Review: Captive by Brighton Walsh

He’s the most dangerous man she’s ever met…and she’s falling in love with him.

Madison Frost is desperate to escape her life. Daughter of a prominent businessman, she has everything a girl could ask for. Except for a family who’s present in her life, and anyone to talk to outside the four walls of the prison she calls home. Madison dreams of one day leaving her life behind. She never thought being kidnapped is how it would happen.

Now she’s being held captive by a man who’s as frightening as he is sinfully gorgeous. Enormous, muscular, and filled with secrets, the man they call Ghost is an enigmatic mercenary, and Madison is trapped with him. She doesn’t know who hired him or why, but the more time she spends at his mercy, the more she realizes he’s not what he seems. Beneath his rough exterior lies an unexpected gentleness and a heart as broken and battered as her own.

But as Madison lets down her walls, Ghost holds tight to his, hiding secrets that could destroy everything. 

MY THOUGHTS:

4 out of 5 stars

The very second that I heard that Brighton Walsh had a new book coming out, I added it to my to-read list.  There was no doubt in my mind that it would be great and that I would love it and that I would be inundated with swoons and UNFs.

Then I read the synopsis and a teeeeeny tiny little bit of me got worried because I am not generally a fan of  captor/captive story lines.  Okay, so maybe I was a little more than worried.   Maybe I was a lot worried.

But then I remembered that I am a huge fan of Brighton Walsh and that I have thoroughly enjoyed every single things she has written.   And there was no way she would write something squicky.  No way.

So I told that teeny tiny worried voice in the back of my head to get over it and I jumped at the chance to get my hands on an ARC.

Yeah...I was not disappointed.

At first glance, Madison and Ghost seem like polar opposites.  She is a college student that comes from a life of privilege and he is a hired thug that dropped out of high school.  But you know what they say about judging a book by its cover -- don't.   They have more in common than either one of them ever expected.

And without giving anything away, that's when things get interesting.  

At its simplest, yes, Captive is a story where the captive and her captor develop feelings for one another.  That much is true. But once you peel back that first layer, there is soooo much more.  And not one single word of it is squicky.

Definitely give this one a shot.   You'll be glad you did.

Review: Trust the Focus by Megan Erickson

With his college graduation gown expertly pitched into the trash, Justin Akron is ready for the road trip he planned with his best friend Landry— and ready for one last summer of escape from his mother’s controlling grip. Climbing into the Winnebago his father left him, they set out across America in search of the sites his father had captured through the lens of his Nikon.

As an aspiring photographer, Justin can think of no better way to honor his father’s memory than to scatter his ashes at the sites he held sacred. And there’s no one Justin would rather share the experience with more than Landry.

But Justin knows he can’t escape forever. Eventually he’ll have to return home and join his mother’s Senate campaign. Nor can he escape the truth of who he is, and the fact that he’s in love with his out-and-proud travel companion.

Admitting what he wants could hurt his mother’s conservative political career. But with every click of his shutter and every sprinkle of ash, Justin can’t resist Landry’s pull. And when the truth comes into focus, neither is prepared for the secrets the other is hiding.

 MY THOUGHTS:

4 out of 5 stars

I finished this book just over a week ago and thought for sure that as soon as the snow melted and my kids were back in school that I'd sit down and my thoughts on this book would flow.  Because I had all the thoughts and all the feelings and Justin and Landry thawed my frozen book heart.

Yeah...I'm staring at the screen again wishing I could just say "read this book" and you would say "okay" and then you would love it and everybody would be happy.   

It would certainly make writing reviews easier - especially in this case.  Because I have no idea where to start.

I love book boys.  Boys in books.  NA/YA/Adult...I fall for them every time.  Because they are perfect in their own fictional way -- and in this book, THERE ARE TWO OF THEM!!!!   

PLUS, it is a friends to more story which will never lead you wrong.

AND...there is a road trip.

It is like the perfect storm of my favorite things.  

All this even before emotions got involved -- and once the emotional floodgates were opened, I was a lost cause.  This book was everything I want to feel as a reader.  There was humor and snark and romance and unf and fear and loathing and dread and tears and anger and pure love and love and love and love.  I am so afraid that somebody will see this book and be turned off without giving it a chance solely because it is a M/M story -- but that isn't what this story is about.   Finding the inner strength to trust himself, getting beyond the fears, the "rules", the prejudices that have kept him from feeling whole -- THAT was the journey for Justin.

I have a twelve year old who is so worried about what others think that he is afraid to take chances.  There have been instances where I can SEE his desire to let loose and be silly, and yet he doesn't let go because he is afraid to do things "wrong".  And I'm talking about insignificant things -- diving from the blocks during swim team practice, dancing at cotillion, playing soccer.  He is so terrified of being ridiculed that he holds himself back.  Just watching him hold back on the small things makes me want to hug him and I constantly try and figure out ways to make him get past the perceived social constructs of 6th grade.   

I can't even fathom watching somebody I love struggle with the bigger things.  Just reading Justin's -- a FICTIONAL character's -- battle within himself just about broke me.  

Reading Landry's struggles with Justin's struggles -- are you following me, here -- they were almost worse.  His light dimmed with every hesitation and while I knew Justin had to get "there" on his own, I wanted to smack him and make him see what was happening around him.  

GAH...SO MANY FEELS.  

Trust the Focus isn't my first Megan Erickson read...but I think it may be my favorite.       
 

Fall to You by Lexi Ryan - Review and Giveaway

SYNOPSIS:

Torn between two men…

When I woke up after the accident, I couldn’t remember anything from the last year—including my relationship with Max Hallowell or anything about Nate Crane. Now my memories are returning, but instead of answering my questions, they’re leaving me with more.

The man who broke my heart and wants to be my future…

Max is all I ever wanted, and now he wants to marry me. He’ll do everything he can to fill my life with love, family, and security. I need those things now more than ever. But can I trust him?

The man who stole my heart and wants to let me go…

Nate never made me promises, and I never asked him to. I’d been on the rebound, looking for a distraction, and he made me feel beautiful and wanted when I needed to feel those things most. He says he has to let me go, but what if I can’t let go of him?

With every revelation and every passing day, I feel more like Alice down the rabbit hole. I’m falling. Who will catch me?

Fall to You is the second book in the Here and Now series. It is not a stand-alone and is intended to be read following Lost in Me. Hanna’s story concludes in book three, All for This.

MY THOUGHTS:

4.5 out of 5 stars

(You can read my review of Lost in You, the first book in the Here and Now series, here.)

My love for Lexi Ryan and this series continues with this book.  Seriously.

If you read my review for Lost in You, the first book in the Here and Now series, you know I was all kinds of

  for the next book.  I wanted it bad.

So when I saw the sign ups for the tour for this book and when I got my ARC, it was all kinds of awesome.

This book was everything I wanted it to be and more.

Continuing with chapters that alternate not only between the past and the present, we also get POVs from Hanna, Nate and Max.  While that may seem like a lot of jumping around, it makes perfect sense in the book.  The relationship between these characters is complicated and you definitely need these different perspectives to see how they all fit together.

Especially since the different perspectives make you realize that maybe what you think you know isn't really as black and white as you think it may be.

I say this because I found myself feeling things I did NOT expect to feel.

I found myself thinking that maybe I had misjudged characters from the first book, that maybe I wasn't seeing them clearly through my Nate-inspired-swoons.  And dear LORD, there are swoons.  And blushes.  And even a little

 

Then something happened that really knocked me for a loop.  And while I hoped hoped HOPED that I knew how things would eventually turn out, I wasn't sure and didn't want to get my hopes up even though they were already.  (And no, I'm not going to tell you, so don't even ask.)

BUT, I like to believe that everything happens for a reason and during this part of the book, Hanna is allowed a chance to take control of her life.  All the confusion, all the conflicting emotions, all the (misplaced) loyalties...she finally gets the chance to start figuring out what SHE wants.

And as much as I didn't think I'd ever say this when I started reading this book, I was even a happy for where things were heading.  

Yeah, I said it.

But then it happened.  The ending.

 

The cliffie that I SHOULD have been expecting since it is quite obvious that Lexi Ryan likes to make me suffer.  I mean...I WANT TO KNOW NOW.

Why is it not August yet?!?!?!

And yet, in a sick sort of way, I kind of enjoy the not knowing -- not a lot, but it is almost like the week before Christmas when the anticipation starts building and you can see the presents but you can't open them.   But instead of secretly unwrapping them when nobody is looking (which I will neither confirm nor deny ever doing), I'm going to sit patiently and wait for the email to come that will let me sign up for the next tour.

I'm gonna be first on that list. 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Once a college English professor, I now write full time. I live in rural Indiana, where, when I'm not writing, I get to hang out with my husband and two kids--a six-year-old boy and a two-year-old hellion, er, girl. Not surprisingly, reading and writing remain my favorite activities, though both come in bits and pieces these days, not the big hunks of time I enjoyed before I had children. When I'm feeling virtuous, I like to go running (I use that word liberally. I'm really, really slow) or do yoga. Don't worry, I'm always careful to balance out such activities with a hearty serving of ice cream or a chocolate martini.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Hearts in Harmony by Gemma Brocato - Review and Giveaway

 

Title: Hearts In Harmony (A Five Senses Novel Book #2)

Author: Gemma Brocato

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publish Date: May 5, 2014

Publisher: Lyrical an imprint of Kensington

Tour Organized by Literati Author Services 

SYNOPSIS:

Pippa Sanders’ life is filled with songs of leaving, longing and loneliness. Since the death of her husband, her children have been her world. She’ll do anything to protect them, including encasing her heart in ice until they’re college age. She’s made a practice of shying away from any relationship that could break her heart when it ends. And it’s worked so far.

Clay Mathers has made a temporary move to Granite Pointe, Massachusetts to help with his mother’s Christmas tree farm while she recovers from a stroke. Although his long-range plans don’t include staying in the small town, a little female companionship during his short residency would be welcome. While on duty as sentry against protestors at a military funeral, he finds Pippa visiting her husband’s grave, and begins a campaign to make her into a friend–with benefits.

What starts as a simple affair evolves to something more, something that changes the soundtracks of both their lives…the beating of two hearts in harmony. CONTENT WARNING: Contains strong language, hot sex and a spicy hero.  

MY THOUGHTS:

3 out of 5 stars

So many of the books I read focus on the emotions and flutters of first loves. They are my go-to. But every now and again, I will read a book that deals with second chances. And that is what I found in Hearts in Harmony.

Pippa Sanders is a ridiculously strong woman. After her husband was killed in combat, she is left alone, 4 months pregnant (with twins, no less) and completely heartbroken. But she doesn't let it break her and she throws her heart and soul into being there for her children. Heart and soul, all in, 100%...her children are her life. Her devotion to her kids is completely admirable...and maybe a little bit of a defense mechanism.

When an uncomfortable situation at her husband's grave site results in a chance meeting...and heated exchange...with Clay Mathers, the beginnings of a crack develops in the wall Pippa has so carefully constructed and maintained. And when she realizes that maybe she is feeling things she hasn't felt in a very long time, it completely throws her for a loop.

And that's where this book gets fun.

I'll admit, Clay irked me at first. He is brash and arrogant and completely just...obnoxious. Very much a speak before he thinks character. And I did NOT like him at first. In fact, I almost had to stop reading. But I kept going and before I realized what had happened, I started to think that maybe he wasn't the #&%$ that he first seemed to be.

Oddly enough, it was Clay's interaction with Pippa's twins that made me look at him in a different light. And normally, I am not a fan of kid characters in the books I read - they remind me of child actors in Soaps. BUT...that's just me and the fact that I found myself enjoying the scenes with the twins was a pleasant surprise.

(I promise that I'm not an absolute ogre like I seem to be in the previous paragraph - I really do like children :) )

All in all, I am very happy that I didn't stop reading and that I that I didn't let my initial impression of Clay deter me from their story. I guess where I'm going with this is that second chances can be pretty awesome. And if you are in the mood for a fun, spicy read this summer, add Hearts in Harmony to your to-read list.

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon | Itunes | Kobo |Barnes and Noble | All Romance Ebooks

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gemma's favorite desk accessories for many years were a circular wooden token, better known as a 'round tuit,' and a slip of paper from a fortune cookie proclaiming her a lover of words; some day she'd write a book. All it took was a transfer to the United Kingdom, the lovely English springtime, and a huge dose of homesickness to write her first novel. Once it was completed and sent off with a kiss, even the rejections addressed to 'Dear Author' were gratifying. After returning to America, she spent a number of years as a copywriter, dedicating her skills to making insurance and the agents who sell them sound sexy. Eventually, her full-time job as a writer interfered with her desire to be a writer full-time and she left the world of financial products behind to pursue an avocation as a romance author. Her gamble paid off when she was a 2012 Finalist in the prestigious Golden Pen contest for Romantic Suspense and she received contracts for her first and second book.

Facebook | Twitter | Website

 

GIVEAWAY:

Be sure to enter my Rafflecopter drawing for a chance to win the grand prize pack worth $100. Each item in the pack has some significance to the story. I’ll be drawing one random winner on May 31. Good Luck. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ready to Fall by Daisy Prescott -- Review and Giveaway

Title: Ready to Fall
Author: Daisy Prescott
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Comedy

Synopsis:

When you fall, you fall hard...

Readers first fell in love with John Day as the hot next-door neighbor in Romantic Comedy Best Seller Geoducks Are for Lovers. Tall, dark, and handsome is an understatement. With the beard, a dog named Babe, and his ever present plaid shirt, John is a modern lumberjack in more ways
than one.

Lurking beneath the flannel and beard could be the heart of a romantic. Or is John a wolf in flannel clothing?

After his favorite neighbor rents out her cabin for the winter, John finds himself playing fireman and tour guide to Diane Watson, a beautiful brunette with her own messy past and recent battle scars. When an ex shows up unexpectedly, their lives will be changed forever.

Will he be ready to fall in love? Or will he fall back into his old, flirty ways?

Hold onto your heart... and get ready to fall with John Day as he tells his story in this contemporary romance/romantic comedy told in male POV.

Goodreads                    Amazon                    Barnes & Noble

My Thoughts:

4 out of 5 stars

Dear Daisy Prescott...thank you.  

Not long after I started this blog, I posted a review about her first novel, Geoducks Are For Lovers.  I loved so much about that story, the history of the characters, the setting, the fact that they were my age and that I still like them :)...but I don't believe I really hit on one of the perks of Geoducks, John Day.

And yes, he is a definite perk.

Except for in Ready to Fall, he is more than just a perk.


While Geoducks was about friends reconnecting and becoming more, Ready to Fall is the story of John and his temporary new neighbor, Diane.  Diane is starting over after a failed marriage and is renting Maggie's cabin on Whidbey Island for the off-season.  A transplant from New York City, she is hardly used to island life and her inexperience is a rude awakening -- for both herself and for John.  Literally.

I absolutely love the connection between John and Diane.  It was cute and sweet and refreshing to read that I find myself smiling as I write this review.  When I'm often asked about why I read so much YA, my standard answer is that I don't like reading about "adult problems" and that I like the tummy flutters and shy grins of new love.  

For a "grown up book" this book can hold its own in the flutters department.  

As Diane begins to find her true self amidst the rubble of her divorce, John begins to experience a bit of his own self-examination.  And what they both discover is absolutely flail-worthy.

This book is a solid follow-up to one of my favorite reads of the past year.  While I find many "follow ups" to read as a glorified retelling of the first book, I didn't feel like that at all while reading Ready to Fall.  Yes, the setting is the same and the community is small, but really, this book is truly John and Diane's story.  And what a story it is.

And again, to Daisy Prescott, I say thank you.  

  

About Daisy Prescott:

Before writing funny contemporary romances about adults, I dreamed of being an author whiledoing a lot of other things. Antiques dealer, baker, blue ribbon pie-maker, fangirl, freelance writer, gardener, pet mom and wife are a few of the titles I’ve acquired along the way.

Born and raised in San Diego, my husband and I currently live in a real life Stars Hollow in the Boston suburbs with our dog, Hubbell, and an imaginary house goat who remains nameless.

Ready to Fall, my second novel, features John Day, the hot, sexy neighbor in my debut novel Geoducks Are for Lovers. Both can be read as stand-alones. I’m busy writing my next novel, which will not feature any bivalves.

Connect with Daisy Prescott:

Website: http://daisyprescott.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7060289.Daisy_Prescott

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daisyprescottauthorpage

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Daisy_Prescott

There will be 3 lucky winners in the Ready to Fall Blog Tour Giveaway!

Grand Prize – Signed Ready to Fall Paperback, button, & magnet
Runner Up - Ready to Fall & Geoducks Are for Lovers E-books
Second Runner Up – Ready to Fall E-book

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt:  

I pulled the bike off the road and we ran for the overhang of the store. Standing in the shadows next to the bagged ice freezer on the side of the building, I took off my helmet and brushed the rain from the back of my neck. Diane was dry on her front, but the back of her jacket appeared nearly soaked.

After she took off her helmet and set it on the ground, I gave her a stern look. “See what I mean about not talking about the weather? Around here it can rain when the sun’s out.”

Brushing the water off her jacket, she peered up at me with a sheepish smile. “Sorry. How long do you think we’ll have to wait it out?”

I left the dry safety of the overhang to stare up at the fast moving clouds swirling above us.

“Hard to say. Might turn back to being a mist. Might not.”

“Can we ride home in the rain?” she asked, leaning against the wall. Her wet jeans clung to her legs and I found myself staring while she lifted one leg to brace it on the wall.

“Sure. Do we want to? Not really.”

“What should we do?”

I lifted my eyes to her face. Her eyes sparkled same as they did back in the bar. I swept my thumb across my lower lip and then ran it across my chin.

Since our hike at Deception Pass, I couldn’t stop thinking about kissing her. The day she received a letter from the asshole wasn’t the right time. Normally, I didn’t give this much thought to making a move. If I wanted to kiss a woman, I did. As long as she gave me the right signals. Maybe that was part of the problem with Diane. I didn’t know her signals. We flirted, we teased. I caught her staring, but it never moved from thoughts to action. My hand was getting tired of all the time I spent thinking.

There was a time and place for action. 

That time and place was now.

“Store’s closed. Nothing to do but stand here and watch the rain fall.” I moved closer to her along the wall, my shoulder brushing hers when I mirrored her posture. My hand dropped between us and brushed against her leg, but I faced the line of water dripping from the roof gutter.

“Nothing?” she asked, her voice more of a whisper.

“Can’t think of anything,” I whispered back while I turned to gaze down at her. “You?”

I could see everything in her eyes. I wasn’t the only one thinking about kissing. When I entwined our fingers, her breath hitched. I broke eye contact and stared down at her mouth. Her lips parted and her tongue peeked out to wet the bottom one.

“John …” Her words faded away when I leaned down.

Book Tour and Guest Post - The Good Enough Husband by Sylvie Fox

Title: The Good Enough Husband  
Author: Sylvie Fox  
Genre: Women’s Fiction / Romance 18+
 Publication Date: March 3, 2014  
Publisher: Penner Media  
Cover Designer: Regina Wamba of Mae I Design  
Event Organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.

 

~ Synopsis ~

What would you do if you met your soul mate, but you were already married? In The Good Enough Husband, Sylvie Fox delivers a riveting story about a woman who refuses to let her past define her future. For years, Hannah Morrison Keesling’s marriage to Michael was good enough. Then she wakes up one morning and it isn’t. Taking her puppy Cody along, Hannah drives north to put distance between herself and her past. Planning to go as far as her SUV will take her, she hast to stop on the Lost Coast when her dog gets sick. There she meets small town veterinarian Ben Cooper. Ben is the man Hannah wishes she had met first. He’s perfect for her, but gun shy because he’s been lied to before and vows not to be betrayed again. Hannah leaves Michael and moves to Ben’s rural town to pursue a future with the man she knows is her soul mate. But Michael won’t let go so easily. Forced to make a decision between the man she chose and the man she loves, Hannah soon realizes that her choices will define everyone else’s consequences.

Add to Goodreads

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Allromance Ebooks | Smashwords

 

About the Author:

I write the kinds of books I love to read. The quirky characters in my romance novels experience passion, angst, and conflict, but always get their "happily ever after." I live in Los Angeles with my husband, son, and a handful of rescued pets. When I'm not hanging out in Hollywood, I'm eating my way through Budapest.

Connect with the Author:

 Website | Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter | Goodreads | Tumblr

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Guest Post: My travel bucket list

I like to travel, a lot. But in the four years since I’ve had a child, my travel has been curtailed, somewhat.  Ok, a lot. A trip to France with an eight month old in tow was less vacation, more adventure.

So at the end of last year, I made a travel bucket list. For some reason, my husband and I never go to
the places we really want. Instead we compromise on odd locations. And while those compromises have made for some amazing trips, we’re still not getting to where we want to go. But once I’ve written it down, I’ll have to go, right? You’ll hold me to it, won’t you?

10. Easter Island. I hear the plane ride is really long, and the tour, really short. But I still want to do it. I need to see those giant statues for myself.

9. The Great Wall of China. I have to see something astronauts can see from space.

8. Bangkok, Thailand. I have no particular reason for wanting to go to Thailand, but I’ve always had a strong desire to visit.

7. Greek Islands. My husband has always wanted to bicycle through the Greek Isles. While I think we
may be a little old for it, I’d love to see the water, the beaches, and eat the food, anyway—bicycle or no bicycle.

6. Egypt, the Pyramids. I may not be able to see all the wonders of the world, but I have to see this in
person.

5. Reykjavik, Iceland. For some reason, I’m usually in line for the bathroom on international flights when flying over Iceland, and see it from the tiny airplane window while bouncing on the balls of my feet. So I have to see it for myself—in the summer.

4. Switzerland. It’s neutral. There’s gotta be something to that.

3. Hong Kong. I always meant to visit before the handover, but never made it there. The food is
supposed to be amazing. And as a bonus, English is spoken.

2. Belgium. Belgian beer and fries. Need I say more.

1. Australia and New Zealand. I’ve always wanted to go to the other side of the earth. The animals are vastly different. The geography looks spectacular. And it’s summer there now.

Review: Reclaimed by Sarah Guillory

Synopsis:

Jenna Oliver doesn’t have time to get involved with one boy, let alone two.

All Jenna wants is to escape her evaporating small town and her alcoholic mother. She's determined she'll go to college and find a life that is wholly hers—one that isn't tainted by her family's past. But when the McAlister twins move to town and Jenna gets involved with both of them, she learns the life she planned may not be the one she gets.

Ian McAlister doesn't want to start over; he wants to remember.

Ian can’t recall a single thing from the last three months—and he seems to be losing more memories every day. His family knows the truth, but no one will tell him what really happened before he lost his memory. When he meets Jenna, Ian believes that he can be normal again because she makes not remembering something he can handle.

The secret Ian can’t remember is the one Luke McAlister can’t forget.

Luke has always lived in the shadow of his twin brother until Jenna stumbles into his life. She sees past who he’s supposed to be, and her kiss brings back the spark that life stole. Even though Luke feels like his brother deserves her more, Luke can’t resist Jenna—which is the trigger that makes Ian's memory return.

Jenna, Ian, & Luke are about to learn there are only so many secrets you can keep before the truth comes to reclaim you.

MY THOUGHTS: 

4 out of 5 stars

Several weeks ago, I was lucky enough to win this book through a contest hosted by Liza Wiemer on her blog, WhoRuBlog.  Based on her own reviews, I found myself drawn to the premise of Reclaimed and out of all the books she offered, this book was the one that I said I wanted.

I chose right.

Now, while I didn't grow up with the same family dynamic as Jenna, I could appreciate her absolute desire to escape the small town where she grew up.  I made that promise to myself early on and as I read her thoughts and her plans for her life, I felt like I was able to completely relate to where she was coming from.  

Even with the obstacles thrown her way, Jenna is on the right path...all she has to do is survive the summer and her senior year in High School.  That's it.  Easy peasy, right?

You'd think so.

When the McAlister family comes to town, lets just say that Jenna's straightforward path gets a little bit murky. 

First, there is Ian.  Sweet, swoony, smart Ian.  He plays football, makes good grades, and even with the fact that he can't remember some of his past, there is something about him that draws Jenna in.  Falling for Ian is something that looks like it is going to happen.

Until Jenna finds out about Luke.

Like so many of us, Jenna finds herself intrigued by the bad boy.  After spending so much of her life being good, it is hard for her to resist the allure, the mystery, the unf...even as she constantly reminds herself that she needs to stay away.

And she tries, she really does.  

Until she can't. 


I read lots of books, so it isn't often that I am completely blindsided by a twist or a turn in the plot.  Yeah...I was completely not expecting what happened to happen.  I mean, I was sitting in my car reading in the carpool line when THE MOMENT was revealed and I felt a little like this:

 and then like this:

   and then this:

 

   Now, I don't need to remind you of my no-spoiler policy, so don't even ask.  But I completely mean it when I say that I was blindsided.  And I LOVED IT!

Please, I need somebody to go get this book and read it and then come find me so we can talk about it.  Because for real, I need to talk about it with somebody that has read it.

The way the author describes the town, the emotions, the relationships in Reclaimed...GAH, she can tell a story.  And she did it all without giving anything away.  Did I mention that I was blindsided?  I'm gonna need Sarah Guillory to go write more things so I can read them all.  

Go get this book today and read it and then come tell me what you think.  I'll be waiting. 

Review: Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens

Right around Christmas, I tweeted and posted on the blog Facebook about a contest centering around the book Faking Normal, by Courtney S. Stevens.  When she reached out to bloggers to help her out, I jumped at the chance to get the word out because this book needs to be read.  I read it several weeks ago and was waiting until a bit closer to the publication date to post my review...until I realized that waiting wasn't doing anybody any favors and my thoughts needed to come out. 

SYNOPSIS:

Alexi Littrell hasn't told anyone what happened to her over the summer. Ashamed and embarrassed, she hides in her closet and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does.

When Bodee Lennox, the quiet and awkward boy next door, comes to live with the Littrells, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend in "the Kool-Aid Kid," who has secrets of his own. As they lean on each other for support, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with his past, and Bodee helps her find the courage to finally face the truth.

A searing, poignant book, Faking Normal is the extraordinary debut novel from an exciting new author-Courtney C. Stevens.

My Thoughts:

4.5 out of 5 stars.

To put it bluntly, this book punched me in the gut and it punched me hard.

I went in knowing that I was going to read an emotional book, I was counting on it actually.  What I didn't expect was a book that resonated through out every cell in my body.  

Alexi and Bodee...I don't even know what to say about them.  As a reader with a few scars of her own, I related more than I care to admit.  As a mother, I can't even begin to describe my need to comfort these characters and how I teared up over the way they kept their struggles so secretive.  Every ounce of me hated that they felt so alone and I wanted to crawl into the pages and tell Alexi to speak up and that she didn't have to keep quiet.  But it is so easy to question keeping secrets when we are on the outside looking in, isn't it?

Being a victim is never easy, but being a victim when you are still learning how to live ventures into the realm of cruel and unusual.  Life at 16 and 17 and 18 years old is hard enough on its own, but adding secrets to the mix makes living unfair and both of these kids would have done anything in their power to just live a normal life.  

It kind of makes me cringe when I think about the things I complained about when I was their age.  

Gotta love perspective...   

So it should come as no surprise that I cried for Alexi.  Not just because of her secrets however, but also in spite of them.    

Yes, her secret is gut-wrenching, but I also cried for her strength.  Because of the way that even with the scratches and the closet and the counting and all the anxiety that riddles her body as she tries to keep her family and friends in the dark, she was strong.  Stronger than any girl at any age should ever have to be.  All in her quest to be normal.

And for several months, she manages to pull it off.  Until one day when her life intersects with someone who can see past her facade.  

A boy with kool-aid hair who tries to live life while the entire town whispers about him behind his back.  He knows exactly what Alexi is doing, even if he doesn't know why.  While his scars weren't a secret, that doesn't mean that he wouldn't give anything to also be normal.

And he takes it upon himself to let Alexi know that she isn't alone. 

Like magnets, Alexi and Bodee are drawn together.  Because of what they feel inside, because of what they think the other needs, because when they're together, they distract each other from the pain and they don't feel so completely alone.  They don't judge, they don't criticize, they don't analyze...they support.  Beautifully and flawlessly.     

As the story progresses, the relationship between Bodee and Alexi begins to grow from one of pity to one of friendship to one of a gentle and super sweet romance.  I mean...every girl should have a Bodee in her life.  Every boy should take lessons because his heart is one of the purest I've ever read.   PUFFY HEART EYES!

And as Alexi learns to let Bodee in, she also realizes that keeping her secrets and faking her normal is starting to eat her alive.  He can't fight the fight for her, but he can support her through every single step.  All she has to do, is let him.     

It is really really difficult to write this review without giving away any of the details.  I have to think carefully about how to convey my connection to this book in a way that will do it justice and not tell their story.  I'm not sure anything I can type will be enough though because seriously, this story needs to be told.   

Ms. Stevens write a story about tough subjects and tough choices and she does it well.  There was just enough information given to let the reader know the whos and the whys and the hows but kept the events from being the focus of the story.  This story isn't about particular events, but the details in the life after and how, when allowed to fester, can begin to define how a person begins to exist.   

And how channeling your brave can be the best decision you'll ever make.  

Faking Normal will be available on February 25, 2014.  Put it on your to-read list now!
Ms. Stevens, I look forward to reading much much more from you.     

Thank you to Harper Teen and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read this amazing book. 

Love of Truth by CT Oliver - Book Blitz Excerpt and Giveway

Title: Love of Truth

Author: CT Oliver

Release date:  July 13^th, 2013

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Age Group: New Adult /Adult

Event organized by: AToMR Tours

Links to the book:  Goodreads Amazon

Book Description:  For the next eleven days all Amelia Adler wants is a nice relaxing vacation on the beach. All she’ll do is drink pineapple margaritas and read sexy steamy romance novels. She doesn’t want to think about the stress of her daily life nor the fact that she doesn’t know what to do with her life. 

 

Craig Patrice just wants to spend his last spring break catching wave after waves during the day in the Pacific Ocean, and relax as much as he can at night. This is his last break before finishing law school and starting at a firm this upcoming summer. He has no desire for a fling or a girlfriend. All he wants is to buckle down and finish this year off right. That is until he gets a glimpse of his vacationing neighbor, and for the life of him, he can’t look away.

Though Craig and Amelia are somewhat reluctant for a relationship, they seem to find comfort in one another and can’t let go of each other. Finding romance on vacation is one thing, but can their relationship withstand the demand of real life and once their past catches up with them will believing in each others truth save their future. 

Excerpt: 

 
Sweet melodies of Frank’s Orchestra and Frank singing about the good life wash over me as I stretch and rub my face into the plush pillow. Hmmm, this pillow wasn’t here when Craig laid me down earlier. Love the pillows, I sigh and burrow in to get more comfortable. 

Smells of spices and sweet bread have me curious and I turn to sit up. Taking a few extra minutes to close my eyes for the contacts to lube up. One of these days I will get up the nerve to get Lasik. My bare feet pad into the kitchen, where it looks like Paula Deen has exploded all over the place. There is a lot of food and everything smells deliciously fattening. 

“Look who finally woke up,” Craig walks over to me and pulls me into a hug. He leans and nuzzles a few kisses behind my ear. “I missed you,” he whispers, sending a shiver down my back.  

“I hope you’re hungry, Shorty,” Cory hollers from across the kitchen where he’s feeding Larry a piece of jerky.  

“We made you all our favorites,” Ben says standing by the oven. 

“Wow, it looks like you guys have been busy and having fun in here.” I step out of Craig’s arms to look around. “How long was I out?”           

 “About four hours. We got a lot done. We made dinner and worked out a little in the gym.” Craig offers me a glass of wine. “Cory even gave Larry a bath while he was cooking earlier,” Craig chuckles.           

 I eye Cory then Larry. “He fell in the sink, didn’t he?”

Cory looks a little worried. “Yeah, he wanted to watch me cook and got a little excited.” 

 I laugh remembering how scared I was when that first happened to me. “It’s okay, not the first time. Larry likes to be where the action is.” 

Cory let out a sigh of relief. “Yeah, he got a nice bath, didn’t you boy?” He asks Larry and pets his small chocolate body. Larry is getting so spoiled. 

  
a Rafflecopter giveaway