Review: Fall Into Forever by Beth Hyland

Fall Into Forever
By: Beth Hyland
Release Date: March 10, 2013

Description:
Some girls may find guys like Jon exciting and charming. Some are even naive enough to want to date them. But guys like him can harbor dark, dangerous secrets. Secrets you don’t want to know or be involved in. How do you think they got this way in the first place? It’s best to follow your head and stay as far away from them as possible.
Trust me when I say this: Guys like Jon Priestly are nothing but trouble.

Ivy McAllister had it all. Perfect boyfriend. Perfect life. Perfect future. Or so they tell her. Because one night, on a dark country road, a fiery crash changed everything…and Ivy can’t remember what happened. 

Now, two years later, at a new college far from home, she tries to regain control of her life, but her plans don’t include a tattooed, motorcycle-riding, indie music-obsessed guy with his own sorority girl fan club.

Jon Priestly is the hottest guy at Pacific State University. Just ask his groupies. But with a dark past he must keep hidden, he shuts himself off emotionally and trusts no one. That is…until he meets a broken girl with haunting green eyes and secrets of her own.

Ivy shouldn't be attracted to Jon. They’re wrong for each other in every possible way. Yet as they spend time together, something about him—everything about him—feels so right.

But when threats from her past make her question what little she does remember, Ivy must decide whether to run again or trust the one person she can’t live without.

Review:
So let me start by saying that I really wanted to like this book.  I thought the synopsis was great and it was going to be a book that was right down my alley.  It was overall an okay book but didn't catch my attention as much as I wanted it to.  It tried though I'll give it that much.

We meet Ivy as she's getting over some stuff from home like amnesia and abusive men, she's in college far from home running from her problems.  Then there is Jon the typical hot bad boy with family issues, but regardless of this and everything they have gone through and are going through I didn't feel anything for the characters.  They were two dimensional and not at all very relate able. The story was forced and pushed through at points not really what I wanted.

It definitely started really interesting with the whole on the roof meeting and everything but then after that it sort of went downhill, dragged a little but at the same time seemed too fast for me.  They threw each other in a relationship so quickly with no sense of even a hint of a relationship, if that makes sense.  It was sort of like an insta relationship that was forced upon us.  It just seems as if the characters went through the experiences they went through they should have done things slightly different.

While the middle dragged it did get more interesting towards the end and I'm glad I finished the book.  I love the cover, think it's really sweet. So needless to say I think this book was an okay book but would have loved to have more depth and details into the characters and their backgrounds.  Seemed like it only touched the surface.

Disclaimer:

I received this book from NetGalley and Aspendawn Books so that I may give my honest opinion and a review. Whether it is good or not please do not let it discourage you from purchasing/reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion. What might be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. With that said, Happy Reading Everyone!!!

Review: If Only by A.J. Pine

If Only
By: A.J. Pine
Release Date: March 24, 2014

Description:
Sometimes it takes crossing an ocean to figure out where you belong.

It's been two years since twenty-year-old Jordan had a boyfriend—which means it's been forever since she, well, you know. But now she’s off to spend her junior year in Aberdeen, Scotland, the perfect place to stop waiting for Mr. Right and just enjoy Mr. Right Now.

Sexy, sweet (and possible player) Griffin may be her perfect, no-strings-attached match. He’s fun, gorgeous, and makes her laugh. So why can’t she stop thinking about Noah who, minutes after being trapped together outside the train’s loo, kisses Jordan like she’s never been kissed before? Never mind his impossible blue eyes, his weathered, annotated copy of The Great Gatsby (total English-major porn)…oh, and his girlfriend.

Jordan knows everything this year has an expiration date. Aberdeen is supposed to be about fun rather than waiting for life to happen. But E. M. Forster, Shakespeare, and mistletoe on Valentine’s Day make her reconsider what love is and how far she’s willing to go for the right guy.

Review:
Talk about trying to catch a break after a long awaited dry spell, this book had a little bit of everything in it with tons of trust issues and back and forth.  I loved A.J. Pine's writing style and the creation of her characters.  It was even an extra bonus that it happened outside of the US while studying abroad, which just adds to the setting even more.  This book was a great read that really made you feel for the main character and want her to win in the end.  Because it's really all about winning in the end. 

We meet Jordan who is on her way to Scotland to study for a whole year, she meets sweet man whore Garrett but then a second guy randomly by the loo who just happens to take her breath away with a kiss that was unforgettable to her.  There's an instant connection, like you just know that you are meant to be with this person but one thing happens and another and the timing is just not right all the way around.  Noah and Jordan again run into each other in the same school doing the same major and still it's just not the right timing for the two of them but their attraction comes off in waves when they are around each other and everyone notices. 

It was fun watching them off and on and off and on again, because you really never know what's going to happen with them.  Like I said you really want to root for Jordan to get together with someone and it's just so hard watching it, there are a lot of ups and downs in this book and I loved every minuted of it.  It kept you anticipating with what was going to happen next.  There was a lot of angst and just crazy moments in this book.  Jordan is such a lightweight pussy lol, which you have to read the book to find out what I'm talking about.  Really you will not regret it because it was just the perfect story of having to really work for something you want as long as you know it's exactly what you want. 

I loved all the characters in this book from the crazy flatmate, to the wanna be director from the Shakespeare class.  Noah made me mad a couple times but only because I wanted him to figure out what it is he wanted already and stop stringing Jordan along ugh, so frustrating.  Men! I wish I had the opportunity to do something the way she did but alas there is still time in life.  Amazing addicting and very honest read.  Sometimes like I said you have to work for it and I think all the characters did in this book. 

By far one of the good books out there and I can't wait to explore more from this author.  Cute cover, not exactly how I pictured them but cute none the less.  Go read this book, it's worth the time because I couldn't even put it down.  From beginning to end it will keep you interested, there is also some great quotes from some great authors in this book.  After all these are students who are majoring in literature after all. 

Disclaimer:
I received this book from NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC, so that I may give my honest opinion and a review. Whether it is good or not please do not let it discourage you from purchasing/reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion. What might be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. With that said, Happy Reading Everyone!!!

Release Day Blitz - Kissing Eden by T.A. Foster

Kissing Eden
By T.A. Foster
Release Date: March 6, 2014

Description:
Have you ever thought of taking a vacation alone? I mean step on a plane, check into your hotel, and lie on the beach completely and utterly alone. No? Me either, but then right before senior spring break I got dumped.

Something about break ups makes you do things you didn’t want to do, and try things you didn’t know you were capable of.

That’s how I ended up at the Palm Palace.

That’s how I met Grey.

That’s how my spring break turned into the most unforgettable week of my life.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon Link:   http://amzn.to/1hCXkkv
B&N Link:  http://bit.ly/NKhAGi
Smashworks:  http://bit.ly/1dcvQB5

About the Author:

T.A. Foster once spent a month-long spring break on South Padre Island, where she soaked in the Texas sun, beach, and learned what real Texas country music is. Sometimes fiction does spring from reality.

She grew up catching rays and chasing waves along the North Carolina Outer Banks and now resides in the state with her adventurous pilot husband, two children, and two canine kiddos. 

T.A. has an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. When she’s not chasing her two-legged and four-legged children or trying to escape for date night, you can find her reading, writing, or planning her next beach trip.

Author Links:
Blog: http://www.tafosterauthor.com/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/tafosterwriter

Giveaway:
Win a beautiful beach-inspired necklace and a $20 Amazon Gift Card.

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Review: The Summer I Found You by Jolene Perry

The Summer I Found You
By: Jolene Perry
Release Date: March 1, 2014

Description:
All they have in common is that they're less than perfect. And all they're looking for is the perfect distraction.

Kate's dream boyfriend has just broken up with her and she's still reeling from her diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Aidan planned on being a lifer in the army and went to Afghanistan straight out of high school. Now he's a disabled young veteran struggling to embrace his new life. When Kate and Aidan find each other neither one wants to get attached. But could they be right for each other after all?

Review:

I have always enjoyed Jolene Perry's book and this book did not disappoint me at all as I wanted to finish it all in one day.  It was an interesting plot with characters that are facing reality in different ways but doing it together, and at times just distracting one another from having to deal with those realities.  I have always loved how Jolene Perry’s books have a sense of realism to them, like this could really happen, it’s not just a made up story.  Somewhere out there someone is experiencing something these characters are experiencing. 

We meet Kate as she has recently been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes where she constantly has to give herself insulin shots, but she’s in denial, after all she’s only 17.  Then we also meet Aiden who is back from the ware overseas and has recently lost an arm, so he has his own sets of issues to deal with.  Something they both need to work through and by close relative and friend they meet up.  Kate being the very outspoken person she is has no problem pointing out how much it sucks for Aiden to have only one arm, but that doesn’t deter her from building a bond with him.  It’s kind of sweet, sometimes hard to picture because the reality is he has just one arm, it’s got to be difficult for him to do a lot of things.  He could definitely have been super grumpy but I think he dealt with it a lot better than I’ve seen and heard before.

Overall the story has a lot to do with trust.  One person trusts the other completely and the other is still hiding, not trusting, not believing the things that are happening in their lives.  It’s all about growing up and dealing with things the way they should be dealt with.  It was a light ready with some heavy issues that needed to be addressed and again Jolene Perry did an amazing job telling this story and I’m so happy I got to read it.  There’s something about the worlds she creates that are so memorable.   Not only are these characters broken, but they find purpose in one another.

Overall I liked the concept of the book, always liked Jolene Perry’s books, but I do have to say I was disappointed with the cover.  It has absolutely nothing to do with the book, in my opinion.  Yes I know she wants to go to California and beaches when she goes to college, but that’s now how it happens.  So I don’t get the cover, it’s pretty don’t get me wrong it just doesn’t fit the story at all. Other than that I have no complaints over the book it was sweet, quick paced and a good nice read to lose yourself for the day.

Disclaimer:
I received this book from NetGalley and Albert Whitman & Company, so that I may give my honest opinion and a review. Whether it is good or not please do not let it discourage you from purchasing/reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion. What might be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. With that said, Happy Reading Everyone!!!

Promo Blitz: My Name is Rapunzel By K.C. Hilton - Excerpt/Giveaway

My Name is Rapunzel
By. K.C. Hilton
Release Date: November 23, 2013

Description:

My tale has been told again and again, and I've heard each one. Except for my hair, I barely recognize the pitiful renditions. Muddled versions, crafted to entertain laughing children...but the children wouldn't have laughed if they'd known the real story. It wasn't their fault. They didn't know the truth. Nobody did. My name is Rapunzel. I will tell you my story. I will tell you the truth.

 

Excerpt:

Just go, Henry. Save yourself. I tried to shout, but my mouth wouldn’t give way to sound. I was paralyzed. Was it with fear, or something else? The cackling witch at the tree line convinced me it was her doing.

I heard Henry continue to shout for me to flee, but I didn’t respond. I didn’t move. I didn’t run. I was frozen like a lifeless statue in a cold museum. With only the movement of my eyes, I pleaded with him to help me. A tear escaped one of my eyes then rolled down my cheek. That single tear managed to do what my heart and body could not. Escape.

Fear, like unseen hands, gripped my lungs and tried to crush them slowly. My stomach churned and threatened to empty. Would we die here?

 

The gentle chill of night had turned into a mid-winter’s frost. Tiny bumps rose on my arms and the small hairs prickled to attention. I opened my mouth to speak, but the words remained trapped in my throat.
 

 

About the Author:

Born and raised in Aurora, Illinois I spent my childhood playing street games with the neighborhood kids. When I wasn't outside, I spent much of my time reading and getting lost in adventurous worlds and whirlwind courtships. At the age of seventeen, I moved to Kentucky and eventually began to raise a family of my own. I have always been entranced by stories of magical adventure and I have discovered that writing is an entirely new, exciting adventure all on its own! In my spare time, I can be found updating my website or blog, finding great books to read or watching videos. Most days I crave Diet Coke, pizza and chocolate, in no particular order. I have my own pink toolbox with pink tools and secretly want to be a mechanic! I grew up a tomboy. But, when I didn't want to climb a hill, to walk through the graveyard, the boys said I turned into a girl.

 

Contact Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog | YouTube

 

BUY LINKS

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Book Depository

GIVEAWAY

Signed Copy of My Name Is Rapunzel and SWAG!

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Release Date: THE WHITE DOOR by Christy Sloat

 

Title: The White Door
Author: Christy Sloat
Genre: Young Adult
Series: The Visitors Series, Book 3
Publication: March 3rd, 2014

“When I first moved here I was still a girl who cherished the normality of teen life. Now, after being here a year I had come to love a boy who was both strong and courageous. I made real friendships that would last even after death. The selfish girl my grandmother warned me of becoming had vanished. A girl who stood tall, with the powers to see the dead and help those in need, appeared in her place.”
In Brylee’s world, nothing is normal. She sees and speaks with the dead and, at seventeen years old, she already has a full plate. She’s in her senior year of high school and college is just around the corner, but only if she learns to control her gifts and survive in the land of the living.
She has succeeded in ridding her boyfriend, Ephraim, from the Brown family curse, but, in the end, her best friend loses her life. Now a whole slew of new problems present itself and, like always, Brylee is tempted to run for the hills. With Ephraim at her side, she must come to grips with the reality that she is not an average girl and she never will be.
What will happen when the town turns on her? Or, better yet, when a body is unearthed in her backyard? The choices that Brylee must make will determine whether she has a future or nothing at all.

Buy on Amazon 

     I raised my hand to excuse myself to the bathroom and Miss Hailey obliged. I sped walked to the girl’s room as Kayla skipped behind me. I pushed open a stall and threw my hands up in the air. “What the heck Kayla? Here, at school?”

     She laughed.

     “Seriously? I know something’s up, but why not wait until after school?” 

     She leaned against the stall and sighed. “I told you things are weird with me lately. I don’t know what’s happening but I can feel a change coming. I… I…” Her mad rush to speak was suddenly interrupted by a choking sound coming from her mouth.

     “Kayla!” I rushed to her and my hands went through her body. She wasn’t solid like normal. Something was wrong! Kayla had always felt like flesh and blood to me. Never like a ghost.

     Suddenly her mouth opened and water poured out onto my feet, splashing my shoes and legs. I still tried but failed to help her. She was choking on water and, if I wasn’t mistaken, she was drowning. I was helpless and didn’t know what to do. Then before I could come up with an answer she uttered one word, “Diary.”

Christy Sloat is a SoCal born girl who resides in New Jersey currently with her husband, two daughters and Sophie her Chihuahua. Christy has embraced the love of reading and writing since her youth and was inspired by her grandmother's loving support. Christy passes that love of reading, writing, and creativity to her daughters, family, and friends. When you do not find Christy within the pages of a book you can find her being mommy, wife, crafter, and dear friend. She loves adventurous journeys with her friends and can be known to get lost inside a bookstore. Be sure to venture into her Past Lives Series, The Visitor's Series, and watch for many more exciting things to come.

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

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Review: Best Kind of Broken by Chelsea Fine

Best Kind of Broken
By: Chelsea Fine
Release date: March 4, 2014
Series: Finding Fate #1

Description:
SOMETIMES MOVING ON MEANS MOVING IN

Pixie Marshall wishes every day she could turn back time and fix the past. But she can't. And the damage is done. She's hoping that a summer of free room and board working with her aunt at the Willow Inn will help her forget. Except there's a problem: the resident handyman is none other than Levi Andrews. The handsome quarterback was once her friend-and maybe more-until everything changed in a life-shattering instant. She was hoping to avoid him, possibly forever. Now he's right down the hall and stirring up feelings Pixie thought she'd long buried . . . 

Levi can't believe he's living with the one person who holds all his painful memories. More than anything he wants to make things right, but a simple "sorry" won't suffice-not when the tragedy that scarred them was his fault. Levi knows Pixie's better off without him, but every part of him screams to touch her, protect her, wrap her in his arms, and kiss away the pain. Yet even though she's so close, Pixie's heart seems more unreachable than ever. Seeing those stunning green eyes again has made one thing perfectly clear-he can't live without her.

Review:
This had all the elements of a really great new adult book.  Chelsea Fine bought you into a world where even if they are broken you can truly see what's really there, and it's real where sometimes words aren't even necessary.  This was a great light, quick, and addicting read that I had to finish before I went to bed the same night.  The writing style was definitely there and I could completely relate and connect with all the characters in the book.

We meet Pixie as she's on her first summer break from college living with her aunt and working at her aunts inn, but so is the one person she though she'd never see again, Levi.  Their connection to one another is undeniable because even when they are yelling at one another or pulling pranks on one another the intensity and passion is still there.  Steaming in the air like a hot sidewalk after a quick rain, after all it is monsoon season where they are.  They try to avoid each other as much as possible but it's something that is definitely difficult to do living in such close proximity and sharing the same bathroom.

They've both lost something dear to them and each other about a year ago before Pixie started college, yes they are very young so it does seem semi highschoolish but again this is new adult and that is definitely what they are new to adulthood, with all the bad and good things that they need to experience coming into adulthood.  There are some rather steamy scenes in this book and they made me just love this book even more because it was done in good taste.  But the bantering back and forth is always what gets me to enjoy a good book I love it when characters actually interact with one another and it's not all in their minds, what fun is that because sometimes you just need to yell at each other because the making up is the best part.

The secondary characters in this book were great too, and how much can you not love that goat hehe.  This is a definite must read if you want something young fun and addicting with all good intentions.  This was a feel good book that bought emotion to you, you can't help but love Levi and Pixie together and their stupidness for fighting their love for one another.  But when it works out, it really works out.  All the people at the Inn are great too and it just made me feel good and I couldn't stop thinking about it even as I awoke this morning.  This book will stay with me for a while because I enjoyed it so much.  Can't wait to see what the next chapter will hold in this series because it will definitely be entertaining.  Handcuffs, mud, the goat lol.

Loved the cover and the setting, thought it was perfect for the book and a great beginning to an entertaining series that had me laughing, tearing up and awwing and ahhing with the best of them.

Disclaimer:
I received this book from NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), so that I may give my honest opinion and a review. Whether it is good or not please do not let it discourage you from purchasing/reading the book yourself and forming your own opinion. What might be good for me may not be good for you and vice versa. With that said, Happy Reading Everyone!!!