Waiting on Wednesday #139

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

November 9 by Colleen Hoover

Publication Date: November 10th, 2015

Summary-

Beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover returns with an unforgettable love story between a writer and his unexpected muse.

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day of her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

I really love Colleen Hoover's books so I'm definitely not going to miss this one.

What are you waiting on? :)

Q4 Review Pile Reading Challenge

Hi, everyone! So you all know Rachel @ Fiktshun. Well, she has come up with a very great challenge starting October and lasting until December this year. It's basically a way to tackle the ever growing review books pile. To know more about the Q4 Review Pile Reading Challenge, go here. 

Janhvi and I will be taking part in the challenge and the level we're aiming for is Rockstar which is about 9 to 16 books. We're both pumped for this! Let's do it. If you decide to take part, make sure you grab the button: 

We wish all the participants all the luck and remember, we're with you! Let's get reading then. Thank you so much for stopping by, and happy reading! 

Review- Count Your Blessings by Sharon Sala

Goodreads Summary:

Previously titled Color Me Bad, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Sharon Sala dishes up Count Your Blessings, a contemporary romance piled high with love, laughter, and plenty of heart in Blessings, Georgia!

As the respectable wife of the town preacher, Patty June Clymer never thought she'd have to worry about a cheating husband. But when things come to a head, Patty decides to take charge of her life by kicking her no-good husband out her house, and getting a total makeover at the popular local salon. 

With a new spiky black haircut and a new outlook on life, Patty goes from mousy and meek to living large and in charge, and fairly starts a revolution in the small town of Blessings, Georgia.

REVIEW:

Sometimes, I go on a novella spree, and end up binge-reading novellas. When I picked up Count Your Blessings, it was one of those times. The novella is free on Amazon, and from what I have gathered, it was initially called Color Me Bad, and is an introductory novella to The Curl Up and Dye series. If the novella is anything to go by, the series will be fun and entertaining. 

This novella isn't a story as such, it's more about incidents that take place in a small town called Blessings. I love reading about small American towns as that gives stories a warm and welcoming touch. A place where everyone knows everyone, Blessings poses as a harbinger of gossip, especially when a brave lady named Patty June decides to take serious action against her cheating husband. 

My initial thoughts when I began reading the novella were that the story would be about salon owner, Ruby, but it turns out that it wasn't. Like I have mentioned previously, the novella is about a series of incidents that go from one person's point of view to another's but all in third person, which keeps it smooth. It doesn't get confusing at all, but I really would have liked to see more of the story taking place at the ever famous salon, because that was so much fun to read. 

The strong feminism that shines throughout this novella is admirable. But at the same time, it seemed like it leaned towards misandry at times. Keeping all that intellectual babble aside, however, Count Your Blessings was an entertaining novella that was a fast paced and extremely quick read. It would be really interesting to see how author Sharon Sala takes this story ahead, and I definitely look forward to reading it.

RATING:

Blog Tour: Born of Treasure by Jordan Mierek

It’s science, darling… Death and diamonds often dance together. 

“Clark used to be a miner, until he drank from a vial he swore was absinthe but was actually an invention to give him the ability to raise the dead. Now Clark seeks to fulfill his father's wishes to keep other inventions away from Senator Horan. His beloved Amethyst is along for the ride. Deceit, drama, romance, the insidious underbellies of gangs...How can she not be involved? Clark can't hide behind the Treasure name forever and the army still wants him for his secret abilities. If Captain Greenwood can't snare Clark, then he'll use the Treasures as collateral. Saving his father's inventions will just have to wait, especially now that the Treasures have been kicked off their ranch and driven into exile. Clark knows how to survive on the run, but that’s not the fate the Treasures deserve. He can surrender to the army or fight for his freedom, but Amethyst has other plans for fixing their troubles. She’s come across another one of the vials that gave Clark is abilities, and it looks mighty tasty.” 

 BORN OF TREASURE is Jordan Elizabeth’s third novel and second installment of the Treasure Chronicles series. This young adult fantasy with elements of steampunk and romance, published through Curiosity Quills Press, is now available for purchase. Check out BORN OF TREASURE on GoodReads for fabulous reviews! Jordan Elizabeth, formally 

Jordan Elizabeth Mierek, can often be found garbed in corsets, long skirts, and boots. Her first novel, ESCAPE FROM WITCHWOOD HOLLOW, came out in October of 2014. You can contact Jordan via her website, JordanElizabethMierek.com. 

 Craving more steampunk with the Treasure family?TREASURE DARKLY, book one of the Treasure Chronicles, is available whenever books are sold. GEARS OF BRASS, a steampunk anthology, features a short story about Amethyst. 

Win a key necklace and matching earrings worthy of Amethyst herself! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for stopping by, and happy reading! 

Review- Love Irresistibly by Julie James

Summary-

HE’S USED TO GETTING WHAT HE WANTS…

A former football star and one of Chicago’s top prosecutors, Assistant U.S. Attorney Cade Morgan will do anything to nail a corrupt state senator, which means he needs Brooke Parker’s help. As general counsel for a restaurant company, she can get a bug to the senator’s table at one of her five-star restaurants so the FBI can eavesdrop on him. All Cade has to do is convince Brooke to cooperate—and he’s not afraid to use a little charm, or the power of his office, to do just that.

AND WHAT HE WANTS IS HER.

A savvy businesswoman, Brooke knows she needs to play ball with the U.S. Attorney’s office—even if it means working with Cade. No doubt there’s a sizzling attraction beneath all their sarcastic quips, but Brooke is determined to keep things casual. Cade agrees—until a surprising turn of events throws his life into turmoil, and he realizes that he wants more than just a good time from the one woman with whom he could fall terrifyingly, irresistibly in love . . .

Review-

Julie James can do no wrong. Every time I think a book of hers can't be better than the previous one she proves me wrong. Love Irresistibly was just as fabulous as the previous books in her FBI/ U.S Attorney series and it was my complete pleasure to read this book.

Assistant U.S.Attorney and a former football star Cade Morgan will do anything to nail a corrupt state senator. And to do that he needs Brooke Parker's help. Cade was a hot, swoon worthy guy. I loved him. He kept saying how emotionally unavailable he was but where Brooke comes in every emotion he wants to avoid comes out. Cade is a charming guy. He always gets what he wants and when he finds Brooke immune to his charms he gets pulled in all the more by her.

Brooke Parker is a businesswoman. She's worked very hard to get where she is in life. But when Cade comes in she longs to have a loving relationship even though her head denies it. I loved Brooke. I loved her sarcasm and her humor. She was the perfect match for Cade. Brooke's best friend Ford was another awesome guy. I really hope we get a book for him. All the scenes with Brooke and her friends were hilarious.

The best part about Love Irresistibly was the ease with which the romance happens. There is hell lot of sexual tension between Cade and Brooke and when the tension reaches its peak, they burst into flames. Their chemistry was hot. I loved the banter between Cade and Brooke. Julie James has a way of incorporating humor, sarcasm, sass and love all into one. There are way too many reasons I love her books.

We also get to meet all the other couples from the previous books and see what's going on with them. It is not necessary to read the series in order but the whole experience definitely becomes richer if you do. I loved seeing Cade and Brooke work through their individual issues and when they finally got their happy ending I was super happy. If you're a fan of romance and you still haven't read Julie James, you should rectify it ASAP.

Waiting on Wednesday #138

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

All I Want by Jill Shalvis

Publication Date: October 6th, 2015

Summary-

From the “awesomely, incredibly talented”* New York Timesbestselling author of Still the One, comes a sexy new Animal Magnetism novel set in Sunshine, Idaho, where the sky is the limit when it comes to love.

Pilot-for-hire Zoe Stone is happy to call Sunshine, Idaho, her home base. But her quiet life is thrown for a loop when her brother’s friend Parker comes to stay with her for a week. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife special agent is a handsome flirt with a gift for getting under her skin. And the situation only escalates when Parker hires her to fly him around the area while he collects evidence on a suspected smuggler.

Now she has to live and work with the guy. But when they’re in the air, she sees another side of him. He’s driven, focused, and sharp. And while he enjoys giving commentary on her blind dates, she quickly realizes with a shock that it’s Parker who gets her engines going…

Jill Shalvis books are comfort reads for me so I know I can't go wrong with this one.

What are you waiting on? :)

Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway- The First Life of Vikram Roy by Laxmi Hariharan

An exclusive excerpt and GIVEAWAY from The First Life of Vikram Roy

The Ruby Iyer Series—by Laxmi Hariharan

I hear the staccato of shots being fired, followed by yells and howls of pain. Then, the sound of something being smashed and everything goes quiet. The TV no longer chatters. I look to the open door. The recreation room is down at the end of the corridor. The sounds of shots get closer. Without giving myself a chance to think I make a run for the door slam it shut, lock it and it’s as if that’s a signal to the rest of the men to jump to their feet. Without a word, the ten of us scram to our bunks, pull on trousers and shoes.We get our hands on whatever weapon we can find. No guns, none of us have guns. So I grab my cricket bat. (As if that’s going to make a difference?)

 Around me the others too are grabbing cricket bats and hockey sticks. Neil grabs an iron rod. An iron rod? Where did he get that from?  We drop to the floor, crouch and wait.

Should I hide under the bed? Nope, no way. Like, that is going to help.

And then a crash as the door is broken down, hacked by what looks like an axe till it’s in pieces on the floor and through it step through two men. One holding a machine gun, the other wielding an axe which he drops to the floor and instead grabs the the gun slung over his back. They are both wearing balaclavas, so we can’t see their features. Of medium height, they are muscular and dressed all in black: Black jeans and sweatshirts, their hair covered by the hoods. Their backs are to the door. They point their guns at us, signalling to us to put our hands up. I hesitate, not looking around but sense that the others too are not sure what to do. The first gunman points his gun at the nearest recruit … a boy just out of his teens and shoots him in the head.

There is a collective gasp from the room. A chill runs through me. Who are they? How did they break through the security measures of the force base? And then they are foolish enough to barge right into the heart of the training facilities of the force and shoot its cadets? Why? Why would they do that? The gunmen gesture to us and this time we follow their orders. We walk to the wall at the back of the bunkhouse and line up, hands on our heads, staring ahead.

An alarm rings out then. Finally! It’s been almost ten minutes since the shooting started. Still, the reinforcements should be here soon. Now all we need to do is keep these gun men distracted enough so they don’t kill us. As if reading my mind, the guy who’d shot the young recruit moves forward, his gun trained on us. I draw in a breath and hold it. The sweat trickles down my back. My heart is racing so fast I am sure if I look down I can see it leaping out of my chest. The gunman passes me, walks to the end of the line; then back to the middle where I am.

"You have no idea what this is about do you?" He asks.

He sounds young, as if he is barely a man himself. And something in his voice … muffled as it is, it sounds familiar. A faint recollection  grabs the edge of my mind, And then I forget everything because he leans close to Neil who is next to me, and smashes the butt of his gun into his stomach. Neil falls to the ground, moaning, holding his middle. I firm up my stomach muscles. I know I am next, I must be. I want to squeeze my eyes shut, but don’t. The gunman leans to the other side, and shoots another man in the head.

This chap collapses without a cry. What the fuck? I want to jump him right then, but that would be really stupid of me. I am not going to help anyone if I get killed will I? There are six of us left in the room now. One of the younger recruits lets out a sob, at which gunman no 2 holds his gun at him, so he shuts up immediately.

The gunman asks me, "Where are the plans?’

"What are you talking about?" I reply, trying to stay calm, struggling not to show how scared I am inside.

He only grins and in response, and without taking his eyes off me, holds his gun up and I know what what he is going to do and I scream. "No!" But it’s too late. This time he’s shot two more guys in succession. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. These guys are desperate, or crazy or both.

Besides me Neil stirs on the ground. 

The gunman takes a deep breathe, as if trying to calm himself and says, "Don’t pretend to be dumb. If you don’t get me the blue prints of the security arrangements being planned by the force for Bombay; the one that you and your team mates are being trained for, then all the rest of you die too."

Only six of us left now. Four young lives, gone just like that. I feel sick. What the fuck are these guys upto? And … and how do they know about the plans? This is top secret. The only reason I know about it, is because I’ve overheard the training officer speaking with the ACP about it on the phone last week. And only because I happened to be waiting outside his room then. And how does this gunman even know that I know the details?

Want to find out what happens next? Click here

Want to find out what happens next? Click here

About The First Life of Vikram Roy (Ruby Iyer Series)

His family is being held to ransom by a deadly mastermind. 

Vikram never should have left his family, but when Vikram's father brings his half-brother Vishal home, life will never be the same. Vikram thinks things will be better now that he's gone. He's met the love of his life, his future looks bright and then everything is shattered. Now, his family's life is hanging in the balance, and only Vikram can do what needs to be done to save them. From the bestselling dystopian fiction author with over 200 reviews and ratings of her dystopia books across Goodreads, Amazon and other retailers. 

If you’re looking for books like Hunger Games, then this dystopia romance series, The Ruby Iyer Series is it.

About the origins of Ruby Iyer:

Growing up in Bombay, my daily commute to university was inevitably nightmarish. It's just how public transport is here. The man behind you on the bus will brush up against you. You know you are going to be felt up on a crowded train platform. All you can do is accept it and get on. Or so you think. I did too, until, a young photojournalist was raped in the centre of Bombay in broad daylight.  It made me furious. Nothing had changed in this city in all these years. Then, I had a vision of this young girl who would not back down; who would follow her instincts, stand up for herself regardless of consequences.  Thus Ruby Iyer was born. Make no mistake, Ruby’s her own person. She leads. I follow. You can download the RUBY IYER DIARIES, the prequel novelette in the series free HERE

About The Many Lives of Ruby Iyer:

2015 Readers' Favorite (Bronze) YA Action

 YA Finalist 2015 IAN Book of the Year Award

Finalist 9th Annual Indie Excellence Awards

When her best friend is kidnapped, Ruby will stop at nothing to rescue him. 

Criminals run the streets of Bombay. Jam-packed with the worst degenerates. The city is a shell of the pride and joy it used to be. Ruby knows something must be done, but it isn’t until her best friend is kidnapped by the despotic Dr Braganza that she knows that she and she alone must save city, save her best friend, save the world from total destruction. Armed only with Vikram, a cop-turned-rogue they are about to embark on a road they may never return from. If you’re looking for fast-paced books like Hunger Games or dystopia fiction like Angelfall, the Ruby Iyer series is perfect for you. 

GIVEAWAY

The First Life of Vikram Roy, The THIRD book in the RUBY IYER Series, launches this month. To celebrate the launch of the FIRST LIFE OF VIKRAM ROY I am giving away a $30 gift card. Enter HERE. Winner will be drawn, Oct 1, 2015, and announced in my next newsletter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DOING MY BIT

All SEPTEMBER earnings from the RUBY IYER SERIES will be donated to SAVE THE CHILDREN: SUPPORT CHILD REFUGEES OF SYRIA. All the RUBY IYER books with their brand new covers, are on SALE all this month at 99p/c &Rs 69/49. Click HERE to buy them. 

YOU can also donate to SAVE THE CHILDREN directly HERE. 

Review- Something Beautiful by Jamie McGuire

Goodreads Summary:

America Mason, a sassy undergrad at Eastern State University, is in love with a Maddox--Shepley Maddox. Unlike his cousins, Shepley is more lover than fighter, but a road trip to her parents' home in Wichita, Kansas could mean the next step, or the end of everything.

REVIEW:

I hinted at a possible America and Shepley story in my reviews for Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster. I honestly felt that they were a sensible couple whose story had me curious. I was supremely excited when I first heard that Jamie McGuire would, in fact, release a book for them. What made me even happy was the fact that Beautiful Something wasn't a full length novel, but a short story or novella. 

While the storyline was a typical and predictable McGuire one, I did have fun reading Something Beautiful and it made me smile at the end. This isn't the most extraordinary story, which I wish it were, because like I said before, America and Shepley seemed to be very unique. Since we only had them as side characters until now, I was looking forward to seeing how they met and most importantly, how they fell in love. The latter was absent from the story, which was very disappointing.

From whatever I had read before, I was expecting America and Shepley to be these supremely different characters who would be nothing but fun to read about. Unfortunately, there was too much of unnecessary drama, which I have grown to associate with a Jamie McGuire romance. But then again, since I don't read romance on a regular basis, when I do read it, all I want is that ever famous escape for a few hours, and that's what Something Beautiful allowed me to do, so I can't really say that I hated it- because I didn't. I didn't love it either. It was just fine enough, and that's okay sometimes.

I'm waiting for a Jamie McGuire book that will blow me away like the Beautiful series did. What I love most about the author's books is that she believes Abby and Travis sell, and they do! It's so lovely meeting my most favourite book boyfriend and his family that I have grown to love, every time. It, however, disappoints me as well, because Travis always steals the show and the person whose book it's supposed to be gets sidelined. Anyway, Something Beautiful had too much drama and redundancy, but was a fun read in some places nonetheless.

RATING:

Book Spotlight: Operation India One by Shiv Kumar

Hi, guys! We are spotlighting a very interesting book today, and that is author Shiv Kumar's Operation India One. We really hope that helps you know more about the book and that you pick it ASAP to give it a go! Without much ado, let's see what we have in store for you. 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Dedicated police officer, ACP Gautam Dhaliwal, takes it upon himself to root out the MAF, a major Naxal organisation based in the remote village of Bhagatpur, Bihar, as part of the central government backed, Operation India One. As his investigations progress, however, he unmasks the official facade of development that he had set out to defend, an ugly nexus of unscrupulous politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen feeding off the oppression of the underprivileged. Torn between his commitment to the Indian State and the sympathy he begins to feel for the distressed people of Bhagatpur, and the terrorists’ supposed fight for the people’s rights, an agonized ACP Dhaliwal is forced to rethink his earlier views on the meaning of an individual’s responsibility towards fellow countrymen.

BOOK LINKS:

FACEBOOK / GOODREADS / OM BOOKS / FLIPKART / AMAZON (IN) / AMAZON (US) / INFIBEAM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Shiv Kumar works as Commercial Tax Officer for the government of Bihar. He was an engineer with a public sector company for nine years. He has travelled extensively throughout India during the course of his work.

He is passionate about reading and writing. He prefers to delve into subjects concerning socio-political realities of contemporary India. Among other interests, Shiv Kumar is fond of travel writing, thriller and crime fiction.

He can be contacted at his email.

AUTHOR LINKS: 

FACEBOOK / TWITTER

We'd like to thank author Shiv Kumar for letting us feature his book on our blog, and we do hope you end up liking the book when you read it. Thank you so much for stopping by, and happy reading! 

Review- The Closer You Come by Gena Showalter

Summary-

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter introduces the Original Heartbreakers, where three not-quite-reformed bad boys are about to meet the women who will bring them to their knees.

Just released from prison, Jase Hollister has a dark and twisted past. And now, he has only one goal: stay out of trouble. Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma, sounds like the perfect place for him and his two brothers-by-circumstance to settle down and live a nice, simple life. But model citizen isn’t exactly this rugged bachelor’s default setting—especially when it comes to a certain hot-blooded Southern beauty…

Brook Lynn Dillon has always been responsible. Not that it’s done her much good. The down-on-her-luck waitress is broke, single and fun-deprived. Until Jase comes along. He is dangerous, stunningly protective, breathtakingly sexy and as tempting as sin, and the passion sizzling between them is undeniable. But can it melt her resistance? After all, the right kind of trouble might be just what they both need.

Review-

The Closer You Come is the first full length novel in Gena Showalter's The Original Heartbreakers series. I did not enjoy the novella which preceded this book but I still wanted to give this one a try. Unfortunately this book was even worse than the last one. I had a lot of issues with the characters and their behaviour and I did not care about them.

Let's start with Jase. Jase has been released from prison after a nine year stint. He has a dark and twisted past that he doesn't want to share with anyone. He wants to live quietly in Strawberry Valley. Okay, the first thing I HATED about Jase was that he sleeps with Brook Lynn, the heroine's sister. That was horrible and the worse part was that Brook Lynn walks in on them. Secondly, I like heroes who think they are unworthy of the girl but Jase changed his mind more than a teenage girl.

Brook Lynn is supposed to be the good girl and she was. She works hard to make ends meet for her sister and her and has always been responsible. Then she meets Jase and is very attracted to him. I don't know how she was attracted to him after seeing him with her sister but she was. Brook Lynn was nice on paper but again, I didn't feel like she was unique.

Gena Showalter writes really amazing chemistry and we do get to see a bit of it with Jase and Brook Lynn. But it always got interrupted with one of them backing off and then changing their mind. It was very juvenile and frankly, I expected more. The supposed twist and the end was also unnecessary.

The ones I was really curious to know more about were West and Beck. Beck's book is next and I am eager to see the man whore fall hard. We are introduced to quite a few characters who make up Strawberry Valley. The Closer You Come could not pull me in like Gena Showalter's other read and I didn't like it very much.

Third Blogoversary & Birthdays IN + INT Giveaway!

*throws confetti* *cuts cake* *pops the bottle of champagne* *lights up firecrackers* *hugs you all* 

Hi, everyone! Yes, we know our blogoversary is on August 16. Yes, we are a month late. No, we did not forget. It was always on our mind, but Janhvi has been busy with her classes and internship, and I, with teaching French, so we didn't really get the time to sit down and decide on what we'd love to gift you this time. But then, because we love you so much, we made time for it. So this is a combined giveaway on the occasions of our blogoversary in August, and both of our birthdays in September! 

We find it hard to believe that it's been three thrilling years of blogging. It still feels like we started out just yesterday. We have become so passionate about this venture that started out as a means to pass time and has now become a full-time fun part of our lives. Janhvi and I have so much of fun maintaining The Readdicts, and we couldn't be more proud of our baby! *winks* 

Also, last but not least! We are on Twitter! And by we, I don't mean Janhvi and I, because you already know that, but we as in, The Readdicts! *happy dances* 

As always, before we get on to sharing the giveaway we have planned for you, here's a huge shout out to: 

our favourite stalker (you know who you are), 

our lovely fellow bloggers from India as well as the world over for all the bookish ramble, welcoming us with open arms on the blogosphere, and for all the love, 

authors who are our rockstars- whether we've met you or not or even spoken or not, we love all of you and we appreciate all that you do, 

all the dashing publishing houses for all that they do, of which, the most important point is giving us books. Kidding, we love you anyway! 

And lastly, to our dear readers, for tolerating us, no matter what. Your words about our work mean the most to us, and we heart you! 

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!! 

Now that that's done, let's get to the most anticipated part of the post- the giveaway! There will be three winners for this giveaway, one INT and two IN, and you can see below what we're giving away with the forms for the respective gifts. Before that, just a few rules:

*Following us is mandatory; all our follow links can be found in the right sidebar and are systematically placed in order in the form as they appear on the blog, to make your work easier. 

*Kindly enter for the giveaway that applies to you, depending on whether you live internationally or are a resident of India. Fill out the appropriate Rafflecopter form. 

*Once winners are picked, they will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or else, we'll be compelled to pick new winners. 

*Please don't hesitate to ask us any questions. 

*Book of choice under $10 from The Book Depository (provided it ships free to your country) to one INT reader. To know the list of countries where they ship free, go here. If the form doesn't load, go here. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Four books from the Urban Shots collection and three Mills & Boons books to two Indian readers. If the form doesn't load, go here. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

One more note: I have been making bookmarks! So I will probably pick two absolutely random winners from both the Rafflecopters who will be lucky receivers of my hand-made bookmarks. They're not great, but you can use them anyway. But INT people, you can only hope along with me that it actually reaches you! *fingers crossed* 

So that's all we have for you! We wish you all the luck in the world and hope you win the giveaway. Once again, thank you so very much for you love and support. We appreciate it so much, and we hope we make you happy in our own way. We heart you too much! Thank you for stopping by, and happy reading! 

Release Day Launch- Dirty Promises by Karina Halle

Blood. Sex. Revenge.

Being king comes at a brutal price.

Drug lord Javier Bernal has sliced and diced his way to the top of the Mexican drug trade, presiding over the country's largest cartel. But his rise to power comes at a brutal price: the death of his sister, Alana. Devastated and wracked with guilt, he turns away from his new wife, Luisa, forcing their marriage into a steady decline. But it isn't until she's pushed into the waiting arms of Esteban Mendoza, his right-hand man, that Javier realizes everything he's lost.

And it isn't until he learns the truth about Alana, that he realizes everything there is to gain.

Blood will spill.

Cities will burn.

Heads will roll.

Because Javier will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants.

And what he wants is raw, ruthless revenge.

Dirty Promises is the third and final book in the Dirty Angels Trilogy. While the other two books - Dirty Angels and Dirty Deeds - can be read as standalones, it is recommended you read at least Dirty Angels before reading Dirty Promises.

Barnes & Noble    iTunes    Kobo

EXCERPT

My gun began to feel heavy in my hands. I needed to use it, and soon.

Light was seeping in underneath the door, so I pushed my goggles up on my head and slowly pushed it open.

The kitchen was empty, and the only light came from above the stove. The fridge hummed and the house was silent except for muffled laughter coming from down the hall.

A terrible scream splintered the room.

A man’s scream.

Had the ambush already begun?

I exchanged a worried glance with Diego as we heard doors further down the hall being flung open. Footsteps.

People ran past the kitchen, heading up the stairs toward the scream, not bothering to look our way.

All of them except for Juanito, that was.

He stopped dead in his tracks at the archway, staring at us like we were ghosts. I couldn’t help but grin.

He snapped out of it, reaching for his gun, but mine was already aimed at him. I shot him in the kneecaps, both of them, just as his gun fired, bullets cracking the ceiling.

Then, as if on cue, all of the outside erupted in gunfire. The sound shook the walls, and through the rattling windows bursts of light filled the sky. My army was here.

I ran over to Juanito who was screaming in pain, and picked him up by the collar, shaking him.

“All right you little fuckface,” I sneered at him, trying to fight the urge to strangle the fucking life out of him. “Tell me where Esteban is and I’ll make your death painless. Don’t tell me and I’ll break your bones with a hammer. Which one is it?”

His screaming wouldn’t stop. I shook him again. “You can’t protect him now. You’ll never fucking walk again and he sure as hell won’t give two fucks about a pathetic piece of garbage like you. So talk.”

But before he could, Diego was calling out my name. I let go of Juanito, rolling over him just in time as the air above me burned with bullets. Diego fired back at the assailants, and I kept rolling until I was behind the kitchen island. I quickly reached for the grenade which I knew could take out enough of them without damaging the structural integrity of the house, and tossed it out of the kitchen. It rolled down the hallway.

They yelled at each other to move but it was too late. I pressed my hands over my ears as the blast went off.

“Jesus, Javi,” Diego swore as pieces of plaster rained down on him. “You haven’t even moved back in yet.”

I didn’t care if it was sloppier than my usual methods — it was efficient. I scrambled to my feet and stared at the wreckage. There was a ragged hole in the wall, smoke and flames licking the edge.

I shrugged. “I wanted to open up that room anyway.”

Miraculously, or something of that nature, Juanito was still alive, holding on to his bleeding and blasted knees as he writhed on the floor.

He was missing half his face though, so it wasn’t like he escaped the explosion unscathed. He was very scathed and crawling for freedom.

I covered my nose and mouth with the crook of my elbow and walked into the smoke, letting it wash over me. Juanito looked up at me with what was left of him, begging for mercy with an outstretched hand.

I stepped on his hand instead, crunching the bones beneath my boot.

“That was for my sister,” I seethed. “I know you intercepted her call when she was calling me for help.”

“Javier, we have to go,” Diego said, coughing and coming over to stop me. A war was raging around me, but none of it mattered. All that mattered was an eye for an eye.

This time I stomped on Juanito’s arm, driving it in with all my might, like I was squashing a cockroach, until I felt it break beneath me.

He screamed.

I smiled.

But I was the furthest thing from happy.

And Juanito couldn’t even speak at this point. His mouth was a flap of burning skin, covering a gaping hole. He was useless.

I slid the hunter’s knife out of its sheath, and with one swift motion, stabbed it downward into the top of his skull.

The screaming stopped.From the USA Today Bestselling author of Love, in English and The Artists Trilogy, comes a dark romance about a good girl and a very, very bad man. It’s a deliciously twisted take on forbidden love, set among the drug cartels of hot, steamy Mexico and is not for the faint of heart. It contains explicit sex, violence, abuse, drug use, bad language and sexy Mexicans. You have been warned…

For Luisa Chavez, a twenty-three year old former beauty queen, a better life has always been just out of her reach. Sure, she’s had men at her feet since she was a young teenager but she’s never had the one thing she’s craved – security. Having grown up in near poverty, her waitressing job in Cabo San Lucas can barely let her take care of herself, let alone her ailing parents. Every day is another unwanted advance, every day is a struggle to survive.

When Salvador Reyes, the depraved leader of a major Mexican cartel, takes an interest in her, Luisa is presented with an opportunity she can’t afford to pass up. She’ll become Salvador’s wife and exchange her freedom and body for a life of riches – riches she can bestow upon her deserving parents. But Luisa quickly finds out that even the finest wines and jewels can’t undo the ugliness in her marriage, nor the never-ending violence that threatens her every move.

Soon, Luisa is looking for an escape, a way out of the carefully controlled life she’s leading. She finally gets her wish in the worst way possible.

As it is, being the wife of Salvador makes her an ideal target for rival cartels and there’s one particular man who needs Luisa as part of his cartel’s expansion. One particular man whose quest for power has destroyed lives, slit throats and gotten him out of an American prison. One particular man who will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants.

That man is Javier Bernal. And he wants Luisa. He wants to take her, keep her, ruin her.

Unless she ruins him first.

Some men were born to create empires, some women were meant to be queen.

**Dirty Angels is the first standalone novel in the Dirty Angels Trilogy, in which all books feature or involve different characters. The character of Javier Bernal is from The Artists Trilogy, and while reading TAT is recommended if you want additional insight into this twisted character, it is not required.**

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Karina Halle is a former travel writer and music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of Where Sea Meets Sky, Racing the Sun, The Pact, Love, in English, The Artists Trilogy, Dirty Angels and over 20 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her rescue pup, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.

Halle is represented by the Waxman Leavell Agency and is both self-published and published by Atria Books/Simon & Schuster and Hachette in North America and in the UK.

Hit her up on Instagram at @authorHalle , on Twitter at @MetalBlonde and on Facebook. You can also visit her website and sign up for the newsletter for news, excerpts, previews, private book signing sales and more.

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