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Showing posts with label Giveaway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Giveaway. Show all posts

Aug 28, 2018

Release Day Blitz: Review and Giveaway: Make It Music by Everly Lucas

August 28, 2018 0 Comments

Today, we have the release day blitz of Everly Lucas' MAKE IT MUSIC!  Check out our review and don't forget to join the giveaway down below.  And be sure to grab your copy of this fantastic new release today!

Title: MAKE IT MUSIC

Author: Everly Lucas

Genre: Contemporary Romance

About Make It Music:

House parties. Hot jocks. New friends. Typical college experiences, right?  
Sleepless nights. Racing thoughts. Slipping grades. Drinking way too much and waking up alone in a strange bed with no memory of how I got there, then bolting before having to face whoever put my drunk ass up for the night… Slightly less typical.   

Okay, I’ll admit it. I’m making a mess of my freshman year, but I can fix my own mistakes. I don’t need anyone swooping in to save me, especially not my overbearing, unfairly gorgeous psych professor.   

So what if he manages to make tweed look sexy? So what if I get chills when he says my name? So what if he kisses me like it would kill him not to? None of that stuff matters once I finally remember that his was the strange bed I woke up in the night I blacked out.   

Nope. I don’t need him. But that doesn’t stop me from wanting him like crazy…even when crazy is exactly how I feel.


 

My Thoughts:

Make it Music is one of those few novels that I read without expecting anything. I went into it with a blank, open mind. Most times, it gives you much more feels because the book can just surprise the hell out of you. I’m pleased to say that it worked and I savored every delicious word in this book.

I enjoyed reading this contemporary romance because it did not just focus on the romance part. It was more about the heroine’s growth as a person. There were so many emotions that can be felt and learnings that you can take in Lacey’s journey to understanding herself better.

Lacey and Jeremy met at a time when Lacey was in a very dark place in her life. She made poor decisions left and right and the consequences of her actions has taken a toll on her. Lacey wasn’t a bad person per se, but she was not your typical good girl type of heroine. She was erratic, impulsive, troubled, and frankly, a complicated mess. She can also be petty because of her jealousy.

What I really enjoyed about this book is learning more about Lacey.  The good and the bad, the frustrating choices she made, and the rock bottom she fell into, these things are what made this book so fascinating to read.  To get a glimpse into Lacey’s complicated thought process is the best part of this book. I was with her with her craziness. As I read, I’m like the friend who wanted to slap her and then hug her really tight.

Jeremy was the rock. He was steady. Throughout Lacey’s highs and lows, Jeremey was constant. Honestly, I think the pacing of how they fell in love in this story was a little too fast for me, but Jeremy’s dreaminess made up for it. He was the perfect match for Lacy because he was so patient in understanding her.  Maybe, because in this story, he was a lot older than her. He understood Lacey’s frustrations because when he was really young, he had his own share of frustrations and dumb decisions. He let her be. He didn’t force her to choose him. He waited for her. He’s the ultimate dream man that any girl would’ve wanted.

I also appreciated that the conflict of this story didn’t drag on Jeremy being a professor. (Not that I personally agree with a teacher-student relationship, though it was fun to read in novels.) It was part of the conflict but not the sole focus. I liked how that conflict resolved itself without hurting my head or without it being cliché.

Another point that I really loved about this novel was Lacey’s friendship with her roommate, Snow, and Davey. If the next book in this series is about either of these people, then count me in. Their unlikely bond was formed because of what happened to Lacey. It was fun to watch how Lacey get real friends. Those who didn’t throw her away when things got tough.

Overall, this is one hell of a novel for a reader who likes to read about a not-so-perfect heroine get her HEA by fixing herself first, one with a dreamy hero who made everything all right, a hero who’s patient enough to wait for a complicated heroine. It has angst, adorable friendships, and steamy romance. What more could you want?


Get Your Copy Today:

Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo | Goodreads


Exclusive Excerpt:


Unable to move faster than a tranquilized sloth, I make it to class with barely a second to spare. As soon as I step through the door, Professor Ryan looks my way, which is an improvement, but he also appears to be staring daggers at me, which is not.
Lacking the minimum amount of sleep necessary for taming my inner bitch, I fling eye-daggers right back at him. Take that, asshole.
But what does he do? He smiles.
I could’ve handled more contempt because that would’ve been an appropriate reaction this time. But the fact that he finds my sass amusing just pisses me off even more. If it wouldn’t mean instant expulsion and, in all likelihood, criminal charges, I’d claw his smug face right off.
Grumbling, I head for an empty seat in the back row.
Midway there, the professor announces, “Everybody, stand up.” He waits as the confused, groggy students slowly rise to their feet and glance around at each other. “Now find your desk from Tuesday. That will be your assigned seat for the rest of the semester.”
Crap. Crappity crap crap crap.
Several students groan—myself included—but we all resignedly take our things to our original desks. The front row and I will not be best friends today. Or any day, really.
I try not to sneak anymore peeks at Professor Ryan, but peeking is unavoidable. My traitor eyes are drawn to the man. His eyes appear to be drawn to me, too, as he watches me drop my bag on the floor and plop down in my chair. That infuriating smirk is still in place, so I stick my tongue out at him, apparently unable to control the childish impulses I usually manage to keep in check.
The corners of his lips turn up a few more notches and form a grin of massive, condescending proportions.
Paranoid thoughts creep in again. Was the assigned-seat thing because of me? Did he want me within easy teasing distance or something? Is he seriously that cruel? My logical brain tells me I’m being ridiculous, but paranoia is rarely ever open to seeing reason. It’s just there, being all unreasonable, and you can’t do shit about it.
Why can’t he go back to ignoring me? I liked that better than all this confusing attention.
While I’m busy convincing myself I’m not at the center of the decisions made by a man I hardly know, he takes attendance. His voice fades, becoming an underwater echo in my tired ears until he gets to my name. Then it rings loud and clear.
“Hunter, Lacey.”
My name on his lips sparks something. Just a flash of the ghost of a memory, the kind that slips further away, the more you try to chase it.
“Lacey Hunter,” he says again. “Lacey.”
I don’t want you, Lacey,” the ghost-memory whispers in my mind.
“Jeremy?”
The room erupts in snickers and under-the-breath laughter, and I cringe when I realize what I said. What the hell is wrong with me that I can’t manage my own mouth?
Professor Ryan freezes. His lips form a tight line, and all color leaves his cheeks. Funny, because I’m pretty sure my cheeks are bright red. But in the time it takes me to blink, his features shift from shock to boredom. “Ms. Hunter, I’m afraid I’m not cool enough to allow my students to call me by my first name. In class, let’s keep it formal, shall we?”


About Everly Lucas:

After years of rooting for couples and falling for heroes created by other authors, Everly decided to create her own. She now has a crowd of characters hanging out in her head, with no intention of kicking them out. She lives in Philadelphia with her precious laptop, a cat named Bunny, and a kitten who falls down a lot. Her favorite things include Dr. Pepper, sparkly stuff, blissful silence, and singing while doing the dishes. Everly can be found on Twitter, like, all the time.

Connect with Everly:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads


Enter Everly’s Giveaway:

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Sep 19, 2017

Book Blast and $100 Gift Card Giveaway: The Wondrous World of Violet Barnaby

September 19, 2017 0 Comments

Check out the very emotional and exciting novel, "The Wondrous World of Violet Barnaby" and enter the $100 Amazon Paypal Gift Card giveaway!



 


The Wondrous World of Violet Barnaby 


 Violet Barnaby searches for the joy in life after losing her mother in this sweet and funny follow-up to The Charming Life of Izzy Malone. Violet Barnaby is a having a blue Christmas. She’s still grieving the loss of her mother, and to make things worse, her dad has just married Melanie Harmer, a.k.a. the meanest teacher at Dandelion Hollow Middle School. But on the day Violet and her dad are packing up and moving into the new house they’ll share with Melanie and Melanie’s two children, Violet finds a letter her mother wrote to her before she died, asking Violet to enjoy Christmas, along with a Christmas Wish List—things her mom wants her to do during the holiday season. On the list are exactly the kinds of things Violet doesn’t want to do this year, like Be Someone’s Secret Santa; Give Someone the Gift of Your Time: Volunteer; and Bake Christmas Cookies. Violet shows the letter to her friend Izzy’s Aunt Mildred, who calls a meeting of the Charm Girls, a club Izzy and Violet belong to along with their friends, Daisy and Sophia. Aunt Mildred decides she will give them each a charm to put on their bracelet if they do all of the tasks on the Christmas Wish List, which Violet is not too happy about. She’d rather forget about the list completely but feels compelled to honor her mother’s wishes. And when Izzy’s crush confides a big secret to Violet, Violet feels like she is stuck between her best friend and the boy who she just might have a crush on, too… 

  


Praise for The Wondrous World of Violet Barnaby

"[an] emotionally perceptive novel of grief and recovery." - Kirkus You'll fall in love with Violet and love every minute of living in her wondrous world! - Stephanie Faris

Sep 15, 2017

Cover Reveal and Giveaway: Ten Year Dance by Ara Grigorian

September 15, 2017 0 Comments
 

You all know I have a thing with best friends to lovers romance, right?! There's just something so fascinating with the push and pull and the angst of these kind of plots. And if you're like me, then you wouldn't want to miss on this post. Well, today we have the gorgeous cover reveal for Ara Grigorian’s Ten Year Dance! Check it out and be sure to pre-order your copy today! Don't forget to join the giveaway too. 

 

Nov 5, 2014

Shades of Chaos Blog Tour: Book Review and Gift Card Giveaway: Dissension by K.A. Salidas

November 05, 2014 1 Comments

Due to my participation in the Book Blitz for this very same collection of books, this post will be focused mainly on the story from the collection that I decided to read and review. Here is the link for the Book Blitz which lists the links for the collection itself, and each story's blurb, and the main website links for its other amazing authors.

Title: Dissension (Chronicles of the Uprising Book 1)
Author: K.A. Salidas
Publication Date: February 3, 2014
Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Blurb:

The great cataclysm wiped almost all life from the face of Planet Earth, but tiny pockets of survivors crawled from the ashes, with only one thought: survival, at any cost.

But not all survivors were human.

In the dark, militant society that has risen in the aftermath, vampires, once thought to be mythical, have been assimilated and enslaved. Used for blood sport, their lives are allowed to continue only for the entertainment of the masses. Reviled as savages, they are destined to serve out their immortal lives in the arena, as gladiators.

And there is no greater gladiator than Mira: undefeated, uncompromising...and seemingly unbreakable. When an escape attempt leads Mira into the path of Lucian Stavros, the city's Regent, her destiny is changed forever.

Lucian, raised in a culture which both reviles and celebrates the savagery and inhumanity of vampires, finds Mira as intriguing as she is brash. An impulsive decision -- to become Mira's patron -- changes more than just Lucian's perception about vampire kind. The course of his life is altered in ways he could never have predicted -- a life that is suddenly as expendable as hers.

Can Mira prove to Lucian that all is not as it seems? Can Lucian escape centuries of lies, bloodshed, and propaganda to see the truth? Or will the supreme power of the human overlords destroy them both?

Kayla's Thoughts:

I take anthologies very seriously, so when given the choice to read one selection from the Shades of Chaos anthology, I went through each book and read a passage or two. Then with actually not much deliberation at all, I chose to read and review Initiation and Dissension by Katie Salidas. Now since Dissension is quite a bit longer than Initiation, which is a handful of pages and merely describes Mira's first battle in the arena as a gladiator and her thoughts on her last day of freedom and the terrible agony her capture caused her, I will be focusing mainly on that piece in this review.

First of all, let me just state that I love the series prologue. The basic history of what happened to lead us to this moment in the story where Dissension starts. It describes two species, shaken up by terrifying events that led them to restart their entire society. Vampires and humans had to work together in the beginning, but things take a turn when the humans find a way to come out on top. And come out on top they shall...which is how the games themselves started. Vampires, which have been considered the epitome of evil for centuries, are now the victims. Having to shed blood for the humans' amusement just to be able to feed on a regular basis. You win, more rations. You lost, you either die quickly, if you are lucky, or are tortured by light. Not enough to kill, but enough so you feel every ray. It's enough to make this human want to go inside this book and be one of the opposers of this atrocity. I want to be one of the rebels who helps Mira out in her and the Regent's mission to stop this.

But I am getting ahead of myself...

Dissension takes place thirty years after Mira was placed in her first battle in the arena. Thirty years after she learned she needed to do whatever it took to survive. She has become the best fighter of her region, but she has yet to succumb to her enslavers. Which I absolutely love. Her attitude may get her in trouble, but it is that very attitude that had me rooting for her from the very beginning. Some characters are quiet until a chance at retribution reveals itself and they take it, fighting against the forces working against them, and that works for them. But Mira never failed to find a reason to fight back, even if it was just with a few choice words, or, in her case, A LOT of them. There was a couple of cases where I thought the snark was unnecessary and where it would have benefited her and possibly the story itself if she was quiet and simply assessed her surroundings, but other than that, I absolutely thought she was a great character and one to definitely watch.

Now I actually would have liked more of the Regent's own point of view throughout the story. He is the one who becomes Mira's Patron after meeting her in a way that could have basically signed Mira's own death warrant. But after meeting with him a few times and talking, which is not usually what a Patron would do with their hosted fighter, she realizes that he is not like all the other humans. Well, she actually goes back and forth between thinking this and thinking that he is just like all the others, because honestly, the humans have given her no reason to trust any of their kind. But it is after a particularly heavy fight, one that nearly kills Mira, that things take a turn toward her possibly being able to trust him with the information she knows and which he asks of her.

Verdict:

This story is definitely full of action, a bit of humor, and is absolutely a wonderful start to the entire Chronicles of the Uprising series. It needs a few tweaks here and there and could do with a bit more meat to the story, mainly another point of view, as stated earlier, sprinkled throughout, to make it seem a bit more whole, but other than that it is one worth reading. I am putting the series on my TBR list because I have to know if Mira gains the freedom she so craves. This story made me feel for the vampire race. It made me long for humans to understand that in this case, they have become the monsters.

Links for Book:

Author's Bio:

Katie Salidas is a Super Woman! Endowed with special powers and abilities beyond those of mortal women, she can get the munchkin off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons. She can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime...And she still finds the time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). She can do all of this and still have time to write.

And if you can believe all of those lies, there is some beautiful swamp land in Florida for sale...

Katie Salidas resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mother, wife, and author, she does try to do it all, often causing sleep deprivation and many nights passed out at the computer. Writing books is her passion, and she hopes that her passion will bring you hours of entertainment.


Links for Author:


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Oct 27, 2014

Book Tour: Giveaway and Book Review: The Silver Pear by Michelle Diener

October 27, 2014 0 Comments


Title: The Silver Pear
Author: Michelle Diener
Publication Date: October 1, 2014
Genre: Fantasy Romance

Blurb:

An unlikely princess...

Kayla is determined to master her new-found abilities as a wild magic witch. She's learning everything she can so she and her betrothed, Rane, can put a stop to the sorcerers who are recklessly gathering their power, building up their magic to take each other on in a war that will destroy the countries of Middleland.

An even more unlikely sorcerer...

Mirabelle's father was one of the greatest sorcerers in Middleland, but when he used magic in the silver pear to bespell his pregnant wife to give birth to the greatest sorcerer who would ever live, he never thought that child would be a girl. Mirabelle is nothing like a usual sorcerer, confounding every expectation, and when she comes to the rescue of Rane's brother, Soren, she makes a decision few sorcerers would. She saves him, rather than herself, losing the silver pear in the process.

And using magic always exacts a price...

With war not just a possibility but simply a matter of time, there are no neutral parties and no fence-sitters in Kayla and Mirabelle's new world. Everyone is either an ally or an enemy and there is a price to pay for everything. The question is, how high will it be?

The Silver Pear is the sequel to The Golden Apple, and together they make up The Dark Forest series.

Kayla's Thoughts:

I have to be perfectly honest. Unless I have read the previous books in a series or can make time to read them, I never decide to read a sequel. It's just not in my nature. I have to know what happens beforehand in order to gain a sense of the novel I am set to review. But this one caught my eye with one name. Kayla. A princess of Gaynor and wild magic witch who has almost tamed the banished magic that resides in the great forest. I say almost because no matter what, the wild magic she can command still has a mind of its own as we find out near the very end of this particular installment in this series. But this name, a mirror of my own, and this character spoke to me. I just had to know this story. I had to read the second book first in this case.

Because I was not able to read the first book in the series, I was actually quite ecstatic that the author gives a little sense of what happened in The Golden Apple at the beginning of this book. It doesn't reveal everything that might have happened, but at least the gist is pretty well touched upon. It segues great into this book, telling the reader all the information, or at least most of the information, needed to be able to know what is going on in the story or what has gone on in the story so far.

Our characters are pretty well separated into pairs in this book, each pair having their own chapters until finally near the end all four are reunited again. We have Rane and Kayla, and Soren and a new character Miri. Now Miri, as stated in the book's blurb, was bespelled by her father in the womb to be the greatest sorcerer who ever lived. And she definitely is a great sorcerer. But unlike other sorcerers, she uses her magic to help instead of hurt. So it is no surprise that she saves Soren when given the chance to either do that or run. Even when it means her own capture and the loss of her most prized possession. He returns the favor, even with the knowledge of what she is and his animosity and vow to kill all sorcerers, and they escape, not knowing that it will be matters of the heart helping to keep them together soon enough.

Rane and Kayla are on the search to find both Soren and get back the golden apple in Nuen's possession, making a stop back at the Great Forest to free the earth witch Ylana from the spell that currently binds her. Kayla will plead her case to learn how to control her magic and the providers of that magic, but it will be up to Ylana herself whether or not her animosity will allow her to teach the girl. And without her help, the war of the sorcerers that has been looming might just arrive.

Verdict:

I really did love this book. I mean, I really didn't feel lost due to the explanation of what happened in the previous book. However, there were a few times where the story didn't feel as full as it could have. The story itself was complete, but I didn't feel as fulfilled, like something was missing. Other than that, there were a lot of wonderfully written scenes, and the world itself, especially the Great Forest, was quite beautiful in its descriptions. I especially like the imp in the dress. (You'll definitely have to read the book to understand.) I currently have the first book and will definitely be putting it on my TBR list just so I can gain more of a sense of the characters from the very beginning. And I will definitely be reading more of this author's work in future.

Links for Book:

Author's Bio:

Michelle Diener writes historical fiction and fantasy. Having worked in publishing and IT, she's now very happy crafting new worlds and interesting characters and wondering which part of the world she can travel to next.

Michelle was born in London, grew up in South Africa and currently lives in Australia with her husband and two children.


Links for Author:

Oct 24, 2014

Book Blitz: Giveaway and Book Review: Ghost Heart by Ripley Patton

October 24, 2014 0 Comments


Title: Ghost Heart
Author: Ripley Patton
Publication Date: October 14, 2014
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Thriller

Blitz Organized By: Lola's Blog Tours

Blurb:

In the aftermath of a brutal tragedy, Jason and Passion are on the run. Marcus is lost beyond reach, and The Hold is in shambles. If that weren't enough, Olivia Black has been taken by the CAMFers to be used as Dr. Fineman's personal lab rat in his merciless quest to uncover the mysteries of Psyche Sans Soma once and for all. But only if he can break her.

They are scattered.
They are devastated.
They are ruined.

Their only hope is Olivia's stubborn determination to thwart her captors and unlock the secrets of her ghost hand before Dr. Fineman can. Will she finally find the strength within herself to embrace the full power of her PSS?

And will it even matter if Marcus has already betrayed her?

Kayla's Thoughts:

I want to start by saying that Ripley Patton does a beautiful job of reminding readers what happened in the book before this one (Book 2, Ghost Hold) without giving away the plot to those that may not have read the second book. Obviously you would have to be crazy to not have read the second book before this one, because so much happened in it that is very VERY important for this one. Such as (insert incoherent mumbles here). What? Did you think I would give stuff away? I am not that kind of girl...

On that note, I have decided that I am going to start a support group for readers who have a tendency to read ahead, aka skimming pages or turning to the back of the book just to make sure a character doesn't die or something (that is how I ruined the seventh Harry Potter book for myself). It is a very terrible disease and can make your life a living nightmare! Or at least take all the fun out of reading. I shall call it PA. Peekers Anonymous. Comment if you have a better name. You can tell I have actually thought about this long and hard. So anyway, the whole point of saying this was because that is exactly what I wanted to do throughout this entire book. I had to know what was going to happen. I had to know if I could trust people or if my gut was right about there being a rat in our midst. I have to admit that I did turn to the last few pages while I was still in the beginning of the book, but thankfully I had my eyes squinted enough that I saw nothing. And I am glad I did, because like I said, it would have made the journey to the ending less stressful and I hate when I can't stress over a book. It makes me feel so alive and the story so much more readable.

This particular book in the series has a different format to it than the past two. Instead of having only Olivia's point of view, due to the characters being separated we are allowed both Marcus's and Passion's points of view as well. These three different characters allow us to gain a well rounded view of the story just as we get in the other two, but it also allows us to see characters we have gotten to know in a whole new light. We get to experience their feelings, thoughts, and in Marcus's case, what with his most recent dying experience and the repercussions of that, old wounds being reopened as if they were never closed in the first place.

Verdict:

I literally want to bang my forehead against a wall or something like it due to the fact that the fourth book won't come out until next year. I am in love with this series, these characters, and the whole PSS idea. This is definitely a remarkable series that will have a special place in my heart, and most especially this particular installment.

Links for Book:

Author's Bio:

Ripley Patton lives in Portland, Oregon, with one cat, two teenagers, and a man who wants to live on a boat. She is an award-winning short story writer and author of The PSS Chronicles, a young adult paranormal thriller series.

Ripley doesn't smoke, or drink, or cuss as much as her characters. Her only real vices are writing, eating M&Ms, and watching reality television.

Links for Author:
Twitter / Goodreads / Website / Facebook / Google+

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Oct 21, 2014

Release Day Romp: Giveaway and Review: A Beautiful Purpose by Alicia Rae

October 21, 2014 0 Comments
Beautiful Purpose


22725782Title: A Beautiful Purpose (Beautiful #6)
Author: Alicia Rae
Publication Date: October 21, 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance 18+

Event Organized By: Literati Author Services, Inc.

Blurb:

*Book 6 in The Beautiful Series or Standalone*

All Blake Johnson knows is the life of a Marine. After serving his country for eight years, he returns to his family for some rest and rehabilitation. Fighting an internal war, he battles sleepless nights as images of his former military days haunt him. From the moment Audrey Hampton walks into his life, he is drawn to her. Her beauty leaves him breathless and weak in the knees. She kindles a spark of hope deep within his soul, igniting a part of himself he feared was missing. Her never-ending compassion for others opens his heart in a way he never dreamed. But Audrey is hiding wounds of her own. Returning to Lake Tahoe to care for her ill mother triggers painful childhood memories of her parents' loveless marriage, reminding her there is no such thing as true love. Will Blake's resolve be powerful enough to open Audrey's sealed heart? Or will Audrey fear the past and risk losing the man who could give her life a newfound purpose? Can two wounded souls become one?

Kayla's Thoughts:

I have to admit that I was a bit torn throughout the beginning of this book. You see, sometimes when I read a story I envision the characters' personalities differently than the author has written them. Sometimes I feel that in order for the story to flow a little bit better a character needs more of a certain quality or characteristic. And that is exactly how I feel with this, or at least that is how I felt before finishing this book. 

While both main characters are so perfect for one another, and some of their scenes were so heartfelt and funny and just made me grin to no end, I felt that their relationship could have been delayed a bit more. And by that I mean that I kind of wish the hesitancy on both ends would have lasted a bit longer. I wish that on both ends they would have resisted a bit more due to their own personal demons. It would have made their budding love so much sweeter, Audrey's rejection so much more heart-wrenching, and their ultimate realization that neither would be anything without the other all the more wondrous and joyful.

That said, while I do believe it could use a bit more finesse, the storyline itself is beautiful. Two souls tortured by different events coming together as one. Finding love when love does not seem a possibility. And while I do say that I had a bit of a conundrum regarding the beginning of this book, from the moment the paintball event occurred, I was immediately hooked from the first giggle that left my lips.

While Blake and Audrey are the main focus of this book, I love how each character brings their own quirky lives to the table. Well, that is in the case of Blake's brothers, their women, and his cousin and her man. I love stories where all the characters are interconnected and know each other in some way, especially when the book is a part of the series where each character is allowed their own life to be delved into.

Verdict:

This book is not perfect by any means, but its story is. I definitely will read the other books in this series, and will probably remember Blake and Audrey's particular story for months to come. It is completely worth buying this book just for the happy ending, and I recommend it to any and all fans of this genre.

Links for Book:

Author's Bio:

Alicia Rae is a Contemporary Romance Author who lives in Dekalb, Illinois, with her husband and three beautiful boys. Alicia has a passion for reading all types of romance, writing to bring a story to life, and photography.

"Thank you to my dear sister, Kels, who showed me a few years ago how much I truly missed reading. And to my loving husband, for not throwing away my Nook, and planting the seed of writing into my mind. I am forever grateful. XO Readers, words cannot thank you enough for supporting me along this incredible journey. I hope you enjoy my novels as much as I do writing them. I thank each and every one of you. Believe in yourself and follow your dreams..."
Links for Author:
Twitter / Goodreads / BlogFacebook / Amazon


Giveaway:
$20 Amazon Gift Card
$10 Starbucks Gift Card

Oct 10, 2014

Book Tour: Giveaway and Review: Legally Undead by Margo Bond Collins

October 10, 2014 0 Comments
Title: Legally Undead (Vampirarchy, Book 1)
Author: Margo Bond Collins
Publication Date: May 14, 2014
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: World Weaver Press

Blurb:

A reluctant vampire hunter, stalking New York City as only a scorned bride can.

Elle Dupree had her life all figured out: first a wedding, then her Ph.D., then swank faculty parties where she'll serve wine and cheese and introduce people to her husband the lawyer.

But those plans disintegrate when she walks in on a vampire draining the blood from her fiancé Greg. Horrified, she screams and runs -- not away from the vampire, but toward it, brandishing a wooden letter opener.

As she slams the improvised stake into the vampire's heart, a team of black-clad men bursts into the apartment. Turning around to face them, Elle discovers that Greg's body is gone -- and her perfect life falls apart.

Kayla's Thoughts:

I love writing about vampires. More specifically, vampire hunters. And one of my favorite scenes I have written involves a kickass heroine, a seedy bar, and some snide comments from her band of fellow hunters, a group of men who don't seem to have ever really grown up. I love this character, she has a special place in my heart and always will. So it was really cool to read a book starring a main character that reminded me so much of my own.

The dialogue in this book is so wonderfully written. Elle is just plain sassy. What else can you call a girl from New Orleans? She makes the story worth reading, and her first three vampire kills are almost eye-rollingly funny. I mean, I wanted to yell at her for doing what she did in both, but she's so effective that in the end all I could think was "Hey, it worked, can't fault her for that." And the snark from the rest of the characters throughout the story is entertaining as well.

I thought it was quite ingenious to make blood-sucking leaches kill blood-sucking leaches. Okay, so I really have nothing against lawyers, but I thought the concept was truly hilarious and just couldn't stop laughing every time it came to mind.

All I want to add is that Elle is lucky her fiancé was bitten, then changed, by a vampire, because at least after that she was able to see what a jerk he was. I mean, most people have to marry the person to find out their true personality. Or at least the undiluted version of their personality that they kept dimmed down until the rings were put on. Hey, at least I am finding the whole light in the dark with this whole fiancé eaten by vampire thing, right?

Verdict:

There was a sense of surprise when I found out the release date for this book, because I thought I had definitely seen it out before then. I mean, this book has all the makings of the beginning of a bestselling series that you see in bookstores and talked about on daytime or morning talk shows. It is reminiscent to me of Kim Harrison a little bit and just has that special something about it that made me at least instantly love it. It makes me want to read every single book that comes out after this one because it is just that good.

Links for Book:

Author's Bio:

Margo Bond Collins is the author of a number of novels, including Waking Up Dead, Fairy, Texas, and Legally Undead. She lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, and several spoiled pets.

She teaches college-level English courses online, though writing fiction is her first love. She enjoys reading urban fantasy and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about vampires, ghosts, zombies, werewolves, and other monsters.

Links for Author:

Oct 8, 2014

Blog Tour: Giveaway and Review: Charming by Krystal Wade

October 08, 2014 1 Comments
 


Title: Charming 
Author: Krystal Wade
Publication Date: October 6, 2014
Genre: Thriller, Young Adult
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Blurb:

They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and that's great...as long as you don't die.

Sixteen-year-old Haley Tremaine had it all: top-notch school, fantastic family, and a bright future, but all of that changed when an accident tore her family apart. Now, an alcoholic father, a bitter younger sister, and a cold headstone bearing her mother's name are all she has left.

Chris Charming has it all: a powerful CEO for a father, a prestigious school, and a fortune at his fingertips, but none of that matters when he lands a reputation as a troublemaker. Struggling to follow in his father's footsteps, he reaches out to the one person he believes truly sees him, the one person he wants: Haley.

Little do they know someone's determined to bring the two together, even if it means murder.

Kayla's Thoughts:

From the very beginning of this story, the moment Haley begins talking about her family, her father, his abuse, her mother's death, before she even steps into the house, I completely felt her tension and fear. From the moment her father said his first word to the daughter he completely ignores unless it's convenient or he wants to hurt her, I felt that ball of terror in my own gut. And from the moment Chris Charming said two words to Haley, I knew I was hooked.

You see, Haley once had everything Chris Charming has, the perfect family, the perfect life, her mother's business, until one accident took first her father's loving personality away from her, and a second, her mother's life, leaving her to protect the sister who has no clue what Haley deals with each and every day. She takes punch after punch, be it emotional or physical, just to keep her sister in the dark. Her past life is a mere dream now. And it looks like happiness is far, far away...

But then one night, one magical night, she is allowed to smile, to laugh, to dance and let her guard down...until midnight, that is. Her curfew. Wow, this author was right, it is like Cinderella, if Cinderella came back home and found her father missing and her sister acting weird and then just a couple days later is sent a envelope containing a severed finger. Turned on ya, didn't it? 

Haley will have a dilemma on her hands when a psycho starts threatening the family she has left if she doesn't cooperate. And by cooperate, she must keep Chris Charming away from his own house so that Mr. Charming, his father, will be easy pickings. Should she just tell someone? Or should she just do as this mysterious person says in the hopes that her family, no matter how bad they treat her, is returned safe.

Things will definitely escalate, and Haley will suspect everyone as she attempts to find out who this terrifying person is who seems to know her every move. 

Verdict:

I loved that Haley finds her voice in this story. Even though obviously the person who took her family is just a tad crazy, okay, more than a tad, he or she represents the man she is so afraid to stand up to for fear her sister's life will be shattered. A lot of the things both do are similar, from the way they speak to her sometimes when she does something wrong to the way they know everything she does, or at least seem to, and it is nice that throughout the story, Haley finds her fight again. And on top of that, she finds something, someone, worth fighting for. The ending made me laugh and almost cry and, wow, it is just a really good read.

Links for Book:

Author's Bio:

Krystal Wade is happily married to the love of her life (don't gag) and raising three beautiful children in the gorgeous state of Virginia. They live just outside Washington, D.C., and every day she wakes up to find herself stuck in traffic trying to get there.

The horrid commute gives Krystal plenty of time to zone out and think about her characters in full, brilliant details (she's a safe driver; don't worry). Stories give her a way to forget about the sometimes smelly strangers sitting next to her on the fifty mile trek into town (she picks up hitch-hikers every day. True story. Check out http://www.slug-lines.com/ if you don't believe us).

Krystal has been a part of organized hitch-hiking for nearly fifteen years, but that's just one small aspect of her oh-so-large life. When she's not working, commuting, or chasing after her three children (four if you count the man), you can usually find her outside talking to her chickens like they're the cutest things in the world (they are), or training her amazing dogs how to herd said chickens (which they love), or curled up on the sofa with a good book (why can't that be 100% of the time?).

Links for Author:
Twitter / Goodreads / Facebook / Website

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Cover Reveal: Take Me in the Night by R.L. Kenderson

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