My Review of Ryan's Hand by Leila Meacham

Ryan's Hand by Leila Meacham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was completely blown away by this book. It is powerful and moving on so many levels. It is the first book by Leila that I have read and I look forward to reading more by her in the future. Cara Martin came from a prominent New England family and had lots of stubborn pride. She meets Ryan Langston on a particularly bad day and they begin a wonderful friendship shortly after. He is all she has and cherishes their friendship so much. She is devastated when she finds out that he is dying and blown away when she is told what he left her in his will. She can’t believe he left her his share of the family ranch and what’s more that he wants her to go live there for a year. But, it was his dying wish so she will do it. Jeth Langston isn’t like his brother and doesn’t trust Cara at all. After all she convinced his brother to leave her his half of the ranch and didn’t let him come home to die. Cara knows not to expect a warm welcome but she wasn’t prepared for Jeth in any way. Cara finds herself falling for the untamed land and its people including Jeth. She must protect herself and her promise to Ryan. Will Jeth change his opinion about Cara and see her for who she truly is? At times I hated Jeth and felt so much for Cara. Understanding that Jeth couldn’t assume that Cara hadn’t used her feminine wiles to get Ryan to give her the land I still hated the way he treated Cara sometimes. Sometimes he would treat her so kindly but then just as quick she was like something stuck to the bottom of his shoe. Cara found herself loving the ranch and dreading the time she would have to leave. Fear not this book does have a happy ending. I didn’t want to put this book down once I started it. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

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Crave (Splendor #2) Release Blitz +Giveaway

Book Title: Crave (Splendor #2)  

Author: Janet Nissenson  

Genre: Contemporary Romance  

Release Date: August 30, 2016 

Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

The next chapter in one of the most romantic love stories ever told Luxury hotel heir Ian Gregson longed for his beloved Tessa from afar for more than two years, forced to keep his attraction towards her well hidden. But now that his feelings no longer have to remain a secret, he is free to indulge his constant craving for the woman of his dreams. Shy, innocent Tessa Lockwood is dazzled by her handsome, sophisticated lover, and falls deeper and deeper under his spell with each passing day. But their newfound relationship will be tested by Tessa’s lifelong insecurities, and her fears of succumbing to the throes of depression that have always tormented her. It will fall to Ian to convince her that their love is strong enough to overcome any obstacles that life might place in their way. And that now that he’s finally been able to make her his own, nothing and no one will ever keep them apart again. 

 

  

  

 

 

Janet is a lifelong resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, and currently resides on the northern California coast with her husband Steve and Golden Retriever Max. She worked for more than two decades in the financial services industry before turning her focus to producing running events. She is a former long-distance runner, current avid yoga practitioner, is addicted to Pinterest, likes to travel and read. She has been writing for more than three decades, with her first book in the Inevitable Series - Serendipity - published in December 2013. 

 

 

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Fate Forgotten (Fated Immortals #2) Release Blitz +Giveaway

 

FATE FORGOTTEN

by J.L. Sheppard
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Official Genre: Paranormal Romance

Valerie Matlock’s life revolves around her coven. Young and naïve, she knows little about the immortal war brewing until the night her coven is attacked. In the blink of an eye, the family she loves is gone. Devastated, she lays eyes on the angry demon warrior, Jacob Rhodes. A Guardian, he means her no harm, but she fears him as deeply as she craves him. She has to stay away. She just doesn’t know if she can.

The pain of Jacob’s losses have hardened him. He lives for revenge and uses anger like a shield, keeping everyone at arm’s length. He can’t risk losing more. Tragedy strikes, again, and he’s left caring for his four-year-old niece, Annie. The bright girl deserves better than him. But he can’t give her up, not ever. When he sets his eyes on his fated mate, the powerful witch, Valerie, his life gets twice as complicated. Will she accept him, a demon she fears and his adopted child?

A beautiful stranger sleeping on his couch.

His heart pounded faster. His chest heaved. Rubbing his sweaty palms against his jeans, a growl escaped his lips. A sense of possessiveness overwhelmed him.

Taking a step closer, he pulled in a breath. Shivers ran through his body. Holding back a groan, his jaw clenched.

Breathtaking.

Fascinating.

Marvelous.

And it was no longer a mystery. The haunting scent was hers.

And it wasn’t just her scent, it was her. Striking, everything about her drew him in. His body pulsed, desire to hold her, comfort her, protect her welled inside him. Powerful, confounding, and indescribable. Even now, staring at her he was drawn inexplicably. He couldn’t put it into words, but he couldn’t ignore it. He knew what it was and why he couldn’t control it.

She was his fated mate, the woman granted to him above all others, his other half. There was no question.

He couldn’t help what he did next. Ever so slowly, he drew closer. A mere few feet away, he held his hand over her face, craving with every fiber in his being to feel the softness of her skin against his. 

Before he could, her eyes snapped open. Painful jolts shot through him. The pain so unbearable it brought him, a demon, to his knees. The current gone a moment later, but the pain hadn’t faded. Every joint, every muscle ached.

And still, all he could think: her eyes were the perfect shade—honey.

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J.L. Sheppard was born and raised in Miami, Florida where she still lives with her husband and son.

As a child, her greatest aspiration was to become a writer. She read often, kept a journal and wrote countless poems. She attended Florida International University and graduated in 2008 with a Bachelors in Communications. During her senior year, she interned at NBC Miami, WTVJ. Following the internship, she was hired and worked in the News Department for three years.

It wasn’t until 2011 that she set her heart and mind into writing her first completed novel, Demon King’s Desire, which was published in January of 2013.

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When Stars Collide (Light in the Dark #2) Release Blitz +Giveaway +Review

Title: When Stars Collide

Series: Light in the Dark #2 

Author: Micalea Smeltzer

Genre: New Adult

 Release Date: August 30, 2016

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Blurb

We were like two stars orbiting each other—dancing around the possibility that one day we might collide. When we finally did, we opened up a black hole, obliterating everything around us. No one would be the same.

Least of all, us.

Waking up in Vegas married to the guy of your dreams sounds like a good thing, right? Not when you’re Thea Montgomery and said guy is your brother’s best friend.

Thea and Xander have always avoided the connection between them because her brother would never approve. Now, they’re married— the strongest bond you can have as a couple—and they’re not even a real couple…unless they want to be.

Thea wants an annulment immediately, but Xander’s waited too long to see her become his and he won’t let her go easily.

If she wants a divorce, fine, but he wants the summer to convince her that he’s the one. If at the end of the summer she still wants to end their marriage he’ll sign the papers, but until then…

All is not fair in love and war.

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Excerpt

Unedited and subject to change.

Holy mother of all hangovers.

I’d succumbed to the lure of Vegas and gotten completely wasted. Granted, that’s what everyone did in Las Vegas but I like to think I usually have more sense than the social norm.

I rub my eyes and blink them open. The hotel room comes into formation around me. The walls are a warm golden color and the flat screen on the wall plays some home improvement show. I can see the bathroom from the bed, the tiled walls and large soaking tub.

I roll over onto my side, hoping I can sleep off the hangover, and reel back.

“Oh my God,” I cry, flailing in bed.

My legs kick the sleeping guy beside me.

Not just any sleeping guy.

Oh no.

Xander Kincaid, my brother’s best friend, lays in the bed beside me.

His dark hair tumbles over his forehead and his cheeks are covered with several days worth of scruff. His chest is bare and…holy shit. He’s naked.

I look down.

Oh God, I’m naked too.

“What’s wrong?” He asks, reaching his left hand out to pull me closer to him. That’s when I see it.

“Is that a wedding band?” I scream shrilly.

His eyes narrow. “You don’t fucking remember?”

I shake my head and look at my own hand. A thin silver band rests on my finger. “What did we do?”

He sits up in bed and I try to ignore how adorably rumpled he looks with his hair sticking up.

Everything begins flooding back to me in quick bursts.

Drinks.

Kissing.

Laughter.

Confessions of love and desire.

A wedding chapel.

Vows.

Rings.

A contract. 

“We’re married,” I whisper. “Holy shit.” It’s all I’ve ever wanted—to be with Xander, but not like this. Never like this. “My brother is going to kill us.”

Also Available

Book One in the series. Cade and Rae’s story.

Can be read as a standalone.

Currently FREE everywhere. 

What I remember the most about that day was that it was completely ordinary. Then with one stupid decision everything fell apart and nothing was ever the same.

Rae Wilder wants nothing but a do over—but life doesn’t work that way. She’s stuck living out the consequences of her actions. At times the burden feels unbearable.

College is supposed to be her second chance.

New place.

New people.

New life.

No one to know what she did.

Despite that, she has still vowed to avoid everyone and everything at all costs.

Unfortunately for her, an accidental run-in with the campus heartthrob, Cade Montgomery, derails that plan.

He’s determined to thaw the ice around her heart and expose the girl she used to be. He wants to show her that life is worth living for and that she really is a Rae of Sunshine.

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My Review

This is the second book in this series however it can be read as a standalone.  I haven’t read the first book but after reading this one it is on my TBR list now.  I wanted to read this book after reading the synopsis and I wasn’t disappointed.  I love Xander.  He is funny, romantic, and protective.  Thea is smart, spunky, and wonderful.  Thea and Xander have been attracted to each other basically their whole life.  However neither one of them have done anything about it.  Thea’s Brother Cade and warned Xander many times to stay away from his little sister.  The three of them go to Vegas for a week for some conferences and they decide to stay the weekend for some fun.  The night before they leave Thea and Xander stay out later than Cade and the next morning Thea wakes up to find out that they got married.  Sure they drank the night before but not that much.  Thea wants a divorce and Xander doesn’t understand why.  He has waited a long time for her to be his and he isn’t going to let her go easily.  He comes up with a compromise.  She gives him the summer to convince her to stay married and if at the end of the summer she still wants a divorce he will give it to her.  Will things work out or will Xander be forced to let the only girl he has ever loved go?  Xander isn’t going to play fair.  He knows Thea likes him just as much she is just scared.  Sure they are young and not everyone may understand but why should they let any of those things influence their decisions.  Theo can’t believe it she is married to Xander.  She has always dreamed of marrying him but not this way.  What will her brother think, what about their parents?  She also worries about how young they are.  All the characters in this book were great and I can’t wait to read more about them.  I love the ending.  This book definitely had some surprise as well as twists and turns.  This is also the first book I have read by Micalea Smeltzer.  I look forward to reading more books by her in the future.

Author Bio

Micalea Smeltzer is a bestselling twenty-something author. She started scribbling stories before she even knew her alphabet. She currently resides in Virginia with her doggie side-kick Ollie.

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Choosing Happy (Madison Square Book 2) Cover Reveal +Giveaway

 

Book Title: Choosing Happy (Madison Square Series)  

Author: Samatha Harris  

Genre: Contemporary Romance  

Release Date: September 20, 2016  

Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

Madison Buchanan’s life has imploded… Her husband left her for his nineteen-year-old intern, leaving her alone and faced with starting over in her forties. With the help of her feisty best friend, Madison reinvents herself, armed with a new look and open to new possibilities. Sean Taylor is gorgeous, fun, and young—very young… He hasn’t had the best of luck. Sean’s track record with women is less than stellar, but when he walks into The Den one day, he just can’t help but be captivated by a dark haired beauty with the sad eyes and killer legs. She’s a little older, but he doesn’t discriminate. More than anything, he wants to be the one to make her smile. Sean personifies the only thing that has eluded Madison all of her life—joy… It was meant to be a fling, something fun, with no strings and zero drama, but Sean wants something more, and Madison is just not ready. She’s lived by the rules her family, her friends, even her boss have laid out for her, but her new life is not what she expected. Being with Sean opens feelings she never thought she’d experience. The the demands of her family and her job throw her boring, simple life into chaos, and Sean is no exception… Madison is left with a choice. Give in to the expectations of the world around her—or choose to follow her heart and be happy. But choosing happy is so much harder than it seems.

 

 

I had talked myself into and out of going at least fifty times by the time Margot sauntered into my office for lunch. As per usual, she took one look at me and knew something was wrong. “Now what?” she asked. Margot dropped her bag on the table in front of me, a hand on her hip and a no nonsense look on her face. “I said yes, and now I am freaking out!” “You said yes to what?” she asked. “To Sean. I said yes to a date with Sean.” She took a deep breath then turned quickly and sauntered her way over to the door. “Jeremy, get in here,” she called and glanced back at me as I slumped over the table. “She’s gonna need both of us for this one.” I told them everything, starting with my mother’s insanity and ending with the phone call to Sean. By the time I finished, I was exhausted. They both just sat across from me, wide eyed. After taking in the whole story, they both sat up and shouted, “It’s about damn time,” in unison. They turned and looked at each other with a smirk then faced me again. “You have to go,” Margot said like it was obvious. “I know,” I sighed. “It’s just…I haven’t been out with anyone other than Michael since college, and I pretty sure my skills with a crimper will not help me prepare for this date.” “What’s a crimper?” Jeremy said, scrunching his nose in distaste. “Just kill me now,” I said dropping my head in my hands. “Ignore him,” Margot said, waving a dismissive hand at Jeremy. She leaned toward me, her hands clasped together with her elbows propped up on her knees. “You’re thinking too much, as usual. This is not the start of a relationship. You don’t want a relationship right now, and neither does he.” “I don’t?” Jeremy laughed. “God no! You fuck the rebound. You don’t date him.” I raised my eyebrows. I wasn’t used to Jeremy being so colorful around me. I’m still his boss. “Exactly,” Margot agreed. “Tonight’s about fun, that’s it. Normal dating rules do not apply. You don’t have to impress him. The pressure’s off. You already know he likes you. He’s made that much pretty clear. Now all that’s left to do is make your intentions clear.” “My intentions?” “Yes,” Jeremy said, nodding his head in agreement. “Honesty is crucial when it comes to a casual relationship. If you don’t let him know up front that you’re only interested in sex, then he’ll get all heartbroken and clingy when it ends. Make it clear, just sex.” “How do I know that’s what he wants?” I asked. They looked at each other and smiled. “He’s male and under thirty. He will be fine with this arrangement, trust me,” Jeremy said.

 

 

 

Samatha “Sam” Harris lives near Baltimore, Maryland with her husband David and daughter Ava. Born in Florida, she migrated north which most people agree was a little backwards. She has been an artist all of her life, a Tattoo Artist for more than ten years, and a storyteller since she was a kid. Sam has a slightly unhealthy love for Frank Sinatra, classic movies, and Jazz and Blues music, but her first love will always be reading. From Romance, to Thrillers, to Historical Fiction and everything in between, she loves to become a part of the story. As a writer she tells the stories that she would want to read. 

 

 

 

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