Author Archives: Lacey

Review: Near and Far by Nicole Williams

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Near and Far by Nicole Williams

Near and Far by Nicole Williams
Series: Lost and Found #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: July 28th 2013
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback

There’s optimistic. And there’s Jesse Walker.

If he wasn’t so charming, his sunny disposition and incessant grin would get old. Fast.

Falling in love with the broken girl who had at first seemed immune to anything resembling love was the best thing to happen to Jesse since the Walkers adopted him when he was five.

As Jesse’s life continues at the ranch and Rowen begins making her mark in the Seattle art community, they wonder where the middle ground is. Or if there even is one.

As push comes to shove, they’re forced to make choices neither are eager to make, and Jesse and Rowen have to face what their lives might look like without the other.

Can two people with such tragic pasts and different presents expect a promising future together? Whatever the answer, they’ll need a lot more than love to make it.

Sigh. I just love Jesse. He’s my favorite nice boy/cowboy (okay, so he’s the only nice boy/cowboy I know, but whatevs). I had just finished reading book 1, Lost and Found, when luck would have it that Near and Far was released! I was so, so glad that Jesse and Rowen’s story wasn’t quite over yet. And I love that in Near and Far, we get alternating chapters of Rowen and Jesse’s POVs. WE GET TO BE IN JESSE WALKER’S HEAD!!! AHHH!!! *SWOONS*

Ahem, where was I… yes, so you can be sure that I was SO excited to be reading Lost and Found’s sequel, because I LOVED that book, and I needed more Jesse! And I knew that I wouldn’t wouldn’t be disappointed, because it’s Nicole Williams (whom I adore) and hello, Jesse! I am definitely not one to turn down a sweet and sexy cowboy. And while I can’t say that I LOVED Near and Far (at least as much as the first book), I absolutely enjoyed reading it and thought it was a great way to end Rowen and Jesse’s story.

So summer is over and Rowen has to leave the ranch and Jesse, and has to start college. Jesse is still working at the ranch, and rarely has time to visit Rowen, so they have to deal with having a long distance relationship. Throw in a TA who might have a thing for Rowen from her art class and a new working girl at the ranch who definitely has her eyes on Jesse, and the drama unfolds.

Most of the book is about the main couple dealing with their long distance relationship. It’s not easy. As much as they love each other, and they do, very much, time away from each other takes its toll on both of them. Both Jesse and Rowen become a little insecure about themselves and about their relationship. Neither of them thinks they are good enough for the other. They don’t see that they are perfect for each other, and their relationship gets a little strained. It was mostly because of this that I couldn’t put my full attention to Near and Far. It’s not that I was bored-more like the book just couldn’t hold my attention. And because of that, I couldn’t love the book fully.

The best thing about Near and Far, besides Jesse of course, is seeing how much love Jesse and Rowen have for each other. No matter how much their relationship gets battered, their love for each other is strong and unwavering. I was swooning so hard every time Jesse talked about Rowen, because you just know that that girl is everything to him. And the same goes for Rowen.

We never really got to read about Jesse’s past in full detail in Lost and Found, but it’s all out there in Near and Far. And it was horrendous. We finally find out the full extent of how neglected and abused Jesse was during his childhood, and my heart went out to him. But it just makes it all the more incredible that despite Jesse’s terrible upbringing, he has found the ability to love and is loved in return, and he has such a heart of gold. He tries to see the good in everyone even knowing that some people are so bad they are unredeemable.

The second best thing in the book was GARTH! I totally fell for this dark, bad boy, his sarcasm and his inner goodness. Because underneath his bad boy facade lies a good guy underneath. He cares about Jesse and Rowen, as much as he pretends he doesn’t, and I absolutely CANNOT WAIT for his book, Finders Keepers.

I loved the ending of Near and Far. It was so sweet and heartfelt, and even a bit sad since Rowen and Jesse’s story has come to its end. But I’m hoping we get to see glimpses of them in Garth’s book! I highly recommend reading this series, or anything by Nicole Williams. Her books are just fantastic, and never disappointing!

4 hearts!
4-hearts

Ladies, I present to you, Jesse Walker (or his back at least):

Jesse Walker

Just LOOK at that sexylicious back. Like, hot damn. I can’t even handle it. *fans self*

lacey

Reading Order: Lost and Found series

Lost and Found by Nicole Williams Near and Far by Nicole Williams
Finders Keepers by Nicole Williams Losers Weepers by Nicole Williams Heart & Soul by Nicole Williams

#1 ~ Lost and Found: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Near and Far: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Finders Keepers: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ Losers Weepers: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#5 ~ Heart and Soul: Goodreads (June 16, 2015)

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Trust in Me by J. Lynn

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TRUST-IN-ME-cover3
Trust in Me by J. Lynn
Series: Wait for You #1.5
Publication Date: October 22nd 2013
Book 1: Wait for You

It’s Wait for You as you’ve never seen it. Trust in Me lets you in on Cam’s side of the #1 New York Times Bestselling story.

Cameron Hamilton is used to getting what he wants, especially when it comes to women. But when Avery Morgansten comes crashing into his life – literally – he finally meets the one person who can resist his soulful baby blues. But Cam’s not ready to give up. He can’t get the feisty and intriguing girl out of his head.

Avery has secrets, secrets that keep her from admitting the feelings Cam knows she has for him. Will persistence (and some delicious homemade cookies) help him break down her barriers and gain her trust? Or will he be shut out of Avery’s life, losing his first real shot at the kind of love that lasts forever?

Yay! It’s the cover reveal for Trust in Me, which is Wait for You in CAM’S POV! If you haven’t read Wait for You, then what are you waiting for? It’s a fantastic story about a damaged girl who slowly starts to heal with the help of a sweet and sexy boy. Cam is such an incredible character. I fell in love with him and his goofiness and his sweetness and his incredible baking skills. So go read Wait for You so you can fall in love with Cam too, and then be prepared for his book!

Add Wait for You to Goodreads – Some things are worth waiting for…

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn’t need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing…

Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.

Some things should never be kept quiet…

But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she’s has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?

And some things are worth fighting for…

Here’s the giveaway for a turtle charm and a SIGNED copy of the first book, Wait for You!

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Waiting on Wednesday {3}

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Waiting on WednesdayWaiting on Wednesday, hosted by Breaking the Spine, is a weekly meme where we showcase upcoming new releases we’re excited to get our hands on!

Lacey’s pick:

Fangirl by Rainbow RowellFangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Publication Date: September 10th 2013

From the author the New York Times bestseller Eleanor & Park

A coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family and first love. 

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .

But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

Shirley’s pick:

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi
Publication Date: February 4th 2014

The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, called “a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love”

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she’ll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong.

In Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi created a captivating and original story that combined the best of dystopian and paranormal and was praised by Publishers Weekly as “a gripping read from an author who’s not afraid to take risks.” The sequel, Unravel Me, blew readers away with heart-racing twists and turns, and New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia said it was “dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense.” Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and climactic end.

Cover Reveal: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

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Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi
Series: Shatter Me #3
Publication Date: February 4th 2014
Book 1: Shatter Me
Book 1.5: Destroy Me
Book 2: Unravel Me

The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, called “a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love”

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she’ll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong.

In Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi created a captivating and original story that combined the best of dystopian and paranormal and was praised by Publishers Weekly as “a gripping read from an author who’s not afraid to take risks.” The sequel, Unravel Me, blew readers away with heart-racing twists and turns, and New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia said it was “dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense.” Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and climactic end.

Excuse me. Do you see this cover? DO YOU?? Because it’s the cover reveal to the final book of one of my all-time favorite series ever!!! I totally squealed when I first saw it. It’s absolutely gorgeous!

I fell completely in love with the series when I first read Shatter Me. It’s just incredible. I love the writing, the characters, and the world. I was totally Team Adam in Shatter Me, but then this little thing called Unravel Me (book #2) and *cough* Chapter 62 *cough* came out, and I just…. all I can say is that I’m Team Warner now.

I love warner

I’m so unbelievably excited for Ignite Me! I know it’ll be just as incredible as the past books. BUT I honestly have no clue what will happen. Though I do know that I’m begging, begging for Juliette to end up with Warner in the end. WHY does the book have to come out next year??? I can’t wait that long! I need more Warner NOW.

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Waiting on Wednesday {2}

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Waiting on WednesdayWaiting on Wednesday, hosted by Breaking the Spine, is a weekly meme where we showcase upcoming new releases we’re excited to get our hands on!

Lacey’s pick:
Crash Into You by Katie McGarryCrash Into You (Pushing the Limits #3) by Katie McGarry
Publication Date: November 26th 2013

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.

Cathy’s pick:
House of Hades by Rick RiordanThe House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus #4) by Rick Riordan
Publication Date: October 8th 2013

At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy’s instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea’s forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape?

They have no choice. If the demigods don’t succeed, Gaea’s armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus.

Shirley’s pick:
Untold by Sarah Rees BrennanUntold (Lynburn Legacy #2) by Sarah Rees Brennan
Publication Date: August 29th 2013

Free from bonds, but not each other

It’s time to choose sides… On the surface, Sorry-in-the-Vale is a sleepy English town. But Kami Glass knows the truth. Sorry-in-the-Vale is full of magic. In the old days, the Lynburn family ruled with fear, terrifying the people into submission in order to kill for blood and power. Now the Lynburns are back, and Rob Lynburn is gathering sorcerers so that the town can return to the old ways.

But Rob and his followers aren’t the only sorcerers in town. A decision must be made: pay the blood sacrifice, or fight. For Kami, this means more than just choosing between good and evil. With her link to Jared Lynburn severed, she’s now free to love anyone she chooses. But who should that be?