Wednesday 30 September 2015

Beneath These Scars by Meghan March ~ #giveaway #bookreview #excerpt


Beneath These Scars by Meghan March

Date of Publication: September 22, 2015

Blurb 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015NAUJNE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B015NAUJNE&linkCode=as2&tag=lirebr-20&linkId=75KIKECXBFV5L4GL




I'm the guy you love to hate.
In every story in my life, I seem to end up playing the villain—and I've got the scars to prove it.
That role works fine for me, because I'm sure as hell not anyone's hero. I run my life and my empire with an iron fist—until she knocks my tightly controlled world off its axis.
She's nobody's damsel in distress, but I can't help but want to save her anyway.
I guess we're about to find out if there's a hero buried … beneath these scars.

Available From


About Meghan March



Meghan March is the author of contemporary and erotic romance novels.
Meghan March has been known to wear camo face paint and tromp around in woods wearing mud-covered boots, all while sporting a perfect manicure. She's also impulsive, easily entertained, and absolutely unapologetic about the fact that she loves to read and write smut. Her past lives include slinging auto parts, selling lingerie, making custom jewelry, and practicing corporate law. Writing books about dirty talking alpha males and the strong, sassy women who bring them to their knees is by far the most fabulous job she's ever had. She loves hearing from her readers at meghanmarchbooks@gmail.com.

Find Meghan March Online

Chapter 1
Lucas
SWEAT DRIPPED INTO MY EYES as I bounced on the balls of my feet. Someone had to be calling out how much time was left in this round soon. My pride was on the line, and there was no way I would hand it over to Con Leahy. He'd already gotten the girl, and I wasn't about to let him humiliate me in the ring in this piece-of-shit New Orleans gym too.
My muscles burned, but that was nothing compared to the heat of victory—or the sting of defeat. What had started out as a boxing lesson had quickly transformed into an all-out brawl for dominance and respect.
Only you would pay a million dollars to get your ass kicked, Titan. The voice in my head mocked me as I bobbed and weaved. But I hadn't paid a million to get my ass kicked. I'd done it because that night at the charity auction I'd been drunk, pissed off, and determined to prove a point—he might've gotten the girl, but I was still the one with the power. I got a sick sense of satisfaction that every time Con bought something for his gym and these kids, he had to think of me.
I swung with another right hook. The blow connected with Con's jaw and snapped his head to the side.
Yeah. That's right. But my mental cheer came a moment too soon, and pain exploded in my left side.
Shit, that's going to hurt tomorrow.
I stumbled back but threw myself forward again, shooting out my fist with an uppercut that knocked Con back a step. This was how it had gone for the last several minutes—trading punches and circling each other.
There was no love lost in this ring, that was for damn sure, and I was ready for this to be over. I would walk out of here with every bit of the respect I was owed. Fuck anyone who thought otherwise.
Con moved toward me and the circling started again. The cheers and chants from the crowd surrounding the ring in the old warehouse gym seemed to grow every time I glanced beyond the ropes. A flash of blond hair caught my eye as I stepped left and Con shifted to the right.
Vanessa.
She threw her head back and laughed at something said by her redheaded friend, Elle. I turned my attention back to the man in front of me, but my focus wandered again when a huskier, sexier laugh echoed through the room.
My eyes strayed from Con for a second too long as I tried to track down the source of the laughter. Pain burst through my jaw, catching me by surprise, and I stumbled back into the ropes. Using their momentum, I shoved off to the side, my pride stinging from my momentary lapse in concentration. Embarrassed and now thoroughly pissed off, I surged forward and attacked.
One punch. That was all I landed before the bell rang, signaling the end of the round and my very expensive "lesson."
I pushed off Con, and my knee might have slipped as I stepped back . . . and caught him directly in the balls. It was probably an accident. I huffed out a chuckle, but Con didn't share my humor.
"Goddamn it!" he roared. "Are you fucking serious?"
It was like stabbing a bull with a matador's sword, but I was ready for him. I jumped out of the way as Con charged, and shifted into a defensive stance when he swung.
"Should've expected a cheap shot from you, motherfucker." Unrestrained anger flashed over his face as every shred of coaching mentality fled, along with that smug superiority he'd been giving me.
Good. You aren't better than me, Leahy. I could buy and sell you a hundred times over.
He might've gotten the girl, but I wasn't going to let him get away with her clean. I wanted blood.
"Should've expected you to strut around this ring like a fucking cock of the walk," I shot back.
Con feinted and swung again, but I'd been studying his movements. I bobbed and weaved, and got the hell out of the way.
I threw my own punch as soon as I had a clean shot. It landed just below Con's left eye, splitting the skin over his cheekbone and sending blood spattering everywhere.
The taste of victory was sweet. "First blood," I said under my breath.
Apparently my words weren't quiet enough because Con's head snapped up and he glared at me with disgust, as if I needed to be put down like a rabid animal. "This ain't a fuckin' duel, you piece of shit."
"It sure isn't a friendly competition either."
"Paid a million to get that cheap shot in, didn't you?"
My lips twisted into a mocking smile. "I sure didn't pay a million to have you show me up."
Con dropped his hands and shook his head. "Just when I thought you weren't a complete fucking asshole."
"You were wrong," I replied, turning for the ropes.
Con's fists lifted and before I could react, one connected with my cheekbone. The instantaneous gush of blood told me I'd have a scar to match his, but it didn't matter. One more scar wouldn't hurt my banged-up face.
I roared as I charged, but I didn't get the chance to retaliate. Shouts filled the room, and beefy arms wrapped around my body, holding me back.
"You're not half bad when you're not being a shady rich prick," Lord's voice said in my ear.
I lunged toward Con, but Lord's grip only tightened. "Get your goddamn hands off me," I growled at him.
Leaning closer to my ear, he lowered his voice. "When you calm the hell down and realize you're making an ass of yourself in front of a bunch of kids and women."
I glanced out to the crowd and read disgust on so many faces, including Vanessa's. Like it mattered what a single goddamn person in this gym thought of me. I could buy and sell them all.
Lord was still holding me back when Con came toward us. He yanked his gloves off and wiped at the blood still dripping from the gash on his face.
"You're also not half bad when you're paying attention—and when you're not throwing a knee into my nuts. But I think you've overstayed your welcome."
I jerked at the arms trapping me. "Call off your dog, and I'm gone."
"You ever want another round, it's gonna cost you two million next time," Con said.
"For another chance to make you bleed? I'd pay even more."
Con nodded to his brother, and Lord let me go. The crowd had already started to disperse. The only person in the building who probably didn't want to run me down in the parking lot was my COO, and arguably my friend, Ryder Colson. And he was nowhere to be seen.
Instead of Colson, I saw a group of women moving toward the door—Vanessa Frost in her white cotton dress, Elle Snyder in her yellow retro number, and two others I didn't know. One looked familiar with tanned skin the color of honey, her hair in dark waves, and a curvy body displayed by a funky teal dress with hot-pink polka dots. She hooked her hands on her hips, and that husky laugh echoed through the room again. Apparently she was the one who had distracted me in the ring. My eyes didn't move from her to take in the fourth woman.
Colson came up beside me. "Who knew there'd be so many hot pieces of ass in this shit warehouse?"
I turned toward him. "Give any of them a shot, and you'll probably find yourself bleeding on the floor."
Ryder shrugged off my comment. "Go get your shit. I'll wait."
He was gone before I could tell him he didn't need to wait around for me. But then again, he was my only ally in a building full of people who undoubtedly would have preferred to see me KO'd on the floor of the ring. Just one more place I'd never be welcome.
Good thing I didn't give a fuck.
I'd showed up, gone toe-to-toe with Con, and had taken back a piece of my pride. That was enough.
For today.
I was already thinking of hiring a trainer as I went for my bag.  




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Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Author and Rock Star PR
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Part 4 of an ongoing series but could be read as a standalone


 My Beneath These Scars Review ... 

"No one makes it through life without scars.  It's impossible.  But they're not signs of shame; they're badges of honor showing that you fought and survived.  That's why I've never hidden mine, but you've never moved on."  

I am a big fan of this series so I was excited to read Yve & Lucas's story.  Especially because even though Lucas was one of those guys you love to hate, I knew he was going to have a soft side.  However, after reading it, I did like it, but it wasn't my favorite of the series. 

We meet Yve in Beneath this Mask and we get to realize that she has a past that she keeps tight to the vest.   Lucas we meet in Beneath this Ink and immediately have a love to hate him theme going on.   From the beginning in Beneath These Scars these two have a love hate relationship but can't deny the their chemistry.  They start to just have a sex only relationship but with Yve's past coming to the forefront, Lucas is forced to try and protect her.

"He can't help by meddle.  He's a fixer, my dear."


I liked the idea of the story and I understood where Yve came from.  I even get the once burnt concept but the martyr thing along with the I don't need any help theme got to be tiresome by reading it over and over and over again. 

"And you'll call me if anything freaks you out."  I hesitated for a fraction of a second.  This was my problem. 


But I couldn't rely on anyone but myself.  That would be a mistake.


"Do you ever let anyone help you, Yve?"


"I don't need you to fix this for me."  "I know, but you don't need to do it alone, Yve."


"You're in denial. and you're lying to me.  If there's anyone who understands what it means to have secrets, it's me.  But when those secrets start putting your life in danger, it's time to come clean to someone who can help you. "


My determination to be strong and deal with this all by myself suffered another foundation-shaking blow.


"Why?  Why would you want to help me?" 
"Because despite the fact that I'm an asshole, I'm not the kind of asshole who's going to let you face whatever the hell is going on here by yourself."

After Yve FINALLY lets her guard down, is when I got caught up into the story and found the sweetness of Lucas and Yve.  Lucas goes from the love to hate to the love to love type of guy.  He may come across as a bit of an asshole but he's really a big ol' softie inside.  

What I can't wait for are Hennessy & then Bishop's stories.  I have a feeling they are going to be great.  So my fingers are crossed that one of those will be the next one in the series.

Did I like this story?  Yes, but Yve's baggage got to be too much for me.  Was this my favorite of the series?  Definitely no, but it was still a good one.   Favorite character?  Jerome than Lucas.  Least favorite character?  Yve, but not the whole way through.  Most excited for next?  Hennessy's story.  Love that fact that he's seems to be the man to know around NOLA and can't wait for him to find his HEA.

3.5 Love to hate to love thumbs up! 

thumbs upthumbs upthumbs up . 5

Lauren











Catch Up on the Beneath Series:
 
http://amzn.to/1KQWsFa

Beneath This Mask (Beneath #1)
He loves me, and he doesn’t even know my real name. 

The limelight that follows him could expose everything I’m hiding. But even knowing the risks, I can’t force myself to stay away. 

I’m going to break his heart, but mine will shatter right along with it. 

Will we lose it all when I reveal what’s beneath this mask?

Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22458416-beneath-this-mask

Buy Links:

http://amzn.to/1Wx2fXN

Beneath This Ink (Beneath #2)
I’ve always known she was too good for me, but that never stopped me from wanting her.
And then I finally had her for one night.
A night I don’t remember.
I figured I’d blown my shot.
But now she’s walked back into my life, and this time, I have the upper hand. I want my second chance.
Will she be able to see the man beneath this ink?

Buy links:

http://amzn.to/1P4VcmZ

Beneath These Chains (Beneath #3)
I was raised on the streets, so I know things are rarely as simple as they appear—especially this rich girl showing up at my pawnshop demanding a job.
She’s the most tempting thing I’ve ever seen, and I’ll be damned if I can make her leave.
Shit just got complicated … but when it comes to her—I want complicated.
We’re both fighting our own demons, and our only chance at a future is to let go of the past.
But will we be strong enough to break free from beneath these chains?

Buy Links:
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beneath-these-chains-meghan-march/1122103246?ean=2940151507950

 
 

Tuesday 29 September 2015

Fugly by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff Virtual Tour ~ #giveaway #excerpt



http://amzn.to/1R9EOkt

FUGLY
by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE:  Contemporary Romance

~~~~~~~~~~~~~


BLURB:

My name is Lily Snow. I am twenty-five years old, and despite being born with an unattractive face, I have never doubted who I am: smart, driven, and beautiful on the inside.

Until I met Maxwell Cole.

He’s handsome, excessively wealthy, and the owner of Cole Cosmetics. It’s been my dream to work for this man for as long as I can remember. The good news is he wants to hire me. The bad news is he wants me for all the wrong reasons. Ugly reasons.

In exchange, he’s offered me my dreams on a silver platter. The job. The title. A beautiful future. But this man is as messed up and ugly as they come on the inside. I’m not sure anyone can help him, and he just might take my heart down with him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Excerpt Four:

“Be here tomorrow morning. Keri will show you your office,” he said flatly.

“You—you’re serious?”

He turned and frowned at me. “Don’t go backpedaling on me now, Miss Snow. Not after you’ve just shown me your pretty little teeth and sharp claws. We might make a CEO out of you yet.”

I shook my head no. “Not. Back. Pedaling.” Just wondering where the nearest exit was. Now I really felt like an idiot. I’d just proposed to my future boss that he have sex with me in exchange for my acceptance of his offer.

Wasn’t it usually the other way around?

And what was that other feeling? It was…shock or excitement or something connected to that little spot in my brain that controlled my sexual fantasies.

“Good,” he said. “Have your ass to my house Friday at eight p.m. sharp. And bring your running clothes.”

Today was Wednesday, so that meant I had two days to get psychiatric help. Wait. You’re not doing this. You can’t.

“You okay?” were the words he asked, but his tone and expression accused me of being a spineless coward.

I stared at him, trying to comprehend what was going through this man’s mind. Honestly, I was confused as hell. Possibly frightened, too. He, on the other hand, looked like he’d been given an injection of piss and vinegar. He also looked sort of…happy? Okay, maybe not happy, but excited or determined, like challenging me turned him the hell on. But that couldn’t be right.

“Why aren’t you sweating anymore?” I asked.

He blinked as if startled by himself. “It seems you’re already having a positive effect. Too bad it’s your ability to piss me the fuck off that’s doing the trick.”

Speechless, I turned for the door again and grabbed the handle. I needed to retreat. I was way over my head with this situation.

“Oh, and Miss Snow?”

“Yes?”

“Do me a favor, would you? Fire Craig on your way out. He’s the one waiting for me out there.”

I blinked. “Sorry?”

“It’s your first lesson in running a company: You’ll have to come down off that pedestal of yours and get your hands dirty.”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~


AUTHOR Bio and Links:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling Romance author, host of the radio talk show, Man Candy, on Radioslot.com.

When San Francisco native Mimi Jean went on an adventure as an exchange student to Mexico City, she never imagined the journey would lead to writing Romance. But one MBA, one sexy husband, and two rowdy kids later, Mimi would trade in corporate life for vampires, deities, and snarky humor.

She continues to hope that her books will inspire a leather pants comeback (for men) and that she might make you laugh when you need it most.

She also enjoys interacting with her fans (especially if they're batshit crazy). You can always find her chatting away on Facebook, Twitter, or saying many naughty words on her show MAN CANDY on Radioslot.com !

Find out more about Mimi and upcoming books at www.mimijean.net.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MimiJeanPamfiloff
Twitter - https://twitter.com/MimiJeanRomance
Tsu - https://www.tsu.co/mimijeanpamfiloff
Newsletter - http://bit.ly/1ULsBW8


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

The author will award 5 winners via Rafflecopter a signed copy of FUGLY + FUGLY Tote + Key Chain, Magnet, Bookmark, and Bumper Sticker










 

Wicked Restless by Ginger Scott ~ #TeaserTuesday @thegingerscott @wordsmithpublic #WickedRestless

http://amzn.to/1Li5Y9N

WICKED RESTLESS

Very Mature YA Contemporary Romance
Scheduled to release: October 20, 2015


Andrew Harper grew up in a house marked by tragedy. His older brother Owen did his best to shelter him, but you can only be protected from life’s pain for so long. Eventually, you end up just feeling numb…and isolated.

Loneliness was the one constant in Andrew’s life. Until one girl, met by chance in a high school hallway, changed everything. Emma Burke was a mystery and all that was beautiful in this world, the only air Andrew ever wanted to breathe. She took the lonely away, and filled it with hope and color, and Andrew would do anything to keep her safe, happy and whole.

But sometimes, what feels good and right is what ends up hurting us the most. And when Andrew and Emma are faced with an impossible decision, Andrew is tested to see just how far he’s willing to go for the girl who owns his heart.

Cuts are deep.

Scars are left behind.

And revenge beckons.

When Andrew finally gets his chance, in college, five years after his first love broke him completely, he finds out old feelings don’t really disappear just because you say you hate someone. The more he tries to avenge all that he believes he lost, the more he uncovers the real story of what happened years before.

Love is wicked. But a restless heart is never satisfied beating on its own. Can Andrew and Emma make it right before it's too late, or will the ties that bind them now destroy their only chance at a future?






Ginger Scott is an Amazon-bestselling author of eight young and new adult
romances, including Waiting on the Sidelines, Going Long, Blindness, How
We Deal With Gravity, This Is Falling, You and Everything After, Wild
Reckless and The Girl I Was Before.

A sucker for a good romance, Ginger’s other passion is sports, and she
often blends the two in her stories. (She’s also a sucker for a hot
quarterback, catcher, pitcher, point guard…the list goes on.) Ginger has
been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines and blogs for more than
15 years. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors,
scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns. For more on her and her work,
visit her website at http://www.littlemisswrite.com.

When she's not writing, the odds are high that she's somewhere near a
baseball diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce
Harper or cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona
Diamondbacks. Ginger lives in Arizona and is married to her college
sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork 'em, Devils).

Social Media Links:
Twitter: @TheGingerScott





Sunday 27 September 2015

Gus (Bright Side #2) By Kim Holden ~ #bookreview #LOVEDIT #epic #NA #romance

http://amzn.to/1KNorpp
Gus (Bright Side #2)

by

The journey that began in top-rated, best-selling Bright Side, continues ...

This is the story of Gus.
Losing himself.
Finding himself.
And healing along the way.

“ … but the honest-to-God truth is I don’t even know how to function anymore. Bright Side wasn’t only my best friend; she was like my other half ... the other half of my brain, the other half of my conscience, the other half of my sense of humor, the other half of my creativity, the other half of my heart. How do you go back to doing what you did before, when half of you is gone forever?” 





https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23389993-gus?ac=1




Source: Kindle
Genre: NA Contemporary Fiction
Part 2 of 2 


My Gus Review . . .


~ I don't even know how to function anymore.  Bright Side wasn't only my best friend; she was like my other half . . . the other half of my brain, the other half of my conscience, the other half of my sense of humor, the other half of my creativity, the other half of my heart.  How do you go back to doing what you did before, when half of you is gone forever? ~


  After Bright Side, I immediately started to read Gus which was a gift and a curse.  It was a curse because my heart hurt so much after Bright Side, that I should have given it a bit of rest before diving back in.  However, it's also a gift, because Gus helps to ease the heart in the end. 

After the loss of Bright Side, Gus is devastated and is floundering through life.  With no reason to really live and carry forward.   He's going through the motions for the band, but not really experiencing anything.

"Gustov, you're stalling. You're wasting time.  You're not living.  You're not doing what you love."

God! Poor Gus, my heart broke along with him while he tried to find his bearings again.



"Have you ever been in love?" He hasn't blinked.  "Once."
"How long did last?"  Looking back up to the sky he answers.  "Twenty-one years . . . and three days."

Dude, my heart hurts for Gus.



"Listen to me, boy.  You only get one chance at this circus called life. Don't sit in the crowd watchin' it happen.  You jump right in and be the ringleader.  That's where you find your fire. "
"What if your fire died with someone else?"
She shakes her head.  "Nope.  Here's the thing about life, boy.  We meet a lot of people along this journey.  Some of them are sonsabitches and some are special.  When you find the special ones you don't take a moment for granted, because you never know when your time with them is gonna be up. . . .
As Gus is trying to pick up the pieces of his life again, he comes across Scout.  Whom at first annoys him, but then turns into the one person who gets under his skin forcing him to move forward.

That's what makes him so special.  It's not his talent or his looks.  It's how much he feels.

Scout has her own issues, but between the two of them they help each other and bring out the best in one another.

"I mean, I think people find each other when they're ready for them.  When they need each other the most.  And it's in that time of need that the strongest relationships are formed."

It's a tough transition, loving one person all your life and to never have them again, while opening up to someone new.  Someone who can be a future.  It's scary for them but so worth the journey. 
She knows how much I loved Bright Side, but she also knows that doesn't take away from the love I feel for her.  My heart's big enough for both of them.  Bright side helped make me the man I am, and Scout helped me remember who that man was, helping me become my own person.  I love her so much.

Gus, had a long way to go to find himself again, but what a beautiful journey it was.  It was heartbreaking, beautiful and perfect.  Bright Side and Gus are books that you need to experience on your own to truly understand the emotions that come with these books.

I've come to the full realization that my happiness, my life, falls squarely on my shoulders.  No one's gonna do it for me.  I'm the one who makes it or breaks it.
It's a choice.




I absolutely LOVE the way Kim Holden writes and how she portrays emotions in first Bright Side and then continued with Gus.  Even thought my heart hurt for weeks after these two books I was happy to see it come a bit full circle in this epic journey.

Bright Side and Gus are books that hold a special place in your heart and will be read over and over and over again.  I LOVED them.  They are by far one of my favorite books.  I wear my Bright side & Gus shirts with pride to help share the state of mind the awesomeness that are these books. 

I so hope there is more from the series.  If not I would be content as it was beautiful and perfect and could be left as is, but I would love to see some more HEAs from Pax and from Keller,  as well as the rest of the band.

5 my heart still hurts thumbs up!

thumbs upthumbs upthumbs upthumbs upthumbs up

Lauren