Archive for the ‘Contemporary Romance’ Category

Giveaway / Don’t Tell

Posted: December 10, 2012 in Contemporary Romance, Debut Novel, fiction, giveaways, reviews, Romance, YA
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I have another giveaway. But first let me tell about Mercy Amare’s debut.

Don’t Tell

by Mercy Amare

Don't Tell

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When people look at Lucy, they see a beautiful, vivacious girl.

But it’s just a mask she wears. A mask to hide her pain, like the long sleeves and make-up she wears to hide the bruises.

Bruises left by Charles, her father.

It hadn’t always been like this. They’d been happy once, when her mother was still alive. Now, Charles is a mean, abusive drunk and he blames Lucy for her mother’s death. After all, she was on her way to pick up Lucy when the drunk driver smashed into her car, killing her.

Now everything is wrong. Her self-esteem is shattered and she’s afraid to trust anyone. The only one she let’s past her defensive walls is Tess, her best friend since grade school. But even Tess doesn’t know her secret.

Lucy’s never had a boyfriend, never been in love, but she yearns for it. If only she could be like a normal teen-age girl.

If there is anyone she could tell her secret to, it would be Ian. But as much as she likes him, she can’t bring herself to tell him the truth.

Ian’s the pastor’s son, captain of the football team, and every girl at school is crushing on him. He also has a secret. He’s been in love with Lucy since the first time they met. They were four years old and she kissed him on the cheek.

He’s seen her bruises, old ones and new ones. Someone she’s close to is abusing her, but Ian’s not sure if it’s her dad.

Should he tell someone? Wouldn’t that be betraying Lucy’s trust.

My heart went out to Lucy. She had her good days, especially when she was with Tess or Ian. She could almost believe everything was normal, was as it should be. Then the memories would sneak up on her, never letting her forget.

Then there’s Ian. He’s in a difficult situation. I’m sure teenagers have been in Ian’s and Lucy’s shoes. I wish it wasn’t so.

As for Charles. It’s sad and ironic that he becomes an abusive drunk. After all, a drunk driver was the cause of all his anguish. Instead of grieving and healing with his daughter, he uses the very thing that caused all this to numb his pain.

It’s very hard to feel sorry for a drunk. Everything about them can be so repulsive.

The author knows how to write about a tough subject and writing this story from Lucy’s and Ian’s points of view enables you to see how abuse has many victims, like ripples in a pond.

Having Lucy refer to her father as Charles shows how she doesn’t recognize him as her father any longer. She doesn’t know this monster.

I really enjoyed reading about the budding romance between Lucy and Ian. It had me smiling and remembering the sweetness and intensity of first love. I was really pulling for these two and was happy that Lucy had someone on her side.

I usually avoid reading about abuse, but I’m glad I read Don’t Tell. Mercy Amare showed me why someone wouldn’t or couldn’t tell anyone about being abused, and she told it in an entertaining and enlightening manner. While this is a story of darkness, there is also light, the shining light of love, friendship, hope and letting go!

     

Giveaway

The author has offered  5 e-books to give away.

Easy to enter. Just leave your email address and answer this question. “If a friend told you a secret and made you promise not to tell, would you break that promise if their health or life was at risk,  even if it meant you might lose their friendship?”

Giveaway ends December 22nd.

Merry Christmas and Good Luck!

About the author

I write YA contemporary fiction books. I have a slight addiction to NOS. My guilty pleasure is Pretty Little Liars.

Here are a few cool things about Mercy Amare:

1. I am very musically talented. I can play the guitar, bass, and drums. I also sing.

2. I got started writing at a very young age (2nd grade, I think)… My writing career started out with writing songs.

3. I am addicted to the energy drink, NOS. It’s amazing. But I only like the NOS in a blue can. Purple, green, and red? GAG.

4. My favorite color is pink. Pink is happy.

5. I’m very clumsy. I fall down a lot, and I always have. If it’s raining, I stay inside. (Me + slippery ground = bad).

6. I love to do zumba with my best friends, however, I suck at it.

7. I love books. Especially books in a series.

8. Vampires are awesome. Seriously. I love vampire books, shows, movies, etc. They’re all awesome.

9. I’ve had a LOT of jobs in my life. (Most ALL of them very crappy). Writing is the first thing I’ve found that actually makes me happy. So, I’m going to go for it, and hope I don’t fail.

10. My hair is naturally red (and curly). I love red hair. If you have red hair, you rock 🙂

Author contacts

Goodreads

Website

Twitter

To purchase Don’t Tell, click on the cover.

Merry Christmas To You And Yours From FUONLYKNEW!

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I Have A Winner!

Posted: December 1, 2012 in Adult Fiction, Blog Tour, Contemporary Romance, fiction, giveaways, New Adult, Winners!
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This is the fun part.

I get to announce the winner of the brand new release The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski!

And the winner is

Tiffany!

Congratulations!

I want to say thank you to everyone for their comments. I enjoyed reading them and hope you continue to visit FUONLYKNEW.

For all of my giveaways go here .

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Giveaway / Release Day for The Edge of Never

Posted: November 15, 2012 in Blog Tour, Book Promos, comedy, Contemporary Romance, Contests, fiction, giveaways, New Adult, Release day, Romance
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This event was organized by AToMR Tours and I’m excited to be a part of it.

J. A. Redmerski just released her new novel, The Edge of Never on Nov. 15th and I have  the book description and a fantastic excerpt for you. Also, you have a chance to win an e-book copy of this New Adult novel.  Details are at the end of the post.

The Edge of Never

Title: THE EDGE OF NEVER

Author: J.A. Redmerski

Release date: November 15, 2012

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Group: New Adult

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Special Price: The Edge of Never will be available at a $1.99 promotional price on the release day only (Nov. 15) and will go to regular price on 11/16. You can purchase your copy here .

Book Description:

Twenty-year-old Camryn Bennett had always been one to think out-of-the-box, who knew she wanted something more in life than following the same repetitive patterns and growing old with the same repetitive life story. And she thought that her life was going in the right direction until everything fell apart.

Determined not to dwell on the negative and push forward, Camryn is set to move in with her best friend and plans to start a new job. But after an unexpected night at the hottest club in downtown North Carolina, she makes the ultimate decision to leave the only life she’s ever known, far behind.

With a purse, a cell phone and a small bag with a few necessities, Camryn, with absolutely no direction or purpose boards a Greyhound bus alone and sets out to find herself. What she finds is a guy named Andrew Parrish, someone not so very different from her and who harbors his own dark secrets. But Camryn swore never to let down her walls again. And she vowed never to fall in love.

But with Andrew, Camryn finds herself doing a lot of things she never thought she’d do. He shows her what it’s really like to live out-of-the-box and to give in to her deepest, darkest desires. On their sporadic road-trip he becomes the center of her exciting and daring new life, pulling love and lust and emotion out of her in ways she never imagined possible. But will Andrew’s dark secret push them inseparably together, or tear them completely apart?

Due to sexual content and language, this book is recommended for 17+ – Adult Contemporary Women’s – New Adult Fiction

And here’s the excerpt to give you a little taste of what’s inside.

Pretending

I pull my hand from his and grasp the fabric above my boobs and pull the top up a little so that it feels better in place.

“I love you in that,” he says, “but you have to admit, it’s a distraction for douchebags.”

“Well, I don’t want to walk all the way back to the hotel just to change my top.”

“No, you don’t have to do that,” he says, reaching for my hand again. “But if you want to go to another club, you’re gonna have to do something for me, alright?”

“What?”

“Just pretend you’re my girlfriend,” he says and a little smile spreads across my lips. “At least that way no one will fuck with you, or they’re less likely to try, anyway.”

He pauses and looks at me and says, “Unless you want guys to hit on you?”

It takes no time at all for my head to start shaking. “No. I do not want any guys to hit on me. Innocent flirting, fine—it does wonders for my confidence—but not douchebags.”

“Good, then it’s settled. You’re my sexy girlfriend for the night, which means I get to take you back to the room later and make you squeal a little.” There’s that boyish grin of his again that I love so much.

I’m tingling between the legs now. I swallow hard and play it off by playfully narrowing my eyes at him.

I’m just glad to see his dimples again, as opposed to that wrathful—although incredibly sexy, still—expression that consumed his features moments ago.

“As much as I like it—well, ‘like’ is really putting it lightly—I’m not going to let you do that anymore.”

He looks hurt and a little shocked. “Why not?”

“Because, Andrew, I…well, I just won’t let you—now come here.” I cup my hands around the sides of his neck and pull him toward me.

And then I kiss him softly, letting my lips linger on his afterwards.

“What are you doing?” he says, staring down into my eyes.

I smile sweetly up at him. “I’m getting into character.”

A grin tugs the corners of his lips. He turns me around and locks his arm around my waist as we head toward Bourbon Street.

And now for the giveaway. I have one e-book copy to give away.

Entry is easy. Just leave your email address and answer this question: Do you like love at first sight or a slow blooming romance?

For an additional entry, not required, you can “Like” the author on Facebook here .

Contest ends November 29th.

About JA Redmerski and where to find her:

Author of THE DARKWOODS TRILOGY and DIRTY EDEN, mother, werewolf & zombie fanatic, book addict and a happy hermit obsessed with the Universe. Oh, and AMC’s “The Walking Dead”.

Addictions: Starbucks every morning, trolling Barnes & Noble’s shelves once a week, detesting winter, shopping flea markets and preparing for the collapse of society as we know it. Do I own a tin foil hat? Maybe. :-)

I was born in Arkansas and have lived here most of my life, except the couple of times when I lived in Pennsylvania. I started my first novel at the age of thirteen and have been writing something ever since. Generally, I love characters in life and on paper. I pay attention to people, especially those whose personalities make them different from the rest of us: the drug addict roaming the Laundromat that talks to himself, the young, inattentive mother in the park with the meanest kid on the playground – (the entire cast of ‘Swamp People’) – characters fascinate me and I hope that it shows in my literary work.

Author Links: J.A. Redmerski | Twitter | Facebook

All’s Fair In Love And…..GIVEAWAY ~ Fair Play by Janna Shay

Posted: August 29, 2012 in Contemporary Romance, fiction, giveaways, Interview, reviews
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Oh My! Do I have a fun book for you! Las Vegas, casinos, steamy romance and mystery!  Fair Play by Janna Shay has everything to offer!

And to make it even better, I have Janna here for an interview and she has offered two e-books of Fair Play for my giveaway.

Keep reading and enjoy. To enter the contest, look for the  Kiss at bottom of the post!

I have so much to tell you. I had such a good time reading FAIR PLAY! This story starts out hot and gets hotter and hotter. The sexual and emotional radar pings frequently.

Dani is enjoying some time alone at the rooftop pool. Her new job as a waitress at the Diamond Hotel & Casino starts soon.  She drifts off to sleep under the warm touch of the sun.

In her dream, cool hands linger on her skin, caressing her body. She awakens slowly, her eyes focusing on a man’s muscular legs standing next to her. Her gaze moves upward to lock on a pair of hazel eyes looking into hers.

Jace noticed Dani lying by the pool and went over to meet the new waitress for his casino. As he got closer, he took his time admiring her body, slim and shapely with curves in all the right places. He couldn’t resist touching her silky skin.

Dani sat up but continued to lock eyes with the handsome man before her, returning his smile. As his eyes travel downward and lock onto her body, Dani is mortified to realize her top was still on the lounger and her breasts were bare to his gaze.

A primal, sexual attraction pulls them to each other, and if not for the distant sound of a door shutting, they may have given in to their desires. Both are left wondering what had happened. Things had almost gotten out of control.

Dani is embarrassed and quickly turns defensive, spurning his comments that she had responded as willing as he did. She makes a quick exit.

What Dani doesn’t know is, Jace is the owner of the casino and her new boss and he is not done with her yet. His pursuit of Dani is relentless, his alpha male attraction to her (not paranormal) sends his blood racing whenever she is near.

Let me give you a taste so you’ll see what I am talking about!

Jace watched Dani until she left his office. There was a latent sensuality about her that was intriguing and pulled at him. It wasn’t just her body, although he’d have to be dead not to appreciate it. She was intelligent, principled, and had a temper. He liked a woman with spirit, and had every intention of pursuing her on a personal level. She may not admit it, but he knew she was interested in him. “Until the next time.”

Dani was having troubles of her own. Her body hums when Jace is near. She can’t have a relationship with her boss. She needs this job, and knows it’s always bad to mix business with pleasure. Still, her body betrays her at each encounter, pulling her towards him. She vows to keep this strictly professional. But Jace will not be denied.

“You can lie to yourself all you want, but there’s something between us, even if you won’t admit it. Ignoring it isn’t going to make it go away.”

This is just a small tease of what you are in store for. This hot and cold romance is full of steamy, sensual encounters and fiery dialogue. Whenever these two get together it is fireworks!

I can’t wait for you to read about Jace’s plan to break down Dani’s denials. It is so devilishly sexy and charming. I laughed in delight. I want me a Jace!

There is more to this story than just romance. Dani has a secret. A big one, that keeps her on the move. All the more reason to not get involved with Jace, despite her growing emotional attachment to him. Her secret, if revealed, could land her in jail. So, no relationships allowed. She is truly caught between a rock and a hard place.

I really like Dani. She is strong-willed and intelligent, but still has her insecurities. That makes her very real for me. I can relate to her fears of  falling in love and forming a commitment. Aren’t we all afraid to have our heart crushed. She is also not afraid to tell it like it is and gives as good as she gets and this makes for some fun, laugh out loud moments. She also discovers her own sexuality and I liked how her confidence grew in the bedroom.

Jace. Oh Wow! He has this sarcastic wit which is a big turn on for me. Nothing sexier! I can just see his lips curve into that sardonic smile. And his tenderness with Dani makes your limbs weak. He can really set your head and heart spinning.

Set in Las Vegas, the city of all that glitters, FAIR PLAY sparkles like a diamond. With lots of entertaining characters and laugh out loud moments along with Dani’s mysterious past, this book will keep you rapt and eager to continue.

Janna really knows how to write erotic, pulse racing, beyond the bedroom door sexual romance. Spicing it up with some mystery and comedy. The pace of the story is fast and fun to follow, and her placement of pivotal scenes is right on.  A few small typos, but nothing that breaks the flow your reading.

Now let’s learn about Janna. Enjoy the interview!

Fair Play was so fun to read Janna. Thanks so much for coming by to talk with us.

 I know everyone is waiting to learn more about you, so lets start by having you tell us something about yourself.

I have 7 grown children, 23 grandchildren, and one very romantic husband, who is the love of my life. And no, I did not want 7 children – I wanted 9. I figured since my husband was drafted by a major league baseball team, I’d start my own team. But instead of a baseball team, I ended up with a cheer squad who support and encourage me in my writing career. I consider myself extremely blessed to have them in my life.

I’m a voracious reader, who reads at least one book a day. I started reading at a very young age and spent most of my youth at the local library pouring through books. I find my laptop, kindle, and smart phone are items I cannot live without.

  Books are listed under different genres depending upon what site you are visiting. What genre would you say Fair Play is?

I’d say Fair Play is a contemporary romance with a little bit of suspense, though most sites classify it under contemporary romance.

 I have never been to Las Vegas, but if Jace were available I’d be tempted. How did you choose this city as the setting for your story?

I knew I wanted to write a romantic novel about a devastatingly handsome alpha male and a beautiful, sexy woman who had an overabundance of chemistry between them. While contemplating my story, I saw an advertisement for Las Vegas that stated, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”. The wheels in my head starting turning and I thought I’d put the two together and maybe create some fireworks.

 I really liked Dani. Does her character resemble you?

That’s a difficult question to answer. I’d have to say to a degree. My sense of humor spilled over into Dani, although I don’t have the insecurities she had in the beginning. As far as her strong beliefs, loyalty, and compassion, I’d say we’re similar.

 Was it easy or hard to write your bedroom scenes? You had some steamy ones!

It was actually easy to write my bedroom scenes. I am a person who believes in love and all the feelings that go with it. To me sensuality and passion are a big part of those feelings. To put into words the visceral emotions combined with the physicality came naturally to me.

 Are you currently working on something, and would you care to share with us?

I’m currently working on the second novel in my Diamond series, Fair Play being the first. It takes place in Vegas also, with the continuation of Jace and Dani’s story….the story of their son, Nicholas. I won’t go into detail because I don’t want to spoil the fun. It should hopefully be released sometime at the end of this year or beginning of next.

Thanks Janna. I’ll be waiting!

Now for some fun flash questions!
1) How do you like your man?
a) tender and catering to all of your needs
b) strong but fair
c) no words, all action

How about all of the above? If I have to pick then it’s b) strong but fair. I have a weakness for strong men.

Is there such a thing as all of the above? I want one! Great choice Janna.

2) How do you like your relationship to start?
a) slow and easy
b) knock your socks off, don’t waste time

Knock my socks off all the way and don’t dare waste time. I love a man who knows what he wants and goes for it.

3) If you were stranded on a tropical island and could have one sexy actor there with you, who would it be?

I can only have one? You’re killing me, Laura. If I must choose, then I’d have to say Johnny Depp. Afterall, who’s a better choice than Captain Jack Sparrow with his knowledge of tropical islands?

My choice also. Johnny is a juicy bad boy!

 This has been so fun. I know I threw some wild questions at you. Thanks for playing along and for the opportunity to read and review Fair Play.

 

GIVEAWAY

I have two e-book copies to giveaway today. To enter, please leave a comment along with your e-mail address.

While it is not required, it would be very much appreciated if you would follow my blog and follow Janna at the links provided below. Also, if you liked this post please hit that twitter and Like button:)

Contest ends on September 12th

About Janna

Janna Shay is a native Californian who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and miniature schnauzer.  She is a mother of seven grown children and has twenty-three grandchildren, with all her children living in nearby Northern California communities.

Janna was introduced to books at the age of five, which began a lifelong love of reading.  As a child she would spend endless hours at the local library pouring through all genres of books.  It wasn’t until her teens that her love of romance novels blossomed.

When Janna isn’t following her dream of writing or enjoying her love of reading, she can be found engaging in her other love, which is activities with her family.

Janna is a member of Romance Writers of America and San Francisco Area Romance Writers of America.

Contacts

Website – http://JannaShay.com

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/JannaShayAuthor

Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/@jannashay

Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13651928-fair-play

I was given this book for an honest review. Thank you Janna.

To purchase your copy of Fair Play, click on the cover below or in the sidebar.

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