Title: Giving Up The Ghost (A 13 Shades of Red Novel)
Author: S.A. Price
Publisher: Sisters Price Publishing, (February 19th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads

NOTE: This title is considered "New Adult" and is intended for a 17 and older audience due to mature content.

Synopsis: Rhys Bellamy is the front man for the wildly successful 13 Shades of Red, a band hailing from New Orleans that is just a bit more then they appear. He’s sexy, caustic and on a path of self destruction that has everything to do with the fact that he can speak to the dead. A man hounded by the death of his fiancée, Rhys is a lothario of the highest caliber. His life, his band, and his agony celebrates his lost love, Phaedra, and it has made him a very popular man with the ladies, even if they will never mean anything to him. Too bad Phaedra has never and will never contact him.

When the band’s first US tour meets with some unforeseen management issues, Saffron Richards is brought in to take care of it. A veteran of the business, Saffron knows all about Rhys and his reputation and doesn’t want to become another notch on his belt. Too bad fate has it in for the both of them, and gives them an attraction neither can deny.

But life on the road with an up and coming band has its problems, from bosses to groupies to just plain old flat tires. And Phaedra, who has been watching from the mists and reveling in the misery of her lost lover doesn’t want to see him happy. Being together is harder than it sounds, especially when Phaedra crosses the veils on All Hallows Eve to reignite the love that Saffron has set to ash in Rhys. And Phaedra is not giving him up without a fight. Not because she loves him, but because she doesn’t ever want him to forget.

Warning: this is considered a New Adult genre release. Reader discretion is advised.

Review: 3 Stars - Giving up the Ghost is the first title in the 13 Shades of Red series by authors and sisters, Audra and Stella Price. Filled with music and rock stars with the icing on the cake being the supernatural I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy.

Rhys, lead singer and bad boy that everyone wants a piece of is stuck and depressed. He finds it hard to move on after the death of his fiancée Phaedra. Rhys can also talk to the dead. He can help them move on and doesn’t like doing it. The only person he wants to talk to is Phaedra yet she stays away leaving Rhys to suffer. Now being that he’s a rock star bad boy and all he doesn’t suffer too much because all the women want a him and he knows it.

A problem with the tour causes Saffron to walk into their lives and take charge. She’s one hell of a female character and I loved reading her thoughts. Struggling to make a name for herself in the music industry she’s in for a wild ride and some major challenges if she’s going to come out on top as a tour manager.

If you ask me, Saffron made this book. While she had to deal with more than just fighting off Rhys she totally blew me away by how she took charge and didn’t take any crap. While she might not have had anything supernatural about her, she jumped in feet first and didn’t bat an eye when fate dumped her right in the middle of a mess she never saw coming.

Oh Rhys, what a guy. He’s cocky and damaged and has many swoon-worthy moments all while trying to finally come to terms with Phaedras death. There’s romance and demons and scorching scenes… OH and a burned up iPod that made me giggle. Speaking of romance – it was sometimes sweet, sometimes frustrating and sometimes steamy.

In the end I found myself giving this a 3 star review because while it was good, it wasn’t great. While it was what I love to read there was something lacking. I wanted more and thought a few parts could have been fleshed out a bit to make the story more complete. In the end something just felt missing.

While the book for me was good and entertaining it could have easily been a new favorite. A 3 star review from me is a good rating and means that I’d be ready to check out what’s to come for this series and what’s also out by both authors. Do I recommend this title? Sure, do those out there who have a soft spot for a rock star bad boy and those who love a touch of the supernatural. Enjoy.

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.

Title: Bitter Angel
Author: Megan Hand
Release date: April 1, 2013
Genre: Contemporary/Thriller Age Group:  New Adult
Event organized by: AToMR Tours
Add to: Goodreads

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: Torn between two realities.

A choice that will mean life or death.

She won’t know anything… until she wakes up.

College sophomore, Lila Spencer lived Friday night twice. She doesn’t know how or why, just that she did. As if she split in half and went in two different directions.

Out clubbing with her friends, Heather and Nilah, the girls rock it out and party hard. What begins as an innocent night will lead to a deadly fight for their lives, and Lila might be their only chance for survival.

In bed with her boyfriend, Jay, Lila is safe and warm as she drifts to sleep in the arms of the man she loves. Until she is sucked into a horrifying nightmare of her friends’ deaths.

As the sunlight warms her face on Saturday morning, the two scenarios collide. But there can be only one outcome. Will she wake up in her warm bed with Jay by her side, devastated and grieving for her friends? Or was she there to save them?

The answer is just the beginning.

Excerpt: 

           Unfortunately, my words didn’t faze him. He just laughed and wiped his hands on a dry piece of his shirt. “Oh man. We haven’t had one as feisty as you in…” He rested his chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Well, a long time.”
            My heart hammered, but I put venom in my tone. “Where are my friends? I want to see them.” I strained forward, listening for anything that would tell me they were okay and alive.
            I could hear music, loud and vulgar. Voices, all male. Laughter. Bottles clinking. I could smell the crusty scent of cigarette smoke.
            He pointed to the closed door. “They’re out there, being taken care of. Don’t worry. They’ll be fine.      It’s you that I’m not so sure about.”
            “You sick son of a bitch. My friend could be on the brink of death, and you’re just gonna do nothing? If she dies on your hands, I swear—”
            “Relax,” he cut me off. “She’s still breathing. Enough. We’ll drop her somewhere when everyone’s done. She’ll be fine.”
            As I had kicked the driver’s seat earlier, I just as frantically pulled on my arms. “Let me out!” I screamed, hoping beyond hope that someone, inside or out, upstairs or down, could hear me in this hellhole. I had no idea if we were in a house or apartment building, if this was the only bedroom, or if there were others. From the looks of it and guessing the age of these guys, my bet was that this was their place of business where they brought all the girls just for this purpose. I highly doubted that they lived here, but I had nothing to back up my theory.
            He rounded the bed. It creaked as he sat on the clean side. He caressed my jaw, my bloody lip. I cringed, ripping away from him, and he gripped me harder. From his pocket, he retrieved a knife. The blade winked at me in the dim light. I swallowed.
            He grinned. “Still wanna scream?”

About the Author: 

At twelve, Megan decided to write a novel. A month later, she quit. A reading junkie by nature, she started writing again in her twenties as a way to get the voices out, because who wouldn't want to create a Real Living Person out of thin air? Megan also plays the piano and sings. She teaches little kids and takes pictures of pretty butterflies. She eats way too much chocolate, is sort of a mad scientist with her blender, and spends an unhealthy amount of time LOLing on Facebook and Twitter. She lives in Ohio with her husband and very smiley son. Bitter Angel is her first published novel. 

Find Megan Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Purchase Online:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

QUICK GIVEAWAY!!!

Enter to win an eBook copy of BITTER ANGEL!

• ONE winner will receive an eBook copy of the above title

*NOTE: this book is open to ANYONE who can receive an eBook from Amazon.com or BN.com

Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter this giveaway.
Name & Email Address must be provided. (Easy Entry, the form does it for you!)
You must be at least 17 years old to enter.
This giveaway is open to ANYONE who can receive an eBook from Amazon.com OR BN.com.
Giveaway ends: April 11th, 2013

***Winner will receive their eBook copy AFTER April 21st, 2013***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks to Megan for donating a copy of Bitter Angel for giveaway.

Title: MATCHPLAY
Author: Dakota Madison
Publisher: Short on Time Books, (March 17, 2013)
Genre: Contemporary Romance Age Group: New Adult
Event organized by: AToMR Tours
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: A Girl, a Guy, a Tournament and a Challenge

The Girl: At a time when most girls obsess about homecoming and high school prom, Rainy Dey spent her senior year caring for her dying mother. So when her father drops her off at college to start her freshman year, his words of advice to his bookish daughter are to start acting like a young person and finally have some fun.

The Guy: College senior, Aaron Donavan, aka Mr. Hot-and-Knows-It, is President of the Clubhouse, a social club for the college’s most wealthy and popular guys. Aaron can have any girl on campus except the one who challenges and excites him the most—Rainy Dey.

The Tournament: Every year, the senior members of The Clubhouse engage in a golf-inspired tournament to see who can sleep with the most freshman girls. When Rainy finds out about the tournament, she believes Aaron’s only interest in her is to score points by taking her V-Card.

The Challenge: Can Aaron convince Rainy that his feelings for her are true and that she won’t be just another notch on his tournament scorecard?

Excerpt:

            I glanced over at the keg and saw that Aaron and his two groupies were still standing there drinking and laughing. The girls were practically throwing themselves at him and he seemed to be enjoying every minute of it. When he caught me looking at him and our eyes met, I saw a flash of something dark behind his rock star façade. Was it pain? Was he not really enjoying all of the attention from the beautiful blondes as it appeared? The look was only there for a moment and then it disappeared when the blonde at his left whispered something in his ear, which made him grin, but Aaron was still staring at me. The scene both disgusted and confused me. When he winked at me and gave me a sly smile, I felt sick to my stomach. Did he actually think he could flirt with me while two girls were hanging off him? I revolted.
            “Can we go into the other room?” I asked. “It’s getting stuffy in here.”
            “Sure.” Josh looked around. “Or do you want to go outside? You can see the stars in the backyard and it’s a beautiful night?’
            The stars sounded really good. The only problem was that we had to walk past Aaron and his girls to get out the back door.
            “Let’s go outside,” I said. “If you don’t mind leading the way.”
            “My pleasure,” Josh said as he placed his empty beer cup on the counter.
            I made sure that Josh was on the side that would be closest to Aaron as we passed. It didn't stop Aaron from staring at me as we walked by him. The blondes seemed oblivious to the attention he was giving me and I made sure I had the most vile and disgusted look on my face as we passed.  For a moment, he looked like I had slapped him but he quickly covered it up.
            When we got outside, Josh asked. “Do you know that guy?”
            “What guy?” I replied even though I knew exactly, who he meant.
            “The guy from The Clubhouse with the blondes hanging all over him.”
            I shrugged. “Sort of.”
            Josh looked very concerned. “Is there something going on between the two of you?”
            I gave a chuckle as if it was the most absurd question in the world. “Why would you ask that?”
            “Just the way he looked at you. Even though he had two girls on his arms, it was like he didn't even care. He was just staring at you.”
            I tried to minimize what Josh was saying. “We’re just partners in my art history class. We were assigned to work on a project together. That’s all.”
            “Are you sure?”
            “Of course,” I said but I wasn't sure at all.


About the author:

Dakota Madison has been writing since she learned to read and fell in love with books. When she's not at her computer creating spicy new romances, Dakota is traveling to exotic locales or spending time with her husband and their bloodhounds.

Find Dakota online: Tumblr

GIVEAWAY!!!

Enter to win an eBook copy of Matchplay!

• One winner will receive an eBook copy of this title.

Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter this giveaway.
Name & Email Address must be provided. (Easy Entry, the form it does it for you!)
You must be at least 17 years old to enter.
This giveaway is open: INTERNATIONAL!
Giveaway ends: April 12th, 2013 (12:00AM EST)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck to all who enter. If you have any questions please feel free to email.

Title: The Space Between
Author: Victoria H. Smith
Publisher: Self-Published, (March 2, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: When Drake started the night at his father’s campaign fundraiser, he never imagined he’d end it being conned into buying drugs on the West Side. Losing high-stakes poker has its consequences, but he’d repeatedly face them just to hear Lacey Douglas sing. Drake sees Lacey light up the stage, and he has to have her. But his intentions for being on her side of town turn out to be the reason he can’t.

Chicago native Lacey has dreams of the opera, but life has its obstacles. Lacey has come to know her hardships as part of living in the real world and accepts them fully. When Lacey meets the intense and invigorating Drake, a fire is lit inside her, unleashing those dreams again.

Two paths that should have never crossed prove to create the exact pairing the other needs. But when their worlds take time to catch up, everything they have is tested. Finding the space between the two sides that challenge them will be hard, but it’s the only place that will keep them together.

Excerpt:

           “I like that lip ring of yours.”
            “You do, huh?” God, he was so direct. Holy heck, I had to watch myself around this guy.
            “Mmmhmm, especially when you bite it. It’s like you’re nervous or something. Do I make you nervous?”
            He ran his fingers from my hand and up my arm. He stopped at my elbow, brushing it gently.
            My breath caught in my throat. “No, I’m not nervous.” Clearly a lie, but I thought the word came out casually. I shrugged. “It’s just a tick. A habit. You’d bite it too if you had one.”
            He laughed his deep laugh again. “Oh, really?”
            “Yeah. They’re fun to play with.” I bit down on it. “To suck.” I sucked on it.
            His brows shot up, and the brushing of his fingers froze on my elbow. I guess he was the one who was nervous now.
            “You should get one. If anything to give yourself something to do when you’re bored. Excellent entertainment.” I sucked down on it a little harder.
            He breathed in deep. “You’re making me want to go out and get one right now.”

Book Trailer:

About the author: 

Victoria H. Smith has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. She puts it to good use writing romance all day. She resides in the Midwest with her Macbook on her lap and a cornfield to her right. She often draws inspiration for her stories from her own life experiences, and the twenty-something characters she writes give her an earful about it.

In her free time, she enjoys extreme couponing, blogging, reading, and sending off a few tweets on Twitter when she can. She writes new adult fiction romance in the sub-genres of science fiction, urban fantasy, and contemporary, but really, anywhere her pen takes her she goes.

Find Victoria Online:

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Order Victoria's books Online:

Amazon | Authors Website

QUICK GIVEAWAY!!!

Enter to win a eCopy of The Crimson Hunt By: Victoria H. Smith!

• ONE winner will receive an eCopy of The Crimson Hunt

Rules and how to enter:

Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter this giveaway.
Name & Email Address must be provided. (Easy Entry, the form does it for you!)
You must be at least 17 years old to enter.
This giveaway is open: INTERNATIONAL!
Giveaway ends: April 9th, 2013 (12:00AM EST)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck to all who enter! Any questions please feel free to email.

Photo taken from the Amazon.com website

How would you like a chance to win a $50.00 Amazon Gift Card? I take it the answer is YES?! Well, today you are luck because I have ONE to give to one of you lucky readers out there.

I've made it easy to enter and there are a couple things you can do to earn a few extra entries too. The rules and rafflecopter form are below!

Today's giveaway is sponsored by – Appliances Online. I'd like to thank them for donating the Gift Card for this EPIC giveaway.

So, who's ready to win?

ENTER TO WIN A $50.00

AMAZON GIFT CARD!!!

• ONE winner will receive a $50.00 electronic Amazon Gift Card.

Rules and how to enter:

Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter this giveaway.
Name & Email Address must be provided. (Easy Entry the form does it for you!)
You must be at least 13 years old to enter.
This giveaway is open: USA, Canada and the UK!
Giveaway ends: April 26th, 2013 (12:00AM EST)

 *Note: The winners name and email address will be sent to the sponsor of this giveaway for delivery of the Gift Card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck to everyone! If you have any questions please feel free to send an email.