Review/ I Know Lucy

by Melissa Pearl

21467578.jpg
Title: I Know Lucy
Series: The Fugitive Series Book 1
Author: Melissa Pearl
Pub Date: April 2014
Publisher: Evatopia Press
Pages: 272

Source: I received an ebook from Mark My Words Book Publicity.

About the book:

Lucy Tate is on the run. After witnessing the brutal murder of her parents, she’s spent five years in hiding — taking on different personas and faking her way through life. The authorities can’t be trusted, so she remains in the shadows, always one beat ahead of the man who is forever hunting her. That is, until she meets Zach Schultz, a senior at Monte Vista High and the one guy she can’t bear to leave. Suddenly her natural instincts to lie, cheat, and run are overshadowed by something else…the desire to stay and perhaps, love. It’s her one shot at a normal life. 

Curious by nature, Zach is immediately drawn to the new girl at school. How can a person look both confident and vulnerable all in the same moment? Determined to figure Lucy out, he sets out to unravel the mystery that is her and soon finds himself caught up in a cat and mouse game. For the first time in his life he is faced with the reality that the truth can no longer set him free…if anything, it’s going to get him killed. 

mythoughts1banner

 

I knew right away after reading the synopsis of this book that I wanted to read it. I am going to say that this is probably one of my favorite reads of 2014 to date. Yes its that good. If I used a rating system I would have to say its 10+. I love the storyline, I loved the characters and I loved the authors writing.

I Know Lucy is told in the point of view of Zach who does the story telling in present day and Lucy who does the story from the time of the murder . Each chapter indicates who is telling the story which makes it so much easier from the get go. I didn’t think I would like the back and forth of the book but I have to say that it added to the book because like Zach we were wanting to find out more about Lucy.

I read I Know Lucy in two nights and probably if I had allowed myself I would have read it in one sitting. Right from the first page its non stop action and page turning. Which I love in books.

I Know Lucy opens up with Lucy being a happy go lucky thirteen year old girl. She lives in a nice house and has two loving parents and Lucy’s life couldn’t get any better until one night when there is a knock on the door and her mother goes to answer it. Her father knows that this isn’t good and tells Lucy to go and hide. Before Lucy knows it her life is going to change drastically. Both of her parents are brutally murdered and she knows that if she doesn’t leave then and there she is next.

With no where to run to because she knows the killer knows all about her and her family and she doesn’t want to risk the ones she loves, Lucy runs and doesn’t stop. Along the way she steals what she can to survive.

Over the years Lucy has developed many different looks and identities to protect herself and to stay under the radar because she never knows when it will be over. She has learned from the beginning that you can’t trust anyone and no one will have your back but you. All that is about to change when she meets Zach.

I have to say that I love Zach. For some reason you think he is this dorky kind of guy who is everyone’s friend and we are probably right but I have to say that this is the kind of guy I love…I am sure if I went to school with him I would totally be crushing on him.

Zach is curious about Lucy and he knows there is more to her then meets the eye. Will he be able to get Lucy to trust someone again or will she completely push him away and run?

If your looking for a really good suspense book that will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you want to turn pages and not sleep then I highly suggest this.

I can’t wait to see what is next in this series.

 

Book Spotlight/ Afraid to Love

Learning to trust again is the hardest thing to do.

Ana Perrot is crazy. Crazy about sex, and pleasing her lovers. She is passionate and as fiery as her red hair. She eats men like air. She is also willing to submit to any man anywhere. But outside of the bedroom, Ana is an independent woman who lives her own life by her own rules. And, her biggest rule . . . she won’t do long term relationships. She refuses to fall in love . . . again.

Teddy O’Rourke is an easy going, laid back Tampa bartender at one of the most popular clubs in town. All about family and enjoying life including all the women that throw themselves at his feet, he has no problems finding willing partners. His football player body, his personality, his warm hazel eyes all ooze sex appeal. He is the perfect package in every way for a woman like Ana, well for any woman really. An ex-cop, his instincts tell him Ana is one hell of a woman, but she is wounded and scarred by the past. What are her secrets? What will make her trust him? Why is she so afraid to love?

A one night stand, that is full of surprises for Teddy, opens his eyes to new possibilities. A single man enjoying his freedom meets his match in the bedroom, and elsewhere. He sees a future with Ana, a counselor for troubled youth. But could she be persuaded to fall . . . and to trust again?

 

Afraid To Love

MJ Nightingale

Purchase Links

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | B&N

Excerpt One

“My name is Ana,” she said coolly as she leaned in and nodded in answer to his question, batting her eyelashes just a tad. He smiled.  Teeth white, and straight.

He knew her sudden bashfulness was a ploy.  He knew the game.  “What will it be, Ana?”  He said her name slowly, drawing out each sound, each letter.

“Let me have Sex on the Beach,” she answered.  Then looking him straight in the eye. “I like sex on the beach,” she added.

He smiled at her again, and without looking at the ingredients began to make her drink. “Too sandy,” he chuckled, and then turned to go get the remaining ingredients to fill her order.

She watched his behind as he worked facing the wall of liquor behind him, and heat pooled in her loins.  This man was truly a fine specimen.  Thirty, she thought. And that was okay with her.  She was thirty-four, so the age difference wasn’t too bad.  She liked them a little younger anyway.  They were easier to control and more readily agreed to her conditions, her rules.

Before she was prepared for it, he turned back towards her, and the sight of him almost took her breath away.  He gave her one of his dazzling smiles, revealing dimples in his cheek, and a slight cleft in his chin.  Bar towel in one hand, he wiped the counter in front of her again.  Next, he placed a napkin down in front of her, and placed her drink on it.  Her mouth had suddenly gone dry. She leaned in to take a sip of the refreshing cocktail, not picking up the glass, but leaning low to give him a better view of her cleavage.  She wanted to turn the tables back to her side again, regain control.  She was glad she had worn this dress; it was red.  The green amulet swinging enticingly between her breasts was small enough to not distract from the view she was offering.  She felt his eyes on her like lasers.

“Delicious,” she purred licking her lips then straightened up suddenly.  She caught him ogling her breasts like a school boy, and he blushed.  Gotcha, she thought as she watched his Adam’s apple bob while he swallowed, hard.

“So the beach is too sandy for you. How about a big bed?” she asked innocently, but then leaned in again to take another sip.  She kept her head tilted to the side not breaking eye contact.  There was definite electricity.

DreamCast

 

Book Trailer

 

Ten fun facts about the author

1.)  I am a great cook.

2.)  I have travelled to 18 different countries.

3.)  I enjoy horse back riding.

4.)  I drink coffee all day long.

5.)  I wanted to be a stand up comedian.

6.)  I have twin sons.  My husband and I went through hell and back to have them, both having infertility issues.  (Subplot in one of my books).

7.)  I am Canadian and my husband is a New Yorker.

8.) My grandmother who is 90 teaches me how to use the computer.

9.) I teach high school.

10.)  I wish I didn’t have to wear a bra.  I’m stacked. (You don’t have to include the last statement, haha.  Nah, go ahead and include it.  I am sure many women can relate.)

Fire In His Eyes (Book #1)

Purchase Links

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | B&N

About the Author

MJ Nightingale has spent over two decades teaching students how to write, and now she is doing it herself.  Originally from Canada, she graduated from University with her Bachelor of Arts and then went on to get her Bachelor of Education Degree in Secondary Education.

            Reading has been a part of her life since she was a child. She has been an avid lover of classical English and American literature, but romance has always held a special place in her heart.  She devours historical romance novels all summer long, and any type of fiction; thrillers, crime, suspense, and drama.  This is her second published book, and she has one more book, Afraid to Hope, coming out in in the summer of 2014.  All three, Fire In His Eyes, Afraid to Love and Afraid to Hope, are erotic romance standalone novels and are part of her Secrets & Seduction Series.

            She is also working on a new series The Bounty Hunters for 2015.

            She currently lives in Florida, where she continues to teach, with her wonderful husband of nine years, and her sons.  She plans on pursuing her writing career full time very soon.

Contact the Author

**MJ Nightingale would love to hear from her readers.  She can be reached at authormjnightingale@gmail.com

And you can also visit her author page on Facebook at:   https://www.facebook.com/pages/MJ-Nightingale/185806224943537?ref=hl  to see what is coming next by MJ Nightingale.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review/ Pulled Beneath

Review/ Pulled BeneathPulled Beneath Series: Bar Harbor #1

Format: eBook
on March 2014
Pages: 250
Goodreads

What happens when you uncover years of secrets and find out everything you thought to be true was a lie? 

Drew Stevens finds her world turned upside down when her parents are brutally murdered. Soon after, she learns she inherited a property in Bar Harbor, Maine, from recently deceased grandparents that she believed had died when she was a baby. 

Drew travels north to settle her grandparents’ estate, but finds more questions than answers as the truth starts unraveling. What she didn’t expect to find was Saint, whose reputation was as tumultuous as his past. But the very thing that brought them together was the same thing that kept them emotionally caged. 

With Saint’s scars so deep and Drew’s so fresh, can the pair heal from their painful wounds or will they be pulled beneath the darkness of their pasts?

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

pulledbeneathbanner

I love discovering a new author and when I saw this tour I quickly jumped on board. Marni Mann is the author of several books which I will have to look into.

Pulled Beneath is the first book in the Bar Harbor series.

I have to start of by saying I was pulled in to the storyline from the first page. It was non stop and I don’t think I put the book down unless it was necessary. I managed to read this pretty much in one sitting. Its been awhile since I have done that. I have to say there are so many twists and turns in the book that you never know what is around the bend. These are the kinds of books I really enjoy reading.

The book begins with Drew crawling out of the bed of her friend, David. They have a no strings attached relationship. She is young and wants to pursue her career of photography. She has been through to much and likes the way things are right now.

On her way home Drew spots flashing lights and it only hits her when she gets closer to her house that its there. She quickly finds out that both her parents have been brutally murdered. Drew blames herself for not being home to protect her parents. She feels as though if she had been there this wouldn’t have happened. She chose being with David over her parents.

Still grieving the lose of her parents she receives a letter from a lawyer in Maine. The letter basically tells her that she has just inherited her grandparents house. Drew is confused because she was always told her grandparents died before she was born. She had no idea that they were alive basically up till her parents death.

Hoping to get some answers she decides to drive from her home in Florida to Maine to find out all she can about why her parents lied to her and why her grandparents never reached out to her before. I know I was a little confused and wanted to know what had happened.

Arriving in Maine she meets with the lawyer who basically says sorry can’t help you. So Drew goes to the house that is now hers. She quickly meets Saint. He is her next door neighbor. You know something will come of this. Drew discovers that there is more to Saint and she wants no part of this. She just wants to find out what she can and sell the house and move on with her life.

Will Drew be able to resist Saint and get out of town asap or is there more to him then meets the eye that Drew just can’t resist?

Will Drew be able to uncover all the secrets and lies she has been told?

I am excited to see where this story will go and hopefully it will happen in the next book.

 

 

 

 

Review/ Found In You

Review/ Found In YouFound in You by K. L. Ruse
Format: eBook
Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform on 2014-01-05
Pages: 282
Goodreads

Twenty-three-year-old Camryn Singer never imagined that she would return to the place where she lost everything. To grant a dying wish, she moves back to the small Jersey beach town where she grew up, hoping to somehow find the missing pieces of her life. Determined to keep her wounds unopened and her heart guarded, she instead slams head-first into Cole Stevens. Sexy surfer Cole has always used the waves to numb the pain of his past. But when he runs into Camryn on the beach one day, he wants nothing more than for her to heal his scars and light the spark back in his life. Will Camryn and Cole be ripped apart when the ghosts from their pasts come back to life, or will they discover that it's not until you're lost, that you can be found?

mythoughts1banner

 

This is the first book in the Lost & Found Series and its a debut author.

When I got the email from Mark My Words looking for bloggers to participate on the tour for this book I quickly hopped on board because the book sounded really good.

One of the best things about reading a debut book is you have no idea how the author writes so you have no idea what to expect and I have to say that I really enjoyed the book and I will definetely look for future books from the author. Just a FYI if you plan on reading this you should make sure you have some tissue on hand because I was literally crying reading the book.

This book has everything you could want in a book, romance, anger, pain, heartbreak, and so much more. You will be on an emotional roller coaster for beginning to end.

One of the things I loved about the book is that it was very realistic and you could actually see this happening in real life and I am sure it has.

Five years ago Camryn left New Jersey with her son, Gavin in hopes of finding a better life for them in California. She has everything you could possibly want in life until Camryn’s mother dies. Camryn decides she should head back to NJ with her son. Back to the place and the people she left.

Out of the whole book apart from Gavin I have to say I fell in love with Cole. They went to high school together and he admits that he kind of liked her back then.  I like hearing stories about high school crushes and especially if for some reason they manage to work out, perhaps not at the time but many years later.

It was nice because Cole is still dealing with things from his past just like Camryn. It showed that he wasn’t perfect and no one really is.  I am a big believer of things happen for a reason and you could see that in this case. Perhaps it was meant to be or maybe it was with the little bit of guidance from Camryn’s mother, who had left little bits of tidbits for her daughter to find.

I was rooting for Camryn and Cole the whole time and I liked that the author didn’t give them a fairy tale life but put obstacles in their way and bringing people into their lives.  This is the true test of a relationship. Can Camryn and Cole make it?

 

Welcome To The New Blog

Good Morning Readers,

I just want to take a quick moment to let you know about the big changes that are  happening on Cindy’s Love of Books.

The biggest change is Cindy’s Love of Books is now being self hosted. This is a huge step for me but one that I have thought  quite a bit about  this past year  and with a push from my friend Michael, I decided that now was the time to make this big move.

Michael actually got the ball rolling this past Christmas when he purchased my domain name for me. Thank you once again for this beautiful gift.

So I want to take a quick second to thank Michael once again for doing this and his company http://shoresidemedia.com for hosting my blog on their site. Countless hours have been put into getting this up and running. I would have been lost without you.

I also have to thank once again the awesome Lori from http://www.pureimaginationblog.com/ for switching over my theme for me. Thanks so much Lori for all your work. If your looking for an awesome designer I highly recommded Lori.

As you can see there are quite a few changes that were made in the look of the blog and ones that I really love. The header is still the same with some tweaking done to the lettering.  I have gone down to two columns instead of three and I find that its alot cleaner and crisper.

I have made changes to the fonts which I actually really like now.

I am also sharing with you the links to where you can find Cindy’s Love of Books online. I hope you will follow me. I can guarantee that if you follow me  I will follow you back.

So what do you think of the new look?

I know with this new look that I will get back into blogging more which I admit that I have been in a blogging funk. Hopefully with this new look I will get into a regular blogging schedule with a mix of tours, book promos, reviews etc.

Don’t forget to manually update your bookmarks to follow the new blog.

What would you like to see me cover on Cindy’s Love of Books?

 

Book Blitz/ Seduced by the Game

Blurb ~

It’s time to drop the gloves and fight! Support the Fight against cancer that is. This anthology of 8 brand new novellas is hot enough to melt the ice these players skate on. Featuring stories from popular New York Times & USA Today, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble bestselling authors, including Toni Aleo, Cassandra Carr, Cindy Carr, Jami Davenport, Catherine Gayle, Jaymee Jacobs, V.L. Locey, Bianca Sommerland, and Nikki Worrell.

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author – Toni Aleo TANGLED IN THE LACES

In Tangled in the Laces, Karson King is on the fast track to the pros and Lacey Martin is coming back from a hard fight against cancer and is terrified of him but their love is too much to ignore. Will Karson prove that he will protect her heart at all costs, or will he leave Lacey to pick up the pieces of her life once again?

Cassandra Carr and Cindy Carr HOOKING HANNAH

When Hannah attends an all-star game, she doesn’t expect a hockey player of all people to turn her world upside down. Her sister is married to a player and Hannah never wanted that life. But Scott could change everything. For Scott’s part, he has to know the woman who stirred his blood with just a look, and once he does, he realizes he wants Hannah to be his forever. Now to convince her…

Jami Davenport CRASHING THE BOARDS (Seattle Sockeyes 1.5)

Professional party crasher, Izzy Maxwell, needs the cooperation of reluctant party guest Cooper Black, the team captain of Seattle’s new hockey team, but Cooper can’t get past his anger over the team’s relocation to Seattle. Can Izzy melt Cooper’s frozen heart or will this party crash along with her fledgling business?

Catherine Gayle TAKING A SHOT (Portland Storm 2.5)

Katie Weber has had a crush on Jamie Babcock for almost two years, since he joined her father’s hockey team, the Portland Storm as an eighteen-year-old rookie. When cancer takes her health, her hair, and even her friends, she can’t bear to go to senior prom…until Jamie intervenes.

Jaymee Jacobs A VALUABLE TRADE

Bryan’s life gets turned upside down when he gets traded to the Dallas Comets, and things get even messier when he meets Georgiana, the Director of Team Services. He’s got a lot of work to do to prove his worth to his new team, but Georgiana’s sure he’ll prove to be a valuable trade.

V.L. Locey HEIR APPARENT

Superstar Cam Evans is fighting to climb out of a slump that`s growing worse with each day of living in denial. Fresh from the minors, Jacobi Neal is hungry for this chance to play back-up for the legendary goalie. Can two men battle each other, their inner demons, and the sizzling attraction building between them?

Bianca Sommerland BLIND PASS (The Dartmouth Cobras 0.5)

Nothing could stop Tim Rowe, the assistant coach of the Dartmouth Cobras, from falling in love with Madeline, but love alone can’t satisfy every need. Sometimes, to reach the goal, you have to take the chance with a . . . Blind Pass.

Nikki Worrell – CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN (Prequel to Scorpions Series)

Keith Lambert is the captain of the Flyers—until he’s not. To everyone’s shock, he’s traded to the San Diego Scorpions. As if that’s not bad enough, Phoebe, his girlfriend of two years, decides she doesn’t love him enough to follow.

All alone in a new town, Keith is drawn to Kelly, his take out delivery girl. When she shows up at ice girl tryouts, he’s lost. She’s all he can see. Can he convince her to forget her past and take a chance on him or is he destined to be alone in a new town a little bit longer?

**Proud Supporters of Hockey Fights Cancer.

Buy Links –
AMAZON US
AMAZON CANADA
BARNES & NOBLE
ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS

Links
Website: http://www.seducedbythegame.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21399240-seduced-by-the-game?from_search=true

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt  from Crashing the Boards by Jami Davenport
Party crashing was an art—if done right.

Isabella Maxwell should know. She’d been crashing parties for years, at first to get a decent meal and later—much later—as a part-time profession with her three younger sisters. She’d never crashed a party she didn’t take from dud to memorable in minutes.

Tonight she might have met her match.

She’d done her research and knew the obstacles and challenges, but nothing prepared her for the scene awaiting her on the party deck of the Washington Queen, a local tour boat rented by the Seattle Sockeyes hockey team for an evening dinner cruise around Elliott Bay.

As security checked invitations at the door, Izzy snuck past them and peeked in the doorway, scoping out the scene inside—DJ in the corner, empty dance floor complete with mirror ball and flashing lights, not a dancer anywhere. Hockey players were slouched in chairs clumped around tables, reminding her of pimply faced preteens at a junior high dance. Only these boys weren’t preteens or pimply faced. They were a formidable wall of broad chests, muscular thighs, and determined expressions. Each one mirroring the other, but she’d done her research. There was one man she needed to win over to salvage this party, and he hadn’t arrived yet.

Her sisters had already boarded the boat, managing to sneak past security, every one of them dressed to kill or at least to charm a professional hockey team, Bethany in her plunging Vera Wang gown and deadly high heels. Emma and Avery, the youngest at twenty-one and identical twins, looked every bit like giddy hockey groupies who’d managed to snag an invite to the party. Standing near the buffet table, they giggled and whispered as they stole glances at the players. Several players stared right back. Nearby, Bethany engaged the team play-by-play announcer in conversation, while he stared at her boobs, but men always stared at Bethany’s boobs.

The stage was set.

Time to get this party started. The Sockeyes were going to have the time of their lives if she had to threaten bodily harm with their own hockey sticks. 

“Ma’am, I need to see your invitation.” A security guard with a receding hairline, the waist of his polyester pants pulled up to his armpits, and a determined set to his skinny jaw, stepped in front of her before she could enter through the double doors.

“Oh, that.” Izzy made a show of digging through her saddlebag of a purse, not exactly in keeping with her little black sheath, but it served its purpose. “I know it’s in here somewhere.”

The security guard wasn’t the least bit impressed. He tapped his toe on the floor and took a ready stance as if he expected her to run any moment. Just what she needed, a SWAT team wannabe. She batted her eyes at him and continued to dig in her purse.

“I’m sorry. I know it’s here somewhere.”

“Ma’am, you’ll need to leave the boat until you can find it.”

She laughed and rubbed one perfectly manicured finger across his name tag. “Now, Carl, you just hold on one teensy bit. We’ll get this straightened out.” Izzy slipped into her fake Southern drawl; it brought most men to their knees.

Not Carl. In fact, not one hair quivered on his mustache. “My orders are strict. No one, not even the governor, gets in without an invite.” He wrapped scrawny fingers around her arm and pulled her none too gently from the doorway. He might look like a wimp but the guy was surprisingly strong.

No matter. She’d switch to Plan B.

“My boyfriend will be here any moment. He must have the tickets.”

As if on cue, her target for the night walked up the ramp and onto the boat. Cooper Black. The captain of the newly christened Seattle Sockeyes, and the most outspoken man on the team especially when it came to the team’s move and current situation, which he hated—the very man Izzy needed to tame tonight for this situation to turn around.

Judging by the stubborn set of his jaw and those steely blue eyes, this wasn’t going to be easy. 

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
If you are reading this on a blog or website other than Cindy’s Love Of Books or via a feedreader, this content has been stolen and used without permission.