After The Rain by Renee Carlino Cover Reveal

After The Rain by Renee Carlino

 

About AFTER THE RAIN:

From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Sweet Thing and Nowhere But Here comes a deeply emotional contemporary romance about the second chances waiting beyond the shattered dreams of youth.

Under the bright arena lights of a rodeo show, young Avelina Belo falls for a handsome cowboy with a larger-than-life personality. After a whirlwind courtship, she happily moves away from her family in northern California and settles into married life with her cowboy on a seven-thousand-acre cattle ranch in Montana. One freak accident later, Avelina’s hopes for the future come to an end.

Nate Myers graduated from UCLA medical school at the top of his class, ready to follow in the footsteps of his father, a superstar cardiothoracic surgeon. Six years later, Nate’s career is being ruined by a malpractice suit. Questioning himself for the first time, he retreats to a Montana cattle ranch to visit his uncle and gain perspective. There, he meets a beautiful young woman named Avelina who teaches him more than he ever knew about matters of the heart.

 

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon

Apple

Barnes & Noble

Blio

Books-a-Million

IndieBound

Google

 

 

About the author:

Renée Carlino lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog, June. When she's not at the beach with her boys or working on her next book, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate. To learn more, visit ReneeCarlino.com.

 

Visit Renee online:

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Lasting Fate by Charisse Spiers Cover Reveal

Lasting Fate (Book 3) by Charisse Spiers

 

Blurb: 

We can't always control what happens in our lives. If anyone has learned that it's Kinzleigh Baker. She has learned to embrace the moments and live like there is no tomorrow; to love the people that we are given with all that we have. She knows all to well what it's like to have your heart ripped from your chest and doesn't care to ever experience that feeling again.

Her life has been one roller coaster of overwhelming consequences back to back. Kinzleigh has learned some of the humility she was once lacking as an adolescent. She has found out the hard way that we can't always focus on ourselves or take the important people in our lives for granted. She is working hard to live by putting one foot in front of the other. She is now forcefully embarking on a new journey; one that will be sure to cause lots of trials and tribulations on its own.

What would you do if God gave you that second chance to the one thing you would change if you could? One tragedy that could be reversed perhaps or someone from your past waltzing back into your life unannounced. Would you take it and run with it or go a different route altogether?

 

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19212140-lasting-fate

 

Buy link for Book One, Accepted Fate

http://amzn.to/1rGV53c

 

Accepted Fate Trailer(Fate#1):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC5yzEKFMSo

 

 

 

Book Two, Twisting Fate

http://amzn.to/1n3vvRR

 

Twisting fate Trailer(Fate#2):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sewkKjRuJI

Author Bio:

I developed a passion for reading I never knew I had in November of 2012 when I decided to give eBooks a try. Since then I can't go a day without some form of a book or character running wild through my mind. For almost a year I constantly had a book pulled up on my Kindle app for my iPad. The beauty of self publishing is that you can interact with the authors, which is how I started writing. I never knew I had the creativity to write a novel until I began conversing with another Indie author. If you ever think that Indie authors don't like getting feedback from readers, you are very wrong. I began editing for a fellow author and because she took a leap of faith in me and told me to give writing a shot, I am now an Indie author myself. I cannot tell you how amazing this journey has been. It is hard putting yourself out there for the public eye with all of the reviews that come through, but it's also amazing. I have met some of the most genuine people and people I would consider friends even though I've never met them face to face. I have now published the first two books in the Fate series, Accepted Fate and Twisting Fate and I am starting book three Lasting Fate to be released November 2, 2014. I cannot wait to see where this journey takes me and feel free to interact with me here or on social media. I will respond. :)

 

Social Media-

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/charissespiersauthor

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7443394.Charisse_Spiers

Google Plus:

https://plus.google.com/u/0/+CharisseSpiers

Twitter:

@cspiersauthor

The Perfect Game by J. Sterling

He's a game she never intended to play. And she's the game changer he never knew he needed. The Perfect Game tells the story of college juniors, Cassie Andrews and Jack Carter. When Cassie meets rising baseball hopeful Jack, she is determined to steer clear of him and his typical cocky attitude. But Jack has other things on his mind . . . like getting Cassie to give him the time of day. They are damaged, filled with mistrust and guarded before they find one another (and themselves) in this emotional journey about love and forgiveness. Strap yourselves for a ride that will not only break your heart, but put it back together. Sometimes life gets ugly before it gets beautiful...

 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1rNe1Rx

 

My Thoughts:
2/5 Stars

 

 A lot of people recommended this book to me, but in the end, it wasn't for me.

 

I enjoyed the beginning. It was a sexy game of cat and mouse. Jack was dominant and persistent. I think every woman would probably find him attractive. Once they got together though, the story just went downhill. At first, everything was great. They couldn't keep their hands off of each other and romance was in the air. When Jack leaves to go play baseball though, things change. He does things that are unforgettable and do you know what she does? .... She takes him back. How does a strong woman turn into a weak one? I will never know, but I couldn't believe she gave in after everything he did to her.

 

While this book wasn't for me ... It could be right up your alley.

 

Please keep in mind: Most of the book is based around Baseball (practice, games, the draft, leaving home to play, and so on) Also, there is cheating in this book and the worst kind.....

Inked Armor by Helena Hunting Review

In this follow-up to Clipped Wings, the emotional love story continues between Hayden and Tenley; two young people who desperately want to love and be loved but are afraid to completely let go of their pasts.

In the wake of losing Tenley Page, tattooist Hayden Stryker's tumultuous past is haunting him. Plagued by nightmares about the murder of his parents, Hayden reaches out again to Tenley. Having run from the man she doesn't believe she deserves, Tenley finally lays her guilt to rest. Despite their intense physical attraction, Hayden and Tenley struggle to repair their fragile emotional connection. As Hayden gets closer to the truth, he must find a way to reconcile his guilt over his parents' death in order to keep the woman who finally cracked his armor, and found her way into his heart.

 

AMAZON LINK-http://amzn.to/WLQkvY

 

My Thoughts:
5/5 Stars

 

I loved Clipped Wings, but this book was even better!

We got to see Tenley deal with her past, while Hayden struggled with being left behind.

 

 When they reunite it is a back and forth struggle. Tenley wants Hayden to understand her motives behind leaving, but Hayden is hurting. Sexual tension is thick and emotions run high.

 

The intense feels you get from this book are one of a kind. When Tenley and Hayden told more about their pasts... my heart ached for them. The passion between them is real and it's almost as if they need one another to be able to live.

 

While the book is focused on dark pasts and new beginnings, it also brings family and friendships into the picture. It shows that with loved ones around you can survive the darkest of days.

 

I loved the ending. Everyone got what they deserved and in mind I was screaming WOOOHOOO!

 

Definitely recommend this read.

PACKAGED by Angela Graham & S.E. Hall

Certain men.
Certain professions.
Some things are just universally SEXY.
But maybe not quite this sexy-
"You've been expecting this."

*This is a stand alone novella with no cliffhanger.*

Another erotic quickie from the team that brought you Stirred Up.

 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1rzD626

 

My Thoughts:
5/5 Stars

 

***RECIEVED AN ARC FOR AN HONEST REVIEW***
Another great book by Angela Graham and S.E. Hall.

If you like a fast read with an erotic plot... This book is for you. The characters were developed and the storyline was intriguing. While it was sexy, it also had a bit of mystery to it. The scenes were HOT... I mean come on, who doesn't want to go on a blindfolded date and who doesn't want to receive letters from a secret admirer?

The Authors did a great job at keeping you guessing... I had fun piecing together the content and forming my own guess of what would happen in the end.

I highly recommend it, but remember this is an erotic read and most of the storyline is based around an erotic little game of cat and mouse.

Kismet by A.E. Woodward Review

Katie’s world came crashing down in an instant.

Her husband, daughter, and unborn baby. . . all gone in a flash. The life that she’d come to know, gone before she ever really got to live it.

With a broken heart, she deals the only way she knows how, by shutting it all off. No communicating, no feelings, just pure nothingness.

Alone with nothing but her own thoughts and a well meaning family, she moves back to her childhood home, a horse farm. It’s there that she finds herself healing along with the horses her family rehabilitates. But when Parker McKenzie comes back into her life she’s reminded of all that went wrong, and all that she lost.

Will Katie ever begin to heal? Or will her secrets and loss be too much for her to overcome?

Perhaps, this is her kismet

 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1nkNjw2

 

 

My Thoughts:

5/5 Stars

 

This is an emotional read that will consume you from page one...

 

I love tear jerkers and this book did not disappoint.

From the moment I opened the book, I was pulled into Katie's world, living with hurt and guilt. I felt my heart get ripped from my chest and my words dissipate. Each day was another day of breathing, but not actually living.

 

As she reunited with Parker, my heart strings were tugged. Secrets from the past were revealed and a forever love was formed.

 

I never expected the ending and as gut wrenching as it was, It was also bittersweet and beautiful.

 

The characters are what made me love this story so much. They were developed and unlike most books these days, they were real. Katie was a normal girl living with guilt. Parker was a typical guy working at a local shop. There was nothing far fetched about them and that's what makes the connection so much better!

 

The emotions felt while reading this book were also real. Yes, the story is fiction, but I felt sadness, pain, lust, and suspense as I turned the pages. As Katie progressed and started living again, my heart had hope. As her and Parker were on and off, I felt joy because she was feeling again. I became quite addicted to this book. My brain wouldn't shut off and I even found myself dreaming about Dr. Stevenson.

 

At the end of the day sometimes a story is just that a story. This book was far more... A work of art about loss, first love, and second chances at life.

 

I honestly cannot recommend this book enough!

If I could give it more the 5 stars I would, in a heartbeat.

 

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes Review

A New York Times bestseller—with more than three million copies sold—by the author of One Plus One and The Girl You Left Behind They had nothing in common until love gave them everything to lose . . .

Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life—steady boyfriend, close family—who has barely been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for ex–Master of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life—big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel—and now he’s pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.

Will is acerbic, moody, bossy—but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

A Love Story for this generation, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn’t have less in common—a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?

 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1mCAihzh  

 

My Thoughts:

5/5 Stars

 

Be prepared to have your heart ripped right out of your chest. This is a tear jerker that will leave you speechless at the end.

 

The book starts with a young woman searching for a job. She tries many different things, but each one ends shortly after. When she is offered a care position she isn't sure what she is getting into.

Her patient ends up being a handsome young man who was in a tragic accident.

At first they don't get along, but slowly signs of attraction are revealed. Louisa wants Will to want to live again. She does everything in her power to show him that he can do the things he loved to do before, but Will has other plans... He wants an out. He doesn't want to be stuck in the situation he's in.

Together they embark on a journey of struggles, romance, and heart break.

 

This book gutted me. With each intimate gesture my heart squeezed tightly. The romance is so unique, almost forbidden, but beautiful. It shows that love isn't always flowers and hearts. It proves that sometimes in order to show love you have to let go...

 

Will Traynor was the perfect, handsome man that loved to adventure. Now he is a handsome man stuck in a dark place. It's as if he is slowly drowning. Sickness happens frequently and the pain comes and goes. Life is living in a wheelchair with minimum movement. He is miserable and even though Louisa brings out a bit of the old Will he still isn't ready to commit to being a disabled man for the rest of his life.

 

I highly recommend this read to everyone!!

 

 

Therapy by Kathryn Perez Review

Sometimes you have to get lost in order to be found... I'm needy. I'm broken. Cutting breaks through my numbness, but only opens more wounds. Depression, bullying, self-harm...that's my reality. Sex and guys...my escape. The space between the truth and lies is blurred leaving me torn, lost and confused. And while the monsters that live in my head try to beat me--the two men that I love try to save me. This is my story of friendship, heartache and the grueling journey that is mental-illness.

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1qTvZkF

My Thoughts:

5/5 Stars

 

Wow! This story was like a complex multi piece puzzle.

With each word I read, I could see a bit more of the picture. Some pieces were broken, others were beautiful. All together they formed a complete picture.

 

Jessica goes through the toughest of circumstances. She is bullied by her peers to the point of suicide thoughts. She blocks out all emotions and when she has the need to feel, she cuts. Her escape is the sting of a razor blade.

When the popular guy at school starts standing up for her she doesn't know how to react. She wants to befriend him, but knows it will only cause her more trouble.

A late night beat down leads her back in his arms and that is the beginning of their friendship. They start to fall for one another, but know it will never work. They come from two different families and Jace's would never approve of Jessica.

When he goes off to college, years pass before they meet again. Jessica ends up in a life changing situation... Therapy leads to a new romance, heartbreak, and brutal truths.

 

Let's talk about the characters...
Jessica is emotionally damaged. She lets her demons determine her future. Smiles come occasionally, but most of the time she does all she can just to face another day.

Jace is popular, hot... Athletic and boyfriend to the "mean girl". He has demons of his own though, and a secret that he only reveals to Jessica.
Kinsley, Oh sweet, emotionally damaged, perfect, Kingsley. While he has his own secrets he helps Jessica to gain self confidence and feel beautiful in her own skin. He was my favorite!

 

This story was AMAZING, 5++ Stars and one every person should read. The depth behind the story is one that takes each sentence to reveal the true meaning. It is gut wrenching and beautiful at the same time.

 

I highly recommend it!

 

One Tiny Lie by K.A. Tucker Review

Livie Cleary has always been Miss Perfect—but she soon learns that perfection isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and finding out who she really is might mean making some mistakes along the way.
“Make me proud.” These were the last words Livie’s father ever spoke to her. In the seven years since her parents’ tragic death, Livie has done her best to live up to this standard through her every choice, word, and action, while looking after her sister with strength and maturity. But with college right around the corner, unexpected challenges will test her resilience—and her heart.

Livie walks into Princeton with a solid plan, and she’s dead set on delivering on it: Rock her classes; set herself up for medical school; and meet a good, respectable guy to someday marry. Her plan definitely does not include Jell-O shots; a lovable, party animal roommate she can’t say “no” to; or Ashton, the arrogant—and extremely attractive—captain of the men’s rowing team who makes Livie’s usually nonexistent temper flare. Worse, he’s best friends and roommates with Connor, who happens to fit Livie’s criteria perfectly. So why does she keep thinking about Ashton?

As Livie finds herself facing mediocre grades, career aspirations she no longer thinks she can handle, and feelings for Ashton that she shouldn’t have, she’s forced to let go of her last promise to her father, and, with it, the only identity she’s ever known.

 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/U1JLUh

 

My Thoughts:

4/5 Stars

 

K.A. has done it again....
Fantastic read packed with romance, mystery, and emotions.

 

Livie thinks she has her life all figured out. She gets good grades, keeps her thoughts in check, and is headed to pursue her dream career. However, when she gets to college and starts experiencing college life, her priorities and life goals change.

She meets Ashton, sexy athlete, with a playboy attitude and can't forget the night they share. Even though she is dating someone, she meet ups with Ashton and their connection grows deeper on an emotional/sexual level.

Together they let their guards down and learn to expose their inner most secrets.

 

This book was fantastic. I loved Livie in Ten Tiny Breaths and to see the vulnerable side in this book, made me love her even more. She learns to let go and express her true feelings. Her tough persona is put to the side as her softer, more emotional side is exposed.

 

Ashton was amazing. He is a book boyfriend in every way possible. He has a controlling, cocky attitude, but also a kind, compassionate personality. My heart hurt for him and what he went through. When Livie saw his scars, my mind raced with possibilities, but the truth was even more shocking.

 

The storyline is the college girl with a bad boy theme, but the Author took it to a whole new level. Emotions run high and a twisted kind of therapy is thrown in.

 

I highly recommend this book to all readers!

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson Review

Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now her old friends won't talk to her, and people she doesn't even know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is alone, inside her own head. But even that's not safe. Because there's something she's trying not to think about, something about the night of the party that, if she let it in, would blow her carefully constructed disguise to smithereens. And then she would have to speak the truth. This extraordinary first novel has captured the imaginations of teenagers and adults across the country.
AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1xssVfM


My Thoughts:

4/5 Stars
 

What do you do when something terrible happens, but the words won't leave your mouth to tell the truth?

 

This book is about just that...

 

Melinda was raped and no one knows what truly happened. All they know is she called the cops on the night of the party.

 

When she attends school it's as if she has the plague. Her old friends hate her and people who don't know her glare. She walks through the halls and cringes at the verbal abuse she receives. If only they knew the truth...

 

The story is a classic about just how cruel High School can be. Melinda has to let her guard down in order to Speak again.

 

Slowly she learns to let go by expressing herself through art. When the burden is off her shoulders, things go back to the way they were before... and justice is served.

 

I was captivated by Melinda's story. The things in the book are true actions that one may face in school. Everyone is so quick to judge, even if it's just hear say. To see what Melinda went through showed me how emotionally damaging bullying is. Many times she would hide or cry or even think about ending it all. No one should think such things... I wanted to scream at the people who treated her terribly. My heart ached for her.

 

This is a book that every person should read. It is a beautiful lesson about how tough life can be and how important it is to always speak the truth.

Other editions

Enlarge cover

           

 

Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now her old friends won't talk to her, and people she doesn't even know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is alone, inside her own head. But even that's not safe. Because there's something she's trying not to think about, something about the night of the party that, if she let it in, w

  

Better When He's Bad by Jay Crownover

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jay Crownover returns with a heart-stopping new series… Welcome to the Point.
There’s a difference between a bad boy and a boy who’s bad . . . meet Shane Baxter.
Sexy, dark, and dangerous, Bax isn’t just from the wrong side of the tracks, he is the wrong side of the tracks. A criminal, a thug, and a brawler, he’s the master of bad choices, until one such choice landed him in prison for five years. Now Bax is out and looking for answers, and he doesn’t care what he has to do or who he has to hurt to get them. But there’s a new player in the game, and she’s much too innocent, much too soft…and standing directly in his way.
Dovie Pryce knows all about living a hard life and the tough choices that come with it. She’s always tried to be good, tried to help others, and tried not to let the darkness pull her down. But the streets are fighting back, things have gone from bad to worse, and the only person who can help her is the scariest, sexiest, most complicated ex-con The Point has ever produced.
Bax terrifies her, awakening feelings she never thought she’d have for a guy like him. But it doesn’t take Dovie long to realize . . . some boys are just better when they’re bad.

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1ruuyck

 

My Thoughts:

4/5 Stars

Let's face it... Bax is one bad ass Book Boyfriend.

 

This book starts with Shane Baxter looking for his best friend. When a clue leads him to Dovie Pryce he is met with a tough redhead. At first they butt heads, but eventually a connection sparks and a relationship is formed. Together they search for her brother and his best friend. When they find him, the timing is unexpected and no one knows what will happen next.

 

Let's talk about the characters. Dovie Pryce is a strong willed, young woman. She concentrates on work and school and spends her free time at a children's home. Bax is a bad boy. He isn't afraid of anything... Actually he seeks out trouble. He does have a hint of softness when it comes to Dovie though. 

 

The storyline was packed with suspense and twists and turns. Just when I thought I had it all pieced together, I was thrown for a loop.

 

The beginning was a tad slow, but keep reading. By Chapter Three, Bax had me wrapped around his bad ass finger.

 

All together I enjoyed this book a lot. I highly recommend this book to readers looking for a darker read with sexy characters.

 

True Love Story by Willow Aster Review

Growing up in an idealistic home, Sparrow Fisher is sheltered and innocent. When she meets Ian Sterling, a musician who is rising in popularity, she instantly falls for his charm. They run into each other over the next few months and eventually begin an unconventional relationship. At different places in their lives, Sparrow is off to college in New York, and Ian is traveling the country with the band. When they see each other, all seems wonderful and lighthearted, but when they’re apart, Sparrow is left to wonder if Ian really cares about her the way he says he does, or if she’s just another pretty face to him. Once their relationship steadies, they’re both happier than they’ve ever been, and it’s hard to not get caught up in the magic they have together. Until something so devastating comes to light that threatens to shatter everything they’ve built with each other. True Love Story is a story about the real highs and lows that come with a relationship—happiness, pain, angst, and finding out if love really is enough.

 

Amazon Link- http://amzn.to/1s0aY5o

 

My Thoughts:

3/5 Stars

 

A beautiful story about a raw, emotional heartbreak.

 

Sparrow has the perfect family and a sweet boyfriend. However, when he proposes she can't help but crave the darker, mysterious man -Ian. They run into one another on several occasions and each time the connection grows deeper and deeper. Ian wants to maintain a long distance "situation" with no commitments, but eventually it leads to relationship and a heartbreak...

 

The heartbreak in this book gutted me. I fell for Sparrow and Ian's bond immediately and when I found out what Ian did... my jaw hit the floor. I was furious. Truthfully I wanted to throw the book. My heart ached for Sparrow and I envied the way she stuck to her guns. Even though her heart wanted Ian, she was strong and held him at arm's length.

 

Second chances is the theme of this story. While I loved some parts, others pissed me off. Cheating is never a turn on. When the book boyfriend commits this crime.... I have a hard time finishing the book. Sparrow is gutted and when she gives in, I am at a loss for words.

 

This book to me was not romantic... It was an agonizing roller coaster ride of emotions.

 

The writing was great. The concept was okay.

I recommend this book to readers who don't mind the book boyfriend cheating.