Goddess Awakened Book Tour

The Goddess Connection 

Book 1

Goddess, Awakenedby Cate Masters

Blurb:

With a little help from a goddess, battling evil is a piece of cake for Jocelyn Gibson.

A descendant of the goddess Iris, Jocelyn Gibson may have forgotten about the realm of magic, but it hasn’t forgotten her. When Eric Hendricks is targeted by a demon, Joss must step in to battle the evil and save the town’s awkward, but endearing, vet…who also happens to be the man she loves.

Joss’s new inn, a culinary career specializing in cooking with lavender and a new love all make for a fine recipe of disaster. She needs to embrace her inner goddess and harness the powers she never knew she had before it’s too late.

Goddess, Awakened
The Goddess Connection Book 1
Fantasy/paranormal romance novel
About 89,700 words
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance eBooks | Kensington

Giveaway:

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About the Author:

Cate Masters has made beautiful central Pennsylvania her home, but she’ll always be a Jersey girl at heart. When not spending time with her dear hubby, she can be found in her lair, concocting a magical brew of contemporary, historical, and fantasy/paranormal stories with her cat Chairman Maiow and dog Lily as company. Look for her at http://catemasters.blogspot.com and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web.



Contact Details:
Website: http://catemasters.blogspot.com
Email: cate.masters@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cate-Masters/89969413736?ref=ts
Twitter: @CateMasters


Book video:
Direct link: http://youtu.be/_HZ2hb_wcz0


Mini excerpt for GODDESS, AWAKENED:
In starting her life over, Joss had expected some resistance, even some trouble, but not this. The bedroom floor boards trembled beneath her golden-slippered feet. Tendrils of an unseen power curled upward from deep within the ground, tingling through her toes. She paused to steady herself, then continued to put the finishing touches on her costume. The tremors grew into rumbles and their hum seeped beneath her skin. When their tiny wisps twined through her mind, she clenched her hands. Enough. Go away.
Thick as starlight on a clear summer’s eve, sweet as the lavender blossoms she had yet to plant, energy whooshed up through the cracks of the worn wood and out into the October night.
She gripped the bureau until it passed, the vibrations rolling over her in lessening waves. Bubbly, effervescent waves. “Third time tonight, Taz.” Each departure took longer, and more of the essence remained.
When the dog whined, she stroked his fur. “Don’t worry, it won’t hurt you.”
Even if tonight the waves were palpable enough to make her hairs stand on end. Oh, no, please.
Nothing could ruin tonight. More than a party, this event would determine her future. And after three years of grief, she’d never allow anything to trap her in its clutches again.


Full Excerpt
The sting remained with Joss long after Eric fled the inn. Deep-rooted pain emanated from him when he’d first entered, and his palm against her arm sent an electric shock straight to her bones. The poor man. Grief kept him its prisoner. Joss understood how easy it was to fall into that dark trap. The way he’d held her, he sought escape. Comfort.
He awakened deep-seated sensations in her. In the few moments with him, she’d felt more alive than she had in three years.
So strange. Normally, one look allowed her to see the person inside. With Eric Hendricks, her receptivity went into overload. His soul, pent up for years, stirred to life and churned up love, fear, joy, hopelessness, yearning, jumbled and shifting faster than light. He displayed great strength in his firm stance and gentle touch. Beneath a hard veneer of sheer pain, one other trait came through clearly—purity of spirit, and integrity enough for many men.
The arrival of more guests drew Joss to the foyer again. Another matronly witch and an older man wearing a checked flannel shirt, jeans, and boots stepped inside, followed by a princess and a boy in a fabric turtle shell.
Joss recognized the girl as one of the riders whose horse was boarded at the inn’s stable. After greeting them and pointing them toward refreshments, she returned to Lydia. “Sorry about Dr. Hendricks.”
“Don’t apologize. It’s wonderful you have so many guests.” Lydia fingered the flowers in the vase on the table.
One woman stood in the archway to the front room, her bright-eyed glare directed at Joss. Wearing a short white shift adorned with large red hearts, the woman held a wand topped with a glittering red heart.
Confused by the woman’s malevolence, Joss approached and fought to overcome the negativity oozing from her. “Did you try some of the booscotti?”
The woman tilted up her chin. “I’m not hungry, Mrs. Gibson,” came her familiar nasal reply.
Recognition finally hit. Of course—the girl who worked at the diner in town. “Sheree?”
At her curt nod, Joss forced a smile. “I love your costume.”
Sheree’s gaze darted her length. “Likewise.”
What could be her problem? The woman wielded her wand like a weapon, ready to strike. “Please have a drink and make yourself at home.”
“Thank you.” Her narrowed eyes swept the room as if suspecting an ambush, and then she moved stiffly away.
Joss crossed the room to Lydia. “That was weird.”
Lydia whispered, “Be careful of her.”
“Sheree? I can’t imagine why.” Could she be nervous the inn would take away some of the diner’s business? Though Joss would have liked to think it was the cause of her strange behavior, Sheree’s vibes told Joss otherwise. Business had nothing to do with it. The waitress directed her bad juju at Joss personally. Had Joss unintentionally insulted Sheree? She’d barely met the woman.
Leaning close, her aunt spoke sternly, “I warned you to watch for others who seek the power of this place.”
Sheree? Her aunt must be mistaken. The woman’s terrible attitude resulted from something. Maybe an imagined slight? Joss would find a way to put Sheree at ease.
More guests entered, and Joss excused herself. She left Lydia deeply inhaling the air. Joss couldn’t deny the charged atmosphere was one of the reasons she’d bought the place. Not to tap into any lines of power for herself, but maybe to enhance the lavender field she planned. Joss needed the garden to thrive so the inn would as well.


RATING: Four Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries This book was given to us by the author. Many thanks.

Double #REVIEWs: Meghan Quinn's Double Coverage #Sports #Romance Series

NEW RELEASE!
Double Coverage (Love and Sports #2) by Meghan Quinn

Unfortunate inconvenience, that is the way Piper describes her encounter with Mason Dashel. From the minute the alpha male interrupts her morning after hangover on the airplane, she can’t stand to be near the egotistical maniac with a booming voice and annoying sex appeal. But to her misfortune she finds herself not only having to spend time with him at their best friends’ wedding but she also can’t seem to shake the infuriating man in her everyday life.

Psychotic Una-bomber with the constant mensies is the way Mason describes his flying companion, Piper Shores. After a horrific break up with his now ex, Brooke, he finds himself being engulfed by the temperamental red head that just so happens to be the maid of honor to one of his best friends, Lexi. Even though she grates on his every nerve, he can’t help but want a piece of her.

The two are like oil and water, a science experiment ready to explode any second but they can’t help but be drawn to each other. The only problem is… there are other people they are involved with who not only prevent Mason and Piper from being together, but interrupt any chance they have at making a relationship work.

Double Coverage REVIEW
I was so ready to read Double Coverage after finishing Fair Catch. The Epilogue in book one leaves readers hanging and desperate for Mason and Brooke's story. Until that moment, readers think they have such a nice and stable relationship. So I'm grateful I didn't have to wait... bragging... I had the ARC to read immediately!

Double Coverage kicks up the angst -right, as if I even thought that was possible- and follows some of the characters that readers met in the first book while adding on new characters. Quinn's writing explodes in this book. It's more robust and colorful, and while I wanted to scream at times, I found myself immersed in the story far more than in book one.

Looking forward to the possibility of more from Quinn and her athletes!

RATING
4 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
This book was given to us by the author. Many thanks.

Fair Catch (Love and Sports #1) by Meghan Quinn
Training, playing ball and studying is Lexi’s life and it never seems to bother her until her friend, Parker Hill, points out to her that sweat pants on a Friday night while watching sappy romance movies isn’t really living up her last year in college. Lexi didn’t see the need to party since she didn’t know what the hell she was doing with her life after college but her friends wouldn’t take no for an answer. Little did she know going to the first party of the season was going to flip her world upside down.

Jake Taylor, starting quarterback for Cal U and campus heart throb spent his entire college career, partying, getting drunk and winning football games but it is all finally catching up to him. He is ready to throw in the towel of his partying days when he decides to have one more last fling. That is when he runs into the one person that could turn his life inside out.

Lexi wants nothing to do with Jake and his partying ways but after one bet gone wrong , she finds herself on a date with the annoyingly obnoxious, egotistical heart throb. Even though she wants nothing to do with him, she finds herself gravitating toward him and giving into his charm. They fall hard and fast for each other as they find love, comfort and a home. They live in their own littler world where nothing matters besides the love they share for each other.

But love isn’t enough for Lexi when she is trying to find her way after college. She slowly sinks into Jake’s shadow and finds herself clawing out of the Jake sized hole she buried herself in so she can find who she is, who she wants to be and what her future holds for her.

Fair Catch is a true love story that goes through the trials and tribulations of Jake and Lexi’s insecurities, jealousies, short comings and strong personalities. Love is one hell of a strong bond but sometimes, it’s not strong enough. Follow Jake and Lexi as they try to hold on to the love they share while they try to find themselves and find out what life is after graduation.

Fair Catch REVIEW
Fair warning... this is one crazy roller coaster of a story. And like any good roller coaster, it ends with satisfaction. There's more angst than can be bottled and there's also side stories with two other couples. Readers will like the characters, despite finding some of their behavior annoying. Hey, they are only college students so they're supposed to make mistakes. The author definitely hit the mark on that.

There was some repetition that could've nicely been cut by a more aggressive editor BUT if you skim some of those sections, you'll enjoy the story of Jake and Lexi because they are both athletes, both successful and both trying to find someone to call family. It's a beautiful story of young love.

RATING
3 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
This book was given to us by the author. Many thanks.

About The Author
When I was in high school I occasionally read books but was consumed by other teenage things so I didn’t take the time to appreciate a good book on a cloudy day, wrapped up in a blanket on the couch, besides “The Notebook” I made time to read the heartbreaking novel.

It wasn’t until I received a Kindle for Christmas one year that my world completely flipped upside down. When looking for books, I came across the Contemporary Romance genre and was sold and I haven’t turned back since.

You can either find my head buried in my Kindle, listening to inspiring heart ripping music or typing away on the computer twisting and turning the lives of my characters while driving my readers crazy with anticipation.

​I am currently residing in beautiful Colorado Springs where the sun is always shining and there is a trail waiting to be hiked on every corner. I share a lovely and warm home with the love of my life and my five, four-legged children.

Connect with Meghan
Amazon  |  Facebook  |  Website  |  Goodreads

RELEASE DAY! & #REVIEW Let Love Be @MCollinsAuthor

Book Title: Let Love Be

Author: Melissa Collins

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date:April 7, 2014

Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

What would bring you happiness in a world that was suddenly empty? For Lucy Crane, the answer is simple: her daughter. When her husband is killed in a tragic accident, Lucy loses her desire to live, but only one thing keeps her going – her unborn daughter.

Focusing on being a mother helps Lucy cope with her loss, but kids grow up and they leave home, eventually. Eighteen years after losing her first and only love, Lucy is faced with the opportunity to find the happiness for which she’s always longed. Her own fears become her worst enemies as she learns how to embrace love once again. Evan Donovan is also facing his own struggles. Forced to retire from the FDNY because of lung damage caused by 9/11, Evan moves to upstate New York where he hopes to find a little peace and quiet. Old habits die hard, and Evan’s hero complex and survivor’s guilt constantly remind him of how difficult it is to be vulnerable. But for the first time in his life, he’s tired of being alone. Drawing strength from one another, Lucy and Evan discover how beautiful it is to let love be a part of their lives.

  

Excerpt
“Oh, I love this movie.” She settles on Forrest Gump as I grab my second slice. “So, you already know about my history. What about you? Have you ever been married?” Forrest’s proposal to Jenny plays in the background. “No. I mean, I’ve had a few relationships here and there, but work always got in the way. Staying single was somehow easier.” “Same here. I mean, when Melanie was a kid, it was much easier to just focus on that part of my life.” “Now?” I hazard a question that takes even me by surprise. She puts her plate down on the coffee table and swallows back a large sip of water. “Now, I’m not so sure.” Suddenly, my mind races with the possibilities of what her words mean. It’s crazy to think how just a few encounters with Lucy have made me re-evaluate my feelings. Obviously, she feels the same way. A calm and peaceful air falls on us as a small smile curls at my lips. A comfortable silence fills the space as we watch the movie, recalling some memories when certain scenes come up. Nothing prepares me for Lucy’s reaction when Jenny and Forrest get married and she tells him she’s sick. I try not to look at her, wanting to avoid making her feel like she’s in the spotlight or anything like that. I do notice a few stray tears streaking down her cheeks so I can only imagine what’s to come. As we watch Forrest sitting beside Jenny’s grave, reading a letter from their son, Lucy reaches for a napkin. Clutching it to her chest, I can see her breathing rapidly. What were just a few tears earlier is now a steady stream. She doesn’t say anything, won’t even look at me, but I can’t watch her cry like this. I shift on the small, overstuffed sofa and drape my arm around her. The top of her head fits perfectly into the crook of my shoulder. The scent of her hair takes over my senses; the sound of her softly sniffling through her tears tugs at my heart. I alternate between squeezing her arm and tracing my fingers up over her shoulder. When she seems to have gathered her emotions, calming down a bit, my instincts take over and I act seemingly without thinking. Or maybe I am thinking and I’m just afraid of what I’m thinking. Gently pressing my lips to the top of her soft, brown hair feels like second nature. She tenses momentarily, and I realize I may have just overstepped my boundaries. “Sorry about that.” I straighten in my seat and try to move my arm, but her fingers fall to my forearm. She looks up at me through long lashes with puffy, red eyes from crying. “Don’t be.” Her voice is soft, angel-like. “It’s nice to be held.” That piece of information prompts me to pull her even closer. “Well, I’m glad I could be of service.” She laughs softly and then takes a deep breath before she shifts to move away from me, which just makes me pull her close once again. “Don’t,” planting another quick kiss to her head, “it’s nice to have someone to hold.”

Review

The entire LOVE Series really has to be read, and frankly reviewed, in its entirety because this family of characters is so tightly knit, its near impossible to like one book without loving the others too. From book one until this latest installment, the characters are written with such honesty, readers will really get them and Let Love Be is no exception to that. I'd spent a lot of time during the first few books wishing I knew more about Lucy so this book was like an answered prayer. Then as it steamed up, I nearly felt guilty for thinking of it as a prayer... lol! Lucy and Evan are sweet, fun and sexy. Don't miss this charming book.

** Especially good for readers who enjoy series that involve families which different characters exploring their HEA. **

RATING
4 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries
This book was given to us by the author. Many thanks. 

Let Love Be

Let Love Shine

Let Love In

Let Love Stay

Let Love Heal

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About The Author
Melissa Collins has always been a book worm. Studying Literature in college ensured that her nose was always stuck in a book. She followed her passion for reading to the most logical career choice: English teacher. Her hope was to share her passion for reading and the escapism of books to her students. Having spent more than a decade in front of a classroom, she can easily say that it’s been a dream. Her passion for writing didn’t start until more recently. When she was home on maternity leave in early 2012, she read her first romance novel and her head filled with the passion, angst and laughter of the characters who she read about it. It wasn’t long before characters of her own took shape in her mind. Their lives took over Melissa’s brain and The Love Series was born.

Web - www.melissacollinsauthor.com 

Facebook - www.facebook.com/melissacollins.author 

Twitter - @mcollinsauthor 

WIN! The Valentine's Arrangement @KelsieLev #REVIEW #GIVEAWAY

 

The Valentine's Arrangement

Kelsie Leverich

Contemporary Romance

BLURB

Tattoo artist Ronnie Clark is counting the days until Valentine’s Day is over. Ronnie doesn’t do romance. She doesn’t do flowers or dates, and she sure as hell doesn’t do love—not anymore. Love leads to heartbreak, and she’s vowed never to let herself get hurt again. Sergeant First Class Kale Emerson is home on his mid-tour leave from Iraq, but he only has one thing on his mind—returning to his soldiers to finish leading their mission. He’s dedicated to his men and to his country, and he’s not interested in getting wrapped up in a distracting relationship…but casual sex, that’s a different story. From the moment he sees Ronnie, he wants her. And he agrees to her terms—no romance, no fluff—just passion. But as their sexual chemistry ignites, the lines of their arrangement get blurry, and Ronnie starts to push Kale away. And when Kale realizes he’s found his match in this razor-tongued, gorgeous woman who is hell bent against love, winning her heart could be the toughest battle he has ever fought.  

EXCERPT

Ronnie squeezed her way to the bar sending a few “go-to-hell” looks at some drooling guys as she passed them. Luckily, a heavyset redhead stood up from her bar stool at the same time Ronnie reached the bar. “Can I snag your set?” Ronnie asked the woman. “It’s all yours,” she said before she walked away. Thank God, because Ronnie’s feet needed an intermission. “What’s your poison?” a voice said close to her ear making her already heated skin even stickier from the warmth of his breath. She turned around on her stool to see a very sexy Sergeant First Class Emerson standing behind her with a scruffy smile on his face. He was in the same worn jeans as before but he had changed his shirt to a snug-fitting, black button-down with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He was such a pretty boy. She forced herself to tear her eyes away from him to keep from staring at his chest and the way his damn preppy shit pulled across it. “Patron.” “Two shots of Patron,” he told the skanky bartender in a tube top and a pair of jeans that was unfortunately close to showing off her lady goods. The bartender smiled and was all to happy to tend to him. She leaned seductively over the bar as she slid the shots to Kale. “Here ya go.” She winked. “Seriously?” Ronnie huffed, raising her eyebrows at the bartender before grabbing her shot and tossing it back. The bartender looked from Ronnie to Kale—who was more than likely mind-fucking Ronnie at that very moment by the way he was looking at her—before pouting her way on to the next customer. “What are you doing here?” Ronnie asked, peeling the paper off her beer bottle. “Turns out, this tattoo I got on my back stings like hell, figured I could use a drink to dull the pain a little.” He leaned in close to her. “Plus the idea of watching you dance held its own persuasion.” A wanton shiver slithered down Ronnie’s spine and she hoped like hell Kale didn’t notice. “So what, now you want small talk?” “Small talk, no talk, I don’t care,” he said, motioning with his hand for the bartender to bring them another round. Great, Ronnie was going to have to witness that bimbo make a fool of herself again. Kale slowly and deliberately stepped closer to her. She could almost feel him against her side. “Dance with me.” “I’m not dancing with you.” “Dance with me,” he said again, offering his hand to her. “Look, Soldier, I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but you can’t just order me around.” He leaned down and ran his nose up the side of her neck and she stilled. “Well as of right now, I’m finding it extremely difficult not to push you up against this bar and put my mouth on your body you’re tempting me and I just might do it. So, you can either dance with me and let me attempt to get the image of you squirming beneath me out of my head, or you can leave with me now and we can replay that image in real time.” Ronnie’s formerly clear mind started swimming with the memory of his body crushing her against the door eagerly kissing her, and the feel of his body pressing her into the couch, and then the feel of his mouth, oh his fucking mouth on her…damn it. “And you think I’ll just leave with you, why?” she asked, pulling her mind back to the present where Kale was leaning dangerously close to her. She could smell the faint scent of soap on his skin. “Because I know you enjoyed the little taste of me that you had back at the shop, and God knows I enjoyed tasting you.” He smirked. “And because I can see it in your eyes now. Dance with me.” The bartender slid the shots in front of them, thankfully without attempting to flirt, and Ronnie once again tilted the shot back, letting the clear smooth liquid run down her throat. She stood up and grabbed his hand causing that fucking dimple to drill deep into his cheek. “You better not make me regret this,” she said, leading the way to the dance floor.

 

About The Author

Kelsie Leverich grew up in the small town of St. Joseph Illinois before getting married and following her husband from one Army post to another. After eight years, they finally settled down in Avon, Indiana with two adorable knuckleheads that are better known as her kids. Kelsie's life revolves around her family (to include two dogs and a cat) and most of the time, actually all of the time, it’s a crazy mess—but that’s the way she loves it! When Kelsie’s not writing, you can usually find her snuggling on the couch with her kids and a good book or out on the lake with family and friends. Kelsie is not a morning person, has a soft spot for animals, loves musicals, hates seafood, and thinks laundry is the source of all evil. Kelsie is currently working on the third book in her military series with editor Danielle Perez with NAL/Penguin. Represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

REVIEW

Such a sweet treat for Valentine's Day. Like the perfectly made treat, there's just enough sweet to enjoy with our something spicy. And by spicy, I mean the crazy hot soldier Kale. Put him together with tattoo artist Ronnie and it's nearly combustible. The chemistry -right down to the flirtatious, fun dialogue- is absolutely fabulous. Both are so much more than what they appear and their connection happens in the most natural of ways.

I enjoyed the military undertones and felt like the author genuinely understood the lifestyle that she was writing about. I also loved the strength and depth of both characters which only added to the solid story line. Though a short read, it was most delicious. 

Romance readers will not want to miss this sweet Valentines treat!

Favorite Book Moment

“What the hell do you want, Kale?”

“You.” That was all he said before he closed the small gap of space between them, slid his hand around her neck and gently pulled her into his arms.

RATING

5 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

This book was given to us by the author. Many thanks.

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Trailer made by: Cris from The Book Avenue Review

The Secret (Review) of Ella and Micha

The Secret of Ella and Micha (The Secret #1) by Jessica Sorensen is a story of a deep friendship and a complicated love.

BLURB
Ella and Micha have been best friends since they were kids. But one tragic night shatters their friendship and their lives forever.

Ella used to be a rule-breaker with fiery attitude who wore her heart on her sleeve. But she left everything behind when she went to college and transformed into someone that follows the rules, keeps everything together, and hides all her problems. But now it's summer break and she has nowhere else to go but home.

Ella fears everything she worked so hard to bury might resurface, especially with Micha living right next door. If Micha tries to tempt the old her back, she knows that it will be hard to resist.

Micha is sexy, smart, confident, and can get under Ella’s skin like no one else can. He knows everything about her, including her darkest secrets. And he’s determined to bring his best friend, and the girl he loves back, no matter what it takes.

New Adult Contemporary with *Mature Content* recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language.

REVIEW
The Secret of Ella And Micha tells the story of two young people with a lifelong friendship but an even more complicated love for one another. It's edgy and dark at times with mature themes that have your heart lurching for these two characters.

There's so much that can get in the way if they let it but Micha won't let Ella hide herself away. He's sexy and confident, and he gets Ella like no one else does. He knows everything about her, including the secret she keeps hidden away, but he’s determined to bring his best friend, and the girl he loves, back from where she hides. His commitment to her is the number one reason readers will fall for him.

The Secret of Ella & Micha pulled at my heart. The story is well crafted and I connected immediately with these young characters. Be warned though, this book isn't a light read. Both Ella and Micha have some serious family issues but the author does an incredible job working through them as the two work to create a life together. The growth and maturing of the characters throughout the book won me over.

RATING
4 Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

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