Amanda in the Summer by Brenda Whiteside #LiteraryNook #blogtour #review

Title: Amanda in the Summer

Author: Brenda Whiteside

Genres: Historical Romance, Women’s Fiction

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Release Date: 8/27/2013

Blurb:

Three generations of women…and the secret that strengthens their love.

A line of women, all named Amanda, stretches back for generations. Each with her hopes, her joys, her pain—each pouring out her heart in correspondence with a dear family friend who shares their lives, understands their loves, and joins in their sorrows.

But within the correspondence lies a secret. And as the youngest of the Amandas retraces the journey through the years—beginning in post-war America and following through to modern day—the letters reveal, layer by layer, the Amandas who came before her. Soon, the truths and lies hidden in the letters lead her down a path of self-discovery that forges a bond between her past and future.

EXCERPT:

August 24, 1968

Dear Tilly,

A few days of bliss with no one to talk to but the

seagulls. I have you to thank for this. I’m so glad you

popped back after Amanda, Robert, and Mother left. The

strain I put on all of us while you were here would’ve

dragged on for who knows how long if you hadn’t

returned. Once again, Tilly, you read the tea leaves and

righted things.

My moods have been so ragged of late. Jealousy of

all things. Jealous that you could talk to my daughter,

get along so lovely with her, which I’ve had difficulty

doing these last few months. Jealous of your longer

running friendship with Robert than with me. I’m not

sure if I was jealous of him or you. You’re both mine.

And angry that the two of you are uncomfortable around

each other after so many years and not making sense of

that. When Robert left, I tried to give him the blue

swimsuit you had left behind and asked him to drop in

on you to return it. He said no, I could do it when I got

back. This was so unlike him and did more to unsettle

me...

Purchase Amanda in the Summer here  **Note--the book is FREE 10/22 thru 10/26**

Nona's Review:

This is an epistolary novel that takes the reader through several generations. It begins in the 1940s in an exchange of letters between Amanda and her dear friend Tilly. Actually, we only see Amanda’s letters, not Tilly’s responses. Though the two women are close friends, their lives take very different paths. Amanda, expecting her first child, has settled into married life while Tilly seems to be living a more exciting life in the city, single and free. Amanda spends her summers at a beach cottage, often with only her mother for company while her husband is working in the city.

We learn that Tilly was friendly with Amanda’s husband before Amanda married him, and as the letters continue, they are peppered with tantalizing hints as to the relationships among them. As time passes, Amanda’s daughter (also named Amanda) corresponds with Tilly, who remains unmarried. Through her we see the “peace and love” era of the 1960s. Further along, a third Amanda (a granddaughter) writes Tilly as well.

Though we’ve “come a long way, baby”, women still wonder if we can have it all, and if that’s even desirable. I enjoyed the way the author wove events of the time, and changing mores, into the story. As a reader I had to wonder if the 1940s Amanda, Tilly’s friend, was as innocent (oblivious?) as her letters suggested, or if she had doubts that she simply preferred not to face. I’m glad the author chose not to spell everything out, but left the mystery unanswered.

This is a story of mothers and daughters, love and friendship, and the decisions we all have to make. I recommend Amanda in the Summer to readers who enjoy woman’s fiction written with a light touch.

Author Bio:

I was born and raised in Arizona. Outside of Arizona, my travels had only gone as far as California, Nevada, and New Mexico until I married a man doing a stint in the Army. If the Army offered nothing else, we at least had the opportunity to see a good part of the world. And we found we liked moving around.

Our frequent moves continued into our civilian life. Our gypsy lifestyle has finally landed us in the northern prairies of Arizona. We’re transitioning from city people to country folk. We share our rambling farmhouse with our son the farmer, his wife, my granddaughter and three dogs. Together, we’ve embraced an age-old lifestyle that has been mostly lost in the United States - multiple generations living under one roof, who share the workload, follow their individual dreams and reap the benefits of combined talents.

Although I didn’t start out to write romance, I’ve found all good stories have to involve complicated human relationships. I’ve also learned, no matter a person’s age, a new discovery is right around every corner. Whether humorous or serious, straight contemporary or mystery, all my books revolve around those two facts.

Follow Brenda on:

Her website: www.brendawhiteside.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrendaWhitesideAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/brendawhitesid2

Blogs on 9th and 24th: http://rosesofprose.blogspot.com

Blogs about Prairie Life and Writing: http://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/

Weak at the Knees by Jo Kessel #VBT #giveaway #GF_WeakAtKnees

WEAK AT THE KNEES

By

Jo Kessel

BLURB:  

“We got so busy living life that we forgot to live our dreams.”

Danni Lewis has been playing it safe for twenty-six years, but her sheltered existence is making her feel old ahead of time. When a sudden death plunges her into a spiral of grief, she throws caution to the wind and runs away to France in search of a new beginning.

The moment ski instructor Olivier du Pape enters her shattered world she falls hard, in more ways than one.

Their mutual desire is as powerful and seductive as the mountains around them. His dark gypsy looks and piercing blue eyes are irresistible.

Only she must resist, because he has a wife – and she’d made a pact to never get involved with a married man.

But how do you choose between keeping your word and being true to your soul?

Weak at the Knees is Jo’s debut novel in the new adult, contemporary romance genre – a story about love, loss and relationships, set between London and the heart of the French Alps. 

A recent review from the UK newspaper, The Sun, rated it 4 out of 5 and called it "Moving and bittersweet. A great read."

THE AUTHOR WILL BE GIVING AWAY: 

A $50 Amazon or BN.com gift card--please be sure to click on the Rafflecopter link below!

EXCERPT

I tilt my head into his hand as he strokes my left cheek. He brings his lips in to meet mine and our eyes close. We seal our adulterous pact with a slow, slightly trembling, pressing kiss. When we pull away we smile, then hug standing, bodies tight and swaying, squeezing the breath out of each other.

He prods me playfully, steering me in the direction of my bedroom. When we get there he stands really close, running his hands up and down my arms, then holding my waist and consuming me with his gaze as he pushes me down onto the bed so that I land with him lying on top of me. I love the way his long black eyelashes curl at the ends, flickering. The way his nostrils flare ever so slightly when he inhales. The way his black mop flops forward, giving him a boyish look. We start kissing deeper and more urgently, gliding hands over each others’ bodies, one by one discarding each item of clothing, tossing them carelessly in the air, until we’re lying there completely naked, his flesh on mine. My body is one big tingle. No sooner than his hands gently glide over one part of my frame, my left breast, my right breast, my stomach, in between my legs, than the whole rest of me aches to be touched and not left out. His body is perfect, in its natural, lithe, muscular toning and in the texture of his skin, smooth and soft. His body is perfect in the way it fits on top of mine, meets mine and complements mine. I love feeling him, touching him, watching his eyes close dreamily when I stroke his back or kiss his neck. We take our time, everything in slow motion, taking pleasure in the contours of each others’ bodies.

Don't forget to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/08/virtual-book-tour-weak-at-knees-by-jo.html

An Interview with Jo Kessel:

1. If we were to come to your house for a meal, what would you give us to eat?

Roast chicken, roast potatoes and steamed vegetables served with lashings of gravy. My cooking’s simple and unfussy, using good raw ingredients.

2. Are you a romantic?

Absolutely! Romance is what makes life worth living.

3. Do you listen to music when you're writing?

No, I need silence to concentrate.

4. Do you ever read your stories out loud?

I don’t tend to, but for my first novel, Lover in Law, I did some book readings/signings and had to choose a passage to read out. So I picked a couple of excerpts and practiced them in front of my husband and children to see which one they thought worked best. It was harder to read my own story out loud than I imagined it would be.

5. What are your future ambitions?

To try to make more people reduce their carbon footprint on the world.

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

When Jo was ten years old she wrote a short story about losing a loved one. Her mother and big sister were so moved by the tale that it made them cry. Having reduced them to tears she vowed that the next time she wrote a story it would make them smile instead. Happily she succeeded and with this success grew an addiction for wanting to reach out and touch people with words. Jo lives in London with her husband and three children where she works as a TV and print journalist. She tells life stories and can often be found travelling the globe researching the next big holiday hotspots for readers to enjoy. Since becoming a mother anything even remotely sad makes her cry. She’s a sucker for a good romance and tear-jerker movies are the worst. She’s that woman in the cinema, struggling to muffle audible wails as everyone else turns round to stare.

P.S Jo’s pretty certain one of her daughters has inherited this gene.          

US buy link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E4VC70W

UK buy link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00E4VC70W

Jo loves to hear from her readers and they can connect with her on:

Her website: www.jokessel.com

Twitter: @jo_kessel

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kesseljo

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7173167.Jo_Kessel

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have a wonderful weekend, all!

Nona Raines

Hot Contemporary Romance
Edgy ~ Emotional ~ Erotic
www.nonaraines.com

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The NaNoWriMo Crazy Train Pulls Out of the Station in 16 Days!

Well, it's that time again folks. 

Normal people are getting ready for Halloween, stocking up on candy (and floss), mentally and physically preparing for the impending holidays and the influx of family members. 

Writers are prepping for their own little battle - it's called National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and it's ridiculous! For those of you out there who've never heard of this crazy time, November is no longer turkey-centric. It's all about the writing - 50,000 words in 30 days! 

This year, I'll be writing a BDSM-themed book, tentatively titled Domestic Discipline Needed. It will star Elizabeth (Liz) Clark, an erotic romance author who can't get the idea of being dominated out of her head, though it goes against every modern feminist belief she's ever had, and my hero, Chase Masters, a Dom, and owner of the local BDSM Club, who's been searching for three years for a new sub or girlfriend and knows immediately that Liz doesn't have a submissive bone in her body. Or does she?


I have officially started research for the book. I borrowed some books from the lovely and talented Ms. Nona Raines on delving into this topic, and have been perusing them over the past few days. This week will involve some hard-core... um reading, of course. :-) 

If you are interested in BDSM, as at least 11% of the population is, be sure to check out Nona's post on writing BDSM and where to start the research if you'd like to write one, here's the post. Also, make sure you check out her own BDSM, Uncollared. 

I'll be posting my progress, musings, and notes as I descend into this dark and interesting world. 

~Rach

Blurb Blitz: A Song for Sophie by Mackenzie Crowne #GoddessFish #giveaway

Happy Friday, everyone! Today I'm featuring a Blurb Blitz for fellow Wild Rose Press author Mackenzie Crowne's new release! Mackenzie will be awarding one of her backlist titles in PDF format to a randomly drawn commenter at every stop, and a Grand Prize of a bundle of 15 PDF titles from various authors and genres of romance, (excluding erotica) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Please follow the tour and comment! The more you comment, the better your chances of winning! The tour dates can be found here: 

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/08/virtual-blurb-blitz-tour-song-for.html

A Song for Sophie

by Mackenzie Crowne

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Jobless, practically homeless, and tired of being manless, Sophie Taylor jumps at the chance to be Beaumont Walker’s personal assistant. Six weeks on the road with country music’s bad boy—and, more importantly, his all-male crew—is the perfect opportunity to change her life.

Beau Walker doesn’t need any more distractions. Sophie, with her butt-ugly suits and balls-to-the-wall attitude, shouldn’t be one, but she proves to be distracting and more—even, surprisingly, a friend. So when he discovers her plan to snag a man from his worldly wise crew, he’s determined to protect her from herself.

When Sophie realizes Beau is behind her failure to attract even one member of his crew, the last place she expects to find herself is in his bed. But will one night of passion convince her she's woman enough for him? Or will it destroy their friendship and his budding belief in true love?

Excerpt:

His lunch date? Is he insane? His definition of a personal assistant was obviously different than hers. “Now, just a minute.”

Beau ignored her, pulling her toward the wood paneled building. She blinked up at the neon star mounted above the door. A flashing steer rode above the sign announcing the Lonesome Steer Honky Tonk. A few miles outside of Amarillo, she’d driven by the popular bar occasionally, but had never been inside.

“A honky tonk? Really? This isn’t the kind of place I’d expect to find your mother.”

He kept a tight hold on her wrist when she tried to jerk free. “Savanna started her career on the Lonesome Steer’s tiny stage. She makes a point to stop in to see the owner whenever she’s in town.”

Yanking open the door, he pulled her in behind him. Her eyes were slow to adjust to the dim light after the bright sunshine outside. She blinked, glancing around as the door thumped shut behind them. Surprisingly busy for a weekday afternoon, most of the round wooden tables were occupied beyond the large, empty dance floor.

Heads turned at their arrival. Several of the diners called out greetings while others jabbed elbows at their companions and nodded in Beau’s direction.

“Unless you want me to cause a scene in front of your adoring fans, I suggest you let go of my wrist.”

Purchase A Song for Sophie here: Http://amzn.com/B00ES5J6LW 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

I'm a wife, mother, and grandmother (a really young one). My husband and I were blessed with two rambunctious little boys who we managed to raise into wonderful men without any disfiguring mishaps. Dirt bikes and ESPN are the order around our house, and life at the 'Testosterone Ranch' more closely resembles one of today's wacky reality shows, than yesterday's 'Leave It To Beaver'.

I'm one of eight kids, raised just north of Boston. I moved to Phoenix as an adult because living in the southwest feeds my soul. My childhood was a free-for-all, chock full of laughter, love, family and friends. I was raised on the concept that a stranger is just one conversation away from being a friend and I'm happy to say, that experience remains true today.

My love of books, specifically the romance genre, has been a lifelong affair, both as a reader and a writer. A bout with breast cancer sharpened my resolve to see my stories shared with others. Today, I am a five-year survivor, living my dream.

My friends call me Mac. I hope you will too.

 Mac’s Links:

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Mackenzie-Crowne/e/B007YH4QZ2/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

mackenziecrowne.com: http://mackenziecrowne.com/wp/

FaceBook Author Page:  https://www.facebook.com/MackenzieCrowne

Twitter @maccrowne: https://twitter.com/MacCrowne

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5821344.Mackenzie_Crowne

Have a wonderful weekend, all!

Nona Raines

Hot Contemporary Romance
Edgy ~ Emotional ~ Erotic
www.nonaraines.com

Facebook, Twitter, Blog

Seduced (Lost In Oblivion) by @cariquinn and @TarynElliottFic #VBT #CBLSpromos #review

Seduced (Lost in Oblivion)

by Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott

Contemporary Erotic New Adult Romance

Publisher: Rainbow Rage Publishing

Release Date: July 4, 2013

Heat Level: Sizzling

Word Count: 74,000

Available at:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DSDPPA6

ARe: http://goo.gl/zHPiI

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seduced-cari-quinn/1115922704

Kobo: http://goo.gl/xFW1T

Description:

A PREQUEL to the NA rock star series Lost In Oblivion.

Warning: Get ready for a testosterone overload. The guys are in the driver's seat in Seduced - and the ride's gonna rock.

Twenty-three year old Nick Crandall has one focus in his life: Oblivion, the band he formed with his best friend Simon Kagan. With gigs coming up and the band members lacking focus after losing their drummer to rehab, they're out of ideas. Until Oblivion's bassist, Deacon McCoy, poses a surprising suggestion.

Bring in someone new. Two someones.

One You Tube video gone viral later, Oblivion is poised on the brink of stardom. With their new hot drummer chick — who comes in a package deal with a talented guitarist who happens to be head over pick in unrequited love with her - it seems like everything's falling into place. Or will the band Nick and Simon have fought to keep together disintegrate before their eyes?

Four guys & one woman + more success than they ever bargained for = trouble, of the sexiest kind.

Get Seduced by this novel-length introduction to the band Oblivion. This preview occurs before the four forthcoming books about each of the band members. Sometimes getting lost means finding yourself…

Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains explicit sex scenes and/or situations (including m/f/m menage) and adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.

Spicy Excerpt:

Nick stabbed his fingers into the mile-high bun Jazz had fixed on top of her head, wrecking the orderly curls, tearing them down while his tongue plunged between her lips. She moaned, loud and sharp, not tempering the sound. And he feasted on it, on her, sucking on her tongue, nipping her lips, swallowing that same grape-sweet taste she’d tormented him with before.

“Want me to go down on you?” he whispered between kisses. It wasn’t an offer he made often, though he had a feeling she’d be the exception to all of his rules.

She shook her head, hard and definite. “No. Just fingers. Please. Like last time.”

They didn’t speak after that. Didn’t do a damn thing except kiss and touch and pant hotly into each other’s mouths. Just like last time, she stroked his cock like she was manipulating her drumsticks. Up, down, up, down, squeezing, letting go. Over and over until he shoved her back against the wall and pushed his hand under her skirt. All he could think about was getting inside her.

She wore panties tonight, tiny frilly ones, and he ripped them aside and surged his fingers deep. She threw her head back, banging her skull. He pulled out and rubbed her piercing, amazed all over again that such perfection existed in his world. The memory of those pink crystals around her taut little clit could take him straight to heaven. But he wouldn’t go alone.

He spent extra time toying with the studs, testing her reactions to each flick and flutter. Building the urgency between them until they both trembled like plucked strings. Then he was playing her flesh like she’d played him and all he could hear were her ragged gasps, each of them ending on a single plea.

More.

More.

God, give me more.

She came in a pulsing gush against his palm, and he groaned as he dropped his forehead into the crook of her neck. Her brown sugar scent and the smell of her arousal wrapped around him, constricting his lungs, blocking his airflow. Then she dropped to her knees again and pulled down his zipper, taking him out so fast he couldn’t do more than pant his gratitude. Her lips closed around the head of his dick and he fisted his hands against the wall, one of them still soaked from her, lost to the sensation of her wet silky mouth riding up and down his length.

It didn’t take long. She remembered what he liked, and he’d been primed for the past week. He hadn’t let himself come on his own, knowing he’d see her behind his eyes. She’d be the cause of his orgasm even if he was all alone. So he’d held back, held off, somehow knowing they’d end up in this place again. His own touch would never be a decent substitute when he could have her.

At least he had her right now.

Nona’s Review of Seduced by Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott

I haven’t read a great many rock star romances, but I liked the fact that Seduced features a struggling band and we see the band in “rags” before they get to the “riches” of fame and success. A lot of ground work is laid for future books in the Lost in Oblivion series. There are plenty of personal problems and romantic/sexual entanglements as well. 

As the tale begins, the band is hanging on by a thread. They’re still playing dives and their drummer Snake has once again entered rehab. The three remaining band members are at odds. Guitarist Nick, who founded the band, considers it “his” and has a hard time thinking of replacing Snake even temporarily. Still, they can’t go on without a drummer, as down-to-earth, level-headed bass-player Deacon insists. Simon, the lead singer, can slay an audience with his voice but is caught up in booze and women.

Deacon has a solution: two new members, drummer Jazz (Jasmine) and guitarist Gray. The guys balk at playing with a woman, but soon discover that Jazz is awesome on the drums. Gray is no slouch himself and when they finally play together, a video of their set goes viral.

The characters are fully fleshed and interesting. All the band members have their struggles, though we see this story through the alternating points of view of Nick and Simon. Nick struggles with the consequences of a harsh upbringing, stage fright in front of live audiences and his fear that he’s “losing” the band when new members join. Nick’s a little hard to like at times, as his resentment makes him do some jerky things. He does try to man up at the end, though, and make a sacrifice that may or may not end well for those concerned.

Though Simon was a cocky man whore, I found him more likeable, especially when he hungers for a classical violinist who seems out of his league. (Hopefully Margo will turn up in a future entry in the series). Still, he struggles with burgeoning success as well.

Serious and silent Gray and sparkly purple pixie Jazz are an intriguing pair. Are they a couple or what? Gray’s very protective of her, but she insists they’re not “together”. They have a very touching backstory. When Jazz begins hooking up with Nick, some sexy surprises are in store. Fans of erotic romance will have no problem with the varied romps enjoyed by the members of Oblivion. Between Simon’s exploits and the Nick/Jazz/Gray triangle, there’s plenty of hot sexin’ going on in the story.

The most mysterious characters so far are Gray, whose intensity comes out in his guitar playing rather than discourse, and Deacon. Deacon’s the sensible one, the peacemaker, the one who smooths things out for everyone. But we get hints that his still waters run deep. And I’m excited that his story is the next one in the series!

Well, Cari Quinn and Taryn Elliott really reeled me in. I really want to find out what happens to these guys and gal. How will the Nick/Jazz/Gray be resolved? (Tip to Gray: quit being so damn self-contained and tell the woman how you feel, dude!) Will Simon find love with violinist Margo or will some other woman win his heart? And will any of his random hookups come back to bite him in the butt? How will Oblivion handle the sudden fame? And will Snake ever return?

Seduced hooked me and I can’t wait to read the next entry in the Lost in Oblivion series.

Don't forget to check out the other spots on the Seduced Book Tour!

About the Authors:

Cari Quinn - USA Today bestselling author Cari Quinn wrote her first story—a bible parable—in 2nd grade, much to the delight of the nuns at her Catholic school. Once she saw the warm reception that first tale garnered, she was hooked. Now she gets to pen sexy romances for a living and routinely counts her lucky stars. When she’s not scribbling furiously, she can usually be found watching men’s college basketball, playing her music way too loud or causing trouble. Sometimes simultaneously.

Connect with Cari Quinn

Email: CariQuinnauthor@gmail.com

Website: http://www.cariquinn.com (sign up for her brand new newsletter!)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CariQuinnAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cariquinn

Taryn Elliott - She’s from the great state of New York--upstate NY…you know, above NYC by about three hours. Her family consists of a brother who takes care of keeping the snarky side of her alive and a dog that is more spoiled child than mutt. Her writer-friends are the glue that keeps her crazy ideas more in the sane category, and her non-writerly friends are the reason she’s not a complete hermit. She can't go a day without laughing and truly does fall in love with each and every one of her leading men as she writes their book. Music is life and every story has its own soundtrack.

Connect with Taryn Elliott

Email: taryn@tarynelliott.com

Website: http://www.tarynelliott.com (sign up for her brand new newsletter!)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TarynElliottAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TarynElliottFic