Tuesday, October 22, 2013

REVIEW: Spark (Spark #1) by Brooke Cumberland


17809979SPARK by Brooke Cumberland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book Description:

When your past controls your future, how do you move forward?
Velaney Wills knows about that all too well.
Weak, powerless, and fearing the one person who has hurt her the most…can she overcome the barriers to move forward?

 
Being saved by a muscled Godsend was never on her agenda, but when firefighter, Eric Reilley comes into her life unexpectedly, everything changes.

Velaney has never felt loved or cared for, and her past prevents her from letting anyone in. Eric manages to break down her walls—despite the repercussions that come for them afterwards.

They have an undeniable spark—something she has never felt before, but will it be enough? Can love overcome all obstacles? Can they save each other to protect their love or will her past shatter everything she never knew she needed…?

**Spark is for mature audiences only – strong language, explicit sexual content, and sexual abuse are apparent.**


Monday, October 21, 2013

Let Me In by Michelle Lynn releases today!!!!

We want to wish a Happy Release day to Michell Lynn! Today is the release of her highly anticipated new book Let Me In



BURN by Brooke Cumberland!

Welcome to the Burn blog tour! Even since we took part in the cover reveal for Spark, we've been dying to read Brooke Cumberland's books. But, we held off on reading Spark when we found out it had a cliff hanger.


Burn Blog tour banner


Just when Velaney thinks she is safe again…her worst nightmare comes back to haunt her. Eric is dealing with his own insecurities as he tries to accept Velaney’s decision to help the enemy…can he get past it? Will they be there for each other in the end? He struggles to step aside and trust Velaney...but will his past keep him from doing so? Can he let go in order to move forward? Velaney and Eric had their fair share of ups and downs in SPARK…they love was undeniable and intense. Just when you think they could get their happily ever after…pasts collide and merge together…will they fight for what they want? Or will their love crash and burn?

  


After reading Spark, I couldn't wait to read Burn and find out what happened to Velaney and Eric. I was also dying to find out if Aiden was drawn and quartered (per my wishes) or if he just went to prison (finally!). 

Initially, in the first 1/3 of the book, I had issues. red flags were popping up and I was crying foul on a lot of things. It was so bad at one point that I feared I wouldn't be able to finish the book. But after venting about my issues to a friend, I persevered and was able to go back to the story. 

Everything finally came together into a cohesive way. At teh time, when things were out of left field, I was confused and irritated. But when everything was finally revealed, it made sense. I can't say more without giving things away. So, if you want to know all the secrets and dirt...read the book! winking

While I didn't enjoy this as much as I did Spark, the overall story was decent. Brooke Cumberland definitely has talent and I can't wait to read more from her. 






 This is how I saw the characters as I was reading:

But I'm not opposed to who the author cast as the characters. winking


Taylor Kinney as Eric Reilley



Kendall Jenner as Velaney Wills
 

 








**Songs that relate to Eric & Velaney’s journey or songs that were involved in creating their story.**
“Dancing in the Sky” by Dani & Lizzy (For Ethan, Megan, & Baby Reilley #1)
“Wake Me Up” by Avicii
“Stars” by Grace Potter
“Marry Me” by Train
“God Gave Me You” by Dave Barnes/Blake Shelton
“What Can I Do (But Love You)” by Joy Williams
“I Could Not Ask For More” by Sara Evans
“Stuck Like Glue” by Sugarland
“Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts
“Here Comes Goodbye” by Rascal Flatts
“Blown Away” by Carrie Underwood
“Roar” by Katy Perry
“Hurt” by Christina Aguilera
“I Bruise Easily” by Natasha Bedingfield
“Soldier” by Gavin Degraw
“More than Anyone” by Gavin Degraw
“Stay” by Rihanna
“Dreaming With A Broken Heart” by John Mayer

“Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus



Brooke is a midwestern gal, from the cheese state of Wisconsin! Go Packers! She's a stay-at-home mom of three beautiful children (one daughter & two stepsons) and a black fury dog. She's studied psychology in college, and counseling and education in graduate school where she found her love for writing. Most days you can find her reading or writing, or just hanging out with her family! She loves movies, cooking, and shopping! She's addicted to Starbucks, Coach purses, and wearing yoga pants. 



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spark and burn










Saturday, October 19, 2013

All Hallows Eve with Milly Taiden!

Welcome to our second stop on the All Hallows Eve Indies Blog Tour!



Friday, October 18, 2013

Smokin' Hot Duble Full by Kindle Alexander!



Welcome to the Kindle Alexander blog tour! Today, we're celebrating the new book Double Full!!!



All Hallows Eve with Jessie Lane!

Welcome to the All Hallows Eve Blog Tour! 



We are participating in two stops on this tour. Today, on our first stop, we're honored to be the pimp masters for author Jessie Lane!

If you've read this blog before, both of us have read Jessie Lane's work in the past, and we're huge fans! 

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

BOOK BLITZ!!!! Always Me by Jo-Anna Walker is live!

RELEASE DAY!!!
IT'S FINALLY HERE!!


Book 2 of the Shattered Series
by Jo-Anna Walker
Always Me
Live today!!




Forgetting is hard to do.

Tori McLeod survived the sadistic wrath of a madman at the cost of the love of her life. Always a survivor, she’s determined to move on with her life, for her sake, and the sake of her son, even if she has to leave everything and everyone behind.

Two years have passed since she lost Sebastian Chelios. He was gone, but Tori can still feel the raw magnetism pulling her toward a ghost.

Relationships change and new bonds form. Budding feelings tempt Tori, but she continues to ache for Sebastian.

Whispers of danger lurk around the corner and questions regarding Jose remain unanswered.

Can Tori move on with her life when a dark shadow from her past revisits her? With Jose still being out there, will Tori and her son ever be truly safe?

I'm a new self-published author who just got introduced to the writing world early 2013. My aunt suggested that I write a story because I'm an avid reader but I waved it off and left it alone. Well this year, a story came to me and I went with it. It took me a little bit but I finally got a story idea that worked and now I can't stop or control the characters/stories that keep popping up in my head.

I'm born and raised in Canada and I live with my very wonderful and supportive husband, Michael. We don't have any children (yet) unless you count our two cats. He's been my rock through this whole new experience for me. I couldn't have done it without him and my friends and family.

One of the many things I love about this new chapter in my life is that I'm learning constantly. It's never a dull moment and as long as one person likes my story, I am happy.




Twitter: @joannawlkr






Excerpt:

Two years had passed since Sebastian Chelios had died. Two years since being told that Jose Alvarez was still out there. And two years since I was told I was pregnant.

Pregnant with Sebastian’s baby.

God, who knew that that would happen?

A result of my forgetfulness of taking the pill. But it was well worth it when I looked into the eyes of my baby. Sebastian’s baby. Our child.

I tried to forget. But the calendar on the wall beckoned like a tease, and my eyes darted to the dreaded numbers. My mind went back to those horrible couple of days.
It was like a bad horror movie in my mind. Jose kidnapping me. Sebastian showing up. Us both shot. The blur of the hospital. My lover. Dead. Doctors and nurses in my face. Then news of the pregnancy. My head whirled when I got sucked into my thoughts. Real, as if it was yesterday. Realizing I would have to raise a child on my own.

But now…every day I looked at Antonio and ached. His eyes had slipped from blue to brown, and he reminded me so much of Sebastian.


His father would never see him. Never know him.
Fresh tears filled my eyes but I shook them off. I headed to the front door and made sure it was locked. I looked out the window and noticed a big black car a couple of houses away. Relief fluttered through me. The Feds were watching. Protecting me and my son from Jose.

A scream came through the baby monitor on my counter.

I ran up the stairs in my small two bedroom house and headed right to my baby’s room. After throwing the door open, I stood there, panting, gripping my chest as my heart raced against my rib cage.

My son lay there, looking up at me from his crib, a big smile on his beautiful chubby face.

I sucked in a breath and tried to ease the thumping in my ears. “Hi, baby. You sure like giving your mama a heart attack, don’t you?”

He giggled. Yup, definitely Sebastian’s kid.