Friday, June 28, 2013

Blog Tour: Addicted to You: Review/Giveaway


Addicted to You
By: Colina Brennan
Release Date: June 25, 2013

Description:
When twenty-one-year-old Leah Carter's latest one night stand burglarizes her apartment, her roommate forces her to attend therapy for sex addicts. Leah insists she isn't a sex addict; she just doesn't do relationships. After all, sooner or later, everyone lets you down.

At first, the group sessions are little more than an education on how to be promiscuous. Until she meets the newest addict—blue eyes, killer body, and a smile that tempts relapse.

Psychology student Will McLean is posing as a fellow addict while researching a case study on unusual addictions. But the more he learns about Leah, the more certain he is that his desire to break through her walls and unearth her secrets has nothing to do with his assignment.

As the uncertainties spike alongside the sexual tension, the only thing Leah knows for sure is that falling in love would be disastrous. Too bad love might be one addiction she can't kick.



Review:
This was such an absolutely cute and crazy concept really.  Goes to show you that sometimes you can find the person you are meant to be with in the most oddest and unexpected of places.  This book was a real joy to read and I would definitely be checking out more from the author. 

We meet Leah who is at a sex addicts anonymous meeting because her last fling just happened to rob her and her roommate so the terms were to go to the meetings for twenty weeks.  It's almost the end of the 20 weeks when in walks sex on a stick Will, throw in his accent and every female in that meeting just melted into a puddle on the floor.  I love a good accent as much as the next girl so I was right down there with them.  He's there pretending to be a sex addict in hopes of learning more about the methods of the moderator, and disapproving them for his work study program. 

But as time goes on, there is a connection and he feels it and he hopes that Leah feels it too, but there are times where Leah herself has to wonder if what she is feeling is real or if it's part of the addiction.  I loved seeing the stories from his and her point of view and watching as they both slowly fall for each other.  It's always fascinating to me to see how authors put these stories together, and how the coupon or main interest in the books get along.  There is hot and there is cold and then there is just straight confusion between the two with a toss of yes or no between them.  But it's adorable the way their story unfolds and even though there were some lies told throughout the book it's good to see that if it's meant to be it will be.

The secondary characters in this book were also really good and well liked.  All characters were really well thought out.  There were times where I wanted a little more, but can't be too picky maybe it was edited out for content purposes.  But even the characters during the meeting like the corset lady, old lady and even the creeper guy they all had some interesting facet to bring to the story.  Overall this was a really good book and I enjoyed reading it, wish it was a little bit longer.

I absolutely love the cover because the couple look absolutely adorable together and I can see them being Will and Leah.  Great story, great concept and remember you never know where you will meet the person you are meant to be with, stranger things have happened.

About the Author:
Colina Brennan is a new adult writer with a love for the fantastical and the romantic. When she isn’t writing, she’s attached at the hip to her kids or chasing her dog or daydreaming about what she wants to write next.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrennanColina
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrennanColina
Blog: http://colinabrennan.blogspot.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7068218.Colina_Brennan


Giveaway:
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Thursday, June 27, 2013

Promo: The Modeliser by Havana Adams


Hollywood's favourite Bad Boy and Modeliser is about to meet his match.

When Hollywood bad-boy and legendary womanizer Alex Golden’s beloved grandfather dies he returns to London, and is thrown into the path of the women from his past. There is ex-lover Tamara, a super-bitch actress who never lets anything get in her way: until she falls head over heels in love with a powerful billionaire, that is. Then we have Alex’s sister, Helena, who dreams of stepping out from her family’s shadow and carving out a career as a photographer. And finally there is Talia, Helena’s best friend, whose hopes for a career writing for the big screen are dashed when she is unfairly fired from her job in the script department on a successful soap opera.

Alex’s fate is caught up with these three women as ambition, lust and love collide against the drama-fuelled backdrop of the film world...


Buy a copy:




Havana Adams is a London girl who left her heart in NYC and has collected a crazy amount of airmiles dashing back and forth across the pond. When she's not plotting super steamy romance novels, she works in the film and TV industry, which is the inspiration behind her first novel The Modeliser. Havana loves movies, TV, reading, sporty things and baking cakes. 




Alex spun around to see that she was standing in the doorway to the bedroom, slowly advancing in. He watched as she reached to her side and slowly pulled down the concealed zip in her white dress. He swallowed hard.

“What are you doing?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” she replied as she let the dress fall to her feet and she stepped away from it, now clad only in a sheer flesh-tone thong. She reached up to unclasp her hair and Alex’s eyes were drawn to the way this movement raised her breasts. God, he had forgotten just how beautiful she was. 

He watched as she let her blonde curls fall around her shoulders and she combed her fingers through her hair. Her eyes, Alex could see, were riveted to his cock and the erection that was growing fast. 

“How do you want me?” Tamara asked her voice husky and something in Alex snapped."









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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Review: Faking It by Cora Carmack

Faking It
By Cora Carmack
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Series: Losing It #2

Description:
Mackenzie “Max” Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they’re expecting to meet a nice, wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, but then she meets Cade.

Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he’s kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they’re forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel.


Review:

I loved the first book in this series and this book was just as amazing as the first book.  The characters area always a delight and who doesn't like Cade, seriously! Cora Carmack has a way about her writing that I really love whether it’s the scenery, situations, characters, scenarios everything just keeps me interested from the very beginning to the very end, with the need and want to read more.  I would recommend this author and series to anyone who loves to read a good book that in the end will make you have hope out there, just a good book.
We meet up with Cade who has moved to Philadelphia and he is about to meet with Bliss and Garrick, he’s still not completely over Bliss but he’s a good actor and pretends to be okay with  the whole situation.  At this coffee shop though something out of the ordinary happens for Cade, after Bliss and Garrick leave this girl walks in with a guy and he can’t seem to keep his eyes off the situation.  Next thing you know the guy leaves and she’s sitting next to Cade proposing that he be her pretend boyfriend for the next twenty four hours.  I think this is a super cute idea and just something so unexpected to happen randomly that it made me love this scenario even more as I read along.
Mackenzie, aka Max has got to keep up appearances for her family and thought Cade would be perfect for the job of her boyfriend, little did she know that he would be too good at playing the part.  There was something about him that kept her interested, even though they were both not each other’s obvious choices.  They seemed to click and even though Max wanted to pull away, Cade just made things harder by being just exactly what Max needed.  There are ups and downs with this world wind romance they have with each other, whether it’s fake or real, even though we know it’s completely real.  There is still so much underlying issues that each one had from the past and that baggage did not seem to want to leave them.
Throughout the book the characters deal with real life situations and feelings that they don’t seem to deserve some things in life, but when realizations hits and understanding is bought out in both characters you have the feeling that anything is possible, as long as they are together.  The rough patches they had were good to read through because they always seemed to come back together in the end.  Again there is something to be said about opposites attracting because that’s exactly what happened with these two. 
This was an adorable must read for anyone.  The characters were great, even the secondary characters like Max’s parents and family (we hate her sister in law btw) and even the slight appearance of Garrick and Bliss, this book was great.  I love the cover although I will say I pictured Cade being a little bit bigger and Max a little more punk but even with the muted tones it is a great cover and this series having the layout of their covers really helps to make them stand out.  Amazing read and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Review: Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend

Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend
By: Louise Rozett
Release Date: June 25, 2013
Series: Confessions #2

Description:
If you’re not true to yourself, why should anyone else be?Rose Zarelli 2.0 here -- 2.0, as in, innovative...superior...improved.
Improved how? Glad you asked. This year, I will not:
#1 Do things just because other people want me to.
#2 Randomly shoot off my mouth.
#3 Worry about whether I'm someone's girlfriend -or not.

So, what will I do this year?

#1 Find my thing and be who I want to be.
#2 Learn when to speak up-and when to shut up
#3 Tell off Jamie Forta and move on.

I'm older and smarter now -- I can totally pull this off. How hard can it be?

Review:
Yet another great chapter in the life of Rose, or should I say Rose 2.0.  Again this book was great in so many ways and still kept me waiting to see what would happen next in her life.  Last we left her was at the end of Freshman year, now it's Sophomore year and she vows it's going to be different, she's going to be different. 

It's funny how things don't always turn out the way you thought you would, or even hoped they would because in Rose's life something always goes wrong.  This year she is trying out for the school play, Robert has a new girlfriend, Matt is still being a douche bag with his swim buddies by harassing a freshman (Conrad, who happens to be Regina's brother).  Jamie is still in and out of Rose's life, is he or is he not her boyfriend, did they are did they not just go on a date?  It's one of those relationships right about now.  On top of all this her brother is non existent at the moment in college with his doped up girlfriend.

There is a lot going on in Rose's life and the whole question is can she handle it, right now she barely sleeps as it is but sometimes things can go right with her.  I think she just needs a little patience, and maybe some understanding. Because with Rose if it's not one thing it's another.  She really is someone some people can relate to, she's realistic and I think that's what I love most about this character and this series.  These things are really happening out there in some high school right now.  Someone is being bullied, someone recently lost their parent, someone is out there getting kicked out of school for drugs and someone is out there trying to make other's lives better but not helping theirs at the same time.  All of these different scenarios are things that happen on a daily basis and that's what makes this book and series and author unique because she can bring reality into our already real lives.

Overall this book was an amazing read.  As we live through the life of Rose Zarelli we get to experience her coming of age story/  Her wrongs, her rights and even the just randomness of her life in high school.  Her relationship with her mother, her brother, friends and especially with Jamie.  Their complicated relationship intrigues me because you want to root for them and then sometimes you think maybe they are better off going their separate ways, but it's like they can't' get enough because they keep coming back to each other.  With amazing new characters such as Conrad and Holly you just can't wait to see who will be making an appearance in the next chapter of her life.  Go get this book and read it, you will not be disappointed.

I really love this cover, the blue streak is a perfect look for Rose and I'm glad that she is finally coming into her own.  Love it.

About the author:
Louise Rozett is a YA author, a playwright and a recovering performer. She lives with her 120-pound Bernese mountain dog, Lester, in one of the world’s greatest literary meccas, Brooklyn, but sometimes she lives in L.A. Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend is the second book in the Confessions series. Visit LouiseRozett.com for more info.

Links

Louise Rozett on Twitter

Louise Rozett's Website

Harlequin's Website

Disclaimer:
I received this book from NetGalley and Harlequin, 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!!!

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Blog Tour: 2 Books 2 POV's - Play With Me and Ryan Hunter by Piper Shelly

Play With me
By: Piper Shelly
Release Date: December 9, 2012
Series: Grover Beach Team #1

Description:
A short, sweet novella.

Ryan Hunter's parties are legend. And tonight she's going to be there.

Liza Matthews anticipates the return of her best friend and only love since kindergarten from soccer camp. But when Tony finally shows up, his mind is more focused on another girl. And worse, she's a soccer player. Fighting for the attention Liza craves, she's just a hairbreadth away from making a very stupid decision. But when extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, she's prepared to play ball to get her man.

The tryouts are hell, the first match ends bloody, and the morning after the selection party she wakes up in the worst place possible—in the arms of the captain of the soccer team. The hottest guy in school. Ryan Hunter.

GET THE FIRST HALF OF THE BOOK FOR FREE:


Ryan Hunter
By Piper Shelly
Release Date: April 24, 2013
Series: Grover Beach Team #2
 
Description:
Ryan Hunter kissed more girls than he cares to remember. But the only one he ever wanted is in love with his best friend.

Watching Liza Matthews’ obsession with Tony Mitchell is a torture Ryan conceals from everyone. Until after a five-week soccer camp, where Tony gets involved with someone else, things suddenly take a different turn. Ryan knows if he doesn’t make a move now and grab his chance, he might never get another.

Asked by Tony to distract Liza, Ryan is only too happy. He subtly seduces her first into his soccer team and later on to his party. He does all in his power to make her see that he’s not just an insufferable playboy but a guy who really cares about her.

Some one-on-one soccer training, a passionate kiss — things seem to be going the way he wants. Except Ryan didn’t reckon on his best friend showing up at the worst possible moment and destroying everything...
GET THE FIRST HALF OF THE BOOK FOR FREE:

Review - Both Books:
I have absolutely fallen in love with this little novella series and this author's writing style.  I will have to keep an eye out for anything else she writes because I believe she is just that addicting.  The story and characters even the setting was just fantastic.  I definitely felt every hurt and pain that the two main characters felt and their ache for one another when realization hit.  This was by far one of the stories I'll always remember because it was just sweet innocent and good in all the right places.

In the first book we are viewing the story through the eyes of Liza Matthews.  She's hopelessly in love with her best friend, or at least believes she is.  Everyone knows them as M&M because they are always together, Mathews and Mitchell (their last names).  Then one summer everything changes.  Tony finds a girlfriend and Liza is left in the wind, but Hunter is none too fast to swoop in and make her feel special.  With this new found flirtatious relationship Liza begins to realize maybe there are other people out there.  The way Hunter makes her feel is definitely not the way she feels when she is with Tony, this is a very eye opening experience for her.  And I definitely lived every moment with her.  I had to literally force myself to go to bed because I started this book late and I just really, really wanted to see what was going to happen next, that's how good it was. 

I was a little disappointed that it was so short but I was warned it was a Novella and it didn't matter because soon I got to see Hunter's point of view in Ryan Hunter.  There is just something to be said about a writer who can write a good story from all points of views.  It makes it more entertaining as they always say there is more than one side to a story, there is hers, his and the truth.  So now we are reading through Hunter's point of view and it's just a beautiful thing to see that he has been pining for Liza for as long as Liza has been pining for Tony.  He may seem like a player to most people but there is something about Liza that makes Ryan want to settle down.

I think I almost liked reading Ryan's story more than I did when I read Liza's story.  It's most likely because I remember what happened in the first book and I can only imagine what Ryan was thinking and feeling but now I get to experience it.  I am so Team Ryan and how adorable is he really?  You have to read the book because he is completely an ideal type of guy that anyone would be happy to have, including me.  It's the little things that count sometimes.  In this version of the same story through Ryan’s point of view you experienced everything you saw in the first book and in seeing his reaction you get to understand Ryan the person a lot more and if you didn't like him much before you will undoubtedly love him now. 

You get to see Ryan's relationship with his family more and it helps to see that relationship before you can imagine how his relationship would be with Liza.  I felt more hurt in this book than I did with Liza, I don't know fi it's because I related more to Ryan or what but I felt his pain more than anything.  It's just that long lasting unrequited love where every little thing that one person does touches you to the point you remember what they wore the first time you met them.  I'm talking straight down to the point details of everything that much attraction and pining and devotion is very heartfelt and I can completely feel for Ryan throughout the book.  It has to be hard for him when he is trying to be the good guy and help his friend out when the entire time he wants the girl to himself.

Overall I think both books were amazing and I loved how you got to see both point of views but I would have to side with the Ryan Hunter story being much more to me.  It also helped that it's an extended version that continues where the first book in the series left off and runs with it because I thought the first book ended semi abruptly.  You should read this series, each of course could be read as a stand-alone, but why wouldn’t you want to read them both. The author did an amazing job tying both stories concurrently and beyond. 

Excerpts:
This one is from Play With Me and one of my favorite scenes:

Ryan rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt, then took my hand, and pulled me toward the bumping mass. “C’mon, let’s dance.”

Heck, I wasn’t a dancer. Protest was useless, because he wouldn’t hear me shout in this club unless I plastered myself against him and yelled in his ear. I followed. He didn’t stop until we stood in the middle of the dancing crowd.

My hand was captured in his, maybe because he knew I would have fled otherwise. Ryan moved closer, his free hand planted in the small of my back. “Loosen up, Matthews. You’re supposed to have fun.” He pressed his lips to my ear to speak. “Or at least look like you do.”

He gave me a soft push and made me twirl under his arm. Ryan did things so nonchalantly. The lightness of his demeanor, his unconcern, rubbed off on me at this moment. I laughed as he caught me again in an easy hug and swayed with me to the music. The dry smoke troubled my breathing a little, but this close to Ryan, all I smelled was him. And he smelled fantastic. Just like the other morning when I woke up next to him.

I didn’t know what brought him to my house tonight. Could be he just felt pity for me for what had happened with Tony, and as the captain of our team he made it his duty to cheer me up. Or he simply liked me. Whichever, I was thankful he didn’t give up when I told him no in the text message. Because he was a wonderful lift for my mood. He made me forget. He made me smile.

And right now he made me a little nervous.

I felt this tingle in my stomach every time I was close to him. Especially as he twirled me around and caught my back against his chest. His hand splayed on my belly, he pushed me against him, performing a body wave with me.

I laughed out loud, maybe to cover my shyness. “What are you doing?” I shouted over my shoulder and found his face very close to mine.

“Distracting you.” He rolled again, and I felt each of his hard muscles grinding against my back. “Does it work?”

Unbelievably so. I didn’t reply but let Ryan move me. With all the dancing, my tee got a mess, and the hem traveled a few inches up. Half of Ryan’s hand lay on my naked stomach. It sent a shiver down my spine. One of the good ones.

As the song ended, he released me and shouted next to my ear, “Phil has just come in. Let’s say hello.”

I smoothed my clothes out on the way to the oblong bar. The music wasn’t as loud back there. Leaning over the metal top, Ryan introduced me to a man with shoulder length hair and black muscle shirt. He looked mid-thirty, maybe a bit younger. Phil set two cans of Coke in front of us.

After the hot dance with Ryan, this was more than welcome.

Perched on a bar stool, I listened while the two talked about Ryan’s last year in High School and the new soccer team. Phil asked me if I liked it.

I lied. “Yeah, it’s great. Love the training.”

The slanted look from Ryan promised he didn’t buy one word of it.

“What?” I mouthed at him with a half smile.

He leaned in closer and brushed my hair behind my ear. “I still have the text where you say you’re done with soccer, Liza.”

The taunt in his voice as he said my name prickled my skin. I leaned back an inch so I could gaze at his face. “Did you really not know my name before I sent you that message?”

He laughed and shrugged one shoulder. “Why, Matthews? You were devoted to Mitchell. What would I care?”

From the way he averted his eyes for a second, and the sly grin that remained on his lips, I wasn’t sure if I should believe him.

“You’re such an ass, you know.” I shoved his shoulder, grinning at him.

The roguish gleam in his eyes captured me. “I’ve been told girls go for that.” He winked then drank from his Coke, but his gaze held mine all that time.

Heat rushed to my cheeks, because, hands down, he was right. It was all too easy to fall for him. Not only because he looked illegally good in a white shirt, or because of his amazing smell. It was the attention he gave me that made me feel good around him. Special. Desired, even.

And for the weirdest moment, I wanted him to desire me.

Letting my gaze slide to a few kids who’d started singing karaoke on a small stage across the room, I hoped I could flush that idea with a long drink from my soda, deeming it a side effect of the pain Tony caused me today. I wanted to stay faithful to my love for him, even if he made it clear that he’d rather kiss the Barbie Clone than me. But with Hunter standing between my legs, his hand placed casually just above my right knee, it was no use denying the attraction. His charm had worked on me for days now, and it was different to anything I had experienced so far. Fresh, exciting, dangerous. Nothing compared to good old safe Tony.

I wouldn’t want them to switch places right now. And that was the scariest thought of all.

A tall, dark-haired beauty came up behind Ryan and dragged me out of my musing. She wrapped one arm around his neck and kissed him on the cheek. “Hi, little brother.”

“Hey, Rach.” He let her come around and introduced us.

As he called me Matthews and the friend of a friend, my heart sank. I reached out to shake Rachel’s hand. “My name is Liza.”

“Don’t mind him. The oaf was never comfortable with first names.” The tall girl laughed and shoved her brother playfully. “I’m lucky—I’m his sister.”

“That doesn’t mean a thing, Carter,” he teased her and popped another soda then clinked cans with Philip.

“So, the friend of a friend, huh?” Rachel’s tone was light but curious. “Where is that friend?”

“Not here.” Ryan grinned at her. It was hard to miss the certain glint of mischief in his eyes. The glint that didn’t fail to make me nervous again as his gaze met mine.

Rachel sighed with a roll of her eyes. “Just when will you grow up and settle for one?”

“He’s young, baby.” Phil leaned over the counter to kiss his wife. “He has time.”

“I know.” She pulled away and snorted as she cast her brother a grin. “I’m just waiting for the day that a girl sees through you…and decides to like you anyway.”

Ryan laughed. “Yep, me too.”

After hiding from his mom in his parents’ beach house yesterday, it was odd to see him banter with his family like that. Free, uncomplicated. Funny.

“That calls for a drink.” Philip fetched two small glasses from behind the bar, placed one in front of himself and the other in front of Ryan, and started filling them with Tequila.

“You can have your drink with Rach. I’ll skip tonight.” Ryan shoved the glass toward his sister, his lips suddenly getting a little too tight.

“You pass? With that beautiful drinking partner?” Philip’s beam my way confused me. I didn’t intend to drink a teeny tiny drop of that shit, but he hadn’t given me a glass anyway, so what did he mean?

“I’m not having this drink with her.”

Okay, now Ryan’s implications hurt. He would drink with other girls, but not with me?

“Why? Is she shy?” Phil demanded.

“She’s too nice.”

“Ah, she’s a prude then.”

What bullcrap was that? “I’m not a prude! And I’m standing right beside you, so I would appreciate it if you told me what the hell you’re talking about.”

Ryan turned a sheepish grin on me. He brushed his knuckle across my cheek. “She’s decent,” he told Phil.

“Yeah, and decent is a shit word for prude,” I muttered. “So why don’t you want to do with me whatever you are used to doing with others when you come here?” Somehow I felt that my hurt pride would land me in trouble. Still, I couldn’t let them get away with calling me a prude. After all I slipped out of my room twice for this guy while being grounded. And currently I sat on a barstool in a club that opened its doors only for people age twenty-one and over.

“You don’t know what you’re asking for, Matthews.”

“Well, it won’t kill me to find out, right?” God, I should bite off my tongue.

“Okay,” Ryan drawled. “Remember, I gave you fair warning.”

Lips pressed together, I gave Hunter a determined stare, but with his last words he had me practically wetting my pants.

Philip seemed pleased with the situation as he filled the two glasses; Ryan’s only half full on his sister’s demand. He placed one half of a lime-slice on either glass.

Ryan grinned at me. “You still game?”

“I don’t have to drink this, do I?” Shit. My voice almost cracked with my rising unease.

“No, you don’t. That’s for me. You only assist with the lime.”

Assist with the lime…meant to do what? Feed it to him? Okay. I could do that. “Game on.”

Ryan cast me a smirk that made me wonder if I was in the right place at the right time. But it was too late to cop out. He took the lime off the Tequila and clinked his glass to Philip’s. At the same time he held the slice out to me. “Bite.”

“What?”

Bite,” he repeated.

He dragged the brim of his cap around to the back of his head then knocked the shot down. I leaned forward and bit into the fruit he held out, my eyes trained on his face. Yuck, the sour taste made me grimace. I pulled back. Ryan tossed the slice away and cupped my neck, yanking me toward him. Everything happened so fast, I couldn’t even lick the lime juice from my lips.

But he did. And my heart stopped beating.

About the Author:

Wow, this is always the hardest part for me to write…don’t know why. You would think talking about my life should be easier.

I was born and raised in Austria. Half my life I spent in Vienna, but I didn’t like the city. I much prefer the beautiful countryside, with its many meadows and the breathtaking Alps. That’s why I moved to Upper Austria right after graduation. There are trees now in front of my window instead of just another ugly gray building, and I love to be woken by the cacophony of birds every morning.

At seventeen, I met the love of my life, but it took another four years until we finally got together. It was the best decision I could have made. I’m now married to this man, and I count myself lucky for someone like him. Even I will admit it can be hard at times to live with me. I’m moody and tend to lapse into my fantasy world at any given minute—well in my defense, I’m a writer. :-)

We have a ten-year-old son, and together we travel a lot…although I sometimes wish the trips were shorter because I can’t wait to get back to my laptop and WIP. Yeah, that’s just me. I built my world around my passion, and I like it that way.

So, you see, I’m leading a pretty normal life.

Of course it will all change the day my book follows the act of Harry Potter, and I’ll become richer than the Queen. I swear I’ll never again clean my windows myself then. Yeah, one day, LOL…

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Cover Reveal: Conjure by Jennifer Snyder




Available July 1, 2013
Sometimes to understand the present you have to conjure up the past...

The last thing Addison Harmon needed was to become tethered to the broody, often seemingly cold, Theo Van Rooyen, but that's exactly what happened.

Forced to partner up with Theo to figure out a way to break the tether, Addison soon realizes she may have bitten off more than she can chew.

(New Adult/Mature Young Adult: Contains sexual situations, language, underage drinking, and drug usage.)







Jennifer Snyder lives in North Carolina were she spends most of her time writing new adult and young adult fiction, reading, and struggling to stay on top of housework. She is a tea lover with an obsession for Post-it notes and smooth writing pens. Jennifer lives with her husband and two children, who endure listening to songs that spur inspiration on repeat and tolerate her love for all paranormal, teenage-targeted TV shows.







Monday, June 17, 2013

Review: Astarte's Wrath by Trisha Wolfe

Astarte's Wrath
By: Trisha Wolfe
Release Date: March 2, 2013
Series: Kythan Guardians #2

Description:
A tragic love story.

Two thousand years before Dez Harkly developed her secret powers, Guardian Astarte was vowed to protect by the binds enslaving her to the Egyptian pharaohs. Discover the prophecy that originated from a very different time, and spans generations to link two very different girls.

This is the beginning.

Set against the backdrop of the Battle of Actium, in the city of Alexandria, Star struggles with her guardian duties as her feelings for the newly named pharaoh of Egypt grow deeper. Not only is Caesarion her duty, he’s the son of Cleopatra, and he’s human. All of which makes their love forbidden.

But when a conspiracy linked to Caesar creeps into Alexandria, Star must choose between helping her fellow Kythan free themselves of their servitude, and protecting her charge—the last pharaoh—while Egypt burns around her.

New Adult/Mature YA: sexual content, drinking, drugs, violence, language, death, and other mature content intended for readers 17 and older. Astarte's Wrath is a companion novel to Destiny's Fire, but can be read as a standalone novel.


Review:
This book fascinated me in the best kind of ways.  Bringing back the beautiful scenery and stories, whether tragic or beautiful of the Ancient Egyptian time period when Pharoahs and Cleopatra were still around.  I've always been fascinated with this part of history and this book did not disappoint in the very least.  It made me more interested in Ancient Egypt overall and the people who lived in this time period.  I even had to look up a few gods here and there during reading this book because I wanted to learn more about them, but no worries as this great author gives you a tidbit on each character and place at the end of the book which I found very helpful and added to the fascination. 

The author says it best here in her preface:
The truth behind the fiction. This novel is a work of fiction, though many of the characters, geography, settings, scenes, and events are loosely based on a real people and a real time in history. Interlaced within the fictional text is the factual history as I’ve researched it through documentation, historians, and tomb hunters who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of discovery of these great people and this great time. I’ve taken creative liberties with the history to write a fiction that can weave seamlessly into an imagined world within my stories.


We meet Astarte who is the guardian to the new Pharaoh Caesarion (Xarion) and even though she is bound to him to be his protector as a slave she has grown up with him since they were both young.  They have started out as friends but through time their feelings for each other have grown deeper than a friendship which Astarte has tried to deny herself because they are not of the same race and he is her master.  It's all very old school but sometimes you just can't help who you love.  It's inevitable if the stars aligned and it's meant to be.  We start their story in turmoil though as they are in the midst of a war. Octavian is dead set on capturing Xarion to end his life so that he can overtake Egypt.

It's all very exciting throughout the book with the different Kythan races and the interaction between all the characters.  Even the appearance of Cleopatra and the strength at which she loves her son is well known and shown in this book, as she obviously wants him to survive.  The relationship between Xarion and Astarte finally give in to their passion and it's so worth the wait.  They obviously belong together uniting the different cultures of the slave and the royalty.   Their love is a beautiful story with stolen kisses and brief hand touches, it's all very romantic in a good way.  But still there is chaos going on around them.

I don't want to give too much away about the war and who it involves as I think you should definitely read the book because it makes it that more exciting, and believe me when I tell you if you are as intrigued as I was reading this book then you too will start searching through Wikipedia on different Egyptian gods and goddesses.  Even the name Astarte was interesting on its own.  Sometimes it really is enjoyable to be able to learn some history or something new when you are reading a book that is a true tragic love story.  This author did a great amount of research to try and tie the truth and her fiction into this book and I applaud her.  I was rooting for the couple in the end and for everyone to get what they so rightfully deserved. 

Overall the story was grand, interesting and should make you want to read more about Kythan guardians.  Make sure to check out the next book in the Series - Destiny's Fire, which I also thought was a really great book.  This author knows how to thrust you into a world deep within the underbellies of Ancient Egypt and makes you excited about history.  I also have to say that I absolutely love the cover and can completely picture the girl on the cover being Astarte.  Can't wait to read the next story! 

Disclaimer:
I received this book from NA Book Club on Goodreads and Trisha Wolfe, 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!!!

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Review: The Elite by Kiera Cass

The Elite
By Kiera Cass
Release Date: April 23, 2013
Series: The Selection #2

Description:
The hotly-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestseller The Selection.

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.


Review:
The first book was really captivating, and I'd have to say this book had me captivated as well.  The continuation of the Selection, it's so much more than this game show of who will marry the prince.  It's about America and her relationship to her family and friends, her feelings for Aspen and Maxon.  The different situations that occur with all the contestants that are remaining.  There is just so much more to this book and it even bought me to elation and tears right after.

We are back with America and Maxon, there is a struggle between the two whether America is sure she wants to be a Princess and marry Maxon.  There are obvious feelings between the two and it's exciting to see them grow and disappointing to seem the dissipate throughout the selection.  but I am a HOPEful person as that plays a big role in this book.  The idea of hope.  What are the rebels after? In due time all will be revealed I'm sure but how intriguing it all is, throughout the selection to constantly be attacked by people trying to bring the selection down. 

The relationship between America and Aspen is still very much in secret which is a good thing because apparently there are some very dire consequences to such forbidden relationships as is shown in this book, all very heart wrenching when I read through it.  But there is definitely a slight shift in their relationship, it's almost as if one wants things to go back to where they were before while the other is ready to move on in one way or another, but either way they are definitely not on the same page, thanks to Maxon. 

The plot thickens as Maxon starts spending more and more time with the other girls making America realize just exactly what it is that she wants, even though it's very back and forth with her I think I have a good feeling of where her heart lies and I can't wait to finally be there.  Maxon's character is also tested in this book, his integrity is questioned and it's intriguing to see how he really feels as opposed to the way he has been acting throughout the book.  We also learn a little more about the rebels which is also good, but I have a feeling they will be discovered in depth in the next book which I cannot wait to read.

Again this book bought thoughts of wonderful glamorous ball gowns of a time when things seemed more simple even though I know this is more in the future even though they've fallen into the past with the caste systems and all, what will happen now.  Will there be an uproar and who will take the lead?  Who will be the one?  I can't wait to find out how this story progresses.  The scenery, lavish lifestyle is all so fascinating, but it's the feelings that are withheld deep down each character that matter the most.  Even in the maids, what will happen to them and will they find happiness as I hope America does as well.

Go Team Maxon! And yet another beautiful cover as well.  What color will the next gown be, you know I've seen a lot of red heads on covers lately, makes you wonder if they are the ones who have the most fun!  On to the next one, can't come out soon enough.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Teaser Tuesday: The Elite by Kiera Cass

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:


But how was I supposed to decide between two good possibilities? How could I make a choice that would leave some part of me devastated either way? I comforted myself with the thought that I still had time. I still had time.

The Elite (Selection)
Cass, Kiera
(Kindle Locations 349-350).
HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

Top Ten Tuesday: Beach Reads


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 BEACH READS

I'm actually going to the beach this year and I don't know if I'll have much time to read but this is what I plan on taking, or wishing I could get done.  I haven't had a chance to read these yet but I definitely have them available so since summer starts next week maybe I'll get to them sooner rather than later.


 

 





Star Crossed (Stargazer #1) by

Love Rehab: A Novel in Twelve Steps by

What's on your Summer List?