RELEASE BLITZ: Beast: A Hate Story by Mary Catherine Gebhard

Title: Beast: A Hate Story, The Beginning
Author: Mary Catherine Gebhard
Release Date: March 14, 2017
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So this book was slightly difficult to read at times. If you have any triggers at all, I'd recommend not reading this due to the content. However, I still really enjoyed MCG's writing style and look forward to book 2! This seemed to be a very twisted take on Beauty + the Beast in  mafia setting. I'm still not quite sure how I feel about Beast. At times, he seems beyond redemption, but then a different side of him shows and it made me wonder....when is someone truly past the point of no return? Does it depend on the point of view of whoever is deciding or is there a black and white answer? I don't think there is a black and white answer, to be honest. I think it depends on the situation and who is involved because everyone has a different answer. I really loved Frankie. I pitied her at times, but still loved her. I know it's a work of fiction, but it's not so far fetched. People don't believe that in modern America people could be enslaved or trapped, but it's more than possible...                                                I actually feel sorry for Beast, as well throughout the story. If you read it, you'll know why. He's just so.....tortured! Cannot wait to see what happens with Frankie and the crew in the next book....

Once upon a time, I thought love was a fairytale.

I thought selling myself to a mafia boss was noble. So what if they called him the Beast? I grew up in rags, and he would lift me to riches. All I had to do was give him my soul.

He was punishing. Insatiable. Captivating. Nothing like I expected him to be. Each day my reality blurred, leaving me wondering if I was slave or princess.

The longer I stayed, the more I lost myself to him. Even after every cruelty the Beast visited upon me, I longed for his touch. Even after every savage word he spoke, I begged for his lips. I thought the worst thing he could take was my body. I was too naïve to guard my heart.

Once upon a time, I thought love was a fairytale.

Now I know better than to speak of happily-ever-afters.

Beast is the first book in the Hate Story duet. About what it means to fall in love with the person who has absolutely destroyed you, it contains disturbing and graphic situations that may be a trigger for some.

Mary Catherine Gebhard bites off more than she can chew. She’s lived in Salt Lake City, Utah her entire life but occasionally goes on vacation from reality. Don’t worry, she sends postcards.

  

BLOG TOUR: The Sex Bucket List by Prescott Lane

Oh my hot damn and steamy pages....I LOVED this book! Prescott Lane is a genius and Emerson is so relatable - I love her! Shouldn't we all have a bucket list for things we'd like to try? So why not have a sex bucket list? Even in a committed relationship, it can really help you find out more of what you're into and what you won't ever do again! The idea behind this book - a 40 year old mom who's lost her spark after the recent divorce and wants to find herself again - is amazing and I'm sure will speak to many ladies. 40 is not dead, so if you're feeling a little down after an unplanned swerve in your life plan, make a list and do some new things!

Also, Mateo is phenomenal. His personality and protectiveness of Emerson is beautiful. You all need to find your Mateo! ♡♡ Don't settle for anything less than what you want!

Thank you, Preston! This book is one I'll be recommending to friends.

*****/5
Blurb below:

I’m Emerson, and my “to do” list is longer than I’d like. You might wonder what kind of woman comes up with a sex bucket list? Answer — the kind who’s been in a sex drought, has two crazy girlfriends encouraging her, and one too many bottles of wine. 

This kind of list requires special skill. And I have just the man in mind to help me. He’s younger. So that checks one thing off my list. And he’s the kind of man every woman should sleep with at least once in her life. The kind of man who knows his way around a woman’s body. And God, I’d like him to know mine.

Armed with new lingerie and a fancy high-tech vibrator, I’m taking charge. Of love, of life, and my libido. How hard can that be? Well, judging by the rate of pole dancing injuries, I might be in trouble.

But how much trouble can one woman get in? Giving your panties to a stranger isn’t illegal in Georgia, is it?

Grab a pen and make your own Sex Bucket List.

BLOG TOUR: A Thousand Letters by Staci Hart

This book....destroyed me. It was one of those stories I had to devour as fast as I could and then sit and process all the magic and pain it brought me when it ended. Wade and Elliot will live in my imagination forever. I loved, and hated, their story. So sad. So perfect! I couldn't even handle all the emotions when I finished it. I'm pretty sure I cried several times. It made me so emotional I had to isolate myself to feel all the feelings..sort through them..put them in order and accept it. Waaahhhh, Staci Hart is a brilliant author and all around wonderful person. This is my favourite story of hers to date and ranks up there right alongside A Love Letter to Whiskey by Kandi Steiner on the list of 'utterly destroy me.' ♡♡♡

☆☆☆

"Lyrical, heartbreaking, and emotionally intense, A THOUSAND LETTERS is a beautiful portrait of an undying love that deserves a second chance." 

— Melanie Harlow, USA Today Bestselling Author

A Thousand Letters, an all-new emotional standalone by Staci Hart is LIVE!!! 

Sometimes your life is split by a single decision. 

I’ve spent every day of the last seven years regretting mine: he left, and I didn’t follow. A thousand letters went unanswered, my words like petals in the wind, spinning away into nothing, taking me with them. 

But now he’s back.

I barely recognize the man he’s become, but I can still see a glimmer of the boy who asked me to be his forever, the boy I walked away from when I was young and afraid. 

Maybe if he’d come home under better circumstances, he could speak to me without anger in his voice. Maybe if I’d said yes all those years ago, he’d look at me without the weight of rejection in his eyes. Maybe if things were different, we would have had a chance. 

One regretted decision sent him away. One painful journey bought him back to me. I only wish I could keep him.

*A contemporary romance inspired by Jane Austen’s Persuasion*

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About the Author

Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life -- a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can't forget that. She's also been a mom, with three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She's been a wife, though she's certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She's also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she's been drinking whiskey. 

From roots in Houston to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she's not writing, she's reading, sleeping, gaming, or designing graphics.

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☆☆☆

BLOG TOUR: Forged in Desire by Brenda Jackson

Forged in Desire, an all-new sexy standalone from Brenda Jackson is live!!!

Forged in Desire by Brenda Jackson Publisher: HQN Books Genre: Contemporary Romance

Strong enough to protect her. Bold enough to love her.

When good girl Margo Connelly becomes Lamar "Striker" Jennings's latest assignment, she knows she's in trouble. And not just because he's been hired to protect her from an underworld criminal. The reformed bad boy's appeal is breaching all her defenses, and as the threats against her increase, Margo isn't sure which is more dangerous: the gangster targeting her, or the far too alluring protector tempting her to let loose.

Though Striker's now living on the right side of the law, he's convinced his troubled past keeps Margo out of his league. But physical chemistry explodes into full-blown passion when they go on the run together. Surrendering to desire could be a deadly distraction—or finally prove that he's the only man qualified to keep her safe, and win her love.

Excerpt:

Margo Connelly stared up at her uncle. “A body­guard? Do you really think that’s necessary, Uncle Frazier? I understand extra policemen are patrolling the streets.” “That’s not good enough. Why should I trust a bunch of police officers?” “Why shouldn’t you?” she countered, not for the first time wondering what her uncle had against cops. On more than one occasion he’d made that quite ob­vious. “I have my reasons, but this isn’t about me—this is about you and your safety. I refuse to have you placed in any danger. What’s the big deal? You’ve had a body­guard before.” Yes, she’d had one before. Right after her parents’ deaths, when her uncle had become her guardian. He had shipped her off to London for three years. She’d reckoned he’d been trying to figure out what he, a de­vout bachelor, was to do with a ten-year-old. When she returned to the United States, Apollo remained her bodyguard. When she turned fourteen, she fought hard for a little personal freedom. But she’d always known the chauffeurs Uncle Frazier hired could do more than drive her to and from school. More than once she’d seen the guns they carried. “Yes, but that was then and this is now, Uncle Frazier. I can look after myself.” “Haven’t you been keeping up with the news?” he snapped. “Three people are dead. All three were in that courtroom with you. Erickson is making sure his threat is carried out.” “And more than likely whoever is committing these murders will be caught before there can be another shooting. I understand the three were killed while they were away from home. I have enough paperwork to catch up on here for a while. I didn’t even leave my house today.” “You don’t think a paid assassin will find you here? Alone? You either get on board with having a body­guard or you move back home. It’s well secured there.” Margo drew in a deep breath. Back home was the Connelly estate. Yes, it was secure, with its state-of-the-art surveillance system. While growing up, she’d thought of the ten-acre property, surrounded by a tall wrought-iron fence and cameras watching her every move, as a prison. Now she couldn’t stand the thought of staying there for any long period of time…especially if Liz was still in residence. Her forty-five-year-old uncle had never married and claimed he had his reasons for never wanting to. But that didn’t keep him from occasionally having a live-in mistress under his roof. His most recent was Liz Till­man and, as far as Margo was concerned, the woman was a real work of art with the words gold digger writ­ten all over her. Margo knew her uncle was a smart man and would eventually figure that fact out for him­self. But right now it seemed he was quite taken with Liz’s looks and body. “It’s final. A bodyguard will be here around the clock to protect you until this madness is over.” Margo didn’t say anything. She wondered if at any time it had crossed her uncle’s mind that they were at her house, not his, and she was no longer a child but a twenty-six-year-old woman. In a way, she knew she should appreciate his concern, but she refused to let anyone order her around.

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About the Author

Brenda Jackson, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of over 100 novels and novellas, was born in Jacksonville, Florida. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Jacksonville University. She married her high school sweetheart, Gerald, and they have two sons, Gerald Jr. and Brandon, ages thirty-six and thirty-four, respectively. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Her professional writing career began in 1995 with the release of her first book, Tonight and Forever. Since then she has written over 100 titles, which includes a made-for-television movie by BET, One Special Moment as well as the movie, Truly Everlasting. She was a 2012 NAACP Image Award Nominee for Outstanding Literary Fiction for her book, A Silken Thread; and was named Romance Writers of America’s Nora Robert’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient for 2012.

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The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict

Right, so keep in mind this is a work of fiction technically. Based loosely on real events that Marie Benedict found through the lives of the Einstein's. The characters were amazing and the relationships so dynamic. I'm actually so disappointed in Einstein as a person if any of that is actually rooted in truth. The writing definitely had me enraptured when I got into it.

I LOVED Mitza. So much. I felt everything she felt throughout the story with her. Einstein is one of the greatest scientific heroes recorded in our recent history, but through this story we find his many flaws and see the discrepancies between men and women of science during that time. It's so interesting how, because Mitza didn't finish her degree, she lost out on a lot of fame and recognition. 

One of my favorite lines in the story is "we may be Ein Stein, but it has become clear that we are of two hearts." Mitza says this to her husband after it becomes clear he has let his recent fame go to his head. The amount of heartbreak Mitza went through in her life is nearly unbearable. I hate the way he treated her like she was second class or some type of possession after he was the one who essentially ruined her life. He could have been so different. Mitza's life could have been so different.. It makes me wonder if she would have been more famous and discovered more theories than her husband had they never pursued their connection. Why did things change for him? Is this a warning that we should let our mind guide our big decisions rather than our hearts?

Description

A vivid and mesmerizing novel about the extraordinary woman who married and worked with one of the greatest scientists in history.

What secrets may have lurked in the shadows of Albert Einstein’s fame? His first wife, Mileva “Mitza” Marić, was more than the devoted mother of their three children—she was also a brilliant physicist in her own right, and her contributions to the special theory of relativity have been hotly debated for more than a century.

In 1896, the extraordinarily gifted Mileva is the only woman studying physics at an elite school in Zürich. There, she falls for charismatic fellow student Albert Einstein, who promises to treat her as an equal in both love and science. But as Albert’s fame grows, so too does Mileva’s worry that her light will be lost in her husband’s shadow forever.

A literary historical in the tradition of The Paris Wife and Mrs. Poe, The Other Einstein reveals a complicated partnership that is as fascinating as it is troubling.

Release Day Blitz: Safe Bet by Monica Murphy

Safe Bet by Monica Murphy

Release Date: January 10th, 2017

Series: The Rules

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:

Sydney Walker’s new job is perfect. As the live-in nanny to the most famous quarterback in the NFL and his beautiful wife, she couldn’t have it any better. Their kids are adorable. Her bosses are more than generous. Plus, there are hot football players at the house all the time. Life can’t get much better than this.

Until her life turns into an absolute nightmare. The media is abuzz with rumors that she and her boss Drew Callahan are having a torrid affair. Everyone knows the truth—except the public. So Drew’s wife Fable comes up with the perfect idea.

She creates a fake relationship between Sydney and one of the rookie players on Drew’s team. Wade Knox is forever indebted to Drew and Fable and readily agrees to the set up. Pretending to be in a romantic relationship with the hot nanny for a week—how hard can it be?

Crazy how it only takes one week for two people to fall head over heels in love…

(This mash-up new adult romance features characters from both the One Week Girlfriend series and The Rules series.)

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About the Author:

Monica Murphy is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 international bestselling author of the One Week Girlfriend series, the Billionaire Bachelors and The Rules series. Her books have been translated in almost a dozen languages and has sold over one million copies worldwide. She is both self-published and published by Random House/Bantam and Harper Collins/Avon. She writes new adult, young adult and contemporary romance.

She is a wife and a mother of three who lives in central California on fourteen acres in the middle of nowhere along with their one dog and too many cats. A self-confessed workaholic, when she's not writing, she's reading or hanging out with her husband and kids. She's a firm believer in happy endings, though she will admit to putting her characters through angst-filled moments before they finally get that hard won HEA.

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Release Day: Dear Life by Meghan Quinn

   

Dear Life by Meghan Quinn Publication Date: January 5th, 2017 Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Four lives. Four stories. Four sets of letters. Four brave souls in need of guidance while facing life's greatest challenges.

The anonymously published Dear Life program is designed to help them step outside of their comfort zones, face their obstacles, and relinquish their demons...and prove their existence.

With their lives teetering between wanting more and losing it all, all four souls dive into the program as a New Year’s resolution, sending them on a crazy, life-altering journey.

Dear Life,

Please be kind.

Yours truly, Hollyn, Jace, Daisy, and Carter.

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About the Author:

A BLONDE AT HEART Born in New York and raised in Southern California, Meghan has grown into a sassy, peanut butter eating, blonde haired swearing, animal hoarding lady. She is known to bust out and dance if “It’s Raining Men” starts beating through the air and heaven forbid you get a margarita in her, protect your legs because they may be humped. Once she started commuting for an hour and twenty minutes every day to work for three years, she began to have conversations play in her head, real life, deep male voices and dainty lady coos kind of conversations. Perturbed and confused, she decided to either see a therapist about the hot and steamy voices running through her head or start writing them down. She decided to go with the cheaper option and started writing… enter her first novel, Caught Looking. ​Now you can find the spicy, most definitely on the border of lunacy, kind of crazy lady residing in Colorado with the love of her life and her five, furry four legged children, hiking a trail or hiding behind shelves at grocery stores, wondering what kind of lube the nervous stranger will bring home to his wife. Oh and she loves a good boob squeeze!

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