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Thursday, January 28, 2016

BOOK REVIEW: "Clean" by Mia Kerick

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Book Description:

High school senior Lanny Keating has it all. A three-sport athlete at Lauserville High School looking at a college football scholarship, with a supportive family, stellar grades, boy band good looks… until the fateful day when it all falls apart.

Seventeen-year-old Trevor Ladd has always been a publicly declared zero and the high school badboy. Abandoned by his mother and sexually abused by his legal guardian, Trevor sets his sights on mere survival.

Lanny seeks out Trevor’s companionship to avoid his shattered home life. Unwilling to share their personal experiences of pain, the boys explore ways to escape, leading them into sexual experimentation, and the abuse of illegal drugs and alcohol.  Their mutual suffering creates a lasting bond of friendship and love.

When the time finally comes to get clean and sober, or flunk out of high school, only one of the boys will graduate, while the other spirals downward into addiction. 

Will Lanny and Trevor find the strength to battle their demons of mind-altering substances as well as emotional vulnerability?

Clean takes the reader on a gritty trip into the real and raw world of teenage substance abuse.


Excerpt”

PROLOGUE

Lanny

Trevor wouldn’t even look at me when I walked over to the gas station this morning to say hi. And Jimmy’s Fuel Stop is like three miles from my house so it took a major effort to walk there, especially since I’ve been feeling like total crap lately. Another one of my shaky human bonds bites the dust. I need to go out and get myself a cat.

“Can’t you see I’m working, Keating?” That was all he said. But I’ve always been good at reading between the lines. I could tell what he was thinking as he stood beside the gas pumps, totally caught up in not looking at me. “Take a hike before you get me fired, loser. Some of us got goals in life....” So I took off before he had a chance to make me feel like I shouldn’t have ever made an appearance on the planet earth. But I still know it would have been better had I never been born...maybe Joelle would still be okay.

It’s Saturday afternoon and nobody’s home. Mom and Dad are probably off at the park with Joelle, sloshing through the wet snow together so she gets her daily exercise. Or maybe they took her to the make- your-own-sundae-place to improve her fine motor skills by sprinkling sweet toppings on big scoops of ice cream. I’m in Mom and Dad’s bathroom, bent in half with my head stuck in the closet, searching the cluttered shelves for anything that will get me high enough to escape. And I mean anything.

That’s when I see the cough syrup. The bottle in front is almost new, and there’s an older bottle of a different brand right behind it, little more than halfway full. Seeing these medicine bottles reminds me of something Chad suggested about a week or two ago— that we should try robo-tripping. He told me that if we drink enough cough syrup, the DXM in it would get us high in a “super blissful, tingling-body-parts way,” which sounded pretty decent to me then and still does now. Not completely surprised I remembered Chad’s exact description of a DXM high, I thank God for this dextromethorphan stuff that suppresses nasty coughs, because it looks like I’m going to find my much-needed buzz after all.

Pleased that I don’t have to resort to sniffing glue from the tube on my father’s basement workbench or huffing my mother’s hairspray—and believe me I came close—I snatch the bottles with a shaky hand. They’re both sticky with the syrup that dripped down the side last time one of the Keating’s had a major head cold accompanied by a hacking cough. Licking my fingers provides me with a hint of the cherry flavor I’m probably going to be barfing up later tonight. But I don’t care. I can’t get through a single day without some help, and by that I don’t mean help from my human friends, seeing as I have none left. 

Bio:

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Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—all named after saints—and five nonpedigreed cats—all named after the next best thing to saints, Boston Red Sox players. Her husband of twenty-two years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about that, as it is a sensitive subject.

Mia focuses her stories on the emotional growth of troubled young people and their relationships, and she believes that physical intimacy has a place in a love story, but not until it is firmly established as a love story. As a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with romantic tales of tortured heroes (most of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big-hair bands) and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to Dreamspinner Press, Harmony Ink Press, CoolDudes Publishing, and CreateSpace for providing her with alternate places to stash her stories.

Mia is a social liberal and cheers for each and every victory made in the name of human rights, especially marital equality. Now marital equality is the law of the land!! WOOT!! Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology. 

 Author Links

Website

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MY REVIEW:

This is a story you might not be prepared for. I have read many books where substance abuse is a problem, and also studied teen psychology. Those things alone did not prepare me for the magnitude of the emotions and situations described in Clean.
This is a plot-fueled story, backed up by two disparate yet brilliant characters. They fit together like two puzzle pieces, making each other better, and at the same time they are a foil to the other. Each of them have a different backstory, making both main characters very relatable. You want to take them in and mother them: tuck them in and give them home-cooked food, treat them like the little boys they are inside.
There is much more than drug abuse going on in this book. So many issues are addressed, and done well. Nothing was put here for shock value. Every tiny aspect has an important place in the narrative and enriches the story in a different way.
I loved this book, and I put it up there with such psychological fiction tales as The Luckiest Girl In The World and Cut.

5/5--a brilliant, moving piece of work.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

COVER REVEAL: "Ace" by Lyra Parish




Title: ACE: A Band of Brothers Novel
Series: Band of Brothers #1
Author: Lyra Parish
Genre: Romance
Cover Design: Letitia Hasser, RBA Designs
 Release Date: February 22, 2016



Blurb

My name is Ace and I'm the Ace of Spades.
I'm not nice and I misbehave.
I will be your nightmare.
I will be your dream.
I will have you begging for more of me with each scream.

The truth is in my lyrics.
Uncontrollably controlled.
I bleed many things one being Rock & Roll.

I don't date or make love, I fuck real hard.
Did you know the ace of spades is considered the death card?
Love doesn't exist in my world, it never did.
Love won't exist in my world, it's something I forbid.

My name is Ace and I'm the ace of spades.
Proceed with caution, because I'm sharp like a blade.

The Band of Brothers novels are full length and will follow each brother in the band.
They can be read together or separately.








Pre-order Links

Special pre-order price of $2.99.
Price will increase to $3.99 after release

AMAZON US / UK
B&N / KOBO / iBOOKS
PAPERBACKS






Excerpt

Excerpt from Chapter 1.
Subject to Change.
Unedited. © 2016 Lyra Parish.
 

Tonight I would fuck the blonde in the front row who continued to visually rip my clothes off with every little blink she took. Her tits were hanging out of her shirt and she licked her lips and batted her eyes at me. The set was nearing the end and I could feel her gaze. When I looked away and back at her, it was like her eyes had never left me. I liked when a woman knew what she wanted.

Blue and green lights flashed over the stage then washed across the crowd. When we made eye contact again, her tongue traced the outside of her plump bottom lip and at that moment I knew she was DTF. Her being down to fuck made this so much easier but then again, being the lead singer of the Band of Brothers made panties magically melt. I'd be her fantasy for the night. I'm sure there would be many more one night stands considering each show from Florida to New York, all the way to California was sold out.

The drums beat on as I screamed out the next few lyrics. "I won't let the world decide. I'll die before that happens."

The drums stopped and the distortion was cut leaving a melodic strum of Nikolas's guitar.

The lights faded when walked off stage leaving the crowd screaming and yelling at the top of their lungs. Jex, Nic, and Rex had huge smiles covering their faces as they chugged the water the technicians handed us. This would never get old. Moments like this were the ones we lived and worked for. Once the chanting and clapping rose to the maximum volume, the four of us walked back onstage and gave the fans what they wanted, an encore.

Green and yellow lights flashed over the crowd and smoke hovered at the bottom of the stage. We played three more songs. People sang and swayed to the lyrics and music. Some jumped up and down, feeling the full beat of the drums while others banged their heads. The feeling of having thousands of people chanting my words would never become real. More often than not, I felt like I was in a dream, one that I never wanted to wake from.

During the last song, I pointed to the blonde. By the way she was dressed in a tight pink shirt and a skirt that showed the bottom of her ass cheeks, I knew she wanted to be seen. She could have possibly had this night planned from the beginning. Randomly, I chose a few others from the crowd to join us, to dance in front of our audience, to feel the temporary power. It was something I did every show, every tour. It was a habit of sorts.

Security helped the girls climb on the stage and they lifted their arms and shook their asses. Before the song ended, the technicians led the girls' side stage as cannons of small fireworks shot from the floor. After the final song, my brothers and played the crowd and threw drumsticks and guitar picks. The yelling didn't stop for minutes and the audience realized we weren't coming back out. I walked side stage where girls anxiously waited us. I smiled, popping an eyebrow at my chosen woman for the night, and she instantly came to me. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and hers hung on my waist. My brothers stopped in the green room with the other girls, but Blondie and I walked to the bus.

"I'm Lindsey," she whispered in my ear before we reached the end of the hallway. I smiled at her and pushed open the exit door. Groupies and fans waited near the bus and as soon as we walked up they rushed it.

"I'll be out in a bit," I said, smiling at them with pearly whites. "My brothers are coming out that door over there. Really soon."

I hated to out their exit strategy, but I wanted to take my time burying my dick deep inside Misty or Christy or whatever the fuck her name was. It didn't matter. Names never did.



Author Bio


Lyra Parish loves to write, glamp, and sing obnoxiously loud at the top of her lungs in the shower. Sweet love stories (along with the dirty ones) make her gush. She is a firm believer that a person can never have too many cups of coffee, cats, or happily ever afters. When she isn't busy writing, she can be found sipping various beverages from her non-alcoholic drink buffet, pimp slapping excel spreadsheets, or riding her bike. Lyra lives in Texas with her glassblowing, guitar-playing hubby and black cat named Nibbler.



Author Links



Giveaway

RELEASE BLITZ: "Play Me" by Katie McCoy




Title: Play Me
Author: Katie McCoy
Genre: Contemporary Romance
 Release Date: January 27, 2016



Blurb

Recipe For:

A Roll In The Hay Hot Crossed Buns Love

Ingredients:

1 Chef (equal parts sexy and carefree)

1 Pianist (equal parts uptight and endearing)
1/8 inch of drywall between their apartments
2 opinions on everything

Combine all ingredients, mix vigorously, and be prepared for an explosion of heat.

Pianist Ella Thomas is training for the competition of her life. Finally in an apartment of her own, she can practice from dawn till dusk.

But she didn't bet on the sexy and frustrating neighbor keeping her up all night - even if he does cook like a maestro and kiss like it’s his job.

Jake Matson is living his dream as Head Chef at one of the most popular restaurants in San Francisco. He's easy going, flirtatious and not looking for love. He didn't expect to be completely distracted by the girl next door, whose buttoned-up appearance hides the seductive firecracker underneath.


What happens when opposites attract? As their tension fires up, can they create a new kind of music together or will everything boil over?







Purchase Links

TO BE ADDED






Author Bio


Katie McCoy is a self proclaimed sushi addict, Cardinals baseball fanatic, and lover of all things theatrical. A St. Louis native transplanted to Brooklyn, she acts, sings, and shakes her booty when she isn't writing books about hot men and the girls who love them.


Author Links

Giveaway

RELEASE BLITZ: "Punk Rock-A-Bye-Baby" by Jenna Galicki




Title: Punk Rock-A-Bye Baby
Series: Radical Rock Stars #5
Author: Jenna Galicki
Genre: Erotic Romance
 Release Date: January 27, 2016



Blurb

She rocks my world.
He sets my soul on fire.
We’ve traveled down a bumpy road, but we’ve finally found the balance.
It’s time to bring a new little rock star into our lives.
I’m Tommy Blade, the Prince of Punk Rock, and this is the next chapter in our story.

Loving two people is never easy, and Tommy Blade fights every day to ensure that his wife and his lover know that he loves them both equally. A commitment ceremony solidifies their pledge to one another and brings them closer together. Jessi Blade is a lucky girl. With animosity behind them, she and Angel share a more intimate relationship and their lives flourish. She has everything she ever wanted—except a baby.

Angel Garcia never thought he’d share his life with a woman, no less marry one in a commitment ceremony. When a baby joins their family, it makes him realize how much Jessi really means to him.

The road Tommy, Jessi and Angel travel is never an easy one. Just when they’re at their happiest, an accident may very well change the course of their lives.







Purchase Links

TO BE ADDED






Also Available


AMAZON US / UK



AMAZON US / UK



AMAZON US / UK



 AMAZON US / UK






Author Bio


Jenna Galicki writes in multiple genres including m/m/f, m/f, and m/m. She is predominantly known for her Radical Rock Stars Series. The Prince of Punk Rock (Radical Rock Stars Book 1) was a finalist in the Best Bisexual Romance category, chosen by the Bi Writers Association.

Jenna is a strong advocate for LGBT rights and marriage equality. She volunteers with God's Love We Deliver, delivering meals to people with HIV and AIDS and other life threatening illnesses. She actively raises money and participates in AIDS Walk New York and is a proud sponsor of Children International.

She lives in Long Island, NY with her husband and two dogs. She is a rottweiler enthusiast and an avid music buff. When she's not hunched over a computer, you can find her front row at a rock concert.



Author Links

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

BOOK PROMO: "Sinister" by Jana DeLeon





Sinister ~ A Shaye Archer Novel

by Jana DeLeon

NOW AVAILABLE











From New York Times bestselling author Jana DeLeon, the second book in the Shaye Archer thriller series. 

Street kids are disappearing, but how do you report that to the police when, from their standpoint, the missing people didn't exist to begin with? Hustle is certain that something bad has happened to his friend Jinx, and the only person he can turn to for help is private investigator Shaye Archer. 

Because Hustle helped the young PI while she was investigating her first case, Shaye has already formed an opinion as to his character and believes he's telling the truth. As she digs deeper into Jinx's disappearance, she discovers that Hustle's friend isn't the only one missing. As a frightening pattern emerges, Shaye wonders if she can find the missing kids...before it's to late. 












(PRINT BOOK COMING SOON)






























#Sinister, #AShayeArcherNovel, #JanaDeLeon, #NewRelease, #Thriller







BOOK SPOTLIGHT: "Chastity Falls" by L.A. Cotton

 
 
CHASTITY FALLS SERIES
ONE YEAR PUBLIVERSARY TOUR
 
To celebrate one year since Loyalty and Lies (Book #1 in the Chastity Falls Series) we're taking the series on tour across over 65 blogs.

 

 ~ SERIES SPOTLIGHT ~

 
 
* SYNOPSIS *
 
Chastity Falls Academy is supposed to be her fresh start; her salvation. And when Ana meets mysterious Jackson, she begins to think it is. She hasn't smiled in almost sixteen months; not since the night her life changed forever, and despite her guilt...her loyalty, Ana can't deny that Jackson is breathing life back into her. With Jackson by her side, Ana wants to believe she can heal and move on. But she isn't the only one living a lie, and the small private Academy has secrets of its own. All is not what it seems, and Ana is about to find herself in a tangled web of lies; fighting for survival, again.

Loyalties will be tested, lies will be told.
Salvation will be earned, secrets will be unveiled.
Tribulations will be overcome, truths will be revealed.

... Welcome to Chastity Falls.
 
 
 
*TEASERS *
 
 
* EXCERPT *
 
“Don’t. Don’t call me that, Ana. Not you. I can’t stand hearing you calling me that.”
I looked up at him. “Why? Why can’t you stand me calling you that? Why does it matter what I think?”
Jackson dropped to the floor in front of me, almost at my eye level. His hand hovered over my thigh, but he withdrew it and shoved it into his pocket. “Because you are different, Ana Parry. You make me believe things can be different.”
“But?”
His downcast eyes told me all that I needed to know, but I braced myself for the words. “They can’t. Braiden noticed. Noticed something between us in the cafeteria. I have to throw him off the scent. If he finds out about you, about us, things could turn to shit very quickly. For both of us. It’s safer for you this way.”
I raised my chin slightly, almost in defiance. “And I don't get any say?”
With one swift movement, Jackson clasped his hand around the back of my neck and pulled me down to him. His face nuzzled into my neck and I felt him breathe me in, and then he murmured, “It’s got to be this way. I fucking hate it, but it’s the only way. I’m sorry. Please don’t hate me.”
“Jackson I- I’m just so confu-”
His lips came down on mine, and I grabbed onto him as if he was my air. As if I needed him to survive. Jackson sucked my bottom lip into his mouth and a soft moan escaped my lips as my body arched into him and my legs wrapped tightly around his waist. I needed to be closer, and our tongues danced and dueled, causing our breathing to become rapid. This wasn’t like the kiss in the closet—no, this was different. It was full of need and desperation… it was goodbye.
I couldn’t be the one to break away. I didn’t want it to end. I didn’t want this to be it. I had just found him and now he was leaving me. But all too soon, Jackson started to untangle my legs from his waist and pulled away, placing one last chaste kiss on my lips, leaving me in a crumpled mess on the floor.
“Ana, we have to keep our distance. You can’t approach me or talk to me. And I will ignore you. You won’t exist to me. I’m so sorry that I dragged you into this shit storm.” His fingers brushed over my jaw as he stared down at me with such reverence that my insides coiled. “I know you still have questions, but I can’t give you answers. Ana Parry…” He drew in a deep breath, regret shining in his eyes. “…in another life I would have stolen your heart and never returned it.”
And just like that, Jackson was gone and my heart broke with realization...
He already had.
 
* PLAYLIST *
 
 This playlist features all of the songs from Loyalty and Lies, Salvation and Secrets, and Tribulations and Truths.
 
 
 

~ NOW AVAILABLE ~

For the first time, Ana and Jackson's complete story is available in one box set. This includes all three full-length novels, three bonus scenes, and the first chapter of Redemption and Regrets (book# 4 in the series - this will be Braiden's story)
 
 
 
 
* BUY LINKS *
 
 
 
 

~ ABOUT THE AUTHOR ~

 
 
Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense...written with feeling

L.A is author of the Fate's Love Series and Chastity Falls Series. Home is a small town in the middle of England where she currently juggles being a full-time mum to two little people with writing. In her spare time (and when she's not camped out in front of the laptop) you'll most likely find L. A immersed in a book, escaping the chaos that is life.

You can connect with her at:
www.lacotton.com
 
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