Cover Reveal: Past Imperfect by Alison G. Bailey (Perfect Series # 2)

Today is the cover reveal for Past Imperfect, the second book in Alison Bailey's "Pefect" series.  It really captures the intensity and luminous darkness of this amazing series, right?  (And on a less literary note - to me, nothing says "sexy" like those awesome dorsal dimples our girl Mabry is sporting, right?)

Up for some details?  Here they come!

Series: Perfect #2

Release Date: February 20, 2014

Cover Designer: Robin Harper, Wicked by Design; photography by Abigail Marie, NON`PA*REIL photography

And today's awesome tour is hosted by: Wordsmith Publicity

In Present Perfect (first in the series), Brad Johnson was sexy, cocky, rich and a complete Smurff**ker. He could afford anything he wanted and could charm any girl he set his eyes on. Everything was laid out in front of him, all for the taking except the one thing he craved and needed. A tragic event forces him to reevaluate his life. When he tries to change, will the people in his life let him move on from his past or will they constantly hold him to the life altering mistakes he’s made?

Mabry Darnell is intelligent, ambitious, beautiful, and sassy. Secrets from her past haunt the present causing her to question her actions in order to shield her heart and protect her life.

From the moment Brad and Mabry met, their connection was strong, intense, and electrifying. Both knew they had found the one person who could satisfy what the other ached for. When their pasts collide with their present, will it prevent them from having a future together or will love be strong enough to conquer their demons?

And here's the book that started it all! Intense, sensitive and angst-errific, check it out!

Present Perfect (Perfect #1)

 

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

 About the author

Alison was born and raised in Charleston, SC. As a child she used her imagination to write additional scenes to TV shows and movies that she watched. She attended Winthrop University and graduating with a BA in Theater. While at Winthrop she began writing one act plays which she later produced. Throughout the years she continued writing and producing several one act plays, but then life got in the way and she hung up her pen for a while. On the advice of a friend, she started writing again. In January 2013, Alison sat down at her computer and began writing her first novel, Present Perfect.

Alison lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her husband, Jef, and their two furry children (dogs). She’s addicted to Diet Pepsi and anything with sugar.

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  GoodReads

Undertow by Amber Lynn Natusch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this atmospheric and emotional contemporary romance.  I gather it's a departure for author Amber, who earned her stripes with her PNR/Urban Fantasy Caged series, which I'm def adding to my tbr.  But you'd never know this is her first foray into contemp, based on the sure-footed plotting, captivating characters, and thoughtful themes amply displayed in Undertow.

MC Aesa (pronounced "Ice-ah," but don't call her Ice, unless you want your ice kicked!) is complicated and dimensional, and although she's a prickly one, I found her broken, overcompensating and strong-willed self irresistible. She's returned to the small Alaskan fishing village she stormed away from 9 years ago on the heels of her mother's suicide, to confront and reconcile with her past, and above all with her father.  She's an ER doctor now, about to start her residency, and it's made her sensitive to the fragility of life and relationships.  But her dad, the sailor who all too rarely came home from the sea, isn't making it easy on her.  And when he suggests she ship out with him and his crew for a short crabbing trip before she begins her residency, it becomes quite a test of whether blood is, in fact, thicker than the cold water of the Bering Sea she both loves and hates.

The first couple of chapters introduce the above situation, the characters (including swoony deckhand Decker - I love Amber's names, btw, they're real, but suggestive in a Dickensian kind of way), and the past that Aesa is struggling to overcome.  I also love the way Amber uses the imagery of the home Aesa left behind to reflect the interior landscape of Aesa and her father's relationship, without being heavy handed or too direct.  Once that bit of exposition is over, however, hang on to your Dramamine, because as soon as the Norwegian Queen sets sail, plot developments and events start raining down faster than hail in an Alaskan squall.  And they don't let up until the reader, like Aesa, is left shaking on the shore, wondering what the hell happened, and how we're going to be able to move on in one emotional piece.

There's romance (satisfying and mature), for sure, and conflict and drama - but there's also a deeper story, one of healing and wholeness, of family and secrets, and of the way the past isn't always quite what we thought it was. No review would be complete without mentioning the vivid creation of Aesa's world - I was in the Merchant Marine (summers during undergrad), and Amber aptly recreates the claustrophobic and bone-wearying atmosphere of a hard-working small-crew ship, and the semi-macho culture surrounding it. The bars, the brawls, the bravado, it's all there.

So high kudos to author Amber for creating a gripping, compelling and characterful read, with a fresh and real feeling setting and vibe.  I hope she continues to work her sweet and substantial skills in this genre, as well as in her primary realm of Urban Fantasy.


View all my reviews

Cover Reveal - All Good Things by Jodie Beau (The Good Life #0.5)

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Today is cover reveal day for All Good Things (The Good Life #0.5) by Jodie Beau.
The cover is so pretty and it's perfect for a fun summer romance novel.
What do you all think ... ?

 

Title: All Good Things
Author: Jodie Beau
Age Group/Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Publisher/Release Date: To be self published on 31^st January 2014

Blurb

All Good Things…are wild and free.

This is going to be the best summer ever! Bonfires, pool parties, trips to the beach, throwing her arms in the air while riding down the open road in a convertible – she’s going to do it all.

Roxie has plans. It’s the last summer before college graduation. By this time next year she’ll be living in the “real” world; ie: paying bills, searching for a job that doesn’t require an apron, and maybe even sleeping on a bed that doesn’t turn into a couch. If there’s ever a time to be fun, irresponsible and reckless, it’s now.

But things don’t always go as planned.

Before the summer has even started, Roxie makes a discovery that breaks her heart and shatters her confidence. Her hopes of having the Best Summer Ever go straight in the trash. Forget the beach. Forget the bonfires. Forget summer altogether.

If only her childhood friend, Jake, would let her be. His contagious smile keeps popping up and dragging her to every social event in Ann Arbor. Reluctant at first, his happy-go-lucky attitude becomes an addiction. It isn’t long before Roxie starts to wonder if her longtime friend might be the perfect cure for her heartbreak. This summer might be good after all.

But All Good Things…must come to an end.

**All Good Things is an NA prequel to the contemporary 2013 release The Good Life. The books can be read in either order, or as stand-alones.**

Fred's Notes

So many things to love about Jodie Beau and her lovely The Good Life series.  First (well, for me, anyway) they are set in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  I lived in Ann Arbor for many years, and the whole vibe of it is still part of who I am.  So a book set there, that captures that feel, is going to capture a part of me, too.  Second, whoa, every single one of the reviews of The Good Life is by a trusted friend/reviewer whose taste I admire.  So def gotta get in on that.  Finally, I really love the phrase "All Good Things."  Among other things, it reminds me of this song, by my beloved Weepies, who've played many times at The Ark, in Ann Arbor, one of the coolest venues for folk and indies artists ever.  I hope Jodie won't mind if I link to their song "All Good Things", it's classic Weepies bittersweetness. 

About Jodie Beau

I'm a wife, mom, waitress, book nerd, Chapstick addict, and a really bad driver who still believes in happy endings and can't walk in high heels. Writing is what I do when I'm avoiding other things...like cleaning.

I once had big dreams of being a Hollywood screenwriter.

But then I met a boy and got distracted.

Three years later we met another boy, this one even cuter.

The three of us are now living happily ever after in the Detroit area. All Good Things is my second novel. And our house is kind of a mess :)

**Haven't read The Good Life yet? Well now is your chance!
To celebrate the cover reveal of All Good Things, you can currently pick up
The Good Life for FREE until Sunday!!**

Amazon UK || Amazon US

COVER REVEAL HOSTED BY:

Add to your shelf!

Having a second chance at your once in a lifetime love doesn’t necessarily mean things will go the way you plan.

Logan Brookes and Andrew Eastin thought they had found true happiness, that their lives were finally coming together. Their relationship was no stranger to trials and tribulations, but nothing could have prepared them for the troubles they had yet to experience.

After overcoming her fears only to lose the love of her life again, Logan faced a bitter reality. Finally accepting that she could not change things that were out of her hands, she resolved there was one thing that she could control—her own life, and her own acceptance.

Andrew couldn’t imagine living without Logan. He never dreamed she would turn to another man. Losing her to someone else was one thing, but losing her completely would send him spiraling out of control. When fate intervenes and paths are rerouted, Andrew is faced with unimaginable decisions.

A love interrupted only led to betrayal and more lies, and lies destroy people. Unless, you destroy the lies.

Andrew takes it upon himself to fight for the only thing that has ever mattered in his life. Logan. He would come up against his own family if he had to in order to protect her and her unborn child. If he has anything to say about it, nothing will prevent Andrew
and Logan from breaking free, being together, and interrupting the lies that threaten to end them both.

You still have time to read Book 1 of the Interrupted Series...

Coming soon to:

Amazon * B&N * Kobo  

Currently available on:

Smashwords

Logan Brooks and Andrew Eastin shared a once in a lifetime love. After losing her parents and overcoming many obstacles, she could not handle the possibility of losing him, too. She loved him enough to walk away, for both of their sakes. 

As tragedy strikes again, Logan is on a downward spiral. Andrew knows she needs protection from herself, and he needs to love her through it, even if only from a distance. 

When fate intervenes and allows them a second chance at love, will Logan and Andrew risk it? The Attraction is undeniable. The sexual tension, relentless. She is everything he has ever wanted. He sweeps her off her feet, renewing all that was lost. 

Andrew promised her forever, but can words ever be enough? Can love prevail when life has different plans—bringing on more pain and emotions than imaginable? When lies and deceit corrupt the one thing sacred to them, plans will be ruined, promises will be broken, and hearts will be shattered.

What happens when the unknown threatens all of their dreams? Will Logan and Andrew survive their love, interrupted?

Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

A.J. was born and raised in Amarillo, Texas. Four years ago, she relocated to the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her husband and four wonderful children, Hayden (15), Jacob (13), Riley (11), and Isaiah (10).

A.J. is passionate about working with people with disabilities, and has a long time love of working with munchkins. She currently owns and operates a childcare facility in North Central Texas.

When she is not busy breaking up fights about who is mom’s favorite, or who ate the last bowl of Fruity Pebbles, A.J. enjoys reading and writing. She also likes chatting and laughing with her book club friends. Love Interrupted is her first book and she is currently working on her second and third novels.

Cover Reveal - Misunderstandings, by Tiffany King

MISUNDERSTANDINGS, a new novel by beloved author Tiffany King, is the latest in her Woodfalls Girls NA series, which began with the emotional NO ATTACHMENTS, and continues with the sweet and charming novella, CROSS COUNTRY CHRISTMAS.  The series need not be read consecutively, each is a stand alone, focusing on goings on in the charming Gilmore Girls-esque small town of Woodfalls.

About MISUNDERSTANDINGS

Just when she thought things were looking up…

Two years after a devastating breakup, Brittni Mitchell has moved on from Justin Avery—or so she tells herself. But when she returns to Seattle for her best friend’s engagement party, Brittni finds herself the victim of a disastrously timed elevator breakdown. She’s trapped with the last person she wants to face, and forced to recount the past she desperately wants to forget.

She’s going to have to look back…

When Brittni left her podunk hometown for a big city college experience at the University of Washington, hooking up with a guy like Justin Avery was not part of her plan. Between Justin’s attention-grabbing tattoos, cigarette smoking, and bad boy attitude Brittni quickly chalked him up as “Mr. Wrong.” But his charm was unrelenting, and Brittni’s decision to give Justin a chance quickly turned into the worst choice she ever made.

So that she might be able to move forward.

Now she’s stuck with Justin—literally—and the complicated web of misunderstandings that tied up the truth for two years is about to unravel.

What People Are Saying About It:

“A beautifully woven story of a love that can withstand anything.”—New York Times bestselling author Molly McAdams

“Funny, real, moving and passionate, Misunderstandings is a MUST-READ for New Adult contemporary romance fans.”—New York Times bestselling author Samantha Young

“Sweet and sexy! Great characters and an intriguing romance…So good!”—New York Times bestselling author Cora Carmack

Purchase Links: Amazon Barnes and Noble Apple

About Author Tiffany King

USA Today Bestselling author Tiffany King is a lifelong reading fanatic who is now living her dream as a writer, weaving Young Adult and New Adult romance tales for others to enjoy. She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats). Her addictions include: Her iphone and ipad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, zombies and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask. 

You can connect with Tiffany on her webpage at authortiffanyjking.blogspot.com 
Twitter-@AuthorTiffany 
Facebook-Author Tiffany King

Cover Reveal - Clouds That Were, by Addison Footit

Clouds That Were, by debut author Addison Footit, is an intense
New Adult Contemporary set to be self published in early 2014

ABOUT CLOUDS THAT WERE

Have you ever had a nightmare only to awake and find your life is worse than a nightmare?
A child conceived by mistake, born because there was no other option.
Your life is hell. You can't succeed, you can't be happy, you can't even be sad. You can't be anything.
I never thought I would make it to my eighteenth birthday, I figured I'd be dead by then. I just wanted to make my mother happy, and I always knew the only way to succeed at that was by ceasing to exist.
And then I met Chase. He saved me. From her, from myself, and in the end, from death. My life was so dark and cloudy for so long, I never thought I would see the sun. But with Chase, they were merely clouds that were.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18779437-clouds-that-were?from_search=true

Addison Footit is a major reader about to take that big ole leap of faith into authorhood. She's a YA/NA indie lover, and if you're a fan of awesome indies like Andrea Randall, Michelle Mankin, K.A. Tucker, Aleatha Romig and C.J. Roberts, you'll feel right at home in her angsty but hopeful emotional heartscape. She's also quite the social media maven, so take a like to her at the following spots:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAddisonFootit

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7383260.Addison_Footit

Twitter: https://twitter.com/addifoo

Instagram: http://instagram.com/addifoo

Thanks so much to Kelly, of the amazing Have Book Will Read blog, for organizing Addison's first foray into the love-infested waters of the blog tour world!

Cover Reveal - Come To Me Softly, by A.L. Jackson

From the New York Times bestselling author of
Come to Me Quietly
comes a scorching new adult romance in the Closer to You series.

A second chance at life…
A second chance at love…


Jared Holt never thought he deserved either—until he found both in the arms of Aly Moore. Aly has loved Jared for as long as she can remember, and she’s more than ready for the future they’re making together. But Jared can’t help remembering his own family. And he’ll never forgive himself for what happened to them. How can he allow himself the very happiness he once destroyed?
To live a life worthy of Aly, Jared knows he has to stop running and finally put his past to rest. But when he decides to face his demons head on, he encounters more than he bargained for: a dangerous mix of jealousy, lies, and dishonest intentions. When those intentions threaten Aly, Jared loses all control, giving into the rage that earned him his bad boy reputation years before. And he’ll fight to protect her no matter what it costs…even if he destroys himself in the process.

Excerpt from Come to Me Softly
I gasped when strong. arms wrapped around me from behind. Then I melted when he buried his face in my neck. Jared spun me around and pressed me up against the cool metal of my car door. His hands were on my face, in my hair, slipping down my sides before he brought them back up to force me to look at him. “Thank you.” Desperation poured from him, his hold increasing as he stared down at the shock I felt lining my face. “Thank you for fucking believing in me, Aly. For getting me.”

Fear lashed across his face. Or maybe it was remorse. He swallowed hard, his voice hardened with strain. “I’m scared to think of where I’d be right now without you.”

That fear that had flashed on his face coiled in my stomach. Because I didn’t know where he’d been. Had no idea where the last three months had taken him. How far. How low.

I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.

“You’re here with me now.” I had to believe that was all that mattered.

He grimaced. Gripping my face, he leaned down and kissed me, hard and demanding. There was no soft affection, none of the playfulness from upstairs. This was a seal. A branding. He jerked back. A storm raged in the blue of his eyes. “Don’t think I can’t see all those questions burning in your mind, Aly. And I may not have all the answers right now, but we are going to figure this out. Do you understand me? I promise you that.”

And I saw it all there, the torment that plagued Jared, this beautiful man who had lost his way, the one desperate to find his way home.

A Note From Fred: I love A.L. Jackson's poignant, intense and deeply felt style. It's like poetry, only instead of words, she uses emotions. Well, technically she does use words, okay. But in a tender and subtle way that leads to that lovely throat-constricting, tear-duct squeezing state of catharsis that her readers have to come to know and crave. And Come To Me Softly, and the Closer To You series, promise to deliver that delightful, delicious delirium once again!

Coming Summer 2014!

Goodreads

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Join us for the COME TO ME SOFTY Cover Reveal Party happening all day today! A.L. will be hanging out talking books, boys, and giving away a ton of special prizes from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm MST!

Be sure to enter the COME TO ME SOFTLY Cover Reveal Giveaway!!

Prizes include an A.L. Jackson Ultimate Signed Paperback Collection, signed COME TO ME QUIETLY paperbacks, treats from Sweets by Steph, and prize packs from Molly McAdams, Gail McHugh, Raine Miller, Gretchen de la O, Kim Karr, and Madeline Sheehan!

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And don’t miss COME TO ME QUIETLY, Book One in The Closer to You Series

From the acclaimed bestselling author of Lost to You and When We Collide comes a new adult novel of one woman’s obsession: a man who’s as passionate as he is elusive—and as tempting as he is trouble.…

Aleena Moore is haunted by Jared Holt. It’s been six years since she’s seen her brother’s best friend, the self-destructive bad boy she secretly loved in high school. As the years pass, she knows it’s time to move on. Time to decide between a practical nursing degree and her true dream as an artist. Time to get over Jared and give another guy a chance…

Just when she opens her heart to her friend Gabe, Aly returns home to find Jared sleeping on her couch. The teenage boy she loved has grown into a man she can’t resist. Covered in tattoos and lost in rage, he’s begging to be saved from his demons—the memories of the day he destroyed his family. As the two reconnect, their passion is hot enough to torch Aly’s judgment. But can she risk her future for a man who lives on the edge of destruction?

“Exquisite, beautiful, poignant…A.L. Jackson is in a league of her own.” S.C. Stephens, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Reckless

You can preorder Come To Me Quietly, here!

About author A.L. Jackson

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Take This Regret and Lost to You, as well as other contemporary romance titles, including Pulled, When We Collide, and If Forever Comes.

She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student. She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.

Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children.

Look for Come to Me Quietly and Come to Me Softly coming soon.

www.aljacksonauthor.com

www.facebook.com/aljacksonauthor

http://bit.ly/ALJacksonGoodReads

Thanks so very much, and a major tip of the hat to Shh Moms Reading, Literary Mania Reviews, and Brandee’s Book Endings for organizing this awesome cover reveal!