~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.

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~MY REVIEW~

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~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: Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

Synopsis

There's something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia...

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family as fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walkers by. But this is nothing compared to what she's just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor... from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she'll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including the maddeningly stubborn yet handsome Daniel, the situation becomes dire. An now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

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The Plot

Zombies are slowly taking over the country. For everyone in Philadelphia their perfect lives is about to change forever. Zombies have arrived in Philadelphia. And one of them attacks to deliver a note for Eleanor. A note that her brother has sent about being delayed.

When Eleanor realizes that her brother might be in danger she turns to the only people who might help her. The Spirit-Hunters that have arrived in Philadelphia. She is quickly thrust into the world of zombies and the Spirit-Hunters where she learns much more about herself and her will to find the answers to her questions.

Not only does she have to worry about finding her brother. She must also deal with an overbearing mother that if forcing Eleanor to find a husband, a royal that has his sights set on her, and a boy that sets her blood on fire. In Something Strange and Deadly, Eleanor learns to what extents she would go to save her brother and the people she cares about.

The Characters

Eleanor Fitts is the daughter of the once royal Philadelphia Fitts. With her brother missing she is charged with trying to save her family’s wealth. Even if that means potentially marrying someone she does not get along with. But Eleanor refuses to let anyone tell her what to do. She has a determination and stubbornness that is inflexible. When faced with the zombies and a city that is filled with evilness she willingly offers to help and learn. She is fierce and doesn’t let anyone bully her. Female leads like Eleanor make books much more enjoyable.

Joseph, Jie and Daniel are the Spirit-Hunters that Philadelphia has called upon. They are there for one purpose and one purpose only. To rid the city of the zombies. When Eleanor’s mother unleashes an evil spirit into the world, they are determined to help Eleanor send it back to hell. What they don’t count on is the lack of support of the city and the “hungry” zombies attacking nobles. As they try to find Ethan, find a way to kill the “hungry” zombies as well as regular zombies, and banish an evil spirit, the Spirit-Hunters come to realize that the problem is much more dangerous than they thought.

The Romance

Although there is a building romance in the book there isn’t much of it. Daniel and Eleanor are two different people with two different duties in life. Although their time together is sweet it is also infrequent.

The Wrap-up

Something Strange and Deadly was a pretty good story. I enjoyed the historical aspect as well as the zombie aspect to the story. There were parts I thought were slow but overall I liked the story woven. Because I live in Philadelphia I found myself imagining all the places the author portrayed in the book. Overall a pretty good read. I look forward to reading more about Eleanor’s new abilities and her relationship with the Spirit-Hunters. 

Happy Reading!!

REVIEW: Divine Vices by Melissa Parkin

Synopsis

Danger seldom leaves its victims unscathed in the ways of seduction, and this lesson is one that sixteen-year-old Cassie Foster now knows all too well.

Nine months following the traumatic accident that claimed the life of her mother and sister, this high school junior has at last found a fresh start in the quiet town of New Haven, Maine. In the company of her best friends, Ian and Gwen, she’s bracing the usual turmoil of adolescence and taking all in stride… until the new transfer student, Jackson Matthews, comes walking into her life. He’s arrogant, sarcastic, roguish, devastatingly sexy, and the very last thing Cassie wants to entertain. But when circumstances drive these two together, she finds herself a bit too close for comfort as their bond intensifies. Plagued by unexplainable events, a sudden string of disappearances, and even a cult-related murder, Cassie begins to fear for her life. Is it all just a coincidence that these happenings began when this Casanova strolled into town, or has she in fact fallen for a real lady-killer, or worse?

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(Thank you to the author for providing a reviewing copy.)

The Plot

Cassie Foster lives a semi-normal life. After a tragic accident claims the life of her mother and sister she only has her father. With her two best friends everything in Cassie’s life seems to be going pretty well. But when girls start disappearing and Cassie starts feeling like someone is hunting her, she attempts to get to the bottom of the mystery. Along with her best friends, and an unlikely ally, Cassie learns a little more about who she is and what real dangers surround her.

The Characters

I must say that Cassie is a pretty great heroine. Although she has her moments of jumping to the wrong conclusions she is pretty much a strong heroine. She is a wonderful friend to both Gwen and Ian considering their personalities are all different. She doesn’t let anyone tell her what to do and when she needs to speak up she does so without hesitation. The moment that Jackson Matthew walks into her life everything she has always thought she knew turns out to be so much more. He is infuriating and shallow but there is a part of her that knows there is so much more. The way she handles Jackson gives us a look at the real building of a relationship, I think. Although things pile up against him and he is arrogant and tests her temper repeatedly, she still gives him a chance, even if that chance might put her in danger.

Jackson was a good character. He was your typical swoon-worthy bad boy. He was very secretive throughout the whole book which made it difficult to connect with him. On top of that he was pretty distant most of the times which didn’t really make me life him much.

I have to mention Gwen and Ian because they were pretty integral to his story. Gwen was the best friend that wants to be popular and is chasing boys all the time. But she was pretty faithful to her friends and pretty smart when it came to attempting to solve a crime. Ian on the other hand was the best friend or boyfriend that every girl wants. Although he had his awkwardness he was comfortable in his own skin and didn’t let anyone being him down. He loved and protected Cassie and Gwen which made me adore him. He was definitely Cassie’s rock during this story. I for one can’t wait to read more about him and his abilities. I have to say that I loved his character, maybe even a little bit more than Jackson.

The Romance

I enjoyed the building on Cassie’s and Jackson’s relationship only because it was normal. They hated each other one moment and couldn’t get enough of each other the next. The witty comments between the two were definitely a part of this book that I liked. Jackson brings out the worse in Cassie, but in a good way. She comes out of her shell when he’s around and testing her patience.

The Wrap-up

Divine Vices was a pretty good read. It did have its moments where I just lost interest in the story because of the pace. There were also moments at the end which confused the hell out of me, I’m not sure if it was because the author had a hard time explaining what was going on or maybe too much was happening at once. At the end of the story I really didn’t understand what the heck was going on, other than that they were after Cassie. I think I would read the rest of the books in this series but I’m not anxiously awaiting them either. All in all I would say pick this book up and give it a try. 

HAPPY READING!

~Anniversary Celebration & Giveaway~ Left Drowning by Jessica Park

Title: Left Drowning
Author: Jessica Park
Print Length: 399 pages
ISBN: 1477817158
ASIN: B00BJQR23C
Publisher: Skyscape (July 16, 2013)
Retailers: Amazon Digital Services, Inc. | B&N
Goodreads



Synopsis:

What does it take to rise from life’s depths, swim against the current, and breathe?

Weighted down by the loss of her parents, Blythe McGuire struggles to keep her head above water as she trudges through her last year at Matthews College. Then a chance meeting sends Blythe crashing into something she doesn’t expect—an undeniable attraction to a dark-haired senior named Chris Shepherd, whose past may be even more complicated than her own. As their relationship deepens, Chris pulls Blythe out of the stupor she’s been in since the night a fire took half her family. She begins to heal, and even, haltingly, to love this guy who helps her find new paths to pleasure and self-discovery. But as Blythe moves into calmer waters, she realizes Chris is the one still strangled by his family’s traumatic history. As dark currents threaten to pull him under, Blythe may be the only person who can keep him from drowning.

*This book is intended for mature audiences due to strong language and sexual content.

Note: due to mature content recommended for Ages 17+

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BUY LINKS: Amazon | B&N

~MUSIC PLAYLIST~

~TRAILER~

~About the Author~

Jessica is the author of LEFT DROWNING, the New York Times bestselling FLAT-OUT LOVE (and the companion piece FLAT-OUT MATT), and RELATIVELY FAMOUS. She lives in New Hampshire where she spends an obscene amount time thinking about rocker boys and their guitars, complex caffeinated beverages, and tropical vacations. On the rare occasions that she is able to focus on other things, she writes.
Please visit her at jessicapark.me and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/authorjessicapark and Twitter @JessicaPark24

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5 ebooks

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