Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Pretty Dolls and Hand Grenades Book Review and Giveaway


New Release 4th March, available to pre-order!

Thirty-something, Cecelia Laramie, strives for excellence like the other housewives in her quiet suburban neighborhood. Cece’s a bit eccentric with her elaborate doll collection and bouts of OCD, so when she finds out her well-to-do husband is misbehaving, she decides to nip it in the bud—with a baseball bat.

Getting revenge on her husband for his indiscretions becomes Cece’s newest obsession, but when another jilted housewife joins her cause, things go awry. Cece’s cutthroat accomplice pushes her to commit crimes throughout Manhattan, sabotaging her husband’s real estate business. When her counterpart introduces deadly weapons into the mix, Cece knows she's in over her head.

Cece’s a bundle of nerves; she’s a housewife, not a terrorist. Her new partner is nothing but trouble, but if the mysterious woman can help her reclaim her old life, Cece’s in. She just hopes their crazy antics don't land her a spot in prison first.

My thoughts:

This book starts as a pretty typical book, and quickly becomes a truly outrageous story. Cece lives an overly orderly life, which works perfectly with her OCD. She keeps her family and her house neat and tidy and spends the money her husband earns. Until one day when she suspects that her husband is cheating on her.

As her life crumbles apart and she loses her friends and her social status, Cece meets up with another jilted woman and all heck breaks loose! The women break all sorts of laws in an attempt to get back at their husbands. But will it make a difference?

This book may not make you fall in love with Cece's personality, but it will make you laugh, and cringe, and will definitely make you hope you're never in Cece's situation!

Available to pre-order at....


A little excerpt from the book......
Panting now, I couldn’t help thinking about the eruption of clapping at Mitchell’s words as if he’d said nothing wrong. My mind retreated back to the crowd of dark suits and dresses rising in standing ovation, as I remained seated in a special state of confusion.

What? Who was he calling an amazing woman he could not live without? She did his dry cleaning? I did his dry cleaning and hand-pressed many-a-dress shirt. What was she doing touching his shirts?

I sensed an obvious discomfort at my banquet table. The wife next to me raised her eyebrows and gave me an open-mouthed, super-smile, which said, “Yes, that was inappropriate for him to say, and yes, we all noticed.”

All the color must’ve drained from my face as I remembered locking eyes with Mitchell amid the applause before he darted behind the big black curtain. She was only his assistant, right? Was I overreacting? Was he genuinely indebted to her or was he purposely trying to disrespect me? My ears were ringing now and my head was going to explode. I’d had migraines before, but this was the mother of all migraines. I shut my eyes and splashed a little water on my face, trying to quell the fire in my head. When I opened my eyes I saw a woman.

I wasn’t alone.

About the author
Cara Reinard is an author of women's fiction and domestic thrillers. While attending college, she was an editor for her student newspaper, and also sold advertising space for the publication. Even though she's always had a passion for writing, Cara found she had a knack for persuading people with the art of verbal prose, known as sales, which she's done now for over a decade. Cara currently lives in the Pittsburgh Area with her husband, two children, and fluffy Bernese Mountain dog. When she's not hustling or chasing tiny footsteps--she's writing.

Find the author on the following sites...
Website   Facebook   Twitter   Goodreads   Amazon Author Page


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I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.
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Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Playing Catch Book Review and Giveaway


NEW RELEASE...
On the field and off the field, bartender Jeanine Jewell plays, collecting one-night stands like baseball cards. She doesn’t need a man, except to curl her toes and make her scream. She’s learned the hard way that the one who cares more is the one who gets hurt—and the last thing she can handle is getting hurt, or having anyone discover her shameful secret.

Scoring women is easy for catcher Kirk Kennedy—they don’t call him “Catch and Release” for nothing. He never goes back for a repeat performance. Being traded to a new city is an opportunity for new adventures—until he runs into Jeanine and she refuses to go home with him. Intrigued, Kirk is determined to catch the elusive blonde and keep her to himself. When he proposes a wingman to wingwoman friends without benefits relationship, he’s surprised she accepts.

The no benefits clause soon falls by the wayside when neither Jeanine or Kirk can resist their explosive chemistry together. But despite the sparks between the sheets, they both refuse to acknowledge they’re anything more than friends.

Everything changes when Kirk discovers his past is the one Jeanine is hiding from.

Trigger Warning: The heroine was sexually abused by her foster father and has flashbacks.

My thoughts:

Kirk and Jeanine both have a very interesting view on sex. They're both exclusively into one night stands (or basically "a couple hour stands"). They enjoy their short time with another person and walk away, never to look back.

In fact, they meet in a hotel hallway while both sneaking out of other people's hotel rooms. But for some reason, they both keep thinking of the other, and it's more than chemistry. Are either of them willing to change their rules and let someone into their hearts? Can they move beyond friendship into something more?

This book is not your typical romance. It's not flowery and romantic, it's gritty and real. In fact, it may be too real for some because of lots of flashbacks of childhood sexual abuse. However, it is very well written and showcases what could be a very real struggle between two people.

This story has lots of twists and turns, along with several small mysteries thrown in. Even though some parts are difficult to read (because of the content), I literally didn't put it down once I started it!

Available to buy from...


"A truly extraordinary story that fearlessly demonstrates the transforming power and the breathless wonder that love can bring to a life in need.” - Amber on Goodreads

"I couldn't put down this serious story about love overcoming all." - Chantel on Goodreads


About the author
Rachelle Ayala is a bestselling Asian American author of dramatic romantic suspense and humorous, sexy contemporary romances. Her heroines are feisty and her heroes hot. She writes emotionally challenging stories but believes in the power of love and hope. 

Rachelle is the founder of an online writing group, Romance in a Month, an active member of the California Writer’s Club, Fremont Chapter, and a volunteer for the World Literary Cafe. She is a very happy woman and lives in California with her husband. She has won awards in multicultural and historical romance.

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Visit her Reader's Guide HERE

Find the author on the following sites...
Website   Facebook   Twitter   Pinterest   Google+   Goodreads   Amazon Author Page

Follow the tour

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.

NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY
Win a SIGNED Book plus $10Amazon.com GC / Paypal Cash
(winners choice)
Open Worldwide
Ending on Sunday 28th February at 11.59pm EST

Enter Below and Good Luck !!
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