Monday, February 29, 2016

The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten, #1) by Julie Kagawa ~ Review

Source:  Purchased audiobook


Don’t look at Them.
Never let Them know
you can see Them.


That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’d dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

My name is Ethan Chase.
And I may not live to see my
eighteenth birthday.




Review...


In my current paranormal love-fest, I am devouring books I missed along the way.  And this is one series I can't believe I didn't read.  I waited way too long to read it!

Ethan Chase.  Oh, I so love this boy.  Tortured by the Fae for his sight, he hasn't had the easiest childhood.  Though his sister rescued him when he was four years old, he hasn't seen her in years and he feels the lose deeply.  Starting at yet another school for the pranks the Fae have got him blamed for, Ethan tries very hard to keep to himself.  But Ethan is good guy.  He won't walk by a half-fey being bullied at school and he can't keep pushing the school reporter away.  As he is dragged into the Never Never again, he brings his knowledge and his Kali skills.  No one is messing with him again.     

I so enjoyed this world again.  It was nice to be in the never never again.  I enjoyed seeing familiar characters and meeting a few news ones as well.  I admit to being shocked by Keirran.  The cover of book two may have colored my beliefs but I wasn't expecting to like him let alone trust him.  And I do like him.  Something is up with that boy.  Him and Ethan definitely have the Ash/Puck thing going but it's more than that.  I can't wait to find out more.

Besides all the characters that I love and the world I so enjoy, this one is just a great story.  It can certainly stand alone without the first series.  Parts of it I was guessing right at but this author tends to take a different path than I ever expect.  It's refreshing.

And I so need more books like this.  Books I enjoy and speed through.  Books where I love the characters and a kiss is enough to satisfy me. Books that make me want to start the next book as soon as finish the first.  Books that are just great stories, great reads, great experiences.  The good stuff.  

If you missed this along the way, like I did, then make sure and get to it.  It's so worth the time and such a great diversion from the real world.  I want a Razon.  Want him on my shoulder.  And an Ethan.  I hope he gets his happy.  I hope Keirran does too.  

Paranormal Fae at it's best.  Don't miss this one. 



                      



Sunday, February 28, 2016

Stacking OUR Shelves ~ 2/28/16


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....





For Review Consideration...




Thanks go to...


Berkley
Sourcebooks Casablanca 
Pocket Books



That's what's stacking our shelves this week! What about you?  Leave a comment. 

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Leap into Books Giveaway Hop







For this hop, I have this hardback book to give away!

Young Adult
Fantasy
Mystery



Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby.

But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.

With palpable drama and delicious craft, Nova Ren Suma bursts onto the YA scene with the story that everyone will be talking about.








Want it?
Enter below.
US only





a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the rest of the hop...


Firstlife by Gena Showalter ~ Review

Source:  Picked this up at ALA.

ONE CHOICE.

TWO REALMS.

NO SECOND CHANCE.

Tenley “Ten” Lockwood is an average seventeen-year-old girl…who has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. The reason? Not her obsession with numbers, but her refusal to let her parents choose where she’ll live—after she dies.

There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death.

In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, longtime enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the two realms who will do anything to win the right to her soul. Who can she trust? And what if the realm she’s drawn to isn’t home to the boy she’s falling for? She just has to stay alive long enough to make a decision…








At first, I thought I would like this one.  But it ended up not being the case.  

I didn't think much of Ten.  The whole set-up for her not accepting her parents choice for her afterlife didn't make sense to me.  I feel like if you're going to accept an asylum because of your choice, you better have some pretty good reasons for it.  I never felt like she had any such thing.  And then the two fighting over her?  And I do mean fighting over her.  Pretty much just annoying.  The whole premise has promise but there just wasn't a good reason for it.   

So this world believes that your first life is just the dress rehearsal for the real life that you will have after you die.  But you must pick which side you will be on before you die.  I never really understood why you had to choose in this life and not the next.  It was too contrived for me. 

Myriad and Troika have different beliefs and that's all well and good.  But why they hate each other so much is beyond me.  The war they have going on doesn't seem to have to real reason except a numbers game.  I wasn't buying it.  Perhaps more information will be made known in the next book but I won't be along for the ride. 

It did have that religious arguing vibe.  Someone was always trying to convince you one way of another.  I avoid religious conversations since people just don't agree.  Why would I want to listen to characters argue over it?  Neither side seemed to be the good guys since both stooped to pretty low levels to entice those who were uncommitted.   I'm reduced to just not caring.

And long.  This book is long.  Every time I put it down, I just didn't want to pick it back up.  That's not what a book should be like.  When I enjoy a book, not only do I not want to put it down but I can't wait to carve out time to pick it back up.  Even the hot boy in this one didn't motivate me.  While I was interested in Killian, I didn't get him.  He seems to fall for Ten quickly and he's desperate to convince her to his side.  But if you love someone, you want the best for them.  

I was surprised to not enjoy the writing.  I've read this author before and loved it.  But this one felt too scattered.  Maybe it was done on purpose for effect but I didn't enjoy it. 

Considering my strong paranormal mood, I was really surprised I just didn't enjoy this one. Of course, others feel different.  See below.






     

Friday, February 26, 2016

Promotional Event ~ Wild Hearts by Melissa West


We're celebrating the release of WILD HEARTS by Melissa West!


Title: Wild Hearts
Author: Melissa West 
Age: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Kensington

Blurb:
In the lush heart of Kentucky, horse racing is king, and the Hamilton family is royalty, born to produce champions. Maybe that’s because they understand wildness better than most…

Charming, reckless, and restless, youngest brother Alex Hamilton has a reputation for sweet talking his way into any woman’s arms—and failing at anything to do with the family business. So when he commits to managing their new breeding operation, it’s under one condition: he’ll focus on work and nothing else—no distractions, no fun…no women. But just when Alex has promised to keep his hands to himself, sweet, sexy Kate Littleton gallops away with his heart…

Kate knows Alex isn’t the long-term type—he proved that in a lot of delicious ways when they first met more than a year ago. But seeing him blazing with new dedication to Hamilton Stables, she can’t deny that he’s miles ahead of any other man who interests her. The attraction between them is electric right out of the gate, but it will take an unexpected loss to put them back in the race and headed for a passionate future together…


*This is the 2nd book in the Hamilton Stables series, but each book is a standalone novel.


Excerpt...



Alex's smile lit his face. "You know, if I didn't know any better, I would say you were having less than honorable thoughts right now."
Kate straightened, then reached behind herself to grab one of the glasses of wine Emery had set out. She dropped a few cubes of ice into it that were really meant for the other drinks, but she didn't care. Etiquette be damned. She was never a prim and proper sort of girl anyway.
"You sure have a lot of opinions about me all of a sudden," she said, deflecting his innuendo.
"It's not all of a sudden at all. But I have been curious if—Matt, was it?—got that lunch he seemed so impatient to eat. Or did he go straight for the dessert? Is he a fan of cake, too?"
At that, Kate tilted her glass back, drinking down its full contents, then reached around for a second one. How many did Emery set out? There were only six people there.
"I take that as a no. I told you he wasn't your type."
"Oh really, Mr. Knows-All-Kate-Related-Things? What's my type?" Okay, that glass was hitting her already. Damn her embarrassing excuse for an alcohol tolerance.
Alex took the glass from her hand and set it on the bar beside her. "You should eat before you drink anything else." When Kate opened her mouth to tell him he should worry about himself, not her, he leaned in closer, silencing her with his proximity and the assault on her senses. He smelled like lemongrass and Ivory Soap and man. One hundred percent man. "You want a man who reads to you on the beach. Who knows better than to step in to help when you're struggling with a project. Who gets that you need to figure it out yourself. A man who never opens your car door but always shares his popcorn. Or any food really. A man who’s comfortable enough in his own skin to let you brag when your team wins instead of his. A man who makes you want him so badly you never grow tired of him. Even after years and years together, you're still in love."
Kate's heart had stopped in her chest, and she knew if Alex hadn’t placed her wineglass on the bar, it would have slipped from her grasp. She stared at him, curious when the feeling had left her fingers and toes and praying Emery wouldn't call them to come out back, because she was pretty sure her legs had turned to jelly and wouldn't cooperate.
She had spent only a few occasions around Alex, yet he understood her better than people who had known her a lifetime. He saw through to the real her. And normally, this would be a sign of something great. A connection. A feeling. Something deeper than casual lust. But that wasn’t their story. And what made it so much worse was that she could see him in each of the roles he described. The one reading to her on the beach, refusing to step in to open the jar of jelly when she would eventually get it open herself. The one she could love for years and years.
And then, despite herself, she peered up at him, only to find those vibrant green eyes staring back at her.

“Am I right?”


GIVEAWAY...



$50 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway



About the Author:

Melissa West writes heartfelt Southern romance and teen sci-fi romance, all with lots of kissing. Because who doesn't like kissing? She lives outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband and two daughters and spends most of her time writing, reading, or fueling her coffee addiction.

Connect with Melissa at www.melissawestauthor.com or on Twitter @MB_West.
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Thursday, February 25, 2016

Swoon Thursday ~ 2/25/16


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!




To the Stars (Thatch #2) by Molly McAdams


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

In the second standalone book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Molly McAdams’ Thatch series, Knox Alexander must convince his long-time love Harlow Evans that they’re meant to be together.

He promised to wait for her.
She told him he was wasting his time.
Not waiting for him ended up being the biggest mistake of her life.

When they were younger, Knox Alexander swore to Harlow Evans that he would wait for her to turn eighteen so they could be together. But that was two and a half years away, and Harlow couldn’t ask him to give up all the fun and thrills of going away to college for her. As the years passed, Knox remained a constant in her life but when her eighteenth birthday came around, Harlow’s heart belonged to someone else.

Every day for the last four years, Harlow has been haunted by that fateful choice. And though he may appear unaffected by what happened in their past, Knox has always tried to fill the void Harlow left. But when he comes stumbling back into her life and refuses to leave, will Harlow finally let him into her heart…?

Book Links:
Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo | GooglePlay | Goodreads


Swoon...


"I love you to the moon and back." My eyes fell to my dresser, where my monthly bouquet of red poppies sat. These had come just a few days ago. The card, as always, had read: I'm still waiting for you.  
"To the moon?" A deep, husky laugh filled the other end of the phone. "The moon isn't that far, Harlow." 
"Isn't it?" 
"No. Not far enough." There were a few beats of silence before he confessed, "I want to love you to the stars."

I. Love. This. Knox and Harlow are my new favorite Molly McAdams couple (and To the Stars is my new favorite Molly McAdams book), and this right here is a prime example of why. It makes my heart a thousand times happy! (Click here if you'd like to see my full review of To the Stars!)


That's our swoon for this week! What do you think? Do you have a swoon to share? Leave us a comment and link us up!

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Waiting On Wednesday ~ 2/24/16


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!



New York Times bestselling author Sandra Hill continues her sexy Deadly Angels series, as a Viking vangel’s otherworldly mission pairs him with a beautiful chef who whets his thousand-year-old appetite . . .

Once guilty of the deadly sin of gluttony, thousand-year-old Viking vampire angel Cnut Sigurdsson is now a lean, mean, vampire-devil fighting machine. His new side-job? No biggie: just ridding the world of a threat called ISIS while keeping the evil Lucipires (demon vampires) at bay. So when chef Andrea Stewart hires him to rescue her sister from a cult recruiting terrorists at a Montana dude ranch, vangel turns cowboy. Yeehaw!

The too-tempting mortal insists on accompanying him, surprising Cnut with her bravery at every turn. But with terrorists stalking the ranch in demonoid form, Cnut teletransports Andrea and himself out of danger—accidentally into the tenth-century Norselands. Suddenly, they have to find their way back to the future to save her family and the world . . . and to satisfy their insatiable attraction.




Available May 31st from Avon

Why am I waiting?  I'm so into the paranormal books right now and this one sounds tempting!  Viking and vampire and angel?  Oh yeah, I'm waiting. 


That's what we're waiting on, what about you?  Leave us a comment and a link!

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Forever Release Day Blitz & Giveaways





KISS ME IN CHRISTMAS by Debbie Mason (February 23, 2016; Forever mass market; Christmas, Colorado #6)

Actress Chloe O'Connor has become America's sweetheart, but back in little Christmas, Colorado, she's still remembered as a shy, awkward schoolgirl. And there's no one she dreads (and secretly wants) to see more than her high school crush, Easton McBride. Just one look from the former star quarterback and it's like she's instantly transformed from daytime drama queen to tongue-tied teenager. She's kissed Hollywood actors and famous cover models, so she can certainly play it cool while turning up the heat, right?

After an injury ended his military career, Easton McBride built a good life in the rugged countryside of his hometown. And the last thing he needs is his quiet solitude shattered by a high-maintenance temptress who isn't anything like the sweet Chloe he misses. While he enjoys the flirtation with this new bold and beautiful woman, he can't help but wonder whether a kiss could have the power to bring back the small-town girl he's grown to love.

Buy the book!


About the Author:
Debbie Mason is the bestselling author of the Christmas, Colorado series. Her books have been praised for their "likable characters, clever dialogue and juicy plots" (RT Book Reviews). She also writes historical paranormals as Debbie Mazzuca. Her MacLeod series has received several nominations for best paranormal as well as a Holt Medallion Award of Merit. When she isn't writing or reading, Debbie enjoys spending time with her very own real-life hero, their four wonderful children, an adorable grandbaby, and a yappy Yorkie named Bella.

Social Media Links:








NECESSARY RISK by Tara Wyatt (February 23, 2016; Forever mass market; The Bodyguard Series #1)
 
Trained to protect against all danger, a professional bodyguard can provide all the muscle a woman needs. But when their hearts are on the line, love is the riskiest business . . .

SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME

Former child star Sierra Blake is making a stunning Hollywood comeback-and attracting a scary amount of attention. When her home is vandalized and her safety threatened, she knows it's time to bring in the professionals. But from the moment she sets eyes on her indecently sexy new bodyguard, Sierra's thoughts are anything but professional . . .

Few things in this world scare Sean Owens-until he realizes he's in serious danger of losing his heart to his new client. No matter how much he wants to, Sean won't let his feelings for the smart and gorgeous Sierra get in the way of doing his job. Because as the attacks against her escalate, crossing the line between business and pleasure could get them both killed.

Buy the book!
IndieBound: http://bit.ly/1mMb8zz


About the Author:
Tara Wyatt is a contemporary romance author who's been making up love stories ever since she fell head over heels for the Backstreet Boys almost twenty years ago. Not content with merely daydreaming about Nick Carter, she grabbed a notebook and wrote what she now realizes was Backstreet Boy fan fiction.

After outgrowing her boy band obsession and obtaining an Honours B.A. in English Literature and Philosophy from McMaster University, her love of books and reading led her to pursue a Masters' degree in Library and Information Science at the University of Western Ontario. Currently, she works for a large public library system, where she has the arduous task of selecting books for children and young adults for the library's collection.

Winner of the Unpublished Winter Rose Award, Linda Howard Award of Excellence and the Heart of the West Award, Tara lives in Hamilton, Ontario with the cutest dog in the world and a husband that makes all of her heroes look like chumps.

Social Media Links:


Release Day...

From Scholastic...




From Victoria Scott, author of FIRE & FLOOD, comes a thrilling story of impossible odds.

Ever since the Titans first appeared in her Detroit neighborhood, Astrid Sullivan’s world has revolved around the mechanical horses. She and her best friend have spent countless hours watching them and their jockeys practice on the track. It’s not just the thrill of the race. It’s the engineering of the horses and the way they’re programmed to seem so lifelike. The Titans are everything that fascinates Astrid, and nothing she’ll ever touch.

She hates them a little, too. Her dad lost everything betting on the Titans. And the races are a reminder of the gap between the rich jockeys who can afford the expensive machines to ride, and the working class friends and neighbors of Astrid’s who wager on them.

But when Astrid’s offered a chance to enter an early model Titan in this year’s derby, well, she decides to risk it all. Because for a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, it’s more than a chance at fame or money. Betting on herself is the only way she can see to hang on to everyone in the world she cares about.





From Spencer Hill Press...




With any great change, there is always strife, and the Covenant University has become the frontline between pure-bloods who want the Breed Order reinstated and the half-bloods who want the right to control their own destinies.
Fate has other plans.

The violence is escalating and war between the races seems inevitable, and it couldn’t come at a worse time. Hyperion may be out of commission, but Josie and Seth know they have only earned a reprieve. Seth must get Josie fully prepared, which means controlling her newfound abilities, and they need to find the other demigods before the Titans do.
But the gods are sensing a greater threat.

Only one thing is more dangerous than a bunch of starved Titans, and that’s an out-of-control Apollyon. The aether in Josie is drawing Seth in deeper, and when lust mixes with love and gives way to power, he knows being close to her is not only dangerous to her, but to everyone around them, but letting her go requires a level of selflessness that just isn’t Seth’s style.

The paths taken in the past are becoming the roads of the future.

Just as chaos breaks out, familiar faces from the past return, complicating the already strained bond between Josie and Seth, and when the danger from the Titans erupts with devastating consequences, the dark allure of power calls to Seth again, but this time Josie might not be able to pull him back.

And when the struggle between power and love becomes the deadliest battleground, there may be no salvation.






From HQN...



New York Times bestselling author Linda Goodnight welcomes you back home to Honey Ridge, Tennessee, with another beautiful story full of hope, haunting mystery, and the power to win your heart...

Famous yet anonymous, thriller writer Hayden Winters lives a life colored by lies. Deeply ashamed of his past, his hunger for an honest relationship and dreams of starting a family remain unsatisfied, and he can trust no one with his secrets. He's determined to outrun his personal demons, but the charming old Peach Orchard Inn and a woman whose presence is as gentle as a sparrow's song stops him in his tracks.

Carrie Riley is afraid of everything from flying to thunderstorms, and pretty much of life itself. But meeting the enigmatic writer staying at the inn emboldens her to learn everything about him. When they discover a fragile boy hiding at the inn, Hayden is honor-bound to help Carrie protect him. Soon they're led to a centuries-old mystery that haunts Hayden's sleep, and his only safe haven is Carrie. As the secrets of the past and present force their lives to become entwined, all that's left to come to light is love—if the grim truth doesn't tear them apart first.






The McCord Brothers are the most eligible bachelors in Spring Hill, Texas. But these cowboys are about to get wrangled by the love of some very special women—the kind who can melt hearts and lay it all on the line. 
Air force Captain Riley McCord has come home on medical leave to find one heck of a welcome reception. Every unattached woman in Spring Hill, Texas, wants to nurse him back to health. That includes his childhood friend Claire Davidson—the only person who understands how damaged he really feels. In high school, she chose his best friend over him. According to Riley's rules, that should make her off-limits forever. But when Claire suggests a no-strings fling, he can't refuse. 

Claire always wanted Riley—but she also craved the safety and stability he couldn't offer. So she chose another path, only to end up crazier about him than ever. She's even convinced herself that this time she won't be devastated when he leaves. Yet once Riley realizes the depth of Claire's feelings—and his own—he'll have to make the ultimate choice: return to the job he loves or stay home for the woman who's always lived in his heart.







He's the hottest MMA fighter in the game, but one woman is ready to try out a few steamy moves of her own in an unforgettable new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster...

With the life he's led and the muscles he's gained, Armie Jacobson isn't afraid of anything. Except maybe Merissa Colter's effect on him. It's not just that she's his best friend's little sister. Fact is, she deserves better. Women pursue him for one night of pleasure, and that's all he wants to offer. Until rescuing Merissa from a robbery leads to the most erotic encounter of his life.

Good girl meets bad boy. It's a story that rarely ends well. But Merissa is taking matters into her own hands. No matter how he views himself, the Armie she knows is brave, honorable and completely loyal. And as past demons and present-day danger collide, they're both about to learn what's truly worth fighting for…