Event is coming!

That's right! I am in the midst of working with my assistant in planning a Sweetly Clean Romance Blog event. It will mean a Facebook party, blog takeovers and a whole lot of fun. Right now it event is looking like it will begin July 15th, but I will keep you posted, as this is not yet set in stone. It's going to be a lot of fun, so be looking for dates, author names, and other details as we get them together.

Clean with violence?

Mostly, Clean Romances in all their subgenres are known not only for being clean in the romance area, but also in regards to violence. It's pretty simple - no violence at all, or if there is some, it implied or extremely light. A quick punch or kick and the curtain closes on the scene.

Now, I have to admit, my books don't always conform to the strictest lines of these guidelines. Not just for the sake of violence, but because the storyline requires the altercations.

A story can't be sweet with violence, it's kind of an oxymoron. But can it still be clean? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Blog Tour stop for Torn Canvas by Donna Weaver

Title: TORN CANVAS (Safe Harbors, #2)

Author: Donna K. Weaver

Release Date: May 28, 2014

Pages: 376

Find it: Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

Genre: Fiction | Adventure | Contemporary Romance

Modern-day pirates took more than Jori Virtanen’s friends; they stole his face. Not only does the twenty-four-year-old former model have to confront months of reconstructive surgery, he discovers his previous life was as superficial as his looks. Jori struggles to make a new life for himself as an artist while evading the press. They expect a hero, but he knows the truth. His beauty masks a beast.
Olivia Howard’s given up a normal life for her job, and the sacrifices are finally paying off. The twenty-six-year-old talk-show host’s ratings are heading to the top of the charts. Her dream is to make a difference in people’s lives, but the studio wants mind fluff—like interviewing hot model Jori Virtanen. When Olivia learns the guy helped rescue passengers on a cruise excursion from kidnappers, she knows this is the story she needs to make her case. The only problem is the hero was injured, and now he’s disappeared.
The more Olivia learns about the man behind the scar, the more intrigued she becomes. But Jori is no girl’s happily ever after. Once she finds him, Olivia has to free his heart and heal the beast.

Donna K. Weaver is a Navy brat who joined the Army and has lived in Asia and Europe. Because she sailed the Pacific three times as a child, she loves cruising and wishes she could accrue enough vacation time to do more of it with her husband. 

Donna and her husband have six children and eight grandchildren who live all over the world. 

At fifty, Donna decided to study karate and earned her black belt in Shorei Kempo.  

After recording city council minutes for twenty years, Donna decided to write something a little longer and with a lot more emotion--and kissing.

Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Website 
 Pinterest | YouTube | Google+

June 16^th – Sweetly Clean Romance – Review/Excerpt
 June 16^th – Gamila's Review  – Review
 June 16^h – Cindy M. Hogan – Review/Playlist
 June 17^th – Peering Into – Review
 June 17^th – Krista Wayment – Guest Post
 June 17^th – Laura D. Bastian  – Review
 June 17^th – Christy Dorrity Author – Interview
 June 18^th – Leigh Covington – Interview/Highlight
 June 18^th – Canda's Ink Blast – Review
 June 18^th – Diann T. Read – Spotlight
 June 18^th – Meetings With My Muse – Spotlight
 June 18^th – Medeia Sharif – Top Ten/ Spotlight
 June 18^th – Bookish – Playlist/Top Ten
 June 19^th – Lucinda Whitney – Review/Interview
 June 19^th – YA Author Elana Johnson – Interview
 June 19^th – Why Not? Because I Said So – Review
 June 19^th – Jordan McCollum – Spotlight/GP
 June 20^th – Feather Pens, Tartan Dreams  – Review/Guest Post
 June 20^th – Lindzee Armstrong/Lydia Winters – Review
 June 20^th – Author Brooke Williams – GP/Spotlight
 June 20^th – Wordpaintings Unlimited – Spotlight
 June 20^th – Mins Reads and Reviews – Review
 June 20^th – Meredith Mansfield – Review

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by:

MY REVIEW:

Torn Canvas was the first book of Donna Weaver's that I've read, and I will most certainly be reading more.

Olivia lives the life I dreamed of when I was younger - well, almost. As a television host, she has notoriety and success. But also stalkers and a lack of a personal remedied only by an anonymous online persona she escapes to as often as possible. She's tired of the same ol' routine, and more tired of interviewing the dull self-centered celebrities management keeps pushing her way. At first glance of his photo, she guesses the handsome face is just like all the others. Until she learns he was a hero in a pirate takeover of a cruise ship. And he won't walk to her.

Jori is handsome and successful, and the kind of guy every woman who searching for true love dreads. A consummate ladies' man, Jori doesn't take any relationship seriously, and allows a painful past define who he is. But after the pirates leave his face scarred, Jori needs to find himself again. He can no longer model, and he also finds himself caring about a couple women who he hasn't led to the bed.

Both Olivia and Jori need to get past themselves to open their hearts to the possibility of love. This romance has mystery and adventure, and is a wonderful. It is the second book in a series, but I can honestly say, not having read the first one, that didn't take away from how much I enjoyed the story. It's a complete story all by itself.

My rating: 5 Stars. Wonderful Story Ms. Weaver!!!

Torn Canvas Teasers:

Leaning back in the Queen Anne chair, Jori scanned the chaotic room, littered with the remnants of his former life. He asked himself the same question he had been asking for days. Why had he been spared, when someone like Braedon might be gone? Calm Braedon. The gifted pianist. The surgeon. Why would someone who saved people’s lives be taken and a shallow, hedonistic model be spared? Jori pinched the bridge of his nose. He had been given a second chance; he better make it count.

Used to the routine of the past three days, Olivia handed over her apartment keys. While Nate verified that the alarm system was on, she checked her door for signs of anymore disgusting graffiti. She shivered, thinking about what he—she assumed it was a man—had spray painted on her door. Graphic images in red paint. The apartment management had promised increased security and had replaced the door. She wondered if it had been discarded or if the police had kept it as evidence.

All Jori’s pent-up frustration poured out. No way was that pig getting at Elle. He pushed her behind him and held up his hands, keeping them at a good defensive height and shifting his feet slightly for a better Hapkido fighting stance. The wet decks would be a problem. Of course, getting shot with the rifle would too. Jori took a cleansing breath.

Cover Reveal for Hawke's Nest by Darcy Flynn

COMING JUNE 20TH!!!

Hawke's Nest

by Darcy Flynn

Running away is nothing new for Annie Dell, aka high-fashion model Anna Delany. With the paparazzi hot on her trail, an out of town wedding couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. What better place to hide out than the quaint Florida beach town Liddy’s told her so much about. But a delayed flight, the mix up with the car rental, then a speeding ticket from the local Sheriff of Nottingham, her getaway is looking anything but relaxing.

Franklin County Sheriff, Levi Hawke, is tired of the spoiled, out-of-control students on fall break, who think they can speed through his county without consequence. After giving a ticket to a beautiful young woman he assumes is just another daddy’s girl looking for some fun in the sun, he discovers she’s his weekend date at his best friend’s wedding.

Through gritted teeth, masked by a half-hearted truce, they survive the weekend, only to find themselves stranded alone in the middle of a hurricane. You can discover a lot about a person while spending thirty-six hours without the comforts of electricity and modern conveniences. When circumstances further extend her stay in town, Levi pries deeper to find out what Annie’s running from. He knows when someone is haunted by their past. As the saying goes ... it takes one to know one.

Excerpt One: 

Levi lifted his glass to his lips, sipped his wine, and watched her. He hadn’t missed the slight flush to her cheeks. If anything, it made her more beautiful. Gave her an innocence he was certain she didn’t possess. At that moment, the small orchestra began to play and several more couples moved to the dance floor.

“Would you like to dance?” he asked.

She lifted her eyes to his and blinked. Pleased to see he had surprised her, he stood and held out his hand.

I’m not the small town bumpkin you thought I was.

She hesitated, but only for a moment, then stood and placed her hand in his. He led her to the dance floor and deftly took her into his arms. He placed his hand against the small of her back and pulled her closer. Her silky dress did little to hide her slender form or the warmth emanating from her skin. He couldn’t lie. The combination of chiffon and flesh raised his heart up a notch. Her lips parted and she drew in a deep breath. The small, but audible sound pleased him. Could he actually be making little miss snooty nervous? Her chest rose and fell as she strove to gain her footing. “Sorry, is my grip too tight?”

“No. No, it’s fine.”

She was lying. He was trained to know when someone wasn’t telling him the truth.

“You dance beautifully,” she said.

“You sound surprised.”

“I am. In New York, I went dancing often. You’d be surprised how few men can dance. Really well, I mean. Most of them have two left feet and by the end of the evening my toes would end up black and blue.”

Open and frank, her eyes held just a hint of laughter. His stomach lurched at her candid, forthright gaze. Wholesome. That he wasn’t expecting and he was surprised at the sudden pull against his ribs. He didn’t much like it. He liked it better when she played it coy. That he could deal with. This sudden, sweet innocent act was just that, an act. He deliberately twirled her hard and fast around another couple. She stumbled and she gasped. Daggers shot from her eyes.

There she is. She couldn’t stand him. Well, that was fine with him. The feeling was mutual.

Excerpt Two:

Annie took a sip of Sauvignon Blanc and glanced at Levi. He had shoved his chair back from the table and sat holding his wine glass in his right hand while perusing her with his keen baby blues.

Blatantly.

Openly.

Audaciously.

Fine, she could handle his rude stares. She’d been ogled by far worse than him. She tilted her head to one side and smiled. The smile photographer Dave Mandel of Glamour Magazine claimed was irresistible. Well, no time like the present to put that ridiculous statement to the test.

“So, Sheriff.” She scooted her chair closer to his and the sudden alarm that entered his eyes was delicious. She lifted her glass in the air. “I propose we call a truce. After all, we’re here to celebrate the wedding of your best friend and my best friend. And since we’ve been paired for the weekend, by the matchmaking bride, we may as well make the most of it.”

She gave him her most candid, but coy expression, daring him to disagree. “What do you say?” she coaxed softly.

“How could I deny such an earnest and sincere request?”

Something about the way he said it churned her insides, but she gave nothing away as she smiled brightly at him. Tilting his head in salute, he raised his glass and touched it to hers, the sound of crystal sealing the deal.

Social Links: 

Website/Blog: www.darcyflynnromances.com 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/darcyflynn

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/DarcyFlynnAuthor

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0077AG3ZM

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2975929.Darcy_Flynn

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/dflynnauthor/boards/

Google+: https://plus.google.com/116563609469381811624/posts?tab=XX

Buy Links for Darcy Flynn's other books: 

Sealed With a Kiss: http://www.amazon.com/Sealed-With-Kiss-Prequel-Keeper-ebook/dp/B00HB7N13S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395275002&sr=8-1&keywords=Sealed+With+a+Kiss+by+darcy+flynn

Sealed With a Kiss: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/406072

Keeper of My Heart: http://www.amazon.com/Keeper-My-Heart-Darcy-Flynn-ebook/dp/B00775ITM2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1395275309&sr=1-1&keywords=keeper+of+my+heart+by+darcy+flynn

Rogue’s Son: http://www.amazon.com/Rogues-Son-Darcy-Flynn-ebook/dp/B00HMROJFQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1395275110&sr=1-1&keywords=rogue%27s+son+by+darcy+flynn

BIO:

Darcy Flynn is known for her heartwarming, sweet contemporary romances. Her refreshing storylines, irritatingly handsome heroes and feisty heroines will delight and entertain you from the first page to the last. Miss Flynn’s heroes and heroines have a tangible chemistry that is entertaining, humorous and competitive.

Darcy lives with her husband, son, two English Setters and a menagerie of other living creatures on her horse farm in Franklin, Tennessee. She raises rare breed chickens, stargazes on warm summer nights and indulges daily in afternoon tea.  

Sad News ...

Pirating is hard to avoid for authors. The internet makes it easy to find just about anything, and there's  no way for anyone to protect their work 100%. As authors, we can only hope, if we do fall victim to pirating, it doesn't hurt too badly, and isn't done to a massive scale. 

But when a book blog, one of the outlets authors use to get their work out to you, the readers, is found out to be pirating, it's discouraging. Heart-breaking. Maddening. The blogs you follow to find books are trusted in the care of review copies and tours, and when they breach this trust, it's easy to question what blogs can be trusted. And how do you know? 

For that question, I'm not sure there is any way to be sure, without a shadows of a doubt, the blogs you read and authors trust are practicing "above board". But here are some good barometers to go by: 

When the blog does a giveaway, do they refer you to the author to claim your book prize? Most of the time, the giveaways are being offered by the author, and not the blog. That means, when you win a book, you have to contact the author to claim the prize. If not, see the next question.

If not, are they giving you a Amazon Kindle ebook, or a pdf file? Blogs given away prizes seperate from the author should be giving away a Kindle ebook, or Nook, or Kobo, or some other purchasable, site. Authors do not give .pdf or other file types to be provided to blogs to be given away at the blogger's discretion. 

If you have any doubts, contact the author and ask them. I guarantee you, they will appreciate you reaching out to them. 

Feature Book: Stiletto Heels or Bicycle Wheels? by Lindsey Paley

Today's feature book has such a great, fun title! Here's what it's about, make sure to check out the feature book page for social and buy links to get your copy!

When stressed out New York executive Rosie Hamilton inherits her Aunt Bernice’s run-down cottage, it couldn’t have come at a better time. With her love life, if she could call it that, exploded in her face and suspension from her job swinging through the corporate jungle, she reckons a couple weeks in Devon could be just the escape she needs from the glamorous, yet trauma-strewn landscape of her life in Manhattan.

But life hidden away in the thatched lodge is dull and how can she contemplate tackling the jungle of a garden in her Louboutins and Armani skirt suit?

Rosie, uncomfortable with the invasion of privacy masquerading as community spirit, yearns to return to her old life of social indifference, until she stumbles upon her aunt’s old, hand-illustrated recipe book .With no other activity to occupy her time, she bakes, bakes, bakes as if her life depends on it. With no form of transport either, Rosie takes to the road on Bernice’s ancient bicycle, warm Devonshire scones in the wicket basket up front.

She even has time to date! Austin, her aunt’s handsome, sharp-suited solicitor is straight from her New York wish list of boyfriend material; and Charlie, the local luxury Spa Hotel’s general maintenance guy, definitely not her type, irritatingly chirpy and lacking in life’s ambition.

With recipes from Aunt Bernice’s own baking book for you to try at home; Corporate Manhattan or rural Devon? Austin or Charlie? ‘Stiletto Heels or Bicycles Wheels?’ Which would you choose?

Book Reviews

I'm behind on my reviews. Really behind. With a desk that is momentarily cleared of anything else as of last night, I'm planning on spending a good part of the weekend trying to catch up, at least a little. To everyone I promised a review to, please accept my apologies and know I am working on them as quickly as possible. To my readers, I'll have them up on the blog as soon as I can. And to everyone needing a review, at this time, I'm going to have to close on taking on more until I have a chance to catch up.

In the meantime, I remain open to taking feature books and ads, so please don't be afraid to request a spot, or refer someone to me.

Thank you for your patience!

Blog Tour Stop for Surviving by J.L. Sprague

Living
in a world where there are only lows and never highs, Jenna’s memory has
trained itself to forget. Forgetting the bad was never a problem for Jenna
until she forgets the one memory she never should have forgotten.

Landon
has never forgotten, even when he desperately wishes he could. She haunts him.
By chance they meet again but Jenna still does not remember Landon. What Landon
doesn’t know is that Jenna has secrets. Secrets that change everything.

Their
love for one another is the only thing that can heal years of abuse – for both
of them.

When
tragedy strikes memories are triggered and Jenna’s whole world changes.

Can
Landon help Jenna survive at the hands of a madman? 

Goodreads

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Paperback US

Paperback UK

Turning the
knob, I opened the door, stepped inside then quickly turned around, not allowing
Landon to come inside.

"Thank you
for your help," I told him, hoping this would appease him, knowing it
wouldn't. But I didn't get the chance to find out for sure.

"Oh
darlin', who do we have here?" My grandmother asked behind me as I stood
there, gaping to myself.

"It's
nobody Granny, you can go back in the den." I hoped to god she would take
the bait.

"Oh honey,
don't be rude. Introduce me to your friend," she said as she came up
beside me, opening the door wide, then reaching her hand out to introduce
herself. "Cecelia, nice you meet you. You are?" But then she got a
good look at him. "Oh, dear." Her voice sounded grave as she took in
who he was. Who he most likely was in her eyes. But there was no denying it,
Eli was the spitting image of Landon. I really wasn't sure how I didn't make
the connection the moment I saw Landon. How was I going to explain to her that
I found the man who deflowered me and gave me a son? Now he was standing here
without a clue.

Granny snapped
her eyes back to me with a worried look on her face and a terrified look in her
eyes.

Then he spoke.
He spoke words that terrified me. I knew my grandmother would take them
completely wrong. I didn't want her thinking I was keeping things from her. But
this? How was I supposed to tell her?

"By the
look on your face, I'm going to assume you already know who I am. I'm sure
Jenna's already told you." Seriously? I knew what he meant. He meant 'You already know I took her virginity on a
drunken night she doesn't remember', NOT, 'I see she told you that I’m Eli's long lost father'. Geez.

But I hadn't
told her anything about finding him. Nothing. At all. I wish I would have; it
would have made this moment so much better, not to mention eased my mind. But
she was already dealing with my father being released from prison. She didn't
need too much stress, she wasn't exactly a young woman.

My grandmother just continued to stare at me without saying anything.
Trying to communicate everything she wanted to say with her eyes. I hoped Eli
was asleep. Then again...why was I fighting this again? Wouldn't it be so much
easier to just get it out in the open?

“What’s on your mind, love?” I couldn’t
help but wonder if it was the shit-storm brewing or if it was memories from her
childhood. Or something altogether different. Hoping it was something different
was just that – hopeful. I could usually read her so well.

She looked up at me with surprise in
her eyes. She hadn’t realized I was awake.

“Baby,” I said back at her on a
squeeze.

The way she looked at me I knew what
she needed so I gave it to her. After her moments of reflection she gave in.

“There’s a couple of things on my mind
Landon.” She stopped and just looked at me. I knew she wanted to give it to me
but yet didn’t at the same time. Luckily, she continued. “First I was wondering
why we haven’t… well, you know… yet.” And she stopped. I really didn’t want to
get into this conversation first thing in the morning, but I also knew… she
deserved an answer, she deserved everything.

“Beautiful… The more I get to know you
the more I realize how precious you are. I can’t treat you like you’re just
some random chick like I’ve always done. No matter how much I want you I can
wait. The way I feel about you… I can’t throw you away, not ever, because
you’re my sunshine in world full of dark.”

Her eyes never left mine but I saw her
swallow and I could see the shimmer of tears she was forcing back. So I kept
going, “You don’t give me hope Jen, you are my hope. Hope for a better future
than the demons of my past. So baby, we’re gonna go slow. We’re gonna learn
everything about each other. We’re gonna keep exploring our relationship and
hope it blossoms into what we both know it could be. I want you to feel safe
with me. So safe that you can give me your demons because baby, that’s what I
want for us. I want to hold the burden of your demons and eventually, for you
to feel safe and strong enough to hold mine.”

A lone tear finally fell from her eye.
“Thank you Landon,” she whispered. “Thank you so much.”

My arms circled her close as she
silently sobbed into my chest.

Facebook

Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

brought to you by

Cover Reveal Blog Stop for Relentless Hope

Releasing June 24, 2014

Sometimes playing by the rules and doing everything right is just not enough. A single mistake can turn your entire existence upside down, and irreversibly change the course of your life.

Aleah Lateef’s life changed after one bad judgment led to her being attacked, threatened, and abandoned by all her friends and family. Having been forced to drop out of college, with no money, no job, and no one to turn to, Aleah finds herself on the verge of homelessness and about to lose all hope. One chance encounter with an unlikely savior, however, takes her life on a journey she never imagined taking. 

Relentless Hope is book 1 in a story of losing everything and finding yourself as a result. It is a tale of the resiliency of the human heart in the face of continuous difficulties. This is the journey of a young woman’s struggles to find her way in the world and the unlikely friendships she forms along the way. It is the story of finding love in the most unlikely places and losing it all when you least expect it.

FACEBOOK / GOODREADS / WEBSITE / TWITTER

Ashley Cassidy is an avid reader with a lifelong passion for writing, who has decided to share her love of writing with the world. Though she reads all genres, her favorite books are romance novels with happy endings.

When she’s not reading or writing, Ashley can be found spending time with her family, enjoying the outdoors, and sipping on a cup of coffee.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

HOSTED BY: