Monday, March 9, 2015

Sparrows for Free - Lila Felix


Author: Lila Felix
Synopsis from Goodreads:   
There are skeletons in every closet. Some stay quiet—and some rule your soul with an iron fist.

Ezra is ruled by the ghosts of his past—and needled by the guilt they create. Not only does he have to manage his own guilt—his friends are forced to bear the weight as well. He lives in limbo, never dreaming of anything that lies beyond the grave.
In his mind, he’s a murderer, pure and simple.

Hide and seek is Aysa’s game. She begs for small spaces and empty places. But, she secretly desires so much more.
When they find each other, a hope for something new is sprung.
But Ezra’s skeletons are out for blood.

“I hide shock well. I’m a pro at hiding. I have no idea that whatever he had to tell me would be so personal—so heartbreaking. But, I quickly remembered that heartbreak was all around him every time he turned around. He needs no more empathy or sympathy in his life. He craves someone to give him a different take on a tired situation.
And different is practically my middle name.”

Five Line Book Review:
I had read Lila Felix’s Love and Skate book a few months ago, and while the story line was really good and I did like the characters, the whole book felt a little stiff and needed quite a bit of editing; my lesson from this is never judge an author by their first book, and honestly I never would have pegged myself for doing something like that but I know that is exactly what I was doing every time I scrolled past Sparrows for Free on my kindle and bumping it down the line of my TBR pile; thankfully a friend talked some sense into me and told me I would really like this book, and she was right!  The story of two messed up people and the road being paved for them to their recovery was beautifully written and the characters were people I wanted to get to know.  Asya was a character I could relate to in some ways; not necessarily in the hiding from life - but growing up there were moments when I felt like despite talking, people looked right past me.  I loved her gradual increase of self esteem and standing up for herself; she didn’t wake up one day and decide to be different – it was a process.  If nothing else, Sparrows for Free will trap you into a story that you absolutely have to finish, if for nothing else than to see Asya and Ezra find themselves and begin to move past who they are and into who they should be.

Rated:  PG-13 - Mild cussing
Genre: New Adult - Romance
Rating:  4 Stars

Monday, March 2, 2015

Cassie - Carre White

Title:  Cassie (Brides of the Rockies - Book 1)
Author: Carre White

Synopsis (from Goodreads): 
A sweet, historical romance. 
Nathanial Carroll has been a thorn in Cassie Bjorn’s side ever since they were children. He has tormented her by dipping her blonde hair in ink, pouring honey into her school bag, and teasing her relentlessly. Now, grown up and more handsome than a man ought to be, Nathanial is determined to make Cassie his wife, although she loathes him with a passion. The task before him is formidable, and Nate will have to make amends for past behavior and court Cassie properly.  
Cassie knows Nathanial as a womanizer and drunkard with appalling manners. Any well-bred young lady would give this man a wide berth, as she has done for years. But Cassie’s mother and Nate’s mother are the best of friends, and they see fit to broker an engagement. To compound matters, an accidental kiss during a shootout sends the town’s gossips into a furor, and Cassie finds her reputation in tatters. There’s only one man to blame for this predicament—Nathanial Carroll. 
Five Line Book Review:
Cassie really was a sweet romance story, as advertised. While I did enjoy reading this book (in about 3 hours), I was a little put off by how easily the strong-willed characters were changed; Nathanial went from an indifferent drunk in the first few chapters with bad habits, to changing his ways within a day. Cassie was dead set against the marriage both Her mom and Nate's mother were plotting, and was rather immature about it most of the time; then like a coin, she flipped and was all about Nate. The most enjoyable parts of this novel were the times when Cassie and Nate were together; Carre White can write a good kissing scene.

Rating: PG-13 - It would have remained PG, except there was a bit of a marriage consummation that wasn't graphic, but more than PG.
Genre: Adult - Historical Romance
Rate: 3 Stars

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Red Queen - Victoria Aveyard


Author: Victoria Aveyard

Synopsis from Goodreads:   
The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of
those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

Five Line Book Review:
I'm going to have to apologize in advanced, because I already know that keeping this review to five sentences is going to be very difficult, so I'm not even going to try.  

The Red Queen started popping up in my newsfeeds and emails a couple months ago, and despite the hype, mentally I was prepared to be disappointed. I was finding it compared to The Selection Series and Graceling, both books (series) I have read, and both of them I started out loving and ended up not very happy with them for different reasons.  Also, with big named publishers, books tend to get a lot of hype and advertisement because of who is backing them.  What I'm trying to say is, I wasn't buying into the hype.  I saw the book on my library's Overdrive Ebooks list and thought it was at least worth a chance.

I.want.to.own.these.books.  ...and book 1 is the only one out.

So, I can see the relationship to The Selection and Graceling, and I would add The Hunger Games in the mix too, because of the arrogant turning their noses on those who provide them basically everything.  The world building was absolutely excellent!  I didn't feel lost or confused about what was going on or why.  I also really enjoyed that none of the characters were perfect, every last one of them had their strengths and flaws making the story feel more believable, and is a bit rare in these dystopian type books - usually at least one of the characters is a little extra special.  I did find that much of the book was predictable; due to foreshadowing I really wasn't surprised by much of the story at all, but I absolutely LOVED reading it through.  If I were to pick a favorite part, I would say it would be the conversations between Mere and Cal and Mere and Maven, the Princes of the kingdom; and how while the book was about the ruling class of super-humans and the normal humans living as a secondary slave class, both sides of the spectrum feel trapped and confined by their lives.  It really plays in the whole "grass is not always greener on the other side" concept, although there truly is a lesser more oppressed side.

The biggest downside of this series....now the wait for book 2 has begun!

Rated:  PG-13; Some Cussing
Genre: Young Adult: Dystopian, Romance
Rating:  5 Stars

Thursday, February 19, 2015

The Taking - Kimberly Derting


Title: The Taking
Author: Kimberly Derting
Synopsis from Goodreads:   
A flash of white light . . . and then . . . nothing. 

When sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas ’n’ Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of déjà vu, she heads home only to discover that five years have passed . . . yet she hasn’t aged a day. 

Everything else about Kyra’s old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men. 

Confused and lost, Kyra isn’t sure how to move forward unless she uncovers the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin’s annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they begin to wonder if Kyra’s father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others like her who have been taken . . . and returned. Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own?

Five Line Book Review:
I am not one to pick books that have an “alien” feel about it because it’s just not something I’m interested in, however, the idea of waking up and 5 years have passed, dealing with that and the fact that everyone else has aged and moved on while you’re exactly the same as when you left; I just found the premise enticing, thus saying ‘yes’ to The Taking.  I was not disappointed with this book in the slightest, it had the drama I was looking for and just enough of the sci-fi aspect to make a good story without taking it too far ::cough, cough:: ‘out of this world’ for my liking.  I felt like the book may have progressed a little too quickly in the romance part; while 5 years had passed for Taylor and he was acting on a childhood crush, only a few days had passed for Kyra – and after reading about her relationship with Austin, I wasn’t quite ready for Taylor.  Regardless, I was completely sucked into this book from the onset, the characters are captivating and the storytelling was truly excellent; I completely recommend reading this one if you’re into a light sci-fi theme.  I’m already anticipating the next book which is due to release in April (oh the day before my birthday in fact), and discovering more about why these people are being taken – is war coming? an invasion? or is it just basic evolution sped forward because of some weird black hole situation?

Rated: PG-13 - There's cussing  
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Romance
Rating:  4 of 5


Saturday, February 7, 2015

How To Hook A Bookworm - Cassie Mae


Author: Cassie Mae
Synopsis from Goodreads:   
Getting kissed for a birthday present should not be a big deal. Especially for Brea Mason, who doesn’t think of her best friend, Adam Silver, in any way other than… well, a friend. But after the liplock she can’t seem to get him off her mind. And she has to, because Adam is a senior while she’s stuck in high school for another two years.

Then BAM, the perfect distraction comes along in the form of a new, hot sophomore who actually seems interested in Brea, despite her anti-social personality. And with the stress at home, stress at school, and ignoring the reality of all her friends leaving come June, Brea welcomes the distraction.

But when she sees four fat Fs on her report card, Brea needs a study buddy, and the best candidate is Adam, book nerd and math whiz. So she enlists his help, hoping the birthday kiss was just a fluke. After all, she has a boyfriend now. It should be easy to ignore the butterflies and fizzy feelings that arise with the bookworm… right?

Five Line Book Review:
How to Hook a Bookworm is book 3 in Cassie Mae's How To series, a series I have absolutely adored from the very beginning because the series as a whole is a cute, fun shout out to all of the fandoms out there.  This book was my favorite though, which is surprising since I thought Band Geek would totally take that spot since I, myself, was a band geek.  There was just something about Brea and Adam I fell in love with; perhaps it was the best friend scenario, or the building tension, or just Brea's personal growth in general.  I also am always a bit thankful when a learning disability (no matter the form) is thrown into these books; as my son is dyslexic and struggles with things, test anxiety included, and I really just enjoy writing that includes all types of scenarios; maybe someone who struggles with the same issues will pick up the book and feel like maybe they aren't alone.  I also enjoyed that in all three of the How To books, all of the couples have put the sex issue on the other side of marriage, for reasons that include simply, "because I want to," and because they "stopped making decisions based on how popular they (the decisions) are," something I completely respect!

And, for all the How To fans out there - this book includes a certain wedding that you simply don't want to miss!! 

Rated:  5 Stars
Genre: Young Adult - Romance
Rating:  PG13 - Teenage apropriate talk of sex, mild cussing

Friday, February 6, 2015

Cover Release: Prove Me Wrong by Tessa Marie

Prove Me Wrong  
Prove Me Wrong by Tessa Marie
COVER REVEAL
2/6/15
Tessafull

A single secret changes everything.
With no college ambition—or desire to care—Luke Hannon’s ready to bail on school before senior year even begins. But when he spots the hot new girl reading an upside down map, he changes his mind.
Hailey Saldino desperately wants to start fresh at a school where she's free of the snide remarks and hurtful stares. A place where no one knows her past…or her son, Brady.
Luke wants a no strings attached, physical relationship, until Hailey becomes more than a cute girl in a skirt. Usually his bad boy reputation hooks the ladies but it won't be enough to land a girl like Hailey. Needing a lasting approach, Luke decides to be honest. No lies. No BS. As the connection between them deepens, Luke shares all his shameful secrets.
Afraid to lose one of the few people who’s ever looked at her as something other than a slut, Hailey buries herself in compounding lies. And when Hailey's purposeful deceit blindsides Luke, he must decide if he'll walk away, or accept Hailey and the little man she already loves.

ADD IT TO YOUR GOODREADS TBR PILE: http://bit.ly/1Li0xoF

~*~ABOUT TESSA MARIE~*~
Tessa

Tessa Marie lives in the same town she grew up in on Long Island, NY with her long time boyfriend and their fish. Her debut novel (NEVER) AGAIN, a NA romance, released in Fall 2013 with Berkley (Penguin) and it’s sequel, (ONCE) AGAIN released Summer 2014 under her real name, Theresa Paolo. She is also the coauthor of the Amazon bestseller KING SIZED BEDS AND HAPPY TRAILS and BEACH SIDE BEDS AND SANDY PATHS, a YA contemporary series. She has a hard time accepting the fact she’s nearing thirty, and uses her characters to relive the best and worst years of her life. She put her love of writing on hold while she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Dowling College. When she’s not writing, she’s behind a camera, reading, or can be found on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Cover Reveal: Burnt Devotion - Rebecca Ethington





Title:  Burnt Devotion
Series: Imdalind Series
Author: Rebecca Ethington
Release Date: March 22, 2015


 Burnt Devotion, Book 5 in the Imdalind Series. Dawn of Ash - the previously announced book five has now been moved to book 6. Yes! An extra book. If you        have been waiting for the next installment of The Imdalind Series this is the book you         have been waiting for!

--

It was supposed to be the final battle, the one to end Edmund’s line, his life, and free the magic Edmund had taken from the world. That was how it was foreseen. The end of the battle that has raged for centuries, unbeknownst to the mortals around them, the battle that would end with Joclyn’s death.

But it did neither.

The battle still reigns, Joclyn still lives, and the sight that was given eight hundred years ago is broken.

And it’s not the only one.

          Sights that were once thought infallible have become nothing more than scattered             glass, with broken pieces shattering into incorrect visages. Sain clings to the magic that                 he knows to be true, but there is something else, something that he is not saying.                              And what he does say is no longer adding up.

Something is wrong.

Ilyan and his people move through the caves, following a sight they hope to be correct, fleeing a battle that should have been the end while the battle within each of them grows with each step.

Ryland fights the monsters his father has infected him with.

Wynifred fights the confusion of who she is.

Dramin fights to live.

Prague may not survive this battle, it may be ripped to shreds… or burned to ashes.

Burnt Devotion is a Clean Young-Adult Paranormal Romance
Language: Mild to Moderate
Violence: Moderate
Sexual Content: Low to None

Barnes & Nobles: http://bit.ly/157aTGB
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/1KZoDV6



Rebecca Ethington is a story teller and author from Salt Lake City, Utah. She has been telling stories since she was small. First, with writing crude scripts, and then in stage with years of theatrical performances. Rebecca’s first stint into the world of literary writing, The Imdalind Series, was released in October 2012 and since its release each book has been found in several top 100 lists on Amazon. Rebecca is a mother to two, and wife to her best friend of 14 years. Her days are spent writing, running, and enjoying life with her crazy family.
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rebeccaethington.author
Website - www.rebeccaethington.com
Twitter - @RebEthington






The International best selling Imdalind Series continues in the highly anticipated fifth installment, Burnt Devotion. Discover the series that USA Today’s Happily Ever After blog called “interesting and intense.”


Branded at a young age by a mysterious mark on her skin, Joclyn’s life has been shrouded with mystery and lies. Abandoned by her father, and forced to keep her deformity a secret. Joclyn lives with a haunting secret that she can’t share with anyone… not even her best friend, Ryland.


But Ryland knows something she doesn’t, and when he finds the mark all of the secrets become dangers that threaten to destroy not only Joclyn’s life, but the fragile thread of a world that she didn’t even know existed.


With over 200,000 copies sold, THE IMDALIND SERIES  is a riveting drama that will quench your thirst for the final saga.



Kiss of Fire (Imdalind #1)


Eyes of Ember (Imdalind #2)



Scorched Treachery (Imdalind #3)




Soul of Flame (Imdalind #4)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1sXigMq
B&N: http://bit.ly/1JEg4OS
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1ALeOmR
iBooks: http://bit.ly/1Cpqtch