Monday, 31 March 2014

**Release Day Blitz** Throttle Me by Chelle Bliss

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Throttle Me by Chelle Bliss
Men of Inked Series Book #1
Available Today!

Throttle Me Purchase Links:


SYNOPSIS:
Suzy’s a control freak and has her life mapped out - work hard, find a man with a stable job, and live happily ever after. She’s content with the status quo, but her plan comes to a screeching halt when he enters her life and turns it upside down.

City gave up on love when his heart was crushed in college, preferring to be the typical bachelor. He spends his nights hopping from one bed to another and his days working at his family tattoo shop, Inked. A chance encounter on a dark road makes him question what he had sworn off forever – a relationship.

A night of passion and lust causes them to question everything. Is City the knight in shining armor to the damsel in distress? Can their relationship survive when a fantasy falls apart and a secret comes out that changes everything?





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BOOKS BY CHELLE BLISS

Sunday, 30 March 2014

Goodbye Secrets by Jacquelyn Ayres 5***** Guest Review











What if your life wasn’t exactly as you thought it was? What if there were secrets you kept—from yourself?


Becca Campbell has no idea her world is about to be turned upside down when she and Grayson return to New Hampshire.
Pieces start flying into place, answering the questions of the puzzle she calls her life. Things finally add up—it all makes sense. All that was lost is now found.
But will she be able to move forward, knowing the truth?


I am a Domestic Engineer (born and raised in NJ) whose sole responsibility is to guide three young impressionable kids into becoming phenomenal adults. This challenging, yet rewarding work requires a lot of love (coffee), patience (wine) and determination (periodic exorcisms). I work all of this magic in the beautiful state of New Hampshire.


Before becoming a Domestic Goddess (not really), I spent over a decade working in the medical field where I wore more hats than the Queen.
I have had a love for the written word and the great escape it provides since I was a little girl. When I wasn't reading about people and the places they lived, I was creating my own characters and adventures. Finally, I have been putting a pen to paper allowing my characters to come to life. When I don't have a pen and paper in hand,you can often find me laughing at the conversations my characters are having in my head.









BNW Guest Reviewer Jennifer
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
**Contains No Spoilers**
OVERALL THOUGHTS: If I was only allowed to read one series this year, Jacquelyn Ayres Lost and Found series would be it!  Goodbye Secrets will make anyone would was on the fence about the first book totally jump on the bandwagon.  Jacquelyn's writing brought the drama to life for me and made me want to yell, cry, and laugh right along with the characters. Goodbye Secrets broke my heart but opened my eyes to new possibilities.


THE LOWDOWN: Goodbye Secrets is a breath stealing sequel to Goodbye Caution.  The book will make you reexamine the true meaning of love and how powerful true love can be. The heroine Becca Campbell has returned to New Hampshire to nurse her best friend back to health but soon discovers that her brief relationship with Ray may not really be over.  She knows she doesn't want to lose him as a friend but Grayson, her boyfriend, does not approve at first.  It is very difficult to write a review for this book without giving away the story, it is just something you are going to have to trust me on.

FINAL THOUGHTS: If you enjoy an action packed love story with lots of twists and turns, but with serious emotions running rampant this is the book for you!  If you read Goodbye Caution and either didn't find the fast paced love story was for you or were on the fence about it, I am telling you that reading Goodbye Secrets will change your mind.  I guarantee that you will fall in love with the characters and Jacquelyn by the end of the book.  If not, you can post your criticism to my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/jennifer.windermansiegel.










Goodbye Secrets (Lost and Found Series Book 2)





Goodbye Caution (Lost and Found Series Book 1)























Saturday, 29 March 2014

**Cover Reveal** The Eternal Gift by Candy Crum


Title:  The Eternal Gift: The Eternal Series Vol. 1
Author: Candy Crum
Genre: NA Paranormal Romance
Cover By: Megan Parker with EmCat Designs
Date Published: April 13th, 2014



A young girl (Kailah) discovers that she is from a lost and forgotten powerful Immortal blood line after she meets a strange new physician at work. She begins to have visions and see spirits and has trouble controlling bad things from happening when she is angry. Along the way she discovers the terrible truth about who she is and the incredible power that is locked away deep inside her. Her Immortal ancestors want to use her to destroy the vampire race. Vampires want to use her power to destroy her Immortal ancestors. But hiding in the shadows are those who have been watching her since she was born. They want to help Kailah discover who she is and help her learn to use her abilities. They simply want for her to make the right decision before it's too late. Unfortunately for them time is not on their side and the Rogue Vampires have plans for Kailah no one could have imagined.





CHAPTER ONE (first half)
The night was cool and thick as it sheathed me in total darkness. The satin shorts and camisole that I’d gone to bed in were now damp from the moisture hanging heavily in the air. Holding my hands in front of my body, I blindly wandered around in blackness as I tried to find some kind of clue that would give me a better picture. My bare feet told me that I was standing on soft ground, the tall grass tickling my calves as I moved. It was possible that I was in a large pasture, though the clean, crisp scent of the air let me know that no large animals were near.
Thunder cracked in the distance and the ominous, coal-black clouds had even chased the moon and stars into hiding, not even the faintest glow giving away their location. It took a moment, but my mind was finally beginning to recognize this place. This was a dream world, one that I’d seen before. With every passing night, with every passing dream, I was able to travel further and further into this illusion as I tried to discover its meaning. I’d had recurring dreams before, but there was something different, disturbing about this one that seemed to speak to me. There was something that I was supposed to learn here and I needed to find it.
The wind began to pick up and I looked to the north, the same direction that I looked to every night. Lightning cascaded across the sky, illuminating the massive, empty pasture in which I stood. The momentary flash brought something to my attention that I’d never seen in the dream before. Two figures stood off in the distance, several yards between them, facing off. Even with great distance between us, I could feel the tension rolling off of them. That must be the dark, heavy feeling in the air that I’d felt: anger, hatred.
Thunder rolled again as the lightning danced across the sky. Using the display to light my path, I ran toward the figures ahead of me. As I approached, a bolt of raw, electric energy reached down from the sky and ignited the immediate area in flames. The swift turn of events stopped me short, nearly throwing me to the ground. The flames spread into a perfect circle as it surrounded both figures, blocking any further approach by me. Sharp chills cut through me from head to toe as I realized that one of them was fully controlling the blaze. 
Now that I was closer, I could tell that the figures were women. One woman, maybe an inch or two over five feet tall, stood around fifty feet away, and to my right. Her long, jet-black hair reached just below her hips and whipped around in the increasing wind. As I studied her, I began to see a deep-red, transparent cloud, like an aura surrounding her. She was strong, very strong, and I could feel her overwhelming power from here. 
Looking to my left, her opponent was roughly the same height; only her hair was frosty white and hung to her knees. This woman was much different. She was surrounded by an aura cloud as well, though hers was dark blue. Something about her called to me and it took everything I had not to trudge barefooted through the flames to reach her. 
Rain began to fall and quickly soaked everything around us, though it was still unable to extinguish the fire. Movement brought me to attention as the white haired woman lifted her arms. The earth began to quake beneath me as it broke free all around her. She looked like a dancer as she maneuvered her body, forcing the element into submission under her power. The packed earth sailed through the air towards the dark haired woman, but she was quick to react.
In a flash, she completely disappeared from my sight, managing to dodge the attack. My eyes moved quickly as I focused to find her. My body locked up as my vision was suddenly clouded with the mysterious dark haired woman as she appeared before me, seemingly out of nowhere. Her dark, emerald green eyes and dilated coal-black pupils stared into mine, glinting in the firelight. Her raven hair seemed alive as it brushed my skin and sent tingles running through my body. Her flawless, olive-toned skin nearly glowed as she stood there, concern in her expression.
“Kailah.” As her soft, sweet voice spoke my name, I inhaled sharply. Though her mouth barely moved as she spoke my name, her perfect, white teeth showed just enough for me to make out four tiny, yet still elongated, razor sharp fangs. My heart fluttered rapidly as I wondered if this woman was the creature that she appeared to be, and if so, how did she know me and what did she want with me?
“Y-yes?” I stammered. 
“This is not a dream, Kailah. It’s a warning.” She leaned in closer. “Run,” she whispered. 
“Wait, what?” I asked, chills once again stabbing me like thousands of needles running from the roots of my hair to the bare, wet soles of my feet. 
“Run!”
As soon as I turned to run, the dark thunder cracked overhead and the lightning began touching the ground all around me, trying to hold me where I stood. I heard a loud growl sound out from behind me, but decided not to look back. The earth began to shake again and my bare feet slid on the wet grass, the soft ground cushioning me as I fell hard on my right hip. 
“Hello Kailah.” The new voice sent a shiver down my spine as I looked into the icy blue eyes of the white-haired woman. 
Though her hair would have suggested otherwise, she looked no older than me: around twenty. Her skin was also olive toned and absolutely flawless, just like the other woman. Though, normally, one would look to the light as salvation and the darkness as hell, I didn’t think that was the case in this situation. Her crystalline blue eyes had death in them and I found myself backing away from her, toward the raven-haired beauty. 
She laughed and the sound enveloped me like frigid water. “Kailah, you would choose the Vampire over your own grandmother?”
Before I could digest the words that she had unleashed on me, her attention shifted and the blue aura cloud surrounding her exploded into a barrier. Instinctively, my eyes closed and I threw my hand out as a large throwing knife bounced off the cloudy shield and headed for me. 
“It is you!” she said with wonder.
My eyes snapped open and surrounding my hand was the same blue energy that surrounded the white-haired woman, only mine had a throwing knife buried in it. I couldn’t stop the scream that bubbled up out of my throat as the energy dissipated and the knife fell in my lap. What the hell was going on? 
Her attention shifted again and with soft, graceful movements, a lightning bolt responded as it split from the sky and reached for her outstretched hand. She caught the energy easily before throwing it at her opponent. Another loud growl sounded out only a moment before something slammed hard into the barrier. That something, I realized, was the woman she had referred to as the Vampire. 
Dark red energy swelled around the supposed Vampire as she pushed against the barrier of the opposing woman. “Kailah! She can find you in your dreams! Go, now!” As soon as the order left the raven-haired beauty’s lips, energy exploded from her body as the white-haired woman was thrown several feet away. “This dream is a figment of your own mind but, make no mistake, this is a premonition. You are the key to ending this war and if she finds you, it will doom all humans to a fate worse than death. Leave this realm now and prepare your mind. Your life is about to change.”

Candy Crum lives in Indiana and is the Author of “The Eternal Series” and other short stories. She published her first novel, The Eternal Gift, in May of 2011 and has been publishing ever since. Candy is an avid lover of the paranormal genre, stemming from years of reading the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice when she was a teenager. Later, she developed a deep love of the Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead and the House of Night Series by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast, furthering her love of the genre and pushing her to really push to finish and publish her novel. 
Since then, Candy has released three other books in The Eternal Series and will release another later in 2014. Now, Candy is trying her hand at more contemporary pieces of work, like that of Lean on Me and other books she will release in 2014. 
Some of Candy’s interests include the usual reading and writing, music (of most types), movies (action and comedy or any combination of the two), cartoons (she loves to say that her children watch cartoons because she does), and drawing. She loves talking with her fans and loves reading the reviews that her fans are kind enough to leave for her. Always feel free to find Candy on Facebook and send her a message!














Friday, 28 March 2014

**Blog Tour, Review and Author Interview** Breathe Again by Rachel Brookes





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breathe  ebook

Title: Breathe Again (Breathe #2)
Author: Rachel Brookes
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release: March 11, 2014

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For Savannah Rae, the thought of living in her picture-perfect world was almost too much to comprehend. With her dream job, a family she could finally call her own, and the beginnings of the best chapter of her life, she still couldn't shake the unnerving feeling that it was all too good to be true.
The thought of a life without Savannah was incomprehensible to Tate Connors. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he would find his girl in the form of a sassy, stubborn, beautiful Australian. Finally he had the girl and life he so desperately wanted, but he still couldn't ignore the fear that it would crash around him.

When Tate’s past becomes his present and Savannah’s present becomes her past, the possibility of a future together collides head-on with reality.

In her darkest days, the words Just Breathe provided a peaceful comfort to Savannah from the heavens above. Now as she and Tate go down the path of new beginnings, brutal endings, and the constant craving of a happily ever after, they are anxious to learn how to Breathe Again.

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Wendy's 
5 Bare Naked Stars Review

In July 2013 I had the pleasure of ‘virtually’ meeting a lovely little Aussie writer called Rachel Brookes.
 I had read Just Breathe her debut novel and fallen head over heels for the Tate Connor’s effect.  

I have reposted my review for that book below as it also holds sentimental value for me in that it was the first review I did as Bare Naked Words and I thought you guys might like to see it again.  I recently told her the Prologue in Just Breathe is up there with the likes of Abbi Glines, and I meant every word.

Now to Breathe Again, Rachel’s writing back in July was fabulous, but I have to say that she has grown with each book and by Breathe Again her obvious talent is not only shining through, it’s positively blinding us.

You have to read these books in order, so if you haven’t read Just Breathe please do not read this review.

Tate and Sav are separated at the start of BA, and us diehard fans know why and who is responsible and should the Bombshells (Rachel’s street team) ever get their hands on you know who, god help her.

Tate is breaking my heart at the beginning of the book, he is lost, floundering without his Savannah, but the chemistry between them upon Sav’s return is off the charts hot.

The sexy banter between the two only pays tribute to Ms Brookes clever writing style.

I’m definitely not a two minute kind of guy.  You know I’m at least a half-hour guy and well…. You don’t have have an hour” Tate

“the image of you in that bikini makes me want to cancel all my scheduled meetings and fuck you up against that window for all of Vegas to see.  That’s me being brutally honest” Tate

Are you getting my drift now? 

This book is the perfect finish to Tate and Sav’s story, it’s not been easy for them, their pasts have seriously influenced their futures and it has been a bumpy ride.

Jack and Tanzi were hysterical as always and even Blake came into his own.

"You own my heart, Sav. It's yours to break." Tate

 “I may be an evil bitch, but god I rocked your world this morning” Sav

“Yes you did rock my world. Pregnancy certainly is befitting of you and your pussy” Tate

And on a rather packed train somewhere between Manchester and Leeds, I cried for the impossible situation they found themselves in, and as I looked up from my ipad a single tear spilled from my eye, and the guy sitting across from me smiled sympathetically and I smiled back, somewhat embarrassed and then……. Then…… Well nothing happened I’m in love with Tate of course.

And sometimes on cold wet British mornings, my little FB message pops up and Rachel bestows me with hot little snippets from her new stories, life doesn’t get much better than that.

I wish I could say more, to truly explain how fabulous and sexy and heart breaking and amazing, this series truly is.

It should say on the front of each book The Breathe Series by Amazon Bestselling Author Rachel Brookes.  Because if she isn’t now, she sure as hell will be. 

Look out for Be My December with the magnificently hot, dirty mouthed brothers Ky and Josh coming soon.


rachel

Rachel Brookes is from a coastal town on the east coast of Australia where beaches, kangaroos and surfers roam free. She writes angsty love stories with a pinch of craziness, a dash of drama, a cup of romance and a spoonful of sexiness… oh and the main ingredient hot guys.
Rachel sometimes forgets to eat, sometimes forgets to sleep and sometimes can’t remember the last time she cleaned her apartment but that’s because she is in a long term relationship with her laptop and is constantly writing.
When she does step away from her laptop she can be found taking too many photos, making scrumptious cocktails, laughing at Adam Sandler movies and spending her time with her amazing family and friends.
With her first novel, Just Breathe, due to be released in July 2013, her dream of releasing a book will become reality. With another three books already taking up her mind, she cannot wait to start this crazy ride.

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As a standoff of epic proportions began between Chelsea and me. My hackles rose, and I knew I would never back down from her. I wasn’t a revengeful person, but as soon as someone starts hurting the people I care about and throwing around half-arsed accusations, they will see the wrath of Savannah. This could be the very reason I chose to have limited female friends. It was easier than having to deal with the bullshit games girls were notorious for starting, and clearly this was why I never hid my intentions when it came to men in the past. Be clear as day and no feelings came to the surface. I felt Mr. Davenport sigh beside me and I swallowed hard. Professional, Savannah. For him.

I still didn’t back down as I spoke. “So I am assuming the—”

“Um, excuse me? I was told that I needed to be here.”

Our heads snapped to the door opening slowly, and I couldn’t believe who I was looking at, could this day get any weirder? Blake freaking Ryan had just walked through the door looking all rock star-ish. This was the first time we had seen each other since he had left New York for London.

His eyes widened to the size of saucers as he took everything in. Dressed head to toe in black, he was wearing a shirt that sat snug against his body, and his tattoos were glistening under the boardroom lights. He was born to be a rock star.

His eyes bounced between Tate and me and dropped to my hand gripped tightly in Tate’s and a smile tugged at his lips. Tate’s body stiffened against mine and his hand squeezed mine to the point of hurt like he was making his claim on me.

“Stop it,” I hissed and shot him a pleading look.

“Sorry, just habit,” he whispered then peppered my jaw with a kiss.

“Thanks for coming in, Blake.” Mr. Davenport shuffled papers on the large conference table and looked towards Blake, holding out a pen and what looked to be a contract. “So you have been booked for the shoot next week and we are now just finalizing details. Savannah will be running the shoot on behalf of Beautify and Chelsea will be the female model for the campaign. If you can just sign here, we are good to go.”

Blake shook his head and shot a disgusted look at Chelsea. “Are you serious? I can’t work with her.”

“See? I told you, Savannah. Even Blake doesn’t want to work with you in your pathetic little fairytale world you are supposedly living in,” Chelsea spat before she threw her straw-looking hair over her shoulder and strutted towards Blake. I watched Blake closely; the look sweeping over his face was priceless.

“I wasn’t talking about Savannah, you idiot. I cannot work with you, Chelsea. I tend to not want to associate with fucked-up, conniving bitches.”

I couldn’t hide the smile of victory tugging on my lips. Blake Ryan, you genius. The look of utter devastation Chelsea was wearing made me feel like a million bucks. I still had no clue of the history that Chelsea and Blake shared.

“Well isn’t this going to be a fun shoot,” Mr. Davenport mumbled under his breath.




breathe series

Rachel's Other Books
just breathe
Amazon ~ Barnes And Noble ~KOBO ~ Goodreads

Just Breathe - My Review (no spoilers) – 9th July 2013

The Prologue was just about the sweetest thing I have ever read, and when I had read the whole book I Tweeted the lovely Rachel Brookes and said “Wow, just Wow”.  Because that’s how I felt!  The story was real and not overdone, the characters could all be someone we know and I think we all have friends that are like them a little bit, maybe not as hot and gorgeous but like them all the same. Tanzi (Sav’s BFF) & Jack (Tanzi’s boyfriend) are adorably funny.

Savannah is a feisty, gorgeous Australian in LA, perhaps a little off the rails due to the ghosts of her past, but I loved her for her sassy, smart mouth. 

But holy hell when she lays eyes on Tate Connors for the very first time you know sparks are going to fly:

He was what I liked to call my perfect prey. And he ticked all the right boxes:  dark brown, scruffy  just had a wild time in bed hair – check;  piercing blue eyes, - check;  eyelashes that lasted for days – check; and a set of lips that were begging to be bitten - check”  (Savannah)

“I watched his lips closely as they made their way toward me in all their pink pouty glory, that bottom lip…god, I’d love to bite it” (Savannah)

Yes me too!

Well I have to say I was practically salivating by now, and completely sold on Tate Connors too. Who gives a damn if he’s a player, notorious for his womanizing and partying,  I wanted his ass right there and then and so did Savannah!  Soon she was falling victim to the “Tate Connors effect”. The banter between them was laugh out loud funny and sexy as hell in equal measures. And yes it was very steamy in places, in fact it was sizzling right off the page.

Savannah and Tate both have ghosts from their pasts that continue to haunt them to this day and that was never going to make this relationship all plain sailing, but the twists and turns this story took me on broke my heart more than a few times and I really wanted them to get their happy ever after. 

“What are you doing to me, Sav? he asked breathlessly

This book is not the end of Savannah & Tate’s story, and I can’t wait to see where Ms Brookes is going to take them next.


As a debut book, Rachel Brookes has done real good, this girl is going places, and I will be following, I’m sure you will be too.
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Just Breathe was your debut novel, how long had Tate and Sav been in your head when you decided to write their story?


Sav was the first one to decide to invade my mind and she didn’t leave. Around December 2012 she moved in and she hasn’t left since. It was almost three months before I opened up a blank word document and started writing what would become Just Breathe.



How long did it take you to get Just Breathe how you wanted it?


I started writing Just Breathe in February 2013 and was finished late May 2013



The Prologue in Just Breathe was one of the most beautiful prologues i have read, was it a labor of love for you?


When I wrote it I was completely in tears. It was something different and it was something that was so pivotal for the story. I needed readers to see just how amazing Sav’s dad was without him being in the story. Letters are such an important thing in my life so I needed to transfer it into my books.



Has it always been your ambition to write?


Definitely. Writing has been something that I have always loved doing and being able to write now and have people read and enjoy my words is a dream come true.



What are the biggest challenges Indie authors face when trying to get their stories out to the readers?


I think getting noticed and be able to spread your work through the community. Word of mouth is so important in this industry and you definitely have to have support behind you to get your work out there. It’s a constant cycle but in the process you get to meet some of the most amazing people and I personally have made some awesome friends in the process of sharing my work.



You recently attended your first author signing event and met some of your author heroines how did it feel to be a part of that?


It was such an amazing event and such a surreal day. Being amongst my peers and to be with some of my favourite authors was incredible. Definitely a day I will never forget. I still can’t believe this is my life.



In Breathless we get Tate's POV, what was it like getting inside Tate's head?


I absolutely loved it. He is a tortured soul and I needed to tell his side of things. I think after the way Just Breathe finished and his reaction to certain situations, he definitely needed to show who he was and why he reacted the way he did.



Breathe Again, brought Tate & Sav's story to the perfect end, are you sad to see this series end?


I definitely shed a tear when I typed the end. These two have been my life for over a year now. I was sad to finish their story but I was happy that I gave them the ending they deserved, well I hope I did. I am happy to announce that we will be seeing them again as I am planning to write a book for Blake in the future.

Your Bombshells street team is a truly dedicated bunch of bloggers and readers who support you, how much does it mean to you to have their continued support?

Their support means so much to me. I love having a group of people who I can bounce ideas off, share exciting news and just have a really positive environment to hang out in. It’s been one of the best decisions I have made. Wouldn’t be able to do this without them.



Tell us something we don't know about you?


I managed a band in my early twenties



What can readers expect next from Rachel Brookes?


I am currently in the process of writing Be My December. It is a brand new book with new characters and I am so excited to be writing it. I am looking at a mid year release.

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