Tough Love by Marcie A. Bridges - Review

Tough Love

Janessa knows she should run in the other direction when Brendan enters her life. Her squeaky-clean upbringing is in direct opposition to his piercings, a myriad of tattoos and the rumors that surround him. But she doesn’t run. Love, betrayal and lies become the foundation of their lives, but one heartbreaking confession makes Janessa question everything. After a devastating diagnosis, Janessa’s world crumbles around her. When she can no longer ignore the reality of who Brendan really is, she must choose between those who love her and the only one she has ever loved. Amazon/Barnes and Noble/Smashwords  





My Thoughts: Tough Love caught me by surprise. I was expecting a good girl, bad boy, drama filled romance. While Janessa was a good girl, and Brendan is a bad boy, the issues were not actually what I was expecting to find. There are a lot of tough issues dealt with in this book, especially considering the time frame that it was set in. Things many authors would avoid, Marcie A. Bridges tackles in a brave and moving way.

The characters in this book are very believable. Janessa starts as a 13 year old girl and I love how well Bridges writes about her. She is a typical angst filled little girl, spotting a cute boy and being shy about it all. I even found her progression throughout the relationships to be believable. As a former angst filled teen I could relate with her. I could also see what she was doing wrong, and I kept hoping she would change things.

Brendan is a user. I hope that isn’t a spoiler, but I just felt that he used people for everything; financial, emotional, and physical support. It made him a very unlikable character. Again, though, I found him believable. There are plenty of people like him out there in the world. The secondary characters are great. They had very typical responses, not boring, but definitely what I would expect from them as Janessa and Brendan’s relationship progressed.  

I really enjoyed this book. I felt like I was being told a good friend’s hard past. I felt for Janessa, and even by the end Brendan a little bit. I think that this was a beautifully written story that shows how love can be blind, and that you can overcome your past. I may not have gotten exactly what I was expecting, but I was not disappointed in what I did read. A wonderful first book for budding author, Marcie A. Bridges. 

Rating:

Marcie Bridges has always wanted to be a writer, from the time she started keeping a diary in seventh grade. Since then, she has earned a master’s degree in education from Cumberland University while teaching some wonderful children with special needs in Indiana, Tennessee and Kentucky.

While she will always bleed scarlet and gray (GO BUCKS!), she now lives south of Cincinnati with her husband and daughter. When Marcie isn’t writing, she can be found reading, watching her favorite TV shows, listening to music, or browsing her favorite websites. Follow Marcie Bridges Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MarcieABridges Twitter: @marcie_ann Blog: http://marcieshrinks.blogspot.com/ Pinterest Personal: http://pinterest.com/mabridges2/ Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/109921896394674548677/posts/p/pub a Rafflecopter giveaway Follow the Book Tour

I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. 

Haunted U by Jessica Gibson - Review

Ezzie Lovegreen lives in a world where witches and ghosts are real. That doesn’t mean she’s not surprised when she’s suddenly being haunted by one at school. With the help of her best friend Stella, her boyfriend Beau, and her grandmother Winifred, Ezzie must find out what happened to the ghost and set her free. Secrets will be revealed that could change Ezzie’s life forever. Will Ezzie be strong enough to face the challenges set in her path?  

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My Thoughts: Haunted U by Jessica Gibson is a fun paranormal story with a sweet romance. I don’t read many books that surround ghosts or merpeople, but I really enjoyed this one. The story was quick to catch my attention and keep me interested. I found it to be a light and entertaining read.

The characters in Haunted U are personable. They lead normal lives; college, dinners, dating, yard work, but add in the supernatural. I liked Ezzie’s character a lot. She doesn’t want to hurt people or make anyone uncomfortable, but she still seems completely at ease with who she is. Even when she doesn’t have all the answers she stays true to herself. I enjoyed her relationship with Beau. He is a sweet guy, beyond sweet at times. He had moments where I found myself thinking “awww”. Their relationship is another example of love over time. The immediate spark can be fun, but I really love the stories where they find their love over time. Her grandma Winifred was great. Her dedication to helping others is wonderful and something I really enjoyed. Some of my favorite characters ended up being the ghosts. Gerald was by far the funniest, and I enjoyed learning Charlie’s story.

The settings were beautiful. I would love to get into my favorite part, but that would be a spoiler. Jessica Gibson made places come alive though. I think that Haunted U is a great start to a series. I liked how the issues were resolved, as well as the introductions to new issues for future books. I will be excited to see the next book in this series. 

Rating:

About Jessica Gibson Jessica Gibson is a recovering bookaholic, she’s down from four books a week to a more reasonable one. It was that love of words and creativity that made her dream about writing her first book. That dream was hidden for years, always put on the back burner, filed away in the “someday” section, until her husband Matt gave her the kick in the pants she needed to actually get off her butt and write. Jessica and Matt live in Southern California and have a serious addiction to reality tv shows like Pawn Stars and American Restoration. They have one son and hope to add to the family in the near future. Follow the Book Tour Enter to win one of two paperback and swag packs from Hayson Publishing. Fill out the form below to enter a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

*18+ Readers* Elizabeth Black's Special Sale and Free Erotica

In honor of Halloween, my favorite holiday, I, Elizabeth Black, am holding a special sale including FREE EROTICA!

From October 28 through November 3, when you buy my stories "Alicia" or "When The Veil Is Thin", show me proof of purchase and you get one of my erotic fairy tales FOR FREE! They are "Climbing Her Tower" erotic Rapunzel) and "Trouble In Thigh High Boots" (erotic Puss In Boots). These two fairy tales are also marked down from $2.99 to 99 cents during that week. Don't pass up this great opportunity to enjoy some good books.

Email me your proof of purchase at mselizabethablack@comcast.net, and tell me which fairy tale you prefer.

"When The Veil Is Thin" is a fantasy tale about a woman who finds the man of her dreams in every sense of the words. He is in her dreams, when she sleeps at night. There is a rare planetary alignment that allows her to use magic to make him real. In order to make him flesh and blood and a living part of her world, she must follow the explicit instructions of spells cast within the three days of the alignment. How does she accomplish this, especially when it comes to her greatest fear? Read the story and find out!

Blurb for "When The Veil Is Thin":

Angelica Preston is in for the ride of her life. With the help of a little magic, she meets the man of her dreams - literally. Antonio is the main character in her latest romance novel, but she makes passionate love to him in her dreams. He tells her she can make him a flesh-and-blood lover only if she follows explicit instructions. She has three days to achieve her goal. Does she do as she is told, or does she need to be punished for not following through? Time is running out. How will Angelica win Antonio in the end?

Amazon US: http://tinyurl.com/amazon-us-veil

Amazon UK: http://tinyurl.com/amazon-uk-veil

House Of Erotica (UK): http://tinyurl.com/hoe-veil

"When The Veil Is Thin" web site:

http://elizabethablack.blogspot.com/p/when-veil-is-thin.html

"Alicia" is a story close to my heart, since I enjoy horror but I also enjoy writing romances. So I combined the two in "Alicia".

Blurb for "Alicia":

When the love of his life, Alicia, calls him in the middle of the night to report she had been raped, Eric drops everything to come to her rescue. She takes him on an eerie ride through turbulent hours he can't quite comprehend. Alicia may need his help, but her situation is not what it seems.

Rape is a tough topic to tackle, so to add a horrific eeriness to the entire ordeal makes it even more confusing and frightening. Eric learns as much about himself as he does about Alicia as he helps her through her trauma. This book is available at the Mocha Memoirs Press web site as well as the regular ebook distributors.

Nook: http://tinyurl.com/nook-alicia

Amazon US: http://tinyurl.com/kindle-alicia

Mocha Memoirs Press: http://mochamemoirspress.com/alicia/

"Alicia" web site: http://eablack-writer.blogspot.com/p/mocha-memoirs-press.html

When you buy my stories "Alicia" or "When The Veil Is Thin", show me proof of purchase and you get one of my self-published erotic fairy tales FOR FREE! You have your choice between the following stories:

CLIMBING HER TOWER - erotic Rapunzel

(Available at Amazon and other distributors)

This isn't your mother's Rapunzel.

This erotic version of Rapunzel, "Climbing Her Tower" depicts Rapunzel as a voracious woman who discovers the joys of kinky sex with a sexy prince with a few unusual kinks of his own. This story includes BDSM, M/F, M/F/F, virgin fantasy, and erotic shaving. You'll get so hot you'll want to let your hair down as well! Let Rapunzel and her prince take you on the sexual ride of a lifetime. Absolutely only for 18 years and over.

""Climbing Her Tower" is an erotic twist to the fairy tale Rapunzel. I sure love a good fairy tale and this hot and steamy tale doesn't disappoint." -- Beverly at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

"Climbing Her Tower has all that and more. It is the story of Rapunzel told with a bit of a BDSM twist." -- Hitherandthee from Night Owl Reviews

WARNING: Rapunzel isn't sweet and innocent. In this fairy tale erotica, she tires of being a virgin and craves the touch of Prince Richard's hands all over her body. Although she begins naive, she blossoms with sexual excitement under the watchful eye of her prince, who introduces her to BDSM, erotic shaving, and deep penetration. He leaves her wanting more, and you will want more too!

TROUBLE IN THIGH HIGH BOOTS - erotic Puss In Boots

(Availalbe at Amazon and other distributors)

This isn't your mother's Puss In Boots.

This erotic version of Puss In Boots, "Trouble In Thigh High Boots" is a story packed with hot, sexy, body humping adult fairy tale erotica.

"Trouble in Thigh High Boots is a delightfully creative retelling of the Puss in Boots tale. It is a tale that has been told myriad times, but never in such a wonderfully imaginative way. The characters are enchanting, and the story flows beautifully. The love scenes are sizzling." -- Hitherandthee of Night Owl Reviews

WARNING: Tita isn't your run of the mill Puss In Boots. She's a cat shapeshifter who turns into a mouth-wateringly sexy human woman with a sex drive to match. This story includes M/F, F/F, M/F/M/F, light bondage, and lactation. This erotic fairy tale will get you hot in all the right places. Definitely for only 18 years and over.

Don't let this sale go by without taking advantage of it! Enjoy some hot erotica and a spooky tale just in time for Halloween.

Tough Love by Marcie A. Bridges - Promo and Tour Schedule

Tough Love

Janessa knows she should run in the other direction when Brendan enters her life. Her squeaky-clean upbringing is in direct opposition to his piercings, a myriad of tattoos and the rumors that surround him. But she doesn’t run. Love, betrayal and lies become the foundation of their lives, but one heartbreaking confession makes Janessa question everything. After a devastating diagnosis, Janessa’s world crumbles around her. When she can no longer ignore the reality of who Brendan really is, she must choose between those who love her and the only one she has ever loved. Amazon/Barnes and Noble/Smashwords  

Marcie Bridges has always wanted to be a writer, from the time she started keeping a diary in seventh grade. Since then, she has earned a master’s degree in education from Cumberland University while teaching some wonderful children with special needs in Indiana, Tennessee and Kentucky.

While she will always bleed scarlet and gray (GO BUCKS!), she now lives south of Cincinnati with her husband and daughter. When Marcie isn’t writing, she can be found reading, watching her favorite TV shows, listening to music, or browsing her favorite websites. Follow Marcie Bridges Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MarcieABridges Twitter: @marcie_ann Blog: http://marcieshrinks.blogspot.com/ Pinterest Personal: http://pinterest.com/mabridges2/ Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/109921896394674548677/posts/p/pub a Rafflecopter giveaway Follow the Book Tour

Garrison's Creed by Cristin Harber - Review.

by Cristin Harber

A SPY RUNNING FOR HER LIFE Nicola is an injured CIA agent on the run from a failed undercover operation. Her escape plan shatters when she slams into the man who buried her a decade ago. Cash Garrison. Her first and only love. Now, sexier than her best memory and cradling a sniper’s rifle, he has questions she can’t answer. Why was she alive? And armed? AND THE MAN SHE COULD NEVER SEE AGAIN Cash is an elite member of a black ops organization, The Titan Group. He thought Nicola died his senior year of college and swore off love to focus on a decade of military missions. But when she shows up behind enemy lines, bleeding out and wielding a weapon, his heart and mind are unsure how to proceed. BATTLE BETRAYAL TO SAVE THEMSELVES Titan and the CIA join forces to uncover a mole hidden in a network of international terrorists and homegrown mobsters, teaming Cash and Nicola again. They fight old wounds and re-ignite sparks while closing in on a double agent. When disaster strikes, Nicola’s hidden past makes her the hunted target and Cash’s best kill shot may not be enough to save them.

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My Thoughts: I loved the first book in the Titan series, Winters Heat, so I was so excited to read Garrison’s Creed. I dove right in expecting the same hot love scenes and exciting action packed missions. Once again Cristin Harber delivered. I thought the first book was my favorite, but I will take that back. Garrison’s Creed out did the first book in several ways for me.

Starting with the Cash, wow what a cowboy. He is a sexy sniper ladies’ man, with an enormous sweet side. I loved how tough he was when he needed to be, and how much he worked to protect those around him. Nicola has that same need to protect. She is another great female character written by Harber. She doesn’t get all “woe is me” or damsel in distress. She is strong and perfectly capable of kicking some butt and taking names. She can be a girly girl, especially with Cash, but that is not all she is. I love a strong female character! I love the secondary characters, too. I am so ready for more Titan books so I can find out what happens to them all.

The entire book is fast paced and exciting. One thing that really made me happy was that this wasn’t a love at first sight book. Cash and Nicola knew each other for years and are reconnecting. It is a sweetly believable scenario. The action in this book is not quite as in your face constant as it was in Winters Heat, but it was still amazing. This book was more of a mystery to solve with some awesome action and steamy love scenes. I loved every minute of it and stayed up to finish reading it. I cannot wait to read Jared’s story.  

Rating:

Meet the author:

Cristin Harber is an award-winning romantic suspense author. She lives outside Washington, DC with her husband, toddler, and English bulldog. Coming fall 2013, she’s expecting a baby and will debut her Titan series. Couple that with the holidays, and it’ll be a busy time of year. There’s a special place in her heart for the men and women who serve and protect. Since she can’t save the world alongside them, she’s content to write their happily ever after stories.

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I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

The School of Ministry: The Windgate by Braxton A. Cosby - Review

by Braxton A. Cosby

"A fast-paced adventure featuring a secret society on a divine mission...a satisfying read: The characters steadily develop, goodness prevails, and there's even a touch of romantic intrigue. Gripping, action-packed." ---- Kirkus Review "A memorable, unpredictable journey of hope, identity and courage. The Cosby gift of storytelling lives on in this page turning adventure." ---- Bill Cosby, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Comedian, Philanthropist "Braxton Cosby delivers a thrill ride of suspense, fantasy, drama and fun in The School of Ministry. An unrequieted love story beats at the center of Ziv's journey to find peace, purpose and faith. You'll root for him as he claims his life and future in this wholly inventive and original novel with a message for all. I loved it." ---- Adriana Trigiani, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Shoemaker's Wife Winner of The Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal Book of the Year Award for Young Adult - General

I'm helpless as she continues to struggle for air. Then, an image flickers from the corner of my eye as a side door opens and Maxwell walks out, holding a staff of his own. "Maxwell," I plead. "It's Miss Evans. Please help her!" He shakes his head and lifts his staff in his hands, twirling it in a circle as he begins to slowly walk sideways, circling me like a predator, encasing me in a hedge of danger. "Hold your ground. Make a choice: fight or flight," Maxwell bellows. Miss Evans' banging on the glass behind me blends with the pounding of my heart. I lift my staff and spread my feet, turning my attention to Maxwell. As much as I'm afraid for my own safety, I find it impossible not to focus on Miss Evans. Her muffled scream comes from the tank and I look away from Maxwell to check on her. Her hands clutch her neck. Her face is bright red with a tinge of blue around her lips. "No," I scream, stepping back away from the tank. Raising my staff above my head, I crank back and rip it down, slamming it into the side of the tank, as I yell. The water explodes from the crack in the tank and glass shards crash to the floor below. I swing once more and this time the entire tank shatters, launching Miss Evans into the air toward me. I catch her in my arms and the force of the water propels us backward onto the floor. She coughs, gasping for air. I hold her in my arms and caress her head. Her sobbing brittles me and I'm relieved to see her skin color returning to its natural tanned shade. We're here, an odd place, an unfamiliar place. But as I hold her delicately in my arms, it makes me feel like I'm heading back home. Not the place where I live now, but the place where I used to live, when mom and dad were still alive. The way she rests in my arms beckons me to a time when I used to hold my kitten, Priceless. She'd climb into my lap during the thunder storms. I was her comforter. Priceless would purr when I did it. And now, so many years later, I find myself feeling the same way as I hold Miss Evans. Her soft body pressing into my skin—warming me—calls me to hug her even closer with each passing second. The times when I needed someone to hold me reflect in my mind like a mirror as I stare at her. Her chest rises as her heart beat quickens, mixing evenly with her breaths. As warmth returns to her body, a subtle tremor comes over her; like a purr. I can't resist. I have to do it. I must do it. I hug deeply, ignoring the senseless urge to pull away. "Bravo!" praises Maxwell, exiting the room as the lights come back on. Miss Evans resting in my arms and I comfort her, caressing her hair. She finally looks up at me and mouths, "Thank you." "You're welcome. Are you all right?" I ask. "Yes…better now," she replies. "How did you get in there?" I ask. "I don't know. Um, if you don't mind me asking, who are you?" "What? It's Ziv of course. Miss Evans, are you feeling all right?" "Miss Evans?" she asks with a puzzled look on her face. "Did you say your name was Ziv?"

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My Thoughts: The School of Ministry is a really interesting concept about the battle between good and evil. The book centers on new recruits who have been brought to a facility to learn about using their gifts and talents to battle evil in the name of the Lord. I couldn’t help but think that even though they were battling evil things were not always what they appeared. I finished the book still believing that a lot of truth was being withheld. I will be interested in seeing how it all unfolds later.

I enjoyed the characters in this book a lot. Ziv was unsure and full of fear in the beginning. I enjoyed his growth in the book. I loved reading about him learning to trust himself in situations. He was clever and quick on his feet when it was necessary. Francis was a bad boy type. He was one of my favorite characters. He seemed sullen and a bit arrogant, but every little glimpse of his true self made me like him more. Jaythan seemed like an all around good guy, but I found him a bit too perfect at times. I never knew what to think of Miss Evans. She was a great character, just a bit mysterious at times. There was one character that I only got a brief glimpse of but I cannot wait to learn more about her. She caught my attention and more than once I found myself wondering about her. I loved that all of the characters fit so easily into the mold that Braxton A. Cosby wrote for them.

The plot for this book is fast and very exciting. The recruits are going through training at what seems like top speed and then missions just as fast. Even though the time line was quick, I didn’t feel rushed. Cosby used amazing detail and his wonderful storytelling ability to make this fast paced story engaging. A great part of this book was the gifts and talents the characters had. While there wasn’t a clear view of all the characters’ abilities yet, there was a lot about Ziv’s gifts. I enjoyed watching them grow and watching him learn how to use them. I also loved the way that parts of the Bible and Biblical history were worked into the book. I can’t wait to see how this great battle of good and evil continues in later books. 

Rating:

Meet the Author:

Multi-Award-Wining Author Braxton A. Cosby is a dreamer who evolved from concepts on pen and paper to pixels and keyboards. He tells stories that evoke emotions and stimulate thought. Protostar: Book 1 The Star-Crossed Saga and The School of Ministry: The Windgate are currently two Young Adult series he created. Braxton lives in Georgia with his wife, three children and a troop of crazy African Cichlids.

www.braxtoncosby.com www.theschoolofministry.com

 

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I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Infernal Gates by Michael J. Webb - Review

by Michael J. Webb

Ethan Freeman, ex-Special Forces Ranger, wakes up to discover he is -the sole survivor of a fiery commercial airline crash that killed his entire family. His nightmare is only beginning when he becomes the FBI’s prime suspect. Only Ethan knows he’s not a cold-hearted murderer, but he has no idea what happened to him--and why he alone survived. He finds an unlikely ally in Sam Weaver, the NTSB Chief Investigator. An ex-military pilot, Sam senses Ethan is innocent. She tries to remain dispassionate in her investigation of the crash even as she finds herself attracted to the man who may be America=s worst homegrown mass-murderer. Neither Ethan nor Sam realize that shadowy spiritual forces are at work which will alter their lives forever. A monstrous evil, imprisoned since the time of the Pharaohs, has been released by The Nine, a sinister group of powerful men and women who believe they are the direct descendants of the Anunnaki, ancient Sumerian gods. The demon they have unleashed intends to free The Destroyer from The Abyss, the angelic prison referred to in the Book of Revelation, and unleash a worldwide reign of terror and annihilation. Facing impossible odds, time is running out for Ethan and all of humanity as he is drawn into an ever-deeper conspiracy--millennia in the making--and learns that he is the key to stopping The Nine. Will he overcome his deepest fears and find reserves of strength he never knew he had as he confronts pure evil in order to save himself and an unsuspecting world?

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My Thoughts: I love a book that shocks me. I tend to go into a book with a pre-conceived idea of what it will be about (bad habit I can't break). I love when a book takes a totally different direction or is even better than I imagined. Infernal Gates did that to me. I went into this book expecting something good, with that synopsis I figured it would be a given. Instead I got amazing. Infernal Gates is an absolutely amazing book, one that I would expect on a best seller list.

Starting with a very climactic first chapter this book just keeps growing. There are many different story-lines and so much danger and adventure happening throughout the book. I didn't find myself struggling with how it would all tie together, I just trusted the author to make it work, and Michael J. Webb definitely made it work.

The characters in this book were amazing. With so many story-lines things can become a bit lost, but all of the characters had so much depth. They were well written and took me through the story so easily that I could imagine it all being real. I loved the intermingling of their lives. It was like it's own great mystery trying to figure out how they would all come together.

Another amazing thing about this book was how much culture, religion, and theory are in it. It wasn't an in your face situation for me. I loved the looks at all the different lives these characters led and how they had come to their current beliefs. I loved the way the Bible was worked into the book and the way Webb helped scriptures unfold.

I will suggest this book to everyone. I think that despite your religious beliefs this is a book that can appeal to any reader. It is fast, exciting, and detailed. I was engaged as a reader, and excited as a reviewer to be able to share this book. I plan to read more of Webb's books, and I cannot wait for the sequel to Infernal Gates.

Rating:

About the Author:

Michael J. Webb graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida and obtained his J. D. from the same university. Over the past forty years he has travelled the world in search of adventure. He is a history buff, both ancient and modern, and is fascinated by the intersection of the scientific, supernatural, and Biblical world views, and has studied and taught from the Bible extensively for more than twenty-five years. He is also intrigued by recent discoveries in quantum physics that are now providing extraordinary insights into the reality of the spirit realm, especially as it relates to the study of Light. He incorporates all of the above into his supernatural thrillers. Michael and his wife make their home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Books by Michael: The Master’s Quilt, The Nephilim Parchments, The Song of the Seraphim (Giants in the Earth trilogy), The Oldest Enemy, Infernal Gates. He is currently working on Devil’s Cauldron, the sequel to Infernal Gates. He also authored a non-fiction work entitled In the Cleft of the Rock: Insights into the Blood of Jesus, Resurrection Power, and Saving the Soul.

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I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.