Book Wars a weekly feature hosted between two book review blogs – A Life Bound By Books & Much Loved Books!

It’s a fact that book lovers know all about the covers of the books they covet.  Often when a title is released here in the US, it’s sometimes vastly different across the pond in the US.  So, Michelle from Much Loved Books and I have come together to create Book Wars to talk about the difference in covers when it comes to the US vs. UK versions.

We hope from time to time authors will chime in with their thoughts as well. We welcome everyone to comment and share their thoughts too! The more the merrier!

Before we get to this weeks Book Wars, we have a winner to announce. The Book Wars winner for The Vanishing Throne (The Falconer #2) By: Elizabeth May is.....  !  Thank you to everyone who voted for both books, and for picking a winner.

Also, there's a poll at the bottom of the post that we'd love to hear your input for the two covers! Tell us which one YOU love the most.

Left: US - Right: UK

Title: Every Day 

Series: (Every Day #1)
Author: David Levithan
Publisher: US - Knopf Books for Young Readers, 322 Pages (August 28th, 2012) UK - Electric Monkey (Egmont Books), 372 Pages (September 2nd, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads USA Version | Goodreads UK Version
Order online here: USA: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository UK: Amazon UK, Waterstones, W H Smith, The Book Depository

Synopsis: Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.
There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

About the author: 

David Levithan (born 1972) is an American children's book editor and award-winning author. He published his first YA book, Boy Meets Boy, in 2003. Levithan is also the founding editor of PUSH, a Young Adult imprint of Scholastic Press.

Find David Online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads


Let the Wars Begin: Its now time to make our decision, let's see what we think about the covers and pick our favorite cover.

Lisa This might look like it's an easy week, but it's so not. I love both of these covers so much. They're different and both are so eye catching and would make me pick up the book and want to read it.

However, the US cover is a bit more intriguing. It really makes you wonder what the book is about. You can't look away, you can't not pick the book up and see what the back cover says. And WOW! Is it a great book or what? I know I loved it.

So, this week's vote from me goes to the US cover which is just too unique to pass up. Please cast your vote below for which cover is YOUR favorite!

Michelle Like Lisa, this week is a hard one for me. The UK cover is one that is very eye catching, the brightness of the cover with the added mystery of the text. The US one has a totally different effect on it, and going by cover alone I would be more likely to pick up the US one if they sat next to each other.

I love the whole effect of the US cover, the clouds, the floating people, it all just works so well together to make it a truly spectacular cover.

It's a US win for me this week, which cover gets your vote?

VOTE for YOUR favorite cover of Every Day (Every Day #1) NOW!

Title: Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens, 562 pages, (September 11th 2014)
From: Waterstones
Format: Paperback
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

Synopsis: Consumed by guilt and rage, Celaena can't bring herself to spill blood for the King of Adarlan. She must fight back...

The Immortal Queen will help her destroy the king - for a price. But as Celaena battles with her darkest memories and her heart breaks for a love that could never last, can she fulfil the bargain and head the almighty court of Terrasen? And who will stand with her? 

Review: 5 stars - Wow!
What an action packed third instalment in the Throne of Glass series.

I will admit I’m late to the Sarah J. Maas party, and I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to really get into this series.

There can only be limited discussion about Heir of Fire. SOOOOOOO much happens in this book, and I’ll be honest I don’t know if I remembered all of it until certain storylines fell into place. We meet lots of new characters and discover through third person multiple view points, Celaena’s background, new colonies, enemies and allies.

We have always know Celaena is a strong character, determined in everything she does but Heir of Fire shows us the lengths at which she will go to.

I love the witch covens, that although they are similar, each is different. Their competitive streaks make for an exciting read. Rowan is such a complex character. I thought I had him sussed out at one point, but then it was like he had a complete personality transplant. He has the tradition warrior persona, but when he gets to know the true Celaena, he reveals more of himself and proves he can be a friend as well as a soldier. Mythical and supernatural characters are right up my street so adding witches and the fae into the mix with a kick ass heroine like Celaena and we’re onto a winner.

Seeing a softer side to Dorian was also interesting. I was a Chaol fan from the start of the series; so seeing that Dorian has a friendly personality and that he is willing to put so much into relationship is heart warming. However near the end of the book, we learn he has been betrayed by someone he loves and it nearly brought me to tears.

As I said, there’s only so much I can say without ruining Heir of Fire and the two previous books in the series. What I will say is you are kept on the edge of your seat for the whole story. There is enough action to rival the best Hollywood blockbuster. Intrigue and deception by the bucket load and characters that you can’t help but grow attached to.

A definite must read for fans of fantasy fiction writers such as Maria V. Snyder and Holly Black.

I can't believe another Thanksgiving is here.

Where has the time gone?

This year is a bit different for my husband and I and my family. We're getting ready to leave for the UK in a huge move. So for this years Thanksgiving we'll be spending it with my family here before having to say, what will be a difficult "Good-Bye". It won't be forever, but just for now as we take a leap on our next adventure.

So this year I'm thankful for more. So much more.

My family means the world to me and they understand our need to try to give living in the UK a go and because of this I'm so much more thankful for the time I get to spend with them, the laughs, the tears... every bit of it.

Skype and FaceTime will be our friend during this move. And I'll be back and forth for a bit doing immigration stuff so the true move for me won't happen until sometime next year. So baby steps all around will be appreciated.

I'm also thankful for all the words, books and authors behind them. I'm thankful for my book-ish friends and my blog readers - new and old. I'm thankful for everything big, but mostly the little things in life as they seem to make the biggest impact on our lives.

I hope that this Thanksgiving is a great one for you. Those who celebrate and those who don't will be in my thoughts. I hope you all have a wonderful day filled with family and friends, good food and those little things that make the world a much better place.

Be safe if you have to travel and remember, you can always go back for a midnight snack!

"Waiting On" Wednesday is an event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. The purpose of this weekly event is to spotlight a soon-to-be-released book that you are very much anticipating. "Waiting On" Wednesday will also give bloggers an opportunity to share ideas for our TBR lists.

Title: The Girl's Got Secrets (Forbidden Men #7)
Author: Linda Kage
Publisher: (November 28th, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "Adult/New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: Here’s the same old “girl posing as a boy” story but with a rock-n-roll twist.

Remy Curran dreams of one day being in a band, except the group she wants to join refuses to hire a girl drummer. So, she auditions as a guy...and makes the cut.

Becoming “Sticks,” a member of Non-Castrato, isn’t quite what she dreamed it would be, though. She spends most of her time keeping up the subterfuge and learning how to walk, talk, act, and drink like a man.

But what’s even harder to deal with is acting oblivious when the band’s heartthrob lead singer, Asher Hart, treats her like one of the guys and not a woman. She never imagined he’d be so much more than a pretty face with a nice voice. But he’s better than perfect. He’s perfect for her.

When love and lies combine, Remy must keep up the act or lose everything. But who knew lying to reach one dream could prevent you from attaining an even bigger dream?

Title: Lawless (King #3)
Author: T.M. Frazier
Publisher: (December 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "Adult/New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: Thia is prim and proper.
Bear is leather and lawless.
It will never work between them.
It's a lie they almost believe...

*covers are always subject to change.

Title: Stupid Love (Stupid in Love #3)
Author: Cindy Miles
Publisher: 247 Pages (September 10th, 2015)
From: the Author
Format: eARC
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: Bestselling new adult author Cindy Miles is set to capture the hearts of STUPID GIRL fans again with the grand finale of the Stupid in Love series, featuring Memory and Jace.

MEMORY

Casualties.

That’s how I refer to the guys who’ve had the bad fortune to fall for me. They only see long legs that they wish were wrapped around them, a cat-like smile, and the reckless abandon to take on any wild dare. It’s all a game to me. Show me a bridge, and I’ll leap over the side. Give me a car, and I’ll race it. Give me a heart, and I’ll break it. I always win. I even showed Death who was boss a long time ago.

Or so I thought.

Now, time is running out, and I’m losing fast…and big. I met someone. Jace Beaumont. He’s smart, and good, and I dream about spending days exploring the summit of his perfect lips. But, I’m a grenade. I know I should leave him be. I can’t.

JACE

Study, class, work, repeat. That’s all I have time for. At twenty-five years old, I have a bit more mileage on me than the average college freshman. But, that’s what happens when you spend your youth drinking, partying, and bagging girls like it’s a full-time job. Now, I have goals. There’s just one kink in my plans. Her name is Memory. She’s every guy’s dream girl. She’s intoxicating. She’s trouble. I want to stay away. I can’t. 

Review: 3 Stars - Stupid Girl is the third and final book in the Stupid in Love series from author Cindy Miles. Each book centers around a new set or characters so while they can be each read as a standalone, characters from the previous books do make appearances here and there in following installments.

This title focuses on characters’ Memory and Jace. All of the characters attend the same college so the setting for parts of the book was a welcome reminder of the pervious titles. However if these two were mentioned or introduced in the two previous books I don’t recall, so they were completely new to this reader.

As for whom these two characters are, I liked Jace more than Memory, yet I liked the idea of her. I just couldn’t get a good idea as to who she was. She was such a free spirit that just when I felt I had a better idea as to who she was, what she looked like and what she wanted in her life something would happen and I’d feel like I was reading a completely different character. I don’t believe I connected with her at all. Yet with Jace, I understood him. He’s a bit older, easy going, keeping his head down to get through his first year of college. He’s not looking or interested in girls or parties, he wants to stick to his plans and when he meets Memory things become muddled for him.

One of the things I went back and forth on with this story was a serious secret that Memory was keeping. I felt she continued to set herself up for a huge fall that could have been avoided so many times over. She was frustrating to me on numerous occasions.

Even with the huge thing that Memory was dealing with the book started out slow. Now, with the previous two books I really did love them. I couldn’t get enough of them. I liked how they were written, the stories and the characters. However with this one it was often hard to continue to read and finish the book.

I’m one of those people that even if a book doesn’t work for me it’s hard to not finish it. I have to know how it all ends. And while reading I did ask myself if this was one of those books. I didn’t know, but I did understand that I didn’t enjoy this one even close to how much I did the other two installments. And while I had things that didn’t work, I really loved the Jace character and the major issue that Memory was going through. Her inner dialogue about this issue had me hurting for her one minute and frustrated the next.

With how much I loved the other two books I don’t want to put anyone off reading this series. I’d say start at the beginning and get to the great stuff and see if you like it and then go from there. I’ll be keeping an eye on this author to see what comes from her in the future. One book that didn’t work for me isn’t enough to put me off reading what they write next, as I honestly believe that not every book works for everyone.

This is without a doubt a “New Adult” title due to language and adult situations and should be taken into consideration if you happen to be sensitive to those sorts of things. I do hope you find more to like/love about this title than I did. Happy reading.

Book Wars a weekly feature hosted between two book review blogs – A Life Bound By Books & Much Loved Books!

It’s a fact that book lovers know all about the covers of the books they covet. Often when a title is released here in the US, it’s sometimes vastly different across the pond in the UK. So, Michelle from Much Loved Books and I have come together to create Book Wars to talk about the difference in covers when it comes to the US vs. UK versions.

We hope from time to time authors will chime in with their thoughts as well. We welcome everyone to comment and share their thoughts too! The more the merrier!

Before we get to this weeks Book Wars, we have a winner to announce.The Book Wars winner for Walk the Edge (Thunder Road #2) by Katie McGarry is...!!!!!! Thank you to everyone who voted for both books, and for picking a winner.

Also, there's a poll at the bottom of the post that we'd love to hear your input for the two covers! Tell us which one YOU love the most.

Left: US - Right: UK

Title: The White Rose
Series: The Lone City #2
Author: Amy Ewing
Publisher: US - HarperTeen, 320 Pages, (October 6th, 2015), UK - Walker Books, 310 Pages, (October 1st, 2015)
Add to Goodreads: USA Version | UK Version
Order online here: USA: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository UK: Amazon UK, Waterstones, W H Smith, The Book Depository, Foyles

Synopsis: Violet, Ash and Raven have escaped the palace of the Duchess of the Lake, but Regimentals are hunting for them across the city. Nowhere is safe, and they are dependent on Lucien and his secret society for survival. If they can reach the safety of the White Rose then Violet may be able to help Lucien in his plan to rescue more surrogates. For one surrogate, however, it is already too late. Violet's best friend, Raven, is pregnant. And in the Jewel, surrogates cannot survive giving birth.

About the Author: Amy Ewing is the young adult author of The Jewel, the first in a trilogy from HarperTeen, coming out September 2014.

She grew up in a small town outside Boston, where her librarian mother instilled a deep love of reading at a young age. Amy moved to New York City in 2000 to study theater at New York University. Unfortunately, her acting career didn’t quite pan out. She worked in restaurants, as an administrative assistant, a nanny, and a sales representative for a wine distributor before the lack of creativity in her life drove her to begin writing.

Amy received her MFA in Creative Writing for Children from The New School, where she was lucky enough to meet a fabulous community of YA writers who keep her sane on a daily basis. She lives in Harlem, where she spends her days writing, eating cheese, and occasionally binge watching The Vampire Diaries.

Find Amy Online: Website | Blog | Twitter| Facebook

Let the Wars Begin: Its now time to make our decision, let's see what we think about the covers and pick our favorite cover.

Lisa For me, this week there is no question. I LOVE the US cover. In person it's pretty beautiful as well. I love how her dress is blended so well into the white rose. I love all the small images you can also see almost like ghosts of her throughout the cover as well.

As for the UK cover... just not feeling it. The title is white rose yet they have pink rose petals falling. That's not the only reason why I'm not a fan, but that's one of the key things I'm seeing that just doesn't work for me. So the US is getting my vote this week.

Now it's your turn to vote! Give us a quick vote below and let us know which one YOU like the best.

Michelle This is such an easy choice for me this week. I think both of these covers are beautiful in their own way, but the one that wins for me is the US cover. The UK cover is pretty and shiny in real life, and I do like the flame and petal effect, how the characters are central and very in your face, but a pretty dress wins the round for me. The US cover has such an amazing dress on the cover and I love how it blends into a rose, which fits perfectly with the title. For me, the winner is US this week, don't forget to vote for your favourite below.

VOTE for YOUR favorite cover of The White Rose by Amy Ewing NOW!

Title: Playing With Fire (Tangled in Texas #2)
Author: Alison Bliss
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC (October 26th, 2015)
From: the Publisher
Format: eARC
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "Adult/New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: Nothing ignites a fire like the perfect match…

Anna Weber is every inch the proper librarian--old-fashioned, conservatively dressed right down to her tightly clipped flaming red hair. She's just moved to a small Texas town, and is determined to spend time with her friend before she has to disappear. Relationships aren't easy for her. She knows too well what it means to be burned. And the last thing she ever wants to do is fall in love…

Especially not with a fireman who's hot enough to set the entire state of Texas on fire.

Cowboy can't resist the fiery little librarian, and he's determined to make her his. Beneath that prim-and-proper exterior is a woman he very much wants to know--if she'd let him. She'll test his patience. His control. Hell, his very sanity. And for the first time, Cowboy wonders if he's found the one fire he can't control...

Review: 2 Stars - Playing With Fire is the second book in the much anticipated Tangled in Texas series from author Alison Bliss. Please be warned that there are possibly some spoilers in this review. I tend to stay away from them however in the need to explain why the book didn’t work for me there were some issues that I needed to go into detail about so spoilers could be present.

I should start by saying that this was a title that I couldn’t wait to read. I loved the first book – Rules of Protection. It was filled with laughs, a spunky female lead, hot FBI agent and a great story. So, yeah, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book to see who we were going to read about next.

Sadly the book just didn’t work for me on so many levels that I really didn’t want to write this review. It was hard to finish the book, yet I did because I kept waiting for the book to get better. I really wanted to get back to my love of the first book… I waited and waited and it just never happened.

The two characters never felt like the same character from chapter to chapter. Characters grow and change, but I couldn’t keep track of who they were from one minute to the next. I was never able to get a good grasp on them so that was the first thing that didn’t work.

Next was their relationship which felt forced. I never understood the attraction other than the crush Anna had from her teen years on Cowboy. I just felt like since she had a crush the relationship was forced and Anna was supposed to be as the synopsis says – proper, old-fashioned and conservative. That lasted for about two minutes and she switched back and forth from that and her teen self more times that I could count.

Then there’s Cowboy. I don’t even know where to start with him. He’s the guy in town every woman wants and he’s not one to settle down. He’s somewhat Alpha male, but was more angry than alpha, an d he thinks he knows Anna from somewhere yet can’t figure it out. When he finally does it’s never talked about, he just mentions a nickname of hers from the time. It was somewhat of a big deal, him figuring out how he knew her and then there was nothing talked about. Leaving it until way later on in the book where others brought it up and yet still it’s never talked about or worked out between these two.

Another thing… we never get to know Cowboys real name. And that frustrated the hell out of me. It was asked by Anna a few times over and he’d never tell her. He wants to be in a relationship with her yet won’t tell her his real name?

I felt like so much of the book was forced. There were holes and issues time and time again in the story that I couldn’t keep up with or what I felt was missing or glossed over.

It was heartbreaking in a sense of how much I was disappointed in this book. I just didn’t understand it no matter how hard I tried.

In the end, it didn’t work for me. I did finish it since it’s hard for me to not finish something and when I love a book previous in a series or from an author it makes it even hard to stop without trying to find something to love. I highly recommend the first book which was pretty amazing. They can be read as standalones… so keep that in mind while reading over this review.

So sad that this was just wasn’t for me.

Title: Cruel and Beautiful
Author: A.M. Hargrove, Terri E. Laine Publisher: (November 12th, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads

Get Cruel and Beautiful on Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo 

NOTE: This is a Adult/New Adult novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: Cate Forbes, a dedicated college student with a carefully plotted future, doesn’t know the first thing about love. When she accepts a blind date with a rumored tasty piece of eye candy, she thinks she can get by with a night of fun. Cate’s plans quickly unravel when she gets one look at the sexy…

Drew McKnight.

The relentless hockey-playing medical resident knows what he wants—a career in Oncology and Cate. Although he’s heard the gorgeous brunette is a little relationship skittish, a single night out isn’t what he has in mind. Determined to have her—in every way possible—he shows her just what a future with him would hold.

Only life has other plans. The unthinkable happens and everything begins to shatter. Both in too deep, they will have to fight the cruel and hang onto the beautiful. 

Review - 2.5/3 Stars - Cruel and Beautiful by dual author team – A.M. Hargrove and Terri E. Laine sold me hook, line and sinker with the prologue and I couldn’t wait to read and find out what this story was all about. 

So, I’m still at a loss for this review. I don’t know if I want to rate it 2.5 Stars or Three. The prologue was beyond amazing. It’s well written and had me emotionally invested in the characters and their story from just about word one. The ending was also extremely well written and fit in perfectly with the prologue that I fell in love with. It’s the middle that I had a hard time with, It felt rough and just didn’t seem cohesive for this reader with what I read in the beginning. It wasn’t until I reached the end of the book that I felt I was reading something to match that powerful statement I found in the first parts of the book.

I can only assume that writing a book with a co-writer can be difficult at times. To keep it cohesive and the characters voices on point. And I’m not sure if that’s what happened here, but it did feel to me as two people had written this. The middle was just so different. It didn’t flow as well, there were holes and well, the writing put me off. I couldn’t get over how vastly different the middle felt from the beginning and end and it’s STILL sticking with me because of how emotionally invested I became so quickly.

If it wasn’t for how emotionally invested I became so quickly I’m not sure I could have finished the book once the writing didn’t feel right. Yet I had to know. Did I skim, maybe a touch, but nothing to derail my understanding of the story.

One of the other things that I did like was how it was told in present and past tense throughout the chapters. It was spelled out at the beginning of each chapter so there was no confusion.

As mentioned above the characters had me invested from the beginning. I wanted to know their story – heartbreak and all – yet… I lost interest in the middle BUT it picked up again at the end and I became invested once more.

Gosh, I wanted to LOVE this book from beginning to end, not just the beginning and end yet it does happen. And maybe it was just me, I’m only one reader… I did shed a tear or two at the end of the book so that alone was part of why I’m leaning more to the 3 star rating.

In the end with the emotions I felt at the start and finish and the fact that there were tears that prologue was strong enough that it alone left a huge lasting impression on me that I’ll carry it with me for a long, long time to come. Would I recommend this one? Now that’s the question. I think I would, because again I’m just one reviewer. I’d say to give the prologue a try and see if it has as strong of an impact on you to make you read the book from cover to cover. It’s without a doubt an adult title for various situations so keep that in mind before reading.

ABOUT A. M. HARGROVE

One day, on her way home from work as a sales manager A. M. Hargrove realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn't do something soon, it would be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life. So she rolled down the passenger window of her fabulous (not) company car and tossed out her leather briefcase. Luckily, the pedestrian in the direct line of fire was a dodge ball pro and had über quick reflexes enabling him to avoid getting bashed in the head. Feeling a tad guilty about the near miss, A. M. made a speedy turn down a deserted side street before tossing her crummy, outdated piece-of-you-know-what laptop out the window. She breathed a liberating sigh of relief, picked up her cell phone, called her boss, and quit her job. Grinning, she made another call to her hubs and told him of her new adventure (after making sure his heart was beating properly again).

So began A. M. Hargrove's career as a Naughty and Nice Romance Author.

Her books include Adult, New Adult and Young Adult Romances, including, The Guardians of Vesturon Series (Survival, Resurrection, Determinant, reEmergent, and the novella Beginnings); Dark Waltz and Death Waltz (The Praestani Novels); The Edge Series (Edge of Disaster, Shattered Edge, and Kissing Fire); The Tragic Series (Tragically Flawed and Tragic Desires); Exquisite Betrayal; Dirty Nights: The Novel; and The Hart Brothers Novels (Freeing Her, Freeing Him, and Kestrel).

Please find her at www.amhargrove.com.

ABOUT TERRI E. LAINE

Wife and mother of three, I've always been an avid reader. In my early years, my best friend and I would tell each other stories over the phone when we were bored. We called them our "soap operas" and generally revolved around whatever boy we liked at the time.

Over five years ago, I got this crazy idea to write a novel and try to publish it. And the rest is history. This journey has been a blessing, and a dream realized. I look forward to many more memories to come.

Find more about me and social media links at www.terrielaine.com.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is an event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. The purpose of this weekly event is to spotlight a soon-to-be-released book that you are very much anticipating. "Waiting On" Wednesday will also give bloggers an opportunity to share ideas for our TBR lists.

Title: My Soul to Keep (Soul #1)
Author: Kennedy Ryan
Publisher: (November 16th, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "Adult/New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: It seems the things worth keeping are often the hardest to hold...

KAI

I had two things in life that mattered. My mother and my music.

Mama was taken from me too soon, and now music is all I have left. It’s the thing that’s pushed me right out of backwoods Georgia into Los Angeles, where the line between fantasy and reality shimmers and blurs. I’m finally making my way, making my mark. I can’t afford to fall for one of music's brightest stars. Not now. Music is all I have left, and I’m holding on tight with both hands. I won’t let go, not even for Rhyson Gray.

RHYSON

I had one thing in my life that mattered – music. The only constant, it’s taken me to heights most people only dream about; a gift dropped in my lap at birth. I thought it was enough. I thought it was everything until I met Kai. Now she’s all I think about, like a song I can't get out of my head. If I have to chase her, if I have to give up everything - I will. And once she's mine, I won't let go.

Title: Unlawful Justice
Author: K. Langston, K.C. Lynn
Publisher: (November 17th, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
No order links at the time of posting.

NOTE: This is a "Adult/New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: Seek the truth and you will find justice.

The peaceful town of Harmony Falls, Texas, has been rocked to its core by an unspeakable crime.

One that harbors revenge and injustice.

Schoolteacher Olivia Bradshaw can’t remember what happened that horrific night, but it’s easy to see the effect it’s had on those around her. All she wants is for peace to be restored to her beloved hometown, but Deputy Grayson Taylor is on a different mission. He seeks truth and justice, and he’ll do whatever it takes to find both for Olivia.

Lines will be crossed.
Secrets revealed.

Can justice prevail, or will the citizens of Harmony Falls succumb to the corruption and hate that continues to plague their small town?

K.C. Lynn and K. Langston have teamed up to bring you a story about hate, race, corruption, injustice, and above all, love. A story that may change the way you view the world.

*covers are always subject to change.

Title: Reaper's Fall (Reapers MC #5)
Author: Joanna Wylde
Publisher: Berkley, 384 Pages (November 10th, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "Adult/New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: He never meant to hurt her.

Levi “Painter” Brooks was nothing before he joined the Reapers motorcycle club. The day he patched in, they became his brothers and his life. All they asked in return was a strong arm and unconditional loyalty—a loyalty that’s tested when he’s caught and sentenced to prison for a crime committed on their behalf.

Melanie Tucker may have had a rough start, but along the way she’s learned to fight for her future. She’s escaped from hell and started a new life, yet every night she dreams of a biker whose touch she can’t forget. It all started out so innocently—just a series of letters to a lonely man in prison. Friendly. Harmless. Safe.

Now Painter Brooks is coming home… and Melanie’s about to learn that there’s no room for innocence in the Reapers MC.

Excerpt:

“You want to watch a movie or something?” she asked, nodding toward the TV. I had a decent one, too. Giant-ass flat-screen—homecoming present from the club.

“Sure,” I said, reaching for the remote. I didn’t have cable, but Ruger had set up some kind of box thingie for me so I could stream shit. “Whatcha in the mood for?”

“Not horror,” she said quickly, and I laughed again, remembering that first evening I’d spent with her at Pic’s house. She’d been so young and scared and vulnerable . . . I’d wanted to eat her up.

I still wanted to eat her.

“I can’t believe that you and Puck were supposed to be watching over me, and then you put in a slasher movie. That’s not how you make a girl feel safe.”

“No horror,” I agreed, although the thought of holding her for a couple hours while she was scared shitless appealed way more than it should. Watch it, asshole. “How about Star Wars?”

“You like Star Wars?”

I shrugged. “Everyone likes Star Wars. You know, I’m pretty damned sure Han Solo was a biker.”
She giggled. “You mean, like a space biker?”

“See, when you say it like that it sounds stupid.”

“I wanted to be Princess Leia. She’s badass,” she said, taking a deep drink of her beer. I watched as her lips wrapped around the neck, her throat swallowing. Oh fuck, that was good. She set the beer down on the coffee table with a clink, then let loose with the biggest burp I’d ever heard.

“Fucking hell,” I said, stunned. “I didn’t think girls could burp like that. Shit. Impressive, Mel. Very impressive.”

She grinned at me.

“We’re friends,” she told me. “And friends don’t need to worry about stuff like that. Let me guess—you’ve never had a female friend before?”

“Not really,” I admitted. “I’m think I’m a little scared.”

Scared and turned on, which was weird.

“You should be. I can do the whole alphabet.”

Damn. I kinda wanted to see that.

About the Author:
Joanna Wylde is a New York Times bestselling author and creator of the Reapers Motorcycle Club series. She currently lives in Idaho. 

Find Joanna Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY!!!

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Book Wars a weekly feature hosted between two book review blogs – A Life Bound By Books & Much Loved Books!

It’s a fact that book lovers know all about the covers of the books they covet.  Often when a title is released here in the US, it’s sometimes vastly different across the pond in the US.  So, Michelle from Much Loved Books and I have come together to create Book Wars to talk about the difference in covers when it comes to the US vs. UK versions.

We hope from time to time authors will chime in with their thoughts as well. We welcome everyone to comment and share their thoughts too! The more the merrier!

Before we get to this weeks Book Wars, we have a winner to announce. The Book Wars winner for Night Owls/The Anatomical Shape of a Heart By: Jenn Bennett is.....  !  Thank you to everyone who voted for both books, and for picking a winner.

Also, there's a poll at the bottom of the post that we'd love to hear your input for the two covers! Tell us which one YOU love the most.

Left: US - Right: UK

Title: Walk the Edge
Series: (Thunder Road #2)
Author: Katie McGarry
Publisher: US - Harlequin TEEN, 384 Pages (March 29th, 2016) UK - MIRA Ink, (March 10th, 2016)
Add to: Goodreads USA Version | Goodreads UK Version
Order online here: USA: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository UK: Amazon UK, Waterstones, W H Smith, The Book Depository

Synopsis: One moment of recklessness will change their worlds

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

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

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

About the author: 

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

Katie would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, follow her on Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.

Find Katie Online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Let the Wars Begin: Its now time to make our decision, let's see what we think about the covers and pick our favorite cover.

Lisa This week we have the second in author Katie McGarry's Thunder Road series. And when you take a look at these two books they couldn't be more different from one another.

And the more I look at the UK cover, the more it draws me in. I think it's the colors and tones that "speak" to me. However, the US cover looks so much more polished and the bridge and the colors of this one are really pretty amazing.

It think I could get lost in the US cover, which is getting my vote for this week! Which one do you like best? Give us a quick click below and let us know.

Michelle I have seen both of these covers before, but not together. Looking at them side by side it's very easy for me to pick my favourite.

The UK one looks nice, but to me it feels like it's been done before, that it's just another cover with a boy and girl leaning against a car. The US cover though I really like.

I love the scenery in the background, how the cover model is walking away, it makes me want to know where is he walking to or from. I also love the font they used for the cover, I think it fits better with the theme of the series itself.

Its a US win for me this week, don't forget to cast your vote below.

VOTE for YOUR favorite cover of Walk the Edge (Thunder Road #2) NOW!

Title: Consent
Author: Nancy Ohlin
Publisher: Simon Pulse, (November 10th 2015)
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

Synopsis: Bea has a secret.

Actually, she has more than one. There’s her dreams for the future that she can’t tell anyone—not her father and not even her best friend, Plum.

And now there’s Dane Rossi. Dane is hot, he shares Bea’s love of piano, and he believes in her.

He’s also Bea’s teacher.

When their passion for music crosses into passion for each other, Bea finds herself falling completely for Dane. She’s never felt so wanted, so understood, so known to her core. But the risk of discovery carries unexpected surprises that could shake Bea entirely. Bea must piece together what is and isn’t true about Dane, herself, and the most intense relationship she’s ever experienced, in this absorbing novel from Nancy Ohlin.

Author Guest Post:

          I knew I was taking a major risk writing a novel about a teacher-student romance.  Many people are uncomfortable with this subject, and for good reason; do a search for “teacher,” “student,” and “sex” on the Internet, and the result is way too many disturbing links about teachers being arrested for preying on their students.

          So this happened to me in high school.  It was not a romantic or sexy experience.  Years later, I decided that I wanted to write a novel about the topic so that I could warn and enlightenreaders.  That’s how Consent was born.

          But Consent changed radically along the way.  While writing, I realized that the issue of sexual consent was way more complicated than I was making it out to be, at least with regards to age.  Laws exist that dictate how old a person has to be to legally consent to sex, and they differ from state to state.   These laws are intended to protect; they can also be perceived as being arbitrary and overly restrictive.  Is it fair for a seventeen-year-old boy to be arrested for having sex with his fifteen-year-old girlfriend?  Shouldn’t it be okay if the parties involved are in love?

          Consent is about all this.  It’s about a teacher who should know better than to have a relationship with his student.  It’s about a damaged girl who needs a mentor so she can move forward in life.  It’s about two people in love.  It’s about laws being broken.  It’s about consequences and finding the truth.

I want to be clear.  In no universe do I think that teachers should have relationships with their students.  Consent laws are vitally important—not just the so-called “age of consent” laws but the laws that spell out when “no means no” and “yes means yes.”

But.  Real life is not so black and white, and I wanted to explore all the grayness, the nuances, through the lens of a teenager—a fictional teenager—who is in love with a man she thinks of as her hero andsoulmate.

          Consent may unleash a maelstrom of public outrage.  In a way, I hope it does.  We need to keep talking about the issue of consent:  what it means, how to regulate it, and how to bind it inexorably to the very idea of sex.  Consent is my humble contribution to that conversation.

About the Author:

I am the author of BEAUTY, a YA retelling of the Snow White tale, and ALWAYS, FOREVER, a YA retelling of Daphne du Maurier's REBECCA. ALWAYS, FOREVER was originally published in hardcover as THORN ABBEY.

I've also contributed to several celebrity novels, including a New York Times-bestselling YA trilogy.

I'm currently hard at work on my next YA novel, which will be as mind-bending as ALWAYS, FOREVER (I hope!).

My favorite cures for writers' block are long walks, long showers, popcorn, chocolate, and really expensive coffee. I talk to myself a lot while I write (you know, to make sure the dialogue zings).

Find Nancy Online:

Website | Twitter| Facebook | Goodreads

Photos By: Jenny

On Friday 6th November, I attended an author talk and signing at Waterstones Liverpool One.

I have previously been to some brilliant events at Waterstones and with this panel of 5 authors I knew I was in for a good night discussing everything YA.

After a slight delay, thanks to authors stuck in heavy traffic. The talk got started later than planned, but did not disappoint.

Chaired by the lovely Keris Stainton; Holly Bourne, C.J. Daugherty, Alexia Casale and Melinda Salisbury discussed the portrayal of strong female main characters in YA.

Photos By: Jenny

Photo By: Jenny

The group covered how they go about their writing process. What they think is/isn't suitable in YA- this was a very diverse question as there were contemporary and fantasy YA authors, so what may be deemed suitable for one, might not be in the other. It also affects how something is written e.g. first love, puberty. How to create a character into a strong lead without losing feminity and how feminist themes can be important and are becoming more visible in YA reads.

A quick mention aswell to NaNoWriMo which some of the authors are taking part in. I think some of
the attendees from the event will be putting to good use some of the advice they received.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening; complete with laugh out loud moments and a few things that can't be repeated outside that room.

Photo By: Jenny

I'd definitely recommend checking out some of the books by the authors. A quick list is below, these were the titles that were discussed at the event.

Alexia Casale- The Bone Dragon
Holly Bourne- Am I Normal Yet
C.J.Daugherty & Carina Rozenfeld- The Secret Fire
Melinda Salisbury- The Sin Eater's Daughter
Keris Stainton- Counting Stars

I've only read Counting Stars, but i'm really looking forward to getting stuck into the other books.

Check out my review for Counting Stars HERE!

Title: Cruel and Beautiful

Author: A.M. Hargrove, Terri E. Laine

Publisher: (November 12th, 2015)

Add to: Goodreads

Get Cruel and Beautiful on Amazon | iBooks | Nook | Kobo 

NOTE: This is a Adult/New Adult novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: Cate Forbes, a dedicated college student with a carefully plotted future, doesn’t know the first thing about love. When she accepts a blind date with a rumored tasty piece of eye candy, she thinks she can get by with a night of fun. Cate’s plans quickly unravel when she gets one look at the sexy…

Drew McKnight.

The relentless hockey-playing medical resident knows what he wants—a career in Oncology and Cate. Although he’s heard the gorgeous brunette is a little relationship skittish, a single night out isn’t what he has in mind. Determined to have her—in every way possible—he shows her just what a future with him would hold.

Only life has other plans. The unthinkable happens and everything begins to shatter. Both in too deep, they will have to fight the cruel and hang onto the beautiful. 

Listen to the Cruel and Beautiful soundtrack on Spotify!

ABOUT A. M. HARGROVE

One day, on her way home from work as a sales manager A. M. Hargrove realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn't do something soon, it would be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life. So she rolled down the passenger window of her fabulous (not) company car and tossed out her leather briefcase. Luckily, the pedestrian in the direct line of fire was a dodge ball pro and had über quick reflexes enabling him to avoid getting bashed in the head. Feeling a tad guilty about the near miss, A. M. made a speedy turn down a deserted side street before tossing her crummy, outdated piece-of-you-know-what laptop out the window. She breathed a liberating sigh of relief, picked up her cell phone, called her boss, and quit her job. Grinning, she made another call to her hubs and told him of her new adventure (after making sure his heart was beating properly again).

So began A. M. Hargrove's career as a Naughty and Nice Romance Author.

Her books include Adult, New Adult and Young Adult Romances, including, The Guardians of Vesturon Series (Survival, Resurrection, Determinant, reEmergent, and the novella Beginnings); Dark Waltz and Death Waltz (The Praestani Novels); The Edge Series (Edge of Disaster, Shattered Edge, and Kissing Fire); The Tragic Series (Tragically Flawed and Tragic Desires); Exquisite Betrayal; Dirty Nights: The Novel; and The Hart Brothers Novels (Freeing Her, Freeing Him, and Kestrel).

Please find her at www.amhargrove.com.

ABOUT TERRI E. LAINE

Wife and mother of three, I've always been an avid reader. In my early years, my best friend and I would tell each other stories over the phone when we were bored. We called them our "soap operas" and generally revolved around whatever boy we liked at the time.

Over five years ago, I got this crazy idea to write a novel and try to publish it. And the rest is history. This journey has been a blessing, and a dream realized. I look forward to many more memories to come.

Find more about me and social media links at www.terrielaine.com.