Tuesday, March 31, 2015

#REVIEW: Only For Him by Cristin Harber


Title: Only For Him
Series: Only #1
Author:  Cristin Harber
Published Date: Feb 24, 2015
Publisher: Mill Creek Press
Format: ebook
Pages: 126
ISBN: 9781942236108
Genre:  contemporary romance
Add to: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon

Rating: 5 stars

Synopsis: Grayson Ford and Emma Kinglsey—close since they were kids, opposites in every way. He’s the stuff high school crushes are made of, Mister Popular, and captain of every team. She’s artsy, cute, and not in his league, though fully aware of Summerland’s "I Dream of Dating Grayson Ford" support group.

I can’t say no. The girl’s had my heart since before I knew it went missing.

He hides a life of hell. His father hates him, his mother’s gone. Emma is his only savior, yet she doesn’t know her power over him. She’s the only girl he wants, the only one he could ever tell—though he won’t.

I’m stronger, bigger, more of a man than he’ll ever be, but because I ruined his life, I’ve taken his crap, his attacks, the vulgar nature of his existence.

Until she discovers Gray’s embarrassment, his humiliation. Emma fights for him, for a chance. Theirs is a Cinderella story that she believes impossible. But as the layers peel back, it’s just a guy who needs a girl in order to keep breathing.

My mind is already doodling Mrs. Grayson Ford in imaginary notebooks. He has no clue where my head is at… But, given that I didn’t see what just happened coming, maybe I have no clue where his head is at either.

My Review: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It has been such a long time since an author made me cry, but I bawled halfway through this book.
This is a quick, fast reading novella, and just like the author’s other contemporary romance, Sweet Girl, it is just as amazing. Every single book that Cristin Harber comes out with is so well-written, you cannot help but be immersed into the story, as if you were right beside them.

As with the rest of her books, I have fallen in love with Gray and Emma. Their characters are so well portrayed I can’t help but feel as if I’ve known them my whole life. I am chomping at the bit for the next book, as the cliffhanger at the end of this novella made me want to cry…again. Emma and Gray promise to be yet another couple of Cristin Harber’s that will stay with you forever.

Monday, March 30, 2015

#COVER REVEAL and #GIVEAWAY: Thomas by VA Dold


SYNOPSIS:   Julia is happy with her place in the shifter community as the owner of the famous shifter bar, The Backwater. But the life she's created for herself isn't enough to satisfy her crazy-ass mother, Lucinda, who shops her and her sister Krystal around to the pure blood shifters like a piece of meat. Only a born shifter mate is good enough for her girls.
Thomas James has his hands full as the shifter king's head of security. He certainly wasn’t looking for a girlfriend during the first annual shifter gathering. He had the king and queen to protect, not skirts to chase.
A childhood of emotional and physical abuse by his birth father has left Thomas emotionally unavailable and uninterested in romantic relationships. His father Tim’s cruelty to his mother and brother molded him into an extremely protective person. No one messes with his loved ones without answering to him.
Even though Julia and Thomas are destined to be mates. The obstacles standing between them and their happy ever after seem insurmountable. 
Lucinda insists Julia stay away from the filthy human.
Tim is trying to kill everyone Thomas loves.
The mysterious Benevolent Sovereign who is trying to over through the throne, has sent swampers attack Thomas and destroy Julia’s lively hood.
With family like theirs, who needs enemies?
Will Julia and Thomas’s happiness be snuffed out before it has a chance to begin or will they forge through - obstacles be damned.  

BIO:  V.A.Dold is the bestselling author of the Le Beau Brothers series, New Orleans wolf shifter novels. A graduate of Saint Cloud University, she majored in marketing. Prior to becoming a full time writer, she was a publicist to the authors, owning ARC Author & Reader Con's. Still is.
Her idea of absolute heaven is a day in the French Quarter filled with nothing but her computer, her coffee mug and the Brothers, of course.
A Minnesota native with her heart lost to Louisiana, she has a penchant for titillating tales featuring sexy men and strong women. When she's not writing, she's probably taking in a movie, reading or traveling.
Her earliest reading memories are from grade school. She had a major fixation with horses, and the Black Stallion was a favorite. Then junior high came along and teenage hormones kicked in. It became all about the Harlequin Romances. She has been hooked on romances ever since.
ONLINE LINKS:
Website  | Facebook  | Tsu   | Twitter | Goodreads  
BUY NOW LINK:





#BLAST and #GIVEAWAY: Hometown Girls by Tressa Messenger

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hometown girl

Life for Marissa Lou was great. She was a popular senior in high school with great friends and an even greater boyfriend. She was on top of the world. That was until she made the greatest sacrifice of her life. Daniel and Katie both loved Marissa Lou but neither of them could deny the intensity of their growing affection for one another, no matter how hard they tried to fight it. Being the selfless person she was, Marissa Lou gave Katie and Daniel her permission to date. Little did she know it would be the first day of a hellish nightmare. One where, in her depression, she falls from grace and gets mixed up in a life she never would have expected. With a growing addiction she fights to right everything that went so wrong, but will it be too late? Buy on Amazon | Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publications

About the author:

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Tressa Messenger grew up in a very small town in Eastern North Carolina called Reelsboro in a coastal county called Pamlico. Being as it was such a small area Tressa developed an immense imagination at a young age. That is where she harnessed her love for writing. To date Tressa lives in New Orleans Louisiana with her husband, daughter and an assortment of critters.   As a young writer Tressa has overcome adversity of Dyslexia and continues to exceed expectations.

Follow Tressa: FaceBook | Twitter | Website

  The author is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card in celebration of the new release! Giveaway ends April 12th at 11:59 EST. Open World Wide. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, March 27, 2015

#EXCERPT: An Event To Remember...Or Forget by Melissa Baldwin

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event to remember
Sienna Harris is a girl with a plan. Her days of slaving away at Carrie’s Classic Events and More are numbered as she is on the brink of launching her own event planning company. Her relationship with Luke Price is headed in the right direction and they are approaching their one-year mark. The future is looking bright and she knows that life could not get any better . . . That is until her perfectly planned world is thrown upside down by the unexpected arrival of someone from Luke’s past. She receives the shock of her life on the night of the biggest event of her career. Sienna will now have to pull it all together without a list or a plan. The question is, can she do it?

Buy on Amazon | B&N | Kobo

 EXCERPT:
I made it to spinning class two mornings in a row; I’m on
fire.
It’s 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning. Craig, Nicole, and I are waiting at Bonjour for Carrie to arrive.
“Let’s take bets on if she actually comes, twenty bucks she’s a no-show,” Craig demands.
Bonjouris the most adorable little breakfast café, and the food is amazing. We sit at the same table, and the staff always takes very good care of us.
“Sienna?” says a voice behind me. 
Oh no, it’s Luke. This is pretty awkward considering we haven’t spoken since I let him have it the other night. I don’t count the few “I’m really sorry” and “I love you” texts he sent. He is with a few co-workers that I recognize but don’t really know well.
“Are you having a work meeting?” he asks. He waves to Craig and Nicole. They both say hi, looking very curious about our obvious awkwardness. I’m sure they will force me to explain it before I leave this meeting. 
“Yeah, we are just waiting on Carrie as usual.” I roll my eyes.
“Ah yes, the infamous Carrie. I still can’t believe that I’ve never met her, only heard the stories,” he says, laughing.
 “Well, considering she’s hardly ever in town, that’s not surprising,” I reply.
Coincidentally, at that very moment, the front door flies open and there she is in head to toe designer couture.
“So sorry I’m late, had to take a call. I need a double espresso,” she calls as she saunters over to our table. Luke and I are still engaged in our awkward conversation. Carrie approaches and pulls off her Prada sunglasses staring directly at Luke. 


Just released!!!!!!!!

wedding hatersThe exquisite dress, the dazzling menu, the family drama . . . It’s the day every girl dreams of, and Madison Wales is no exception. Her wedding plans seem to be going perfectly thanks to her very talented wedding planner, Sienna Harris. That is, until her grandmother and her two overachieving, bullying cousins suddenly want to become very involved in her big day. But . . . why? Madison’s perfect wedding dreams are dashed as things slowly start to unravel. With family drama in her midst, she wonders if her cousins are behind each disaster or if she has truly become a paranoid bridezilla. Will Madison be able to withstand all of the pressure and finally stand up for herself? The idea of eloping with her fiancé, Cole, is looking better everyday, even if it means leaving her dream wedding behind. Will she make the right choice?
Buy now on Amazon
 
About the author:
melissa baldwinMelissa graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications; she has always had a love for writing. An avid journal keeper, she fulfilled her dream with her debut novel, An Event To Remember . . . Or Forget. Melissa resides in Orlando, Florida, with her husband and young daughter. She is a master at organization and multi-tasking. Her daily jobs include mother, chauffeur, wife, PTA President, Fitness Trainer, and now Author. When she has free time, she enjoys traveling, fitness, decorating, fashion, and taking a Disney Cruise every now and then.
Find Melissa on:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
 

Follow The Tour Here

#FREE #BOOK: Wicked Wind by Sharon Kay


Last year I agreed to read the first book of a series. I had never heard of the author, but, yeah whatever. I was blown away by the book. I read it in only two days, and eagerly went after the next in the series.
So, without further ado, here is the synopsis and my old review of it, originally published July, 2014:

Synopsis: SHE GREW UP THINKING SHE WAS HUMAN

Born with the ability to command the wind, Nicole Bonham spends her life hiding her gift. Deciding to take control of her power, she dispenses her own brand of vigilante justice in Chicago’s worst neighborhoods. Stealth and surprise are always on her side.

UNTIL A CHANCE ENCOUNTER WITH A WARRIOR DEMON

Lash demon Gunnar prowls Earth and several supernatural realms to help maintain peace among the immortal species. His chance encounter with Nicole creates a hurricane of sparks between them, and he can’t let her out of his sight until he discovers her true identity. In his two hundred years, he has never seen a creature like her.

PLUNGES THEM BOTH INTO A FIGHT FOR HER LIFE

Nicole and Gunnar race to discover who - or what - is stabbing the city's most destitute residents and stealing their blood. The fire that forged their bond explodes into white-hot passion, weaving their souls together on an unexpected level. Haunted by the past, Gunnar's fiercely protective instincts battle with her need to defeat the creatures she was born to fight. As they track the mastermind behind the attacks, will Nicole’s unique talent unwittingly send her straight into his lair?
 

RATING: 4 stars

REVIEW: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, what an exceptional start to a new paranormal romance series.

The characters, Gunnar and Nicole were both strong, and fresh, and absolutely likeable. Gunnar is a kick butt demon whose Alpha characteristics make him butt heads with Nicole, the human with special abilities, as he tries to protect her. Nicole is a stubborn, family-centered woman, all about protecting her family secret and her sisters, and not about to give into his macho character, until she finds out the truth about who she and her sisters really are.
I am infatuated with the new world the author introduces us to, full of different types of demons, nymphs and other supernatural creatures. It's beautiful and vicious. The way the author writes kept me on my toes the entire time I was reading this book. The action was well-paced, and kept the tension at the same level throughout.
The romance between Nicole and Gunnar is hot, magnetically attracting each other as they both try to stay individuals. The physicality of their growing relationship was completely sexy. One of those books that you really shouldn't be reading in public.

I am looking forward to reading the next in this series, Wicked Waves, as she delves into the story of Nicole's younger sister. And however will they get Gin on board?

Smashwords:  http://bit.ly/1zKFnvN
All Romance:  http://bit.ly/1JB7Rdl

Thursday, March 26, 2015

#INTERVIEW and #GIVEAWAY: Meritropolis by Joel Ohman


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Title:  Meritropolis
Author:   Joel Ohman
Published:  September 9th, 2014
Genre:  YA Sci-Fi Dystopian
Recommended Age:  14+
Synopsis:
The year is AE3, 3 years after the Event. Within the walls of Meritropolis, 50,000 inhabitants live in fear, ruled by the brutal System that assigns each citizen a merit score that dictates whether they live or die. Those with the highest scores thrive, while those with the lowest are subject to the most unforgiving punishment–to be thrust outside the city gates, thrown to the terrifying hybrid creatures that exist beyond.
But for one High Score, conforming to the System just isn’t an option. Seventeen-year-old Charley has a brother to avenge. And nothing–not even a totalitarian military or dangerous science–is going to stop him.
Where humankind has pushed nature and morals to the extreme, Charley is amongst the chosen few tasked with exploring the boundaries, forcing him to look deep into his very being to discern right from wrong. But as he and his friends learn more about the frightening forces that threaten destruction both without and within the gates, Meritropolis reveals complexities they couldn’t possibly have bargained for…
BONUS Original Artwork – 17 original chapter illustrations that precede each of the 17 chapters: Bion (Bull-Lion), Scorpicon (Scorpion-Falcon), Chimpanzelle (Chimp-Gazelle), and more!
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | GoodReads
Excerpt:
Meritropolis – Joel Ohman
“Courtyard”
The crowd filling the courtyard massed on either side of the girl and her captors, a slow-motion whirling river of bodies, moving them along like so much flotsam, toward Commander Orson and the gates. Charley watched intently as each person in the crowd strained to get a glimpse of the little girl.
Charley had read books about hangings in the Old Days, where crowds had traveled from miles around to see, and even cheer at, the macabre deed performed, but this was different. There was no excitement, but there was also no undercurrent of disappointment, of sadness, or even of shame; it was business as usual. Someone had been sentenced to the gates and that someone just happened to be a scared little girl.
Each person in the crowd wanted a glimpse of the girl to see how she would react, to see if they recognized her, to see the pitifully low Score on her arm, and perhaps to verify that she deserved the gates, but there was no outrage, no demand for justice. The System had ordered her to the gates, so it must be just. Charley thought about Sven’s statement: “I’m sure it gets easier” and considered that, maybe, if you see something often enough and put up with it for long enough, even the most horrendous deed can become part of your daily life. Maybe you just stop caring.
Was this how the crowd had reacted when Alec was put outside of the gates? Charley wondered. As the younger sibling of Alec, only eight, and presumably unable to take in what was happening, Charley had been confined underground during Alec’s gate ceremony—they had simply replaced Alec by assigning someone new to sleep in his bed that exact night. Had some of the very same people around him now looked at Alec with the same sick feeling in their stomachs that Charley now felt? Had they remained silent, swallowing their shouts, averting their eyes, and now, after many such acts of cowardice, they no longer even cared? Bile rose in Charley’s throat. He wanted—he needed—to care, to hate those who had taken Alec from him. It was all he had.
Charley watched the gloved hands of the guards on either side of the girl squeeze her pale, stick-like upper arms, roughly pressing her forward, just a few short steps in front of Charley. She faltered, stumbling as the toe of her slippered foot caught on the edge of a cobblestone, bending her foot back and causing her to let out a sharp cry of pain. One of the guards on the outer edge, a redheaded Blue Coat with a bristly goatee and arms knotted with thick cords of muscle, gave a muffled curse and dropped back behind her, harshly shoving her onward.
Her cry ignited some primal part of Charley’s brain: pure emotion, cause and effect. Synapses fired, rage blossomed. To act was to live, as natural a part of living as breathing. There was no fight or flight, only fight.
In an instant, Charley launched himself at the guards, eyes glazing over, an answering cry rising unbidden from his lips. His limbs pistoning as if controlled by an unseen puppet master; marionetting in time to the inner drum beat of angry energy. There was no plan, no strategy, no thinking ahead to plot out actions and counteractions. There was only the ever-present NOW. 

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About the Author:
Joel Ohman is the author of Meritropolis–“The Hunger Games meets The Village with a young Jack Reacher as a protagonist”. He lives in Tampa, FL with his wife Angela and their three kids. His writing companion is Caesar, a slightly overweight Bull Mastiff who loves to eat the tops off of strawberries.
Amazon Author Page | Facebook Street Team | Twitter | GoodReads | Website

Interview with Joel Ohman



What projects are you currently working on—both in your writing and otherwise?
The next writing project is book #2 for Meritropolis. Other than that, I own a number of different businesses, so we always have new and interesting projects in various stages of development. One fun project is our workout website/iOS App/Android App: WeightTraining.com.

What is the most surprising thing you learned while writing?
One of the most important things I learned is maybe not all that surprising, but definitely important—the value of an editor. I worked with 3 different editors while writing Meritropolis. Each of them provided extremely valuable feedback and advice that was instrumental at various stages of the book writing process. The book that is available for purchase now is a much better book than it would have been without the expertise of my editorial team.

Do you have a preference for how you get your writing done (typewriter, longhand, computer, dictation, etc.)?
I wrote most of Meritropolis on my MacBook Air, and then I upgraded to a MacBook Pro with Retina display, and I love it.

Do you plot your books? Or, do you just sit down and write what comes to you?
I sketch out a very rough outline, and then I just start writing. Things often deviate, sometimes wildly, from the outline, and I think that usually ends up being a good thing. I do however try to follow a little bit of John Truby's method from his book, The Anatomy of Story.

Are there any books that have inspired your own writing?
I read A LOT so there are many different things that have shaped my writing over the years, but I wouldn't say there was any particular book, or books, that I was consciously looking to for inspiration while writing Meritropolis. Looking back though I can definitely see different threads of influence in almost everything I have read over the years that contribute toward making Meritropolis what it is: the strong protagonist of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series, the philosophical bent of C.S. Lewis’ fiction, the dystopian setting of Hugh Howey’s WOOL series, and many more.

Any advice for aspiring authors?
Take the first step! Just do a little at a time. If you decide writing is important to you then make time for it, be consistent, and read a lot.

Do you have any books that you would recommend to aspiring authors?
Here are some books that I highly recommend for all authors to check out:
Wordsmithy - Douglas Wilson
Bird by Bird - Anne Lamott
On Writing - Stephen King
The Anatomy of Story - John Truby
The Fire in Fiction - Donald Maas

Giveaway Details:
There is a tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:
  • $50 Amazon gift card (INT)
  • 3 x Stuffed Animals (US) 
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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#REVIEW and #GIVEAWAY: A Path in the Darkness by MD Cooper

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Path EbookThe colony ship Intrepid is falling into a star. The ship’s AI has lost control of the engines and core systems. Battling a saboteur who strives to isolate him, his last act is to wake Colonel Tanis Richards from stasis. Tanis finds herself alone on a dying ship, unable to contact the AI. She must discover what has happened and save the Intrepid from burning up in the star’s angry red light. Even if she is successful, the journey to the colony world of New Eden is just beginning. With decades of travel ahead, she will have to find a path in the darkness.

Buy on Amazon

Put Path in the Darkness on your TBR list here
 RATING: 3 stars
My Review:
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is hard-core science fiction. I'm not sure I was really ready for that after having just finished a fantasy book. This book was a level of science fiction that even as a scifi fan I wasn't quite prepared for. That being said, it was hard for me to get into having not read the first in the series.
I found the AI's were a nice way to introduce new "characters" without them having to take up physical space in the scenes. I'm not sure I liked the nano-bots, it was too easy to use them as a way to look forward during battle. I am still on the fence with the mink links between some of the characters.
If you like hard-core science fiction, this series is for you. If you like a little more fantasy mixed in, then you may not enjoy this book so much.

About the author:

Michael Cooper has been writing since the day he closed Return of the King and wanted more. He's written a lot of fantasy that he never tried to get published, but one day decided to try his hand at science fiction, of which he has published one book (Outsystem) and is working on the sequel, A Path in the Darkness. Michael is a software engineer at a company which builds sites and services around the open-source CMS named Drupal and enjoys the creativity involved in building web applications. When not writing stories or code Michael is spending time with his wife and daughter, or doing carpentry--a hobby which he has been growing over the years. His other interests include astronomy, cars and racing, blacksmithing, movies, and just about any creative work one can do.

Follow M.D. Cooper:

Facebook / Website / Amazon

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

#REVIEW: Plugged by Jill Cooper

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Lara Crane is stuck in her mind, in an indefinite stream of timelines where her life is perfect, just the way she wants it to be. But it's not real. It's all made up to give those who want to use time travel for their own personal ambitions. To give time to finish their experiments and turn Lara into a deadly time travel assassin. If Lara wants to survive and to stop them, she needs to risk her own mind and soul to get out of a prison so perfect it completes the one dream Lara has always had.   Family. Preorder on Amazon for $2.99! Read book 1 - 15 Minutes


RATING: 5 stars

REVIEW: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, this book was amazing! Very rarely do I give five stars to a book, but this book is so worthy of them, every single one of them.
The book picks up where The first left off, sort of. Lara has been captured, and is now a prisoner of the Rewind Agency. She is a prisoner in her own mind, as well, as they have her plugged into a virtual reality where she can't tell what is real and what isn't. Escape is almost impossible, but she tries.
Lara becomes a more amazing character as the series progresses. She's strong, not whiny, and goes after the future that she wants. At first I wasn't quite sure how I felt about the romance between her and Donovan, but it's grown on me. This whole reality with her mother and her step-father and siblings have grown on me. 
Donovan is sweet, and strong in his own way, as he doesn't completely flip out and call her crazy for saying she's a time traveller. He puts up with a lot, and its only his love for her that allows him to continue to believe in her up until the very end.
Do you have to read this book? Yes, but you have to read this whole series!

About the Author:

jillcooperI could write this in the third person. I could tell you what I like, where I was born, and what my favorite things are.

But instead, I'll say I don't want to write like everyone else. I don't want to craft stories you've read a thousand times before. I want my novels to be a cinematic experience, blending themes, genres, and situations unlike any you've ever read.

I want to break the rules. I want you to break out in a cold sweat as you read my books out of fear, love, and excitement. I want my books to be an experience. When you finish, I want you to feel something. Good or bad.

If you do, then I'll have succeeded. If not, I'll keep trying. Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter | Literary Addicts | Goodreads | Tsu  

Follow The Tour here

#EVENT and #GIVEAWAY: Spring Into Books Event

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Welcome to Literary Addicts' Spring into Books Event. It takes place March 25 - April 27!
Pick up a great read, enter to win prizes, and follow along on Literary Addicts for Fun Interviews, Guest Posts, and Exclusive Excerpts!
Click over to buy these fantastic reads!
15_ebookoutsystemArmoredheartsRomancingRedemptionFrontNameTheOnlyOneEbookskycity_promonotwithoutyou 3310320DeathDealer-200x300Ceaseless
  SpringgiveawayPrizes - Kandle Candle from author Tawdra Kandle Signed Outsystem and A Path in the Darkness paperbacks and swag from author MD Cooper Survivor Swag pack from author Bonnie R Paulson Signed 15 Minutes paperback and Swag from author Jill Cooper $15 Amazon Gift Card from Literary Addicts Secret Harbor paperback ARC from Taking Time for Mommy Open to US residents 18 +. Ends 4/27/15 Fill out the form to enter a Rafflecopter giveaway

#SPOTLIGHT and #GIVEAWAY: Blood Oath by Sabrina Rawson


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Title:   Blood Oath
Author:   Sabrina Rawson
Published:   March 6th, 2015
Publisher:   Titan InKorp Ltd.
Genre:  Contemporary Romance Suspense
Content Warning:   Violence, Rape, Kidnapping, PTSD, Human Trafficking, Sexual Content
Recommended Age:  17+

Synopsis:
Collin was prepared for anything, until he met her…
Collin spent fifteen years leading a team of operatives renowned for their zero failure rate of disrupting the horrors of human trafficking. Struggling with PTSD, he was ready to retire after one last mission. He had to stick to the mission and any distractions could lead to lives lost. His attraction to Madeline was instantaneous, a future filled with warm nights now possible. Meeting Madeline made him want to let life happen and she was the woman he wanted to share it with.
Madeline couldn’t believe her luck meeting Collin on her first vacation ever. She knew she was a workaholic, but she had to in order to be a successful business owner and overcome the stigma her parents had left behind. The more time spent with Collin, the more she wanted him to keep on looking at her for the rest of her life. Kidnapped, Madeline has trouble believing she can survive the abuse of her captors. Remembering who she used to be, Madeline retains hope the one man she loves will rescue her.
Neither will stop at anything until they can hold each other in their arms again.
Real life situations from human trafficking to PTSD. This story is about not giving up on life. Doing all things impossible to survive one more day.
Amazon | GoodReads

Excerpt for Blood Oath by Sabrina Rawson:
The landing didn’t prove to be too difficult and they had a two hour layover before getting on their flight to Mexico. Madeline grabbed something to eat then checked with the gate representative to make sure their luggage would make it to the correct flight on time.
With everything settled they both proceeded to sip their coffee and wait for their boarding call. Several people began to congregate in their boarding area, but both she and Shelly were content with reading from their Kindles to take much notice. There was still a half hour left before they were to board.
Shelly nudged her arm making her lose her place with reading, “What?” she hissed, not wanting to stop what she was reading.
“Check out the men at one o’clock,” Shelly whispered.
She carefully lifted her eyes and gasped audibly. In front of her were seven men. Each man was above six feet in height and extremely muscular. They were dressed in jeans, polo shirts, and casual walking shoes. She was impressed with how they looked. They appeared as if they were body builders all settled on a little vacation time like they were.
Looks like their vacation finally perked up.
Several of the men were sporting full sleeve tattoos and despite misconceptions about men with tattoos she had always found herself partial to both men who had them and those who did not.
“Guy in the dark blue shirt to the left is hot. Like fucking hot,” Shelly hissed, louder than she felt comfortable with.
“Keep it down or else someone will notice our drooling,” she hissed back, more irritated her friend had interrupted her gawking.
“I call dib’s on the man in dark blue. You touch and you break our girl code,” she said matter of fact.
“What are you twelve,” she shouted, sitting up in her seat glaring at her girlfriend. “What girl code and what the hell. It isn’t like anything has even happened yet!”
She knew she was stressed about the vacation despite their mutual pep talk earlier. She more than anything, wanted to have the romance relationship of a lifetime, but more than that just wanted to by loved and to love in return. That wasn’t too much to ask for.
Shelly just stared at her folding her arms across her chest.
“What?” she asked, feeling the headache from earlier reminding her it had not disappeared.
Gesturing with her hand Shelly waved in the direction of the men. Seven pair of eyes stared back at them for a few seconds before turning back to their private conversations.
Shelly poked her in the arm settling back to read her Kindle. Pretend to read it, she guessed.
“You screeched at me like a banshee,” she gritted out.
She picked up her tablet, heat filling her cheeks in embarrassment, “I did no such thing. You interrupted me from what I was doing and it was pretty serious,” she hissed in return. “I didn’t realize I spoke so loud.”
Placing her hand on Shelly’s arm in a gesture of peace she noticed Shelly frowned while looking down at the hand on her arm. She needed to make amends for her actions, “I’m sorry I poked you. That was completely immature of me.”
Rubbing her head with her free hand she gave up reading and closed her Kindle. “I think this headache has me acting out of character. I’m sorry for getting upset with you.”
“Hey, we’re going to have fun, men or no men. Just two women on an adventure, right?” Shelly said, leaning over to dig through her bag.
“Right,” she replied, frustrated she had acted so poorly when what Shelly had said was exactly what she had said to her earlier.
She chanced a glance back to the where the men stood and her heart stopped. The most beautiful man stared back at her. A half a foot or taller than her six foot height, his frame was completely muscular. It appeared he was pushed the limit on the polo shirt he was wearing or his muscles in his arms were going to split the seams if he moved too quickly. His stony expression hadn’t concealed his initial reaction when she first glanced up, nor did it distract her from his beauty.
His hair was sandy blonde almost a warm caramel color. She wanted to walk up to him just so she could get closer and find out if she had imagined the color or not. She could tell from where she was his eyes were bright green. He wasn’t standing more than thirty feet away, but she could tell he was very aware of his surroundings. He seemed like he was taking her in as much as she was of him except he was cataloguing everything around them simultaneously. His visual appraisal made her lick her lips in anticipation. What would he say if he knew how bad she wanted him to keep on looking at only her?
Shaking her head she dispelled their staring contest, burying her wicked thoughts. Oh, she looked at the rest of his face while they had studied each other, but it was his eyes that had held her attention. They were the same color she had imagined all her book boyfriends’ eyes looked like. She called them dream eyes. He was her dream man in the flesh.
She chuckled at her inner thoughts and began to pack up the stuff she had settled around her in preparation for the flight. What had come over her? One minute she was snapping at her best friend and the next she was mesmerized by one of the very men she had snapped at Shelly about. Maybe it was his crooked nose that had caught her attention?
The scar that ran from the side of his nose across his cheek down his throat hadn’t distracted her focus neither did his full lips. Lips she wanted to taste and feel all over her body. A body her hands itched to explore. She hadn’t seen any tattoos on his arms, but did that mean his weren’t hidden.
Flustered at where her thoughts had carried her she fidgeted with the zipper of her carryon too frustrated to pull it smoothly across its seam.
“If you pull that thing any harder the first thing we will purchase when we get there will be a new bag for you. What’s with you?” Shelly quipped, reaching over to take the bag from her before she broke the zipper. “You usually treat your luggage with delicate fingers.”
Wiping her forehead with her hand she felt like she was about to break a sweat. She knew her hot flash was because she couldn’t get rid of the images of what she wanted to happen with the man a few feet away. Naked things. Sexual things. Things she had never felt from her body before. For the first time in her life she felt desired with such intensity the feeling shocked her.
“I’m fine. A little shaken, but fine,” she admitted.
Shelly stopped what she was doing and looked at her. She tilted her head and scrutinized her with an expression she recognized as the analytical Shelly. She knew she was about to get a lecture about living in the moment, but thank God first class seats were called to board.
They rose grabbing their bags and heading embarrassingly past the men to hand the flight attendant their boarding passes. Before they walked into the Jetway, one of the men said, “The red is one classy babe, but the brunette is hot. I don’t know which one is better. They both look hot to me.”
She and Shelly gasped, but neither one of them had enough nerve to turn around. Leaving the waiting area, the last thing she heard before hurrying to their seats was an unmistakable growl followed by the possessive words that sent chills straight to her core.
“The brunette is mine.”

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About the Author:
Sabrina is a cancer survivor who recently published works with Survivor’s Review and Titan InKorp Online eMag. She has published two novels within a New Adult Urban Fantasy series called A Novel of four Realms and a new Contemporary Romance Suspense Novel series called An Eagle Operatives Novel.  She enjoys life happily married to a supportive husband. You can always find her reading a book or cooking a meal for her multitude of children.
Giveaway Details:
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