Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Blog Tour - 'Distractions' by J.L. Brooks

Proud to be a part of my new friend J.L. Brooks' first blog tour for her fantastic new novel, Distractions. My review and a very cool giveaway follow (and how beautiful is that cover?). As always, please feel free to leave comments below. 

Thanks for letting me host, J.L.!







Synopsis:


“We are all pawns in someone else’s game.” 

No one knows this better than Violet Phillips. When her beloved mentor goes missing, she suspects murder, which sends her spiraling out of control and away from the stable life she has built for herself. Soon, her past will begin seeping out with a vengeance. 

“I will teach you how this game is played.”

Self-destruction threatens to consume Violet when a handsome neighbor that has been watching her from afar intervenes on her behalf. Shepard Leone may be six years younger, but it does not stop him from seducing her ears as well as her heart. 

“Fascinating how much life can change in twenty-four hours.”

When Violet is forced to go down a dark road into a past where she must confront the demons that nearly destroyed her, will she be unable to deviate? Struggling with the loss of her missing friend, Shepard will find a way in and reawaken desires that she thought were forever lost. But Violet never forgets that if you are not careful, distractions will be your undoing. 





My Thoughts:

Now THIS is a frickin' frackin' mother effin' BOOK, people!  smiley 167shsx

Not what I expected in that it blessedly strays from formulaic romance, uniquely moves from chapter to chapter in non-linear patterns and underlying the relationship arcs percolates a mystery slowly and quietly destroying our heroine's life. Who did what and why? Who's a good guy, who's a bad guy? Can anyone in this blasted book be trusted??? J.L. requires the reader to actually think a little bit, pay attention and whatever you do, don't blink.

Violet is a mess and has been from quite a young age. I can't even begin to go into the reasons, not only because it would be exhausting lol, but because I want you to read it and find out. She is also ferociously intelligent. It was refreshing to read a female lead who has a career goal other than "quaint boutique owner," "office assistant," "elementary school teacher," or "singer/songwriter" (guilty smiley Whistle ). She's a scientist and this, it turns out, gets her into loads of trouble.

But not before she falls for Shepard, a mere babe at 21, whose p.o.s. father lives next door and whom Shep visits on his breaks from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN (my old stomping grounds!). Despite Vy's slightly unsavory past, their love story is innocent and lovely and J.L. writes it with tenderness. 

Oh but ya know, can't have nuthin nice, this girl. The lovebirds are separated quite dramatically and eventually in saunters Connor, demon spawn first love, to provide some twisted anger-fuckery and another heaping dose of heartbreak before all is said and done. Booooooo! smiley Mad But here, J.L. writes this relationship with thick, broad strokes of darkness. You know it's doomed almost from minute one.

How this book ends will bend your mind and have you screaming, "NO, I REFUSE TO BELIEVE IT!!!" Brilliantly, suspensefully, artistically written. I think my heart stopped.

AND NO CLIFFHANGER (thank God for epilogues)!!!  smiley Sign0200

Much of what I loved about this story is how many points in which I could personally relate to it that many other readers simply won't. The fact that Shepard is a violinist and the first instrument I learned to play was violin. That he attends college in Nashville, TN as did I. That he's an Italian boy (paisan!). That Violet loves her a good soak in a big ass tub, like I do. That if something is old and pretty, she likes it, as do I. Her love for things with historical significance. Her inability to let go of her past and self-destruct because of it (though I think I've broken the cycle, thank God). I simply enjoyed all the different personal surprises that popped up for me in this story, and there's no way J.L. ever could've known it would happen. Stuff like that is kinda creepy and way cool. smiley Wink

So in the end, I loved this book and I am absolutely a new fan of J.L. Brooks and anxiously await what she comes up with next. AND it gets my first five smooch review ever. Get. This. Book.

smiley 16a3c6a

Rating: Five smooches! (out of 5)   smiley Kiss smiley Kiss smiley Kiss smiley Kiss smiley Kiss


BUY DISTRACTIONS NOW:











ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!!!







Meet The Author:




JL Brooks lives with her active family along the Ohio River at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. A former columnist turned novelist, she spends most of her time engaged in women’s health issues and education. Believing everyone has a story to tell, chances are she will encourage you to tell yours.







Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Blog Tour Stop - 'Inseparable' by Missy Johnson







Today is the first day of Missy Johnson's Inseparable blog tour - how excited am I to get to kick things off??? Unforch I didn't have time to review, but I have a couple excerpts - some humor and some hotness - AND a giveaway for you! So take a gander and as always, feel free to leave comments below.

Thanks for letting me host, Missy! ♥


*THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS GRAPHIC SEXUAL CONTENT AND STRONG LANGUAGE 
AND IS INTENDED FOR MATURE ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY.*




Synopsis:


Nineteen year old Lily is still struggling with the death of her identical twin, Abby, a year earlier when she moves away from home for college. 

Following Abby’s death, Lily spent time in a psych facility after she was still seeing, hearing and speaking to Abby as though she was still alive. Now, ready to begin college, Abby only shows up in her dreams. 



A chance encounter with Dane Hansen changes Lily’s life. Lily’s friends warn her off becoming involved with Dane. He’s bad news, according to the rumors, anyway.. 

Now, he’s back, nearly a year after he disappeared off the face of the earth weeks into his freshman year at college. But Dane is far from the popular, womanizing, athlete he once was.

Dane has experienced loss himself, after his six year old sister was abducted and murdered nearly ten years ago. He understands Lily, and the more time he spends with her, the harder he falls. 

There is something he hasn’t told her though, something almost nobody knows, and it’s something that might stop Lily from feeling the same way. 




Excerpt #1:

“Dane Hansen?” She repeated, her voice far above the whisper I would have appreciated. Several students surrounding us stopped their conversations to stare at Gem. Her eyes grew wide.
“I’m so sorry,” She gasped, clapping her hand over her mouth, as she realized just how well her voice had carried through the hall. My face flamed as I stared straight ahead, too terrified to look around.
Surely her voice wouldn’t have carried that far, would it? There were a lot of rows between Dane and us. Slowly, I turned my head in his direction, convinced that he wouldn’t have heard her, but for some stupid reason I needed to check. What I wasn’t prepared for was to see his eyes firmly on me. Our eyes met and he grinned.
Shit. I quickly turned back around to continue my minor breakdown.




Excerpt #2:

His hand ran up my bare leg, lifting my thigh up onto his hip. I gasped as I felt his erection push flush up against my entrance, separated only by his pants and the thin fabric of my panties. His finger toyed with the lace edging, teasing me with his touch, his fingers threatening to dip inside me.
“I better go,” I whispered with all my resolve, when all I really wanted to do was spend the next six hours letting him explore my body. However, I also knew that if I didn’t take things slow, I would regret it. What I was feeling for Dane ran so much deeper than physical lust; the last thing I wanted was to rush into a sexual relationship too early.
“If you have to,” He mumbled, his hands caressing my face, with no intention of letting go. I kissed him again and smiled. He wasn’t making this easy.
“I do have to,” I replied, raising an eyebrow, “I had a great time tonight,” I added, meeting his gaze, my eyes reflecting the happiness in his. Kissing him again, I pulled away, knowing if I didn’t leave right this moment, I wouldn’t be able to leave at all.



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Meet The Author:


Missy lives in a small town in Central Victoria with her husband, and her confused pets (a dog who think she's a cat, a cat who thinks he's a dog...you get the picture). 


When she's not writing, she can usually be found looking for something to read. 




Sunday, May 19, 2013

Sexy Sunday - K.L. Prince


This week's Sexy Sunday features the erotic poetry of Mr. K.L. Prince. These brief, previously unreleased pieces were whipped up especially for my blog today and I couldn't be more honored. Hope you enjoy. Please feel free to leave comments below; writers love to know our efforts are worthwhile. :-)

Thank you for sharing your art with us, K.L.!







YOUR PRESENCE
CLOCKS TICK TO KEEP OUR TREASURED MOMENT IN TIME.
AROMA LACED CANDLES, FLAME WARMS THE SUBLIME.
RESTRAINTS PULL TAUNT, HOT WAX FORMS A LINE.
WORDS CAST THE PROMISE, IT TELLS ME YOUR MINE.
THIS INDULGENCE WE SAVOR, TO SIP LIKE AGED WINE.
GIVING HOPE TO PAINS PLEASURE, OUR LOVE IT WILL BIND.



THIS SOLACE
A DARK CHAIN OF PAIN ANCHORED TO MY PAST
I TREMBLE TO RECALL THE SHADOW IT  CAST
SORROW BLOOMS HER IMAGE BURNISHED TO LAST.
THE VISION PULLS SAIL AND I AM THE MAST.




LOVES VIGIL
A LITHE BODY BOUND, YOUR WHISPERED PLEA A MUST.
THE MASK HIDES SOFT EYES, TO ENHANCE ALL YOUR TRUST.
A NARROW FOCUS NOW GUIDED AND BLINDED BY LUST.
SHE BEGS MY REWARD AND FOR DESIRE I MUST THRUST.




HEARTS SLAVE IS MASTER
TRANQUIL DARKNESS STILLS AS IT GUIDES MY WAY.
A PASSIVE VOICE OF HOPE HER LIPS DARE TO SAY
FATE DICTATES THE PATH A STRANGE TOUCH OF DELAY.
LEATHER CARESSES SKIN NEVER TO LOOK THE SAME.
FIRE LICKS A STEADY COURSE YOU FEEL WITHOUT SHAME.
SHACKLED TO MY CROSS AS YOU HOLD ONTO BLAME.
THIS HEARTS SLAVE IS MASTER AND I CHERISH HER NAME.


(All © May 2013 by K.L. Prince)




Meet The Author:



I am a New Indie Author of Fiction / Adult Romance. My Dancyville series is romance for adults. Looking to add several more titles soon and follow up on my Dancyville series. Reviews from fans of the genre are welcome. I want to Thank my wife Dee for having patience with my passion for writing. I love you!

Unbroken is now RJ #1 of the series and has been updated due to the demand for more! I hope to release Unbridled RJ #2 next as RJ continues his adventures in romance & crime.

A Fancy in Dancyville the historical family saga is currently unavailable and receiving some revisions for re-release. A new book will be available in the near future.

Look for me on Facebook @ K.L.Prince or contact me at afancydancy@hotmail.com.








Friday, May 17, 2013

Cover Reveal - 'Rose' by Alison Chaffin Higson


COMING JUNE 9TH:





Mackenzie (Mack) Harper is a twenty-four year old school teacher who moves to Rose Cottage in Cape Elizabeth for the summer.  She arrives with her six year old nephew, Lucas, who’s staying with her for a few weeks ­while his parents are in Europe.

Placing storage boxes on top of the kitchen cabinets, Mack finds a diary, opening it to the first page it reads, ‘This is the diary of a Rose, dated March 4th, 1947’.  Settling down to read this diary, Mack discovers a love story between Rose and a man named Jacob Evans.

Realizing that Jacob is still alive and around eighty-eight years old, Mack tries to contact him to tell him Rose’s story.  She leaves a message with Jacob’s housekeeper and hopes that he returns her call. 

While talking to her sister on the phone she watches a denim and leather clad guy dismount his Harley and move in next door. Unbeknownst to Mack, he’s Jacob’s thirty-two year old grandson, Dean, who has come to Cape Elizabeth to find out why she wants to talk to his grandfather about a diary and to make sure she isn’t after his grandfather’s money.

Within an hour of actually meeting Dean has his hands on her legs, although due to spilled coffee, he discovers he can’t stop touching her.  Dean was only too glad to escape to Cape Elizabeth, away from his mother, who wants him to be married to Cynthia, her friend’s daughter, who he has no interest in.

Together Mack and Dean try to unravel the mystery of what actually happened to Rose in 1947.

Thomas Degan the owner of Rose Cottage is a loveable eighty year old man who befriends Lucas, taking him fishing and spends time with him reading ‘Our Gang’ Comics.

All these characters come together in a story of loss, love and friendship.




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Sunday, May 12, 2013

Sexy Sunday - The Cougar Diaries (Part I) by Aoife Brennan



This week's Sexy Sunday features an excerpt from The Cougar Diaries (Part I) by Aoife Brennan (and that's pronounced Eef-ah, for us Americans). I'm excited to share this with you, because our heroine is in her 40's and starting her life over again, as opposed to the 25 year old miraculously multi-orgasmic princesses in most erotic romance novels. I haven't read the entire book yet, but as a more seasoned woman myself, I'm certainly gonna! 

Please enjoy. :-)


*THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS GRAPHIC SEXUAL CONTENT AND STRONG LANGUAGE 
AND IS INTENDED FOR MATURE ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY.*







Excerpt:

The name of her lover is changed so as not to be a spoiler for the plot

Walking back to the hotel, we fell into a companionable pattern. Out steps were in sync and our breathing even. Crossing the main road in front of the hotel, Mark held my elbow. It felt kind of natural.  ‘Do you fancy a night cap,’ he asked as we entered the foyer. I looked at him. ‘Yes, that would be nice,’ I said.
Several night caps later, Mark and I were roaring with laughter. His sense of humour was very wicked and poor Matt had received a terrible ribbing in his absence. I dreaded looking at him in the morning.  In the spirit of the new world I also confessed my recent dates, and gave an edited but highly amusing account of my disastrous BDSM experiences. Mark laughed until the tears rolled down his face. ‘Only could happen to you Aoife – although I must confess I thought you were a paragon of virtue.’
‘So did I.’I laughed. ‘They just sort of happened, by accident if you like.’
‘Sex by accident,’ said Mark. ‘Now that’s a great title for a book. You should write it.’
‘Yeah, just what my kids would like.’
Finally, I looked at my watch. ‘It’s late, well it’s only nine thirty, but it’s the early hours in Ireland and I need to sleep,’
‘Do you?’ asked Mark touching my knee. I stiffened and then relaxed. I looked intently at Mark. ‘Do you think that is a good idea?’ I asked.
Mark smiled. ‘I am a great believer in what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.’
‘That’s arse-ways,’ I laughed. ‘It’s what goes on tour, stays on tour and we are in San Francisco anyway. ‘
‘All the more reason for it to stay in Vegas,’ said Mark.
‘So, you would like to have sex by accident with me, ‘I said.
‘Very much,’ said Mark. ‘You can call it research for your book.’
‘How kind, except I’m not writing any book,’ I laughed.
We went to my room giggling as we walked along the corridor. We passed a guest and it was all I could do not to burst out laughing. ‘Oh, now we’ll be found out,’ said Mark in my ear. ‘Why did you have to laugh?!’
Falling against the door, I tried to insert my card. It took several attempts and Mark had begun nuzzling my ear now. I giggled harder and as the door opened, we both fell in. ‘I think I’m a bit tipsy, ‘I said.
‘I think you are too,’ said Mark, ‘and I like it. Drop your knickers Aoife Brennan, now!’
‘Feck off Mark. I’m done with all that BDSM crap,’ I said. ‘If I want to be tied up again, I’ll be, I’ll be, I’ll become a parcel.’
‘A what?’
‘You know, tied up like a parcel. Oh feck it, you know what I mean.’
‘You are the funniest thing, Aoife Brennan,’ said Mark and began pulling down my knickers.
‘Stop calling me by my full name. I’ll think I’m in trouble.’
‘You are. I’m the big bad wolf and I’m going to eat you up,’ said Mark who had also
managed to remove my blouse and bra. I looked at him. ‘What happens in Vegas?’
‘Yes, stays in Vegas.’ Mark nodded seriously and began kissing me. He pushed me back on the bed and I fell giggling. ‘How come I’m naked and you are not?’
‘Easily remedied,’ said Mark and undid his trousers, let them fall and kicked them off with a flourish. Then as I watched, still giggling, he pulled his shirt over his head, swung it around and chucked it flying through the air. He hooked a finger on each side of his boxers and pulled them down and up again just before his cock could be seen. He did this several times until in a fit of giggles I demanded he …’Ger’ em off!’
‘For you my sweet,’ he said and pulled them down in a single movement. He stood naked with a large erection and his socks. I pointed at the socks, ‘Off!’. Mark growled and jumped on the bed on top of me. ‘My saucy wench wants to the give the orders now,’ he barked. ‘If I want to wear my socks, then I shall. It’s safe sex after all.’
I giggled even more. ‘So you’re going to put your socks on your cock?’ I said. ‘That’ll make it pretty safe alright!’
In answer Mark started kissing me. He stopped my giggles with his tongue and by slowly rubbing his erection against my leg. I pulled my arms around him, feeling his shoulders and rubbing my hands down his back. I came to his buttocks and squeezed. ‘Oh,’ moaned Mark into my mouth. He kissed down my neck and reached for my right breast. ‘Oh my god, your nipples are divine Ms Brennan,’ he said and bit them.
‘Oh Mr Wolf,’ I said panting, ‘Eat me, eat me!’
Mark obliged, moving down my belly, kissing and nibbling until he reached between my legs. With one hand, he pulled my lips apart and moved in to suck my clit. I let out a long sigh. His tongue went in and out very deep, licking me out before returning to my clit and sucking and pulling. He put one finger in my pussy and began to pulse it in a rhythmical beat. Then he put two fingers in and moved them in a ‘come hither’ motion. I gasped. This was very good. Mark put three fingers inside and stopped sucking, concentrated instead on thrusting his fingers into me. I could feel a building urge. ‘Yes Aoife, come on,’ he said never varying the rhythm. I could feel something very different inside me, I could feel something building, his fingers pulled steadily deep and strong. ‘Yes, Aoife, you can do it,’ he said. I cried out and suddenly felt a release. I squirted all over Mark. ‘Oh my God, what have I done?’ I said in horror as Mark was drenched in my liquid. Mark laughed. ‘Oh, is that a first?’ he said. ‘You have just squirted Aoife Brennan and I love it.’
I half cried, half laughed. ‘Is that normal? I’m so sorry,’ I said horrified and fascinated all in one. ‘That is fantastic,’ said Mark. ‘Now for the safe sex.’
I looked at him half expecting the socks to make an appearance, but he drew a condom from his trouser pocket. ‘You brought one with you, ‘I said. ‘Were you always going to have sex with me?’
‘I’m a boy scout,’ said Mark, tearing the wrapper and putting the condom on in a swift move. ‘Now, prepare to be boarded, Ms Brennan.’ He fell on top of me and pushed his cock into me. ‘Oh, you have the tightest pussy,’ he said and began thrusting into me. I was still groggy from the unexpected squirting, but arched up into him and held him. He kissed me and began going faster. Mark was still damp and he moved slickly on top of me. He pulled me up into him and bent his head onto my shoulder. His breathing quickened and his thrusting became more urgent.  Our bodies moved in unison as he cradled me to him. ‘I’m coming,’ he said and he did. I could feel his cock vibrating and quiver inside. He collapsed on top of me and breathed heavily.  I stuck a tongue out to lick his shoulder. It tasted of me. I marvelled at the sensation and the wetness. I had never, ever done that before. Wow, another first, I thought. Then I remembered the socks.
‘We had sex and you never removed your socks,’ I said in mock indignation. 

Buy The Cougar Diaries Part I:





Meet The Author:




So how did a nice woman like me end up writing filth?

I see myself in the dock, facing the judge and having to answer his question. How did a nice middle class, middle aged woman like me end up writing lascivious copy? I can’t even pretend that my debut novel is a bodice ripper in the traditional sense because I used some very frank language and also the sex scenes went on for pages. I didn’t hide behind the euphemisms normally employed to soften text. I did not have my heroine have a ‘between her legs’ or ‘lady garden’ and I didn’t have my heroes have ‘throbbing manhoods’ or ‘sabres’. I called a phallus a phallus and a vagina a vagina. Actually, I used colloquialisms instead including the quite harsh words such as pussy and cock. And I had them doing some very descriptive things - did I mention these couplings went on for pages? Also, you will note I also have only one heroine but lots of heroes. I thought it was time to readdress the balance of the player. Women have needs too, don’t you know.  

So, how did a nice woman like me end up writing filth? My first answer is poverty. There is nothing like an empty bank balance to make the mind go into overdrive. Love may be free but lust will pay the bills. I had two choices. I could either go out there and sell my body, but while it had one careful owner and two offspring, and was in good nick for the mileage, it still wasn’t that attractive. Nor did I fancy doing the dance with no pants with lots of strangers possibly even more decrepit than me! Call me old fashioned, but I scratched that idea off soonest. So, what was the alternative? Writing about it. I decided to follow the old adage - where there is muck there’s brass.

And secondly, I also wanted to put sex into a context. My debut novel, The Cougar Diaries, Part I, is not autobiographical but I had so much say about a woman in her forties entering the dating world again. I had read, along with the rest of the world, 50 shades and hated it. I had said, along with the rest of the world, I could write better and so I did. Of course, time will be the judge of whether my debut novel is better than 50 Shades but I think it will give the genre a good run for the money.

While I disliked the actual books themselves, and could not get past the mid-point of the second, I liked what they did. Take a bow EL James for you brought erotica out of the shadows, dusted it down and put it square and centre in the middle of the living room. I liked that. Women have always liked sex but somehow this century we took a back seat. In ancient Ireland, women had a much more important role to play and could by Brehon law even demand conjugal satisfaction. Somehow this equality got lost and women, especially ‘good’ women were not meant to like sex and God forbid, to like arousal in the form of erotic books and visual aids (aka porn).

However, while I admire the good work in outing the fact ‘women like sex’ achieved by EL James, what I disliked was the main female character. Let me just tick off a few of my annoyances. She was young and virginal yet managed to achieve orgasm at the touch of button – and very often not her clitoral button. For a supposed intelligent woman she was just plain stooopid. When I read the opening scene where she was interviewing Mr Grey and she read out the question ‘Are you gay?’ by mistake, I went what?  How could a university educated woman not be able to read a line ahead without speaking the words out loud? Finally, she was ridiculously beautiful, bagged a billionaire and managed to get loads of really expensive presents into the bargain. This is Barbara Cartland territory only with nipple clamps and whips. Actually, Cartland did have whips, just not the nippley things.

So, I wanted to write a bonk buster but based a bit more on reality. I understand fiction is fiction, but I wanted a main character that I could identify with. And since I am a woman in her forties, newly separated, with teenage children and aged parents, I thought I would write a bit about me. Or me if I were in a bonk busting novel.

Also, I think I am not alone. There are many women in their forties re-entering the dating marketplace. And by parallel causes, men too. But since I am a woman, I decided to write from experience (and imagination). I discovered many things when I became single again. I discovered that men, marital status immaterial, hit on separated women. As a male friend said to me, once he knew a woman was separated, she took on a more sexual appearance to him, even more so than single women. He could not explain why he felt this way. I could not either, but I certainly experienced it first hand.  Then women tend not to trust you around their husbands – ridiculous it felt to me, since affairs are rife in modern Ireland, but I was certainly cut from many social outings as a result.

Then, when you separate, you lose friends. Sometimes, in an acrimonious breakup, you lose the lot! But even in amicable separations, it happens by default. I was again shocked as I felt I hadn’t changed. Of course, it is not me that had changed, but the other person’s view of who I was.  Still, I found it very upsetting to lose people who were friends. It took me a long while to figure out that stuff happens. I learnt not to question myself and not to blame them either. Sometimes, friends are for a reason and for a season.

Then there was sex - the whole thorny issue of getting naked with a stranger. As is pointed out to me in my novel, hopefully the man naked in front of you is not actually a stranger. But it still boils down to the same thing – having sex for the first time with a new person. You’d think, like riding a bike, sex should be easier or at least the same twenty odd years into adulthood. Think again. It is twice as daunting starting out again and you need to be a very brave person to take the first step.

Finally, this novel is not anti-marriage. It does not celebrate singledom.  It is a very realistic look at the life of a 40 plus woman learning to the do the dance with no pants again. Learning to live again. The best review I have got so far was from a happily married friend. Half way through the novel, she booked herself and her husband into a hotel without the children for a 24-hour shagathon. Now, that is a good review!

Happy reading!
Aoife Brennan





Thursday, May 9, 2013

Blog Tour Stop - 'Love In All The Wrong Places' by Audrey Harte

Today is the last day of Audrey Harte's tour for her debut novel, Love In All The Wrong Places and I get the honor of closing things out! I've got an excerpt, review AND giveaway! Read on, Lil Lovers...then go BUY IT if you haven't already! ♥





Synopsis:


Annie Chang is in her mid 20s and has lived in Los Angeles all her life. After a series of failed relationships, she's beginning to feel like she will never meet Mr. Right. But seeing one of her longtime BFFs find love on the internet, she decides to give online dating a try. After finally finding an amazing guy who sweeps her off her feet, will he prove to be everything she could have wished for and more or is he too good to be true?




Excerpt:


Thankfully, traffic wasn’t too bad since it was a Tuesday night and she was only running a few minutes late when she pulled up to the valet.  A portly middle aged man of Hispanic descent wearing a zipped up black jacket and black slacks opened the door for her and handed her a ticket. 
Shivering, she rubbed her arms briskly as she moved to the end of the rather long line of people standing outside the club.  Annie thought she was being smart when she decided to leave her coat in the car, knowing how hot she would get once she was inside, but the temperature had dropped several degrees in the late evening hour and she was quickly beginning to regret that decision. 
As luck would have it, the line moved pretty quickly and it was only a matter of minutes before she stood in front of a pair of bouncers, both of them tall and heavily muscled.  The one holding a clipboard gruffly asked for her name.  She gave it to him and held her breath as she waited for him to check the guest list. 
Had Gabe told them to add her name or was she going to look like an idiot?  But he only paused for a few moments before nodding and asking for her ID.  After he returned it, she stuffed it back into her clutch and eagerly headed into the comfort of the much warmer club. 
Needing to do a quick mirror check and give herself a little pep talk, she hurried into the ladies room.  Her make-up and hair still looked fresh, so she just washed her sweaty palms and then applied a fresh coat of lip gloss before texting him.  Okay, nothing to be nervous about, girl.  You got this.

Annie:  I’m here.
Gabe:  Where are you?  Are you already inside? 
Annie:  Yeah, I just left the ladies room in front.
Gabe:  Stay there.  I’ll come get you.
Annie:  Okay.

This was it — the moment of truth.  Annie stood there feeling a little awkward as a swarm of girls moved in and out of the ladies room, some of them looking at her as they passed by.  She tried to ignore their stares as she scanned the room for a tall guy who looked like Gabe’s pictures. 
It wasn’t too long before she found him moving smoothly through the crowd of people.  A moment later he saw her as well, and his eyes lit up as a slow, sexy smile curved his lips.  Her breath caught as she did a mental back flip and cheer in her head.  Hot damn, she had hit the jackpot. 
His dark brown hair looked like it had been buzzed recently and he wore a black t-shirt and a pair of distressed jeans with a black and silver studded belt and a pair of looped silver chains hanging down one side.  She smiled appreciatively as she noticed the tattoos on both of his toned arms and the diamond stud earrings in both of his ears.
“Hey…Annie, right?” he asked with a raised eyebrow when he was close enough for her to hear, then moved forward to give her a quick hug when she nodded.  She got a quick whiff of his scent which was a mix of aftershave and cologne…a little spicy, a little musky and absolutely delicious.   “You look insanely hot,” he murmured in her ear before he pulled away and winked at her.  “Come on, let’s get you a drink.”  He grabbed her hand and led her inside the club and then to the closest bar.  “What’s your poison?” he asked and she thought for a moment before responding.
“Um, you pick…surprise me.”
“Ha, you sure about that?”
“Yeah, I can handle it.”
“Alrighty.”  He leaned towards the bartender to give him their order, then handed over his credit card and told him to keep the tab open.  A minute later, the bartender pushed two shots towards them.  Gabe picked one up and handed it to her, then picked the other up and raised it to clink against hers.  “Cheers!” he yelled over the thumping music.
“Cheers!” she yelled back, then tossed it back like a champ.  Holy shit fire.  Can’t breathe.  Going to puke.  Goddamn it.  Why did he have to pick Tequila?  Gabe tossed his back with no problem, then burst out laughing when he saw her face.
“Oh wow, I’m sorry.  You look a little green.”  Shaking her head, Annie smiled weakly and patted her chest with one fist.
“I’m fine…or I will be in a minute.”
“You said surprise you.”
“I know, I know.  I deserved it.”  Annie didn’t dare admit to him that she’d felt so nervous and flustered at being in such close proximity to him that basic thought process was difficult for her at the moment.  When he had taken his hand in hers and led her to the bar, asking what she wanted to drink, she couldn’t think of a single thing to order.  It had been much easier just to let him pick something for her.  Now she knew that was a bad idea and had a drink order ready when he asked her what she’d like next.  “Kamikaze shot straight up.”  Gabe raised his eyebrow and chuckled as she hastily blurted out her request, but he turned and placed the order, holding up two fingers as he spoke to the bartender.
“Okay, we’ll do your girlie shot now.” 
She smiled gratefully at him and found herself starting to relax and bounce in place to the pounding music as the current song began to reach its crescendo.  Soon Gabe was handing her a Kamikaze shot and lifting his to cheer with hers once again.  She had no problem tossing the shot back smoothly without coughing and making a face.  Kamikaze shots were her go-to drink and she didn’t often find bartenders who made them well, but this one was definitely the exception.  She appreciated how fresh it tasted and how smoothly it went down.  This time she was the one who motioned the bartender over, holding up two fingers and pointing to the now empty shot glasses. 
After two more rounds of shots, Annie was starting to feel really good and grabbed Gabe’s hand to drag him out on the dance floor.  She made her way into the middle of the crowd, not letting go of him until she finally turned around to slide a hand around his waist and pull him close to her as she began to dance.  He was so much taller than she was, even with her heels on, and had to lean down to shout to her over the loud music that pumped through the club.  “Now I warned you I don’t really dance.” 
Rolling her eyes, she raised on her toes to get closer to his ear.  “Just hold onto me and let your body move to the music.”  She grabbed his hands and placed them around her hips, his long fingers wrapping firmly around her.  The music pulsated as she swayed her hips back and forth slowly, eyes closed, her head bobbing in time to the thudding bass.  He felt so big and strong pressed closely against her and she felt a feeling of euphoria as they moved together, letting the hypnotic song control their movements.  Men and women danced around them on all sides, their sweaty bodies pressed against each other as everyone moved to the compelling beat. 
“Who’s this song by?” he asked when he saw her lips move as she sang along. 
“Kaskade and Deadmau5.”
“I think I really like this song, especially now that I’ve seen you dancing to it.”  He smiled down at her and she felt butterflies rise in a sudden whirlwind through her stomach. 
“It’s called I Remember.”  
“I don’t know why, but I just feel like…it feels like I knew you once and that I’m finally seeing you again after a long time.”  She wasn’t sure if he was being serious or if it was just the alcohol talking, but she was seriously buzzed and feeling good and so ready for his kiss when it came, that he could have been quoting Shakespeare or singing Sir Mix-A-Lot and it wouldn’t have mattered. 
His mouth was intoxicating and his lips were warm and soft as they began to move against hers.  He dipped his tongue gently between her parted lips and slid it against her own as they continued to dance closely to each other.  The kiss deepened, quickly turning from sweet to passionate as his hands moved down to cup her ass, pulling her tightly against the hard, lean length of him as he continued to kiss her like he couldn’t get enough of the taste of her.  It was so amazing and felt so right to be dancing in his arms, like she just belonged there.  
More and more, Annie was really wishing that there were no clothes between them as they continued to make out like teenagers and rub against each other in time to the music.  All caution had flown out the window with the second Kamikaze shot.  All she wanted more than anything at that moment was to have this delicious stud of a man pounding into her all night long.  He was lean and toned, but not overly muscled — some girls may consider him too skinny, but she had heard things about skinny guys and she was definitely in the mood to find out if the rumors were true. 
Crooking a finger at him, she said “I want you” in his ear when he bent his head down closer to hear her.  Straightening back up, he looked down at her intently through hooded eyes for a few moments before finally responding.  She gave him her best “Come fuck me” smile and traced her fingers in lazy circles around his waist. 
“Sweetie, you keep rubbing yourself against me like that and keep looking at me with those fuckin’ sexy bedroom eyes, you may end up getting more than you bargained for.” 
Annie smiled wickedly back at him and asked tauntingly, “Hmm, is that a promise?”  A new song had started to play and had a harder driving beat.  Gabe must have been feeling the alcohol in his blood as he was now moving with surprising dexterity as he danced around her. 
She could only assume that the hesitation he had shown before when she had asked him if he danced was probably the result of bad experiences, trying to dance with girls a lot shorter than him.  But she knew that you could be tall and still move your body to a basic beat and lose yourself in the rhythm of the music.  He seemed to have picked up on that rather quickly himself as he was now dancing with total abandon, like he’d been born on the dance floor.  
They bounced up and down together as the beat popped and rolled and repeated again, waving their hands in the air with everyone around them.  The music kept pounding, the bass reverberating from the floor through their feet and spreading throughout the rest of their bodies as sweat dripped down their faces, but still they kept dancing.  A few minutes later, the music finally faded out and transitioned into the next song.  Gabe motioned his head towards the bar and she nodded and followed him off the dance floor, her hand firmly gripped in his. 
“Another Kamikaze?” he offered.
“Sure.  Make it a double.” 
He laughed and shrugged.  “Your funeral.” 
“Aww…well, will you hold my hair if I have to puke?” she asked, wrinkling her nose as she looked up at him.
“That depends.”
“On what?” she asked curiously.
“Whether I’m going with you to your place tonight.”
“Oh…well yeah.”  Annie looked at him like that had been a dumb question.  “I thought I had made that pretty obvious the way I was dry humping you out there.”
“Well, in that case...”  He pulled her close to him and kissed her deeply again, nipping lightly at her lower lip before sweeping his tongue back over to sooth it.  “I say forget the drink and let’s get out of here.” 
She didn’t need to be told twice.  “Okay,” she agreed, nodding happily.
“Okay.”  He kissed her once more before waving down the bartender to close out his tab.  After settling the bill, he reached for her hand and led her through the crowd and out of the club.  


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My Thoughts:


Okay, this is going to be one of my shorter reviews because, like a dumb ass, I waited till the last minute to write it up even though I finished my ARC weeeeeeeks ago...but how much can you pick apart a book you really, really enjoyed, anyway? Love In All The Wrong Places is a pretty great first novel that shakes the erotic romance genre up a little bit in the process (and praisaluiah, cuz it needs it!). It's refreshing that we aren't introduced to "the one" right away - in fact we go through (technically) four hotties in one book! Okay three hotties and one wuss-puss that starts the whole thing off (I have a theory that he's gay, but I digress smiley Indifferent0027 ). 

That's not to say that Annie, our heroine, is a skank er nuttin' - merely a young, beautiful, sexually liberated girl in L.A. who really wants to be loved and takes to internet dating to try and find it. And on Craigslist at that! Naturally, hijinks and shenanigans ensue and our sweet girl makes some really poor choices that leave her heartbroken and not a little humiliated. I actually caught myself saying out loud at one point, "Oh, sweet Jesus...why did you...??? Oh, honey. Bless your heart." smiley No  Annie's insecurity (thanks largely in part to Wuss-Puss) takes over her common sense on more than one occasion...but if you weren't young and stupid once then you haven't lived proper, if you ask me. She's just looking for her HEA and I'm sure we've all been slappy stupid for love - or what we thought was love - at one point or another. Add on the insecurity, loneliness, rejection and the friggin' shit stew that is Craigslist and you basically have the makings of a fascinating train wreck of a story that you won't be able to put down. smiley 16a3c6a

Also have to hand it to Audrey that each guy she introduced was vastly different from each other. One had a particularly fascinating accoutrement I might like to experiment with myself, if I can find it! I won't tell you what it is. You'll have to read to find out.  smiley Whistle

Lastly, I love whenever a gay bestie shows up (I have many in my real life and one of them became a character in my own work, too). They always smack down the realness and bring the comedy - and in this case, dessert also. Every Grace or Karen needs her Will or Jack. smiley Crush 

Yet again we've got another cliffhanger - it's all the rage these days. So frustrating! But I highly anticipate the follow up to see what happens with Annie and the adorable boy she was just getting to know when we're left hanging. I certainly hope Audrey is typing her little fingers to the bone right this minute!

Go get it. You will enjoy it!

Rating: Four and a half smooches! (out of 5)    smiley Kiss smiley Kiss smiley Kiss smiley Kiss    



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Meet The Author:



Born and raised in Hawaii, Audrey Harte grew up an only child for the first eight years of her life, which forced her to use her imagination to keep herself entertained. In 1991, she moved to Nebraska where she attended junior high and high school and participated in several plays and musical productions at the local community college and West Nebraska Arts Center. In 1998, Audrey relocated to Los Angeles, California where she has lived ever since. She has been writing poetry and song lyrics since she was young, but only more recently has she finished her first book. Having always been an avid reader, some of her favorite authors are Nora Roberts, Johanna Lindsey, E. L. James, Sylvia Day, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Christina Dodd, Alice Clayton, Jamie McGuire, Gina L. Maxwell, Colleen Hoover, Emily Snow, S.C. Stephens and Kimberly Knight (her real life BFF).

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