Book review and giveaway: The Devil’s Kiss trilogy by Gemma James

Scroll to the bottom for the giveaway!

The Devil's Kiss trilogyTitle: The Devil’s Kiss trilogy

Author: Gemma James

Genre: Erotica BDSM

Published: May 8, 2013

Length: book 1: novelette; book 2: short novella; book 3: short novella

Rating: Novel Girl rating stars-4.5

***

goodreads-badge-add-plus

Description:

“Who am I, Kayla?”

I met his gaze—maniacal eyes possessing me—and shuddered. My heart feared him, but the gate of my sexual need was manned by him, owned by him. And he knew it.

“You’re my Master.”

Kayla Sutton faces a question no mother wants to face: what would you do to save your daughter? Broke and desperate, she siphons thousands from the company she works for in order to pay for her daughter’s life-saving treatment, but when Gage Channing discovers her theft, she is shocked to learn that her domineering boss has no intention of turning her over to the police. Instead he issues an ultimatum—submit to him, or go to jail.

As her daughter’s life hangs in the balance, Kayla must dig deep to find the strength to fully submit, to travel down the path of pain and pleasure. But when her past catches up to her, prompting a free fall into forbidden territory with a man she once fiercely loved, she knows her only recourse is to come clean about her transgression and beg her Master’s forgiveness . . . only she never imagined he’d have such a horrifying punishment awaiting her.

She faced sexual servitude in Ultimatum. In Enslaved she was seduced into craving it. Now she must find the strength to either accept the part of her that craves him still, or walk away for good . . .

NOTE TO READERS: THE DEVIL’S KISS TRILOGY is a novel with a BDSM edge and contains material that is only suitable for adult readers. If dark and edgy erotic fiction isn’t your kind of read, you might not enjoy this story. Approximately 52,000 words.

Ultimatum review

Book #1

Book #1

Rating: Novel Girl rating stars-4

Ultimatum, for 12,000 words, is a novelette yet so big in bang. I admit I went into it expecting whips and pain and erotic sex scene after scene with no story but…

…stupid me didn’t count on Gemma James planting a seed of a twisted, engrossing story that would take me through this trilogy.

It was a few things that got me hooked in this book. Mother, Kayla and terminally ill daughter, Eve are in a situation to make any person feel heavy and sad. This then is in the forefront of your mind when Kayla—ultimately—has no choice but to start a contract with Gage for cruel, twisted, sex for his own self-pleasing sexual desires because it gives her the money she needs. It’s crazy and Gemma made me squirm exactly how I think she intended me to. She also made me feel the confusing pleasure at times, when after the beating Kayla endured, she received sexual gratification.

Then there was Gage who had my emotions tumbling as if in a dryer. Man, he is a character I’ll never forget. He’s intense—sadistic and sexual, he’s damn intense.

A light read, Ultimatum almost made the coveted 5 stars, but was a tad short to completely satisfy me.

Enslaved review

Enslaved - Gemma James

Book #2

Rating: Novel Girl rating stars-5

If Ultimatum felt like a paper-cut, Enslaved was like a deep cut. So much more intense.

The sex was hotter, the BDSM was crueller, and so was Kayla’s feelings for her boss and Master, Gage. Her daughter, Eve received a large lump of money to help with cancer treatment in book one, but now comes a huge deal. There’s a new treatment available with extreme benefits to combat her cancer and give her a strong chance to live, but it’s a huge sum to pay.

Kayla has no choice. She goes right back into Gage’s torture dungeon (seems that way) and submits herself to his wicked ways. Meanwhile, when she’s out in the world afterwards, she keeps running into her ex, Ian, so she still loves.

This book is hot and capturing to read, and also a bit longer than Ultimatum, but it’s the huge twist at the end that had me choking on my breath and trying to tap away at my Kindle pages faster to devour every word until the end to find out what happened.

Enslaved is a huge step up from book one. It satisfied me and then knocked me off my feet in a good way and had me shouting at my lungs over social media for my friends to buy it.

Retribution review

Book #3

Book #3

Rating: Novel Girl rating stars-5

The title says it all really. It’s stepped up to the max in this last instalment. We finally see the prospect of Gage, her sexual torturer and pleaser, getting his comeuppance.

I love that Kayla now has the upper hand. I felt like chanting, “Go girl power!” in my head while reading, but it wasn’t all like that. Gage is evil through and through, and Kayla is questioning soon enough if she had any power over their contract and his hold on her at all.

In this last instalment, I really connected with the three main characters, Gage, Kayla, and Ian. Part of it was another bombshell that Gemma James hit me with, and I saw these characters becoming real in my head. With so much on the line between Eve’s recovery, Kayla’s choice to walk away from Gage or not, her retribution, more dark and dangerous secrets, and Ian’s presence in her life, I couldn’t help but chant, “perfect, perfect, perfect,” over in my head as I finished up this book.

Gemma James threw some crazy shit at me, and I feel proud I survived this book. My only disappointment is the ending. It’s not a cliff-hanger and given the type of series, it isn’t a sweet HEA; it’s something else. But it fitted the series.

***

The series

Wow. I am floored. All in all, the length of these books put together barely total a small novel, yet each standing on their own grow to a huge satisfactory read.

I highly recommend this series. I get peeved at features in BDSM erotica books, and this one had them, too, but as a non-reader of the genre I rate the series in total 4.5 stars and totally mind-blowing. LOVE. And highly recommended.

***

Author links:

Website/blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |

Ultimatum (book #1) links:

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |

The full trilogy links:

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |

***

Rafflecopter banner

♥♥♥

*NEW* Sign up to reveal Rebecca’s cover for her next release here.
Rebecca Berto is the author of the Dark Contemporary/Literary novella, Precise and the New Adult Contemporary Romance,
 Drowning in You

Follow Novel Girl blog by the buttons in the top left corner of the home page to stay updated.

Book review: “A Different Blue” by Amy Harmon

GUEST REVIEW BY TAMARA MCRAE

A different blue - Amy Harmon

TitleA Different Blue

Author — Amy Harmon

Age group — New Adult

Genre — Contemporary Romance

Published — March 27, 2013

Rating – Novel Girl rating stars-5

***

Click to add to Goodreads

Book description:

Blue Echohawk doesn’t know who she is. She doesn’t know her real name or when she was born. Abandoned at two and raised by a drifter, she didn’t attend school until she was ten years old. At nineteen, when most kids her age are attending college or moving on with life, she is just a senior in high school. With no mother, no father, no faith, and no future, Blue Echohawk is a difficult student, to say the least. Tough, hard and overtly sexy, she is the complete opposite of the young British teacher who decides he is up for the challenge, and takes the troublemaker under his wing.

This is the story of a nobody who becomes somebody. It is the story of an unlikely friendship, where hope fosters healing and redemption becomes love. But falling in love can be hard when you don’t know who you are. Falling in love with someone who knows exactly who they are and exactly why they can’t love you back might be impossible.

Tamara’s review:

The author

The author

“It’s all about perspective,” I said hesitantly, giving voice to my sudden revelation. “I don’t know what all of you see when you look at this,” I nodded toward my carving. “I can’t control what you see or how you interpret what you see any more than I can control what you think of me.”

“That’s the beauty of art,” Wilson suggested quietly. “Everyone has their own interpretation.”

A Different Blue was beautiful and touching. It was one of those books that whispered its secrets to me and begged me to look inside my own heart to discover how those secrets could help me unfold a little more of my own story.

This story snuck up on me. You may find it slow to start but stick with it, you will be glad you did. The author gently weaved the story of Blue with history lessons, Indian stories and wood carving. An odd mixture you might think but I was captivated by how she tied them all together. This was such a well written story; it is one of those books that you delve into on a deeper level. I took my time reading this, highlighting a lot of it and thinking about the underlying meanings and what I could take from them into my own life.

Blue is a lost soul who doesn’t know her roots. She hides her vulnerability and craving for love and acceptance under a tough exterior that most don’t take the time to look past.

“Most people who worked with wood liked to use soft woods because they were easy to carve and whittle, easy to shape into their own creation. Nobody carved with mesquite or mountain mahogany or juniper. The wood was too hard.”

Wilson, her history teacher, is the exception. His history lessons help her start on her path to self discovery and their growing friendship gives her the love and acceptance she desperately needs to grow and spread her wings. Before I read the book I was a little concerned as to where this book was going to go with regard to the student/teacher relationship. I don’t especially like books with those relationships and I was pleased to find that this book did not touch on any inappropriateness. I don’t want to share any spoilers but just wanted to clarify that for anyone who was not sure whether to read this book based on that aspect.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough. If you enjoy stories of self discovery and the healing nature of love you will like this one.

***

Author links:

Website/blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |

Buy the book:

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo  |  Smashwords  |

♥♥♥

*NEW* Sign up to reveal Rebecca’s cover for her next release here.
Rebecca Berto is the author of the Dark Contemporary/Literary novella, Precise and the New Adult Contemporary Romance,
 Drowning in You

Follow Novel Girl blog by the buttons in the top left corner of the home page to stay updated.

Book review: “Suddenly Royal” by Nichole Chase

Guest reviewer: Stephany Melton

Suddenly RoyalTitleSuddenly Royal

Author — Nichole Chase

Age group — New Adult

Genre — Contemporary Romance

Published — April 19, 2013

Rating – Novel Girl rating stars-4

♥♥♥

Book description:

Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.

Alex D’Lynsal is trying to keep his name clean. As crown prince of Lilaria, he’s had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women—especially women in the public eye. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She’s stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone’s front-page news.

While Sam tries to navigate the new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders.

Stephany’s review:

This story was very reminiscent of The Princess Diaries, but with a jolt of electrifying chemistry between Samantha Rousseau and “Prince Yummy”.  Ms. Chase takes a fairytale story and twists it into a juicy “new adult” concoction that will leave you thirsty for more.

Ms. Chase coins the phrase “Prince Yummy” and Prince Alex D’Lynsal lives up to his mouthwatering delicious new nickname.  Having been burned in the past, Prince Alex’s view on dating in the limelight suddenly changes when he meets Samantha Rousseau.  I fell in love with Alex, not only is he “yummy” but he has good intentions with no ulterior motives.  I loved the fact that as a Prince, he was willing to get his hands dirty (literally) to find his way into Sam’s heart.  Sam is an All-American girl.  I found myself relating to her from the very beginning and by the end I wanted to be her.

Sam has a firecracker personality that has “Prince Yummy” lit up from the very first meeting.  When an unexpected surprise comes her way, will Sam tackle this head on or will she crumble under all the pressure? Will Sam’s no nonsense attitude and hectic schedule allow her to give into true love?  Will the explosive chemistry between these two fizzle or continue to burn everlasting with a happily ever after?

Ms. Chase exceeded my expectations with this novel.  From the shower to the royal tub, I was definitely in need of a “cold” shower myself.  Not only did Sam and Alex steal my heart, but I found myself intrigued with Jess and Cathy.  A Royal spin-off, maybe?

Book links:

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo  |  Goodreads  |

Author links:

Website/blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Pinterest  |

♥♥♥

Buy on Amazon!

DrowningInYou AMAZON<<< Buy Precise from Amazon for Kindle.

Buy Drowning in You for Kindle, too. >>>

Or, follow my blog by the buttons in the top left corner of the home page.

Your life isn’t complete if you haven’t read… (Part 2)

Part 2 is here! (Please visit Part 1 here if you haven’t already.)

Just some of my favourite books I would regret not reading. Please give these a go—they’re amayyyyzing. Sorted by Genre/Subject area, all are:

Novel Girl rating stars-5

*** Click to view on Goodreads ***

Contemporary:

Just Remember to Breathe - Charles Sheenhan-MilesATSS - Khaled Hosseini

Classics:

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Historical:

The Book Thief - Markus ZusakThe Snow Child - Eowyn Ivey

Literary:

The Memory Keeper's Daughter - Kim Edwards

Romance:

????

Note: NA Contemporary Romance

TTTW - AN

Young Adult:

The Fault in Our Stars - John Green2

Note: YA Thriller

Note: YA Thriller

Note: YA Paranormal Romance

Note: YA Paranormal Romance

Science Fiction Romance:

The Host - Stephenie Meyer

Thriller:

TGwtDT - Stieg Larsson

Memoir:

A Stolen Life- Jaycee Dugard

♥♥♥

Buy on Amazon!

DrowningInYou AMAZON<<< Buy Precise from Amazon for kindle or from Smashwords for all types of eReading devices. Or, follow my blog by the buttons in the top left corner of the home page.

>>> Enter to WIN, and add, Drowning in You to Goodreads (comp. ends April 30). (Novel coming April 12, 2013)

Your life isn’t complete if you haven’t read… (Part 1)

Just some of my favourite books I would regret not reading. Please give these a go—they’re amayyyyzing. Sorted by Genre/Subject area, all are:

Novel Girl rating stars-5

*** Click to view on Goodreads ***

Contemporary:

ASFJ - Charles Sheehan-Miles

Dark Contemporary:

Suicide Watch - kelley York

Literary:

The Storyteller - Jodi PicoultHarvesting the HeartMy Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult

Literary Romance:

The Enchanted Orchards

Contemporary Romance (incl. New Adult):

A Happy Accident - Evan TylerHopeless - Colleen HooverThe Edge of NeverTSOT-book-cover Atria BooksBD - Jamie McGuireSlammed - Colleen Hoover

Erotica:

Captive in the dark cj robertsSeduced in the Dark - CJ Roberts

♥♥♥

Buy on Amazon!

DrowningInYou AMAZON<<< Buy Precise from Amazon for kindle or from Smashwords for all types of eReading devices. Or, follow my blog by the buttons in the top left corner of the home page.

>>> Enter to WIN, and add, Drowning in You to Goodreads (comp. ends April 30). (Novel coming April 12, 2013)

Release Week Event: BEAUTY FROM PAIN by Georgia Cates (plus excerpt!)

Title Beauty From Pain Beauty From Pain

Author  Georgia Cates

Release date  January 31, 2013

Genre  Contemporary romance

Age Group  Adult

Event organised by  AToMR Tours

Book Links:

Goodreads  |  Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Smashwords  |

♥♥♥

Book Description:

They agreed on three months…but their love knew no boundaries.

Jack McLachlan is a winemaking magnate and easily one of Australia’s most eligible bachelors. His success and wealth makes him no stranger to the complications of romantic relationships and that’s why he goes to extreme measures to avoid the hassle. He prefers simplicity in the form of a beautiful female companion with no strings attached. He arranges relationships like business deals and they’re always the same. No long term relationships. No real names.

It’s his game and his rules. He’s content to play as usual, but when Laurelyn Prescott enters his life, his strategy must change because this player is like none he’s ever encountered. His world is turned on its head after he begins a three month affair with the beautiful American musician. Nothing goes according to plan and as he breaks more and more of his own rules for her, she’s exceptionally close to becoming something he never thought possible. His ultimate game changer.

Author photo

Author photo

About the Author:

Georgia resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent fourteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author and hasn’t looked back yet.

When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing. When she’s being domestic, she’s listening to her iPod and visualizing scenes for her current work in progress. Every story coming from her always has a song to inspire it.

♥♥♥

Beauty from Pain Excerpt #1

Jack McLachlan’s POV

I sit in the dark corner and scan the room like a starved predator searching for prey. I haven’t chosen her yet, but the woman who will share my bed for the next few months is in this room right now.

I watch a lovely blond approach my table. “What can I bring you?” Hmm. A waitress—not at all my usual taste.

I have a type. Attractive. Mature. Refined. This barmaid meets the attractive requirement well enough, but she’s void of refinement or maturity as displayed by her choice of apparel—a white, barely there tank top and frazzled cutoff denim shorts. She doesn’t do it for me. Plus, my last two companions were blond. I want a different flavor this time, but no redheads. I want a brunette. A beautiful one.

I remind myself I’m not in Sydney where I have an endless variety of sophisticated women from which to choose. My choices are more limited in the small town of Wagga Wagga, but that doesn’t mean I have to settle for the first attractive woman I see.

“I’ll have a Shiraz.”

I’m prepared for a more prolonged relationship this time—three whole months instead of the usual three or four weeks. I’m looking forward to keeping this one around a little longer, and that’s all the more reason to be certain I make a wise choice.

I begin my search of the club with the first table toward the front of the room. A brunette beauty sits with a group of women. I watch her for a while, but decide she’s too friendly with the woman sitting next to her. Lesbians aren’t in my repertoire.

I spend the next hour scanning the club and come up empty-handed. I’m discouraged. No one stands out as the one and this club is by far my best bet for meeting single women in this town. Maybe I should consider coming back another time when it’s not open mic night. Tonight, the place is crawling with boozed college students.

Tonight’s search has been a failure, but at least the karaoke was entertaining.

I’m finishing off the last of my wine before I leave when an announcer from the club takes the stage and asks for the next singer to step forward. A small group of people across the room nominates one of its own. My view of the poor bastard is blocked by the crowd of intoxicated kids standing between us, but I’m certain this is going to be another delightful train wreck.

The club erupts into cheer and chants. “Do. It. Do. It. Do. It.” A young woman walks onto the stage and stands with her back to the crowd as she lifts a guitar from its stand. She lifts its strap over her head and then tosses her long brown hair over one shoulder. When she’s finished settling the guitar into place, she circles around and sits on the stool in the middle of the stage.

She’s beautiful. And somehow overlooked during my search.

She’s wearing a short ivory dress and a denim jacket with brown cowgirl boots. She bares her thighs as she lifts her feet to rest on the bottom rail, but she’s careful to push her dress between her legs so she doesn’t provide a peep show to the crowd.

She strums the borrowed guitar a few times and then leans into the microphone. “Is everyone having a good time tonight?”

She’s American. I think. Her accent sounds different—not like what I’ve heard in the past.

The crowd erupts into a drunken cheer and I hear a man’s voice yell over the crowd, “It’s better now, sweet thing!”

She smiles and adjusts the mic. “I’m not from around here. It’s my first night in Australia.”

“Leave with me and I’ll make you feel right at home!” a man shouts from the back of the room.

She ignores the fat, ugly bastard yelling at her. “I don’t know what kind of music Australians like, but this has been one of my favorites for as long as I can remember.” She strums a few more chords. “This is ‘Crash Into Me’ by the Dave Matthews Band.”

She sings it slower than the original, putting her own twist on it. Her voice is raspy and sexy, her eyes closed. She oozes eroticism. She tilts her head and opens her eyes when she begins to sing the chorus. I swear it feels like she’s looking right in my direction, singing to me. “Oh, and you come craasshh … into me. And I come into … you … And I come into you … in a boy’s dream … in a boy’s dream.”

The stage lights shine in her face and common sense tells me she can’t see me sitting in the dark corner at the back of the club, but that doesn’t stop me from hoping.

She finishes the chorus and shuts her eyes again. Her long legs bounce against the rail of the stool to keep rhythm and I fall victim to her siren’s song. She has bewitched me. And I want her. She’s the one.

♥♥♥

Author links:

Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

Click to buy

Click to buy

♥♥♥

Buy Precise from Amazon for Kindle or from Smashwords for all types of eReading devices. Or, follow my blog by the buttons in the left column of the home page.

Add my New Adult Contemporary Romance novel, Drowning in You to Goodreads. (Coming April 2013)

Review: A HAPPY ACCIDENT by Evan Tyler

Click to buy on Amazon

Click to buy on Amazon

Title – A Happy Accident

Author – Evan Tyler

Genre — Contemporary

Published – December 2, 2012

Novel Girl rating stars-5

♥♥♥

Book summary:

A Story Inspired by Steven Tyler: The first book in a three-part series

It happened by accident, a lottery of events…

In 1988, a blind seven-year-old lay in a hospital room longing for her mother, unaware that eight years earlier a chance encounter occurred that would shape her life.

American musician Bobby Carter moved to Manchester, England with one objective—to become a major player in the postpunk scene of the late Seventies. His quest for stardom steers him in the direction of Kindle Hyrum, whose feistiness is only exceeded by her raw beauty. Though Bobby’s steady pursuit trumps Kindle’s cheeky resistance—sweeping them into present bliss—past secrets, new temptations, and a series of hapless and happy accidents will determine their future…and the future of a blind child.

Set to the lyrical soundtrack of the 60s and 70s, A Happy Accident is a story of love and choice that transcends the ages.

My review:

“Surprising, weird, brilliant.”

It’s taken me a while to compile my thoughts on A Happy Accident. The entire read — and I mean that literally until the last sentence — I was waiting for this book to let me down. Don’t know why I was expecting that. I hadn’t heard about this book before being asked to review it, hadn’t even seen the cover featured anywhere. I went into it blindly without reading reviews or hype or anything.

IT BLEW ME AWAY. I created a “Best Everrr”shelf on Goodreads since reading this book. I needed to show my fans that this little book has huge potential to blow everyone‘s minds.

Ackk, okay, now to actually review it. What made this novel so great were two factors.

Author, Evan Tyler

Author, Evan Tyler

ONE: The Characters

The two main characters, the couple, were so real.

The guy, Bobby, was the one who made me nervous. He was weird and spontaneous and did random things so often I wondered if Evan Tyler was going to slap me with a shocking revelation like he had a mental disability (thus making me feel guilty) or he had a reason for doing things most people wouldn’t. He is such a cute husband to Kindle (love interest). He wants to provide for her and looks after her like a husband should. He’s so naïve at times, I can’t help but want to cuddle him up in my love and protect his heart. I’m not doing to grace you with spoilers, but oh, MY. Bobby is a character who’ll forever stick in my head alongside the memorables such as Travis Maddox and Harry Potter. He’s great and just beautiful!

If Bobby is Yin, then Kindle, his love interest, is Yang. She fits the other part of their relationship perfectly. She was the one I related to as myself. She thought of things ahead of time, yet had enough spontaneous attitude to love, she was smart and witty (Bobby is freaking hilarious with her when they banter. He gets her back without trying or knowing what he’s doing and she has effortless wittiness).

TWO: The Voice

Evan Tyler writes with top-notch skills. Her writing is poetic. It took me on a journey, one I was anxious to continue and could NOT stop and was itching to read more and more of. I believe “hungrily devouring” is the correct terminology here.

Without a doubt, A Happy Accident has been the most shockingly satisfying novels I’ve ever read. I do not know how it hasn’t been devoured by every other bookworm I know, and if you’re looking for suggestions, be aware I’ll demand you read this.

Love romance? Try A Happy Accident. Want to read a book with a style you cannot put down, or get enough of, and it written beautifully, like literary fiction? Try A Happy Accident. Want a fun read that somehow dips into the depths of how we see each other as people and behave in the name of love? Try A Happy Accident.

6/5 stars. The rating system isn’t enough for one of my favourite books. So much respect for this novel and Evan Tyler.

Novel Girl rating stars-5

♥♥♥

If you liked my review, please click “like” here on my Goodreads review or “yes” for a helpful review on my Amazon review.

♥♥♥

♥ Book links ♥

Author: Facebook  |  Twitter  |

Reviews: Goodreads

Buy: Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |

Click to buy

Click to buy

♥♥♥

Buy Precise from Amazon for kindle or from Smashwords for all types of eReading devices. Or, follow my blog by the buttons in the top left corner of the home page.

Add my New Adult Contemporary Romance novel, Drowning in You to Goodreads. (Coming April 2013)

Help! I am Hopeless. (Or 5 books to read after Colleen Hoover)

Pretty self-explanatory. You’ve finished Hopeless by Colleen Hoover and realised how utterly hopeless your reading life (and subsequently real life) actually is.

Your cures in no particular order (AKA you must read all these similar books).

*** You can win both Hopeless and The Edge of Never at the end of this post ***

Say My Name by Becky Tsaros Dickson

Say My Name by Becky Tsaros Dickson

TitleSay My Name

Author — Rebecca Tsaros Dickson

Genre — Literary Romance

A short story (~6,000 words / 36 pages) written in a beautiful, lyrical style that’ll steal your breath and your heart.

Say My Name catches your heart from the beginning and I swear it finishes on a note so damn painful, you’ll be writing a review like I am and be shaking and your heart will be breaking.

♥♥♥

Charade by Nyrae Dawn

Charade by Nyrae Dawn

 TitleCharade

Author — Nyrae Dawn

Genre — New Adult Romance

Who ever knew bargains for sex could be so meaningful? No, actually, “meaningful” is like someone smiling at a crappy Christmas gift and saying they love it.

Charade is a hard-core, hot and heavy romance that balances touching stories intertwined by the two main characters, two stories from two characters who are broken in their own ways and both think each other obnoxious until they come together.

♥♥♥

The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski

The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski

TitleThe Edge of Never

Author — J.A. Redmerski

Genre — New Adult Romance

An amazing feat. This book is slow building. You don’t get the tears right away. You don’t get the sex in chapter two, either.

In The Edge of Never, you get a dual narrative told by the male and female leads and you become attached to them like old friends in your heart. When the novel heats up — well get your industrial-size fans out and get your tissues. This novel has it all.

♥♥♥

Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult

Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult

TitleHarvesting the Heart

Author — Jodi Picoult

Genre — Jodi Picoult Fiction

You’ve heard it here first: No one can draw characters as rich, deep and real as Jodi.

This novel isn’t a sexy romance, but for those of you wanting to feel hurt, my God — Jodi writes it well, and the depth of the troubles in these characters’ lives become so much a part of you, you respect yourself and others just that bit better after reading Harvesting the Heart.

I’ll always respect Jodi for her talent to allow me to understand people in the way she writes them.

♥♥♥

The Enchanted Orchards by Kristin Maddock

The Enchanted Orchards by Kristin Maddock

TitleThe Enchanted Orchards

Author — Kristin Maddock

Genre — Literary Romance

Best. Book. EVER!

If you didn’t hear me gushing back when I reviewed this, I’ve saved one of the best book suggestions until last.

This book is a romance but written in a style that is drowned in hurt, douses you with inspiration, and grows an appreciation from within you for the amazing literary genius of Maddock.

The Enchanted Orchards speaks directly to you and if you’re not one of the 1% who hate it, you’re part of the 99% of the population who will be blown away by this masterpiece.

WIN both Hopeless and The Edge of Never by using this entry form:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*****

Click to buy

Click to buy

Buy Precise from Amazon for kindle or from Smashwords for all types of eReading devices. Or, follow my blog by the buttons in the top left corner of the home page.

Add my New Adult Contemporary Romance novel, Drowning in You to Goodreads. (Coming April 2013)

Hold on to your socks! NOBODY’S DAMSEL by EM Tippetts

Click to add to Goodreads

Click to add to Goodreads

Title – Nobody’s Damsel

Author – EM Tippetts

Genre — Chick lit

Published – January 5, 2013

Novel Girl rating stars-5

♥♥♥

Goodreads summary:

Chloe has finished her masters degree and taken a job as a forensic scientist back in her home town of Albuquerque, New Mexico, only the press will not leave her alone. They follow her to crime scenes and report on her every move, eager to show that her marriage to Hollywood A-lister, Jason Vanderholt, is on the brink of collapse. Millions of fans who dream of their own celebrity romance with him want this more than anything. This scrutiny comes at a particularly bad time as Chloe’s first case is a crime against a child roughly the same age that Chloe was when she survived a homicide attempt.

Now that she sees the case from an adult’s perspective, she realizes it’s much harder than she ever dreamed. It’s even worse for Jason, who is two steps removed from the crime. He must watch and try to support his wife as she battles with past demons and tries to keep up with a nameless suspect who evades identification and capture. Never has Jason been more frustrated with his job, its frivolities, and its lack of connection to the real world. When he storms off the set of his latest movie, the press goes wild with conjecture. While he says he wants to work on a project that means something, his agent and manager fear this may be the end of his time in the spotlight. Perhaps he never was anything more than a pretty face after all.

Together, Chloe and Jason must find their way past all the popping flashbulbs and through the dark maze of the criminal investigation to discover whether they can balance their professional goals with the demands of a celebrity marriage. The odds are entirely against them.

My review:

Click to view Goodreads profile

Click to view Goodreads profile

EM Tippetts has a habit of making the reader underestimate her books and then BAM! you feel silly for not seeing the ending. Nobody’s Damsel was like this for me. I’d read book #1, Someone Else’s Fairytale a while ago and loved it, so I was attached to these characters. The history and my attachment with the main characters, Jason and Chloe, boosted the read to a 4 starrer for most of my reading it and then this happened:

at 70-75% I said this: “Have you read Someone Else’s Fairytale (book #1)? Well this book #2 is different yet intriguing. I’m loving it!”

[Looks like something epic is happening]

at 90-95% I said this: “Dang!! This book has twisted my arm behind my back and made me bow to it. Did NOT see that twist.”

[Sounds painfully great!]

Nobody’s Damsel takes a different turn in the storyline than Someone Else’s Fairytale. This one is more of a mystery, but behind it all is the core relationship between swoony Jason Vanderholt and Chloe. I’m happy EM Tippetts chose this road. We learn more about both Jason and Chloe this way — a deeper level into their personality and how this affects their careers, him as an A-List Hollywood actor and her as a forensic scientist.

I know so many people will relate to this book. Chloe and Jason get married in Someone Else’s Fairytale without getting to know the ins and outs of each other properly. This book is a fantastic story about a newlywed’s troubles to form a happy life as one unit and understand each other’s differences. It’s cute and lovely.

But let me just say that the main storyline, the “mystery” part, will blow you away. Chloe was abducted and almost killed as a child and guess what? Her first case is almost identical to what happened to her. She’s thrust into this situation where she must live by her horrible memories constantly, all while the paparazzi are incredibly horrible to her, yet push that aside and focus on this poor little girl.

Nobody’s Damsel blew me away. I had to write this review three days after I finished the book just to compile my thoughts and do this review justice.

Recommended reading!

Novel Girl rating stars-5

♥♥♥

♥ Book links ♥

Author: Website/blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |

Reviews: Goodreads

Buy: Amazon US (.mobi file)  |  Amazon UK  |  Smashwords (ePub file) |

Click to buy

Click to buy

♥♥♥

Buy Precise from Amazon for kindle or from Smashwords for all types of eReading devices. Or, follow my blog by the buttons in the top left corner of the home page.

How PRECISE gained fans who said this …

Just shy of a month of Precise being published, I’ve received some amazing reviews and comments from readers. Really, you guys are the freaking bomb! Check out some tweets from happy readers:

Then we have one that always makes me squeee:

and yet another happy reader:

and we have a proud “acknowledged” person:

But your reviews are the ones that truly blow me away. Check out this from Kim Koning, author in an anthology with Neil Gaiman, and Twitter #storycraft host:

Click to "like" the review

Click to “like” the review

Do you follow the Limebird Writers blog? They have around 700 followers I think and are a fantastic writing blog to follow. Well, the Founder and host, Beth Horwood, wrote this:

Click to "like" review

Click to “like” the review

Now for the big one. Cristina from Cristina’s Book Reviews wrote a few lines that made me smile so big, I grinned literally from ear to ear. Read this:

Muahaha ;)

Muahaha ;)

And not to honk my own horn but I’ve heard this comment from quite a few readers and reviewers. And I am thrilled to hear it, also from Cristina:

Screen Shot 2012-12-24 at 11.24.54 AM♥♥♥

All these reviews have made me into a book buying frenzy addict. All these $0.99 books made me realise I can support so many indie authors and barely spend a thing. It also happens that Precise is $0.99 too!

A few reasons why I buy so many $0.99 books:

  • I’d have to buy 1/3 of a coffee to get that same value;
  • I can buy two soft serve cones from McDonald’s for that price;
  • I am supporting another author’s career;
  • I am supporting the industry I love;
  • I am giving back to the author for selling their hard work for such a little price;

among other reasons.

If you’d like to support my book, Precise, you can:

  • BUY PRECISE FOR JUST $0.99! Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords (all formats), Kobo (direct ePub download for most devices), iBooks
  • Add it to your To Read shelf on Goodreads
  • Click “like” on the Amazon page (demonstrated below)
  • Screen Shot 2012-12-24 at 11.32.24 AM
  • Share a message on Facebook (@ = Rebecca Alyce Berto) or Twitter (@RebeccaBerto)! Feel free to share the cover on Pinterest too. Goodreads link to use.

Thank you all for following me. I can’t believe as I type this I have 76,500 blog views and 650+ Novel Girl followers. I’d be forever grateful if you bought or shared my book and enjoy returning the favour for your platform!

Click to buy

Click to buy

♥♥♥

Buy Precise from Amazon for Kindle or from Smashwords for all types of eReading devices. Or, follow my blog by the buttons in the top left corner of the home page.