Books and Starlight

The Summer Games: Settling The Score by R.S. Grey [Release Day Review]

2016-05-02T10:00:00.000+02:00

The Summer Games: Settling the Score

Author: R.S. Grey

Genre: Sports Romance/Romantic Comedy

Release Date: May 2, 2016

As an Olympic rookie, Andie Foster has spent far more time in her cleats than between the sheets. For 21 years, her Friday nights have consisted of blocking shots rather than taking them. But now that she's landed in Rio, she's ready to see for herself if the rumors about the Olympic Village are true:
The athletes are all sex-crazed maniacs...
The committee passes out condoms like candy...
The games continue long after the medals have been handed out...
As Andie walks the line between rumor and reality, she's forced into the path of Frederick Archibald, a decorated Olympic swimmer and owner of a sexy British accent—too bad he's unavailable in a way that "it's complicated" doesn't even begin to explain.
In other words: off limits.
It doesn't matter that he has abs that could bring peace to the Middle East and a smile that makes even the Queen blush; Andie fully intends on keeping her focus on the soccer field. But the Village is small. Suffocating. Everywhere Andie goes, Freddie happens to be there—shirtless, wet from the pool, and determined to show her a whole new meaning of the phrase "international affairs".

I have to say that I am NOT a fan of sports - I get tired by only watching it - and soccer (well, FOOTBALL, I am European!!!) is one of my least favorites ever. Why did I choose this book despite those things? BECAUSE IT'S AN R.S. GREY BOOK and she can't do anything wrong when it comes to cutesy romance. I am a sucker for her stories and The Summer Games: Settling The Score is definitely another winner from her.

The story follows Olympics rookie Andie Foster and multiple time gold medalist swimmer, Frederick Archibald and their fateful meeting during the Rio Olympics. They meet at a party in the funniest, most awkward circumstances and they instantly connect. But it's the Olympics and they don't want to be the talk of gossip instead of the talk of the games. It also doesn't help the case, that Freddie is a royal, bethroted to another. Here, the what happens in Rio stays in Rio doesn't apply and they need to face the consequences of their actions...

I loved the main characters! Andie was a professional goalkeeper for the Women's National Soccer team and she just got to Rio de Janeiro for her first Olympic Competition. She was a real firecracker, so full of life and hope and she was such a fun to read. I wish I have a friend like her so we could be up to all kinds of mischief.

Freddie was oh-so-dreamy. Although I didn't really like the hot and cold personality thing he had going on in the beginning, it was just so cute to watch him chase after Andie and try everything to get to her. I loved his chemistry with Andie and his relationship with his sister and friends.

I haven't read Scoring Wilder, which is a book set in the same setting as this one. The main characters from that book appear in this one as secondary characters and to be honest, some of them I didn't like at all. Namely, Kinsley and Becca. They irritated me to no end in the first half of the book with their overprotectiveness of Andie and their childish behaviour and it didn't make me really want to read their book. But as the story progressed on and they got less "screen time", I started to warm up to them and they loosened up a lot more. I'm sure to people who read and loved Scoring Wilder, this one was absolute gem and I do love when characters overlap in stories, so now I hope I can get to it as soon as possible.

I have no idea about anything soccer related and all the slang and everything that comes with it, but Rachel made it easy for people like me to follow it. It wasn't full of words I needed to look up (and that usually makes me angry) and for that, I am so grateful. The Olympic setting and village was described in a way that I wished I could've been there and celebrate with them.

There were only some small things I didn't like. First, it was the minor hint at the instalove between Andie and Freddie. Yes, lust I could understand but they met barely a week ago and they're already in love. Uhm nope. And the other thing was the excessive drama surrounding Caroline. She was a horrible person from the beginning but I felt her actions and wrongdoings were kind of dragged on and it took a bit more time to wrap up her sh*t than I would've like.

All in all, I would recommend this book to everyone, who is a fan of romance, hot males and funny girls, sport crazy people and also to those who aren't. This book will have you laughing out loud in one moment then break your heart in the next. I dare you to read it and not fall in love with everything from the description of the settings or the loveliness of the characters. A+ to you Rachel, for writing another book that will have a definite space on my shelves.

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I am a lover of books, chocolate, reality TV, black labs, and cold weather. Seriously, if I had it my way, I would be curled up on the couch with all of those things... everyday.
I live in Texas where I spend my free time writing and reading. My favorite authors include Mindy Kaling & Jonathan Safran Foer. I'm a comedy geek and love all things "funny". Women like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling are definitely the biggest inspirations for my writing, though I think my work tends to skew a bit smuttier than theirs.

Author Links
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Emerge by Tobie Easton [Blog Tour Review + Giveaway (US only)]

2016-04-21T10:00:00.000+02:00

Title: Emerge
Author: Tobie Easton
Series: Mer Chronicles #1
Publication Date: April 19, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Mermaids
Pages: 300 pages
Publisher: Month9Books
Formats: paperback, ebook
Source: ecopy from publisher
Summary:

Lia Nautilus may be a Mermaid but she’s never lived in the ocean. War has ravaged the seven seas ever since the infamous Little Mermaid unleashed a curse that stripped Mer of their immortality. Lia has grown up in a secret community of land-dwelling Mer hidden among Malibu’s seaside mansions. Her biggest problems are surviving P.E. and keeping her feelings for Clay Ericson in check. Sure, he’s gorgeous in that cocky, leather jacket sort of way and makes her feel like there’s a school of fish swimming in her stomach, but getting involved with a human could put Lia’s entire community at risk.
So it’s for the best that he’s dating that new girl, right? That is, until Lia finds out she isn’t the only one at school keeping a potentially deadly secret. And this new girl? Her eyes are dead set on Clay, who doesn’t realize the danger he’s in. If Lia hopes to save him, she’ll have to get closer to Clay. Lia’s parents would totally flip if they found out she was falling for a human boy, but the more time she spends with him, the harder it is for her to deny her feelings. After making a horrible mistake, Lia will risk everything to stop Clay from falling in love with the wrong girl.

I think I found out about this mermaid story, Emerge, last year. It didn't even have a cover that time or anything basically, but since it was about mermaids and I love them so so SO much, I knew I had to read this one. I almost missed this opportunity of reading and reviewing earlier, but thank god I didn't.

Emerge is the first book in a new series about the descendants of the (in)famous Little Mermaid. Her family moved Lia and all of her sisters from the water to the land after all mermaids lost their immortality. They were forced not to live in the ocean anymore, as wars occured after the Little Mermaid doomed all of them to live measly human lifespans.

To be honest, this was one of my top 5 most anticipated books for 2016 and I have to say, while I do liked it, I was frustrated with the characters. Namely, Lia. She kept making bad and worse decisions. I kind of felt a bit of a contradiction from her: she wanted to be a responsible person, helping others, doing what she could. What she mostly did at the first half is what exactly every 17yo girls do: went to shopping, gossiped with friends/family, tried to get a boyfriend who already had a girlfriend. Thankfully, she had a lot of redeeming qualities, like helping those in need. She was always told by her parents that dating a human is not allowed, so when she falls for a human boy, Clay, she would do everything to protect him, from everyone, even from her own kind. Clay was a mystery in this book to me, we didn't really get to know him, but I can't go into details why, without spoiling the book.

I totally expected the book to go in a certain direction and I kept looking for clues when the stuff I predicted was gonna happen but Tobie actually surprised me! In about a 100 pages in, I expected a boring storyline with easily figurable plot twists but what I got was a lot more. It was still a bit predictable, but a lot less than I originally thought. While the book was more in the romance department than the action, I didn't mind at all seeing everything that's happening towards the end.

I really really loved Tobie's writing. I loved how she tried to bring more diversity in Emerge, but it could've been more explorable. Though since it's a series, there is still a chance she will continue with some of the characters we briefly got to know in this story. Some of them are very interesting and I'd love to read their stories.

All in all, if you love teensy romance with underworld action, mermaids, mentions of childhood favorite stories, with a gradually picking up pace plus actually learning a few new words, then I recommend you to pick up Emerge.

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Tobie Easton was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, where she’s grown from a little girl who dreamed about magic to a twenty-something who writes about it. A summa cum laude graduate of the University of Southern California,
Tobie hosts book clubs for tweens and teens. She and her very kissable husband enjoy traveling the globe and fostering packs of rescue puppies. Learn more about Tobie and her upcoming books at www.TobieEaston.com.

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It's not a goodbye...

2016-04-13T16:00:00.000+02:00

No guys, it's really not. I'm just saying goodbye to the Blogger platform and my blog name very very soon. Hopefully, from the next month, I'll be on a self-hosted Wordpress page. I decided on this for a lot of reasons, and I'm gonna explain them all.

Lately... well, it's been months, that I've been in a really horrible blogging slump. I'm just not really in the mood to review or post anything, come up with any kind of idea or anything at all. I really really love doing this and it made me very sad that I couldn't find any kind of happiness in spending time on my blog. You could notice how it's been barely updated, the sidebar is a mess, I've been behind on everything. I'm just really not happy with how my blog is right now, and the only new solution I could find is moving.
Reason number two is that I've been having A LOT of problems and troubles with Blogger lately. It's painfully slow - yeah, actually, my laptop isn't really top notch either, but I haven't had this problem before - and it's making me frustrated with posting. I just can't format posts, or scheduled posts failed to go live, the list could go on. I got mad too easily when I couldn't format a post or attach a picture without it mucking up the whole written part already. I had fully written posts completely disappear when I attached an image. (Edit: this post took about two hours to write and I only added a couple of links and two gifs. Seriously. I type and it takes a minute or two for the text to appear. Ridiculous.) So I've really had enough and I hope this change will help me get back into my happy place. :)

Oh and something else.... I won't be Books and Starlight anymore. I've grown to hate the name too, along with the design so when the new blog launches, it will be called....

BLACKBEAK BOOKS

I am MUCH happier with this name and I feel like it's kinda reflects not just for my love for books but for birds and also it's a hinted salute to Sarah J Maas for creating my favorite character ever. ;)

You can already find me with the new name on TWITTER, TUMBLR and INSTAGRAM. I dropped my Facebook page because I just don't use it, and I think I'll try to use PINTEREST more, if I'll have the time. But my main focus next to the blog is INSTAGRAM. I love the platform and I love all the friends I made there. *hint hint Bibliophile Academy* <---- you all should check us out!

And one last thing. I signed up for a couple of events with this blog, so I will be posting those in the meantime. Surely, there will be an R.S. GREY event, and the blog tour for Tobie Easton's EMERGE. This is all I can remember off the top of my head, but I may bring some along the way.

So with that, I'm saying kind of goodbye. But I hope all of you will be with me on my new journey on the new blog. Wish me luck for it to turn out successfully. Plus this is not the last you see of me. ;)

The Summer Games: Settling the Score by R.S. Grey [Cover Reveal]

2016-04-12T22:41:00.000+02:00

The Summer Games: Settling the Score

Author: R.S. Grey

Release Date: May 2, 2016

Find on Goodreads

As an Olympic rookie, Andie Foster has spent far more time in her cleats than between the sheets. For 21 years, her Fridaynights have consisted of blocking shots rather than taking them. But now that she's landed in Rio, she's ready to see for herself if the rumors about the Olympic Village are true:

The athletes are all sex-crazed maniacs...

The committee passes out condoms like candy...

The games continue long after the medals have been handed out...

As Andie walks the line between rumor and reality, she's forced into the path of Frederick Archibald, a decorated Olympic swimmer and owner of a sexy British accent—too bad he's unavailable in a way that "it's complicated" doesn't even begin to explain.

In other words: off limits.
It doesn't matter that he has abs that could bring peace to the Middle East and a smile that makes even the Queen blush; Andie fully intends on keeping her focus on the soccer field. But the Village is small. Suffocating. Everywhere Andie goes, Freddie happens to be there—shirtless, wet from the pool, and determined to show her a whole new meaning of the phrase "international affairs".

I am a lover of books, chocolate, reality TV, black labs, and cold weather. Seriously, if I had it my way, I would be curled up on the couch with all of those things... everyday.

I live in Texas where I spend my free time writing and reading. My favorite authors include Mindy Kaling & Jonathan Safran Foer. I'm a comedy geek and love all things "funny". Women like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling are definitely the biggest inspirations for my writing, though I think my work tends to skew a bit smuttier than theirs.

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Adorkable by Cookie O'Gorman [Blog Tour Review + Giveaway]

2016-03-30T20:54:00.000+02:00

Title: Adorkable
Author: Cookie O'Gorman
Publication Date: March 31, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 283 pages
Formats: ebook
Source: ARC from YA Bound Book Tours
Summary:

Adorkable (ah-dor-kuh-bul): Descriptive term meaning to be equal parts dorky and adorable. For reference, see Sally Spitz.
Seventeen-year-old Sally Spitz is done with dating. Or at least, she's done with the horrible blind dates/hookups/sneak attacks her matchmaking bestie, Hooker, sets her up on. There's only so much one geek girl and Gryffindor supporter can take.
Her solution: she needs a fake boyfriend. And fast.
Enter Becks, soccer phenom, all-around-hottie, and Sally's best friend practically since birth. When Sally asks Becks to be her F.B.F. (fake boyfriend), Becks is only too happy to be used. He'd do anything for Sal--even if that means giving her PDA lessons in his bedroom, saying she's "more than pretty," and expertly kissing her at parties.
The problem: Sally's been in love with Becks all her life--and he's completely clueless.
This book features two best friends, one special edition Yoda snuggie, countless beneath-the-ear kisses and begs the question:
Who wants a real boyfriend when faking it is so much more fun?

Oh how much of a sucker I am for best friends-to-lovers stories? The answer is a HUGE! I just cannot help but fall in love with them while they're slowly realizing they're falling for each other. So when I saw this book and the chance to review it, I jumped on it quicker than you could say 'adorkable'. And did I love it so much.

Sally (Sal for short) is tired of her mom and best girl friend trying to always set up on dates with random people, so she enlists the help of her childhood best friend, Becks. She asks her to pretend to be her boyfriend for a time and with it, to get off the meddling duo off of her back. What nobody knows is that Sal is actually in love with Becks, has been for a long time and this is like a dream come true. But if the dream stays true or reality steps in the way will only turn out at the end... if at all.

I love Sal. I see myself so much in her, it was kind of frightening. She's very smart, and a huge geek. Her love for Star Wars is just like mine and every reference for that or Harry Potter makes my heart sing in delight. She is just like a real teenager, someone I wish I could've been her age. She's sweet and caring and a joy to read about.
Becks on the outside is like every typical high school jock. He's good looking, cocky, popular with all the girls and has a weird habit that helps them win their games. But on the inside, the side that only a selected close friend know, he's one of the sweetest, funniest guys ever. He loves Sally to pieces and even their friendship - not to mention their relationship - has such a great chemistry, which makes this book such a good and enjoyable read.

Meeting his gaze, I forced out the words, "Ready to make it official?"
Becks grinned, and the sight of that familiar expression, the look in those eyes I'd loved forever, was enough to strengthen my resolve.
Reaching up, I gave myself no time to reconsider.
My lips were on his the next instant, meeting, feeling, rejoicing in this moment I'd never thought but always hoped would happen. I knew Becks was surprised, could feel it in the stiffness in his shoulders, the tight set to his mouth. But it didn't matter. I was kissing Becks, my best friend, my Han Solo, my one. This was the best moment of my life. I was certain it couldn't get any better.
But then Becks started kissing me back.
His arms wrapped around my waist, his lips guiding mine, as he went from passive passenger along for the ride to full-on conductor. I gasped as he bent me back over his arm, and felt him grin through the kiss. My toes just skimming the floor, supported almost entirely by Becks's strength, I was happy to let him lead. Becks wasn't just a great kisser. He was a master. Far as first kisses go, it was a showstopper.

Who I really hate in this book (and that is my reason for lowering the five stars by a half) are Sal's mom and best friend. They. Are. Horrible. Both of them act like being 17-18 and enjoying the single life (and secretly pining for your best friend) is the end of the world and a girl NEEDS to have a boyfriend to live a full life. I hated their attempts to set up Sal with losers or girls or anyone they come across. Their tries make me really angry and if I had a mother/friend like her, I probably would've ran away from home.

I just love the storyline of this book. It didn't really have any of those annoying tropes - okay, there was a tiny love triangle, but nothing we can't get over. Friends-to-lovers type of stories are one of my favorites and O'Gorman doesn't fail to bring us an entertaining story. The ending is satifsying, I couldn't have wished for a better one.

Adorkable is a sexy, funny, fast-paced story that I finished in one setting. If you are looking for some cute afternoon read, I definitely recommend this one to you. Sal and Becks will capture your heart, be it older or younger and will hold it long after you finished their book.

*An advance copy of this book was provided by YA Bound Book Tours in exchange of an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion on the story.*

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Cookie O'Gorman writes YA romance to give readers a taste of happily-ever-after. Small towns, quirky characters, and the awkward yet beautiful moments in life make up her books. Cookie also has a soft spot for nerds and ninjas. Her debut novel ADORKABLE will be released in 2016.

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Walk The Edge by Katie McGarry [Release Day Excerpt + Giveaway (US/Can)]

2016-03-29T10:00:00.000+02:00

One moment...

That’s all it takes to change your life.

What happens when your entire future is on the line because of one reckless moment? This is what Breanna Miller and Thomas “Razor” Turner have to face in Katie McGarry’s WALK THE EDGE. Blackmail, family secrets, future plans on the verge of collapsing, two people who aren’t supposed to be together fall in love, and the power of social media in defining who you are when you’re not even sure who that person is yet…Join the Club and and immerse yourself in the world of the Reign of Terror. Pick up WALK THE EDGE today!

One moment of recklessness will change their worlds
Smart. Responsible. That's seventeen-year-old Breanna's role in her large family, and heaven forbid she put a toe out of line. Until one night of shockingly un-Breanna-like behavior puts her into a vicious cyberbully's line of fire—and brings fellow senior Thomas "Razor" Turner into her life.
Razor lives for the Reign of Terror motorcycle club, and good girls like Breanna just don't belong. But when he learns she's being blackmailed over a compromising picture of the two of them—a picture that turns one unexpected and beautiful moment into ugliness—he knows it's time to step outside the rules.
And so they make a pact: he'll help her track down her blackmailer, and in return she'll help him seek answers to the mystery that's haunted him—one that not even his club brothers have been willing to discuss. But the more time they spend together, the more their feelings grow. And suddenly they're both walking the edge of discovering who they really are, what they want, and where they're going from here.

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Add to your Goodreads

“I’m here about your mother.” The asshole knows he has me when my eyes snap to his.

“She’s dead.” Like the other times I say the words, a part of me dies along with her.

This guy has green eyes and they soften like he’s apologetic. “I know. I’m sorry. I’ve received some new evidence that may help us discover what caused her death.”

Anger curls within my muscles and my jaw twitches. This overwhelming sense of insanity is what I fight daily. For years, I’ve heard the whispers from the gossips in town, felt the stares of the kids in class, and I’ve sensed the pity of the men in the Reign of Terror I claim as brothers. It’s all accumulated to a black, hissing doubt in my soul.

Suicide.

It’s what everyone in town says happened. It’s in every hushed conversation people have the moment I turn my back. It’s not just from the people I couldn’t give two shits about, but the people who I consider family.

I shove away those thoughts and focus on what my father and the club have told me—what I have chosen to believe. “My mother’s death was an accident.”

He’s shaking his head and I’m fresh out of patience. I’m not doing this. Not with him. Not with anyone. “I’m not interested.”

I push off the railing and I did out the keys to my motorcycle as I bound down the steps. The detective’s behind me. He has a slow steady stride and it irritates me that he follows across the yard and doesn’t stop coming as I swing my leg over my bike.

“What if I told you I don’t think it was an accident,” he says.

Odds are it wasn’t. Odds are every whispered taunt in my direction is true. That my father and the club drove Mom crazy, and I wasn’t enough of a reason for her to choose life.

To drown him out, I start the engine. This guy must be as suicidal as people say Mom was because he eases in front of my bike assuming I won’t run him down.

“Thomas,” he says.

I twist the handle to rev the engine in warning. He raises his chin like he’s finally pissed and his eyes narrow on me. “Razor.”

I let the bike idle. If he’s going to respect me by using my road name, I’ll respect him for a few seconds. “Leave me the fuck alone.”

Damn if the man doesn’t possess balls the size of Montana. He steps closer to me and drops a bomb. “I have reason to believe your mom was murdered.”

And don’t miss the first book in the Thunder Road Series,

NOWHERE BUT HERE!

"There's something about McGarry's writing that's totally enthralling. Her characters are vivid, flawed and riveting, making this is a truly amazing read!"

~ RT Book Reviews

"Katie McGarry is a master of her craft! Raw emotion, pure grit, I hang on every word. Her characters are real people with real problems and I cheer them every step of the way. Ready for a new addiction? Look no further than Katie McGarry's books."

~ Gena Showalter, Bestselling author of Firstlife

"I finished WALK THE EDGE by the amazing Katie McGarry. It was SO good that now I feel bereft. I already miss Razor & Bre - I need to know more! She is by far my #1 favorite author. She paints a picture with the words, puts you IN the story... LOVE."

~ Lori Foster, New York Times Bestselling Author

DON’T MISS THIS AWESOME INCENTIVE OFFER FOR AN EXCLUSIVE ECHO AND NOAH SHORT STORY!

Order WALK THE EDGE, Register your Order by April 1st and receive an exclusive Echo and Noah short story and a chance to be in the next Thunder Road novel! Register at https://offerpop.com/campaign/796530.

Katie McGarry was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan. Katie is the author of full length YA novels, PUSHING THE LIMITS, DARE YOU TO, CRASH INTO YOU, TAKE ME ON, BREAKING THE RULES, and NOWHERE BUT HERE and the e-novellas, CROSSING THE LINE and RED AT NIGHT. Her debut YA novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS was a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction, a RT Magazine's 2012 Reviewer's Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel, a double Rita Finalist, and a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick. DARE YOU TO was also a Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Best Book Award for Young Adult Contemporary fiction in 2013.

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Felony Ever After by Various Authors [ARC Review]

2016-03-22T10:00:00.000+01:00

Title: Felony Ever After
Author: Helena Hunting, Debra Anastasia, Nina Bocci, Belle Aurora, Tijan, Katherine Stevens, K.A. Robinson, Liv Morris, Penelope Ward, Vi Keeland, Leisa Rayven, S.M Lumetta, J.M. Darhower
Publication Date: March 22, 2016
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 217 pages
Publisher: Hunting Anastasia Productions
Formats: ebook
Source: ARC from author
Summary:

Verity Michaels is new to New York City, but even she knows riding in a stolen a cab is not a normal way to meet someone. Damn it if that tattoo-covered would-be felon isn’t everywhere now, and lighting everything on fire under her skirt.

His name is Hudson Fenn, and he’s frustratingly impossible to pin down. He works as a bike messenger, but has the manners of a prince—along with a strange tendency toward breaking and entering. As much as Verity knows he’s not her type, and likely to land her in jail, she can’t help but find her truest self when they’re together.

Can she be brave enough to give Hudson a real chance? Will he be bold enough to reveal the man beneath the ink, or will his secrecy doom their connection? Also, WTF is the deal with Verity’s boss? No less than thirteen of your favorite romance writers have teamed up to tell this sexy, wacky, snort-inducing tale. With them you’ll visit the world’s most irritating office, a VIP room of questionable cleanliness, and the fanciest apartment a bike messenger has ever inhabited, but you’ll still never see this ending coming.

Felony Ever After popped into our lives so suddenly, I didn't even have time to wrap my mind around that some of my favorites wrote a book together before I got my ARC. I was so completely surprised, but how could I pass up an opportunity for another book - even she only wrote a piece of it - by my personal favorite, Leisa Rayven.

After an unlikely meeting between Verity Michaels and Hudson Fenn, they keep meeting each other, and promptly, can't stop thinking about the meetings and the other. Verity is convinced that Hundson must be a felon and tries to stay away from him, but Hudson has other ideas. After some pursuing, Verity gives in to her feelings and they get their Happily (Felony) Ever After.... or not?

Verity is working as a receptionist in New York, after her dreams in her photography business in Florida failed her. She only took this job to please her father but her heart still lays with taking pictures of the world. She is a strong woman with seriously trust issues. Having a weirdo as a boss and a bomshell as a best friend, she never has any dull moment in her life. But enter Hudson and it's about to get a lot more interesting.
Hudson is a bike messenger, with a look of a felon - covered in tattoos, wearing a beani - and a temper of one. He's a mystery from the first moment I can't help but be drawn to. He is swoony, sweet, kind-hearted yet he makes me question him so many times through this story. It took me a while to make up my mind about him and his intentions, but he won me over with the cats.

My biggest worry was about this book if the authors could pull of a similar writing style, thus making the story flowing or is it just a mix of all of their styles? Let me tell you this: they pull it off perfectly! Not only that, but while reading the book, you can and can't tell you if it's written by different people. You can't because it was really consistent, with the same style and pace but you can, because you recognize them in each chapter. I haven't read books by all of these authors, but I see Debra's silliness, Leisa's romantic vibes, Helena's poetic writing and J.M.'s storytelling. It is amazing to see a story written this way and I just imagine how much fun and pain it would've been to follow each other.

If you haven't even heard the names of these authors, I suggest you go look up after you finished this book, because you will be a reader of them in no time. And if you've read at least them and enjoyed their stories, I definitely recommend you reading Felony Ever After. You will be in for a sweet ride filled with hot and funny Twitter convos between our main characters. You really don't want to miss them. ;)

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Walk The Edge by Katie McGarry [Chapter Reveal]

2016-03-04T10:00:00.000+01:00

We are so excited to bring you the Chapter One Reveal for WALK THE EDGE by Katie McGarry! WALK THE EDGE is a Young Adult Contemporary Romance being published by HarlequinTeen and is a part of Katie McGarry’s Thunder Road Series. It is being released on March 29^th, 2016. Be sure to pre-order your copy and unlock special content today!

Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | IndieBound

Add it to your Goodreads Now!

Chapter One

THERE ARE LIES in life we accept. Whether it’s for the sake of ignorance, bliss or, in my case, survival, we all make our choices.

I choose to belong to the Reign of Terror Motorcycle Club. I choose to work for the security company associated with them. I also choose to do this while still in high school.

All of this boils down to one choice in particular—whether or not to believe my father’s version of a lie or the town’s. I chose my father’s lie. I chose the brotherhood of the club.

What I haven’t chosen? Being harassed by the man invading my front porch. He’s decked out in a pair of pressed khakis and a button-down straight from a mall window. The real question—is he here by choice or did he draw the short stick?

“As I said, son,” he continues, “I’m not here to talk to your dad. I’m here to see you.”

A hot August wind blows in from the thick woods surrounding our house, and sweat forms on the guy’s skin. He’s too cocky to be nervous, so that dumps the blame of his shiny forehead on the 110-degree heat index.

“You and I,” he adds, “we need to talk.”

My eyes flash to the detective badge hanging on the guy’s hip and then to his dark blue unmarked Chevy Caprice parked in front of my motorcycle in the gravel drive. Twenty bucks he thinks he blocked me in. Guess he underestimated I’ll ride on the grass to escape.

This guy doesn’t belong to our police force. His plates suggest he’s from Jefferson County. That’s in the northern part of Kentucky. I live in a small town where even the street hustlers and police know each other by name. This man—he’s an outsider.

I f lip through my memory for anything that would justify his presence. Yeah, I stumbled into some brawls over the summer. A few punches thrown at guys who didn’t keep their mouths sealed or keep their inflated egos on a leash, but nothing that warrants this visit.

A bead of water drips from my wet hair onto the worn gray wood of the deck and his eyes track it. I’m fresh from a shower. Jeans on. Black boots on my feet. No shirt. Hair on my head barely pushed around by a towel.

The guy checks out the tats on my chest and arms. Most of it is club designs, and it’s good for him to know who he’s dealing with. As of last spring, I officially became a member of the Reign of Terror. If he messes with one of us, he messes with us all.

“Are you going to invite me in?” he asks.

I thought the banging on the door was one of my friends showing to ride along with me to senior orientation, not a damned suit with a badge.

“You’re not in trouble,” he says, and I’m impressed he doesn’t shuff le his feet like most people do when they arrive on my doorstep. “As I said, I want to talk.”

I maintain eye contact longer than most men can manage.

Silence doesn’t bother me. There’s a ton you can learn about a person from how they deal with the absence of sound. Most can’t handle uncomfortable battles for dominance, but this guy stands strong.

Without saying a word, I walk into the house and permit the screen door to slam in his face. I cross the room, grab my cut off the table, then snatch a black Reign of Terror T-shirt off the couch. I shrug into the shirt as I step onto the porch and shut the storm door behind me.

The guy watches me intently as I slip on the black leather cut that contains the three-piece patch of the club I belong to. Because of the way I’m angled, he can get a good look at our emblem on the back: a white half skull with fire raging out of the eyes and drops of fire raining down around it. The words Reign of Terror are mounted across the top. The town’s name, Snowflake, is spelled on the bottom rocker.

He focuses on the patch that informs him I’m packing a weapon. His hand edges to the gun holstered on his belt. He’s weighing whether I’m carrying now or if I’m gun free.

I cock a hip against the railing and hitch my thumbs in the pockets of my jeans. If he’s going to talk, it would be now. He glances at the closed door, then back at me. “This is where we’re doing this?”

“I’ve got somewhere to be.” And I’m running late. “Didn’t see a warrant on you.” So by law, he can’t enter.

A grim lift of his mouth tells me he understands I won’t make any of this easy. He’s around Dad’s age, mid to late forties. He gave his name when I opened the door, but I’ll admit to not listening.

He scans the property and he has that expression like he’s trying to understand why someone would live in a house so small. The place is a vinyl box. Two bedrooms. One bath.

A living room–kitchen combo. Possibly more windows than square footage.

Dad said this was Mom’s dream. A house just big enough for us to live in. She never desired large, but she craved land. When I was younger, she used to hug me tight and explain it was more important to be free than to be rich. I sure as hell hope Mom feels free now.

An ache ripples through me, and I readjust my footing. I pray every damn day she found some peace.

“I drove a long way to see you,” he says.

Don’t care. “Could have called.”

“I did. No one answered.”

I hike one shoulder in a “you’ve got shit luck.” Dad and I aren’t the type to answer calls from strangers. Especially ones with numbers labeled Police. There are some law enforcement officers who are cool, but most of them are like everyone else— they judge a man with a cut on his back as a psychotic felon.

I don’t have time for stupidity.

“I’m here about your mother.” The asshole knows he has me when my eyes snap to his.

“She’s dead.” Like the other times I say the words, a part of me dies along with her.

This guy has green eyes and they soften like he’s apologetic. “I know. I’m sorry. I’ve received some new evidence that may help us discover what caused her death.”

Anger curls within my muscles and my jaw twitches. This overwhelming sense of insanity is what I fight daily. For years, I’ve heard the whispers from the gossips in town, felt the stares of the kids in class, and I’ve sensed the pity of the men in the Reign of Terror I claim as brothers. It’s all accumulated to a black, hissing doubt in my soul.

Suicide.

It’s what everyone in town says happened. It’s in every hushed conversation people have the moment I turn my back. It’s not just from the people I couldn’t give two shits about, but the people who I consider family.

I shove away those thoughts and focus on what my father and the club have told me—what I have chosen to believe. “My mother’s death was an accident.”

He’s shaking his head and I’m fresh out of patience. I’m not doing this. Not with him. Not with anyone. “I’m not interested.”

I push off the railing and dig out the keys to my motorcycle as I bound down the steps. The detective’s behind me. He has a slow, steady stride and it irritates me that he follows across the yard and doesn’t stop coming as I swing my leg over my bike.

“What if I told you I don’t think it was an accident,” he says.

Odds are it wasn’t. Odds are every whispered taunt in my direction is true. That my father and the club drove Mom crazy, and I wasn’t enough of a reason for her to choose life.

To drown him out, I start the engine. This guy must be as suicidal as people say Mom was, because he eases in front of my bike, assuming I won’t run him down.

“Thomas,” he says.

I twist the handle to rev the engine in warning. He raises his chin like he’s finally pissed and his eyes narrow on me. “Razor.”

I let the bike idle. If he’s going to respect me by using my road name, I’ll respect him for a few seconds. “Leave me the fuck alone.”

Damn if the man doesn’t possess balls the size of Montana. He steps closer to me and drops a bomb. “I have reason to believe your mom was murdered.”

Pre-Order WALK THE EDGE, Register your Pre-Order and receive an exclusive Echo and Noah short story and a chance to be in the next Thunder Road novel! Register at https://offerpop.com/campaign/796530

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Synopsis:

One moment of recklessness will change their worlds
Smart. Responsible. That's seventeen-year-old Breanna's role in her large family, and heaven forbid she put a toe out of line. Until one night of shockingly un-Breanna-like behavior puts her into a vicious cyberbully's line of fire—and brings fellow senior Thomas "Razor" Turner into her life.

Razor lives for the Reign of Terror motorcycle club, and good girls like Breanna just don't belong. But when he learns she's being blackmailed over a compromising picture of the two of them—a picture that turns one unexpected and beautiful moment into ugliness—he knows it's time to step outside the rules.

And so they make a pact: he'll help her track down her blackmailer, and in return she'll help him seek answers to the mystery that's haunted him—one that not even his club brothers have been willing to discuss. But the more time they spend together, the more their feelings grow. And suddenly they're both walking the edge of discovering who they really are, what they want, and where they're going from here.

And don’t miss the first book in the Thunder Road Series

NOWHERE BUT HERE!

Katie McGarry was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie is the author of full length YA novels, PUSHING THE LIMITS, DARE YOU TO, CRASH INTO YOU, TAKE ME ON, BREAKING THE RULES, and NOWHERE BUT HERE and the e-novellas, CROSSING THE LINE and RED AT NIGHT. Her debut YA novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS was a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction, a RT Magazine's 2012 Reviewer's Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel, a double Rita Finalist, and a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick. DARE YOU TO was also a Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Best Book Award for Young Adult Contemporary fiction in 2013.

Author Links

Into The Dim by Janet B. Taylor [Release Day Review]

2016-03-01T10:00:00.000+01:00

Title: Into The Dim
Author: Janet B. Taylor
Series: Into The Dim #1
Publication Date: March 1, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Time Travel, Romance
Pages: 432 pages
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Formats: hardcover, ebook, audiobook
Source: From publisher via Netgalley
Summary:

When fragile, sixteen-year-old Hope Walton loses her mom to an earthquake overseas, her secluded world crumbles. Agreeing to spend the summer in Scotland, Hope discovers that her mother was more than a brilliant academic, but also a member of a secret society of time travelers. Trapped in the twelfth century in the age of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Hope has seventy-two hours to rescue her mother and get back to their own time. Along the way, her path collides with that of a mysterious boy who could be vital to her mission . . . or the key to Hope’s undoing. Addictive, romantic, and rich with historical detail, Into the Dim is an Outlander for teens.

First of all, a huge thank you to Janet, who secured me an ARC. I only said how much I wanted to read this and she made it a reality and for that alone, she's pretty high on my favorite people list.

I haven't read a lot of time travel books before. Only one or two maybe, and I definitely haven't read Outlander yet, so I have nothing to compare, but I don't mind it one bit. I see people complaining how it's nothing like that, but I'm glad I could form my own opinion without anything shadowing it.

Hope, our heroine is a girl who grew up very sheltered and secluded by her own mother. After her death, she went to Scotland to her mother's family to find solace in a summer of peace and maybe some closure in the Scottish Highlands. But what she found was the opposite of that: she found out that her mother has been stuck in the 12th century London, and the family is a group of time travellers called the Viators. Along with two other teens, Collum and Phoebe, they took off on an adventure to find Hope's mother and defeat another group of travellers, the Time Slippers.

Hope was a girl who grew up in solitude. Her only companion had been her mother and all the books she read and remembered because of her photographic memory. She was shy with a lot of fears and phobias. While there was no actual love triangle in Into The Dim, we had two boys who were equally dominating and commanding. Collum was the one you could always count on, a reliable leader of their group. Bran, on the other hand, while sweet and hot, I found it hardly to trust. He wavered a lot and I could never decide where he stood. He wouldn't be the obvious choice for the main love interest, but in the end, I got to like him.

I adored this book. While the writing style was really good, the language made it a bit hard for me to read. I am not a native English, so I had to check up on some words, but somehow, it didn't take away the enjoyment factor of Into The Dim. The romance wasn't really a main element here, which I usually don't like, but here, it didn't bother me one bit. Janet described the era and the scenery perfectly, I could imagine myself walking down those streets. The only thing I couldn't imagine is the smell, but that's something I can live without. The whole story made me want to read up on the century and the history and I might do that as soon as I'll have some free time.

Into The Dim is a strong debut for Janet and I hope we'll get to read so many more of her books in the future, starting with the sequel to this one. If you love time travel, adventure, drama, twists and romance, Into The Dim is a book you shouldn't miss.

* An advance copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley. This didn't influenced my thoughts on the book. *

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | iBooks

Janet Taylor lives in such a small town in Arkansas that if you happen to sneeze when you pass by, you'll totally miss it. (Cause, you know, you can't sneeze with your eyes open. For real--try it--it's impossible)

Her debut novel, INTO THE DIM (coming 3/1/2016 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) is about a 16 year old girl who travels through time. Totally on purpose and stuff.

She's a reader/fan first and a writer second. She lives with her fantastic husband, two hilarious sons, and Dorda the diabetic dog who won't win any beauty contests, but has a "nice personality".

She would think you're the coolest thing since AC on a hot day if you'd like her on Facebook. Follow her on Twitter or visit her web site. And if you felt like adding INTO THE DIM to your Want to Read well golly! She'd probably come over to your house and do cart-wheels on your front lawn (probably).

Author Links

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest

P.S. I Like You by Kasie West [Waiting on Wednesday #49]

2016-02-24T10:00:00.000+01:00

P.S. I Like You by Kasie West

Release Date: July 26, 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Publisher: Point

Summary:

What if the person you were falling for was a total mystery?
While Lily is spacing out in Chemistry one day, she picks up her pencil and scribbles a line from one of her favorite songs on the desk. The next day, someone else has written back to her on the desk! Soon enough Lily and the mystery student are exchanging notes, and lyrics, and even sharing secrets. When Lily finds out that her anonymous pen pal is a guy, she's flustered -- and kind of feels like she's falling for him. She and her best friend set out to unravel the identity of the letter writer -- but when the truth is revealed, the guy is the LAST person Lily could have ever imagined it to be. Now that Lily knows the truth, can she untangle her feelings and gather the courage to listen to her heart?
From beloved author Kasie West (The Distance Between Us) comes an utterly charming story about mixed messages, missed connections, and the magic of good old-fashioned secret admirer notes.

My thoughts:

I've loved every single book I read and is written by Kasie so far. And I think just by reading the synopsis, this one will fall into that category too. I need more Kasie West in my life because she writes the cutest romances.

Temper by Beck Nicholas [Release Day Blitz + Giveaway (INT)]

2016-02-23T10:00:00.000+01:00

Happy Release Day to

Temper (Lifer #2) by Beck Nicholas!!

Join us in celebrating this release from Month9Books!

Enter the giveaway found at the end of the post.

Happy Book Birthday, Beck!

Temper (Lifer #2)

Author: Beck Nicholas

Publication Date: February 23, 2016
Publisher: Month9Books

Synopsis:

FREEDOM COMES WITH A PRICE.

Free from the spaceship and reunited with Samuai, Asher should be happy. But thoughts of her dead family weigh heavily on her mind.

Things worsen when temper problems in camp lead to a murder. When Asher volunteers to get the drug need to calm people down, tension ignites.

Loyalties are questioned.

Jealousy rears its head. Sparks fly.

And when rumor of a second ship hits close to home, all bets are off.

Have the aliens returned? Is this the end of everything Asher has ever known?

AND DON'T MISS THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES:

The Bourne Identity meets Under the Never Sky in this intergalactic tale of love and deception from debut novelist Beck Nicholas.

Asher is a Lifer, a slave aboard the spaceship Pelican. A member of the lowest rung of society, she must serve the ship’s Officials and Astronauts as punishment for her grandparents' crimes back on Earth. The one thing that made life bearable was her illicit relationship with Samuai, a Fishie boy, but he died alongside her brother in a freak training accident.

Still grieving for the loss of her loved ones, Asher is summoned to the upper levels to wait on Lady, the head Official’s wife and Samuai’s mother. It is the perfect opportunity to gather intel for the Lifer’s brewing rebellion. There’s just one problem—the last girl who went to the upper levels never came back.

On the other side of the universe, an alien attack has left Earth in shambles and a group called The Company has taken control. Blank wakes up in a pond completely naked and with no memory, not even his real name. So when a hot girl named Megs invites him to a black-market gaming warehouse where winning means information, he doesn’t think twice about playing.

But sometimes the past is better left buried. As Asher and Blank’s worlds collide, the truth comes out—everyone has been lied to...

I always wanted to write. I’ve worked as a lab assistant, a pizza delivery driver and a high school teacher but I always pursued my first dream of creating stories. Now, I live with my family near Adelaide, halfway between the city and the sea, and am lucky to spend my days (and nights) writing young adult fiction.

Author Links

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What Wendy Wants; Watched; Watching [Mini Reviews]

2016-02-22T10:00:00.000+01:00

WARNING: All of these books are in the adult genre and contain and deal with mature themes that are not suited to people under 18.

Title: What Wendy Wants
Author: Nikki Sex
Publication Date: June 23, 2013
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Erotica
Pages: 212 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace
Formats: Paperback, ebook
Source: purchased from Amazon
Summary:

After thirteen years of marriage and three children, Wendy Hayward is bored with sex.
As much as she loves her husband, Wendy married “Mr. Vanilla.” Now she reads nothing but steamy erotic romance stories on her Kindle and fantasizes about having sex with fictional characters, complete strangers, and tattooed rock stars.
One fateful day however, her husband grabs the wrong Kindle on the way to work, and discovers some of Wendy’s more "interesting" fantasies.
Unbeknownst to Wendy, Frank is very keen to fulfill every one of her secret desires. . .

I found this book by someone recommending it on Facebook and it piqued my interest immediately. I haven't read new adult/adult in a while so I needed something fun to read, something that doesn't make me think about it 24/7. I could say this one gave that to me but it still wasn't the one I wanted.

Wendy has been married for years, has three kids and still loves her husband very much, but their sex life is just not the same as it was in the beginning. So what does a woman do in this situation? Gets herself a vibrator and lots of erotic books and buries herself in the fantasy of dominating men. When her husband, Frank accidentally takes her Kindle instead of his own, he discovers Wendy's secret fantasies and vows to make all of them a reality.

To be honest, I liked the idea of the book. It would have been a good one. But even though it's 200+ pages, I felt like the actual night of the even has been both dragged and rushed. It didn't help that Frank commented in his head on literally every move and sound Wendy made. The whole thing felt like a catalogueing or I don't even know what I could compare it to. Wendy and Frank were unrealistic and contradictory. I also didn't like how Wendy talked about her kids, like they were only a burden, even though she repeated a couple of time that how much she loves them. The other sketchy thing was how the author grabbed any opportunity to advertise herself and her other books in this one. Sorry, but it made me want to read them even less than before. Not that I was planning, after this one.

The night of the seduction started out pretty sweet and romantic and that's why I gave it two stars. Plus because it was a quick read. I didn't regret reading it, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Amazon

Title: Watching: Volume One
Author: Bethany James
Series: Watching #1
Publication Date: October 24, 2015
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Erotica
Pages: 70 pages
Publisher: self-published
Formats: ebook
Source: purchased from Amazon
Summary:

“Do you like to watch?” He whispers this question into my ear as he tugs my thong to the side.

I don't answer him, but stay there in the shadows, and watch the couple in the VIP room. I can't look away. Watching them is turning me on more than anything ever has before.

Do I like to watch?

Yes…

** This book is intended for mature readers due to language and adult situations. Also, Watching is a novella and is approx 92 pages in print format.

I picked this one up for the same reason as the previous one. I needed a quick fix of adult and wanted something short but still hot and scorching. This one was just exactly what I needed.

Celia and Jack accidentally met in a coffee house when it was robbed and someone got hurt. Celia was in a bit of a shock and Jack helped her out. They instanly connected and the chemistry was there in between them. They made plans to see each other again later that day. Jack was a night club owner and invited Celia to spend the night with him there, where he introduced her to his friends, who were exhibitionists. And they didn't mind who watches them...

Watching was a short, quick, but still hot book. It wasn't anything deep by any means but I still got a little fun out of reading it. It was scorching and erotic and to be honest, it made me hot. My only problem with it was that I felt the relationship between Celia and Jack way too rushed and there was no actual plot as to where is this book going.

I still enjoyed this one and would recommend picking up if you are in the mood for some instant gratification. But be warned, the ending is such a cliffhanger, I needed to buy the second book instantly.

Amazon

Title: Watched: Volume Two
Author: Bethany James
Series: Watching #2
Publication Date: November 18, 2015
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Erotica
Pages: 72 pages
Publisher: self-published
Formats: ebook
Source: purchased from Amazon
Summary:

So much has changed.
My typical Friday night before Jack revolved around a pint of ice cream and my Netflix queue. Now, I'm practically living with him and off the charts hot sex is my new normal.
If that wasn't enough, Jack is helping me explore things I never knew I wanted sexually. Turns out watching people have sex gets me off big time.
The question is, will being Watched turn me on as well?

After finishing the first book in this serial, the cliffhanger at the end made me pick up this second one in an istant. It made me want to know what happens and how Jack and Celia's lives goes on.

The story picked up where the first one left off. In this second book, Celia and Jack explored their sexuality and their boundaries when it comes to voyeourism and their relationship with Elle and Drew, Jack's friends. There were more drama, involving Celia's parents and that took up way too much time in the book in my opinion, that could've been spent on Jack and Celia and them getting to know each other better. Even after two books, I felt like they didn't really know each other at all, and the only common thing they had is sex. They needed more time to themselves that they didn't spend in bed.

The ending kind of disappointed me, as in it was the same or well, very similar to the first's ending. And sadly, I cannot be trapped into buying the next book just because of that. I'd still recommend it but I warned you.

Amazon

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab [Waiting on Wednesday #48]

2016-02-17T10:00:00.000+01:00

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

Series: Monsters of Verity #1
Release Date: June 7, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Summary:

The city of Verity has been overrun with monsters, born from the worst of human evil. In North Verity, the Corsai and the Malchai run free. Under the rule of Callum Harker, the monsters kill any human who has not paid for protection. In the South, Henry Flynn hunts the monsters who cross the border into his territory, aided by the most dangerous and darkest monsters of them all—the Sunai, dark creatures who use music to steal their victim’s souls.
As one of only three Sunai in existence, August Flynn has always wanted to play a bigger role in the war between the north and the south. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate Harker, daughter of the leader of North Verity, August jumps on it.
When Kate discovers August’s secret, the pair find themselves running for their lives and battling monsters from both sides of the wall. As the city dissolves into chaos, it’s up to them to foster a peace between monsters and humans.
A unique, fast-paced adventure that looks at the monsters we face every day—including the monster within.

My thoughts: This will be a definite read for our book club, Bibliophile Academy when it comes out. And I really hope by that time, it won't be the first book by Victoria that I read.

The Problem With Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout [Waiting on Wednesday #47]

2016-02-10T10:00:00.000+01:00

The Problem With Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Release Date: May 17, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Summary:

For some people, silence is a weapon. For Mallory “Mouse” Dodge, it’s a shield. Growing up, she learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it’s been four years since her nightmare ended, she’s beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime.
Now, after years of homeschooling with loving adoptive parents, Mallory must face a new milestone—spending her senior year at public high school. But of all the terrifying and exhilarating scenarios she’s imagined, there’s one she never dreamed of—that she’d run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn’t seen since childhood, on her very first day.
It doesn’t take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded. Yet the deeper their bond grows, the more it becomes apparent that she’s not the only one grappling with the lingering scars from the past. And as she watches Rider’s life spiral out of control, Mallory faces a choice between staying silent and speaking out—for the people she loves, the life she wants, and the truths that need to be heard.

My thoughts: I read a snippet of this in maybe Every Last Breath? I'm not sure, but it sounded super good and I cannot wait for it. I haven't read every single book by Jennifer yet, but I'm getting there. To read and to own them.

Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman [ARC Review + Author Interview]

2016-02-09T10:00:00.001+01:00

Title: Blackhearts
Author: Nicole Castroman
Publication Date: February 9, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Retellings, Romance
Pages: 384 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Formats: hardcover, ebook
Summary:

Blackbeard the pirate was known for striking fear in the hearts of the bravest of sailors. But once he was just a young man who dreamed of leaving his rigid life behind to chase adventure in faraway lands. Nothing could stop him—until he met the one girl who would change everything.
Edward "Teach" Drummond, son of one of Bristol's richest merchants, has just returned from a year-long journey on the high seas to find his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, Teach dreams only of returning to the vast ocean he’d begun to call home. There's just one problem: convincing his father to let him leave and never come back.
Following her parents' deaths, Anne Barrett is left penniless and soon to be homeless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne is forced to take a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks, and Anne longs for escape. How will she ever realize her dream of sailing to Curaçao—where her mother was born—when she's stuck in England?

From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn to each other, they’re trapped by society and their own circumstances. Faced with an impossible choice, they must decide to chase their dreams and go, or follow their hearts and stay.

I have been obsessed with pirate stuff ever since I was a little girl and... yes, you guessed it right, PIRATES OF CARIBBEAN came out. It was perfect in my 13-yo eyes and I've been quietly in love with all things pirates ever since. Yet somehow, Blackbeard just wasn't on my radar. I don't know why, he's one of the most famous pirates ever. I just never checked up on him. But when I heard about Blackhearts, I knew I had to read it and was pleasantly surprised when I got accepted for an early copy of it on Edelweiss. I've never imagined falling in love with it so completely. Now if I could just give a justice to this book with my review...

Anne Barrett is a maid at the Drummonds, despite her good upbringing and wealthy fater. The story begins with the household waiting for the arrival of Edward "Teach" Drummond, son of the master after his year at the sea, and preparing for his upcoming marriage to Patience. The book follows through both Teach's and Anne's lives, as they go from strangers at the market to lovers planning to run away and return to the sea.

Contrary to the belief, Blackhearts isn't a pirate novel. It's so much more than that. It's the origin of Blackbeard, and how his early years shaped his future. Teach, later known as Blackbeard is actually a kind and loving man, who has his bad qualities too, namely his temper. He may have an easy life with everything served to him on a silver platter, but his heart lies in the deepest of the seas, which his father cannot understand at all. He makes his son do things Teach doesn't enjoy, thus making his life miserable.
Anne is one of the strongest characters I've ever read. She has been dealt with plenty of bad stuff in her life and she came out stronger from all of them. She is loyal and compassionate, a strong woman in a time where women aren't appreciated for their quick wit and intelligence, but their looks and money. She has a good, but very difficult upbringing, due to her mother being a slave and her being a biracial girl in a white society. We get to know the complexity of her backstory and find out the secrets she's been hiding.

I think I kind of hate all the other secondary characters, except John. John is a good friend of Teach, who helps him in any way he can. Alas, the other characters, Teach's betrothed, Patience, all her family, the staff at the Drummond household, they all make Anne's and Teach's lives harder than it should be. But despite all of them, they needed in order for the story to work.

The story is told in third person, in dual POV. This is one of the most ideal, because this way, we can see both into Anne's and Teach's minds and inner thoughts. It just shows that it's not only a story about Blackbeard's young years, but a story about both of our characters. Most importantly, it shows that neither of them is perfect. The romance is such a beautiful slow burn, built on their respect for each other, you cannot help feeling everything with Anne and Teach. Nicole's writing is something I fell in love while reading this book, as it is very easy to get lost and immerse in it. I cannot praise her enough and I will make my mission to make everyone read her work.

I may be in the minority, but I'm actually not sure if I would like a sequel or not. On one hand, it would be FANTASTIC to read about how Anne and Teach's lives turned out later on and what have they been up to. On the other hand, it really makes you think. I read Blackhearts in the beginning of January, and now, weeks later, I am still thinking about it every day and even have my theory of what happened. So to me, this story was full and perfect as it is, but if there'll be a sequel, then SIGN ME UP ALREADY.

All in all, I AM IN LOVE WITH BLACKHEARTS! I cannot wait for my copy to arrive (it should, today) so I can cuddle it, while cry about the sheer perfectness. And also to take a lots of photos of it for my Bookstagram. If you love, historical romances, with complex characters, without insta-love and an original plot, you should definitely pick up Blackhearts.

* Advance copy provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in an exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my thoughts on this book. *

An interview with Nicole Castroman

Thank you so much for agreeing to this little interview. Tell us a little about yourself?

Thank you so much for having me, Nicole! By the way, you have a beautiful name. ;) I was lucky enough to come with my very own best friend…I have a twin sister who can read my mind and finish my sentences for me. At the age of 13, I went to Europe for the first time and it changed my life. I love learning about different people, languages and cultures and speaks fluent German. I know enough Spanish to get myself into trouble and can still read the Cyrillic alphabet from when I studied Russian.
I received my B.A. from Brigham Young University and have lived in Germany, Austria and two different places called Georgia. One is the country located on the Black Sea. The other is the state of Georgia where I now live with my handsome husband and two beautiful children who continue to amaze me.

How did you come up with the story of Blachearts?

When I wrote BLACKHEARTS, I didn’t want to simply write a story with a teenage boy on a ship and have him “act like a pirate.” There wouldn’t have been much character development if I’d done that. I know some people go into this expecting Pirates of the Caribbean, but I never had any intention of writing a spinoff version. I wanted to delve deeper into Blackbeard’s past and write about what might have led him to leave his home behind and become one of the most notorious swashbucklers to sail the seas.

I first came up with the idea when my family and I were planning a trip to Charleston, SC in August of 2012. While doing some research, I learned that Blackbeard had held the entire city hostage at one point, which I thought was fascinating. So I did more research and discovered that only the last two years of Blackbeard’s life are documented (1716-1718). This means that his young life is a mystery. For an author, this was too good of an opportunity to pass up, and so I decided to write an origin story.

Who inspire you either from the book world or from your real life?

Any underdog story. Seriously. Show me someone who has overcome a seemingly insurmountable obstacle and I am a fan.

As a debut author, what advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Never. Give. Up. It's nothing new or earth shattering, but it's so important to believe in yourself and what you do. And read a lot.

What is your favourite quote?

To find yourself, think for yourself. -Socrates

What is your favourite tv show and why?

Poldark. Why? Because of Aidan Turner. :)

Which characters would you choose to be on an epic adventure on with?

Can I use Aidan Turner for this answer as well?

If you were a super hero, what would your name be? What costume would you wear?

Nicole Castroman (because I'm already super) NO CAPES (I hope you all get the Incredibles references here).

What literary character is most like you?

It's Jo March From Little Women.

Thank you so much for your answers and I wish you all the success in the world!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookdepository | iBooks

Nicole was lucky enough to come with her very own best friend…she has a twin sister who can read her mind and finish her sentences for her.
At the age of 13, she went to Europe for the first time and it changed her life. She loves learning about different people, languages and cultures and speaks fluent German. She knows enough Spanish to get herself into trouble and can still read the Cyrillic alphabet from when she studied Russian.
She received her B.A. from Brigham Young University and has lived in Germany, Austria and two different places called Georgia. One is the country located on the Black Sea. The other is the state of Georgia where she now lives with her handsome husband and two beautiful children who continue to amaze her.

Author Links

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

Are you planning on picking up Blackhearts? Or have you already read it? If yes, what did you think? Did you like it? Let me know in the comments!

These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas [Blog Tour Review]

2016-02-03T23:53:00.002+01:00

Welcome everyone at my stop on the blog tour for These Vicious Masks by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas. You can check out my review below and hop along to check out the other stops on the tour.

These Vicious Masks

Authors: Kelly Zekas & Tarun Shanker
Published by: Swoon Romance
Publication date: February 9th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Evelyn has no interest in marriage and even the dashing Mr. Kent can’t make her want to live up to society’s expectations. She’d much rather assist her beloved sister Rose in becoming the world’s first female doctor. But everything changes the night she meets Sebastian Braddock – not only is the reclusive lord both vexing and surprisingly attractive, he’s also quite possibly mad, and his interest in Rose is galling. So when Evelyn wakes up to discover that Rose has disappeared, she immediately suspects Sebastian.
But then she discovers that Sebastian’s strange tales of special powers are actually true, and that Rose’s kidnappers have worse in mind for her than simply ruining her reputation. Surrounded by secrets, lies, and unprecedented danger, Evelyn has no choice but to trust Sebastian, yet she can’t help but worry that Sebastian’s secrets are the most dangerous of all…

GOODREADS

For a while now, I have been in a historical kind of mood. It started last year, when I read Jennifer Donnelly's These Shallow Graves and while I wasn't a fan of historical before, I find myself picking the genre up more and more. Thus when I saw the opportunity to read These Vicious Masks, I jumped on it. And the cause wasn't even because of how it was pitched as "Jane Austen meets X-Men". To be honest, I've only seen one or two of those movies, so I didn't have anything to compare to, which was a good think in my opinion.

These Vicious Masks is a first in a new young adult paranormal series which follows the story of a girl from high society, who discovers she has magical powers. Evelyn's a member of the Victorian England high society, with her mother desperately looking for a proper suitor to marry her off. Evelyn and her sister are talented healers and instead of playing a socialite, Evelyn just wants some adventure while her sister, Rose wants to study medicine to become a better healer. All this falls through when Rose gets kidnapped by an unknown man. Evelyn sets out to go to London in search of Rose, only to discover that the situation might be more complicated than she thought. In her search, she meets mysterious and elusive Mr. Braddock, who could be to key to everything she never knew...

I really really love Evelyn. She is a real firecracker, in an era and society where women were taught to blabber or do not even talk instead of thinking. She is brave, intriguing, genuine and sassy. She isn't afraid to go after her sister, even if it means leaving her family behind and taking on a journey to the unknown. Although she seems very smart, she makes some choices that would have required more thinking. She has a bit of a recklessness inside of her. Our leading men, Mr. Kent and Mr. Braddock are quite the contradiction. They are the typical light-dark/lively-brooding/hero-villain kind of pair. To be honest, there's a hint of a love triangle but I don't think there is enough romance in this first book to really figure it all out, which kinda bummed me, because I live for fictional romance. I hope we'll get to see more of these guys in the next book, because the story focused more on Evelyn and Rose, than these men and I am really curious about them.
The story is really original and captivating. The world- and fantasy-building is a bit slow for my liking, but the descriptions make up for all of it. There is a lot of character developement in the book, which I admit, I am obsessed with. Character developement, I mean. Seems like my favorite phrase haha. There is only a small amount of romance, which is kind of disappointing, but I'm hoping the sequel will have more. The ending is somewhat open, but I think it opens the possibility of a sequel but could be a standalone too. I love the writing style of the authors, it's very consistent. Their style is very similar, which makes the book an easy read.

All in all, it is a promising start to a new series. There is a lot of adventure, action, magic and even a bit of a laughter, sprinkled with heartbreak and loss. If you are a fan of historical, with great fantasy elements and a sassy main character and an original plot, I definitely recommending These Vicious Masks to you.

*ARC was kindly provided by Xpresso Tours and the publisher in exchange of an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion of the book.*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Tarun and Kelly met in a freshman year writing class at NYU and started writing These Vicious Masks a few years later.

Tarun is a writer living in Los Angeles whose idea of paradise consists of kung-fu movies, David Bowie and chai tea. Since completing his first horrible screenplay in high school, he’s written everything from one-act plays and film criticism to humor pieces and strongly-worded emails. He’s also magnetized, crushed and burned the hard drive where that first screenplay can be found.

Kelly is a writer and actor living in NYC. YA is her absolute favorite thing on earth other than cupcakes and she has spent many hours crying over fictional deaths. She also started reading Harlequin romances at a possibly too early age (12?), and still loves a good paperback romance.

Tarun's Links

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Kelly's Links

Website | Goodreads | Twitter

Follow the tour:

Emerge by Tobie Easton [Waiting on Wednesday #46]

2016-02-03T10:00:00.000+01:00

Emerge by Tobie Easton

Release Date: April 19, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Retellings
Publisher: Month9Books

Summary:

Lia Nautilus may be a Mermaid but she’s never lived in the ocean. War has ravaged the seven seas ever since the infamous Little Mermaid unleashed a curse that stripped Mer of their immortality. Lia has grown up in a secret community of land-dwelling Mer hidden among Malibu’s seaside mansions. Her biggest problems are surviving P.E. and keeping her feelings for Clay Ericson in check. Sure, he’s gorgeous in that cocky, leather jacket sort of way and makes her feel like there’s a school of fish swimming in her stomach, but getting involved with a human could put Lia's entire community at risk.

So it’s for the best that he’s dating that new girl, right? That is, until Lia finds out she isn't the only one at school keeping a potentially deadly secret. And this new girl? Her eyes are dead set on Clay, who doesn't realize the danger he's in. If Lia hopes to save him, she’ll have to get closer to Clay. Lia’s parents would totally flip if they found out she was falling for a human boy, but the more time she spends with him, the harder it is for her to deny her feelings. After making a horrible mistake, Lia will risk everything to stop Clay from falling in love with the wrong girl.

My thoughts: I CANNOT wait for this book! I've been obsessed with all things mermaids for a while now and this sounds just right up my alley.

Starflight by Melissa Landers [Release Day Blitz + Giveaway (INT)]

2016-02-02T10:00:00.000+01:00

Starflight
Author: Melissa Landers
Series: Starflight #1
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: February 2, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance

Summary:

Life in the outer realm is a lawless, dirty, hard existence, and Solara Brooks is hungry for it. Just out of the orphanage, she needs a fresh start in a place where nobody cares about the engine grease beneath her fingernails or the felony tattoos across her knuckles. She's so desperate to reach the realm that she's willing to indenture herself to Doran Spaulding, the rich and popular quarterback who made her life miserable all through high school, in exchange for passage aboard the spaceliner Zenith.
When a twist of fate lands them instead on the Banshee, a vessel of dubious repute, Doran learns he's been framed on Earth for conspiracy. As he pursues a set of mysterious coordinates rumored to hold the key to clearing his name, he and Solara must get past their enmity to work together and evade those out for their arrest. Life on the Banshee may be tumultuous, but as Solara and Doran are forced to question everything they once believed about their world—and each other—the ship becomes home, and the eccentric crew family. But what Solara and Doran discover on the mysterious Planet X has the power to not only alter their lives, but the existence of everyone in the universe...

Hey there, booklovers!

I’m author Melissa Landers, and I’m thrilled to announce the release of STARFLIGHT, the first in a brand new sci-fi series from Disney-Hyperion. I originally pitched this story to my editor as “Overboard” (one of my favorite romantic comedies) meets “Firefly” (an amazing show that was tragically cancelled after one season). STARFLIGHT follows the misadventures of Solara Brooks, a penniless felon who indentures herself to her high school nemesis, Doran Spaulding, in exchange for passage to a new world. But when Doran’s memory is temporarily erased, Solara convinces him their roles are reversed—that she’s the master and he’s the servant—and leads him onto a renegade spaceship, where intergalactic shenanigans ensue. STARFLIGHT is very different in tone from the Alienated trilogy, but the story is still filled with all the things I love: humor, heart, and adventure.

What do reviewers have to say?

“Get ready for blast-off! Action-packed and utterly addictive, nobody writes like Melissa Landers. A smart, satisfying romance set in a vividly detailed world, Starflight was just plain fun!” – New York Times bestselling author Amie Kaufman

“Teens will be bracing themselves during the swashbuckling action scenes. A great choice for fans of raw sci-fi action, reminiscent of the lawlessness presented in the television series Firefly.” – School Library Journal

“A lively tale of romance, space pirates, conspiracy, and made (as opposed to genetic) families.” –Booklist

If you like your sci-fi adventure served with a side of romance, I hope you’ll pick up a copy of STARFLIGHT today. It’s now available in stores and online.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indie Bound

To celebrate my book birthday, I’m offering one lucky winner a STARFLIGHT swag pack, complete with custom nail wraps, bookmarks, and a mini poster! The giveaway is open internationally. Due to sweepstakes laws, entrants must be 18 years or older to participate.

Best of luck, and happy reading!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives outside Cincinnati in the small town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio.” For more information or just to say hello, visit www.melissa-landers.com.

Chasing Spring by R.S. Grey [Release Day Blitz]

2016-02-01T10:00:00.000+01:00

Chasing Spring

Author: R.S. Grey

Release Date: Feb 1, 2016

Find on Goodreads

I thought I’d left Blackwater, Texas behind for good. I didn’t belong in the small town, but my dad wouldn’t listen. He dragged me back home in his beat-up truck and dropped a bomb along the way: Chase Matthews was moving in with us. He was the golden boy of my high school, my former best friend, and the last person I wanted sleeping across the hall. His presence was too great a reminder of the ghosts I was trying to forget.
I didn’t ask for a hero. I don’t want to be saved.To me, Lilah Calloway meant late nights sneakin’ out, moonlit hair, and sparklers in July. She was my best friend until the day she left and I’d assumed Blackwater had seen the last of her. Then, like a tempest, she rolled back into town for the final half of senior year. The chopped hair and dark devil-may-care attitude warned most people away, but I knew if I fought hard enough, I could find the lost girl.
I didn’t want to be her hero. Some girls don’t need to be saved.

Amazon

I am a lover of books, chocolate, reality TV, black labs, and cold weather. Seriously, if I had it my way, I would be curled up on the couch with all of those things... everyday.

I live in Texas where I spend my free time writing and reading. My favorite authors include Mindy Kaling & Jonathan Safran Foer. I'm a comedy geek and love all things "funny". Women like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling are definitely the biggest inspirations for my writing, though I think my work tends to skew a bit smuttier than theirs.

Author Links

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas [Waiting on Wednesday #45]

2016-01-27T10:00:00.000+01:00

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Release Date: May 3, 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Retellings

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Summary:

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court--but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms--and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future--and the future of a world cleaved in two.
With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

My thoughts: Please don't let it be a love triangle, please, please, PLEASE! I couldn't deal. I also don't want another Chaol-Dorian situation or Chaol-Rowan one. Although the first book didn't become my favorite, I'm still looking forward to this one. And actually we are reading this for the Bibliophile Academy in May. :) Check us out on Instagram (@bibliophileacademy).

Favorite Bookstagram Accounts [Top Ten Tuesday #13]

2016-01-26T11:00:00.000+01:00

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, where we list our top ten things/thoughts about the week's topic.

This week's topic is a freebie and I chose:

Top Ten Favorite Bookstagram Accounts

I love bookstagram so much and there are countless numbers of accounts that deserve more recognition than they actually get. So here's my little list of people who fall in that category, in no particular order. I wanted to include my book club friends, but I'm giving them a separate post soon.

1. @bookishcrush

Sushmita has a BEAUTIFUL theme with gorgerous pictures which I just love to look at every day.

2. @lisa_lostinlit

Lisa actually has a blog going along with her bookstagram and both are just to die for. Seriously. Such rich pictures.

3. @bloomsbery

Ava not only is one of my favorite bookstagrammers ever, but she is such a nice person and makes beautiful bookmarks. Her pictures are so light and minimalistic, yet they look gorgeous.

4. @theheavenofbooks

I'm really sorry that Amanda rarely posts, but what she does is always quality content. Such beautiful nature pictures, which you have to see for yourself.

5. @lovelyreads_

I'm not sure when I found Alina's account (who's name always reminds me of Shadow and Bone) or that she lives really close to me, but it was an awesome discovery. Just check her account already, because her room is my favorite.

6. @seelieknight

If I could switch places for someone only for a day, it would be Viktoria. Her everything is perfect. Including her account and hair color.

7. @crimeofrhyme

While I don't personally know Alison, she is one of my favorites ever. Such a quality and unique content with stunning pictures.

8. @lattenightsbooks

I'm proud to say I was one of Gen's first followers when she opened this account and I could see her transition into a talented photographer, because that is an inspiration for every day.

9. @marbooksiology

I recently found Mar's account, thanks to Fiderly's recommendation, and to be honest, I fell in love. I love whites, I love minimal, I love books and she has every one of those in her pictures.

10. @clockworkbibliophile

Okay, I didn't want to feature my book club girls here but I just couldn't leave Olivia out. I am SO GLAD that I got to find her account because I am in love. L O V E.

* The photos are from each individual account and they hold all the rights to them. I'm just showing you all. *

Have you checked them out? Will you? Who is your favorite? Which topic did you choose for this week? Leave it in the comments!

Wicked Heart by Leisa Rayven [Waiting on Wednesday #44]

2016-01-20T10:00:00.000+01:00

Wicked Heart by Leisa Rayven

Series: Starcrossed #3
Release Date: May 3, 2016
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Summary:

Liam Quinn is talented, gorgeous, and one of the biggest movie stars in the world.
He's also only man Elissa Holt has ever truly loved.
After being out of her life for six years, he and his gorgeous fiancé are set to star in the new Broadway show Elissa is stage managing. The only trouble is, when late night rehearsals bring Elissa and Liam together, the line between what is and what could have been gets blurred, and one moment of weakness will create a scandal that echoes around the world.
Elissa knows that falling for Liam again would be a tragedy in the making, but as any good romantic will tell you, love doesn't always follow the script.

My thoughts:
Thank god, I know Leisa personally (even thought it's only online), so I can beg for an ARC. Actually, I already signed up for one, so please, may it hurry up? I'm dying here!

The Heir and the Spare by Emily Albright [Blog Tour + Giveaway (US only)]

2016-01-15T12:00:00.000+01:00

The Heir and the Spare
Author: Emily Albright
Publisher: Merit Press
Release Date: January 18th 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Chick Lit, British Literature, New Adult

Synopsis:

Family can be complicated. Especially when skeletons from the past pop up unexpectedly. For American Evie Gray, finding out her deceased mother had a secret identity, and not one of the caped crusader variety, was quite the surprise. Evie’s mom had a secret life before she was even born, one that involved tiaras.
In this modern day fairytale, Evie is on a path to figure out who her mom really was, while discovering for herself what the future will hold. Charged with her late mother’s letters, Evie embarks on a quest into her past. The first item on the list is to attend Oxford, her mom’s alma mater. There, Evie stumbles upon a real life prince charming, Edmund Stuart the second Prince of England, who is all too happy to be the counterpart to her damsel in distress.
Evie can’t resist her growing attraction to Edmund as they spend more time together trying to unravel the clues her mother left behind. But, when doubts arise as to whether or not Edmund could ever be with an untitled American, what really ends up unraveling is Evie’s heart. When Evie uncovers all the facts about her mom’s former life, she realizes her mom’s past can open doors she never dreamed possible, doors that can help her be with Edmund. But, with everything now unveiled, Evie starts to crack under the pressure of new family responsibilities and the realization that her perfect prince may want her for all the wrong reasons.

DELETED SCENE

***This takes place after Evie leaves Caroline’s Halloween party with Preston.***

Outside the residence hall, the autumn air was cool and refreshing. I sucked in a deep breath and slowly released it. I could still hear the thumping of the party through the door. It felt good to be away from the loud music and crowd.

"You sure you're okay?" Preston asked, walking alongside me.

"I am now. Thanks for coming with me, you really didn’t have to leave.”

He grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze, smiling at me. "Where do you want to go?"

“Um, pretty much anywhere, as long as it's not here."

“Hmm.” He pulled his mad scientist goggles off his forehead then tucked them in his pocket. Glancing at his watch, he said, “I know exactly where we should go. If we move quickly, we might make it." Clasping my hand, we alternated between running and quickly walking to the gates of Trinity College.

A man in a black suit, face caked with stage makeup, stood in front of a large group. He looked gaunt and ghoulish.

"Welcome, welcome!" he called in a theatrical baritone voice and waved us closer. “Happy All Hallows Eve, I am your guide tonight. You may call me . . .” He steepled his fingers, tapping them together and looked around at his gathered crowd. “Bob.” A titter of laughter rippled through the group. “Tonight is the perfect night to embark on a ghost walk."

"You up for it?" Preston’s breath was warm against my ear. "Not too scary for you?”

"I'm so up for it!" I said with a grin.

“Be right back.” Preston ran and paid for our tickets and was back at my side in no time.

Grinning, I shook my head. “Thanks, but you didn’t have to pay for me, I could’ve. . .”

“Don’t worry about it. You’ve had a rough night, it’s the least I could do.”

“Well, thank you. You’re awesome.” I’d wanted to drag someone on a ghost tour with me since I’d arrived. Whenever I thought about bringing it up, the lameness I felt stopped me. Thank goodness for Preston.

“According to the Celts, Halloween is the time of year when the veil between worlds thins.” Our tour guide, closed his eyes and drew a deep breath through his nose and spread his arms out wide. “Can you feel it? The spirits are surging all around us.” He opened his eyes and raised one furry eyebrow. “A truly terrifying night awaits. Lads, hold tight to your lassies and everyone . . . please try not to scream." He let out a maniacal laugh.

Preston put an arm around my shoulder and gave me a squeeze as we set off walking. I was glad he’d come with me.

Despite my excitement, my brain wouldn’t derail from Edmund. Thoughts of him still swam in the forefront of my mind. What’s he doing right now? Is Jacqueline still with him?

Bob stopped in front of Trinity Chapel. The arched windows dimly glowed in the darkness. “Let’s start the evening with the most dangerous ghost we’ll encounter tonight. The Thing.” His voice softened as he launched into his story. “Long ago, on a dark evening, much like tonight, a young organist was practicing. Now, mind you, he was a healthy Oxford bloke. When they came in the next morning, they found him dead. An apparent heart attack. It is reported that look on his face was one of abject terror.”

Preston’s hand dropped from my shoulders, making my shawl slip off. Reaching up to straighten it out, I noticed a young teen girl beside me. She held onto what I guessed was her father’s hand and watched our tour guide with rapt attention. I smiled, it made me miss my dad.

Our guide continued his tale of The Thing. “A few years later the college Chaplin saw the entity. He described a phantom, that took female form. Said he recognized her face, but couldn't place who she was. Heart hammering, he ran from the chapel, with the ghostly face seared into his mind.”

I glanced over at Preston, he eyed the chapel and our guide skeptically. He must have felt my stare because he turned and gave me a flirtatious wink.

Smiling, I turned my focus back to what our guide was saying.

"The Chaplin went home and sorted through his old photos. He came across a picture and immediately recognized the ghost from the chapel. It was his mother, who’d died when he was very young. Now, I ask you, what cause would she have to haunt this chapel?” Bob glanced around as if expecting one of us to answer him. “One popular theory is that the phantom of Trinity College is a ghost that tries to cause fear or pain to its victims—”

Leaning into Preston, I whispered, “It’s a boggart.”

Preston snorted and gave me a high five. “Nice!”

We walked further down the street following the group and I realized Preston was holding my hand. When had he grabbed it? I watched him from the corner of my eye as we followed our melodramatic guide.

I rationalized the hand holding as just a friendly thing. In the back of my mind, I wasn’t so sure.

From the moment we met I’d thought he was cute. He was fun, flirty, and liked to tease. But I wasn’t crushing on him. He wasn’t Edmund. At times though, I wondered if he might have a crush on me. And here we have the humble, Evie Gray. I rolled my eyes at myself.

Our guide stopped at a granite and stone cross memorial inlaid in the street, marking the spot where three prominent Protestant Bishops were burned at the stake.

"If you come here at midnight on October sixteenth, you just might hear the disembodied screams of these men as they burn.”

I shivered at the thought. "Have you ever done this tour before?" I asked Preston.

"I have. One of my friends used to give these tours before he graduated. He was a little more . . . sedate.” He chuckled and watched our guide lead the group away with a flourish of his arm. “This guy’s way more entertaining."

“So, you’ve already heard about all these ghosts then?”

"I have, but it's a little different with every guide. Plus, it’s always fun to hear about ghosts, especially at Halloween. Well, and then you’re here with me, so that makes it even better.”

I chuckled as I looked up at him. ”I'm kind of surprised you'd like this stuff.”

"My older sister actually runs a paranormal investigation group over in Bristol. I grew up with this. She used to drag me to creepy places all the time."

"Your parents let her?"

Preston's laugh rumbled deep in his chest. "I wasn't that young, around fifteen."

"Well, I'm still impressed. I've always had a fascination with the paranormal, but actually investigating a haunting? Not thank you, I’ll pass.”

We followed the group but were no longer listening. Instead, we stood at the back and Preston shared a few of his own adventures with me.

“So, have you actually seen a ghost?" I removed my hand from his to straighten the skirt of my dress.

Nodding, he said, “One time, I was setting up our investigation equipment when I saw a woman slowly walk down the staircase in front of me. I could see right through her. I froze and watched her. When she reached the bottom, she turned and stared right at me. I spun to grab my camera and when I looked back, she’d gone.”

"That's insane. Did you finish the investigation?"

“I did." He pulled his shoulders back. “It was awesome. I wanted to find her again."

“Well, you’re definitely braver than I am.” I shivered, both from the story and the chill in the air. “I would’ve hightailed my butt right out of there.”

Preston laughed and slung his arm around my shoulders again. This time he rubbed my arm, trying to warm me up.

The tour finished up at New College, fairly close to where we’d started. Preston went and thanked Bob.

As I waited, my mind crept back to Edmund. Why hasn’t he called? What is he doing? Is he still with Jacqueline? It bothered me to think he might be.

Out of habit, I reached for my pocket to grab my cell. My Emma costume didn’t have any, which meant I didn’t have my phone. I must’ve left it on my desk. Crap.

Preston sauntered back to my side. His contagious smile lifting my spirits.

"Do you think the party's still happening?" I asked

"Most likely, it's only been a couple hours since we left. You want to get something to eat?"

"Sure."

"I know this great little curry place not far from here. You'll love it." Grabbing my hand, he guided me down the street.

Follow the The Heir and the Spare by Emily Albright Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

Emily Albright's debut novel, THE HEIR AND THE SPARE, is releasing January 18, 2016 from Merit Press.

She's a writer, a major bookworm, a lover of romantic movies, a wife, a mother, an owner of one adorable (yet slightly insane) cockapoo, and uses way too many :).

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Thicker Than Water by Brigid Kemmerer [Blog Tour + Giveaway (US/Can)]

2016-01-13T21:05:00.000+01:00

Thicker Than Water

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Release Date: December 29th 2015
Publisher: Kensington Books

Summary from Goodreads:

On his own
Thomas Bellweather hasn’t been in town long. Just long enough for his newlywed mother to be murdered, and for his new stepdad’s cop colleagues to decide Thomas is the primary suspect.
Not that there’s any evidence. But before Thomas got to Garretts Mill there had just been one other murder in twenty years.
The only person who believes him is Charlotte Rooker, little sister to three cops and, with her soft hands and sweet curves, straight-up dangerous to Thomas. Her best friend was the other murder vic. And she’d like a couple answers.
Answers that could get them both killed, and reveal a truth Thomas would die to keep hidden…

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Brigid Kemmerer was born in Omaha, Nebraska, though her parents quickly moved her all over the United States, from the desert in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to the lakeside in Cleveland, Ohio, and several stops in between, eventually settling near Annapolis, Maryland. Brigid started writing in high school, and her first real “novel” was about four vampire brothers causing a ruckus in the suburbs. Those four brothers are the same boys living in the pages of The Elemental Series, so Brigid likes to say she’s had four teenage boys taking up space in her head for the last seventeen years. (Though sometimes that just makes her sound nuts.)
Brigid writes anywhere she can find a place to sit down (and she’s embarrassed to say a great many pages of The Elemental Series were written while sitting on the floor in the basement of a hotel while she was attending a writers’ conference). Most writers enjoy peace and quiet while writing, but Brigid prefers pandemonium. A good thing, considering she has three boys in the house, ranging in age from an infant to a teenager.
While writing STORM, it’s ironic to note that Brigid’s personal life was plagued by water problems: her basement flooded three times, her roof leaked, her kitchen faucet broke, causing the cabinet underneath to be destroyed by water, the wall in her son’s room had to be torn down because water had crept into the wall, and her bedroom wall recently developed a minor leak. Considering SPARK, book 2 in the series, is about the brother who controls fire, Brigid is currently making sure all the smoke detectors in her house have batteries.

Brigid loves hearing from people, and she probably won’t refer to herself in the third person like this if you actually correspond with her. She has a smartphone surgically attached to her person nearby at all times, and email is the best way to reach her. Her email address is brigidmary@gmail.com.

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The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater [Waiting on Wednesday #43]

2016-01-13T10:00:00.000+01:00

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

Series: The Raven Cycle #4
Release Date: April 26, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Publisher: Scholastic Press

Summary:

The fourth and final installment in the spellbinding series from the irrepressible, #1 New York Times bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater.
All her life, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love's death. She doesn't believe in true love and never thought this would be a problem, but as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she's not so sure anymore.

My thoughts:
I. NEED. THIS. IN. MY. LIFE. A.S.A.P!