HOLLYWOOD EVER AFTER - REVIEW, GUEST BLOG & GIVEAWAY

"But when Claire falls, literally, into the strong arms of Hollywood’s 'it' boy Josh Wiley, Claire’s in for some surprises. Her plans for rest and relaxation are forgotten as one incredible night with Josh becomes two… And her heart begins to want him as much as her body."

Author: Sasha Summers
Pages: 306 pages
Publisher: InkSpell Publishing on July 14th 2012
Form: E-book (from tour for an honest review)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Red Carpet Series  #1
Amazon: Buy / $13.99 (Paperback) ( EU price, click to see yours )
Barnes & Noble: Buy / $14.15 (Paperback)
InkSpell: Buy / $3.50 (E-book)
Excerpt: Chapter 1

"Happy Endings are for fairy tales. Or the movies. Not for real life. At least, not in Claire’s life. Even though she’s starting over, she knows better than to want too much this time.

But when she falls, literally, into the strong arms of Hollywood’s 'it' boy Josh Wiley, Claire’s in for some surprises. Her plans for rest and relaxation are forgotten as one incredible night with Josh becomes two… And her heart begins to want him as much as her body.

Will two kids, one bastard ex-husband, and Josh’s juggernaut career mean the end of their affair? Or can Claire find her happy ending after all." ~From Goodreads

I apologize before hand that for the shortness of this review - I hurt my back and sitting by the computer is quite painful.

Hollywood Ever After is a beautiful love story of a woman with an abuse past, blooming while spending a birthday weekend in Hollywood with her producer friend and meeting a striking movie heartthrob who ends up being more down to earth than the norm glitz of Hollywood.

The plot was good, contemporary romance with a little suspense twist. The twist being Claire's abusive and controlling ex-husband who doesn't take liking to Claire looking happy and dating Josh and harassing her for it. Also I usually don't like kids in a love story but I actually really liked Claire's kids and how Josh was with them - they weren't the source of drama and I loved it!

The romance was beautiful, Josh and Claire were a great match and even though they started with a bang the story turned sweet and I loved the whole journey they went through to telling each other they loved one another to the ex messing with things. But I loved how secure Josh was and wasn't intimidated by Claire's ex or her past - absolutely loved it.

If it hadn't been for the papz and the premieres totally heartthrob Josh would have been like any other decent guy falling in love. I absolutely love these domestic abuse survivor stories, not so much the victim stories but when the woman is a survivor and meets a really great guy I think makes for a amazing novel.

Can't wait to read Hollywood Holiday the Book Two in the Red Carpet Series coming in  December 2012!

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Why do we fantasize about Hollywood Heartthrobs through novels?

           This is a great question! Thanks for giving me the chance to answer it.

           Now I’ll admit that my answer might not be the norm. I grew up in a very pro-Hollywood family. Yes, we had Oscar parties, went to see all the nominated movies, watched Entertainment Tonight, and subscribed to all the celebrity magazines.

           My first crushes were movie stars: Mel Gibson ( Year of Living Dangerously ), Christopher Reeve ( Somewhere in Time ), and River Phoenix ( anything he was in… ). When I read ( which was and is all the time ) I tend to assign actors and actresses with actors – if I like the book. Because book heroes are just as dreamy as Hollywood heart throbs so combining them is the BEST THING EVER.

           Why do we do romanticize these guys? I think we see Hollywood Heart throbs in a very positive and glamorous light. We don’t know them, but we think we do. Or rather, we wish we did. Maybe not the real them, but the way we see them. You know, these glorious men are more manly, romantic, generous, and strong than men we know – right? Probably not, but it’s sure nice to think so.

           I did, of course, ‘cast’ Josh as a pretty yummy heart throb. I wonder if you can figure out ‘who’ he is?

What a tease! ;) 

Okay, I'll give it my go... 

Josh Holloway?

Tour Wide Giveaway :

2 autographed paperback copies of the book Hollywood Ever After with bookmarks, pins, and magnets

1 custom charm bracelet with charms special to the book ( and book swag )

2 $10 Amazon gift cards

( as you leave the Blog Post Comment answer the author's question in the Guest Blog if you can ;) )

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT & GIVEAWAY OF DEADLY OBSESSION

When an Oscar-winning movie star meets a department-store photographer…

Movie star Nic Lamoureux appears to have a playboy’s perfect life. But it’s a part he plays, an act designed to conceal a dark secret he carries on his shoulders. His empty days and nights are a meaningless blur until he meets the woman who fulfills all his dreams. She and her son are the family he’s always wanted—if she can forgive a horrible mistake from his past.

A Hollywood dream…

Lauren James, a widowed single mother, earns barely enough money to support herself and her son. When she wins a photography contest and meets Nic, the man who stars in all her fantasies, her dreams, both professional and personal, are on the verge of becoming real. The attraction between Lauren and Nic is instant—and mutual. Their chemistry burns out of control during a photo shoot that could put Lauren on the fast track to a lucrative career.

Becomes a Hollywood nightmare

But an ill-advised kiss makes front-page news, and the lurid headlines threaten everything Nic and Lauren have hoped for. Before they know what’s happening, their relationship is further rocked by an obsessed and cunning stalker who’ll stop at nothing—not even murder—to have Nic to herself. When Nic falls for Lauren, the stalker zeroes in on her as the competition.

And the competition must be eliminated.

        Lauren rolled her eyes. “Fine. Do it.”
        Nic bent down and brushed his lips against hers. For the first few seconds, she didn’t kiss him back, but she didn’t push him away, either. Then, on a sigh, she leaned into him and her arms locked around his neck. His tongue darted out to taste her bottom lip. Mmm… cherry—his new favorite flavor. When her mouth opened, he didn’t hesitate.
        He dove in. And drowned.
        He’d meant this to be a quick kiss, only now he just couldn’t stop. His lips traced a path to her throat. Cupping her bottom with his hands, he lifted her up, grinding against her. She moaned. It was a beautiful sound, one he definitely wanted to hear again.
        A loud noise pierced the fog of his lust. He raised his head from where he’d been nuzzling Lauren’s apple-scented neck to tell whoever it was to fuck off, but as the sexual haze cleared, he swallowed the words. The paparazzi had gathered around, applauding and calling out crude encouragements. Some snapped photos while others rolled film. Shit. He’d pay for this fuck-up and so would she.

Two Giveaways today, first the International, e-book of Deadly Obsession, which you can enter in this Rafflecopter below...

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And second US shipping only signed print copy of Deadly Obsession! To take part in this fill the form below!

Kristine Cayne is fascinated by the mysteries of human psychology—twisted secrets, deep-seated beliefs, out-of-control desires. Add in high-stakes scenarios and real-world villains, and you have a story worth writing, and reading.

The heroes and heroines of her Deadly Vices series, beginning with Deadly Obsession, are pitted against each other by their radically opposing life experiences. By overcoming their differences and finding common ground, they triumph over their enemies and find true happiness in each other’s arms.
Today she lives in the Pacific Northwest, thriving on the mix of cultures, languages, religions and ideologies. When she’s not writing, she’s people-watching, imagining entire life stories, and inventing all sorts of danger for the unsuspecting heroes and heroines who cross her path.

Website / Facebook Author Page / Twitter

REVIEW - THE TORTURED RAKE

"No one knows the real Nathaniel, they only see the pin-up, the man he pretends to be. Until one night he is forced to rely on Katie Field, an ordinary young woman from a very different world to Nathaniel's. She may be starstuck but she isn't blinded by the bright lights of fame. Can Nathaniel trust her enough to reveal the man behind the mask?"

Author: Sarah Morgan
Pages: 148 pages
Publisher: Harlequin UK
Published: April, 2011
Form: E-book (from NetGalley for an honest review)
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Bad Blood #1 / The Notorious Wolfes #1
Amazon: Buy / $7.35 (Kindle) UK Edition ( EU price, click to see US price )
Amazon: Buy / $4.99 (Paperback) US Edition "A Night of Scandal" Buy / $3.99 (Kindle)

Harlequin: Buy / $3.99 (E-book)
Excerpt: The beginning

"Nathaniel... Icon. Celebrity. Heartthrob.

Underneath the movie star's good looks is a man battling with the demons of his past. No one knows the real Nathaniel, they only see the pin-up, the man he pretends to be. 

Until one night he is forced to rely on Katie Field, an ordinary young woman from a very different world to Nathaniel's. She may be starstuck but she isn't blinded by the bright lights of fame. Can Nathaniel trust her enough to reveal the man behind the mask? 

Let the seduction begin..." ~Goodreads

I haven't read a movie star and normal girl novel in I don't know how long, but apparently it was worth the wait because this was awesome! I truly enjoyed it, Nathaniel was cocky, proud, reclusive, charming and arrogant - in one word annoying until he met Katie his costume designer after having a not so small melt down on stage when his past decided to come back to haunt him - and then he keeps changing, reacting to her genuine happiness about life, and Nathaniel becomes more and more likeable, charming, and eventually even loveable. But he's just bit too damaged goods and that throws a stick in the wheels of this could be relationship.

I thought Katie was wonderful, she was upbeat even though her situation was bad, she had the ugly sister syndrome with her aloof and stuck-up supermodel sibling she feared comparison to. Still she always saw the silver lining, her way of handling things was talking, constantly, which was deliciously annoying to Nathaniel who was the silent brooding type. It was fun to read how some of Katie's chattiness rubbed off on Nathaniel and some of Nathaniel flare rubbed off on Katie.

The plot I loved, Nathaniel truly was damaged, almost completely beyond prepare, and Katie tried her hardest to help him and duck his advances at the same time. Stuck alone on a paradise island to escape the papz that camped on her doorstep after seeing them leave together after his disastrous opening night, they spend two weeks together, Nathaniel trying to seduce her, and Katie trying to see who Nathaniel truly is, wanting to see beyond the movie star mask.

You'll love this if... you like your movie stars to falls for a plain Janes, if you like your heroes tortured but charming and if you believe that love conquers all, even the lime light and a violent past.

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