Running In Place by L.B. Simmons Review

Tatum O’Connell:

Some call me a party girl. People see me as happy, full of life, with absolutely no cares in the world. They see what I want them to see. But no one knows me – really knows me. Not even Noah Reese.  Mr. Perfect is always watching me, most likely judging every single imperfect thing I do. But, if Noah wants to keep an eye on me, that’s just fine. I definitely don’t mind. I just hope he doesn’t have any plans to save me from my new-found life of self-destruction because in order to save me, he will have to see me…

And I’m never going to let that happen.

Noah Reese:

Perfect. That’s me. That’s the only acceptable way to be, according to my father. Perfect grades. Perfect manners. Perfect athlete. Perfect SAT scores. Perfect college. And recently, I was accepted into the perfect med school. My future has already been mapped out for me and there’s nothing that can change that. Not even Tatum O’Connell. That girl is out of control, yet for some reason, I can’t seem to keep my distance from her. I watch her closely, hoping that one day she’ll let me in, but watching her lead her life down the dangerous path she’s on right now isn’t easy…

I have a feeling I’m about to find myself swept away by the hurricane that is Tatum O’Connell.

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

http://vimeo.com/77827393

I freakin LOVED this book. If it wasn’t have a little work and my kids, I would have devoured this story in one sitting. This book brought every emotion. I laughed, I cried, and I thought long and hard about how I live my life.

The Prologue was just amazing. It grabbed me and I knew I was in for a great ride. Tatum O’Connell is a reckless girl who is just trying to keep by in life. She has a shitastic boyfriend and a unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Tatum hates her brother and the ghost of her mother isn’t her best friend either. My heart really broke her. She was dealt a shit hand in life after her father died. Her daddy was all she had so she wrote him letters. In the beginning of each of her chapters we got a snippet and each and everyone broke my heart. She is the kind of character that you just want to put in your pocket and take care of.

Our hero is Noah Reese. He was just as broken as Tatum but he masked it better than she did. Noah on the outside looked perfect. He had two jobs, a dust free house and an admissions letter to med school at Harvard. But he dad was a real bastard and controlled his life like a marionette.  

These two hated each other and couldn’t be in the same room but a night that ended in a shattered truck window, they HAD to be in the same room together for months. We all know what happens when you put two hot and broken people together, LOVE.

“Mr. Perfect. I honest to God cannot stand him. He’s always watching me, most likely judging every single imperfect thing that I do.”

Noah and Tatum’s love story is just perfection. Their love wasn’t rushed, it was soul deep and just beautiful.

“Today’s lesson is called Tate’s Realization. I want you to feel as beautiful as you are. Because you are beautiful Tate, on the inside and the out. You need to know that.  You need to understand that. You need to accept it.”  

I mean really!!! How about this one…

“At first I observed you, because you intrigued me. I didn’t understand you.”

“Then, I studied you, because you captivated me. I found everything you did absolutely fascinating.”

“Well, now I live and breathe you, because you own me.”

This book owned me. I loved every single page. Between Tatum’s letters to her daddy and Noah’s poems/ lyrics at the start of every chapter, there was no putting this book down for me.

This is book 2 in the Mending Hearts series but it can be read as a standalone. I will give you the connection to book 1 Running on Empty. Ready? Tatum is Alex Morgan’s best friend Harlow’s boyfriend Trace’s little sister. Trace and Blake Morgan are best friends as well and Noah works for them at The Office and The Place.

I highly recommend reading this series. LB Simmons knows how to right an amazing story and you won’t be disappointed. 

Other books in the Mending Hearts Series

Running on Empty (Book #1)

I had the perfect life.

Beautiful and loving husband.Three gorgeous little girls.

Successful career.

The only thing missing was the white picket fence. I really wanted that fence.

Three years ago, I lost that life. I lost my husband. And I lost myself. But, eventually, I found my way through the darkness. I’ve made peace with my new life. I have my girls, and that’s all that matters. They are my world. I have no illusions of ever falling in love again or getting whisked away on a white horse.

But then he came back into my life. On a freakin’ motorcycle.

There’s no way I’ll let him turn my life completely upside down.Absolutely no way.

The question is…

How long can I keep pretending that I’m happy with my life being right-side up?

Recovery - a Novella (Book #1.5)

I have the perfect life.

I’ve finally found my happy ending.

I fought through the loss of one husband, lucky enough to be given a second chance at a lifetime of happiness. Settling into our new lives, however, may not be as easy as it seems.

What really happens after the fairytale ending? What happens after the prince rescues the princess? After he sweeps her off her feet and carries her off into the sunset? Do they truly live happily ever after?

Well…

This is our story.

L.B. Simmons is a graduate of Texas A&M University and holds a degree in Biomedical Science. She has been a practicing Chemist for the last 11 years. She lives with her husband and three daughters in Texas and writes every chance she gets.

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nikolai by S.L. Jennings

Two centuries ago, I clawed my way into a world of immorality, filth and destruction. A world seething with secrets and lies, both mortal and immortal.

Complete and utter Darkness. 

I know we’re supposed to be inherently evil, but something inside me refuses to fully believe our legends. Something that calls out for more…calls out for her. 

But there are rules. Rules that control the balance of nature. And if broken, it could destroy everything I’ve ever known. It could destroy me.

I am Nikolai Skotos, son of Stavros and Delia, and brother of Dorian, the heir of the Dark throne. I am one of the most powerful Dark forces to have ever walked this earth.

And I once was lost.
Now, I’m about to give it all up for the girl that found me.


*This is a PREQUEL NOVELLA for the Dark Light Series, NOT Book 3. The first two books Dark Light and The Dark Prince should be read BEFORE  Nikolai*

Series Reading Order:

# 1 - Dark Light 

# 2 - The Dark Prince

# 2.5 - Nikolai

 

So…close.

The stench of bourbon, cheap perfume and sex fill my nostrils, creating a heady cocktail of hedonism that takes me higher than I already am. Melodic sounds of live jazz resonate from Bourbon Street and meld with moans of raucous passion nearby. The eroticism of hearing someone else’s pleasure, imagining the slick feel of damp skin against skin, arouses me further, pushing me into oblivion. I let my head fall back and close my eyes, sucking in a breath through my teeth.

I’m close, but not close enough. Never close enough to feel…whole. Complete. Full.

 

I’m not kidding myself. I know I’ll never be satisfied. I’ll always want more. More wealth. More power. More women. And while I have more of each than any one man can stand, it’s not enough. It’s never enough. The hunger is real. Deep. Overwhelming. Consuming me from the inside out.

I lift my heavy head and slowly peel open my eyes, gazing down at a crown of blonde, wavy locks bobbing up and down in my lap. I force myself to abandon all thought and just focus on the waves of sensation coursing through my body. Prickly white heat crawls up my legs, and floods my veins before sinking into the heaviness between my thighs.

This…I can do. This…is easy.

Over and over again, my cock disappears into her wet mouth. Pink lips slide over the rigid, smooth skin, taking me deeper with every mouthful. The swollen tip hits the back of her throat and she doesn’t even flinch. No gag reflex. Shit. This one is good. I think I’ll keep her.

“Look at me, pretty girl,” I tell her, gently grabbing a handful of her sun-kissed hair. She complies with wide, eager eyes, but doesn’t stall her movements. “That’s right. Just like that. Take all of me. Deeper. I want to feel those sweet lips all over me.”

She does as she’s told with enthusiasm, desperate for my approval. She knows I’m somebody. Somebody important. Somebody that could potentially change her shitty existence. And I intend to. Just not the way she’s hoping.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DARK LIGHT: http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Light-ebook/dp/B009YLRCCU

THE DARK PRINCE: http://www.amazon.com/The-Dark-Prince-Light-Series-ebook/dp/B00BSVNYT4

FEAR OF FALLING: http://www.amazon.com/Fear-Falling-S-L-Jennings-ebook/dp/B00DYVX8TM

 

Most known for her starring role in a popular sitcom as a child, S.L. Jennings went on to earn her law degree from Harvard at the young age of 16. While studying for the bar exam and recording her debut hit album, she also won the Nobel Prize for her groundbreaking invention of calorie-free wine. When she isn’t conquering the seas in her yacht or flying her Gulfstream, she likes to spin elaborate webs of lies and has even documented a few of these said falsehoods.

Some of S.L.’s devious lies:

FEAR OF FALLING

AFRAID TO FLY (sequel to Fear of Falling)- not yet released

THE DARK LIGHT SERIES

v  Dark Light

v  The Dark Prince

v  Nikolai (a Dark Light novella)- coming November 2013

v  Light Shadows- not yet released

TAINT- coming soon

Meet the Liar:

www.facebook.com/authorsljennings

Twitter: @MrsSLJ

 

Seven Day Fiance by Rachel Harris Review and Giveaway

Angelle Prejean is in a pickle. Her family is expecting her to come home with a fiancé—a fiancé who doesn’t exist. Well, he exists, but he definitely has no idea Angelle told her mama they were engaged. Tattooed, muscled, and hotter than sin, Cane can reduce Angelle to a hot mess with one look—and leave her heart a mess if she falls for him. But when she ends up winning Cane at a charity bachelor auction, she knows just how to solve her fiancé problem.

Cane Robicheaux is no one’s prince. He doesn’t do relationships and he doesn’t fall in love. When sweet, sultry-voiced Angelle propositions him, he hopes their little game can finally get her out of his head. He doesn’t expect her to break through all his barriers. But even as Angelle burrows deeper into his heart, he knows once their seven days are up, so is their ruse.

I really enjoyed this fun, quirky story. It’s a quick sweet read, so if that’s what you are looking for, definitely pick this up.

After Angelle’s boyfriend publically proposes in front of the entire town and she says no, she leaves town and sets out to discover herself. She lands in the town of Magnolia Springs where she makes some great friends. She also gets a job working with horses and is also a volunteer firefighter. The only thing lacking in her life is a man, but she isn’t looking for one. Even though she isn’t looking doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a serious attraction to Can Robicheaux. Not only is his name hot, but good gracious, the man had dark hair AND dimples! Add that he is a successful business owner, plays guitar and sings, and is fierce and protective of the women in his life and who won’t be a goner?

Everything is going great for Angelle, but for one tiny problem. She has lied to her family about having a fiancé in order to get them off her back. She is expected to bring him home for Thanksgiving. Cue a hot male auction where she wins Cane. He agrees to be her fake fiancé for the week and go home with her. He is also attracted to her and would like to get her “out of his system.”

I found Angelle endearing. She is sweet, shy, a bit sassy when you get to know her, and is learning how to come out of her shell. This is a woman who has been sheltered her whole life and has always gone along with what everyone has planned for her. I really enjoyed reading about her coming into her own.

Cane is another great character. There is so much more to him than his tattoos and bad boy image. He is actually a bit of a nerd. I didn’t know that meshing bad boy and nerd could work, but in this case, it so does. Like Angelle, he also has a bit of self-discovery to go through.

When the duo finally meets up with Angelle’s family, the story gets even more fun. They are country Cajun and they are definitely a lively bunch. But, beneath all of their quick, fun banter and celebrating, love is at the core of this family. Although they want Angie to stay the baby in the family forever, they are going to have to come to grips that she has grown up.

This book isn’t all about fun, though. The characters hit a rough patch in the story. They will have to learn to move through it together or fall apart. As I said, this is a quick read. I read it in less than a day. It should definitely be add to your TBR.

Rachel Harris grew up in New Orleans, where she watched soap operas with her grandmother and stayed up late sneak reading her mama’s favorite romance novels. Now a Cajun cowgirl living in Houston, she still stays up way too late reading her favorite romances, only now, she can do so openly. She firmly believes life’s problems can be solved with a hot, powdered-sugar-coated beignet or a thick slice of king cake, and that screaming at strangers for cheap, plastic beads is acceptable behavior in certain situations.

When not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, she homeschools her two beautiful girls and watches reality television with her amazing husband. Taste The Heat is her adult romance debut. She’s the author of MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY and A TALE OF TWO CENTURIES. She loves hearing from readers! To connect with the author, check out the following links:

Website   Twitter   Facebook   Goodreads   Entangled

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

a Rafflecopter giveaway

       

Sweet Forty-Two by Andrea Randall Cover Reveal

Sweet Forty-Two is the third book in The November Blue Series, releasing Wednesday, December 11th

Regan Kane arrived in San Diego with nothing but a violin, his car and what feels like a lifetime of grief. Although he’s surrounded by friends and music, one delivery from the post office reminds him that the past is always just around the corner. When he befriends a local bartender, Regan wonders if he's finally ready to let go.

Georgia Hall has spent most of her life in the shadows of her mother’s mental illness. Pushing away those around her ensures they won’t get hurt when she succumbs to the same fate.

All of that unravels when she meets Regan. As her life spins out of control and the line between reality and fairytale blurs, she has to make a choice to trust or fall.

Regan and Georgia are searching for healing among the wreckage. Will doing so together make moving on all the more sweet?

Or will the secrets and darkness of the past drive them apart?

Add to your TBR on Goodreads

I started writing poetry long before writing fiction. I firmly believe Poetry is a solid foundation for all other forms of writing. It taught me that a single word can make or break the world. 
I write fiction because my characters have a story and they want me to tell it. 
I hope you enjoy the pieces of my soul that I share with you.

Facebook

Goodreads

Man of My Dreams by Faith Andrews Recover Reveal

Cover Done by: Mae I Design

Mia Murphy may be married to the man of her dreams. But the man in her dreams is the one that got away—her high school crush.

Mia’s stuck in a rut, just like every other stay-at-home mom, and the only thing saving her from her monotonous routine is her perfect husband, Declan. He’s gorgeous, he adores her, and the man stole her heart with his sexy singing voice. Mia feels like the luckiest girl in the world, until she discovers that Mr. Perfect is not Mr. Faithful. Mia is devastated. Everything she once believed about Declan and their marriage is now covered in a big cloud of doubt and regret. On impulse, she kicks the cheating bastard out, pushing them into a separation that could mean the end of the picture-perfect couple.

But when Mia receives an invitation to her high school reunion, she finds herself abandoning the present for the oh-so alluring pull of the past. Although her heart still belongs to her husband, inescapable thoughts of her crush, Noah, resurface. And ten years later, Noah isn’t afraid to make his move. When the build-up of fantasies and ‘what ifs' comes to a head, sparks fly and it’s Mia’s turn to question if her marriage is everything she wants out of life. Searching for answers, Mia dives head first into dating Noah, falling further away from her husband and closer to her old flame.

But Declan’s not giving up so easily. Mia is his one and only and he’s not about to let another man win her heart.

Amazon

Goodreads

In case you missed my review, you can find it here...

4 Star Review

Book Trailer:
Man of My Dreams by Faith Andrews Book Trailer from SchmexyGirl Book Blog on Vimeo.

Faith Andrews lives in New York where she is happily married to her high school sweetheart. They have two beautiful daughters and a furry Yorkie son, Rocco. If she isn’t listening to Mumford and Sons or busy being a Dance Mom, her nose is in a book or her laptop. She’s a sucker for a happily ever after and believes her characters are out there living one somewhere . . . 

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Website

a Rafflecopter giveaway