Title: Lead Me Not
Author: A. Meredith Walters
Publisher: Gallery Books, 288 Pages (August 5th, 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK, iTunes

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

Synopsis: In this dangerously sexy novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Find You in the Dark, a straight-laced college student meets a handsome but enigmatic stranger who lures her into an underground club scene, where she finds it difficult to resist temptation

Aubrey Duncan understands loss. She knows what rock bottom looks like, and she is determined to crawl back up to the top after the sudden death of her younger sister. She blames herself for her part in the tragedy, convinced that she could have done something, anything, to help her.

In her effort to gain redemption, Aubrey starts fresh at Longwood University and facilitates an addiction support group, hoping she can support someone else in the way she failed her sister. But what she doesn’t count on is an all-consuming fascination with group member Maxx Demelo, a gorgeous, blond, blue-eyed enigma who hides dark secrets behind a carefully constructed mask. He only reveals what he wants others to see. But Aubrey glimpses another Maxx hidden below the surface—a Maxx who is drowning in his own personal hell.

As Aubrey and Maxx develop an attraction too intense to ignore, he pulls her into the dark underbelly of the city club scene, where she is torn by her desire to save him and an inexplicable urge to join him in his downward spiral. Worst of all, she is beginning to love everything she should run away from—a man who threatens to ignite in her a fire that could burn her alive…

Excerpt:

I stared harder at the picture, uncomfortable with the odd sense of familiarity I felt. Looking at the woman's graceful yet agonized form, I felt as though I should recognize her.

Bothered by my increasing disquiet, I stood up and walked closer. This was not your typical campus painting of daffodils and laughing students. I had seen this particular kind of art several times before. I leaned in to try to see the details in the poor lighting. And there it was- the tiny patterns on the woman's dress composed of dozens of Xs.

I didn't notice any numbers or words in this picture, though, so I didn't understand what its intent was. It was my understanding that X's paintings held the clues to the location of the club, Compulsion. But this picture seemed to have nothing to do with that.

This was a painting created for some other purpose.

"So what do you think?"

I looked over my shoulder to find Maxx standing behind me. I turned back to the picture, not bothering to answer him. The truth was, my outburst in the group had left me feeling raw and vulnerable, and seeing him so soon after making a gigantic ass of myself was embarrassing.

As he came up beside me, the sleeves of our jackets brushed against each other. Maxx inclined his head toward the painting and asked me again, "Well, what do you think of it?"

I shrugged, not really in the mood for small talk. My pounding head couldn't handle a go-around with the group Romeo. I started to walk away from him when he grabbed hold of my arm.

"Wait, Aubrey. Please." It was that word that did it. Please. It was uttered softly and sincerely. And it held me as fast and surely as if he had put his arms around me.

About the Author:

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary and Paranormal romance including The Find You in the Dark and Bad Rep series as well as the upcoming stand alone romance, Reclaiming the Sand, and a dark new adult series for Gallery Books.

A. Meredith spent ten years as a counselor for at risk teens and children. First working at a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault program and then later a program for children with severe emotional and mental health issues. Her former clients and their stories continue to influence every aspect of her writing.

When not writing (or being tortured with all manner of beauty products at the hand of her very imaginative and extremely girly daughter), she is eating chocolate, watching reality television that could rot your brain and reading a smutty novel or two.

A. Meredith is represented by Michelle Johnson with the Inklings Literary Agency.

Find A. Meredith Online:

Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Author Amazon Page

Title: Rogue (Real #4)
Author: Katy Evans
Publisher: Gallery Books, 288 Pages (July 29th 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK, iBooks

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

Synopsis: Greyson King…

My boyfriend. My friend. My protector. He’s the reason I wake up every morning with a smile on my face, and the reason I fall asleep limp, worn out, and aching for his warm arms around me. When we make love, he says my name like it means something. Like I mean something.

He
Lied.

His name is Greyson King, but his alias is Zero.

There’s zero trace of him, he has zero past, and now I know that with him, I will have zero future.

He may leave no trace of him anywhere, but his imprint is in me, in my very soul—and I hate that a mere look at him commands the beat of my heart. The temperature of my body.

I’ve looked for love my entire life. I’ve waited for the butterflies, the rainbows…

Instead I’m in a free fall of emotions and there’s no one to catch me but the one man I should be running away from. The one man I thought was my prince charming.

Except this prince charming went rogue.

Greyson will stop at nothing to make me be with him. He'll let no one stand in our way, will allow no one to threaten me, and maybe this is what scares me most of all...
What will my rogue do to keep me?

Review: 5 Stars - Rogue, the fourth title in author Katy Evan’s Real series follows Brooke’s best friend Melanie on her quest to find her “Real”.

We first met Melanie in Real as a secondary character. She was fun and feisty and was there for Brooke from the beginning. In this installment of the Real series we finally get a chance to spend some one on one time with Melanie as the main female lead in a her own story. She’s still the same character we’ve come to love yet we finally get a much broader look at her life and the world through her eyes.

One thing that I loved about this title was that it’s written in dual points of view between both Melanie and bad, bad boy Greyson. It’s not a secret that I love dual or multi points of view so having this one written from two amazing characters was icing on the cake.

Greyson is such a massive force for everyone he comes into contact with and Melanie didn’t stand a chance. He’s hiding some major secrets and the scars of his heart, mind and soul run deep. These scars have formed him into the man he is and it’ll take the perfect woman to make him see the world through much different, none icy cold eyes.

With secrets the two are holding close and some secrets that were never meant to be kept, these two characters embark on a journey filled with struggles alone and together. There’s passion in all things they take on, including each other. There’s trouble lurking around every turn and there’s redemption if they work through enough of their issues, if they look in the right person or place. They just have to find a way through… together or apart to make their dreams, hopes and wishes a reality.

I have loved Katy’s books from the beginning. Back when Real was self published I have been a huge fan and haven’t looked back since. She knows how to write a fantastic story with equally fantastic characters. Before you know it you’ll be branded with the marks the story and characters have left. I know I have and wouldn’t want it any other way.

Katy’s passion for writing and her characters is apparent from one book to the next and knowing I can always count on her to write such amazing titles has made her a go-to author. If you’re looking for alpha males, look no futher than this author because she’s found a way to make them into some of the biggest and baddest men with heart for the right girl around.

I think this is my new favorite of hers, which is saying something because I’ve loved everything Real in the past, yet there’s just something about these two and their story, along with Katy’s writing that pushed this, her latest to the tip top for me. And I know I’m excited that there’s more to look forward to within this fictional world she’s created. I can’t wait to see what makes Pandora tick. Why she’s the way she is and to also have a chance to check in with all the characters from past Real books.

If you are looking for an Alpha male, look no further. If you are looking for some seriously bad boys that’ll make you swoon… you’ve come to the right place. With amazing writing this author has it all. These titles are without a doubt for older readers due to extreme content such as language, drinking, violence and lots and lots of sexual content. I highly recommend Katy’s books now and on into the future. Go forth and read and find a new favorite book boy friend today! Enjoy!

About the Author: 

Katy Evans grew up with books and book-boyfriends until she found a real sexy boyfriend to love, married him, and now they are hard at work on their own happily ever after. Katy loves her family and friends, and she also loves reading, walking, baking, and being consumed by her characters until she reaches “The End.” Which is, hopefully, only the beginning...

Find Katy Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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 Black Heart by Holly Black is...... the UK cover!  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: Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Series: (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1)
Author: Laini Taylor
Publisher: US - Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 418 Pages (September 27th, 2011), UK - Hodder, 420 Pages (August 5th, 2012) - [Original Publication 29th September 2011]
Add to: Goodreads USA Version | Goodreads UK Version
Order online here: USA: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository UK: Amazon UK, Waterstones, W H Smith, The Book Depository

Synopsis: Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out.

When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

About the author:

Hi there! I'm a writer of fantasy books for young people, but my books can be enjoyed by adults as well. My 'Dreamdark' books, Blackbringer (2007) and Silksinger (2009) are about faeries -- not dainty little flowery things, but warrior-faeries who battle devils. My first young adult book, Lips Touch, is a finalist for the 2009 National Book Award! It's creepy, sensual supernatural romance. . . about kissing. I am also an artist with a licensed gift product line called "Laini's Ladies."

Find Laini Online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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

Lisa This week is SO easy for me... while I LOVED this book I've never been a fan of the US covers. So, when I saw the UK cover and how much is fits the story... I fell in love! The UK cover feels so much more than the US cover and it's totally getting my vote for this week and every week. UK all the way!

Michelle This is an easy pick for me. While I did prefer the US cover over the UK hard cover, I have to say I love the UK paperback version of this one.

Like Lisa, I love how it fits with the story itself, from the door right down to the hand print on the frame.
Its a UK win for me.

VOTE for YOUR favorite cover of Daughter of Smoke & Bone NOW!

QuestionPro

Title: Eternally Bound
Author: K.A. Young
Publisher: (July 2nd, 2014)
From: the Author
Format: eBook
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: 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: Their passionate encounter happened long ago binding Caroline and Thaddeus for all eternity. A century later, Caroline is living a new life yet the memory has never lessened its hold on her—tormenting her with mere glimpses as her body continually cries out for him in her dreams.

On the brink of madness, torn between the past and the present, Caroline is the only one that can decide her fate. When she returns to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains the lines between time and space come full circle. Will she find the courage to face the passion and pain that awaits her? Or will she run from her past, dooming them for all eternity?

Review: 3 Stars - Eternally Bound is the first title I’ve read from author K.A. Young. With a synopsis as intriguing as this, I was instantly captivated and couldn’t wait to read. Caroline and Thaddeus have a love that holds no bounds. Their time was many, many years ago and yet they are fated to be drawn to each other across the years due to the tragic events that happened then.

Caroline, the main character is happy, married and living what she believes is the perfect life. Until the nightmares happen and continue to grow worse. She’s searching for something or someone in her dreams that’s just out of reach and when she wakes she’s desperate to remember. There’s a voice she feels she knows, mountains that feel like home and a name and face that are lost as soon as she opens her eyes.

The one thing about Caroline was that she felt kind of… timid and as someone who’s grown up in foster care and with the home she was raised in she just felt too… soft I guess is the word I’m looking for. I wanted her to be tougher, to not just go with the flow and to have a voice of her own. So in this way I was very disappointed in her as a character.

Her husband drove me nuts. I felt like he used his age – he’s older than her – over her and somewhat pushed Caroline into things she’d rather not do. AND THEN… my blood boiled with what he did to Caroline. I saw read. Time and time again. I thought I didn’t like him at the beginning… well, I about screamed as the story built and he just… seriously, I couldn’t stand him! Such strong emotions which again add to the rating I’ve given to this book.

And then we have the mystery part of Caroline’s story and that’s what kept me reading. That’s what I loved reading and I couldn’t get enough of. The story itself is pretty amazing and it kept me guessing as to what was going to happen time and time again. I felt emotions while reading. I felt anger, frustration, confusion and my heart breaking while I read and it’s these pieces of the story that made the book.

And then there’s the love of Caroline and Thaddeus that draws you in and makes your brain mush because you serious have no clue what’s going on with their story and where they’ll end up at the end. You’re heart will break for them when you learn how things happened to them then and now.

In the end, it’s the plot and the emotions that I felt while reading that pulled me in with this book. I might not have been a huge fan of the characters… with the exception of Thaddeus and his Grandmother, but the plot, mystery and the emotions I mentioned above in this review is what made this title. And readers… if you are looking for something extremely different that’ll make you feel while confusing you along the way, than this book is without a doubt for you. I do recommend this title because of how different this is because I have never read anything like this before. It is an adult title and there is language, drinking and sex (However the sex isn’t graphic) in the book so readers should take that into consideration before reading. I will be on the look out to read other titles from this author on into the future. Happy reading.

Title: Before You (Before & After, #1)
Author: Amber Hart
Publisher: K-Teen, 320 Pages (July 29th, 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Amazon UK, Kobo, iTunes

Synopsis: Some say love is deadly. Some say love is beautiful. I say it is both.

Faith Watters spent her junior year traveling the world, studying in exquisite places, before returning to Oviedo High School. From the outside her life is picture-perfect. Captain of the dance team. Popular. Happy. Too bad it’s all a lie.

It will haunt me. It will claim me. It will shatter me. And I don't care.

Eighteen-year-old Diego Alvarez hates his new life in the States, but staying in Cuba is not an option. Covered in tattoos and scars, Diego doesn't stand a chance of fitting in. Nor does he want to. His only concern is staying hidden from his past—a past, which if it were to surface, would cost him everything. Including his life.

At Oviedo High School, it seems that Faith Watters and Diego Alvarez do not belong together. But fate is as tricky as it is lovely. Freedom with no restraint is what they long for. What they get is something different entirely.

Love—it will ruin you and save you, both.

Excerpt:

          “So,” I say again, “did you miss me?”

          She blinks. Her breathing goes back to normal.

          “Yeah,” she answers. She stands. I stand as well.

          Did Faith just say that she misses me?

          She leans against a bookshelf and reaches a hand to my shirt, pulls me to her, our bodies almost touching.

          I look around to see if I’m being tricked, but there’s no one in sight.

          Faith presses one finger against my cheek and turns my head back to her. “Did you miss me too?” she asks in a soft voice.

          “What?”

          “I think you did—” she pauses to lick her bottom lip, “—Diego.”

          Those lips, ay, those lips.

          Hearing my name come out of her mouth like that messes me all up. This was not part of the plan. And now I can’t help myself. I can’t look away. My will has dissolved.

          “What’s going on?” I ask, unable to keep my eyes off her rosebud mouth.

         “I’m letting down my defenses,” she answers. “That’s what you want, right?”

          I inch closer.

          What is she doing to me?

          Of its own accord, my hand reaches for the sensitive spot at the base of her neck above her collarbone. I trace a finger along the dip and my heart thrums faster. Her skin is so soft. I imagine what it would be like to kiss her there.

          I drop my hand. I should not be thinking about kissing Faith.

          She doesn’t back away. Instead, she tilts her chin up, giving me a better view, almost like she wants me to touch her again. A small sigh escapes my lips.

          “Mami, you should stop,” I half suggest, half groan. But I’m not sure that I want her to stop.
          “What if I don’t want to?”

          She’s still clutching my shirt. I wrap my hand around her wrist and pull it down to her waist. Under my fingertips her blood pulses fast, a one-way train on a track bound for collision.

          I should walk away. This has gone too far. And yet, not far enough. It’s dangerous. I don’t trust the feelings surging through my veins. I try to reason that it’s no big deal, that she’s just like any other girl. Too bad I’m immune to my own lies.

          Do I really want to do this with Faith Watters?

          Surprisingly, the answer is clear.

          Yes.

About the Author:

Amber Hart grew up in Orlando, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia. She now resides on the Florida coastline with family. When unable to find a book, she can be found writing, daydreaming, or with her toes in the sand. She's the author of BEFORE YOU, AFTER US, UNTIL YOU FIND ME, and sequel to UNTIL YOU FIND ME (untitled as of yet). Represented by Beth Miller of Writers House.

Find Amber Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

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