Cover Reveal: Unspoken by Jen Frederick

Expected Release Date: September 16, 2013

Whore. Slut. Typhoid Mary. 

I've been called all these at Central College. One drunken night, one act of irresponsible behavior, and my reputation was ruined. Guys labeled me as easy and girls shied away.  To cope, I stayed away from Central social life and away from Central men, so why is it that my new biology lab partner is so irresistible to me?

He's everything I shouldn't want. A former Marine involved in illegal fighting with a quick trigger temper and an easy smile for all the women. His fists aren't the danger to me, though, it's his charm. He's sliding his way into my heart and I'm afraid that he's going to be the one to break me.

Impulsive. Unthinking. Hot tempered.

I allow instinct to rule my behavior. If it feels good, do it, has been my motto because if I spend too much time thinking, I'll begin to remember exactly where I came from. At Central College, I've got fighting and I've got women and I thought I was satisfied until I met her.  

She's everything I didn't realize I wanted and the more time I spend with her, the more I want her. But she's been hurt too much in the past and I don't want to be the one to break her. I know I should walk away, but I just can't.

Book Teaser

"I didn't know you were into this sort of thing,” he murmured low. He placed my hand on his chest and leaned against the wall, one hand bracing against the top of the barrel right next to my thigh and another against the wall. The vibrations of his words teased me. I wanted to feel him better than through the heavy cloth and, as if my body was controlled by someone else, I unzipped his sweatshirt, just a little. Just enough so that my hand could touch his shirt, so I could feel the flex of his muscular pectorals against my fingers. I ran my fingertips over the ridged cotton of his tank. His muscles flexed and released when I kneaded my fingers against his chest.

"I don't know if I am into this sort of thing," I returned, looking at my hand and his chest and the rise and fall as he simply breathed. Someone jostled the crowd and I was jolted out of my mini trance. I snatched my hand away and looked at Ellie, who was staring at me. Her mouth was open and formed a little O.

I clenched both hands in front of me, grateful the darkness hid the heat in my cheeks. Bo leaned down to my ear. His breath was warm and his voice, deep and strong, raised the hair on my neck.

About the Author:

Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog.  She's been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com.

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Book Tour: Conquer Your Love by J.C. Reed

Conquer Your Love

Release date: June 8th, 2013

Mature New Adult/ Adult Contemporary Romance - recommended for ages 18 and up.

340pp

Meeting Jett was like bad luck. Dangerous. Unpredictable. And better avoided. In his game, the stakes are high. But are they worth the risk?

Brooke Stewart, a realtor in New York, finds forgetting is hard, but forgiving is harder. When the man she trusted, betrayed her, the only way to forget is to move on. Brooke is determined to start a new life, until she meets him again: the green-eyed, sexy as sin, six foot two sex god. The man who played dirty. The man who played her.

Sexy, handsome, and arrogant Jett Mayfield knows he has made mistakes. He could have any other woman, and yet it’s Brooke he wants. When second chances collide with secrets and Brooke is threatened by the past, Jett is determined to protect her. She accepts his help unwillingly because she needs him but she wants to play his game on her own terms. And she has no intention to forgive or let him back into her bed.

When the man she is supposed to hate is the one she should trust, will he conquer her…or lose her forever?

A woman who can’t forgive.

A man who has made mistakes.

Two lives that are about to cross again and more secrets laid bare.

Connect with Author

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Friends & Lovers Trilogy by Bethany Lopez

Title: Friends & Lovers Trilogy: Make it Last, I Choose You, Trust in Me

Author: Bethany Lopez

Genre: Contemporary Romance – novella series

Age Group:  New Adult

Event organized by: AToMR Tours

Barnes & Noble Amazon

Make it Last:

In a small town, it's hard to recover from being dumped by your high school sweetheart. That's just what Briana has to do after Colin leaves her to follow his dreams. She focuses her energy into her friendships and the pursuit of her own goal of becoming a chef. Just when she finally feels like she's on the right path, he comes back to town.

Colin knew breaking up with Briana before leaving for college was the right thing to do. He was determined to leave small-town life behind forever, and that included his high school girlfriend. But when a sports injury puts him on the sidelines, he's forced to return home. Seeing Briana again brings back a lot of memories, and Colin wonders if he made the right decision. It doesn't take long for him to realize he wants her back, and this time, he wants to make it last.

I Choose You:

Up until now, Nicole's life has been mapped out for her. She'd go to college, marry Jake and become the upstanding minister's wife. When she leaves that life to begin again in a small town in Texas, she finally has the freedom to live as she chooses. There, she meets Kent, a guy whose charm and passion make it hard to stick to her morals.

Dodging his father’s fists and protecting his twin sister made Kent into the man he is today. He learned by watching his mother stay by his father’s side that it’s better to keep relationships simple. Then he meets Nicole. Her sweet smile and genuine response to him land like punches to his resolve. After a lifetime of learning to protect his heart, can he finally let down his guard?

Trust In Me:

Roni’s dreams of becoming a contemporary dancer were smashed under the brutal rage of her ex-husband’s fists. Getting divorced and starting over at the age of twenty-two was never her plan, but maybe in Texas, she’ll find her path. When the town’s local player, Rich, opens a Rec Center, she sees a way to rekindle her dancing dreams…and maybe have a little fun with her sexy new boss.

Rich never expected to fulfill his dreams in the town he planned to leave behind, but that’s just what he’s doing. His reputation as a noncommittal ladies’ man might make it challenging to earn respect in the business world, but he’s willing to prove that he’s serious. In fact, when it comes to pursuing Roni, he’s more than willing. But she’s taking a page out of his book, not wanting to risk another relationship. Can he convince her that his playboy days are over and that she can trust him with her heart?

My Thoughts:

Friends & Lovers flows right from one story into the next so you really will want to read them in order. I read the three as one book (which just means I just kept reading after finishing one).

In each story the characters are in their early twenties and they are each striving to find their place in the world. Enter drama of the relationship sort. 

I think that because each story is written in novella style the relationships moved a bit quickly and lacked real struggles. Each couple had small hurdles but quickly and easily worked through them. So while the stories are sweet, a little sexy and happily satisfying they seemed a little too easy to me. 

I did enjoy that the same characters are in each story so that by the end of the trilogy you had really gotten to know and care about everyone. These are the friends everyone wants to have. They are loyal, supportive and they've got each others backs. A sweet edition to the New Adult trend. 

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About the Author

Bethany Lopez was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Michigan and San Antonio, Texas. She went to High School at Dearborn High, in Dearborn, Michigan, which is where she has set her Young Adult series. She is married and has a blended family with five children. She is currently serving in the United States Air Force as a Recruiter in Los Angeles, California. She has always loved to read and write and has seen her dream realized by independently publishing her novels through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

Author social media links:

IAN - http://www.independentauthornetwork.com/bethany-lopez.html

Webpage - www.bethanylopez.blogspot.com

Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/BethanyLopez2

Facebook - http://on.fb.me/LypEaO

Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/bethanylopez2/

After Math by Denise Grover Swank Blog Tour & Giveaway

Title: After Math (Off the Subject, #1)

Author: Denise Grover Swank

Release date: March 12, 2013

Publisher: Self-Published

Age Group: New Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Tour organized by: AToMR Tours

Amazon Barnes and Noble

Scarlett Goodwin’s world is divided into Before and After.

Before she agreed to tutor Tucker price, college junior Scarlett was introvert, struggling with her social anxiety and determined to not end up living in a trailer park like her mother and her younger sister. A mathematics major, she goes to her classes, to her job in the tutoring lab, and then hides in the apartment she shares with her friend, Caroline.

After junior Tucker Price, Southern University’s star soccer player enters the equation, her carefully plotted life is thrown off its axis. Tucker’s failing his required College Algebra class. With his eligibility is at risk, the university chancellor dangles an expensive piece of computer software for the math department if Scarlett agrees to privately tutor him.Tucker’s bad boy, womanizer reputation makes Scarlett wary of any contact, let alone spending several hours a week in close proximity.

But from her first encounter, she realizes Tucker isn't the person everyone else sees. He carries a mountain of secrets which she suspects hold the reason to his self-destructive behavior. But the deeper she delves into the cause of his pain, the deeper she gets sucked into his chaos. Will Scarlett find the happiness she’s looking for, or will she be caught in Tucker’s aftermath?

My Thoughts

2013 has been the year of New Adult Contemporaries for me this year and I've noticed something. They all seem to follow the same basic formula. A guy and a girl both in college or around college age (new adult). There is quite a bit of drinking, parties, and usually some pretty serious sexy times. Now, I'm not complaining about any of this. Just pointing out what I've noticed.

Then along comes After Math. Yep a guy, a girl, college, parties, and some hot sexy times. However, After Math had something more for me. Both Scarlett and Tucker have emotional baggage. More than a little really. This isn't quite your average my last boyfriend broke my heart and I don't know if I can ever love again kind of baggage. This is real, been in totally shitty situations and they've left me with scars and real issues. I think that is what made me love this book. These characters were real, raw and their emotions made me feel. There were seriously times when I found myself holding my breath. Other times I realized I had a knot in my stomach. I was really caught up in their lives and I honestly did not want this book to end, but sadly it did.

After Math is definitely one of my favorite New Adult books and I'm sure it will find a place on my favorites of 2013 list. If you are a contemporary romance fan and are enjoying the new adult books this year I highly highly recommend After Math. 

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About the Author

Denise Grover Swank lives in Lee's Summit, Missouri. She’s a gypsy who can’t live in one place too long or stay in one genre. She writes contemporary romance, urban fantasies without vampires and werewolves, young adult science fiction, and romantic comedy mysteries set in the south. Denise has six children, three dogs, and an overactive imagination. She can be found dancing in her kitchen with her children, reading, or writing her next book. You will rarely find her cleaning. 

You can find her at:

Her website: www.denisegroversank.com

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeniseGroverSwank and https://www.facebook.com/deniseswank

And Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DeniseMSwank

To view the rest of the stops on the After Math tour just click on the banner!

Suicide Note by Teresa Mummert

Suicide Note

Author: Teresa Mummert

Release Date: March 13, 2013

Genre: New Adult Contemporary

Sometimes in life it feels like everything that can go wrong does, but everything happens for a reason. A relationship crumbles so someone else can mend the pieces of your broken heart. A change of plans can lead you to something you didn’t even know you were missing. You help others and discover that it was you who needed to be helped all along. 

Jenn’s life is nothing as she had imagined it would be. She is twenty-something with a failing career and her love life has officially ended with an ultimate act of betrayal. She is ready to throw away her dreams when a chance run-in with a soldier, dealing with his own misfortunes, alters her course and changes her perspective on life.

My Thoughts

This is a hard review for me to write. I liked Suicide Note but I didn't love it. I can't even really explain why I didn't love it. Honestly, I'm afraid that within a few weeks I won't remember much of what happened. I don't mean to sound harsh or even be overly critical of this book, just being honest. 

The worst part is that there is absolutely nothing wrong with this book. Really. I just wasn't able to connect with any of the characters emotionally. I have been in love with New Adult novels this year (including a few of Mummert's other novels) and was really excited to read this one. The plot is definitely original especially in the New Adult category. The writing was good and I was interested in what was going on I just never got emotional about anything even during the scenes when I should have. If you have been following my blog for any length of time you know I get emotional pretty easily. I wonder if part of the problem for me was that the characters were a little too perfect? 

I really hope that if this book sounds good to you that you will still give it a try despite my lukewarm feelings. 

Cover Reveal: Catching Liam by Sophia Bleu

Catching Liam by Sophia Bleu
Publication date:  Summer 2013 
Genre: New Adult Contemporary

Twenty-one year-old Jillian Nichols only has one rule when it comes to boys: catch and release. Boy-catching isn't just a game for Jillian and her friends, it's a lifestyle. After all, boys might be good for a dance or a drink and certainly a little under-cover action of the scandalous variety, but expect much else and you're bound for heart ache.

So when her best friends and fellow boy catchers start dropping like flies junior year, Jillian is determined to keep boys in her bedroom and out of her heart. Until she meets Liam McAvoy, the kind of guy that sticks around to make waffles and who can't—or perhaps won't—take a hint. 

Study abroad student Liam doesn't want to be another notch on Jillian's bedpost. Actually he has much more interesting ideas for Jillian and her bedposts, but his student visa's set expiration date means he can't promise her forever. That doesn't mean he's going to walk away from the challenge of discovering why Jillian is hell-bent at keeping people at a distance. 

Before long, neither is sure who is catching who—or if they're playing for keeps. Jillian knows one thing though: falling in love will not only break the only rule of boy-catching, it could also break her heart.

AUTHOR BIO

Sophia Bleu is a secret identity where I can write about fantasies and falling in love and all the smexiness in between.  In real life, I'm likely catching a plane, chasing kids, or making out with the love of my life—all 6 ft 3 inches of hotness that he is.  Life is pretty good.

Author links:

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Slow No Wake by Dakota Madison Promo, Review, & Giveaway

Title: Slow No Wake
Author: Dakota Madison
Publisher: Short on Time Books
Release date: April 1, 2013
Genre:  Contemporary
Age Group:  New Adult/Adult
Event organized by: AToMR Tours

Links to the book:

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Slow-No-Wake-ebook/dp/B00BV84740/

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17661713-slow-no-wake

After finding her sister in bed with her fiancé, 25-year old Lexie Wilkins decides to relocate to southwest Florida to start a new life and escape relationships all together. What she doesn’t expect to find are two attractive kite surfers, who both want her.

So much for Lexie’s vow for her fresh start in Florida: a no wake zone. Having two guys in her life is sure to make waves.
Eddie is the captivating bad boy, who lives next door. Daniel is Lexie’s sweet and ruggedly handsome co-worker. The differences between the two men are just as extreme as their sport… Who will she choose?

About the Author

Dakota Madison has been writing since she learned to read and fell in love with books. When she's not at her computer creating spicy new romances, Dakota is traveling to exotic locales or spending time with her husband and their bloodhounds.

Author social media links:

http://12novels12months.tumblr.com/

My Thoughts

Lexie wants a drama free life. Free from waves so she makes her own catch phrase "Slow No Wake". However, she really isn't very good at abiding by her new motto. She is quickly attracted to not one but two gorgeous men that both want her bad.

While Slow No Wake is a quick and enjoyable read it's a little predictable. The characters were definitely my favorite part of this novel. Lexie's co-workers were written perfectly. Serenity and twin sister Trinity were hilarious and for some reason I ended up loving Brad.

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Excerpt

I knocked lightly on the door and when Daniel looked up he seemed surprised to see me. Not pleasantly surprised, as I had hoped, but he didn’t look unpleasantly surprised either. He just looked confused.

“I think we need to talk,” I said as I entered his office and closed the door behind me.

He nodded and I took a seat.

“I just want you to know that I was eating lunch by myself when Ricky introduced himself and asked if he could join me. We were just talking.”

He nodded again but didn’t say anything. I noticed he had put up a bit of a wall between us. It felt cold and uncomfortable.

“I’m not interested in Ricky, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

His look was sullen. “Ricky has a way with women.”  

“He’s not really my type,” I said. “And I’m interested in someone else.”I looked into his eyes and the intensity between us started to melt the ice that had formed. He

started to bite his bottom lip, a habit I found extremely attractive. Anything that brought my attention to his lips made me think about kissing him.

“And just who is the lucky guy you’re interested in?” he asked, knowing full well it was him.

“We’re going out Saturday night,” I said.

“Is that so?” he said as the heat between us continued to intensify. I was suddenly glad there was a desk separating us. “I’m jealous.”

I grinned. “You should be. This guy is the full package.”

I could see his face grow red with embarrassment. “The full package, huh?”

I nodded.

“I hope this guy doesn’t mind that we’re meeting for lunch tomorrow.”

“I think he’d be terribly jealous,” I said playing it up as much as I could. “He hates to see me with other men.”

I was surprised when Daniel touched my hand. I instinctively glanced up at the door to make sure it was still closed. He grazed his index finger along my thumb and then each of my fingers. The act was so sensual it took my breath away. “I’m really looking forward to Saturday night,” he said as he continued caressing my fingers.

“Me, too,” I managed to get out with the limited breath I now seemed to have.

I felt like crawling over the desk and into his lap. I tried to distract myself by looking around his office. I noticed for the first time that his walls were covered with framed posters of guys in the ocean on boards attached to kites. I assumed they were kite surfers.

He must have noticed me examining his art work. “I like to kite surf,” he said.

“Are the posters of you?” I asked. It was difficult to tell who was actually doing the kite surfing in the photos.

“Some of them,” he said. “Some of them are my friends.” He pointed to one across the room from me. “That one’s Ricky. The one next to it is my roommate.” He pointed to two close to me. “Those two are me.”

I nodded. I wondered if that explained the rough hands and calluses.

“You should watch us sometime,” he said. “We’re all pretty good.”

I nodded. “Okay, sure.”

I stood. “I’d better get back to work,” I said. “Please don’t freak out when you see me talking to Ricky. You know we have to work together.”

“I know,” he said. “It’s just…” I could see him thinking. “We have a history. I know how he is with women.”

“Please don’t worry,” I said, and we left it at that.