Friday, September 27, 2013

Shut the Front Door!

WOW WOW WOW! 

I've been sitting at about 950 'likes' on my Facebook Author Page for some time now. 
Suddenly I blinked and its gone past 1000! 


To celebrate, I'd like to put a call out to any authors or bloggers who would be willing to donate to a  READER APPRECIATION SWAG PACK.

Email me at rehargrave@gmail.com if you'd like to participate.

INCLUDE what you are able to supply (ebook, swag, signed book, etc) and which links (Facebook, Twitter, etc) that you would like to be used on the Rafflecopter giveaway. 
I'll put the giveaway together next weekend and run it from October 7-14. 

Thank you to all of you FABULOUS people!!

Monday, September 23, 2013

The Journey to a New Life by Lisa Bilbrey BLOG TOUR


ON SALE SEPTEMBER 10, 2013

*be sure to enter the Rafflecopter GIVEAWAY at the bottom*

Summary—
Travis McCoy’s journey has led him down a road of changes where he found the love of his life and their child. Travis, Penelope, and Max have struggled during their time apart, found their way back home, and finally tied their lives together as a family. Now, Penelope and Travis find themselves on a new journey, one that leads them to the greatest journey of all.


Excerpt:

At the brink of dusk, Travis held his arm out to Nadine. She smiled and slid her fingers around his bicep, clutching onto him. They were standing at one end of a covered bridge in Brandenburg Park, at the base of the Red River Ski Area, while Russ, Max, and Penelope stood at the other end. They had placed lanterns and candles along the way to offer a soft, sensual ambiance.

“Are you ready, Nadine?” Travis asked, looking down at the woman who had captured his father’s heart.
“More than ever.” She smiled. The two of them started across the bridge at a slow pace.

In two years, so much of Travis’s life had changed. After an injury ended his professional football career, he had come home to face his past. At the time, Travis had been prepared to fight with his father about the choices he’d made, yet somehow they had been able to rip off the bandages and expose their wounded souls to one another. With everything out in the open, Travis and Russ had begun to mend their tattered relationship and were now closer than they had ever been.

Travis shifted his attention to Max. He had been the person who brought them all together. Max had come barreling into Travis’s life with a bounce in his step and a positive outlook on life that most ten year olds didn’t have. The moment Travis looked from the boy to Penelope, he’d known Max was his son. At first, he had been angry that he’d missed out the chance to be a father to Max, but when Penelope explained why she hid his son from him, he understood.

Travis had been so wrapped up in achieving his dream of becoming a star football player that Penelope had been afraid of telling him she was pregnant for fear of him resenting her for taking away his dream. As much as he had wanted to deny her claims, Travis couldn’t. He wouldn’t have abandoned her or their child, but he could admit that a part of him would have grown to resent her for trapping him in a life that he had never wanted — or that he hadn’t thought he wanted. At eighteen, he was too dumb to know that he could have had everything.

None of that mattered now, though. Travis had allowed himself to love Penelope again, to be the man she’d always known he was meant to become. He became Max’s father, someone for him to admire and strive to emulate. Travis’s life had endured a couple of bumps in the road, but in the long run, he was right where he was supposed to be: on a covered bridge, walking his soon-to-be step-mother down the aisle so she could marry his father.

“Wow, honey, you look amazing,” Russ said as Travis and Nadine stopped in front of him.

Travis took Nadine’s hand and placed it in his father’s. Shifting his eyes up to Russ’s, Travis told him, “Just love her.”

“I do, boy, I do,” Russ replied.

My Reviews:
The Journey to a New Life is the fourth installment of The Journey Collection, and as such, I agreed to review the entire collection in exchange for ARC copies.

The Journey Home (#1)

In this opening installment of The Journey Collection, we are introduced to Travis McCoy, high school football legend who got the dream: he went pro. What Travis doesn't realize until a decade later when an injury takes him out of the game, is that in going after one dream, he left another behind.

Unsure what to do when he can no longer play, Travis makes a long overdue trip back home, back to where it all began for him. What he finds is that for the most part, things have stayed the same; but there are some big changes as well. His old girlfriend Penelope is still there, and still harbors feelings for him. Kind of hard not to when she has been looking at a miniature of Travis’ face the whole time he’s been gone.

Faced with a broken relationship with his father, learning he’s a father himself, and discovering if old flames can be rekindled, Travis finds that the journey home couldn't have come at a better time.

The Journey of Champions (#2)

Once again, the story opens with Travis McCoy preparing for a journey. When the first book had him going home and reconnecting with Penelope, this time the journey takes us along while Travis and his dad get all of their issues out in the open. Along the way, they have to accept some hard truths and ask forgiveness of each other. 

Travis returns to Florida to officially close out his business with the Sharks, and his dad comes along. In working out their demons, Travis is also able to find the answers he’s been looking forward with regards to his future. Decisions made, when he gets back to Clarendon he knows he’s there for good, for his family.

While the game time scenes were a bit drawn out and over-detailed for my liking, as a whole, this next installment of The Journey Collection moved the series along nicely. Kudos to the writing and creation of Max’s character—that kid is the best!

The Journey to Forever (#3)

In book three, Bilbrey really finds her stride with her small Texas town crew. Hands down, the star of this installment is Max. Finally secure that his dad, former Sharks quarterback Travis McCoy, is home for good, Max settles into a new life that includes a famous father. 

Travis mans up and offers to make an honest woman out of Penelope, but theirs is not the only relationship that blooms. Seems all the menfolk end up “twitter-pated” this time around, even Max! 

Cozy up for a light-hearted read that will have you saying ‘awwww’ and reaching for the Kleenex. 

***drumroll***
The Journey to a New Life (#4)

The final installment in The Journey Collection was by far my favorite. Maybe because it was the ‘girliest’ of them all? Not too surprising, because of the title and the cover, Travis’s final journey is pregnancy. No, not literally for him, but he gets to be there while Penelope goes through all the hilarious, horrible, and tender stages. With raging hormones comes elevated levels of libido and moments prone to coarser language; so be ready for a bit more of the risqué in this one, too! 

All-in-all, The Journey Collection was a good story that sends a sweet message about the importance of family and believing in yourself. I’d definitely recommend getting the whole collection, as you’ll want to keep reading. 


Author Bio—
Lisa Bilbrey is a mom of three and has been married to her high school sweetheart since 1996. 
Finding a love in the written word, she started writing as a way to express herself. From the first word she wrote, she'd found her heart and soul. Always willing to learn, she's spends much of her time trying to improve as a storyteller. 
In late 2011, Lisa opened Renaissance Romance Publishing with Michele Richard and Laura Braley. 


Links—

Follow The Journey to a New Life Tour:

9/10: Promo/Excerpt: Fandom Fanatic
          Review, Promo/excerpt: FS Meurinne
9/11: Guest Post: Lorenz Font
9/12: Interview: Jude Ouvrard
9/13: Review: Lindsey Gray
          Review: Sarah Carroll
9/14: Promo/Excerpt: S.A. Jones
9/15: Review: N. Wood
9/16: Review: Mich’s Book Reviews
9/17: Guest Post: Michele Richard
9/18: Guest Post: Jude Ouvrard
9/19: Guest Post: Donna Huber
          Review: Anna Crosswell
9/20: Guest Post: Laura Braley
9/21: Guest Post: Elizabeth M. Lawrence
9/22: Interview: M.C. Rayne
9/23: Promo/Excerpt: Jennifer Garcia
          Guest Post: Elena M. Reyes
          Review: R. E. Hargrave


Sunday, September 22, 2013

COVER REVEAL: Fall Fires Anthology from Renaissance Romance Publishing


Coming October 22, 2013 . . . 
Six stories of love, and all the ups and downs that come with it.
The twist? These tales all feature male/male couples. 
You can't choose who you love.


Fall Fire Summaries:

Winter’s Love:
N.L. Leeks
A past relationship has left Jared Winter broken. When Eric Healey runs into him, Jared finds a reason to learn to trust again. The two men begin to fall for one another, but the prejudice around them threatens to tear them apart. Can their love survive in the real world?

Wonderland:
Jude Ouvrard
Lucas Colton is far too young to go through all this pain but meeting poetry teacher, Preston Davidson, changed everything. His life went from heartbreak to joyful and then, from friendship to love. The impact Preston had on Lucas’ life was mesmerising.  What would you do if you knew you may not have a tomorrow?

If This Is Wrong:
K.L. Platt
As children, Thomas and Caleb formed an unlikely friendship, which has continued through tragedies and celebrations and into manhood. They have grown together over the years, but now their relationship is changing into something more. Can their bond survive the challenges that life will bring them? Is it wrong to risk everything for the chance of something more?

Our Walk to Remember:
M.C. Rayne
For the Robinson-Shae family, an annual charity walk means more to them than any expensive holiday abroad. After all, it’s where Elisha’s fathers met, and this year it’s even more important to her. Sammy couldn't make it this time, so she asks Charlie to share memories of how they met, and fell in love.

Love, Unexpected:
C.W. Stephens
As Michael and Chuck's loving union comes to pass, two, gay members of the wedding party discover the sweet bonds of a comfortable companionship. Attraction becomes more as they recognize their true soul mate in each other, which fills the romantic void in their solitary lives. It seems only one, small obstacle stands in their way.

Woodshed Wishes:
N.Wood
Ben, a young gay romance author, loses his way in the forest one stormy evening and is found by a ranger. When Ben pitches in to help his new friend Peter in the woodshed, he discovers that he may have met his match. Will Peter make Ben's woodshed wishes come true?


Ready for the individual covers? Okay, here we go . . . 

 

Let's meet the authors of these novellas!

N.L. Leeks:

N.L. Leeks lives in England with her fiancé, whom she has been with since the age of eighteen. She first began writing when she was a child. Her friends, Matt and Lou, helped her reignite that passion as an adult, and her journey into writing began once more.



Jude Ouvrard:

Jude was born and raised in a small village named Lacolle. She now lives in Montreal, Canada. She is the proud mother of a beautiful four year old son, and has spent the last twelve years with her partner, Cedric.

French is her native language, but she prefers to write in her second language, English.
Besides working full time for a Title Insurance Company and being a mother, Jude has a passion for books, both reading and writing them.

She is currently working on a novel called Body, Ink, and Soul. Coming soon!

Also by Jude Ouvrard:
Under the Sun, Heat Wave: Volume Two



K.L. Platt:

K. L. Platt lives with her family in the Devonshire countryside in the UK. She is a nanny, but her dream is to be a full time author. She can’t remember a time when she didn’t have a pencil, pen, or book in her hand. It was, however, the likes of J K Rowling and Stephenie Meyer that gave her the fire to drive herself to where she is today.
Always encouraged to follow her dream as a child by her own parents and grandparents, her grandma told her, “If you believe you can do it, then you can.” Her uncle was also a writer but sadly never got to have any of his stories published.



M.C. Rayne:

M. C. Rayne got into writing after the passing of his mother, and used it as an outlet to get through the difficult time. He never really thought about becoming an author, but since putting pen to paper he has never looked back

Currently he lives in Leeds with his two best friends Dae and Pete, and his guinea pig, Bean. He spends a lot of time reading and writing, and far too much time procrastination online.



C.W. Stevens:

C.W. Stevens lives in the United States, in the Midwest, where the winters are cold and icy, and the summers are disgustingly hot and humid. Spring and fall are her favorite times of the year.
Reading is one of her favorite pastimes.

She enjoys writing and loves meeting new people along the way. Music and Abstract are a couple of her favorite Arts. She enjoys the challenge of trying to unlock the meaning of what the artist is trying to express. She enjoys solitude and hates crowds.

C. W. has two, grown sons, and loves spending time with her three grandchildren. 
Life is good!





N. Wood:

N. Wood is a budding young author living in Cornwall, United Kingdom. She developed an interest in writing when her poetry was first published at the age of nine. Since then, she has moved onto writing both short stories and novels focusing on gay romantic themes.

Also by N. Wood:

La Cala
Waves Of Healing

Coming Soon from Renaissance Romance Publishing:
Take A Gamble, Second Edition, on November 12, 2013.













Saturday, September 21, 2013

Saturday Surprise!


This is going to be a quick post, but a necessary one. I know I have been kind of quiet and absent the last few weeks. Part of that has been dealing with intermittent internet issues, which have hopefully been resolved by trading out the router with the cable company, but I've also been making some big changes behind the scenes.

I can't go into detail just yet, but I'll have a big announcement next month! Any bloggers who are interested in helping me spread the news when the time comes, I'd GREATLY appreciate your participation. The sign up form is below:

Now, back to that intermittent internet issue . . .
Do y'all have ANY idea how AMAZING it was to finally get reconnected and discover that I'd been targeted by the mighty


!!!!!!!!!!!!!

super cool indeed

Thanks to everyone that stopped by for a visit yesterday!

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Killer Smile by Anita Bell BLOG TOUR


Please welcome award winning author 
Anita Bell!

 





Blurb:
A Comedy Romance: When a hapless cartoonist is electrified by a small gift from her mysterious neighbor, she falls into a web of intrigue and wickedly funny events, which leave her teetering on a cliffhanger between Love and Disaster...





Author Bio:
"I didn't wait for Luck. I raced after him with a truck."

I'm that bestselling and award winning author of comedy-mysteries and fun-informative non-fictions with over 2 million readers internationally... currently working the next big stage. Yep! You guessed it! ...[Pssst... if you didn't guess, try catching it on FB or twitter via my webpage AnitaBell.com ...Or smack yourself with one of my books until it dawns on you.]... Hugs for now. You'll probably need it.

Being serious for a sec, I'm also the first author to win an International CrimeStoppers Award for a children's series. [YAY!]
: Tagged by Dead Dogs

Things I LOVE:
When a movie producer calls after reading my books, and my agent has to say 'get in line!'

Things I Hate:
When TV crews show up with their sexiest, skinniest female reporters... and I'm still trying to find the garden rake for my hair.

NOTE: For all of my M+ Rated works see my Pen-Name A.A. Bell [e.g. author of the multi-award winning Diamond Eyes series about the girl who can see through time.]

WARNING! WARNING!: Anita Bell is my real name and pen-name for over 30 titles since 1990. I write all of my own books so I'm always the sole creator, aside from narrators hired by 4 of my Big 6 publishers for the audio editions, who sometimes appear on Amazon as co-creators. So if ever you see a book with my name as a co-writer, or a self-published book that is not listed on this page, then that's another writer who began using the same name for publication. Go figure. Somewhere out there must be a cloning machine. Run now. The world wasn't safe with only one of me!

Pssst: Yes, I also wrote 3 of the Top 10 Bestselling Business Books of the Decade, Downunder 2000+ (Your Mortgage, Your Money, and Your Investment Property, which all have subtitles longer than my arm and a string of other books in that series), but I've never been "CEO" of anything unless you count being boss of my own muses, and even then, I'm usually the one who's bound, gagged and chained to a keyboard with a gun to my head.

Then again; aren't we all?

Find Ms. Bell:








Saturday, September 14, 2013

COVER REVEAL: Roadside Service by B.L. Wilde

Cover Design by Jo Matthews
Genre: Erotica
Scheduled Release: September 27, 2013

Summary:
When fate brings you face-to-face with what your heart desires, how can you ignore it?

Violet Weathers, the world’s top supermodel, is in Omaha, Nebraska for two weeks shooting a campaign for a new skincare line that she’s the fresh new face of.

When her car breaks down on the way to the hotel, she is rescued by a hot mechanic who just might make her stay in Omaha more bearable.


Excerpt:
“Have you bought many girls here? Is this like your make-out spot?”

“No, you’re the first,” he chuckled, running his fingers through my hair. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are? Any guy would give his life to be me right now.”

“I doubt that, Blake.”

“You, Violet, have so much light in you. I’ve never felt so alive before and I know it’s because of you.”
“You can be incredibly sweet,” I groaned as he pulled me down toward his lips. My hands dug into the sand when he deepened the kiss, sweeping his tongue in to meet mine.

Kissing Blake was quickly becoming one of my favorite pastimes.

“I want you, Violet,” he snarled, snaking his hand down my back.

“Here?” I gasped. What if someone saw us? I couldn’t chance any paparazzi catching us and taking pictures. It would be on the front page of every trashy tabloid out there within hours. Something like that coming out could put an end to my career.

“No one comes here. It’s a secluded beach,” he purred, running his fingers up my legs. “Let me love you here, Beautiful.” I couldn’t resist him—I didn’t want to.

Blake effortlessly rolled us over so he was hovering above me. His lips began to move down my jaw while his hands continued their way up my dress.

“I’ve never had sex outside before,” I murmured into his ear as his mouth moved toward my neck.
“Violet Weathers has never had sex outside?” Blake teased, acting horrified at the thought.

“Don’t mock me,” I pouted, slapping his arm playfully.

“I guess I better make this good then, huh? No pressure,” he smoldered, slipping his hand into my panties.

“Fuck…B…Bl…Blake,” I groaned, fisting the sand above my head as his fingers slipped inside me. “A little warning would have been nice.”

“Oh, you love it when I do this,” he mused, stroking my clit. “You’re getting wetter by the second. What is it, Baby? Is it being outside? Does that excite you?” I nodded frantically, closing my eyes as he began to really work my body. “Open the top of your sundress for me,” he said huskily. I did as he asked, quickly unbuttoning it and exposing my baby pink bra to him. “Pull the cups down, too,” he demanded. Blake almost had me at the brink already; I could feel my climax quickly approaching. Pulling my bra cups down, I exposed my breasts to him.

The moment he leaned down and sucked my right nipple into his mouth, I exploded around his fingers.
“Oh…God…Blake,” I groaned out into the open air.

“I love watching you climax,” he grinned from in between my breasts.

“You are very good at making me cum,” I giggled, watching him undo his trousers before tearing open a condom.

“I’m better when I use this,” he mused, gesturing toward his covered erection. Blake pushed my dress up around my waist, caressing my skin as he went. I wrapped my legs around his hips, surprising him by my sudden advance as I drew him closer to me. “A little anxious, are we?” he winked.

“I want to see what all the fuss is about when it comes to outdoor sex,” I countered, lifting my ass up slightly to feel the tip of his cock at my entrance.

Blake’s eyes turned hooded with a deep desire as he grabbed my hips and filled me in one swift motion.
“You better hold on,” he grunted, pulling almost completely out and then slamming right back inside me. “This is going to be rough.”    

“Ugh…yes,” I groaned, letting Blake take me to new heights as the sun caressed my skin. I’d never had a sexual experience like it.

“How was that for your first experience with outdoor sex?” Blake asked, doing the buttons on the top of my dress back up.

“Amazing,” I panted, holding my stomach as I tried to regain my breath. “Feeling the breeze touch your skin while someone is bringing you to life…I have no words.”

“Is that how I make you feel?” He looked stunned.

“You make me feel a lot of things, Blake,” I admitted, stroking his chin.

The air between us began to thicken before he finally spoke. “We should open the champagne,” he muttered, watching my lips.

“Good idea,” I beamed, stretching to get the glasses that had fallen into the sand.

The rest of the afternoon was blissful as we lay on the blanket talking about anything and everything, and occasionally getting lost in each other.


About the Author: 

B.L. Wilde is a British author obsessed with many things, including heated love stories. Supported fully by her husband, she can often be found at her desk working on her next project.
Her journey into the world of erotica began when she started writing online stories over three years ago, and she hasn't looked back since.




Wednesday, September 4, 2013

My Mr. Manny by Jennifer Garcia BLOG TOUR



Summary:

Mia Balducci misses her childhood days and yearns for the big, Italian family that she left behind in small town Massachusetts. At the tender age of sixteen, Mia moves with her bachelor father to Los Angeles, but no matter how many years pass, it never becomes home to her. The years spent living with her father aren’t easy, especially since she can’t stop thinking about what she once had. Her enrollment in the University of Southern California promises to bring exciting changes to her life, but Mia winds up with big problems instead. When she runs into an old friend from her old hometown of Winthrop, she gets swept up in nostalgia, and she soon loses herself in a quickly-progressing romance. When the fantasy falls apart, she is left to raise her precious little girl, Lucia, on her own. The demands of Mia’s work schedule and Lucia’s needs increase, and their lives become increasingly hectic. It is soon clear to Mia that she needs help. Luckily, her life-saving cousin saves the day and brings the mother and daughter a male nanny – their new “manny.”

After losing his high-pressure job on Wall Street, Dominic Roberts wants to follow his dreams to have a family. He’s already one fiancée down, and there are no likely prospects for another. In order to find the family he so desperately wants, he finds himself getting into the manny business. Since he is fully qualified to provide child care and is eager to leave New York City behind, his sister-in-law is able to land him a job in California working for his first client – the beautiful and intriguing Mia Balducci.

Will Lucia like the new man in her mother's life? Will Mia? And will this new trio discover the happily ever after they all so desperately seek?


Before we get to an excerpt from Ms. Garcia's debut novel, and her GIVEAWAY, I asked her to tell us three things on her bucket list. 
Here's what she had to say . . . 

1. Become a best selling author
2. Have a movie made from one of my books
3. Travel to all of the places I’ve always wanted to go. 







Excerpt:

I rolled over to face Dominic and he began to stir. I watched him breathe and took inventory of his precious face. His lashes were thick and short against his cheek. The stubble on his face had thickened a bit more and his lips stuck out in a pout. I pecked them and his eyes opened.

“Good morning, sleeping beauty,” I said as he stretched and yawned. He scratched at his stubble and rubbed his eyes. He was adorable in the morning.

“Mhmmm, it is a good morning,” he said with a sleep-coated voice. He wrapped and tightened his arms around me and then squeezed. “A very good morning.”

“I need to get up and get ready for work. Lucia will be up in a bit. But ...” I began to say.

“What’s wrong?”

I exhaled a deep breath. “No, nothing’s wrong, but ... well I really want you to move into my room now. Too soon?” I wasn’t afraid he’d say no, but for some reason I felt strange asking him that.

He scoffed. “Did you think I was going to sleep in my room after last night? I had the best night of my life” he said while peppering soft, slow kisses on my face.

“It was my best night, too, baby.” I kissed him one more time and got up. “So, it’s official then. You’re moving in here and we’re a real couple.” I jerked my head in a nod to emphasize my statement.

He rolled on top of me, pinning me down on the bed. “I thought it was a given, Mia. You’re stuck with me forever now. I hope you can handle me.” He laughed.

“Mhmmm, I can handle you all right. I just hope you can handle me.” I kissed his lips.





Author Bio:
Jennifer Garcia’s (aka Forbes Arnone) love of travel began when she went to the West Coast to visit her father at the age of three. Her home until she was sixteen was a small coastal town near Boston. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, two sons, and two dogs.

Her lifelong love for reading and writing was put aside for many years while she made her way in the world and nurtured her young family. Even though she is older, and life never seems to settle, she’s finding her way while attending college full-time in pursuit of a B.A. in English Literature. She also runs a business, and is still caring for her family. Believing she can do it all, with the help of her family, she worked on her first novel during the late hours of the night while balancing the rest of her life during the day. Her hard work paid off, as her first novel, My Mr. Manny, will be published August 2013.

Find Jennifer on:



Follow the My Mr. Manny blog tour:

8/16 -
Interview- Into Another World 

8/26
Interview- Samantha
Promo- Becky Banks

8/27
Interview - N. Isabelle Blanco
Promo/Excerpt - P.T. Macias
Promo/Excerpt - FSMeurinne
Interview - Rose Esco

8/28
Promo/Excerpt- Brandy Rocha
Interview- Lissa Bryan
Promo/Excerpt- Linze Brandon
Promo/Excerpt- AJ Williams

8/29
Review- Sarah Aisling
Promo/Excerpt - Lorenz Font
Review - Sarah Horwath
Interview - Sarah Cass

8/30
Promo/Excerpt- Ashley/Melissa
Review- Crederoza
Promo/Excerpt- Sydney Logan

8/31
Interview - Elizabeth Lawrence

9/1
Review- Mich
Interview- Nat Wood
Promo/Excerpt - Jude Ouvrard

9/2
Review- Tbird London
Review- Lisa M.

9/3
Review- Rose Caceres 

9/4
Guest Post- Rachel
Interview- Annamaria Bazzi
Guest Post- Matt Lutz

9/5
Promo/Excerpt- Jennyfer Browne

9/6

9/7
Guest Post - Martini Times
Promo/Excerpt- SA Jones

9/8
Promo/Excerpt- 2Chicksnablog

9/9
Guest Post - M.B. Feeney