Friday, July 26, 2013

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: BENT BY H.B. HEINZER + GIVEAWAY

Today we'd like to share with you a Book Spotlight for Bent by H.B. Heinzer 


If there’s one thing Julia Wilson has learned in life, it’s that you can’t push your own dreams to the background for anyone. Newly divorced, Julia returns to the hometown she once swore would never see her again. Her plan is simple; enjoy the cheap rent her friend is offering and stay just long enough to develop a plan to make her own dreams come true.

It doesn’t take long before Julia realizes she’s made a big mistake.

Micah Anderson came closer to breaking Julia than anyone else ever had. After promising her forever, he broke her heart the week before she left for college. Now, Julia’s back in town and he’s going to have to tell her the truth about why he left her. It’s not possible to hide a twelve year old child when you live in a town of 5,000 people.

Is following your dreams worth it if it means giving up on a second chance with her first love? Is trying to make a relationship work worth it if his past becomes a threat to her safety?



About the Author:
With the exception of three years spent in the middle of Nebraska, H.B. Heinzer has called southern Wisconsin home. During that time in Nebraska, she imagined one of her favorite authors living on the far western edge of the county, just south of the highway. At the time, becoming a novelist was a distant dream for her. Now, she is the author living in that location. Ironically, she later found out that same favorite author lives just outside the town HB lived in for the first eighteen years of her life.
Now, HB lives in the middle of nowhere but still close enough to the city to not feel isolated. It's the perfect place to let her two kids run and explore their huge yard, teach them about the food chain as they prepare their first-ever garden and debate building a chicken coop. It's one of those dreams that is only possible thanks to the amazing opportunities that have come through writing.


Where to Find H.B. Heinzer


Where to Find Bent:


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Thursday, July 25, 2013

COVER REVEAL: THE ONLY ONE BY MAGAN VERNON





ABOUT THE ONLY ONE:

Honor student, manager at the campus coffee shop, owner of an impressive sweater collection – Melanie Wilder has it all together. Then John “John Boy” Walden strolls into her life wearing nothing more than an impish grin and all-too-revealing loin cloth.

Soon, make-out sessions replace homework, lust triumphs over work. And to further crumble her perfect world, an unexpected phone call threatens to take away everything she’s worked for.

Now, as Melanie struggles to pick up the pieces, she realizes that John may be the only one to put her life back together…unless he shatters it first. 



The cover was created by Regina Wamba at Mae I Design

Excerpt:

I looked around the basement, sipping whatever concoction some guy poured out of a cooler. He called it a ‘magic potion’ and I hoped that didn’t mean he rufied it. I don’t know how Monica talked me into this.
A horde of girls clad in nothing more than lingerie pushed past me as if I were nothing more than another one of the paddles on the paneled wall. I tried to pull back but then I came face to chest with a set of abs and felt all of the magic potion cascade down my cardigan.
I gasped once the cold liquid soaked through both my layers and hit my skin.
“Too bad, that was such a nice sweater…” A deep voice said.
I looked up, all the way past the chiseled six pack and to a pair of cool blue eyes. “Maybe you should just take it off up in my room and I can help you dry off.” He leaned in, his full lips right on my ear. “Or make you wetter.”
My breath caught in my throat, rendering me speechless. Luckily my best friend Monica jumped between us, pushing the guy back so I got a full view of him and realized he was only wearing a loin cloth and a large smile.
"Down John Boy." She scowled at him and then turned to me, almost knocking her beret off. "What the hell happened to you?"
"I-I-I spilled my drink."
Monica's eyes narrowed as she looked down at the red liquid soaking through my gray sweater. She whipped her head around to the loin cloth clad guy. "Was this your fault? Are you trying to get my friend naked?"
He held up his hands, a cockeyed grin on his face. "Purely an accident, Lib."
Ah, now I knew where I’d seen him before. He had come into the coffee shop we worked at a few times. I don’t think he even glanced in my direction more than to hand me his student ID to pay, but was always calling Monica ‘Lib.’ I’m guessing because she was an extreme liberal.
Monica's boyfriend, the governor's son Trey Chapman, pushed through the crowd. When I usually saw him he was polished in dress pants and a dress shirt, but his Halloween costume was nothing more than a pair of American flag boxers, a dress shirt, and some gray hairspray. He looked ridiculous. I still don't know how Monica talked him into the Clinton and Lewinsky couples costumes.
"Hey, I’ve been looking for you." He slipped his arm around Monica's waist. "What's going on here?"
"Your big brother here spilled a drink on Melanie to try and get her naked."
"Hey!" John yelled.
"It wasn't his fault," I piped in. "It’s crowded here and he just ran into me. It’s fine."
"Fine?" Monica raised her eyebrows. "That Hermione costume you've been wearing since middle school is covered in ever clear and Kool aid. That’s not fine."
"I haven't worn this since middle school!" Okay, truth was, it was my go-to costume. I bought it for the first movie'smidnight showing and wore it for every movie opening and Halloween since.
"Whatever." Monica turned her head to Trey and tugged on his shirt. "You can just wear Trey's shirt."

ABOUT MAGAN VERNON:

Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world. When not writing she spends her time fighting over fake boyfriends via social media.Links:







SWOON THURSDAY (7): Tristan & Cole


We bring you today a fun meme that we thought would totally be up our alley! And here is how to play according to the wonderful host YA Bound

It's that time again! We created a HOT meme, and if you're new to the game, here's how to join in the fun:

From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering.

Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the steamy button above and share it on your blog. We want to know!

We're back at it again, swooning over our favorite book boyfriends and the moments that flat out made us giddy when we read them. So sit back, enjoy, and then play along by leaving YOUR favorite swoon worthy moments this week in the comments! (Here & at YA Bound!)

As always, remember to check the comments where our lovely readers share links to their favorite swoony scenes, too!

Courtney is swooning over: Bad Things by R.K. Lilley: 
"Silly you," he said softly, touching my chin. "Didn't you know I was out here, just waiting for a friend like you?"
"Tell me not to kiss you," he said, when his lips were a breath away from mine. - "Don't kiss me," I told him, my voice a breathless rasp. - "Mean it," he said, crowding me into the corner of the pool. He tilted my chin up with his finger. "I can't," I gasped. The words had barely left my lips before he was kissing me.  

Shelley is swooning over: Edible by Ella Frank:
     
As Cole slid it on her finger, he whispered, "I want you to be mine. My hope is that you wear this ring         first, so it will always be closest to your heart and remind you of how much I love you."...He then       reached down and pulled out the second ring..."This is to remind you that every time I look into your eyes, the color of this stone, I fall in love all over again."

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

REVIEW: LICK BY KYLIE SCOTT

Waking up in Vegas was never meant to be like this.

Evelyn Thomas’s plans for celebrating her twenty-first birthday in Las Vegas were big. Huge. But she sure as hell never meant to wake up on the bathroom floor with a hangover to rival the black plague, a very attractive half-naked tattooed man, and a diamond on her finger large enough to scare King Kong. Now if she could just remember how it all happened.

One thing is for certain, being married to rock and roll’s favourite son is sure to be a wild ride.

Where to Find Lick: 
Goodreads | Amazon | b&n

Where to Find Kylie Scott: 
Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook


eArc received from publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest review

So I may or may not have stayed up until 4 am to finish Lick because I may or may not have been able to go to sleep until I knew what was going to happen with Ev and David. Really, y'all. 4 FREAKIN am. What is wrong with me?! I've been trying to put my finger on the reasons for this insanity and I've come up with a few theories...

Gah, it was so freaking good right? Not the most eloquent thing to say, but I definitely never claimed to be anything but spastic when I really love  a book. And a rocker who gets married after a few hours in Vegas and a name like Lick totally got my attention! 

Obviously the likelihood of an average girl like you or me getting hitched to a world famous guitarist during a night of drunken craziness is probably slim to none.  I think the improbability of this scenario is exactly what drew me in. I didn't have to pretend it was real --and honestly after some of the super intense and depressing things we've read lately--it was a welcome journey into a fictional world where only a alcohol induced marriage would have a snowball's chance in hell to survive. I loved being absorbed in a world where people are rich and funny and just as messed up, if not more, as the rest of us.
Yep...which is exactly why I have read every book like it I have came across. And for it to be the girl who is the one who doesn't remember jack in the morning, was highly entertaining! 

Another reason I enjoyed this read so much was that Ev seemed to be the one running scared whereas David seemed genuinely interested in wanting to stay married. While they both had their moments of weakness and angst, David was more open and vulnerable and Ev was more perplexed (initially) and eager to dismiss it all as a mistake. Of course, if that was the entire story it would be short...Kylie Scott decides to throw her characters some curve balls and there are interesting conversations, 'rules', annoying (and funny! and mean!) band mates and groupies, and those pesky exes as David and Ev try and decide what to do next. 

I loved that I really didn't know what to expect from this. The title caught my attention, and I was sold on the blurb...but it could've gone a bajillion different directions. David doesn't talk a lot at first, but when he does finally I was in love. He is an emotional man with layers and is so tired of everyone pulling him in 100 different directions, so it isn't surprising that he keeps most of his thoughts to himself. Poor Ev was left in the dark for a while, and not given a lot of reason to trust him...but when they get on common ground things go from hot to scorching....wowza. 

In addition to everything else mentioned, I also enjoyed the unconditional support David and Ev gave to each other. It was nice to see fictional characters share their thoughts and feelings (for the most part--there is one HUGE exception) and to feel safe enough to be open with each other. Even after things go terribly wrong both characters respect their friendship enough to care, encourage, and support the other one; I liked that.

Yes, did I mention that I loved David? No..I mean Yes..okay I will again. I LOVED his character, and that he is all broody and emotional and musical, but also when he feels something he feels it with abandon. And the fact that they go through a lot of stuff, and then he fights for her....I was a puddle of goo on the floor. I loved his love for his band and his brother, and that he doesn't give up, even when things get angsty and made my heart hurt.

Kylie Scott has another book coming out in this series and it's going to be about Mal--one of my favorite scene stealers in this book! This was a fun read and I am eager to see what happens next in the lives of these characters.

Mal was a breath of fresh air after the douchebaggery that was David's brother...so I am sooooooo excited that we get to find out more about him! Can't wait! OH yeah....go get this one! Like now. Not kidding! 

Shelley 4 1/2 Stars
Courtney: 4 Stars

OUR READING RECAP AND RECS

Courtney, it almost seems that we should talk about what we haven't been reading because it feels like we've been reading EVERYTHING. Over the last 10+ days we have read and reviewed at least 11 novels...hence my random tweets about my lack of sleep or the dire need for coffee. It's been a wild and crazy and fun reading ride--here are some highlights: P.S. What the f*ck were we thinking with that schedule...oh that's right...we weren't! Whew! 

Left Drowning by Jessica Park was absolutely stunning. It was gushworthy. It totally shredded me and even still, I would recommend it to almost every person I know. It's not your typical upbeat, happy, funny contemporary romance. It's darker and more intense and worth every second of your time. She also has a great playlist that I'm sure Courtney would recommend that you listen to while you read it. YES! The playlist is amazeballs! Joshua Radin + Red + many more, I think she has 44 songs on there! 


If you are looking for something more along the lines of serial killer thriller, then Nowhere to Run by Nina D'Angelo would be a great selection. There's a little bit of everything in that one: twists and turns, romance, murder, and a tale about friendship. I was a nervous wreck! The body count gets super high, and I couldn't figure out who the killer was! It's cray-cray! 


Want a contemporary romance that is absorbing and fun to read? Lick by Kylie Scott would be a great choice. I read it in one day and could not put it down--I enjoyed imaging a world in which an average girl like me can end up being married to some rock god in the matter of one drunken Las Vegas night. I got to see the world of the rich and famous and crazy and immerse myself in a sweet, if improbable, love story. I am so in love with this book, it is ridiculous. Fun + steamy = rock god heaven...*sigh* 

We have so, so many books downloaded on our Kindles that I almost don't know where to start next. I've heard amazing things about B.J. Harvey's Lost in Distraction  and Sawyer Bennett's latest Off Course, and I've heard fantastic things about Rebecca Donovan's Reason to Breathe (actually the entire series is supposed to be phenomenal) If you thought Left Drowning slayed your emotions...ggiiirrrrllll this one will obliterate what is left!! Really my TBR list is impossible. I'm not even going to tell you how many books I've downloaded and have yet to read...so many books, too little time. *cough*over 200*cough* I counted and am still in a lot of shock....don't tell my husband...lol! 


I don't even know where to begin. We have had some epically awesome reads as she has already pointed out! This week was a circus because not only were we up til 1 am+ reading, but I had to go through the last week at my job. I had been there for just shy of 5 years, and in a bit over a week I am going to RN school. To say that I am freaking the hell out would be an epic understatement, but the point of this tirade is Shelley and I both are getting ready to start back to school in our own capacities...so we have planned things a bit better in the near future...! 


I am waiting impatiently as I am writing this to sink my hands into Ella Frank's Exquisite series! I adore tweeting her, and I loved (albeit was conflicted) with Blind Obsession...so I know I will love this series as well. And it helps that Shelley has already read it! I have to get cracking because I see nonstop love for Edible! 

Another series that Shelley has been telling me to read for a while, and I think I might have time to sneak in now is the Up in the Air series by R.K. Lilley. I devoured and LOVED Bad Things this weekend, and it involves some of the same characters...so I am excited! 

We also have some blog tours planned that we are super excited about! Coming this week is Just Human by Kerry Heavens hosted by the Romance Addict Book Blog...so we are pretty excited to see how that one is! 



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