Blog Tour Review of Chocolate Aftertaste by Liz Grace Davis

Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: April 2, 2012

Buying Links: Amazon    Barnes & Noble   The Book Depository

Book Blurb (from goodreads):

At her pre-wedding dinner, Nora Darkin, the daughter of a wealthy entrepreneur, discovers her fiancé is not the man she thought he was. As her father hoists his glass to toast them, she makes an announcement: there will be no wedding to her father's right-hand man.

Due to the fresh rift driven between her and her father, Nora escapes to the quaint town of Dreara. Determined to live her life her own way, she makes new friends and pursues her lifelong desire of becoming a chef. Ethan Danes, a neighbour with his own broken heart, helps soothe hers.

Just as Nora discovers what it means to be happy, and she begins to fall in love with Ethan, a woman from his past re-enters his life.

Reviewed By: Bea

Bea's Thoughts:

Not long after downloaded this book I got an email about a blog tour for it from Sizzling PR. Since I was planning on reading the book anyway, I thought "Why not?" so I signed up. "Chocolate Aftertaste" is part womens fiction and part romance. Nora spends much of the novel learning about herself and changing her life; she also re-examines her relationships with both her father and her fiance and makes new friendships. Along the way, she falls in love and also reconnects with an old flame. There's an HEA at the end, but Davis kept me on toes trying to guess who Nora would end up with.

I really enjoyed reading about Nora's life changes and her growth. I loved that instead of sitting around, whining, she recognized her contributions to her problems and set about making deliberate changes. She thought about what she wanted, took steps to make it happen, and dealt with the consequences. She was uncertain at times and still made some poor choices but overall, she moved forward while growing emotionally.

The love story part of the book was a little soap operaish at times. Over the course of the book, she is involved with three men, and is engaged to or seriously considers marrying each of them. Now, I liked Nora but she didn't strike me as a woman who would attract so many men. It felt over the top at times. Of the three men, Ethan gets the most story time. I would have liked more development of both Liam and Shane. Liam disappears from the story somewhat abruptly which surprised me. Given what we'd seen of him, I expected retaliation on his part and not just slinking away quietly. I disagreed with Nora's ultimate choice but I understand why she chose whom she did.

I enjoyed the book: it was a quick easy read, I liked Nora and could relate to her struggles, and Davis had a knack for drawing you in and keeping you reading. While I enjoyed the romance angle, my favorite part of the book was Nora's making a new life for herself; the choices she makes, the people she meets and befriends, the challenging relationship with her father, etc. I enjoyed "Chocolate Aftertaste" and will probably read it again.

I own this ebook.

Sunday Book Share #3

I'm participating in both The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Stacking the Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Each meme allows book bloggers the chance to share books they've received, and different posts and events at their blog. 

So, I've been somewhat inactive the past few weeks. The new school year is kicking my butt; I'm exhausted every day, and every night I end up falling asleep on the couch. I've also still been recovering from my surgery; there were lingering side effects. Happily, those finally cleared up last week, just in time for surgery number 2 on Tuesday. I have some blog tours in the next few weeks but otherwise the blog will probably continue to be on the quiet side. My focus right now needs to be on my jobs and my health. 

Guest Posts: Romance Author Em Petrova    Romantic Suspense Author Trish McCallan

Excerpt: The Soul Within, an erotic paranormal romance

Review: Beneath A Rising Moon, posted at Romance at Random

Cover reveal: Forged In Ash by Trish McCallan

Spotlight: Rafael: The Santiago Brothers Book One by Victoria Chase 

Giveaway: Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs (now over)

News: Fantasy Pin Up Calendar     Lori Foster Caption Contest     Absent, Sorry

Review

I was particularly excited to receive The Purple Shroud and Alpha and Omega: Cry Wolf. The latter is a revised version of the graphic novel originally issued by Dynamite Entertainment; the new version is put out by InkLit, Berkley's new graphic novel division. The Purple Shroud is the continuation of Empress Theodora's story; I read and reviewed the first book last fall and have been anxiously waiting for this book. I'm not usually a historical fan but that book grabbed me.

Won

I have two of this book actually: I got an eGalley from the publisher and also won it at goodreads. Heh, I guess I really wanted it. :D

Library

There was a lot of talk about this series and author on twitter and I decided to give it a try. I'm reading it now and enjoying it.

Bought

It's Iron Druid, nuff said. :D

I also downloaded many kindle freebies; in one day alone I got 20 of them. Ooops. 

I'll try to get around to your blogs this week, it will depend on how I feel. Have a great week and don't forget to leave the link to your sharing post.

Meet the Hollis Boys - Hot & Sexy Ranchers: Guest Post by Em Petrova

Today it's my pleasure to have erotic romance author Em Petrova as a guest. Em and I "met" when she was the head of the editing team I was on at Astraea PRess. She's since moved on to other ventures, but when she was looking for blogs for her tour, I happily volunteered.

Em lives in backwoods Pennsylvania, where she raises four kids and a Labradoodle puppy named Daisy Hasselhoff and pays too damn much for utilities. She loves to write gritty characters with lots of heart and is well-known for scorching, panty-soaking menage a trois stories.

Today Em is going to introduce to some of the men from her series, "The Hollis Boys", so grab a cool drink and get ready for introductions. No need to be formal, the boys like to get up close and personal. :P

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When I first sat down with my hunky hero from OUTLAWS OF LOVE, I immediately knew this man was part of a big, supportive, shoot ‘em up family. This prosperous ranching family is so full of testosterone, they have their own zip code in a time when tumbleweeds defined boundaries.

Picture a spread covering miles, the finest horseflesh dotting the land. And a valley where several big homes sprawl into one big homestead. This is the Hollis Ranch, owned by four brothers, who married the perfect little ladies and produced three rugged cowboys each. Now these twelve Hollis Boys are on the prowl for trouble—and romance!

Xander Hollis stars in the first book of the series, Outlaws of Love. Xander is deemed an outlaw when he starts robbing from the rich railroad and giving back to the poor people of Texas. With the help of his smoldering sidekick James, they dig themselves deep in the trenches of trouble and find love with the railroad owner’s daughter, Annabelle.

Xander’s two brothers, twins Drew and Dam (short for Adam), are at this moment scheming up ways to disentangle themselves from a predicament of their own. I look for them to appear in the fourth Hollis Boys story!

Graham, a dark, tormented ex-soldier for the South, secretly weds a sweet country girl and invites the ire of a plotting ranch hand, as well as some ghosts from his past, in TRAIL OF LUST. His brothers Nolan and Clay—with the rest of the family—jump in to help.

Nolan’s book, WILD WILD HEARTS, releases September 4, 2012, and involves a deep secret he keeps from his family. The dedication in this book says, “For all those who long to be free.” I hope this gives you a sense of the content!

Now to meet the rest of the Hollis crew, all ripped half-dozen of them. Each makes a cameo appearance in the first three books. Calvin, Stowe, and Newlin are secretive men who haven’t yet whispered to me, but it’s only a matter of time before I crack their hard, yummy shells. And Peter, Kel, and Whitfield are ruthless businessmen who look to expand their family’s ranch by reaching across the vast territories of Texas.

I’m so excited to delve into these characters’ lives in the future and find out what makes them tick. Matching them up with the perfect leading ladies and men is going to be an adventure—one I can’t wait to embark upon! I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know my ‘boys’ too.

And thanks to Bea for allowing me to hijack her blog for a day! Happy reading!

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Wild Wild Hearts
By: Em Petrova
Publisher: Loose ID
ISBN: 978-1-62300-027-1
Genre: FICTION, ROMANCE, EROTICA, HISTORICAL
Format: EBOOK
Length: 231 KB
Release Date: September 3, 2012
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Buying Links:  Amazon    Loose Id   ARe

Book Blurb (from publisher):

Lady Sofia is one of the most sought-after women on the frontier. But her “boss” calls the shots from what she may eat to who she spends the night with. Recently he's asked too much when he demands she and her long-time lover Isaac use their charms to seduce a man she wants to tangle limbs with all too much.

With Sofia, Isaac Strong is part of a two-for-one deal known as the “Jade Pair” for the color of their eyes. When the rugged Nolan Hollis walks into their lives, Isaac's yearnings kick like a wild stallion. But will the honorable man want anything to do with them, especially once he discovers the Jade Pair's mission is to steal a prized object from the Hollis family?

Nolan must have the stunning saloon girl, even if it means she comes packaged with Isaac. Soon Nolan is equally as drawn to the quiet and handsome man. While he struggles not to lose his heart to his lovers from the wrong side of humanity, he works to hide his rendezvous from his family. But soon Nolan realizes his lovers intend to steal more than his heart...

Note:This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: anal play/intercourse, menage (m/m/f).

So, if you like your love stories smoking hot and dirty, go pick up "Wild Wild Hearts" or one of the other Hollis boys, and then come on back and share your thoughts!

Em, thanks for visiting and best of luck with the new book. :)

Win A Trip To Lori Foster's Annual Reader & Author Get Together.

Romance author Lori Foster has been publishing since January 1996, and has been a Waldenbooks, Borders, USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of publishers, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette and Samhain. She is currently with Berkley/Jove.

Lori believes it’s important to give back to the community as much as possible, and for that reason she runs special contests in conjunction with a publisher, facilitating many first sales for new authors. She routinely organizes events among authors and readers to gather donations for various organizations.

Along with her good friend, Duffy Brown, Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.

Harlequin is hosting a caption contest to celebrate the release of her latest novel,"Run the Risk", where you have a chance to win a trip to West Chester, Ohio, to meet Lori Foster at her 2013 Annual Reader & Author Get Together. To enter, submit a creative caption for the cover art of "Run The Risk". You can vote once per day for your favorite entries. Click on the widget below to enter; it's also in the right-hand side bar.

The contest started Monday September 17th and runs through Monday October 1st at 11:59PM EST.

Have fun and good luck!

Excerpt from The Soul Within by Nancy Adams

Today author Nancy Adams is sharing an excerpt from her new book, a paranormal erotic romance, "The Soul Within". She's touring blogs, spreading the news about her book. Nancy’s addiction for a good trash novel began in her late-teens when her grandmother gave her a bag of Harlequin Romance books. She was hooked and spent the next few years lurking in the dark corners of used bookstores searching for her next fix. Until, one marriage and two kids later, her own ideas had her jumping up at 3 am (much to her husband’s annoyance) and typing them into her laptop. Beside her husband and children, Nancy has three passions, rearranging furniture, buying bed linens and, of course, writing. Nancy lives in Eastern Ontario with her family and two over sized lap dogs.
 

Nancy will be giving away a $20 Total-e-Bound or Amazon gift card to one random commenter during the tour. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/08/book-blast-soul-within-by-nancy-adams.html

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“I can feel you touch me.” Alex raised his head, a half smile on his face.

Her eyes met his. “You do?”

He nodded. “Again.”

This time, she started at his shoulders and ran her hands down the entire length of his arms to his hands, where she made an attempt to clasp them in her own.

“How are you doing this?”

“I don’t know? How can you feel me?”

He chuckled. “I don’t know?”

Staring down at their hands she asked. “What do you feel?”

“It’s like when your foot falls asleep and you get that ‘pins and needles’ sensation, mixed with a warm tingling.”

Eve met Alex’s stare. “You’re really not dead.”

He studied her intently. “Is that why you won’t help me, because you think I’m dead?”

Embarrassed, she turned away. “I thought you might be and that you were having trouble…moving on.”

“Moving on?” he repeated. She heard him exhale in a huff but didn’t want to face him yet. “Eve?” He used her name to get her attention but she didn’t budge. “Evening.” This time her name was said with more force.

Her cheeks were warm when she faced him. She expected him to be annoyed but he only showed concern. “Do you see the dead too?”

“No. Never, just medians. My mother did, I thought maybe it had started for me too. It was the only explanation I could come up with as to why you were still hanging around me.” Her throat felt like it was beginning to close up with the thought of it, but she asked him anyway. “Have you seen…them…out there?”

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The Soul Within
By: Nancy Adams
Publisher: Total-E-Bound Publishing 
ASIN: B009ASNQ18
Genre: FICTION, ROMANCE, PARANORMAL, EROTICA
Format: EBOOK
Length: 559 KB
Release Date: June 18, 2012

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Blog Tour
Buying Links:   Amazon   Total-E-Bound Publishing   ARe

Book Blurb (from author):

Alex’s body is in a coma. His soul, however, is not. Desperate to become whole, he must first convince stubborn beauty Evening Sinclair that he is not dead.

For generations, the Sinclairs have been healers. Using a gentle touch to heal the body and a soothing word to heal the soul, Evening Sinclair is no different. Yet despite her secret abilities, Eve has a somewhat normal existence. She enjoys her small physiotherapy practice, dotes on her eight-year-old daughter and occasionally helps souls get back into their bodies-that is until Alex, with his brooding good looks and glowing eyes, appears in her kitchen.

Alex is desperate to get back into his body-two innocent lives depend on it. His only obstacle is Eve and her stubborn fear. Unfortunately for Eve, Alex is ruthless and just as stubborn. He will do whatever it takes to get what he wants. He will not 'go away' and no matter how much Eve tortures him with her lush body and perfect mouth, he will not change his mind. Eve will merge him, and if it takes him haunting her day and night, she will merge him back with a body-any body.

If you liked the excerpt, the book is available now, so go get it! And remember, at the end of the tour, Nancy will give a GC to one lucky commenter. Follow her tour for more excerpts and a chance to win: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/08/book-blast-soul-within-by-nancy-adams.html

Dusty Reads Link Up

Dusty Reads is a meme started by Giselle at Xpresso Reads featuring a book that has been sitting unread on your shelf for some time. Books don't have to be 'x' years old. If you've had the book for a few months without reading it, it's dusty! :D You can post on any day but Giselle and I usually post or put up a linky on Tuesdays. If you don't use the button, try to link back to this post or Giselle's so others will know how/where to link up.  

You can use the above button, the one below or create your own if you prefer.

Been Absent, Sorry

Life has been kicking my butt lately. The new school year has started and as always, I'm tired. I'm even more tired this fall as I'm with a younger group this year, and they are more demanding physically and emotionally. So, I come home, I sit on the couch, and I doze off for anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours and 30 minutes. Sigh. I've also still been recovering from my surgery, and 6.5 weeks later, I'm finally almost human again. Phew, just in time for surgery number two. That, if all goes well, will be in 9 days on the 25th. How long that recovery will take, who knows? I've also been busy, happily, with my editing job. I got some nice feedback on my work and I've had the opportunity to read submissions in the slush pile and offer my opinion on whether we should make an offer. Scary but exciting! One suggestion I'd like to make when you send in a submission - PROOF READ!!! Also, beta readers are invaluable. I'm just sayin'.

All of this has meant that the blog has been somewhat neglected and I'm behind both in my reading, and writing reviews. So, my apologies. I've been poking at Liz and Jax and you should see more reviews and posts from them soon, *gives them flinty stare* and I will try to get back in the swing.I have some blog tours scheduled and those posts WILL go up, including the two reviews (oh panic! Reviews with a deadline, eep.)

Now that fall is here, it's time for me to do my hermit act so maybe I'll actually get books read, and reviews written and posted.

Why a hermit act? Well, it's autumn in New England and New Englanders friggin' LOVE their pumpkin and apple foods and products (candles, etc.). Naturally, those same products have spices in them - cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, mace and allspice. For most people, those are yummy; for me, they're dangerous. I am so allergic that just being in the same room will bring on an allergic reaction. You read that correctly - I don't even need direct physical contact with the offending spices. Sigh. So, for the next few months, minimal time will be spent in stores e.g. drug stores, grocery stores, gift stores, etc and no time at all in coffee shops (spiced pumpkin coffee? Really? Gag, even if I weren't allergic). Is it February yet?

So, that's that. I am trying to visit blogs and leave comments. If you want to leave a comment on any of my posts, existing or forthcoming, I'd be delighted. In the meantime, happy autumn!

Spotlight on Rafael: The Santiago Brothers Book One by Victoria Chase

Today it's my pleasure to welcome K. Victoria Chase. From childhood, bestselling author K. Victoria Chase enjoyed writing stories and plays and reading Christian romance. She received degrees in Criminal Justice and Diplomacy and worked as a federal law enforcement officer for several years before deciding to try her hand at writing a complete novel. "Serial Games" (Virginia Justice Book One) is the third completed work and the first published by Desert Breeze Publishing. Book two of the series, "Marked by the Mob", will be released in November 2012. She has recently signed with Astraea Press [which is also the publisher I work for! Hi Victoria :)] for the first in her Santiago Brothers series, the Amazon bestselling "Rafael". Until she can make writing a full-time venture, K. Victoria Chase continues to work in the field of counter terrorism, identifying potential terrorists that threaten the United States and the world. She currently resides in Leesburg, VA and writes both clean and Christian interracial romance.   

    

There's an excerpt from the book and of course, some info about it (and I want to read this one, I love romantic suspense and series that feature siblings). Also, Victoria will be awarding a $10 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Want to follow her tour and read more excerpts? Go here for the schedule.

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“Wow. You know, you have a real talent with women.”

Rafa gave her a sideways glance but didn’t answer. She saw the corners of his mouth fight an upward pull.

“I bet they have you working all the female subject interviews.” Genie tugged hard on the door handle.

“You don’t have to be jealous Genie,” came his smooth reply.

“Jealous? Ha! Why would I be jealous of her? Over you?” She got in and slammed the door closed.

Rafa slid effortlessly into the seat, calmly closed the door, and jerked his seatbelt on when the car surged forward. Genie nearly forgot to brief the surveillance team, and she whipped the vehicle around and pulled alongside the other car. She rolled down her window. “Let’s give it another day fellas. I’ll let the Lieutenant know and if there is any change to the plan, then we’ll give you a call. Until then, your relief will come as scheduled.” They nodded in affirmation, and Genie drove away.

“Watch your speed,” Rafa teased.

“My speed? What about your speed?”

“My speed?” His voice feigned innocence to her insinuation.

“In another minute Ms. Flores Cera would have forgone the call and invited you in. I’m sure she could whip up some fajitas and rice in no time.”

Rafa roared with laughter. “Do you hear yourself? Fajitas and rice? Who knew Ms. Church could toss around stereotypes.”

Genie blinked. Did she truly say that? Shame swept through her. “I’m sorry,” she murmured. “That was unkind. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“I do.”

Genie heard the smile in his voice. She wasn’t jealous.

She. Wasn’t. Jealous.

Jealousy was an emotion for the weak...for a girl who couldn’t keep her man interested in her. Sure, plenty of women fell all over Jeff. He was classically handsome, a jock, and destined to follow in his parent’s footsteps and be a doctor or a high-powered attorney. Genie’s parents were middle-class, not poor, but not rich. She was considered pretty but not the stunner that should have been on Jeff’s arm. But Jeff chose her. She had no reason to be jealous, but she was. Those women who fell all over Jeff? He fell all over them, too. Wherever smoke rose, fire always followed. Always.

“Wait a minute. Ms. Church? What is that?” Her anger suddenly rekindled.

“Oh, just what we used to call you in school.”

“Who used to call me?”

“Me and some of the other boys,” he said casually, as if it were a time long past.

He had noticed her! I must have looked cute. Plaid skirts and flowered blouses came to mind. And her hair...always in a braid. I did not look cute. “That’s not very original,” she muttered. But it was news to her, and it stung.

“Well, weren’t you president of the Chastity Club?”

“Chess Club!” Genie flushed hot. “And the Bible Club.”

His triumphant laugh enveloped her. “Close enough.”

Genie resisted the urge to stare at him, knowing if she did she wouldn’t be able to stop glaring and then they would run off the road. Instead, she silently counted to ten. Then she counted to ten again. She heard Rafa chuckle softly. Genie gripped the steering wheel. I can’t believe I even considered him a changed man. I even felt guilty! Her prejudgments were correct.

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RAFAEL: The Santiago Brothers Book One
By: K. Victoria Chase
Publisher: Astraea Press
ASIN:: B008U1MVVC
Genre: FICTION, ROMANCE, MYSTERY, CHRISTIAN
Format: EBOOK, PAPERBACK,
Length: 220 pages, 343 KB
Release Date: August 6, 2012
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Buying Links:  Amazon    Astraea Press    Barnes & Noble

Book Blurb (from author):

The last time Detective Genie Green let a man humiliate her was her college sweetheart—never again. Yet, when former high school lothario Rafael Santiago returns to town as the consulting detective on her case, Genie’s rule of never allowing another man to best her is challenged. Can she trust him long enough to solve this case and get the glory?

Rafa can’t seem to outrun his delinquent past. When The Snakes, a criminal organization he used to belong to, begin murdering people from his hometown, he has a chance to right some of his past wrongs. Will arresting the murderers be enough to redeem him, or will a certain beautiful detective pay the ultimate price instead?

A Christian interracial romantic suspense

Did you enjoy the excerpt? Be sure to follow the blog tour and don't forget every comment enters you into a drawing for a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate. Of course, the book is out now, so you can also purchase it. :)