Review Tour...Dark Angel by Samantha Jacoby (with Review)

Dark Angel, A Summer Spirit Novella
by Samantha Jacobey,
Book 2 in the Summer Spirit Series
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: June 23^rd


Dark Angel - A Summer Spirit Novella… Can your Guardian Angel simply walk away?
Charlie and his girlfriend met last summer, after his awakening from a near death experience. Their love grew while his body healed, and after a few short months, he had come to believe she was the girl of his dreams. But Donna has a secret; one she had never intended to share with the love of her life.
While Charlie’s physical being had lain in a hospital, his spirit had traveled to another dimension - her world - where the forces of light and dark collide. When he had returned to the living side of consciousness, Clarisse stole Donna’s body, claiming it and giving herself a second chance at life and love. Of course, people who die are meant to stay dead, and there will be rough times ahead as Keeper, head of the angels, decides how to put things back in order...
Charlie stared down at their plates, guilt washing over him; “Damn.” He could tell she had put a great deal of effort into the meal, and he had blown it. “So much for overtime,” he muttered, turning to follow her to their bedroom. “Honey, I’m sorry,” he called more loudly.

Stepping into the room, he noted her hunched frame on the foot of the bed. Her face in her hands, her shoulders shook, signaling her silent sobs. Taking a knee before her, he sat back on his haunches while his fingers gently wound around her warm flesh, pulling on her arms to uncover her delicate beauty, “Hey.”

Allowing him to expose her tears, her face looked distorted, causing him to inhale sharply. “Don’t look at me Charlie,” she implored.

“Why?” he breathed the question. “Seriously, baby. What’s happening to you?”

Flicking her moist tongue over her lips, she whined, “You’ll call me crazy if I tell you. Just like you did Grandma Parker.”

“No, I won’t,” he pushed himself up onto his knees, his arms sliding around her waist, “Baby, I love you so much. We’re survivors, remember?” he alluded to their private joke. “There’s nothing you can’t tell me, an’ I promise; I would never call you crazy.”

She stared into his deep brown eyes, feeling as if they would swallow her whole at any moment. “My name isn’t Donna,” she stated flatly, “My name is Clarisse.”

Charlie’s lungs clamped down tight within his chest, as if she had knocked the wind out of him with a single punch. “Clarisse,” he coughed, squinting as he tried to make the connection. Finally, unable to do so, he stroked her long straight locks, “Honey, I’m not following.”

“That’s why she doesn’t know me,” she pulled herself up straight, “Because… I’m not me. And Grandma Parker can see it somehow.”

“I see,” he sank back down, heels to rear, “And how long has this feeling that you’re someone else been going on?”

“I told you!” she screamed, leaping to her feet, “Now you think I’m bat shit psycho!” she whirled around, moving to the window to peer outside, searching the darkness for some unseen enemy.

Watching her, he pushed himself up, standing slowly, “I never said that. I don’t understand. That’s all.”

“Of course not, you’re still you,” she quipped.

I was given a copy of this book for an honest review.  It's what I do. 

I have mixed feelings about this read.  While I found myself wanting to know what happened next, I will admit that it took me a moment to get with the writing style of the author.  I was surprised by the ending which is always a good thing for me.  I love, love, LOVE surprises.  I cannot stand predictable works.  They are so uninspiring for me.  I'm glad that I pushed through and completed the read.  It was a cute story.  With all of that said, I give this book a:

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Anyone who knows me could tell you, I am a friendly kind of person, never met a stranger and take up conversations any where at any time. I work hard, and my mind never seems to shut down, as I wake up often in the middle of the night with ideas pouring out and demanding to be dealt with. Of course that means much of my books were written in the middle of the night.


I grew up and still live in the great state of Texas where everything is bigger, where we have warm weather and a central location. I love my state, my town, and my family, which includes my four sons, my significant other, and many friends as well.

I have thoroughly enjoyed writing the books that are currently available and hope you will enjoy reading them just as much. And of course, there will be many more stories to come.
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Blog Tour...Chasing the Dragon by T.K. Leigh (Review Included)

He’s trying to protect his heart… She’s a shell of the girl she once was… Can he chase away the demons threatening to destroy her?

Mackenzie Delano craves control. After tragedy strikes during her freshman year of college, she compensates for the helplessness she felt by micro-managing every aspect of her life, from her business life to her social life…to her love life. But she wasn’t expecting to cross paths with a mysterious man who seems to invade her every thought. Tyler Burnham has been living his life with one rule in mind…never fall in love. Focusing solely on his career, he is able to remain a detached observer of life… Until a case is dropped in his lap, forcing him to form an intimate relationship with a sharp-tongued woman in order to obtain the location of a man deemed an enemy of the State. When Tyler finds himself falling for Mackenzie, will he be able push his feelings aside and recover the information he needs? Or will he put the mission and their lives at risk to follow his heart? Chasing The Dragon is the first installment of a two part series of deception and betrayal where nothing is as it seems. ***Note - Chasing The Dragon is the first book in a two-book duet and is a spin-off of T.K. Leigh's USA Today Best Selling Beautiful Mess series. It is not necessary to have read that series in order to read this duet, but it will contain a mild spoiler from the third book in the Beautiful Mess series, Gorgeous Chaos.*** 

I was gifted and ARC ecopy of this book for an honest review.  I started this book twice.  It's one of those books that you definitely need to dedicate time to reading just this work and nothing else.  I've never read a work by this author and I didn't know what to expect with this work. I'm in bittersweet mode about this book.  I enjoyed the read, but the ending killed me.  When I read the last page, I seriously wanted to scream or send a message to the author.  I was so vested in this book that I spent every moment that I could reading it.  I am now a fan of T.K. Leigh, even if I do still want to send a special message to her about what she did with this work. 

The story of Mackenzie and Tyler will keep you on your toes.  It will have you wanting to read more.  It will have you sitting on edge as you try to figure out what's fact and what's not.  The relationship between these two characters is thrilling.  I giggled and snickered as I read through the novel. 

My honest review would have to include the fact that the cover would not have gotten me to read the work.  I'd heard good things about T.K. Leigh's books and decided to sign up to read this one.  Had I not known the name, then I probably wouldn't have given it a chance.  The second thing that threw me off and would have deterred me would have been the "Introduction" or the first lines of the work.  I thought for sure the work was going to go an entirely different direction.  I thought it might have been about a person with a possible drug problem.  I believe that was mostly due to my interpretation of the Author's words. 

I will say that I enjoyed this work and I'm so glad that I gave it a chance.  I cannot wait to see what comes next, but I'll have to along with everyone else.

 

 

“Dance with me, Mackenzie,” he said, holding my hand in his, sensually placing the other just below my hip bone. “What are you−” “Shhh…,” he admonished, expertly leading me in our dance, the band playing Cole Porter’s Every Time We Say Goodbye. “Just enjoy it and don’t think.” I simply nodded, turning my head to scan the restaurant. “Mackenzie, eyes on me. I need to know you’re with me.” I snapped my eyes back to his, my mouth slightly agape as my heart pounded in my chest. He was warm and spellbinding. The way he held me in his arms comforted me and made me feel as if they were made to hold me. “Are you with me?” he asked, raising his eyebrows. “Yes,” I said, my voice soft. He leaned toward me and the bit of stubble on his chin brushed my skin. “Yes what?” he whispered. “I’m with you.” The corners of his lips turned up slightly and there was a spark about him that wasn’t present yesterday. “I like the sound of that, Miss Delano.” He pulled me closer and I tilted my head to peer into his striking eyes, needing the connection I felt at that moment. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced, all because of a well-placed hand, a sinfully sexy voice, eyes that made me want to melt, and arms that felt like home. “Who would have thought that the Mackenzie whose lips I couldn’t stop seeing in my dreams last night would turn out to be Mackenzie Delano, proprietor of South Padre’s hottest new spot?” “How did−” “Shhh,” he said once more. “You think too much. Just enjoy the moment because it’s over once the band plays the final note to this melody.” I snapped my mouth shut, a strange awareness of loss washing over me at the prospect of this complete stranger walking away from me once the song came to an end, wondering if I would ever see him again. “You’re a lovely dancer, Miss Delano,” he commented. “Thank you,” I answered, unsure of whether to say anything further. He seemed to be in complete control of the dance, of his words…and of mine. And, for the first time, I was okay with someone else calling the shots. “You have a dancer’s body. I’m confident you’ve bewitched quite a few men with the way you can seamlessly navigate the dance floor.” He leaned toward me and whispered, “I must confess… You’ve bewitched me.” His voice was sweet as it crooned in my ear, and I was left a silent, blubbering mute, the sincerity in his declaration sparking a renewed sense of longing I had ignored for years. My breathing grew ragged, and I was unable to formulate any response. I simply lost myself in the moment of our dance, wanting his sensual words to ring in the recesses of my mind for all eternity. I wished I could have recorded his voice murmuring those endearing words to me so I could replay them over and over again when I needed to feel something I didn’t think I would ever feel again. He molded my frame to his, our bodies swaying to the classic tune, and began to sing along with the band. I imagined he was singing to me, and me alone. His voice was deep and guttural, but sweet as he leaned toward my neck and crooned the last verse into my ear. I closed my eyes, losing myself in his warmth, his voice, his everything. All too soon, the final note rang out, silence encompassing the room, but we continued to sway to the music in our heads, our rhythm perfectly in tune to each other. A loud drum kick echoed, startling me, and I opened my eyes, almost expecting it all to be a dream. But it wasn’t, and I was met with my mysterious stranger’s strong face. Time stood still as we simply stared at each other, neither one of us moving. I licked my dry lips, nerves causing my breathing to grow more intense and labored. He grabbed my hand and brought it to his soft lips, placing a kiss on it. The contact caused a rush of adrenaline to run through me. Before I could ask his name, he was gone, leaving me stunned and alone once more.

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T.K. Leigh, otherwise known as Tracy Leigh Kellam, is the USA Today Best Selling author of the Beautiful Mess series. Originally from New England, she now resides in sunny Southern California with her husband, dog and three cats, all of which she has rescued (including the husband). She always had a knack for writing, but mostly in the legal field. It wasn't until recently that she decided to try her hand at creative writing and is now addicted to creating different characters and new and unique story lines in the Contemporary Romantic Suspense genre.

When she's not planted in front of her computer, writing away, she can be found running and training for her next marathon (of which she has run over fifteen fulls and far too many halfs to recall). Unlike Olivia, the main character in her Beautiful Mess series, she has yet to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

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Review...The Legend of Arturo King by L.B. Dunbar

Review of The Legend of Arturo King by L. B. Dunbar:

****Received an ARC copy of book for Review****

L.B. Dunbar’s The Legend of Arturo King drew my attention because of the catchy title.  The play on the main character of Camelot and The Knights of the Round Table drew me in even further.  I’ve always loved the stories and retellings of Camelot, Uther and especially Merlin.  I’ve been a fan of the period for years.  I began the read not knowing what to expect. 

I enjoyed the book and what Dunbar did to change the stories. It was an interesting twist.  I didn’t completely love it.  I would give it a four star score and I’m rounding up.  It had some great elements.  I loved the way the characters names were changed to be key iconic individual’s names.   I thought it was great that she had the characters have the personalities of them as well.  I hate to say that she stuck to the standard story overall.  She truly did modernize an already told story.  With that key element, the book became predictable and I didn’t want to finish it. 

I loved the concept. I truly did, but it wasn’t one of my favorites.  It is something that I would recommend to another, but with the following warning.

****SPOILER ALERT***** 

Not really.  Lol! The story ends in a cliffy.  I was a little disappointed with that one, but now I have to make a note to follow the author to see where she goes with this series.  I want to read the next books because I’m not as familiar with the story of Lancelot or the character Perkins is supposed to be.  I believe familiarity killed it for me.

Purchase The Legend of Arturo King

The next book in the series is The Story of Lansing Lotte

Purchase the next book in the series here.

Blog Tour...Sparrow Way by Annie Rose Welch

Sparrow Way - Annie Rose Welch

Saving Angels 5

Goodreads

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http://www.amazon.com/Sparrow-Way-Saving-Angels-Book-ebook/dp/B00RNF4AHY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423519263&sr=8-1&keywords=Sparrow+Way

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The final journey of the Saving Angels series has come to an end. All roads have led you to….

“What’s the address?” she asks.

“Eleven Sparrow Way.”

She closes her eyes for a moment. “I like that. Our journey has flown us here, flown us home….”

Gabriel Roberts found his happily ever after at The Crossroads of his life. He found his brother, Michael, his history in the Legion, and the love of his life, his Evangeline. He has finally arrived at the place he always yearned for—home.

But time stops for no one; not even an angel.

For years Gabriel has guarded what is most precious to him, Evangeline and their transcendent love story. When the opportunity presents itself in an unexpected way, Gabriel decides to tell his story, and in doing so, answers the riddle of his heart: If life is the journey of years, perhaps love is the journey of a lifetime?

Excerpt #1:

The concierge had arranged for us two cruising bikes so that we could explore the area and voyage to the famous restaurant that we had heard so much about.

Eva hops on the purple one, sticking me with the pink one that has a wicker basket attached to the front.

“That’s for the fly comment.” She snickers.

“Real men work pink,” I say. “Or so Brad says. He told me my coloring is perfect for pink.”

We cruise into the misty day, the sun barely shining through the many Monterrey cypress trees that line the hilly area. Eva steadies her bike and releases the handle- bars. She spreads her arms wide like a bird spreading its wings.

As we peddle, I hear music in the distance floating from one of the houses on the opposite side of the street. I listen harder, trying to place the beat.

“Do you hear that?” I bounce a bit from the turbulence of the tires.

Eva grabs the handlebars. “I would never leave you alone...something, something, something.”

“Hell yeah!” I beat the handlebars with my thumbs to the heavy pace of the drums. “Eva, ‘I’ll be’...” I sing some of the song. “I love The Karate Kid! This place reminds me of the movie.”

“That’s about the only movie you do like.”

“It’s a classic, like Rocky. And if we weren’t riding these bicycles, I’d show you my karate moves! Hi-ya!” I chop the air. “What are you laughing about? You just don’t know the moves your husband has!”

“Hold on, Gabriel-san! Banzai!” Eva shouts, before we go flying down a steep street.

“I love it here. I feel like I can breathe better! The air seems lighter.”

“Don’t get used to it. We’re not taking up permanent residency in the big shake.” I take the camera from the basket as the bike straightens out. I slow down a bit, getting a prime shot of her butt bouncing up and down on the seat. “The scenery is quite beautiful, though.”

She looks behind for a second. “Race you!” She starts going faster and I have to take the camera and throw it in the basket to peddle harder.

Excerpt #2:

My eyes savor every inch of her bare flesh. The gentle sway of her body, the way her waist melts into her rolling, swinging hips. Her body is soft, but firm. Her eyes are full of longing and bright fire. Her stare melts me, like a slow burn. My will drips, drips, drips as she moves into me.

“I can’t get you close enough, fast enough,” I breathe. I want to drink her, absorb her, until every pore in my body is overflowing with her. Her tongue tastes like warm, sweet honey. I can never have enough of her this way. Of this I am infinitely positive.

Her head tilts backward. Her lips curl in an upward smile of pleasure. Her hair falls around her back, uncovering her breasts. The sweet smell from her bare skin enraptures me. Her hands rush through my hair. She traces the lines of my face; her fingertips seem to float across my skin. “Memorizing you,” she breathes out as her hands make their way to my body, undressing me.

I move into her, trembling, dripping with heat. My fingers pulsate and pull against her soft skin and her knees buckle.

“When you touch me, you feel like thunder pounding against my skin,” she whispers.

I’m careful now—the want needs to grow until it can no longer be controlled. Like a beast being released after years of being caged.

The tension builds, causing my soul to stir.

 

 The Review

I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  I have to speak honestly.  I haven't read the book yet.  I was gifted a copy to read along with the other books and have only read the first.  I will say this.  I really can't wait to read the book.  I'm enjoying the first book so much that I want to continue with the series.  The life of a blogger/author never ends and completely consumed with this author's attention to detail.  I find myself wanting to know more and questioning why to only find the answer later in the book.  If you haven't started the series, then you should.  I guarantee it won't be a waste of your time. 

 

Born and raised in New Orleans, Annie has a habit of shortening her words and telling long stories. She speaks with a southern flair and cooks with it too. At the tender age of twenty- one, she hitched up her wagons (took her first plane ride) and moved out west to the big shake (California).

Her writing career began one sleepless night when she imagined a gorgeous woman and a man with maniacal hair floating above her like lightening bugs falling from the sky. Curious about them, their story, and why they were floating around in her head, she sat down and penned (typed) her first novel, Marigny Street. A dream come true for her, she hasn't stopped writing since. She loves a damn good love story, always has, no matter what the genre. She is particularly moved by imperfect love that in its own unique way is perfect, the notion of love at first sight, soul mates, and things that are generally out of the norm.

When she's not writing she enjoys dabbling in photography and finding new, inspirational music to add to her collection. Deciding on a whim to hitch up those same wagons, Annie currently resides in Texas (where everything is bigger) with her husband, daughter, and their two peculiar dogs, Boudreaux and Tabasco (who, call her crazy, bark with an accent).

For lagniappe (a little extra), a virtual cup of café au lait and beignets, please visit Annie's website:
www.annierosewelch.com

She can also be found on Facebook & Twitter.

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnnieRoseWelch

Twitter: https://twitter.com/angelwriter11

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7159582.Annie_Rose_Welch

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Annie-Rose-Welch/e/B00DQSYDTM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1