Monday, March 31, 2014

Tuesdays: My Favorite Day of the Week!

I've been obsessing for months, sometimes even well over a year for some of these books so tomorrow's release day is a pretty exciting one in my little world.  I thought I might share with you my must haves releasing tomorrow.  And I am curious to find out what you are excited to see at your book seller, on your e-reader, or in your mail box!

1.



Seriously my giddiness for this one knows no bounds...the Brothers would be so ashamed of my excitement.  

Book Description:
Long live the King…

After turning his back on the throne for centuries, Wrath, son of Wrath, finally assumed his father’s mantle--with the help of his beloved mate. But the crown sets heavily on his head. As the war with the Lessening Society rages on, and the threat from the Band of Bastards truly hits home, he is forced to make choices that put everything--and everyone--at risk.

Beth Randall thought she knew what she was getting into when she mated the last pure blooded vampire on the planet: An easy ride was not it. But when she decides she wants a child, she’s unprepared for Wrath’s response--or the distance it creates between them.

The question is, will true love win out... or tortured legacy take over?


 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2.


What is it about an Abbi Glines contemporary?  They are just so...well, addicting!

Book Description:
Innocence was never meant for the addictive…

Addiction was something Krit Corbin accepted as part of his nature a long time ago. He decided to embrace it and flip his finger at the rules. Women had always been the number one thing on his list of addictions. He couldn’t get enough. Being the lead singer in a rock band had only made access to his favorite addiction that much easier.

Being alone was the only thing Blythe Denton understood. The small town minister’s family that raised her hadn’t accepted her as their own. The minister’s wife had always made sure Blythe understood just how unworthy she was of love. When Blythe is sent away to college and given a chance to finally be free of living as an unwanted burden, she looks forward to having peace in her life. Being alone isn’t something that bothers her. She escapes reality in the stories she writes.

However, the ridiculously sexy tattooed guy who keeps throwing parties in the apartment above hers is driving her crazy. For starters, he doesn’t treat her like she would expect a guy with a different woman always hanging on his arm to treat someone as uninteresting as her. She looks nothing like the gorgeous women she sees parading in and out of his apartment, but for some strange reason he keeps showing up at her door.

During a party at his apartment, Krit’s new neighbor comes to the door with her long brown hair pulled up in a messy knot and a pair of glasses perched on her cute little nose. She wants him to turn down the music, but he convinces her to stay.

Krit Corbin may have just found his biggest addiction yet. And Blythe Denton realizes too late that she’s finally been claimed.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
3.
  I mean really, how can I not want to read this! 

 Book Description:
I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.
But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.

What happened?
Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman's heart.
Steal the Scarecrow's brain.
Take the Lion's courage.
Then and only then—Dorothy must die

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


4. 
Chronicles of Nick, Sherrilyn Kenyon...enough said!


Book Description:
Be careful what you wish for…

You just might get it.

Nick Gautier is tired of his destiny. He doesn’t want to be the son of a demon who’s fated to end the world. Nor does he want to see another demon or other preternatural creature who wants to kill or enslave him. He just wants to be normal and have normal problems like everyone else.

But normality isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. When he gets sucked into an alternate reality where his mother has married his mentor and his Atlantean god best friend has become a human geek, he begins to understand that no life is free of pain, and that every person has a specific place in the universe… Even the son of a hated demon.

Most of all, he sees that his powers aren’t the curse he thought they were, and that the world needs a champion, especially one its enemies can’t imagine rising up to defend the ones he should destroy.

Old enemies and new friends square off for a major battle that will either restore Nick to his real world, or end him forever
.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


5.

This one caught my attention a while back, hard not to with a cover like that.

Book Description:
Princess Marie-Victoria, heir to the Lily Throne, and Aelwyn Myrddn, bastard daughter of the Mage of England, grew up together. But who will rule, and who will serve?

Quiet and gentle, Marie has never lived up to the ambitions of her mother, Queen Eleanor the Second, Supreme Ruler of the Franco-British Empire. With the help of her Head Merlin, Emrys, Eleanor has maintained her stranglehold on the world's only source of magic. She rules the most powerful empire the world has ever seen.

But even with the aid of Emrys' magic, Eleanor's extended lifespan is nearing its end. The princess must marry and produce an heir or the Empire will be vulnerable to its greatest enemy, Prussia. The two kingdoms must unite to end the war, and the only solution is a match between Marie and Prince Leopold VII, heir to the Prussian throne. But Marie has always loved Gill, her childhood friend and soldier of the Queen's Guard.

Together, Marie and Aelwyn, a powerful magician in her own right, come up with a plan. Aelwyn will take on Marie's face, allowing the princess to escape with Gill and live the quiet life she's always wanted. And Aelwyn will get what she's always dreamed of--the chance to rule. But the court intrigue and hunger for power in Lenoran England run deeper than anyone could imagine. In the end, there is only rule that matters in Eleanor's court: trust no one
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And last but certainly not least

6.
 Because seriously, if you have young children at home (maybe even if you don't) who doesn't love The Pigeon!  
Book Description:
The Pigeon really needs a bath! Except, the Pigeon's not so sure about that. Besides, he took a bath last month! Maybe. It's going to take some serious convincing to try and get the Pigeon to take the plunge.







So here is to a happy book release Tuesday, I hope that you all find something new to read and enjoy! 



Cover Reveal Lux Consequences and a change up for Lux Beginnings

So you may remember last week when I helped with the cover reveal for Lux Beginnings?  Well forget everything you learned because they made some changes and for a very good reason which you will see at the end of this post.  So here is the new cover for Lux Beginnings and then keep scrolling for the cover reveal of Lux Consequences!


So it's not a super huge change, but the reason they changed it was to make it match with the cover of Lux Consequences.  It is really kinda cool how it all works out in the end, you'll see.  Lux Beginnings contains Obsidian and Onyx while Lux Consequences will contain Opal and Origin.


So here is the one you have been waiting a week for:


 
Book Descriptions:
 
Opal

After everything, I'm no longer the same Katy.
I'm different...and I'm not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in Discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing alien hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I'm capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we wont turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.



Origin

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he's facing the impossible.
Katy is gone.  Taken.  Everything becomes about finding her.  But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?  And will they even be together? 


Here are Lux Consequences buy and Goodreads links :-)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19081402-consequences

http://www.amazon.com/Lux-Consequences-Jennifer-L-Armentrout/dp/1622664817/

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lux-jennifer-l-armentrout/1117748505





So did you see where this is going with the covers?  






 I will say this, I will always, ALWAYS, love the original covers but this is pretty cool and I don't know about you but I am a sucker for a Collector's Edition, especially when it is one of my favorite Young Adult Series.   Both Books will be released June 3, 2014

And before you head off don't forget to enter the awesome giveaway!










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Friday, March 28, 2014

Dorothy Must Die


I think I mentioned the other day how I am really enjoying all of these re-tellings/re-visits of classic stories and fairy tales.  Here is another one that I'm anxious to get a hold of.



Author: Danielle Paige
Publication Date: April 1st 2014
Publisher:HarperCollins
Genre:  Young Adult
Age Recommendation:
Rating: TBR
Book Description: 
I didn't ask for any of this.
I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.

But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?
Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little bluebirds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still a yellow brick road—but even that's crumbling.
What happened? Dorothy.
They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.
My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission.
 

Here is the link to the book trailer. 
http://www.usatoday.com/story/popcandy/2014/03/27/dorothy-must-die-trailer/6956143/

and your links to pre-order and add to your GoodReads TBR

http://www.amazon.com/Dorothy-Must-Die-Danielle-Paige/dp/0062280678/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1396039084&sr=1-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dorothy-must-die-danielle-paige/1115554770?ean=9780062280671

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18053060-dorothy-must-die?from_search=true

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Girl Lost - Cover Reveal

I am pleased to be a part of the reveal for this beautiful cover..



How gorgeous is that, I may be in a bit of cover lust today.  So not only is it a beautiful cover it sounds like a really great read, the retelling of the boy who never grew up.  I have been loving all of the classic fairy tales retold with contemporary twists lately and I can't wait for Lost Girls release.

Here is a little bit about the book as well as a chance to enter to win a Girl Lost star necklace and an eARC of the book.

Author: Nazarea Andrews
Publication Date: May 1, 2014
Publisher: A&A Literary
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Age Recommendation: 17 and up
Rating: TBR

Book Description:
Northern was supposed to be a fresh start—a place where people didn’t know who I was or how I had spent years in and out of mental institutes. People didn't know about my parents death or the island no one heard of. But when Peter sits next to me in lit class, I can’t stop the memories, and I don’t want to. He looks too much like the boy from the island, and despite my best intentions, coaxes my secrets from me.

 He’s gorgeous, irresistible, a little mad, and completely lost—we are a pair of broken cogs in a world neither of us truly fits into. And he listens when I talk, about the past and the terrifying future. He is somehow gentle and fierce, heartbreaking in his devotion and savage in his defense.

 When Belle, his best friend, shows up, pale and lovely and sick, Peter pulls away from me, a startling withdrawal. It’s a relationship that scares and confuses me. She is at times warm and friendly, and other times is violent and unpredictable.

 Peter says that he wants me, but refuses to let himself get close. And there are secrets, surrounding both of us, that border on nightmares. As the memories close in, as Belle gets sicker and more violent, I’m torn between what is true and what I believe, and what this magical boy knows about my mysterious past.


Add it to your Goodreads TBR here:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20648608-girl-lost?from_search=true

You can find out my about Nazarea by visiting her at these locations:

Site - http://www.nazareaandrews.com/
Blog - http://www.nazarea-andrews.blogspot.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/NazareaAndrews
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nazarea-Andrews/43623123516
Street Team - https://www.facebook.com/groups/427502530700422/

And don't forget to enter the giveaway (open to US residents only)




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Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Don't let this one Float by!


Author: Roni O'Connell
Publication Date: November 12, 2013
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Genre:  Young Adult Paranormal Thriller
Age Recommendation: 16 and up
Rating: 4 Stars

Book Description:
What if your only memory is of who you aren't, not who you are? Seventeen-year-old Rashelle Santos fights her way out of a coma to find she doesn't remember her life, except for her parents and dog. Brain damage doctors tell her, but Rashelle knows with absolute certainty that Shellie (her nickname) died at the bottom of Kaweah Lake, bequeathing her death memories to Rashelle. Rashelle leaps into a relationship with Shellie's boyfriend, Aiden Brody, because he stirs her feelings and fills the void within her. As their relationship becomes serious, she questions whom he really loves. When threats appear in the form of notes stuffed into her locker and calls in the night, Rashelle wonders if she can stay alive long enough to discover who wants her dead, because somewhere out there Shellie's attacker watches and waits to finish what he started. And what the hell, she wonders, is she deranged or could dead Shellie be lingering to keep her alive?


What do I say?  This book had me in knots the entire read.  Constantly questioning, plotting, wondering.  I wanted to flip to the end so badly (don't do it, don't be that reader. *winks*) and get to all the answers because I needed to know!  I am ever so glad that I didn't, I literally sucked in the breath I hadn't known I had been holding and came close to shouting out all sorts of expletives that would have woken my children (seeing as I didn't stop reading until I was through at 1 am.) when everything became clear.  


Rashelle, our heroine wakes up in a long term care facility to discover that she nearly died 9 months ago (Hmmmm, 9 months ago!) in a horrific and brutal event.  Only everyone keeps calling her Shellie and while she knows that is who she was, it is not who she is!  

For the past couple of weeks, I've debated internally over whether or not to confess an impossible truth.  Dad and mom have aleady suffered for months, and I won't willingly cause them more shock and pain.  Right from the start, I pretty much knew, but they are wonderful parents and don't deserve any more crap tossed their direction.  So, I commit to the deception, but I need to say it aloud, just this once, behind the privacy of my closed door, here where it is safe to acknowledge. 
"I am not Shellie Santos."  -Rashelle

On top of struggling to find her place in society, with her parents, and especially with in her social network as Rashelle (someone who is almost the polar opposite of the girl everyone wants to keep believing she is) Shellie's killer is still out there and is stalking her in more than just her nightmares.  

There, in the shadow of the willow tree, I think I see a man peering up at my window.  I press my nose right up against the cold glass to stare harder, and screams explode from my lips and fill the room with my terror. - Rashelle

On a whole I loved this book. I think it is something we (or at least I) haven't seen often in YA, a paranormal thriller.  It definitely will keep you glued to your seat and reading.  There are some difficult and graphic moments in this book which is why I would recommend it to anyone 16 and up.  If you have a younger teen that would like to read it I suggest reading it along with them.  One of the best things about Rashelle is that she doesn't let her situation control her, she fights everyday to control it and to overcome.  Yes there is some disassociation that goes on due to the premise of the book, but she is by no means a weak heroine, she is a strong, independent (but still looks to her parents for guidance and support as well as looking to her friends for support) fighter and I really loved that about her.  So why not 5 stars?  Well, and it is likely just me, I struggled through a good portion of the book trying to decipher the Rashelle/Shellie identity conflict.  I'd go from she's got amnesia and it will all come back, to there must be a ghost, to she's got to be Schizophrenic, lol.  But while I was writing this review I started thinking more on that problem and it made me look at Rashelle a bit differently.  Considering the fact that this is how I felt as I read the book, how must she have felt living through it, knowing who she was, knowing that somehow it was more than just lost memories and having everyone even herself at times wondering if she was crazy.

I won't call this an easy read, there is a lot going on, a lot to process, but it is well worth taking an evening and settling in for a great read.  Trust me you will never see the end coming!  

As always here are your buy and Goodreads links!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19125673-float

http://www.amazon.com/Float-Chronicles-D-E-D-High-ebook/dp/B00HGHJ0GK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1395756337&sr=1-1


http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/float-roni-oconnell/1117510688?ean=9781490354781

And don't forget to enter the giveaway...A Kindle Fire!!!

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Monday, March 24, 2014

Lux Beginnings - COVER REVEAL

Forewarning: It is highly possible I need more sleep, haha!  

Okay, so we all know by now that I pretty much think Jennifer L. Armentrout can do no wrong.  I love her writing as much as a Beliber loves Justin Beiber.  In fact I think from now on I should just be called a Troutie, I'm going to stop calling it a duck face and start calling it a trout face and start taking trout face pictures with her books everywhere I go...seriously I think I am on to something here!  Anyhoo, I digress but I have something awesome for all you other Trouties out there a cover reveal, Woot!!!

For the first time in Hardback, bundled together, and with BONUS content...meet...


Lux Beginnings 
Releasing June 3, 2014


If you aren't already familiar with the Lux Series, this bundle will include the first two books Obsidian and Onyx and they are fantastic.  Daemon...Oh Cookies....Daemon, I can honestly say he was one of my very first YA crushes when I began reading this genre and I will always have a special place in my heart for him!  And Katy What a great heroine, this girl isn't going to sit around crying and whining, she's gonna give what she gets and kick a few butts along the way!  Here is a quick Book Blurb for both books

Book Descriptions:

Obsidian

There's an alien next door. And with his looming height and eerie green eyes, he's hot...until he opens his mouth. He's infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, he lights me up with a big fat bulls-eye. Turns out he has a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal his abilities and the only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to him until my alien mojo fades. If I don’t kill him first, that is.

Onyx

Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro alien connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems. I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

Here is where you can get these lovelies and as always don't forget to add the set to your Goodreads
And don't leave after you one-click...come back and keep scrolling down, exciting things are still happening!  
 
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lux-jennifer-l-armentrout/1117748506

http://www.amazon.com/Lux-Beginnings-Obsidian-Jennifer-Armentrout/dp/1622664809/

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19081403-beginnings

Remember up there where I mentioned the good things?  Jennifer has graciously given two fan-inspired pieces of Lux series art work to be auctioned off!   Enter Here and then pop on over and visit Jennifer, links below!!

 


# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.
Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.
She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

So go My fellow Trouties and spread the word!!!  


 

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Get Marked!

A Huge thank you goes out to Jennifer L. Armentrout and her favorite shelf tweet last week.  Because of it I became entranced with Jay Crownover's Marked Men series.  Like seriously entranced, I read all three current books in three days,  my family was lucky to eat.  As I told another reader just this Friday, once I had those boys in my hands I could not put them down!

So who are the Marked Men?
We have the Archer brothers, Rule and Rome
The rocker, Jet
Their best friends, Nash and Rowdy
and one puzzle of a brother, Asa

Nash, Rowdy and Asa's books have yet to be released and while I CAN  NOT  WAIT for them, the focus here will be on the three current released books, Rule, Jet, and Rome!  Also, because I am going to go into all three books at once, I am not going to go in depth with each one, rather I would like to explain what it is about these men, their lives and their loves, that makes you want to devour them...the books I mean!







Author: Jay Crownover
Publication Date: October 22, 2013
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre:  New Adult
Age Recommendation: 18 and up
Rating: 5 Stars
Opposites in every way . . . except the one that matters

Shaw Landon loved Rule Archer from the moment she laid eyes on him. Rule is everything a straight--A pre-med student like Shaw shouldn’t want--and the only person she’s never tried to please. She isn’t afraid of his scary piercings and tattoos or his wild attitude. Though she knows that Rule is wrong for her, her heart just won’t listen.

To a rebel like Rule Archer, Shaw Landon is a stuck-up, perfect princess-and his dead twin brother’s girl. She lives by other people’s rules; he makes his own. He doesn’t have time for a good girl like Shaw-even if she’s the only one who can see the person he truly is.

But a short skirt, too many birthday cocktails, and spilled secrets lead to a night neither can forget. Now, Shaw and Rule have to figure out how a girl like her and a guy like him are supposed to be together without destroying their love . . . or each other
.

Rule is the epitome of bad boy.  He lives his life the way he wants to live it and he's not going to take anything off of anyone, not even his family.  But, the thing about Rule is...deep down hes lonely.  Deep down he wants to be a better man, but he's had no one to be better for until he is able to admit his love for Shaw!

Shaw is Rule's nemesis.  She's always there trying to get him to do the right thing, the proper thing.  In his eyes she's always judging which leaves him blind to the fact that she has loved him since childhood.  Shaw is an amazing heroine, (actually all of Jay's girls are.)  she's all the things we would want to see ourselves as being in her situation. Kind, thoughtful, caring, hard working, patient, (OH so patient) loving, and most importantly forgiving!

Rule Archer is a jerk, he's such a jerk that in the beginning of the book I want to smack both him and Shaw upside the head for their foolishness.  Then things come to light and you learn that nothing is what it seems for these two.  Everything Rule ever believed about Shaw was skewed by the love of his deceased twin and the memories he refused to let go or to see past.  In the end is Rule still a jerk, yeah....that is something that will change, but darned if he is not the most lovable jerk , one that I will have a soft spot for forever.






Author: Jay Crownover
Publication Date: November 19, 2013
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre:  New Adult
Age Recommendation: 18 and up
Rating: 3.5 Stars

With his tight leather pants and a sharp edge that makes him dangerous, Jet Keller is every girl’s rock and roll fantasy. But Ayden Cross is done walking on the wild side with bad boys. She doesn’t want to give in to the heat she sees in Jet’s dark, haunted eyes. She’s afraid of getting burned from the sparks of their spontaneous combustion, even as his touch sets her on fire.

Jet can’t resist the Southern Belle with mile-long legs in cowboy boots who defies his every expectation. Yet the closer he feels to Ayden, the less he seems to know her. While he’s tempted to get under her skin and undo her in every way, he knows firsthand what happens to two people with very different ideas about relationships.

Will the blaze burn into an enduring love. . . or will it consume their dreams and turn them to ashes?

Jet and Ayden, what can I say about these two?  I swear they both must have doctorates in Chemistry because Wow! (what too corny?)   I will say that of the three couples these two frustrated me the most.  I wanted to push them into a dark closet and leave them there until they came out madly in love, both hands raised, showing me tens all around *wink*. 

Jay is the rocker who really doesn't want to be...not on a large scale anyway.  His ambitions silently run much deeper.  He's the boy who isn't sure if he is really one of the gang and he's the boy that knows deep down Ayden is his kryptonite.

Ayden, is a girl with an Amazon sized past from a little town in Kentucky who moves to Colorado with the 'help' of a school teacher.  Her goal in life was to better her life, to escape her past, not fall in love with a rock boy who doesn't (seemingly) have the stable future she craves!

While I did not love these two, (and really I think that came down to Ayden for me...she just ran to easily in my opinion,I know, I know...but still!) I still believe this was another success for Jay Crownover.  I may not have loved them as much as Rule and Shaw, but I still think they are a great couple and go through an amazing journey together.  




Author: Jay Crownover
Publication Date: January 7, 2014
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre:  New Adult
Age Recommendation: 18 and up
Rating: 4 Stars

Sometimes the wrong choice can be just right . . .

Fun and fearless, Cora Lewis knows how to keep her tattooed "bad boy" friends at the Marked in line. But beneath all that flash and sass is a broken heart. Cora won't let herself get burned again. She's waiting to fall in love with the perfect man—a baggage-free, drama-free guy ready for commitment. Then she meets Rome Archer.

Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He's stubborn, rigid, and bossy. And he's returned from his final tour of duty more than a little broken. Rome's used to filling many roles: big brother, doting son, supersoldier—but none of those fit anymore. Now he's just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the dark demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer through it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes a blinding flash of color in a sea of gray.Perfect may not be in the cards, but perfectly imperfect could just last forever . . .

Rome and Cora!  Oh these two.  Out of all three books this one is by far the sweetest.  Rome and Cora are simply a beautiful couple and I adore them.  It is not the fast paced, high intensity, sexcapade of the other two books, but I think there is a reason for that.  Rome and Cora have a few years on the rest of the gang.  Both have already been through heart ache and had their defining moments.  These two while they make plenty of mistakes are not prone to the follies and whims of youth. 

Rome, an ex-Army Staff Sergeant who has lived through his share of tragedy between his 10 years of service and the death of his and Rule's brother.  He is thrust back into civilian society trying to figure out where he fits in and dealing (poorly) with the effects of PTSD.  The one thing he never expects is to find love when he can't even love himself.  

Cora, a witty, spirited momma bear.  The Marked Tattoo shop manager and resident piercer, she is the one who has taken care of these 'Marked Men', keeping them in line and doling out advice, even when not requested.  She's been broken by an old flame and is looking for a perfection that she will never find as long as her heart is closed to the perfection to be found in imperfection.

Rome stole my heart, there is just something about him that makes you want to wrap him up in your arms and hold him until everything is all better.  Jay draws a realistic picture of life after the Army and the consequences that can come along with it.  

In the end what makes these books worth reading is that Jay Crownover simply knows how to write them.  She knows how to pull the reader in and how to keep you there rooting for the characters and falling for each of them.  She writes these stories in such a realistic fashion that you just can't help but want to mother them, slap them, or love them depending on the page.  She lays it all out there straight.  There are no subtleties or niceness.  It can be gritty, emotional and angering.  What it is is truthful.  While I may not agree with all the choices made, I can easily see how the choices were made and how those choices affect the lives of each person in the story.  These books are what they are and Jay makes no excuses for her boys or for the girls that love them!

Nash releases April 29th 2014!
Here's where to get RULE and don't forget to get them all and put them all on your TBR

http://www.amazon.com/Rule-A-Marked-Men-Novel/dp/006230240X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_z

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rule-jay-crownover/1115180975?ean=9780062302403

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17200687-rule

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

See Me! Read Me! Love me!



Author: Wendy Higgins
Publication Date: March 17, 2014
Publisher: Wendy Higgins
Genre:  Young Adult, Fantasy
Age Recommendation: 14 and up
Rating: 5 Stars

Book Description:

While most seventeen-year-old American girls would refuse to let their parents marry them off to a stranger, Robyn Mason dreams of the mysterious McKale in Ireland, wondering how he’ll look and imagining his cute Irish accent. Prearranged bindings are common for magical families like her own, however when she travels to the whimsical Emerald Isle she discovers there’s more to her betrothal and McKale’s clan than she was led to believe.

What starts as an obligatory pairing between Robyn and McKale morphs over time into something they both need. But one giant obstacle stands in the way of their budding romance: a seductive and deadly Fae princess accustomed to getting what she wants—and what she wants is McKale as her plaything. Love, desire, and jealousies collide as Robyn’s family and McKale’s clan must work together to outsmart the powerful Faeries and preserve the only hope left for their people.



I am extremely luck that I was given an e-ARC of See me From Mrs. Higgins, yeah I pretty much did a jig (no really) when it showed up.  I loved Sweet Evil and Sweet Peril and am pretty much dying to get my hands on Sweet Reckoning so as soon as I heard she would be publishing this one it went on the top of my TBR list.

Ok so....I chewed my lip through the prologue and part of the first chapter, wondering if I was going to hate this book and how on earth would I ever tell Wendy that.  Then I got to chapter two and laughed so hard I would have shot milk out my nose if I'd had any and my husband was looking at me like I was crazy, so of course I had to explain and even he giggled...so not kidding you!  From that moment on I was hooked and I didn't put the book down until I was finished at one in the morning!

What did I love about this book...so many things, lets talk about why I loved each of the main characters.

Robyn:  I loved that she didn't whine and complain.  I loved that she took her future in her hands, took it to heart and rather than try and find ways to escape it she embraced it.  She tried to always see the beauty in what life held for her, to find the positive, and fought to make things work for her and her family!  What I loved most about her was her hope, her hope that life could and would be good even through the most challenging moments, she may falter, but she finds her way back to the beauty of what life holds.

"All my life I'd stayed positive no matter what, knowing if I allowed negativity to invade it would take over like a weed." - Robyn 

Leon and Cecelia:  I loved that they simply loved each other.  They were not overly mushy (although I am sure Robyn and Cass might say differently) but it was clear in the way Wendy describes their looks to one another, the way they hold hands, and comfort each other that their love affair has not died and it is a beautiful thing to see in a young adult novel.  I love that they considered their daughters feelings, that they allowed them to make mistakes, and allowed them to grow.  I loved that even in times of frustration their love for their children never falters, there were no screaming matches, no hateful words.  They talked to their daughters, listened to them, and encouraged them to do their best in every situation.  The Mason parents represent what this family is all about in the end.  Respect.

"....wobbling on her way across the row to sit next to dad.  he watched, amused, and held out a hand to steady her until she snuggled up in the seat by his side.  He draped an arm across her and looked over at me with a question in his eyes. ...I gave him a nod; it would be useless for him to worry.  His half grin showed that he appreciated my strong act, even though he could see through it.  Dad lifted the magazine again and stroked mom's hair."  -Robyn


Cas:  Oh sweet Cas.  I loved her humor. 

"Gee," Cassidy whispered to me.  "He got all weird about being called tall?  That's kinda....sad.  Mayne he's like Rudolph or something.  I bet he can't join in any Leprechaun games." -Cass

 I loved her romantic heart.  I loved how much she adored her sister.  Even through painfully moments, I just loved watching her grow.  

McKale:  Uhhhhhh.....What's not to love?  Sweet, shy, loving, a bit of a bad boy hidden underneath it all, with an adorable accent to boot!  I mean come on!  I will admit to a time or two wanting to shake him senseless, but like Robyn I tried to see the truth in things and sweet dear McKale redeemed himself every time.   

"I liked when he really looked at me, as if he didn't want to stare but his eyes would get stuck against his will.  When he became aware he tore his gaze away ans scratched his cheek self-consciously." -Robyn

And Rock...Oh those Clour boys.  We need an entire 12 book series for them, Rock most of all.  He's spirited, fun loving, yes a bit of self serving, but how he shines in the end.  You just want to pretend to be Wendy Darling from Peter Pan a while and take care of these lost boys!  Please Wendy, please tell me we will have a Happily ever after for Rock!  


This book is simply sweet, it is a truly lovely read that will lift your spirits and heart.  Wendy pulls you into this world of Fae, Leprechauns, magical humans, and the beauty of Ireland so easily.  You'll feel like you are right there in the story, one of the lucky few who get to watch as love unfolds, you will sense everything down to the smallest flutter of a butterflies wings born on the laughter of the Summer King, and you will walk away knowing you witnessed something magical.  This is a definite read...the more I think on it the more I love it and I think that you will too.

You can buy it here and don't forget to add it to your TBR!

http://www.amazon.com/See-Me-Wendy-Higgins-ebook/dp/B00J1PEW8Q/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1395057187&sr=1-6&keywords=wendy+higgins

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/see-me-wendy-higgins/1118920844?ean=2940149249305

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18162472-see-me?from_search=true