Saturday, November 30, 2013

Happy Birthday Escape Publishing: The Virginity Mission by Cate Ellink-Excerpt & Giveaway


Today I'm thrilled to be sharing an excerpt from Cate Ellink's The Virginity Mission as part of Escape Publishing's 1st Birthday celebrations!

I recently had the pleasure of reading this book (review to be posted later on!) so I'm thrilled to share with you today a sneak peak at the first chapter. If this doesn't make you want to read the book as it did me I don't know what will!

__________________________________________________

 
My eyes are drawn to movement. Someone jumps onto the back of the truck and I blink. Once. Twice. My stomach and pelvic floor collide.

Shoulders loom from a snug khaki singlet that ripples across his stomach as he moves. Camouflage trousers do nothing to disguise his tightly rounded butt as he bends over to grab the first backpack to stow. This military man is all lithe, controlled power. He climbs over the back of the truck holding someone’s gear as if it weighs nothing. Those shoulders are massive bunches of corded strength. His arms aren’t hugely bulging but deliciously defined. A sudden desire to have those arms wrapped tightly around my naked flesh burns my brain. Dear God, I’ve lost my mind.

I’m on a scientific expedition. Learning is the key to the next six weeks in the north Queensland rainforest—it’s not a sex tour. I’ve never been to the tropics before and I’m eager to find out everything I can. I’m here to contribute, not drool, although if someone catches my eye I won’t say no. But the army men are here to work and they’re not allowed to fraternise with us. It was mentioned more than a few times in last night’s briefing.

Standing in line while waiting for my gear to get packed into the truck, nothing can stop my eyes returning to the army guy. People around me are talking but it’s only background noise. My attention is otherwise occupied.

His dark, close‐cropped hair shines with exertion but he doesn’t break stride. He keeps lugging another piece of gear, piling it into the truck as if it weighs nothing. Each piece packed neatly and effortlessly.

Each movement is fluid. Every muscle bending and flexing in perfect accord. He’s like a sleek black panther—all coiled muscle ready to pounce. It’s so damn sexy I can’t look away. My mouth is drying as I watch and every drop of moisture is heading south.

I’m seriously attracted but my mind is overriding my body’s reaction. Hey, dimwit, do you think he’s interested in you? Heck, he must be thirty and you’re a kid. He’ll be married. Far too experienced. He’ll never notice you. He’s a panther—stunning but unattainable. Hands off.

My self‐doubting mind keeps up a constant barrage of disparaging remarks while my body gives in to lust. Moisture is slick along my thighs as I wriggle from one foot to the other, hoping to mop up the excess before my lust becomes obvious to all. I keep looking away, trying to regain my sanity but my gaze flicks back to that truck. At times my breathing is normal but then it jams in my throat, usually when a muscle flexes, or his butt is in profile or his shoulder muscles bunch. The closer I get to handing him my backpack, the more riotous my mind and body become.

My mind is telling me I’m an idiot at the same time my imagination is running riot. What would it be like naked against his body when there’s so much sweat on his skin? Would we slip against each other easily? Tangled together as one. Would his sweat taste of strong musky male?

My knees almost buckle beneath me. My mouth is dry and I can’t even wet my lips. I make myself stop imagining.

The line moves closer.



It’s lust at first sight when Mac sees Jason shirtless and sweating on the back of a truck. Jason is the army sergeant assigned to support the six‐week scientific expedition that Mac is participating in, and might just be the perfect candidate for another journey of discovery that Mac is desperate to undertake — sex.

Fraternisation between students and staff might be strictly prohibited, but everybody knows fruit always tastes better when it’s forbidden




 
Purchase:


Cate Ellink became intrigued by the erotic when her grandfather used to pass books to her father saying, “Don’t let the girls read page X.” Although her mother and sisters never bothered to chase those pages, Cate always did. Invariably, her imagination was better than what she read.

While pursuing a career in science, Cate amused herself by writing about ordinary events and giving them an erotic twist. It’s taken more than a few years to bravely expose her mind to the public. While the events in her stories may have occurred, it’s highly likely that her imagination is far more exciting than the reality.

Cate lives near the beach in NSW, Australia, with a long-suffering husband.

Visit Cate:


 
 NA Bundle:
 
Details:
For your chance to win a NA bundle featuring The Virginity Mission by Cate Ellink as well as four other fabulous stories, be sure to comment with a way to contact you!
 
Sharing isn't necessary, but always appreciated :)
 
Open internationally!
 
**Stop back on Tuesday for another fabulous excerpt from Chains of Revenge by Keziah Hill and yet another giveaway!**
 
 

Friday, November 29, 2013

Book Blitz: The Forgotten Ones by Laura Howard-Excerpt & Giveaway

 
Welcome to the Book Blitz for The Forgotten Ones by Laura Howard thanks to Ya Reads Blog Tours!

Although I haven't read this book myself, I've heard nothing but brilliant things about it, so I'm happy to share this excerpt and giveaway with you. Enjoy!

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Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.
 
What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.


Purchase:

 
 
Ethan paused just inside his bedroom door and turned to look at me. His face was scrunched in concern. “What is it, Al?”

“Nothing. I was just thinking about something Rachel said to my cousin the other day.”

He waited for a moment. “Are you going to tell me what it was?” he asked.

“Um, no. I don’t think I will,” I whispered. I tried to keep my voice from cracking as he moved closer to me.

“Well,” he said, his gaze moving down to my lips. “How am I supposed to make you feel better if you don’t tell me what upset you?”

I inhaled sharply as he kept moving forward. I took two steps backward before I bumped into the wall.

“She might have said something about you only being interested in me because I’m no-man’s land,” I managed to squeak out.

Ethan chuckled, and I could feel it vibrate through me. “No-man’s land, huh?”

“That’s right. And she said I’m probably a lesbian, anyway.”

His face was inches from mine now.
“You’re not a lesbian, are you, Al?” he teased, trying to meet my eyes.

“I don’t really have much to base my opinion on,” I said, the words just barely audible above the beating of my heart. “I’ll have to get back to you on that.”

“For the sake of your own peace of mind,” he whispered, leaning in so that I could feel his breath on my lips. “I’d be willing to help you figure it out.”

My pulse spiked, and I willed it to slow down so that I could form a witty reply. But, he didn’t give me a chance. His lips just brushed against mine, soft as a feather. He brought his hands up and cradled the back of my head. So gentle. His lips moved against mine—not taking, only asking.

His fingertips trailed down my arm and made me shiver. I pulled back, needing to breath. He didn’t let go of me though.

“We should go back outside, before we ruin this by fighting.” His smile was genuine, if the slightest bit wistful.

I blushed. Yeah, he was probably right. 
 
 
Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.


Visit Laura:
 
 
 
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Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Happy Birthday Escape Publishing: Interview with Jenny Brigalow & Giveaway



To kick off the Happy Birthday Escape Publishing celebrations, I have author Jenny Brigalow on the blog today to chat about her latest release with Escape Publishing, The Children of the Mist.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Jenny Brigalow!
__________________________________________

 
Welcome Jenny and thanks for agreeing to chat with me today as part of Escape Publishing's 1 year celebrations. I'm looking forward to talking to you about your recent release The Children of the Mist.

Let's get started, shall we?

For those of us out there that haven't had a chance to read The Children of the Mist yet, what can we expect?
COTM puts a whole new spin on what it is to be a werewolf and a vampyre today. History, legend and myth coalesce to bring you paranormal that is extreme, romantic and just a bit sexy too. COTM pushes the boundaries of paranormal. Just like its heroine and hero.

The Children of the Mist centers around sixteen year old Morven. Describe Morven in one sentence.
Morven Smith is an unconventional girl. She's the girl we'd all like to be. (Oops - that's two sentences.)

That's alright Jenny, we'll forgive you ;) The Children of the Mist is your first foray into the world of YA fiction. What do you feel is the biggest difference between writing YA fiction and Adult fiction?
I wrote COTM after a chat with my paranormal obsessed daughter. I asked her how she would feel if she woke up on her 16th birthday to discover she'd morphed into a vampyre. And Morven Smith was born in my imagination. I guess the great thing about YA is that the audience is incredibly receptive. I drew on the unforgettable ecstasy, angst and agony that is youth. That incredible intensity of emotion is a fantastic to work with. I love YA!

Part of The Children of the Mist takes place in Scotland. Of all the exotic places you could have based the story, what made you want to set the book there?
When I was a young woman I holidayed at my stepfather's cottage not far from Oban , beside the Crinan Canal. I loved Argyll then, and I still do. It is a mystical and magical landscape. I returned in August this year. It is still breathtaking.

Talk us through your writing process? What goes into a typical writing session for you?
Small ritual first. I play cards on the computer. Usually patience. When I win then I begin! I have a sticky keyboard from cake and chocolate feasts. I have to write a minimum of 1000 words which translates to roughly an hour. Three hours is my limit. When I finish I try to end midway through a chapter so I can pick up the thread more easily next time.

Have you always wanted to write?
No. I have always wanted to be a heroine. When I was 44 I hurt my back and was laid up for a long time. I was bored and did a correspondence course in Romance writing. I was very surprized and deliriously happy when I wrote my first story. I've never stopped.

What's been your most memorable experience working with and being a part of Escape Publishing?
When I got an email from Kate Cuthbert to say she'd like to publish COTM. A dream come true.

With The Children of the Mist now out in the world, what can we expect from you next? Is there a sequel in the works?
Yes. I've just finished the first draught of another YA Paranormal with close connections to COTM.

6 Quick Questions:

1. Vampires or Werewolves? Unkind question. That's like having to choose between M&M's and mint aero.
2. Christmas or Easter? Christmas.
3. Ebook or Physical Book? Physical.
4. Favourite Food? Cake
5. Favourite Colour? Blue
6. Lucky Number? 13

I just wanted to thank you again for agreeing to be interviewed Jenny. I wish you all the luck with whatever you do next!
Thank you for inviting me.

 
 
Born in Britain, I arrived in Australia as a young woman in 1985 for an impromptu holiday and never left. I fell in love with the Australian bush, its unique flora and fauna and the colourful personalities that inhabit the country. I live on a small acreage close to Toowoomba with my family, dogs, cats and ponies.
 
I love to write. I write rural romance, young adult and, more recently, literary fiction. When I'm not writing, I'm reading, walking or riding my Connemara pony, Romeo. Rural romance is a natural extension of my passion for all things country. I believe that romance is the universal language of love. And besides, I'm a sucker for a happy ending.

Visit Jenny:


An original paranormal YA about an unconventional girl, an unconventional boy, their extraordinary transformations, and the secrets of the Scottish Highlands.

When skater girl Morven Smith turns sixteen, she develops boobs, acute appendicitis...and a pair of pointy teeth. While she is stunned by her metamorphosis into vampire, her best mate, the enigmatic Zest, is not. For the young werewolf, Morven’s transformation is an answer to his lonely prayers.

But they are unable to celebrate their mutual paranormalcy for long — there are too many dangers, too much suspicion, and too many questions. It’s only in Scotland that Morven can learn the truth about her past. But she discovers more than she bargained for when she meets her birth family — an ancient feud between vampires and werewolves. They may both be Children of the Mist, but only one species can survive.



Purchase:
 
YA Bundle:
 
Details:
For your chance to win a YA bundle featuring The Children of the Mist by Jenny Brigalow as well as four other fabulous stories, be sure to comment with a way to contact you!
 
Sharing isn't necessary, but always appreciated :)
 
Open internationally!
 
**Stop back Saturday--I have an excerpt from The Virginity Mission to share with you and of course another giveaway!**
 

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Book Shelf: Crash into You (Pushing the Limits #3) by Katie McGarry

From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.


More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Crash Into You is the sensational third installment in Katie McGarry's Pushing the Limits series and with it's riveting story, striking characters and incredibly intense and powerful romance, is quite possibly the best book in the series yet! Crash Into You encompasses everything that makes this series so great and will thrill readers from the very first page until the last!

Okay. So. I'm in love....with this book! Really, I am. Katie McGarry managed to capture my attention with Pushing The Limits, steal my heart with Dare You To, and after reading Crash Into You, pretty much owns my soul. Crash Into You was brilliant. Simply brilliant. I almost don't know how to write a review that will do this story justice--it's just that good!

From the very opening chapter, this story was riveting...and completely addictive! I didn't want to put the book down and as the story progressed, I became more and more absorbed in Isaiah and Rachel's tale. Crash Into You is incredibly intense and piercing; so well written and well told, with characters so rich in personality and energy that they come to life within it's pages. Told in the dual POV that allows this series to be so well rounded, Crash Into You couldn't have been a better read. Honestly, Katie McGarry has outdone herself with this one!

Finally telling Isaiah's tale, Crash Into You was pretty much what I've come to expect from Katie McGarry; rich, powerful and emotional....and yet so much more! If you think you knew Isaiah after Pushing The Limits and Dare You To, think again! Katie McGarry opens him up in this book and bares Isaiah's soul. Finally allowing readers to see into the deepest part of Isaiah's head and heart, Crash Into You showcases Isaiah like never before.

Wow. Isaiah. Just wow. I've loved Noah and I've loved Ryan, but I'll say it here and I'll say it now.....Isaiah is the best leading man to come out of this series to date! Seriously. With his shaved head, tattoo's and piercings it's understandable that people mistake Isaiah for a thug, and yet he in no way is. He's raw and harsh, and fierce when need be, but Isaiah has honor and kindness and so much depth. Katie McGarry is so good at writing raw, fractured individual's and Isaiah with his pain, loneliness and desire to keep everyone at arms length is a perfect example of this.

Honestly, my heart broke for Isaiah in this book. Broke. Experiencing things through his eyes and seeing how hard his life was ripped me apart. I just wanted to give him a big hug and tell him it would be alright. Seeing him struggle through life, but wanting to do the right thing by those around him was very powerfully. Haunting, but powerful. And that being said, seeing him experience the good things in life was also lovely to behold. Friendship, love....respect---these just managed to fill me with so much joy as I read this book.

As Isaiah's leading lady and love interest in Crash Into You, I adored Rachel. And it had nothing to do with her name either, ha! Here was a girl with issues. A girl hiding who she really was from those closest to her in the hopes of keeping them happy. Someone keeping up pretenses and doing what was expected of her, but who was really dying inside, hiding how she really felt. Rachel was wounded. This kind, sweet young woman was wounded. Haunted by her family, and this loss of a child she could never live up to, Rachel was brave, selfless at times and beautiful.

I have to be honest, I was quite a bit devastated when I learned that Isaiah and Beth weren't going to be paired together after Pushing The Limits, but having read Dare You To and now Crash Into You, I think that this was the right choice by Katie McGarry. I don't doubt she could have written a brilliant book pairing them together, and while I'll admit the chance to have two books rather than one is something I love, I don't feel Beth and Isaiah could have found the same kind of happiness together as they do with their respectable others. Ryan is the light in Beth's darkness and in Crash Into You, we discover that Rachel is the same for Isaiah.

The relationship between Isaiah and Rachel is spectacular! My favourite to date! From the moment they meet it's clear that Isaiah and Rachel have an undeniable attraction. They're drawn to each other and despite their differences, find something in the other they'd never found before. The angst and sexual tension is through the roof with these two, and as Katie McGarry takes her time setting up a strong foundation for their relationship based on a mutual love of cars and friendship, the chemistry they share only gets better and better.

Isaiah and Rachel are electric together...and endearingly so. Their romance is intense but is also very deep. There's more to them than physical attraction and as Isaiah slowly lets Rachel in and he makes her stronger, it's impossible not to become lost in their love story. From different places in society, there's an undeniable aspect of forbidden love that shines through in this novel and as you see everything that threatens to stand in their way and keep them apart, you can't help but love them more!

All the characters from the two pervious books make appearances, but Katie McGarry also introduces us to more fabulous characters in the form of Rachel's many brothers and Isaiah's friend Abby, who only help enhance the story. I have a feeling Katie McGarry has more stories up her sleeve and I'm excited to see who we'll hear from next!

Featuring a beautiful and riveting love story, Crash Into You is thrilling in it's storyline and addictive in it's emotion. There's so much beauty to be found in it's pages and it's powerful romance will steal your breath away. Crash Into You takes this series to another level and is without a doubt a story you do not want to miss!


Rating:
Source: Sent for review by HarlequinTEEN Australia (Thank you Polina!!)
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: One of the best contemporary series out there, this series is a MUST READ!
Cover: I adore it--to me it's Isaiah and Rachel. Plus it goes perfectly with our other Aussie covers!
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Oh, I truly hope this isn't the end for this series! As long as Katie McGarry keeps writing books, I'll keep reading them!

Monday, November 25, 2013

Monday Madness Giveaway-November 2013! *CLOSED*


It's that time again! Today Monday Madness for November kicks off and this month the book I was most mad about was Through The Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter! Here's some of what I thought about it......

"The plotline in this book is driven, mysterious and uncertain. Showalter blends different elements of the traditional Alice in Wonderland tale together with zombies in such a fun, fresh and captivating story. There's so much going on and with one disaster/excitement blending into the next, I find myself very satisfied with how this story finished yet eager for the next one. This series is evolving nicely and I'm dying to see what Gena Showalter has up her sleeve next!"

As a die-hard Showalter fan I'm super excited to be giving away one of her books!


Inspired by the childhood classic Alice in Wonderland, this harrowing and romantic story features teen zombie slayer Alice Bell who has lost so much—family, friends, her home. After a strange new zombie attack, Alice fears she may be losing her mind as well. A terrible darkness blooms inside her, urging her to do wicked things. The whispers of the dead assault her ears and mirrors seem to come frighteningly to life. She’s never needed her team of zombie slayers more—including her boyfriend, Cole—than she does now. But as Cole strangely withdraws and the zombies gain new strength, Ali knows one false step may doom them all.

Be sure to check out my review as well as add it on Goodreads!

 
· You MUST be a follower to enter!
· Giveaway is INTERNATIONAL or wherever The Book Depository ships to.
· Giveaway will run from today (the 25th of November) until the 9th of December (2 weeks time!)
· Simply comment below with a way to contact you to enter
· Extra entries are available but are in no way necessary by:
+1 Letting me know what you think of Through The Zombie Glass (Have you read it? Do you want to read it? What's your thoughts?) and....
+1 For Tweeting, Facebooking or Sharing!

**PLUS because this is a sequel, if the person who wins has not read the first book, Alice in Zombieland, they will have the opportunity of choosing that book instead!**
 

Book Blitz: Chameleon by Kenya Wright-Giveaway


Today marks the Book Blitz for Chameleon by Kenya Wright and I'm super excited to share it with you beaucse even though I'm yet to read this book I'm looking forward too. I mean, seriously, that cover is amazing!
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Cameo lives in a caged supernatural city where all species are tagged at birth with silver brands embedded in their foreheads. Her X brand identifies her as a Mixbreed, but she’s so much more. Like a chameleon, she can shift from one person’s image to another.

It’s a great way to make money for a habitat street kid, or Cage Punk as most people call them. Wiz, her street partner-in-crime, finds her jobs to use her abilities. Some jobs entail changing into people to take academic tests. Others require more skill and involve higher risk.

When Wiz asks Cameo to stand in for a Were-wolf teenager who doesn't want to go to her debutante ball, it seems like just another job, until a corpse is discovered and an old friend of Wiz appears.


Purchase:


 

Kenya Wright always knew she would be famous since the ripe old age of six when she sang the Michael Jackson thriller song in her bathroom mirror. She has tried her hand at many things from enlisting in the Navy for six years as a Persian-Farsi linguist to being a nude model at an art university.

However, writing has been the only constant love in her life. Will she succeed? Of course. For she has been coined The Urban Fantasy Queen, the Super Iconic Writer of this Age, The Lyrical Genius of Our Generation. Granted, these are all terms coined by her, within the private walls of her bathroom as she still sings the Michael Jackson thriller song.

Kenya Wright currently resides in Miami with her three amazing, overactive children, a supportive, gorgeous husband, and three cool black cats that refuse to stop sleeping on Kenya’s head at night.

Visit Kenya:

 
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Sunday, November 24, 2013

Happy Birthday Escape Publishing!

 
November marks Harlequin Australia's first digital imprint, Escape Publishing's 1 year birthday and to celebrate I've teamed up with them to showcase a bunch of their published books and the fabulous authors behind them!

Over the course of the rest of November and then throughout most of December, I have guest posts, excerpts, and interviews to share with you. And of course a fantastic event wide giveaway for you guys with 15 ebooks to be won in total!
 
Here's what can be won!
 
**There are 3 bundles and therefore 3 winners!**
 
 YA:
 Words Once Spoken by Carly Drake
Rayessa and the Space Pirates by Donna Maree Hanson
Finding Home by Lauren K. McKellar
The Children of the Mist by Jenny Brigalow
A Missing Peace by Beth Fred
 
NA:
Tearing The Shroud by J.M. Bray
It’s Love, Dude by Jenny Schwartz
Bitter Fruits by Sarah Daltry
King Hall by Scarlett Dawn
The Virginity Mission by Cate Ellink
 
Fantasy:
Awakening by Lara Morgan
A Warlord's Lady by Nicola E. Sheridan
Chaos Born by Rebekah Turner
I Dream of Johnny by Juliet Madison
Chains of Revenge by Keziah Hill
 
To Enter:
I've decided to keep it easy so to enter all you have to do is comment on each post with a way contact you :) Meaning:
 
Every comment = 1 entry
 
For example, if you want to enter to win the YA pack, simply comment on one of the posts featuring a YA book!
 
Commenting on all 5 posts = 5 entries
 
And you can do that for all the bundles!
 
Make sense?
 
Escape Publishing has had a fantastic first year, so I'm thrilled to be a part of the celebrations and even more excited to share it all with you!
 
**Wednesday kicks off the fun, with The Children of the Mist author Jenny Brigalow stopping by for a chat!**
 
 

Friday, November 22, 2013

Book Blitz: Alive by Megan D. Martin


Welcome to the Release Day Book Blitz for Alive by Megan D. Martin!

I'm super excited to be helping Megan celebrate Alive's release--I'll be reviewing it in the near future and just think the books sounds fantastic!
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Flesh-eating zombies, dirty sex, and a shattered past…
What’s more dangerous—the man who broke her heart or those trying to eat it?


Fighting to survive, Eve finds herself alone in the world after the Crave—the only parallel of her former life. On the hunt for her sister, she runs into Gage—the first and only boy to have her heart and break it. It’s been four years and he isn’t a boy anymore, nor is he the same person he used to be. Against her better judgment, Eve agrees to stay with him when he divulges information on a safe haven near the small town they grew up in—but that doesn’t mean she has to like it…

Returning home elicits a myriad of emotions that both Eve and Gage thought they had buried. The past and present collide and they are forced to the face bitter deceits that ruined them in the before and threaten to destroy them now…


Purchase:


 
 
 
Megan D. Martin is a multi-published author, mother, student and editor. In her spare time she enjoys decorating her house with strange things that do not match, playing her old school Nintendo Entertainment System, and buying fish for her many fish tanks. To learn more about Megan, check her out on these social networking sites.


Visit Megan:
 
 
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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday #51

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating.


This week I'm waiting on.....
 
 
Lair of Dreams (The Diviners #2) by Libba Bray 
Releases on: August 5th 2014
 
After a supernaturalshowdown with a serial killer, Evie O'Neill has outed herself as a Diviner. Now that the world knows of her ability to "read" objects, and therefore, read the past, she has become a media darling, earning the title, "America's Sweetheart Seer." But not everyone is so accepting of the Diviners' abilities...

Meanwhile, mysterious deaths have been turning up in the city, victims of an unknown sleeping sickness. Can the Diviners descend into the dreamworld and catch a killer.
 
 
Thoughts:
The first book in this series, The Diviners, blew me away and I'm so very eager to get my hands on this book. After only one book, I'm in love with all the characters and their dynamic and absolutely read for more! Not exactly a fan of the cover, but I just know the story is going to be brilliant!
 
What do you think? Have you read the first book and will you be reading this one?
Plus, what are you waiting on this week? I'd love to know :)
 
 
 

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Book Shelf: The Prey (The Hunt #2) b y Andrew Fuduka

For Gene and the remaining humans—or hepers—death is just a heartbeat away. On the run and hunted by society, they must find a way to survive in The Vast... and avoid the hungry predators tracking them in the dark. But they’re not the only things following Gene. He’s haunted by the girl he left behind and his burgeoning feelings for Sissy, the human girl at his side.

When they discover a refuge of exiled humans living high in the mountains, Gene and his friends think they’re finally safe. Led by a group of intensely secretive elders, the civilisation begins to raise more questions than answers. A strict code of behaviour is the rule, harsh punishments are meted out, young men are nowhere to be found—and Gene begins to wonder if the world they’ve entered is just as evil as the one they left behind. As life at the refuge grows more perilous, he and Sissy only grow closer. In an increasingly violent world, all they have is each other... if they can only stay alive.


More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

The Prey is the gripping follow up to Andrew Fukuda's sensational debut novel, The Hunt and continues on in it's tradition with plenty of riveting danger, unexpected twists and just a hint of romance mixed together in this high-stakes and suspenseful read!

Having been blown away by The Hunt last year, I was very excited to dive into The Prey. Andrew Fukuda's debut novel was an unexpected delight for me and left me hungering for the second book. And yet, for some unknown reason it's taken me a while to actually get around to reading The Prey. Don't ask me why, but with the recent release of the third and final book, The Trap, I finally decided to take the plunge back into Gene's world.

And boy am I glad I did! Honestly, I'm actually sorry I waited so long to read The Prey; it was that good. Admittedly, not quite as good as the first book in the trilogy but still close. In The Prey, Fukuda continues to masterfully build upon his world and society. Picking up almost instantly where The Hunt left off, this book manages to remain fast paced and addictive from beginning to end as Fukuda tells this part of Gene's story now that he and the rest of the hepers have escaped from the Dome.

Searching for the Scientist that promised them paradise, Gene, Sissy, Epap, David, Jacob and Ben find unexpected friends and foes in their journey that explores more and more of this harsh, chilling world Fukuda has created. There's one immense danger after the next and with the grotesque, inhuman "duskers", as they're now known, continuing to hunt them, you, as the reader never know what's going to happen next.

Gene was as brilliant as he was the first book and I enjoyed seeing Andrew Fukuda explore his relationship with the hepers who had previously only known life in the Dome. My only real disappointment with this book was that I felt Fukuda replaced one character with another in The Prey. Something made all the more difficult because I had become invested in the plight and part of that character within the storyline. I understood the reason behind this and I can't fault the evolution it meant for Gene and the storyline, but I was disappointed regardless.

While the theme of friendship is stronger than ever, the romance in The Prey is minimal...and you know what? I don't mind at all. Andrew Fukuda's riveting storyline is so incredibly fast paced with such high stakes that the chilling action and raw danger of the story kept me entertained from start to finish. I didn't even miss the romance element I normally would in books.

The Prey races through one danger straight into another and heads straight into a climactic ending I'm coming to see is Andrew Fukuda's specialty. Featuring plenty of plot developments and even more possibilities, The Prey has me all set for the third and final book in the trilogy, The Trap, and knowing Fukuda anything will go with what I'm sure will be an insanely intense ending!


Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Simon & Schuster Australia (Thank you guys!)
Format: Paperback.
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: If you're a fan of a good, past paced dystopian read then this series is for you!
Cover: Love it! Not only does it go with the first cover perfectly, but this actually depicts a specific part in the story!
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Without a doubt--looking forward to seeing how it all ends!