Showing posts with label cbls promotions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cbls promotions. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

CBLS Book Tour: Sunspots



Sunspots
by Karen S. Bell
Time-Travel Romance/Romantic Suspense
Categories: Comedy, Mystery/Thriller
Publisher: KSB Press
Release Date: December 12, 2012
Heat Level: Sensual
Word Count: 102,300

Available at:

Description:
“One can never be, and should never be, smug about life,” says Aurora Goldberg. An aspiring New York actress who has never realized her dreams, Aurora keeps herself afloat by doing odd temp jobs where her rich fantasy life helps her get through the day. Aurora sees the world through the lens of characters in literature and film and these fictionalizations are woven into her interpretation of reality.

On one of her temp assignments she meets Jake Stein, a man who could “charm the skin off a snake” and she decides to follow her destiny as his wife in Austin, Texas. But Jake's sudden death after two short years disintegrates her world and Aurora must reevaluate her life and let go of a love that has become an obsession.

With the help of friends, family, and the ghost of Viola Parker (her home's original owner), Aurora accepts her fate and the secrets revealed about Jake's true character. She realizes that in this life she will finally break the cycle of pain caused by her love for this man, Jake Stein, through the centuries.

Excerpt:
My passion for acting surfaced as a young child when my so-called natural talent flung itself into the world full-blown and raw. Not wanting to attend pre-school one morning, I laid my arm over my head and “pretended” that my head hurt as I had seen my mother do many times before. That deceit uncovered a truth made known by philosophers of the ages, but of which I was certainly unaware. Pretending to feel and to really feel do not appear differently to the external world—if you do it right. Aside from being great fun, the stage was an obvious platform to hone that skill.

As Celeste Abbott, my alter ego, I spent most of my time as either a receptionist or data-entry clerk. It was not by choice, because I dreamed of being sought after by the best directors and to work continuously like Julia Roberts or Nicole Kidman or have a great stage career like Patti Lupone.

I had several fits and starts on the roller-coaster ride of acting that kept me hooked and on the payroll of two temp agencies where I had accumulated so many hours that I was eligible for health benefits—a situation that pleased my mother but underlined my failure to get into Actors’ Equity, or make enough money that AFTRA or SAG allowed me into their health plans. My first paying gig was a commercial with five other girls that shot all day on location at the Jersey Shore.

“Okay, ladies,” said the director. “Try and pretend it’s not 40 degrees. Look like it’s summer. I know you’re quite cold in those shorts and tee shirts, so let’s get this done quickly. Chase each other. Laugh. Throw the ball. Have fun. Okay, good. You over there, go sit in the parked car.”

“Me?”

“Yes, but can you do anything about those blue lips?”

There it was. I was chosen to sit behind the wheel of a convertible and gaze sexily into the camera for a tight close-up—the money shot. I could taste the possibilities of fat residual checks or even better—being discovered by some producer who thought my look “perfect for the lead” in some mega-funded movie, but instead I caught a chill and high fever that kept me out of temp work for a week. When the commercial aired, I realized that the only close-up not on the cutting room floor was my foot sporting the running shoe I had been wearing.

My optimism, however, could not be thwarted because my real passion was Broadway and it was the dream that kept my juices flowing. My closest encounter with a stage career had been a part I landed in an off-off Broadway play downtown. Off-off Broadway is where any basement or falling down hotel can be a theater and anything can be a play. But more importantly, off-off Broadway meant there was no real money, so budgets were tight.

This gig was in the Meatpacking District in a storefront of what looked like a condemned building. The windows of the store were blacked out so that the streetlights wouldn’t interfere with the stage lighting. The audience sat in folding chairs and the house could hold about 60 souls who weren’t turned off by the lingering odor of the daytime businesses. The stage was a wooden platform that was long and narrow and made moving about a bit risky. I was chosen to play the “unnamed woman,” one of three characters. The other two characters were her “unnamed lover” and “death.” More performance art than a play, it had one act with one scene. As the unnamed woman, I wore a mask and gold body paint (that covered my exposed skin and bright-pink bikini) and sang two songs that had no set melody.

“Hey ho, hey ho. The setting sun sends swords of gold. Hey ho, hey ho. The light. The light. Please light my love.” Or some such nonsense was my opening number. My challenge was to improvise the music every night to a drum that was my sole accompaniment. One night, I believe I crossed into copyright infringement when this melody came very close to sounding like the song for the seven dwarfs in Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and the other song sounded like, The Sound of Music. I was paid a small amount of money that included cleaning up the stage and backstage afterwards. Unfortunately, the show closed after one week and ended my brush with stardom.

Review:
Tahlia Newland Awesome Indies
“SUNSPOTS is a moving, beautifully-written mystery about the devastating consequences of obsessive love.

Bell’s elegant prose not only describes the events and scenery of this self destructive love story in riveting detail, but also skilfully evokes the atmosphere both internal and external. The structure of the story is very clever. At the beginning of the book, our empathy is aroused for grieving widow Aurora Goldberg. It appears that she had the perfect marriage to charming Jake, but as the story progresses, we and Aurora discover Jake’s secrets, so shocking to her that she is forced to re-evaluate their love. Through eyes opened by the truth—and helped along by the visions provided by a ghost—she sees that all was not as rosy as she had believed. Not only that, but the legacy he left her could be life-threatening.

Popular fiction tends to romanticise love where one looses themselves in the other, or feels completed by the other, or feels they cannot live or be happy without the other; Sunspots takes this kind of notion to its extreme to show how disempowering an obsession with the object of our love actually is. Obsession not only blinds you, it makes you weak, needy and boring. Your partner is likely to turn elsewhere to get away from your clinging, especially if you end up harping on at him that he never gives you any attention anymore. It’s dangerous to let your whole life revolve around one person, for when they leave you—by death as it is in this case—you are devastated. As the book progresses we come to see how much Aurora has brought her crippling grief upon herself. She literally looses herself in this obsession.

Bell brings a metaphysical element to the story with the addition of Viola Parker, the ghost of the sister of Aurora’s last incarnation. With her help, Aurora sees that this pattern of obsessive love and betrayal by Jake—in his previous incantations—has been repeated in past lifetimes that ended with Aurora’s suicide. Viola urges her to take a different path in this life and cut the cycle of self-destruction.

Bell deals with interesting themes here, that we tend to repeat patterns until we make a conscious effort to change them,  that the past can be changed by actions in the present, and that when someone ‘saves’ us with love, in a healthy, balanced relationship we also to some extent ‘save’ them.

Highly recommended to anyone who likes psychological depth in their romance. I give it 5 stars and a place on the Awesome Indies list.”

About the Author:
Walking with Elephants was my first novel, although I am not new to writing. I was a theater critic and celebrity interviewer for a weekly tabloid in Jacksonville, Florida and I earned a Master’s in Mass Communication from Oklahoma State University. For 15 years I worked in Corporate America as a technical editor/editor/writer. I experienced first hand the politics and intrigue that goes with that territory and the balancing act that comes with being a working mother. I salute all those mothers who are the glue that holds their families together while pursuing the nine to five brass ring. And that is what inspired me to write that novel.

With my second novel, Sunspots, I continue to be in awe of the magical and wondrous phenomenon called life. As an observer and obvious participant in feminine values and approach to our human challenges, I bring this perspective to my work. Fascinated by the mysteries of the unseen forces that perhaps play a role in guiding our choices, I search for answers in the mundane as well as in the cosmic forces that surround us.

Connect with Karen S. Bell


Wednesday, August 21, 2013

CBLS Promotion Book Spotlight: Hesparia's Tears


Hesparia's Tears

by Imogene Nix

Erotic Sci-Fi/Futuristic Romance

Categories: Action/Adventure
Publisher: Total-e-Bound
Release Date: August 9, 2013
Heat Level: Steamy
Word Count: 56,211


Available at:



Description:

What will happen when the past catches up?


Galan is from Hesparia, a prince on a planet where the females are dying out his people need an alliance with the humans.

Jessa has a past, one she hasn’t earned but cannot escape.


What will happen when opportunity knocks?


Galan travels to earth, hoping to plead the case for Hesparia. He doesn’t expect Jessa or The Quickening.

Can he make the case for women to migrate to Hesparia? Can he get the humans to trust him enough to form an alliance? And is there hope for this couple to overcome the obstacles in their way?


Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains adult sexual situations and/or adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.

Hesparia’s Tears – Excerpt


The spaceship entered orbit and Jessa watched the tracking on the television. Since learning of the existence of extraterrestrials, it was about all she wanted to do. See where they were and where they planned to land.

The reporter came back on the screen. “We believe they will make their landing somewhere on the continent of Australia. There have been no further radio communications from the craft, however. So it is, at best, an educated guess right now.”

Jessa giggled at the sober face of the young, twenty-something reporter standing outside the Parkes Observatory and the inane follow up comment made by the thirtyish female news anchor.

“Jessa, it’s time for bed!” her mother yelled again.

She sighed dramatically. At twenty-four she was no longer a child, even though her parents seemed to struggle with that small fact.

Maybe it’s time to move out. As quickly as the thought had crossed her mind, she dismissed it. Leaving home meant more expense than she could possibly afford. The thing that really irked her was paying an outstanding legal bill for something she hadn’t even done. It was a refrain that had played through her mind over and over again since the event had taken place. It may have happened years ago, but she continued to pay for her youthful indiscretion. One she had long regretted.

Jessa stood, before heading down the old hallway to the bathroom. Living at home meant sharing a bathroom with her little brother, Ben. Of course, being a boy of sixteen, he was disgusting. There were used razor blades, splashes of water, foam from his recent shaving experience and hairs in the sink. Knowing it would make no difference complaining about it she carefully picked up the discarded detritus and placed it in the bin beside the vanity unit, wiped away the mess and began her own night-time ritual.

Emerging from the bathroom, she spied her mother, standing at the end of the hall in her fluffy blue dressing gown with matching slippers, and her blonde hair sitting high on her head in soft curlers. It was the same scene every night. “Night, Jessa.”

“Night, Mum.” What else was there to say? In a funk, Jessa entered her room, before closing the door then sat down on her single bed. She breathed deeply, letting the oxygen flow through her system, before slowly levering herself down across the mattress. Her blinds were open so she had an excellent view of the star-studded sky. It was a major positive to living on the edge of town, the absence of bright lights.

“Whoever you are, I certainly hope you’re friendly,” Jessa muttered, before closing her eyes, rolling onto her side and willing herself to sleep. For some reason, an excited thrill ran through her system.

Finally, visitors from the stars. No longer was it a figment of someone’s imagination or something from a science fiction novel. The time had come for them to have contact with another species. That was a sobering thought. The Prime Minister had sent a radio message to the ship. God, I hope the Prime Minister didn’t act like a pompous dick. Jessa snuggled down under the covers, waiting for the touch of sleep. Her mind wandered and she drowsed.

Her mobile, sitting on the bedside table buzzed and vibrated. Jessa muttered in the dark, groping for the device. She reached out and found the red leather covered item and dragged it to her ears.

“’lo?”

“Jessa, it’s me. Seth. Can you come to the office at the telescope? I need you.” His voice was excited.

She squinted. “I was asleep, Seth. Besides which, I’m off duty until Saturday.” The room was gloomy and she screwed her face up into a scowl, knowing sleep would probably elude her now. “What could be so important that I need to come in right now?” Jessa pushed back the covers, swung her legs over the side then slipped her feet into her old grey slippers beside the bed.

“I can’t tell you over the phone.”

“What?” Something was happening. An agitated thrill filled her chest and for an instant her mind warred with the interest that spiked.

“Jessa…”

He didn’t need to plead. Jessa was already getting up to hunt out clothes. “Sure. Yeah, I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Thanks. You really won’t regret it.” The delight in his voice was contagious.

Jessa hurriedly tapped the end call button.

* * * *

The land, so alien with hues of blue and green, grew larger as the craft descended. “Captain, do you really intend to land here? After those transmissions?”

Galan sat in his chair, watching the view-screen, hearing the concern and horror in the voice of his second-in-command. “I do, Joras. We must remember our primary objective.” He knew his words sounded unconcerned, yet he too had reservations after the tone of the communications he had received from the…what did they call themselves? Oh right, yes, Earthlings… “It‘s obvious they had no imagination, calling themselves Earthlings. Especially the woman who had called herself the Prime Minister, whatever that is.” He shook his head. “But what did pique my interest was the other transmission I received—the young man, who had called himself Seth. He sounded like he might be a possible go-between for us. Something our people had always found helpful in the past when dealing with new planets.”

Frustration pulled at him as he rose from his seat, making his way to the navigator’s position. “How long until landing?”

“Sir, on our current course, I estimate no more than three horanas.” Galan nodded absently. Three horanas to prepare. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do. “Joras, have your security team ready and fully briefed. We’ll have to treat this as an ambassadorial meeting. I will prepare a communiqué for our Liege, concerning our position and plans.” Galan turned back to his friend, rubbing a hand absently along his hairless jaw. “Joras, when we land, I need you to remain here.”


About The Author

 A mother of two, compulsive reader and bookstore owner. She lives in regional Queensland, Australia with her husband, 2 daughters, dog, cats and prize winning chooks. She has a particular fondness for Vampires, Star Ship Captains and things that go bump in the night.

She is also a firm believer in writing what you enjoy… something she strictly adheres to!

Connect with Imogene Nix



Monday, June 3, 2013

CBLS Book Barrage: Faelon






Faelon (Forgotten Touch #1)
by AJ Kelton
Gay Erotic Paranormal Romance
Publisher: MLR Press
Release Date: April 7, 2013
Heat Level: Sizzling
Word Count: 70,000

Available at:

Description:
Who knew that loving a Nephilim could be so dangerous.

Faelon, a 3000-year-old nephilim, fleeing a demonic master, found safety with the church. He has repaid their kindness by translating various artifacts. Father Donovan has watched as Faelon became a recluse, fearing those who would harm him.

Jax, wanting a change, moves to Salem, MA where he finds work as a churches security guard. Not believing that Faelon is a nephilim, he is forced to confront his own beliefs in the supernatural.

Can he learn to accept Faelon, and be the master he requires? Or lose the man he loves to the demons who would harm him.

Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains explicit sex scenes and/or situations (including BDSM) and adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.

Excerpt: 
Jax shivered as a cold wind blew through the door and ate up the warmth of the heater. It looked as if a storm was going to come in that night. Jax hoped it didn’t include ice and snow, but this was New England in October, so it was entirely probable.

“Did you walk?” He looked out past Faelon and didn’t see a car.

Faelon smiled as he watched Jax, waiting patiently to be invited in. “Yes, I walked. I don’t have a car, and it wasn’t that far really. Can I come in, or are you trying to heat up the whole outside? I will admit that there is a chill in the air; we might have snow by morning, but I don’t think your small heater will prevent winter.”

Jax shook his head, shaking himself out of his thoughts. “Of course, come in.”

“Thank you.” Faelon nodded, stepping into the house. He looked around at the front room. “Nice, cozy and so forth.”

“I haven’t lived here long, a couple of months.” Jax shrugged. “I guess I just never really thought about giving it more of a personality.”

“I like the way the house feels,” Faelon countered. “It suits you perfectly. I find I enjoy looking at your house. You’re not the kind of guy who would have pictures and plants, but I can see that you respect and value a good book. Many of these are historical in nature.”

“Well, I’m a researcher. That’s something that never really dies in a person, the love of history. I may be just a security guard right now but I would like to do some freelance research work.”

“Maybe sometime, when you have some free time, you could help me with some of the artifacts,” Faelon suggested as he turned away from the bookshelf. “You saw how much I have left to translate. There are some months when every one of those drawers holds something waiting for my attention.”

Jax stood, watching the dark-haired man examining his home. What was he doing here? Surely he couldn’t have come over just to talk about work. Finally, he decided to take matters into his own hands and do a little bit of research of his own.

“Did you walk over here to ask me to help you with some research?” He stepped in front of Faelon.

Faelon gave a slight shrug.

“Perhaps you have another reason for dropping by?” Jax asked, his hand running down Faelon’s chest.


About the Author:
AJ Kelton are the dynamic writing team of Angel and Jordan. The couple met online several years ago on an Alexander fan site and have been friends ever since. Angel soon found that Jordan had a flare for storytelling with several half-finished stories on her computer. Angel encouraged Jordan to finish the stories and with help in creative description she decided to send the stories off to MLR press. They were both shocked and excited when they got the news that Faelon was accepted for publication. While Jordan may have a flare for storytelling she doesn’t enjoy the smaller details in getting a story ready for publication. That is where Angel comes in; she spends countless hours getting the story ready after line edits, going over each line in proofing and formatting, making decisions such as covers and fonts, all things that Jordan just has problems focusing on.

Angel is always on the lookout for her perfect mate, a cross between Ethan from Under the Australian Sky and Evan from Marco. Until Mr. Perfect appears at her door, or in front of her booth wanting an autograph she loves to read, take pictures and attend concerts of all kinds. She loves all things 80’s. Angel lives in Texas with her two dogs, Daisy a beagle who she insists is nothing like snoopy and her Chihuahua Bonita.

When not writing Jordan loves to read anything from Amish romance to the dark taboo books of fiction both M/M and Het. She is a very avid reader, except when writing because she doesn’t want to be influenced by what she is reading. Jordan loves to travel and often her latest vacation spots show up in his books. While Jordan is always looking for that perfect place to live at the moment she can be found in Kansas.

Both writers have solo projects coming out in the future, Angel with Misunderstandings under the name Angel Rothamel. Jordan with Legion under the name Rider Jacobs.

Both authors would love to hear from you. You can contact them via their web page AJKelton@AJKelton.com. You can also find them on Facebook under both AJ Kelton, Angel Rothamel and Rider Jacobs.

Connect with AJ Kelton

a Rafflecopter giveaway LINK TO SCHEDULE: http://www.cblspromotions.com/2013/05/blogbarrage-faelon-forgotten-touch-1-by.html

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

CBLS Book Barrage - Construction Beauty Queen




Construction Beauty Queen
by Sara Daniel
Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Entangled (Bliss Imprint)
Release Date: September 25, 2012
Heat Level: Sensual
Word Count: 67,000

Buy Links

For more buy links and to preview the first chapter visit: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/construction-beauty-queen/


Blurb Chicago socialite Veronica Jamison is determined to shake off her sheltered lifestyle and overbearing parents. She heads to her grandfather’s small town of Kortville, ready to roll up her sleeves and work for the family construction business. She’ll prove her worth, even if it means answering to the company’s ruggedly handsome co-owner, Matt.
Matt Shaw just wants to run his business, spend time with the niece he’s raising on his own, and give back to the townspeople who have stood by him. Managing a spoiled-rotten princess he knows he’ll never be good enough for? Not part of his plan. But as he gets to know Veronica, he learns there’s more to her than her beautiful looks and designer clothes. She’s got a heart as rich as her background.

With the quirky townspeople rallying against Veronica inheriting her grandfather’s business, it’s up to Matt to try to drive her out of town. But how can he, when instead she’s driving her way into his heart?

Excerpt
"You left your tools behind," Veronica noted as Matt backed out of the driveway. "We didn't finish hanging the gate, and I really wanted to meet the owner of that house."

"I'll come back and finish up. The job's almost done."

"So I'm your top priority." She leaned her forehead against the window. "That's so sweet."

His chest tightened, but he kept his voice impassive. "You have a warped idea of top priority if you think someone who makes you beat yourself up with tools and then pass out is sweet."

She lifted her head enough to smile weakly at him. "Matt Shaw, you are without a doubt the sweetest boss I've ever had."

His fingers twitched. He clenched the steering wheel, but it was a poor substitute for the skin he longed to touch. "You're only saying that because I haven't fired you yet."

Reviews
“I loved Matt and Veronica and fully enjoyed this book.  I laughed and cried, it kept me entertained and it was hard to put down.” –Crystal from My Reading Room, 5 stars http://myreadingroom-crystal.blogspot.com/2012/10/author-interview-review-giveaway.html

“This book was exactly what I needed today.  It was sweet, funny and something to get completely lost in for a couple of hours.”  --Shannon from Cocktails and Books, 4 stars http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com/2012/10/review-construction-beauty-queen-sara.html

About the Author
Sara Daniel writes what she loves to read—irresistible romance and captivating emotional drama. She Construction Beauty Queen, she is also the author of The Wiccan Haus: A Man Worth Fighting For, The Wiccan Haus: Psychic Lies, Mr. Forever, More Than a Fantasy, Zane’s Art, and Wyatt’s Guilt.
writes to entertain and to give people hope and a belief that everything can and will turn out happily ever after. On the personal side, Sara is a frazzled chauffeur, chef, personal assistant and slave to her children. She's crazy about country music and the drama of NASCAR. She has her own happily-ever-after romance with her hero husband. In addition to

Connect with Sara Daniel:

Follow The Tour:

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Book Barrage - Melissa Kendall - Life In Suitcases


Life in Suitcases
by Melissa Kendall
Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Rebel Ink Press
Heat Level: Steamy
Word Count: 6,940 words

Buy Links

Blurb
After a tragedy changes the course of Elise Morgan’s life leaving her without a family and in foster care, she meets Anthony Scott. It doesn’t take long for them to become fast friends and they do everything together. When Elise manages to get a scholarship to college and Anthony doesn’t. They find themselves separated. As the years pass, they lose touch.

Feeling restless with her life, Elise sets about trying to find what is missing in her life. After breaking up with her boyfriend she takes a trip home hoping to find a sense of peace. One hug reveals that what Elise thought she was missing wasn’t a place or a thing it was a person.

Can she find true love with the one man she thought she might never see again?

Warning: This title is intended for readers over the age of 18 as it contains adult sexual situations and/or adult language, and may be considered offensive to some readers.

Excerpt: 

After the interview, I hurried back to my hotel room. I changed out of my suit into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, swapped my heels for sneakers, and headed down to the wharf. I searched for over an hour before I finally found the Hotel Alexander. Walking onto the job site, I stopped the first guy in a hard hat that I could find.

“Excuse me.” I tapped the man on the shoulder.

“Yeah?” He eyed me suspiciously. “How can I help you?”

“I’m looking for Anthony Scott.”

“He’s up the scaffold.” He pointed at the mass of steel piping on the side of the building. “Hang on a sec, I’ll get him down for you.”

“Hey, Tony! There’s a chick here to see ya.” Anthony’s head popped over the edge of the scaffold. I looked up so he could see my face.

“Elise?” he asked, disbelief clear in his tone. I just nodded. “Stay right where you are. I’m coming down.” His whoop of excitement echoed off the surrounding buildings, making my heart beat just a little faster. As he hit the bottom of the scaffolding, he ran over to me, swept me up in his arms, and swung me around in the biggest bear hug I’d had in years.

That was when it hit me. This was home. Not San Francisco, but right here in Anthony’s arms. This is what I’d been missing for six years, where I’d been yearning to be.

He finally set me down on my feet and leaned back to look at me. “What are you doing here?” He stared at me shock written all over his face.

“I had a job interview this morning with the Times. I thought I’d come say hi while I was in town.”

“You’re moving home?” He yelped with excitement.

“I am if I get the job.” I smirked at him.

With that, he swept me up into another giant hug. “Wait right here. Don’t move.” He turned and ran toward what was probably the on-site office, disappearing inside.

He came back out after about ten minutes, a giant grin spread across his face. “So, have you had lunch yet?” I shook my head. “Well, come on, then.” He grabbed my hand.

We spent the rest of the afternoon chatting and reminiscing. We filled each other in on what had been going on in our lives. I ’fessed up and told him the whole truth about Dave. In return, he told me about this man-eater of a girl he had broken up with just after New Year’s.

The more we talked, the more I understood this was what had been missing in my life. I couldn’t remember feeling as content as I did right then, sitting with Anthony. He made me feel like I was the only girl in the world. Then it dawned on me. How had I not seen it before? I loved him and not just the kind of love you have for family. I was in love with him—probably always had been. I was just too scared and withdrawn as a young girl to recognize my feelings for what they were. As luck would have it, I wasn’t that girl anymore. I was a woman, one who knew just what she wanted. Somehow I had to let him know how I felt, even if he didn’t feel the same.

As dinner time rolled around, I didn’t want us to part ways before I’d had a chance to tell him how I felt.

“So, what are we doing for dinner?” I asked.

“What would you like to do?” He grinned.

Same old Anthony, always wanting to make sure we did something that would make me happy.

“Well, I was thinking we could just head to my hotel, order a little room service, and continue the trip down memory lane.”


Review:  Life In Suitcases is a short story, a very short story, only about 21 pages long. I always find it hard to review short stories, because I'm one of those people that likes things long and drawn out. You don't get that in 21 pages and this one, though an excellent quick read before bed, could have stood to have been longer.

I'm like the obnoxious little girl from the AT & T ads, I want more. I want to know more about Elise and Anthony. I'd even like to know more about her relationship with Daniel. I felt like as a reader we were given a lot of information that moved the story on too fast to get to the point where she hooks up with Anthony.

The sex between the two of them however will knock your socks off. There was definitely chemistry there. 

Great short for fans of the new adult genre

Rating:  4 stars


About the Author
Melissa is a 37 year-old stay at home mum and part-time Software Support Consultant. She lives in Perth Western Australia the most isolated capital city in the world.

She’s always loved to read and write and spent most of her teens scribbling poetry and short stories on any scrap of paper she could get her hands on. Over the years as daily life pressures got in the way she lost the passion for it. After her son was born, she discovered online books and her interest in writing was rekindled. It has been a large part of her life ever since.

Connect with Melissa Kendall
Twitter: @mkendallauthor

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

CBLS Book Review: Finding Justice


Author: Rachel Brimble
Title: Finding Justice
Publisher: Harlequin Superromance
Publish Date: Feb 5, 2013
Buy: Amazon
Review Copy Provided By: CBLS Promotions & the author
Book Blurb:  Old friends, new secrets Sergeant Cat Forrester lives by her own set of rules. When her childhood friend is murdered, Cat's world is thrown into chaos. Especially because Jay Garrett—a man from her past—is a suspect, and he needs her help to prove he's innocent. After all they once shared, how can she say no?

The attraction flares between them, and getting involved with a suspect is a huge risk. But the more time Cat spends with Jay, the stronger the tug on her heart. He is the same caring, irresistible man she remembers. Yet she can't let her emotions interfere with the case—solving it is top priority. And as she digs deeper, she discovers Jay has secrets that may jeopardize any possible future together.

Review: Finding Justice is Rachel Brimbles debut novel for Harlequin Superromance and it doesn't disappoint. This book could easily have been published under the Intrigue line, but I'm glad it didn't.

Cat is the kind of heroine you very rarely find in Harlequins where any level of mystery is involved. She's a top notch inspector and there's not a weak bone in her body when it comes to finding a killer. Now when it comes to her personal life that's another story.

I loved Cat and I especially loved how she put the case first, over her blossoming relationship with Jay, a childhood friend that she shared a one night stand with.

There was a good mix of personal feelings as well as intrigue to this book and a big plus was how the romance part was there, and at times it sizzled, but it wasn't the focal point of the story, that was left for the mystery of finding their friend Sarah's killer.

Rachel also adds a bit more to the story, having both the hero and the heroines mother as addicts, Jay with drugs and Julia with alcohol. Its not something you usually see in Harlequin romance, but it really humanized Jay. It also took him away from the "Alpha Male" category that most heroes from series romance fall into. He was flawed very much so, and that makes me love him all the more.

As for the whodunit, I figured it out pretty early on, but I'm pretty good at that.

Anyone that likes a good mystery will enjoy this one. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Rating: 5 stars



About the Author: 
Rachel lives with her husband and two young daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. She started writing short stories about eight years ago but once her children were at school, she embarked on her first novel. It was published in 2007. Since then, she’s had several books published with small presses as well as securing her first contract with Harlequin Superromance in May 2012. 

Represented by US agent Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency, Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England. And in the evening? Well, a well-deserved glass of wine is never, ever refused…

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