Tuesday 31 March 2015

A World Apart by L.J.K. Oliva + Interview




A World Apart
Shades Below #1
by L.J.K. Oliva


Genre:  Urban fantasy
Page Count:  224


"There are things that go bump in the night, Mr. MacMillian. It's my job to bump back."

Private investigator Jesper MacMillian was sure he'd seen it all. After all, in a city like San Francisco, strange is what's for breakfast. Following a long recovery after a horrific accident, his life is finally the way he wants it- or at least, close enough. The only monsters on his radar are the ones that keep him awake at night.

All that changes the day he meets Lena Alan.


Before MacMillian has a chance to brace for impact, Lena drags him into a world where monsters aren't just real, they're hiding in plain sight. Suddenly, everything he knows is suspect, starting with his current case. For Lena, a medium since childhood, it's just another day at the office. 


For MacMillian, it's the beginning of the end of everything he thinks he knows.

Find it on Goodreads
Buy it on Amazon

 
L.J.K Oliva is the devil-may-care alter-ego of noir romance novelist Laura Oliva. She likes her whiskey strong, her chocolate dark, and her steak bloody. L.J.K. likes monsters... and knows the darkest ones don't live in closets.

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Blog- http://ljkolivabooks.blogspot.com/
Blog- http://writebitches.com    
 

Q & A with L.J.K. Oliva

Q:  Tell us a little bit about your main characters.

Sure! A World Apart (Book #1 of my new Shades Below series) introduces psychic medium Powonia "Lena" Alan and private detective Jesper MacMillian. MacMillian stumbles across the spirit world more or less by accident during a fairly routine case, and Lena takes it upon herself to make sure he doesn't get himself killed.

Q:  Who designed the covers for your book and what was that process like for you as the author?
The cover for A World Apart was designed by Amy Mateyka: design genius and (I suspect) part-time superhero. In addition to being friends, we also have a great working relationship. It served us especially well during the design process for this cover.

A World Apart is my first foray into urban fantasy, my previous works having all been romantic suspense. As you might imagine, a romance cover—even a paranormal romance cover—looks very different from an urban fantasy cover. I had no concrete idea what I wanted; I just knew the feel I was going for.

Amy stuck with me until we achieved that, and the end result is pure magic.

Q:  What is the best advice you have been given?
I recently read an article titled "7 Reasons Why Most Authors Fail". The entire article is worth reading, but the bit that really stuck with me was this:

"Those who ultimately succeed understand that they are in their endeavors for the long haul... It may look like you’re going the wrong way, and I won’t lie; it’s possible you are. But that’s how it looks when you’re going the right way for a long time, too."

Q:  How do you keep busy when you're not writing?
Well, I have a toddler. Need I say more?



March 16 Spotlight
Sapphyria's Book Reviews
http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/

March 16 Spotlight
3 Partners in shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!
ttp://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com

March 17 Spotlight
Deal Sharing Aunt
www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com

March 17 Spotlight
Fantasy Book Lane
http://www.fantasybooklane.com/

March 18 Spotlight
Cloey's Book Reviews and Other Stuff
www.cloeyk.blogspot.com

March 19 Interview
Butterfly-o-Meter Books
http://butterfly-o-meter.com/

March 20 Spotlight
Books N Pearls
http://booksnpearls.com/blog

March 23 Guest Post
Mythical Books
http://www.mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/

March 24 Interview
Roxanne's Realm
www.roxannerhoads.com

March 25 Spotlight
Lisa's World of Books
www.lisasworldofbooks.net

March 26 Guest blog
Beauty in Ruins
http://beauty-in-ruins.blogspot.com/

March 26 Review
Dowie's Place
www.dowiesplace.com

March 27 Spotlight
Geeks in High School
http://www.geeksinhighschool.com

March 30 Review
Rachael Stapleton's Enchanted Ink Spot
http://rachaelstapleton.blogspot.ca/

March 31 Guest Blog
Fang-tastic Books
www.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com

April 1 Interview
Shut Up & Read
http://shutupandreadgroup.blogspot.com/

April 2 Spotlight and Review
Books That Hook
http://booksthathook.com/

April 3 Guest blog
Deb Sanders
http://DebSanders.com

April 6 Interview
Eclipse Reviews
www.totaleclipsereviews.blogspot.com

April 7 Character Interview
Author Karen Swart
www.authorkarenswart.blogspot.com

April 8 Interview and review
happy tails and tales
http://happytailsandtales.blogspot.com/

April 9 Interview
The Creatively Green Write at Home Mom
www.creativelygreen.blogspot.com

April 10 Review
Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock
www.pratr.wordpress.com

April 10 Spotlight
CBY Book Club
http://cbybookclub.blogspot.co.uk

April 13 Spotlight
Kristy Centeno
http://booksbycenteno.com

April 13 review
the Reading Head
http://www.thereadinghead.com
 
 

Total Surrender Blog Tour with Rebecca Zanetti, Review & Giveaway





 TOTAL SURRENDER by Rebecca Zanetti (March 31, 2015; Forever Mass Market)
A fight he must win . . .
Piper Oliver knows she can't trust him. They warned her that the tall, dark, and sexy black-ops soldier Jory Dean would try to win her over with his steel-gray eyes and deadly charm, but she won't be conned by this man they call a traitor. All she has to do is figure out the science necessary to save his life, and she's done. Something isn't adding up, though, and she won't rest until she uncovers the truth-even if it's buried in his deep, dangerous kiss.

A passion she can't resist . . .
Jory will do anything to reunite with and save his brothers-even kidnap the gorgeous woman who's working to deactivate the deadly chip in their spines. But the forces determined to destroy his family won't let them go so easily. Keeping Piper alive is more than he bargained for-and so is his burning desire for her. But with every second bringing him closer to certain death, can he afford to lose himself in her hot and willing embrace?



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                                                               Excerpt:

A young mother with two toddlers hustled toward the entrance, their heads ducked to avoid the wind. Piper sucked in air.
If she screamed, they were screwed.
Jory pivoted and put her against the wall, covering her mouth with his before she could let out a sound.
Warmth and woman. An electric shock flared his entire nervous system alive. Soft and sweet, she breathed in as he pressed against her. He’d meant to subdue her, to throw her off balance, but shock ricocheted through him.
Need compelled him. He shot both hands into her hair, tilting her head so he could go deeper. So fucking deep he could get lost.
The second he tasted her, all cinnamon and woman, hunger slaked him. Devastating in its intensity, a demand he couldn’t deny. Her smooth, velvety lips softened under his, and for once, he lost himself.
Strands of her silky hair caressed his hands as he held her jaw, nearly lifting her up to meet his mouth. There was nothing but getting . . . more.
She stilled against him, her mouth parting. He swept his tongue against hers, taking in a primitive claim too powerful to deny.
Her gasp mingled with his low groan. She pressed harder against him, her mouth curving under his, and he forgot . . .everything. Who he was, where they were, the fire and danger. Only the woman against him, warm and willing, sweet and sexy, filled his mind.
He clasped her tight, forgetting any gentleness. Any seduction, any mission. Only this woman and this moment mattered. Letting go of himself, he allowed the creature inside, the one so rarely let loose, to take over. To push deep, to demand more. To take.
And give everything.
His mouth overtook hers, memorizing every groove, every small nuance. His free hand gripped her butt, hauling her up against his steel-hard erection. Heat from her core nearly dropped him to his knees. Pain and sparking pleasure flared along his skin, and he deepened the kiss, tightening his hold.
He needed to get inside her. Now.
A siren trilled on the lower street, and he jerked his head free.
Danger.
She blinked, her eyes the green of a rain-filled meadow. Desire burned there, hot and bright. Somehow sweet.
Possessiveness gripped him with a chokehold. One kiss. One kiss and she’d changed him. He had to get her out of the parking lot before guns fired again.
That quickly, realization crossed her face. Then shock, as she tried to take a step back. Her hands rose and shoved against his chest.
Denial gripped him to be quickly quashed with cold, hard training. So he grabbed her wrists and hauled her closer, his face lowering to hers. He wiped away any expression and shoved down all emotion. “Those men don’t care who they shoot. They’re scrambling and might kill you—or innocent bystanders.” He spoke low, commanding.
She blinked, her mouth opening but no sound coming out.
“If you fight me, they’ll find us, and they might shoot. Collateral damage doesn’t mean a thing to them.”
She shook her head and looked around.
He pulled her closer and lowered his voice to pure, no‑bullshit command. “We’re getting in that four-door Jeep, and we’re leaving here quietly. Your only choice is alert or unconscious? Decide now.” He let conviction ring in his tone. If he believed he could knock her out, then she’d believe it, too.
No fucking way could he knock her out. Scaring her held little appeal, but he didn’t have a choice if they were to both live through the night.
She quickly nodded. Gulping air, she relaxed her body as two teenagers giggled while walking by.
He knew full well she agreed to keep bystanders safe and not because the kiss had changed anything for her. She had no reason to trust him, and she’d never really know him. Why that pierced his chest with the cleanness of a sharpened dagger, he’d figure out later. For now, they had to run.




Total Surrender (Sin Brothers, #4)Total Surrender by Rebecca Zanetti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a wonderful, heart-warming, action-packed conclusion to the Sin Brothers series! My knuckles are still white from holding my ipad so tight, and we are not even talking about the tears that are streaking down my face. Rebecca Zanetti not only gives the reader Jory's story in Total Surrender, but we are able to see all the brothers come together in this dramatic ending.

Jory Dean knows he is living on borrowed time. He needs to escape the prison he is being held in to hopefully save his brothers' lives. The clock is ticking on the time bombs planted in all four of the Dean brothers. Piper Oliver is one sexy, smart-ass hacker who just happens to be the Commander's daughter. The Commander is the evil sociopath who created the Dean brothers, made them the cold-blooded killers they are, and implanted them with the devices that could end their lives. Piper is working for her father and his organization, but can she really trust him? Is Jory the traitor her father portrayed him to be? Can Jory use Piper to help him escape?

Jory Dean is conflict in motion. He is a computer geek at heart, but trained to be a killer. His wish is to save his brothers even if it costs him his life. Piper Oliver never knew her father. Now she gets the chance...will he be everything she hopes him to be or a walking disaster? The chemistry between Jory and Piper is off the charts. There are so many emotional moments that brought tears to my eyes along with knuckle biting action. I was happy how this book brought the series together with an opening for other books or maybe a spin-off series. If not, I know I will be re-reading this series in the future. I definitely recommend this book and the whole series!


View all my reviews



About the author:
New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti has worked as an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor, and a hearing examiner - only to culminate it all in stories about Alpha males and the women who claim them. She is a member of RWA, has won awards for her works throughout the industry, and has a journalism degree with a poly sci emphasis from Pepperdine University as well as a Juris Doctorate from the University of Idaho.

Growing up amid the glorious backdrops and winter wonderlands of the Pacific Northwest has given Rebecca fantastic scenery and adventures to weave into her stories. She resides in the wild north with her husband, children, and extended family who inspire her every day-or at the very least give her plenty of characters to write about.


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Monday 30 March 2015

Total Surrender by Rebecca Zanetti

Total Surrender (Sin Brothers, #4)Total Surrender by Rebecca Zanetti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a wonderful, heart-warming, action-packed conclusion to the Sin Brothers series! My knuckles are still white from holding my ipad so tight, and we are not even talking about the tears that are streaking down my face. Rebecca Zanetti not only gives the reader Jory's story in Total Surrender, but we are able to see all the brothers come together in this dramatic ending.

Jory Dean knows he is living on borrowed time. He needs to escape the prison he is being held in to hopefully save his brothers' lives. The clock is ticking on the time bombs planted in all four of the Dean brothers. Piper Oliver is one sexy, smart-ass hacker who just happens to be the Commander's daughter. The Commander is the evil sociopath who created the Dean brothers, made them the cold-blooded killers they are, and implanted them with the devices that could end their lives. Piper is working for her father and his organization, but can she really trust him? Is Jory the traitor her father portrayed him to be? Can Jory use Piper to help him escape?

Jory Dean is conflict in motion. He is a computer geek at heart, but trained to be a killer. His wish is to save his brothers even if it costs him his life. Piper Oliver never knew her father. Now she gets the chance...will he be everything she hopes him to be or a walking disaster? The chemistry between Jory and Piper is off the charts. There are so many emotional moments that brought tears to my eyes along with knuckle biting action. I was happy how this book brought the series together with an opening for other books or maybe a spin-off series. If not, I know I will be re-reading this series in the future. I definitely recommend this book and the whole series!


View all my reviews