BOOK SPOTLIGHT + GIVEAWAY: The Queen’s Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler

The Queen’s Poisoner by Jeff Wheeler

Page Count: 318 pages
Publisher: 47North
Publication Date: April 1st, 2016
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Hardback, Paperback
Amazon Buy Link: HERE
Barns and Noble: HERE
Synopsis: As usurper of the throne, the rule of King Severn Argentine’s is already highly contested. To keep his power, King Argentine rules with an iron fist and destroys any opposition. In a failed coup attempt the Duke of Kiskaddon loses his son as a permanent prisoner to the king to ensure his loyalty.

THE QUEEN’S POISONER follows the Duke’s young son Owen on his journey for redemption and revenge as he figures out how to survive the court of Kingfountain. In order to keep his head and gain the merciless king’s favor, Owen must delve deeper into the world of mystery and secrecy that surrounds him. Readers will be clamoring for the next installment of The Kingfountain Series.

Excerpt 1: Chapter 28

 The wild frenzied feeling of plummeting reminded him partway down that he should be terrified, but then the shock of cold water met his face and he plunged into its depths. His feet touched the bottom of the cistern. His hand still gripped hers.

Owen opened his eyes and found himself surrounded by a pile of treasure. He felt a huge burst of excitement in his ribs as he stared at the sword hilts, the jewels and necklaces. The Mortimer girl was tugging at his hand and trying to swim up, but he pulled back, not wanting to lose sight of the treasure.There was so much! But then he noticed something awry. There was a gap in the treasure, as if someone had dragged a rake through it. No, that wasn’t it. One of the chests appeared to have been dragged back towards the stairs. The dragging motion had cleared a path through the bounty and knocked other bits over.

His companion was yanking hard on his hand now, and when he looked up, he saw bubbles were coming out of her mouth, obscuring her face.

Owen wanted to stay down and figure out what had happened to the treasure, but they both needed to breathe. He pushed with his legs and they started towards the surface. As they moved through the water, a loud grinding noise filled his water-soaked ears.

When Owen’s face broke the surface, he gulped in a chest full of air to stop his lungs from burning. The Mortimer girl was spluttering and paddling on the waters.

“Owen! Did you hear that noise?”

Owen looked and saw they were farther away from stairs. In fact, they were gliding away from it at a fast pace.

“What’s wrong?” Owen asked, kicking around. The water was tugging them deeper into the dark cistern. 

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT + GIVEAWAY: FURIOUS BY T.R. RAGAN

Furious
by: T.R. Ragan
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Indiebound
The Book Depository


Synopsis:
Faith McMann comes home to a nightmare: her husband is killed and her son and daughter are taken. Although the intruders leave her for dead, she survives. Crippling grief and fear for her children make life unbearable. Until her anguish turns to anger…and she trades victimhood for vengeance. Frustrated with the law’s efforts, she takes action to rescue her children—and wreaks havoc on the brutal criminals who tore them from her. With her family and newfound allies at her side, Faith descends into the hellish underworld of human trafficking, determined to make those who prey on the innocent pray for mercy. The forces she's up against have already proven that their ruthlessness knows no bounds. And there's nothing they won't do to turn Faith's crusade into a suicide mission. But they're about to learn that nothing is more dangerous than a mother fighting for her children—especially one who's earned the nickname Furious.

Author Bio:

T.R. Ragan (Theresa Ragan) is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author. Her exciting Lizzy Gardner series: Abducted, Dead Weight, A Dark Mind, Obsessed, Almost Dead, and Evil Never Dies, has received tremendous praise. In August 2015 Evil Never Dies hit #7 on the Wall Street Journal Bestselling List. Since publishing in 2011, she has sold over two million books and has been mentioned in the Wall Street Journal, the L.A. Times, PC Magazine, Huffington Post, and Publishers Weekly. Theresa grew up in a family of five girls in Lafayette, California. An avid traveler, her wanderings have carried her to Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, China, Thailand, and Nepal, where she narrowly survived being chased by a killer elephant. Before devoting herself to writing fiction, she worked as a legal secretary for a large corporation. Theresa and her husband Joe have four children and live in Sacramento, California. FURIOUS, the first book in her most recent Faith McMann series will be released March 22, 2016, followed by OUTRAGE and WRATH.

Early Praise
“Faith McMann, heroine of this gripping novel, is a Sacramento schoolteacher, wife, and mother who comes home just in time to witness her husband’s throat getting cut and her two children hauled away. The attempt on her life is botched—the killers were in a hurry—and as she recovers, she’s convinced the police are brushing her off. So she whacks a detective with his computer keyboard and gets sentenced to anger management sessions. If this were a cookie-cutter thriller, the male hero would be tracking the killers with an automatic weapon and maybe a major babe beside him. But our hero is smarter than that, and her revenge is a product of relationships, not bullets. In classes, she meets other victims as angry as she is, and, together, in fine scenes of action and suspense, they seek explanations and vengeance as well as the children’s rescue, which takes them into a slimy world of human trafficking. Learn here about “lot lizards” and “kiddie strolls” on the way to a wild finale. Suspenseful and smart, in equal measure.” —Don Crinklaw, Booklist

“Searing...Readers with strong stomachs will eagerly await the next installment.” —Publishers Weekly

Giveaway:
5 copies of FURIOUS (US Only) a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Book Review: Beastly Manor by Alex Hall + Giveaway

Beastly Manor 
by Alex Hall
Page Count: 293 pages
Publisher: Madison Place Press
Publication Date: 1/20/2016
Genre: LGBT Fantasy
  Format: E-book
Amazon Buy Link: HERE
Goodreads Link: HERE
Em's Rating: ★★★★
Book Blurb:
Once upon a time in a faraway land a very wealthy merchant lived on a good piece of land just west of the hamlet we now call Littleton. The merchant was blessed with luck and guile, strong bones and sharp eyes, a pretty wife of gentle spirit, and four healthy children whom he called Faith, Hope, Beauty, and Corbin. 

 An LGBT twist on the classic love story. 

Em’s Review:
This is going to be one of those hard reviews where I want to squee and spoil everything, cause I love this story so! It’s has so much I love in a fairytale, and not those sugar down Disney ones. We are talking family in ruin! Knights! Training! Murder! Magic items! A creature and a little LGBT mixed in. In fact, if you are looking for a story where Disney’s Bell has been replaced by a guy, I can find you some fanfiction, cause this is more Corbin’s story, than the story of the Beast. And, like a classic fairytale, not everyone's story has an ending or a happy one.

I loved how this world felt like something I would have seen in BBC’s Merlin. The medieval and the magical fitting right in. I didn’t have people going through explaining to me what the dwarves are like here, we just jump right into it, and it never breaks from the story.

Corbin is also discovering his own sexulaity in his quest. It’s is very well added in here. He is not the gay person doing this to release his family from a deal, he is a man learning who just happens to like men and not women. This world doesn’t even make being gay an issue. Corbin was getting more hell from the color of his hair than the fact he didn’t bed women. It is refreshing to read a story where I persons sexuallity was not plastered on every page.

I will warn you, the first act of this story is a little slow, but is also short. It is where we meet Corbin at a young age and get to meet the family right before the deal with the devil as people will say. Then it picks up and all I am doing is reading it and the dinner is overcooking in the oven. Extra crispy chicken aside, please go and get the ebook. The price is worth the read, and Alex Hall is a great wordsmith and I would love to see more work from them.

Here is an excerpt to so you what I mean!

Once upon a time in faraway land a very wealthy merchant lived on a good piece of property just west of the hamlet we now call Littleton. The merchant was blessed with luck and guile, strong bones and sharp eyes, a pretty wife who had both wit and a gentle spirit, and four healthy children. He was called Jean de Beaumont, after his father and his grandfather both. His wife liked to call him ‘Roux’ for the color of his hair. To his three daughters the merchant was always ‘Papa’, but his eldest child and only son always called him simply ‘Da’.

Like many of the tenant farmers subsisting on squares of land just outside Littleton proper, de Beaumont dedicated his time and talents to the making of good cheeses. The native soil was made rich with salt from the nearby sea, and that fragrant earth produced a grass greener than the king’s most rare verdigris dyes. Black and white cattle grew fat in the fields. Their milk was thick and sweet, suitable for drinking straight from the pail, or churning into butter. More importantly, this milk was the very key to the family’s survival, for de Beaumont poured it into great bowls and set it aside to curdle before molding. The milk turned into cheese, the cheese now called Camembert.

Camembert was not so rare around Littleton. But de Beaumont, being a clever man with a head for experimentation, began to add an extra ingredient to the cheese: a special brandy his wife made from the apples collected from the trees growing wild amongst the hedges. Only she knew how to correctly prepare the brandy, and only de Beaumont knew when to add the sweet-smelling liquor between curdling and molding, and then again before he sealed the cheeses in wooden boxes and set them aside again to age. The recipe was a family secret kept only in de Beaumonts’s head. As word of the unusual and delicious Camembert spread so did demand, but de Beaumont was canny and never increased production. He raised the price for a wheel. His fortune was made in a matter of years, while Corbin was still a babe not yet out of his cot.

They say there are still wheels of de Beaumont Camembert laid aside in the king’s cellars, held back for a special occasion. If this is true the king is a very lucky man, as by all accounts de Beaumont’s special cheese exists nowhere else. It is possible the merchant meant to teach Corbin the recipe once the child came of age, so that as heir he could pass the secret on through the generations, ensuring the family’s continued fortune. But God plays tricks on a man, gives with the right hand and takes with the left, and like de Beaumont’s pretty little farm and charming family, that magical strain of Camembert is nothing more than a distant memory, a lingering taste on the tongue of good fortune, a fleeting recollection of pleasure.

Want more? Part of another excerpt was used in today's Get Up Offa That Slump Challenge

Author Bio: 

Alex Hall writes LGBT speculative fiction for Madison Place Press. Find out more about Alex, Beastly Manor, and Alex's forthcoming dystopian M/M romance, The Stranded, at www.sarahremy.com

I would like to thank Enchanted Book Promotions for letting me host another stop on their tour, and for this giveaway. Make sure you stop by other spots on the tour.

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Book Review: The Chosen by Annette Gisby and giveaway

The Chosen
by Annette Gisby
Page Count: 200 pages
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Publication Date: June, 15 2013
Genre: M/M Fantasy Romance
Format: E-book, Paperback
Amazon Buy Link: HERE 
Amazon UK Buy Link: HERE
Smashwords: HERE
Barnes and Noble: HERE
All Romance: HERE
Goodreads Link: HERE
Em's Rating: ★★★


Book Blurb: 
The neighbouring kingdoms of Oscia and Arcathia have been at a tentative peace for three years after centuries of warfare. Prince Severin of Arcathia has been brought up to put duty before all else and as the only son of the King and Queen, it is his duty to marry and produce an heir. His parents want him to marry an Oscian princess to cement that tentative peace. Unfortunately Severin isn't interested in princesses. Now, if he had his pick of princes that would be another matter. Havyn has been a slave all his life. When his aptitude for wizardry is discovered, he finds himself purchased and freed by Prince Severin and apprenticed to the royal wizard, Ildar. His duty is to stay chaste to keep his powers strong, but his feelings for Severin sorely test his resolve. With kingdoms at war, the throne hanging in the balance, magic in the air, and outside forces trying to keep them apart, can the two men find happiness together, or is duty more important than love?

Em’s Review: 

WOW, Annette Gisby has an imagination on her. Her world she built around this story...let’s just say I wish there was more so I could have enjoyed the world she was painting. From the guards and their attachment to The Raven and more about Oscia and how people lived when they couldn’t marry. Just everything! She could go back and play more in her universe.

But, with most people that want to read a review on a romance story, you want to know about our two main lovers, don’t you? I know you will love Severin and Havyn. Both, are deep down, kind people that want to do right to their country, people and positions. It makes for the classic ‘I want, but can’t touch’ troupe. No matter how many times they find themselves in positions where it makes it hard to just NOT not touch, giving us some steamy scenes.

The Chosen is an enjoyable read. A hot cocoa, curl up on the couch, read. My only issue is I wanted to read it more like a high fantasy and not a romance set in a fantasy world. This is to do with so many things the author brought to her world I wanted to explore. However, it is a very fun, adventurous, book that will have you loving Severin and Havyn almost from the first page.

Like this excerpt when we first meet Severin:

Severin pulled his hood closer around him despite the stifling heat. He must keep himself disguised at all costs. Oscians did not take kindly to strangers, and his icy blue eyes and silvery hair marked him a foreigner among the swarthy-skinned, dark-haired native population. Severin turned to his companion, a grey-haired man carrying the staff of a wizard. "Ildar, do we have enough gold?" 

Ildar clucked his tongue. "It's a bit late to be worrying about that now, isn't it? You've already entered into the contract. Yes, we have enough, but only just. What's your father going to say when you bring home a slave?" 

Severin smiled at his former tutor who was now one of his most trusted advisors. "Do you know me so little, Ildar?" 

"You mean to set him free?" 

"Of course. You know slavery is illegal in Arcathia. It's a pity we can't afford to free them all." Severin's eyes swept over the dais set up in the middle of the square where slaves of all ages stood or lay curled in their chains. Some were shackled to wooden stakes while others were bound to each other or had chains binding their arms and legs together so they could hardly move. Their tunics were stained, ill-fitting, and ragged around the hems, their arms and legs bare. Some held their heads high, yet others looked so despairing that Severin's heart lurched for them. He couldn't save them all, no matter how much he wanted to. Almost all of them were bruised and scarred in some way, testifying to abuse from previous owners or perhaps from the slave trader himself. 

The slaver was a burly man with biceps the size of hams and thighs so thick they almost looked like tree trunks. He was bulging out of his leather jerkin and trousers. Sweat dripped down his face while he continued with the auction. Severin cringed. None of the scrawny slaves would have stood a chance against him if he decided to lay into them. 

Severin looked at Ildar, raising his eyebrow in question. The two of them had known each other for so long that sometimes they didn't need words. Ildar nodded and cast a notice-me-not spell. It would shield them from prying eyes—there was no reason to make it easy for pickpockets. Once the shield was in place, Ildar counted out the requisite gold coins. He sighed every time he dropped a piece into Severin's open palm. "I hope we have enough left for lodgings for the night," said Ildar, his reluctance obvious.

"We could always camp out," said Severin. Ildar shuddered. For a wizard,he had a terrible aversion to nature and loved his home comforts. Perhaps you should just conjure more gold pieces?" 

Ildar gave a long-suffering sigh. "You see, this is why you were so hopeless at studying the Magical Arts. You can't conjure something from nothing. Magic is all about balance. It can only be used to assist nature. If you have a fire, you can make it warmer, but you can't conjure fire from thin air."

"I've heard the Aldari can do that and more." 

"The Aldari? Well, if it's fairy tales you're after rather than reality, yes they can. But the Aldari have long since died out, and most of what is said about them is complete myth. They don't exist." 

Author Bio:

Annette Gisby grew up in a small town in Northern Ireland moving to London when she was seventeen. Being a very small town there were no bookshops and a small library. When she’d devoured every book she could get her hands on in the library, she started writing her own stories so she would always have something to read later. When not writing she enjoys reading, cinema, theatre, walks along deserted beaches or wandering around ruined castles (great places for inspiration!) She loves travelling to distant places to see different cultures first hand, even though she gets travel sick on most forms of transport. She currently lives in Hamsphire with her husband, a collection of porcelain dolls, cuddly toys and enough books to fill a library.

And you can kindly stalk her an any of these social sites.
http://annettegisby.weebly.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/252221.Annette_Gisby
http://www.amazon.com/Annette-Gisby/e/B002BLL62C/
https://uk.pinterest.com/annetteg2/
https://twitter.com/havyn

Thanks to Enchanted Tours, you can enter a giveaway!
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I would like to thank both Enchanted Tours and Annette Gisby for a chance to let me be apart of this blog tour, and to read The Chosen.

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Book Review: The Summer Solstice Enchanted by K.K. Allen + Giveaway!

The Summer Solstice Enchanted 
by: K. K. Allen
Page Count: 238 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
Format: Paperback, E-book
Amazon Buy Link: HERE
Goodreads Link: HERE
Em's Rating: ★★★★

Book Blurb: After Katrina Summer’s mother dies a mysterious death, she is hurtled into life at Apollo Beach where she learns the legends of her Ancient Greek ancestors. Kat’s world unravels as secrets from her heritage are exposed—secrets that her mother purposefully concealed. Leading to her 16th birthday, the day of the Summer Solstice, Kat becomes frightened when enigmatic visions and disturbing dreams haunt her. As her visions become reality fear turns to terror as powerful forces threaten the lives of those around her. Amidst the turmoil, Kat meets Alec Stone, who becomes her sole solace in an evocative world of mythological enchantment and evil prophecies that lurk around every corner . . . 

Em’s Review:
Even though I love YA books, (and yes I would call this YA) I tend to see a lot of reoccurring things that pull me out of the story. Two of these are: characters that most issues could be solved by talking (romances does this too) and insta-love. I am very happy to report The Summer Solstice Enchanted didn’t have any of this! I like Katrina as our main protagonist. She asks (sometimes demands) answers, doesn’t want to change her values to fit the story, and is not (thankfully) an airhead. She knows her mother kept secrets, some she never thought too hard on until she met her grandmother Rose. This makes it so we can get to the heart of the story, and not have 200 pages of filler, of people dancing around issue. Someone got my birthday wish!

This book is mainly a magical coming of age, with a slight sprinkling of romance - kind of. In fact we don’t truly meet our male “love” interest until about one third into the book. I also really enjoyed the scenes with Alec. He is trying to be her friend first. None of this, I look at you and the doves sing and the light shines from the heavens BS! (plus doves don’t sing) Kat and Alec are, dare I say, cute together! He is kind and they have FUN together. True love can not stay unless your characters can be friends. Thank you for this!

 The true story, however, is the mystery behind Kat’s family, why her father left, and why her mother moved away. Most of which, I will have to read the other two books in the series to find out these answers. THIS is what a series SHOULD do. Keep me wanting to come back! Well played! (On a side note, I hope we learn what happened to Kat’s mom when she was 16)

This story was very delightful start of a series. It is also a quick read, great for car trips, (as long as you are not driving) plane trips (as long as you are not flying) and any other time you want to read a great quick story.

Wanna read an expert? Here try this one

 I sit in front of the mahogany vanity that towers before me. It’s a monument much like everything else in my room. If the objects aren’t generous in size then they make up for it in their beauty and fragility. 

Staring at my new reflection in the large oval mirror, I notice my face is fairer than I’m used to and it glows magnificently. My eyes are a bright and unusual shade of silver. My dark brown hair is soft, long, thick, and flowing down past my shoulders. I take in my groomed features with awe and reach for the glass, to touch the girl in the mirror. With every move of my hand as it creeps toward the glass my reflection follows in perfect synchrony. Together, our hands rise to our faces and move a strand of hair from our heads. 

 My lashes are longer. My nails, now they’re near my face, appear manicured and long—that's when I notice it . . . 

 The necklace. It lies across my neck as if made for me, but not just any necklace; the green stone reflects the light of the sun now streaming in through the massive balcony windows. I move to touch the necklace, lifting it gently from my neck. 

 My heart pounds like a steady drum as the image in the mirror smiles at me with an almost evil glimmer in its eye. I gasp. My image does not gasp with me but smiles even brighter. There are silver streaks of madness in her eyes that freeze me. Her eyes narrow and turn, so they no longer meet mine. They stare over my shoulder to where an antique vase sits, laden with fresh flowers. I watch it rise with every move of my reflection’s finger until it's propped up, lingering in midair.

 A terrifying scream comes from the mirror and I jam my palms to the sides of my head to muffle the horrible sound. My image isn’t smiling anymore. Her mouth is grotesque, stretched to the sound of her scream. The vase shakes violently until, with a high-pitched ring, it shatters in midair, spraying my bedroom with glass.

 Sounds good right? Met the author.

K.K. Allen is the Contemporary Fantasy / Romance author of stories inspired by nature, magic and love. She loves manatees, learned to swim for the mere purpose of pretending she was a mermaid, and adores the beach so much she promises to one day live on one (in a tent if she has to) in Hawaii and serve snow cones on the side of the road. K.K.'s Summer Solstice series (The Summer Solstice Enchanted, The Equinox, and The Descendants) are now available! Her short story, Soaring, is available in the Echoes of Winter YA anthology.
Amazon Author Page: http://smarturl.it/KKAllen
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorkkallen
Website: www.KK-Allen.com

I would like to take this time to take both K.K. Allen and Enchanted Book Promotions for letting me take part of the book tour, and giving me a free e-copy of this book. They have also put together this give-a-way for you.
Win a Kindle Fire, $10 Kindle Gift Card and copy of ‘Echoes of Winter’ (YA short stories): a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Review: By the Rules (Evergreen Grove #3) + Giveaway!

Title: By the Rules (Evergreen Grove #3)
By: Elisabeth Staab
Publisher:
Publication Date: Jan. 16th 2016
Genre: M/M Romance
Format: Paperback and E-Book
Em's Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Book Blurb:
He thinks I want him because of the rumors around town. Because I think he’s easy. I want AJ, because he’s AJ.

No liars. No suits. Absolutely no straight guys…

AJ Fabin’s list of rules keeps him safe. Since getting kicked out of his parents’ home and attacked by a former escorting client, his rules and his life in the tiny town of Evergreen Grove provide a quiet haven. He may be lonely, and he may stick out like a sore thumb, but the folks like him well enough. When he’s not dodging his old pimp, things are peaceful.

Hayden Price is having a quarter-life crisis. Engaged to a woman he can’t connect to and working a job he secretly hates, he comes to Evergreen Grove to help his mother through a health scare. Returning to his childhood home makes Hayden reevaluate a lot of things, including himself. When he meets AJ and finds he can’t stand the mouthy jerk—almost as much as he can’t stop thinking about him—he has a lot more to change than his career.

To be together, they’ll both have to break all of their rules.

By the Rules is book 3 in the Evergreen Grove series, but reads as a standalone.

Amazon | ARe | iTunes | Google | Kobo | B&N | Goodreads

Em's Review:

I probably loved this story way more than I should for a contemporary romance.  Not saying that contemporary romances are bad, but they are like a drug for me. Read one, enjoy the high,and move on to my next fix. By The Rules is a high I want to relive. I honestly wondered, after reading, if it was too soon for a re-read. Something my TBR pile told me I have to wait on.

So, By The Rules is the 3rd book in the Evergreen Grove series, which can stand fine on its own, seeing as I didn’t even KNOW  it was part as a series, until I read the “more from the author” bit in the back. Yep, that’s me doing research like a good blogger. (eyeroll) But, it proves my point. You can pick up this book, read it, roll around in sweet snarky goodness, and not have to go on a treasure hunt (okay 2 mins on amazon) to enjoy this one.  

I loved both AJ, your non tropey ex-hooker trying to make his life better, and Hayden your non-tropey man with the money, in their much better Pretty Women retake.  And I mean MUCH better.  Both our main characters were sharp witted, enjoyable and not some unbelievable man love interest.  (Thank you Ms. Stabb)

Okay, so I know you are dying to hear what I loved about the book, so here is a non-spoilery list on way I loved it, and you will too.

• This is a better “Pretty Woman” story than Pretty Woman. Yes, I said it. Deal.
• No one is saving anyone here. If you are looking for a Dude-sel in distress skip this. If you want two main characters that, even though their shit is not together, they are not set out to fix the other’s problems, I have a book here for you. *points to buy links above*
• No insta-love here. In fact we have a lot of hate to friendly lust, to love.
• Snark. Sass. And snarky sass!
• Real feeling “bad guys”  There is no mustache twirling in here.
• Tropes that don’t trope.  Which I know sounds like ice that doesn’t freeze, but it was like our esteemed author had a trope bingo card, and was trying to both win the game, and break the trope at the same time.  
• One character can fix your toilet, box and snuggle a unicorn. Although I don’t think at the same time.
• The other can belt out a crooner worthy song, and apparently have people do laundry with his abs.
• They're assholes and we love them!
• Secrets
• No slow paced filler scenes.  This is important to me. I don’t want to hear about someone vacuuming their floor, for no point in the plot line.
• Pizza rolls
• And, because it is my blog and can say it again - Unicorns.

But in the words of LeVar Burton, you don’t have to take my word for it. You can just read this passage:

Excerpt (AJ’s POV):

I jog down Main Street to get to Cassie. I’m reaching for the door to Delia’s Coffee Shop and Bakery when the damn thing swings wide to reveal a younger man wearing a suit and tie. At least I think he’s younger. I’m nearly blinded first by his face, and then by the door smacking me in mine.

When I swing around to confront him we collide, hard chest meeting hard chest. I put my hand up to brace myself and wind up grabbing a firm pec, only missing smacking faces when he jumps back with one arm out to avoid smashing his to-go cup. We get close enough that his stubble scratching against mine and I smell mint on his breath as he pulls away.

I guess I should appreciate that in spite of getting harassed by my old pimp and nearly having my nose broken (again) this morning, Cranky Businessman didn’t add second degree burns to my Early Morning Shit List.

“Jesus, man. You know people are coming out of here carrying hot drinks, right?” His accent is strange, but I hear a definite hint of ballsy New Yorker in there, which makes him seem even more of a cocky bastard with his tall, broad body and that pricey Brioni suit he’s wearing. His eyes flare before they narrow and sharpen. He glares at me, coal-dark stare scraping from the top of my rainbow hoodie to the bottoms of my sneakers in judgement.

Yeah, well. Screw him very much.

About The Author:

I know, right? Who can write this ab-fab meet hate? Well meet Elisabeth Staab, who was kind enough to send a few words in with this book. And a photo! 

Elisabeth Staab started hunting mutant hedgehogs back in 1842… Oops, wrong bio… Elisabeth Staab digs coffee, saucy stories, and sexy things that go bump in the night. Once, she ate dinner in a jail and liked it. She lives in the Washington DC area with her incredible family and does her best to juggle life while ignoring the laundry.

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Follow the Tour:

For more chances to win follow the tour! You can find the rest of the tour stops HERE

The Giveaway:

There’s a tour wide giveaway for a $50 Amazon Gift Card! So, if you win you can buy this book and then have like 40 bucks to buy MORE books! Win-Win! For a chance to win just fill out the giveaway form below!

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Special Thanks:

We don't get to do things like give-a-ways on this blog, mainly cause we are still so new, but I would like to give a shout out to Anna, who put this together, invited me to join as a late reviewer, and awesomely answered any questions I had. I hope I can do this again!

Now go read, enter things and give love!

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