Melpomene

More Book Signing Fun: Instagram Edition

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This past weekend, I was lucky enough to go to Kentucky and meet Karen Marie Moning, JR Ward and Phil Gigante. Honestly, lucky isn’t even the right word for it. Blessed seems more like it. Karen was here promoting her newest book, BURNED, and JR was her to support her. And Phil was here to entertain us.

The way this signing worked was that you had to go to the Barnes and Noble, when they opened, and show your proof of purchase for Burned and then you get a numbered wristband. The lower the number, the better seat you would get. Well, that means getting up early and getting in line. So for myself, that means getting up at 4 am and leaving at 5 to get there.

Around 7:30/8ish, a couple of girls from Team KMM came and surprised us. It was a blessing. Thank, girls!!

After that little pick me up, waiting for the store to open was a bit more bearable.

So, from 9 am til noonish, we were free to hang out or go back and get ready. I was dropped off, so I stayed and chatted and made new friends.

By the time all these seats were put up, it was almost time to be seated.

Once we were seated, you could feel the excitement everywhere. I mean I was practically trembling….

And then Phil came out. And this happened.

If that’s how the day was going to go, then I was destined to have another banner day. For those who don’t know who Phil Gigante is, he’s the voice behind Barrons, Ryodan, Lor and basically all the men in the Fever series.

And then JR Ward came out to chat and introduce Karen. I was lucky enough to get a question answered. Made my day.

And then the Queen came out. Gorgeous, right??

So after we chatted with Karen for a bit, the signing started. And then this happened. #Faints

I mean, seriously!!!! I got a selfie with JR Ward!!! #bucketlist She was gracious enough to sign a couple of books for me.

Then I met Karen. I was so nervous, but she was wonderful and so very sweet. She had the friendliest smile the whole time. She complimented my embellished Barrons shirt, pendant and my phone case, which showcases many of my favorite books, which includes Shadowfever.

Then I was able to get a better shot with Phil. And he was able to sign my books as well.

Then I was able to snag a clearer shot of JR again. She just looks so classy. I feel like a silly little girl, next to her.

Thank you, Karen, for signing my books and shirt and for being one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met.

This day is now ranked among my top moments in my life. Never would I have imagined jumping into this book world and then finding authors with such passion and heart that makes me want to drive HOURS, or even get on planes, to go and meet. These are memories I will take with me forever.

Thank you, Karen Marie Moning, JR Ward, Phil Gigante and Barnes and Noble for making this day amazing.

~Melpomene

Be sure to get Burned: Fever Series Book 7
But make sure you get caught up with the series first. This is one of my all time favorite series EVER. If you really wanna feel these books, grab the audible versions. *fans face*

Darkfever: Fever Series Book 1
Bloodfever: Fever Series Book 2
Faefever: Fever Series Book 3
Dreamfever: Fever Series Book 4
Shadowfever: Fever Series Book 5
Iced: Fever Series Book 6

Review, Falling For Jillian, by Kristen Proby

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01fallI am seriously LOVING this series!!!

SYNOPSIS
Jillian thought she was a city girl through and through; the fast cars, high fashion, and glamour—she loves it all. But when her ex tells her he’s having a baby with his new wife (after Jillian struggled for years to get pregnant), she hightails it back to Montana to cry on the shoulder of her best friend, Cara.

But in truth, Jillian would rather be comforted by someone else…specifically Zach, Cara’s brother-in-law. Zach is a veteran of the Iraq War who came back to the family ranch to raise his preteen son after the boy’s mother took off. He’s struggling to re-establish a relationship with his son, and warding off the demons of PTSD, which still haunt him. The last thing he needs is bold, brassy Jillian…but why can’t he keep his hands off her?

This series is the perfect combination of sweet and saucy. You wanna be the girl’s friends just so you can hang out with everyone. But at the same time, you wanna rip the guys from off their arms. These guys are the best. They are strong and very protective of their women.

Jillian is home, after a disastrous and emotional divorce, and is trying to move on. She is also trying not to bring up a very heated experience she had with Zach, her best friend’s brother-in-law. But as she’s trying not to dwell on it, he can’t seem to think of anything else.

I know the synopsis says PTSD, but it really isn’t mentioned. It really isn’t talked about, nor is it the focus of the story.

The focus is Zach trying to remind Jill that they’re so very good together, while trying to keep the friendship they’ve already established. And that she is good for his son and she just may be the perfect piece in this puzzle called life.


I smile as I take her in: those small, strong hands clenching the quilt, her slender form hidden beneath about six inches of fabric from neck to feet.

Yet, she’s the prettiest thing God ever put on this earth.

Personally, I think the theme should be good things, no great things, come to those who wait. It truly does.

~Melpomene

Pre-order Falling for Jillian (Love Under the Big Sky Book 3)

While this can be read as a standalone, I think you should read the first two books, to really get the experience.
Loving Cara (Love Under the Big Sky Book 1)
Seducing Lauren (Love Under the Big Sky Book 2)

Review: The Prince by Sylvain Reynard

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01prince Well now. That was a quick little glimpse into a new series, and I think I’m gonna like it. I think I’m gonna like it a lot.

SYNOPSIS
The unveiling of a set of priceless illustrations of Dante’s Divine Comedy at the Uffizi Gallery exposes the unsuspecting Professor Gabriel Emerson and his beloved wife, Julianne, to a mysterious and dangerous enemy.

Unbeknownst to the Professor, the illustrations he secretly acquired years ago were stolen a century earlier from the ruler of Florence’s underworld. Now one of the most dangerous beings in Italy is determined to reclaim his prized artwork and exact revenge on the Emersons, but not before he uncovers something disturbing about Julianne …

Set in the city of Florence, “The Prince” is a prequel novella to “The Raven,” which is the first book in the new Florentine Series Trilogy by Sylvain Reynard.

“The Prince” can be read as a standalone but readers of The Gabriel Series may be curious about the connection between The Professor’s world and the dark, secret underworld of “The Prince.”

I remember seeing this character in Gabriel’s Redemption and he seemed “otherworldly” to me. So when this new series was announced, and it was said to be a sort of spin off, I knew EXACTLY who it was going to be about. Now, you don’t need to read the Gabriel’s Inferno series, to read this. But, personally, to get the full experience, I highly recommend that you do. You can thank me later.

I was mesmerized by how this Prince was intrigued with the Emersons. Well, mostly he wanted to kill the professor. But seeing a few scenes, from his eyes, made me fall for the Professor all over again, even if he’s a jerk sometimes. We see quite a few scenes with the Emersons, as he watches them and plans their demise.

But right when the Prince is ready to follow through with his plan, a new threat creeps into his city and now he must deal with this first.

I am so excited to read The Raven and find out what happens next. Part of me wants more of the professor, but then to see him means that the Prince is out to harm him. So maybe, I’m not in a rush to see him quite yet.

~Melpomene

EXCERPT
In the distance, the Prince could hear voices and muffled sounds.

He approached silently, almost floating across the floor.

Desperate groans and the rustling of fabric filled his ears, along with the twin sounds of rapidly beating hearts. He could smell their scents, the aromas heightened due to their sexual arousal.

He growled in reaction.

The corridor was shrouded in darkness but the Prince could see that the professor had his wife up against a window between two statues, her legs wrapped around his waist.

Her voice was breathy as she spoke, but the Prince tuned out her words, moving closer so he could catch a glimpse of her lovely face.

At the sight of it, flushed with passion, his old heart quickened and he felt the stirrings of arousal.

It was not his custom to observe rather than participate. But on this occasion, he decided to make an exception. Careful to remain in the darkness, he moved to the wall opposite the couple.

The woman squirmed in her lover’s arms, her high heels catching on his tuxedo jacket. Her fingers flew to his neck, undoing his bow tie and tossing it carelessly to the floor.

She unbuttoned his shirt, and her mouth moved to his chest, as murmurs of pleasure escaped his lips.

The Prince felt more than desire as he watched the woman’s eager movements. He caught a glimpse of her exquisite mouth and the toss of her long hair that would no doubt feel like silk between his fingers.

She lifted her head to smile at the man who held her close and he could see love in her eyes.

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Pre-order The Prince
Release date 1-20-15
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Amazon Canada
iTunes
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Pre-order The Raven-Book 1 in The Florentine Series
Release date 2-3-15
Amazon US
Amazon Canada
iTunes
BN

Review: Never Never by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

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01neverHow odd to be made of flesh, balanced on bone, and filled with a soul you’ve never met.

OH.MY.GOSH. What did I just read??? My mind is still reeling from this experience. Colleen and Tarryn are officially the dynamic duo.

Synopsis
Best friends since they could walk.
In love since the age of fourteen.
Complete strangers since this morning.
He’ll do anything to remember.
She’ll do anything to forget.

Charlie and Silas can’t remember themselves or the people around them. They have no idea what’s going on. But as the days progress they are finding glimpses into their lives that show them that they may not be what they thought they were. They make choices that they hope will soon bring some clarity to their situation, but in the end I was still yelling. I needed them to figure this out.

“I may not remember anything about her, but I would bet her smile was my favorite part of her.”

This book was one twisted roller coaster ride, with the emphasis on twisted. I have never yelled so much while reading a book. But I loved it. I had so many ideas, on where this story was going, but I was way off. And when I finished I just sat back and thought, “Holy crap!! What? Where? How? Who?”

When I first heard that Colleen and Tarryn were writing a book together, I was curious. Colleen is know for her HEA with a hefty dose of angst and Tarryn for her twisted and emotional, makes-you-wanna-throw-your-kindle-against-the-wall kinda books. So when you put them together, hold on to your butts. If I were to read this story, without knowing who wrote it, I never never would’ve guessed it was written by them. But after reading this, I can totally see glimpses of both of them in it. Well done, girls. Now I am waiting on pins and needles, for the next book.

What it really comes down to is: Buy it. Read it. Love it.

~Melpomene

Buy Never Never right NOW!!!

My Consequences Timeline

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01 cons OK. This book. I have no idea what I felt about this book. What I do know is that I HATE TONY. I do. Wholeheartedly despise this man. I know my friends told that this a normal reaction and I should embrace it, but how can I think of hugs, when all I want to do is murder him??

SYNOPSIS
Anthony Rawlings had a plan—to teach Claire Nichols to behave.
Claire Nichols had a plan—to survive!

In an unfamiliar bedroom within a luxurious mansion, Claire Nichols wakes to memories of a brutal abduction. All of her recollections have one common denominator, the man she just met—Anthony Rawlings. Unbeknownst to Claire, Anthony has had her in his sights for a long time. Every action has consequences—and his actions resulted in their chance meeting.
Facing incomprehensible circumstances, Claire must learn to survive as she comes to terms with her new reality—every aspect of her livelihood is now dependent upon the tall, dark-haired, dark-eyed tycoon. Anthony may appear to the world as a prosperous, benevolent, kind businessman, but in reality Claire learns he is also a menacing, controlling captor with very strict rules: do as your told, public failure is not an option, and don’t divulge private information. Failure to follow these rules and more, are met with serious consequences.

In an effort to earn her freedom, Claire learns her lessons well and before long, she unknowingly captivates her captor. Anthony/ Tony reluctantly becomes enthralled with Claire’s beauty, resilience and determination. Their interaction instigates strong emotions, including—fear, anger, love, and lust—as their journey flows into uncharted waters of intrigue and passion.
From the opening criminal abduction, through the twists and turns, to the unlikely romantic thrills, the suspense climaxes as Aleatha Romig utilizes vivid detail, allowing this novel to unfold like a movie.

Can you put the pieces of the puzzle together? Claire Nichols abduction wasn’t a random act—did she learn her lessons well enough? Will these unlikely lovers remain true—or will she learn the truth before it’s too late?

My girls told me to read this. They said I could do it. They encouraged me and said I would be okay.

This is what happened:
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Well, that about sums it up.

~Melpomene

If you’d like to be tortured also, grab Consequences: Book 1 of the Consequences Series for your very own.

The boxed set is on sale for 99 cents!! So if you’d like to be tortured, just like I was, grab the set HERE.

Melpomene’s Top 25 of 2014

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What a year!!!! Seriously!!! I have read so many great books, that trying to pick only 25 nearly gave me an ulcer. Stressful. While many of these weren’t released in 2014, I didn’t read them until this year. But here it is:

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1. Flat-Out Celeste by Jessica Park
2. Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan
3. Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
4. The Collectors’ Society by Heather Lyons
5. Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
6. The Deep End of the Sea by Heather Lyons
7. Bright Side by Kim Holden
8. The Law of Moses by Amy Harmon
9. Elicit by Rachel Van Dyken
10. The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

The rest are in no particular order
11. Even the Moon has Scars by Steph Campbell
12. Becoming Calder and Finding Eden by Mia Sheridan Those two go together. They’re a combo pack.
13. Jacked by Tina Reber
14. Hope at Dawn by Stacy Henrie
15. Red at Night by Katie McGarry
16. The King by JR Ward
17. Vain by Fisher Amelie
18. Greed by Fisher Amelie
19. Maybe Not by Colleen Hoover
20. Until the End by Abbi Glines
21. Burying Water by KA Tucker
22. Infinity + One by Amy Harmon
23. Until We Fly by Courtney Cole
24. Hate: A Love Story by Laurel Ulen Curtis
25. Letting Go by Molly McAdams

What are some of yours??

Review: Enforce by Rachel Van Dyken

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01enforce Another winner, from the Mafia Queen herself. This book had plenty of love, desperation, heartache and a fair amount of violence. Perfection.

Synopsis
There’s two sides to every story…
And ours? Isn’t pretty…
Then again, what’s pretty about the mafia?
Trace Rooks, that’s what.
But she only wants one of us, and I’ll kill him before I let him have her.
The only problem?
We’re cousins.
And she may just be our long lost enemy.
Whoever said college was hard, clearly didn’t attend Eagle Elite University.
Welcome to hell also known as the Mafia where blood is thicker than life, and to keep yours? Well, keep your friends close, and your enemies?
Even closer…

Remember how I was saying I loved the guy’s point of view?? Well, I swear Rachel read my mind and wrote this for me. Not really, but a girl can dream, right? This is considered book 1.5, so you’ll get to revisit many scenes from Elite, but from the male point of view instead. It’s not a retelling, but a reliving.

Trace Rooks has no idea who she really is. She’s sent to a school, far from home, and forced to deal with the Elite and all their rules. She never had any idea how much her life was going to change. No clue the feelings that were flying around her.

Nixon was in control of every aspect of his life, or so he thought. When he sets eyes on Trace, part of him fell. He was in no way able to control what those feelings would make him do. He’s the boss and he can’t fall for her. Doing that, would be the worst mistake he could make. But sometimes you can’t help who steals your heart.

She was my Juliet, the girl I wasn’t allowed to have.

And the one I wanted most.

Chase Winter, is the the cousin. The nobody. Low man on the totem pole. But when he sees Trace, he’s never been so happy to not be in control. He is perfect for her. He knows it and Nixon knows it. But finding a way to make Trace realize it, is a task that he is ready to do.

“When the time’s right, assign me to Trace-duty. I’ll do what you can’t…”

“And what’s that?”

“Protect you first…love her second.”

This book was written from all the Elite guy’s points of views. There was so much more to the story, that we had no idea. The background stories were something, I longed for, but my heart wasn’t. These boys had so much to deal with, that had nothing to do with school. I was shocked at saddened by quite a bit of it. But now I see and understand them a bit more.

I am totally excited for the next book, Ember. Who knew Mafia books would be this awesome. Well done, Rachel!!

~Melpomene

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Buy Enforce (Eagle Elite)

Get caught up first

Elite (Eagle Elite Book 1)
Elect (Eagle Elite Book 2)
Entice (Eagle Elite Book 3)
Elicit (Eagle Elite Book 4)
Bang Bang

Cover reveal: Asa by Jay Crownover

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I’m so excited to show you this cover!! I have loved Asa for a while now and I can’t wait to read his story!!!

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About ASA:

Starting over in Denver with a whole new circle of friends and family, Asa Cross struggles with being the man he knows everyone wants him to be and the man he knows he really is. A leopard doesn’t it change its spots and Asa has always been a predator. He doesn’t want to hurt those who love and rely on him, especially one stunning arresting cop who suddenly seems to be interested in him for far more than his penchant for breaking the law. But letting go of old habits is hard, and it’s easy to hit bottom when it’s the place you know best.

Royal Hastings is quickly learning what the bottom looks like after a tragic situation at work threatens not only her career but her partner’s life. As a woman who has only ever had a few real friends she’s trying to muddle through her confusion and devastation all alone. Except she can’t stop thinking about the sexy southern bartender she locked up. Crushing on Asa is the last thing she needs but his allure is too strong to resist. His long criminal record can only hurt her already shaky career and chasing after a guy who has no respect for the law or himself can only end in heartbreak.

A longtime criminal and a cop together just seems so wrong . . . but for Asa and Royal, being wrong together is the only right choice to make.

Buy Asa
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Add ASA to your Goodreads shelf.

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Be sure to get caught up on all the other Marked Men. You’ll thank me for it.
Rule: A Marked Men Novel
Jet: A Marked Men Novel
Rome: A Marked Men Novel
Nash: A Marked Men Novel
Rowdy: A Marked Men Novel

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About Jay Crownover
Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men series. She also introduced the dark and sexy world of The Point that started with BETTER WHEN HE’s BAD and is currently working on her newest series The Saint of Denver. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she’ll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.

Website**Blog**Facebook**Twitter**Goodreads**

Review: Change of Hart by M.E.Carter

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01changeHave I said how much I LOVE reading from the the guy’s POV??? Well, I totally do. I mean, I’m a girl, so I already know how a girl’s mind works. But when I get to step inside of a guy’s head, I’m almost giddy with anticipation. And add in the fact that he’s an athlete, and I’m a happy girl.

SYNOPSIS
My name is Jason Hart.

As the best defensive lineman in the country, I eat, sleep and breathe football. And I like it that way. I’ve only got a few more years before I’ll have to retire, so expending energy on anything other than football seems like a waste of time.

That is, until I have a random meeting with a little boy who just lost his father. We have more in common than you might think and it creates an unlikely bond. As our friendship grows, so do my feelings for his mother.

I know Addison, as a recent widow, isn’t ready to date again. But I want to get to know her better, in spite of all her rejections.

Is it possible that I, a self-proclaimed bachelor, could be having a Change of Hart?

I loved reading about Jason Hart. He is what I picture, when I think of single athletes. Which is basically a different girl on his arm, every time you see him. But there is so much more to him. After a chance encounter with a little boy, his life makes a complete 180.

Addison has been raising her son, alone, for the past three years, and was not prepared for Jason whatsoever. She is trying to protect her and her son’s heart, but it’s no match for this lineman.

This book was a nice little slice of perfection. This story brought the romance, the funny and a whole lot of heart. One minute I was snorting as I tried to control my laughter and the next, I was sure I was going to hear the “awwww” soundtrack. The sweetness was overflowing.

I’m so glad I was able to read this sweet story. As a romance book lover, my heart was very happy, and I know yours will be also.

~Melpomene

Buy

Review: Jacked by Tina Reber

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01jack Holy suspense and romance, Batman!! My goodness!! Tina Reber has done it again. Truly. Let me calm my nerves, after that ending, and perhaps I can put my thoughts down.

SYNOPSIS

We all have skeletons in our closets.

Doctor Erin Novak was only sixteen when she was accused of a crime she didn’t commit. Since that moment, she has made it her life goal to pursue emergency medicine, pouring her heart and soul into assuring another innocent life isn’t lost to the hands of the wicked.

We all have secrets we’ve never shared.

Detective Adam Trent has lost control of everything, starting with losing his partner to a punk with a gun and then everything else to the crushing guilt. Now a member of the elite Auto Theft Task Force in Philadelphia, it’s his job to be one step ahead of the criminals stealing expensive cars in the city. Too bad the television cameras keep getting in the way of his investigation.

We all have pasts that we can never escape.

A stolen car, a tragic chase, and a traffic stop crosses the fates of these two, tying them together in ways that are unimaginable. As their love and trust grows, so do the enemies that threaten their survival, testing the strength of their commitment. Can true love endure half-truths, past pains, and secrets never meant to be shared?

Some things are just out of our control.

This story was a breath of fresh air. I gotta tell ya, I was not expecting this at all. After reading Love Unscripted and Love Unrehearsed, part of me wondered how Adam Trent was going to be. I mean, I loved Ryan, don’t get me wrong. But we met Adam’s brother, Kyle, and he was kind of a jerk. But Adam was far from that. No guy is perfect, but he is trying the best he can.

Adam is the face of a new show about auto theft. He’s a bad ass cop, who just wants to do his job and go home. But having cameras in his face, make his life a bit more difficult. And one evening, a decision was made that caused a chain reaction, that would change his life forever.

Erin is a spunky ER nurse, with a secret she’s kept for many years. It’s a part of her that gives her the drive, and has shaped her goals in life. She’s happy with her friends and content with her life, until one evening it was completely flipped upside down.

Adam, is all man. He likes what he likes and he when he meets Erin, he is determined to get close to her. She is weary of getting close, after a string of bad luck with guys. But Adam isn’t taking no for an answer. He’ll woo her slowly.

Just standing next to her seemed to calm me, as if she were coated in some sort of magical aura that made me feel as though I wasn’t so lost and alone in the ugliness of life.

Adam has seem his share of ugly. The loss of his partner was the breaking point for him. But when he meets Erin, it’s like everything just clicked. He describes her as, “an angel sent to heal my broken soul.“ I like that Adam is real. If he’s hurt, he’s not afraid to show his pain, whether by tears or words.

As they grow closer, past insecurities start to creep up and they have to work even harder to earn each other’s trust. But once that trust is there, losing it makes earning it back twice as hard. But Adam has his ways, and let me tell you, his are very very hot.

I just loved these characters. They’re not perfect, but together, they are. They just fit. All it takes it that one person, who truly knows you, then BAM!

Tina Reber knows how to twist my gut and my heart. She knows how to make me cry and make me laugh. I have a feeling that the Trent Brothers are going to destroy me one by one.

The best thing about this book, besides the suspense and romance, is that portions of the proceeds goes to The Sweeney Alliance, which provides support to those who are “first responders” and who deal with unimaginable stress and horror daily – Fire, Police, EMTs, etc. As a firewife myself, I hear some of the stories and I can’t imagine experiencing them first hand. To have an organization that helps with them deal with those stresses, I want to support that. So I will definitely be grabbing a few paperbacks, when they’re available, and gifting them to some of my girls. Helping our men by buying books, sounds like a perfect combination!

~Melpomene

Buy Jacked (Trent Brothers Book 1)