Tour Stop: THE BOYFRIEND BACKTRACK by Dawn Lanuza Review and Giveaway

Title: The Boyfriend Backtrack

Author: Dawn Lanuza

Date of Publication: October 3, 2014

Genre: contemporary romance

Blurb:

If they say that life flashes right before your eyes when you die, do you also get a flashback of your exes when your perfect boyfriend is proposing to you? At least that's the case for Regina Cortez. There's her dramatic high school boyfriend, her first college crush, the irresistible heart breaker, and the ever elusive one. By backtracking to her past, will Regina make it to 'I Do'? Or will she just keep running away?

Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23292882-the-boyfriend-backtrack

Purchase link: Amazon

BOOK REVIEW:

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I am not a big fan of the cover but I am a huge fan of the book.

The Boyfriend Backtrack is far from what I expected. I greatly enjoyed the unique plot and the great storytelling. I don't usually read books this short because I often find them rushed and just not enough to satisfy my craving for books. But I'm really glad that I gave this book a go.

I LOVE the premise of the book. Regina had just taken a huge leap in her life by saying "yes" to her boyfriend's marriage proposal and her mind just thought that this would be a great time to remind her of all the ex-boyfriends (the good and the bad) she had. Regina is a likable and relatable protagonist. She's independent, funny and a smartass. And although she seems a bit cynical to me at times, I could see through some of the flashbacks that she has been a dreamer and a passionate artist once. I get that about her. We always have this big dreams while growing up and we think that nothing can stand in our way of reaching them but somehow in the end it doesn't always turn out the way we thought it would. And then we lose sight of those dreams and often lose ourselves in the process. I felt like Regina felt that way. She made her choices based on what she knows is right and not on what she feels is right. And I'm glad that in the end things turned out for the best for her and everyone. 

I love reading about Regina's ex-boyfriends. I think we all had our very own Dirk, Josh and Chase. It felt real and relatable. And meeting them and reading about them was so much fun!

The Boyfriend Backtrack is a fun and believable story. I think most people could relate to what Regina is going through. We're confused most our life and we're lucky if we find what we're looking for but with a little nudge from fate and our loyal, supportive friends and we might just find ourselves in the right track.   

This was a highly enjoyable book. Recommended!

BOOK EXCERPT:

If I knew that I’d be seeing Joshua Herrera looking dapper in his gray suit while I looked like shit in a pair of old unwashed jeans and a shirt that’s been  drenched  in  sweat  earlier  from  catching  every  ‘moment’  at the ceremony, I would have hidden myself in the bathroom until he left.

But he’s here, his arms spread out, ready to give me a hug. 

“Hey,”  I  greet  him,  pretending  to  be  pleased  with this…shit coincidence. I hold the tripod closely to my chest.

Josh settles to rubbing my arm instead, seeing that I didn’t respond to his gesture. “I knew it was you.” He smiles. I jam the tripod between my armpits. “I haven’t seen you in a while, so I had to make sure. I’m pretty sureshe saw me staring.”

“Even his voice is attractive,” Faye whispers to me. Well, if we’re going to be honest, everything about him is more attractive now. He looks taller, leaner, and he could have gotten his teeth whitened. His hair is shaved, and it’s even a better invitation for one to look at his perfect, well-proportioned face. Plus, his jaw is just...damn it, I’m doing it again. I’m admiring Josh Herrera as if he’s Michelangelo’s David.

I hand Faye the tripod and told her to pack up the rest of our stuff. Iturn to Josh, “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, you know.”

Seriously,  what  is  he  doing  here?  I  have  been  to  more  than  100weddings over the last three years. None of my exes turned up. And then thefirst ex that I have to deal with has to be the very one that I can’t stand? 

ABOUT DAWN LANUZA:

Dawn Lanuza has been imagining and writing love stories since she was a kid. She works for the music industry by day, and writes about meet cutes and snappy comebacks by night. She writes short stories, chick lit and young-adult fiction. She has a degree in Development Communication from the University of the Philippines.

Blog - http://www.indiesisiw.wordpress.com

Twitter - https://twitter.com/dawnlanuza

Instagram - http://instagram.com/dawnrunsfast

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8638162.Dawn_Lanuza

GIVEAWAY: 

Dawn is giving away five (5) e-copies of THE BOYFRIEND BACKTRACK. Open internationally.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FOLLOW THE TOUR HERE.

Tour Stop and Review plus Giveaway: PIECES OF REVENGE by Valia Lind

Title: PIECES OF REVENGE

Author: Valia Lind

Genre: YA, Thriller

A weapon. A broken life. A humanity lost.

That is all Anastasia knows, that is all that she is. As an eleven-year-old, she witnessed her family's brutal murder and she's been on the run ever since. She's spent her life training and planning for the day when she can take her revenge.

Kallos Enterprises is a well respected corporation, set on improving the genetic structure of an individual. Or so they say. Anastasia knows, first hand, what kind of monsters lurk behind the pretty walls of those skyscrapers. Armed with combat skills and a beyond perfect memory, she heads to Chicago to uncover the answers to questions that plagued her for years.

After arriving in the city, she meets Logan, a boy from her past who changes all the rules. She doesn't remember him, but he remembers her. His position at Kallos Enterprises is useful, his presence is unnerving, and he makes her question everything she knows about herself to be true. If her perfect memory can't remember Logan, what else about her past is wrong?

Time is running out. Anastasia has nowhere to turn, but to trust the one person who's a memory she should have, but doesn't. With a madman threatening their every step, Anastasia and Logan must uncover the truths behind Kallos experiments and hope that the answers they find won't destroy the world forever.

Purchase:

Amazon | B&N

___________________________________________________________

Book Review

 Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Honestly I was terrified to start Pieces of Revenge. I became a big fan of Valia Lind after reading the first two books in the Falling series and I'm scared that I might end up not liking this book. I hate not loving a book by an author I love and since this book is very different from Valia Lind's other books, I was afraid that this might not turn out as great as I expected it to. Turns out, I got worried for nothing.

Pieces of Revenge will surprise you in a really good way. It was full of angst, excitement and mystery from the beginning that will keep you reading until the end.
The female protagonist, Anastasia, has definitely been added to my list of top kickass female characters. She's sassy, quick-tempered and spontaneous. I love how she says exactly what she thinks and does what she knows is right. She's very protective of the people she cares about and I greatly admire that about her. She's the kind of person who always thinks about others before herself and that often puts her in dangerous, life or death situations. Very few things scare her. One being Logan. Anastasia didn't expect the intensity and connection she felt with Logan and she doesn't know what to do about it. She's cautious of getting close to people after what she witnessed happen to her parents so she keeps everyone at arms length. But Logan is unexpected and different. He's sweet and charming and he knows things way more than he should.

I love how this book is full of intrigue, action and romance. The storyline was believable and well-written and the side characters were quirky and I love meeting everyone (well maybe not everyone) of them especially Uncle Freddie. He's an odd character but I absolutely love him.
I was surprised with some of the twists thrown my way and I literally screamed when I got to the last few pages of the book. What is it with authors and cliffhangers? Do they just love torturing us? To see us dying of excitement and anticipation? 
This is a great book to start a series!
 

I received an e-arc of the book to read and review.

___________________________________________________________

About Valia

Author. Photographer. Artist. Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia, Valia Lind always had a love for the written word. She wrote her first full book on the bathroom floor of her dormitory, while procrastinating to study for her college classes. Upon graduation, she has moved her writing to more respectable places, and have found her voice in Young Adult fiction. Falling by Design is her debut young adult novel. You can visit her online at www.valialind.blogspot.com or follow her on twitter, where she spends way too much time, @ValiaLind.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

___________________________________________________________

Giveaway

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#NAChristmas Blog Hop and Giveaway Featuring MELISSA WEST

  It's a New Adult Christmas!

Thanks for joining us as we celebrate the holidays with thirteen New Adult authors. Check out every stop leading up to December 24 to get excerpts, exclusive content, and hopefully a cutie under the mistletoe! Be sure to enter the rafflecopter to win a grand prize pack of an ebook from every author!

Below is a holiday scene from Melissa West's 
PIECES OF OLIVIA (Charleston Haven 1)

“Rose Campbell.”
“Rose, it’s me. Rose?” I called through the noise. “Can you hear me? Where are you?”
“It’s two days before Christmas, Olive. Where do you think I am? I’m in hell with my family. Can’t you hear them in the background?” she shouted over the wails of a baby. I smiled. “Oh, well, I can let you go if you—”
“Hang up this phone and I will ban you from my practice. You’ll give me an excuse to slip out for a bit. Hold on.” I heard her mute her cell and then a moment later she returned. “I have five minutes before my ridiculous daughter-in-law seeks me out.”
“I didn’t know you had a son, Rose.”
“I have two sons and two horrifying daughter-in-laws. One would think God would’ve granted me a reprieve after the first, but no. The second is worse!”
I burst out laughing. “Ah, you know you love them. I can hear it in your voice.”
She sighed. “It’s true. But they’re marks against my sanity, and you know how closely I value my mind. Now, tell me, how is Westlake?”
“It’s . . . nice,” I said. “My parents have been really supportive, which is unusual.”
“Or perhaps they have always been supportive and you are only now seeing it.” I thought about it. “Maybe.” “Have you looked at the last photo?”
“No. I’m afraid to do it here. I’m afraid my mom would walk in and see me crying. I don’t want her to worry, ya know?”
“Let me tell you something, Olive. She is a mother. Worrying is what we do. You could say nothing and she will worry. You could say everything and she will worry. You have to face that photo at some point.”
“Oh, don’t I know it, but I plan to go kicking and screaming.”
Just then my door burst open and my youngest niece, Everett, toddled in. My eldest sister, Cameron, had three children, all of them named something crazy. Brick, Talen, and Everett. A boy and two girls, all of them bound to hate her for naming them such stupid names, but they were all adorable, especially Everett.
She came over to me and dropped a chubby handful of Goldfish onto my bed. “I share,” she said.
I giggled. “I can see that.”
“Olive, dear, I’m being summoned, and it sounds like you are as well. I expect another update just after the holiday and then I’ll see you back in my office the Monday you return.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Oh, and Olive?”
“Yes?”
“Merry Christmas. I hope you find peace this holiday.”
I swallowed. Her words were more touching than anything she had ever said to me. I’d known Rose for several months now, and while I felt close to her, I never really thought she felt that same closeness to me until that moment. “Thank you. Merry Christmas.”
I scooped Everett into my arms and started down the stairs when my phone buzzed. I turned back and tilted my head so I could read the text.
Preston: What would you want for Christmas if you could get anything in the world?
I thought about the question. In that moment, what would I want? My gut reaction was
that Trisha could still be alive. That they could all still be alive. But for once, I allowed myself one selfish wish, something only for me, something that celebrated my life now in the present. The life that I was living.
I typed my answer over to him: You.
Preston: I hoped you would say that.
And then the doorbell rang. I glanced down at my phone, my heartbeat kicking up. Surely not. He couldn’t. It was two days before Christmas. I told myself that it was one of Mom’s friends or one of the kids, but I couldn’t keep myself from running out into the hallway and down the stairs, Everett giggling in my arms the whole way.
I stopped in the foyer as my mom was opening the door and then he was there, staring at me with those ocean eyes that made everything in my world right again. I set Everett down, tears pricking my eyes, and started for him, fighting to keep myself from running. I crashed into his arms, and it was like coming up for air. Everything my body needed was suddenly right there in front of me.
“I’m sorry to just show up,” he said into my hair. “But I couldn’t wait another day. I couldn’t wait another second.”

Here's a look at PIECES OF OLIVIA  by Melissa West -

Pieces of Olivia 
(Charleston Haven #1)

Olivia Warren used to be a normal girl with a bright future. But on one fated night, everything changed.

Hiding the scars of her past up her sleeves, Olivia transfers her enrollment from Columbia University to The College of Charleston, determined to pursue her own dreams for the first time in her life.

She intends to allow herself a bit of alone time to heal... that is, until she meets Preston.

Preston is best friends with her roommate, completely hot, and off-limits. But the chemistry between them is instantaneous—and as the pair begins to spend more time with one another, their feelings for each other build into something undeniable, something powerful enough to heal Olivia’s deepest scars.

Olivia tries to put her own past behind her and trust Preston, but she discovers that his past might be more present than she ever bargained for… Add to Goodreads

About Melissa West 

 
Melissa West writes heartfelt Southern romance and YA sci-fi romance, all with lots of kissing. Because who doesn’t like kissing? Her work is published by Entangled, Kensington, and Penguin. 
She lives outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband and two daughters and spends most of her time writing, reading, or fueling her writing addiction.

Author website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway:

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Release Day 12.8.14: The XOXO Collection for $0.99 for a Limited Time Only!

99 CENTS FOR A LIMITED TIME!

ONLY AVAILABLE FOR TWO WEEKS! 16 New Adult Stories from 16 of your favorite New Adult Authors  

 Find your next book boyfriend here.

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Featuring: 

MY UNEXPECTED FOREVER by USA and NYT Bestselling Author Heidi McLaughlin 

They say you should expect the unexpected, I didn't realize my unexpected would be the forever kind. 

FOR EVERLY by Raine Thomas 

The last thing physical therapy student Everly Wallace wants is a relationship, but when she’s roped into working with sexy Major League pitcher Cole Parker, she’ll discover that it just might be the one thing she needs. 

INDELIBLE by Bethany Lopez 

Sam's a single mom, working her way through college while raising her toddler. Judd's a college baseball player, who on the outside, looks like he doesn't have a care in the world. Can two people at different stages in their life find a way to make a life together? 

TATTOOED DOTS by Kimberly Knight 

Brooke and Easton learn that people are brought into their lives for many reasons. Over time, they find out what those reasons are. Some are to be a temporary acquaintance while others are there for life. 

MANGLED HEARTS by Felicia Tatum 

Can two loves find their way back to each other despite an addiction and a hardened heart, allowing their love to overcome it all? Can these mangled hearts be mended? 

BREAKDOWN by Amanda Lance 

After Charlotte Ferro's suicide attempt is ruined by a handsome do-gooder he introduces her to a world of fast cars and cool criminals. But can their newfound friendship survive the secrets of their past? 

MAVERICK by Anna Cruise 

International surf sensation Kellen Handler has it all – fame and fortune and more women than he can count – but he's riding his own personal wave toward disaster. Can PR genius Gina Bellori rescue his reputation...and his heart? 

DO ANYTHING by Wendy Owens 

A broken heart is only the beginning for her. He thinks he has his life figured out. Will they risk their hearts on a new chance at love? 

RESIST ME by A.O. Peart 

Ethan, a former-Marine-turned-firefighter, has never really cared for any woman, while living his life to the fullest and enjoying the bad boy stigma. Until the street-smart Lisbeth comes along, and instantly turns Ethan’s world upside down, making him want to protect her, no matter the consequences. 

THE MAN TEST by Amanda Aksel 

Couple therapist Marin Johns tries to prove that all men are liars and cheaters by beginning a fictitious relationship. Will her new "boyfriend" be the statistic or will Marin regret the satisfaction of being right? 

A RISK WORTH TAKING by Heather Hildenbrand 

For college grad, Summer Stafford, watching her parents’ divorce has taught her that, above all, love is a risk. For a drifter like Ford O’Neal, love isn’t just a risk, it isn’t even on the table. But attraction quickly leads to something more and they are both forced to realize they’re risking a whole lot for a summer fling. 

UNINTENTIONAL VIRGIN by A.J. Bennett 

Nineteen-year-old Karma points is cursed. Cursed with a ridiculous name, self-esteem issues and the inability to lose her virginity. That is until Jax, the tattooed bouncer, comes into the picture. 

THE FALL OF SKY (PART ONE) by Alexia Purdy 

Singing duo Audrey and Liv Westing hope to be discovered as the next big thing. While fumbling through their turbulent existences, they attract the eye of a deadly but powerful Cartel family. 

A FIREFIGHTER'S FLAME by Dani Hart 

If you dig into the deepest parts of your soul, what would you find? Happiness,pain, love, regret, peace, sorrow? Follow Lennox's journey of rediscovery, falling in love, and searching for her own fairy-tale ending. 

STEALING PROMISES by Brina Courtney 

One moment can change your life forever. One moment to find love. One moment to lose it. 

FIRESIDE SERIES by Morgan Black 

A cowboy with a mysterious past. A ranch princess with an eye for the one she can’t have. What happens when their two world collides one weekend in a snowstorm?  

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Presented by...

 

Tour Stop: MILES FROM KARA by Melissa West Review and Giveaway

MILES FROM KARA (The Charleston Haven Series)

New Adult Contemporary

Release: December 2, 2014

Published by Penguin/InterMix

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iBooks
Google Play ~ Kobo

Kara Marcus is desperate to forget the past and move on. But she can’t escape her choices—especially when she finds herself falling in love…

Since the first day she stepped into her childhood Southern Baptist church, two truths have been engrained in Kara Marcus’s head: sex before marriage is bad and murder is a sin. And that’s why Kara can never forgive herself for what she did at the age of sixteen.

Now, as second semester of freshman year comes to a close, Kara has stood by her high school boyfriend, Ethan. But as they seem to grow further and further apart every day, Kara realizes that she has feelings for someone else: Ethan’s roommate Colt.

Suddenly, Kara’s clear-cut world shifts out of focus, and she’s torn between what her head tells her is right and what her heart is desperately pushing her to do—even if it means committing another undeniable sin...

Add to your Goodreads list!

Book Review:
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
I don't think I'll ever come across a Melissa West book that I didn't like. I'm starting to sound like a broken record but once again, just like all her other books, I LOVE Miles From Kara.

I wasn't really a huge fan of Kara when we first met her on Pieces of Olivia. But now that we get her story from her perspective, I completely changed my mind about her. Kara did not have an easy life. From an early age, she was forced to handle a very difficult situation she wasn't prepared for. What I liked most about her was how real she felt. I have no idea how I would've handled things if I found myself in her situation so I really admire her strength and determination. I love reading about Kara and Maggie's growing relationship. It shows the emotional, vulnerable and loving side of Kara that she rarely shows. She's a tough girl but she's terrified of letting people in.

And of course, what better way to shake things up than with a guy who has tattoos with a sexy Aussie accent and a "chin-length dirty blond hair had this I-just-got-out-of-bed doing-things-you-wish-you-were-doing look".
Colt is the kind of guy any girl would be lucky to have. He's caring and protective and I love that he never let Kara push him away. He's very understanding, patient and supportive. He has his own issues to deal with but he never fails to come through for Kara and be there for her when she needs him most. The chemistry between these two is way off the charts. I don't think I have ever seen a more perfect couple than Colt and Kara.

I absolutely love Miles From Kara. Everything about it - the complex characters, the genuine storytelling and the smexy romance - was brilliant! Also, I loved seeing Kara's character grow throughout the book. How Preston, Olivia, Rose and Colt all played a role in helping her truly see herself for who she is no matter how many terrible decisions she may have made. How she realized at the end that we are not shaped by the mistakes we made but rather how we learned from those mistakes and made ourselves better because of it.
And can I just say Rose is an awesome character? (I would love to see more of her on the third book.)
I applaud Melissa West for tackling the issues of abortion and teenage pregnancy and writing it in an honest, realistic and heartfelt way.
Must-read!

'This was a new kind of love, so different from what I was used to that I didn’t recognize it at first. I was letting myself be flawed, all open and exposed. This was the real me, the take-it-or-leave-it kind of love.'

I received an e-arc via NetGalley to read and review. 

About the Author:

Melissa West writes young adult and new adult novels for Entangled Teen and Embrace and Penguin/InterMix. She lives outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband and two daughters and spends most of her time writing, reading, or fueling her coffee addiction.

She holds a B.A. in Communication Studies and a M.S. in Graphic Communication, both from Clemson University. Yeah, her blood runs orange.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

GIVEAWAY:

The author is giving away (1) Copy of PIECES OF OLIVIA and (1) $10 Amazon Gift Card - International

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FOLLOW THE TOUR HERE.

This is hosted by:

NA Christmas Blog Hop and Giveaway Featuring MEGAN ERICKSON

  It's a New Adult Christmas!

Thanks for joining us as we celebrate the holidays with thirteen New Adult authors. Check out every stop leading up to December 24 to get excerpts, exclusive content, and hopefully a cutie under the mistletoe! Be sure to enter the rafflecopter to win a grand prize pack of an ebook from every author!

Below is a brand new scene featuring characters from Megan Erickson’s Bowler University series. This takes place shortly after the end of Make it Right. Be sure to check out the final book in the series – Make it Last – releasing on January 6, 2015!

Max Payton spat out his half-chewed bite of pecan pie onto his plate. “Why the fuck does that taste like fire?”
Lea Travers dipped her finger into the gelatinous middle of Max’s slice of pie and stuck the tip of her finger in her mouth. Max was not wrong. She could feel the searing warmth down her throat and into her stomach. Her eyes watered and she coughed.
Max leaned into her shoulder. “You all right, doll?”
“Water,” she gasped.
He reached for her glass on the coffee table in front of the couch they sat on in the Payton living room. He handed it to her and then turned to his brothers. Brent stood beside the recliner where their father was drinking a beer, and Cal leaned against the fireplace.
Brent looked pleased, chomping merrily on his pie. “I think it’s delicious.”
“What’d you do to the pie, Brent?” Cal asked.
“I made it delicious.”
“You made it burn the lining of my esophagus,” Max shot back.
Brent rolled his eyes. “You guys just can’t appreciate good Bourbon.”
“How much bourbon did you put in it?” Cal asked.
Brent didn’t answer.
Lea assumed if she checked the recycling, there’d be an empty bottle. That pie was drunk.
And seeing as Christmas Eve in the Payton household wasn’t going too hot, a hangover tomorrow was the last thing they all needed. Lea could tell her boyfriend, Max, and his brothers and Dad were trying, but they didn’t quite seem to have the holiday cheer. She wondered how the hell they got through previous holidays. Or if what she was witnessing right now was as merry as they got.
Which was sad. They were good guys. They just lacked a little finesse. A feminine touch. Their mom had left when Max was a kid.
Cal brooded by the fireplace, Jack drank in silence, and Max picked at his pie with a disgusted look on his face. Lea began to think that her plans for this evening might have been a bad idea.
Her plans that would be here in approximately five minutes.
She began to sweat and fanned her thin sweater off of her chest. Max frowned at her. “You okay?”
She wiped her forehead, like she was sweating. “Yeah, it’s just hot in here, you know? Maybe we can all go out in the backyard?”
Brent looked up from devouring his alcoholic pie. “Outside? Lea, it’s thirty degrees and dark.”
Why couldn’t they all just go with it? She had about – she glanced at the clock on the wall – T minus two minutes to get them out of the house before they heard the doorbell.
“It’s a family tradition of mine to look for shooting stars on Christmas Eve.” She was pretty proud of herself for that lie. It was a damn good one, and she’d made it up on the spot.
Max just stared at her. “What are you talking about?”
She tugged on his sleeve and stood up, bustling around to get their coats together. “Christmas Eve. Stars. Wishes. You know.” She clapped her hands together. “Round up, boys!”
Jack didn’t lower the footrest recliner. Cal was looking at her like she was crazy. Brent was picking a piece of pie off of his shirt…
And then the doorbell rang.
Cal’s head went up and he frowned. “Who the hell is ringing the doorbell on Christmas Eve?”
Lea laughed nervously. “I’m sure it’s just a solicitor or something. Okay, so backyard?”
But Cal ignored her and strode toward the front door. Max followed him and when they swung the door open, she squeezed her eyes shut. And waited.
There was a pause.
A long pause.
And when she cracked an eye open, she saw Cal scowling at the group of carolers Lea had asked to come from the local church. They were staring back at Cal like he was an axe murderer, and Max slowly turned his head to pin Lea with his gaze.
She waggled her fingers in weak wave.
Max sighed and turned back around.
There were five carolers, and the older woman in front was wearing a huge red coat over an ugly Christmas sweater and a massive fur hat. She seemed to gather herself together, and Lea had to hand it to her, because that was a bright smile in response to Cal’s frown.
“Merry Christmas, I’m Theresa and we’re from First Presbyterian over on Oakmont,” the woman said. “Would you like to hear some carols?”
Lea stepped up before Cal could answer. “Yes, please. Yes, yes we would.”
She felt a presence at her back and looked over her shoulder to see Brent, a grin on his face, his eyes on the cute young female caroler in the back. Who was blushing.
Lea rolled her eyes.
“Okay, ready?” Theresa said. “One…two…three.”
They began to sing a somewhat tentative version of “Jingle Bells.” Even so, Lea had to admit they sounded absolutely lovely, with a young guy in the back accompanying with a set of bells.
When that was over, Cal looked like he was going to close the door. But Lea could see Max beginning to smile, Brent bobbing his head, and Jack had even risen from his statue-like state on his recliner to listen to the carolers.
“Another please?” Lea asked.
Theresa nodded and turned to her group. Lea swore she saw a twinkle in Theresa’s eye as she communicated silently with her group.
Then Theresa turned around, and the carolers launched into a rousing rendition of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”
And it was lovely. And fun. Brent began clapping and even placed his fingers in his mouth and whistled. Max grabbed Lea’s hand and swayed to beat. Even Cal was smiling, leaning back against the open door, his lips moving as he sang silently along with the carolers. Lea swore she caught Jack tapping his toe.
Lea threw back her head and laughed as Max picked her up and twirled her. He leaned his forehead against hers. “You already made me the happiest guy in the world, and now you’re trying to work your magic on my family?”
“I have no idea what you mean,” she said with fake innocence as she gripped his dark hair tightly.
He lowered her to the ground. “Yeah ya do. And we all appreciate it.”
She ran her fingers along the stubble on his jaw. “Merry Christmas, Max.”
He leaned in and pressed a tender kiss to her lips. “Merry Christmas, doll.”

Here's a look at Megan Erickson's newest addition to the Bowler University 
series - MAKE IT LAST (out 01/06/15)

Make It Last (Bowler University #3)
Publication Date: January 6, 2015

After graduating from Bowler University, the last place Cam Ruiz ever expected to find himself is his hometown. A bad job as a bouncer and worry over his mom's health make living in Paradise anything but. There's only one thing that can make his return any harder—running into the only girl he's ever loved.

Tate Ellison made a mistake when she was eighteen, one that cost her the best thing she's ever had. She always hoped the pain of losing Cam would fade over time. Too bad it's only grown. She took comfort in the fact that she'd never have to face him again, so his presence in Paradise throws her for a loop.

The pull between them is instant, and when the truth of what happened years ago tumbles out, they share a mind-blowing kiss … which leads to more. But the past has a way of repeating itself. When all the cards are on the table, Cam and Tate must decide what they are willing to do to make it last.

Add to Goodreads
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Preorder at iTunes

Buy the first two books in the series:
Make it Count (Bowler University #1)
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  iTunes

Make it Right (Bowler University #2)
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About the Author:
MEGAN ERICKSON worked as a journalist covering real-life dramas before she decided she liked writing her own endings better and switched to fiction. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids and two cats. When she's not tapping away on her laptop, she's probably listening to the characters in her head who won't stop talking.
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Giveaway:

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Release Day Blast and Giveaway: MILES FROM KARA (Charleston Haven 2) by Melissa West

MILES FROM KARA (The Charleston Haven Series)

New Adult Contemporary

Release: December 2, 2014

Published by Penguin/InterMix

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Kara Marcus is desperate to forget the past and move on. But she can’t escape her choices—especially when she finds herself falling in love…

Since the first day she stepped into her childhood Southern Baptist church, two truths have been engrained in Kara Marcus’s head: sex before marriage is bad and murder is a sin. And that’s why Kara can never forgive herself for what she did at the age of sixteen.

Now, as second semester of freshman year comes to a close, Kara has stood by her high school boyfriend, Ethan. But as they seem to grow further and further apart every day, Kara realizes that she has feelings for someone else: Ethan’s roommate Colt.

Suddenly, Kara’s clear-cut world shifts out of focus, and she’s torn between what her head tells her is right and what her heart is desperately pushing her to do—even if it means committing another undeniable sin...

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Book Teaser:

Colt took a step in my direction. “Can I ask you a question, Kara?”

My eyes drifted up to his. He was so close now, close enough that I could smell his woodsy scent. Most guys smelled like cologne or soap, but Colt was all earthy. All male. It was too much. “Maybe,” I said, unwilling to offer more.

“Why do you stay with him?”

Of all the questions I expected to hear out of his mouth, that wasn’t one of them. It was the one question I couldn’t answer, even to myself. I drew an uncomfortable breath and shook my head, my gaze finding the floor. “What do you mean?”

Another step. “You know what I mean.”

“Why do you care?”

He paused, his arms still at his sides, his heart beating noticeably in his chest. “I don’t know.”

Our eyes met, and in his gaze I saw the same war that brewed in my heart. This wasn’t right, yet I couldn’t keep myself away. The moment drew on, an electric charge building all around us. Every nerve in my body ached to close the distance between us, to see if his skin felt as warm as it looked. I wanted to trace the lines of his tattoos. I wanted to hear and feel his breath on my face. I swallowed hard, my resolve to be the good girl my mom raised me to be faltering.

About the Author:

Melissa West writes young adult and new adult novels for Entangled Teen and Embrace and Penguin/InterMix. She lives outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband and two daughters and spends most of her time writing, reading, or fueling her coffee addiction.

She holds a B.A. in Communication Studies and a M.S. in Graphic Communication, both from Clemson University. Yeah, her blood runs orange.

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GIVEAWAY:

The author is giving away (1) Copy of PIECES OF OLIVIA and (1) $10 Amazon Gift Card - International

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