Aura Release Day Blitz – Amos Cassidy

Three hundred years ago humanity almost eradicated itself…almost, but not quite. As is the persistence of human kind, we hung on; we survived, but the world as we knew it was changed forever. The exact details of what happened have been lost in time. All we know is that this is our world now and we have no choice but to live in it. 

Oz and his sister True have been travelling for as long as they can remember. Ma feels that staying on the move is safe, that it prevents them getting lazy and complacent. It’s a better way to avoid bandits and raiders, a more effective way to stay alive. But the thing, the person that protects them is Oz – a lethal fighter who will go to any lengths to defend his family.  

Oz makes money from cage fights while dreaming of a better life for them all – a home where they can be truly safe. True dreams of freedom, love and hope and just when she thinks she’s found it their world is turned upside down and they are forced to embark on a journey that rips them apart. For when True is taken by an unknown enemy Oz must enlist the help of a man from the shadows to save her.

A Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopian Romance, filled with action, adventure and fantasy.

Links:
Amazon UK
Amazon US

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Before I Fall (Falling #1) by Jessica Scott

Stay focused. Get a job. Save her father’s life.

Beth Lamont knows far too much about the harsh realities of life her gilded classmates have only read about in class. She’ll do whatever it takes to take care of her father, even if that means tutoring a guy like Noah – a guy who represents everything she hates about the war, soldiers and what the Army has done to her family.

Noah Warren doesn’t know how to be a student. All he knows is war. But he’s going to college now to fulfill a promise and he doesn’t break his promises. Except he doesn’t count on his tutor being drop dead gorgeous and distracting as hell. One look at Beth threatens to unravel the careful lies Noah has constructed around him.

A simple arrangement turns into something neither of them can deny. And a war that neither of them can forget could destroy them both.

I’ve been a fan of Jessica Scott’s military love stories for a while, but it’s also been a while since I’ve read one. When I found out that she was delving into New Adult territory, I jumped at the chance to read her first book in the Falling series. I wasn’t disappointed.

There was so much to love about Before I Fall, I’m not sure where to start. Beth was an amazing character to start this series. The opening statement in the description may seem a little over the top, but it’s exactly what Beth was dealing with in a very real way. Everything for Beth was a fight and had been since she was sixteen years old. Her mom abandoned her and her father when things got tough. Beth was left to pick up the pieces, take over the finances and literally fight for the healthcare that her dad deserved.

Noah came back from the war more broken than even he realized. He wasn’t in a great place either physically or mentally when he met Beth. She made him want to be a better person, but it wasn’t that easy. When Beth finally revealed some of her own secrets, he wanted to be strong for her. To do that he’d have to come to terms with his own issues, before it was too late. The inevitable crash for these two was heartbreaking.

I felt for both of these characters. Beth wasn’t wrong for decisions she made regarding Noah, but she wasn’t entirely right either. Her judgement was clouded by her own reality, which was understandable. Noah was as much a victim of circumstances beyond his control as Beth and her father. It came down to much more than right vs. wrong, it was more a matter of survival the only way either of them knew how.

The supporting characters were an important part of Before I Fall. They gave the characters strength and love when they needed it most. They added to the depth of the characters by helping them reveal parts of themselves that they couldn’t reveal to anyone else. I love it when supporting characters are… well… supportive.

Interlaced within the depth of the characters and the touching love story was the evident personal knowledge that it took to bring this story to life. I’ve always admired that with Jessica Scott’s writing and the switch in genres didn’t change that. If you’ve been a fan of her adult military romances, you will definitely enjoy Before I Fall. If you’re new to this author’s writing, it’s also a perfect place to start. Needless to say, I’m really looking forward to see where this series goes next.

 

Cut & Run (Cut & Run #1) by Abigail Roux & Madeleine Urban

A series of murders in New York City has stymied the police and FBI alike, and they suspect the culprit is a single killer sending an indecipherable message. But when the two federal agents assigned to the investigation are taken out, the FBI takes a more personal interest in the case.

Special Agent Ty Grady is pulled out of undercover work after his case blows up in his face. He’s cocky, abrasive, and indisputably the best at what he does. But when he’s paired with Special Agent Zane Garrett, it’s hate at first sight. Garrett is the perfect image of an agent: serious, sober, and focused, which makes their partnership a classic cliché: total opposites, good cop-bad cop, the odd couple. They both know immediately that their partnership will pose more of an obstacle than the lack of evidence left by the murderer.

Practically before their special assignment starts, the murderer strikes again – this time at them. Now on the run, trying to track down a man who has focused on killing his pursuers, Grady and Garrett will have to figure out how to work together before they become two more notches in the murderer’s knife.time at them. Now on the run, trying to track down a man who has focused on killing his pursuers, Grady and Garrett will have to figure out how to work together before they become two more notches in the murderer’s knife.

What do you get when you throw two alpha males together? Not just any alpha males either. One’s ex-military who’s on a semi-short leash because he constantly bucks the system and the other is a recovering addict who is trying so hard to stay on the straight and narrow that he’s barely tolerated by his fellow agents. You end up with flawed perfection. You get agents Ty and Zane. *sigh*

It’s taken me a while to pick up this series and I have no excuse. Now that I’ve started it I’m as vulnerable to addiction as Zane… in other words, these two have me hooked. As flawed as these two characters are, I fell in love with them and now there’s no turning back.

Ty and Zane were assigned as partners and neither was happy about it. They didn’t work well with others and Ty absolutely couldn’t work with anyone he didn’t trust. He wore crazy t-shirts, a well worn leather jacket and was basically a disheveled mess. Zane went strictly by the book complete with pressed shirt, tie and jacket. Neither was exactly as they seemed, which kept things interesting.

There was so much to love about this book. That’s both good and bad as far as reviewing it goes. One of the things that pulled me in most (besides Ty and Zane of course) was the fact that the plot involved something that I really, really love. I can’t say what that ‘thing’ was because it was central to the ‘theme’ the serial killer in Cut & Run followed. That aspect just made me love it more.

Okay, so I’m rambling, which is kind of appropriate because this book rambled. The POV skipped from Zane to Ty without skipping a beat. There were other POVs thrown in without warning and the main characters were a mess. They started out hating each other. Their physical attraction was too hard to fight yet they ended up pulling away from each other when they needed each other most. They drove me absolutely nuts… and I loved every minute of it.

 

Rocky Mountain Heat (Six Pack Ranch #1) by Vivian Arend

Blake Coleman is old enough to know that acting on impulse causes nothing but a heap of trouble. But when trouble’s a blonde wearing a cowboy hat with slim legs that go on forever, what’s a man to do? Wanting the sweet girl next door is just wrong. Hell, he was the one that taught her to ride a horse and now all he can think about is riding her. The responsible thing to do is keep his hands off.

Jaxi has other plans for his hands, and his heart. She may have considered Blake a big brother once but that was a long time ago. She’s all grown up now and ready to convince him that she’s just what he’s been waiting for. 

Add the complication of two sexy younger brothers who have suddenly noticed Jaxi and things heat up fast. Blake’s gonna have to decide if a little trouble is worth fighting for.

Well, this one was fun. I’ve read several books by Vivian Arend, but none of them were contemporary. I love her Granite Lake Wolves series. It’s full of snarky, alpha characters. The Six Pack Ranch series has some pretty snarky, witty characters too… they just don’t turn into wolves. :)

The Coleman’s have known Jaxi since she was a little girl. The problem is, that’s exactly how Blake still sees her. When she comes to stay at the ranch to help out his mom, it’s almost more than he can handle… especially since… well, Jaxi is a handful. So are Blake’s brothers. Turns out that everyone in not only the family, but in the close knit town knows how Blake feels about Jaxi. Watching him finally cave was fun.

The back and forth banter between the brothers and the rest of the family made me definitely want to get to know this crew better. Oh, and Blake wasn’t the only brother having romance problems in Rocky Mountain Heat. Let’s just say things got pretty interesting… I can’t wait to see where this series goes. Speaking of which, the next book in the series is Rocky Mountain Haven.

Beast #1 by Ella James

FROM HOLLYWOOD ROYALTY…
At twenty-one years old, third-generation movie star Cal Hammond was on top of the world. He had more money than God and more women than any man could need. But when a night of debauchery ends in tragedy, he forfeits a life of luxury for a ten-year prison sentence at La Rosa, California’s most violent prison.

TO BRUTAL BEAST.
Eight years later, a ruthless, cunning man runs La Rosa from the inside. He is known simply as Beast. All the wardens fear him. All the gangs obey him. He speaks to no one but his inner council. What he says is law.

ONLY SHE CAN SAVE HIM.
Annabelle Mitchell’s stepfather is the warden at La Rosa. He deals as dirty as his trustees, and after years of smooth relations with Beast and the gangs he runs, Holt lands on the powerful prisoner’s hit list. That very afternoon, Annabelle pays a surprise visit to La Rosa, hoping to use her new counseling license at a place she thinks she could make a difference. When Beast sees her, he releases the warden and grabs the nameless girl who played a starring role in the worst night of his life. The price for the warden’s error is not death. It’s his precious Belle.

Let’s recap… So far I’ve read the first part of Red and Wolfe, Hansel and Beast. Out of those 3, Beast is definitely my favorite. If I had to narrow down why, it would have to be the back story.

Beast and Annabelle have a history. They met several years before, and that’s where this story begins. Readers know going in what Cal was like before he became Beast and what turned him into the person he’s become. Annabelle was a huge fan that came closer to him than she ever expected. She was there at the turning point. Even though it was only one night, her reaction to him when they met at the prison was a little easier to accept knowing their background.

So, if I had to choose one of these twisted tales to continue, it would be Beast. I’ll keep you posted. ;)

Nature’s Fifth Season by Michelle Muto

Four short stories and one novella from author Michelle Muto.

Eleanor
Two teens meet their match during a home invasion when they encounter the elderly homeowner.

The Goblin
An eight-year-old boy ponders the rules of monsters and the creature that lives under his bed.

Crossroads
A midnight trip across a desolate highway takes a husband and wife farther than they expected.

Dear Maddy
During a winter-long stay at a remote mountain cabin, a man writes letters to a ghost and soon begins to question his sanity.

Touch
Everyone needs a second chance. The heartfelt story of a young girl, an abandoned dog, and the unbreakable bond between them.

This is a group of short stories that represent the seasons. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Nature’s Fifth Season. Trust me, it’ll make sense when you read it. Each one has some form of paranormal aspect. Some of the stories are funny and cute. They all have at least one interesting twist. Some are down right creepy and I dare you to read the last story and not shed a tear. This is the perfect book to pick up when you’re in between reads or just want to read through one of them when you have a little bit of spare time.

Eleanor

The description of Eleanor above pretty much says it all. The tables are turned on a pair of teenagers when they decide to take on Eleanor. She may look like a defenseless little old cat lady, but appearances can fool you. I almost felt sorry for them at the end… almost. ;)

The Goblin

How many kids are afraid of the monster who lives under their bed or in their closet? Jeremy had some pretty steadfast rules when it came to monsters and he tried not to break them. I’m glad I read this one when my days of checking under the bed and in the closet for my kids were long over. *shivers*

Crossroads

Honesty is the best policy, especially when it comes to marriage. This couple learned an important lesson about honesty and some interesting consequences of keeping secrets.

Dear Maddy

I can honestly say that I didn’t see the twist in Dear Maddy coming. The story was a series of letters written to the ghost of a man left behind after her death. That’s pretty much all I can say without giving anything away.

Touch

Oh Colt… such a good dog. This story was unique in a lot of ways, but mainly because it was told totally from the dog’s perspective. It began with Colt at the Pound on the day that he found his new Forever Home with Becca and her family. Touch covers the life-span of Colt… and beyond. I have to be honest, I knew what I was in for when I started reading Touch, but I still wasn’t prepared. If you are a dog lover, be forewarned. This story will bring back every memory you’ve tucked away if you’ve ever loved and lost a dog. Even if you’re not a dog lover, I dare you (again) not to feel something when you read this story. There is no doubt in my mind that dogs sense more than we can imagine. Michelle Muto reinforces that in Touch and gives them a ‘voice’ that I totally believe they internally have. *sigh*

Lights, Camera, Cupid! Virtual Book Tour

Thanks for joining us on this tour! Check out the great Valentine’s Day stories from Bluewater Bay and comment to win a Valentine’s gift basket sent to you or a Valentine!

Lights, Camera, Cupid! (A Bluewater Bay Valentine’s Day Anthology) 

Cupid is visiting Bluewater Bay, and he’s leaving chaos in his wake.

Nothing’s been the same in this sleepy little logging town since Hollywood came to shoot the hit TV show Wolf’s Landing—especially Valentine’s Day.

In L.A. Witt’s Just Another Day, beloved actors Levi Pritchard and Carter Samuels have an announcement for their fans, while in Z.A. Maxfield’s I’ll Be There, actor Spencer Kepler and his boyfriend Nash Holly brave a blizzard and a fan convention to spend their first February the 14th together.

Of course, it’s not just TV stars celebrating the day. In Anne Tenino’s Helping Hand, an aspiring artist eager to escape Bluewater Bay decides he just might have a reason to stay: lust-inspiring logger Gabriel Savage. In S.E. Jakes’s No Easy Way, a local teacher reconnects with an old lover working security on the film set. And in Amy Lane’s Nascha, a Bluewater Bay elder recalls how his own unconventional family used to celebrate the holiday.

Real life may be nothing like TV, but when Cupid comes to town, there’s plenty of romance and drama to go around.

About Bluewater Bay

Welcome to Bluewater Bay! This quiet little logging town on Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula has been stagnating for decades, on the verge of ghost town status. Until a television crew moves in to film Wolf’s Landing, a soon-to-be cult hit based on the wildly successful shifter novels penned by local author Hunter Easton.

Wolf’s Landing’s success spawns everything from merchandise to movie talks, and Bluewater Bay explodes into a mecca for fans and tourists alike. The locals still aren’t quite sure what to make of all this—the town is rejuvenated, but at what cost? And the Hollywood-based production crew is out of their element in this small, mossy seaside locale. Needless to say, sparks fly.

This collaborative story world is brought to you by ten award-winning, best-selling LGBTQ romance authors: L.A. Witt, L.B. Gregg, Z.A. Maxfield, Aleksandr Voinov, Heidi Belleau, Rachel Haimowitz, Anne Tenino, Amy Lane, SE Jakes, and G.B. Gordon. Each contemporary novel stands alone, but all are built around the town and the people of Bluewater Bay and the Wolf’s Landing media empire.

Giveaway

Every comment on this blog tour enters you in a drawing for a Valentine’s gift basket sent to you or a Valentine! We’ll send anywhere local delivery is available (and offer a $40 store credit in the event that delivery is not available in your country.) The winner will pick the type of basket they want (either fruit, flowers, or candy/snacks) and we’ll send your basket out!

Brand New Heartache (Oklahoma Brands #2) by Maggie Shayne

In high school, Wade Armstrong had been half in love with Edie Brand, even though she barely seemed to notice his existence. Like the rest of this town, she thought him beneath her. That was how it seemed to him, anyway. But he’d grown up determined to prove them wrong, and now he owned a successful garage which was wallpapered with Edie Brand’s photo spreads from the Vanessa’s Whisper lingerie catalogue.

In high school, Edie Brand had been afraid to even look at Wade Armstrong. He was too hot, to smooth, and his reputation of being able to get any girl to say yes on the first date scared the daylights out of her. Now, though, a bad boy is what she needs. She’s back in town, driven out of L.A. and her lucrative modeling career by a crazed stalker who nearly killed her once. And who seems to have followed her home.

The attraction between these two burns them both, while a dangerous admirer watches, and grows angrier.

I’m currently bouncing back and forth between the Oklahoma Brands and the Texas Brands and loving every minute of it. ;) I’ve come to consider them my ‘feel good’ reading diversion. The characters are fun and witty, there’s just a little bit of danger and a whole lot of smexiness… what’s not to love?

Edie is the prodigal daughter. She is the only one of the Brand girls to leave home, but she came back and in Brand New Heartache she feels like she has something to prove. Running into Wade Armstrong was not part of her plan.

There’s a lot more to Wade than meets the eye… especially Edie’s. Turns out not even he knows how much she really means to him.

In true Brand fashion there are some serious miscommunications, overprotective siblings, a little bit of danger, a mother who raised a brood of independent thinkers and a whole lot of fun.

Next up is Secrets and Lies which features Mel and Alex working under cover. Things are bound to get interesting :)

Lights, Camera, Cupid (Bluewater Bay #6) Multi-author Anthology

Cupid is visiting Bluewater Bay, and he’s leaving chaos in his wake.

Nothing’s been the same in this sleepy little logging town since Hollywood came to shoot the hit TV show Wolf’s Landing—especially Valentine’s Day.

In L.A. Witt’s Just Another Day, beloved actors Levi Pritchard and Carter Samuels have an announcement for their fans, while in Z.A. Maxfield’s I’ll Be There, actor Spencer Kepler and his boyfriend Nash Holly brave a blizzard and a fan convention to spend their first February the 14th together.

Of course, it’s not just TV stars celebrating the day. In Anne Tenino’s Helping Hand, an aspiring artist eager to escape Bluewater Bay decides he just might have a reason to stay: lust-inspiring logger Gabriel Savage. In S.E. Jakes’s No Easy Way, a local teacher reconnects with an old lover working security on the film set. And in Amy Lane’s Nascha, a Bluewater Bay elder recalls how his own unconventional family used to celebrate the holiday.

Real life may be nothing like TV, but when Cupid comes to town, there’s plenty of romance and drama to go around.

What a fantastic Valentine’s Day treat <3 All written by authors I know and adore. Some familiar characters and some new characters. Some laughs and even a few unexpected tears. If you’ve been following the Bluewater Bay series, you need to add this one to your TBR list.

Just Another Day by L.A. Witt

Levi and Carter were introduced in Starstruck, the first book in the Bluewater Bay series, so it was very fitting that they were included in Lights, Camera, Cupid. It was fun spending time with these two again. Being in a relationship hasn’t gotten rid of all of Levi’s little quirks, but he’s working on it. He proves in Just Another Day that Carter’s the most important part of his life and he’d do anything to show him how much he means to him.

Nascha by Amy Lane

Out of all the stories in Lights, Camera, Cupid, this one seemed the most out of place… but it really wasn’t. Nascha’s story wasn’t a happy one, but it turns out that it serves a purpose. I liked the story regardless, but I knew there was more to it than just a old man’s sorrow over what he lost. Turns out that Nascha gives readers some background for the next book in the Bluewater Bay series, The Deep of the Sound, also by Amy Lane.

No Easy Way by S.E. Jakes

This is the first time readers of the Bluewater Bay series are introduced to Cary and Dylan and I’m really hoping that we get to see more of them. Cary was the guy who had everything growing up… and then lost it all. That didn’t stop him from making something of himself. He even got over Dylan when he broke his heart by leaving him. Dylan never thought he was good enough for Cary and knew he would be better off if he wasn’t a part of his life. Nothing is ever as it seems, especially in a world that S.E. Jakes creates. (Oh, and she gets bonus points for mentioning two of my favorite characters from Burnt Toast B&B :) )

Helping Hand by Anne Tenino

I liked Lucas from the time he hit the page in Helping Hand. He was bright, witty and talented and totally at odds with who he was and what he wanted. I really liked the story, but I’m not sure about the ending. I’m really hoping that there’s more to the story between Lucas and Gabe. *sigh*

I’ll Be There by Z.A. Maxfield

Oh Spencer and Nash… I love these guys. In I’ll Be There, readers are even treated to some quality time with Nash’s brother Healey and his geeky friends and boyfriend. Nash goes on a wild trip so he can be there to support Spencer. Meanwhile, Spencer comes to terms with a part of his past that he’s not exactly proud of. I loved spending time with these two again. Hell on Wheels was the third book in the series and another  one of my favorites.

Merchant of Death (Playing the Fool #2) by J.A. Rock & Lisa Henry

All’s fair in love and war.

There’s something rotten in the state of Indiana. When con man Henry Page takes it upon himself to investigate the death of an elderly patient at a care facility, he does so in true Shakespearean tradition: dressed as a girl.

FBI Agent Ryan “Mac” McGuinness has more to worry about than Henry’s latest crazy idea. Someone is trying to send him a message—via a corpse with a couple of bullets in it. He needs to figure out who’s trying to set him up before he gets arrested, and he really doesn’t have time for Henry’s shenanigans. Then again, he’d probably be able to focus better if Henry didn’t look so damn distracting in a babydoll dress and a wig.

But when Mac discovers that Henry has been keeping a secret that connects the cases, he has to find a way to live on the right side of the law when he just might be in love with the wrong sort of man.

As sequels go, Merchant of Death was right up there with some of my favorites. The banter between Mac and Henry was just as much fun as it was in The Two Gentlemen of Altona, but it had a more serious edge. Well, as serious as things can get with Henry dressing up like a woman and Mac getting… okay, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s just say, Merchant of Death kept things interesting.

You’ll have to forgive me for vagueness, but there was a lot revealed in Merchant of Death and I don’t want to give any of it away. We were given a closer look at Henry in the sequel and although I adored him in the first book, this installment made me fall in love with him. He turned out to be more broken than I suspected. (Sneaky authors.) This was a book that made me want to jump into and right every wrong that had been done. I wanted to confide in Mac for Henry and tell him exactly why he had to believe in him…. just a little. The problem was that for most of the book, Henry didn’t really believe in himself. *sigh*

Merchant of Death started out with one character being in danger. It twisted itself around until that character was semi-safe and another one took their place. It ended with the character who was least likely to be a victim protected by the least likely hero. There were more twists and turns than that and there were hints of even more. Nothing is totally as it seems and enemies and allies come out of nowhere. What seemed to be a light, entertaining story (laced with murder and mayhem) turned into a lot more. And… the adventure continues.

I’ve loved every minute of the Playing the Fool series so far, but it’s a good thing that there isn’t a long wait between installments. Tempest is scheduled to release in March. Just an FYI – you’ll want to have it pre-ordered by the time you finish Merchant of Death. You can thank me later.