Michelle Irwin

Book Review: Decline – Declan Reede the Untold Story by Michelle Irwin

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DECLINE

Declan Reede: The Untold Story

Hold on tight, stick to the racing line, and watch for the corners.

Four years after making the decision to leave his home town behind, all of Declan Reede’s dreams have come true. Unapologetically foul-mouthed and well known for his off-track antics, his success seems unstoppable. At least until Queensland Raceway and a chance sighting of the girl who once held his heart. Now, getting around the track seems an impossible battle as he struggles to return to his previous form. With his career racing downhill faster than his V8 on Mount Panorama, there’s more than just his reputation on the line.

What will it take to put the brakes on his decline?

**Due to strong language and sexual content not intended for anyone under age of 18**
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Release Date: 24th September 2015
Cover Artist: Soxsationalcoverart
Principal photography by: NSP Studios 
Cover models: Ashleigh Johnson and Jarah Armstrong.


 Available now
Add to your Goodreads want to read list here: 

SGMyReview

Decline truly is a story of a man in decline. What I really love about this book, and so far, the whole Declan Reede story, is that it’s about a flawed character who doesn’t miraculously redeem himself just because of some actions in the storyline.

There are so many little story lines in this book, but I can’t tell you any of them because they will spoil the whole book. Declan does a good job of stuffing things up over and over again. If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to yell at him for being such a self-destructive a-hole! Of course, if he wasn’t then there’d be no Decline. His love for Alyssa is evident in his reactions and destructive behaviour. It’s a love that comes along once in a lifetime. Can he manage to heal it and keep the fractured love he’s created?

 

This story is intriguing and full of drama. It’s a lot less on the actual race car driving, and a lot more of the relationship and personal dramas of the main characters. Michelle Irwin has a real knack for writing the contemporary world, and I am really enjoying her words.

 

I don’t feel like there’s any resolution in the story, but there certainly is movement in the storyline that creates a great installment to the Declan Reede series. I can’t wait to keep reading!

  EXCERPT
Eden had been right about the track. By the ninth lap
of my second stint, the bitumen was bone dry and the teams that had gambled on
the rain staying were scrambling to the pits to change back onto slicks. I used the time to push even further ahead. Eden’ s voice squawked over the radio, telling me that I had just achieved the fastest lap time of the day. If I
didn’t have to keep both hands on the wheel, I would have given a fist pump in celebration. Things were finally going my way.
I was celebrating the small victories when I came across the top of the mountain again, across Skyline. The glare from the sun reflected in the top corner of my windscreen and I was blinded. Not by the light, but by the vision which the sun called to mind.
Alyssa.
My heart stopped and my eyes slammed closed.
Smiles and laughs; the sun glinting off her watch as we kept an eye on the time.
I could almost hear her voice bouncing around the car, laughing over some ridiculous shit we’d done during the day. We’d been so happy. So innocent. So fucking naive and stupid.
The memory was from one of the days we’d ditched school to hide out in our park. With a gasp, I swallowed oxygen down into protesting lungs. My hands shook and tremors raced through my fingers and into the wheel.
My stomach clenched as I remembered just how beautiful
she’d been. She didn’t have supermodel looks, she had something better. An honest to goodness girl-next-door quality that shone through from within and made her ten times sexier than any over glossed supermodel could ever be. The truth was, as bad as the visions of Alyssa’s red-rimmed eyes were, the happy ones were worse. They became tangible reminders of how much she’d once meant to me, and I almost didn’t want to suppress them.
With two more gulping breaths, I forced my eyes open and pushed the thought away. My grip tightened on the steering wheel, but it was already too late.
Though it’d been mere seconds, I’d been in my own world, my past for too long and hadn’t prepared to take the turn before falling into the Esses. I had no time to do anything but adjust the angle of my car as it smashed into the concrete barrier with a teeth-rattling bang. I prepared myself in the only way I could for a second crash as the car ricocheted off the wall, spun across the track, and then smashed into the side of a passing car. The sound of crunching metal and squealing rubber filled the space around me, but I could do nothing but hold on and hope for the best. My car lurched sickeningly toward the wall again, shunting hard into the concrete and rocking me into the hard surface of the door.
By the time I came to a rest, I was angled nose into the wall in a stationary car.
Unable to move, I panted as I struggled to comprehend just what had happened, aside from the fact that I’d crashed, that part I got loud and fucking clear. Closing my eyes, I mentally ran through my body to ensure I wasn’t too badly injured. I wiggled my fingers and my toes and was
relieved when everything did what it was supposed to. Except for my heart racing at a million miles a minute, and the fact that I couldn’t breathe down nearly enough air to stay in control, I was okay.
My eyes snapped to the rear-view mirror when I heard the sound of protesting tyres.


AUTHOR BIO
 

Michelle Irwin has been many things in her life: a hobbit taking a precious item to a fiery mountain; a young child stepping through the back of a wardrobe into another land; the last human stranded not-quite-alone in space three million years in the future; a young girl willing to fight for the love of a vampire; and a time-travelling madman in a box. She achieved all of these feats and many more through her voracious reading habit. Eventually, so much reading had to have an effect and the cast of characters inside her mind took over and spilled out onto the page.

 Michelle lives in sunny Queensland in the land down under with her surprisingly patient husband and ever-intriguing daughter, carving out precious moments of writing and reading time around her accounts-based day job. A lover of love and overcoming the odds, she primarily writes paranormal and fantasy romance.



You can find Michelle here: 




Cover Reveal & Book Review: Decide by Michelle Irwin

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DECIDE

DECLAN REEDE: THE UNTOLD STORY

Strap in, get ready to start your engines and see where it all began.

From an early age, Declan Reede’s only goal was to race in the ProV8 Championship Series. One thing he couldn’t anticipate was that a blistering kiss shared with his best friend, Alyssa Dawson, might derail his plans.

While he knows things between them will never be the same, it’s impossible to predict just where the road will take them, or how rocky it might get.

Will he decide to fight for love or follow his dreams?

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Date: 27th August 2015

Cover Artist: Soxsationalcoverart

Principal photography by: NSP Studios 

Cover models: Ashleigh Johnson and Jarah Armstrong.

Pre-order the introduction novella now for the special price of 99c 

Add to your Goodreads want to read list here: 

 
Congratulations to Michelle on the Cover Reveal! I’ve had the pleasure of reading this novella, so without further ado….

SGMyReviewI have previously read Michelle’s early work, Through The Fire, a paranormal fantasy revolving around lots of magic and action. Knowing how much I enjoyed her style of writing, and seeing her dive into the Contemporary Romance world, I was highly anticipating the release of this book! I knew it would have to be different, because she was playing with different worlds now. The contemporary world is a lot less forgiving than the paranormal fantasy worlds an author can create.

Well, I don’t know how Michelle Irwin has done it, but she has managed to get in the head of a teenage boy and capture his essence with ease! This book is a fantastic base to what is to come in this series. The story revolves around Declan and Alyssa. These kids are lifelong best friends who were always there for each other. That was until they decided to take it to the next level. Declan has wanted to be a V8 race car driver all his life. Unfortunately for him, his best friend, and now girlfriend, finds it boring. Conflict ensues, but not in a way you would think. It’s a subtle conflict that is executed in the perfect teen way. There isn’t any technical jargon that would confuse you, so if you’re not familiar with racing, it’s okay, you’ll still get it. Irwin has captured first loves, first times, first losses, and building a future, in such a fantastic way. So much so that I can’t wait to grab the next book to see where things go.

This is a must read before you pick up the first book in the series.

As a side note: I loved the fact that it was based in Australia. It has me laughing at some of the terms used, the glossary at the front of the book will get you sorted in case you have any questions of the strange words she uses!

This one doesn’t come out until the end of August, so be sure to pre-order for a bargain price of .99c.

Author Bio:

Michelle Irwin has been many things in her life: a hobbit taking a precious item to a fiery mountain; a young child stepping through the back of a wardrobe into another land; the last human stranded not-quite-alone in space three million years in the future; a young girl willing to fight for the love of a vampire; and a time-travelling madman in a box. She achieved all of these feats and many more through her voracious reading habit. Eventually, so much reading had to have an effect and the cast of characters inside her mind took over and spilled out onto the page.

Michelle lives in sunny Queensland in the land down under with her surprisingly patient husband and ever-intriguing daughter, carving out precious moments of writing and reading time around her accounts-based day job. A lover of love and overcoming the odds, she primarily writes paranormal and fantasy romance.

You can find Michelle here: 




Sunday Spotlight: Authors On Show – Michelle Irwin

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I thought we’d try something a little different around here and start a weekly post called Sunday Spotlight – Authors on Show.  A place to showcase some authors and see what book or books they have out all in one post! I may not have read the books posted, so please know that this is all about sharing the love and discovering new authors, together. Kicking off the inaugural Sunday post is……

ASMichelleIrwin

About the Author

Michelle Irwin BioMichelle Irwin has been many things in her life: a hobbit taking a precious item to a fiery mountain; a young child stepping through the back of a wardrobe into another land; the last human stranded not-quite-alone in space three million years in the future; a young girl willing to fight for the love of a vampire; and a time-travelling madman in a box. She achieved all of these feats and many more through her voracious reading habit. Eventually, so much reading had to have an effect and the cast of characters inside her mind took over and spilled out onto the page.

Michelle lives in sunny Queensland in the land down under with her surprisingly patient husband and ever-intriguing daughter, carving out precious moments of writing and reading time around her accounts-based day job. A lover of love and overcoming the odds, she primarily writes paranormal and fantasy romance.

Michelle’s Books

Through the Fire 1400x2100 300dpiThrough the Fire (Daughter of Fire)
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Evie Meyers’ life is one spent on the run. Every minute of every day, her life is in danger if anyone should suspect the truth about her ancestry. Her father was willing to risk everything to keep the truth hidden, even from her, but the lies he fabricated were exposed when her high school crush, Clay Jacobs, inadvertently stumbled upon her secret. His discovery puts Evie at risk from a secret organization tasked with washing the world clean of nonhumans—and Clay is one of its deadliest soldiers. Forced into a war she doesn’t understand, all because of what she is, Evie is left with no choice but to flee with her father to escape persecution.Magnolia Teaser

When Clay reappears in her life, battle scarred and mysterious, Evie is unprepared and terrified as he forces his way back into her heart. When the battle catches up with her, and a tragic accident tears apart the peace she discovered, she finds herself alone and without the protection of her father, or her lover. Now, she needs to keep her secrets hidden and learn to survive on her own in a world that wants her dead, all while searching for the missing piece of her heart.

*link to my review

Happily Even AfterHappily Evan After (Fall for You #1)
Genre: Romantic Comedy.

Evan is a reluctant cupid.

Facing an unknown term of servitude to repay his debt to the world, it is his responsibility to guide couples together. Despite initial hesitancy, he has learned to handle every case with care and he now basks in the afterglow of new-found love and Happierrelishes in the energy it provides him. But his end goal is still the promise of paradise in return for his penance.Roses

It’s all going according to plan until he receives an assignment that is inconceivable to him. He has to find a mate for Becca, within whom lives the reincarnated soul of his one true love. Bound by his duty to find her a match, he must resist her charm and suppress his own desires. It is his job and he cannot fail, even if his own paradise now seems lost.

For a cupid, falling in love is against the rules.

Isn’t it?

Goodreads

Buy Links: Amazon: Amazon UK

Besieged by Rain e-book coverBesieged By Rain (Son of Rain)
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Clay Jacobs is a soldier. His family—elite members of a secret organization—are tasked with washing the world clean of all supernatural threats. Each new day brings the opportunity to fight at their side for a cause that he’s never doubted is just.‏

But Clay harbors a dangerous secret. The object of his teenage obsession was not human, and he failed to detect the truth until it was too late to destroy her. Even after she fled, he couldn’t bring himself to report her. Now, the memory of the one who got away not only haunts him, it holds him captive and assaults him nightly. Unable to escape her hold on his mind, he races across the country to locate her and restore his sanity. Only instead of the monster he expects, he finds a woman who ensnares him with her charms. In her embrace, Clay dares to imagine a different life.

When his family discovers his betrayal, and threaten to destroy his dreams in the worst way imaginable, Clay has no option but to return to their side and convince them he’s back on the right track. Will he be able to play his part convincingly when the cause he’s spent most of his life fighting for is the very thing that will end his lover’s life?

Goodreads

Besieged by Rain FB Banner 2Each week the authors will answer the same questions..it’s what I like to call a Sunday Quickie!

QandA

1. How would you describe the writing to publishing process? Any fun analogies?
I don’t know about fun analogies, but the best description is different to what I expected but somehow exactly what I expected. Actually, I have an analogy but not sure if it’s “fun.” Writing to publishing is like having a baby (stay with me):
Step 1 is the learning how-to – this is the sex ed part of writing. You don’t have to do it, but you know a hell of a lot more if you do.
Step 2 is the fun part 😉 – the actual sitting and writing. This can be painful, can be brilliant. You sometimes do it when you’re not in the mood but when you are right into it everything is just flowing (*snorts* unintended pun, but leaving it there for comedic value)
Step 3 is the editing – this is a bit like antenatal classes and labor all rolled into one. It’s also sometimes painful, but it’s necessary. It helps you to understand what is happening a little better. It is where things go from being a theoretical maybe in the future to the “holy crap this is happening right now.”
Step 4 is bringing the baby home and showing it off. There’s a certain amount of trepidation of have you done everything you can to make the baby (book) the best it can be. You worry when it goes off to meet friends and strangers. You are left just hoping that you’ve done what you can do to make sure it has every possible success but ultimately it’s out of your hands.

2. Are you a plotter or a fly by the seat of your pants type writer?
I usually start out with an idea and a very loose plot. I don’t sit and plot that out further. I spend the time getting to know the characters instead. Usually when I sit to write, they look at my loose plot points, laugh, and then wander off to do their own thing. So I guess that makes me a pantser.


3. Do you listen to music or are you a silence in the library writer?
“Who turned out the lights?” Sorry, whovian joke 😉 To answer the question: music. Always. I’m the sort of person who can’t sit in a silent room without getting an irresistible urge to chuckle, which was obviously not great for exams. The right song at the right time though can get things moving in unimaginable directions. My first proper writing session after I’ve allowed myself to concede that yes this idea is going to be a book, is usually spent setting up a playlist.

4. You’re going to a deserted island and you’re allowed 3 books to read for the rest of your life… which books and why?
I always cheat when this is asked, because one choice would be my Lord of the Rings book, which is actually all 3 of the LoTRs books in one deliciously bound book. I can read this over and over again so it’s a must. The 2nd would probably be Red Dwarf omnibus, again a great book that is actually three books all in one. And lastly hmmm it’s a hard choice, but probably the complete works of William Shakespeare. I love his plays and really between those books I’ll have hours & hours of reading before I have to repeat 😉

Thank you so much for answering my questions and letting us get to know you a little better!
If you’d like to connect with the author check out the following links:
Pinterest: @writeonshell
Tumblr: @writeonshell
Instagram: @writeonshell
I hope you have enjoyed this Sunday Spotlight.  Look out for every Sunday for a new author to discover.  Read On!

Coffee and A Book

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I just thought I’d share some snaps of how I really enjoy starting my day. Although I have many commitments that take me away from hiding away and reading all day, this is my favourite combination. Coffee and A Book (make mine a double shot latte). I also read on various devices. Although I LOVE the feel of a paperback book, sometimes it’s not practical to carry around. What’s your favourite device to read on? I love the Kindle App and the Kobo App because they all sync and remember where I’m at! What’s your favourite combination when you read? As you can see, mine is definitely coffee and a book!

Look out for reviews on these two books very soon!

The Playboy’s Princess by Joy Fulcherbookandcoffee

Through the Fire (Daughter of Fire, #1) by Michelle Irwincoffeeandbookmichelleirwin