious to attempt.

Thank you so much, Errin, for dropping by! <3

Get in touch with the author!

Website: www.errinstevens.com

Facebook: Errin Stevens

Twitter: @errinstevens

Instagram: Errin Stevens

Pinterest | Goodreads

Buy the first book Updrift on Amazon: CLICK HERE

REALLY Quick Fire Review of My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 09:30:00 +0000

For things:

1. To use Demeter’s favorite word, the Alex/Katie angle didn’t feel ORGANIC so I didn’t appreciate that the book ended with it.

2. I spent so much time getting stressed over Katie’s negativity that by the time the story started turning into SOMETHING it was already too late.

3. I think I only like the bit about setting up the farm and Katie sorting out the office drama. So basically... just a very small percentage of the book.

4. I’m not mad at the book. Just... meh.

Sale Blitz: FREE THIS WEEK! Peony Red by J. Lynn Bailey

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 11:07:00 +0000

Today I am sharing an exciting FREEBIE from J. Lynn Bailey! For this week only, you can get Peony Red for FREE! Make sure to 1-click it fast. This is the first book in the Granite Harbor series and the next book in the series releases this July.

Peony Red by J. Lynn Bailey

FREE for this week only!

1-CLICK NOW: mybook.to/PeonyRedAMZ

Book Blurb:

Three years ago, Alex Fisher lost her husband and since then, she hasn’t been able to find her stride. She’s out of a job, out of time, and running on fumes. When she receives a personal invitation to visit the picturesque town of Granite Harbor, Maine, she jumps at the chance to start fresh.

For game warden Eli Young, life is simpler when he’s exploring the back roads of Maine. In the north woods, he doesn’t have to deal with town politics or his soon-to-be ex-wife. But a chance meeting with a brokenhearted newcomer leaves him tangled. He should walk away—except, now that he’s met her, he can’t turn back.

When a young woman goes missing in town, tensions rise, and everyone becomes a suspect. Eli doesn’t think things can get any more complicated…until a picture of Alex is discovered at a gruesome crime scene.

In a town where trust is hard to come by and ghosts from the past haunt its citizens in the broad light of day, the question isn’t whether Eli and Alex can save what’s left of their hearts…but whether they’ll live to see tomorrow.

FREE for this week only!

1-CLICK NOW: mybook.to/PeonyRedAMZ

-------------------------

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

J. Lynn is a bestselling author who hates to talk about herself. Loathes it.

More importantly, she's the mother of two beautiful children and a wife to her high school sweetheart. She's also a mother of two extremely needy cats, Leo and Vinni, and an Australian Shepherd named Grizz.

She lives with her family in a small town tucked away in the redwood forest, located on California's northern coast.

FIND J. LYNN BAILEY:

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#romanceclass: Be Careful What You Wish For by C.P. Santi

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 02:30:00 +0000

I went into this feeling hopeful because it had all my favorite plot tropes in the mix: pretend bf/gf, celebrity with non-celebrity and making someone jealous. I know, I’m horrible. (But am I really?) Hey, we all have guilty pleasure plot tropes right?

The problem with these kinds of tropes, in my opinion, is transition. I need to see that the story is heading in the natural direction smoothly. In this case, I wanted to see the characters go from awkward pretend high profile bf/gf to a normal, genuinely loving couple. While they ultimately became a real couple in the end (non-spoiler alert!), I find that getting there was a struggle.

Where do I begin?

There’s the fact that Ana, despite being 32 years old, is childish when it comes to her relationship. Fake or not, communication is key! You’ll get into some form of a business deal? Talk about it! Discuss the terms, and as her friend put it, if the terms seem like they are no longer being met, maybe it’s time to renegotiate. Ana is inexperienced with romantic relationships, I get that. But what I don’t understand is her lack of maturity. You don’t need to be a serial dater to understand, at that age, that hashing it out is important. It frustrated me whenever she was having internal monologues. She’s described as being spunky, independent, strong, intelligent and all that good stuff but where was all that when it mattered? Where was that Ana when she was worried over her place in Ken’s life? In reality, yes, people act stupid when infatuated or in love. But I don’t appreciate it happening in such a short story where her moments of weakness couldn’t be spread out evenly.

And that too. Let’s talk about the length of the book. I understand that this is intended to be a short one. Having said that, I just wished there wasn’t so much cramped in such few pages. Too many names of friends, colleagues, and other random characters. It would’ve been fine if they weren’t all so actively participating. It gave me such a headache going through dialogues involving more than two people. Oh and don’t even get me started on the direction the story took at the last quarter of the book. It’s like the story sped up five times! I felt like I was reading a Filipino telenovela where all the good things are crammed in the end to compensate for all the hassle in the middle.

Lastly, I feel that the relationship and characters could have been fleshed out more. I wanted to believe that Ken, without all his money and fame, is an honest to goodness lovable person. I wanted to know what made Ana the girl of his dreams. I wanted to see how their pretend relationship progressed. But most of what I saw where descriptions of who they are and rundowns what they did. It all felt lacking.

I am not happy.

I liked it for the setting — oh how I love Japan — and the tropes. However, the execution was disappointing. I would choose Santi’s other books over this one.

BLOGGER SPOTLIGHT #9: Beatrice @ Confessions of a Pinay Bookaholic

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 10:00:00 +0000

The deets:

Name: Beatrice Masaluñga

Blog: http://confessionsofapinaybookaholic.wordpress.com

Most read genre: Contemporary Romance

Auto-buy author(s): J.K. Rowling, J.A. Redmerski, Nora Roberts, Colleen Hoover, Tammara Webber, Samantha Young, Sylvain Reynard, Elle Kennedy, Leisa Rayven, Jenny Han, Marie Lu, Tahereh Mafi and Kasie West.

Currently reading: I'm multi-reading Hate Notes by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward, Too Late by Colleen Hoover and Huge Deal by Lauren Layne

The interview:

Hi, Bea! Welcome to the blog!

Hello Sab! Thank you for having me on your blog and welcome back! :D

The most basic question to kick off our interview: what's the story behind your blog? What made you start it?

I started blogging out of curiosity. I want to have my own site where I can share my thoughts about the books I'm reading or have read and Confessions of a Pinay Bookaholic was born. The name is inspired from Sophie Kinsella's Confessions of a Shopaholic.

What's your favorite thing about blogging?

My favorite thing about blogging is to connect with readers all over the world, sharing our love and passion for books.

What is your guilty pleasure trope?

Enemies to Lovers. I can never get enough of this trope. If a book has this trope, it's an automatic read for me.

Imagine cleaning out your shelf ala Marie Kondo. What's one book (or series) you won't ever EVER give away?

This is a tough question. As much as I love all my books, I don't think I'll ever give away Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. It'll always be my prized possession because it's a series that turned me into a book lover.

If you could dine with three of your favorite authors, who would they be and why?

If I'm given an opportunity, I'd love to dine with Ms. J.K. Rowling -- it'll be an ultimate dream to meet her in person, Ms. Tammara Webber -- to thank her for introducing my to New Adult books and Nora Roberts -- I'd love to ask her about her journey on writing books.

The lightning round:

Book you'd recommend in an instant: In the Company of Killers series by J.A. Redmerski

Book you would bring on trip out of town: To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Book you've been meaning to get but haven't yet: All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover

Book you wish would get adapted: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Book you wish was longer: Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith

Thanks for dropping by, Bea! <3

Release Day News! BLACKOUT: A Romance Anthology (plus a GIVEAWAY!)

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 04:30:00 +0000

Today I'm helping share the release of BLACKOUT: A Romance Anthology. It will be available for only 2 weeks and you can purchase it now for 99 cents. Check out the details below, and information for a huge giveaway!

For more information, visit the website: http://bit.ly/BOSeries

✓ Only 99c!
✓ Thirteen BRAND NEW romances!
✓ Available now for only 2 weeks!

BLACKOUT: A Romance Anthology -- available now!
What happens when the lights go out?

Amazon | Apple | Nook | Kobo

Synopsis:

What happens when the lights go out in the city that never sleeps?

Games of chance, unexpected situations, and hours of sin!
Thirteen bestselling and award-winning authors are turning up the heat in an anthology featuring brand-new show-stopping stories set in Las Vegas. Roll the dice and get ready to feel the heat!

Night Games by T.K. Leigh:
Note to self: Never agree to play an innocent dice game during a blackout in Vegas. I should have known it wouldn’t remain innocent, not in the city of sin.

Night & Day by Bethany Lopez:
One explosive weekend together nearly ruined them. But, there's no way Simone and Micah can ignore their chemistry when they're alone in the dark.

Close Encounter by Stephanie St. Klaire:
The day started with a quick screw, a couple of quirky two-bit cons and ended with a diabolical serial killer. What do you do when the lights go out? Run.

Absolutely Mine by Terri E. Laine:
I made a promise to stay away from my best friend’s little sister. But it’s Vegas and that’s one promise I’m probably going to break.

Honeymoon Hideaway by Cary Hart:
What’s worse than being locked in room with a vibrating bed and your sworn enemy? Waking up next to him… naked! Did I mention he’s also my boss? Oops.

The Do-Over by Christi Barth:
The best way to move on after being dumped? A hot fling. An even better way? Revenge sex and the chance to turn the tables on the guy who dumped you...

Just Us by J.H. Croix:
Ellie asks me to promise her one thing. We can’t tell her brother about us. Small problem though. One night will never be enough.

Dirty Thoughts by C.A. Harms:
He was the crush I never thought I’d see again. Yet here we were in Vegas, during a total blackout. I figure why not explore all the possibilities, or more like let him explore me?

Hard Luck by K.A. Ware:
Ellis James is my kryptonite, the only person who could drag me back to Vegas after I promised myself I was done with that life. I'd bleed for her, I'd die for her, but can I save her?

Becoming His by K.I. Lynn:
When I slammed into Hollywood heartthrob Reid Gallagher, I never imagined it would turn into a first date I’d never forget. After all, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas...right?

Going Down by Lisa Shelby:
She’s the only person I’ve ever loved and I’m the last person she wants to see. She’d hoped to avoid me as much as possible in Vegas, but when we get stuck alone in an elevator, not even she can deny that our chemistry still runs hot.

Blind Faith by Lauren Runow:
I never expected to be locked out of my room basically naked in a total blackout. Thinking that would be the biggest shock of my night was my first mistake.

Blackout Anthology Trailer - check it out here: http://bit.ly/2EvLSu0

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!
Seven winners - prizes worth over $200!
CLICK HERE TO ENTER: http://bit.ly/BlackoutGIVEAWAY

Want more info? Stay tuned to the Private Party Book Club!

JOIN THE GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PrivatePartyBookClub/
SIGN UP for the newsletter: www.privatepartybookclub.com/newsletter

Award-Winning Author Bethany Lopez began self-publishing in June 2011. She's a lover of all things romance: books, movies, music, and life, and she incorporates that into the books she writes. When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with her husband and children, traveling whenever possible. Some of her favorite things are: Kristen Ashley Books, coffee in the morning, and In N Out burgers.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Excerpt Reveal for NEEDING TO LOVE YOU by Erin Rylie

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 14:00:00 +0000

Today we have the excerpt reveal for Erin Rylie’s NEEDING TO LOVE YOU! Check it out and be sure to order your copy April 12th!

Title: NEEDING TO LOVE YOU

Author: Erin Rylie

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Blitz: April 12th

About Needing To Love You:

Excerpt:

She leaned across the table, well aware that her shirt gaped when she did so. She could tell from the tightness of his expression that he was struggling not to look down her shirt, still trying to maintain the charade that he was a gentleman.

Kelsey pitched her voice low so that nobody else would overhear what she said but Carlos. “Would a gentleman go down on me in the kitchen?”

Carlos grinned. “Absolutely, that sounds like a very gentlemanly thing to do.” He winked at her, still managing to keep his gaze on her face when she knew he wanted to look down.

“Well, I can tell you want to look down my shirt. Trying to get a good look at my tits? What are you thinking about doing to them right now?”

The smile slid from his face and his eyes blazed with lust. He coughed and took a sip of the water she hadn’t even noticed a server pouring. “I’m not thinking about them, actually. I’m thinking about…um…baseball?” Carlos’s voice rose at the end, making his intended statement a question.

Poor guy. Kelsey knew that she was torturing him needlessly. “Just go ahead and look. I know you want to.”

Carlos eyed her suspiciously. “You won’t call me a pig?”

“Nope,” she replied, popping the “p.”

Before the word had entirely left her lips, Carlos had propped his elbows up on the table, rested his face in his hands, and was staring at her breasts with open adoration. He let out an audible sigh and just stared.

Their waiter chose that exact moment to walk over, clearing his throat awkwardly. “Sorry to um, interrupt, but did y’all want to order anything to drink besides water?”

“Not now, buddy. In the middle of something,” Carlos replied, not moving an inch, his eyes locked on her cleavage.

Kelsey sighed and looked at the waiter. The poor guy was clearly uncomfortable, torn between doing his job and running the hell away. “Sorry about him, I can’t take him anywhere, really. We would love a bottle of Malbec; which do you recommend?”

The waiter stuttered out a recommendation, which Kelsey accepted, and hurried off to get their bottle and some glasses.

“Are you proud of yourself? You’ve traumatized the wait staff. Next, the manager will come over and ask us to leave.”

Carlos waved his hand in the air as if the prospect of being thrown out of a fine-dining restaurant was of no consequence. “I’m a cop, they won’t throw me out.”

“Wow, so you use your power for evil?”

“No, definitely not. But I will absolutely use my power to get me more time with your breasts. I’m a boob man, remember?”

“I thought you were an ass man?”

“On you, I like it all.”

Kelsey leaned back in her seat and adjusted her shirt, hiding her cleavage from his view. Carlos put on his best hurt look.

“Bye ladies, I’ll miss you.”

She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t fight her smile. He was the most ridiculous man that she’d ever met. It was probably one of her favorite things about Carlos, actually. He didn’t give a shit what other people thought of him. He was always, unabashedly himself, no matter the situation or setting.

The waiter returned, looking relieved to see that Carlos was no longer openly gawking at Kelsey’s boobs, and poured their wine before taking their dinner order.

As they waited for their food, they slipped into an easy conversation, talking about work, Carlos’s physical therapy, and of course James. The clear affection Carlos had for her son warmed her heart. The two of them were definitely buddies. They frequently played a game they’d invented called “Zoo Keeper,” and Carlos had recently ordered a slew of board games for them to all play together. They actually had a board-game night planned for Sunday when Kyle brought James home.

All of Kelsey’s usual reticence disappeared when she was in the presence of Carlos. All of her relationship fears fled, chased away by the ease of their conversation, by the occasional heat in his eyes that did things to her body. It was the reason she’d been avoiding him in recent weeks—he was irresistible to her and she needed to remember why she avoided relationships. She was broken, and he deserved better. He deserved someone who could love and cherish him for the rest of their lives. She didn’t know that she could ever be that person for anyone, but damn, Carlos made her want to try.

Before long, the sun began to set, pulling Kelsey’s attention from their conversation. The light outside turned orange, bathing downtown Houston in a warm glow that took her breath away. She didn’t know that she’d ever truly appreciated the beauty of her city until now.

“Wow,” she breathed. “This view is breathtaking, Carlos.”

She glanced over to find him gazing at her, the open affection in his expression taking her by surprise. “Yes, it is.”

“Nope, no sir. You take that back. You will not use some cheesy movie line on me on our first date. Try again, please.”

Carlos laughed and nodded. “I meant it, but fair enough. Okay, let me dig in the vault and pull out some of my best lines. How about this one—I lost my rubber ducky, can I bathe with you instead?”

She chuckled and shook her head. “Try again.”

“Is your name winter? Because you’ll be coming soon.”

“Oh my God, no!”

“Your breasts remind me of Mount Rushmore, my face should be among them.”

Kelsey shook her head, her body quaking with laughter.

“The FBI wants to steal my penis. Can I hide it inside you?”

“Carlos! These are just getting worse.”

He looked thoughtful for a few moments before a wolfish expression crossed his face. “Okay, I’ve got it, I have THE pickup line. This one is definitely going to get me laid tonight.”

“Doubtful, but let’s hear it.”

“If it’s true that we are what we eat, I could be you by morning.”

Kelsey laughed so hard she was wiping tears from her eyes, and her cheeks hurt from the wide smile on her face. Before she could respond, the smile dropped from Carlos’s expression, his handsome face serious.

“I’ll try one more, deal?”

She nodded, unsure what to expect.

“This has already been the best date I’ve ever been on. I’ve been waiting all my life to meet a woman like you—you’re smart, funny, and full of fire. Even if this is all you can ever give me, this right here, this night with you? It will be something I cherish for the rest of my life.”

About Erin

Finally, I am 100% an old cat lady. My cats Socks and Kaz are little weirdos and I love them more than most people.

Connect with Erin:

I'M TIRED. My Review of Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Sun, 31 Mar 2019 10:00:00 +0000

(In case you missed it: MY REVIEW OF SHATTER ME and UNRAVEL ME.)

I gotta say, not the best book to read after a long work week. I deserve better than this. This was terribly disappointing. Wait, no. It shouldn’t disappoint me because I’ve had such low expectations from the start of the series. I shouldn’t be surprised by how utterly ridiculous the third installment is. I SHOULD’VE EXPECTED THIS.

The entire Shatter Me series shouldn’t be called a dystopia. It really isn’t. It’s a romance, complete with a silly love triangle and a lot of graphic sexy time that you don’t normally see in young adult titles. It’s so annoyingly overpowering that I often found myself skipping parts that highlighted the love angle. It’s was tiring to read. The dystopia and paranormal aspect? It was just THERE, a pathetic excuse for a plot. The whole time I was just thinking, “where does the fighting start? I want to see the Xmen (lol) fight!” It came rather late and I was already bored out of my mind by then.

Let’s get this out of the way: I don’t like how readers were made to like Warner. Everything you were told in the first two books about Adam and Warner? LIES. ALL LIES. They’re all conveniently erased and overly explained in Ignite Me. First it was Juliette defaulting to Adam because he’s the only one who can touch her. But now it’s Juliette defaulting to Warner... because HE too can touch her. It’s all physical!!!!!!

I’m calm.

I would’ve been more accepting if she chose no one and focused on her powers and world domination. But I suppose teen girls in a broken down society have needs too.

The writing is still the purple mumbo jumbo that I don’t like. I’ve already ranted about that in the first two books, no need to rehash here. There’s really not much to it.

The ending was anti-climactic. All that work for THAT??? Was this rushed? Did it become boring to write towards the end because Juliette and Warner have sorted their shit out and there’s nothing to write about anymore? It definitely read like that. It was such a snooze fest as far as dystopia endings go.

There will now be more books. THREE more. I can’t imagine how those will go. I mean, what else is there to write about now that the love triangle is over?

Audiobook Adventures: Wishes and Wellingtons by Julie Berry

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 02:00:00 +0000

Am I too old for middle grade stories? For a second I thought I would have rated this higher if I were younger but then again I was far more pretentious when I was about 9 or 10. I fancied YA books that I couldn't really relate to because I was too much in a hurry to grow up. Now that I'm in my twenties, I'm much more open to all genres in whatever age bracket. This is why Wishes and Wellingtons is making me question myself. Everyone who's listened to it seemed to enjoy it a great deal. Except for me.

It's not that it's a bad story. The premise is promising. I just find the protagonist annoying. Have I been reading middle grade books with unrealistically mature characters? I don't believe so. They made plenty of bad decisions here and there but they weren't petulant. I really didn't like the lead in this one. Decisions, actions, thoughts... I couldn't believe I was listening to a book about a 13 year old girl. She sounded way younger than that. At some point I cheered for the adults who acted like villains towards her because on some level I felt like she deserved it.

"Because you're being childish!"

"Ugh you child."

"Ohhhhh shut the f*ck up." (this is harsh but I was already irritated at this point)

...were some of the things I repeatedly said aloud while listening to the book in my car. She was THAT bad for me. I just couldn't stand her. I actually found her friends and sister far more interesting and tolerable.

I was ready to mark this as DNF but I read one review that said the ending was heartwarming. I had to see for myself so I skipped a couple of hours only to find that it was underwhelming. I realized I was far too uninterested to find it redeeming in any way.

It wasn't all terrible. Just okay. Definitely not for me. The narrator was great though so gotta give props for that.

Cover Reveal for RIBBONS OF SCARLET: A Novel of the French Revolution

noreply@blogger.com (Isabel) — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 10:00:00 +0000

Today I'm super excited to share the cover of a book coming out on October 1st. Two of the authors co-wrote My Dear Hamilton and I absolutely loved it. Hello? Historical fiction? Another one? I'M DEFINITELY DOWN!

Scroll down to see the awesome awesome cover of Ribbons of Scarlet: A Novel of the French Revolution!

Love,
Sab

-------

Six bestselling and award-winning authors bring to life a breathtaking epic novel illuminating the hopes, desires, and destinies of princesses and peasants, harlots and wives, fanatics and philosophers—six unforgettable women whose paths cross during one of the most tumultuous and transformative events in history: the French Revolution.

RIBBONS OF SCARLET: A Novel of the French Revolution, releases October 1st, 2019! Check out the amazing cover below and pre-order your copy today!

About RIBBONS OF SCARLET: A Novel of the French Revolution (Coming October 1, 2019)

Ribbons of Scarlet is a timely story of the power of women to start a revolution—and change the world.

In late eighteenth-century France, women do not have a place in politics. But as the tide of revolution rises, women from gilded salons to the streets of Paris decide otherwise—upending a world order that has long oppressed them.

Blue-blooded Sophie de Grouchy believes in democracy, education, and equal rights for women, and marries the only man in Paris who agrees. Emboldened to fight the injustices of King Louis XVI, Sophie aims to prove that an educated populace can govern itself--but one of her students, fruit-seller Louise Audu, is hungrier for bread and vengeance than learning. When the Bastille falls and Louise leads a women’s march to Versailles, the monarchy is forced to bend, but not without a fight. The king’s pious sister Princess Elisabeth takes a stand to defend her brother, spirit her family to safety, and restore the old order, even at the risk of her head.

But when fanatics use the newspapers to twist the revolution’s ideals into a new tyranny, even the women who toppled the monarchy are threatened by the guillotine. Putting her faith in the pen, brilliant political wife Manon Roland tries to write a way out of France’s blood-soaked Reign of Terror while pike-bearing Pauline Leon and steely Charlotte Corday embrace violence as the only way to save the nation. With justice corrupted by revenge, all the women must make impossible choices to survive--unless unlikely heroine and courtesan’s daughter Emilie de Sainte-Amaranthe can sway the man who controls France’s fate: the fearsome Robespierre.

✭✭✭ PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY OF RIBBONS OF SCARLET TODAY✭✭✭

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Apple Books | Kobo

Add to Your Goodreads

About Kate Quinn:

Kate Quinn is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. A native of southern California, she attended Boston University where she earned a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Classical Voice. She has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga, and two books in the Italian Renaissance, before turning to the 20th century with "The Alice Network" and "The Huntress." All have been translated into multiple languages. Kate and her husband now live in San Diego with two rescue dogs named Caesar and Calpurnia, and her interests include opera, action movies, cooking, and the Boston Red Sox.

About Stephanie Dray:

Stephanie Dray is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author of historical women's fiction. Her award-winning work has been translated into eight languages and tops lists for the most anticipated reads of the year. She lives near the nation's capital with her husband, cats, and history books.

About Laura Kamoie:

A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction, Laura Kamoie has always been fascinated by the people, stories, and physical presence of the past, which led her to a lifetime of historical and archaeological study and training. She holds a doctoral degree in early American history from The College of William and Mary, published two non-fiction books on early America, and most recently held the position of Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Naval Academy before transitioning to a full-time career writing genre fiction. She is the author of AMERICA'S FIRST DAUGHTER and MY DEAR HAMILTON, co-authored with Stephanie Dray, allowing her the exciting opportunity to combine her love of history with her passion for storytelling. Laura lives among the colonial charm of Annapolis, Maryland with her husband and two daughters.

About Sophie Perinot:

Sophie Perinot is an award-winning, multi-published author of female-centered historical fiction, who holds both a Bachelors in History and a law degree. With two previous books set in France—during the 13th and 16th centuries—Sophie has a passion for French history that began more than thirty years ago when she first explored the storied châteaux of the Loire Valley. She lives in the Washington DC metropolitan area with her husband, children and a small menagerie of pets.

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About Heather Webb:

Heather Webb is the award-winning and international bestselling author of six historical novels set in France, including the upcoming Meet Me in Monaco, set to the backdrop of Grace Kelly’s wedding releasing in summer 2019, and Ribbons of Scarlet, a novel of the French Revolution’s women in Oct 2019. In 2015, Rodin’s Lover was selected as a Goodreads Top Pick, and in 2017, Last Christmas in Paris became a Globe & Mail bestseller and also won the 2018 Women’s Fiction Writers Association STAR Award. Her works have received national starred reviews, and have been sold in over a dozen countries worldwide. When not writing, you may find Heather collecting cookbooks or looking for excuses to travel. She lives in New England with her family and one feisty rabbit.

About E. Knight:

E. KNIGHT is a USA Today bestselling author of rip-your-heart-out historical women’s fiction that crosses the landscapes of Europe. Her love of history began as a young girl when she traipsed the halls of Versailles and ran through the fields in Southern France. She can still remember standing before the great golden palace, and imagining what life must have been like. She is the owner of the acclaimed blog History Undressed. Eliza lives in Maryland atop a small mountain with a knight, three princesses and two very naughty newfies. Visit Eliza at www.eknightauthor.com/eknight, or her historical blog, History Undressed, www.historyundressed.com.

Sab The Book Eater

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Don't Go Stealing My Heart by Kelly Siskind is OUT NOW!

Today we are celebrating the release of a romantic comedy title from Kelly Siskind! Don't Go Stealing My Heart just went live, and you won't want to miss this romance! CLICK HERE to grab your copy now, and make sure to follow Kelly for details about all of her books.

Check out the preorder links for the book below.

PURCHASE NOW

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Don't Go Stealing My Heart by Kelly Siskind

Book Blurb:

PURCHASE NOW

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

FIND KELLY SISKIND:

Pride and Persuasion Blog Tour - Excerpt and Kick off

Audiobook Adventures: The Music of What Happens by Bill Konigsberg

Blog Guest: Author Brendan Noble

Check Out This Excerpt from the North to Nara Blog Tour

Tangled Up In You Blog Tour Excerpt

Author Interview #27: Ana Tejano | #lovelocal #romanceclass

Out Now: Tangled Up in You by Samantha Chase

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Twisted Pride by Cora Reilly

The Confessional: Why I Read Romance

A Giveaway and an Excerpt to Celebrate the Release Day of Off the Record by Danae Colbert!

Author Interview #26: Cendrine Marrouat

An Excerpt of Needing to Love You by Erin Rylie (Blog Tour)

Author Interview #25: Errin Stevens

REALLY Quick Fire Review of My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

Sale Blitz: FREE THIS WEEK! Peony Red by J. Lynn Bailey

Today I am sharing an exciting FREEBIE from J. Lynn Bailey! For this week only, you can get Peony Red for FREE! Make sure to 1-click it fast. This is the first book in the Granite Harbor series and the next book in the series releases this July.

Peony Red by J. Lynn Bailey

FREE for this week only!

Book Blurb:

FREE for this week only!

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

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#romanceclass: Be Careful What You Wish For by C.P. Santi

BLOGGER SPOTLIGHT #9: Beatrice @ Confessions of a Pinay Bookaholic

Release Day News! BLACKOUT: A Romance Anthology (plus a GIVEAWAY!)

Today I'm helping share the release of BLACKOUT: A Romance Anthology. It will be available for only 2 weeks and you can purchase it now for 99 cents. Check out the details below, and information for a huge giveaway!

✓ Only 99c! ✓ Thirteen BRAND NEW romances! ✓ Available now for only 2 weeks! BLACKOUT: A Romance Anthology -- available now! What happens when the lights go out?

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Synopsis:

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY! Seven winners - prizes worth over $200! CLICK HERE TO ENTER: http://bit.ly/BlackoutGIVEAWAY

JOIN THE GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PrivatePartyBookClub/ SIGN UP for the newsletter: www.privatepartybookclub.com/newsletter

Excerpt Reveal for NEEDING TO LOVE YOU by Erin Rylie

I'M TIRED. My Review of Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi

Audiobook Adventures: Wishes and Wellingtons by Julie Berry

Cover Reveal for RIBBONS OF SCARLET: A Novel of the French Revolution

✓ Only 99c!
✓ Thirteen BRAND NEW romances!
✓ Available now for only 2 weeks!

BLACKOUT: A Romance Anthology -- available now!
What happens when the lights go out?

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!
Seven winners - prizes worth over $200!
CLICK HERE TO ENTER: http://bit.ly/BlackoutGIVEAWAY

JOIN THE GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PrivatePartyBookClub/
SIGN UP for the newsletter: www.privatepartybookclub.com/newsletter