Release Day Launch and Giveaway: "All Broke Down" by Cora Carmack

  Yowza! We are extremely excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Cora Carmack's ALL BROKE DOWN!! ALL BROKE DOWN is a New Adult Contemporary Romance novel being published by HarperCollins, and it is the 2^nd book in The Rusk University Series.

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About ALL BROKE DOWN: In this second book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack’s New Adult, Texas-set Rusk University series, which began with All Lined Up, a young woman discovers that you can’t only fight for what you believe in . . . sometimes you have to fight for what you love. Dylan fights for lost causes. Probably because she used to be one. Environmental issues, civil rights, corrupt corporations, and politicians—you name it, she’s probably been involved in a protest. When her latest cause lands her in jail overnight, she meets Silas Moore. He’s in for a different kind of fighting. And though he’s arrogant and infuriating, she can’t help being fascinated with him. Yet another lost cause. Football and trouble are the only things that have ever come naturally to Silas. And it’s trouble that lands him in a cell next to do-gooder Dylan. He’s met girls like her before—fixers, he calls them, desperate to heal the damage and make him into their ideal boyfriend. But he doesn’t think he’s broken, and he definitely doesn’t need a girlfriend trying to change him. Until, that is, his anger issues and rash decisions threaten the only thing he really cares about, his spot on the Rusk University football team. Dylan might just be the perfect girl to help. Because Silas Moore needs some fixing after all.   Excerpt: I think I get it then. That decision I saw in her eyes back in the kitchen. That’s what this, what I’m about for her, too. I’m just another part of whatever rebellion she started earlier today. About doing what she wants, not what’s expected of her. “We’re not talking about me, though,” she says. “So you went to meet your friend, and then what happened?” She keeps her eyes down as she picks up the gauze and begins winding it snugly around the knuckles of one hand, and then the other. “He said the wrong thing.” “Which was?” “Dylan.” Now it’s her that’s pushing too hard. I didn’t want to talk about things with my friends, and I won’t talk about them with her, either, no matter how gorgeous she is. “I’ll guess. You were mad about what he did, and he wasn’t sorry.” “This isn’t middle school, Pickle. He didn’t hurt my feelings. He said some shit he had no business saying, and it pissed me off. The end.” “But you don’t think some of that anger stems from what you feel is a betrayal of your friendship?” She finishes taping down the last of the gauze, but doesn’t let go of my hand. “I think you’re analyzing me again. Making things more complicated than they are.” “And I think you’re just a guy who doesn’t like to admit he has feelings.” She drags out the word, teasing me with some goofy smile on her face. I turn my hand over so I can clutch her wrist. I curlmy other bandaged hand around her waist and pull her closer. “I feel plenty of things.” The teasing stops. She swallows. “I wasn’t talking about that kind of feeling.” With her standing and me sitting, I’m eye level with her chest. I see the sharp rise and fall as she sucks in a breath. I want her in my lap again, straddling me this time. “Doesn’t mean we can’t talk about that kind of feeling. Or experiment with it.” “Is that Stella girl an ex?” I cough, surprised. My throat twists uncomfortably, and it takes me a couple of solid breaths to get a hold on myself. “Ah, no. Stella and I have never dated.” “Have you—” “Do you ever run out of questions?” “Not ever.” She turns playful again, and I’m done doing this the careful way. If she wants a rebellion, I’ll be the one to give it to her. I want her against me, and I’m tired of waiting. I pull her forward, insinuating my knees between hers, and her body naturally follows, settling across my thighs. Her lips part, but she catches herself before she gasps this time. I keep her steady with my hands at her waist and say, “I’ll make you a deal. A question for a kiss.” Tentatively, she lays her palms against my shoulders. They rest there, her grip light and casual. She ponders my offer for a moment, and it drives me mad that she can do that while our hips are inches away from alignment. “Okay then. Are you—” I cut her off. “Not so fast, Dylan Brenner. I’ve already answered one question. We’ve got to settle up first.” I wrap her braid around my hand like I’ve been waiting to do all night, and I use it to pull her head back just enough that I can crush my mouth against hers.

And don’t forget to grab your copy of ALL LINED UP Today!

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About Cora Carmack: Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.      

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Author Goodreads ** ALL BROKE DOWN Goodreads

 

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Review: "Epic" by Lark O'Neal

A GOING THE DISTANCE NOVEL Jess Donovan wants a better life than the one she was born to, but how do you figure how what you want when life has never been anything but a series of hurdles? A sexy series about figuring out what you want by falling in love, trying life on, and uncovering the secrets that have held you back for a lifetime. EPIC Book Three Every decision is an ending ... and a beginning Broke and close to broken-hearted, Jess Donovan doesn't know what to do with her life. She's lost her job and she's discovered that the man she loves, the charismatic and elusive Tyler Smith, has a troubled past that's left him damaged...perhaps beyond repair. Unable to trust him or her feelings, when her long-lost father invites her to visit him a continent away, she leaps at the chance to get some perspective. In dazzling New Zealand, her fortunes seem to be turning way, way up. She lands a lucrative gig in a tourism commercial, cast opposite Kaleb Te Anga, a guy who's Tyler's opposite in every way. When things heat up between them on-set, fake kisses turning to hot real kisses, Jess finds herself torn. Is this just a holiday hook-up, or something deeper? How can she feel so much for two different people, and how will she ever choose between them? If she gets that chance ... because her indecisive heart might mean she'll lose them both. EPIC is the third installment in the Going the Distance series. Read Random and Stoked, the first two books. Coming in Winter: BRILLIANT

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

So after I read "Stoked", I was totally on board Team Tyler. Like, I could've been voted president, that's how pro-Tyler I was. And I thought Jess was being extremely unfair by breaking things off with him just for keeping the whole snowboarding/parole arrangement thing secret.  But that was all before I met Kaleb.  And man, after reading "Epic", I can totally understand Jess's dilemma.  Choosing between these two guys would be a nightmare!  I have no idea what direction Lark O'Neal is going to take this series, but either way, I just have to find out!

Not only are the characters in this series fantastic, the setting is too.  I've always wanted to travel to New Zealand, but realistically, that is not going to happen for quite some time.  Seeing New Zealand through Jess' eyes, and with Kaleb as her tour guide, I could clearly picture everything from the cities to the beaches and vineyards she visited.  It was a truly wonderful reading experience!

There's a bit of a mystery surrounding Jess' past.  She does not remember much of her childhood in New Zealand, and wants very much to find out why her mother took her from her father and moved them across the world to the States.  While this part of the story takes a backseat to the romance/love triangle aspect, it was present enough to make me curious and want Jess to find all her answers in "Brilliant".  

In short, if you love the New Adult genre and haven't discovered the "Going the Distance" series by Lark O'Neal yet, get your butt in gear!  The first book, "Random",  is free right now everywhere ebooks are sold (oh, except Barnes and Noble, looks like)!  Read my four star review here.  

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My rating: 4 stars

Review: "Truth or Dare" by Mira Lyn Kelly

In a deliciously sexy twist on the classic game, Mira Lyn Kelly proves that when playing truth or dare—always choose dare. After her one attempt at commitment ends with the discovery that her fiancé already has a wife and kid, Maggie Lawson vows that the only people she’ll love ’til death do they part will be her friends. Unfortunately that means Maggie letting her bestie rope her into a year-long dating dare: score a new date each month or pay a penalty. Seems doable—until Maggie’s date stands her up, leaving only one option: the sexy stud who just moved in upstairs. The problem? He and Maggie can’t stop fighting—and that’s just the beginning. His name is Tyler Daniels and the last thing he needs is his neighbor distracting him with her girl-next-door smile and sharp tongue. Tyler’s in Chicago for one reason: to woo back his selfish ex in order to reclaim the child he once thought was his—and that means keeping Maggie out of his bed. A tall order, since Maggie has become a bigger temptation than he ever expected to face. But before they can even consider leaving the past behind, Maggie and Tyler must accept a brand-new dare: real, forever love. Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from other Loveswept titles.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this book.

A truly engaging read, I thoroughly enjoyed these characters from page one! I found Maggie to be sweet, funny, loyal and feisty, which is everything I appreciate in a heroine.  Tyler, on the other hand, was completely...well, pretty awesome, actually!  Aside from how rude he was to Maggie at their first meeting, he was pretty much the ultimate fictional boyfriend.  

I loved watching Maggie and Tyler's relationship develop from outright animosity to friendship and eventually love. Kelly is a master at straddling that line between love and hate with these two, and I was absolutely riveted, just waiting to see where Tyler and Maggie would end up, especially when Tyler's past relationship gets thrown in the mix. I won't spoil anything for the prospective reader here, but I will say it's not a simple matter in the least, and the way Tyler dealt with it in the end just made me love him more!

There were some areas that I felt could have been improved upon.  I would have liked more background in regards to Maggie's friendship with Ava, Ford and Sam. They all had such a great little group going, but the details were rather absent.  I also felt that the title didn't go with the book at all- there were only two mentions of the words "truth or dare" and none of the characters ever played the game, so this didn't make sense to me.  Overall, though, I had a great time with this book and I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

My rating: 3 stars

Review: "Stone of Destiny" by Laura Howard

Allison thought it was crazy enough when she found out her father, Liam, wasn't entirely human. But now she has to join his magical allies to unravel his former mistress's plans. Aoife wants to keep Allison's parents apart forever. Despite Allison's efforts to keep Ethan, the only guy she's ever cared about, out of this supernatural mess, fate keeps throwing him back into the mix. Will Allison be able to find the amulet that holds the enchantment Aoife placed on Liam and destroy it? Are Ethan' s feelings for Allison strong enough to endure the magic of the Tuatha De Danaan?

Thanks to Netgalley and Indie Inked for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Once again, I find myself reading a sequel to a book I discovered through Netgalley, and once again I find myself happy that I became a reviewer so that I can enjoy these more obscure reads.  I probably would never have picked up "The Lost Ones" originally if it hadn't caught my eye on Netgalley, and thus wouldn't have felt obligated to follow through with "Stone of Destiny", both of which were fun reads for me.

"Stone of Destiny" picks up right where "The Lost Ones" finished, and as such, I needed a bit of a recap as to what had happened previously.  I thought that Howard did a decent job of carrying the story on without losing me, but I would have liked more insight into Allison's relationship with Ethan. Why was she so smitten with him, and vice versa? I couldn't really remember, and it was like they jumped from a little bit more than friendship to a full blown romance without any real development.

In this installment, Allison is trying to stop Aoife from wreaking havoc in her and her parents' lives.  She is able to enlist the help of several other characters, both human and fae, in her pursuit of Aoife, but runs into problems in that she doesn't know who to trust.  A good portion of the book is spent learning about some of these new characters and what their capabilities are and what their relationships are to everyone else.  Oh, what a tangled web we weave!  

It's not all serious, however.  There are some cute moments when Allison travels to Ireland with Ethan and Liam, her father.   It's also at this time that Howard provides us with some swoony moments between Allison and Ethan, although I was kind of hoping for more, I must admit.  Anyhoo, things quickly turn serious again with some action and tension, before there's a bit of a cliffy.  

I can't help but feel like the entire book was a bit rushed.  I'm rather torn in that I'm happy I read "Stone of Destiny" but I still want more.  That said, I'm looking forward to the next book in this series to find out what happens next!

Review: "Priya in Heels" by Ayesha Patel

A new adult title from Entangled’s Embrace imprint… Love doesn’t conquer all…does it? Priyanka Patel is the epitome of an obedient daughter. She’s finishing up her medical residency at one of Houston’s busiest emergency departments, and has agreed—albeit reluctantly—to marry the man her family has chosen for her. The only thing that can derail the “perfect” life laid out before her is the sexy musician down the hall who wants into her life…and into her bed. Tyler O’Connor has been infatuated with Priya since she treated his sprained ankle in the ER, and after saving her from a brutal attack, he can't get her out of his head. When Priya puts her family's wishes before their relationship, agreeing to an arranged marriage with another man, Tyler is devastated. But love is fierce and unreasonable and clashes with the carefully sculpted life her parents want for her. Is going after her heart such a big deal, or will it truly unravel Priya’s world?

My thanks to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this book.

I originally requested this title because the synopsis reminded me of the situation of one of my best friends when we were just finishing university.  And in fact, as I was reading "Priya in Heels", I was brought back in time to where I couldn't understand why my friend would feel obligated to meet men that her parents felt were a possible match for her.  It just seemed so strange to me, that in this day and age, and in this country, people were still arranging marriages for their children.  My friend tried to explain the reasoning of this to me, but in all my ignorance, I still couldn't fathom it.  

Anyway, because of this relationship with my friend, I felt some sort of personal investment in this book.  It started off strongly.  Priya and Tyler meet when Priya treats him in the ER for a sprained ankle.  Immediately there is an obvious attraction between the two, and through the course of the first third of the story, they have several coincidental meetings, and some that are orchestrated by Priya's roommate and best friend.  

I found Priya rather hard to warm up to.  She was quite judgmental, to the point where I didn't even know why she was friends with the girls she was friends with from the way she described them.  One dressed promiscuously and had relationships with non-Indian men, so Priya looked down on her.  The other friend was very traditional and inexperienced in matters of the heart, so Priya seemed to look down on her as well.  When Priya first met Tyler, she thought he was a musician, so she looked down on him for that, and didn't even believe him at first when he said he worked for NASA.  Like, she's the only dedicated career person around!  Her attitude really irked me!

Priya has a very close relationship with her parents, and one of the overriding themes of the book is how much she wants to please them.  After meeting a couple of men her parents introduced her to and turning them down, Priya is finally introduced to Manuk, a dentist who seems to fit the bill in every possible way. Priya finds that she cannot turn down Manuk without severely disappointing her parents, but at the same time she cannot deny her growing feelings for Tyler.  What's a girl to do?  It was here that I first became dismayed with the direction of the plot.  Something happened that would be considered a spoiler, so I won't state what it is, but I will say that although I could empathize with Priya's situation, I really had a hard time respecting Priya's mother after it happened. 

Tyler seemed pretty great at first, if a little pushy.  I liked how the relationship between him and Priya started with friendship and developed slowly.  But then, something happened that really turned me off, and no matter how hard I tried, any love I had for Tyler was lost.  Another spoiler that I won't reveal here, but for me, it was a deal breaker, and completely unacceptable.  If it had happened earlier in the book, I would have DNFed right then and there.  As it was, I felt obligated to finish seeing I'd already put in so much time.

So, that brings me to rating time, which is really difficult in this situation.  On the one hand, I enjoyed the fact that this book was different than the typical New Adult fare, what with the interracial romance and cultural obstacles the characters needed to overcome.  The writing was well done, and I liked getting a look into Indian culture.  These aspects would easily put this book at a four star rating from me.  However, the things I didn't like didn't just irritate me, they pissed me off!  Those things really hurt this book, in my opinion.  After careful consideration, I'm awarding "Priya in Heels" 3 stars overall.

My rating:

Review: "Temptation" by Robin Covington

She needs to be good. Five years ago, Kit Landry was homeless and alone at sixteen. Determined to ditch her crappy life, she moved to Nashville with only $200, her guitar, and a notebook full of songs. She hit it big as America’s country sweetheart, but a year of living like a rock star plus a stint in rehab has killed any good will she had with her label. The suits have ordered Kit to shape up or ship out of the limelight. The last thing she needs is a hot, sexy distraction with a sinful smile. He doesn’t know the meaning of the word. Max Butler is as far from a celebrity as you can get and he likes it that way. A Nashville firefighter, he’s living the single life with a revolving door of parties, friends, and a different woman in his bed every night. When his normal life suddenly collides with the girl on his favorite Rolling Stone cover, he sees the perfect chance to fulfill his ultimate fantasy and see just how bad Kit can be. Sometimes bad is so very good. With three weeks until Kit leaves for her big tour, Max promises to give her a break from being the good girl--no strings attached. But when hot days lead to sultry nights, the lines get blurred and suddenly three weeks of bad might not be good enough.

My thanks to Netgalley and Burning Up the Sheets, LLC Publishing for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this book.

Kind of bored by this. There's nothing that really stands out about this book that  comes even close to fascinating. We've got the gun-shy guy who's been burned before and doesn't want a commitment. Then we've got the gun-shy career girl who doesn't have time for a commitment. But somehow we know that love will conquer all and they will commit to each other.  At around 60% I found myself asking if I really cared if these two characters would find a way to make it work, and my answer was no. But seeing this wasn't a completely painful read, I decided to stick it out in case of a pleasant surprise.  Did I get it? In a word, no. This book was easy to put down and hard to pick back up, and that is never a good thing.

Max is great. Maybe a little too great. Aside from his fear of commitment, he's pretty much perfection on a stick. Kit? Yeah, she's pretty great, too.  Aside from her tragic past, which she's fought tooth and nail to move above and beyond, she's pretty much all that and a bag of chips.  You see where I'm going with this?  The problem with characters like these is that they're a dime a dozen, and I've already read about thousands of them, and I'm bored of them all!

The plot?  Same thing!  I've read variations of this same outline a thousand times!  Boy meets girl. There's chemistry, they can't stop thinking about each other, there are numerous encounters featuring steamy looks and electric touches.  Something happens to break the happy couple apart, but against all odds, they come to their senses and declare their everlasting love and devotion to each other.  The only thing about "Temptation" that stands out is that the action takes place in Nashville amidst the excitement of the country music industry.  Oh, sorry, forgot about the sex scandal.  That was original.  Or was it?  Wasn't that in an episode of "Nashville"?  Hmmm, this whole book reads like a script from the TV series, come to think of it...

One thing I did like about "Temptation" was that Max and Kit didn't mess around getting to the physical side of things. They were up front about their attraction to each other and decided to go for it straight away. And why not? As long as everyone involved is cool and up front about where a relationship, or non-relationship as the case may be, is headed, then go for it I say.  It only gets messy when those dang feelings get involved! 

Anyway, would I recommend this book to anyone?  I suppose if the synopsis sounds like something you would like, and if you're not tired of the same old cliches, then you will probably enjoy this book.  Just don't expect anything life changing to come out of the experience.

My rating: 2.5 stars

Review: "Haze" by Paula Weston

"But what if we can’t find Jude?" He leans closer. His breath is warm on my ear. "We will." "How can you be so sure?" I want to believe him so badly, but this is Rafa. The guy who’s all action and no plan. His smile is tired, knowing. An echo of a shared past I don’t remember. "Because I’m not smart enough to give up, and you don’t know how to." Gaby Winters’ nightmares have stopped but she still can’t remember her old life. Still can’t quite believe she is one of the Rephaim—the wingless half-angels who can shift from place to place, country to country, in the blink of an eye. That she was once the Rephaim’s best fighter. That demons exist. That Rafa has stayed. But most of all, she can’t quite believe that her twin brother, Jude, might be alive. And Gaby can’t explain the hesitancy that sidetracks the search for him, infuriates Rafa, and sends them, again, into the darkest danger.

My thanks to Netgalley and Tundra Books for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This series is seriously so cool!  I thought I was kind of over the whole angel thing.  I loved the Mortal Instruments series when I first read it (hey, I'm not ashamed!) until the fourth book, where it got pretty old.  I read "Hush, Hush", and thought it bit, hard.  I read "Fallen" and thought it was boring and stupid.  So why do I love these "Rephaim" that Paula Weston has created?  I'm not sure exactly - it could be the Australian setting, or the characters (okay, Rafa is just, yum!  Love him!!!) or possibly the world building involved.  Maybe it's the writing!  I love how it's been a year or more since I read "Shadows", and Weston is able to keep me in the loop, fill me in and remind me of the history of these characters, and not make me feel like she's dumping a whole load of crap on my head.  I've read a couple of other sequels lately where I felt totally lost, and it made the reading experience confusing and much less enjoyable than it could have been, so I really appreciate Weston's ability to  segue from one book to the next with ease.  

I'm not sure I got to know Gaby any better in "Haze" than I did in "Shadows", and that is one area I felt was lacking.  Gaby still can't remember anything from before the accident, except the memories of her and Jude that were planted, which aren't even "real" memories.  Although we do see her progress a bit in her fighting and shifting abilities, I would have liked to see more growth overall, if that makes sense.  Like maybe if she remembered something about her former life.  I don't know.  I am, however, enjoying how her relationship with Rafa is progressing -  there's still quite the mystery between them, and Rafa is definitely NOT spilling the beans.  I want to know so badly how things end up between these two!  

I feel like this series is building steadily, and while it's true that not a ton happened here plot-wise, I don't feel like "Haze" suffered from that sophomore slump that many second books in a series are afflicted by.  There was still a lot of action, a bit more romance, and some intriguing character interactions and developments.  I am sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens next!

My rating: 4 stars 

Release Day Blitz and Giveaway! "Fractured Lines" by Jen McLaughlin

Fractured Lines by Jen McLaughlin was released today! This is an adult, standalone novel that is part of the Out of Line series. Be sure to check out the links below and the contest for some hand-made items by Jen!

  BOOK BLURB: The lines we once crossed so easily have widened and torn us apart… Once upon a time I thought Finn and I would live happily ever after, but real life doesn't always have a happy ending. He's testing my trust, and I'm losing faith in the man I thought I'd spend the rest of my life with, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. He’s the one I trusted to keep me safe, but now he’s the source of my greatest pain… Forgiveness is fragile, and some fractures never fully heal... One mistake—a slip in a moment of weakness—might cost me everything I've worked so hard for. The thing about trust is that it's a lot easier to lose than it is to build. Just as I'm about to give up and surrender to the demons from my past, an unexpected threat reminds me what I'm best at: protecting the woman I love. Whether or not she wants me, I will fight for Carrie and our daughter, and I will keep them safe—no matter the cost. Even if I have to put my life and my heart on the line.  

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1r4c81A

Kobo Link: http://bit.ly/1CB7bB4

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway   Jen McLaughlin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy New Adult books. Under her pen name Diane Alberts, she is a multi-published, bestselling author of Contemporary Romance with Entangled Publishing. Her first release as Jen McLaughlin, Out of Line, released September 6 2013, and hit the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal lists. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. She is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal-clear water. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal-clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, and a cat. Her goal is to write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name. Website: http://dianealberts.com/ Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/DianeAlberts6 Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianeAlberts Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6921962.Jen_McLaughlin  

"Reclaiming the Sand" by A. Meredith Walters - Spotlight Tour

 

SYNOPSIS: Bully and victim. Tormenter and tormented. Villain and hero. Ellie McCallum was a bully. No connection to anyone or anything. A sad and lonely existence for a young woman who had come to expect nothing more for herself. Her only happiness coming from making others miserable. Particularly Freaky Flynn. Flynn Hendrick lived a life completely disconnected even as he struggled to become something more than that boy with Asperger's. He was taunted and teased, bearing the brunt of systematic and calculated cruelty, ultimately culminating in a catastrophic turn of events that brought Ellie and Flynn’s worlds crashing down. But then Flynn and Ellie grew up. And moved on. Until years later when their paths unexpectedly cross again and the bully and the freak are face to face once more. When labels come to define you, finding yourself feels impossible. Particularly for two people disconnected from the world who inexplicably find a connection in each other. And out of the wreckage of their tragic beginnings, an unlikely love story unfolds. But a painful past doesn’t always want to let go. And old wounds are never truly healed…and sometimes the further you try to run from yourself the closer you come to who you really are.

TRAILER:

Or http://youtu.be/Yv96lOwz00Y  

Buy Links:

AMAZON: http://amzn.com/B00I8JEEC0 

Barnes & Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reclaiming-the-sand-a-meredith-walters/1118922914?ean=2940149278428&itm=1&usri=reclaiming+the+sand 

Excerpt: 

"I like being with you. I missed you," Flynn said, surprising me. Of all things for him to say, I had not expected that. It was such an innocent thing but it held so much weight. He missed me. After everything I had done to him. He missed me. I couldn't respond. I had nothing to say to that. I couldn't reciprocate because I hadn't missed him. I had spent most of the last six years despising him. Blaming him for things that weren't his fault. It had been easier to hate him than to hate myself. "You stopped talking to me. After my birthday. You never called me again. Mom said to leave you alone. That you weren't my friend. But you were my friend. Because you told me I was and I believed you." His eyes were bright and even though he wouldn't look directly at me, I knew his eyes were wet.. I should tell him the truth. I should shatter his illusions of me before they could grow into something more dangerous. His mother hadn't told him what I had done. She had saved him from that particular pain. I didn't know whether to be thankful or upset that sh e had done that. Because now here were, six years later, on the cusp of something not yet realized and i struggled. I wanted to tell him. But I wanted to lie as well. I liked the way he looked at me. To Flynn Hendrick, Ellie McCallum was important. She was wanted. If i told him the truth about that night, I was sure that would all change. 

Chasing The Tide is the sequel releasing on Dec 16: 

***The powerful continuation of the story that began in Reclaiming the Sand- a tale of love and forgiveness and learning to move on from a past that has come to define you.*** Bully and Victim Friend and Lover Past and Future Ellie McCallum and Flynn Hendrick’s story was as painful as it was devastating. But they were able to find within each other an unlikely yet beautiful love. Despite the obstacles that tried to keep them apart. And together they rose out of the ashes of their tragic history. Now years after their life changing reunion Ellie is back in Wellston, having just graduated from college and ready to start her future with the man who taught her how to love. However, returning to a town that held so much bitterness and anger was the last place she wanted to start over. But for Flynn, who is now an art professor at the community college and firmly rooted in the place that gave them their beginning, she’d do just about anything. Yet it’s difficult building a life when you’ve only just learned how to live. And love, no matter how strong, doesn’t always conquer all. Ellie and Flynn must learn how far they are willing to go to stay together. Or whether the ghosts of the past will consume them both. Because finding a happily ever after is harder than it seems. Particularly when you’re fighting against the one thing that could destroy you. Yourself.

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21914535-chasing-the-tide

About The Author: 

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary and Paranormal romance including The Find You in the Dark and Bad Rep series as well as the upcoming stand alone romance, Reclaiming the Sand, and a dark new adult series for Gallery Books. A. Meredith spent ten years as a counselor for at risk teens and children. First working at a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault program and then later a program for children with severe emotional and mental health issues. Her former clients and their stories continue to influence every aspect of her writing. When not writing (or being tortured with all manner of beauty products at the hand of her very imaginative and extremely girly daughter), she is eating chocolate, watching reality television that could rot your brain and reading a smutty novel or two. A. Meredith is represented by Michelle Johnson with the Inklings Literary Agency. 

LINKS: 

FACEBOOK TWITTER GOODREADS AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE 

All About Finn from "Fractured Lines"

Fractured Lines by Jen McLaughlin will be releasing October 14th, but first we have some exclusive content to share. Each week, FINNClub team members are sharing special details from the book, and series, in order to share their excitement for the new novel.

Today we have a post that is all about FINN!

 

Finn Coram As one reviewer put it, “Oh, Finn, Finn, Finn, Finn-ey, Finn, Finn.” There’s just something about Finn from the OUT OF LINE series that makes female hearts go aflutter. Maybe it’s the fact that he was/is a Marine. Maybe it’s the Harley he rides. Maybe it’s the surfing. Or the fact that he can kick ass without even breaking a sweat. I’m not sure what it is, but there’s just something that makes him irresistible to readers and myself alike. When I wrote their third book (which was planned to be the last) it was so bittersweet. Being in Finn’s head was just so much FUN. He’s protective, but daring. Sweet, but dominant. Hot, but sensitive. When I thought we were done forever, I was sad, but okay with it. After the readers had finished, I got countless emails begging me to continue the story. I didn’t think it was possible, but then…it hit me. I could write Finn as an adult! And so FRACTURED LINES came into existence. One of the most fun parts about writing him in four books is the progression of his dirty talk. I thought it would be fun to highlight one line from each book, to show you what I mean! So here goes! 

OUT OF LINE “Have you kissed Cory again?” “W-What?” I asked, caught off guard. “Since you kissed me, have you kissed him?” he asked, his jaw ticking. I shook my head. “No. Of course not. Just the once.” “Good.” He lifted my shirt a little bit more, his fingers brushing my bare skin, never dropping my gaze. “You’re mine now. Don’t forget it.” 

OUT OF TIME His gaze latched on my hand. “Take off everything but the heels and the...” he said, his voice gruff. He gestured to my thigh-highs, “...the tights or whatever they’re called.” “Finn.” “You have no idea how beautiful you look right now,” he said, his voice so low I barely heard him. I wanted to press my thighs together to ease the empty ache I was feeling without him inside of me, but I couldn’t. Not with him in between them. “I bet you want me to taste you again. Don’t you?” 

OUT OF MIND “Tell. Me.” “Finn.” I grabbed his hand and pressed it back where I wanted it. No, where I needed it. He couldn’t stop now. Not when I was so close. “Please.” “Tell me the truth, and then I will.” “Y-Yes. I did it, okay?” I moaned when he rubbed me again, but too lightly. Not enough. Not nearly enough. I knew I was being too loud, but even knowing it didn’t make me stop. “Finn, please.” “You touched yourself and imagined it was me?” He nibbled on my neck and thrust a finger inside me again. Thank freaking God. “Was it my lips or my fingers when you did it?”

FRACTURED LINES “Excuse me? Are you talking back?” “N-No.” I licked my parched lips. “I just—” He caressed my butt, his fingers gliding over the side and across my thigh. When he closed his hand over my core from behind, his fingers dipping inside me just enough to drive me crazy, I collapsed against his chest. “From now on, the only words allowed out of your mouth are more, yes, please, and sir. Got it?” I nodded frantically, silently willing his fingers to move over me. To bring me to the edge again. “Yes, sir.”

BOOK BLURB: The lines we once crossed so easily have widened and torn us apart… Once upon a time I thought Finn and I would live happily ever after, but real life doesn't always have a happy ending. He's testing my trust, and I'm losing faith in the man I thought I'd spend the rest of my life with, and there’s nothing I do can stop it. He’s the one I trusted to keep me safe, but now he’s the source of my greatest pain… Forgiveness is fragile, and some fractures never fully heal... One mistake—a slip in a moment of weakness—might cost me everything I've worked so hard for. The thing about trust is that it's a lot easier to lose than it is to build. Just as I'm about to give up and surrender to the demons from my past, an unexpected threat reminds me what I'm best at: protecting the woman I love. Whether or not she wants me, I will fight for Carrie and our daughter, and I will keep them safe—no matter the cost. Even if I have to put my life and my heart on the line.

PRE-ORDER SALE

FRACTURED LINES is now up for pre-order on amazon! If you purchase the book before its release day it will be just .99 cents! This is for pre-orders only! Grab it while it's on sale. 

  Amazon Pre-order Link: http://amzn.to/1r4c81A 

  Kobo Pre-order Link: http://bit.ly/1CB7bB4  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  Jen McLaughlin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy New Adult books. Under her pen name Diane Alberts, she is a multi-published, bestselling author of Contemporary Romance with Entangled Publishing. Her first release as Jen McLaughlin, Out of Line, released September 6 2013, and hit the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal lists. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. She is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal-clear water. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal-clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, and a cat. Her goal is to write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name. 

Website: http://dianealberts.com/ 

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/DianeAlberts6 

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianeAlberts 

 Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6921962.Jen_McLaughlin