Broken Records is Live!

Broken Records is live on Amazon!!! It is also available for free 

on Kindle Unlimited! 

Here's the blurb: 

Ethan Davis just inherited one of the most successful record labels in the country—a dream come true to any neglected son. If only he didn’t have such a strong hatred toward music.

Paige Teller is running, dying her hair and changing her name to escape the giant mistake she made back home. The internship at Broken Records was the perfect place to start over, even if the new CEO has a giant stick in his ass.

As Ethan tries to navigate the waters of running a company, Paige fights her way up the corporate ladder, yearning to prove herself. Using each other as a distraction softens the increasing amount of stress, but when a disgruntled employee starts a media frenzy, Ethan and Paige have to work together to save the label.
Recommended for 18 and older

 A little teaser:

Don't forget to add it to your Goodreads TBR! 

Anna Katmore's Dating Trouble!

Anna Katmore's Dating Trouble is out today!

A little about the book:

Trouble has never looked so hot…

Sue wants Ethan, and Chris wants Sue.

Drawn to Ethan and intrigued by Chris, Susan Miller finds herself caught between identical twin brothers at her school. When both of them start wooing her at the same time, she only has to take her pick. Right? Wrong! Ethan is reluctant to kiss her, and Chris wants her for the completely wrong reasons.

Nothing like his obliging and sweet brother, Chris Donovan has trouble written all over him. He changes girls like other guys change t-shirts, and the next trophy on his little list is Susan. That’s the last thing she wants, yet she finds herself responding to all the goodnight texts and other cheeky messages Chris sends. The guy has a way of getting under her skin like no one ever has before.

How long will it be until Susan falls for his smooth charm and gets herself into more trouble than she can possibly handle? And where does that leave Ethan?

Love all the covers in this series!!!! Now time for the excerpt: 

I opened the message and read: Not like a geek.

Who in the world was supposed to make sense of that? Was there something missing? Scratching my head, I typed: What? And sent it off.

While waiting for his explanation, I keyed in a quick update about tonight for Simone, but also added Sam and Lisa to the receiver line. As soon as that text had gone out, my phone started to ring. My first thought was that one of the girls had been really quick to read my text and wanted to talk about it, but checking the display, it said that a certain Arrogant dick had dialed my number.

What in the world— “Chris, why are you calling me?” I groaned into the phone. But I’d probably run right into that one when I decided to respond to his text.

“To wish you a pleasant night and to answer your question,” Chris replied with a chuckle.

An irritated sigh escaped me. “Does your brother know that you’re talking to me?”

“No. He just came in…too soon after he drove you home, if you ask me.” He added with a tease in his voice, “Does that mean he, once again, didn’t kiss you?”

Teeth clenched, I snarled, “None of your business.”

“Come on, it’s a simple yes or no question.” An amused laugh drifted through the line. “I’ll sleep a lot better if I know the answer.”

What did I care if he slept well? “Why don’t you ask him yourself if you want to know so badly?”

“Okay… Since you told me to…” There was a pause and the sound of a door opening which added ten extra degrees to my blood. He wasn’t really going to— “Hey, Ethan!” Chris called out, cutting my thought short. “Did you kiss Susan tonight?”

“No. Why?” The answer came from far away. My heart sank with Ethan’s flat voice. Then a door banged shut somewhere in Chris’s house.

“Ethan said no,” he rubbed it in, as if I hadn’t heard the news myself. “I wonder why he didn’t.” His voice had adopted a thoughtful edge that was one hundred percent fake. “Could it be that he’s just not interested?”

Much as his suggestion stung, I was wondering it myself. But it was too early to give up hope just yet. Third time’s a charm, the saying chanted in my mind as I said to Chris, “FYI, he asked me on another date.”

“Aw, playing video games again? Is that really your idea of a successful date?”

“We’re going to the movies.” And might play some video games before that, but I didn’t mention it. “Your idea of a successful date is probably coming out of your room with bed hair and a messy shirt.”

Chris waited a second. There was an unmistakable smirk in his tone when he purred in my ear, “I knew you noticed that.” His voice became even lower and a quantum more seductive. “Did it bother you?”

“Why the hell would it?”

“Because, for one,” Chris didn’t hesitate a beat to explain, “I look exactly like my brother and, from what I can tell, you’re totally into him. Means you’re totally into me, too. And two, only one out of us seems to be dying to snatch a kiss from you these days.”

His explanation, or whatever the heck that was, sent my thoughts into complete chaos. It was silent enough to hear a pin drop in my room.

“You stopped breathing, Sue.” There was, for once, not the slightest edge of teasing in his tone. Rather astonishment. But that faded away quickly and a chuckle carried through the line. “I guess that means you agree with me on both points.”

Did I? The likeness of the twins was striking and not something one could overlook. Since I thought Ethan was the cutest boy in the world, it would make sense to assume I thought the same about Chris. Except that Chris was lacking charm, manners, courtesy, and my fabulous taste in music. Although his singing “Stay” had stroked a sense of admiration awake in me.

“Chris, tell me one thing,” I whispered, not at all sure if I really wanted an answer. “You had the most beautiful girl in your room this afternoon. Why do you want to kiss me?”

“Because Lauren, like most other girls, is an easy catch.” After telling me this in the most nonchalant way, he made a dramatic pause. “You, on the other hand, challenged me today—and in front of my friends, too.”

“So you want me because you can’t have me?”

“Who says I can’t have you?”

“I do.”

“Oh, okay. So yes, then I definitely want you.”

His logic made me laugh, but there was more frustration than humor ringing in it. “You need to understand that I could never kiss a guy without having true feelings for him…which I don’t have for you, Chris.”

“Really?” His voice went up like he was scrunching up his face. “I’ve kissed more than twenty girls the past few months, and it was lots of fun. But not one of them made me feel anything. Well, other than—”

“Stop it!” I shouted, squeezing my eyes shut. “I don’t want to hear it.”

“Okay, okay,” he laughed. “Anyway, there’s another reason why I want you.”

“What’s that?”

“You looked way hot in that dress today. Definitely not like a geek, which should answer your question to begin with.” I thought he couldn’t sound any more seductive than that, but a moment later, he proved me wrong, as his voice dropped another notch and picked up a layer of heat. “If I’d been the one driving you home tonight, I would have kissed you. And you would have liked it.”

Chills ran down my back and arms like a melting scoop of ice cream. Not unpleasant, but awkward, anyway.

“Sleep tight, sweetness,” he breathed and hung up.

Get it here: Amazon
Website: www.annakatmore.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorannakatmore

Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

Chain Reaction is the third and final book in Simone Elkeles' Perfect Chemistry Series. In the first book, Perfect Chemistry we are introduced to the Fuentes family as the book focuses on the oldest brother, Alex. The second book Rules of Attraction focuses on the middle brother Carlos and this book follows the youngest of the Fuentes brothers, Luis.

A quick overview from the Barnes and Noble website:

Luis Fuentes has always been sheltered from the gang violence that nearly destroyed his brothers’ lives. But that hasn’t stopped him from other thrill-seeking behavior—like scaling a mountain in the Rockies or dreaming of a future as an astronaut. Nikki Cruz lives her life by three rules—boys lie to get their way, don’t trust a boy who says "I love you," and never date a boy from the south side of Fairfield. Then she meets Luis at his brother Alex’s wedding, and suddenly she’s tempted to break all her rules.

Getting Nikki to take a chance on a south sider is Luis’s biggest challenge, until he finds himself targeted by Chuy Soto, the new head of the Latino Blood. When Chuy reveals a disturbing secret about Luis’s family, the youngest Fuentes finds himself questioning everything he’s ever believed to be true. Will his feelings for Nikki be enough to stop Luis from entering a dark and violent world?

I absolutely love the Fuentes brothers. Alex is still my favorite and I love how his story continues through to this book.

While I didn't love this book as much as I did Perfect Chemistry I still really liked it. I loved how Luis and Nikki first met, their first interactions and how she wouldn't fall for his charm. I liked how Luis wasn't the typical Fuentes brother. He participated in sports, cared about his grades and had dreams and aspirations.

The last hundred pages were amazing, but the pages before that, weren't as amazing. I felt like the amazing parts were rushed and could have been drawn out a little more. Mainly because I wanted more of the action of the story lines that I came to love in this series. There was a lot of buildup to the action, but with Perfect Chemistry the buildup added to the action, in this book I felt like it slowed me down in getting to the action. If that makes sense. I don't want to give specifics for those that have not read it yet, so sorry if what I'm saying sounds vague.

Still Simone Elkeles created characters that are easy to fall in love. Characters you root for from the very beginning and she brings you into their world. I could visualize the story unfolding as if I was watching a movie. Hollywood seems to be lacking for movie ideas lately and I think this series could be a hit on the big screen.

If you have yet to enter the Fuentes' world don't wait another minute. You will love these boys and their stories.

Currently Reading:

Holly Lane by Toni Blake

 I was lucky enough to win an ARC E-book of Holly Lane by Toni Blake through one of her contests on Twitter. Toni Blake is one of my favorite authors and definitely my favorite romance author. I was ecstatic. I have been waiting for the release of this book, the fourth in her Destiny Series, since I finished the last installment of the series, Whisper Falls. And considering the book comes out TODAY I figured it was the best time to post my review.

A quick overview from Toni Blake's website:

The weather outside is frightful, but kisses by the fire are so delightful …

Sue Ann Simpkins is working hard to rebuild her life and find some holiday spirit. A weekend away from Destiny in a cabin on nearby Bear Lake seems like the perfect Christmas gift to herself—until her ex's best friend, Adam Becker, shows up at the door, claiming the cabin is his! And if that's not trouble enough, how had she never noticed how gorgeous he was?


Alone for the holidays and forced to play a reindeer at the local department store, Adam's been feeling rather Scrooge-ish himself. But finding the smart, sexy woman he's admired since elementary school waiting in the house he rented is helping to brighten his humbug mood. And when a sudden snowstorm strands them together in very close quarters, leading to one very hot night together, Adam soon realizes that what he really wants for Christmas is a second chance at love. Now all he has to do is convince Sue Ann…

Toni Blake, Christmas and a hot romance, three of my favorite things rolled into one, make for a perfect read. Toni Blake is a master when it comes to creating interesting characters and developing relationships. I loved the chemistry between Adam and Sue Ann. The fact that she is the ex-wife of his best friend made for an interesting story line. What I loved most was that they never noticed each other in that way, but when you take away the barriers that were preventing them from doing so the chemistry is so obvious. 

I fell in love with Adam. Granted he was cranky through a majority of the book, but when you take into account what he was cranky about, it only made me love him more. And hey nobody can be perfect all the time so give the man a break. The relationship he has with Sue Ann's daughter, Sophie, also his god daughter, really shows his tender side. And I loved reading their interactions and everything he did for her in order to make what could have been her worst Christmas after her parent's divorce, the best Christmas possible.

If you have read the series from the beginning like me, you would know that each book focuses on a specific character that lives in Destiny. In the first book One Reckless Summer we are introduced to Jenny and Mick and I was thrilled to see that not only were they back but they also had their own subplot.

I'll admit that Tessa and Lucky from the third installment, Whisper Falls, are still my favorite couple, but I still loved Sue Ann and Adam. Then again I love all the characters of Destiny. They are all perfectly flawed and as crazy as it sounds I feel like I know them.

Holly Lane is a great holiday read and just a great read in general. It really put me into the holiday spirit and I can't wait to see what happens with all of the characters I have grown to love in the next installment of the Destiny Series, Willow Springs out July 2012- not soon enough.

If you are a fan of romance and have never read a Toni Blake book, what are you waiting for? The Destiny Series is the perfect series to be introduced to her flawless writing and swoon worthy characters.

Tomorrow's Review:

Flapper: A Madcap Story of Sex, Style, Celebrity, And the Women Who Made America Modern by Joshua Zeitz

When reading this book I was shocked at the amount of people that asked me, "What is a Flapper?" It wasn't just people in their twenties that had no idea what a Flapper was but people in their late forties as well.

The Flapper defined a generation and helped steer women away from uncomfortable and more times than not hazardous corsets. They also paved the way for women's rights, doing away with the Victorian mindset and pulling America towards a more modern time where women acted just like their male counterparts.

The book focuses on many of the individuals that helped define the flapper. The most popular being Zelda Fitzgerald, wife to F. Scott Fitzgerald, the writer most known for his novel The Great Gatsby. He is even credited for inventing the flapper, as his stories included rebellious woman who he based solely on one person, his wife, the ultimate flapper. It was interesting to read about the beginning of their relationship and how their love for the careless freedom of the era was ultimately the thing that ended them. It's in a way a tragic love story, but a love story nonetheless. And I really enjoyed reading about their rise, fall and their undeniable love for each other.

Lois Long is another person that this book focuses on. She was a young twenty something journalist who worked for the New Yorker and became famous with her column about New York nightlife. She partied at the speakeasies, drinking through the night, sometimes even showing up to work drunk, in the same clothes she wore out the previous night. Girls all over read about her exploitations and wanted to be her or at least be part of the scene that she glorified in her writing.

Hollywood helped put the Flapper on screen, first with Colleen Moore than with Clara Bow. With their dark bobs and shorter hemlines they brought to life the women that until that point were only imagined from magazine articles and advertisements. Both stories are interesting especially the time in which they were stars and the time after.

If you are interested in the time period and the people that defined it, I would highly recommend this book. While it took me some time to read, every time I picked it up I was captivated by the stories of these remarkable people.

The Hunger Games

It took long enough but I finally finished reading The Hunger Games. I felt like I was the only one left on the planet who hadn't read it yet but after a quick poll on Twitter I realized I was not alone.

For the few of you that don't know what The Hunger Games is about, a quick overview from Suzanne Collins website:
Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used to be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When her sister is chosen by lottery, Katniss steps up to go in her place.


As I mentioned in previous posts it took me a while to get into the story. The beginning was slow but I understand the story had to be set up before you could fully understand the games. Once I got to page 102 and Katniss shot the apple out of the pigs mouth I was hooked.

I loved Katniss. She is independent, strong and intelligent which is so unlike many female characters in YA books today. The fact that she took her sisters place in the games shows a great deal about her character.

Peeta I fell in love with the minute he burnt the bread so Katniss would have something to eat. Because I am a sucker for a good romance I was rooting for Peeta and Katniss from the beginning. However, Suzanne Collins had me guessing every step of the way as to Peeta's true feelings. Was he really just putting an act on for the cameras or did he genuinely love this girl from the first minute he laid eyes on her. The anticpation to finding out the truth was what had me clinging to every single page.  

The other characters came to life on the page. I was able to picture all of the contestants in the game and even though they were in an arena to fight to the death where only one could survive I wanted the rules to change.

(Sorry if the review is vague. I don't want to give too much away for people who have yet to read the book.) 

I wasn't going to read the second book in the series right away but after getting to the end and knowing there is more to the story I couldn't resist.

I also can't wait to see the book come to life on the big screen. They have great material to work with and I hope they are able to do the book justice. I actually think they casted it really well I just hope that Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson have good chemistry. No scratch that. I hope they have amazing chemistry.


And to go completely off topic here. Are there any Vampire Diaries fans out there? If so how good was last night's episode?

Currently Reading:

Sizzling by Susan Mallery

The books in Susan Mallery's Buchanan series just get better and better. Sizzling is the third book in the series and follows the story of Reid Buchanan and Lori Johnson.

A quick overview from Susan Mallery's website: Reid Buchanan was always a fan favorite on the baseball diamond. A spiteful article about the former pitcher and current playboy questions his talent in the bedroom. And the newspaper's just the first bad news. Reid's grandmother Gloria's broken hip means she needs constant care--but Reid hired Nurses 1 and 2 for their bedside manner with him. So for Number 3 he chooses Lori Johnson, the first candidate who seems immune to his brand of charm.
Lori's never wasted her time with amoebas like Reid Buchanan. So why are her well-fortified defenses starting to crumble under the force of his sexy smile--and the kindness he shows her at every turn? There's only one explanation for the feelings flaring between them--chemistry. Chemistry so hot, it's sizzling!

When Reid was introduced in the first book of the series, Delicious, I couldn't wait to get to this book. I liked Reid from the very beginning. Granted he is a ladies man but through the first and second book you were able to see the way he interacted with his family as well as his brother's wife and his best friend Penny. You could see that there was more to him than just the label he had acquired.

After moving into his grandmother's house to avoid the paparazzi he is reunited with the nurse he chose for his grandmother, Lori Johnson. From the minute these two are on a page together the tension is thick. Lori might fall for Reid's charm but unlike the rest of the population she doesn't show it. On the outside Lori is tough with great one-liners that really help put Reid in his place. On the inside she is completely self conscious and constantly compares herself to others especially her "perfect" sister.

At first I thought it was a little annoying how Lori constantly questioned her ability to attract a man like Reid and how she compared herself to other woman. But then I realized that is what goes on in some girls heads. The constant criticism of themselves and the feeling that they just aren't good enough.

Reid and Lori are a perfect match because they balance each other out. He takes her up a notch while she takes him down a few. 

Gloria, The Buchanan's matriarch, is back in this installment but this time around Lori helps her see the light and she slowly starts to shed her harsh personality. I loved reading as she made amends with all the characters that she trashed in previous books. I also loved that she had a soft spot where Lori was concerned.

This book made me laugh and cry. The ending is harsh, but it was the perfect combination for a great book. I just ordered the fourth in the series, Tempting, and can't wait to see how it wraps up.

Currently Reading:

Irresistible by Susan Mallery

Irresistible by Susan Mallery is the second installment in The Buchanans series and even better than the first.

A quick overview from Susan Mallery's website:
When ex-Marine Walker Buchanan stops to help Elissa Towers change a tire, he tells himself it's just the neighborly thing to do. And when Elissa finds herself baking him a thank-you pie, she's just returning the favor…right?
Both of them have sworn off dating—Elissa's determined to protect her little girl, and that means ditching her taste for dangerous men…especially former Marines with dark secrets. Walker knows that he's not cut out for hearth and home…his own crazy family made sure of that. But the sparks won't stop flying between them.
Now the two are struggling to keep their relationship "just friends," but with every kiss, their rules fly out the window…

Walker is Cal's younger brother and was first introduced in Delicious, when he returns home from the Marines after years of being away. I fell in love with Walker. Being a former Marine he struggles with what he had seen and done while he was fighting for his country. I felt for him as the visions haunted his dreams and even his conscious mind. It is something he keeps to himself and what I loved is when he meets Elissa he slowly starts opening up.

Elissa is struggling with her own past. All she has is her daughter and her ninety year old neighbor Mrs. Ford who has more spunk than a teenager. I really liked Elissa. Her back story goes back to when she was a teenager and maybe it's because I'm a fan of YA books but I loved learning about her younger years and where it all went wrong.

I read this book in less than a day. I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend it but don't you dare read it without reading Delicious first. Starting from the beginning gives you a better perspective and understanding of all of the characters.

Happy Reading.

Currently Reading

Delicious by Susan Mallery

As I'm sure you already know I love YA books. I love to read them and I also write them. What you might not know is I am a sucker for Romance novels as well. One of my new favorite romance writers is Susan Mallery. After reading her Lone Star Sister Series I knew I had to read more of her work. I continued with Delicious the first book in The Buchanans Series and just like the other series it starts off with a bang.

Quick overview from Susan Mallery's Website:

Menu

Appetizer

Cal Buchanan needs a top-flight chef to take over his failing Seattle restaurant, The Waterfront. He can afford to hire the best in town--the only problem is that the best happens to be his ex-wife, Penny Jackson.
Entree
Penny really needs this opportunity, but she doesn't need the distraction of working with her ex. She's sworn off romance--she's even having a baby on her own. But before she knows it, the heat is on...and the attraction between her and Cal moves from a low simmer to a full boil!
Dessert
The rest should be easy as pie, but a secret from Dessert Cal's past could spoil everything. Maybe it's true that too many cooks spoil the broth--or maybe two is enough to make it irresistible.

Right off the bat you know there is going to be tension and sexual chemistry since the two main characters were once married. I loved how she took that direction. It was different because it wasn't the initial love story that brought them together but a love story about bringing them back together. What made it interesting was the fact that Penny is pregnant and the whole concept of pregnancy was the factor in their relationships demise in the first place.

I like how Penny is a take no BS from anyone type of character yet she still has a soft edge to her. I loved how she remained best friends with Reid a notorious playboy and Cal's younger brother, through the years.

I like Cal. Not as much as I wanted to but he is a good match for Penny. The secret that he was holding on to for so long was what ultimately allowed him to let Penny walk away but it was something I thought he should have been able to share with her from the beginning. They were married after all. Then again without it there would be no story to tell.

I hated Cal's grandmother Gloria. The things that she said had my mouth dropping to the floor and my eyes bulging, though Penny can hold her own and I loved when she finally did.

Susan Mallery focuses the book on Penny and Cal but at the same time gives you insight to the other characters that will eventually have their own time in the spotlight. So of course I couldn't wait to pick up the next book in the series. I'll be posting the review for Irresistible tomorrow and the review for Sizzling on Monday.

Are there any other romance fans out there? If so who are your favorite romance writers? Leave your comments below and if Blogger allows me I'll comment back.

Currently Reading

Betrayal by Lee Nichols.

I finished Betrayal by Lee Nichols last week and haven't had a chance to post my review. Betrayal is the second installment in the Haunting Emma series. I'll start off by saying that I liked this book much better than the first book. I had a really hard time getting past the fact that Emma so willingly went with Bennett in the first book and didn't have a million questions and reservations. It annoyed me so much I couldn't get past it. I pushed those thoughts away before jumping into this book and I actually liked Emma this time around.

A quick overview from Lee Nichols website:

Emma Vaile is the most powerful ghostkeeper in centuries. Which is great for battling the wraith-master Neos and horrible for her social life. Emma knows fellow ghostkeeper Bennett Stern is her soul mate, but when ghostkeepers fall in love, the weaker one loses all power. And until Neos is defeated, Bennett and Emma can't risk it.
When the temptation of being with Emma gets to be too much, Bennett disappears, pursuing a dangerous path to increase his powers. Heartbroken and alone, Emma tries to lose herself in school. But when the Knell, a secret ghostkeeping society, sends two new ghostkeepers to Echo Point—one a snarky teen guy, the other a British scholar—Emma throws herself into training to battle Neos. But as the team grows stronger, so do the ghosts. And worse, one of their own will betray them. One Emma never suspected. . . .

I really liked the new characters that were brought into the story. Lukas and Simon mix things up. Lukas is your typical teenage boy while Simon is older and the one who watches over the group. They add to the story rather than distract and I especially liked the relationship between Lukas and Natalie. I hope there is more of them to come in the next installment.

Now I don't know if it's me but this book reminded me of two other books. Emma and Bennett cannot be together because if they are the weaker ghostkeeper will lose their power. Reminiscent of Alyson Noel's Immortal series where Ever and Damen cannot be together or it will kill him. In Betrayal Bennett's answer to this problem is leaving. He leaves her just like Edward did in New Moon. Now again it might be me but it had so many similarities to other books and I was just hoping for something fresh.

However, with that said the ending had a nice twist. A twist I was not expecting. Someone was leaking information to Neos about Emma and her friends and Nichols has you guessing right up to the dramatic reveal. She is definitely good with keeping the reader guessing and this is only one example of many.

If you read the first book Deception and liked it you will most likely love Betrayal. If you read Deception and didn't like it so much then Betrayal will surprise you.

Have you read either of the books in the Haunting Emma Series? What are your thoughts?

Currently Reading:

~August Wrap-Up~

Books Read:

I almost made my goal. I'm 44 pages away from my goal of 8 books. Unexpected houseguest and a writing session kept me from completing it. So close.  

 

Favorite Book Read in August:

Best Second Book in a Series: Tie between:

Favorite Mystery:

Most Interesting, Informative and a Book I Would Recommend to Any Writer:

Goal for September: