Giveaway & Blog Tour: "Hollywood Ever After" By: Sasha Summers

Note to the readers - I am so incredibly sorry! This post was supposed to be up on November 12th and I sadly didn't get it done. Family issues and all that jazz, but please don't let that take away the awesomeness of this adorably funny and heartfelt romance by Sasha Summers.

I really enjoyed Hollywood Ever After. When I chose the best excerpt to share with everyone, I picked one of my favorite scenes. With this romance, beyond having some pretty funny scenes, I found myself falling in love with the characters. Claire is so realistic, she's unsure of herself but totally comes into her own during the novel. And Josh, whew. LOVE HIM! 

Stop by and leave a comment for a chance to win awesome prizes :) 

Hollywood Ever After

By: Sasha Summers

Synopsis

She wasn’t meant for movie stars, Hollywood, or happy endings. And then she met him.

Happy Endings are for fairy tales. Or the movies. Not for real life. At least, not Claire’s life. Even though she’s starting over, she knows better than to want too much this time. But when she falls, literally, into the strong arms of Hollywood’s ‘it’ boy Josh Wiley, Claire’s in for some surprises. Her plans for rest and relaxation are forgotten as one incredible night with Josh becomes two… And her heart begins to want him as much as her body. Will two kids, one bastard ex-husband, and Josh’s juggernaut career mean the end of their affair? Or can Claire find her happy ending after all?

About the Author

Sasha Summers is part gypsy. Her passions have always been storytelling, history, romance, and travel. She writes both lyrical romantic fantasy and contemporary romance. Her first play was written for her Girl Scout troupe. She's been writing ever since. She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to run the dishwasher or wash socks when she's doing so. Luckily, her four brilliant children and hero-inspiring hubby are super understanding and supportive.

Author Links

Website/Blog: www.sashasummers.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/sashawrites

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sasha-Summers/213036208773108

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5759214.Sasha_Summers

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sashasummers/

InkSpell Publishing Link:

http://www.inkspellpublishing.com/store.html

Amazon Links: Paperback / Kindle

Barnes & Noble: Paperback / NOOK 

All Romance eBooks - Purchase Link

Kobo - Purchase Link

Excerpt

Two very large, strong hands caught me and I looked up into the most beautiful face I’d seen since this morning. 

“Josh? Hi, Josh!” I squealed, bouncing in his arms as he smiled down at me. I kept bouncing, my racing heart thumping faster than the music as his hands slid around my back. “I didn’t know you were here.” I was smiling like an idiot. 

“You’re a rather focused dancer.” 

“I am! Never do it…dance, I mean. But it’s fun!” The song ended and I frowned. 

He laughed. “Should I make them play the song again? I will if it will make that pathetic little frown disappear.” 

Another song began. It was slower, but it still had a good beat. “No, I think this will work and I won’t sing–even better.” 

“I liked your singing.” He was looking at me…the way he always looked at me. 

I felt light-headed and dizzy as I stared up at him, wobbling on unsteady feet. I knew I was drunk, but now there was more than just alcohol heating me up from the inside. 

His hands were firm, guiding me closer to him. I let one hand rest on his chest as we swayed together. Between the buzzing euphoria from my many drinks and the raging hunger burning in his eyes, my every nerve was tingling. I was more than a little pleased with life at the moment. 

I quivered under his touch. His fingers splayed across my lower back, fitting us closer together. We danced with the music, our movements in sync with one another. 

Under the flashing colored lights, my hand looked red and then green against the white of his shirt. I felt the heat of his skin, the solid strength of his muscles through the fabric of his shirt. His scent, his touch, his…presence stirred images of our night together, sharp in my otherwise foggy mind. My skin grew more sensitive and my senses flooded with him. 

I was aching for him, all of him. Now. My breath grew short as I remembered how he felt buried deep inside me. 

The rational side of my brain knew I was losing control, but there was too much alcohol in my system. I had no fear or inhibition. And I liked the fire raging inside of me. 

My eyes slid to his mouth and I felt my tongue wet my lips. 

His breath hitched and he closed his eyes. When he looked at me again, there was little doubt he knew exactly what I was feeling. 

The song ended and I felt myself being guided from the floor. 

“Taking her home?” Shannon had apparently returned to the table. She and Arthur regarded us with interest. 

There were three other people at the table now. I didn’t know them. But I didn’t really care at the moment. I wanted to kiss the pulse wildly beating in Josh’s throat. I was vaguely aware that now might not be the right time for that. I glanced at his neck. It looked very kissable. 

“Unless you have other plans?” Josh looked from Shannon to me. 

I was looking at him as if I were about to eat him. It wasn’t intentional; that was really what I wanted to do at the moment…because he was so damn gorgeous…

He looked back at Shannon, his jaw muscle noticeably rigid. 

“I recommend you get her home. And make her drink some water at some point, please,” Shannon added. “Here.” She handed Josh some keys and waved at me with a smile. 

Then we were heading toward the door. 

“Wait.” I stopped. We weren’t moving, but everything seemed to be moving around me. “You’re here with friends?” 

His hands clasped my shoulders, steadying me. He smiled down at me. “Yes.” 

“You shouldn’t leave them….I don’t want to mono…monopolize you.” My words trailed off as my eyes met his. 

He wanted me. I could see it. His nostrils flared just a bit. His jaw clenched and unclenched. I smiled slowly. I liked that I could make him react this way. 

I asked, “Don’t you want to stay?” Say no. 

If he wanted to stay, I might be able to stop staring at him or thinking about how perfectly we fit together. It wasn’t completely out of the question, not yet. My eyes fell to his lips and my smile grew. 

“No.” He leaned closer, whispering in my ear, “Claire, we have to leave now if you’re going to look at me like that.” His face reflected the hunger I felt. 

My voice was husky as I whispered, “I’ll be good.” Not a chance. 

He paused, his eyebrow rose in question. “You want to stay?” 

“Nope.” My eyes fell to his mouth again. 

Josh’s smile was pinched as he led me to the exit.

Giveaway

Leave a comment with your e-mail and be entered to win!

Sasha will be awarding two $10.00 Amazon gift cards and One Romantic Movie Gift Basket (Movies that inspired Hollywood Ever After – Notting Hill, The Holiday, Love Actually, and My Big Fat Greek Wedding (US/Canada only)) to three randomly drawn commenters during the tour.

Check out the other stops on the tour

November 5:  Me and Reading

November 6:  Enchantress of Books

November 7:  It's Raining Books

November 8:  From Me to You ... Video, Photography, & Book Reviews

November 9:  SnifferWalk

November 12:  The Brunette Librarian

November 13:  Every Day Is An Adventure

November 13: Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess

November 14:  My Reading Addiction

November 15:  Reviews by Molly
November 16:  Musings From An Addicted Reader

"Down to You" By: M. Leighton Review

"Down to You"

By: M. Leighton

Synopsis from Goodreads

Olivia Townsend is nothing special. She’s just a girl working her way through college so she can return home to help her father run his business. She’s determined not to be the second woman in his life to abandon him, even if it means putting her own life on hold. To Olivia, it’s clear what she must do. Plain and simple. Black and white.

But clear becomes complicated when she meets Cash and Nash Davenport. They’re brothers. Twins.

Cash is everything she’s always wanted in a guy. He’s a dangerous, sexy bad boy who wants her in his bed at any cost. He turns her insides to mush and, with just one kiss, makes her forget why he’s no good for her.

Nash is everything she’s ever needed in a guy. He’s successful, responsible and intensely passionate. But he’s taken. Very taken, by none other than Marissa, Liv’s rich, beautiful cousin. That doesn't stop Olivia from melting every time he looks at her, though. With just one touch, he makes her forget why they can never be together.

Black and white turns to shades of gray when Olivia discovers the boys are hiding something, something that should make her run as far and as fast as she can. But it’s too late to run. Olivia’s already involved. And in love. With both of them.

My Thoughts

      Down to You is a page turner, that’s for sure, but a few days after reading it I’m still a little lost on if I liked it or if I am going to view it as a prequel. Clearly sequels are coming afterward and while I enjoy that most of the time, with this title it just didn’t work for me. The Cash vs. Nash debate was irritating and I think it took away from the enjoyment of the novel. It sounds complicated I know, but really, the novel was fairly complicated itself.
      Olivia is our heroine. She is a fairly simple girl, somewhat poor, and is currently living with her crazy mean cousin, Marissa. When she finds herself attracted to her cousin’s boyfriend Nash, who by the way is a up and coming lawyer, she’s embarrassed and ashamed. She finds herself a job with Nash’s brother, Cash, who happens to own a bar. Sound confusing? Cause it totally is!
     Cash and Nash are two twins and Olivia digs them both. Cash is the badboy owner of a bar who has a devil may care attitude and a sexy smile who looks really good on a motorcycle. Nash is the lawyer who is steady, thoughtful, and super responsible. Who should Olivia pick? What will happen if she can’t?
     To be honest, I really wanted to love this one but it just never worked for me. There is a twist near the end if you can’t figure it out already which really irritated me. It seemed contrived and irrelevant to the story. When it was revealed I had kind of seen it coming but had hoped it wouldn’t be that silly. Quite frankly, Olivia seemed pretty naive too to have believed it in the first place. Oye.
     Down to You has some naughty fun that’s for sure, but the characters failures and its unfinished ending kind of ruined it for me. Olivia had lots of potential but Cash and Nash annoyed me beyond belief. The ending is left wide open for a sequel which may have a bit of potential, just not for me.

Book Details

Publisher: Smashwords

# of Pages: 215

Date of Publication: September 21, 2012

ISBN: 9781301716722

Find out a bit more about M. Leighton!

Goodreads

Twitter

Blogging

Blog Tour & Giveaway - "Redemption for a Rogue" By: Jennifer Conner

Redemption for a Rogue

By: Jennifer Conner

Synopsis

Told by everyone, including his father, he is slow-witted, Lord John Mitchell is willing to do almost anything to avoid helping run the family estate or care for his orphaned nephew. His lifelong battle learning to read and write has convinced him his father is right. 

After the death of her husband in the Crimean War, Vivienne Ravenhill needs financial stability for her son and herself. 

When Lord John’s father suddenly dies, he is thrown into taking on the estate and the family’s mill. Are John’s learning disabilities something he can overcome in order to handle this responsibility? 

About the Author

Jennifer Conner is a best-selling Northwest author who has twenty short stories and one full length book on ebook and in print. She writes in Contemporary Romance, Paranormal Romance, Historical Romance, and Erotica.

Christmas Chaos was in the Kindle sales top 50 ebooks and #2 in the Romance category.

Her novel Shot in the Dark was a finalist in the Emerald City Opener, Cleveland, and Toronto RWA contests.

Jennifer is an Associate Publisher for the indie e-book publisher, Books to Go Now who resides in the Seattle area. They pride themselves in helping new authors get their foot in the door with well-edited manuscripts, professional covers, and platforms uploads.

She live in a hundred year old house that she grew up in. Her semi-small town holds an interesting mix of resident hillbillies, yuppies and Navy Seals. And of course Seattle, only a few miles away, is the birthplace of Starbucks so coffee is always on the check list. She blows glass beads with a blow torch, (which relieves a lot of stress and people don't bother you) and is a huge fan of my local soccer teams, the Seattle Sounders, and Kitsap Pumas. Boys in shorts! :)

Author Links

www.jenniferconnerbooks.com

http://jenniferconnerwriter.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.conner2

http://www.bookstogonow.com/sweetjenniferconner.html

http://www.bookstogonow.com/historicalromancejenniferconner.html

http://pinterest.com/jennilynnjac/

Excerpt

John dismissed Collins and then lifted the tray’s lid to inhale the marvelous full-bodied aromas. He glanced to Vivienne. Hunched over the desk, she held a quill in hand. An auburn curl fell over her forehead and a delightful frown creased her beautiful brow. A feeling of complete and total well being washed over him.

Is this what life should be? Could be? Happy. Content. Had he ever felt this before? His heart twisted. After so many years of wanting, could these three people give him everything he’d wished for? 

He slid the lid back over the meat and announced, “Let’s eat dinner before it grows cold.” 

Vivienne looked up for a second before going back to the paper in front of her. 

She shook her head. “There is still which needs to be done. You and the boys eat. I will take a bite later.” 

John moved to her, drew the quill from her hand, and placed it on the desk. He placed a thumb under her chin and then kissed her.

“The boys,” Vivienne said. Her cheeks blushed pink from his outward show of affection.

He tipped his head their direction. “They are playing. Nothing gets between boys and wooden soldiers. Someday these games will be replaced with a distraction of a beautiful woman.”

My Thoughts

     Wow! What Jennifer Conner can do with a couple of dozen pages is something so spectacular that other authors should sit up and take notice. Complete character development, a lovely romance, and a fast pace come together to just create a fun, nice story.   John and Vivienne are a perfect couple and work on their collective problems together, which was refreshing to see. Conner's use of dyslexia as a plot point was well thought out and meshed with the time period perfectly. Uncommon use in a historical for sure, but I loved how things worked out in such a realistic fashion. Sweet and fun, I'd definitely recommend this one to fans of historical romance. I'm off to read the rest of the series!

Book Details

Publisher: Books to Go Now

# of Pages: 35

Date of Publication: September 14, 2012

ISBN: B009B59SJE

Giveaway

Jennifer will be awarding a book locket 

to a randomly drawn commenter 

(US/Canada Only) during the tour. 

Just leave a comment

 with your e-mail!

Follow the tour and comment; 

the more you comment, 

the better your chances of winning!

Check out the other tour stops

November 5:  Reviews by Molly
November 6: The Book Connoisseur
November 7:  Words of Wisdom from The Scarf Princess
November 8:  Black Velvet Seductions Blog
November 8:  The Muse 
November 9:   The Brunette Librarian

Blog Tour: "Just Remember to Breathe" By: Charles Sheehan-Miles

Just Remember to Breathe

By: Charles Sheehan-Miles

Synopsis from Goodreads

Alex Thompson’s life is following the script. A pre-law student at Columbia University, she’s focused on her grades, her life and her future. The last thing she needs is to reconnect with the boy who broke her heart.

Dylan Paris comes home from Afghanistan severely injured and knows that the one thing he cannot do is drag Alex into the mess he’s made of his life.

When Dylan and Alex are assigned to the same work study program and are forced to work side by side, they have to make new ground rules to keep from killing each other.

Only problem is, they keep breaking the rules.

The first rule is to never, ever talk about how they fell in love.

About the Author

Charles Sheehan-Miles is the author of several novels including Prayer at Rumayla: A Novel of the Gulf War, Republic: A Novel of America's Future and college romance Just Remember to Breathe

Charles has been a soldier, nonprofit executive, short order cook, IT manager and run a restaurant. He doesn't believe in specialization. He is a former President and co-founder of the National Gulf War Resource Center and has served on the board of the Education for Peace in Iraq Center. Prior to becoming executive director of Veterans for Common Sense in August 2004, he was director of the Nuclear Policy Research Institute in Washington, DC. He currently works as a communications and outreach specialist for a law firm representing disabled veterans. Charles lives in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife Veronica and their two children.

My Thoughts
     Above all else, I think this novel is extremely well timed for the world we live in. Wonderfully written with gorgeous characters, Miles does a fantastic job with character development and just plain writing a darn good story. 
     Just Remember to Breathe tells the story of Dylan, a disturbed war veteran, and Alex. Dylan and Alex have had an on again off again long distance relationship for quite some time. Torn apart by distance and circumstance when Dylan and Alex ultimately find their ways back to one another, they find it hard to truly connect. As many a reviewer has said, they question whether they can give their feelings for one another a chance or whether they should just cut all ties.

"What's wrong, Dylan?" I asked. 

"Nothing. Nothing at all. It's just that...if you had asked me, three years ago, what my single, secret, biggest dream was...well...this is it. You and me, Alex. You've managed to make it all come true."

     Deliciously written, you are instantly absorbed into Dylan and Alex's world. Thinking I would be a bit put off by the first person writing style but as I was getting immersed in the story, I completely forgot about the point of view. The characters are flawed, there is no doubt, but so realistic I felt as if I knew them. The romance is just wonderful and can make you shiver the lines are that good. Sad, deeply emotional, yet life assuring and frankly beautiful at different points, Just Remember to Breathe is simply wonderful.

Book Details

Publisher: Cincinnatus Press

Date of Publication: November 12, 2012

ISBN: 978-0988273603

Find out more  about Charles Sheehan-Miles

Author Website

Goodreads

Twitter

Giveaway & Tour: "Sweet Hell on Fire" By: Sara Lunsford

Sweet Hell on Fire

By: Sara Lunsford

Synopsis from Goodreads

As a corrections officer at an all-male maximum security prison, Sara Lunsford worked with the worst of the worst, from serial killers to white supremacists. She knew that at the end of every day, she had to try and shed the memories of the horrors she had witnessed in order to live a happy existence. But the darkness invaded every part of her life. And dealing with a stressful divorce and a mother sucumbing to cancer led her to a complete immersion in her work and eventually the bottom of a liquor bottle. Sweet Hell on Fire takes the reader on a journey with the author, from hitting rock bottom to becoming a woman who understands the meaning of sacrifice, the joy of redemption and the quiet haven to be found in hope.

Imagine if every day—after you woke up, got dressed, and ate breakfast—you had to manage 2,000 of the country’s worst criminals? Could you do it? And, if you could, what would it do to you?

For over a year, Sara Lunsford was corrections officer in an all-male, maximum security prison. Most officers try to forget what they’ve seen behind the prison walls – so we never hear their stories. But Sara’s memoir, Sweet Hell on Fire: A Memoir of the Prison I Worked in and the Prison I Lived In, takes us inside the gate, with an uncensored look at the transformative effects of a year on The Job.

About the Author

Saranna De Wylde has always been fascinated by things better left in the dark. She wrote her first story after watching The Exorcist at a slumber party. Since then, she’s published horror, romance and narrative nonfiction. Like all writers, Saranna has held a variety of jobs, from operations supervisor for an airline, to an assistant for a call girl, to a corrections officer. But like Hemingway said, “Once writing has become your major vice and greatest pleasure, only death can stop it.” So she traded in her cuffs for a full-time keyboard. She loves to hear from her readers.

My Thoughts

     I was instantly intrigued with Sweet Hell on Fire from the moment I read the synopsis. This past Autumn I read Orange is the New Black and since it deals with the same environment, I knew Sara Lunsford's tale would intrigue me. Instead of dealing with the prison issue from the prisoner's point of view, we see it through the guards eyes. Interesting and fast paced, Sweet Hell on Fire is definitely one of those rare books that opens our minds to something a little different.
     Sara's story is something very few of us will ever experience. Being a corrections officer in a men's maximum security prison is dangerous for anyone, but even made more so by being a female. Sara not only worked there, she worked there for quite a while and through this book tells her stories. An intermingling of personal and professional stories, the book is broken up and tell brief glimpses of different events during her time as a guard. 
     I enjoyed this brief glimpse into the world of guards vs. inmates. I felt the story was intimate and the characters extremely realistic. This was the author's first foray into nonfiction (she normally writes romance under the name Saranna Dewylde) and at times I could see influences of a fiction writer, but all in all an extremely satisfying story. The struggles and the triumphs are so motivating, made even more so by Sara working in this male dominated field. I just wanted to do a fist bump every so often and yell "You go girl!"

Book Details

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Date of Publication: November 1, 2012

# of Pages: 288

ISBN: 978-1402270765

Where can you find Sara?

Author Website

Blog - Writers Gone Wild

Goodreads - Sara Lunsford

Goodreads - Saranna Dewylde

Facebook

Twitter

Giveaway

Sourcebooks has generously offered to giveaway a paperback copy of Sweet Hell on Fire to a lucky reader. Just leave a comment with your e-mail and you can win! 

Top Ten Tuesday

Welcome to my 

Top Ten Tuesday post! 

Thank you to

The Broke and the Bookish for sponsoring.

Today is a Top Ten Freebie, so I'm going to share my 10 favorite book covers. Its hard to pick just ten and I'm sure I am going to forget something fabulous, but here goes!

Young Adult Fiction

       

Romance

         

Children's Books

  

Checkout the rest of the Top Tuesday posts at The Broke and the Bookish

"Bared to You" By: Sylvia Day Review

Bared to You

By: Sylvia Day

Synopsis from Goodreads

Our journey began in fire... Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness-beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I'd never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily... Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other's most private wounds... and desires. The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart...

My Thoughts
    Most of my friends online and in person have already read this book by now and I felt like the odd kid out, so I decided to pick it up. Bared to You languished in my Nook library for a couple of months until I saw its sequel was getting ready to come out. Deciding to finally jump on the bandwagon, I am still a little in awe of everything that Sylvia Day has done with this seemingly simple story. Wowzas!
     Eva meets Gideon on her first day of work at a marketing firm. Eva has just come from California, fresh with a college degree and is excited to be living in New York City. Stumbling in the lobby, Eva finds herself facing an imposing figure and the owner of the building; a millionaire named Gideon Cross.

“He was the kind of guy that made a woman want to rip his shirt open and watch the buttons scatter along with her inhibitions.”

    Eva and Gideon almost immediately begin a severe codependency. Both with horrific pasts, they are drawn to one another and see the truths behind one anothers veneers. They both come from fairly affluent backgrounds and have many similar interests but their actual histories rear up and cause problems.

“Oh, Eva." He rubbed his cheek against my damp face. "I must've wished for you so hard and so often you had no choice but to come true.”

     Its a different sort of novel that I have a hard time saying if I loved it or not. Without a doubt the writing is intense and incredibly emotional, yet at times I felt it was perhaps a bit too emotional. But I’ve gotta hand it to the author, the writing becomes almost addictive and you have just got to find out what happens next.

“It's not the right word, Eva," he pressed on stubbornly, his lips at my ear. "That's why I haven't said it. It's not the right word for you and what I feel for you."

"Shut up. If you care about me at all, you'll just shut up and go away."

"I've been loved before--by Corinne, by other women...But what the hell do they know about me? What the hell are they in love with when they don't know how fucked up I am? If that's love, it's nothing compared to what I feel for you.”

   Bared to You is an intense read. Gideon and Eva are passionately attracted to one another and while at times it is romantic, other times their codependency made me angry. I felt the actions of the characters were often highly implausible, I was addicted to finding out what happened. So addicted in fact, that while I was still deciding whether I even liked Eva OR Gideon, I bought the sequel Reflected in You.

Book Details

Publisher: Penguin

Date of Publication: April 3, 2012

# of Pages: 360

ISBN: 9780985114602

Blog Tour, Giveaway & Author Interview- "Where the Heart Lies"

Where the Heart Lies

By: Michelle Garren Flye

About the Book

All widowed Alicia Galloway has left of her war-hero husband are the flag that draped his coffin and his final wishes: to move to his hometown, take over the family bookstore and enjoy a simple, quiet life with their two small children. When she arrives, her husband’s best friend makes that new life anything but simple. How can she be so drawn to Liam Addison? 

Liam only intended to help Alicia get settled. But one unexpected kiss awakens his long-held forbidden feelings. Soon, the town busybodies swoop in to warn Alicia away from him. Because no matter the man he’s become, he’ll never live down his reputation as town troublemaker and wolfish womanizer.

No one wants the war hero’s sweet widow and the supposedly former bad boy together. But the more everyone tries to keep them apart, the closer he and Alicia get. And the more determined Liam is to prove he’s a changed man. Will it be enough to convince Alicia to let a new love in her life?

About the Author

Michelle Garren Flye is a mother, writer and editor based in coastal North Carolina. She obtained her degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1992. Not liking the hours required of a journalist, she went on to obtain a Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1997. When her first child was born in 2000, she packed her diplomas away and began a new life as a stay-at-home mom, which fortunately afforded her the opportunity to pursue her writing on a semi-regular basis.

Michelle has served in various capacities for several online and print literary endeavors, including Dark Recesses, edifice WRECKED, Horror Library, Butcher Shop Quartet, and Tattered Souls.

Michelle is the author of three romance novels, Where the Heart Lies (Carina Press 2012), Winter Solstice (Lyrical Press 2011) and Secrets of the Lotus (Lyrical Press 2010). Michelle also self-published a fiction book titled Weeds and Flowers for the Kindle in December 2011.

Author Links:

Blog: http://michellegflye.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michelle-Garren-Flye/132688623422175

Twitter: @michellegflye

A Word from the Author

Where Do They Come From?

By Michelle Garren Flye 

I’m often asked if I get inspiration for my characters from real life, or even if I put myself into my books. The only answer I can give for this is “probably.” After all, we can only write about the things we know, right? The people I know or observe probably do sneak into my books, albeit subconsciously, and here’s how it happens. 

Two characters in my last release Where the Heart Lies particularly intrigue me because of the reaction they’ve received from the readers. The first is Penny, the local woman and high school friend of Alicia’s husband Ty. She befriends Alicia as soon as she moves into town, and, being a busybody, is full of advice, especially when it comes to Ty’s other old friend Liam. Penny has her own reasons for trying to keep Alicia and Liam apart, and they’re not all unselfish. In fact, she’s downright self-serving in a lot of ways. But I tried to show the other aspect of her—the loving, loyal side of her. Some of my readers haven’t been able to see past Penny’s instinct for self-preservation, though. 

The other is LuLu, Alicia’s other new friend. LuLu is divorced and out of the closet—in a town that’s not accepting of alternative lifestyles. To make it worse, she owns a sex store in the heart of the conservative downtown district. (I keep telling everyone, don’t go to Hillsborough and look for it—I made it up!) LuLu hasn’t had it easy. Her husband cheated on her, and her mother thinks the experience was so traumatic it “turned” her gay. But through it all, LuLu has remained a good mother to her daughter, a successful businesswoman, and she’s a good friend to Alicia. She’s a more peripheral character than Penny, as she doesn’t play a direct part in the storyline, but reader reaction to her has been much more favorable. 

So where did these ladies come from? Do I know them in real life? No. Sorry to disappoint, but I didn’t directly base these characters on anybody I actually know. What I imagine happens is that as I live my life, I make observations of the people who move through it with me. These observations get thrown in one big mound of scraps and when I create characters, I reach in and pull out what I need, stitching together what I need until my patchwork becomes a person. And that’s how my character is born. 

Do I know them? Yes. But I made them up.

My Thoughts

      A forbidden love story is always a favorite of mine. Two people that absolutely should not be together being drawn towards one another  and there isn't anything either one can do, pure genius. Dealing with love, loss, grief and military life, you are swept away into a world of Alicia and Liam. They each have their own issues and finding ways to deal with one another in this complex situation of life and death is quite the balancing act. Quite well written and enjoyable, Where the Heart Lies was the perfect book for a cold winter evening. Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster that will leave you feeling breathless!

Giveaway

Michelle will be awarding promotional postcards from Carina Press with 10% off coupons to one commenter at every stop, and a $10 Amazon GC + a copy of Bartlett's Poems for Occasions, which inspired part of the book to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. 

Be sure to leave a comment with your e-mail to be entered!

Be sure to check out the other stops on the tour!

September 10: Welcome to My World of Dreams

September 17: Queen of all She Reads

September 24: All I want and more

October 1: MeganJohnsInvites

October 8: My Reading Addiction

October 8: Once Upon a Time...

October 15: Ramblings From This Chick

October 22: The Bunny's Review

October 29: It's Raining Books

November 5: The Brunette Librarian

November 12: Jersey Girl Book Reviews

November 19: Stitch Read Cook & Guilty Indulgence

November 26: My Devotional Thoughts

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! -

What Are You Reading?

is hosted weekly on Mondays

by Sheila from
"One Person's Journey"

Post the books you read last week, books currently reading, and books you plan on finishing this week.

Guess where I spent my weekend??? 


Check back in the next couple of days for lots and lots of pictures and awesome stories!

What I read this week...

The Officer Breaks the Rules

By: Jeanette Murray

Captain Jeremy Phillips believes in doing his duty...both as a son and as a friend. This means that he should obey the "friend code" and stay away from his best friend's little sister. Too bad Madison O'Shay doesn't believe in his code and is ready to break all of the rules

As a Navy nurse, Madison is finally stationed next to the man she's been dreaming about for years. And she's ready to launch a full-scale attack to show this thoughtful, handsome Marine that they belong together.

Shadow

By: Laurann Dohner

Beauty resents being labeled Gift Species. Everyone is way too overprotective, males aren’t even allowed to speak to her and so far true freedom eludes her. Then a big, sexy Species officer mistakes her for the enemy and takes her to the ground. 

Shadow is dumbfounded. He has a Gift pinned under him—a big no-no. But Beauty is fascinated and wants to know Shadow a lot better. She is full of newly discovered, unrequited passion and he’s just what she needs to satisfy her curiosity. 

For Shadow, sex means pain and revulsion. For Beauty, it was enslavement and ridicule. Two lonely souls who have never known a lover’s touch, together in a cabin in the woods. Each touch, every discovery brings them closer to a life they never thought possible…beyond even their dreams.

What I'm Reading Now...

One good Earl Deserves a Lover

By: Sarah MacLean

The second in the incredible new Rules of Scoundrels series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean. Lady Philippa Marbury is odd. The bespectacled, brilliant fourth daughter of the Marquess of Needham and Dolby cares more for books than balls, flora than fashion and science than the season. Nearly engaged to Lord Castleton, Pippa wants to explore the scandalous parts of London she's never seen before marriage. And she knows just who to ask: the tall, charming, quick-witted bookkeeper of The Fallen Angel, London's most notorious and coveted gaming hell, known only as Cross. 

Like any good scientist, Pippa's done her research and Cross's reputation makes him perfect for her scheme. She wants science without emotion - the experience of ruination without the repercussions of ruination. And who better to provide her with the experience than this legendary man? But when this odd, unexpected female propositions Cross, it's more than tempting . . . and it will take everything he has to resist following his instincts - and giving the lady precisely what she wants.

Don't you just love St. Louis??

"Double Time: Sinners on Tour" By: Olivia Cunning Review

"Double Time"

By: Olivia Cunning

Synopsis from Goodreads

Trey Mills, the notoriously sexy Sinners rhythm guitarist, gives up his bisexual lifestyle and is swept into a hot, heady romance with Reagan Elliot, a female rock star sensation. But when Trey encounters Reagan's sexy bisexual roommate, Ethan Conner, he can no longer deny who he is or what he wants. Reagan heartily agrees to a solution that opens up a hot new world of sexual experience--and love--with the two men she wants the most.

My Thoughts
   I read my first Olivia Cunning book this past May around my birthday. I remember it pretty vividly because after I read “Backstage Pass” I immediately ran to my computer and purchased the second title, “Rock Hard” for my nook. I have read her other series and enjoyed them. Olivia Cunning has an amazing way of writing characters that you know inside and out and you love them for it. Sadly though, “Double Time” is completely missing the magic her other books have.
    First off lets talk about the sequencing of these books. Other reviewers have mentioned it too, but its a supremely bad play on both the publisher and Olivia’s part to release the last book in the series third. I have NEVER seen this done before and have to wonder at the motivation for it. Two other band members who are going to be getting books are actively talked about and the women they decide to marry. Why would they release the last book third? It ruins the others happily ever after and honestly dampens my enthusiasm for their books.
    I’ve loved Trey since the first book when it became clear he was wildly in love with Brian. He was heartfelt, earnest, and just so gosh dang sweet. He deserved his happily ever and he deserved a good one.
    When Trey encounters Reagan there is a guitar contest and she wins. Shortly after she joins him in the hot tub and then later that evening they get frisky with one another. Same day, same night, just within a few hours they are “in love” with one another and Trey is thinking about how good of a woman Reagan is. It seemed rushed, unrealistic to the extreme, and not in character with Trey whatsoever.
      Beyond this quick meet and greet so to speak, Trey is automatically attracted to Reagan’s male roommate. Reagan ok’s this relationship because Trey wants it but that too seemed rushed and just forced. As I read the story I kept shaking my head and thinking there was no way she’d do that. The m/m storyline didn’t bother me, but the just general lack of concern on Reagan’s part bothered me. My boyfriend wants to invite another person into our bed, ok, that’s cool. That’s pretty much all of the thought process that goes through her mind but in my mind I’d at least be asking some questions.
      There were some enjoyable parts. I think Olivia does a wonderful job of writing guys just hanging out and I really liked seeing the bandmates interact. They are funny and serious but also with that quality of realness that is enjoyable to read.
      So what should you do if you are a fan of this series? To be honest, I skimmed a lot of it because it seemed like one sexual encounter after another, with very little story. That bit of story was split into unrealistic actions on the behalf of Trey and Reagan and then interactions with the bandmates. I am glad I read the other parts, they were funny and enjoyable. However, on the whole I was unimpressed and frankly disappointed. Here’s hoping that the next installment, “Hot Ticket” featuring Jace and Aggie is much better!

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Details

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Date of Publication: November 6, 2012

# of Pages: 416

ISBN: 978-1402271519

Olivia Cunnings’ Sinners on Tour Series

“Backstage Pass”

“Rock Hard”

“Double Time”

“Hot Ticket” (Feb 2013)

“Snared” (2013)