Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Can't Wait Wednesday #38: Bright We Burn (The Conqueror's Saga #3) by Kiersten White)
Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. I'm back to another sequel this week. And this one has a cover just as beautiful as the first two in the series. I'm guessing they won't have physical ARCs of it. Which makes me sad, because I want a matching set of these beautiful covers! Yeah, I can buy the finished copies too, but I want this too! Oh well. Anyway, here is the blurb from Goodreads:
Haunted by the sacrifices he made in Constantinople, Radu is called back to the new capital. Mehmed is building an empire, becoming the sultan his people need. But Mehmed has a secret: as emperor, he is more powerful than ever . . . and desperately lonely. Does this mean Radu can finally have more with Mehmed . . . and would he even want it?
Lada's rule of absolute justice has created a Wallachia free of crime. But Lada won't rest until everyone knows that her country's borders are inviolable. Determined to send a message of defiance, she has the bodies of Mehmed's peace envoy delivered to him, leaving Radu and Mehmed with no choice. If Lada is allowed to continue, only death will prosper. They must go to war against the girl prince.
But Mehmed knows that he loves her. He understands her. She must lose to him so he can keep her safe. Radu alone fears that they are underestimating his sister's indomitable will. Only by destroying everything that came before--including her relationships--can Lada truly build the country she wants.
Claim the throne. Demand the crown. Rule the world.
So, isn't that cover to die for? Have you read this series yet? I just really have enjoyed how original this series is and all the what-ifs that the author poses by retelling this bit of history. What book are you eagerly awaiting this week?
Blog Tour: Tempting Love by Kelly Elliott
Can a woman actually make you feel like you’re losing your damn mind?
Yes.
If she is Corina Miller.
The only woman who has ever made me long for something more, and let me tell you, that has me all kinds of messed up. After months of ignoring my feelings, it’s clear to me I’ve fallen for those piercing blue eyes and sexy smile.
But is it too late?
Have I pushed her into the arms of someone else?
Hell no am I letting that happen.
I’m on a mission to win the heart of the only woman I’ve ever cared about—and the only thing standing in my way is one stubborn and pissed off Corina.
I always did like a challenge.
Amazon | iBooks | Barnes and Noble | Kobo
Excerpt:
I followed him, my hands shaking as I grew angrier by the second. “That’s it? You’re going to let me move out?”
Mitchell reached for his keys, then turned to me. “I can’t force you to stay here, Corina. If you’re unhappy, then yes, you should leave. Do I want you to? No, I don’t. I know I fucked up, but if you’re going to throw it in my face every goddamn chance you get, then you’re right, this won’t work.”
He headed to the stairs that led down to his front door. My heart raced, and I knew I couldn’t leave it like this. Closing my eyes, I called out to him. “Mitch! You never asked me to the Pecan Street Honky Tonk.”
Stopping, he looked back up at me. “What?”
I swallowed hard and took in a quick breath. “The dance, you never asked me. And well, Lane asked me.”
Sadness swept over his face. “What did you tell him?”
Wringing my hands together, I answered, “I haven’t responded…yet. I was waiting for you.”
Mitchell rushed back up the steps and stopped in front of me. I don’t think I’d ever felt my stomach dip like it did when he raced toward me. He cupped my face and leaned in. My chest rose and fell with each breath as I waited for him to speak. His touch sent a flurry of butterflies through my chest.
“Corina, will you go with me to the street dance next weekend?”
My teeth sank into my lip, and I watched as his eyes filled with lust.
“Yes.” I smiled and added, “But only as friends.”
The corner of his mouth rose into a sexy smirk. God, how I loved that smile of his. “It’s a date, then.”
“As friends,” I added.
He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. Before I could even process his lips, they were gone and he was stepping back. “I’ll take it. For now.”
Kelly Elliott is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author. Since finishing her bestselling Wanted series, Kelly continues to spread her wings while remaining true to her roots and giving readers stories rich with hot protective men, strong women and beautiful surroundings. Her bestselling works include, Wanted, Broken, Without You, and Unconditional Love, to name just a few. Kelly has been passionate about writing since she was fifteen. After years of filling journals with stories, she finally followed her dream and published her first novel, Wanted, in November of 2012. Kelly lives in central Texas with her husband, daughter, and two pups. When she’s not writing, Kelly enjoys reading and spending time with her family. She is down to earth and very in touch with her readers, both on social media and at signings. To find out more about Kelly and her books, you can find her through her website. www.kellyelliottauthor.com
FACEBOOK | TWITTER| GOODREADS | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Release Day Promo: The Upside to Being Single by Emma Hart
If anyone asks, I knew better than to flash my boobs for Mardi Gras beads.
I still don’t know why I did it. Maybe it was the dare from my two best friends. Maybe it was the guys on the balcony saying they’d throw Fireball shots with the beads. Or maybe it was the quiet guy in the corner of that same balcony with piercing gray eyes, wavy dark hair, and a smile so tempting I wanted to climb up there and lick it off his face. Maybe it was because I never thought I’d see them again. Not that it matters. Not today. Because the hotel I manage was finally bought—and the guy who walks in and introduces himself as my new boss is Mr. Tall, Dark, and Silent. There are many upsides to being single. Your new boss knowing what your boobs look like? Not one of them.Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon CA | Nook | iBooks | Kobo
Excerpt:
“I just—I don’t get it.” I threw myself onto the sofa and almost sent the box of donuts flying onto the floor.
Thankfully, Peyton was quicker than the box. She grabbed it and sat back, hugging it to herself.
“First, watch the donuts. I got the last two pink sprinkles, and I’m partial to them.” She stroked the top of the box. “Second, what don’t you get? How he doesn’t care about your boobs? I don’t care about them either.”
“You’re not supposed to care about my boobs. You’re a woman, for a start.”
“I care about your boobs,” Chloe interrupted, tucking her blond hair behind her ear. “I think you have great boobs. Bra or no bra.”
“Usually no bra,” Peyton added.
“I’m not afraid to throw something at you,” I warned her. “This is awkward.”
“Ugh! Get over yourself, Melanie!” Peyton snapped her fingers. “You are a grown woman. He is a grown man. He saw your tits. So what? Steven Lawrence saw your tits five times in junior year.”
I snatched a donut from the box. Don’t tell my hips. “We were dating! It’s entirely different!”
Chloe delicately picked up a white-iced donut before saying, “She’s right. It is different, Peyt. They were dating, and Jacob is her boss. You can’t expect her to just get over that. It is partly your fault.”
“It’s just as much your fault,” Peyton reminded her, then looked at me and nodded toward Chloe. “Drunky smurf over here shook her Tic-Tacs like she was in front of a bachelor party leaving a curry house.”
I choked on my laughter. “That’s not the point. You got us drunk. It’s almost entirely your fault.”
“Look, sunshine,” she said, tearing a bite of donut off the ring so her words were muffled. “I didn’t grab your shirt and whip it up like a two-dollar hooker on overtime. You did that, so grow a pair and take responsibility for your actions.”
“You sound like you don’t want to take responsibility for yours.”
“Hey. You’re big girls. You can refuse cocktails.”
Chloe and I shared a glance. “Refuse cocktails?” she said. “I don’t understand.”
“You have us mixed up with your other friends,” I continued. “But, wait. You don’t have other friends.”
“I have plenty of friends,” Peyt said.
“Friends without penises. Or benefits.”
She paused. “We’re not talking about me. We’re talking about your hot boss who knows what your tits look like.”
“You’re not helping.”
“I’m not trying to help. I’m trying to slap your size-eight ass into reality, you idiot.”
“Slap mine into reality and I’m putting yours on a catapult. Right into the middle of the gulf.” I tore my donut in two and gave her boobs a pointed look. “I always wondered if silicone would float.”
About the Author:
By day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult author Emma Hart dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to two beautiful little monsters. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of whatever she fancies—usually wine—and writes books.
Emma is working on Top Secret projects she will share with her followers and fans at every available opportunity. Naturally, all Top Secret projects involve a dashingly hot guy who likes to forget to wear a shirt, a sprinkling (or several) of hold-onto-your-panties hot scenes, and a whole lotta love.
She likes to be busy—unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to be when all the ideas come to life.
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Monday, January 29, 2018
Cover Reveal: True Storm (True Born Trilogy #3) by L.E. Sterling
Let us know what you think of the cover for True Storm (True Born Trilogy, #3) by L.E. Sterling, which releases May 1, 2018!
This cover reveal is brought to you by Entangled Teen.
About True Storm:
If you can't beat them, change them...
Want to read more? Pre-order your copy of True Storm (True Born Trilogy, #3) by L.E. Sterling today!
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Entangled Publishing
Earlier books in the True Born Trilogy:
Entangled Publishing Entangled Publishing
About L.E. Sterling:
L.E. Sterling had an early obsession with sci-fi, fantasy and romance to which she remained faithful even through an M.A. in Creative Writing and a PhD in English Literature - where she completed a thesis on magical representation. She is the author of two previous novels, the cult hit Y/A novel The Originals (under pen name L.E. Vollick), dubbed “the Catcher in the Rye of a new generation” by one reviewer, and the urban fantasy Pluto’s Gate. Originally hailing from Parry Sound, Ontario, L.E. spent most of her summers roaming across Canada in a van with her father, a hippie musician, her brothers and an occasional stray mutt - inspiring her writing career. She currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon
Cover Reveal: Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf @Sara_Wolf1 @EntangledTeen
In a new series Publishers Weekly has listed as “one of the most anticipated YA's of 2018”, we're excited to share the cover for Bring Me Their Hearts! NYT bestselling author Sara Wolf delivers a fast-paced, gritty fantasy sure to thrill fans of Holly Black, Sabba Tahir, and Sarah J. Maas.
About the book:
Zera is a
Heartless—the immortal, unaging soldier of a witch. Bound to the witch
Nightsinger ever since she saved her from the bandits who murdered her family,
Zera longs for freedom from the woods they hide in. With her heart in a jar
under Nightsinger’s control, she serves the witch unquestioningly.
Until Nightsinger asks Zera for a prince’s heart in exchange for her own, with one addendum: if she’s discovered infiltrating the court, Nightsinger will destroy Zera’s heart rather than see her tortured by the witch-hating nobles.
Crown Prince Lucien d’Malvane hates the royal court as much as it loves him—every tutor too afraid to correct him and every girl jockeying for a place at his darkly handsome side. No one can challenge him—until the arrival of Lady Zera. She’s inelegant, smart-mouthed, carefree, and out for his blood. The prince’s honor has him quickly aiming for her throat.
So begins a game of cat and mouse between a girl with nothing to lose and a boy who has it all.
Winner takes the loser’s heart.
Literally.
Until Nightsinger asks Zera for a prince’s heart in exchange for her own, with one addendum: if she’s discovered infiltrating the court, Nightsinger will destroy Zera’s heart rather than see her tortured by the witch-hating nobles.
Crown Prince Lucien d’Malvane hates the royal court as much as it loves him—every tutor too afraid to correct him and every girl jockeying for a place at his darkly handsome side. No one can challenge him—until the arrival of Lady Zera. She’s inelegant, smart-mouthed, carefree, and out for his blood. The prince’s honor has him quickly aiming for her throat.
So begins a game of cat and mouse between a girl with nothing to lose and a boy who has it all.
Winner takes the loser’s heart.
Literally.
--
Entangled Publishing: https://entangledpublishing.com/bring-me-their-hearts.html
Release Date: June 5th, 2018
--
About Sara Wolf:
Sara
Wolf is a twenty-something author who adores baking, screaming at her cats, and
screaming at herself while she types hilarious things. When she was a kid, she
was too busy eating dirt to write her first terrible book. Twenty years later,
she picked up a keyboard and started mashing her fists on it and created the
monster known as the Lovely Vicious series. She lives in San Diego with two
cats, a crippling-yet-refreshing sense of self-doubt, and not enough fruit
tarts ever.
Sunday, January 28, 2018
Promo Post with Author Interview: Parasite Life by Victoria Dalpe
Book info:
Title: Parasite Life
Author: Victoria Dalpe
Genre: YA Paranormal, Vampires
Release Date: October 10th, 2017
Publisher: ChiTeen
Synopsis:
About the Author:
Victoria Dalpe is a writer and visual artist based out of Providence, RI where she lives with her husband, writer and film maker, Philip Gelatt and their son. From the attic window they can see the spot where HP Lovecraft's ancestral home once stood... alas, it's now a Starbucks. Victoria loves horror movies, reads too much, and has a soft spot for painting animal skulls.
Title: Parasite Life
Author: Victoria Dalpe
Genre: YA Paranormal, Vampires
Release Date: October 10th, 2017
Publisher: ChiTeen
Synopsis:
Parasite Life is
a totally unique spin on the vampire genre. In Victoria Dalpe’s
compelling debut, seventeen-year-old Jane DeVry shares a house in a
small New Hampshire town with a mother suffering from a mysterious
condition whose symptoms include mysterious wounds and sudden bouts of
screaming. When the friendship of a new student at school awakens new
desires in her, Jane sets out to learn who she is, beginning an odyssey
that takes her first into her mother’s old journal, and then to the art
scene in contemporary Manhattan, in search of a father she has never
known. Smart, gripping, and possessed of real emotional depth, Parasite
Life invokes the traditions of the Gothic while taking the form boldly
into the twenty-first century.
Author Interview:
1. What does your writing process
look like? Do you know the whole story when you start? Or do you just
start writing and go with it (seat of the pants writing)? If you plan
it out, how do you do that? Outline, notecards, post-it-notes, etc.?
Definitely
lean toward the seat of my pants style. My favorite thing is to just
start and see where something goes, and I employ that technique a lot
with short fiction. A novel needs a little more of a skeleton to hang
the meat on though, and so I had a very loose outline for Parasite Life,
just a few road marks of 'this needs to happen, then this, and this is
how it ends' etc. I use the desktop sticky notes on my mac, and some
handwritten notes mostly. But not much more than that honestly. The
rough draft for PL took me six to eight months to write total.
4. What tips do you have for aspiring writers? The obvious one is to write. But everyone says that. I think experimenting with styles and lengths, play around with writing some flash fiction (under 1000 words) or drabble fiction (under 100 words) because it forces you to be concise. You have to treat all the words as precious. It's a good exercise and there are a lot of places that publish (and some pay) for micro fiction. So you can get experimental and weird, and then take a risk of submitting and trying to get published. My other advice would be to get good at finishing things, finish the story, give it a polish, have it ready to submit. Start something new. Keep doing that and you will have a body of work before you know it. And then when you go looking for open calls for submissions etc. you have things ready to go.
5. How important are names in your books? Do you choose the names based on liking the way it sounds, or the meaning? Do you have any name choosing resources you recommend? They aren't super important for me personally. I think it is important that they fit the character and gives the reader more of an idea of them. For Parasite Life, I always like the name Jane because it's a classic name that you don't hear that often. Vivian, is a more vivacious name with fun nicknames, but also old ladyish, so I felt that fit Jane's mother. But I think it's probably half the time just names I like, or like the sounds of, or like the way they look on paper, and the other half a name that fits the character.
6. What are your favorite:
Movies/TV Shows: Buffy, Veronica Mars, IT Crowd, Party Down, Teen Wolf, She Wolf of London, Forever Knight, Slings and Arrows, Call the Midwife
Music: Nine Inch Nails, Fever Ray, Portishead, Crystal Castles, Carpenter Brut, Patrick Wolf, The Cure, Joy Division, PJ Harvey
Food/Writing snack: popcorn, sour gummies
2. How do you come up with your ideas for your stories? All
over really, I read a lot, and watch a ton of movies/TV. I find a lot
of inspiration in the story not told, or a deviation of the thing I am
watching, reading, listening to. PL is essentially a response to how
often the more unpleasant or blatantly coercive/rapey qualities in
vampires get glossed over. (Looking at you Vampire Diaries) I went to
school for art, and still paint, and I find inspiration looking at
artwork a lot too. There are good ideas everywhere. I wish I did
something with even 1/100th of the ideas I pick up just wandering around.
3. How long have you been writing? I've
always written, but it was usually very personal, and more for me than
for others. In high school I wrote a lot, and had a few friends who
liked to read my stuff, but past that, I was private about it. In my
twenties I wrote a bit here and there, but I was busy and worked in
museums and was very social. It was when I left NYC and was figuring out
my next career move that I decided to really take my writing seriously.
I took a few courses, to get more comfortable workshopping, and then I
just started submitting stuff! I lucked out because the very first story
I submitted "Vulture" was picked up and published in an anthology. So I
took that as a good sign and kept going with it.
4. What tips do you have for aspiring writers? The obvious one is to write. But everyone says that. I think experimenting with styles and lengths, play around with writing some flash fiction (under 1000 words) or drabble fiction (under 100 words) because it forces you to be concise. You have to treat all the words as precious. It's a good exercise and there are a lot of places that publish (and some pay) for micro fiction. So you can get experimental and weird, and then take a risk of submitting and trying to get published. My other advice would be to get good at finishing things, finish the story, give it a polish, have it ready to submit. Start something new. Keep doing that and you will have a body of work before you know it. And then when you go looking for open calls for submissions etc. you have things ready to go.
5. How important are names in your books? Do you choose the names based on liking the way it sounds, or the meaning? Do you have any name choosing resources you recommend? They aren't super important for me personally. I think it is important that they fit the character and gives the reader more of an idea of them. For Parasite Life, I always like the name Jane because it's a classic name that you don't hear that often. Vivian, is a more vivacious name with fun nicknames, but also old ladyish, so I felt that fit Jane's mother. But I think it's probably half the time just names I like, or like the sounds of, or like the way they look on paper, and the other half a name that fits the character.
6. What are your favorite:
Books/authors/genres: I love weird horror- been reading Nadia Bulkin's She Said Destroy and
it's really good. Also Robert Aickman's collections, they are so good.
Really good, the way he tells his story in a way that is both horrifying
and familiar is brilliant. Big fan of super long urban fantasy series: I
love Carrie Vaughn's Kitty and the Midnight Hour series. Also Ilona Andrews's Magic Bites series. BIg fan of early Kelley Armstrong. Laini Taylor I like a lot. Adored the Maggie Stiefvater's Raven Boys books,
they were so original. Clive Barker. Nancy A. Collins. Huge Lovecraft
fan. I love vampires, and monsters in general. And based on my mood I
run from very hardcore splatterpunk horror to paranormal romance. But
almost always a few monsters in there.
Music: Nine Inch Nails, Fever Ray, Portishead, Crystal Castles, Carpenter Brut, Patrick Wolf, The Cure, Joy Division, PJ Harvey
Food/Writing snack: popcorn, sour gummies
Social Media Site: I'm
still pretty new to all the social media, but I have really started to
enjoy the writer's community on facebook. And I love to look at art on
instagram when uninspired.
About the Author:
Victoria Dalpe is a writer and visual artist based out of Providence, RI where she lives with her husband, writer and film maker, Philip Gelatt and their son. From the attic window they can see the spot where HP Lovecraft's ancestral home once stood... alas, it's now a Starbucks. Victoria loves horror movies, reads too much, and has a soft spot for painting animal skulls.
Saturday, January 27, 2018
ARC Review: This is Not a Love Letter by Kim Purcell
Book info:
Title: This is Not a Love Letter
Author: Kim Purcell
Genre: YA contemporary
Release Date: January 30th, 2018
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Source: ARC received from Publisher
My rating: 5 stars
Synopsis:
One week. That's all Jessie said. A one-week break to get some perspective before graduation, before she and her boyfriend, Chris, would have to make all the big, scary decisions about their future--decisions they had been fighting about for weeks.
Then, Chris vanishes. The police think he's run away, but Jessie doesn't believe it. Chris is popular and good-looking, about to head off to college on a full-ride baseball scholarship. And he disappeared while going for a run along the river--the same place where some boys from the rival high school beat him up just three weeks ago. Chris is one of the only black kids in a depressed paper mill town, and Jessie is terrified of what might have happened.
As the police are spurred to reluctant action, Jessie speaks up about the harassment Chris kept quiet about and the danger he could be in. But there are people in Jessie's town who don't like the story she tells, who are infuriated by the idea that a boy like Chris would be a target of violence. They smear Chris’s character and Jessie begins receiving frightening threats.
Every Friday since they started dating, Chris has written Jessie a love letter. Now Jessie is writing Chris a letter of her own to tell him everything that’s happening while he’s gone. As Jessie searches for answers, she must face her fears, her guilt, and a past more complicated than she would like to admit.
My Review:
Okay, so, this book really had a little bit of everything in it. And while it started off a bit slow, after a short bit, it got to the point where I couldn't put it down. In fact the way the story was slow makes a lot of sense, because it is spent with the characters, waiting on any scrap of news or clue as to what happened to the missing boy, Chris. The author kept me guessing for most of the way through the book, something that I really enjoy when reading. Every character in this book had their own cross to bear, their own sins - their own demons. Just like in real life, there usually aren't going to be cut and dried "bad guys". That doesn't mean that the people in this book that are the bad guys don't do terrible things. They do, and while you may feel some sympathy for them after certain facts come to life, they still do things that make them the bad guys. Not only that, there is a character that you probably won't like. I didn't. Jessie didn't. But in the end, along with Jessie, you will realize that maybe that person isn't quite the horrible person they've been made out to be. Maybe they do deserve a little leeway and understanding of their own situation.
As I started out saying, this book touches on so many different topics, very heavy ones as well. Depression, bullying, racism, family issues, and LGBT issues, just to name a few. While reading, I kept imagining who could be responsible, what could possibly have happened to Chris. And even though I knew that with the feel of the book, something bad had probably happened to him, I couldn't keep myself from imagining what ways he could possibly still be alive, and that in the end we could have an unexpected, highly unlikely, happy ending. When the news that I knew was coming no matter what actually was delivered in the story, tears began streaming down my face. The way the characters were written, the emotions and reactions they had to the news just hit me so hard. I knew it had to be going that way, the more clues and background information that we got. But I kept hoping so hard, even after it was pretty much assured what was coming, that some way, some how, we could get Chris back without any heartache. Because with all the flashbacks and memories of Chris, I kinda fell in love with him, and really wanted the chance to meet him in the present day of this story.
A great story, an author I look forward to reading more from in the future. Definitely a book I want to add to my high school library collection, and one I will recommend when I work at my part-time job at the bookstore.
Title: This is Not a Love Letter
Author: Kim Purcell
Genre: YA contemporary
Release Date: January 30th, 2018
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Source: ARC received from Publisher
My rating: 5 stars
Synopsis:
One week. That's all Jessie said. A one-week break to get some perspective before graduation, before she and her boyfriend, Chris, would have to make all the big, scary decisions about their future--decisions they had been fighting about for weeks.
Then, Chris vanishes. The police think he's run away, but Jessie doesn't believe it. Chris is popular and good-looking, about to head off to college on a full-ride baseball scholarship. And he disappeared while going for a run along the river--the same place where some boys from the rival high school beat him up just three weeks ago. Chris is one of the only black kids in a depressed paper mill town, and Jessie is terrified of what might have happened.
As the police are spurred to reluctant action, Jessie speaks up about the harassment Chris kept quiet about and the danger he could be in. But there are people in Jessie's town who don't like the story she tells, who are infuriated by the idea that a boy like Chris would be a target of violence. They smear Chris’s character and Jessie begins receiving frightening threats.
Every Friday since they started dating, Chris has written Jessie a love letter. Now Jessie is writing Chris a letter of her own to tell him everything that’s happening while he’s gone. As Jessie searches for answers, she must face her fears, her guilt, and a past more complicated than she would like to admit.
My Review:
Okay, so, this book really had a little bit of everything in it. And while it started off a bit slow, after a short bit, it got to the point where I couldn't put it down. In fact the way the story was slow makes a lot of sense, because it is spent with the characters, waiting on any scrap of news or clue as to what happened to the missing boy, Chris. The author kept me guessing for most of the way through the book, something that I really enjoy when reading. Every character in this book had their own cross to bear, their own sins - their own demons. Just like in real life, there usually aren't going to be cut and dried "bad guys". That doesn't mean that the people in this book that are the bad guys don't do terrible things. They do, and while you may feel some sympathy for them after certain facts come to life, they still do things that make them the bad guys. Not only that, there is a character that you probably won't like. I didn't. Jessie didn't. But in the end, along with Jessie, you will realize that maybe that person isn't quite the horrible person they've been made out to be. Maybe they do deserve a little leeway and understanding of their own situation.
As I started out saying, this book touches on so many different topics, very heavy ones as well. Depression, bullying, racism, family issues, and LGBT issues, just to name a few. While reading, I kept imagining who could be responsible, what could possibly have happened to Chris. And even though I knew that with the feel of the book, something bad had probably happened to him, I couldn't keep myself from imagining what ways he could possibly still be alive, and that in the end we could have an unexpected, highly unlikely, happy ending. When the news that I knew was coming no matter what actually was delivered in the story, tears began streaming down my face. The way the characters were written, the emotions and reactions they had to the news just hit me so hard. I knew it had to be going that way, the more clues and background information that we got. But I kept hoping so hard, even after it was pretty much assured what was coming, that some way, some how, we could get Chris back without any heartache. Because with all the flashbacks and memories of Chris, I kinda fell in love with him, and really wanted the chance to meet him in the present day of this story.
A great story, an author I look forward to reading more from in the future. Definitely a book I want to add to my high school library collection, and one I will recommend when I work at my part-time job at the bookstore.
Four Adult Contemporary Romance Mini-Reviews
You know the drill. Here are some mini-reviews to work on getting myself caught up!
On the Plus Side (A Perfect Fit #2) by Alison Bliss:
Published: June 27th, 2017
Source: Won copy of book
Genre: Adult contemporary romance
My rating: 4 stars
I did enjoy this one. Although while Valeria may have been supposed to be a bigger woman, I don't know that any of that came across on her side. Yay for all the self-confidence that I know is good for her, it sometimes made it a little hard to connect to her because I am not that way. But I did like the romance, even if Logan totally irritated the crap out of me for all his not wanting to get with her because of her brother. And in the end, her brother's overprotectiveness to the point of how angry he got when he found out about the two of them, well that was really annoying, and pretty over the top. All in all a good, quick read though. I look forward to reading on in the series, and I liked how we got to have some glances back at the couple from the first book, Size Matters.
Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
Big girls don't cry. They go after what they want.
Thanks to her bangin' curves, Valerie Carmichael has always turned heads-with the exception of seriously sexy Logan Mathis. Just Valerie's luck that the object of her lust-filled affection is also best friends with her overprotective brother. But Valerie's determined to get Logan's attention . . . even if it means telling a teeny little lie to get a job at his new bar.
Logan can't remember a time when Valerie didn't secretly fuel all his hottest fantasies. Now the curvaceous she-devil is working behind his bar, tempting him every damn night. It's only when he finds Valerie's naughty things-to-do list that Logan decides to break every rule in the book-by making each red-hot deed a reality.
No one warned them that they were going to fall this hard. And no one warned them that sometimes the smallest secrets can have the biggest consequences.
Friends Without Benefits (Knitting in the City #2) by Penny Reid:
Published: October 1st, 2013
Source: Purchased paperback
My Rating: 5 stars
I am such a huge fan of Penny Reid, now that I've started her books. I'll admit I did have a short time as I started this that I wasn't sure if I'd get into it, but once I actually picked it up, it got to where if I was reading before bed I could barely put it down so that I could get some sleep since I had to get up in the morning for work. I wished I'd have read it over winter break so that I could have stayed up all night reading. The characters are funny, the sex is steamy, the romance is sweet, it just all fits together perfectly. Not only did we get some time with the characters from the first book, Neanderthal Seeks Human, but we keep in touch with others that I know must feature in future books in the series. I highly recommend you pick up Penny Reid if you haven't had the chance yet.
Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
There are three things you need to know about Elizabeth Finney: 1) She suffers from severe sarcastic syndrome, especially when she's unnerved, 2) No one unnerves her like Nico Manganiello, and 3) She knows how to knit. Elizabeth Finney is almost always right about everything: the musical merits of boy bands are undervalued by society, "benefits" with human Ken dolls are better without friendship, and the sun has set on her once-in-a-lifetime chance for true love. But when Elizabeth's plans for benefits without friendship are disarmed by the irritatingly charismatic and chauvinistic Nico Manganiello- her former nemesis- she finds herself struggling to maintain the electric fence around her heart while avoiding electrocution or, worse, falling in love.
Three Blind Dates by Meghan Quinn:
Published: January 4th, 2018
Source: Egalley won through Facebook giveaway
My Rating: 4 stars
This is the first book I've read by Meghan Quinn, even though I've been following her on Facebook for awhile now. I have to say that I wish there was a real dating service like this, and that I could join. All three of the main characters dates were great guys, but in the end, I was sad when each one didn't work out. The little twist towards the end, that helps you figure out who will be the right guy, well, I didn't see that coming! And while I'm happy with who she ended up with, I still think one of the others would have been my first choice. One downside, I don't know how to pronounce the main character's name, Noely, so my thoughts tripped over it as I read, which did pull me out of the story at times. Overall though, it was a fun read, hard to put down, and only made me more intrigued to read more books by this author.
Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
"Good Morning Malibu, it’s another beautiful day on the west coast! I'm Noely Clark, your host: and I'm in the market for love…”
When the publicity team of the new local restaurant, Going in Blind, began their search for a hot, local celebrity to promote the wildly popular eatery, they couldn’t have found a better person than me.
Outgoing? Check.
Single? Check.
Open to finding love? Check.
I signed up immediately.
A hopeless romantic with an exceedingly demanding schedule, I've found it impossible to find the man of my dreams—so Going in Blind seems too good to be true! That’s until they start setting me up on dates—three very different, very attractive, very distinct blind dates—and only one thing is for certain . . .
I’m in big trouble.
Good Morning Malibu,
I'm Noely Clark, and I have a choice to make.
The question is who will I choose; the suit, the rebel, or the jock.
Sweet Ache (Driven series #6) by K. Bromberg:
Published: June 1st, 2015
Source: Downloaded digital audio from library
My Rating: 5 stars
I remember not liking, then liking Colton's sister Quinlan when we first met her in the earlier books in this series. But I really got to like her in this one. And then there was Hawkin Play. A rock star, and I do love a good rock star romance. Hawkin had some baggage he was pulling along, but something about Quinlan kept him interested and fighting for a chance. I loved his sweet tooth, and how it played into the story. I have to say that at times I felt Quinlan might have given in sooner than I would have, but yeah, that's probably why I'm still single. So many sexy parts in this one, parts that I was listening to before I had to go into work, and other times I didn't want to get out of the car to stop listening because of how things were going. Once again another great story from this author. I was lucky enough to get selected to be in the author's audio review group, and so I have the next book in the series to listen to after my next two audiobooks that I'm required to listen to and review for tours. But I can't wait!
Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
The New York Times bestselling author of Slow Burn turns up the heat when a sexy bet turns into so much more…
Hawkin Play, the bad boy rock star with a good guy heart, has lived a lifetime of cleaning up after his twin brother’s mistakes. Hunter’s most recent screw-up could land Hawke in jail and risk the band’s future. Hawke agrees to guest lecture at a local college to stay in the judge’s good graces—and a bet with his bandmate to seduce his sexy teaching assistant is icing on the cake.
Quinlan Westin is harder to bed than Hawke imagined. She knows his type and is determined to avoid the rocker at all costs—even if their attraction runs deeper than simple lust.
Just as Hawke might finally be winning over the girl, his brother has other plans. When Hunter realizes his twin finally has a weakness, he’ll stop at nothing to take advantage…
On the Plus Side (A Perfect Fit #2) by Alison Bliss:
Source: Won copy of book
Genre: Adult contemporary romance
My rating: 4 stars
I did enjoy this one. Although while Valeria may have been supposed to be a bigger woman, I don't know that any of that came across on her side. Yay for all the self-confidence that I know is good for her, it sometimes made it a little hard to connect to her because I am not that way. But I did like the romance, even if Logan totally irritated the crap out of me for all his not wanting to get with her because of her brother. And in the end, her brother's overprotectiveness to the point of how angry he got when he found out about the two of them, well that was really annoying, and pretty over the top. All in all a good, quick read though. I look forward to reading on in the series, and I liked how we got to have some glances back at the couple from the first book, Size Matters.
Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
Big girls don't cry. They go after what they want.
Thanks to her bangin' curves, Valerie Carmichael has always turned heads-with the exception of seriously sexy Logan Mathis. Just Valerie's luck that the object of her lust-filled affection is also best friends with her overprotective brother. But Valerie's determined to get Logan's attention . . . even if it means telling a teeny little lie to get a job at his new bar.
Logan can't remember a time when Valerie didn't secretly fuel all his hottest fantasies. Now the curvaceous she-devil is working behind his bar, tempting him every damn night. It's only when he finds Valerie's naughty things-to-do list that Logan decides to break every rule in the book-by making each red-hot deed a reality.
No one warned them that they were going to fall this hard. And no one warned them that sometimes the smallest secrets can have the biggest consequences.
Friends Without Benefits (Knitting in the City #2) by Penny Reid:
Published: October 1st, 2013
Source: Purchased paperback
My Rating: 5 stars
I am such a huge fan of Penny Reid, now that I've started her books. I'll admit I did have a short time as I started this that I wasn't sure if I'd get into it, but once I actually picked it up, it got to where if I was reading before bed I could barely put it down so that I could get some sleep since I had to get up in the morning for work. I wished I'd have read it over winter break so that I could have stayed up all night reading. The characters are funny, the sex is steamy, the romance is sweet, it just all fits together perfectly. Not only did we get some time with the characters from the first book, Neanderthal Seeks Human, but we keep in touch with others that I know must feature in future books in the series. I highly recommend you pick up Penny Reid if you haven't had the chance yet.
Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
There are three things you need to know about Elizabeth Finney: 1) She suffers from severe sarcastic syndrome, especially when she's unnerved, 2) No one unnerves her like Nico Manganiello, and 3) She knows how to knit. Elizabeth Finney is almost always right about everything: the musical merits of boy bands are undervalued by society, "benefits" with human Ken dolls are better without friendship, and the sun has set on her once-in-a-lifetime chance for true love. But when Elizabeth's plans for benefits without friendship are disarmed by the irritatingly charismatic and chauvinistic Nico Manganiello- her former nemesis- she finds herself struggling to maintain the electric fence around her heart while avoiding electrocution or, worse, falling in love.
Three Blind Dates by Meghan Quinn:
Published: January 4th, 2018
Source: Egalley won through Facebook giveaway
My Rating: 4 stars
This is the first book I've read by Meghan Quinn, even though I've been following her on Facebook for awhile now. I have to say that I wish there was a real dating service like this, and that I could join. All three of the main characters dates were great guys, but in the end, I was sad when each one didn't work out. The little twist towards the end, that helps you figure out who will be the right guy, well, I didn't see that coming! And while I'm happy with who she ended up with, I still think one of the others would have been my first choice. One downside, I don't know how to pronounce the main character's name, Noely, so my thoughts tripped over it as I read, which did pull me out of the story at times. Overall though, it was a fun read, hard to put down, and only made me more intrigued to read more books by this author.
Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
"Good Morning Malibu, it’s another beautiful day on the west coast! I'm Noely Clark, your host: and I'm in the market for love…”
When the publicity team of the new local restaurant, Going in Blind, began their search for a hot, local celebrity to promote the wildly popular eatery, they couldn’t have found a better person than me.
Outgoing? Check.
Single? Check.
Open to finding love? Check.
I signed up immediately.
A hopeless romantic with an exceedingly demanding schedule, I've found it impossible to find the man of my dreams—so Going in Blind seems too good to be true! That’s until they start setting me up on dates—three very different, very attractive, very distinct blind dates—and only one thing is for certain . . .
I’m in big trouble.
Good Morning Malibu,
I'm Noely Clark, and I have a choice to make.
The question is who will I choose; the suit, the rebel, or the jock.
Sweet Ache (Driven series #6) by K. Bromberg:
Published: June 1st, 2015
Source: Downloaded digital audio from library
My Rating: 5 stars
I remember not liking, then liking Colton's sister Quinlan when we first met her in the earlier books in this series. But I really got to like her in this one. And then there was Hawkin Play. A rock star, and I do love a good rock star romance. Hawkin had some baggage he was pulling along, but something about Quinlan kept him interested and fighting for a chance. I loved his sweet tooth, and how it played into the story. I have to say that at times I felt Quinlan might have given in sooner than I would have, but yeah, that's probably why I'm still single. So many sexy parts in this one, parts that I was listening to before I had to go into work, and other times I didn't want to get out of the car to stop listening because of how things were going. Once again another great story from this author. I was lucky enough to get selected to be in the author's audio review group, and so I have the next book in the series to listen to after my next two audiobooks that I'm required to listen to and review for tours. But I can't wait!
Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
The New York Times bestselling author of Slow Burn turns up the heat when a sexy bet turns into so much more…
Hawkin Play, the bad boy rock star with a good guy heart, has lived a lifetime of cleaning up after his twin brother’s mistakes. Hunter’s most recent screw-up could land Hawke in jail and risk the band’s future. Hawke agrees to guest lecture at a local college to stay in the judge’s good graces—and a bet with his bandmate to seduce his sexy teaching assistant is icing on the cake.
Quinlan Westin is harder to bed than Hawke imagined. She knows his type and is determined to avoid the rocker at all costs—even if their attraction runs deeper than simple lust.
Just as Hawke might finally be winning over the girl, his brother has other plans. When Hunter realizes his twin finally has a weakness, he’ll stop at nothing to take advantage…
Friday, January 26, 2018
Release Blitz with Giveaway - Neesa: The Original Reality Series #1 by Dina Haynes
Title: Neesa: The Original Reality Series #1
Author: Dina Haynes
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 25, 2018
It’s been three years since my last breakup and it was a doozy. I don't want to embarrass myself, but I’ll be honest. I was stupid. And blind. I suffered a nervous breakdown and thus reset my standards for perfection. I can’t afford to make the same mistake again.
Enter Reuben. I like him. He likes me. He has stalker tendencies. Strike one. By his own admission, he’s a player of women. Strike two. Plus, I’ve seen his jealous side. That’s three strikes, but I can’t. Stop. Myself. When his broken soul whispers to my broken heart, a new language is born.
This Netflix-and-chill era is made for guys like Reuben. Hired to investigate Neesa, he stumbles upon an unpicked flower in a city full of them, and he’s relished more than his fill. All of them empty encounters that left him jonesing for his next fix.
Not with Neesa. The more she resists his charms, the more he fights to earn her love. But, first, he’ll have to confess a secret. One with consequences dire enough to shatter his world. And hers.
We call the heroes in our favorite romances "book boyfriends" for a reason; we want to be in the heroine's shoes. Dina Haynes has come up with a new kind of novel to make you the star of a crafted fictional story with the hero of your dreams. Neesa is the first. Will you be next? Sign up now at http://bit.ly/RealityBookSeries
Dina Haynes cheated on her lackluster acting career in favor of doing more "character" work and has been writing contemporary and paranormal romance ever since. She lives in the bustling city of Los Angeles where potential characters pop off the streets and land in her pages. Follow her on social media—she likes it—via FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter, and Goodreads. And visit her website, dinahaynes.com.