Blog Tour: Time Changes Everything by Melinda Dozier

Amanda Larson is dedicated to her job and doesn't want to make time for anything else. Until she runs into Jake Edwards. He used to be the cute boy next door; now he's a sexy, big shot lawyer.

Jake Edwards isn't interested in commitment. He's successful, sexy, and single--and that's how he likes it. When he reconnects with Amanda, Jake realizes he might have to rethink his philosophy on the carefree, bachelor lifestyle.

But, is it too late for them? Or can he convince her that he's ready to give her his heart?

Thank you so much for having me on the today! My Secret Romance inspired my topic. Secrets. Many of my secrets are embarrassing and I tend to embarrass myself a lot! So, are you ready to laugh at me while I hide under the table

Secret #1: I’m terribly shy in social situations. I do not like crowds and I don’t like to be the center of attention. Keep this in mind while I tell you a story. A story that happened to shy little Melinda. I’m a teacher and this past summer I attended a teaching conference in Colorado. I was super excited since I’m an ex-Pat living in Central America. I don’t get to attend conferences very often and going to Colorado was a dream. On day one, all the teachers were sitting in the huge conference room. I mean there were about 200 attendees. The nerd in me sat up front. (Yeah, I’m a dork.) At the beginning of the conference, the leaders announced that they were going to name off states and any attendees who came from that state should stand and dance to the music. I thought I was safe. I’m from out of the country. Nope. Next they say, “We’ll actually start with any attendees from out of the US.” Then the music started …. “I’m sexy and I know it.” So I stood and wiggled my tush and jumped up and down and turned around and … I was the only one. THE ONLY ONE in a room full of 200 people dancing to “Sexy and I Know It.” After that first day, I was quite the celebrity.

Secret #2: After living in Guatemala for 15 years, I still can’t speak fluent Spanish. It’s horrible and embarrassing. My seven-year-old speaks better Spanish than me. It’s a mystery how, but I found a way to get by with just knowing what I need to say and understanding everything else -- or so I thought.  I learned the hard way that this doesn’t always work. My first few months in Guatemala, I thought the easy thing to do was to just answer “Yes” (or “Si”) to everything. Not a good idea. One day I walked down the hall and a very friendly Guatemalan man said something to me with a smile on his face. I smiled back and asked, “Como?” He repeated and I was horrified to have to ask him again what he said, so I answered back “Si,” nodding my head vehemently. Well, he laughed and leaned in to me and said, “I said you look beautiful today” in English.  Well, gee, thank you, but now I look stuck-up! I still laugh about that episode and when I see the gentleman in the hall nowadays, I still blush.

Secret #3: I write steamy romance. Yep! Even though I love writing it and devour every word, I’m a little shy to tell people I write love scenes. I also don’t think those around me realize I write about sex. Hence my last embarrassing story. I had just signed my contract for Time Changes Everything and I was so happy, I posted everywhere – Facebook, Twitter. I forgot that I have a lot of friends on Facebook – including my pastor. So, the next Sunday at church, he actually sought me out to tell me he wanted a signed copy of my book.  Blush, gasp, stutter and sweat. If he only knew …

That’s me in a nutshell. I hope you take the time to read about Amanda and Jake in Time Changes Everything. They may not be as embarrassing as I am, but they’re sure to make you smile and sigh at the same time.

Bio:

Reading romance has always been at the top of Melinda’s favorite past times. After hectic days of teaching English to middle school students, Melinda finds time to write and read in the evenings. She lives in Guatemala, Central America with her husband, three boys and German Sheppard. She enjoys being the queen of her household and dreams of being pampered fully by her boys once they are grown. Melinda loves reality TV, traveling, blogging and playing Words With Friends.

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FREE at the moment from Smashwords!!

The Boy Next Door, a free novella by Melinda Dozier is available now at Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/310848

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Review: Ripped by Mia Downing

OMG! I LOVED this book. Mia Downing has painted a beautiful picture of two men who grew up together. One is a jock and the other a geek. Now they’re all grown up. The jock is now a lifeguard and elementary school teacher. The geek is still a geek. They love each other and not just as best friends, but will they ever be together. Will they ever tell each other how they feel?

I loved Gavin. He’s been through so much in his life. He’s carries guilt he shouldn’t carry and while he loves hit best friend Erik, he doesn’t feel he deserves that love.

Erik is just as loveworthy to me as Gavin. He’s loved Gavin from afar and since he can’t have Gavin like he wants, he’ll move to California. Let Gavin live here and maybe, Erik will be able to start living his life.

It was amazing to watch Gavin come to terms with what’s happened in his life and realize Erik wasn’t going to leave him. At least he hopes not. Gavin realizes he hasn’t been giving Erik what he needs and plans to try.

I really liked how Mia brought all of this around. None of it was easy for either one of them. They had to fight to bring their feelings to the front and admit them to each other. It wasn’t a walk in the park. I also liked that everything was in baby steps. There were no “OMG you’re right and I’m all better in one word moments”. They had epiphanies and acted on those but it wasn’t easy. Life rarely is.

Male-Male romances are something I’m just getting in to. As I find authors that write amazing M/M stories I’m starting to fall in love with the genre. Mia Downing definitely does that!

Find it on GoodReads!

Sinful Sirens Blog Giveaway Hop- Tidal by Emily Snow!!

Now that Willow Avery is out of rehab, she's got one chance left to prove herself before she’s officially on every producer’s shit list. At least, that's what her parents and agent are claiming. She doesn't really give a damn if she never makes another movie or not—she just wants to get on with her life, get back to her friends, and find her next escape. But Willow is broke. And whether she likes it or not, acting is the only job she knows how to do.

When she accepts the lead in a beach drama, Willow finds herself in Hawaii. And in Hawaii, she finds Cooper, the gorgeous surfer hired to train her for her new role. With the bluest eyes she’s ever seen and the sexiest Australian accent she’s ever heard, Cooper’s different from the men she’s used to. He doesn’t want to use her. And he refuses to let her fail. But when an old friend re-enters Willow’s life—a friend whose toxicity she’s been drawn to time and time before and whose presence brings about the painful memories she's tried so hard to suppress—Willow will have to choose between the girl she was and the person she’s becoming. The lifestyle that helps her forget the pain and the guy she’s falling hard for.

For the Sinful Sirens hop, I'm giving away a paperback of TIDAL by Emily Snow. I absolutely loved this book! I personally think Emily outdid herself with the characters and the emotional depth of the story. It was deeply moving- one that I won't ever forget.

To be entered in the giveaway, please leave a comment and your email address so a winner can be contacted. Thanks!!

“Do you want to hear something, Wills?” he asked in a low, sexy whisper, his accent clipping every other word.

“No,” I said honestly. I just wanted him to kiss me until I couldn’t think.

He pinned me hard to the wall, and the dresser a few feet away shook, rattling the items strewn across it. “I’ve wanted to do this since night one.”

“When you came back here with a hard-on?” I asked breathlessly.

He coaxed one of my hands from around his neck, grinning when I tightened the grip my legs had on his body, and kissed the inside of my wrist. “Further back.”

I moaned as he skimmed his other hand along the low-cut, elastic line of my panties. “That was our first night,” I pointed out. I ignored my conscience when it yelled at me that that night was only twelve days ago. People screw a lot earlier.

Yes, they do. So fuck off, conscience.

“We had to meet, right?” he asked.

“Lunch?” I squeaked, and he nodded slowly. He drowned my surprise out, slanting his lips over mine, demanding that I open them for him. I did.

“I want to be inside of you, Willow. I want to watch your face when I’m inside of you, when you sigh, when you come for me. And Willow?”

He was using my whole name again.

“Yes?” I said.

He released me, standing me up, with his hands on either side of my shoulders to steady me. I automatically moved toward him, as if a magnet pulled me, but he shook his head, keeping me in place.

“You’re going to tell me right now if you’re not for sure,” he said.

“I want you, Cooper. I don’t know what the fuck else I want anymore, but I want this right now.”