YA Bound

Spotlight on Spellbound

2013-06-18T00:00:00.000-04:00

paperback: 272 pages

Published April 1, 2013

Find it on Amazon

There's more than one way to be powerful . . .

It is during a routine school project that Abby Silva--sixteen and nearly friendless--makes a startling discovery: She is descended from women who were accused of witchcraft back in 1600s Salem. And when Abby visits nearby Salem, strange, inexplicable events start to unfold. Objects move when she wills them to. Candles burst into sudden flame. And an ancient spellbook somehow winds up in her possession.

Trying to harness her newfound power, Abby concocts a love potion to win over her longtime crush--and exact revenge upon his cruel, bullying girlfriend. But old magic is not to be trifled with. Soon, Abby is thrust headlong into a world of hexes, secrets, and danger. And then there's Rem Anders, the beautiful, mysterious Salem boy who seems to know more about Abby than he first lets on.

A reckoning is coming, and Abby will have to make sense of her history--and her heart--before she can face the powerful truth.

The cover drew me in instantly, and then I read the blurb and knew I had to read this. Abby discovers she's the descendent of one of the most famous witches persecuted in Salem, and as such, she can't ignore that strange things have happened just because she thought about them. She knows she's using magic, and it tempts her to make a few changes in her life. Starting with the boy she's had a crush on for a long time. But this action has some major consequences, since he already has a girlfriend.

If that's not bad enough, Abby is being pursued by a group of witches who want her to join their circle and get vengeance on Salem for the witch trials. Abby doesn't want to be evil, but with the pull of the magic and her connection to the sexy Rem, she has a really hard time separating her human self from her witch self.

This is such a quick, fun read. I could really identify with Abby. What girl wouldn't want to use magic to get what she's always wanted and to put the mean girls in high school in their place. If you like books about witches, definitely pick this one up.

*I could not find author sites for Maya Gold, so if anyone knows them, please share in the comments so we can ~~stalk~~ follow her.

Cover Reveal: Faythe Reclaimed by Lisa Sanchez

2013-06-17T10:14:00.002-04:00

Yay!! Here it is! The new cover for Faythe Reclaimed (Hanaford Park #3)

My very talented author friend, Carol Oates created the cover for me, and I'm in love!!!

Blurb:

Running through a strange forest with a bloodthirsty demon hot on her heels wasn’t Taylor’s idea of a rockin’ evening. Then again, neither was soaring backward through time and space. Time travel chafed and left a rank, nasty aftertaste. So, when she finds herself floundering amidst a sea of Commandment-loving holy rollers who fling accusations of witchcraft and bedevilment like hotcakes in a diner, finding her way home jumps to the top of her to do list. Too bad she can’t remember who she is or where she came from. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Taylor realizes she's falling for the mysterious Latin warlock living on the edge of Salem Village, Gabriel Castillo.

Battling an identity crisis and lost in a time that’s not her own, Taylor is determined to find her way back to twenty-first century Hanaford Park. But first, she and Gabriel must work together to uncover the dark scourge lurking in Salem's shadows, and in doing so, save their own lives, and the lives of countless innocents from a lethal date with the hangman’s noose.

In case you missed my previous post, my publisher is downsizing and I've regained the rights to the story. This lovely new cover will be placed with the book when I republish the story in my own name at the end of the month. Woot!!

Author links:

Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads

Cover Reveal: Jenny's Blue Velvet by Angela Carlie!

2013-06-14T15:35:00.000-04:00

Jenny's Blue Velvet

by Angela Carlie

Release Date: 08/22/13

Summary from Goodreads:

Jenny's stuck.

She's tried just about every occupation she can think of and will be digging out of student debt for a very long time, but has nothing to show for it. Her everyday routine feels like a prison. And her marriage? Well, let's just say it's been a little one-sided lately and the money she threw down on the toys from Lover's Erotic Store was well worth it and then some.

Jenny decides her next big step is to become a romance writer. Romance books are flying off the virtual shelves, after all. This will be her big break, her escape from the prison, and a way to freedom. Self-publishing is all the rage these days. She'll be a best seller in no time.

When Jenny makes friends with a woman named Cassandra from the gym, she instantly decides that her new friend will make a perfect main character in her upcoming book. After the first chapter, real life begins to resemble the fiction she's writing. Her friendship blossoms, sex with her husband turns into a daily feast, and her job gets more interesting with each chapter written.

Out of the blue, a person who is a close friend with her husband and who is dating Cassandra disappears. As the mystery behind the missing person unfolds, Jenny wonders if she might be responsible for his possible death. And if she is, what will be the consequence? What has this writing business gotten her into?

JENNY'S BLUE VELVET is a dark, humorous, romantic thriller for adults only.

About the author

Facts about Angela Carlie
I write fiction. I work hard. I play often.
When I'm not pushing a mouse around at a desk job, which is boring, or writing, which is fun, I enjoy hanging out with my fourteen-year-old son and husband, reading, hiking, kayaking, traveling, and running.
Hawaii and Washington are my two favorite states.
I believe that if everyone ate a whole-food plant based diet, cancer cases would be a minimum, heart disease a thing of the past, and hunger something found in history books.
One of my favorite documentaries is Forks Over Knives.
I love hearing about people reading my books, so if you enjoyed one of my stories, please let me know by leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads.
Thank you for spending time with my stories. We don't have much of it and I appreciate that you find my work worthy of your time.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

This cover reval was organized by Xpresso Book Tours!

Swoon Thursday (93): Moments That Transcend

2013-06-13T03:00:00.000-04:00

It's that time again! We created a HOT meme, and if you're new to the game, here's how to join in the fun:

From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering.

Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the steamy button above and share it on your blog. We want to know!

We're back at it again, swooning over our favorite book boyfriends and the moments that flat out made us giddy when we read them. So sit back, enjoy, and then play along by leaving YOUR favorite swoon worthy moments this week in the comments!

This week, I can't speak for the others, but my choice (Rachel's choice) was taken from a book that just grabbed me by the heart and filled me up. Every once in a while, you get books that speak to you, that transcend just a freaking awesome read, and go beyond. Those are different for all of us, but they happen to all of us. Those moments make me swoon JUST as much as the sexy times. That experience, those warm fuzzies and heart break and heart mending, they the reason I write and the reason I love to read.

What books have you read recently that gave YOU that kind of a moment?? I'd love to know in the comments!!

And as always, remember to check their for the links our lovely readers share with their favorite swoony scenes, too!

And are ours:

RACHEL: I'm Swooning over PICTURE PERFECT by Alessandra Thomas. Y'all, no lie, I told my husband no less than three times while reading that this book fed my soul. It just...yeah, was the perfect book for me right now :) Read the blurb, then read the book. It's a topic very important to me, and just yeah. Love!

First just a wonderful moment:

That intensity was back in his eyes. His voice was perfectly steady and so sexy-husky when he said, "Please tell me you're going to let me kiss you."

A grin flooded my face before I could hold it back. I closed that gap between us with a half a step, and held my face up to his. He reached up, cradling my jaw in his warm hand. And then, his lips captured mine, moving against them cautiously and like he'd been desperate to do it all at once.

Then, a YUMMY moment (and this book has LOTS of them!)

And the way his palms pressed against me, like my curves were only helping him grab onto me, move me where he wanted me to go--I could have written my own ass a love letter right then and there.

Nate's tongue and lips were intoxicating, but when he squeezed my hip and let his teeth graze across the skin there, I almost lost it. I arched my back again and moaned.

KELLY: Swooning over FALLEN TOO FAR by Abbi Glines

His kisses slowed and then he pulled back still holding my face in his hands. "Come with me upstairs. I want to show you my room," he flashed me a naughty smile, "and my bed."

TRISH: Swooning over SINS AND NEEDLES by Karina Halle

His lips sucked gently on mine, his tongue ravishing my mouth like he couldn't stop himself.

I was suddenly insatiable, each kiss reaching down into my core, making me want all of him,

every part. A million thoughts flew through my head and then there was nothing at all. There

wasn't even Camden and Ellie. There was just this hot, primal, crucial need for each other.

TARA: Swooning over THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER by Megan Shepherd

His fingers found my waist, inching me closer, and for a moment I didn't think about impropriety. The rules of society couldn't reach us here beyond the falls. I pulled back to ask if he was alright, but the breathless desire written on his face stole my words. Before I could put together a coherent thought, he kissed me.

NEREYDA: Swooning over FACADE by Nyrae Dawn

Before I have a chance to swoon over hi swords, his mouth comes down on mine. I expect it to be urgent, frenzied, but he takes his time, letting his tongue stroke my own. His hands move to my neck, push through my hair, and it's so soft that I want to cry, but it feels so good I almost can't help the moan that slips out.

SO NOW IT'S YOUR TURN! On your blog (and be sure to leave us a link), and/or on Twitter... SWOON us!

And PS! Make sure to tweet with the #YABound hashtag so we can RT you!

Sign Ups: Sizzling Summer Giveaway Event!

2013-06-11T13:41:00.002-04:00

***SIGN UPS ARE FULL***

YA Bound Book Tours is organizing the Sizzling Summer Giveaway event featuring 50 authors! This giveaway event will take place July 22nd to July 27th. If you would like to participate to host this event on your blog, please fill out the form below. Please select 3 authors you would like to host and we will do our best to accommodate. (Note that you are not guaranteed the author you pick). Bloggers will receive a promo post provided by author (excerpt, dream cast, playlist, character interview, etc.) book info and rafflecopter giveaway code for 2 Kindle Fire HD's pre-loaded with some of the author's books. Rafflecopter will have an entry option to follow your blog as a thank you for hosting. Blogger chooses the date they would like to post. All information will be sent to you the week before the event starts.

-Nereyda

Participating Authors:

Rachel Harris

Trisha Wolfe

Alyssa Rose Ivy

C.C. Hunter

Bethany Lopez

Cindi Madsen

Tiffany King

Juliana Haygert

Raine Thomas

Laura Howard

Patrice Michelle

Jennifer Snyder

Carrie Butler

Andrea Heltsley

Jennifer Lane

Shannon Duffy

Devyn Dawson

Nazarea Andrews

Cherie Colyer

T.M. Franklin

Dawn Pendleton

Lisa Sanchez

Morgan Wylie

Eliza Tilton

Liz Long

Meradeth Houston

Dawna Raver

Erin Danzer

Lisa Collicutt

E.J. Wesley

A.K. Morgen

Elle Chardou

Lara Schiffbauer

Jaycee DeLorenzo

JD Nelson

Sharon Bayliss

C.R. Everett

Thea Gregory

Brandice Snowden (not shown)

Nicki Elson

Diana Castilleja

A. W. Exley

Krystal Wade

Elizabeth Sharp

Krissi Dallas

Tia Bach

Jamie Ayres

Michelle Muto

M.R. Polish

Book Blitz Sign-Up: Romancing the R.A. by Ashelyn Drake!

2013-06-10T12:04:00.000-04:00

YA Bound Book Tours is organizing a Book Blitz for the NA Contemporary: Romancing the R.A. by Ashelyn Drake. This book blitz will run from June 17th to June 24th (blogger decides which date they would like to post). If you would like to participate in this book blitz, please fill out the form below. Participants will receive an HTML-ready post 1-2 days before the start date, all you have to do is copy/paste. I will also send out all the info separately if you prefer to set up your own post. The giveaway rafflecopter will have an option to follow your blog as a thank you for hosting.

-Nereyda

Romancing the R.A. (Campus Romance #1)

by Ashelyn Drake

Release Date: 05/28/13

Summary from Goodreads:

Noelle Buckman is looking forward to making a fresh start in college, one that doesn’t involve immature high school boys. The second she steps on campus for freshman orientation, she can sense the possibilities. Especially when she spots Andy, a resident advisor who’s not just hot but also thoughtful enough to open doors for a girl.

And Andy has his eye on Noelle. Even when her nerves take control and she thinks she comes off as a hillbilly with no direction, Andy can see what she’s really like and he’s more than a little interested.

But orientation is less than two full days and there’s an entire summer between Noelle and Andy. Will her attempt to romance the R.A. be as short-lived as college orientation?

*Author Links*

Website│Twitter│Goodreads│Facebook

Breaking Glass by Lisa Amowitz

2013-06-08T00:00:00.000-04:00

On the night seventeen-year-old Jeremy Glass winds up in the hospital with a broken leg and a blood alcohol level well above the legal limit, his secret crush, Susannah, disappears. When he begins receiving messages from her from beyond the grave, he’s not sure whether they’re real or if he’s losing his grip on reality. Clue by clue, he gets closer to unraveling the mystery, and soon realizes he must discover the truth or become the next victim himself.

ISBN: 978-1937053383

Add Breaking Glass to Goodreads

Support an Indie bookstore

Buy it from Barnes and Noble

Buy it from Amazon

Lisa Amowitz was born in Queens and raised in the wilds of Long Island, New York where she climbed trees, thought small creatures lived under rocks and studied ant hills. And drew. A lot.

When she hit her teens, she realized that Long Island was too small for her and she needed to escape. So she went to college in Pittsburgh. Go figure.

On leaving college, Lisa became a graphic designer living in New York City. She eventually married her husband of a zillion years, had two lovely children, and was swept away to a fairy tale life in the Bronx, where, unbelievably there are more trees and wilderness than her hometown. She can see the Hudson River from her kitchen window.

Lisa has been a professor of Graphic Design at her beloved Bronx Community College where she has been tormenting and cajoling students for nearly seventeen years. She started writing eight years ago because she wanted something to illustrate, but somehow, instead ended up writing YA. Probably because her mind is too dark and twisted for small children.

BREAKING GLASS which will be released in July, 2013 from Spencer Hill Press, is her first published work. VISION, the first of the Finder series will be released in 2014, along with an unnamed sequel in the following year. LIFE AND BETH will also be released in the near future, along with graphic novel style art.

Find Lisa on Facebook

Follow Lisa on Twitter

Giveaway items:

(1) custom pendant like the one pictured on the book cover

(2) signed ARCS

(1) original work of Breaking Glass related art created and signed by the author.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Of Darkness and Crowns by Trisha Wolfe!

2013-06-07T00:10:00.000-04:00

Of Darkness and Crowns (Goddess Wars #2)

by Trisha Wolfe

Release Date: September 1, 2013

Cover artist: Steven Novak

Cover Reveal Organized by: YA Bound Book Tours

***WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T READ BOOK ONE***

Summary from Goodreads:

The moon goddess has taken up residency within Prince Caben, darkening his mind and soul. Now he hunts the very women he sacrificed his life to save, his conflicting desires for love and power raging a battle within him. Kaliope possesses the key to setting Bale free, and Caben will stop at nothing to see his goddess restored. Even if that means destroying the kingdom he’s sworn to protect, and the infuriating woman who torments his thoughts.

Kaliope, now the leader to the newly formed Nactue Guard, has vowed to save Caben. But with a traitor lurking among her people, and powers she’s unable to fully control, Kaliope’s mission becomes shrouded with doubt. Her new role as watcher over Caben’s kingdom brings a burden she’s unable to bear alone, and appointing the right person in charge of the prince’s affairs has turned a kingdom against the Nactue leader. Saving her stubborn, willful prince from the darkness overtaking him will be the battle of her life, and she needs people she can trust by her side. But bad blood between members of the Nactue obscure Kaliope’s journey, while her feelings for Caben cloud her judgment.

When the time comes to do what she must to destroy the goddess of chaos, will she be able to if it means losing Caben forever?

Book two of the Goddess Wars is told in dual point of view from Kaliope and Caben. New Adult Dark Fantasy, intended for readers 17 years of age and older.

***Excerpt (Caben’s POV)***

The Crusher grinds to a halt. I’m propelled forward, and my head smacks the low-hanging ceiling of the front compartment.

“Damn, you fool!” I palm my throbbing forehead, eyeing the driver of the Crusher—the machines I now call by their Otherworlder name.

“Sorry, my liege,” he says, backing against his seat, farther away from the glowing ribbons circling my fingers.

Ignoring him, I study the luminous white—like the surface of the moon—crawling beneath my skin, and marvel at the power. My power. Had I possessed it that day the Cavan Army forced me from my home, they never could have done so easily. But then, I never would have obtained this power. Ironic.

“Just drive,” I tell him. I take a seat on the front bench, away from the foul stench emanating from the back compartment—our diversion tactic that will gain me entry into my palace, where I know she’s being kept.

The glow beneath my skin illuminates brighter, reminding me of her skin. I curl my fingers into a tight ball.

The battle up ahead is only part of my plan, one that I know Kaliope will fall for. I need the reserves away from the palace. Then we’ll take care of her Nactue once we’re inside. My back molars clamp down hard at the thought of her—a mix of something like fire and nausea invading my stomach.

At one time, I felt things for the black-haired beauty. I chuckle to myself. Well, at least my groin did. Just thinking of her body makes me ache, and I have to adjust myself. But that was when I was weak, when I only thought and felt with that weakness. As much as I hated my father for thinking me too feeble to rule, he was right. I was pathetic.

Bale freed me. Released the part of me that I kept buried, locked away deep down, and I no longer fear anything. I think of everything that once made me shudder or quake with dread and laugh. It’s so simple.

Without fear, there is only freedom.

Power.

And if I free Bale completely, releasing her from within my being and making her corporeal, she’ll bestow me with even more power. I don’t care what the dark goddess does or where she goes once I restore Empress Iana’s relic. I don’t give a damn what happens to the maggoty Otherworlders or their realm.

I just want her out of my mind. And I want the power.

Then I’ll set my sights on Perinya, and on gaining what’s mine.

A deep cackle fills my head, deep and sultry.

“Quiet, woman.” I roll my eyes. We’ve come to a compromise, the goddess and I, that she may remain within my mind, but she’s to keep quiet. I got tired of her constant lectures and angry rants about her sisters. She does stay silent…for the most part. But the sooner I get her out of my head, the better.

Having a woman fill your thoughts is a weakness in itself. A sudden flash of a smiling, laughing Kal blurs my vision, and I shake my head.

There’s only one way to rid my thoughts of that woman.

Kill her.

“Burrow, leach,” I command the driver. “We’re coming up on the battle. Go underground.”

“Yes, my liege.”

Tonight, I plot. Find a way into the capital of Perinya and into my home. And then take back what’s mine. The goddess can have what she wants. I’m only interested in claiming what’s mine.

No one will ever take anything away from me again.

Don’t get in my way, Kal.

I shake my head harder, trying to quiet the pesky thoughts that always spring up when I think of her. Something left over from before—a residual feeling, an effect she has on me.

It won’t be there much longer. I smile, and Bale laughs.

***

Of Silver and Beasts (Goddess Wars #1)

by Trisha Wolfe

Release Date: April 19th 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

In the sand-covered queendom of Cavan, the goddess once saved a young Kaliope’s life, preventing the mercury her father attempted to hide in her blood from reaching her heart. Now, a cybernetic clamp filters it, but the silver streaks swirling faintly beneath her skin are a constant reminder that she’s different.

When nineteen-year-old Kaliope is chosen as head of the Nactue Guard, she becomes the sworn protector to her empress. In the midst of an invasion on a neighboring land, Kaliope is placed in charge of guarding Prince Caben, the last heir to his kingdom. But when they’re attacked by the feared Otherworlders, Caben and Kaliope are abducted and taken below to a realm where they must fight for their life in a caged arena.

Kaliope struggles to protect her princely charge, keeping him and herself alive while battling inhumanly opponents, and trying to save the stolen, sacred relic that will restore her empress’s life force and all of Cavan. And if she can somehow awaken the goddess within her, she may save what’s most important.

New Adult Dark Fantasy: Intended for readers 17 years of age and older.

Of Silver and Beasts is on sale right now for only $.99. Get your copy here:

Where to find Trisha:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | YouTube Channel

***Bonus Material***

Don’t miss out on the bonus scene of Astarte’s Wrath – Bath Scene in Xarion’s POV

Swoon Thursday (92)

2013-06-06T03:30:00.000-04:00

And are ours:

RACHEL: I'm Swooning over THE FOREVER OF ELLA AND MICHA by Jessica Sorensen. I've been in a bit of a reading slump, and this book is totally what I needed:

He doesn't slow down until he scoops me up in his arms, not caring that there are a ton of people watching us.

I fasten my legs around his waist and he kisses me intensely, stealing every ounce of oxygen from my lungs. Our bodies and tongues conform together, and the heat of him sears my skin. His lip ring scores into my bottom lip, but I want more.

KELLY: Swooning over DEITY by Jennifer Armentrout

Seth chuckled, and then his mouth was making its way to mine, and I opened for him. The edges of his hair tickled my cheeks as the kiss deepened. His fingers drifted down the front of my blouse and then they were sliding over the bare skin of my stomach. I wrapped my leg around his, and we were moving together on the bed. His lips were dancing all over my flushed skin as his hands slid down, fingers finding the button on my jeans.

TRISH: Swooning over SIEGE AND STORM by Leigh Bardugo

As he was helping me back into the coach, he slipped his arm around my waist.

"Please don't punch me," he whispered. Then he yanked me hard against his chest and pressed his lips to mine.

(And a little later...)

He yelped, but that wasn't nearly satisfying enough. I kicked him again.

"Feel better?" he asked.

"Next time you try something like that, I won't kick you," I said angrily. "I'll cut you in half."

Trish note: Got to love those tough girl moments ;)

TARA: Swooning over THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER by Megan Shepherd

His fingers found my waist, inching me closer, and for a moment I didn't think about impropriety. The rules of society couldn't reach us here beyond the falls. I pulled back to ask if he was alright, but the breathless desire written on his face stole my words. Before I could put together a coherent thought, he kissed me.

NEREYDA: Swooning over WILD CARDS by Simone Elkeles

I grasp her wrist and bring it to my lips, kissing it gently and feeling her pulse pounding against her warm, soft skin.

I trace the contours of her body with my fingers and follow with my tongue. Her heart races, matching mine, as she moans and pulls me closer with urgency. Ashtyn is amazing and hot and sexy. My fingers play with her body and I kiss her sweet lips as she moves against my hand.

I place her hand on me as she bring my body to a new, heightened frenzy. Now I’m the one moaning.

I'm also swooning over THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY by Katja Millay

I don’t know who moves first, but her lips are on mine and my hands are in her hair and we kiss each other with the regret and desperation of so many days I can’t count them. Her body is crushed against mine, and I hold her there so tighly it’s as if I’m trying to absorb her through sheer force of will.

SO NOW IT'S YOUR TURN! On your blog (and be sure to leave us a link), and/or on Twitter... SWOON us!

And PS! Make sure to tweet with the #YABound hashtag so we can RT you!

Spotlight on Runes by Ednah Walters

2013-06-04T00:00:00.000-04:00

paperback: 320 pages

Published April 2, 2013

Find it on Amazon

Seventeen-year-old Raine Cooper has enough on her plate dealing with her father’s disappearance, her mother’s erratic behavior and the possibility of her boyfriend relocating. The last thing she needs is Torin St. James—a mysterious new neighbor with a wicked smile and uncanny way of reading her.

Raine is drawn to Torin’s dark sexiness against her better judgment, until he saves her life with weird marks and she realizes he is different. But by healing her, Torin changes something inside Raine. Now she can’t stop thinking about him. Half the time, she’s not sure whether to fall into his arms or run.

Scared, she sets out to find out what Torin is. But the closer she gets to the truth the more she uncovers something sinister about Torin. What Torin is goes back to an ancient mythology and Raine is somehow part of it. Not only are she and her friends in danger, she must choose a side, but the wrong choice will cost Raine her life.

It's no secret I'm a huge fan of Ednah Walters. Her writing is amazing, and she delivers once again with Runes. Raine's still dealing with the disappearance of her father after he was involved in an accident and his body was never found. Her mother won't let go of his memory either, which makes it even harder for Raine to move on. Enter Torin St. James. Raine figures out pretty quickly that he's different. And while they bicker, she can't deny she's attracted to him—despite already having a boyfriend.

But the closer she gets to Torin, the more Raine discovers about herself and she's introduced to a world she never knew existed. With Raine's friends in danger, she struggles to make sense of everything. But can she figure it out before it's too late?

This story sucked me in from the very first line. Torin is so yummy, and let me say there's a scene where Raine tries on dresses and Torin... well, I won't give any spoilers so I'll just say he had me swooning hard! Wow! But nothing compares to the ending. It was packed with emotion. I'm dying to get my hands on book two.

Author website | Blog | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Triangles by Kimberly Ann Miller

2013-06-03T09:15:00.000-04:00

While I was at BEA, I was lucky enough to snag a copy of Triangles by my publishing house sister, Kimberly Ann Miller. I've been looking forward to reading this one.

A cruise ship. A beautiful island. Two sexy guys. What could possibly go wrong?

In the Bermuda Triangle—a lot.

Hoping to leave behind the reminders of her crappy life—her father's death years ago, her mother's medical problems, and the loser who's practically stalking her—seventeen-year-old Autumn Taylor hops on a ship with her sister for a little distraction. When she wakes up in the Bermuda Triangle, she fears she's gone nuts for more than one reason: that loser's suddenly claiming they're a happy couple... a hot guy is wrapping his arms around her and saying "Happy Anniversary"... and suddenly, she's full of bruises, losing her hair, and getting IV medication. Autumn visits the ship's doctor, hoping for a pill or a shot to make the craziness go away. Instead, she's warned that these "alternate realities" could become permanent.

She just has to ask herself one question—how the hell is she going to get out of this mess?

Kimberly Miller received Bachelor's degrees from Georgian Court University and Rutgers University and a Master's degree from The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. She is an avid reader and particularly enjoys true crime and young adult novels. She grew up in New Jersey and currently resides in Monmouth County with her husband and three cats. When she’s not writing, she loves to travel to sunny islands where she snorkels by day and stargazes by night. She always takes her Nook with her.

Twitter: @KimberlyAnnNJ: https://twitter.com/#!/KimberlyAnnNJ

Blog: http://writersbytheshore.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000972287894

Tumblr: http://kimberlyannmiller.tumblr.com/

Email: KAMillerWrites (at) aol (dot) com

Website: kimberlyannmiller.com

Buy links:
                  Barnes and Noble
                  Amazon
                  The Book Depository

Blog Tour Schedule: Crescent by Homer Hickam!

2013-06-01T17:33:00.000-04:00

YA Bound is hosting a blog tour for Crescent, book 2 in the Helium-3 series by Homer Hickam. This tour will run from June 3^rd to June 8^th. Check out the full blog tour schedule below.

Crescent (Helium-3 #2)

by Homer Hickam

Release Date: 06/2013

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Summary from Goodreads:

They said she wasn’t human. They were wrong.
A seemingly endless war against the insurgent Crowhoppers keeps the people of Moontown fighting when they’d rather be mining valuable Helium-3. Crater Trueblood’s valiant efforts against the genetically-manipulated beings weighs heavily on his mind. What is he really fighting for?
In the midst of a deadly battle, Crater captures an enemy Crowhopper. But this one he refuses to kill. “It” is genetically more human than not and its gender seems to be female. She calls herself Crescent.
Crater takes her to Moontown as a prisoner of war, but treats her kindly. However, at the hands of Moontown residents Crescent experiences prejudice and even cruelty.
Soon Crescent is imprisoned for a murder she didn’t commit. Crater comes to her aid, and the two become fugitives, escaping into the vast expanse of hostile terrain called “the big suck.” For Crater, it turns out the cause most worth fighting for may be right by his side.

***Blog Tour Schedule***

June 3:

Mom With A Kindle - http://momwithakindle.blogspot.com - Promo Post

As You Wish... - http://asyouwishreviews.blogspot.com/ - Review

Moosubi Reviews! - http://www.moosubi.blogspot.com - Review
The Page Turners - http://www.futuresuns.blogspot.co.uk – Review

June 4:

Pixie Dust Book Reviews - http://pixiedustreviews.blogspot.com - Review

deal sharing aunt - www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com - Review

June 5:

Blood, Sweat and Books - http://www.bloodsweatandbooks.blogspot.com - Promo Post

Frankie Blooding's Bookshelf - http://www.frankieblooding.wordpress.com/ - Promo Post

Tangled In Pages - http://tangledinpages.blogspot.fi/ - Review

June 6:

Geek Marloz - http://geekmarloz.blogspot.mx/ - Review

Every Free Chance Book Reviews - http://everyfreechancebookreviews.blogspot.com/ - Review

June 7:

Brianna Lee Book Reviews - http://www.briannaleereviews.blogspot.com - Promo Post

In This World of Books.. - http://bookaholicfaggots.blogspot.com - Review

June 8:

Always a Booklover - http://alwaysabooklover.blogspot.com - Review

Swoon Thursday (91): Bringing The Heat

2013-05-30T03:30:00.000-04:00

And are ours:

RACHEL: I'm Swooning over JET: A MARKED MEN NOVEL by Jay Crownover. And boy, am I swooning. There are a lot of moments I could highlight here, but let's go with this yummy one:

He kissed me like we had all the time in the world to do it over and over again. He kissed me like he was trying to memorize every action, every sound, and every taste, so that he could write songs about it. He kissed me like I was the only girl he was ever going to kiss again, and it made my head spin and my breathing choppy. I wanted to suck on the bar in the center of his tongue like it was a lollipop.

KELLY: Swooning over FOR YOU by Mimi Strong

His hands, hot and heavy, moved across my back and up between my shoulders. He pulled his mouth from mine with a sigh, and kissed my neck, sucking at the sensitive skin below my ear and jaw, making me aware of the strong, steady pulse thrumming there.

TRISH: Swooning over ROMANCING THE R.A. by Ashelyn Drake

His hands move up my back to my hair, and he pulls my head back gently exposing my neck. His lips trail down my jaw and to the nape of my neck. I bite my lips to stifle a moan, but it manages to slip out anyway.

TARA: Swooning over WAITING FOR YOU by Shey Stahl

When his mouth found mine, he took my bottom lip between his lips, soft and hesitant like he was trying me out. With a jerked motion, his fingers dove into my hair, winding in the wet strands and he inhaled deeply. Our lips parted together and he slid one hand around my waist pressing me flush against his chest.

NEREYDA: Swooning over TRULY MADLY YOURS by Rachel Gibson

She felt his fingers drift up her garter to the edge of her skirt, drawing a line of fire that heated the insides of her thighs and flamed the hunger deep in her abdomen. Then his fingers dipped beneath the black lace and elastic and he grasped her bare flesh. She shoved one hand inside the open collar of his shirt and touched his shoulder where he was warm, his muscles hard, but it wasn’t enough and she tugged at the buttons until his shirt lay open.

I'm also swooning over TANGLED by Emma Chase

I bend my arms and cover her mouth in a devouring, harsh kiss. Then I lick my way to her shoulder and, caught up in the moment, bite down. Not hard enough to break skin but with just enough pressure to send Kate flying over the fucking edge again.

SO NOW IT'S YOUR TURN! On your blog (and be sure to leave us a link), and/or on Twitter... SWOON us!

And PS! Make sure to tweet with the #YABound hashtag so we can RT you!

Book Blitz: Angles of the Knight series by Valerie Zambito!

2013-05-27T01:25:00.000-04:00

Angels of the Knights - Fallon

(Angels of the Knights #1)

by Valerie Zambito

Summary from Goodreads:

When Fallon Angell died at the age of sixteen, her life changed forever.

The hallowed world of Emperica is everything she had ever hoped for as a mortal—immeasurable beauty, unconditional love and light. But, with affection for humankind still burning within her, she joins the Knight Caste to train as an angel warrior. As a Knight, she will give up her wings and return to the place that killed her to use her unique powers to search out and destroy the evil Kjin that roam the earth. As a Knight, she will stop at nothing to protect the mortals in her care.

The elders warn her that the path she chose will be a solitary one. That she will not have the same bond with humans as she once did. But, as far as she knows, the elders had never met Kade Royce.

When her duties place her in the path of this handsome former cop, emotions buried long ago rise to the surface and she is powerless to ignore the depth of her feelings for this young man. She knows instinctively that she has found what most people search their entire lives for.

Ignoring the risks, she invites him into her world of danger, but soon their lives collide with explosive consequence. As a result, Fallon realizes with heartbreaking despair that she can no longer hide from the painful truth. In order for Kade to live, she must destroy him.

E-book is currently free!

Angels of the Knights - Blane
(Angels of the Knights #2)

by Valerie Zambito

Summary from Goodreads:

Once the hunter, now the hunted. As the war with the Kjin rages, Blane Romero must lead the Paladin Knights against their mortal enemy while trying to protect the young, Juliet Hunter, who unwittingly finds herself entangled in their sinister schemes. Juliet cares only about shielding her young sisters from harm, but finds herself drawn to the enigmatic man who offers her much more than either he or she was prepared for.

Ostracized by the families they loved, Blane and Juliet find they have more in common than they thought as they battle demons both real and personal to stay together. But, will it be enough when the powerful Cesar Grant decides he wants Juliet for his own?

Book Two in the Angels of the Knights paranormal fantasy series.

Buy Links:

About the Author

Thank you for visiting my Goodread's profile. I am Valerie Zambito, and I live in upstate New York with my husband and three sons. After having been involved in a busy sales career for fifteen years, a great love of world building, character creation, and all things magic led to the publication of my first adult epic fantasy series, ISLAND SHIFTERS, in October of 2011. Since then, I have added two additional books to this series and wrote the first book in a new teen paranormal series called ANGELS OF THE KNIGHTS.

My reading preference is fantasy as well and I devour in copious amounts. In my opinion, there’s nothing like it! Great fantasy grants us entry into a world beyond our own that is filled with adventure, mystery and danger. How exciting to enjoy a front row seat to human struggles of epic proportions. Struggles that tug at our heartstrings and elicit real emotion.

I gravitate to fantasy with heroic elements. I like strong, confident men who never back down from a fight against evil. The kind who will not hesitate to throw himself between a woman and a fire-breathing dragon. I like strong women, too. The kind who will appreciate the offer, but is more inclined to push the man out of the way and take care of the dragon herself. ;)

Website│Twitter│Facebook│Goodreads

***GIVEAWAY***

(1) Print or e-book copies of books 1 & 2 in this series plus $25 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz Organized by:

Swoon Thursday (90):Flat Out Giddy

2013-05-23T03:00:00.000-04:00

And are ours:

RACHEL: I'm Swooning over GIRL WITH GUITAR by Casey Quinn. Now, Trace is so my kind of book boyfriend, and there were plenty of moments to choose from--some I would blush to post here on the blog (he he)--but this one just gets to me:

Cupping her chin firmly, Trace leaned in and oh, oh she was more than ready for his mouth. But he didn't kiss her. He pressed his forehead to hers and closed his eyes. "So damn beautiful," he rasped.

KELLY: Swooning over EASY by Tammara Webber

He pressed his hard body against mine and I pressed back, grabbing handfuls of his T-shirt and fitting myself to him while his tongue stroked the interior of my mouth.

Rachel Note: This is one of my favorite books of all time!! Just sayin' :)

NEREYDA: Swooning over Lost and Found by Nicole Williams

-When Jesse's lips dropped to my neck, I tilted my head back and pressed harder against him. I didn't stop pressing closer until I felt his chest thumping hard against mine. I didn't stop until I felt his breathing pick up yet again. I didn't stop until he was so fitted so hard between my legs I knew if I were to slide up or down, I'd come undone instantly.

And delicious repeats:

TARA: Swooning over SOME QUIET PLACE by Kelsey Sutton

Smiling again, Fear bends down and brushes a soft kiss on my lips. Once, twice, three times, as if I'm a drug and he's a drowning addict. He shudders in my hands, this timeless, powerful Emotion. Being with me really does change him, affect him.

TRISH: Swooning over TRUE LOVE STORY by Willow Aster

When he leans down to kiss me, my body feels heavy. My knees do that obnoxious weak trick. His lips tease me, just as his fingers before. And then his tongue flicks in softly and I think I'm going down. I can't hold back any longer. I grab his hair and kiss him as hard as I've been wanting to all this time. He groans and his hands start roaming as he has his way with my mouth--

SO NOW IT'S YOUR TURN! On your blog (and be sure to leave us a link), and/or on Twitter... SWOON us!

And PS! Make sure to tweet with the #YABound hashtag so we can RT you!

Cover Reveal: Keeper of the Lost Souls by Kristy Centeno!

2013-05-22T17:58:00.002-04:00

Keeper of the Lost Souls

by Kristy Centeno

Release Date: June 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

Bryn McCaskey is young, naïve, and can talk to ghosts. Like her mother and grandmother, Bryn is part of a breed of witches called The Keepers of the Lost Souls, whose main purpose is to guard those spirits which are permanently or temporarily grounded in the world of the living.

Because Bryn is a witch, she’s fairly comfortable dealing with all sorts of threats, which she does with ease and confidence. Handling supernatural creatures is as easy to her as baking a pie. Dealing with people however, is something she is yet to learn how to handle.

Unfortunately, as her 18th birthday approaches, and the time for her to take on her first assignment finally arrives, Bryn is forced to confront her inability to communicate with others in an effort to save the one soul that can mean the difference between life and death for mankind.

Johnny Shaw is a lost soul with a personal vendetta against witches. A vendetta he has carried on even after death. However, as much as he might hate them, in order to stop a century old threat, he must join forces with one. When fate brings them together, not only will they be forced to learn how to work as a team, but they will have to depend on each other to stop an evil witch carrying a six hundred year grudge.

About the Author

I’ve always had a passion for writing but never had the opportunity do so until now. After trying out numerous options I realized that writing was what I loved the most so when I found myself with some free time on my hands, I decided to give it a shot. As it turned out, my very active imagination helped me achieve my goals of creating believable plots with some ordinary, and some not so ordinary characters that helped the stories move along in one way or another.

As I keep moving along in achieving my dreams of becoming a published author, I divide my time in between my four children and my very understanding husband.

Spotlight on Unexpected by Faith Sullivan

2013-05-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

paperback: 170 pages

Published April 2, 2013

Find it on Amazon

September 11, 2001.

A day that forever changes the destiny of college overachiever, Michelle Rhodes.

Shattered, confused and alone, no one understands the trauma consuming her until she meets Connor Donnelly.

A native New Yorker, he believes he can aid in getting her life back on track. But what if he's even more broken inside?

Offering her a chance at a fresh start, Connor convinces Michelle to move in with him. Hiring her to waitress at his bar, their mutual attraction only complicates matters.

As more details surrounding Connor's past emerge, Michelle uncovers the full magnitude of the loss he's trying to hide. Refusing to let her feelings for him hinder his recovery, she makes a decision that winds up hurting them both.

By sacrificing her heart, Michelle thinks she is helping Connor come to terms with his grief. Little does she know, Connor is gambling everything for the sake of having a future with her.

What happens is truly unexpected.

After reading Faith Sullivan's Heartbeat, I knew I had to read Unexpected. Faith has a way of making me feel, and she delivers with this book. In the opening pages, I relived 9/11. It was tough. All those emotions are so real, and they come to define Michelle, who is living very close to the twin towers. She can't get past what happened and leaves New York a broken person.

Enter Connor. Through a mutual friend, he convinces Michelle to give NY another chance. Michelle refuses to reenroll in college though. Still, she waitresses at Connor's bar and quickly falls for Connor. While they both obviously have feelings for each other, their relationship progresses slowly over many months. I liked that. They sort of resist each other at first but can't deny things in the end.

What I really liked was that while Connor appears to be trying to help Michelle get past the events of 9/11, she's helping him too. She comes to learn he lost someone very close to him in the tragedy and Connor needs Michelle every bit as much as she needs him.

This is a very quick read full of emotion. And after talking to Faith, I found out that Michelle is very much like her. She was also in college at the time of 9/11 and the event shook her in the same way it shook Michelle. I think that's why she was able to convey those emotions so realistically, and I give her a lot of credit for being able to relive that experience in this book.

Blog | Goodreads | Twitter

Blog Tour Schedule: Earth Angel by E. Van Lowe!

2013-05-18T17:44:00.000-04:00

YA Bound is hosting a blog tour for Earth Angel. Book 2 in the Falling Angels series by E. Van Lowe. This tour will run from May 20^th to May 25^th. Check out the full blog tour schedule below.

Earth Angel (Falling Angels #2)

by E. Van Lowe

Release Date:

Just because Megan Barnett recently defeated Satan, has a fantastic new best friend, and has won the love of deliciously
handsome, Guy Matson, doesn’t mean her troubles are over. Far from it. For Megan doesn’t realize it, but in her possession is a powerful weapon, a weapon sought after by both angels and demons and everything in between. They will do ANYTHING to get it.

In E. Van Lowe’s humorous, romantic and thrilling sequel to Boyfriend From Hell, Megan winds up in a gripping life or death battle to save herself, the boy she loves, and all of mankind from unthinkable evil.

***Blog Tour Schedule***

May 20:

DanaSquare - Review

Chocolate Coated Reviews - Review

May 21:

The Page Turners - Review

Paulette's Papers - Interview

Nazish Reads - Review

Bookworm Brandee - Review
Just a Booklover - Guest Post

May 22:

Zach's YA Reviews – Review

Blood, Sweat and Books - Guest Post

Reviewing Wonderland - Review

May 23:

A Diary Of A Book Addict - Review

whYAnot Reviews - Review

May 24:

Mom With A Kindle - Guest Post

lovely reads - Review
Curling Up With A Good Book - Promo Post

May 25:

Pink Fluffy Hearts: Diary of a Coffee Addict – Guest Post

Every Free Chance Book Reviews - Guest Post
Just Me, Myself, and I - Review

New Book Deal! My Not So Super Sweet Life by Rachel Harris

2013-05-17T10:11:00.000-04:00

Here on YA Bound, we like to share accomplishments. Some of us being authors, we know the struggle in the publishing world, and what an amazing feat it is when a writer finally gets that deal and is able to share their hard work with the world. Today, one of our very own has not only accomplished this, but she's taking off, deal after deal, and soon will be a household name.

We're so very proud and honored to announce that the amazing Rachel Harris has another book deal!! Yay! Go, Rach! The characters from the Super Sweet series are close to our hearts, we love them (oh, Lor and Austin LOVE), and we cannot wait for more of their story. Here is the PM announcement, and you can also check out Rachel's blog post today for the full scoop.

From Publisher's Marketplace: Rachel Harris's MY NOT SO SUPER SWEET LIFE, in which characters from Harris's debut MY SUPER SWEET 16TH CENTURY must deal with the protagonist's father's impending wedding, and her relationship with the Italian hottie is put to the test, to Stacy Cantor Abrams at Entangled digiTeen, by Pam van Hylckama Vlieg at Foreword Literary.

Add it to your GR shelf now!

As a teen, Rachel Harris threw raging parties that shook her parents’ walls and created embarrassing fodder for future YA novels.

As an adult, she reads and writes obsessively, rehashes said embarrassing fodder, and dreams up characters who become her own grown up version of imaginary friends.

When she's not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, you can find her homeschooling her two beautiful princesses, hanging out with her amazing husband, or taking a hot bubble bath…next to a pile of chocolate.

MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY is her debut novel. She did have her own fantabulous Sweet Sixteen in high school. Sadly, it wasn't televised.

Swoon Thursday (89): It's In His Kiss (That's Where It Is)

2013-05-16T03:00:00.000-04:00

It's that time again! We created a HOT meme, and if you're new to the game, here's how to join in the fun:

From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering.

Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the steamy button above and share it on your blog. We want to know!

Hey y'all, it's our favorite day of the week! Compiling this week's swoons, I just couldn't help myself with the title. I'm a cheese ball--those of you who are regulars here, or hang out with me on Twitter, know this about me. But catchy '60s song lyrics aside, there is something powerful and magical about the kisses highlighted below. The way they affect our heroes, our heroines, and us as readers. A good kissing scene always leaves me with a smile when reading. So sit back, enjoy, and then play along by leaving YOUR favorite swoon worthy moments this week in the comments!

As always, remember to check the comments where our lovely readers share links to their favorite swoony scenes, too!

And are ours:

RACHEL: So much swooniness (yep, that's a word now) to choose from this week, but I HAVE to shine a spotlight on ALL OF YOU by Christina Lee because I read the ARC this week and Holy Moly, is this book good!!! First, I'll highlight how Bennett won me over with his words, and then I'll leave you with a little yummy treat.

"I don't know what this is or what the hell we're doing," he said. "But if I don't kiss you right now, I might explode."

AND

He looked into my eyes for a long, silent moment before kissing the hell out of me again. His mouth captured mine in a desperate, frenzied, heated rush. I was jumping off a cliff, sinking, drowning, and couldn't give a damn about being saved as long as he kept kissing me.

TARA: Swooning over SOME QUIET PLACE by Kelsey Sutton

Smiling again, Fear bends down and brushes a soft kiss on my lips. Once, twice, three times, as if I'm a drug and he's a drowning addict. He shudders in my hands, this timeless, powerful Emotion. Being with me really does change him, affect him.

Rachel Note: Okay, so I cheated with the title because here it seems like our girl's the one with the powerful kiss. But by the time I realized this, I already had the song playing in my head and was too stubborn to change. So if you're like me and singing along in your head, change a chorus to say It's In HER Kiss, and we're all good!

KELLY: Swooning over ONE WEEK GIRLFRIEND by Monica Murphy

A little moan escapes me and I swipe her upper lip with my tongue, savoring her sticky sweet taste. She parts her lips, opening herself to me and I take full advantage.

NEREYDA: Swooning over Lost and Found by Nicole Williams

-When Jesse's lips dropped to my neck, I tilted my head back and pressed harder against him. I didn't stop pressing closer until I felt his chest thumping hard against mine. I didn't stop until I felt his breathing pick up yet again. I didn't stop until he was so fitted so hard between my legs I knew if I were to slide up or down, I'd come undone instantly.

TRISH: Swooning over TRUE LOVE STORY by Willow Aster

When he leans down to kiss me, my body feels heavy. My knees do that obnoxious weak trick. His lips tease me, just as his fingers before. And then his tongue flicks in softly and I think I'm going down. I can't hold back any longer. I grab his hair and kiss him as hard as I've been wanting to all this time. He groans and his hands start roaming as he has his way with my mouth--

SO NOW IT'S YOUR TURN! On your blog (and be sure to leave us a link), and/or on Twitter... SWOON us!

And PS! Make sure to tweet with the #YABound hashtag so we can RT you!

Book Blitz: The Forgotten Ones by Laura Howard!

2013-05-14T13:08:00.000-04:00

The Forgotten Ones

The Danaan Trilogy

Book One

is now available exclusively on Amazon!

And until May 19 it's only 99 cents!

Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.

What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.

About Laura Howard

Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.

Connect with Laura:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook |

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: The Hazards of Skinny Dipping by Alyssa Rose Ivy!

2013-05-11T12:49:00.000-04:00

The Hazards of Skinny Dipping

by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Release Date: 05/21/13

Summary from Goodreads:

This isn't a deep book about first loves or self-discovery. If you want a book like that, I'd be happy to recommend one, but I don't have that kind of story to tell. Instead my story is about rash decisions and finding out that your dream guy is bad in bed. It's the story of when I finally went skinny dipping, and how my life was never the same again. Oh, and it's also the story of my freshman year of college and realizing Mr. Right might have been there all along.

***ARC received by author for review purposes***

Another great book by Alyssa Rose Ivy! As soon as I saw the cover for this book, I knew I wanted it because a) It's by Alyssa Rose Ivy!, b) look at that gorgeous cover, and c) seriously, did you see that cover?! I didn't even know what it was about and I really didn't care, I just knew I was going to read it as soon as I could get my hands on it. Once I stopped drooling over the cover to actually read the summary, I just wanted it even more. Don't let the vague and very short book summary scare you off. The Hazards of Skinny Dipping is one to add to the top of your TBR!

Juliet is spending time on her family's beach house before college starts. Juliet is not the most outgoing person and to try to break her out of her shell, her cousin Amy makes a list of dares for Juliet to do before school starts. She's done all these things on the list, except for the last one: go skinny dipping. Juliet finally gets the nerve to skinny dip in her pool when her long time crush and guy of her dreams, Dylan Bradley comes along. One things leads to another and they end up skinny dipping together which leads to more when they both end up in Dylan's bed. Juliet is finally going to get it on with Dylan-freaking-Bradley! Too bad he's not exactly what she was expecting, and I mean this in a bad way. Although the kissing is great between them, the sex is...not. Juliet chalks it up to nerves and when they meet again at campus, they end up dating. No matter how hard Juliet tries to convince herself (and others), Dylan is not the guy of her dreams. He's a controlling jerk who still sucks in bed. The 'love' scenes between them were great in that hilariously-awkward kind of way that you can't help but feel bad for both Juliet and Dylan. I was hoping Alyssa would put them both out of their misery and soon! No girl deserves a guy that's bad in bed! But sometimes it's hard to realize that what you thought you wanted for so long, was so wrong.

As a sorority pledge, Juliet spends a lot of time with people from sororities and fraternities. What starts off as a cute and flirty friendship with Reed turns into so much more. The more time they spend together (they also work together), the more she realizes that Dylan is not her dream guy. No cheating storyline here. Juliet finally realizes what a douche Dylan is and she breaks things off with him. Meanwhile, Juliet and Reed's friendship continues to grow. The relationship between these two had that perfect oh-so-slow build up that drives me crazy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. To me it just makes that moment when they finally get together so much better and worth the wait. I'm so happy my girl Juliet finally got some well-deserved hot action! I loved that their relationship was easy, drama-free, laid back and fun but it was also hot.

Although I may have wanted to grab Juliet a couple times and shake some sense into her, I understood why she was fighting so hard to hold on to the idea of the perfect Dylan. It only made the moment when she finally dumps him much more enjoyable. I loved that Juliet wasn't a stereotype character. She wasn't a virgin, she wasn't a slut, she wasn't a party girl but she also wasn't the bookworm. She was just...Juliet. I wasn't sure what to expect from Reed at first. I thought he was going to be the jerk/man-whore frat guy, but he really surprised me. He was sweet and nice and swoony and hot and was a good friend to Juliet. He stood by while she took her time to finally notice the connection between them. As always, Alyssa writes great secondary characters. This time, I hope that Kyle gets his own story. That would be very...cool. ;)

The Hazards of Skinny Dipping is my perfect definition of NA. If you're a fan of Alyssa's writing, this one will not dissapoint. As always, looking forward to her upcoming books. If you haven't read any of her books yet I recommend picking this one up first. It's funny, sweet and sexy and despite what the summary says it has a great story about finding yourself. Plus, have you seen that gorgeous cover?!

4.5 out of 5 stars!

Some of my favorite quotes from The Hazards of Skinny Dipping:

-"This kind of feels like the beginning of a YA novel." She laughed.
"No. Trust me. The contents of this letter are not YA appropriate."

-I was still trying to accept the fact that the first time wasn't a fluke - Dylan sucked in bed. Either he didn't get the concept of satisfying a woman, or he didn't care. The only thing he had going for him was his foreplay, and he didn't even finish what he started.

-At least his bed was comfortable. That's what I kept telling myself as I tried to fall asleep. If you've got to recover from unsatisfying sex, at least do it on nice sheets and a good mattress.

-"Oh my god. Have I really been missing that this whole time?"
"I'm afraid so." He grinned. "If it makes you feel any better, I was thinking the same thing."
"Please tell me we're going to do that again."

Swoon Thursday (88): We Got Your Swoons Right Here

2013-05-09T03:00:00.000-04:00

And are ours:

RACHEL: I'm Back!!! After two straight weeks of travel, I have returned, eager to dive back into our yummy Thursdays. But y'all, I must confess, this was the hardest time I've ever had choosing a swoon. Not because I didn't have one, but because I have too many! I've read like ten books in the last two weeks and they were all soooo good. But in the end, I decided I had to highlight Prince Yummy (read the book and you'll get the reference. And wholeheartedly agree).

So here I am, Swooning over SUDDENLY ROYAL by the uber fabulous Nichole Chase...and because I've been gone for so long, I decided to share a few of my favorite parts:

"Wanting to spend a few hours getting to know a beautiful woman isn't about being polite." His thumb ran over my bottom lip and my breath stuttered. "I shouldn't chase you, Samantha, but I'm not sure I can help myself."

Then

He mumbled things I didn't understand and didn't need to, the tone making it obvious. He tasted like a dark, decadent dessert. I had a feeling I could live on that taste alone for months; that his kiss was something I could become addicted to.

(Rachel note: re-reading the above swoon and typing it out had me grabbing my Dark Chocolate Almonds courtesy of Target. Yum.)

And then

There it was, my new drug of choice. His kiss was hot and hungry. His hands weren't patient this time as he slid them over my body. It was as if our first kiss had answered a question and now he was sure of what he wanted.

And finally from my favorite scene (this one's a really good one!)

"About damn time." His mouth crashed down onto mine as his arms wrapped around my body. I ran my hands over his chest while I greedily returned his kiss. When he pulled me against his body, I groaned in pleasure. Spinning around, he pinned me against the front door and I could feel the bulge in his pants pressed against my hip.

TARA: Swooning over BELONGING by Karen Ann Hopkins

"God, I've missed you...please let me touch you--please," Noah begged as he gently pushed me back. He didn't need to plead with me. I wanted him--all of him. My tongue kept up with his, my hands roaming over his body until I freed him of his stupid shirt.

KELLY: Swooning over SPELLBINDING by Maya Gold

He takes me in his arms, bringing his beautiful face so close to mine that we're breathing each other's breath. I feel his warm lips open against mine, and I kiss him with every ounce of emotion I have.

NEREYDA: Swooning over Play With Me by Kristen Proby

-I moan and wrap my arms around his waist, lean into him, and Will groans against me and suddenly this kiss has turned into not just want, but need. His tongue invades my mouth, twirling and dancing with my own. I reach up, wrap my arms around his neck and twist my fingers into his gloriously soft hair and practically climbed up him, trying to get closer.

And because I missed my swoon last week, I have another hot swoon to share today from Of Silver and Beasts by Trisha Wolfe:

-I lose all thoughts of mercury, clamps, fathers, and goddesses. I only know the feel of his soft lips, the touch of his hands on my skin - and I crave more. A low burn builds in my core, traveling the length of my body and spreading between my thighs. I rise up, pressing the ache against Caben's hard form, and he groans against my lips. A tremor courses through my body, and I pull him closer. But it's not close enough.

TRISH: Swooning over TRUE LOVE STORY by Willow Aster

When he leans down to kiss me, my body feels heavy. My knees do that obnoxious weak trick. His lips tease me, just as his fingers before. And then his tongue flicks in softly and I think I'm going down. I can't hold back any longer. I grab his hair and kiss him as hard as I've been wanting to all this time. He groans and his hands start roaming as he has his way with my mouth--

SO NOW IT'S YOUR TURN! On your blog (and be sure to leave us a link), and/or on Twitter... SWOON us!

And PS! Make sure to tweet with the #YABound hashtag so we can RT you!

Spotlight on Hunted by Ednah Walters

2013-05-07T00:00:00.001-04:00

paperback: 320 pages

Published April 2, 2013

Spencer Hill Press

Find it on Amazon

Bran and Lil may have escaped an attempt to lure Lil to the dark side, and recovered the contracts damned people signed with Bran when he was a soul collector, but someone forgot to tell them that no one switches sides or cancels contracts without consequences.

Hunted by an unknown but powerful enemy, Lil, Bran and the Guardians must seek help from unlikely sources to avert total annihilation of the Guardians. When they finally face their enemy, one of them may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

This is the second book in the Guardian Legacy series, and since I LOVED the first book, Betrayed, I had to get my hands on an ARC of Hunted. I wasn't disappointed. Bran and Lil are as hot as ever. I love these two together. Lil is trying to help Bran by getting humans to cancel the contracts they made with him. But in the process, Lil and the others are attacked by a new evil, and Lil's powers go crazy as a result. The new evil has wiped some of her memories, too, leaving her really vulnerable. Now she has to learn to use her new powers and work with a new team of Guardians.

Just like with the first book, the action scenes are incredible. I wonder if Ednah is actually a Guardian because she writes them so well! I couldn't put this book down. Seriously, if you haven't started this series yet, you are missing out. Go read it now. I'll be counting the days until book three comes out.

Author website | Blog | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Blog Tour Schedule: Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend by Louise Rozett!

2013-05-06T12:20:00.000-04:00

YA Bound is hosting a blog tour for Confession of an Almost-Girlfriend by Louise Rozett. This blog tour will run from June 24^th to June 29^th. Check out the full blog tour schedule below:

Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend(Confessions #2)
by Louise Rozett
From Harlequin Teen
Release Date: 06/18/13
Paperback/e-book
288 pages

Summary from Goodreads:
Rose Zarelli has big plans for sophomore year—everything is going to be different. This year, she’s going to be the talented singer with the killer voice, the fabulous girl with the fashionista best friend, the brainiac who refuses to let Jamie Forta jerk her around...

...but if she’s not careful, she’s also going to be the sister who misses the signals, the daughter who can only think about her own pain, the “good girl” who finds herself in mid-scandal again (because no good deed goes unpunished) and possibly worst of all...the almost-girlfriend.

When all else fails, stop looking for love and go find yourself.

**Blog Tour Schedule***

June 24^th:

Chapter by Chapter - http://www.chapter-by-chapter.com - Review

Nose Graze - http://www.nosegraze.com - Review

Nick's Book Blog - http://nicksbookblog93.blogspot.com – Review

Claire Reads - http://clairelouisereads.blogspot.com.au/ - Promo Post

Read and Reviewed - http://ahandfulofconfetti.wordpress.com – Review

Rondo of a Possible World - http://rondoofpossibleworld.blogspot.com/ - Review

Imaginary Reads - http://imaginaryreads.blogspot.com – Review

Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks - http://booksandmakeup.blogspot.com – Review

Bittersweet Enchantment - http://www.bittersweet-enchantment.com/ - Promo Post

June 25^th:

Mom With A Kindle - http://momwithakindle.blogspot.com - Promo Post

Lust For Stories - http://lustforstories.blogspot.ca - Review

Pinkindle Reads & Reviews - http://pinkindle.net – Review

Jenuine Cupcakes - http://jenuinecupcakes.blogspot.com/ - Review

Mind Reading? - http://monaliz-mindreading.blogspot.com – Review

Never Judge a Book by its Cover - http://neverjudgeabookbyitscovers.blogspot.co.uk/ - Review

YA Midnight Reads - http://theyabooklover.blogspot.com.au/ - Review

In Wonderland - http://www.stephwonderland.blogspot.com – Review

June 26^th:

Singing and Reading in the Rain - http://eileenlisblog.blogspot.com - Review

The Readdicts - http://thereaddicts.blogspot.in/ - Review

The Book Hookup - http://www.thebookhookup.com/ - Review

#BookNerd - http://booknerdash.blogspot.com - Promo Post

Pink Fluffy Hearts: Diary of a Coffee Addict - http://pinkfluffyhearts.blogspot.com/ - Review

Curling Up With A Good Book - http://curling-up-with-a-good-book.blogspot.com/ - Promo Post

Pretty In Fiction - http://www.prettyinfiction.com - Promo Post

Literary Meanderings - http://www.literaryme.net/ - Review

June 27^th:

A Diary Of A Book Addict - http://adiaryofabookaddict.blogspot.com/ - Review

Leisure Reads - http://www.leisurereads.com - Promo Post

Always YA at Heart - http://www.alwaysyaatheart.com – Review

The Fairytale Nerd - http://www.thefairytalenerd.com - Promo Post

DanaSquare - http://danasquare.blogspot.com/ - Review

Unforgettable Books - http://unforgetablebooks.blogspot.com - Review
Behind a Million and One Pages - http://behindamillionandonepages.blogspot.com - Promo Post

June 28^th:

Xpresso Reads - http://www.xpressoreads.com/ - Review

A Dream Within A Dream - http://adreamwithindream.blogspot.com - Review

Clean Teen Reads - http://cleanteenreads.blogspot.com/ - Review

Reader Girls - http://www.readergirlsblog.com – Review

Books Live Forever - www.booksliveforever.com – Review

These Words Tell a Story... - http://www.michelle-pickett.com/ - Review

Read Write and Read Some More - http://readwriteandreadsomemore.blogspot.co.uk/ - Review

June 29^th:

Book Jems - www.bookjems.com – Review

Pause Time - http://pause-time.blogspot.com – Review

Comfort Books - http://paigebradish1996.blogspot.com/ - Review

The Book Rogue - http://the-book-rogue.de - Review