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Friday, September 30, 2016

Cover Reveal Blitz: Spell Cat by Tara Lain


Spell Cat
by Tara Lain 

Blurb:
When Killian Barth, history professor, meets Blaine Genneau, quantum physicist, they ignite their own big bang. But Killian can’t pursue a physics professor—or a human. As the most powerful male witch in ten generations, Killian must bolster his dying race by reproducing—despite the fact that he’s gay.

Even a fling with Blaine is out of the question, because Killian has been told sex with humans drains his power. But if that’s true, why can young human Jimmy Janx dissolve spoons with the power of his mind? If Killian can sort through the lies he’s been fed, he’ll still face his biggest obstacle — convincing rational scientist Blaine to believe in magic.

With his ancient and powerful cat familiar, Aloysius, on his shoulder, Killian brings the lightning against deceit and greed to save Blaine from danger and prove love is the greatest power of them all.

Release Date:
Oct. 31, 2016




Pre-Order at 


Also available in paperback



Excerpt

The man’s shaggy head cocked. “Sorry to bother you, but I’m new here. Can you tell me how to get to the physics building?”
Physics. Not my best subject. But right now he needed mechanics to keep his cock from rising. This man seemed to radiate heat even from several feet away, and it lit a fire in places Killian hardly recognized. Standing there with a rapidly rising hard-on came nowhere near cool. “Uh, I, uh, believe it’s directly across the street from here.”
The guy flashed dimples at Killian. “Damn. You’re not the first to say that. I’m not usually so bad at directions. Can you tell me which street? I’ve already been across a couple of streets.”
“The side street, Templeton.”
“Oh.” The stranger produced a wide smile. “Wouldn’t you know I’d choose every street but that one?” He paused as if he was searching for a new topic. “Quite a group I saw leaving here. What’s your subject?”
“Witchcraft.”
The laugh burst out explosively. “You’re joking?”
Gorgeous, but rude. “Not even slightly. I teach the history of witchcraft, among other things.”
“Sorry. Guess that was impolite.”
“Yes, I guess it was.”
The guy cocked his head and peered at Killian over the tops of the black rims. There was a lot of mischief in that handsome face. “Since I’m on a roll with being insulting, I think I’ll go all the way. I hope you won’t think I’m a stalker, but I stood here and watched while your class filed out. You’re about the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen. Is there the slightest chance you’re single—and gay?” He ducked and held up his hands as if to deflect a blow, but he never stopped smiling.
Killian arched an eyebrow. A lot of people assumed he was gay because of his long hair and pretty face, but he never confirmed or denied. “Who wants to know?”
The paragon thrust out a slim hand. “Blaine Genneau. New professor of quantum physics.” He grinned wickedly. “Gay professor of quantum physics.”
Killian took that hand and got a flash of heat straight to his balls. Like lightning streaked through the window into his jeans. Extraordinary. He pulled his hand back. Maybe the lightning loosened his tongue. “Killian Barth, professor of history. Gay professor of history.”
He gazed into those eyes. Deep green like ancient Chinese jade. A carved mouth. Just the type he imagined wrapped around his cock in his daydreams. But with one big difference. Killian sighed so deeply, it felt like his heart cracked. Yes, this man was gorgeous. Yes, Killian was gay. In truth, he was dying for a real relationship with a partner who both attracted him and fulfilled him, and if he’d ever been allowed to discover the type of partner he wanted, he knew Blaine Genneau would have fit every parameter—every parameter but one.

He tucked the helmet under his arm. “Good to meet you, Blaine.” He walked past the man and out into the sunshine toward his motorcycle. He couldn’t stay. He couldn’t find out what he’d been missing. Because no matter how perfect this man might be, Killian Barth didn’t do physics professors. In fact, he didn’t do humans. Sex with humans stole his energy and depleted his community, and that wasn’t allowed, because he was the most powerful male witch in ten generations, and he was expected to reproduce.



About the Author




Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT erotic romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her first novel was published in January of 2011 and she’s now somewhere around book 32. Her best-selling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Paranormal Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. She often does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft.  She lives with her soul-mate husband and her soul-mate dog near the sea in California where she sets a lot of her books.  Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”!


You can find Tara at Lain

               



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Friday, September 23, 2016

Don't be a Thief: Pirating and Downloading Illegal Copies of Books

Everyone, I’d like you to meet OVERDRIVE (the site & app). OVERDRIVE this is EVERYONE! You guys are going to get along beautifully!!

I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m introducing you to OVERDRIVE. See recently… okay not recently, it’s been around for forever. The “IT” I’m referring to isn’t Steven King’s “IT” but rather the act of stealing someone’s work and in this case I’m talking about pirating and stealing BOOKS. There are other acts of stealing, like using graphics and pictures that don’t belong to you but using them to promote your business/books and even the misuse of videos, content, images, etc. But we've already discussed that in the " No, You Can't Use That Image" (Post #1 & Post #2) series and there is still a few other things to discuss, but that’s another topic for another day (trust me, I’m working on it). Back to the act of stealing books…..



Since we live in this world where technology is vast, the majority of things are global and we all have more access to… well basically everything, some may lose sight to what traditionally is known as “theft”. Many may think stealing is when you go into a physical store and take something without paying for it. That is a “physical” example of theft. However, pirating a book or getting a book file online from a sharable site (that is not official like the Lend program from Amazon) and you download it for FREE, it is exactly the same thing. It’s theft! The individual who created that item (i.e. the author who wrote the book) isn’t getting compensation for the time spent and everything else that went into creating that item.


On a similar note, would you ever think about going into Starbucks and telling the barista that you’d like a drink (whatever you like.… coffee, latte, Frappuccino something… pumpkin laced… etc.) but then tell them that you’d like it for free because they are just so expensive and really it should only cost you 99 Cents if not you know, be free! Would you do that? Would you go into Bath and Body Works and tell them that you want that scented candle and LOVE their products and how the candles makes the house smell wonderful and how it relaxes you…. And ask them to provide you with a free candle. I mean, come on, you did tell them that you LOVE their product! You also mentioned how you’re a huge fan, it’s just that those candle is so darn expensive. Would you?

No, you wouldn’t. Right? NO FREAKING WAY would you do that, so what in bloody hell would make you think that you could email/reach out to an author and ask for a free book because you just can’t afford the $3.99 cost of it.  Oh and I know there are LOTS of books that cost more than $3.99. I used that example as that is a ‘happy medium’ price point. Regardless of the book costing $0.99 Cents or $24.99… you want to read it… you PAY for it!




“But Viviana, the author makes A LOT of money and they are being greedy by selling their book for anything more than $0.99!”

LIE!! That’s a lie!!!! Are there authors who make a NICE (and by nice I mean a LOT) amount of money on their books? YES! Yes they are. HOWEVER, many, before they were making all the $$, they were also a struggling author! Additionally, many that you think are making a lot of $$, because you see them on FB traveling or they posted that they got a new coach bag, it may be more about their other job (many still have day jobs) and we can’t attribute their wealth to just being an author. Yet, if that is the case! GOOD FOR THEM! It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay for their book nor does it mean that EVERY author is making money.

The sad truth is that there are MANY phenomenal authors that make less in a year on their books than a high school student, working part-time at a fast food restaurant earns monthly. YEAH, you read that right. I’m not going to go into the cost of creating that book and the numbers. It should be enough that stealing is stealing and if you WANT something you SHOULD pay the amount of money it costs for YOU to get what you desire.


Just like you wouldn’t go into Starbucks and complain that the latte cost way too much or that the scented candle is too pricey at Bath and Body Works, don’t go to an author and ask for their work for free! Or steal it via download sharing sites.

“But Viviana, I need to budget my hard earn money for things like food and gas…. The book is only currently available in hardcover and its $24.99… I can’t justify paying that much for a book I may not even like.”

Uhm I get that…. Totally. I have to budget too! Here’s the thing… either SAVE MONEY and WAIT until you CAN afford the hardcover book or WAIT until either the book is available in paperback (usually 6 months to a year after the hardcover is published) or… this part may come as a shocker…. There is actually a place where you can get free books and get them legally for FREE..…its call the LIBRARY!!!



Libraries people!!! They have existed in our world for many years and they provide you with the opportunity to BORROW a book for FREE!!!!! You can’t wait until the book is available in a format that is more affordable to your budget… or you just plainly refuse to spend money on a book… the library will become your BFF!

“But Viviana, the book I want to read is only available as an eBook!”

Yeah… and? Seriously, I did mention how we live in this world with VAST technology abilities, right? This includes eBooks being available from the libraries. Audio books too while we’re chatting about different formats! And before you start with “But Viviana, I don’t own a device that plays audio books or a device in general to read an eBook…” speech , how were you planning on reading the eBook or listen to the audio that you illegally downloaded from the sharing file site OR that you just messaged the author for a free copy? That excuse doesn’t fly! The library has several different methods for you to “read” or “listen” to the book. If you have a laptop or computer, there you go! Download their apps and enjoy the immense volume of books! For audiobooks, there are several options as well including that many books are available on a device from the library. All you have to do is provide the batteries for it and the ear buds.

“But Viviana, the book I want to read isn’t available at the library.”

First of all, the library doesn’t only carry books from Shakespeare or Jane Austin (I mean they do have LOTS of classics which is AWESOME). The have some of the latest and greatest that are currently available! The libraries also utilize the vast technology that is available and this includes the option for those that use the library to request a book to be included in their catalog! This means you can either fill out the electronic form that is online or visit your local library and chat with the librarian! Amazing right? Instead of asking the author for the free book, ask the librarian to add it to their catalog!

The idea of asking your local librarian to add a book you wish to read (or listen to) to the library system isn’t new people. The same goes for requesting the different formats of a book (i.e. large print, eBook, Audio, etc.). And if you go back to the excuse of “I don’t have a device”, many will help you add the apps to your PHONE!! You know, that smart phone you have in your hand or pocket!

This brings me back to OVERDRIVE, HOOPLA, OneClickdigital, Freading etc. They are ALL apps that you can download for free and access books via the library. The only caveat is that you have to have a library card/account! Which is also FREE! Look at all the FREE stuff you can get!! Seriously! The library is this magical place that allows you the reader, to access to MILLIONS of books. MILLIONS! And at no cost to you. 

So don’t tell me that the $7.99 book is to expensive. Save the money to buy it. Wait til it goes on sale! Add it to your wish list for birthday and/or holidays. Seriously if you want it that badly, skip the latte and use that cash towards the book! Okay fine! So if you can’t skip the latte (I have a love of coffee… Charley Davidson and I would be BFF due to our love our coffee… and if she was, you know, a real person.), then get a library card! Don't be a thief!!


Blog Tour and Giveaway: Not Quite Perfect by Catherine Bybee




Hi Everyone! I'm excited to have Author Catherine Bybee with us today.

NOT QUITE PERFECT is the fifth book in the "Not Quite Series" though it can be read as a standalone! I really enjoyed this story as I have all of Catherine's books that I've read. There is a great bantering and conversations between all of the characters. The different relationships and the depth of the friendships shows through the pages. 

Catherine knows how to tell a story. Her gift with words and way of showing the reader what is going on vs. "telling" shines through in NOT QUITE PERFECT.

If you love/like contemporary romances that have great characters and story line, Catherine Bybee is a go to author!! 



Not Quite Perfect
(Not Quite Series, Bk #5)
By Catherine Bybee

Blurb: 
New York Times bestselling author Catherine Bybee delivers the fifth heartwarming, flirty novel in the wildly popular Not Quite series.

Mary Kildare knows how to read people. It’s both why she makes a great therapist and why she refuses to trust the average bachelor. Staying fiercely independent has been her primary relationship strategy—until wealthy playboy pilot (and commitmentphobe) Glen Fairchild reappears in her life. After a yearlong teasing tug-of-war, Mary and Glen test the waters of attraction, only to find that their physical chemistry runs deeper than flirtation.

At first, a bicoastal romance suits them both—especially since Glen can swoop in and whisk Mary away on one of his company’s planes. But no matter how close they get, they’re still three thousand miles apart. And when Mary’s life is threatened, Glen realizes the one luxury he doesn’t have is time. Can he close the distance between them before it’s too late?




Available for purchase at 

      




Audio Clip





About The Author



New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee was raised in Washington State, but after graduating high school, she moved to Southern California in hopes of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full-time and has penned the Weekday Brides Series and the Not Quite Series. Bybee lives with her two teenage sons in Southern California.  

You can find Catherine at 



Giveaway


Thursday, September 22, 2016

Book Review: Her Halloween Treat by Tiffany Reisz

Her Halloween Treat 
(Men at Work Series #1)
by Tiffany Reisz 

Blurb: 
Trick…or wicked treat!

It was a devastating dirty trick—Joey Silvia just found out her boyfriend of two years is married. What. A. Dick. Joey knows her best chance to get over one guy is to get under another. Of course, heading home to her family's remote cabin in Oregon poses some challenges in the "available men" department…until she discovers this cabin comes with its own hot handyman!

Holy crap, Chris Steffensen. When did her brother's best friend turn into a hard-bodied pile of blond-bearded hotness? He's the perfect Halloween treat—and a surprisingly dirty rebound guy. For a couple of weeks, anyway. Except that Chris has other ideas…like proving to Joey that this blast from the past is a whole lot more than a naughty Halloween hookup.



Available for purchase at 

         


Viviana's Review: 
HOLY HOTNESS!! Tiffany doesn't disappoint! Do not be fulled by the "Harlequin" title. Though Blaze is their "steamier" publishing line, this one is SMOLDERING!

The cover.... did you notice the man, in the flannel with the beard.... Yeah that's Chris! LOVE that the cover matches the character's description! And totally YUM!!

There is lots of quick wit conversation between all the characters. It's not over the top at all. Each of the characters' personality shows through in the different conversations between them. Kara is Joey's BFF and I laughed out loud during several of their conversations. She's the type of friend you need to have! She will tell you exactly how things truly are and what you need to hear. 

While there is lots of 'sexy time', as with all Tiffany Reisz's books, there is more to the story then just the sex. Joey is realizing there is more to Chris than what she knew and remembered from when they were in high school. Though Chris had a crush on Joey since they were in high school, the years have proven that there's more to them than what they think there is.

Overall, this is a quick read that is steamy, sensual and makes you want to take a trip to Oregon and find a handyman! 

   

Rating: 4.5 Stars - Really LOVE It!!




Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin (US & Canada) via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Book Review: Reaper's Fire by Joanna Wylde

Reaper's Fire 
(Reapers MC #6)
by Joanna Wylde

Blurb:

New York Times bestselling author Joanna Wylde returns to the “wild and raw”* world of the Reapers MC with the story of Gage and Tinker…

The club comes first.

I’ve lived by those words my whole life—assumed I’d die by them, too, and I never had a problem with that. My Reaper brothers took my back and I took theirs and it was enough. Then I met her. Tinker Garrett. She’s beautiful, she’s loyal, and she works so damned hard it scares me sometimes . . . She deserves a good man—one better than me. I can’t take her yet because the club still needs me. There’s another woman, another job, another fight just ahead.

Now she’ll learn I’ve been lying to her all along. None of it’s real. Not my name, not my job, not even the clothes I wear. She thinks I’m nice. She pretends we’re just friends, that I’ve still got a soul . . . Mine’s been dead for years. Now I’m on fire for this woman, and a man can only burn for so long before he destroys everything around him.

I’m coming for you, Tinker.

Soon.



Available for purchase at

      


Viviana's Review: 
We were introduced to Gage and Tinker in the previous book of the series. Which caused readers to salivate for this release! The thing is, REAPER'S FIRE isn't your traditional "Reaper" book. There is a lot LESS "Reapers" and less of the type of behaviors readers may be used to from the Reapers. This book read more of a traditional contemporary novel that has a guy that rides a bike. The story jumps around a bit which could be a bit frustrating. Especially if you were expecting a "Reaper" book. So taking out the expectation, its a good read.

I think the book would have been better if the relationship with Gage/Cooper and Talia would have ended and we saw/read more of Gage/Cooper and Tinker. Basically, there was a lot less romance in this book than in the previous ones.

I'm sort of wondering where the series is going and what comes next. 




Rating: 3 Stars - I Liked It


Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from PENGUIN GROUP Berkley in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.


Friday, September 16, 2016

Release Day Blitz: The Demon King by Heather Killough-Walden



The much anticipated THE DEMON KING by Heather Killough-Walden is now available! If you love PNR, readers have said that there are some series' that are completely addictive, and this is one of them! Find out why below! 



The Demon King
(The Kings Series, #9)
by Heather Killough-Walden


Blurb:
Dahlia Kellen has been through hell. Raised in a fae society that slowly drove her mad, she turned traitor against her people and was cast out. But in an act of heroism that clearly exposed her for the good she was, she rose up against the true evil threatening her people, and in her efforts to stop that evil, she was terribly transformed. Now dark, different, and feeling truly exiled in her soul, Dahlia has a chance encounter with a man in Boston. A man whose gaze is as dark and haunted as her own… and whose craven desire for her and dangerous, powerful bloodline will show Dahlia that for her, hell is just the beginning.

“I’ve come with a message about your father,” said the stranger.

“You’re speaking of Marius.” Marius was dead. Laz would know; he’d killed him.

But the messenger smiled. “No, no. Not quite,” he said, white teeth gleaming in an unholy grin. “Think bigger. Think badder.”

Steven Lazarus is a seasoned detective with the Boston police force who has always served and protected, and done so by the book. But the Akyri King’s insides are heating up, a painful yearning is tearing away at him, and his tall, strong body has become capable of a dark, violent magic he can barely control. His dangerous past has caught up with him, and he can scarcely stand to look at his own reflection. He doesn’t recognize the man staring back at him, and that terrifies him. 

Because he knows the powerful, hungry man in the mirror wants Dahlia Kellen just as badly as he does. And if he has to, he’ll raise hell to claim her.

The Demon King is the 9th book in the best selling The Big Bad Wolf spinoff series, The Kings, by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Heather Killough-Walden. 



Available for purchase at

         


Excerpt


She quickly pushed herself up. At once, the pain was back. She winced and again inhaled sharply, hissing hard through clenched teeth. Clearly, the spell meant to punish resistance. With each passing second, Dahlia was more convinced that attacking the hooded figures had been the right choice. She didn’t let up now, despite the pain. Countless years of being forced into a kind of servitude to her Tuathian bloodline and the sexual demands it made on the physical form had taught her well that she was simply not born to be obligated or beholden to anyone. Ever. There was little more precious to Dahlia Kellen than her freedom. She had learned that lesson well.
“Watch it, back off!” It was the same man who’d spoken earlier, warning those who had drawn near to her.
Dahlia’s vision once more shifted, contrasts sharpened, and her hands flooded with power. She cried out as the spell that had been cast on her threatened to crack her bones in half and the cold continued to spread. She glanced down at her body, viewing it through battle-tones and expecting it to see blue and covered with rime. But it looked no different than usual.
No damage, then, she thought. Only pain.
The spell was designed to hurt, not harm. For some reason, that made her even more furious. The fire building in her palms leapt with height and took on a reddish-purple cast. It had never done that before. She could feel it draining an inordinate amount of strength from her form, but at the same time, the darkening of her magic’s flames eased the strain up on her eyes a bit, allowing her to better see her targets. It also felt better. At first it was hard to put her finger on it, but Dahlia realized, as the magic continued to build, that it was lessening the pain of the spell that had been cast on her. It was negating it, warming her from the inside out like a hot drink of coffee in a snow storm.
She smiled, allowing her fangs to show. She didn’t even care that she was being drained by this new dark force. It was worth it.
Across the warehouse from her, a single hooded figure slowly pushed back his hood. Piercing blue eyes glowed with a different menacing fire, locking onto her with their own kind of darkness. No, Dahlia thought. Not darkness. Wrongness.
She would know it anywhere.

- The Demon King, by Heather Killough-Walden

Coming September 16, 2016


The Kings Series





Also Available in Audio










About The Author




Heather Killough-Walden is a California native currently living in Texas with her husband, child, and King Charles Cavalier. She is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Big Bad Wolf series, The Kings series, the Lost Angels series, the October Trilogy, the Neverland series, and The Chosen Soul series. Heather’s educational background includes religious studies, archeology, and law. She has traveled all over the world but hopes to one day live in a town with a world-class hockey team. (Let’s Go Pens!)

You can find Heather at

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