Monday, March 31, 2014

Monday Madness Giveaway- March 2014 *CLOSED


Welcome to March's Monday Madness Giveaway! This month the book that had me the most "mad" and actually broke my heart into little tiny pieces was The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. I'll never know why I waited so long to read this incredible book, but I'll glad I finally did. Here's a little of what I thought.....

"John Green's powerful exploration of life and love in the midst of death is something so powerful in The Fault In Our Stars . There's no doubt in my mind that the smart and bittersweet romance explored in The Fault In Our Stars will stay with you, long after the inevitable happens. Get ready for an emotional rollarcoaster ride with The Fault In Our Stars---one that's sure to have you coming back for more!"

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.


Add on Goodreads or read my complete review!

 
· You MUST be a follower to enter!
· Giveaway is INTERNATIONAL or wherever The Book Depository ships to.
· Giveaway will run from today (31st March) until the 14th of April (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 The Fault In Our Stars! (Have you read it? Do you want to read it? What's your thoughts?) and....
+1 For Tweeting, Facebooking or Sharing!

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Free Ebooks

Hi everyone!

It's that again--FREE ebooks from Amazon.com! Check out the below books I've found :)


 
Hope you all managed to find something you like!

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Blog Tour: Enmity by E.J. Andrews-Guest Post


Today the Aussie Blog Tour for Enmity by E.J. Andrews stops by The Rest Is Still Unwritten and I have the lovely author on the blog to guest post. Thanks to HarlequinTEEN Australia E.J. Andrews talks about what she feels was the most difficult part about writing Enmity.
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The Most Difficult Part about Writing Enmity

I love writing and would still write even if no one was there to read any of my work, which is why the most difficult part about writing this book was my inexperience with writing something people will actually be reading. Previously, I have always just written for myself and haven’t taken too much consideration for the reader. This means that the first people to ever actually read my book were the Publishing team at Harlequin Teen and they helped develop ideas. The manuscript I originally sent through is quite a lot different from the book that I am now ready and eager for everyone to read, but it still all comes from me. I was just in need of some guidance from the experts!

Research was also a challenge. Especially finding out about solar flares! I knew the society that Nate and Hermia lived in was the last remaining society in existence, but it took me such a long time to determine why. The idea first came to me from the changes in weather we have been experiencing around the world. But I needed to find something that would fit the bill of a total world destruction scenario. After researching solar flares online, I thought it was a very different and interesting setting for destruction. I believe a solar flare could very possibly be the end to the world as we know it, and hence added a reality element to the story.

Another challenge with writing Enmity was the fact that I am not a trained writer, but I do have a love of books, which is where my passion for writing comes from. Going through the editing process for the first time was quite difficult – as you have someone nit-picking at every word you have written and this can be quite disheartening at first. But once you see the finished product it was very much for the best! Enmity is now the book I always dreamed it would be thanks to the editor. And despite the difficulties, I wouldn’t change anything about the whole process that has brought Enmity here today. 

E.J. Andrews was raised in a small town on the west coast of New Zealand by a gold miner with a fascination for guns and a nurse with an obsession with dragons.

Growing up, E.J. constantly felt that she needed to write down the vivid thoughts going around her head, but it wasn’t until her aunt gave her John Marsden’s Tomorrow series to read that her writing bloomed and her interest in books became a full-blown fixation.

At the age of eighteen she decided to live with her sister in Brisbane, Australia, where she found a job working at a boat club on the beautiful Moreton Bay. In between split shifts and while others her age were out enjoying their adolescence, E.J. was writing well into the early hours, trying to get down those ever-present ideas of a not-so-bright future.

E.J. now lives on the Redcliffe peninsula with her partner and their cat Senga.

Visit E.J:
 


 Love vs Life.
Good vs Evil.
War vs Warfare.

Which would you choose?
 

After a solar flare wipes out most of the world’s inhabitants, it leaves behind nothing but a desolate earth and a desperate population. Existence is no longer a certainty. And with factions now fighting for the power to rule, people start to become reckless with their lives. The world has become a dangerous place.

Amongst the ensuing chaos, Nate and Hermia — two victims of the new world order — are taken against their will to The Compound. Joined by eight other teenagers all chosen for a specific reason, Nate and Hermia are forced to train as assassins to overthrow the current president and make way for a new leader of the free world. Here, they learn to plan, fight, and most importantly... to survive.

Except, despite the casual cruelty of their new existence, both Nate and Hermia — two very strong but very different people — begin to form fragile bonds within the group. But they soon realize their happiness is short lived...because their training is just the beginning.

A war awaits...regardless of how ready or willing they may be.



Purchase:

Click on the image below to check out the complete tour schedule:
 
Thanks to HarlequinTEEN and E.J. Andrews for allowing this tour to take place!
 
 

Friday, March 28, 2014

Book Shelf: Red Hill by Jamie McGuire

When the world ends, can love survive?

For Scarlet, raising her two daughters alone makes fighting for tomorrow an everyday battle. Nathan has a wife, but can’t remember what it’s like to be in love; only his young daughter Zoe makes coming home worthwhile. Miranda’s biggest concern is whether her new VW Bug is big enough to carry her sister and their boyfriends on a weekend escape from college finals.

When reports of a widespread, deadly “outbreak” begin to surface, these ordinary people face extraordinary circumstances and suddenly their fates are intertwined. Recognizing they can’t outrun the danger, Scarlet, Nathan, and Miranda desperately seek shelter at the same secluded ranch, Red Hill. Emotions run high while old and new relationships are tested in the face of a terrifying enemy—an enemy who no longer remembers what it’s like to be human.

Set against the backdrop of a brilliantly realized apocalyptic world, love somehow finds a way to survive. But what happens when the one you’d die for becomes the one who could destroy you?


More info on Goodreads......


Review:

From popular bestselling author Jamie McGuire comes Red Hill, a post apocalyptic thriller that will excite fans of The Walking Dead. Red Hill is a beautifully told story that mixes together excitement and danger against the pitfalls of love and surviving in the midst of tremendous odds!

Told through the eyes of Scarlet, a divorced mother of two, Nathan a man in a loveless marriage and Miranda, a college girl on her way home for the summer with her sister and their boyfriends, Red Hill depicts the events that follow when a deadly virus finds its way into the population; infecting those bitten and turning them into mindless zombies. In the tradition of The Walking Dead, Red Hill is a very realistic and chilling novel. A far cry from other zombie novels where futuristic elements play a part, Red Hill explores what would happen if a zombie apocalypse happened in today’s society.

Personally I don’t think this book is going to appeal to everyone. Though McGuire’s pertinent to detail is spot on and her writing solid, Red Hill lacks some of the excitement and over dramatization that I would hope to see in this kind of novel. Red Hill is in no way a romantic zombie story. McGuire doesn’t romanticize her zombies; this isn’t a story about a bunch of capable and kick-butt people taking on the zombies. This is a story about a group of very real, very authentic, very frightened people who are just trying to survive when the world as they know it ends.

I found it really interesting seeing Jamie McGuire weave together the lives of her characters without them even knowing it. Until the moment they all meet at Red Hill, Scarlet, Nathan and Miranda are put in the vicinity of each other numerous times, even interacting with the same individuals, be it at different points in time and don’t even know it.

Throughout Red Hill, McGuire explores the complexity of human emotion and an individual’s capacity to love in the face of tremendous odds, where survival is far from a sure thing. It’s impossible not to question certain idealisms and notions when reading this book. I mean, what is stronger than a mother’s love for her children, or a father’s love for his child? The power of love between two people sure they want to spend the rest of their lives together? How can we judge people as conceited and selfish when the selfishness seen is as simple as the lengths at which a mother is willing to go to to protect her child? How can you judge someone for putting the life of the one they love over a complete stranger?

It may seem cruel, but in a world gone wrong, what happens to a person’s capacity to care when everyone is out for themselves and do cruel things? It’s a chilling thought, and through out Red Hill, amidst the danger and entertaining story it’s hard not to think of this. At least, I know I did.

Filled to the brim with high stakes, violence and danger, Red Hill mixes friendship and love with bittersweet happiness and sadness. Though it might not be for everyone, Red Hill is a nicely written, and in my opinion, a great read!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Simon & Schuster (Thanks guys!)
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: Jamie McGuire fans won't want to miss this, but zombie fans, especially those who love The Walking Dead are sure to appreciate this book.
Cover: Simple, but fitting--I really like the simplicity of it.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: This is a stand alone novel, but as a die hard McGuire fan I'll read whatever she releases next!

 

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Blog Tour: Harvester by Rachel Russell- Excerpt & Giveaway

 
Today, the Blog Tour for Harvester by Rachel Russell stops by The Rest Is Still Unwritten! Thanks to Entranced Publishing I have a lovely excerpt from the first chapter to share with you as well as a fantastic tour wide giveaway.
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Sixteen-year-old Catalina has never seen the sky. As a mage, it’s illegal for her to leave the underground city she lives in. The sun and moon are only fantastical stories of a land far away. So when Catalina stumbles upon a tunnel leading to the surface, she can’t resist the temptation to see the surface world.

But instead of enjoying a night beneath the stars for the first time, Catalina emerges upon the scene of a savage murderer harvesting faery body parts. She's nearly his next victim, but is rescued by a grim boy named Will who has a troubling connection to the killer.

Even more disquieting is Catalina’s criminal status upon returning home. Someone with political clout has framed her for the vicious slayings. Now on the run from the law, Catalina must uncover Will’s tie to the serial killing of faeries, as well as stop a bloodthirsty murderer to prove her innocence, or face a death sentence.
 
 

THE LAST PERSON CAUGHT smuggling medicine had disappeared, never to be heard from again, after Marshals whisked him away for interrogation. It wasn’t a reassuring thought to have as Catalina stood in line and gnawed on the inside of her cheek. With each step she took toward the Arch, the glass vial hidden within the inside pocket of her vest grew heavier. She’d trafficked medicine into the city before, but it always felt like the first time. She supposed there were just some things you never got used to. Knowing the Arch wasn’t designed to detect her precious cargo didn’t stop her palms from sweating or her stomach from flip-flopping. 

“Next.” A scowling guard dressed in a black trench coat with a stiff, upturned collar waved her through with an exaggerated wave of his arm, as if she’d been dawdling. 

Catalina sucked in a breath and stepped beneath the Arch. It wailed, shrill and loud, like a cat in pain. She startled, her eyes widening. 
“Hands in the air!” 

Oh no. No, no, no, Catalina thought. She held up shaking hands. My luck cannot be this crappy. She’d passed through the Arch dozens of times with the medicine on her and the alarm had never gone off before. Maybe it was a malfunction. 

Another guard stepped over and passed a plain, black rod over her, starting at her head and traveling down. It glowed white when it neared her vest pocket. 

Catalina’s stomach bottomed out. They’d updated their equipment. For once, the law was a step ahead of her. 

The guard flipped open her vest and reached into the inside pocket, plucking out the vial. He held it up before his face, arching an eyebrow. Within the glass vial swirled clear liquid filled with glittering particles. The guard pulled out the stopper and sniffed. 

Catalina caught a faint waft of honeysuckle flowers. 

“It’s faery elixir, all right.” The guard put the stopper back on. “Take her to the interrogation room. The Marshal will want to speak with her.” 

The other guard stepped behind Catalina and twisted her arms behind her back. She needed to get out of there. If she could buck her head back hard enough to break the guard’s nose, maybe— 

Then metal pinched the tender skin of her wrists. She tried to wriggle her fingers. Her knuckles hit cool iron. He’d encased her hands in mitten handcuffs, the only sure way to keep a mage from weaving a spell. Catalina sighed. Now it really was too late. 

“Come on.” The guard grabbed Catalina by the elbow and led her through a blue door off to the right. 

Their booted steps echoed down a hallway with overhead lights so bright they whitewashed the walls and floor. Catalina squinted beneath the harsh glare. The guard led her to the end of the hallway and stopped in front of a dull door with black paint curling at the edges.

Again, she was struck with the near-overpowering drive to bolt. She’d heard horror stories of Marshals using magic to strangle hearts near to bursting point till they got what information they wanted. 

The hinges on the door whined as the guard opened it. An empty room with a table and two chairs lay beyond. A cold chill rushed down Catalina’s spine. Odd how such a sparse room could feel so menacing.
 
The guard shoved her into the room. “A Marshal will be with you shortly.” 

Catalina stumbled into the room and whirled to face the guard, only to be met by the door slamming shut. A click came from the other side of the door as he locked it. 

She turned and strode to the table. “Great. What the hell am I supposed to do now?”

Rachel is a YA author who likes dirty martinis and pickles on her pizza. Her stories tend to be either horror or fantasy, or a strange amalgamation of both genres. She works at Month9Books, LLC as both the Submissions Coordinator and an Editorial Assistant. When not reading or writing, Rachel is marathoning anime, becoming one with Twitter (@RachelxRussell), or playing make-believe with her two daughters.

Visit Rachel:

 
There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of Harvester.
Here’s what you can win;
* One white leather infinity bracelet
* One e-copy of Harvester
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:
Monday 17th March
Rebecca Carvalho – Author Interview

Tuesday 18th March
Entranced Publishing – Guest Post

Big Book Little Book – Promo

Wednesday 19th March
Musings of a Writing Reader – Tens List

Thursday 20th March
Living The Dream – Character Interview & Review

Friday 21st March
Written In Ink – Guest Post

Saturday 22nd March
A Daydreamer’s Thoughts – Tens List

Sunday 23rd March
Dyadic Echoes – Interview and Excerpt

Monday 24th March
Georgeann Swiger – Guest Post

Tuesday 25th March
The Nerd Herd Reads – Review and Dream Cast

Wednesday 26th March
Lady Amber’s Reviews – Review

Thursday 27th March
The Rest Is Still Unwritten – Tens List


Friday 28th March
Kendra Leighton – Character Guest Post

Saturday 29th March
Fictiffous – Tens List

Sunday 30th March
The Updates and Musings of Author D. M. Cain – Character Interview

Make sure to check out the rest of the tour! Thanks to Entranced Publishing for putting together this tour.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Book Shelf: The Last Shot (The Last Trilogy #2) by Michael Adams

I glance at my fellow fugitives in the glow of the fire: black-streaked, white-eyed, faces fearful but fierce. Whoever any of us were a week ago, we've now become people we could never have imagined.

After facing the heartbreaking truth in Shadow Valley, Danby is determined to have her revenge on Jack.

With Jack dead, her little brother Evan and hundreds of other Minions will be free of his control. With Jack dead, she and her friend Nathan will be able to revive thousands more from the millions of catatonic Goners.

But what if she's wrong - about everything?

After Danby confronts Jack on a dying stretch of highway, all of her beliefs are turned inside out. Not only are his feelings for her real, he's working against the clock to save lives and rebuild society. To Danby's horror, it's Nathan who appears to threaten the new order.

With her emotions raging and blood on her hands, Danby has to take a side in a deadly battle that'll decide the future of the world. And as allies become enemies and foes turn into friends, she'll have to embrace methods so dark that the price of survival may be her very soul ...


More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

The Last Shot is the second book in Michael Adams Last Trilogy and details the next phase in heroine Danby’s journey as she continues to battle to survive in the harsh new world formed after The Snap where no one is what they seems and enemies masquerade as friends.

This series is really entertaining to read. Michael Adam’s writing is solid and he depicts a powerful dystopian world in turmoil. It’s wonderful to find authentic Australian fiction set in our own backyard and featuring genuinely believable and real characters. Fans of John Marsden will appreciate what Adams has done with this story and the authenticity he has put into his story, set in Sydney’s west.

Personally I’m impressed with how this story is evolving and Adam’s ability to keep me on my toes. Our heroine Danby, for all her good intensions is struggling; struggling to maintain her integrity and some semblance of herself in this harsh and raw world she now finds herself in as she fights for her survival, and of those she loves.

I really liked Michael Adam’s ability to keep me questioning things in this book. As Danby goes through the motions of surviving, she also has to question who she can trust and who the enemy really is. After the shocking ending of the first book, The Last Shot starts up with Danby strongly under the impression that Jack is a murderer and the enemy, but throughout the novel there are a number of different events that has her questioning her own paranoia. It was odd seeing things fall into place and appearing to be different than you initially thought; you really began to question things as Danby does.

New and different characters are introduced in this book, as well as ones returning from The Last Girl, both that help and hinder Danby. Friends and allies turn on our heroine as she finds herself on a desperate race to escape her enemy alongside a select group of trusted friends.

Plenty of twists and turns entertain, with it obvious that Michael Adams still has a lot in store for the next book. A shocking, and unexpected ending will leave readers eagerly awaiting the third and final book, The Last Place!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Allen & Unwin (Thanks Lara!)
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile |  Kobo | Amazon (Kindle)
My Recommendation: Lovers of Aussie fiction and John Marsden fans will enjoy this one.
Cover: Goes perfectly with the first one!
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Absolutely

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Blog Tour: Fighting Connolly's by Roxie Rivera-

Welcome to the Blog Tour for the Fighting Connolly's series by Roxie Rivera thanks to Xpresso Book Tours! Having read the first two books, In Kelly's Corner and In Jack's Arms, I'm thrilled to share all three books with you today--these are great reads!
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Book 1: In Kelly's Corner
After a stalker breaks into her home, internet entrepreneur Bee Langston decides Kelly Connolly is the only man who can help her—but seeking help from the former Marine isn’t easy, especially after she made a spectacular fool of herself trying to kiss the sinfully sexy bodyguard.

When Kelly spots Bee weaving her way through the Houston nightspot where he’s working security, all those feelings he’s desperately tried to deny for his best friend’s sister come flooding to the surface. He’ll do anything to keep her safe, even if means getting up close and personal with the one woman he simply can’t have.

Soon, Bee’s stalker isn’t his only problem. His gambling addict father is tangled in a mess of debts to two of Houston’s toughest loan sharks. With the family gym on the line, there’s only one way for Kelly to make everything right. He agrees to fight for the Albanian mob in an underground bare-knuckle fighting tournament.

But winning the tournament and saving his family’s legacy comes at a high price—one that just might cost Bee her life.


Purchase:


Book 2: In Jack's Arms
When pawn broker Abby Kirkwood discovers the evidence of a chilling drug cartel hit on one of the video cameras hocked in her store, she turns to the only man she can trust—Jack Connolly.

The smolderingly sexy former Marine runs a successful gym down the street and coaches her brother's special needs baseball team. He's the one man who is always there when she needs him. If anyone can protect her family, it's commanding, capable Jack.

The moment he learns someone is threatening Abby and her brother, Jack sees red. To save the woman he's secretly loved for years, he'll do whatever it takes, even if it means facing off with a Mexican drug cartel and making deals with the same Albanian mob outfit that tried to ruin his family.

He finally has sweet, feisty Abby right where she was always meant to be—writhing with pleasure in his bed and safely sheltered in his arms. The vicious cartel assassin hot on her heels has no idea what he's up against.

The Connolly brothers are standing strong together—and no one touches their family.


Purchase:

 
Book 3: In Finn's Heart-Coming Soon!
 
In Her Own Words: I like to write super sexy romances and naughty erotica that make your pulse pound. You can get updates on new releases by visiting my website (roxierivera.com), signing up for my newsletter (http://eepurl.com/sX-z1) or liking my author page on Facebook.

I also write erotic romances as Lolita Lopez including the red-hot GRABBED series for Ellora’s Cave and the upcoming Dragon Heat series from Forever Yours/Grand Central.
 
Visit Roxie:
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Personally, I can't wait until the third book, In Finn's Heart is released and look forward to reading many more book by her in the future!


Monday, March 24, 2014

Owl Post #31


Inspired by The Story Siren's In My Mailbox, Owl Post allows us bloggers to showcase the books we've bought, won or received throughout the week and is hosted by Brodie over at Eleusinian Mysteries. We all know that the Owl Post is the fastest way to send and receive mail and they certainly make me happy every time they drop a book off.
 
Welcome to another Owl Post!
 
I received some great books these past two weeks; check them out......
 
For Review:
 
From Harlequin.......
 
- Time Will Tell by Fiona McCallum
- From The Feet Up by Tanya Saad
Both these books aren't my typical read, so I don't know when, or if, I'll even read them. Still, thank you Morey Media for these copies.
 
- Enmity by E.J. Andrews
I'm a massive dystopian fan so always love finding a new one; this book was alright. Be sure to stop by on March 29th when I have the Aussie blog tour stopping by!
 
- The Secret Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow
Michelle Madow is a really popular self-published author I know about, but am yet to read anything by. Looking forward to changing that by reading this The Secret Diamond Sisters, but the mixed reviews have my quite nervous.....
 
......Thank you guys!
_________________________
 
From Bloomsbury Australia......
 
- Cured by Bethany Wiggins
The first book in this series, Stung, was one of my favourite books of last year and I'm sooooooo excited to finally be able to dive into Cured. I'm reading it right now and it's brilliant!
 
- Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey
I'm a massive Alyxandra Harvey fan and this is the only book of hers I'm yet to read. So grateful to Sonia at Bloomsbury Aus. for sending me a copy of this to read--can't wait!
 
.....Thank you Sonia!
_____________________________
 
From Allen & Unwin.....
 
- While We Run by Karen Healey
This is the second book in the When We Wake series and having enjoyed the first book, I'm looking forward to reading this one.
 
.....Thank you Lara!
___________________________________
 
From Simon & Schuster.......
 
- Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
As surprising as this sounds, I've actually never read a book of Colleen Hoover's before, although I've heard nothing but brilliant things about her books. Maybe Someday sounds like a really great NA--hope to read it soon.
 
.........Thanks guys!
 
And that's all my goodies this week :)
What did you guys get?
 
 

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Book Shelf: In Kelly's Corner (Fighting Connollys #1) by Roxie Rivera

After a stalker breaks into her home, internet entrepreneur Bee Langston decides Kelly Connolly is the only man who can help her—but seeking help from the former Marine isn’t easy, especially after she made a spectacular fool of herself trying to kiss the sinfully sexy bodyguard.

When Kelly spots Bee weaving her way through the Houston nightspot where he’s working security, all those feelings he’s desperately tried to deny for his best friend’s sister come flooding to the surface. He’ll do anything to keep her safe, even if means getting up close and personal with the one woman he simply can’t have.

Soon, Bee’s stalker isn’t his only problem. His gambling addict father is tangled in a mess of debts to two of Houston’s toughest loan sharks. With the family gym on the line, there’s only one way for Kelly to make everything right. He agrees to fight for the Albanian mob in an underground bare-knuckle fighting tournament.

But winning the tournament and saving his family’s legacy comes at a high price—one that just might cost Bee her life.


More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

In Kelly’s Corner is a slick and suspenseful read by Roxie Rivera that is expertly paced and features an intriguing bunch of layered characters within a intriguing and mysterious storyline.

This is actually my first book by Roxie Rivera, and heading into it, I really had no idea it was a spin-off series of Rivera’s Her Russian Protector. As someone who hasn’t read her Her Russian Protector series (yet) I admit I was a bit confused by the vast array of characters we briefly meet, or whom are mentioned that I’ve since learned are the heroes of the Her Russian books. This was overwhelming at first, but I honestly believe In Kelly’s Corner could be read as a stand alone and can easily stand on its own merits as a story.

Introducing us to tech wiz and entrepreneur Beatrice "Bee" Langston and her late brother’s best friend and the man she has secretly loved for years, ex-Marine turned security guard Kelly Connolly, In Kelly’s Corner offers up plenty of chemistry and intrigue as Bee sees herself relying on Kelly as a stalker wrecks dangerous havoc on her life.

Roxie Rivera paints a very entertaining book with In Kelly’s Corner. I very much enjoyed the who-done-it element that encompasses the novel and liked being able to put the clues together. I admit I did figure out who Bee’s stalker is before they were revealed, but in the beginning they weren’t that evident so I liked Rivera’s ability to keep me on my toes.

I liked both Bee and Kelly as individuals and as a couple. Bee was very independent and self sufficient and I loved the idea of a tech savvy young woman with a company and a business. Kelly was quite likable as the ex-Marine struggling with his feelings for his best friends little sister and a man with a difficult past.

I really adored how Roxie Rivera explored Bee and Kelly’s relationship. Rivera managed to give them a solid foundation and did a great job building upon this as she slowly took them to next level. The sex scenes between them were sexy and sensual and I liked that I had the opportunity to get to know the two of them before the physical aspect of their relationship became such a focal point.

There are plenty of sub-plots brewing in this series that weave together within In Kelly’s Corner. Rivera introduces us to a number of minor characters whom I already look forward to learning more of including Kelly’s brothers Jack and Finn, both of whom will have their own stories.

Sexual tension and attraction weave together with underground fighting and high-side security, in this sexy read that features just the perfect hint of the Russian mob, the Albanian mob and a whole lot of naughty fun! Absolutely worth a read!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by Xpresso Book Tours and the author (Thank you Giselle & Roxie!)
Format: Kindle ebook
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
My Recommendation: This is an enjoyable NA/adult read.
Cover: The cover is very smexi ;)
Will I read sequel/continue with series: Yes.

Friday, March 21, 2014

Free Ebooks!

Hi guys!

Hop you all had a good week :) It's Friday which mean's it's freebie time! Check out the below FREE Amazon ebooks I've found recently.


 
Hope you you've all managed to snag something new!

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Book Shelf: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.


More info on Goodreads.....



Review:

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green is an unparrelled story. Humorous, romantic and achingly beautiful, The Fault In Our Stars will make you laugh, smile and cry. A story about life and loss and the powerful love shared between two teenagers in heartbreaking circumstances will touch you in ways you've never known!

In a world where there are so many stories, there are some books that leave a mark on you. Masterfully written tales that reach down inside you and find places sometimes you didn't even know were there. Tales that rip you apart and mess with your emotions in the most beautiful of ways....managing to fill you will laughter at one moment and sadness the next. Stories that are so deep in their content that they change you.

I've read a lot of books in my time as a reader--some excessivly emotional, others not so much--but never have I had a book break my heart like The Fault In Our Stars did. In all honesty, there are no words to describe the beautiful tragedy that is this book. That can even come close to describe it's triumphs and it's pain and it's addictive prescence. This book managed to tear me apart at times. Honestly, I was crying so hard I had to stop reading, simply because I could no longer distingish the words on the page.

There is no doubt within my mind that John Green is a genuis. What he has done with this story is nothing short of a miracle. The Fault In Our Stars is smart, quirky and endlessly emotional. John Green explores love and loss through the eyes of his main character Hazel in the most incredible of ways, forcing his reader through a whirlwind of emotion that you would almost come to resent....if you didn't love it so!

The raw insensity to this story is something you cannot help but love. The profound emotion and depth Green forces you to experince is something you're unable to avoid. Written though the eyes of Hazel Grace Lancaster, a sixteen year old girl with terminal cancer, The Fault In Our Stars depicts one of the most powerful love stories you could ever hope to read!

This is one of the few times where I don't plan to say a lot about the main characters. I mean, really? What can I say? No words will eloquently describe the brilliance that is Augustus Waters, with his emotional depth and metorphirical nature. Hazel Grace is a character you simply need to read to understand and the stregenth she displays in the face of such pain and loss is nothing short of beautiful. John Green gives life to these two through The Fault In Our Stars and makes them so completely human that you'll laugh with them, cry with them and just adore them.

The entire time I was reading The Fault In Our Stars, I knew it was going to break my heart, but the beauty in which it did was something I didn't want to miss. This story is tragic, but so, so achingly beautiful. The characters are raw and real; deep and powerful. I feel emotionally drained having read this book, but I'd do it all again and most likely will. It took me a while to read this, but I'm so thankful I did--Hazel and Augustus's story is sure to stay with me.

John Green's powerful exploration of life and love in the midst of death is something so powerful in The Fault In Our Stars . There's no doubt in my mind that the smart and bittersweet romance explored in The Fault In Our Stars will stay with you, long after the inevitable happens. Get ready for an emotional rollarcoaster ride with The Fault In Our Stars---one that's sure to have you coming back for more!


Rating:
Source: I bought.
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Bookworld | The Nile | The Book Depository | Amazon
My Recommendation: This book is an experience you don't want to miss!
Cover: Simple, but nice.
Will I read sequel/continue with series: This is a standalone novel, but I'd definitely read more by John Green in the future!


Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday #59

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.....
 
Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini
Releases on: September 2nd 2014
Add on Goodreads!

Love burns. Worlds collide. Magic reigns.

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying many of the experiences that other teenagers take for granted...which is why she is determined to enjoy her first (and perhaps only) high-school party. But Lily's life never goes according to plan, and after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly Lily is in a different Salem - one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruellest of all the Crucibles is Lillian . . . Lily's identical other self in this alternate universe. This new version of her world is terrifyingly sensual, and Lily is soon overwhelmed by new experiences.

Lily realizes that what makes her weak at home is exactly what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. It also puts her life in danger. Thrown into a world she doesn't understand, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone, and a love she never expected.

But how can Lily be the saviour of this world when she is literally her own worst enemy?


Thoughts:
This book sounds really good. I idea of Crucibles sounds different and I look forward to seeing something new. Oh and that cover is awesome!

What do you think of Trial by Fire? Will you be adding it to YOUR TBR list?
And what are YOU waiting on this week?

 

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Book Blitz: Falling From The Sky by Nikki Godwin- Excerpt & Giveaway

Welcome to the Book Blitz for Falling From The Sky by Nikki Godwin thanks to YA Bound Book Tours! Falling From The Sky is the only book by Nikki that I haven't read, although I hope to get a copy eventually, and am excited to showcase Falling From The Sky today. I very much enjoy Nikki's stories!
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All stability in sixteen-year-old Ridge McCoy's life crashed and burned in the plane crash that killed his dad. This summer-long basketball camp is his chance to improve his skills and escape his problems back home. But his summer plans take a turn in an unexpected direction when he meets Micah Youngblood, the guy who runs the carousel at the local mall and has a reputation for devouring straight boys' heterosexuality for breakfast, alongside his chocolate chip pancakes.

Ridge needs a way to avoid the guys at camp, whose only quest for the summer is to drown in beer and hook up with girls. So when Micah offers to explain how the ten unique horses on the carousel are significant to his tribe, Ridge takes him up on it. Still, Ridge can't decide if this is a bad thing or not. All he knows is that he hasn't felt this alive since his dad fell from the sky, and as the horse adventures come to an end, Ridge finds himself falling as well – for Micah.


Purchase:
 
 

.....He reaches an arm out from under the towel and grasps my forearm. He pulls me closer to him, and everything in my brain says to fight him off, but my body screams out for him to just hold me close to him and not let me go. His other hand brushes over my bare shoulder, and I glance toward the sky to avoid eye contact with him. I see the towel fall from his shoulder out of the corner of my eye, and I know he’s inches away from pulling his bare chest against mine. 

In this second of almost touching, I realize that falling for Micah – or any guy for that matter – will be a thousand times worse than falling from the sky. I have a girlfriend, and never in my life have I been attracted to a guy. At least not before now. No one has ever gotten to me like Micah does. His hands run along my arms, and I take the chicken way out.

“Will you jump with me?” I spit the words out quicker than I process them in my head.

Micah pulls back and inhales deeply. He’s not smiling with excitement or dragging me to the top of the bridge. He just stares at me with those sad puppy dog eyes filled with disappointment. He almost had me, and he knows it. That’s the point of a toxic green elephant – everyone sees it, but no one talks about it. However, he’s not talking at all, and the hurt in his eyes actually hurts me in return. 

I look back to the bridge so if those brown eyes of his start pouring, I won’t see the raindrops. His hands leave my arms, and he steps beside me. He’s in my peripherals, but I don’t dare turn my head. It looks like he’s staring at the bridge, which means he’s either debating jumping with me or he’s refusing to look at me for the same reasons I won’t look at him.

“You sure you’re brave enough?” he asks. 

I nod, even if he isn’t looking. “Yeah. As long as I don’t have to jump alone,” I say.

“If you jump, I jump,” he replies.

I really wish this hadn’t made me laugh. “Did you like Titanic?”

He laughs too, and I feel a world better. “I admit, I did…except for when Jack died. I mean, I get that it kind of made the movie, but I prefer happy endings.”

Hopefully this falling from the sky experience will have a happy ending for me, as in not smashing my head against a rock or drowning or being eaten by an alligator. Now is a good time to let my “what if” scenarios play out, and it’s an even better time to talk myself out of this. 

I look over at Micah to suggest my many wild reasons on why I shouldn’t jump, but he’s smiling. Damn it. Why does he have to smile and actually want to jump off a bridge? 


Nikki Godwin is a YA/NA/LGBT author. She can't live without Mountain Dew, black eyeliner, and music by Hawthorne Heights. When not writing, she internet-stalks her favorite bands and keeps tabs on surf competitions. She adores pro surfer John John Florence and has made it her life goal to meet David Desrosiers of Simple Plan.

Visit Nikki:
 

Win:
1 of 2 ebook copies of Falling from the Sky (INT)
  a Rafflecopter giveaway
I want to thank YA Bound Book Tours for putting this blitz together and congradulate Nikki on her latest release! You go girl!

Blog Tour Organized by: