EARLY REVIEW: HER (HIM #2) by Carey Heywood

Her (Him #2)

By Carey Heywood

Cover reveal October 1st!

Publication Date: October 2013

Source: Digital ARC provided by the author in exchange for honest review.

Synopsis 

You know her side of the story, now learn his. 

"It was useless. I felt branded beneath my skin by a girl who left without even saying goodbye." 

When Will Price was assigned a partner for a sixth grade class project he had no idea she would become his best friend. After years of friendship, she eventually became so much more. Then, one day she left with no explanation. 

Will’s life shattered right before his eyes and he was left alone to pick up the pieces. Floundering, Will must figure out a way to carry on, to find a way to exist without her. 

Seven years later, a chance encounter leaves him desperate to get her back. He has one week to make her his again. Not everyone gets a second chance with the love of their life and Will is determined to never lose her again.

Review 

So, I'm a lucky, lucky girl because I absolutely adore Carey, and she was so kind as to give me an early copy of HER!  You may have read my review of HIM, but if not, you can bounce on over and ready it by clicking here. 

Now that you're back, let me tell you about HER!

I completely fell in love with Will Price all over again in this follow up! Well, it’s not really a follow up. It’s more of a companion. Her is every bit the amazing and captivating love story that Him was with the grit of male POV and a lot more scintillating sex! Will is such a guy! I adored him in Him, but being inside his head was like a completely different experience.

Will tells his story from beginning to end, versus Sarah’s flashbacks to the past. I liked this change since it really sets Her apart from Him. And it’s such guy perspective. We learn about some of the same events in Sarah and Will’s relationship, but we’re inside Will’s head. And let me tell you, being in a man’s head is MUCH different than being is a woman’s. That grit I mentioned? Yea, Will has a bit of a dirty mind like most men. I kind of thought of him as this sweet, polite, pretty boy in Him, and I mean that in a good way. But let’s just say this inside his head, there’s a whole dirty word vocabulary that would make his mother blush. It was so much fun seeing the events that Sarah described in Him through Will’s eyes. “The talk” with Brian after the couch incident… priceless!

And the sex scenes? Carey does a wonderful job writing those. Since they are told from Will’s POV, they’re grittier (yes, I really like that word for Will) and HOT! H.O.T.T. HOT! There’s more substance in the sex from Will’s POV because his character isn’t as shy about it. It’s really a great addition and well written.

And there’s another benefit of getting the story from Will’s POV. We find out what the hell he’d been up to all those years! Oh, and what he was really thinking while he and Sarah were just friends. So many questions answered! Being inside his head at the water park… priceless! Even better, we get to hear all the conversations he has with Brian, and how they become such good friends. I really love their relationship.

But there is one question answered that blew me out of the water. It’s not really important per se, but it was damn funny and probably my favorite little blip in the book. Who is Jessica engaged to? Yep, you’ll love it! As soon as I read this part I set the book down and emailed Carey this exact email…

OMG! Jessica is engaged to **************?!?!?! That is just too good!

While this little tidbit isn’t vital to the story, it sure as hell made my day! After you read it, please, please, please come tell me what you think! Comment, Facebook me, Tweet me… anything! I just want to know your reaction to this little revelation.

Ok, moving on. You may be thinking, “Is this just a retelling of Him?” No! It’s so much more. Will may be telling the same story, but his POV adds so much to the events from Him that you’re really reading a new version. However, if that’s not enough for you, Her goes past the conclusion of Him. Yep… way past the conclusion of Him. So trust me… you will be completely satisfied by the time you read the final words of this book.

If you haven’t read Him yet, that’s ok. You don’t have to read it first, but I would suggest it. You can read my review of Him by clicking on the cover below. And please, share, share, share! And come back tomorrow for the absolutely fabulous cover reveal for HER. It's awesome, I promise. I can't wait to share it with you all!

About the author:
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author. I make up stuff and write it down. Here are some things that make up who I am, in no particular order; Books, Swedish Fish, Rivers, Kids (I have some), Husband (I have 1), Dog, Wuss, Reader, Elephants, Mermaid Shows, Belgian Chocolate, Plastic Rings, Fizzy Water, Abs (I don't have them...well yes, I have them but they're nothing to look at I meant Abs that I like to look at), Twitter (@careylolo), Making up Words, Chair Dancing, Old Movies, Cartoons, Belgian Waffles, Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, People, Kayaks, Screen Porches, Laughing, Colored Paperclips, Junky Green Laptop, Golden Rule, Falling in Love, Jumping in Puddles, Spellcheck, Windy Days.

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS AUTHOR

Cover Reveal: GRIMNIRS (RUNES #3) by Ednah Walters

Book Title: Grimnirs
Series: A Runes Novel
Author: Ednah Walters
Release Date: December 2nd 2013
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Firetrail Publishing
Presented by: Twisted Book Tours and More & As You Wish Tours
Banner Made by: Camelia Miron Skiba

 

BLURB

One lost love.

One lost best friend.

One hot soul reaper.

Straight out of the psyche ward, Cora just wants her life to be normal. She doesn’t want to see souls or the reapers collecting them. The love of her life, the guy she’s loved from a distance for years, has moved away without saying goodbye. So yes, she’s nursing a serious heartbreak. It’s no wonder love is the last thing on her mind when Echo storms into her life.

The chemistry between them is mind-blowing. The connection defies logic. It doesn’t help that Echo is the poster boy for everything she hates in a guy—hot, beautiful, and cocky. A general pain-in-the-butt. Being around him makes her feel more alive than she’s ever felt before. But more important, the souls leave her alone when he is around.

Echo is perfect for her. Echo might even be her soul-mate. There is only one problem. Echo is a freaking soul reaper. A Grimnir. The very beings she wants out of her life. Maybe normal is overrated because Cora wants it all. Answers. Love. A life. You see, once you fall for a Grimnir, your life will never be the same again.

AUTHOR BIO
EDNAH WALTERS grew up reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys and dreaming of one day writing her own stories. She is a stay-at-home mother of five humans and two American short-hair cats (one of which has ADHD) and a husband. When she is not writing, she’s at the gym doing Zumba or doing things with her family, reading, traveling or online chatting with fans.

Ednah is the author of The Guardian Legacy series, a YA fantasy series about children of the fallen angels, who fight demons and protect mankind. AWAKENED, the prequel was released by Pill Hill Press in September 2010 with rave reviews. BETRAYED, book one in the series was released by her new publisher Spencer Hill Press in June 2012 and HUNTED, the third installment, will be released April 2013. She’s working on the next book in the series, FORGOTTEN. Visit her at www.ednahwalters.com

Ednah also writes YA paranormal romance. RUNES is the first book in her new series. IMMORTALS is book 2. She is presently working on book 3, GRIMNIRS (Release date TBA). Read more about this series and the world she's created here www.runestheseries.com

Under the pseudonym E. B. Walters, Ednah writes contemporary romance. SLOW BURN, the first contemporary romance with suspense, was released in April 2011. It is the first book in the Fitzgerald family series. Since then she has published four more books in this series. She's presently working on book six. You can visit her online at or www.ebwalters.com.

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT: LET LOVE IN & LET LOVE STAY by Melissa Collings

 

 Let Love In: 

What would happen if you lost everything? If the people who were supposed to love you unconditionally were no longer there for you, how would your world change? That’s exactly what happened to Madeleine Becker when her parents died when she was ten years old. Ripped from her home and everything that she has ever loved, she is forced to start all over again. The only way for her to move on is to build walls around her heart and keep everyone at a safe distance. Her logic: she can't get hurt if she doesn't fall in love. That theory is blown to pieces when she meets Reid Connely during her freshman year at college. He is gorgeous and darkly mysterious. He understands Maddy's pain all too well, but sharing his pain would mean breaking down the walls he put up around his own heart. Conflicted between loving Maddy and hiding his dark past, Reid starts to reevaluate his world. Maddy's inner strength, snarky personality and breath taking beauty help Reid to make peace with his past. Together they find out what happens when they let love in. 

Click here to read MY REVIEW

Let Love Stay: 

If you’re lucky, you’ll fall in love – truly, madly and deeply in love. But what happens when that honest and pure love isn’t enough to erase your fears? What happens when your past rears its ugly head and threatens your future? Maddy and Reid had that kind of love – the all-encompassing, Earth shattering, once in a lifetime kind of love. Then life happened. Old wounds that were thought to be long healed and scabbed over are ripped opened and they are forced to face the possibility that, maybe, they are not strong enough to fight their demons and embrace the light. Together, they found out what love is, but now they will each need to heal on their own before they can ever be together again. They must face their fears and beat down their pasts in order to find their way through this crazy uphill battle called love. They’ve let love in, but now, they need to find out how to Let Love Stay.

Click here to read MY REVIEW

 

I’ve always been an avid reader. Majoring in English Literature was a no brainer. Becoming a teacher and instilling my love for reading into my students was also a no brainer. I’ve spent the last ten years teaching and I’ve loved (mostly) every minute of it. When I was home on maternity leave for my third son, I discovered a new genre that sparked my creativity. My passion for writing sprang from my love of reading and once I knew I had a story to tell, I couldn’t wait to get it out there. I only hope that my readers enjoy reading my story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

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Let Love In

Let Love Stay

  Let Love In by Melissa Collins from The BookChick on Vimeo.

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Nobles | iBookstore | Kobo

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Nobles | iBookstore | Kobo

 

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Release Event: THE JAMIESON COLLECTION by Angie Stanton

Celebrating the release of The Jamieson Collection with Harper Collins, today’s post gives you a look inside the books and a great giveaway!

Title: Rock and a Hard Place (The Jamieson Collection, #1) and Snapshot (The Jamieson Collection, #2)

Author: Angie Stanton

Publisher: Harper Collins

Release date: September 24, 2013 (re-release with Harper Collins)

Genre: Contemporary

Age Group: Young Adult

Event organized by: AToMR Tours

Book Links:

Rock and a Hard Place (Book, #1)

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17803083-rock-and-a-hard-place

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Rock-Hard-Place-Jamieson-ebook/dp/B00ESECXH2/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1379960380&sr=1-3&keywords=angie+stanton

Barnes and Noble – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rock-and-a-hard-place-angie-stanton/1102294345?ean=9780062272546

Snapshot (Book, #2)

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14759416-snapshot

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Snapshot-Jamieson-Brothers-Novel-ebook/dp/B00ESECXHC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1379960398&sr=1-1&keywords=angie+stanton

Barnes and Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/snapshot-angie-stanton/1111506521?ean=9780062272560

Book Descriptions:

Rock and a Hard Place

One day while watching the Interstate exit for her dad's long awaited return, Libby's life is rocked when Peter Jamieson steps off his tour bus and into her life. After a couple chance meetings with Peter, Libby breaks away from her perfect behavior and her life changes course.

Peter longs for normalcy away from the screaming fans who know nothing about the real him. He is amazed to discover Libby has never heard of him or his band. Soon their friendship turns to love. While Peter battles his family's growing interference so he can spend time with Libby, she struggles with her eccentric aunt who turns more bizarre each day.

Their lives are torn apart when Peter's family intrudes and Libby disappears. Peter's desperate search for her comes up empty. Can they find their way back to each other while the world plots against them?

From Rock and a Hard Place

Excerpt #1

“I have something for you.” He had moved heaven and earth to pull this together.
“You do?” Her eyes glittered in surprise.
“Yup. Close your eyes and hold out your hands.” He couldn’t wait to see what she thought. Libby obeyed. Her dark eyelashes lay against her rosy cheeks. His heart beat in anticipation. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a white plastic bag, then glanced up. Her closed eyes changed to little slits.
“Hey, stop peeking!”
Libby squeezed her eyes closed and laughed. She held out her hands and waited. Peter pulled the slim item out of the bag and placed it in her hands.
“Okay, look.”
She peered at the shiny device and then back at him in disbelief. “You gave me a cell phone?” She stared at the gift. “You gave me a cell phone!” This time she yelled it.
Her excitement touched him. “It seemed like a good idea. You didn’t have a phone number to give me, and I really missed you. It’s gonna get harder to see you. I thought this way we could stay in touch and actually talk whenever we want.”
She closed her hand around the precious phone and turned pensive.
“Is something wrong?” He wondered what could have upset her.
“I don’t know if I should accept this.” She gazed up at him with large doe eyes. He couldn’t believe this. She needed to take the phone.
“We barely know each other, and, well…” Mischief lit her face, and he wondered what she was up to. “We’ve never even kissed.”
Peter paused and took a good look at her. He’d been wondering how to sneak a kiss; she just made it simple.
He tossed the umbrella aside and pulled her close. He let his fingers tangle in her wet hair and lowered his mouth to hers. He kissed her long and slow, taking his sweet time. Cold rain trickled down his neck as he savored each moment. Startled at first, Libby now matched his kiss. He enjoyed each touch of her tender lips.
He slowly pulled away.
“Now can you take the phone?” His forehead rested against hers.
“Yeah, I think so,” she answered in a breathy voice.
“I’d better be sure.” Empowered by their perfect chemistry, he leaned in for more. Her body melted against him. He wrapped his other arm around her and pulled her close.
“Wow,” she whispered, her eyes dark and smoky.
“Haven’t you ever been kissed before?” His eyes searched hers.
“Not like that.”

~Angie Stanton-Rock and a Hard Place

Snapshot

Marti Hunter hates rockers and anything remotely related to the rock-and-roll lifestyle. She thought she’d left that all behind, along with her drug-addicted mother and absent-minded rock legend father. Now she lives with her grandmother, and Marti’s life is finally normal. Just the way she likes it.

For Adam Jamieson, normal is not possible. He is the genius guitar player of the band Jamieson. He’s ecstatic to finally get a two-week break from his micromanaged life and a chance to hang with regular teens. Adam’s shaving off his trademark curls and going undercover.

But when Marti, the reluctant rock princess, and Adam, the undercover guitar wizard, meet, sparks fly in more ways than one. They spend their time alternating between making out and driving each other crazy. But their summer adventures of skinny dipping, storm watching, and stolen kisses are brought to a halt when tragedy strikes.

Suddenly, they’re on opposite sides of the country, just when they need each other the most. Can Marti survive life with her dad and his vicious girlfriend? Will Adam get so fed up with his over-managed life and controlling parents that he quits the band?

Snapshot. A moment in time that changes two people forever.

From Snapshot

Excerpt #3

Adam called his brother. Peter picked up on the third ring. “What’s up? What’s lured you away from making candles in the sand? Don’t tell me. Since the girls don’t know who you are, they’ll have nothing to do with you?”

“Not exactly. See, there’s this girl, and…”

“Hey Libby, Adam’s got a girl!” Peter yelled, ignoring Adam.

“Way to go Adam!” Libby called back. “Don’t break her heart.”

Adam shook his head. Calling Peter was probably a mistake.

“So what’s the problem?” Peter asked. “You finally get a girl alone and you don’t know what to do with her?”

Adam rolled his eyes. “No, she has this huge issue with musicians. Let’s just say she hates us all. How do I get her to stop hating me?”

“You know what they say,” Peter said. “There’s a fine line between love and hate.”

About the Author

Angie Stanton never planned on writing books, she wanted to be a Rockette. However, growing up in a rural setting with her brothers' 4-H pigs as pets, dance didn't work out. Instead she became an avid daydreamer. After years of perfecting stories in her head she began to write them down and the rest is history.

She loves dipping french fries in chocolate shakes, all natural disaster movies and Broadway Musicals. When not writing, Angie is concocting ways to make more dreams come true, whether it be tickets to a Broadway show or convincing her family they should rent an RV and travel the country. She's still working on that one.

Angie is a proud double finalist of the 2011 National Readers Choice Awards for Love 'em or Leave 'em, as well as a finalist for the Golden Quill Awards.

Angie's blog: http://angiestanton.wordpress.com/

For regular updates, like Angie at www.facebook.com/AngieStantonAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/angie_stanton

Giveaway

Giveaway dates -  Sept. 24^th-October 5th

All open International

(1) $50 Amazon Gift Card

(1) $25 Amazon Gift Card

(1) $15 Amazon Gift Card

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Cover Reveal: ROYALLY LOST by Angie Stanton

COVER REVEAL

Royally Lost

A novel by Angie Stanton and Harper Collins

(Author of Rock and a Hard Place and Snapshot)

 

Contemporary Young Adult/New Adult

Coming May 2014

Dragged on a family trip to Europe’s ancient cities, Becca wants nothing more than to go home. Trapped with her emotionally distant father, over-eager stepmother, and a brother who only wants to hook up with European hotties, Becca is miserable. That is until she meets Nikolai, a guy as mysterious as he is handsome. And she unknowingly finds herself with a runaway prince. Nikolai has everything a guy could ask for-he's crown prince, heir to the throne, and girls adore him. But the one thing he doesn't have...is freedom. Staging a coup, he flees his kingdom and goes undercover on his own European tour. When Nikolai and Becca meet, it’s their differences that draw them together. Sparks fly as they share a whirlwind of adventures, all the while dodging his royal guard. But Becca's family vacation ends in a matter of days. Will Nikolai and Becca be forced to say goodbye forever, will his destiny catch up to him, or will they change history forever?

   

About the Author
Angie Stanton never planned on writing books, she wanted to be a Rockette. However, growing up in a rural setting with her brothers' 4-H pigs as pets, dance didn't work out. Instead she became an avid daydreamer. After years of perfecting stories in her head she began to write them down and the rest is history. She loves dipping french fries in chocolate shakes, natural disaster movies and Broadway Musicals. When not writing, Angie is concocting ways to make more dreams come true, whether it be tickets to a Broadway show or convincing her family they should rent an RV and travel the country. She's still working on that one. Angie is a proud double finalist of the 2011 National Readers Choice Awards for Love 'em or Leave 'em, as well as a finalist for the Golden Quill Awards.

  Website | Facebook  

 

Guest Post by Trish Doller: Author of WHERE THE STARS STILL SHINE

Please give a warm welcome to our special guest today, Trish Doller. We are celebrating tomorrow's release of Where The Stars Still Shine, and Trish is here to tell us a little about...

Getting in the Mood

A guest post by  Trish Doller, author of Where the Stars Sill Shine.

            I don’t have really have an exact routine I follow. I think a lot of it depends on how I’m feeling that day. Sometimes I don’t mind noise, other times I want silence. Sometimes I can work in public without being distracted, other times I can’t. But one thing that’s common across the board, no matter what I’m working on, is music.

            I put a lot of time into coming up with playlists that capture the tone of the book, the characters’ personalities, the setting, and even particular scenes. I try to mix up the emotions, so if I need to be in a certain frame of mine, I have the right song on hand. For instance, when I was writing Something Like Normal, I listened to Savior by Rise Against on repeat all day long––and I’m not even kidding––because I was trying to tap into Travis’s anger for a specific scene.

            Aside from music, I usually prefer writing on one of my couches––either in the living room if it’s really hot or in the sun room if it’s cool––and I like to have Snyder’s honey mustard & onion pretzels and Coke as a snack. Neither are required, but when I set myself up with a cold Coke and a bowl of pretzels, I feel like I’m cheating if I don’t write. Finally, I usually have to turn off the internet. I use a blocker called SelfControl because, clearly, I have none. 

WHERE THE STARS STILL SHINE
By: Trish Doller
Published By: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: September 24, 2013

Synopsis (from goodreads):
Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She's never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love--even with someone who seems an improbable choice--is more than just a possibility.

Trish Doller writes incredibly real teens, and this searing story of love, betrayal, and how not to lose your mind will resonate with readers who want their stories gritty and utterly true.

Find out more about Trish Doller

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REVIEW ~ Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

Caroline Reynolds has a fantastic new apartment in San Francisco, a KitchenAid mixer, and no O (and we’re not talking Oprah here, folks). She has a flourishing design career, an office overlooking the bay, a killer zucchini bread recipe, and no O. She has Clive (the best cat ever), great friends, a great rack, and no O.

Adding insult to O-less, since her move, she has an oversexed neighbor with the loudest late-night wallbanging she’s ever heard. Each moan, spank, and–was that a meow?–punctuates the fact that not only is she losing sleep, she still has, yep, you guessed it, no O.

Enter Simon Parker. (No, really, Simon, please enter.) When the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. Their late-night hallway encounter has, well, mixed results. Ahem. With walls this thin, the tension’s gonna be thick…

In her third novel, Alice Clayton returns to dish her trademark mix of silly and steamy. Banter, barbs, and strutting pussycats, plus the sexiest apple pie ever made, are dunked in a hot tub and set against the gorgeous San Francisco skyline in this hot and hilarious tale of exasperation at first sight.

Thump..
Thump thump...
Funniest, sultriest book EVER!! Totally irreplaceable story. You have to read it... if you are of appropriate age, being it's new adult. R E A D  I T- that is all!

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton was a sassy read that had me bellowing in laughter, mortification, and lust. I was like a damn buck up in a rut reading this! The mixed messages between the MC's had me grunting and stomping. Their presumptions of the other had me cracking up. Their fear of commitment had me in wonder. Their sexual tension had me swooning in my pants. Their connection was AWE-tastic! And then there was food porn, nom nom nom!!

That Caroline... she was completely adorable, snarky and witty. Caroline and I seem to share the same sarcasm and crudeness, but she was a rendition of one of my closest friends-- it's why I loved her so much. She was peeping fantastic! Her curiosity was brilliant. She was independent, confident and guarded. She could be a rapper with all that rhyme time! But O man, she had a disappointing issue going on there. If she would not focus so hard on the past and let confusion and panic rule her, then maybe the conCOCKtion of a love gun next door, would be a mighty fine cure.

I'm not a fan of cats, but if I were, I want Mr. Clive!! I'd hope I would be just as close to him as Caroline. Meow kitty, kitty!

Now, onto the 'Wallbanger Wondercock' -- Simon. Oh God, Oh God. He's quite scrumptious and oh so sexy charming. He was such a man, but not a tool. I mean, he knew how to work his screwdriver, but there was such a beautiful being behind it. He had feelings. He had a heart. He was supportive. He was hypnotic.  He was a pleaser. So caring. Strong. Smart. Simon.

My lips actually were sore during this entire read. Mostly stretched tight from smiling or laughing so much and at times, grimacing. I mean, Gawd, I freakin had so much adoration for every scene Caroline and Simon had together. Their introduction, the truce, their frustration, the tension, their connection, their verbosity and compatibility and honesty and... their , their everything! It was bliss! And then there was foreplay and finally, sex. Not just sex, but they made pure love. It was ecstasy. Bruno Mars 'Gorilla' style.

This book is definitely in my top 5 favorites of books I've ever read. I can't wait to read it again! It was anticipated romance at its finest. Not smut. Not overly graphic. Just perfection. Pure intimacy that led to pure adoration between two characters. A mighty fine story this was. Vibrant and comical. Alluring and romantic.

I don't even want to read another book for a few days. I want bask in the gloriousness of Wallbanger. And I for sure will support this author and read every book she has out and will have out!

Find Wallbanger, by Alice Clayton on Goodreads
PURCHASE Wallbanger by Alice Clayton on B&N, Amazon

You know what??!! I love this book so much... and I want you to love it. This calls for a GIVEAWAY to one lucky reader. So, all I ask is that you follow this blog. (U.S. only- sorry- BD doesn't have a copy of this yet.) And please, tweet about the giveaway or facebook it, which ever-- I want the word to get out about this book. Leave your email and link (if you tweeted or facebooked) in the comments. I'll draw a name on Friday.

Thanks,
Kimberly

Book Blitz: DISHING UP DESIRE (HUNGRY FOR LOVE) by Barbara DeLeo

Dishing Up Desire

by Barbara DeLeo

Release Date: 07/08/13

Entangled Indulgence

Summary from Goodreads:

Image consultant Blake Matthews is facing his toughest PR challenge yet: salvage the image of celebrity chef Kirin Hart. Once he does, he'll be able to acquire LA's most successful PR firm. But Kirin's no easy fix. She's stubborn about changing her comfortable homemaker image, and is being sued for sexual harassment by a junior staffer. She needs a PR lifeline fast. Only problem is Blake wants more than to make her over... Kirin doesn't need a makeover--her fans love her as she is. But she could lose everything if the sex scandal and reputation that has followed doesn't get quashed right away. Kirin agrees to let model-perfect Blake work his magic for two weeks, but things get complicated when she can't deny the way her body flares to life whenever he's near. 

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo│iBookstore

***Guest Post***

It’s so great to be here as part of the Hungry for Love book blitz!   I don’t know whether it’s my Irish genes, or the fact that I married a Greek winemaker who can cook a spinach and cheese pie like a God, but food is my life. Thinking about it, shopping for it, cooking it, consuming it – I had all those bases well and truly covered, but it wasn’t but until I wrote “Dishing up Desire”, my latest release that I got to combine my love of writing romance and food. In fact, celebrity chef Kirin Hart, my heroine in “Dishing up Desire”,  is a little like me in that she’s combined her passions into a job and lifestyle she loves.

The one BIG difference between Kirin and me is that I hardly seem to have time to cook anymore – four kids and a whole lot of books to read and write will do that to you – so I’m always looking for one pot recipes and never fail cakes.

One of my all time favorite recipes is my “No Bleepin’ Time to Bake a Cake Cake”. I make it at least once a month and people are always asking me for the recipe.  It’s lemony, it’s delicious and it looks and tastes like something you’d get in a fabulous restaurant. Best of all, everything gets thrown into a food processor so there’s nothing complicated and it comes out great every time. I like to think that all that time I save making things like this the more time I have for reading great books!

The No Bleepin Time Cake

(Lemon Curd Cake) 

1 Cup shredded coconut4 eggs½ cup sugar½ cup melted butter¾ cup ground almondsGrated zest 1 lemonGrated zest 1 orange½ cup lemon juice1/2cup orange juice1 cup milk or yoghurt1 cup self raising flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F/180 degrees C
Butter 23cm spring-form pan.
Place all ingredients in food processor and process til well combined. Pour into tin. Bake approx one hour or until a skewer comes out clean. Serve with whipped cream or yoghurt.

Delicious Excerpt:

Setup: Here the book opens with Blake Matthews – drop dead gorgeous ex-model and now PR guru – looking for Kirin Hart, America’s “fallen angel” celebrity chef. Blake has some very fixed ideas about the woman whose image he’s come to overhaul, but when he sees her for the first time, cooking in her commercial kitchen, he’s taken aback by the woman he finds.

At the end of the corridor he stopped in an open doorway.Behind a long stainless steel counter strewn with cooking paraphernalia, a woman had her back to him as she stirred something on an enormous industrial stove. He leaned a shoulder against the doorjamb, the low roar of overhead fans sucking away steam and allowing him to watch her unnoticed. He made the most of the sight.A loose blond ponytail, falling from beneath a small black hat, rested between narrow shoulders. His gaze tracked lower to where the strings of a black chef’s apron fell down the back of a plain tan skirt hugging a perfectly rounded bottom. He took a step into the room but still she worked, backward and forward. Her movements were sexily hypnotic—stirring and shuffling implements, occasionally dusting a hand across the curve of her hip—oblivious to the fact he couldn’t pull his eyes away.Still unaware of him, she leaned to the back of the stove, dipped a spoon into one of the pans, and steadying a hand beneath, lifted it to her face and blew. As she opened her mouth and slowly slid the spoon between dusky lips, the secret intimacy of it caused his stomach muscles to clench, and on reflex he cleared his throat. When she spun around, the spoon clattered to the floor, her moist mouth forming a perfect O.“Can I help you?” She reached for a cloth to clean up the liquid splattered across the counter and all down her front. “You must be lost.”He took a step into the room and slung a hand in his pocket. “Not lost. I was looking for you. Don’t stop what you’re doing, I was enjoying it.” He moved forward. “Blake—”“How did you get in? This is a restricted area.” Her eyes flicked to her apron and back at him, the creamy skin at her jaw tightening as she furiously wiped away the mess.
“Through the door.” He tried a grin and pulled his hand back but she dropped her gaze.
“But I have security.” She frowned as her lips formed a line.
The chilly reception wasn’t surprising. Angela Jenkins, the original consultant on this job, had described Kirin Hart as defensive and difficult—and that was before Kirin had told her to get the hell out and never come back. “Might want to check on that security.” He stepped around a stack of cardboard cartons. “I told your doorman who I was and he let me come straight down.”Finally, sparking caramel eyes focused on him and she stopped still. A mask slipped across the irritation she’d shown a moment ago and she gave a half-smile. “What can I do for you?”He pulled up an industrial looking stool and sat. “If you’re not going to continue cooking, best turn the stoves off. This could take a while.”She laid both hands on the counter and hooked him with a “give me orders if you dare” look as her chest rose then fell. “The expansion might’ve fallen through but I still need these new stoves.” The mask was edged with hard-assed determination and was even more of a turn on than watching her cook. Her tongue peeped out and she moistened her lips. “I’ll downsize the chillers, though, so you can take the large one in the next room. It was the last you sent.”She began to remove the apron and her body was revealed. A cream blouse in soft fabric skimmed her breasts and sat lightly across a gently rounded stomach. It had a V-neck but must have had two dozen tiny pearl buttons all down the front and reminded him of a particularly sadistic Sunday school teacher he’d once had.At her throat, a thin gold chain lay against her milky skin with the letter K in a flourishing script. “We won’t be needing the new office furniture you delivered last month either. You can take that back.” She waved a delicate hand and thin gold bracelets tinkled on her wrist. “I’m too busy to discuss this right now, though.” She turned back to the stove. “Make an appointment with my P.A. and she’ll coordinate with you. I’m sure you’ll find your way out.”He raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her ball-breaking attitude and the fact they’d had an entire conversation without him saying a word. 

About the Author

Barbara DeLeo’s first book, co-written with her best friend, was a story about beauty queens in space. She was eleven, and the sole, handwritten copy was lost years ago, much to everyone’s relief. It’s some small miracle that she kept the faith and is now living her dream of writing sparkling contemporary romance with unforgettable characters.

After completing degrees in Psychology and English then travelling the world, Barbara married her winemaker hero and had two sets of twins.

She still loves telling stories about finding love in all the wrong places, with not a beauty queen or spaceship in sight.

Find Barbara and her books here:

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***GIVEAWAY***

Grand Prize: (US only)

1-Cajun Wine Charm

1-Apron

4-inch mini icing spatula (great for frosting cupcakes or spreading just about anything), mini apple-shaped cutting board, microfiber dishrag.

International Giveaway:

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