Review: Dangerous Grirls by Abigail Haas

Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: May 6, 2014 
Book Format: Paperback
# of Pages: 400
Synopsis: Paradise in Aruba quickly gets gruesome in this ripped-from-the-headlines thriller (Kirkus Reviews) & with a twist that defies the imagination.

It's Spring Break of senior year. Anna, her boyfriend Tate, her best friend Elise, and a few other close friends are off to a debaucherous trip to Aruba that promises to be the time of their lives.

But when Elise is found brutally murdered, Anna finds herself trapped in a country not her own, fighting against vile and contemptuous accusations. As Anna sets out to find her friend's killer, she discovers harsh revelations about her friendships, the slippery nature of truth, and the ache of young love.

Awaiting the judge's decree, it becomes clear to Anna that everyone around her thinks she is not only guilty, but also dangerous. And when the whole story comes out, reality is more shocking than anyone could ever imagine...

Meet Abigail, (Taken From Goodreads)

 
Abigail Haas has written two adult novels and four young adult contemporary novels under the name Abby McDonald. Dangerous Girls is her first young adult thriller. She grew up in Sussex, England, and studied Politics, Philosophy & Economics at Oxford University. She lives in Los Angeles.

My Review:   

I bought Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas with my own money and this is my honest review.

Dangerous Girls is about a group of friends who go to Aruba for a relaxing vacation. Near the end of this vacation, Elise one of the girls in the group gets brutally murdered. This rips through the group like a tornado. Nobody understands why this happened or who did it, until Anna, Elise’s best friend, and Tate, Anna’s boyfriend get arrested for the murder.

There were many aspects of this book that I enjoyed. The first was that throughout the book every chapter was different. Some were newspaper articles, some were before the murder, some were after, some were the trail, etc. I loved going back and forth between before, and after and all of the other things the chapters held. It made the book much more interesting, I was not able to put it down the whole time.

I have to say that Haas has the writer's craft. While reading, the WHOLE time I was reading I thought I knew exactly who did not do it, and possibly who might of. I spent the entire book being on this persons side whole heartedly thinking I knew they did not do it. By the end of the book I was sitting there with my jaw on the floor extremely confused about what had just happened. I only hope that someday I will have the ability to do that to readers with my writing someday.

She also did a great job of making me fall for the characters. I was in love with Anna and Tate they seemed like the cutest couple and I loved the two of them together. I hated what happened to them though. I kept hoping that they would be okay, but then the cheating came out and I knew it was over. Even though that killed it for me, the rest of the book was still amazing, and I would read anything by Haas in the future.  

 

Cover Reveal: Scars Run Deep by Helen Boswell

Scars Run Deep by Helen Boswell

Release Date: September 22nd 

Genre: Contemporary, New Adult

Synopsis: Good things generally don’t happen to me.
And if they do, it’s not long before something comes around and bites me in the ass. Ten-fold.

Jase Moretti has been running from a tragedy in his past for almost his entire life. Now at twenty-three years old, he finally has everything going for him – the promise of an exciting career and an engagement ring in his pocket ready to propose to the girl of his dreams. But when his path crosses with Elle Garcia’s during one reckless night in Vegas, he’s forced to revisit his past and the tragedy that he was responsible for. Jase has the rare opportunity to right the wrongs in his life, but in order to do it, he has to help Elle, the girl he’s hated for thirteen years.

A chance meeting.
A chance for redemption.
A chance for his scars to heal.

But Jase’s scars run deeper than he thinks, and he isn’t the only one with old wounds. As he learns more about Elle, he discovers he has to make a choice. Give up his perfect life or keep living the perfect lie?

Goodreads

Meet Helen, 

Helen Boswell loved to get lost in the pages of a story from the time she could sound out the words. Originally from upstate New York, Helen spent much of her early adult life tromping around in Buffalo, NYC, Toronto, and Las Vegas, those cities now serving as inspiration for the dark and gritty urban backdrops of her stories. An author of both urban fantasy and contemporary romance, she loves to read and write characters that come to life with their beauty, flaws, and all.

Helen dedicates her time to raising her family of two boys, teaching college students, and of course, writing.

Author links:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads

Blog Tour: No More Confessions by Louise Rozett

No More Confessions by Louise Rozett
Release Date: January 25, 2015
Summary From Goodreads:
For Rose Zarelli, freshman year was about controlling her rage. Sophomore year was about finding her voice. With all that behind her, junior year should be a breeze, right? Nope. When a horrific video surfaces, Rose needs the one person she wants to be done with, the person who has broken her heart twice—Jamie Forta. But as the intensity between them heats up, Rose realizes she isn’t the only one who needs help. The thing is, Jamie doesn’t see it that way—and that could cost them both everything.

***

ROSE ZARELLI is done confessing because ​confessions are for people who have done something wrong. ​And I haven't done anything wrong. Here, I'll prove it to you.

1) After my mother got that call, I “borrowed” her car. (Because you can’t steal your mother’s car, can you?) I don’t really remember driving downtown, but I do remember...

2) …getting past the bouncer at Dizzy’s (I mean, it’s his job to spot a fake ID, so that’s on him)…

​3) …and then later, telling my mother the truth about the bar but lying about how I got in. (A truth totally cancels out a lie, right?)

After all, what’s a little duplicity when finding Jamie Forta is the only thing that’s going to keep you from losing what’s left of your mind?

See? Junior year is off to a great start.

Buy Links:

Amazon 

Barnes & Noble 

Meet Louise, 

 Louise Rozett is an author, a playwright, and a recovering performer. She made her YA debut with Confessions of an Angry Girl, followed by Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend, both published by HarlequinTEEN. The next book in the series, No More Confessions, is due out January 2015. She lives with her 120-pound Bernese Mountain dog Lester (named after Lester Freamon from THE WIRE, of course) in sunny Los Angeles, and pines for New York City. Visit www.Louiserozett.com for more info.

Author Links:

Website

Goodreads

Twitter

Facebook

My Review:

I received No More Confessions by Louise Rozett from the publisher and this is my honest review.

I have been following this series from the beginning. A few years ago when it came out I read the first book, Confessions of an Angry Girl which was the very beginning of Rose Zarelli’s story, and I have loved every book since then. For the third book I chose to be apart of the blog tour because as soon as I knew it was coming out I wanted to read it immediately, and I am so glad I did.

These books have such a hold over me. I love the characters, every single one of them. I did have my issues periodically with some of them *cough cough* Jamie! But other than quick little bouts of anger I love them all, and never want to let them go. I feel like the reason I love these characters so much is because I  have been with them all since the beginning. I have watched all of them grow in their own different ways. Some have gotten more mature, some have gone down bad paths but regardless I will follow them to the end.

As always Rose has grown more than ever since when we met her at the start of her freshman year. She is doing so much better handling her love life, and for the most part she is being smart about it. I cannot really say much because again this is a third book in the series and giving a lot of details will probably contain spoilers. But the couple that is spotlighted in all three books has a lot to do with No More Confessions and I loved it. I enjoyed seeing them grow together. I know these two are my favorite bookish couple, because it has been a long time since I have come close to crying because of a book, and there was something near the end of this that made me tear up a few times.

The only thing I was not a fan of in this book was that the ending seemed very rushed to me. All of the sudden it was Rose’s birthday, her and Jamie were fighting and she went home. The next thing you know something bad has happened and the hospital came into the picture, physical therapy was involved for like one chapter and then BAM the book ended. I did not like that. It just seemed like their whole relationship was smooshed into a few pages and that was it. I needed so much more when it came to the end, I had so many questions and I do not even know if there is going to be another book. I really hope so, I need more than what happened.

Giveaway:

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Release Day Launch: Light Me Up by Karla Sorensen

Today is the release day for Karla Sorensen’s Light Me Up!! I am so excited to share this sexy romance with you! Karla is sharing an exclusive excerpt and giveaway with us! Check it all out!!

 

Blogs Taking Part in the Release Day Launch

Blog Name

The Other Side of the Shelf

Ellesea Loves Reading

Book Reader Chronicles

Adventures in Writing

undercover book reviews

True Story Book Blog

Kimmy Loves to Read

those naughty girls book club

2 Greek Girls Reading

Books to Breathe

Reading Away The Days

Untamed Bibliophiles

Four Chicks Flipping Pages

The Lusty Literate

Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents

Textteaser

Got Books?

southern vixens book obsessions

Confessions from Romaholics

I Bookin' Love To Read

Mama She's Crazy About Books

LuLo Fangirl

Sexy Bibliophiles

Bookalicious Babes Blog

Between The Lines

Caroline Jane Reads

Boundless Book Reviews

promoting authors with read along with sue

Head Stuck In A Book

Books Can Take You There

Kitty Kats Crazy About Books

Southern Yankee Book Reviews

Dreams Come True Through Reading

Books Need TLC

Tantalizing Reviews

What Is That Book About

Read, Write, Ripley

Romance Obsessed Book Blog

ZombieePee's Blog

Shawna Shauntia

Revenge of the Feels

The Dark Realm

Paperback Opinion

Evermore Books

Works of Fiction

The Phantom Paragrapher

Roxy's Reviews

The Hopeless Romantics Book Blog

Author Groupies

Musings of the Book-a-holic Fairies, Inc.

Tumbleweed Book Reviews

Read Love Blog

flirty fiction blog

Vera is Reading

Books, Coffee & Passion

Dark Seraph Book Blog

Greyland Reviews

Comfort Books

Zili in the Sky

Love Affair With Fiction

Summers Book Blog

Cosying Up With Books

Friends Till The End Book Blog

One Book Boyfriend At A Time

Nerdy Book Freak

Best Book Boyfriends

Wicked Babes Blog Reviews

Shelf Life

Talk Books to Me

Reading Addict

Once Upon a Twilight

The NA Book Blog

We're Jumpin' Books

She Reads New Adult

mustreadbooksordie

Country Gals Sexy Reads

Rumpled Sheets Blog

Book Angel Booktopia

bookshelf dreaming

Renee Entress's Blog

Jax's Book Magic

Restless Book Obsession

Reading Bliss

My Favorite Things

Have Words Will Scribble

The Reading Ruth

G & T Indie Cafe

NightWolf Book Blg

   

Light Me Up Synopsis:

For Rachel Hennessy, it’s been an interesting six months. Boyfriend? Cheated on her. Job? She totally just got fired. Starting her own wedding planning business sounds exciting … in theory. In reality, it’s completely terrifying. And on top of all that, the freaking cherry right on top? She just had an ill-timed, alcohol-instigated one-night stand with her bff Casey’s brother, Tate. Yeah, that Tate. The one that she’s had a teensy, inconvenient crush on for years.   But nothing about it is ill-timed or inconvenient for Tate Steadman. Because he finally feels free. Free of the oppressive relationship he’d been in for the past six years. Free to pursue Rachel, because one alcohol-fueled night was not even close to enough for him. He just wished she saw it that way. Because she makes him want more than he ever knew he was capable of.   When their one night has unexpected consequences, Rachel has no clue how to trust that he’s not just trying to be ‘the good guy’ who wants to do ‘the right thing’. And even though the chemistry between them practically burns down an entire city block when they’re together, she doesn’t know how to let down the concrete wall she’s built up around herself.   The ‘mistake’ of one evening can change the trajectory of two lives, but maybe a mistake is all they really need to push them right into true love. -------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Light Me Up is a 90k word humorous contemporary romance with a moderate heat level, and is second in a series of standalones.  

Buy Links: Amazon | Light Me Up Goodreads   

 Exclusive Excerpt:  

"Best get caught up, little girl. That shot isn't going to drink itself." She turned towards him and arched one brow. "Little girl?" "You're what? Six years younger than me and about a foot shorter. I'd say that's accurate." Rachel crossed her legs, and the way that they had lights mounted underneath the bar top only served to highlight her smooth skin capped by dangerous looking heels. She picked up her second shot glass, clicked it against one of his empty ones, and tossed it back. She blew out a breath and he caught a whiff of the Southern Comfort. "I get what you're trying to do, Tate. Be a peach and go work your mind tricks somewhere that's not by me." "No tricks, I promise." She scoffed. "So, what kind of shot was that?" he asked when she didn't respond. "It's called a Short Southern Screw. Seemed appropriate tonight." His confusion must have read on his face, because she rolled her eyes. "My boss ... well, former boss, Deidre, is quite the southern belle. And considering my impending unemployment, I most definitely got screwed. But I'd wager a guess that you already knew that, judging by your presence at this fine establishment that you would probably normally never step foot in." Tate was surprised that she brought up her firing so easily. Letting her statement pass for the moment, he flagged down the bartender again, who'd moved down the length of the bar to try his luck with a pair of coeds that had parked themselves on some stools a ways down. "And you accuse me of being judgmental. You don't think this is my kind of place?" She turned towards him finally, her cheeks holding a slight flush from the back to back shots. He had to shift his eyes away from her face because of how good it looked on her. Your sister's best friend. Your sister's best friend. He chanted it over and over in his head, to absolutely no avail. "This is so not your kind of place. Because people only come here for two reasons: to get wasted and try to sweat out everything they've imbibed on that dance floor or make conversation where the most substantial thing that gets said is 'Your place or mine?'" Tate laughed, because she was absolutely right, and then handed the bartender his credit card, motioning for him to start a tab. He pushed a glass towards her, and picked up one of his own. "Fair enough, I wouldn't normally come to a place like this. I like it though, it was a good choice." He looked around, and then landed back on where she watched him with a speculative look on her face. "What are we toasting to?" She blinked a few times, her hazel eyes burning in the dark atmosphere. "To being pleasantly surprised." They clicked glasses, and the only time she moved her eyes from his was to flick down to his mouth when he lowered his empty shot glass. And he felt that look like she'd dragged a lit match down his spine.    

 

Karla Sorensen Bio: 

Karla Sorensen has been an avid reader her entire life, and not long after the purchase of her first e-reader, she realized that it would probably be cheaper to just write out her own happily-ever-after stories. It doesn’t take much to keep her happy … a book, a glass of moscato, and at least thirty minutes of complete silence every day. She still keeps her toes in the world of health care marketing, where she made her living pre-babies. Now she stays home, writing and mommy-ing full time (this translates to almost every day being a ‘pajama day’ at the Sorensen household…don’t judge). She lives in West Michigan with her husband, two exceptionally adorable sons and their German Shepherd, who is not nearly as well trained as the one in her first book. 

 Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Author Goodreads     

 Enter Karla’s giveaway! a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Interview: Author of Becoming Jinn by Lori Goldstein

Becoming Jinn by Lori Goldstein 
Synopsis: Forget everything you thought you knew about genies!

Azra has just turned sixteen, and overnight her body lengthens, her olive skin deepens, and her eyes glisten gold thanks to the brand-new silver bangle that locks around her wrist. As she always knew it would, her Jinn ancestry brings not just magical powers but the reality of a life of servitude, as her wish granting is controlled by a remote ruling class of Jinn known as the Afrit.

To the humans she lives among, she’s just the girl working at the snack bar at the beach, navigating the fryer and her first crush. But behind closed doors, she’s learning how to harness her powers and fulfill the obligations of her destiny.

Mentored by her mother and her Zar “sisters”, Azra discovers she may not be quite like the rest of her circle of female Jinn . . . and that her powers could endanger them all. As Azra uncovers the darker world of becoming Jinn, she realizes when genies and wishes are involved, there’s always a trick.

Meet Lori, (Taken Goodreads)
My debut novel, the Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy Becoming Jinn, is a modern spin on the traditional tale of wish-granting genies. It will be released on April 21, 2015, by Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s. The sequel will follow in Spring 2016. I am represented by Lucy Carson of The Friedrich Agency.

Too much of my day involves chatting books, obsessing over The Vampire Diaries, and perfecting the art of efficient writing through Twitter. Find me at @loriagoldstein and follow my blog at www.lorigoldsteinbooks.com or my Tumblr at http://lorigoldsteinbooks.tumblr.com. Like my author page on Facebook for fun book-related photos, tidbits, and happenings as well as news on Becoming Jinn. 

 The Interview:
What are the hardest/most rewarding parts about being a writer?
The hardest part of being a writer is the unknown. You write a story you love but will your agent, your editor, and readers love it as much as you do? You write blind and just hope your passion translates onto the page and then off the page to readers. It can lead to a lot of self-doubt and you have to try your best to push that aside, but it's not easy.

The most rewarding part is the flip side of that: hearing from readers who love your book and who have been moved and entertained by what you've spent weeks and months and years of your life on. Until you are in the position of putting your heart and soul out there on the page, it's hard to understand how very rewarding it is to hear from readers who love your book. It's the best high there is.

What advice can you give new writers just starting out?

I want all writers, especially teens or those just starting out, to know that every writer, no matter how many books they have written or have on shelves, has awful first drafts, bad writing days, and enough self-doubt to fill a dozen books. Writing is a process and revision is key to that. Writers just starting out need to understand that they cannot compare their first drafts to published books. Those have gone through revisions the writer has done alone, then with critique partners, then an agent, then an editor, then a copy editor. That book has been worked on for years. Don't expect your first or even your second or third to match it. Once writers understand this, I think it gives them the freedom to write and to create with much less pressure. At least it does for me!

What made you want to write young adult?

I love this genre as a reader. The diversity of writing styles, topics, and risks being taken make it extremely exciting as a reader and so of course also as a writer. The ability to tackle the emotions teenagers feel and write a book that may make them laugh or cry and especially realize that they are not alone is really important to me. Reading is an escape, and it helped me through my own teen years. If something I write does that for someone else, I will feel proud and happy.

What motivates you to sit down and write?

The story itself. Fortunately when I'm writing a book I don't need outside encouragement. Living in the world with my characters and getting to see what they will do next is more than enough motivation. Time never goes by faster than when I'm writing.

Lastly, Do any of you have street teams, or beta readers, or even just a newsletter that me or my followers can sign up to be apart of for upcoming releases?

Sure! On the contact page on my Web site, you can sign up for my newsletter where I post writing tips, upcoming events, and other writerly things. Also, I'm always on the lookout for teen readers to participate in an ARC tour. You have to commit to reading in a short time and passing it on to the next teen, but if anyone's interested, they should contact me via my web site. I also hope to run more writing workshops for teens and adult writers and signing up for my newsletter is the best way to find out about those. 

Thanks to Lori for answering my questions, and I hope everyone enjoyed this interview :) Also, check out Becoming Jinn! I loved it to pieces!

Review: The Eternity Key by Bree Despain

The Eternity Key by Bree Despain 
Publisher: EgmontUSA

Release Date: May 12, 2015
Book Format: ARC
# of Pages: 368
Synopsis: Fan-favorite author Bree Despain continues her modern-day romance trilogy inspired by the Greek myth of Persephone and Hades with this second book in her Into the Dark series.

Haden Lord, the disgraced Prince of the Underrealm, has chosen love over honor and will do everything in his power to protect Daphne Raines, the human girl he was supposed to bring to the Underrealm. Haden’s choice is put to the test as the Skylords and a figure from his past arrive in Olympus Hills with a plan that could destroy all of the realms.

Embracing her destiny as the Cypher, Daphne begins to understand the immense power of her musical ability to control the elements, but she must come to terms with her feelings for Haden and what she must sacrifice in order to protect him and her friends.

Believing the Key of Hades is the only thing that can stop the Underrealm Court from releasing the monstrous Keres on the mortal world, Haden, Daphne, and their friends set out to find the Key before Persephone’s Gate opens again on the spring equinox.

My Review:

I received The Eternity Key by Bree Despain because I was chosen to be an ambassador for the Into The Dark trilogy, and this is my honest review.

Normally, I do not like to dive right into a sequel after reading the book before it, but with these books I just could not resist. I had to know what was going on with Daphne, and Haden. I just could not resist. Book two picks up after the crew headed back to Olympus Hills to keep up with production of the play Joe was producing as well as to put together a plan to find the locket they lost, and for Daphne to lead them to the key.

We had a few new characters in this book as well as some characters held more importance than they did in the first book. For instance, Tobin got his own chapter. I am still not sure how I feel about that, but I guess it did end up adding to the story. I spent pretty much the whole book wishing Haden would man up and tell Daphne how he felt, and you can imagine that I was devastated with what happened when he finally did, and then with what happened to both of them at the end of the book. I can only hope that things will be better for them in book 3.

So many secrets, and shockers were revealed in this book that I found it hard to stay in my seat. I often found myself pacing back and forth in my apartment while reading because I just could not stay still for the life of me. By the end of this book I was literally drained from everything that had happened. All of the secrets, and betrayals, and other things took my by surprise. I could not even try to write this review until at least a week later because everything was still rolling around crazily in my head. In the end, I realize that this book was absolutely amazing. I love how Despain made everything played out. It left me quite literally foaming at the mouth for more, and I cannot wait for book 3 to make an appearance. I definitely would recommend this trilogy!

Favorite Quotes:

“You mean your brother came all the way from the underworld to tell you he plays for the other team? Did you faint or something?”
“What?” I slur. “What other team?”
“Haden has difficulties with euphemisms.” (Pg 125)

“My traitorous heart wants me to invite him to come inside but, my head tells me to stick with my worlds. I turn out the light and sit in the window seat, watching him watch out for me.” (Pg 234) 

 

 

 

Cover Reveal: Secrets Don't Keep by Elora Ramirez

Today we’re revealing the cover of Secrets Don’t Keep by Elora Ramirez! I absolutely love this cover and I’m thrilled to be sharing it with you!!  
Secrets Don’t Keep by Elora Ramirez  
Release Day: August 10^th
About Secrets Don’t Keep:  My name is Kera Collins, and I would do anything for a golden nod. At first glance, my life appears perfect: the best friends, the best school, the attention of Dex Albright, the deliciously irresistible grandson to the Headmaster. All I need is the prestige behind La Boheme, an elite secret society formed within the walls of my school, and my life would be complete. Once I’m in, I’ll be the one with all of the secrets. It’s just…no one told me these secrets could kill.  

 Pre-Order Now!   

  Exclusive Excerpt:   

“Tell me again about cherry trees and spring time and eating sunbeams.” I whisper in his ear. “Why should sunbeams get all the fun?” He growls and I laugh quietly. Both of my hands are on either side of his face. I’m gripping the soft area above his neck. Our tongues meet and I press myself against him, the sparrow inside my chest turning into a phoenix, lit and ready. I wrap one leg around his hip and position myself against the shelf, pulling away just enough to look in his eyes. I want to see the clouded look that takes over when he’s lost in the feel of me. His hands grab me and I gasp. This is much, much better than Neruda. We’re a tangled piece of hormones, begging for some type of release. And then — We’re crashing against the floor, Dex covering my mouth with his hand. I start to claw at his arm because what the hell? He doesn’t waste any time. Leaning forward to where his lips begin to tickle the edges of my ear, he whispers. “Someone’s here.” I press my hands against his chest, pushing him back so I can look him in the eyes. “What do you mean someone’s here,” I hiss. And then I hear it. Or…them, actually. Soft footsteps. My eyes widen and Dex places his finger on my lips. Despite the severity of the situation, I have a strange desire to bite it. Or lick it. He sees my gaze shift downward and he hides a smile. “Behave,” he mouths. I shrug again, my shoulder scraping against the wooden floor. I stretch my neck and try to get a look at who could possibly be in the library at this hour. “Kera?” I jerk my head back toward Dex, and he looks at me in confusion. My heart thuds against my chest. I grab his wrist and pull his finger away from my lips. “Season?” Dex opens his mouth like he’s about to say something and I put my hand up to quiet him. In a heap of arms and legs, I try and make my way to a standing position but my best friend finds me bending over, Dex kneeling in front of me with his bow tie akimbo around his neck. “Kera?” I swallow and turn around, my face breaking into a smile. I’m thinking of excuses. I’m thinking of how I can explain the tête-à-tête she seems to have interrupted. I’m thinking…my eyes find hers and I gasp. Holy shit. She’s been crying. Her eyes, normally a bottomless shade of crystallized green, blink away new tears. I walk over to her, rearranging my dress with each step. “Ohmigod. Season. What happened?” I reach for her but she twists away. Her arms and legs are covered in scratches and twigs keep falling out of her burgundy curls. She moves to hide her arms and looks away for a brief moment before catching Dex’s gaze and bouncing to me. She’s skittish, and her eyes — they’ve lost all glimmer of Season. A weight settles on my chest and I fight to stand still, to not turn and run. This is not life. This is not supposed to happen. Not here. Not Season. I brush away the silence between us, willing her to look at me. I reach for her again and she startles, putting her hand up in front as a defense. She blinks and focuses on me, her eyes feral. “I knew you’d be here. I knew — I got your text an-and they said you would…” “S, what’s going on? Why — what are you doing here? Did something happen?” I wrinkle my brow and turn to find Dex walking toward us, his bowtie now perfectly positioned against his neck. He’s working on his cufflinks and staring at Season with his mouth all twisted. I can’t tell if he’s bothered by the interruption or by Season’s condition. She coughs and whimpers and I shoot her a look. “Season…” “It’s Sebastian.” She wipes at her cheeks with her hands, her fingers reaching for each other in a form of desperation. Anger vibrates against me but deeper than that, there’s a fear. A cold-blooded fear I can’t explain. Something isn’t right and I don’t know how to fix it and my best friend is standing in front of me like she’s been turned inside out and back again. Black spots fill my vision and then grow clear. “What happened. Where’s Sebastian?” I move closer and she grabs my arm. I stop and look at her. She’s shaking her head. “You know —.” Her words stumble over each other and it’s enough for me to freeze in place. I turn to look at her and she closes her eyes and takes a breath. “We were in the woods. They found us. Th-they took him.” “Who took him?” Dex steps closer, his face now the picture of concern. “Wait. Did you say someone told you we would be here?” The muscles in his cheek twitch. I reach for his hand. There are moments in life where we can spot the change coming. Whether it’s intuition or cycles or whatever, these are the seconds and minutes that turn into catalysts. Once they pass, life is forever categorized as Before and After. This is what I feel hovering above us, waiting to descend and take over. I close my eyes and wait and wonder if I can keep it from happening. Breathe in. Breathe out. If I can wish hard enough, maybe we can go back to where I’m leaning against the shelves, Dex pressing up against me. Maybe even before that — back to when I first saw him, standing with the lacrosse team the day I moved into Ivy Hall. I let go of Dex’s hand and clutch at the bottom of my dress and feel myself waver. Dex grabs my elbow. I open my eyes and find Season looking at me, tears rushing down her cheeks. “La Boheme.” she whispers. “They’re the ones who took Sebastian.”  
  
Meet Elora, 

 Elora Ramirez lives in Austin, Texas with her chef-husband. At the age of four, she taught herself how to read and write, cutting her teeth on books like Dr. Seuss and writing anywhere she could find the space--including her Fisher Price kitchen set, the pages of picture books and Highlights Magazine. Since then, she's grown to love the way words feel as they swell within her bones. Writing holy and broken is her calling, and pushing back the darkness and pursuing beauty through story is her purpose. She embraces the power of story and teaches women from all parts of the world how to embrace theirs. She has a knack of calling things out , the truth and the detail, the subversive threads that make a life a story. She loves hip-hop, wishes she lived by the beach and cannot write without copious amounts of coffee, chocolate, music, and her husband's lavender liqueur.

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Cover Reveal: Just A Kiss by Kate Kisset

Today we’re having the cover reveal for Just a Kiss by Kate Kisset! Check out this new romance and read the excerpt Kate is sharing with us!    

Just A Kiss by Kate Kisset 
Author Name: Kate Kisset  
Release Date: July 16^th  
Genre: Contemporary Romance    
Synopsis: Just a Kiss (Book #1) The Single Girls Wine Club   Three friends, One Wine Country Villa Six Santino Brothers And lots of wine…       Reeling from the loss of her mother, Sarah Dupont catches her fiancé doing the nasty on top of her pastry table at their San Francisco Bakery. Devastated, she calls her best friend, lifestyle reporter, Danica Vargas. Danica convinces Sarah to start fresh, and rent a room with her at an historic mansion in Sonoma Valley. With two roommates who act like the sisters she never had and a feisty landlord to stand in as the grandmother she always wanted, Sarah’s opens a café on the Sonoma Plaza. Her life changes the moment the little bell on the door rings and the notoriously sexy actor Jamie Santino, swaggers in. Jamie, one of the six Santino Brothers, of Napa Valley Winery fame, needs baking lessons for his new movie and Sarah is just the woman to teach him. Wine flows, their love affair heats up and a tempestuous femme fatale enters the scene. How can Sarah trust that Jamie isn’t acting when everything he says seems too good to be true?  

   
Exclusive Excerpt “Come here,” Sarah said over her shoulder from the safe distance of the table. “I’ll show you how to roll out the dough.”   Finally away from his crazy sexy body, she prayed her hormones would settle down so she could focus. She leaned across and used her rolling pin to slowly press forward, putting her whole body into one long motion and back again, concentrating on smoothing the dough. Again, she bent over the table, straining a little, pushing the pin all the way over the dough as far as she could reach. When she rolled back, she bumped into a hard wall. Jamie stood behind her, trapping her against the table.   Stunned and staring at the dough on the table, she sucked a breath of air when she felt his strong arms reach around her. She didn’t breathe the entire time it took Jamie to stroke her arms all the way down before covering her hands with his on each side of the rolling pin. Turning slightly into his shoulder, feeling the softness of his T-shirt, she snuck a whiff of heaven.   He rested his chin on her shoulder, and breathed on the back of her neck. The rough fabric of his jeans pressed against her back. He relaxed even closer behind her and her stomach flipped. She’d envisioned training Jamie Santino in her kitchen hundreds of times since getting the word from Danica, but never thought anything even close to this would happen. He exhaled into her ear, and she shuddered.   Is this really happening? Sarah didn’t dare move, wishing she could freeze time and save the exact second her world merged into his. In this solitary moment everything changed. For the rest of her life, she would never look at a rolling pin the same way.    

Preorder On Amazon Now! 

About the Author: Former San Franci
sco Radio Disc Jockey Kate Kisset has a passion for telling great stories. After playing thousands of Hot AC, Country, Rock and Oldies tunes, for her primarily female fan base, she changed her tune and became an author. Just a Kiss is the first book in her wine country romance series, The Single Girls Wine Club. She lives in Northern California and Santa Barbara with her family and rescue pup “editor” Luciana Parmigiana, where she hikes, reads, listens to music, and drinks wine.

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Review: Becoming Jinn by Lori Goldstein

Becoming Jinn by Lori Goldstein 
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: April 21, 2015
Book Format: Hardcover
# of Pages: 384
Synopsis: Forget everything you thought you knew about genies!

Azra has just turned sixteen, and overnight her body lengthens, her olive skin deepens, and her eyes glisten gold thanks to the brand-new silver bangle that locks around her wrist. As she always knew it would, her Jinn ancestry brings not just magical powers but the reality of a life of servitude, as her wish granting is controlled by a remote ruling class of Jinn known as the Afrit.

To the humans she lives among, she’s just the girl working at the snack bar at the beach, navigating the fryer and her first crush. But behind closed doors, she’s learning how to harness her powers and fulfill the obligations of her destiny.

Mentored by her mother and her Zar “sisters”, Azra discovers she may not be quite like the rest of her circle of female Jinn . . . and that her powers could endanger them all. As Azra uncovers the darker world of becoming Jinn, she realizes when genies and wishes are involved, there’s always a trick.

My Review:

I borrowed Becoming Jinn by Lori Goldstein from work and this is my honest review.

I originally picked this up, because when any new teen book comes into the store I have to find out what it is. As soon as I saw this book, I knew I had to have it for a few reasons. The first reason is I love paranormal those are my favorite books! The other reason I had to have it was because it was all purple!

Becoming Jinn, is about the main character Azra who turns 16 and with that comes her new genie powers. Azra was born into family full of genies, her mother and all of her Zar sisters, whom Azra refers to as her aunts. All of those aunts had one daughter and those daughters are considered Azra's Zar sisters. Only problem is, Azra does not get along with her sisters with the exception of Laila whom she is the closest to.

I love the concept of the girls having to grant wishes to keep their powers. I know that is something genies are supposed to generally do. But I like how the author made genies seem so realistic in this story. I am so used to seeing books about, vampires, werewolves, and zombies. That reading about genies for the first time was awesome.

I loved this book because it never got boring. Every chapter got more and more interesting as the book went on the twists and turns never stopped coming. I love the fact that Goldstein was able to keep my eyes glued to every page as they happened. I did not feel the need to take a break once the whole time I was reading.

The part of the book that was hardest for me was the love triangle. I could not for the life of me choose between Henry and Nate. It was clear who the main character was going to choose but even when that happened there were still parts that would pull me closer to one, and then to the other throughout the whole book. Still after finishing I have no idea who I want Azra to be with. I can only hope there will be a second book to explain things.

**Favorite Quotes***
"Something about a crab. I zoned out, so I'm not sure if it bit her toe or she bit its toe, but either way, she's in no shape to work." (121) 

Giveaway #3 in my birthday trio!

Hey lovelies! Today is my 19th birthday and this is the third giveaway that I am hosting for my followers! By filling out the rafflecopter form below you will be able to enter for a chance to win a released in June 2015 YA book.

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***Don't forget! I have two other giveaways running until June 27th as well. One on Youtube, and one on Twitter I will link to both below!


YouTube Giveaway

Twitter Giveaway:

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Release Day Launch: Adventures Abroad Series by Jen McConnel

It’s release day for Jen McConnel’s Adventures Abroad series! Jen is sharing an exclusive excerpt about this fantastic travel romance series!

 

Blogs Taking Part in the Release Day Launch

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Best Book Boyfriends

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  About the Books: Four countries. Three girls. Three loves. One adventure abroad they'll never forget.   What Happens in London:

 Sarah landed in London, just hoping to leave her home behind and escape her family. But she didn't plan on falling headfirst into Carson's arms. Get ready for a summer of self-discovery and romance in the first of the New Adult novella series, Adventures Abroad! Praise for What Happens in London: "Travel through London with Sarah, you'll squee, laugh and swoon at her adventures, I know I did!"- Lisa Burstein, author of Sneaking Candy

  Bloomsbury | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks    

What Happens in Paris:

   

Camie can't figure out what she wants, from college or life…until she meets Hunter. But will the magic of a romantic night in Paris last till the morning? Fall in love with the second novella in the New Adult series, Adventures Abroad!  

 Bloomsbury | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks    

What Happens in Berlin:

   

Interrupting a summer of fun, Joelle takes a detour to Berlin for her older brother's wedding. Spending time with her family is enough to make anyone go a little crazy. She's ready to lose it...until she meets Vi, a girl ready to turn her world upside down. Follow her journey in the third installment of the New Adult series, Adventures Abroad! 

  Bloomsbury | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks 

What Happens Abroad:

   

 After a summer of fun, Camie, Joelle, and Sarah are ready to reunite in Italy for one last adventure, but heartbreak waits in the shadows of the cobblestone streets. Can Florence cast its spell and turn lost love into a final fling? Catch up with the girls in this final installment of the New Adult series about love, escape, and true friendship. Bloomsbury | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks  

Exclusive Excerpt:  

“Good morning, sleeping beauty!” A familiar voice cut across the street, and I winced. Carson sauntered over to me, holding a brown paper bag in one hand and a Styrofoam cup in the other. I blinked at him, confused. “What are you doing here?” “You mentioned where you were staying last night.” I frowned, trying to remember. “I did?” He slapped his hand to his chest as if I’d wounded him. “That’s the kind of welcome I get? A few dances and the lady doesn’t even remember me!” I giggled, but pain shot through my head, and I winced. Carson handed me the cup and the bag. “I thought you might need some hangover first-aid. You do like coffee, right?” I nodded, taking the cup. “Actually, I like tea better, but coffee’s okay.” Carson laughed. “Here I was trying to please your American sensibilities.” He shook his head ruefully. “If you want tea, we’ll find tea for you. That’s one thing we never run short of in London.” I chuckled, taking a cautious sip. It was warm, but not too hot, and I took another swallow of the coffee. “What’s in the bag?” “Hangover cure. I told you.” I peeked inside. “A croissant?” “Not just any croissant. It’s a chocolate croissant; you’ll love it.” I took a tentative bite of the flaky pastry, and then I grinned up at Carson. “Oh my God. This is so good.” He laughed. “I thought you’d like it. At least I was right about half the breakfast.” “The coffee’s good, too.” I took another sip to prove my point. “That’s good.” He draped an arm over my shoulder and pulled me close. We started to walk, and I hurried to finish the food. Taking the aspirin out of my bag, I popped a pill in my mouth and washed it down with coffee. Carson grinned at me. “Feeling better?” I nodded, surprised that my head had calmed down. “Yeah. I thought it was a migraine.” “Just a hangover. We drank a lot last night.” I flushed, remembering the feeling of his hands running all over me on the dance floor. “It was fun.” “It was more than fun.” His eyes sparkled, and his fingers began tracing lazy circles on my shoulder. I shivered in delight. “So,” I said, trying to keep the quiver out of my voice, “what did you want to do today?” His eyes danced wickedly. “Well”—he lowered his face to mine—“there are a few things I’ve had in mind,” he whispered, close enough that I could feel the vibration of his words against my skin. Hangover forgotten, I shut my eyes and parted my lips. After a moment, I felt him exhale against my mouth, and then his lips were pressed to mine. The kiss was sweet and deep, and my body felt electric. God, so this is what I’d been missing all those years? I pressed my lips to his hungrily, but then he pulled back gently and smiled.    

Jen McConnel Bio:

  A Michigander by birth, Jen McConnel now makes her home in the beautiful state of North Carolina. She writes NA, including the recently released Adventures Abroad series (Bloomsbury Spark), the award winning YA novel Beautiful Curse, and various other works. When she isn’t writing, she can be found on her yoga mat or wandering off on another adventure. Once upon a time, she was a middle school teacher, a librarian, and a bookseller, but those are stories for another time. Visit www.JenMcConnel.com to learn more!  

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Interview: Lee Kelly author of City of Savages

City of Savages by Lee Kelly
Synopsis: It has been nearly two decades since the breakout of the Third World War, and Manhattan is now a prisoner-of-war camp ruled by island native Rolladin, who controls the city’s survivors with an iron fist. For Skyler Miller, Manhattan is a cage that keeps her from the world beyond the city’s borders. But for Sky’s younger sister, Phee, the Central Park POW camp is the only home she’d ever want.

When strangers arrive in the park, carrying a shocking message, Sky and Phee discover there’s more to Manhattan—and their family—than either of them had imagined. As disturbing secrets about the island begin to surface, Sky and Phee have no choice but to break the rules to uncover the full truth of their long-shrouded history. When their search for answers erupts into violence, the girls must flee into Manhattan’s depths, where their quest for a better future will force them to confront the island’s dark and shocking past.

Lee Kelly’s gripping debut novel is a pulse-pounding journey through a city that’s as strange as it is familiar, where nothing is black-and-white and buried secrets can haunt.

Meet Lee, (Taken From Goodreads)

 Lee Kelly has wanted to write since she was old enough to hold a pencil, but it wasn’t until she began studying for the California Bar Exam that she conveniently started putting pen to paper.

An entertainment lawyer by trade, Lee has practiced law in Los Angeles and New York.

She lives with her husband and son in Millburn, New Jersey, though after a decade in Manhattan, she can’t help but still call herself a New Yorker.

City of Savages is her first novel. Visit her at NewWriteCity.com. 

 The Interview:

What are the hardest/most rewarding parts about being a writer?

I think there are two most rewarding parts for me: the first is at the writing stage, when I have a second or third draft done and the story is in good shape, and I'm in the polishing stages -- the heavy lifting is finished and I can really sit back and embellish the language or go deeper with the characters -- that might be the most fun part of the writing process for me.  The second most rewarding part is at the end of the publishing process: getting to connect with readers and hear what they liked about my novel, and hear them talk about my characters as real people (I still am not fully over that, it's such a cool feeling!)  I think the hardest part might be the flip side of that coin -- getting reviews (whether professional trade reviews or reader reviews) that aren't so positive, and trying to not internalize them or let them paralyze me concerning other projects.

What advice can you give new writers just starting out?

Two pieces of advice, and they are very simple: the first is read every day (it keeps you invested and engaged with storytelling, keeps you learning in terms of craft and informs what genres and styles YOU like and ultimately might want to write about) and write every day, even if only a sentence or two.  It's amazing how time can get away from us, and just spending a few minutes each day in front of your computer will get you into a rhythm, and help the words start adding up.

What made you want to write young adult?

Ooh, great question.  I think the “young adult” years are by nature a really complicated and tumultuous time where you’re trying to figure out who you are and what you want, and yet you’re also beginning to be saddled with the expectations of your community, family and society as you mature into an adult (work, responsibility, college, life choices, etc. etc.). It’s a constant push and pull between independence and conformity, identity and duty, freedom and responsibility.  It's such a rich time to write about, and I can't seem to make my protagonists anything but teenagers recently :)!

What motivates you to sit down and write?

At this point, I almost have to write -- if I don't, I feel REALLY guilty and like my day isn't complete.  So by the end of the day, if I haven't had a real session, I usually sit down before bed and spend twenty or thirty minutes trying to focus on the story I'm working on, or freestyle write.  I once heard this piece of advice: "you can create a habit after doing something for 21 days straight.  But it takes 21 days before your body (or mind) accepts something as necessary."  And I think the goal for any writer is to make writing necessary -- it has become so for me!

Lastly, Do any of you have street teams, or beta readers, or even just a newsletter that me or my followers can sign up to be apart of for upcoming releases?

I wish I had a street team!  In fact, Trisha Leaver and Lori Goldstein are queens of the street teams, and I very much want to set one up for my next novel coming out next spring, called A CRIMINAL MAGIC.  But more can be found on the novel here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23447887-a-criminal-magic, and on my website, www.NewWriteCity.com. And if anyone's interested in being a street team reader for it, please contact me!

 

Thanks so much to Lee for answering my questions, and thank you to you guys for stopping by!