Saturday, August 23, 2014

Body, Ink, & Soul by Jude Ouvrard

Summary:
Phoenix Silverstone more commonly known as Nix, is a twenty-one year old that has finally discovered her freedom. After living under the strict rules and protection of her mother, Nix moved out with her two best friends in a quaint little Seattle apartment.  For the first time Nix is finally able to spread her wings and breathe. Together, they get a job working at a bar and for the first time everything is perfect.
Freedom, friendships, a great job and fantastic man on the verge of becoming hers. Tristan is the suave, intelligent, not to mention gorgeous law student that Nix has her eyes and heart set on. For the first time, she has her life together; that is, until her path crosses with Levi. The charming, tattooed and downright sexy bad boy that Nix knows she needs to avoid.
But when one of her friends moves out she is shocked to find that her new roommate is none other than Levi. Flirting. Desire. Undeniable temptations. Nix can’t deny the chemistry surging between them but she can’t forget her mother’s extreme hate towards bad boys.
Will Nix have the strength to listen to her heart? Or will her                                                        mother’s rules cost her everything?




I have to say that I like tattoos but I do believe there is a line between nice tats and going overboard with the ink.  Having said that, even though that's a personal preference, I do not let tattoos effect my opinion of a person.  So it was very easy for me not to like Nix's mother.  This story is well written with characters that not only worm their way into your heart, be it for hate or love, but they also could very easily be people you know.  As much as I love getting to know characters that I would never have the opportunity to meet it's a pleasant surprise when they can be someone down the street or around the corner too.  I loved watching Nix come to terms with her warring feelings of "do I follow Mom's preachings or my own heart?"  A definite must to add to your to-be-read list.  I am anxiously awaiting to see what happens next.



Rating:  




     ''Can I get you anything?'' I asked him, while taking all the empty plastic glasses off the counter.
     ''A smile. Give me that and you’ll get the biggest tip tonight.'' The slow seductive tone rolling off his shapely lips told me he wasn’t just fooling around. His green eyes were staring at me like I was dessert. This guy was hot and he knew it. The way his tousled light brown hair went every which way, hanging down onto his forehead, told me right away he didn’t care about his looks. He didn’t have to.
     He wanted a smile? I shook my head. ''You don’t want a drink? Just water, maybe?''
     ''No, just a smile. You're the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen and it's just a smile I want.'' He brushed his hand through his hair, making it even more distressed.
     I knew I was blushing and biting my lips in embarrassment. His eyes refused to stray from mine, pinning me in place. I smiled, but not because he asked.  No, this was solely because this very random man had pulled one out of me on his own. I saw the humor in his eyes. He slid fifty bucks out of his pocket and onto the counter. ''Thank you, Princess. You just made my night.''
     He got up and walked away. I could see the hint of tattoos peeking out of his neckline and rolled up sleeves, but I was too astonished to call after him or say anything. He was wearing simple black converse, washed out jeans and a black long sleeve henley. There was something about him - mysterious and inscrutable. If he wanted to get my attention, well - he got it.
     Who the hell was that? I kept asking myself as he walked away. I knew he was the guy Tyler had been excited to see, but I had never seen him around here before. I knew I would have remembered that piece of man candy.
     He didn't give me his name and I didn't give him mine. Not that he had to ask - I had a name tag with my name on it. It was the strangest thing that ever happened to me. My eyes remained trained on him until he opened the door of the club and left. I found myself still watching the door, even after it was closed, like I wanted to chase after him – which was insane. I shook my head, willing myself to move on.
     I began wiping the counter, pausing to watch Val entertain her groupies at the station next to me. As I turned to grab more lemons, my eyes were drawn again to the door. Tristan walked in with few of his friends. I had never seen Tristan here before and even after our dinner date tonight, I still didn’t expect it. I couldn’t tell if I was excited by the surprise visit or nervous about it. I felt like he was parading a bunch of his buddies around my bedroom, looking through all my dirty laundry. This was my home away from home and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to let him in—yet. Not to mention I was still shaken up from Mr. Mysterious.



Author Bio:
Jude was born and raised in a small village named Lacolle. She now lives in Montreal, Canada. She is the proud mother of a beautiful five year old son, Isaac and has spent the last twelve years with her boyfriend, Cedric.
French is her native language, but she prefers to write in her second language, English. She has a passion for books, both reading and writing them.



Author Links:
Blog
Facebook
Facebook Street Team
Twitter
Twitter
Goodreads
Amazon




Also By Jude:
Under The Sun
Wonderland
Lost Dreams



Pre-order Branded: Bad Boy Anthology

Summary:
B.L.Wilde, Jeanne McDonald, Jo Matthews, Mary Elizabeth, and Sarah Elizabeth give us five good reasons why good girls love bad boys.  The men of Branded are sexy, adventurous, and troubled deep into their souls.  There may be no redeeming them, but at the risk of losing everything, these good girls must decide if loving their bad boy is indeed worth the cost.



Check Cover Reveal Posts 
for Bios & Links:   Author Info


Expected Release:
August 28, 2014



Condemned by B.L. Wilde
Ten years served for a crime he didn’t commit. Ten years to lose everything he ever knew. Finally released from prison, Clayton McGuire is on a mission and nothing will stand in his way. He is determined to get revenge against the gang that set him up and take back what was stolen from him all those years ago.
Clay will stop at nothing to win back his honor and the heart of the only woman he has ever loved. Will she take him back when he finds her? Or will he be condemned to live a life without his soulmate?


Renegade by Jeanne McDonald
A chance meeting between a rookie cop and a common criminal who’s searching for a way out. 
An unforeseen circumstance.  An instant attraction.  A magnetic connection.
Tattooed, pierced, and foul-mouthed, she can’t help but be drawn to him.
Two people entirely wrong for one another, yet so perfectly right.
When their worlds collide, Lucy Diamond will learn the true meaning of love and sacrifice as she embarks on the road of no return with bad boy Jude Wallace. 
Like a thief in the night, love will take them both by surprise.


Desolation by Jo Matthews
Liam Jenkins grew up with everything he ever wanted. At age 17, his world is ripped apart and he finds himself without a home, without a car, and without money. His support system is gone and he is left to fend for himself. Not having any other option, Liam turns to sex and small crimes to survive.
When a beautiful woman chooses not to turn him into the cops but invites him to her hotel room instead, Liam’s world is flipped upside down again and everything he’s learned on the streets ceases to exist.
What will happen when one night with her isn’t enough? When she haunts his thoughts and dreams? When his past finally catches up with him, will he be able to start over? And will his mystery woman be there to see him through?


Low by Mary Elizabeth
Lowen Seely has been forced into making bad choices his whole life but none as consequential ad the one that lands him behind bars.  He thought times were tough before he was locked up; the boy from the hood learns living a law-abiding life is nearly impossible with a felony record.
He finds hope in Poesy Ashby, the girl who kissed him through glass partitions every weekend for two years.
Not everything is simple, but in her he finds strength.
In her, he is brave.
Even crooks love.
When Lowen and Poesy stare poverty in the face, he has another choice to make.
And this time, she's driving.


Don't Let Me Go by Sarah Elizabeth
Based almost entirely on body language, intimate feelings can develop within less than a minute of meeting someone.
Additionally, meeting in a dangerous situation increases the chances of falling in love.
This is that fall.
Where meeting her eyes means seeing it through.
Following down from the start to don’t let me go.
From roll up to run.
Between old glory and new beginnings.

This is what happens when a lamb is carried to the slaughter by courage, instead of a cowardly lion.