Dancers & Divas by Kathy Petrakis Tour & Giveaway! Could Win up to $1000!

I'm sooooooo excited to be a part of the tour for the Dancers & Divas Series today!!!!

For anyone who enjoys dancing, drama, romance, and cute boys (hehe),

definitely pick up this series!!!
 

To kick things off, I'm going to tell you about Passion & Pain (Book 1) & Bittersweet (Book 2)!

I'm also going to tell you a little about the author, Kathy Petrakis!

Dancers & Divas Book 1

by Kathy Petrakis

Published September 17, 2012, by Antartis Publishers

If you missed my review several months ago, go HERE to read it! 

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Does passion and desire guarantee success? Can friends really be trusted? Can true love be found beneath lust and deceit?

These are questions tenacious street dancer Elena Martinez faces as she struggles to compete against the most talented students at New York’s top Performing Arts High School. Along with her best friend, the carefree and mischievous Sebastien Duval, they are determined to make center stage.

But the singing diva Letitia has other plans. Beautiful, talented and popular, her desire for revenge could ruin everything for Elena and Sebastien. Now, they must fight against prejudice, treachery and deceit as Letitia sets out to destroy Elena’s friendships, her romance, her dignity and her dreams. Can Elena win the battle for true love, happiness and success?

*contains mature content - recommended for 15+*

Grab Your Copy of Passion & Pain:

On sale for $0.99!!!

Barnes & Noble      Amazon

Dancers & Divas Book 2

by Kathy Petrakis

Published April 28, 2013, by Antartis Publishers

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Can secrets stay hidden forever? Can people really change? Are some mistakes unforgivable?

As Elena and Sebastian embark on a fresh start, will Letitia keep his secret, or will she use it to destroy them?
As Veronika falls in love, Frankie is out of rehab and trying to make amends, but will it last for either of them?

Meanwhile, as Anya is torn between loyalty to her Nana and love for Darius, could Darius fall for the new temptress, Rosa? With her stunning looks, her powerful, sensual dancing and her desire to seduce, she has everyone nervous but what secret is she hiding?

Continue the roller-coaster journey with your favorite characters as they try to survive junior year at the country’s top performing arts school.

Grab Your Copy of Bittersweet:  

Barnes & Noble      Amazon







Kathy Petrakis was born and raised in Sydney Australia by Greek immigrant parents. She always had a passion for the performing arts - dancing, acting and singing but they were hobbies giving way to a traditional professional career in banking. Before this book, her writing was used to entertain friends with her unusual, and often disastrous travel adventures from around the world.

By the hand of fate, Passion and Pain and Bittersweet were born while living in London, heaven for lovers of the performing arts. After launching Passion and Pain, she returned to Sydney for the launch of the sequel, Bittersweet.

Connect with Kathy:   Website   Mailing List    Facebook    Goodreads    Twitter

Now, again, if you didn't catch my review of Book 1, Passion & Pain,

you can go check it out HERE.

I received an ARC of Bittersweet in exchange for an honest review directly from Kathy.

Wow... just... er-ma-gawd...wow. Now, I love each and every one of the characters in the Dancers & Divas Series (yes, even the "bad" guys because they're great antagonists). I became insanely attached to several of the characters when I read Passion & Pain. I couldn't wait to see what happened to them next. I became nearly addicted to some of them in Bittersweet. I couldn't wait for them to pop back up on the page in between scenes.

Bittersweet turned out to be an emotional rollercoaster that dealt with issues such as sex versus love, suicide, selfishness, let-downs, growing-up, loss, and going after your goals versus just settling for what you're handed or told to do. Each character deals with his/her own struggles and you get to see how they deal (or fail to really deal) with what they're going through. There's so many different characters and experiences with each, that there's bound to be at least one that each reader will connect with. I know that I connected with several of them and others, I stood in their corner (metaphorically speaking - Ha) and cheered them on.

So, do you like the show Gossip Girl? What about the movie series for Step Up? Have you seen the movie Center Stage? Seriously, if you say yes to any or all of the above, I really think you'd enjoy this series. I definitely recommend it to anyone who says yes to any of those. This series is like a favorite tv show! I can't wait to see what's going to happen as I turn each page!

Now, the plot: The plot moves pretty consistently through book 1 into book 2. I love that! I mean, seriously, this series would make such a great tv show! There are ups, down, in betweens, happy moments, angry moments, sad moments, laughing moments... Love it!

At the end of Bittersweet, I really had a flash back of when one of my fave tv shows ended their season until the fall. You know, that moment where you fall to your knees at the closing of the last episode of the season and squeal "noooo, that can't be the end?! I have to wait until WHEN before the next season starts?!!" That's exactly the moment that I had. There's soooo many possible endings for the characters before the curtain closes on the series. I can't wait to find out how issues and relationships are resolved.

Overall, I loved this novel! It was a great continuation to the series & I can't stress enough - if you like drama, dancing, competition, romance... get Passion & Pain now. You'll want to pick up Bittersweet as soon as you turn the last page of Passion & Pain! LoL

Overall Rating: 5 Stars!   I cannot wait to see what happens next!!!

 So, Kathy has som AMAZING Giveaways up for grabs as part of this tour!

One for everyone & one specifically for FANS of the series! How flippin' awesome is that?!?!

Use the Rafflecopters below to enter for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Go HERE for a detailed description of the FANS Competition!

The following are the terms and conditions for the Dancers and Divas FANS promotion.

1. The competition starts on June 1 2013 at 00.00 hours US EST and closes midnight, October 31 2013. Winner will be announced on the 4th November and has 48 hours to respond to validate entry and claim prize. Amazon reviews must be visible by the close date.

2. It is open internationally to entrants over the age of 14. Proof of ID will also be required to claim prize.

3. To enter the competition, purchase of either Passion and Pain or Bittersweet, by Kathy Petrakis is required. This is in the ebook format or paperback format.

4. Books bought as part of a free promotion are excluded from entries for purchase but can submit entries for the reviews posted. Proof of purchase is still required. Books refunded are also excluded. Books borrowed from Amazon library are excluded.

5. Bloggers writing reviews after receiving a free copy from the author (either directly or through Amazon), are excluded. They may enter for any book they purchase.

6. Proof of purchase must be provided and match the dates in the entry form.

7. Books can be purchased at any time before October 31 2013 but reviews must be live on Amazon between June 1 and October 31 2013.



ARC Review: Claim Me (Stark Trilogy #2) by J. Kenner

Claim Me

Stark Trilogy #2

by J. Kenner

Erotic Romance / Light BDSM

Expected Publication: April 23, 2013 by Batam

*ARC Ebook obtained via NetGalley in 

exchange for an honest review*

Synopsis via Goodreads:

For Damien, our obsession is a game. For me, it is fiercely, blindingly, real.

Damien Stark’s need is palpable—his need for pleasure, his need for control, his need for me. Beautiful and brilliant yet tortured at his core, he is in every way my match.

I have agreed to be his alone, and now I want him to be fully mine. I want us to possess each other beyond the sweetest edge of our ecstasy, into the deepest desires of our souls. To let the fire that burns between us consume us both.

But there are dark places within Damien that not even our wildest passion can touch. I yearn to know his secrets, yearn for him to surrender to me as I have surrendered to him. But our troubled pasts will either bind us close . . . or shatter us completely.

Release Me is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences.

  

Pre-Order Your Copy:

Barnes & Noble

About the Author:

J. Kenner spent more than ten years as a litigator in Southern California and Central Texas, using her rare free time to indulge her passion for writing. California born, she now lives—and writes—in Texas, with her husband and daughters.


Connect with the Author: Goodreads   Twitter    Facebook   Website







My Review:

Oh my, my, my.... I just can't get enough of Damien Stark.

Let me start out by saying that for most readers, you either like this type of novel (erotica with BDSM) or you don't. I like them... a lot.

With that being said, I won't go into detail about the actual erotic fun in this novel but I will say that Kenner didn't disappoint. Great scenes and high emotion throughout them.

Now, the rest of the deets...

I adore the characters in this novel. They seem to me to have more depth than other popular erotica novel characters do. If you read book 1, Release Me, and you enjoyed it, this novel doesn't disappoint. I will say that the first nearly half of the novel is a tad slow... great scenes, but as far as the plot unfolding, it's a tad slow. Now, I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the first half... but compared to the rest of the novel, it wasn't nearly as eventful.

All of a sudden, the novel seems to take off - it's one thing after another. You learn more about Damien's past, which breaks your heart even more for this man, and you also continue to see Nikki struggle with trying to keep herself from turning to cutting to ground her. Slowly, Damien begins to open up little by little but there's still so many mysteries yet to be unveiled. It leaves the reader on their toes waiting for "what's next?!"

The drama constantly had me biting my nails and wanting to jump through the novel. Nikki's mom - UG! - that woman makes me want to hurl... better yet, I want to punch her in her face! >_<

Now.... the ending.... jeewiz... I can't believe that Julie left us hanging where she does! Now don't get me wrong, the ending is perfect... but the events that are beginning to unfold! I wanted to scream at the book when I reached the last page! LoL I can't wait to see how this trilogy ends - I'm crossing my fingers that things work out the way I want them too ^_^


Overall Rating: 4 Stars
Cover Rating: 4 Stars --> ahh that scarf! Love that they used this as the cover image.
Characters: 4.5 Stars
Plot: 4 Stars
Climax: 4.5 Stars
Ending: 5 Stars

Review: Fallen To Far by Abbi Glines

 

 

Fallen Too Far

by Abbi Glines

New Adult Romance / Contemporary Romance

Published December 14, 2012

 

*purchased e-book*

 

Synopsis Via Goodreads:

 

"To want what you’re not supposed to have…

She is only nineteen.

She is his new stepfather’s daughter.

She is still naïve and innocent due to spending the last three years taking care of her sick mother.

But for twenty-four year old Rush Finlay, she is the only thing that has ever been off limits. His famous father’s guilt money, his mother’s desperation to win his love, and his charm are the three reasons he has never been told no.

Blaire Wynn left her small farmhouse in Alabama, after her mother passed away, to move in with her father and his new wife in their sprawling beach house along the Florida gulf coast. She isn’t prepared for the lifestyle change and she knows she’ll never fit into this world. Then there is her sexy stepbrother who her father leaves her with for the summer while he runs off to Paris with his wife. Rush is as spoiled as he is gorgeous. He is also getting under her skin. She knows he is anything but good for her and that he’ll never be faithful to anyone. He is jaded and has secrets Blaire knows she may never uncover but even knowing all of that…

Blaire just may have fallen too far."

Get Your Copy:   Barnes & Noble     Amazon



About the Author:

Abbi Glines can be found hanging out with rockstars, taking out her yacht on weekends for a party cruise, sky diving, or surfing in Maui. Okay maybe she needs to keep her imagination focused on her writing only. In the real world, Abbi can be found hauling kids (several who seem to show up that don’t belong to her) to all their social events, hiding under the covers with her MacBook in hopes her husband won’t catch her watching Buffy on Netflix again, and sneaking off to Barnes and Noble to spend hours lost in the yummy goodness of books. Her debut novel, BREATHE, can be found in digital format at Barnes and Noble and Amazon. Existence, a YA paranormal, was released December 13, 2011 by Wild Child Publishing. She also released a YA contemporary romance, The Vincent Boys this Fall. She just released her first New Adult contemporary, Because of Low. She is currently editing the second book in the Existence Trilogy, Predestined. If you want to find her then check Twitter first because she has a severe addiction to tweeting @abbiglines. She also blogs regularly but rarely about anything life changing. She also really enjoys talking about herself in third person.

 

Connect With Abbi:

Blog

Goodreads

Twitter

Facebook

My Review:

I LOVED Fallen Too Far! Great novel!!

I do believe that it's now my absolutely favorite by Abbi Glines.

At first, the novel feels a little choppy - but then it's like Abbi got into a groove & it worked! The characters were great! Blaire is such a great female lead: country girl who has struggled through life, losing her mom, being the only person she can depend on, then being thrown into a life where she has absolutely nothing left....but her dad who bounced 5 years earlier. You become a cheerleader in Blaire's corner because you WANT her to make it in life. Then you have Rush - love that name btw. Totally Hotness. At first, you really don't have a good feel at all for Rush except that he's an ultimate hottie with an attitude. I honestly really disliked his character at first - which I'm pretty sure was the point. But then you start seeing little moments where Rush lets his shield of crappy attitude down - allowing you to see where he really feels something for Blaire. All of the other characters were great too! They all have their own attitudes/personalities that really stand apart.

And then the bottom absolutely drops out of the sky & the serious turn of events just slaps you upside the head! I was totally blindsided by the real issue at hand - I felt awful for Blaire. You know that something is going to happen but you have no idea what - there was no way to predict (for me anyway) what was going to happen.

The sex scenes are well written - not trashy or too much. Very tasteful & reading from Blaire's perspective just makes it all more emotional. I'd love to see Rush's point of view through the entire novel!

Overall Rating: 5 Stars!
Cover Rating: 4 Stars
Characters: 5 Stars
Plot: 4 Stars
Climax: 5 Stars

I cannot wait until March!!!