Literary Cravings

School Hiatus and Return

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:42:00 +0000

Hey everyone! I know that I haven't been posting in a while and that was due to being extremely busy with school. I am finishing up my last semester of college, wow I can't even believe the time has come! So all of my focus has been on making sure I graduate but I've just finished up with finals and will graduate with a BFA in Graphic Design this Sunday. YES!! But I just wanted to let you all know whats been happing with me and to thank you all for hanging in there through my hiatus. Know that I'm back and you will see a lot more action here on Literary Cravings!!

Adult Romance Author Interview: Maya Banks

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 05:34:00 +0000

From Maya Banks Website

About Maya

Maya Banks lives in Texas with her husband, three children and assortment of cats. When she's not writing, she can be found hunting, fishing or playing poker. A southern girl born and bred, Maya loves life below the Mason Dixon, and more importantly, loves bringing southern characters and settings to life in her stories. ~Goodreads

Thanks so much for stopping by Literary Cravings. If you could sum up Rush in four words, what would they be?

Sexy, fun, intense, emotional

In the beginning, what or who spoke to you first? The story or the characters?

Definitely the characters. I had a very clear view of Mia’s character and how she reacted in a number of situations.

Why Romance? What do you love about the genre?

I’ve always loved romance. I can’t imagine writing or reading any other genre. I love emotional, gut wrenching stories focused on relationships.

Was there any scene or part in Rush that was challenging to write? And if so how did you get through writing it?

The entire book was challenging to write. Every book is. It’s very hard to get down on paper the way I see a story in my head. I’m very painstaking when writing each scene and I will often edit it numerous times before moving on to the next.

Is there another genre you'd like to explore? If so, what appeals to you about that genre?

I don’t have any desire to write outside the romance genre!

Rush is the first book in the Breathless Trilogy. What was it about Gabe and Mia’s romance that made you want to write their story first?

They were the first characters to come to me. It wasn’t until later that Jace and Ash’s characters formed in my mind so it was only natural that I tackle the characters that were strongest in my mind.

Thank you for taking the time to talk!

Thanks for having me! xoxo

Maya Banks Latest Romance

Gabe, Jace, and Ash: three of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the country. They’re accustomed to getting anything they want. Anything at all. For Gabe, it’s making one particular fantasy come true with a woman who was forbidden fruit. Now she’s ripe for the picking...

When Gabe Hamilton saw Mia Crestwell walk into the ballroom for his hotel’s grand opening, he knew he was going to hell for what he had planned. After all, Mia is his best friend’s little sister. Except she’s not so little anymore. And Gabe has waited a long time to act on his desires.

Gabe has starred in Mia’s fantasies more than once, ever since she was a teenager with a huge crush on her brother’s best friend. So what if Gabe’s fourteen years older? Mia knows he’s way out of her league, but her attraction has only grown stronger with time. She’s an adult now, and there’s no reason not to act on her most secret desires.

As Gabe pulls her into his provocative world, she realizes there’s a lot she doesn’t know about him or how exacting his demands can be. Their relationship is intense and obsessive, but as they cross the line from secret sexual odyssey to something deeper, their affair runs the risk of being exposed—and vulnerable to a betrayal far more intimate than either expected. ~ Goodreads

Feature & Follow

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 03:52:00 +0000

This Week's Question

What is the last book that kept you up late into the night just to finish it??

Twenty-year-old Camryn Bennett had always been one to think out-of-the-box, who knew she wanted something more in life than following the same repetitive patterns and growing old with the same repetitive life story. And she thought that her life was going in the right direction until everything fell apart.

Determined not to dwell on the negative and push forward, Camryn is set to move in with her best friend and plans to start a new job. But after an unexpected night at the hottest club in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, she makes the ultimate decision to leave the only life she’s ever known, far behind.

With a purse, a cell phone and a small bag with a few necessities, Camryn, with absolutely no direction or purpose boards a Greyhound bus alone and sets out to find herself. What she finds is a guy named Andrew Parrish, someone not so very different from her and who harbors his own dark secrets. But Camryn swore never to let down her walls again. And she vowed never to fall in love.

But with Andrew, Camryn finds herself doing a lot of things she never thought she’d do. He shows her what it’s really like to live out-of-the-box and to give in to her deepest, darkest desires. On their sporadic road-trip he becomes the center of her exciting and daring new life, pulling love and lust and emotion out of her in ways she never imagined possible. But will Andrew’s dark secret push them inseparably together, or tear them completely apart?

This story grabbed me and didn't let go, it was just so intense and engaging!

Check out my review!

So what was your book? Leave your comment and link so I can check it out!

Book Review/Giveaway: Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 06:47:00 +0000

Website: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher: Egmont USA
Published: January 22, 2013
Source: Media Masters Publicity for honest review

There are people in this world who are Nobody. No one sees them. No one notices them. They live their lives under the radar, forgotten as soon as you turn away.

That’s why they make the perfect assassins.

The Institute finds these people when they’re young and takes them away for training. But an untrained Nobody is a threat to their organization. And threats must be eliminated.

Sixteen-year-old Claire has been invisible her whole life, missed by the Institute’s monitoring. But now they’ve ID’ed her and send seventeen-year-old Nix to remove her. Yet the moment he lays eyes on her, he can’t make the hit. It’s as if Claire and Nix are the only people in the world for each other. And they are—because no one else ever notices them. ~Goodreads

The synopsis of the story really pulled me in. I really enjoyed Jennifer Lynn Barnes Raised By Wolves series so I was really interested in reading Nobody. It focuses on teens called Nobodies. They have ability of not really being seen by anyone including loved ones. They are easily forgotten and with that can come terrible loneliness or the ultimate power.

In Nobody we see the double edge sword of both of these scenarios. Claire is oblivious to her power and fighting the loneliness and Nix is brought up to hone his power becoming an assassin. Things really heat up when Nix and Claire's world suddenly collide.

I really enjoyed the adventure that Nix and Claire went through. It was so unique and compelling that I was constantly flipping the page to find out what would happen next. I’m familiar with many supernatural creatures like vampires, werewolves, fey and so their powers were interesting to get to know and understand how they worked.

Jennifer Lynn Barnes did a great job keeping me in suspense and keeping my attention. There was danger and intrigue with Nix and Claire finding out who they really were while staying alive in the process.

The connection that Nix and Claire found with each other was a nice element within the story. Though that connection was a instant it took time to grow and became more as their situation developed. I really felt for them and what they had to go through. Claire and Nix were deep characters that I related and connected with. I was rooting for them from the beginning.

I really enjoyed Nobody, with the interesting plot line, adventures, compelling characters, and romance. I'm looking forward to reading more from Jennifer Lynn Barnes.

Author photograph © Marsha Barnes

Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Jennifer Lynn Barnes (who mostly goes by Jen) was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has been, in turn, a competitive cheerleader, a volleyball player, a dancer, a debutante, a primate cognition researcher, a teen model, a comic book geek, and a lemur aficionado. She's been writing for as long as she can remember, finished her first full book (which she now refers to as a "practice book" and which none of you will ever see) when she was still in high school, and then wrote Golden the summer after her freshman year in college, when she was nineteen.

Jen graduated high school in 2002, and from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science (the study of the brain and thought) in May of 2006. She was awarded a Fulbright to do post-graduate work at Cambridge, and then returned to the states, where she is hard at work on her PhD. ~From Author Website

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Feature & Follow

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 03:01:00 +0000

This Week's Question

WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE VILLAIN FROM A BOOK?

I have to say one of my favorite villain from a book would have to be Lord Voldemort or He Who Must Not Be Named. He was just so evil with no redeeming qualities at all and kept me guessing through out the story with what evil deeds he did next. He was a true villain and I loved to hate him.

So who is your favorite villain?

Waiting On Wednesday: Young Adult, New Adult, Adult Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Publisher: Entangled Teen
Being Published: April 2nd 2013

He makes good girls...bad.

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence has made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple, weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big, red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal opportunity collector and doesn’t want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within 10 days.

Dante doesn’t know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky, Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect—he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector, and uncover emotions deeply buried. ~goodreads~

Why The Collector? This sounds like a edgy, sexy and intense read. Can't wait for this!!

New Adult

Publisher: Self-Published

Being Published: February 26th 2013

It had been three weeks, four days and twelve hours since I’d seen her. Since she’d torn my heart out. If I had been drinking, I’d blame it on the alcohol. It had to be an illusion; a desperate one. But I hadn’t been drinking. Not a drop. There was no mistaking Blaire. It was her. She was actually here.

Blaire was back in Rosemary.
~goodreads~

Why Never Too Far? I've read and loved Fallen Too Far and I can't wait to see where Blaire and Rush story goes!!

Adult

Publisher: Self-Published
Being Published: March 15th 2013

For Abby Renard, the plan was supposed to be simple—join her brothers’ band on the last leg of their summer tour and decide if she’s finally ready for the limelight by becoming its fourth member. Of course, she never imagined stumbling onto the wrong tour bus at Rock Nation would accidentally land her in the bed of Jake Slater, the notorious womanizing lead singer of Runaway Train. When he mistakes her for one of his groupie’s, Abby quickly lets him know she sure as hell isn't in his bed on purpose.

Jake Slater never imagined the angel who fell into his bed would resist his charms by promptly kneeing him in the balls. Of course, the fact she seems like a prissy choir girl makes her anything but his type. So he is more than surprised when after betting Abby she wouldn’t last a week on their tour bus, she is more than willing to prove him wrong. But as Jake’s personal life begins to implode around him, he finds an unlikely ally in Abby. He’s never met a woman he can talk to, joke with, or most importantly make music with.

As the week starts comes to a close, neither Abby nor Jake is ready to let go. Can a sweetheart Country songstress and a bad boy of Rock N Roll actually have a future together?
~goodreads~

Why Music of the Heart? This sounds sexy and the conflict sounds like its gonna be fun!!

So Whats Your Waiting On Wednesday?

This meme is hosted by Jill from Breaking The Spine

Feature & Follow

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 06:41:00 +0000

This Week's Question

IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONE SUPERNATURAL BEING/CREATURE TO REALLY EXISTS WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

I would have to say witches because they are such versatile beings in what they can and can't do.

Literary's Week

Book Reviews

Fight With Me by Kristen Proby

Arise by Tara Hudson

The Edge of Never by J. A. Redmerski

Thanks for stopping by!

Book Review: The Edge of Never by J. A. Redmerski

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:03:00 +0000

Author Website: J. A. Redmerski
Series: The Edge of Never
Publisher: Self Published
Genre: New Adult Romance
Source: Bought

Twenty-year-old Camryn Bennett had always been one to think out-of-the-box, who knew she wanted something more in life than following the same repetitive patterns and growing old with the same repetitive life story. And she thought that her life was going in the right direction until everything fell apart.

Determined not to dwell on the negative and push forward, Camryn is set to move in with her best friend and plans to start a new job. But after an unexpected night at the hottest club in downtown North Carolina, she makes the ultimate decision to leave the only life she’s ever known, far behind.

With a purse, a cell phone and a small bag with a few necessities, Camryn, with absolutely no direction or purpose boards a Greyhound bus alone and sets out to find herself. What she finds is a guy named Andrew Parrish, someone not so very different from her and who harbors his own dark secrets. But Camryn swore never to let down her walls again. And she vowed never to fall in love.

But with Andrew, Camryn finds herself doing a lot of things she never thought she’d do. He shows her what it’s really like to live out-of-the-box and to give in to her deepest, darkest desires. On their sporadic road-trip he becomes the center of her exciting and daring new life, pulling love and lust and emotion out of her in ways she never imagined possible. But will Andrew’s dark secret push them inseparably together, or tear them completely apart?

~Goodreads

Cover Views

I like the composition with the girl’s over the shoulder profile and that the photo was monochromatic. I’m ok with the type; I like how the word never stands out. After reading the story in the end I get the intensity and angst that encompasses the story. As well as showcasing Camryn. Does the cover do its job? I say yes.

Literary's Views

After seeing so many positive reviews about this book I have to say that after reading The Edge of Never they were totally right. This book was indeed amazing. I love a good life discovering road trip!

The Edge of Never took the idea of road trip to a whole other level and I loved every moment of it. The story was filled with so much adventure and intrigue that I was totally immersed in the story.

Camryn and Andrew really brought the story to life for me. Camryn and Andrew were compelling, well-developed characters with intriguing individual personalizes that I enjoyed getting to know. Things got much more interesting when they interacted and the development of their relationship from casual strangers, to friends to lovers. Not only did I enjoy watching their relationship grow into something more, I enjoyed how they addressed and helped tackle each other’s skeletons, ultimately growing as characters.

The dual point of view was a great way to tell the story, allowing me to get a deeper understanding and connection with the characters.

Now the romance was really steamy. From the first time that Camryn and Andrew met there was a clear connection. I enjoyed the slow build up of their relationship and how it blazed with they finally got together.

Overall

Overall The Edge of Never turned out to be a very entertaining story with interesting complex characters, steamy romance all set with an awesome road trip filled with drama and character growth that had me interested at what would happen next. J. A. Redmerski is now on my radar and I look forward to reading more from her.

Want It? Buy It!

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Let's Talk

So what did you think of Edge Of Never?
Do you like road trips?
Have you've ever went on one? If so where was the coolest place you went to? If not where would you like to go?

I want to know your thoughts so leave a comment!

Book Review: Arise by Tara Hudson

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 05:50:00 +0000

Author Website: Tara Hudson
Series: Hereafter
Publisher: HarperTeen
Published: June 5, 2012
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Source: Received from Edelweiss for honest review

New Orleans
Saint Louis
Number One Cemetery
A night there can change a life . . . or a death.

Increasingly worried that dark spirits will carry out their threats and hurt the people she cares for most, Amelia is ready to try anything to protect them. And for his own very different reasons, Joshua has come to this cemetery at midnight to join her in a powerful ritual.

Both know that once Amelia steps inside the Voodoo circle and the beautiful girl from the Conjure CafE begins the cere-mony, everything will change.

~Goodreads

Cover Views

This cover totally fits the story. Love the dark and mysterious feel and the elements gives you look inside the story.

Literary's Views

FYI: lf you haven't read the first book Hereafter, I advise that you do or else this review will be way spoilery. If you have then proceed, it just gets better.

The first story in the series Hereafter was so good. I mean the fact that a ghost and a human fell in love and all the drama that started had me captivated. So naturally I was worried that the second book wouldn't live up to the first. To my relief Arise totally passed the second book syndrome test. There was more drama, more action and more romance all set in an awesome location New Orleans. It’s rich with history and culture and was the perfect setting for Arise.

I loved that Amelia and Joshua's drama gets much more intense as Amelia tries to find away for her relationship to work leading her into the deeper into spirit world. While Joshua tries to bring a balance in Amelia's life (or should I say afterlife) and his. Fighting to keep Amelia's love and some semblance of a normal life.

The danger that Eli presented in Hereafter was just the beginning. Things got a lot more a darker and edgier as they went deeper into how to make their relationship last.

Both Joshua and Amelia had to face some important questions and in gaining those answers both of them had to grow and mature as characters. There is no instant happily ever after which I loved, making the story more realistic and interesting.

Overall

Hereafter was all about discovery. Discovery of an afterlife, discovery of the past, and discovery of love. Now Arise is the continuation of all those elements with even more buildup of drama, romance and action. I can't wait to see how Amelia and Joshua will maintain their love and what crazy adventures Tara Hudson with throw at them. Like I said before if you've read and loved Hereafter, don't worry Arise delivers.

Let's Talk

So what did you think of Arise?

Did you think that it passed the second book syndrome?

What did you think about Joshua and Amelia’s growing journey?

Think their love will last?

What do you think would happen next?

I want to know your thoughts so leave a comment!

Book Review: Fight With Me by Kristen Proby

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 09:34:00 +0000

Website: Kristen Proby
Series:With Me In Seattle
Publisher:Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Published:December 30, 2012
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Bought

Jules Montgomery is too busy and content with her life to worry about a man, especially one Nate McKenna. If growing up with four brothers has taught her anything, she knows to stay away from sexy men with tattoos and motorcycles. That goes double if he's your boss. During the one incredible night they shared, he violated the no fraternization policy...among other things, and it won't happen again. Jules won't risk her career for mind-blowing sex, no matter how much her body and her damn heart keep arguing with her.

Nate McKenna could give a shit about the no fraternizing policy. He wants Jules and he'll have her. The rules could bend around them, or be damned. He's not a man to be taken lightly, and Jules Montgomery is about to find out just how he responds to being pushed aside after the best night of sex he's ever had. She can fight all she wants, but he'll have her in his bed in the end. ~Amazon

Thoughts

Loved the chemistry between Nate and Jules. When they got together it was spicy hot sexiness! There were no doubt the feelings they had for each other from the beginning of the story to the end. Right from the beginning I was thrusted into Nate and Jules steamy romance, which made a great start to the story and what happen to their relationship from there was what kept me interested.

Now reading the synopsis I thought that this book was gonna be a no holds bar, drag out fight for love between two strong determined characters. Nate, the strong hot boss not caring about the office policies and fighting to be with Jules anyway. Jules hesitant and resistant of their love because of the risk she was taking with her career on a relationship that she didn’t know would workout in the long run.

Don’t get me wrong, Nate and Jules were indeed strong well rounded characters. I Particularly loved when Nate let his alpha male show a bit when ever Jules ran which had me wanting Jules to run more. I greatly enjoyed when their stubbornness collided. Though I wished there were a bit more resistance between them, drawing out their desire for each other even more making the fight for their love more gratifying and it would have given a bit more balance with the multitude of steamy love scenes, which I loved.

The danger element behind Nate and Jules's secret office romance was a huge positive for me. The fact that they were having a romantic relationship against company policy, putting both of their very successful careers in jeopardy added delicious drama. It made the story much more juicier and I love a juicy story. Though Jules and Nate were stressed hiding their relations during work I felt that could have been played up with more office scenes adding extra drama to get my blood pumping with their potential of getting caught.

Overall

Fight With Me was a great story filled with such hot steamy romance that it left me greatly entertained. Though I wanted even more drama and resistance within the romance it didn't deter from the story. There was enough spice to leave me happy. Would I recommend this story? Heck Yea!

Adult Book Feature Laura Kaye Blog Tour for One Night with a Hero

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Thanks to Literary Cravings for hosting the blog tour celebrating my newest contemporary romance, One Night with a Hero. I have a hot excerpt and a fun giveaway to share with you:

About One Night With A Hero

He wants just one night…

After growing up with an abusive, alcoholic father, Army Special Forces Sgt. Brady Scott vowed never to marry or have kids. Sent stateside to get his head on straight—and his anger in check—Brady’s looking for a distraction. He finds it in his beautiful new neighbor’s one-night-only offer for hot sex, but her ability to make him forget is addictive. Suddenly, Brady’s not so sure he can stay away.

…what they need is each other.

Orphaned as a child, community center director Joss Daniels swore she’d never put herself in a position to be left behind again, but she can’t deny herself one sizzling night with the sexy soldier who makes her laugh and kisses her senseless. When Joss discovers she’s pregnant, Brady’s rejection leaves her feeling abandoned. Now, they must overcome their fears before they lose the love and security they’ve found in each other, but can they let go of the past to create a future together?

~provided by author ~Book is for Mature Readers~

Purchase One Night With A Hero: Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Kobo

Excerpt

*For Mature Readers, Sexual content*

Something cool hit Brady in the face.

His laughter died in his chest and he gaped up at Joss as whipped cream sagged across his eye.

And then he was in motion.

Brady dove for her and she screamed and bolted into the kitchen.

He grabbed her around the waist and hiked her against him. “Gimme that,” he growled, reaching around for the can.

“No,” she squealed through her laughter. A stream of whipped cream covered his arm.

“You little…” He made another grab and ended up with a handful of soft, warm breast. His cock came alive against her squirming body.

She gasped and attempted to twist away, sending off another stream of whipped cream that landed in both of their hair. They were laughing and panting so hard their words were more gibberish than not. Funny as it was, there was no denying that his body was also reading something else into their horseplay. Something that involved cleaning her off with his tongue.

He swiped his thumb across her breast and groaned at the feeling of her rigid nipple pushing against the cotton that separated them. “Joss,” he groaned, pushing his hips into her lower back.

She moaned and ground back.

He’d so not intended this. But, damn.

His mouth found a line of cream on her neck and sucked. Delicious. Her natural taste and scent of peaches mixed with the sugar to create an absolutely irresistible treat. “Even sweeter now.” Her head sagged back against his shoulder and the feeling of her melting into him made his jeans painfully tight. “Tell me to stop,” he whispered before dragging his tongue through the cream on her jaw.

“I can’t.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to.”

Brady growled against her skin, her words taunting him to give in. He traced his fingers down her belly and Joss moved her arms to let him. When he removed the Reddi-wip from her grip and sat it on the counter, she grinned over her shoulder at him. He devoured her in a kiss, loving the sweet enthusiasm of her mouth, the slip and slide of the little metal piercing, as he undid the button and zipper on her shorts.

Yeah, he was going there all right. And, suddenly, her tongue wasn’t the only thing he needed to taste.

Giveaway

One commenter will win a courage heart necklace inspired by the book! Just leave a comment with your email address and a favorite line from the excerpt! Or ask Laura a question! Open to international! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

See the whole One Night with a Hero Tour here and enter Laura’s $50 Gift Card Giveaway here! And please consider voting for HER FORBIDDEN HERO (Heroes #1) for Sizzling Read of the Year! THANKS!

“Laura Kaye is synonymous with great, sexy romance.”

~NYT Bestselling Author Jennifer Probst

About Laura Kaye

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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Easy Blog Tour: Tammara Webber Exclusive Content

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:00:00 +0000

About Tammara Webber

Author of New York Times and Amazon bestseller Easy and the Between the Lines series. Reading was one of her earliest loves, and writing soon followed. In high school she wrote sad romantic poetry and penned her first half-novel when she was nineteen (and accidentally destroyed it when she stuffed it into the shredder at work). Before becoming a full-time writer, she was an undergraduate academic advisor. She's a hopeful romantic who adores novels with happy endings, because there are enough unhappy endings in real life. Tammara lives in Texas with her husband and too many cats.
~provided by author's novel

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About Easy

A girl who believes trust can be misplaced, promises are made to be broken, and loyalty is an illusion. A boy who believes truth is relative, lies can mask unbearable pain, and guilt is eternal. Will what they find in each other validate their conclusions, or disprove them all?

When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup two months into sophomore year. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she's single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, and failing a class for the first time in her life.

Leaving a party alone, Jacqueline is assaulted by her ex's frat brother. Rescued by a stranger who seems to be in the right place at the right time, she wants nothing more than to forget the attack and that night--but her savior, Lucas, sits on the back row of her econ class, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. Her friends nominate him to be the perfect rebound.

When her attacker turns stalker, Jacqueline has a choice: crumple in defeat or learn to fight back. Lucas remains protective, but he's hiding secrets of his own. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.

~provided by goodreads

Purchase Easy: Barnes & Noble, Amazon, IndieBound

Exclusive Content

Books to the Big Screen Q&A. What Hollywood actors would fit to play the characters of Easy?

I have author-friends (like Abbi Glines and Tina Reber) who are champions at this! While writing, my vision of the characters is seldom based on real people – including real people I don’t know. My Facebook page has character folders with photos of actors and/or models who remind me – or my readers – of certain characters.

Next Blog Tour Stop

Reader Girls

Review: Entice by Jessica Shirvington

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 14:58:00 +0000

Who Will You Entice? Blog Tour

Website: Jesscia Shirvington
Series: The Violet Eden Chapter #2
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Published: September 4, 2012
Genre: Young Adult
Source: BEA
* Received for honest review*

Violet Eden is Grigori - part angel, part human. Her destiny is to protect humans from the vengence of exiled angels.
Knowing who to trust is key but, when Grigori reinforcements arrive, it becomes clear everyone is hiding something. Even Lincoln. The only thing Violet does know: Phoenix's hold over her is more dangerous than ever.
The race to find the one thing that could tilt the balance of power brings them all to the sacred mountains of Jordan, where Violet's power will be pushed to the extreme. And the ultimate betrayal exposed....~Goodreads

Impressions

Entice drew me with it's interesting storyline and characters. I really looked forward to reading about Violet's story and how she navigated this world she lived in and the exiled enemies she had chosen to fight. I do love a good angel story.

Thoughts

I was captivated by the story from the start. With the supernatural battle between good, descendants of angels called Grigori, and the evil fallen angels called the Exiled, in full swing. The world that Jessica Shirvington created was an engrossing one filled with conflict and intrigue that had me flipping the pages to find what was going to happen. With Violet and her friends fighting to stop the exiled from taken over and ultimately destroying the world. Al the while Violet and the other Grigori in training had to deal with their new life and responsibility becoming Grigori which created a story that kept me interested. I enjoyed getting to learn more about the world of both the Grigori and the Exiled. I felt that there was a real battle unfolding and things weren't as predictable as I thought and in the end it lead me on a ride.

Besides the story capturing and holding my interest, the romance between Violet and Lincoln really made the story for me. There was not a dull moment when they came together and how they tried to figure out whether they could be just friends and partners or explore the true feelings they had for each other which would ultimately hinder their goals at stopping the Exiled. This was not your typical teen cookie cutter romance. It was stuffed with painful and passionate emotional drama and history that had me turning the pages for more.

The action was intense with the Grigori and Exiles both bringing it to the table and not holding back. Just hard, dragged out kicked butt fighting with both sides willing to do whatever was needed to win this battle.

This was a very character driven story, which I enjoyed. All of the characters were very three-dimensional and interesting bringing their own unique element to the story. Even though this is Violet’s story and her journey to be coming Grigori, the friends, love interests, partners and villains played important roles within the story as well adding the intrigue and drama. Phoenix was an intriguing villain, I would have liked to have seen even more of him within the story and I look forward to having him bring more drama and reek more havoc on Violet’s world.

Overall I found Entice to be more than I expected. It had the interesting story, the emotional romance and intense action. The way things ended left me very interested to see were Violet's journey will lead her.

Read the First Book in the Series

Author Interview & Giveaway: Cari Quinn's No Flowers Required

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 11:00:00 +0000

About Cari Quinn

USA Today bestselling author Cari Quinn saves the world one Photoshop file at a time in her job as a graphic designer. At night, she writes sexy romance, drinks a lot of coffee, and plays her music way too loud. When she’s not scribbling furiously, she’s watching men’s college basketball, reading excellent books, and causing trouble. Sometimes simultaneously.
~provided by author's website

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About No Flowers Required

He’ll give her everything she desires...except his identity.

Flower shop owner Alexa Conroy had it all before the recession hit and her customers fled to cheaper shopping grounds. Desperate to make ends meet, she sells her dream home and moves into the rundown apartments above her shop. When she spots six feet of sexy distraction—complete with muscles, piercings, and tattoos—ripping up flooring, Alexa knows the karmic windfall she’s due just landed on her doorstep.
And the attraction’s definitely not one-sided.

Dillon James, reluctant heir to the corporation about to foreclose on Alexa’s shop, is not about to jeopardize their scorching chemistry by admitting he’s not the building’s handyman. But with only weeks until her business goes under and his identity is revealed, Dillon must find a way to convince Alexa cooperation isn’t a dirty word, help her save the shop from his brother’s greed, and persuade her that he’s not the enemy...or risk losing the only woman who’s seen the real him.

Interview

Thanks so much for stopping by Literary Cravings, If you could sum up No Flower Required in four words, what would they be?

Thank you so much for inviting me! I’d say sexy, fun, emotional and hawt (yep, the sexy thing couldn’t be overstated!)

In the beginning, what or who spoke to your first? The story or the characters?

Definitely the characters. From when I wrote NO DRESS REQUIRED, I suspected Nellie’s best friend Alexa had a story to tell, and Dillon and Cory sprung up fully formed in my mind when I visited a local hardware story. From there, it was a matter of figuring out the journey Alexa and Dillon would take together.

Why Romance?

Because it’s a genre that celebrates hope—and without hope, life ceases to matter.

Was there any scene or part in No Flower Required that was difficult to write? And if so how did you get through writing it?

Yes, there were a few of them. The hardest by far was Dillon and Alexa’s first love scene—most often known by readers as the “rooftop in the rain” scene—mainly because I wanted to convey their desperation while still making sure that Dillon’s reasons for holding back the truth came through loud and clear. He doesn’t always make the “right” choices in the book but he always makes them with his heart in the right place and I think that makes all the difference.

How did I get through writing it? Turning up some sexy music and letting Dillon and Alexa lead me through the scene. Once I got them up on that rooftop, they pretty much took over and had their way with each other—and me. ;)

Who was the easiest & hardest character for you to create?

The easiest was Dillon’s brother Cory. For some reason I just understood what made him tick from the get go. The hardest was definitely Dillon, because it took some wrestling to figure out how my preconceived notions about him differed from the character that appeared on the page. He eventually got his way, as the best characters always do!

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Author Interview and Giveaway: Katie McGarry's Pushing The Limits

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 03:51:00 +0000

Find Katie

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Author Interview

Provided by Harlequin & Media Masters Publicity

Q: What was your inspiration for writing Pushing the Limits?

A: I had two main inspirations: One, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to write a story in which my characters felt strong enough to leave their pasts behind and create new futures for themselves. The first scene I ever saw in my mind was Echo and Noah leaving town after graduation. Two, I wanted to write two characters who were facing over- whelming issues and who, through battling these issues, found hope at the end of their journey.

Q: How did you come up with Echo’s name?

A: Echo went through several name changes as I wrote the man- uscript. For a while, she had a very normal name, but it always felt off. It wasn’t until I looked at Echo from her mother’s point of view that I found her name. Echo’s mother loved Greek my- thology so it made perfect sense that she would name her chil- dren after the myths. I read several Greek myths and the mo- ment I found Echo’s, I fell in love. Echo, to me, was the girl who lost her voice. Thankfully, she finds it by the end.

Q: Which character is the most “like” you?

A: All of them. I gave each character a piece of me (though some have larger slices of me than others). Overall, I’d say I’m a strange combination of Echo, Lila and Beth. Echo has my need to please, Lila has my unfailing loyalty to my friends and Beth encompasses my insecurities.

Q: Did you experience friendships with Grace types when you were in high school?

A: Yes. And the more people have read this story, the more this question comes up. Grace has struck a stronger nerve in people than I ever would have imagined. It seems most of us have un- fortunately experienced a relationship where a person wants to “like” you and wants “be your friend,” but only if it serves their needs. In case anyone is wondering, that isn’t friendship.

Q: Are there any parts of the story you feel particularly close to?

A: Yes. The relationship between Noah, Isaiah and Beth. Beyond my parents and sister, my nearest family members were over fourteen hours away. My friends became my family. The peopleI grew up with were more than people I watched movies with or talked to occasionally on the phone. These were people with whom I shared life’s most devastating moments, but also my hardest laughs. These were people who I would have willing- ly died for and I know they would have done the same for me. They shared my triumphs with smiles on their faces and con- gratulatory hugs. They held me when I cried and offered to beat up whoever hurt my feelings. These were also the same people who were more than happy to get in my face if they thought I was making a wrong decision.

Q: Did anything that happens to Echo happen to you?

A: Sort of. I was bitten by a dog when I was in second grade and repressed the memory. It felt very strange to have no memory of an incident that other people knew about. It was even strang- er to have injuries and not have an inkling where they came from. In college, I finally remembered the incident when a dog lunged at me. I relived the horrible event and sort of “woke up” a few minutes later to find myself surrounded by people I loved. Even though I “remember” the incident, I still don’t remember the whole thing. I only see still frames in my mind and there is no blood in any of the memories.

Trailer

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Review: Bared To You by Sylvia Day

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 04:22:00 +0000

Website: Sylvia Day
Series: Crossfire #1
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: June 12, 2012
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: BEA
*A honest review*

Our journey began in fire... Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness-beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I'd never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily... Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other's most private wounds... and desires. The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart...~Goodreads

Review

Impressions

I have read and enjoyed a lot of Sylvia Day’s paranormal romance, so when I heard about Bared To You I decided to give it a shot and I’m glad I did. Sylvia Day took contemporary romance to a whole other level.

Thoughts

Plot: Emotional, Engrossing, Intense

What drew me the most to the story and held my attention was how Eva navigated the new situation she found herself in. Being in a new city, a new job while trying to put her traumatic past behind her. Meeting Gideon was a complication she didn't expect and falling for him proved be the biggest adventure for her. I really enjoy the intense, emotional mind field that was Eva and Gideon relationship. The story had a nice balance of blazing romance and underlying emotional issues that both Eva and Gideon had to deal with. Which made the story not just about the sex but about a couple trying to build a relationship.

Romance: Blazing

Since the moment Eva and Gideon met their connection was off the charts. At first I thought Eva would be so overwhelmed by Gideon’s good looks and dominant personality that she would lose herself and be overshadowed. But thankfully Eva held her own, going head to head with him, which made their growing romance much more dynamic. Their romance was complicated and a bit damaged and as they got to know each other they were forced to start to deal with their past issues, adding dimension to the relationship and their characters. I liked that even though they had this undeniable chemistry they still had to work at their relationship.

Characters: Realistic, Complex

Gideon: Though he seemed very dominant and unattainable, as the story progressed he showed to be able to bend in the face of love and place all of that intensity on his feelings for Eva. I enjoyed watching his world get turned upside down as his feelings for Eva grew to something even he couldn’t fight.

Eva: A strong woman who knows who she was and wanted out of life. I enjoyed watching her build her life and independence and balance this overwhelming relationship with Gideon while still being Eva.

Overall

Overall I really enjoyed reading Bared to You by Sylvia Day. It was a very hot, steamy romance with emotional undertones. I look forward to reading how Eva and Gideon’s relationship further develops.

Author Interview & Giveaway: The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 04:03:00 +0000

Find Lisa

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Thanks so much for stopping by Literary Cravings, If you could sum up The Forsaken in four words, what would they be?

Dystopian. Adventure. Scary. Romantic.

In the beginning, what or who spoke to your first? The story or the characters?

It all started with a nightmare I had. I was being chased by figures in black robes on a harsh tropical prison island. So I guess the novel began with that premise. But of course the characters made the whole story worthwhile. They felt like they came alive when I was writing. Alenna's perseverance, and her journey to discover her own strength (and to uncover secrets about her own identity), is one of the main aspects of the novel.

Why Dystopian?

I've always loved dystopian novels (and apocalyptic ones too--Cormac McCarthy's book THE ROAD is amazing). And of course I love classic dystopians like 1984 and FAHRENHEIT 451. So I got really inspired when dystopian lit started to get popular again a few years ago. I decided to write my own version. The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner were definitely big influences on me. I think dystopian fiction has so much potential and energy around it. There's room to explore big, complicated ideas but also to tell intensely personal stories. And I like the fact that dystopian lit can be really scary and edgy, and even romantic. It's a genre that embraces inventiveness. In fact, I feel like it's one of my favorite genres of all time. I read tons of dystopian novels (right now I'm reading an ARC of LEVEL 2 by Lenore Appelhans, which is amazing, and of course I love Veronica Roth's books). I've always been fascinated by prisons and islands too (I guess that's why I had that dream about them!) When I started writing THE FORSAKEN, the story just felt like it wrote itself. It was like I was transcribing a movie or something. It was a great experience. I'm a librarian at UCLA, and I'm around books all the time, so it was a huge thrill to finally be writing a book (after many false starts!)

Did you do any unique research for The Forsaken?

Most of it came from my own demented imagination, but I did read a bunch of stuff online about prisons and islands, as well as totalitarian governments and their mind control experiments.

Who was the easiest & hardest character for you to create?

The easiest character was Gadya because (my friends tell me) she's a lot like me. Really impulsive and sort of outspoken, even if she doesn't mean to be. I don't have her tattoos or dyed hair, though! The hardest was David, who is a very elusive, mysterious guy. He's not Alenna's main love interest, but he's definitely on her radar. Almost all the characters were fun to come up with. I tend to fall in love with all of them.

If you could pick any other genre to write what would it be and why?

I'd love to write a great thriller/mystery one day. Something really edgy and unique. Maybe a story about a college-age girl who goes undercover in some dangerous subculture for some reason. I love movies like Eastern Promises and Drugstore Cowboy (an old movie from the 80's, but it's awesome--about undercover cops). I always figured that writing a mystery would be a lot of fun.

That's all for Lisa, readers be sure to pick up The Forsaken out now!!!

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Waiting On Wednesday: Alice In Zombieland by Gena Showalter

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Being Published: September 25, 2012
Pages: 404
Format: Hardback

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.
I'd tell them I love them.
I wish... Yeah, I wish.
~goodreads

Why Alice In Zombieland? I really enjoy Gena Showalter's writing and this sound like it will be super edgy read so I'm looking forward to it.

So Whats Your Waiting On Wednesday?

This meme is hosted by Jill from Breaking The Spine

Review: The Darkest Seduction by Gena Showalter

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 03:01:00 +0000

Website: Gena Showalter
Series: Lord of the Underworld #9
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: February 28, 2012
Genre: Adult Romance
Source: Bought
*honest review*

At long last, New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter unveils the story of Paris, the darkest and most tormented Lord of the Underworld.Possessed by the demon of Promiscuity, immortal warrior Paris is irresistibly seductive—but his potent allure comes at a terrible price. Every night he must bed someone new, or weaken and die. And the woman he craves above all others is the one woman he'd thought was forever beyond his reach until now. Newly possessed by the demon of Wrath, Sienna Blackstone is racked by a ruthless need to punish those around her. Yet in Paris's arms, the vulnerable beauty finds soul-searing passion and incredible peace. Until a blood feud between ancient enemies heats up. Will the battle against gods, angels and creatures of the night bind them eternally—or tear them apart?~Goodreads

Review

Impressions

I’ve been with the Lords of the Underworld since the beginning of their journey. In fighting their enemies, battling with their demons and falling in love in the process. I have to say that it was a thrilling ride. So when finally, finally Paris’s story has been told, I couldn’t wait to finally read his story. The king of Promiscuity falling for one woman and his enemy at that! Must read for me.

Thoughts

Plot: Captivating, Emotional, Suspenseful

Paris and Sienna’s story have been developing throughout the series in a world wind of deceit, betrayal, sexual tension and more. There is so much complicated history between them it really made the story that much intense and captivating. From the beginning I was held in suspense at when they would meet, when their feelings towards each other would develop and how their growing romance would ultimately work. Added on the fact that they are in the middle of a century long war with the hunters (humans) and the Greek gods (the titans) so that really added spice to the story. All the other interwoven stories really made it rich and diverse which kept me devouring the pages.

Writing: Third Person

Told in Both Paris & Sienna point of view I liked that I got to see the story told through both of their eyes and learn more about them and the crazy world they were living.

Action: World-wind

Even though Paris is the keeper of the demon of Promiscuity doesn’t mean he isn’t a fighter. Boy is he a fighter! From the beginning Sienna has been fighting, though not physically but being possessed by the demon Wrath she is now kicking ass and taking names. The action scenes are fast paced, detailed and I feel given the same amount of attention as the sex scenes. Which makes for really good action scenes. Blood, gore and body parts.

Romance: Blazing

With this being Paris’s story how could the romance be anything less the blazing? From first meeting Paris, he oozed sex appeal. Even though he went through sexual partners like nobody’s business, he was still approachable. Then when he found his mate he turned all that sexual appeal and intensity on her and the pages practically sizzled. What I liked the most about Sienna and Paris relationship was the massive journey they went through to realizing that in the end they needed each other. They went so long from enemies that hated each other (with sexual chemistry), to no longer enemies that didn’t trust each other (sexual chemistry still there and growing), to having strong overwhelming feelings for each other. Which made the romance have growth and depth that really complimented the story.

Characters: Realistic, Complex

Paris: Alpha-Male, bad-boy. I loved his character since I met him. He didn’t disappoint.

Sierra: Strong, Fearless: I really enjoyed all of her transformations, growing into the women that she really wanted to be.

Overall

The Darkest Seduction was a delicious novel filled with all the things I love in a romance, compelling story, unforgettable characters and a blazing romance. Look forward to reading more from Gena Showalter.

Author Interview: Nalini Singh

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Find Nalini

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Nalini, thank you so much for stopping by Literary Cravings.

Thanks for the invite!

If you could sum up Tangle of Need in four words, what would they be?

Passionate, emotional, exhilarating, and intense.

In the beginning, what or who spoke to your first? The story or the characters?

I tend to start with the characters, but so deep into the series, the overarching story has a powerful presence of its own, so it’s a mix of both.

Why Paranormal Romance?

It is such a wide canvas – so long as I stay true to the rules of my world(s), I can go wherever my imagination takes me.

Did you do any unique research for Tangle of Need?

Tangle of Need features a number of scenes set in Venice - as I imagine it might appear toward the end of this century. However, my reimagined Venice has a basis in fact. I did lots of research on its foundations, the rising water levels etc.

Who were the easiest & hardest characters for you to create?

I can never choose. Each character is unique, with unique challenges.

If you could pick any other genre to write what would it be and why?

I think I will always have some element of romance in my books, so I have no desire to stray. ;-)

That's all for Nalini Singh, Adult readers be sure to pick up Tangle of Need out now!!!

Waiting On Wednesday: Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Being Published: August 14, 2012
Pages: 416
Format: Paperback

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarre connection. I’ve sworn him off even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But against all common sense, I’m falling for him. Hard.

Our relationship issues aren’t out biggest problem…

The Department of Defense is here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we’re linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And when a new boy shows up a school with a secret of his own, things get complicated fast. I need to choose between my own instincts and Daemon’s.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. Daemon’s never going to stop searching until gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies.

Why Onyx? Read the first book in the series Obsidian and really enjoyed it, can't wait to read what happens next.

So Whats Your Waiting On Wednesday?

This meme is hosted by Jill from Breaking The Spine

Waiting On Wednesday: The Dark Light by Sara Walsh

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Wed, 30 May 2012 22:26:00 +0000

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Being Published: August 28, 2012
Pages: 496
Format: Hardback

Mysterious lights have flickered above Crownsville for as long as Mia can remember. And as far as she’s concerned, that’s about the only interesting thing to happen in her small town.

That is, until Sol arrives. Mia’s not one to fall for just any guy, but she can’t get intense Sol—or the brilliant tattoo on his back—out of her mind.

Then Mia’s brother goes missing, and Mia’s convinced that Sol knows more than he’s sharing. But getting closer to Sol means reevaluating everything she once believed to be true. Because Sol’s not who Mia thought he was—and neither is she.

Why The Dark Light? This sounds like it will be intriguing read, mysterious light, mysterious boy, mysterious identity. Want to give this one a read!

So Whats Your Waiting On Wednesday?

This meme is hosted by Jill from Breaking The Spine

Review: Darkness Before Dawn by J. A. London

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:15:00 +0000

Website: J. A. London
Series: Darkness Before Dawn Book 1
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: May 29, 2012
Genre: Young Adult
Format: Paperback
Pages: 342
Source: Publisher
*received for honest review*

This electrifying new trilogy blends the best of paranormal and dystopian storytelling in a world where the war is over. And the vampires won.

Humans huddle in their walled cities, supplying blood in exchange for safety. But not even that is guaranteed. Dawn has lost her entire family and now reluctantly serves as the delegate to Lord Valentine, the most powerful vampire for miles. It isn’t until she meets Victor, Valentine’s son, that she realizes not all vampires are monsters....

Darkness Before Dawn is a fresh new story with captivating characters, unexpected plot twists, a fascinating setting, and a compelling voice. Written under the name J. A. London by a talented mother-son team, the trilogy is perfect for fans of True Blood and the House of Night and Morganville Vampires series.~Goodreads

First Impressions

I picked up Darkness Before Dawn because I do enjoy vampires stories. So a dystopian world where vampires and humans coexist in the barely held agreement and one of the lines of communication between them was on the shoulders of a seventeen year old girl really captured my attention.

Thoughts

What worked for me in Darkness Before Dawn was the plot. What first drew me to the story was the interesting world J. A. London created and reading how Dawn navigated this dangerous, complicated world. With each chapter things began it get more and more complicated.

I liked how the vampires played a public role within the story, not hidden from the human world, which added more dimension to the story. Though I did wished that more vampire characters were introduced in the story.

The pacing of the writing was consistent and smooth, allowing me to get into the story easily. There was a nice balance of action within the story, from the physical action with the humans battling the vampires and the mental power struggle with the head vampire family. The dueling elements of the Victorian past and the Dystopian future some how worked within the story.

The romance wasn’t really blazing like I wanted it to be although there were some sparks. There was the typical love triangle that Dawn struggled through between her, her boyfriend Michael and the mysterious Victor. Which didn’t annoy me as much as I thought it would because their journey was interesting. Did I still know how it would end? Yes. But it was still fun watching it happen.

I would have liked to learn more about Victor and his story. Out of all of the characters he intrigued me the most. Yes I know he was a vampire and that automatically made him interesting but he had a story to tell. A story I wanted to learn more about.

Dawn was an interesting girl dealing with crazy issues and she did what she had to do.
I understood where she was coming from and she had guts facing one of the most dangerous vampire head on, weekly, to protect her race. With her other relationships? Not so much in the beginning but she slowly found her voice. As well as her views and her character. I know there is more to Dawn's story and I’m interested to find out what it is.

While I would have liked to see a more head to head confrontation between the vamps and humans and their issues, I realized that this is the start to a trilogy so I hope that it's on the way.

Overall, Darkness before Dawn was a tasty read that grabbed my interest and I enjoyed J. A. London created a platform for a dynamic, edgy story that I’m interested in reading more.

Waiting on Wednesday: For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Wed, 23 May 2012 04:15:00 +0000

This meme is hosted by Jill from Breaking The Spine

Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Being Published: June 12, 2012

Generations ago, a genetic experiment gone wrong—the Reduction—decimated humanity, giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot’s estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth—an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.

But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret—one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she’s faced with a choice: cling to what she’s been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she’s ever loved, even if she’s lost him forever.

Inspired by Jane Austen’s Persuasion, For Darkness Shows the Stars is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

Why For Darkness Shows the Stars? Persuasion is my favorite Jane Austen story and I'm really interested to see the similarities and differences within the story!

So Whats Your Waiting On Wednesday?

Teaser Tuesday: Tangle of Need by Nalini Singh

noreply@blogger.com (Literary Cravings) — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:26:00 +0000

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

If you would like to join in the fun all you have to do is take your current read, turn to a random page and pick out two sentences. Be sure to include the Author & Title of the book and Please don't include spoilers! Then link your teaser on MizB's Teaser Tuesdays post so we can see! Super easy right!

Teasers
Adult Paranormal Romance

"Catching the unexpected sound on the wind, he looked across the lake to glimpse a small, sleek wolf padding beside a tall male dressed in black. The wolf's body brushed the man's as they walked along the misty earth, the man's fingers trailing through the animal's fur when he bent as if to speak to her." pg 111 Tangle of Need by Nalini Singh