COLLIER (Phantom Lives) Blog Tour

Synopsis of COLLIER:

 

 

Aidan watched the girls cower on the bed as their father, in a drunken rage, beat on the bedroom door. 

Drawn to the girls by some unknown power, he was irrevocably intertwined in their lives against both his tribe and his parents’ admonitions to “leave them to their own", but Aidan knew his mission was to safeguard Charlotte and Missy from the darkness that stalked them.

In her new Shifter series, author Elizabeth Loraine draws you to the seamy underside of Seattle and to the lush forests of the Pacific Northwest as Characters Aidan, Charlotte and Missy explore their complex bond, the mysteries surrounding their separate cultures and a common enemy.

 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads 

 

Title: COLLIER (Phantom Lives, #1)

Author: Elizabeth Loraine

Release Date:

Find it: Amazon & Goodreads

Genre: YA | Fiction | Paranormal

 

About Elizabeth Loraine:

 

I grew up in a small northern Minnesotan town married my high school sweetheart, had two beautiful children and as soon as we could we moved to a warmer climate. I have worked with my husband building and decorating custom homes for years.

After loving every kind of vampire book, movie and series since I was a child, I decided that I wanted to know more. I can write a book I thought, how hard could that be? Well...it was not as easy as I thought, but I stuck to it, and finished my first book Royal Blood Chronicles Book One in August 2009. I now have six books in the series and am about to release book two of my new series Phantom Lives.  My parents always told me that I could do anything that I wanted, work hard, and do it right. I believe that, and live that every day.

I started writing this new vampire series for teens and their moms because I wanted something different to read. I was tired of all the modern versions of vampire books, there had to be more to these long-lived beings. Where had they been, what had they seen? I wanted; no I NEEDED to know more, so Royal Blood Chronicles was born!  As in Royal Blood Chronicles, Phantom Lives features strong female characters and action and adventure mixed with romance, friendship and a historical backdrop. I hope you enjoy them.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Playlist: Elizabeth loraine

Jake Owen – Alone with you

The Boxer – Simon and Garfunkel

Honey Bee – Blake Shelton

Tiny Dancer – Elton John

Paradise – Cold Play

3 am – Matchbox Twenty

One More Night – Maroon 5

Fire and Rain – James Taylor

Rumour has it – Adele

You’ll think of me – Keith Urban

Popular from Wicked

50 Ways to say Goodbye – Train

Blown Away – Carrie Underwood

Code Name Vivaldi – The Piano Guys

Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol

Wanted – Hunter Hayes

Feel Again – One Republic

Paperback Writer – The Beatles

A Thousand Years – Christina Perry

February Song – Josh Groban

Everybody Hurts – REM

Sweet Child of Mine –Guns N’ Roses

American Woman – the Guess Who

I knew I Loved you – Savage Garden

 

My review:

I thought this book was an ok read. The plot idea was interesting and I really liked the idea but I dont think the plot was executed in the right way, it got way to far fecthed say we say. the writting/writting style also wasnt great in my opinion. How I hoped to really like this book because it sounded like something I would enjoy but alas I was disappointed. What could have been a brillant book didnt turn out too great in my opion and because of this I would not recommend it.

UNDENIABLE Top 5 list (promo)

Grace King has been in love with the hunky town sheriff since they were kids. But whenever she thinks she’s finally getting somewhere, he finds an excuse to escape. Jax can’t deny that his Grace is the sexiest woman in town. He tries to keep the sassy blonde at arm’s length—but one heated kiss crumbles all his defenses. When a town secret surfaces, threatening to destroy everything, can the man who defended Grace from bullies as a child protect her now?


Top 5 List by Shannon Richards  Author of Undeniable 

Jill Shalvis
 – Ms. Shalvis was one of the very first romance writers that I ever read. She has made me fall in love with so many fictional men that it’s ridiculous. Her talent is a gift for readers everywhere. I couldn’t even begin to tell you who my favorite of her heroes is, because I love them all. So. Freaking. Much. And I feel like all of her heroines are kindred spirits off mine. Like I said, she has an amazing talent to be able to knock it out of the ballpark every time. Every. Single. Time.


Julie James
 – One of my best friends was actually the person who introduced me to the fabulousness that is Julie James. Her FBI series is hot, sexy, intense, sarcastic, smart, witty, and so many other things. I love her books. Love her heroines and heroes (and let me tell you, her heroes are beyond alpha and so desirable it’s not even funny). Love the wine drinking. Love the humor (I literally laugh out loud with her books). I could really go on and on about her and never run out of things to say. She’s beyond brilliant.

Gail Carriger
– Lord Maccon is one of my ultimate scruffy, alpha men (and I do mean scruffy because he is a werewolf). He’s Scottish and words cannot accurately express how much I love Scottish men. The accents and the kilts. Oh. My. God. Just beyond all that is sexy and right in the world. And the way that he loves Alexia makes me feel all giddy inside. Then there is Alexia with her biting wit and her interesting fashion sense. Because of her I always want to use a parasol-like umbrella when it rains (and I just so happen to have one).

Ilona Andrews
 – Curran is the other scruffy, alpha man that I am in love with (he’s a werecat and he turns into a lion-type-animal, so again with the whole fur thing). I really have a thing for protectors (and scruffy men. Oh my do I love scruff). And even though Kate is a total BAMF, Curran is all about protecting her. Them getting together was probably one of the things that I anticipated with the most excitement. Ever. I mean it. In all of the books that I’ve ever read, them getting together is one of my favorite things that has happened. I read these books with a fervor that I can’t even begin to describe. Could. Not. Put. Them. Down. Fun fact, in Unstoppable, the third book in the Country Road series, I have Mel and Grace reading these books. Even my characters love them. Now that’s saying something.

Rachel Gibson
– The first book I ever read by Ms. Gibson was Nothing But Trouble. I fell in love with Mark Bressler almost immediately. And the remarkable thing is, Mark is not the happiest of campers at the beginning of the book (and he has ever right to not be happy considering the circumstances) so he doesn’t come off as the nicest guy. But damn if I didn’t love him anyway. The heroine, Chelsea, is a spitfire if I ever read one. She’s so sassy and she puts Mark in his place many times. After I read that book by Ms. Gibson, I went on a scavenger hunt to find every single book she’d written. And I loved all of them so much. She has the ability to pull at your heartstrings and then leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy.

Never Desire a Duke Spotlight Post

Book Info:  


Lady Sophia has long been estranged from her husband, Vane Barwick, the Duke of Claxton, whose rumored list of amorous conquests includes almost every beautiful woman of the ton. Yet a single touch is all it takes to reawaken her furious passion for him. But how can she trust the man who crushed her dreams and took away the one thing she wanted most?

Claxton has never forgiven himself for the youthful mistake that ruined his marriage to Sophia. Now, after nearly a year abroad, the reformed rogue vows to win back the only woman he's ever truly loved. He'll do whatever it takes to prove he can be the honorable husband she deserves-and the passionate lover she desires.

Book Excerpt:

For Sophia, there was something devastating about the knowledge they would never spend another

moment alone again until after the details of their separation—settlements and annuities and

agreements—were negotiated through intermediaries and finalized. In these last moments could he

not speak to her with some gentleness out of respect for the happier times they’d shared?

With all the force within her, she yanked the case back, inadvertently jerking his hand in her direction, because he did not let go. His eyes flared wide with surprise.

Of course she overreacted, and in a most irrational and childish manner, but in this moment she did not care. Her mind buzzed with hurt and anger, and she didn’t even feel the cold anymore. Did he not wish for them to have a decent and meaningful goodbye? They had once loved one another.

His jaw flexed. “This excursion was utter folly. Admit you were wrong in leaving the house.” 

That he would be so obstinate here, on the threshold of the place where she would say goodbye to him forever, upended her composure. Once she regained full possession of her case, she could go inside, shut the door on Claxton and convince her heart to forget him.

“Of course I was wrong. I’m a foolish, silly woman. Thank you, your Grace, for being such a gentleman as to point out my every failing,” she said archly. “And for being so much larger and stronger than me, your helpless, little wife.”

She backed away in an attempt to free the handle, but still he did not release it. Indeed, he gritted his teeth and held tight.

“Sophia—” he warned.

“But I’m not your wife any longer.” She jerked the case, throwing all her weight into the effort. “Not really, not for long, because you’ve made it clear, not just to me, but the whole of England that you prefer to be anywhere in the world and with anyone but with me.” And jerked it again. “So you’re not a gentleman after all, and most certainly not my hero, so no, I’m not inclined to thank you for anything.”

For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of the wind and ice cracking, and the echo of her words in her ears.

“Not a gentleman, you say?” he said in a hushed voice.

His expression dangerous, he yanked the handle hard, gaining possession of the valise and Sophia, who pitched forward, along with it. The force of it brought her crashing against him. The valise between them halted her abruptly, her face inches from his. Her heartbeat raced wildly, but not in fear. With the attraction she struggled even now, in her anger and hurt to conceal.

“It took you until now to realize?” he said, nostrils flared.

With a downward shove, he wrenched the case from her hand, throwing it to the ground. He stepped toward her.

“Don’t you touch me,” she gasped and retreated toward the steps, thinking to escape him but he lunged, closing the distance between them to capture her face in his hands.

“Dear God, you drive me mad,” he growled, his eyes alight with blue fire.

She waited for the squeeze of his fingers, for him to twist off her head in the middle of the lane, for being such a tiresome, troublesome wife, who had ceased to bring him a single moment’s peace or pleasure.

His mouth fell on hers.

Stunned, she grabbed his hands to remove them, but…

Didn’t.

She gasped against his lips, inhaling in his breath, and in an instant remembered all she craved. His full lower lip. The bristly texture of his unshaven skin. The taste and scent that was only, deliciously Claxton. Every particle of her being exploded with need. His hands found her waist. She grasped his upper arms. He groaned, devouring her.

The world around them faded into a maelstrom of desire, she only vaguely aware of the snow crunching under their feet as they danced, struggled…his hands—her hands—tangled in hair and wool. On skin.

“Claxton,” she breathed.

He made a guttural sound.

In wild surge, all the anger of the past months exploded inside her, transforming the kiss into some thing more primal. She bit him. He nipped her back, a moment before his tongue entered her mouth, to slide over hers. Consciousness blurred into a frenzy of pleasure and not-so-terrible pain.

Pain.

With a gasp, she thrust her hands against his chest and pushed.

Dazed and heavy-lidded, he stared at her, his cheeks ruddy with passion, his arms bent at his sides, almost as if he’d never seen her before.

“Oh, my God,” he exclaimed thickly.

Touching her fingertips to swollen and tender lips, she teetered on unsteady legs, and wholeheartedly concurred with his assessment. They’d shared thousands of kisses, but never anything as magnificent as that.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lily Dalton grew up as an Army brat, moving from place to place. Her first stop after relocating was always the local library, where she could hang out with familiar friends: Books! Lily has an English degree from Texas A & M University and after graduation worked as a legal assistant in the fields of accident reconstruction and litigation. She now lives in Houston, Texas, with her family. When she isn't at work on her next manuscript, she spends her time trying out new recipes, cheering on her favorite Texas football teams and collecting old dishes, vintage linens and other fine "junque" from thrift stores and flea markets.

 

 

 

Ripple Effect Romance Novella Series - Spotlight/Cover Reveal Post.

The Ripple Effect Romance Novella Series 
Enjoy this exciting new series of clean novellas by six critically-acclaimed authors.

"Like a pebble tossed into calm water, a simple act can ripple outward and have a far-reaching effect on those we meet, perhaps setting a life on a different course—one filled with excitement, adventure, and sometimes even love."

Book 1: Home Matters by Julie N. Ford
Book 2: Silver Linings by Kaylee Baldwin
Book 3: Righting A Wrong by Rachael Anderson
Book 4: Lost and Found by Karey White
Book 5: Second Chances 101 by Donna K. Weaver
Book 6: Immersed in Love by Jennifer Griffith

Home Matters by Julie N. Ford

According to her mother, Olivia Pembroke was born to be a star. But how is she supposed to be famous when she can't even get a decent acting gig? Her lucky break comes when she lands an audition for a wildly popular home improvement show. Even though she has no design training and has never even held a power tool, she refuses to let that stop her. She's confident that her destiny is finally within reach.

When her affections are torn between her heartthrob co-host and the irritating, yet somehow endearing lead contractor, does she continue to reach for the stars? Or does she design a new happily ever after? One that leads not to the fading lights of fame and fortune, but to a love that will burn forever.

Silver Linings by Kaylee Baldwin

Drew Westfall wants nothing more than to forget what he had to do in the name of "smart" business. Cutting off all ties with his parents—including handing over the entire contents of his trust fund to a charity—he takes off for Bridger, Colorado where his best friend has an extra room for him. It doesn't take long for him to realize that his business degree won’t do him much good in a town as small as Bridger, but he's broke and has nowhere else to go.

Eden Torresi has every reason to wallow. Not only did she lose her mother, but she had to drop out of nursing school and is in a relationship with a guy unwilling to commit. But Eden isn't the wallowing type. Instead, she chooses to spend most of her time taking care of the seniors at Silver Linings Nursing home. When she learns that her boyfriend's new roommate is down on his luck, her caring nature makes her want to reach out to him and offer what help she can. But the more time they spend together, the more complicated things get, especially when the seniors of Silver Linings decide to play matchmaker.

Righting a Wrong by Rachael Anderson

Seven years ago, Cambri Blaine fled her small hometown of Bridger, Colorado after her senior year ended in a fiasco. Only Jace Sutton knew the real reason why—that she was a spineless coward. Now, seven years later, her father's been in an accident and needs help, and Cambr has no choice but to return home. So with trepidation, she takes a leave of absence from the landscape architecture firm where she works and boards a plane, hoping against hope that Jace is no longer around and that the past can stay where it belongs—in the past.

If only life worked that way.

Jace never expected to see Cambri again. After she’d led him on, bruised his heart, and left town without a backward glance, he was forced to pick up the pieces and try not to hate her for it. Eventually, he put it behind him and moved on, creating a life for himself in his beloved hometown. But now that Cambri is back and looking more beautiful and sophisticated than ever, some of those old feelings resurface, and Jake instinctively knows, for the sake of his heart, that he needs to avoid her at all costs.

If only it were that easy.

Lost and Found by Karey White

Lydia was supposed to have an adventurous and exciting summer. Instead she's done nothing more than read and eat takeout. Now it's time to go home, and what does she have to show for it? A big fat nothing. Unless, of course, her trip to the airport somehow turns into something more than just a flight home.

Blake feels like he's been sent on a wild goose chase. While work is piling up back in Denver, he's on the other side of the country, hunting for some mysterious box that his grandfather left him. Well, no more. Nothing inside that box could possibly be more important than the opportunity to make it as the youngest partner at his firm. So he's going home, and that's that. But that's before he discovers his flight has been cancelled.

When these two strangers meet at the airport, they make a split-second decision to search for the box together. Maybe with both of them on the hunt, Lydia can have her adventure and Blake can find the box. And maybe, if they’re lucky, they’ll even find some romance.

Second Chances 101 by Donna K. Weaver

Thirty seven year old Francie Davis, a recent widow and empty nester, gets to attend college at last. She’s sure her luck has changed when she also lands a job on campus that will pay her tuition, as administrative assistant to a history professor. When her handsome new boss yells at her on the first day of work, Francie worries she will never be good enough.

For Professor Alex Diederik, life is going downhill fast. Not only is his bitter ex-wife trying to poison their only daughter against him, but now his one place of solace—his work environment—is being complicated by his attractive new administrative assistant. She drives home his feelings of failure as a husband and father, and Alex wonders if hiring her was the right thing to do.

Francie will have to put aside her hurt and insecurities or risk her dreams, while Alex must look outside himself if he’s to mend the breach with his daughter. And, perhaps, find someone who can help heal his pain.

Immersed in Love by Jennifer Griffith

Lisette Pannebaker speaks five languages and has a brilliant business plan—personal language immersion. Clients can hire her to shadow them and speak all day in any language they need to learn for business or travel—whatever.

But there’s a major hitch: she’s far too pretty. Clients with less than honorable intentions sign up just have Lisette at their side. Solution? A make-under. Way under.It works like a charm. None of her male clients show her the least bit of interest.

Until… Erik.

Erik Gunnarsson is charming, kind, and smart—everything she’s ever looked for. Even though he seems to have a secret and she swore she'd never date a client, Lisette is tempted to shed her disguise—even if it means jeopardizing her career.



Giveaway Details
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 10/31/13

Bloggers who put up a spotlight post about these books on their blog can enter to win an additional $25 gift card or paypal cash.  See details in the Rafflecopter.

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


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Always on my mind blog tour and Giveaway

Today I am participating in a blog tour for the book Always on my mind by Jill Shalvis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summary:

 

After dropping out of pastry school and messing up her big break on a reality cooking show, Leah Sullivan needs to accomplish something in her life. But when she returns home to Lucky Harbor, she finds herself distracted by her best friend, Jack Harper. In an effort to cheer up Jack's ailing mother, Dee, Leah tells a little fib - that she and Jack are more than just friends. Soon pretending to be hot-and-heavy with this hunky firefighter feels too real to handle . . .

No-strings attachments suit Jack just fine - perfect for keeping the risk of heartbreak away. But as Jack and Leah break every one of their "just friends" rules, he longs to turn their pretend relationship into something permanent. Do best friends know too much about each other to risk falling in love? Or will Jack and Leah discover something new about each other in a little town called Lucky Harbor?

 

 

Author Bio:

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

 

 

Author’s Social Networking links:

Blog: http://jillshalvis.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JillShalvis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JillShalvis

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22370.Jill_Shalvis

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/16bZwGE

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1aIeV6N

Indiebound: http://bit.ly/16c0lPH

Excerpt:

He stared at her. “That’s quite a list of shortcomings,” he eventually said. “Is that all?”

“No.” She shoved her wet hair from her face, though she managed to keep her regal stance, nose firmly in the air at nose-bleed height. “I held back because I didn’t want to be overly rude.”

He laughed softly. “Don’t hold back, Leah. Let’s hear all of it.”

“Well, your truck has more sporting goods than a store, you never say you’re sorry, and your girlfriends look like supermodels. I mean, what is that? There’s nothing wrong with real boobs, you know!”

“I fail to see the problem.”

She snorted again, and he was starting to feel greatly insulted. “You’re not exactly a walk in the park, Leah.”

“No?”

“No. You’re flighty, you live for your every whim, you downplay any real emotion you feel.”

She hugged herself tight. “Good thing this is all pretend then, isn’t it,” she said softly.

“Yeah.”

She was freezing. And hauntingly gorgeous, so damn gorgeous standing there wet and silvery by the moon’s glow, like a goddess. It’s Leah, he had to keep reminding himself. Leah, who’d once beaten him in a marshmallow-eating contest, only to puke all over him. Leah, whose dark-green eyes had a way of telling the world to bite her. Leah, who’d run off on him and left him heartbroken. He took a step into her—for what exactly, he had no idea—and she poked a finger into his chest.

“God,” she said. “You’re so…” Words apparently failed her, but she let out a sound that managed to perfectly convey how annoying he was.

“Ditto,” he said, and then grabbed the finger drilling a hole between his pecs and tugged her hard enough that she lost her balance and fell against him.

He wrapped an arm around her waist, entangling a hand in her wet hair.

She went still as stone and stared into his eyes. And then lowered her gaze to his mouth.

Yeah, they were in sync there. Suddenly he couldn’t breathe. Hers caught audibly in her throat, a good sign, he decided. Maybe she wouldn’t knee him in the balls. Testing the waters, he grazed her jawline with his teeth.

She shivered.

Then he slid his mouth to the very corner of hers and was rewarded by the clutch of her hands on his shirt. Having her hold on to him like this, like he was her only anchor, sent a bolt of lust straight through him. “Leah,” he murmured, hearing the surprise in his own voice, feeling the heat course through him as he finally—God, finally—covered her mouth with his.

Her lips parted for him eagerly, and he groaned, drowning in the erotic collision of her hot tongue and chilled, wet body.

Serious trouble. He was in serious trouble.

 

Giveawy:
There is a giveaway that goes with this tour, see more information at the bottom of my blog!

 

Just Between Us Blog Tour

Today im participating in a blog tour for the book Just Between Us by J.H. Trumble.



Title: JUST BETWEEN US
Author: J.H. Trumble
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Pages: 320 pages
Publisher: Kensington
Find it: B&N | INDIEBOUND | Amazon | Goodreads
Genre: Fiction | Romance | Contemporary

 

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Luke Chesser is trying to forget his spectacular failure of a love life. He practices marching band moves for hours in the hot Texas sun, deals with his disapproving father, and slyly checks out the new band field tech, Curtis Cameron. Before long, Luke is falling harder than he knew he could. And, this time, he intends to play it right.

 

Since testing positive for HIV, Curtis has careened between numbness and fear. Too ashamed to tell anyone, Curtis cannot possibly act on his feelings. And, Luke—impulsive, funny, and more tempting than he realizes—won’t take a hint. Even when Curtis distances himself it backfires, leaving him with no idea how to protect Luke from the truth.

 

Confronting a sensitive topic with candor and aplomb, acclaimed author J. H. Trumble renders a modern love story as sweet, sharp, and messy as the real thing, where easy answers are elusive, and sometimes the only impossible thing is to walk away.

 Find J.H. Trumble:

Facebook | Website | Twitter | Goodreads

J.H. Trumble is a Texas native and graduate of Sam Houston State University. You can visit the author online at http://www.jhtrumble.com and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/J-H-Trumble/170420913002483?fref=ts and Twitter https://twitter.com/JHTrumble.

 

Excerpt from Just Between Us

Curtis picks out a new guy for Luke

Luke

On Friday, Curtis pulls into our driveway right behind me, reaches over, and opens the passenger door. Mom is tying balloons to the gas light in the front yard. She waves to him.

 “You’re home early,” I lean against the door, ready for some light banter, but the look on his face stops me. “What’s wrong?”

            “Nothing’s wrong. Hop in.”

            “Sure.” I close the door behind me, then push the button to roll down the window, but it doesn’t go down. “What’s wrong with this window?”

            “A short. None of them are working.”

            I open the door again and tell Mom I’ll be back. She waves me off.

            “So, where are we going?”

             He presses on the accelerator and we whip around the cul-de-sac. “Shopping.”

            “For . . .”

            He looks irritated. “Matt’s birthday. What else. Today, right?”

            “I don’t recall mentioning that. How did you know?”

            “He texted me.” He glances over as he pulls to a stop at the corner. “Apparently subtlety is not in the Chesser genes.” I smirk; he smiles back, just a little. “It’s okay. Twelve is a big one.”

            Something’s happened. I can feel it in the silence as we make the short drive. He’s spiraling again. Slow right now, but I fear it’s going to pick up speed, and there will be nothing I can do to stop it.

            We stroll through the mall, stopping at the pet store so Curtis can half-heartedly tease me about the kittens in the window, then at Spencer Gifts so he can half-heartedly tease me about all the sex toys I’ve never heard of.

            But we’re not shopping; we’re wandering. Aimlessly. There’s something going on his head, something dark.

            We stop at Pretzel Time. I stand back and watch him order. I notice the slump of his shoulders, the way his hand shakes when he holds out a ten dollar bill. He looks tired, defeated. He hands me a pretzel and an Icee. “Come on.”

            We sit quietly on a bench in the center of the main aisle. I watch him watch shoppers move past us until I can’t stand it anymore. “Do you want to talk?” I ask.

            He kind of laughs—a laugh with no humor behind it—and points with his pretzel at the passing crowd. “Pick one.”

            “Pick one what?”

             “A guy. I want you to show me what kind of guy you like.”

            So that’s it. We’re not here just to pick out a gift for Matt; we’re here to pick out a guy for me. I cringe at the thought. “You already know what kind of guy I like.”

            “Come on,” he says, dully. “What about that one?” He’s pointing at some biker-looking dude with his pants so low he has to walk with one finger hooked in a belt loop to keep them from dropping to his ankles. His hair is black and greasy. A studded collar circles his neck.

            “You obviously have a low opinion of me.”

            He doesn’t laugh. He doesn’t smile. “What about that one?”

            This time he points out a super skinny guy with his baseball hat cocked at an odd angle. He looks like a super nerd trying desperately to be cool and failing miserably. I stare back at Curtis. He can’t be serious. But if he wants to play this game, then I’ll play. And he’ll see how silly this is.

            Coming up behind nerd guy is a real contender, if there is such a thing. He wears his hair short, his shirt snug, and his jeans just low enough to be sexy without being grungy. “How about that one,” I say pointing him out.

            Curtis smirks. “Shallow, pretty boy. All swagger, no substance. Probably doesn’t even know the difference between a pianissimo and a fortissimo.”

            The guy pauses in front of Abercrombie & Fitch and then goes in.

            “Figures,” Curtis says.

            “Here.” I hand him my pretzel and Icee. “I’m gonna check him out.”

            Serve you right for starting this, I think as I make my way into the store. I poke around for a bit, making no effort at all to single out Shallow Pretty Boy, until the loud music and missing Curtis drives me out again.

            I find my half-eaten pretzel and Icee on the bench, but Curtis is gone. I pick them up, wipe the condensation from the bench with my cuff, and toss them in the trash.

            I find him at a kiosk not too far away. He doesn’t look at me when I lean on the glass counter next to him.

            He holds up a chain from which dangles a stainless steel dog tag encased in a black rubber edging. The metal is smooth, not yet embossed with its owner’s name and vital information. “Do you think Matt will like it?”

            “He’ll love it.”

            He fills out the information and hands it to the attendant, who goes to work punching out the letters and numbers. We watch, and when I dare, I look at Curtis. His eyes are fixed on the embosser. “Did you get his number?” he asks.

            “Nope, but I think I got yours.”

            He takes my hand below the counter and crushes my knuckles until I yell, “Ow.”

Just Between Us Blog Tour Schedule

September 17^th – September 30

 

September 17^th – Taneesha at A Diary Of A Book Addict

September 17^th – Taneesha at Kaidan's Seduction

September 18^th – Tracy at YA Book Addict *needs digital book

September 18^th – Brent at Naughty Book Kitties

September 19^th – Alexia at Adventures in Reading

September 20^th – Joana at alwaysjoart

September 21^th – Fenny at eveREADthings

September 22^th – Anna at Sonorous Words

September 22^th – Autumn at The avid Reader

September 23^th – Priscilla at Nightly Reading

September 23^th – James at Book Chic

September 24^th – Sandra at JeanzBookReadNReview *needs digital book

September 24^th – Rachael at Moosubi Reviews!

September 25^th – Gabbi at Book Breather

September 26^th – Karielle at Books à la Mode

September 27^th – Brandi at Blkosiner's Book Blog

September 27^th – Debbie at Snuggling on the Sofa *needs digital book

September 28^th – Destiny at Totally Bookalicious

September 28^th – Melissa at A Cauldron of Books

September 29^th – Rachel at Libby Blog

September 30^th – Dana at Danasquare

September 30^th – Beth at Curling Up With A Good Book

 

Five Reasons You Should be Reading LGBT Novels

 

By: J.H. Trumble

It’s so 21^st Century

Gay characters in novels is nothing new, but I’m seeing them in an increasing number of leading roles. That’s exciting. Check out Brigid Kemmerer’s Secret (the fourth novel in her Elementals series) and Benjamin Alire Saenz’s award-winning Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, just two of my recent favorites. I think LGBT characters in leading roles will be the next big thing!

 

You get to live inside someone else’s skin

One of the great takeaways from reading books is that we get to walk a mile or a hundred in someone else’s shoes. And often what we find is that characters who seem to have nothing in common with us, are really, in many ways just like us. They bleed when you cut them, they bristle when they’re marginalized, they fight back when they’re wronged. It’s hard to hate or even mock someone you identify with, someone you’ve cried with, laughed with, and maybe even fallen in love with.

 
They reflect the diversity that exists

If you think queer folk aren’t among us, you’ve been living under a rock. And this is from someone who lives in a very conservative pocket of Texas. And yet books with LGBT characters in leading roles struggle more to find a place on school library shelves than do their straight counterparts. If your school or public library has a strong LGBT collection, go hug your librarian! Diversity is a beautiful thing and should be celebrated!

 They explore stereotypes

My good friend author James Howe once told me that stereotypes exist for a reason—there’s a lot of truth in them. I would have to agree with him on that. But stereotypes are not the total truth. If your understanding of the LGBT community is limited to stereotypes, then you’re missing out on the incredible diversity within that community. Books are a great way to explore what it means to be human first and gay second.

Five Reasons You Should be Reading LGBT Novels

 By: J.H. Trumble

There are some damn good stories out there

If you shy away from LGBT novels because you’re not gay, then you’re really missing out on some great stories. Here is a list of some of my favorites in no particular order:

 Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List, by David Levithan

Secret, by Brigid Kemmerer

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, by Benjamin Alire Saenz

The Last Exit to Normal, by Michael Harmon

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You, by Peter Cameron

Gone, Gone, Gone and Marco Impossible, by Hannah Moskowitz

The Vast Fields of Ordinary, by Nick Burd

And of course, my novels—Don’t Let Me Go, Where You Are, and my September 26 release, Just Between Us! Read LGBT novels! Talk about them, review them, share them with your friends, ask your librarian to purchase them.

 Be part of the NEXT BIG THING

 

My Review:

 

I thought overall that this book had a very sweet and sometimes bittersweet plot. I say this because the book makes you laugh, smile, and cry. It was a nice read and I enjoyed it.

 

The characters were very likable, and you root for them throughout the book. It is also very nice and refreshing to read a book were the characters seem very real. What I mean by this is that they feel like could be someone you know or someone who you might bump into sometime in your life, like its plausible for these characters to exsits in the real world.

 

I also liked the fact that there was romance in it, and that unlike many romance novels it was overly dramatized, it felt like a real romance that could happen in real life. The book was well written, it was an ok read, not great but not terrible, and I think it is worth the read. I would recommend this book.

 

Giveaways:

There is a giveaway that is going on that is part of this blog tour for all 3 of J.H. Trumble's book. The code for this giveaway can  foud at the bottom of my blog.

 

I will also be hosting a giveaway, here on my blog for 1copy of Just Between Us. Details for that can be found at the bottom of my blog as well!

 

I would like to thank Amy from Lady Readers Bookstuff Blog Tours for letting me participate in this blog tour and also for allowing me to read and review this book!