{Blog Tour} Garden of Ashes by Kate Cowan -- with review and giveaway!

Blog Tour: LEFT, Still Standing #1 by T.R. Graves

Left (Still Standing #1)
Author: T.R. Graves
Publisher: Indie/Self via CreateSpace
Published: September 2013
Length: 330 pages
Edition: eARC
Source: Tour Organizer for an honest review

Your own two feet are all you have when you've been left.

A naive Baylee loves Colt, her boyfriend of four years, more than she ever thought possible. After a little snooping, she's convinced she's well on her way toward hearing an once-in-a-lifetime proposal and starring in the wedding-of-the-year event. Instead, she's blindsided by a very public breakup and the crushing news that Colt is marrying someone else… someone more befitting him and the role his father expects him to take in his law firm.

Baylee may have spent years resenting Ariana, her mother, and her suicide, an intolerable show of weakness in Baylee's opinion, but after Colt leaves her just short of the altar, Baylee sees the world through her mother's eyes. She sympathizes with Ariana's actions and realizes that some things—soul-deep aches—can irreparably damage you and make moving on nearly impossible.

At least that's how she feels until she meets Ryker. With his help, Baylee discovers there is life after Colt, and she prepares to move on by pulling herself up by the bootstraps, holding her head high, and standing on her own two feet. Unfortunately, a new jealous and hateful Colt has his own plans for her, and they are plans no one—especially Baylee—ever saw coming.

A_TiffyFit's Review: This is one of those books that suck you in immediately. You can feel Baylee's joy as she's telling her friend that she is expecting a proposal from her boyfriend of four years. You even get a little annoyed at the friend as she's asking, "But HOW do you know?" as if she's trying to burst Baylee's bubble. Secure in knowing that she found a ring and is expecting a proposal, you are enjoying the romance of her trying to keep the spark in her relationship with Colt which has been waning lately. And then...the date comes and BAM! Break-up. No worse than a break-up; he treats her like a prostitute, offering her a check for a million dollars to go away. Baylee has integrity and I was cheering for her!

Colt is a douchebag. And now ... there's Ryker. Talk about a FAST rebound! Ryker is one sexy modern hero, swooping in to save the damsel in distress. As Baylee and Ryker spend a week together, falling for one another, Colt keeps reappearing. Even though he's tossed Baylee to the wayside, apparently she isn't allowed to live her own life and move on. Oh no. He takes back every single present he EVER bought for her - jewelry, clothes, furniture, art, whatever. He shakes her so hard she gets whiplash, and it begins to escalate. Ryker is especially attuned to this and helps Baylee as his own mother survived an abusive relationship.

Difficult subject matter, one that I don't think is discussed often enough, and in this book I think it's brilliantly written because Baylee doesn't see herself as a victim. She has a hard time realizing that she IS INDEED A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. She's trained in self-defense, is a brilliant nurse AND business woman, but she's changed herself to accommodate Colt and his daddy's desires: dresses differently, changed from the job she loved to a job that fits Colt's schedule, trying to be something she isn't, everything is in deference to Colt and his needs. True, he hadn't hit her until after they broke up, but that whole leading up to it, she didn't see the flags and so many women find themselves in that position.

While this has romance and sex, there is also this domestic violence. Luckily, Baylee has support in the form of Ryker and his mother, Joss. Author T.R. Graves kept me attached to my kindle to see what is next, what will happen, and how this resolves. Eden, an enemy of Baylee and an ex-girlfriend of Ryker, oozes maliciousness. I was flabbergasted at the ending (it's KIND of a cliffhanger. I mean, one portion is resolved, but a WHOLE OTHER can of worms is there!) and kept flipping pages on my kindle to see if it was acting up again. Nope...gotta wait for book 2. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
T. R. Graves, the author of The Warrior Series and The Secrets Series and The Underwater Series, is a 2012 NaNoWriMo Winner.
She lives along the Texas coast with her husband. Together, they raise T. R.'s beta reading daughter and their football-loving son. Besides being blessed with a supportive family, she counts her career as a registered nurse in not-for-profit hospitals high on her list of fulfilling accomplishments.

Follow T.R. Graves!
Blog: http://thewarriorseries.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WARRIORSSERIES


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BOOK BLITZ! All In by Marta Brown with excerpt and giveaway!

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Released: June 7th 2013

Synopsis via Goodreads:
On the picturesque island of Martha's Vineyard, there are two kinds of residents. Locals and Stays.

Local boy, Lane McCarthy, plans on spending his summer working at the country club to save money for college in the fall, while summer stay, Ashley Whitmore, and her elite group of friends are only there to play.

As the summer heat goes up on the island, so does the ante, when both Lane and Ashley must decide what they’re willing to wager in order to follow their dreams… and their hearts.

With stakes as high as the surf, and hopes as high as the midday sun, will they risk everything and go all in?

About the Author

Marta Brown grew up in the Pacific Northwest and was a teenager when Doc Martens, Pearl Jam and flannel were the norm and Dylan loved Kelly forever. (Beverly Hills 90210 shout out)
She still lives just outside Seattle, now with her husband and cat, and loves the rain.
When she’s not writing about cute boys, first kisses and the magic and wonder of being seventeen, she’s watching The CW. And she sleeps in. Late.

 twitter.com/martabrownbooks

Excerpt:

Ashley

  When we step outside of the ice cream parlor, Lane reaches over and wraps his hand around mine, making me feel warm all over, despite the cool breeze coming off the ocean.

 We walk down the boardwalk hand in hand, our arms swinging between us, and I can’t stop my blush each time I catch Lane staring at me, and then giggle each time he catches me sneaking a glance at him too. Both of us with silly grins on our faces.

As we turn the corner, at the edge of the boardwalk, right in front of us is a perfectly preserved turn of the century carousel.

I gasp at its beauty. How have I never been here before? Although, a community carousel is the last place that my parents would ever think to bring us. A ride on a schooner is more their speed.

The carousel is covered in small bulbous lights that cast a warm glow over the richly colored horses, each with a different face and intricate carvings on their saddles. The sounds of children and parents laughing intertwine with the carnival style music coming from the ride, and I can’t stop myself from hopping up and down on the tips of my toes like a child.

Lane chuckles, gripping my hand tightly, as we watch the ornate horses spin around and around and up and down until he points at a big brass ring when it spins by. “If you can grab the ring the ride’s free. Come on.” He gives me a smile and like a couple of kids we run along the side of the carousel until we both grab hold of the ring and hoist ourselves up and onto the ride, laughing and out of breath.

I move to a stationary white horse wearing a deep red saddle and without saying a word Lane lifts me up, in one swift motion, and sets me down so I’m face to face with him riding sidesaddle. He grips the horse’s gold post with one hand, and I can’t help but admire his sinewy arms, lean and strong.

“You are so beautiful,” he says, looking into my eyes as he brushes his thumb against my cheek with his other hand. His sincerity takes my breath away.

I wrap my arms around his neck drawing him closer until he’s standing between my legs. His soft smile fades into a smolder as he leans forward, causing my breath to hitch with the anticipation of his lips on mine.

I close my eyes as he closes the short distance between us achingly slow. My heart skips a beat when I finally feel the warmth of his lips press against mine. He tastes like ice cream and smells like summertime, and I suddenly wonder if the swirling I feel is from the ride or from his kiss.

He pulls away slightly before wrapping his hand around the base of my neck and pulling me into his lips again, making me certain of one thing.

I’m swirling, and it’s definitely from his kisses.

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Blog Tour: DAWN OF THE APOCALYPSE by E.S.P. - spotlight & giveaway

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January 1, 2000.

May 21, 2011.

December 21, 2012

These are just a few of the days humans prophesied as bringing catastrophic events that would end the world. We predicted nuclear warfare. Drastic climate change. A call from God.
We were wrong.

Cue the gargoyle invasion—laboratory bred mutants designed to slaughter humans. When the government goes AWOL and gargoyles are swarming by the hundreds, it's up to the citizens of the United States to regroup and save themselves.

Meet Cliff Matthews, a teenage boy separated from his entire family with the exception of his younger sister, whom he is desperate to keep alive. Along the quest to save their lives, he encounters people who aren't all that they seem. Everyday's a battle, but if he can't trust his own species, where does that leave his family?
And we can't forget the man who may be willing to sacrifice Cliff's life, if it means world domination.

In terms of doomsday, no one could have seen this coming.

Release date: August 9th 2013
Publisher: Mind Candy Media

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
E.S.P.
Being the daughter of an accomplished author, E.S.P. grew up listening to stories and telling her own to classmates. After writing for several years and even publishing some short works, she finally decided to take the plunge to write (plus finish!)a full length novel. Thus, Dawn of the Apocalypse was born. When she's not writing, she's either reading books, blogging at whoistheserialreader.blogspot.com, or watching eighties movies
twitter.com/bloggerESP






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EXCERPT

SATURDAY 11:49PM 8/3/13

MEXICO

It was always hot, but never as hot as this. Analis shielded her eyes with her tanned hand in an attempt to block the sun’s scorching waves. The thick dirty smog was a threshold for heat, pulling all its spectators into a fortress of warmth.

She ran her tongue over her thick, cracked lips. When her village heard El Presidente was finally coming waist deep in the thick of Mexican poverty, almost everyone she knew began planning ahead for his visit. Mama even splurged ten dollars to have one of her old cocktail dresses altered to fit Analis in all the right places. She looked perfect, maybe good enough for the President’s house.

Now, she wondered if this was a good idea. Makeup was running down her face like tears. Her armpits stuck to her clammy body. The heat was pressing down on her head.  She swallowed dryly, her parched palate craving water. Now that she thought about it, there was a little lemonade left in the fridge. Not a lot, but enough for a nice, cold drink. If she got there before her brothers.

It smelled like people. Hot, unwashed people, packed together like sardines in a can. Analis wasn’t used to this smell, but it still stung her nostrils every time.

The crowd erupted in cheers as the people in front of her jumped upwards, singing praises to the commotion ahead. "¿Lo que es, es el presidente aquí?" Analis jumped on the pads of her feet, straining to see the president in the flesh for the first time. "¿Por favor, no puedo ver?" she said softly. The tall crowd flanking her vision was a blockade between her and the view of the most famous person in all the country. This was something she might never see again.

What would she tell Mama? That she didn’t see the president at all? She wiped the sides of her face just as the screech from the microphone ripped through the air. The President’s voice echoed through the crowd. "¿Cómo es la gente de México?" the leader began. People ignited in cheers yet again as Analis pushed her way through perspiring bodies packed together. There was no notice of the young girl in the cocktail dress squeezing through the cluster of citizens. Her eyes were set on the edge of the stage and she was determined to get there, no matter how stubborn some people were against moving.

"Perdon," she said to a large stocky man standing in front of her. The only thing between her and the stage.

He cocked his head to the right, as if listening to something, then he slowly turned around to face her. "Are you sure you want to get that close to the stage?" he asked her in English.

Analis was going to answer him, but she was almost sure that it was one of those rhetorical questions. After all, the answer would never be no. The man sidestepped to the right, inching his way around her. The sharp scent of his cologne cut through her nostrils.

Cologne. No one could afford such a luxury on this side of Mexico. And she was almost positive he wasn’t sweating. As a matter of fact, she couldn’t see a single drop of sweat on him at all. And it was so hot, her hair was beginning to perspire.

Analis shook the strange thoughts out of her mind and focused her blurry eyes on the President. She could barely understand what he was saying. But she was there, witnessing a historic event. And that was all that mattered.

The heat was like a fist on her body. Her breath was heavy and her eyes seemed unable to focus. She looked at her watch; only twenty more minutes.

She focused her eyes on El Presidente again. She wasn’t seeing correctly. His body looked longer than the usual person. And there was something green behind him.

She rubbed her eyes, squeezing them together, than opened them again. It was still there. Something olive green, scaly, big, and hunched. And it was coming right towards the president.

Analis’s mouth erupted into a blood-curdling scream as the monster grabbed hold of the president’s neck.