Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Resist Me by A.O Peart cover reveal

Synopsis
Lisbeth, the lone eyewitness of a shocking murder, believes the FBI witness protection program may be the only way for her to survive. But when a powerful explosion reduces the safe house to ashes, killing all of the FBI agents on duty, will she turn to a perfect stranger for help?

Ethan, an ex-Marine-turned-firefighter, has never really cared for any woman. He lives his life to the fullest, enjoying the bad boy stigma and cultivating a particular taste for dominant sex. Girls come and go, allowed to stay only long enough to satisfy Ethan’s wild appetite.

One morning at dawn, Ethan’s fire brigade is called to a fatal house explosion that levels the structure. When he pries open a trap door to the hidden panic room under the house, he find a gorgeous, though disheveled brunette. Lisbeth instantly turns Ethan’s world upside down, and he’s overcome by the burning desire to protect her, no matter the consequences.

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Excerpt
Jack stood beside me. He was a big guy, even taller and bulkier than myself. At six-foot-two I towered over most of my buddies and coworkers. In our heavy fireproof coats, pants, and bunker boots we looked like giants next to the short and plump chief.

Chief glanced back and to the sides, as if making sure nobody can overhear us. “Jack, take the battalion lead. The captain stays here. I have a special mission for him.”

“Yes, sir.” Jack nodded and rushed into the building, no questions asked. 

“What? You want me to leave my guys and stay here? What’s going on?” I was puzzled. Such thing has never happened before. I was the captain, and my team was my responsibility. But this was also a direct order, and I knew better than to question my superior. 

The chief lifted his hand, palm facing me in a conciliatory gesture. “Jack can lead the team well enough. You are required to take on another task.” He motioned to the area where the excavation team was moving the equipment off the side. “You’re going to that panic room. With your Marine’s training, you’re my best man for the job.”

“Jack has received the same training as I have, Chief.”

He sighed and ran his hand through his thinning gray hair. “I know, Ethan. But Jack’s temper is better utilized there,” he nodded toward the building, “while you know how to restrain yourself. Besides, this… well, hell, I will tell you what the feds said. But that’s not to be discussed with anyone, Ethan. In that panic room is a sole witness to some big case the FBI is involved in. She’s young and terrified, and who knows in what state of mind she is after this mess here. They’re afraid she will pull out, and they’ll lose the only witness they need to pin down some troublemaker. What we need now is someone who can ease her out of there and make sure she feels safe.”

I gave him a skeptical look. Okay, so it was widely known that I had my way with women, although I would never kiss and tell. But some of the women apparently have done just that, because I’ve been quickly labeled as a “bad boy who won’t settle down”. No matter what, this was my private life, which I never mixed with my professional one. So why the hell would my superior hint at my special talents? I’ve proven to him and everyone else at work that when it comes to my job, I won’t be second-guessed. 

“Ethan.” His bushy brows pulled together as he pinned me with his steely stare. “Look, the FBI needs her. She’s the only one who can testify in that case, and apparently there is some big fish involved that can’t be easily touched otherwise. I know you can talk to her and make her feel protected—”

“So that’s what this is about? Giving some poor girl a false sense of security?” I kept my voice low.

He sighed. “I’m sorry, son. That came out wrong.” The chief shook his head and exhaled forcefully. “Apparently, she’s been already hinting at pulling out, and so this,” he gestured around, “might be the last straw. What I’m asking is that you just try.”

I narrowed my eyes, looking at the spot where group 3 from Rescue 12 and a few black suits congregated in a circle. More feds tried to keep the media away. Several local TV stations were at the scene, cameras rolling. I spotted Anne, standing in front of the KOTS News Station camera, talking to a large microphone with the station logo on. When she gestured to the scene behind her, the fabric of her white button-down blouse stretched tautly over her round breasts. A fleeting recollection of those gorgeous tits under my fingers surfaced from some dark depths of my mind. My cock stirred, and a pang of desire ran through me. I pushed the not-completely-unwelcome memories out of my mind.

“That’s the order, Chief? I will do it, but I strongly believe I’m needed much more with my men inside that building.” I shoved my thumb over my shoulder, pointing to where my guys did what was absolutely necessary—killing the possible fire inside and preventing it from spreading onto the next building. 

He sighed. “It’s a request. Please, Ethan. She’s my daughter’s age, just twenty-three; a college girl in the FBI witness protection program. The kid doesn’t have any family… she sure as hell could use some help from a firefighter.”

That did me in. Chief Holton’s daughter was born with Down syndrome. Her mother died, giving birth to her. The girl has recently developed a rare type of leukemia and was going through chemo treatments. She was the chief’s only child, and was slowly fading away. How could I possibly refuse his plea? 

“Okay.” I nodded curtly and started to peel off my gloves and the heavy fire protection coat. The sun was up, and I was getting uncomfortably warm. “Is there a two-way communication established with that woman? A phone or a radio?”

“There was a separate landline, but it’s out of service now. Must’ve been damaged in the explosion. She’s not answering her radio either.”

“So no communication at all?” 

“Nothing.” He shook his head. 

We passed all the media, refusing the journalists’ pleads for comments about the incident. I bent at the waist, slipping under the barricade tape, Chief Holton following close behind. I heard him grunt in discomfort when he had to bend his bad knee to lower himself under the tape. 

Two feds approached us. This time the chief made introductions. “Ethan, this is Agent Drasco,” he motioned to one of the left, “and this is Agent Cornell.” 

They both nodded.

“This is Captain Ethan McCoy from Rescue 8. I briefed Captain McCoy about the situation,” Chief Holton told them. We need to move in. The lady in there might need medical attention.”

“How is the air supply in that panic room?” I asked.

“The room is equipped with air scrubbers. They draw in fresh air from outside and can filter it indefinitely,” Agent Drasco explained. 

Long enough to wait out a chemical attack for example. Or, at least the worse of it. Must be the well-constructed safe room. I thought. “So smoke from the fire should be no problem then,” I said. 

Agent Cornell cleared his throat and said in low baritone, “We are not completely positive on the air scrubbers functionality after the explosion. The system might’ve been damaged.”

“Is there an escape shaft?” I inquired. 

“It was checked already, and the access is blocked by a heavy debris.” Agent Cornell shook his head. 

“So let’s have our guys clear it.” What were the feds waiting for? Shouldn’t that be done already? 

Drasco and Cornell exchange a fleeting glance, just a flicker of the eye, but it was enough for me to catch it. 

Cornell drew in a breath. “The explosives were deposited at the escape shaft exit. Good part of the passage has collapsed.”

“So now this trap door here is the only way out, right?” I knew the answer, but without the complete blueprints of the underground structure I wanted to make sure we aren’t missing anything. 

“Correct,” Drasco confirmed.

The excavation unit was done with clearing the area and salvage operation. They knew how to work fast and efficiently. Uncovered, was a small, steel trap door in the warehouse concrete floor. I kneeled by it and carefully ran my hands over the metal. There were four handles flush with the surface of the door. I wrapped my fingers around one handle opposite the massive hinges, fitting my hand into the round recess under it. I yanked on it. Nothing. I suspected the door could only be unlocked from the inside. 

“I doubt we can simply pry it open. This isn’t going to be easy.” I examined the edges closer. “Can we get some tools to try?” I asked the guys from the drilling crew.

“This door is designed to be unlocked only from the inside,” Agent Cornell confirmed my theory. He crouched next to me and rapped his knuckles on the metal surface. “And it is soundproof, so she wouldn’t hear if we tried to communicate with her.” 

As expected, there was no response from the room. This was a real-deal safe room, not the stuff you see in the movies, where the person inside might be verbally coerced to do something that the attacker wants. Sound insulation in real life was done to eliminate such nonsense and also to prevent anyone on the outside from hearing what was going on the inside, like a phone conversation with the police. But with such powerful explosion, there was no doubt the woman inside knew something went very wrong. So why wasn’t she trying to get out?

Agent Drasco stood a few feet away with three other dark suits, quietly talking on his cell phone. 

“Ethan. Here!” Chief Holton handed me a crowbar. 

A guy from the drilling crew walked to the opposite side of the steel door. He held another crowbar. I stood up and hooked my crowbar under the edge of the door. The other man did the same. 

“If it doesn’t budge easily, we might need to try one of the excavation machinery to lift that door up,” Chief Holton announced. “By the looks of it, it’s too thick to spring free with the crowbars. 

“Yeah. We can’t even make a dent here,” I murmured, repositioning the crowbar. “Let’s get tow equipment in here.”

At that moment I heard a muffled sound like a distant scraping, coming from the trap door. Everyone else around us must’ve heard that too, because the quiet conversations ceased, and we all gaped in that direction. The door slowly lifted an inch and then a few more. I was kneeling right by it, so I grasped the handle with one hand and hauled up the door up, opening it completely. A pair of wide-open, bright-green eyes stared at me from under a shock of dark, tangled curls. Lush, pink lips slightly parted, but not a sound came out. 

“Miss Glasson!” Cornell stooped down, his hands on his knees. “I’m Agent Cornell, FBI. This is Captain McCoy and Chief Holton, both from the Portland Fire Department.

The green eyes darted from Cornell’s face to mine to Holton’s and back to mine. They locked with my eyes, holding me hostage, spellbinding me with almost a child-like intensity. God, she was gorgeous; breathtaking even, with her pale complexion highlighted with a little splash of pink over her high cheekbones. Those green eyes were huge, framed in thick, long lashes. She was scared too; I could sense it, although she fought not to show it. She bit on her lower lip to keep it from trembling. 

I extended my hand to her. “We’re here to help, Miss. Are you hurt? The paramedics need to see you now.” 

She took my hand. “My name is Gloria,” the girl whispered. Her skin was warm against mine, her hand fitting perfectly inside my hand. 

“I’m Ethan,” I whispered back. Why was I whispering? 

“What happened here? It was horrible to be down and not knowing.” She looked around, her eyes wide. 

“There was an explosion. I’m sure the agents will explain everything to you.”

“Where is Agent Vera? Agent Kolaski?”

I slowly shook my head from side to side. “The whole structure was leveled. Nobody survived. I’m sorry.”

She stared at me, open-mouthed and then said, “I slept in the safe room, as always. Agent Vera told me to secure the door last night and only open it when instructed by her or Agent Kolaski. How… what caused the explosion?”

“We don’t know yet. Here, let me help you out. Careful now.” I gently grasped her elbow with my other hand. She had small bones and not much meat over them. 

Before climbing out, she hastily put her hood on. It fell down past her forehead, shading her face from view. 

Chief Holton and one of the feds were on Gloria’s other side, trying to assist with guiding her out of the chamber, but she placed her palm flat on the ground and pushed herself up, swinging one knee out onto the ground covered with chunks of concrete and other debris. She still held onto my hand though, squeezing it hard, until it hurt. 

I winced. For such a slim woman she packed some muscle, at least in her grip. 

The feds swarmed around us like black crows. Agent Cornell was asking her questions and declaring her absolute safety. Gloria shied away from them. A deep frown settled between her dark brows, while her delicate mouth curved down as if in resolve to block off his assurances. 

“Are you a paramedic?” she asked me hopefully. “I feel nauseous.” There was pleading in her eyes. She was shaking. 

I wrapped my turnout coat over her shoulders, and she accepted it with a look of gratitude on her face. “Yes, ma’am, I’m trained as paramedic.”

Drasco came up to Gloria and said quietly, “Miss Glasson. As soon as you’re checked by the EMTs, I have an order to take you to an undisclosed location. 

“No!” she backed up, bumping into me. 

The contact made my body aware of her even more than before. The top of her hood brushed the spot under my chin, and a shiver ran through me, straight to my cock, which stirred and strained against the fabric of my bulky pants. 

“No. I want to be left alone. Do not follow me,” she said without moving away from me. She looked straight at Drasco. “I was promised the absolute protection. Is this what you call safety?” Gloria angrily motioned around. 

“Miss Glasson,” Cornell hissed. “Not here. Not with the witnesses around, please.”

“Fine,” she murmured.

“Let me take you to the rescue rig.” I touched her back. 

She nodded and walked with me. Chief Holton and the feds went with us. Two of our EMTs were by her side already, but she seemed to want to stay close to me. That didn’t really surprise me. I was used to women gravitating toward me, as if I reeked of pheromones. But there was something different about Gloria.
MeetTheAuthor


 

I was born and raised in Poland. When I was just seven-years-old I decided to learn English, because I wanted to translate my favorite Polish fairytales.

I write in multiple genres, including paranormal, fantasy, urban fiction, sci-fi, contemporary, and short stories. I am a member of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Western Washington Chapter, author critique group, Writers In the Rain, and several authors’ and readers’ networking groups on Linkedin, Facebook, and Goodreads. 

I love reading good books almost as much as writing them. I describe myself as “European born, American by choice”. I can never decide which season I prefer—summer or fall. I speak with Polish accent and love listening to the Southern drawl. I am passionate about watercolor painting, fashion—especially stilettos, rock climbing, environment, and organic food and gardening. I live in the Seattle area with my family and a chronically curious cat, Cinnamon.  




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Friday, July 18, 2014

Seth's review of ARV-3 by Cameo Renae


Synopsis:
The beginning of the end. The Apocalypse.

A nuclear fallout wiped out every living thing on the planet, except for a few thousand of us who took shelter in underground bunkers across the globe. Now, after thirteen long years, we were finally able to return to the topside to begin to rebuild.

We thought we were alone. We were never more wrong.

Before the fallout, scientists had worked on creating an anti-radiation vaccine (ARV). The first two attempts failed, but despite the incomplete tests and results, the government approved and distributed the third serum to the masses in an effort to aid those who had no shelter.

It worked, keeping those who remained on the topside alive, but it also altered and mutated them. This new and infectious threat had completely outnumbered us. Now, we not only had to rebuild our planet. We would have to fight for it.

My name is Abigail Park. I’m seventeen, and this is my story.

Seth's Thoughts:
*CONTAINS SPOILERS*
Massive solar flares lead to the world being irradiated to the point where the surface becomes uninhabitable. The governments of the world release an untested ‘vaccine’ to combat the lethal radiation doses to the masses. The smart people and governments around the world hole up in bunkers around the world. The rest burns.

Enter our heroine who I can’t remember what her name is. I’m sorry, I just didn’t see her standing out in any real way. I think it has to do with being inundated with all the strong female roles of late who excel at everything they do because plot reasons. Not saying that she’s a bad character or anything like that. I’m just kind of confused on a few things. I mean, the basis for the story is that she is in a bunker with her grandparents, parents, uncle, two family friends, and a woman and her son (who surprise, is her love interest), for twelve some odd years while the radiation bakes the earth. Granted you don’t see that often, but the thing that irks me is she turns out to be a little vapid. One of her phrases is OMG. Yeah, I have a problem with that. Mainly, because most of the people she is with are her senior by at least twenty plus years if not more. She has no access to the internet because it’s gone. She lives a fairly insular life up until the point that her group decides to leave their bunker to head for the government bunker. I’m just not seeing how she developed the way she did. 

Then there’s the hike in full mop gear from their bunker through the city. Yes, I understand that the characters had to take turns in the e.r. (electricity room) to take turns generating power for the bunker. But, the grandparents are at least in their sixties if not older. I’m no genius, but when I was in the service, I knew hiking in full mop gear with a gas mask on, is a bad time for a short period of time. Compound that with age, and lack of being physically fit, and heat, and I’m just not seeing how they all didn’t just succumb from heat stroke shortly into their hike. Especially after spending more than a decade below ground.

Now we get onto the ARVies. I actually kind of liked that name. I also liked their premise. What I didn’t like, was what happens later on in the book. Oh, hey, they just so happen to be telepathic. What a coincidence. The government just so happened to make sure that they had a telepath on hand within the four hundred people they put up in their bunker just so they could be prepared for the unlikely scenario in which they would find themselves needing one to interrogate a completely unforeseen mutation of humanity that communicates solely through telepathy.

I could go on and on about how I found things I didn’t like in the story. I think I’ve ruined enough of it for everyone though. Any who, I liked the book for what it was. I hope that in the future the author continues to polish their story telling ability and that they can actually make a character whose name actually sticks in my head. I’m not saying it’s a bad book, just don’t go into it expecting anything along the lines of epic literature. 


Seth gives ARV-3: 3/5.

Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://www.cameorenae.com/index.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CameoRenaeFanPage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CameoRenae
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4794993.Cameo_Renae

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Neither Seth nor I were compensated in any way for this review.

Monday, July 7, 2014

The Intern Volume 3 by Brooke Cumberland cover reveal


Synopsis


I should’ve known.
I should’ve listened to my gut.
But I didn’t.
I listened with the wrong head.
And where did it get me?

Secrets.
Lies.
Deceit.

She embodied them all.
Deceived her way into my company.
Lied about who she was.
Kept secrets from me after convincing me I could trust her.

Those walls she tore down are back up in full force.

Cold.
Angry.
Unforgiving.

She was no longer my intern.
She was no longer mine.

*The Intern is a three-part romantic suspense serial.*
Not suitable for readers under 18


The Intern Serials


The Intern 1


The Intern 2



About the Author

Brooke Cumberland is a USA Today Bestselling Author who's a stay-at-home mom and writes full-time. She lives in the frozen tundra of Packer Nation with her husband, 3 year old wild child, and two teenage stepsons. When she's not writing, you can find her reading love stories, listening to music that inspires her, and laughing with her family. Brooke is addicted to Starbucks' Caramel Macchiatos, yoga pants, and sweets. She found her passion for telling stories during winter break one year in grad school--and she hasn't stopped since.

You can find Brooke on Facebook, Twitter, and on her website.
www.brookecumberland.com
www.facebook.com/brookecumberlandauthor
Twitter @blcumberland

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Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Pulling Back the Shades by Juli Slattery and Dannah Gresh


Synopsis:
Christian women don't have to choose between being sexual and spiritual. They have legitimate longings that the Church has been afraid to talk about, and books like Fifty Shades of Grey exploit. Whether you are single or married, sexually dead or just looking to revive your sex life, Pulling Back the Shades will address your desire to be both sexual AND spiritual. With solid Biblical teaching and transparent stories, trusted authors Dannah Gresh  and Dr. Juli Slattery, offer an unflinching look at the most personal questions women ask. The book offers practical advice for women to address five core longings:


to be cherished by a man
to be protected by a strong man
to rescue a man
to be sexually alive
to escape reality
God designed women with these longings and has a plan to satisfy them. It's time for women to identify their intimate longings and God-honoring ways to fulfill them.

My Thoughts:
As a Christian, I have always wondered if you can be a Christian and read erotica. Actually, I have a lot of questions about sex and Christianity. Finally there's a book that steps up to the plate and answers all the hard questions. The authors also use scripture to back up their answers with proof. If you want that answer, I'm not going to give it to you. You'll have to read the book. 

In the church, sexuality has always been a taboo topic. It's just one of those things that you don't talk about. Pulling Back the Shades teaches you how to use your sexuality in a way that still glorifies God. Erotica is not the only thing talked about in this book. Sex toys, BDSM, and online relationships are just a few things that the book covers. I think that when I was reading this book, I highlighted a quarter of it. I truly believe that it helped me grow closer in my walk with God.

There is only one problem I had with the book. I received an ARC from NetGalley. It might be because I had an ARC, but the formatting was horrible. The book would cut off in the middle of a sentence quite a few times. I was upset. I feel like I might have missed out on some valuable lesson that really would have helped me. 

Other than the formatting issues, I loved Pulling Back the Shades. I highly recommend it to Christian women everywhere. I also recommend the book to anyone who has ever been curious about the bible's stance on sex.

I give Pulling Back the Shades: 3.5/5.

Want to know where to buy this book?
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
The Book Depository

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way for this review.

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Texting Through Time by Christy Monson


Synopsis:
When 12-year-old Micah borrows his father's experimental time-travel phone, his hopes for seeing the future are dashed as he and his sister, Alicia, end up trapped in the past at Brigham Young s boyhood home. This book is a fun way for kids and adults to dive into Church history and learn that no matter what time period you are in, God is still aware of you.

My Thoughts:
When I first requested Texting Through Time, I was under the impression that it was a Christian middle grade novel. If I would have paid more attention to the synopsis, I would have realized that was partially right. The novel is actually a Mormon (or LDS) middle grade novel. Mormonism is a specific type o Christianity. One that I have absolutely no experience with.

Just to be clear, it my fault that I didn't pay closer attention the synopsis. It is not the author's fault at all. However, because I didn't realize what the book was about until I started reading it, I didn't really enjoy it. I have absolutely no knowledge of Mormon culture. I had no idea who the people were that Alicia and Micah were following. There were a lot of references to things that happen in Mormon culture that went over my head. In general, the book left me more confused than anything else.

That being said, Christy Monson is a great writer. Her words flowed eloquently off the page. The plot made me feel nostalgic. It reminded me of a Rugrats book that I loved as a kid when I first learned how to read. In the Rugrats book, the babies went back in time to help George Washington, another important historical figure. If Christy Monson ever writes a non-LDS book, I will be first in line to buy it. Sadly, from this experience, I have learned that LDS books are not for me.

I give Texting Through Time: 2/5.

Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://www.christymonson.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristyMonson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christymonsonauthor
Blog: http://christymonson.blogspot.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/christymonson
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5051340.Christy_Monson

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.