28 February 2015

(Late) Book Blitz: Love Bites by Rachel K. Burke w/ Giveaway


Love Bites
Release Date: 12/29/15
Harper Impulse
New Adult
225 pages

Summary from Goodreads:
What do you do when you fall in love with your best friend’s boyfriend?

That is the question that twenty-six year-old Justine Sterling has been asking herself ever since the day she met David Whitman, her best friend Renee’s boyfriend. Justine is determined to ignore her growing feelings for the irresistibly charming David, until one night, when she finds herself in the bed of the one person she should stay away from.

When Justine and David’s affair ends in heartbreak, Justine is forced to repair the damaged friendship with her best friend. In doing so, she learns that right and wrong decisions aren’t always black and white, and sometimes you have to follow your heart to see where it leads.


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About the Author:
Rachel discovered she wanted to be a writer at the age of ten, when her love of R.L. Stine murder mystery novels inspired her to start writing her own.
In 2008, Rachel combined her love of writing and music and began freelancing for a music column in Worcester Magazine. She also worked as a music journalist for Starpulse News Entertainment and Jamsbio Magazine, as well as a fitness journalist for Prevention Magazine.
Rachel graduated from Bridgewater University in 2011 with a B.A. in Communications and Media Studies.

She currently resides in Santa Monica, CA.


Author Links:
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Excerpt:
I didn’t sleep with David that night. I mean, sure, I slept with him, but not in the sexual sense. Only in the nocturnal sense.
After changing out of our soaking wet swimsuits, David and I somehow ended up in my bed. I’m not really sure how it happened. One minute, I was curled up under my covers, trying to warm up because my hair was soaking wet. The next minute, David was sitting on the edge of my bed, attempting to continue our conversation. Eventually, we both fell asleep without leaving that general proximity.
By the time I woke up the next morning, David was no longer in my bed, so it sort of felt like it never happened. Instead, he was now in the kitchen, making coffee and eggs and toast. God, he was so damn perfect. Even in his gym shorts with messy bedhead. I remember, at that distinct moment, thinking about how much I wished I could find someone like him. And hating Renee for not realizing how lucky she was.
“So, little lady,” David said, placing two plates of food down on the kitchen table. “What are your plans for this evening?”
I sat down at the table and rubbed my throbbing temples. “Well, I can tell you what I won’t be doing.”
“Hmm… breaking up more families?”
I glared at him. He grinned.
“Too soon?”
I picked a piece of crust off my toast and threw it at him. “Funny,” I retorted. “I think I’m just going to stay in tonight.”
He took a bite of scrambled eggs and nodded. “Well, if you’re here later, maybe I’ll swing by. I don’t really feel like going out either.”
There was a part of me that felt like I should say no, because it felt wrong to be spending time with Renee’s boyfriend when she wasn’t there. But there was also a part of me that thought I was overreacting. I mean, what was the big deal? We hadn’t done anything wrong. We had a drink, went swimming and fell asleep. That was it.
So why did I feel guilty?
Deep down, I knew why. It was because of the way I felt about him. The way I’d felt about him since the moment I met him. But of course, I couldn’t tell him that.
“That’s fine,” I said. “As long as it’s cool with Renee.”
“I’m sure she’d be happy that I was here to cheer you up. Since she couldn’t be.”
It was then that I saw something in his eyes. That look. It was the same look I always fought to ignore, but it seemed more intense now, more dangerous. Maybe because we were alone. Or maybe because my feelings for him weren’t entirely one-sided. But I could’ve sworn, at that moment, that I felt something between us change.
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27 February 2015

(Late) Release Day Blitz: The Dream Catcher by Anya Monroe w/ Giveaway


The Dream Catcher
Release Date: 02/19/15
300 pages

Summary from Goodreads:
***Paddle boards, bonfires & bikinis won’t help Penny. She craves the boy from the woods; not knowing she’s already caught in his nightmare. ***

Penny’s nightmare is ruling her life and she doesn’t know why. It started a few months ago, and since then Red Bulls, 5-hour Energy Shots, and Starbucks drive-thru are her lifeline.

When Penny’s parents decide to take their research of a rare Native American cult to a remote cabin for the summer, she's less than enthused.

Then Penny meets Delsin in a clearing in the woods, and her view of the world awakens. Apathy defines her, but Delsin lives life to it’s fullest. A shaman-in-training, he is everything Penny is not.

Each morning she comes to the woods, handing pieces of her heart to him, but when Penny is confronted with her worst nightmare, Delsin asks for a sacrifice Penny didn’t see coming.


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About the Author:
Anya Monroe likes to write stories and paint words on her walls. She believes in love at first sight and fights for happily-ever-afters. As a wife and mom to six kids, she carves out time to write between carpool pick-ups and date nights because words are her heartbeat. She lives a ferry ride from Seattle and is a total Pacific Northwesterner who drinks chai lattes and wears Birkenstocks and has dreadlocks. She's a cliché, but doesn't mind it. Not even a little.

She documents her lovely-messy life on IG @anyamonroe. Find her there!


Author Links:
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Excerpt:
My parents told me apathy is the first sign of depression and I told them I don’t give a shit. That’s when I got locked up in the psych ward for fourteen days, which is how long insurance would let me stay. The only decent thing about that place was the drugs were so good I could sleep without remembering.
At home, I don’t have that luxury. Grandma got all hooked on painkillers a few years ago so to say my parents have “issues” with narcotics would be an understatement. In their opinion, Advil is basically a gateway drug.
Besides the drugs, I hated the psych ward. The food was seriously disgusting and access to Starbucks was a no-go. One time Ollie tried to bring me a quad-venti-salted-caramel-mocha and he had to dump it out in a sink. Literally dump the entire twenty ounces of glory down the drain in front of the nurse. I told him he was a jackass for even telling me that story.
You don’t mess with caffeine.
At least I don’t. Not anymore.
I suppose I am a hypocrite. Since I do care about coffee, which is the only thing keeping me on this side of crazy.
“I’m getting a bagel. You want anything to eat?” Ollie asked as we pulled into the Starbucks drive-thru. I shook my head no, frowning at the question. Carbs made me sleepy. Sleeping is where all the trouble started. “Okay, one bagel and a venti Americano with cream. Oh, and a grande chocolate chip Frappuccino,” he said into the intercom.
“I can’t believe you’re drinking that before 8 am.”
“It’s all good, Penny. I’m headed to the lake with my paddleboard. Ain’t nobody gonna hold me down!” He gets all gangster when he’s pumped. He graduated high school last week and suddenly the world is his oyster. Which would make sense if he weren’t currently couch surfing.
“I still have to go to school, okay? Stop rubbing it in my face.”
I had another week of junior year. Ollie could suck it. He got to do whatever the hell he wanted. I mean, besides the homeless part. I handed him a twenty, which he in turn handed to the barista hanging out the window wearing a green apron and a smile.
I scowled at her.
Taking a sip of the coffee helped even though Ollie kept driving toward the massive brick masterpiece that had been my school for way too long. The place blew, and Ollie was the only reason it had managed to remain semi-tolerable.
“I can’t believe you’re ditching me. I would never do that to you,” I whined to my best friend as we pulled up to the curb for drop off.
“Look, I’ll pick you up after school, just like we promised your parents, and then we can go do something epic. Something totally Penny.” He leaned over to open the door for me, kissing me on the cheek.
“What in the world is something totally Penny?” I asked, as I got out of his ancient Honda civic.
“We could go to the mall. There’s a sale at American Eagle.”
I rolled my eyes out of habit. Having a gay best friend would be better if I liked to shop.
“You’re such a cliché,” I said, shutting the door.
“See you at three!” He called through the rolled-down window as he drove away, leaving me standing, half-awake, on the sidewalk outside of the lamest establishment known to man.
I pulled my phone out of the pocket of my hoodie as it vibrated. Mom.
MOM: Hope you made it to school okay!
      See you at 6. Please check in at 3 and hand in paper! XO
I needed more coffee if I was going to get through the day.

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06 February 2015

Book Blitz: Valentines Heat Anthologies

New from Etopia Press, a couple great Valentine's Day themed Anthologies to spice up your reading! The anthologies feature short stories from Etopia authors: Ally Shields, Nessie Strange, Keith Melton, C.L. Bledsoe, Elizabeth Ellen Carter and Cynthia Hampton. These anthologies have something for everyone so make sure you check these sizzling stories out!


Valentines Heat I



“Heart’s Pride” by Ally Shields
The Guardian Witch Series

When their wedding is ruined by a werepanther attack, Katrina is left hospitalized and Blane is just...gone. But when he finally finds his way back to Riverdale, he learns he’s not the only one who’s been tracking Katrina...

“Lost Soul, Lost Love” by Nessie Strange
The Living Dead World Series


It’s Jen MacLellan’s first trip back to earth as a new reaper, and Mardi Gras is in full swing. When she happens upon Chip, a partier stuck in a perpetual 1983, Jen decides to help him find the woman he loves so he can move on. Assuming all goes well when he finds her...

“Red Dogs” by Keith Melton
The Zero Dog Mission Series


Mercenary pyromancer Andrea Walker has just saved the world from bloodthirsty hagworms and is late for her Valentine’s date with Jake. Until she hears that Jake has already left her house...with her...

“V-Day” by CL Bledsoe
The Necro-Files Series


Daisy and her friends think going to a frat party on Valentine’s Day will be a fun, not-at-all-desperate Girls Night Out. What they don’t expect is to have Delilah’s succubus pheromones accidentally set off the apocalypse...


Valentines Heat II


“Moonstone Promise” by Elizabeth Ellen Carter

After her husband’s death in Colonial Pennsylvania, Ann Sellars forges a business partnership with Toby Jackson that quickly becomes a friendship. But when Toby proposes marriage on the eve of leaving for England, Ann isn’t sure if she’s ready to leave her memories, or her new business, behind...

“A Perfect Judge” Cynthia Hampton


When Kamber Prescott agrees to emcee the annual Valentine’s Day Fantasy Auction, she has no intention to bid on one of the sexy bachelors. But seeing Jeffrey Hatcher again after their Christmas party fling makes her reconsider. Especially since the auction has only one rule: the rules exist only if you want them to...
  

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04 February 2015

January 2015 Reading Wrap Up!

January 2015 Reading Wrap-Up!
*The books mentioned in this video are the few that I managed to finish in the month of January!





The Books:
When by Victoria Laurie 
Finding Paris by Joy Preble
Slavery And Freedom by James Oakes 

Thank you so much for stopping by! Don't forget to tell me what you finished, or leave video links in the comments below. I would love to check them out :)
 
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