Review: A SEAL's Salvation by Tawny Weber

A SEAL's Salvation 
by Tawny Weber
Released Date: Published January 21st 2014 by Harlequin
Pages: 224
View/Purchase: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N

Subject: Navy SEAL Petty Officer Brody Lane 

Current Status: On leave 

Obstacle: The one girl who was off-limits… 

Where navy SEAL "Bad Ass" Brody Lane goes, trouble follows. Being run out of his hometown years ago for misbehaving with Genna Reilly—the sheriff's daughter—was one thing. Now Brody is about to step into real danger. Not the suggestive letters he's been exchanging with Genna, but the kind of trouble that can send a soldier home injured and broken inside… 

Genna's entire life has been orchestrated by her family. The right job. The right friends. Enough! Brody's return offers the promise of lust-filled pleasures. Of flesh teased and tasted. She's not expecting to find a soldier with distant eyes who has secluded himself from the world. But this good girl knows exactly how to bring a bad boy back to life…. 
(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

My Review:

A SEAL's Salvation was definitely one of my favorite books that I read this month, the characters were very likable and the plot was really good. Tawny Weber does an amazing job creating the perfect bad boy/incredibly hot SEAL. I found myself unable to stop reading the book, it was intrigued and full of sizzling moments. After getting caught misbehaving with Genna Reilly, Brody Lane does the unthinkable when he has to face Genna's father. He is given the choice of joining the navy. Being known for getting in trouble, he knows that by leaving for the navy he was going to leave his family and Genna. He accepts, and leaves everything behind, but he wasn't prepared for what happened to him while in the navy. Years passed and he becomes a celebrated hero, not after suffering the consequence of being away for so long. Now he has secluded himself away from everyone else, distancing himself from those that love him. When Genna learns of his return to town, she finds herself unable to stop thinking about him and that's when she realizes just how much she wants him in her life. 

Both characters in the book have a good chemistry, it's evident that they haven't forgotten each other and that's how the story unfolds. Genna has lived a life under her father's shadow and wants to try to break away from it. In contrast, Brody has been through a lot and returning to his old home brings back memories and new found obstacles that he has to face. There is some character development within the story that made the ending that much more enjoyable to read. Overall, the story was sweet and fun read, I highly recommend it. 

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

My Rating: 4.5/5

Waiting on Wednesday (#48)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: 

Perfectly Damaged

by E.L. Montes

Expected publication: March 2014

Schizoaffective disorder: a mental illness in which a person experiences a combination of mood disorder and schizophrenia symptoms.
I know about this illness—very well—because I suffer from it. It’s been four years since my diagnosis, and ever since, I’ve been living in a dark hole. Voices constantly invading my thoughts. Hallucinations. All of which force me to question if what I’m experiencing is even reality.

But here I am, still hanging on, still breathing and living through it.

That is, until he stumbled into my life. Logan Reed. I don’t want any part of him. I’ve pushed him away, but he isn’t easily deterred. I’ve told him I’m different, but he doesn’t care. He’s trying to slowly break me down. I’m trying just as hard not to let him. He doesn’t know how truly damaged I am; what will happen when he does?

I know the truth—he’ll never be able to look at me the same way again. Just like everybody else.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)  

*I've been drawn to this types of stories lately, this book in particular sounds really interesting and I can't wait to get my hands on it. :) * What is everyone waiting to read? Let me know and I'll make sure to check it out (:

Freebie Tuesday (Edition #6)

Hi guys! Freebie Tuesday is a new meme that I will be hosting from now on. I know there are probably a lot of memes like this one already, but it doesn't hurt to find out more about authors that some of us haven't heard of before. I will include 2-3 books that are free to download on either kindle or at the apple store in each post (that way it's more accessible to anyone that wants to download them.) I hope everyone finds this post helpful (if anyone is looking for a new book to read).  Enjoy! 

Twin Souls 

by K.A. Poe

Seventeen year old Alexis finds herself on the eve of her eighteenth birthday. What generally means a step into adulthood instead opens its way to a terrifying truth about not only her family, but herself. She comes from a long line of vampire hunters, and her real dad wants her to carry on the family quest. At the same time, she is falling for a new boy at school who has his own secret. He is a vampire. Alexis is forced to make a decision from which there is no turning back. – Will she deny this newly discovered heritage, or embrace it. 

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads) 

          

Sora's Quest 

by T.L. Shreffler 

Sora Fallcrest always dreamed of adventure, but as a member of the nobility, she learned the ways of a Lady instead. Now seventeen, she is expected to choose a husband and marry. She plots to run away, but just as she is stepping out the door, she runs into a mysterious man--and is kidnapped.

Abducted from her manor, Sora is plunged into a world of magical races, arcane jewelry and forgotten lore. She finds herself at the mercy of a dangerous assassin, haunted by an even darker past. She yearns for freedom, but he won't let her go--not when her Cat's Eye necklace is the only thing that can save his life.

But the necklace itself presents a problem. It is an ancient device from the long forgotten War of the Races, and its magic has the ability to steal souls. Can Sora learn to wield its power -- or will the power wield her?

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)  

         

Vengeful in Love 

by Nadia Lee

REVENGE IS SWEET...

Self-made billionaire Alex Damon wants his pound of flesh from the people who ripped his family apart. When he discovers his enemies' daughter is working at his company -- and most likely spying for them -- he decides to start his revenge by seducing her. Natalie Hall is stunned at the personal interest from the CEO of her company. Vulnerable, with an already bruised heart, she wants to avoid any involvement -- but she can't deny the desire he arouses in her.

...BUT LOVE IN SWEETER...

What should've been a straightforward eye-for-an-eye starts to unravel as Natalie's unflinching loyalty and kindness begin to thaw Alex's cold intent. But caring for her is unthinkable...since he plans to use everything in his power to ruin her family and everyone else she holds dear.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads) 

     

***That's it for this post, be sure to come back every Tuesday for more freebies and feel free to check out my last four posts, Edition 1 , Edition 2 , Edition 3, Edition 4, and Edition 5 for more books that you might have missed. Thanks for stopping by! :)***

                                                                                                                                 

Review: Forever Loved (The Forever Series #2) by Deanna Roy

Forever Loved 
by Deanna Roy
Released Date: Published January 10th 2014 by Casey Shay Press 
Series: The Forever Series #2
Pages: 275
View/Purchase: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N

The much-anticipated sequel to the Top 10 bestselling new adult romance Forever Innocent.

“How do I tell the woman I love that I fathered a son with a prostitute?”

After four long years of separation, Gavin has finally reunited with his childhood love Corabelle. She’s forgiven him for leaving her during the funeral of their seven-day-old baby, and also for where he ended up — in Mexico to get a vasectomy.

But a message from Rosa, a prostitute he met the day of his surgery, brings his life to a crashing halt. She claims Gavin has fathered a son, now three years old and living with her cousin in Ensenada. He doesn’t know if he can trust Rosa, who never mentioned the boy before, or if his delicate reconciliation with Corabelle can withstand the shock if it is true.

Corabelle believes their future together is the right thing despite their past. But when she learns of this other child, the one thing she lost long ago and might never have again with Gavin, Corabelle’s faith that her life will ever follow her old dream is shattered. To make things right for Gavin and his son, she just might have to let go of the only person she always believed would be her forever love.
(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

My Review:

This book was very unexpected, I really liked the first book and I was excited to read it after finding out that there was going to be a continuation of the first novel. From the characters, to the plot, Deanna Roy did a good job once again bringing an interesting yet realistic story. Forever Loved picks up right where we are left of in Forever Innocent, Corabelle is in the hospital yet again after attempting suicide, and Gavin is right there to take care of her. But not everyone is happy, Corabelle's parents are outraged at Gavin and want him away from their daughter. Not having the best relationship in the past, Corabelle's father still hasn't fully forgiven Gavin for leaving his daughter after the death of their newborn baby. Now since they're together, Gavin has to prove himself worthy of Corabelle's love and prove that he is going to be there for her no matter what. But things don't always end up going the way they are planned, after receiving a message from Rosa, a prostitute that he met while he was in Mexico. She claims Gavin is the father of her son and that he needs to help her get him back. Now the real story begins with Gavin struggling to keep his relationship with Corabelle and his deciding of whether the son that Rosa claims is his will be part of his life or not. 

I really enjoyed reading this book, Deanna Roy added different elements to the story to keep one reading until the very end. It's intriguing and I found myself torned with Corabelle's decisions sometimes. She clearly has been through a lot, but attempting suicide might not have been the best way to solve her problems. In contrast, Gavin tries to make things better for them as a couple, and he was the one character that I really liked in the book. The whole plot seems to be more about his life and what he does, that we don't see a lot Corabelle. Overall, the plot was great, and the writing flowed very well. I wasn't expecting the ending to end the way it did, and I'm still having mixed feelings about it. But I recommend everyone to read both books, they deal with a lot of topics that are well introduced and explained that makes them good young adult novels. 

*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

Forever Innocent Review (Book 1) 

My Rating:

Feature and Follow Friday (#40)

Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison can Read.

Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! or just check out the weekly questions and see what others respond. 

Question: What was the last book that made you cry?

Answer: I haven't read any books that have made me cry recently, but the one book that really had me sobbing so much was A Taylor-Made Life by Kary Rader. That book had me reaching out for my tissue box constantly. 

It's basically about a girl named, Taylor Smith who has leukemia, and Gavin Taylor (also has leukemia) and their romance/struggles. It was a great book, with a good twist at the end. I highly recommend it. 

A Taylor-Made Life by Kary Rader

Review 

What was the last book that has made you guys cry? 

   

Review: Bright Before Sunrise by Tiffany Schmidt

Bright Before Sunrise 
by Tiffany Schmidt
Released Date: February 18th 2014 by Walker Childrens
Pages: 288
View/Purchase: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Book Depository 

When Jonah is forced to move from Hamilton to Cross Pointe for the second half of his senior year, "miserable" doesn't even begin to cover it. He feels like the doggy-bag from his mother's first marriage and everything else about her new life—with a new husband, new home and a new baby—is an upgrade. The people at Cross Pointe High School are pretentious and privileged—and worst of all is Brighton Waterford, the embodiment of all things superficial and popular. Jonah’s girlfriend, Carly, is his last tie to what feels real... until she breaks up with him. 

For Brighton, every day is a gauntlet of demands and expectations. Since her father died, she’s relied on one coping method: smile big and pretend to be fine. It may have kept her family together, but she has no clue how to handle how she's really feeling. Today is the anniversary of his death and cracks are beginning to show. The last thing she needs is the new kid telling her how much he dislikes her for no reason she can understand. She's determined to change his mind, and when they're stuck together for the night, she finally gets her chance. 

Jonah hates her at 3p.m., but how will he feel at 3 a.m.? 

One night can change how you see the world. One night can change how you see yourself.
(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

My Review:

Bright Before Sunrise is a must-read!

Tiffany Schmidt did an amazing job describing the characters really well and having everything happen in one day made it impossible for me to stop reading. From the setting to the background stories of the character, Bright Before Sunrise is a relatable book that would appeal to everyone that has gone through the same experiences as the characters. The losing of someone or something important and having to cope with it while not letting other people get hurt. 

Jonah is miserable when he is forced to move away from his old life in Hamilton to Cross Pointe on his senior year. He has everything he has ever known in Hamilton, so he hates the idea of having to move to another town. Now if that wasn't all, he also has to deal with his step-father and new baby sister in his life. Although he is a caring brother, the relationship between him and his step-father hasn't started on the right terms. Jonah has isolated himself from anything, including his classmates at his new school. But it doesn't take long before Brighton, the popular girl at school, notices him and his new adventure takes off. 

Apart from being liked by everyone at school, Brighton has suffered a lot in her life. She has to put up a happy face and show that she is fine so that she doesn't get pity from everyone around her. For once in her life, she feels liberated that someone is not afraid to tell her how things go without being afraid of breaking her. But everything around her seems to bring back memories of her diseased father. She knows that attending his anniversary is going to break her and so she avoids it by taking on the task of making Jonah, the new kid, realize that Cross Pointe is not as bad as he thinks it is. 

Both characters have a lot to learn and to let go, and when they are stuck together for the day, they start to discover new things about each other that brings them closer. Their growth reflects on the time they spend together and that's one of my favorite things about this book. Schmidt is able to bring relatable characters as well as situations that just about anyone can relate to. The end of the book is the end of the day for both characters and they are in a much better place than they were before. The writing flowed beautifully and it all felt right. I highly recommend this book to everyone to give it a try, you will not regret it. 

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

My Rating: 

Waiting on Wednesday (#47)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: 

Moth and Spark

by Anne Leonard 

Expected publication: February 20th 2014 by Viking Adult

A prince with a quest. A commoner with mysterious powers. And dragons that demand to be freed—at any cost.

Prince Corin has been chosen to free the dragons from their bondage to the Empire, but dragons aren’t big on directions. They have given him some of their power, but none of their knowledge. No one, not the dragons nor their riders, is even sure what keeps the dragons in the Empire’s control. 

Tam, sensible daughter of a well-respected doctor, had no idea before she arrived in the capital that she is a Seer, gifted with visions. When the two run into each other (quite literally) in the library, sparks fly and Corin impulsively asks Tam to dinner. But it’s not all happily ever after. Never mind that the prince isn’t allowed to marry a commoner: war is coming to Caithen. 

Torn between Corin’s quest to free the dragons and his duty to his country, the lovers must both figure out how to master their powers in order to save Caithen. With a little help from a village of secret wizards and a rogue dragonrider, they just might pull it off.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads) 

***I'm really interested in reading this book, the cover is what drew me in and the synopsis sounds like it's going to be a great fantasy/romance book. What is everyone waiting to read? Let me know and I'll check it out. :) ***

                                                                                                                                 

Freebie Tuesday (Edition #5)

Hi guys! Freebie Tuesday is a new meme that I will be hosting from now on. I know there are probably a lot of memes like this one already, but it doesn't hurt to find out more about authors that some of us haven't heard of before. I will include 2-3 books that are free to download on either kindle or at the apple store in each post (that way it's more accessible to anyone that wants to download them.) I hope everyone finds this post helpful (if anyone is looking for a new book to read).  Enjoy! 

Beyond Control 

by Karice Bolton

Gabby Sullivan learns in college that some things are impossible to control, and whenever life has spun out of control bad things seem to happen. She promises herself that she’ll stay a safe distance from the top three culprits:

Sex
Love
Relationships

But some things are beyond control…

Gabby handles her mom’s death and brother’s sudden abandonment just about as well as anyone could at the age of twelve. Left feeling alone, she finishes high school, developing a bit of a wild streak, and lives like there’s no tomorrow. That is until an illness stops her in her tracks. Learning to control life around her becomes her comfort. With a visible scar that reminds her and the world that she beat the odds, it’s impossible for her to put everything behind her, no matter how hard she tries.

Right out of college she begins working at her family’s company and buries herself in the safety of the corporate world. No extra time, no life, no relationships. It’s safe to say she might be a little demanding and overly ambitious, but she’s got everything under control, just how she likes it.

Jason’s been trying to piece his life together after a personal tragedy, only it’s not working. He’s thrown himself into his work, but he’s only becoming angrier. He’ll never forgive himself and doesn’t expect anyone else to either.

When the back of his vehicle is clipped by an obnoxious limo driver he can’t wait to let the driver have it until he hears Gabby’s voice coming from inside the sedan. There’s something soothing about it, something familiar.

The moment she sees him, she knows her life will never be the same. But she doesn’t know why. He’s everything she said she never wanted. He’s cocky, arrogant, and infuriating. With his dazzling amber eyes, dark hair and chiseled features she can hardly remember where she’s going, let alone where she’s been and maybe that’s a good thing. She begins to let him show her what life could be, if she really lived it.

Neither wants their past to define their future, but sometimes destiny has something else in store. It’s only as their love grows and secrets are revealed that they realize a devastating connection from their past might actually tear them apart. 

          

In Your Dreams 

by Amy Martin

Sixteen-year-old Zara "Zip" McKee lives for three things: basketball, books, and bailing out of tiny Titusville, Illinois, where the junior high and high school are in the same building and everyone's known everyone else since birth. But when Kieran Lanier moves to town and passes out on her desk on his first day at school, Zip's life gets complicated in a way she never dreamed. 

Kieran has narcolepsy, and although he sometimes struggles to stay awake, he has no trouble capturing Zip's heart and trusting her with his most guarded secret--he sees bits and pieces of the future in his dreams. 

But just when Zip thinks that maybe she can handle having a boyfriend who sees things before they happen, her budding relationship with Kieran gets a jolt when Kieran's parents reveal that his sleeping disorder is not what it seems and may be putting them in harm's way. And when Zip begins to have unsettling dreams, she must decide if she can live with knowing the future in advance when she's afraid of what might happen. 

        

Goddess Legacy 

by M.W. Muse 

Legacy Kore is an average seventeen year old with your basic insane crush on the hottest guy in school... rather Adin Shepard was the hottest guy in school before he graduated a couple of weeks ago. Now it’s summer vacation and she’s not sure when she’ll get to see him again. Until he shows up at her surprise seventeenth birthday party. Cue saliva glands--it’s time to drool.

But her giddiness is cut short when her guardian delivers an emotional blow, telling Legacy her mother hadn’t died when she was baby, but that she’d left for Legacy’s protection all those years ago. After the initial shock, she expects some story about how her mother was in the Witness Protection Program or something else just as crazy, but when she’s told that her mother is a Greek Goddess and that Legacy is changing into one too, she thinks her guardian needs a trip to a mental hospital. Legacy a goddess? Um, yeah. Right. And her BFF is the Easter Bunny.

While trying to make sense out of something that was impossible to believe, Adin asks Legacy out on a date. She is thrilled that her fantasy might become a reality, but when she meets the new guy in town, River, she discovers everything isn’t always as it seems, and the legacy she wants just might not be the legacy she is destined to have. 

         

***That's it for this post, be sure to come back every Tuesday for more freebies and feel free to check out my last four posts, Edition 1 , Edition 2 , Edition 3, and Edition 4, for more books that you might have missed. Thanks for stopping by! :)***