Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Waiting On Wednesday: Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern

WoW is weekly meme created by Jill at Breaking The Spine in which bloggers can share books they're excited to get soon :)


SAY WHAT YOU WILL
by Cammie McGovern


I want someone who will talk to me honestly about things. You're the only person who ever has. Maybe you don't know this, but when you're disabled almost no one tells you the truth. They feel too awkward because the truth seems too sad, I guess. You were very brave to walk up to the crippled girl and say, essentially, wipe that sunny expression off your face and look at reality. That's what I want you to do next year. Tell me the truth. That's all.

Amy and Matthew didn't know each other, really. They weren't friends. Matthew remembered her, sure, but he remembered a lot of people from elementary school that he wasn't friends with now.

Matthew never planned to tell Amy what he thought of her cheerful facade, but after he does, Amy realizes she needs someone like him in her life.

As they begin to spend more time with each other, Amy learns that Matthew has his own secrets and she decides to try to help him in the same way he's helped her. And when what started out as a friendship turns into something neither of them expected, they realize that they tell each other everything—except the one thing that matters most.
 
 
 
 
Seriously, how uberly romantic does this one sound?
I'm in love with the concept of this book and I'm in love with the disability part too, I can't wait to read it.
 

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Review: Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

Title: Crash Into You
Author: Katie McGarry
Publication: November 26th 2013 by Harlequin Teen
Goodreads | Amazon

_________________________________


I know I haven’t been the most forgiving reviewer on this book’s past sister novels. But nevertheless, I find it really sad that the series is ending and that this might be the last we see of these characters. However, I loved that Crash Into You was the book chosen to wrap things up because to me it was the best of the series.

Seriously, as I read along, I found it hard not to invest myself in the story. Isaiah might not have had my attention back in Pushing The Limits or Dare You To but he completely won me over when telling his story. He’s got a tough exterior and might seem scary or threatening but he is one sweet boy on the inside. I liked that he was loyal and strong and at the same time really vulnerable too.

Then we had Rachel, who suffers panic attacks and I don’t know if it is because I’m currently taking Psychiatry or because I’m naturally so empathetic (and apparently, humble too) but my heart immediately warmed for her story. I can see why she developed her disorder and I was seriously mad at her family for treating her that way.

But then, Rachel also pissed me off sometimes. Like, why couldn’t she figure out a way to get the money? Why did she have to let poor Isaiah carry the entire burden even though he practically lives in the streets and has nothing?! And then she goes questioning his love for her. However, I ended up giving her a pass ‘cause she isn’t the most reliable mind in the ward so to speak.

But then Isaiah was wonderful and it lightened up the whole book for me. He is strong-minded and loyal and caring even though he grew up being the “weakest” link in the chain. But now he’s out there making the world a faster place and my heart thanks him for that. That’s the magic you guys, that even though tattoos, shaved heads and earrings on guys don’t do it for me, Katie McGarry made me fall for one guy that features all those three.

Sincerely, I can say that of all the books in the series, this is the one that did it for me more tan the others, but I still would recommend the whole series.




 

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Waiting On Wednesday: Magnolia by Kristi Cook

WoW is weekly meme created by Jill at Breaking The Spine in which bloggers can share books they're excited to get soon :)

 
 
 
MAGNOLIA
by kristi cook

In Magnolia Branch, Mississippi, the Cafferty and Marsden families are southern royalty. Neighbors since the Civil War, the families have shared vacations, holidays, backyard barbecues, and the overwhelming desire to unite their two clans by marriage. So when a baby boy and girl were born to the families at the same time, the perfect opportunity seemed to have finally arrived.

Jemma Cafferty and Ryder Marsden have no intention of giving in to their parents’ wishes. They’re only seventeen, for goodness’ sake, not to mention that one little problem: They hate each other! Jemma can’t stand Ryder’s nauseating golden-boy persona, and Ryder would like nothing better than to pretend stubborn Jemma doesn’t exist.

But when a violent storm ravages Magnolia Branch, it unearths Jemma’s and Ryder’s true feelings for each other as the two discover that the line between love and hate may be thin enough to risk crossing over.
 
 
 
 
WHAA...
 
NO?
 
No. Way.
 
Someone got inside my mind and stole the idea of what I've been wanting to read forever.
Little 'ol Southern love-hate relationship in country's ground. And crazy, big-arse families behind them pushing to teenagers to become a couple?!
 
Now don't tell me there's also chicken fried involved because I'd die.
 
*STARTS WAITING*
...
 
...
 
...
 
...
 
THE WAITING HAS BEEN LONG ENOUGH T____T
 
 

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Waiting On Wednesday: Defy by Sara B. Larson

WoW is weekly meme created by Jill at Breaking The Spine in which bloggers can share books they're excited to get soon :)


DEFY
by sara b. larson

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

Add on Goodreads



WHAT?! A non-contemporary book featured in my WoW?!
I'm changing this up this week because Defy sounds like the kind of book that would make me step out of the Contemps world and into the world of kick-ass fighting and Shakespearean twist on sex change haha.

I WANT THIS SOONER. OH PLEASE.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Giveaway & Q&A: The Road to You by Marilyn Brant

Hello again. Y'all like giveaway, don't you?
I figured one more couldn't hurt (:
but first check out the awesome book I'm spotlighting...


The Road to You by Marilyn Brant
Publication date: October 3rd 2013
Genres: Mystery, New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:
Sometimes the only road to the truth...is one you’ve never taken.

Until I found Gideon’s journal in the tool shed — locked in the cedar box where I’d once hidden my old diary — I’d been led to believe my brother was dead. But the contents of his journal changed all that.

The Road to Discovery...
Two years ago, Aurora Gray’s world turned upside down when her big brother Gideon and his best friend Jeremy disappeared. Now, during the summer of her 18th birthday, she unexpectedly finds her brother’s journal and sees that it’s been written in again. Recently. By him.

The Road to Danger...
There are secret messages coded within the journal’s pages. Aurora, who’s unusually perceptive and a natural puzzle solver, is hell bent on following where they lead, no matter what the cost. She confides in the only person she feels can help her interpret the clues: Donovan McCafferty, Jeremy’s older brother and a guy she’s always been drawn to — even against her better judgment.

The Road to You...
Reluctantly, Donovan agrees to go with her and, together, they set out on a road trip of discovery and danger, hoping to find their lost brothers and the answers to questions they’ve never dared to ask aloud.

In that expectant space between silence and melody, our trip began...
Add on GOODREADS | Order on Amazon



Q & A

 Q: Tell us about the main characters in this story. Who are Aurora and Donovan?
A: At the start of the novel, Aurora Gray has just graduated from high school and is one month from turning 18. This isn’t a paranormal story—she’s not psychic or telepathic—but she is unusually perceptive, particularly for her age. She’s kind of a natural “mentalist,” who’s used to reading people’s reactions and has a history of being pretty accurate. So when she finds the journal of her missing brother, she’s able to make some connections that those around her would never think to make. It gives her both a determined and a stubborn streak when it comes to thinking she might actually figure out what happened that summer two years ago. Donovan McCafferty, on the other hand, is extremely practical, realistic and not especially bookish. He’s 23, has an Army background and is brilliant with mechanical things. He’s also very loyal, very protective of those he cares about and not remotely inclined to take flying leaps of intuition like Aurora. To use a character parallel from “The X-Files,” Aurora would be a bit like Mulder (“I Want to Believe/The Truth is Out There”), but without that whole alien thing, LOL, and Donovan would be the more skeptical Scully type.





Q: Where do you write? Describe your writing space—what’s it look like?
A: I write in my home office—a messy, absolutely cluttered place—I won’t deny it! There are stacks of paper and towers of books everywhere, but also a very nice window overlooking our backyard. Sometimes I’ll write at a local coffee shop (either with my laptop or, most often, just with pen and notebook paper), and that location has the advantage of endless cups of hazelnut coffee and the occasional almond-flavored bear claw.



Q: What's one thing no one knows about you?
A: That I am always watching them—LOL. I just can’t turn off the writer thing and am, at all times, collecting the quirky habits and mannerisms of the people around me. (Now they know this, of course, and will be more careful... :)



Q: Do you listen to music while you write?
A: No. I wish I could. I adore music, but it’s wildly distracting to me while I’m writing. (Probably because I love it so much and am too often inspired to sing along—however badly!) I reference songs quite a bit, though, in the narrative itself, so I listen to a lot of music while I’m working on a story—just not when I’m actually sitting at the computer doing the typing. One of my favorite activities is to go on walks with my iPod and think about scenes, testing out different songs to see if they provide the right musical subtext. For The Road to You I used road-trip music and the classic songs of the 1970s. For According to Jane, I have an entire soundtrack of ‘80s tunes amassed. And for A Summer in Europe, I referenced musicals, especially those of Andrew Lloyd Webber. (I have a “Soundtrack” link for each of my novels on the “Books” page of my website.)

 

Now off to the giveaway part!
If you're interested in reading this novel (who isn't?) then here's your chance to do it. Win a copy. Open Internationally.


 
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Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Waiting On Wednesday: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE
BY MORGAN MATSON


The Pre-Sloane Emily didn’t go to parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn’t do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend—the one who yanks you out of your shell.But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just… disappears. No note. No calls. No texts. No Sloane. There’s just a random to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-selected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try… unless they could lead back to her best friend. Apple Picking at Night? Ok, easy enough.Dance until Dawn? Sure. Why not? Kiss a Stranger? Wait… what?

Getting through Sloane’s list would mean a lot of firsts. But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of her, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. Who knows what she’ll find?

Go Skinny Dipping? Um...
Goodreads



Since you've been gooooooooooone


If only for its awesome title an cover I will give this book a chance but also, skinny dipping always sounds like fun (in theory, probably not in reality)

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Book Blitz & Giveaway: Leap Of Faith by Jaime Blair


Well, hello there. Y'all know I love contemps and today I'm featuring one that will sure pull some heartstrings.

 
Leap of Faith by Jamie Blair
Published by: Simon & Schuster BfYR
Publication date: September 3rd 2013
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

Synopsis:
Can true love be built on lies? A teen on the run seeks relief and redemption in this gripping, romantic read.

Leah Kurtz has finally found a place to call home, a town where she and baby Addy can live in peace, far from the drug-infested place she grew up. Chris is one of the best parts of her new life, the only person who’s ever made her feel safe. And now that she’s found him, there’s no way she can tell the truth:

Her real name is Faith, not Leah. She’s seventeen, not nineteen. And the baby isn’t hers—Faith kidnapped her.

Faith’s history catches up with her when a cop starts asking questions and Chris’s aunt spots her picture in the newspaper. She knows it’s time to run again, but if Faith leaves, she’ll lose Chris. If Chris is in love with a lie, though, did Faith ever really have him in the first place?
GOODREADS / AMAZON



 
Now I have an excerpt that will FOR SURE make you beg, cry and (hopefully not) steal this book:


“I’m Chris.”  His eyes are hazel.  They’d be bluer or greener depending on what he wore.  His gray shirt keeps them the in-between shade.  He plays a few more chords and sets his guitar on the couch beside him.  “Well?  What do you think?”
I glance around.  There’s not much to it, but it works.  “How much?”
He rubs his chin.  It’s covered in stubble.  I imagine how it would feel against my cheek, and my face gets hot. 
Addy squirms and lets out a small shriek.  Chris’s eyes dart to her.  This could be the deal breaker.
She squawks again.  “What time is it?” I ask, realizing she’s probably hungry. 
He shrugs.  “Around five or six.  She need to eat?”
“Yeah.  Guess I better go so I can feed her.”  I take a step toward the door.
“Here,” he comes forward, reaching his arms out.  “I’ll hold her.  Go on out and get her a bottle.  You have one with you, don’t you?”
I nod, watching him take Addy out of my arms, place her against his chest, and rub her back.  “Do you have kids?”  It seems like a dumb question, but he’s a natural with Addy.
He laughs.  “No.  Fortunately, I’ve never been in that predicament.”  He looks from Addy to me, and his face falls.  “I mean…” 
Right.  He thinks I got knocked up.  I’m a teen mom.  “It’s okay.  Don’t worry about it.”  I smile, trying to put him at ease.  “I’ll be right back.”
After opening the door to the stairs, I glance over my shoulder.  He’s running his fingers over the top of her head and bouncing her gently.  “Shh, baby, don’t cry.  Mommy will be right back.” 
 
See what I mean? :D
And because we know you are all itching to get your hands on this awesome book, here's a giveaway with awesome prizes (like guitar picks!):
 
 


 
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Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Book Blitz & Giveaway: The Rules of Regret by Megan Squires

The Rules of Regret by Megan Squires
Publication date: October 1st 2013
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

Synopsis:
“Life doesn’t come with a blueprint, which makes it hard to have any plans.”
Nineteen-year-old Darby Duncan is finally on her own. Her boyfriend of six years just left for a high-powered summer internship, though in reality he’s been absent for much longer than that. This newfound freedom wasn’t a part of Darby’s plans, but as she’s come to discover, plans only exist on paper, not in reality.

And guys like Torin Westbrook aren’t supposed to exist in reality, either. But he does, with his disheveled curly hair, irresistible dimples, and endearingly quirky habit of reciting quotes from classic movies and ancient thinkers. When Darby meets Torin as a fellow counselor at the survival camp she impulsively applies to, she’s certain his main goal is to turn her world upside-down.

But Darby’s not sure she can adapt to Torin’s ways of viewing his past and the tragedies he’s faced. Because she’s had her own share of heartache, too, and as much as she wants to believe that it’s all been for a purpose, her grief hasn’t allowed her to get to that point. Yet the more Darby is around Torin, the more she craves the freedom to break out of her carefully constructed routine and mindset and fall into something new.

She’s just not sure that she should be falling for Torin along the way.
GOODREADS | AMAZON



So I'm still trying this New Adult genre. I've found real gems around, and I'm hoping this one will turn out to be one of those; with that gorgeous cover and amazing synopsis. I mean, CAMP! who doesn't love camps?! and survival! The Parent Trap and Bear Grylls are like, my favorite things ever.
 
Now to get excited about The Rules of Regret, let's just take a moment to enjoy this excerpt:
 
Put this on.
Where? I squeaked, reluctantly taking the red and white polkadot two-piece from his hold. Our fingers brushed and his eyes caught mine in an unsure glance.
I dont know, behind a tree or something. He continued digging through my backpack, pulling out all of my clothes and the blanket crammed inside. He took them to a nearby rock and spread them out onto its surface like he was a maid with a clothesline and a load of laundry to finish. I really wished I hadn't fallen in that creek. Everything was soaked.
Im not changing out here. I wrapped my arms across my chest, humiliation spreading throughout my body. Usually peoples cheeks turned red when they were embarrassed. I was fairly certain every inch of my skin was blushing bright pink, rivaling the reddened hue of Porky the Pig.
Torin cocked his head and thumbed his chinsomething I was beginning to notice he did a lot ofand his dimples eased onto his cheeks. You do realize this is a survival overnighter, dont you? There are some things you need to let go of for survivals sake. Modesty is one of those things.
If I remember correctly, yesterday you pretty much promised me that youd keep me alive. And Id like to keep my modesty. I really dont want to change into this, Torin.
He dragged his hands through his hair and sighed my direction, sensing the sincerity in my plea. Darby, it may currently be blazing hot out, but tonight it will get down into the 40s. And as of right now, you have no dry clothes to sleep in and your overnight blanket is full of about ten pounds of water. Youve run out of options.
I pinched my lips together. What I wouldnt give to be lounging on the couch back at the rental with Sonja, getting fat with our beer and our Cheetos. Even the hope of visiting Lance didnt make any of this worthwhile. I sort of wished Torin would have just let me float out there in the river a bit longer. Maybe I would have passed out and drowned. That would be slightly less humiliating than what I feared was in store for me at this summer camp.
At least turn around.
Torin looked up at me from the granite slab where hed arranged my clothes. What?
Please turn around. No peeking.
He shook his head and returned his focus to his work. Im not gonna peek. Off limits.
I'm off limits?
He stepped back and surveyed the spread of fabric, then moved a pair of my socks so they didnt overlap with the t-shirt underneath. Off limits. Taken. His pale eyes pulled up to mine. And even if you werent, youre not really my type, Darby.
Insult sucker-punched me in the gut. Geez, I murmured, feeling the hurtful sting of his comment. Then by all means, please stare away. Take pictures if you like.
Thats not what I meant. Torin stepped back from the rock and fiddled with his belt. Before I could register what he was doing, hed unzipped his fly and was down to his boxers, pulling one leg, then the other from his cargo shorts. My throat went dry and I tried hard to swallow, but it was all sandpaper and it scratched my tongue. Where did his pants go? And why was I staring at his underwear that was covered in hundreds of yellow smiley faces, repeated over and over in a dizzying, disorienting pattern? Seriously, why were his boxers smiling at me?

HeHe.
Aw, can't wait to read these two. They seem like fun people to be around when one's at camp. I can't stop thinking about camp now.

I love camp.


NOW I WISH I WERE YOU BECAUSE YOU GET TO PARTICIPATE ON THIS GIVEAWAY TO WIN A COPY OF TROR (open INTERNATIONALLY):


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