cover reveal: DEFYING DESTINY by Shelly Morgan

"You don't know what you're alive for until you know what you'd die for."

════ COVER REVEAL ════ 

DEFYING DESTINY by Shelly Morgan

Forsaken Sinners MC Series #3

Cover Designer: TOJ Publishing Services

════ SYNOPSIS ════ 

Twenty-six-year-old Louie Creighton knows there is something inside him he can’t control…

Ever since he can remember, Louie has had a short fuse. People always said he’d amount to nothing. He wasn’t smart enough to get into college. He wasn’t tough enough to be a Marine. No one believed in him. 

No one except his father, Mike Creighton…

Louie’s father always taught him to turn the other cheek. He was a true mentor, teaching him how to be a man in a world of cowards. But when his father is murdered the day after scratching a winning lottery ticket, Louie’s inner monster can’t be contained. He becomes determined to track down the suspect at any cost. All along, he struggles to live by his father’s motto—To find out what you live for, you have to discover what you’d die for.

Then he meets Harlow McPherson…

Her entire life has been a battle. Harlow grew up in the system, bouncing from one foster home to the next. Most weren’t that bad, but some were hell.

The only comfort was the fact she wasn’t alone. Her twin brother, Hendrix, was always there—until he took his own life years later, abandoning Harlow in a cruel world. Unable to forgive, it’s Louie who reminds her there’s still hope.

When Louie unleashes his inner monster, and Harlow finally faces her demons, will they lose themselves to the darkness, or risk it all Defying Destiny?

════ Forsaken Sinners MC Series ════

Book 1: Rewriting Destiny: http://amzn.to/1MAjRMg

Book 2: Fighting Destiny: http://amzn.to/1ReitV4

Book 2.5: Born Into Destiny: http://amzn.to/1RIIDLq

════ MEET AUTHOR SHELLY MORGAN ════ 

I grew up in a small town in Iowa. I have 2 older sisters and amazing parents. Growing up, I was always a daddy’s girl, hanging out with him in the garage, fishing, and building stuff. I loved to play softball and swimming, but reading, telling stories, and writing were my passion, even at a young age. I took a break from writing for a while, but you could always find me with a book in my hand.

I have three children – two boys and a girl. They are my whole world. Even when I’m having the worst day ever, they brighten up my day and make me smile.

A few years ago, there was this story that would always play out in my head and no matter how many times I went through it, from beginning to end, it would never fade. So I decided to put it on paper. I didn’t plan on publishing it, but when it was almost done, a friend asked to read it. She said it was a story that needed to be shared. And that’s what started my writing career.

I love all genres of books, and even though I started with writing MC Romance, I have a whole book of ideas, so you can expect more from me than just MC, though romance is in my blood.

Even though I currently work two jobs, my ultimate dream is to become a full time author. I want to be able to spend my days filling pages with stories. I want to be the reason people find a reason to smile or laugh from lines on a page. Reading a book allows me to live in someone else’s shoes, even if only for a few minutes. It’s a way to leave my life and troubles behind and I want to be help others do that as well.

LIMITLESS PUBLISHING: http://www.limitlesspublishing.net/authors/shelly-morgan/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Author-Shelly-Morgan-809266812448318/

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10914599.Shelly_Morgan

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Shelly_Morgan34

review: This is Falling by Ginger Scott

This is Falling by Ginger Scott

My rating:  4/5

DRC provided by NetGalley for an honest review

Published: 8/29/2014

Genre:  New Adult Romance

Summary –

First, I had to remember how to breathe. Then, I had to learn how to survive. Two years, three months and sixteen days had passed since I was the Rowe Stanton from before, since tragedy stole my youth and my heart went along with it.

When I left for college, I put a thousand miles between my future and my past. I’d made a choice—I was going to cross back to the other side, to live with the living. I just didn’t know how.

And then I met Nate Preeter.

An All-American baseball player, Nate wasn’t supposed to notice a ghost-of-a-girl like me. But he did. He shouldn’t want to know my name. But he did. And when he learned my secret and saw the scars it left behind, he was supposed to run. But he didn’t.

My heart was dead, and I was never supposed to belong to anyone. But Nate Preeter had me feeling, and he made me want to be his. He showed me everything I was missing.

And then he showed me how to fall.

*This is a standalone in a three-part series that will focus on different characters. Each book can be read on its own. (Thanks to GoodReads.com for the summary)

My Thoughts –

This is Falling is a story full of romance, self-healing and some hella-great characters.  It took me a few days to read, but I enjoyed it.  I think Rose and Nate had great chemistry and I appreciated reading form both of their perspectives.  I look forward to more from this author and this series in the future.

review: The Deep End by A.M. Hartnett

The Deep End by A.M. Hartnett

My rating:  3/5

Carried Away #1

DRC provided by NetGalley for an honest review

Published: 7/31/2014

Genre:  Erotic Romance

Summary –

No one has seen Jacques Taureau in the flesh since a traumatic attack left him scarred inside and out. But there is a man behind every myth and even stone can become fire again.

A passionate erotic romance perfect for fans of Sylvia Day. Book 1 in the Carried Away series.

“Mr. Taureau, is there anything I can do for you?”

For years, the Taureau-Werner building has been Grace's playground. Hot men in suits have provided her with one sinful diversion after another without ever having to leave the thirteenth floor.Grace thinks her secret indulgences are safe, until one late night alone in the office, a call comes through from billionaire recluse: Jacques Alain Taureau. And in Taureau's lonely world, Grace meets a prince with no intention of escaping his secretive retreat by the sea. (Thanks to GoodReads.com for the summary)

My Thoughts –

The Deep End is a quick, steamy read.  I’m not sure if I liked the characters or not, but I read it all in one sitting – so it grabbed my attention in some kind of good way.  I just didn’t connect with either of them and didn’t care if they ended up happy or not.  If you want to read a dirty, dirty story, then this is definitely it.  It’s well written and flows very smoothly through the entire story.

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Must Love Cowboys by Cheryl Brooks + EXCERPT + GIVEAWAY

Must Love Cowboys by Cheryl Brooks

Cowboy Heaven, Book 2

ISBN: 9781492631378

Release Date: April 5, 2016

Genre: Contemporary Western Romance

About the Book

SO MANY COWBOYS...

Shy computer specialist, dog lover, and amateur chef Tina Hayes has a thing for firefighters, but when she travels to the Circle Bar K ranch on family business, the ranch’s cowboys have no trouble persuading her to stay on as their cook. Especially not when she learns that brooding Wyatt McCabe—a man who makes her heart gallop like no one else can—is also a former firefighter.

HOW DOES SHE KNOW HE’S THE ONE?

Wyatt’s sizzling embraces leave Tina breathless. But being surrounded by a passel of smokin’ hot ranch hands can be complicated. With so many cowboys courting Tina all at once, Wyatt must prove to Tina that she belongs with him.

Buy the Book

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1SlEPmw

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/22Larad

Apple: http://apple.co/1VNE7RX

BAM: http://bit.ly/1WOG8Mc

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1MHd43v

!ndigo: http://bit.ly/1Mq9HmH

Indie Bound: http://bit.ly/1LNe9fd

About the Author

Cheryl Brooks is a former critical care nurse turned romance writer. Her Cat Star Chronicles series includes Slave, Warrior, Rogue, Outcast, Fugitive, Hero, Virgin, Stud, Wildcat, and Rebel. She is a member of RWA and IRWA and lives with her husband and sons near Bloomfield, Indiana.

Connect with Cheryl

Website: http://www.cherylbrooksonline.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.brooks.963 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CherylCatMaster 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/752898.Cheryl_Brooks

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cheryl’s Tip for Dating a Cowboy

Since we can safely assume that most of you aren’t the type to be at home on the range, here’s a city girl’s tip on the fine art of dating a cowboy: 

When it comes to horses, don’t pretend to know something you don’t. You may have been on a couple of trail rides and seen a few rodeos, but pretending to know how to ride is the surest way to wind up on your keister looking like a fool—or in the hospital. Your cowboy will adore teaching you how to ride and how to handle horses, so let him. A bit of independent study wouldn’t be wasted because while most people can identify a saddle and bridle, it helps to know early on how to tell the difference between a stallion, a mare, and a gelding. Might save you some embarrassing moments. :)

Excerpt from MUST LOVE COWBOYS

“Uh, Tina,” Wyatt began. “Listen, what you said about a massage… That actually sounded pretty good.” He paused, seeming reluctant to admit he needed help and even more reluctant to ask for it. “Think you could…?”

I stared at the bowl of pie dough. I didn’t need to invent a reason why I couldn’t stop what I was doing and rub his sore shoulder for him. But at the same time, I had this itch to get my hands on something other than dough.

And some itches must be scratched.

“Sure. Just let me wash my hands.” I put a plate over the bowl to keep the dough from drying out, then washed and dried my hands. When I turned toward Wyatt, my worst fears were realized.

He’d taken off his shirt and stood facing me, the broad expanse of his muscular chest, lightly dusted with dark, curly hair, fully exposed. “Where do you want me?”

Right here. Right now.

Heat sliced through my pelvis, stealing moisture from my mouth to send it gushing from my core. My attempt to swallow failed utterly. “There at the table is fine.”

He would probably smell bad after being on the road all night and most of the day. Bad smells usually put me off immediately. I figured I was safe. But when I moved closer, he smelled fine. Not freshly showered, perhaps, but nice. “Do you have any ointment to put on it?”

“There’s probably something around here somewhere, but for now, just use a little olive oil.”

I was hard-pressed not to laugh out loud. Getting my hands on a hot, studly cowboy might make my temperature soar, but by the time I’d smeared him with olive oil, he would smell like a salad.

Not sexy at all.

Unfortunately, after dribbling oil on his back and placing my hands on his shoulders, I was forced to revise that assessment. Wyatt would’ve been sexy even if he’d smelled like a barn. And salads, on the whole, were quite tasty.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the image of the powerful-looking muscles in his back and shoulders, but I couldn’t hide them from my hands. His hair, although relatively short, curled at the nape. Using the excuse of massaging his neck, I touched it. For some peculiar reason, that affected me even more than touching his skin had done—the gesture was more intimate, somehow.

Eventually, I found the sore spots in his upper back and shoulder and kneaded them hard. Wyatt’s groans and sighs were like candy, enticing me to keep going until I’d thoroughly massaged every muscle in his body. Twice.

After a glance at the clock proved I’d been at it for about twenty minutes, I figured it was time to quit or I was bound to do something really stupid—especially since he was getting to me on a level no real man ever had. Surely twenty minutes was enough. Then again, he wasn’t asking me to stop. If anything, I got the distinct impression he wanted me to keep going forever.

But I had work to do, a pie to bake, and chickens to roast. “H-how’s that?” My voice was hoarse and hesitant, no doubt due to the parched state of my mouth.

Despite his long, shuddering exhale, his throat sounded tight when he spoke. “Good—um, better. Much better. Thank you.”

I took a step back as he got to his feet. “Glad I could help.”

Rather than staring at the floor like I normally did, I made the mistake of tilting my head back and making eye contact. His gaze held mine for a long moment. Once again, what went on behind those enigmatic eyes was anyone’s guess. He certainly wasn’t giving me any clues.

A flick of his brow signaled the end of the interlude. “Well then. I guess I’ll leave you to it.” He slung his shirt over his shoulder. “I might lie down for a bit before dinner.”

All I could do was nod. I waited until his retreating footsteps died away before letting out the breath I was well aware I’d been holding.

I would get used to him eventually.

Yeah, right. Maybe by the time my car was packed and I was two hundred miles down the road.

Men had always made me nervous, but when it came to getting under my skin, Wyatt McCabe took first prize. Closing my eyes, I breathed deeply for a few moments before resuming my task. I still had a lot to do in the next two hours. Letting Wyatt freak me out wouldn’t help get it done.