28 June 2014
YAY for BOOKS!!! I'm really excited... beside myself actually that I'm getting a chance to attend this years ALA conference. I was able to attend two years ago when it was in Anaheim California and it was one of the best things I've ever experienced! I had so much fun with friends, fellow bloggers and Librarians that I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again!
So, yesterday morning I headed off to Vegas for a few days. Leaving the hubby at home and loosing myself in a world of friends, books, bookish friends and I'm sure a bit of trouble being that it's in Sin City!
Lots of pictures and stories when I return!
If you have any questions while I'm away I'll have limited access to email and internet. I'm going to try to unplug a bit while I'm away so it might take me a bit longer to respond. Thanks in advance for understanding.
See everyone next week!
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27 June 2014
Title: Heart Shaped Rock
Author: Laura Roppe
Publisher: 316 Pages (May 2014)
From: the Author
Format: eARC
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Amazon UK, Kobo, iTunes
Synopsis: “If you liked the music collaboration of Maybe Someday, you’ve got to check out Heart Shaped Rock.” — New York Times best-selling author of Maybe Someday, Colleen Hoover
"Laura Roppé has written a moving and emotional novel of first love, accurately capturing the voice and mind of a dramatic and emotional sixteen year old girl caught in a maelstrom of grief and loss, love and heartbreak. And then there’s Dean…you'll just have to read the book, ‘cause I can't do him justice in a few short sentences.” –Jasinda Wilder, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of Falling into You
Sometimes a shattered heart needs to sing to love again . . . Sixteen year old singer-songwriter Shaynee Sullivan hasn't so much as touched her guitar since her mom died six months ago. In fact, Shaynee hasn't felt like doing much of anything lately, except maybe playing Whack-a-Mole on her "emotionally intelligent" brother's head. But when she meets a gorgeous and surprising rocker named Dean, her shattered heart begins to mend . . . and then burst at the seams. Heart-wrenching, heart-warming, and sometimes even heart-racing, Heart Shaped Rock will leave you laughing through tears and rooting for love in all its forms.
Hear the original music performed in Heart Shaped Rock at www.LauraRoppe.com. All music available on iTunes.
Review: 3 Stars - Heart Shaped Rock by author Laura Roppe is a young adult title about loss, healing and finding your way through it all.
Sixteen is never an easy age for anyone and character Shaynee Sullivan is wading through all the usual things that happen at around that age to all girls… while also trying to learn who she is after the death of her mom. She’s detached from everyone except her dad and brother and faithful best friend. She’s quiet and is kind of floating along in her loss.
And then there’s Dean who’s more than meets the eye for Shaynee. She doesn’t know his name but finds herself finally wanting something more than just going through the motions. He’s a musician, talented and uses his leather jacket, motorcycle and sincere personality to help draw Shaynee out from the shell she’s found herself in.
I liked Dean a lot more than Shaynee as a character. He seemed to have more depth to him and also felt so much better well rounded. While Shaynee is somewhat of a mess due to her loss and pain it’s easy for readers to see Dean as more of a polished character. However I believe that Shaynee could have used a bit of work to give me more of who she was other than Pain filled Shaynee (Before Dean) and Boy crazy Shaynee (After Dean)
Another part of the book that felt off was how rushed things progressed with these two characters. Two run-in’s and one date is a bit quick even in the book world making the insta-love just a bit over the top.
Besides Dean’s character I thought that Roppe did a wonderful job working through the pain that Shaynee and her family felt after the loss. You could feel it in each of the conversations she had with her brother and father and the inner dialogue she had throughout each day was also a great puzzle piece to the pain that was consuming her.
The addition of music is one of the driving forces for the story and was a much bigger part of both Shaynee and Dean which really helped mold these two characters’ into who they are together and apart. I also liked that it was used as a healing point for both characters during different times of their lives.
In the end it was a good beginning… kind of funky middle and the very end was again good. I hoped for a bit more but in the end liked it and the characters that I found myself wanting to find out what happened at the end of their journey. Fans of contemporary young adult will find two characters to care for and to root for (apart and together) as the female lead finds a way to grieve and heal her heart. Enjoy!Heart Shaped Rock by author Laura Roppe is a young adult title about loss, healing and finding your way through it all.
About the Author:
Laura Roppé is an award-winning singer/songwriter, author, audio book narrator, speaker, and former attorney from San Diego, California. In 2011, Billboard Magazine ranked her as Number Three on its chart of the Top 50 "uncharted" artists in the world. In May 2013, Laura began hosting Amazon's weekly podcast, "Kindle Love Stories," for people who love hearing about love stories, romance, and happily ever afters.
Her first book is the non-fiction memoir, Rocking the Pink. Her latest is a YA-teen romance novel entitled Heart Shaped Rock, featuring a soundtrack.
Find Laura Online:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
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26 June 2014
Title: Love and Other Theories
Author: Alexis Bass
Publisher: HarperTeen (December 31st, 2014)
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Author: Alexis Bass
Publisher: HarperTeen (December 31st, 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK
Synopsis: If you want more, you have to give less.
That’s the secret to dating in high school. By giving as little as they expect to get in return, seventeen-year-old Aubrey Housing and her three best friends have made it to the second semester of their senior year heartbreak-free. And it’s all thanks to a few simple rules: don’t commit, don’t be needy, and don’t give away your heart.
So when smoking-hot Nathan Diggs transfers to Lincoln High, it shouldn’t be a big deal. At least that’s what Aubrey tells herself. But Nathan’s new-boy charm, his kindness, and his disarming honesty throw Aubrey off her game and put her in danger of breaking the most important rule of all: Don’t fall in love.
I LOVE this sound of this book and I can't wait to read it!!!
About the Author:
Alexis Bass grew up in Washington, went to college in Arizona, and spent her early twenties in Seattle. She currently lives in Northern California with Dylan McKay, her gorgeous and rambunctious golden retriever. She loves good fashion and good TV as much as a good book, and is a huge advocate of the three C’s: coffee, chocolate, and cheese. LOVE AND OTHER THEORIES is her first novel. Visit her at www.alexisbassbooks.com or on Twitter: @alexisbasswrite
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Title: UnWritten
Author: Chelsea M. Cameron
Publisher: (July 10th, 2014)
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No order links at the time of posting
NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+
Find Chelsea Online:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Author: Chelsea M. Cameron
Publisher: (July 10th, 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
No order links at the time of posting
NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+
Synopsis: Blair Walton isn't your average tattooed children's librarian. She's also one half of bestselling romance author, Scarlet Rose. Along with her bff Raine, she spends her nights writing books so steamy, she's afraid they would shock her Southern conservative grandmother to death, if she knew about them. Blair and Raine keep their smut peddling ways a secret from everyone, including family.
On deadline for their latest book and out of ideas, Raine suggests (demands) that Blair find a guy and "do some research." It just so happens that Blair has a guy that's ready and willing. Declan Bennet has all the qualifications: He's British, looks fabulous in a suit and gets bonus points for being a single dad. But what started out as a research project quickly turns into something much more. Someone else is writing this love story and Blair has completely lost control. But will Declan still feel the same way when he finds out the truth about Blair and her secret motives?
Chapter One
Contains adult language
“What’s another word for ‘pussy’?” Raine said, squinting at me over her laptop. I looked up from mine and thought for a moment.
“What’s the context?”
Her not-quite-blue-not-quite-grey eyes went back to her screen.
“He’s licking it.”
“Her pussy?”
“Yeah, but I’ve already used that word, like, a million times.” I sighed and saved the chapter I was currently working on.
“Send it to me.”
Her fingers clacked on her keyboard and then my email dinged. I ignored the massive amounts of unread mail in my inbox, including several fan letters (which I felt horrible about ignoring) and opened the document.
My eyes did a quick scan as Raine stared at her computer, a frown on her face. I deleted a few of her uses of the word and tweaked the phrasing.
“Okay, sending back.”
It seemed odd, seeing as how our laptops were practically touching on our shared desk. I reached for my coffee cup, tried to take a sip and found it empty.
“Damn. I’m out. Want a refill?” Raine handed me her cup without taking her eyes off the screen. It was nearly one in the morning, but we had a deadline next week, and we hadn’t missed one yet and had no intention to start.
I tried to remember the last time I’d made a pot of coffee, and couldn’t, so I tossed whatever was in the coffeepot and starting making a fresh pot.
“You know, we really should get one of those Keurigs. You know it would be a tax write-off. And it’s not like we can’t afford it.”
Raine just made a non-committal sound.
I was always the one who had to make the first move. When the two of us had met as TAs in the English department at college, I’d been the one who’d had the crazy idea of writing a romance together under a pen name and trying to get it published.
The two of us had spent the hours we were supposed to be doing keg stands and getting STDs typing away. It took us two years to write our first book, and most of it was spent trying to figure out how to combine our brains into one story. And then, by some miracle, we’d actually gotten an agent to take us seriously, and then a publisher and here we were, three years after getting our first book deal, with five books under our collective belt, three of them bestsellers under the name Scarlet Rose (Scarlet for my middle name, Rose for Raine’s mother).
“Ugh, I can’t look at this anymore, or I'm going to set it on fire,” Raine said, rubbing her eyes and getting to her feet and stretching her back.
“I know the feeling,” I said, hoping that by staring at the coffeemaker, it would somehow brew faster.
“We are never going to make this deadline.”
I turned and gave her a look.
“You always say that and we always meet them. Look, let’s take a half hour break to recharge and then we can marathon until four. Okay?” That would only give me a few hours of sleep, but I’d functioned on much less.
That was the price you paid for being a secret writer.
Raine came over and put her chin on my shoulder.
“Why did we sign this contract again?” I sighed for what felt like the millionth time that day.
“Because the money was good and we can’t say no to Marilyn.”
“I’m still terrified of her.”
“You wouldn’t be human if you weren’t,” I said as the coffee finally started to pour into the pot. Marilyn, our editor, was one of the scariest women I’d ever met. Initially, she seemed sweet and nice. But she was deadly with a red pen and she had an uncanny ability to read people. Her hair was always curled, her shoes were always spiked heels and her lipstick was always cherry red. She was beautiful in the way that a sharpened blade was beautiful.
I poured coffee into both our cups, adding lots of sugar to mine, and lots of powdered creamer to Raine’s.
“I’m calling out tomorrow. There’s just no way I can put up with morons after all this.”
“I wish I could. Sabrina’s on vacation, so I’m shit out of luck.” I worked in the Children’s department of our small local library and Raine was a bank teller. Totally glamorous jobs they were not.
Raine kissed one of the tattoos on my shoulder and picked up her coffee cup. My arms were both covered in ink and I had several others on my chest, back, legs and feet. My mother was convinced I got them to spite her, but really none of them had anything to do with her.
“Blaiiirrrrrr,” she whined, shuffling back to the desk. “I don’t wanna write any more.”
“Too bad, kiddo. We have a deadline.” They say you never really know the measure of a person until you live with them, but I think you never really know it until you try to write a book with them.
“Drink your coffee, babe. It will make you feel better.” She did as I asked, and sat on the couch. I turned on the television and went through our saved shows. We had the latest episode of New Girl on there, which would be perfect for a half hour of wasting time before we had to go back to work.
I snuggled next to Raine and before I knew it, my eyes were closing.
****
“Blair!” A voice pierced my eardrums and then something smacked my arm. My eyes flew open to realize that the living room was filling with the weak light of predawn.
“We both fell asleep,” Raine said, yawning and stretching. I’d fallen asleep tucked into her side.
“Shit, what time is it?”
“Nearly six.”
“Shit, shit, shit.” I stumbled to my feet and grabbed my coffee cup, intending to throw it in the microwave.
“Words. We have to make words,” I said, but Raine’s eyes had closed again.
“No words. Sleep.”
I had two options. I could go back to sleep for a little while, or I could force myself to stay awake.
Normally I would do the second, but I was so beyond tired that I knew if I didn’t get at least a little more sleep, I was going to pass out on the copier at the library. Again.
“Bed. Going to bed.” Raine didn’t answer.
I stumbled toward my bed and fell face first on it, and was out until my alarm rang again at seven thirty.
****
“And they lived happily ever after,” I said for what felt like the ten thousandth time in my life. I closed the book and looked out at the faces that stared at me with rapt attention. I had a good turnout for the toddler story hour, and everyone had been on their best behavior. I stifled a yawn behind the book and got up from my rocking chair.
“Thank you everyone for coming. We’ll see you next week.” Then we sang “The Goodbye Song” and each kid gave me a hug. More often than not, at least one little bugger would wipe their nose on my shoulder. I must have an immune system of steel because I rarely got sick.
As the tots were collected by their frazzled parents and taken off for naps or snacks, I went to re-shelve the books I’d used.
The children’s room at the Sullivan Library was decorated to look like the pages of Where The Wild Things Are, complete with the monsters and Max in his costume. There was even a little jungle nook with plastic vines hanging down. I loved it here and I couldn’t believe I’d managed to get this job right out of college.
I’d worried that my appearance would hinder my chances, and undo the good of getting my Master’s in Library Science and my summer internship with the Library of Congress.
But Madeline, the head librarian, had taken one look at my resumé, then me, smiled, and said I was hired. I’d been working here ever since.
They had no idea about what I did at night with Raine. I gave no explanation for the fact that I often appeared weary, and constantly covered up my dark circles with makeup.
The most ironic part was that the library carried my books. Mine and Raine’s. Sometimes the other librarians would ask me if I’d read them and I always said no.
I did various chores around the room, picking up some of the toys, re-shelving books that had been scattered around by little fingers, and checking them to make sure none had snot on them. Anti-bacterial wipes were my friend.
Focused on my tasks, I almost didn’t hear the tiny voice, humming in a corner. I peered between two of the shelves and found a little boy wearing an outfit nice enough for family pictures. His hair was so blond it was almost white, and gelled back from his face to show his bright blue eyes. A quick glance around showed that he was sans parent.
“Hey there,” I said, using my soft library voice. I’d honed it over the past few years of working with kids.
“Shhh,” he said, putting a finger to his lips. He looked about three or four, I’d guess. I got closer and I saw that he even had little dress shoes on. Poor kid.
“Okay, I can be quiet,” I said, sitting down next to him, folding my dress under me. “I’m Blair, what’s your name?”
“I, Drake,” he said in a whisper that wasn’t a whisper. This kid was adorable.
“Hi, Drake. It’s so nice to meet you. Are you here all by yourself?” We’d had more than one child go missing, hidden in between the stacks. I kept expecting his frazzled mother to come around the corner and sigh in relief before yelling at him not to run off.
“Yup. I big boy.”
“You are a big boy. You’ve even got your big boy clothes on. Did you pick those out yourself?” He was about to answer when I heard footsteps and a woman, looking frantic, emerged around the corner.
“Drake!” she said, nearly falling over in relief. I wondered if this woman was his mother, because where he was fair as could be, she had silky black hair, dark eyes and gorgeous tan skin. Drake didn’t look pleased to be found.
“Thank you for finding him,” the woman said as I stood up to let her collect him.
“No, I don’t wanna!” Drake said.
“But we’re going to meet your daddy. Don’t you want to see Daddy?” At the mention of seeing his father, Drake’s eyes lit up and he grinned.
“Daddy!”
“That’s right, we’re going to see him.” She leaned down and picked him up. She was tiny, but had the body of a woman who had probably run a marathon or two. She was also dressed just as well as Drake, with a black skirt, white ruffled top and gorgeous heels. I looked down at my cute-but-sensible red ballet flats and sighed. I never got to wear sexy shoes like that at work.
“Bye, Drake. Come and see me again and I’ll help you choose a book,” I said, waving at him as the woman carried him to the door.
“Bye-bye, Blair!” he called in his sweet little voice.
About the Author:
Chelsea M. Cameron is a YA/NA New York Times/USA Today Best Selling author from Maine. Lover of things random and ridiculous, Jane Austen/Charlotte and Emily Bronte Fangirl, red velvet cake enthusiast, obsessive tea drinker, vegetarian, former cheerleader and world's worst video gamer. When not writing, she enjoys watching infomercials, singing in the car and tweeting (this one time, she was tweeted by Neil Gaiman). She has a degree in journalism from the University of Maine, Orono that she promptly abandoned to write about the people in her own head. More often than not, these people turn out to be just as weird as she is.
Her New Adult Contemporary Romance titles include My Favorite Mistake, which has been bought by Harlequin along with a sequel, Deeper We Fall and Faster We Burn (April 20, 2013)
Her Young Adult books include Nocturnal, Nightmare and Neither, the first three books in The Noctalis Chronicles. The fourth and final book, Neverend will be out in 2013. Whisper, the first in The Whisper Trilogy is also available, with the second book in the series, Silence and the final book, LIsten coming out in 2014.
Find Chelsea Online:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Author: Victoria H. Smith
Publisher: (June 26th, 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+
SYNOPSIS: He’s noticed by everyone…
Griffin Chandler.
He’s captain of our college’s basketball team. I swear to God I’ve already seen him in a Nike ad, and he’s one of the top picks when he goes pro following our spring graduation.
His life is on display for the world. Both his accomplishments and demons there for judgment.
I’m a girl who likes to play roller derby from, of all places, Wisconsin. My own demons better concealed. And one day…
He notices me.
Found by You is a new adult contemporary romance.
Book Trailer:
Author Bio:
Victoria H. Smith has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. She puts it to good use writing romance all day. She resides in the Midwest with her Macbook on her lap and a cornfield to her right. She often draws inspiration for her stories from her own life experiences, and the twenty-something characters she writes give her an earful about it.
In her free time, she enjoys extreme couponing, blogging, reading, and sending off a few tweets on Twitter when she can. She writes new adult fiction romance in the sub-genres of science fiction, urban fantasy, and contemporary, but really, anywhere her pen takes her she goes. She’s also co-founder of NA Alley, a group fiction blog dedicated toward the spread of the ‘new adult’ fiction category.
Stay connected with
Victoria:
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | NA Alley Blog | NA Alley Twitter
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25 June 2014
YAY for the covers for Alyssa Rose Ivy's The Dire Wolves Chronicles: DIRE, DUSK, & DAWN!! The Dire Wolves Chronicles is a brand new New Adult paranormal romance series that you will want to add to your TBR pile ASAP! The Order of the books is: Dire, Dusk, Dawn,with DIRE publishing September 2014!!
The covers are designed by Cover It Designs with photographs courtesy of CJC Photography.
NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+
About DIRE: Dire: The Dire Wolves Chronicles Gage was the first guy I ever wanted. He was my first crush and my first fantasy, but he wasn't my first in any other way because he never saw me as anything more than a friend— at least not until the night that changed everything.
It was all Gage's fault. He insisted we drive through the storm and take the back roads. By the time the storm hit full force we had no chance. One night of snowbound sex changed our relationship forever. The problem was at the same time I caught another guy’s attention. This other guy happens to be the alpha of a pack of shifter wolves.
Be sure to look for the next books in the series DUSK & DAWN:
Alyssa Rose Ivy Bio:
Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.
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"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: Blackbird (Blackbird Duology #1)
Author: Anna Carey
Publisher: HarperTeen, 256 Pages (September 16th, 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK
Another thriller! I can't get enough of books that are filled with twists and turns to confuse and make your heart race! Looking forward to reading Blackbird soon.
*covers are always subject to change.
Title: Blackbird (Blackbird Duology #1)
Author: Anna Carey
Publisher: HarperTeen, 256 Pages (September 16th, 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK
Synopsis: This twisty, breathless cat-and-mouse thrill ride, told in the second person, follows a girl with amnesia in present-day Los Angeles who is being pursued by mysterious and terrifying assailants.
A girl wakes up on the train tracks, a subway car barreling down on her. With only minutes to react, she hunches down and the train speeds over her. She doesn’t remember her name, where she is, or how she got there. She has a tattoo on the inside of her right wrist of a blackbird inside a box, letters and numbers printed just below: FNV02198. There is only one thing she knows for sure: people are trying to kill her.
On the run for her life, she tries to untangle who she is and what happened to the girl she used to be. Nothing and no one are what they appear to be. But the truth is more disturbing than she ever imagined.
The Maze Runner series meets Code Name Verity, Blackbird is relentless and action-packed, filled with surprising twists.
Another thriller! I can't get enough of books that are filled with twists and turns to confuse and make your heart race! Looking forward to reading Blackbird soon.
*covers are always subject to change.
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Posted at 12:00 AM
24 June 2014
Title: Breaking Away (Assassins #5)
Book 5 in the ASSASSINS SERIES.
Author: Toni Aleo
Publisher: 312 Pages (June 9th, 2014)
Publisher: 312 Pages (June 9th, 2014)
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Add to: Goodreads
NOTE: This is a Adult novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+
Synopsis: BREAKING AWAY is a story of loss, healing, and love… where unexpected turns and heartache lead to passion.
To Nashville Assassins’ leading scoring center Phillip Anderson, playing hockey has always been easy… as natural as breathing. His life is no different. That’s until his world is turned upside down by the death of his sister. While mourning his loss, Phillip has to find a way to make his very angry sixteen-year-old niece, Claire, happy. Now, as her guardian, he discovers the only thing that seems to heal her lonely heart is dance class. But what he didn’t count on was the attraction he’d feel towards her drop-dead sexy dance teacher.
For Reese Allen, dancing has always been part of her soul. After having her heart broken in New York, she comes home with the determination to make her dance studio one of the best in Tennessee and succeeds. When she sees Claire dance for the first time, she knows the girl is bound for greatness and takes the troubled teen under her wing. Using dance as therapy, she suddenly finds herself bound to the young woman… and her hot-as-sin uncle.
However, Phillip and Reese are happy in their single lives. It’s simple. They do what they want, who they want, and how they want, but from the moment they meet, the attraction is undeniable. Soon, they are more than willing to spend just one night tangled in the sheets. But, one night turns into two, and two turns into three, until they find themselves in a repeated dance of “One Last Time” that has the potential to be something more… if only Reese and Claire allow it.
Can Phillip find a way to thaw the hearts of both the women in his life, or will he be forever trying to break them away from their pasts?
Review: 4.5 Stars - Breaking Away by author Toni Aleo is the fifth book in her Assassins series. Each book focuses on various team mates of her fictional NHL hockey team out of Nashville Tennessee. Athletes, love, angst and steam… Toni brings it all in her latest Assassins title.
Throughout reading this series we’ve met some pretty amazing leading men. All are unique alpha males with a possessive streak inside them that’s just waiting for the right woman to come along. In this installment we spend some quality time with the leading scoring and center Phillip. He’s… wow. I guess I’ll just come right out and say that I think he’s my favorite Assassin so far. Oh who am I kidding? I think I say this after each book! I mean each of the previous featured players has a spot in my heart. I love pieces of each of them, yet there’s no question that Phillip has… something you just can’t forget. His strong presence you won’t forget anytime soon. He’s caring and holy cow is he hot and add in dancer Reece and the sparks quickly blaze info an inferno.
Reece has without a doubt met her match when it comes to Phillip. They are two of the same, just out for a good time, not to be tied down and setting their own rules. Yet something changes and these two find themselves making small changes for another “taste” of the other. Reece is talented and stubborn beyond any character I’ve EVER met. You can’t help but want to shake her and ask what the heck she’s doing to herself, her family and Phillip.
Toni without a doubt knows how to write the steam. She’s proven that time and time again throughout this series and yet there’s something magical between Phillip and Reece that makes their relationship and intimate moments stand out.
And then with Phillip comes his troubled teenage niece that he’s taken in and her tragic past that we learn a bit about. Phillip has his own scars he’s dealing with because of his niece Claire and the two have more than their fare share of ups and downs to contend with. Claire adds many layers to an already layer filled story and Phillip wouldn't be the character he is without his niece.
One thing you can always count on with this series is there are deeper issues and problems that the characters must overcome but there are also lighter moments to give readers a good balance.
Something new readers should keep in mind – with each book about a different hockey player and love interest each title can be read as standalones. However the stories are intertwined so without reading them in order there might be a bit confusion or gaps in the story. So I suggest reading them in order.. and really you don’t want to miss out on each of these guys.
In the end, I loved it! I have a huge soft spot for Phillip, Reece and Claire and I’m thrilled that Toni has started a spin off “New Adult” series which the first book features Claire, so keep an eye out for that title – Boarded By Love – to be released just around the corner. Do I recommend this series? HECK YES! I mean hot hockey players? Yes please! Note that these are adult titles due to language and content and not suitable for readers under the age of eighteen. And now it’s time for you to go and start reading the Assassins series today! Enjoy!
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Posted at 12:30 AM
23 June 2014
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 Into the Still Blue By: Veronica Rossi 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 |
Author: Holly Black
Publisher: US - Margaret K. McElderry Books , 325 Pages, (April 5th 2011), UK - Gollancz , 272 Pages, (June 14th 2011)
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: The cons get craftier and the stakes rise ever higher in the riveting sequel to White Cat—now in paperback!
After rescuing his brothers from Zacharov’s retribution, Cassel is trying to reestablish some kind of normalcy in his life.
That was never going to be easy for someone from a worker family that’s tied to one of the big crime families—and whose mother’s cons get more reckless by the day. But Cassel is coming to terms with what it means to be a worker, and he’s figuring out how to have friends.
Except normal doesn’t last very long. Soon Cassel is being courted by both sides of the law and is forced to confront his past—a past he remembers only in scattered fragments, and one that could destroy his family and his future. Cassel will have to decide whose side he wants to be on, because neutrality is not an option. And then he will have to pull off his biggest con ever to survive….
About Holly:
Holly Black is a best-selling author of contemporary fantasy novels for kids, teens, and adults. Tithe, Valiant, and Ironside), The Spiderwick Chronicles (with Tony DiTerlizzi), and The Good Neighbors graphic novels (with Ted Naifeh) The Poison Eaters and Other Stories, a collection of short fiction, and The Curse Worker series (White Cat, Red Glove, and Black Heart). She is also the co-editor of three anthologies, Geektastic (with Cecil Castellucci), Zombies vs. Unicorns (with Justine Larbalestier), and Welcome to Bordertown (with Ellen Kushner). Her most recent works are the middle grade novel, Doll Bones, and the dark fantasy stand-alone, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown. She is the author of the Modern Faerie Tale series ( She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, Theo, in a house with a secret library.
Find Holly Online: Website | Journal | 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 we have the original US cover and the creep-tastic UK cover. Since this is a series I haven't read yet (don't yell!) BUT I have them this one (this US cover) on my shelves I'm inclined to give my vote this week to the US cover. The UK cover seriously creeps me out and I'm not sure which one fits better, but I like that the US one is mysterious and the gloved hand is somewhat chilling.
So, US wins for me this week. Which cover is the winner in YOUR eyes? Cast your vote below!
So, US wins for me this week. Which cover is the winner in YOUR eyes? Cast your vote below!
Michelle
Once again I have to go the with the UK cover for Red Glove.
The USA version looks creepy, but in a wrong way. The red glove just doesn't look right on the models shoulder. The UK one has the great wrinkled effect on the cover and the red glove really stands out from the background.
UK wins for me thins week.
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21 June 2014
Title: To Have and to Harm (Remedy Series, #2)
Author: Debra Doxer
Release Day: 340 Pages (June, 10th, 2014)
Genre: Paranormal Romance Age Group: New Adult
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK
Check out my review of: Keep You From Harm (Remedy Series, #1)
NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+
Synopsis: She kept everyone from harm, except herself…
Raielle’s life was shrouded in secrets. Her power was a secret and so was her past. When she came to Fort Upton, everything changed. She discovered her family, and she found the boy who would own her heart forever. But it couldn’t last. Knowing so little about her power nearly destroyed her. She had to leave and break both their hearts.
Now she’s back in California, and she doesn’t have to hide who she is anymore. But there is no relief in that because she’s drowning in regret. She knew it would take a miracle or a sin to save her, and there was no miracle. Her survival came at too high a price. She found her father, but she can’t go back to Lucas until she finds redemption.
She saved him. Then she left him…
She came out of nowhere and changed him forever, then she disappeared and left him reeling. Her whole life, she never had anyone who really loved her. Until him. Did she think he wouldn’t come for her? Did she believe she wasn’t worth it?
Lucas leaves everything behind to follow Raielle. When he finds her, she’s a pale shadow of the girl he remembers. Her power is betraying her and so are the people around her, but one thing hasn’t changed. She selflessly wants to save the world, and he just wants to save her.
With more secrets to uncover and dark truths to face, Raielle and Lucas must make sacrifices to be together again. But in the end, will those sacrifices bring them closer together or tear them apart? When he’s forced to make the ultimate sacrifice, will she turn her back on everything she believes in to save him again?
~ This book is intended for mature readers due to sexual situations and strong language. ~
Review: 4 Stars - To Have and to Harm is the second title in author Debra Doxer’s Remedy series. Filled with a unique story and cast of characters, Doxer has created an extremely enjoyable and highly memorable world that readers will eat up and beg for more.
When I read Keep You From Harm, the first book in this series I was pleasantly surprised with the story and the characters. I wasn’t expecting things to take a on a paranormal aspect that Doxer weaves extremely well into her otherwise contemporary world.
At the end of the first book I was left more than stunned at the turn of events and the choices that were made. Raielle, the main character has done something which has left her with some pretty devastating consequences. Not to worry, no spoilers here! So, with the shocking turn of events she feels she has no choice and takes a leap of faith which in turn hurts someone she loves pretty badly in the process in the hopes she’ll come out of the situation she’s found herself in whole again.
So, Raielle ends up with a long lost family member who she hopes will fix the problem she’s facing and she spirals pretty badly into a dark place. Not to say I blame her for the things she’s dealing with and it’s here at this point that readers get a chance to see just how well this book is written. Doxer takes her characters from one extreme to another in this well written tale of consequences, greed, love and so much more.
One of the main things that I was extremely happy about was the way I assumed the story was going to go and was kind of dreading it really….well, it didn’t. I was more than happy that there were resolutions that were sprinkled throughout the story, some I needed sooner than others and Doxer didn’t disappoint!
And then there’s Lucas and his strength and his huge heart that you can’t help but feel warmed by while reading. He’s there for Ray 100%. He might not like her choices and expresses his views freely but he’s not about to let her go through anything on her own. While Ray fights her inner demons and the fact that Lucas has given up so much she fights to make sure that things aren’t always about her. She’s willing to give up everything including herself to save the person she loves most in the world. In some ways I found her to be a bit frustrating with how willing she is to give up everything for other people but with her ability you almost can’t blame her. It’s how she was made.
There’s angst, romance and steam in this one. There was also an almost love triangle that thankfully never happened because if I’m honest I was dreading the hints that appeared and it was a worry for me. Triangles usually don’t bother me but if you’ve read these two characters – Ray and Lucas – you know that adding in a new element to their story would have been… well not so good.
It’s really well written and I loved this one as much as the first. I was thrilled to be immersed back into Doxers Remedy world and happy to have a chance to spend some time with her characters again.
I’m excited to see what Doxer writes next and eager to see what characters she’ll share with her readers in the future. I highly recommend this title to all “New Adult” fans and anyone who likes a great paranormal twist, than this is without a doubt a must read. Enjoy!
About the Author:
Debra Doxer was born in Boston, and other than a few lost years in the California sunshine, she has always resided in the Boston area. She writes fiction, technical software documents, illegible scribbles on sticky notes, and texts that get mangled by AutoCorrect. She writes for a living, and she writes for fun. When her daughter asks when she’ll run out of words, her response always is, “When I run out of time.”
Find Debra Online:
Blog | Twitter
GIVEAWAY!!!
Debra is give away a signed set of her Remedy Series! Enter here:
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20 June 2014
Title: Fan Art
Author: Sarah Tregay
Publisher: HarperTeen, June 17th, 2014
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK, Kobo
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK, Kobo
Synopsis: When the picture tells the story…
Senior year is almost over, and Jamie Peterson has a big problem. Not college—that’s all set. Not prom—he’ll find a date somehow. No, it’s the worst problem of all: he’s fallen for his best friend.
As much as Jamie tries to keep it under wraps, everyone seems to know where his affections lie, and the giggling girls in art class are determined to help Jamie get together with Mason. But Jamie isn’t sure if that’s what he wants—because as much as Jamie would like to come clean to Mason, what if the truth ruins everything? What if there are no more road trips, taco dinners, or movie nights? Does he dare risk a childhood friendship for romance?
This book is about what happens when a picture reveals what we can’t say, when art is truer than life, and how falling in love is easy, except when it’s not. Fan Art explores the joys and pains of friendship, of pressing boundaries, and how facing our worst fears can sometimes lead us to what we want most.
Excerpt:
In art, Ms. Maude has the lights off and the projector on, and we’re flying through art history at breakneck speed. We started the semester with the cave paintings in Lascaux and, with three weeks of classes to go, we are up to Marcel Duchamp and his urinal. Ms. Maude is certain we’ll get up to present-day art by the end of the term, but the class has a bet going—most of the girls say she will and the guys say she won’t.
I write $1 in my notebook and slide it across the table to Eden.
In my pocket, she writes back.
I’m about to write No way when Ms. Maude leaps ahead half a decade and sums up Dadaism in one sentence. No fair. She segues to the Bauhaus, and I know I should be listening. Those Bauhaus dudes are the founding fathers of graphic design.
But I’m not listening. You going to prom? I write. Again I slide my notebook to Eden.
She looks at me, an are-you-crazy? expression on her face.
I gesture at the note.
She writes something. Slides the notebook back. No.
Why not? I scribble.
She doesn’t wait for me to pass the notebook; she just reaches over and writes. No date.
Be mine.
She looks at me again then writes: I thought you were gay.
I freeze. How the hell does she know?
Eden takes the paper back before I write anything. And you want to go to prom with me?
Yes.
Not possible, she scribbles.
Why not?
Ms. Maude glances our way, and Eden pretends she’s taking notes on the lecture. When she slides my notebook back, it reads: You’re out of my league. Not to mention the wrong gender.
The wrong gender? I try not to look surprised and I ignore that part. What league?
The popular one.
I’m not popular. I’m in band.
Eden sighs as if I’m clueless, and she pushes my notebook back at me without an answer.
Please, I write. I didn’t know dating involved so much persuasion.
Why?
Because you’re cool. I offer her the notebook.
She reads my note and shakes her head.
I try again. Because I want to get to know you better.
She fake gags on her finger.
Because I’ll have a good time if you’re there.
Eden smiles.
And I have a prom date.
About the Author:
Raised without television, Sarah Tregay started writing her own middle grade novels after she had read all of the ones in the library. She later discovered YA books, but never did make it to the adult section. When she's not jotting down poems at stoplights, she can be found hanging out with her "little sister" from Big Brothers Big Sisters. Sarah lives in Eagle, Idaho with her husband, two Boston Terriers, and an appaloosa named Mr. Pots. Her next book, Fan Art, will be released in June.
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