Review: Make it Last

Make it Last
By: Bethany Lopez
Release Date: November 12, 2012
Series: Friends & Lovers

Description:
This is a New Adult title - Meant for readers 18 and older.


In a small town, it's hard to recover from being dumped by your high school sweetheart. That's just what Briana has to do after Colin leaves her to follow his dreams. She focuses her energy into her friendships and the pursuit of her own goal of becoming a chef. Just when she finally feels like she's on the right path, he comes back to town.

Colin knew breaking up with Briana before leaving for college was the right thing to do. He was determined to leave small-town life behind forever, and that included his high school girlfriend. But when a sports injury puts him on the sidelines, he's forced to return home. Seeing Briana again brings back a lot of memories, and Colin wonders if he made the right decision. It doesn't take long for him to realize he wants her back, and this time, he wants to make it last.

Review:
Ok first let me start by saying this is not a YA book but more of a New Adult Book (think college and just after). This book was beyond adorable in so many ways. You know how sometimes there are really intense books, sad ones, funny ones; well this book was 100% feel good kind of book. The kind when you're feeling down and losing hope on things that you just pick this up and automatically feel better. That's what Make it Last was for me. I literally just finished reading and I still have that giddy smile on my face.


We start of with a prologue of Colin and Brianna breaking up just before Colin leaves for college, he's about a year older than her. She's absolutely devastated because they were so perfect for each other. But she learned to move on and continued on with her life the best way she knew how. She tried the whole college thing but it didn't work out for her, she had her heart set on culinary school. Back in her hometown working as a short order cook and enjoying life until she realizes that Colin is back home after graduating college and not making it to play football professionally due to an injury.

This is where she starts to doubt herself and wonder if she could be in the same place as him, she was still hurt even if did happen four years ago. Eventually as they have the same friends they start to run into each other more and more and the feelings they are just still there for both of them. Insert giddy squealing, me. They sound perfect for each other and the two people on the cover are perfect for each other. Yes maybe everything was too sweet for words, think decadent chocolate covered in more chocolate but the sweetness overtook me. I was engulfed in reading this book and the relationship that was building between Colin and Brianna.

There are also other characters in this book such as Rich, Pete and Kara, Nicole, Roni and Kent, all of them are equally as fabulous as Colin and Brianna and I can’t wait to read the next book. I’m hoping there will be more stories on the other characters as well. So exciting because I’m just so happy now, goes to show you sometimes things really do work out in the end. Maybe not right away like you hope but you have to look at the overall picture.

Love the cover, love the characters, love the setting and everything was just too lovable. Great job to the author and I can’t wait to read the next book and learn more about the other characters. So glad I picked this book up.

Review: Send

Send
By: Patty Blount
Release Date: August 12, 2012

Description:
It’s been five years since I clicked Send.

Four years since I got out of juvie.
Three months since I changed my name.
Two minutes since I met Julie.
A second to change my life.

All Dan wants for his senior year is to be invisible. This is his last chance at a semi-normal life. Nobody here knows who he is. Or what he’s done. But on his first day at school, instead of turning away like everyone else, Dan breaks up a fight. Because Dan knows what it’s like to be terrorized by a bully—he used to be one.

Now the whole school thinks he’s some kind of hero—except Julie. She looks at him like she knows he has a secret. Like she knows his name isn’t really Daniel...

Review:
So this was definitely an interesting book, sort of what I thought it was going to be but then again not. Yes it's about bullying, but it's a lot about struggling with you and learning to forgive yourself and learning to move on. It's a complicated book but again interesting none the less.


We meet Dan and his alter ego Kenny (which is younger version of him); I'm thinking more like multiple personalities, due to trauma of being in the juvenile detention center. He walks into his first day at a new school under a new identity to two kids, one is being bullied and he debates if he should stop it or not. Of course his conscious gets the better of him and he goes and stops it. This is his theme throughout the book.

He went to jail because he simply hit send. But the reaction to that was a constant bullying towards the person whose picture he posted which eventually leads to his suicide. Racked with guilt Dan is on a mission to make sure no one gets bullied and is out to save Brandon from following in the same footsteps. During this time he is also faced with Julie, who is against helping those who need it but she has her reasons why. She's very on and off again with Dan, she likes him one minute and runs away the next, it's sort of confusing throughout the book but by the end everything is all tired together.

You see the different dynamic from the person who is being bullied, to the one doing the bullying, the one which went to jail for something in regards to bullying and the relative of a victim. Many different points of view but the moral is to always do the right thing because if you don't the consequences and the guilt is not worth it in the end. I know there have been many books about bullying lately and I wholeheartedly believe they need to be read, understood and followed. Because bullying is wrong on so many levels and affects so many people, it's just unnecessary. I completely believe in the zero tolerance rules but let's get real, even though that rule is in effect it's not always followed. People need to stop turning a blind eye to situations and take action.

Overall the book was good; the cover was okay but would have been better if he was at a beach, which was the favorite spot in the book. Hope you all get a chance to read and enjoy it.

Blood Debt Blog Tour - Update

Nancy will be chatting with SupaGurl Tours tomorrow on Blog Talk Radio! 5:30 CST here is the link

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/supagurl/2012/11/29/interview-chat-with-author-nancy-straight

You will have a chance to call in and speak / ask questions!! or if you can't we will be taking questions / comments from Twitter and Facebook as well!

Make sure you stop by and check it out, this book was really great and is going to be an amazing series!

Make sure to check out my giveaway for the book - only one day left!

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Waiting on Wednesday: The Elite

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm "Waiting on":

The Elite
By Kiera Cass
Release Date: April 23, 2013
Series: The Selection

Description:
Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

Top Ten Tuesday: Pining for 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. This feature is great because everyone loves lists, including me.

This week's Top Ten is:

Top Ten books I'm most pining for to be released in 2013

These are in no particular order but man I can't wait to read them ALL!!!

Star Crossed - Jennifer Echols - 2/26/13

The Moon and Moore - Sarah Dessen - 6/4/13

The Elite (Selection 2) - Kiera Cass - 4/23/13

Goldfish - Kody Keplinger - 2013

Isla and the Happily Ever After - Stephanie Perkins - 5/7/13

Clockwork Princess (the Infernal Devices 3) - Cassandra Clare - 3/19/13

The Goddess Inheritance (Goddess Test 3) - Aimee Carter - 2/26/13
Mila 2.0 - Debra Driza - 3/12/13

My Name is Rapunzel - K.C. Hilton - 2013

Just One Day - Gayle Foreman - 1/8/13

   

Teaser Tuesday: Send

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: •Grab your current read •Open to a random page •Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page •BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) •Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my teaser for the week:

Doesn't matter what I want. Only what you want.

He made a valid point.

Send By Patty Blount

Blog Tour: Any Other Night - Review/Excerpt

Any Other Night
By: Anne Pfeffer
Release Date: 10/2011

Description:
Any other night, Ryan Mills would have driven his best friend, Michael, to Emily's sweet sixteen party at the Breakers Club. Instead, determined to win over the birthday girl, he goes to the party early and alone, setting off a chain of events that ends with a car accident in which Michael dies.

Ryan blames himself for what happened to Michael. As far as he's concerned, he doesn't deserve to have love or ever be happy again. Then he learns Michael left a secret behind. Ryan feels compelled to take on his friend's unfinished business, and in the process, changes his life forever and becomes a man.

This book was published in October 2011 under the title Loving Emily. In May 2012, it was reissued with its content unchanged as Any Other Night. The book was named a Finalist in the 2012 Indie Reader Discovery Awards competition.

A NOTE ABOUT CONTENT: in this book, some characters use profanity, engage in nonexplicit sexual activity, or take illegal drugs.
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Review:
I have to say that I'm really glad that the title of this book was changed.  Because yes in parts this was about Loving Emily but in so many ways  this is so much more.  It's a coming of age book, realizations made, situations normal teens shouldn't have to go through and just overall so much more.  I was really intrigued reading this book and was almost happy it wasn't really a happy go lucky book because sometimes life isn't fair.

We meet Ryan as he's on the verge to a party to go talk to the girl he's had a crush on forever, Emily.  His best friend Michael who isn't doing as good as he should just gets worse throughout the party.  But Ryan is to preoccupied to pay one hundred percent to his friend.  He's about to go talk to his girl.  He finally gets to her and they chat for a while and then there's a commotion.  Ryan pulls Michael to the side who is high and drunk and who knows what else and tells him to wait that he will take him home, he'll be right back. Coming back he's gone.  And this is where the story begins. 

Michael's death tore Ryan down, and even though he now had Emily there was something Michael was trying to tell him and he was determined to find out.  When he did it just complicated his life even more.  This is when Ryan begins to step up and see what a really amazing guy he is.  Doing so many things for his friend Michael all the while trying to keep his relationship with Emily.  It's hard being young but they just threw him a curve ball and the worse part is Emily just wants to act her own age and not have as much responsibility as Ryan.  It just shows you how different some people are. 

This book not only showed the relationship between the young adults in this book but also showed the different relationships with their parents, how everything isn't always perfect and sometimes kids just want attention.  Its hard balancing things sometimes, but it's necessary and I appreciated that story line in the book.

This book was really enjoyable and completely believable even though it's unfortunate that things like this in life happen.  But things like this make you the person you are.  Really great read.  I would really want Ryan on my side if anything happened that's for sure. His character really developed throughout the book and I'm happy to have had the pleasure of meeting him and experiencing his life with him.  Again really great read.

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Excerpt:
The first time I noticed Emily was at afternoon car pool. It was last year, before I turned sixteen and got my Beemer.

In fact, it was not her that I saw first, but her dog, a golden lab who looked a whole lot like my own dog, Jasper, who had died. I was waiting on the curb in front of school for Rosario, our housekeeper, to come, when a white sedan showed up. A dog's head rammed through the open back window, joyously spraying saliva. His whole body wiggled with dog love at the sight of a girl with skin like the pinky-white interior of a rose and shiny dark hair swinging past her shoulders.

I would trust a dog's judgment. This girl had to be excellent.

"Hey, Toby!" She didn't seem to mind when he lunged halfway out the window and planted his slobbery lips on her face. I was impressed. Not all girls could handle that. I didn't know who I was more jealous of: the girl, for having the dog, or the dog, for getting to kiss her.

After that I started seeing her around campus all the time, walking with her friends or studying in the library. She had this smooth dark hair that I wanted to touch and this light in her eyes that just wouldn't go out, as if she was never bored or mad or in doubt about anything. Me, I lived in a world of doubt. I wanted to meet her.

Review: The Selection

The Selection
By Kiera Cass
Release Date:
Series: The Selection

Description:
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Review:
It took me a while to finally pick up this book and read it, but the moment I started reading it I knew that it was something I would be loving.  I thoroughly enjoyed the story, the characters, the setting and just everything in general about this book.  Kiera Cass did a wonderful job with this book and I cannot wait to read the next two books.

We meet America Singer who is a Five in the caste system of this environment she lives in, she is in love with Aspen who is a six and below her but that doesn't matter to her.  He sounds like a very attractive guy who has the right intentions in trying to provide for her in the future but the Selection gets in the way and his status hinders the way he feels about her.  He feels as if he can't give her everything he wishes he could so he breaks it off and she signs up for the Selection.

After she is chosen as one of the thirty five to being the Selection while dealing with the heartbreak caused by Aspen she starts to learn more about Prince Maxon.  Their time together is both relaxed and more open then with any of the other girls.  There is a point when America turns and starts to feel something for Maxon but isn't sure what that is.  Throughout all this she starts to feel jealous and doesn't like that he has to spend time with the other girls.  While this is all happening there are several attacks on the palace making some of the girls leave on their own accord.

One by one the girls start to leave whether requested or on their own and the numbers start to dwindle down.  Somewhere along the lines Aspen was drafted and is now a soldier in the Palace, much to America's surprise.  This of course only adds confusion to the way she feels about both Maxon and Aspen.  The love triangle that has arisen plays an important role for America and her choosing, but sometimes it's best to let some things go and try other things, but only time will tell.

Overall this book was entertaining from beginning to end, I was actually really sad that it ended the way it did because I wanted more from it, but that is what will lead me to the next book.  The need to read it to see what America will do next and will she tell each men about the other or will she not need to.  And what is it that the rebels are looking for.  It has to be something important and I hope they figure it out or at least hint more towards it in the next book because I'm definitely more intrigued.  Great book.

Review: Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide to Getting Girls

Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide to Getting Girls
By: Tellulah Darling
Release Date: October 17, 2012

Description:
Why the hell can't chicks be more like guys?

That question plagues high school senior Sam Cruz. Sam is perfectly happy being a player. He just wishes girls wouldn't change the game from sex to relationships. It makes him look like an asshole. But when Sam's best friend, Ally Klinger, gets dumped, she begs him to transform her into someone who can screw around then screw off. No risk of heartbreak that way. It's Sam's chance to create the perfect female AND cheer up his best friend. Armed with Sam's Three Step Guide to Backseat Success, Ally gets the game better than Sam thought she would and before long, Sam has his wish: the female version of himself. Too bad it's driving him nuts. Told from Sam's and Ally's alternating POVs, Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide to Getting Girls is a fast-paced romantic comedy that follows these teens as they navigate the minefield of sex, love, and friendship.


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Review:
This has been one of the most delightful reads I've had in a while.  Yes it's a little more mature than your typical YA book, but it was great.  It had a great story behind it even with all the sexual innuendos and encounters.  It happens, this is life nowadays, yes we'd like our children to be so innocent but they are not.

We meet Sam and Ally who are completely opposites of each other.  Ally is a brain and Sam is the ultimate player.  Recently Ally was dumped by her boring boyfriend, so to have the ultimate revenge she decides to become a player herself and what better way then having her best friend for the longest time and the biggest player she knows teach her, Sam.  He of course takes on the task because he like a typical player wishes that all girls could be player so there won't be any emotions attached, which let's face it never really happens but he can keep wishing.

To accomplish this new player status Ally must have a complete makeover and Sam is more than happy to get her going in the right direction.  But then something happens, Sam realizes that his best friend the brain is actually hot and he can't help but be turned on by her.  I'm sure you can only imagine what this leads to but he tries to ignore it and continue on this mission.  Things start escalating in Ally's player status and she meets a few people, but then something unexpected happens.  Then there are complications and bouts of denial and unrequited feelings.  Everything starts going downhill before it can all go uphill and following these two around was quite an adventure.

They so obviously have belonged together from the very beginning of their friendship but the fun part is always how to get there.  And it was definitely fun!  Must read this book for an enjoyable time, things like this happen many times, and many times they don't.  But when they work out that's the best part.  Very fun quick easy ready that makes you just smile in the end and root for the people in the book.  My favorite characters have to be the employees at the diner they hang out at because they so obviously knew what was right there in front of everyone.  Must be the years of experience.  Excellent read, and lovable characters.  Really great trailer and the cover is so simple but so great.  .

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About the Author:

Tellulah Darling
noun

1) YA novelist
2) Alter ego of a professional screenwriter/instructor
3) Sassy minx

Geeks out over: cool tech.
Squees for: great storytelling.
Delights in: fabulous conversation.

Writes about: where love meets comedy, flavored with pop culture. Awkwardness ensues.

Help her procrastinate at: www.tellulahdarling.com.  

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Disclaimer:

I received this book from NetGalley and Te Da Media, 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!!!

Blog Tour: Summer in Salem - Review/giveaway

Summer in Salem
By: Brina Courtney
Release Date: September 2012

Description:
Teagen’s summer has been turned upside down by a body, a pentagram necklace, and an old flame.

Nine months ago, Teagan Matthews' boyfriend disappeared and took her sense of stability with him. But when the opportunity to live with her aging grandmother in Salem arises, she decides it's time to get on with her life. A new home, new job and new friends are adding up to a beautiful summer...

...until a young girl's body shows up one night in town, wearing a necklace exactly like Teagan's.

Now a guy looking remarkably like her missing boyfriend has arrived in Salem along with a mysterious stranger who may have some answers that Teagan has desperately been searching for. Teagan must now decide who to trust. It's a matter of life... and her death.

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Review:
I haven’t read any books strictly about witches in quite a while so I was glad to be able to pick up this book and read it through. It read rather quickly as you were pulled into the scenery and the plot and lived through the main character Teagen (great witch name). She starts off the book by going to her grandmothers to help her as she is getting older and more fragile. She’s not a teenager but actually in college in and out as she’s had her own fair share of problems.

Recently she lost her boyfriend, not in dead but literally lost. She moves to Salem which is infamous for the Salem witch trials and all things witchy. Teagen of course is a skeptic and doesn’t really believe in any of it, until she finds out that she is indeed a witch and a very powerful one at that. Her grandmother is the leader of her coven the Electi who come from a long line of Irish descendants. There is a character Seth and he is from Ireland and let me tell you when he speaks I can just imagine the accent and even I’m attracted to him because of it, he he.
There is a witch from another coven who is out to get Teagen, for reasons that aren’t clear to her. She almost succeeds but is interrupted by other people. During this time Teagen realizes that Jason is alive and completely against her as he is in love with the girl who is trying to kill her. Things start to get out of hand during one altercation and lives were lost. I don’t want to give too much away because it really was an enjoyable book.

I like the cover but don’t think it really fits the book to well, where is the witchiness? Even if you didn’t want to put the typical cover of a beautiful girl just randomly there and running then maybe a book or something as the book is very important and I’m sure will play an important role in the next book, or at least I think it will. Overall the characters were great and believable, the plot was interesting, reminded me of a TV show about witches I used to watch, but loved so it’s great. Can’t wait to see what happens next will Teagen be the leader her grandmother was? Will Celine succeed in killing her? What will happen to Jason and Seth?

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Waiting on Wednesday: Blaze

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm "Waiting on":

Blaze (or Love in the Time of Supervillains)
By Laurie Boyle Crompton
Release Date: February 1, 2013

Description:
Blaze is tired of spending her life on the sidelines, drawing comics and feeling invisible. She's desperate for soccer star Mark to notice her. And when her BFF texts Mark a photo of Blaze in sexy lingerie, it definitely gets his attention. After a hot date in the back of her minivan, Blaze is flying high, but suddenly Mark's feelings seem to have been blasted by a freeze-ray gun, and he dumps her. Blaze gets her revenge by posting a comic strip featuring uber-villain Mark the Shark. Mark then retaliates by posting her "sext" photo, and, overnight, Blaze goes from Super Virgin Girl to Super Slut. That life on the sidelines is looking pretty good right about now...

Review: Cleopatra Ascending

Cleopatra Ascending
By: Maureen Lipinski
Release Date: January 8, 2013
Series: Shadow's Edge #2

Description:
Sweet Sixteen = You're a Queen

Despite living with a shaman, a witch, and a muse for sisters, Rhea Spencer feels like a normal teenager-even if she is the reincarnation of Cleopatra. But all that changes on Rhea's sixteenth birthday, when her visions of the Egyptian queen start unraveling a very different version of history, and Declan, a hot representative of the secret Order of Antony, shows up on the doorstep to keep her from being kidnapped. Together, Rhea and Declan travel to Egypt to stop the Octavians, a dark cabal trying to tap into Rhea's growing powers. The cabal seeks to access the magic deep below the desert sands, a potentially devastating force that only Rhea can protect.

Review:
First I have to say that I didn't read the first book and didn't know this was a second book, but after reading this one I definitely want to check out the first book. With that said this could still pass as a stand alone because the previous story was just background in this book. In my opinion (not having read the first one). I really loved the premise of the story and not having read too much about Cleopatra it was definitely an eye opener and I enjoyed the book very much. The author writes with an ease that makes the book flow quickly and easily.


We meet Rhea who is celebrating her sixteenth birthday by cleaning out trash from the garage. At one point she goes out side and there are so many starts outside but there is one in particular that is so bright right above her head. This is where her troubles begin. She starts having visions of Cleopatra, she already knew she was an incarnation of a queen just not which one. Her family is all very gifted, which in someway is good and in others not so good. Overall she just wants to be a normal teenager but when the Order of Marc Antony and the Order of the Octavian’s are vying for her, one to kidnap her and the other to protect her, everything in her life is no longer normal.

She must choose what to do and how to keep herself and her family safe. She goes with the Order of Marc Antony as he was well trusted with Cleopatra while the other just wants her to raise an army of the dead to destroy everyone and finally win this war that has been unfinished since the time of Cleopatra. There’s a lot of action and then a great section of revelations between Rhea and Declan who is her contact with the order. All the while her boyfriend Slade is becoming King of his own world.

I think this book could even be a stand a lone so it wasn’t such a bad thing that I didn’t read the first as this one seemed to be completely on it’s own, but I will be happy to read it when I can. Again this was a quick and short very easily read kind of book and very interesting story line as you don’t see many books about Cleopatra for young adults. Can’t wait to see what happens next after all there are more sisters!
Disclaimer:
I received this book from NetGalley and Flux 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: Destroy Me

Destroy Me
By: Tahereh Mafi
Release Date: October 2, 2012
Series: Shatter Me 1.5

Description:
Perfect for the fans of Shatter Me who are desperately awaiting the release of Unravel Me, this novella-length digital original will bridge the gap between these two novels from the perspective of the villain we all love to hate, Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

In Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me, Juliette escaped from The Reestablishment by seducing Warner—and then putting a bullet in his shoulder. But as she’ll learn in Destroy Me, Warner is not that easy to get rid of. . .

Back at the base and recovering from his near-fatal wound, Warner must do everything in his power to keep his soldiers in check and suppress any mention of a rebellion in the sector. Still as obsessed with Juliette as ever, his first priority is to find her, bring her back, and dispose of Adam and Kenji, the two traitors who helped her escape. But when Warner’s father, The Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son’s mistakes, it’s clear that he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner simply cannot allow.

Set after Shatter Me and before its forthcoming sequel, Unravel Me, Destroy Me is a novella told from the perspective of Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

Review:
This was a really great bridge to the next part of the story.  Not only because you get a different prospective by having Warner's point of view but you learn more about the general story and what is going on.  The book actually bought sympathy out in me towards him, even bad guys have it bad sometimes and that's definitely the feeling I get.  Seems that him and Juliette have so much in common with both having been so abused as children.  That is something that sticks to you for a long time and something unfortunate but again in common.  But things like this define the type of person you are where Juliette went one way, Warner definitely went the other. 

What I really loved about this book was not only that we were seeing Warner's point of view but that throughout the book you would find out the deepest and darkest thoughts of Juliette herself through her Conrail that Warner found.  In that book I think there are some definite quote worthy journal journal entries.  Things that really make you think and wonder why people do things that they do and you feel deep sympathy for both characters. They are so much alike yet so different.  If the roles were reversed would they still turn out the way they did.

This was an insightful bridge between books and I can't wait to get back to Juliette's side of the story to see what happens next.  Is Warner going to turn out to be a good guy in terms of protecting Juliette.  Can't wait to find out what happens next.  This story is just getting better and better the more I read it.

Blog Tour: Saving Me, Saving You

Saving You, Saving Me
Author: Kailin Gow
Date Published: 4/15/12

Description:
18 year old high school senior and aspiring psychologist Samantha Sullivan (Sam) never thought she would fall for the one mysterious guy she has been speaking to over the phone for months, the boy the counselors called Daggers. She wasn't supposed to talk to him outside of their sessions. But as she began to peel the layers of Daggers and learn who he is, the one boy she is supposed to be saving, might just be the one who is saving her.

Saving You Saving Me inspired the Saving You Saving Me Project found at: http://www.SavingYouSavingMe.com

The Saving YOU Saving ME Project was inspired by the book, which tells the story of Samantha (Sam) Sullivan, who becomes a peer counselor at a teen and young adult crisis center called Sawyer House. The Saving YOU Saving ME Project tries to replicate the atmosphere of Sawyer House by allowing a place for teens through adults a place to share their issues anonymously and in doing so, might be able to help others learn from it or might receive feedback from people about what to do

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 Review:
The description does not do this book justice.  It wasn't what I was expecting at all but in a really great way that now I've invested into the story and the characters, and am ready to move on to book two to find out what happens next.

We meet Sam in the beginning of the book very studious who pretty much keeps to herself.  She sounds like the kind of girl who is so beautiful but doesn't even realize it because she's too busy being worried about other things.  That's when she literally runs into Collins rushing out of a room to get to class.  This chance meeting has them both dumbfounded and their is an immediate attraction to one another, but they are both so damaged that they don't believe the other person will want the other.

But because of this strong attraction and need to be around each other they run into each other again and things progress but is at a standstill when rich Collins decides to pull out the agreement he needs to have anyone he is going to be with sign and agree with.  There's just one that literally throws Sam off guard and she has to pull back slightly.  This is when she starts working at the crisis center and on one of her first calls meets a guy named Daggers.  And there is just something about him, whether it's his tragic life story or just him, Sam starts to have feelings for him and mixes both Collins and Daggers together until one day the realization hits that he is Collins. 

This is when her world goes into just a little bit of chaos and there is so much darkness between the both of them that they are trying to work together to make each other the better people that they are.  Overall this book was really good and actually made me think about things and what people go through in life and you don't even realize it because you're too busy living in your little bubble.  Amazing read and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book because I just NEED to know what happens next!

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About the Author:

Kailin Gow has appeared on top national syndicated talk shows such as ABC Radio, Barbara Dooley show, Chat with Women on KKNW Seattle, Broadminded on Sirius Radio XM, and more as a leading authority on YA and women's issues including self-esteem, body image, dating and sexual relationships, abuse, and bullying. Kailin has been a published author for over 10 years with over 100 titles published under her name and under pen names.

She is the founder of the community social site, The Saving You Saving Me Project,http://www.savingyousavingme.com which helps teens, young adults, and women deal with social issues like sexual abuse, self-esteem, body image, bullying, cutting, relationships, and more in a positive community environment. The Saving You Saving Me Project is an extention of her YA-mature fiction Saving You Saving Me.

 

Kailin Gow began writing books for tween girls to help them with self-confidence and self-esteem. Her book, Gifted Girls Activities Guide to 365 Days of the Week, became a reference book used in girls organizations across the U.S. As her tween fans grew to become teens and young adults, Kailin began writing engaging and entertaining young adult book series for them. The results are book series like the Frost Series, PULSE Series, Wicked Woods Series, Stoker Sisters, Phantom Diaries, The Fire Wars, FADE, DESIRE, and more.

 

All her books are inspired by personal experiences. Saving You Saving Me was inspired by her experience as a peer counselor for young women during college and from her psychology major college roommate's experience being in a relationship similar to the one portrayed by Sam and Collins in the book. Loving Summer was inspired by Kailin's experience growing up with a family consisting of a mother, two sons, and a daughter who went through a similar experience of tragedy in the book. Aunt Sookie is based on herself and some actor friends she knows. The Frost Series, Circus of Curiosities Series, and FADE Series came about through vivid dreams. Never Say Never was inspired by Kailin's experience as a radio host and working with and interviewing bands, as well as having college friends who were in bands. Kailin also played the drums and keyboard for a band she once started. A classically-trained musician, she was once led her school orchestra, playing first chair violin. Her experience in the music world and her love of Phantom of the Opera, inspired the Phantom Diaries. PULSE was inspired when Kailin was in the hospital suffering from heavy blood loss post surgery and needed several bags of blood to survive (like a vampire). Beautiful Beings was inspired by her college encounter with a young demon exorcist. A pastor once told her she had the gift of sight and that she was destined to become a prolific author, many times over.

She began taking her writing seriously when her daughter was diagnosed as being on the spectrum and her mother was fighting three types of cancer. Four years later, her daughter was no longer on the spectrum, and her mother became cancer free. Kailin believes in hope and miracles, after having been through several struggles and experiences herself. This is why she writes.

 

When not busy inhaling chocolate and drinking coffee by the gallon, Kailin makes time for writing fantasy books, blogging as an expert blogger for Fast Company, volunteering as an Emergency Responder and volunteering for battered women's shelters. For fun, she plays the electric violin, and puts together a music playlist for her radio and web shows.

 

Her Frost Series consisting of the Bitter Frost Series, The Wolf Fey Series, and the Fairy Rose Chronicles along with her other book series are being developed into worldwide MMORPG Games by SEE GLOBAL ENTERTAINMENT, which is the world's leading game developer known for developing the top blockbuster films into games.

 

Contact Links

Facebook
Website
To sign up for news on new releases, contests, events, and more, join theEDGEbooks.com.
Twitter - @kailingow

 

LINKS TO BUY

Amazon

Blog Tour: Blood Debt - Review/GuestPost/Giveaway

Blood Debt
By: Nancy Straight
Release Date: July 15, 2012
Series: Touched

Description:
Her whole life, it had just been the two of them. Before her mother’s last breath, she gave Camille the information she had craved her entire life: the identity of her father. Daring to contact him, Camille was welcomed by an entire family she never knew existed. But nothing comes without a price, as she discovers when her family claims a legendary heritage tracing back to a centaur touched by Zeus.

As she learns the secrets of her Centaur bloodline, she is drawn into a forbidden love with Drake. Her life may be the blood debt required to pay for her mother’s transgressions. The same person who once held her mother captive, and forced her into decades of hiding, now controls Camille. Her only chance is to seek a piece of her mother’s past that will win her freedom and the life she desperately wants.

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Review:
This book was a breath of fresh air. I love mythology but never have I read anything in depth about Centaurs before and that's what this book was about. It was a wonder and joy to read about them and their different customs and of course the history of their mythology as told by the author. I loved every minute of it, I couldn't put it down and now I can't wait to find out what is going to happen next.

We meet Camille just as her mother passes away she tells her who her real father is, curious as to who he is she looks him up and to her surprise he's happy to hear from her and about her since he didn't know she existed. But with this comes a lot of secrets such as that both her parents are decedents from Centaurs and they are both full blooded which means so is Camille. With her being a female and there being such few females she has her pick of suitors as the ration is almost 10 to 1 (I don't remember the exact ratio but you get the picture lot of men very few females). But of course she doesn't want to get married she's too young.

Not only does she have her dad in her life but also a new family which includes a stepmother and five stepbrothers who will do anything to keep her safe as Centaurs are very protective and warrior like. At the eldest sons wedding she meets Drake, but he's betrothed to another. She also meets the man her mother was betrothed to and he declares he wants to collect on his blood debt. If someone doesn't carry through what they were supposed to the jilted party gets to claim blood debt. He says that if his eldest son isn't married by 29 she will marry him but until then she cannot be with anyone else. This for her is good and bad because she’s not ready but then she catches feelings for Drake. But he is betrothed to another, her new best friend. It's all very dramatic and beautiful because they belong together. Instead of a love triangle Nancy Straight has created a love square which in theory the plan they came up with would totally work but then …

Her maternal grandmother decides to take her granddaughter to teach her the ways of her ancestors and about them, also making sure that her destiny doesn't become a reality. She wants her to be with someone that is not her Destiny because she is power hungry. The women in the herd have special powers such as telekinesis, predicting the future and speaking with spirits. Throughout the book everyone tries to teach this to Camille but she just can't get it right, and the only thing she wants is to be able to communicate with her mother.

There is so much drama that happens in this book and it was exciting, sad and just too much fun to read. I read this book very quickly because it captured my attention from the very beginning with a book that wasn't about vampires or werewolves but something unique and different. The characters were strong and interesting. I couldn't put this one down.

The cover is also beautiful and ethereal I can completely picture Camille looking like that and the background is perfect with the Centaur history being connected to the stars. I can't gush enough about this book seriously and Drake sounds adorable.

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Guest Post
Thanks so much for having me here today, Cathy! I loved your topic for this post: Mythology – Why Centaurs?


I have been fortunate enough to meet some incredibly talented authors in the Paranormal Romance genre. When I think of Angels, I immediately think of Amy Bartol and Tiffany King. I hear fairies and Christie Rich’s series comes to mind. Magical beings? My heart races when I remember reading Rachael Higginson and Charlotte Abel’s series. I could go on and on, so the short answer is most of the characters I had considered writing a series about had already been written, superbly!

When I finished the Destiny Series I was pleased with the originality of the story and I wanted to start a new series that would be just as original. I should preface this with, I read ALL THE TIME, and realized I knew almost nothing about Centaurs. There had always been a kind of mystery about them for me, so I began scouring the internet and my library. It turns out: very little had been written about Centaurs.

I was excited because instead of trying to fit my story into hundreds of legends, there were relatively few compared to other mythological characters. It also gave me the freedom to create some Centaur history, too. I know what your followers are thinking, Centaurs? Really?

I promise, these are not the Centaurs you’re thinking of that are half people / half horse, at least, not anymore.

Sagittarius is the constellation shaped like a Centaur that most of us are familiar with. I started my research there and quickly found out Sagittarius was said to have been an immortal Centaur named Chiron. According to the lore, before he became a constellation, he was one of the few Centaurs who was civilized, described as: more man than beast. Chiron was a physician, a musician, a patron of the arts and a teacher. According to Greek Mythology, one of his prize pupils was Hercules who unintentionally shot him with a poison arrow. That incident is how Chiron was eventually placed in the heavens by Zeus and is the event where my Touched Series launched from.

Blood Debt (Touched Series Book 1) explains that after Zeus placed Chiron in the heavens to watch over his children, Zeus allowed all Centaurs to take human form to make up for his son, Hercules, careless action. The Centaurs retained their magic and still trace their bloodlines back to the original pasture, but many of the rules adopted a millennia ago, seem archaic by today’s human standards.

So why Centaurs? I feel pretty lucky; Centaurs are one of the few characters in the Paranormal Romance genre that don’t have many modern stories written about them. I hope one day when people think of Centaurs they equate my series to the subject, the same way I immediately think of other fabulous series from friends who’ve written about characters I adore: Angels, Vampires, Werewolves, Magical Beings, etc.

Cathy, I’m truly thankful you signed up for the Blood Debt tour! I look forward to staying connected to you after the tour is over!

***********************   About the Author:

Nancy was born in Sioux City Iowa, left the cold of the Midwest in 1991 and only returns to see family in the summer time. She spent ten years traveling the world as a US Marine and settled in rural SC. She has two fantastic son, three rotten dogs and an amazing husband. When not writing she enjoys RVing with her family, swimming and reading all types of romance genres. Her favorite is paranormal romance.

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Giveaway!

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Blog Tour: Life on the Edge - Review/Guest Post/Giveaway

Life on the Edge
By: Jennifer Comeaux
Release Date: January 3, 2012

Description:
Nineteen-year-old Emily is new to pairs skating, but she and her partner Chris have a big dream–to be the first American team to win Olympic gold. Their young coach Sergei, who left Russia after a mysterious end to his skating career, believes they can break through and make history.

Emily and Chris are on track to be top contenders at the 2002 Winter Games. But when forbidden feelings spark between Emily and Sergei, broken trust and an unexpected enemy threaten to derail Emily's dreams of gold.


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Review:
This was a sweet and endearing story about figure skaters, that even behind all the pressure of skating and making it to the Olympics they are real people too and go through things both you and I go through. It was a cute fun quick read.


We meet Emily just as she is starting to practice for a path to lead her to the Olympics with her skating partner Chris and her Russian coach Sergei. If you know anything about figure skating, you know the Russians have always been the ones to beat. This is a romance novel, although you would initially think without reading anything since this is a pairs figure skating tem that it would be the pair that were getting involved, but now it’s Emily and Sergei, her coach. This is frowned upon by the Federation.

At first they do they whole friends thing but something just triggers in both of them because they can’t deny the interest they have in each other. Again it’s all very sweet and innocent for sure. During competitions and everything they need to keep their love affair a secret because who knows what could happen to Sergei.

Well Chris and Emily make it all the way to the Olympics, sure they’ve had hurdles along the way, and even things to deal with since Emily and Sergei are together. But they push through it. You'll have to read it to see if they won.  Overall this was a good sweet book. I know I keep repeating sweet, but it really was! Great cover which is perfect for this book. Hope you all get a chance to enjoy it as much as I did.  Can't wait to see how the author continues the story to the next book.

I will say this though there was a part in this book that I wasn't expecting, sure it talks about the Olympics and a certain time frame but I have to say I was not prepared to be reading about 9/11.  Goes to show you exactly how many people this event really affected in many different locations.  I appreciated that.

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Guest Post:
10 Things You Didn’t Know About LIFE ON THE EDGE


Thanks so much for visiting my blog tour! Today I thought I’d share some “behind the scenes” facts about Life on the Edge!

1. The book started out as a serial that I wrote just for friends to read. It wasn’t until a year after I started writing that I decided to take everything I’d written and edit it into a publishable book.

2. I gave myself a cameo in the book! You’ll have to read it to see if you can spot me ;-)

3. The townhouse on Cape Cod where Emily and her best friend Aubrey live is in a complex where I stayed on vacation ten years ago. I loved it so much and always pictured it as a cool setting for a book.

4. The book is set in 2000-2002 because I first came up with the idea for the story about seven or eight years ago, and even though years passed before I put it down on paper, I still pictured the big event in the story being the 2002 Olympics and didn’t want to alter the timeline.

5. I’m in love with all things Boston and Cape Cod, so I couldn’t imagine the story being set anywhere else.

6. One of the first pivotal events in the book is a Sting concert that Emily and Sergei attend together in Mansfield, Massachusetts, and Sting actually did play a show in Mansfield in the summer of 2000. He also played there in the summer of 2010, and I just happened to be vacationing on the Cape that week (I thought that was fate!). Of course, I had to go to the concert and experience the venue where my characters had a memorable night!

7. The locations of the all the competitions in the book are the actual locations where those events took place in real life.

8. When I picture Sergei in my head, I see Josh Dallas, who plays Prince Charming on Once Upon a Time.

9. Emily’s best friend Aubrey is named after one of my favorite baseball players, former Tulane standout Michael Aubrey, who played in the Cleveland and Baltimore minor league systems.

10. The sequel, Edge of the Past, will be released this winter!
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About the Author

Jennifer Comeaux earned a Master of Accounting from Tulane University and is a Certified Public Accountant in south Louisiana. While working for a Fortune 1000 company, she sought a creative outlet and decided to put on paper a story that had played in her head for years. That story became Life on the Edge, her first published novel.

When not working or writing, she is an avid follower of the sport of figure skating, travelling to competitions around the country. Those experiences allow her to see another side of the sport and serve as an inspiration for her writing. Jennifer is blessed with a wonderful family and many friends who have encouraged her to pursue her dream of being a published author.

Website | Twitter: @LadyWave4 | Facebook | Goodreads

LINKS TO BUY
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Astraea Press

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Blog Tour: Make it Last - Excerpt/Giveaway!

Make it Last
By: Bethany Lopez
Release Date: November 12, 2012

Description:
In a small town, it's hard to recover from being dumped by your high school sweetheart. That's just what Briana has to do after Colin leaves her to follow his dreams. She focuses her energy into her friendships and the pursuit of her own goal of becoming a chef. Just when she finally feels like she's on the right path, he comes back to town.


Colin knew breaking up with Briana before leaving for college was the right thing to do. He was determined to leave small-town life behind forever, and that included his high school girlfriend. But when a sports injury puts him on the sidelines, he's forced to return home. Seeing Briana again brings back a lot of memories, and Colin wonders if he made the right decision. It doesn't take long for him to realize he wants her back, and this time, he wants to make it last.
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Excerpt:

“What did you come here for, Bree? Go back to your boyfriend and leave me be.”

            “I don’t have a boyfriend.” Briana retorted. “I haven’t had the stomach for one since you left.”

            Colin took a step closer. “That Kent guy isn’t your boyfriend?”

            “No,” Briana responded. “Look, I came here because I was pissed that you got mad at us. You have no reason to be mad. I don’t get why you’re. You’re the one who left. You didn’t want me then, so why do you care now?”

            With that she whirled towards the door, intent on leaving.

            She only made it a couple steps before Colin grabbed her arm and whirled her back. He walked her quickly backwards until she was stopped by the door.

            Before she could register what was happening, she was flat against the door and his mouth was on hers.

            She didn’t think, she just reacted.

            Her hands came up around his neck and his fastened under her bottom and lifter her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist, to get stabilized, then met his hot, hungry mouth with her own.

            They kissed frantically, as if they had been starved for the contact. When his mouth left hers to trail kisses down her throat, her head fell back to allow him better access. As he licked his way back up to her mouth, she groaned loudly, and he paused to look at her.

            “Wanting you was never the problem,” He stated, eyes black with need, then dove back in and began to drive her slowly crazy.

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About the Author:

Bethany Lopez was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Michigan and San Antonio, Texas. She went to High School at Dearborn High, in Dearborn, Michigan, which is where she has set her Young Adult novel. She is married and has a blended family with five children. She is currently serving in the United States Air Force as a Recruiter in Los Angeles, California. She has always loved to read and write and has seen her dream realized by independently publishing her contemporary Young Adult series, Stories About Melissa. Ta Ta for Now!, xoxoxo, and Ciao are available now. Bethany is currently working on a Contemporary Fantasy YA and a Contemporary New Adult Trilogy.

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Book Links:

Kindle | Nook | Smashwords | Goodreads 

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