~BLOG TOUR~NEW RELEASE & EXCERPT: Breaking Free by SM Koz

Title: Breaking Free

Author: S.M. Koz

Release Date: August 1, 2014
Purchase Links: AMAZON (FREE on AUGUST 1st)

Synopsis: 

Kelsie Sullivan’s life has changed forever. The once outgoing cheerleader has a secret to hide. The car accident that killed her best friend Jenna? She caused it. 

With an absent father and unforgiving stepmother, Kelsie has nowhere to turn. She manages her guilt and grief with razor blades. The fleeting release she experiences becomes an obsession and soon she can no longer hide it. Once her cutting is revealed, Kelsie’s parents enroll her in a Wilderness Therapy program designed to rehabilitate troubled teens, but North Carolina is a world away from California. 

Kelsie fights against everything the program has to offer until she befriends JC, a boy with a tortured past of his own. He’s also the only one who is able to ease her pain. The two grow close, but quickly discover that nature—both human and elemental—can easily rip them apart.

Disclaimer: This book contains adult language, sexual themes, and explicit self-harm behavior. Parental discretion is recommended for those under 15 years of age.

ADD TO GOODREADS

~MY REVIEW~

~TRAILER~

~EXCERPT~

~About the Author~

SM Koz was born in Michigan, but moved to North Carolina for college and never left.

She enjoys traveling, camping, hiking, photography, reading, spending time with foster kids who call her house home, and learning new things. When she’s not creating online training for pharmaceutical companies (her day job) or writing, Koz can be found at the local community college taking courses on various topics ranging from digital art to HTML to desktop publishing. Next in line are auto mechanics and cake decorating.

Being trained as a veterinarian, it’s not surprising that Koz and her husband were recently told they have a mini-zoo with their two dogs, fish, cockatiels, and foster cats. In the past, they have also had parakeets and a snake. Other than the fish, all the animals were acquired through rescue organizations, something Koz wholeheartedly supports.

Breaking Free is Koz’s third original novel and fifth overall, but the only one she feels compelled to publish at this time. Her hope is that individuals who struggle with cutting may be inspired by Kelsie’s story and find the strength they need to begin the healing process.

Connect with SM Koz: Facebook    Twitter

~BLOG TOUR~ REVIEW: Sempre: Redemption by J.M. Darhower

Title: Sempre: Redemption
Author: J.M. Darhower
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Suspense, Mystery

Purchase links: Simon & Schuster ~ Amazon ~ B&N ~ iStore

Purchase Sempre:  AMAZON

Synopsis

In this thrilling and sexy follow-up to Sempre, two young lovers struggle to keep their relationship intact after they become deeply enmeshed in the dangerous mafia-run crime ring they once tried to overthrow.

Haven Antonelli and Carmine DeMarco have been through a lot. Haven was taken in by Carmine’s father, and with his family’s help, she escaped a gruesome fate. However, saving Haven from the dark intentions of a mafia family cost Carmine a steep price: he was forced to swear loyalty to them.

Now, still passionately in love, Carmine and Haven must face the fall-out of Carmine’s forced service, as Haven discovers terrifying secrets about the family that enslaved both her and her mother—and why she matters so much in this intricate web of lies.

~MY REVIEW~

“You’re not asking me to choose you. It’s always been you. Your father once told me that we always have a choice, but I think he was wrong. I think sometimes things choose us. It’s like breathing. It’s natural. It’s a part of us. It just happens. We can hold our breath and try not to breathe anymore, and it’ll work for a few minutes, but we’ll eventually pass out and nature takes over. We can’t just not breathe, just like I can’t just not love you.”

Okay guys so after the long wait we finally get our sequel to SEMPRE! And what a sequel it was!! Let me tell you that after I got this on my Kindle there was no holding me back. No "I’ll leave it for later" or "I’ll read this next week". Nope. I quickly began Sempre: Redemption and was sad when I had to put it down! This book was filled with EVERYTHING Sempre had! It was beautiful, it was sad, it made me angry, but most of all…it gave us the most beautiful ENDING.

Sempre: Redemption starts off weeks after the devastating closing scenes of Sempre. Corrado has defeated death and Carmine belongs to La Familia now. Haven is once again condemned to life where she AND Carmine aren't free. But Carmine has other plans. After an excruciating decision is made both lovers find themselves apart. Carmine now belongs to Sal and La Familia while Haven is finally given the chance to find herself. During their time apart both make new friends and both learn to deal with their separation. One in a good way and the other in a destructive way.

Along the way both will have to deal with the circumstances thrust upon them. They will have to make choices, which will either benefit them or kill them. And during their struggle Vincent, Dominic, Celia offer some compassion to these two lost souls. But the man of the hour in this book was definitely Corrado. I can’t say enough how much I’ve come to have mad respect and love for him. If it weren’t for him, Haven and Carmine wouldn’t have made it in the fucked up world they were thrown into.

I won’t say anymore. I can’t go into details about this book without giving away something so I’m keeping this short. Haven and Carmine’s story didn’t end in Sempre. Their struggle with Carmine’s choice is our next stop on their journey. A journey that will rip your heart out and have you wondering if these two will ever get their HEA. I won't lie, this book is not all love and romance. J.M. takes these characters in a direction that will have some upset. I was upset with a little of it but over all thought that the direction the author took gave Haven what she needed. A chance to have what she never had.

Don’t waste anymore time, Pick this up and jump back into Haven and Carmine’s world!

HAPPY READING!

~EXCERPT~

Carmine sat in his usual chair in the library, casually strumming his guitar. A sliver of light filtered in from the large window, illuminating his somber expression in the darkness. She called his name but he remained still, continuing to pluck at the strings almost as if he hadn’t heard her. She took a step toward him and was about to say his name again when he let out a long, deep sigh.“I had a dream.”

“Another nightmare?” she asked, walking over to him. He glanced up at her as his fingers stilled, the music stopping, but Haven barely noticed. She couldn’t focus on anything but the green eyes boring into her. Once so alive with passion, she saw nothing but deep sadness marring the bright color.
Carmine set the guitar aside and moved his legs to make room, motioning for her to join him. She climbed into his lap and he wrapped his arms around her.

“Not a nightmare this time,” he said. “It was a good dream.”

“What was it about?”

“You,” he said quietly. “You made a painting—some abstract shit, I don’t know—but it was so good they hung it in a museum and raved about how talented you were. It was like you were the next fucking Picasso, tesoro.”

She laughed. “I don’t even know how to paint, Carmine.”

“You could learn,” he said. “Would you want to?”

“Maybe, but I don’t know how good I’d be.”

“Oh, you’d be good,” he said confidently. “You shouldn’t doubt yourself. You can do anything you set your mind to.”

“Except for play the piano,” she said playfully. “Or the guitar.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, for the sake of everyone’s ears, we ought to leave music to me, but the rest is all you. You can probably do all of that, you know. Draw, paint, sculpt shit into weird shapes and tell people it’s something it doesn’t look anything like. That takes talent.”

She smiled. “And you think I have that kind of talent?”

“Of course,” he said. “There’s gonna be no stopping you once you get started.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, a swell of emotion surging through her at his words. “It means a lot that you believe in me.”

“I’d be an idiot not to,” he said, kissing the top of her head.

~About the Author~

JM Darhower is the author of countless stories and poems, most of which only she has ever read. She lives in a tiny town in rural North Carolina, where she churns out more words than will ever see the light of day. She has a deep passion for politics and speaking out against human trafficking, and when she isn't writing (or fangirling about books) she's usually ranting about those things.

Chronic crimper with a vulgar mouth, she admits to having a Twitter addiction. You can usually always find her there.


Connect with JM: TWITTER ~ FACEBOOK ~ WEBSITE

~BLOG TOUR~ Promo & Giveaway: Precious Consequences by Tamsyn Bester

Title: Precious Consequences

Author: Tamsyn Bester

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

PURCHASE: Amazon / Amazon CA / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble

Synopsis

All it took was one night to change the rest of my life.

One night that created irrevocable consequences.

But some consequences aren’t all bad.

They can be amazing…beautiful… Precious.

I willingly accepted those consequences and wrote a new plan for my life. But that plan didn’t include Cameron Argent – the sexy-as-sin tattooed playboy who got under my skin the moment I laid eyes on him. I was headed down a dark and dangerous road where he was concerned and in the end, our relationship was inevitable. Despite our dark secrets, our feelings for each other burned brighter than a thousand stars and left us both naked, vulnerable.

But when my past came rolling back into my life like a Summer storm, I wasn’t sure if his love for me was enough. Was he prepared to deal with the consequences of a past I couldn’t regret or would he walk away with my beating heart in his hands?

(This is a New Adult Contemporary Romance novel & contains language &adult situations. Not recommended for readers younger than 17)

~EXCERPT~

“You need a ride? I’m heading over to the University anyway.”
She thinks it over. “You’re not a serial killer, are you?”
I throw my head back and laugh. I can’t help myself. She asks the question so seriously. Is she for real?
“What gave me away?” I ask between my fits of laughter. “Is it my tattoos?”
Her lips lift into a shy smile. “Sorry,” she giggles. “I didn’t mean to offend you. I wasn’t expecting help from a complete stranger.”  Her eyes drift down my body, paying special attention to my ink.
“None taken….” I wait for her to give me her name.
“Oh, sorry.” she says flustered. “Hayley. My name’s Hayley.”
I smile, watching her cheeks flush. “It’s nice to meet you Hayley.”
Her eyebrows lift, and I suspect she’s waiting for me to tell her my name in return. “Well?” she urges. “Don’t you have a name?”
I chuckle. “What kind of serial killer would I be if I gave you my name?”
She rolls her eyes but I can see the smile playing on her lips. “Can you at least phone your friend so we can have my car taken to a garage? Please? I’ll worry about you killing me later.”

~About the Author~

Tamsyn is a 21 year old blogger turned author from South Africa who has an insatiable hunger for New Adult Contemporary Romance novels, coffee and chocolate. When she’s not getting caught up in yet another steamy romance with a new book boyfriend, she can be found spending endless hours working away on her laptop in pursuit of her Marketing degree and a career in book Publishing. Tamsyn is a Brat when it comes to books and believes that every story, no matter how challenging, should have a Happy Ever After.

 ~Connect with Tamsyn~

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tamsyn-Bester/635202666493424

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6965463

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ms_Tam_Tam

Website: www.thesecretbookbrat.com

~GIVEAWAY~

**Purchase a copy of Precious Consequences and enter your chance to win a Kindle Paperwhite valued at $139.00. Enter giveaway (here)

**All entries will be entered into Rafflecopter and Enticing Journey will have Rafflecopter pick the winner. If at the time the link and confirmation code of purchase cannot be validated a new winner will be selected.**

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~BLOG TOUR~ Promo & Giveaway: Theatricks by Eleanor Gwyn-Jones

 Title: Theatricks

Author: Eleanor Gwyn-Jones

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction/Contemporary Romance

Age Group: 25 - 50

Publication Date: December 3, 2013

Publisher: Omnific Publishing

Event organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.

Synopsis

Enna Petersen has never been good at making personal decisions, particularly when she has to choose between her passions. As a theater director, the stage is her world, the spotlight her vitamin D, the waft of greasepaint her oxygen. However, when her handsome American businessman boyfriend proposes and paints the picture of a luxurious life in Pennsylvania, she has to tear her heart in two and give up on her theatrical dreams.

But as she navigates the visa gauntlet at the US embassy in England, she meets Will, a charismatic, erudite actor who encourages her to not give up on her dilapidated and much beloved theater. She is torn, tormented by the thought that her departure will certainly lead to Ashtead Theatre’s demise, but she follows her heart, says goodbye to her homeland, and begins her new role as Cole’s fiancée in America.

However, homesickness soon strikes. Enna longs for the English countryside, her theater, and the passion that Will has inspired in her. After her American dreams fall apart, she is reunited with all three back in the UK, and with Will's help, she soon finds her theater more successful than she ever thought possible. She has everything she's ever wanted, including a gorgeous man in her bed to share it with, so why is it she can't stop thinking about Cole?

Add to Goodreads

~About the Author~

Eleanor Gwyn-Jones lives in Scranton, Pennsylvania, but originally hails from Surrey, England. Huzzah! She studied biology at Southampton University before taking to the stage as an actress, agent and administrator of a touring theatre company. She performed in theatres, studios, schools and festivals across the British Isles before moving to the States. It was whilst visa-dangling and unable to take on acting work that she started to write and decided she far preferred it to anything else in the world! In 2008, Eleanor started her own ‘at home’ business to afford her more time to be with her ‘book babies.’ Now she spends her time writing by day and teaching ladies to look fabulous at night. She is a travel junkie—it’s research, darling, research!—a gourmand, a yogi, a sometime blogger and she adores her family and friends beyond all measure. She is currently putting the finishing key strokes to the sequel to Theatricks, due for release in 2014.

If she weren’t writing, she’d like to think you’d find her in Downton, The Paradise, or having a goblet of wine with Tyrion in King’s Landing.

Connect with the Author: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

~Top 10 Books in Eleanor's Library~

1. Kate Morton, The Distant Hours
2. Arthuro Perez-Reverte, Queen of the South
3. L.P. Hartley, The Go-Between
4. Sebastian Faulks, Birdsong
5. Louis de Bernieres, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
6. Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind
7. Adriana Trigiani, Lucia, Lucia
8. Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale
9. Audrey Niffenegger, Her Fearful Symmetry
10. Edith Wharton, The Buccaneers

~GIVEAWAY~
Tour-Wide Giveaway



TOUR SCHEDULE
http://wp.me/p3EtUb-8O

~BLOG TOUR~ PROMO: Loving You by Cynthia O'Neill

Title: Loving You

Author: Cynthia P. O'Neill

Genre: Contemporary Romance

PURCHASE LINK: Amazon

Synopsis

Gregory Riley and Jordan Carlisle are destined to meet and marry to fulfill an ancient prophesy and defeat evil once and for all.  However, the powers of darkness have managed to intervene and prevent their marriage throughout time and history.   In each era and place, they are drawn to one another by an overwhelming and all-powerful love that defies explanation.  However, they are always mysteriously murdered before they can say “I do”.

In Book One, the couple discovered their past life together in Victorian Virginia and the mysterious circumstances surrounding their deaths.  Now, with help from their visionary guide and other mediums, they must follow the clues to uncover who caused their demise during the time of America’s War of Independence. 

Both Jordan and Gregory know that they can’t be married until all the mysteries of the past are solved; so they secretly plan their wedding as they travel to Philadelphia, seeking to identify the witch and minions who have foiled their nuptials in the past and seek to prevent their upcoming trip to the altar. 

But this time, something’s different.  They experience the manifestation of powers that they have never had before and become stronger, as the darkness becomes bolder in an effort to destroy the couple.   Can they remember their past?  Can they remember their love?  Or will the darkness stop them, once again, before they can proclaim, “I Remember Loving You!”

ADD TO GOOREADS

~Author links~

www.cynthiaponeill.com

www.facebook.com/authorcynthiaponeill

www.twitter.com/cynthiaponeill

~BLOG TOUR~ Book Spotlight: The Storms That Fated Us by JP Summers

Title: The Storms That Fated Us

Author: JP Summers

Genre: Contemporary Romance

PURCHASE LINK: AMAZON ~ B&N

Synopsis

As Tia Deltoro’s 23^rd birthday approaches, she looks forward to meeting up with her old high school friends and hitting the ski slopes. What was supposed to be a relaxing weekend getaway--staying in a beautiful cottage overlooking the mountains--turns out to be a hellish nightmare when Tia unmistakably recognizes the person delivering their firewood.

It has been five years since Tia graduated from New Holston High, yet she remains emotionally shackled to her past, or more specifically ex-best friend Carson Rodriguez, the man holding the bundle of firewood. When he accuses Tia for setting up their chance meeting she fires back running him off. Unfortunately for these two former best friends, Mother Nature decides to show them an intervention they’ll never forget! The drastic shift in weather conditions causes Carson to return and wait out the horrific weather conditions in the confinements of the cottage with Tia.

While the storm rages outside, the two distance themselves to opposite sides of the living room for their own protection. Tia keeps herself distracted by looking at the old high school yearbooks that were packed in preparation for planning the upcoming reunion. Through a series of flashbacks, the memories come flooding back. She can't help but wonder how things could have gone differently if her ex-boyfriend Evan didn’t always lure her back into his corrupting grasp or Carson’s on-again-off-again girlfriend Erin hadn't been so conniving.

In the end all of the jealousy, secrets, and lies ultimately severed the ties that held their four year friendship together.
With the strong winds from this blizzard of mass destruction leveling their only means of shelter one window and roof tile at a time, only one question remains--will Tia and Carson be able to put aside their anger towards each other long enough to survive another storm?

~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~



Summers is a Native Texan who resides on a 140 acre farm in northern Wisconsin with her husband and their children. She is a self-published author that loves chocolate and crushing over fictional men that are so unbelievably smoldering, you swear the pages could actually go up in flames while reading the book. This past year she became an advocate for migraines and headache disorders after being diagnosed with Chronic Migraines. Despite how disabling her condition can be at times, she has several books lined up to be published in 2014. She also has plans to speak at migraine conferences and advocate on Capitol Hill with others who are just as passionate about raising migraine/headache disorder awareness.

Connect with JP: FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ WEBSITE ~ PINTEREST~ GOODREADS

~BLOG TOUR~ Review & Giveaway: Running In Place (Mending Hearts #2) by L.B. Simmons

Title: Running in Place  (Book #2 in The Mending Hearts Series)
Author: L.B. Simmons
Genre: Contemporary Romance
PURCHASE LINKS: AMAZON

 Synopsis

Tatum O’Connell:

Some call me a party girl. People see me as happy, full of life, with absolutely no cares in the world. They see what I want them to see. But no one knows me - really knows me. Not even Noah Reese. Mr. Perfect is always watching me, most likely judging every single imperfect thing I do. But, if Noah wants to keep an eye on me, that’s just fine. I definitely don’t mind. I just hope he doesn’t have any plans to save me from my new-found life of self-destruction because in order to save me, he will have to see me…

And I’m never going to let that happen.

Noah Reese:

Perfect. That’s me. That’s the only acceptable way to be, according to my father. Perfect grades. Perfect manners. Perfect athlete. Perfect SAT scores. Perfect college. And recently, I was accepted into the perfect med school. My future has already been mapped out for me and there’s nothing that can change that. Not even Tatum O’Connell. That girl is out of control, yet for some reason, I can’t seem to keep my distance from her. I watch her closely, hoping that one day she’ll let me in, but watching her lead her life down the dangerous path she’s on right now isn’t easy…

I have a feeling I’m about to find myself swept away by the hurricane that is Tatum O’Connell.

“Two fleeting souls,
Unknowingly tethered.
Too slowly drawn,
Impatient fate calls.
The jolting collide intertwines their lives
And splinters their walls.”
“Catalyst” – Noah Reese

~MY REVIEW~

"Hopes and expectations can leave very, very broken people. So after a while, you learn not to aim so high because when people fail you, you land hard and there’s only so many times a person can be shattered before they’re beyond repair."

(Thank you to Brandee's Book Endings and L.B. Simmons for providing me with an ARC of Running In Place)

My goodness! I didn't even fathom how much I would LOVE Tate and Noah's story. I've read the previous books in The Mending Hearts series and thought: "Yeah they are good but something is missing.". Which is what I thought I would say about Running in Place. I was so wrong!

L.B. Simmons took the second installment in the series to a whole new level. The writing was breath-taking, the characters were amazon and the story was BEAUTIFUL. I cannot gush enough about this book!  But I will stop so that I can tell you about this story. :)

 “You may not believe this but it’s the truth. You deserve to be treasured. You should be with someone who respects you, who makes you a better person, and most of all, who makes you happy.

Tatum O'Connell is a very bitter women. With the loss of a father, the anger and resentment of a mother, and the abandonment of a brother, her life has not been easy. She has been alone since the age of 6 and she has a lot of  pent up anger. She stands by the notion that no one knows her and no one understands her pain. And because that pain and resentment has festered, Tatum is  rebellious and she pushes everyone out of her life. To her Noah Reese is a constant reminder that she lives a miserable and terrible life. His perfection makes her feel inferior. But the day that Noah Reese decides its time he show her otherwise, Tatum finally has the chance to realize that maybe she should stop running from dealing with her demons. 

"You have no idea how much your words, when I read them, touched my soul. To know that someone out there feels the same pain, the heartache…well, it makes me feel not so alone."

Noah is the perfect man. He has the looks, the intelligence, the maturity and the positive attitude everyone adores. But under all of his "perfection" Noah suffers his own agony. Everyone see's only what he wants them to see. No one knows the real Noah Reese. So even though he is going through his own pain and he and Tatum do not get along, Noah realizes just how similar they are. He has been watching Tate and has struggled against his need to help, but he finally gives in when they are assigned to work together. He has the whole summer to make her realize just how worthy she is and he will put his feelings for her aside so that he can help her heal. A healing that turns out to be mutual.

“I would rather have one night with you, than to live the rest of my life with the possibility of never being able to experience loving another person the way that I love you.”

Tatum and Noah both have demons to deal with in Running In Place and both struggle through their journey to relinquish the feelings that has them living in the past. Through all of the pain, the tears, and the resentment, these two find something so pure and so beautiful in each other. The love that develops between these two is so beautiful that you can't help but root for their HEA. 

I cannot for the life of me sit here and tell how much I adored Tatum and Noah's story. L.B. has taken these two haunted individuals and showed them the powers of healing through love. From the very first page of their story you will be so consumed with their story that you won't want to stop or want it to end.

"This is family. People who would do anything for you, no questions asked. People who support you and love you as you try to make your place in this world as you see fit, with no ulterior motives. Good people. People that I'm lucky to know."

And I have to also mention that I enjoyed being reunited with the gang. Checking in with Blake, Alex, the girls, Harlow and Trace was wonderful! Being Tatum's older brother, Trace must finally deal with the consequences of his actions and has his own demons to deal with during the story. I look forward to his and Harlow's story and hope that L.B. is working on it. :)

 BUY this! READ it! LOVE it!

HAPPY READING!

~About the Author~

L.B. Simmons is a graduate of Texas A&M University and holds a degree in Biomedical Science. She has been a practicing Chemist for the last 11 years. She lives with her husband and three daughters in Texas and writes every chance she gets.

~Connect with L.B.~
WEBSITE ~ FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ GOODREADS

~Buy the books~

Running on Empty, book 1: AMAZON ~ B&N
Recovery, book 1.5: AMAZON ~ B&N

~GIVEAWAY~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~BLOG TOUR: REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Sadie's Mountain by Shelby Rebecca

Title: Sadie's Mountain

Author: Shelby Rebecca

Genre: Contemporary Romance, 18+

Purchase Links: AMAZON

Tour hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

Synopsis

One fateful night, Sadie Sparks' young life was changed forever. Just as she was discovering love with her best friend, Dillon McGraw, someone else was plotting to take her for his own. Faced with choosing between the fear and threats and a safer life, Sadie leaves her West Virginia home for good.

A decade later, Sadie returns to Appalachia to care for her ailing mother, but stays to fight for the mountain she loves. Her struggles to protect it from being ravaged for coal put her in greater danger than she ever imagined — and back in the arms of the man she never stopped loving. But the man responsible for changing her life so many years ago is determined to keep her under his control. When she decides to break free, will Sadie and Dillon's bond be strong enough to endure the truth about his identity?

~MY REVIEW~

"I am his, and he is mine"

(Thank you to the author and Debra at Book Enthusiast for providing me with an ARC.)

Sadie's Mountain is a story of love, loss, despair, and the will to overcome tragedy. From the moment you begin to read this story you will be emotionally connected to the protagonist until the very end.

After being a victim of rape, Sadie is sent away from her home. The place that she once felt protected and loved and where the boy of her dreams holds her heart. From the very moment HE took away her life, she has not been the same. For ten years Sadie lives in a shell and  sheltered. When she is forced to return home and confront the demons of her past, Sadie realizes that she wants her life back. But this time she isn't alone and she has alot more to fight for.

Throughout the book Sadie turns from this fragile and docile girl to a fierce and smart women. She doesn't cower under the pressure and she fights back against the man that stole her innocence. She was brave and it is what most made me admire her. Don't get me wrong she had her moments where I wanted to shake some sense into her but those were rare. She fought for her life and for her chance at love and in the end she won much more.

The relationship between her and Dillon was so pure but tainted with the tragedy of the past. But his never failing devotion and love for her was in the end Sadie's biggest strength. Although she pushed him away he pushed back with just as much intensity. They were wonderful together and I am so glad that they were able to both get their HEA.

Now I know you are wondering why the 3.5 stars and I want to explain that. I thought this story was wonderful but I also thought it had it's flaws. If there was something I would have liked in this story it was for the writing to be a bit better. There were times when I just cringed while reading because of the words used or the reactions that characters had. One example of this is parts in which the author used giggle to describe Dillon's laugh. It just didn't sit right with me and it felt weird. This might be my issue alone but its one that I couldn't get past. And then there is the rape scene. It was a pretty explicit scene and it made me so uncomfortable that I had to put the book down for awhile. I understood why the author wrote it that way but its such a delicate subject that it was hard to read through it.

Other than what was mentioned above, Sadie's Mountain is a wonderful story and should be read.I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

HAPPY READING!

~About the Author~

Originally from Wasilla, Alaska, I now live in Northern California in my first real house with my husband, John, daughter, Elise, and our two mutts, a beagle and an Australian terrier. I’m a vegetarian with a unique accent that merges Alaskan vowels with Valley Girl, and I love Ryan Gosling—but who doesn’t. The eco-theme in my book comes from being Healthy Child Healthy World's first ever Mom on a Mission in late 2009. My story was featured in People Magazine, Lifetime's Remarkable Women series, The Sacramento News and Review, and is a highlighted story on the advocacy website Care2. Sadie's Mountain is my debut novel.

~Connect with Sadie~

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS AUTHOR | FACEBOOK AUTHOR|WEBSITE

 

~GIVEAWAY~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~BLOG TOUR: REVIEW & GIVEAWAY~ Sweet Home by Tillie Cole

Title: Sweet Home

Author: Tillie Cole

Genre: New Adult Romance

Purchase Links: AMAZON ~ B&N

Tour hosted by: Have Book Will Read

Synopsis

"I had never put much thought into the story of Romeo and Juliet. Never once truly considered the plight of the ill-fated lovers or what they went through to be together. All that changed when my life spiraled onto a similar path."
The University of Alabama.
Crimson Tide Football.
One unattainable senior star Quarterback.

And, me, Molly Shakespeare, an English transfer student.
All it took was one look. One fateful gaze into a set of chocolate brown eyes and my world shifted on its axis. Only weeks into life at a new American College and he entered my world -- Romeo Prince.

Romeo's devastating bad-boy facade and stern tone captured my heart in an instant and for the first time in years, I'd found someone who ripped through my defenses, I'd found my home, I'd found someone who made me... feel.
A darkness.
An uncontrollable anger.
An almost-realized NFL dream.
Romeo Prince, on the surface, had it all; looks, money and talent in abundance. In reality he was a pawn, a puppet tied to his parent’s rigid and masterful strings, casting his seemingly perfect life in misery.

One fateful meeting with the new English transfer student, and his life was thrust into turmoil. His choice was simple, choose duty or choose love. Both came with consequences, but one would change his life forever.

Mature New Adult novel – contains adult content, highly sexual situations and mature topics. Suited for ages 18 and up*

~MY REVIEW~

"Molly, a home is not a place. It's not a country or a town or a building or possession. Home is with the other half of your soul, the person who shares in your grief and helps you carry the burden of loss. Home is with the person who throughout it all never gives up on you and brings you eternal happiness. That, Molly dear, is your home sweet home."

(Thank you to the author and Have Book Will Read for providing me with an ARC.)

I have to say that when I first read the synopsis to this book I was interested right away. I enjoy Romeo and Juliet and love romance so I had to check it out. So with that said, I'm glad to say that Sweet Home didn't let me down. It was a good read and provided a modern day twist to Romeo & Juliet.
Molly has been running away since the tragic lost of the ones she loves most. She is either immersing herself in her school work or literally fleeing the country. She has lost too much and is afraid of losing anymore. So when she meets Romeo Prince, Molly wants nothing more than to stay away from him.  She cannot deal with the overwhelming feelings she has for the hot-tempered QB. No matter how much she comes to love him she cannot deal with the constant hurdles thrown at her. Like the star-crossed lovers of Romeo and Juliet, Molly and Romeo are surrounded by demons from the past and the present.

Romeo is the All-Star Quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tides. He has the whole world in his hands, but also a whole slew of pressure. Pressure to perform, pressure to be the best, and pressure to be what his parents say. Rome is destined to be the next heir of his fathers oil company and to marry the daughter of his father friend. An order that is ingrained into him everyday of his life. But Rome doesn't want any of it. He only wants to play football and love Molly without the evil that surrounds his life.

Unfortunately, his sadistic and ruthless parents forbid it. They go through every extent to keep their son wrapped around their fingers. Nothing stops them from making sure that Molly stays away. Not even murder. Rome's parents are the worse humans that can exist and they are terrible. I cringed every time they were in a scene and my heart wept for everything Rome had to endure with them.

This book is not an easy read. Sweet Home is a romance, but Molly and Romeo's lives are not picture perfect. You will smile and you will shed tears throughout this story. These two are put through the gunner and in situations that will have many people running away. Just a warning, there is a sad scene that, to many, will be hard to read. But there are great scenes as well. The only thing that didn't interest me were the sex scenes. Don't get me wrong they were intense but it was too much and I'm not the type of reader that looks for that in her books.

For being her debut book, Tillie Cole did a wonderful job bringing the characters to life. It was a beautifully woven story.

Pick this up and check it out!!

HAPPY READING!

~About the Author~



Tillie Cole is a Northern girl through and through. She originates from a place called Teesside on that little but awesomely sunny (okay I exaggerate) Isle called Great Britain.

She was brought up surrounded by her English rose mother -- a farmer's daughter, her crazy Scottish father, a savagely sarcastic sister and a multitude of rescue animals and horses.



Connect with Tillie: Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Website

~EXCERPT~


“For the initiation task, we will be using brothers from our linked fraternity. You will be blindfolded and will have to kiss—with tongues—a fellow Greek brother and guess the food they’ve just eaten. It’s not a lot to show your commitment, and we will all get a great laugh from it.” Shelly tossed her shampoo advert-worthy hair to the rest of the sorority sisters, who all giggled in response.

Bugger.

I didn’t like the sound of this.

I grabbed Lexi’s arm and leaned in close. “I thought you said hazing wasn’t allowed anymore due to some recent scandal or something? Look at those blindfolds. This is going cause us all to be completely humiliated—that certifies as friggin’ hazing! I can’t do this, Lexi. I’m way out of my depth here.”

Lexi hit me with her black-rimmed puppy-dog eyes. “Please, Molls. For me? It’s not exactly bad hazing; it’s just a kiss with a guy, for God’s sake!”

I dropped my head and groaned. There was no use fighting her. She’d only cry on me again, giving me a guilt trip. “You totally owe me one!”

“Walk to the table and take a blindfold. We’ll put you in a line and the guys will be brought in,” Shelly sang, thoroughly enjoying herself at our expense.

We did as commanded, and after a few minutes, I heard the door click open and several pairs of feet shuffle into the room. I sensed someone stand before me and nearly puked at the stench. He had liquor and strong, putrid body odour humming out of his pores. Disgusting.

“When I tap y’all on the shoulder, make out, guess the food correctly, and you’ll be in—simple,” Shelly informed with a gleeful lilt.

I could tell I was at the end of the line because when I waved a hand out beside me, all I felt was thin air.

I would be the last pledge last to go.

The distinct sound of slurping tongues and girls making guesses filled the room, and a chorus of sorority sisters emitting bitchy laughs mid-process came from every direction.

I could feel my pulse racing in nervous apprehension and my hands fidgeted, betraying my burgeoning panic.

Time seemed to still as my turn approached. The frat guy smelled… bad. But I’d do it for Lexi.

A light tap on my back signalled that it was my turn. I braced myself and leaned forward, only to feel a rush of air pass my head and a loud crash come from the side, male laughter echoing around me.

“Move, Macmillan. I think you’re in my spot,” a deep voice drawled.

“Ah n-no… B-b-bullet! Shelly said… said…” Macmillan slurred from the direction of the floor, semi-coherently.

“I don’t give a shit what she said. Go and get a fuckin’ drink, or pass out, or somethin’. You get me?” The menace in this ‘Bullet’ guy’s voice was unmistakable.

“I-I get you. I get you, man.”

I had no clue what was going on or who would be fighting over kissing me. This day just kept getting weirder and weirder by the second.

“Wait! Mac has to—” Shelly shouted.

“Shut the fuck up, Shel.” His tone left no room for argument, and Shelly fell silent.

I was busy chewing on my thumbnail—a nervous habit I adopt in uncomfortable situations—when my new frat guy moved before me, smelling deliciously better than the previous person—summer, soap, and mint. It was familiar. Comforting. Enticing.

A large, calloused hand pulled my thumb from my mouth and placed it on a hard waist. My fingers crept along the cotton-like fabric covering his torso, identifying the ridges of hard muscle and defined abdominals underneath.

Blindfolding was definitely a sensory awakening; you smelled, felt, and heard so much more.

Hands grasped both sides of my face and I could feel the moment he began to move in towards me, only to suddenly caress my lips, teasingly, softly with his own.

Without warning, my captor expelled a frustrated groan, dropping any gentleness, and his eager, wet tongue invaded my mouth, duelling against mine, fighting for control. I gave it over gladly. There was no other choice.

I’d never felt anything like it.

~GIVEAWAY~

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