Monday, 4 January 2021

Book Blitz & Giveaway - The Ultimate Betrayal by Kat Martin

The Ultimate Betrayal

(Maximum Security #3)

Author: Kat Martin

Publication Date: December 29th, 2020

Genre: Adult Romance / Suspense

Book Description:

To prove her father’s innocence, she’ll have to turn a killer’s sights on herself

When her father is accused of espionage and treason, journalist Jessie Kegan has no doubt the man she looked up to her entire life is innocent. Worse yet, before Colonel Kegan can stand trial, he’s found dead of a heart attack…but Jessie knows it was murder. Forcing aside her grief, she’s determined to use her investigative resources to clear her father’s name. But going after the truth means Jessie soon finds herself in the crosshairs of a killer who wants that truth to stay buried with her father.

Protecting Jessie Kegan is a job bodyguard Brandon Garrett can’t refuse. Jessie isn’t just a client at Maximum Security—she’s the sister of his best friend, Danny, who was killed in Afghanistan. With dangerous enemies gunning for Jessie from every angle, keeping her safe will mean keeping her close, and Bran finds their mutual attraction growing, though being Danny’s sister puts Jessie out of bounds.

With their backs against the wall, Jessie and Bran will have to risk everything to expose her father’s killer—before his legacy dies with his daughter.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

January Giveaway - Win a $10 Amazon Gift Card

January Giveaway

January 1st - January 25th

To celebrate the start of a new year and as part of the promotion for my YA Fantasy series Arcadia, I'm giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card to a lucky winner, and as a thank you for your continued support and loyalty over the past few years, I will be hosting a giveaway every month.

Here's to wishing you all a Happy New Year!

Open to entrants 13+ worldwide

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My Top 10 Most Anticipated Books and Movies of 2021

Happy New Year To You All!

Well, 2020 was a hell of a year - literally! Here's to hoping that 2021 is a more uplifting and prosperous year. To kick off this year, check out my most anticipated books and movies for 2021.

WHICH BOOKS AND MOVIES ARE ON YOUR WISH LIST THIS YEAR?

My Top 10 Most Anticipated Books
Of 2021 Are:

My Top 10 Most Anticipated Movies
Of 2021 Are:

Book Blitz & Giveaway - Shopping for a Billionaire Boxed Set

Shopping for a Billionaire Boxed Set (Parts 1-5)

Author: Julia Kent

Publication Date: January 9th, 2015

Genre: Adult Comedy / Romance

Book Description:

Ever meet a hot billionaire while your hand’s in a toilet in the men’s room of one of his stores?

No? So it really is just me. Hm.

When you’re a mystery shopper, you get paid to humiliate yourself, all in the name of improving customer service. Romance isn’t in my job description.

But the day I met Declan McCormick it was love at first flush.

Until I nearly castrated him with my EpiPen.

How Hot Guy and Toilet Girl became an item involves my crazy mom, a trip to the ER, my homicidal cat, my fake wife, and true love.

Don’t look at me like that. I’m just doing my job.

I’m shopping for a billionaire.

—

The Shopping for a Billionaire collection from New York Times bestselling author Julia Kent is a 600+ page, hilarious romantic comedy with heart, heat, and laughs.

This boxed set contains the previously published:

Shopping for a Billionaire 1

Shopping for a Billionaire 2

Shopping for a Billionaire 3

Shopping for a Billionaire 4

Christmas Shopping for a Billionaire

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK ¦ Barnes & Noble ¦ iBooks ¦ Kobo ¦ Google Play ¦ Audible

Book Blitz & Giveaway - Relic Bounty by Arwen Paris

Relic Bounty

(Relic Legacy Series)

Author: Arwen Paris

Publication Date: December 30th, 2020

Genre: Adult Romance / Science Fiction

Book Description:

Kill the courier, retrieve the relic, collect the money.

Bounty hunter Janis Torzen finally has a chance to free himself from his indentured servitude to the mob. The brutal weather on planet Urrak is as unforgiving as the mob boss Janis Torzen works for, so of course a sudden sandstorm upsets his best laid plans. To make things worse, the courier, Everell, turns out to be a beautiful, smart-mouthed archeologist who has her own plans for the money. Unfortunately, powerful people will kill to possess the relic Everell carries—everyone from government officials to the social elite, and they will stop at nothing to get it.

Now on the run, Janis and Everell are forced to depend on each other to escape from Nadir Space Port. But when Everell and the relic are stolen from Janis, he must go back to the very man he’s trying to get away from and offer a deal with the devil. He’s got nothing to lose but his own life, so he bluffs the mob, willing to sacrifice his future to save the woman he’s fallen in love with—a woman he’s still not sure he can trust.

It’s a crazy plan, one so crazy it just might work. If he succeeds, it will pay out big for his wallet and his heart—if he doesn’t die trying. But with a bounty this high, it’s worth any risk…

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

Book Spotlight - The Kiss That Saved Christmas by Elysia Strife

She doesn't want to fall for him. He can't help but fall for her...

The Kiss That Saved Christmas

By Elysia Strife

The Kiss That Saved Christmas
Author: Elysia Strife
Publication Date: 1st November 2020
Genre: Holiday Romance

Book Description:
Claire’s husband passed away two years ago this Christmas, leaving her alone and in charge of a beautiful and overwhelming cabin venue in the Montana mountains. She’s low on cash, the truck won’t start, and fewer people are calling in event requests.

Every past assistant has been problematic and disappointing. With one final wedding scheduled for the year, Claire is desperate to make a good impression and needs the property in top shape. Only one candidate remains: Zach.

Zach is prior service, down on his luck, and shamed by the town for the actions of his youth. Even after a decade of service, he can’t escape the gossip.

Claire has no option but to entrust him with the future of Briar Ridge—her future. She just wished he didn’t have to remind her so much of her late husband. Yet Zach is different, bringing with his burdens an unexpectedly sweet side.

Zach is full of surprises.

She doesn’t want to fall for him.

He can’t help but fall for her.

A sweet holiday romance with a few curses and some violence.

Buy Links:
Amazon US ¦ UK

BOOK REVIEW: Listed by L.J. Kerry

Listed

Author: L.J. Kerry

Genre: YA / NA Dystopian

Publication Date: 1st November 2020

Book Description:

They should have never met. . .

When Judas Wells is ordered to send Nadine Ellis to her execution, he defies orders for the first time in his life by concealing Nadine in The Rebellion. However, once it is revealed that Nadine has actually been kidnapped from a neighboring country, The Rebellion and Judas realise her experience as an outsider could bring down their own country's ruthless regime and restore freedom to the nation.

Yet this proves no simple task when the government starts hunting them all down. As an uprising looms over the country in retaliation, nowhere is safe. With the help of The Rebellion, Judas and Nadine must survive long enough to see freedom restored—or face their demise.

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

MY REVIEW

In order to survive in the Republic of Denmé, all citizens must be Listed. The barcode tattooed on the right arm of each citizen is a legal requirement. Those who are unlisted risk being executed. Joseph Wells - aka Judas Wells - lives a double life, working both above ground for the Denmé regime while at the same time being a member of a secret underground organisation known as The Rebellion. When Judas and Nadine Ellis's world collide, everything changes for both these characters. Judas defies order and rescues Nadine, taking her to The Rebellion for protection after discovering that she was drugged and kidnapped from the neighbouring country known as Olympia. Judas's and Nadine's lives turn upside down when they join forces to overthrow the Denmé regime and get Nadine back to safety in her homeland of Olympia. Who will survive and who will fall at the hands of Sanchez, the leader of Denmé? Only time will tell.

This story is full of action, adventure and a lot of danger. It's very fast paced, so you end up going through a lot of different emotions in what felt like a short space of time, which isn't a negative thing, it just made it sometimes hard to catch your breath. I loved the characters. I'm actually surprised that I remembered them as there were a lot of characters who all had important roles to play. Thankfully, they had distinct characteristics that made it easy to tell them apart and the fact that they were different and unique with their own morals and principles made them memorable. It was hard to choose a favourite character, but the three that had the most effect on me were Judas, Carlos and, not really surprising, Samhain. What a character he was. Guy wears a black cloak with a goat skull on his head. I mean, really, what's not to like? He flirts with anyone and just says whatever is on his mind. No filter whatsoever. My kind of character. Although I liked Nadine, I didn't fully grasp her motive, not necessarily because it wasn't presented to me, but more so because she herself didn't elaborate on it other than the fact that she wanted to feel more worthy as she felt like a nobody back in Olympia. Perhaps she will come out of her shell more in the sequel and we can delve a little deeper into her character.

What I especially liked about this book was that it didn't attempt to excuse itself in favour of societal norms. It delivered some very important and thought-provoking messages. There was an incident with Judas and a guard that didn't end too well, and I appreciated that none of the characters lingered on morals or questioned Judas's character. Sometimes shit happens and you have to get on with life. Same with the relationship between Judas and Carlos. Despite the punishment that comes with their lifestyle, there is no attempt made to try and justify why they would choose to risk their lives. They're not naive; they know the risk, but at the end of the day, you have to decide how you want to live your life, even if it's a short one. They lived the way one should live in a totalitarian society as the one they live in: as if life was right now.

I must say, I found the threat of Sanchez derived more from the guards than it did from Sanchez, and I wanted to feel the leader's authority a little more than what I experienced. Nonetheless, I did get a sense of the danger posed by the government of Denmé, and it was terrifying. This story made me think of other books I read such as The Handmaid's Tale, Brave New World and The Hunger Games. The world building was great and a very authentic and realistic portrayal of a society on the brink of chaos.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

VERDICT

Award: Platinum

Rating: 5 Stars

Source: Own copy

Saturday, 26 December 2020

BOOK REVIEW: Good Day or Bad Day – I Love You Anyway by Sigal Adler

Anna Banana: Anna Finds a New Home

Series: The Goodnight Monsters Bedtime Books

Author: Sigal Adler

Genre: Picture Book

Publication Date: 20 September 2020

Book Description:

♥ Good Day or Bad Day – I Love You Anyway! ♥

The poor little thing, woke up very upset,

thinking: “how much worse can it get?”

But mom was in a hurry, and made it clear:

“We have to go now, there’s no time, my dear.”

That morning, mom had to say everything twice:

“Please brush your teeth and wear something nice.

Where are your shoes, you’re not ready at all…?

Why did you pour so much milk in that bowl?”

Buy Links:

Amazon US ¦ UK

MY REVIEW

Another enjoyable book by Adler with wonderful illustrations and rhyme scheme. In this tale, our young monster isn't having such a good day, so he decides to throw tantrums and just be a tyrant as a means of getting through this long day, all the while not thinking about the effect his behaviour his having on his mother, who tries to keep her cool as she attempts to maintain discipline in her household.

This is one we can all relate to, young and old, as we've all had one of those days we wish would just end so we can get back to a good day. Although we don't know the reason our young monster is having a bad day, we nonetheless see the effect on his mood and how the various emotions he goes through affects his mother's own mood and her feelings. This is a good lesson about unconditional love. It's a relatable story for both children and their parents.

I would definitely recommend it for the whole family.

VERDICT

Award: Gold

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Source: Own copy

Friday, 25 December 2020

Group Promo - FREE & Discounted eBooks

Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year!

The Christmas Giveaway for a $10 Amazon Gift Card and the December eBook Giveaway for an ebook of your choice is still ongoing, so do enter for a chance to win if you haven't already done so.

Check out all the free and discounted ebooks and giveaways on offer below. Sharing is caring.