Hi everyone!
Today is my stop on the blog tour for Touch of Smoke!
Touch of Smoke
Publication Date: February 12th, 2019
Publisher: Red Adept Publishing ( https://redadeptpublishing.com/)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Three years ago, Rikki Albemarle watched her best friend die at the hands of a supernatural evil. Certain she was slated to be the next victim, Rikki fled her small Smoky Mountain hometown, vowing to never come back. Plagued by nightmares and knowing sheโs the only one who believes Minaโs death was no accident, Rikki returns with hopes of finding answers and holding the killer accountable.
Rikki is convinced the key to unlocking the secret of Minaโs death lies with Owen Amir, the alluring young army vet who once claimed her heart. But the deeper Rikki digs into Owenโs past, the more sheโs torn between the urgings of her heart and her memories of him on the night Mina died.
After falling further into the rabbit hole, Rikki lands at the feet of an ancient and powerful evil determined to finish what it started years before. To survive, sheโll have to make a decision: believe Owen is the monster she always feared he might be or trust him enough to stay and fight for a second chance at love.
Goodreads| Amazon | Barnes and Noble |
Kobo |Apple | Google Books
Review:
I can’t remember the last time a character made me swoon, but Owen is just…WOW. I love everything about his character. Rikki is also fantastic. The romance aspect of Touch of Smoke is everything I wanted it to be. What I loved most about it was that while the romance is really well developed there is so much more to this story.
This book has everything. Layers of twists throughout the entire book. The mystery was so well crafted that I had no idea what was going on until it was finally revealed.
Touch Of Smoke is fabulous. The characters are really well developed and loveable, the mystery was deep and complex, and the writing was wonderful. I want more of this world. I’m a fan! Highly recommended!
Rating:
5/5โ
Excerpt:
Owen huffed and shook his head but fished in his pocket until he found a small key ring. He selected an old brass one that he jiggled into the bolt lock over the warehouseโs rusty door handle. โWould have told you to put on jeans and boots if Iโd known you wanted to go inside.โ
Glancing at my shredded jean shorts and low-cut Chuck Taylors, I thanked Jesus Iโd recently boosted my tetanus shot. โNot asking for a grand tour. Show me what you can from the threshold.โ
Owen shook his head again, but he shoved his shoulder against the heavy door. It squealed as it gave way, swinging open on rusted hinges. I pushed past him, stepping farther into the room, but stopped at the edge of the small illuminated square thrown by Dollyโs headlights. โJust give me the general idea.โ
His boot steps echoed in the open space as he moved behind me. Taking my shoulders, he shifted me until I faced the warehouseโs rear, where the light failed to reach. โThe back wall thereโโhe pointed, leaning over my shoulderโโwill be where weโll line up the distilling tanks.โ He wrapped an arm around my waist and spun us around like partners in a slow dance. A warm thrill raced through me as his lips brushed my ear. โAnd over there will be the cafรฉ.โ
My pulse throbbed in my ears, my chest, my lips. It wouldnโt be enough, these limited touches, these coy games, this not-so-subtle flirtation. With Owen, my options were sink or swim, and no matter how much reason and logic urged me to do otherwise, I was sinking, utterly drowning in him. I stumbled back and fought for a breath to clear my head, but my heel connected with an obstacle hidden in the shadows. I lost my footing and squeaked a feeble protest as gravity waged war against my balance.
The moment I was certain I would hit the floor and smash my tailbone, Owen grabbed my arm and yanked. Still off balance but with the added element of momentum, I plowed into him, tackling him to the floor.Or that was what should have happened.
Instead, the world jumped up and swirled around me in a blur of blue sparks and shadows, air roaring in my ears like a tornado. I blinked, and the impression of someoneโor somethingโhuge, dark, and beastly burned behind my eyelids. When the dizzy moment passed, I found myself back on my feet, upright, and firmly wrapped in Owenโs arms. His heat blazed against me, filling my head with his smoky scent until I felt drunk and woozy.โWhat…?โ I shook my head and cleared my throat, but the intoxicating sensation remained. โWhat just happened?โ
โYou stumbled. I caught you.โ
โNo.โ I squirmed, and he dropped his arms, releasing me. A thousand minuscule candles seemed to flicker in his eyes, giving them an otherworldly aura. I inched back, my steps wobbly. โWe were falling. We should have hit the floor.โ
His lips twitched. โIโm quick on my feet, Rikki. Give me some credit.โ
Squinting, I studied him, his wide stance and the set of his jaw, full of self-confidence. He rolled his broad shoulders and grinned, obviously enjoying my scrutiny. Again, his presence seemed larger than the mere height and width of his physical body. Like a cowl and cape, dense shadows draped over him, and they seemed tangible enough to touch. When I reached out to stroke them, Owen drew back.
The shadows fled.
I shivered.
With no better explanation than to assume an overdose of adrenaline and desire had colored my perception, I dismissed my concerns and shrugged, heading for the door. โYouโre not quick on your feet. Youโre The Flash on steroids.โ
His laughter followed me into the parking lot, but it was callous and more than a little cold.
The drive to my house was quiet, the atmosphere between us thick. If humans had animal instincts, then the wild creature inside me was insisting the man sitting in the passenger seat was more predator than appearance suggested. Something about Owen had changed. He was a tiger, I was his mouse, and I should run before he swallowed me whole. When I caught him staring at me, the dark look on his face implied he might do that very thing, given the chance.
For your chance to win a signed copy of Touch of Smoke and some cool bookish swag, click the link HERE!
Blog Tour Schedule
March 11th
Reads & Reels (Review) http://www.readsandreels.com
Where Dragons Reside (Excerpt) https://kernerangelina.live/
Crystalโs Book World (Excerpt) http://crystalsbookworld.wordpress.com
The Writerโs Alley (Review) https://www.jacobrundle.com
March 12th
The Most Sublime (Review) https://themostsublime.com
Breakeven Books (Excerpt) https://breakevenbooks.com
March 13th
SnoopyDooโs Book Reviews (Excerpt) http://snoopydoosbookreviews.com/
March 14th
Boboโs Book Bank (Excerpt) http://bobosbookbank.com
J Bronder Book Reviews (Review) https://jbronderbookreviews.com/
Jessica Rachow (Review) https://jessicabelmont.wordpress.com
March 15th
Mistyโs Book Space (Excerpt) http://mistysbookspace.wordpress.com
The Hufflepuff Nerdette (Review) https://thehufflepuffnerdette.wordpress.com/
Karissa lives in North Carolina with her kid, her husband, the occasional in-law, and a very hairy husky. Some of her favorite things are coffee, chocolate, and super heroes. She can quote Princess Bride verbatim. She loves to read and has a sweet tooth for fantasy, sci-fi, and anything in between. In the summer, she loves to be on the water, on the boat or in her kayak. When it snows, youโll find her on the slopes.
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest
Hosted By:
Let me know what you think!
Leave a comment