Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Cover Reveal: Infinity + One by Amy Harmon

Lately I have been really into New Adult. Yeah, I know, some of you are completely sick of it by now but I have to say there are a lot of awesome, very entretaining stories in the big ocean of NA.

So this time I am participating in the cover reveal of one of my most anticipated NA books:
 
Infinity + One by Amy Harmon
 
Release Date: June 10, 2014
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance (standalone)
Cover Design: Berto Designs
 

When two unlikely allies become two unwitting outlaws, will two unforgettable lovers defy unbeatable odds?
 
Bonnie Rae Shelby is a superstar. She’s rich. She’s beautiful. She’s impossibly famous. And Bonnie Rae Shelby wants to die.
Finn Clyde is a nobody. He’s broken. He’s brilliant. He’s impossibly cynical. And all he wants is a chance at life.
 
One girl. One boy. An act of compassion. A bizarre set of circumstances. And a choice – turn your head and walk away, or reach out your hand and risk it all?
 
With that choice, the clock starts ticking on a man with a past and a girl who can’t face the future, counting down the seconds in an adventure riddled with heartbreak and humor, misunderstanding and revelation. With the world against them, two very different people take a journey that will not only change their lives, but may cost them their lives as well.

Infinity + One is a tale of shooting stars and fame and fortune, of gilded cages and iron bars, of finding a friend behind a stranger’s face, and discovering love in the oddest of places.


ADD ON GOODREADS

 

See? It sounds great, doesn't it?
Well because Vilma and Amy are so generous, they have prepared an excerpt for all of us to share with ya (:
Ready?
Here we go:
 
 
EXCERPT:
 
He bit back a curse and strode to his truck. Unlocking the door, he tossed his bags in the backseat, climbed in, and slammed the door. He turned the key and backed out resolutely, trying to ignore the fact that she had risen, her hands on her bags, and that her hood had slipped from her head. She didn’t move forward, didn’t call out to him to wait. She just stood there, watching him go. He shifted into drive and made it 100 feet before he let his eyes find her figure in the rear view mirror.

“Unbelievable,” Finn ground out, and slammed the wheel with the palm of his hand. He slowed to a stop. “UNBELIEVABLE!” he reprimanded himself even as he engaged the brake, pushed the door open and lurched out of the idling vehicle. Bonnie still stood with her two duffle bags in her hands, her grandma’s stolen purse on her shoulder, but now her lips were slightly parted, clearly stunned that he’d stopped.

And she wasn’t the only one. Finn felt like he was split right down the middle. The rational part of his brain, the side that ensured his survival and his sanity, was outraged, demanding that he keep driving, while the side of his brain that was connected to his heart and other parts of his body was breathing a sigh of relief that he hadn’t let her get away.

She didn’t move, as if she was sure that the moment she did he would change his mind, climb back in the Blazer, and drive away. So he walked back to her, battling with himself every step of the way. He walked until they were practically toe to toe, her dark eyes wide and lifted to his, his hands shoved into his pockets so he wouldn’t strangle her. But his pockets felt like manacles around his wrists and he yanked them free, fisting them in the front of Bonnie’s puffy pink coat and raising her up on her toes and into him until they weren’t toe to toe any longer but nose to nose. His emotions were a big tangled ball of anger, longing, and injustice all wrapped up in impatient outrage, and Finn couldn’t separate one feeling from another. So he did the only thing he could do. He kissed her.

It wasn’t a soft kiss or a sweet kiss. It was a ‘you-scared-me-and-messed-with-me-and-I’m-mad-and-relieved-and-unbelievably-frustrated’ kind of kiss. It was teeth and lips and nipping and bruising, and Finn couldn’t make himself stop, even when Bonnie’s teeth tugged at his lower lip and her hands pulled at his hair. Especially then. And when she wrapped her arms around his neck and stepped up onto his toes so that she could press herself flush against him, he decided revenge really was sweet, and enjoyed the feel of her face against his, the wet heat of her mouth making him forget he was standing in the middle of a Motel 6 parking lot with his ride rumbling behind him, the driver side door still hanging wide open. The rational part of his brain was stunned into peaceful silence…for all of ten seconds.
 
 
Like Barney, I can't be any more excited.
 

 
About The Author
amy harmonAmy Harmon knew at an early age that writing was something she wanted to do, and she divided her time between writing songs and stories as she grew. Having grown up in the middle of wheat fields without a television, with only her books and her siblings to entertain her, she developed a strong sense of what made a good story. Amy Harmon has been a motivational speaker, a grade school teacher, a junior high teacher, a home school mom, and a member of the Grammy Award winning Saints Unified Voices Choir, directed by Gladys Knight. She released a Christian Blues CD in 2007 called “What I Know” – also available on Amazon and wherever digital music is sold. She has written five novels, Running Barefoot, Slow Dance in Purgatory, Prom Night in Purgatory, the New York Times Bestseller, A Different Blue, Making Faces, and coming in June, Infinity + One.
 
Giveaway
Amy Harmon is giving away three pre-release ARC paperbacks to three lucky winners! Open Internationally!

Waiting On Wednesday: Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley



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


Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

In 1959 Virginia, the lives of two girls on opposite sides of the battle for civil rights will be changed forever.

Sarah Dunbar is one of the first black students to attend the previously all-white Jefferson High School. An honors student at her old school, she is put into remedial classes, spit on and tormented daily.

Linda Hairston is the daughter of one of the town’s most vocal opponents of school integration. She has been taught all her life that the races should be kept “separate but equal.”

Forced to work together on a school project, Sarah and Linda must confront harsh truths about race, power and how they really feel about one another.

Boldly realistic and emotionally compelling, Lies We Tell Ourselves is a brave and stunning novel about finding truth amid the lies, and finding your voice even when others are determined to silence it.


ADD ON GOODREADS



You know, I think it's about time someone wrote a YA book on this matter. I think it's so important to acknoledge because some people still live in a racist bubble and what better way to do so than a book.
I'm super excited to read it.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Review: Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Rebel Belle
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Published April 8th 2014 by Putnam Juvenile
Genre: YA paranormal
Goodreads | Amazon | Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide
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Well, well well.

In the sense of being a little bit decent after the review I am going to give I have rounded up the rating to 3 stars.

So I don't want to say. I didn't like this book because the characters weren't funny enough, and actually, Harper and David as a couple were adorable but I am kind of disappointed still. I know because I've read Hex Hall, Ms. Hawkins first book, and I know how awesome of a story she can provide and this time I just think it fell flat.

The premise of the book isn't that strong to begin with and the whole story of Paladins and Oracles and Mages just didn't really make a lot of sense to me. I think it was weak and not very interesting. And some times even, dare I say it, boring. I really wanted to get into it but it was hard to get into the fighting scenes between people I didn't even know were good or evil, and I just got tired.

But I liked David and his sense of style. And even though Harper would be too shallow to be my bestie, she wasn't so bad. And I liked the whole haters-to-lovers storyline.

And by the way, DOES ANYONE KNOW WHY DAVID CALLS HARPER 'PRES'? I think I missed it and I'm too lazy to go back and look for it ):
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Waiting On Wednesday: The Young Elites by Marie Lu

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



The Young Elites by Marie Lu

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.


Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.


ADD ON GOODREADS


IS THIS BOOK FOR REAL?


It sounds so awesome and action packed and with lots of feelings. And from what I have Heard Marie Lu writes some kickass stories so I'm super excited to read this one.


Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Waiting On Wednesday: Prisioner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

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



Prisioner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman


In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her "uncle" Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.
Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler.
And Gretchen follows his every command.
Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen. Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can't stop herself from listening to his story: that her father, the adored Nazi martyr, was actually murdered by an unknown comrade. She also can't help the fierce attraction brewing between them, despite everything she's been taught to believe about Jews.
As Gretchen investigates the very people she's always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling, or will she dare to dig up the truth—even if it could get her and Daniel killed?
From debut author Anne Blankman comes this harrowing and evocative story about an ordinary girl faced with the extraordinary decision to give up everything she's ever believed . . . and to trust her own heart instead.
I spent a good chunk of my childhood obsession over the real testimonies of the Holocaust that now that I've cried all the tears, I only have energy to read fictional ones. And this one sounds as captivating as all of them.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Review: Four Seconds To Lose by K.A. Tucker

Title: Four Seconds To Lose
Author: KA Tucker
Paperback, 400 pages
Published April 1st 2014 by Atria Books (first published November 4th 2013)
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Goodreads | Amazon | The Book Depo
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Four Seconds to Lose is my first experience with a book by K.A. Tucker, and wow, I wish I would have been smarter and have grabbed them before because this one is amazing. Seriously, I have such a difficult relationship with New Adult books but it's books like this one that make me see why they are so popular.

The most outstanding thing about it is that it is hugely entertaining. I never once got bored, and I loved that the story progressed so quickly, you were never left hanging on any of the "mysteries" because they were always almost instantly resolved and yet not really because so many things were yet to be unraveled. I loved the main characters and I loved the dual point of view. Both Charlie and Cain were great characters; it takes talent to make characters likable when they do what these two do. But K.A. Tucker did it.

Another thing that I really, really loved was that Cain, our hero, was not a jerk. I can't even count how many times I've read a New Adult whose main male character is a "bad boy" (which nowadays seems to be a synonym for "huge jerk"). Cain was a genuinely good guy even if his job and past were edging the bad side. I loved Cain and his caring nature. And I also loved Charlie. She was so strong and brave and my heart ached for the lonely little girl living inside her. She might have been afraid most of the time but I could see her real strength shinning through.

Some might argue that the story was too over the top drama, and while that might be true what really counts is that it was so engaging and entertaining that it was impossible to put down. There were minor details that kept me from giving it five stars but they mostly have to do with personal pet peeves and not really with the story. I enjoyed the story and eat it up like it was, I don’t know, I guess any kind of delicious food. Totally recommended for New Adult fans.


 

 

Warning: This is a NEW ADULT book, and it contains scenes that are only for mature audiences.