The Makeover (Nerd Girls Love Hard) by Monica Garry-Allen (Giveaway)

ABOUT THE BOOK

TITLE – The Makeover  

SERIES – Nerd Girls Love Hard  

AUTHOR – Monica Garry-Allen  

GENRE – New Adult – Romantic Comedy  

PUBLICATION DATE – September 29th, 2014  

WORD COUNT - Approx 60,000 words 

  BOOK BLURB

Revenge is a dish best served cold… while wearing heels. April has just learned the real reason behind her boss’ impromptu dinner invitation. He only invited her to dinner with his colleagues to prove a point: that he can show up at an event with a plain Jane and still be considered ‘the man’. She expected better from him and had secretly hoped that one day their friendship would grow into something deeper. But her two best friends won’t let her wallow in her pain. They convince her to give Dr. Stewart a dose of his own medicine. The plan: show up at the dinner looking irresistible and prove to her boss that even nerd girls can be sexy. But first, she has to replace her unattractive business suits with something sexier and more revealing. It’s time for a makeover. Dr. Chad Stewart would never ‘really’ date his secretary. She was too good, to pure for someone as jaded as himself. It didn’t matter that he was half in love with her. But when he needed an ‘average date’ for a dinner party she was the first person he turned to. He thought his secretary was the perfect choice until he arrived to find her looking like his wildest fantasy. But now she knows the real reason for his invite and he can see in her eyes how hurt she is. Can Chad convince her to forgive him for hurting her or will she walk out of his life… taking his heart with her?

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  BOOK EXCERPT

“That’s right. Your plan was to use me to advance yourself.” 
“That was my plan. I admit it. I was wrong. What can I do to make you forgive me?” He sounded sincere. The fact that his eyes seemed to be watering as he stared at her longingly confirmed the sincerity she heard in his voice. But she wouldn’t fall for it. She wouldn’t let him in, only to be hurt by him again in the future. “There is nothing I want from you. There is nothing I want you to do other than to take me home, right now.” Those blasted tears were threatening to fall again. “Please just take me home.” Her voice broke on the last word. Chad held his hands up, surrendering to her demand. 

“If you really want to go home, I will take you home. Just please answer one question for me?"

She didn’t want to answer any questions, but if it would get her home sooner she would. “What is the question?” 

“When I touch you, do you feel anything?” 

Where had that question come from? “Um…” 

“I’m not finished. When we sip coffee together each morning, do you ever get the feeling that maybe we’re meant to be together? I know it sounds crazy, but even tonight, with everything that is going on, does a part of you feel the need to hold me and never let me go?” 

 Yes, yes, yes, that was exactly how she felt. How did he know? A sob escaped her lips. She put her hands over her face. She didn’t want to look at him. She didn’t want to hope that maybe he really felt those things he’d just said. Hope led to disappointment and she’d had enough disappointment in her life already. 

She couldn’t risk placing her hope in Chad. He’d already let her down once. The sound of gravel crunching let her know he was taking a step closer to her. She took a step back, suddenly very aware of his presence. Sobbing into her hands, afraid to look up, she continued to walk backward and he continued to follow her. 

Her back connected with something hard. She leaned back and felt the rough touch of tree bark against her exposed shoulders. Chad wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her forward. His hand settled at the small of her back. He used his other hand to massage her shoulders. The feel of his hands on her bare skin made her tremble. Why did she want him so much? 

“I messed up, April. If you give me another chance, I promise to never do anything like this again. Forgive me, please.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Author Monica Garry-Allen is a Clinical Laboratory Technician by day and a Romance writer by night. Since she's a part of the medical field a lot of her characters have jobs as Doctors, Nurses, Laboratory Scientist and etc. When she's not working she enjoys reading, writing, and shopping. Cooking however, is not one of her hobbies. But thankfully her husband enjoys creating tasty meals therefore there's no chance of her starving. She enjoys traveling though she's not much of an outdoors person. Give her an air-conditioned room, a good book, a cup of coffee and she's in heaven.

AUTHOR LINK

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Coming soon from Monica Garry-Allen: Christmas Confusion (A New Adult Romantic Comedy) 

 ~It's available for pre-order on Amazon.~ 

 http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Confusion-Monica-Garry-Allen-ebook/dp/B00NHZ4ES4/ Release date: 11/3/14.

GIVEAWAY TIME

What would you do if your boss treated you the way Chad treated April? Stop by the Nerd Girl Drama page and read what the nerd girls had to say, then leave a comment stating which nerd girl you agree with. Two lucky winners will be chosen on October 1st. Good luck!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE 'WHAT WOULD YOU DO?' CONTEST

Let's Move On is live! (Book Four of The New Pioneers)

These young women have been with me one way or another since I was barely a teen myself. I grew up with them, and it was my job to make sure they grew up. I hope you've enjoyed the ride...and rest up, because it's not over!

Special thanks to Erin Cawood for the gorgeous promotional materials.

BOOK FOUR

Let's Move On

By Deborah Nam-Krane

Zainab has spent years keeping Emily from going over the edge, giving Miranda a shoulder to cry on and nursing Jessie back to health. They'll be the first to agree that she deserves whatever makes her happy, especially after the drama Richard put her through. But did she have to choose the guy who threw everyone's lives into the shredder?

Richard knows he screwed up and he'd do anything to get Zainab back, but first he needs to make sure his company—and his loyal employees—don't go under. (Who knew kicking your primary investor to the curb would have consequences?) Good thing his family has such deep pockets; too bad he doesn't want to take a cent from them. Why should Zainab take him back if he can't get out of his own way?

Maybe Zainab can eat her cake and have it too—that is, until she's given an ultimatum. The choice isn't Lover A or B; it's protecting her friends or letting them fend for themselves. With that hanging over her head, what's it going to take to make sure she and everyone else can finally move on?

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EXCERPT

Zainab was laughing a few hours later as she stretched out in bed. "You continue to be full of surprises."

Robert rested his head on the pillow and took some deep breaths. "Come on, that wasn’t really a surprise, was it?"

"I don’t usually get that dressed up just to go to bed." She flipped over and smiled. "Or is that sort of a Catch-22? Would we not have ended up in bed if I hadn’t been so dressed up?"

Robert sighed. "I think you’re just trying to get me to admit that I had this planned."

"I know you’re intrusive, I don’t think you’re manipulative."

"What about your friends?"

"No, they’re not manipulative either, although at least one of them is intrusive at any given point—"

"I meant, what do they think of me?"

"You know exactly what they think of you, and I’d say it shouldn’t be something that should concern you."

"It doesn’t, except that I don’t like the idea of you leaving and then going to a house full of people who can’t stop telling you how wrong I am for you."

"First of all," she said, playing with his chin, "you’re getting really sloppy. Jessie isn’t living with me—"

"But she’s around enough—and no, I have not been driving by your house."

"Second of all, they have no idea."

"Really?" Robert said, smiling as he looked her over. "Because Emily is pretty sharp. Annoying, but sharp. Miranda could maybe use a little more time at school—"

"Miranda isn’t stupid."

"She just has lousy taste."

"Don’t we all?"

"If you think that, then why are you here?"

"Why shouldn’t I be, Robert?"

He smiled. "Because of Jessie. Because of everyone else. Because of Richard. Because to the untrained eye it might look like I broke you up on purpose—"

"I know that’s not what happened."

"So am I forgiven?"

"It’s not an issue."

"Why don’t you care?"

"What do you want? You want me to be really mad so you can have an excuse to feel bad? Do you think you should feel bad?"

"Let’s just say I don’t usually conduct my investigations that way."

Zainab raised her eyebrow. "I know you were here with Jessie."

"And that doesn’t bother you?"

"How bothered would you like me to be?"

"I don’t want you to be bothered, but I want you to care."

"Why? Do you care about Richard?"

"No, but I do think he can’t be nearly as smart as he thinks he is to let you go."

"He didn’t let me do anything—I left on my own. I was with him by choice."

He kissed her. "And now you’re with me. By choice."

"Now you’re getting the hang of it."

"So why did you choose me?"

"Because I like you, Robert. But why do we need to look at it so closely?"

He rolled on top of her. "True, when there are so many better things we could do with our time."

BOOK ONE

The Smartest Girl in the Room

Nineteen year old Emily wants her college diploma fast, and she's going to get it. But when the perfect night with perfect Mitch leads her to a broken heart, Emily is blind to her vulnerability. When the person she cares about the most is hurt as a result, Emily's ambition gives way to more than a little ruthlessness. She's going to use her smarts to take care of herself and protect the people she loves, and everyone else had better stay out of her way. But shouldn't the smartest girl everyone knows realize that the ones she'd cross the line for would do the same for her?

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BOOK TWO

The Family You Choose

Miranda Harel has been in love with her guardian Alex Sheldon since she was five years old, and Michael Abbot has despised them both for just as long. When Miranda finds out why she wants both men out of her life for good and questions everything she believed about where and who she came from. Finding out the truth will break her heart. Without family or true love, will her friends be enough to bring her back?

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BOOK TWO AND A HALF

An Engagement: A New Pioneers Short Story

Annabelle Hendrickson always knew Alex Sheldon couldn't be trusted, but even she couldn't have guessed how far he was willing to go to get what he wanted.

No one was as decent as her brother Jim, but Stephen Abbot had a kind soul behind his mischief. She could accept his reprobate father- he'd be dead soon anyway- but she would never accept his longtime friendship with Alex, her father Gerald's ambitious employee. Annabelle knew it was just a matter of time before he stepped on someone she cared about.

What a pity she didn't realize who that person would be—and who was going to give him the opportunity.

What happened to Michael Abbot and Richard Hendrickson's parents in 1980 is going to affect everyone three decades later.

ONLY 99 CENTS!

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BOOK THREE

The China Doll

Hypocrisy, half truths and lies...

Sick of being treated like she's going to break, Jessie Bartolome is back to her old ways and calling everyone on their hypocrisy. Sheesh! One little breakdown and even easygoing Martin Shepard thinks she's too fragile to handle their age difference. Good thing her older and equally yummy teaching assistant Robert Lester thinks otherwise…right?

After spending so long cleaning up after everyone else, Jessie's cousin Richard has never had the time to start a life of his own. However had he managed to find his girlfriend Zainab? So what is Richard going to do now that everyone else has grown up? Marry Zainab and start a family? Things have never been that easy for a Hendrickson…just ask his cousin Michael.

Richard's mother, Lucy, is one of the most powerful women in Boston... so when is she going to put a stop to the blackmail ruthless Alex Sheldon has been holding over her for years? And if Richard knows more than he's letting on, why hasn't he gone after Alex himself? The question is, how much does he- or anyone else- really know?

Welcome to the Bartolome/Hendrickson family.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Deborah Nam-Krane is a writer living in Boston proper who has been storytelling since she was a little girl and writing those stories down since she was eight. Any given day will find her reading, writing, reviewing, editing and, just for fun, homeschooling her children.

Let's Move On is the fourth installment of the New Pioneers series, the sequel to The Smartest Girl in the Room (March 2013), The Family You Choose (September 2013), An Engagement: A New Pioneers Short Story (March 2014) and The China Doll (March 2014). Deborah is currently editing Book Five, The Golden Boy Returns. That book will be set in the world of Boston and Massachusetts politics, and her job will be to tone down the true stories she’s heard so they seem believable. And because she just can't stay away from her characters, she's already started working on the To Be Titled Book Six, a Romantic Suspense.

WRITTEN BY DEB (BLOG) | NEWSLETTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | TWITTER

GIVEAWAY

$10 Amazon gift card

5 copies of both The Smartest Girl in the Room and The Family You Choose

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Above All by Rebecca Brooks (Book Review)

I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Casey is in her early thirties, holed up in the mountains of New York State while she licks her wounds from the break up of her longtime relationship with Nick. Even in her sleepy campsite she can't help but hear about his debut novel and how it's taking the literary world by storm. She's closer to reconnecting with the self she lost in her twenties while she was nurturing his dreams, but that doesn't make his thanks to his new girlfriend any less stinging.

In walks Ben, a camper in his late twenties that Casey knows she can't have but that she can't stop thinking about anyway. And who could? He's tall, dark-haired, handsome, kind, a great cook- and really into Casey. She soon realizes that she doesn't want to say no to a future with him, but what about his dreams?

And really, what about hers? What I found most thought-provoking in this book was the implied question of whether dreams change. The younger Casey wanted to be a painter but shelved that ambition and replaced it with a more practical degree in Art History. So when she gets an unexpected opportunity to have a long-buried fantasy satisfied, why does she hesitate? Is she unworthy of the dream- or is the dream unworthy of her? And how many of her desires invite the same question?

There are several graphic sex scenes in this novel, but everything goes toward the development of the relationship between Casey and Ben. The novel is very sensual even before the two meet: as I was reading, I felt myself transported to the lake, mountains, cabin and campsites. Brooks does an excellent describing not only the way a setting looks but how it feels. And not just settings: even though I'm an avowed tea drinker, I found myself craving a cup of very hot French-pressed coffee with a splash of cream, accompanied by an almond croissant with powdered sugar on top. Really, everything that Brooks described was mouthwatering- and not just the food.

This was an enjoyable, quick but not-too-quick read. I would happily read more from Brooks (but I really hope she incorporates more food in future works).

The Bird of Prey Saga: Sémya Slotin Mystery Books 1 to 4 (Box Set Edition) by Danielle-Claude Ngontang Mba

TITLE – The Bird of Prey Saga: Sémya Slotin Mystery Books 1 to 4 (Box Set Edition)

SERIES – Sémya Slotin Mystery

AUTHOR – Danielle-Claude Ngontang Mba

GENRE – Women’s fiction, Thriller, romantic suspense, Anthology

PUBLICATION DATE –  September 25^th  2014

LENGTH (Pages/# Words) -  219,000 words/ 624 pages

PUBLISHER –  Ever After Edition

COVER ARTIST – Danielle-Claude Ngontang Mba

A dead world famous supermodel.
A contract killer in love with her best friend.
An organised crime family looking for revenge.
A boyfriend with a mysterious legacy.
French sleuth Sémya Slotin is officially back on the case. The break is over.

"I'm Semya Slotin, yes this Slotin. I love wine, vodka, absinthe, my younger brother Aaron and my best friend Polliannah, in no particular order. When Josh Heinz and I are not too busy fighting or tearing each other clothes off, I solve mysteries. And I’m really good. I'm really good at a lot of things and people usually don't see me coming... but here I am and I'm not going anywhere."

It all started with a simple case…

Book One: Bird of Prey
Who killed the infamous supermodel Johanna Cartier?
After spending three years away from sleuthing, Sémya Slotin is thrown back in the business when she found her body. With the help of her best friend Polliannah Koch, DCI Ally Gibbons and the mysterious but extremely sexy Josh Heinz, she vows to see this through.

Book Two: The Plot Thickens
What happened while Semya Slotin and Josh Heinz were busy solving Johanna Cartier's murder in Bird of Prey?
When Polliannah met John Allen, she thought that she had finally found her Prince Charming. When John set his sights on Polliannah, he knew that he had a job to do and that the beautiful Miss Guryev should only be a means to an end. Then they fell in love. Now he and his Russian Princess had to leave London for their safety. But it may already be too late…

“I’m Polliannah Koch Guryev, yes I’m part of the infamous Guryev family but you can call me Polli or Mrs Allen. I love my parents, some of my brothers, high-end shopping, Russian vodka and last but not least my worst half and partner in crime Sémya Slotin. When I’m not managing our wine store in Chelsea or committing some kind felony with Sémya in the name of the God of Sleuth, I dream of Prince Charming. I’ve kissed enough frogs to give up on love but somehow it doesn’t seem to want to give up on me. How many times do I need to get hurt before it does? But still, here I go again…maybe this time it would be the last.”

Book Three: Polliannah Got Married!
The truth this time, and nothing but the truth…
Polliannah is in trouble and her boyfriend is dead. Nothing's prepared Sémya, Detective Extraordinaire, for what she finds in Toronto. Polliannah is a widow and her late husband John Allen was a hit man for the powerful Dovos family. What did they want from her? Why is this happening to them? Josh Heinz knows more than he lets on, but he’s not telling her anything. Old conspiracies and secrets resurface putting them all in peril. Sémya’s worst fears about her relationship with Josh and his past are confirmed causing a rift between that may never heal. Sémya and Polliannah’s world is falling apart. Will they be able to come out of this stronger?

Book Four: Vincent Mallory Edgerton
Every love story has a beginning.
From the moment their gazes locked, Sémya and Vincent sealed their fate.
Sémya Slotin had been coasting through life solving one mystery after another. While investigating a friend’s disappearance in Hawaii, she met Josh Heinz. Her mind kept telling her to stay away from the handsome stranger but he awakened something in her and she was unable to resist him. Vincent Mallory Edgerton had always been an efficient FREGG operative. He loved his job, even when he had to leave everything behind for his own safety. On his last assignment, he was forced to work covertly with the sexy bold sleuth. Sémya’s beauty and intellect enthralled him, but his passion and growing love for her also changed him. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to finally win her trust and keep her safe, causing him to unleash events that would shape the rest of their lives.    

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AUTHOR BIO:

I’m over 30.

I was born in Quebec City, Canada.

I grew up in France and in Gabon.

I speak English & French fluently.

Pizza is my favorite dish.

Black Forest Cake is my favorite dessert.

I met Michael Jackson when I was eleven.

I loathe vodka but love gin, wine and tequila.

I'm obsessed with Robbie Williams and Michael Fassbender.

I call Toronto my home.

I love reading.

I love dancing.

I love watching exciting TV shows.

I love my life... most days.

I'm a major goof.

I can't stand intolerance.

I'm curious, cheeky and oh so opinionated!

Author website | Danielle-Claude Indie Book Reviews | Twitter | FacebookAuthor Page | Danielle-Claude Indie Book Reviews Facebook page | Goodreads | Pinterest

GIVEAWAY PRIZES

Kindle Paperwhite

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$25 or £15 for UK Starbucks eGift

$10 AllRomance.com gift certificate

2 paperbacks: Stages & Thieves (Open in US, CA and UK ONLY)

Excerpt:

Sémya Louise Slotin was staring at Josh Heinz talking on his mobile and sighed for the third time. Once again, he was keeping her in the dark and she hadn’t felt this helpless in years. No, it wasn’t even that. She was desperate and she hadn’t felt like this in a long time. That helpless desperation that took her over each time she knew she couldn’t control a situation. 
 
The first time she felt this way was after her birth mother, Corinne Durante, told her that she was dying. Her mom had always been honest with her, but at eight when you learnt that your only parent was going to die of AIDS, a then relatively unknown illness, wouldn’t you become desperate too? 

Then there was the time when her adoptive mother, Annika Slotin, was accused of the murder of her creep of a husband, Martin Demeure. She knew that her mother was innocent but she was just fifteen and no one listened to a fifteen-year ago teenager; even if her IQ was three times higher than average. For both of these events she had an anchor, her safe harbour, her Russian princess, her Polliannah. 
 
So it was smooth sailing for a while until one night her anchor called her. She was scared and for the first time, Polliannah was the one who needed her help and support. Sémya dropped everything and took the first flight to Moscow. She had never felt as desperate and helpless as she was that day. She was only twenty-two, but she needed to be strong for them both. They packed up everything and left Europe for new horizons, new adventures, new encounters and new mysteries to solve. That was what Sémya had been known for, solving mysteries. And when she wasn’t sleuthing, they kept each other safe from bad men, wrong men, and stupid men.
 
It was just the two of them until Josh Heinz came into their lives three and a half years ago. After the Hawaii fiasco, which she scarcely remembered, Sémya and Polliannah went back to Europe; with Josh. They moved to London; where Josh was. They settled in Camden Town; across the street from Josh. There, Sémya had spent nearly every night… with Josh. Josh, Josh, Josh… the handsome and sexy Josh Heinz. The secretive and mysterious Josh Heinz. The guitarist with a suave voice Josh Heinz. Josh, Josh, Josh… Josh, who stated that he loved her. Josh, who said that he wanted to protect her. She sighed for the fourth time and headed to the closest kiosk. 
 
This time she failed her. After eight years of taking care of each other, of dodging every bullet in the name of love, friendship and family, she failed Polliannah. They received the scariest call from her, she was crying. Her new boyfriend John had been killed and she thought that she was next. So Sémya felt helpless and desperate again. She lost control of the situation, control of their lives. She was angry. Anger usually followed. She and Polli lived a quiet life in London. Who would want to harm them? One thing for sure, Josh knew and as usual, he wasn’t talking. But they would see about that. 

********

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