A Life Bound By Books

Heidi McLaughlin, author of The Beaumont Series & Lost In You Hijacks the Blog!

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Thu, 23 May 2013 08:30:00 +0000

Thanks for stopping by. I’m pretty excited to be hijacking A Life Bound by Books! Lisa is on vacation – I’m so jelly!

Click to add to: Goodreads. This is an Adult title.

I receive questions all the time about The Beaumont Series, some I answer and some I give very vague yes or no responses too, but not this time. I asked fans to chime in and a few did, so hopefully your questions are answered.

Jennifer O asked: Will there be a story about Mason and Katelyn or at least about Katelyn moving on since there’s a one about Nick?

Let me tackle the first part – yes, Mason will have a story. I don’t have a release timeline on when this will be done, but I do plan to give Mason his story.

The second part – My Unexpected Forever is Katelyn’s story.

Katelyn W asked: Will there be a Beaumont #3, and what will the POV’s be?

Yes, there will be a Beaumont #3 and the male lead is JD aka Jimmy. Female is under wraps for now.

Greydaysohmy Fanfiction asked: Are Liam and Josie finally going to tie the knot and are there going to be more little rockstar Westbury’s?

Liam and Josie will tie the knot despite what was said in My Everything. You know how vague women can be when their ex starts asking personal questions. As for a baby… maybe.

Alana asked: Will Liam confront his father?

No, he won’t. He doesn’t feel there is a relationship to fix and he’s doing just fine with Noah on his own. There aren’t any daddy issues to deal with.

Jackie O asked: Will there be a story about Josie and Liam when they were in high school where we get the chance to meet Mason and everyone and see how they’re story really began?

Definitely for Mason, I haven’t decided if Liam and Josie will tell their story from their POV or if it will just be Mason.

Natasha D: Will we get to see some on the road/tour scenes?

Yes, the there’s a tour in My Unexpected Forever.

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope some of your questions have been answered. Please don’t forget to visit my website for more information or find me on Facebook.

If you have time, check out Lost in You, my newest release. My Unexpected Forever will be out September 1st, unless of course you’re heading to Vegas for The Naughty Mafia Rocks Vegas – check my website for more details.

Title: Lost in You
Author: Heidi McLaughlin
Publisher: May 2013
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: Ryan Stone is a less than average teenager. He doesn't have fancy clothes. He doesn't carry around the latest smartphone and he definitely doesn't have an MP3 player. Instead, he goes to school, does his chores and dreams of a new life away from Brookfield where he’s expected to follow in his blue collar family’s footsteps.

Hadley Carter is America’s Pop Princess. A successful recording artist living her dream with a sold-out tour and a handful of Grammy’s there isn't much that she wants for, except love. But finding love on the road is near impossible when all she longs for are romantic dinners, a nighttime stroll on the beach and holding hands with someone who isn't going to exploit her.

When a chance encounter introduces Ryan to Hadley, will he be like her adoring fans looking for a way in, or will it be Hadley who pursues Ryan even though it might cost her the only career she's known.

Lost in You is a story about following your dreams, taking risks and getting lost in love.

About the author:

Heidi is the author of USA Today, Digital Book World, Amazon and Barnes & Noble Bestselling novel, Forever My Girl

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell and two Parakeets.

During the day Heidi is behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, she's writing one of the many stories planned for release or sitting court-side during either daughter's basketball games.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown By: Holly Black + Undercurrent By: Paul E. Blackwell + Charm & Strange By: Stephanie Kuehn (161)

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:38:00 +0000

"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: The Coldest Girl in Coldtown
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 432 Pages (September 17th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository

Synopsis: COLDTOWN WAS DANGEROUS, TANA KNEW. A GLAMOROUS CAGE, A PRISON FOR THE DAMNED AND ANYONE WHO WANTED TO PARTY WITH THEM.

Tana lived in a world where walled cities called Coldtowns exist. In them, quarantined monsters and humans mingle in a decadently bloody mix of predator and prey. The only problem is, once you pass through Coldtown's gates, you can never leave.

One morning, after a perfectly ordinary party, Tana wakes up surrounded by corpses. The only other survivors of this massacre are her exasperatingly endearing ex-boyfriend, infected and on the edge, and mysterious boy burdened with a terrible secret. Shaken and determined, Tana enters a race against the clock to save the three of them the only way she knows how: by going straight to the wicked, opulent heart of Coldtown itself.

Title: Undercurrent
Author: Paul E. Blackwell
Publisher: HarperTeen, 320 Pages (July 23rd, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository

Synopsis: In this suspenseful teen thriller with a touch of the otherworldly, perfect for fans of Neal Shusterman, a boy goes over a waterfall and wakes up to find himself in a twisted version of the life he knew.

A shadowy figure. An intense roar. The sensation of falling—fast.

That’s all Callum Harris remembers from his tumble over the waterfall. But when he wakes up in a hospital bed and finds his best friend trying to kill him, Callum knows something is seriously wrong. Unfortunately for him, the mysteries are just getting started.

Why are his parents acting like he’s some big sports star all of a sudden? And why are all the buildings in town more run-down than Callum remembers? Worst of all...what happened to Callum’s brother? Either Callum has gone seriously crazy or something happened when he went over the falls. Something impossible. Callum needs answers, and now. Because in this twisted new version of the life Callum knew, his former best friend isn't the only one who wants to see him dead.

Filled with mind-bending suspense and unsettling thrills, Undercurrent is a grippingly paced teen debut that will pull you under and never let go.

Title: Charm & Strange
Author: Stephanie Kuehn
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin, 244 Pages (June 11th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository

Synopsis: When you've been kept caged in the dark, it’s impossible to see the forest for the trees. It’s impossible to see anything, really. Not without bars . . .

Andrew Winston Winters is at war with himself.

He’s part Win, the lonely teenager exiled to a remote Vermont boarding school in the wake of a family tragedy. The guy who shuts all his classmates out, no matter the cost.

He’s part Drew, the angry young boy with violent impulses that control him. The boy who spent a fateful, long-ago summer with his brother and teenage cousins, only to endure a secret so monstrous it led three children to do the unthinkable.

Over the course of one night, while stuck at a party deep in the New England woods, Andrew battles both the pain of his past and the isolation of his present.

Before the sun rises, he’ll either surrender his sanity to the wild darkness inside his mind or make peace with the most elemental of truths—that choosing to live can mean so much more than not dying.

I read and LOVED the novella - The Coldest Girl in Coldtown in the The Urban Fantasy Anthology. I wanted more and jumped around the house going a tad crazy when I found out this was going to be a FULL book. If you haven't read the novella, you should. Right now. I'm serious.

The other two books - Undercurrent with that yum cover! I love a good mysterious story and I think that'll fit the bill. And then the last title this week - Charm & Strange - sounds pretty mysterious too. Looking forward to all three.

What do you guys think of my choices?

*covers are always subject to change.

Blog Tour: Guest Post with Immortal Guardians author, Dianne Duvall + A GIVEAWAY!!!

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:14:00 +0000

Click the tour button to check out all the stops for the tour!

Title: Predatory (Immortal Guardians #3.5)
Author: Alexandra Ivy, Nina Bangs, Dianne Duvall, Hannah Jayne
Publisher: Zebra, 384 Pages (May 7th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository
Review: Darkness Dawns (Immortal Guardians, #1)
Review: Night Reigns (Immortal Guardians, #2)
Review: Phantom Shadows (Immortal Guardians #3)

NOTE: This is an Adult novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: Four of today's most exciting paranormal authors take readers into the thrilling realm of vampires, immortals, and other supernatural beings with a thirst for illicit desire...

Out Of Control by Alexandra Ivy

Ph.D student Angela Locke has a crush on her sexy professor, Dr. Nikolo Bartrev. When she learns he's actually a Sentinel with extraordinary powers, she joins forces with him to catch a psychopath. But soon, their hottest pursuit is of each other...

Ties That Bind by Nina Bangs

Cassie Tyler agrees to sub for her friend at the funeral home where she works. But she gets more than she bargained for when a group of men attack her and a vampire comes to her rescue. . .

In Still Darkness by Dianne Duvall

Immortal Richart d'Alençon can't forget the woman who rewarded him with a sensuous kiss after he saved her from a trio of vampires. While Richart knows that loving a human can only bring trouble, the taste of forbidden lust is too great to resist. . .

High Stakes by Hannah Jayne

When vampire fashionista Nina LaShay's design contest rival is found dead, she's the prime suspect. Sexy photographer Pike is number two. He's the kind of man who makes Nina salivate. But will she have to reveal herself to have him--and to save them both? Or does Pike have a secret of his own?

15 Things You’ll “Overhear” in My Immortal Guardians Series

Thank you, Lisa, for letting me visit A Life Bound by Books again! I’m so excited to be here today, celebrating the release of PREDATORY, an anthology that contains my Immortal Guardians novella “In Still Darkness”, along with stories by Alexandra Ivy, Nina Bangs, and Hannah Jayne!

“In Still Darkness” features Richart d’Alençon, a two-hundred-and-thirty-year-old immortal warrior who spends his nights hunting and destroying psychotic vampires. Though his brother and sister are also immortal, Richart nevertheless considers it a lonely existence . . . until he rescues charming single mother Jenna McBride and is rewarded with a scorching kiss. Unable to resist her lure (or forget that kiss), he daringly attempts what few other immortals have tried: He attempts to carry on a traditional courtship while keeping his vampire hunting profession, as well as his immortality, a secret. As you might’ve guessed, it doesn’t go very smoothly. :-)

If you’re new to my Immortal Guardians series, I thought I’d give you a glimpse of the characters through some favorite quotes. For those who are already familiar with the series, I included some sneak peeks into “In Still Darkness” and DARKNESS RISES (October 1, 2013):

1. “You stabbed me in the ass?” ~ Bastien, DARKNESS DAWNS, Book 1.

2. “I’m not antisocial. I just want to be left alone.” ~ Roland, DARKNESS DAWNS, Book 1.

3. “What kind of crack pots have you been dating?” ~ Sarah, DARKNESS DAWNS, Book 1.

4. “Um . . . is that cat bald?” ~ Ami, NIGHT REIGNS, Book 2.

5. “What did you think I would do? Ask her if I could braid her hair after we gave each other facials and painted our toenails?” ~ Marcus, NIGHT REIGNS, Book 2.

6. “Are you sure I can't talk you into leaving this old sod and running away with me? I do so love strong women.” ~ Étienne, NIGHT REIGNS, Book 2.

7. “All right. All right. Settle down. We're all glad Sarah stabbed Bastien in the ass.” ~ Seth, PHANTOM SHADOWS, Book 3.

8. "If you tell me you have two gifts and one of them is X-ray vision, I'm going to have to hurt you." ~ Melanie, PHANTOM SHADOWS, Book 3.

9. “Is this going to get weird? Like kinky weird?” ~ John, PREDATORY, “In Still Darkness”.

10. “Wow, you guys really know how to make a girl feel self-conscious.” ~ Jenna, PREDATORY, “In Still Darkness”.

11. “I am so smitten with you.” ~ Richart, PREDATORY, “In Still Darkness”.

12. “Dude, vampires threaten to feed me my own entrails all the time. You’re going to have to come up with something better than that.” ~ Sheldon, PREDATORY, “In Still Darkness”.

13. “Are you off your nut?” ~ David, DARKNESS RISES, Book 4 (October 1, 2013).

14. “Could I just say holy crap again?” ~ Krysta, DARKNESS RISES, Book 4 (October 1, 2013).

15. “Great. There goes our security deposit.” ~ Sean, DARKNESS RISES, Book 4 (October 1, 2013).

Intrigued? I hope so. Thanks so much for joining me!

Author Bio:

Dianne Duvall is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Immortal Guardians paranormal romance series. Her debut novel DARKNESS DAWNS was nominated for the RT Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance by RT Book Reviews, for Best Paranormal Romance - Vampire by The Romance Reviews, and for Best Book of 2011 by Long and Short Reviews. NIGHT REIGNS, the second book in her Immortal Guardians series, was declared an "utterly addictive" Top Pick by RT Book Reviews. PHANTOM SHADOWS, the third book in the series, was deemed a Top Pick by both The Romance Reviews and by Night Owl Reviews. DARKNESS RISES, Immortal Guardians Book 4, will be released on October 1, 2013.
When she isn't writing, Dianne is active in the independent film industry and once even appeared onscreen as a machete-wielding maniac not unlike the vampires she so loves to create in her novels.

Find Dianne online:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

GIVEAWAY!!!

One lucky winner will receive a signed copy of his/her choice of one of the first three Immortal Guardians books —DARKNESS DAWNS, NIGHT REIGNS, or PHANTOM SHADOWS — plus Immortal Guardians swag.

Rules and how to enter:

Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter this giveaway.
Name & Email Address must be provided. (Easy Entry, just click the form & it does it for you!)
You must be at least 17 years old to enter.
This giveaway is open: INTERNATIONAL!
Giveaway ends: June 10th, 2013 (12:00AM EST)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jen Frederick, author of Undeclared Hijacks the Blog!!!

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Mon, 20 May 2013 08:17:00 +0000

How I Found My Way Into New Adult Books

I didn't even realize that there weren't books about people between the ages of say 19 and 25 until New Adult books burst onto the scene a couple of years ago. And then I was all “where were these books all my reading life!”

Maybe the first New Adult book I read was “Anne of Avonlea.” She was only sixteen but she began working as a schoolteacher at the Avonlea school which is pretty new adult in my book. Plus, Gilbert goes from being the horrible boy who torments Anne to the one who can’t stop looking at how awesome her red hair is.

Another classic New Adult book is Daddy Longlegs by Jean Webster written in 1912. It’s an epistolary novel and I bring this up for a calculated reason. There are letters in my book, Undeclared, too!
Okay, enough self pimpage. In Daddy Longlegs Jerusha Abbott is an orphan whose post secondary education is funded by an anonymous benefactor. The story is told almost entirely through letters Jerusha writes to her benefactor whom she calls “Daddy LongLegs”. She ultimately falls in love with him and reveals that his anonymity was revealed to her much earlier than he thought. I first read this book after I watched the 1955 film with my mother starring Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron. My mother was a big fan of these black and white films and would rent them during the holidays.

Fast forward many years (not revealing how many) until the summer of 2013 when I read “Easy” by Tammara Webber. The sweet romantic tale of a young college girl suffering a bad breakup and an assault on her college campus was a story that I couldn't get enough of.

I went on a tear and read Colleen Hoover’s “Slammed” and “Point of Retreat.” My goodness, who knew I was a slam poetry fan? “Something Like Normal” by Trish Doller, narrated by a 19 year old Marine back on leave and having to attend his best friend’s funeral broke my heart and then knitted it back together. (*cough* like my book *cough*)

There are the super angsty reads like J. Lynn’s “Waiting for You” and Jessica Sorenson’s “The Coincindence of Callie and Kayden” and the heart wrenching emotional trilogy by S.C. Stephens “Thoughtless, Reckless, and Effortless.”

One of my favorites, though, is “Sea of Tranquility” by Katja Millay. If you told me I would love a book wherein the heroine doesn't say a single word for the first third of the book, I would have laughed at you. But Millay writes a powerful narrative about a girl who suffered a terrible random assault that crushed her dreams. It is all she can do to wake up and move each morning, let alone talk.

One thing I love about New Adult books is that it is a time that we can give our characters a little more leeway. They are learning to be responsible. They make a lot of mistakes. But they also form lasting relationships with boys and girls that will carry them into the next phase of their lives.

New Adult books are rocking my world. I've named a few of my favorite. Why don’t you recommend some for me?

Title: Undeclared (Woodlands #1)
Author: Jen Frederick
Publisher: (May 1st, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: For four years, Grace Sullivan wrote to a Marine she never met, and fell in love. But when his deployment ended, so did the letters. Ever since that day, Grace has been coasting, academically and emotionally. The one thing she’s decided? No way is Noah Jackson — or any man — ever going to break her heart again.

Noah has always known exactly what he wants out of life. Success. Stability. Control. That’s why he joined the Marines and that’s why he’s fighting his way — literally — through college. Now that he’s got the rest of his life on track, he has one last conquest: Grace Sullivan. But since he was the one who stopped writing, he knows that winning her back will be his biggest battle yet.

This is a mature New Adult book. I see that it is classified as YA - not sure how to change that - but I wanted to be clear that it has explicit love scenes in the story.

About Jen:

Jen Frederick lives in the Midwest with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She's been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com.

Find Jen Online:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Purchase Undeclared Online:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Jessica Brooks, author of Pity Isn't an Option has Hijacked the blog!!!

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:37:00 +0000

***BREAKING NEWS***

This is a breaking news announcement by your very own X at Wanless Wanderer Radio covering Wanless, California and the surrounding areas.

According to multiple sources, over forty Union meetings have been cited across the west coast over the past few days and a warning from President Seamus Kendrick himself was issued only moments ago. In that warning, President Kendrick reminded America’s citizens of their obligation to serve, saying conspiracies were by no means proof of anything solid. He also bridged the topic of recent fires igniting in towns across the state, including Perrierre and Hudsonville to the east, and acknowledged that hiding will ultimately do no one any good and the last thing he wants to do is ...harm anyone.

This will be the second time Unions have been reported as going into hiding in the past so many months, which leaves locals wondering if there is more going on than meets the eye. One anonymous source informs us here at the Wanless Wanderer that Unions are receiving leaked information from somewhere at the Capitol quarters, though no one, from the Capitol on down, is willing to say who from. If this is indeed true, it would explain the lack of willingness of volunteers for the previous years’ drafts, as Union members still hold quite a bit of clout even while they are in hiding.

Sacramento officials have been questioned regarding this matter by WW reporters but the bigs in Sacramento deny anything is going on and suggested listening more to Kendrick Radio and less to the whacko conspiracy ones.

Beyond whisperings that something else unofficial might be coming into the play over the next few weeks (an assumption many here in Wanless and other local towns have been wondering about), nothing appears to be in concrete. President Kendrick’s right hand man in our area, Mr. Tuscon Olive, affirmed during a recent interview that the only reason things appear to be worse is because people have stopped being together. That is what President Kendrick designed Markets for: a place for families to spend time with their loved ones and boost the economy by supporting local vendors.

When asked how the support appeared to be racking compared to last year’s pre-holiday season, Mr. Olive assured us that though Wanless’ finances were slightly down, it was, quote, nothing to worry about.

In the end, the real questions are no different than they were two, three years ago, folks. Where have the drafted men gone and why is Market continually pushed as so important? We asked Mr. Olive this at the end of the interview and, after a moment of silence, he gave us this answer:

Our men may be gone and I may not be able to tell you where they are, but remember this: Beyond the drafts and the lack and utter devastation many feel, it’s important to focus on what you still have. Hold your loved ones. Share your food with your neighbors. I’ve heard we’re supposed to be getting a drizzle here and there which means our water allotment might be going up so take care to conserve if you plan on having a garden. The President has many things going on, some of which I am unable to speak of, but do not doubt that he wants the best for you. His way may seem cold and calloused, but it is always in our best interest.

Upon asking if Mr. Olive if he truly believed that himself, he hung up.

Reporting live with the facts of Wanless and the surrounding territories, this has been breaking news by X

Title: Pity Isn't an Option
Author: Jessica Brooks
Publisher: 325 Pages (March 8th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords

Synopsis: Seventeen year-old Jonas Norton is trying to come to terms with what his blood disorder has robbed from him, including his two most favorite things: basketball, and competing in Hatchet Racket, Wanless’ annual hatchet-throwing contest. The facts that his father works constantly to pay for his blood tests and Jonas can actually see the disappointment in his eyes for being such a failure only make matters worse. And even worse than all of that? Jonas' own twin brother, Micah, is perfectly healthy and becoming quite the basketball player. Also, Hattie, the girl Jonas has loved for forever? She has no idea how he feels.

Sixteen year-old Hattie Akerman lives down the hill from Jonas. Though her father, Heath, tries to hide his lack of mental clarity behind the bottle and she's pretty much given up on having any kind of relationship with him, she would still rather her younger sister, Lucy, not have to deal with the consequences of his behavior. Hattie helps her mother by baking food to sell at Market and looking out for Lucy. No matter what the rest of the town says about her crazy father, Jonas sticks up for them. He is, by far, her very best friend.

As if things aren’t complicated enough already, Heath and Micah are unexpectedly drafted into President Kendrick's army (an army from which no one ever returns) just days before Thanksgiving. When Heath disappears instead of arriving at the Meeting Place to check in, Hattie and Jonas decide they’ve had enough, and take matters into their own hands. And though nothing could have prepared them for what happens next, Hattie and Jonas learn that hope can be seen in every situation. You just have to know where to look.

Find Jessica Online:

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

Waiting on Wednesday: Shutdown By: Heather Anastasiu + Goddess By: Josephine Angelini + After Eden By: Helen Douglas (160)

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:17:00 +0000

Title: Shutdown (Glitch #3)
Author: Heather Anastasiu
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin, 320 Pages (July 2nd, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository

Synopsis: The battle is all but over, and hope seems to be lost. Zoe and her fellow Resistance fighters are on the run, having lost their home, their protection, and their leader. They are outnumbered and outmatched by the powerful corporation that controls the world, and the cruel Chancellor is inches away from completing a scheme that would kill most of humanity. Zoe's only remaining option is to chase the impossible dream of upending the Link system, freeing the world from the hardware that controls their thoughts and emotions, and hope it will trigger a revolution.

The plot requires a nearly impossible mission to infiltrate the dangerous Community, and it is a task that Zoe must unfortunately complete alone. With challenges and surprises at every turn, nothing goes according to plan. Adrien's visions of the future now show two possible outcomes: one in which they succeed, and one in which humanity falls. It all lies in Zoe's hands.

Full of romance, high-adrenaline action and shocking twists, Shutdown is a heart-pounding conclusion to an exciting sci-fi adventure trilogy for young adults.
The thrilling conclusion to an action-packed sci-fi trilogy.

Title: Goddess (Starcrossed #3)
Author: Josephine Angelini
Publisher: HarperTeen, 432 Pages (May 28th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository

Synopsis: After accidentally unleashing the gods from their captivity on Olympus, Helen must find a way to re-imprison them without starting a devastating war. But the gods are angry, and their thirst for blood already has a body count.

To make matters worse, the Oracle reveals that a diabolical Tyrant is lurking among them, which drives a wedge between the once-solid group of friends. As the gods use the Scions against one another, Lucas’s life hangs in the balance. Still unsure whether she loves him or Orion, Helen is forced to make a terrifying decision, for war is coming to her shores.

In Josephine Angelini’s compelling conclusion to the masterfully woven Starcrossed trilogy, a goddess must rise above it all to change a destiny that’s been written in the stars. With worlds built just as fast as they crumble, love and war collide in an all-out battle that will leave no question unanswered and no heart untouched.

Title: After Eden (After Eden #1)
Author: Helen Douglas
Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens Books, 288 Pages (July 4th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository

Synopsis: Eden Anfield loves puzzles, so when mysterious new boy Ryan Westland shows up at her school she's hooked. On the face of it, he's a typical American teenager. So why doesn't he recognise pizza? And how come he hasn't heard of Hitler? What puzzles Eden the most, however, is the interest he's taking in her.

As Eden starts to fall in love with Ryan, she begins to unravel his secret. Her breakthrough comes one rainy afternoon when she stumbles across a book in Ryan's bedroom - a biography of her best friend - written over fifty years in the future. Confronting Ryan, she discovers that he is there with one unbelievably important purpose ... and she might just have destroyed his only chance of success.

And I'm back to three books this week. I really can't wait to see how the Glitch Trilogy ends, I've read Starcrossed and LOVED IT! Talk about some beautiful covers in that series too. And then the third title this week - After Eden - I love a good mystery and this one sounds pretty great if you ask me. So, what do YOU think of these three books? I'd love to hear in the comments.

*covers are always subject to change.

Blog Tour: Author & Character Guest Post - Click to Subscribe By: L.M. Augustine

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:30:00 +0000

Title: Click To Subscribe
Author: L.M. Augustine
Publisher: May 9th, 2013
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: 135,789. That’s how many subscribers sixteen-year-old West Ryder has on his web vlog series. But he only has eyes for one of them.

As one of the internet’s most prestigious video bloggers, West talks about high school relationships under the name “Sam Green.” As far as he knows, no one from school, not even his best friend, Cat, has seen his videos. But the highlight of the whole thing is Harper Knight, who comments every day at exactly 2:02 in the afternoon. He doesn't know anything about her aside from the occasional deep philosophical messaging on why pizza tastes so delicious, but as stupid as it sounds, he might be falling for her. So when they finally agree to meet in real life, West’s hope for romance seems more and more in reach. But that all changes as soon as he arrives at their meeting spot and sees Cat walking toward him, wearing the same “I <3 Sam Green” T-shirt Harper promised she'd have on.

To his alarm, West realizes he is falling in love with the best friend who has always been a sister to him.

Guest Post:

First off, thanks so much to Lisa for having me on her blog! I’m so excited to be here! Since my main character in Click To Subscribe has a popular vlog, she had the great idea for me to write a guest post in the style of that vlog, so I did.

To give background: in the beginning of the book, you meet West, who vlogs under the pseudonym Sam Green, and immediately you learn that he’s done probably the most inconvenient thing ever: he’s fallen in love with a girl, Harper, over the internet. I mean, he doesn't know anything about her aside from her comments on his vlog and some rather epic emails about pizza written in haiku, but as stupid as it sounds, he feels like… he needs her. Like they were meant to find each other.

So, he creates the below video equivalent of a love letter and sends it to Harper. (Just a note that this love letter vlog does not actually appear in the book. It’s an outtake, almost. If it was in the book, though, it would be in chapter one, so it’s 100% non-spoilery.)

***

Before I turn on my camera, I follow the same ritual that I always do before filming my vlogs. I sit down at my desk and face the screen, tapping my fingers against my thigh and waiting. I take a deep breath, then close my eyes for the longest time. I picture Mom again. I picture her laugh, her smile, the way she would do an entirely awful rendition of the disco whenever she beat me in FIFA. I miss her. I miss her more than anything. I miss her like I always do when I’m filming, because this camera is the only one I have left to feel close to her again.

I turn around. The rest of bedroom is small and narrow, with nothing else but fading green-painted walls and my too-small bed behind me. Sunlight streams in through my window, warming my back, and I feel oddly… peaceful.

After the longest time, I open my eyes, reach out, click play, and begin.

“Dear Harper,” I say into my camera. Yesterday, she dared me to email her a personalized love letter vlog. She didn't seem to think I would actually do it, of course, and so naturally it was for that very that I accepted. “It has come to my attention that my wooing has finally paid off and you have fallen for me,” I continue. It feels so good to physically talk to her—even if I’m the only side of the conversation. “As your wonderful knight in shining armor, I must say, I am not surprised. My immense charm, dazzling good looks, gorgeous lashes, and everything else about me, is pretty much irresistible. Not only that, but I also have excellent hair.” I suppress a smile. I always do that when I think about her. “Point being, I can’t blame you for thinking I’m wonderful (and entirely kissable.) It’s only the natural reaction when a girl sees me.”

I pause. I lean into the camera, lowering my voice a little, as if I’m about to tell her something I can barely even admit to myself. Spoiler: I am. “But, that’s not the point of this video, is it? You are the point of this video, Harper. You… you are the point of so many things in my life nowadays.” I sigh. “You know how your YouTube avatar is a picture of a cow riding a bicycle while simultaneously eating pizza? That image just proves that we were meant to be. I never thought anyone could be dorkier than I am. I was wrong, though, and I’m so glad I was.” I swallow hard, knowing what to say but not knowing how to say it. “I don’t think anyone else on the planet knows as much Harry Potter trivia as you do, and I’m sure as hell that no one is as obsessed with cows operating vehicles as you. Though I admit, it would be pretty badass to see a cow driving a Honda…”

“The point is, Harper, I met you over the internet and somehow, you've got me falling for you. Hard.” Then, I lower my voice to a whisper. “So, as the pizza said to the soda: I need you in my life.”

Without another word, I turn off the camera, email Harper the video, lean back in my chair, and realize just how much I mean it.

About this author:

L.M. Augustine is a YA romance author who is obsessed with writing about dorky teenagers, love, and happy endings. He currently lives in New England, where he spends far too much time reading books and screaming at his computer, and he believes that the solution to the world’s problems can be found in chocolate cake. Click To Subscribe is his first novel, but it won’t be his last.

Find L.M. Online:

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

L.M., thanks for stopping by and I LOVED the guest post!! Came out perfect! Can't wait to read Click to Subscribe. Thanks for everything!

2013 "New Adult" Reading Challenge!

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:37:00 +0000

At the beginning of the year I signed up for the "New Adult" Reading Challenge. Since I haven't done a post at all about it, I figured it would be perfect to set up and post while I'm away on vacation.

So, what is this challenge all about you ask? Well, it's co-hosted by my friend Tara from Tater's Tall Tails and a few other bloggers/Author(s) - Danya at A Tapestry of Words, Victoria at Confessions of a Twenty Something Fiction Writer and Barbara at Basia's Bookshelf. The object of this challenge is to read books that fit into the "New Adult" category.

Here are all the details about the challenge that I've taken from Tara's post, which you can check out by >>>CLICK HERE<<< Also it's not too late to sign up!

Here's all the rules & fun stuff right from Tara herself! Thanks for letting me borrow this Tara!

Challenge Objective: Read more books about "New Adult" novels! Books with protagonists in their late teens or early twenties (18-30 or even some mature YA books), post-graduation, fending for themselves in the adult world they have been pushed into.
Runs From: Jan 1, 2013 - Dec 31, 2013.
Books that count:

The book must feature a protagonist who is past the average age for graduation from high school (18 in most places) and all the way up to age 30.
If they're sitting on the fence at precisely age 18, then you can make the judgment call on whether it is more YA or New Adult. (If the majority of it is set in high school, I'd classify it as YA.)
The protag should be 30 or younger, just to give a maximum limit as well (otherwise we're getting into Not-So-New Adult literature!)
They don’t have to be contemporaries! Fantasy, dystopian and paranormal fans rejoice, your books count too. As long as the characters fall into the comparative age group on whatever planet or in whatever world, it works
You don’t have to have a blog to participate, but you must post your reviews somewhere accessible online (like Goodreads)

Crossover Challenge? YES

Levels

Just Graduated: Read a minimum of 5 New Adult books
Moving Out: Read a minimum of 10 New Adult books
Living On Your Own: Read a minimum of 20 New Adult books
Fully Independent: Read a minimum of 30 New Adult books

Love "New Adult"? Then SIGN UP!!!

So, I'm going for - Fully Independent: Read a minimum of 30 New Adult books

Check out my Goodreads Shelf: New Adult & New Adult Challenge Read - 2013

And here's the titles for the Challenge that I've read so far:

1. Tidal By: Emily Snow
Add to: Goodreads Purchase on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

2. If You Stay (Beautifully Broken #1) By: Courtney Cole
Add to: Goodreads Purchase on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

3. Deeper We Fall (Fall and Rise #1) By: Chelsea M. Cameron
Add to: Goodreads Purchase on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

4. Focus (The Crescent Chronicles #2) By: Alyssa Rose Ivy
Add to: Goodreads Purchase on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

5. Strength (Mark of Nexus #1) By: Carrie Butler
Add to: Goodreads Purchase on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

6. A Song for Julia (Thompson Sisters) By: Charles Sheehan-Miles
Add to: Goodreads Purchase on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

7. Picture Perfect By: Alessandra Thomas
Add to: Goodreads Purchase on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

8. REAL (Real, Raw & Ripped #1) By: Katy Evans
Add to: Goodreads Purchase on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

9. Walking Disaster (Beautiful #2) By: Jamie McGuire
Add to: Goodreads Purchase on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

10. Drowning in You (Finding Forever in Us #1) By: Rebecca Berto
Add to: Goodreads Purchase on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

11. Falling Into You (Falling #1) By: Jasinda Wilder
Add to: Goodreads Purchase on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

12. The Only Exception By: Magan Vernon
Add to: Goodreads Purchase on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

13. Broken at Love (Whitman University #1) By: Lyla Payne
Add to: Goodreads Purchase on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

14. The Space Between (Space) By: Victoria H. Smith
Add to: Goodreads Purchase on: Amazon

15. The Space Between (The Book of Phoenix #1) By: Kristie Cook
Add to: Goodreads Purchase on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

16. Suddenly Royal By: Nichole Chase
Add to: Goodreads Purchase on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

17.
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Extras to help:

Goodreads Very Own NA Genera Page, New Adult/Post HS Books, New Adult Literature, New Adult Contemporary, New Adult of 2012 (includes some good paranormal and fantasy), New Adult Dark & Gritty, Speculative New Adult Fiction, New Adult Fantasy Series’, College Romance And the best resource of them all, NA Alley.

Keep up to date and connect with other NA LIt lovers in our Reading Challenge Group (it's currently set up for 2012 but we are working on changing that soon!) Goodreads New Adult Reading Challenge Group.

Review: Pulse By: Patrick Carman

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Fri, 10 May 2013 09:00:00 +0000

Title: Pulse (Pulse Trilogy #1)
Author: Patrick Carman
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books, 384 Pages (February 26th, 2013)
From: the Publisher & Amazon Vine
Format: ARC
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: From New York Times bestselling author Patrick Carman, a teen fantasy-adventure of epic proportions. In 2051, some teens have a “pulse,” the power to move objects with their minds. Compulsively readable, with thrilling action scenes and a tender love story.

The year is 2051, and the world is still recognizable. With the help of her mysterious classmate Dylan Gilmore, Faith Daniels discovers that she can move objects with her mind. This telekinetic ability is called a “pulse,” and Dylan has the talent, too.

In riveting action scenes, Faith demonstrates her ability to use her pulse against a group of telekinesis masters so powerful they will flatten their enemies by uprooting street lights, moving boulders, and changing the course of a hurtling hammer so that it becomes a deadly weapon. But even with great talent, the mind—and the heart—can be difficult to control. If Faith wants to join forces with Dylan and save the world, she’ll have to harness the power of both.

Patrick Carman’s Pulse trilogy is a stunning, action-filled triumph about the power of the mind—and the power of love.

Review: 2.5 Stars - Pulse, the first in the new Trilogy with the same name by author Patrick Carman is a fantasy set in 2051 with characters that have abilities and a world that's vastly different from our own due to global warming.

The story follows Faith as she lives on the outside in a world that's changing every day. With the threat of the earth and all its people dying due to global warming, scientists come together to create a way to save both. Most people have moved to safety and live on the inside called "States", while people who are still trying to live a life free in what remains, choose to reside outside. Everything on both sides is run via tablets. Kind of like the tablets we have today. They go to school, watch TV, movies, shop, communicate, etc all by these devices. It's a very tech world, though the outside is crumbling and isn't cared for.

Faith is somewhat nerve wracking for me throughout the book. I often wondered what the heck was wrong with her or why on earth she did so many of the things that she chose to do and I think by the end of the story I somewhat understood why she was so naïve. Oh and could she have picked the most evil, nasty guy to have a crush on? I mean seriously, there was one scene that I was so upset over and I wanted to throw the book. It really made me want to scream!

Speaking of the evil jerk - Wade he was just ugly! He made my skin crawl and if I could I would have kicked him in the shins, slapped him up one side of his head and down the other I would have and then some. I mean seriously!!! And then there's Hawk and Dylan that I liked the most yet even they had their moments that made me wonder what the heck? There are some seriously creepy or even creeper moments that were just so wrong on so many levels.

While I was able to give this book 2.5 stars it's because there were a few moments here and there throughout the book that I did enjoy. Some that could have even been amazing if not for how slow the story went, how creepy multiple characters were for no reason and for how upsetting one scene was and that I was confused more than once about what the heck was going on and why? That's just to name a few things. *takes a deep breath* Yeah, that is a lot of things to not like and be frustrated about. And I HATE when that happens to a book I'm looking so forward to.

Also, I kept waiting and waiting for the budding romance to start and that I assumed would be in the story yet was sad when it never blossomed. I kept hoping but just continued to be let down on that part. One thing I should mention is that I did read an ARC copy so maybe that's why I was left confused because the book isn't actually 100% finished. Not sure either way.

All in all, I wanted to love Pulse. I tried to love it from beginning to end and it just fell flat because of the reasons stated above. While I can see some great potential for the trilogy and the characters, I'm not sure this one is for me. Will I read the next book in the series? I might just to see if I can figure out what the heck was supposed to be going on and why? Only time will tell if I'll give the next book a shot, so we'll see what the future brings.

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.

Cameron's Cats from What the Cat Read Hijack the Blog!!!

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:32:00 +0000

Cats and Books – A Universal Connection

Greetings walking can openers with legs! This is your feline overlords speaking. We have highjacked this blog in order to discuss a very important subject with you. Our topic: Cats and Books. More importantly, how you cannot have one without the other.

Yes, we felines have been a part of shaping literature since the beginning of time, it’s one of the reasons we were worshiped as gods after all. When the first human created the very first story, it was with the gentle guiding paw of a feline muse. Okay, maybe it wasn't exactly “gentle.” It was more like a swat with claws extended, but you get the idea.

Don’t believe us? Check out this article that one of you wrote not so long ago about a medieval manuscript found with cat paw prints inked on the pages: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/03/130326-animals-medieval-manuscript-books-cats-history/ Now we must admit that we find the heading to be rather misleading as this particular feline wasn't “curious” about the manuscript at all. He was actually checking to make sure that the scribe was writing down the correct text as dictated by the cat himself. But this goes to show that you humans often miss the greatness that is Felis catus. =^.^= Anyways, we cats have always been there helping your favorite authors write those books that you love so dearly. We've perched on the arm chairs of some of the greatest authors the world has ever know. We've criticized the early drafts of Jean Paul Sartre, Edward Gorey (who by the way wrote an entire book dedicated to the greatness that is Cat), Neil Gaiman, and many more! Behind every great author, there’s an equally greater cat. For a list of some of our favorite authors to work with, check out this site: http://www.buzzfeed.com/summeranne/30-renowned-authors-inspired-by-cats

We've shared our story ideas with writers everywhere, and sometimes we've dictated entire manuscripts to help their cause. But do we get any of the credit? No. The glory goes to the human authors, and we don’t begrudge this lack of acknowledgement. Well, not much anyways. Sure, we've occasionally left a reminder to a few authors who have allowed their fame to go to their heads that it was one of us who made that fame possible. It’s amazing how a simple hairball inside of a shoe or the head of a mouse on the pillow next to you can remind you that we are also deserving of praise. But for the most part we are happy to provide readers with wonderful works of literature.

Yes, when we aren't planning world domination, we are helping authors write. When they agonize over a scene, we are there to help plot it out. When they stare at a blank page, we help them overcome their writer’s block and provide them with the inspiration they need to keep going. It really is the least that we can do. Another one of our little missions has been to help guide readers towards those books we feel will provide you with the most enjoyment or help aid in furthering your growth of knowledge. When we knock a book off a shelf it’s because we want you to read it. And when we lay down in the middle of whatever it is you are reading, it isn't because we are demanding attention, it’s because we want to talk with you and make sure you understand the message within that book’s pages.

So remember, the next time you get upset at one of us for chewing on your favorite copy of Pride and Prejudice or get creeped out by those long intent stares that we like to throw your way, it’s not because we are seeking to destroy things or kill you. It’s because we want you to read what we have helped bring forth into this world, because really, how else are we going to subliminally guide your entire race?

Find Cameron & her Felines Online:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Waiting on Wednesday: Insomnia By; J.R. Johansson + Canary By: Rachele Alphine (159)

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Wed, 08 May 2013 07:01:00 +0000

Title: Insomnia (The Night Walkers #1)
Author: J.R. Johansson
Publisher: Flux, 360 Pages (June 8th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository

Synopsis: It’s been four years since I slept, and I suspect it is killing me.

Instead of sleeping, Parker Chipp enters the dream of the last person he’s had eye contact with. He spends his nights crushed by other people’s fear and pain, by their disturbing secrets—and Parker can never have dreams of his own. The severe exhaustion is crippling him. If nothing changes, Parker could soon be facing psychosis and even death.

Then he meets Mia. Her dreams, calm and beautifully uncomplicated, allow him blissful rest that is utterly addictive. Parker starts going to bizarre lengths to catch Mia’s eye every day. Everyone at school thinks he’s gone over the edge, even his best friend. And when Mia is threatened by a true stalker, everyone thinks it’s Parker.

Suffering blackouts, Parker begins to wonder if he is turning into someone dangerous. What if the monster stalking Mia is him after all?

Title: Canary
Author: Rachele Alpine
Publisher: Medallion Press, 400 Pages (August 1st, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository

Synopsis: Staying quiet will destroy her, but speaking up will destroy everyone.

Kate Franklin’s life changes for the better when her dad lands a job at Beacon Prep, an elite private school with one of the best basketball teams in the state. She begins to date a player on the team and quickly gets caught up in a world of idolatry and entitlement, learning that there are perks to being an athlete.

But those perks also come with a price. Another player takes his power too far and Kate is assaulted at a party. Although she knows she should speak out, her dad’s vehemently against it and so, like a canary sent into a mine to test toxicity levels and protect miners, Kate alone breathes the poisonous secrets to protect her dad and the team. The world that Kate was once welcomed into is now her worst enemy, and she must decide whether to stay silent or expose the corruption, destroying her father’s career and bringing down a town’s heroes.

Canary is told in a mix of prose and verse.

Two must read books in this weeks WoW and yet again two that couldn't be more different from one another. What do you guys think of the two books I've picked this week?

*covers are always subject to change.

Blog Tour: Character Profile, Indy from - GAME. SET. MATCH. By: Jennifer Iacopelli + A GIVEAWAY!!!

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Tue, 07 May 2013 08:02:00 +0000

Title: Game. Set. Match. (Outerbanks Tennis Academy #1)
Author: Jennifer Iacopelli
Publisher: Coliloquy, LLC, (May 1st, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: Nestled along the coastline of North Carolina, the Outer Banks Tennis Academy is the best elite tennis training facility in the world. Head Coach, Dominic Kingston has assembled some of the finest talent in the sport. From the game's biggest stars to athletes scraping and clawing to achieve their dreams, OBX is full of ego, drama and romance. Only the strong survive in this pressure cooker of competition, on and off the court.

Penny Harrison, the biggest rising star in tennis, is determined to win the French Open and beat her rival, the world’s number one player, Zina Lutrova. There’s just one problem, the only person who’s ever been able to shake her laser-like focus is her new training partner. Alex Russell, tennis’s resident bad boy, is at OBX recovering from a knee injury suffered after he crashed his motorcycle (with an Aussie supermodel on the back). He's hoping to regain his former place at the top of men’s tennis and Penny’s heart, while he’s at it.

Tennis is all Jasmine Randazzo has ever known. Her parents have seven Grand Slam championships between them and she’s desperate to live up to their legacy. Her best friend is Teddy Harrison, Penny’s twin brother, and that’s all they've ever been, friends. Then one stupid, alcohol-laced kiss makes everything super awkward just as she as she starts prepping for the biggest junior tournament of the year, the Outer Banks Classic.

The Classic is what draws Indiana Gaffney out of the hole she crawled into after her mom’s death. Even though she’s new to OBX, a win at the Classic is definitely possible. She has a big serve and killer forehand, but the rest of her game isn't quite up to scratch and it doesn't help that Jasmine Randazzo and her little minions are stuck-up bitches or that Jack Harrison, Penny’s agent and oldest brother, is too hot for words, not to mention way too old for her.
Who will rise? Who will fall?

Told from rotating points of view, GAME. SET. MATCH. is a 'new adult' novel about three girls with one goal: to be the best tennis player in the world.

Character Profile:

Indiana “Indy” Gaffney

The Outer Banks Classic is what draws Indiana Gaffney out of the hole she crawled into after her mom’s death. Even though she’s new to OBX, a win at the Classic is definitely possible. She has a big serve and killer forehand, but the rest of her game isn't quite up to scratch and it doesn't help that Jasmine Randazzo and her little minions are stuck-up bitches or that Jack Harrison, Penny’s agent and oldest brother, is too hot for words, not to mention way too old for her.

Age: 17

Birthday: November 8th

Height: 5’10”

World Ranking: N/A

Born: Los Angeles, California

Achievements:

16 & Under Western Regional Jr. Champion

California High School State Champion

Myers Briggs: ENFP

Warmly enthusiastic and imaginative. See life as full of possibilities. Make connections between events and information very quickly, and confidently proceed based on the patterns they see. Want a lot of affirmation from others, and readily give appreciation and support. Spontaneous and flexible, often rely on their ability to improvise and their verbal fluency.

Song: It’s Time - Imagine Dragons

Author Bio:

Jennifer Iacopelli was born in New York and has no plans to leave...ever. Growing up, she read everything she could get her hands on, but her favorite authors were Laura Ingalls Wilder, L.M. Montgomery and Frances Hodgson Burnett all of whom wrote about kick-ass girls before it was cool for girls to be kick-ass. She got a Bachelor's degree in Adolescence Education and English Literature quickly followed up by a Master's in Library Science, which lets her frolic all day with her books and computers, leaving plenty of time in the evenings to write and yell at the Yankees, Giants and her favorite tennis players through the TV.

Find Jennifer Online:

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

GIVEAWAY!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Info: Ways to Follow A Life Bound By Books

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Mon, 06 May 2013 07:30:00 +0000

Hey everyone! I've been thinking about doing a post sharing all the different ways you can follow - A Life Bound By Books and I figured now would be the perfect time for it.

There are a few different ways you can follow along with the blog, other than Google Friend Connect and that's what I wanted to talk about today.

Subscribe by email: One of the best ways to follow along to is subscribe by email. On the right had side of the blog, under Google Friend Connect you'll see a box that you can enter in your email address and when a new post goes live, you'll get an email showing what's new on the blog! Enter your email address, click the "Subscribe" button and a window will pop up asking you to enter in a code. You just have to do this once, so don't worry! Once that's finished you'll receive an email asking you to confirm your subscription. Once you've done that, you'll receive emails keeping you up to date on everything here at A Life Bound By Books.

Follow via Bloglovin': With the somewhat recent news all hitting us that Goggle is disposing Google Feed Reader many of us have been looking for other ways to promote our blog. After hearing others talk and checking things out I've gone with "Bloglovin'". It's easy to use and is pretty straight forward. Want to follow along too? There's a handy, easy to use link on the right side bar, also under the Google Friend Connect. Follow A Life Bound By Books on: Bloglovin'

Twitter: I'm also on Twitter!! Love Twitter. Also, I have my blog connected to my Twitter account so any and all posts will be Tweeted with a link. You can find me on Twitter: @BoundByBooks. Let's chat!

Goodreads: I'm on Goodreads. I use it all the time. It's a great utility for me as a reader, if only to find books I'd otherwise never hear of and for keeping track of what I read... it works for me. Not to mention it's another way to chat with my fellow book lovers, so I use it and I use it often. Be sure to send me a Friend request there and let me know you found me there via my blog! Find me at: Goodreads

Now, I have a question for you guys. I am not currently on Facebook. My blog isn't on Facebook either. I haven't wanted to create an account because it's hard enough for me sometimes to keep up with everything so I've not wanted to add another thing to my plate. Should my blog have a Facebook account? And if so, is this something that I'd need time to maintain? I have no clue guys and I need your help! So, let me know in the comments! Thanks!

I hope you'll all take a minute or two and make sure you're following A Life Bound By Books in the way(s) that make things easier for you. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to comment below or send an email. I'd be happy to help.

Review: The 5th Wave By: Rick Yancey

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Fri, 03 May 2013 10:38:00 +0000

Title: The 5th Wave (The Fifth Wave #1)
Author: Rick Yancey
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile, 480 Pages (May 7th, 2013)
From: the Publisher via Amazon Vine
Format: ARC
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: The Passage meets Ender’s Game in an epic new series from award-winning author Rick Yancey.

After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

Review: 4.5 Stars - The 5th Wave by author Rick Yancey is a fantastic must read for anyone who loves sci-fi with a fascinating and heartbreaking story that shows incredible strength in teenage characters under some of the worst (EVER) circumstances’.

For this reader, The 5th Wave was a no brainer must read title. I’m a fan of sci-fi and anything with aliens scares the crap out of me. Yes, aliens are at the top of my freak out in a panic list. So, being the reader that I am I often look for books that’ll freak me out. Books that can bring out emotions or emotional reactions are the best and The 5th Wave did just that and more than once. Oh and that cover, more than fitting for the first in a thrilling new series.

Each wave that hit before the 5th is terrifying, and the 5th itself – wow – just the thought of each gave me the creeps. Yancey does a wonderful job in conveying what his female protagonist – Cassie – is going through. How she survived is beyond me but she was driven and strong in ways that shocked me and made me love her as a female lead character. I mean, she’s alone and there’s no one to trust and has to face things over and over again, your heart just breaks for her. Her inner dialogue was often haunting and made what was bound to be a creepy story for me even more terrifying.

Who to trust when you don’t know who your enemy is? Who to look for to help when those whom you thought were on your side do the unthinkable? With so many unknowns in Cassies’ present and future the strength she finds in herself to keep going wore me out mentally.

The surprising thing about this title for me was that it’s told in multi points of view and I almost jumped for joy at the chance to read this book from the different character voices. With the aliens arrival and then soon after so many of the earth’s population dead… the survivors are spread far and wide so hearing what others are facing or dealing with during this catastrophic event added so many unique layers to an already overflowing tale.

Even walker is mysterious and has his own side of the story. Dealing with questions only he can answer was a pleasure to read. You wonder who he is and as Cassie begins to peel back the layers to Evan, we learn more of him as a character and in turn the two try to find solace in the possibilities of what the world and its people have become. Talk about hard to do when you question everyone and everything around you.

Then there’s Ben, another Point of View who finds an outlet for his revenge fueled rage to those who took something from him that he was supposed to protect. His part of the story was shocking and scary in a whole different way that added even more to an already impossible situation and to the story as a whole. There are other secondary characters in the novel that Yancey built his story around. It’s all the different characters and voices that help build Cassie’s story from beginning to end. I was never overwhelmed in the slightest with the changing points of view, I welcomed it because I never knew what to expect!

There is a lot of death in this title, but there has to be for this type of story that Yancey has masterfully created. He wrote words that seek deep into you, burrowing down until you are so consumed and emotionally invested and attached to these characters’ that there’s simply no turning back.

All in all The 5th Wave has left a lasting impression on me that started from the first page – which happened to be one of the most creepy first pages I’ve ever read – right on through until the heart wrenching, fast paced explosive last few pages. I am extremely impressed with Yancey’s writing, story and voices he found for his characters. Also the character emotions he was able to weave for them throughout such a well crafted book was impressive. I loved this book. I highly recommend this one and I am thoroughly excited (more than words can express) and looking forward to the next books that follow in this amazing, fantastic and compelling series.

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.

Rachel from Fiktshun has Hijacked the blog!!!

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Thu, 02 May 2013 09:30:00 +0000

So the rumors are true! I really didn't believe them until I showed up here at A Life Bound By Books and saw it with my very own eyes. But they’re true!!!

Lisa’s blog has been hijacked.

Oh my gosh! I am so excited... I mean, I’m so worried about Lisa. If her blog has been taken over by a bunch of rogue book bloggers then where is she? If she were okay she never would have let us have a free-for-all on her blog. Lisa’s way too much the professional for that.

I've been told that she’s on a “family vacation” but I have my own theories about where she really is and it most certainly isn't on vacation. After all, Lisa knows that there is no such thing as a break for us tireless book bloggers. And she never would have taken a break from reading. I've seen pictures of her bookshelves, she’s way too much of a book addict for that.

And... she would never have let me take over her blog for a second, let alone a day. I do have a tendency to cause mischief. Or ramble on endlessly, much to many a reader’s chagrin.

But here I am. And here she’s not. So I’m going to take full advantage.

And I’m going to share exactly what I think happened to Lisa which led to the opening up of her book blog’s proverbial doors.

First, let me let you in on a little secret. That expression “getting lost in a book” isn't just an expression. No. It’s true. As any avid reader will tell you, every so often someone they know gets lost in a book.

That’s right. The story grabs hold and pulls them right in. Sometimes at the story’s end they’re allowed to return to their lives. Other times... well... they’re so caught up by the story that they never return. And they’re only seen again when the book goes into a second printing... or if it does.

Well that’s what I believe happened to Lisa. It was no family vacation that caused her to leave her book blog unattended. To be taken over. To be hijacked. No. Lisa is organized. She’s a planner. If she were truly going on vacation she’d have prepared and scheduled posts to cover those days of her absence. And she wouldn't truly be absent.

But to allow days and weeks to go by without even a peep... well, that’s not like Lisa at all. Which only reinforces my belief that she was swallowed up by one of the tomes she had been perusing.

As I hadn't been closely following Lisa’s reading piles immediately prior to her disappearance, I am not certain where to even begin to guess.

I can only hope she wasn't reading Julie Kagawa’s THE ETERNITY CURE. While Lisa may very well have the skills to survive as an Unregistered, things have taken a bit of a darker turn in this sequel. And I’m not confident of Lisa’s fortitude to withstand all the horrors that have befallen New Covington. Even if she does manage to make it through, the series doesn't end with this book, which means it could be awhile before she’d be allowed to return.

And I hope she hasn't gone back in time to the world of shadowhunters and downworlders in Cassandra Clare’s CLOCKWORK PRINCESS. Because there is just too much of a temptation to remain in that world with those characters. And as Lisa is quite familiar with life across the pond, she just might not want to return to reality and her book blog. She may even choose to stay lost in that world until such time as Jace, Clary, Simon, Alec and Isabelle make their appearance.

Maybe, just maybe, she’s lost in Brodi Ashton’s EVERBOUND with the Everlivings. Trapped in a maze that is fraught with peril. Or perhaps she’s decided to try and save Varen Nethers in Kelly Creagh’s ENSHADOWED, a book she’d been anxious to read. But a world that dark would be nearly impossible to escape, so I hope she’s not lost there.

Hopefully she’s lost in a romance, though her appearance would potentially turn a love story into a love triangle and that would make it a bittersweet or even tragic one. And I know Lisa wouldn't want to get in the way of anyone’s happily ever after. So, I suppose I hope she’s not lost in that type of story either.

Well... I could go on guessing, but I don’t think I’ll ever know, unless or until Lisa decides to reappear, the book decides to release her, or her name becomes etched forever on the story’s pages in a subsequent printing.

I will just keep my fingers crossed for her safety and her safe return. And I’ll grin just a little bit because I got the chance to take over her lovely blog for a day, even if it is without her permission.

And no, I am not in the least bit ashamed that I have hijacked A Life Bound By Books. It’s just so pretty here. If I could, I’d stay just a little bit longer. But there is a code amongst thieves.

Before I go, though, I just want to say one thing to Lisa...

Lisa, whatever book you are lost in, in whatever world you’re navigating, with whatever friends and foes you encounter, I hope it’s one that you are enjoying enough to make the fact that your blog has been hijacked not quite so upsetting.

And if you do return with a vengeance against those who have taken over your little space on the interwebs, I seriously hope that no one taught you how to use a katana, a broadsword or crossbow. And I really hope you know how awesome I think you are.

Find Rachel Online:

Fiktshun | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Tumblr

It's vacation time! Liverpool or BUST!

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Wed, 01 May 2013 07:30:00 +0000

Using last years horrible graphic again lol

So, it's that time of year again. Tomorrow afternoon I'll be on my way to the airport for the long, long journey from Southern California to Liverpool! We can't wait, we can't wait, WE CAN'T WAIT!

We have a long day ahead of us, door to door it's almost 24 hours and who knows if we'll be facing even more delays due to the furloughs and cut backs at airports across the country. On top of an 8 hour time difference to get used to, but it's all worth it. This year we'll be gone a little longer than we have in the past which is always great when we're talking about a vacation.

I miss the city that has become my second home and my family there so I can't wait to see everyone and everything. SO EXCITED!

While I'm away, I'll be on twitter (@BoundByBooks so be sure to follow me there) and in email on and off during my time away. I also have some posts planned. Might not be as much as I have been for the last few months but I'm trying to set up enough posts for at least a few or more a week.

When I get back in June you can look for content to pick right back up again and some much needed maintenance My blog has been suffering for so long from my slacking that I just need to take some time to update a lot of things here, so hang tight guys! Also when I return I'll be hosting my annual UK giveaway!! YAY!!! I love doing that and I look forward to it every year.

Please keep your fingers crossed for us that we're not delayed too long, I don't want us to miss our connecting flight in Heathrow and I hope you all have a wonderful May! See you in June!

Waiting on Wednesday: Levitating Las Vegas By: Jennifer Echols + Icons By: Margaret Stohl (158)

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Wed, 01 May 2013 07:07:00 +0000

Title: Levitating Las Vegas
Author: Jennifer Echols
Publisher: Pocket Star, 300 Pages (May 7th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble

Synopsis: Nothing up her sleeves...or so she’s been led to believe.

Showgirl Holly Starr is sick and tired of assisting her dad, a celebrity magician, in his Las Vegas casino magic show. As soon as he keeps his promise to her and shares the secrets to his tricks, she can break out on her own. But can she really make it? For years Holly has taken medication to stave off crazy hallucinations that she can levitate objects. Just when she thinks she’s ready to make a career and a life for herself, her medicine—and her luck—run out.

Elijah Brown suffers from a similar delusion—that he can read minds—and he’s out of medicine too. Determined to save himself and his old flame Holly, he kidnaps her and takes her straight to the source, a town high in the Rockies where their medicine is made. What they discover there leads them to suspect their powers are not imaginary after all...and neither is the intense attraction they feel for each other.

They make a pact to stick together as they return to Vegas to confront the people who kept them in the dark so long. But soon they’re pitting their powers against each other in a dangerous world where the nightlife is seductive, domination is addictive, the sex is beyond belief...and falling in love is murder.

Title: Icons (Icons #1)
Author: Margaret Stohl
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 448 Pages (May 7th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository

Synopsis: Your heart beats only with their permission.

Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.

She's different. She survived. Why?

When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy.

Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths.

Bestselling author Margaret Stohl delivers the first book in a heart-pounding series set in a haunting new world where four teens must piece together the mysteries of their pasts -- in order to save the future.

Another two books this week - Levitating Las Vegas by Jennifer Echols. Anything by her, I'll read. She's an author buy/read author. Then, Icons... sounds like the start to a pretty epic series. Can't wait to read both! Thankfully I won't have to wait too much longer.

*covers are always subject to change.

Release Day - Review: No Attachments By: Tiffany King

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:30:00 +0000

Title: No Attachments
Author: Tiffany King
Publisher: A.T. Publishing LLC, 302 Pages (April 30th, 2013)
From: the Author
Format: eARC
Add to: Goodreads

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: ** Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations, language and mature subject matter **

Ashton Garrison walked away from a privileged life in order to hide from the one thing she's not willing to face. She knows she left behind a trail of pain, but in the long run, her betrayal will hurt less than the truth. She now has one goal: Live life to the fullest with no regrets and no attachments. She has high hopes that a move to new surroundings will provide the escape she desires, but what Ashton doesn't count on is how fate always seems to find a way to screw up any good plan. Sometimes, when love comes knocking, the pull is too strong not to answer. Suddenly, what she thought she wanted to escape from is what Ashton now wants more than anything.

Nathan Lockton has one mission: find his target and complete the task he was hired to do—no attachments and no emotion necessary. He's done it over and over again. What he thought was a typical lost-and-found job has turned into a life examining moment as Nathan is forced to deal with something he has always ignored--his feelings. Now faced with a decision, Nathan must choose to either follow his heart or complete the job.

Love can come when you least expect it. The question is: If the odds are stacked against you, how far are you willing to go for the one you love?

Review: 4 Stars - Author Tiffany King’s latest title, No Attachments is another welcomed contemporary in the ever exciting “New Adult” category. Two characters with secrets, hiding from their pasts meet and form a mutual beneficial relationship with often hilarious, laugh out loud results.

Ashton doesn't want to face some of the uglier sides of her life so she packs up some things and leaves. Wanting nothing more but to vanish for awhile and live her life without fear. She is determined and secretive and with the friendship of two girls in the small town she’s moved to is looking for a one night stand. She doesn't want love or attachments but she’s never had a one night stand. That’s when the perfect stranger walks into the bar.

Nathan is just as mysterious as Ashton and the banter between the two on that first meeting was laugh out loud funny. Often throughout the book I caught myself laughing uncontrollably and I have to say, it was a pleasant surprise! Anyone who can make me laugh like I did deserves props, *bows down* to King for writing some amazing one liners & conversations.

I loved Nathan. I loved Ashton and Nathan together. They were both dealing with their pasts and unknowingly changed the other. Nathan might be there to do a job, but he’s finding out that his past rules aren't always as easy to follow as they used to be. Ashton makes him question these rules and his feelings on attachments. Nathan might just be the guy to crack through Ashtons’ tough armor and vise versa.

One part of the book that I loved – besides the characters and the writing and how funny it was, was the whole play on words when it comes to “Riding a Bike”. Every time the two characters talked about this subject I was giddy. I also liked how perfectly un-perfect King made her characters. Neither was someone I couldn't relate to and I loved how personable and real they were. There was nothing over the top about any part of this story and that was a pleasure to read.

The twist to the story I didn't see coming until it was pretty much upon us. I was just so wrapped up in the story that I didn't even bother to try to guess. Once I figured out what was going on and saw more of both of their pasts it didn't faze me one bit that I figured it out.

All in all, I loved this book! When I finished the book, I wasn't ready for the ending. I wanted to keep reading and to stay in the world that King had created for Ashton and Nathan. I wanted to be that fly on the wall to see what was next for the two. I’m thrilled that I read this novel. I could see myself rereading in the near further. This might be my first title by King but it won’t be my last. I’m looking forward to reading more from her in the future, I can’t wait! Anyone who loves a great contemporary should check out this title, you’ll laugh, you’ll swoon and you’ll love these two characters just like I have. Enjoy!

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.

Cover Reveal: Until I Break By: M. Leighton

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 07:02:00 +0000

Title: Until I Break
Author: M. Leighton
Publisher: M. Leighton Books, (May 2013)
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: In love, sometimes what you fear most is exactly what you need.

Laura Drake is an author. She writes bestselling paranormal romances that continue to top the charts. She is sharp. She is confident. She is in control.

And she doesn’t exist.

Samantha Jansen is the woman behind the wig, the woman most of the world doesn’t know exists. She is shy. She is insecure. She is nothing like her main character or her alter ego. She is scarred—deeply scarred—by a past she can’t let go of and a present she can’t make peace with.

Samantha’s dreams are consumed by one man, the broken hero from her books. Mason Strait is both her wildest fantasy and her most terrifying nightmare.

When Samantha meets Alec Brand, a corporate consultant, it is as though Mason has come to life. Alec is handsome to a fault, as elegant as he is arrogant, and more intense than any man has a right to be.

Samantha is soon sucked into a world that mirrors the fiction she writes. Just like her main character, Daire Kirby, Samantha finds herself unable to resist the forbidden lure of Alec. And just like Daire, she also finds that she is faced with taking a chance on a man who could either set her free or destroy her.

The scale tilts toward destruction when Samantha finds out that Alec is as much a work of fiction as Mason. And he has scars of his own, scars that could ruin them both.

OMGOSH! I can't wait to read this book!!! Love Michelle's stories and characters so I'm always extremely excited to read more new and exciting things from my friend! Love the cover and I can't wait to meet Samantha & Alec!

About Michelle:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

Find Michelle Online:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Order Michelle's Books Online:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Cover Reveal & Excerpts: All My Life By: Rucy Ban + A GIVEAWAY!!!

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 08:30:00 +0000

Title: All My Life
Author: Rucy Ban
Publisher: 155 Pages (May 7th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Kari meets Neil Mars. “Neil as in Armstrong and Mars…as in Bruno.” A boy who beats every vampire, werewolf, highlander fantasy Kari has ever had. But she knows she can’t get close to him. Not ever. Because that would mean telling him everything. Coming clean. And Kari can’t bear the idea of changing the way Neil looks at her. Like she’s the only girl in the world. His reverence is something too precious to lose. Perhaps even at the cost of losing him.

But Kari doesn't know why Neil calls her his ‘Angel’ and when she finds out, she realizes what love is all about. Boundless joy, unending longing and a fuckload of heartache.

Excerpts:

“I can take care of myself,” I tell him.
His lips twitch in response. “Oh, I’m sure you can, little shrub.”
“You are warned!” I take my voice down a notch and point my ring at him, “I’ll tunnel your leathery knighthood right out of this galaxy!”
Neil suddenly halts in his tracks and pins me down with his eyes. “Batman vs. Green Lantern? Batman wins. Every. Single. Time.”
“Ohmygod! So not true. In the…”
He cuts me. “One word…yellow.” I stare at him with my mouth half-open.
“‘Nuff said,” he says smugly and then tugs on my hand.

******

Maybe I’ll forget this feeling someday. Maybe it’ll just be reduced to a memory made up of a flickering gas heater, the salty dew of his skin and the love in his dark, inky eyes. This feeling of pure unadulterated joy. Of reaching a high so potent that your spirit feels like it’s soaring across the universe…and falling from that glorious peak only to find yourself enveloped in someone’s warm caring hands. When you feel like you’ve just died or been born, right at the same time.

It could be that I’ll forget this feeling someday. But I’m sure it won’t be anytime soon. Maybe when I’m a hundred and looking forward to my lunch of mashed bread. Not one single day before.

Author Profile:

Rucy Ban was born in 1978 and still continues to thrive. Ever since she first met Francine (the protagonist of her favorite novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn), Rucy fell in love with the written word. Rucy has a B-school degree in Marketing which she now puts to good use teaching lovable rowdy rogues and negotiating with her equally belligerent adolescent. In her previous avatar, she handled corporate communications for companies. At present, Rucy lives in Sao Paulo, travels often, speaks decent, if not quite fluent, Portuguese and really hates talking about herself in third person.

Find Rucy Online:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY!!!

Win an ARC (epub/mobi) of ALL MY LIFE and $35 as Paypal credit (INTL)!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Review - The Space Between By: Victoria H. Smith

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 14:36:00 +0000

Title: The Space Between (Space, #1)
Author: Victoria H. Smith
Publisher: 324 Pages (March 2, 2013)
From: the Author & Purchased from Amazon
Format: eBook
Age Group: New Adult Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tour organized by: AToMR Tours
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: When Drake started the night at his father’s campaign fundraiser, he never imagined he’d end it being conned into buying drugs on the West Side. Losing high-stakes poker has its consequences, but he’d repeatedly face them just to hear Lacey Douglas sing. Drake sees Lacey light up the stage, and he has to have her. But his intentions for being on her side of town turn out to be the reason he can’t.

Chicago native Lacey has dreams of the opera, but life has its obstacles. Lacey has come to know her hardships as part of living in the real world and accepts them fully. When Lacey meets the intense and invigorating Drake, a fire is lit inside her, unleashing those dreams again.

Two paths that should have never crossed prove to create the exact pairing the other needs. But when their worlds take time to catch up, everything they have is tested. Finding the space between the two sides that challenge them will be hard, but it’s the only place that will keep them together.

The Space Between is a new adult contemporary romance.

Review: 3 Stars - The Space Between by author Victoria H. Smith is a contemporary “New Adult” title that tells the tale of when two people from different sides of town meet and the relationship that follows.

Drake and Lacey are so different from one another. Where they were born, raised and their lives that surround them. Drake comes from a privileged life and Lacey from the rougher side of town. When the two meet it’s as if there was a magnetic pull for the pair and that fate had brought them together. However, things quickly spin out of control and they are forced to take some huge steps back to assess things apart instead of together.

However when fate is involved it’s never that easy. And when I finished this novel I believed that fate was what brought these two together.

Both Drake and Lacey were hard for me to relate to. It wasn't often that I felt connected to them and they were two characters that I had a hard time getting a clear picture of in my head. I did like how strong they were and how they both affected each other’s lives. One thing I loved about Drake is that he knew what he wanted and fought for it and he rarely backed down. One thing I loved about Lacey was that she cared for her ailing mother and found a way to take what she wanted out of her life and went after it. The two have issues throughout the story, being from two different sides of the tracks, their relationship was bound to be an uphill battle.

While the book itself was well written and I liked the overall story, it wasn't what I was expecting. Being that it was hard for me to relate to the characters and visualize them in my head was a real bummer. I must give Smith props for the strong emotions I had for a few secondary characters and any author who can bring out such frustration and anger like I held for three of them I applaud.

I did enjoy the relationship Drake had with his younger sister Adele. She was someone who loved him unconditionally and he needed that in his family. She was sweet and somewhat naive but I believe Lacey helped her grow up while she was in her life.

All in all, I enjoyed this title and am looking forward to seeing what happens next for Drake and Lacey. I was excited to hear that there will be more to their story. I’ll be interested to see where they both end up and will be on the lookout for it in the future. Being that this is my first title from Smith, I’ll also be looking forward to reading more of her other works as well. I would recommend this title to those who enjoy a good contemporary “New Adult” title.

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.

Blog Tour: Spotlight - The Space Between By: Victoria H. Smith + A GIVEAWAY!!!

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 10:12:00 +0000

Title: The Space Between (Space, #1)
Author: Victoria H. Smith
Publisher: 324 Pages (March 2, 2013)
Age Group: New Adult Genre: Contemporary Romance
Tour organized by: AToMR Tours
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: When Drake started the night at his father’s campaign fundraiser, he never imagined he’d end it being conned into buying drugs on the West Side. Losing high-stakes poker has its consequences, but he’d repeatedly face them just to hear Lacey Douglas sing. Drake sees Lacey light up the stage, and he has to have her. But his intentions for being on her side of town turn out to be the reason he can’t.

Chicago native Lacey has dreams of the opera, but life has its obstacles. Lacey has come to know her hardships as part of living in the real world and accepts them fully. When Lacey meets the intense and invigorating Drake, a fire is lit inside her, unleashing those dreams again.

Two paths that should have never crossed prove to create the exact pairing the other needs. But when their worlds take time to catch up, everything they have is tested. Finding the space between the two sides that challenge them will be hard, but it’s the only place that will keep them together.

The Space Between is a new adult contemporary romance.

Book Trailer:

About the Author:

Victoria H. Smith has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. She puts it to good use writing romance all day. She resides in the Midwest with her Macbook on her lap and a cornfield to her right. She often draws inspiration for her stories from her own life experiences, and the twenty-something characters she writes give her an earful about it.

In her free time, she enjoys extreme couponing, blogging, reading, and sending off a few tweets on Twitter when she can. She writes new adult fiction romance in the sub-genres of science fiction, urban fantasy, and contemporary, but really, anywhere her pen takes her she goes.

Find Victoria Online:

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY!!!

(1) Signed Print Copy of The Space Between – US Only (2) The Space Between Necklaces and (5) The Space Between Key Chains – US Only addresses US/Canada

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Review - The Space Between By: Kristie Cook

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:30:00 +0000

Title: The Space Between (The Book of Phoenix #1)
Author: Kristie Cook
Publisher: Ang'dora Productions, LLC, 393 Pages (April 5th, 2013)
From: the Author
Format: eARC
Add to: Goodreads

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: When Life Falls to Pieces, Answers Lie in the Space Between

After a month-long dance tour through Italy, 20-year-old Leni Drago returns to Georgia to care for her great-uncle, only to find him gone, the home they shared empty and any evidence he ever existed wiped out. All that’s left is a journal she can’t open.

Jeric Winters has been searching for a piece of his past for over a year, only to reach a dead-end in Georgia. When an urgent and magnetic pull draws him out of his hotel room, he comes face-to-face with the beautiful dancer who’s been haunting his dreams day and night.

Jeric’s one to stay away from—a bad-boy, hit-it-and-quit-it type—but Leni can’t escape the fervent feelings between them. As their own existences begin to crumble around them and shadowy forms that are more monsters than men attack, they realize there’s more to the connection between them than physical fascination.

To solve the riddle their lives have become, they must embark on a journey that requires them to face their pasts and release their true souls. And they must do it fast—dark ones from another world are closing in, intent on killing them. Permanently.

Review: 5 Stars - The Space Between, the first title in the new and exciting The Book of the Phoenix Series by author Kristie Cook is in a word – STELLER! Cooks first title in the ever popular “New Adult” category tells a story within a story. The plot, characters, twists and turns and the romance left this reader instantly begging for more.

It’s not often when I find a book that I’d like to give 5+ stars too after just the first few pages. When this tends to happen my feelings for the book usually change by the time I’ve finished reading. Not this time! Cook has done it by leaps and bounds with this one. From the start I was so curious and wrapped up in the story that I often found myself holding my breath. There was no guessing what was about to happen next to the characters, or where Cook would lead readers to from page to page adding to the magic in this story.

I’ve been a HUGE fan of Cook’s previous works – The Soul Savers Series and I couldn’t wait to see what else she had been creating outside of those characters that feel more like family to me with every novel. This didn’t even come close to letting me down!

Okay, I need to calm myself a bit and talk about the characters. We have Leni and Jeric, strangers who have a chance meeting that leads them into other chance meetings. You need to read this story to understand more about how these two come together! Leni is talented and caring and loves her uncle who she lives with and takes care of and Jeric is a bad boy from head to toe and everything in between. Both couldn’t be different from one another yet they have things in common, like issues from their pasts that they must deal with if they are to figure out things that are quickly changing in their lives.

I LOVE these two characters!!! Jeric… I’m calling dibs!

I could go on and on about how amazing and beautiful this book is for days. The characters have a spot in my heart where they’ll stay for a nice long while. I’m telling you all, Cook knows how to write some layered characters and stories that have so much to offer the reader.

This one is also written in Multi POV’s and you get the feeling of such a well rounded story because of it. How the story plays out on the page and the chapters is very satisfying and I could say more about this but the surprise I had, I will leave for you….

The book is filled with twists and turns and some epic battles of good vs. evil and… If you could see me right now I’d have just been flailing my arms around - because The Space Between is JUST.THAT.GOOD.AND.THEN.SOME.

I hate when I love a book so much that I’m unable to properly express my feelings other than to say.. READ THIS BOOK! You will love it like I do. I highly recommend this title to anyone and everyone who is looking for something that’ll stick with you from beginning to end. With characters that’ll leave you breathless, writing and words that flow right off the page just, Enjoy!

Kristie, you have out did yourself again and I am so excited to have had the pleasure of reading another one of your novels. Those who haven’t found you yet don’t know what they’re missing. Now, gimmie the next book! LOL

This is a “New Adult” title so if you are 17 years or older, give it a try and thank me later…

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.

Blog Tour: Interview with Kristie Cook, author of The Space Between + A GIVEAWAYS!!!

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:12:00 +0000

Title: The Space Between (The Book of Phoenix #1)
Author: Kristie Cook
Publisher: (April 5th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: When Life Falls to Pieces, Answers Lie in the Space Between

After a month-long dance tour through Italy, 20-year-old Leni Drago returns to Georgia to care for her great-uncle, only to find him gone, the home they shared empty and any evidence he ever existed wiped out. All that’s left is a journal she can’t open.

Jeric Winters has been searching for a piece of his past for over a year, only to reach a dead-end in Georgia. When an urgent and magnetic pull draws him out of his hotel room, he comes face-to-face with the beautiful dancer who’s been haunting his dreams day and night.

Jeric’s one to stay away from—a bad-boy, hit-it-and-quit-it type—but Leni can’t escape the fervent feelings between them. As their own existences begin to crumble around them and shadowy forms that are more monsters than men attack, they realize there’s more to the connection between them than physical fascination.

To solve the riddle their lives have become, they must embark on a journey that requires them to face their pasts and release their true souls. And they must do it fast—dark ones from another world are closing in, intent on killing them. Permanently.

Interview:

Kristie!!! My friend, I've missed you TONS!! I’m bloody ecstatic to have you here on my blog. It feels like it’s been forever and it probably has. Thanks for stopping for a chat about your latest and greatest – The Space Between, the first book in The Book of Phoenix series! (Review to post soon)

Thank you for having me! It’s always a pleasure to be here. I've missed you loads, too!

So, you have quite a few books under your belt now with the Soul Savers series – that I LOVELOVELOVE!

*blush* Thank you!

Can you talk about where the idea for The Space Between came from and the differences between writing the two series’?

The idea for TSB came from a dream my husband had when we were on a motorcycle trip in 2011. He didn't remember the details or the “why” about what was going on, but I took notes about his dream and my imagination ran with it. This new series, The Book of Phoenix, has a few similarities with Soul Savers – soul mate kind of love, good versus evil – but it’s also very different. In The Space Between, we have multiple viewpoints and two time periods (present day and 1989). Writing those pushed me out of my comfort zone of the single POV in Soul Savers (although Genesis gave me a taste of two narrators and writing from a guy’s POV, it was nothing like this). I’d done so many false starts with this book since 2011 that once I started writing it “for real” in November 2012, it just poured from me. The book wanted to be written.

Is it at all difficult to switch gears between the two stories and characters? And if not, what was the most difficult part in writing this novel?

My biggest fear was not being able to pull it off. I've read books with multiple POVs and stories, and it’s easy for the reader to become disoriented. Some authors do it very well, but many times, the books are confusing and difficult to read. So this was definitely a challenge for me. I couldn't come up with any better way to tell the story, though, so I had lots of beta readers to make sure I didn't lose the reader. The feedback has been wonderful, so I guess I pulled it off successfully. *grin* The other difficult part was writing from Jeric’s POV – he’s a guy, a potty-mouthed player, and to make it really interesting, deaf. I worked a lot on his part of the story to make him as real as possible (with some help from my 17-20 year old sons and their friends).

Can you tell us a bit about what we can look forward to in The Space Between and also a bit about Leni and Jeric?

Most common phrase so far: “Mind blown.” Or “Blown away.” The Space Between is really different than most books out there with all kinds of twists and a unique plot. I guarantee you won’t know where the title comes from until you get there. Leni gives the impression of being laid back and carefree, but she doesn't take crap from anyone and you’ll discover more under her surface as the story moves along. Jeric, on the other hand, is a “what you see is what you get” character and what you see is quotes like, “I don’t do girlfriends, unless they’re somebody else’s.” However, he does hide some heart-wrenching secrets. But part of the twisty plot is the story of another couple – Jacey and Micah, a fiery redhead punk girl and an ex-Marine with heartbreaking pasts, too. I really love this story – there is so much to it that all I can really say is “Please check it out.”

How about sharing a favorite line or two?

“Who goes out of their way to catch a falling object and then can’t even say ‘you’re welcome’?” I asked absent-mindedly as I stared after the retreating body that rivaled Alberto’s. No, scratch that. It totally beat out Alberto’s even on his best day.
“What an ass,” Alberto muttered.
“Rude, yes, but I don’t know if I’d go that far.”
“No, I mean what an ass that man has.” He let out a low whistle.

What are three things we don’t know or won’t know about both Leni and Jeric after reading?

Leni – She’d planned to attend Emory University in Atlanta but still hadn't decided whether to open a dance studio or go into medicine; her favorite colors are gold and blue; and Ghost is her first pet.

Jeric – He used to be able to play almost any song on nearly any instrument by ear; he loves snowboarding; and he likes to read (though he’d never admit to it).

For this new series, The Book of Phoenix, where do you see your characters over the next few years?

Oh, they have lots in store for them. New people to meet, souls to help and missions to accomplish, all while trying to keep their own bond intact.

And lastly, with the release of The Space Between, what are you working on next? And, when can I read it???

Haha – you know! Soul Savers Book 5! I do have a title, but I’m not allowed to release it yet. It’s due out on June 21st. Not long!

Thanks for hanging out Kristie. I promise to not be a stranger and I hope things going amazingly well on your UK Tour! Still so bummed out that I’ll miss seeing you in Liverpool by 2 weeks!! How that happened, I have no idea. Love ya tons!!!

I know, it’s such a shame we missed each other! The UK tour was fabulous. I hope you have a good time in Liverpool. Thank you for hosting me (again). And thank you to everyone for giving The Space Between a go!

About Kristie Cook:

Kristie Cook is a lifelong, award-winning writer in various genres, from marketing communications to fantasy fiction. She continues to write the Soul Savers Series, a New Adult paranormal romance/contemporary fantasy, with the first four books, Promise, Purpose, Devotion and Power available now and the next book coming in June 2013. She’s also written a companion novella, Genesis: A Soul Savers Novella, currently available. Over 200,000 Soul Savers books have been sold, with Promise peaking at #54 on the Amazon Top 100 Paid list and at #1 in the Amazon Fantasy category.

The Space Between kicks off her second New Adult paranormal series, The Book of Phoenix.

Besides writing, Kristie enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and riding on the back of a motorcycle. She has lived in ten states, but currently calls Southwest Florida home with her husband, three teenage sons, a beagle and a puggle.

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Cover Reveal: Untouched By: Melody Grace + A GIVEAWAY!!!

noreply@blogger.com (A Life Bound By Books) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:09:00 +0000

UNTOUCHED by Melody Grace
Publication date: May 14th

Emerson Ray is trouble. Juliet knows it the minute she lays eyes on Cedar Cove’s resident bad boy. Forced to spend her summer before college in the sleepy beach town, she never expected to crash into the most devastating guy she’s ever met—or for Emerson’s blue eyes to strip through her dark secrets, and make her feel a desire she’s never known. Their connection is undeniable, but Juliet is torn. She knows, once she gives him everything, there’ll be no turning back.

Juliet McKenzie is dangerous. Emerson can tell from the way she blows through all his defences, laying bare the demons he’s carried alone all his life. He’s left a trail of broken hearts and empty beds in his wake, but Juliet is different. Her innocence is intoxicating—and the passion she keeps hidden, just below the surface. He wants to be the only one to set it free, but with every kiss, he’s closer to losing control and doing the one thing he swore he never would: fall in love.

One summer. Two damaged hearts. Their story is only just beginning…

UNTOUCHED is a prequel novella to the USA Today Bestselling UNBROKEN. It also can be read as a stand-alone story.

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