30 September 2015

Title: Until Jax (Until Him #1)
Author: Aurora Rose Reynolds
Publisher: (September 29th, 2015)
From: the Author
Format: eARC
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: Ellie Anthony isn’t looking for love. She isn’t even looking for a man, but when Jax Mayson insists on keeping her and her daughter safe, she’s left with no choice but to trust him. Now she just hopes she doesn’t get hurt when she falls hard for a guy who’s known for breaking hearts.

Jax Mayson knows that Ellie is his BOOM the moment he sees her. When he finds out she has a daughter, he realizes he wants a family, and he will do whatever is necessary to keep both of his girls safe, even if that means facing the demons from his past. 

Review: 3.5 Stars - Until Jax is the first book in the spin off – Until Him Series from author Aurora Rose Reynolds. This series follows the male children from the siblings/couples that we met in the previous “Until” series. Another spin off series is Until Her, which follows the female children. (please note, this is my assumption because that’s how it appears to be, to me at this point to date.)

The first book is all about Jax Mayson and Ellie Anthony. Their story started out with a bang and Ellie had so much to overcome and she was forced to deal with more than just her present issues. She’s never really had much of a family and the one’s she had were taken from her, both times, too soon. With a young daughter to look after and secrets she needs to keep close she takes a chance on the out stretched hand that Jax and his family offers. Help, security, family, friends and new job are to name a few of the benefits.

One of the things I love about these books, in each of the series’ is the strong family bonds that run deep. From one book to another they have each other to lean on and the support and these relationships are one of the things I look forward to the most with these books. They take care of their own, they fight for who and what they love and they protect with a fierce heart. One is never left behind, they all rally around each other when they’re needed always willing to drop everything and be there in a second. No questions asked.

For this title, I did enjoy the story, I liked these two characters… yet I felt that Jax might have been just a touch lacking compared to the previous males within each of these series. He’s without a doubt an alpha male, such as each of the males within this family are… and he has to grow up and change his ways a bit due to having a little girl in his house. Yet there’s just something that was still off to me. I don’t think I got a chance to really know him and that might be the most off thing about this male character.

The other thing that made me rate this book a bit lower was the fact that even with reading Until July (Until Her, #1) the beginning of this book threw me into a bit of confusion. The first chapter feels unfinished and as if it’s starting in the middle. It had been awhile since I read Until July so it really was confusing. Thankfully it’s explained a bit into the book, but it explained things a bit too late to make up for it.

While this title might not have been the best, they are still characters that I can’t wait to read about and find out what happens next. Even with a touch lower star rating it’s not going to deter me from grabbing the next book and the one after.

In the end, I did like it. I liked Ellie and enjoyed her and her daughter Hope. I think Hope added a bunch of layers to both Ellie and Jax as characters. These books have become a guilty pleasure of mine and I know I can always count on them for some awesome Alpha males and the woman who complete them.

If you like contemporary titles with strong males and females then you’ve come to the right place. Start at the beginning with Until November and work your way through those books first, and then dive on into Until July to get a better understanding of the beginning of this book. Trust me, you’ll thank me later. Enjoy!


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"Waiting On" Wednesday is an event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. The purpose of this weekly event is to spotlight a soon-to-be-released book that you are very much anticipating. "Waiting On" Wednesday will also give bloggers an opportunity to share ideas for our TBR lists.


Title: Romancing the Dark in the City of Light
Author: Ann Jacobus
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books, 288 Pages (October 6th, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

Synopsis: A troubled teen, living in Paris, is torn between two boys, one of whom encourages her to embrace life, while the other—dark, dangerous, and attractive—urges her to embrace her fatal flaws.

Haunting and beautifully written, with a sharp and distinctive voice that could belong only to this character, Romancing the Dark in the City of Light is an unforgettable young adult novel.

Summer Barnes just moved to Paris to repeat her senior year of high school. After being kicked out of four boarding schools, she has to get on track or she risks losing her hefty inheritance. Summer is convinced that meeting the right guy will solve everything. She meets two. Moony, a classmate, is recovering against all odds from a serious car accident, and he encourages Summer to embrace life despite how hard it can be to make it through even one day. But when Summer meets Kurt, a hot, mysterious older man who she just can't shake, he leads her through the creepy underbelly of the city-and way out of her depth.

When Summer's behavior manages to alienate everyone, even Moony, she's forced to decide if a life so difficult is worth living. With an ending that'll surprise even the most seasoned reader, Romancing the Dark in the City of Light is an unputdownable and utterly compelling novel.

Title: Perfectly Imperfect
Author: Harper Sloan
Publisher: (2015)
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Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "Adult/New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: Mirror, mirror … who’s the fairest of them all?

I still cringe when I hear that line. A fairy tale that had girls pretending they were the fairest, the most beautiful, and the most entitled. A fairy tale most couldn’t grow out of turned my haunted childhood memories into a living nightmare. Girls who grew up believing that pile of garbage became the meanest of all ‘mean girls.’

And those mean girls were right – it was a line meant for all the beautiful people in the world – and I knew the answer would never be me.

The women with long legs, flat stomachs, and perfect chests.

The type of women Kane Masters gravitated toward.

Well, that’s definitely not Willow Tate.

No. That will never be me.

Because I’m completely imperfect.

And … I hate myself.

I have no idea what Kane could possibly see in someone like me when he could have them.

Title: Redemption Road (Vicious Cycle #2)
Author: Katie Ashley
Publisher: Headline Eternal, 336 Pages (October 6th, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "Adult/New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: The New York Times bestselling author of Vicious Cycle plunges readers into a world of danger and desire in her newest in the Vicious Cycle motorcycle club romance series.

Looking for a walk on the wild side, Annabel Percy, the daughter of a powerful politician, starts dating a biker she knows is completely wrong for her. But she finds herself living a nightmare when she’s kidnapped and transported into a hell on earth she never could have imagined.

Born and bred into the Hells Raiders MC, Nathaniel “Reverend” Malloy lives and dies for his brothers. But when he becomes the unexpected savior of a rival club’s captive, Rev makes it his personal mission to nurse Annabel back to health—and to shelter her from the nightmares that torment her.

Once Annabel heals, she’s stunned to realize she is falling for the seductive man who saved her. Faced with their impossible attraction, can she accept the life he leads, or will Rev walk away from the only life he’s ever known for the woman he was never supposed to love?

Title: Irresistibly Yours (Oxford #1)
Author: Lauren Layne
Publisher: Loveswept, 236 Pages (October 8th, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "Adult/New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: Meet the men of Oxford magazine! In the first captivating spin-off of Lauren Layne’s Sex, Love & Stiletto series, a not-so-friendly battle of the sexes turns into a scorching office romance.

Hotshot sports editor Cole Sharpe has been freelancing for Oxford for years, so when he hears about a staff position opening up, he figures he’s got the inside track. Then his boss drops a bombshell: Cole has competition. Female competition, in the form of a fresh-faced tomboy who can hang with the dudes—and write circles around them, too. Cole usually likes his women flirty and curvy, but he takes a special interest in his skinny, sassy rival, if only to keep an eye on her. And soon, he can’t take his eyes off her.

Penelope Pope knows all too well that she comes off as just one of the guys. Since she’s learned that wanting more usually leads to disappointment, Penelope’s resigned to sitting on the sidelines when it comes to love. So why does Cole make her want to get back in the game? The man is as arrogant as he is handsome. He probably sees her as nothing more than a barrier to his dream job. But when an unexpected kiss turns into a night of irresistible passion, Penelope has to figure out whether they’re just fooling around—or starting something real.

Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.

*covers are always subject to change.

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29 September 2015


Title: The Finn Factor
Author: Rachel Bailey
Publisher: Entangled: Embrace (September 28th, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and NobleAmazon UK

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: A new adult romance from Entangled's Embrace imprint...

Sometimes all a girl needs is a little practice...

It's been twelve months, three days, and eleven hours since accounting student Scarlett Logan made it past a second date. A pitcher of mojitos in hand, she employs her supreme graphing skills to narrow things down to one horrifying explanation. Kissing. Clearly someone needs to teach her how to kiss properly. Like, say, her best friend and roomie, Finn Mackenzie. He's safe, he's convenient, and yeah, maybe just a little gorgeous.

Finn knows exactly why Scarlett's boyfriends are disappearing quickly. Him. Not a single guy she's brought home is nearly good enough. And he'll be damned if he lets some loser give her "kissing lessons." No. He'll do the honors, thank you very much. The moment their lips touch, though, everything turns upside down. But Scarlett deserves the one thing Finn can't give her. And if he doesn't put an end to the sexy little shenanigans, he'll teach Scarlett the hardest lesson of all...heartbreak.

Excerpt:

“I haven’t forgotten we kissed, obviously, but I can’t remember details, like what the most effective elements were.”
I shifted in my seat. Every second of that kiss was burned into my memory bank. It seemed that hadn’t been as mutual as I’d suspected. I blew out a breath and focused on being a teacher in the situation, not a man who’d been carried away with his own lesson.
“I think you’re over-analyzing this. The elements don’t matter on their own. It’s more about the big picture.”
“Would you say that to your undergrads? Don’t worry about the specifics of the aqueducts, or which emperor came to power in what year. It’s more about the big picture of knowing there was a Roman Empire?”
“Well, no, but it’s completely different,” I said, looking down the hall and wondering if I could escape the conversation by simply leaving.
“How?” she persisted. “In both cases, you’re teaching something. So the student needs the topic broken down into bite-size pieces.”
At the word “bite” all the air left the room. Scarlett must have interpreted my silence to be disbelief because she grabbed a pen and a sheet of paper.
“Here.” She smoothed it out on the coffee table in front of us. “I’ll graph it for you.”
That snapped me back. “You’re going to graph our kiss?”
She drew an X and Y axis, then a line that went up across the page, but not smoothly—there were spikes and bumps along its progress.
“So, here, for example”—she pointed to a sharp rise in the line—“you did something and the kiss took off. What was it?”
“Seriously?” She wanted to talk as if it had been a clinical experience?
“If this had been a kiss for kissing’s sake, then, sure, we could leave it alone. But it was a lesson. How am I supposed to learn if I don’t remember the stimulus that caused the response?”
“You don’t need to. You were great. There’s nothing more to learn.” Better than great. Her kissing had been phenomenal.
“Again, if an undergrad wanted to learn more about the Roman Empire than they needed to for the first-year exam, would you tell them they were fine, or would you point them to more resource material?”
I blinked. “I’m resource material?”
She threw her hands up in the air, as if she was the one who was exasperated. “You’re the one who offered the lesson in the first place, so yes. You are my resource material on kissing.”
I looked over at the array of empty beer bottles on the coffee table. “We really need to make it a rule that we don’t talk about kissing after we’ve been drinking.”
“You’d rather have this conversation stone-cold sober?”
“I’d rather not have this conversation at all.”
“Oh.” Her face fell.
“What?” I asked warily.
“It’s just occurred to me that although I thought the kiss was good, you might not have enjoyed it at all. That’s why you’re fighting so hard against a follow up lesson.” She scrunched up her nose. “It was awful for you.”
I rubbed my temples—I was getting a headache trying to keep up with her thought processes and keep us out of dangerous territory.
“It wasn’t awful.” Amazing would be closer.
“Then why are you so against a follow-up lesson so I can focus on the bits I’ve forgotten?”
Something in the way she said “forgotten” made everything inside me rear up and protest. Maybe it was vanity, maybe it was neediness, but whatever it was, I didn’t want to be considered a forgettable kisser. Especially by Scarlett.
My gaze zeroed in on her mouth as I wrapped an arm around her and tugged her closer, but not quite touching. Her eyes widened and her pink tongue darted out to moisten her lips. I groaned.
“See if you can forget this,” I said, and lowered my head.



About the Author:

As a teenager, I was a voracious reader of science fiction, until one day when I was 16, I saw Pride and Prejudice on television. The old version with Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson. I adored it. I’d seen it in the TV guide and, since I had a crush on Laurence Olivier after seeing him in Henry V, I’d taped it.

I watched that tape so often I can still recite most of the dialogue by heart. I sought out the book, devoured it, then found every other Jane Austen book and read and reread them frequently. I only discovered romance as a genre as an adult. Imagine my delight when I first read modern versions of Jane Austen!

Now I read most subgenres of romance, from category to historical to romantic comedy. Such a banquet!

Find Rachel Online:

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28 September 2015


Title: Desperate Chances (Bad Rep #4)
Author: A. Meredith Walters
Publisher: (September 28th, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: Sex changes everything.

And love can turn into an enemy…

Mitch Abrams, the bassist for the popular rock band Generation Rejects, has been in love with Gracie Cook for years. But Gracie, a complicated girl with a lot of baggage, was too blind to see how she felt about the man who had always stood by her.

Until one night of passion brought them closer than they had ever been before.

Feeling off balance and out of control, Gracie does the only thing a girl with self-destructive tendencies can do: end things with Mitch before they can really begin.

So Mitch moves on. With his band, his friends, and a new girlfriend.

Yet he can’t seem to forget about the girl who threw his heart away.

Gracie, who is still struggling to build a life after crashing to the bottom, finds it hard to forget about her one night with Mitch. And even as she tries to convince herself it was only sex, her heart knows differently.

But life is full of chances and desperate moments. And when Mitch and Gracie are thrown back into each other’s lives, will they seize at the opportunity to do things right?

Or will the rock star and the less than ordinary girl crash and burn?


Get the first THREE books in the
Bad Rep Series!


About the Author:

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary and Paranormal romance including The Find You in the Dark and Bad Rep series as well as the upcoming stand alone romance, Reclaiming the Sand, and a dark new adult series for Gallery Books.

A. Meredith spent ten years as a counselor for at risk teens and children. First working at a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault program and then later a program for children with severe emotional and mental health issues. Her former clients and their stories continue to influence every aspect of her writing.

When not writing (or being tortured with all manner of beauty products at the hand of her very imaginative and extremely girly daughter), she is eating chocolate, watching reality television that could rot your brain and reading a smutty novel or two.

A. Meredith is represented by Michelle Johnson with the Inklings Literary Agency.

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Title: Redemption (Huntsville #1)
Author: Alla Kar
Publisher: Swoon Romance, (November 27th, 2015)
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Add to: Goodreads
No order links at the time of posting.

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: His second chance may cost him his sweetest addiction …

The truth about NEVEAH’S cheating fiancée hit hard—but not as hard as her right hook to his jaw. After ridding herself of him she travels back home to Huntsville, Texas to her father and his boxing gym where she grew up. When she finds a beaten man in the woods beside her home, her entire life changes and things get—complicated.

Ex-con RAGE only wants two things—for the man that set him up to release his sister, and for him to burn in Hell where he belongs. After being released from prison, he heads straight to the man that put him there, only to be beaten and tossed in the woods for dead. When he’s found by the most beautiful girl he’s ever met, he knows he’ll have a chance to rescue his sister even though she doesn’t realize she needs saving.

Neveah and her father, nurse Rage back to heath, offer him a job at their gym and quickly find out that he’s amazing in the ring. Without them knowing who he is, he knows he’s been given a second chance to live his life. The only condition is that he has to stay away from Neveah, which is a promise he soon realizes is hard to keep. The feisty southern beauty normally gets what she wants, and Rage wants to give her everything.

With the truth lurking in the shadows, Rage must decide if his sweetest addiction is worth giving up his second chance.

About the Author:

My name is Alla Kar. I live in the deep south with my fiancé and Chihuahua. I love to write about alpha males, southern gentlemen and swoon-worthy men! :)
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$10 Amazon gift card + eBook of Redemption
This is a tour wide giveaway, hosted by the author

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Book Wars a weekly feature hosted between two book review blogs – A Life Bound By BooksMuch Loved Books!

It’s a fact that book lovers know all about the covers of the books they covet. Often when a title is released here in the UK, it’s sometimes vastly different across the pond in the US. So, Michelle from Much Loved Books and I have come together to create Book Wars to talk about the difference in covers when it comes to the US vs. UK versions.

We hope from time to time authors will chime in with their thoughts as well. We welcome everyone to comment and share their thoughts too! The more the merrier!

Before we get to this weeks Book Wars, we have a winner to announce.The Book Wars winner for Captive by Brighton Walsh is...!!!!!! Thank you to everyone who voted for both books, and for picking a winner.


Also, there's a poll at the bottom of the post that we'd love to hear your input for the two covers! Tell us which one YOU love the most.

Left: US - Right: UK
Title: Zeroes
Series: Zeroes #1
Author: Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan, Deborah Biancotti
Publisher: US - Simon Pulse, 560 Pages, (September 29th, 2015), UK - Simon & Schuster Childrens Books , 546 Pages, (September 24th, 2015)
Add to Goodreads: USA Version | UK Version
Order online here: USA: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository UK: Amazon UKWaterstonesW H Smith, The Book Depository

Synopsis: Don't call them heroes. But these six Californian teens have powers that set them apart

Ethan aka Scam has a voice inside him that'll say whatever people want to hear, whether it's true or not. Which is handy, except when it isn't - like when the voice starts gabbing in the middle of a bank robbery. The only people who can help are the other Zeroes, who aren't exactly best friends these days.

Enter Nate, aka Bellwether, the group's 'glorious leader.' After Scam's SOS, he pulls the scattered Zeroes back together. But when the rescue blows up in their faces, the Zeroes find themselves propelled into whirlwind encounters with ever more dangerous criminals. At the heart of the chaos they find Kelsie, who can take a crowd in the palm of her hand and tame it or let it loose as she pleases.

Filled with high-stakes action and drama, Zeroes unites three powerhouse authors for the opening installment of a thrilling new series.

About the Author:

To find out more about the authors of Zeroes, click on their names below to be taken to their websites. Scott Westerfeld - Margo Lanagan - Deborah Biancotti

Let the Wars Begin: Its now time to make our decision, let's see what we think about the covers and pick our favorite cover.
Lisa I'm not sure where I've been, but I haven't heard about this book yet and I can't wait to read it! Sounds pretty amazing... as for the covers, the UK one just doesn't do anything for me. It's kind of blah and tells nothing of the story itself.

That happens from time to time, but when you look at these two side-by-side you really get a feel for the book when looking at the US cover. I can't wait to check this one out in person because I'm sure it's one of those covers that the more you look at it, the more you see.

And I really like how it's done in black and yellow. It doesn't take away from the small pieces of images you see.

This week I'm voting fo the UK cover. Which one will get your vote? Cast it below!
Michelle This is an easy choice for me. While I do like how dramatic and eye catching the UK cover is, I much prefer the cover for the US version. I like the symbol on the front and how it fits in with the title. I like the broken effect of this cover and how its not busy or too dramatic. To me if feels like it's blending in, which I hope is the theme of the book. It's a US won for me this week, don't forget to cast your vote below.
VOTE for YOUR favorite cover Zeroes NOW!

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25 September 2015

Cover Reveal - Monster Prick By: Kendall Ryan


Title: Monster Prick
Author: Kendall Ryan
Publisher: Kendall Ryan Books LLC, 150 Pages (November 17th, 2015)
Genre: Romantic comedy (spin off from Screwed, but stand's alone as well as it features a new couple)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK, iBooks

Just .99 cents during preorder!
(Regular price will be $2.99)

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: Over my dead body.

That's what I told Gracie when she informed me of her plan to pick some random guy she met online to get rid of her pesky virginity.

If anyone is touching her, it's going to be me.

I shouldn't even be considering it, but I can't get it out of my head: her, under me, begging me.

***
Arrogant. Cocky. Prick. 

Those are the words I’d use to describe my older brother’s dangerously handsome best friend.

When he learned of my plan to kick off my white cotton briefs, ditching my good girl persona once and for all by losing my virginity to the first eligible bachelor I could find, he flipped out. Said over his dead body.

He says if anyone’s going to do it, it’s going to be him.

I hate that I’m even considering his offer.

But I am … I sooo am.

Ever since he suggested it, all I can think about is his cocky smile on those full lips as he’s driving in to me.

But if we cross that line … will I ever be able to go back?

MONSTER PRICK, a sexy romantic comedy, is a spin off novella from SCREWED, but can be read as a standalone, as it features a new couple.


EXCERPT

Hudson

“What if I could help you?”

I have no idea what the hell I was thinking. The words just leaped out of my mouth. Listening to Gracie talk about kicking off her granny panties and popping her cherry with some random Internet dick...I guess it drove me temporarily insane.

But there's no taking back the idea now. Gracie sucks in her breath, blinking wide-eyed. “What do you mean?” she asks.

What do I mean? Here I am, sitting next to the world's most beautiful girl—drowning in her eyes, her scent, the gentle puff of her breath on my mouth that begs me to close the distance. I know what I want, but I also know what will happen if I take it. My best friend will rip off my balls and feed them to me. And I'll probably deserve every second.

But sweet Jesus, I'm pretty sure Gracie wants this, too, and that's enough to blow my better judgment to pieces. All I care about right now is making her feel better. In as many ways as possible. And if her slightly quickened breathing, blown pupils, and flushed cheeks are anything to go by...

As an experiment, I dart out the tip of my tongue to wet my lips. Her darkened eyes drop like a magnet yanked them. Yeah, bingo. Having a little black book as thick as the dictionary has its advantages. I know damn well how to tell when a woman wants me.




About the Author:
A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than 18 titles, Kendall Ryan has sold more than a millionebooks and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. She's a traditionally published author with Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as enjoying success as an independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012, she's appeared at #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller list 23 times.

Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras.
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Title: This Ordinary Life
Author: Jennifer Walkup
Publisher: Luminis Books, Inc, 240 Pages (October 1st, 2015)
From: the Publisher
Format: eARC
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

Synopsis: Sometimes Hope is the Most Extraordinary Gift of All.

High-school radio host Jasmine Torres's life is full of family dysfunction, but if she can score the internship of her dreams with a New York City radio station, she knows she can turn things around.

That is, until her brother Danny’s latest seizure forces her to miss the interview, and she’s back to the endless loop of missing school for his doctor appointments, picking up the pieces of her mother’s booze-soaked life, and stressing about Danny’s future.

Then she meets Wes. He’s the perfect combination of smart, cute, and funny. He also happens to have epilepsy like her brother. Wes is living a normal life despite his medical issues, which gives Jasmine hope for Danny. But memories of her cheating ex-boyfriend keep her from going on a real date with Wes, no matter how many times he asks her.

Jasmine can’t control everything. Not who wins the internship, not her mother’s addiction, not her brother’s health--not even where her heart will lead her. She wishes she could just have an ordinary life, but maybe what she already has is pretty extraordinary after all.

Review: 4 Stars - This Ordinary Life by Jennifer Walkup tells the story of one girls struggles to balance home life, family, school, love and her future aspirations of being an on air personality via the radio. Her struggles are real and readers, young and old should find many things to relate too.

It wasn’t long ago that I first heard about this book. If I’m being totally honest I think it was when I received an email asking if I’d like to read and review. When I read the synopsis I knew I wanted to read it for more reasons than it just sounding like it was going to be a good story. I needed something different and this couldn’t have come at a more perfect time because different was exactly what I got.

As someone who reads many different types of books… I’m one of those people where if it sounds good, I’ll give it a try and with This Ordinary Life it had me ready to dive right on in.

The characters are likeable and as mentioned above the plot covers issues that many people will be able to relate to. The theme of family runs strong, even with the struggles that our main protagonist – Jasmine faces from beginning to end. She’s one of those characters who has to grow up much before her time. It’s sad that so many kids these days are often forced to become adults and to have to take care of adult issues so early on… and Walkup takes the issues of illness, college and relationships of a High School age girl and does a pretty amazing job of making her issues real and honest.

I also really enjoyed how so many of the characters greatly affected each other – both good and bad and that you see it clearly throughout. And how Jasmine and Wes meet, how their friendship develops also was a plus for me. Jasmine is smart, driven and honest with herself. She took her time, went about things slowly and built a true friend with Wes creating a stronger bond for these two struggling teens.

The writing is done well, the story flows easily that if I had started this book earlier in the day I’d have read it in one sitting. It’s memorable and the characters left a lasting impression on me for all the reasons mentioned above and then some!

I can’t forget to mention Jasmines brother Danny, because he does take a large role in the story. He’s dealing with medical issues and it’s Jazz that gives him everything he needs within such a dysfunctional family dynamic.

In the end, it was a great story with great characters. I truly loved many parts of the book and I won’t forget these characters or their struggles, their lives anytime soon. Should you be on the hunt for a fantastically written book with honest characters and real struggles, you’ve found it! I’ll be looking for more to read from this author in the future that’s for sure! I haven’t read much YA these days, and this was a great reminder as to why I love it! Happy reading!

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24 September 2015

Cover Reveal - The Play By: Karina Halle


Title: The Play
Author: Karina Halle
Publisher: (October 27th, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: AMAZON, AMAZON UK, AMAZON AU

NOTE: This is a "Adult/New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

The Play is a spin-off from The Offer and The Pact. 
Synopsis: A troubled Scottish rugby player who doesn't play by the rules.

A vivacious man-eater who's given up on love.

When it comes to Lachlan and Kayla, opposites don't just attract - they explode.

Kayla Moore has always been comfortable with her feisty, maneating reputation. At least it was fine until she hit her thirties and saw her best friends Stephanie and Nicola settle down with Linden and Bram McGregor, leaving Kayla to be the odd one out. Tired of being the third wheel with nothing but one-night stands and dead-end dates in San Francisco, Kayla decides to take a vow of celibacy and put men on the backburner.

That is until she lays her eyes on Linden and Bram’s cousin, hot Scot Lachlan McGregor. Lachlan is her sexual fantasy come to life – tall, tatted, and built like a Mack truck. With a steely gaze and successful rugby career back in Edinburgh, he’s the kind of man that makes her want to throw her vow right out the window. But Lachlan’s quiet and intense demeanor makes him a hard man to get to know, let alone get close to.

It isn’t until the two of them are thrown together one long, unforgettable night that Kayla realizes there is so much more to this brooding macho man than what meets the eye. But even with sparks flying between the two, Lachlan can’t stay in America forever. Now, Kayla has to decide whether to uproot her whole life and chance it all on someone she barely knows or risk getting burned once again.

Sometimes love is a game that just needs to be played.


Because The Play revolves around a hot as sin Scottish rugby player who also rescues dogs, Karina Halle is donating $1 from every pre-order sale (that's half of her preorder profits) to select animal charities, including Best Friends Animal Society and reader chosen ones that help promote adoption and rescues for animals. If you know of a deserving animal charity that needs attention and her donations, please let Karina know by emailing her with the headline Save the Puppies to Authorkarinahalle@gmail.com. Hopefully enough money will be raised to make a difference in the animal's lives. Every preorder counts!






About the Author:

Karina Halle is a former travel writer and music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of Where Sea Meets Sky, Racing the Sun, The Pact, Love, in English, The Artists Trilogy, Dirty Angels and over 20 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her rescue pup, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.

Halle is represented by the Waxman Leavell Agency and is both self-published and published by Atria Books/Simon & Schuster and Hachette in North America and in the UK.

Hit her up on Instagram at @authorHalle , on Twitter at @MetalBlonde and on Facebook. You can also visit www.authorkarinahalle.com and sign up for the newsletter for news, excerpts, previews, private book signing sales and more.

Find Karina Online:

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE


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Title: Broken Soup
Author: Jenny Valentine
Publisher: Harper Collins Children’s Books, 228 Pages (May 21st 2012)
From: Amazon.co.uk
Format: eBook
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

Synopsis: An intriguing, compelling and moving novel from the award-winning author of Finding Violet Park.

When the good-looking boy with the American accent presses the dropped negative into Rowan's hand, she's sure it's all a big mistake. But next moment he's gone, lost in the crowd of bustling shoppers. And she can't afford to lose her place in the checkout queue – after all, if she doesn't take the groceries home, nobody else will.

Rowan has more responsibilities than most girls her age. These days, she pretty much looks after her little sister single-handedly – which doesn't leave much time for friends or fun. So when she finds out that Bee from school saw the whole thing, it piques her curiosity. Who was the boy? Why was he so insistent that the negative belonged to Rowan

Review: 3.5 Stars - When I started reading Broken Soup, I didn’t really know what to expect. I have previously read two of Valentine’s other novels- one I really enjoyed and one I wasn’t so sure about.

Broken Soup tells the story of Rowan. He brother Jack tragically drowned in an accident 2 years ago. After he died her parents separated and her Mum became depressed, her Dad does visit but he isn’t permanently present.  This leaves Rowan caring for her 6 year old sister Stroma, doing the housework and shopping.

One day when she’s out shopping a boy gives her a photograph negative and tells her she dropped it. Rowan knows she didn’t but the boy is insistent that she did and she accepts it.

Not long after this she befriends Bee, who helps her develop the photograph. What follows is a story of determination, secrets and sadness. It’s brilliant that something so small and insignificant can be the thing that brings so many people together.

Rowan is a likeable character but in trying to protect her Mum by not telling her Dad how severe her Mum’s depression is, she increases the burden on herself. If Rowan had told him things might have been easier, but I do understand why she does it.

Stroma is a little ray of sunshine in the midst of a dark cloud of grief. She is too wise for her age, and is a delightful character to read.

Harper is a nice distraction but I found Rowan’s trust in him came about a bit quickly and then she left Stroma in his care- something I wouldn’t have expected her to do, considering how protective she is of her.

Grief is not an easy thing to read about; Broken Soup does have some emotional moments for Rowan. It is well written and an enjoyable read despite its sensitive subject.

The only reason Broken Soup didn’t get 4 stars was because there are a few topics which with the age group this book is aged at may be seen as inappropriate for that age group. They may only be brief mentions but with the book aimed at 11-16; something like drug use is deemed acceptable and isn’t looked down on by 3 of the characters. I understand that it some walks of life it is the norm, but not when I was younger. The book is suitable in my opinion for older teens, as it also contains some swearing.

Recommended for fans of Keren David and Louisa Reid.


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23 September 2015

Title: The Weight of Feathers
Author: Anna-Marie McLemore
Publisher: Thomas Dunne (St. Martin’s Griffin), 320 Pages (September 14th, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK, IndieBound, Kobo, iBooks, Google Play, BAM

Synopsis: The Night Circus meets Romeo and Juliet in this stunning young adult novel about two teens who fall in love despite the almost impossible odds against them.

The Palomas and the Corbeaus have long been rivals and enemies, locked in an escalating feud for over a generation. Both families make their living as traveling performers in competing shows-the Palomas swimming in mermaid exhibitions, the Corbeaus, former tightrope walkers, performing in the tallest trees they can find.

Lace Paloma may be new to her family's show, but she knows as well as anyone that the Corbeaus are pure magianegra, black magic from the devil himself. Simply touching one could mean death, and she's been taught from birth to keep away. But when disaster strikes the small town where both families are performing, it's a Corbeau boy, Cluck, who saves Lace's life. And his touch immerses her in the world of the Corbeaus, where falling for him could turn his own family against him, and one misstep can be just as dangerous on the ground as it is in the trees.

Excerpt:

THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS by Anna-Marie McLemore.  Copyright © 2015 by the author and reprinted by permission of Thomas Dunne Books / St. Martin’s Griffin.


          The feathers were Lace’s first warning. They showed up between suitcases, in the trunk of her father’s station wagon,on the handles of came-with-the-car first-aid kits so old the gauze had yellowed. They snagged on antennas, turning the local stations to static.
          Lace’s mother found a feather in with the family’s costumes the day they crossed into Almendro, a town named for almond fields that once filled the air with the scent of sugary blossoms and bitter wood. But over the last few decades an adhesive plant had bought out the farms that could not survive the droughts, and the acres of almonds dwindled to a couple of orchards on the edge of town.
          The wisp of that black feather caught on a cluster of sequins. Lace knew from the set to her mother’s eyes that she’d throw the whole mermaid tail in a bucket and burn it, elastane and all.
          Lace grabbed the tail and held on. If her mother burned it, itwould take Lace and her great-aunt at least a week to remake it. TíaLora’s hands were growing stiff, and Lace’s were new and slow.
          Her mother tried to pull the tail from her grip, but Lace balled the fabric in her hands.
          “Let go,” her mother warned.
          “It’s one feather.” Lace dug in her fingers. “It’s not them.” Lace knew the danger of touching a Corbeau. Her abuela said she’d be better off petting a rattlesnake. But these feathers were not the Corbeaus’ skin. They didn’t hold the same poison as a Corbeau’s body.
          “It’s cursed,” her mother said. One hard tug, and she won. She threw the costume tail into a bucket and lit it. The metal pail grew hot as a stove. The fumes off the melting sequins stung Lace’s throat.
          “Did you have to burn the whole thing?” she asked.
          “Better safe, mija,” hermother said, wetting down the undergrowth with day-old aguas frescas so the brush wouldn’t catch.
          They could have cleaned the tail, blessed it, stripped away the feather’s touch. Burning it only gave the Corbeaus more power. Those feathers already had such weight. The fire in the pail was an admission that, against them, Lace’s family had no guard.
          Before Lace was born, the Palomas and the Corbeaus had just been competing acts, two of the only shows left that bothered with the Central Valley’s smallest towns. Back then it was just business, not hate. Even now Lace’s family sometimes ended up in the same town with a band of traveling singers or acrobats, and there were no fights, no blood. Only the wordless agreement that each of them were there to survive, and no grudges after. Every fall when the show season ended, Lace’s aunts swapped hot-plate recipes with a trio of trapeze artists. Her father traded homeschooling lesson plans with a troupe of Georgian folk dancers.
          The Corbeaus never traded anything with anyone. They shared nothing, took nothing. They kept to themselves, only straying from the cheapest motel in town to give one of Lace’s cousins a black eye, orleave a dead fish at the riverbank. Lace and Martha found the last one, its eye shining like a wet marble.
          Before Lace was born, these were bloodless threats, ways the Corbeaus tried to rattle her family before their shows. Now every Paloma knew there was nothing the Corbeaus wouldn’t do.
          Lace’s mother watched the elastane threads curl inside a shell of flame. “They’re coming,” she said.
          “Did you think they wouldn’t?” Lace asked. Her mother smiled. “I can hope, can’t I?”
She could hope all she wanted. The Corbeaus wouldn’t give up the crowds that came with Almendro’s annual festival. So many tourists, all so eager to fill their scrapbooks. That meant two weeks in Almendro. Two weeks when the younger Paloma men hardened their fists, and their mothers prayed they didn’t come home with broken ribs.
          Lace’s grandmother set the schedule each year, and no one spoke up against Abuela. If they ever did, she’d pack their bags for them. Lace had watched Abuela cram her cousin Licha’s things into a suitcase, clearing her perfumes and lipsticks off the motel dresser with one sweep of her arm. When Lace visited her in Visalia and they went swimming, Licha’s two-piece showed that her escamas, the birthmarks that branded her a Paloma, had disappeared.
          Lace’s mother taught her that those birthmarks kept them safe from the Corbeaus’ feathers. That family was el Diablo on earth, with dark wings strapped to their bodies, French on their tongues, a sprinkling of gypsy blood. When Lace slept, they went with her, living in nightmares made of a thousand wings.
          Another black feather swirled on a downdraft. Lace watched it spin and fall. It settled in her hair, its slight weight like a moth’s feet.
          Her mother snatched it off Lace’s head. “¡Madre mía!” she cried, and threw it into the flames.
          Lace’s cousins said the Corbeaus grew black feathers right out oftheir heads, like hair. She never believed it. It was another rumor that strengthened the Corbeaus’ place in their nightmares. But the truth, that wind pulled feathers off the wingsthey wore as costumes, wasn’t a strong enough warning to keep Paloma children from the woods.
          “La magia negra,” her mother said. She always called those feathers black magic.
          The fire dimmed to embers. Lace’s mother gave the pail a hard kick. It tumbled down the bank and into the river, the hot metal hissing and sinking.
          “Let them drown,” her mother said, and the last of the rim vanished.



PRAISE

“McLemore’s prose is ethereal and beguiling… The enchanting setup and the forbidden romance that blooms between these two outcasts will quickly draw readers in, along with the steady unspooling of the families’ history and mutual suspicions in this promising first novel.” —Publishers Weekly

“Readers beguiled by the languorous language—a striking mix of French and Spanish phrases, wry colloquialism, lush imagery, and elevated syntax—will find themselves falling under its spell. The third-person narration alternates between Lace and Cluck, doling out twists and building to a satisfying, romantic conclusion.” —Kirkus Reviews

“In this tale of magical realism, the magic is so deftly woven into the fabric of the story… Told with skillful poetic nuances, this Romeo-and-Juliet story of forbidden love will entice fans of Maggie Stiefvater’sRaven Cycle who wished for a little more romance.” —School Library Journal

“Anna-Marie McLemore's debut novel is a very imaginative modern-day romance akin to Romeo and Juliet and is infused with the whimsy of magical realism.” —RT Book Reviews

“An air of mysterious fantasy enshrouds the whole book, pulling the reader through it as if in a spell. McLemore is a writer to watch.”—The Guardian

“You've never read a love story quite like this one. Anna-Marie McLemore has created in entirely imaginative world and rich characters that will pull you in as if she's spinning magic herself.” —Bustle

“With prose as magical as its characters, The Weight of Feathers is an exciting debut.” —Paste Magazine

“McLemore’s debut novel has ties toRomeo and Juliet, David Almond’s mythical Skellig, and the real-life performances of Cirque duSoleil.” —Booklist





About the Author:

Anna-Marie McLemore was born in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and grew up in a Mexican-American family. She attended University of Southern California on a Trustee Scholarship. A Lambda Literary Fellow, she has had work featured by the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West, CRATE Literary Magazine's cratelit, Camera Obscura's Bridge the Gap Series, and The Portland Review.  The Weight of Feathers is her first novel.

Find Ana-Marie Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Find St. Martin's Griffin Online:

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GIVEAWAY!!!


ENTER TO WIN A FINISHED COPY OF - The Weight of Feathers By: Anne-Marie McLemore!!!

Rules and how to enter:

Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter this giveaway.
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Giveaway ends: October 13th, 2015 (12:00AM EST)

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Thank you to St. Martin's for providing the book for this giveaway. The winner will receive the finished copy directly from the publisher. The mailing rules have also been set by the publisher. Should you have any questions, please check my policy page or feel free to email. 

Good Luck to everyone who enters!

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About Me

Hi, I’m Lisa and I'm a proud bibliophile.

I enjoy reading and reviewing a variety of different books within the Young Adult, "New Adult" & Adult genres/categories. If you have any questions or if you are an author or publisher and would be interested in promoting a book, please feel free email. You can find my email under the "mail" button or under the contact link at the top of the page.

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When I review I rate from 1 to 5 stars, 5 being the highest rating. I review based on many different things from the writing, to the story - to the characters and how I can relate to them or how they are developed. I also review based on if an author has worked their magic and was able to draw me into a story so deeply that I don't want to put the book down. If you would like me to review a book, please contact me or view my Contact Information and Review Policy for further details.

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