Summer Lovin' Read-a-thon Goals

Hey, lovelies! I have never participated in a read-a-thon, but I've always looked at the people participating with a little jealousy in me since it all seems so very fun. Today I saw that Jasprit from The Reader's Den is participating in this read-a-thon and since it takes place throughout an entire week, I'd gladly use the opportunity and try to read as much as possible. I have difficulty with participating in the ones which take up like one-three days of a week since I'm a college student and work during summer and have an internship on top of that so yeah.. I couldn't read more than one book during that time even if I wanted to. Enough about my rambling though. I advise you guys to participate as well since it seems like so much fun (click on the banner above to go to the sign-up page). So you want to know what I'll be reading? Here's the list of the books I'm going to pick from depending on my mood.

The Collector by Victoria Scott | Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter | Until I Die by Amy Plum

Cinder by Marissa Meyer | Clash by Nicole Williams | Dearly Departed by Lia Habel

I have so many unread physical copies so listed above are the books that I'll try to read no matter what, but as it often happens, my reading mood changes quickly and below I have listed books that I'll read if I want to replace any of the books above. Also, if I end up reading all of the ones above, I ccan choose from the ones below :-)

What's Left of Me by Kate Zhang | Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown | Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

 Incarnate by Jodi Meadows  | Taken by Erin Bowman | The Vincent Brothers by Abbi Glines

Annnd that's it. Any recommendations to me on which I should read first? I can't wait for tomorrow to dive into these pretties. Have a great Sunday!

Review: Emancipating Andie by Priscilla Glenn

Title: Emancipating Andie
Author: Priscilla Glenn
Published: March 1st 2013
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Ever since the one time Andie Weber threw caution to the wind - and paid the price for it - she’s learned that it’s safer and smarter to live life playing by the rules. Now she’s got a great apartment, a steady job, and a wonderful boyfriend in Colin; he’s sweet, stable, and essentially perfect – except maybe for the fact that his best friend is Chase.
Chase McGuire lives his carefree, unstructured life strictly for himself. Dripping sarcasm and oozing wit, he refuses to censor his feelings or opinions for anyone, making no apologies for either and wearing his abrasiveness like a badge of honor. No one has ever gotten under Andie’s skin the way Chase does – and vice versa.
So when Andie and Chase find themselves forced to take a two-day road trip together, they are already dreading an inevitable all-out war. But as the trip progresses, and the undeniable friction that has always defined their relationship slowly begins to wear away their preconceived notions of each other, Andie and Chase discover they both have a lot to learn about life, courage, happiness, and the age-old battle between logic and love.

Back to You was one of my favorite reads of 2012 and I cannot praise that book enough. It was thoroughly enjoyable. Priscilla Glenn has quickly become one of my favorite contemporary authors. Her books are filled with emotion and heartbreak in addition to life, love and laughter.

“Life is much more enjoyable when you're surrounded by people who just accept you for you.” 

The story. Andie is an adorable MC who happens to be in a serious relationship with a very decent guy. She meets his privileged friends at a house party and gets locked up in a wine cellar with the worst guy she can possibly imagine – Chase McGuire. He infuriates her to her bones. Andie expects to never see him again. Until.. They all attend to a wedding and she has to drive him there. Expect a catastrophe to happen.

My thoughts. You could seriously cut the tension with a knife in this one. Tension in romance, suspense of what’s next to come, the little things that one does not dare to talk about but what occupy one’s mind. It was intense! However, even though the first part was so so so good, it got a little boring for me at some point. The last 20% were fantastic though. Emancipating Andie was full on temptation, butterflies; freedom to breathe, love and live.

As for the characters, I absolutely loved Chase as a love interest. It’s not that I didn’t like Colin, I sure did, but he didn’t push Andie to reach for her dreams nor did he push her to open up about her dreams. When one’s in a relationship, it should be easy to talk about these things, but in this case Andie didn’t dare to speak about her true wishes to Colin. She was embarrassed and that speaks volume. Chase, however, got her to talk and through that they formed a connection deeper than Andie and her boyfriend. The love triangle was inevitable and I liked how there was no cheating in it. We knew it'd get messy with these three, but Andie pulled her big-girl-pants on and did what she had to do in order to make this right – good for her.

I had a tough time with rating this one. I gave Back to You 5 stars since it was one of my favorite books I have ever read. It’s hard to live up to that. Since it didn’t, I can’t give Emancipating Andie 5 stars. Also, the fact that I was a little bored throughout a part of it in the middle, I had to lower the rating another notch. Still, I cannot wait for something else by Priscilla and her writing in general was absolutely marvelous and beautiful. She is definitely an author to explore.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Meet the author

 Facebook |  Twitter | Goodreads

Vote for Colt!!!!!!!

Hey, lovelies! I'm so pumped up for July since the annual YA Crush Tourney will have its winner of 2013. I'm sure Will Herondale's fans are furious about his loss last year and are bound to raise hell if he won't win this time around. Mwahahahhaa. I'm putting my money on him as I adore him as well and he'd be a great addition to Adrian and Jace to sit on the winner's throne. I wouldn't mind a black horse among the other contestants though. Anyhow, this year we have NA Crush Tourney as well and I have so many favorites of mine participating that I don't know who to choose. I will say this though that I need you guys to vote for Colt from Charade. He is beyond real, intense, loyal and amazing and I hope you have all read his book. If not, go get it! It's a cryfest with lots of butterflies-in-your-stomach moments:) You can vote for him tomorrow by clicking on this link. Oh, and would you like to see why I love him so much? Well, here's an excerpt for ya (it isn't spilery) ;-)

I run over to the shed. Each step I take I wonder what the hell I’m doing. This girl isn’t my problem. I played her little game with her and now it’s over. Still, I creep around the back of the small building and when I see her huddled on the ground, I don’t turn away.
“Hey…it’s me.” Fuck. She probably doesn’t just recognize my voice in the dark. “Colt.” I don’t want her to trip out. Something serious has happened to this girl. I don’t know who she is, but she’s not who I thought.
“Go away.”
I smirk. No matter what happens to her she still doesn’t have a problem being pissed at me. “Not gonna happen.”
 I bend down. I’m not sure if it’s the right thing to do or not, but I touch her shoulder. My hand starts to tremble from her. She’s shaking like fucking crazy. “Come on. Let’s get you out of here.” 
Another shiver wracks her whole body. It vibrates through me. Can she even walk? “I’m going to pick you up, okay? Don’t kick my ass.” I’m hoping for a laugh that I don’t get. She doesn’t tell me to go to hell either, so I figure I’m safe.
I scoop her up. Her shaky arms wrap around me. She buries her face in my neck. “Maybe you should kiss me. That way if anyone sees us they’ll think you want me too much, I had to carry you so I could get you alone faster.”
With that, I feel wetness on my throat. It’s not from her mouth. A little whimper sneaks out of her lips and she’s shaking in a different way now. She’s crying and somehow I know that’s a huge deal for her.
“I got you. We’re good. Let’s get you out of here.”
I sneak her out the back gate so we don’t run into anyone else. Adrian is already in his car, on the street. I manage to open the back door and get in without letting go of her. I don’t have time to wonder what I’m doing or why I feel okay doing it. I can’t do shit for anyone else in my life, but maybe I can help make this okay.
Adrian drives. Leaning forward I kiss the top of her head. I feel her shaking as she cries, but no sounds come out. She’s locked up so tight and I both respect her for protecting herself and want to set her free at the same time. “It’s okay. We’re good.”
“Home?” Adrian says from the driver’s seat.
“Yeah.” 
He doesn’t ask what’s up and I don’t offer, mostly because I have no fucking clue. Just let him drive while she cries and I kiss her head like it’s a real fucking thing to do.

So you see, he is loyal, he cares even if he doesn't want to admit it and he is a great guy beneath that mask he carries and Chey just might be the one to make him drop the mask for real. :-)

I hope you all have a lovely day! I'll be home late today since I'll be spending time with my sister tonight, so I hope I won't be too tired to check out what you've been up to today. If not, I will do that tomorrow. If you didn't get the meaning of this random post already, then VOTE FOR COLT! :-)

PS. You can see my raving review of Charade by Nyrae Dawn here. Peace out, pumpkins!! Heh. ;-)

Teaser Tuesday #42

This is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

To participate you:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
• (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) * Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teasers

He chuckled deeply, and a delicate shiver coursed down my spine. "You know what?"
"What?" I whispered.
Cam shifted closed, acting like he was stretching. I tensed, having no idea what he was up to. His arm came behind me and then his lips were warm and firm against my skin, below my ear. A pulse shot through me, unnerving and something else--something exciting.
His lips curved against me, and I shuddered. "I cannot wait for tomorrow night." 

OK, so I'm sorry for breaking the rules, but I just finished this one a few days ago and when I read this scene, I knew that I wanted to share this with you guys. So.. what's tomorrow night? ;-)

~ 43% of Wait for You (Wait for You#1) by Jennifer L. Armentrou

Review: Ink by Amanda Sun

Title: Ink (Paper Gods #1)
Author: Amanda Sun
Published: June 25th 2013
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
*An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review*

On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.

Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.

Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.

I absolutely adored Memoirs of a Geisha by A. Golden and of course I requested for Ink – hello?!? Japan? Drawings? Ancient Gods? Mythology? Uh-uh!! That’s what I’m talking about. I couldn’t resist requesting and ARC. I was expecting a unique story filled with adventures and a blossoming romance and the book had it plenty.

And then the sketched girl on the bench turned her head, and her inky eyes glared straight into mine.

The story. Katie Greene is an orphan who, under the circumstances, had to move in with her aunt Diane.  Only.. She lives in Japan. Katie quickly befriends fellow-students Yuki and Tanaka, but there’s one boy that catches her eye with his cruel, distant behavior and dark eyes. Soon simple drawings seem to have a life of their own and since no one seems to have answers, all there’s left for Katy is to seek the answers by herself.

My thoughts. I bet it’s a heavy burden moving to a country where even the alphabet is different, not to mention having just lost one’s Mom. Under these circumstances, I believe Katie did a great job adjusting to the local culture and the new environment. What bothered me about her character was that she accused one of the characters in having stalker-ish behavior when she basically stalked Tomohiro herself at the beginning of the novel. Also, I like people who don’t put their nose into other’s business and Katie was definitely a little too nosy.

The romance took time to evolve, but in my opinion, we didn’t get enough evolving in the very sense of that word. The few make out scenes were well-written though. I liked the idea of the fantasy-mythology spin in this story – drawings coming to life – but maybe it’s that I’m not a native English speaker so it was hard for me to navigate between descriptive ink scenes and having lots of Japanese words as well. I wasn’t aware that the words were translated in the back of the book (found them when I had finished reading), otherwise it would have been a smoother read for me. I think. There were a few revelations that had me somewhat taken aback since I didn’t see them coming exactly that way which was good.

Overall, I enjoyed this read and I will definitely continue with the series. Some of my favorite series have gotten three stars for the first book and have become absolutely enjoyable further on. I do think the potential in this book is there, it’s just that some of the ideas were hard for me to digest I guess and the romance wasn’t that well-developed. Other than that, I advise you to check it out. Japan as a cultural experience is so awesome and since I can’t afford to travel there in the near future, I appreciate every chance I get to travel there via fiction.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Meet the author

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Excerpt and Giveaway: Killing Sarai by J.A. Redmerski

So you know that NYTimes bestselling author who wrote The Edge of Never? Well, she just released her new novel Killing Sarai. Today I have the opportunity to offer you a thrilling, intense little excerpt from the book. I can't wait to read this pretty myself. I've heard so many great things about this amazing author and I should really get on reading one of her books, shouldn't I? I hope you enjoy the excerpt and let me know what you think below:) Oh, and as for the giveaway, I wish all of you lovelies the best of luck! x

Title: Killing Sarai
Author: J.A. Redmerski
Published: June 20, 2013
Genre: Romantic Suspense/General adult 17 +
Event organized by: AToMR Tours
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

From the author of the New York Times, USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling novel, THE EDGE OF NEVER, comes a story of passion and survival…

Sarai was only fourteen when her mother uprooted her to live in Mexico with a notorious drug lord. Over time she forgot what it was like to live a normal life, but she never let go of her hope to escape the compound where she has been held for the past nine years.
Victor is a cold-blooded assassin who, like Sarai, has known only death and violence since he was a young boy. When Victor arrives at the compound to collect details and payment for a hit, Sarai sees him as her only opportunity for escape. But things don’t go as planned and instead of finding transport back to Tucson, she finds herself free from one dangerous man and caught in the clutches of another.
While on the run, Victor strays from his primal nature as he succumbs to his conscience and resolves to help Sarai. As they grow closer, he finds himself willing to risk everything to keep her alive; even his relationship with his devoted brother and liaison, Niklas, who now like everyone else wants Sarai dead.
As Victor and Sarai slowly build a trust, the differences between them seem to lessen, and an unlikely attraction intensifies. But Victor’s brutal skills and experience may not be enough in the end to save her, as the power she unknowingly holds over him may ultimately be what gets her killed.
This is their story…

Meet the author

J.A. Redmerski, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of THE EDGE OF NEVER lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her three children and a Maltese. She is a lover of television and books that push boundaries and is a huge fan of AMC’s The Walking Dead.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Excerpt

I raise the gun a little higher, settling the barrel at the back of her head, but not touching it. I don’t want her to be afraid before she dies and although I know she fears nothing, death is something we all fear in our final moment even if only the smallest part of us is conscious of it. I don’t want her to fear it at all and she can’t if she doesn’t know that it’s happening.
“How old were you when you became what you are?” she asks.
Caught off guard by the question and maybe more-so by the shifting of the mood, I hesitate before answering.
“I was nine.”
She sniffles and wipes her eyes with the hand near her cheek.
“You were very young,” she goes on. “I guess in a way like me, you never had a chance to live a life of your choosing. I guess maybe we aren’t really so different from each other.” She pauses. “Except I might be more like your brother than I care to admit. He’s as angry as I am.”
I release my finger from the trigger and slowly, so she doesn’t know, move the barrel away from the back of her head.
“It must’ve been hard growing up with Niklas,” she says.
I set the gun back on the bed next to me and before I know what I’m doing I’m cradling the back of her head in my hand again.

This sounds so intense and I'd love to know more. I WANT to know more. I wish my book buying ban was over :( *bookmarks Amazon page for purchase*

Giveaway

Open Internationally

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Title: Where She Went (If I Stay #2)
Author: Gayle Froman
Published: April 5th 2011
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.
Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future-and each other.
Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

I absolutely adored the amazingness that was If I Stay.  I wanted to read Where She Went so bad. I must admit that the first chapter that was at the end of the first book completely knocked me down from my amazement pedestal since it wasn’t at all what I expected. After finishing the second installment, I felt happy enough to dance around in my room and smile like a crazy person though.

“You were so busy trying to be my savior that you left me all alone.”

Where She Went takes place three years after the events of If I Stay and it’s safe to say that things are not at all what we expect them to be. Adam and Mia are both doing their own thing and it’s hard to see how much Adam has changed after what happened in the previous book. He is moody, full of grunge and hate. Full of sorrow.

If I Stay was so full of tears and emotions for me whereas Where She Went explored a different type of emotions – anger, hate, pain. The writing is very relatable and easy to follow, but beautiful at the same time. Forman delivered Adam’s feelings effortlessly and the way she entwines the past and the present is done very well. The scenes of the past where Adam spent time with Mia’s family and baby brother were done beautifully. I am so terribly sad that the opportunity to do that again in the future has been torn away from Mia and Adam. Overall, I love Gayle Forman’s writing a bunch!

I kinda lost all hope for the happily-ever-after I was hoping for, but when I least expected it, Forman delivered it to me with a beautiful colorful ribbon on top of it (read: everything following the kiss). I don’t have enough great words to explain to you how much I loved these two novels and how much I hope you’ll pick it up and pet these books with the same kind of adoration as I did. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I’m a tool for not picking these up before, my loss! Better late than never. Get on ‘em, lovelies!

PS. I gave it 4.5 because for me If I Stay was more emotional. I had to wait for two weeks in order to receive my paperback of Where She Went and throughout that time I read a few other books so my mind had recovered from that horrible ugly crying. If I had read it right after finishing the first installment, I am sure, I would have loved it even more than the first one. Nevertheless, it doesn't take away from the beauty of Mia and Adam and their tragic yet gorgeous story.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Meet the author

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Excerpt and Giveaway: Triangles by Kimberly Ann Miller

In addition to it being my sister's graduation today, I have more exciting things in store:) I have the opportunity to introduce you to a book that's been on my tbr pile ever since I learned about it and it didn't even have a cover or a release date. The synopsis just sounded so intriguing and I knew this was a book I wanted to read. Well, ladies and gents, yesterday was the official release date so I'm happy to announce that we can all get to read it now:) I hope you enjoy the excerpt and be sure to participate in the giveaway. Good luck, lovelies!

Title: Triangles
Author: Kimberly Ann Miller
Release Date: 06/18/13
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

A cruise ship. A beautiful island. Two sexy guys. What could possibly go wrong?
In the Bermuda Triangle—a lot.
Hoping to leave behind the reminders of her crappy life--her father's death years ago, her mother's medical problems, and the loser who’s practically stalking her--seventeen-year-old Autumn Taylor hops on a ship with her sister for a little distraction. When she wakes up in the Bermuda Triangle, she fears she's gone nuts for more than one reason: that loser’s suddenly claiming they're a happy couple... a hot guy is wrapping his arms around her and saying "Happy Anniversary"... and suddenly, she’s full of bruises, losing her hair, and getting IV medication. Autumn visits the ship's doctor, hoping for a pill or a shot to make the craziness go away. Instead, she's warned that these "alternate realities" could become permanent.
She just has to ask herself one question—how the hell is she going to get out of this mess?

Excerpt

“Are you all right, honey?”

I opened my eyes. An attractive young woman with red hair and brilliant green eyes was looking at me. What I thought was salt water from the ocean must have been tears because my face was the only one nearby that was wet. I glanced at her concerned expression and smiled. “Yes, thank you. I’m fine.” I swiped away a tear with my finger. “Just…everything’s fine.”

She stepped closer and lowered her voice. “This cruise will change your life. Nothing will be the same when it’s over, but it will be worth it. You’ll see.” Her emerald eyes twinkled, and she nodded her head once.

I forced a laugh to be polite. “Thanks. Enjoy your cruise.”

What a weirdo. What did that even mean? How could a cruise change my life? I moved from my spot to avoid more weirdness from her and found a less populated area at the back of the ship. New York and New Jersey disappeared behind us as we charged toward Bermuda and away from the mess my life had become.

A cloud covered the retreating sun, sending shivers through me. A white-haired lady dropped her purse and lots of change tumbled out. A penny hit my foot and landed on tails.

My cell phone buzzed. I pulled it from my pocket. I had thirteen messages and thirteen texts. How would Nisha survive the next five days without hearing from me? I took care of the messages and told her I’d call her when we got back to Jersey.

Even though I was not very superstitious, a bad feeling crawled into the pit of my stomach and took up residence.

I knew what I was leaving behind, but what was I floating toward?

Meet the author

Kimberly Miller received Bachelor's degrees from Georgian Court University and Rutgers University and a Master's degree from The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. She is an avid reader and particularly enjoys true crime and young adult novels. She grew up in New Jersey and currently resides in Monmouth County with her husband and three cats. When she’s not writing, she loves to travel to sunny islands where she snorkels by day and stargazes by night. She always takes her Nook with her.

Website│Twitter│Goodreads│Facebook│Tumblr

GIVEAWAY

(2) $10 gift card to Amazon or Barnes and Noble (US only **I have no clue why though**)

Spencer Hill Press is also doing a giveaway for a cruise! Click HERE to enter to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tuesday #41

This is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

To participate you:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
• (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) * Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teasers

Rush sat down onto the bed and leaned back against the wall. A deep chuckle came from his chest and I watched as a real smile broke out on his face. "I can't believe I just begged a female to sit and talk to me."

Heh, this was one of the few contemporary books by Abbi that I hadn't read yet. By today, I have finished the first and the second one, but I've yet to read Forever Too Far. I can say that even though Rush is a bit of a cave man, I still like him. With Blaire, on the other hand, I have a love-hate relationship. More towards the love though. I think. I hope I'll get to share my reviews with you guys soon:)

~ 36% of Fallen too Far (Fallen too Far #1) by Abbi Glines

Review: On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

Title: On Dublin Street (On Dublin Street #1)
Author: Samantha Young
Published: August 31st 2012
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Jocelyn Butler has been hiding from her past for years. But all her secrets are about to be laid bare…
Four years ago, Jocelyn left her tragic past behind in the States and started over in Scotland, burying her grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without attachments. Her solitary life is working well—until she moves into a new apartment on Dublin Street where she meets a man who shakes her carefully guarded world to its core.
Braden Carmichael is used to getting what he wants, and he’s determined to get Jocelyn into his bed. Knowing how skittish she is about entering a relationship, Braden proposes an arrangement that will satisfy their intense attraction without any strings attached.
But after an intrigued Jocelyn accepts, she realizes that Braden won’t be satisfied with just mind-blowing passion. The stubborn Scotsman is intent on truly knowing her… down to the very soul.

Yet another contemporary that has bloggers and readers all around the world raving about its greatness. I was intrigued to say the least. I had only read one book that took place in Scotland and I wasn’t impressed. I was reluctant to start this one because of it, but had high hopes for a much loved contemporary book and I can say that Samantha Young didn’t disappoint.

"Babe, nice lingerie is for seducing a man. I'm already fucking seduced."

The story. I’m not entirely sure what I expected before going into this, but I can tell you that it wasn’t that. I thought I was going to read about a sexy vacation in Scotland with a bar owner or something. Pardon me, I read the synopsis a long time ago. Color me surprised when I met an orphan escaping feelings and love and finding them in the most unexpected places. A snarky heroine, a wealthy and very sexy hero and a brilliant best friend – that’s what Ms. Young had in store for me.

My emotions. The best part of this story was the first half which was full of sarcasm, chemistry and laughter. That last one especially on my part. I was really, really blown away. I didn’t fancy the part where Joss went on and on about how she couldn’t be with Braden at the end of the story though. I don’t think it’s a spoiler since we all knew it was coming since the very beginning. Yup, that’s the reason I won’t give this book 5 stars.

Let’s talk about why I will give it 4 stars though. I loved, loved, loved the love interest Braden. I liked the MC Joss a lot through the first half as well. I also adored Braden’s family, best friend Adam and of course – Braden's sister Ellie! How could I not love that bright girl with so much life in her. Her relationship with Joss was very well written and I guess the characters were what made the story for me. The plot moved on well, if you don’t consider the last 30%. Oh, and I was glad it wasn’t dual POV. It suited for Joss’ POV only and would have been very tiring to read in both POVs.

I was thoroughly entertained by this novel and the chemistry between Braden and Joss was undeniable, the relationships were awesome and the plot was well-paced. (I would have given it 5 stars without hesitation if the ending wasn't a little tiring for me.) If you value these positive qualities listed above, then by any means, pick this up! PS. Read the quote above and you get why Braden is the newest addition to my book boyfriends list.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Meet the author

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Book Haul #21

Since I'm still trying to be on the book buying ban (which is really really really hard, by the way), I only have very few books to show you and these are some of the books that I have received throughout the past weeks. If you've read and loved any of them, let me know and I'll pick them up sooner:) Don't forget to leave your links so I can visit you guys back!

Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1) by Leigh Bardugo

Strange Angels (Strange Angels #1) by Lili St. Crow

Betrayals (Strange Angels #2) by Lili St. Crow

Dearly Departed (Gone with the Respiration #1) by Lia Habel

Oh and don't forget to participate in my 100 Followers giveaway if you haven't. Read on, lovelies!

What did you get this week? Leave your links below and I'll check out your goodies :)

In My Mailbox is a weekly event hosted by The Mod Podge Bookshelf and Stacking the Shelves is a weekly event hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Excerpt and Giveaway: Off the Record by Sawyer Bennett

Today I get to share an excerpt and two giveaways with you. I'm excited since this series is on my tbr pile and it seems like fans are giving these books great feedback. I hope you enjoy the excerpt and good luck with the giveaway:)

Title: Off the Record

Author: Sawyer Bennett

Publisher: Big Dog Books

Release date: June 11, 2013

Genre: Contemporary romance

Age Group: New Adult

Event organized by: AToMR Tours

Add it: Goodreads | Purchase: Amazon

The sparks of dislike burn hot, but the sparks of mutual attraction burn even hotter. Ever Montgomery suffered the ultimate betrayal by the one man who she should have been able to count on for anything. It has left her hurt, jaded and incapable of forming relationships, but it also means that she can spot a liar a mile away. These traits are earning her a reputation as a reporter with a keen nose for a good story and a complete understanding of the extreme power of the written word.
Lincoln Caldwell, is the hot goalie for the New York Rangers. At twenty-four and a rising star, he works hard and he plays even harder. He’s gorgeous and carefree—the ultimate charmer. Ladies fall at his feet and the single life has never been lived the way Linc Caldwell does it.
When Ever publishes an article about Linc containing information that she received off the record, she finds herself on the receiving end of the athelete’s fury. Rather than basking in the glory of exposing Linc as a shameless user of women, she finds herself at his mercy when he demands and receives retribution. Required by her editor to trail Linc for six weeks, Ever is forced to look at the real Linc Caldwell.
And she just might find that she has misjudged him.

Excerpt

A pounding on my door interrupts my thoughts. I walk to open it and Emily storms in.
“I’m going to kill her, Linc. I swear it...I’m going to kill her. Then Nix will help me bury her body where it won’t be found.”
I can’t help but smile at Emily. She’s so feisty and protective. My brother lucked out with this one. “I appreciate the offer, Em, but I’m going to handle it a bit more subtly.”
Nix snorts. “There’s nothing subtle about what you’re getting ready to do.”
Emily looks at me questioningly, even as she drapes herself across Nix’s lap. His arms go around her to squeeze and my heart warms just looking at the love between those two.
“What are you going to do?” she asks.
Taking the last sip of my coffee, I head back to my room to take a shower. “I’m going to destroy her and when I’m through, she’ll wish she never met Linc Caldwell.”

There were lots of sexy excerpts in addition to this one, but I feel like this gives us more insight to the story than the smexy and very delicious scenes that I had the honour to choose from. I can guarantee though that the other excerpts were indeed very juicy:)

Meet the author

Sawyer Bennett is the pen name for a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn't have many weakness but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Giveaways

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Title: If I Stay (If I Stay #1)
Author: Gayle Forman
Published: April 2nd 2009
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...
A sophisticated, layered, and heart-achingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make, and the ultimate choice Mia commands.

This is a book that I added to my TBR shelf when I first opened an account on GR and that was over a year ago. I had seen it in my local book store more than once and I even had it on wishlist on TBD. When I finally got it in paperback, I put it away on my shelf. God, I was such a tool! Seriously, this book!! This book is full of great things and it’s my loss that I hadn’t read it sooner. Better late then never though;-)

“Sometimes you make choices in life and sometimes choices make you.” 

Gayle Forman is a writer that has captured my attention, heart with only one book just as Willow Aster, Maggie Stiefvater, Colleen Hoover, Priscilla Glenn, Katja Millay, Trisha Wolfe, Nyrae Dawn and Wendy Higgins did. She is fenomenal! If I Stay will be forever a favorite of mine. Henry, Gramps, Teddy, Willow, Mia’s parents, Kim, Adam – every single one of them equals love for me.

Also, this was a serious case of ugly crying for me. When that Coldplay song was mentioned – my gawwddd!! J'adore me some Coldplay! It’s always a risky move to mention a song in a book, especially with so known melodies and lyrics, because the song may overpower the scene, but in this case it was perfecto! The scene where Mia’s Gramps sat on her bedside... I was lucky I saw a few words through the blur, caused by the mist in my eyes, and it was enough to put together the sentences – that’s how much this book affected me.

It’s a book I will re-read back to back many, many times and I recommend If I Stay at least a thousand multiply infinity times LOL. It not only gives you the opportunity to drain yourself by releasing a heavy case of emotions, but makes you think about life and the choices we make, hiding from reality, loving and caring enough to carry on. It’s a powerful story and yes, please do read it! You won’t regret it, I promise:)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Meet the author

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Cover Reveal: Of Darkness and Crowns (Goddess Wars #2) by Trisha Wolfe

I am bouncing with excitement over this since it means the sequel is on its way!!!! I LOVED the first book so, so, so much that it's a forever favorite of mine. You can read my thoughts on Of Silver and Beasts here. You can also get a sneak peek into Caben's point of view since the  sequel will contain his perspective. (Yeeehaw to that ;))This cover is VERY special for me because it features Kaliope AND CABEN! #lesigh. I am so in love with this guy.. You have no idea! Anyhow, without further ado, here's the cover.

Of Darkness and Crowns (Goddess Wars #2) by Trisha Wolfe

Release Date: September 1, 2013

Cover artist: Steven Novak

Cover Reveal Organized by: YA Bound Book Tours

***WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T READ BOOK ONE***

The moon goddess has taken up residency within Prince Caben, darkening his mind and soul. Now he hunts the very women he sacrificed his life to save, his conflicting desires for love and power raging a battle within him. Kaliope possesses the key to setting Bale free, and Caben will stop at nothing to see his goddess restored. Even if that means destroying the kingdom he’s sworn to protect, and the infuriating woman who torments his thoughts.

Kaliope, now the leader to the newly formed Nactue Guard, has vowed to save Caben. But with a traitor lurking among her people, and powers she’s unable to fully control, Kaliope’s mission becomes shrouded with doubt. Her new role as watcher over Caben’s kingdom brings a burden she’s unable to bear alone, and appointing the right person in charge of the prince’s affairs has turned a kingdom against the Nactue leader. Saving her stubborn, willful prince from the darkness overtaking him will be the battle of her life, and she needs people she can trust by her side. But bad blood between members of the Nactue obscure Kaliope’s journey, while her feelings for Caben cloud her judgment.

When the time comes to do what she must to destroy the goddess of chaos, will she be able to if it means losing Caben forever?

Book two of the Goddess Wars is told in dual point of view from Kaliope and Caben. New Adult Dark Fantasy, intended for readers 17 years of age and older.

***Excerpt (Caben’s POV)***

The Crusher grinds to a halt. I’m propelled forward, and my head smacks the low-hanging ceiling of the front compartment.

“Damn, you fool!” I palm my throbbing forehead, eyeing the driver of the Crusher—the machines I now call by their Otherworlder name.

“Sorry, my liege,” he says, backing against his seat, farther away from the glowing ribbons circling my fingers.

Ignoring him, I study the luminous white—like the surface of the moon—crawling beneath my skin, and marvel at the power. My power. Had I possessed it that day the Cavan Army forced me from my home, they never could have done so easily. But then, I never would have obtained this power. Ironic.

“Just drive,” I tell him. I take a seat on the front bench, away from the foul stench emanating from the back compartment—our diversion tactic that will gain me entry into my palace, where I know she’s being kept.

The glow beneath my skin illuminates brighter, reminding me of her skin. I curl my fingers into a tight ball.

The battle up ahead is only part of my plan, one that I know Kaliope will fall for. I need the reserves away from the palace. Then we’ll take care of her Nactue once we’re inside. My back molars clamp down hard at the thought of her—a mix of something like fire and nausea invading my stomach.

At one time, I felt things for the black-haired beauty. I chuckle to myself. Well, at least my groin did. Just thinking of her body makes me ache, and I have to adjust myself. But that was when I was weak, when I only thought and felt with that weakness. As much as I hated my father for thinking me too feeble to rule, he was right. I was pathetic.

Bale freed me. Released the part of me that I kept buried, locked away deep down, and I no longer fear anything. I think of everything that once made me shudder or quake with dread and laugh. It’s so simple.

Without fear, there is only freedom.

Power.

And if I free Bale completely, releasing her from within my being and making her corporeal, she’ll bestow me with even more power. I don’t care what the dark goddess does or where she goes once I restore Empress Iana’s relic. I don’t give a damn what happens to the maggoty Otherworlders or their realm.

I just want her out of my mind. And I want the power.

Then I’ll set my sights on Perinya, and on gaining what’s mine.

A deep cackle fills my head, deep and sultry.

“Quiet, woman.” I roll my eyes. We’ve come to a compromise, the goddess and I, that she may remain within my mind, but she’s to keep quiet. I got tired of her constant lectures and angry rants about her sisters. She does stay silent…for the most part. But the sooner I get her out of my head, the better.

Having a woman fill your thoughts is a weakness in itself. A sudden flash of a smiling, laughing Kal blurs my vision, and I shake my head.

There’s only one way to rid my thoughts of that woman.

Kill her.

“Burrow, leach,” I command the driver. “We’re coming up on the battle. Go underground.”

“Yes, my liege.”

Tonight, I plot. Find a way into the capital of Perinya and into my home. And then take back what’s mine. The goddess can have what she wants. I’m only interested in claiming what’s mine.

No one will ever take anything away from me again.

Don’t get in my way, Kal.

I shake my head harder, trying to quiet the pesky thoughts that always spring up when I think of her. Something left over from before—a residual feeling, an effect she has on me.

It won’t be there much longer. I smile, and Bale laughs.

***

In the sand-covered queendom of Cavan, the goddess once saved a young Kaliope’s life, preventing the mercury her father attempted to hide in her blood from reaching her heart. Now, a cybernetic clamp filters it, but the silver streaks swirling faintly beneath her skin are a constant reminder that she’s different.
When nineteen-year-old Kaliope is chosen as head of the Nactue Guard, she becomes the sworn protector to her empress. In the midst of an invasion on a neighboring land, Kaliope is placed in charge of guarding Prince Caben, the last heir to his kingdom. But when they’re attacked by the feared Otherworlders, Caben and Kaliope are abducted and taken below to a realm where they must fight for their life in a caged arena.
Kaliope struggles to protect her princely charge, keeping him and herself alive while battling inhumanly opponents, and trying to save the stolen, sacred relic that will restore her empress’s life force and all of Cavan. And if she can somehow awaken the goddess within her, she may save what’s most important.
New Adult Dark Fantasy: Intended for readers 17 years of age and older.

Of Silver and Beasts is on sale right now for only $.99. Get your copy here:

Meet Trisha

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | YouTube Channel 

***Bonus Material***

Don’t miss out on the bonus scene of Astarte’s Wrath – Bath Scene in Xarion’s POV

Review: Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

Title: Gameboard of the Gods (The Age of X #1)
Author: Richelle Mead
Published: June 4th 2012
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
*An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review*

In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.

When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.

I have read 3 series by Richelle Mead and have yet to read a book by her that would be a disappointment. Seriously! I know I have given two stars to Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2) for instance, but it was just a rating based on how I felt it being a little weaker than the rest of the books in that series. If I didn’t delve on those things, I’d give them all 5 stars since her books seriously never disappoint. Gameboard of the Gods is the first book in one of my newest favorite series.

"We're pieces on a gameboard, Dr. March, and some of us are more powerful than the others. You. Me. Her. We're the ones that gods want. We're the ones they're fighting over." – page 443 of the ARC.

The story. In a futuristic world, Mae Koskinen is a praetorian – a fierce Nordic soldier who is a part of the RUNA’s military. What makes her so special is that she is a gorgeous, flawless castal. Castals aka pure bloods have suffered from different illnesses, but Mae’s beauty is untouched. Justin March is a servitor in exile. He is called back by his former bosses to investigate mysterious, unsolvable religious murders. He is a plebian aka a normal, mixed-blooded person. Along with them we have another MC – Tessa Cruz – a teenage girl who is an outsider from a province.

My thoughts. First of all, it was a beast! 464 pages full of action. I’m usually not that keen on third person POVs, but Ms. Mead really made it work. Through Tessa’s eyes we see the true colors of RUNA and thanks to her, we learn the most about RUNA as she’s in the same position as we are – a newcomer. We get this futuristic society in its complex world of religion and atheism, advanced technology and fake smiles. At first it all felt very complicated to me, especially since I’m not a native English speaker, but as the novel progressed, the more at home I felt in this world. I liked how the technology advancements were new and intriguing, but not completely incomprehensible to grasp for our minds. Also, the further I read, the more the mythology part came into the picture.

We have an excellent cast of characters and they are all so very different, flawed and difficult to crack. (I didn't care for Tessa as much as I cared for Mae and Justing though.) I was a big fan of how Richelle managed to keep me invested in the mystery and keep the wheels spinning in my head, yet I didn’t figure it all out beforehand, especially who the god bidding on Justin was. That, I should have figured out sooner! I also loved how the romance between Justin and Mae was there, but they’re so proud and stubborn to admit their feelings (even to themselves) that we’ll have to have them fight their feelings for quite some time in this series. Maybe Justin and Mae's POVs, regarding the tone and the thoughts, melted together for me a little, but I still enjoyed them thoroughly. 

To sum up my thoughts, I’d say that if you’re looking for a read full of mythology, suspense, mystery, character-built and well-written plot with a touch of romance, pick this up! Richelle Mead has a way of writing books that suck you in like no other and don’t let go until you’ve devoured all of it with your nails bitten. I am eagerly anticipating what’s next to come in this crazy world where humans are the pawns of gods in this intriguing dystopian gameboard. This book is surely not to be missed!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Meet the author

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Book Blast + Giveaway: Endure by M.R. Merrick

Available June 5th 

Endure (The Protector, #4)

Book Description

Wrapped in darkness and woven with defeat, every action Chase has taken since being exiled from the Circle has been met with a devastating response. Now he's been burdened with a quest that seems impossible, and he needs to evolve into something more, something greater than he ever thought he could be.
Armed with magic, friendship, and an unbreakable will, Chase must build an army and find a weapon capable of defeating the ultimate evil. But he knows that nothing great comes without sacrifice. Blessed by the very gods who have abandoned him and carrying the fate of all the worlds on his shoulders, Chase Williams is about find out just how much one man can endure.

Excerpt

I jerked up from the couch, but the repercussion that came with the motion made me curse. My chest heaved and sweat dripped down my face.

"Chase?" I heard a voice say, but it was groggy. I wasn't quite in reality yet.

I cleared my throat and threw my legs over the edge of the couch. More pain came, but I didn't care. I needed to touch the floor. I needed to ground myself.

"Chase, are you okay?" It was Rayna's voice and she ran down the stairs.

I screamed as the scabbed over skin on my back tore open when I attempted to stand. I fell to the couch and beat my fists against the cushions as though that could alleviate the pain.

"Chase, hey, calm down."

Rayna's voice soothed me. She crouched in front of me and carefully touched my shoulder. Calming energy emanated off her body and soaked into mine. The adrenaline and pain faded, leaving an empty pit stirring inside me. I went completely still. The green cat eyes staring back at me had stolen my words and my breath. Swelling had formed under Rayna's right eye and she looked tired, but she was as striking as ever.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Amazon | B&N | Kobo

Wow! Talk about intense! 

About the Author

M.R. Merrick is a Canadian writer, and author of Exiled, the first installment in The Protector Series. Having never traveled, he adventures to far off lands through his imagination and in between cups of coffee. As a music lover and proud breakfast enthusiast, he's usually found at the computer, between a pair of headphones and in front of a large bowl of cereal.

M.R. Merrick | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook 

 

Book #1, Exiled is currently FREE

Chase Williams is a demon hunter in the Circle, or at least he was supposed to be. On his fifteenth birthday, Chase stepped up to the altar to claim his elemental power, but it never came. Elemental magic is passed down to a hunter through the bloodline, but on Chase's birthday, the bloodline stopped.

Exiled without the Circle's protection, Chase has spent two years trying to survive a world riddled with half-demons and magic. When he has a run in with a frightened and seemingly innocent demon, he learns the Circle's agenda has changed: the Circle plans to unlock a portal and unleash pure-blood demons into the world. Vowing to stop them, and knowing he can't do it alone, Chase forms a reluctant alliance with Rayna, a sexy witch with an attitude and a secret.

In their attempt to stop them, Chase and Rayna find themselves in the middle of the Circle's plan, leaving one of them to decide what their friendship is worth, and the other's life depending on it.

Amazon | B&N | Kobo

Giveaway

5 winners will have their choice of eBook from the series.

1 Grand prize will win SIGNED copies of ALL FOUR BOOKS.

International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tuesday #40

This is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

To participate you:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
• (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) * Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teasers

As I pick up my ripped gray tee, tattered and practically in shreds, the foggy image of last night clears. I stepped through the treshold of his room and literally tore my clothes off like the raging Hulk. Was that even sexy? I cringe. Must have been sexy enough to sleep with me. 

This is literally one of the weirdest books I've read since it talks about sex addiction. I am pretty sure an avarage male can be assumed to be a sex addict, but they've got nothing against a girl who watches porn in class. Seriously! It's  i-n-t-r-i-g-u-i-n-g  and I can't wait to explore more.

~ pg. 2 of Addicted to You (Addicted #1) by Krista and Becca Ritchie