BOOK REVIEW: Maybe by Amber L. Johnson

From Goodreads:

Letting go is hard. Admitting you need each other is harder.

Emily Portman loves her job. A writer for Breakout! Magazine, she shadows and showcases up-and-coming bands. When her next assignment takes her to Austin, Texas, she can’t wait to add the city to her map of places she’s visited. Places she’s left without looking back. Her plan is to keep moving on, and the last thing she needs is a man holding her back. She’s not going down that road again.

Tyler Macy is stuck in a rut. Despite his exceptional talent as a musician, he has chosen to take a back seat with his music and let others grab the limelight. Wounded and mistrustful, he doesn’t appreciate his friends’ efforts to bring him back to center stage. Emily comes onto the scene and sees his full potential, but he fights to stay in the shadows, shutting her out before she can add to the scars another woman gave him.

For Tyler to find his music again, he needs to accept the help that Emily and their friends offer. When he discovers that his muse lies underneath Emily’s skin, it is still not enough to keep her from walking away. Neither will admit what they really want until it is too late.

Emily is once again thrown in Tyler’s path when she is assigned to join them on tour. Despite the pain in his past, Tyler sees that she is worth it, even if she’s stolen both his heart and peace of mind. In order for them to be together, they both must discover whether the music and their passion are enough to overcome the obstacles that separate them.

Maybe finding love is worth the risk.

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

(Does include descriptive intimate scenes) Length: 249 pages Price on Amazon: $4.99

ADD it on GOODREADS / BUY it on AMAZON

~R.E. Hargrave's Review~

* * * * *

"Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. No Maybe about it."

These were the words I left on the Ms. Johnson’s Facebook wall the moment I finished reading her latest offering. This contemporary romance is a fairly quick read, not because it’s short, but because it sucks you in and doesn’t let you go.

It’s riveting.

It’s gut-wrenching.

It makes you FEEL.

Maybe is the story of a Emily Portman, a music journalist whose cross-country travels have her crossing paths with the penultimate ‘rockstar’. Tyler Macy (later dubbed Mace Face by Emily due to an amusing misunderstanding) is gorgeous, a handyman, fantastic on the drums, and liquid sex when he takes the mic.

All things Emily has sworn she would never fall for. She never wanted to be ‘that girl’ … the band groupie. After her childhood dreams of being a ballerina were shattered with a knee injury, her goal in life was to be good at her job and get lost in the music, nothing else.

Ms. Johnson will take you on a musical literary journey with her style and quick wit. Her story is told in first person present tense, not a style that is easy to pull off without it becoming a hodge podge of telling instead of showing. Yet she does it brilliantly. You feel the turmoil within Emily as she fights the growing attraction to Tyler. You experience the power of their physical touches. You soar with delight when things work out, and you cringe in despair when they don’t.

In the past Tyler opened his heart to a woman, and after she destroyed it, he swore he’d never fall in love again. He never counted on meeting Emily, and certainly never thought he’d feel the music within again. Funny how love works.

Maybe is an emotional powerhouse and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

**I was given an ARC by the author and TWCS Publishing House in exchange for an honest review. This review was first posted Feb. 18, 2015 on www.rehargrave.com**

BOOK REVIEW: The One That Got Away by M.B. Feeney

From Goodreads:

There’s something about that one person we date in our teens but never become intimate with. Why does a sexless relationship render us unable to stop carrying that person, the what if, with us into our adult life?

For Heidi Johnson, Shane Hughes is her “one that got away.” Through the years, he has stayed in the back of her mind while she became an adult, a mother, and her own person. Meanwhile, Shane has lived a life of regret that he let Heidi go for the wrong reasons: fear and a misguided sense of not wanting to hurt either of them. 

When they reconnect online, the memories they've tried to suppress over the years return, reigniting the feelings never explored ‘back in the day.’ Will a school reunion in their home town of London, surrounded by old school friends, help the pair address the questions the years apart left unanswered? Or will they still be left with wanting more?

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 116 pages

Price on Amazon: $2.99 (Kindle)

ADD it on GOODREADS / BUY it on AMAZON

~R.E. Hargrave's Review~

* * * * *

I’ve been a fan of Ms. Feeney for quite some time now, and her latest offering hasn’t changed my opinion at all. Except to cement my adoration for her work. She always writes with a crisp, clean style and engaging dialogue between her characters which brings heaps of realism to the party.

In The One That Got Away we meet Heidi and Shane, two characters who are clearly meant for each other but need a few years to figure it out. With most contemporary romances we see the girl second-guessing everything and making rash decisions on behalf of the relationship, whether they are good or not. Not the case for OTGA. Heidi, while far from selfish, makes no apologies for who she is or what she does. Shane however, finds himself fumbling through the rights and wrongs of love. Neither have been able to forget the other over the years, and when their high school reunion crops up they are handed another chance to make things right.

Heidi is a divorced mum of two (note I said ‘mum’ because like all of Feeney’s works, OTGA is set in England). Shane has never gotten married, but is in a floundering relationship when they reconnect online and begin building a friendship from a safe distance. Circumstances align to allow these two another shot at love, and this time neither is prepared to let the other get away. 

Low angst, steamy encounters, and all around feel good interactions will have The One That Got Away finding its place in your ‘so glad I got to read this’ stack. Oh, and unless you’re dead from the brain down, I imagine you’ll also be #SwooningForShane after just a few pages in. Happy reading!

**DISCLAIMER: I was on Ms. Feeney's editing team.**

From the desk of . . . R.E. Hargrave: BLOG TOUR & REVIEW: Burning For Her Kiss by Sherri...

From the desk of . . . R.E. Hargrave: BLOG TOUR & REVIEW: Burning For Her Kiss by Sherri...: Burning For Her Kiss (Serpent's Kiss, Book 1) by Sherri Hayes Genre: BDSM Erotic Romance Release Date: February 12, 2015 ...

From the desk of . . . R.E. Hargrave: FREE Sampler of Beyond 50 BDSM Literature

From the desk of . . . R.E. Hargrave: FREE Sampler of Beyond 50 BDSM Literature: Can’t get enough Fifty Shades of Grey? The authors in Beyond 50 have come together to give you 50 FREE samples of their erotic mus...

A Guest Post from Author Sherri Hayes

When I set out to write Chris and Elizabeth’s story in Behind Closed Doors, it was supposed to be a standalone book. But as I began building Chris’ family, I was drawn to the brothers. I knew then that I would have to give each brother his own book.

A lot of my readers were surprised after reading Behind Closed Doors that Gage’s book was next in the series. They thought Paul would be next in line. It wasn’t meant to be, however. I didn’t know why at the time, but once I was about halfway through Gage and Rebecca’s book, Red Zone, I knew. Megan, Rebecca’s sister, was the missing piece.

I knew before I started writing, Paul’s book would be an emotional one. He’s a widower who lost his wife in a tragic accident. They were childhood sweethearts whose lives together were cut short way too soon. Paul still loves his wife, and I knew going into it that wasn’t going to change.

This was why Megan was the perfect fit for him. When I met her in Red Zone, she had all the qualities that I felt Paul needed in his life. She was young, full of energy, and yet she’d been through some tough times herself. Megan could be that pillar of strength Paul needed to move on.

(Originally posted 9/9/14 on Books For Fun)

#SurrealSnippets: Safe, Sane, Consensual

(originally posted Feb 5, 2014 at www.rehargrave.com) 

Is there a difference between being a submissive and being a slave? To those in the BDSM Lifestyle, that answer is "Yes." However, you'll be hard pressed to get a Webster's definition out of any of them. In The Divine Trilogy, I have attempted to weave this element into the underlying story, and will be addressing it more thoroughly in the final installment, Surreal. Because of that, I thought it would be enlightening to share some research I've done before I share a little unedited excerpt . . . 

"Maybe we might get further asking what a submissive and a slave have in common. Both have a deep need/desire to submit/surrender/give up at least some part of their will/control/power to a Dominant. They most often “need” this because pleasing and/or offering service to a Dominant who has earned their trust, their respect and (generally) their love, is an integral part of a submissive/slave’s fulfillment and satisfaction." 
~ from Kate Kinsey 

"The difference between the two does not make one better than the other. I have seen countless submissives that serve as beautifully and perfectly as some slaves do and prefer not to be called slaves because of the negative connotation to that word. I have also seen many wannabe slaves struggle until they eventually found their place as submissives. It is difficult to devote one's entire life to another person but it is also incredibly rewarding." 
~ from BDSM 101: Difference between submissive and slave

"The bottom line is that there is no one way to live the lifestyle and that goes for submissives and slaves alike. One of the most important qualities anyone in this lifestyle can have is respect. Respect for others and how they enjoy and live in the BDSM lifestyles." ~ from submissiveguide.com

* SSC keychain Etsy buy link

As promised, here's a little teaser!

“I’ve done no harm to you, yet you sit there, cowering like a beaten puppy. Why?”

***s’ blinked, the stare in his eyes vapid, refusing to connect. 

“Could it be your guilty conscience whispering in your ear? Bringing to light what a sleaze you are?”

The accused attempted to swallow, but a bout of dry mouth prevented that from happening. ***'s leg began bouncing while he drummed his fingertips on his thighs.

Jayden pressed on. “Or are you high out of your fucking mind right now, asshole? In what respectable world do you think it is okay to accept a submissive’s gift while you’re under the influence of any substance?” he hissed inches from ***’s face, having rushed forward to spit the words at him.

“Gift?” *** choked out like the concept were foreign to him.

The Dom wanted to roar at the stupidity he was seeing; instead, he seethed through clamped teeth. A few controlled breaths to get himself collected again and he was able to resume. Jayden stood up and backed away.

“You’ve been lingering around my club and my Lifestyle for too long, ***. Except,” he paused for dramatic effect, “this isn’t my club. I’m just a member of the board—the board you’ve applied to for membership and backing into the community and Lifestyle.” Sue him for gloating.

“So, what? You’re gonna tell them I was a bad boy and can’t be in your stupid little club?” 

The arrogance and defiance dripping from the words pulled another chuckle from Jayden, and he grinned. “Not at all, Mr. ***. In fact, I’ve just had your interview moved up.” Understanding dawned in the man’s eyes while he gulped. “Everyone will be here and ready to begin within an hour. Best be preparing your intro speech, Sir.” No respect was delivered with the title.

“But I’m not ready,” *** spluttered, disgusting Jayden with the dry spittle at the corners of his mouth. “I’m not dressed right, and haven’t had time to plan a scene or prepare a slave—”

Slave? He’d heard enough. “Oh, but Sir, you have a submissive in the other room, remember? And she happens to bear the evidence of how you conduct a scene. As for your attire, well, let’s just say, it suits you.” With disdain, Jayden dragged his gaze over the man’s grease-stained, unbuttoned jeans.

Uncertainty flashed in ***'s eyes when Jayden’s came to meet them. Good. Yes, it was good that he was worried. 

Silence fell over the two men while the clock on the wall ticked off the seconds.

(c) 2014 R.E. Hargrave, Surreal (unedited, character name omitted to preserve surprise factor for release)

Surreal (Book 3 of The Divine Trilogy) is available now on Amazon.


About the Author:

R.E. Hargrave lives on the outskirts of Dallas, TX where she prides herself on being a domestic engineer. Married to her high school sweetheart, together they are raising three children from elementary age to college age. She is an avid reader, a sometimes quilter and now, a writer. Other hobbies include gardening and a love of a music.

A native 'mutt,' Hargrave has lived in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas, and California. She is fond of setting her stories on location in South Carolina and Texas, but its anybody's guess as to what the genre will be! 

COVER REVEAL: The Penthouse by F. Collyer Reed

PRESENTS. . .

A Cover Reveal for

The Penthouse

by F. Collyer Reed

Release Date: February 19 , 2015

Published by The Writers Coffee Shop

~~SUMMARY~~

While having dinner one night in an upscale restaurant, three men well beyond middle age are entranced by a strikingly beautiful young woman who walks by on the arm of a man old enough to be her father. Her scent lingers, intoxicating the trio who stop eating and question how a man of their own age manages to enjoy the pleasures of such an enticing young thing. They wonder who he is, and who she is. As their plates of food grow cold, they decide that she’s too classy and wholesome to be anything other than a gold digger. And they decide they want one of their own.

Between them they can create the façade of one incredibly wealthy man. With access to a penthouse with art worth millions and a Rolls Royce, they decide to take turns being Man of the Evening. One will be a butler/cook. Another the chauffeur. The third a lonely, illusive, incredibly wealthy gentleman. They place a personal ad seeking a woman who dreams of the man they have created – and who doesn’t mind if he’s twice her age. A woman who will shop in trendy boutiques and department stores, and let the chauffeur carry her purchases, and in the evening entertain friends around the dining table, served by the butler.

Goodreads * Add to Want To Read List

 

~~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~~

Collyer Reed was born with the help of a doctor who certified the health of prostitutes in a Nevada brothel. Raised by his mother and numerous “aunts,” he remembers times when he awoke at night to see his mother engaged in her trade.

Eventually she married a wealthy miner client and they moved to San Francisco. His stepfather died when he was eight. In less than a decade his mother’s life had transformed from working at a rural Nevada brothel servicing mine owner-operators and ranchers to a life in the wealthy Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco where her son was a reminder of the past as well as a social liability. She sent him to various boarding and military schools, including a British finishing school, a Christian Holy Roller school (his words), Catholic Reform, and state reform school.

In Reed’s words, “I’m lucky to have lived through my youth. Any drug I liked I used in excess, and I liked them all.”

A sober Reed and his artist wife live on a cruising sailboat in the San Francisco Bay Area with her pit bull and a cat. When not writing, he’s an avid motorcyclist and shares his passion for bicycles and sailing with his wife.

~~CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR~~

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