Excerpt & Giveaway ~ 8 WEEKS by Bethany Lopez

Title: 8 Weeks

Series: Time For Love #1

Author: Bethany Lopez

Release Date: March 24, 2014

Summary: Is eight weeks enough time to earn back the love of someone you've betrayed...the only one you've ever loved?

Shelly has been in love with Cal since they started dating in eleventh grade. Despite everyone saying that the odds were against them, they got married after graduation and built a life together. Now, six years later, she is faced with the ultimate betrayal. Devastated, her first instinct is to call it quits…

After a drunken binge at his best friends’ bachelor party, Cal betrays the one person who has always been there for him, his wife, Shelly. Terrified and realizing she might divorce him, Cal must come up with a way to prove to her that his love is true…

Cal asks Shelly for eight weeks. Eight weeks to convince her that their marriage is worth the fight. Will Shelly be able to trust him again, or will their marriage end the way many others do when faced with opposition… In divorce?

8 Weeks is book 1 in the Time for Love series, but can be read as a stand alone.

Excerpt

Cal's POV

“Jesus,” Cal exclaimed, running his hands through his hair in frustration. “I want you to do what you want to do … I always have. If you want to tattoo your entire body, shave your head, and dye yourself blue … go for it. I’m not your ruler, Shelly, and I can’t believe that you’ve ever thought that I would dictate what you could or couldn’t do.”

          “It’s not like that …” I said, trying to explain, but the hurt radiating off of Cal was palpable, and it suddenly didn’t seem like anything I’d say would help.

          “It sure as hell seems like that, doesn’t it. Is that what you think of me, of the last six years of our relationship?” Cal took a step closer to me, his voice low so as not to broadcast our fight to the entire restaurant. “No wonder you’re so quick to give up … I thought we were in a partnership, Shel. I’ve never expected you to ask my permission to do anything. I love you, for who you are, and I want you to do what makes you happy.”

          My heart pounded loudly in my chest, and I felt a mixture of regret and fear running through me.

          “Cal, you’re taking this the wrong way. Yes, I’ve always wanted to do the things I’m doing now, and I didn’t because I didn’t think you’d like it.” His eyes narrowed at that, and I rushed on, hoping to make him understand. “Not because you wanted to dictate what I did or didn’t do, but because you liked me so much the way I was that I didn’t want to change anything. I wanted you to find me attractive …”

          Cal’s face smoothed out at my words, and when I was finished, he stepped even closer. Close enough that I could smell the mixture of sweat and grease on his body, and see his chocolate eyes darken as he said, “Never doubt how attractive I find you, Shelly. You were hot as hell before, and you’re hot as hell now. There isn’t anything that you could do to your appearance to make me not want you. I want you every minute of every day, Shelly. I promise you that.”

Links:

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J68HSV6

iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/8-weeks/id824527046?mt=11

Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/409863

Barnes & Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/8-weeks-bethany-lopez/1118708064?ean=2940149279555&itm=1&usri=2940149279555

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18665874-8-weeks

About Bethany:

Award-Winning Author Bethany Lopez began self-publishing in June 2011. Since then she has published various YA and NA books. She is a lover of romance, family, and friends, and enjoys incorporating those things in what she writes. When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with her husband and children, traveling whenever possible.

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Review ~ HER SUMMER WITH THE MARINE by Susan Meier

 

 

Book Description

 

Their competition has never been so irresistible
The last person Ellie McDermott wanted to run into after returning to her hometown is Finn Donovan, her high school nemesis and the guy she crossed the line from enemies to lovers with one night years ago. Now ex-military, tattooed, and still sexy as hell, Finn is a complication Ellie doesn’t need—she needs to concentrate on saving her family business.

Finn’s entire life, Ellie was there, going head-to-head with him in every class, bee, and test. So it’s no surprise she’d show up just as he was about to take over her father's struggling business. It is a surprise, though, that his attraction to her is even more explosive than it had been. Acting on their attraction is one thing, but Finn has to turn a profit to save his own family, and nothing—not even love—will get in his way.

 

Review

     Ellie must go back to her hometown to help her sick father and keep his business running.  He is the only family she has left and she is determined not to let him down.  What she doesn’t realize is how tough the struggle is going to be between her job as an Ad Executive, making sure her father gets the best possible care and keeping the family’s funeral home business open.

     After leaving the military, Finn opened his own funeral home in the same town.  He has tried on several occasions to purchase the rival funeral home, but he is always shot down.  He knows that the town is not big enough for both of them to survive and needs to make sure his business thrives so he can support his mother and show his abusing father he can make it.

    When they first run into each other the sexual attraction between them is clear.  When they finally give in, Finn makes sure she realizes this is just sex, nothing more.   If she thinks she has feelings for him, their time together is over. 

     Despite the warning, Ellie begins to fall in love with Finn.  She tries to keep her feelings buried, but can’t.  When she admits this to Finn, he ends their relationship as well as their friendship.  Then her father dies suddenly and she is left all alone.  Will Finn realize he loves her too?  If he does, will it be too late? 

     This was such a sweet and emotional story.  Ellie is such a strong character and you can’t help but feel sorry for her.  She has no one she can turn to to help her and she is determined to do the right by her dad, even if that is sacrificing her happiness.  Finn grew up with an abusive dad and has built a wall around his heart.  When Ellie comes back, he is happy to see her as she is the only one who has truly ever seen him.  When the emotional stakes get too high, he leaves her.  He regrets it almost immediately, especially when he is informed her dad passed away. 

     This book tugged at my heart.  At times, I couldn’t help but cry for Ellie.  While she tries to show everyone she is strong, inside she is breaking into.  Just when she thought she could count on Finn, he leaves her heartbroken.  I was so happy with how this story ended.  While I would have liked Finn to grovel more, I think how he handled it was great.  Don’t just take my word for it, go out and get your copy today!!       

 

Excerpt

    

     Watching Ellie say her final good-byes at the graveside, he swallowed.  His chest tightened and his heart did the funny thing it had done when he'd seen her at Sissy Martin's wedding in the sparkly little pink dress. No one had ever treated him so well.  No one had ever loved him so unconditionally she could look past her hurts and save him.  No one made him laugh the way she did. 

     He did not want her to go.

     Oh, God.  He really didn't want her to go.  He needed her.  If this awful feeling in his chest was anything to go by, he would wither up and die without her.  If watching her go didn't kill him, living without her would.

     His breath caught.

    He could not live without her.

     And he suddenly saw this was love.  Real love.  Not the odd relationship his parents had.  Not a trap for fools.  But two people who helped each other, looked out for each other, cared about each other so much they'd swallow their pride, do the right thing.  Which was what she had done when she signed the agreement to see McDermott's to him.

     So what the hell was he doing?  Why was he letting her go when he loved her?

 

Currently the price is 99 pennies!! 

Purchase Links:  Amazon

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Review & Giveaway ~ ROOM FOR MORE by Beth Ehemann

Title: Room for More

Author: Beth Ehemann
Release date February: 20th 2014 

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Cover Reveal ~ A BEAUTIFUL CHOICE by Emily McKee

Coming March 2014...

SYNOPSIS

* Book #5 in the Beautiful Series *

**Mature Content Warning** Recommended for ages 17+ due to language and sexual content.

Read where it all began in the final installment of The Beautiful Series.

Sarah Thompson...

You already know Gabe and I get our Happily Ever After.  You might be asking yourself what’s the point in this story when you already know the outcome?  We get married.  We have a child.  The thing is, while we get to the happy part, it was a difficult and turbulent ride to get to that very point.

I made choices.  He made choices.  We both made choices and sometimes they were filled with regrets.  But you can’t change it.  And I wouldn’t want to because we grew from it.  We learned.  We fell in love.

With Gabe?  They were the most tear-filled, screaming and yelling moments of my life.  They were disastrous and ugly.  And I wouldn’t change them for anything.  Why you ask?  They became the most beautiful choices of my life.  So for that sole reason—I wouldn’t change a damn thing.

Gabe Prescott...

I made very few choices in life.  For the most part people made my choices for me.  I never got to choose anything . . . besides Sarah Thompson.  The beautiful, blonde haired selfish-bitch who was best friends with my boy Ryder. 

I honestly don’t know how the hell he survived that cold-heart.  Yet somehow I melted that icy heart and fell in love.  I made that choice.  And while the road was sometimes the ugliest, it still to this day is the most beautiful choice I ever made.

* Purchase the other books in the Beautiful Series *

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

For the past 21 years, I have been a planner and an organizer.  I always needed things a specific way and then everything changed for me.  I've always had a vivid imagination and thoughts racing through my mind.  I realized that life is way too short to let things pass me by, because in the blink of an eye everything could change.  So I decided to just live in the moment, taking every chance and opportunity led my way.  No second thoughts and just going with the flow.  

 
I decided to put the fictional characters and the conversations going on in my head to paper. I know, it makes me sound crazy, but I wouldn't have it any other way.  I've embraced crazy and hectic and last minute because it's led me to making my dreams a reality.

 
When I'm not writing Happily Ever After's I'm reading about them and living one.  I think this world is filled with too much sadness already we don't need to read about it as well.  I write because I love it and I've allowed my imagination to run wild and be crazy and free. Just like me.

CONNECT WITH EMILY

* Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads * Amazon *

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Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway - SCARRED BY LOVE by C.A. Harms

Book: Scarred by Love

Author: C.A. Harms

Genre: Romance

Synopsis:

Riley thought she was in love. She thought she found the perfect guy until his aggressive behavior became too much to handle and she ran.

Becoming withdrew from the world and hiding from the chance of loving again. Having four older brothers and a determined best friend she had no choice but to stand strong.

Over time Riley was able to open up once again. She had no idea that the one person she needed was right under her nose.

She was guarded and hesitant when it came to bad boys...after all it was a bad boy that shattered her once before.

Zander wanted the girl from the party. He wanted to be near her even though she continued to push him away. He couldn’t let go of the gorgeous girl with those stormy eyes.

They both had secrets they kept hidden from one another. They found it easier to talk to others than to confide in each other. Riley begins to realize Zander isn't who she thought he was and falling for the sexy voiced Lead Singer/Guitar player may be just what she needs.

They struggle through hard times and learn to trust again. But will the love that grows be enough to hold them together or will the heartache they suffer drive a wedge between them forever.

They could be toxic to one another or they could heal the wounds that run deep within their souls.

THIS BOOK CONTAINS ADULT CONTENT AND IS MEANT FOR MATURE AUDIENCES

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Purchase links:

Amazon | B&N

Review

     As soon as this story begins, you are drawn right into the mess that is Riley’s life.  She is in an abusive relationship and is afraid of what her boyfriend will do to her.  She manages to escape him and runs to her brother.  Needless to say, the boyfriend got what was coming to him and Riley got a restraining order.  This relationship has left her scarred; she doesn’t believe she will ever be able to trust another man again. 

     Zander is drawn to Riley the first time he sees her.   Once they finally start seeing each other, you can almost feel the sexual tension.  Riley and Zander agree to wait to take their relationship to the next level and it only makes them closer.  Once they do experience the full benefits of their relationship, there is no holding back. 

     While their relationship may be growing, others don’t like it and will do anything to try and create doubts between them.  Will Zander’s best friend, Beth, get over her insecurities and let him be happy?  Will Riley’s ex Parker finally leave her alone?  You will need to pick up your copy to see if they get their HEA.

     I truly enjoyed this book.  It sucks you in right from the start and has you dying for Riley to get a HEA.  Once you meet Zander, it is the same for him.  They both suffer from heartache, Riley because of her ex and Zander because he has only really felt loved by his mom.  There is so much other stuff going on around them that it makes you wonder how much one couple can take.  One of my favorite parts in the book is when Zander shows Riley how he spends his Sundays, having a picnic at his mom’s gravesite.  It was so touching and gives you some insight to the true Zander.   

     I can’t recommend this book enough.  I have already read it a couple of times and I’m sure I will read it again.  This book will make you cry, angry, laugh (love Grandma and her comments about tattoos) and yell at the characters.  What are you waiting for?  Go on the journey with Riley and Zander to find their HEA today!!    

Teasers:

Playlist: 

The Music of Scarred by Love:

Face Down  --  The Red Jumpsuit Aparatus

I Hate Myself for Loving You  --  Joan Jett

Don’t Speak  --  No Doubt

Jar of Hearts  --  Christina Perry

Black Eyes Blue Tears  --  Shania Twain

Control  --  Puddle of Mudd

Fighter  --  Christina Aguilera

Call Me When Your Sober  --  Evanescence

She Fuckin’ Hates Me  --  Puddle of Mudd

S&M Remix  --  Rhianna/Brittnay Spears

Addicted  --  Saving Abel

Whataya Want from Me  --  Adam Lambert

I Believe in this Thing Called Love (The Darkness)

I gotta Through This  --  Daniel Bedingfield

Stormy  --  Hedley

This  --  Darius Rucker

When You Kiss Me  --  Shania Twain

Fall for You  --  Secondhand Serenade

Sad  --  Maroon 5

About the author:

C.A. Harms

C.A. Harms is like any other addicted reader. She enjoys happy endings and HEA love stories. She hasn't always been a lover of Romance and had once been addicted to a good Mystery. Just recently she has taken on a new liking and now is a full blown Romance novel addict.

She lives in Illinois and enjoys spending time with her husband and two

children. You will always find her with her kindle or paperback in hand as it

is her favorite pass time.

Social media links:

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦

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Blog Tour organized by: HEA Book Tours, PR & More

Release Day Launch, Excerpt & Giveaway - ANYTHING BUT SAFE by Moria Keith

Anything But Safe Synopsis:

Wallace "Ace" McGregor ran off to chase the rodeo, but not before playing the knight in shining armor to his best friend Cheyenne Murphy after a tragic assault left her pregnant. With his latest injury leaving his chase for rodeo gold in the dust, he finds himself back home. Haunted by the past and trying to do what he thinks is right, he will have to mend his relationship with the best friend he all but abandoned in her time of need and the older brother he left holding the bag.

Cheyenne Murphy's life hasn't been easy. Now the man who'd left her broken and pregnant has re-surfaced and is threatening to destroy the safety and family she's found at McGregor Ranch. At risk of losing her son and destroying the McGregor family, she will do whatever it takes to ensure they are all safe, even if it means relying on the parents that disowned her.

When everything is on the line, will Wallace and Cheyenne come to realize that in life and love, they are anything but safe?

Excerpt

Cheyenne woke, pain throbbing in her head. It was dark and scenes from the market came back to haunt her. Screw Garth. Every time she’d start to forget and feel normal again, everything about that night came flooding back. Tightness in her chest made it difficult to breathe. Anxiety washed over her and she sat straight up in the bed. “Holden!”

“You’re safe.”

She knew the voice penetrating the darkness. Familiar, soothing, and there to ease her fears — just as it had been every other time the nightmares interrupted her sleep — even during the times there were miles of road between them. “Wallace?”

“Yeah.”

The lights flared to life and Wallace sank down beside her on the bed. She stared down at her lap and twisted the sheet between her hands. “Why’re you here? Where’s Holden?”

She felt bad for the harshness of her tone. Knowing Wallace saw through her attempt to push him away didn’t excuse the action. “Sorry.”

The bed dipped, his weight tipping her slightly toward him, as he shifted to face her.

“Holden’s in the yard with Quinn. He’s fine.” He placed his arm on the other side of her legs, where they stretched out beside him.

She couldn’t look at him. Didn’t want him to know how shook up she was, or what had taken place at the market. With his free hand, he tilted her chin up so she had no choice but to meet his gaze or act like a child and keep her eyes closed.

“Care to tell me what’s going on with you?”

The concern in his gray eyes was enough to make her want to crawl up on his lap and cry, as she’d done so many times in the past. But she couldn’t. Not this time.

“Just bad dreams again, same as always.” Only worse now, for reasons she couldn’t share.

“I know you saw him.”

“What? How could you…” Crap. Holden was a smart kid and had seen the man. Not to mention Maggie, who would usually take a secret to the grave, wouldn’t have kept Garth’s reappearance in Asheville quiet. If Mr. Johnson was bothered enough to come over, he would’ve made sure word got back to Wallace. Whole town probably knew about the incident by now. Small towns were filled with gossip mongers.

“Don’t be mad at Maggie or Holden.” He ran his thumb along her jawline.

She didn’t say anything. Couldn’t. Eight years ago, Garth hadn’t been pounded to a bloody pulp by the McGregor boys due to her pleading for Wallace not to leave her side. The stakes were different now though. She wasn’t blood, but they’d do what it took to protect her and the boy they felt was rightfully a McGregor.

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Moria Keith Bio:
Moira Keith is a lover of shoes, a connoisseur of Guinness, baker of cocktail themed cupcakes, and an overall complete mess!

Moira lives in the glittering sea of neon known as Las Vegas with her twin zombie sons, three parakeets, and a turtle. but is a proud Texan by birth (and true Southern girl at heart)

As a writer, she loves to envision many worlds within the present. Mixing the cities of today with beings that are otherworldly has become a passion. Her love of things that go bump in the night or aren’t quite tangible on this plane of existence, really didn’t start until she was in her teens and she fell in love with a movie about a pack of rowdy teen vampires (thank you Lost Boys). Her love affair of the paranormal and urban fantasy was born and it seemed only natural to incorporate that into her writing.

When she’s not writing, her pastimes include hanging out with her boys, daydreaming, drawing, and reading so she can live vicariously through the characters her peers breathe to life. Indulgences? Why cowboys, vampires, werewolves and faeries… oh my!

Her stories are often filled with the magic of love and the mayhem that ensues, which always threatens to keep her couples apart. She writes paranormal romance, urban fantasies, and contemporary western romances. She has published three books. Buckling Down, a contemporary western romance, was her debut book. Then in August 2012, Moira introduced the world to her Urban Fantasy work with the debut book in the Moonlight Trilogy, Blood and Moonlight. Her most recent release, Frost, is a holiday novella and the first in a planned holiday series. She recently contracted a contemporary western romance, Anything but Safe with Astraea Press, slated for release in the spring of 2014.

Author Links

Blog: http://moirakeith.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/moirakeith

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/moirajkeith



Cover Reveal Tour - WHILE HE STRUGGLED by V. Murphy

 While He Struggled

Genre: Contemporary Romance/ Erotic Romance/ New Adult Fiction

Synopsis:

What happens when the one you love doesn't come back?

Chance didn't come home to her like he promised. Pieces were missing, hearts were shattered and decisions were made.

This is the story about what happens when war follows you home. It's a story about doing everything to keep your family together, but forgetting about yourself in the meantime.

This is the story of Khloe's life. A life that used to be full of love and happiness replaced by hard decisions and grief. She tries everything possible to keep her marriage together, but what happens when through it all she finds a silver lining?

This is the story about a war shattered veteran who came home without a promise. A story about what it means to be felt again and to love.

But does it always happen with the same person...

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Cover information: 

Photographer: https://www.facebook.com/Morgan.Urbany.Photography

Graphic designer: https://www.facebook.com/CoverItDesigns

Coming this Spring!

Teasers:

About the author:

V. Murphy

Hi! I am V. Murphy and I love everything about reading (some may call me a bibliophile). I am a current graduate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and heading out west to live the California dream while pursuing my master’s degree in school counseling at the University of San Diego. You can find me writing in a Panera, small coffeeshop or on campus. When I am not spending my time in school or reading, I love to write, bake and shop. Thank you for taking your time to pick up and read my story. I hope you loved it as much as I have loved writing it for you. If you would like to know more about me and the books in progress, look me up on the ‘net.

Social media links:

Facebook | Twitter | Email: vmmurphy4@gmail.com

Cover Reveal hosted by: HEA Book Tours, PR & More