Friday, April 29, 2016

Cover Reveal: Damage Me by Shana Vanterpool


Damage Me
Shana Vanterpool
(Crystal Gulf #2)
Published by: Swoon Romance
Publication date: July 5th 2016
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
*** AUTHOR’S NOTE and CONTENT WARNING: This story contains triggers for rape victims and soldiers. I did my best to remain respectful to the healing process for both. Hillary’s feelings are hers alone and ONLY represent how she feels about her attack. Dylan’s emotions about his time at war are his ALONE. You are all strong and beautiful, and you will soar again! ***
A broken soldier …
Dylan Meyer lived his life fast and hard, doing anything to keep his emotions masked. In Crystal Gulf, Texas, women, drugs, and alcohol are in abundance. After all, it’s a college town. But eventually, his lifestyle caught up to him. The birth of his daughter, Aubrey, forced him to grow up and take responsibility for his actions. He let his vices go, cleaned up his act, and allowed himself to fall for Harley Evans.
But Dylan is a liar.
He lied to himself. To Harley. To his best friend, Bach. And then he lied himself right into a U.S. Army uniform. When he went to war, he left Harley with his best friend in hopes that he’d look out for her while he was deployed. Not in his darkest nightmares did he think Bach and Harley would fall in love.
A fallen angel …
Hillary Hayes is an eighteen-year-old sophomore in college who understands the importance of rules. She’s followed them her entire life. She gets perfect grades, avoids dating, and won’t stray from the future her mother mapped out. On the outside, she’s perfect. Inside, she’s drowning.
That carefully crafted future disappears when she downs a beer at a party. What’s left of that night is the wreckage of the girl she used to be.
Until she meets Dylan. Her brother’s best friend.
When Dylan returns from war, he can’t move past the betrayal. His daughter’s growing up without him. Flashbacks and PTSD from his time in Afghanistan consume him. He loses himself in a dark depression. There is no light in his darkness …until he meets Hillary. His best friend’s little sister is the only good thing among all the bad.
He’s her safe place.
She’s his light.
Can two damaged souls ever find peace, or is the damage too much to overcome?
Crystal Gulf #1:
25877008


Author Bio:
When I walk into a book store I feel at home. When I smell the pages of a brand new book things make sense. When I read I am who I always wanted to be. I read to escape and I write so others can as well. My family, my actress dog Bella, coffee, and a steamy love story are a few of my most precious things. My Sweet Demise is my debut new-adult contemporary romance novel. Keep up to date with future releases: shanavanterpoolauthor.wordpress.com

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Thursday, April 28, 2016

Book Feature: Hleo by Rebecca Weller

Title: Hleo
Author: Rebecca Weller
Released: January 1, 2016

Synopsis:
Our choices seal our fate. Hannah Reed is about to learn just how important one little decision can be. Hannah's plans for a nice, quiet senior year of high school are rapidly disintegrating. It all starts when she innocently bursts in on Ethan Flynn in the change room of the clothing store where she works. Ethan's presence in Hannah's world is subtle but constant, and when he saves her life, they become linked by the workings of an ancient society and Ethan's sworn duty to protect Hannah. Working together to figure out what destiny wants with Hannah, the two of them stumble on a baffling mystery that leaves even Ethan questioning what is in store for her future. With Ethan's help, Hannah learns there is far more to this life, to her life, than she ever realized. As they attempt to untangle Hannah's unique past and emerging abilities, an unknown danger from Ethan's past looms ever closer. While racing to put together the pieces of the puzzle before it's too late, Hannah wrestles with the idea that she is anything but average, and that perhaps she is also more to Ethan than just a job. Hleo is the first book in the series with the same name. A story of destiny and how one decision can change everything. When you buy a copy of Hleo, your one decision also has the ability to change the lives of others across the globe. $3.00CAD from every copy of Hleo purchased goes towards the amazing efforts of the Because I am a Girl Education initiative. Fighting to bring literacy and safe learning resources to girls living in some of the poorest nations in this world.

I get to share the first chapter of this book with y'all today! Happy reading!

Hleo Chapter One:

It's been three years since my mother's death; my adoptive mother, I guess I should say. Three years since she lost control of her car while coming home from work one night, skidded into a ditch and wrapped the vehicle around a tree. I was 14 at the time, and just about to start my first year of high school.
Knowing what I know now, I suppose that would officially be when the madness began, but it would be another three years before I would learn the truth. Not until I was completing my final year of high school would I be drawn into an entirely different world than the one I had known my whole life; an incomprehensible world where secrets hid in the shadows of everyday life.
Every year before her death my mother threw a huge farewell to freedom bash on the last day of the summer, the last day before heading back to the rigidity and routine of the fall. Since her accident I’ve done everything possible to keep myself busy on that day so I wouldn’t be able to dwell on her absence, including taking shifts at my part-time job.
I pulled into my usual spot in the parking lot of The Patch. A store that sells a mix of stylish used clothes along with new, but vintage looking apparel, and a lot of one-of-a-kind items that my boss, Carmen Stephanopolous, finds in flea markets or at auction sales.
As I locked the doors of my trusty Toyota, I shivered at the unseasonable chill in the air; it was going to be a slow night. The final week of the summer in East Halton always has a certain amount of winding down to it. The town is set right on Lake Pocotoa. It’s scenic, quaint, and just far enough from Hartford and New Haven to be a prime holiday location in the summer, when the population of the town nearly triples with all the cottagers. By the end of August though, tourists turn their attention to backpacks and new school clothes instead of sundresses and sandals, and things are almost back to the way they always are in the off-season around East Halton: like a big family.
I strode across the small yard and deck that Carmen has packed with merchandise, displayed under strands of white lights, and pushed the door open.
“Carmen, I’m here,” I announced as I entered the store. I quickly scanned the sales floor but didn’t see anyone. Carmen designed the place to have a sort of nature-meets-nostalgic-chic feel. Wood paneling gives the impression of a log cabin, and built-in shelves, painted in a variety of bright colors, line the walls, framed classic movie posters hanging between them. She also has an entire wall devoted to her massive vinyl collection, and always has some sort of music playing on her turntable and throughout the store.
I dropped my backpack at the sound of a loud thud in the back room, followed by a muffled but familiar voice. “Crap.”
When I reached the storage area, Carmen was on the floor, almost completely buried in the remainder of last year’s unsold sweater collection. A cardboard box was crumpled at her feet, and only her mass of curly black hair and her left arm stuck out of the pile.
“Hey Carmen, were you cold?” I couldn’t help laughing as I started pulling sweaters off of her, setting them on one of the free shelves in the back.
“I’m fine, thanks for asking.” She attempted a scowl but it quickly spread into a smile.
I helped her to her feet, and she started picking up sweaters as well. “It’s been incredibly slow today. I swear the tourists are taking off earlier and earlier every year. I figured it's time to see what we still have from last year’s fall and winter collections that we can swap with the summer stuff.”
I piled the last of the sweaters on the shelf. “It must be slow if you’re going through stock; I know how much you love to do that.”
“You wouldn’t believe it. I think there have been maybe ten people in today.” Carmen grimaced. Then she turned her gaze on me with a mischievous glint in her eye.
She tapped a finger on her chin, deliberating, then pointed at me. “I really do hate going through old inventory, and since you’re here now, how about if you deal with this stuff?”
I rolled my eyes, but gave her a smile. Carmen’s voice was pleading, not commanding. That was her style; she treated me more like a co-worker than a subordinate, which made it difficult to say no to anything she asked. “I can do it, just let me know exactly what you want me to go through.” I surveyed the randomly sized boxes that lined the top shelves of the backroom.
“Why don’t you sort through those boxes?” She pointed to the containers right above my head. “See what we have lots of and we’ll start with that.”
I nodded. The bell on the door signaled that a customer had entered the store, and Carmen sauntered back to the sales floor.
I'd been right about the night. The doorbell only rang five or six times and the evening dragged on. Just before seven, I decided I should see if Carmen needed any help with the closing duties.
“She emerges,” Carmen proclaimed, as I came out of the backroom and joined her behind the counter where she was counting the day’s sales receipts.
The sun was setting, and Carmen had turned on the lights to compensate. I squinted as my eyes adjusted from the dimly lit storeroom. “Is there anything I can do before I leave?”
“I think everything is pretty much set out here, I’ve already brought in the stuff from the yard, but you can check the change rooms; there were a couple of people in and out of them and I haven’t had a chance to see if they left any merchandise back there.” Carmen waved a hand toward the back of the store.
“Sure.” I made my way towards the changing area, a curtained-off room with three wooden changing stalls, track lighting and lots of mirrors. I smiled at the inscription Carmen had painted on the full-length mirror fastened to the far wall. At the top it read, ‘you are beautiful’ and at the bottom she'd added, ‘especially in that outfit.’ I wasn’t sure if her strategy got her any sales, but it made people smile. My long auburn hair was messed up from lugging boxes around all night, and I took a second to smooth it down. Then I brushed the dust off of the front of my favorite—because it brought out the turquoise in my eyes—blue sweater, and pulled the sleeves back down before walking over to the changing stalls. The first two rooms were empty, and I moved on to the third one. As I pulled the door open, I was met with the lean, well-sculpted chest and stomach muscles of an unsuspecting guy who was pulling a shirt over his head.
“Sorry,” was all I managed to get out before I quickly shoved the change room door shut again. I leaned against it, so mortified I couldn’t move. Blood rushed to my face as I tried to take a deep breath. Move! I screamed silently, not wanting the embarrassed sales clerk with the bright red face to be the first thing the guy saw when he exited the change room.
“I’m sorry, am I not supposed to be in here?” a warm baritone voice asked from inside the change room.
Now what do I say? I concentrated on my breathing for a second so when I did speak, my voice wouldn’t crack.
“Um, we’re sort of closed for the evening.” I was still leaning on the change room door, painfully aware that at any second this guy would try to emerge and I would have to look him in the face.
“The sign on the door says you’re open until 9 p.m.,” he replied with a mixture of confusion and amusement. Obviously the embarrassment I felt was coming through in my voice.
I slapped my hand to my forehead in annoyance. Carmen had gone back to autumn hours that week, but of course she'd forgotten to take down the summer hours sign; she was terrible at remembering little details like that.
“We’ve gone back to our fall hours; I guess the sign was left up by mistake.” I finally pushed myself away from the change room door. “I’ll just give you a moment,” I added, before he could respond. I strode out of the changing area and made my way right for the counter, where Carmen was sliding an album back into its jacket.
Her forehead wrinkled when she saw the look on my face. “What?”
“Carmen, there’s someone back there; I just walked in on him in the middle of changing,” I whispered. I glanced towards the back to make sure he wasn’t on his way out yet.
“Oh, is it that really good-looking college-age guy? I thought I saw him leave.” Carmen frowned. After a second she shrugged and wriggled her eyebrows. “So how in the middle of changing was he?”
“Enough that I didn’t see his face to know how old he looked, and enough for me to be incredibly embarrassed,” I hissed. From the corner of my eye, I noticed the guy come out of the changing area, making his way towards us. I dropped my head down and pretended to be tidying something under the counter to keep from making eye contact with him.
“Can I ring something up for you?” Carmen asked as he approached the counter.
“I know you’re in the middle of closing for the night but I wondered if it would be okay for me to pay for the shirt I have on?” My eyes grazed upward just a little. He was wearing the shirt he'd been trying on when I barged in on him. Another shirt was balled up tightly in his hand.
“Sure, no problem at all. Hannah, could you ring that up for the gentleman?” Carmen turned to me with a look of pure innocence on her face.
I clenched my jaw. I wanted to throttle her; I couldn’t believe she would put me in such an awkward position. Still, my curiosity was starting to get the best of me. I was dying to know what sort of face belonged to that torso, especially since, judging from the way Carmen’s voice was coming out an octave higher than normal, she was clearly impressed.
“Of course,” I muttered, looking up into the deepest green eyes I’d ever seen. Emerald in color with fireworks of gold and copper flecked through them, they were beautiful, and yet, they were layered with an unmistakable sadness. I recognized it instantly, as the same expression that reflected back at me whenever I looked in a mirror. A caring smile extended across his lips, and my knees went weak.
It was strange, but for a split second, I thought I saw something flash in his gaze that I could’ve sworn was surprise. I’m not sure what he’d expected his change room intruder to look like, but it clearly wasn’t like me. In any case, the look was gone, before I had time to analyze it further.
“Good choice,” Carmen spoke up abruptly, dissolving the moment and pulling me back to the task at hand. She motioned to the dark blue t-shirt he was wearing.
“Thanks,” the guy replied, breaking his gaze with me to look down at the shirt and then up at Carmen.
“Would you like a bag for your shirt?” I held up a brown paper bag with The Patch logo on the side, after I’d rang up the purchase, and given him back his change, still feeling incredibly self-conscious.
“Oh sure.” He took the container and slipped the shirt inside. As he did I caught a glimpse of red stains streaking across the material before he closed his hand around the top of the bag. “Thanks.” The guy nodded to Carmen and offered me a quick smile before he turned and left the store.
Carmen waited a second and then rushed to the door. “I’ll just flip the sign and lock up,” she called back over her shoulder. I shook my head, pretty sure she just wanted to watch the guy leave.
Meanwhile, I felt glued to my spot. The brief interaction with this handsome stranger had rattled me. He was gorgeous for sure, with his dark, almost black hair cut into an intentionally messy style, and his tanned skin accentuating those beautiful green eyes and incredible smile, but it wasn’t a polished Ken-doll type attractiveness. There was a slight ruggedness to his features that only added to his appeal. And I felt myself compelled to learn what had marred his expression with that underlying sorrow. I barely heard Carmen blathering on about how you never find a guy with looks and manners, until she was standing next to me again.
“He’s gone; you can stop your very convincing impression of a lawn statue.” Carmen laughed as she went back to counting receipts.
“Right,” I answered with a little nod.
“I wonder what he did to himself; the stains on his shirt looked like blood,” Carmen commented.
I frowned. “It couldn’t have been anything too serious or he would've been at the hospital instead of shopping.”
“I don’t know; we have some pretty fabulous deals on right now. Maybe he couldn’t resist.” Carmen grinned. “And I swear I detected a bit of an accent, Irish or Scottish maybe. I love a guy with an accent.” She shut the till with a decisive clang. “Anyway, I think I’m pretty much done for the day. I know you’ve got school tomorrow so you can go home if you want. That is, if you think you can stop swooning enough to pay attention to the road.” She jostled me playfully.
Carmen had moved my backpack from the middle of the floor where I'd dropped it, to behind the counter, and I reached for it. “I can’t believe of all the people I could have walked in on while they were changing it had to be that guy.”
“Well, I’m sure he’s just one of the straggler tourists trying to get the most out of the dying days of summer. You can console yourself with the fact that you’ll probably never see him again. Although you never know,” she added with a mischievous grin.
“I hope I don’t. I’ve already seen more of him than I should have.” I raised my eyebrows and headed out the door, waving goodbye as I went.

A little about Rebecca Weller and her book! 

Writers begin as readers. I think before it can dawn on a person to sit down and type out thirty chapters of creativity they first have to have an appreciation for the written word. At least that’s how it was for me. Loving books always came easy, and getting drawn into different storybook worlds only made me want to be a storyteller of my own.

As far as my reading tastes go, they’re pretty eclectic; Jane Austen is my hero, I can always go for a good mystery, and a well-crafted fantastical world makes my heart happy. Ultimately I want a fairytale ending though; a conclusion where we leave our characters with all being right in their worlds.

Growing up with The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and all the other 90s classic Disney animations gave me a fondness for fairytales, as well as all things Disney, which has carried on into my adult life. Walt was quite a guy, and I greatly admire his ambition to see his dreams fulfilled.

For a touch of the personal; being a mom and wife always keeps my hopping, coffee and music are constant companions, and I love baked goods, a little more than I should, but it all works out since I can’t bake or cook to save my life, as in - struggles with boiling water - can’t cook. I also love connecting with others about books, and even have an ‘ask the author’ page on my website because I could talk all day about plot, characters and inspirations (but no spoilers!).

Giving Back:

I always knew that no matter how Hleo ended up released into the world I wanted there to be a small way for me to give back to the global community through it. I went looking for a charitable organization that fights for social justice and found the Because I am a Girl Campaign run by Plan International. They work in countries all over the world to provide girls with safe learning environments, protection from harassment and abuse, access to both nourishment and school supplies, and the opportunity to participate in literacy and business programs. And so, $3.00 from every copy of Hleo purchased will go towards supporting these amazing efforts.

Well that’s me and my mission in a nutshell. Hope you enjoy Hleo, and feel free to check out https://hleoweller.wordpress.com/ for more information.

To buy a copy of Hleo for yourself check out:

I hope you guys enjoyed that look into Hleo! :)



Wednesday, April 27, 2016

WOW: 4/27/16

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine! It showcases books that we can't wait on to come out!
The Crown (The Selection, #5)

The Crown (The Selection #5)
By: Kiera Cass
Released: May 3, 2016

Kiera Cass’s bestselling Selection series has enchanted readers from the very first page. Now the end of the journey is here, in a wonderfully romantic series finale that will sweep you off your feet.
Twenty years have passed since the events of The One, and America and Maxon’s daughter is the first princess to hold a Selection of her own. Princess Eadlyn didn’t think she would find a real partner among the Selection’s thirty-five suitors, let alone true love. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you... and now Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more difficult—and more important—than she ever expected.
The Selection series has sold more than 3 million copies and captured the hearts of fans around the world. This swoon-worthy final installment is the happily ever after they’ve all been waiting for.

I have read and loved all the other Selection books! I cannot wait for Eadlyn's story to come out so I can read about one of my favorite families again! :)



Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Teaser Tuesday: 4/26/16

 Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
Teaser
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!
All-Star Antes Up, The

My teaser:
"'When you think about it, I love you is probably the world's most overused phrase. But when your heart is in it, those words take on whole shades of meaning you never imagined before.'"
-The All-Star Antes Up, Nancy Herkness, Page 329

Monday, April 25, 2016

Review: Love Walks In


Love Walks In (The Shaughnessy Brothers, #2) 

Title: Love Walks In
Author: Samantha Chase
Released: April 5, 2016

Synopsis:
Book #2 in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Samantha Chase’s dazzling new series.
The Shaughnessy Brothers are back
He lives by a schedule. Aubrey Burke is on the run from an about-to-be-disastrous mistake when resort owner Hugh Shaughnessy catches her climbing through his office window. Until Aubrey tumbled into his life, Hugh had relied on work and discipline to safeguard a heart damaged by family tragedy. Now his careful world will never be the same.
She lives for the moment. Hugh’s approach to life and love is the opposite of Aubrey’s, but she soon finds herself falling hard for the handsome hotel mogul. There’s a darker reason behind her “live for today” attitude than Hugh could possibly know, but for the first time Aubrey dares to hope this man’s love might make it worth taking a chance on the future.
My Review:
Oh my gosh. I am in love with this book. The story was so freaking good. I could not put this book down for a minute it was so amazing. The story drew me in and kept me in its grasp until I got to the last page. I have yet to read the first book in the series, but it is on my list to read as soon as possible. I understood the story as if it was a stand-alone, so there is no need to read the first one if you already have Love Walks In.
The plot was so good. The story just kept getting better and better as it progressed, which I have probably now repeated a few times. The writing was hilarious, the characters had witty banter back and forth and of course a few steamy romance scenes that just made the story so much better.
Aubrey is so great. I keep reading stories with amazing female characters, and it is making me so happy. She has been kept locked up by her family and just wants to break free and live her life, which she does quite well. She isn’t afraid to take chances and all she wants to do is enjoy the things she was never able to do under her parent’s watchful eyes. She is such a free character who is just trying to grow up on her own and does she grow. She doesn’t let anything hold her back once she decides what she wants, she goes for it. She has such a creative mind and watching her work was great. She fought for what she wanted in her life and it was quite beautiful.
Hugh is a freaking control freak! I wanted to reach into the story and shake him until he loosened up a bit. Gosh, was he a frustrating character. I know a bit about being a control freak, being one myself, but he took it to a whole new level. It was quite annoying. His whole was based on this one characteristic trait and did he make his life difficult with this controlling attitude. He didn’t want anything to mess up his perfect schedule and boy, did Aubrey do that. When he let his guard down, he was downright great.

READ THIS STORY NOW. Please and thank you. You won’t regret it. It will be a great read to add to your TBR list or just buy it and read it automatically. The second option would be the best option. Because you would be reading a great book right away. Go forth and enjoy!

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

WOW: 4/20/16

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine! It showcases books that we can't wait on to come out!
Soldier (Talon, #3)

Soldier (Talon #3)
By: Julie Kagawa
Released: April 26, 2016

A fighter dedicated to saving humankind from dragons in strictest secrecy.

That was what Garret Xavier Sebastian thought he was part of as a soldier of the Order of St. George. What he learned from a fiery dragon hatchling twisted all he believed in and set him on a collision course with certain death-but not without a chance to put things right.
Betrayed and on the run again, Ember and rogue dragon Riley discover an unthinkable truth about Talon and St. George. They'll need Garret's skills and insider knowledge of the Order to negotiate an impossible deal-and if they fail, there will be no way to stop all-out war.









Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Teaser Tuesday: 4/19/16

 Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
Teaser
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!
All-Star Antes Up, The

My teaser:
"'Luck is the residue of design,' Trainor said with a nod.'We're all big on quotations tonight,' the writer noted."
-The All-Star Antes Up, Nancy Herkness, Page 11

Monday, April 18, 2016

Review: Forgetting August


 Forgetting August (Lost & Found, #1)

Title: Forgetting August
Author: J.L. Berg
Released: April 5, 2016

Synopsis:
She can forgive, but can she forget?
Some days, Everly still thinks she sees him. In the food court at the mall, or in a car speeding past as the light changes. It only lasts a second, but when it happens, she slips back to a time when she was ruled-and nearly ruined-by August Kincaid. And it doesn't matter that she's moved on, that she's about to marry another man. In those moments the only thing she can do to regain control is take a deep breath and remind herself that August can't hurt her-because he's in a coma. Except that he's not anymore.
August is awake. With no memories, he sets out to solve the mystery of his lost life. He unearths a photograph of a beautiful redhead named Everly and knows instinctively that she's the key. But when he finds her, the August she describes is more monster than man.

Tortured by the thought of having hurt her, August wants only to become the man Everly deserves. As the new August emerges, Everly glimpses the person she first fell in love with. But can she trust that this August is real? When the final secret of their shared past is revealed, one of them will make a choice that changes their future forever . . .
My Review:
Forgetting August was something else. I was not sure if I wanted to finish it once I began reading it, though I was happy that I did. The story held my interest even though the characters frustrated and annoyed the heck out of me, which sometimes makes the best type of stories.
One thing about the story that I did not enjoy was the fact that it confused me. The story seemed to just jump into the action without explaining much. There seemed to be details that were left out that left me wanting to know more. As the story progressed, somethings were discovered, but not much. The one question I had was why was August in a coma. It was never actually discussed. It was mentioned once or twice in passing, but as one sentence and not discussed more, as if the reader should already have the information when starting the book.
Other than a frustrating lack of detail, the story was really good. I was interested in the book and maybe that lack of detail made me continue reading. I really want the sequel though, because there was a terrible cliffhanger!! Grr those damn cliffhangers that leave you wanting more. I read the story quickly, about one day in total, and it was an easy read.
Everly was a runner. She liked to avoid things and that frustrated me to no end. I hate people who avoid things and can't face them head on. All I wanted to do throughout the whole story was shake her. She kept making decisions that pissed me off and I wanted to wake her up. She did grow as the story progressed. She became more confident and less scared, which made her a little better. In the end, she did make the best decisions for herself at the end and I was proud of her.
August was starting fresh. He could not remember anything and he was just trying to find his place in the world again. I felt so sorry for him. He had no one in the world anymore and had no memory to even try and make things better. He also pissed me off. Honestly all the characters in this book frustrated me to no end. I wanted to make August feel better, but I didn't know how. He also grew, but in a different way. He grew away from the person he used to be. And it made me love him so much more. Until the plot twist came up and ruined everything. But that's all I'll say.
I did enjoy Forgetting August. It was a good story and it talked about important issues and accepting yourself for who you are and moving on in life. J.L. Berg did not shy away from the hard topics and confronted them head on. There is meaning behind this story and I can't wait to see where it goes as the story progresses. I cannot wait for the sequel, even though I have a bit of a wait.





Wednesday, April 13, 2016

WOW: 4/13/16

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine! It showcases books that we can't wait on to come out!


Briar Rose
 Briar Rose
By: Jane Yolen
Released: April 19, 2016
A powerful retelling of Sleeping Beauty that is "heartbreaking and heartwarming."
An American Library Association "100 Best Books for Teens"
An American Library Association "Best Books for Young Adults" 
Ever since she was a child, Rebecca has been enchanted by her grandmother Gemma's stories about Briar Rose. But a promise Rebecca makes to her dying grandmother will lead her on a remarkable journey to uncover the truth of Gemma's astonishing claim: I am Briar Rose. A journey that will lead her to unspeakable brutality and horror. But also to redemption and hope.


Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Teaser Tuesday: 4/12/16

 Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
Teaser
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!
The Fiery Trial (Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, #8)
My Teaser:


"Then she turned and saw Ty running across the Hall with a tray containing an entire wheel of cheese.
'Oh,' she said, 'yeah, that's bad.'"

-The Fiery Trial, Cassandra Clare, Page 37




Monday, April 11, 2016

Review: Tell Me You Crave Me


 Tell Me You Crave Me (Search and Seduce #3)

Title: Tell me you Crave me (Search and Seduce #3)
Author: Joya Ryan
Released: April 4, 2016

Synopsis:
Easton Ambrose has spent half his life protecting Natalie St. Clair from guys like himself. It’s not like he wants to interfere with her dating life, but what’s he supposed to do when she insists on going out with the wrong kind of guy? Kiss her, of course. But now she's pissed. And what starts as an apology turns to heated words...then just to heat.
Jumping East was the worst idea in the history of ideas. The guy is Natalie’s older brother’s best friend, the definition of off limits. But she’s tired of the safe guys who couldn’t light a fire with a flamethrower. Time for a little dangerous—even if dangerous always blows up in your face. Because even if they survive their bedroom antics, it’s only a matter of time before they’re caught… 

My Review:
Ladies, bust out the fans and ice cold water, you’re going to need it for this steamy book. Tell me you Crave me is full of passion and good reading. I absolutely love Entangled’s romance line. They are some of my favorite books and they guarantee a good, romance filled, reading in a short amount of time. I don’t think it has ever taken me more than a few hours to read an Entangled romance book, and Tell me you Crave me did not disappoint.
There is no long waiting time for the passion to start. Joya Ryan jumps right into the action within the first few chapters and I absolutely loved it. This book was full of steamy scenes, witty banter, and characters growing into new people. Ryan did not disappoint with this book. It is the third in a series called Search and Seduce, which is very accurate. Her stories follow Search and Rescue responders and their love interests. For some reason, I have been into books lately (at least the romance ones) that feature steamy men in uniform. The story kept my interest fully and I did not want to put this one down. I was that into it.
East, how do I describe Easton? For starters, sexy cowboy comes into mind. He uses words like darlin’ to really add to that cowboy image. I don’t know about y’all, but I’ve wanted to be called darlin’. East seemed a little lost throughout this book, but he would never show it to anyone. His two best friends had recently found their LOML, (love of my life) and he was the last bachelor standing. Of course, at the beginning he would never imagine ever settling down his player ways, until the moment. He seemed to be the one who was really fighting for a relationship and trying to settle down, even though he says he doesn’t want one. Throughout the entire book he is sweet, caring, and a little bit of a douche, but he makes up for it. I need some Easton in my life, (don’t tell my boyfriend)… ;)
Natalie is awkward. That is how she is described by friends and family alike. Yet, throughout the book I never saw a single awkward moment from her. As the story progressed, she came into a new found confidence and I loved reading about how she grew into herself and became her own person. She is such a strong character. She moved out on her own and started her own company without the help of her family. It took guts and she continued to show those guts throughout the story. Of course, she wasn’t perfect all the time, but she was trying and I commend her for everything she went through and how she came out on top because she stood up for herself. She didn’t hide from a fight and always tried her best. Nothing less than perfection. I relate to her so much and I adore her character.

You should really read this book. It is the third in the series, but you can read them as a standalone and understand it perfectly. Tell me you Crave me is full of sexy scenes, hilarious banter, and some pretty sweet moments. The rest of the series is now on my TBR list and it should be on yours too! 




Wednesday, April 06, 2016

WOW: 4/6/16


Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine! It showcases books that we can't wait on to come out!
No Love Allowed
No Love Allowed 
By: Kate Evangelista
Released: April 19, 2016

It's all fun and parties until someone falls in love in this modern fairy tale from author Kate Evangelista.
Caleb desperately needs a fake girlfriend. Either he attends a series of parties for his father’s law firm with a pretty girl on his arm, or he gets shipped off to Yale to start a future he’s not ready for and isn’t sure he wants. And sadly, the last unattached girl in his social circle has just made the grievous mistake of falling in love with him. Fortunately, Didi, recently fired waitress and aspiring painter, is open to new experiences. As the summer ticks by in a whirl of lavish parties, there’s only one rule: They must not fall in love!

 

Tuesday, April 05, 2016

Teaser Tuesday: 4/5/16




 Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Books And A Beat.
Teaser
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!
The Fiery Trial (Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, #8)
My Teaser:

"'I had to remember that I felt like that. I had to know it was different now. Not in a bad way. In the right way.'"
-The Fiery Trial, Cassandra Clare, Page 37




Monday, April 04, 2016

Review: Saving Maverick


Saving Maverick 

Title: Saving Maverick
Author: Debra Elise
Released:April 4, 2016

Synopsis:
Maverick Jansen and Kelsey Sullivan fall into a complicated game of PR strategy by day and searing passion by night where they both find a new meaning to fast and hard.
STRIKE ONE
Days before the biggest game of playboy pitcher Maverick Jansen’s career, his brother is killed in a horrific car accident. Determined not to let his teammates down, Mav pushes through his grief only to lose control of his signature pitch—and the series.

STRIKE TWO
Still dealing with the backlash of his once adoring fans, Maverick learns his team’s owner plans to move the ball club to small town America. During a night of hard drinking Mav rails against the move to “Hicksville” while a fan records the entire tirade. His career takes another hit when the video goes viral right before spring training.
Kelsey Sullivan, Media Consultant, is hired by the team’s owner and her childhood friend, Thomas Scott, to help restore Maverick’s image and find a way to get his mojo back. As the daughter of a former minor league ball player who walked away from her and her unstable mother, Kelsey breaks her main client rule—no male athletes—to help her friend and gain a coveted position with the ball club.
STRIKE THREE, or…?
Persuaded to pretend they’re a couple against her better judgment, Kelsey and Maverick begin dating as a last ditch effort to secure his place on the team, fix his public image and prove to an unstable groupie who’s begun posting doctored photos on the internet that he’s taken.
In order to convince Kelsey what they have is more than just soul-shattering sex, Maverick digs deep, overcoming his commitment phobia and unexpected news to prove to Kelsey love can save them both. Can Kelsey bury her long-held belief that a bad boy baseball player isn’t the happily-ever-after type so they both can make the call of a lifetime.
My Review:
I’m not entirely sure how I feel after Saving Maverick. I enjoyed it, but there were some parts that confused me. The story kept my focus and I liked reading it, but I just felt like something was missing as I was reading. I don’t know exactly what… but there was something missing.
The plot was a little predictive, but after reading so many romance novels, you start to understand how the plot goes. I do love a happily ever after though. I was confused about some of the writing though. Throughout the story, the POV seemed to just randomly change. One paragraph it would be Kelsey’s POV and then the next paragraph or even a sentence within that paragraph would seem to be from Maverick’s. It was confusing to say the least. I tried my best to understand what was going on, but I don’t know if I fully understood some of the scenes because of that.
Kelsey was awesome. I’m all for strong female leads and Kelsey did not disappoint. She was one of the bet PR reps in Hollywood and came to Pinesville as a favor to her long-time best friend. Kelsey did not have the best childhood, but she didn’t let it get her down. She was able to move on with her life and become successful without too much baggage holding her back. Though some of her actions seemed very sudden. It was hard to get a grasp on her character and what her motivations were because she always seemed to be contradicting herself.
Maverick was determined. Yes, he had a crap ton of baggage, but he was still striving to achieve his goals. When a video of him running his mouth goes viral, he has to majorly fix his image. It was very motivating to see how determined he was to fix things. He never backed down from a fight and stood up for what he thought was right. It was also great how dedicated he was to fixing his image. Sure, at the beginning he was just doing it to guarantee his spot as starting pitcher, but he really got into it. Plus, it helps when he’s gorgeous, hilarious, and sexy as all get out. Yes, gorgeous and sexy are too different things. :P
I did enjoy the Saving Maverick. It was a good, quick easy read that I was able to finish in about a day. I love little romances, which is why this book caught my eye. Besides the POV issue, the writing was good and enjoyable. If you’re a lover of romance, pick up Saving Maverick today!







Friday, April 01, 2016

Owl Crate Unboxing!


March Box:



What was in the box?

  • Bookworm Boutique's custom pack of pins that were exclusively made for OwlCrate!
  • Out of Print's Banned Books Socks to show that censorship won't prevent you from reading.
  • Chronicle Books 642 Tiny Things to Write About.
  • Kikkerland's Quill pen. 
  • The Serpent King by Jeff Zenter.

My Thoughts:

I absolutely adore the pins and the quill. The quill writes amazingly and the pins are super adorable. I don't know how I feel about the socks. I'm really weird and only like certain socks, so we'll see how this goes. I'm not really a writer, but it could be fun to sit down and write with fun little prompts. Or I'll give it to my English professor. I haven't heard of The Serpent King but the summary sounds good!

If you are interested in OwlCrate, sign up for their emails and purchase a box! I love getting mine every month!

 
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