Bewitching Book Tour: The Loneliest Alpha by T. A. Grey

The Loneliest Alpha
The Untouchables, Book One

T. A. Grey

Genre: paranormal erotic romance

Number of pages: 350

Word Count: ~100,000

Cover Artist: Hallie Chandler

Amazon    BN    Smashwords    Kobo   All Romance eBooks

Book Description:

One look will change their lives forever.

Lingerie designer Alicia Clarkson just had to open her stupid mouth. Now thanks to trying to defend a fellow pack mate, Alicia’s been blindfolded, tied up, and carted off to the new alpha of the Oregon pack—Gavin MacKellen.

However, the blindfold doesn’t come off so soon. Alicia’s curiosity gets fired up when Gavin refuses to reveal his face to her. Just what happened to him? He talks to her from shadowy corners and behind closed doors. The man is as allusive as a squirrely fox, but Alicia doesn’t play games and the quiet spoken, hoarse voiced alpha doesn’t stand a chance against her. They settle on an agreement, thirty days for them to get to know each other because that’s the only way this cowboy alpha will have it.

Gavin MacKellen needs a mate. But he knows no good woman would ever want to look at his face after the incident he suffered. After one look at Alicia Clarkson all his plans fly out the window. The woman’s beauty has him damn stunned speechless. She torments his thoughts and Gavin finds himself yearning to know everything about her. As relationship forms, love threatens to grow between them but Gavin struggles to cope with his physical appearance in the face of the beautiful Alicia.

Will she be the one to stand in the face of a monster and accept or will she turn her back on him as everyone else has?

Excerpt:

“When is the last time you were with a man?”

Her body jerked. “Excuse me?”

He sighed, the sound thick not with impatience but caution. “I won’t repeat myself, Alicia Clarkson.”

She froze at the sound of her name even as a part of her understood that he had to know her name. The tone of his voice had changed though, the grating sound becoming a growl.

She answered as soon as she collected herself. “Seven months ago. No six. Yeah, six months, I think.”

“Were you sleeping with him?”

She bit the inside of her cheek, jaw flaring as a blush covered her face. “I don’t see what this as to do with–”

“Just answer the question,” he said in that slow, measured voice. He sounded like someone who didn’t waste words but chose them with care.

“Yes, I did.” Why that admission embarrassed her when she knew there was no shame in what she’d done annoyed her.

Then he spoke and every inch of her stiffened. Even her heart skipped a beat. “What do you look for…in a man?”

“What?” she said, her voice as soft as a whisper. He sounded curious, maybe even a little embarrassed. 

“Answer the question, please.”

She shook her head sending locks of hair snapping across her cheek and stood, teetered, then widened her stance to steady herself. “No, I’m done with this. I won’t play your little games anymore. You either explain what this is about or untie me. Actually, untie me and show me the door. I’ve been ready to leave since I got here.”

He stood and she took an abrupt step back. Was it because she feared him—damn right.

“Turn around.”

“Like hell.”

“Turn around so I can untie you.”

Biting her lip, she debated his words. He could by lying. “Promise that’s all you want?”

He grunted some sound of agreement.

She was loathed to give him her back but she did, slowly. Better to show him her back than to keep the ropes on for god knows how long. He grabbed the rope binding her wrists and her heart jumped with fear. He could kill her; hurt her in so many ways.

“Stare straight ahead.”

Naturally, she tried to look over her shoulder but he grabbed the back of her head and turned it to face forward before she could catch a glimpse.

“Don’t.” A warning.

It became difficult to breathe. This close, she caught his scent. It was fresh and masculine smelled of something rugged and outdoors. The lykaen in her rolled onto its back and stretched, content. Whoa. Reel it in, Alicia.

She jumped at the sound of his voice so close to her ear. He had a gravelly, coarse voice, deep as a bass singers. He held the rope hostage as he spoke. “I’m searching for my mate, not lookin’ for no whore. I want you to stay here while we get to know each other. That means I’m gonna have some questions you’ll need to answer. You got that?”

Not really. “Yeah,” she said instead since she didn’t see any other options.

Another grunt of approval, then she heard the metal swish of a switchblade coming out. She wiggled, tugging to get her arms free as fear rode her. 

“Please don’t hurt me.” She hung her head, arms trembling in his grasp.

“Stay still. I don’t wanna nick you.”

Like that her fear passed. The blade passed through the ropes with ease and her shoulders sagged with relief. The itchy, cursed rope fell away. She smiled at the tiny pleasure of being free.

“You’ll sleep down the hall. I’ll have Will show you the room.”

Fingers touched her forearms, strong and direct. And then it vanished in an instant.

Rubbing her arms at the sudden chill, Alicia turned back only to find he’d retreated back into the shadows.

She didn’t mean to ask it but the words flew from her lips. “Why won’t you let me see your face?”

He opened the door, stepping into the hallway. She was so certain he wouldn’t answer her that she fiddled with her reddened wrists to hide her eyes.

But then he did answer and his words couldn’t have shocked her more.

“I don’t want you to see my face ‘cause I’m an ugly son of a bitch and you’re too pretty to be looking at that.”

She gaped as he quietly shut the door behind him.

 About the Author:

I love to write the kind of stories that will keep you up late at night and make your heart pound. It's my goal to make each new book better, more exciting, and more action-packed to keep thrilling you. I'm always trying to push the boundaries with my imagination, and yours, to create something new and different.

Open up one of my novels and you will find hot, erotic stories that will make you laugh out loud, cry, and fly through the pages. I write addictive love stories and I hope you like them.

Visit my website to learn more about my books at www.tagrey.com.

Website – www.tagrey.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/T-A-Grey/122074687903394

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AuthorTaGrey

Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5049079.T_A_Grey

Blog - http://tagrey.wordpress.com/

Happy Reading!

Cana

Audio Book: Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs by Molly Harper

Description:

Maybe it was the Shenanigans gift certificate that put her over the edge. When children's librarian and self-professed nice girl Jane Jameson is fired by her beastly boss and handed twenty-five dollars in potato skins instead of a severance check, she goes on a bender that's sure to become Half Moon Hollow legend. On her way home, she's mistaken for a deer, shot, and left for dead. And thanks to the mysterious stranger she met while chugging neon-colored cocktails, she wakes up with a decidedly unladylike thirst for blood.

Jane is now the latest recipient of a gift basket from the Newly Undead Welcoming Committee, and her life-after-lifestyle is taking some getting used to. Her recently deceased favorite aunt is now her ghostly roommate. She has to fake breathing and endure daytime hours to avoid coming out of the coffin to her family. She's forced to forgo her favorite down-home Southern cooking for bags of O negative. Her relationship with her sexy, mercurial vampire sire keeps running hot and cold. And if all that wasn't enough, it looks like someone in Half Moon Hollow is trying to frame her for a series of vampire murders. What's a nice undead girl to do?

Review:

Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs by Molly Harper

5 out of 5

First off, let me just say how much I enjoy Molly Harper’s snarkiness.  Her characters say and do things with a snarkiness and sarcasm that I can totally relate to!  I personally think it just makes her books that much better because I know that if I was in her books, I would so fit in. J

Poor Jane!  First it was getting fired from a job she loved, and then getting shot, and then she was turned.  Life had not gone the way she thought it would.  Now she is having to learn (the hard way sometimes) what it means to t be a vampire.  Add to that, someone is trying to kill her, and her life seems to be one big chaotic mess!

Gabriel is one hot vampire.  He sounds like a wonderfully delicious Southern gentleman with a vampiric overly protective streak!  And I love that about him.  Now if only he would explain things instead of being so closed mouth. 

I automatically loved Zeb as soon as I heard that he loved Doctor Who.  Any character that likes/loves Doctor Who is automatically AWESOME!  But he became one of my favorite characters because of his actions.  He was scared at first of what had happened to Jane, but then worked through it by stabbing her, and then finding a support group.  I thought it was great that he stood by her when she wasn’t sure her family would. 

I found Dick Cheney hilarious!  The dirty-minded, dirty-talking, bad-boy vampire really made me giggle through the book.  What made him even better is because we all have that one (or 2 or 3) friend that is the pervert of the group.  You always need one of those in a group to keep serious things from being too serious.

Jolene is honestly my favorite character ever!  Just because she is like no one I’ve ever met or seen.  Honestly, she is unbelievable but hysterically real.  I love that!

I did not, and still do not, like Missy.  From the get go, I felt that she was fake, and I don’t like people like that.  Anyone who is that overly sweet and has the tendency to call people “sug” (or any other pet name without permission) is not to be trusted.  But I will say it was nice to know I was justified. 

The call center of telemarketers was hilarious… Sad, but hilarious.  I could totally relate to the stress and irritation in that environment (probably because I work as a dispatcher for an alarm call center and I get mistaken for a telemarketer all the time!).

My one question is, what is a blood mate?  I don’t remember them explaining that, but since Gabriel said it and since he is so closed mouthed, I don’t know what it is about. 

Overall, I loved this book.  Really looking forward to continuing this series, and reading others by Ms. Harper!  Highly recommended!

Happy Reading!

Cana

YA Friday Fun Troupe

Hello to my favorite people in the book world!

Place of Reads Book Blog has started a wonderful new program to help get kids reading and reviewing books.  I'm calling this program "Friday Fun With...".  I currently have 5 children (ranging from 8 to 12) who will be reading and reviewing books every Friday.  They are my YA Friday Fun Troupe.  You can see the first book review here by Mary Evelyn.  

My hope is to get these children to love reading, review books that they love, and get it out there for others to read and enjoy.  

Authors:  

Several of our YA Friday Fun Troupe do not have e-readers, and I want to introduce them to a lot of books that I have on e-readers.  If you would like to donate books to this program, I would be very grateful.  IF you can't, I understand, and would like to invite you to help teach these new young bloggers the gift of interviewing you after they do read your books (might take a while as I'll be gathering the books on my own if I can, or loaning the troupe my personal e-reader).  I would like to start getting these young readers to start working on something that can bring them as much joy as I have received by reading and reviewing books.  

PR: 

If you have any authors that might be in the young adult category that might be willing to work with me and my YA Friday Fun Troupe, please let me know.   

I hope y'all have a wonderful week!

Happy Reading!

Cana

Friday Fun With... Mary Evelyn!

Friday Fun is where readers from ages 5 to 16 let us know what they are reading and why they loved (or hated) what they read. 

Welcome to the first Friday Fun!  Today we have Mary Evelyn reviewing :

The Selection by Kiera Cass

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself—and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Why did you pick this book out?

The cover and the description . It was just begging me to read it.

What did you like about this book?

I’m a big fan of the Hunger Games, and so when I saw the back of this book, I was intrigued. I know it is not really like the Hunger Games, but a drawing is done, and the contestants are compensated (and their caste rank is moved up to a three, though it is them and not family), the contestants can be sent home (just like in the Hunger Games). There is no telling what can/will happen. Just like the Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins), & The Twilight Saga (Stephanie Meyer), The Selection (by Kiera Cass) is captivating, thrilling, enchanting, and full of surprises. You will not want to put this book down, but don’t get angry when this comes; this book is only the first half of the story. With almost every “I can’t stop reading this book” book, comes a consequence (which is it has a sequel).

What did you not like about this book?  

There was nothing I didn’t like about this book.

Would you tell other people to read this book?

Yes. This book is definitely a must read.

Book Rating (circle a #):   1 2 3 4 5

1 being horrible, 5 being fantastic

Happy Reading!

Mary Evelyn

Bewitching Book Tour Spotlight: Blood Rush by Ash Krafton

Description:

Blood Rush

by Ash Krafton

Sophie doesn't believe in happily ever after. These days, she'd settle for alive after sunrise.

Advice columnist and newly-appointed oracle to the demivampire, Sophie Galen has more issues than a Cosmo collection: a new mentor with a mean streak, a werewolf stalker she can't shake, and a relationship with her ex's family that redefines the term complicated. And then there's her ex himself, who is more interested in playing leader of the vampire pack than in his own salvation.

Becoming a better oracle is tough enough, but when Sophie encounters a deadly enemy - one she never dreamed of facing - it will take everything she's ever learned in order to survive.

You can see my review of this AMAZING book by clicking here!

Excerpt:

I don't believe in happily ever after. These days, I'd settle for alive until sunrise.

I never thought I'd become a nine-to-fiver. Certainly never thought I'd be too pre-occupied to make fun of myself for being one. Sometimes the irony was too great to appreciate.

While I waited for the elevator to arrive at The Mag's foyer, I smoothed my scarf along the back of my neck and hefted my tote bag a little higher on my shoulder. Every chime increased my trepidation, tightening the fist of anxiety in my chest and the sensation of bees swarming in the top of my stomach. I hated quitting time.

More underappreciated irony. Why not?

People chatted around me but I fidgeted with my zipper, keeping my gaze lowered and my mouth closed. Leaving at five in the afternoon meant more than crammed elevators and crowded buses; it meant the light would fade soon and with it my peace of mind. The autumn wasn't a happy golden foliage time of year for me anymore.

Although it was only early October, already the longer nights and shorter days made me feel nervous and brittle. Bad enough I didn't have a sweetheart to share the long nights but even worse now that I knew what came out when the sun went down. Although I hadn't had any problems with vampires over the last year, the threat never left my mind.

Vampires were out there. It was just a matter of time until I had to deal with them again.

Halfway during our descent, I felt a vibe. It was a mild one but, over the past year, my empathy had become sensitive to the point of being squirrely. The thin thread of power wound its way around each of the passengers as the DV who owned it checked out who else was in the car. When it reached me, it felt like a poke on the arm. I glanced over my shoulder, catching the eyes of an older dark-eyed woman near the back. She sent a tiny pulse of apology-ladened power and lowered her eyes.

I smiled politely and concentrated on tugging my scarf loose. The DV didn't approach me in public where any old human could see. We kept our dealings distant and private. That was the way I preferred.

The door opened and I flowed out with the crowd, sunglasses on and scarf over my hair. I hoped everyone would more or less continue on together today so I could hide in the crowd a bit longer.

Without turning my head, I saw a rail-thin guy, his scruffy head and jeans out of place amongst the exiting office employees. He leaned against the wall, scanning the people emerging from the other elevators. Seemed to have missed me—good. Taking shelter behind a taller woman and her chatty companion, I hustled out the front doors.

Outside, my luck ran out. My camouflaging crowd of co-workers suddenly scattered like roaches when the kitchen light is turned on. I hesitated, taking too long to pick a direction.

It was all he needed to spot me. I looked back through the glass into the foyer of The Mag's building. He was on the move, eyes locked onto me.

I bolted.

Startled faces blurred past as I hurried through the five o'clock exodus, bumping into one man, dodging another, and rounding the corner at a speed unfitting for heeled pumps. Steve Madden would be horrified if he knew what I did in his shoes.

Well, Steve could kill me later. Right now, I was facing a much more immediate threat.

At the corner, a bus was loading and at this point I didn't care if it was mine or not. An elderly lady with a big shopping bag struggled on the steps and I danced behind her like a first grader with a full bladder. Once she cleared the last step I leapt up, slamming my token into the fare box.

The door closed behind me just as my pursuer caught up. For once I was glad for the driver's rude efficiency. The bus leveled and lurched forward. I grabbed the bar, almost swinging into the laps of the front seat passengers. As we pulled away from the curb, I met the man's stare through the grimy glass of the door.

Rusted-orange eyes with wide pupils.

Non-people eyes.

Werewolf eyes.

I sank onto an empty seat, heart thumping, gradually slowing. Glancing up at the sign over the driver's seat, I realized I'd ended up on the round-about route. Close enough for me. I tugged my necklace out of my shirt and kissed the pendant, my good luck charm, and offered a silent thankful thought to whatever divine powers had saved my behind, yet again.

Reaching into my bag, I pulled out a book of poetry and readied for a long ride home. Ironically, when I'd flipped to a random page, I opened to one of Dylan Thomas's poems.

Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

I had no energy left for rage. All I could muster was a thankful thought because at least today's escape had gone better than most.

About the Author:

Ash Krafton writes from the heart…of the Pennsylvania coal region, that is.

She is the author of the Books of the Demimonde (Pink Narcissus Press).

BLEEDING HEARTS (Demimonde #1) is a six-time RWA finalist and was voted "Reviewer Top Pick" by Gravetells.com. Ash continues the story of Sophie and her Demivampires in her latest release BLOOD RUSH (Demimonde #2). She's hard at work (when she isn't watching Doctor Who) writing the third book, WOLF'S BANE.

Ash Krafton's poetry and short fiction has appeared in several journals, including Niteblade, Bete Noire, Abandoned Towers, and Silver Blade. She's a member of Pennwriters, RWA, and Maryland Writers Association. She lurks near her blog and contributes to the QueryTracker blog.

Ash lives with her family and their German Shepherd dog deep in the Pennsylvania wilds, awaiting the day the TARDIS appears in the driveway (the dog most likely keeps the Doctor away. What a beast.)

Until then, she writes.

Find Ash at:

The Demimonde blog

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

And Now for a Giveaway!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Happy Reading!

Cana

Waiting On Wednesday: Solstice by P. J. Hoover

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

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: 

Description:

Where Mythology and Dystopia meet...

Piper’s world is dying. Global warming kills every living thing on Earth, and each day brings hotter temperatures and heat bubbles which threaten to destroy humanity. Amid this Global Heating Crisis, Piper lives with her mother who suffocates her more than the chaotic climate. When her mother is called away to meet the father Piper has been running from her entire life, Piper seizes an opportunity for freedom.

But when Piper discovers a world of mythology she never knew existed, she realizes her world is not the only one in crisis. While Gods battle for control of the Underworld, Piper's life spirals into turmoil, and she struggles to find answers to secrets kept from her since birth. And though she’s drawn to her classmate Shayne, he may be more than he claims. Piper has to choose whom she can trust and how she can save the people she loves even if it means the end of everything she’s ever known.

Coming out on June 18, 2013

Why?

1. Who doesn't like/love mythology?  My only question, which mythology is it based on?  Greek? Norse? Native American?  I'm dying here!
2. Mythology & Dystopian mixed together sounds like a dream book for me!
3. Look at the cover!  Beautiful, mysterious, and it looks both ancient and futuristic at the same time!  Love that!

So what are you waiting for?

Happy Reading!

Cana

Love Is Fear by Caroline Hanson

Description:

After a lot of swearing and only a little nookie, Valerie Dearborn has decided to make a change. No more lusting after Lucas, the hot, but emotionless, vampire king who can’t commit. Instead she’s going to make it work with Jack. After all, not only is he breathing, but he’s the love of her life….Isn’t he?

Valerie is an Empath, with supernatural abilities that seem to do nothing more than give her the hots for Lucas. Once upon a time, Empath’s had a purpose. They were ambassadors to the Others—Fey, Witches, Werewolves and Vampires. They could settle the emotions of a Werewolf and make Vampires feel again.

But that was long ago.

Lucas isn’t about to let Valerie go. He needs her to help him find the Fey, last seen in the Colony of Roanoke, South Carolina, circa 1587. He still believes they are the key to restoring balance to the world and the only way to keep vampires under control. They won’t trust him, but they will trust Val.
Between Jack, Lucas and Rachel, Val knows life won’t be dull. Nor will it be the normal, 2.5 kids kind of life she’s always wanted.

As their enemies close in, Val must ask herself what life is really about–trust, duty or mind-blowing orgasms? And even if she finds the answer, she may not live long enough to enjoy it.

Review:

Love Is Fear by Caroline Hanson

4 out of 5

If you have the need to read a sexy book with a little bit of mystery and a bit of action, this is the book that you need to read.  Personally, this is one of those delicious books that should be read on like a beach vacation.  It is just plain yummy.

Val isn’t as whiny in this book, as she was in the last.  Actually, it seems that she has grown up a lot.  She actually seems to be taking control of her life.  I like that. 

Lucas’ struggle to control his bloodlust towards Val is only worth as much as her resisting. The minute she wants him to, he can’t no longer resist.  I also found that it was interesting on how Lucas is trying to atone(almost) for his sins of killing the Fae and werewolves. 

As I said in my review of the first book:  Jack is an ass.  Actually, now I think he is an uber-ass!  I wouldn’t mind if Lucas kicked his ass or at least made sure he died a horrendous death.

I am not sure how I feel about Rachel.  I mean, she seems like she is the most balanced character.  She is both good and evil.  Strong and weak.  Independent and dependent.  And even what she does in the end, that doesn’t make me automatically not like her.  I think of all the characters, she is the one that is most human to me. 

Cer seems to be the Fae version of Lucas.  He uses the people around him as he sees fit for his benefit.  But in some ways, he does seem pretty honorable.  He makes it clear what he wants, what he expects, and what he will do.  It also appears that he does respect the promises that he makes. But I still don’t trust him.  He holds too many secrets to twist things to his own benefit. 

Poor Virginia Dare.  She was an innocent girl who would have saved the Fae, but unfortunately, the current Queen wasn’t willing to surrender her position and life to save the Fae.

So I found it an interesting idea on where the Lost Colony went.  But I’m not sure that I like that.  I mean, of all things, why would the houses go with the people as they enter the Fae realm?  And where were they in the Fae realm?  They never get mentioned… and that bothers me.  Unless I missed something.  Are they hiding away there?

OMGoodness!  Almost 3 chapters, back to back, that are extremely steamy and just plain sexy!  Oh my *Fanning myself*! Finally, Val and Lucas get some satisfaction and a lot of the sexual tension/stress out of the way!  While the first book was nothing but foreplay, this book gets to the heart of what they both have been playing with – each other.

Surprisingly, I didn’t find this book as dark as the first book.  This book gives a lot more back story about the Fae, the werewolves, Cer, and Lucas.  There is a lot of fear references, but overall, there was a lot of happier moments in this book than the first one.

Overall, I found this book quite enjoyable.  I’m looking forward to reading more by this author. 

Happy Reading!

Cana