Monday 31 March 2014

Blog Tour and review - When Sean Loves Rusty by Chris Cox

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Synopsis
Best friends since grade school, lovers since high school, Sean Delahunt and Rusty Duchene thought nothing could ever tear them apart. Then Sean graduates college and his world changes, while Rusty’s stays the same.

Offered a job in Boston, Sean knows asking Rusty to leave New Orleans is a big sacrifice for his soul mate, who has a successful career and supportive family. 

Abused and rejected by his own family, Sean struggles with self worth and thinks this career opportunity will give him a new life.

Rusty wavers in his trust but takes a chance and agrees to follow him to Boston.
Alone for several weeks in a strange city, Sean is determined to make friends on his own. When Rusty arrives, this new Sean makes him feel insecure. Crushing student loans, being unable to find a job and suspicions about the nature of Sean’s friends strain an already tenuous relationship.

A trip home for the holidays reminds both men of all they’ve left behind and makes them reevaluate what they want in their future.

On the verge of wedding vows, a career crisis threatens to bring their lives back full circle.

Money, moves and men…will this longtime love last forever or will life in the big city destroy their young love?
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When Sean Loves Rusty


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Excerpt
Was this it? Was this the end of them?
No. It couldn’t be.

Sean bit his knuckles using the pain to clear his tears. “I have loved you since the first time you scooted over to let me sit with you at lunch. Do you remember, Rusty?”

Please, remember, Rusty. Please remember who we’ve always been to each other. Who we are to each other. Please be my lover. My love. My soulmate. My completeness.

Magnificent in his nakedness, Rusty nodded once. His dark curls tracked down the nape of his neck. Sean knew that whispering kisses right there, right where that bottom curl rested, drove Rusty wild.

“I was the new kid and nobody would let me sit with them. But you did. You pushed Toby McClellan off his chair and told me to sit.”

Rusty’s shoulder blades tightened. “You looked so sad. So lost. But you had this look in your eye, like you dared anyone to pity you.”

“So you did.”

“No. I didn’t pity you. I admired you. I admired your courage. Your bravado.” 

Rusty hugged himself.

Sean wanted to go to him. To wrap his arms around the boy who always included him, to the man who always comforted him.

Instead, he squeezed the pillow tighter and willed Rusty to turn around. If he would just turn around.

“Bravado. It was all bluff. I was scared shitless. Every time we moved, I was scared shitless.”

“What were you afraid of?”

“Of being alone.”

“Is that why you’re with me?” Rusty unfolded his arms and scrubbed both hands through his curls. “No, of course not. You would never have to be alone if you didn’t want to be. With the way you look, with the way you are, you’d just have to give a guy one of those sideways looks and he’d follow you anywhere.”

“No, Rusty. No. They wouldn’t. I wouldn’t.”

“You did. You said you really wanted to go to Boston.” Rusty turned around. The tears streaking his face broke Sean’s heart. “And I said I would follow you anywhere.”

“And now you don’t want to.”

My Rating = Five Stars!
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for my honest review

This story just touched my heart from beginning to end and I didn’t want to leave Rusty and Sean. However by the way it ends it leaves the door open for more so I hope there is.

This is a collection of novellas with each covering a part of their transition from boy to man and within that their relationship with each other. I’m glad I was able to read all in succession as I don’t think I would have coped with the leaving them at each stage, I wanted it all in one swoop!

Rusty Duchene and Sean Delahunt have been together most of their lives, from best friends to lovers, they both discovered themselves and each other. They knew who they were from such a tender age but each experienced a different support path and with that it created such deep insecurities in both but for differing reasons.

Rusty is the youngest in his family – the baby born late to his wonderful parents. I just loved this family! The love and support was overwhelming and so joyful to read. This is how it should be. Sean on the other hand has not been so lucky. His father has always dismissed and ridiculed him and finally disowns him when Sean is thrown out at sixteen. But in the background was the loving Duchene family waiting in the wings for him. They have always understood the bond between both boys and when they announce they are finally boyfriend and boyfriend it is simple acceptance of what was meant to be. From that day forward Sean becomes another son to the Duchene family.

The story takes us from them living together whilst Sean is at college, to moving away from family and support to standing on their own in another part of the country.

This was a total journey of a read and really invites the reader in to experience each step they take with all the angst and insecurity involved. I loved how the story evolved from Rusty being the strong one (or appearing so) who you felt Sean relied on so much but then when Sean goes to set up in a new job in Boston the tables turn. It’s at this point that I feel the ‘boys’ grow into men.

What I loved most was that they angst wasn’t overly done and that the lines of communication between the two was open and enables them to strengthen their relationship.

The secondary characters were an integral part to the story, especially Dad and Mom Duchene (everyone should have these in their lives!) that it made the story so real and believable. Yes there was some bigotry but on the most part it was acceptance.

I love how Chris Cox writes, it made the read so involved that I felt like a part of the story. It was like a virtual hug!

The ending was fantastic and I need to know if what was asked is answered with a Yes! The next book is Levi’s story so I hope we get some Rusty and Sean intermingled so I get more of my boys. However I can’t wait for sexy Levi to reveal his true self.

Great series and a new author for me to follow. Definitely looking forward to more of the Bayou Boys!

MeetTheAuthor
In Chris Cox’s stories, men climb steep mountains of emotion and brave treacherous valleys of personal growth on a journey to love. The Bayou Boys series is about deep relationships, about finding yourself as well as your soul mate, and about learning to feel right in your own skin.

Sexy and complex, Chris’ writing delivers the stories that touch readers’ hearts. Born and raised in Louisiana, Chris worked as an electrical engineer before chucking the corporate ladder and becoming a full-time writer. Chris resides in Louisiana, where the gumbo is hot…but the men are hotter. 

You can check out more about Chris Cox by visiting www.chriscoxwrites.com,

 On Facebook at www.facebook/chriscoxwrites.com

On Twitter: @ChrisCoxWrites.
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Release Day - Throttle Me by Chelle Bliss

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Throttle Me by Chelle Bliss
Men of Inked Series Book #1
Available Today!

Throttle Me Purchase Links:
SYNOPSIS:
Suzy’s a control freak and has her life mapped out - work hard, find a man with a stable job, and live happily ever after. She’s content with the status quo, but her plan comes to a screeching halt when he enters her life and turns it upside down.

City gave up on love when his heart was crushed in college, preferring to be the typical bachelor. He spends his nights hopping from one bed to another and his days working at his family tattoo shop, Inked. A chance encounter on a dark road makes him question what he had sworn off forever – a relationship.

A night of passion and lust causes them to question everything. Is City the knight in shining armor to the damsel in distress? Can their relationship survive when a fantasy falls apart and a secret comes out that changes everything?


STALK THE AUTHOR:

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Twitter: @ChelleBliss1
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BOOKS BY CHELLE BLISS

Sunday 30 March 2014

Book Tour - Missing Girl by Piper Punches


Title: Missing Girl
Author: Piper Punches
Genre: Fiction/Crime
Publication Date: January 31, 2014


In life my name was Sophia Lucia Cruz. In death it is simply missing girls. Not even singular, but plural, as if there was never one single part of me that was unique or separate from all the other girls that were buried in that harsh Mexican dirt; victims of circumstance, irrevocable choices, and just plain bad luck. If I still had the capacity to cry, I would, because it is that sad and tragic. But when the knife slid deep into my belly and the blood gurgled at the base of my throat I knew that tears wouldn't save me and they won't change my story now.

Sophia Cruz was what many would consider an average 17-year-old girl from Mission Valley, until the day she had a knife put to her stomach and fear inserted into her heart. Some may have called it stupidity. She called it a necessary sacrifice. Why else would she leave everything behind to walk arm in arm with the devil into a world of prostitution and human imprisonment?

This is Sophia's story. She wants you to know who she was before that day. Before she became just another missing girl . . .

Missing Girl, is a powerful, provocative story that explores the depths of familial love and the horrors of the human trafficking epidemic that plagues our global community. Sophia's story is a fictional account of what so many real- life women and children experience every single moment of their lives when they are forced into sexual slavery and human imprisonment.








My rating = 4 stars

*ARC provided by the author in exchange for my review

A short, sharp shock of a read that was intense in its message with the underlying thought going through my head that although this is fiction it is based on fact. I am glad to see that this novella is the lead up to a full length novel – 60 days – due out later in 2014.

It was shocking to read and absolutely astounding of the impact it has on not only the ‘missing’ but also on the families and community. What those girls and boys went through…..

This was a well written novella with and although sad to read it made me want to.

An amazing insight and I can’t wait to read Lizzie’s story. 



About this playlist: When I write, I rarely listen to music. But I often hear songs that have a phrase or a word or even a vibe that remind me of characters or settings in my story. Missing Girl isn't very long and neither is my playlist, but sometimes it's about quality not quantity.

1. Put Your Lights On – Santana/Everlast

2. Miss Missing You – Fall Out Boy

3. Lights – Ellie Goulding

4. 10 2 10 – Big Sean

5. Rabiosa – Shakira/Pitbull

6. Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen


Piper Punches grew up in a rural Missouri town in the far west suburbs of St. Louis. As early as kindergarten, Piper began her adventure as a storyteller. It wasn't long before others caught on that her talented storytelling was actually a disguise for her tendency to be a pathological liar. Luckily, by the time high school rolled around she got her act together and began to channel her bad girl tendencies into something constructive.

By the age of 16 she had written her novel, Silent Witness; a John Grisham- like tale about the treachery and brutality of the Colombian cartel. Before ever hitting the book shelves, Silent Witness was adapted into a screenplay that was picked up by a major Hollywood studio. It was at this time that Piper learned the harsh lessons of Hollywood and the literary world. NEVER pay an agent one measly dollar until you have a contract in your hands and listen to your parents when they advise you against blindly sending $500 to have your dreams come true overnight. Sometimes parents actually know what they are talking about.

For the next several years (okay, about 20 years) Piper held onto her dream of becoming a published novelist, but decided to take up procrastination instead. It didn't pay well, but it sure felt great to get nothing accomplished and pursue other random dreams. Finally, in 2012, after an eight year period as a social worker and a seven year stint as a business owner Piper decided it was time to get back into the habit of storytelling . . . err, writing. She began freelancing and ghost writing for several popular websites, while continuing to postpone writing her original work.

Piper's mother had told her during her teenage years that writers write what they know. Of course, she didn't take her mother's advice back then and continued to write about drug cartels (because didn't you know that every 16 year old living in rural Missouri knows about drug cartels? Meth - maybe. Colombia drug runners - no). However, in true Piper fashion, after 20 years she finally took that parental advice.

In late fall of 2013, Piper debuted her first novel as a bona fide adult. The Waiting Room is a novel that started as the title of a short story collection, but quickly proved it could be so much more. It evolved into a story about the complexities of family, the invisible bonds that connect people, and the pain that can reverberate through the choices we make.

Piper Punches lives 45 minutes from downtown St. Louis with her husband and two daughters. She continues procrastinate and write on a daily basis and is excited to share her stories with new readers each and every day!


1. I met Mario Lopez and Tiffani Amber Thiessan during a Saved by the Bell Mall tour. Somewhere I probably still have the autographed headshots.

2. A trip to India and Africa is on my bucket list.

3. I could eat sour cream with a spoon.

4. My parents decided public school was a bad influence on me when in the 7th grade I decided to use the school's copy machine to alter my report card. I was promptly sent to a catholic school for 8th grade and went to a Catholic high school.

5. During that 7th grade year, I spent the majority of my lunches using a payphone trying to contact the New Kids on the Block to schedule a concert at our school.

6. I wrote my first full-length novel at the age of 16.

7. I have ran three half marathons, but I have no desire to run a full marathon – EVER!

8. At the age of 27, I decided to stop trying to dye my hair lighter and go for the natural look. That is when genetics decided to laugh in my face and began weaving gray throughout my hair. Needless to say, I now have to dye my hair every three weeks.

9. I visited NYC in 2010 and had the opportunity to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. But, because I hate the cold, I ended standing inside of a mall and watching the parade from a window.

10. The most moving experience I ever had was when I visited the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Atlanta.

11. I love to read, but I am not someone that plows through books. I like to take my time and fall in love with the story. Sometimes I will purposely take a month or more to finish a book because I don't want it to end.

12. Aside from writing, I also teach music and movement to preschoolers.

13. The job that shaped and molded me into the person I am today was at a domestic violence shelter where I worked for 8 years.

14. If I were not a writer, my dream job would be a profiler with the FBI.

15. Following that train of thought . . . I have an unhealthy obsession with serial killers and international terrorists.

16. My husband and I applied for The Amazing Race. Still waiting on that phone call. . .

17. Once I find a pair of shoes I love, I never want to let them go. I have stapled, glued, and taped shoes back together because I couldn't fathom throwing them away.

18. I am only 5'1, so high heels are my best friend.

19. Someday I want to star on General Hospital and play a backstabbing villian.

20. Lastly, I used to think that Miami was a person like "My aunt, my uncle, my cousin." I wasn't the quickest kid. Good thing I outgrew that!






Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1eHmE9U





Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1bCSsa0



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Saturday 29 March 2014

Blog Tour and Review - Monster by Francette Phal



Accidental Gold digger.
Circumstance forced Eden Mercer to sell herself to Dominic Armstrong for half a million dollars and in return she is to play the dutiful wife in public and submit to him completely behind closed doors.
The Tyrant.
Dominic is Ruthless, manipulative and sadistic but Eden is determined not to break under his cruelty. But how does one persevere when in the clutches of a Monster?


                           

My Rating = 4.5 Monster Stars!
*ARC provided by the author in exchange for my honest review

Primitive. Yes that was my impression on reading the first half of this book. It was deeply dark and extreme erotica that was so riveting. But then the book takes a turn into a whole different type of experience that gave a wonderful twist to the darkness it at first alluded.

Dominic Armstrong (even the name gives off vibes) is an extremely sadistic, domineering, emotionless, and cold man who is ruthless in his intent and does not let anything stand in his way of taking what he wants. When he first sets eyes on Eden it was inevitable she would be owned by him.

Eden has struggled all her life and has constantly searched for a way out of her dour existence. She takes her fast ticket out of there when Dominic tells her she is to become his. It’s at this point you see the spark we that will eventually take flight later in the book, as Eden insists on marriage. Little did she know what a life of depravity she would be putting herself in. However after four years of ‘marriage’ and one despicable act that outshines all the others, Eden makes her escape.

I really loved the darkness of the beginnings of this book, it was so extreme and shocking it was fabulous to read. I really should have been waging a war on Dom as the depraved way he treated Eden was vile. She was like his personal whore and when he ordered her to do what she did on that last night before she ran was utterly abhorrent but still it pushed me to read on and devour.

It’s not until I had read the whole book and sat back and thought about it that the full impact of the story came at me in waves. It was the initial judgement of both characters of each other that gave the read more punch and angst that was evident once the breakthrough takes place, when the ice in Dom’s heart finally starts to thaw. His hatred of women was apparent from the onset but as the reader is enfolded into the back story it makes sense of his actions and mind set. He is a great character and the type of one you love to hate and hate to love but love him I did! Eden is an extremely strong female lead yet at first she appears weak. Why would she stay and be objected to such cruel and depraved actions against her? Why did she not fight or run before? I totally got it why she didn’t though but then that got me questioning my own reaction to that. WTH? When she stands on her own again her strength just shines though, no longer under the watchful eye of her dominant husband she is able to be true self again.

I loved it when the tables were turned on Dom and he found himself the follower and not the leader. The little chips of ice breaking with the object of his affection drawing that out (huge spoiler so I won’t go into that!) was a complete gear changer in the book. It was so unexpected from what the book blurb gave the impression of what this book could be about, but it was a delight to read. I loved the whole darkness and light this brought to the book.

The writing was very poetic and extensive and yes I will admit some descriptive prose was a little excessive (at least I knew what Eden’s skin looked like) but that didn’t detract from the amazing skill the author has. It really drew me in and kept me entranced with the pace and flow of the action.

Monster was an interesting title to give this book but was Dominic Armstrong a monster? No I don’t think so, he was a man misunderstood with a haunted past that eventually realised what he needed to do to eradicate that darkness. It was a joy to read.

I can’t wait for the next book Until it Hurts featuring the hot and hunky Carver. Hmm I wonder what past he is hiding. Well if it’s as good as Monster then I’m in for a treat as this was an amazing read. 


 
****Warning the following excerpt is for 18+ only****
“Soon, sweetie, I promise,” he soothed. She moaned softly as he licked her ear, dropped soft warm kisses across her shoulder blades, he moved down her back, a wet tongue and hot mouth traced and kissed each vertebrae, making a slow and steady progress down her spine. It was a torturous progression that boiled the blood in Eden’s veins as she waited in bated anticipation. Breath stilled in her lungs, eyes widening when he drew apart her butt cheeks and ran his tongue down the wet crevice, from clit to the puckered rosebud of her hole and back again. It was undoubtedly one of the most erotic things he’d ever done to her body, and Eden didn’t know how to breathe properly. She gripped the sheets beneath her hands and bit down hard on her bottom lip to keep from screaming.

It was like a shot of adrenaline straight into her vein. It was blood vessels dilating, her heart galloping uncontrollably in her chest, it was gasping for breath when the air she drew in wasn’t enough. He owned her body, ate it like sun ripened peaches and drank the flowing juices of her weeping womanhood with his rapacious tongue. There were fingers there, slipping between the folds to dive deep into her blistering heat, while his thumb worked at her puckered hole, his wicked, wicked mouth showing Eden exactly how very little she knew her of own body. There was nothing but the explicitness of this act, the hyper awareness that made her feel like each inch of her body was struck by lightning, that killed her and gave her life all in one electrifying jolt. He was merciless and perfect, inviting her to shove her hips back and ride his face.

Death was imminent, sweet cataclysmic death seduced her into the gaping, welcoming arms of her orgasm. She plummeted, shattered into delicious little pieces on his tongue and fingers. Recuperating wasn’t in the stars for her as he gripped her hips and plunged into her depths in one long stroke. Pulling her arms and folding them at the small of her back, he held them there with one large hand as he sank in deeper, so deep that it hurt so good. Ass high in the air, face down in the sheets, Eden was at his complete mercy, filled to absolute capacity with his cock, and she whimpered, the vulnerability of her position giving her a sweet high.

“I’m going to beat this pussy, Eden, and you’re going to scream my name.”

And she did, a promise made completely true as he fucked her like a porn star. She screamed like the world was falling, his repeated strike against her G-spot making her see stars. It was too damn much, his jarring thrusts so deep that she could taste him, spurred her fall and she orgasmed on every inch of his cock.

Francette lives in Massachusetts with her amazingly supportive husband of ten years and her darling two year old son. Reading amazing books has led her to writing and she’s dabbled in fan-fiction before self-publishing her own works. She’s constantly thinking up new stories to write and does her best work when music is playing in the background. Romance is where she’s most comfortable but she hopes to one day venture in mystery novels. She has a weakness for coffee ice cream, tropical fruits and a good glass of wine.