NEW RELEASE: The Heart of the Ancients by Elizabeth Isaacs

The Heart of the Ancients, the third and final book in The Kailmeyra series is being released TODAY!

Pick up your copy today!

Exclusively on

The Kailmeyra Chronicles: Book Three—

Following Nora and Gavin’s defeat of the Dokkalfar, the kingdom has flourished and brought hope to its people.


But looks can be deceiving.


Like wisps of death, darker emotions seep into unexpected places. Now the nighttime holds fresh horrors for Gavin as Nora’s visions of the future invade her dreams. Though Nora can’t remember them, she knows Gavin sees her mind as clearly as his own. Noticing the affects her nightmares have on him, Nora warns Gavin of the dire consequences of altering fate. But she fears he’ll do whatever it takes to assure her visions don’t come true—even going against all he believes.


When Nora and Gavin discover Mia, the new Empress of the Dokkalfar, is growing stronger, they return to Earth sooner than planned. But Nora's old home isn’t what it used to be. Civilization has plunged back into the Dark Ages and the Earth is on the brink of annihilation.


As Nora and Gavin find themselves at the Edge of the World, doubt plagues them. Are they walking a path which alters fate or one elaborately planned by the enemy?

If you haven't read the Kailmeyra series, the first one is on sale this month for only $0.99! 

If Nora Johnson hadn't been on campus that day she would have never known her true destiny. Helping her friends move into the dorm that she wanted to call home, Nora accidentally collides with mysterious stranger, Gavin Frey. His very first touch sends flames through her heart. The world seems different--something within her has changed.


She tries to resume her mundane life, but she is now consumed with the one whose very presence ignited her soul, the one with eyes of emerald. Nora soon learns that an energy buried deep within has been unleashed. She now wields unimaginable power and has become Gavin's source, his strength.


Her newfound joy is shaken when she discovers that Gavin is not who he appears to be, and she has been thrust in the middle of a war of mythical proportions. Negativity allows all things evil to flourish, the earth is under siege. The fate of creation hinges on the power within her heart. Will she be strong enough to survive?


A gripping tale of unbounded love and ancient power, The Light of Asteria will take you on an epic adventure filled with war, treachery, and demons, as well as unimaginable delights.

Available on: 

In celebration of all the fun, Elizabeth is giving away a signed copies of the entire series and a $25 gift card! Just fill out the Rafflecopter below, and good luck! 

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REVIEW: Seeking Havok by Lila Felix

Book Summary

Her life is just as messed up as her name.

All she wanted was a friend---one that knew her and not her circumstances. She needed somewhere to call home. Hers was an open door for countless men looking for the services her mother offered them. She camouflaged herself against lockers and blackboards to avoid the stares and whispers at school.

And then she found Cal...and Fade.

Cal lives like Frankenstein, rising at night to work and just trying to make it until dawn. He avoids most relationships, afraid of the things he will be asked to do. He moonlights as Fade, a radio station DJ who spends hours counseling his peers on their troubles. It was all mundane until Jocelyn called the station.

Cal and Havok pursue a friendship.

Jocelyn and Fade pursue a relationship beyond the confines of the radio waves.

But when Havok disappears, Cal will find that Havok has been guarding a lifetime worth of secrets. And when Fade and Jocelyn’s all night phone conversations cease, he finds a link between them he never saw coming.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Havok doesn’t live the life of a normal eighteen year old. Growing up with a promiscuous mother is not what any girl has ever desired. But that is the hand fate has handed her. She lives a life of loneliness and spends her time looking after a mother that doesn’t care one bit about her. Her only saving grace is the wonderful friends she has found in life. So when she meets Cal she knows that nothing but a friendship can happen between them and he can never find out about her situation. But when danger surrounds Havok she must choose between suffering with her mother of letting Cal into her world and her heart.

Cal is also living a lonely life. He spends his days sleeping and his nights at work and has no social life. That is until the day he bumps into Havok. He is blown away when he realizes that Havok isn’t like his groupies. Cal can be just Cal with Havok, instead of the person many girls swoon over, including his terrible ex-girlfriend.

What starts off as a friendship between these two lonely souls turns into a love so pure and so compassionate that you can’t help but immerse yourself in their story. Cal and Havok struggle with secrets throughout their relationship but that never takes away from Cal’s protective and loving nature. He fights for Havok like no one has ever done for her. He shows her what it is to truly be loved and needed in a beautiful way.

Seeking Havok will have you so connected to the characters that you will feel like you are entangled in their story. Havok and Cal are pretty great characters and their stories had me skipping dinner and wishing for work to be done just so that I could continue reading. The only reason this is a 4star is because I had a very hard time getting over the excessive use of the work "but". It got a little frustrating after a while. Aside from that I didn’t really find a flaw with this book.

Pick it up and prepare to be sucked into Seeking Havok!

HAPPY READING!!

REVIEW: Vain by Fisher Amelie

Book Summary

If you’re looking for a story about a good, humble girl, who’s been hurt by someone she thought she could trust, only to find out she’s not as vulnerable as she thought she was and discovers an empowering side of herself that falls in love with the guy who helps her find that self, blah, blah, blah...then you’re gonna’ hate my story.

Because mine is not the story you read every time you bend back the cover of the latest trend novel. It’s not the “I can do anything, now that I’ve found you/I’m misunderstood but one day you’ll find me irresistible because of it” tale. Why? Because, if I was being honest with you, I’m a complete witch. There’s nothing redeeming about me. I’m a friend using, drug abusing, sex addict from Los Angeles. I’m every girlfriend’s worst nightmare and every boy’s fantasy.

I’m Sophie Price...And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most envied girl to the girl no one wanted around and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Sophie is a pretty shitty person. She uses everyone around her and only cares about herself. She lives an uninhabited life and doesn’t care who she has to stomp on to get her next high or low. When a night of partying turns into a disaster Sophie is not ready for what’s coming next. Fed up with their daughter’s reputation and antics, Sophie’s parents decide to ship her off to Africa. A journey that changes everything within the course of a few months. Her new home is not posh and wonderful like LA, and partying is not an option. With the guidance of her new bosses, her new job, and Ian, Sophie soon realizes that she is the creator of her destiny.

Africa is not anything like LA. There is poverty but there is also a group of malicious humans that murder women and their young. Sophie must come to terms with her new world and learn to accept that her life is changing. No longer does she crave her old life. She lives for waking up to the laughs of her students, the warmness of her peers, and a man that shows her just how much she deserves to be loved.

This leads me to the romance in the book. Three words, it was wonderful. I enjoyed the building relationship between Sophie and Ian and loved the tension at the beginning. I found Ian to be pretty incredible and his decision to stick with Sophie was really kind. There were moments where these two were frustrating but they didn’t outweigh the moments where their love and friendship blossomed.

I can’t say enough how much this book captivated me. To be able to have a small peek into the real world problems in Uganda was heartbreaking but eye-opening. The struggle and the realness of this story had me turning page after page and ignoring everything around me. It focused on real issues, had characters you connected with, as well as a wonderful love story imbedded into its pages.

You should pick up this book and expect to tune out the world as your delve into Sophie’s journey.

HAPPY READING!

REVIEW: Sparrow by Sara Mack

Purchase Link:  AMAZON

Book Summary

When Kyle Dayton was seventeen, he lost his heart to Addison Parks.

It was easy to do. After spending countless summers of boredom with his grandmother at Buhl Lake, Kyle’s world turned upside down the minute Addison appeared. She was unlike any girl he had ever met; she was confident, out-going, and honest. She was beautiful inside and out, and she accepted Kyle for who he was ~ a young man without direction. They shared an amazing summer and, despite living miles apart, Kyle felt sure they had a future.

Until she vanished without a trace.

Where did she go? How could she disappear without saying a word? Was everything between them a lie? Unable to answer his own questions, Kyle had no choice other than to bury his memories and move on with his life. Eight years later, his hard work to forget is threatened when he is forced to return to Buhl Lake. Faced with reminders of Addison, Kyle wonders if he will ever discover the truth.

Little does he know it is about to be revealed.

Sparrow is the story of finding love, losing it, and the uncertain journey to reclaiming it again.

*Due to language and suggestive scenes, Sparrow is recommended for ages 17+

First thank you to Sara Mack for providing an ARC of sparrow to read and review.

Sparrow tells the love story of Kyle and Addison. After meeting at the lake when they were sixteen both feel a connection that transcends time. But after a lovely summer together everything ends abruptly. Kyle's world is turned upside down and he lives his life wondering what happened with Addison. 

Years later when Kyle and Addison are brought together by certain circumstances, Kyle is adamant to get the answers to the questions he has had for a long time. When those questions are answered and a friendship is formed the story takes a turn. What starts as a friendship turns into so much more and eventually they must face reality. As adults they have to face the reality of the screwed up situation they are in and the fire they are playing with. 

As an avid fan of Sara, I wish I could rate this higher and say that I obsessed over Kyle and Addison's story. Sadly, I cannot. I thought their story was sweet. They fell in love and never fell out of it. They had a few "bumps" in the road but those were solved pretty neatly. My issue wasn't with the story itself but with the disconnect with the characters. I didn't feel any connection to Kyle or Addison and wasn't immersed in their story like I wish I could have been. 

Surprisingly,  I found myself more interested in the secondary characters lives, then in the protags. I think Sara did a wonderful job of providing a little background for her secondary characters in the book. I was particularly interested in Jen and look forward to maybe reading more about her.

Overall,  Sparrow was a good read. Although I'm rating this 3 stars,  I would recommend this book to anyone that wants a sweet and light read.

Also, if you haven't checked out Sara's Guardian series, I recommend you do.  

HAPPY READING!

~BLOG TOUR~NEW RELEASE & EXCERPT: Breaking Free by SM Koz

Title: Breaking Free

Author: S.M. Koz

Release Date: August 1, 2014
Purchase Links: AMAZON (FREE on AUGUST 1st)

Synopsis: 

Kelsie Sullivan’s life has changed forever. The once outgoing cheerleader has a secret to hide. The car accident that killed her best friend Jenna? She caused it. 

With an absent father and unforgiving stepmother, Kelsie has nowhere to turn. She manages her guilt and grief with razor blades. The fleeting release she experiences becomes an obsession and soon she can no longer hide it. Once her cutting is revealed, Kelsie’s parents enroll her in a Wilderness Therapy program designed to rehabilitate troubled teens, but North Carolina is a world away from California. 

Kelsie fights against everything the program has to offer until she befriends JC, a boy with a tortured past of his own. He’s also the only one who is able to ease her pain. The two grow close, but quickly discover that nature—both human and elemental—can easily rip them apart.

Disclaimer: This book contains adult language, sexual themes, and explicit self-harm behavior. Parental discretion is recommended for those under 15 years of age.

ADD TO GOODREADS

~MY REVIEW~

~TRAILER~

~EXCERPT~

~About the Author~

SM Koz was born in Michigan, but moved to North Carolina for college and never left.

She enjoys traveling, camping, hiking, photography, reading, spending time with foster kids who call her house home, and learning new things. When she’s not creating online training for pharmaceutical companies (her day job) or writing, Koz can be found at the local community college taking courses on various topics ranging from digital art to HTML to desktop publishing. Next in line are auto mechanics and cake decorating.

Being trained as a veterinarian, it’s not surprising that Koz and her husband were recently told they have a mini-zoo with their two dogs, fish, cockatiels, and foster cats. In the past, they have also had parakeets and a snake. Other than the fish, all the animals were acquired through rescue organizations, something Koz wholeheartedly supports.

Breaking Free is Koz’s third original novel and fifth overall, but the only one she feels compelled to publish at this time. Her hope is that individuals who struggle with cutting may be inspired by Kelsie’s story and find the strength they need to begin the healing process.

Connect with SM Koz: Facebook    Twitter

REVIEW: The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller by L.B. Simmons

Synopsis

Sometimes death isn't the end. Sometimes it's a beautiful beginning...

Death.

For some, it's simply one of life's certainties, nothing more. For others, it's merely a fleeting thought, one often overshadowed by the reckless delusion that they have been blessed with the gift of immortality.

For Aubrey Miller, death is the definition of her very existence. Overcome with the guilt resulting from the loss of her beloved family, she alters her appearance from the once beautiful, blonde-haired, blue-eyed little girl to that of one shrouded in complete darkness, enveloping herself in her own unbreakable fortress of solitude as a form of protection for others.

As she enters her first year of college, her goal is simple: Earn a degree with the least amount of social interaction as possible. What she never anticipates is the formation of very unlikely relationships with two people who will change her life in ways she never believed possible: Quinn Matthews, the boisterous former pageant queen, and Kaeleb McMadden, a childhood friend from her past who never really let her go.

Over the years, as their connections intertwine and grow, a seemingly indestructible bond is formed between the three...

But when death painfully reemerges, Aubrey is lost once again, burying herself deeper than ever before inside the familiar fortification of her fears.

Will the refuge of friendship, the solidarity of life-long bonds, and the power of unconditional love be enough to do the impossible?

Will they be enough to finally bring about...

The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller?

****WARNING - Due to the graphic nature of some scenes, this book is intended for mature audiences only. Contains adult language and themes.****

ADD TO GOODREADS

~MY REVIEW~

The Plot

“Life is full of so much that you refuse to let yourself experience. The blanketing comfort of love, the fulfillment of contagious laughter, the peace of finding true joy, the butterflies of uncontainable excitement…these are all things that make up life. They should never be taken for granted. You of all people should understand that, sweetheart.”

Since the age of seven Aubrey has watched as everyone close to her had died. Living with the guilt of their deaths she invented Raven. When she starts college she is hell-bent on keeping everyone away from her. But she doesn’t count on her new roommate and her past breaking every barrier she has built. As they show her what it truly is to love and care for someone Raven comes to realize that maybe Aubrey isn’t completely gone. But her journey isn’t easy and she must come face to face with her demons even if she rather not.

The Characters

“Every being in this world makes an impact on at least one person they encounter during their lifetime. You can change the course of someone’s life by just a kind word, a hateful one, or even by simply choosing not to say anything at all. Every choice you make has the potential to create a ripple effect, trickling into and affecting the lives of others.”

I have to say that I enjoyed all of the characters equally. Every one of them had their own personal demons that they had to overcome so it made the story much more involved. This is one of the first stories I’ve read where the secondary characters didn’t feel that way. Quinn and Kaeleb were not picture perfect had their own battles to overcome. They were the best of friends and helped Aubrey find her former self. But there came a point where Aubrey had to fight for herself and that was truly the part where I came to adore her because she finally faced her fears and let “Raven” go.

The Romance

“I hope that one day you’ll find that source of light and let it heal you, too. Because if you do, it will illuminate your path and eventually lead you home. To me.”

Kaeleb and Aubrey were wonderful together. Kaeleb was cocky but so adorable and so understanding. When Aubrey fought against him he fought back and pushed her just the right amount. When he needed her to fight her own battles he kept his distance but didn’t give up. I freaking ADORED him! The chemistry between these two was mesmerizing and I could not get enough of them!

The Wrap-up

So what are you waiting for? Pick up the Resurrection of Aubrey Miller and prepare to love it! If you’ve read Running in Place, you will love these two just as much as Noah and Tate. If there is one thing I can always count on in an L.B. Simmons book it is the swoonworthy boys!:)

Happy Reading!

~REVIEW~ Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Synopsis

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

ADD TO GOODREADS

~MY REVIEW~

The Plot

Allegiant starts off a few days after Insurgent and Tris and her friends are being held prisoners by Evelyn. When they are exonerated after Tris is put under the truth serum, they watch as the new order functions. When the faction members decide to fight back the Allegiant are formed. Tris along with Tobias, Christina, Caleb, Peter, Cara, Uriah and Tori set out to find out what exactly is behind the fence they have always protected. What they find is shocking and turns up to be much worse than the faction world they were raised in.

The group sets out to uncover the truth of the Bureau and bring back order to their home as well as the new world they discovered. Lives are taken, betrayals are made, and at the end the ultimate sacrifice is made for the good.

The Characters

Okay lets starts of with Tris because I think she is a pretty kick ass heroine. Tris has always had the best interest at heart but she has grown to be a selfless leader. In Divergent and Insurgent she worried so much that she was selfish and also made some mistakes by jumping the gun. That changed in Allegiant. She was a soldier, but a strategic and kind one. She thought things through before acting and she learned to be leader. She was a hero. And although she loved Tobias I was happy to see her stand up to him and point out his wrongs and his worries about being “damaged”. She was a stronger version of the girl that we met in Divergent and I can’t say how much I adored her growth as a character.

This leads me to Tobias. I wish I could say he was everything I loved in the story. That’s not the case. He kind of disappointed me a lot in this book. In Divergent he was this wonderful guy that was strong, bad-ass, kind and caring. I wanted to see him grow and open up to the people that loved him. That didn’t really happen. In Allegiant, there is really not left of “Four”. For the first half of the book, all that is left is an insecure and disappointing, Tobias. He spent the whole book struggling through insecurity over what others thought about him and in the first half, made a really stupid decision. A decision that had terrible repercussions. I have to admit there were times at the beginning of this book I wanted to punch him and shake the stupidness out of him. When we reach the middle of the book we finally get to see that kindness in him again and that hurt he has never been able to let go. That “weakness” in him made me want to reach through the book and hug him. Nonetheless, I didn’t see now growth in him and in a way I feel like I should have felt more a connection to his character than what I felt at the end.

Now the secondary characters have always been my favorite. I loved Christina and Uriah and seeing their growth through the series was pretty fantastic. I also have to admit that I liked Peter, Caleb, Cara and Matthew. Although I have had a strong hate relationship with Peter and Caleb, at the end I feel like they at least realized their wrongdoings.

The Romance

Umm…yeah I’m not even going to touch on this because there is no reason too. Nothing happens that’s different from the prior books. To me romance wasn’t even a part of this book.

Love on the other hand was and that all knowing and self-sacrificing love was something I cherished about this series.

The Wrap-Up

So okay I had many issues with the first half of the book which made this a 4 star read for me. It was slow, boring and repetitive. I was about to give up but decided I had to make it through this. I’m glad I did because the second half is action packed and what I fell in love with in Divergent. I can’t tell you how many times I cried, how much heartbreak I felt and how much anger. This series had a different ending than I’m used to, but somehow I couldn’t see it ending any other way. At the end of it all sacrifice for those you love is one of the themes touched about in this whole series.
Overall, if you’ve started the series, end it with this. Prepare for a slow start but bear it and you will see the finale to Tris’s story.

HAPPY READING!! 

Favorite Quotes:

“There are so many ways to be brave in this world. Sometimes bravery involves laying down your life for something bigger than yourself, or for someone else. Sometimes it involves giving up everything you have ever known, or everyone you have ever loved, for the sake of something greater.

But sometimes it doesn't.

Sometimes it is nothing more than gritting your teeth through pain, and the work of every day, the slow walk toward a better life.

That is the sort of bravery I must have now.”

“I fell in love with him. But I don't just stay with him by default as if there's no one else available to me. I stay with him because I choose to, every day that I wake up, every day that we fight or lie to each other or disappoint each other. I choose him over and over again, and he chooses me.” 

“She taught me all about real sacrifice. That it should be done from love... That it should be done from necessity, not without exhausting all other options. That it should be done for people who need your strength because they don't have enough of their own.”

“I belong to the people I love, and they belong to me--they, and the love and loyaty I give them, form my identity far more than any word or group ever could.” 

“Yeah, sometimes life really sucks," she says. "But you know what I'm holding on for?"

I raise my eyebrows.

She raises hers, too, mimicking me.

"The moments that don't suck," she says. "The trick is to notice them when they come around.”

~BLOG TOUR~ REVIEW: How to Seduce a Band Geek by Cassie Mae

Synopsis

Sierra Livingston’s got it bad for her sister’s best friend, Levi Mason—the boy who carries his drumsticks in his pocket, marches with the school’s band, and taps his feet to whatever beat runs through his head. Sierra racks her brain for ways to impress the sexy drummer, but the short skirts and bursting cleavage don’t seem to cut it.

When Sierra gets paired with Levi’s sister, Brea, for a mentorship program, they strike a deal. In exchange for Sierra keeping her mouth shut about Brea ditching the program, Brea lets Sierra dig for more info on Levi to help get the guy of her dreams.

But when Sierra discovers Levi no longer plays the drums, his family has moved into a trailer, and he’s traded in his Range Rover for a baby blue moped, Sierra’s not sure if she can go through with violating his privacy. She’ll have to find the courage to ask him straight out—if he’s willing to let her in—and explore other ways to seduce the school’s band geek.

ADD TO GOODREADS

BUY: AMAZON ~ KOBO

~MY REVIEW~ 
**ARC provided by author for blog tour.**

The Plot

In How to Date a Nerd we meet Zoe Livingston and were introduced to her sister Sierra. How to Seduce a Band Geek is Sierra’s story.

Just like Zoe, Sierra has always wanted to fit in with her peers. After crashing her sisters car into a tree to prevent her boyfriend from seducing her she becomes the pariah at her school. Day to day is a constant hell as her classmates belittle her because of her choice. As time passes she tries to get through it by trying to be invisible. The only friend she has is a guy that is like a brother and a girl that turns out to be the worst possible friend ever.

As she tries to accept her predicament and get the attention of her sister’s best friend, Levi, Sierra must also deal with the constant hurdles high school throws at you. Until the boy she has had a crush on turns out to be her saving grace. That is when Sierra truly learns what it is to love someone wholeheartedly. To the point where you want to take care of them.

The Characters

Sierra is so much different from Zoe but also the same in their compassion. Zoe was finally able to be herself with her “nerd” and what Sierra finds is that she is able to open herself up to a “band geek”. Both girls find themselves with people they never imagined. In How to Date a Nerd I was angry with Sierra and thought she was a selfish girl. In How to Seduce a Band Geek we see her so differently. She has grown up but still lives with the repercussions of her actions in HtDaN. What I do like is that she learns to let go of that uptight stuck-up girl attitude and just be herself. I found that those were the parts I loved most about her. She was sweet and cared about all the people around her. Even the ones that didn’t deserve it.

Levi was pretty cool too. He had so much going on for someone his age which made me adore him. Zak was wonderful but Levi was so as wonderful, if not more. He was sweet, protective, caring and most of all he was confident of himself. He had to deal with losing everything he had and taking on a lot of responsibility but did so without complaining. He worried about his loved ones more than about himself. I was so sad to see him struggle to take care of everyone and wanted someone to finally take care of him. Which is what Sierra tries to do. I didn’t enjoy him pushing away Sierra when she wanted to help but was glad that he realized she was his beacon of light.

The Romance

If there is something I never complain about with Cassie’s books it’s the romance. She takes a pure and sweet approach to the romance between her characters. So much so that the story has you feeling the excitement of your first love over and over again. The romance between Sierra and Levi isn't any different. It was sweet and pure but also heart wrenching and marred with sadness. I loved how they both found their “home” in each other and wanted nothing more but to be able to love without consequences. I loved their determination to take care of each other and those they loved.

The Wrap-up

So although I enjoyed HtDaN I have to say that I really enjoyed this one a bit more. I loved Sierra and Levi’s characters as well as being able to reconnect with Zoe and Zak. Cassie Mae does an AWESOMESAUCE job with sweet and lovely romances. I cannot wait for the next book in this series to release!

 
HAPPY READING!

~About the Author~

Amazon multi-category and international bestselling author of HOW TO DATE A NERD, HOW TO SEDUCE A BAND GEEK and HOW TO HOOK A BOOKWORM

Cassie Mae is a nerd to the core from Utah, who likes to write about other nerds who find love. Her angel children and perfect husband fan her and feed her grapes while she clacks away on the keyboard. Then she wakes up from that dream world and manages to get a few words on the computer while the house explodes around her. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with the youth in her community as a volleyball and basketball coach, or searching the house desperately for chocolate.

Cassie Mae is an Amazon.com bestselling author of the teen contemporary romance novel REASONS I FELL FOR THE FUNNY FAT FRIEND, which she self-published. In addition to publishing with Swoon Romance, she is published by Random House Flirt.

Author Links: Blog ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest

~GIVEAWAY~

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~REVIEW~Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

 

Synopsis

Since she'd been on the outside, she'd survived an Aether storm, she'd had a knife held to her throat, and she'd seen men murdered.

This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland — known as The Death Shop — are slim. If the cannibals don't get her, the violent energy storms will. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He's wild — a savage — and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile—everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria's help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must come together to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

ADD TO GOODREADS

~MY REVIEW~

The Plot

IN UNDER THE NEVER SKY we Aria is a Dweller that lives in a world where everything is perfect. There are no sickness, no arguments, no hurt, and much more that we all wish for in a perfect world. when she angers their leader she is thrust into the world they have always feared. The REAL. Aria has no idea how to come to terms with her new predicament but she does know she must find her mother.

In "The Death Shop" Aria is continuously rescued by an "Dangerous Outsider" and has no way of escaping him because she is his only means to rescuing his nephew. Together they embark on a journey filled with threats of death, betrayal from those they trusted, and the fear of the Aether storm, which can disseminate them in seconds.

The Characters

Aria starts off as a clueless girl. She has always had questions about her the world she resides in but has been content with the protective shell she lives in.  When her mother goes missing and she is banished from her world she finds herself lost with no idea what to do next. When she meet Perry she is afraid of him and angry with his treatment of her. But as she comes to learn the ways of the world she is now living in she experiences changes she never would have had in Reverie. Her need to find her mother and later to save Perry's nephew consumes her and inspires her to learn as much as she can about herself and her potential. She was frustrating at first but then turns out to be a wonderful character.

Perry is so intimidating and so closed off when we meet him that its hard to know what to expect from him. The one thing we know off the bat is his fierce protectiveness of his nephew and his wish to help his people. That alone will have you wanting to know more about him. When he meets Aria he is angry at himself and at her for the predicament they are in but he is willing to fight for both of their missions. He detest Aria at first but as he comes to learn about her he starts to grow fonder and protective of her. Until protecting her becomes as important as finding his nephew.

The Romance

What starts off as a hate relationship quickly turns to one of friendship. Throughout the story both characters learn alot about each other and come to terms with the struggles they encounter. Little by little Perry and Aria learn to work together to accomplish their mission. During that time friendship turns into a fierce need to protect each other. A love is born that neither saw coming.

The Wrap-up

This was a wonderful start to what I can only assume is a great series. I cannot wait to start book 2 and see what is in stored for both these characters.

HAPPY READING! 

Favorite Quotes:

“People can be cruelest to those they love.”  

“Aria... everyone feels lost and low. It's how a person acts that makes them different” 

“The more I try to catch up, the farther I fall behind.”

  

“Because people are more than emotions. People have thoughts and reasons for doing things.”

~REVIEW~ MARKED by Elisabeth Naughton

Synopsis

THERON - Dark haired, duty bound and deceptively deadly. He's the leader of the Argonauts, an elite group of guardians that defends the immortal realm from threats of the Underworld.

From the moment he walked into the club, Casey knew this guy was different. Men like that just didn't exist in real life--silky shoulder-length hair, chest impossibly broad, and a predatory manner that just screamed dark and dangerous. He was looking for something. Her.

She was the one. She had the mark. Casey had to die so his kind could live, and it was Theron's duty to bring her in. But even as a 200-year-old descendant of Hercules, he wasn't strong enough to resist the pull in her fathomless eyes, to tear himself away from the heat of her body.

As war with the Underworld nears, someone will have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

ADD TO GOODREADS

 

~MY REVIEW~

The Plot

Never feeling like she fits in, never relating with the people who she encounters, and suffering from a terrible sickness. Those are only half of the problems Casey encounters in her life. Her world changes when she bumps into Theron at her job. Theron is an Argonaut and has a job to do, which includes delivering Casey to the King of Argolea. But the King isn’t the only one that wants Casey and Theron soon learns that protecting her from the daemons after her is much more vital. They are after Casey in order to stop a prophecy from being fulfilled but what Theron and others learn quickly is that there are always secret hidden, even among your kind. What starts off as a mission to bring Casey back to Argolea so that she can fulfill the prophecy changes when he gets to know more about Casey and the world she belongs too.  

The Characters

Casey is a wonderful heroine. I felt bad for her at times because she was bombarded with the truth of who she was and had to accept it quickly. She lived a life where she didn’t feel part of the world and she was lonely throughout it. And throughout it all she doesn’t ever let it bring her down. She is sweet, generous and loving but also fierce and courageous. She also loves books which just makes her perfect. J When she learns that he is a Miso she takes it in stride and is selfless as she makes decisions about her life and others. I admired her throughout the book but was also frustrated because most of the book she was a lovesick puppy. It was always about how delicious, tall, handsome and strong Theron was every time they were together. Her sexual frustration just seeped through every other page.

So Theron, what can I say about him? He was everything an Alpha male would be: tall, handsome, possessive, angry at the world, always craving sex, and protective. He is the leader of the Argonauts and lives his life killing daemons and extracting revenge. In the beginning there is no humanity in him which makes him hard to connect with. As he spends time with Casey little by little you learn to connect with him a bit more. But again like Casey he was filled with lust every other page which has you questioning if that’s all he wants from her. Nevertheless he was a hero throughout the story and had his wonderful moments throughout. The moments where he was weak were the moments you got to see more of the man he is and the leader he is destined to be.

The Romance

The attraction to each other is quick between these two. Throughout the whole entire book they cannot ignore how much they want each other. But what starts off as just a desire quickly becomes much more between them. The moments that they can fight off the desire are few but give you a chance to see the other side of Theron and those are the moments I enjoyed the most. When he isn’t aroused and wanting to devour Casey you get to know much more about his tender side and see how he really does love and care for Casey  as well as his race.

The Wrap Up

This book had two of my favorite things, romance and mythology; I have to say that I was quickly enraptured. I can’t wait to read more of the other Argonauts, specifically Demetrious, Orpheus and Zander. I also can’t wait to read more about Nick and the rest of the Miso’s.  Now I must warn that there are various POVs in this book and some are short and I was worried about that but in the end it helped us understand the whole story. I've order the next two books in the series and cannot wait to start them! So yes, pick this up and read it!

Happy Reading!

Favorite Quotes:

“Those are my people. That girl is one of my race. So don’t you dare tell me this is none of my business.”
" Never question your ability or what destiny has called you to do. This is your Star Wars moment, my son. Stand up and do what you were meant to do.”

~REVIEW~ Choose Us by Caylie Marcoe

 

 Synopsis

Riley Logan and Travis Grayson have been best friends for the last fifteen years. She would do anything for him, go anywhere for him…and she has, countless times. Except now. Now he’s asking for too much. Their friendship has reached a breaking point and she doesn’t know how to go back. But as Travis’ personal assistant, Riley spends her every waking moment by his side.

When a fractured ankle puts Travis’ BMX career on hold he’s given more downtime than he knows what to do with. Always one for excitement, he agrees to become the bachelor on a televised dating show, but only if Riley goes in undercover to help weed through the girls.

What was supposed to be eight weeks of freedom has turned into eight weeks of hell surrounded by desperate girls all vying for Travis’ attention. He promised her the show would be smooth sailing. He promised he would listen to her advice on which girls should be eliminated. But now he’s breaking those promises and getting way too close to the girl Riley despises the most.

She shouldn’t care. Except she does. Much to her surprise there is one girl she wants Travis to choose…

Her.

Will she get what she wants, or will Riley lose her best friend along with getting her heart broken on national television?

ADD TO GOODREADS

~MY REVIEW~

“I wanted it to be a day you’d remember forever- the day we stepped into our future together.”

Riley and Travis have been best friends since they first met. Riley is used to what her job as a personal assistant entails. When Travis became a BMX star, Riley was right there through it all with him. There was no other place she would rather be than with Travis. She is an exceptional friend. So against her better judgment, she decides to help Travis when he begs for her help him weed out contestants on the show he is to be apart of.

Travis in whole is a character! He is a bit of playboy but he is sweet and caring. To him, Riley isn’t just an employee; she is also his best friend. He takes care of her the same way she does him. So when he is asked to join The Bachelor there is no way he would join without having her there with him. He looks forward to having her help him find the right girl for him and to fish out the fakers.

What starts off as a great plan quickly changes when things start to unravel in their relationship. Soon their banter and encounters on the show turn into so much more than they expected. And when they realize it, a bit too late, alot of drama ensues. Riley isn’t the only one vying for Travis’s attention and when things don’t turn out as she plans things get “ugly”.

Don’t miss out on Choose Us! It is a fun and light read that you don’t want to miss out on. Once I started the book I was quickly consumed with the storyline. I loved the characters and the way the story progressed. Best friend romances are the best! Pick this up!

Happy Reading!

~REVIEW~ Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth

Synopsis

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

 ADD TO GOODREADS

~REVIEW~

OMG!!! What a cliffhanger!!

Insurgent was a great continuation to the series! In this book we start off right where Divergent ended. Tris and the group are in Amity and are trying to regroup. But regrouping is not easy when you are in a different faction from what you are accustomed to and when you are being hunted. A war has begun among the factions and this book will have you delving deeper into the secrets kept from everyone.

I enjoyed getting to know more about the other factions and to be able to see how they kept the "harmony" in their society. If there was one thing I was disappointed with was the secrets kept between Tris and Four. If it weren't for their stubbornness some things wouldn't have gone down the way they did.

Overall, Insurgent as a great sequel and I am looking forward to reading Allegiant.

Pick this book up! Read this entire series!

HAPPY READING!

FAVORITE QUOTES:

“No matter how long you train someone to be brave, you never know if they are or not until something real happens.”

“People, I have discovered, are layers and layers of secrets. You believe you know them, that you understand them, but their motives are always hidden from you, buried in their own hearts. You will never know them, but sometimes you decide to trust them.”

“I’ll be your family now,” he says.
“I love you,” I say.
I said that once, before I went to Erudite headquarters, but he was asleep then. I don’t know why I didn’t say it when he could hear it. Maybe I was afraid to trust him with something so personal as my devotion. Or afraid that I did not know what it was to love someone. But now I think the scary thing was not saying it before it was almost too late. Not saying it before it was almost too late for me.
I am his, and he is mine, and it has been that way all along.
He stares at me. I wait with my hands clutching his arms for stability as he considers his response.
He frowns at me. “Say it again.”
“Tobias,” I say, “I love you.”
His skin is slippery with water and he smells like sweat and my shirt sticks to his arms when he slides them around me. He presses his face to my neck and kisses me right above the collarbone, kisses my cheek, kisses my lips.
“I love you, too,” he says.”

~REVIEW~ Angelfall by Susan Ee

Synopsis

It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

Recommended for ages 16 and up.

ADD TO GOODREADS

~MY REVIEW~

Angelfall has been on my bookshelf for the past year and I haven't had the chance to pick it up. Once I did I was intrigued with the storyline and the romance. Unfortunately, I didn't get much romance. :(

Penryn was a tough girl and she had guts which I adored about her. Every since her world collapsed she's been the "guardian" of her wheelchair bound sister and psychotic mother. During one of her moves to a safer place she encounters Raffe about to be killed by other angels and intervenes. Because of her intervening her sisters is taken by the angels.

Intent on getting her sister back Penryn fights tooth and nail to get the rude and arrogant Raffe to help her find the angels. And because she hold all the cards Raffe is forced to comply.

Together Penryn and Raffe journey to enemies territory. However, getting there isn't easy. They encounter a group of humans who are building to fight back and a creature that is like no other they've ever encountered. 

Angelfall is filled with plenty of action but sadly not enough romance. There is something brewing between Penryn and Raffe but it is not the theme of the book. It doesn't take away from the story and I understand that it is a slow building love but I wanted more. I can never have enough. :) I will continue the series and hope to get more of these two together.

It is worth the read!

FAVORITE QUOTES:

“I knew from the start that your loyalty would get you killed. I just never thought it would be your loyalty to me that would do it.” 

“I never thought about it before, but I'm proud to be human. We're ever so flawed. We're frail, confused, violent, and we struggle with so many issues. But all in all, I'm proud to be a Daughter of Man.”

“Angels are violent creatures.”
“So I noticed. I used to think they were all sweet and kind."
“Why would you think that? Even in your Bible, we’re harbingers of doom, willing and able to destroy entire cities. Just because we sometimes warned one or two of you beforehand doesn’t make us altruistic.”

HAPPY READING!!

~REVIEW~ Odin's Murder by Angel Lawson & Kira Gold

Synopsis

“Hard time prepared me for many things, but playing research assistant to a flock of nerds wasn’t one of them.”

Ethan Tyrell is out of his element at the College Scholastic Honors Program for exceptional students. But at least he’s out of prison. Keeping his temper and his hands to himself isn’t so easy when an irritating professor demands full participation with a mismatched study group, where he clashes with his roommate’s sister, Memory.

Memory Erikssen is not the kind of girl a boy can forget; she makes sure of that. Quick with both a charcoal pencil and a lipstick, she won’t draw the same line or walk the same path twice, and antagonizing Ethan is a break from the usual academic doldrums.

Ethan and Memory find themselves tangled together by more than their special abilities–and mutual irritation–as members of their team go missing, and they unravel a dangerous mystery that spans centuries of local and distant legends.

ADD TO GOODREADS

~MY REVIEW~

Odin's Murder was just what I expected! It was a wonderful read filled with romance, suspense and interesting history. I loved the crow aspect of the story and was enthralled with the facts and myths surrounding them.

The story revolves around Memory and Ethan and their attraction to each other. Ethan is a bad boy who is sent to camp in order to avoid prison. Memory is just at camp to appease her twin brother, Julian. At first they are not receptive of each other but as the story progresses they can't deny what is developing between them.

As they all research the history of the crows, Julian, Memory, Ethan and Amy come to realize that there is a connection between them. For some reason they are all haunted by the animal they are researching. And as one by one they start to disappear it is up to Ethan and Memory to uncover the truth. One that will change their lives forever.

Angel Lawson and Kira Gold weave a wonderful story in Odin's Murder. I enjoyed reading about the crows and seeing how the story progressed. My only complaint was that Memory's character was not one I connected with. When I reached the end of the book there wasn't anything that made her stand out. The rest of the characters I did enjoy.

I would encourage you to pick this up and give it a try!

HAPPY READING!