Showing posts with label Nyrae Dawn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nyrae Dawn. Show all posts

Monday, March 28, 2016

Release Day Review: Touch the Sky by Christina Lee & Nyrae Dawn


Lucas Barnett and Gabriel Stewart didn’t have it easy as kids. They were only trying to deal with bad situations at home when they became lifelines for each other. Their pipe dream was to someday meet in LA, where Lucas would design skyscrapers, and Gabriel would learn to fly. But then Gabriel disappeared without so much as a goodbye, and Lucas got himself in trouble with the law.

Five years later, both men are at a loss when they run into each other at a Hollywood bar. Lucas is still angry, but it’s not as if Gabriel could control how his mind and body had betrayed him. Being found on the ledge of that bridge had changed everything.

The attraction is immediate, but it’s more than their inability to keep their hands off each other. Neither man expects the fierce connection pulling them together. Unfortunately, ignoring their problems doesn’t make them disappear. Gabriel’s internal struggles are serious…dangerous. And no matter how much Lucas wants it to be true, saving Gabriel won’t make up for not being able to save his mom. If they don’t find the strength to face their own demons before the darkness takes hold, they risk more than just losing each other forever. 


COVER DESIGN: Natasha Snow
PHOTOGRAPHY: Giovanni Dall’Orto
RELEASE DATE: March 28th, 2016

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29145268-touch-the-sky




 
EXCERPT

I grab a piece of pizza and we finish the whole box, while drinking soda and watching a horror flick on TV. With each minute that passes, Gabe gets closer to me. It’s not one of those lame-ass things you see in movies, where the distance keeps shrinking while they get the balls to make a move. I just think Gabe craves contact—skin and flesh and warmth. And even though I’m not typically like that, I suddenly want to give it to him. Or maybe I’m just a selfish bastard and I’m fooling myself because I really just crave him.
So I do it, blatantly just move closer. Our legs touch, jeans against jeans. Our arms though? That’s skin against skin and I think maybe I really do crave skin and flesh and warmth the same way he does. At least when it’s him, I do.
The movie ends, and out of the corner of my eye, I see his head turn. Feel his gaze on me.
I want to taste him.
Me taste him. I’ve felt his lips twice and both times were both Gabe’s doing. This time it’ll be mine. I turn to him, touch his cheek with my left hand, let his hair slide through my fingers and then grab on.
Then I’m leaning forward, my tongue at the seam of his lips. Gabe opens up for me and I thrust my tongue inside. The feel of him, the taste of him goes straight to my head—both my dick and the one on my shoulders.
He moans into my mouth as I push closer to him. Reading my body language, Gabe turns, lies down so that he’s on his back and I’m between his legs, leaning over him.
My dick aches. I feel his, hard and thick against my stomach as I kiss him deeper.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” I say as my lips slide down his neck. I can’t believe I just said that either.
Gabe’s hand tightens in my hair and his hips move, as he rubs his erection against me.
“I can’t believe it either.” He’s breathless, his voice hoarse with lust. It rocks through me and I suddenly want nothing more than to see what he looks like when he comes.


What I thought about Touch The Sky
 
I was thrilled when I heard that two of my favorite m/m authors would be collaborating together on this story.

First of all, I've got to start with this gorgeous cover. It so perfectly captures the feel of this book. There are lots of dark emotions just beneath the surface of Touch the Sky, as it deals with important issues such as alcoholism and mental health.

Lucas and Gabriel started an online relationship years ago, but their individual problems prevented them from ever meeting until much later. They've never forgotten each other or their dreams. Now that they've made contact with each other, it's not as easy moving forward as they thought.

Touch The Sky is the story of Gabriel and Lucas finding each other and finding themselves. Gabriel's situation may be life-threatening and Lucas seems to be hanging by a thread most of the time, but the question is whether their feelings for each other will help them find their way. You can feel the love between these two and the connection they share is strong, but they do have Gabriel's serious mental health issue to deal with, and that is handled perfectly by these two authors.

There are some interesting secondary characters in Lucas's friend and co-worker, Conner and Gabriel's roommate Ezra too.

This is a beautifully told new adult m/m romance, between two characters that have much to overcome with a strong connection to help see them through it. Told in dual point of view, the reader gets to know both of these characters deeply and I loved that about it.

Recommended for readers of m/m new adult romance.
 
ARC provided for review.

Author Bios:


Nyrae Dawn

Nyrae Dawn can almost always be found with a book in her hand or an open document on her laptop. She couldn’t live without books—reading or writing them. Oh, and chocolate. She’s slightly addicted.

She gravitates toward character-driven stories. Whether reading or writing, she loves emotional journeys. It’s icing on the cake when she really feels something, but is able to laugh too. She’s a proud romantic, who has a soft spot for flawed characters, who make mistakes, but also have big hearts.

Whether she’s writing young adult, new adult, or adult you can always count on a healthy dose of romance from her books. She likes to tackle tough subjects, and believes everyone needs to see themselves in the stories they read.

Nyrae is living her very own happily ever after in California with her gorgeous husband (who still makes her swoon) and her two incredibly awesome kids.

http://www.nyraedawn.net/p/home.html


Christina Lee

Once upon a time, I lived in New York City and was a wardrobe stylist. I spent my days shopping for photo shoots, getting into cabs, eating amazing food, and drinking coffee at my favorite hangouts.

Now I live in the Midwest with my husband and son—my two favorite guys. I've been a clinical social worker and a special education teacher. But it wasn't until I wrote a weekly column for the local newspaper that I realized I could turn the fairytales inside my head into the reality of writing fiction.

I write Adult, New Adult, and M/M Contemporary Romance. I'm addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything. I believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.

Find me on my Facebook Author Page
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorChristinaLee

Find me on Twitter
http://twitter.com/Christina_Lee04

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Cover Reveal:Touch the Sky by Christina Lee & Nyrae Dawn


Lucas Barnett and Gabriel Stewart didn’t have it easy as kids. They were only trying to deal with bad situations at home when they became lifelines for each other. Their pipe dream was to someday meet in LA, where Lucas would design skyscrapers, and Gabriel would learn to fly. But then Gabriel disappeared without so much as a goodbye, and Lucas got himself in trouble with the law.

Five years later, both men are at a loss when they run into each other at a Hollywood bar. Lucas is still angry, but it’s not as if Gabriel could control how his mind and body had betrayed him. Being found on the ledge of that bridge had changed everything.

The attraction is immediate, but it’s more than their inability to keep their hands off each other. Neither man expects the fierce connection pulling them together. Unfortunately, ignoring their problems doesn’t make them disappear. Gabriel’s internal struggles are serious…dangerous. And no matter how much Lucas wants it to be true, saving Gabriel won’t make up for not being able to save his mom. If they don’t find the strength to face their own demons before the darkness takes hold, they risk more than just losing each other forever.


RELEASE DATE: March 28th, 2016

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29145268-touch-the-sky


Other retail links will be available the week before release.

Author Bios:


Nyrae Dawn

Nyrae Dawn can almost always be found with a book in her hand or an open document on her laptop. She couldn’t live without books—reading or writing them. Oh, and chocolate. She’s slightly addicted.

She gravitates toward character-driven stories. Whether reading or writing, she loves emotional journeys. It’s icing on the cake when she really feels something, but is able to laugh too. She’s a proud romantic, who has a soft spot for flawed characters, who make mistakes, but also have big hearts.

Whether she’s writing young adult, new adult, or adult you can always count on a healthy dose of romance from her books. She likes to tackle tough subjects, and believes everyone needs to see themselves in the stories they read.

Nyrae is living her very own happily ever after in California with her gorgeous husband (who still makes her swoon) and her two incredibly awesome kids.

http://www.nyraedawn.net/p/home.html


Christina Lee

Once upon a time, I lived in New York City and was a wardrobe stylist. I spent my days shopping for photo shoots, getting into cabs, eating amazing food, and drinking coffee at my favorite hangouts.

Now I live in the Midwest with my husband and son—my two favorite guys. I've been a clinical social worker and a special education teacher. But it wasn't until I wrote a weekly column for the local newspaper that I realized I could turn the fairytales inside my head into the reality of writing fiction.

I write Adult, New Adult, and M/M Contemporary Romance. I'm addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything. I believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job.

Find me on my Facebook Author Page
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorChristinaLee

Find me on Twitter
http://twitter.com/Christina_Lee04

Friday, May 8, 2015

Cover Reveal:The History of Us by Nyrae Dawn

Sometimes it's not about coming out, it's about settling in.

Eighteen-year-old Bradley Collins came out a year ago and hasn't looked back since. Who cares if he doesn’t know any other gay people? Bradley has friends and basketball—that’s all he needs. Even if that means always sitting on the sidelines when the guys go out looking for girls.

When cute film-boy TJ tries to flirt with Bradley while his friends are doing their thing, he freaks. Yeah, he’s gay, but he’s never had the opportunity to go out with a boy before. He’s never had to worry about how his friends will react to seeing him with a guy. 

Bradley accompanies TJ on a road trip to film TJ’s senior project documentary. In each city they visit, they meet with people from different walks of life, and Bradley learns there’s a whole lot more to being honest about himself than just coming out. He still has to figure out who he really is, and learn to be okay with what he discovers.

Available June 11, 2015

Pre-order links. 

About Nyrae Dawn

Writing has always been Nyrae Dawn’s passion. Even when she was too busy chasing kids or working, writing stories was never far from her mind.

She feels a special pull to characters in their teens. There’s something so fresh and fun about the age that she adores exploring. Her husband says it’s because she doesn’t want to grow up. She doesn’t think that’s such a bad thing. Luckily for her, he doesn’t either.

Nyrae gravitates toward character-driven stories. Whether reading or writing, she loves emotional journeys. It’s icing on the cake when she really feels something, but is able to laugh, too. She’s also a proud romantic at heart who has a soft spot for flawed characters. She loves people who aren’t perfect, who make mistakes but also have a big heart.

Nyrae resides in sunny Southern California with her husband (who still makes her swoon) and her two awesome kids.

When she’s not with her family, you can be pretty sure you’ll find her with a book in her hand or her laptop and an open document in front of her.

She writes for Entangled Publishing, Grand Central Publishing and is self-published.
 

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Masquerade by Nyrae Dawn Launch Day Blitz


I'm so thrilled to be part of this Launch Day Blitz for Masquerade by Nyrae Dawn.  The Games series is one of my favorites! 

About MASQUERADE

After his father is put in prison for murder leaving his mother suicidal, Maddox Cross has always put his sister, Laney, first. Now living in Brenton, Virginia, Maddox has no idea what to do with his life, especially since Laney no longer needs him. One thing he does know is for the first time since losing football, he's found something else that's just for him--tattooing. When he meets a feisty young woman in the club where he works security, he has no idea that she has the ability to change his life forever.

Bee Malone has just moved to Brenton to open up her first tattoo parlor, Masquerade. Despite her young success, nothing is ever as it seems. After being kidnapped at a young age, Bee has difficulty being the daughter her parents lost and letting go of the "parents" she was raised with. When she meets Maddox, she's immediately attracted to him and what starts out as a one night stand leaves Bee wanting to connect with him in more ways than one.

Once Maddox finds out about Masquerade, he wants nothing more than to join Bee. But letting him in means trying to figure out who she is and she's not ready for that. And yet, as the two get closer, they find themselves leaning on each other more than they are comfortable with. Will their stubborn nature tear them apart? Or push them closer together? 



Amazon |  B&N   |   iTunes     |   BAM!
Excerpt

      I’ve never been the type of person who sits around and dwells on life. Bad things happen all the time and overthinking them has never done shit to change anything. I remember when I went back home—or to the place I should consider home—I didn’t really understand what was going on. At thirteen I should have, but people who are kidnapped are supposed to have been hurt. They’re mistreated and locked away. They aren’t happy and loved the way I had been, so the whole thing was hard to wrap my head around.
      For about a week after they sent me home, that’s all I thought about. The people who raised me and the people who lost me. How they both loved me even though I didn’t know quite how to feel about any of them. Didn’t know how I felt about that screwed up word love at all. Rex and Melody had always told me they’d loved me but now I knew they’d stolen me. My real parents said they loved me but they didn’t really know me. I wasn’t their little girl anymore. How can you love someone you don’t know?
      It hurt and I cried, my chest feeling hollow and broken, knowing I should feel so many things I didn’t know how to.
      Nothing changed.

      I didn’t hurt any less. My real family was still broken-hearted and confused, and I’d lost who I considered my mom and dad.
      That’s when I decided I wouldn’t lose myself in the past anymore. I wouldn’t stress and dwell on things I couldn’t change or even things I could, because if I made that decision the first time, there was a reason. I would stick with my choices, even when someone didn’t get them or I got shit for being closed off or hard. And I wouldn’t worry about love or try to figure it out.
      Girls aren’t allowed to feel that way, I guess.
      This is why I’m pissed that I haven’t stopped thinking about Maddox since he walked out of Masquerade.


You can read my review of Masquerade here.  
a Rafflecopter giveaway  

About Nyrae Dawn
Writing has always been Nyrae Dawn's passion. Nyrae gravitates toward character-driven stories. She loves going on emotional journeys with characters whether it be reading or writing. And yes, she's a total romantic at heart and proud.
 

Nyrae resides in sunny Southern California with her husband (who still makes her swoon) and her two awesome kids.

When she's not with her family, you can be pretty sure you'll find her with a book in her hand or her laptop and an open document in front of her. Nyrae also writes adult romance under the name Kelley Vitollo.

Facebook

Twitter 


Website

Friday, March 7, 2014

4 1/2 stars for Searching for Beautiful by Nyrae Dawn



Before, Brynn had a group of best friends, a loving boyfriend, a growing talent for pottery. She had a life. And after…she had none.

When Brynn lost the boyfriend who never loved her, the friends who feel she betrayed their trust, and the new life just beginning to grow inside her, she believes her future is as empty as her body. But then Christian, the boy next door, starts coming around. Playing his guitar and pushing her to create art once more. She meets some new friends at the local community center, plus even gets her dad to look her in the eye again…sort of.

But can Brynn open up her heart to truly find her life’s own beauty, when living for the after means letting go of the before?

This is a Young Adult title.


Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17565070-searching-for-beautiful?ac=1

Amazon Buy Link:
http://www.amazon.com/Searching-Beautiful-Entangled-Teen-Nyrae-ebook/dp/B00EBRJ8GU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1393889262&sr=1-1&keywords=Searching+for+beautiful

Barnes & Noble Buy Link:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/searching-for-beautiful-nyrae-dawn/1115568922?ean=9781622661480

What I thought about Searching for Beautiful

 

 

I’m a fan of Nyrae Dawn’s New adult Games series, so I thought I’d give Searching for Beautiful, a Young Adult title a try.. I was glad I did. I liked Searching for Beautiful very much and if I had a teenage daughter, I’d want to read this with her.

The book opens with Brynn in a very difficult situation. She has some news for her boyfriend, and nothing goes as planned. She’s heartbroken and things only get worse. Her father stops connecting with her, her friends drop her and everyone at school thinks she lied. Oh, and did I mention that her mom died recently?

She’s lost. It’s no wonder she’s depressed and feeling bad about herself. She’s sixteen and hasn’t developed the coping skills she needs to pull herself out of it. She’s dealing with a generous heaping of bad stuff.

When her childhood friend Christian returns to town, he’s just the person to begin to pull Bryn out of her depression. I liked that Brynn didn’t throw herself back into his arms, and that there’s a “sweet” friendship going on between them. He plays it straight up with Brynn, and I liked that about him. Christian’s mom deserves some major hugs for her role in helping both these young adults learn how to deal.

Brynn doesn’t come to some magical revelation and suddenly “grow up” though. It’s a gradual process. Her journey of pulling herself back into the world takes some time, and I can see how other readers might have gotten annoyed with her. I thought it rang true to me. She doesn’t have some grand revelation about the way of the world, she gradually learns about the value of reaching out, friendships, and rebuilding trust. There’s some nice moments here, particularly with her dad. She even has a few setbacks along the way.

I enjoyed this very much. Interesting characters for me, and a plot that speaks to the age group in terms of boys, friends, and parents. There’s something about Nyrae Dawn’s writing and her characters that keep me turning the page.

ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Friday, January 10, 2014

4 1/2 stars for Masquerade by Nyrae Dawn



Maddox Cross has always had to be tough. When his father went to jail for murder, the teenager took care of his sister and mother. Now on his own and working security at a night club, Maddox wants to become a tattoo artist-a dream that comes closer to reality when he falls for the hottest, most tatted woman he's ever seen. She's wild and beautiful, and Maddox will do anything to be with her.

Bee Malone came to town to open up her new tattoo parlor, Masquerade. Since being kidnapped as a young girl, Bee has had trouble getting close to anyone. But when she meets Maddox, she sees that under his hard biker's body is the sensitive soul of an artist. What starts out as a sizzling one-night stand soon becomes so much more.

Bee wants Maddox to join her tattoo business, but letting him into her life means revealing all her most intimate secrets. And as the past begins to intertwine with her present, Bee fears their love may not be as permanent as their ink . . .






4.5 out of 5 flames

Nice continuation of the story started in Facade. This is the story of Laney's brother Maddox. He’s carrying around so much guilt you can feel it. One night he meets Bee.  There is immediate attraction between them. They give into it for a one no-strings-attached night, only it doesn't quite work out the way they planned.

Bee is dealing with some serious stuff from her past. When you find out what it is, you can understand why she is confused and almost-alienated from her family. She doesn’t trust very easily.

I loved the interactions between Bee and Maddox in this story. From the opening scenes, they just seem to get each other, even though they try to keep their distance. But Maddox wants to learn the art of tattooing, and Bee has a tattoo shop. Enter good-hearted Laney, who convinces Bee to give Maddox a chance.

Maddox and Bee slowly start to realize how they need each other, and they get help from Adrian and Laney and even Colt and Cheyenne. It's good that Laney's sweetness and positive outlook are there to temper Maddox’s despair. There's still some healing to be done in his heart.


Nyrae Dawn does an awesome job of bringing things to a head and then starts the resolution with a scene between Adrian and Maddox that just blew me away. It captured so many feels of this three book series. It was probably my absolute favorite scene in this book. 

I liked Bee. She's strong, smart and working to resolve her own issues. There's a lot of chemistry between Bee and Maddox in spite of all the issues they are trying to work through. Laney deserves an honorable mention for continuing to believe in love, and for bringing these two together.

Great conclusion to the series. Recommended. 


Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

Review: Brimstone Hollow (Annie Gore #2) by Archer Sullivan

Following her powerful debut in The Witch’s Orchard , private investigator Annie Gore returns in Brimstone Hollow , bringing readers back to...