Saturday, September 30, 2017

Review: Protected by Claire Zorn

Book info:
TitleProtected
Author:  Claire Zorn
Genre: YA Contemporary
Release Date:  October 3rd, 2017
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Fire
Source:  ARC from publisher for honest review
My rating:  5 stars

Synopsis:
I have three months left to call Katie my older sister. Then the gap will close and I will pass her. I will get older. But Katie will always be fifteen, eleven months and twenty-one days old.

Hannah's world is in pieces and she doesn't need the school counsellor to tell her she has deep-seated psychological issues. With a seriously depressed mum, an injured dad and a dead sister, who wouldn't have problems?

Hannah should feel terrible but for the first time in ages, she feels a glimmer of hope and isn't afraid anymore. Is it because the elusive Josh is taking an interest in her? Or does it run deeper than that?

In a family torn apart by grief and guilt, one girl's struggle to come to terms with years of torment shows just how long old wounds can take to heal.


My Review:
So, as you know, I think I almost always seem to lead off with the fact that I don't read a lot of YA contemporary.  However, it seems as if lately I'm reading a lot more of it than I used to. Partly because that is what I keep seeming to get ARCs of, partly because there are so many issues out there these days, that I want to be on top of the best books to get for my students at the school library where I am a librarian.  Even though it seems most of my students at my school are more into the fantasy and other more unrealistic books, like I used to be.  I kind of see their reasoning, it is the same reasoning I have always had for not reading contemporary.  When I read, I usually am just looking to be taken away, out of the daily world and problems, and so it is nice to have it be nonrealistic, or to see the things I'm feeling in strange situations, to make me be able to deal with them better.  Does that make sense?  I don't know, those are just my thoughts.  Okay, so randomness here, not really reviewing the book I guess, let's get on with that.  

Honestly, because of my normal reluctance to read this genre, I picked this one up, not sure if I would even finish it.  Not sure if I would like it. But then, as often happens I picked it up, and was sucked into the story.  Because the author doesn't give it all away at the beginning, you have to kind of get the back story in bits and pieces of details given throughout the story, it keeps you turning pages to find out just what life was like for Hannah.  You also aren't quite sure of what the exact accident was that caused her older sister to die.  In fact, due to many things talking about this book having to do with bullying, I was definitely thinking that was the type of incident that happened.  

However, what unfolded was a much different story than I was prepared for.  In a good way.  Having the possible cause of the accident be a little murky, not as well defined as you would think made for a very good point about just how angry could you be at what caused it.  Reading about the relationship between Hannah and her older sister was very interesting, to see the type of inflammatory things that could happen between sisters was also very realistic.  If you're someone like me, a socially awkward person, you totally can side with Hannah.  If you're more outgoing like her sister, you might see that side more.  

One of my favorite parts of the story was definitely Josh.  He made me smile and laugh, and I'm glad he ended up being a character for Hannah to connect with.  Definitely a highly recommended book, and one on the list of books to buy for the library where I work.  

September is for Sequels Final Update Post


Well, today is the last day.  And I didn't do exactly what I'd planned to do.  I did get enough sequels read to meet my goal, although they weren't the ones I'd planned to read.  And I only got two of the actual reviews posted on my blog.  Here are the sequels I got done:

  1. The Sacrifice of Sunshine Girl (The Haunting of Sunshine Girl #3) by Paige McKenzie
  2. Roadie (Rock-Hard Beautiful #2) by C.M. Stunich
  3. Not the One (London Lovers #4) by Amy Daws
  4. Last Call (Cocktail #4.5) by Alice Clayton
  5. Beneath These Chains (Beneath #3) by Meghan March
  6. Salvaged (Saints of Denver #4) by Jay Crownover
  7. Dirty Rowdy Thing (Wild Seasons #2) by Christina Lauren
So I got more than my goal of 4 read.  I want to thank the people who did join in this year, I got 5 awesome participants!  So thanks to the following people, and I'll be off to check out how they did!

Those of you participating, it's only open till tonight at midnight, so make sure you get them entered into the giveaway below!  Just a heads up though, I may not be able to pay for the prizes till my paycheck on the 15th this month, so I may be a little behind on the prizes.


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Blog Tour: Racer by Katy Evans

SBPRBanner-Racer-BT

Racer by Katy Evans  

Publication Date: September 28th, 2017  

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Racer, an all-new standalone in the Real Series from New York Times bestselling author Katy Evans is LIVE!


A bad boy with something to prove.
A woman with a mission.
The race of their lives.
The love of a lifetime.

I don’t think his parents expected him to live up to his name—Racer Tate—but once he felt the adrenaline rush behind the wheel, he was addicted.

He's the fastest, fiercest driver around.

Scouting new talent brings me to his doorstep...
but his smile sends me to my knees.

The sexy, mysterious Racer Tate is not the kind of man a girl like me falls for. He's secretive, reckless, elusive. But his proximity pushes me beyond reason, and his kiss....

This is our last chance to win, and he is our only hope. I'm supposed to watch him—make sure he doesn't get into trouble. But it's an impossible task. And now the one in heart wrenching, toe-curling, soul-crushing trouble is me. Because when your heart belongs to someone, their truths become your own, and their secrets become your salvation...or your curse.

He says he wants me. He says I'm the One. But he also thinks he'll break my heart, one piece at a time until it's gone.

Excerpt:

I’m still reeling. While people approach him, he cuts a path straight to me, his gaze penetrating and target-like; making me want to bolt.  

His lips do that little upward tilt they do that seems so sexy, and for a second, I feel like I’m lightheaded.  

I gulp, and then feel mad at myself for acting like some idiot as fucking devil-Racer Tate reaches me, throws himself into a seat next to me, and turns to look at me expectantly with the most gorgeous grin on his face.  

I don’t know what to say.

This guy has left me sort of speechless.

“So … ” I say, staring in the distance at his beat-up mustang, then at him.  

“So … ” he says too, in his deep voice, his smile a little more wicked than it was two seconds ago. He glances at my mouth.  

Oh god.  

Why am I licking my lips?

It only made his eyes narrow and darken.        

I open my mouth to speak, failing to find words. He smells like sweat and soap and shampoo, and I feel my traitorous nipples push up to my top again. Why do they do that when he’s around?

“This is illegal,” I state.  

His voice is husky from exertion, and his eyes glint with laughter. “That’s why it’s fun.”

I look away from his eyes, trying to focus and clear my head. He leans over and peers into my face, his face shadowed by the moonlight and his jaw now carrying a little scruff. “Are we in agreement?” he presses.  

“No.” I glare and shake my head, meeting his cocky gaze. “You’re reckless, Racer.”  

“So are you, Alana.”  

“It’s just … Lana.”  

His brows fly up in surprise. “And a bit of a liar too.”

I purse my lips, still glaring as my gaze goes back to his car. Girls are rubbing against it as if it were him, and I find it disgusting. Why are women always acting so slutty around race car drivers and bad boys?

“You crashed your car,” I say flippantly.  

“You crashed my car,” he contradicts, amused.  

I laugh, then scowl in his direction. “You crashed it more. I can’t believe you were making such a fuss about me crashing into you when it was just a little kiss—”  

He leans in to peck my lips—fast but firmly. “That’s a kiss.”  

I lose my breath.  

My eyes wide.  

He eases back, lips smiling as he comes to his feet and stretches his hand out to take me by the elbow and help me to my feet.  

“Let’s get out of here.” He starts walking, leading the way.  

“And go where?”  

“Anywhere I can get my hands on you.”  

Racer-AN.jpg

Read Today!

Add to GoodReads: https://goo.gl/JFvQ6D

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About the Author:

Katy Evans is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Her debut REAL shot to the top of the bestselling lists in 2013 and since then 9 of her titles have been New York Times bestsellers. Her books have been translated into nearly a dozen languages across the world. 

Connect with the Author:

Email: katyevansauthor@gmail.com
 

Friday, September 29, 2017

Cover Reveal with Giveaway: Field-Tripped (The Ad Agency Series #3) by Nicole Archer

Field-Tripped

Release Date: October 30, 2017
A new standalone holiday romance from Nicole Archer.
 
I was done with games. But playing with her is so much fun.
Ten years ago, I was all set to compete in the winter Olympics. Then I lost everything—my career, my best friend, and my girlfriend.

After that, I stopped playing games for good. I swore never to go back to Colorado. Too many bad memories. Plus, she’s still there.

Now I live a simple life as a creative director at Shimura Advertising in New York. All is good, until my boss cons me and my coworkers into spending two weeks in Colorado at Proton Sports’ sleep-away camp for adults, pitching their business. Turns out Proton’s idea of a pitch is making the agencies battle each other in a bunch of ridiculous winter games.

Guess who owns the rival company? Her. And she’s out to get me. I might just let her win.


FieldTripped by Nicole Archer full book cover

Preorder Links

Preorder on Amazon for a special price.
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Start books 1 and 2 in the series for .99 cents

 
Check out my reviews for Head-Tripped and Road-Tripped.

Contest

Sign up to win an advanced copy of Field-Tripped and a $5 Amazon gift card.

Field-Tripped Square cover reveal contest  

Promo Post: The Divine Heart by Danielle R. Mani

Book info:
Title:  The Divine Heart  
Author:  Danielle R. Mani
Genre:  YA Paranormal
Release Date:  September 27th, 2017

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Elle Collins spent most her life waiting for someone else to die…

When a heart donor is found, Elle awakes from surgery gifted with more than just a new heart—clairaudient messages and spiritual apparitions haunt her until she is convinced that she must be insane. Either that, or her donor is sending a message.

Desperate for answers the medical community can’t provide, Elle’s divination leads her to the family of her donor—a young girl named, Cas. With the help of her best friend, Rob—the guy who’s a testament that her new heart is capable of love, Elle must make sense of the clues Cas is sending. As pieces of Cas’s life and death emerge, Elle will discover that she and Cas share more than just a heart. 


About the Author:

Danielle R. Mani is a fan of the paranormal in both print and film. In her first book, The Divine One, Ms. Mani combines supernatural fiction with the everyday dramas of young adulthood. Her newest YA paranormal novel, The Divine Heart, is scheduled to be released later this year. Ms. Mani holds a Bachelor of Arts in education and a Master of Science in communications. She is currently a doctoral student studying parapsychology. She resides in Westchester, New York, with her husband, four children, two dogs, and two rescue cats.

Author Links:
WebsiteGoodreadsTwitterFacebook

Blog Tour Organized by:

 

Blog Tour: Stud Finder by Lauren Blakely

   

From #1 NYT Bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes the sexy and hilarious title…STUD FINDER, a new novella brought to you by 1001 Dark Nights!

As a broker of happily ever afters, Evie Milligan’s job is to serve as a “stud finder,” pairing wildly successful women with men who won’t fleece them and will adore them. Her next assignment ought to be an easy one -- the man she’s seeking a match for is fun, smart, rich and in demand. The trouble is, Evie is falling hard for her client. What happens when the matchmaker meets her match?

Grab your copy today to find out!

   

✮✮✮ STUD FINDER is here! Grab your copy today! ✮✮✮

Man seeking woman: Hot, rich, smart, witty, self-made multimillionaire Internet genius seeks classy, intelligent, sexy, fun-loving woman who’s interested in settling down and sharing all the good things.

There. Best. Ad. Ever.

I will absolutely find the woman of my dreams, someone who’ll love me for me. Even if my sister thinks I need help dating, I’m confident I can pull this off, courtesy of the great worldwide web.

Let me just hit the upload button right now…

*****

No. Just no. As a woman and a professional matchmaker, I can’t let Dylan Parker run this ad. He’s the catch of all catches. That’s why his sister has asked me to help her ridiculously good-looking, insanely rich, but socially clueless brother find a woman. As a broker of happily ever afters, I’m known as the Stud Finder since I make a great living pairing wildly successful women with men who won’t fleece them but will adore them. After all, what woman in her right mind wouldn’t fall in love with Dylan?

I mean, besides me. It totally won’t be me.

 

Grab your copy of STUD FINDER today!

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | Amazon AU

 

Download the Free Kindle App

     

“Witty dialogue, fun dates, and a deliciously nerdy hero all match perfectly with a heroine who doesn't really know she needs all that until it's right there in front of her. Lauren Blakely has another winner with this one!”

~Crystal, Bookseller

       

“Warning: You will get addicted to the DRUG that is Lauren Blakely's writing!!!”

~Karen, Bookalicious Babes Blog

   
Lauren Blakely’s STUD FINDER – Review and Excerpt Tour Schedule:

September 27th
Book Angel Booktopia – Review and Excerpt
Crazy Cajun Book Addicts – Review and Excerpt
FMR Book Grind – Review
Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews – Review and Excerpt
I am a Book Hoarder – Review and Excerpt
Lightning City Book Reviews – Review and Excerpt
Melena`s Reviews – Review and Excerpt
Reads All the Books – Review and Excerpt

September 28th
AC BOOK BLOG – Review and Excerpt
Becky on Books – Review and Excerpt
Escape into a Booksite – Review and Excerpt
I Love Romance – Review and Excerpt
KDRBCK – Review and Excerpt
Night Owl Reader – Review and Excerpt
Reading Keeps Me Sane – Review and Excerpt
Shayna Renee's Spicy Reads – Review and Excerpt

September 29th
Booked All Night – Review and Excerpt
Bridget's Book Bungalow – Review and Excerpt
KatyaRath – Review
Naturally Nerdy Books – Review and Excerpt
Naughty Book Blog – Review and Excerpt
Of Pens and Pages – Review and Excerpt
Reading Frenzy Book Blog – Review and Excerpt
The Book Boyfriend Addict – Review and Excerpt

September 30th
Amo's Book Corner – Review
Jax's Book Magic – Excerpt
Living In Our Own Story – Review and Excerpt
Naughty Book Eden – Review and Excerpt
Reviews by Tammy and Kim – Review and Excerpt
The Bohemian Bookworm – Review and Excerpt

October 1st
I'm A Sweet And Sassy Book Whore – Review and Excerpt
Miss Riki – Review and Excerpt
Nose Stuck in a Book – Review and Excerpt
Reviews By Rah – Review and Excerpt
Shannon's Book Blog – Review and Excerpt
The Book Maven – Review and Excerpt
The Reading Cafe – Review and Excerpt

October 2nd
Author Groupies – Review
Books and Things Blog – Review and Excerpt
Crazy Daisy Book Whore – Review and Excerpt
NallaReads – Review and Excerpt
Romance as a first language – Review and Excerpt
Sizzling Pages Romance Reviews – Review and Excerpt
TrashyBibloBlo – Review and Excerpt

October 3rd
As You Wish Reviews – Review and Excerpt
Love Notes Book Blog – Review and Excerpt
Musings of the Modern Belle – Review and Excerpt
OMGReads – Review and Excerpt
Read. Eat. Love. – Review and Excerpt

October 4th
A small girl, her man and her books – Review and Excerpt
Book Bitches Blog – Review
Country Gals Sexy Reads – Review and Excerpt
Evermore Books – Review and Excerpt
Love & Lavender Book Review – Review and Excerpt
Rachel Loren's Love of Reading – Review and Excerpt
Tales of the Ravenous Reader – Review and Excerpt

October 5th
Book Twins Reviews – Review and Excerpt
JaymeBooks – Review and Excerpt
Love Drug Book Blog – Review and Excerpt
Nerdy Soul – Review and Excerpt
Romance Reviews and More – Review and Excerpt
Southern Yankee Book Reviews – Review and Excerpt
The Erotic Book Blog by Misty – Review and Excerpt

October 6th
Joyful Shimmy – Review and Excerpt
Jo&IsaLoveBooks – Review and Excerpt
Only One More Page – Review and Excerpt
Red Cheeks Reads – Review and Excerpt
Reese's Reviews – Review and Excerpt
Sweet Red Reads – Review and Excerpt
Two Book Pushers – Review and Excerpt
     
     
About Lauren Blakely:  
A #1 New York Times Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that's hot, sweet and sexy. She lives in California with her family and has plotted entire novels while walking her dogs. With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than eighty times, and she's sold more than 2 million books. In October she'll release HARD WOOD, a sexy, standalone romantic comedy. 

To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter    

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Newsletter ** Goodreads

       

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Release Blitz with Giveaway: Legs (One Wild Wish #1) by Kelly Siskind


Title: Legs
Series: One Wild Wish #1
Author: Kelly Siskind
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Release Date: September 27, 2017
 

Running into your one-night stand is a special kind of awkward. Competing against him in a wine tasting contest is delicious torment…
On Rachel’s twenty-seventh birthday, she wishes to finally find a rewarding job. What she doesn’t wish is to drink a boatload of wine, sleep with a tattooed bad boy, and drunk email her boss in one glorious, career-ending move. But the fiasco pushes her to pursue a career inspired by her late father’s love of wine: sommelier. 
Unfortunately, she’s competing against her infuriating one-night stand, a man as intoxicating as a Pinot Noir.
Two years ago, Jimmy was set to inherit his family winery. Then it got ripped from his grasp. To close that dark chapter of his life, he plans to win a local sommelier contest and use the press to expose his family’s tainted wines. 
Jimmy loves studying the streaks of alcohol that cling to a wineglass, known as the wine’s “legs,” but other shapely legs are stealing his focus. Tantalizing legs. Legs that had wrapped around his waist for one wild night. Jimmy, sadly, has a weakness for legs. 
He also hates to lose.
LEGS is a full-length, standalone Smart, Sexy Romantic Comedy with a swoony Happily Ever After. No cheating or cliff-hangers here! Perfect for fans of Christina Lauren, Avery Flynn, Alice Clayton, Emma Chase, and Lauren Blakely.
Author Heather Van Fleet - “Kelly is a masterful story teller, and this book proves just that. HIGHLY rec it.”

Bookgasms Book Blog - “This was the perfect way to lose a day - wrapped up in this seductive and satisfying love story.”
Author Elizabeth Zane - “You guys, if you want the perfect book to curl up and read with a nice glass of wine, if you want a book that has romance--sexy, steamy, funny, real, romance--then look no further, you've found your book.”


Rachel settled onto the stool beside me, her spine ramrod straight. She tucked her elbows to her sides. Not exactly relaxed.

A drink could help. “What’s your poison?”

“Apparently dangerous men I don’t know, but I’ll have a glass of the Lynmar Pinot.”

I could do dangerous. “If I’m your poison after two minutes, imagine how you’ll feel in a few hours.” That earned me a long swallow from her. “She’ll have the Foursight,” I added to Cameron. It was sweet how confident she was ordering that wine, but her lips would taste so much better after a sip from my glass.

She shot me a look, her freckles sharp against her reddening cheeks. “Pretty sure I can order for myself, and I’d like the Lynmar.”

“You don’t want the Lynmar. 2011 was a brutal year. Trust me.” No need to bore her about the early rains that season and the lack of fruit.

“Actually I do want the Lynmar.”

Cameron moved to grab the bottle, but I held up my hand. He halted. 

To her, I said, “I’ve been sipping the Foursight since I got here. You telling me you don’t want a taste?”

Her attention dropped to my lips again, and she grazed her teeth over hers. Fire sparked in her brown eyes. “I may want a taste of that wine. Later. For now I want the Lynmar.”

“It’s inferior.”

“It’s splendid.”

“The season was crap.”

“The season was hard, not crap.”

“The Foursight is a sure thing,” I said. She must have seen the heat in my gaze.

“I like the underdog,” she countered, a sultry note to her voice. “Finding a diamond in the rough. The vines that survived 2011 were stronger, and a few vintages shone. Like the Lynmar. Hints of spice. Creamy mouthfeel.” A quiet hum passed her lips.

Okay. The girl knew her wine, and my attraction to her spiked. With the haunts I’d been frequenting, and my bartending gig at Rudy’s Tavern, I hadn’t been around a woman like her in ages. No visible ink, her outfit more conservative than racy. Her straight brown hair would look sexy as hell tangled in my fist. “You sure you don’t want to skip to the mouthfeel part?”

She smiled freely, the first hint of her letting loose. “I’m still not sure how bitter the aftertaste will be.”

My answering grin was just as carefree. “I know how to make it sweet, Sunshine.”

She barely reacted, but her nostrils flared. “Then get me a glass of the Lynmar.”

“You’ll regret it.”

“I’m already regretting walking in here.”

I chuckled, unsure the last time flirting had been this much fun. “How about a bet?”

“I don’t bet with strangers.”

“But you have drinks with them?”

She paused. “What sort of bet?”

Between her rejection at Vesper and her stiff posture now, sitting beside me was probably pushing her beyond her limits. Limits I wanted to test. The women I’d messed around with weren’t tough to reel in. We were always after the same thing: a fun night between the sheets. The girl at my side was tipsy, but not so drunk she didn’t know what she was after. Something told me if I could unlace her, it would be lightyears beyond fun.

“You do a blind tasting of the Foursight and the Lynmar,” I said. “If you can’t tell them apart, then I buy you a glass of my choosing, and I get to taste it on your lips. At my place.”

“That escalated fast.” So did her breathing.

“Did you want this to go slow?”

Instead of turning me down, she said, “If I win…if I guess each wine, what do I get?”

“You tell me.”

“A winery?”

I barked out a laugh, but there was nothing funny about her joke. Two years ago, I’d have been able to ante up. “Might be out of my budget. Anything else?”

She looked at me through lowered lashes. “My place.”

Now we were getting somewhere.

LegsComingSoonFINALHD.mp4


Kelly is the author of CHASING CRAZY, MY PERFECT MISTAKE, A FINE MESS, and HOOKED ON TROUBLE, the latter three being part of her Over the Top series. A small-town girl at heart, she moved from the city to open a cheese shop with her husband in northern Ontario. When she’s not neck deep in cheese or out hiking, you can find her, notepad in hand, scribbling down one of the many plot bunnies bouncing around in her head. She’s also an incurable romantic, devouring romance novels into the wee hours of the morning.


 
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