Monday, April 21, 2014

Believe (True Believers #3) by Erin McCarthy

Believe (True Believers, #3)
Read in: March, 2014
Format: eBook
Source: Netgalley.com 
Star Rating: 3 
Synopsis: 
Robin used to be a party girl… until she got black out drunk and woke up in bed with her best friend's boyfriend. Now she's faced with being THAT girl, and couldn't be more disgusted with herself. She can't even tell her friends the reason for her sudden sobriety and she avoids everyone until she meets Phoenix—quiet, tattooed, and different in every way that's good and oh, so bad…

Phoenix is two days out of jail when he meets Robin at his cousin's house, and he knows that he has no business talking to her, but he's drawn to her quiet demeanor, sweet smile, and artistic talent. She doesn't care that he's done time, or that he only has five bucks to his name, and she supports his goal to be a tattoo artist.

But Phoenix knows Robin has a secret, and that it's a naïve dream to believe that his record won't catch up with them at some point. Though neither is prepared for the explosive result when the past collides with the present…

Prosecution: 
That cute little chip on Phoenix's shoulder gets old. It gets old real fast. 

Defense: 
Wow! Can I just say how much I love Erin McCarthy as an author? This novel sure delivers in a one-two punch. Robin in fearless in the face of danger and Phoenix is stand offish in the best way. Great entry level New Adult novel, not too twisted to screw you up forever, but emotions run high. 

Verdict: 
3 stars. I would recommend this as an entry-level New Adult novel, but as a seasoned New Adult reader, this really didn't get as emotional and overbearing as I expected it to. But the writing was fantastic and the reader will get sucked in. A bonus is this can be read with the series or as a stand alone. 

Release BLITZ: Melted & Shattered (L&J #2) + {Giveaway!}

Emily Eck invites you to celebrate the release of Melted & Shattered (L&J #2) with an awesome giveaway and a free download of J Speaks (L&J #1.5)
Melted & Shattered (L & J #2)
By: Emily Eck
Publication Date: April 21, 2014
Genre: Romance/Trilogy
Cover Designer: Melody Simmons

Synopsis

Elle was never broken.
She wasn't shattered.
And she sure as hell never needed to be saved.
That is,
until she found out what the aftermath of love was capable of causing.
Doing her best to stay afloat amidst the sh!t storm that has become her life, Elle is hanging on by a thread. Between worrying about Fernie’s precarious future, an incident with a Shemar Moore look-alike gone terribly wrong, and an inability to let go of her feelings for J, Elle just can’t seem to get her head straight. Deciding a change of atmosphere is what she needs, Elle heads to Mexico to study abroad for a semester. She has no idea that she is walking into an even worse storm. One that involves a pissed off MC President, a ruthless drug cartel, and a man willing to die to have her light. ***This is the 2nd book in the series L&J – cannot be read as a stand-alone***

Purchase Links

Melted & Shattered (L&J #2)
J Speaks (L&J #1.5)
FREE * FREE * FREE
Steel & Ice (L&J #1)

Excerpt

“I came here, baby, to tell you I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you.” He inhaled sharply, but said in an even voice. “And I can’t lose you before the greatest fight I will ever wage.”
Redemption. Could I absolve him? I lay in a hospital bed for two weeks. All of it at his hands. I’d been marred, though the scar on my skin was not the worst damage. It was a reminder of the scar I’d carried inside. Could he erase that scar? Could he heal a wound one could not see?
There was silence, deafening silence. I tried to keep it together. I used every ounce of energy I had to keep the fire at a low flame, but it blazed through me. He would’ve shot my kid, and I couldn’t let that happen. These kids, they’d become my lifeline. My light.
“Without those kids, I’m just as dark as you.” I said emotionlessly, empty. These last few weeks of pretending during the day, only to come home and sob until sleep graced me was maddening. “I’ve got nothing left to give you, J. Nothing.”
 I hung my head, losing the fight with the tears that had been threatening to erupt since J arrived. “I can’t be your light, when I have none.”
We lay on the floor, two damaged bodies searching for the light. J pulled my head into his hands, bringing us face to face. I could feel his breath against my lips. “You were a comet that bust into my life out of no where” he whispered. “I begged for you. On my knees in the dirt, I groveled to the sky to bring me light. And there you were, at Eight Oh Eight, staring up at me, even though I knew you couldn’t see through the window. I saw you, though. Elle, I saw you long before you saw me.”
“How could I love a killer?”
“How much pain was worth loving this man?
“Please, baby. Please. I need you. I love you. I can’t go into this without knowing you’ll be here when I return.” 
“I’m not sure what to say. I want to tell you I’ll wait. That I’ll be here, waiting like a good girl for you. I want to because I love you. Fuck, I love you.” I turned, finally ready to look him in the eye. “I don’t know where I’ll be. I can’t tell you that. But I can tell you that I love the fuck out of you, and no matter how much I try to stop,” I paused. Fuck this mother fucker. Fuck! God, why was he doing this to me? Angry tears, sad tears, hopeless tears, tears filled with longing fell from my eyes. J caught then with his thumb, but there were too many. They ran over his fingers like a waterfall.
“Fuck, J. I don’t want you to die.”
He pulled me to him, and I inhaled his scent. I’d never be able to smell Acqua di mother fucking Gio again and not think of him. Today it was mixed with the smell of exhaust, like he’d been riding around all night. For what felt like the gazillionth time, I crumbled into his arms. How did two times come to be a number exponentially higher?
“I don’t want to die, baby. I want to fall asleep next to you. I want to wake up next to you. I’m fighting this war for you. To be with you.”

Author Bio

Emily is a Midwestern Gal, but could be anywhere as you read this. She gypsy's the country, as well as south of the border. Adventure feeds her soul, and offers great writing material. She loves kids and working with kids, but can only handle caring for four-legged furry friends. A crazy dog and laid back cat have trained her to be their partner in life. Vices include Swedish Fish, ignoring chores in favor of reading, and caring too much for people in her life. She chose to write this bio in third person as she is an Aries, and found writing in first person ended up with her writing an excessively long life story. Aries like to talk about themselves. It is something Emily is working on being more mindful of.

Giveaway

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Waiting for Prince Harry by Aven Ellis

Waiting For Prince Harry
Read in: March, 2014
Format: eBook
Source: CTC Virtual Book Tours 
Star Rating: 4 

Synopsis: 
Twenty-four-year-old Kylie Reed has always been a rule follower. Organized and cautious to a fault, her dreams for life are often filed away for future use—when she has a house, when she meets her future husband, when she has been at her visual display job at a chic Dallas boutique longer...Kylie always has a reason for living her life in the future, not in the present, and not living her life to the fullest and reaching her dream of becoming a fashion designer. 

The only exception to rules, of course, would be running away with Prince Harry—Kylie’s ideal man. A hot, fun ginger boy would be worth breaking all the rules for, of course. And Kylie is sure Harry just needs the right, centering woman to settle him down. But living in Dallas and not knowing Prince Harry make this a non-option.

Or does it?

Because when Kylie accidentally falls into the lap of a gorgeous ginger boy—yes, even more gorgeous than the real Prince Harry—all bets are off. Could this stranger be the one to show Kylie how to take a chance, to face her fears, and live in the present? And could this stranger be the Prince Harry she has been waiting for? Kylie’s life takes some unexpected twists and turns thanks to this chance encounter, and she knows her life will never be the same because of it...

Prosecution: 
Kylie... I really did try to like you the WHOLE book..but.. you had your moments, girl. 

Defense: 
This novel is just too cute! It's quick and I mean...who doesn't have a thing for Prince Harry? Kylie's fixation on red heads was a little bit off putting in the beginning, but whatever, she got over that. No big real twist here, so don't expect this one to keep you on the edge of your seat, but if you want a cute, quick, and HEA novel, this is it! The novel was pretty adorable. I also really enjoyed how clean the content was without being just dry without it. Kylie is trendy and pretty darn cute with her "Prince Harry" romance and added work place drama (though I don't know how she puts up with it.) 

Verdict: 
4 Stars. Light and airy, this novel is perfect to take to the lake and spend an afternoon in the sun with. I believe I read it in about 3 hours? It's super quick and a HEA without the angsty drama of New Adult and still keeping the content pretty clean. 

Bastards Brew by Jillian Felix (Family Portrait #3) {Review + Rafflecopter!}


Read in: April, 2014 
Format: eBook
Source: Author
Star Rating: 4 

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com) 
When L'Wren's ex-boyfriend Jeff suddenly disappears, she turns to Kevin to help her find him. With one phone call, Kevin makes sure that Jeff stays hidden and that L'Wren's heart is broken, leaving the door open for Kevin to pursue her. But Kevin is not as free as L'Wren thinks; she is in the dark about his affair with her stepmother, Savi. Savi constantly reminds Kevin of his devious ways and uses their secret to keep him as her toyfriend. 

“You don’t deserve to be loved, and you don’t deserve to be happy. You and I are the same … we’re broken inside. Everything we touch, we destroy. We don’t get happily ever after … we don’t get to ride off into the sunset. You know who gets that? L’Wren … she gets it, she gets the guy, and she deserves a decent guy.”- Savi

Kevin desires to be the man that L'Wren deserves, but before he can assume the role of white knight, he brews one last plan to get rid of Savi for good. Will L'Wren, the innocent victim in their twisted game, become a casualty?

Kevin may have sold his body to the devil in stilettos, but he'd be damned if he let her have his heart. 

Suitable for young adult readers 18+

Prosecution: 
As with all of the Family Matters books, the multiple story lines is a little overwhelming. But now that lines are starting to cross and more and more is being added to each story, the stories are becoming even more memorable. 

Defense: 
The third installment in this fast paced series does not disappoint. For me especially, my interest always starts to wane around the second novel (ex. The City of Bones Series) but I continue to look forward to every email from Gillian asking if I'll give her next book a go. This novel doesn't disappoint and is just as fast paced as the last two. There isn't any room for you to get bored, you're way to caught up in each characters story. I am THRILLED this novel had a focus on Kevin, L'Wren, and Savi. Kevin has been a side character I've been interested in since the first novel, and every chapter and tidbit that was solely his was a gift. To have this book focus more on him was completely needed. But reader be warned, you HAVE to read these novels in a series, these are definitely not stand alones! 

Verdict: 
4 STARS. Have to say the third novel of Family Matters delivers and I found this one to pack more of punch than the previous. Can't wait for more from this author! 

About the Author 

I have been writing since I was old enough to hold a pencil. I enjoy creating characters that could be your next-door neighbor, but would you want them as your neighbor is another story.

Originally from the island of Trinidad and Tobago, I moved to the United States in 1998. Since then I have been involved in the entertainment industry for over ten years.
I am an entrepreneur and advocate for women and children’s rights and I enjoy being in nature and volunteering.

Buying Links: 
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00EAUDZM6

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bastards-brew-gillian-felix/1118904076?ean=2940045756297

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/417024
Enter coupon code: RS54B for 50% discount

Enter coupon code: FX48M for 10% discount off The Banovic Siblings https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/415280

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/bastards-brew-family-portrait/id838347170?mt=11


Contact the Author
Website: http://www.plaintalkbm.com

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





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