Review: Once Upon A Road Trip by Angela N. Blount

 Once Upon A Road Trip

Author: Angela N. Blount

Genre: Young Adult/New Adult

Publisher: Artifice Press

ASIN: B00E91R8NS

Softcover: 426 pages

Goodreads

Blurb:

Eighteen-year-old Angeli doesn’t “fit in.” She’s never been on a single date, and she lives vicariously through an online world of storytelling. With the pressures of choosing a practical future path bearing down, she needs a drastic change. Too old to run away from home, she opts instead to embark on a solo 2-month road trip. But her freedom is tempered by loneliness — and anxiety tests her resolve as she comes face-to-face with her quirky internet friends.

Aside from contracting mono and repeatedly getting herself lost, Angeli’s adventure is mired by more unforeseen glitches — like being detained by Canadian authorities, and a near-death experience at the hands of an overzealous amateur wrestler. Her odyssey is complicated further when she unwittingly earns the affections of two young men. One a privileged martial artist; the other a talented techie with a colorful past.

Bewildered by the emotions they stir, Angeli spurns the idea of a doomed long-distance relationship. But she is unprepared for the determination of her hopeful suitors. In the wake of her refusal, one man will betray her, and the other will prove himself worthy of a place in her future.

Angeli sets off in search of a better understanding of herself, the world, and her place in it. What she finds is an impractical love, with the potential to restore her faith in happy endings.

A true story with an unapologetically honest outlook on life, love, faith, and adventure — Once Upon A Road Trip is a coming-of-age memoir.



Review:

This author clearly comes from the same community of people online that I do because I understood everything that Angeli was going through and what drove her to go on the adventure written about in Once Upon a Road Trip. This is a memoir about a young girl who flourish in an online community of writers, but doesn't quite fit into the real world as much as she does online. Deciding to do something drastic, she goes on a 2 month road trip to discover what she wants to do with the rest of her life and meet some of the people she considers friends in this community that she loves so much.

This book has so many ups and downs that just make it seems like she is never going to complete her journey that it really tugs at your heart many times. Between a near-death experience and possibly falling in love, you can see the change in Angeli as every situation unfolds. Going on this experience with her, really gave me some perspective on things that I am doing, right now. Obviously I have a blog, and I am actively involved in the online world of books (hence writing this review to begin with) and I can understand what is going on her head because I live it. I have people that I interact with online that I would call friends that I have never met, and probably will never meet. The idea that I don't fit in, is very real. Angeli, however, doesn't take this lying down and goes out and does something about the feelings that she is struggling with, which is more than I can say I will ever do. I will live vicariously through her in this book though because she took life by the horns and really took control over her future.

The romance in the story felt real and natural, versus many manufactured or forced romance that you see in so many books. The flow of the book seemed natural as well, which really kept the whole story together and down the Earth, which I really enjoyed. I loved that this is a memoir because there is a real person behind a seemingly real story, which is not easily found. Taking into account that it was also beautifully written, I would recommend picking this book up for a refreshing read that will take you on an adventure but might just inspire your own along the way.- My Opinion- ****4 Stars!

Get it here: Amazon / Barnes and Noble /Kobo / Powell's

Release Day Blitz + Giveaway: Drowning in Rapture by Megan D. Martin & An Arrangement of Love by Kenya Wright

How kinky are you?

Authors Kenya Wright and Megan D. Martin seem to get kinkier by the minute, especially with their new erotic romance releases An Arrangement of Love and Drowning in Rapture. 

Check out the books below and scroll to the bottom for a VERY kinky giveaway!

An Arrangement of Love

By Kenya Wright

Genre: Adult Erotic Romance

Buy on Amazon

He kissed me. And not just any kiss. He kissed me like he owned me, as if he bought me last night and my orgasm was the payment. His tongue didn't explore my mouth instead it taunted me, gliding in and out between my lips in a rhythm that reminded me of hot sex. He shifted his hand to the back of my head and trapped me to him. My bag and its contents dropped to the floor. . . What would you do for six figures? Billionaire Chase Stone offers Jasmine a six-figure job that requires a full-time commitment in his office as well as his bed. If only she knew that before she agreed, then life would’ve been easier. It’s not that he’s unattractive. Jasmine just didn't graduate from Harvard with honors so she could be some rich guy's over paid mistress. What’s even more repulsing is that he lives with three women and wants her to be the fourth. Not going to happen! But Chase won't give up, and Jasmine won't give in. Someone's going to have to change because the more they meet, the more something thick, hot, and electric bridges between them, until neither can breathe or think.

****

Drowning in Rapture By Megan D. Martin Genre: New Adult Erotic Romance Buy on Amazon I didn’t plan to become a stripper who performs live sex shows. But that’s what happened. It’s what I do, and I’m good at it. I was going to go on and do something with my life. I was going to be something more than just a piece of ass. But that’s not how it worked it out. Men don’t control me. Not anymore. Not until my best friend left and he came into my life. I don’t want lose myself and drown in another man. But I’m afraid it’s already too late. **This book is intended for mature audiences only, due to graphic depictions of sex and bad language.

Annnnnd now for the giveaway!

No one should go through life without some super kinky toys for the bedroom. Two winners will be picked. 

Winner #1 will receive...

A flirty feather Anal Plug and a pair of double locking hand cuffs! 

Winner #2 will get…

A pink bejeweled vibrator and a pink vibrating jelly cock ring.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Zombie West by Angela Scott

Get the Zombie West Omnibus on Amazon. Add the Zombie West Omnibus to your Goodreads to-read shelf!

ZOMBIES! The Wild West! Romance! Mayhem!

Angela Scott's Zombie West Omnibus has all this, and more!

"...this is one of the most unique concepts I've come across." --Brian, Amazon reviewer

"These books had me on the edge of my seat and at one point in book three I had to set the book down and pull myself out of the story so I wouldn't cry." --Emily Pearce, Amazon reviewer

 

"This series is one that will stay with you for a long time, prompting you to want to read it again and again." --Tracy Haidle, Amazon reviewer

About the Zombie West Omnibus

The Wild West is hard enough to survive with its native territory, wanted outlaws, and harsh terrain, but with a plague turning civilized people into brain-eating monsters, survival becomes nearly impossible. Red has lost everything to the fast-spreading disease: her family, her trust in mankind, and her hope for a better tomorrow. When she meets Trace, a smooth-talking gambling man who’s more city boy than cowboy, she’s forced down a path she’d been avoiding for years. Until his arrival, she’d lived by a certain set of rules—don’t ask names, keep to yourself, don’t let anyone too close—but the jackass of a man won’t let her be, and he has an uncanny knack for appearing at all the wrong times and in all the wrong places. Each, with a secret of their own, will need to learn that only by working together do they have any chance of surviving The Zombie West. That is, if they don’t kill each other first. [Angela Scott’s Zombie West Omnibus includes the three books in the Zombie West series WANTED: DEAR OR UNDEAD, SURVIVOR ROUNDUP, and DEAD PLAINS. Find these books on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Kobo, and Smashwords.] Genre classification: YA/Western Romance/Action and Adventure/ with added zombies for utter mayhem.


Excerpt 

Red lost track of how many bullets she'd fired, until the dreaded click of an empty chamber. She knelt on the ground, with an eye on the approaching mob, and slipped her hand inside one of her saddlebags in a frantic search for more ammunition, but came up empty.

Damn it.

She searched the other saddlebag, and though the cool metal cartridges graced her fingertips, she had to let them go. The zombies fell upon her. Swinging the rifle above her head, she slammed the butt of the weapon into the face of the closest walker, breaking its bloody jaw, but failing to hinder its progress. She swung again and connected with its skull, which bust open and sent the zombie sprawling to the ground at her feet. One down, but six more ready to destroy her, each aiming for a limb, an organ, a bit of flesh, a chunk of her existence.

"Reload." Wen yelled. The blade of his machete sung through the air and sliced through the neck of the nearest zombie, separating the head from its body. "Do it! Now!"

He beheaded two more as she grabbed a handful of bullets and jammed them into the rifle, her handsshakier than normal. She cocked the gun in one swift movement and fired just left of Wen, taking down the decomposed walker.

"Jeez, watch it!" Wen eyed her as if she was crazy.

To prove she was a better shot than both of the men, she fired once more to the right of Wen, within inches of his shoulder, sending a bullet into the zombie he planned to decapitate.

He whipped around. "Okay, I get it!"

No more time for games. She rolled onto her side and fired more bullets as the band of walking dead crept nearer. 

Wen sliced through heads with a skill that impressed her, and held them at bay while she reloaded—a team effort she highly appreciated.

Red had no idea what Cowboy was up to, but heard him firing off shots of his own. She worked with Wen to kill the crowd of wagon zombies that advanced upon them. Mothers, fathers, teamsters, small children—it didn't matter. Sentiment had no place in zombie annihilation. She didn't miss a single target, as each forehead was penetrated and the dilapidated bodies collapsed to the ground.

When no more approached from her direction, she waited for a second to be sure, and then rolled onto her belly to take on any coming from behind. Only there weren't any. A pleasant, yet unexpected surprise. Cowboy stood there, watching and waiting with his rifle raised. Wen held his machete across his chest, ready as well. Silence prevailed, but for the sound of their own rapid breathing. As quickly as it had begun, it ended, but none of them were willing to let their guard down just yet.

"Everyone okay?" Cowboy asked, the butt of his rifle still pressed against his shoulder. "Anyone bit? Hurt?"

Wen shook his head. "I'm good. I'm real good."

Red slowly stood, her rifle shaking in her hands. "I'm good too."

"Perfect." Cowboy lowered his weapon and smiled. "Couldn't have gone better."

"We need to burn the bodies. Pile them. Set them ablaze. But"—she indicated the bloody mess that covered her from head to toe with an unnatural tremble in her fingers—"I need to get this off of me."

Cowboy scanned her body and lingered on her bare legs poking out from under her night shirt.

"Go." He turned away out of respect. "We'll keep an eye out and start putting them in a pile. Get cleaned up."

Red stepped over the zombie corpses littering her path and returned to the wagon that had provided such peace the night before. Her hands twitched more now, but she managed to toss the remaining dead zombie out onto the ground before sinking onto a clean area of the mattress.

She inched up the bottom of her soiled night shirt to reveal what she knew was there all along—a gaping hole on her thigh, several inches deep. The bite mark bubbled and spilled red, foamy droplets onto the mattress below. She didn't know which zombie had bit her or when it happened, not that the details mattered, only that the pain was excruciating and its liquid heat radiated through her veins. She balled her fist and punched the mattress once, then twice more.

Damn it.

With nothing more to do, she leaned her head back against the side of the wagon and waited.

About Angela Scott

 

Angela Scott hears voices. Tiny fictional people sit on her shoulders and whisper their stories in her ear. Instead of medicating herself, she decided to pick up a pen, write down everything those voices tell me, and turn it into a book. She’s not crazy. She’s an author. For the most part, she writes contemporary Young Adult novels. However, through a writing exercise that spiraled out of control, she found herself writing about zombies terrorizing the Wild Wild West–and loving it. Her zombies don’t sparkle, and they definitely don’t cuddle. At least, she wouldn’t suggest it. She lives on the benches of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains with two lovely children, one teenager, and a very patient husband. She graduated from Utah State University with a B.A. degree in English, not because of her love for the written word, but because it was the only major that didn’t require math. She can’t spell, and grammar is her arch nemesis. But they gave her the degree, and there are no take backs. Find Angela Scott on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Get the book!

Find the Zombie West Trilogy on Amazon. Don't forget to add the Zombie West Omnibus to your Goodreads to-read shelf. Connect with Angela Scott on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Unusual Awakening by S.M. Knowles

Unusual Awakening

By- S.M. Knowles

Publication Date- December 1, 2013

Genre-YA

Blurb:

With tears and a tight hug, Rylee Everley’s dad left for Afghanistan with the Army Reserve. Since his deployment, her mom has been distant, her sisters are constantly fighting, and Rylee, at only thirteen years old, has to be the glue to keep them together. While her mother stays locked in her room, Rylee has been forced into the role of parent.

Now, two years later, a freak accident involving a bus at school promises to restore some normality to her family. In spite of not knowing how their father is, her mother is happy and her sisters don’t seem to fight as much as they used to. Rylee herself is seeing more of her friends and is even trying to sort out her own feelings about Brock Parker. However, something dark threatens to disrupt that normality for personal gain, and that darkness is willing to break every rule to get what it wants.

 

Get it here:
Amazon

Excerpt:

Getting up, I walk over to the tree line. I don’t see anything around, so I grab a rock and throw it to scare off any animals. Walking in further, I call out, “Hello?” Everything is quiet. I wait a few more seconds. Something feels off. Walking in a little further, I hear a branch break. I know I didn’t step on anything, so something’s unquestionably out there. “Who’s out here?” I yell. A big oak tree stands directly in front of me, right next to him. “No, no, no, no,” I beg.

About the author:

S.M. Knowles was born in Elmira, New York where she was swept away in a whirlwind to the Land of Oz—Independence, Kansas. Her parents were relocating for working opportunities and decided that this would be the perfect place to start new roots. Little did she know that this place would contribute to the inspiration for the first book she wrote in her Rylee Everley Series.

While growing up, S.M. would travel the roads around her house while imagining she was somewhere else. Her imagination would take her everywhere, making the long hot summer days seem shorter throughout her fantasies.

At the age of twelve, she decided to write her first book. Filled mostly with dialog, she filled up one-hundred pages, front and back. After taking the book downstairs to show her mom, and persuading her to buy her more paper, she excitedly ran back to her room. As she barreled through the door, S.M. tripped over items left on her floor, and her papers came raining down in her room. Discouraged, she stood there in tears, picking up her papers and throwing them in the trash. Her work had no organization, no numbers on her pages, just a child fulfilling a joy that she would put down and not pick up again.

When she became older, she joined the military for something different. In that time, she was able to explore many places and even met her husband in Iraq. After coming home, she started her family in Arizona and went back to school, earning a Master’s degree in Adult Education and Training. 

Check her out:

Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/SMKnowles1

Website- http://smknowles.com/

Twitter- https://twitter.com/SMKnowles1  

GIVEAWAY!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/bfdedc2/ 

The Fault In Ours Stars Trailer!!!

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Warrior's Moon by Jacyln M. Hawkes

Warrior's Moon

Medieval Historical Romance by Jaclyn M. Hawkes   Never in all the kingdom has there been a more brave and protective champion. Nor such a loyal and capable maiden. And they loved each other desperately. But is their love strong enough to withstand all their dark age holds—danger, feudalism, disease, and unfair oppression? Yes, they truly loved each other desperately. They loved their kingdom more.  

Amazon * Smashwords

Barnes & Noble

Praise for Warrior's Moon

"This book has adventure, memorable characters, and tons of action. There is even romance! I absolutely loved it!!!" ~Laura (Goodreads)

"I loved this book! Great characters, I love a strong female lead. I really enjoy all of Jaclyn Hawkes books, but I must say this in one of my favorites!" ~ KMon (Amazon)

Tour Schedule

Author Jaclyn M. Hawkes

Jaclyn M. Hawkes grew up in Utah with 6 sisters, 4 brothers and any number of pets. (It was never boring!) She got a bachelor’s degree, had a career and traveled extensively before settling down to her life’s work of being the mother of four magnificent and sometimes challenging children. She loves shellfish, the out of doors, the youth and hearing her children laugh. She and her fine husband, their family, and their sometimes very large pets, now live in a mountain valley in northern Utah, where it smells like heaven and kids still move sprinkler pipe.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

  Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash 

 Ends 2/23/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Fender Bender Blues by Niecey Roy

Presented by:

Book Info-

Title: Fender Bender Blues

Author: Niecey Roy

Genre: Contemporary Romance / Romantic Comedy

Audience: Adult

Formats: eBook / print

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Cover By: Debbie Taylor

Editor: DJ Hendrickson

Pages: 358

ISBN Print: 978-1-61217-741-0

ISBN Digital: 978-1-61217-742-7

ASIN: B00B5L71YQ

Date Published: January 24, 2013 Amazon

     

          

Blurb-

Her life took a wrong turn. He's driven by success. They didn't count on crashing into love...

Rachel Bennett loved her job until the day she finds herself doubting her choices.  Now she's hunting for a new career, but starting over isn't easy.  Her plan is simple—no distractions until she finds her dream job.  She didn't plan on fate throwing her a curveball in the form of a fender bender with a sexy guy in an expensive suit.

Craig Larsen is a wealthy, successful business owner with a plan of his own: survive his current PR nightmare and stay away from his overly determined ex-girlfriend.  His need for control and personal success is turned upside down when he meets Rach, a sassy redhead who can't drive.

Soon they find themselves battling with Rach's grumpy old neighbor, toilet-papering the trees of a high school nemesis, and fighting over the last slice of pizza.  Can two very different people plus one fender bender equal a chance at forever?

Just one little nudge, she thought and leaned closer to go in for the kill. He deserved it. She almost giggled at the thought of dumping him on the floor. She sucked in her cheeks to keep from smiling and edged closer...

Book Links-

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Ibooks / Kobo / ARe / Wild Rose Press

"Classic cars, garden gnomes, and steamy romance? My kind of book!"

~Bestselling Author Kate Perry

“Reading Niecey Roy’s Fender Bender Blues is like eating Lays Potato chips. Once you start, you can’t stop! It’s just that good! For a new (non-fattening) addiction, read Niecey Roy!!! ~Robyn Peterman author of HOW HARD CAN IT BE?

"Fender Bender Blues is a rip-roarin' good time from start to finish. Filled with handsome men, crazy friends, and love scenes to rev up your engines, you don't want to miss this one!" ~Amie Louellen, author of Brodie's Bride and Love Potion Me, Baby

Excerpt-

“Now what?”

“Nothing.” Rach sniffed.

Craig shifted to eye her warily. “Since when do you answer me with single words?”

“Since I decided I’m not talking to you,” she answered with a shrug, crumpling up the white paper wrapper from her sub.  

Craig leaned his face in close to her neck and enjoyed the startled jerk of her shoulders. Her eyes opened wide in surprise. His breath shifted a few strands of hair at the nape of her neck as he whispered, “Why, because you want me?”

“You’re incorrigible,” she said, breathless, her cheeks flushed.

She’s enjoying this. The thought pleased him. Rach was on her back beside him now, her eyes closed. He glanced around the park to see if anyone was watching. No one was. He could swoop in for a kiss and no one would catch him. No one would care, he told himself. She won’t mind…

“I can feel you staring.”

Craig smiled down at her. “So what.”

She peeked at him with one green eye. “So stop it.”

“And if I don’t?” Maybe she’d tackle him, push him down on the blanket and…

She didn’t. She promptly closed her eye and went back to pretending indifference. “I’ll hit you, that’s what.”

“Not if I do this, you won’t.”

He’d only meant it to be a short kiss, but the pleasure of touching his lips to hers kept him there longer. Her tongue was velvet soft and warm against his and the slow mating of their mouths quickened his heartbeat even as he told himself, It’s no big deal, just a kiss.

She nipped his bottom lip and sent heat sliding through his body. The woman could kiss.

She whispered soft against his lips, “Now why don’t you admit that it’s you who wants me.”

Giveaway -

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author –

Niecey Roy knew she wanted to be a writer from a very young age, but her moment of enlightenment came after watching the movie You’ve Got Mail. It was then she realized her place in life, and happily parked her butt on writing romance. Her dream was to create sexy vixens, hunky, half-naked heroes, and above all, romance; lots and lots of butterflies in the belly, breathless first kisses and happily-ever-afters.

When she’s not at her day job where she works as a legal assistant, she can be found at home at a cluttered desk, pounding her tired little fingers away on a keyboard with nothing but black pepper flavored sunflower seeds and Visine as her weapons for mass-romance-novel-creation. When her fingers need a break, you’ll find her at a table with friends, drinking a few martinis and showing off a new pair of (sometimes ridiculous) high heels. She’s usually the loudest at the table and most often the one snorting with laughter.  

Niecey is the author of Fender Bender Blues, a contemporary romantic comedy published by The Wild Rose Press. Her new novel to be released November 2013, Another Shot At Love, is the first novel in the What’s Love??? series.

Media Links –

Email / Website /Blog /Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Tumblr