Thursday, May 28, 2015

Review: The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West

The Fill-In Boyfriend
By: Kasie West
Release Date: May 5, 2015

Description:
When Gia Montgomery's boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom, she has to think fast. After all, she'd been telling her friends about him for months now. This was supposed to be the night she proved he existed. So when she sees a cute guy waiting to pick up his sister, she enlists his help. The task is simple: be her fill-in boyfriend—two hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. After that, she can win back the real Bradley.

The problem is that days after prom, it's not the real Bradley she's thinking about, but the stand-in. The one whose name she doesn't even know. But tracking him down doesn't mean they're done faking a relationship. Gia owes him a favor and his sister intends to see that he collects: his ex-girlfriend's graduation party—three hours, zero commitment, a few white lies.

Just when Gia begins to wonder if she could turn her fake boyfriend into a real one, Bradley comes waltzing back into her life, exposing her lie, and threatening to destroy her friendships and her new-found relationship.

Review:
I’ve only read one other book by Kasie West and I fell in love with that one as well, she is a really wonderful writer that hooks you from beginning to end with her stories.  The characters are real and genuine, learning and growing from the first page until the very last page.  This book did not disappoint in the least and I think it’s a perfect quick fun, entertaining read that will keep you with the main character through all her scheming and realizations.  There is a lot of anticipation, and I love that because that is what makes you want something even more.

We meet Gia, who is your everyday normal girl, very popular, her family is very normal with no issues and no fighting at all.  It’s like watching a stepford family, but she’s happy with it.  That is until a series of events opens her eyes to the world around her, maybe she wasn’t doing things the right way.  Sure she was popular but was has she accomplished other than being remembered, but who will she remember.  That’s her dilemma for most of the book but man was it entertaining getting there.  She meets fill-in Bradley at the beginning of the book and even I’m intrigued by him. 

Sure there are subsequent issues that will always arise when there is a fake fill in boyfriend but even though we know it will turn out to be a disaster we just keep watching because we know how things are going to go and watching Gia with fill-in Bradley aka Hayden (great name) just made us love them more.  Sometimes theater geeks as he is described in this book can give you more than you can imagine instead of an older college guy who is all beefy, really it’s the quality that matters not the quantity. 

With that line I believe that is the most important thing Gia learned, that it’s all about the quality of friends, the quality of life and the quality of you instead of the quantity of likes on a page, the quantity of people that cheer for you, the quantity of how much everyone likes you.  Because if you think about it do they even really know you and do you even know them, validation is something that can sneak up on you as quite the addiction, time to grow up and realize that is not what life is all about.

Overall this book was amazing, you have to go buy it!!! It will be a great read to have by the pool during the summer or just a fun quick read at home.  It really had a lot of great elements, sweet moments, and honest feelings being put out there. I always love it when pretending turns into something real.  This book did not disappoint.

I just have to mention the cover, because it’s absolutely adorable, and I would definitely pick this up to find out more about it because the cover appeals to me.  Her shoes are really cute too! Go get this book, you know you want to!!!!


Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Cover Reveal: Forced to Remember by Samantha LaFantasie

Forced to Remember v2


The weight of the world feels heavy on my shoulders. Desperation touches everything. Memories forgotten, truths untold. Humanity is threatened. Their safety granted in exchange for me. But I won’t go without a fight.With strange occurrences taking place in the city, it’s up to Elsa and her team to discover why. But an odd encounter at an abandoned warehouse leaves the team with more questions than answers. Just when the team least expects it, Alexander returns, and he’s not alone or without demands: the world’s safety in exchange for Elsa. They have only one week to decide while the world falls under Alexander’s wrath and his powerful army of followers. Avalon seeks help from every Nepherium that can be spared and hope it will be enough to stop Alexander.

   

Coming July 2015!

             

About the Author


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A Kansas native, Samantha LaFantasie spends her free time with her three kids and arguing with her characters. Writing has always been a passion of hers, forgoing all other desires to devote to this one obsession. She’s primarily a fantasy writer but often feels pulled to genres such as sci-fi, romance, and others. Samantha became a bestselling author with the Pandora Boxed Set (which includes Made to Forget: Nepherium Novella series--Part One) on both Amazon and USA Today. Samantha loves to take time to enjoy other activities such as photography and playing her favorite game of all time, Guild Wars 2. Want more from Samantha? Keep up with her at any of her digital hangouts.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Review: Prove Me Wrong by Tessa Marie

Prove Me Wrong
By 
Release Date: March 2, 2015

Description:
A single secret changes everything.

With no college ambition—or desire to care—Luke Hannon’s ready to bail on school before senior year even begins. But when he spots the hot new girl reading an upside down map, he changes his mind.

Hailey Saldino desperately wants to start fresh at a school where she's free of the snide remarks and hurtful stares. A place where no one knows her past…or her son, Brady.

Luke wants a no strings attached, physical relationship, until Hailey becomes more than a cute girl in a skirt. Usually his bad boy reputation hooks the ladies but it won't be enough to land a girl like Hailey. Needing a lasting approach, Luke decides to be honest. No lies. No BS. As the connection between them deepens, Luke shares all his shameful secrets.

Afraid to lose one of the few people who’s ever looked at her as something other than a slut, Hailey buries herself in compounding lies. And when Hailey's purposeful deceit blindsides Luke, he must decide if he'll walk away, or accept Hailey and the little man she already loves.
 

Review:
How do I even begin to describe the amount of emotions I feel towards this book, there are just too many but I felt for the character from beginning to end and I’m emotionally drained but thoroughly satisfied with everything about this book.   Theresa Paolo took me on a journey through the mind of a young mother and I could definitely relate to everything because I have kids as well.  It was just a really refreshing and inspirational.

Let me just start off with I don’t think it’s ideal for a child to have a child, but it happens and the only thing you can do is make the best of it and move forward, but the key is to keep moving forward and that is what Hailey was doing, going to school, working and taking care of her baby along with the help of her mother, but nonetheless she was doing it all.  She really was a great character and realistic as well, because raising a kid no matter how old you are is not always fun, sometimes there are hard times and you just want to ball up and cry like a baby yourself.  Very emotional scenes in this book, still thinking about them right now.  Total tear fest, but so worth it only because I can relate.

Then there’s Luke who wants to change his life for the better but then again maybe he doesn’t, that is until he meets Hailey and he thinks he found someone special, she is his exception.  I’ll never not love that line about being your exception, great line.  Anyway, so yes he has his own issues but he doesn’t try and let it overpower him and he falls hard and fast for Hailey.  It’s how he deals with the truth when he finds out that matters most.  But you’ll have to read the book to see what I’m talking about, and don’t worry it’s completely worth it.

I know I’m not the biggest friend of insta love, but I have to say sometimes that too does happen, but I don’t think it was insta love in this instant.  It was more like instawant, but I applaud that they took things slow as young people should and that is when the real emotions come into play, and that is when things start to really matter.  Taking things slow, that’s where it’s at.

Overall this book was so sweet and so real and I just can’t say enough good things about it.  The author really flowed things smoothly and even the secondary characters were interesting, although I wouldn’t mind reading a book about Roxy and CJ, just saying! Sometimes it’s not about the situations you are put in, but it’s about how you handle them that matters most.  Great story, something I haven’t seen or read about before and it indeed was inspirational.  Don’t get me wrong, not saying go out and be a teen mom, but keep it moving!


Very cute cover also, it definitely made me look twice at the book.  

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Blog Tour: All Played Out by Cora Carmack

All Played Out
By Cora Carmack
Release Date: May 12, 2015
Series: Rusk University #3

Description:
First person in her family to go to college? CHECK.
Straight A’s? CHECK.
On track to graduate early? CHECK.
Social life? …..yeah, about that….

With just a few weeks until she graduates, Antonella DeLuca’s beginning to worry that maybe she hasn’t had the full college experience. (Okay... Scratch that. She knows she hasn't had the full college experience).

So Nell does what a smart, dedicated girl like herself does best. She makes a "to do" list of normal college activities.

Item #1? Hook up with a jock.

Rusk University wide receiver Mateo Torres practically wrote the playbook for normal college living. When he’s not on the field, he excels at partying, girls, and more partying. As long as he keeps things light and easy, it's impossible to get hurt... again. But something about the quiet, shy, sexy-as-hell Nell gets under his skin, and when he learns about her list, he makes it his mission to help her complete it.

Torres is the definition of confident (And sexy. And wild), and he opens up a side of Nell that she's never known. But as they begin to check off each crazy, exciting, normal item, Nell finds that her frivolous list leads to something more serious than she bargained for. And while Torres is used to taking risks on the field, he has to decide if he's willing to take the chance when it's more than just a game.

Together they will have to decide if what they have is just part of the experiment or a chance at something real.


Review:
Cora Carmack is an author after my own heart, she can do no wrong.  This amazing group of friends from Rusk University is quite the wonder, I wish I was part of their little group.  Even though they have their own problems in one way or another they always come through for one another and I love that about this series.  Torres was someone who had me intrigued from the very beginning, there is always something going on under the surface when someone is as outspoken and cocky as he is and Nell is just the person to bring him back to earth.  

Nell the ever perfect student, who does nothing but study and work hard at her studies, that's it, no social life.  So she gets this bright idea to make a list, lists are fun to begin with but hers is just very exciting and I'm so glad I was able to experience them all with her (that sounded funny but you know what I mean).  She had simple things and them more complicated things to accomplish but accomplish she did after all she's a very good student.  Any who being roommates with Dylan didn't hurt because Dylan's friends are just the perfect group to experiment with (that didn't sound good either but you know what I mean).  Playing ultimate Frisbee with this group brings her in contact with Torres and the rest is downhill from there, or uphill depends on which way you want to go I guess. 

Torres ever so cocky and out going can't help but really be intrigued by this quiet girl, the one that reminds him of the girl that got away.  Oh there's always a past it's how you deal with it that makes you stronger.  But the two of them together is definitely electric, exciting and just fun to witness.  I don't know how Nell just turns out to be so daring in some things but when she gave herself to this list she gave herself fully to it that's for sure.  

There definitely wasn't a lot of drama like in the other books in this series, but regardless sometimes a broken heart can leave you bitter and you have to learn to get over it and not compare everyone to that and that is what Torres was faced with the most.  What is difficult for one person may not be for the next but it matters so I was happy to see Torres highlighted in this book.  

Overall really great, fun cute quick read that kept you rooting for Nell to complete her list.  Also keeps you wondering what exactly is happening with other characters and in a series it's always good to catch glances here and there of how they are continuing on with their lives.  Loved this book, Love this series, and love this author!


Excerpt:

I’ve always gone out of my way to avoid situations that might stir up that kind of reaction. When I was getting picked on in middle school, I found a teacher willing to let me eat lunch in her classroom during her off period. I didn’t really do much dating in high school, because the few times I tried, I couldn’t handle the stress of not knowing what would happen next. The mere possibility of embarrassing myself was always enough to make me run in the other direction. I didn’t take any chances. Not that kind at least. And now it seems as if my social life is not the only department where I’m playing catch-up.
Welcome to Humiliation. Population: Me.
Thankfully, I’m so miserable that the next few minutes only occur in bursts and patches for me. When I next lift my eyes, Dylan is there, and we’re inside the apartment. I blink, and I’m in my room. It’s dark, only the lamp by my bed providing light, and she’s dabbing at my forehead with a damp cloth that feels like heaven.
“Why did I do this?” I groan. “Why does anyone do this?”
She doesn’t laugh, though I can tell she wants to.
“Hindsight is twenty-twenty.”
“I hate that saying.”
“But it’s the truth.”
“I hate the truth.”
She does laugh then.
“Why did you do it?” she asks. “I tried to ask Matt, but he sounds like a yeti when he’s this drunk. I couldn’t make out anything he said.”
“I hate yetis,” I mumble.
“Yes, well, before you say you hate water, drink this.”
She tilts my head up to meet a glass, and half the water ends up running down my neck. And I do, indeed, hate water.
The only thing I don’t hate is sleep. Sleep will take away the churning in my stomach, and the awful taste in my mouth, and the flushed heat I know is still marring my skin.
Maybe I’ll wake up, and this will all have been a dream. I won’t have thrown up in front of the people I’m trying to make my new friends. I wouldn’t have told the most attractive guy to ever show any interest in me that I’m a virgin.
Maybe I’ll wake up to find that this whole list thing was a long, elaborate dream, and I can go back to being blissfully weird and antisocial and ...
Alone.
Somewhere between one forced sip of water and the next, I must fall asleep, because I wake up after what feels like hours to the sound of my door closing. Probably just Dylan checking on me, but I’m struggling to find the motivation to move my head the six inches it will take to confirm this suspicion.
Eventually, my bed shifts, slanting to one side, and my head ends up turning of its own volition. I decide I’m dreaming when I see who’s seated beside me, because there’s no way Torres would be in my room after everything that just happened. I’m sure Dylan wouldn’t even let him in. I decide that this must be my subconscious, trying to give me one last good-bye, unreal though it may be.
“I brought you some food,” he says.
I groan. My dream can’t even do me the courtesy of giving me a pleasant last memory. Or is it normal to be drunk in your dreams when you’re drunk in real life?
He breaks the corner off a bread stick and holds it up to my lips. I don’t open.
“Trust me,” he says. “I know you’re tired and probably miserable, but this will help. And the more food and water we get into you now, the less you’ll hate yourself in the morning.”
“Already hate myself,” I say, but I take a bite of the bread stick he’s offering. It takes me forever to chew it, and when I’m done, he holds up another. Grudgingly, I eat it.
“That’s my girl.” And now I know it’s a dream.
He offers me water, and I take it, if only to wash down the bread.
“What happened to our deal?” he asks, and he sounds almost angry. “If you’d waited for me, I could’ve taken care of you. Made sure you didn’t drink too much.”
Since it’s a dream, I don’t see the point in being dishonest.
“I don’t want you to help me with the list.”
“Why not?” Yeah. He’s definitely angry.
“Because I don’t want you to think I’m a loser.”
“Damn it. I think a lot of things about you, Nell. Some of them are certainly not nice, but trust me, they’re all complimentary.” I shake my head, too tired to pick out the meaning of his words. “You’re not a loser, Nell. And I’m going to help you with that list whether you like it or not. I didn’t like coming into your apartment and seeing you with that guy. I don’t like that he’s the one who you shared this first with. I want your firsts.”


Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Release Day Blitz: Carry Me Home by Lia Riley



Title: Carry Me Home
Author: Lia Riley
Series: Off the Map #3.1
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Publication: May 5th, 2015!

Years ago, Tanner Green loved Sunny Letman. She was meant to be his first kiss, first love, first everything. Then their world spun upside-down and out of control.

Free-spirited Sunny doesn’t do commitment. Sure, guys are great for a night or a week, but she always leaves first. That is, until professional skateboarder and town golden boy, Tanner Green, unexpectedly walks back into her life.

Despite their broken history, a fragile and undeniably electric connection still holds them together. Now Tanner has to convince Sunny that even though love isn’t always perfect, it’s worth sticking around for. . .


Purchase:


      A bead of water drops from his thick hair and falls to his shoulder. Then another. Tiny wet patches appear on his shirt each time one makes impact. The way he watches me, his gaze writes a poem on my skin. “Tell me you don’t want me,” he says. “Say you’re not interested, and nothing will happen.”
      I want to curl into a ball. Instead I stand.
     “Sunny,” he whispers, and it’s hard to know if he intends my name as a question or an answer. Funny, the way it sounds like both.
     My lids flutter as he closes the distance. He’s tall enough that when he bends, his face buries into the top of my head. He inhales as if I’m a secret flower. I wish I only ever bloomed for him. A stupid notion. This moment would be perfect if it weren’t us. If we were other people.
      I move to hook my fingers into his belt loops but aim too high and brush his stomach instead. His abdominal muscles flex, and there’s my cue to explore. I can’t help but inch under the cotton, trace the thick muscles that make up his defined V-line. My nails gently cut to the top of his jeans. His groan vibrates into my skull.
      He’s slipping, less careful with every ragged breath. His skin heats under my fingertips. There’s no choice. There’s never been with him.





Lia Riley writes offbeat New Adult Romance. After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, she scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. She counts shooting vodka with a Ukranian mechanic in Antarctica, sipping yerba mate with gauchos in Chile and swilling XXXX with stationhands in Outback Australia among her accomplishments. When not torturing heroes (because c'mon, who doesn't love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about as-of-yet unwritten books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. She and her family live in Northern California.






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