The Ruins - Cover Reveal

We’re having a cover reveal for TH Hernandez’s The Ruins! 

I am quite excited about this new dystopian YA from TH, and today, in addition to the cover, 

TH is sharing an exclusive excerpt with us!! 

Check it all out!! :)

 

Goodreads ~ Amazon Pre-Order

   Release Day: June 16, 2015 

Book Description:

 Heartbroken, grief-stricken, and wracked with guilt, seventeen-year-old Evan Taylor returned to the Union, leaving behind the boy she loved. Now, she and her friends must find a way to do the impossible – warn the citizens of the Union about an impending rebel attack without alerting the government and risking retaliation against her friends in the Ruins. When every move Evan makes is thwarted, it soon becomes clear she's being watched. Faced with a daily fight to stay one step ahead of her pursuers, she returns to the Ruins. But life in the Ruins has its own dangers, and soon she’s fighting a different battle – to stay alive long enough to discover the truth. THE RUINS is the second book in THE UNION series, a young adult romantic adventure set in the near future.  

Exclusive Excerpt: 

Lisa opens the door still in her pajama pants and a tank top. Jack’s behind her in nothing but a pair of sweatpants. I raise an eyebrow in silent judgment. How could she have Jack spend the night with Colin here? “Where’s Colin?” she asks, looking past me. “What do you mean, where’s Colin? Isn’t he here?” “No. He never came home last night. I thought he was with you.” “You were with me.” “No, I mean after we separated. I figured he showed up at your place.” Her cheeks turn bright red. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” My hands ball into fists of anger at my sides. “You can’t really be that…” I bite off the words. It’s not my place to share how Colin feels about her. “He probably left with one of those girls we saw him with,” she says. I push into her apartment and find Colin’s duffel bag on the floor where it’s been since he began camping out on her couch last week. “So, he just blew off his train?” “Maybe,” she shrugs. “Not likely,” I say, stalking back outside, unease gnawing through my stomach. If all this other shit wasn’t going on, I could chalk it up to Colin getting laid, but I can’t shake the feeling something isn’t right. I’m halfway to Bryce’s before I realize that’s where I’m headed. Hopefully he takes me seriously. My fast walk turns into a jog as I cover the remaining three blocks and two flights of stairs down to the apartment he shares with Jack. I’ve only been here once before, but I think I remember which one it is. I lift my hand and knock on the pale blue door then pace the small empty concrete porch. Thirty seconds pass before I knock again, louder and longer this time. Still no answer. I’m beginning to think he’s not here when the lock clicks and the door cracks open. Bryce swings the door wider, and my eyes zero in on a bare chest. My gaze drifts from his firm abs and pecs up to meet a pair of gray eyes, squinted against the morning light. Confusion fills his features as he stares at me. “Colin didn’t come home last night,” I blurt out, my voice breaking. His gaze rests on my face for a moment before circling the room, reminding me we’re being monitored. “I’m sure he’s fine, but let me get dressed, and we’ll look for him.” Stepping inside, I close the door and bounce on the balls of my feet while I wait for him. The place is decorated in neo-classic guy. A fireplace and hearth runs the length of the front of the apartment, and opposite that is a solid glass wall overlooking a weedy, overgrown garden. The limited furniture is a jumble of chairs, a couch, and a couple of mismatched tables littered with empty beer bottles. Bryce dresses in record time and takes my hand, pulling me outside. He leads the way to the depot to catch a train back to the nightclub. “I want to retrace his steps after we left,” he says. “He might’ve just found some company for the evening.” “That’s what Lisa said, but I think there’s more to it.” “It’s no secret how he feels about Lisa. He might’ve just wanted to get away for the night.” “But his bag is still at her place. He would’ve had to come get it before catching his train.” The nightclub is deserted with the exception of a handful of staff still cleaning up. Bryce walks up to a lanky guy pushing a broom. “Can I talk to the manager?” A woman in her mid-thirties approaches us a few minutes later, wiping her hands on an apron. She sweeps a chunk of blond hair out of her face with the back of her wrist. “Can I help you?” “Yeah, I’m Detective Cooper,” Bryce says, flashing his credentials. “We’re looking for a friend. He was here with us last night, but we’re not sure what happened to him.” She glances between me and Bryce. “Did something happen to him?” “That’s what we’re trying to find out. Can we take a look at the security feed from last night?” “Sure,” she says, inclining her head. “Come on back.” We follow her past the bar and into a small office beyond the kitchen. “Here,” she says, indicating a chair in front of a display screen. Bryce sits and she shows him how to move through the video files. Bryce locates the one time-stamped from when we were here and forwards through frame-by-frame. I see us leaving for the night and Colin dancing with the girls, getting another drink, dancing some more, then about an hour later, Colin walks toward the exit alone. A guy in a sweatshirt, hood pulled up, hands shoved into his jeans pockets, approaches Colin. They appear to exchange words. Colin nods before following the guy out the front door. “What the hell?” I ask. “Who was that guy?” Terror sweeps through me, turning my blood to ice. “And where the hell is Colin?” “I don’t know,” Bryce says, reaching over to squeeze my hand. “But we’ll find him, I promise.”   

Author Bio: When not visiting the imaginary worlds inside my head, I live in San Diego, California, with one husband, three children, two cats, and one dog. In addition to my day job as a technical writer and editor, I write young adult fiction. I love the intensity of teen emotions and the way they're still figuring out life. When I'm not writing, you can find me with my nose in a book, hanging out with family and friends, hiking, or knitting. I'm obsessed with Facebook, young adult novels, bad lip reading videos, pumpkin spice lattes, microbrewed beers, and the San Diego Chargers. 

  Goodreads ~ Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook  Pinterest ~ Instagram           

  

  About the Cover Designer: 

Mark Sgarbossa is an award-winning artist from San Diego, California. A partial list of his clients include Jason Mraz, Target Stores, Tony Hawk, Franz Ferdinand, Major League Baseball, San Diego State University, Snowboarder Magazine, 3 Doors Down, and AC/DC.   In addition to art, Mark is a talented musician. He played rhythm guitar and sang vocals in the indie band The Shirlies as well as playing synth and singing in the live electro duo ROTATOR.   

  Website | Email |LinkedIn | Reedsy

Pandemic - One Year Celebration

 

 I'm so excited to be celebrating one year of publication for Yvonne Ventresca's contemporary disaster novel, PANDEMIC! Check out the book below and be sure to enter the amazing giveaway!

Even under the most normal circumstances, high school can be a painful and confusing time. Unfortunately, Lilianna's circumstances are anything but normal. Only a few people know what caused her sudden change from model student to the withdrawn pessimist she has become, but her situation isn't about to get any better. When people begin coming down with a quick-spreading illness that doctors are unable to treat, Lil's worst fears are realized. With her parents called away on business before the contagious outbreak-her father in Delaware covering the early stages of the disease and her mother in Hong Kong and unable to get a flight back to New Jersey-Lil's town is hit by what soon becomes a widespread illness and fatal disaster. Now, she's more alone than she's been since the "incident" at her school months ago. With friends and neighbors dying all around her, Lil does everything she can just to survive. But as the disease rages on, so does an unexpected tension as Lil is torn between an old ex and a new romantic interest. Just when it all seems too much, the cause of her original trauma shows up at her door.

In this thrilling debut from author Yvonne Ventresca, Lil must find a way to survive not only the outbreak and its real-life consequences, but also her own personal demons. 

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Book Depository ~ Indiebound

 Excerpt from PANDEMIC

At this point in Pandemic, there have been local cases of the Blue Flu, including one death. Lil visits her best friend, Megs, who is getting dressed to meet a boy she has only corresponded with online. This scene is a snapshot of both the mundane aspects and the very deepness of their friendship. --

 I found Megs surrounded by a dozen shirts heaped on her bedroom floor. “What should I wear?” she asked. “I need something to go with my favorite jeans.” She plopped on her bed, face flushed. I hesitated, torn between worrying about her safety and wanting to support her romantic longings. “You’re sure you want to go through with this?” She nodded. “Then don’t worry, we’ll find something. You have great clothes.” I glanced at her alarm clock. It was 6:15. She followed my eyes. “I’ll be fashionably late.” I pulled out a turquoise blouse that had fabric cutouts in the back. “I need to look good from the front, not when I leave,” she said. “Right.” I told her about Ethan while I searched her closet for something better. “Are you sure you want to start with him again?” she asked. “I don’t know. He made it sound like, how could I not give us one more chance?” My phone pinged. “Ugh.” “What’s the matter?” “Ethan’s already texting me.” I sighed. “He’s looking forward to tonight.” “Ah, it’s nice to see he hasn’t lost that stalker-ish quality.” I glared at her. “Lil, you know I’m right. If your heart’s not in it, don’t go.” “I miss my old life before . . . everything.” I kept flipping through her closet. “But dating Ethan again won’t magically turn back time. It won’t make the other stuff vanish.” “I guess you’re right,” I said. “Hmm . . . at least we both have dates tonight.” “It’s not a date. I’m going over to his house.” “I’m sure we’ll have a lot to talk about tomorrow,” she said. “I can’t believe I’m finally meeting him.” Near the back of the closet, a black top with three-quarter sleeves was lodged between two camis. I didn’t even take it all the way out before Megs shook her head. Her face was shiny and I realized she was sweating. “Are you nervous?” “A little. I’m not feeling great. I think it’s all the excitement.” “You shouldn’t go if you don’t feel well.” She scowled at me. “I have to go. I can’t explain it. It feels like part of something bigger, like destiny.” I pursed my lips together to keep from spouting my opinion. After pulling out a pale blue shirt, I held it against her. “This will look good with— ” My fingers brushed against her arm. She was burning hot. I put the back of my hand against her forehead the way Mom always did to me. “You feel feverish.” “I’m fine.” She swayed as she tried to stand. “Megs, you’re sick.” Fear made my voice quiver. “You can’t go. This is crazy.” “It’s too late to cancel.” She sank onto her bed, coughing. “Can you get me a glass of water while I change?” “Sure.” I hurried to the kitchen. Mrs. Salerno sat at the counter, a newspaper spread in front of her. I had to tell her about Megs. She’d forgive me for missing her date, eventually. “Mrs. Salerno, I . . .” She looked at me, waiting. Then we both heard it: the crashing sound from Megs’s room. We raced up the stairs. Megs lay sprawled on the floor next to her toppled bedside table. “I felt dizzy, and then . . .” Mrs. Salerno scooped her up and laid her on the bed. “Let me get the thermometer.” After her mom left the room, Megs looked at me, pleading. “I need you to do me a favor.” I knew what she was about to ask. “No way.” “Please? You don’t have to talk to him. It’ll be crowded, so he won’t notice you. Look for the guy carrying a book, something that would have meaning to me. Then I’ll tell him later how sick I was, that I couldn’t make it.” “I’m supposed to meet Ethan soon. And a crowded shop mean germs.” “Could you tell him you’re running late? It wouldn’t take much time. If you walked in and out, it’s like two minutes of exposure.” She widened her eyes, pleading. This was important to her, no matter how much I disapproved. I considered it. For my best friend, I could probably handle a few moments in a public place.

Yvonne Ventresca is the author of PANDEMIC (Sky Pony Press, 2014), a young adult novel about an emotionally traumatized teenager struggling to survive a deadly bird flu outbreak. School Library Journal called PANDEMIC "an engrossing apocalyptic story” and Kirkus Reviews said “this realistic page-turner will keep most readers enthralled.” Yvonne’s other writing credits include two nonfiction books for teens, AVRIL LAVIGNE (a biography of the singer) and PUBLISHING (about careers in the field).

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Pinterest

Giveaway

Winner will receive a signed hard cover of PANDEMIC, a $75 VISA gift card, and a limited edition necklace (mentioned in the story!).

***Any entrants using fake or contest only social profiles to enter will be disqualified.***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What Remains - Review

Amazon ~ B&N ~ IndieBound ~ Goodreads

Author: Helene Dunbar

Publication Date:  May 8, 2015

Publisher:  Flux Books

Genre:  Contemporary Young Adult 
Age Recommendation: 16 and up
Rating: 4 Stars


Book Description: 

In less than a second... ... two of the things Cal Ryan cares most about--a promising baseball career and Lizzie, one of his best friends--are gone forever. In the hours that follow... ...Cal's damaged heart is replaced. But his life will never be the same. Everyone expects him to pick up the pieces and move on. But Lizzie is gone, and all that remains for Cal is an overwhelming sense that her death was his fault. And a voice in his head that just...won't...stop. Cal thought he and his friends could overcome any obstacle. But grief might be the one exception. And that might take a lifetime to accept...

My Review:

To say that this book didn't go quite the way I expected it would be an understatement but the journey that we are taken on with Lizzie, Spencer, Cal, and Ally is truly beautiful.

This is a, I want to call it 'heart-breaking' and 'heart-warming' but you will see why those words sound a bit hollow when you read the book, I think a better way to say it is to say it is a soul warming and at times emotionally crushing book.

Cal is an all-American teen with dreams of baseball stardom, a crush on a beautiful girl that he's afraid to talk to, two best friends who support each other, particularly Lizzie whose home life and emotional stability are constantly in flux.  Their world comes crashing down after a tragic accident leaving Cal and Spencer finding their way in the world again.  This is truly Cal's story and I adored Cal, I could really connect with him, ache for him when he hurt, smile when he was happy, and just want the best for him all around.

I love how much these three friends support each other, how nonjudgmental they are with each other.  But, I am going to come right out and say it and probably get the evil eye from every reader out there, I didn't like Lizzie.  There, I said it, I feel both a sense of relief and guilt with that statement but it's true.  I just could not connect with her.  Did I feel bad for her, oh my yes, but I didn't like her.  I think she manipulated Cal.  I think that she truly did love Spencer, but poor Cal, he was just along for the ride in a way.  He came with the package of Spencer for her and that makes me want to rage because Cal, Cal would have given her EVERYTHING to protect her, to be there for her, to (platonically) love her.  Now I know that this is seemingly ironic since in the end Lizzie does end up giving 'everything' to Cal, but I still can't bring myself to like her, even the voice of her Cal is left with never came across as loving toward him.  Now is that because it wasn't really her voice at all, but instead Cals misguided belief that he was the cause of her death and his guilt, we will never truly know because  I can't decide if the voice of Lizzie was truly Lizzie or not.

The fact that I couldn't like Lizzie doesn't diminish this book in anyway however.  It is truly a beautiful story about friendship, love, letting go, (although do we really ever let go?) and moving forward.  Spencer and Cal's relationship is inspiring and real.  Their's is the type of friendship we all crave and want with another person.  The ability to have someone know you so well that nothing else matters.  That they can understand you even when you say no words, they can truly feel your pain, joy, fear, and love.  I have to say for quite a while I really wanted something special to happen with these two, and I will admit (I rarely ever do this) having to skip to the end to see if that happened and while I can say I am in a way sad that it did not I truly feel the story ended how it needed to.

On that note let's talk about Ally, Cal's long admired crush.  I loved her and I loved their relationship.  Their romance is sweet, innocent, (as it should be at that age, what I am old now I can say that, haha) based on true feelings of care and friendship.  I loved that it was this sort of quiet love, that it is mutual and basically uncomplicated.  I love that Ally understands Cal and most importantly that she understands Cal and Spencer.  Their relationship is a beautifully mature relationship for two so young.

Besides my pretty much utter dislike of Lizzie (sorry) the only part that kept me from going a full 5 stars is that I wanted more for them.  I almost need a second book.  I need to know how Cal and Ally continue on.  I need Spencer's story, I need to know that through their last high school year, into college, and onward that they make it and they make it together.  I need Spencer to find his HEA, the one he so deserves because he is truly an amazing character who needs his own time.  Helene does wrap the story up nicely and I am happy for each of the characters, but I think there is still so much more to be had from them and I am hopeful that perhaps Helene's muse will make that known to her and soon.

This is a beautiful story for any Contemporary Romance YA fan.  The romance is light, but the feelings are heavy and you will get them all with this story.  You might want to have a bit of tissue handy although I wouldn't call this book a tear jerker, more a weepy read.  Helene does a beautiful job of tempering out the pain with joyful moments and doesn't leave us drowning in emotion.  This book will give you a slight book hangover and leave you thinking about life, how it is laid out in front of you, and how you live it.  It is a fairly quick read, just over 250 pages, so it would be a lovely afternoon read on the weekend when you can go through it undisturbed and let it flow into you.  It is beautifully written and you can tell the story comes from a true place of love for Helene.  It was a joy to read.  Sidetone: I kinda really love that cover!

~Happy Reading~

Follow The Tour:

May 11^th ~ Ramblings of a Perpetual New Girl – Review

May 11^th ~ Radical Reads Book Blog – Guest Post

May 12^th ~ Reads All The Books – Review

May 13^th ~ J & J Book Bangers – Guest Post

May 13^th ~ The Reader and The Chef – Review 

May 13^th ~ Heather Ann's Book Reviews – Review

May 14^th ~ Bookish – Review

May 14^th ~ Book Chic Club – Review

May 15^th ~ Books and Bling – Review

May 15^th ~ Lady Reader - Tiffany – Review 

About the Author:

Helene Dunbar usually writes features about fiddles and accordions for an Irish Music Magazine, but she’s also been known to write about court cases, theater, and Native American Indian tribes. She’s amazed that she has a day job that pays her to spend time on Facebook and Twitter, and that, on a good day, gives her time to let the voices in her head out into the world to tell a story.   If she had to put money on it, she’d bet that if music didn’t exist, she wouldn’t be able to write.  She’s lived in two countries, six states, and is currently holed up in Nashville with her husband, daughter, two cats, and the world’s friendliest golden retriever.

Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Website

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Event Hosted By:

Taylor - Review

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble  

Author: Irish Winters

Publication Date:  April 26, 2015

Publisher:  Windy Days Press

Series:  In The Company of Snipers, book 7

Genre:  Contemporary Romance, Suspense, Military
Age Recommendation: 18 and up

Rating: 5 stars

Book Description:

He’s had enough… Stoic ex-Marine, Taylor Armstrong, survived his arrogant father, USMC General Michael Armstrong, and one too many deployments in Afghanistan. Battered and disillusioned with life, he’s built a wall to keep the world at bay. His rule is simple: a man can’t lose a friend he’s never made. It works—until an arrow rips into his chest and changes everything he knew about his father. His mother. Himself…. She’s never given up hope… Gracie Fox has loved Taylor since the fateful day he was ripped from her life as a four-year old. But he has no memory of her or his mother’s rich Native American heritage. Neither is he aware of the loving family that was forced to give him up. It seems he’ll never know—until an ancient rite of revenge, the blood hunt, collides with his carefully structured life. Gracie seizes the chance. She’ll do anything to help him remember.... Even tie him to her bed.

My Review:

You all know that In the Company of Snipers is one of my favorite romance series out there.  I love the heart of all of Irish's Hero's, their struggles and triumphs, their fight to come home from war and blend back into society.  I have ached with them, cried with them, railed against the injustice of it all as I watched their worlds evolve and change while they struggled to move forward.  I have seen beautiful strong women come into each of their lives and bring them back from the brink of madness, despair, and heart ache.  I have watched these couples fight, kill, and cry for one another.  I have watched them love and hate and I have loved each of them for it.  Their stories touch our souls and I hope encourages each of us to consider the Soldiers around us.  Are the stories in this series exaggerated or a bit over the top, yes, but that is what makes them entertaining.  What isn't exaggerated is the feelings and issues that these Soldiers bring back with them and I adore that about Irish's characters.  The feelings are raw and real and they suck you in and make you think and feel.  Taylor's story while a bit of a departure from the original feel of the series was for me still no less emotional or raw.  

While Taylor does have challenges that come from his time in the service it felt like he had a better control over his 'demons' from that time than our past Heroes.  Now I think that is simply because he had a life time of misery to live before he ever stepped foot in a combat zone.  Taylor is a scarred man, his childhood has left him feeling broken, unworthy, and unlovable.  He made me want to let go of Harley long enough to wrap him up in my arms with a kiss to his forehead and softly whispered words of praise in his ear...and if someone can get me to let go of Harley you know it's serious.  *wink*  

I feel like I say this a lot with Irish's books but I don't want to go into too many details about the story itself because there are so many pivotal points where things shift and change that if I give you details it could ruin the story line and the suspense.  Talking of suspense, this book is chock full of it, right from the first few pages.  I have to admit that those first few pages had me confused.  I kept trying to figure out what was going on.  Did I forget something from the last book, Rory?  Did, I miss a few pages?  No, Irish just plain threw me right to the wolves with this one, haha.  If you are expecting a slow build up, forget it, this story starts out full throttle and doesn't really slow down until the final pages.  

Let's talk Gracie.  I loved Gracie.  I loved that this is a woman who takes her promises and duty seriously, a woman who has this amazing heart that is open so wide to everyone that you can't help but fall in love with her.  She is a gentle soul that will fight to her last breath for those she loves and she won't give up.  She is exactly the woman Taylor needed, a woman that won't let him quit, a woman that can prove that he is worthy of love, that he was worthy of waiting for.  One of my favorite things about this story is that we really got to know Taylor and Gracie as a couple.  We have these beautiful moments of history between the two of them that will make you heart melt.  Their love is not a fast paced fall into bed kind of love, but this simple, quiet, beautiful love built on the solid ground of history and the promise of the future.  I promise it will make more sense as you read the story but with these two characters you can truly see their spirit through out the book and with their history I think that is so important to this story.  Their spirits move throughout the entire book and even though it is full of heart breaking moments and suspense there is this calmness that just washes across you and centers you to these two main characters.  The fact that Irish was able to evoke that feeling from me leaves me in a bit of awe and I have to wonder if she felt this quiet sense of peace as she wrote the words.  

Final note before I begin to wax poetic...I was so glad to see Alex back strong in the forefront of the story.  He is always there in the back ground, but I really felt like in this story he was a true presence and I think we needed his assertive personality to balance out the other characters, particularly Taylor's dad, who should be glad Taylor found Gracie and not me, because General, you'd have likely found an arrow in your chest a long time ago...just saying.  I also loved the appearance of past characters and future ones, hellooooo Gabe.  I'll end by saying that anyone that could make me almost want to unwrap myself from Harley is worth some of your time and Taylor, he's a contender!  

This is a great read for anyone looking for a sweet romance with a complex hero, a determined heroine, and a suspenseful and heart wrenching story.  It's not a overly difficult read but as with many of these books there are tough moments, ones that will bring tears to your eyes. This one is no exception and one part of the story line in particular can be tough to get through. Your heart will truly ache for the White Hawk family, but it is pivotal to the story line and Irish does the family and the story justice.  Taylor can be read as a stand alone but the epilogue will give away a few spoilers if you haven't read the series from the beginning so go in with caution if you choose to start here. 

~Happy Reading~

Irish Winters is an award-winning author who dabbles in poetry, grandchildren, and rarely (as in extremely rarely) the kitchen. More prone to be outdoors than in, she grew up the quintessential tomboy on a farm in rural Wisconsin, spent her teenage years in the Pacific Northwest, but calls the Wasatch Mountains of Northern Utah home. For now. The wife of one handsome husband and the mother of three perfect sons, Irish divides her time between writing at home and travelling the country with her man while - writing. (Seriously, what else?) She believes in making every day count for something and follows the wise admonition of her mother to, "Look out the window and see something!"

To learn more about Irish and her books, please visit www.IrishWinters.com.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter

Follow The Tour:

May 8^th ~ Jen's Reading Obsession – Review

  

May 11^th ~ The Pleasure of Reading Today – Review 

  

May 12^th ~ Reads All The Books – Review 

  

May 13^th ~ Heather Ann's Book Reviews – Review

  

May 14^th ~ Pixie Vixen Reviews – Review

  

TBA ~Heather Ann's Book Reviews – Review (1-6)  

May 25^th– 31st~ Rockin Book Reviews – Memorial Week Tribute Reviews 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Event Hosted By:

All Played Out - Review

GoodReads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ BookDepository 

Author: Cora Cormack

Publication Date:  May 12, 2015

Publisher:  William Morrow

Series:  Rusk University, book 3

Genre:  New Adult Contemporary Romance
Age Recommendation: 18 and up

Rating: 4 stars

Book Description:

First person in her family to go to college? CHECK.
Straight A’s? CHECK.
On track to graduate early? CHECK.
Social life? …..yeah, about that….

With just a few weeks until she graduates, Antonella DeLuca’s beginning to worry that maybe she hasn’t had the full college experience. (Okay... Scratch that. She knows she hasn't had the full college experience). 

So Nell does what a smart, dedicated girl like herself does best. She makes a "to do" list of normal college activities.

Item #1? Hook up with a jock.

Rusk University wide receiver Mateo Torres practically wrote the playbook for normal college living. When he’s not on the field, he excels at partying, girls, and more partying. As long as he keeps things light and easy, it's impossible to get hurt... again. But something about the quiet, shy, sexy-as-hell Nell gets under his skin, and when he learns about her list, he makes it his mission to help her complete it.

Torres is the definition of confident (And sexy. And wild), and he opens up a side of Nell that she's never known. But as they begin to check off each crazy, exciting, normal item, Nell finds that her frivolous list leads to something more serious than she bargained for. And while Torres is used to taking risks on the field, he has to decide if he's willing to take the chance when it's more than just a game. 

Together they will have to decide if what they have is just part of the experiment or a chance at something real.

My Review:  

I Really loved this book. I loved that it was a little more light-hearted than the first two, which totally fits with the main characters, Nell and Torres, I loved that the angst level wasn't as high, and  loved that these two characters are so very swoon worthy.  

Nell is such a relatable character to so many people.  Here is this girl who works her arse off to be the best Nell she can be, who sacrifices to attain her goals.  She's super smart, caring, gentle, driven, determined, and ultimately lonely.  She's spent just over two years busting through her college curriculum and is set to graduate in a few months.  It was truly heart breaking to watch her as she watched everyone around her falling in love.  After one such encounter Dylan, her roommate and girlfriend to Silas...SILAS, Dylan stirs the seeds of doubt that Nell has been planting.  Nell begins to do more than just crave a connection to the world around her she decides to go out and try to truly live in the moment.  So what does any self respecting 'nerd' do?  She Googles the heck out of college life and makes a list!  I love this list, I could feel her satisfaction with each line she drew across an accomplished task, I like that she was true to herself and had set goals that she refused to give up on.  I like that this list brought her Torres.

Star wide receiver, joker, player, broken hearted good guy.  Torres is a dichotomy, here's this guy who is the life of the party, the guy who is always on, always ready with a fast joke and for a good time and yet he ends up being one of the most broken, hurt, gentle, and kind guy we've met so far in this series.  I adored his relationship with Nell, I can just imagine her looking up at him, love shining in her eyes as he looks down at her with the same adoration, a laughing mouth and a possessive (not creepy possessive) hand gentle wrapped around her waist.  He may go into the relationship with the intent to 'use' Nell to get over a past relationship but he quickly learns it won't work.  Unfortunately as men are wont to do (haha) he doesn't realize the error of his ways soon enough and ends up hurting himself and Nell in the process.  I have to say for me his backstory is the only thing keeping me from a 5 star for the book.  I appreciate that he has this prior history, I understand how it has affected him and how he would carry it with him into his relationships after.  The thing that 'got' me was that I didn't feel like he (we/me) got true closure with it.  Does he work it out in his mind yeah, but I feel like with as much as it affected his life we needed more than an epiphany, we needed a moment where he got to truly say his peace, a moment where Torres was allowed to show his heart breaker that he was/is worthy and that his dreams are realistic and possible.  Maybe he will get that and I just have to imagine it in my head and maybe it really doesn't matter to anyone but me, but after struggling with the idea that he took that relationship forward into his moments with Nell I just needed a door slammed there to close it out and feel like he won.  I think I clearly have a vengeful spirit, must be the red-head in me. *wink*

All Played Out is anther homer or should I say TOUCHDOWN for Cora Carmack.  It fits in perfectly with this wonderful series.  Her boys will win your heart and her girls will have you on the sidelines with them cheering for love and happiness!  I am so happy this All Played Out was a bit light-hearted and fun because I have a feeling that we will all be drowning ourselves in our cups and tissues come Stella's book (please let it be with that one guy, you know the guy of whom I speak, PLEEEEEEASE!) and this is just the relief we need before we are hit with all that emotion.  Well Played Cora, well played

Fans of New Adult, fans of romance, fans of football, fans of swoon-worthy heroes and driven loving heroines, this is the series for you.  These are great reads anytime but with summer on the verge of an appearance these books would make a perfect beach read!  Make sure to grab your self up a copy of each of these.  These can be read as stand-alones but there will be mention of prior couples so as always my suggestion would be to start at book one although it is not necessary! 

~Happy Reading~

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. She is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Losing It series. 

Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Website ~ GoodReads

Sweet on Wilde - Cover Reveal

So pleased to share this beautiful cover for an upcoming Contemporary Romance by Fabiola Francisco. 

 Sweet on Wilde releases on June 7th 2015

Book Description:

Eight months ago, I made a deal with my best friend. This wasn't your typical pact. No, we had to take a different route. The deal was that if we were still single by fall, we would join online dating. Yes…now I am that girl. Just me, though, because she met a guy and saved herself from the awkwardness of dating people you meet via the Internet.

Cheesy pick up lines.

Inappropriate messages.

Disaster dates.

I don’t want to be "Savannah, profile 8713," but a pinky promise is a promise you keep. What I wasn’t counting on was meeting a guy at the local bar.

So what happens when you decide to open yourself up to new opportunities? You might just cross paths with someone who makes you believe in love. Parker Wilde brought out the best in me and understood the worst, but when an amazing opportunity presents itself and our lives take different directions, is being sweet on Wilde enough for us?

 Goodreads 

Connect with Fabiola Francisco here:

Website  ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Tsu ~ Pinterest

Fall With Me - Flashback Friday

So, I have been meaning to start this new weekly post for a while now but as usual life just keeps getting in the way.  Today however I decided that if I am ever going to get this started I need to as the saying goes 'Just Do It' so this is the first of what I hope will be a continuing event, Flashback Friday.  

What is Flashback Friday, well it is when I go bak and review books that for whatever reason I have read and not gotten around to doing a full review on before.  They might be books from several years ago or books, like todays, from a few weeks ago.  

I am starting this series off with one of my favorite authors and it's extra special because yesterday was my birthday and while I was fighting off a migraine I was gathering up goodies for a giveaway to celebrate.  

So welcome to my first Flashback Friday review!  

GoodReads ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Book Depository  ~ Kobo 

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publication Date:  March 31, 2015

Publisher:  Avon Books

Series:  Wait For Me, book 4

Genre:  New Adult Contemporary Romance
Age Recommendation: 18 and up

Rating: 5 stars

Book Description:

Eleven months ago, bartender and weird-shirt-wearing extraordinaire Roxy and Officer Reece Anders had a one night stand. Well, kind of. She’s been in love with him since she was fifteen, and he wishes that night they shared never happened. She’s sworn him off forever, but the past and future collide, forcing her to rely on the one man who broke her heart not once, but twice.

Her best friend since birth has been in a long-term care facility since he became a victim of a hate crime years ago, and the person who put him in there is out of prison and wanting to make amends with him and Roxy. She’s not sure she has room for forgiveness in her and when she begins to receive frightening messages and is on the receiving end of escalating violence, she thinks she knows who is to blame. The man who already destroyed one life already.

But Reece isn’t convinced. The threats are too personal, and even if Roxy doesn’t believe him, he’s not willing to let anyone hurt her. Including himself. He’s already messed up more than once when it comes to Roxy and he’s not going to let history repeat itself.

My Review:

What do you say about Jennifer L. Armentrout?  The woman can write.  She has written some of my favorite YA and NA's.  She can write snark, humor, romance, action, swoon worthy heroes and kick as heroines, and now with Fall With Me we know she can also do some pretty creepy suspense.  

As usual, I loved her characters.  There is something about the way she puts them out on paper, it's not like you are simply reading their stories, instead you are falling in with their crowd.  It feels like you are getting to know them on a personal level and seriously if I were younger this is a group of people I'd want to hang out with.  Honestly I would totally hang out with them all now, but I don't think they would want me seeing as I could practically be one of their mothers, haha.  One of my favorite things about this series in fact is that she always brings the whole 'crew' back together even through little snippets.  I love those peeks back to previous couples especially as we watch new people come into this world that we have fallen in love with.  

Roxy, I want to be Roxy, I want to be able to rock my glasses like Roxy does.  She is just this amazing woman who is quirky, artsy, loving, kind, generous, loyal, and faulty.  I loved that about Roxy, I loved that she has all these amazing qualities that might lead some one from the outside to believe she has it all together, that she's some superwoman, when instead she is struggling and fighting her own demons and insecurities. Her relationship with her best friend is both so uplifting and heart wrenching, I can't tell you how many times I cheered her on while wanting to curl up in a ball and cry with her.  The strength she showed in the face of that pain...I don't know if it is something that I could have done, but it makes me want to believe I could be so devoted.  I admit to wanting to give her a few good shakes a time or two.  She really works at pushing Reece away and at points it can get a bit frustrating.  

Reece, another amazing character from Jennifer.  He's alpha male through and through but darn if he isn't also a devoted friend and all around good guy and he is especially protective of Roxy no matter what obstacles she throws in his way.  I loved that he refuses to give up on her, that he has his stuff together.  He may be young (in my terms, haha...don't forget I just got a year older yesterday *bangs head on desk*) but this guy is ready for more and even though he has to get through some past issues that hold him back I appreciate how hard he fights for Roxy.  

I think you will be surprised, although we shouldn't be JLA can pretty much write anything it seems, how this book is more than a swoon worthy romance.  Like all her books this one has heart, but it also has a beautiful message about friendship and love, it has a heartbreaking message about judgement and hate, and it can be plain scary at times.  The kind of scary that makes you want to slam your eyes closed except you can't because it's dark in there and you never know who might be hiding in your closet!  I think you will find the storyline intriguing and the pacing spot on.  This is a book you will sit down and won't be able to stop reading until you finish!  

This is another home run for Jennifer and I can tell you you definitely want to give this book, this series a read.  These books can be read as stand alone, but characters from past books do pop up so I (as usual) suggest starting from the beginning and reading through.  You will not be disappointed.  Thank you for another fantastic book Jennifer, can hardly wait for the next one.  

# 1 New York Times and International Bestselling author Jennifer 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, 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. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA.  

She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published    by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

                                                       Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook  ~ GoodReads

a Rafflecopter giveaway