December 15, 2015

BLOG TOUR: Q&A, Review & Giveaway: My Kind of Wonderful (Cedar Ridge) by Jill Shalvis

1. Finish this sentence: My heroine will never…
Stop loving Hud Kincaid. She will however at times want to hit him over the head with the closest blunt object…

2. Finish this sentence: My hero will always…
Always always always be utterly baffled by the way the female brain works. Good thing Bailey is extra patient with him.

3. What scene from MY KIND OF WONDERFUL was the most fun to write?
Well, there were many, but the one that sticks out right now has got to be Hud’s reaction when Bailey tells him she wants a one-night stand and although her first choice is him, she is willing to make a list if he isn’t interested.

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My Kind of Wonderful (Cedar Ridge) by Jill Shalvis

Publication Date: December 22, 2015

Bailey Moore has an agenda: skiing in the Rockies, exploring castles in Europe, ballroom dancing in Argentina. Now that she has a second lease on life, she’s determined not to miss a thing. What she doesn’t realize is that item #1 comes with a six-foot-one ski god hot enough to melt a polar ice cap. She doesn’t want to miss out on him either, but Hudson Kincaid isn’t the type of guy to love and let go. And as gorgeous as Cedar Ridge is, she’s not planning to stick around.

As head of ski patrol at his family’s resort, Hud thinks he’s seen it all. But never has he run into someone like Bailey. She might look delicate, but her attitude is all firecracker. And her infectious joy touches something deep within him that he’s been missing far too long. Now he’ll just have to convince Bailey to take a chance on her biggest adventure yet . . . something rare and all kinds of wonderful.

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*Graphic from Jill Shalvis’s Facebook Page.

I enjoyed this crisp light romance. The characters are fresh and fun so that I was smiling from the start. I just love how the siblings interacted, even when they got serious; it made me feel like I was a part of it all or at least made me wish I were. Bailey was open and optimistic on a lot of things but guarded on others so she in effect, illustrated how we all think from time to time. And Hud, well he was all kinds of closed off alpha with a guarded molten center so it was enjoyable to watch how they came together with the aid of all those around them. All in all it was a fun sexy romance that still has me smiling.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kindle | Amazon PBK | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

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*Graphic from Jill Shalvis’s Facebook Page.

10 Copies of MY KIND OF WONDERFUL

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

Social Networking Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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December 8, 2015

Spotlight, Review & Giveaway: Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz

Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz

Publication Date: December 8, 2015

Genre: Romantic Suspense

No one does romantic suspense better than Jayne Ann Krentz. Now, the New York Times bestselling author of Trust No One and River Road delivers a novel that twists and turns into a read that will leave you breathless.

Madeline and Daphne were once as close as sisters—until a secret tore them apart. Now it might take them to their graves.

They knew his name, the man who tried to brutally attack twelve-year-old Madeline in her grandmother’s hotel. They thought they knew his fate. He wouldn’t be bothering them anymore…ever. Still their lives would never be the same.

Madeline has returned to Washington after her grandmother’s mysterious death. And at the old, abandoned hotel—a place she never wanted to see again—a dying man’s last words convey a warning: the secrets she and Daphne believed buried forever have been discovered.

Now, after almost two decades, Madeline and Daphne will be reunited in friendship and in fear. Unable to trust the local police, Madeline summons Jack Rayner, the hotel chain’s new security expert. Despite the secrets and mysteries that surround him, Jack is the only one she trusts…and wants.

Jack is no good at relationships but he does possess a specific skill set that includes a profoundly intimate understanding of warped and dangerous minds. With the assistance of Jack’s brother, Abe, a high-tech magician, the four of them will form an uneasy alliance against a killer who will stop at nothing to hide the truth….

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I enjoyed this mysterious who-done-it. It seems that there was danger at every turn and done so that you weren’t sure who the culprit was for sure. I wish I had warmed up to Madeline but she just didn’t do it for me so I couldn’t figure out why he fell for her. I liked Jack and his brother a lot and Madeline’s friend added to the story as well. If you like sexy murder mysteries that span decades then this is the book for you.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

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Kindle | Amazon Hardback | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

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Hardback Copy of Secret Sisters

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Jayne Ann Krentz is the author of more than fifty New York Times bestsellers. She has written contemporary romantic suspense novels under that name, as well as futuristic and historical romance novels under the pseudonyms Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick, respectively.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Complete Book List

December 7, 2015

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Feel the Burn (Dragon Kin) by G.A. Aiken

Feel the Burn (Dragon Kin) by G.A. Aiken

Publication Date: November 24, 2015

Genre: Paranormal Romance

War makes strange bedfellows.

I, Gaius Domitus, one-eyed rebel dragon king of the Provinces, know that better than most, since I have to fight off half my ungrateful family on a regular basis to keep law and order here in my lands. But I never expected to have to consort with a barbarian human woman.

Kachka is beautiful, if you like them fierce—and of course I do. But she keeps complaining about how spoiled and decadent I am, and how a feared Daughter of the Steppes has no time for foolish dragons. I think she likes my eye patch, though. It is quite dashing. With death always at our tails, we take our passion like we take our allies. As they say, love the barbarian you’re with…

Link to Follow Tour

Goodreads Link

Goodreads Series Link

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This story managed to pull about every one of our favorite characters in at some point and then introduced some new ones to join in on the mayhem. And mayhem it was. Their nemesis is gathering strength and there is danger at every turn….like normal. Sadly, the characters seemed a little ‘cold’ to me this time. It lacked chemistry between the couples, including Kachka and Gaius. I had a hard time warming up to Kachka. That was my only complaint on the story because in true fashion, Aiken had me laughing out loud and smiling when she showed that my favorite characters had not changed a bit. I can’t wait for the next book and the insanity to continue.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Gaius walked into the palace that now belonged to him and his twin. The original palace, the one his cousin Vateria and her father, Overlord Thracius, had ruled from, had been torn down. It had been partially destroyed during his sister Aggie’s rescue; then Gaius and a few chosen dragon friends had ripped apart the rest of it. He would never let that palace stand, no matter how many of his kin had lived and ruled there. Not after his sister had been held captive in that place by the bitch Vateria. They had been raised with their cousin Vateria, but from the beginning they’d never been close with her. Never trusted her. Definitely never liked her. And then, when their father was murdered by his own brother, Gaius had made it his goal to one day challenge Thracius for the throne. But, when he was old enough—and strong enough— to make that challenge, that’s when Vateria, always so very smart, had captured Aggie and held her hostage in the old palace. She knew it was the one way to control Gaius. To “keep him in his place,” as she liked to say. It had worked, too. And Aggie had been in a tolerable situation, as she was still royal born and niece of Thracius. But then Thracius went to war with the Southlanders, taking on the Dragon Queen, leaving his bitch daughter alone with Aggie. For five long, painful years.
Aggie refused to talk about what had happened, but some nights she woke up screaming. Some nights she didn’t sleep at all.
And yes, Gaius blamed himself, although he knew Aggie never did. But how could he not blame himself? His poor, weak, defenseless sister trapped in the web of that evil—
“You!” Aggie gripped Gaius’s throat, causing him to gag before yanking him into another room. “Excuse us, Lætitia,” she told their aunt before slamming the door in Lætitia’s stunned face.
“What have you done?” his sister demanded.
“That’s vague.”
“There are Mì-runach in our throne room. Why?”
“Mì-runach?” Warriors who answered to absolutely no one but the Dragon Queen herself? “Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure. Now why are they here?”
“I don’t . . . oh.” Gaius cringed. “Oh.”
“What have you done?”
“I had your best interests at heart.”
“You idiot,” Aggie sighed out just as Lætitia knocked on the door and quickly entered.
She closed the door, turned to her niece and nephew, and announced, “There are peasants in your throne room. Southland peasants!”
“They’re Mì-runach,” Aggie told her and gestured to Gaius. “That this idiot requested.”
“Gaius!”
“I did not request them.”
“Then what did you do?” his sister demanded.
“I requested help from the Dragon Queen, but . . .”
“But?”
“But I thought she’d send Cadwaladrs.” The Cadwaladrs were a Southland clan of Low Born dragons trained from hatching in the ways of war and defense of the Dragon Queen’s territories. They might not be respected, but they were greatly feared. And with reason.
“Why would you want those pit dogs here any more than you’d want the Mì-runach?”
“You need protection.”
Aggie suddenly stood tall, her spine straight, her long steel-colored hair reaching down her back in intricate braids and curls. She looked amazingly regal, which was how she always looked when she was getting defensive. “Why would I need protection?”
“Because he’s going off on a fool’s errand, that’s why.”
Gaius briefly closed his eyes. “Lætitia,” he sighed.
“What? I’m not lying. Tell me I’m lying,” she ordered. “Tell me.”
If Lætitia hoped to get Aggie on her side, she’d just failed because now the twins were giggling. Like they used to when they were hatchlings.
“The two of you! I swear by the gods.”
Aggie cleared her throat. “Aunt Lætitia, could you excuse us?”
“You’re sending me back out there? With those plebeians?”
“Or you could just go to your room. But you need to go . . . you know . . . away.”
Lætitia snatched the door open, gazed back at her niece and nephew. “Hmmph!” she snapped before walking out, making sure she slammed the door in the process.
“Mind telling me what’s going on?” Aggie asked. “You know I hate when Lætitia knows more than me. It gives her way too much enjoyment. And we both know that I can’t allow that.”

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Kindle | Amazon PBK | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Amazon Series Link: http://amzn.to/1OJnuUD

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DRAGON KIN SERIES BY G.A. AIKEN ~ READING ORDER
✦1: Dragon Actually ➢ Kindle http://amzn.to/1iumaRv
✦ “A Tale of Two Dragons” Novella (now included in Dragon Actually re-issue) ➢ Kindle http://amzn.to/1dcPfm4 | Review 4.5 Stars: http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-NO
✦2: About a Dragon ➢ Kindle http://amzn.to/17sVKQJ
✦3: What a Dragon Should Know ➢ Kindle http://amzn.to/18CVng6
✦4: Last Dragon Standing ➢ Kindle http://amzn.to/1cqQM8Y
✦ “Dragon On Top” from Supernatural ➢ Kindle http://amzn.to/17xp5Hz
✦5: The Dragon Who Loved Me ➢ Kindle http://amzn.to/1adZY8X
✦6: How to Drive a Dragon Crazy ➢ Kindle http://amzn.to/17sVuRM
✦ A Tale of Two Dragons ➢ Kindle http://amzn.to/1dcPfm4 | Review 4.5 Stars: http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-NO
✦7: Light My Fire ➢ Kindle http://amzn.to/1EXIfql | Review 5 Stars: http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-1Mi
✦8: Feel the Burn ➢ Kindle http://amzn.to/1EXIfql

*Part of the series as a prequel “Can’t Get Enough” by Shelly Laurenston from Everlasting Bad Boys ➢ Kindle http://amzn.to/16m85mG | Amazon Paperback http://amzn.to/19SHZrV

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3 Print Copies of FEEL THE BURN by G.A. Aiken

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Originally from Long Island, New York Times bestselling author G.A. Aiken has resigned herself to West Coast living, which involves healthy food, mostly sunny days, and lots of guys not wearing shirts when they really should be. Writing as Shelly Laurenston, she is also the creator of the wickedly funny Pride series for Brava. For more info about G.A. Aiken’s dangerously and arrogantly sexy dragons, go to http://www.gaaiken.com.

Author Links: Website | GoodReads | Shelly Laureson’s Website

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December 3, 2015

Review: Bring the Heat: A Sugarland Blue Novel by Jo Davis

Bring the Heat: A Sugarland Blue Novel by Jo Davis

Publication Date: December 1, 2015

The author of On the Run and the Firefighters of Station Five series once again proves that nothing is hotter than loving a man in uniform—or more dangerous…

Being on the Sugarland P.D. means never backing down, no matter how intense the case—or how dangerous the attraction…

Captain Austin Rainey knows all too well that being a good cop sometimes means gaining some bad enemies. After his ex-wife is killed, he finds himself on the wrong side of the law, trying to prove he’s innocent of her murder. The last thing he needs is a distraction—especially of the irresistible female kind…

Medical examiner Laura Eden has always found Austin more than a little intriguing, but she’s kept her feelings under wraps. Now she’s determined to do her job and clear his name—but as her investigation brings them into close proximity, she can’t deny the attraction between them—or resist the temptation he presents.

But Laura and Austin soon realize their budding feelings might be more than emotionally perilous. Someone is coming after everyone Austin holds dear—and Laura might be the next one in the line of fire…

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Wow! This is an explosive story that had me biting my nails from the start. Laura was the perfect woman to help Austin, a strong man dealing with catastrophic events, struggle through all that life has thrown at him. I loved how the author conveyed Austin’s vulnerability while maintaining his strength. That is a hard edge to balance and it was done beautifully. The officers with Sugarland have such a great relationship and the people around them pull you in so that you feel you’re a part of it all. The bad guy was horribly perfect for this story. He made me cringe and want to “go get him” like the others. If you can’t tell, I loved it.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

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Kindle | Amazon PBK | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

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✦SUGARLAND BLUE SERIES BY JO DAVIS ~ READING ORDER✦

✦Novella 0.5: Armed and Dangerous ➢ Kindle | Nook | Kobo

✦Book 1: Sworn to Protect ➢ Kindle | Amazon PBK | B&N | Kobo

✦Book 2: Hot Pursuit ➢ Kindle | Amazon PBK | B&N | Kobo | Review 4.5 Stars

✦Book 3: In His Sights ➢ Kindle | Amazon PBK | B&N | Kobo | Review 4 Stars

✦Book 4: On the Run ➢ Kindle | Amazon PBK | B&N | Kobo | Review 4.5 Stars

✦Book 5: Bring the Heat ➢ Kindle | Amazon PBK | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

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National Bestselling author Jo Davis is best known for her popular Firefighters of Station Five series written as Jo Davis, and her dark, sexy paranormal series Alpha Pack, written as J.D. Tyler. PRIMAL LAW, the first book in her Alpha Pack series, is the winner of the National Reader’s Choice Award in Paranormal. She’s also been a multiple finalist in the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, a finalist for the Bookseller’s Best Award, has captured the HOLT Medallion Award of Merit, and has been a two-time nominee for the Australian Romance Readers Award in romantic suspense.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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December 2, 2015

Spotlight, Guest Post & Review: Company of Wolves (SWAT) by Paige Tyler

This December, Paige Tyler releases the third in her action-packed SWAT series, IN THE COMPANY OF WOLVES. To celebrate the release of IN THE COMPANY OF WOLVES, Paige Tyler stopped by to tell us about one of her favorite fun loving heroes in pop culture and to share an excerpt showcasing her own hero’s fun loving side!

Paige Tyler: Everyone loves reading about alpha males, right? But of course, you can’t have a single dimensional character that’s just hardcore alpha all the time. It comes off as flat or just plain irritating. Most of the time you want to let your alpha have a lighter side, just to keep things interesting. One of my favorite fun loving heroes from popular culture is Peter Quill!

Chris Pratt gives heart, soul, humor, and muscle to everyone’s favorite Guardian of the Galaxy character. He handles the physical action sequences with ease while still looking like he might be getting through this stuff on pure luck. He’s willing to laugh at himself (remember that scene of him dancing at the end of the movie?) while risking his life. Like all alphas, he has that one particular something about him that draws other people to him and gets them to risk their lives for him. He also can’t help but attract the women at the same time, though he never comes off as a player (or an alpha-hole as I like to call them).

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Company of Wolves (SWAT) by Paige Tyler

Publication Date: December 1, 2015

Genre: Paranormal Romance

There’s a new gang of criminals in town who are organized and ruthless in the extreme. When Eric Becker, along with the rest of the Dallas SWAT team, ends up in the middle of a shootout, he immediately senses werewolves-a lot of them. Turns out, the new bad guys are a pack of wolf shifters.

In a spray of gunfire, Becker comes face-to-face with the most gorgeous woman he’s ever seen. Becker does the logical thing. He hides her and leaves the scene with the rest of his team.

Jayna Winston has no idea why that SWAT guy helped her, but she’s glad he did. Ever since she and her pack mates got mixed up with those Eastern European mobsters, everything had pretty much fallen apart.

So what’s a street-savvy thief like Jayna going to do with a hot alpha-male wolf who’s a police officer?

GOODREADS LINK

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I enjoyed reading how Jayna and Becker meet and all the trouble that caused. The action started right away and didn’t let up through the whole book, which played well with the camaraderie and closeness of the packs. With the danger and trouble surrounding them, Jayna and Becker developed a rather sweet romance that just flowed believably into their hot relationship. I’ve not read this series and had no trouble figuring things out, the first thing I figured out is that I need to get the first few books in the series and ready myself for the next.

*Review copy provided NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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One of the Albanians shouted something from the front of the store in his own language, following it up with an order to the omegas to stop wasting time and get the damn safe open. Becker ground his teeth. He should have simply kidnapped Jayna and her entire pack. Then he could have just walked into the loft and shot every one of these idiots—twice.
“Watch them,” he told Jayna, motioning to the security guard and two women. Turning, he left the break room and jogged down the hallway toward the back of the building.
“Get them back on the safe!” the Albanian driver shouted at him from the front room.
Oh yeah, sure. Stop two morons from raping a woman and get them back on task. What the hell was he—a daycare worker for omega werewolves?
Shit. If this was how criminals behaved, it was no wonder he and his SWAT teammates took so many of them down. They were too stupid to live. Then again, maybe this was how Gage felt some days. The SWAT pack could occasionally be a little stupid too. Becker’s current predicament was a shining example of that.
The omega standing guard in the hallway outside the manager’s office glared at him. “We got this. Go back and babysit the old folks.”
What a complete ass, Becker thought as he walked up and punched the guy in the face. The werewolf flew backward and bounced off the wall, bleeding like crazy from a broken nose as he fell to the floor in a dazed heap. He was still moving around though, reminding Becker that it was as hard to knock out an omega as it was to knock out an alpha. He’d have to remember that.
Becker strode into the office to find the store manager on the floor beside her desk, the other omega—the one who liked to play with his platinum medallion—leaning over her menacingly. He’d torn her blouse and was telling her all the horrible things he planned to do to her if she didn’t open the safe. The idiot was so intent on threatening her that he didn’t realize Becker was there until he yanked the guy to his feet and spun him around, then smashed the back of his head into the nearest hard object he could find—the safe panel. Becker pounded his head into the safe a few times before letting him fall to the floor. The asshole was definitely out cold.
Becker turned and looked at the shop manager. She cringed away from him, terror in her eyes as she tried to hold the tatters of her blouse together. He really wished he could pull up his ski mask. Seeing him like this definitely wasn’t helping.
Do you have an alarm button in this room?” he asked in his softest, least intimidating voice.
The woman stared at him for a moment like he was insane, then motioned under the desk with a shaking hand.
“Would you mind pushing it for me?” he asked.
Now she looked really confused. But she slowly reached under the desk and poked around until a loud alarm started ringing.
“Thanks.” Becker bent down to take the platinum medallion out of the omega’s vest and slip it into his pocket. “By the way, that diamond merchant you bought from in New York sold you out to a really bad guy. You probably don’t want to buy from him anymore.” Turning, he jogged out of the room and down the hallway to the front of the store. “Time to leave. Moron hit the alarm.”
Jayna was heading his way in a flash, the two Albanians right behind her.
“What about the safe?” the driver asked.
Becker shook his head. “It’s a no-go. Our guy smashed the keypad.”
The Albanians muttered something in their native language and shook their heads, as if they’d seen this coming. They stepped over the omega who was still rolling around in a daze on the floor in the hallway and raced out the back door. In the distance, sirens echoed in the air. About damn time. Becker motioned Jayna out.
“What about him?” she asked, jerking her head at the werewolf still trying to get to his knees.
Becker nudged the omega with his boot, pushing him back down. The guy looked like he really didn’t want to bother getting up this time.
“What about him?” Becker said, holding the door open for her.

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Kindle: http://amzn.to/1lqEQdp
Amazon PBK: http://amzn.to/1SSCPS
Apple: http://apple.co/1jDW2eF
BAM: http://bit.ly/1Wgsjd3
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1L25iPs
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Chapters: http://bit.ly/1jPkNEZ

Amazon Series Link: http://amzn.to/1PuOZmi

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Paige is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy romantic suspense and paranormal romance. She graduated from The University of West Florida with a degree in education in 2000, but decided to pursue a full-time career as a writer in 2004. Since then, she’s written over fifty books in several genres, including paranormal, contemporary, western, sci-fi and erotica. She loves writing about strong, sexy, alpha males and the feisty, independent women who fall for them. From verbal foreplay to sexual heat, her stories of romance, adventure, suspense, passion and true love will leave you breathlessly panting for more.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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December 1, 2015

Spotlight, Review & Giveaway: BLOOD KISS: The Black Dagger Legacy Series by J.R. Ward

BLOOD KISS: The Black Dagger Legacy Series by J.R. Ward

Publication Date: December 1, 2015

Kindle: http://amzn.to/1BlQjuG
Amazon PBK: http://amzn.to/1NXGNbe
B&N: http://bit.ly/1bFcEyz
Amazon PBK: http://amzn.to/1NXGNbe
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1HUkrD9
iBooks: http://apple.co/1BIx5nN

The legacy of the Black Dagger Brotherhood continues in a spin-off series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author…

Paradise, blooded daughter of the king’s First Advisor, is ready to break free from the restrictive life of an aristocratic female. Her strategy? Join the Black Dagger Brotherhood’s training center program and learn to fight for herself, think for herself…be herself. It’s a good plan, until everything goes wrong. The schooling is unfathomably difficult, the other recruits feel more like enemies than allies, and it’s very clear that the Brother in charge, Butch O’Neal, a.k.a. the Dhestroyer, is having serious problems in his own life.

And that’s before she falls in love with a fellow classmate. Craeg, a common civilian, is nothing her father would ever want for her, but everything she could ask for in a male. As an act of violence threatens to tear apart the entire program, and the erotic pull between them grows irresistible, Paradise is tested in ways she never anticipated–and left wondering whether she’s strong enough to claim her own power…on the field, and off.

J.R Ward’s Goodreads Message: http://bit.ly/1CdXeqK

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Wow! This book had it all and checked all my requirements plus a few more. I’ll be honest, the last few books in the BDB world just didn’t pull me in like the original stories. This book grabbed me by the neck and wouldn’t let go. I love the fun of a new romance with all the nerves and fumbling around, you add some hot sex and I’m hooked. The training program was perfect and had me tense and wondering how things would turn out but it honed some great new characters. Don’t worry, they aren’t all new, the brothers made it feel like I was coming home without getting bogged down in history. It all just worked with the danger, tension, romance and humor. I will also add that it didn’t get too convoluted and instead was a well thought out story that I plan to read again. Yep. I’m still in their world long after I closed the book.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

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The original BDB books are back! I love the BDB series but the first couple books are my favorites. Blood Kiss is the first book in J.R. Ward’s spinoff series, The Black Dagger Legacy. It focuses on the training center and the recruits. Blood Kiss started off with a bang and kept me glued to the pages. I loved the new characters and I loved the brothers leading the training. Butch and Marissa had large parts in the book and we got a lot of the fun banter between the guys. I fell in love with Craeg and I was routing for Paradise. I don’t want to say too much and spoil any of the story so I’ll just say if you’re a BDB fan you’re going to LOVE this new series! When I finished Blood Kiss I felt like I did when I finished Dark Lover. I wanted to read and experience the story again. I wanted to tell all my friends about it and make them read it so I could talk to them about it. It was just that special and epic. I can’t wait for the next book!

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

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PAPERBACK OR EBOOK COPY

ENTER ON FACEBOOK POST HERE

*Winner will be announced Friday (12/4) by 5PM CST.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

WINNER IS KELLI BUTLER

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Invite from Wrath! This was just awesome! #BonniePuppy our Reading in Pajamas mascot Approved this book:)

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J.R. Ward is the number one New York Times bestselling author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series of vampire books. She is a winner of the prestigious Romance Writers of America RITA award for Best Paranormal Romance and is a multiple RITA nominee. A graduate of Smith College, she was a double major in History and Art History with a medieval concentration in both and she still longs at times for a return to those days sitting in dark lecture halls, looking at slides of old triptychs and reliquaries. Prior to becoming a full time writer, she was a corporate attorney, serving for many years as the Chief of Staff of one of Harvard Medical Schools premier teaching sites. Her idea of absolute heaven is a day filled with nothing but her computer, her dog and her coffee pot and the Brothers, of course.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Website | Facebook | Twitter

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JOIN THE BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION IN OUR PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP

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We’ll have a private event set up for the month of December in the group where you can stop by and chat about the book.

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November 30, 2015

Spotlight, Review & Giveaway: A SEAL Forever (West Coast Navy SEALs, Book 3) by Anne Elizabeth

A SEAL Forever (West Coast Navy SEALs, Book 3) by Anne Elizabeth

Publication Date: December 1, 2015

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Even a hero needs someone to believe in him…

Parkour instructor Maura Maxwell has always denied her attraction for her bachelor neighbor because she’s seen his revolving door of women and doesn’t want to become another notch on his belt. But the man who rescues her from a sudden storm isn’t the one she thinks she knows—he’s Master Chief Declan Swifton of SEAL Team Five, and he literally sweeps Maura off her feet.

Just as his teasing and tenderness start to work their way into Maura’s heart, Declan and his team are called in for a dangerous op in the Middle East. The man who returns is facing the toughest fight of his life, and he needs Maura by his side more than ever…

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I enjoyed the story but wish that the characters were given more depth so I could relate to them more. That being said, it was a nice sweet romance that gave you plenty to think about. The courage and strength they had pushed them to fulfil their lives and show that love is a precious thing.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Master Chief Declan Swifton of SEAL Team Five rolled over the side of the Rigid-hulled Inflatable Boat and slid soundlessly into the Pacific Ocean. The RIB took off without even a comment from the operator, leaving Declan to sink farther into the drink.
The temperature cooled as he swam away from the surface. Fish skirted the edges of his thighs, small shimmers of movement against his skin. He scissor-kicked his way forward. The ocean currents caught him, dragging him in the direction they wanted to go, toward shore. He lay with his arms at his sides, frog-kicking only. Above him, he could see the afternoon sunlight glistening and frothy foam chasing away the glassy surface. Down here things were different…calmer. Peaceful, in a way few souls would understand, and yet he knew that even he would have to surface soon.
His lungs would start to ache and burn, his gut would begin to feel as if it would cave in, and that would force him to either head topside or drink in the salt water. But there was still time. This was the water in front of Imperial Beach and the apartment he lived in. He knew it very well.
Scanning the ocean floor, he gauged it would be about thirty seconds until he reached one of the many rocky sandbars out here. He’d have to pull up before then, or the force of the current would smack him against the side.
As his body began to complain, he used both arms and legs to draw himself upward. Breaking the surface, he opened his mouth and drew in air like a thirsty man would gulp water.
The waves bounced him like a buoy. The tide was coming in and the wind was picking up momentum. Looking at the sky to the east, he could see that there would most likely be a storm today. Over his should, to the west, he spied a wave coming his way large enough to take him to shore. It would reach him in about thirty seconds.
Dec took a long, slow breath and appreciated the sun dropping into the horizon. The colors were extraordinary; orange and gold dappled the horizon as the blazing ball of light attempted to sink before the moon lifted higher in the sky.
His hands flexed, cupping the water. It had been a hot day, and the sun’s rays had heated the top of the ocean, making the surface feel like a warm bath, loosening his muscles. Three months ago, he’d been in waters so frigid, with actual ice caps—the memory still made him cold. But here, the Pacific Ocean off California’s Imperial Beach, was a slice of heaven.
Coming in from the east were some nasty-looking cumulonimbus clouds. Seeing the lightning arc way off toward the distant desert, he decided it was time to go in, and right on cue, here came a perfect wave.
Swimming at top speed, Declan pushed his way through another changing current, one that sought to drag him into faster-moving waters. He went over a higher sandbar, having no intention of going to Mexico today, and increased the reach of his stroke. With single-mindedness he worked his way into the more placid surf as he homed in on a large stretch of beach.
The SEAL felt a few sea lions swimming around him, and one nosed him in the gut and another in his back a few times, assessing whether or not he’d play. Not this time, my friends. He continued swimming without engaging. If he stopped to play, he’d be out there for hours.
Switching to the breaststroke, his arms protested. His platoon had switched their training this month to desert-warfare techniques, and he’d been sweating his balls off in the heat. He managed to learn a thing or two, even now, after all of his years in the Teams. But it felt good to be back in the ocean, his element. He’d live in the deep blue like a Jules Verne character if he could.

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A Navy SEALs Fun Fact from Anne Elizabeth

The mind follows the body and the body follows the mind—be thoughtful in how you feed it.

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Kindle $6.15 http://amzn.to/1X1cQsy
Amazon PBK $7.99 http://amzn.to/1NVbWNR
Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1O3JffD
Apple: http://apple.co/1M6H7Dj
Books a Million: http://bit.ly/1M6Hrlt
Indie Bound: http://bit.ly/1O3JEPe

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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New York Times bestselling author Anne Elizabeth is an award-winning romance author and comic creator. With a BS in business and MS in communications from Boston University, she is a regular presenter at conventions as well as a member of The Author’s Guild and Romance Writers of America. Anne lives with her husband, a retired Navy SEAL, in the mountains above San Diego.

Social Networking Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

November 29, 2015

Spotlight & Review: Make Me Stay (Hope, Book 5) by Jaci Burton

Make Me Stay (Hope, Book 5) by Jaci Burton

Publication Date: December 1, 2015

The New York Times bestselling author of Love After All and the Play-by-Play series delivers a new novel about how love sometimes has plans of its own.

Having left his hometown of Hope years ago, only one thing could persuade architect Reid McCormack to come home for a lengthy stay—the challenge of renovating a historic building. But once the job is finished, he’ll be headed back to Boston, no matter how much he’s drawn to beautiful florist Samantha Reasor.

Samantha watches over her elderly grandmother and pours a piece of herself into every floral creation she designs. Her crush on Reid has been blooming for a while now, but she’s reluctant to act on it. A temporary fling isn’t what she’s looking for, even if Reid is smoking hot and super sexy. She wants a real, permanent, forever kind of love.

Two people with different goals couldn’t possibly work, and yet as their attraction grows into something deeper, maybe falling in love is the one thing Samantha and Reid can build a future on.

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I immediately fell for Reid and Sam, not to mention all their friends and family. This story just made me feel a part of everything going on from the start, which is just the way I like it. Make Me Stay is a feel-good romance that has you smiling and also getting a little choked-up at times. I especially loved the dog who bears a strikingly similar name to my cat…for the same reason too. I loved it!

*Review copy provided by Pengiun in exchange for an honest review.

Read Excerpt Here: http://jaciburton.com/books/stay.php#excerpt

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Kindle | Amazon PBK | B&N | Kobo | iBooks

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The Hope Series by Jaci Burton – Amazon Series Link
Novella: Hope Smolders
Book 1: Hope Flames
Book 2: Hope Ignites
Book 3: Hope Burns
Book 4: Love After All
Book 5: Make Me Stay

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After spending too many years to count in the high stress business world, New York Times and USA Today Bestelling Author Jaci Burton is happy to be living her dream of writing passionate romance. She has written over forty-five novels and is contracted to write ten more. Jaci has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business that she is thrilled not to be using in the corporate environment anymore. She grew up in Missouri but migrated to California, where she lived for thirteen years, but now makes her home in Oklahoma with her husband and five dogs. She enjoys being outdoors in the summer and she and her husband are avid Harley riders.

Jaci writes in multiple genres, from erotic romance to romantic suspense to contemporary romance. She has won the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award, and has been nominated for the award four times. She has been a finalist in the Bookseller’s Best and National Reader’s Choice Awards, and has won The Romance Studio’s CAPA Award four times.

Social Media Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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ENTER JACI BURTON’S CONTEST ON HER SITE HERE: http://jaciburton.com/contest.php#enter

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November 28, 2015

Review: Mischief Under the Mistletoe: Holiday Hotties Just Waiting To Be Unwrapped

Mischief Under the Mistletoe: Holiday Hotties Just Waiting To Be Unwrapped

Nineteen contemporary holiday hotties, just waiting to be unwrapped from your favorite NY Times, USA Today, Amazon Bestselling, and Award Winning Authors. This anthology won’t last long. Grab it while it’s HOT!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1LwTHOe
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1fCHBF1
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1NQIuFV
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1UZ8AdV
iBooks: http://apple.co/1JblRsq
Nook: http://bit.ly/1NDf7Jb

Mischief Under the Mistletoe Box Set Includes:

Kristin Miller – The Bad Boy Meets his Match
When lingerie-store owner Cora Brennan plans a getaway at a quaint mountain retreat, she never expects to reunite with the playboy she spent a memorable night with in college. Can they finally admit their true feelings for each other before love is lost to them again?

Claudy Conn – Collide & Burn
Charlie knows when she first sees Wade Devon that he is trouble. Wade likes to win. It is what he does and he wants her…no strings attached. She has to ask herself, should she, or shouldn’t she.

Melanie James – Snowflakes, Exes, and Ohs
With two men vying for her affection, Abbie’s heart is torn between the two. One has always been there for her, no matter what. The other left when she needed him the most.

Mindy Klasky – Fly Me to the Moon
Lexi thinks she’s recovered from the fire that burned her years ago. But when she falls for PTSD-ridden army veteran Finn, she learns how deep some scars can be.

Holly S. Roberts – Ruck
Van, one of the best players in rugby and the hottest player between the sheets is looking for a holiday miracle. His brother won the girl and Van’s heart is broken. Could the gift of a lifetime be his for the taking or will this bad boy ruck it up again?

Stephanie Rowe – Wrapped Up In You
Can the Christmas magic of a coastal Maine island heal two broken souls when a winter storm strands them together?

Diane Rinella – It’s A Marshmallow World
One Christmas, Darla was given a mystical gift, along with an ominous message. Years later, meeting Chris puts her head in a spin. Could it be that gift from long ago holds the key to their happiness?

Kate Angell – Snow One Like You
A Vermont Christmas Eve blizzard forces Allie to close Hartley’s General Store. Her best friend Rhys arrives by snowmobile, not wanting her to endure the snowstorm alone. A playful kiss under the mistletoe warms more than their hearts.

Kimberly Kincaid – Play Me
Sophie Drayton has seen enough of the wild life to know that Emilio Barrett is bad news. But the sexy stripper has secrets of his own. Will Sophie’s past come back to haunt her, or will Emilio prove that a bad boy can be also be a good man?

J.D.Tyler – One Last Miracle
After a case gone horribly wrong, FBI Agent Mark McClendon retreats to his late grandfather’s isolated cabin, determined to escape his pain. He’s completely unprepared to find himself falling for his pretty new neighbor–but when the past comes gunning for him, Mark’s newfound love may mean the difference between a second tragedy and a holiday miracle.

Robin Covington – When You Open Your Eyes
War tore Gabe and Ellie apart and three years later, he’s almost given up any hope that she’ll come back to him. When she returns just before the holidays, he wants nothing more for the damaged, stubborn woman he loves to stay forever but she’s ready to run as soon as the gifts are opened. Chased by her nightmares, Gabe’s only hope of keeping Ellie is to convince her that he’ll be there when she opens her eyes.

Suzanne Ferrell- Close To The Mistletoe
When teacher Holly Murphy walks into Westen’s only bar to help her friend celebrate a divorce, she doesn’t expect hot carpenter Nick Fisher to save her from an embarrassing situation. His heated kisses awakens something deep inside her, but when someone sets his sights on Holly, will Nick be the one to protect her close to the mistletoe?

Kathy Ivan – Yours For The Holidays
At her hospital’s annual Bachelor Auction, event organizer, Dr. Alanna Reeves, is blindsided when the tables are turned and Blake Donovan offers a huge donation–for her! Can a trip to Florida for the holidays help them discover their true feelings or drive them apart forever?

Selena Laurence – Prince of the Press
Marcus Ambrose, the newest face in political media, is one hot ticket. But when he meets his brother’s down-to-earth secretary Renee, his own heart takes a knock. Can Marcus’s famous ‘full-court press’ convince the woman of his dreams to take a shot at love?

Jennie Marts – Worth the Shot
Addison Cavanaugh had one rule: Do not date hockey players. So kissing the newest trade to her dad’s team should have been off-limits–even if he is hot enough to melt the ice. Is the new player worth the shot or is she is risking her heart in a game she can’t possibly win?

Teri Riggs – Finding True’s Love
Six months after True’s last boss viciously attacked her, she’s ready to take her therapist’s advice and go back into the work force. She wants her life to be normal again and working for another man will be a giant step towards that goal. Nick has been betrayed by a pretty face for the last time and has sworn off relationships. Or so he thought until the day his new assistant, True Kelly, walked into his office.

Jennifer Theriot – Unwrapping Noel
Noel Calabrese hates Christmas as much as she hates her life. While in the Napa Valley on a business trip, she meets Leon Hallas. Could this sexy, silver fox be her ticket to happiness?

MJ Fredrick – Bluestone Christmas
Come back to Bluestone, Minnesota for Christmas, where single mom Willow Branson has moved from Texas to make a home with her daughter. But moving from a Texas winter to a Minnesota one is more challenging than she expected, and handsome handyman Chase Granzer is more than happy to help her adapt…and keep her warm.

Deb Julienne – All I Want For Christmas
Rafe Donnelly hates everything to do with the holidays. Ali Sanders is a single mother, juggling two jobs and missing most of her son’s childhood. Who knew a little boy’s Santa wish could change so many lives?

Wow, this collection of 19 stories has something for everyone. From sweet to spicy and everything in between. I didn’t read one where I didn’t smile and a few had me purring too. Some of them were longer than the others but each one had something to add. Besides, they were perfect for reading in between household chores. Now I can mention the price! I can’t believe you get so much for so little. I had planned to write a little something about each story but the review would be the length of one of the stories so I will let you read the synopsis and anticipate like I did. I enjoyed this anthology and can only imagine the fun the authors had writing it.

*Review copy purchased on Amazon.

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November 25, 2015

Blog Tour: Q&A, Review & Giveaway: Dragon Storm by Katie MacAlister

Do you have any favorite book boyfriends of your own?

Oh, mercy, just line my books up and start reading off the hero names. I’ve said before that I write books for myself first, and that’s absolutely true. I love all of my heroes, and it’s only because publishers won’t let me write all the heroines as me that I bother with writing those dishy men females who are worthy of them.

Outside of my books, I was one of those girls who grew up with the hots for Sherlock Holmes. As an adult, I’ve been quite fond of several of Georgette Heyer heroes, particularly those who give in to their senses of humor (Sir Tristram from Talisman Ring, and Freddy Standen from Cotillion).

What are five books on your nightstand/ bookshelf?

This is going to be a very disappointing answer, I fear. Right now on my nightstand are Sol y Viento (a Spanish textbook), Art: A Brief History by Marilyn Stokstad (an art history textbook), History of Italian Renaissance Art by Frederick Hartt and David Wilkins, Introduction to Forensic Science by Richard Saferson, and Step Aside, Popsm a Hark! A Vagrant Collection by Kate Beaton.

What’s your favorite quote or scene from your book?

I think the scene where Gary meets Jim is one of my faves. Especially since Gary is showing off, and Jim is instantly jealous of Gary’s toys.

If your couple’s relationship had a theme song, what would it be?

Roar by Katy Perry. The need to rise above people who want to put you down is pertinent to both hero and heroine. Plus I can see them both singing it loudly.

Tell us about the cover process. Is this what you had in mind?

I’m lucky in that my publishers have excellent art departments who take a few bits of scattered ideas that I pry out of my brain, and turn them into gorgeous covers, usually involving lick-worthy men. And this cover is no different. It’s not a bad thing to find yourself stroking a book cover, is it?

Where do you find inspiration for you writing? Do you use real people/places as a foundation?

I’ve always told myself stories, so writing is really just an extension of that. My inspiration is my muse, who I picture as a bon-bon eating diva who reclines of fainting couches a lot, waving a languid hand whenever she wants something, and basically ruling me with threats of going away on vacation if I attempt to work her too hard. I seldom use real people in my books, since the people in my head are much more flawed and thus suitable for me to torment, but I do use as many real locations as I possibly can. I rely heavily on past trips to Europe as the source of many locations, and those I haven’t visited I usually research by finding people who live there, and haunting online webcams, and photo galleries.

Do you have any hobbies or activities that you enjoy outside of writing?

When my arthritic hands let me, I like to spin wool into yarn, knit, and sew a variety of things that never quite turn out as I’ve envisioned. I’m a gamer girl, as well, so I’m online in games like World of Warcraft, Guild Wars 2, Star Wars The Old Republic, Hearthstone, Lord of the Rings Online, and way too many other games.

I’ve also decided to go back to school, and am enjoying online classes at Fort Hays State University so I can add a history degree to my list of credentials.

Would the 10 year-old version of yourself kick your butt or praise you for what you’ve accomplished in life?

Oh, she’d be thrilled that I’ve survived the last few years, since they included everything from the death of my husband to moving to a new house. And I think she’d be quite happy with the body of work I’ve produced in the last ten years, although I know she’d tell me I should stop insisting on having time off between books, and instead write non-stop.

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Dragon Storm by Katie MacAlister

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publication Date: November 24, 2015

TURN ON THE CHARM

According to some (including himself), Constantine is one of the greatest heroes of dragonkin who ever lived. Too bad he’s now lonelier than ever and his biggest adventure involves a blow-up sheep-until he has an opportunity to save his kind once again. All Constantine has to do is break into a demon’s dungeon, steal an ancient artifact, and reverse a deadly curse. The plan certainly does not involve rescuing a woman . . .

TURN UP THE HEAT

Bee isn’t sure whether to be infuriated or relieved when Constantine pops up in her prison. The broody, brawny shifter lights her fire in a way no one ever has before, yet how far can she really trust him? Their chemistry may be off the charts, but when push comes to shove, Constantine will have to make a crucial choice: to save the dragons or the woman he’s grown to love with fierce intensity.

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This is another zany fast paced look into the Dragon Fall world. Granted it took me a while to warm up to Constantine as he was rather stiff and Bee was a little too caustic. I couldn’t quite figure out how they became attracted to each other. Once they did they changed and I really liked them. Of course they’re surrounded by the dragons and other magical folk that we met in book one. I loved the fun story but wish that the characters would get a little warmer so instead of just laughing and enjoying the story, we grow to care about them more. That being said, I am more than ready to read the next installment to see just where the story is going and what new strange people we’ll be introduced too. It should be fun.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kindle $6.99 http://amzn.to/1X1aSID
Amazon PBK $6.79 http://amzn.to/1lqD1x4
B&N http://bit.ly/1OFgvN4
iBooks http://apple.co/1jQSK7v
Kobo http://bit.ly/1QNqSft

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BOOK 1 is on SALE until 11/30.

✦$1.99 SALE ➢ Dragon Fall by Katie MacAlister
Kindle http://amzn.to/1IpbpQX
REVIEW: http://wp.me/p3d0RZ-2NQ

5 Print Copies of Dragon Storm

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For as long as she can remember Katie MacAlister has loved reading, and grew up with her nose buried in a book. It wasn’t until many years later that she thought about writing her own books, but once she had a taste of the fun to be had building worlds, tormenting characters, and falling madly in love with all her heroes, she was hooked.

With more than fifty books under her belt, Katie’s novels have been translated into numerous languages, been recorded as audiobooks, received several awards, and are regulars on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. A self-proclaimed gamer girl, she lives in the Pacific Northwest with her dogs, and frequently can be found hanging around online.

Social Media Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads