Saturday, January 31, 2015

Bookish Digest: January 2015

Hello lovelies! Welcome to Bookish Digest - something we'll be putting together at the end of every month to highlight our recent favorite reads and recap any posts you may have missed. We also include an About My Life and Things I'm Looking Forward To section in an effort for you to get to know us better. Don't forget to tell us in the comments some things that happened to you over the past month so we can get to know you guys better too!

Happy belated new year! I know we missed December's Digest, but things we're just so crazy with other blog things and life things, that it completely slipped our minds! Enjoy this GIF of fireworks over Cinderella Castle as our apology (Andrea is too sweet, it's completely my fault [it usually is], and I am VERY SORRY! - Evie).





Updates for 2015 TBR Pile Challenge:
  • We had our first discussion for our 2015 TBR Pile Challenge Read Along with Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas! If you want to join in on the discussion, you can hop on over to part one (chapters 1-28) and part 2 (chapters 28-55)!
  • Tomorrow we've got a great selection of books to chose from for March's Read Along so make sure you vote for the book you want to read most!



Series:
Stand Alone
Genre:
Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Drama
Website:Jennifer Niven 

Goodreads
Review:
To be posted March 4th
The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park in this exhilarating and heart-wrenching love story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die.

Soon to be a major motion picture starring Elle Fanning!

Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.

When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.

This is an intense, gripping novel perfect for fans of Jay Asher, Rainbow Rowell, John Green, Gayle Forman, and Jenny Downham from a talented new voice in YA, Jennifer Niven.

Reviews

Author/Book Promotion
There Will Be Lies by Nick Lake {Polish Superstitions}
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir {Excerpt}

Feature
Blog Re-Design: Steph in Wonderland
Blog Re-Design: Justin's Book Blog
2015 - Reading and Blogging Goals

About My Life in January
I'm still in Poland. Still enjoying family time and a little bit more of *ME* time. It's coming to an end though (NOOOOOO.... I don't want to!!!! *throws herself on the ground and has a melt-down*)

I got back into graphic design. I enjoyed working on two blog designs - for Stephanie from Steph in Wonderland and Justin from Justin's book blog (love ya both!). It reminded me how much I love designing and how much I miss it!

Things I'm Looking Forward to in February
Getting back home and seeing my husband and Wilson (it's been 3 months!). Also, seeing all the goodies that arrived in the mail while we were gone :)

Tori's 1st birthday! We are throwing a Par-Tey and it's going to be awesome! :D




Series:
Standalone
Genre:
Young Adult, Thriller, Realistic Fiction
Website:Becca Fitzpatrick 

Goodreads
Review:
To Be Posted March 1
Sometimes danger is hard to see... until it’s too late.

Britt Pfeiffer has trained to backpack the Teton Range, but she isn't prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two very handsome occupants—but these men are fugitives, and they take her hostage.

In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. The task is made even more complicated when Britt finds chilling evidence of a series of murders that have taken place there... and in uncovering this, she may become the killer’s next target.

But nothing is as it seems in the mountains, and everyone is keeping secrets, including Mason, one of her kidnappers. His kindness is confusing Britt. Is he an enemy? Or an ally?

BLACK ICE is New York Times bestselling author Becca Fitzpatrick’s riveting romantic thriller set against the treacherous backdrop of the mountains of Wyoming. Falling in love should never be this dangerous…


Features
Get It Together {Top Ten Tuesday}
Book Club {Top Ten Tuesday}
Posting Reviews {Feature & Follow}
Signed Sealed Delivered {Three Month Book Haul}

Author/Book Promotion
The Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons {Blast}
Mark of the Beast by Adolphus A. Anekwe {Excerpt}

About My Life in January
Joe and I officially become home owners when our downstairs toilet needed replaced and our dining room chandalier blew a wire. Both were fixed, by ourselves, and we are pretty pleased with our selves.

I got settled in my new job as assistant safety director for my company. I'm already liking it more than my last position, but wow do people hit a lot of inanimate objects.

I tried Chipotle's new Sofritas. Okay, yes. I only did it because the bribed me with free Chipotle at a later date, but I tried something new and that's what counts.

Things I'm Looking Forward to in February
Blog tours! We've got some great blog tours coming up next month with some amazing giveaways. I'm not going to spoil the surprises, but every time I look at our calendar I squeal a little.

Reading our March Read Along. Okay, maybe it's the English teacher in me, but I loved reading Throne of Glass when I knew it was going to be discussed with our readers. Not just a review for you guys to check out, but an actual discussion. Also, I love checking out the votes to see how close some of these books get. Who knows, Bentley may have to make another decision for us!


Series:
Of Monsters and Madness #1
Genre:
Young Adult, Horror, Historical Fiction
Website:Jessica Verday 

Goodreads
Review:
A romantic, historical retelling of classic Gothic horror featuring Edgar Allan Poe and his character Annabel Lee, from a New York Times best-selling author.

Summoned to her father's home in 1820's Philadelphia, a girl finds herself in the midst of a rash of gruesome murders in which he might be implicated. She is torn romantically between her father's assistants-one kind and proper, one mysterious and brooding-who share a dark secret and may have more to do with the violent events than they're letting on.


Reviews


About My Life in January
Nothing to really report.  I had a super uneventful January.  However, I am not going to complain because it means I got the time to start to settle.

Things I'm Looking Forward to in February
A new job.  Not sure where I am headed yet but I do know that it is time for a change and I am ready for it.

My dog possibly getting pregnant.  Weird thing to be excited for I know, but she is a show girl and I have looked forward to this for a couple of years now... Have you seen Collie puppies?! They are too freaking cute!!!

Becoming more active on the blog.  Life has gotten in the way for far too long!! I miss being here and hope to be more active and get some fun stuff going in February!




Series:
Throne of Glass #1
Genre:
Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Website:Sarah J. Maas 

Goodreads
Review:
To be Posted February 7 on Stuck In Books
Meet Celaena Sardothien.
Beautiful. Deadly.
Destined for greatness.

In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake: she got caught.

Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament—fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?

I'm back to school. I'm not really excited about this at all. But at least I don't have a class on Sundays this semester! And I feel way more prepared this semester than I did last semester. So that's good.

I got an internship! At the end of December, I applied for an internship with the Booker Albert Literary Agency, and I just got the news not even a week ago that I got it! I am seriously so excited. I'm evaluating manuscripts. Sounds like something I can do! ;)

I got my #OTSPSecretSister match! I missed sign-ups completely for the last secret sister round, but I got in this time and I am so looking forward to this. I already have the first two months of gifts figured out for my sister, and I'm happy I have someone else somewhere planning things for me. Honestly, I just look forward to hopefully getting letters or notes every month. I think that stuff is so nice and fun. So yeah--EXCITE.

I am now obsessed with the show Shark Tank. My grandma was visiting over Christmas and New Years, and she was staying at my brother's house. No idea what compelled them to put the show on, but they watched it and decided they liked it, and then it was on when we were there, and now I am obsessed. I watch it whenever it's on. And when I have to miss an episode, I record them. Most are re-runs, but they're new to me, so yay!

Things I'm Looking Forward to in February
MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!! I turn 19 on the 12th, and I'm extremely excited for some reason. I have no special plans. Don't expect any grand gifts. But I am so pumped for the day.

Montgomery Teen Book Festival! This was the festival I met Victoria Scott at for the first time two years ago. I couldn't go last year, but I have plans to go this year, and I'm excited! I get to see my friend, and I get to see Victoria Scott and Rachel Harris and other authors. *flails*

Richelle Mead is signing at Book People! Book People is a cool indie bookstore in Austin where a bunch of cool signing and stuff are held. Jennifer L. Armentrout was there this past August, and it was also where I went to my first book signing almost three years ago (Elizabeth Eulberg, Maggie Stiefvater, and Siobhan Vivian). Now Richelle Mead is going to be there and I get to meet her and I cannot stop smiling. PLUS, I get to hang out with my good friend Mary! It's going to be such a great time, and I cannot wait.



Series:
Standalone
Genre:
New Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Website:Layla Hagen 

Goodreads
Review:
Aimee’s wedding is supposed to turn out perfect. Her dress, her fiancé and the location—the idyllic holiday ranch in Brazil—are perfect.

But all Aimee’s plans come crashing down when the private jet that’s taking her from the U.S. to the ranch—where her fiancé awaits her—defects mid-flight and the pilot is forced to perform an emergency landing in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.

With no way to reach civilisation, being rescued is Aimee and Tristan’s—the pilot—only hope. A slim one that slowly withers away, desperation taking its place. Because death wanders in the jungle under many forms: starvation, diseases. Beasts.

As Aimee and Tristan fight to find ways to survive, they grow closer. Together they discover that facing old, inner agonies carved by painful pasts takes just as much courage, if not even more, than facing the rainforest.

Despite her devotion to her fiancé, Aimee can’t hide her feelings for Tristan—the man for whom she’s slowly becoming everything. You can hide many things in the rainforest. But not lies. Or love.

Withering Hope is the story of a man who desperately needs forgiveness and the woman who brings him hope. It is a story in which hope births wings and blooms into a love that is as beautiful and intense as it is forbidden.

Reviews

About My Life in January
I'm really proud of Lexi because she put herself out there and made a good friend. She's super shy, so that was a real big deal.

Things I'm Looking Forward to in February
Getting my tax refund.

Getting a new car.

 
Most Popular Review
Reviewed by Debbie

How her daughter and her passport taught Jennifer Coburn to forget about dying and truly live

Jennifer Coburn has always been terrified of dying young. It's the reason she drops everything during the summers on a quest to travel through Europe with her daughter, Katie, before it's too late. Even though her husband can't join them, even though she's nervous about the journey, and even though she's perfectly healthy, she spends three to four weeks per trip jamming Katie's mental photo album with memories. In this heartwarming generational love story, Jennifer reveals how their adventures helped relinquish her fear of dying...for the sake of living.

Most Popular Non-Review

Our ever talented Evie redesigned Steph in Wonderland's blog and it's fabulous! There is still time to check out the redesign and enter the giveaway for either There Will Be Lies by Nick Lake or an ARC of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard!


Tell us - what went on in your month?! What were some of your favorite books this month? Favorite posts from either your blog or others? What are some new (or old) and noteworthy things we should know about? Be sure to leave a link! 

Friday, January 30, 2015

Throne of Glass Read Along: 2nd Discussion


Hi guys! Welcome to the 2nd discussion for our January Read Along: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for chapters 1-28 a few weeks ago! We cannot wait to discuss (or rather swoon over it) the end of this book together!

About the Book

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #1
Published: August 2, 2012 by Flux
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Meet Celaena Sardothien.
Beautiful. Deadly.
Destined for greatness.

In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake: she got caught.

Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament—fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?


A bit of assistance with names from Sarah's website if you need it.  :)

Discussion Questions

1) Celaena receives help from many sources throughout the novel. Of all these character, who do you think helped her the most? What does he/she do or teach Celaena that further develops her as a character?

2) Who do you think is Celaena was before Arobynn found her?

3) Are there any aspects of Throne of Glass that you wished Sarah had gone into more detail about?

4) What are your thoughts about the kinda love-triangle? Are you favoring Dorian, Chaol, or is it too soon to tell where you loyalty lies?

5) What do you think of Nox now? Do you think he'll come back into play later? And are you hoping for it? (Andrea's Note: I AM!)

6) Who's your favorite character so far? Do you imagine this could change throughout the series?

7) How surprised were you by who was behind the Champion murders? Did you guess before it was revealed?

8) What do you think of Nehemia NOW? And her friendship with Celaena?

9) How satisfied were you with the story as a whole? Do you plan to continue the series?

10) Do you have any predictions as to what may happen next? (If you've already read the next book/s, you should probably sit this question out.)

Please leave your answers in the comment section below and don't forget to respond to other comments so we can have an amazing discussion! We'll be checking in and responding as well  :)

And I don't think this needs to be said, but just in case. If you have read Crown of Midnight or Heir of Fire, please do not spoil those books for the rest of us. Allow us to remain ignorant and experience the magic for ourselves  :)

    Our Favorite Quotes
    "We all bear scars, Dorian. Mine just happens to be more visible than most."
    But try as she might, all she could think about was the half-starved, hopeless assassin who'd been dragged out of Endovier one autumn day by a snarling Captain of the Guard. What would she have said to the prince's bargain, had she known she would come to stand poised to lose so much? Would she have laughed if she'd known that other things - other people - would come to mean as much as her freedom?
    He was done with politics and intrigue. He loved her, and no empire, no king, and no earthly fear would keep him from her. No, if they'd tried to take her from him, he'd rip the world apart with his bare hands. And for some reason, that didn't terrify him.
    "Mock me again," she spat at Verin, "and I'll do that with my sword the next time." She turned from him, and found Brullo's face slack. "Here's a lesson for you, weapons master," she said, stalking past him. "Give me some real men to fight. Then maybe I'll bother trying."
    She moaned into her pillow. "Go away. I feel like dying."

    "No fair maiden should die alone," he said, putting a hand on hers.
    With each day, he felt the barriers melting. He let them melt. Because of her genuine laugh, because he caught her one afternoon sleeping with her face in the middle of a book, because he knew that she would win.
    "With you scowling at everyone, no one will ask me to dance."

    Chaol's dark brows rose. "I'm not scowling at everyone." Even as he said it, she spotted him frowning at a passing courtier who looked too long in Celaena's direction.
    Chaol's eyes lost focus for a moment. Then Celaena laughed, and Dorian kept staring at her. The prince hadn't once taken his eyes off her. Dorian's expression was full of--something. Joy? Wonder? His shoulders were straight, his back erect. He looked like a man. Like a king.
    Cleana was held in place. She could feel the name fall upon her like a shimmering veil. This was unconditional love. Friends like this did not exist. Why was she so fortunate as to have found one?
    Elena took a step toward her. "You could rattle the stars," she whispered. "You could do anything, if you only dared. And deep down, you know it, too. That's what scares you most."
    Never too late to join!

    If you haven't had a chance to sign up for the 2015 TBR Pile Reading Challenge, you will have another opportunity to do so on February 25 when Evie posts her January - February Wrap Up! Don't forget that everyone who takes part in our January TBR Pile Read Along is going to get 5 extra entries into our July giveaway for the TBR Pile Reading Challenge!

    Indie Girl April (Sign-Ups)





      I'd like to welcome Indie Girl April to Bookish!!!  I am so excited to bring this event over from my previous blog.  I ran it there for two years with great success and am beyond positive it will receive the same amount (probably more) here on Bookish!!

      What is Indie Girl April?  Indie Girl April is a month long celebration of all of the wonderful female Indie authors that we have out there.  It's to help promote, share and basically get the word out there about them and their great books!  We will have reviews, guest posts, character posts, interviews, giveaways and MORE!!

      What do you have to do?  All you have to do is sign up!! The form is just below with everything we need to know.  Sadly we can't guarantee that everyone will get a review but we will try our best to be accommodating with posts.  This form will stay open for about a week.  In that time or just after you can expect either myself (Tiffany) or Jessica to get back to you.

    We look forward to working with you :)




    Withering Hope by Layla Hagen {Book Review, Giveaway, Author Interview}


    Withering Hope by Layla Hagen
    Goodreads | Amazon

    Paperback 262 pages
    Published 2015 by Layla Hagen
    *This will be a STANDALONE CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE.*
    Aimee’s wedding is supposed to turn out perfect. Her dress, her fiancé and the location—the idyllic holiday ranch in Brazil—are perfect.
    But all Aimee’s plans come crashing down when the private jet that’s taking her from the U.S. to the ranch—where her fiancé awaits her—defects mid-flight and the pilot is forced to perform an emergency landing in the heart of the Amazon rainforest.
    With no way to reach civilisation, being rescued is Aimee and Tristan’s—the pilot—only hope. A slim one that slowly withers away, desperation taking its place. Because death wanders in the jungle under many forms: starvation, diseases. Beasts.
    As Aimee and Tristan fight to find ways to survive, they grow closer. Together they discover that facing old, inner agonies carved by painful pasts takes just as much courage, if not even more, than facing the rainforest.Despite her devotion to her fiancé, Aimee can’t hide her feelings for Tristan—the man for whom she’s slowly becoming everything. You can hide many things in the rainforest. But not lies. Or love.

    Withering Hope is the story of a man who desperately needs forgiveness and the woman who brings him hope. It is a story in which hope births wings and blooms into a love that is as beautiful and intense as it is forbidden.




    Survival keeps us so busy, I have no time during the day to feel sorry about our situation or ponder over how much I fear that we will never be found. But when the dark sets in, things change. 

    Before I fall back asleep, I acknowledge that last night, for the first time in years, I found peace in my sleep. I know what brought it. Or rather, who brought it. My peace carries her smell and sounds like her voice. It feels like her touch. But I have to give up that peace. 

    I used to believe that the experiences life throws at us shape us. Now I think that it's the way we copy with what life throws our way that shapes us. 



    1.       What do you do when you are not writing?

    Doing my best at my day job J In my spare time, I try to squeeze in reading whenever I am not writing.

    2. When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?

    I first started writing four years ago. I worked on that book for about two years before deciding to shelve it. It didn't work, but it was the book that made me realize how much I love writing.

    3. How did you choose the genre you write in?

    I don’t really know. That first book was a YA fantasy. At the time of writing it, I started reading a lot of romance books. Suddenly, I wanted to write a romance of my own. So I did, and I started loving it, so now I am sticking with it.

    4. Where do you get your ideas?

    Oh, the most random sources. A newspaper article, the shape of a cloud, hearing someone swear (true story). Boring moments also kick start my creativity.

    5. Do you ever experience writer’s block?

    Yes. Some stories flow easier than other. But I force myself out of the block by keeping writing scene after scene until one clicks. Then I discard all the scenes that didn't.

    6. Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way
    either growing up or as an adult?

    I have many favorite authors, and they impacted me in different ways at various ages: Daphne du Maurier, Alexandre Dumas, Jules Verne, Suzanne Collins.

    7. Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

    Figuring out all the steps involved in the process. But really, self-publishing is not that complex, with platforms such as KDP and intermediaries like draft2digital.

    8. Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published?

    Yep, that first YA fantasy. And it will remain unpublished unless I will have the time to completely rewrite it.

    9. Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all
    imagination?


    Imagination mostly.

    10. What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?
    I loved writing the epilogue of Withering Hope. I can’t say anything about it because I don’t want to spoil anything, but let’s just say, it made me feel at peace.

    11. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What
    has been the best compliment?


    Toughest criticism: people not connecting to my characters.

    Best compliment: people tearing up while reading the story and loving the characters (yep, as you can see, I get quite attached to my characters)

    12. Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?


    Don’t give up. Surround yourself with people who support you. Push yourself harder. Don’t try to do everything yourself-hire professionals for things like editing and cover designer. It’s not as expensive as people think, and you need them in order to have a professional product.

    Faves:


    Books? Catching Fire.
    Songs? Varies with my mood.
    Color? Red
    Food? Steak
    Social media site? Facebook
    Author? J.K.Rowling
    Quote? “'Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” Can you guess who it belongs to? 




    I absolutely loved “Withering Hope.” This book gets a HUGE FIVE STARS from me!! 

    From beginning to end, "Withering Hope" is a beautifully told tale of survival and falling in love

     I loved everything about“Withering Hope;” the writing, the characters, the story – just everything.

     After reading so many novels of the romance-suspense genre, you actually start to think you know just how the story will read, and this one was no exception. I was never more wrong. The author gives her readers a story that surpasses all expectations. So caught up in the tale, all I could think was that I didn't want it to end. 

    This book starts out with Aimee getting ready to fly on a private jet with Tristan (her pilot) to see her fiance. Little does she know that her worst nightmare is about to come true. The plane crashes and leaves these two, stranded in the jungles without a sole in sight. 

    Aimee’s character is tremendously strong; she doesn't cower and expect Tristan to just take care of everything once the crash happens. She’s a great example of an empowered, determined and tenacious female lead which makes it very easy to like her. She pushes herself when you would think she'd ask for help. She does her fair share and then some and this just made me love her more. 

    Tristan is an excellent male lead-protective, caring, and someone you can immediately empathize with…even if he tries to keep to himself. Right from the start I was on his side. He has a dark and traumatic past that he tries to keep hidden from others. He usually doesn't talk and does everything he can to appear invisible. This becomes impossible once Aimee and him are stranded with no one but each other. 

    The author weaves an incredibly well-written tale of two people’s journey of survival after crash-landing in the Amazon jungle. The author does a brilliant job as she manages to deliver a story that’s so engaging and so thrilling with only the two protagonists, Tristan and Aimee, both of whom take center stage for pretty much the whole novel. You can’t help but love both Tristan and Aimee, two incredibly well-developed characters that suck you in from the start. 

    I was so invested in them, that I could feel everything they were going through whether it be their despair, fear, hope or love. I think this is a fast paced, suspenseful romance novel that thousands of people will love and treasure as one of the best reads of the year. I would highly recommend this book and this author to anyone who wants to get caught up in an amazing read! 


    About the author:

    Bio: 
    My name is Layla Hagen and I am a New Adult Contemporary Romance author.
    I fell in love with books when I was nine years old, and my love affair with stories continues even now, many years later.
    I write romantic stories and can’t wait to share them with the world.
    And I drink coffee. Lots of it, in case the photo didn’t make it obvious enough
    Giveaway:
    One lucky winner will win a $20 Amazon gift card 

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Blog Twitter Goodreads Facebook

    Starting From Lost by S. K Wills {Book Review & Giveaway}

    Starting From Lost CoverS.K. Wills will be on tour January 26-February 9 with her novel Starting From Lost Love is a risk. If you lose it all, would you dare to risk it twice? Hannah Rogers is lost: cynical, insecure, and withdrawn. Skeletons forged through a bad breakup that should have been a marriage proposal. Now four years later, Hannah follows her dead-end job to the big city where her only hope is to survive the next eight months as her flirtatious boss’s personal assistant. The last thing her predictable life needs is to collide with the boy responsible for breaking her heart, or the twist of fate that sends a sexy new neighbor to awaken feelings she’s long since put to bed. Alex Sorrento doesn’t have any room in his life for another pet project. He’s already put aside his career and his personal dreams to follow his half-sister Mackenzie to the big city. Lost in the guilt over the events that nearly took her life, he feels he owes her that much. When Mackenzie befriends the new girl on the third floor, Alex finds himself defenseless against the sizzling chemistry between them and the sadness in her eyes. Can he protect Hannah from her ex without losing his heart? In this turbulent journey about self-discovery, forgiveness, and love, some second chances aren’t worth taking, but others have their own rewards. Please visit CLP 




    How could anyone understand what it was like to love someone without inhibitions, then to have them walk away and leave you broken and lost? 

    Everyone put on a show at one time or another. She wondered what kind of man he really was..the thoughtful neighbor, the loving brother, the charismatic bartender, the playful guy. Which personas were the show and which were real? 

    A man will claim your bed without hesitation. He will adore your body and need you for it. But you have to make him adore and need you for everything else. Then, he's lost to you. How? Hannah found herself asking again. Step one is never giving up. Men are stubborn, and they need time to figure out that they love you, especially when a man is so determined not to. That's a good sign that he's already in too deep. Fools. 



    Hannah's life seemed all mapped out for her when she was just 19 years old. She had fallen for her very best friend and she was going to get her happily ever after. Then, Jake decided he was moving to the big city, and leaving her behind. He even ended things on her birthday. She was crushed and her world has been spinning ever since that day. She is alive but not really living.


    Then Colt her scumbag boss decides to take her with him on an assignment in New York city that is to last eight months. She would be his personal assistant and although she has a business degree, she doesn't think much of herself so she agrees to go. What she doesn't know is a big surprise awaits her in the big apple. Will she be able to move on or just spiral further down her sad road?


    The secondary characters play a great role in this drama. Hannah immediately meets a girl in her apartment building named Mackenzie and they hit it off right away. Mackenzie is the complete opposite of her. She bubbly, open and eager to be friends. She also has an extremely HOT brother named Alex who Hannah can't seem to get her mind off.


    The writing and story line in this novel was well thought out, exciting, suspenseful and full of friendship, love, romance and heart break. Everything you love to hate about romance is in this beautifully written novel. The author has amazing skills and she keeps you engrossed with her articulate prose and all different types of characters who you can't help but fall in love with.

    This book earned its five stars and honestly I would give it more if I could.




    Blog Tours for all the tour stops! SK WillsAbout the Author S.K. Wills grew up with reading in her blood; a favorite pastime passed down thanks to her two beautiful grandmas. Wanting to inspire others, like good books inspire her, she added “write a romance novel” to her bucket list, and ultimately, checked it off. Writing makes her soul happy, and since she's now hooked on story-crafting, she's decided to stick with it for as long as it will have her. S.K. lives in Southeastern Michigan, and juggles expertly (or so she thinks!) also being a passionate marketer and entrepreneur helping other authors reach their writing dreams. She fuels her insatiable dream-chasing with what some would consider an unhealthy amount of coffee, and she wouldn’t have her crazy busy life any other way. To learn more, visit her at: http://skwills.com/ Author Links https://www.facebook.com/author.skwills @SKWillsAuthor Book Links Amazon: http://amzn.to/1xS6ja9 GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23366621-starting-from-lost



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    Wednesday, January 28, 2015

    Blog Tour: Chaos by Lanie Bross (Review)

    Genre:
    Young Adult, Paranormal, Mythology, Fantasy
    Publication.Date  January 27th 2015
    Pages:304
    Published By:  Delacorte Press
    AuthorLanie Bross

    Chaos on Goodreads
    My review copy:Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
    Where to get:


    Can they change their destiny?

    They kissed only once—and it was electric, like the air before a storm. But Corinthe and Luc broke the rules of the universe, and learned too late that their love would have consequences. In the dizzying aftermath, Luc refuses to accept his destiny—not if it means a life without Corinthe. As a fire rages through the Crossroads that connect worlds, Luc must find a way to turn back time and save Corinthe once and for all.

    Meanwhile, Luc's 15-year-old sister Jasmine starts to realize things are not as they seem when time begins stuttering, sending her everyday life in San Francisco spinning into chaos. She’s thrown into the path of Ford, a troubled soul with a secret past, who helps her unravel the mysterious threads that connect them all.

    Two breathtaking romances interweave across time in this story of what lies on the other side of Fate, as both Jas and Luc discover the incredible lengths they will go for love.

    (Goodreads)


    I will add quotes from the finished review copy as soon as I'm back home! Please stay tuned!




         Lanie Bross's exciting follow up to Fates takes us right back to the world of Executors, Radicals and the Unseen Ones. A world where free will clashes with destiny and one's fate is written in the stars. A world full of magic and fantastical creatures where, again, we dance around the themes of forbidden love, fate and free will, all the while trying to keep up with the wild and eventful plot line.

         Corinthe is dead. Luc has managed to bring Jas back home and she doesn't remember anything that happened to her. While happy to have his sister back and safe, Luc's heart is broken. He won't accept his destiny though, he is determined to turn back the time and save Corinthe. Yet again, Luc and his sister find themselves at the center of a centuries-long conflict between those who believe in free will and those who want to control the world. A complete chaos and raging fire is what follows...

        I remember reading Fates at the beginning of 2014 and really loving the spin on the Greek myth and the star-crossed lovers. I didn't think there would be a follow-up, but was very glad to receive an advanced copy of Chaos. I dived right into it, I couldn't wait to see where Bross would take us next. Initially, I was a bit surprised to discover Jas plays such a big part in the story and that we are mostly following Luc's perspective, but once I got used to that, I realized I actually liked getting to know them better and following their adventures. This time around we get to know more about the siblings and the dynamics in their family. We also learn more about the Unseen Ones and are introduced to a rogue Radical who ends up playing an important and emotionally riveting part in the story. I felt that I cared about the characters more, now, that I got to know them better, and I also felt that the conflict was more fleshed out and dramatic. And I really didn't mind not seeing Corinthe for the most part of the story.

         In Chaos we get to meet new characters and visit new, intriguing places. The world we were introduced to in Fates expands and gets even more interesting. We visit the Library of the Dead, Aetern (place of eternal life), Pyralis and the Crossworlds. We also spend quite some time in San Francisco. The jumps between worlds are many and they happen fast, making this a breathless kind of read - much like the first book, maybe even more. A lot happens in a short period of time, action races along at a near break-neck speed and while I enjoyed the thrill of it, I also kind of wished for more time to inhale all the new places and fully savor their uniqueness. Lanie Bross is amazing at developing new, vibrant and fascinating worlds, she cares about little details and makes the settings easy to picture, but she doesn't really give us time to fully appreciate her creations. Just when we get a good feel of one place, we jump straight into a different one. It's all a bit chaotic and dizzying, but perhaps this was the point.

         Chaos is an entertaining, quick and easy read. It's not too thought-provoking, it doesn't engage you on any deeper level and you probably won't lose sleep over it, but it's a very nicely done story, with complex and vibrant mythological background and great characters. In other words, it's simply fun. I had a great time reading it and getting lost in the Greek-mythology-inspired world. Plus, this book offered a very satisfying conclusion to the Luc and Corinthe's story, while leaving us wanting to know how Jas and Ford's tale will end. And I, for one, can't wait to find out!


    About the author:




    Lanie Bross was born in a small town in Maine, where she spent the next 18 years dreaming of bigger places. After exploring city life, she and her husband and two young sons ended up coming right back to the wilds of Maine where they now live just one house down from where she grew up. Fate, perhaps? She loves chasing around her rambunctious kids, playing tug-o-war with her 95 pound Lab, and writing for Young Adults. Chaos is the sequel to Fates.
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