Black Box by Cassia Leo

♥ Three fateful encounters....
♥ Two heart-breaking tragedies....
♥ One last chance to get it right.
From New York Times best selling author Cassia Leo, comes an epic love story about rewriting destiny.
Over the course of five years, Mikki and Crush cross paths on three separate occasions. Their first encounter changes Mikki's life forever, but their second meeting leaves them both buried beneath the emotional wreckage of a violent attack. Mikki is left with more questions and grief than she can handle, while Crush is forced to forget the girl who saved his life.
 
Now nineteen years old, Mikki Gladstone has decided she's tired of the mind-numbing meds. She books a flight to Los Angeles to end her life far away from her loving, though often distant, family.
 
Twenty-one-year-old Crush has always channeled his blackest thoughts into his music, but he's never had great aspirations. He decides to fly to Los Angeles to record a demo of the only song he's never performed in public; a song he wrote for a girl he doesn't even know: Black Box. He has no expectations of fame and he's never felt like his life had any purpose... until he meets Mikki in Terminal B.
 
When Mikki and Crush cross paths for the third time in Terminal B, neither has any idea who the other person is; until they slowly piece together their history and realize that fate has more in store for them than just another love story.

 

BLACK BOX PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1m9BkBT

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1dNmKMC

iTunes US: http://bit.ly/blackboxitunes

iTunes UK: http://bit.ly/1ffAjpG

Kobo US/CA: http://bit.ly/blackboxkobo

Once again Cassia has totally blown me away! I was immediately taken into Mikki and Crush's world and with each page I was more invested in them and who they were. This was such an amazing story about fate and love. Be prepared with tissues because this book will definitely leave you misty eyes, if not in tears.

Mikki is tired of being stopped. She just wants to go away with out hurting the ones she loves even more by finding her. So she books a flight to Los Angeles to finally end her life. Fate has another plan for her, when she finds herself leaving the Boston airport with a guy, she thinks she knows, after a snow storm leaves them stranded there.

Crush can't get his mind off of the girl her met when fate stepped in a saved his life, while he saved hers. Flying to L.A. to record a demo, he meets Mikki in Terminal B and decides to take her for coffee while they figure out what to do while waiting for plane.

The little bits and pieces start to fall into place and Mikki and Crush figure out that they do know each other. And the piece that binds them together is Black Box.

Cassia has a way of weaving characters and storyline, that pulls you in. I could not put this book down. When the book finally ends, you can't let the characters go. When a book does that. Makes you think. Makes you want more. You have a 5 star book!

Black Box

Chapter 8

Crush

(Excerpt)

Staring into Mikki’s green eyes, I swear I’m looking into my own. She’s hiding something from me that I haven’t quite figured out yet, but I’m positive it has to do with her trip to L.A. There has to be a reason someone as skittish as her decided to have coffee with me rather than go home when her flight was canceled. And there’s definitely a reason greater than curiosity for the question she just asked me.

If it weren’t her asking, this would be the point in our conversation where I begin to suspect her of being an undercover cop or journalist. But it is Mikki. And something about this girl tells me she’s not here to find out what happened in a dark parking lot three years ago.

“That’s a trick question,” I reply. “If I tell you I’ve never killed anyone, then you’ll think I’m a good guy and you’ll stay, because even though it’s not a very exciting answer, it means you’re safe. But if I tell you I’ve killed someone, you may find it intriguing or frightening. Either way, intrigued or scared, you’ll probably try to get the fuck away from me, and I don’t think I’m ready for that.”

She smiles as she looks down at her fingers, which she’s tapping on the surface of the bar. “That’s a real suave way to dodge the question. It also sounds like something a murderer would say.”

“Really?”

She looks up and meets my gaze again. “Who did you kill?”

I pause for a moment as I try to figure out where she’s going with this conversation. Then it hits me. “Do you want to die?”

“What?” she asks, shaking her head far too adamantly. “That’s … that’s a stupid question.”

“Why is it a stupid question?”

“Because,” she snaps at me. “It’s just stupid. I don’t want to die.”

She continues to look down at her hands, which are still trembling as she fidgets with her silver thumb-ring. I get an urge to grab her hand again, to stop the trembling and fidgeting, but I don’t.

“I’m sorry. I guess that was kind of a stupid question. I was just wondering why a pretty girl like you would hang out with me when you could be at home in your warm bed with your pjs on. Or out with your friends … or your boyfriend.”

She finally chuckles. “So, accusing me of wanting to die is your way of avoiding my question or is it just a really messed-up way of asking me if I have a boyfriend?”

“It’s just me being a total dick. And … do you have a boyfriend?”

“No.” She looks up and fixes me with a steely glare. “Most guys don’t appreciate a girl who’s crazy and also doesn’t put out.”  I’m not quite sure how to respond to this statement. It’s probably best to change the subject or reach for a joke. “Yeah, I know how you feel. Most girls don’t appreciate a guy who can cite Shakespeare and won’t put out. Actually, I think that’s a line from Macbeth.”

Her glare melts into a reluctant smile. “You’re not a total dick.”

“Still not putting out.”

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cassia Leo grew up in California and has lived in three different countries. She loves to travel and her dream is to one day score a record deal based on her awesome shower singing skills. She is the author of the Shattered Hearts series (Relentless, Pieces of You, Bring Me Home, Abandon) and the Luke and Chase series.

Website: http://cassialeo.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorcassialeo  

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AuthorCassiaLeo

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Always by Kindle Alexander

Born to a prestigious political family, Avery Adams plays as hard as he works. The gorgeous, charismatic attorney is used to getting what he wants, even the frequent one-night stands that earn him his well-deserved playboy reputation. When some of the most prominent men in politics suggest he run for senate, Avery decides the time has come to follow in his grandfather's footsteps. With a strategy in place and the campaign wheels rolling, Avery is ready to jump on the legislative fast track, full steam ahead. But no amount of planning prepares him for the handsome, uptight restaurateur who might derail his political future.

Easy isn't even in the top thousand words to describe Kane Dalton's life after his father, a devout southern Baptist minister, kicks him out of the family home for questioning his sexual orientation. Despite all the rotten tomatoes life throws his way, Kane makes something of himself. Between owning a thriving upscale Italian restaurant in the heart of downtown Minneapolis and managing his long-term boyfriend, his plate is full. He struggles to get past the teachings of his childhood to fully accept his sexuality and rid himself of the doubts brought on by his religious upbringing. The last thing he needs is the yummy, sophisticated, blond-haired distraction sitting at table thirty-four.

 

There are those books that you just never want to let go of. Always was one of those books for me. I was extremely honored to be able to read this book months before it's publication. (One of the perks of doing trailers) and I devoured the book and then read it a second time. I had such emotion and cried my eyes out (just letting you know - it was the ugly cry, so lots of tissue) and I was just moved beyond words.I immediately connected with both Kane and Avery. What I loved about this story is that it takes place over their lifetime together. You get to see them together from the beginning to the end.

Sigh. There just are not words for me to describe the feelings I had after reading this book. I was on a good book hang over for weeks. It was torture waiting for the ARCs to go out so I could talk about the book with my friends.

Go buy this book. Fall in love with Avery and Kane. Always. It will Always be with me.

 Buy Links

AMAZON | AMAZON CA | AMAZON UK | B & N | KOBO
 

 

Best Selling Author Kindle Alexander is an innovative writer, and a genre-crosser who writes classic fantasy, romance, suspense, and erotica in both the male/male and male/female genres. It's always a surprise to see what's coming next!

I live in the suburbs of Dallas where it's true, the only thing bigger than an over active imagination, may be women's hair!

Usually, I try for funny. Humor is a major part of my life - I love to laugh, and it seems to be the thing I do in most situations - regardless of the situation, but jokes are a tricky deal... I don't want to offend anyone and jokes tend to offend. So instead I'm going to tell you about Kindle.

I tragically lost my sixteen year old daughter to a drunk driver. She had just been at home, it was early in the night and I heard the accident happen. I'll never forget that moment. The sirens were immediate and something inside me just knew. I left my house, drove straight to the accident on nothing more than instinct. I got to be there when my little girl died - weirdly, I consider that a true gift from above. She didn't have to be alone.

That time in my life was terrible. It's everything you think it would be times about a billion. I love that kid. I loved being her mother and I loved watching her grow into this incredibly beautiful person, both inside and out. She was such a gift to me. To have it all ripped away so suddenly broke me.

Her name was Kindle. Honest to goodness - it was her name and she died a few weeks before Amazon released their brand new Kindle eReader. She had no idea it was coming out and she would have finally gotten her name on something! Try finding a ruler with the name Kindle on it.. It never happened.

Through the course of that crippling event I was lucky enough to begin to write with a dear friend in the fan fiction world of Facebook. She got me through those dark days with her unwavering support and friendship. There wasn't a time she wasn't there for me. Sometimes together and sometimes by myself, we built a world where Kindle lives and stands for peace, love and harmony. It's its own kind of support group. I know without question I wouldn't be here today without her.

Find out more by visiting www.kindlealexander.com or email me at kindle@kindlealexander.com

FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | AMAZON

a Rafflecopter giveaway

SCAVENGER HUNT

**Each day during the tour 1 blog per day will post a picture somehow related to Always by Kindle Alexander somewhere in their blog tour.  Your job is to visit each blog everyday and collect those pictures.  There will be 2 prizes that will be given away to the winners that successfully tell me each day the blog and picture that they found.  1 will win an Gift Basket filled with everything Italian Goodies.  The other prize is a (shhhhhhhh) Naughty Gift Basket.   

There is a BONUS question and the prize is a custom made Kindle Alexander Rubicks Cube. 

Question:  What is the reason behind picking the Rubick’s Cube as a graphic and bonus prize in the Scavenger Hunt?

Scavenger Hunt Entry Form:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13uuVEzifvJA2-BGyXEeXQ3tnhMxAkR8-10OOCweN4Fw/viewform

Follow the tour Schedule: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AsFpeN61O1LSdHAwMTE3a0xHbWh3cEtCYWlTYVdrOHc&usp=sharing

Cover Reveal: Mr. Beautiful by R.K. Lilley

Mr. Beautiful (Up in the Air #4)

by R.K. Lilley 

Add to Goodreads

From R.K. Lilley's blog: Mr. Beautiful will be a male point-of-view novel for the Up in the Air series that tells the story of James, and Stephan, and their unwavering love of a woman that would make the two men family.

WARNING: THIS TEASER CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE UP IN THE AIRSERIES

JAMES

I couldn’t sleep after the shooting. 

Bianca slept like a baby, like she never had before, like every worry she’d ever had had disappeared with the death of her father. 

But not me. I was more restless than ever. A miracle had saved her, not me, and I felt helpless because of it. That was not a feeling that fit me well. In fact, it made my skin crawl in discomfort. In anger. 

It had been months since the attack. She and Stephan were healed physically, and it seemed, emotionally, but I felt the wounds as though they were fresh. What had almost happened haunted me. I was a man that needed control, and I’d been shown, in the starkest way possible, that I hadnone. 

I sat scant feet away from our bed, watching Bianca sleep. She was nude, with not so much as a sheet covering her. I’d seen to that. I watched her lithe form shift on the bed, one long leg hitching up to give me a glimpse of the pink between her legs. 

I felt like a fucking stalker. Truth be told, I was one, watching her for hours on end, night after night. 

I tensed when I realized she’d roused. It upset her that I couldn’t sleep, when she deserved peace more than anyone. 

She sat up, and I watched her heavy breasts swaying with the movement. “James.” Her voice was the softest utterance.

“Love,” I answered, feeling the dark mood that had overtaken me lift in an instant. Just having her eyes on me could do that. 

She crawled across the bed toward me. She’d always had an uncanny ability to do exactly the thing that would drive me the most wild, and she’d only gotten better at that over time. She didn’t hide her body from me as she moved. In fact, she posed for me, even the exposure of her body an act of submission. As though reading my thoughts, as though even those were a command, she paused on the edge of the bed, parting her legs to let me look my fill before she rose, approaching my chair. 

I stood to meet her, my body drawn tight, my cock throbbing as though I hadn’t come, buried inside of her, just hours before. 

I was a statue as she leaned up to my ear, my brows drawing together in a question. Her lips touched my ear as she spoke. 

“Hurt me,” she whispered raggedly. 

My eyes shut tight, my jaw went slack, and a shudder wracked my entire body. This woman destroyed my self-control. 

I’d avoided all of the rough stuff since she’d been injured, but God had I missed it.

“We don’t have to, Bianca. It’s not necess-“

She gripped my hair, pulling my face down to her injured cheek. She dug her jaw into me so hard that I knew it must be hurting her badly. 

“I need it,” she rasped into my ear. “I’ll never stop needing it. Please.”

I pulled back, and my hands trembled as I cupped her face in my hands, my eyes searching hers desperately for what I wanted to see. Need. Yes. She needed this as much as I did. Perhaps more so. 

“Get on the bed,” I told her thickly. 

R.K. Lilley lives in Colorado with her husband and their two beautiful sons. She's had a lot of interesting jobs, from being a first class flight attendant, to being a stablehand, but swears she never knew what hard work was until she had children. She's been addicted to both reading and writing fiction since she can remember. She loves to travel, read, hike, paint, game, watch anime, and make the most of every single day. She is the author of the erotic romance novels In Flight, Mile High, Grounded, and the novella, Lana.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES

IN FLIGHT (Up in the Air #1)

Buy from Amazon

Buy from B&N

MILE HIGH (Up in the Air #2)

Buy from Amazon

Buy from B&N

GROUNDED (Up in the Air #3)

Buy from Amazon

Buy from B&N

LANA (Novella)

Buy from Amazon

Buy from B&N

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FOUR YEARS LATER by Monica Murphy

New Adult bestselling author Monica Murphy winds up her sensational series with this sexy story of two college kids with nothing in common but a bunch of baggage and a burning attraction.

Over. That about sums up everything in my life. Suspended from my college football team and forced to cut back my hours at The District bar because of my crappy grades, I can’t keep turning to my sister, Fable, and her pro-football playing husband, Drew, to bail me out. I just can’t seem to find my own way. Weed and sex are irresistible temptations—and it’s messed up that I secretly hand over money to our junkie mom. A tutor is the last thing I want right now—until I get a look at her.

Chelsea is not my type at all. She’s smart and totally shy. I’m pretty sure she’s even a virgin. But when she gives me the once over with those piercing blue eyes, I’m really over. But in a different way. I won’t deny her ass is killer, but it’s her brain and the way she seems to crave love—like no one’s ever given her any—that make me want her more than any girl I’ve ever met. But what would someone as seemingly together as her ever see in a screwed up guy like me? 

 I have been a HUGE fan of Monica's Drew + Fable Series from the very beginning. I was on her first blog tour and every single on since. So I was THRILLED to see that Owen was getting his own book.

Like Monica's other books in the series, I could not get enough. The book stayed glued to my hand. I was peaking at the red light to see what would happen next and I totally fell in love with Owen and Chelsea.

Owen is now in college, following in the footsteps on his now brother-in-law Drew. But Owen is still struggling with his past as his mom shows back up, guilting Owen back into a life he was trying to run from. The last thing he ever thought he would find was love, especially with a girl so polar opposite of himself. Or is she really?

Fans of Monica are going to be jumping for joy with this sweet, compelling and sexy read.

As per my usual mode of writing, I didn’t have any sort of actors in mind as I wrote FOUR YEARS LATER. My visions of Owen and Chelsea are purely in my head. I know they’re attractive (of course). I know that Owen has brownish hair (it’s gotten darker as he’s gotten older). I know Chelsea has dark hair and is fresh-faced, sweet and innocent.

When I think about FYL being turned into a movie, it took me a while to come up with an actor and actress who would portray Owen and Chelsea. First, it’s hard to come up with a dark blond haired, gorgeous young actor. And I already used Alex Pettyfer (be still my beating heart, that man is HOT) as my inspiration for Colin in THREE BROKEN PROMISES.

So…here’s who I came up with as my Owen:

Colton Haynes is one hot piece of man flesh. Okay, the eye color is wrong. And their hair color is sort of wrong too but what works is the smile. The slightly cocky, cute smile just automatically makes me think of Owen. His chiseled good looks don’t hurt either right? Colton is pretty swoon-worthy….

And here’s my choice for Chelsea:

Selena Gomez is adorable. The eye color is wrong (again) but otherwise, I think she would make the perfect Chelsea. She has that innocent look to her that Chelsea would have and she just as this sweet aura about her. My Chelsea is very sweet. Sheltered, innocent, a little naive and shy but incredibly smart. I think Selena could pull this off.

Together, Colton and Selena would make a very pretty couple. Just like I imagine Owen and Chelsea would be…

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite. A wife and mother of three, she writes New Adult and contemporary romance for Bantam and Avon. She is the author of One Week Girlfriend and Second Chance Boyfriend.

Buy Links:

AMAZON US

BARNES AND NOBLE

Links:

Website: http://www.monicamurphyauthor.com/# 

Blog: http://missmonicamurphy.blogspot.com/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsMonicaMurphy 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MonicaMurphyauthor 

Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5934418.Monica_Murphy  

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Monica-Murphy/e/B00AVPYIGG

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Moore than Forever by Julie A. Richman

You have no idea of what you do to me, Baby Girl."
"It's smoochal."

Is the love they always dreamed of enough?

Continuing the emotional journey of love and betrayal that began on a college campus in Searching for Moore and turned their worlds upside down in Moore to Lose, handsome, California entrepreneur Schooner Moore and sharp and sassy, New York advertising agency owner Mia Silver continue to be confronted with the harsh reality of the remnants from the lives they lived apart for 24 years.

Now, Schooner Moore and Mia Silver face the ultimate challenge - were they really meant to be together or will their pasts continue to tear them apart?

On the heels of the birth of their newborn son, Nathaniel, Schooner and Mia must decide if their love and loyalty to one another is strong enough to learn to grow together as a couple or if the life they always dreamed of sharing was better left as a teenage fantasy.

This is the third and final book in the Needing Moore Series and is not meant to be read as a stand alone. Book 1 - Searching for Moore and Book 2 - Moore to Lose should be read prior to reading Moore than Forever.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1c188cO

 

 I am sad to see this wonder series end. I was sucked in from the beginning and it's been quite the ride with Schooner, Mia and the whole gang. 

Julie does not disappoint with Moore than Forever. She gives fans of the series the icing on the cake in wrapping up this series with a happily ever after that both Mia and Schooner deserve. All of our favorite secondary characters make appearances and the book for me was just a breath of fresh air.

 The Needing Moore Series

If your true love was just a Facebook friend request away ... what would you do? 

Sexy entrepreneur Schooner Moore never knew why the love of his life, college sweetheart, Mia Silver, disappeared. 

Now, two decades later, he finds her on Facebook and is a friend request away from the truth about what ripped them apart and a second chance at the love that was torn from them. 

Now if she'll only accept his friend request ... 

One true love, two shattered hearts, a single friend request and a second chance at love ... 

Searching for Moore is the first book in Schooner and Mia's journey of love, loss and betrayal as they fight for their own happily ever after. 



 

 

AMAZON TOP 100 BESTSELLER LIST
 
Continuing the fight for their happily ever after that began in Searching for Moore, Schooner Moore and Mia Silver struggle to overcome the ghosts and baggage they accumulated during their time apart.
Exploring the missing 24 years when they were separated, Moore to Lose follows Mia's journey from heartbroken teen to kickass businesswoman to her emotional reunion with Schooner and the exploration of the love that was ripped from them.
But is their love really strong enough to overcome the damage of those missing 24 years or will they continue to be ripped apart by pasts that can't be changed?

 

I must've been 5 or 6 when I started writing "stories".  I would write them and hide them. Not wanting anyone to see my "secret" thoughts. I needed to write -even back then.  Now I'm just not hiding them anymore.  Is that a sign of maturity?  Nah .... 

Writer, photographer, insatiable wanderluster, edge-player, foodie, music addict, pop culture fanatic, animal lover, warrior for the rights of people and planet, and avid cusser (am a Native New Yorker, so very little offends me ... and if I am offended, it must be pretty freaking bad .. like bad grammar!).

I am big believer in signs and if we keep ourselves open, there are guideposts all along the way. Stay humble. Be true. Be you.

Life is not a dress rehearsal ...

 Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway