Title: Untamed (Thoughtless #4)
Author: S.C. Stephens
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 416 Pages (November 3rd, 2015)
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NOTE: This is a "Adult/New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: #1 New York Times bestselling author S.C. Stephens brings us the next book in her Thoughtless series! 

The spotlight doesn't only shine. Sometimes it burns.

Being the bad-boy bassist for the world's hottest band has earned Griffin Hancock some perks: a big house, a fast car, and most importantly his incredible wife, Anna. The one thing it hasn't brought him is the spotlight. Anna tells him to be patient, that his talent will win out. But Griffin is through waiting for permission to shine.

Without warning, Griffin makes a shocking decision and takes the gamble of a lifetime. Suddenly he's caught up in a new level of lights, cameras, and chaos. One that pushes his relationship with Anna to its limits. Anna has always found his unpredictable behavior sexy, but lately he's seen an ache in her eyes--and it has his soul in knots. Just as the recognition Griffin seeks is finally within reach, the thing he loves most in life could be slipping through his fingers...

Author Interview:

1. What do you think readers will be surprised to see from Griffin in UNTAMED?

I think readers will be surprised to see how much he grows in this book. He’s evolved a lot since Thoughtless, but that growth is nothing compared to Untamed.

2. What’s your favorite quote or scene from UNTAMED?

Oh man…there are so many! But my ultimate favorite scene is at the end. I don’t want to spoil it, so I can’t really talk about it, but he lets his guard down and is completely open and vulnerable. It’s such a shocking difference from how he normally is that it really gets to me. I choke up every time.

3. What are three things we’d find on your writing desk?

My iPod, my laptop, and my Ned Stark figurine. He helps keep me focused, because… Winter is coming.

4. If UNTAMED was being made into a movie, who would you want to play Griffin?

Chris Hemsworth. And I would need to be on set every day.

Excerpt:

          “What was all that about? And what did you mean at the end there? You are a part of this band, Griffin. You always have been, and you always will be.”
          Pushing him back a step, I snapped, “It’s a little late for the pep talk, bro. If you think I’m so valuable, you could have stood up for me in there.” I lifted my arms for emphasis. “It gave me the warm and fuzzies how you let him walk all over me.”
          Kellan sighed. “It’s complicated, Griff. Matt’s a genius on guitar…he’s…it’s his instrument, the one he’s born to play. But us saying that isn’t an insult to you. You’re amazing on bass, gifted even. It’s just…we each have our part, you know?And we have to do them the best we can.” He put a hand on my shoulder. “For the sake of the band, I’m asking you to let this go and just…forget about lead. Please?”
          I could only stare at him. I felt numb inside. Was this what giving up your dream felt like? For as long as I could remember, I’d wanted all eyes on me—I’d wanted to be the center of attention. Matt had never wanted that. But he was given the instrument that shone while I was given the one that everyone forgot about. My part was designed to blend, designed to go unnoticed. It was everything I wasn’t, and I was sick of being stuck with it. I wanted more, but they wouldn’t give me more.
          Without answering him, I turned and walked away, toward the house. What could I say to that anyway? Matt had just permanently rejected my chances at ever being lead guitar. Forgetting was the only thing left that I could do. Forget, or stew, and right now, I wanted to stew.
          When I got back to the living room, Jenny and Rachel were there working. “Need something, Griffin?” Jenny asked, her pale eyes practically sparkling with happiness.
          Ignoring both her good mood and her question, I called out for Anna. “She’s upstairs with Kiera,” Rachel quietly replied.
          Harrumphing some sort of thank-you, I began plodding my way to the stairs. Fucking stairs. I stomped up them, cursing my bandmates with each step. I imagined that the carpet treads under my feet were their squishy faces. I felt a little better by the time I reached the top. “Yo, Anna! Where are you?”
          Both Anna and Kiera instantly appeared in a bedroom door frame. Simultaneously, they both put fingers to their lips. “Shhhhhhh,” they both scolded.
          I was tired of being reprimanded today, so I didn’t lower my voice any. “Wake up Gibson. We’re leaving.”
          Anna instantly edged around Kiera to step into the hallway. “What’s wrong?” she asked me, while Kiera stepped out of the room behind her. The two sisters were pretty similar, but Anna definitely had a lot more curves than her slimmer and straighter sister. Generally I appreciated those curves, but at the moment, I just wanted to shove them into the car and get out of here.
          “There’s no point being here right now, so we’re leaving. Actually, there’s no point in ever coming back here, so we’re leaving.” I opened the door closest to me, hoping I’d find my sleeping daughter behind it. Nope. Empty.
          I moved to try another door, but Anna stepped in front of me. “Let’s go outside, get some fresh air.”
         Dramatically tossing my hands in the air, I gave up. “Fine.” What did it matter, since nothing was working for me today anyway?
         I headed back to those goddamn stairs while Anna told Kiera she’d be right back. Not waiting for my very pregnant wife, I sped down the steps and out the door. The fresh air on my face helped calm me down a little, but I was still riled up. I paced the front porch while I waited for Anna. Those sanctimonious assholes.
          “Griff?” A soft touch on my shoulder spooked me, and I jumped. Turning, I saw Anna behind me, her green eyes worried. “What’s going on?” She indicated the front step, and I grudgingly sat down.
         Once I was seated, my mood dropped. I’d started the day so positively, knowing without a shadow of a doubt that this tour was going to be the one. But not anymore. It was going to be the same old crap. Dropping my head, I slumped over. Anna sat beside me, and her fingers lightly caressed my back in a soothing pattern. It helped my residual anger, but not my rising disappointment.
          “One song. I asked for one fucking song…and they wouldn’t even give that to me…” I studied my fingers in my lap while my dreams dissolved in my hands. “Matt just told me that he’s not ever going to give me a chance to play lead, and the rest of the guys agreed with him. I’m done…forever stuck on bass…forever in the shadows. I just wanted one song, one moment in the spotlight.” With a sigh, I looked up at her. “Four minutes? Is that so much?”
          Anna’s eyes were heavy with sympathy. Reaching up, she threaded her fingers through my hair. “No…that’s not much at all.”
          I nodded and dropped my vision to my lap again. “Yeah, I didn’t think so either. But they can’t even give that to me.” The anger resurfaced, wrapping disappointment around it like a blanket. “Between me and you, babe, sometimes…I really don’t like those guys.”
          Anna kissed the back of my neck and wrapped an arm around my shoulder in sympathy. “I’m sorry, Griffin.”
          Closing my eyes, I let her comfort wash over me. At least there was one person on earth who gave a shit about me.

About the Author:

S. C. Stephens is a #1 bestselling author who spends her every free moment creating stories that are packed with emotion and heavy on romance.  In addition to writing, she enjoys spending lazy afternoons in the sun reading, listening to music, watching movies, and spending time with her friends and family.  She and her two children reside in the Pacific Northwest.

Find S.C. Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Title: One Last Song
Author: S.K. Falls
Publisher: Forever/Grand Central Publishing, 336 Pages (January 13, 2015)
Genre: Contemporary, New Adult
From: the Publisher
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 17+

Synopsis: I was seven when I swallowed my first needle.

My mom freaked out and rushed me to the emergency room.

She stayed by my side all night.

I never wanted it to end.

When you spend your whole life feeling invisible—when your parents care more about deals and deadlines than they do about you—you find ways of making people take notice. Little things at first. Then bigger. It’s scary how fast it grows. Then one day something happens that makes you want to stop. To get better. To be better. And for the first time, you understand what it’s like to feel whole, happy . . . loved. For the first time, you love someone back.

For me, that someone was Drew.

Review: 3.5 Stars - One Last Song by S.K. Falls is the first title I’ve read by this author. It’s a contemporary “New Adult” story told from the point of view of a confused and hurting girl who wants nothing more than to be visible to her absent parents.

Saylor and her story had me gripped. She’s battling her own illness – Munchausen Syndrome – and has been since she was very young. Her story isn’t just about her and her journey it’s about the affects she has on the people around her and in turn the affect they’ve had on her and her mental condition.

This story is about the breakdown of a family and each of its members. It’s about painful pasts, secrets and lies told to not only other people but the characters themselves as well. It’s about actions and reactions and… so much more.

Falls has created a story that you have to peel back layer upon layer to get to the root of the issues within Sayor’s life and her family dynamic.

It’s about the secondary characters and how they played such a larger role in Saylor’s life and I found these characters had so much more meaning to her journey than at first meeting.

The book is filled with emotions that had me angry one moment and teary the next. And in the end neither went away. I had such anger for Saylor’s parents. As someone who’s had to deal with anxiety from a young age and has had it as such a large part of their life from that first panic attack, I understand that parents feel helpless to their child or children when they are sick or have some type of mental illness, however her parents really should have had some kind of punishment for how they treated their child. They were selfish and just didn’t care and I had a hard time reading that part of the story due to their lack of compassion. I mean come on! They could have TRIED to understand but I felt they had given up all hope and in a way I hated them.

Drew was a great character and love interest for Saylor and their part of the story was sweet and also heartbreaking. And while I loved Drew and the story wasn’t ultimately about him, it was about the impact of Saylor’s actions and while I loved him, he sometimes felt flat.

I wanted to give this book a higher rating than I did, but due to the flat bits with Drew and some of the more serious aspects of the story being glossed over – at least it felt so to me – I wanted things to be a bit more well rounded than what the end result was. The writing itself is easy to read and for the most part flows nicely; it’s just those issues that I’ve mentioned that had me questioning if I had missed something or not.

In the end, it was a great story and one I won’t forget anytime soon. Should you be on the lookout for a Contemporary ‘New Adult’ title with characters dealing with mental illness this title fits the bill perfectly. I know I’ll be on eager to see what this author writes next. Enjoy!

About the Author:

S.K. Falls likes to believe a degree in psychology qualifies her to emotionally torture her characters in an authentic fashion. Her books have won the gold medal in the 2014 IPPY awards, been featured on USA Today’s book blog, and regularly appear on Amazon’s various bestselling lists. When she isn’t writing her twisted love stories, she can be found gallivanting around Charleston, SC with her family.

Find S.K. Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

Title: Wanting Forever (Nelson Island)
Author: Diana Gardin
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (October 7, 2014)
Genre:  New Adult Contemporary Romance
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: 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 17+

Synopsis: Sometimes the one thing you want is exactly what you can't have.



For Sam Waters, it's Aston Hopewell. Talk about a girl out of his league. But he's just a hired hand, happy to keep his head down and work hard on her father's ranch. With a warrant out for his arrest, he can't afford trouble. 



Everyone thinks Aston's life is perfect, but she knows the truth: nothing is as it seems. The only one who gets that is Sam. He understands her in a way no one ever has. But even he won't tell her everything-until the night that changes their destiny forever . . . (70,000 words)

Author Interview:

Hi Diana! Welcome and thanks for taking the time to visit with me today about your latest book – Wanting Forever.

Hey, Lisa! Thanks so much for having me. I love A Life Bound By Books!

For those who haven’t heard about the book yet – Wanting Forever is a contemporary “New Adult” title about Sam Waters and Aston Hopewell. Can you tell readers… in your own words what their story is about?

Sure! WANTING FOREVER is about two people crossing paths who never expected to meet. They’re from two totally different worlds. In fact, Sam isn’t even supposed to be in Nelson Island, which is Aston’s hometown. He just ends up there after he took off from his own hometown. He left home after sacrificing his own freedom for a girl he grew up loving and protecting. Throughout his journey in Nelson Island, he grows into the man he was always supposed to be, and Aston is a huge part of that growth.

What was the easiest and hardest thing about writing this story?

The easiest thing about writing this story was falling in love with my hero. Sam is different from other New Adult heroes I’ve read. He’s all man, but he doesn’t have to sleep around or be majorly possessive to show it. Not that I haven’t fallen in love with plenty of those heroes in recent NA novels myself! But Sam is definitely one-of-a-kind.

The most difficult thing about it was making sure that Sam and Aston didn’t jump the gun! I didn’t want their feelings for each other to be rushed or to happen sooner than would be acceptable for readers.

And while we’re talking about writing, can you tell us about how you came up with the idea?

Actually, the working title came to me one day completely out of the blue. I wanted to write a story called WANTED, and I wanted the hero to ride into a strange town on a Harley. From that tiny thought, Sam was born. He turned out less rough-around-the-edges than I intended, because his heart is pure sweetness. But I ended up loving him just the way he turned out.

Can you share with us a favorite line or two from Wanting Forever?

My very favorite line comes when Sam sees Aston as the sexy woman she is for the first time. The moment takes place outside their favorite bar, and she appears outside as he’s arriving, wearing cowgirl boots. Sam can’t freaking resist those boots!

“Aston,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. She trembled, finally recognizing the precarious situation they were tiptoeing around. “Yes Sam?” “I need you to step away from me, now. Go inside, grab me a beer, and get your ass and those boots under a table. Okay?”

I know I wrote it, but geez! It makes me swoon every single time.

Could you ask Sam and Aston to each describe the other for us?

Sam, of Aston: She’s incredibly strong. She’s crazy-beautiful. She’s also incredibly lonely. I can’t for the life of me figure out why every man in her life treats her like she’s unbreakable. She’s far from it. She needs someone to hold her sometimes, whether she think she wants it or not.

Aston, of Sam: He’s big…really big. All those ex-football player muscles could just wrap me up tight. He’s hot as hell, but he drives me insane! Why doesn’t he realize that everything he’s ever needed is standing right in front of him? All he has to do is reach out…and take it.

And lastly, what do you hope readers will take away from Sam and Aston’s story?

Actually, what I want them to take away has nothing to do with Sam and Aston! There’s a major betrayal in the story, and I want readers to keep an open mind about it. There’s two sides to every story, and Ever’s story definitely needs to be told. That’s why her story is book two, a novella just for Ever called EVER ALWAYS. It’s going to be such a raw, emotional read!

Diana thanks for stopping by.It was great spending some time with you, please feel free to drop in anytime!!

I loved being here today, Lisa! And I would love to come back sometime soon!

About the Author: 

Diana Gardin was born and raised combing the coasts of Southeastern Virginia. She is now a happy resident of South Carolina as she married into an enormous Carolina-rooted family. She loves the beach, and even more than that she loves to read while sitting on the beach.

While writing was always a passion of Diana’s, she enrolled in college to become an elementary-school teacher.After eight years of teaching in both Virginia and South Carolina, she decided to stay at home with her first child. This decision is what opened her eyes to the fact that she still very much loved to write, and her first novel was written.

Diana is also the author of the Young Adult novel COLOR BLIND and the New Adult series the Ashes series.

Find Diana Online:

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Title: What If
Author: Rebecca Donovan
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 352 Pages (September 16th, 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: 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 17+

Synopsis: A new novel by the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Breathing Series . . .

What if you had a second chance to meet someone for the first time?

Cal Logan is shocked to see Nicole Bentley sitting across from him at a coffee shop thousands of miles from their hometown. After all, no one has seen or heard from her since they graduated over a year ago.

Except this girl isn't Nicole.

She looks exactly like Cal's shy childhood crush, but her name is Nyelle Preston and she has no idea who he is. This girl is impulsive and daring, her passion for life infectious. The complete opposite of Nicole. Cal finds himself utterly fascinated-and falling hard. But Nyelle is also extremely secretive. And the closer he comes to finding out what she's hiding, the less he wants to know.

When the secrets from the past and present collide, one thing becomes clear: Nothing is what it seems.

About the Author:

Rebecca Donovan is the USA Today bestselling author of the highly-acclaimed New Adult trilogy, The Breathing Series. Her novels include: Reason to Breathe, Barely Breathing, and Out of Breath.

Rebecca is a graduate of the University of Missouri -Columbia and lives in a quiet town in Massachusetts with her son. Excited by all that makes life possible, she is a music enthusiast and is willing to try just about anything once.

Find Rebecca Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | What If Interactive Website |

Title: Wanting Forever (Nelson Island)
Author: Diana Gardin
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (October 7, 2014)
Genre:  New Adult Contemporary Romance
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: 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 17+

Synopsis: Sometimes the one thing you want is exactly what you can't have.



For Sam Waters, it's Aston Hopewell. Talk about a girl out of his league. But he's just a hired hand, happy to keep his head down and work hard on her father's ranch. With a warrant out for his arrest, he can't afford trouble. 



Everyone thinks Aston's life is perfect, but she knows the truth: nothing is as it seems. The only one who gets that is Sam. He understands her in a way no one ever has. But even he won't tell her everything-until the night that changes their destiny forever . . . (70,000 words)

YAY for books that sound amazing! And this just so happens to be one of those titles that I can't wait to read!!! LOVE this cover too!!! Roll on October!

About the Author: 

Diana Gardin was born and raised combing the coasts of Southeastern Virginia. She is now a happy resident of South Carolina as she married into an enormous Carolina-rooted family. She loves the beach, and even more than that she loves to read while sitting on the beach.

While writing was always a passion of Diana’s, she enrolled in college to become an elementary-school teacher.After eight years of teaching in both Virginia and South Carolina, she decided to stay at home with her first child. This decision is what opened her eyes to the fact that she still very much loved to write, and her first novel was written.

Diana is also the author of the Young Adult novel COLOR BLIND and the New Adult series the Ashes series.

Find Diana Online:

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Event Organized by:  Literati Author Services, Inc.

Title: Upside Down (Off the Map #1)
Author: Lia Riley
Publisher: Grand Central/Forever, 384 Pages (August 5th, 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Amazon UK, Amazon Australia, Kobo

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: Book #1 in the OFF THE MAP series
New Adult Contemporary Romance

If You Never Get Lost, You’ll Never Be Found

Twenty-one-year-old Natalia Stolfi is saying good-bye to the past-and turning her life upside down with a trip to the land down under. For the next six months, she'll act like a carefree exchange student, not a girl sinking under the weight of painful memories. Everything is going according to plan until she meets a brooding surfer with hypnotic green eyes and the troubling ability to see straight through her act.

Bran Lockhart is having the worst year on record. After the girl of his dreams turned into a nightmare, he moved back home to Melbourne to piece his life together. Yet no amount of disappointment could blind him to the pretty California girl who gets past all his defenses. He's never wanted anyone the way he wants Talia. But when Bran gets a stark reminder of why he stopped believing in love, he and Talia must decide if what they have is once in a lifetime . . . or if they were meant to live a world apart.

Review: 4.5 Stars - Upside Down is the first in the “New Adult” Off the Map trilogy from author Lia Riley. With two broken characters due to heartbreaking back stories it was easy to care for them both as they try to work through their issues and become whole again.

Talia has been stuck after a tragic event took someone important from her. Her family fell apart as they grieved in their own way for what and who they lost. She’s trying to come to terms with being behind in school and wants to try to live her life to the fullest without the pressure she’s putting on herself. So, to try to get a better hold on herself and her life and what’s next she takes part in an exchange student program far, far from home in Australia.

Bran is, for lack of a better world, a self proclaimed - ass. He’s hardened his heart and keeps people, especially girls at an arm’s length. One of the reasons he’s a jerk is how he sees things in the world vs. how he was raised. He’s not close to his family and pretty much does his own thing. But the main reason is about what happened for this character the year before. And how he’s never healed from the events that took place and how he’s not sure if he wants to. He’s also extremely swoonable in all his troubled, jerk glory. I mean who doesn’t like a broken guy who just might have found the perfect girl to help heal every scar of his heart, mind and soul?

Their story is bumpy and rough, both together and apart. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes that the other doesn’t know so it’s extremely helpful and, as always something I love… it’s written in dual points of view.

Speaking of writing, it’s written well and before you know it, you have half the book devoured and then you worry because it’s going by too quickly so you slow down and then something happens and you speed back up because you just have to know what’s going to happen next… yeah, it’s one of those books you go back and forth to read fast and slow.

In the end I loved it. I loved everything about it. The characters have a lot to offer readers from beginning to end and just when you think you know everything… you find out that the next book will continue to follow the next part of the journey for Talia and Bran and if you’re anything like me you get extremely excited because you have a chance to spend some more time with them. So I’d like to thank the author for writing two characters that I want to spend more time with. I mean they are far from as broken as they were but they still have a long way to go and I for one can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next! Bring it!

If you love broken characters’, great writing, swoonable boys and “new adult” contemporaries, then look no further! You’ve found the right book. So go forth and read and come back to let me know how much you loved everything too. Enjoy!

About the Author: 

Lia Riley writes offbeat New Adult Romance. After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, she scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. She counts shooting vodka with aUkranian mechanic in Antarctica, sipping yerba mate with gauchos in Chile and swilling XXXX with stationhands in Outback Australia among her accomplishments. When not torturing heroes (because c'mon, who doesn't love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about as-of-yet unwritten books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. She and her family live in Northern California.

Find Lia Online:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

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Title: Upside Down (Off the Map #1)
Author: Lia Riley
Publisher: Grand Central/Forever, 384 Pages (August 5th, 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Amazon UK, Amazon Australia, Kobo

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: Book #1 in the OFF THE MAP series
New Adult Contemporary Romance

If You Never Get Lost, You’ll Never Be Found

Twenty-one-year-old Natalia Stolfi is saying good-bye to the past-and turning her life upside down with a trip to the land down under. For the next six months, she'll act like a carefree exchange student, not a girl sinking under the weight of painful memories. Everything is going according to plan until she meets a brooding surfer with hypnotic green eyes and the troubling ability to see straight through her act.

Bran Lockhart is having the worst year on record. After the girl of his dreams turned into a nightmare, he moved back home to Melbourne to piece his life together. Yet no amount of disappointment could blind him to the pretty California girl who gets past all his defenses. He's never wanted anyone the way he wants Talia. But when Bran gets a stark reminder of why he stopped believing in love, he and Talia must decide if what they have is once in a lifetime . . . or if they were meant to live a world apart.

Excerpt & EXCLUSIVE Alternate Point Of View Scene!

Set Up: A Californian exchange student to Australia narrowly misses being mowed down during a fight between a guy in a koala suit and an angry businessman.

Talia

(actual excerpt from UPSIDE DOWN)

          “Hey there.” I kneel next to the koala and place my hand on his mangy, threadbare fur shoulder. “You all right? Thanks for standing up for me.”

          Stony silence ensues.

          “Um…”I look around, helpless. No one pays us any attention. “Is there someone I should call—”

          “I’m fine, just taking a nap.” The koala’s freakish frozen smile is a sharp contrast to the deep and surly Australian accent.

          “Well, I can’t leave you here.” I reach to take his arm, help him to his feet.

          He jerks back. “I’m sure you mean well, but time to piss off. Show’s over.”

          “Wow. Nice, real nice. Jesus, sorry I bothered.” I stand and wipe my palms on my scalloped-edged skirt, shouldering my bag, irritated at my hurt feelings. “Guess no good deed goes unpunished.”

          “Sorry to let you down, sweetheart.” He brushes off his arms. “I’m no knight in shining armor.”

          “Duly noted.” I take a step backward. When he threatened the suit on my behalf, he meant every word. In some way, I knew, deep down, that he’d keep me safe. So why rush to my defense and then push me away?

          And why overanalyze?

          This is a dude in a koala suit. He clearly lacks vital screws.

          The dive Jazza selected for our not-a-date squats across the street. I give the koala a frosty parting glare and stalk away. Maybe it’s my imagination, but I swear he watches me go.

          Whatever, cuckoo koala.

          Tonight’s plan was to seek adventure, and an altercation with an escapee from the Island of Dr. Moreau must count to that end. Time to grab a beer and chalk the encounter up to a good story for once I’m back home.

Bran

(special A Life Bound By Books behind-the-scenes peek into hero POV)

          The koala mask is half-cocked. The only thing in my field of vision is the white dress riding her perfectly curved thigh. Shit. Figures I’d have my ass handed to me in front of a hot girl. It’s all I can do not to flinch when her hand settles on my shoulder. “You all right?” she asks.“Thanks for standing up for me.”

          When you’re in the gutter--literally--what’s there to say? Nothing.

          “Um…” She trails off. People step over my splayed legs.No one pays any attention, except her. Her fingers tighten on me, and for a second, I’mnot alone.

           “Is there someone I should call—”

          “I’m fine, just taking a nap.” Go find the lucky guy you’re wearing that cute-as-hell dress for.

          “Well, I can’t leave you here.” Her voice is husky, a little sexy. The American accent lends an extra dose of optimism to her forced cheer. Shemoves to help me to my feet.

          Pity parties aren’t my scene. “I’m sure you mean well, but time to piss off. Show’s over.”

          “Wow. Nice, real nice. Jesus, sorry I bothered.” She stands andwipesher palms on her skirt, erasing me from her skin. “Guess no good deed goes unpunished.”

          “Sorry to let you down, sweetheart.” Girls like her aren’t meant for bastards like me. “I’m no knight in shining armor.”

          “Duly noted.” She pauses a moment, as if waiting for me to redeem myself. Yeah, not likely.At last, she turns, tosses her head and crossesLygon Street, heading toward the grotty pub on the corner.Her hips swing in a way that makes me an idiot. Muscles clench deep in my stomach asI push to my feet, walkingbefore my brain has a chance to hit the brakes. This is a bad idea, but no one ever accused me of being a bloody genius. Here’s the plan: Have a pint at the bar and prove the unsettled feeling in my heart is a side effect from adrenalin.

          The American girl won’t be anything, at least not to me.

About the Author:
Lia Riley writes offbeat New Adult Romance. After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, she scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. She counts shooting vodka with a Ukranian mechanic in Antarctica, sipping yerba mate with gauchos in Chile and swilling XXXX with stationhands in Outback Australia among her accomplishments.

A British literature fanatic at heart, Lia considers Mr. Darcy and Edward Rochester as her fictional boyfriends. Her very patient husband doesn't mind. Much. When not torturing heroes (because c'mon, who doesn't love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about as-of-yet unwritten books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. Right now, Icelandic hot springs and Scottish castles sound pretty sweet.

She and her family live in Northern California.

Find Lia Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Title: Nova and Quinton: No Regrets (Nova #3)
Author: Jessica Sorensen
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 384 Pages (April 15th 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: 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 17+

Synopsis: Today is the first day of Quinton Carter's new life. The toxic guilt of his past left him in pieces-but one girl unexpectedly put him back together. Thanks to Nova Reed, Quinton can finally see the world with clear eyes. She's the reason his heart is still kicking behind the jagged scar on his chest. And he would love to have her in his arms every minute of the day . . . but he's not ready yet.

Playing drums in a band and living with her best friends are just some of the highlights of Nova's life. But the best new development? Talking to Quinton on the phone each night. She wishes she could touch him, kiss him, though she knows he needs time to heal. Yet shocking news is on the way-a reminder of life's dark side-and Nova will need Quinton like he once needed her. Is he strong enough to take the final leap out of his broken past . . . and into Nova's heart?

Excerpt:

Prologue

Nova

December 28, the day of the funeral

          It’s a strange feeling, getting ready to watch someone get put under the ground into their final resting place. I’ve been to enough funerals to know that my senses always become hyper-aware of everything going on around me: the touch of the wind seems stronger, the sun a little more blinding, the smell of the leaves, grass, and fresh dirt overpowering. It’s like my mind is reaching out and trying to grasp each aspect of the moment, when part of me wants nothing more than to forget.
          I’m actually at the church earlier than I’m supposed to be and I don’t even know why, other than that sitting home for a second longer just didn’t seem possible. So I left the house without telling anyone and got in my cherry-red Chevy Nova, the car my dad left to me when he died, and drove it to the church where my dad’s and Landon’s funeral took place. And in just a bit, I’ll say good-bye to another person I once knew and will never see again.
          Now that I’m here, staring at the brick building with a white tower pointing to the sky, I’m not sure what I should do. I’m three hours early to a funeral, which might say a lot about me. A lot of people would likely show up late, wanting to avoid death for as long as possible, but I’ve become so familiar with it it’s unsettling.
          After sitting in the car for about ten minutes, watching snowflakes fall from the sky and frost the grass and the windshield, I decide to take video instead. I didn’t bring the fancy camera my mom gave me, but the one on my phone works and honestly I use that one a lot more because it’s handy for sporadic recording, which seems to be my specialty.
          I blow out a deep breath as I sit back in the seat, aim the camera at myself, and hit record. I have the screen flipped to me and my image immediately pops up. I look tired. The bags under my eyes are pretty obvious, even though I’ve tried to cover them up with makeup, and my brown hair wasn’t being cooperative so I ended up pulling it up into a ponytail. I’m wearing a black dress and earrings and the contrast with my fair skin makes me look pallid.
          “It’s amazing how everything can seem so perfect one moment and then suddenly it’s not. How quickly perfection can evaporate… how rare it is.” I pause, gathering my thoughts. “I’ve seen a lot of death. More than the normal person, probably. I watched my father’s life vanish in front of me within minutes. Found my boyfriend’s body right after he took his own life. Too early. Too suddenly. Both of them. I never had time to prepare myself and I thought it was the worst feeling in the world. I always wondered how different it would be, if it ever happened again. If maybe the third or fourth time around, I wouldn’t hurt so badly. If it’d be easier letting someone go now that I’ve had so much practice.” I tuck a fallen strand of my bangs behind my ear and swallow the lump in my throat. “And maybe it has gotten easier… but it still hurts. I still shed tears… it’s still agonizing… painful…” I trail off as a few tears slip from my eyes and roll down my cheeks. “Even now, just thinking about some of the stuff I saw… I should have stopped it… should have done things differently…” I trail off, staring at the window. “But I didn’t… and now they’re gone forever.”

Author Bio:

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jessica Sorensen, lives in the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she's not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.

Find Jessica Online:

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

"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: No One Else Can Have You
Author: Kathleen Hale
Publisher: HarperTeen, 384 Pages (January 7th 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

Synopsis: Small towns are nothing if not friendly. Friendship, Wisconsin (population: 688) is no different. Around here, everyone wears a smile. And no one ever locks their doors. Until, that is, high school sweetheart Ruth Fried is found murdered. Strung up like a scarecrow in the middle of a cornfield.

Unfortunately, Friendship’s police are more adept at looking for lost pets than catching killers. So Ruth’s best friend, Kippy Bushman, armed with only her tenacious Midwestern spirit and Ruth’s secret diary (which Ruth’s mother had asked her to read in order to redact any, you know, sex parts), sets out to find the murderer. But in a quiet town like Friendship—where no one is a suspect—anyone could be the killer.

Title: Burn (Pure #3)
Author: Julianna Baggott
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 432 Pages (February 4th 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

Synopsis: The fate of the world is more fragile than ever as Pures battle Wretches and former allies become potential enemies.

Inside the Dome Patridge has taken his father's place as leader of the Pures. His intent had been to bring down the Dome from the inside with the help of the secret resistance force led by Partridge's former teacher Glassings. But from his new position of power, things don't seem quite as clear. Perhaps his father had been right. Perhaps if the world is to survive it needs the Dome--and Partridge--to rule it.

Outside the Dome Pressia and Bradwell continue piecing together the clues left to them by their parents from the time before the detonations. Soon they will be able to help heal the Wretches, freeing them from their monstrous fusings and the Dome's oppression once and for all. But their success also depends on Partridge. Can they still trust their friend and ally to see their plan through? Or will a new war begin?

Letting these two books speak for them selves this week.... Can't wait to read both of them!

This is the last WoW for me for 2013. With the next two Wednesday's being holidays I'll be taking a break and will resume with many more WoW's starting on Wednesday, January 8th, 2014.

*covers are always subject to change.

Title: If You Leave (Beautifully Broken, #2)
Author: Courtney Cole
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing) 336 Pages (August 6th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

Synopsis: 26-year old Gabriel Vincent is a badass hero. Or he used to be, anyway. As an ex-Army Ranger, Gabe never thought he needed anyone. But after one horrible night in Afghanistan scars him in a way that he can't get past, he needs someone who can help him heal...even if he doesn't realize it.

25-year old Madison Hill doesn't need anybody...or so she thinks. She grew up watching her parents' messed-up abusive relationship and she knows there's no way in hell that she's ever letting that happen to her.

They don't know it in the beginning, but Gabriel and Madison will soon develop a weakness: Each other.

But Gabriel's got a secret, a hidden monster that he's afraid Maddy could never overcome... And Maddy's got issues that she's afraid Gabe will never understand. They quickly realize that they need each other to be whole, but at the same time they know that they've got demons to fight.

And the problem with demons is that they never die quietly.

If you love a broken bad boy then look no further. If You Stay was AMAZING and If You Leave was pretty epic as well. I LOVED both and can't wait for Courtney's next book. Keep an eye out for my full review later in the month for the Blog Tour.

About the author: 


Courtney Cole is a novelist who would eat mythology for breakfast if she could. She has a degree in Business, but has since discovered that corporate America is not nearly as fun to live in as fictional worlds. She loves chocolate and roller coasters and hates waiting and rude people.

Courtney lives in quiet suburbia, close to Lake Michigan, with her real-life Prince Charming, her ornery kids (there is a small chance that they get their orneriness from their mother) and a small domestic zoo.

Find Courtney Online:

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Grand Central Website | Grand Central Twitter | Grand Central Facebook

GIVEAWAY!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FTC Disclaimer: I have NOT been compensated at all in any way or means for sharing this post or giveaway.

"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: Fuse (Pure #2)
Author: Julianna Baggott
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 416 Pages (February 19th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository

Synopsis: When the world ended, those who dwelled within the Dome were safe. Inside their glass world the Pures live on unscarred, while those outside—the Wretches—struggle to survive amidst the smoke and ash.

Believing his mother was living among the Wretches, Partridge escaped from the Dome to find her. Determined to regain control over his son, Willux, the leader of the Pures, unleashes a violent new attack on the Wretches. It’s up to Pressia Belze, a young woman with her own mysterious past, to decode a set of cryptic clues from the past to set the Wretches free.

An epic quest that sweeps readers into a world of beautiful brutality, Fuse continues the story of two people fighting to save their futures—and change the fate of the world.

Title: Let the Sky Fall (Let the Sky Fall #1)
Author: Shannon Messenger
Publisher: Simon Pulse, 416 Pages (March 5th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository

Synopsis: A broken past and a divided future can’t stop the electric connection of two teens in this “charged and romantic” (Becca Fitzpatrick), lush novel. Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired girl who’s swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real. But he hopes she is.

Seventeen-year-old Audra is a sylph, an air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She’s also a guardian—Vane’s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life.

When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra’s forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim—the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors coming to destroy them—but the forbidden romance that’s grown between them.

Title: The Gathering Dark
Author: Christine Johnson
Publisher: Simon Pulse, 352 Pages (February 12th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository

Synopsis: A mysterious teen boy knows the secrets of Keira’s dangerous hallucinations in this gripping romantic fantasy from the author of Claire de Lune.

Keira’s hallucinating. First it’s a door hovering above the road; then it’s a tree in her living room. But with her parents fighting and her best friend not speaking to her, Keira can’t tell anyone about her breakdown.

Until she meets Walker. They have an electric connection, and somehow he can see the same shadowy images plaguing Keira.

But trusting Walker may be more dangerous than Keira could have ever imagined. The more she confides in him, the more intense—and frightening—her visions become. Because Walker is not what he appears to be. And neither are her visions.

This week I think I've managed to pick three books with stunning covers. Check them all out and then read the synopsis.... SEE! Now you get why I picked the books that I did for today's Waiting on Wednesday.

*covers are always subject to change.

Title: Pure (Pure, #1)
Author: Julianna Baggott
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 448 Pages (February 8th, 2012)
From: the Publisher
Format: Hardback
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .

Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .

There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.

Review: 4.5 Stars - Pure by Julianna Baggott was thoroughly interesting and utterly unique making this a beginning to a series you shouldn’t let pass you by.

The world and characters that Baggott has created are harsh, dark and often horrific, yet there’s a beauty found in the little things. The hard parts to read in this book were the people affected by the Detonations. They are scarred and fused with things you’d never imagine. The strength found in the people outside the dome and how they managed to survive… such as Pressia, our female lead does was one of those bright spots found in a place so filled with ash that nothing will really ever be clean again.

She’s stronger than she knows. She wants to stay with the only family she has left and has ever known – her Grandfather – but when the unexpected happens she’s forced to change even the way she thinks about the world. 

The people inside the Dome are called Pures. They live a life without the ash, they live of a live of privilege and means, unlike those stuck outside to fend for themselves. And then Partridge escapes for reasons you’ll have to read the book to understand why, he’s in for a harsh reality.

When the two meet, it’s interesting to see just how different their lives are and to see just how different things are from what they’ve been told about outside the dome vs. inside the dome. 

If I was to say that some of the story took a strange turn, which would be an understatement. I’m sure you’d probably be thinking after reading this review that how can a book with people who are fused to things such as a doll head for a fist, a fan in a throat or birds to a boys back… but it’s true. There was some even stranger things that happened, but it all fit in with the story that Baggott was telling.

All in all, I am so happy that I had a chance to read this title. It’s such a different story from anything out there. And, as mentioned above, it’s dark and interesting and so unique that in the darkness it’s the little things that made me thoroughly enjoy the story and characters.

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.