Cover Reveal: Just Once by Julianna Keyes

COVER REVEAL

by Julianna Keyes and Omnific Publishing

Adult Contemporary Romance

Releasing October 29, 13

Kate Burke is done making bad decisions. Thirty years old and belatedly determined to grow up, the successful travel writer and one-time party girl returns to work at the remote Ponderosa Pines Ranch to reassess her life. Although her kitchen/cabin staff is lacking and the workload never relents, Kate’s main challenge is Shane Maddox, the ruggedly handsome and doggedly stubborn ranch foreman. Instantly at odds, they battle over everything from ceiling fans to bothersome bats—studiously ignoring the sparks they generate with each confrontation. They can’t explain their explosive physical chemistry, but after a few frustrated weeks they can’t deny it either. Their solution? Just once. They’ll get past their inconvenient lust and move on. Kate’s been trying to think with her head instead of her hormones, but is this just another bad decision in a lifetime of careless choices? Has she really changed at all? Set in the striking and serene hills of southern Colorado, Julianna Keyes’ debut novel offers a sizzling and satisfying tale of unexpected chemistry and the power of second chances. Her characters will get under your skin and into your heart. Just once may not be enough for you either.

 
   
About the Author

Julianna Keyes is a Canadian writer who has lived on both coasts and several places in between. She’s been skydiving, bungee jumping, and white water rafting, but nothing thrills—or terrifies—her as much as the blank page. She has volunteered in Zambia, taught English in China, and dreams of seeing pink dolphins in the Amazon. This is her first book. Website | Twitter  

Promotional Event: On Best Behavior+ Giveaway

The final book in the Conduct Series has released! Read the excerpt below and enter the giveaway!

On Best Behavior by Jennifer Lane and Omnific Publishing

   Planning a wedding is never easy—especially when the Russian Mafia wants you dead. On Best Behavior—the third and final book in The Conduct Series—finds our favorite couple moving forward, despite the odds. Following a pardon by the Governor of Illinois, ex-cons Sophie Taylor and Grant Madsen are finally free to pursue their love and the life that lies ahead for them. Grant now fights the forces that have hurt his loved ones by working undercover for the FBI, and he has infiltrated the Russian Mafia in Chicago. Sophie dives into swimming with Grant’s nephew, Ben, and into her career as a psychology professor. Thankfully, now it’s Ben’s turn to heal through therapy sessions with Dr. Hunter Hayes. With so many things going right for Grant and Sophie, it's too bad the Russians aren’t their only threat. When Grant’s father, Enzo Barberi, discovers his own son thwarted his plan to break out of prison, his overdeveloped sense of vengeance flares to life. As Sophie scrambles to save her fiancé, it's impossible to say who will kill Grant first—the Russians or his Italian family. Can love triumph over evil? Are hard work and a pledge to be on best behavior ever enough? Once again, author Jennifer Lane brings a harrowing tale of romantic suspense with a psychological twist, and it's sure to leave readers breathless.

   

And here's an excerpt:
 

A scene from after Grant gets back from an assignment, where he had to drink tequila with the Russian mob:

He nuzzled her nose, smiling dreamily, and she caught a whiff of Eau de Tequila. The low hallway light reflected in his dazzling eyes, which shone with mischief.

Her eyes narrowed. “Why were you drinking? I thought—”

He interrupted her with a scorching kiss, which made her bones wobble.

He followed his masterpiece by cupping her breasts in his hands.

He skimmed his lips across her jaw, softly licking the skin near her ear. “You thought?” he prompted. He wasn’t slurring quite as badly as his first tequila bender.

“Hmmm…I thought…I thought…what was I thinking?”

He grabbed both her hands, and she found herself moving in step with him, ballroom dancing in the hallway. Naturally he started singing Sinatra in his deep baritone, crooning about the kick of champagne.

Feeling déjà vu from the bridge of the cruise ship, she closed her eyes and swayed along with him. Here we go again. She let him twirl her, and, despite her consternation, a giggle escaped.

He tucked her close, his hand resting on the small of her back, humming a tune about liquor not affecting him at all.

I beg to differ.



About the Author

People fascinate the psychologist/author (psycho author) known as Jennifer Lane. Her therapy clients talk to her all day long about their dreams and secrets, and her characters tell her their stories at night. Jen delights in peeling away the layers to scrutinize their psyches and emotions. But please rest assured, dear reader, she isn’t psychoanalyzing you right now. She’s already got too many voices in her head! Stories of redemption interest Jen the most, especially the healing power of love. She is the author of The Conduct Series—-romantic suspense for adult readers—-and recently completed the third and final installment: On Best Behavior. Streamline is her first foray into writing for young and new adults, but she’s found this sort of writing even more fun. A former college swimmer, Jen was able to put a lot of her own experiences into this book. Whether writing or reading, Jen loves stories that make her laugh and cry. In her spare time she enjoys exercising, attending book club, and hanging out with her sisters and their families in Chicago and Hilton Head.

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Blog Tour: Beautiful Chances by Alicia Rae + Giveaway

 

Beautiful Chances

The Beautiful Series 1

Author: Alicia Rae 
Pages: 292 pgs
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: September 10th 2013
Review Source: Author
Purchase Links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble

After losing her parents and sister in a tragic car accident, Lily distances herself from those still around her. As she solely focuses on her work, she refuses to form any emotional attachments in fear of struggling through another unbearable loss.

…until Kyle enters her life with his possessive and overbearing personality. Instead of running, Lily finds herself drawn to him. Helping her on a path to healing, Kyle stands by her side and lends her his strength.

A bond is formed, but it is tested when the unthinkable happens.

Can taking a chance on love conquer all?

Beautiful Chances, Alicia Rae's debut, is a sweet romance that will keep your interest until the very end. And I love how the cover fits so perfectly with the story.

Lily struggles throughout the story with the death of her family and figuring out how to live life again. Even when she does begin to venture out and find some happiness, she still struggles and works to cope with her loss. I loved that Alicia kept those emotions so real and that they were an important part of Lily's growth.

And what's a romance without a pretty hunky hero for our heroine. Kyle was probably one of my favorite male leads to read about in this genre. He was strong, beautiful, hard working, and was a great strength to Lily. He could be overbearing at times and he definitely had those typical male tendencies that make you want to roll your eyes, but that's what I enjoyed about him. He was real.

I'm definitely interested in reading the next book in this series, My Beautiful, and finding out what else is in store for Lily and Kyle. There are certain things that aren't answered in this first book, but I think that's important to bring readers. I know it's worked for me.

And if you want to find out what I'm talking about that check out this out...

*GIVEAWAY TIME*

Kindle Fire ~ US & Canada Residents Only  

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Alicia Rae is a Contemporary Romance Author who lives in Dekalb, Illinois, with her husband and three beautiful boys. Alicia has a passion for reading all types of romance, writing to bring a story to life, and photography.

Thank you to my dear sister, Kels, who showed me a few years ago how much I truly missed reading. And to my loving husband, for not throwing away my Nook, and planting the seed of writing into my mind. I am forever grateful. Xo

Readers, words cannot thank you enough for supporting me along this incredible journey. I hope you enjoy my novels as much as I do writing them. I thank each and every one of you.

Believe in yourself and follow your dreams…

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Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Scarlet

The Lunar Chronicles 2

Author: Marissa Meyer 
Pages: 454 pgs
Genre: YA, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Dystopian
Release Date: February 5th 2013
Review Source: Purchased

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

I was taken by surprise by how much I enjoyed Cinder when I first read it, and with Scarlet I just crossed my fingers that it would be even better. Which it was! I had to slow myself down while reading it so that I didn't finish it too quickly.

The world that Marissa created is so fascinating and fun to get lost in, I can definitely understand why she's called it a space opera now. There's just so much to take in and your left on the edge of your seats wondering just what's going to happen next.

I absolutely loved Scarlet and Wolf. At first I only wanted more of Cinder and that's it, but again Marissa proved me wrong and showed how amazingly their stories intertwine. Especially with Cinder and the Lunar's. And, again, can I say how much I loved Wolf.

We also got to see Cinder in a completely different way. Now that she's no longer impeded by her stepmother, her personality came through a lot more and I realized why I loved her character all over again.

Waiting for the next book, Cress, has felt like forever, but I know that it will totally be worth it!

Blog Tour: Fix You by Beck Anderson

 

Fix You

Author: Beck Anderson 
Pages: 254 pgs
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: September 17th 2013
Review Source: Omnific

When Kelly Reynolds’s husband died, he left her—the awkward, cautious one—to raise their two young boys. She’s pieced herself back together, barely. Now she takes refuge in her routine: running her kids around and running the trails near her Idaho home.

Two years after her husband’s death, a chance encounter on a run brings Andrew into her life. But Andrew is Andy Pettigrew, the Andy Pettigrew, famous actor. Kelly hates risk, and a love affair with Andrew is certainly tempting fate. She doesn’t fit into his Hollywood world. She doesn’t own a pair of Louboutins, and she couldn’t walk five paces in them if she did. Andrew oozes cool. She reeks of dork.

But despite this, they click. It may be inexplicable, but it works. However, it’s also becoming clear that Andrew struggles with the pressures of his fame. Kelly’s hold on a so-called normal life is already tenuous, and as much as she might want to indulge the fantasy, she doesn’t know how either of them is supposed to cope with stalkerazzi and tweet-happy fans with camera phones. She and Andrew both have secrets that seem impossible to keep.

Beck Anderson’s witty, engaging writing yields an emotional tale of love, loss, and all the little things that make up a life. In the end, what is it that really holds us together? Kelly must decide if love can fix two people who might be broken beyond repair.

Beck's debut novel is a beautifully written work that I truly enjoyed. She offers a different insight into the glamorous world that I think we all, at one point or another, want to know more about.

One thing you learn right off the bat is that this story has some difficult situations that the characters have to deal with. They aren't glossed over or expressed into graphic detail, but are presented in way so that you know what they've had to deal with. I really liked how Beck did that. She didn't make anybody immune to heartache or just life.

That also leads me to how real her two main characters were, Andrew and Kelly. That's what I loved and appreciated about this book more than anything. Yes, Andrew was a movie star, but he wasn't presented as perfect, he was just a man. And Kelly was adorably awkward and shy, learning how to date again, or even just to deal with people in general. Beck did a brilliant job with that.

And all of that, in my opinion at least, makes the romance between Andrew and Kelly even better. It was real and awkward and difficult. It took time to build and was sweet. There was just the right blend of everything to keep you intrigued and rooting for the characters to find their happy place. I'm definitely crossing my fingers for more from this author.

Now, if you'd like to get your hands on a copy check this out...

*GIVEAWAY TIME*

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About the Author

Beck Anderson believes in the power of perfectly imperfect women and in the healing power of love. Her new novel, Fix You, grew out of those beliefs and the time to write afforded by the worst Thanksgiving blizzard she’s ever witnessed in West Yellowstone.

For Beck, the path to published novelist has taken lots of twists and turns, including a degree in anthropology, a stint as a ticket seller at a ski resort, a much-loved career as a high school English teacher, and a long tenure as a member of the best writing group ever, hands down.

Beck balances (clumsily at best) writing novels and screenplays, working full-time as an educator, mothering two pre-teen males, loving one post-40 husband, and making time to walk the foothills of Boise, Idaho, with Stefano DiMera Delfino Anderson, the suavest Chihuahua north of the border.

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Blog Tour: Hydraulic Level 5 by Sarah Latchaw

 

Thanks to Literati Author Services for hosting. To follow the rest of the tour go HERE.

Hydraulic Level 5

Hydraulic Level 5 #1

Author: Sarah Latchaw 
Pages: 342 pgs
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: September 3rd 2013
Review Source: Omnific

Hydraulic Level Five (n.): A whitewater rapid classification indicating large waves, continuous rapids, large rocks and hazards, potential large drops, where precise maneuvering is required. Often characterized by "must make" moves, i.e. failure to execute a specific maneuver at a specific point may result in serious injury or death.

Kaye is an extreme sports addict with a kind heart and an axe to grind with her childhood sweetheart and ex-husband, renowned writer Samuel Caulfield Cabral. While Samuel enjoys a celebrity life in New York, Kaye remains in their hometown of Lyons, Colorado, running her PR agency and chatting daily with Samuel's family, the beloved Cabrals-first-generation Mexican-Americans who have embraced Kaye as their own.

But when Samuel returns home for his sister's wedding with a new love interest, stunning editor Caroline Ortega, the gloves are stripped off. Kaye is determined to unearth the reasons behind the death of their marriage and why two people who lived to love each other were driven apart, all leading to startling revelations about Samuel, about life, and about herself.

She soon realizes that maneuvering the tumultuous waters of her relationship with Samuel will prove as dangerous as any outdoor adventure she might attempt...at least where her heart is concerned.

I was so excited for the chance to read Sarah's debut novel and jumped at the opportunity for this blog tour. And I'm so glad that I did!

To begin with, there are certain chapters that start with a separate story being told, which you eventually learn is a story that Samuel is writing. I enjoyed getting his insight and thoughts through his "writing" since overall this story is in Kaye's point of view. I think it helps to get an idea of what's going on with him, even though it's not all clear.

Also, Sarah did a phenomenal job of showing the relationships of her characters and how they all fit into each others lives. Though you mainly want to learn about Kaye and Samuel, you get to meet their friends and family who are a large part of their lives and add so much to the story.

There are also plenty of references for different extreme sports (and Spanish phrases), but it doesn't take away anything at all. In fact, I felt as though I was really a part of the world and understood the characters even better because of it. You definitely get a little bit of everything.

Even though this doesn't end on a cliffhanger, there are plenty of questions still left unanswered and your left wanting more. So, when I saw that there will be a sequel, Skygod, I was thrilled. Sarah had such a fun story in this first novel and I have no doubt that will continue with the second, along with some long awaited answers.

And, if you'd like to get your hands on a copy of this book then keep on scrolling...

*GIVEAWAY TIME*

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TBR Tuesday

Making a plan for what I wanted to read for the month seems to work out pretty well, so I thought I'd take a page from my sister's book (pun intended) again and post my plan for this month. You can check out her blog HERE to see what she's up to.

I'm really enjoying making these plans each month. It's helped me stay on track and it looks like I'll actually meet my goals for the reading challenges I set for myself. Plus, I even have a couple more books planned to read before the Austin Teen Book Festival near the end of this month. Let's see how I'll do.

     

     

   

I'm kind of excited for this month. The line up seems just right and I can't wait to get started.

Also, it was my turn to pick a book for the book club I joined with my sister. My choice, since Allegiant is coming out next month and the Divergent movie in 2014, I decided to go with:

 

Okay, so these are my choices for this month. What are you planning on reading?