Wednesday, December 31, 2014

CLP BLOG TOURS presents AND THEN THERE WAS YOU by Suzy Turner Excerpt




With the bandage firmly in place, Adam began to make circles on my ankle with his thumb. The slightest touch had such a massive effect and I felt like I might explode.
'A-A-Adam. Don't.'
'I can't help it, Eve. I want to touch you all the time. Every minute of every day.'
'I know.'
Slowly he scooted forward so that my legs were straddling him. He leaned over and kissed my neck, upwards towards my ear, cheek and then he pecked the tip of my nose. I closed my eyes and groaned. He kissed my left eye and then my right, then back down, kissing my cupid's bow before he opened his mouth and pushed mine open with his tongue. It was delicious. I throbbed everywhere, from the soles of my feet up to my knees – up, up, up – and bang between my legs. like a firework had gone off inside me.
'Oh Adam,' I groaned. 'I want you so much.'
His hands moved carefully over my shoulders and down each arm, circling, probing, across to my breasts, which were aching to be touched. He slid his hand down my top, carefully moving my bra to one side so he could trace my nipple.
I was on fire, and no amount of water could put me out.
That is, until there was a knock at the door.
'Shit,' I exclaimed, pushing myself off him guiltily.
Adam swallowed loudly and sat back, closing his eyes, trying to contain himself and calm down the massive erection bulging in his trousers.
I rearranged my bra and brushed myself down, using my hands to flatten my hair.
'I'd better get it,' he said. 'You shouldn't walk.'
'Ahem,' I said pointing to the continued bulge.
'Oh, I'm trying to...'
'I'll go. It is my house, after all.'
Stumbling clumsily across the living room, I closed the interior door behind me and leaned back against it. Taking a deep breath, I hobbled to the front door.
Opening it, I was shocked to find my parents standing on the step.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

REFINERY 29 by Christine Barberich and Piera Gelardi

Refinery 29, Style Stalking  offers fashion know-how to pull off any combination of clothing styles and wear them with pride and confidence. Each style section includes basic training through year-round to zoom lens. There are ten style topics that bring bold outfits to those who may be fashion fierce or totally meek pertaining to style while encouraging “ultimate rebellion” in “style liberation.”

Brights, Good Vintage, Ugly Pretty, and Mixed Prints are a few styles covered within this book that guides you into a fashion forward makeover. The year-round section under each style headings shows how to wear your garments in fall, winter, spring, and summer.

Refinery 29, Style Stalking is for anyone who loves fashion will enjoy indulging into this guide learning more tips and tricks in dressing the way you want including “going against the grain.” Also, this a great gifting opportunity to any Fashionista you may know.

I received this book free from Crown Publishing through the Blogging for Books reviewer program in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.




Monday, December 29, 2014

PETIT FOUR, Four Stories, Frosted with Love Review

APREZ VOUS 
by Lucie Simone

Tara gives her niece Marissa a graduation gift of a lifetime before she heads to college , a two-week vacation in Paris, France. Tara had visited Paris years earlier leaving abruptly because she fell in love with Jean Mark Dufour who continued his pursuit of Tara for a full year afterward with no response. Returning to Paris, Tara ponders contacting Jean Mark but resists until her niece and Jean Mark’s son interfere not realizing that a broken might not be repairable after thirty years of separation with no communication.

Lucie Simone brings a sweet coming of age tale set in Paris, France bringing memories of true love and the decadent pastries of Paris right off the page. Enjoy this short story cozily on the couch with a cup of coffee or glass of wine while reading of past love and delicious sweet patries.




CAKE THERAPY
by Cindy Arora

Olivia Cisneros has a new job at SF Bridge News under the guidance of Tammy Kovac, a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter. Tammy is a hard-core believer in ‘cake therapy’ for every event in a person’s life which includes all ups and downs while teaching Olivia how to utilize cake therapy into her situations. When Tammy leaves SF Bridge News and is replaced by a man, Olivia immediately seeks ways to dislike him but cannot find enough sufficient reasons.


Cindy Arora’s novel has a solution to any situation you may encounter through ‘Cake Therapy.’ All you have to do is find an excellent bakery and eat their sumptuous offerings to solve your problems (I like it!). This lovable story follows Olivia from a new position to the art of ‘cake therapy’ to very much needed new friendships. I believe I will follow suit and find that special bakery for myself.



THE HEART-SHAPED SECRET OF RASPBERRY JAM
by Sue Watson

Milly is a waitress at Victoriana Tea Rooms who also helps in the kitchen and writes reviews on her blog Cake Candy. Victoriana Tea Rooms will have new owners very soon placing Milly, her co-worker Kate, the manager Mrs. Jackson and their jobs in jeopardy.  The new owners want to change the vibe of the tearoom bringing a modern yet old-fashioned feel to the Victoriana that is not received well by all.

Sue Watson does a great job bringing to the forefront the long forgotten Tea Room which she updates that left me wanting to search for this type of establishment to enjoy delicious desserts and coffee. 





HER CHARMS
by Joel Zlotnik

Scott Lyons is the forty-six year old widower and Mayor of “SUPPORT FOR MAYOR DROPS WITH PANTY WOES.”
Ola Vista who is taken in by the charms of Nicole who makes him feel like a teenaged boy again. As Scott begins his re-election campaign, a scandal arises dubbed “Pantygate” with the newspaper headline

Join Scott, Nicole, and the city of Ola Vista as they handle the situation at hand with a few cupcakes thrown in for good measure.

Joel Zlotnik gives it you in a straight, no chaser novella with perfectly placed humor that is hard to find in a story wishing it did not end so quickly. The romantic gestures of a new relationship leaves the reader wanting more of this sweet and lovable romance.


Petit Four is the type of book you will want to read by the fireplace, in front of the portable heater, or wrapped up in a blanket on the couch with a hot cup of tea, coffee, expresso, or glass of wine. The four novellas in this collection are charming and well worth the read if not just for the delicate to down-home desserts baked and served by the main characters. This is also a great gifting opportunity for avid readers of romantic and heart-warming tales of relationships between men and women. I recommend to women and men book lovers to add to their collection of collections.

My favorite novella was Aprez Vous, no- Cake Therapy, no- The Heart-Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam, no- Her Charms. Well, I must confess, my favorite was ALL of them because each one made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside ( :D ). Okay, if I HAD to pick just one…….Her Charms.

I received this book through CLP BLOG TOURS in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines. 


CLP BLOG TOURS presents AND THEN THERE WAS YOU by Suzy Turner Book Tour








Three years ago, Eve Brooke had the most passionate, memorable night of her life. Unfortunately, it was with a man who wasn't her husband. 

Can infidelity be forgotten? Not when her one night stand moves in next door, it can’t. 

Eve Brooke has a pretty good life. She’s married to Matt, her childhood sweetheart, has an interesting career and lives in a nice house in the suburbs. If life is so perfect why did Eve sleep with a complete stranger during a trip to London? And why, three years later did he have to move in next door with his beautiful wife? As the attraction between them flares up again, Eve begins to question her marriage and wonders if it is fate or coincidence that has brought them back together… 







About the author

Although Suzy is a Yorkshire lass at heart, she left her home town of Rotherham, UK, to move to Portugal with her family when she was ten. The Algarve continues to be her home, where she lives with her childhood sweetheart, Michael, two neurotic dogs and a cat who thinks she's a princess.

Shortly after completing her studies, Suzy was offered the position of trainee journalist for a local English newspaper. Her love of writing developed and a few years later she moved on to become assistant editor for the region's largest English language publisher. Since then she has also worked as the editor of one of the Algarve's most loved monthly lifestyle magazines. 


Early in 2010 however, Suzy began working as a full time author. She has since written several books: Raven, December Moon, The Lost Soul (The Raven Saga), Daisy Madigan's Paradise, The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw, The Temporal Stone, Looking for Lucy Jo (The Morgan Sisters), Forever Fredlessand And Then There Was You.

And Then There Was You is available exclusively on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OTT7WYU




TOUR SCHEDULE

December 29 – Polished and Bubbly– Review & Excerpt

December 29 – Novel Escapes– Q&A

December 30 – All Things Bookie– Q&A

December 30 - Chick Lit Plus – Review

December 31 – Ski-Wee’s Book Corner– Excerpt

January 2 – Curling Up With a Good Book – Review, Q&A & Excerpt

January 5 - Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review, Q&A & Excerpt

Monday, December 22, 2014

CLP BLOG TOURS presents PETIT FOUR, FOUR STORIES, FROSTED WITH LOVE Review Tour #clpblogtours



Cake is often a major part of life’s celebrations, both big and small. From birthdays to wedding days, cake, in all its delectable concoctions, marks joyous occasions with a sweetness that can’t be beat. But even better is the love that is shared when two people connect over a sweet confection. Maybe it’s a cute new guy wreaking havoc on a broken heart, or a beautiful woman testing the limits of love, or an old beau stirring up long lost desires. Whatever the circumstances, cake can always be relied upon to save the day when it comes to affairs of the heart. In this collection of short stories, cake is the delicious center around which each tale unfolds and romance blooms.

When single mom and journalist, Olivia, sets out to find romance in Cindy Arora’s “Cake Therapy,” she gets a little help from her friends and more than a few slices of cake to coax her off the couch and into the arms of a truly great love. Lucie Simone’s “Aprez Vous” finds success-driven Tara in Paris reminiscing of her long lost love, Jean Marc, and her niece bound and determined to reunite them. In “The Heart-Shaped Secret of Raspberry Jam” by Sue Watson, cake enthusiast, Milly, meets her match in the kitchen, and other places, when new owners take over the tea rooms where she works and her talents and her heart are put to the test. And Scott, mayor of a small seaside community, flirts with political suicide in Joel Zlotnik’s “Her Charms” when he falls for new-in-town Nicole, an entrepreneur with a passion for cupcakes, and whose latest venture proves a little too sexy for the sleepy beach town.
From San Francisco to Paris, from small towns to tea rooms, this anthology tempts readers with humor, style, romance, and the powerful aphrodisiac that is cake. Petit Four is four stories, frosted with love. 


Petit Four Author Bios

Lucie Simone has a passion for travel, romance and all things chick lit. She also has a degree in Journalism and a Master of Fine Arts in Television Production. She is the author of novels, Hollywood Ending and Picture Perfect, both offering an insider’s take on life in the City of Angels. Her love of comedy (and living under the delusion that she might one day be an actress) resulted in a stint studying improvisation, which, ironically enough, taught her to be a better writer. She lives in Los Angeles (and loves it), but considers New York City her imaginary second home and visits the Big Apple as often as her bank account will allow. For more information on Lucie, please visit her website at www.luciesimone.com.




Cindy Arora was a staff writer at The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, The Orange County Register and Sacramento Magazine. She’s been published in Saveur, Tasting Table, Orange Coast Magazine and Fodor’s. She’s also mama to an adorable little boy, a feminist, a whiskey enthusiast, and proud to call herself a Chick Lit author. She is the author of Heartbreak Cake, a deliciousdebut novel, and a contributor to the anthology, Merry & Bright, with her story, “Christmas at Mulberry Inn.” To learn more about Cindy, please visit www.cindyarora.com.




Sue Watson is a former BBC TV Producer who woke up one morning to the realisation that there was no such thing as 'having it all.' Marriage, motherhood and a full-time career were taking over her life and what she really wanted to do was stay home all day, bake and eat cake, watch reality TV and write... in that order. So she quit the day job, baked a year’s supply of cupcakes and chased the dream. What followed was a lot of cake and many hours in the company of ‘The Real Housewives of New Jersey,’  ‘The Biggest Loser,’ and ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians.’ During this, time Sue also managed to write a few books too:  Fat Girls and Fairy CakesYounger, Thinner, Blonder; Love, Lies and Lemon Cake; and her latest cake offering,Snow Angels, Secrets and Christmas Cake. Learn more about Sue by visiting www.suewatsonbooks.com.




Joel Zlotnik is a former Southern California journalist who was lucky enough to find a second career on the other side of the notepad, answering questions instead of asking them. He recently cancelled his cable so he would write more and quickly discovered online binge watching. You can find him living at the beach in South Orange County, where he listens to records, reads and watches the waves. Find some of his essays and short fiction at www.joelzlotnik.com.






Friday, December 19, 2014

THE HOUR OF PARADE by Alan Bray

The setting is 1806 Russia with Alex Ruzhensky who is a Russian Officer instructed by his father to travel to Munich to kill the man who killed his son and Alex’s brother in a duel. The father is full of revenge that transfers to Alex as he begins his retribution journey to execute a murder in the name of his father.

Arriving in Munich Alex is invited to join German soldiers for a round of drinks in a tavern and attentively listens as they relate the story of that fateful day of demise for his brother without their knowledge of Alex’s relationship with the defeated. Alex continues his search for the enemy of his father and once found a completely new set of events occurs leading Alex to search his mind and soul as to the true reason for being there.

While reading The Hour of Parade I created a movie version in my mind that filmed in black and white as if it were from the film noir era. Thoughtfully written with attention to detail from the 1800’s era in Germany and Russia, Alan Bray places you in the middle of a revenge seeking drama provoking you to rethink when to bring the ‘an eye for an eye’ adage into play. I recommend to historical fiction fans for a tale of exciting adventure and revenge that rings true to human nature.


I received this book free from Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) through the Net Galley reviewer program in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.


TAGGED for DEATH by Sherry Harris

Sarah is the ex-wife of now retired military Colonel C.J. Hooker who is Chief of Police of a small town named Ellington. Sarah loves a good garage sale and when asked will organize any garage for a small fee. While Sarah packs up the garage to give unwanted items to charity, she finds a bag belonging to C.J. with a shirt that is bloody and hope C.J. has not harmed his missing friend Jessica. When Jessica turns up dead C.J. is the prime suspect and with evidence mounting against him Sarah investigates every leaf and rock not turned over. Sarah finds data that may clear C.J. but cannot convince the investigators in charge to listen, as they are dependent upon the circumstantial evidence already in hand. In the meantime, someone is following Sarah because of her interference in the case and has plans to make her stop. Sarah is quite the amateur sleuth standing up for her ex-husband when it seems no one else will do the same.

Tagged for Death is a crime-drama with mystery and suspense with a touch of military setting that will have you wondering ‘who-dun nit’ until the end. Sherry Harris is a good crime drama novelist and who has me looking forward to her next crime novel and recommending to crime-drama, mystery-suspense, and crime sleuths alike for an easy and enjoyable read.


I received this book free from Kensington Books through the Net Galley reviewer program in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines. 

Thursday, December 18, 2014

INSTINCT by T.D. Jakes

Instinct is an interactive guide to aid understanding your instincts and how they will guide you in the direction to whatever and where you need to be to succeed in life. Self-assessment tests are included with each chapter that contains self-evaluation questions provoking honest answers to reveal your true identity and interests in life for a successful career. The final evaluation at the end of the book reveals which type of safari animal you are: Lion, Elephant, Zebra, Giraffe, Monkey, or Gazelle.

This is a good guide for those wishing to evaluate themselves digging deeper by following their instincts to a productive and successful life and career. The problem I had with this guide is the Monkey safari animal even though it is not used in a derogatory manner, I would never associate myself to a monkey because of its past association with Negroes and their struggle through slavery which takes a few steps backward. Nonetheless, this is a good starting point to learn more about your instincts and the integral part they play in life to your success. I recommend to those searching or seeking more meaning from their life, as a gifting opportunity to family and friends, and as a useful guide in a home study or bible study group.


I received this book free from Faith Words-Center Street publishers through the Net Galley reviewer program in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.