Writer In Progress

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

REVIEW: Dead Dog Like Me - Max Davis

***Disclaimer: I received this book via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Any thoughts and opinions are my own.***

Nick Gregory regains consciousness after a horrific car accident to find he’s been transported back in time and that he has become Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son and King Saul’s grandson. Aware that he’s experiencing another man’s life, he has to learn fast. When mega-church pastor, Nick Gregory, regains consciousness after a horrific car accident, he’s on the ground in agonizing pain. Nick realizes he is in a bizarre place – a foreign, parched, ancient land, having been transported back in time to 800 B.C. Unbelievably, he is in the body of a prince named Mephibosheth, a son of Jonathan and King Saul’s grandson. Nick is fully aware of who he is and that he’s now living in Mephibosheth’s body, strangely able to speak and understand Hebrew. This experience helps him see that he, like Mephibosheth, is a broken man desperate for God’s outrageous grace and healing (2 Samuel 9:8). Returning to present day, Nick’s experience motivates a changed life.

Review:

Dead Dog Like Me is one of those books that you read and you automatically start counting your blessings. Meeting Nick in the beginning of the story was quite an adventure. An aggravating adventure at that. I could feel his frustration and anger, especially right before the car accident. I was reading and saying "Give this guy a break!" But it's that just the way life really is? Sometimes you feel like you're drowning and just when you think you're going to be able to keep your head above the water it starts raining again?

I could easily relate to Nick. Even though I've never been a Mega-Church pastor, I can understand those feelings of hopelessness, helplessness. and everything in between. I can also understand that feeling of wonder if God can even hear me. Especially when I'm broken-hearted and feeling like the deck is stacked against me. There were parts of this book where I just had to put it down and go have me a good cry and thank God that I'm not in that same place that Nick was anymore.

I loved how Max Davis took a small story about Mephibosheth and used to it to teach Nick a lesson about the kind of man he really is and what is most important in life. I do wish maybe there had been a few more scenes with him as Mephibosheth but the ones that are in the book are very well written. The characters in this book, especially Nick and his relationship with his little dog Duece.

This is a great story about redemption and a reminder that your plans will never trump God's plans. He is always in control and when you're hurting is when he wants you to come to him the most. Great book with a great message!

Add to Goodreads | Get it on Amazon

Monday, June 22, 2015

BLOG TOUR: No More Confessions - Louise Rozett + Review + Giveaway!

**I received this book via YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Any thoughts and opinions are of my own.**

***

No More Confessions (Confessions #3)

by Louise Rozett

Release Date: 01/25/15

For Rose Zarelli, freshman year was about controlling her rage. Sophomore year was about finding her voice. With all that behind her, junior year should be a breeze, right? Nope. When a horrific video surfaces, Rose needs the one person she wants to be done with, the person who has broken her heart twice—Jamie Forta. But as the intensity between them heats up, Rose realizes she isn’t the only one who needs help. The thing is, Jamie doesn’t see it that way—and that could cost them both everything.

***

ROSE ZARELLI is done confessing because confessions are for people who have done something wrong. And I haven't done anything wrong. Here, I'll prove it to you.

1) After my mother got that call, I “borrowed” her car. (Because you can’t steal your mother’s car, can you?) I don’t really remember driving downtown, but I do remember...

2) …getting past the bouncer at Dizzy’s (I mean, it’s his job to spot a fake ID, so that’s on him)…

3) …and then later, telling my mother the truth about the bar but lying about how I got in. (A truth totally cancels out a lie, right?)

After all, what’s a little duplicity when finding Jamie Forta is the only thing that’s going to keep you from losing what’s left of your mind?

See? Junior year is off to a great start.

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Review:

No More Confessions is not your ordinary YA novel. It's very raw and heartbreaking but you just can't put it down.

Rose is a great character. She's got just enough grit to make a believable character. The situation that sends her looking for Jamie is a sad one and Jamie makes me want to punch him in the face. One minute I want him and Rose to be together and then the next I just want her to dropkick him and leave him on the sidewalk somewhere.

It's hard for me not to give away stuff in the book. The story line is great and the writing is done so well that it doesn't feel like you're reading a story out of a book. The characters are diverse and have a depth to them that makes them leap off the page.

What comes out in this book, it's something that hurts quite a few people. And it just left me upset and disgusted. It was something that no one should have ever seen. But I also understand why it happens and the book wouldn't have been as good without this happening.

The ending of this book really got me. I don't want to give anything away but I will say that I loved the ending because it's more like real life than any happily ever after. It was heartbreaking and I may have shed a tear or two but I think that it was a perfect ending.

Read the whole series or you will be a little confused as to what is going on in this book. It is hard to put down though so make sure you have plenty of time to read before you get started!

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble

Links to Book One:

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble

Links to Book Two:

Goodreads│Amazon│Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Louise Rozett is an author, a playwright, and a recovering performer. She made her YA debut with Confessions of an Angry Girl, followed by Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend, both published by HarlequinTEEN. The next book in the series, No More Confessions, is due out January 2015. She lives with her 120-pound Bernese Mountain dog Lester (named after Lester Freamon from THE WIRE, of course) in sunny Los Angeles, and pines for New York City. Visit www.Louiserozett.com for more info.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

Book Tour Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

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COVER REVEAL: Pulse - L. Hayes

About the Book

Title: PULSE

Author: L. Hayes

Genre: New Adult

Disclaimer: This work contains explicit sexual content, language, and delicate subject matter. It's intended solely for mature readers.

At twenty-two-years-old, Mia Holloway's life is up in the air. Her graduation from UCF is looming over her head like a bad hangover. Her long-term boyfriend has up and left her for some Tinder fling, and when sudden chest pains send her straight to the ER – that's just icing on the cake. At thirty-two-years-old, Cardiologist Dr. Alex Greene has what most would call a perfect life: respect, money, and a sleek high-rise loft in the city. But since the departure of his unfaithful Ice Queen of an ex-fiancée, Alex also secretly longs for the one thing he's been missing – connection. When Dr. Greene and Mia meet, as patient and doctor, something undeniable clicks. Forbidden, dangerous, foreboding. The kind of uncontrollable lust that threatens to tear both their worlds apart. Pulses will rise. Hearts will be broken. Because an affair like this doesn't happen in real life. Until it does.

Author Bio

L. Hayes is voracious reader and lover of words. When not immersed in pages, she's usually writing them.

Links

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Twitter

Saturday, June 20, 2015

COVER REVEAL: Scandal - Alison Foster + Giveaway!

BOOK & AUTHOR INFO:

Scandal by Alison Foster
Publication date: July 14th 2015
Genres: New Adult, Romance, Suspense

Synopsis:

Some truths are worse than lies.

Ella Wade knew working at a website called The Daily Scandal might lead to an interesting summer job after graduating college. She did not know that one big mistake would pull her into the heart of a sleazy world of publicity where truths are worse than lies and a murderer is on the loose.
When Ella gives into temptation and sleeps with her stepsister Isabella’s ex, her world flips upside down. It doesn’t matter that Isabella is dead or that Jaxson Cole wasn’t, in fact, her boyfriend but a publicist’s stunt to link two of the hottest catwalk models romantically in order to feed tabloid curiosity. The damage is done and with deadly consequences.
Even worse, Jax definitely knows things he won’t say. Falling for his epic hotness could mean one good screw will screw Ella for a lifetime.
*Content Warning: this book contains explicit language and sex.*

Goodreads

Pre-oder:

iTunes | B&N | Kobo | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Google Play

AUTHOR BIO:

(No author photo)

Alison Foster loves reading a good love story almost as much as she loves writing one. She spends her time dreaming up strong heroes and even stronger heroines and she enjoys finding unexpected strengths within her characters when they are in the most unexpected places.

She believes that passion makes the world go round and that a sexy grin is as sweet as candy. She loves interacting with readers, so feel free to drop her a line.

Follow Alison on Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads

http://eepurl.com/2pWEv

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Friday, June 19, 2015

BOOK BLITZ: Stalker - Clarissa Wild + Excerpt + Interview + Giveaway!

Book & Author Details:

Stalker by Clarissa Wild

Publication date: June 16th 2015

Genres: Erotica, Romance, Suspense

Synopsis:

Fuck me once, I’ll fuck you twice … then I’ll bury you.

No prison can keep me from seeking revenge. Especially when it comes to her.

She, the woman who put me in jail.

I swore that I’d come for her, to claim what belongs to me: Her life.

I’m not a good man. On the contrary, I love to be bad. It’s in my veins. Just like it’s in my veins to ruin her.

She’s an actress, pretending to be a saint, but we both know that isn’t true. One way or another, she’ll pay for what she did.

I will hunt for her. Make her fear me. Make her body mine.

Bad deeds never go unpunished … And I always go out with a bang.

WARNING: This book is a DARK ROMANCE STANDALONE – it has a non-conventional ending. This isn’t rainbow sprinkles &a unicorn fluff. It’s a dark, thrilling journey of two people clashing over love, lust, and hatred. Heed the warning. Contains graphic violence, alcohol, drugs & other disturbing content.

No Cliffhanger. Stand Alone.

Excerpt:

“Are you going to be a good girl?”

“Yes.”

“Do you still think I’m nice?”

She swallows and thinks about her answer for a second. “Only when you want to be.”

“Exactly. And you don’t get to decide anything. You don’t get to manipulate me. I won’t allow it, so don’t try it ever again.” I grip her ass so tight that she squirms and my fingers mark her skin red.

Her face glows as I lean in to take a whiff of her scent. Her face is much cleaner than before, and all the make-up has rinsed off. She looks pure … less tainted than hours before. Every passing second her shifting behavior affects me. Changes me. It forces me to look at her in more ways than just the one consumed by hatred.

With the water cascading down her beautiful body, puckered nipples, and pink lips, I get the sudden urge to take what belongs to me.

So, I do. I kiss her, pressing my lips softly onto hers, marking her as mine. She doesn’t fight, doesn’t even flinch as I kiss her gently, my tongue dipping out to lick her sweet, icy-cold lips. I let my tongue roam free across her mouth and push inside, forcing her to open up and let me in. She doesn’t resist; instead, her tongue finds mine, and her lips cling to me. The cold doesn’t suppress the warmth flowing to my cock, which grows thicker every second. All I can think of is kissing her, fucking her every fucking second of the day …, and then ruining her for life.

I step into the shower with her, increasing the temperature further until it’s warm enough to heat up her body. She’s still shivering, as I press her firmly into my warm body. She makes herself small to fit between my arms, as if I’m a radiator she’s cuddling up to. How cute. I just want to fuck her with my tongue.

Her taste is exhilarating, and I can’t fucking get enough of tasting her, her mouth latching onto mine with equal wantonness. Her body is quickly regaining its normal temperature, and her natural flush reappears on her face, although I’m not exactly sure if that’s because of the shower or because I’m grabbing her ass and pushing her body against mine.

The urge to turn her around and bend her over gets bigger and bigger as she pants into my mouth, desperate for air … desperate for more kisses. I let my hands roam free over her body, cupping her tit and giving it a nice squeeze. My mouth silences her first moan, as I taste her willingness to finally submit. And, oh … how I will make her submit.

Goodreads

Purchase:

Also, Killer launches the 17th, and it's a prequel to stalker only available on amazon:

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Interview:

1. What kind of book is Stalker?

Stalker is a Dark Romantic Suspense, filled with hate, lies, lust, sex, and much, much more. ;) It’s not for the faint-hearted, but I promise you, if you sit through it, it will be worth it!

2. Where do you get your ideas?

I get my ideas from movies, books, and sometimes even the stories people tell me. I love drawing inspiration from things I’ve seen or witnessed in the past. Sometimes, ideas can also just spring into my mind out of nowhere, it’s like they just appear. It’s amazing. Once I have an idea, it still takes month to take the form of a book, though. Usually it begins with a ‘what if’ question, a few characters, bits and pieces of action or things that happen … and the before I know it, there’s a complete story on my desk!

3. What’s the hardest part of the writing process?

The hardest part would be the creation of the storyline. The idea always begins with flashes, little scenes, but for a book I have to string those scenes together to form a coherent story. Sometimes, I have to shift around the scenes, or change course in the middle, but in the end it always turns out to be perfect! :)

4. What do you always need to have with you when you write?

I always need to have my bottle of water with me when I write, as well as some peace & quite, and some good music. ;) I also love to have a cup of hot tea next to me, but it’s not a requirement to write an awesome book!

5. You’re book is going to be made into a movie. Who play the lead roles?

For Stalker, I would say Michael Malarkey as Phoenix (With some added piercings and tattoos), and Candice Accola as Vanessa. As actors, those two match the best, but I didn’t style my characters after actors. My real role models are Stephen James & Mikkel Jensen for Phoenix, and Marina, from Marina And The Diamonds (the singer) for Vanessa.

6. What books can we expect from you in the future?

My next book will most likely be Twenty-One (21), and it has someone from Stalker in the leading role. I won’t tell you who, but you can find out pretty easily when you read the book ;) It’s going to be super exciting, you can check it out here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25143793-twenty-one

7. Any final words for fans out there?

Thank you so much for reading my books, and make sure to pick up your copy of Stalker to get the complete story of Vanessa & Phoenix! It’s going to be one heck of a ride! :) http://bit.ly/stalkeramazon

AUTHOR BIO:

Clarissa Wild is a New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author, best known for the dark Romance novel Mr. X. Her novels include the Fierce Series, the Delirious Series, and Stalker. She is also a writer of erotic romance such as the Blissful Series, The Billionaire's Bet series, and the Enflamed Series. She is an avid reader and writer of sexy stories about hot men and feisty women. Her other loves include her furry cat friend and learning about different cultures. In her free time she enjoys watching all sorts of movies, reading tons of books and cooking her favorite meals.

Links: