RL Griffin’s Favorites Contest & Giveaway: Vain by Fisher Amelie

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Featured Book: Vain
Featured Author: Fisher Amelie

Vain by Fisher Amelie

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If you’re looking for a story about a good, humble girl, who’s been hurt by someone she thought she could trust, only to find out she’s not as vulnerable as she thought she was and discovers an empowering side of herself that falls in love with the guy who helps her find that self, blah, blah, blah…then you’re gonna’ hate my story.

Because mine is not the story you read every time you bend back the cover of the latest trend novel. It’s not the “I can do anything, now that I’ve found you/I’m misunderstood but one day you’ll find me irresistible because of it” tale. Why? Because, if I was being honest with you, I’m a complete witch. There’s nothing redeeming about me. I’m a friend using, drug abusing, sex addict from Los Angeles. I’m every girlfriend’s worst nightmare and every boy’s fantasy.

I’m Sophie Price…And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most envied girl to the girl no one wanted around and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

By a Thread by RL Griffin

RL’s Book Series: By A Thread

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Stella’s future was set, and it was a bright one. She was engaged to a man she adored, and was headed to law school in the fall. Tragically, her perfectly planned future ends just as it was beginning.

With no ties to family or friends, Stella finds herself alone in a new city, spiraling out of control. Her typical day comes to a close with her passed out on the floor; sometimes clothed.

Luckily, her new roommate, essentially a stranger, is dead set on getting Stella past her grief and back to functioning within society. Putting one foot in front of the other, she climbs up from the bottom of a bottle. Even with all her progress, Stella walks through life unfeeling, numb. Defiant, she sends out warning signals for the world to keep away. But, is that what she really wants?

With the steadfast help of a few tight knit friends, she gradually begins to feel again. She starts to savor the flavor of food again; lets herself notice how the handsome bartender glances at her. Still, after allowing herself a fling, she wonders if she will ever be able to let go of her shattered past, fully enjoy the present, or get over what she thought would be her perfect future and with the man who destroyed her heart.

giveaway

–(1) SIGNED hardcover of Vain by Fisher Amelie
–(1) ebook of Vain by Fisher Amelie

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Blog Tour + Review & Giveaway: For Real by Chelsea M. Cameron

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For Real by Chelsea M. Cameron

For Real by Chelsea M. Cameron
Series: Rules of Love #1
Publication Date: November 14th 2013
Source: I received an ARC from the author for the blog tour in exchange for an honest review
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Two people. One fake relationship. What could go wrong?

When virgin Shannon Travers gets fed up with her friends demanding that she find a boyfriend, she enlists the help of tattooed, mohawk-rocking graphic design student Jett. He’s more than happy to play along with their Fake Relationship, including the Ten Rules of Fake Dating that control-freak Shannon comes up with. Even if he likes to violate them. Repeatedly.

But what happens when Fake Dating starts to feel… not fake anymore? Will Shannon be willing to let go and embrace the first thing in her life that’s ever felt REAL?

New Adult Contemporary Romance *17 & up

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review

For Real was short, fun, and sweet! I loved the concept of the story, and while I didn’t end up loving the book, I still really enjoyed reading it. The synopsis totally lured me in, and I’m glad I read the book. Shannon and Jett are adorable together, and their love story was endearingly awkward and heartwarming to read.

Shannon is a very straight-laced, follow-the-rules kind of girl. She studies, does her homework, and doesn’t do anything that is out of her comfort zone, which includes being with guys. So she’s a virgin at twenty-one. Shannon’s friends try to devise a scheme to get her to lose her virginity, but they take things a little too far. I honestly didn’t really like her friends, especially when they started taking things too far, and pushed Shannon to find a random guy to lose her virginity to. Luckily, she bumps into Jett, and the two of them pretend to have slept together and become a couple to get Shannon’s friends off her back.

Jett was a really interesting character to read. He’s absolutely adorable, and he’s got the best tattoos ever! He’s so sweet to Shannon, and they call each other Fake Girlfriend and Fake Boyfriend all the time. They also make up the Ten Rules of Fake Dating, one of which includes no touching that’s not incidental, but of course the two of them break that rule. They’re attracted to each other, but most of all, they’re really great, close friends. They spend time with each other, and slowly, they start to fall in love with each other, which is not part of the agenda of Fake Dating.

My favorite part of the book was the awkwardness. Is that weird? Well, to me, the awkwardness of the dating, of them being together, was what felt honest and real. The start of their relationship, despite it being fake, felt real. It’s not perfect, they are awkward, they sometimes don’t know what to do with themselves, and I loved reading it. And it doesn’t hurt that Jett is so freaking adorable and sweet all the time! I really liked this tattooed, mohawked boy with a heart of gold.

I wasn’t expecting For Real to be as short as it was, but it was still fun to read. Short and sweet is a perfect way to describe the book. If you’re a fan of contemporary romances, you should definitely give Chelsea M. Cameron a try.

3-hearts

lacey

about the author

Chelsea M. CameronChelsea M. Cameron is a YA/NA New York Times/USA Today Best Selling author from Maine. Lover of things random and ridiculous, Jane Austen/Charlotte and Emily Bronte Fangirl, red velvet cake enthusiast, obsessive tea drinker, vegetarian, former cheerleader and world’s worst video gamer. When not writing, she enjoys watching infomercials, singing in the car and tweeting (this one time, she was tweeted by Neil Gaiman). She has a degree in journalism from the University of Maine, Orono that she promptly abandoned to write about the people in her own head. More often than not, these people turn out to be just as weird as she is.

Her New Adult Contemporary Romance titles include My Favorite Mistake, which has been bought by Harlequin along with a sequel, Deeper We Fall and Faster We Burn (April 20, 2013)

Her Young Adult books include Nocturnal, Nightmare and Neither, the first three books in The Noctalis Chronicles. The fourth and final book, Neverend will be out in 2013. Whisper, the first in The Whisper Trilogy is also available, with the second book in the series, Silence and the final book, LIsten coming out in 2014.

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giveaway

Grand prize winner receives a $100 Amazon Gift Card and Crane bracelet. 5 Runners up receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card and Crane bracelet. US Only!

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Release Day Launch + Excerpt & Giveaway: Torn by Monica Murphy

Torn Release Day Launch

Monica Murphy’s sexy new Billionaire Bachelors Club Series book, TORN, is out today and we are excited to join in the release day launch for it. TORN is a steamy and amazing Contemporary Romance. Check out what we have for you today and then enter to win in the release day launch giveaway! There’s also a fantastic excerpt for you to check out!

Torn by Monica Murphy

Torn by Monica Murphy
Series: Billionaire Bachelors Club #2 (full reading order below)
Release Date: November 19th 2013
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New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy mixes business with pleasure in the second book of her sexy Billionaire Bachelors Club series …

Marina Knight came to this party for one thing only: to slap Gage Emerson in the face. Poised to snatch up her family’s real estate empire, the sexy tycoon is on the verge of making an enemy for life—even if he can make her melt with a single kiss …

When Gage discovers that the alluring woman before him is the key to his latest acquisition, claiming her as his suddenly doesn’t seem quite so cut-and-dried. To get what he wants, he must get to know the fierce woman willing to face him down—as she steadily steals his heart.

Gage’s persistence and intense passion war with Marina’s determination to protect her family. As they delve deeper into an affair they didn’t see coming, Marina’s torn: Will she lose her heart to Gage—or everything she holds dear?

Torn gage

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Torn Gage sleep

Excerpt

“Tell me your name.”

A shiver runs down my spine at the commanding, deep voice that sounds in my ear. I keep myself still, trying my best not to react considering we’re surrounded by at least a hundred people, but oh, how I want to.

If I could, I’d throw myself into the arms of the man who’s standing far too close to me.  He’s demanding to know my name as if I owe him some sort of favor, which I can’t help but find hot.

Irritating, but hot.

“Tell me yours first,” I murmur in return, turning my head in the opposite direction, so it appears I’m not even talking to him. He stands behind me, tall and broad, imposing in his immaculate black suit and crisp white shirt—the silvery tie he wears perfectly knotted at his throat.

I might not be looking at this very moment, but I’d memorized everything about him the moment I first saw him not an hour ago. He’d drawn plenty of attention without saying a word, striding into the room as if he owned it, casting that calculating gaze upon everyone in attendance. Looking very much like the mighty king observing his lowly subjects—until his eyes lit upon me.

He watched me for long, agonizing minutes. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach as I felt his hungry eyes rake over my body, and for a terrifying moment I wondered if he could see right through me. I shifted the slightest bit, inwardly cursing myself for coming tonight, but I held firm. I refused to react.

I still refuse to react.

“You don’t know who I am?” He sounds amused at the notion, and I’m tempted to walk away without a word. My earlier nerves evaporate, replaced by a steely spine and an even steelier attitude. He’s so confident, so arrogant, I’m sure he believes he has me.

He doesn’t know who he’s dealing with then, does he?

We’re at a local wine- and brewery-tasting, and I’m here representing the bakery my family owns. The one I was recently allowed to take over and run since I’d graduated college. The business they all believe is going to fail. So why not give it to Marina? She can’t screw it up too badly.

That’s what I overheard my father telling my uncle. The memory of his words still cuts straight to the bone.

Finally I chance a glance at the man behind me, drinking in his thick brown hair tinged with gold, the way it tumbles across his forehead, his twinkling green eyes, the faint smile that curves his full lips. The combination gives him a boyish appearance. It’s a complete illusion because there is nothing boyish about this virile man before me.

“Perhaps you can enlighten me.” I offer a carefree smile and turn to face him, the nerves returning tenfold when he takes a step toward me, invading my personal space. His scent hits me first: clean and subtle, a mixture of soap and just . . . him. No cologne that I can detect.

Rather unusual. Most of the men I know slather themselves in expensive scents all with the purpose of drawing us silly women in. Instead, they end up choking us.

With the exception of this man. I find the uniqueness refreshing.

A slow smile appears, revealing perfectly straight white teeth. “Gage Emerson.” He thrusts his hand toward me. “And you are . . .?”

He’s not very subtle. And he’s exactly who I suspected, not that I had any real doubt. The very man who recently bought up what feels like half of the Napa Valley, all in the hopes of turning it around and selling it to God knows who just to earn a hefty profit.

Not caring in the least that he’s forever changing the landscape of the very place I’ve grown up in. And devastating my family in the process.

“Marina Knight,” I say. God, I sound breathless, and I want to smack myself. I’m not here tonight because of him. I came for other reasons. To promote the family bakery, to mix and mingle with local business owners, many I consider friends. My life in the Napa Valley is all I know.

And this gorgeous man standing in front of me is trying to take what I know away from me for good.

Torn hair falling

Reading Order: Billionaire Bachelors Club series

Crave by Monica Murphy Torn by Monica Murphy

#1 ~ Crave: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Torn: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Savor: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

about the author

Monica MurphyNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite. A wife and mother of three, she writes New Adult and contemporary romance for Bantam and Avon. She is the author of One Week Girlfriend and Second Chance Boyfriend.

Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads • Amazon Page

Torn teaser

giveaway

–Basket of baking goodies and a SIGNED copy of Crave and Torn

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Cover Reveal + Giveaway: Unwrapped by the NAturals

Unwrapped by the NAturals

Unwrapped
A New Adult Romance
Six different novellas
by the NAturals
Laurelin Paige, Gennifer Albin, Melanie Harlow, Sierra Simone, Kayti McGee Downey, and Tamara Mataya
Release: December 23, 2013
Cover designed by Tom Barnes Design
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Six romance authors present six very different novellas in this anthology of new stories: Ménage a tango lessons. A bride DYING to say, ‘I don’t.’ A horny college boy at a purity rally. Time-traveling graduate students meet Victorian playboys. A rugby player who’s as dirty off the field as on. And kissing under the mistletoe with a Scottish exchange student. Something for everyone, the NAturals present sweet, funny, and erotic tales of new adults meant to be Unwrapped all year long and not just at Christmas.

about the authors

Laurelin Paige, Gennifer Albin, Melanie Harlow, Sierra Simone, Kayti McGee Downey, and Tamara Mataya are the six authors who blog for TheNaturalAuthors.blogspot.com. They each write romance and adore pushing the boundaries of the genre. Above all, they love reading smut, looking at pictures of hot men, and making up names for the band they’re always talking about forming.

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giveaway

–$25 Gift Card

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Book Blitz + Excerpt & Giveaway: The Perimeter by Shalini Boland

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The Perimeter by Shalini Boland

The Perimeter by Shalini Boland
(Outside #3)
Publication date: November 18th 2013
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult

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The Perimeter, blurb:

In this fractured world, a sinister force is coming for Riley, and the only things keeping her safe are a perimeter fence and the people she loves. As her life is threatened, she must make impossible choices. But help comes from the most unlikely of places, and all Riley needs to know is: who can she really trust?

Meanwhile, a repentant killer searches for peace and salvation, but what he gets is the exact opposite. Now he’ll have to make the hardest decision of his life.

The Perimeter is a darkly captivating dystopian tale of adventure, danger, love and redemption that will have you on the edge of your seat and up at night turning the pages to find out what happens next . . .

Outside Series blurb:

Set in the near future, these three heart-stopping novels follow Riley as she overcomes the murder of her younger sister by tracking down the killer across a post-apocalyptic Britain. At the same time, she is forced to take on the might of a twisted regime intent on conquering the nation. The series is packed with action, suspense, drama and dystopian adventure.

Purchase:

US Amazon | UK Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | iTunes

Trailers

Book 1 Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpsPvvtTpTo&feature=youtu.be

Book 2 Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ykv9rOnzD8

Excerpt

‘Have you done things you’re ashamed of, Jamie?’

An image of the dead girl flashed into Jamie’s mind. Shiny beads of blood and glass.

‘I can help you come to terms with those things. I can give you peace. Absolution. Are you tired, Jamie? Are you sick of the road and the hostility of your fellow man? Do you crave a warm bed and a clear purpose?’

Jamie wanted to tune out Mr Carter’s voice, but the soft seductive words crept into his brain like a virus. Part of Jamie knew that this man was skilled in the art of telling people what they longed to hear. That he wasn’t doing anything out of the goodness of his heart. That he had an ulterior motive for approaching him. But the other part of Jamie was tired. Bone-weary in fact, and this Mr Carter bloke knew it. Knew how to press his buttons and get him to do what he wanted.

about the author

Shalini BolandShalini lives in Dorset, England with her husband and two noisy boys. Before children, she was signed to Universal Music as a singer songwriter. Now, writing novels has hijacked her life and she is usually to be found with a laptop welded to her fingers and the house in a permanent state of neglect.

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giveaway

–one (1) ebook copy in the Outside series (winner can choose)

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