Blog Tour and Giveaway: Back to Reality by Danielle Allen

~ Synopsis ~

Her past: Emanuel Mills was her first love. The guitar playing, adventure seeking, IT whiz was everything she ever wanted.

Her present: Tyree Barker was her last love. The cultured, educated, successful entrepreneur was everything she needed.

But when Sahara Lee’s past and present collided, a series of events occurred that changed her life forever, leaving her future up in the air.

As a college freshman, a tragic accident changed the course of Sahara’s life. Ten years later, just when she started putting her life back together, Sahara’s world was rocked again due to a similar accident.

Heartbroken and guilt ridden, Sahara fell into old, familiar habits before quickly realizing that she wasn’t the same Sahara Lee anymore. Unable to live a lonely, loveless, isolated life anymore, Sahara decided that the way she coped before wasn’t going to work this time around.

Time didn’t heal her wounds, but forgiveness might. 

Purchase Link

Amazon 



  Jenny's Review
 

 

I have been anticipating this book since a finished Back to Reality and let me tell you, Danielle didn't disappoint.  When we last left Sahara she had chosen Tyree over Emanuel. As she is about to reconcile officially with Tyree we find out that Tyree has been in a car accident. Not to mention, Emanuel has come to her apartment and declared his love for her and he won't give up on them. What happens is a rollercoaster ride of emotions for Sahara, Tyree and Emanuel that keeps you guessing what will happen next.

 

Sahara still blames herself for  everything that happens. She still places a lot of blame on herself, which a time could be annoying. I wanted to shake her and scream, "You can't control everything".  There's a lot of misunderstanding between Sahara and Tyree and Sahara and Emanuel, which leads to a lot of back and forth between the two men. At times, while reading the book, I would be rooting for Tyree and then I would find myself rooting for Emanuel. There is a WTF moment with Emanuel that I kind of saw coming, but it still made my jaw drop.

In the end, Sahara does finally choose between Tyree and Emanuel.  One of the great parts in the book is her reconnection with her best friend Emily. Although they have not been close for a number of years, it was great to see Emily support Sahara without judgement.

 

Danielle Allen is such a great writer. You could literally feel the emotions of  Sahara, Tyree and Emanuel. Her writing has a way that make you become emtionally invested in each character. You want to laugh with them, cry with them, be angry with them. I couldn't put down the book. Such a great book!

 

About the Author

 

I am a married event planner and life coach. My awesome friends and family and my amazing husband make my life sweet. I love to have fun and enjoy the life I’ve been blessed with. I love shopping and football with equal fervor. I’m an amateur movie critic (i.e. my husband and I watch and critique a lot of movies for fun). I love to read and I enjoy sharing my love of books with anyone who will listen. I love music. A good lyric with a good melody can paint a vivid picture and invoke such a range of emotions. I have a soft spot for most mediums of creative, artistic expression.

With degrees in psychology, human services, and marriage and family counseling, I have a unique perspective on life, love and the pursuit of happiness. As an author, I combine an active imagination and life experiences to create stories that are easily relatable and intentionally intriguing. I want to offer you a peek into someone else’s life and for you to get lost in their story, their trials, their triumphs. My ultimate goal is to create a character or a story that stays with you long after you’ve put the book down.

So in a nutshell: I plan. I teach. I read. I write. I watch. I critique. I shop. I play. I love.

To know me is to love me.

XOXO

Connect with Author
 

Facebook  Twitter  Goodreads  Author Website



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Book Review with Bonus Interview – The Third Son by Elise Marion

I had the pleasure of reading The Third Son last week by Elise Marion.  The Third Son is such an excellent read full of romance, mystery, plot twists and exceptional characters, I made it a point to reach out to the author she agreed to do a mini-interview!

Let’s start with the review and keep reading for an interview with Marion.

The Third Son is about Prince Damien and his romance with the beautiful gypsy, Esmeralda.  Damien is the third son of the King and Queen and as such, doesn’t have the responsibility of being groomed to become king.  His rogue-ish ways cease when he meets Esmeralda who makes him want to be a better prince and a better man.   Throughout the book, Damien has to dodge the stigma of falling in love with a gypsy, a scorned mistress who dreamt of becoming princess one day, and the very real assassination attempts to his family.

All the characters in this book felt very real and they all had their own backstory which helped the reader understand their behavior and interactions.  Damien is a rake in the beginning but even then you understand that he does have morals, a conscience and a strong understanding of duty.  The problem being that he never really had any duty as the Third Son.

 

Esmeralda becomes a breath of fresh air with her honesty and goodness which is a complete contrast to Damien’s current mistress, Davina.  Esmeralda has no ulterior motives, no plans other than being the best dancer she can be and running the tavern left to her by her murdered father.  It’s clear to see why Damien falls for Esmeralda, and it doesn’t feel unbelievable at all that he would be willing to sacrifice everything to be with her.

Aside from the love story, there’s a murderer on the loose who wants revenge on the royal family and it’s during his attempts that the book will polarize the reader.  I personally loved the madness that ensues and I was not disappointed in the least.  As Marion mentions in her interview, characters will die in this book and you will either cry and keep reading as I did, or throw your kindle at the unfairness of it all.  I LOVED the fact that Marion took risks and kept us on our toes.  It was so Red-Wedding-esque. 

Even though the identity of the assassin was not too hard to figure out, I found myself questioning other characters motives and behaviors wondering, “Well he could be the Mask, also.” 

   

There were so many twists and turns that I was wondering up until the last few pages if these two lovers would ever end up together.  It’s these writing risks that kept me riveted and also made me download the follow-up, The Second Son.

Great love story, believable characters, plot twists and turns, steamy (but not vulgar) love scenes, laughter and tears… I mean, I could go on and on but I'll let my 5-stars speak for themselves.  This book is my first ever 5 star review.  Please read this book.  Flat out – this is everything a romance novel should be and then some, AND it’s still a free download at the time of posting!

After reading The Third Son, I was able to score a quick interview with author Elise Marion.  Please check out her website here for more info on her life and upcoming books.

Interview with Elise Marion:

Tiffany: I noticed that you have several series out right now in addition to the Kings of Cardenas and the Masquerade series. Do you work on several books at once?

Elise - I do. I am the kind of person who can rarely concentrate on one thing at a time. My mind is so full of ideas and sometimes two or three will fight for my attention. So, I tend to work on two or three projects at one time. I find it helps me, when I am stuck on one project, to put it down for a bit and work on one of my others. This way, things are always interesting and fresh. Sometimes, a certain project will take priority, especially when one of my stories hits its climax. Then, the others cease to exist until I've gotten my foremost ideas and thoughts onto the page. It seems weird and random, but it's how I work best and stay creative.

Tiffany: The Third Son had many characters that the reader can connect with. How do decide which character story lines to continue?
Elise: Just as the reader connects with the characters, so do I. The Third Son was not supposed to have a sequel. I'd always intended it to be a standalone book. But then it became time for a certain character to die. I went to write the scene of his death and literally got sick to my stomach. My hands shook and my conscience just wouldn't let me do it. The character had become so important to me and I wanted to explore him more. I knew that if I'd connected with him so much, readers would too and they'd probably never forgive me for killing him. I'm glad that I kept him alive because I was then forced to realize that there were several characters whose stories needed to be told. The world needed to know who they were.

Tiffany: Your books are mostly romance and love stories but they have elements of other genres. Do you have any desire to write other genres like crime or horror?
Elise: One of the things I love most about Romance, is the plethora of sub-genres within it. I love adding elements of paranormal, mystery, thriller, and suspense into my work. As far as other genres, I actually already write Young Adult under another pen name (Alicia Michaels). I also have a strong desire to delve into children's books. As a mom of kids who love to read, I love the idea of writing stories just for them. My first love, though, is romance. There is something about exploring the human connection through love and sensuality that just brings out the best in me. Most of my Young Adult books also incorporate strong elements of romance (just without the spice).

Tiffany: What books do you read on your downtime? Are you reading anything right now?
Elise: I recently discovered Courtney Milan's Regency novels and I love them! I also just finished Game of Thrones and its sequel, A Clash of Kings; I'm a huge fan of the series. I love to read books in all genres and choose my reading according to my mood. Everything from Young Adult to a little Erotica, as well as Fantasy and Thrillers. It's all good in my book. OF course I also love the classics like The Color Purple, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and The Great Gatsby. Those are books I can read again and again.

Tiffany: And finally, you seem like a foodie at heart. What's your favorite dish to make?
Elise: People who read my books know I love to describe food and what people are eating! LOL! I AM a foodie and I love to cook and bake. I don't know if I have a favorite dish to make, mainly because I love foods of all kinds. But I am partial to the soulful flavors of the South. I was raised by a Southern mom who taught me how to cook. I also love Italian; pasta dishes are my favorite sort of comfort food!

Elise Marion
Website
Facebook
Good Reads

Book Review: Tempting the Best Man by Jennifer L. Armentrout (writing as J. Lynn)

Synopsis:

Madison Daniels has worshipped her brother's best friend since they were kids. Everyone thinks she and Chase Gamble would make the perfect couple, but there are two major flaws in their logic. 1) Chase has sworn off relationships of any kind, and 2) after blurring the line between friends and lovers for one night four years ago, they can't stop bickering.

Forced together for her brother's wedding getaway, Chase and Madison decide to call a truce for the happy couple. Except all bets are off when they're forced to shack up in a tacky 70's honeymoon suite and survive a multitude of "accidents" as the family tries to prove their "spark" can be used than for more than fighting. That is, if they don't strangle each other first…

 Purchase Link:

Amazon   Barnes and Nobles

Jenny's Review:

This was a great quick read. Chase and Madison have known each other forever, Chase being Madison's brother best friend. And she has been in love with him for as long ass he can remember. One night of a possible hookup years ago has changed the dynamics of their relationship. With Madison's brother getting married and Madison being the maid of honor and Chase being the best man, they can't stay away from each other. What happens is a story that show the longing that two people have for each other and the fears they have that keeps them apart.

 I really liked this book. The exchange between Chase and Madison was great to read. You could tell how much Maddie tried to keep her love for Chase in check but it was noticeable to everyone except Chase. Chase think that he is not good enough for Maddie and does everything in his power to stay clear of her but the connection between them is so fierce and being in such close proximity to each other, they can't keep their feelings in check. There was a lot of miscommunication throughout the book between Maddie and Chase and reading the book you wanted to see how everything will turn out. You are definitely rooting for Chase and Maddie to end up together.  And it has a HEA.  My only problem with the book that is was too short. But if you are looking for a short read that will make you smile, definitely pick this book up ,you won't be disappointed.

                             About the Author:

J. Lynn (also known as Jennifer L. Armentrout) is the # 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY BESTSELLING author of WAIT FOR YOU and the Young Adult LUX and COVENANT series, among other books. She writes steamy and fun New Adult and Adult romance under the pen name J. Lynn. She is published with Entangled Teen and Brazen, SHP, Disney/Hyperion, and Harlequin Teen. You can find her Twitter @JLArmentrout or at her website www.jenniferarmentrout.com

Connect with Author:

Facebook  Twitter  Goodreads  Website

Book Review: The Breaking of the Shell

Well it took me a few extra days to finish up The Breaking of the Shell and it took me even more days just to write the review.  The book is a parable and reminds me so very much of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.  Author Barry Durdant-Hollamby works very hard to stoke a fire of discovery in the reader and succeeds on many levels.  You’re gonna hear his lesson whether you want to or not but what you choose to take from the lesson is on the reader.

The Breaking of the Shell revolves around Alexander Baker’s life and the mysterious message left to him by his ailing father.  From his childhood, Alex is lead a sheltered and privileged life and while he seems to be doing well on the surface, following the models he believes display success, his world in shambles and his relationships failing.  Through messages from his friends and ex-wife, mystical omens and dreams, Alex is given tools and messages in order to lead a healthier and more peaceful life.  By the end of the book, Alex is well on to changing the world.

I really enjoyed reading about Alex’s ups and downs and empathized with him even when he’s at his most deplorable.  Throughout most of the book, he’s portrayed as an “every guy” kinda guy who just wants to have the respect of society.  This need drives him into shallowness.  He is a very warm person at heart who has a clear sense of right and wrong.  His wrong actions cause him deep guilt and shape him into a man who avoids the difficult choices at all costs. 

Once I finished the book, I was slightly disappointed with Durdant-Hollamby’s delivery.  It was so very literal but that’s just my personal take on this genre.  I’m not used to reading self-help books and my only other foray into anything like this was the previously mentioned The Alchemist.   

After viewing his other works, I understand his mission better.  Durdant-Hollamby is a self-help author and motivational speaker so this book isn’t really a traditional story but a self-help and counseling book written in the form of a story.

Overall, I’m rating this book 4/5 stars.  There’s a wonderful lesson here wrapped up in a good story and I don’t doubt that anyone would benefit from reading this book.  Whether or not we can all put the message to practice is another issue.

As mentioned, Barry Durdant-Hollamby is author of several self-help books and his work shows his desire for helping and guiding people to a better self.  Please feel free to check them out here on his website.

Notable Free Fiction e-Book 11-14-13

Good morning, Fiction Fans!  Here’s a look at some notable free e-books from Amazon.  As usual, all books have at least 4.5 stars and have more than 300 pages.

The Breaking of the Shell by Barry Durdant-Hollamby

The Breaking of the Shell weaves the teaching of ancient wisdoms into a modern context in classic story-telling style. Like the works of Paulo Coelho which deliver timeless truths, this book brings together the subtle energies of the awakening consciousness of the 21st Century through the sometimes dramatic, sometimes seemingly ordinary life experiences of a middle class Englishman, Alexander Baker.

When a tragedy strikes during an innocent childhood game, 6 year old Alexander's life is changed forever. It will be many years before the outcome of that day is finally discovered, an outcome only made possible by the destruction of Alexander's personal world and the humbling experience of opening his heart to the women closest to him. With consequences that will not only help Alexander to heal his deepest wounds, but also engage him in a process that could lead to global transformation, The Breaking of the Shell is a powerful story of our times, filled with hope and inspiration.

***Tiffany note: The Breaking of the Shell is a new e-book, released November 9, 2013.  It has 11 reviews and a perfect 5 star rating.  This book will be reviewed 11/17/13***

Fireblossom (The Western Novels) by Cynthia Wright

Daniel "Fox" Matthews, sent to Little Bighorn by the president to keep an eye on hot-headed General Custer, is haunted by guilt for a battle outcome he couldn't prevent. The raucous gold town of Deadwood, South Dakota seems like the perfect refuge, although it's located in the Black Hills, sacred land to the same Sioux Indians who decimated Custer's troops.

Madeleine Avery, raised to be a lady in Philadelphia, is appalled when she arrives in Deadwood with her family. Slowly she unbends, coaxed out of her shell by a powerful attraction to Fox and a journey into the world of the Sioux Indians.

FIREBLOSSOM is a compelling tale of cultures colliding and the bittersweet, tender journey of Fox and Maddie as they discover the secrets of their own hearts.

Ravage: An Apocalyptic Horror Novel by Iain Rob Wright

FIRST PEOPLE GOT SICK. THEN THEY GOT VERY SICK..
Nick Adams is just a normal guy. He loves his family, appreciates his home, and covets his car. But he absolutely hates his job. Which is what makes it so difficult that not a single customer has come by his store today. It seems as though there’s a bug going around, something that has come out of nowhere and is keeping people at home. Still, it’s probably nothing to worry about. People get sick all the time.

And besides, things are finally starting to look up. Nick’s first customer of the day has just stumbled through the door…

HIS DAY IS ABOUT TO GET WORSE..
It won’t be long before Nick’s entire life is turned upside down, sending him on a frantic journey through a ravaged world that will ultimately lead him 500 feet upwards to a hilltop amusement park. Is it the last safe place on Earth, or are the monsters at the top of the hill even worse than the ones below?

Gotcha! (Tall, Hot and Texan) by Christie Craig

Macy Tucker was five years old when her beloved grandfather dropped dead in his spaghetti. At twelve, her father left his family in the dust. At twenty-five, her husband gave his secretary a pre-Christmas bonus in bed, and Macy gave him the boot. To put things lightly, men have been undependable.

That's why dating's off the menu. Macy is focused on putting herself through law school—which means being the delivery girl for Papa's Pizza. But cheesier than her job is her pie-eyed brother, who just recently escaped from prison to protect his new girlfriend. And hotter than Texas toast is the investigating detective. Proud, sexy...inflexible, he's a man who would kiss her just to shut her up. But Jake Baldwin's a protector as much as a dish. And when he gets his man—or his woman—Macy knows it's for life.

Bonus Content:

At the end of the book, get a sneak peek at Christie Craig's new Tall, Hot & Texan short novel, The Cop Who Stole Christmas.

There's also a sneak peak at Christie's contemporary romance BLAME IT ON TEXAS, now available from Forever Books!

Read on for a preview of her recent release, MURDER, MAYHEM AND MAMA, available now in paperback and ebook!

***Another Tiffany note: Please don’t be put off by the 3 sneak peeks at the end of this book.  The book is still about 335 pages***

Book Review: Strip Me Bare by Marissa Carmel

Synopsis:

“I may have had more lovers than you, and I may take my clothes off for countless women, but you are the only one who can strip me bare.”

Do you ever stop loving someone just because they’re gone?

Five years ago Ryan Pierce disappeared from Alana Remington’s life without leaving so much as a post-it note behind. He was the one she gave her heart to, her soul to and her virginity to. So imagine her surprise when she finds him dancing at one of NYC’s hottest male reviews as Jack the Stripper.

Ryan never stopped loving Alana, and now that she serendipitously dropped back into his life, he’s vowed never to lose her again. But being together has its costs, and challenges Alana isn’t sure she can handle. She finally has Ryan back; but how in the world is she supposed to share the love of her life with half of the women in New York City?

Link to Purchase:

Amazon 

Jenny's Review:

The title of the book  and the synopsis is what drew me to purchase this book and it didn't disappoint. I really liked Alana and Ryan's story. Five years ago Ryan disappeared from Alana life with no explanation. Then the reconnect in the most unexpected way, at a Male Revue where he is a dancer.

The story is about two people from different social background, Alana is the rich girl, law student from a privileged family. And Ryan is from the wrong side of the track who Alana knows her father, who is a judge will disapprove of their relationship. And the connection that Ryan have with Alana's father was a shock and makes the reader understand what they are up against.  The story show how you can forgive someone who have hurt you, rebuilding trust and dealing with family who play is huge part in your life.

It was nice to see how the navigate through their relationship, especially with Ryan's job as a stripper and what lead him to leave Alana 5 years ago. They have a strong bond and is willing to work whatever problem they have. I really enjoyed the writing style of Marissa. I was easy to feel the pain of what Ryan and Alana goes through to be with each other. If you enjoyed book like Mine, you will like this book. It is a must read!

About the Author:

Marissa Carmel has loved writing ever since a young age. She has a duel degree in History and Political Science, but took as many creative writing classes in college as she could. She spent most of her twenties bartending which is where she met her husband and a multitude of interesting people. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s hanging out with her family, experimenting in her kitchen or doing yoga on the living room floor.

Connect with the Author:

Goodreads        Facebook     Blog     Twitter

Cover Reveal: Back to Reality by Danielle Allen

Release Day December 1st, 2013 

~ Synopsis ~

Love brought her back to life. Life brought her back to reality.

Her past: Emanuel Mills was her first love. The guitar playing, adventure seeking, IT whiz was everything she ever wanted.

Her present: Tyree Barker was her last love. The cultured, educated, successful entrepreneur was everything she needed.

But when Sahara Lee’s past and present collided, a series of events occurred that changed her life forever, leaving her future up in the air. As a college freshman, a tragic accident changed the course of Sahara’s life. Ten years later, just when she started putting her life back together, Sahara’s world was rocked again due to a similar accident. Heartbroken and guilt ridden, Sahara fell into old, familiar habits before quickly realizing that she wasn’t the same Sahara Lee anymore. Unable to live a lonely, loveless, isolated life anymore, Sahara decided that the way she coped before wasn’t going to work this time around. Time didn’t heal her wounds, but forgiveness might.

~ Back To Life (Book 1) ~

Sahara Lee has spent the last ten years living with the guilt of a tragic accident and its aftermath. That night irrevocably changed the outgoing, fun-loving college freshman into an introverted, workaholic with no social life. Sahara isolates herself from everyone and everything that reminds her of home in an effort to forget what happened. Using art as a substitute for love, Sahara throws herself into music and art as a way to feel something other than the guilt that haunts her. She accepts her lonely existence as penance for the role she played in the accident. That is, until she meets Tyree Barker, the good looking entrepreneur with baggage of his own. Blindsided by a legal loophole, Sahara is suddenly forced to confront the past she’s been running from. Juggling the guilty feelings of her past and the unexpected feelings of her present, Sahara’s future becomes complicated as she heads down a path of forgiveness, love, and heartbreak…and not in that particular order. Back to Life reminds you that living and existing are two completely different ways to go through life. Grief will break you but guilt, guilt will destroy you. And once that happens, what can bring you back to life?

~ Author Bio ~

I am a married event planner and life coach. My awesome friends and family and my amazing husband make my life sweet. I love to have fun and enjoy the life I’ve been blessed with. I love shopping and football with equal fervor. I’m an amateur movie critic (i.e. my husband and I watch and critique a lot of movies for fun). I love to read and I enjoy sharing my love of books with anyone who will listen. I love music. A good lyric with a good melody can paint a vivid picture and invoke such a range of emotions. I have a soft spot for most mediums of creative, artistic expression.

With degrees in psychology, human services, and marriage and family counseling, I have a unique perspective on life, love and the pursuit of happiness. As an author, I combine an active imagination and life experiences to create stories that are easily relatable and intentionally intriguing. I want to offer you a peek into someone else’s life and for you to get lost in their story, their trials, their triumphs. My ultimate goal is to create a character or a story that stays with you long after you’ve put the book down.

So in a nutshell: I plan. I teach. I read. I write. I watch. I critique. I shop. I play. I love.

To know me is to love me.

~ Author Links ~

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6523680.Danielle_Allen

Webpage: http://www.authordanielleallen.com/

Author Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDanielleAllen

Back to Life Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/BacktoLifeSeries

Twitter: https://twitter.com/XOXO_DAllen

Book Review" The Perfect Distraction By Melissa Rolka

Synopsis:

When Katherine “Kate” leaves for her freshmen year at college, a grounded and stable piece of her is missing. She pushes away the ghosts of her past, determined to start her college life single, carefree and distracted.
Throughout high school Kate was reserved and shy, with little experience. Now, on her own, with little holding her back, Kate is ready to branch out. She bonds with a tight knit group of friends and even starts casually dating. What starts out as innocent flirting on the tennis courts slowly turns into a friendship and eventually something more complex. Reed comes into her life giving her the distraction she craves more than anything; but is she ready to give her heart away so easily?
Things get complicated when Kate’s ex-boyfriend and first love continues to pursue her. Kyle deeply regrets breaking her heart when he left for college the year before and is now on a mission to reclaim her. Kyle’s persistence and relentlessness is nothing short of obsessive. He will stop at nothing to win her back and prove his love.
Kate finds herself torn between her past and the unknown of the future. Her determination to stay distracted may just be her downfall or the beginning of something new and wonderful.
***For Mature Readers 18+*** 

 Link to Purchase:

Amazon: The Perfect Distraction

Jenny's Review:

***ARC was provided by author in exchange for honest review*** 

Hmmmmm......I have a lot of  up and down feelings about this book. At times I wanted to scream at Kate, especially when she is dealing with Kyle. The way that he treated her was pretty horrible.  Instead of her acknowledging this, she blames herself. You will find yourself wanting  go into the book and just shake the shit out of her. Then there were times when I could sympathize with her. She is dealing with a lot of things with her family, especially dealing with  her mother. I would've like to know a bit more of the relationship with Kate and her mom. I think it would've made me understand her more.

I think one of the saving graces in the book was Reed. Swoon!!!!! When he would say her full name, Kaherine, I could feel the butterflies that Kate would be feeling. I liked that Kate and Reed didn't immediately get together. I feel like they got together at the perfect time. Reed was very mysterious. We got a slight glimpse about him towards the end of the book. So I'm interested to know more about him.  The ending threw me for a loop and gave me a WTF moment.

This is the first full novel from the Melissa Rolka and sometimes you could tell. There were a lot of times throughout the book that she was repetitive. The story have a lot of potential and I would like to see how Melissa will continue the story in the second book, especially in regards to Reed and Kate's mom.

 About the Author:

Melissa Rolka grew up in the Chicagoland area all of her childhood and has always had a love of writing. She started by keeping a journal at a young age and then in high school she started writing poetry. A couple poems were published anonymously. Then in college she majored in Philosophy, which required lots and lots of writing. After graduating from Marquette University she traveled west to Los Angeles. There she worked for the Writers Guild of America and found herself submerged in the writers world. She worked on small writings, but never pursued them. On the side she became involved with a small theater group. Eventually she made her way back to the Midwest, where her heart belongs, and worked in business for several years. She found love, got married and has two beautiful children. Being at home has allowed her to keep following her love of reading and writing.
The Perfect Distraction is her first full length novel. A second continuation of this story is in the works with hopes for a third. When Melissa is not writing she is caring for, playing with and loving her two kids. In between taking care of her family and writing she almost always has her nose buried in her Kindle.

Connect with the Author
Facebook    Goodreads

Book Review - Waking Up Married

This book has been on Amazon’s list of Free Bestsellers for a long time now. I’ve always looked at it but was hesitant to download because of its 251 page count. Well I’m happy I read it.

Waking Up Married by Mira Lyn Kelly is a cute love story about two people who get married for all the right reasons. The problem is that they’ve only known each other for 1 day!

Megan Scott is smart, beautiful, well employed, quirky and horrible at keeping a relationship. Connor Reed is her equal in many ways, though way more wealthy and worldly and yet he also has a hard time getting what he wants in a relationship. The whole book displays their courtship and aftermath in such a humorous and honest way that this book was hard to put down. Seriously, you will neglect other aspects of your life to read what happens next.

The chemistry between Megan and Connor is crazy hot. They’re both attractive people who are now married… what better time to get it on like rabbits?? Too bad Megan doesn’t know Connor from Carter. The sex scenes don’t occur until the second half of the book and they’re pretty good, not as graphic as some other books I’ve read but definitely not hand-holding PG rated.

The book is predicable in some ways. You kinda know what’s going to happen in the end so it’s no surprise when you get there.

Regardless, this was an enjoyable and quick read that left me smiling at the end. What’s there to really complain about :)

Waking Up Married gets 3 stars. It’s not a must read but if you’re in between books for a day, check this one out.

Author Mira Lyn Kelly is a USA Today Best Selling author and she has another book available, Once is Never Enough.  You can find more information about Mira Lyn Kelly at her website and check out the two more books she has lined up for 2014.

Notable Free Fiction e-Books 10-9-13

Good morning, Fiction Fans.  I have been so busy with school lately that posts have been difficult to finish.  Well, here you’ll find a source of some e-books from Amazon that are over 300 pages and have at least 4 stars.  It’s a mash up today of romance and thrillers.

Rogue’s Honor (The Saint of Seven Dials) by Brenda Hiatt

In this sparkling first installment of her popular "Saint of Seven Dials" series, Brenda Hiatt has created "a most different and dashing rogue," according to bestelling author Kasey Michaels.

To escape her stepmother's matchmaking machinations, Lady Pearl runs away, pretending to be a common housemaid, with the help of her abigail. When she is rescued from near disaster by a charming serving-man, Pearl pretends to be simpleminded to safeguard herself from any unwanted advances. But soon she begins to suspect that her rescuer is far more than the common servant he seemed at first.

Luke St. Clair lives a double life, pretending to be a gentleman while in reality sustaining himself and the needy as that notorious Regency Robin Hood, the Saint of Seven Dials. The last thing Luke needs in his life is a beautiful simpleton in need of protection, but "Purdy" soon proves to be anything but simple--or common! Once he learns the truth, does he dare continue, in the ballrooms of the elite, the flirtation that began in the slums of London? The risk is enormous, but Lady Pearl's sweet kisses may just be worth it.

Amethyst (Jewel Trilogy, Book 1) by Lauren Royal

Her hand was pledged to one man...
Her heart belonged to another...
London, 1666

Amethyst Goldsmith makes dazzling jewelry, but her future isn't nearly as bright as the pieces she creates. Though custom dictates she wed her father's apprentice, her heart rebels against the match. In mere days Amy will be condemned to a stifling, loveless marriage, and she sees no way out--until the devastating fire of 1666 sweeps through London, and tragedy lands her in the arms of a dashing nobleman who knows a diamond in the rough when he sees it...

Colin Chase, the Earl of Greystone, has his future all figured out. He's restoring his crumbling castle and estate to its former glory, and the key to its completion is his rich bride-to-be. But the Great Fire lays waste to his plans, saddling him with trouble--in the form of a lowly shopkeeper's daughter with whom he's most inconveniently falling in love...

Buying Time (Angela Evans Series No. 1) by Pamela Samuels Young

Waverly Sloan is a down-on-his-luck lawyer. But just when he's about to hit rock bottom, he stumbles upon a business with the potential to solve all of his problems.

In Waverly's new line of work, he comes to the aid of people in desperate need of cash. But there's a catch. His clients must be terminally ill and willing to sign over rights to their life insurance policies before they can collect a dime. Waverly then finds investors eager to advance them thousands of dollars—including a hefty broker's fee for himself—in exchange for a significant return on their investment once the clients take their last breath.

The stakes get higher when Waverly brokers the policy of the cancer-stricken wife of Lawrence Erickson, a high-powered lawyer who's bucking to become the next U.S. Attorney General. When Waverly's clients start dying sooner than they should, both Waverly and Erickson—who has some skeletons of his own to hide—are unwittingly drawn into a perilous web of greed, blackmail and murder.

1929 Jonathan’s Cross – Book One (The 1929 Series) by M. L. Gardner

This is the first book in the epic 1929 Series. 

Jonathan Garrett has just lost everything. He and his two best friends were operating one of the top brokerages in New York City until the stock market crash of '29. With nothing but the clothes on their backs, these men must start over. Renting a shabby apartment from a business rival with his eye on tormenting Jonathan, they begin to rebuild as best they can. Their wives struggle to make the best of their situations, each coping in her own way. They begin to make friendships that promise to last a lifetime. As the jobs become fewer and danger is at their backs, the stakes get higher for these men to find a way out. Their current poverty, their respective pasts, and their own struggles all threaten to ruin them. With hope, close friends, and a lucky twist of fate, they escape the city just in time. They return to their hometown of Rockport Massachusetts to begin a new life. Living modestly, and faring better than the friends they left behind in the city, they begin to think things are taking a turn for the better. But tragedy is never far behind...