Thursday 9 October 2014

REVIEW: Punk Shock Love Society: The Complete StrangeHer Love Trilogy @AuthorLane


RE-RELEASE SALE! GET ALL THREE BOOKS IN ONE VOLUME FOR .99 FROM NOW UNTIL NOVEMBER 1ST

***While this is not a "dark" book, it does contain dark themes. Not recommended for those sensitive to controversial scenarios and topics. Please read the PREFACE before purchasing.
“Most won’t believe what they see; their perception is reality”
What do you do when you’re an awkward indie and corporate is the most attractive man you’ve ever met?
Charis is a nonconformist with an eclectic group of friends and a dysfunctional family. As a former child-prodigy, she’s wise beyond her years and jaded before her time. Increasingly, she’s beginning to question the constant need to sacrifice her beliefs to keep her family and friends afloat.
Enter, Wiley Kenzie. He says all the right things and looks the part of the perfect man for Charis. There’s just more than one problem…
Porter Hanson is the typical bad boy, but not the kind that Charis would usually go for. When a celebration ends in near tragedy, Porter and Charis become victims of fate. While drawn together unexpectedly, their dark pasts haunt them in ways neither anticipated.
As Charis navigates the harsh world of fashion, her true desires are tested. When cataclysmic events upend her world, and the secrets of the ones closest to her are unveiled; the one person she ran away from may be the only one who can save her from herself.


REVIEW BY EMMA MISTRESS OF DARK & TWISTED

Book 1 

This book was one that drew me in straight away. Courtney Lane's style of writing is one that I relate to and connect with immediately, her messages are subtle but deep and ones that resonate throughout this trilogy. The business woman Charis Reeglan is made a very tempting offer for her company to help it make it known world wide, but does this offer come with ties? Is the real reason for this offer of a more personal nature? Does corporate wear a mask? Can you believe someone who seems so genuine or can you trust someone who seems so broken they couldn't possibly be honest and lead you down the path of destruction? 
This first part introduces Charis to Porter Hanson, who is both the complete opposite of Charis as well as strangely perfect, but both are two people wary of the world and what it has to offer due to things they'd rather not share with anyone. Unfortunately, these past events have moulded the way they act, live and perceive the world around them...will they open up to someone new or is their misplaced trust truly warranted? 

Book 2

This second instalment is as intriguing and shocking as the first with many dramatic revelations revealed along the way....family, work colleagues, friends and lovers. Who has your best interests at heart and what truly rules you more: career success or personal peace? 

Charis has many decisions to make as to her business and personal life, or maybe they're just one and the same.
With so many people's vested interests who can you believe and what if all you were lead to believe was lies, would you believe your head or your heart and what lengths would you go to to protect both?

Book 3 

The third and final part of the trilogy takes Charis on a journey of forgiveness, acceptance and the allowing of the past to stay right there: in the past. Porter is pivotal to this realisation, which is the same one Charis helped him to realise in the previous two books. The roles have now reversed, but will Charis listen to him now when she needs him the most? 

The full impact and motivations behind all of the deceits, lies and manipulations come to light and people's true colours, natures and intentions are laid bare. Some are truly quite surprising and really make you view these individuals very differently. But some truly tragic events bring about these confessions and can these events and truths push some people to breaking point? 

At the heart of this tale is a message about happiness, power and control. The only person who can allow you to be happy or not is you. Otherwise your handing the power to control your life over to others, who may not wield that power wisely. Charis has got to learn this lesson quickly, as those with the power are circling ready to strike. 

All Charis wanted was a family, to be loved, happiness and a feeling of fulfilment in her career without kissing her principles goodbye. She fears the cost of such happiness and is blind to what she already has.... Is Charis going to get her HEA? The road to discover that is a darkly intense, passion fuelled journey full of deceit, manipulation and brutal confessions with an ending that leaves you with tears in your eyes.

A thrilling five star read, 



AUTHOR

By way of Rochester, NY and several other places before I landed in California. I live with my husband, dog, daughter, and a demon masquerading as a dog.

When I began writing (I know this sounds familiar, over dozens authors state this) it was an outlet for me. Not only that, I was creating fan fiction before I knew what fan fiction was. Eventually, my writing evolved into standalone worlds with standalone characters.

While I write across genres (I find it hard to stick to one genre), I do have an archetype when it comes to the female protagonist — they have to have certain type of strength, strong convictions, and layered personalities. There will often be a lot of darkness and depth to my stories, but I don’t see the point in writing vapid characters who are thrust into “safe” situations.

Writing Science Fiction/Fantasy is my first love. If there is one thing for sure, I'm a bit of a misfit when it comes to Romance. I don't read it much, but I tend to write it a lot -- a very dark version of it


Social Links
Facebook: facebook.com/authorcourtneylane 




TOUR: Warped by Alicia Taylor & Natalie Townson @taylorville86 @AuthorNTownson




Title: Warped - The Manipulation Trilogy Book Two
Authors: Alicia Taylor & Natalie Townson
Genre: Romantic Suspense.

Synopsis:
I won’t be caught off guard again. I won’t let them win. They played the first round and won. Now it’s time for me to even the score. Damon and Leona will pay for their twisted games. Leona is first.
His touch repulses me. 
His fake affection disgusts me. 
He sickens me.
I need to get my head in the game. I need to be smart and break their bond to more easily crush them. Damon is clever. He knows what he’s doing. He’s been playing the game long enough.
He’s twisted. 
I’m warped.
It’s time to finally end this. 
Time to finally win.



REVIEW BY NADIA CHIEF OBSESSIVE PIMPETTE

***I was gifted a copy by the authors***
Warped is book 2 in The Manipulation Trilogy.  It picks up exactly where the cliffhanger left us.
"All this man does is cause hurt and heartbreak. He is like a tornado destroying anything and anyone who gets in his way.
I will not let him destroy me. That was never the plan."
Ella has fallen in love with Damon and she is fighting am inner war with herself. She is struggling to reconcile the truth as written by her sister and Damons actions with Leona to the way her heart feels.
This novel also has chapters written from Damon's pov which gives us a greater insight into his character.
"She'll know what a monster I am."
Damon is fighting his own demons and is her playing her at her own game? The plot twists and turns and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Leona has a hold on Damon and the reason is always just kept out of reach. The lengths that woman goes to in this installment had me shaking my head and screaming at Damon to see her for what she really is.
Ella has a break through moment and the scene blew me away.  Spoiler alert...you will need a whole box of tissues!
"I'm sorry daddy. I've been bad."
"I'll be good, I promise. I'll be who I was, who I am. I went down the wrong path but I'm correcting it now. I want happiness again. please daddy, help me"
We drive into a world of fractured minds and explore the truth from different perspectives ..how truth can be warped by others.  How obsession can ruin lives and the lengths people go to believing it's love.  There are explosive moments and times when you sit back and think wow...I did not see that coming. I could not out this down.
The ending...
"Ella Knight knew nothing.
Ella Hunt will know everything.
It's time I Avow my sins."
Had me shaking my head in frustration...oh no they didn't...not again! I NEEEEDDDD to know...can not wait to read the final chapter in Ella's and Damon's story of self discovery and her journey through grief.
Amazing five star read.

REVIEW BY EMMA MISTRESS OF DARK & TWISTED

This second instalment in the Manipulation Trilogy by Alicia and Natalie lives up to it's title of Warped. It immediately starts from where Corrupted ended and has the added difference of Damon's point of view to some chapters also. His insight and viewpoint on events and what he actually sees and thinks is an additional benefit I loved.

Ella's journey in this book is an emotional one, she realises many things she was lead to believe were corrupted, how she's dealt with her past and grief 'Warped' her behaviour and outlook and she has a difficult time once she realises this as " the past can never be washed away forever." She has Tom as a constant to help her through as her and Damon's relationship has many factors to contend with, past secrets, exes and one constant Leona. They both are scared of their feelings for each other and once Ella sees the truth, she fears all that she wants maybe lost.

Damon has many demons he's trying to keep Ella from, many of which we're still kept in the dark about, but his pov made me feel so much more of a connection to him this time, his realisation of Leona's intentions was a great moment, but I fear that malicious character won't leave quietly!!

Damon has two women as a constant in his life, both with agendas and means of manipulation to get their own way. One is determined and 'warped' on getting her own way and the other just wants to be loved and chosen first for once. Who will Damon choose to have on his life forever??

**** I was fortunate to beta read this book ****


Excerpt:

“What the fuck is your problem?” Leona ignores me and continues to leave with her friends, but I won’t let it go that easy. I know her type, they think they can walk all over people and no one will stand up to her. She’s got another think coming if she thinks I’ll let it pass.
Leona, I asked you a question. What the fuck is your problem?”
She turns towards me, her face surprising me. I expect anger but instead she has a sickly sweet smile on her face as she stalks towards me.
Problem? There's no problem Ella. For there to be a problem you would have to mean something, but you're nothing. You’re insignificant like all the other little bitches Damon picks up. Do you really believe you're that special Ella? Do you think the words he mutters to you he hasn’t muttered to someone else before you? What makes you think you're any different than all the others before?” She lets out a condescending laugh, “What about Abigail? Oh, you met her didn’t you?” She acts surprised before sneering again, “At your romantic little meal. Ring any bells?” She doesn’t give me a chance to answer. “You will be gone before you know it.”
She turns to leave again, thinking she’s put an end to me. I don’t fucking think so. What she said cut deep but I won’t let her see that. I won’t let her know how much her words can hurt me. She’ll get a kick if she knows she’s keyed into one of my biggest fears.
Am I just one in a long list of many that Damon plays with? Or is what we have real?
I am fucking furious. Who does this bitch think she is? My inner bitch is coming out to join the party.
You're so fucking jealous, aren't you Leona? You would give anything to be with him, but he doesn't want you. Every time you throw yourself at him, he'll turn you down, because you’re the one who’s nothing to him. He feels sorry for you, that’s all. It’s nothing more.”
A livid Leona steps toward me but Lacy holds her back. If I wasn’t pregnant I would slap her right across that scheming face of hers, but I have something better up my sleeve to hit her with.
Don’t you think we know Damon a little more that you?” Michelle pipes up, looking smug. “We’ve known him a lot longer. You’re nothing but a new toy to Damon and he gets bored with his toys very quickly,” she finishes on a smirk, making me want to claw her fucking eyes out.
I laugh at her. “Is that so? Well I happen to know different.” I start to walk past them to exit the toilets but Sharn steps in my way and speaks for the first time.
We’ve not finished with you yet. You need to back away from Damon before he breaks your heart. I can see he already owns it. You wouldn’t take up for him like this if you didn’t love him. We’ve been around longer, will continue to be around long after you’ve been kicked to the curb.” She pushes her face close to mine, invading my personal space, no doubt to intimidate me. “Damon is Leona’s. He will always be Leona’s.”
I raise a brow at her arrogant comment. “Funny that,” I look at Leona, “he told me you’re nothing more than a tag along. An acquaintance that never leaves. He only deals with you because of your parents being good friends with his.” I smirk when I see shock hit her eyes. “Yeah, that’s right. You’re nothing more than a family friend.” I look back at Sharn, who is still invading my personal space. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have better places to be.”






ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Alicia Taylor



Alicia Taylor was born and raised in the East Midlands town of Derby, England, where she lives with her family and mass of animals - she's a huge family and animal lover.
Writing powerful love stories and creating Alpha males with a dash of darkness has become a passion of mine, and I have many stories and characters swirling in my head that I can't wait to share with you all. Is it weird to have so many voices in my head? I'm not crazy, I promise... maybe a little bit.

Connect with Alicia



Natalie Townson


Natalie Townson is 33, a mother of one beautiful little boy and lives in Gloucester in the UK with her Husband. Corrupted is her debut novel that is a book one of the manipulation trilogy, that she co writes with Alicia Taylor. Warped is book two in the manipulation series. She has had a love of reading since a young age and her favorite authors are Sophie Kinsella, J.S.Scott, Melody Anne and Stephanie Meyer to name a few.
Connect with natalie



OTHER BOOKS IN THE TRILOGY

CORRUPTED - BOOK ONE



COVER REVEAL: BREATHING BLACK BY PIPER PAYNE @Piper_Payne



COVER REVEAL



New Adult/Adult Contemporary Romance/Thriller

Releasing December 2, 2014

Cover designed by Okay Creations

Pre-Order on Amazon


GRITTY. INTENSE. EMOTIONALLY HONEST.

A stunning debut novel that will leave you breathless.

A desolate childhood; a scarred, jaded, damaged girl. Larkin Grant knew she couldn’t end up like her mother … so she ran. All her belongings packed in the back of a rusted, brown Cadillac, her best friend June in the passenger seat as the co-pilot, she fled Aspen and never looked back.

A new life in a new city, Larkin was finally starting to breathe again, an unfamiliar sense of happiness seeping into her lungs. Landon Black, the boy she loved from afar, came back into her life despite leaving him and her awful memories buried hundreds of miles away. A weakened pulse brought back to life.

He said she was beautiful. She was starting to believe him. He pursued her and changed the course of everyone’s plans. Life had dealt Larkin a cruel hand, but maybe this was it. Maybe the boy that never knew she existed finally saw her and came to free her from the darkness of her past.

But we are never truly free. There are secrets that bind us and lies that unravel from the most beautiful of lips. Blackness that suffocates and makes us question everything we thought we knew. Larkin and Landon are intertwined in ways they never imagined, their future unclear as ghosts come back to haunt them.

Friendship. Revenge. Love. Drugs. Murder. Deceit.

The first in a two-book series, Breathing Black is a mix of suspense and breathless romance. It’s a provocative tale that challenges what one is willing to do to protect the ones they love. An emotional journey where trust isn't an option and falling in love never hurt so bad.







EXCERPT

My mother once said love is like a drug, fast and euphoric. Licking lips, high on the idea it's going to last forever, until you're clawing at your skin trying to escape the destructive poison you let inside.

I woke up to my phone vibrating in my purse. The realization of the darkness that surrounded me came crashing back into my pounding head along with everything else that had taken place. I sat up and crawled on the cold tile floor, following the sound of my phone drumming into the ground. I grabbed it out of my purse and dismissed an unknown Colorado area code number.  

4:30 p.m. I’d been in this bathroom for hours. 

By choice. 

I didn’t want to leave, and I didn’t want move or face reality, so I chose to lie there and let the crippling fog of sleep take over so I could pretend none of it happened. 

I peeked under the bathroom door into his office. It was dark and silent so I felt up the wall finding the light switch and turned it on. Walking over to the bathroom sink and looking into the mirror was painful, a visible reminder of how pathetic I truly was. Splashing water on my face wouldn’t rinse away the misery. I left as quickly as possible, peeking out of the blinds into the hallway until the coast was clear so I could open the door and run down the emergency exit stairs.  

Right when I got home, I got into the bathtub. All I wanted to do was cleanse myself of Landon Black, but the water wouldn’t get hot enough, and my hands couldn’t scrub fast enough. I wanted to wash away the way he made me feel. I wanted to wash away everything he did to me Saturday night. I was so disgusted with myself. How could I be so blind? Sobs strangled my lungs as my cries tore up my throat until after a while I finally just stopped. Like a blown fuse, my body shut off. I lay in a white bathroom, in the white tub, with white noise resonating in my ears, yet all I could think about was red. I sat in the bathtub letting the hot water that had now turned to ice soak my skin. He used me. Everything that happened between us was a goddamn lie. So many questions raced through my mind. The biggest one was why?



To sign-up for the Breathing Black Tour this December 2nd – 20th , visit AToMR’s site!

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About the Author

My love for literature and writing is an addiction. My mind is continually telling stories and I have a queue of books I want to write being stacked up in my brain. I don’t know how to write pretty and perfect so I write perfectly flawed and unpredictable. Just like life. 

I’m married to my best friend and I’m mother to three little miracles. I love going to farmers markets, bookstores, and long drives with my family in my ruby red Bronco. I also have an unhealthy love for makeup, Oreos, Halloween, queso dip, psychic readings, sushi, massages, and Redd’s Apple Ale. 

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