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Friday, October 17, 2014

Southern Roots


Tour of Southern Roots
by Author Julie Morgan

A modern day romance! -- My Thoughts Exactly blog

MUST READ!!!!!! Seriously……MUST READ!!!!!!!!!!!! One Click RIGHT NOW! -- Battery Operated Book Blog


Holy hotness batman! -- Engaging Secrets Publishing reviews

Love them country boys!!! -- Amazon review



A captivating contemporary romance!! One you don't want to miss!!! -- Who's Reviews and More


MY REVIEW: I loved this book! I like the sweet, hot, and southern gentlemen type. Lexi is beautiful and damaged. Robert is there to save her even when she didn't think she needed to be saved. I read this book pretty fast because I just couldn't put it down!  

Synopsis:
Returning home never looked so good...

Home from college to help her mother on the family farm, Lexi Griffin expects things to be quiet and normal. She's back in her hometown, and everything is the same as she left it, including the slowly mending broken heart given to her by her high school sweetheart, Blaine.

After years away, Robert Shaw has returned to his hometown for his father's wedding, looking forward to reconnect with old friends, but he has no clue what's in store for him when he sees Lexi again. Sparks fly between the two, and Lexi is a bit reluctant to start anything with Robert, especially when past wounds haven't healed the way they should have. Robert is determined to have her, against all odds and good sense. A girl like her came around once in a lifetime, and he never forgot her.

And then Blaine comes back to town, intent on rekindling what he had with Lexi, even though his past cheating and drug use has slightly soured him in her eyes. She still loves him, but can she forgive him?

As Lexi takes a leap of faith, she suddenly faces the ultimate betrayal from one she trusted. Will she realize the truth in time or will corruption ruin the best thing that has just walked out of her life?




Excerpt from Southern Roots:
“Well, I have pretty much everything I want, yes. But not everything I might need.” His thumb gently ran over the back of her hand.
She held her breath for a moment before she lowered her gaze. In her entire time with Blaine, he had never talked to her like this. It was always about his music, getting signed, and getting the hell out of Dodge. Looking back on it, she believed he never intended for her to be part of his future. She turned away from Robert for a moment and removed her hand.
“What’s the matter? Did I say something wrong?” He asked her.
“Hardly,” she scoffed. “If anything, you’re saying all the right things.” She looked over and glared at him. “Why? Why are you here with me? Why are you doing this?”
“Whoa, wait, what? What am I doing? I’m not sure I understand.”
“You told me yourself that you’re leaving at the end of summer. You told me you didn’t want to become serious, you know, just be friends.”
“Yeah?” He answered.
“Then why do this? Why go through all the trouble of trying to flatter me when it’s all for nothing?” She sat back in her chair and folded her arms over her chest.
He raised his brows, having no idea where this outburst was coming from. He watched her for a moment and considered a different approach. “If this is about Blaine, I’m not him.”
“It’s obvious you’re not him.” She turned and glared at him.
“Then what’s the problem? I fail to see what I did wrong here.”
“That’s it right there!” Her voice began to rise.
He shook his head, still not getting it. “What is? Help me understand.” He kept himself calm and at the same time, felt something inside of him want to yell out for her to cut the shit… that he wanted to be with her. But did he? He was leaving, like she said.
“Bobby Ray, really?” She looked over to him. “You are saying and doing all the right things to woo me.”
“Woo you?” He raised his brows and tried not to smile.
“YES! Woo me!” She huffed and turned away from him. “And dammit, it’s working, okay? You’re leaving and… and…” She stopped and sat there, not saying anything else.
Robert stood up from his chair and ran his hand down his face. Since they were done with their dinner, he felt it was time to change the scenery. He walked around in front of her and offered his hand.
“What are you doing?” She looked up at him.
He saw her eyes wet with threatening tears. “Well, if you’ll take my hand, you’ll find out.”
She shook her head and looked away.
“Lexi, come on. Take my hand. Don’t make me beg, because I have no shame in begging. I’ll get down on my damn knees and cry out for you to take my hand.”
She gasped and looked back at him. “You wouldn’t!”
“Oh I most certainly would!” He grinned and began to get down on one knee.
She immediately put her hand in his. “My god, don’t do that!”
He helped her stand and gave her a lop-sided grin.
She found herself smiling and shook her head. “Okay, now what?”
“Let me lead and you follow. Remember?” He offered more of a smile, softening his face. He saw reluctance in her response, but she followed him nonetheless.
He led her down the stairs to the dance floor. The song ended and To Make You Feel My Love began to play. He led her out to the dance floor, and turned her to face him. He placed his hand on her waist and took her hand.
She rested her hand on his shoulder.
He led her in a slow two-step, keeping his eyes on hers. The first few steps he felt her rigid body. “Relax,” he told her.
“I’m trying,” she replied.
His fingers spread across her back and he pulled her closer to him. His head leaned in and his cheek touched hers.
Her hand moved up around his neck and she began to press her body against his. She relaxed more into his hold as they danced.
"You are the most beautiful, most caring woman I've met in a long time.” He whispered into her ear. “You carry so much on your shoulders, yet you seem free. It's as if nothing can hinder you. Even with me, you see me, not the person everyone else sees. This is what attracts me to you. You're like my light in a dark tunnel."
Her arm tightened around his neck. He pulled her hand in and rested it above his heart, holding her closer. Their steps were small as they danced together.
She raised her gaze up to his and looked into his eyes. “You have no idea how much what you said means to me.”
“I can only guess.” He smiled.
The song ended and their eyes remained on each other’s. At the last chord, he stopped, cupped her face, and kissed her. It was soft, sweet, and not rushed. 


From the author:
"As the author of Southern Roots, I had so much fun writing this story! The inception came to me one day when I watched a few kids jump from a cliff into the lake below [it]. That took me back to when I was a teenager and we would go to the lake. The friends would jump the cliffs, not me. I was always too chicken! However, the story began building itself from there. Bobby Ray developed, as did Blaine and Lexi. Blaine's characters is actually loosely based off someone I used to date years ago. Look for his story, City Lights, coming in October 28th, 2014!"





Originally from Burleson, Texas Julie always had a love of books, especially paranormal stories. Julie finally took the leap and began writing with encouragement from her family.

Having worked in IT her entire career, Julie now spends her free time writing. Living in Central Florida with her husband and daughter, her favorite pastime is reading children's stories to her daughter, especially those around animals.


Where to find Julie Morgan:
Webpage/Blog     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Instagram     |     GoodReads     |     Amazon


Buy Links:
Amazon     |     Barnes and Noble     |     Kobo     |     Inktera



Friday, October 10, 2014

Cover Reveal



Cover Re-Reveal

The Last Thing
Hollywood Timelines Book #1 by Briana Gaitan





Plagued by past mistakes in both love and life, Quinn Bardot is in a bad place. With nowhere else to turn, she escapes to LA clinging to the promise of a fresh start. Chase Crowley is known for being selfish and unbelievably persistent. All he's ever wanted is to become a successful actor. But now that he is about to have it all, he finds that something is still missing. Money and fame isn't what he expected.



Suddenly the two of them are thrown into a situation that neither is prepared for. Can Quinn extinguish her fears and let Chase in? Can Chase learn to put someone else's needs before his own? The Last Thing is a novel all about love, Hollywood, and accepting what life throws at you even if it is the last thing you want. (This is a New Adult Romance novel & contains language & adult situations. Not recommended for readers younger than 17)***The Last Thing is a standalone book with NO cliff hanger ending. It is book one in the series.***





Amazon







“Nice shoes,” a deep voice said from beside me. I almost spit my drink out in surprise. Only two inches away from my face stood a man with chocolate colored eyes and short brown hair that stuck up all over his head as if he had just rolled out of bed. I detected some sort of Hispanic descent in his good looks. He wore a pair of khakis and a tight long-sleeved black t-shirt. He actually seemed normal compared to all the Barbie and Ken dolls around me, and it made me feel at ease. I took a step back so that our faces weren’t so close. “Yeah, I reckon heels aren’t really my thing,” I replied and took another sip from my cup. He chuckled and folded his hands across his chest, one hand stroking his chin as if he were studying me.
“Whiskey...high tops...no French manicure...”
 He picked up one of my hands and studied it. Shocked by the way my heart sped when he touched me, I pulled it out of his grasp. I could feel my face turning red, but I willed my breathing to slow down and hoped that he couldn’t see me blush under all of the makeup. He was quite literally the most striking man I’d ever laid eyes on. The reaction from my body was pure agony. I wanted him, needed him. My loneliness was getting the best of me. No. You don’t need him as a distraction. You need a job, a hobby. He is the last thing you need. You’re having a whiskey reaction.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you,” he said. I forced myself to look away from his smirk, and finished off the drink in my hand. I turned around and asked the bartender to fill me up again. The drink had already started to affect me, make me loosen up, but I needed a little more to help me with the anxiety.
Say something. Don’t just stand there!
“Don’t worry about it,” I mumbled and picked up my filled glass. I was surprised that he was still standing there; I allowed myself to sneak another peek from the corner of my eye. From the way he carried himself he was a bit older than me, maybe in his mid-twenties. The way he laughed and his body language told me that he was charismatic, a charmer. This guy was persistent!
“I’m Chase,” he said, holding out his hand. I reluctantly took it, afraid that he could see how unnerved I was.
 “Quinn, nice to meet you.” He didn’t seem to notice my hand trembling as he lifted it up to his lips to place a light kiss on it. He gave me a slight wink that made me go weak in the knees. I was glad that I had high tops on my feet to steady me. Toughen up, Quinn. You can talk to a guy. But only talk. I took another big gulp of my liquid courage.
“So Quinn, how do you know Gillian?” He reached out to pick a piece of lint off my shoulder. I narrowed my eyes in on him. Why was he touching me?
“Oh, I don’t know her. I’m here with a friend.” I forced myself to look into his eyes, to show him that I wasn’t intimidated.
“Who?” he asked
 “Ginger Teague,” I told him. He continued with his inquisition, to which I gave short answers.
“You a party crasher?”
I raised an eyebrow and answered, “No, I was invited.”
“An actress?”   
  “No.”
“Model?”
 I scoffed at his question; as if I had the looks to be a model. “Uh, no...” I shook my head in disbelief.
“Who are you then? I don’t think I’ve seen you around before. I wouldn’t forget your face.”
I didn’t know what to say. It had been so long since I’d had any male attention. He probably wouldn’t give me the time of day if he found out who I was or how much baggage I carried.
“Interesting, huh?”
“What?” I asked
“This party. I bet you have never been so star struck.”
Was this guy for real?
“I don’t know who any of these people are.”
“Well then, it’s high time you found out.” He leaned in close and motioned toward the three blonde girls Ginger had introduced me to earlier.
“Those three bimbos are twiddle dee, dumb, and twit.”
I spit my drink back out into my cup, almost choking from laughter.
 “Did you call her a twit?”
“Damn straight. Though I’m not sure if it is from her lack of common sense or her twitter addiction.”
This was kind of fun. My eyes scanned the room for our next victim
“What about him?” I pointed toward an older balding man with a twenty-something on his arm.
“Ah, yes. That is Jordan one of our writers. The girl on his arm just screwed her way up to a leading character.”
“Isn’t that a bit… unethical?”
“Everyone in Hollywood is unethical, my dear.”
That was my cue to leave. I didn’t need guys like him.
“As much as I want to continue on with this flirty banter, I really must get going.” I boldly stuck my drink in his empty hand and spun around on my heels.





OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES


BASH
My name is Bash
You may look at me and think my life is perfect.

It is anything but.
I’m not like normal people. 
Happiness doesn’t come easy for me.
I wake up hoping that each day is my last.



*Warning: This is a short story to the novel The Last Thing. Though Bash can be read as a stand alone, you will enjoy it better AFTER you read The Last Thing.*




The One Thing

Hollywood Timelines #2

When everything around me was falling apart. He was the one thing that held me together. 

This is Ginger's story. More details coming soon.


Other Series
by Briana Gaitan & Brooke Kennedy



Ethereal Underground
Book One: Ethereal Underground

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/1EvyjU4



Book Two: Mark Of Deceit









Briana Gaitan grew up in the South, but calls herself a geek at heart. She is a blogger, author, and fan girl who loves Star Wars, Star Trek, and Jewellery (bet you never thought you'd hear those three things in a sentence together) For fun, she loves watching any show on the SyFy channel, relaxing with her family, reading, and listening to indie music (sometimes all at the same time). Briana loves to write stories where there are no limits to the imagination. She is the co-author of the fantasy Ethereal Underground series and author of the Hollywood Timelines Series.




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