Sunday, April 30, 2017

Stacking OUR Shelves ~ 4/30/17


Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.  Make sure to checkout her post with links to all the other participates.

Click covers for Goodreads links


For Review...





Thanks go to...


Entangled Publishing
St. Martin's Paperbacks





For Review Consideration...


Beanstalker and Other Hilarious ScarytalesThe Wrong Train: Stories to Make You Miss Your StopDisappeared

Borrowed Souls (Soul Charmer #1)Public Relations



Thanks go to...


Scholastic
Talos
Grand Central Publishing



Bought...


Darkfever (Fever, #1)


That's what we added to our shelves this week! What do you think? What did you add to your stacks? Leave us a comment and link us up!


Saturday, April 29, 2017

Haunted Redemption (The Cascade #1) by Rebecca Royce

Haunted Redemption (The Cascade #1)Source: Purchased.

Haunted Redemption (The Cascade #1) by Rebecca Royce


What's more terrifying...
What you can't see,
Or what you can't remember?

Since her divorce, Kendall Madison has been in over her head. Between trying to make ends meet, raising three kids, and hunting ghosts,
Kendall just can't seem to find balance in her life. When she finally lands a job right up her alley, she hopes it’s a sign for better things
to come. She couldn't be more wrong...

Hiring Kendall to locate and eliminate ghosts is Malcolm Fallons' best way to get close to her. After years of yearning for her, he's ready to
finally have the woman who’s always been his. Unfortunately, Kendall's feelings for her ex-husband, Levi Yates, are complicated and not exactly
platonic.

When the demons of her past and present begin to threaten her family, Malcolm and Levi vow to protect her. As secrets from her childhood come to
light, Kendall is torn between both men. Only one can have her heart. Will she always be haunted by her past, or can she exorcise the shadows
before they destroy her future?




I first discovered Rebecca Royce through her Wings of Artemis series, which I devoured earlier this year. They were so great that I decided to branch out into more of Royce's books. Haunted Redemption was the first of this branching out, and it was so good!

One of the best things about this book is how unique it is. It's an adult paranormal romance in which the MC has three children. Plus, the whole story takes some awesome twists into the SERIOUSLY unexpected. It was honestly fascinating. At first I thought the story was kind of predictable, but then I was proven very wrong -- and I'm glad for it.

The characters are all so cool. They all have their own strengths and weaknesses, and goodness knows none of them are perfect. The MC, Kendall, has powers that she's been denying for a good long while that she has no choice but to stop ignoring now. I respect her for her strength and complete willingness to do what she can to provide for her children. But she does also have some quirks that were somewhat bothersome. They didn't make me hate her or anything -- on the contrary, they grounded her character as realistic. Then there is Malcolm, who I quite honestly liked the moment we met him. He's incredibly interesting, though he proved frustrating at times, too. Oh! And there's Levi, who is a really good father doing his best to deal with these new things his family is going through. I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Levi, but overall I do respect him.

And, of course, there is romance. I partly enjoyed this aspect of the novel, but it is also my only real complaint about it, too. On one hand, there are some great romantic scenes. Sweet and hot -- and I was a fan. On the other hand, it's a love triangle that I could never tell which way it was going to land and I didn't know who to root for...but I was rooting for one person in particular anyway and it made me nervous. But that also brings us back to the good half of the romance, because that means this is a well written love triangle. So basically, I like the romance and hope it can develop to a point where I can love this aspect of the series soon.

Overall, Haunted Redemption is a quick, unique, highly entertaining paranormal read. I enjoyed these characters, and I am so excited to see where their story goes next!


4 stars - Quick, unique, and highly entertaining!

Friday, April 28, 2017

Now Available ~ Lost Rider by Harper Sloan

 


lostrider1   In Lost Rider, the first Western romance in New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Harper Sloan’s Coming Home series, an injured rodeo star encounters an old flame but will she be just what he needs to get back in the saddle? Maverick Austin Davis is forced to return home after a ten-year career as a rodeo star. After one too many head injuries, he’s off the circuit and in the horse farming business, something he’s never taken much of a shine to, but now that it’s his late father’s legacy, familial duty calls. How will Maverick find his way after the only dream he ever had for himself is over? Enter Leighton Elizabeth James, an ugly duckling turned beauty from Maverick’s childhood—his younger sister’s best friend, to be exact, and someone whose heart he stomped all over when she confessed her crush to him ten years back. Now Leighton is back in Maverick’s life, no longer the insecure, love-stricken teen—and Maverick can’t help but take notice. Sparks fly between them, but will Leighton be able to open her heart to the one man who broke it all those years ago? Written in the vein of Diana Palmer and Lindsay McKenna, this Texas-set series is filled with sizzle, heart, and plenty of cowboys!
    

Amazon US | Amazon US paperback | Audible | Amazon UK | Amazon AU |

Amazon CA | BN | Kobo | iBooks | BAM | Google

       



 EXCERPT

I should tell Quinn and Clay that he’s here. But one look at him and it’s like the last ten years have never passed and I’m back at the bonfire, the awkward high schooler uncomfortable in her own skin. Marching away from him in the woods. It was the last time I saw him. How is it possible that he can affect me this much after all this time?

He hasn’t noticed me, not with his head bowed, so I quickly turn around and focus on Pastor John as he finishes up his prayer. Him being here means nothing. I should be happy that I remember the pain from that night so well, it will make keeping my walls up around him so much easier.

“On behalf of the Davis family, I want to thank everyone for coming today. At this time, the family has asked for some time alone as they say their good-byes. They wanted me to remind everyone that the PieHole will be opening up for a few hours tonight starting at five for anyone that wishes to join them.”

I keep my arm around Quinn, not looking back to where I saw Maverick. I can hear the church slowly emptying and I feel a frown pull at my lips. I had hoped that when everyone started to leave that he would have come up front to be with his family, but so far, the pew we’re in is still empty save for the three of us. We sit and wait for everyone to leave, something that Clay had asked Pastor John to make arrangements for in place of the customary recessional, knowing that no one in this town would really mean a word of it anyway. Plus, I know Quinn is having a hard time. Regardless of the fact that she wasn’t the closest with her father, she was really counting on this—Maverick home. She’s still shaking in my arms, but when I look over at Clay I realize his silence isn’t because of the heaviness of Buford’s death, but instead anger over his brother’s absence that has started to build to a boil. I fear that he’s seconds away from tipping over the edge.

I stand when Clay and Quinn do, but hang back at the edge of the row we had been sitting in as they meet Pastor John and gather their father’s ashes. I can’t wait to get out of these heels. If it would have been acceptable to wear my boots, I would have, but Quinn would have killed me. As it is, I feel like I can’t take a deep breath with how tight my dress is against my chest. I never wear tight shirts. I haven’t since my boobs became beasts of their own right. I’m too busy fiddling with the straps of my dress, trying desperately to get some of the pressure against my chest to ease up so I could take a deep breath, when I heard Quinn gasp.

“Mav!” Next thing I know she’s running past where I’m standing, her black hair streaming in the air behind her as she speeds forward right into her brother’s arms. Clay moves to stand next to me and I look up to meet his green eyes, the questions he isn’t vocalizing dancing in their emerald depths. He’s not stupid and I’m doing a crappy job at hiding the memories haunting me right now. He gives me a small smile, shifting his hold on the urn to wrap his free arm around me and pulls me into a strong hold.

“You’re shakin’,” he says against my temple and I just nod.
“I’m good, Clay. Go see your brother.”

“I’m fine right where I am, sugar.”

I keep my eyes to the ground, focusing on his worn boots instead of looking up, hating myself for making this moment about me when I should be focused on them. Like it or not, I can’t fight the feelings that being near him bring me. I’m that stupid, naive sixteen-year-old all over again. “Let’s get out of here,” he says after a few silent seconds. I look up and give him a smile, hoping that it looks a hell of a lot braver than I feel. Inside I feel like I might puke.

 “You think I could have a second with my family?”

My head shoots up at the coldness I hadn’t anticipated in Maverick’s voice. He’s not focused on me, though, instead looking at his brother with a hard expression and one brow raised upward.
“Mav!” Quinn gasps and he moves his attention from his brother to her.

“Sorry, Quinn, but I’m thinkin’ that Clay’s lady friend would understand that this should be a moment for our family and give us time alone.”

“I’ll just—”

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence, sugar,” Clay all but spits through clenched teeth and drops his arm to take a step forward. “You’ve got something to say, Mav, then say it.”

“Nothing to say, Clayton, I just think it would be nice for your girlfriend to give us some space.”
“My girlfriend,” he parrots sarcastically, his deep voice vibrating in anger.

“Mav.” Quinn attempts to butt in, but stops when Maverick leaves her side and turns to stalk out of the church. I should find it comical that he obviously didn’t recognize me, or hell, maybe he did and he’s just picking up where he left off ten years ago in the middle of the dark woods. I take a deep breath. “It’s okay. He’s right. Y’all need some time as a family. I’ll head over to the PieHole and start settin’ up for tonight.”

Quinn brushes a tear from her cheek and just shakes her head. I look at Clay to see him staring in the direction that his brother just left.

“You’re family,” he finally says, not looking in my direction.

 “Clay, really, it’s okay. It’s been a long time since y’all were back together and I don’t need to be there for that reunion. It sucks that it takes all of this to finally bring him home, but he’s here and y’all need to make up for a lot of time lost.”

“Shut up, Leighton.”

“Don’t, Clay.”

“Don’t what? You’ve got every right to be here. You’re just as much a part of our family as he is. Hell, maybe even more so than he is at this point. So just shut up, come with us, and ignore him.”
I shake my head, the fight instantly leaving my sails, knowing I would be arguing until the end of time if I pressed this issue.

“I can’t believe he doesn’t even recognize you,” Quinn whispers.

       

 
harper1
Harper is a NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL and USA TODAY bestselling author residing in Georgia with her husband and three daughters. She has a borderline unhealthy obsession with books, hibachi, tattoos and Game of Thrones. When she isn't writing you can almost always find her with a book in hand.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

The Dead List by Jennifer L. Armentrout ~ Review

The Dead ListSource: e-ARC provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Dead List by Jennifer L. Armentrout


It's Ella's senior year of high school and she and her best friend Linds plan to make it the best year ever. At Brock Cochran's end of summer pool party, the girls vow to have as much fun as possible before they head off to different colleges next fall. But when Ella is mysteriously attacked on her way home from the party, everything changes. Ella's carefree senior year plans disintegrate as she finds herself at the center of an attempted murder investigation.

Ella tries to move on, but her attacker isn't done yet. He shows himself in the form of horrifying signs and symbols: a clown mask strewn on her bed, a dead bird in her backpack, a shadow moving past her window in the night. And as the weeks pass, it turns out that Ella isn't the only one being tormented.

With the help of an old flame, Jensen Carver, and her friends and family, Ella tries to attain some sense of normalcy, but she can't seem to shake the feeling that there's a dark pattern hidden in the killer's every move. Suddenly, even those in her innermost circle seem suspicious. In her seemingly safe West Virginia town, Ella starts to wonder who she can trust.




As a fan of both Jennifer L. Armentrout and horror movies, I was so excited to finally get a chance to read The Dead List -- aka the perfect cross between both of those two things. I hadn't gotten around to reading this novel when it was on Wattpad, but getting it in my hands now was well worth the wait because I so enjoyed The Dead List!

The whole vibe of the book is right out of a film like Scream. It was fun and mysterious and the perfect amount of creepy. I had a great time reading The Dead List, and flew right through it in less than a day. Especially around the end, where things got REALLY GREAT...yes, I am such a fan of this book.


Then there are the characters, who were written so well -- the main characters Ella and Jensen in particular. They weren't perfect, but they were fleshed out and I was interested in them just as much as I was into the mystery they were tied up in.

And of course there was romance. It took Jensen a bit to really win me over, but once he did I was so on board this ship. Ella and Jensen are cute and I'm very pleased without things panned out for them. They had sweet moments and hot moments and I loved them.


I was also surprised by the emotions certain aspects of this story brought out of me. It seriously wormed its way into my heart, adding another layer to everything that I absolutely did not expect. 

Overall, The Dead List is a satisfying YA thriller with the perfect doses of romance, creepiness, and emotion. I so enjoyed reading this book, and if you're a fan of JLA or YA thrillers or both I definitely recommend picking this one up!


5 stars - A satisfying, romantic YA thriller!

And don't forget that we have a giveaway right now where you can win a signed copy of THE DEAD LIST






Swoon Thursday ~ 4/27/17



Who doesn't LOVE a good swoon?!  We love them for sure!  Check out our swoon below and then add to the fun.

Post anything that made you swoon, past or present read.  Include the cover, blurb and links.  Please no spoilers.














It's Ella's senior year of high school and she and her best friend Linds plan to make it the best year ever. At Brock Cochran's end of summer pool party, the girls vow to have as much fun as possible before they head off to different colleges next fall. But when Ella is mysteriously attacked on her way home from the party, everything changes. Ella's carefree senior year plans disintegrate as she finds herself at the center of an attempted murder investigation.

Ella tries to move on, but her attacker isn't done yet. He shows himself in the form of horrifying signs and symbols: a clown mask strewn on her bed, a dead bird in her backpack, a shadow moving past her window in the night. And as the weeks pass, it turns out that Ella isn't the only one being tormented.

With the help of an old flame, Jensen Carver, and her friends and family, Ella tries to attain some sense of normalcy, but she can't seem to shake the feeling that there's a dark pattern hidden in the killer's every move. Suddenly, even those in her innermost circle seem suspicious. In her seemingly safe West Virginia town, Ella starts to wonder who she can trust.





























That's our swoon this week!  What about you?  Leave us a comment & a link.




Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Holden by Delores Fossen ~ Excerpt & Giveaway

When a baby goes missing, a Texas marshal and a woman from his past discover there's a whole lot more behind this kidnapping

Holden Ryland certainly didn't become a marshal just to end up busting his ex, Nicky Hart, for taking files from Conceptions Fertility Clinic. But only Nicky knows just what was really stolen: a newborn being held for ransom. A newborn who is kin to both her and Holden. The missing boy is only the start of a mystery that snakes through Texas, winding its way through their families. Bad blood may linger between them, but Holden can protect his nephew back at the Silver Creek Ranch. If they can lay their past to rest to rescue this child, is it possible for them to have a future together?



Oh, he was not going to like this. “I hacked into the clinic’s computer and copied some files,” she added. “Hacked into the senator’s computer, too, and then I put a listening device in Conceptions Clinic.”
Now, Holden’s cursing got a whole lot worse. For good reason. Because she’d just rattled off enough crimes to put her in jail. But she’d had an even bet­ter reason to do this.
To save Annie’s son.
“That’s what the thug was talking about,” Holden snarled. “Where are the files and what’s in them?”
Nicky decided to skip the where part and move to the what. Just in case the thug had managed to turn the tables on her and bug her car.
“The ones I copied from Conceptions were marked ‘the Genesis Project,’” she explained. “No names were connected with them, just case numbers, and when I looked at one, I figured out from the dates that the case number was Annie and Emmett’s.”
She’d tell him about the other info in them later. For now, Nicky focused on taking the road to the B and B.
“I don’t know who did it, but someone stole Annie and Emmett’s embryo and implanted it into a sur­rogate. And last week, the surrogate gave birth to a boy.” Nicky turned off her car’s headlights as she approached the B and B, and she pulled off the road, parking behind some trees.
Holden shook his head, stayed quiet a moment. “Could be it was a mix-up. Or maybe the embryo was donated to another couple who used a surrogate?”
Mercy, she wanted to latch onto that and believe it. “Then, why did that man just threaten me?”
“I don’t know. Maybe you stole more than one set of files or pissed off more than just these people. Or it could have something to do with why the FBI wants to arrest you.”
Even if it was true, it was still too big of a risk to let them move the baby. Of course, Holden might not believe there was a baby. He soon would, though.
“Who’s inside that place?” he asked.
“Probably more men like the one who came to my house tonight.” Hired guns to protect very pre­cious cargo until they could get her father to pay up. “Look, I don’t have time to explain all of this, but if they move the baby, we might never find him.”
She didn’t voice her greatest fear, that the goons inside might try to harm him so there’d be no proof of what they’d done.
“What if there really is a baby inside?” he went on. “How would we even know if it’s Emmett and Annie’s?”
She motioned toward her hair. “According to what I heard from the eavesdropping device, he’s a gin­ger.” Not exactly rare but at least it was something like Annie and me. Besides, she thought she might recognize her own sister’s child.



When Delores Fossen was a child, she used to sneak around and collect fingerprints, hair strands and fibers left by family members and guests. At age eight, she solved a crime. Well, sort of. When someone nibbled off the ear of her chocolate Easter bunny, she searched for clues and soon discovered that her sister had chocolate bunny breath. With that "case closed," Delores believed she’d discovered her calling--she wanted to be a Texas Ranger or FBI agent. But after realizing that she just wouldn't be very good at chasing down bad guys, she opted for a slightly different career path--she creates fictional cowboys and cowboy cops for Harlequin Intrigue and HQN Books. Writing is something she enjoys immensely, and it has earned her the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice and Booksellers Best Awards, and she was a finalist for the prestigious Rita.


Married to an Air Force colonel and the mother of four children, Delores has lived in England and all over the U.S. She’s had a variety of careers and jobs: an Air Force captain, a special ed teacher and a rehab counselor. None was as fun or challenging as the time she’s spent as a stay-at-home mom. She still collects fingerprints, hair strands and fibers every time she dusts or vacuums, which isn’t very often.



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