Surviving Shane:

 

by: Raurie Saxon

This story was given to me in exchange for an honest review. I saw the previews and thought, sounds interesting, I was hoping that the author could deliver and give me something that I could sink my teeth into. It is a first in the series book and as such its job was to introduce the characters and story line. I think that this story went way beyond what my expectations were. It was almost a complete story in itself.

Mia is the daughter of a well known mafia man whom she purposely keeps her distance from as she does not want to be apart of that world. And then fellow mafia kingpin Shane O’Mara sees her one night and work and is instantly infatuated with her and decides that he needs to have her. His solution is to kidnap her and make her his.

 

“I have to own you completely to know that you’re mine.”

Now Mia does not bend easily to his will and there are some scenes that are definitely non consensual and contains some scenes with violence. There is rough sex and Mia finds that something inside her is brought to life with his rough treatment; she is made to face her inner most secret darkest desires. She hates him, she hates where she is, and now she hates herself even more.

When you accept the way the storyline is going, and think that you have things figured out then…. Watch out, there will be an ending that you just do not see coming, I was completely shocked and left wanting more, more, more.

This was a new author for me. I am really impressed. I would recommend her story to all dark romance lovers. It does push a few buttons but does not cross the line. I loved it. I can’t wait until the next segment.

EXCITING NEWS!!           PAPERBACK RELEASES!!!

KENSINGTON PUBLISHING PARTNERS WITH BOOKS-A-MILLION
FOR LYRICAL HIGH NOTES, A NEW LINE OF

EXCLUSIVE DIGITAL-TO-PRINT TRADE PAPERBACKS

August 19, 2014:: Kensington Publishing Corp. has announced an exclusive partnership with retailer Books-A-Million to launch Lyrical High Notes, a new program through which select titles from the publisher’s digital imprint will be brought to print for the first time. These special editions will be made available for a limited period exclusively at Books-A-Million as trade paperbacks with a consumer-friendly price point of $12.95.



Steven Zacharius, President and CEO of Kensington Publishing Corp, said, "We’re thrilled to be partnering with Books-A-Million to extend the readership of these fresh and edgy books. Each of the titles chosen for the Lyrical High Notes program was highly successful in its e-only format, and these special printed editions will give our digital-first authors the retail presence that they deserve."

The program will launch in November 2014 with the release of three USA Today bestselling romances previously available only as eBooks: Consumed by Rebecca Zanetti, Shadowed by Rebecca Zanetti and Playing the Game by M. Q. Barber. Following the release of two more trade paperbacks in January 2015, Crossing the Line by M.Q. Barber and Better than Perfect by Kristina Mathews, the program will continue with one new release per month for the remainder of the year. Books-A-Million will be the exclusive retailer for the Lyrical High Notes trade paperback editions for each title’s initial three months in print.



Margaret Terwey, Senior Buyer, Books-A-Million, commented, "I'm so excited to partner with Kensington for the opportunity to offer bestselling eBooks in print format exclusively for Books-A-Million customers."

Kensington and Books-A-Million also have teamed up on a multi-channel campaign to promote the launch of the new program through online, social media, event and print marketing. In addition, a "Lyrical High Notes Welcome Committee" of bloggers will be tapped to support the arrival of the new books in print with online giveaways and virtual events.

These online initiatives will be coupled with an equally robust offline push that includes prominent in-store placement and a launch party on November 8, 2014 with Rebecca Zanetti and M.Q. Barber at the Books-A-Million store in York, PA. In advance of the release, each of the 260 Books-a-Million stores in the US will also receive a "Lyrical Launch Pack" containing promo items including branded notepads that will be given as
free gifts to the first customers who purchase one of the line’s debut releases in November, personal thank you notes from the debut authors, and special gifts for the store employees.

Alexandra Nicolajsen, Associate Director of Social Media & Digital Sales at Kensington Publishing, said, "Kensington is a house where we pride ourselves on getting behind authors to help grow their careers—from their debuts to becoming bestsellers. This new Lyrical/Books-A-Million partnership will continue to build on that idea. Creating an in-store presence for Lyrical books along with additional marketing and promotion across all channels—in-person, in print, social media—will bring even more exposure to these successful titles."
Rebecca Zanetti, Kensington’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling Lyrical Press author, commented on her upcoming print release saying, "As a reader, I love wandering the aisles in a traditional book store, and thus I’m thrilled that Books-A-Million will be featuring Consumed and Shadowed on their shelves!"


Currently, Lyrical is looking to acquire innovative new fiction in all romance genres (especially suspense and historicals with unique settings), compelling psychological fiction and thrillers, women’s fiction, YA, new adult, and cozy mysteries.
ABOUT KENSINGTON PUBLISHING, CORP.:


Founded in 1974 by the late Walter Zacharius, Kensington Publishing Corp. is located in New York City and is known as "America’s Independent Publisher." As the foremost independent commercial publishing house in the United States providing hardcover, trade paperback, mass market, and digital releases, Kensington publishes the books that America wants to read.
The house of New York Times bestselling authors, including Fern Michaels, Lisa Jackson, Joanne Fluke, William W. Johnstone, and many others, Kensington publishes over 500 fiction and non-fiction titles each year. Its diverse imprints include Zebra Books, Brava, Citadel Press, Dafina, Pinnacle Books, Aphrodisia, KTeen, and Lyrical Press are well known for providing readers with a range of popular genres such as romance, women’s fiction, African American, young adult and nonfiction, as well as true-crime, western, and mystery titles.

With 2014 marking its 40th anniversary, Kensington remains family owned and operated since its founding by the late Walter Zacharius and it has been the only major U.S. publisher to have had three generations serve the company. Currently Steven and Adam Zacharius, the second and third generation of the family, lead a talented staff, many of whom have been with the company for over 20 years. Visit kensingtonbooks.com.




ABOUT BOOKS-A-MILLION, INC.:


Books-A-Million, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading book retailers and sells on the Internet at

www.booksamillion.com. The Company presently operates 256 stores in 33 states and the District of Columbia. The Company operates large superstores under the names Books-A-Million (BAM!), Books & Co. and 2nd & Charles and traditional bookstores operating under the names Bookland and Books-A-Million. Also included in the Company’s retail operations is the operation of Yogurt Mountain Holding, LLC, a retailer and franchisor of self-serve frozen yogurt stores with 44 locations. The Company also develops and manages commercial real estate investments through its subsidiary, Preferred Growth Properties. The common stock of Books-A-Million, Inc. is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol BAMM. For more information, visit the Company’s corporate website at www.booksamillioninc.com.

Before We Fall Courtney Cole I was a little apprehensive reading this story. The preview stated that Dominic was a wounded sole and I thought that this was going to be a very hackneyed story line, poor poor hurt man. Blah, blah, blah. Well, let me tell you, this one certainly caught me off guard. It was a fresh story line. Sure Dominic was a little tortured but for a man to avoid actual intercourse for the last six years because of his broken heart. That was new. That was very real and sti BEFORE WE FALL- LAUNCH DAY BLITZ Synopsis: Sometimes before we fall . . . we fly. One dark moment was all it took to turn twenty-four-year-old Dominic Kinkaide's world black. On the night of his high school graduation, a single incident changed him forever, and he became a hardened man-famous in the eyes of the world, but tortured inside. Now all he cares about is losing himself in the roles that he plays. At twenty-three years old, Jacey Vincent doesn't realize how much her father's indifference has affected her. She is proof that sometimes it isn't one specific moment that wrecks a person, but an absence of moments. She tries to find acceptance in the arms of men to fill the void-a plan that has worked just fine for her, until she meets Dominic. When jaded Dominic and strong-willed Jacey are thrown together, the combination of his secrets and her issues turns their attraction into the perfect storm. It could change their lives for good-if it doesn't tear them both apart . . .   Review: I was a little apprehensive reading this story. The preview stated that Dominic was a wounded sole and I thought that this was going to be a very hackneyed story line, poor poor hurt man. Blah, blah, blah. Well, let me tell you, this one certainly caught me off guard. It was a fresh story line. Sure Dominic was a little tortured but for a man to avoid actual intercourse for the last six years because of his broken heart. That was new. That was very real and still very raw. Dominic was such a powerful character for me to read. He touched me very deeply.He was such a playboy the way he went through woman after woman, satisfying them sexually in all sorts of yummy deviant ways without actually having straight sex. It was riveting, it was amazing. He was such a playboy. I loved him. He was so mean to some of these girls, only using them for one thing, never letting anyone close to him. I hated him. Emma, herself had a twisted background and she was trying to get her life back on the right track. She should probably stay away from the bad playboy types.She needs a mature realiable guy, kind of like her bestest friend Brand, but of course all the girls are so attracted to the deep dark characters. A chance encounter finds these two sharing some community service hours helping out underprivelaged teenagers and it was really neat to see them set off sparks on one another. Emma is such a toughy, knows karate, sleeps with a gun under her pillow and yet she is so kind to these boys. Dominic's soft side comes out as he takes Emma for a picnic in the grand canyon, takes her on a boat ride site seeing, his funky side comes out as he makes her wear a vibrator on the plane and sneaks her into the closet for a little one on one time. It was great to see these two try to have a relationship together. I was routing for them the whole way, obstacle after obstacle kept getting in the way. There was twist after twist, issue after issue, surprise after surprise. I was anxiously turning page after page to find out if anything get resolved. I needed to know what Dominic was hiding, what was it that got him so wounded. Did Emma ever have a chance of tearing down his walls, or would it prove too much for her and would she hang in there. This made me a huge fan of this author and I am definately going to read more by her. I recommend this story to all romance lovers. It was quite refreshing. I loved it!! 5/5 for