I am losing my love for romance novels, which kind of makes me sad, because I've been reading this genre since I was a teen.
Its the second chance romances that are starting to get to me.
I think its all the angst of grown women not getting over their teenage loves that irks me the most. I know it can happen, but Lordy when the woman, and its always the woman, never even tries because she's so desperately in love with a guy from her past...well, that is a little sickening.
I like my romances to have more than a little bit of real life to them.
I'd love to see normal people falling in love, not billionaires or Navy SEALS. NORMAL folks. People that may have worked through issues that they had and came back to one another.
Second chance romances can work, but they have to make sense. I really feel these types of stories work better when the characters are more mature.
I'm griping about this because an author that I usually love wrote a book with a second chance situation. The characters were fine. I really liked both, but two young adults that screwed up and then did nothing to fix the situation doesn't make for a good second chance, plus the heroine....never really moved on.
I know romance novels are rooted in fantasy, and for the most part I'm fine with that, but sometimes there has to be some reality involved or it turns into more of a fairy tale in my book.
Do you like romances that involve second chances?
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Monday, November 6, 2017
Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours: Welcome To Sortilege Falls
Welcome
to Sortilege Falls
by
Libby Heily
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE:
YA Fantasy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Sixteen-year-old
Grape Merriweather moved to Sortilege Falls expecting a fresh start
and new friends. But things are never
quite what they seem in this
sleepy Missouri town. Her math teacher looks like a witch, her school
is being stalked by a vampire, and Grape could swear the town’s
garden gnomes are moving. None of that compares to the small group of
teenage models, blessed with otherworldly beauty, who rule Sortilege
Falls. Even the adults are powerless to tell them no. When the models
fall ill from a mysterious disease, all of the town’s secrets start
leaking out. Grape is determined to help her new friends, but
searching for the cure might just get her killed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GRAPE IS
SERENADED BY GRAESON:
Grape is
in her backyard at night. Her brother, Brad, has just gone off into
the woods to collect plants–Brad is a huge botany nut. Grape is
staring into the distance, trying to see into the woods when she
hears something behind her:
“Fancy
meeting you here.”
Grape
screamed.
“Calm
down,” the vamp kid from school said, his hands raised in the air
like a victim. He had switched his purple shirt for a black one and
slicked his curly hair back as well. “It’s cool. It’s just me,”
he said and reached out to grab her shoulder.
Grape
pushed him hard in the chest, making him stumble backward. “Don’t
touch me. What are you doing here?”
He
regained his balance and rubbed his chest where she’d shoved him.
“I wanted to see where you lived. That really hurt.”
She slit
her eyes at him. “I’m glad it hurt. It was supposed to.”
“That’s
not very nice.”
Grape
grabbed the lawn chair and held it above her head. “Are you a
stalker?”
“No.”
“You’re
sneaking around my house at night wearing all black.” She readied
herself to swing the lawn chair. It was pretty light and wouldn’t
do much damage so she decided to aim for a vulnerable spot—his
face.
“No. I
just thought... I don’t know. I thought you looked nice.”
“Do I
look nice now?” She gave the chair a swing, missing his nose by
inches. She hopped back a little and held the chair up high again. He
got one warning shot, that was it. The next swing would break his
nose.
“I’m
sorry. I thought this would be romantic.” He reached into his baggy
pants pocket and pulled out an iPod with a little set of speakers
attached. “I was going to play a song for you.”
“Totally
creepy!”
“No.
Really, listen.”
He
pressed play and an unholy mix of instruments blasted out in a tinny
blare. He shut it off quickly. “Wrong song. One second.”
“Leave.”
He
looked up at her with heartbreak in his eyes. “I just need one
second.”
“Shoo!
Go! Off with you!” She shoved the chair at his chest, driving him
backward.
He gave
her one last dejected look and walked around the corner of the house
toward the street.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review: I haven't read a YA books in ages, but this one sounded like such fun and it was. It was a quick read. It is the first book in the Grape Merriweather series. Like I said, I don't often venture into the YA arena, but I do when the character is relate-able and that's how I felt about Grape. She was kind of like I was in high school. She wanted to fit in. I can easily see myself carrying on with this series. Though unlike myself, in her original hometown, she was obviously popular. I love the story behind Grape's unusual name too.
Her new town of Sortilege Falls is unlike any other. A group of teens are worshipped like some kind of Gods. They are "The Models" and that's what they are. The rest of the world will do anything for them, much to their ire, and they treat the rest of the world pretty badly.
Her new town of Sortilege Falls is unlike any other. A group of teens are worshipped like some kind of Gods. They are "The Models" and that's what they are. The rest of the world will do anything for them, much to their ire, and they treat the rest of the world pretty badly.
The Models were a bit hard to like and the way they sort of weave a spell over all the other "Normals" makes for an interesting story. Mandy is the only "Model" that you will feel any positive emotion for. The others are so nasty that, even though you know that they really aren't all that bad, you can't find it in you to care about them.
Grape is a kick butt kind of teen. She is one of the only people that doesn't seem to be affected by the aura that surrounds the "Models" and as they start falling ill, it is her and her brother, Brad that seem to be able to save the survivors.
I have to say I was a bit jealous of Grape and her metabolism, because that girl was always shoveling food into her piehole and she was never gaining weight. Only the "Models" didn't find her figure appealing. (The guys were even nastier than the girls).
The magic, of sorts, that surrounded "The Models" made for some really interesting scenarios, especially as they tried to figure out what the parents had done to make their children this way.
The ending was a cliffhanger that will leave you begging for the next book.
Rating: 5 stars
AUTHOR
Bio and Links:
I was
born during a blizzard. I’m told it was pretty cool but I have no
memory of that time. I grew up in two tiny towns in Virginia and
spent most of my twenties moving around the US. I’ve lived in
Virginia, Florida, Missouri, and Washington. I’ve settled down, for
now, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
I’m a
writer and improviser. I studied acting in college but spent more
time rewriting lines than memorizing them. My first play, Fourth
Wall, was produced my junior year. Since then, I’ve written several
full length plays, one acts and screenplays. I started writing
fiction in my late twenties. Now, I focus mainly on novels but still
dabble in theater.
Fun
facts about me: There are none. I’m sorry to disappoint you so
soon. But, I do love to read, write, and run. My hubby is my favorite
person on earth. Dogs are my second favorite. All dogs. I love orange
juice, especially when it’s mixed with club soda. Carbonation is
better than alcohol. Jaws is my favorite movie. Everything I’ve
said so far is true.
Awards:
Puschcart
Prize Nomination for “Grow Your Own Dad” – Published by Mixer
Publishing
Semi-finalist
Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference – “STUFF”
Honorable
Mention The Ohio State Newark New Play Contest – “The Last Day”
Contacting
Libby:
Email:
libbyheilyauthor@gmail.com
Snail
Mail:
PO Box
58251
Raleigh,
NC 27616
Libby on
the Web:
libbyheily.com
http://libbyheily.com/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/libbyheily/
Twitter
https://twitter.com/libbyheily
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/libbyheilyauthor/
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Libby-Heily/e/B005HBXAOU
Goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5066866.Libby_Heily
Purchase
Links:
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FV4DZWE?tag=geolinker-20
Barnes
and Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/welcome-to-sortilege-falls-libby-heily/1123755970?ean=2940153003634
Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/634244
LULU
https://www.lulu.com/shop/view-cart.ep
Behind
the Scenes Info:
“Welcome
to Sortilege Falls” is my second novel. My first, “Tough Girl”
was about an eleven-year-old who is slowly starving to death and
loses herself in an imaginary world to combat the misery of her life.
I wanted to write something happy after that and WTSF is about as
“happy” as my writing gets. The idea was to come up with a main
character whose very name sounds like a smile, thus Grape
Merriweather was born. Stories grow and writers hardly ever end up
writing the book they intended. That is definitely true with WTSF. My
“happy” story grew to encompass the themes of beauty worship,
celebrity, as well as delving into the mysterious relationships
between child stars and their parents. In the beginning of the novel,
Grape is new at school and eager to impress. She was popular back
home and has never had trouble making friends. She spends over an
hour the night before trying on outfits and picking the perfect one
for her first day. But she is ignored by students and teachers alike.
Everyone is too caught up with the beyond gorgeous models to bother
with one new student. We discover this weird world along with Grape
and I tried to stay true to her voice. It was very important to me
that Grape wasn’t perfect, that she partially fell under the
Models’ spell as well.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY
INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
Libby
will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner
via rafflecopter during the tour.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f2491/"
rel="nofollow" data-raflid="28e4345f2491"
data-theme="classic" data-template=""
id="rcwidget_caxpinzd">a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thursday, November 2, 2017
Goddess Fish Promotions Book Review: Hide & Seek
by
Desiree Holt
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE:
Romantic Suspense
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Anything
can happen when you let your guard down . . .
After
receiving a violent threat on the heels of her father’s
disappearance from the town of Arrowhead Bay, Devon Cole fears for
her life—until Vigilance, a local private security agency, steps in
to shield her from danger. Although she isn’t usually quick to
surrender her freedom, she has no problem stripping her defenses for
her new sexy bodyguard . . .
Tortured
by the painful memory of lost love, Logan Malik is determined not to
fall for a client again. So when he’s tasked with watching over
Devon day and night, he’s focused on doing his job. Day is no
problem, but as tensions rise at night, nothing can protect them from
giving in to unbridled passion . . .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt :
He
wasn’t as much shocked by his physical reaction as by the fact that
it happened at all. For a long time now, he’d managed to keep a
clamp on his sex drive and take it out only when required, like
taking aspirin for a headache.
“You’re
a smart woman,” he congratulated her. “I didn’t know if you’d
play along with me.”
She
inhaled an unsteady breath and blew it out. “I took a chance. You
could have been worse than they were.”
“Still,
that shows brains and quick thinking. Good for you.” He studied the
interior of her car. “Wow. They did a number with that window.
Don’t move. There’s chunks and pebbles everywhere.”
She
stared at him, studying his face. “You promise you aren’t the
second wave? You know, like good cop, bad cop? The bad guys threaten
me and you come along and win my confidence by helping me?”
“Nope.
Scout’s honor.”
“I,
uh, saw that you have a gun.”
“So
did those jackasses. I wanted them to see it.” He smiled at her.
“But I only use it as part of my job.”
She
caught her lower lip in her teeth. “They just came at me out of
nowhere and ran me off the road. Then they boxed me in and smashed
the window.”
“Later
I’ll want all the details. Right now let’s get you out of here.”
“Do
you know who they are? Those men?”
“No.”
His voice hardened. “But I know other garbage like them.”
She
swallowed. “So who are you, anyway?”
“Oh.
Sorry.” He winked at her, and the tension in her body visibly
eased. “Logan Malik. Savior of women in danger.”
“Devyn
Cole.” She dug up a smile. “Woman in danger who needed saving.”
”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review: I've been reading more and more mysteries and suspense novels in the last year. This one was absolutely fabulous.
I've always found that romantic suspense novels have similar plots, but this one was really different and it grabs the reader from the very start.
When Devon's father's goes missing, someone comes after her. Enter Logan who is her protection. Sparks fly between these two.
There's danger, drama, suspense and even some good spicy bits to keep your pages turning. This book has it all and the mixture of mystery and romance is perfect. The chemistry between Devon and Logan is fabulous.
I can't wait for the next book.
Rating: 5 stars
AUTHOR
Bio and Links:
Desiree
Holt is the world’s oldest living published author of erotic and
spicy romance. A graduate of the University of Michigan with double
majors in English and History, her earlier careers include agent and
manager in the music industry, public television, associate vice
president of university advancement, public relations, and economic
development.
She is
three times a finalist for an EPIC E-Book Award (and a winner in
2014), a nominee for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, winner
of the first 5 Heart Sweetheart of the Year Award at The Romance
Studio as well as twice a CAPA Award winner for best BDSM book of the
year, a USA Today Bestselling author and winner of the Holt Medallion
for Excellence in Romance Literature.
She has
been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and in The Village Voice, The
Daily Beast,
USA
Today, The (London) Daily Mail, The New Delhi Times, The Huffington
Post and numerous other national and international publications. She
is also the Authors After Dark 2014 Author of the Year.
“Desiree
Holt is the most amazing erotica author of our time and each story is
more fulfilling then the last.” (Romance Junkies)
Learn
more about her and read her novels here:
Twitter
@desireeholt
Pinterest:
desiree02holt
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