Unused Napkin: September 2015

Wednesday, 30 September 2015

BLOG TOUR: Suit by Jettie Woodruff

BLOG TOUR & GIVEAWAY

SUIT (THE TWIN DUO)

JETTIE WOODRUFF

RELEASE DAY SEPTEMBER 21ST

When my sister, Isabelle showed up, just ahead of a tropical storm, nostalgia and a need to reconnect took us on a ride...directly into the eye of a different kind of disaster. I woke from a coma unaware that I even had a twin and married to a man with two little girls. Although I fell madly in love with children that I didn't remember, I did't feel like I belonged with Paxton Pierce. I couldn't be who he wanted me to be no matter how hard I tried. But things aren't always as they seem. I fought my own demons, trying not to be the submissive he required me to be, yet I craved it like a drug. I wanted him.

Once upon a time I was an identical twin.

And then I wasn't.

The next time I woke the window revealed darkness. I felt irritated, but wasn’t sure why. Maybe because the neurologist never came like he said he would. Maybe because I hurt. I hurt everywhere. Even my eyes. Maybe the agitation came from seeing him. Why? Why was he there? Why couldn’t he just go away? I gave him a dirty look and hit my call button.

Paxton nobly walked to my side. “I can help you. What do you need?”

I shoved his hand away from mine. With all my might, I tried to move. Just rolling to my side caused excruciating pain. Pain like I had never felt in my life. At least not that I remembered.

My voice raised, yet it was faint. “I want out of this bed, I want to know what’s wrong with me, and I want you to go away. That’s what I need!” Faded words was all that I could muster. It even pained me to raise my voice. My muscles didn’t work, and the ones that did, hurt too much to move.

“Seriously? Tears? Give me a f*cking break,” Paxton said, arrogant tone and all.

I wanted to tell him off, tell him to go f*ck himself. The words were on the tip of my tongue, but they never formed in my mouth. The pain wouldn’t let them.

“What can we do for you, Gabriella?” Another new nurse asked. She moved around me, checking vitals and the drip in my I.V. while she spoke.

“I have to pee, and I need something for pain.”

“You have a catheter, but I can give you something for the pain. Tell me where the pain level is, one to ten.”

“Ten, more than ten. Oh, God. Give me something. Please,” I begged. My neck and shoulders hurt every time I moved my head, but I couldn’t help it. I was in unbearable pain, and nothing else was on my mind. I just wanted it to stop.

“Where’s the pain, Gabriella?”

“I don’t know. All over. My head, my neck, my back, my leg. It hurts everywhere. And it still feels like I have to pee.”

“Let me get you some Dilaudid. I’ll be right back.”

I squirmed as much as possible while I waited for relief, holding a flat hand over my face. Trying to squeeze the pain from my temples didn’t work at all. It still hurt.

“Shhh, I’ve got you. Just relax.” Soft words were whispered into my ear and Paxton’s warm body blanketed my chest. His hands moved around me and he held me close to him. The scent of “Stop fighting it, Gabriella. You’re only making it worse. You’re okay. I’ve got you,” he said in a quiet tone while leaving soft kisses around my neck. It’s stupid, but it did feel like it helped, like maybe some of the pain was lifted.

Tears slid down both of my eyes and he kissed them away, shushing me with soft words. Confusing emotions flooded my body while I wept in the arms of a man I didn’t know. I didn’t know what to say, what to feel, what to do, nothing. I knew nothing.

REVIEW

RATING:

OOOOH BOY… Is this a mindscrew or what! Talk about one headache inducing read! I am simply confused… It’s been a while since I’ve second guessed myself this much, seriously!

Where do I start with this one?

The blurb gives a pretty good idea of how the story will flow. The story itself goes back and forth in time. I feel like that’s pretty much all I can say at this point. HAH!

Gabriella is one interesting character. So is Paxton. I felt like Gabriella felt. I love to hate him one moment, and I hate that I love him the next. Their union is a lil disturbing on one hand (depends how dark is your read) yet quite explosive on the other. I don’t want to say yet how I truly feel about these 2 because who knows what else is around the corner. I can tell there are other players lurking around but again, who knows, really.

My take, you’ll probably figure out quite early where Jettie wants to take you with the start of this duet. You won’t be wrong, I’m sure. Heck, I was theorizing by 8% and I was “right”. But where the “fun” really begins is seeing it unfold and trying to figure out the hows. No, you won’t get an answer at the end as there is book 2 still to come. Hence, the headache:p At least, this is how I felt anyways.

I think I see what Jettie’s trying to do. The present is all about Gabriella navigating her way around her “new life”. The turn of events are almost expected given the wiped slate that Gabriella’s provided. But the past is what’s messing me up. The more I read, the less I know. Again, this is how I felt at least.

Although I have some of Jettie’s previous works, this is a first Jettie read for me. And boy, is this ever a treat, if I can call it that…

Gah!!! Jettie, book 2, pretty pleeeeeease!!!!

Amazon / i-Tunes / Kobo / Inktera

My name is Jettie Woodruff. I am from Ohio. I don't know what genre I write in. People tell me I have my own genre. I write whatever I feel, because that’s what makes me happy. I don’t want to be in that box where I can only write one genre. I tend to like my bad boy's, taboo; the touchy subjects that make you want to throw your kindle. Usually at said hot alpha male. Sometimes the female lead as well. My motto is life is short. Very short. If it doesn't make you happy anymore then why do it? Move on. Some of my favorite things, besides writing are, friends, family, and the beach. Music, although my interest has changed after forty, I like the new stuff. Happy Reading.

Website: http://www.jettiewoodruffauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JettieWoodruff
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jettie_woodruff
Instagram: http://instagram.com/jettiewoodruff
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/jwood4105/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6879912.Jettie_Woodruff
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Jettie-Woodruff/e/B00AYLK46K/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1440791728&sr=1-2-ent

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~Leftie

Tuesday, 29 September 2015

RELEASE BLITZ: Get Real by Tellulah Darling

Title: Get Real (Get Real, #1)

Author: Tellulah Darling

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: September 25, 2015

Synopsis

Magic and Mayhem in Manhattan

Francesca Bellafiore comes from a nice Jewish family -- one that happens to have magical powers. Underneath her good-girl exterior, though, she’s a wannabe badass with dreams of becoming a paranormal detective. Party boy Rafael Muñoz does everything possible to publicly disappoint his high profile father. Privately, it's a different story. His carefully crafted bad boy reputation masks the fact he’s a master illusionist, forced into solo covert ops. The role is wearing thin and Rafael longs to be part of a team. When Francesca and Rafael meet, it’s love at first sight… For about five minutes. Rafael is spectacularly attractive—and, Francesca discovers, fully aware of the fact. Rafael knows from experience that girls like Francesca are more trouble than they’re worth. So it sucks big time when they’re caught in a web of magic, minions, secrets, and enough sexual tension to power NYC. Their only chance to save the city and survive is to team up, trust each other–and maybe even fall in love. Provided they don't kill each other first. Get Real is a romantic comedy, urban fantasy whirlwind with sass, sex, and swoon.

Buy The Book

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IBooks | KOBO

Excerpt

POV: Francesca

The moon was full. I’d lost my cardigan somewhere in the house but this late in June, the night before the summer solstice, it was warm. The thump of bass and tinkling laughter from the party kept me company, but I was alone until a familiar weight crushed my lap. The swing jolted sideways. “Give us a sip,” Devi said, sprawling across me. “I’m parched.” I half–heartedly shoved her. “There’s this amazing old–school technology called a tap. It pours wa- ter to quench your thirst.” “It’s too crowded in there. And some obnoxious ass is juggling kegs. This does not bode well for the rest of the evening.” Great. I’d probably end up on healing duty. Devi slid off me and swung her legs onto my lap, nestling against the green cushions resting along our backs. She held out her hand imperiously. I handed over my soda. “Any sign of the target? Or his friends?” I asked. “No sightings yet.” Eli slumped down on my other side. He flicked my knee to get me to move my leg from under his, since he’d sat on it. Then he snatched the bottle from Devi before I could grab it, and took a long swig. Eli sputtered at the taste of it. “Coke,” he said with the same disgust reserved for “herpes.” I wiped off my arm with a grimace. “Where’s Byron?” I asked. Eli set the bottle down between us. “Last I saw, she was pretending to hostess but really watching the front door like a hawk waiting for her boy toy to show.” Byron gracefully sat down into the teak chair to my left, placing her own drink on the low table in front of us with a gentle clink of ice. She’d changed from her more casual sundress into dark skinny jeans and a sparkly black top, her hair curled in gentle waves. What a good–looking bunch we were. “Hardly a hawk,” she said. “A lady hawk.” Eli leaned forward to inspect the dark liquid. “Rum and coke,” Byron said, sliding her glass away from him. “And off limits to boys who insult.” I leaned my head on Eli’s shoulder. “This is nice. Who knows how many more moments we’ll have like this for a while?” Eli slung his arm around me. Devi reached up to take his hand, while Byron swung a foot onto his lap, as we all watched a couple dance in lazy turns on the lawn to the dubstep pounding from the living room. I was really lucky to have them, these friends who loved me for who I was, pointless boiler aspira- tions and all. I sighed, all warm and snug. Then some guy stepped into the back doorway, framed by the soft light over the door and I forgot these people existed. Hip braced against the wood, he lounged all cocky arrogance. He wore dark straight–leg jeans, hanging low on his lean hips, and exposing a glimpse of hard abs under a T–shirt reading More Issues Than Vogue. I laughed softly, even as my stomach clenched in swoony delight. I couldn’t tell his eye color but he had black hair, cut short on the sides and longer on top. He flexed a hand, rubbing it roughly over the top of his head. It left his soft–looking strands all

mussed up. Even his fierce scowl didn’t detract from his looks. Though he wasn’t my usual pretty boy type. The more I watched him from my cover of the shadowed swing, the more his smoldering dark looks made “pretty” kind of boring. “Figo,” I sighed. “Who is that? But don’t—” Every single pair of my friends’ eyes swung toward him. “... Stare,” I said. “Hey.” Byron bounced on the seat at the sight of him. “That means Jones must be here.” She glanced around. Eli clamped a hand down on her as she tried to get up. “Play it cool.” She grumbled but stayed put. Devi swung her head between the unknown beautiful boy and me. “Do tell. I’m intrigued by any male who gets Frankie so hot and bothered.” “Am...” I started to protest, but got distracted by the view as he turned around. My friends snickered. “Not,” I finished. “Yeah you ‘am,’” Eli said. “Name him already Byron, so that Frankie may harness his body for unspeakable acts.” I waved a flustered hand at him. “Shut up.” Devi half–raised her hand. “Wait. I want her to speak them. The acts.” She took my hand and placed it on Eli’s leg. “Or just point out on Eli where you’d like to touch this guy.” I snatched my hand back with a long–suffering look. “Who is he?” Byron lowered her voice. Not like he could hear us. “You must have heard of him. Rafael Muñoz?” Devi’s eyes widened. “That’s Javier’s infamous kid, Rafa?” I deflated. Only because of his reputation and not at all because he now chatted with a supermod- el–gorgeous blonde. “Could he invade her personal space any more?” I guzzled down the dregs of my Coke. “Don’t think of Rafa as marriage material, more like ‘for a good time call,’” Byron said.

About The Author

Tellulah Darling

noun

1) YA & New Adult romantic comedy author because her first kiss sucked and she's compensating.

2) Firm believer that some of the best stories happen when love meets comedy and awkwardness ensues.

3) Sassy minx.

Both a hopeless romantic and total cynic, Tellulah Darling is all about the happily-ever-after, with a huge dose of hilarity along the way. Her romcoms come in a variety of heat levels and flavors; straight up romantic comedy, shaken with Greek mythology or stirred with urban fantasy.

Sassy girls. Swoony boys. What could go wrong?

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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~Leftie

Friday, 25 September 2015

RELEASE BLITZ: Reapers and Bastards by Joanna Wylde

Want more Reapers and Bastards!

1-Click this Anthology of short stories from Joanna Wylde!

ONLY $0.99

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1gpaV2e

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1OVfKMF

Blurb

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Reapers Motorcycle Club and Silver Valley series comes an anthology of extras and never-before-released material, including a new short story featuring fan favorites Horse and Marie.

Charming Bastard: A Novella

I first met Riley Boone when I was four years old. We moved to Callup, Idaho after my dad blew out his back and had to go on disability. Boonie’s family lived next to ours. Every afternoon he’d swagger off the school bus after kindergarten like a conquering king. For the first week he ignored me, until I impressed him by climbing nearly thirty feet up in the tree behind his trailer. They had to call the fire department to get me down, but it was worth it to see the respect in his five-year-old eyes. He gave me a worm in honor of my accomplishment. I fell in love. The next day he made me eat the worm and our relationship has been complicated ever since.

(Until now, this novella has been exclusively available in the paperback edition of Silver Bastard.)

Sticky Sweet: A Short Story

Horse and Marie met for the first time in Reaper’s Property. Now experience this moment through his eyes. (Originally available on the author’s website.)

NEW Skunked: A Short Story

Marie has some BIG news to share with Horse—news that will change both their lives forever….

NEW Sugar and Spice: A Short Story

A prequel to Reaper’s Fall, this story features Painter and Melanie’s first meeting.

PLUS: Becca’s Huckleberry Pie recipe, Marie’s Bread recipe and Emergency Skunk Cleaning recipe.

Excerpt

“Marie?” 

Nothing. 

I passed through the living room and started down the hallway toward the kitchen. 

“Babe, you in here?” 

“In the back,” she replied, her voice faint. Entering the kitchen, I knew something was wrong as soon as I saw her face. Her eyes were red and puffy, and she seemed out of it—almost dazed.

“What the f*ck’s going on?” I asked. She jumped, looking toward me with something like fear in her expression. Jesus, had someone hurt her? A burst of adrenaline rushed through me—nobody touched my woman. I’d f*cking kill them. She didn’t say anything, though. “Marie?”

She shook herself, almost as if she needed to wake up.

“Sorry, I was sort of lost in my thoughts.” 

“What’s going on?” 

She stared at me for several seconds, her mouth tight.

“We need to talk.” 

Great—words every man loves to hear...

“About what?” I asked warily.

“Sit down,” she murmured, glancing away from me. “You want a beer?”

Up to that point, a beer had been damned high on my list of priorities. Now? Not so much. I pulled out a chair at the big wooden block that served as our kitchen table and sat down with a thump, leaning back. Then I crossed my arms over my chest.

“So let’s talk,” I told her, forcing myself to stay patient. Marie swallowed, then reached for the cup of tea sitting on the block in front of her, taking a nervous sip.

“Okay, so here goes,” she said quietly, refusing to look at me. “We’ve got some big changes ahead of us. You need to remember that it just happened, babe. It’s not like I did it on purpose. Please remember that.”

About the Author:

Joanna Wylde is a New York Times bestselling author and creator of the Reapers Motorcycle Club series. She currently lives in Idaho.

Stalk Her: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Thursday, 24 September 2015

COVER REVEAL: Turbulence by Whitney G.

Turbulence by Whitney G.

Publication Date: October 22, 2015

Genres: Contemporary, Erotica

F*ck me recklessly
Kiss me harder.
Take me again and again…

He and I met under a cloud of clichés:
Boy meets girl. Boy charms girl. Boy f*cks girl.
Our story was supposed to end right after the orgasms, right after we went our separate ways.

But then we saw each other again…
And neither of us could walk away.

Our rules were simple.
Our passion was scandalous.
Our hearts were supposed to be safe…

But when you find something so all-consuming—something so intoxicating and inescapable, you’ll risk everything you’ve ever had, even if you’re destined to crash and burn.

This is us.
This is our messed up love.
This is turbulence.

About Whitney G.

A self diagnosed candy addict, travel junkie, and hypochondriac, Whitney G. LOVES to write about characters that make you laugh, cry, and want to (in the case of Selena Ross) reach through your Kindle and slap them. She is the "imaginary bestselling" author of the Jilted Bride Series, Mid Life Love, Wasted Love, and Captain of My Soul. When she's not locked inside her room, feverishly typing away on her laptop, she can be found here: http://www.whitneygracia.com She also loves getting emails from her readers, so if you want to tell her how much you loved (or hated) her stories, email her at whitgbooks@gmail.com

Website • Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads

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~Leftie

Wednesday, 23 September 2015

BLOG TOUR: Sins of Sevin by Penelope Ward

New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author

SINS OF SEVIN

(A standalone)

Release date 9/21/2015

A Contemporary Romance novel

Penelope Ward

From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward, comes a

new forbidden STANDALONE romance!

NOW AVAILABLE!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1Qryeok

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1YrHjDx

iBooks: http://apple.co/1gmN9nq

Kobo:http://bit.ly/1Qd6oMs

B&N: http://bit.ly/1KakZ7G

Blurb

What happens when the one you want is the only one you can't have?

My name is Sevin.

Homeschooled and sheltered by my ultra-religious family, I was always taught that lust was a sin.

Elle was the girl who'd been carefully chosen for me.

After a long-distance courtship, I'd be moving into her family's guesthouse so that we could get to know each other in the months before the wedding.

Boundaries were set: no inappropriate touching, no kissing, no sex before marriage.

I'd accepted those rules and my fate.

Until I met the one I wanted to sin with.

That was when restraint became a problem...especially since THE ONE wasn't Elle.

It was her sister, Evangeline.

You know what they say about best laid plans.

My name is Sevin, and I have sinned.

Told in alternating points of view, Sins of Sevin is a full-length standalone novel.

Contains graphic sexual content and harsh language.

Only appropriate for adult readers

age 18+.

Excerpt

SINS OF SEVIN EXCERPT

He quietly followed me into the dining room, carrying the flatware. The tension in the air was thick as he walked behind me around the oval table, setting down silverware after each plate I’d put down. It was like some weird game of musical chairs where awkward silence replaced the music. The hairs on my back stiffened. We weren’t saying anything, but it was as if I could feel the weight of a thousand words along with the heat of his body so close behind me.

When I noticed he’d just put a fork where the spoon was supposed to go, I switched it. “The forks go on this side, actually.” My hand was shaking. I couldn’t believe how little control I had over myself.

Noticing my nerves, he suddenly placed his hand over mine and whispered, “Stop.”

Chills ran through me. My heart started to beat faster. My nipples hardened. I hated my body for responding to him with equal amounts of fear and lust.

I turned to him, his hand still over my knuckles. It felt like I couldn’t breathe as he just looked at me.

My mother’s footsteps caused Sevin to move his hand off mine with lightning speed.

Mama entered, and we continued setting the table as if our stolen moment hadn’t happened.

Review

RATING:

Well, well…

This is something I did not expect at all…

This is only my 2nd Penelope read. The 1st one was a collab with another author. So I guess on her writing alone, then this is a 1st for me. The blurb on this one is definitely what caught my eye. Something about the storyline just grabbed me. It sounded dark with all that forbidden angle yet it didn’t. And true enough, it wasn’t dark. I did get that forbidden part but it was more of an emotional ride that I didn’t quite anticipate.

It’s about people falling in love with the wrong person, which on its own, was difficult enough as it is, but take that within the context of religion, in a way, and the lifestyle that went with it, and what you get is the story of Sevin and Evangeline.

Sevin didn’t have a happy childhood. He made selfish decisions but he tried to do right by all and stay on the right path. He had his funny moments with his introspection. Evangeline was clearly the woman meant for Sevin but life sometimes takes funny turns that no one can foresee. They’re not necessarily characters I would gravitate towards in my romance reads but they’re really both decent and good-hearted and when these 2 are together, I felt the connection, and the sincerity of their feelings.

I admit I was shaking my head a few times, not understanding the formality of their words and their lives, but I guess I didn’t have to understand it. The choices laid out for them, or lack of it, frustrated me at times and made me disconnect. Some of their decisions made me nervous. A number of times, I thought the story should’ve gone one way but it didn’t, which is what kept me wondering, I guess, including the emotions that followed because the story didn’t go the way it would go. Had things happened how I thought they would in my head then I supposed I would’ve been reading a totally different book, right?

One turn of event definitely caught me totally off guard but again, I suppose it has to go down that way for the story to go into the right direction. Interestingly enough, I did figure out another thing right at some point, which I was hoping I was wrong, sigh. But I get it; it added another depth to the story. It just made me sadder, but I guess it made me care more as well…

My heart broke for all the characters, the uncertainties, the doubts, the pain; they felt unnecessary on the one hand had the story flowed one way, but at the same time, it made sense because sometimes, people make the wrong decisions for the right reasons, or the right decisions for the wrong reasons.

I’m talking in circles, aren’t I?... sigh… Let me just say that if you’re looking for a different angsty read, I think you’ll find it here. It's touching, and it'll melt your heart.

Meet Penelope Ward

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family-friendly career. She is the proud mother of a beautiful 10-year-old girl with autism and a 9-year-old boy. Penelope and her family reside in Rhode Island.