Tuesday, September 30, 2014

All About Books Giveaway and Hop


Thank you to Literary Addicts and All About Books..... for organizing this hop. :-)

There is a Grand Prize giveaway going on over on the Literary Addicts page.

As for me, I am offering the winner's choice, either a $10 Amazon gift card OR a book from TBD (up to $15).

My giveaway is open to all followers age thirteen and older provided TBD ships to you or you can use an Amazon gc.

I will email the winner and they will have 48 hours to respond or I will pick a new winner.

Just so you know, I'll be hosting another giveaway with a hop and an event with lots of giveaways and fun later in the month. Make sure to stop back!

What is your favorite thing about fall? 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 


Don't forget to visit all of the other Participating Blogs: http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=241303


Don't forget to enter the Comment Incentive Giveaway. It is a great chance to win a book you'd like to have! The link can be found at the top of the page.

Review ~ Breaking His Rules by Alison Packard


BLURB:

Losing fifty pounds is an incredible achievement. But for Melissa Atherton, progress doesn’t come with praise—a scathing comment from an evil cousin at a bridal shower threatens to crush her new self-esteem. Who will she bring to the upcoming wedding? Showing up without a date would be humiliating. It just isn’t an option.
Personal trainer Jake Sawyer was attracted to Melissa before she lost weight, but her progress has him floored. When she admits she plans to hire a male escort—and why—his heart all but breaks. Melissa’s come too far to be knocked down, especially by her own family. He’ll go as her date…and figure out a way to keep his hands to himself.
But when a steamy hotel room encounter takes them both by surprise, Jake balks. He’s sworn never to date one of his clients, not again. And Melissa can’t bear to be just friends with the man who treated her so tenderly, even if it was only for a weekend. Jake’s helped her see she’s strong enough to stand up for herself, but will she find the strength to pursue the only man who’s ever seen the real her?

Purchase Links:

Amazon

Kobo * B&N


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22446932-breaking-his-rules





Excerpt:



It was after ten when Jake pulled up to the curb in front of her townhouse. The porch light was on and bathed the small garden and walkway near the front door in a warm golden glow. Inside, the house was dark. Paige was either upstairs in her bedroom at the back of the unit, or she’d decided to spend the night with Rob.


“You talked to Gentry, didn’t you?” Melissa asked the question that had been on her mind ever since she’d seen Trey head toward the men’s room not long after Jake had done the same thing.


“We had a brief discussion.” Jake’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel. “I didn’t lay a hand on him. If that’s what you’re worried about.”


“The only reason I’d worry is because I wouldn’t want you to get into any trouble because of me. Him, I couldn’t care less about.”


“My father taught us to respect women. What Gentry said to you was out of line. I took it upon myself to call him out on his behavior.”


“I guess he thought I’d be flattered that he found me attractive.”


“His success has gone to his head. He’s got women panting after him all the time and he takes advantage of that situation on a daily basis, according to J.T.”


“Well, he picked the wrong woman tonight. I wish I would have had the nerve to deck him. Paige would have done it in a heartbeat.” She sighed. “Paige thinks I need to stand up for myself more. She says I always turn the other cheek and let people like Shauna and Denise get away with insulting me.”


“Is that true?”


“Yes,” Melissa admitted, with a tentative nod. “I was always heavier than all the other kids. When they made fun of me it was easier to pretend it didn’t matter instead of confronting them.”


“But it did matter, didn’t it?”


“It hurt.” Her heart clenched at the thought of those painful times. “A lot. Luckily, I had Paige. I don’t think I would have gotten through school if she wasn’t there with me. She fought my battles for me. No one would dare say a word to me when she was nearby.”


“You’ve never struck me as the kind of person who wouldn’t stick up for herself.”


“That’s because you don’t really know me.”


“I think I do.” Jake reached up to brush a lock of hair from her cheek, and then quickly lowered his hand. “That strength you think you don’t have is there. Inside you. One day you’ll figure that out.”


Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Alison now lives in Southern Nevada where she’s still getting used to the blistering summers and the slot machines in every grocery store.

When not working at the day job that pays the bills, keeps a roof over her head, and supports her book and chocolate habits, Alison spends most of her free time writing. But when she takes a break, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her family and friends.



My Thoughts:

Jake was a great guy. He had been bullied when he was younger and knows how that can hurt. He treats each of his clients with compassion and inspiration. I especially liked that he never urged her to diet or lose more. That fact that he liked her before she lost her weight also made me happy.

Melissa was a wonderful woman who was caring and delightful but easily hurt when people made comments about her weight. As the book went on we see her respect herself and demand that others do as well. :-)

These two characters started out as a trainer and a woman on a mission to loss weight. They became friends and much of the book was spent in the friendship zone which was a nice change of pace. When things finally did progress it was even better because of that foundation.

This was a sweet romance. There was also a lot of friendship and family too. Some of the family members were not so nice. :-(

I would recommend this to those of you who like Rachel Gibson's books. 

I received an ecopy in exchange for my honest opinion. I thought it was delightful. I especially liked the way she came into herself.   


Don't forget to enter the Comment Incentive Giveaway. It is a great chance to win a book you'd like to have! The link can be found at the top of the page.

Release Blitz and Giveaway for ~ Keep Me (Twist Me #2) by Anna Zaires


***New Adult Dark Erotic Novel***
   
Kidnapped. Taken to a private island.
I never thought this could happen to me. I never imagined one chance meeting on the eve of my eighteenth birthday could change my life so completely.
Now I belong to him. To Julian. To a man who is as ruthless as he is beautiful – a man whose touch makes me burn. A man whose tenderness I find more devastating than his cruelty.
My captor is an enigma. I don’t know who he is or why he took me. There is a darkness inside him – a darkness that scares me even as it draws me in.
My name is Nora Leston, and this is my story.
 
WARNING: This is NOT a traditional romance. It contains disturbing subject matter, including themes of questionable consent and Stockholm Syndrome, as well as graphic sexual content. This is a work of fiction intended for a mature, 18+ audience only. The author neither endorses nor condones this type of behavior.



Twist Me, book 1

Purchase Links:

AmazonUS

AmazonUK

B&N

iBooks


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17676198-twist-me?ac=1


Title: Keep Me (Twist Me, #2)   

Author: Anna Zaires Publication

Date: September 30, 2014

Genre: Dark Erotic Romance

AmazonUS

Amazon UK

iBooks


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20806202-keep-me


Synopsis



Abducted at eighteen. Held captive for 15 months.



It reads like one of those headlines. And yes, I did it. I stole her. Nora, with her long dark hair and silky skin. She’s my weakness, my obsession.



I’m not a good man. I never pretended to be one. She can love me, but she can’t change me.



I can, however, change her.



My name is Julian Esguerra, and Nora is mine to keep.



***Keep Me is the sequel to Twist Me, told from Nora & Julian’s POV.***





About the Author



Anna Zaires fell in love with books at the age of five, when her grandmother taught her to read. She wrote her first story shortly thereafter. Since then, she has always lived partially in a fantasy world where the only limits were those of her imagination. Currently residing in Florida, Anna is happily married to Dima Zales (a science fiction and fantasy author) and closely collaborates with him on all their works.



After graduating from the University of Chicago with a degree in Economics, Anna spent eight years on Wall Street analyzing stocks and writing research reports. In 2013, she became a full-time author, pursuing her lifelong dream of writing romance novels.

Dima Zales is the love of her life and a huge inspiration in all aspects of her writing. Every book Anna writes is a product of their unique collaborative process.



In addition to reading and writing, Anna enjoys drinking tea (coconut oolong, anyone?), watching addictive TV shows, and discussing book ideas during long walks with her amazing husband.



She loves hearing from her readers, so please don't hesitate to contact her through her website or connect with her on Facebook, where she hangs out way too often. Also, please visit her husband and collaborator, Dima Zales, at www.dimazales.com and check out their fantasy & science fiction books.




 
This is one of those books that are tempting me buuuuutttt, I'm not sure if it will be too dark for my taste.




Don't forget to enter the Comment Incentive Giveaway. It is a great chance to win a book you'd like to have! The link can be found at the top of the page.