Waiting on Wednesday (#57)

"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: 

Nowhere but Here

by Renée Carlino

Expected publication: May 5th 2014 by Atria Books

A Chicago reporter in her mid-twenties unexpectedly finds love in Napa Valley when she’s assigned to spend a week with a famously reclusive genius.

Kate Corbin has lost her spark. From the outside, her life seems charmed. She has a handsome, long-term boyfriend and a budding journalism career at a popular Chicago newspaper. But in reality, her relationship is going nowhere, and she’s quickly losing motivation for what she once believed was her dream job. When her boyfriend dumps her unceremoniously, Kate loses all hope of finding love.

With no living family and few friends, Kate confides in her boss. Trusting that the hungry, ace reporter is buried somewhere deep inside, he gives Kate the opportunity to jumpstart her career. The assignment: to interview the famously reclusive R.J. Lawson, a wealthy tech genius who disappeared years ago but recently reemerged as a Napa Valley vintner. The week takes an unexpected turn, however, when Lawson refuses to divulge any information. Desperate for a lead, Kate turns to Jamie, a vineyard hand who shows her the romance of wine country—and stirs her aching heart. But his connection to Lawson is ambiguous, and when Jamie disappears before the end of the week, Kate is left to investigate another story: the truth behind the man who stole her heart. 

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads) 

*I'm loving the cover and the synopsis. Sounds like a good contemporary book to me :D What are you guys waiting to read?*

Thanks fro stopping by! (:

Freebie Tuesday (Edition #15)

Hi guys!:) Here is yet another edition of Freebie Tuesday. I hope everyone finds this post helpful (if anyone is looking for a new book to read).  Enjoy! 

*Older Editions will be linked at the end of this post! :) 

How to Date an Alien 

by Magan Vernon

High school senior Alex Bianchi's estranged father gets her an internship at Circe Operations Center to pad her college applications. But Circe isn't your typical military base. It's an alien-run operation center and not all of the aliens are friendly, especially the one that tries to kill Alex on her first day. When Ace, a dark-eyed Caltian, enters and saves the day, she can't help but be drawn to him. Can these star-crossed lovers survive when they're on the brink of intergalactic war?

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads) 

     

Starfire Angels 

by Melanie Nilles

They've been coming here for thousands of years, using Earth as a sanctuary to escape threats from their own kind. Mankind knows them as angels, and one of them left a child upon her death to be raised as a human.

Raea is now a high school senior and her life as a human is about to end. The crystal shard she bears is not a pretty pendant; it's a collective of powerful entities who chose her as their Keeper, a protector of one of the four shards that power a machine capable of destroying whole worlds. Those who desire the Starfire's power have sent an agent to find her, but she's too busy evading a nosy reporter ready to exploit her secret and dating a hot new foreign student to notice. Nevermind learning what she really is.

Only one person on Earth can help her, the last person she ever expected. But he's not from Earth. Life as a human would be so much easier.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads) 

Clockwise 

by Lee

Casey Donovan has issues: hair, height and uncontrollable trips to the 19th century! And now this --she’s accidentally taken Nate Mackenzie, the cutest boy in the school, back in time. Awkward.

Protocol pressures her to tell their 1860 hosts that he is her brother and when Casey finds she has a handsome, wealthy (and unwanted) suitor, something changes in Nate. Are those romantic sparks or is it just “brotherly” protectiveness?

When they return to the present, things go back to the way they were before: Casey parked on the bottom of the rung of the social ladder and Nate perched high on the very the top. Except this time her heart is broken. Plus, her best friend is mad, her parents are split up, and her younger brother gets escorted home by the police. The only thing that could make life worse is if, by some strange twist of fate, she took Nate back to the past again.

Which of course, she does.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads) 

       

Previous Editions:

Edition 1 

Edition 2 

Edition 3

Edition 4 

Edition 5 

Edition 6 

Edition 7

Edition 8 

Edition 9  

Edition 10

Edition 11

Edition 12

Edition 13

Edition 14

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

Review: Happily Ever After by Elizabeth Maxwell

Happily Ever After 
by Elizabeth Maxwell
Released Date: Published March 18th 2014 by Touchstone 
Pages: 336
View/Purchase: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, iBooks, Author's Website

In this witty, sexy tale, an erotic novelist meets the fictional hero of her most recent book in real life, and must decide whether she wants to get him back between the pages—or between her sheets.At forty-six, Sadie Fuller’s life isn’t exactly romantic. A divorced, overweight, somewhat sexually frustrated mother of an eleven-year-old, she lives in the suburbs, shops the big box stores, makes small talk with her small-minded neighbors, and generally leads a quiet life. But while her daughter is at school, or when Sadie is up late at night, she writes erotic fiction under the name KT Briggs. 

Then, during a routine shopping trip, Sadie runs into someone familiar…too familiar, in fact. She encounters an incredibly handsome man exactly like the one in her imagination—and her latest novel. Is Aidan Hathaway really one of her characters? And if so, what is he doing in Target? As Sadie tries to negotiate this strange new world, her eyes begin to open to romantic possibilities in places she never dreamed of looking... places where Happily Ever After might not be so far-fetched after all.
(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

My Review:

Happily Ever After was such a fun and unique book to read. I found myself wanting to know more of the characters and that made it that much more intriguing as well. There are a lot of elements to the story that could have gone wrong, but the author did a good job making the story flow while still making it entertaining. 

There are two stories being told in the book; the life of Sadie Fuller, a forty-six year old mother/ erotic novelist and the story of her fictional characters. It may sound confusing to follow at first, but as the story progresses it's easier to see a distinction between the two, especially when both stories connect in later chapters. The main story that is described in the book is the one of Sadie Fuller. She has dedicated her life to writing the lives of fictional characters under the name KT Briggs. While living in the suburbs has its benefits, she often finds herself in the middle of her neighbors' gossip and school events that she has to attend. Life as a single mother to an eleven-year-old isn't easy, she hasn't had a romantic relationship since she got married, and now divorced she has a hard time finding the right person for her. But an unexpected encounter leaves her wondering if it's possible for her characters to come to life. 

Finding Aidan Hathaway was a total shock to Sadie, she can't explain how he has come to life, but a series of events will lead her to explore the power of writing, what it really means to find true love and a happily ever after. What I enjoyed about the book the most was how relatable the protagonist is, it was interesting to read a book about an author writing her own novels and how hard it is to come up with a good story. Sadie has struggled to find what works out for her in terms of writing and her life as a single mother makes things complicated for her. There are twists and turns in the story that left me speechless. Elizabeth Maxwell did a very good job making the story flow effortlessly and the character descriptions were spot on. The ending was clever, and it worked very well for me. Overall, Happily Ever After was great and I definitely recommend it to those that want to read something unique, full of humor, romance and a paranormal twist. 

*ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

My Rating: 

Review: The Lost Boys by Lilian Carmine

The Lost Boys 
by Lilian Carmine
Released Date: Published October 24th 2013 by Ebury Digital 
Series: The Lost boys #1
Pages: 512
View/Purchase: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N,iBooks, Author's Website, 

Fate has brought them together. But will it also keep them apart?

Having moved to a strange town, sixteen-year-old Joey Gray is feeling a little lost, until she meets a cute, mysterious boy near her new home.

But Tristan Halloway is not what he seems. And there's a very good reason why he's always to be found roaming between the gravestones in the local cemetery...
(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)


My Review:

I have completely become a fan of The Lost Boys. Lilian Carmine did a great job with story and the characters. I absolutely loved them all, every single character has it's own story and personality that made me want to keep reading. When sixteen-year-old Joey Gray moves to a new town with her mom, she wasn't expecting to meet a mysterious yet old fashioned boy, Tristan, and that their connection would lead them to an unforgettable adventure. 

When Joey arrives to her new home, she meets Tristan Halloway at the cemetery. At first Tristan is taken back when Joey talks to him, but soon he warms up to her presence and the two become really close. Joey goes back to meet Tristan at the cemetery everyday and soon she starts to feel more for him than just a friendship. On New Year's Eve, Tristan asks Joey to meet him at the cemetery when the unthinkable happens; not only does Joey find out that Tristan is really a ghost, but accidentally she has brings him back to being human again. No one knows how that happened, but now that Tristan's secret has been revealed he'll have to face this new time. 

Both of them start the year at a new school where their real adventure really begins. They start new friendships and that's when they come together with their friends to form a band, The Lost Boys. But magic comes with a price and both Tristan and Joey will have to face it if they don't want to get hurt. Joey will have to find a way to keep Tristan or let him die/disappear all over again.

I have to say that the story itself was very well executed, all the plot twists and turns helped the story by bringing it to a unique level. When I first read the title I wasn't expecting it to be an actual band, I thought it was going to be something else. Needless to say, I was pleased with the idea and it captured what the rest of the book was about. The beginning of the book focused on building up a foundation for the rest of the story that was full of twists and amazing characters. The ending was sweet, I would have liked to see a little bit more, but it all worked out in the end. I would recommend this book to those that are looking for a sweet romantic story with a twist.

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

My Rating: 

Teaser Reveal and Cover Spotlight: Broken by Lauren Layne

Teaser Reveal and Cover Spotlight!

Lauren Layne, the author of the hit New Adult romance Isn’t She Lovely, and Random House’s Flirt imprint, are thrilled to share a first look at BROKEN, Lauren’s upcoming New Adult romance, and spotlight her gorgeous new cover!

BROKEN by Lauren Layne

Flirt New Adult Romance

On sale: September 2, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-553-39035-3

Lauren Layne’s New Adult novel tells the story of a girl with secrets, a guy with scars, and a love that could save them both... or destroy them.
When Olivia Middleton abandons the glamour of Park Avenue for a remote, coastal town in Maine, everyone assumes she’s being the kind do-gooder she’s always been. But Olivia has a secret: helping an injured war veteran reenter society isn’t about charity—it’s about penance. Only, Olivia’s client isn’t the grateful elderly man she’s expecting. Instead, he’s a brooding twenty-four-year-old who has no intention of being Olivia’s path to redemption . . . and whose smoldering gaze and forbidden touch might be her undoing.

Paul Langdon doesn’t need a mirror to show him he’s no longer the hotshot quarterback he was before the war. He knows he’s ugly—inside and out. He’ll do anything to stay in self-imposed exile, even accept his father’s ultimatum that Paul tolerate the newest caretaker for three months or lose his inheritance. But Paul doesn’t count on the beautiful twenty-two-year-old who makes him long for things that he can never have. And the more she slips past his defenses, the more keeping his distance is impossible.

Now Paul and Olivia have to decide: Will they help each other heal? Or are they forever broken?

** Teaser Reveal!**

Olivia squirms. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I've never known a female to acquiesce that easily without a catch. How about you hit me with it now and get it over with?”

Olivia shrugs. "Fine. I was going to say that I won't run alone, if you promise to go with me."

"No," I say, almost before she's finished her sentence.

"Why not?"

I rap my cane once against the ground. "Well, for starters, despite the fact that there are tortoises that could surpass your sorry excuse for a jog, I'm in no shape to accompany even the most pathetic of runners."

"What a handy skill you have of overloading a sentence with insults," she says as she reaches up to adjust her ponytail. "That must be helpful what with your thriving social life and all."

I thump my cane against the ground again, studying her. "Must be nice, picking on the cripple."

Olivia rolls her eyes. "Please. Your soul's more crippled than your leg."

She has no idea how right she is, and I have no intention of letting her anywhere close enough to find out. I've gotten good at shutting people out by pushing them away . . . being as nasty as possible until they reach their breaking point. But with her? It's different.

***We hope you enjoyed this sneak peek of BROKEN by Lauren Layne! Love everything Lauren Layne? Her newest adult contemporary romance in the Sex, Love and Stiletto series, JUST ONE NIGHT, is on sale now!***

Connect with Lauren

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Waiting on Wednesday (#56)

"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: 

The Art of Lainey

by Paula Stokes

Expected publication: May 20th 2014 by HarperTeen

Soccer star Lainey Mitchell is used to getting what she wants, and when her boyfriend Jason breaks up with her for no reason, what she wants is to win him back before the start of their senior year. Lainey and her friend Bianca check the interwebz for tips and tricks, but the online dating advice is all pretty lame. 

Then the girls stumble across a copy of The Art of War. Didn't someone once say that love is a battlefield? Jason isn't going to stand a chance once Lainey and Bee go all Zhou Dynasty on him... 

Old school strategy and subterfuge meet modern-day dramarama in the story of a girl who sets out to win at all costs and ends up discovering what's really worth fighting for.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads) 

***I'm liking the synopsis and the cover :) Although I haven't read any other works by Paula Stokes, I will be definitely picking this up once it's released. (: What are you guys waiting to read?***

Thanks for stopping by! (:

Freebie Tuesday (Edition #14)

Hi guys!:) Here is yet another edition of Freebie Tuesday. I hope everyone finds this post helpful (if anyone is looking for a new book to read).  Enjoy! 

*Older Editions will be linked at the end of this post! :) 

Angels of the Knights - Fallon

by Valerie Zambito

When Fallon died at the age of sixteen, her life changed forever. 

The hallowed world of Emperica is everything she had ever hoped for as a mortal—immeasurable beauty, unconditional love and light. But, with affection for humankind still burning within her, she joins the Knight Caste to train as an angel warrior. As a Knight, she will give up her wings and return to the place that killed her to use her unique powers to search out and destroy the evil Kjin that roam the earth. As a Knight, she will stop at nothing to protect the mortals in her care.

The elders warn her that the path she chose will be a solitary one. That she will not have the same bond with humans as she once did. But, as far as she knows, the elders had never met Kade Royce. 

When her duties place her in the path of this handsome former cop, emotions buried long ago rise to the surface and she is powerless to ignore the depth of her feelings for this young man. She knows instinctively that she has found what most people search their entire lives for. 

Ignoring the risks, she invites him into her world of danger, but soon their lives collide with explosive consequence. As a result, Fallon realizes with heartbreaking despair that she can no longer hide from the painful truth. In order for Kade to live, she must destroy him. 

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads) 

     

Now and Then 

by Brenda Rothert

Now Emmaline Carson is a sharp, settled graphic designer who loves painting, cooking and girls’ night out with her older sister Layla. But then – in the years before she went to art school in Paris – she was a shy, awkward teenager with frizzy hair, a flat chest and a massive crush on the boy across the street, Cole Marlowe. Too bad her incredibly hot neighbor only had eyes for Layla.

Cole is now a confident, laid-back attorney who’s even hotter than he used to be. He’s planning to stay single while working his way up the corporate ladder – until he’s knocked off course by a chance run-in with Emma.

Everything is different between Cole and Emma now. He finally sees her in a way she only dreamed of, and their hot chemistry is fueled by a growing friendship. But Emma’s deception of her sister – who wants Cole for herself – and the secret Cole’s been keeping for more than a decade threaten to tear apart what’s only just begun. Because sometimes the only thing standing in the way of now is then.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads) 

    

The Ghost and the Graveyard 

by Genevieve Jack

**The Ghost and The Graveyard is a funny, exciting, and sexy read intended for adults. Due to sexual content, language, and violence this book is recommended for ages 18+** 

Grateful Knight isn't looking for love when she moves into a rent-free house on the edge of a graveyard. At twenty-two, all she wants is to recover financially so she can move back to the city where she belongs. 

But sparks fly when the gorgeous cemetery caretaker, Rick, introduces himself and mentions his suspicion that her new house might be haunted. Her attraction to him seems supernatural, and despite her resolve to not get involved, she literally can't keep her hands off him. 

When things in Grateful's house start moving on their own, another man enters her life, Logan, a sexy ghost with a dark secret. He says Rick isn't what he seems, and indulging her passion for him could cost her soul. 

One thing's for sure, magical forces are at work in the tiny town of Red Grove, and they're converging on Grateful. Life will never be the same once she's forced to choose between the ghost and the graveyard.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads) 

 

Previous Editions:

Edition 1 

Edition 2 

Edition 3

Edition 4 

Edition 5 

Edition 6 

Edition 7

Edition 8 

Edition 9  

Edition 10

Edition 11

Edition 12

Edition 13

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

Review: I See London by Chanel Cleeton

I See London
by Chanel Cleeton
Released Date: Published February 3rd 2014 by Harlequin HQN
Series: I See London #1
Pages: 319
View/Purchase: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N,iBooks, Books-A-Million, Author's Website

Maggie Carpenter is ready for a change— and to leave her ordinary life in South Carolina behind. But when she accepts a scholarship to the International School in London, a university attended by the privileged offspring of diplomats and world leaders, Maggie might get more than she bargained for. 

When Maggie meets Hugh, a twentysomething British guy, she finds herself living the life she always wanted. Suddenly she’s riding around the city in a Ferrari, wearing borrowed designer clothes and going to the hottest clubs. The only problem? Another guy, the one she can’t seem to keep her hands off of. 

Half French, half Lebanese, and ridiculously wealthy, Samir Khouri has made it clear he doesn’t do relationships. He’s the opposite of everything Maggie thought she wanted…and he’s everything she can’t resist. Torn between her dream guy and the boy haunting her dreams, Maggie has to fight for her own happy ending. In a city like London, you never know where you stand, and everything can change in the blink of an eye.

This is a New Adult romance recommended for readers 17 and up.
(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

My Review:

I loved reading I See London! I not only connected with the characters, but the setting itself was just amazing! Chanel Cleenton did a good job describing London, Paris, and Venice. I've always wanted to go there and I felt that the descriptions in the book were vivid enough that it makes me want to travel that much more.

The story itself was intriguing, every single character is complex and all of them seem to have backup stories that we only get to a glimpse of them in the book. I See London follows the story of Maggie Carpenter, a recent high school graduate that has always aspired to go to Harvard, but with a rejection letter and no backup plan she suddenly finds herself flying to London to attend an International school. The minute she arrives to London everything is foreign to her, but that soon changes the minute she forms new friendships and new adventures. Along the way, Maggie will also have to decide what's important to her and whether or not she wants to risk everything for the guy that she can't seem to resist.

When Maggie arrives to the International School in London she meets Samir. Half French and half Lebanese, Samir Khouri is the epitome of perfection in a guy. He is not only wealthy, extremely good looking, and very smart (he can basically get a perfect score without having to take notes or study in class). This all looks good to Maggie, but Samir has made it clear that he doesn't do relationships making it a problem for her. But having met Samier doesn't stop her form meeting other guys and that's when she meets Hugh, a very attractive British guy that seems to have everything Maggie wanted. He is kind, wealthy, and also cares for her a lot. Now Maggie will have to choose between the two.

Having already expressed how much I loved this story at the beginning, there were also a lot of things that I really liked about the book. The story is very well-written and thought out. Maggie's character is one that I had a bit trouble liking, she doesn't have the best relationship with her dad and being sort of neglected by him makes her future decisions not the best. Although Samir has the “bad-boy” reputation, he is still a nice guy. He is the character that I enjoyed reading about the most, whereas Hugh, not so much. The sexual tension between Maggie and Samir throughout the book is obvious, and it just made me want to keep reading, for the lack of not knowing what was going to happen next. Overall, Chanel Cleeton did a good job with the story, I highly recommend it and will be reading the second book as soon as it comes out. 

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

My Rating:

Book Trailer: 

                                                                                                                                 

Feature and Follow Friday (#41)

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: Spring Break. Where would be your favorite destination spot if you could join the Spring Break festivities?

Answer: I'm at the last few days of my spring break now, and I didn't end going anywhere interesting. But needless to say I would have still loved to have gone to Coachella (music festival) this year. I'm hoping to go next year though. :D (fingers-crossed)

**If you're a new follower, please let me know and I'll make sure to follow back** Thanks! :)