My Favorite Lines- Dream Cast and Giveaway for One Funeral by @KatBastion and @StoneBastion

My Favorite Lines & Dream Cast 

One Funeral by Kat and Stone Bastion

One Funeral, Book 2 in the No Weddings Series is live.  I had a chance to read this gem and review it prior to the release.  One Funeral is a 5 star read that I highly recommend.  Just like No Weddings, Book 1, this book is simply perfect.  I fell in love with the characters in the first book, but Cade… he totally won me over in this book.  You can read my 5 star review here.

One Funeral Synopsis:

The stakes climb higher in this second book in the No Weddings Series for Hannah Martin, a woman restrained by her past, and Cade Michaelson, the man who could help set her free.

I’m drawn to Cade as he charms his way into more of my life and offers me something I truly haven’t ever had: a friend. Yet his humor, patience, and drop-dead sexiness take my breath away, and I know my heart is at risk. I want to move forward but am terrified I can’t.

Cade seems to have it together from his own devastating heartache. His subtle actions, however, suggest a different story. And even though he says he wants more, I wonder if he’s able to trust in our developing relationship.

As we navigate through our tangled feelings, we vow to take it slow. Yet no matter how careful we try to be, things between us intensify—and there’s nothing we can do, or want to do, to stop it.

But the biggest question remains: Is chemistry enough to move beyond the past and toward a future together?

Release Day Launch ~ One Funeral by Kat and Stone Bastion @KatBastion @StoneBastion @No_Weddings

It’s the release day for One Funeral the second book in Kat and Stone Bastion’s No Weddings Series. There is a special price for the release AND you can get the digital copy signed for a limited time!!! So check it out and make sure to enter the awesome giveaway!! 🙂

 

 

 

One Funeral Synopsis:

The stakes climb higher in this second book in the No Weddings Series for Hannah Martin, a woman restrained by her past, and Cade Michaelson, the man who could help set her free.

I’m drawn to Cade as he charms his way into more of my life and offers me something I truly haven’t ever had: a friend. Yet his humor, patience, and drop-dead sexiness take my breath away, and I know my heart is at risk. I want to move forward but am terrified I can’t.

Cade seems to have it together from his own devastating heartache. His subtle actions, however, suggest a different story. And even though he says he wants more, I wonder if he’s able to trust in our developing relationship.

As we navigate through our tangled feelings, we vow to take it slow. Yet no matter how careful we try to be, things between us intensify—and there’s nothing we can do, or want to do, to stop it.

But the biggest question remains: Is chemistry enough to move beyond the past and toward a future together?

 

*** PLEASE NOTE ***

Scorching (explicit) sex scenes. Fire extinguisher highly recommended.

*** The No Weddings Series Release Dates ***

No Weddings ~ Sep 8th One Funeral ~ Sep 29th Two Bar Mitzvahs ~ Oct 20th Three Christmases ~ Nov 17th

Buy Links:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | One Funeral Goodreads

No Weddings Buy Links:

Amazon | B&N

---

Exclusive Excerpt:

 

Review – Fifteen Weekends by Christy Pastore @ChristyPastore

Susi Reviews Fifteen Weekends by Christy Pastore

Synopsis

The past, it can haunt you…It can consume you…have a hypnotic hold on your mind, body and soul. The past can keep you from moving on…holding your heart hostage.

The past, can also bring you closure…provide answers you never knew you needed to mysteries you never thought existed…and the past, can force you to look at your current choices in an entirely different light.

Ashleigh Preston has always maintained control of her life, especially her romantic life. To everyone else she seems to have it all— a posh independent lifestyle with nothing holding her back. As a successful Freelance Food and Travel Columnist, Ashleigh can escape whenever she likes and travel the world. She frequently visits her favorite city—London.

Coincidentally, London is where Liam Frost, the charming Welshman lives, her no strings attached irresistible best friend with benefits. Still closed off to the idea of love because of her painful past, can Ashleigh overcome personal grief and take a leap of faith with him? Or will her emotional guilt be too much for Liam to handle, leaving him to move on with someone else?

Smart and sophisticated Marketing Executive, Emily Greene needs closure from her complicated past—she is still consumed by the disappearance of her ex-boyfriend, Craig Walker. The thought of him lingers with her even years later. A stormy night brings about a surprising confession from Emily’s arrogant, yet very attractive co-worker, Ethan Carlson. This admission gives Emily a good reason to push former romantic visions out and usher in new ones.

The past always has a way of twisting into the present. A series of mysterious events—cryptic phone calls and creepy text messages begin to pose an irritating problem for Emily’s life, until one day the annoying situation turns far more serious than she can anticipate or realize. Emily starts to believe her past might be a threat for her new heated romance with Ethan. Is it possible for Emily to move on with her life, despite never knowing what happened to Craig? Can Ethan help Emily put the past behind her and move on with him?

Amanda Parsons, the former country club socialite whose fall from grace has landed her in the poor house. A chance meeting with Vince Everett, a handsome and wealthy businessman, rescues Amanda from her sad state of affairs returning her to the familiar decadent lifestyle she’s accustomed. The clothes, jewels, shoes and gifts are nice, but the boredom and loneliness stir emotions reminding her of the scandal that shattered her world.

Can Amanda shake the emptiness that consumes her or is she doomed to repeat the same mistakes from her past? And why is her sister friends with her biggest mistake—Andrew Langston? Revisiting that dark part of her life sheds light on a mystery Amanda never dreamed would unravel so many possibilities for her future.

 

My Review

 

I love reading books by new authors and Fifteen Weekends is one of those books that I was thrilled to read and review.  Congrats Christy on your exquisite debut!  I really enjoyed reading it.  Your book contained the elements that glue me to a story.  Detailed descriptions and imagery make a story come alive and capture the reader and you did just that.  I was able to visualize the story. It was like watching a movie about these three amazing ladies.  Speaking of ladies, I loved your three main characters. Ashleigh, Emily and Amanda are all unique in their own way.  I could see a little bit of me or someone I know in all of them.  Being able to relate to the characters is another plus in a book that I am reading.

So yes, there are three main women in this story and each of them has their own story.  Telling each story through their different points of view was brilliant.  Your attention to details made each one of their stories more realistic and enjoyable to read.

The men… well, there are some sexy men in this book too.  Within the three stories there are some hot and steamy men.   Each one of the ladies has her own story and past.  These men make up their lives in one way either past or present.  While I loved the leading men, Liam, Ethan and Vince, I wouldn’t  mind reading more about Alex. Alex makes his appearance in Amanda’s life.  I hope Christy decides to write about him in another book.  As a fan of her writing, I will definitely be reading it.

I truly enjoyed reading this book.  I looked forward to each chapter as it revealed more of the three women’s stories.  Unexpected moments along the way made this story a wonderful read and one that I recommend.

I look forward to reading more of Christy’s writing in the future.

I gave this book 5 stars!

Be sure to add this gem to your TBR.  🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Christy Pastore

 

Writer Christy Pastore grew up in the lakeside community of Syracuse, Indiana writing short stories that usually involved characters who loved to travel, had a passion for fashion and were often times swept up in boy crazy crushes. Many of her first stores also dealt with coming of age situations with their best girlfriends.

Christy gave up reading books for several years, disillusioned with the annoying characters and predictable plot lines. Upon the recommendation of a friend, Christy picked up a much buzzed about popular romance novel which reminded her of why reading was such an enjoyable guilty pleasure.

Writing has been a constant in Christy’s life, leading her to create a popular fashion blog, Fashion Wrap Up. This endeavor allowed Christy to have the wonderful experience of working and collaborating with many talented models, designers, makeup artists and photographers in the Fashion Industry. While Pastore still writes about fashion and celebrity style in her spare time, her passion for story development, more specifically creative writing, publishing and content creation has taken her on a new journey and career path: Author.

Her debut novel, Fifteen Weekends will be out May 2014 just in time for you to add it to your summer reading list.

Additionally, Christy enjoys a nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc, a warm cup of coffee, Gummi Bears, traveling and tweeting her thoughts on her favorite TV shows.

Christy and her husband Kevin currently reside in St. Louis, Missouri in the popular Italian Neighborhood, The Hill, with their two lovable dogs and cooler than cool cat.

Follow Christy on Social Media

Author Website

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

Buy Links

Amazon eBook

Hardcover

 Barnes & Noble

Recipe ~ Garbanzo Frito ~ from my kitchen #SpanishCooking

Garbanzo Frito Recipe

This is a dish that my mother and grandmother used to make while I was growing up.  I have taken their recipe and added my own twist. Although it is called Garbanzo Frito, there is no frying involved.  I hope you enjoy making and eating it as much as I do.  From my kitchen to yours.

~Susi

 

Ingredients

(Serves 4)

1/4 cup olive oil

2 small Spanish Chorizo’s cut into thin rounds

1/2 lbs. smoked pork ham or Virginia ham cut into 1/2 inch pieces

1 onion chopped

1 red bell pepper, 1 yellow pepper or 1 orange pepper chopped into small pieces

6 cloves garlic minced

2 cans 16 ounces Chickpeas/ Garbanzos (drained)

1 can 8 oz. tomato sauce

8 oz. water (use tomato sauce can)

1 box (10 oz)  frozen spinach (thaw for 1 hour before cooking)

1 teaspoon ground cumin or add to taste

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

salt to taste

1/4 pound Manchego cheese (shredded)

Ready to cook?

1.  Heat oil in pan on medium to high heat.

Add the smoked ham pieces.

2.  When ham has browned a bit, add onion, peppers and garlic.

Cook about 7 minutes.  (Lower heat to medium)

3.  Add sliced Spanish chorizo and stir.

Once the color has distributed on pan (reddish color) add the chickpeas.  Stir.

4.  Add the pepper, cumin (to taste) and stir.

5.  Add the tomato sauce and water.  I use the same can to add the water.

Raise the heat to high and cook for about 20 minutes.  Stir as needed.

6.   Shred the spinach into thin strips and add to the garbanzo mixture.

Cook for another 10 minutes.

7.  Taste and add salt as needed.

8.  Shred Manchego cheese.

9.  Serve and top with Manchego cheese.

10.  You can add this to rice or serve as is.  I prefer it as is.

11. Enjoy!

Cover Reveal – INSPIRE by Cora Carmack @CoraCarmack @InkSlingerPR

Cover Reveal 

We are thrilled to bring you the cover for Cora Carmack’s INSPIRE! INSPIRE is a New Adult Paranormal Romance novel and is due to be released on December 15, 2014!

 

The cover was designed by VLC Productions.

Add INSPIRE on Goodreads

About INSPIRE:

Kalliope lives with one purpose.

To inspire.

As an immortal muse, she doesn’t have any other choice. It’s part of how she was made. Musicians, artists, actors—they use her to advance their art, and she uses them to survive. She moves from one artist to the next, never staying long enough to get attached. But all she wants is a different life— a normal one. She’s spent thousands of years living lie after lie, and now she’s ready for something real.

Sweet, sexy, and steady, Wilder Bell feels more real than anything else in her long existence. And most importantly… he’s not an artist. He doesn’t want her for her ability. But she can’t turn off the way she influences people, not even to save a man she might love. Because in small doses, she can help make something beautiful, but her ability has just as much capacity to destroy as it does to create. The longer she stays, the more obsessed Wilder will become. It’s happened before, and it never turns out well for the mortal.

Her presence may inspire genius.

But it breeds madness, too.

 

 

About Cora Carmack:

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She’s done a multitude of things in her life– boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

 

 

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Author Goodreads

 

 

 

Tied by Emma Chase Pre-Order Treat and Bonus Excerpt @EmmaChse @ninabocci

Don’t miss this Pre-Order treat from the talented and awesome Emma Chase.  

Oh Drew!!!!  Thanks Emma for this treat! 🙂

 

 

As a thank you to all the readers who preorder Tied in eBook or paperback, I’ve written an ultra-funny, super-sexy, Drew POV outtake from Tied!!! Don’t want to give too much away – but it’s a Drew & Kate focused scene – one that no Tangled fan will want to miss!! 

Send your pre-order confirmation to giveaways@emmachase.net and you’ll receive the bonus scene after Tied‘s release on October 7th.

I’m unbelievably excited to share Tied with you!!! It was a joy to write and an amazingly fun time to be back in Drew Evans’ head. If you thought you loved him before – you ain’t seen nothing yet 😉

Emma xoxo

Susi Reviews One Funeral by Kat and Stone Bastion (No Weddings #2) @KatBastion @StoneBastion @No_Weddings

One Funeral (No Weddings #2)

by Kat and Stone Bastion 

 

 

The stakes climb higher in this second book in the No Weddings Series for Hannah Martin, a woman restrained by her past, and Cade Michaelson, the man who could help set her free.

I’m drawn to Cade as he charms his way into more of my life and offers me something I truly haven’t ever had: a friend. Yet his humor, patience, and drop-dead sexiness take my breath away, and I know my heart is at risk. I want to move forward but am terrified I can’t.

Cade seems to have it together from his own devastating heartache. His subtle actions, however, suggest a different story. And even though he says he wants more, I wonder if he’s able to trust in our developing relationship.

As we navigate through our tangled feelings, we vow to take it slow. Yet no matter how careful we try to be, things between us intensify—and there’s nothing we can do, or want to do, to stop it.

But the biggest question remains: Is chemistry enough to move beyond the past and toward a future together?

My Review

I am thrilled to share this next review!   I recently finished reading One Funeral (No Weddings #2) by the dynamic duo Kat and Stone Bastion.  I absolutely floved this book!

One Funeral picks up right where No Weddings ends.  I love it when authors continue their stories this way.  I couldn’t wait to read more about Hannah and Cade.  In One Funeral, Hannah and Cade are still working out their previous relationship woes.  Both have been heartbroken in the past and are slowly learning to trust and love again.  Their attraction and slow courtship in this book steamed up my tablet for sure.

Their chemistry is evident in No Weddings and as you will read, becomes combustible in One Funeral.  I think this is what I loved the most about this book.  You see, I have enjoyed the pace.  Kat and Stone have done a brilliant job of keeping the reader hooked on their story. This slow progression of Hannah and Cade’s relationship was exceptionally written.

No Weddings was written in Cades POV and it was perfect.   Now, we get to read Hannah’s POV,  which I found to be quite refreshing.  I guess you could say that I was reading/living vicariously through Hannah in this book.  I was also her greatest cheerleader.

Additionally, I love how Hannah and Cade’s routine, established in No Weddings continues.  It was an important part of that story for Hannah and continues in this book as well.  The moments at Cade’s house for dinner with his friends, time at his sisters’ home, as well as those early moments in the bake shop play a significant part in their slow courting.

Their party planning continues and you will enjoy reading about their latest events in One Funeral.  Just wait until you attend the funeral with Hannah and Cade, it is quite a funeral.

Cade… what can I say?  I absolutely love him!  He is sexy, has a witty and dirty mouth and well… has other important assets you will discover once you read.  All of those qualities make him an awesome character in this series.  I loved their “non-dating” in this story as well as how Cade slowly revealed and demonstrated his feelings for Hannah.  He continues to mentor Hannah with his business skills and earns his MBA too.

Cade’s sisters and his friends continue to nourish their “non-dating” in this book. And, even Cade’s parents make their appearance as well.

I was thrilled to read that Hannah got to make her famous cake she was experimenting with in No Weddings.  Look out for the dragon cake.

Are there any love scenes in this book?  Ahhh…. yeah!  And, all I can say is you will totally love Cade even more. Whoa…..

One Funeral was an exceptional read and one that I highly recommend.   I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series, Two Bar Mitzvahs.  I am hooked!

I gave this book 5 brilliant stars!

Stay tuned for another post on release day featuring my favorite lines from this book and my cast for this book series.  I have a feeling you will enjoy that post.

I received and ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

Pre-order One Funeral today!

 

Buy Links

No Weddings

One Funeral

Two Bar Mitzvahs

Three Christmases (link coming soon)

 

 

 

About the Authors

Kat & Stone Bastion  Bio:
Award-winning and bestselling romance author Kat Bastion has teamed up with her husband Stone Bastion to create the new contemporary romance series No Weddings.
A few factoids about the writing team…
Kat enjoys her chocolate rich and dark, her music edgy and soul-filling, and her vacations exotic with toes dug into the sand. And she’s wildly, madly, deeply in love with Stone.
Stone likes pounding the trails on a mountain bike, vibrating the sound system with rock music, and down time spent on a stand up paddleboard. And he loves Kat wildly, madly, deeply…and then some.
Together, they’re having a blast bringing fun-filled romantic stories to life and hope you’ll join them in the exciting adventure.
Kat’s first published work, Utterly Loved, was a twentieth anniversary gift of love poems to Stone that they decided to share with the world to benefit charity. Net proceeds from Utterly Loved, and a portion of net proceeds from all their books, go toward charities involved in the fight against human trafficking.
Kat and Stone live amid the beautiful Sonoran Desert of Arizona.

Visit their blog at www.talktotheshoe.com, website at www.katbastion.com, &

their Twitter accounts https://twitter.com/KatBastion and https://twitter.com/StoneBastion for more information.
Keep informed about new releases by joining their Email Subscription list.

 

 

Susi Reviews ~ Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire @JamieMcGuire

 Susi Reviews 

Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire

The Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster phenomenon continues in the first heart-pounding new adult romance in The Maddox Brothers series.

Fiercely independent Camille “Cami” Camlin gladly moved on from her childhood before it was over. She has held down a job since before she could drive, and moved into her own apartment after her freshman year of college. Now tending bar at The Red Door, Cami doesn’t have time for much else besides work and classes, until a trip to see her boyfriend is cancelled, leaving her with a first weekend off in almost a year.

Trenton Maddox was the king of Eastern State University, dating co-eds before he even graduated high school. His friends wanted to be him, and women wanted to tame him, but after a tragic accident turned his world upside down, Trenton leaves campus to come to grips with the crushing guilt.

Eighteen months later, Trenton is living at home with his widower father, and works full-time at a local tattoo parlor to help with the bills. Just when he thinks his life is returning to normal, he notices Cami sitting alone at a table at The Red.

As the baby sister of four rowdy brothers, Cami believes she’ll have no problem keeping her new friendship with Trenton Maddox strictly platonic. But when a Maddox boy falls in love, he loves forever—even if she is the only reason their already broken family could fall apart.

In the first installment of the Maddox Brothers books, readers can experience the rush of reading Beautiful Disaster for the first time, all over again.

Cover Reveal + Teaser – Torture To Her Soul by J.M. Darhower @JMDarhower

  Here it is!  I’m excited to share this cover and a teaser with you today.  I love it!  I am looking forward to reading this book written by one of my favorite authors.

Cover Reveal + Teaser

Torture to Her Soul

 

by J.M. Darhower

 

(Monster in His Eyes #2)

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: 9.29.14

 

Blurb:

 

Don’t say it unless you mean it…

 

It’s a simple concept, one I’ve said time and again, but something people don’t seem to comprehend. You should choose every syllable carefully, because you never know when somebody will hold you to your word.

 

Somebody like me.

 

I’m not a good man. I’m not. I know. I have enough darkness inside of me to rid the world of every stitch of light. But there’s one I could never harm, one light I couldn’t bring myself to snuff out.

 

Karissa.

 

She thinks I’m a monster, and maybe I am. I taunt her with my touch, get a thrill out of torturing her soul. But I’m not the only one. The world is full of monsters, and I’m not the most dangerous one out there.

 

Not even close…

 

God help me, I love her.

 

I do.

 

And God help anyone who tries to take her from me.

An Interview with Morgan and Jennifer Locklear, Authors of Exposure + E-book Giveaway @MJLocklear @RandomCran

An Interview with Morgan and Jennifer Locklear,

Authors of Exposure

 and an E-book Giveaway

 

 

 

I am thrilled to share this fantastic interview on my blog today.  It is always interesting to get to know the people behind the writing. I know I am looking forward to reading more of their writing in the future.

Enjoy!