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

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

Synopsis: Nothing ignites a fire like the perfect match…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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: Friction
Author: Sawyer Bennett
Publisher: Montlake Romance (October 27th, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

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

Synopsis: At the powerhouse law firm of Knight & Payne, winning comes first and ethics a distant second. Leary Michaels uses her female charms to daze opponents, and it’s always worked well—until now. On her most personal case yet, she finds herself going up against a defense attorney just as skilled, shameless, and seductive as she is.

Reeve Holloway has never met a woman as sure of her own sexuality, or as ruthless in wielding it, as Leary is. But he won’t be toyed with. What Leary starts, he’ll finish—in the courtroom, the bedroom, or any-damn-place he wants. The sex is uninhibited, electrifying, and absolutely against the rules. Reeve’s job is to ruin Leary’s case…even if it destroys her in the process and costs him the woman he’s come to love.

Title: Baking and Babies (Chocoholics #3)
Author: Tara Sivec
Publisher: (October 30th, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

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

Synopsis: "I’m pregnant."

Molly Gilmore had a good life before she uttered those two stupid words. While preparing to graduate from culinary school and building up the courage to make a move on her hot, sugar-cookie-smelling pastry instructor Marco, she can't wait to finally have the GREAT life she’s always dreamed about, instead of just the good one she’s been living.

Always known as the quiet ninja, she fully intends to stay hidden in the shadows with her nut-job family, so they have no chance to embarrass her around the man she's crushed on for two years. Unfortunately, her family has other plans. When they yank her straight out of her comfort zone, she finds herself starring in the craziest train wreck she's ever witnessed.

Molly ultimately gets a more exciting life that doesn't revolve around school, but she's pretty sure the man of her dreams won't be sticking around long after her family gets ahold of him. There aren't too many guys who can handle smelling like pee, having the whole world know how he masturbates, and being forced to eat an entire bag of dicks.

Join the Chocolate Lovers and Chocoholics gang for one final story about love, baked goods, making poor life choices, and remembering how important family is—even if they drive you insane. Mostly because it's illegal to kill them.

Title: Paint My Body Red
Author: Heidi R. Kling
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC, (November 2nd, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Amazon UK

Synopsis: They think I'll be number seven. Unlucky number seven.

Dead teenager number seven. With the rash of suicides at my school, I've been shipped off to my dad's Wyoming ranch for “my own safety.” My mom worries I'll be next—another depressed teenager whose blood will end up on the train tracks. But she doesn't know my secrets...or what I did.

Everything has changed at the ranch since I was there last. The staff is gone, and there aren’t any visitors. The place is struggling, and ALS is destroying my dad. The one bright spot in this mess is his new—and only—ranch hand, Jake. He’s gorgeous, cheerful, healthy and sane. Shadows don't haunt his eyes and eat away at him in the night.

But the ranch and Jake can't save me from the darkness inside, or the knowledge of what I've done. This time, it's up to me to save myself...

*covers are always subject to change.

Title: Eyes Turned Skyward
Author: Rebecca Yarros
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC - Embrace, 342 Pages (December 8th, 2014)
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: Since her sister's death, twenty-year-old Paisley Donovan, who shares her sister’s heart condition, is treated like delicate glass by her parents. But nothing will stop her from completing her Bucket List—even if it kills her. And it almost does, until Jagger Bateman pulls her from the ocean and breathes more than air into her lungs—he sets her soul on fire.

Jagger is enrolled in the country's toughest flight school. He's wickedly hot, reckless, and perfect for a girl looking to live life to the fullest. Except that Paisley is the commanding general's daughter, and her boyfriend is Jagger's biggest rival. Now Paisley must decide just how much to risk for a guy who makes her heart pound a little too hard.

They're flying through dangerous territory—and one wrong move could make them crash and burn..

Review: 4.5 Stars – Eyes Turned Skyward is a wonderful contemporary title with two main characters filled with layers that readers will have a chance to watch peel away before their eyes as they learn about each other and themselves from an author that’s quickly become a favorite.

Paisley is a college student who wants to do nothing but live her life to the fullest. She has a heart condition that robbed her older sister from her and her family at a young age so Paisley wants to live her life to the fullest and to not take a day for granted. She has over baring parents and choices to make for her health that differ from that of what her parents want. She has a boyfriend who she’s known just about her whole life and is as protective of her as her parents are… and for good reason too.

And then we have Jagger, who’s extremely cocky and takes flight school extremely serious. He has a reckless past yet knows he has to move past that to make sure he’s able to stay on track to make his dream of flying an Apache come true. So when a chance encounter puts him into Paisley’s life things are about to change for both of these characters.

The thing about the books from Yarro’s is that her writing is just so easy to read and makes the story come alive before your eyes. She takes her characters on a rollercoaster ride filled with emotions that then transfer to the reader to make sure everyone is left feeling as they’re a part of something more. Maybe it’s the fact that her characters are always going through something so much bigger than themselves, or maybe it’s to do with the growth her characters, or it’s the combo of it all, but Yarros has a great receipt for the full package.

I loved the struggles Paisley and Jagger faced and the twists that I didn’t see coming that added so much more to the story. It gave me some pretty big “ah ha” moments at the reveals that I couldn’t help but understand these two more.

And let’s not forget the crazy, hot magnetic pull these two characters have! Yarro’s knows how to build the heat… wow!

This was without a doubt another title that has me yet again hooked on this author and her characters. I can’t wait to read more from her on into the future. She’s an author and voice that shouldn’t be passed by. I highly recommend this title and her first book – Full Measures. And now… Yarro’s, I’m ready for the next book so get your fingers dancing over those keys! Enjoy!

Title: Rebecca Yarros
Author: Full Measures
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, 301 Pages (February 10th, 2014)
From: Purchased from Amazon
Format: eBook
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: 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: She knew. That’s why Mom hadn’t opened the door. She knew he was dead.

Twenty years as an army brat and Ember Howard knew, too. The soldiers at the door meant her dad was never coming home. What she didn’t know was how she would find the strength to singlehandedly care for her crumbling family when her mom falls apart.

Then Josh Walker enters her life. Hockey star, her new next-door neighbor, and not to mention the most delicious hands that insist on saving her over and over again. He has a way of erasing the pain with a single look, a single touch. As much as she wants to turn off her feelings and endure the heartache on her own, she can’t deny their intense attraction.

Until Josh’s secret shatters their world. And Ember must decide if he’s worth the risk that comes with loving a man who could strip her bare.

FULL MEASURES is on SALE for .99Cents for a LIMITED TIME!!! Grab it on SALE while you can!

Review: 4.5 Stars - Full Measures by debut author Rebecca Yarros was everything I was looking for and then some. It’s a wonderfully written “New Adult” contemporary title that’ll take readers throughout the life of December as she deals with the death of a family member. She’s takes strength to a whole new level within her roll of daughter, sister and college student.

This title is overflowing with angst and so many deep and heartbreaking emotions as December takes on more than her fair share of things when it comes to her family and her romantic relationship. Tough choices to help take care of her family have to be made and she makes them without much thought. She’s a great character yet takes some things beyond what she should and at times it kind of drove me nuts. As a reader I understand why she was confused after certain events took place, also why she was somewhat stand-offish and why she fought with some her decisions but some of those reasons also drove me nuts. I can only take so much before I get frustrated and am more than ready for a character to see the light so to speak.

Josh… I loved this guy. He’s a good guy with an underlying bad boy past. He has his own scars and I think my heart melted each and every time he was on the page. I couldn’t get enough of him and the more I learned about his past, his connection to Decembers family and all the little things he did to help her and her family, I couldn’t help for swoon. He’s smart, strong, courageous, kind, sweet, a hockey player and so much more!

The relationship between December and Josh ebbs and flows with its own set of hills and valleys. I was pulling for them the whole time and there might have been some tears at a couple of scenes, one with December’s brother Gus and Josh just crushed me.

The backdrop of a military family and history was such a driving force for all the characters’ and the way that Yarro’s portrayed life in the service was done amazingly well. I appreciated this part of the story and enjoyed what this aspect brought to these characters, their lives and choices.

In the end I loved the book. I loved the characters and I was sad to find myself at the end of the story. Josh and December are extremely memorable characters that I wouldn’t mind reading more about their journey in the future. If Yarro’s were to write it, I’d read it. Heck, I’m looking forward to checking out more from this author in the future no matter what she writes. I highly recommend this title to fans of contemporary romance and those who like “New Adult” or stories involving military life, then you’ve come to the right book. Happy Reading!

About the Author:

Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and lover of all things chocolate, coffee, and Paleo. In addition to being a mom, military wife, and blogger, she can never choose between Young Adult and New Adult fiction, so she writes both. She's a graduate of Troy University, where she studied European history and English, but still holds out hope for an acceptance letter to Hogwarts. Her blog, The Only Girl Among Boys, has been voted the Top Military Mom Blog the last two years, and celebrates the complex issues surrounding the military life she adores.

 When she's not writing, she's tying on hockey skates for her kids, or sneaking in some guitar time. She is madly in love with her army-aviator husband of eleven years, and they're currently stationed in Upstate NY with their gaggle of rambunctious kiddos and snoring English Bulldog, but she would always rather be home in Colorado.

Find Rebecca Online:

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY!!!

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Today I'm super excited to be able to reveal the cover for Lisa Burstein’s upcoming release SNEAKING CANDY!! This New Adult romance will have you ready and willing to sign up for grad school. You can read more about this hot, new book after checking out the awesome cover!

SNEAKING CANDY releases December 9th! 

Title: Sneaking Candy
Author: Lisa Burstein
Publisher: Entangled Publishing (December 9th 2013)
Add on: Goodreads

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

Synopsis: All I ever wanted was to make a name for myself as Candice Salinas, creative writing grad student at the University of Miami. Of course, secretly I already have made a name for myself: as Candy Sloane, self-published erotic romance writer. Though thrilled that my books are selling and I have actual fans, if anyone at UM found out, I could lose my scholarship…and the respect of my faculty advisor, grade-A-asshole Professor Dylan.

Enter James Walker, super-hot local barista and—surprise!—my student. Even though I know a relationship is totally off-limits, I can’t stop myself from sneaking around with James, taking a few cues from my own erotic writing…if you catch my drift. Candy’s showing her stripes for the first time in my real life, and I’ve never had so much fun. But when the sugar high fades, can my secrets stay under wraps?

Oh YAY! Love the cover and I can't wait for this one!!! Sounds right up my alley!

Can't wait,.. eeek! 

About the Author:

Lisa Burstein is a tea seller by day and a writer by night. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from the Inland Northwest Center for Writers at Eastern Washington University. She is the author of the YA Novels: Pretty Amy and Dear Cassie and the NA Novella: The Next Forever. Sneaking Candy is her first full-length new adult novel.

Find Lisa Online:

Website | Blog Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Title: Date By Mistake (an Indulgence Anthology)
Author: Candace Havens, Gwen Hayes, Jill Monroe, Rosemary Clement-Moore, Shannon Leigh
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Entangled: Indulgence, 277 Pages (March 11th, 2013)

Add to: Goodreads
Order Online: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBookstore, Kobo

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

Synopsis: You never know what you’ll get when …

Mr. Virile and the Girl Next Door by Gwen Hayes

Seduction is the name of the game when two rival dating advice darlings agree to be romantically linked to boost publicity. But all bets are off when they take the battle of the sexes from the web to the bed!

Tycoon Reunion by Candace Havens and Shannon Leigh

Sparks fly when a project brings a heartbreaker back to town and into the path of the woman he left behind. He’s determined to win her over in the boardroom … and the bedroom!

Passionate Persuasion by Rosemary Clement-Moore

A hot playboy who has left a string of hearts in his wake can’t forget the cellist who haunted his fantasies. Now it is his turn to use his power of persuasion to prove he’s the only man to keep her satisfied.

Date on the Run by Jill Monroe

When an reporter mistakes a hard-bodied military man for a crime source, she soon finds it’s just as much fun undressing her new bodyguard as it is uncovering her latest case…Four stories, four dates. How can these dates by mistake turn into love ever after?

Find the authors online:

Candace Havens

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook

Shannon Leigh

Website |  Goodreads 

Gwen Hayes

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook

Jill Monroe

Website |  Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook

Rosemary Clement-Moore

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook

GIVEAWAY!!!

Enter to win an eBook copy of Date By Mistake!

• ONE winner will recieve an eBook copy of the above title

Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter this giveaway.
Name & Email Address must be provided. (Easy Entry, just click the form & it does it for you!)
You must be at least 17 years old to enter.
This giveaway is open: INTERNATIONAL!
Giveaway ends: April 25th, 2013 (12:00AM EST)

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Thanks to Entangled for donating the eBook for this giveaway. Good luck to all who enter. If you have any questions, please feel free to email.

Title: Hellsbane (Hellsbane, #1)
Author: Paige Cuccaro
Publisher: Entangled Select, 352 Pages (November 20th, 2012)

Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: Twenty-three-year-old Emma Jane Hellsbane just found out she’s not human—or, at least, not only human. She’s half angel, too, and now Heaven’s got a job for her: round up all the Fallen angels and their red-skinned, horned devil-demon minions and boot their butts back into the abyss. Only problem? The demons and their Fallen masters fight back…and they don’t fight fair.

Luckily for Emma, she can put a stop to the constant threat of having her head hacked off if she figures out which Fallen angel is her father—and then kill him before he kills her. Of course, in the meantime, she’ll have to avoid accidentally seducing her angelic mentor, help an old friend conquer his own Fallen sperm donor, and basically save the world from a cataclysmic divine smack down.

No one said being Heaven’s bounty hunter would be easy. But with a name like Hellsbane, Emma Jane was born for the job.

CHAPTER ONE (part 4)

“It’s just Emma now, and we were never really friends. What’s with the sword?” Years of dirty limericks incorporating Emma Jane Hellsbane had long ago made me drop the middle name.

            He glanced at me as he walked into the waiting room. “Sorry. I had a lot of issues in high school.”

            Who didn’t?

            He smiled, but it was just a smile, not the heart-melting one he’d always used. This was his natural smile, warm and easy. It lit his eyes and just barely dimpled his cheeks. He was all the more attractive for it.

            “Forget it,” I said. It was ancient history. “What about the sword?”

            His free hand holding his side, Tommy grimaced as he eased himself onto one of my gram’s old Victorian sofas, using his sword—hand on the hilt, point stabbing my floor—to steady himself. He settled back, sighing, and propped the long weapon against the front of the couch. Something thick and black edged the blade and covered the lower half to the tip. When he finally pulled his hand from his side, it was covered in blood and more of the black goo.

            “Ohmygod, what happened?” I rushed over to him. I couldn’t believe I’d been so caught up in the surprise of seeing him, in my own girly brain-freeze, that I hadn’t even noticed the blood on his T-shirt and jeans.

            “I, uh, had an accident.” He laughed, clearly weak. “Mom always told me not to play with knives.”

            But when I knelt beside him and lifted his torn shirt, I doubted any sort of knife would do that kind of damage. “You look like you’ve been clawed.”

            “Yeah?” he said, tipping his head, trying to see the wound better. “Weird. Hey, you wouldn’t happen to have any holy water lying around, would you?”

            “What?”

            “Right. Dumb question. Peroxide, then?”

            I looked closer. Three long, jagged wounds tore through skin and muscle and wrapped from his belly to his back. Like something big had tried to grab him and he’d slipped away. There wasn’t as much blood as I would have expected. It’d already begun to clot, but the black goo was bubbling along the edges and there were meaty parts bulging out.

            “God, Tommy, these are deep. You need stitches. We have to get you to a hospital.” I pushed to my feet—I had some peroxide in the kitchen. I’m not real graceful with knives myself, so I’d learned it was best to keep the stuff handy.

            He let his shirt fall back over the wounds, hissing when the cloth brushed his body. “No hospital. It’s not that bad. Trust me, I heal fast.”

            “Whatever. Just sit still.” I ran to the kitchen, grabbed the brand new bottle of peroxide, a bowl, and some gauze, and came back as fast as I could.

            “Those aren’t cat scratches, Tommy,” I said, snagging a pair of scissors from Gram’s china cabinet. “You might need surgery. At the very least, you should be worried about infection. What’s that black stuff?”

            “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

            “Try me.”

            “It’s...it’s brimstone.”

            “Brimstone? Brimstone’s black and gooey?” I dumped the medical supplies on the coffee table and sat beside him on the couch, reaching for the sword to move it out of the way.

            Tommy lunged, moving so fast he’d grabbed it before I could blink. “Don’t touch that.”

            “Okay, sheesh.”

            He laid the sword, still dripping goo, across the coffee table I’d personally refinished. But I gritted my teeth and kept my mouth shut. He was a guest and he was oozing guts, or something, so I could let it slide.

            “It’s not just brimstone,” he said. “But that’s what’s making it bubble and burn.” 

About the author:

Writing was never a foregone conclusion for me. I once had dreams of being a psychologist, a pediatrician, a school teacher, a photojournalist, a bartender, and/or an EMT. And then I met my husband and my world came into focus. Being wife and mother are my highest priorities and greatest joy. But escaping to the fanciful, sexy worlds twirling through my mind is an absolute necessity. Putting those worlds, and the cornucopia of characters that people them, on paper is just plain fun.

Paige lives in Ohio, with her husband, three daughters, three dogs, three cats, a parakeet and a bearded dragon named Rexy, in an ever shrinking house. When she’s not writing she can be found doing the mom thing with a book in one hand and a notepad and pen in the other. Ideas come without warning and the best way to stimulate your imagination is to enjoy the imagination of someone else.

Find Paige Online:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Order Hellsbane Online:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

For a limited time order the Hellsbane Prequel - COMMENCEMENT online for your Kindle or Nook for FREE!!!

Title: Commencement
Author: Paige Cuccaro
Publisher: Entangled Flirt, 352 Pages (September 27th, 2012)

Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis: Hell hath no fury like a woman’s scorn for frat guys…

Emma Jane Hellsbane knows something evil is worming its way through her college campus—she can feel it. Literally. Her freakish ability to feel other people’s emotions as though they were her own has always been monumentally awkward, and it’s easier for her to just pretend it doesn’t exist. But this time her paranormal ability just might help her save lives.

Emma Jane’s fairly certain that whatever the hateful, egomaniacal, Godlike thing is, it’s set up shop inside her boyfriend, the frat boy/soccer star Justin. And if she doesn’t figure a way to get it out of him soon, Justin’s soul will be the appetizer to the main course—the whole student body. Problem is, the big baddy is granting sinister wishes, and with each one the risks grow higher and the phrase Be careful what you wish for becomes a real-life dire warning. Of course for Emma, what feels like it could be the end is in fact just the beginning…

Order Commencement Today!

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GIVEAWAY TIME!!! TWO GIVEAWAYS & TWO RAFFLECOPTER FORMS!!!

• So there are a total of 5 prizes for this one!!

• Nook Giveaway - 1 nook color
• 3 signed paperbacks
• 2 $25 amazon gift cards 

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SECOND GIVEAWAY!!

Enter to win an eBook copy of Hellsbane!!!

• ONE winner will receive an eBook copy of this title.

Rules & How to enter:

You MUST be at least 13 years old.
Please fill out the easy form to enter. Name & Email address is a free entry, just click to enter!
This giveaway is open INTERNATIONAL!
Giveaway ends: December 13th, 2012

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Make sure you check out all the tour stops to find the other scavenger hunt words!

11/19 Fiktshun’s Annex     Chapter 1 part 1 http://www.fiktshuns-ramblings.com/ 

11/20 Shortie Says     Q&A http://www.shortie-says.com/ 

11/21 A Diary of A Book Addict    Chapter 1 part 2 http://adiaryofabookaddict.blogspot.com/ 

11/23 Winterhaven Books    Guest Post http://winterhavenbooks.blogspot.com/ 

11/24 What The Cat Read    Chapter 1 part 3 http://whatthecatread.wordpress.com/ 

11/26 Kindle and Me    Guest Post http://www.kindleandme.com/ 

11/27 A Life Bound By Books    Chapter 1 part 4 http://alifeboundbybooks.blogspot.com/ 

11/28 K-Books    Guest Post http://k-booksxo.blogspot.com/ 

11/29 My Shelf Confessions    Chapter 1 part 5 http://www.myshelfconfessions.com/ 

12/1 All Things Urban Fantasy    Chapter 1 part 6 http://allthingsuf.com/ 

Check out the BRAND NEW COVER!

Title: Ashes and Wine
Author:Taryn Elliott
Publisher: Entangled Publishing (Ever After), 190 Pages (June 28th, 2012)
Add to: Goodreads

NOTE: This is an adult title intended for readers 18 years and older.

Synopsis: Before Tessa met Royal Andreas, her bookstore was on the verge of sinking. And before Tessa met Royal Andreas, she didn't mind being single. But Royal brings in business with monthly wine tastings featuring his family's signature vintages--and brings Tessa's heart to a standstill with intense gray eyes that look on her with nothing but cool indifference.

Yet one searing kiss between the stacks gives Tessa a glimpse of the passion smoldering beneath--and a secret pain further revealed when Royal fills in as the musician at a tasting event. Every note of Spanish guitar tells a story of family tragedy, loss, and ongoing suffering that's made Royal afraid to lean on anyone...even if he needs Tessa's sweet flavor more than the richest wine. Only her strength can save him when his world crumbles to ashes. But has Royal learned trust too late to claim Tessa as his own?

Characters Bio's:

HERO: Royal James Andreas III

Nickname: RJ
Age: 32 yrs
Body: 6'2, 200lbs, muscular
Hair: Dark brown, shoulder length-wears in a ponytail
Family: Eldest of six sons.
Parents: Married, Royal James Andreas II and Shelby Andreas
Job Title: Head of Andreas Winery, Long Island, NY
Prized Object: His grandfather's Spanish Guitar
How Does He Dress: Dress shirt and slacks, dark colors--no tie, in the winery...Carhartt pants and t-shirts
Most enduring trait: loyalty
Most annoying trait: thinks he knows what's best for everyone

HEROINE: Tessa Winter

Nickname: Tess
Age: 28
Body: 5'3, 120lbs, slim, dancer's body
Hair: Red, long and curly-tends to wear it up so Royal has to take it down (of course)
Family: Middle of three. One older sister, Lana & one younger brother, Blake
Parents: Married - Paul and Marybeth Winter
Job title: owner of As You Wish bookstore in SoHo, NY
Prized object: Carving with a quote from The Princess Bride on it made by her best friend, Mercy.
How Does She Dress: bohemian flair - boots, corduroy skirts and sweaters
Most enduring trait: stubborn
Most annoying trait: can be pushy

Taryn's inspiration board for Ashes and Wine and her characters, check out her Pinterest >>>HERE<<<

Find Taryn Online:

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Order Ashes and Wine Online:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Taryn, thanks for sharing the character bio's in today's tour post. Looking forward to reading the book even more!

Title: Onyx (Lux, #2)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Entangled Teen, 416 pages (August 14th, 2012)
From: the Publisher.
Format: eARC
Add to: Goodreads

Check out my review of Obsidian (Lux, #1): HERE

Synopsis: Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarre connection. I’ve sworn him off even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But against all common sense, I’m falling for him. Hard.

Our relationship issues aren’t out biggest problem…

The Department of Defense is here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we’re linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And when a new boy shows up a school with a secret of his own, things get complicated fast. I need to choose between my own instincts and Daemon’s.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. Daemon’s never going to stop searching until gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies.

Review: 5 Stars - Onyx, the second book in the Lux series by the amazingly talented Jennifer L. Armentrout is another epic story in her fantastically popular Alien saga. There’s no question on why the Lux books have so many fans – with a group of characters that could be the girl and the alien next door (yes, I totally said alien next door) and the angsty, snarky-ness they each have…  they’ll have you laughing one minute and swooning the next.

Katy learned more about her neighbors than she ever thought possible in Obsidian and now in Onyx she has even more issues to deal with. One of the things I like most about her is that she’s real. There isn’t anything about her that’s fake. And at the end of Obsidian she has her mind set on one path and in Onyx she sets out to follow through. With bumps along the way and more trouble surrounding her than ever it’s time for Katy to face some things she’d rather… well not.

And while I admire how honest she is, she makes some huge, massive even, errors in judgment. While I hated to see this happen and to see her have to deal with the aftermath of things, it just proves time and time again how normal she is as a female character. Also, all these issues she’s found herself forced to deal with shows just how amazingly strong she has become. Yeah, totally love Katy in case you can’t tell. Not to mention she’s a book blogger and that’s just the icing on the cake for me with her.

Daemon is, well Daemon and yet, so UN-Daemon like at this same time. He’s 100% swoon worthy from the first book right on through to this one and Armentrout even finds a way to kick him up a notch with all the many layers that he is. We get to see such a different side of him and let me tell you… WOW! It’s always fascinating to me when you get a chance to see some huge changes in characters and how they grow from one book to the next, and I can’t wait to see what they’ll learn and what we’ll learn next about them.

As for the writing and story for Onyx, it all picks up right where we were left in Obsidian. The characters all have to face some serious issues and holy cow, was there surprises around each corner and a HUGE MASSIVE cliffhanger ending that I literally groaned and might have even yelled “COME ON!” out loud which received me a few looks filled with stink eye. I love the flow of Armentrouts writing. Her storytelling never loses pace and keeps me completely captivated the whole time. It’s always sad when I find myself at the end of one of her books, yet it never surprises me because of how easily I’ve become lost within her stories. She’s a “go-to” author. If she writes it, I’ll read it.

All in all, how the heck could anyone NOT love these books, these characters? The story alone is unique, the characters have such amazing personalities that you can’t and won’t forget about them anytime soon. Oh, how I love a great author and books that get people talking and the Lux series without a doubt has a lot of people talking. So, what the heck are you waiting for? Get yourself a set of the two books today. Reading one won’t be enough… trust me; you’ll want to dive right into Onyx after finishing Obsidian. Just trust me on this one; you’ll thank me for it later. I’d say Enjoy, but that’s a given. 

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.

Title: Obsidian (Lux, #1)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, 266 Pages (December 6th, 2011)
From: Purchased from Amazon
Format: Paperback

Synopsis: Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don’t kill him first, that is.

Review: 5 Stars - Obsidian is the first book in the Lux series by the incredibly talented Jennifer L. Armentrout. If you love a great story, with some twists & turns, a heroine blogger who fits the bill perfectly and a steaming hot tall drink of Alien, that is the boy next door… Then you have come to the right place. THIS series is for YOU!

When Katy and her mom move to West Virginia, it’s the last thing she wants to do right before her senior year of high school. Talk about a nightmare! I get exactly why Katy would feel this way, yet she handles it pretty well, all things considered. Her house is pretty secluded with the exception of the one house next door. A few things that I quickly loved about Armentrouts heroine, she’s a book blogger. Yep, score one for Armentrout there. She’s not scared to stand up to a certain boy next door, who she defiantly holds her own against. She’s smart… she’s just all around a kick butt heroine! She puts many others to shame and I love it. She threw me for a loop more than once with how she responded to people and things. I hope one of the things that people love about the book is that they can see she is real, honest and smart. Yep, loved her!

And then we have the next door neighbors – Dee & Daemon Black, sister and brother. A bit on the mysterious side, yet Katy see’s right through down to Daemon’s true colors after their first encounter. LOVED how she saw through him, even with his amazing looks. He’s such a jerk, he’s currently the face you’d see when you look in a dictionary for the word arrogant. Yep, he’s got that down pat. The chemistry between these two is there, however it’s far from hearts and flowers, which is part of the story that I loved. I’m not a reader who’s a fan of insta-love and these two for sure fight from beginning to end. Even with the entire not-so-nice guy that Daemon is, I couldn’t help but melt for this guy. What is it about him, and the jerk that he is that makes girls swoon? The only thing I could guess is that sometimes to me, if felt like he wasn’t into being as arrogant as it comes across. He has a lot to lose and wears his bitterness like armor. And maybe those green eyes just get me every time?

And I can’t forget to mention Dee! She ends up being Katy’s best friend and while I found her to be a bit over the top, I liked the contrast between her and Daemon and I liked the support she ended up giving to Katy with everything that ends up happening throughout the story.

There’s a sci-fi theme with this series, which would be aliens. Good would be the Luxen and evil would be the Arum. They’ve been fighting for years and they have brought the fight to earth, unbeknownst to the humans. I loved Armentrouts version of aliens and I was utterly absorbed from the first page to the last.

All in all, Armentrout has become one of my favorite “go-to” authors. I have a few that I’ll read anything they’ll write and she’s won that title after the first book I’ve read by her – Half-Blood. She’s amazing at what she does. She knows how to write some pretty amazing characters and fits them into an equally amazing world. Keep writing Jennifer and we will continue to covet. I HIGHLY recommend anything by this author and you should defiantly be reading.

FTC Disclaimer: I DID pay for this book, and have NOT been compensated at all in any way or means for reading this book and or writing this HONEST review.