Bloggin' with M.Brennan: 2020-12-06

Friday, December 11, 2020

SERIES BLITZ: Bullied Series by Vera Hollins

Title: Bullied

Series: Bullies #1

Author: Vera Hollins

Genre: Dark High School Romance

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I have always been bullied and trapped in darkness. I hoped life would get better when I moved to my mother's hometown, but it only got worse because it was there that I met my unrequited crush, Hayden Black.

He despised me from day one, and even more when I became best friends with his twin, Kayden. Kayden gave light to my life, but my happiness with him lasted only until one night two years ago.

That night Kayden died because of me.

Half of me died with him. The other half was left to bleed, suffering Hayden's and his friends' constant bullying.

Now I must endure one more year before I can finally escape them and go to college. This year has to be different.

Either I will become stronger, or they will finally break me into nothing.

Warning: This book contains mature and sensitive themes such as abuse, violence, and offensive language. It includes situations that may be triggering for some readers, so caution is advised.

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Title: Pained

Series: Bullied #2

Author: Vera Hollins

Genre: Dark High School Romance

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Two months have passed since the day I pushed Hayden away. Two months since I found out he loved me and wanted to be with me. I’ve been trying to move on and forget about him, but my heart refuses to listen.

Hayden had almost died saving me. Half of me wants to forgive him for everything and give him another chance. The other half prevents me from doing so, distrusting him and ignoring my heart's desires. Hayden is dark and complicated, and as the days pass, he gets further away from me, ignoring me whenever our paths cross.

I have less than a year before I go to college, and I won't see him ever again. I have to believe I will get over him and move on with my life. I have to believe in my future without him.

Unless he didn't really move on, and our masks are about to fall.

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Title: Damaged

Series: Bullied #3

Author: Vera Hollins

Genre: Dark High School Romance

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Nine days have passed since Hayden got into an accident and fell into a coma. Nine days of hoping for a miracle that would allow him to wake up. Nine long, endless days.

Half of me is conquered by despair, while the other half clings to the hope that he will recover soon. I refuse to let fear and doubt overcome me. Hayden is dark and complicated, but as the days pass, I'm more determined to fight for him despite the hurdles in our way.

I have to believe that there won't be serious consequences once he wakes up. I have to believe that we will overcome all obstacles and become stronger together.

After all, we may be both damaged, but we're each other's salvation.

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AUTHOR BIO

Vera Hollins is the author of the Bullied series, which has amassed over 30 million reads online since 2016. She loves writing emotional, dark, and angsty love stories that deal with heartbreak, mental and social issues, and finding light in darkness.

She's been writing since she was nine, and before she knew it, it became her passion and life. She particularly likes coffee, bunnies, angsty romance, and anti-heroes. When she's not writing, you can find her reading, plotting her next book with as many twists as possible, and watching YouTube.

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RELEASE BOOST: Better Late Than Never by Ghiselle St. James

Title: Better Late Than Never

Author: Ghiselle St. James

Genre: New Adult/Contemporary Romance

Release Date: December 11, 2020

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Not every love story is a fairytale...

Savannah

Since we were fifteen years old, my best friend, Kyle Moxam, has been a constant in my life. We’ve argued, fought, blocked each other – well, I have – and made up over Pop Tarts and purple soda. We've been on a cycle of will they/won't they/should they since then. We should because of our history...we can't because of our present circumstances. And, boy, what circumstances they are! I may be on the verge of losing the only person I've ever truly loved. Or am I...?

Kyle

Since I was fifteen years old, Savannah ‘Savi’ Carpenter has played the role of my best friend, while my heart – and other parts of my anatomy – ached for her. Our friendship has been tested over the years, but we’ve always come out stronger through it all. Not this time. I may have pushed her too far and I don't know if we can come back from this. Can we survive this latest test with our friendship and heart intact? I sure as hell hope I don't lose her...because that would suck.

Better Late Than Never is a quirky tale of friendship, love, sacrifice and hope. Follow Savannah 'Savi' Carpenter as she navigates life, love, and everything in between, with her best friend, Kyle Moxam and the rest of the gang.

DISCLAIMER: There is no infidelity within this story, no matter how it looks. This is an angsty romance. So be prepared to throw your kindle...or at the very least, develop a complex or start drinking.

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EXCERPT

Resurrecting my old car, I pull up to the hospital, already finding her outside waiting. She walks toward the car, opens the door and hops in, just like old times, tossing her coat and purse in the backseat…just like old times. We don’t speak; just allow the music to drift us away as the singer suggests.

Deciding to take the scenic route to her house, we end up stopping at our favorite spot. Rooting around in my bag pack, I find a pop tart and warm purple soda and we split it, watching the sun set over the blue waters of Cape Aventura.

“I’ve missed the sunsets here,” she muses and I nod, unable to speak for fears of telling her that I’ve missed her.

Before we know it, night falls and we’ve been out here for more than an hour, chatting and people watching, and letting the music from the car stereo sate us. At some point our hands drift to find each other, our fingers threading together. I am stroking her knuckles in the next second, and then in another, I’m holding her.

We begin swaying as the next song takes us somewhere only we know, deep in our memories and what-ifs. As the last notes play, I gaze down at Savi in my arms. Something shifts between us then, the air pulsating with beats of things unsaid and a pull so strong. I feel it, as does she.

Our heads move in tandem and, in an instant, our lips touch. I want to cry with a relief I never knew I was feeling. Desperate, she pulls me closer to her, our tongues clashing, lashing at each other as if we are trying to consume this moment through kisses.

Finally, we pull apart. Savi’s lips are swollen and she touches them with a shaky hand. We stare at each other, a whole conversation occurring.

She wants me as much as I want her.

Heart pounding, I go around to the back of my car, pop open the trunk and pull out the blanket; the same blanket we used just two years ago when Savannah had given me her most precious gift. I’d like to say I haven’t washed it since then, but that’d be a lie. I don’t need a funky blanket to remind me that my best friend and I made love.

It haunts my every waking day.

AUTHOR BIO

Writing under the pen name Ghiselle St. James, Ghiselle was born and raised in Jamaica, West Indies (cue "Welcome to Jamrock" by Damion 'Jr. Gong' Marley...LOL).

She has a never-ending love for written thoughts: poetry, song lyrics and fiction. Ghiselle writes about tough heroines (much like herself) and the men tasked with loving them.

She has been widowed since 2018, works full time, and has a part-time job lecturing, but always makes time for music of all genres, bedroom concerts that sometimes involves twerking, writing, reading and chatting with friends and readers on Facebook.

She spends most of her summers at a Christian youth camp where she counsels and mentors children and teens, and has done plenty of volunteer work with disadvantaged children and teens, living in inner-city communities.

Ghiselle is already working on her next release, so look out for more from her!

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RELEASE BLITZ: Poison Wine by Melissa Toppen

Title: Poison & Wine

Author: Melissa Toppen

Genre: Second Chance Romance

Release Date: December 11, 2020

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It’s funny how differently we view life when we’re young.

Everything feels possible- limitless.

If only things could stay that way forever.

Then maybe life wouldn’t be so complicated.

Maybe Jace would still be the same ten-year-old boy I fell in love with.

Maybe I’d still be that same girl too.

The girl who believed that there wasn’t anything we couldn’t overcome.

But I’m not that girl anymore.

Time has beaten me down, broken me, taken everything from me.

And it’s taken even more from Jace.

I naively believed that I could save him…

From his dad. From his anger. From his addiction.

And I nearly died trying.

It’s taken me four years to rebuild my life.

To piece my shattered heart back together.

But it all goes up in flames the moment I find myself face to face with the one person I never thought I’d see again.

He’s determined to prove he’s changed.

I’m terrified to let him try.

Because no matter how sweet it tastes, with Jace Matthews you never truly know if what you’re drinking is poison or wine, until it’s already too late.

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AUTHOR BIO

Melissa Toppen is a USA Today Bestselling Author who specializes in New Adult and Contemporary Romance. She is a lover of books and enjoys nothing more than losing herself in a good novel. She has a soft spot for Romance and focuses her writing in that direction; writing what she loves to read.

Melissa resides in Cincinnati Ohio with her husband and two children, where she writes full time.

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Tuesday, December 8, 2020

RELEASE BOOST: Control the Burn by A.K. Evans

Title: Control the Burn

Series: Hearts & Horsepower #1

Author: A.K. Evans

Genre: Small-Town Contemporary Sports Romance

Release Date: December 1, 2020

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Kendall Moore has given up hope.

As a labor and delivery nurse, she covets the joy and love she sees every day in expectant couples. When she met the owner of the local race shop, Kendall finally felt that spark. She thought he did, too.

But he never called.

Logan Townsend is a man whose skills are unparalleled. With so many people vying for the racing guru’s attention, Logan doesn’t have much free time to himself. But he knows he needs to find some. Because he can’t stop thinking about the woman who gave him the best night of his life.

Just as Kendall decides to move on, Logan reappears.

Try as she might to resist the temptation, Kendall fails. Because with a man like Logan, it’s hard to control the burn.

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