A Review of Exposure & Special Previews of The Locklear’s Upcoming Novels
Thank you to Kez’s Bookshelf for this post featuring all of our writing projects. Enjoy!
G’day everyone,
Thanks for joining me on the red carpet. Today I bring you something really special. A wonderful experience is planned for you, in which both Tom (currently handing out cocktails) and I are ecstatic about. It will be an opportunity to mingle with movies stars and meet the wonderful authors who created them. We are so pleased you brought your cameras and your autograph books, this will be a moment to remember and you’ll want to capture it the best way you can.
While we wait for our special guests, let’s take a seat in the foyer and chat a little about the significance of these movie star characters and their wonderful creators Jennifer and Morgan Locklear.
The movie stars and their witty and intelligent publicist are the main characters in the delightful contemporary romance story titled Exposure. However, before we explore this little beauty in more…
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Cover Reveal: Rare Form (Descended of Dragons, #1) by Jen Crane
(Descended of Dragons, #1)
Publication date: October 6th 2015
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance
A Secret Past
Fiery redhead Stella Stonewall can’t decide between a margarita and a manhattan.
The rest of her life? Please. Stella has never really fit in, and her pretty world comes crashing down when she learns it was never her world at all.
Rowan Gresham is domineering, brooding, and as sexy as chocolate-dipped sin. When he transports Stella to the magical realm of her parents she recognizes her rightful place immediately. Gresham’s motivations are less clear.
A Scorching Chemistry
The enigmatic Gresham aids in Stella’s metamorphosis and their chemistry ignites, though a long-time girlfriend and a significant age difference stand in the way.
A Battle for the Rest of Her Life
Stella’s life fast-tracks to extraordinary when she enrolls at Radix Citadel for Supernatural Learning, an enchanted college whose students turn furry on the regular. As Stella learns to navigate the magical new world of Thayer she must also find her animal form, a task as elusive as her ancestry. Stella soon faces an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn to manipulate an animal form she never knew she possessed.
She has a master’s degree, and solid work histories in government and non-profit administration. She’s been published in reputable newspapers and magazines.
One day, though, she said, “Life’s too real for nonfiction. I’m gonna write about love and magic.”
Jen is happily living out her dream in The South with her husband and three children, striking that delicate balance between inspiration and frustration.
Sign up for sneak peeks, news, and giveaways at
bit.ly/Jen_Crane_Enews
#TeamTerry fundraiser, hosted by Argyle Empire
Two weeks ago, Argyle Empire and many others within our online community were devastated to learn that Terry Aisenstein (aka @TerryTheNurse), had lost her long battle with cancer.
When word began to spread of Terry’s death, our social media timelines filled with expressions of love for our dear friend. It was clear that many were saddened. It was also clear that many wanted to do something to celebrate Terry’s memory.
With that in mind, we decided to plan a fundraiser in her honor. Like the rest of us, Terry was an avid reader and so Argyle Empire began reaching out to authors within the community, requesting donations to help us launch our #TeamTerry campaign. Simply put, the response was tremendous!
Additionally, some have stated their intentions to contribute to Covenant House, a charity Terry was a strong supporter of.
Having chosen these two organizations to benefit from this effort, we are overwhelmed and excited to announce that we have 9 fantastic giveaway packages to offer to participating donors.
In total, there are more than 40 items on offer from a talented and generous group of your favorite authors. All we ask of you is the following …
Donate a minimum of $10.00 to either Fox Chase Cancer Center or Covenant House in Memory of Terry Aisenstein, (if at all possible, please consider splitting your gift between both charities). Afterwards, email a copy of your receipt to us at argyleempire@gmail.com and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway:
The giveaway will go live on June 8th and remain open until June 19th. It is open internationally.
While we grieve for the loss of a valuable Argyle Empire contributor and beloved friend, we take comfort in our ability to help others in celebration of her.
Please donate to two very worthy causes and join us as a proud member of #TeamTerry.
With Our Deepest Appreciation,
Cran, Cuppy, Iris and Mango
Never Judge a Recipe by it ingredients?
Many thanks to Karen for her kind words and fabulous recipes!
Have you ever heard the expression never judge a book by its cover? I think this should apply not only to books and people, but also to recipes. If we simply dismiss something or someone because we don’t like the way it looks or sounds, we just might miss out on something or someone great!
I agree that as many wonderful things you will find, you will also find there will be some disappointments and oh never again moments…LOL. The most important lesson i’ve learned is when you open yourself up to new experiences it not only touches your life, but at the same time may improve someone else’s life.
You may be thinking to yourself now, “how can I create happiness, new beginnings, and memories just by cooking, communicating, reading and sharing?” For me, I have made many friends through dishes I have created or a recipe tried and…
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New Release Excerpt: Stardust by Alexandra Richland
Release Date: Tuesday May 26, 2015
Available for Preorder from Amazon for a Special Price (links below)
Stardust (The Starlight Trilogy book #3) Excerpt:
Beth’s forefinger traveled his bare chest in a languid, circular pattern. “Would you mind if I took a shower?”
“Not at all.” Aidan pulled back the covers. “I’ll set up everything for you. Wait here.”
“Actually, I would like you to join me. If you want to, that is.” Beth slipped out of bed and stepped over their Academy Awards. In the doorway, she stopped and held out her hand.
Aidan gaped at her, as if he was taking in her naked body for the first time. Her skin was flushed, well kissed. Her dark hair fell to just above her shoulders, sand-speckled from their visit to the beach yesterday. The swell of her breasts, the curve of her hips . . . everything about her was perfect.
If he wanted to?
Damn it. He wanted nothing more.
STARDUST SYNOPSIS:
Following their Academy Award wins, the film careers of Elizabeth Sutton and Aidan Evans reach stratospheric heights. Now bona fide superstars, the Hollywood press and throngs of starstruck fans await them at every turn, and the pressure to maintain their luminary status for the benefit of Starlight Studios escalates.
Away from the spotlight, Beth and Aidan’s forbidden romance intensifies. Passionate nights spent together in secret stoke their mutual desires, each experience more extraordinary than the last.
Beth is thrilled with the breakthroughs in both her professional and personal lives, but perpetual feelings of guilt and self-doubt cripple Aidan’s happiness. Slowly, the burdens brought on by the fame he neither courted nor craved unleash his inner torment, releasing the demons Beth’s love and support helped him cage.
Aidan must embark on a final journey to move on from his traumatic past once and for all, but the outcome is anything but certain. It leads him down an unexpectedly dark path, from an explosive showdown with studio head Luther Mertz, to a jarring revelation about his mother’s death that could hold the key to his salvation or exile him from everyone he loves forever.
Stardust is the powerful conclusion to The Starlight Trilogy, a story of love and redemption set against the backdrop of the final years of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Available for Preorder from Amazon for a Special Price:
You can also purchase the other books in the Starlight Trilogy:
STARLIGHT SYNOPSIS
October 1952 finds eighteen-year-old Marie Bates relocating from her rainy hometown in the Pacific Northwest to the sun-soaked streets of Los Angeles, California. Marie’s plans for a teaching career take an unexpected turn when she’s asked to film a screen test at Starlight Motion Picture Studios.
Renamed Elizabeth Sutton by the studio heads, she lands her first role as an extra. On set, Beth spies Aidan Evans, a rebellious, twenty-three-year-old Method actor from New York. Aidan is branded as a stuck-up troublemaker by his famous Hollywood peers, but Beth suspects a tragic secret lurks behind his steely facade.
As their careers hit the fast track and friendship evolves into romance, the expectations of Hollywood stardom threaten to shine a spotlight on Aidan’s dark past before he can make peace with it. Beth must help Aidan confront the painful event that shattered his life and conquer a terrifying truth before it destroys him and their future together.
Starlight is the first book in The Starlight Trilogy, a story of love and redemption set against the backdrop of the final years of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
STARBRIGHT SYNOPSIS
For starlet Elizabeth Sutton, it’s difficult to tell which has more momentum: her burgeoning film career, or the growing intimacy in her forbidden romance with notorious Hollywood outsider, Aidan Evans.
When the opportunity to costar in a feature film arrives, Beth and Aidan fight to keep their relationship out of Hollywood’s rumor mill and away from the ever-watchful eyes of Starlight Studios head Luther Mertz, who condemns a union between them and threatens the future of Beth’s acting career.
The pressure mounts as the cameras roll. Beth and Aidan navigate the precarious heights of superstardom while exploring their physical desires in secret. Beth grapples between the debilitating nervousness over her sexual inexperience and her unbridled need for Aidan. Meanwhile, the demons from Aidan’s past he thought forever vanquished linger on the fringes of a fragile inner peace . . .
The Starlight Trilogy is a story of love and redemption set against the backdrop of the final years of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
STARDUST (The Starlight Trilogy Book #3) by Alexandra Richland: Cover, Synopsis, Release Date and Preorder Information
Release Date: Tuesday May 26, 2015
Available for Preorder from Amazon for a Special Price (links below)
STARDUST SYNOPSIS:
Following their Academy Award wins, the film careers of Elizabeth Sutton and Aidan Evans reach stratospheric heights. Now bona fide superstars, the Hollywood press and throngs of starstruck fans await them at every turn, and the pressure to maintain their luminary status for the benefit of Starlight Studios escalates.
Away from the spotlight, Beth and Aidan’s forbidden romance intensifies. Passionate nights spent together in secret stoke their mutual desires, each experience more extraordinary than the last.
Beth is thrilled with the breakthroughs in both her professional and personal lives, but perpetual feelings of guilt and self-doubt cripple Aidan’s happiness. Slowly, the burdens brought on by the fame he neither courted nor craved unleash his inner torment, releasing the demons Beth’s love and support helped him cage.
Aidan must embark on a final journey to move on from his traumatic past once and for all, but the outcome is anything but certain. It leads him down an unexpectedly dark path, from an explosive showdown with studio head Luther Mertz, to a jarring revelation about his mother’s death that could hold the key to his salvation or exile him from everyone he loves forever.
Stardust is the powerful conclusion to The Starlight Trilogy, a story of love and redemption set against the backdrop of the final years of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Available for Preorder from Amazon for a Special Price:
Amazon (Australia): http://www.amazon.com.au/Stardust-Starlight-Trilogy-Alexandra-Richland-ebook/dp/B00VXOMO4W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428766504&sr=8-1&keywords=stardust+richland
Amazon (Brazil): http://www.amazon.com.br/Stardust-Starlight-Trilogy-3-English-ebook/dp/B00VXOMO4W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428766819&sr=8-1&keywords=stardust+richland
Amazon (France): http://www.amazon.fr/Stardust-Starlight-Trilogy-3-English-ebook/dp/B00VXOMO4W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428766469&sr=8-1&keywords=stardust+richland
Amazon (Germany): http://www.amazon.de/Stardust-Starlight-Trilogy-3-English-ebook/dp/B00VXOMO4W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428766482&sr=8-1&keywords=stardust+richland
STARLIGHT (The Starlight Trilogy Book #1) Cover, Synopsis, and Exclusive Excerpt
STARLIGHT SYNOPSIS
October 1952 finds eighteen-year-old Marie Bates relocating from her rainy hometown in the Pacific Northwest to the sun-soaked streets of Los Angeles, California. Marie’s plans for a teaching career take an unexpected turn when she’s asked to film a screen test at Starlight Motion Picture Studios.
Renamed Elizabeth Sutton by the studio heads, she lands her first role as an extra. On set, Beth spies Aidan Evans, a rebellious, twenty-three-year-old Method actor from New York. Aidan is branded as a stuck-up troublemaker by his famous Hollywood peers, but Beth suspects a tragic secret lurks behind his steely facade.
As their careers hit the fast track and friendship evolves into romance, the expectations of Hollywood stardom threaten to shine a spotlight on Aidan’s dark past before he can make peace with it. Beth must help Aidan confront the painful event that shattered his life and conquer a terrifying truth before it destroys him and their future together.
Starlight is the first book in The Starlight Trilogy, a story of love and redemption set against the backdrop of the final years of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Starlight is the first book in The Starlight Trilogy, a story of love and redemption set against the backdrop of the final years of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
STARLIGHT EXCERPT:
Aidan cleared his throat. “Beth?”
“Yes, Aidan?”
“May I place a kiss on your cheek?”
“A kiss?” Heat fanned across her face. “Why, yes. I’d . . . I’d like that very much.”
“I’m sorry I’m asking you in my car—”
“I don’t mind. Honest.” Her blush deepened.
Aidan draped his arm over her seat and moved closer . . . closer. Then, finally, his lips were near hers. “I had a wonderful time with you today.”
“Me, too.” Beth closed her eyes.
Aidan pressed his lips to her cheek, followed by her jaw, stirring something intensely pleasurable deep inside her, which she’d never felt previously. It drilled into her very being, transforming her longing for him into something so fierce she thought she’d cease living if he didn’t give her what she wanted immediately.
Beth took in a sharp breath as he moved lower . . . lower. When his lips met her neck, desire rippled from her head to her toes and she let out a gasp. “Oh my!”
Aidan flung back against the driver’s door, his eyes wide and his hands yanking at his hair. “Beth, I’m sorry! I got carried away. Damn it. I’m so sorry . . .”
It took her a moment to realize he’d misinterpreted her response. “No, Aidan. Wait. I didn’t react that way because you made me feel uncomfortable.”
He dropped his hands from his hair. “Then why?”
“I, uh . . .” She lowered her gaze. “I liked what you were doing . . . a lot.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Beth’s next words were unladylike, but the absence of his lips on her skin drove her crazy. “Actually, I’d like for you to do it again. Kiss my cheek. My neck . . . That is, if you don’t mind.”
“Mind?” Aidan shook his head. “I’d be honored.”
Available Now From:
▪ Amazon
▪ Amazon UK
▪ Smashwords
▪ Barnes & Noble (Nook)
▪ Chapters (Kobo)
STARBRIGHT (The Starlight Trilogy Book #2) Cover, Synopsis, and Exclusive Excerpt
STARBRIGHT SYNOPSIS
For starlet Elizabeth Sutton, it’s difficult to tell which has more momentum: her burgeoning film career, or the growing intimacy in her forbidden romance with notorious Hollywood outsider, Aidan Evans.
When the opportunity to costar in a feature film arrives, Beth and Aidan fight to keep their relationship out of Hollywood’s rumor mill and away from the ever-watchful eyes of Starlight Studios head Luther Mertz, who condemns a union between them and threatens the future of Beth’s acting career.
The pressure mounts as the cameras roll. Beth and Aidan navigate the precarious heights of superstardom while exploring their physical desires in secret. Beth grapples between the debilitating nervousness over her sexual inexperience and her unbridled need for Aidan. Meanwhile, the demons from Aidan’s past he thought forever vanquished linger on the fringes of a fragile inner peace . . .
The Starlight Trilogy is a story of love and redemption set against the backdrop of the final years of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
STARBRIGHT EXCERPT
The door opened and Aidan emerged from the bathroom, vigorously rubbing his hair with a towel. He wore navy blue briefs and a white T-shirt that hugged him across his chest and shoulders.
With the setting of the sun, darkness shrouded the room except for the soft light from the table lamp, lending him an ethereal glow. He looked like a powerful blend of runway model and unadulterated male. Her imagination couldn’t have constructed a more handsome man.
Any apprehension Beth had about her appearance vanished when Aidan spotted her on the bed. He didn’t say a word, but the truth sparked in his eyes. They consumed her ravenously, as if one good look wasn’t nearly enough.
He cleared his throat, though his voice sounded no less rough because of it. “Please stand up so I can see you properly.”
Beth tried to breathe normally, but it was impossible. She slid across the mattress, feeling a heightened awareness of every part of her body under his dedicated stare. As her bare feet met the carpet, she adjusted her nightgown. She wanted nothing more than to please him, to give him the show he craved and so much more.
“Turn around.” Aidan’s gentle plea was belied by the hunger in his eyes.
Beth did as he requested, receiving a sense of empowerment and pleasure that could never come from being one of the most popular actresses in the country, but only from the admiration of the man for whom she cared so deeply—the man who knew the real her, not the enhanced version created by the movie studio, and still desired her above all other women.
At the completion of her rotation, Beth made the thrilling discovery that Aidan was aroused. His erection pushed against his briefs, giving her the strongest indication yet as to how he looked beneath them. She longed to touch him like she did in the bathroom at his house, only in the flesh. And this time, she would bring him to orgasm.
Aidan set down the towel and moved toward her, his hair wild and damp, his eyes gloriously green and greedy. Beth breathed in deeply as his arms encircled her waist and he pulled her close. He smelled like lavender soap and summer rain.
“You look stunning, Beth.” Aidan whispered the words, but they resonated as though he’d shouted them for the world to hear.
He leaned forward and kissed her carefully, kindling her internal flame of desire. Beth pushed her hands into his hair and pressed her lips more firmly to his, even adding a bit of tongue.
Aidan pulled back. His eyes searched hers, as if he sensed there was an additional method to her erotic madness. “Have you ever had an orgasm?”
Beth frowned. While she’d hoped that was where things would lead for both of them tonight, she wasn’t expecting such a blunt question. “I told you I’ve never been with a man before you.”
“I know.” Aidan glided his hands down her back, caressing her with silk and sweetness. “What I mean is… have you ever pleasured yourself?”
Beth’s eyes widened. “No, never. I was always under the impression it was inappropriate for a woman to… you know…”
The silence that greeted her was unnerving.
“Why, is that bad?” She pitched him a tentative glance.
“It’s not bad.” His voice sounded throatier than before.
“Are you certain?”
Aidan’s eyes grew darker. “I prefer that you’ve never had an orgasm.” He leaned in until his hot breath skated across her face. “Because I want to be the one to give you your first.”
Beth’s flame ignited into a raging inferno.
With a hum, Aidan brushed his lips to her ear, his fingers dancing over the skin the lace of her negligee revealed. “And I would like to do it tonight. That is, if you’ll award me the honor, little dove.”
Beth’s anxiety vanished as her desire and anticipation solidified into something so overwhelming, she couldn’t dream of saying no to him.
“I’m yours, Aidan.” A desperate whimper joined her reply. “Lay your hands on me… please.”
Available Now From:
Amazon
Amazon (UK)
Smashwords
Barnes and Noble (Nook)
Five Reasons To Read The Starlight Trilogy:
1. A sweeping Technicolor tale of forbidden romance.
2. A detailed homage to the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema.
3. Cameos from many of your favorite classic film stars.
4. Transformation of a small town girl to silver screen starlet through Hollywood’s unforgiving lens.
5. Close-up of a 1950s bad boy channeling a tragic past and the stress of sudden super stardom through the art of Method acting.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alexandra Richland spends rotating twelve-hour shifts working as a registered nurse at a Toronto hospital, indulging in her love of science and medicine, and caring for patients with their own unique tales to tell.
When she is not on duty, Alexandra escapes into her own imagination. Therein lies a fantasy world of thrilling adventure, gorgeous men, classic Hollywood glamour, exotic getaways, and a seductive dose of romance. Alexandra captures these stories in her popular novels, The Starlight Trilogy and Frontline, her novella Slip Away, and her short story, Gilded Cage.
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/Alexandra.Richland
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/RebelMissAlex
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.AlexandraRichland.com
Jennifer Reviews: Missing Pieces by Meredith Tate (@mltate24)
Synopsis:
Your family is the most important part of your life. Your families are the people you love, and love is what separates us from scoundrels and criminals. It maintains order. Your parents, your sibling, and your Partner, are the ones you love. There should never, ever, be anyone else who comes close to that bond. You have only one best friend, and that is the person you’ll be marrying someday. We must learn to differentiate the relationships in our lives: the people we love, and the ones we don’t. It’s inappropriate, it’s foolish, and it’s forbidden to think otherwise.
Trace Bailey’s mouth is her worst enemy – somehow it always gets her in trouble. Luckily, she has a partner in crime – her best friend and neighbor since age seven, Piren Allston. He can’t get enough of her crazy sense of humor, and she loves that he’s always up for another adventure.
They can’t be friends, though, not in their world. Trace and Piren were Assigned to other people at the age of six, and they’re supposed to marry their Partners when they turn twenty-four. Failure to comply leads to Banishment, a fate worse than death.
Worse still is the growing realization that their bond is stronger than just friendship.
In a world without freedom, there are still choices to be made. Following their hearts means losing their family, but following the law means losing each other.
Forever.
My Review:
Missing Pieces is the story of best friends, Piren Allston and Trace Bailey. The two meet in childhood, and their strong bond to one another forms almost immediately. They spend as much of their free time together as possible and quickly achieve an intimacy that even children recognize as a once in a lifetime kind of event.
“From the moment we happened upon the treehouse, it became our sanctuary, our pirate ship, our castle, our hideaway, our place. We visited it every day after school.
Trace and I shared all our secrets lying on the floor of our treehouse, from the juicy to the mundane, I relished the chance to share my day’s stories with her, and most afternoons I couldn’t get up that ladder fast enough. She’d perch her chin on her hands and smile up at me, awaiting whatever news I wanted to tell. I knew she already accepted my secrets before I even opened my mouth. Her presence draped me in an overwhelming sense of comfort.”
Theirs is the kind of affection we tend to label as Puppy Love, and in our universe it is normally viewed as something endearing and sweet. Unfortunately, Piren and Trace do not live in the same world as us.
In their society, children are assigned Partners by those in authority and are committed to their eventual spouses at the age of six. From a very young age, children are taught that no one but their assigned partner can be their best friend and they must adhere to a strict set of social rules until they are old enough to marry.
They date no one but their partner and cannot kiss until age sixteen.
They must begin living together at eighteen, but cannot have sex before marriage takes place at twenty-four.
And they must never have more than two children.
These are just the basic rules; and you can bet there are plenty of other restrictions in place. Any violation of the rules results in Banishment from everyone and everything they know.
Despite the serious consequences at stake, Piren and Trace manage to find ways to keep and grow their friendship while still adhering to their societal expectations. However, this leads to near constant complications that begin in childhood, continue through adolescence and seep into adulthood.
As I read this story, it was obvious that even a best case scenario for Piren and Trace would not be free of conflict and anguish. I found myself growing increasingly concerned for their eventual outcomes with each turn of the page. Missing Pieces is a tension rich story, yet despite the logical probabilities that consume Piren and Trace, both characters stubbornly cling to the hope that they will find a way through their tribulations together.
As a result of their defiance, there isn’t much that comes easily to Piren and Trace. The author, Meredith Tate, doesn’t shy away from allowing her characters to be damaged, and this kind of fearlessness in writing is a trait I have come to admire. It can be difficult to put your characters through hell, subjecting them to their worst nightmares come true; but we all know that nothing worthwhile in life is ever easy to secure.
Don’t allow the youth of these characters to steer you away from giving this book a try. Piren and Trace may be young, but their lives are full of raw intensity. These characters shouldn’t be required to become wholly focused on adulthood responsibilities, but because they are their story is a mature and cautionary tale.
You will experience a wide range of emotions while reading Missing Pieces and I give tremendous credit to Meredith Tate for striking the perfect balance between all of them.
This is a 5 star read that I highly recommend.
Missing Pieces is now available from Omnific Publishing:
You can also follow Meredith Tate on social media:
Command the Tides by Wren Handman – Excerpt & Giveaway!
Command The Tides,
a romantic fantasy novel by Wren Handman
Excerpt:
“David, help Ryan cover the trail. I’ll help Sarah take Darren. Taya, take my sword and cover us.”
“The girl? She’s like to cut off her own feet as an enemy!” Liam hissed.
Taya felt her face grow hot. As always when she felt embarrassment closing in, she covered it with anger. She grabbed Jeremy’s sword by the hilt, drawing it out with one smooth motion and swinging it down so the point touched the ground just an inch in front of Liam’s foot. She felt Jeremy take a staggering step backward, startled.
“I will not only cut our enemy, I will cut the feet off of our enemy and leave them to bleed in the dirt. I haven’t let us down yet, and I certainly don’t intend to start now. And if you ever call me ‘the girl’ again, I will show you exactly what I am expert at cutting off,” she snarled, and then she hoisted the sword and spun on her heel, storming away before he could react.
She stood at the edge of their sad, sodden company, the hilt of the sword resting snugly in the palm of her hand, her back straight and her head held high, and the only thing going through her mind was the fact she had absolutely, completely, no idea how to use a sword.
Giveaway:
Enter to win a copy of the book and one of 2 $10 Amazon cards!
♢♢♢♢♢♢
Book Title: Command The Tides (The Chronicles of Midvalen, Book One)
Author: Wren Handman
ISBN: 9781623421809
Genre: Romantic Fantasy
Available in Paperback and Ebook March 17, 2015
Amazon BN.com Goodreads Simon and Schuster
Author Bio:
Wren Handman is a novelist, fiction writer, and playwright. Her first novel, Last Cut, was published by James Lorimer Publishing Ltd (Sept 2012) and is aimed at teenagers with reading difficulties. She has published short stories both in print and online, including in the anthology Voice From the Planet (Harvard Square Editions) and the online magazine Crow Toes Quarterly, an award-winning Canadian children’s publication. For regular updates check out her short fiction project, Lucid Dreaming (www.wrenhandman.com/lucid-dreaming), which responds to original art pieces with flash fiction stories.
Jennifer Reviews: Pros & Cons by Sydney Logan (@SydneyALogan)
Synopsis:
Con artists Jenna York and Ethan Summers always seem to cross paths during their travels around the world. With their partners in tow, the cunning criminals wreak havoc across the globe, stealing from the rich and giving to the richer. While Jenna tries to convince herself that she sees him as nothing more than a professional rival, Ethan finds it a little harder to fight his attraction to the beautiful thief.
When tragedy strikes, Jenna and Ethan join forces, but are the stakes too high? Can they escape this last job with their lives—and their hearts—intact?
My Review:
Over the past couple of years, I’ve read and reviewed several of Sydney Logan’s novels. Her books are always well-written and offer a certain amount of sweetness that I find refreshing. I’ve enjoyed all her stories to date, and was excited when I heard another book was on the way. Right from the moment I first saw the cover of Pros & Cons, I knew there was going to be something a bit different about this story. As soon as I began reading this book, I really began smiling…
As I slip quietly out of the suite and rush toward the elevator, I can’t deny I’m feeling a little better about Vegas.
That is, until the elevator doors open.
Standing there, leaning against the stainless steel wall with a cocky smile on his face, is the one person I really didn’t want to see this weekend.
With a miserable groan, I step inside the elevator and furiously stab the button.
“Are you following me, Summers?”
“I’d follow your dimples anywhere, York.”
Ethan Summers is infuriatingly charming and handsome. Both assets have proven to be beneficial to his career and detrimental to mine.
“Well, these dimples just lifted Bradley Jones’ credit card numbers.”
“Impressive. Although, one might argue that a more superior con artist would be capable of accomplishing such a feat without showing a little skin. Really, Jenna, I’m disappointed.”
He rarely calls me by my first name. Last names have always been our thing.
“Were you watching me?”
“Every heterosexual man in the casino was watching your little performance. Nice legs, by the way.”
Crap.
“Not good,” I mutter.
“No, but I enjoyed it.”
Ethan grins as the elevator doors open. I don’t protest when he grabs me by the elbow and leads me toward the nearest exit. It’s not brightly lit, but there’s a very nice bouncer that Ethan greets by name who allows us to walk right out the door and into the starry Nevada night. He doesn’t let go of my arm as we hurry toward a black SUV.
“Why are you helping me?”
“You drugged a millionaire and stole his credit card info. I think it’s best we get you out of town.”
That doesn’t really answer my question, but I can’t argue with his logic.
Ethan opens the passenger door and helps me inside.
“Nice stilettos.”
I glare at him, and he shoots me a sexy smile before slamming my door.
It’s really too bad that I hate his guts.
Ethan Summers and I have crossed paths many times throughout the past couple years. It’s unavoidable, considering we’re two of the finest criminal minds in the world.
That’s what the news says, anyway.
“Let me guess,” Ethan says as he pulls the SUV out onto the highway. “You used Rohypnol on Jones?”
I roll my eyes. “I’m a thief, not a sexual predator.”
“Well, you obviously slipped something into his drink.”
“Sleeping pill.”
Ethan hums his disapproval. I can’t argue with him. Slipping Bradley a sedative is so amateur.
“I was desperate. The entire weekend has been a complete waste of time. When did the Viper install dome cams?”
“A few weeks ago. The casino’s hosting the U.S. Poker Championship next month. Ceiling cams are a requirement.”
“Super.”
“I know.”
“So, if you knew about the cameras, what were you doing at the casino?”
“Let’s just say a little birdie told me you were hitting the Viper tonight. I had a feeling you might need my assistance.”
“So you’ve been talking to Abby.”
He remains silent and keeps his eyes trained on the freeway, giving me the chance to study his profile. Ethan has a mop of unruly dark hair and deep blue eyes that make most girls go weak in the knees.
Not this girl. Nope.
“Like what you see?”
My face heats. I hate when he catches me ogling him.
“You’re an ass.”
He laughs. “Someday, Jenna, you’re going to stop fighting this attraction between us. I’m really looking forward to that.”
Right off the bat, Ethan and Jenna show us their incredible chemistry. Their back and forth banter is flirty and fun, and as the story moves along the sexual tension between the two amps up considerably with each encounter. Along with this dose of humor, however, is a darker plot twist that perfectly offsets the sexy comedy. As the story progressed, I found myself wrapped up within the fast paced plot and drawn up in the suspense generated once years of conning others begins to catch up with Ethan and Jenna.
The synopsis for Pros & Cons is shorter than most books I see, and I think there is good reason for this. There are several great twists and turns within the story, and to reveal any one of them could really diminish from the reader’s overall enjoyment. I am always loathe to reveal spoilers in my reviews, so I’m hoping my enthusiasm for Pros & Cons along with the excerpt I’ve included here will be convincing enough for you to give this book a go. If you’re looking for an entertaining read with some great sexual tension and a large dose of humor thrown in, then I highly recommend Pros & Cons.
While I was reading the story, I tweeted Sydney Logan and informed her this was fast becoming my favorite book of hers, and I still stand behind that tweet in this review. Four fabulous and flirty stars from me!
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About Author
Amazon bestselling author Sydney Logan holds a Master’s degree in Elementary Education. She is the author of three novels – Lessons Learned, Mountain Charm, and Soldier On. Sydney has also penned four short stories and is a contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul.
A native of East Tennessee, Sydney enjoys playing piano and relaxing on her porch with her wonderful husband and their very spoiled cat.
Big Spoon, Little Spoon 