Sunday, June 30, 2013

InkSlinger Presents Subject to Change (Picturing Perfect #2) by Alessandra Thomas Blog Tour Stop


Synopsis:

Joey made her dad a deathbed promise that she would become a doctor, and dedicate herself to fighting the very cancer that took his life. There’s just one problem -three years into her pre-med classes, she's struggling to stay on top of the curve, let alone prove she's dazzling enough to earn a spot in an Ivy League medical school. In a Hail Mary move, she throws a basic Business 101 class into her semester schedule, banking on a perfect score to boost her GPA.

That is, until she’s paired for a final project with Hawk, the bartending, motorbike-riding, gorgeously bedheaded loser who falls asleep in class and communicates in one-word sentences.

Hawk does whatever he wants, whenever he wants, which sets Joey on edge – in every possible way. As they get to know each other, her urge to scream at him is curbed only by her fantasies of tearing his clothes off. Soon those fantasies become reality, and Joey realizes Hawk makes her feel more fully herself than any of the rich boys her mother and sorority sisters approve of.

But the promise to her father hangs over her head, and the harder Joey tries to succeed in her chosen career, the faster everything falls into a hopeless tailspin of bad grades, broken promises and guilt. It doesn't help to have Hawk sitting like a devil on her shoulder, insisting she should be free to live however she wants to live - like he does.

The only thing Joey knows is that her neatly organized life is crushing her - and Hawk's bad attitude might be the only thing that can save her.

Goodreads:

My Review

5 of 5 Subject To Change

My God HOLY HAWK! I have to say that I loved Picture Perfect but DAM if Alessandra did not get me with Subject to Change. First before I go into the review on the book I have to give praise where praise is due. I have read a lot of NA books and NOTHING I mean Nothing comes close to Alessandra's writing. The world and places and characters she has created sets the bar high for some of the authors out here that are indie. I mean she grabs you right from the very first page and she keeps you there until the end. I love that in a book because it means the author took the time to formulate a story and brought it home for the readers.

In Subject to Change we meet Joey who is in college studying to be a doctor. She promised her father on his dying bed that she would become a doctor and find a cure to beat the cancer he died from. The only thing is is that studying to be a doctor is the hardest thing Joey has ever done and she is not very good at it. She is failing and she needs to boost her GPA so she decides she will take a business class that will help her. When she gets to the business class she is excited until she is paired up with William Hawkins AKA Hawk. 

Hawk looks like your average bad boy. He has an attitude a mile long and rides a motorcycle and he bar tends. Lord her radar is screaming LOSER run away as fast as you can but looks can be deceiving because the more time Joey spends with him the more she gets to know the real Hawk who is just trying to survive and keep his sister safe. Joey and Hawk slowly fall into each other they both realize that they care for one another. But Joey's family is not happy with her choice and she will have to decide whether or not change is going to be good for her or not? What will Joey choose? Will Hawk be able to teach Joey that change is good? This is another must read by Alessandra Thomas!

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Author Bio:

Alessandra Thomas is a New Adult writer who swears she was in her twenties yesterday. Since she's not, she spends her time looking back on her college years fondly, and writing sexy stories about guys and girls falling in love and really living life for the first time. When she's not writing, you can find her with a spoonful of ice cream in one hand and the newest New Adult release in the other.

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Paranormal Craving Tours Presents Escaping Love (Koning Clan #2) by Debra Smith Blog Tour Stop



Escaping Love by Debra Smith
Genre: Erotic PNR
Pages: 165
Isbn: 1482609959
ISBN 13: 978-1482609950

Blurb:

Eva, a rare white panther, is desperate to avoid her family and their expectations. Hundreds of years of tradition force her to run to the newly appointed Queen only to find her gone. Hopelessness causes her to invoke the right of Hospitality and everything that goes with it, including the mouthwatering lupine cowboy with talented hands. When he whispers her name she’s tempted to submit as long as he meets her every desire.

Clint, the beta wolf of the Koning Clan, is tired of troublesome females walking through the doors of Gryph’s Bar. The last one changed history. Now, a small, seductive feline grates on his nerves and beckons his primitive instincts. Even though she’s trouble, her taste drives him to addiction. Law dictates he must protect her, but the way she calls to his beast may lead to their undoing. As a male with no knowledge of his past how can they have a future?

My Review

5 of 5 Escaping Love

Escaping Love is the second book in the series and I always get nervous when I read sequels because I tend to think they are lacking something but let me tell you this sequel was right on target minus a few things I wanted and I hope I get out of a third book. I'm not sure if there is going to be one but hint hint Debra Smith I need a third one...... Eva and Clint are in this novella and let me tell you I loved Eva. I loved Eva because she has her issues yes but she was able to tell Clint what she wanted and what she needed and Clint was able to give her that. She did not shy away from saying what she needed and taking it from him and lord help me Jesus Clint gave as good as he got.

Clint is so tired of having these crazy girls come in and out of the bar and in and out of his life that when he sees this fiery girl his instincts go off and his alpha male shows all the way through. He knows he needs to protect her but what he gets is so much more. The love scenes are HOT like CALIENTE hot! Clint gives Eva everything she could want and need and together they make a great couple.

What was missing was the back story for Eva and Clint's back story was missing a little. I can't complain because it is a novella but I needed more about Eva. I just felt like I was missing something and I hate that feeling. So I am truly hoping there will be a book three and we get more of Eva's history in that one. Lord knows I could use some more Clint in my life with a glass of ice cubes!

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Excerpt:

Running. Running used to be freedom. Now it was her only chance of survival. The feeling of leaves and grass against the pads of her feet, the moist smell of earth, the way the trees would open their branches like a mother opening her arms to a long awaited child. Gone. Now shadows that used to hold wonder only held fear. The night used to be something that called to her, now only served one purpose. A chance of escape from her life. One, she never wanted.

She lifted her muzzle to scent the air. Upwind, she held the advantage. Taking a moment to suck in much needed air, she stopped and rested. The pounding of her heart was the only familiar sound in the foreign woods. To think she made it all the way to Colorado from South America. Her, the most delicate of her family. She snorted, delicate, her ass. She had to be smarter, faster, and more lethal than all the males of her Clan. What was the saying? Practice made perfect. Wrong. Practice at perfection made her the perfect predator. Say that five times fast. She lived for the hunt. But because of some stupid prophecy, she was to be a treasure to her people. Never allowed to see the outside world.

The rays of the full moon danced across her white fur giving off a luminescent glow. So what if she was rare. So what if she was the only white panther to be born in the last four-hundred years. She was still a person with her own thoughts, desires, and dreams. That’s why she was heading to the middle of nowhere. If she could plead her case to Jenifer Koning, then maybe her father would have to listen to reason.

Tales of the queen reached far and wide. Jenifer defied the archaic rules of their world when she entered the Slag, the tournament of kings. Kings not queens being the important word. Jenifer was the only woman in their history to attempt to change her fate. Until now. Alexandria would be the next. She had to be.

That’s why she ran from her Clan, more important her father. Part of her never thought she would make it all the way to North America from her home deep in the Brazilian jungle. Weeks of travel had taken their toll on her body, exhaustion threatened her every step. Soon, she told herself. Internal strength, she liked to think came from her mother, was the only thing keeping her from collapsing.

There. Light shined through the trees. Relief gave her the extra strength she needed. Gryph’s flashed over the imposing red doors with a bouncer perched to the side. Crap. His height and massive arms crossed over his chest seemed less than inviting. How to play this? Her human appearance was less than intimidating. Maybe she could seem unimposing and just walk right in. Yeah right, a girl could dream.

Alex pictured her human form in the center of her inner light. The change wasn’t painful, at least not after the very first shift. Magic allowed them to keep their clothes. The only drawback was that unlike the animals in nature, their color matched in both their human and animal form.

Branches scratched her exposed skin while she parted the bushes. Sashaying toward the bouncer, she tried not to hold her breathe. His scent hit her nose. A bear. Great. This close to winter he could be especially grumpy.

His nostrils flared and brief look of confusion crossed his face before he schooled his features.

“Hi,” she said in a sweet, sing-song voice.

He grunted.

Great this could be harder than she thought. “I’m looking for Jenifer Koning. I request an audience.”

Another grunt.

Claws pricked at the tips of her fingers, bringing a burning pleasure. Calming her temper, she did her best not to expose her best kept secret.

“Is she here?”

His response, “Clint we have a live one, again.”

Again? What was that supposed to mean? Her ears tingled as she struggled to hear the voice on the end of the line. From the bear’s wince it wasn’t looking good. For him or for her.

“Go on in. Stay out of trouble.”

Gritting her teeth before she gave him a reason to hibernate, she pulled open one of the big red doors.

Alex took her time entering the bar. She needed to seem like she had every right to be there. She couldn’t risk them kicking her out before she could plead her case to their queen. An old Vince Gil song flowed from the jukebox. Red, faded booths and bar stools filled the space. The scent of fried food assaulted her nose. Doing her best not show her repulsion, her gaze drifted to the bar and the male stomping toward her.

Good lord, he was fine. Faded blue jeans clung to his muscular legs as the heels of his cowboy boots echoed through the air. A green and blue, plaid shirt, with the top buttons unfastened revealing the tan skin of his chest, rolled sleeves resting just below his elbows showed off his muscled forearms. The one on his right was tattooed but she didn’t risked getting lost in its puzzle. Dusty blonde locks hung in his eyes, and a five o’clock shadow covered his jaw. Firm lips pressed into a flat line were only distracted from by his intense blue eyes. She’d never seen such eyes. He was sexy wrapped in a whole lot of delicious.

His mouth moved and she blinked. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

An irritated rumble sounded in his chest. “I said, who are you?”

“Alex.” After listening to his sweet drawl, she felt a small sensation of being welcome. And then it was gone.

His eyes thinned in what had to be irritation, “What’s your full name and Clan?”

The cowboy was smarter than he looked. Hot and intelligent, be still her quaking knees. Wait, her knees were trembling. Placing her hand on the bar, she braced her body. The room started to spin. She shook her head trying to gain focus. Alarm spread through her at the thought of showing weakness in front of him. This male was definitely a predator and the last thing she wanted to do was fall at his feet.

Then, exhaustion overtook her. Her knees buckled sending her forward into his awaiting arms. His concerned face was the last thing she saw.

About the Author:

Author of PNR and Erotic Romance. Published with Pink Petal Books, Ellora’s Cave, and my Self-pub the Koning Clan Series. I love chocolate, reading, and traveling. Some of my favorite authors are, Cole, Kenyon, Ward, and Laurenston.

I grew up in the Colorado Mountains a place full of possibilities. I never found what truly made me happy until I discovered writing. I didn’t really like to read until I tried something a little different. Then like a wildfire my passion grew into a career. I’m thankful every day to have found where I belong. I’m a mother of three kids and a dog.

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ATOMR Presents A Book Release Event For Fixed On You by Laurelin Paige

Title: Fixed on You 
Author: Laurelin Paige
Publisher: Mandevilla Press
Release date: June 24, 2013
Genre: Contemporary romance
Age Group: Adult
Event organized by: AToMR Tours

Book Description:

Stalking and restraining orders are a thing of Alayna Pierce’s past. With her MBA newly in hand, she has her future figured out – move up at the nightclub she works at and marry the manager, David. He’s perfect for her because, although he’s attractive, he doesn’t get her all turned inside out and upside down like some other men have. It’s a safe plan, one that assures she’ll remain in control of her obsessive love disorder. 

But what Alayna didn’t figure on is Hudson Pierce, the new owner of the nightclub. He’s smart, rich, and gorgeous – the kind of guy Alayna knows to stay away from if she wants to keep her past tendencies in check. Except, Hudson’s fixed his sights on her. He wants her in his bed and makes no secret of his plans to seduce her. Avoiding him becomes impossible after he offers a business proposition Alayna can’t turn down and she’s drawn further into his universe, unable to resist his gravitational pull. 

Soon Alayna’s charmed by Hudson in every way possible and the control over her old behaviors slip. When she learns Hudson has a dark history of his own, she realizes too late that she’s fallen for the worst man she could possibly get involved with. Or maybe their less than ideal pasts give them an opportunity to heal each other and finally find the love their lives have been missing.

Fixed on You Playlist

This Love Will Be Your Downfall – Ellie Goulding

China – Tori Amos

You Give Me Something – James Morrison

The Blower’s Daughter – Damien Rice

Volcano – Damien Rice

Every Breath You Take – Police

Fuck Was I – Jenny Owens Young

White Flag – Dido

Use Somebody – Kings of Leon

Blood Bank – Bon Iver

Heart of Stone – Iko

Scream – Usher

Poison and Wine – The Civil Wars

So Easy – Phillip Phillips

Fix You – Coldplay

Gravity – Sara Bareilles

Die Alone – Ingrid Michaelson

Try – Nelly Furtado

Toxic – Britney Spears

Possession – Sarah McLachlan

Goodreads:

Fixed on You Excerpt:

Unable to go another minute with the loneliness that had settled in my chest, honesty won over. “I want you,” I whispered, my face pressed against the glass, too embarrassed to look at him.

“Alayna?” I felt his eyes on me. 

“I know what I said.” I wiped my eyes, determined to keep the rest of my tears in my eyes. “But maybe I was wrong. I mean, I don’t know if you’re right—if spending time with you can make me better. But I know that since we’ve been apart, I’ve been worse.” Taking a ragged breath, I braved a look at him. “I miss you.” A nervous giggle escaped from my throat. “Told you I get attached.”

A trace of a smile crossed his lips. “Where do you think I’m taking you?”

I glanced out the window, having not been paying attention to our destination. Lincoln. Headed East. We were blocks away from Pierce Industries. The loft. 

I straightened, a blush crawling on my cheeks. “Oh,” I said, the lonely ache inside burning away with the spark of desire. Then irritation took over. “I told you no more sex, and you were taking me to the loft without asking?”

“Alayna,” he sighed with frustration. “You are a bundle of mixed signals. At the symphony you seemed to indicate—“

“And you totally blew me off,” I interrupted. “Don’t talk to me about mixed signals!” 

He put his hand on my knee. “I was trying to avoid mixing business with pleasure. A difficult task with you, precious.” His voice grew low. “Especially with your wandering hands and how hot you look in that dress.”

I blinked. “Oh,” I said again. How did he do that? How did he compartmentalize, dividing the pretend from the real, never the two to cross while I tied myself up in knots?

“If you want me to ask, I will, though you know it’s not my style.” He took my silent stare as a “yes” even though it was simply me processing. “May I take you to my bed, Alayna?” 

His request came out in a rumble that had my passion buttons going off like fireworks. “Yes,” I half moaned as he pulled up to a red light.

Purchase Links:
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About the Author:

Laurelin Paige is a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Mad Men and the Walking Dead, or dreaming of Adam Levine. She is represented by Bob Diforio of D4EO Literary Agency.

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Event Giveaway:
(20) shot glass swag packs – US Only
(20) ebooks of Fixed on You available in epub or mobi - International
(1) $50 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card – Countries that can accept Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Cards
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Saturday, June 29, 2013

Bittersweet (Dancers and Divas #2) by Kathy Petrakis Blog Tour Stop


Synopsis:

The second book in Dancers and Divers series 

Can secrets stay hidden forever? Can people really change? Are some mistakes unforgivable? 

As Elena and Sebastian embark on a fresh start, will Letitia keep his secret, or will she use it to destroy them? 

As Veronika falls in love, Frankie is out of rehab and trying to make amends, but will it last for either of them? 

Meanwhile, as Anya is torn between loyalty to her Nana and love for Darius, could Darius fall for the new temptress, Rosa? With her stunning looks, her powerful, sensual dancing and her desire to seduce, she has everyone nervous but what secret is she hiding? 

Continue the roller-coaster journey with your favorite characters as they try to survive junior year at the country’s top performing arts school. 

“There is drama, stress and anger all wrapped up in a neat bow just waiting to be unleashed.” 

“.. at first, it felt like I was reading a new version of Step Up 2... LOVE... then it merged into a little Glee... then it merged with Center Stage... then in the midst of it all was the Gossip Girl...” 

“It is extremely well written, and the plot is very engaging. I couldn't put it down..”

Goodreads:

My Review

5 of 5 Bittersweet

Can I just say that Kathy is BRILLIANT bringing us a world that is so realistic that I just could not get enough reading as a matter fact I had to read Bittersweet twice because that cliff hanger Kathy oh Kathy I am going to die if I don't get book three like ASAP! I need it like I need air to breathe! Holy Hell Bittersweet picked up right where Passion and Pain left off. Dancers and their quirky passions and pains that they go through to succeed in their dreams. Plus you add all the angst with being a teen and you have an EPIC totally EPIC series that will blow you away. I mean the hormones and attitude were flying and the secrets and the lies that came to the forefront just blew this book out of the water. I love how when things started to unfold you could actually feel the pain and the hurt when they experienced it. You wanted to jump right into the book and reach out and hold them and assure them that everything was going to be okay but in the end they needed to go through what they went through. I am still rooting for a few of them to be together but teens are fickle and some betrayals and lies just can't be forgiven.

Elena and Seb are starting out fresh and are spending time together just being together after they finally admitted they liked each other. They went through a lot in Passion and Pain and at the end it was rocky as to whether or not they would make it but they did and they are enjoying each other. But Seb has some secrets that one little nasty B*&^% Letitia knows and she is holding on to it. She has not decided whether or not she will reveal Seb's secret to Elena just yet. Letitia is a force to be reckoned with and she sees how happy Elena is with Seb and decides to burst that bubble and reveal the secret about Seb she has been keeping. With the secret exposed the couple break up and Letitia is happy. Will this couple find their way back to each other? Will there be forgiveness?

Veronika is still doing her thing in writing and she is even falling in love. Veronika's writing has gotten so good she is writing a sitcom. She is moving on and fulfilling her dreams. Anya is still dating Darius even though her grandmother does not want her to. Anya is torn between what her grandmother wants and what her heart wants. Her heart wants Darius and together they make a great couple but someone new to the school just might break them up. See the new girl Rose has eyes for all the guys and she will get who she wants and maybe just maybe she wants them all. Will Anya and Darius survive Rose and her antics? Frankie oh my love for Frankie. She has had it rough and she is out of the rehab and trying to keep clean. She knows she has to deal with her alcoholism and she knows that it will be one day at a time but she is not so sure if she will make it. She was a part of the secret that Letitia let out and when she confronts Elena and tells her the truth it just about crushes her to see Elena hurt and dejected by the betrayal.

Can these guys survive Junior year at the academy or will it all come crashing down?

Purchase:
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Synopsis:

The first book in the YA /NA Contemporary Series - 

Dancers and Divas.

Special offer for limited time -0.99 on Amazon,

Contains mature content - reccommended for ages 15+ 

Does passion and desire guarantee success? Can friends really be trusted? Can true love be found beneath lust and deceit? 

These are questions tenacious street dancer Elena Martinez faces as she struggles to compete against the most talented students at New York’s top Performing Arts High School. Along with her best friend, the carefree and mischievous Sebastien Duval, they are determined to make center stage. 

But the singing diva Letitia has other plans. Beautiful, talented and popular, her desire for revenge could ruin everything for Elena and Sebastien. Now, they must fight against prejudice, treachery and deceit as Letitia sets out to destroy Elena’s friendships, her romance, her dignity and her dreams. Can Elena win the battle for true love, happiness and success?

My Review

5 of 5 Passion And Pain

Passion and Pain is a wonderful read in my eyes. I love stories that take place in performaning art schools. It has so much to it that it draws you in and you really get to see how people will do anything to get what they want. In Passion and Pain it is no different. There is drama, stress and anger all wrapped up in a neat bow just waiting to be unleashed. When you have raw talent come together each individual is fighting for a spot that is important for them. To them it is make it or break it and they will stop at nothing to get what they want.

Elena Martinez and Sebastein Duval are performers attending New York’s top Performing Arts High School. This is their Junior year and they have a lot to prove. This will make them or break them and they want to succeed. Only there is one problem Elena has an enemy that will stop at nothing to destroy her and anyone who side with her. Letitia wants revenge and she will stop at nothing to sabotage Elena and her friends. As all the performers struggle with one thing or another you find yourself rooting them on and to continue their dreams and hopes despite what has happened to them. At least Elena has Sebastein who is there for her to support her and she is there for him.

In Passion and Pain we learn that the characters come from all walks of life and some have been bullied. Some have been raped. Some have been pressured by peers to do things they would normally never do. Some have been doing drugs and alcohol to cope with the everyday stress of the performaning arts school has. What will happen Elena is faced with some of those things? Will she run or will she fight? Will she be able to overcome some of the pressures her peers are putting on her? What will she do when Letitia comes after her for her chunk of revenge? Want to know and so much more then read this book because it is everything you love to watch. It is like a train wreck and you can't help but watch it.

Goodreads:

PLAYLIST FOR PASSION AND PAIN

The Climb – Miley Cyrus – for all their auditions and hopes for success – great introductory song

If I Were The One – Ruff endz - when Seb finds out about Jay and Elena getting serious

Gravity – Sara Bareilles - Elena doesn’t accept break up with Jay – can’t let it go

Bad Habit – Destiny’s Child – When Elena goes back to Jay despite his confession

Suddenly – Angry Anderson – the dance between Anya and Darius

I Believe – Yolanda Adams - when Elena auditions, when her dancer is not going so well and every time she needs a pick me up

Lesson Learned – Alicia Keys – Elena’s betrayal by Frankie

When I Grow Up – Pussycat Dolls – during Anya’s 16th when they reveal their ambitions and learn to have fun

Who You Are - Jessie J – Frankie as she starts to unravel

Walk Away – Christina Aguilera - Leon constantly putting up with Frankie’s behavior

Against All Odds – Mariah Carey – Seb after Elena rejects him

Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart – Alicia Keys – for Elena, Leon and Sebastien

Elevator Love – Guy Sebastien – Seb and Elena’s relationship over the two years

Next to Me – Emeli Sande – final scene with Sebastien

Purchase:
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About this author:

Kathy Petrakis was born and raised in Sydney Australia by Greek immigrant parents. She always had a passion for the performing arts - dancing, acting and singing but they were hobbies giving way to a traditional professional career in banking. Before this book, her writing was used to entertain friends with her unusual, and often disastrous travel adventures from around the world.

By the hand of fate, Passion and Pain and Bittersweet were born while living in London, heaven for lovers of the performing arts. After launching Passion and Pain, she returned to Sydney for the launch of the sequel, Bittersweet.

For more information, visit kathypetrakis.com

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Paranormal Cravings Presents Soul Taken (The Life After #1) by Katlyn Duncan Blog Tour Stop


Soul Taken by Katlyn Duncan
Release date: June 4th
Genre: YA Paranormal
Isbn: 978-1-472-01709-3

Synopsis:

After-life just got a lot more complicated

Maggie is a Soul Collector. It’s her job to transport souls from the Living Realm to the After – but during a mission to find a stolen soul, she ends up stuck in a teen mean girl’s body. 

Trapped, Maggie’s soul is catapulted into Ally’s life – and the human world she hasn’t experienced for one hundred years. But, as a descendant of the most powerful beings in the After, Maggie must rescue Ally before the girl’s soul dies… 

To survive, Maggie must uncover devastating secrets – because with one soul taken by a terrifying enemy, Maggie’s could be next!

Goodreads:
My Review

5 of 5 Souls Taken

Soul Taken is a BRILLIANT read! I loved everything about it and I needed more when the ending came. I mean I have read a lot of books about reapers and soul collectors but this one takes the reading world by storm. I mean the descriptions and the places and oh lord the characters that I fell in love with make everything about reading Soul Taken special and unique. This is one of those books to look out for. I am so glad Paranormal Cravings hosted a tour and posted all over the place other wise I would not have found out about this book. I am still in school taking summer classes which I hate by the way but when I saw the cover to this book I needed to be on the tour and read this book and THANK YOU PARANORMAL CRAVING for hosting this tour and allowing me to have one day of pure reading bliss!

Maggie is a soul collector. She comes from a long line of strong collectors. Her family is well established and well know in their world. So when Maggie decides she wants to be a Guard of Souls she will have to prove herself like her family members did. As she goes out on a mission to find a stolen soul something goes wrong and Maggie ends up in a teenage girls body. Maggie is stunned at first because for over a 100 years she has collected souls and she does not know what a human girl wants or does. Maggie has to figure out what is going on and she seems to be clueless until the girls body she is in Ally. Ally is just not your normal human girl either she is popular and mean. Ally at least has one thing going for her she has a guard Cooper and he has watched her her whole life and he is their for Maggie to help her find out what happened to Ally's soul and where it is.

Cooper has been Ally's guard all her life and he has protected her and kept her safe and sound from all danger and he has started to have feelings for her. But that changes when he and Maggie start working together Cooper starts to have feelings for Maggie. If life could not get so complicated by being in a body Maggie comes across a guy that is dark and brooding but she feels an instant connection to this bad boy Jackson. Jackson is everything she should stay away from because he is a Shadow and Shadows are enemies of the Souls. But Maggie can't help but be attracted to Jackson like she feels there is something there that she is missing so she talks to him.

Can Maggie and Cooper figure out what happened to Ally's soul in time? Or will Maggie be stuck in Ally's body? What will happen between Maggie and Jackson? Will she find out the truth or will it stay buried? This is the next up and coming series to watch out for. 

About the Author:

Debut author for the YA Paranormal trilogy, The Life After. I am represented by Carina UK. I love to read, write, cook, and snuggle with my Wheaten Terrier as much as I can. I’m a huge fan of any book that strikes my fancy and I am always looking for recommendations!


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Xpresso Presents A Book Blitz For Shine Not Burn by Elle Casey


Shine Not Burn by Elle Casey 
Publication date: June 30th 2013 
Genre: NA Romance

Synopsis:

IT HAPPENED IN VEGAS. I can't be held responsible. Things that happen there are supposed to stay there, right? Right? Yeeeah. Not so much. ... Andie's just days away from tying the knot, but there's just ooooone little glitch. Apparently, she's already married.

 Or someone with her name is married to a guy out in Oregon of all places, and the courthouse won't issue her a marriage license until it's all cleared up.

 Tripping her way through cow pies and country songs to meet up with a man who gets around places on horseback is her very last idea of how to have a good time, but if she's going to get married, make partner at the firm, and have two point five kids before she's thirty-five, she needs to get to the bottom of this snafu and fix it quick ... before her fiance finds out and everything she's been working toward goes up in flames.

Excerpt:

Meet the Characters:

The two main characters are Andie Marks and Gavin "Mack" MacKenzie.

 When the story begins Andie's in her first job after law school, living in West Palm Beach, Florida. She's a very goal-oriented person, following a Lifeplan that she wrote when she was a lost and confused teenager detailing how she was going to live her life. She's got everything all figured out, her entire life scripted so she can get everything she wants out of her career and future husband. The problem is, life isn't that predictable or controllable. Everything kind of falls apart when she goes to Las Vegas with her two best friends and she meets Mack.

Mack is a cowboy living on a ranch in Baker City, Oregon. He's the cool, quiet type, with the typical cowboy look: jeans, belt buckle, boots, cowboy hat … plus all the best parts: broad shoulders, lots of muscle, and eyes as blue as the sky. He's lived and worked on his family's ranch his whole life, as comfortable on a horse as he is on his own two feet. He goes to Las Vegas for his brother's bachelor party and his conservative, quiet lifestyle kind of falls apart when he and meets Andie at a blackjack table.

Goodreads:

Special pre-order price of 0.99c right now for Shine Not Burn

Purchase :
Amazon:

AUTHOR BIO:

Elle Casey is a full-time writer of New Adult and Young Adult titles in several genres, including romance, urban fantasy, sci-fi dystopian, and action-adventure. She's an American girl who's been living in southern France with her husband and three children since 2010. She loves chatting with her readers, so feel free to drop her a line.

Interview:

1. You started out writing in YA. What brought you over to New Adult? 

I've been a reader of new adult titles even before they were called 'new adult'. And I love the age group it covers. 18-30 years old is such a great time in life, isn't it? I mean, it's when you sow your wild oats, learn about yourself in the context of the whole world and not just your family and friends; it's where you figure out who you're going to be. The adult-formative years I guess you could call it. And the sex part is awesome too, I won't lie. You can only get so sexy with a YA book, so as a writer, I have to hold back. In NA, I don't have to do that. It can be passionate, raw, sometimes awkward and full of bad decisions, but it can be REAL. I guess that's what I love about NA most … it's raw and real. 

2. You have a lot of novels in the urban fantasy genre. What interested you in writing romances? 

Romances were my first love. Well … aside from Disney fairy tales. But then again, those are all romances aren't they? They've got misunderstood heroines - beaten down by others - who are looking for love and understanding, finally finding it in the hands of a guy on horseback. I've read hundreds of romances in my time, from every publisher out there, including indie authors of course. It doesn't matter how many I read, I always want more. Since I love them as a reader, I really wanted to try my hand as a writer in the genre. I have so many romance stories simmering in my brain right now, at this point, it's like therapy just getting them out of there. I have 6 romances planned for the rest of the year and lots more for 2014. I'm going to be very busy. But I'm happy being busy because it's very important to me that I keep hunger readers fed. I live to write for voracious readers. 

3. How do you write so many books in such a short period of time? 

Short and sweet: I have a system for getting the work done, and I'm a helluva fast typer. More details: I have a ton of stories always waiting in my head to be told, and when I sit down at the computer, the words just kind of spill out. My stories are very character-driven, meaning I don't make up the story. I just find the characters wandering around in my head, put them in a situation, and let them run with it. Now that I'm a full-time writer, I can dedicate more of my time to writing that I used to when I was also teaching at a university. I treat writing as a business and try to be very disciplined about it. After eighteen months of writing, I've published 20 novels, so I think my system is working. :) 

4. What's your favorite part of being a writer? 

My readers. Hands down, it's the readers. I get emails and messages every day from devoted fans, and I can't express how much that means to me. There are readers out there who've set up book blogs just because they were so excited about my books, people who make it a point to promote my books on their Facebook pages and Twitter just because they want to share the reader-love, and whole families who are reading my series and discussing them at dinner. It just blows my mind that people would be so generous and so involved in my made-up worlds. Recently I had a fan dress as one of my characters at a comic con event. I also occasionally get a very heart-warming message about how my writing has changed someone's life - caused them to finally start reading or to go to college. To me, that's the sign of a life well-lived - that I've somehow inspired another person to reach for something they want in life that they thought they didn't have a chance at having before. 

5. What books do you have in the pipeline right now? 

All kinds of good stuff! I'm so excited to get them out to readers. Here's the NA Romance line-up for June, July, and August: Shine Not Burn, By Design, and Don't Make Me Beautiful, and then a 3-book series that will be released on surprise dates this year: Rebel, Hellion, and Trouble. Links to all of them on Goodreads here: 







6. Why do you live in France? 

I came here for a vacation with my husband in 2007 and we both fell in love with it. After the economy took a downturn and my husband lost his job, we started talking about simplifying our lives and focusing on different things. That's when the idea of living in a foreign country came up. We wanted to do it for one year, to give our three kids the opportunity to experience another culture and learn another language while also refocusing our grown-up lives to get away from the rampant materialism that had kind of taken over everything. And we loved France, so it seemed like the logical place to go. Once we were here, we fell in love more deeply and decided to stay indefinitely. We still love our home country of course, but for now, we're content with a very laid back life in the south of France. What can I say … we love wine and cheese ALOT! 

7. How long have you been writing? What did you do before you were a writer? 

I've been writing since January of 2012. Before that I was a lot of things … most recently an attorney. But you can add the following other jobs to the list: retail sales clerk, air traffic controller (in the Air Force), waitress, restaurant owner, stock broker, insurance salesperson, professor, and CEO of a medical device company. I'm one of those people who gets bored easily, so after being in a job for a few years, I need a change so I can be challenged again. The beauty of being a writer is it's never the same job twice, and it really doesn't feel like work. It's the best job I've ever had, hands down. It's the only job in the world were you walk into work (in my case, open the computer) and your boss starts the day by telling you how amazing you are. My readers are my bosses now, and I wouldn't have it any other way. They really are great motivators. :) 

8. What do you hope to accomplish with your writing? 

My goal is to entertain as many readers as I possibly can. If I can also get more people reading or cause people to think about important things, that's great too. But my overriding goal is to make people get so involved in the experience of reading my work that they skip doing chores, stay up until dawn, and tell everyone who will listen about my books. 

9. What kind of romances do you like to read? 

The kind where bad boys are tamed by courageous girls. It's really that simple for me. :) 

10. What's the most important element in a romance in your opinion? 

A sexy guy. Seriously, he just needs to be sexy as hell, and that doesn't mean sexy can't come in different packages. For example, in the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the MC, Ian, is very understated and shy, but man, he rocked my world. He reminds me a lot of my husband, actually. On the other hand you have your angsty fighters ... guys who you'd never let into your world in real life but who are safe to fall for in books. Travis from Beautiful Disaster comes to mind. Boy, did he cause a lot of fuss in the reader world! Chemistry comes in all kinds of packages, which is awesome, but the chemistry has to be there or the book falls flat for me.

LINKS:

Friday, June 28, 2013

Lady Amber Tours Presents A Book Release For Branded (Sinners #1) by Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki


Title: Branded
Author: Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki
Release Date: June 28, 2013
Genre: Mature YA/NA, Dystopian

Blitz Host: Lady Amber's Tours

Book Description:

Twenty years ago the Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society. He created the Hole where sinners are branded according to their sins and might survive a few years. At best.

Now LUST wraps around my neck like blue fingers strangling me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit and now the Hole is my new home.

Darkness. Death. Violence. Pain.

Now every day is a fight for survival. But I won’t die. I won’t let them win.

The Hole can’t keep me. The Hole can’t break me.

I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter.

My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.

Goodreads:

My Review

5 of 5 Branded

HOLY HADES is my first thought and then HOLY S^%& is my second because I have never ever read such a crazy story that grabbed me right from page one and kept me reading and sitting at the edge of my chair because I was like oh holy F%^& is that what is going down and holy F*&^ is she gonna make it......

Man I am going to try and do this review without any spoilers and let me tell you this is going to be very HARD because I loved LOVED this story and anyone who loves Dystopian stories this is the one for 2013 to beat because it is so kick A$! 

Lexi lives in a world where the seven sins have destroyed her world and in order to clean her world The Commander has forbidden the seven sins to be allowed. So if anyone is caught doing any and I mean ANY of the seven sins they are apprehended and brought in front of the commander and sentenced to the hole. Yes you read right the hole. It is a prison of the worst kind man when you read what it is you will be like holy Mother F^&%$#! You will not want to commit any of the seven deadly sins.

Then the unthinkable happens and Lexi is accused of one of the sins and she is sentenced to the hole. It is there that she is assigned a guard Cole lord I love me some Cole. He is a hard a$ but he will protect Lexi from everything bad while she is in the hole. The hole is a dangerous place where violent criminals are and death is what you beg for because that place is not one you want to be in.

Thank God Lexi is a fighter because she is determined to get out of the hole. Although escape has never been accomplished she will wait her time out and devise a plan and get the hell out of doge. Plus there are a few people she meets and friendships are formed and together they all hope the impossible........ ESCAPE! Can they do it? What will happen to Cole? What will happen to Lexi? This is a must read and I want to give a huge I mean HUGE THANK YOU to Bella over at Paranormal Book Club for allowing me to read such a KICK A$ BOOK!

What are you waiting for Dystopian lovers or not this is the next summer 2013 MUST READ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Author Bios:

Abi Ketner Is a registered nurse with a passion for novels, the beaches of St. John, and her Philadelphia Phillies. A talented singer, Abi loves to go running and spend lots of time with her family. She currently resides in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with her husband, triplet daughters and two very spoiled dogs.

Author Bios:

Melissa Kalicicki received her bachelor’s degree from Millersville University in 2003. She married, had two boys and currently lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Aside from reading and writing, her interests include running and mixed martial arts. She also remains an avid Cleveland sports fan.

Abi and Missy met in the summer of 1999 at college orientation and have been best friends ever since. After college, they added jobs, husbands and kids to their lives, but they still found time for their friendship. Instead of hanging out on weekends, they went to dinner once a month and reviewed books. What started out as an enjoyable hobby has now become an incredible adventure.

Links:
twitter @abiandmiss.com

website and blog www.abiandmissy.com



Branded Book Trailer:
Excerpt:

Chapter One: 

I’m buried six feet under, and no one hears my screams. 

The rope chafes as I loop it around my neck. I pull down, making sure the knot is secure. It seems sturdy enough. My legs shake. My heart beats heavy in my throat. Sweat pours down my back. 

Death and I glare at each other through my tears.

I take one last look at the crystal chandelier, the foyer outlined with mirrors, and the flawless decorations. No photographs adorn the walls. No happy memories here. 

I’m ready to go. On the count of three.

I inhale, preparing myself for the finality of it all. Dropping my hands, a glimmer catches my eye. It’s my ring, the last precious gift my father gave me. I twist it around to read the inscription. Picturing his face forces me to reconsider my choice. He’d be heartbroken if he could see me now.

A door slams in the hallway, almost causing me to lose my balance. My thoughts already muddled, I stand waiting with the rope hanging around my neck. Voices I don’t recognize creep through the walls. 

Curiosity overshadows my current thoughts. It’s late at night, and this is a secure building in High Society. No one disturbs the peace here—ever. I tug on the noose and pull it back over my head. 

Peering through the eyehole in our doorway, I see a large group of armed guards banging on my neighbors’ door. A heated conversation ensues, and my neighbors point toward my family’s home. 

It hits me. I’ve been accused and they’re here to arrest me. 

My father would want me to run, and in that split second, I decide to listen to his voice within me. Flinging myself forward in fear, I scramble up the marble staircase and into my brother’s old bedroom. The door is partially covered, but it exists. Pushing his dresser aside, my fingers claw at the opening. Breathing hard, I lodge myself against it. Nothing. I step back and kick it with all my strength. The wood splinters open, and my foot gets caught. I wrench it backward, scraping my calf, but adrenaline pushes me forward. The voices at the front door shout my name. 

On hands and knees, I squeeze through the jagged opening. My brother left through this passage, and now it’s my escape too. Cobwebs entangle my face, hands, and hair. At the end, I feel for the knob, twisting it clockwise. It swings open, creaking from disuse. I sprint into the hallway and smash through the large fire escape doors at the end. A burst of cool air strikes me in the face as I jump down the ladder.

Reaching the fifth floor, I knock on a friend’s window. The lights flicker on, and I see the curtains move, but no one answers. I bang on the window harder.

“Let me in! Please!” I say, but the lights darken. They know I’ve been accused and refuse to help me. Fear and adrenaline rush through my veins as I keep running, knocking on more windows along the way. No one has mercy. They all know what happens to sinners. 

Another flight of stairs passes in a blur when I hear the guards’ heavy footfalls from above. I can’t hide, but I don’t want to go without trying. 

Help me, Daddy. I need your strength now. 

My previous desolation evolves into a will to survive. I have to keep running, but I tremble and gasp for air. I steel my nerves and force my body to keep moving. In a matter of minutes, my legs cramp and my chest burns. I plunge to the ground, scraping my knee and elbow. A moan escapes from my chest. 

Gotta keep going. 

“Stop!” Their voices bounce off the buildings. “Lexi Hamilton, surrender yourself,” they command. They’re gaining on me. 

I resist the urge to glance back, running into what I assume is an alley. I’m far from our high-rise in High Society as I plunge into a poorer section of the city where the streets all look the same and the darkness prevents me from recognizing anything. I’m lost. 

My first instinct is to leap into a dumpster, but I retain enough sense to stay still. I crouch and peek around it, watching them dash by. The abhorrent smell leaves me vomiting until nothing remains in my stomach. Desperation overtakes me, as I know my retching was anything but silent. My last few seconds tick away before they find me. Everyone knows about their special means of tracking sinners.

I push myself to my feet and look left, right, and left again. Their batons click against their black leather belts, and their boots stomp the cement on both sides of me. I shrink into myself. Their heavy steps mock my fear, growing closer and closer until I know I’m trapped. 

Never did I imagine they’d come for me. Never did I imagine all those nights I heard them dragging someone else away that I’d join them.

“You’re a sinner,” they say. “Time to leave our society.” 

I stand defiant. I refuse to bend or break before them, even as I shiver with fear. 

“There’s no reason to make this difficult. The more you cooperate, the smoother this will be for everyone,” a guard says. 

I cringe into the blackness along the wall. I’m innocent, but they won’t believe me or care.

The next instant, my face slams into the pavement as one guard plants a knee in my back and another handcuffs me. A warm liquid trails into my mouth. Blood. Their fingers grip my arms like steel traps as they peel me off the cement. The tops of my shoes scrape along the ground as I’m dragged behind them until they discard me into the back of a black vehicle. The doors slam in unison with one guard stationed on each side of me, my shoulders digging into their arms.

Swallowing hard, I stare ahead to avoid their eyes. My dignity is all I have left. The handcuffs dig into my wrists, so I clasp them together hard behind me and press my back into the seat, unwilling to admit how much it hurts. 

Did they need so many guards to capture me?

I’m not carrying any weapons, nor do I own any. I don’t even know self-defense. High Society frowns on activities like that. 

The driver jerks the vehicle around and I try to keep my bearings, but it’s dark and the scenery changes too fast. Hours pass, and the air grows warmer, more humid the farther we drive. The landscape mutates from city to rolling hills. They don’t bother blindfolding me because they escort all the sinners to the same place—the Hole. Twenty-foot cement walls encase the chaos within. There’s no way out and no way in unless they transport you. They say the Hole is a prison with no rules. We learned about it last year in twelfth grade. 

To the outside, I’m filth now. I’ll never be allowed to return to the life I knew. No one ever does.

“All sinners go through a transformation,” one of the guards says to me. His smirk infuriates me. “I’m sure you’ve heard all kinds of stories.” I don’t respond. I don’t want to think about the things I’ve been told. 

“You won’t last too long, though. Young girls like you get eaten alive.” He pulls a strand of my hair up to his face.

Get your hands off me, you pig. I want to lash out, but resist. The punishment for disobeying authority is severe, and I’m not positioned to defy him.

They’re the Guards of the Commander. They’re chosen from a young age and trained in combat. They keep the order of society by using violent methods of intimidation. No one befriends a guard. Relationships with them are forbidden inside the Hole. 

Few have seen the commander. His identity stays under lock and key. His own paranoia and desire to stay pure drove him to live this way. He controls our depraved society and believes sinners make the human race unforgivable. His power is a crushing fist, rendering all beneath him helpless. So much so, even family members turn on each other when an accusation surfaces. Just an accusation. No trial, no evidence, nothing but an accusation. 

I lose myself in thoughts of my father. 

“Never show fear, Lexi,” my father said to me before he was taken. “They’ll use it against you.” His compassionate eyes filled with warning as he commanded me to be strong. That was many years ago, but I remember it clearly. My father. My rock. The one person in my life who provided unconditional love. 

“Get out,” the guard says while pulling me to my feet. The vehicle stops, and I’m jerked back to reality. The doors slide open and the two guards lift me up and out into the night. A windowless cement building looms in front of us, looking barren in the darkness. 

The coolness of the air sends a shiver up my spine. This is really happening. I’ve been labeled a sinner. My lip starts to quiver, but I bite it before anyone sees. They shove me in line, and I realize I’m not alone. Women and men stand with faces frozen white with fear. A guard grabs my finger, pricks it, and dabs my blood on a tiny microchip. 

I follow the man in front of me into the next room where we’re lined up facing the wall. Glancing right, I see one of the men crying. 

“Spread your legs,” one of the guards says.

They remove my outer layers and their hands roam up and down my body. 

What do they think I can possibly be hiding? I press my head into the wall, trying to block out what they’re doing to me. 

“MOVE!” a guard commands. So I shuffle across the room, trying to cover up.

One

Two

Three

Four

Five of us sit in the holding room. One by one, they pull people into the next room, forcing the rest of us to wonder what torture we’ll endure. An agonizing amount of time passes. I lean my head back and try to imagine a place far away. The door opens.

“Lexi Hamilton.” 

A guard escorts me out of the room, and I don’t have time to look back. As soon as the door closes, they pick me up and place me on a table. It’s cold and my skin sticks to it slightly, like wet fingers on an ice cube. Then they exit in procession, and I lie on the table with a doctor standing over me. His hands are busy as he speaks.

“Don’t move. This will only take a few minutes. It’s time for you to be branded.” 

A wet cloth that smells like rubbing alcohol is used to clean my skin. Then he places a metal collar around my neck.

Click. Click. Click. 

The collar locks into place, and I struggle to breathe. The doctor loosens it some as I focus on the painted black words above me. 

The Seven Deadly Sins:

Lust ¾ Blue

Gluttony ¾ Orange

Greed ¾ Yellow

Sloth ¾ Black

Wrath ¾ Red

Envy ¾ Green

Pride ¾ Purple

“Memorize it. Might keep you alive longer if you know who to stay away from.” He opens my mouth, placing a bit inside. “Bite this.” 

Within seconds, the collar heats from hot to scorching. The smell of flesh sizzling makes my head spin. I bite down so hard a tooth cracks. 

“GRRRRRRRRR,” escapes from deep within my chest. Just when I’m about to pass out, the temperature drops, and the doctor loosens the collar. 

He removes it and sits me up. Excruciating pain rips through me, and I’m on the verge of a mental and physical breakdown. Focus. Don’t pass out. 

Stainless steel counters and boring white walls press in on me. A guard laughs at me from an observation room above and yells, “Blue. It’s a great color for a pretty young thing like yourself.” His eyes dance with suggestion. The others meander around like it’s business as usual. 

I finally find my voice and turn to the doctor.

“Are you going to give me clothes?” A burning pain spreads like fire up from my neck to my jaw, making me wince. 

He points to a set of folded grey scrubs on a chair. I cover myself as much as I can and scurry sideways. Grabbing my clothes and pulling the shirt over my head, I try to avoid the raw meat around my throat. I quickly knot the cord of my pants around my waist and slide my feet into the hospital-issue slippers as the doctor observes. He hands me a bag labeled with my name. 

“Nothing is allowed through the door but what we’ve given you,” he says.

I hide my right hand behind me, hoping no one notices. A guard scans my body and opens his hand. 

“Give it to me,” he says. “Don’t make me rip off your finger.” He crouches down and I turn to stone. I don’t know what to do, so I beg.

“My father gave this to me. Please, let me keep it.” I smash my eyes shut and think of the moment my father handed the golden ring to me. 

“It was my mother’s ring,” he’d said. “She’s the strongest woman I ever knew.” With tears in his eyes, he reached for my hand and said, “Lexi, you’re exactly like her. She’d want you to wear this. No matter how this world changes, you can survive.” I turned the gold band over in my palm and read the engraving.

You can overcome anything… short of death.

“You’re going to take the one thing that matters the most to me?” I say, glaring into the guard’s emotionless eyes. “Isn’t it enough taking my life, dignity, and respect?” 

A hard blow falls upon my back. As I fall, my hands shoot out to stop me from smashing into the wall in front of me. The guard bends down and grabs my chin with his meaty fist.

“Look at me,” he commands. I look up and he smiles with arrogance. 

“What the hell?” He staggers a step backward. “What’s wrong with you? What’s wrong with your eyes?” 

“Nothing,” I respond, confused.

“What color are they?”

“Turquoise.” I glower at him.

“Interesting,” he says, regaining his composure. “Now those’ll get you in trouble.” 

Reality slaps me across the face. I have my father’s eyes. They can't take them from me. I twist the ring off my finger and drop it in his hand. 

“Take the damn ring,” I say. I walk to the door. He swipes a card and the massive door slides open to the outside. 

“You have to wear your hair back at all times, so everyone knows what you are.” He hands me a tie, so I pull my frizzy hair away from my face and secure it into a ponytail. My neck burns and itches as my hand traces the scabs that have already begun to form. Squinting ahead in the darkness, I almost run into a guard standing on the sidewalk. 

“Watch where you’re going,” he says, shoving me backward. His stiff figure stands tall and I cringe at the sharpness of his voice.

“Cole, this is your new assignment, Lexi Hamilton. See to it she feels welcome in her new home.” The guard departs with a salute. 

“Let’s move,” Cole says. 

I take two steps and collapse, my knees giving out. The unforgiving pavement reopens the scrapes from earlier and I struggle to stand. A powerful arm snatches me up, and I see his face for the first time.