Mad Love to all my peeps .... even if you just hop through I still Thank you!!
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Cover Characteristics - Two-for *Angel Wings & Moons*
This is a pretty little meme hosted by Sugarandsnark.co.za/
Each week they pick a cover theme and I post my favorite five covers with that theme.
Head over to their site to check out their favorites and other bloggers who have linked up too.
Everybody loves a pretty cover right??
This week you are getting a two for one deal ;) I forgot to post last weeks
topic (gasp!) and it is my favorite one so I had to go back and post!
So last weeks theme was ANGEL WINGS (*giddy clapping*) here are my favorite pretties...
(I say that like Gollum says "my precious")
*I may have cheated a bit with Clockwork Angel, but there are angel wings on the little
gold angel and this cover is so shimmery in person, I LOVE it!*
My favorite:
Not only is it gorgeous but this book is freaking bada%# amazing!
Now to this weeks 'actual' theme
MOONS
My Favorite:
Isn't Calum so fine? The moon is purdy too ;)
So there you have it! Pretty pretty covers! I tried to choose from my own book shelves so most of these books have special meaning to me which is why I find them so pretty.
Do you have a favorite cover with Angel wings or a Moon?? Tell me about them in the comments...I want to know what I'm missing!
Next weeks theme: birds
Get ready for that one!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Sins & Needles by Karina Halle *Review & Kickin' Giveaway*
OMG, OMG , OMG! That was my initial reaction when Karina picked us to help host the Sins & Needles Tour because that meant I was getting an ARC and I would read it before all of you lovely people! (yes, I did just rub it in)
See once I read the blurb for this book a while back I just KNEW I had to read it! Check it out:
Ellie Watt is used to starting over. The daughter of a grifting team, Ellie spent her childhood being used as a pawn in her parents' latest scam. Now she’s much older, wiser and ready to give her con artist life a rest. But returning to the dry desert town of Palm Valley, California means one more temptation than she bargained for – Camden McQueen. Once known as the high school weirdo, Camden is bigger and badder than the boy he used to be and a talented tattoo artist with his own thriving business. Ellie’s counting on Camden still being in love with her but what she’s not counting on is how easily unrequited love can turn into obsession over time. When Camden discovers Ellie’s plan to con him, he makes her a deal she doesn’t dare refuse, but her freedom comes with a price and it’s one that takes both Ellie and Camden down a dangerous road.
The bomb right? Well Hell yea it was the bomb and a whole lot of diggity!
The bomb right? Well Hell yea it was the bomb and a whole lot of diggity!
Sometimes you can't adequately review a book because it just meets and exceeds all expectations and all you really want to do is dance:
Lordy, I love it when a book makes me feel that way!
The characters are brilliant. The storyline? Brilliant.
The switching from 'then' to 'now'? Brilliant!
Those of you who have read my reviews know that I am strictly a NO spoiler girl and I hate to give any hints to plotlines because I LOVE to be surprised.
So, in lieu of a rehash of the book here are a few things I can tell you that I loved:
1) Ellie Watt- If her con artist ways make you feel less sympathetic to her woes in the beginning you quickly change your tune when you start to get her back story.
2) Camden McQueen- He is hubba hubba delicious and seems to good to be true. However, my favorite thing about him are his 'dumbo like ears'. As Ellie says "This stranger had flaws. I couldn't stand perfect people."
3) The music- Karina has created a playlist throughout Sins & Needles that has me making lists and searching for songs. As a completely 'live by music kind of girl' I love this aspect of her writing.
4) The twists and turns - this book is exciting! Better yet the action and thriller elements are more exciting than the sex (NOT that that isn't good too) but I don't feel like this is a sexy book with some thrills. Instead, this is a thrilling book with some very nice sex!
5) The realistic elements to the con - I seriously have to question Karina on her knowledge of cons and being on the lamb. She seems to have this down to a tee ;)
So you saw my dancing picture up top and that is how I felt when I got the book and about 90% of the book with some other emotions jumping in at times. However, let me show you what the last 10% feels like:
 |
| Here I am with my book (if I were a boy) and had the actual book instead of e-book ;) |
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| Next I took to the bottle! |
And then when you come to the end and your little finger can't turn the page anymore you will be sending Karina messages like this asking for Shooting Scars #2 (it's not due out until summer):
I want it NOWWWW!
The reality is Karina is brilliant and this book is freaking AHmazBALLS! You must pick it up ASAP. I'm not only saying this because of how great it is but also because I could really use some company in this lonely 'I need book #2 bed'.
The othe reality is you only have to wait until April to get the prequel "On Every Street"!!
 |
| No Surprise here! |
**The Artists Trilogy is a dark and sexy contemporary ride about three flawed individuals caught in a world where it's so easy to justify the bad things we do. This is a pure adult read (Not YA or NA).**
Now even more awesomness!! Check out this fabulous giveaway Karina is offering!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Unmaking Hunter Kennedy *Review*
My "just my opinion" Review of:
When you read as many YA Contemporary Romance novels as many of us book bloggers do you tend to occasionally grow what I call the “Grinch’s heart”.
After a while sweet love stories filled with the hot bad boy and the goody two shoes girl or the teens with the angsty pasts, or perhaps it’s the overprotected sheltered girl who learns to open up finally, can become just another story.
Don’t get me wrong I love them all, I do! I love contemporary romance novels and I really love the YA/NA genre. But, I have to admit that sometimes they are just another story I’m reading and I don’t feel the impact because I read so many.
That is not the case with Unmaking Hunter Kennedy! This story was so dang sweet that my little Grinch’s heart couldn’t help but grow THREE sizes bigger as I read this book.
The premise:
Teenage rock God, Hunter Kennedy, suffers somewhat of a meltdown (think Britney Spears and the infamous head shaving) and is sent packing to small town Colorado to come to grips with his mistakes.
There he meets terminally boy shy Vere Roth and her family who help him “unmake” himself from every teenage girls dream to every teenage kids nightmare.
The end result:
Oh my goodness this is the most clueless and “adorkable” couple of kids I think I may have ever read about.
Vere, with her amazingly awful clothing and horrible social skills is the exact opposite of somewhat stuck up and very stand-offish rock star Hunter. They are such a great pair as they remake Hunter into a major teenage dork. Hunter teaches Vere how to open up and start relaxing around boys and Vere teaches Hunter that perhaps not everyone around him is out for what he can give them, maybe?!
This is seriously one cute book. The awkwardness of these characters makes you cringe. They are so real and true to life. The dialogue is witty and fun. The premise is a change from many YA romances.
I recommend this story to lovers of YA romances and gave it 5 feathers! This is a clean romance story made for teens but enjoyable for all.
As a youth mentor I LOVE to find books I can recommend to my teens and this is certainly one you can suggest to the teens in your life. There are even parents (gasp!) involved in the story. Good loving ones at that! :)
I actually love that I had a conversation with the author about how younger teens need love too! This is such a great book about the discovery of love and yourself in the tumultuous teen years! It would make a totally fun series on the CW too...maybe someone should make a call?!?
Swoonworthiness? Yes! Hunter is sweet rockstar once he gets over his initial issues. He is fun and cute and by the end of the book he is so loveable the I didn’t want it to end.
I hope you take a chance on this book and let me know what you think!!
Goodreads Link
Friday, January 18, 2013
*Cover Reveal* You Got Me by Mercy Amare
At Supa Gurl Books we love a good YA/NA Contemporary Romance!
Check out this soon to be release title
You Got Me
By Mercy Amare
You Got Me will be releasing on February 8th. Here is the Goodreads link for You Got Me: http://www.goodreads.com/
Are you ready for gorgeous cover reveal?
Roxy is broken
Aiden wants to fix her
No matter how hard Roxy tries to overcome her past, she can't. She writes on her arms to escape the pain, but nothing can sooth the ache that she feels.
Aiden didn't go to college to meet girls, he came to play football. Too bad that it is impossible for him to stay away from Roxy.
After meeting on the roof, they instantly feel connected, but neither of them are ready for love.
You Got Me is a story about new beginnings, and finding love when you least expect it.
I love the little "handwritten" comments in the background:
"I'm smart, I'm beautiful, I'm not a monster"
That makes this very intriguing huh??
Find and Follow Mercy here:
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Awaken / Chosen By Kristen Day **Double Feature**
Why, you ask?
Well because not only did she release Book 2, Awaken, in the series back in October but she is about to release #3, Chosen, at the end of the month!!
I am a baaaaddddd, bad blogger because I had every intention of sharing Awaken with you before now! Better late than never though right???
So here you go...
The details:
The sacrifices we make have the power to shift the very fabric of who we are, and ultimately who we are meant to be…
After learning of her true destiny as the intended Leader of the Tydes, Anastasia Whitman must now embark on a perilous quest to the Underworld before the age of eighteen in order to plant the seed of immortality and complete her essence to become a true Sea Goddess. But before she can make her legendary journey, an unexpected new student transfers to Lorelei; initiating a sequence of events that will unravel Stasia’s new life, and test the boundaries of her relationship with the mysterious, dark, and sexy Finn Morrison. The line between the Underworld and the Living begins to blur as gruesome ghosts, morbid reveries, and pure evil haunt her waking hours as well as her sanity. Once the details of Finn’s own startling destiny are revealed, the dangerous secrets he’s been hiding will threaten the very love Stasia believed to be indestructible. As time begins to run out, she will be forced to choose between the one she loves and the destiny she cannot escape.
My gushy mushy very short review:
Words can NOT even describe this book. I love it!! Kristen takes all the things you love about Forsaken and then adds even more. This book get's darker (really darker!) in a way I wasn't expecting but soooo loved.
Finn is still totally sexy and mysterious and his relationship with Stasia is still fabulous. This one is a nail biter that takes you to the underworld and leaves you breathless with an ending that will make you glad that Chosen is just a few weeks away!!
Here is my proof of how great Forsaken and Awaken are:
I did a Read 2 Review with both of these books on my Goodreads group page for Kristen. Here is what they rated the books:
Forsaken - 23 readers and the rating average was 4.6! Two 3's and the rest all 4 or 5*
Awaken- 23 readers and the rating average was 4.69! Two 4's and the rest were 5*
Seriously if you love young adult paranormal books with a little magic, mythology and fantasy you MUST try this series out!
NOW COVER REVEAL TIME
and an excerpt!!!
Finn
“Rise and shine, Love!” Nadia appeared before me and my blood
instantly began to boil with overwhelming hatred. “We have much to do!”
“I’m not playing your bullshit games, Nadia,” I
growled.
“Games?” She snorted, cracking a dry smile and coming
to a stop in front of me. Her features
hardened and her golden eyes flashed, “This is no game, Love. But believe me - I’ll be enjoying every
minute.” She noticed the small puddle of
blood collecting below my right knee and smirked.
“Why Finn, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you look so
dreadful. It’s a shame your essence and
abilities have no effect down here. That
looks horrific.”
“You’re playing with fire, Nadia,” I accused her in a
low voice. She should know the
consequences of her actions.
“I happen to like fire. It’s powerful and tantalizing. Just like me.” She turned on her heel, kicked off her shoes
and made her way to the trunk. She
visibly shivered in her thin tank top and jeans. With a snap of her fingers, the room warmed
to a comfortable temperature.
“I don’t know how you stand it down here! It’s absolutely frigid!” She chuckled to herself when I cursed her
through gritted teeth. She whistled
happily as she opened the trunk and began rifling through it; searching for
something in particular.
“Now where did I put it…Aha! Found it!” she squealed
with delight. Then she snapped her head
around and grinned at me like she was two personalities away from a straight
jacket and a padded room. “Enjoying the view?”
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
“Oh come on
Finn,” she purred. “You know you want this.”
She spun around in a circle and raised a golden, sly eyebrow at me. “But
unfortunately for you, I don’t screw pieces of shit.”
“I’m crushed.”
She looked me up and down, tapped her
chin, and smiled, “Not yet.” With a flick of her finger the white vines pinned
me against the wall; slicing new wounds on my arms and legs. “I’ll save that
for later. Right now, we have other
things to take care of. And I must say,
I’m so glad you came to your senses and chose me. I was beginning to lose hope,” she
joked. She twitched over to where I was
shackled to the wall and let out what sounded like something close to a
cackle.
“Yea, I’ve really been looking forward to having my
soul wrenched out of my body and starving to death in this god forsaken hole in
the ground,” I spit at her with venom.
“I might not be as transparent as that little tramp
of yours, Stasia, but-“
“Leave her out of this! You don’t even deserve to
speak her name,” I growled. The familiar
rush of power and adrenaline that usually accompanied my anger didn’t come, and
I began to realize the gravity of the situation I was in. Not that I was going to let Princess Psycho
know that.
“Oh, please…she’s nothing but an Achilles heel.” She
collapsed into a fit of giggles, “Get it - cause her brother was Achilles..?” I
ignored her failed attempt at irony.
“She possesses every quality required of a leader in
our world and more. Qualities you have
never, and will never, possess - purity, strength, grace and most importantly,
humility.”
“Humility, weakness - same thing.” She dismissed my
words with a flip of her hand.
“The prophecy speaks for itself. Even you can’t argue with that,” I retorted.
“She is my destiny. And I, hers.”
“All I hear is blah, blah, blah-I want to have sex
with her-blah, blah, blah. Lust turns the strongest of men into
invalids and I simply couldn’t let that happen.
Your essence is far too important for what is ahead of me.”
“Essence
becomes useless without love. Love turns the strongest of men into
warriors. When a man has someone to
fight for, he’s capable of moving mountains.”
Her grin dropped and she stomped over to me with
vapor rolling off of her skin. She stood
in front of me, silent for a moment, then grinned wickedly and unrolled the
leather case she had been clutching in her hand. She slid something silver out and held it up
so I could see it. A syringe.
“I think I’m in the mood to play nurse.” Her eyes
sparkled as she moved towards me. I
tried to fight the vines, but the excruciating pain that shot through me sucked
what little energy I did have completely dry. “Now don’t tire yourself out,
Love. I need to get a good strong
sample.”
At her words, another pair of vines shot out from the
stone wall and slithered around my left arm; securing it tightly. My trace had become dull in the last few days
under whatever vacuum she had placed on my prison.
She slowly ran a finger down my cheek and smiled sympathetically.
“Your sacrifices will not be in vain. I
can promise you that.” She dropped her hand and her golden eyes hardened, “But
the slow, painful deterioration of your soul will be. I’ve decided you owe me that. It’s the least you can do.”
“So, are you looking forward to spending eternity on
Tartarus, or will an exception be made to send you straight to the pits of
fire?” I asked in the same tone I’d use to ask about the weather.
“You really think my own mother would sentence me to
an eternity of hell?” she chuckled.
“Please tell me you aren’t that simpleminded.”
“You know as well as I do that a certain level of
evil is not tolerated. Your mother’s
decision will be overridden by the-“
“Shut up!” she yelled and slapped me across the
face. It stung, but I hid it beneath a
purposefully smug smile -- which only made her anger boil over. “Enough of
this! You are no more than a means to an
end. You will never be Prime. You will never see your tramp or your family
again. You are nothing.” With that, she uncapped the syringe and drove it into my
forearm; right through the eye of the skull.
My thoughts turned to Stasia as my world filled with pain and faded into
darkness.
I am the author of the DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA trilogy, which includes FORSAKEN, AWAKEN, and CHOSEN (Winter 2012). I love all books, but really enjoy writing young adult, paranormal romances. I've loved to write for as long as I can remember. My first published work was my poem RED in second grade (you guessed it - it was a poem about the color red - life altering, I know) that won me 5 gold stars and a spot in my elementary school's poetry book. That's when my addiction to the written word officially began. I was the only kid in fifth grade that actually enjoyed diagramming sentences. Go ahead and laugh - its okay.
When I'm not writing I'm making jewelry, painting, drinking sweet tea, watching the discovery channel, or going on random adventures in the mountains of North Carolina with my amazing husband. I graduated from Appalachian State University and dream of becoming a full time novelist.
Stalk her on Twitter: @Krist10_day
Monday, January 14, 2013
Cover Reveal- The Forgotten Ones by Laura Howard
This new cover is sooooo pretty! Check it out, add it to your Goodreads shelf and enter the giveaway.
Title: The Forgotten Ones
Author: Laura Howard
Genre: NA Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Expected release date: May 15, 2013
Age Group: New Adult
Cover Designer: Stephanie Mooney
Allison O'Malley just graduated from college. Her life's plan is to get a job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She doesn't have room for friends or even Ethan, who clearly wants more.
When Allison's long-lost father shows up, he claims he can bring her mother back from the dark place her mind has sent her. He reveals legends of a race of people long forgotten, the Tuatha de Danaan, along with the truth about why he abandoned her mother.
Share on Facebook and/or Twitter and you could win a $50 Amazon (or B&N) Gift card!
Cover Characteristics ~ Red Dresses
This is a weekly meme hosted by Sugar and Snark
This week our theme characteristic is:
Red Dresses!!
I admit to being in love with all covers "steampunk" like. Sue me ;)
There is totally something about a kick butt weapon with a pretty dress that screams awesome. I've started this book and it's pretty darn awesome too!
I'm not going to lie...It might be the red dress that makes this cover great but I'm pretty sure that it's Kaiden whispering dirty little comments into her ear ;)
LOVE Sweet Evil so it had to make my list.
This was a good book, a little slow in the beginning but it picked up and I am so looking forward to reading Sapphire Blue. I actually prefer the original all red cover but this dress is gorgeous!
So I may have taken liberties with this cover as it is hard to tell that the dress is red. BUT it is! I am anticipating this book like a rabid dog anticipates it's next meal!! I think this cover is just complete awesomesauce!!
So there you have it. My favorite Red Dress covers.
What do you think? Do you have one that you are just crazy over? Let me know in the comments!
Join me next week for covers featuring my FAVORITE book characters....cryptic much?
Friday, January 11, 2013
Up To Me By M. Leighton Book Release & Giveaway!
Up To Me by M. Leighton ~ Book Release Info
PLUS
a Down To You Giveaway!!
If you've been following our After Hours blog then you are well aware that
Up to Me was released on January 4th! But in case you've been hiding under a rock
we wanted to shout it out to you!
Title: Up to Me (The Bad Boys, #2)
Author: M. Leighton
Release date: January 4, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Buy Links: Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Book Description:
Happily ever after doesn’t come easy. But for love, it’s always worth the fight.
Olivia finds bliss unlike any she’s ever known in Cash’s arms. He sets her skin on fire and
melts her heart right inside her chest. Unfortunately, their happily ever after is short-lived when
a shadow from Cash’s past threatens to turn their world upside down.
Dangerous people from his father’s world have discovered that Cash holds information that
could put them away for a very long time. And they’re willing to do anything—and hurt
anybody—to get it back. Giving it up means Cash must choose between the life of his father and
the life of Olivia.
Having nearly overcome her wariness of bad boys, Olivia’s trust is shaken when this new
threat arises. Now she finds that Cash is not only a danger to her heart, but his family has
associations that are a danger to her life as well. She soon discovers that there are some
situations in life where trust is a girl’s only option. And this is one of them. If she’s to live, she
must trust Cash with her life. But to Olivia, that’s much, much easier than letting go and trusting
him with her heart.
I can tell you this book is amazeballs!! You must go grab it if you have read Down To You. Speaking of Down To You, the first book in 'The Bad Boys Series' we are giving an e-book copy away for any of you who are just now jumping on the goodness that is the Davenport Twins train!
Down to You Blurb:
The scorching tale of one girl, two brothers and a love triangle…that’s not. Olivia Townsend is nothing special. She’s just a girl working her way through college so she can return home to help her father run his business. She’s determined not to be the second woman in his life to abandon
him, even if it means putting her own life on hold. To Olivia, it’s clear what she must do. Plain and simple. Black and white. But clear becomes complicated when she meets Cash and Nash Davenport. They’re brothers. Twins. Cash is everything she’s always wanted in a guy. He’s a dangerous, sexy bad boy who wants her in his bed at any cost. He turns her insides to mush and, with just one kiss, makes her forget why he’s no good for her. Nash is everything she’s ever needed in a guy. He’s successful, responsible and intensely passionate. But he’s taken. Very taken, by none other than Marissa, Liv’s rich, beautiful cousin. That doesn’t stop Olivia from melting every time he looks at her, though. With just one touch, he makes her forget why they can never be together.
Black and white turns to shades of gray when Olivia discovers the boys are hiding something,
something that should make her run as far and as fast as she can. But it’s too late to run. Olivia’s
already involved. And in love. With both of them. Both brothers make her heart tremble. Both
brothers set her body on fire. She wants them both. And they want her. How will she ever choose
between them?
a Rafflecopter giveaway
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of
water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive
imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet
for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these
days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy
Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest
books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding horses,
swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy
comfort of her office.
About Michelle:
I love coffee and chocolate, even more so when they are combined. I'm convinced that one day they could be the basis for world peace. I also love the color red and am seriously considering dying my hair.
Blog
Goodreads
Amazon Author Page
Barnes & Nobel Author Page
BOOKS BY M. LEIGHTON
Beginnings: An M. Leighton Anthology
Blood Like Poison: For the Love of a Vampire
Blood Like Poison: Destined for a Vampire
Blood Like Poison: To Kill an Angel
Caterpillar
Down to You
Fragile
Gravity
Madly
Madly & Wolfhardt
Madly & the Jackal
The Reaping
The Reckoning
The Wild Ones
Wiccan This book release event organized by
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