Cover Reveal: Taming Cross by Ella James

Taming Cross by Ella James

ABOUT TAMING CROSS:

For twenty-three years, Cross Carlson was a playboy. You know the type. Tall, dark, and wealthy. Blue-eyed. Charming. He seemed to have it all so easy. But Cross was harboring a terrible secret - one that helped ruin the life of an innocent girl and almost ended his own.Finally out of the hospital, Cross is flailing, scarred in both body and mind and stifled by the weight of the secret he still keeps. The only way to absolution lies in a Mexican convent, and going there could cost him everything.
If there's anyone who knows what it's like to screw up big time, it's Meredith Kinsey. Just a few years ago, Merri was an ordinary girl with a job at her college newspaper and white picket fence kind of dreams. Now she's holed up in a Mexican convent, hiding from a drug lord who thinks he owns her.
What happens when the only way out of hell is with the son of the man who put you there? They say love conquers all, but does it really?

Taming Cross

Love Inc. Book 2

Release Date: Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Goodreads/Selling Scarlett (Love Inc. #1) Amazon

ABOUT ELLA JAMES:

I'm a 20-something sci-fi nerd with a journalism degree and a serious York Peppermint Pattie addiction. I spend my days baby-wrangling and dog-chasing and my nights tapping on my laptop and hanging out with my writer/editor husband. A fun day for me involves lots of writing, running, and researching topped off with some quality Kindle time. My life's goal is to find an empty cottage in an enchanted forest, install a solar panel for my laptop, and move in - never to be seen again, except in sweatpants. 

Website/Facebook

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 6

Make sure to like up your Day 6 posts at April's blog!

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge Day 6-Describe how you shop for books.


It's been quite a while since I've actually bought a physical book. I used to go to the local Barnes & Noble and browse. I swear I could stay in that store forever. But ever since I got my Kindle Fire....well....I hate to say it but I've gone to the ebooks more.
I guess it's because I don't have to have a light on or use a bookmark and I can highlight whatever I want. That's a major plus.
For buying ebooks, I usually just go onto Amazon and it have my recommendations. I browse through there and see if there is anything I would like. All the while, I cruise on Facebook and look at all the book blogs I follow. A lot of them have a "Freebie Friday" or just post the free ones on their page. I could browse for hours really. 
I find new authors that I never would have seen before if I didn't browse through all of the pages and book blogs. It's actually pretty cool getting to know new authors. Especially ones that aren't that "big" yet. I love to help out indie authors and read their books.
Before I had my Kindle Fire, I would still browse Amazon but I would just buy the paperbacks. I still buy a few paperbacks (only in my most favorite authors), but not as often as I used too. 
So what are your shopping ways?

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 5

Make sure to go to April's Day 5 to link your post if you're doing the challenge!!!

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge Day 5: Recommend a tear jerker

Most of the time, I try to avoid the books that make me cry. Why? Well....because I hate to cry. LOL But the bad part is that the books that make you cry are the most memorable and the ones that make you feel EVERYTHING. It's a love/hate relationship with those books I suppose.

Anywhoozles..... a book that made me cry? Or rather a series? Here it is:

The Summer Series by Jenny Han

Goodreads description:

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

Goodreads Description:

It used to be that Belly counted the days until summer, until she was back at Cousins Beach with Conrad and Jeremiah. But not this year. Not after Susannah got sick again and Conrad stopped caring. Everything that was right and good has fallen apart, leaving Belly wishing summer would never come. But when Jeremiah calls saying Conrad has disappeared, Belly knows what she must do to make things right again. And it can only happen back at the beach house, the three of them together, the way things used to be. If this summer really and truly is the last summer, it should end the way it started—at Cousins Beach.

Goodreads Description:

It's been two years since Conrad told Belly to go with Jeremiah. She and Jeremiah have been inseparable ever since, even attending the same college-- only, their relationship hasn't exactly been the happily ever after Belly had hoped it would be. And when Jeremiah makes the worst mistake a boy can make, Belly is forced to question what she thought was true love. Does she really have a future with Jeremiah? Has she ever gotten over Conrad? It's time for Belly to decide, once and for all, who has her heart forever.

I read this series not too long ago when my best friend April recommended the books and sent them to me. I thought it would be like all normal contemporary ya series that's out. I was way wrong.I don't think that I've ever cried as much as I have reading the first 2 books in this series.

Here are some of the quotes from the books:

“He didn’t give me flowers or candy. He gave me the moon and the stars. Infinity" -Belly Conklin

“Moments, when lost, can't be found again. They're just gone.”

“It's the imperfections that make things beautiful”

“Would you rather live one perfect day over and over or live your life with no perfect days but just decent ones?” 

This series was gorgeous. The writing was beautiful and flowed perfectly. I would recommend this series to anybody with the strict warning of having a tissue box nearby. 

What's a good tear jerker for you?

{Review} Come Alive by Karina Halle

{Review} Come Alive by Karina Halle

Goodreads Description:

It’s one thing to bring the woman you love back into your life. It’s another to try and keep her there. For Dex Foray, con­vinc­ing Perry Palomino to open her­self to their bur­geon­ing rela­tion­ship has been more chal­leng­ing than hunt­ing ghosts, bat­tling demons and stalk­ing Sasquatch com­bined. Add in the fact that the only way they can keep their Exper­i­ment in Ter­ror show run­ning is to take on a third part­ner in the form of the mys­te­ri­ous Max­imus Jacobs — all while inves­ti­gat­ing a sin­is­ter voodoo sect in New Orleans — and you’ve got the per­fect South­ern storm and a recipe for dis­as­ter. Luck­ily, Dex has never been one to back down, even when his life –and heart — are on the line.
Come Alive is told from Dex’s POV.

What did I think?
One word: Wowza! Ha! 
I have to say this first: Karina Halle's writing gets better and better with every book she writes. Every time I read her books, my breath is completely taken away. If you haven't started her books, you need to start pretty damn quick because this is one author you do NOT want to miss out on.
*****If you have not read any of the previous EIT books, don't read any further! Pick them up and read them. I have spoilers in here*****
So, Come Alive picks up directly after Into The Hollow. Things changed in Into The Hollow and I was really curious as to where Halle was going to go with Perry and Dex. Perry and Dex, to me, are the perfect kind of couple. They are perfect for each other and so easy to relate to. Well....I will admit that it took a bit for me (and I'm sure others) to warm up to. Probably because he was such an ass. But Perry makes him a better man and brings out the best in him.
In Come Alive, you see things through Dex's eyes and let me tell you it was certainly entertaining. I mean you get glimpses of it in The Dex Files & And With Madness Comes The Light but this entire novel in his POV. 
How can you say no to seeing everything via Dex Goggles? You can't. 
I loved it. It was great seeing Perry through Dex's eyes and seeing how much he cared for her. I also thoroughly enjoyed seeing things through the sexy, pervy eyes of the notorious Declan Foray. It was an experience, that's for sure. I liked seeing the different sides of Dex and enjoyed every page.
The whole book was exhilarating. Nonstop from one page to the next. You got some crazy ass voodoo mojo in the heart of New Orleans and some sexy hot scenes that make me want to melt. This book (as do all of Halle's works), really has it all. The creepy parts had my breath hitching and trying to keep up with my heart. The creep factor was high in this one. For real.
We also get some perspective on the relationships between the main characters Maximus, Dex & Perry. It was completely awesome. Words really cannot express how much this series is so fabulous. Come Alive truly is an epic book and now one of my favorites of the series. I'm still reeling from everything that went down in this book.
Dex and Perry FINALLY get to have a go at a  real relationship. I am so happy for them because after all they've been through....no one deserves it more than them. 
P.S. OMG on the ending. Makes the wait for Ashes To Ashes seem like forever!!

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 4

Make sure to link up to April's Day 4 post for the challenge!

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge Day 4: What's the last book you flung across the room?


The first and only book I have ever flung across the room was Lying Season by Karina Halle.

Amateur ghost-hunter Perry Palomino has battled ghosts, fought off skinwalkers and skirted the fine line between life and death. But can she survive bunking down in Seattle for a week with her partner (and man she secretly loves) Dex and his perfect girlfriend, Jennifer? And can she do so while being tormented by a malicious spirit from Dex's increasingly shady past? With love and life in the balance, Perry must discover the truth among the lies or risk losing everything she's ever cared about.

I first started to read the Experiment In Terror series last year when Karina Halle contacted me via twitter and asked me to read her series. I was reluctant at first because I've never read horror before. I am so glad that I started that series because it is now one of my most favorite series to date.

I got to read all of the books in order up until this one. Then I had to wait until the next in the series, On Demon Wings, came out.

So, I was engrossed in this entire series and this book was the turn for the series (in my opinion). I could not stop reading. 

I remember this like it was yesterday......

So here I am, reading Lying Season in bed while my husband is sleeping. I couldn't stop because...well...because Karina's books (especially this series) has that effect on a person. Once you start....it's so hard to stop.

Anyways....it's about 1-2 in the morning because I kept telling myself "one more chapter....". Then.....I get to the end of the book. 

Now, I've known authors who give cliffhangers but I will tell you that the end of this book had me so upset.....I just chucked my Kindle and glared at it for about 10 minutes like it was the one who did me wrong.

Lying Season got me so wound up....there just aren't any words. I adore Karina and I think she is an extremely talented author. But man....that book.....that ending....completely messed me up for days.

I ranted and vented to my blogger friend Andrea @ The Bookish Babe because she understood my pain. 

Please don't get me wrong...I LOVED this book and I LOVE every single thing that Karina puts out. But this book was the only one (so far) that made me toss my Kindle. 

Love my Karina to bits though still. Haha!

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 3

Here is the link to April's Day 3 post so you can link up to the challenge :-)

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge Day 3: Who are your blogging BFFs? Although I have a few friends on blogs, I only have about 3 that I would consider BFF status. But the best thing about the whole book blogging world, is that EVERYONE is so nice and willing to help you with whatever you need. Any questions? Someone is there to help. That is the best thing, in my opinion, about book blogging. 
I have certainly made a few friends throughout my time blogging. I love everyone I have gotten to know and cherish every single one.
First and formeost: April @ Sim Sational Books. I honestly do not know what I would ever do without her.She is my soulmate and my slap of reality when I need it. She has a awesome (albeit pervy) sense of humor and I love her for it. We have the same taste in books and pretty much the same views on a lot of life's crap. I love her to bits.
Andrea @ The Bookish Babe. She was the first blogger friend I met and my forever #Twinsie. I treasure her friendship to the extreme. She was the first to really reach out to me and I am forever grateful for everything she has taught me and her awesome friendship. We will always be bound through our mutual love of music and all things Pete Loeffler.
 Autumn @ The Autumn Review. I met Autumn through Andrea. We became really good friends over twitter and it's history ever since. I love her to bits and treasure her friendship. Even thought we live on opposite sides of the country, it feels like we are right next door. 
Rachel @ Fiktshun. Rachel was actually the very first blog I followed. She is also one of the blog I look up to the most. I don't know how she does it. She has so many blogs that she maintains, which I'm sure keeps her busy. But no matter how busy Rachel is, she will ALWAYS make time to answer any questions and is probably one of the kindest, most generous chicks I know. I'm lucky to know her and consider her a friend.
Tabby @ Insightful Minds Reviews. Oh Tabby, how do I count the ways? Tabby is actually the only blogger I have met and hung out with in person. Plus we had the added effect of being pregnant at the same time. Forever #PreggerBuddies. She is also one of the busiest chicks I know and now that she has her baby boy, I don't know how she does it. I adore her! Plus, she is also the designer of my fabulous blog!
Kat @ SassyCat's Book Reviews. I met Kat through Twitter and I just think she is a sweet doll! We bonded over our mutual love of Rachel Vincent and I think she is one badass chica! I love our Twitter chats we have and think she's awesome. 

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 2

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge Day 2: What's your bedtime reading ritual?

Here is the link to April's DAY 2 post to put your link in! 

I honestly don't have a reading ritual for bedtime. I used to before I got pregnant but now that there is a baby involved, it's hard to pick times and such. 

Usually, after dinner and dishes are done, my husband and I sit on the couch to watch TV and relax a bit. Sometimes it works that way and sometimes the baby gets fussy and doesn't let us do too much. I mean, who can say no to that face?:

Hahaha....yea she's a cutie. Anyways, if we do have time to relax, and I don't really have too much blog stuff to do (or I'm not up for it), I read my Kindle until it's about 11. Then I go wash my face, change into my pj's and snuggle up. If I'm still wide awake by the time we get ready for bed, (which hasn't been much lately), then I take my Kindle cord into the bedroom and read until my eyes burn and get droopy. 

Bad part about that is, if I am really into the book, I don't stop at all. There are NO clocks in our bedroom so I have no concept of time. Before I know it, I'll look at my cell phone and see it's 2 am and I have to get up in 3 hours. ;-)

What's your ritual?

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 1

I heard about this challenge from my friend April at Sim Sational Reviews....actually I totally stalked her page and wanted in. ;-) I read her post at Good Books and Wine and thought to myself...."I feel the same. Maybe if I do this challenge, I might get my motivation up again." Who knows right? If not, it's still fun in the interim. 
Without much further ado, here is my Day 1 post for this lovely challenge...

Day 1: Make 15 book related confessions:

1. I find myself liking more and more contemporary romance books. Especially YA. Before book blogging, I never really tried those. I was a strict paranormal gal. But more and more, I find myself being drawn more the the romance side.
2. I don't like books that have no depth. I want my characters to feel and interact. If I find a book that is just a lot of puff and no real substance, I won't finish it. What's the point? I can't relate so I won't waste my time.
3. I'm horrible at writing reviews. COMPLETELY. It's sad really. I feel bad because all last year I was totally gung-ho on it and now I've been slacking. Horribly. Granted, I did have a baby about 8-9 weeks ago and that takes up time but still...
4. My husband came up with my book blog name. Even though my last name has changed since I've married him, I still kept the same name.
5. If I don't write a review right after I finish a book, I forget what happened in the book. That's a bad one lol. I read so many books so fast that I forget what book was about what. Or what I felt. I really need to stop and reflect a lot more and take my time with them. 
6. If there is a girl in the book that doesn't defend herself or stand up for herself, I get angry. Seriously. It's the same in movies with me. Grow a pair of lady balls and take control dammit! 
7. I have a problem when reading a book and finding mispelled words and grammatical errors. I try not to let it get to me really, but it does. I'm not saying I'm perfect but it irks me when it's all throughout the book.
8. When I read a book that I'm into, I ignore my husband. He can have a complete conversation with me and I will not hear a word. I'm sure I'm not the only one that happens to but I still feel kind of bad. When he brings up the conversation a few days later and I try to respond....yea he laughs.
9. I have too many books on my Kindle. Way too many to even think about reading. It's a serious problem. Amazon seems to know what I like and what I can't say no to. 400+ books is too much! 
10. I try not to buy paperbacks anymore. Sad to say that but I can't stand ruining the pages when I read. I stretch the spine and I can't stand it when there are wear lines in it. I'm OCD about it. Plus, on my kindle, I can highlight and make notes. A blogger's dream!
11. I don't like erotica. Not really. The writing just seems silly and too overdone. I like classy love and romance. Not just f***ing. Plus I enjoy reading a story and learning about the characters. Not just how they have sex all the time. Too much sex makes me just skim and makes me sad.
12. I don't like it when the author/publishing company changes the covers on their books. I like to have them all the same. It bugs me when they come out with the same series and different covers. Ummmm....no thank you, I will not pay for the same book twice.
13. Same thing with paperbacks and hardbacks. If I have a hardback of one book in the series....the rest of them HAVE to be hardback. That way they all match. 
14. I am horrible when it comes to books being turned into movies. I ALWAYS go for the book being the better one. If I don't like the actors they pick, I won't see it. (I'm still on the fence about The Mortal Instruments).
15. I judge books by their covers. If I think the cover is lacking, I won't read the blurb. Sad, I know. I try to give each book a chance but sometimes.....I just can't do it. That also falls into the category of having the same covers for different books. Drives me crazy. Gets me confused.

Make sure to click HERE to check out all the other confessionals from other blogs. :-)

Taste The Heat Release Day Launch & Giveaway!

Taste The Heat Release day Launch!!!!!

TASTE THE HEAT Synopsis:One sexy fire captain. One Cajun chef. One combustible kitchen… When chef Colby Robicheaux returned home to New Orleans to save her family restaurant, the last person she expected to reconnect with was her brother’s best friend and her childhood crush. As tempting as a sugar-coated beignet, Jason is one dish she can’t afford to taste. Colby can’t wait to leave the place where her distrust of love and commitment originated and go back to Vegas. Fire captain Jason Landry isn’t looking for love, either. Disillusioned by his past, he knows he should be focusing on finding the perfect mother for his daughter. But when he first sees Colby, all grown up and gorgeous, he can’t help but be drawn to her. And when she suggests a no-strings-attached fling, Jason can’t say no. As their relationship grows more intense, Colby finds that Jason isn’t as easy to leave behind as she thought. Could turning up the heat on something real be worth the possibility of getting burned?

Links: Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes & Noble

About Rachel:

Rachel Harris grew up in New Orleans, where she watched soap operas with her grandmother and stayed up late sneak reading her mama’s favorite romance novels. Now a Cajun cowgirl living in Houston, she still stays up way too late reading her favorite romances, only now, she can do so openly. She firmly believes life’s problems can be solved with a hot, powdered-sugar-coated beignet or a thick slice of king cake, and that screaming at strangers for cheap, plastic beads is acceptable behavior in certain situations.

When not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, she homeschools her two beautiful girls and watches reality television with her amazing husband. Taste The Heat is her adult romance debut. She’s the author of MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY and A TALE OF TWO CENTURIES. She loves hearing from readers! Find her atwww.RachelHarrisWrites.com.

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads/Entangled Website

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also, don't forget to follow the tour!!!

July 7^th

Between Fantasy & Reality
Fantasy Fairy

July 8^th

All Romance Reviews

RELEASE LAUNCH DAY 

July 9^th

Mostly YA Book Obsessed
Starbucks & Books Obsession

July 10^th

A Book Lovers Review
Unforgettable Books

July 11^th

Romancing Rakes
Every Free Chance Reader

July 12^th

Always YA at Heart
Oops! I Read Again

July 13^th  

A Bookish Escape
Comfort Books

July 14^th

Pink Fluffy Hearts
Brianna Lee Reviews

July 15^th

Dazzled by Books
Library of a Book Witch

July 16^th

ReaderGirls
Books Mystify

July 17^th

Ticket to Anywhere
Tangled Up in Books

July 18^th

Stuck in Books
The Cover Contessa

July 19^th

Books, Coffee, & Wine
Refreshingly Riki

July 20^th

Book Bitches Blog
Harlie’s Books

{Cover Reveal} Every Shattered Thing by Elora Ramirez

{Cover Reveal} Every Shattered Thing by Elora Ramirez

Goodreads Description:

Stephanie fights reality every day. The voices inside, the ones declaring her worth, deem her broken, used and dirty. She is an object. A toy. Something to be tossed aside when bored. Who will believe her if she whispers the truth about her wrecking ball of a family? Eventually, her secret explodes and the person who means the most to her knows just how shattered she is and why she's so afraid. But rescue is closer than she realizes. Hidden in plain sight, her horror hasn’t been ignored by everyone. Racing against the truth of what she faces, forces are joining together and developing a plan to free her from the hell in her own backyard. And while she’s at her lowest point, she’s hit with the beauty of love at any cost - redemption in the face of ruin. Will it be enough?
*Warning: Contains mature content that may not be suitable for younger audiences*

EVERY SHATTERED THING Goodreads

Cover was designed by Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations

About Elora:

Elora Ramirez lives in Austin, Texas with her chef-husband. At the age of four, she taught herself how to read and write, cutting her teeth on books like Dr. Suess and writing anywhere she could find the space—including her Fisher Price kitchen set, the pages of picture books and Highlights Magazine. Since then, she's grown to love the way words feel as they swell within her bones. Writing holy and broken is her calling, and pushing back the darkness and pursuing beauty through story is her purpose. She loves hip-hop, wishes she lived by the beach and cannot write without copious amounts of coffee, chocolate, and her husband's lavender liqueur.

Links:

Website/Author Facebook/Twitter/Author Goodreads