Monday, March 4, 2019

It's honestly hard for me to write this.

Not because I'm unsure of my decision but because it's a decision that I didn't think I'd be making for years, if ever. When I first joined the book blogging world my life was in a hard transitional period. My husband and I were going through a tough time financially, were living in his friend's parent's basement, and were recovering from the devastation of an ectopic pregnancy after attempting to get pregnant for over a year. That time in my life was one of pain, insecurity, and unknowing. We didn't know what we were going to do next, what step we were going to take, and I found myself struggling deeply with my anxiety and depression. It was at this time that I discovered the book blogging world and it brought such a light to my life. I've always been a huge reader and I always wanted to do more with the books that I read. I've always wanted to be an author but, in the meantime, I wanted to be a part of it in a different way. I wanted to read books and help authors and spread the word on amazing stories.

From that day forward, I have thrown myself into blogging about books and making it a huge part of my life. There's been ups and downs over the years, moments of inconsistency and a lot of changes to my content. But I always made it a priority.

Almost eight years later, I've come to a standstill.

I've recently dedicated myself to fixing myself, working on my anxiety, changing parts of my life that no longer align with my goals and the things that are no longer a part of my dream. I'm working on my faith, working towards becoming a better mom, a better wife, a better person in general. I'm working on me and the things that I want my life to have.

Unfortunately, book blogging is no longer at the top of that priority list.

My life was in a transition point when I first started blogging and now I find myself myself in a similar - yet strongly different - situation. I am changing and evolving and growing as a person and my life is starting to align with that. My anxiety is heightened by clutter (both physical and mental) and stress. I'm a mom of two, I homeschool my five year old, I babysit for a family that we love, I'm journeying down the path of minimalism, all while working towards my goal of publishing my first book.

Although I love spreading the word about great books and helping out authors, I no longer enjoy the act of blogging. It's become more of a burden instead of a pleasure and there are other, more precious and important ways in which my time could be better spent.

I'm ready to tackle my own goals and dreams and put my energy into my family, my life, and my own writing career. I will still be sharing on the Rainy Days and Pajamas Facebook page and sharing my thoughts on books that I read but I will no longer make reading such a job. Reviews that I have promised will still be posted, ARCs will still be read, but this blog, until further notice, will officially be on hiatus. When it will become active again, I'm honestly not sure. It honestly may never be active again. This may be it, guys.

It's been a great run but here's to the future!
I hope to see you again soon - holding my own book in my hands.
If you've read this far, I give you a big high five and you're freakin' awesome.

If you'd like to follow along with my writing journey and want to help spread the word about my future books, click the graphic below.

Peace out, guys.

- Darcus.

Sunday, February 17, 2019

Review: Right Where I Want You by Jessica Hawkins

Right Where I Want You
Cover Source: GoodReads.com
Title: Right Where I Want You
Author: Jessica Hawkins
Website: www.jessicahawkins.net
Version Reviewed: ARC, eBook
I received this book for free, via the author, in exchange for an honest review.

GoodReads Synopsis:
There’s a thin line between love and hate . . . and it cuts right through the middle of their office.

Bad boys? They run right over good girls like Georgina Keller. But after a confidence-shattering breakup, she’s determined not to let anyone at her new workplace push her around—least of all the brooding creative director, a “bad boy of publishing” who’s made it clear she’s enemy #1.
Sebastian Quinn's taste for fast cars, late nights, and beautiful women may have gotten him to the top of a leading New York magazine, but the reputation that made him is suddenly threatening to end his career.
Georgina can help Modern Man shed its bad reputation, but in order to do that, she’ll have to start at the top—and no amount of rakish charm or inconvenient attraction will distract her.
Because if Sebastian gets her right where he wants her, it means she’s going down.

Review:
I get excited anytime that Jessica Hawkins releases a new book and this was definitely no exception. After reading Slip of the Tongue, she became an insta-buy author for me and I devour her stories like I haven't read in years.

Sebastian and Georgina's story is a trope that's been done many times before. Office romance, enemies-to-lovers, but Jessica's Hawkins puts her own beautiful spin on a genre that isn't really new and makes it fresh and exciting to read again.

I really enjoyed the dynamic that the characters had. They had tough exteriors and were layers deep in the roles they played in their personal and professional lives. Sebastian wasn't just the rich New York playboy that he seemed and Georgina, though strong and independent, had her own personality struggles and past issues that she needed to work through. Sebastian had great history to his character as well and it was easy to fall in love with both of them and their journey.

I loved everything about this book. The beginning, the end, and every Dunkin' Donuts coffee, loveable pooch, BDE, and steamy moment that made up the middle. If you enjoy enemies to lovers, office romance, Jessica Hawkins, or general contemporary romance, I highly suggest you give Right Where I Want You a try!

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Happy Valentine's Day!

This graphic was designed by FreePik but edited by me to fit my content.

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Excerpt: Work In Progress by Staci Hart

WIP - BT banner.jpg

Her fake husband is a Work In Progress…

Work in Progress, an all-new romantic comedy from Staci Hart, is available now!

wip-cover-sm.jpg
I never thought my first kiss would be on my wedding day.
But here I stand, clutching a bouquet of pale pink roses behind the doors of a Las Vegas chapel, and at the end of the aisle is the absolute last man I imagined would be waiting for me.
Thomas Bane.
Bestselling author. Notorious bad boy. Savagely handsome, dark as sin, chiseled as stone. And somehow, my soon-to-be husband.
Marry him, and I’ll land my dream job. Save him, and I’ll walk away with everything I’ve ever wanted. All I have to do is remember it’s all for show. None of it is real, no matter how real it feels.
But first, I have to survive the kiss.
And with lips like his, my heart doesn’t stand a chance.
wip - an
Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2QvdaTV

Excerpt:

The hall bathroom door opened, consequently stopping the earth’s orbit and flinging me into space for lack of gravity. Thomas Bane stepped out of the doorway in slow motion, propelled by a cloud of steam that licked at his glistening body like it wanted to taste him. His hair was black, wet, curling and dripping in rivulets down the planes and valleys of his expansive chest and abs and narrow hips. He had that thing, the trough of muscle bracketing his hips that caught sluicing water and carried it in an angle that would eventually reach that unknown terrain beneath his towel. I saw the ghost of that terrain, the long, cylindrical bulge that was substantial enough to clearly state its presence, even through the thick towel. He smirked, dragging his hand through his wet hair. I salivated, watching droplets of water roll down his forearm and collect on the tip of his erotic elbow. “You’re up,” he said. I blinked, not knowing when I’d set my coffee down or how many minutes—hours? years?—had passed in the time I spent ogling his body. He sauntered into the room like he wasn’t basically naked. I tried unsuccessfully not to stare at his knees, the place where his ropy thigh connected, the angular muscles of his calves, the curve of his ankle, the broad pad of his foot. He was perfectly proportioned. Michelangelo would have carved him twenty feet tall, and women would have worshipped at his perfect feet. Gus bounced when he saw Tommy, his toys forgotten. And when Gus took off running, Tommy stopped, eyes widening and hands splayed in front of him. “Gus, no,” he commanded. To no one’s surprise, Gus did not listen. He barked once, snagged the hem of Tommy’s towel, and whipped it off him in a single tug that exposed every inch of skin on Thomas Bane’s ridiculous body. Thank God my coffee was already on the counter. I’d have gotten third-degree burns. For a split second, Tommy was frozen there in all his natural glory, poised to run after his dog, his face drawn and eyes locked on the sweet, disobedient dog. He wasn’t paying any attention to me. I, however, gave him my full and undivided consideration. His thighs were a mass of muscle so hard and defined, the tops were planes that came to a notch at his knee and a point where it met his hip. My eyes caught that trough that had before disappeared and followed it where it pointed—straight to the thatch of dark hair and the member nestled there. The very thick, very long, mostly limp member. If I stared at it a second longer, I was going to faint—my vision was already dim, my pulse pumping so hard, I could feel it in my neck, at the back of which a cold sweat had broken. But he shifted to run after Gus, who was galloping away, trailing the towel behind him. “Dammit, Gus! Gimme that!” Then it was the back of him I saw, his hair, the streaming water rolling down all the curves of his shoulders, his back, the valley of his spine, and down to the most perfect ass I’d ever seen in real life. Well, the only ass I’d ever seen in real life that wasn’t my own, and even that I couldn’t get a good look at without a mirror. Seriously, that ass. That perfectly sculpted ass, round and tight and curved in the sides, shifting from one side to the other as he ran after the damn dog. My gaze caught a tattoo on one ass cheek, and I squinted at it, trying to make it out. Tommy bent to snag the end of the towel—I caught sight of his sack and almost dissolved through the floor in an acidic puddle of embarrassment—but when he pulled, Gus spun around, ass in the air and tail wagging as he growled, pulling back. A string of obscenities left Tommy’s mouth, but I was still gaping and staring at his ass. I realized that I was laughing. It sounded like someone else in a different room. I wondered absently if this was how it felt to have a stroke.

About the Author
StaciHart.jpg
Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life -- a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can't forget that. She's also been a mom, with three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She's been a wife, though she's certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She's also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she's been drinking whiskey. From roots in Houston to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she's not writing, she's reading, sleeping, gaming, or designing graphics.


Connect with Staci:
Stay up to date with Staci by joining her mailing list: http://stacihartnovels.com/get-the-newsletter/
Join Her Reader Group Here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stacihart/

Saturday, January 26, 2019

Excerpt & Giveaway: Only A Breath Apart by Katie McGarry

 

Would you dare to defy destiny? Are our destinies written in stone? Do we become nothing more than the self-fulfilling prophesies of other people's opinions? Or can we dare to become who we believe we were born to be?

“A gorgeous, heartfelt journey of redemption and love” (Wendy Higgins), ONLY A BREATH APART is a young adult contemporary novel from critically acclaimed Katie McGarry. “Haunting, authentic, and ultimately hopeful” (Tammara Webber), order your copy of ONLY A BREATH APART now!

 

About ONLY A BREATH APART:

They say your destiny is carved in stone. But some destinies are meant to be broken.

The only curse Jesse Lachlin believes in is his grandmother’s will: in order to inherit his family farm he must win the approval of his childhood best friend, the girl he froze out his freshman year.

A fortuneteller tells Scarlett she's psychic, but what is real is Scarlett’s father’s controlling attitude and the dark secrets at home. She may be able to escape, but only if she can rely on the one boy who broke her heart.

Each midnight meeting pushes Jesse and Scarlett to confront their secrets and their feelings, but as love blooms, the curse rears its ugly head…

 

Amazon | Kobo | Google Play

B-A-M | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books

     

Gritty and real, Only a Breath Apart is a story of hope conjured from pain, strength drawn from innocence, and love earned from self-respect. Beautiful, poignant, and fierce.” ―Kristen Simmons, critically acclaimed author of the Article 5 series

 

Add it to your Goodreads today!

     
 
Katie McGarry’s ONLY A BREATH APART – Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:
January 21st
@booksniffer7 – Review
Bickering Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt
Book Ballistic – Excerpt
Book Hoarder Mom – Review
Celindareyesblog – Excerpt
Do You Dog-ear? – Review & Excerpt
Novel Addiction – Excerpt
January 22nd
Beyourselfbebhaltair – Review & Excerpt
Booknerd1107 – Review
CeliaMoontown – Review & Excerpt
Crazy Chaotic Book Babes – Review & Excerpt
Echoing Books – Excerpt
GataLeitora – Excerpt
Its a mun thing – Excerpt
Mythical Books – Excerpt
Stellar Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
The Romance Reviews – Excerpt
Words Are Life – Review & Excerpt
January 23rd
A Novel Glimpse – Review
Bewitching bibliophile – Review & Excerpt
Book Freak – Review
Books Are My Life – Review & Excerpt
Bookworm Misfit – Excerpt
ClaryNathanWill – Excerpt
Craves the Angst Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
Latteandbook – Review & Excerpt
Once Upon a Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
Red Hot + Blue Reads – Review & Excerpt
The Book Hammock – Review & Excerpt
Velarisreads – Excerpt
January 24th
A Court of Coffee and Books – Review & Excerpt
Avid Reads – Excerpt
Bookishly Nerdy – Review & Excerpt
Dazzled by Books – Review & Excerpt
Kick Back & Review – Excerpt
Milky Way of Books – Review
Star-Crossed Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
Sweet Red Reads – Excerpt
Tale Out Loud – Excerpt
The Cover Contessa – Excerpt
The Lovely Books – Excerpt
The Start of Something New – Review & Excerpt
January 25th
A Literary Perusal – Review & Excerpt
Abellafairytale – Excerpt
Book Bite Reviews – Review & Excerpt
Boundless Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt
Confessions of a Wordaholic – Review & Excerpt
Fandomly Bookish – Excerpt
Girl Plus Books – Review
Kaidans Seduction – Excerpt
The Book Branch – Excerpt
The Book Trollop – Review & Excerpt
VoxLibris – Review & Excerpt
January 26th
Ali's Bookshelf – Review & Excerpt
Beauty and Lace – Excerpt
Blunt Book Blog – Excerpt
Book Angel Booktopia – Review & Excerpt
Bookish Intoxication Writes – Review & Excerpt
Confessions of 2 Book Lovers – Review & Excerpt
Crazii Bitches Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
Jesssiereads – Excerpt
Little Read Riding Hood – Review & Excerpt
Madison’s Library – Review & Excerpt
Reese's Reviews – Review & Excerpt
January 27th
As the Book Ends – Excerpt
Book Bitches Blog – Review
Books 4 Girls – Review & Excerpt
Bumbles and Fairy-Tales – Review & Excerpt
Chasing Faerytales – Review
K&M Sultry Reads – Excerpt
K's Korner – Excerpt
Less Reality More Books – Review & Excerpt
Poetry law and something more – Review & Excerpt
Roxy's Reviews – Excerpt
January 28th
Aaly and The Books – Review
A Book Fanatic Obsession – Review & Excerpt
Book Reader Addicts – Review & Excerpt
Bookishly Slytherclaw – Review & Excerpt
Contagious Reads – Review & Excerpt
Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt
Escape 2 Fiction – Review & Excerpt
Midnight Book Girl – Excerpt
PBC – Excerpt
Rad Babes Read – Review & Excerpt
The Book Hookup – Review & Excerpt
Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt
We Live and Breathe Books – Review & Excerpt
January 29th
A Gingerly Review – Review & Excerpt
Bangor belle books – Excerpt
Becky on Books – Review & Excerpt
Books & Tea – Review & Excerpt
Chapter by Chapter – Review & Excerpt
Echosreviews – Excerpt
GotToReadThoseBooks – Excerpt
Kindle and Me – Review & Excerpt
Lita's Book Blog – Excerpt
Margay Leah Justice – Excerpt
The Book Maven – Review & Excerpt
January 30th
Book Reader Chronicles – Review & Excerpt
Buttermybooks – Review
Ficwishes – Review & Excerpt
Geeky Reading – Excerpt
Little Bookworm Reviews – Review & Excerpt
Lo’s Lo-Down on Books – Review & Excerpt
Read. Eat. Love. – Review & Excerpt
The Butterfly Reads – Excerpt
The Writing Finch – Excerpt
YA Bibliophile – Review & Excerpt
January 31st
BookCrushin – Review & Excerpt
Little Lovely Books – Review & Excerpt
Margaux – Excerpt
Ms. Me28 – Excerpt
Nerdy Soul – Review & Excerpt
TBR Book Blog – Excerpt
The Bookish Introvert – Review & Excerpt
February 1st
Alotabooks13 – Review & Excerpt
Caitlin's World – Review & Excerpt
CJR The Brit – Review
Hedwig Reads – Excerpt
Literary misfit – Excerpt
Readers Retreats – Excerpt
The Reading Faery – Review
Total Book Geek – Excerpt
Twirling Book Princess – Review & Excerpt
Vera is Reading – Excerpt
Whoo Gives A Hoot – Excerpt
YA/NA Book Divas – Excerpt



    Katie McGarry Bio: Katie is the author of the PUSHING THE LIMITS series, THUNDER ROAD series, SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME, and the upcoming YA novel, ONLY A BREATH APART. Her novels have received starred reviews, critical acclaim and have won multiple awards including being a multiple Goodreads Choice Award Finalist for YA Fiction, multiple RT Magazine's Reviewer's Choice Award Finalist for Best YA Fiction, including a win in the category, and she was a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick.      

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Tumbler | Instagram

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Announcement: The Mister by EL James

We are pleased to share this surprise book announcement from
E L James and Vintage Books!  

On sale on April 16th,
THE MISTER,
is the highly anticipated new love story
from #1 New York Times bestseller,  E L James.

THE MISTER is a contemporary romance set in London, Cornwall, and Eastern Europe that introduces readers to the privileged and aristocratic young Englishman Maxim Trevelyan and the mysterious, talented, and beautiful Alessia Demachi, who’s recently arrived in London owning little more than a dangerous and troublesome past.

“I’m so excited to finally get this passionate new romance out into the world,” said E L James. “It’s a Cinderella story for the twenty-first Century. Maxim and Alessia have led me on a fascinating journey and I hope that my readers will be swept away by their thrilling and sensual tale, just as I was while writing, and that, like me, they fall in love with them.”




About THE MISTER

London, 2019.  Life has been easy for Maxim Trevelyan. With
his good looks, aristocratic connections, and money, he’s never had to work and he’s rarely slept alone. But all that changes when tragedy strikes and Maxim inherits his family’s noble title, wealth, and estates, and all the responsibility that entails. It’s a role he’s not prepared for and one that he struggles to face.
But his biggest challenge is fighting his desire for an unexpected,

enigmatic young woman who’s recently arrived in England, possessing little more than a dangerous and troublesome past.  Reticent, beautiful, and musically gifted, she’s an alluring mystery, and Maxim’s longing for her deepens into a passion that he’s never experienced and dares not name. Just who is Alessia Demachi? And can Maxim protect her from the malevolence that threatens her? And what will she do when she learns that he’s been hiding secrets of his own?

From the heart of London through wild, rural Cornwall to the bleak, forbidding beauty of the Balkans, The Mister is a roller-coaster ride of danger and desire that leaves the reader breathless to the very last page.





ABOUT E L JAMES:
After twenty-five years working in TV, E L James decided to pursue a childhood dream, and set out to write stories that readers would fall in love with. The result was the sensuous romance Fifty Shades of Grey and its two sequels, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed. In 2015, she published the best seller Grey, the story of Fifty Shades of Grey from the perspective of Christian Grey, and in 2017, she published the best seller  Darker, the story of Fifty Shades Darker from the perspective of Christian Grey. E L James lives with her husband, the novelist and screenwriter Niall Leonard; their two sons; and their two dogs in West London.
For more information about E L James visit:


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