Thursday, April 30, 2015

Getty Lucky Number Seven by Cindi Madsen ~ Review, Trailer, & Giveaway


We're excited for the release of Getting Lucky Number Seven by Cindi Madsen! 


Title: Getting Lucky Number Seven
Author: Cindi Madsen 
Age: NA
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Blurb:
What's your lucky number?

Lyla Wilder is done being the shy, chemistry nerd extraordinaire. While every other college student it out having fun, Lyla is studying. With her cat. Well, she's played it "safe" quite enough, thank you. So she creates a "College Bucket List"―with item #7 being a night of uninhibited, mind-blowing sex...

But she needs some help from her man-whore best friend.

Hockey player Beck Davenport thought Lyla's transformation would be subtle. Man, was he wrong. With every item she ticks off, Beck finds himself growing seriously hot for his sweet, brainiac best friend. And if he's not careful, he'll end up risking their friendship in order to convince Lyla that he might just be her lucky #7...


Review...


Here's the thing, I read a lot and it's a new and wonderful thing when a book does something different.  Yeah, I love those falling for your best-friend books.  Who doesn't but it's almost always about one of the other who's been in love forever with the man/women whore other one.  Something happens and they figure out they love each other.  Yes, I enjoy them along the way but they feel all the same.  Not this one.  This one was different.  This one was BETTER.

First, these two haven't been besties for ever and ever, just a few months.  Lyla is in her second semester of college and she met Beck in her chemistry class first semester.  She had a nerdy boyfriend from high school and so she didn't look at him that way.  They just became friends.  Beck is the man-whore of the hockey team and while he noticed that Lyla's cute, he got that she wasn't available so friends worked for him.  And he needed one.  His home life is a mess.  One he doesn't let other know about.  

Then a jerk calls Lyla fugly and the list is born.  She's a nerd at heart and she's driven to get good grades.  Science is her subject and she loves her cat, Einstein.  Her early development had her mom teaching her to cover those beauties up and she's never gotten past that.  She's almost through her first year of college and all she's done is study.  A college bucket list is exactly what she needs to loosen up.  

Yeah, so neither of these two thought of each other as anything but a best friend.  She's the nerd that really a cute girl hiding under lots of layers and he's a hockey player that's smarter than he lets on with some home issues.  And they're best friends.  The only true friend each other really has.  So he agrees to help her with the list, even if that includes some shopping for some edgier clothes and teaching her how to flirt with a guy.  

And they both resist.  And it's adorable and sexy as all get out. 

I was so in the zone that I just devoured this book and I didn't notice the time or the pages flying by.  Just pure enjoyment.  

The story is so well balanced with time to build their chemistry, time to explore their attraction, time to become closer friends and time to figure out how much they mean to each other.  My stress level was low through their problems because I could feel their feeling for each other.  

If you enjoy New Adult romance, you want this one.  If you love the friends to lovers trope, you want this one.  If you love well written romance with great characters you care about, you want this one.  You just want this one.
  






TRAILER:



Join the release day party on April 30th!


GIVEAWAY:



About the Author:

USA Today Bestselling author Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she'd be even crazier. She has way too many shoes but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they're sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.

Visit her at www.cindimadsen.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter and learn about upcoming releases.

Cindi is the author of YA books All the Broken Pieces, Cipher, Rift, Resolution, and Demons of the Sun, and adult romances Falling for Her FiancĂ©, Act Like You Love Me, Resisting the Hero, Cinderella Screwed Me Over and Ready to Wed.
What's your lucky number?

Special Teaser ~ Fair Game by Monica Murphy

Blurb:
FAIR GAME (The Rules Series, Book 1) May 12, 2015
Now she supposedly belongs to the ultra rich, extremely gorgeous Shep Prescott. He could have anything he wants yet he seems to be in hot pursuit of her. No matter how rude, how snarky, how impossible she acts, it doesn’t stop him. More like her horrible behavior seems to make him want her more.

When she finds herself starting to fall for him, Jade’s confused. There’s more to Shep than the carefree rich charmer he portrays. No way could he want a serious relationship with her…or could he?





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite with her husband and three children. She's a workaholic who loves her job. When she's not busy writing, she also loves to read and travel with her family. She writes new adult and contemporary romance and is published with Bantam and Avon. She also writes romance as USA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson.
Facebook | Twitter | Website

Swoon Thursday ~ 4/30/15


The fabulous girls over at YA Bound created this super HOT meme.  Here's how it works.

From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering.

Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog! I want to know & so do the chicks at YABound!




What's your lucky number?

Lyla Wilder is done being the shy, chemistry nerd extraordinaire. While every other college student is out having fun, Lyla is studying. With her cat. Well, she's played it "safe" quite enough, thank you. So she creates a "College Bucket List"―with item #7 being a night of uninhibited, mind-blowing sex...

But she needs some help from her man-whore best friend.

Hockey player Beck Davenport thought Lyla's transformation would be subtle. Man, was he wrong. With every item she ticks off, Beck finds himself growing seriously hot for his sweet, brainiac best friend. And if he's not careful, he'll end up risking their friendship in order to convince Lyla that he might just be her lucky #7...


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23262672-getting-lucky-number-seven

http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Lucky-Number-Entangled-Embrace-ebook/dp/B00UFT476O/http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/getting-lucky-number-seven-cindi-madsen/1121369062

 Available 4/28
Only 99¢
Trust me, you so want to one-click this one!

Swoon...


He leaned over me and kissed his way down my neck, over the swell of my breast.  I whimpered when his tongue flicked my nipple.  How embarrassing.  He moved to kiss the other one, a million amazing sensations going through me when he did the same to it.  He slid his hand down my side, over my hip, and then his fingers dipped lower.  (Kindle location 1559)

I adore Beck.  He struggled a little at one point but he's one sexy guy.  And a hockey player, did I mention that?  Love him.



Broken (Broken, #1)Caleb is perfect in every way, almost too perfect and Gwen has never felt so happy. He is hers and she is his. Life can't get much better and their love can't get any stronger. That is until mistakes are made and their world comes crumbling down. She's left alone with no money, no home and a growing person invading her stomach. How will she survive?

Forced to leave culinary school, the job she needs and the home they made together. Gwen finds a knight in the most unlikely source. Caleb's brother Nathan. A complex man with a phobia she doesn't understand and mannerisms that aren't of this day and age, will she be able to melt his seemingly frozen heart and become his friend? Or will he forever push her away and wallow in his loneliness and self loathing?



**Broken is currently FREE at the time of posting. Just a heads up to grab it while you can!**

Swoon...


"There it is," he grins and stops me with his hands on my arms, the contact of his warm palms and fingers against my cold flash sends tingles to places I didn't know existed until now. He turns me to face him, blocking the sun with the back of his head. I look up, almost unable to see him due to the shadow cast between us. 
"There what is?" I purse my lips, trying not to smile. 
"The moment you steal my heart," he announces, his eyes twinkling, his hands remaining on my shoulders.

I'm not going to lie and say Caleb was my favorite character (ha, no), but I must admit that he was quite charming. This quote was the first thing I highlighted in Broken and when I first read it, there was total swooning happening. So sweet! I go into more Caleb detail in my review (which you can see here), but I'm not going to deny the fact that Caleb could be swoon-worthy.


Those are our swoons for this week! What do you think? Do you have a swoon to share? Leave us a comment!

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Cover Reveal ~ Chaos by Jamie Shaw

Cannot Wait!






In the Series...


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22552579-mayhemhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22552582-riothttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23149165-chaos?ac=1

 Click covers for Goodreads links

Special Announcement for Rusk University by Cora Carmack fans

HERE’S THE SCOOP!

Fans of Cora Carmack’s Rusk University, we have a SUPER exciting announcement:

  ALL CLOSED OFF Coming 2016
*WARNING: This letter contains spoilers for All Broke Down. If you haven't yet read that book, read at your own peril. SECOND WARNING: this letter talks about fictional characters as if they are real people. Sorry I'm not sorry. THIRD WARNING: The letter below broaches a serious topic that could be a trigger for some people*

Hello beloved readers! 

The first person who read one of my Rusk University books was my older sister. I gave her All Lined Up when I finished, and her first question was "Are Ryan and Stella going to be together?" 

At the time, I told her no. I had plans for both of them that included their own storylines. I thought they were too much alike. They'd make great friends. They might even hook-up, but in the end... I couldn't envision anything serious for them. So I actually rewrote some of their scenes trying to make that aspect of their connection more obvious. And still, when All Lined Up released, amidst the chatter about sweet Carson and sassy Dallas, I had people asking if Stella and Ryan were next. I denied it again (and again and again). 

But sometimes in writing, the stars align and a character will become bigger and more real than you could have possibly imagined. It's a wonderful experience, but in Stella's case it was also incredibly heartbreaking. While I was writing All Broke Down, the news was inundated with information about the Steubenville rape trial and other tragedies and injustices like it. Tragedies where women have been violated first by an attacker, then by judgmental and hateful people, and finally by a justice system that repeatedly fails survivors of sexual assault. Having grown up in Texas, where too often football stars are treated like gods and can get away with just about anything, it hit particularly close to home. And since All Broke Down featured a passionate activist heroine, I felt compelled to reference this chronic dark underbelly of elite sports. 

I can remember vividly sitting on my couch, brainstorming how I would incorporate such an event into the book. I had thought the assault would happen to an unknown character, and maybe I would focus on the way it divided the team and the school and the town. But like I said... Sometimes a character will become bigger and more human than I anticipated. And it sounds crazy, but in my mind, I felt Stella push her way forward and say, "Mine. This is my story." I immediately began to cry. Sob, really. Because I loved her as a character. She was hilarious and strong and didn't take crap from anyone. She was everything I always hope to be. And I didn't want her to go through that. Even as I cried, my brain began to tell me that it made sense. Stella was vibrant and enjoyed a wild party. She was not afraid of her sexuality, and she had no problem with casual sex. She was the kind of girl that probably had a reputation. The kind of girl who could be heinously and violently taken advantage of, and people would STILL blame her. Because she was in the wrong place, wearing the wrong clothes, behaving in the wrong way. But just because it COULD happen to her, didn't mean I wanted it to. But once again, Stella was there in my head saying, "Someone needs to tell this story. And I'm strong enough to do it. Let me." And when Stella chose her story, she also chose the man I'd been adamant wasn't right for her. Because as it turns out... Those two characters who I thought were too alike aren't so alike anymore. And Stella needs Ryan to help her hold on to that vibrant and strong girl she was before. 

So I let go of all the plans I had for her, and allowed her to tell me her story, which is about more than just sexual assault. It's about the aftermath. Depression. Shame. Guilt. Anger. Injustice. Victim-blaming. Slut-shaming. It's about the way that kind of event can change everything-- how you relate to people, how you think, how you dream, how you love. It's about the way the rest of the world moves on to the next big tragedy, and you're still left holding the broken pieces of who you used to be, with no idea how to put them together again or even if you want to. It will be the most difficult story I ever tell. And the most important. Because it’s a story that belongs not just to Stella, but to millions of people around the world. It’s a story that belongs to a new person every 107 seconds*. And that’s just in the United States. Think about that for a moment. 107 seconds. Stella’s story won’t be any easier to read than it will be to write. But I hope you’ll help me drag this story into the light. 

So now I’ll step off my soapbox and just tell you about the book… 


#WhenitHappened banner


ALL CLOSED OFF:
Stella Santos is fine. 

Maybe something terrible happened to her that she can’t even remember. And maybe it drives her crazy when her friends treat her like she’s on the verge of breaking because of it. Maybe it feels even worse when they do what she asks and pretend that it never happened at all. And maybe she’s been getting harassing emails and messages for months from people who don’t even know her, but hate her all the same. 

But none of that matters because she’s just fine

For Ryan Blake, Stella was always that girl. Vibrant and hilarious and beautiful. He wanted her as his best friend. His more than friends. His everything and anything that she would give him. Which these days is a whole lot of nothing. She gets angry when he’s there. Angry when he’s not there. Angry when he tries to talk and when he doesn’t.  

When Stella devises an unconventional art project for one of her classes all about exploring intimacy—between both friends and strangers—Ryan finds himself stepping in as guinea pig after one of her subjects bails. What was supposed to be an objective and artistic look at emotion and secrets and sex suddenly becomes much more personal. When he hits it off with another girl from the project, Stella will have to decide if she’s willing to do more than make art about intimacy. To keep him, she’ll have to open up and let herself be the one thing she swore she’d never be again. 

Vulnerable. 

***** 

ALL CLOSED OFF will be releasing sometime in early 2016. I don't have a date yet for several reasons. The first and most important, is that I want to do this story justice. And as such, I have no intentions of rushing the process. Secondly, I'll be returning to indie publishing for the remainder of the Rusk series. As you can probably tell, this story means a great deal to me. And by having the ultimate control over everything from timing to editing to price, I'll be able to ensure that I'm able to create exactly the story I envision. Unfortunately, that means you won't be seeing the paperback of ALL CLOSED OFF on the shelves in most stores. Nor is it currently available for pre-order. But I hope you'lladd the book on goodreads, follow me on social media, and/or join my newsletter. I promise to shout it all over the place when I have a set release date or pre-order links. 

Thank you for listening as I told you the evolution of Stella's story. When it's finished, I hope you will feel as passionately about it as I do. 

All my best, 

Cora Carmack 

*Statistic from RAINN (Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network)

And an opportunity to add your voice to Stella’s…


Stella’s experience is only one story of many. She was with someone she trusted when it happened, and the only memories she has are pieced together from her own blurred recollections and the things people have told her.  Not everyone’s experience with sexual assault is the same. Each person reacts, copes, and overcomes differently. And while this book is about one specific character’s journey, I would like to tell as many sides of this story as possible. As Stella grapples with her thoughts and emotions she’ll be searching for advice, for comfort, for a place where people understand her and can identify with what she’s experiencing. There will be room for truth within the fiction, and if you’d like that truth to be yours, this is your chance.

If you have a story like Stella’s, and you want your voice to be heard….

If there’s something you wish more people understood about what you’ve gone through….

If there’s something you’d like to tell people struggling with a story like yours…

I’d like to give you the opportunity to add your voice to Stella’s. Use the hashtag #WhenItHappenedand let your voice be heard on your own by posting on your own social media, or if you’d rather I share your words fill out this google document and tell me your story. You can fill out this form anonymously or not. I’d like to begin this discussion now because April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. But my hope is to include as many stories as possible within the book itself.

So many have stories of #WhenItHappened. Your voice and your story deserve to be heard. I’m listening.

#WhenItHappened Google Form: http://goo.gl/forms/4VRjWgZYSW


Headshot   ABOUT Cora Carmack: Cora Carmack is a twenty-something New York Times bestselling author who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She now splits her time between Austin, TX and New York City and spends her days writing, traveling, and spending way too much time on the internet. In her books, you can expect to find humor, heart, and a whole lot of awkward. Because let’s face it . . . awkward people need love, too.      

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook **Newsletter **Author Goodreads

 

 

  z-InkSlinger Blogger

Cuddles by Val & Jess ~ 4/29/15


This is our version of Waiting on Wednesday but with more cuddles, books we can't wait to cuddle for various reasons.

What are we waiting on this week?  THIS!




From the New York Times bestselling author of the Kowalski Family novels, a sweet, sexy new series about taking hits, making second chances, and finding love…

They were the golden boys of fall: Stewart Mills High School’s legendary championship winning football team. Fourteen years later, they’re back to relive their glory, save the team—and find themselves again…

Chase Sanders’s life has taken a lot of crazy turns lately. But returning to his hometown to help his old coach keep his high school football team afloat might be the craziest thing to happen to him yet. That is, until he starts falling for the last person he should—Coach’s gorgeous daughter…

Kelly McDonnell learned the hard way that cocky, charming men are nothing but trouble, so she knows Chase is bad news. Still, she can’t resist his smile—or the rest of him. But when his loyalty to her father conflicts with their growing attraction, any hope for a relationship might be blocked before it can even begin…

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23398947-under-the-lights?from_search=true

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0515155845/http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/under-the-lights-shannon-stacey/1120624832

 Available May 26th from Jove

Why am I waiting?  I love sports-themed romance.  And I've read some of this authors other books.  This one sounds like it's gonna be a good one so I can't wait.




Wicked White (Wicked White, #1)

After his mother dies, rock star Ace White—lead singer of the red-hot band Wicked White—is done with the celebrity game. The phony people, the meaningless one-night stands: he doesn’t want any of it anymore. Quitting in the middle of a sold-out tour, Ace sets out to find some place—any place—where he can be alone.

Aspiring singer Iris Easton’s life has never been easy. First, her mother walked out on her when she was a kid. Now she’s buried in debt, weeks after losing her beloved grandmother. When a mysterious and sexy new guy moves in next door, Iris can’t help but be drawn to his soulful gaze. She can tell there’s something from his past haunting him—something he’s not telling her.

Just as Ace starts falling for Iris, the media go on a worldwide hunt to find the missing rocker. Will true love conquer all, or will the truth be the very thing that tears the couple apart?



Available June 24, 2015

Why am I waiting? Welp, I was actually looking at Sincerely, Carter. I've been seeing it around and was going to put that as my WOW this week. But then I saw it releases on the 30th and decided it'd be moot to WOW it now. So I looked at the suggested reads GR gives at the upper right hand corner and came across this. The cover looked nice, so I clicked. And then the description sounded PERFECT FOR ME, so now here I am. Wanting this book. Making serious grabby hands. I am so in love with the idea of the rocker LEAVING the celebrity life. I haven't read a lot of books like that. So now I'm in the mood for that, but I have to wait until June for it. The END of June, no less. *claws at computer screen*


That's what we're waiting on this week! What do you think? What are you waiting on? Leave us a comment!

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Blog Tour Review ~ Black Iris by Leah Raeder

Black IrisSource: e-ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Black Iris by Leah Raeder


The next dark and sexy romantic suspense novel from the USA Today bestselling author of Unteachable.

It only took one moment of weakness for Laney Keating’s world to fall apart. One stupid gesture for a hopeless crush. Then the rumors began. Slut, they called her. Queer. Psycho. Mentally ill, messed up, so messed up even her own mother decided she wasn't worth sticking around for.

If Laney could erase that whole year, she would. College is her chance to start with a clean slate.

She's not looking for new friends, but they find her: charming, handsome Armin, the only guy patient enough to work through her thorny defenses—and fiery, filterless Blythe, the bad girl and partner in crime who has thorns of her own.

But Laney knows nothing good ever lasts. When a ghost from her past resurfaces—the bully who broke her down completely—she decides it's time to live up to her own legend. And Armin and Blythe are going to help.

Which was the plan all along.

Because the rumors are true. Every single one. And Laney is going to show them just how true.

She's going to show them all.

Book Links:



Review...


This is the first book I've read by Leah Raeder. I have Unteachable on my Kindle, but I've been too chicken to read it or something, so Black Iris crept up my TBR first. I've been excited about Black Iris for a while, so I was glad I was finally getting to pick it up. And thus the adventure that is BLACK IRIS began.

I started this book around 1 am on April 27th. I finished this book around 4 am on April 27th. 

I kid you not. 

You see, I was planning to start this book before going to sleep so I could jump in ready to finish it without a problem the next day. But this book is a trap. It's a freaking TRAP, and it's a trap of the best kind. 

I'm incredibly conflicted on what to even say in this review, so I get the feeling it's going to be kind of short. And also probably kind of cryptic. Because heck to the no, I refuse to spoil this beauty for anyone. 

First of all, in case you did not notice, I highly enjoyed this book. I LOST SLEEP for this book. If that doesn't tell you something, I don't know what will. 

Now, I'm going to break down the WONDERFUL things about Black Iris. 

The best part of this book for me was the writing. So beautiful. Seriously, there were some extremely ugly things in this novel, but the way they were written was masterful. I think I'll read anything Leah Raeder writes just so I can bear witness to the beauty. I don't even know what else to say about this because it's just something you have to experience. It's enthralling.

I didn't like a single one of these characters. And that actually IS a positive comment. Because I didn't like the characters, but I was still interested in them. Fascinated. I cared. I wanted to know what was happening, how things would turn out. And the characters were raw and complex. Nothing to get bored with, not at all run of the mill. They were individuals with layers, and I wanted to know all. 

Oh wait, I DID like a character. Two, actually. Neither of them main characters, though--Josh and Donnie. Other than those two, though, I liked no one.

But, as I said, it is a huge compliment to the story and storytelling that I enjoyed this book immensely without liking the characters. It's not about liking them, it's about unraveling their story. I was completely into that.

Speaking of the story... This entire thing goes so deep. Just reading Black Iris digs into your soul. As I said, it's a trap. Once you're in, there's only one way out. And traveling through this book to that exit in the end... it's an experience. It's twisty and gritty and dark and convoluted. It's confusing. It's interesting. And it's a masterpiece. Honestly. 

As for the twist... It got me. It freaking got me.

And now is where I mention the one thing about this book I didn't particularly love.

The romance.

NOT because of the dynamics. I was glad for the diversity. I'm glad I read it, and I'm glad I now have a very solid rec for people searching for more diverse reads. 

No, that was not my problem. My PROBLEM was that none of the relationships in this book were stable enough for me to depend on. None of them showed any promise. So I had no team to root for. I didn't trust anyone, and I never felt like anything was going to work out. I don't expect every romance I read to have a couple together the entire book. I do, however, prefer for at least one love interest to show promise. To give me hope of something solid to come in the future. Even if it's a lie and I end up so very wrong--at least I had a couple to ship while reading. In Black Iris, I trusted no one and liked no one and had no hope for any of the couples. 

As a whole, Black Iris is AMAZING. It's unique and honest and raw. If you like dark, twisted novels filled with gorgeous writing, pick this baby up. 


4 stars - A dark, twisted novel that I highly enjoyed!

 

About the Author...


Leah Raeder is a writer and unabashed nerd. Aside from reading her brains out, she enjoys graphic design, video games, fine whiskey, and the art of self-deprecation. She lives with her very own manic pixie dream boy in Chicago. Visit her at LeahRaeder.com.

Author Links: