Review of All the Christmas Vibes by Melissa Baldwin

 

All the Christmas Vibes

'Tis the season for a spontaneous holiday getaway and an unexpected connection. Will the magic of Christmas offer a new chance at love?

Sophie
It’s Christmas, and I can’t help but believe that magic happens around this time of year—or at least, I really hope it does. I’ve always been obsessed with the holidays, and the best part? I can binge-watch all the Hallmark movies I want. Secretly, I might be hoping for my own love story to play out just like in the movies. It’s possible, right? I mean, it happened for my friend.

A girls' trip to Tennessee seems like the perfect way to unwind. Then, I meet Jake—the coach of the Tennessee Wolves. Our connection is instant, and I find myself wanting to get to know him better. But there’s one small issue… I don’t know if he’s available.

That’s when I get my reality check—life isn’t a Hallmark movie, and love? It’s complicated.

Jake
This Christmas feels different, like everything is a bit out of place. I guess that’s what an unexpected breakup will do to you. At least I have my career to keep me focused—coaching a professional hockey team is no walk in the park, but it definitely keeps my mind occupied.

The last thing I need is to get involved with someone new. Then Sophie walks into my life—fun, spontaneous, and not afraid to take chances. They say opposites attract, but I’m not sure if I’m ready for that.

To complicate things even more, my ex has started coming around again. I don’t know if it’s easier to stay with what’s familiar or take a chance on something new.

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Check out the related Love on Thin Ice multiauthor series!

**My thoughts**

This latest offering from Melissa Baldwin is a spinoff from the Love on Thin Ice series that Melissa worked on with many of her author friends (and some of my other favorites to read). I am ashamed to admit that I am behind on that series, though I'm dying to sink my teeth in it. But I didn't feel like was missing anything in this book having not yet read that series. Melissa's book in that series was about Blair, Sophie's best friend, and her relationship with Cooper, Jake's teammate. Having met them in this book, I can't wait to go back and read their story! And I love that there are enough characters for the story of this hockey team to continue with spinoffs.

Sophie gets to do something I have always wanted to do - takes off on an adventure to Tennessee and ends up finding herself a good man. For someone who loves those cheesy holiday Hallmark movies - I'm referring to both myself and to Sophie - it's the perfect trip and setting!

You can tell that Sophie is comfortable in her life in Texas, but she's also kind of stuck. She's at one of those turning points where she could keep on keeping on, but then if the right path diverges, she can easily choose to follow that one. Jake may be coming off of a long-term relationship, but he has clearly moved on.

Jake's sister Julia is a little intense in the beginning. I did soften toward her as the book went on, thoug, because she's just intense to protect her brother.

And then we have the ex, Traci. OY! I had all of the flashbacks to some catty women in my younger years! Good riddance to her and kudos to Sophie for being able to stay strong.

I admit that the chemistry didn't jump off the page for me the way that I expected it to. But it's there and it burns at a respectable pace. We come to a satisfying stopping point in the story of Sophie and Jake, but you know there's a lot more to come. I'm hoping that this world continues so that we can see what happens!

The Legend of the Mick by Jonathan Weeks

 

Baseball season is upon us! What better time to dive into a great sports biography? Especially when it's about one of the all-time greats! You'll get to read an excerpt from The Legend of the Mick by Jonathan Weeks as well as the author's 10 Tips for New or Unpublished Writers. Remember to follow the tour for even more. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

Battling Beckett by T. Christensen

Battles that extend well beyond the field - check out the newly updated edition of Battling Beckett and find out why readers are raving!

 

The Ball Bounced Backward by Cav A. Badger

 

When Doug Elliot found an envelope of old photographs in the garage, memories flooded back of his time coaching son, Travis, and a fourth-grade basketball team. It all seems so distant now.

Doug’s memories of those days 25 years ago remain warm…mostly. More so in reflection than at the time. He remembers the cacophony of shrill, laughing young voices and the hollow sound of bouncing basketballs; spirited kids, running up and down the court, playing as hard as they could; jubilant boys, shoveling down pizza, and wearing big grins. And, the games his team won.

But Doug also remembers a situation more complicated than teaching young boys a game. He does not so warmly recall the demands of parents blowing hot and cold, a mysterious figure at work intent on exploiting his kids to satisfy a personal agenda, opposing coaches ranging from fatherly to abusive, a nun serving as school principal and disciplinarian, players too self-centered to worry about the team, and his own competitive instincts that were not always gratified. And, he recalls facing the trade-off between winning games and giving every team member extended playing opportunities. When eventually forced to address that trade-off, Doug wonders if coaching his son’s team was worth the stress.

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Keeping the Score Boxed Set by Tawdra Kandle now available at your favorite retailer!

Author Tawdra Kandle's latest release is now live at all of your favorite book retailers!

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on or purchase through them, I may earn a small commission.

Keeping Score Boxed Set by Tawdra Kandle

Football is everything, but love is the only game that matters.

Leo, Quinn and Nate . . . They've been best friends forever, but life is about to take them in different directions. Decisions about love and friendship could change their paths forever.

Read the three-book series that will take you from the highs of first love to the painful lows of heartbreak and loss, all set amidst the pageantry and passion of football.

Nate: He's been in love with Quinn since junior high. She's always been his fierce protector, the one person who looks beyond his physical challenges to see who he really is. But Nate knows the hard truth. Leo holds Quinn's heart. He's the one she loves. Still . . . Nate won’t give up, not even when all seems lost.

Quinn: She's tired of waiting for Leo to realize that he loves her. But even when he finally admits his feelings for her, Quinn’s loyalty to Nate and doubts about Leo could destroy their friendship.

Leo: He's the football star, the guy all the girls yearn to have. But the one girl he secretly needs--Quinn--is the one he's afraid to want. He knows she's too good for him, but he can't seem to resist loving her anyway . . . no matter what the cost to all of them.

Amid the joys and heartache of first love, crushing loss and unthinkable decisions, Leo, Quinn and Nate struggle to find their way forward without losing each other.

PLUS an added, never-before-published short, FOURTH AND LONG.

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Review of Welcome to the Show (A Mickey Tussler Novel) by Frank Nappi

Welcome to the Show

It’s 1950 and Mickey Tussler—the now-famous pitching prodigy with autism and a golden arm—is back for another baseball season in this third installment of Frank Nappi’s critically acclaimed Legend of Mickey Tussler series. Talk of Mickey’s legendary exploits on the field has grown since his improbable debut two years prior, as have the fortunes of Murph and the rest of the lovable ragtag Brew Crew. Now Mickey, Murph, and Lester find themselves heading to Bean Town to play for the Boston Braves.

The call up is sweet, for all of them have overcome insurmountable odds to get where they are. But life in the major leagues is filled with fast-paced action both on and off the field. The bright lights of Boston hold a new series of challenges, hardships, and life lessons—especially for Mickey, who finds himself a long way from throwing apples into a barrel back on the farm. The three newest Braves have each other to lean on, as well as a new group of fans who are swept away by pennant fever, but balancing everything this new world has to offer may prove to be the greatest challenge of all.

**My thoughts**

I fell in love with Mickey Tussler four years ago when the first book came out. I devoured it and then greatly enjoyed the second book in the series. When that one ended, I knew there was a good chance for a third, but it didn't come. When I found out that the third book had finally been released, I was ecstatic to jump on board the tour to read and review it. I now feel like it is complete, though conceivably the story could go on.

Mickey is a young boy with autism, which wasn't widely understood back when this book takes place. I recognize some of the qualities in his personality, and yet he is a unique individual. Then again, once you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism. I felt like Nappi captured what it could be like for one individual with "high-functioning autism" to be thrust into the spotlight for his gift. He embraces the athletic prowess this young man possesses, yet captures the lack of social skills, the sensitivity to stimulation, the self-soothing behaviors, and processing issues. I love the demonstration of how Mickey's mother and Murph handle him. Plus there is the added interest of Jolene, a young woman who also has her own struggles and is often misunderstood, yet seems to perfectly understand Mickey. Both of them have a huge heart and I loved watching their relationship develop over the course of the novel.

This story hits on so many important topics. It is reflective of the racism that was still occurring 70 years ago (and honestly has been popping up again today). It shows the lack of understanding for individuals with special needs. It chronicles the difficulties in relationships when one partner's dream may get in the way of what is important, and how what you think you want in life isn't always what you really need. It values the importance of friendship, brotherhood, and teamwork, both on and off the playing field. And then you have the added joy of fast-paced recounts of the baseball games of the season. Baseball back in the day sure was different from how it is today. It was also fun to see a lot of familiar names pop up in fictional accounts.

Baseball fans will like this series, because it also captures the heart of America's favorite pastime. I love heartwarming stories that are well written, and Nappi is an excellent writer. These are books that I will read more than once. In fact, I have read the first two more than once, and will likely reread this one, as well. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Buy links:

Amazon * Barnes and Noble * iTunes

Read my review of the first two books of the series here.

About Frank Nappi

Frank Nappi has taught high school English and Creative Writing for over twenty five years. His debut novel, ECHOES FROM THE INFANTRY, received national attention, including MWSA's silver medal for outstanding fiction. His follow-up novel, THE LEGEND OF MICKEY TUSSLER, garnered rave reviews as well, including a movie adaptation of the touching story "A Mile in His Shoes" starring Dean Cain and Luke Schroder. Nappi continues to produce quality work, including SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN, the intriguing sequel to the much heralded original story and the thriller, NOBODY HAS TO KNOW, which received an endorsement from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nelson DeMille. The third installment of Nappi's Mickey Tussler series, WELCOME TO THE SHOW, was released April 2016, and he is currently working on his next thriller, AS LONG AS WE BOTH SHALL LIVE. Nappi lives on Long Island with his wife Julia and their two sons, Nicholas and Anthony.

Frank Nappi's Web Site:
http://www.franknappi.com/

Frank Nappi's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/authorfranknappi

Frank Nappi's Twitter:
http://twitter.com/franknappi

Frank Nappi's Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/589342.Frank_Nappi

Frank Nappi's YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/FrankNappibooks

Welcome to the Show Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25898459-welcome-to-the-show

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186

Welcome to the Show blog tour site:
http://welcometotheshowblogtour.blogspot.com

Read my review of Nobody Has to Know here.

You can also read an interview with Frank Nappi from 2013 here.

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Review of Interference (A Pilots Hockey Novel) by Sophia Henry

Interference
Pilots Hockey #3

By: Sophia Henry

Releasing June 7, 2016
Flirt

Blurb:

“Sophia Henry tackles real issues that tug at your heartstrings,” raves bestselling author Rachel Harris. Now, in this sweet, sensual Pilots Hockey novel, a young single mom falls for a damaged coach pulling double-duty as a cop.

Linden Meadows doesn’t back down from anyone, especially if her family’s involved. So when her little brother’s new hockey coach benches him in the middle of a game, Linden lets him have it. She also notices that the coach is way hotter than she expects, but Linden won’t let herself get burned by another athlete. Been there, done that—and had a kid at seventeen to show for it.

When Jason Taylor isn’t taking abuse from hockey moms, he’s patrolling the streets as a member of the Bridgeland PD. After Jason pulls Linden over for speeding, he begins to see that there’s more to her than a big mouth . . . or a lead foot. Their chemistry leads to good company, intense conversation, and an intimacy that pushes beyond the boundaries of friendship. And yet Linden’s decision to keep her now three-year-old son, Holden, is a painful reminder to Jason that his own mother gave him up for adoption.

Linden’s sure she’s found the man to round out their family. But when Holden’s deadbeat dad forces his way back into the picture, Jason starts to back off. He needs time—to heal, to grow, and to love with all his heart.

Read an excerpt:

“What do you recommend, Indie?” The woman asked, glancing at me before dropping her eyes back to the menu.

“Um, well,” I said, faltering. How did the cop’s mom know my name? Had he told his mom about me?

“She read your name tag. Don’t get your hopes up.” Officer Taylor nodded at my chest.

Warmth rushed into my cheeks as I skimmed my fingers across the badge pinned on the right side of my shirt. Name tag, duh. Stupid overactive imagination. Of course he hadn’t told his mom about me. He probably hated me.

The silly disappointment I felt was short-lived, lasting only until his snarky comment hit home.

“Well, the beef brisket is a customer favorite, but I’d recommend the ribs. I mean, everyone loves a pig, right?” I cocked my head to the side, pleased with my joke.

The cop’s lady friend choked on the swig of beer she had taken. She raised her hand and patted her chest.

“You okay, Mom?” He asked, clapping her on the back.

Aha! She was his mom. I knew it.

Taylor’s mom nodded. “Went down the wrong pipe,” she squeaked out before coughing again.

“Should I give you another minute?” I asked. I wanted to slink away. I shouldn’t have said that in front of his mother. I wasn’t a confrontational person. What was it about him that brought out that side of me?

“No, no. We’re ready,” she said and coughed one last time to clear her throat. “I’ll take the ribs.” She winked at me, then bit her lip to keep a smile away.

The cop’s mom was pure awesome.

“And for you?” I coughed my own smile away as I lifted my chin and focused my attention on the officer.

“I’ll have the same thing. I love pigs.” He held out his menu, a smug smile spreading across his face. “With fries, please.”

“Oh, good lord, Jason,” his mom hissed, emphasizing her annoyance with an eye roll.

Jason. Officer Jackweed had a first name.

“Touché.” I nodded as I plucked the menu from his hands, spinning away toward the safety of my computer. If I didn’t know better, I’d think the cop was flirting with me.

It took every ounce of willpower I had not to look over at Jason. Thanks to his mom, I now knew the name of the infuriating, hot, jerky, muscular, arrogant, sexy man I hadn’t been able to get out of my head since I saw him at my brother’s game.

“Indie!”

My head snapped up, breaking me out of the fog of thoughts I’d disguised while inputting the dinner order. How long had Kristen, a server who went by her initials, KK, been calling me?

“Yeah. Sorry. What?” I couldn’t get the right word out.

Get it together, girl. Stop thinking of Jason’s buff forearms.

“Did you make that Bloody Mary for table thirty-three?” KK asked.

“Table thirty-three?” I glanced at Jason, whose eyes caught mine, then shook my head and looked at the tiny printer on the end of the bar, buzzing as it spewed orders the servers had punched in from the dining room computer.

Damn. Bloody Mary for table thirty-three. Four ales, two reds, and a Weizen for various other tables.

Time to get my head back in the game, especially since the printer wouldn’t stop. No looking at Jason until I had to check on how his meal tasted. Usually, I wasn’t easily thrown, especially by a guy.

It’s because he’s new in town. That’s his intrigue. His mystery.

The drink orders never slowed, and I turned my focus back to my customers at the bar and in the dining room. On busy nights, I usually had a second bartender helping with the madness, but Stacy had called in sick at last minute and I hadn’t found a replacement. I couldn’t even be angry with her, since she was three months pregnant. I knew how fast morning sickness came on, and how there was no working around it some days.

I’d been so busy filling drink orders and waiting on my customers at the bar that I hadn’t even had a chance to check on Jason and his mom. Thankfully, a porter had brought out their meals. At my first free moment, I wandered over to Jason.

“You scared off your own mom?” I asked, nodding to the empty chair next to him.

“She’s using the restroom.” Jason took a sip of his beer. “Are you gonna throw sarcastic comments at me all night, or talk to me?”

“What do you want to talk about?” I asked, filling a pint glass with red ale.

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

Not a question I’d expected.

“How is that your business?”

“You smell like a dude,” he blurted out.

I curled my fingers around the glass, which had almost slipped out of my hand. “Excuse me?”

“Shit. I meant you smell like men’s cologne,” Jason said, backtracking. “It wasn’t an insult.”

“I like the smell of men’s cologne better than perfume.” I set the first pint aside and began filling a second.

“Why’d you skip the boyfriend question?”

“Because it’s not your business.”

Jason leaned in, his voice low. “It is if I want to ask you out.”

“You what?” I readjusted my grip on the glass and pushed the handle of the tap back to stop the flow of beer.

“I think we should hang out.” Jason wiped his mouth with his napkin and tossed it onto his empty plate.

“That’s the best you can do, copper? I thought you were smoother than that.” I winked and walked away, carrying the beers I’d filled to the end of the bar for a server to pick up. Then I made a Moscow Mule and checked on a few other customers sitting at the bar before printing Jason’s check and placing it in front of him.

“Will you please go on a date with me?” Jason asked, not missing a beat.

My heart pounded against my chest. I was both flattered and frustrated by his persistence. “You expect me to say yes, don’t you?”

“It’s obvious that you like me.” Jason’s blue eyes twinkled, catching light from the pendulum fixture hanging over the bar.

“I like looking at you,” I countered, “but your personality leaves a bit to be desired.”

“Really?” The skin around his eyes crinkled when he smiled.

“Let’s pretend I’d ever say yes. Where would a cocky cop take someone on a first date?” I couldn’t wait to hear what he thought was fun.

“It’s a surprise.”

“You ask me on a date and you don’t even know where you’re going to take me?” I lifted his plate and wiped crumbs and condensation off the bar with a towel. “That’s sad, copper.”

“Why would you assume that?” he asked, his tone indignant.

“Can I be honest?” I asked. Time to strike the final blow. Though Jason had my insides flipping like no one ever had before, now wasn’t the right time to start dating. I had a million things to worry about before opening up my heart again.

“Please.” He nodded.

“You moved to a small town to be a cop and coach hockey.” I paused. “You sound like a total bore.”

**My thoughts**

I was drawn to this book because it looked like a sports romance. For some reason, I have been a sucker for those as of late. But while this one does have a hockey theme, with Jason being a part-time hockey coach and his brother playing for the Detroit Red Wings, it isn't as present as one would have expected. That's okay, because the romance is the focal point, particularly with each one dealing with their mama issues. Jason has never forgiven his birth mother for giving him up. Linden, or Indie, had her son while she was still in high school and had never dreamed of giving him up. This is a unique conflict of sorts in this book and it plays out nicely.

I love Indie. She lives up to her nickname. Yes, she got pregnant when she was a junior in high school. Yes, she lives with her mom and her little brother. But she also works two jobs to put herself through school and her main focus is on her young son. She had to mature at a very young age and seems to have taken it in stride. She is doing well for herself. Life isn't perfect, but she is doing the best that she can with what life has dealt her and she is going to do well in whatever she puts her mind to.

Jason is also quite likable. He has come to this small Michigan town to get some experience in police work so that he can go back home to Detroit and work in the big leagues. It amazes me that he had been there for two years, but hadn't really crossed paths with Linden before. That part of his story seemed a little fuzzy to me. Otherwise, he is passionate about his work and about hockey. He is also mature for his age, which is somewhere in his early 20s. He has a big heart and a great sense of humor.

The best romances always seem to happen when the couple starts off on the wrong foot. Jason and Indie start out clashing, yet cannot deny a mutual attraction to each other. They play off of each other well, having great conversations and ribbing the hell out of each other. It's that kind of a foundation that usually serves well for a successful romance. 

They don't hide too much from each other. And though conflict does arise, they do figure out a way to make it work out.

I also love their families. They reminded me of my own and I got all nostalgic.

Sophia Henry does a great job delving into her characters' personalities. Chapters alternate from Indie and Jason's points-of-view, but you truly hear the voice of each character as they narrate their side. Again, they are so mature for their ages, I kept forgetting how young they actually were. In fact, I was in doubt during the first half in the book until Indie clarified a few things to Jason.

What I loved the most about this story is that the characters really take the time to get to know each other and to develop a relationship before jumping into bed together or proclaiming their undying love for each other. I have felt that lately the trend in romance is quick hits where the couple meets and is married within a couple of months. Yes, that happens on occasion, but it doesn't feel realistic a lot of the time. This romance just felt real. Their situations with their families felt real. And a real book means more to me than a flightful fantasy.

I admit that when I started reading this book, I had already forgotten that it was the third one in the series. While you can tell that there are other stories that have happened before this one, as they are alluded to throughout the novel, you do not need to have read those first two to appreciate the story of Jason and Linden. You get enough of the background information to understand the other characters, but it isn't imperative. That being said, I do need to get my hands on those other two books, because this one made me WANT to read about the other characters' stories.

I do read fast, but this is one that I was able to complete in one evening after dinner. It left me feeling warm and fuzzy, which is a great feeling after reading a book. Well done.

Buy Links: 

Amazon | B & N | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo

Author Info


Sophia Henry, a proud Detroit native, fell in love with reading, writing, and hockey all before she became a teenager. She did not, however, fall in love with snow. So after graduating with an English degree from Central Michigan University, she moved to North Carolina, where she spends her time writing books featuring hockey-playing heroes, chasing her two high-energy sons, watching her beloved Detroit Red Wings, and rocking out at concerts with her husband.


Author Link: Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

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'Intercepting Love' by L.P. Dover Book Blast!

Both have what she wants … but only one has what she needs.

Working with professional athletes and helping them recover from their injuries has always been Kate Townsend’s dream, but after an accident left her scarred and heartbroken years ago she refuses to let what happened in her past happen again. Staying focused is the key, as well as not letting her feelings interfere with her job … no matter the circumstances. All of that is easier said than done when not only one, but two men crave her healing touch, igniting every single desire she’s denied herself for so long.

Cooper Davis, NFL’s star quarterback and most eligible bachelor, packs up and leaves his home to move across the states to the East Coast after an injury results in the embarrassing trade to another team. Bitter from the pain, he deals with his problems through drugs and alcohol—almost ruining his football career—until he meets the one woman who makes him want to feel; the same woman who refuses to give up on him no matter how many times he screws up. He has to have her, and he’s not going to stop until he makes her his. Especially, now that someone else threatens to take her away.

Motocross champion and local bad boy Luke Collins never takes no for an answer. For the past four months he’s used his charms to get what he wants, and now he’s so close to getting the girl of his dreams … if she’ll give in just once. One time is all he needs, and he’s never been known to fail, but he’s also never had to fight for a woman’s affections. Only one man will win their way into Kate’s heart, but which one will intercept the other and take what they want? Which one will she choose?

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On Sale for $0.99 for a Release Day Special!

---

Meet L.P. Dover:

USA Today Bestselling author, L.P. Dover, is a southern belle residing in North Carolina along with her husband and two beautiful girls. Before she even began her literary journey she worked in Periodontics enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.

Not only does she love to write, but she loves to play tennis, go on mountain hikes, white water rafting, and you can't forget the passion for singing. Her two number one fans expect a concert each and every night before bedtime and those songs usually consist of Christmas carols.

Aside from being a wife and mother, L.P. Dover has written over nine novels including her Forever Fae series, the Second Chances series, and her standalone novel, Love, Lies, and Deception. Her favorite genre to read is romantic suspense and she also loves writing it. However, if she had to choose a setting to live in it would have to be with her faeries in the Land of the Fae.

L.P. Dover is represented by Marisa Corvisiero of Corvisiero Literary Agency.

Where you can find L.P. Dover:

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Sports imitating romance? Thoughts from JB Salsbury, author of 'Fighting to Forget'

Sports imitating romance?

Often times I’m not even aware of how similar my fighters are to MMA fighters in real life until I look back after the character is written. I suppose it would be impossible NOT to pull from real life, and although I recognize that some of it happens on accident, I’d be lying if I said a tiny amount of it isn’t done intentionally.

Safe to say that all of my fighters mimic a real UFC fighter, either present or retired, either in looks or fighting style.

Jonah “The Assassin” Slade from Fighting for Flight was written after Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell who is known for his killer stand up and knockout punch. Blake “The Snake” Daniels from Fighting to Forgive with his big mouth and in-your-face attitude is a lot like Tito Ortiz. Mason looks a lot like UFC Fighter Uriah Faber, Owen is Rampage Jackson in my head, and Caleb is Matt Hughes, the list goes on and on.

But…

Rex ‘T-Rex” Carter from Fighting to Forget is my favorite.

There’s a UFC Fighter by the name of Forest Griffin, and although his name sounds just as innocent as he looks, he’s a brawler. He’ll be bloody, weak, and beaten in the octagon, but he will not fall. And the scariest part? He smiles. Ear to ear and through a swollen busted lip and bloodied face… the guy GRINS! It’s eerie and admirable at the same time.

What makes a man SMILE through the gore and the pain? I was inspired to know the answer to that very question, and that’s how Rex Carter was born.

Because pain shouldn’t feel good, right?

Fighting to Forget

Every fighter is drawn to the violence, the release that a perfect hit can bring.

But very few are drawn to the pain.

Rex Carter lives behind a wall of indifference. The demons from his childhood act as an anesthetic, keeping him distant from emotional connections. Only the ache from a knock to the jaw, the sting of a tattoo needle, or the heat from a piercing can jolt him back from the numbness. The fiery pain is all he can feel, and nothing compares to the burn.

Or so he thought.

Working in a Las Vegas bar isn't Georgia McIntyre's dream. But she hopes it'll be an end to the nightmare.

She's watched him, followed him and kept tabs, all in preparation for this moment: to make amends and share the secret she’s been carrying since she was a kid. But she didn't count on the feelings that seeing him again would stir up, the vacant look in his stormy-blue eyes, and his perfect body now mutilated by ink and metal.

And she knows why. She's lived his pain every single day, since the day he left.

Changed by time, Rex doesn't remember the girl from his past. If only she could do the same.

Will she get the absolution she's spent her life seeking?

Or will he continue Fighting to Forget?

Buy on Amazon | B&N Coming Soon

*****************

Author Bio

JB Salsbury, USA Today Best Selling author of the Fighting series, lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and two kids. She spends the majority of her day as a domestic engineer. But while she works through her daily chores, a world of battling alphas, budding romance, and impossible obstacles claws away at her subconscious, begging to be released to the page.

Her love of good storytelling led her to earn a degree in Media Communications. With her journalistic background, writing has always been at the forefront, and her love of romance prompted her to sink her free time into novel writing.

Fighting for Flight, Fighting to Forgive, and Fighting to Forget are the first three novels in the MMA romance series. Fighting the Fall is due to be released in October 2014.

For more information on the series or just to say hello, visit JB on her website, Facebook, or Goodreads page.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

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'Fighting to Forget' by JB Salsbury Book Tour Blast!

Fighting to Forget

Every fighter is drawn to the violence, the release that a perfect hit can bring.

But very few are drawn to the pain.

Rex Carter lives behind a wall of indifference. The demons from his childhood act as an anesthetic, keeping him distant from emotional connections. Only the ache from a knock to the jaw, the sting of a tattoo needle, or the heat from a piercing can jolt him back from the numbness. The fiery pain is all he can feel, and nothing compares to the burn.

Or so he thought.

Working in a Las Vegas bar isn't Georgia McIntyre's dream. But she hopes it'll be an end to the nightmare.

She's watched him, followed him and kept tabs, all in preparation for this moment: to make amends and share the secret she’s been carrying since she was a kid. But she didn't count on the feelings that seeing him again would stir up, the vacant look in his stormy-blue eyes, and his perfect body now mutilated by ink and metal.

And she knows why. She's lived his pain every single day, since the day he left.

Changed by time, Rex doesn't remember the girl from his past. If only she could do the same.

Will she get the absolution she's spent her life seeking?

Or will he continue Fighting to Forget?

Buy on Amazon | B&N Coming Soon

*****************

Author Bio

JB Salsbury, USA Today Best Selling author of the Fighting series, lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and two kids. She spends the majority of her day as a domestic engineer. But while she works through her daily chores, a world of battling alphas, budding romance, and impossible obstacles claws away at her subconscious, begging to be released to the page.

Her love of good storytelling led her to earn a degree in Media Communications. With her journalistic background, writing has always been at the forefront, and her love of romance prompted her to sink her free time into novel writing.

Fighting for Flight, Fighting to Forgive, and Fighting to Forget are the first three novels in the MMA romance series. Fighting the Fall is due to be released in October 2014.

For more information on the series or just to say hello, visit JB on her website, Facebook, or Goodreads page.

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter

Follow the Tour

Cover Reveal Teaser! 'Five Ways to Fall' by K.A. Tucker

Coming Soon...

Five Ways to Fall

by K.A. Tucker

ABOUT FIVE WAYS TO FALL:

Sometimes you can’t change—and sometimes you just don’t want to. Discover Ben’s side of the story in this fourth novel by the beloved, top-selling indie author of Ten Tiny Breaths, One Tiny Lie, and Four Seconds to Lose.

Purple-haired, sharp-tongued Reese MacKay knows all about making the wrong choice; she’s made plenty of them in her twenty-odd-years. So when her impulsive, short-lived marriage ends in heartbreak, she decides it’s time for a change. She moves to Miami with the intention of hitting reset on her irresponsible life, and she does quite well…aside from an epically humiliating one-night stand in Cancun with a hot blond bouncer named Ben. Thank God she can get on a plane and leave that mistake behind her.

Football scholarship and frat parties with hot chicks? Part of charmer Ben Morris’s plan. Blown knee that kills any hope of a professional football career? So not part of the plan. Luckily Ben has brains to go with his knockout looks and magnetism. After three long years of balancing law school with his job as a bouncer at Penny’s Palace, he’s readyto lead a more mature life—until his first day of work, when he finds himself in the office of that crazy, hot chick he met in Cancun. The one he hasn’t stopped thinking about.

If Ben truly were a smart guy, he’d stay clear of Reese. She’s the boss’s stepdaughter and it’s been made very clear that office romances are grounds for dismissal. Plus, rumor has it she’s trouble. The only problem is, he likes trouble, especially when it’s so good-looking…

Check out this teaser of the cover!

A new puzzle piece will be revealed each day leading up to February 5th. On February 5th, K.A. Tucker will reveal the entire cover and an excerpt on her site.

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon 

\ 

Barnes and Noble

LINKS:

Blog: http://www.katucker.blogspot.ca/
Website: http://www.katuckerbooks.com/
Author Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/K.A.Tucker.Author?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kathleenatucker
Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4866520.K_A_Tucker

Atria: http://imprints.simonandschuster.biz/atria

The Mickey Tussler Series by Frank Nappi

THE LEGEND OF MICKEY TUSSLER / SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN

By

Frank Nappi

THE LEGEND OF MICKEY TUSSLER

In the late 1940s, the minor league Milwaukee Brewers are foundering yet again and manager Arthur Murphy is desperate. When he sees seventeen-year old Mickey Tussler throwing apples into a barrel, he knows he has found the next pitching phenom. But not everyone is so hopeful. Mickey’s autism—a disorder still not truly understood even today—has alienated the boy from the world, and he is berated by other players and fans. Mickey faces immense trials in the harsh and competitive world of baseball while coping with the challenges inherent to his disorder. An honest and knowledgeable book about overcoming adversity, and the basis for the television movie A Mile in His Shoes, Mickey’s powerful story shows that with support and determination anyone can be triumphant, even when the odds are stacked against him.

Read an excerpt by clicking here.

~~Buy links: Paperback \ Kindle~~   

SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN

It’s 1949 and eighteen-year-old pitching phenom Mickey Tussler is back with the rejuvenated minor league Brewers in the sequel to The Legend of Mickey Tussler (the basis for the television movie A Mile in His Shoes). Despite Mickey’s proclamation that he will never play baseball again after last season’s violent conclusion, his manager— and now surrogate father—Arthur Murphy cajoles the emotionally fragile, socially awkward boy with autism into giving it another shot. Mickey reluctantly returns to the field and must once again cope with the violence and hatred around him. When a young African American player joins the team, the entire team is subjected to racial threats and episodes of violence, one of which Mickey witnesses firsthand. Struggling to understand such ugliness and hatred, and fearful of reprisal should he tell anyone about what he has seen, the boy’s performance on the field suffers. Mickey now must deal with a side of human nature he scarcely comprehends.

Read an excerpt by clicking here.

~~Buy links: Paperback \ Kindle~~     ~~My thoughts~~

I am a huge fan of Frank Nappi. A few months ago, I fell in love with his book Nobody Has to Know, which is a story of an illicit affair between a teacher and his student, that goes horribly wrong. I also interviewed him and had he told me a bit about the Mickey Tussler series. I have fond memories of watching baseball when I was a kid. I also work with children, some of whom have autism, and have several friends with autistic children. This series just seemed meant for me to read.

 

I love these books. The plot of each one goes beyond simply baseball, or autism, or race. The different storylines blend together to make for an intriguing glimpse into the world of yesteryear. Many of the points being made with the characters and their situations are still valid today. Delicate issues are gracefully handled, yet messages are driven home. You develop a relationship with the characters and feel like you know them, or someone just like them. You are appalled at how some of them treat each other, because humans shouldn't treat other humans that way. You become protective of the vulnerable ones and wish for the jerks to reap their just rewards. 

 

And then there are the baseball games. Reading the descriptions of the games made me think of minor league baseball when I was a kid, and was reminiscent of other great baseball books. Frank Nappi has a way of telling a story that is sure to stay with you for some time to come. I am excited for a third installment to come out and look forward to reading it.

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Frank Nappi has taught high school English and Creative Writing for over twenty years. His debut novel, Echoes From The Infantry, received national attention, including MWSA's silver medal for outstanding fiction. His follow-up novel, The Legend of Mickey Tussler, garnered rave reviews as well, including a movie adaptation of the touching story "A Mile in His Shoes" starring Dean Cain and Luke Schroder. Frank continues to produce quality work, including Sophomore Campaign, the intriguing sequel to the much heralded original story and the just released thriller, NOBODY HAS TO KNOW, which received an endorsement from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nelson DeMille. Frank is presently at work on a third installment of his Mickey Tussler series and his next thriller. He lives on Long Island with his wife Julia and their two sons, Nicholas and Anthony.

Follow Frank Nappi: Twitter | Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Frank will be awarding a $50 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Follow the tour for more chances to win!