Monday, April 30, 2018

Aphrodites Tears by Hannah Fielding (Book Review & Giveaway)

Series:
Standalone
Genre:
Adult, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance
Publication Date:January 25, 2018
Format:Paperback
Published By:  London Wall Publishing
Website:Hannah Fielding 

Aphrodite's Tears on Goodreads

Where to get:

https://www.amazon.com/Promise-Between-Barbara-Claypole-White/dp/1542048982/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1506376055&sr=8-1  https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781786813596




In Hannah Fielding�s latest novel a young archaeologist who travels to the remote island of Helios to investigate an ancient shipwreck, becomes caught in a web of dark obsession, mystery and seduction.

In ancient Greece, one of the twelve laborers of Hercules was to bring back a golden apple from the Garden of Hesperides. To archaeologist Oriel Anderson, joining a team of Greek divers on the island of Helios seems like the golden apple of her dreams.

Yet the dream becomes a nightmare when she meets the devilish owner of the island, Damian Theodorakis. In shocked recognition, she is flooded with the memory of a romantic night in a stranger�s arms, six summers ago. A very different man stands before her now, and Oriel senses that the sardonic Greek autocrat is hell-bent on playing a cat and mouse game with her.

As they cross swords and passions mount, Oriel is aware that malevolent eyes watch her from the shadows. Dark rumors are whispered about the Theodorakis family. What dangers lie in Helios: a bewitching land where ancient rituals are still enacted to appease the gods, young men risk their lives in the treacherous depths of the Ionian Sea, and the volatile earth can erupt at any moment?

Will Oriel find the hidden treasures she seeks? Or will Damian�s tragic past catch up with them, threatening to engulf them both? 



If you are looking for a uncomplicated love story, this isn't it! This story is more than complicated, it is epic!

This book took me almost two months to read. It wasn't because I didn't enjoy it. It was because I wanted to keep savoring every last word. Hannah Fielding's writing captivates me. She writes so poetically that you can hardly keep from falling in love with her stories from the first pages. Although the book was long, I didn't feel like it dragged on at all. The story needed the rocky beginning, the beautiful middle and the epic end.

With intrigue, sexy scenes, and some Greek mythology, this novel had everything it needed and more.

Oriel was a archeologist and just loved adventure. Then she is hired by the sultry and sexy Damian to come to his island, Helios in Greece and help him solve a mystery of long ago. A mystery of a abandoned ship and how this mystery affected the Lakkas family. Little does Oriel know that Damian isn't a stranger to her and that one night on a beach long ago she gave herself to him in a passionate embrace. However, the man she met that night doesn't seem to be the same as her boss now. This man is hiding in the shadows of something bigger and hell bent on controlling everyone and everything he meets. Will Oriel be able to complete her work with Damian brooding near by?


The passion of these two characters, whether it be for her work or his island and family mystique was enchanting and so enticing to read. I couldn't put it down many times. I found myself looking forward to reading it every time I picked it up and disappointed when life took over and I had to put it down. Hannah Fielding is an amazing writer who tells epic love story that are totally unique from any other writer.


I'm so excited to be offering a beautiful paperback edition of "Aphrodite's Tears" by Hannah Fielding. Enter below. US only please. 




About the Author

Hannah Fielding is an incurable romantic. The seeds for her writing career were sown in early childhood, spent in Egypt, when she came to an agreement with her governess Zula: for each fairy story Zula told, Hannah would invent and relate one of her own. Years later � following a degree in French literature, several years of travelling in Europe, falling in love with an Englishman, the arrival of two beautiful children and a career in property development � Hannah decided after so many years of yearning to write that the time was now. Today, she lives the dream: writing full time at her homes in Kent, England, and the South of France, where she dreams up romances overlooking breath-taking views of the Mediterranean.

To date, Hannah has published five novels: Burning Embers, �romance like Hollywood used to make�, set in Kenya; the award-winning Echoes of Love, �an epic love story that is beautifully told� set in Italy; and the Andalucian Nights trilogy (Indiscretion, Masquerade and Legacy), set in sultry Spain.


Hannah Fielding Website
Twitter

Friday, April 27, 2018

Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian (Interview, Giveaway)



Series:
Standalone
Genre:
Young Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction
Publication Date:April 24, 2018
Pages:368 (hardcover)
Published By:  Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Website:Siobhan Vivian

Stay Sweet on Goodreads



Where to get:

https://www.amazon.com/Stay-Sweet-Siobhan-Vivian/dp/1481452320/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510859187&sr=8-1&keywords=stay+sweet https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stay-sweet-siobhan-vivian/1126051639?ean=9781481452328 



A summer read about first love, feminism, and ice cream.

Summer in Sand Lake isn�t complete without a trip to Meade Creamery�the local ice cream stand founded in 1944 by Molly Meade who started making ice cream to cheer up her lovesick girlfriends while all the boys were away at war. Since then, the stand has been owned and managed exclusively by local girls, who inevitably become the best of friends.

Seventeen-year-old Amelia and her best friend Cate have worked at the stand every summer for the past three years, and Amelia is �Head Girl� at the stand this summer. When Molly passes away before Amelia even has her first day in charge, Amelia isn�t sure that the stand can go on. That is, until Molly�s grandnephew Grady arrives and asks Amelia to stay on to help continue the business�but Grady�s got some changes in mind�

(Goodreads)

"A delectable mixture of ice cream and romance�an empowering novel for young women with big dreams.� �Publishers Weekly, starred review

�With a strong message about female empowerment and hard work, this YA book will be a great read for spring break or summer vacation.� �School Library Journal

�A rare, enjoyable portrait of a woman-run business.� �Kirkus Reviews

Interview with Siobhan Vivian


The fact that Molly created an ice cream shop to cheer up her friends during WWII, and continued to have it run by girls, just makes my heart happy. What was the inspiration for this part of the plot?

Female friendships have always been creatively inspiring to me, and recently, I�ve been thinking a lot about female-only spaces. I never went to summer camp, but have always romanticized the idea of being in a bunk full of girlfriends. Same thing with an all-girls high school. It�s a completely different energy, and a chance to be intimate in ways that wouldn�t happen with boys around. I wanted to explore that.

Can you tell us a bit more about "Head Girl" Amelia?

Sure! Amelia is smart, kind, and a hard worker...but in her mind, those qualities don�t really distinguish her from her peers. She�s never been a leader and conflict makes her uncomfortable. She struggles to try and collapse the distance between being called the manager and actually acting the part.

She just really wants to do a good job and give the girls of Meade Creamery a great summer, because that�s what she got out of it for the previous four years of working there. That is her primary motivator...to do right by the stand, to honor the traditions created before her time, and to not screw anything up.

This is your ninth published book, what are some of the biggest differences you've noticed this time around than when you wrote and published your first novel?

There are soooooo many more books out on shelves. It was easier to break out and be noticed all those years ago.

But I think the quality and diversity of what is available has definitely increased and that is nothing but great news.

How much ice cream did you eat while writing this? Be honest! And what's the best ice cream flavor or combo? For instance, as far as I'm concerned anything in a waffle cone is the best thing ever.

A lot! Basically any chance I get, any time I pass an ice cream shop I haven�t been to before, I stop. It�s a bit dangerous.

And I have a brand new favorite, from an ice cream shop I just visited in Denver called Little Man. It�s Chocolate Whopper Malt, which I had in a waffle cone with rainbow sprinkles. I alllllllways get sprinkles because I like what it does to the texture.

I can't argue sprinkles! Sprinkles just make everything better. :) What are five things you would buy if you won a million dollars (tax free!)?

A vintage car...something small and brightly colored and Italian.

A week-long trip to a spa with rooms booked for my best girlfriends.

Donate money to my favorite local charity ... SisterFriend.org ... which provides menstruation products to homeless and at-risk women.

Visit all the James Beard nominees for Best New Restaurant in the US.

And a new, fabulous coat!

Thanks for stopping by, Siobhan! And thank you for mentioning this charity - this is definitely something I would love to donate to. 


Siobhan Vivian was born in New York City on January 12, 1979 . . . which might sound like a long time ago, but really isn�t. She grew up in Rutherford, NJ, where she got into trouble for such things as constantly talking out of turn, bringing a stray dog into school in a stolen shopping cart, passing notes to her friends, telling jokes, sneaking out, and not doing her homework. It is something of a miracle that she grew up to be a New York Times best selling author.

Siobhan attended The University of the Arts, where she graduated with a degree in Writing for Film and Television. She received her MFA in Creative Writing: Children�s Literature from The New School University.

Siobhan has worked as an editor of several New York Times best-selling novels at Alloy Entertainment, a scriptwriter for The Disney Channel, and she currently teaches Writing Youth Literature at the University of Pittsburgh.



Thanks to Simon Schuster I have two copies of Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian up for grabs!
US Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule

Siobhan has already started touring, but make sure to check out her remaining tour dates below! 

BROOKLYN, NY
Friday, April 27
Moderated by bestselling author Jenny Han at 7:30 PM
Books Are Magic
225 Smith Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231

CLIFTON, NJ
Saturday, April 28 at 2:00 PM
Barnes and Noble
Clifton Commons
395 Route 3 East
Clifton, NJ 07014

PITTSBURGH, PA
Sunday, April 29 at 2:00 PM
White Whale Books
4754 Liberty Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Thursday, April 26, 2018

$100 Gift Card giveaway to Jord Watches !


�Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.�

I've been drooling over Jord Watches for quite some time now, and I can finally say: I've got one!

Jord Watches was kind enough to send me their gorgeous Reece Zebrawood and Emerald watch for a feature throughout my social media and we are also collaborating on an awesome giveaway for you guys - details below!

Jord makes such stunning, beautifully detailed and classic looking wood watches for men and women (and every amazing person in between)! The straps are fantastic - my zebrawood strap is thick and sturdy and looks so organic - love wearing it!

But without further ado, here's how you can win $100 GC to Jord Watches!

Giveaway:

To be entered to win $100 to Jord Watches, click on the link below and fill out the form (it's super short and easy to do!). 


And even if you don't win, everyone gets 10% off discount! How sweet is that?

Best of luck to you all!







Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Keep Her Safe by K.A. Tucker (Review)



Genre:
New Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Mystery
Publication Date:January 23, 2018
Pages:436 (Paperback)
Published By:  Atria Books
Website:K.A. Tucker

Keep Her Safe on Goodreads
My review copy:
Received from the publisher in exchange for my honest review

Where to get:

  



Making a Murderer meets Scandal in this story of police corruption, family secrets, and illicit affairs from bestselling author K.A. Tucker, celebrated for her �propulsive plot twists and searing seduction� (USA TODAY).

Noah Marshall has known a privileged and comfortable life thanks to his mother, the highly decorated chief of the Austin Police Department. But all that changes the night she reveals a skeleton that's been rattling in her closet for years, and succumbs to the guilt of destroying an innocent family's life. Reeling with grief, Noah is forced to carry the burden of this shocking secret.

Gracie Richards wasn't born in a trailer park, but after fourteen years of learning how to survive in The Hollow, it's all she knows anymore. At least here people don't care that her dad was a corrupt Austin cop, murdered in a drug deal gone wrong. Here, she and her mother are just another family struggling to survive...until a man who clearly doesn't belong shows up on her doorstep.

Despite their differences, Noah and Gracie are searching for answers to the same questions, and together, they set out to uncover the truth about the Austin Police Department's dark and messy past. But the scandal that emerges is bigger than they bargained for, and goes far higher up than they ever imagined.

Complex, gritty, sexy, and thrilling, Keep Her Safe solidifies K.A. Tucker's reputation as one of today's most talented new voices in romantic suspense.
(Goodreads)





   K.A. Tucker's Keep Her Safe is a gritty, dark and emotionally engaging romantic suspense story, that is definitely (and surprisingly) more suspense and mystery than heart-pounding romance. And it works really well this way.

    If you're a fan of Tucker's books, you're probably expecting a steamy and sexy leg-shaker of a book, and rightfully so, because Keep Her Safe is all those things and more. At the same time though you might be surprised when you learn that this is probably the most slow-burning of all of the romances she's ever written. Personally, I really loved that. 

     Are you familiar with the cop TV drama, Shades of Blue? The one starring Jennifer Lopez? I was reminded of that show while reading Keep Her Safe. It almost felt like if Shades of Blue had a spin-off series about Harlee Santos' daughter, it would be something like Keep Her Safe (or at least it would feel similar, what with all the secrets and corruption, and dangerous lies). Personally, I have enjoyed watching Shades of Blue (Lopez is amazing in it!), and so I also really enjoyed reading Keep Her Safe. I guess it's safe to say that cop stories dealing with corruption, secrets, high-stakes family dramas and devastating consequences of one's decisions are really my cuppa tea.

     As for the relationship between the main characters - Noah and Gracie - I must say I wasn't really into it initially. There was no insta-love and like I said, the romance was on the slow-burning (almost slow-simmering) side, but for whatever reason I wasn't feeling it until about 2/3 of the book. That's not to say, I didn't end up rooting for them, because of course I did - it's K.A. Tucker's book after all, how can you not root for the couple? It just took me a bit longer to get there than with her other books.

     Overall, if you've enjoyed K.A. Tucker's previous stories and if you're into romantic suspense stories with jaw-dropping mysteries at the core, you will most definitely enjoy Keep Her Safe. It's quite an addictive page turner!


Monday, April 23, 2018

Happy World Book Day! Get 9 books for FREE!


Hello book worms and happy World Book Day! 

Looking for some amazing, diverse reads to celebrate this amazing day? Look no further! Click on the link below to download one or all of the Amazon Crossing selections right now! 


PS. The link is going to be working till April 24th midnight! US residents only.
This is a sponsored post. 


Available selections:

The book cover of A River in Darkness: One Man�s Escape from North Korea by Masaji Ishikawa. Translated by Risa Kobayashi and Martin Brown. The cover shows a river of red barbed wire winding over a purple, topographical landscape.





MEMOIR
MASAJI ISHIKAWA
Translated by Risa Kobayashi and Martin BrownThe heartrending true story of one man�s harrowing escape from the oppression of North Korea.








The book cover of The House by the River by Lena Manta. Translated by Gail Holst-Warhaft. The cover shows a house with an orange, tiled roof positioned on the shore of a shallow river with a mountain in the background.






FAMILY SAGA
LENA MANTA
Translated by Gail Holst-Warhaft
This bestselling novel follows five Greek sisters and the devoted mother who helped shape their lives.








The book cover of Still Waters by Viveca Sten. Translated by Marlaine Delargy. The cover shows a woman, backlit by the setting sun, looking out to sea while standing on the rocky and barren shore of a beach. A small white shack is in the background and a neon blue fishnet is in the foreground, slightly obscuring the title text.






MYSTERY
VIVECA STEN 
Translated by Marlaine Delargy
When a body washes ashore on an idyllic Swedish island, it forever changes the lives of the island�s residents.







The book cover of The Great Passage by Shion Miura. Translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter. The cover shows layers of blue and white paper waves that are filled with undulating words. Cards containing the title words of the book pop out above the sea of words and a red sun emerges from the crest at the top of the cover.





LITERARY FICTION
SHION MIURA
Translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter
This award-winning novel is a reminder that a life dedicated to passion is a life well lived.







The book cover of Last Train to Istanbul by Ayse Kulin. Translated by John W. Baker. The silhouette of a train track and a locomotive is cut from a painting of red floral. Through the silhouette is an image of World War II Paris, the Eiffel Tower centered in the frame, along the tracks.



HISTORICAL FICTION
AYSE KULIN
Translated by John W. Baker
In this sweeping story of love, adventure, and compassion, a young Turkish couple traverses Nazi-occupied Europe to gain their freedom.







The book cover of The Gray House by Mariam Petrosyan. Translated by Yuri Machkasov. A multi-tiered, gray house is planted on the stump of a large, uprooted tree, suspended in the blue sky among the cumuli.









LITERARY FANTASY
MARIAM PETROSYAN
 

Translated by Yuri Machkasov
An astounding tale of how what others understand as liabilities can be leveraged into strengths.





The book cover of The Question of Red by Laksmi Pamuntjak. Translated by the author. The cover shows a close-up image of a tropical, leafy plant on a khaki background that intrudes on the foreground, obscuring the plant and allowing room for the title.
LITERARY FICTION
LAKSMI PAMUNTJAK
Translated by the author
In this saga of love, revolution, and resilience, one woman must find the courage to forge her own path.












The book cover of The Light of the Fireflies by Paul Pen. Translated by Simon Bruni. The cover shows a firefly alit on a concrete wall, its blue paint cracked and peeling away.
PSYCHOLOGICAL SUSPENSE
PAUL PEN
Translated by Simon Bruni
 
In this haunting page-turner, a boy who lives underground will discover that light exists in even the darkest of places.













The book cover of Ten Women by Marcelo Serrano. Translated by Beth Fowler. The cover shows a painting of ten pink and white flowers in bloom. Additional green leaves and flower buds cling to the black background.
LITERARY FICTION
MARCELA SERRANO
Translated by Beth Fowler
A group of women with divergent life stories bond over triumphs and heartaches in this beautiful tale about universal connections.

Friday, April 20, 2018

Balance by Lucia Franco (Excerpt)



Series:Off Balance (#1)
Genre:
Adult, Contemporary Fiction, Romance
Publication Date:February 15, 2018
Pages:608 (paperback)
Published By:  CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Website:Lucia Franco

Balance on Goodreads



Where to get:

  



Adrianna Rossi is no stranger to the rigorous demands required of her body. Years of pain and determination make her one of the best. Olympic glory is the ultimate goal, and she'll do anything to achieve it. Even if that means leaving home to attend World Cup Academy of Gymnastics, a training center that serves one purpose--producing champions.

Perfection, precision, and dedication are required of his athletes. When two time Olympian Konstantin Kournakova is persuaded into training the young hopeful, he immediately regrets it. She doesn't come close to his high standards. As the relentless pursuit of her dream keeps her striving, a passion is ignited within him.

Kova's power and domination, coupled with Adrianna's fierce tenacity, reveal there is more for her body to learn. Every interaction can be misconstrued, but there's no mistaking the darkening of his gaze, the lingering of his touch, or the illicit image of his bare skin pressed against hers. Integrity is on the line. One toe off the beam and their forbidden desires could ruin everything they've worked for, throwing it all off balance.



Excerpt


The smell of chalk permeated the air and my stomach quivered at the first intake of the aroma into my lungs. It was a distinct scent, and taste, to a gymnast, practically part of our food groups, difficult to explain to anyone not involved in the sport. Similar to baby powder, but chalkier smelling. Muffled music blaring through the speakers, a spring board rebounding, and the sound of uneven bars ricocheting as they�re released, grabbed my attention. It was music to my ears. The kind of sound that got my adrenaline moving and my pulse thumping, beckoning me to drop everything and wrap my hands around the bars or feel the spring floor beneath my bare feet.
Taking another deep breath, I exhaled, unable to hide my splitting grin. My heart was ready to explode. Finally, I was where I was supposed to be.
Glancing around the empty lobby, I wasn't sure where to go, but the window to my right showed a view of the huge facility. It was completely deceiving from the outside...cue the anxiety. Intimidation definitely hit hard in that moment.
Gymnasts, both male and female, were scattered about, white chalk dusting their skin. I could see not just one, but two floors, three sets of uneven bars, and seven balance beams, along with two vaults. There was also a tumble track, various equipment for men, and a high bar with a foam pit and resi-mat, a huge mat on top of a foam pit used for practicing softer landings. Farther back were a bunch of doors. I had no idea what they were for, but I was curious to what they led to.
Even my parents seemed to be in awe of the gym, if their wide eyes were any indication. A shiver shot down my spine and goose bumps coated my arms in enthusiasm, as a rush of adrenaline began beating through my veins at the sight before me.
The sound of a slamming door from behind me shook me out of my trance, compelling me to look over my shoulder. My parents followed the sound and I spotted a tall, fit man. With his hands on his hips, his eyes surveyed the lobby and connected with my parents' before trailing down and locking with mine, his narrowing gaze holding me in place. All the air left my lungs. His powerful presence demanded attention, and without a doubt, he had all of mine.
Never in my life had I seen someone so unbelievably gorgeous. There was no other word I could use to describe him. His commanding eyes made me think it was possible he could be a coach, but no coach I'd ever seen had been so attractive. Come to think of it, none of them had ever been under the age of forty without a potbelly and receding hairline. This man was solidly built and full of muscle.
A silent breath escaped my lips as he stalked toward us with power and poise. My heart nearly hurdled into my throat as I stared like he was some sort of Adonis. Dark stubble dusted his square jaw, full lips that begged for attention, straight as an arrow nose. Combined with inky black hair and olive skin with golden undertones, sweet baby Jesus, the man was perfection.
Crossing the room, he extended a hand.
"Frank, it is good to see you again." His forearm flexed, the veins signifying the muscular strength he wielded. It was incredibly difficult to tear my eyes away as he gave my father a firm handshake. He was absolutely, drop-dead gorgeous. Avery would call him fucking hot. My best friend loved to add "fucking" to the beginning of everything.
"Kova."

This was my dad's friend, and he owned this place. Interesting. He looked like he was fresh out of college, no more than twenty-five max. Dad didn't have very many young friends I was aware of�I could count on one hand the friends I had met who were younger than him. They typically had graying hair, crow's feet, and overworked, aging skin. The complete opposite of what was standing right in front of me.



A competitive athlete for over ten years, Lucia Franco currently resides in sunny South Florida with her husband and two boys. Paranormal romance was her first love, but she has a soft spot in her heart for small-town and reunion romance stories.
When Lucia is not hard at work on her next novel, you can find her relaxing with her toes in the sand at a nearby beach.
Find out more about Lucia at authorluciafranco.com. Make sure to join her newsletter to receive exclusive updates and more!


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