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 UK, 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 Independent Study by Joelle Charbonneau is...UK!!!!!! 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: Going Vintage
Author: Lindsey Leavitt
Publisher: US - Bloomsbury, 320 Pages, (March 26, 2013), UK - Scholastic, 304 Pages, (April 1st, 2013)
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

Synopsis: When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars). The List:
1. Run for pep club secretary
2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree
3. Sew a dress for Homecoming
4. Find a steady
5. Do something dangerous
But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far.

About the Author:

Lindsey Leavitt is a former elementary school teacher and present day writer/mom to three (mostly) adorable little girls. She is married to her high school lab partner and lives in Las Vegas. She is the author of the PRINCESS FOR HIRE series (www.princessforhire.com), SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD and GOING VINTAGE Visit her on the web at www.lindseyleavitt.com

Find Lindsey 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 This week is pretty easy for me. I'm really drawn the UK cover. It's light, airy and feels "vintage" to me. The US cover feels to quirky. And while I like quirky there's something kind of special about the UK cover.

So, this weeks vote for me goes to the UK! Which one will YOU be voting for in the poll below?

Michelle I like the UK cover. I like the whimsical effect it has and the vintage look of it. However I LOVE the US cover. I love the retro vibe of it, the funky bold colours and the general appearance of it. To me this represents the ‘vintage’ part of Going Vintage much more than the UK one does. Take a look at my review to see what I thought of the book.

VOTE for YOUR favorite cover of Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt NOW!

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YAY for new releases to look forward to from author Jen McLaughlin!!! Blurred Lines, the 5th title in her Out of Line Series will be releasing January 26th, but first I have some exclusive content to share. Be sure to check out the contest below for a chance to win the series. Today we have the incredible book trailer from Blurred Lines. 

Title: Blurred Lines (Out of Line #5)
Author: Jen McLaughlin
Publisher: (January 26th, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

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

Synopsis: Once burned… Finding my fiancée naked on my couch might’ve been a good thing, if her ex-boyfriend hadn’t been with her. For the past eight years I’ve been a witness to the power of true love, but after getting burned I’d decided there wasn’t any hope for me finding it for myself. Until I met Noelle Brandt in a hotel bar. Maybe it wasn’t the most romantic meeting, but the moment I met her I knew I had to have her. The more I learn about her, the more I know I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her.

Twice shy…

I’d already found the love of my life, but I’d lost that love forever. And I’d been lost ever since. But one night a wounded man makes all of that go away. He makes me laugh, live, and feel alive. When he tells me he has no intention of letting me go, I finally begin to believe in the power of true love again. That is, until I find out who he really is…and by then, it’s far too late to correct the mistakes we’ve already made. By the time we both know the truth, the lines have already been blurred beyond recognition.

BOOK TRAILER:
 

 

About the Author:

Jen McLaughlin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy New Adult books. Under her pen name Diane Alberts, she is a multi-published, bestselling author of Contemporary Romance with Entangled Publishing. Her first release as Jen McLaughlin, Out of Line, released September 6 2013, and hit the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal lists. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. She is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal-clear water. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal-clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, and a cat. Her goal is to write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

Find Jen Online:

Website | Facebook Fan Page | Twitter | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY!!!

Win an ebook set of OUT OF LINE, OUT OF TIME, OUT OF MIND, and the adult standalone title FRACTURED LINES by Jen McLaughlin! International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today is the revealing the cover for GENTLE CHAINS by Nazarea Andrews. This is a new adult title and it will be released in March. Click the link below to read the first 6 chapters!   

Title: Gentle Chains
Author: Nazarea Andrews
Publisher: (March 2015)
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 When slavers steal Juhan and his twin sister Chosi from their home planet of psychics, their only comfort is in the fact that they’re together. When they are separated at auction, Juhan swears to find his sister, no matter the cost.

Juhan is bought by the spoiled daughter of a political scion. Caught in her glittering world of intrigue and politics, Juhan is startled to find Sadi playing a long game to change intergalactic politics and Juhan is merely a pawn in her game. But as his vow and Sadi's lies takes them across galaxies, he begins to wonder if his young owner is more than an arrogant rich girl. And he has to consider the cost of his promise—especially when people they both care for begin to die.

A galaxy away, Chosi is sold into blood sport. With her psychic ability, she earns a precarious position of value within the gladiator school, training the draken—wild creatures of smoke and fire—for the arena. In the midst of that hell, she forges a friendship with the slave Jemes and the draken she cares for. But when her defiance comes with devastating results, Chosi contemplates suicide as an escape from her chains. Yet, she can't forget the brother who promised to find her, and even as she welcomes the risk of death, she clings to that promise.

Spun across space and exotic worlds, Juhan and Chosi try to find each other, and home in a stunning story about the lengths love will take you.  

Read the first 6 chapters of GENTLE CHAINS

EXCERPT:

I wake up slowly, and lift my head. The quiet hum is comforting and familiar--I’m on the Leen. “Where is Sadi?” I murmur, shifting to stand. “Galley,” the ship answers promptly, and I stagger to the door. “Ill-advised. I will inform Sadi of your status.”
“Disregard. I’m fine,” I answer, and the ship subsides, with a minute rumble of systems that makes me think it’s disgruntled. I find Sadi slumped at the table, cradling a mug of warm chocolate, fatigue pulling her eyes closed. Tin stirs something on the hotsurface, the smell of spice and cream and vegetables thick in the air. I watch them, testing the surface of their emotions before I clear my throat. Sadi glances blearily at me, and then nudges a chair out with a loud screech. I sink down and we sit silently for a long time before she asks, hoarsely, “Want some? Chocolate can make anything better.”
I take the proffered cup, recognizing it for the peace offering it is. “How’s that working for you?” I ask before taking a sip. Liquid, velvet heat fills my mouth, slides down my throat. It tastes like a memory, and I struggle to see past a vision of Chosi and a thousand mornings, sitting at the table with her and a cup of chocolate. I force the memory away, focusing on Sadi.
Sadi shrugs and gives me a weak smile. “Not terribly well.”
I touch her psyche again, feeling the conflict, disgust and desperation. Her eyes are impossibly young when they find mine. “How does this happen? There are thousands injured--we didn’t even make a dent today. And that says nothing of the dead. And no one cares. Because they’re whores,” she finishes bitterly. She almost snatches the chocolate from me, burying her nose in the cup. “What are the estimates on the dead?”
“Thirty thousand, in Centari alone,” Tin answers. He ladles out soup and hands steaming bowls around. “Ninety percent of the dead were slaves.” Sadi glares. “That doesn’t make the deaths acceptable.”
“No one said it did, Sadi,” he says mildly and nudges her spoon. She stares at it and then takes a tiny bite. As soon as she swallows, her eyes widen and she bolts from the table.
Tin drops his spoon with a curse and moves to go after her. “Let me,” I say, standing and following her.
She’s leaning over the commode, tears streaming down her face. I let my mind go, touching along her psyche, a flutter of moth wings. It’s so broken, shattered into so many pieces it stuns me. How can she appear so together when she is completely broken?
-Sadi?-
-How can we expect to make a difference?- she whispers. -It’s so much and we are so small, and no one cares--no one is even here. The IPS will gladly let their world burn.-
-They care,- I say, uselessly.
She twists to glare at me. -Don’t you dare lie for them. Don’t you dare. They look the other way while your entire world is raped of its people. While your sister is Taken and branded and sold. They use slaves. So don’t you dare lie for them. They don’t deserve it.-
I push aside the truth in her words, the rush of anger that she’s one of the slave owners she’s denouncing, and crouch next to her, brushing hair over her ears and murmuring, “We’ll make a difference because you can’t help it, Sadi. You change things.”
As I say it, I realize how true my words are. She has changed me.

Want to read GENTLE CHAINS early???

You can sign up to review by filling out this form -

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Nazarea Andrews Bio:

Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She is the author of the University of Branton series, Neverland Found series, and Edge of the Falls.

She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog. You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Find Nazarea Online:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Author Goodreads | Amazon author page

Title: My Lea (A Broken Love Story #1)
Author: E. Mellyberry
Publisher: (November 11th 2014)
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Amazon UK

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

Synopsis: A simple girl.

A broken guy.

One horrible incident.

When Lea Amelia landed her feet in San Francisco for her overseas study, her idea of freedom was simple, like eating junk food ten times a day, sitting in front of the TV in her PJs, or going out late with her friends without the need to check in with her mother constantly.

Then she met Andrew Jaya, her brothers’ best friend. A twenty-two-year-old guy whose physical appearance looked like he was crafted straight from God’s heavenly hands, but possessed a past as bleak as if it was drawn by Evil himself. A conflicted guy who wore sadness like nobody’s business beneath his mask, a perfect-looking mask she slowly peeled away.

He was also the guy who hurt her.

Suddenly, everything about her was no longer simple.

Andrew Jaya had convinced himself that not feeling was good for him. He’d been doing it splendidly for almost his entire life. But that was before his best friend’s sister stepped into his life and ruined it. After weeks of knowing Lea, all of those warm and wonderful feelings he’d long ago denied to himself started to reappear. Problem was, the brighter the light, the bigger the shadows that came with it.

His traumatic past refused to let him go.

When the unthinkable happened, the easiest thing to do was to run. But life often proves that the easiest way is usually the hardest.

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

Excerpt: Cable Car Ride

          The cable car made a descending ride and Lea’s body swayed forward, hitting him in his chest. Thank you, San Francisco’s hills and valleys! Andrew placed a hand on her waist to secure her. He saw her smile widened as she laid her cheek against his shoulder. Both of his arms instantly went around her, cuddling her as if that was the sole purpose of him having arms. To keep her close and to love her.
          Wait a fucking minute.
          No, no, no. Not love, you miserable idiot.
          He hadn’t thought about that word in a long, long time. Once, he thought he’d found it. He was wrong. Love was nothing but an illusion. A betrayal at hope.
          He took a deep and long breath to calm himself down. Not the right time to have such a thought. He closed his eyes and willed his mind to go blank.
          Focus. In San Francisco. Focus on Lea. Lea… Lea…
          His focus also detected that she had tilted her face up a little, therefore bringing their mouths dangerously close together. He was terrified to open his eyes, afraid to find what he desperately wanted to see in hers. He was also scared shitless that she would be able to read the chaos inside him, catch the haunting demons in the depth of his eyes, and back away from him.
          She kept moving her face slowly, as if it was the wind that made her head move, not her own muscle. The tip of her nose and mouth made a feathery connection with his jaw, creating one hell of a friction between her soft, warm lips and his sharp, short stubbles.
          Oh my good God, the torture. 
          His ears picked up her soft moan, and his dirty mind immediately conjured up an image of how her mouth had wrapped around the ice cream’s spoon earlier and… fucking hell. His loving sensation was quickly turned into a pure, hot lust. The speed of his blood rushing down south was faster than any of those race cars in Formula One. As much as he tried to slow it down, it was a moot effort since nothing could fight gravity. To make matter worse, his dick had made it its mission to remind him that he hadn’t gotten any in five long weeks, therefore it refused to be slowed down.
          His body stirred awake with hunger, but it wasn’t the same hunger he usually experienced when he was about to have sex with a girl. This was a different kind of hunger. It was possessive, and though the emotion felt foreign to him, it was not unwelcomed.
          Her mouth made that sensual drag down to his chin now. He stood so fucking still that the muscles in his body bleed from the stiffness. Then he acted without thinking. Without fearing the consequences. He only remembered his want, need, and longing. He opened his eyes and lowered his face to hers. He couldn’t interpret what he saw in her expression, but it didn’t stop him from dipping his face farther and catching her mouth with his. The moment his lips touched hers, a thousand fireworks exploded inside him. Every living cell in his body shot up, flying free and without burden. The only sound he heard was the roar of his blood in his ears, wolf-whistling and shouting barbaric encouragements at him. The only thing he could think of was her mouth opening up to his and how good her body felt against his own. If he died at this moment, he would die a happy man. A happier man than he could ever imagine. Both of his hands reached up to touch her face. Now he kind of regretted that he’d put her hoodie on. He wanted to be able to freely touch her hair, her face, her neck. He devoured her taste like a madman. His tongue pushed inside, hungrily caressing the hot walls of her mouth and the silkiness of her tongue. She kissed him back, one important fact that Andrew would print and hang in his Hall of Accomplishment.
          She. Kissed. Me. Back.

About the Author:
Melly is a full-time mom, wife, and fangirl. She used to work in a school and she’s very passionate about education.
Melly has been writing children’s books since 2011 under the name mellyberry. She loves reading all kinds of books in her spare time, mostly MG, YA, NA, contemporary, paranormal, and fantasy. She avoids horror and sci-fi as much as she can.
Melly was born in Indonesia and grew up in a multi-language environment. When she talks to people, she could accidentally string words from different languages into one sentence. When she does that, simply reminds her to speak properly.
Her ideal vacation always involves a beach; usually it’s the Nusa Dua beach, Bali. She spent a few years in USA to complete her Master degree. It was during that time that she’d fallen madly in love with San Francisco and the Bay Area. According to her, San Francisco is no doubt the most romantic city in the world.

Find Melly Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY!!!

Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)
3 signed-paperback copies of My Lea by E. Mellyberry (This is a limited edition - only 50 copies worldwide and it's not available in bookstores and other retail sites.)
$15 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: Shadow Study (Soul Finders #1)
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Publisher: Mira/Harlequin, 384 pages, (February 24th, 2015)
From: Net Galley ARC from publisher
Format: eBook
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

Synopsis: Once, only her own life hung in the balance.

Oddly enough, when Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. But she'd survived to become a vital part of the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia. Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands and protect her relationship with Valek.

Suddenly, though, they are beset on all sides by those vying for power through politics and intrigue. Valek's job - and his life - are in danger. As Yelena tries to uncover the scope of these plots, she faces a new challenge: her magic is blocked. She must keep that a secret - or her enemies will discover just how vulnerable she really is - while searching for who or what is responsible for neutralizing her powers.

Yes, the days of tasting poisons were much simpler. And certainly not as dangerous...

Review: 5 stars - There are no words that can describe my excitement when I approved to review this book. I have waited patiently for more tales of Ixia. I love the world, the characters and the adventures. Snyder’s Study series are my “Go to” books when I’m in a reading rut. I feel at home in the world Snyder has created. It’s like every time I pick up the Study or Glass books I’m being embraced by a good friend.

To describe Shadow Study you need to define AMAZING.

The book starts with Valek and Yelena being reunited, but as with this pair, nothing ever goes to plan. Valek is called back to Ixia and Yelena sets off on her own mission of discovery.

As with Snyder’s previous novels, there’s a twist in the tale. I can’t say much because I would spoil the whole plot. Let’s just say Chronicles of Ixia fans will not be disappointed.

A reader having read the Study and Glass series (Chronicles of Ixia) is a bonus to readers, but Snyder advises it is not essential. The book can be read by a reader new to the series. I personally think it only enhances the reading experience if you have read the Study and Glass series as you really bond with the characters and it helps with the world building. I would advise anyone thinking of checking out this book to read the other books first.

Along the way we find faithful family and friends- Leif, Mara, Devlen, Opal, and my personal favourites Ari and Janco. Yay for Janco’s witty banter being back!

I loved finding out more about Valek’s history in this book. He’s always been a bit of a secretive character. You can’t second guess him. It’s probably what makes him one of my favourite fictional characters.

I had my suspicions about something that happens at the end of the book from about half way through. Something twigged my interested and through the rest of the book it was constantly on my mind. When I read the end I was stunned into silence for a few seconds; this was quickly followed by squealing and a doing little happy dance.

When reading this book we switch perspective between Yelena, Valek and Janco. You care constantly kept on edge because of this and I found myself needing to read on to find out what happened to who, when I should have been going to bed. It’s a brilliant way of writing and keeps the reader constantly engrossed in the story.

Once again Snyder has written a fantastic fantasy adventure, in which I’m sure every reader will enjoy. I eagerly anticipate the release of the next book in the series- Night Study, which is expected to be published in 2016.

Recommended for fans of Maria V. Snyder’s Study, Glass and Healer series. Also for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer Ellision.