Long and Short Reviews 17th Anniversary Bash

 

Like books? No matter the genre, we have a great place for you to find your next favorite read!

Long and Short Reviews is celebrating their 17th (wow!) anniversary, but you get the gifts. They're featuring more than 50 books in all genres from romance to science fiction, young adult to poetry... no matter your reading preferences, you can find something to enjoy!

What could possibly be better than that? 

How about a chance to win one of two $100 Amazon GCs, of course! Think of how many books you could buy... 

Once you've arrived at the Long and Short Reviews site, simply read through the book posts each day and answer a simple question (or follow authors on their social media accounts) and you're entered to win. New chances to enter every day! So, go visit and enter and don't forget to tell a friend or two. Good luck!

Contest runs from August 19-23, 2024.

What a Highlander’s Got to Do by Sabrina York (spotlight and giveaway link) ADULT title

What a Highlander’s Got to Do
by
Sabrina York
ADULT title

Check out this Hot New #Highlander coming March 6th from Sabrina York and St. Martin’s Press

Blurb:

Isobel Dounreay Lochlannach is a fierce and independent Scots lass. She has no intention to marry—to submit to a man—especially not an Englishman.

But when she meets a devilish stable lad on the way to London, she can’t help but sneak a kiss with the handsome stranger, sure to never see him again.

Nick Wyeth is not a stable lad. He’s Viscount Stirling, and heir to one of the most powerful dukes in the realm. If their indiscretion is discovered, Isobel will be forced to marry him, to succumb to a fate she has always spurned. Nick wants nothing but to call this wild Scottish lass his own, and is determined to show her how an English Viscount can make her swoon, and be his forever in What a Highlander’s Got To Do by New York Times bestselling author Sabrina York.

Amazon link


Read an excerpt and enter Sabrina's tiara Giveaway here

 #GiveawayAlert

What the Duke Wants by Amy Quinton (VBB, excerpt and GIVEAWAY) GFT

What the Duke Wants

by Amy Quinton

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Upstanding duke desperately seeks accident-prone wife from trade…

England 1814: Miss Grace (ha!) Radclyffe is an oftentimes hilariously clumsy, 20-year-old orphan biding her time living with her uncle until she is old enough to come into her small inheritance. Much to her aunt’s chagrin, she isn’t: reserved (not with her shocking! tendency to befriend the servants), sophisticated (highly overrated), or graceful (she once flung her dinner into a duke’s face). But she is: practical and in love… maybe… perhaps… possibly…

The Duke of Stonebridge is an agent for the Crown with a tragic past. His father died mysteriously when he was 12 years old amid speculation that the old duke was ‘involved’ with another man. He must restore his family name, but on the eve of his engagement to the perfect debutante, he meets his betrothed’s cousin, and his world is turned inside out… No matter, he is always: logical (men who follow their hearts are foolish) and reserved (his private life is nobody’s business but his own). And he isn’t: impulsive or in love… maybe… perhaps… possibly…

Can he have what he wants and restore his name? Can she trust him to be the man she needs?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

“Grace, I’m sorry.”

He paused and held her gaze. For a moment, Grace allowed herself to stand there, locked in his sights. Despite her anger over his earlier implications, she undeniably longed for things that could never be. She was attracted to this man on a basic, animal level. It didn’t matter that society frowned at their differing classes. His head drew nearer, and for a fleeting moment, she was confident he would kiss her, and oh, how she wanted it. But she was consciously aware that it would be a mistake. He was nearly betrothed to her cousin, and though her cousin and she were not friends, Grace would never betray her family that way, especially with a man she barely knew. It was wrong.

So before their lips could meet, Grace ducked under his arm and darted out the library door.

Stonebridge remained completely still. He closed his eyes as he tried to hold on to her lingering scent and the image of her staring up at him with so much intensity—with desire in her eyes. Then, ever so slowly, he leaned his head against the books where only moments before she had stood within his arms, within his reach. His heart still beat erratically.

He had nearly kissed her. And what a mess that would have been. And yet, he was completely undone, for it wasn’t he who had stopped it from happening.

Buy Links 

EBook: 
Amazon 
LS Books 

Barnes & Noble

KOBO

Google Play 

iBooks 

Print:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

CreateSpace

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 Amy Quinton is an author and full time mom living in Summerville, SC. She enjoys writing (and reading!) sexy, historical romances. She lives with her English husband, two boys, and two cats. In her spare time, she likes to go camping, hiking, and canoeing/kayaking… And did she mention reading? When she’s not reading, cleaning, or traveling, she likes to make jewelry, sew, knit, and crochet (Yay for Ravelry!).

Amy has lived in or around the Charleston, SC area her entire life. When she’s not home, at the beach (weather permitting), or camping in and around the Great Smoky Mountains (Check out Mile High Campground and Devils Fork State Park!), she loves to visit the United Kingdom. She loves the history, the culture, and the people – hence her love for Scottish and Regency Romances. She especially loves to visit the Isle of Skye – in the Highlands of Scotland; where the scenery is both rugged and breathtaking.

Amy graduated from the College of Charleston, a liberal arts college located in beautiful, historic Charleston, SC. She worked 10 years in the computer industry as a software designer before becoming a full time mom and now, a full time novelist.

 

Author Links

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GIVEAWAY

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Rules for Riders by Natalie Scott (spotlight and GIVEAWAY)

                                           



Rules for Riders, by Natalie Scott, was published in August 2014 and is available for sale on Amazon and Barnes & Noble in eBook and paperback. Genres: Young Adult / Romance

Synopsis:

Rules for Riders is a fast-paced coming-of-age novel set in the competitive world of equestrian riding.

After a near fatal riding accident, Bebe Barkley is banned from riding and sent off to boarding school. There, she meets her roommate and fellow equestrian rider, Finn Foxley. The girls devise a scheme to get themselves kicked out of boarding school in order to return to the world that they love. Once back on the circuit, former friends become deadly rivals.

Bebe's handsome trainer, Billy O'Reilly, gives her seven rules to follow in order to successfully compete. Through a series of tragic events, both girls are forced to abandon their dreams of Olympic gold. Bebe ventures down a dark road of self-destruction as she breaks every rule Billy taught her, only to be forced to relearn them in order to reclaim her life. Rules for Riders is a tale of lost dreams and the struggle to create new ones.



Excerpt

KING

CHAPTER 1
I can still remember the first time I saw him...

He’s seventeen hands high, a dark bay, almost black, a white star on his forehead, and four white socks on his hind legs. I’m fifteen years old when I spy King bucking and rearing and giving the grooms a terrible time. I think he’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

I point straight at him, “I want that horse.”

My father (otherwise known as the Colonel) rolls his eyes. “No, he’s wild. You just want him because he’s difficult like you.”

We’re at our neighbors, the O’Rileys, on a crisp Sunday morning. Jim O’Riley owns Starlight stables and is one of the best horse trainers in Connecticut. Jim winks at me. “For God’s sake, Colonel, everyone knows you made a ton of money in the stock market. Let her have the damn horse.”

“I said no,” shrieks the Colonel, remaining unconvinced. “Besides, who’ll train her?”

“I will,” Billy O’Riley, Jim’s oldest son, steps forward. His clear green eyes stare straight at King. “He’s a warm blood, sir, from Holland. We just bought him.”

The Colonel growls at Billy. “Listen son, I don’t care if he’s from friggin’ Japan! For God’s sake you’re only a couple of years older than my daughter.”

We all stand there watching, while his face turns bright red with rage. There’s no way in hell he's going to let me have this horse now. That would be too perfect. Instead, he shocks the pants off of me!

“Fine, but if you break your neck, don’t blame me.”

First thing the next morning I race over to the O’Rileys. By the time I reach the stables, I’m out of breath. Billy’s busy brushing down his horse, Stargazer. I walk over to King and stroke his mane. Then I pull a sugar cube out of my pocket. “Hey, boy.”

Billy looks up. “That’s funny, he doesn’t usually take to people so quickly. So let me guess, you want to take a ride?”

God, I’ve been riding since I was six! Okay, I admit it— Billy’s a hottie. I’ve had a crush on him forever. But it makes me crazy the way he still treats me like a little kid. He leans closer and places his hands firmly on his hips.

“Bebe, if I’m going to train you, there are rules for riders. The first one’s commitment. Without it, none of the other rules exist. If I agree to train you, you’ve got to give me 100 percent.”

I stare right back at him, giving him my best killer smile. “I’m all yours!”

For the next few weeks, he insists I do nothing but flat work. He hardly lets me ride across the yard without making sure I am doing it properly. Unlike the Colonel, Billy brings out the best in me and plays down the worst. Whatever I lack, he teaches me with infinite slowness; guiding King and I so we both gain confidence.

“That’s right. Keep your back straight, hold your head up, shoulders back.”

I learn from Billy that difficult horses become easy once you know how to handle them. With Billy’s training, I’m right on course. The Colonel’s threats don’t scare me. Instead, they fuel me, making me even more determined to succeed.

A few days later, I get to the stables early for some quiet time with King. Billy sneaks up behind me. I can feel his breath against my neck.

When I turn around, he has an amused look on his face. “So, do you finally want to take a ride? Isn’t that what you’ve been dying to do—jump every fence this side of Connecticut?”

I have this wild urge to hug him. Instead, I saddle up King. “C’mon, boy.”

King and I take off.

“Tell me what you’ve learned when you get back!” Billy shouts.


Buy links:

Amazon
 
Barnes & Noble


About the Author:

Natalie Scott grew up in Melbourne, often referred as the cultural capital of Australia because of its great restaurants, trendy cafes and great shopping! Natalie developed a love of books when her fourth grade teacher read the book Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S Lewis.

In high school Natalie devoured the classics, her favorite being Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger. At University she studied English Literature and Communications, though she will openly admit to spending a lot of time at the college pub where she liked to make up outrageous stories before traveling extensively through Europe and the United States.

Throughout her travels, she fell in love with sunny California where she attended classes at UCLA Writer’s Program. Natalie also attended numerous writers’ conferences including Santa Barbara, San Diego State and Grubstreet. She was the recipient of the Outstanding Fiction award given at the Southern California Writers Conference. In her spare time, Scott worked as a spokesmodel for companies including the AMC Network, We Entertainment, Hasbro, Adobe and Sony.

The Aussie gal is a foodie who loves Vegemite and currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona where she enjoys sharing her passion for food, enjoys exploring new restaurants, happy hour, traveling, and a passion for books and fashion.

Natalie Scott’s debut novel Rules for Riders was published in August 2014.

Connect with Natalie on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

To learn more, go to her website.



GIVEAWAY

A Kindle version of Rules for Riders will be awarded to one lucky commenter.  Please comment on whether you are a foodie and what your favorite dish is.  A winner will be chosen after January 22, 2015.

Yesterday People by Teri Herman-Ponce (Excerpt tour and GIVEAWAY) GFT

Yesterday People
by Terri Herman-Ponce

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

David Bellotti’s only focus is to find his abducted twelve-year old daughter. When he sees her on a news segment with her captor, a renowned archaeologist who’s made a major discovery, David sets out to bring her back home. But the search leads him to a secret message that could alter man’s history forever.

A message David and his daughter inscribed twelve-thousand years ago.

A message that will prove dangerous in the wrong hands.

Protecting this powerful information seems simple until David realizes some people will use his daughter against him to get it, at whatever the cost. Now David must make a choice. Protect mankind from a secret past that must remain hidden, or save his little girl.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~





EXCERPT

“They’re heading west on Fairfax. Turn. Now.”

I jammed the Camaro into fourth, floored it, and threw the car left. Tires screeched and the car fishtailed over ice, and the Jag I’d been chasing slammed its brakes then took a hard right. I swerved, smelled the sharp tang of burning rubber, heard tires grinding on packed snow, and clipped a curb.

Nat’s disembodied voice broke in over Bluetooth. “Jesus, D-Man. You’re gonna kill the ride.”

The car was the least of my problems.

The Jag blew through a green light that turned yellow. I hit the gas. A Ford pulled out in front and I swerved to avoid it and a bicyclist, and threw the gear into fifth. The Camaro went airborne, barreling through the intersection and over a pothole.

“Christ!” Nat cut in. “You’re gonna be useless to Ada if you’re dead!”

“Just keep a lock on Ada,” I said, pursuing the Jag onto the highway and wondering what in the hell the driver was thinking. An open road was no match for the supercharged Camaro. “I’ll worry about the rest.”

I’d been chasing the Jag for almost fifteen minutes, and trying to find my twelve-year old daughter for the last four weeks. First in White Rain, Australia, then through the back roads in Germany, and now across a remote area of snowy Massachusetts. Each lead brought me closer to her, but this had been the closest I’d gotten to Ada yet.

The speedometer inched toward one hundred.

Keep your head, Bellotti. Your daughter is in that car ahead of you.

I was moving in. Closer.

Closer.

A face peered up from the Jag’s back seat. Black haired. Sad-eyed. Focused on me.

It was Ada, and she was shaking her head.

My foot hesitated over the accelerator long enough to give the Jag a momentary lead.

Ada shook her head once more, emphatically this time, telegraphing that she didn’t want me to follow, and swiped her arm over her eyes and nose. She was crying.

The Jag took off.

Like hell. I would not lose my daughter again.


Buy Link:

Amazon



~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Terri looks for any opportunity to make stuff up. She thinks anything that can’t so easily be explained is worth an extra look and often makes a great story. She loves red wine, scotch, sunrises, Ancient Egypt, the beach—and a host of other stuff that would take too much real estate to talk about. The youngest of five children, Terri lives with her husband and son on Long Island. And, in her next life, if she hasn’t moved on to somewhere else, she wants to be an astronomer. Terri’s fascinated with the night skies almost as much as she’s fascinated with ancient Egypt.

Terri is a member of member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America, and you can read about her at http://terriponce.com/.

If you love social media, you can also find Terri on Facebook and on Twitter.

Come visit. She’d love to hear from you!






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Hand of Fatima by Myrna Sokoloff (VBBT, excerpt and GIVEAWAY)

Hand Of Fatima

by Myrna Sokoloff

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

It had been a year since the sealed casket of Holly's beloved husband Jake had been flown from the war zone to Dover Air Force Base with an honor guard. The American flag and the music didn't lesson the agony of his death for her.

Nobody ever told Holly what had really happened on that classified mission in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

The painful memory of his death came crashing in on her when Alex, a former special-warfare operator, approached her on a clear autumn day. Alex and his teammate TJ had been wounded on the same raid with Jake.

These tough wounded warriors were determined to find out the facts, but they knew for sure that the SEALS had been betrayed.

By uncovering the treacherous truth about the Helmand mission, this group of patriots and their friends discover an even more sinister plot that will put the country in danger . . . and it leads straight to the White House.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~






 
                                           
 

EXCERPT

Chapter 8 - THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE

Alex paced in front of D.C.'s Union Station. He had worked with Susanna and trusted her but she still worked for the President he did not trust.

Susanna saw Alex, took a deep breath and walked towards him. “Alex,” she whispered.

He turned and walked into the station and got lost in the crowds surrounding the fast food restaurants and sat at on a bench.

Alex started, “Tariq betrayed us.”

Susanna gasped, “How do you know this?”

“We've tracked him since the attack in Helmand Province,” Alex said breathlessly, waiting to see Susanna's reaction.

Susanna looked stunned.

“Tracked him—how could you track him? Do you have mercenaries in the field or is TJ's dad at NSA going outside the wire?”

“Tariq was there on the day of the attack.” Susanna’s mouth fell open.

Alex leaned close to her. “I'm not telling you the details because then you don't know anything to testify to in case…”

“Testify,” she shouted. “What do you mean? How do you know he was at the site of the attack?”

Alex looked glum. “I saw him!”

 Susanna gasped. “Are you sure it was Tariq?”

“Yes absolutely. You forget I was observing his interrogation at Gitmo. You know what this means Susanna?” he carefully said.

Susanna sighed and leaned back on the bench, “The President's poster boy for Gitmo releases reverts to his old ways…he's still a terrorist.”

“And worse, he set us up. He just didn't escape into thin air—he led us into a trap by giving us false info in order to kill us. He was laughing at us!” Alex was intent on making her see the danger.

Susanna got up and started walking, pulling her coat around her against the chill autumn wind. Alex followed but hung behind giving her some space. Her pace slowed as she faced him.

Alex pleaded, “We need to tell Holly, wife of a dead SEAL and a respected analyst.”

“Holly is not political and she was devastated by Jake's death. To bring it up again is cruel, especially if she finds out it was avoidable. I am speaking as her friend!” cried Susanna.

“Don't you think she would want to know? And if her best friend knew something, don't you think she'd be mad if you kept it from her?” asked Alex.

Susanna looked exasperated. But what he said made her feel unsure of her position. Maybe Holly would want to know.

“I tried to talk to her at Temple, but she was with family and besides, I lost my nerve,” he said, embarrassingly.

“I know how we can all meet away from prying eyes. It's Sukkot Thursday night.” Alex looked stunned and smiled.

“I didn't know you were Jewish!” he laughed.

“Holly always invites this Catholic to her sister's Sukkah in her backyard in Connecticut. There will be lots of people all unrelated to our work. Holly said I could bring guests. Ask TJ. We'll take the train.” Alex grinned and nodded his head.

Alex walked out of the station, happy he had met with Susanna. And he was glad he was going to see Holly again but he didn't want to think of her in personal terms.

His thoughts went to Tariq. He was sure he had seen him at the edge of the staging area, which didn't surprise him. After all, he had provided the intel. Then he thought he made a mistake and then everything was explosions, pain and darkness.

Alex was wounded. In the hospital room and in therapy, he felt like he had forgotten something important. But he was confused and the doctors told him some memory loss was perfectly normal after an explosion.

But it came back to him one night when he was watching The Godfather, and he called TJ.

“TJ, remember the scene in The Godfather when Michael was hiding out in Sicily after killing Sollozo and McClusky. His beautiful Sicilian wife—what was her name?”

“Appollonia…yeah I remember her,” said TJ.

Alex continued dramatically, “She was about to start the car. Michael called to his bodyguard Fabrizio. He looked back at Michael and then ran. In that instant Michael knew he had been betrayed and then his wife turned on the ignition and blew up. It had been meant for him.”

“Yeah, yeah I get it, but…,” interjected TJ.

“When I was watching that scene it came back to me. I saw Tariq that day and when I called to him he looked back with the same expression and then ran just like Fabrizio and then the explosions started.”

“We can't use The Godfather as a reason you remembered Tariq. They'll have you back in psych evaluation and think you are confusing life with a movie.”

“You do it all the time,” laughed Alex

“Yeah, I know, but not at a debriefing.” TJ sighed.








Amazon buy link

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:


I grew up in the beautiful suburb of Westport Connecticut. After Boston University, I moved to New York City. In Manhattan I spent time in many political campaigns as fundraiser and writer. New York was a Democratic town. We never fought with Republicans, we fought with each other! It was exciting and I thought I was making a contribution. When I moved to California, my connections helped me transition into the political world in LA. 

September 11th, 2001, changed me and I had to re-evaluate my politics. I used to work in lower Manhattan and saw on TV the streets and buildings covered with dust and so many people killed in an instant. In LA, I volunteered for the USO at LAX and watched Marines from Camp Pendleton fly out to their next training base. I also served an Army Family Readiness unit near me. I called families of deployed soldiers to check if they needed anything and helped with the Army Christmas parties for the kids. It didn't seem enough. I had to find another way to express my ideas and support the troops. I made political commercials and wrote articles. 

In 2008 I was the co-writer and executive producer of the political comedy feature 'An American Carol'   

I decided to write my first novel Hand Of Fatima because I was angry about the lies surrounding Benghazi, the terrorist attack that occurred in 2012. The four men that died that day had families and friends who loved them. Our leaders acted as if it was a political mess to get passed and forgotten. The novel is a thriller about terrorism and how it affects real people.

Amazon Author Page

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Facebook

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Bleeding Heart by Melissa Graves ADULT title (spotlight, excerpt, review and GIVEAWAY) GFT

I asked Melissa Graves the following question and she was gracious enough to answer:

What was the most difficult thing to overcome on your path to becoming a published author and how did you conquer it?

Melissa's answer:

I think what stops people from getting publish is simply the assumption that it's an impossible task to begin with.  Even people who have backgrounds and degrees in writing often don't know where to start, and it isn't as if you're handed a manual when you begin writing that explains what to do once you think you've got something that you want to share.  It becomes almost an assumption after a while—"of course, not me".

The question is: why not you?

I was absolutely one of those people.  I wrote and wrote and wrote, sometimes for no one but myself, sometimes for fandoms, sometimes for friends, and every time that I sat back and looked at that fifty thousand word story I would tell myself, "No one would understand this, or find it interesting" or "It's such an unpopular genre—who would care?" or "It's not profound enough" or "It's just not good enough".

Over time, though, I began to realize that maybe, just maybe, I was sabotaging my own efforts.  I knew that my stories entertained people, and that my friends and family never let up reminding me of that fact.  I began to receive comments on the stories that I wrote from people everywhere saying the same thing: "have you ever thought of being published?".

So I just kept writing.  The most important thing for me was making the decision to keep writing, no matter what the outcome; to keep creating, even when it felt ridiculous, and even when I thought that no one but myself would laugh or cry or care about my characters or stories.   I refused to allow my doubts to influence what I wrote or how often I wrote.  I wrote for myself, because it made me happy. 

Eventually, an opportunity presented itself—I took it, even though I was terrified, and I haven't regretted it since—but I never would have even been positioned to cross paths with that opportunity if I hadn't made the decision to write, and continue writing.

If you love and believe in what you have to offer, others will eventually love and believe in it, too.






Bleeding Heart
is an ADULT title

by Melissa Graves

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

While the public struggles to live side-by-side with vampires, medical student Brian Preston has dedicated himself to their care and study by working in a government-run clinic that monitors and feeds the resident vampire population. He has learned to expect the unexpected in his job, but his life takes a surprise turn late one night when a young, struggling vampire named Kyle stumbles into his clinic and his heart.

 As they draw closer, can Brian come to grips with loving the elusive vampire, and can Kyle find the strength to share the secret that can separate them forever?

Bleeding Heart is the story of love, blood, political intrigue and the secrets that can spell the difference between life and death.



Excerpt

"I know," Kyle says apologetically. "I can't help it." He swallows. "I mean, it only happens when I—when—I get excited. Sorry. Just, missed you."
  
"You—you can." Heat pounds in Brian's cheeks.
  
Kyle goes still, panting against his skin. "W-what?"
  
"You can, if you want," Brian repeats. His body is aching all of the sudden, for something new, for something more, for something that they haven't done yet. He can feel it, simply at the idea—it has been since they started kissing, of course, but now it's fully awake and invested in the proceedings—against the front of his jeans. "You can."
  
"Have you ever—"
  
"No," Brian answers. It's impossible to think clearly with Kyle holding him against the door, with Kyle's head bent over his neck like that. He's so hard that his jeans are starting to hurt; the angle at which he's risen against them is uncomfortable, but he can't move. "Please." The anticipation is like ants beneath his skin, crawling and crawling and crawling. "Please."
  
Kyle kisses the half-numbed skin just inches off of Brian's neck. His fangs are fully distended now and Brian can feel them, smooth and hard as they brush his skin.
  
The need to feel the pain that he knows he'll feel, to feel opened, to feel his blood run past Kyle's eager lips is sudden and new. Kyle can and will drink from his body; Brian can let him do that, this is a thing that they can do together, and it is as exciting as it is frightening.
  
"You can," he repeats. He feels dizzy. "I want you to. Want to take care of you, please. Do it." His hands are shaking so hard that he can't even maintain a grip on Kyle's waist, but it doesn't matter; Kyle is supporting him.
  
"God," Kyle breathes, shaking, his lips damp as they pass over Brian's shoulder again and again. "Ever since you—that night with the wine glass, I—god, I've dreamed of your blood so many times."
  
"Please," Brian hisses, arousal pounding through his body. "Do it. Do it."


Buy Links:

Amazon

Interlude Press





AUTHOR Bio and Links:

A veteran writer of fan fiction known as MissBeizy to her online readers, Melissa Graves’ stories have thousands of followers. At age 13, she wrote her first work of fan-based fiction, and by age 16, had met her future husband in an online vampire fiction chat room. A fan of science fiction/fantasy, she has a degree in anthropology and a passion for good chocolate, amateur erotica and fan worlds that celebrate diversity. She is mother to two cats.

Follow Melissa Graves and learn more about her work at her website

Links:

Twitter 

Goodreads












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MY REVIEW


4 stars



“Bleeding Heart” by Melissa Graves is an adult m/m paranormal novella that centers around a human medical student named Brian Preston who forms an unanticipated connection with a desperate vampire he meets at the blood service center where he works.  The young male who calls himself Kyle is fleeing a horrific experience and he serendipitously ends up at a site that caters to humans who want to experience vampire feedings.  The two slowly establish a connection that deepens as they explore a relationship but it is fraught with not only the complications attendant with being two males in a human-vampire relationship but the specter of Kyle’s past which may do more than just end the  blossoming romance before it can truly form, it may end someone’s existence.

This fascinating and evocative story is both frustrating and mesmerizing for me.  I thought it was a great storyline and it was delightful to watch the two main characters explore an intimate relationship that deepens gradually but I was disconcerted by the use of the present tense to tell the story and found it to be a bit jarring.  This story establishes a great framework with a complex system that is in place to deal with the needs of vampires and I think the author did a wonderful job of creating intriguing primary and secondary characters who all have their own stories to tell.  There are multiple threads that I would love to see developed in subsequent stories since this story provides a very entertaining sensual and suspenseful read and I would love to read more about this world.


A copy of this title was provided to me for an honest review

All In by Autumn Stark, ADULT title (guest post, spotlight and GIVEAWAY)

Yum, what a wonderful guest post by author Autumn Stark...and, wow, more titles that I haven't read and need to!

The Top Ten Books That Inspire(d) My Life

by Autumn Snark

I think as an author it’s important to know where you’re coming from and how you got to where you are. Here are ten books that influenced how I write stories and characters. From my first romance novel to the novels that taught me to break the boundaries, here are my favorite and most memorable influences:

Until You by Judith McNaught: This was the first romance novel I ever read and boy was it one to start with. The characters were so well developed and the sensuality level was unparalleled. I can honestly say that to this day I still find it fantastically elegant and sexy. Some of those sex scenes and their emotional contexts are just the most complex and human moments I’ve ever read. From the beginning of my experience with the romance genre, it showed me what a good story should look like (and good sex).

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronté: This is one of those books that we’re all supposed to read in high school and usually hate because we’re supposed to read it in high school. I fully expected that at 17. But I loved it. I absolutely loved it. I adored the oddness of Mr. Rochester and Jane and how beautifully and ironically they fit together. I liked that their relationship was built on hidden weaknesses and vulnerabilities that ultimately flip-flopped into strengths (or vice-versa). It gave me a vastly different understanding of my own interest in the world. It helped me to realize I truly enjoyed the exploration of the complexity of relationships--also men in drag. Hilarious.

Hidden Riches  by Nora Roberts: I first read this when I was babysitting at age 12. I found it on a side table in the living room and could not put it down. When the parents came home, the mother let me borrow it...and gave me three more Nora Roberts books to read after. I inhaled them. I was just coming off of Until You and my new found (and illicit) love of romance novels, and here was Nora like a beam of light into my addiction. What I began to love about her characters is that they all had their own “things.” The women in her novels had issues they openly dealt with and real lives. Even cooler was that they all seemed to be driven toward something. All the heroines were women with careers, not just jobs. Her books gave me a sense of what I wanted to shoot for in my own life.

Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding: One of the funniest love stories of all time. I really appreciated Fielding’s epistolary format and how she manipulated it for a modern reader. Bridget is, of course, one of the most empathy-inducing heroines in literature. I could identify with Bridget and her love of Darcy. Fielding’s retelling of Pride and Prejudice is one of wonders of the modern world if you ask me. She did it so well and, frankly, its what prompted me to explore romance AS literature.

The Abduction of Persephone/The Myth of Persephone by Homer/Ovid: As a kid, I moved around a lot and on one such move I resorted to raiding the local library--a very small library. I made it through the children’s section in about two weeks (we lived in a foreign country at that point and the library was limited). So naturally I gravitated toward mythology at the ripe age of 9 or 10. This myth stood out above all of them. No wonder--bad boy woos good girl.

Saving Grace by Julie Garwood: I love this book so much I keep accidentally buying copies out of fear that I don’t own a hard copy after all of my traveling. I also tend to hand it out at the slightest sign someone might be interested. Johanna was an amazing heroine for me to discover because she was one of the first historical (or any other genre really) heroines I’d seen who began as a seemingly weak woman who needed the protection of an alpha male...and really ended up saving herself. 

New Moon by Stephanie Meyer: I know a lot of people talk a lot of smack about the Twilight series, but at the end of the day...it’s a fun story. New Moon in particular was a great and unforgettable read for me because it introduced me to some new ideas in narration. In particular, the way Meyer used the blank pages to emphasize the passage of time really resonated with me. Whatever else you think about her, she has a presence and an emotional resonance that is hard to deny.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: Classic. I mean, really, if you read romance this is a must need read/watch. I know the formal language of Austen is not everybody’s cup of tea, but this is simply the story that launched a million novels. It is THE story of the romance genre. Darcy is the prototype for the modern romance hero and Elizabeth for the modern heroine. The best part? It’s a universally accepted romance novel.

You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister: I was already an adult when I read this one, but honestly it was one of the first times I realized you could have a humor-filled romance novel with a hilarious and flawed heroine. More than that, the heroine could be irreverent and flaw-filled. Where Bridget could do all of that and more as a Chick Lit romance heroine, I didn’t realize until this moment that a full-on romance heroine could as well. Interestingly, where Bridget was sometimes oblivious and vulnerable, Aisling was strong with a quick wit. It was a great discovery.

10. It Had to Be You by Susan Elizabeth Phillips: S.E.P. is a phenomenal writer. She just is, but her books are works of art all in their own right. This book was the start of a series that really had an impact on me. Unlike a lot of the “perfect” heroines I had grown up reading, her heroines were flawed, but often charmingly so. Phoebe, the heroine of this book, was all kinds of complicated just like her life. She and the hero, Dan, were not at all perfect and made mistakes left and right. Their romance was rocky and their choices were built on shaky assumptions most of the time. I really liked that S.E.P. gave her characters questionable characteristics and ultimately redeemed them as humans who would continue on enlightened, but basically the same.

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All In
is an ADULT title
by Autumn Stark

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BLURB:

Jay Markham, a wildly popular actor and a chronic womanizer, has become bored with his life. Jay decides to take a break and goes to visit his life-long best friend and famous romance novelist, Anthony Tate. But just because Jay decides to take a break doesn’t mean his fans will let him. The fans and the paparazzi follow him to the small Washington town and, in an effort to escape a particularly dogged fan, Jay ducks into the first open door he can find.

Parker Hardisson is a fairly normal, if self-contained, woman in her, ahem, early thirties. Relatively happy with her life as a freelance translator, she gets to work out of her own home and enjoy her life as quiet and drama-free as possible. So what if she’s a teensy bit lonely? So what if there’s some part of her that wants to explore the world? Things are working out just fine. So, when a mega-movie star comes slamming into her house, she wonders if she’s finally cracked.

Parker seizes the opportunity to make the deal of a lifetime. No strings, no questions. The problem is, Jay is playing this game by his own rules.

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EXCERPT


Jay heard Abby gasp and Tony curse, but he kept his eyes locked with Gabe’s. The other man seemed to consider for a second. There was one heartbeat, and then two. Gabe nodded to himself and uncrossed his arms.

“Outside, Markham.”

“Gabe! Seriously? What is with this family!” Tony yelled as he moved to grab Jay’s arm. “Jay, man, this is ridiculous. What the hell are you thinking?”

“Stay out of it, Tony.”

“Stay out of--” Tony gaped at him before anger filled in the confusion. “Goddammit, Jay. I’m the only one here looking out for you at the moment. Fine, you want to get into it? Why don’t you just explain what happened?”

Jay turned to look at Tony and Abby. He smiled grimly down at Abby and rubbed a hand over his face.

“It doesn’t matter, Tony. My reasons don’t really matter, do they?” Jay turned, directing his question at the Stephens brothers. They both shook their heads.

“Nope. Outside.” Gabe left the kitchen, letting the screen door slam behind him. Connor pulled it open and held it in place, waiting for Jay to step forward.

Jay should have figured this moment was coming. The Stephens treated Parker like a sister, not a friend, and family, real family, defended their own. Not only had he wronged Parker, he’d wronged her family, too. He was going to have to get into it with this big ass Marine and suck up a bloody nose or a scratch or two. Jay might not be a Marine, but he wasn’t the boy Parker had once called him, either.

Buy links:


Buy Links:

Amazon

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(Note from ELF)  All In  is the second title in the series, the first is


Break Me

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Autumn Stark writes Romance with a sense of humor and a whole lotta steamy fun. Doesn’t mean there aren’t a few whips every now and then, but she’s a sucker for a happy ending. Autumn has been writing in one capacity or another her entire life, but Break Me is her debut novel.

Autumn Stark is the pen name for author and publisher, April Oglesbee. (http://apriloglesbee.com/)

All In is the second book in the All In series. Book 1 is already available on Amazon, B&N, and iBooks. Book 3 will be released in June 2014.

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GIVEAWAY


Autumn will be awarding at each stop a signed copy of All In to a randomly drawn commenter (US ONLY), and a Grand Prize of a $25 Amazon/BN GC plus a signed copy of All In will be awarded to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour (US ONLY).  

Please leave a comment with a valid e-address about a book (or two) that you found inspirational.


Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here