Thursday, October 6, 2016

Playlist for "Lyric and Lingerie" by Tracy Wolff and Katie Graykowski

Hey guys, when I was approached by the authors of "Lyric and Lingerie" to participate in their blog tour, I couldn't say no! I've read a bunch by Tracy Wolff before, and loved them all, and "Lyric and Lingerie" sounds like a total hoot! So, I've got a bit of info about the book for you, and both Tracy and Katie have put together an awesome playlist, just for my blog!  EEEE, so excited! Read on for more...

lyric-lingerie

Release Date: September 27, 2016

From New York Times Bestselling author Tracy Wolff and International Bestselling author Katie Graykowski comes a sexy tale of love, laughter and lingerie …

Lyric Wright is an off-beat astrophysicist whose life is falling apart around her. After losing her fiancé to a hula dancing astrologer and losing her dress to an ill-fated leap of faith, she’s sure there’s nowhere for her life to go but up. At least until she sits down on a trans-Pacific flight next to the one man she never wanted to see again—the boy she’d lost her heart and her virginity too back before she’d learned that friendship and football don’t equal true love.

Broken down quarterback Heath Montgomery is on a plane ride to nowhere. Dodging the phone call he’s certain will end his professional football career for good, he might be Texas bound, but he knows there’s nowhere for him to go but down. But that’s before his childhood best friend and confidante plops back into his life wearing nothing but duct tape and a bad attitude. Determined not to lose her again (especially since he isn’t sure why he lost her the first time) and desperate to outrun his own shadowy future, Heath sets out to take Lyric on the ride of her life. Too bad she only dates men who actually know what her butterfly nebula is … and can find it without the help of a star chart.

Add in one passive-aggressive flight attendant with delusions of couture, a cherry red car with a crush on Neil Diamond, an over-protective sister with a black belt in Krav Maga, two parents determined to marry their spinster daughter off to the hometown hero no matter the cost, and a whole lot of lingerie popping up in all the right places at all the wrong times and you’ve got an unforgettable love story that fans of Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Rachel Gibson won’t want to miss!

Hi Everyone!  I’m so excited to be here today talking about my new book, Lyric and Lingerie.  Music plays an important part in this book--largely because of Cherry Cherry, a red 1980s Cadillac with a massive crush on Neil Diamond.  But music also played an important part of writing this book, as I’m always listening to something to get me in the mood for whatever scene I have to write.  Which is why I thought it might be fun to post a Lyric and Lingerie inspired Playlist here, songs that kind of fit the emotional order of the book if you follow along.  Hope you enjoy!!!!!! 

Go check out the playlist here:  https://play.spotify.com/user/1294940676/playlist/07lv3uKNOZQvsjfFJqbcEF


Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Release Day Launch and Review: "Bedmates" by Nichole Chase

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We are thrilled to get to bring to you the Release Day Launch for New York Times Bestselling Author Nichole Chase’s BEDMATES, the first standalone novel in her new American Royalty Series! Be sure to grab your copy of BEDMATES today!

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From the New York Times bestselling author of Suddenly Royal comes the first in a sparkling new series about America’s favorite royal—the First Daughter.

 

Everyone makes mistakes, especially in college. But when you’re the daughter of the President of the United States, any little slip up is a huge embarrassment. Maddie McGuire’s latest error in judgment lands her in police custody, giving the press a field day. Agreeing to do community service as penance and to restore her tattered reputation, Maddie never dreams incredibly good looking but extremely annoying vice president’s son, Jake Simmon, will be along for the ride.

Recently returning from Afghanistan with a life-altering injury, Jake is wrestling with his own demons. He doesn’t have the time or patience to deal with the likes of Maddie. They’re like oil and water and every time they’re together, it’s combustible. But there’s a thin line between love and hate, and it’s not long before their fiery arguments give way to infinitely sexier encounters.

When Jake receives devastating news about the last remaining member of his unit, the darkness he’s resisted for so long begins to overwhelm him. Scared to let anyone close, he pushes Maddie away. But she isn’t about to give up on Jake that easily. Maddie’s fallen for him, and she’ll do anything to keep him from the edge as they both discover that love is a battlefield and there are some fights you just can’t lose.

Grab BEDMATES in ebook or paperback, releasing today!

Amazon | iBooks | BAM| Barnes & Noble

 

Add to your Goodreads

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EXCERPT:

               The hand on the back of my neck tilted my head so he could kiss me better and I melted against him. I’d waited for this moment most of my life and I sure as hell wasn’t disappointed.

               The kiss wasn’t rushed, wasn’t abrupt. It was slow, lingering brushes of lips, as our breaths slid over each other. It was an intense, raw moment as we tested unknown waters and what we found only increased our determination. When his tongue swiped across my bottom lip in a request for entrance I opened on a sigh. His free hand caressed my hip before sliding around to the small of my back, tucking me against him.

               The feel of his hard body pressed against me made my head spin. Every delectable inch of him was hard in just the right way. As his mouth danced over mine, fire ran through my veins. Everywhere that he touched me came alive and I wrapped my arms around his neck, hungry to feel more of him pressed to me. This was what I’d been looking for all these years. I felt alive and appreciated with each stroke of his tongue and touch of his hands.

               His arm tightened around my waist and my feet left the ground. I gasped as he sat me on the unfinished kitchen island. Dark brown eyes drilled into mine as his hands slid down to cup my ass before gently spreading my legs so that he could fit between them. He pressed against my center and I couldn’t help but groan as he pulled me tight. Wrapping my legs around his hips I pushed even closer, trying to relieve the building ache.

               He groaned into my mouth and I took the moment to nip his bottom lip. I’d wanted to do that forever; to feel it plump between my teeth. One of his hands squeezed my ass tighter and he grinded his erection into me, causing my head to fall backward on a gasp of pleasure. Each move against me made me gasp louder, and my eyes fell shut. With one hand he pulled my hair free from the rubber band before tangling his fingers in it.

               “God, you taste good.” His voice was raw, harsh, and it sent shivers down my spine. He ran his nose along the column of my throat before nipping gently below my ear. “Should have done this forever ago.”

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  nichole-chase-headshotAbout Nichole Chase: Nichole Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Suddenly Royal, The Accidental Assassin, Flukes, The Dark Betrayal Trilogy, The American Royalty Series and several short stories. Nichole lives in Georgia with her husband, energetic daughter, two rescue dogs, Sulcata tortoise, and two cats. When not writing, you may find her reading, painting, crafting, or chasing her daughter around the house while making monster noises.        

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

    bedmates-avaialble-now       inkslinger-blogger-banner
 
 
Thank you to the author and publisher (via Edelweiss) for the free review copy in exchange for my honest opinion!
This is my first book by Nichole Chase, and there was quite a lot about it that I really enjoyed. For one thing, the steam between the two main characters was a lot more intense than I was expecting, and definitely a cut above. The author also doesn't shy away from some very heavy topics, such as PTSD in returning military personnel and animal rights. There were a few things that I wish were done differently, but overall I really liked "Bedmates" and would love to read more by Chase.
 
Jake and Maddie were great characters! These two are people that I can see myself being friends with. They'll both do anything for the people they care about, and they stand up for what they believe in no matter the consequences. Although this latter attribute has the potential to harm their reputation or that of their famous parents, making a difference is extremely important to them both, and that is absolutely something that makes them admirable characters.
 
In case you think this book is all romance and fluff, I'm here to tell you that this is not the case. There are a couple of scenes dealing with Jake's PTSD where I felt like I was right there, seeing him go through the turmoil and agony, and even feeling it right along with him. Not really a comfortable thing to experience, from either Jake's or Maddie's point of view. Still, I appreciate the effort the author made in trying to make this a realistic portrayal of the experiences a returning veteran may have while integrating back into civilian life.
 
All of this makes for a riveting read, although there were a couple of areas where I felt "Bedmates" came up a bit short. For example, I wanted to know more about Jake's amputation. In retrospect, I'm not sure why it was even in there, because it didn't really seem to affect him or contribute to his PTSD. Other than getting sore after a long day working on a construction site or mentioning how he was in such good shape from all the rehab he'd done, it was hardly mentioned. Where were the feelings of inadequacy or self-consciousness when being fully exposed to a woman for the first time? Did he ever deal with phantom pains or difficulty with his prosthesis? What did his prosthesis even look like? What about when Maddie saw his stump for the first time? Was she scared to bump it during sex and hurt him? Or was she curious to see what it looked like? These were all things I wanted to know and for the two main characters to deal with together, and it was just missing.
 
I also felt that Maddie's character was missing some background development. I knew that she was a college student, but what was she studying? Biology to go along with her love of animals? I knew that she was passionate about animal rights, but why? Did she have a special pet as a child? I knew she only had one good friend, but why? Was it hard for her to trust people? Aside from her dad being the president and her mother having died long ago, I felt like I didn't really get a good feel for what made Maddie tick.
 
And then there's the fact that I don't really care for American politics. Or any politics, to be honest. Luckily, "Bedmates" wasn't too obviously some sort of public service announcement, but there were a couple of moments that had me rolling my eyes. However, I'd have to say that the good outweighed the bad here, so if you're looking for a sweet and steamy read with special and unique characters, don't hesitate to pick up "Bedmates".


My rating: 3.5 stars

"The Bachelor Auction" by Rachel Van Dyken - Release Day Blitz and Giveaway!!!

 

 


ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Bachelor Auction

Author: Rachel Van Dyken

Series: The Bachelors of Arizona #1

On Sale: October 4, 2016

Publisher: Forever

Formats: eBook

Price: $4.99 USD (eBook)

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2cGRMMl



 
Cinderella never had to deal with this crap.

 
Jane isn't entirely sure that Cinderella got such a raw deal. Sure, she had a rough start, but didn't she eventually land a prince and a happily-ever-after? Meanwhile, Jane is busy waiting on her demanding, entitled sisters, running her cleaning business, and . . . yep, not a prince in sight. Until a party and a broken shoe incident leave Jane wondering if princes---or at least, a certain deliciously hunky billionaire---maybe do exist.




 

Except Brock Wellington isn't anyone's dream guy. Hell, a prince would never agree to be auctioned off in marriage to the highest bidder. Or act like an arrogant jerk---even if it was just a façade. Now, as Brock is waiting for the auction chopping block, he figures it's karmic retribution that he's tempted by a sexy, sassy woman he can't have. But while they can't have a fairy-tale ending, maybe they can indulge in a little bit of fantasy . . .
 
 


THE BACHELORS OF ARIZONA

The Bachelor Auction #1

The Full Series


Series Page on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2dLrybX 

BUY THE BOOK HERE

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2dFTdYC

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2djE2F9

iBooks: http://apple.co/2cHqr7W


Google Play: http://bit.ly/2ddNgXf


Kobo: http://bit.ly/2cRr5mM


 




ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 



Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.  She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!
 
 




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Monday, October 3, 2016

"One Was Lost" by Natalie D. Richards - Spotlight Tour, Excerpt and Giveaway

I finished reading this book a little while ago, and it is seriously the perfect YA Hallowe'en read! Go grab it now, if you want to be freaked right out this fall! I've got an excerpt and a great giveaway for you today, so make sure you read to the end of this post, you won't want to miss out!
Damaged. Deceptive. Dangerous. Darling. Are they labels or a warning? The answer could cost Sera everything.
 



While on a mandatory senior field trip, a flash flood cuts off Sera and three classmates from their group with no way to call for help. But they’re not as alone as they thought…

 

Someone is stalking them through the woods. Someone who drugged them, stole their supplies, and wrote on their skin. Is it a judgement? A warning? If Sera doesn’t uncover the truth, it’s only a matter of time before the hunter finds her.

 

After years as a professional paper-pusher, NATALIE D. RICHARDS decided to trade in reality for a life writing YA fiction. She lives in Ohio (Go Bucks!) with her husband, three children, and a ridiculously furry dog named Yeti. This is her third novel. Visit her on Twitter @natdrichards or at nataliedrichards.com.

Twitter: @NatDRichards

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author-Natalie-D-Richards-398044640315789

Instagram: @NatDRichards

Preorder link: http://nataliedrichards.com/books/onewaslost/



Excerpt

"Everyone, quiet. We need to move." Mr. Walker’s voice is tight. Something’s wrong. But he’s halfway across, and the water is still below his knees. It’s moving quickly, but it seems OK. So why is Mr. Walker scanning the horizon like a soldier?

When he’s on the other side, he relaxes. "All right, let’s move. You’ll get to test those waterproof boots here. Emily, you first. Then Jude and right down the line."

I stumble to the edge of the stream, rocks slipping and scattering under my boots. Jude’s next to me, earbuds in and his chin tipped up like we need a reminder that he’s better than us.

Emily begins to cross with Jude behind her. Then me and Lucas and the rest of the group after. I can’t help but think about what we must look like, this conga line of plastic-wrapped hikers splashing its way through the river.

Jude gasps ahead of me. Before I can ask, cold water gushes over the tops of my boots, then past my ankles. I stop when it reaches my knees. It’s higher. We’re not even halfway across.

Lucas splashes up from behind, rising over me. "Need me to carry you?"

I don’t dignify the question with a response. Behind me, Hayley and Madison shriek. I turn to see a glimpse of all three of them, Hayley on her butt in the water and Madison and Ms. Brighton rushing back for her. The girls are laughing hysterically.

"We’re almost halfway," Lucas says, ignoring them. "Keep going."

"Should we help?"

"They’re fine. Move."

"Stop playing around back there! Get them up, Ms. Brighton," Mr. Walker barks, then more softly to the ones climbing out, "Good job, Emily. Jude! Earbuds out!"

Mr. Walker looks downstream, and his expression hardens. "Sera, speed up now."

I look up and wish I hadn’t. I don’t like the urgency in his tone any more than I like the rushing sound of water I hear off to the east.

"Is that rain?" I ask because I want it to be rain. Or hail. I want it to be anything other than what I already know it is.

Mr. Walker’s eyes flick upstream, his face going pale. "It’s flooding," he admits.

My hope snaps like a rubber band. Fear billows out in its place, making me woozy.

"Sera, move!" Lucas says, prodding my backpack.

"I got it!" I snap, plowing ahead.

Hayley screams again behind us. They’re all three shouting. Something about a shoe. Someone’s stuck. Mr. Walker is yelling at Emily and Jude to back up, back up! And then the rain changes, the shower shifting into a driving roar with drops so hard they feel like sand spraying down. Everything is garbled. Muffled. Fear pushes the hair up on the nape of my neck.

We’re not going to get across.

"Go, Sera!"

Lucas. His voice right behind me, his wide hand just under my backpack, urging me forward. I stumble, spreading my arms wide for balance.

"Lucas, help!" Madison’s cry filters through the rain, but Mr. Walker shakes his head.

"No!" he bellows. "Move, Lucas! Ms. Brighton, pull Hayley and Madison back to shore!"

The water is moving quicker and higher, and my boots are sucking down into the mud at the bottom. The current pushes back at me. Steps turn into half steps. Quarter steps.

"Forget her shoes!" Mr. Walker screams. Someone’s coughing back there, but I don’t look, though I can hear their garbled cries. They’re struggling.

"I can’t get her!" Ms. Brighton’s voice is suddenly young and small, nothing like the serene woman from before. This is scared little kid voice. "Help! Hel—"


 

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Friday, September 30, 2016

Blog Tour, Review and Giveaway! "Chasing Truth by Julie Cross


You guys! I'm so excited to be a part of this blog tour, put on by Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours, for Julie Cross's "Chasing Truth"!  This book was so good, and I've been waiting to tell everyone for so long just how much I loved it!!! Make sure to scroll to the end of this post for a great giveaway, too!


At Holden Prep, the rich and powerful rule the school—and they’ll do just about anything to keep their dirty little secrets hidden. 


When former con artist Eleanor Ames’s homecoming date commits suicide, she’s positive there’s something more going on. The more questions she asks, though, the more she crosses paths with Miles Beckett. He’s sexy, mysterious, arrogant…and he’s asking all the same questions. 



Eleanor might not trust him—she doesn’t even like him—but they can’t keep their hands off of each other. Fighting the infuriating attraction is almost as hard as ignoring the fact that Miles isn’t telling her the truth…and that there’s a good chance he thinks she’s the killer.



Link to Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28220973-chasing-truth



Purchase Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca | IndieBound | BAM | TBD





Julie Cross is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author of New Adult and Young Adult fiction, including the Tempest series, a young adult science fiction trilogy which includes Tempest, Vortex, Timestorm (St. Martin’s Press).
 She’s also the author of the Letters to Nowhere series, Whatever Life Throws at You, Third Degree, Halfway Perfect, and many more to come!
 Julie lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three children. She’s a former gymnast, longtime gymnastics fan, coach, and former Gymnastics Program Director with the YMCA.
She’s a lover of books, devouring several novels a week, especially in the young adult and new adult genres.
 Outside of her reading and writing cred, Julie Cross is a committed–but not talented–long distance runner, creator of imaginary beach vacations, Midwest bipolar weather survivor, expired CPR certification card holder, as well as a ponytail and gym shoe addict.

 



Thanks so much to Entangled Teen via Netgalley for the free review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

By now I've read a few of Julie Cross's books, and I've enjoyed them all, so I figured I was in safe hands by requesting this title. I was pretty confident I would enjoy "Chasing Truth", but I didn't know it would completely blow my expectations out of the water!  I loved every moment of this book, if I'm being honest. The suspense was literally keeping me awake at night! You think I'm kidding, but I'm absolutely telling the truth. One night, I woke up to use the washroom. The next thing I knew, I was tossing and turning, going through all the evidence I remembered, totally convinced that I knew who the killer was. And I was so wrong, it's not even funny! But I'm glad I was wrong, because I would have been sooooo mad if I was right. That probably makes no sense whatsoever, but you'll just have to read this book, then we can compare notes without spoiling anything. I will say that this reading experience was a complete mind screw, in the best possible way!
 
I also need to comment on how fantastic Julie Cross is at writing these characters that just feel so real to me. Ellie Ames is a completely flawed character, but she is so honest and upfront about her flaws, at least with us readers - I could not help but be drawn to her.  And Miles? Ooooeee! That guy is a smokin' enigma! One minute I loved him, the next I didn't trust him, and I was always wondering what the heck he was up to. But he's kind of adorable at the same time, and the heat between him and Ellie was cooking up my iPhone! Scorching! There are also a few minor side characters who I wouldn't mind getting to know more about, so I'm happy to see that this is a series - I think you can tell by my enthusiasm that I will be picking up the next Ellie Ames book as soon as possible!
 
If you are looking for some action, danger, hot times, and a twisty plot in your next YA read, you should absolutely pick up "Chasing Truth" - I guarantee you won't regret it!
 
My rating: 


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http://www.chapter-by-chapter.com/blog-tours/

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Cover Reveal: Jay Crownover's "Riveted"

 
 Isn't this cover gorgeous?! This book looks so good, time to preorder now!
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men books comes the next installment in the Saints of Denver series.

Everyone else in Dixie Carmichael’s life has made falling in love look easy, and now she is ready for her own chance at some of that happily ever after. Which means she’s done pining for the moody, silent former soldier who works with her at the bar that’s become her home away from home. Nope. No more chasing the hot as heck thundercloud of a man and no more waiting for Mr. Right to find her; she’s going hunting for him...even if she knows her heart is stuck on its stupid infatuation with Dash Churchill.

Denver has always been just a pit stop for Church on his way back to rural Mississippi. It was supposed to be simple, uneventful, but nothing could have prepared him for the bubbly, bouncy redhead with doe eyes and endless curves. Now he knows it’s time to get out of Denver, fast. For a man used to living in the shadows, the idea of spending his days in the sun is nothing short of terrifying.

When Dixie and Church find themselves caught up in a homecoming overshadowed with lies and danger, Dixie realizes that while falling in love is easy, loving takes a whole lot more work…especially when Mr. Right thinks he’s all wrong for you. 


 
About Jay Crownover:

Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men, The Point, and the Saints of Denver series. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she'll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.  

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Release Blitz! "Lyric and Lingerie" by Tracy Wolff and Katie Graykowski

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Hey everyone, I'm so glad Tracy Wolff and Katie Graykowski asked me to be a part of their Release Day Blitz! Lyric and Lingerie looks like so much fun, and I can't wait to read it!
lyric-lingerie
 

Release Date: September 27, 2016

 
From New York Times Bestselling author Tracy Wolff and International Bestselling author Katie Graykowski comes a sexy tale of love, laughter and lingerie …

Lyric Wright is an off-beat astrophysicist whose life is falling apart around her. After losing her fiancé to a hula dancing astrologer and losing her dress to an ill-fated leap of faith, she’s sure there’s nowhere for her life to go but up. At least until she sits down on a trans-Pacific flight next to the one man she never wanted to see again—the boy she’d lost her heart and her virginity too back before she’d learned that friendship and football don’t equal true love.

Broken down quarterback Heath Montgomery is on a plane ride to nowhere. Dodging the phone call he’s certain will end his professional football career for good, he might be Texas bound, but he knows there’s nowhere for him to go but down. But that’s before his childhood best friend and confidante plops back into his life wearing nothing but duct tape and a bad attitude. Determined not to lose her again (especially since he isn’t sure why he lost her the first time) and desperate to outrun his own shadowy future, Heath sets out to take Lyric on the ride of her life. Too bad she only dates men who actually know what her butterfly nebula is … and can find it without the help of a star chart.

Add in one passive-aggressive flight attendant with delusions of couture, a cherry red car with a crush on Neil Diamond, an over-protective sister with a black belt in Krav Maga, two parents determined to marry their spinster daughter off to the hometown hero no matter the cost, and a whole lot of lingerie popping up in all the right places at all the wrong times and you’ve got an unforgettable love story that fans of Susan Elizabeth Phillips and Rachel Gibson won’t want to miss!
 
 
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About the Authors

Tracy Wolff

tracy-wolff Tracy Wolff collects books, English degrees and lipsticks and has been known to forget where—and sometimes who—she is when immersed in a great novel. At six she wrote her first short story—something with a rainbow and a prince—and at seven she forayed into the wonderful world of girls lit with her first Judy Blume novel. By ten she’d read everything in the young adult and classics sections of her local bookstore, so in desperation her mom started her on romance novels. And from the first page of the first book, Tracy knew she’d found her life-long love. Now an English professor at her local community college, she writes romances that run the gamut from contemporary to paranormal to erotic suspense.   And for all of those who want the unedited version: Tracy Wolff lives with four men, teaches writing to local college students and spends as much time as she can manage immersed in worlds of her own creation. Married to the alpha hero of her dreams for twelve years, she is the mother of three young sons who spend most of their time trying to make her as crazy as possible.   You can find Tracy also on Twitter, www.tracywolff.blogspot.com and www.sizzlingpens.blogspot.com.   Tracy Wolff also writes as Tessa Adams
 

Katie Graykowski

katie-graykowski I write romantic comedy with lots of heart. I like scuba diving, Mexican food, chocolate cream cheese frosting, movies where lots of stuff gets blown up, and sparkly things. I have a husband, a daughter, and three K-9 kids. I'd love to hear from you. Shoot me an email at katiegraykowski@me.com http://www.katiegraykowski.com