BLOG TOUR + GIVEAWAY ~Dazed by Kim Karr~

Title: Dazed

Author: Kim Karr

Series: Connections #2.5

Release Date: April 1, 2014

Rating: 5 PERFECT Stars!

Jagger Kennedy never went looking for fame, he just fell into it. After scoring a major modeling contract, his clean-cut good looks and charm catapulted his career. But when his actress girlfriend breaks his heart, he moves to L.A. to try his hand at acting. He needs to make a change, and the last thing he’s looking for is love…

Aerie Daniels is a woman in control … until she meets Jagger. Her surprising connection with him leaves her stunned, and it’s unlike anything she’s ever felt. But just when she lets her walls fall, she makes a startling discovery about him that breaks her fragile heart into a million pieces.

To keep from losing the one woman he can’t bear to be without, Jagger is willing to give up anything—including his career. But even that might not be enough to regain Aerie’s shattered trust…

I will never, ever get tired of reading Ms. Karr's books. There is something inexplicably amazing about them. Dazed is just as captivating, and lovely as the other books in the Connections series. Kim Karr still managed to pack the same amount of punch in this novella, as in her full length books. Of course, I wanted more, but I always want more with any of her books. Jagger and Aerie did no disappoint. I felt like they kidnapped my heart and soul and wouldn't give them back. I endured every emotion, from bliss to heartbreak, with them. I don't know how she does it, but even when her characters cover just a broad spectrum the author was still able to make me feel connected to every one of them.

Dazed is quite simply the story of trust, and a love so deep it becomes part of who you are. Aerie Daniels is a woman in control. Of everything. She controls her future, her present, and has internally controlled her past by compartmentalizing is away. Yet, by doing so, she has also never dealt with the doubts and fears it carved into her soul when she had her heart broken. In walks Jagger Kennedy. He will undo all of Aerie's neat composure and make her live again. Even if he won't be there in the end. Within days of meeting Jagger he has already made an impact on Aerie. She is trying new things, and generally mussing up her life a little. That's what got me about these two. They may have off the charts chemistry but, not every second is ladened with lust. I saw that despite their romantic involvement they could be the best of friends. They bring out the best in each other. I may have only known them a short time, but their connection was so incredibly profound, it made my heart hurt in the best way. When Aerie begins to draw parallels between now and when she experienced the worst hurt of  her younger years, she balks. She finds every conceivable way to run. Jagger isn't going to let that happen. He may have found Aerie when he was running but, she stopped him dead in his tracks, and now it's his turn to return the favor.

I wish we could bottle an inkling of the magic that comes from Kim Karr's fingertips and mind. It's pure gold. This book hit me hard and fast. Leaving me satisfied and bereft all at the same time. The mind-boggling aspect of this book is that, it seems like a cookie-cutter book from the outside. However when I read it, it enthralled me and left me with no doubt that it was a diamond among rocks. Jagger, with is unfailing dedication and love. Aerie, with her strong will and big heart. Together, they were a recipe for love and forever. You'll just have to read to see if the chef was successful :) All kidding aside, this book is the whole package. Could not have asked for more... well I could have, but the story given is complete and wonderful. All I can do is hope to get glimpses in future books!

Happy Reading!
*ARC received by author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Links to Buy:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

THE CONNECTIONS SERIES:

Connected (#1): Amazon | B&N | iTunes (OUT NOW!)

Torn (#2): Amazon | B&N | iTunes (OUT NOW!)

Dazed (#2.5): Amazon | B&N | iTunes (4/1/2014)

Mended (#3): Amazon | B&N | iTunes (6/3/2014)

Frayed (#4): Amazon | B&N | iTunes (9/2/2014)

Connect with Kim:

SALE BLITZ ~Songs of Submission (Sequence #1) by C.D. Reiss~

✪ beg. tease. submit. Sequence One (Songs of Submission) ✪

Synopsis:

This omni edition contains the three novellas of Sequence One. Beg My name is Monica. I'm a singer born and raised in Los Angeles. I've stopped dating. When I cut a record, or win a Grammy, maybe then I'll be with someone, but every man in my past has done everything he could to make me submit myself to him, and it's gotten in the way of my career. I won't do it again. But there's Jonathan. He owns the high-rise hotel where I work, and he is gorgeous and charming. I refuse to fall in love with him, even though when he asks me to submit to him, I want nothing more. Tease When Jonathan was gone I couldn't stop thinking about him, and the first thing he did when he got back was demand more of me. I'm willing to give him my body and my time, but I find myself giving up pieces of my heart. My career is on track, and even though I can't write a thing, I can sing. So I'll go to the art opening with him, because his ex wife will be there. I feel this need to protect him from hurt, though in bed, his domination brings me to my knees. This man is going to break me into a million little pieces. Submit "You're mine. The minute I told you to spread your legs and you did it, you were mine. When I told you to beg for it and you did, you were mine. When you put your hands behind your back without being told, I owned you. You never had to say a word. You are a natural submissive." No. God, no. My name is Monica, and no matter what Jonathan says, I am not submissive.

Purchase beg. tease. submit. Sequence One (Songs of Submission) On:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iTunes

About CD Reiss:

CD Reiss is a USA Today and Amazon bestseller. She still has to chop wood and carry water, which was buried in the fine print. Her lawyer is working it out with God but in the meantime, if you call and she doesn’t pick up, she’s at the well, hauling buckets. Born in New York City, she moved to Hollywood, California to get her master’s degree in screenwriting from USC. In case you want to know, that went nowhere, but it did embed TV story structure in her head well enough for her to take a big risk on a TV series structured erotic series called Songs of Submission. It’s about a kinky billionaire hung up on his ex-wife, an ingenue singer with a wisecracking mouth; art, music and sin in the city of Los Angeles. Critics have dubbed the books “poetic,” “literary,” and “hauntingly atmospheric,” which is flattering enough for her to put it in a bio, but embarrassing enough for her not to tell her husband, or he might think she’s some sort of braggart who’s too good to give the toilets a once-over every couple of weeks or chop a cord of wood. If you meet her in person, you should call her Christine.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Hosted by:

COVER REVEAL ~Take Me for Granted by K.A. Linde~

Title: Take Me for Granted

Author: K.A. Linde

Series: Take Me #1

Release Date: April 29, 2014 

Cover Design: Najla Qamber Designs

Grant

Manwhore. Adrenaline junkie. Lead singer of ContraBand. What you see is what you get. I make no apologies for my actions, and by now no one expects any from me. I live my life the way I want and as long as it pushes the demons back, then I'm solid. I've never needed a chick for more than a good lay. Why would I need just one when I can have a different one every night?

Until she walks into my world.

Aribel

Mouthy. Perfectionist. Princeton student. Chemistry major. Yes, that pretty much describes me. Oh, and virgin. But I'm only nineteen, and have more important things to concern myself with. What really matters is finishing my degree and getting a good job. I’ve worked hard for what I want, and do what’s expected of me. I don’t need anyone to get in my way.

Until he opens up my world.

But if I give you my world, whatever you do…don’t TAKE ME for granted.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Meet Kyla:

K.A. Linde graduated with her Masters in political science from the University of Georgia in 2012. She also has a bachelors in political science and philosophy. She wrote her the Avoiding Series while struggling through advanced statistical modeling and writing her thesis. She enjoys dancing and writing novels that keep you guessing until the very end.

She currently resides in Georgia with her boyfriend and two puppies, Lucy and Riker.










Connect with Kyla:

REVIEW ~Come Home to Me by Brenda Novak~

Title: Come Home to Me

Author: Brenda Novak

Series: Whiskey Creek #6

Release Date: March 25, 2014

My Rating: 4 Stars

Home is where her heart is...

When Presley Christensen returns to Whiskey Creek with her little boy after two years away, she has completely changed her life. She's made peace with her past and overcome the negative behavior that resulted from her difficult childhood. Now she's back in the small town that was the closest thing to "home" she ever knew—the town where she can be with the sister who's her only family.


There's just one catch. Aaron Amos still lives in Whiskey Creek, at least until he moves to Reno to open a branch of the Amos brothers' auto body shop. And no matter how hard she's tried, Presley hasn't been able to get over him. Seeing him again makes the longing so much worse. But she hopes she can get through the next few months, because she can't fall back into his arms…or his bed. She's come too far to backslide now. And there's a secret she's been guarding—a secret she'll do anything to protect.

I've got a conundrum where Come Home to Me is concerned. On one hand, I devoured it. Ate up every bit of heart-wrenching and sometimes frustrating drama. On the other hand, I can never, ever condone some of the characters' actions. The easiest way to explain this book is that I hate to love it. But it's true I loved it. I don't often devour 400 page books in a 36 hour span, when I worked 16 of those hours, and slept a good chunk of the others. This may have been my fastest reading to date, and I consumed every single word and couldn't wait to get to the next. I don't know what it is about Ms. Novak but, even when I disagree with a character's actions, she can still make me glued to every aspect of their life. 

Come Home to Me is the second chance story of Presley and Aaron. After two long, hard years away from Whiskey Creek, Presley has finally decided to return home. Dependent upon Aaron's impending move to Reno to expand the auto shop he runs with his brothers. However, Aaron decides to stick around a lot longer than anyone is expecting. That throws a huge wrench in Presley's plans. She's got a big secret she's hiding from everyone, except her sister Cheyenne, and Aaron trying to pick up where they left off isn't helping her resolve of keeping that secret. Cheyenne doesn't ease matters when she propositions Aaron to help her and her husband... without her husband's knowledge. Side note: Cheyenne's husband, Dylan, just so happens to be Aaron's brother. So as the web of lies and secrets grows, some slip through the cracks and even more mistakes are made. All boiling down to the reveal of Presley's secret that will shatter Aaron's reality, and has the ability to affect Cheyenne and Dylan's future and happiness as well. But let's not stop there. Let's also include the ordeal Cheyenne has Presley and Aaron roped into... and this just can't end well for someone.

This book blew my mind. Cheyenne crosses lines, that I could not even begin to fathom. I'm hoping for some kind of happy and honest conclusion where her story line is concerned, but I don't see that happening. As for Presley and Aaron... well they just have a big old mess on their hands. Part of me couldn't stand Presley, but looking at the big picture she won me over in the end. You can only hold someone's past against them for so long. Aaron on the other hand, went with the flow much more willingly that I had expected. Despite his jealous tendencies, I saw him as a bit of a rockstar. He fought so hard, and just wanted Presley to accept the changes in him, as he had for her. I think my biggest point of contention with this book is Cheyenne. If I extricate her story line from the book, I loved it. But when I remember her actions and what she pulled Presley and Aaron into... it kinda spoils things for me. However, I still devoured this book. It reminds me of a soap opera, not necessarily in a bad way. When I watch one, although I'm not a frequent viewer but, when I do, I just can't stop watching. I want to know everyone's back story, who's cheating on who, this couples history, etc. It's all so fascinating to me. That's how I feel about Come Home to Me. Was it a Grade-A romance? Probably not, BUT it was a Grade-A book! I think what'll make it better is if I just imagine Dylan and Cheyenne's story ended in their book, and the Dylan and Cheyenne in Come Home to Me were on an alternate plane of existence. A little far fetched, but it let's me love this book without feeling a little wigged out. In terms of Presley and Aaron's story though, big thumbs up!

Happy Reading!

*ARC received by the author in exchange for an honest review*

Links to Buy:

Connect with Brenda:

ARC REVIEW ~Bite Me by Shelly Laurenston~

Title: Bite Me

Author: Shelly Laurenston

Series: Pride #9

Release Date: March 25, 2014

My Rating: 3 Stars

Livy Kowalski has no time for idiots. When you shapeshift into a honey badger, getting through life’s irritants is a finely honed skill. Until she gets stuck housing her nutso cousin and dealing with her dad’s untimely and unexplained demise.

That’s where Vic Barinov comes in—or his house does. Vic can’t step outside without coming back to find Livy devouring his honey stash and getting the TV remote sticky. It gets his animal instincts all riled up. But he’ll have to woo her at high speed: all hell is breaking loose, and Livy is leading the charge…

I hate to say it because I really loved the rest of this series, but this book wasn't Ms. Laurenston's best. As a reader, I begin to set certain benchmarks for authors when I've read several of their books. I don't begrudge authors that step out of the box, I actually applaud them... if they do it well. My benchmarks for the Pride series are hilarious antics, beloved characters, and erotic play to boot. What I got with Bite Me was more of cameo reel for past characters and a very twisty plot that was dragged out. I didn't get enough of the main couple and the plot was thinned out too much among too many characters. Don't get me wrong, I love hearing from past characters but, in this instance I was bombarded with so many of them I couldn't remember who most of them were, and I didn't get to spend enough time with them to remember why I loved them. I know I loved them because I love every single one Shelly Laurenston's characters. It was more like a family reunion on speed than anything else. Having said that, the parts with Vic and Livy were simply awesome. 

Livy is a cut throat, no holds barred, honey badger who never fit into her family. So when her estranged father passes away suddenly, her feelings don't reflect accordingly. She never got along with him, and her feelings in general, even toward her closest friend, don't showcase appropriately in the first place. Vic Barinov is on the same wavelength. He is an easy to love, awkward, bear/tiger shifter. They both have an achilles heel for honey, and on more than one occasion Vic has found Livy hunkering in his cupboards, stealing his honey. It is painfully obvious that Vic has a soft spot for Livy, but he doesn't know what to do about it. While their love affair is slow progressing through the book, they must still team up when a shifter killer hits too close to home, and has friends in the upper echelons of the shifter world helping hide him. They pull all their resources to find the killer and with a blend of danger and hilarity this journey will be no small feat.

I feel that Bite Me was more mystery laden than the previous books. With that mystery the author felt the need to pull in several older characters and it kept the book off center for me. The time with Vic and Livy was few and far between. BUT when it was their turn center stage I loved every minute of it. I love that they are awkward and unsettling with everyone except each other. They just get each other, and it made their gradual progression to love that much sweeter. While, I loved them as a couple and even their friend chemistry together, I felt like I would get invested in them only to be thrown into another character two seconds later. It was almost never the same characters either. I think you could cut out half of the scenes without the major characters in them and the integrity of this book would stay intact. In this book I just wish the author would have narrowed the scope of the world a little bit. I still liked Bite Me, but it just wasn't up to par with its predecessors.

Happy Reading!

*ARC received by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Links to Buy:

Connect with Shelly: