The tag line for this novella was “Quite possibly the strangest romance ever told” and I will admit, I wanted to know what made it the strangest romance! Luckily Blackbird Digital Publishing sent me an ARC, so I could read this short story and give my honest review. Continue reading “This Chick Read: Homecoming by Tanya Bullock”
This YA book took me completely by surprise. I try not to read other reviews if I think I’m going to review a book myself, but I had read the synopsis. It sounded intriguing, but didn’t sound special, yep, insert foot here. I’ll get back to this statement, I promise, BUT, Rebel of the Sands did have some similarities to other YA novels. Continue reading “This Chick Read: Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton”
I’m excited to help reveal an excerpt from Stephanie Fournet’s upcoming contemporary romance, LEAVE A MARK! Check out the book below, along with the teaser excerpt, and be sure to enter the giveaway!
Leave a Mark
by Stephanie Fournet
Publisher: Blue Tulip Publishing
Release Date: April 28, 2016
Dyed, pierced, and covered in tattoos, Wren Blanchard is the exact opposite of everything Dr. Lee Hawthorne thought he wanted.
His residency is almost finished. With the perfect job, the beautiful house, and the polished girlfriend, he knows he should be happy, yet he isn’t.
But once Wren lands in his ER with her sharp tongue and artist’s soul, she leaves a mark on him that just won’t fade.
Wren knows the good doctor is way out of her league. To people like him, she’s a circus freak. Besides, she’s not the type to get hung up on guys, especially ones with midnight blue eyes—ones who know all about antiques, crack bad jokes, and love Joss Whedon.
No. She doesn’t need that.
After all, she has friends, a psychotic cat, and a promising career as one of the best tattoo artists in town. And it’s enough.
Really, it is.
Or it would be if Lee weren’t there every time she turned around.
One kiss seals their fate.
Their attraction is undeniable–but Wren’s past is full of ghosts. Is their bond strong enough for a solid future? Or will their new relationship crumble beneath the weight of all she carries?
She studied him for a moment. “Are you still in your residency?”
The question surprised him. “Yes. Is it that obvious?”
Her startled laughter was the only answer he needed. And Lee wanted to hear it again — even if she laughed at him.
“I mean, I’m licensed. It’s not like I just have my learner’s permit or anything.” It was a bad joke. An awful joke, but it worked because she kept laughing. Her laughter was a mix of high and low notes, like a handbell choir. And like music, he could feel it in his chest.
“That’s not what I meant,” she said, her smile untamed. “You just look really young, and I’ve heard that residents have — like — negative time.”
He gave her a helpless grin. “Negative time. That’s about right. Who told you that?”
Her smile demurred. “One of my clients.”
“One of your clients is a resident?” His curiosity pounced. Did he know someone who was secretly covered in Wren’s work?
“Who?”
She shook her head, but her smile never failed. “I don’t tat and tell. Tattooing is very personal. If someone wants you to see their work, you’ll see it. But I don’t talk about my clients.”
Even though he was the one asking, Lee liked that she wouldn’t answer. “You don’t talk about them at all?”
Wren raised and dropped her right shoulder in a half shrug, but she still smiled at him. “Well, I don’t identify them.” Her voice softened, but Lee thought he heard a touch of pride. “I’ll talk about the artwork, or I’ll retell a funny story someone told me while I worked on them, but I don’t go around talking about who was in my parlor.”
“That’s cool,” he managed, even though it was more than cool. After seeing her artwork on the walls of her apartment, he already respected her as a professional, but she clearly had integrity on top of talent. He wanted to know more, but more than anything, Lee wanted her to keep talking. “What kind of tats did you do today?”
Her smile grew, and again her cheeks colored. He found his eye drawn to the translucent skin below her cheekbones. Wren’s fair complexion was an alluring contrast to her black and blue hair, but when she blushed, Lee found it impossible to look away.
“Well, let’s see…” Her green eyes swiveled to the ceiling as she recounted. “I did a fleur-de-lis for this girl who turned eighteen today. I inked a Captain America shield on this guy’s bicep—”
Lee laughed, not so much about the tattoo choice, but at the look of amusement in her eyes.
“Yeah, he was definitely an Avengers fan… Um…” She paused to tally on her fingers. “…I touched up a Celtic knot for a lady, and I worked on a larger piece for one of my regulars.”
“What was it?” Lee asked, intrigued with the way her face softened when she thought about her work.
“Oh, it’s a dragon. Pretty big.” Wren drew a serpentine shape across her chest. “A piece like that needs to be worked on in stages, so we did some of the shading today.”
He had more questions. He could have stood there listening to her all night, but the rational part of his brain told him to give it a rest. They were in the middle of the grocery store. If he wanted to talk to her more, he should ask her out for coffee.
But you can’t ask her out. You’re seeing someone.
“You’re really talented. I’m sure you stay pretty busy. You seem…” He couldn’t find the words for what he wanted to say. He wanted to tell her that she seemed like the kind of person he could talk to — listen to — for hours. And that he would’ve liked the chance. That she was special, and he knew it. “…you seem perfect — I mean… you are unique.”
He didn’t question why she stared at him with unblinking eyes. What the hell had he just said? She was perfect? Who talked like that?
But in the seconds after he’d blurted out the words, he watched her eyes light with a smile — a surprised and genuine smile, and he realized he didn’t regret the words at all.
“Um… thank you?” What had been pink on her cheeks was now scarlet, and Lee thought he might have turned a little pink, too.
“I should let you get back to your shopping,” he said, clearing his throat. He didn’t want to walk away. Maybe if he just stood there, she’d leave first, and he’d be able to watch her go.
“Yeah…” She didn’t move.
Neither of them moved.
“…yeah, I should go.”
“It was great running into you,” he said in a rush. “I’m glad you are feeling better.”
“It was nice running into you, too, Dr.—”
“Lee,” he interjected.
She bit her lip and smiled. “Lee,” she said with a nod. “It was so nice, Lee.”
It was selfish. He’d made her say his name and, again, as he knew he would, he felt a stirring — like fingers running down his sternum. He’d never liked the sound of his name so much.
“Wren,” he said with a nod, liking the feel of her name on his tongue even more.
“Goodnight.” She turned and left him.
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Stephanie Fournet, author of Fall Semester, Legacy, and Butterfly Ginger, lives in Lafayette, Louisiana—not far from the Saint Streets where her novels are set. She shares her home with her husband John and her daughter Hannah, their needy dogs Gladys and Mabel, and an immortal blue finch named Baby Blue. When she isn’t writing romance novels, she is usually helping students get into college or running. She loves hearing from fans, so look for her on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and stephaniefournet.com.
Morrigan’s Cross is the first book in Nora Roberts Circle Trilogy. This book was first published in August of 2006, and was just reissued in January 2016. Apparently I must have been living in a hole in the ground because I’ve never read this series! As with most of Ms. Roberts trilogy’s, this storyline has a good versus evil theme. Six people, of mixed backgrounds join together, using their various abilities, magical and warrior, to become a unit with the purpose of saving mankind from the evil Lilith. Continue reading “This Chick Read: Morrigan’s Cross by Nora Roberts”
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Two If By Sea is more than a tragic tale of a man who survives tragedy, only to find love again. It’s about an honorable man, ex cop, Frank Mercy, who, after saving a young boys life, illegally takes him back to his home in the United States.
It’s about the bond Continue reading “This Chick Read: Two If By Sea by Jacquelyn Mitchard”
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Backtrack 17 is the second novel in the TaP Team series by L.j. Charles. It continues the story of Everly Gray, a touch sensitive psychic who has joined a spy team created by her husband Tynan Pierce. I first was introduced to Everly Gray in A Touch of Ice, where she was a Personal Coach, or life counselor (This Chick Read: A Touch of Ice the Everly Gray Adventures). To prepare for the jump in time for Everly Gray Continue reading “This Chick Read: Backtrack 17: The TaP Team by L.j. Charles”
I have eagerly anticipated this installment of the Fever series, as Mac and Barrons are two of my favorite fantasy romance characters. Mac has grown away from the Barbie from the south stereotype who we met in volume one, evolving into a fighter trying to save humanity, and more importantly those she loves. Barrons is still a grunting man-beast Continue reading “This Chick Read: Feverborn by Karen Marie Moning”
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