Showing posts with label 4.5 hearts. Show all posts

Friday, June 29, 2018

Knowing you by Rebecca Donovan Blog Tour

Knowing You (Cursed #2) by Rebecca Donovan Release Date: June 27, 2018 Genre: Young Adult

Under suspicion for a crime she watched him commit, Lana will pay for her silence. Her new lawyer strikes a deal, sending her to a boarding school in Vermont. It’s supposed to be a second chance. An escape from a dead-end life in Sherling. Except Lana doesn’t want to leave those who depend on her behind.

Lana is convinced she has nothing in common with the sons and daughters of celebrities and politicians who attend Blackwood School. But she soon finds out, that they're all delinquents... just like her. Theirs is a world of contrived headlines and publicity facades, and Lana's unabated honesty is a keen contrast to their lie-filled lives. She finds herself with new friends, just by telling the truth.

But not everyone is welcoming. Someone is out to destroy Lana, and she has no idea why. The longer she stays at Blackwood, the more dangerous it becomes for her and everyone she cares about. And it will only get worse when Lana discovers the truth.

Read Now in the US: Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2LhcxvM iBooks: https://apple.co/2IBXyPw Nook: http://bit.ly/2GBNv7a Kobo: http://bit.ly/2kcUbz Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2kdS4Mf

Read Book 1, If I’d Known Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2t4q41I iBooks: http://bit.ly/ifidknown-ibooks Nook: https://goo.gl/ozFEgZ Kobo: http://bit.ly/ifidknown-kobo Google Play: https://goo.gl/GMTg4g

“If I tell you, they won’t come true.” I stuff a mound of cake into my mouth. Lily releases a small tinkling laugh. “Do you believe that?” “Do you believe they’ll come true at all, no matter if I say them out loud or not?” “I think we always receive what we deserve, and belief has very little to do with it. It has more to do with our character, and how that balances out on the scales of good and evil. Can’t have one without the other, right?” I look at her curiously. “But isn’t good always supposed to win in the end?” I can barely function, forget about contemplate karmic balance. And we’re going down a strange and windy path right now. Because I know good doesn’t always win. KNOWING YOU_TEASER3.jpg

Okay WHOA!

I mean...WOW...I am at a loss for words, this book had me in knots. Let me back up and explain. The first book eeerrr well novella in this series sets up everything. We follow Lana on this one crazy night and because she is a true friend and loyal when she gets implicated in a crime she didn't commit she says nothing. Now I know most people would be like WTF? That makes no sense but if you are from the street, you get it. I got it. Which sets up this book. Man oh, man. There is so much to dissect, The Harrison boys, Blackwood Academy, Ashton, Lily, Brendan...oh especially Brendan he is weird and really all-knowing, I think that is why he is creepy. There is so much that happens and like Brendan I have questions. Not much get answered but this book but I got a glimpses of connections and OMFG I swear to god if what I am thinking is going to happen, happens I will chuck my kindle because seriously NO JUST NO!! And seriously what is up with that creepy ass school? The teachers, the security guards and layout are all weird.

This book is so well written, I mean it's Rebecca Donovan...

I didn't know she had a new book until I was asked if I wanted to be on this tour and of course I said yes, I went to the Zon and snatched up the first book and read it so quick, it would make one's head spin. Her writing just has this way of sucking you in. When I got this ARC I read it all in one sitting, I could not stop. So now I am just sitting here thinking about the characters and their connections and WTF about the Harrison boys, the kids she attends this school with, and her mom. UGH I feel like a crack head who needs another hit, I need to know more, I need the next book already.

I give Rebecca major kudos on this book. I love diverse characters in books, she did it so subtly and I loved it. When authors say they can't write diverse books I want to roll my eyes at them, they act as if we POC are aliens. Take notes authors because Rebecca gots the skills and know how. She blew me away and I can't wait for the next book.

Optimism seeps from every pore of my body. I truly believe that what's supposed to happen... will! In that regard, I don't know how to give up; it's not part of my biological make up.

I'm a passionate (and some would say, overly enthusiastic) person. I learn by doing (and have been burned more times that I'd like to admit), but I will always throw my entire self into whatever I do - fail or succeed.

I think this is evident when I write, leaving nothing behind and spilling it all out on the pages. I give it all to my readers - love it or hate it.

The path I'm on is very often my own, veering off the beaten path at the sight of something more interesting or captivating, getting caught in the vines and thorns in order to experience the beauty and intrigue others often pass by. And I always meet the most interesting people along the way...

Connect with Rebecca: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaDonovanAuthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeccaDonovan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccadonovanauthor/ Website: http://rebeccadonovan.com Amazon Page: http://amzn.to/2zeeN2Y Sign up for Rebecca’s Newsletter: https://goo.gl/XWQU9d

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Blog Tour for RISING by Jessica Ruben EXCERPT + REVIEW

We're celebrating the release of RISING by Jessica Ruben! One-click your copy today!

NA Contemporary Romance
Cover designer: Okay Creations
Release date: May 1, 2018

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2HxzVmH
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2Kdnmym
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2r1OFDT
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2vOEM1r
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2KhW75N

As the bus approaches my stop on the Lower East Side, I raise the hood of my black sweatshirt. Anonymity is key in my neighborhood—particularly as a lone female walking at night.

All I want is to leave my crime-ridden shadow of a home in New York City. I’ve done everything I can to keep my head down and focus on my studies. College is my only goal; love has never been on the map…
That is, until my sister brings me to an underground fight, where I meet a gorgeous and mysterious man: Vincent.

He is the ghost in my shadows, showing up to feed me pieces of his upper-crust life, then evaporating into darkness until his next visit. I’m falling hard and fast. How can I trust him amidst the depth of his secrets?

Vincent may be even more dangerous than the dark world I’m trying to escape.

“Carlos is out,” she says in a rush. I look at her face, feeling my stomach sink. She’s playing with the hem of her shirt and glances at me nervously. Finally, her gray-blue eyes bore into mine, and I know that she’s gearing up to tell me some serious shit.

With trembling hands, I put down my coffee mug. “Tell me.”

“Yeah. Well, I heard he made bail—” She stops, clearing her throat. “I also heard that he’s, um, angrier than usual.” She stands, bringing the rest of the carafe of coffee to the table and pouring more into my cup.

I lick my dry lips. “What do you mean?”

She moves to the edge of her seat, pushing sugar my way. “Well, I was on the stoop yesterday. It was my day off. I was hanging out with everyone and listening to Mr. Samson talk about a new jazz club that recently opened up in Harlem. We were all getting high with someone’s hash, shooting the shit—”

“And?” I raise my eyebrows, waiting for her to get to the point.

“Juan came over, and sat with me.” She slightly shifts her head to the side and presses her lips together. “Well, he told me that Carlos is out now. And, he’s been talking shit all over town that he and you have some unfinished business. Juan wanted to tell me because he’s scared for you. I know he’s an annoying little shit, but after he heard...” her voice trails off.

I blink once, twice, three times.

“There’s more,” she says on an exhale. “Apparently, he hooked up with some girl last night. Beat the shit out of her. Ms. Santini from Three-A was on her way to work and stopped to drop off her trash by the dumpsters. Apparently, she heard a moaning sound. When she saw the girl, her clothes were torn. She was beaten up and started bawling about Carlos…”

My head gets dizzy, but I force myself to hear every detail. “An ambulance took her away, but she was in pretty bad shape.”

I want to ask more questions, but the terror has a clamp on my throat.

“I think you need to stay close to me for a while, okay? The Snakes are getting more aggressive. They want the Blue Houses as their own territory, and it looks like they’re trying to instill some bigger fear on the streets.” She drops her gaze. I know she’s afraid. Every girl in the Blue Houses probably heard the story by now.

“Yeah. Okay. I’ll make sure Angelo knows I need to leave before it gets dark out.”

“Good idea. We need to sync our schedules so you aren’t walking alone at night. I’m gonna talk to some other people and try to get their schedules down so that everyone has a buddy or something at night. I’m sure when everyone hears about this, we won’t be the only ones who are scared.” I nod my head and stand up mechanically, rinsing my mug and walking to my room to digest the new information. After grabbing my stuff, I check my purse to make sure that my gun is still inside. I lock myself in the bathroom and load and unload the gun a few times, reacquainting myself with the weapon. If Carlos comes, I’ll be ready for him.

Getting to work, I let Angelo know the details of what’s new with Carlos. He’s angry and continues to tell me that I shouldn’t be so stubborn and I need to let the Borignones get involved. But I refuse. I still don’t want any debts to my name. I’ve made it this far, and I believe I can wait it out a little longer.

Work passes in a blur. I’m convincing a girl to sell her diamond ring while Angelo sells the two violins and a Cartier watch to an elderly couple who want to buy something for their grandchildren.

When the day is done, Angelo insists on calling a car to take me home. I sigh deeply, knowing that the driver will be one of Angelo’s associates. But considering the fact that Carlos is out of jail, I’m not going to complain. I nod my head and take his ride in the name of safety.

I get in the huge black Escalade and see a massive man sitting in the driver’s seat. Swallowing hard, I remind myself that he’s not an enemy, but on my side. He drives me right up to my building and I gingerly walk out, my shaking hand inside my purse, gripping my gun. I’m scared as hell, but it makes me feel a modicum of control. The driver enters the building with me and steps into the elevator as well.

We reach the fourth floor when I tell him he can go. “I can get into my apartment fine now.” He nods his head wordlessly and re-calls the elevator to bring him back downstairs.

I get up to my door without incident and let out the breath I was holding while I pry my fingers off my gun. “I’m okay,” I say out loud, turning my head and letting my gaze run up and down my hallway. It’s empty. I pull out my key and step forward onto my threadbare Welcome mat when I feel like I’ve kicked something. I look down, confused at what’s on the floor. It must be Janelle’s sweater that she dropped on her way out. I bend down to pick it up and freeze.

Alright, people, THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!! You all need to get this damn book ASAP. I literally read it in one sitting. I was taken in by the writing and then the characters and OMFG I don't know how to put this into words. I don't want to give too much away because I feel like you all need to experience this first hand.

Vincent is this mystery snack that I wanted to eat FOREVER! He was always at arm's length from Eve, all I wanted was for her to smash through his wall but little by little I learned more and I was so here for it.

Eve is quiet and keeps her head down she is 18 and about to leave for college if she can survive her gang-ridden, drug infested and full of crime neighborhood. Boy oh boy could I so relate to her here. I know all about keeping my head down, trying not to attract attention because I have lived this life and believe me it's not fun. I think this is what connected me so much with Eve because I made it out and I know how tough it is, so to basically see myself in a different way hit close to home.

There is mystery and suspense and most of the time I was biting my nails trying to read faster because I HAD TO KNOW what happened next. This author did an amazing job of not only keeping my picky ass entertained but glued to and in the story the ENTIRE TIME!!! If you are picky like me and need something to satiate your hunger for a sensational, jaw-dropping, all encompassing book then get this one ASAP!!!

Jessica Ruben lives and works in New York City, where she spends her days dominating in the court room as an attorney. Come nightfall, she writes romances centering on gorgeous alpha males and the intelligent women who love them.

Jessica is an insatiable reader, and will devour a few books a week without batting an eyelash. Books have always been her drug of choice, and she has no plans on detox anytime soon. She has three wildly delicious children and a husband who, for reasons unimaginable to her, loves her brand of crazy.

http://jessicarubenauthor.com

Monday, January 29, 2018

Say You'll Remember Me by Katie McGarry Blog tour w/ review, excerpt, & giveaway

From critically acclaimed author Katie McGarry, comes SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME—a story of two people from different worlds pushing themselves, and each other, to get what they deserve!

SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME releases on January 30, 2018. Pre-order your copy today!

“Doesn’t matter who did it. Not anymore. I did the time. It’s over.”

When Drix was convicted of a crime–one he didn’t commit–he thought his life was over. But opportunity came with the Second Chance Program, the governor’s newest pet project to get delinquents off the streets, rehabilitated and back into society. Drix knows this is his chance to get his life back on track, even if it means being paraded in front of reporters for a while.

Elle knows she lives a life of privilege. As the governor’s daughter, she can open doors with her name alone. But the expectations and pressure to be someone she isn’t may be too much to handle. She wants to follow her own path, whatever that means.

When Drix and Elle meet, their connection is immediate, but so are their problems. Drix is not the type of boy Elle’s parents have in mind for her, and Elle is not the kind of girl who can understand Drix’s messy life.

But sometimes love can breach all barriers.

Fighting against a society that can’t imagine them together, Drix and Elle must push themselves–Drix to confront the truth of the robbery, and Elle to assert her independence–and each other to finally get what they deserve.

Most of you have followed my blog for a while and know that I love Katie McGarry.

Being chosen to read and review this book made me so happy beyond words.

Katie has a way of writing that never disappoints. While I have read a few books these past few weeks, I haven't really read anything that made me sigh and close my eyes at the end....until THIS BOOK!!

What I love is that the story sucked me right in.

Drix is an interesting character.

He went to jail for a crime he did not commit.

He went into the Governors second chance program and he changed while he was there.

He is from the wrong side of town and did things many teens do with little to no supervision but after being away from his family and the program he doesn't ever want to be there again, so he is doing everything he can to stay on the right path.

I loved how much he loves his family and friends.

Elle is the complete opposite.

She has the perfect clothes, words, and family.

After all, she is the Governors daughter.

To the outside world, she is perfect but if they don't know how controlling her parents are and what it takes to maintain the illusion of perfection.

I felt bad for her because she has her sights set on something but her parents push her towards something else.

I know parents can be unbearable sometimes but damn people need to let their kids pursue their passions but that is what I love about this book, it has real-life aspects sprinkled in that makes one connect with the characters.

I love that even though Drix and Elle are from different backgrounds they are both trying to find their way in life, and really isn't that every teenager?

There were moments in this book that made me mad, sad and cry.

I wanted to hug Drix and protect him.

I think what I loved the most about this book is the human aspect that Katie brought forth.

Parents are not perfect, they make mistakes.

Elle for the first time had to battle seeing her parents in a different light but I feel that all teenagers go through this.

As a parent, of course, I want what is best but sometimes I don't have all the answers.

I could relate to both levels as a parent and as a daughter.

Katie did an amazing job with these characters and their growth within the book.

This is a must read if you enjoy romance and life-giving people second chances.

Sometimes there is more to the person that what has been portrayed.

***E-ARC provided by Harlequin TEEN and Inkslinger in exchange for an honest review.***

~Ellison~

Sean points, and a woman in the back asks, “You never met Mr. Pierce before?”

I shake my head, and Sean gestures to the microphone. “No. I was playing a midway game earlier, and he ended up playing beside me, but then we went our separate ways. I left the game, and these guys started to harass me, and hen Hendrix asked if I needed help. I agreed, and he suggested we talk. He said that if the guys thought we were friends they would eventually lose interest, and they did. Hendrix played a game, and we talked until Andrew showed.”

“Andrew?” someone asks.

“Andrew Morton.” That causes enough of a stir that nervousness leaks into my bloodstream and makes my hands cold and clammy. Why is it that I feel that I said something terribly wrong?

“Are you and Andrew Morton friends?” someone else asks, and the question hits me in a sickening way. I name-dropped the grandson of the most powerful US Senator…the position my father is campaigning for. Sean is going to roast me alive.

“Yes. We’ve been friends for as long as I remember.” Friends, enemies, it’s all semantics at this point.

“Did you and Andrew Morton plan to attend the festival together?” Another reporter.

“Yes.”

“Were you on a date?” a woman asks.

My entire body recoils. “What?”

“Are you and Andrew Morton romantically involved?”

I become one of those bunnies who go still at the slightest sound. “I thought we were talking about Hendrix.”

“Did Mr. Pierce confront the men?”

Finally back on track. “No, he was adamant that there should be no violence.”

More questions and I put my hand in the air as I feel like I’m the one on trial. “Isn’t that the point? Hendrix went through my dad’s program, and one of the first chances he had to make a good decision, he made one. We’re strangers, and he helped me without violence. That, to me, is success.” A few people nod their head, and because I don’t want to be done yet… “Mr. O’Bryan—grown men shouldn’t be following seventeen-year-old girls. I’m curious why you didn’t step in when I was being harassed. If you saw Hendrix and me together, then you know what happened, and it’s horrifying you didn’t help. Hendrix made the right choice. You did not.”

A rumble of conversation, Sean places a hand on my arm and gently, but firmly pushes me to the side. The raging fire in his eyes says he’s mentally measuring out the room in the basement he’s going to let me rot in for the next ten years.

My father approaches the microphone with an ease I envy. “Any more questions for Ellison can be sent to my press secretary. As you can tell, it’s been a trying day for my daughter, but we are most grateful for Mr. Pierce’s actions. We promised a program that was going to help our state’s youth turn their lives around, and, thanks to Mr. Pierce’s admirable actions, we are proud of our first program’s success.”

He offers Drix his hand again, and Drix accepts.

Lots of pictures and applause, and Dad leans in and whispers something to him. I can’t tell what it is, but I do see the shadow that crosses over Drix’s face, his throat move as he swallow and then the slight nod of his head.

I don’t know what happened, but I don’t like it. The urge is to rush Drix, but Sean has a firm hold on my elbow, keeping me in place, silently berating me for causing problems.

Drix stands behind the podium and drops a bomb so huge the ground shakes beneath my feet. “Because Ellison had enough courage to explain what happened today, I’m going to tell you what I was convicted of…”

Preorder SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME here!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Google Play | B-A-M | Kobo

Add it to your Goodreads Now!

Pre-order SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME, register and you will receive AND THEY ALL LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER, a novella that features your favorite Pushing the Limits and Thunder Road characters!

From the Pushing the Limits series, Noah, Beth, Isaiah, West and Logan are all grown up. Catch up with your favorite characters as one of them finally says, I do.

Pigpen, Eli and Addison from the Thunder Road series: Three separate personalities who still needed to find love…and still had someone important to meet.

This is a limited time offer! So hurry! Registration ends on February 3, 2018! You must register your pre-order to receive AND THEY ALL LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

https://a.pgtb.me/4tLZSM

Katie McGarry’s SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME – Tour Schedule:

January 22^nd

A Book Fanatic Obsession

Books, Coffee & Passion

Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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Wednesday, October 4, 2017

WITHOUT MERIT by Colleen Hoover BLog Tour

WITHOUT MERIT

BY COLLEEN HOOVER

http://www.withoutmeritbook.com

Atria Books Paperback | 384 pages | ISBN: 9781501170621 | October 3, 2017 | $16.00

eBook: 384 pages | ISBN: 9781501170638 | $7.99

Not every mistake deserves a consequence. Sometimes the only thing a mistake deserves is forgiveness.

The Voss family is anything but normal. They live in a repurposed church, newly baptized Dollar Voss. The once cancer-stricken mother lives in the basement, the father is married to the mother’s former nurse, the little half-brother isn’t allowed to do or eat anything fun, and the eldest siblings are irritatingly perfect. Then, there’s Merit.

Merit Voss collects trophies she hasn’t earned and secrets her family forces her to keep. While browsing the local antiques shop for her next trophy, she finds Sagan. His wit and unapologetic idealism disarm and spark renewed life into her—until she discovers that he’s completely unavailable. Merit retreats deeper into herself, watching her family from the sidelines, when she learns a secret that no trophy in the world can fix.

Fed up with the lies, Merit decides to shatter the happy family illusion that she’s never been a part of before leaving them behind for good. When her escape plan fails, Merit is forced to deal with the staggering consequences of telling the truth and losing the one boy she loves.

Poignant and powerful, WITHOUT MERIT explores the layers of lies that tie a family together and the power of love.

Reading Colleen Hoover books is an obsession.

Every time I begin one of her books I think how can she possibly top the last book? And every time she surprises me. Not only is this book, unlike any book I have ever read, it is told in such a way that I didn't mind that there wasn't a romance.

I love YA that is my favorite genre to read out of all of them. Why? Because it cleanses my pallet from all the romance and sex I am used to reading. Now I am going, to be honest, I got this book in July and I began it in August. I put it down. It wasn't bad so don't be side eyeing me it was just a combination of things. I was in a weird place and not in the mood for this book, it was a bit slow to start and then when I finally hit a certain point HOT DAMN! I think it was right about 34% where I was like alright and I was all in. I stayed up until 2AM reading because I had to see how the Voss' were going to end up.

Merit is an identical twin to Honor. They have an older brother named Utah but she doesn't have the best relationship with them. Little by little, layer by layer I began to see the dynamic of this household and CHEESUS Christ was I dumbfounded. There were so many things happening and the characters were each going through different things and then it all exploded and I was just...

I mean you have to read the family dynamic to truly understand what it is that I am writing about. So many secrets, so many untalked about issues that finally come to a head and it's boggling how this family has survived this long.

I encourage people to read it because with Colleen you never know what to expect, and she once again shows her brilliance in this novel. It is raw, real and emotional. Each character has issues about them that unravel. Since I don't do spoilers this is all I am willing to say. Ok, wait I lie there are a few things I can say that is not spoilery...ready? I loved that Colleen wrote the Bookworm Box into the story, I loved that she wrote herself into the story (I'm pretty sure it was her because who else hands out Diet Pepsi?) I thought that was brilliant and kind of Inception-isk, which was really cool.

At the beginning of the book, I was really thinking can this be the first CoHo book that I do not like? But by the end, I was once again so in love with her and her writing style that I forgive her for making me feel like that in the beginning. She can send me sugar cookies to make up for my irrational fear. (Hear/Read that Colleen? Sugar cookies in my mailbox. I will be expecting them!)

Yes, I understand that I didn't go into detail about the book because honestly, I feel that one needs to go in blind. And I know it's YA and some people might be worried that they can't or won't connect with the characters but I don't find that to be true. We have all been teens who thought we knew everything or had certain quirks that others found odd right? Then I feel that in some capacity one will be able to connect with these characters or even see their own children in them.

ORDER WITHOUT MERIT:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2wiVRyr

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2vtqsL8

Books-a-Million: http://bit.ly/2wTAhCc

iBooks: http://apple.co/2xrD7ie

Indiebound: http://bit.ly/2gqKTBG

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2xgXDBh

Google: http://bit.ly/2eRebFr

Nook: http://bit.ly/2gXsDA2

Win 1 of 5 signed hardcover copies of WITHOUT MERIT! Contest is open until October 30^th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Slammed, This Girl, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, Losing Hope, Finding Cinderella, Maybe Someday, Ugly Love, Maybe Not, Confess, November 9, and It Ends with Us. She has won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance twice – for Confess in 2015 and It Ends with Us in 2016. Confess was adapted into a seven-episode online series. In 2015, Colleen and her family founded The Bookworm Box, a bookstore and monthly subscription service offering signed novels donated by authors. All profits are given to various charities each month to help those in need. Colleen lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. Please visit ColleenHoover.com.

FIND COLLEEN ONLINE:

Website: www.ColleenHoover.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ColleenHoover

Twitter: @ColleenHoover

Instagram: @ColleenHoover