Joint Review: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
Series: Maybe #1 (can be read as a standalone)
Publication Date: March 18th 2014
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback • Soundtrack

At twenty-two years old, aspiring musician Sydney Blake has a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her good friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter cheating on her with Tori—and she is left trying to decide what to do next.

Sydney becomes captivated by her mysterious neighbor, Ridge Lawson. She can’t take her eyes off him or stop listening to the daily guitar playing he does out on his balcony. She can feel the harmony and vibrations in his music. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either: He seems to have finally found his muse. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one…

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance—and the enchanting music that inspires one young woman to put her life back together.

Alrighty, well the first thing I should say is that I finally have time to post more reviews, and what better way to start than with MAYBE freaking SOMEDAY? *fangirling commences*

So. Colleen Hoover. Is it ever possible for you to write a book that I won’t fall in love with? That my entire heart and soul won’t be invested in? That won’t take me, like, 3-4 days to recover from? No? Okay. Well, that’s fine. I’m totally okay with that. You know why? BECAUSE I FREAKING LOVE YOU, COLLEEN.

In case you couldn’t tell, I loooooooved Maybe Someday. It was probably the worst book Colleen Hoover has written so far, in terms of the amount of heartbreak and anguish. This book nearly killed me. And I loved every second of it. I honestly had no idea how much pain and heartbreak Maybe Someday would put me through. I mean, my first impression of this book was that it was freaking hilarious. Laugh-out-loud funny, and in my opinion, Colleen’s funniest book yet. But… as we get more into the story, more involved in the lives of Sydney, Ridge, Warren, and everyone else, all these layers come peeling away. We get such an in-depth look at all the characters that it felt like I knew them, like I connected with their souls. It was perfect.

As the book progressed, I loved that we slowly got know the very hearts of the characters. Sydney isn’t just a girl whose boyfriend has been hooking up with someone else–she’s a kickass girl who writes awesome lyrics to songs. She incredibly relatable–she’s funny, compassionate, and all around a good person. And Ridge is so much more than Sydney’s neighbor who’s talented at playing the guitar. He’s got to be one of the sweetest characters I’ve ever read. Ridge truly has a heart of gold and I fell in love with him over and over in Maybe Someday.

One thing I should highlight is that you absolutely MUST listen to the Maybe Someday soundtrack while reading this book! It makes an already fantastic experience so much better when you actually listen to the songs as they appear in the book. And can I just say–Griffin Peterson is incredible! I am so, so impressed with the songs he and Colleen created.

Maybe Someday is like nothing I’ve ever read. I don’t want to spoil anything about the book, because it’s just so much better to get the full experience without knowing anything, but the direction Colleen Hoover took the story is so unexpected, but so real, raw, honest, and pretty much… perfect. I couldn’t imagine a better story for Sydney and Ridge.

And don’t even get me started on what Maybe Someday did to my emotions. Jesus H. Christ, it was like a freaking roller coaster. But you know what? I love roller coasters. My heart was going crazy for Sydney and Ridge and everyone, because one second it would be full to bursting from love for everything about this book, but then my emotions would shoot straight down to where tears were in my eyes and my heart was aching so badly. Maybe Someday is far from a simple, easy read. It has so much heart–from the characters to the writing, everything comes off the pages so clearly and with so much emotion.

I’m listening to the songs on the soundtrack right now (Hold On to You is my favorite one, though Maybe Someday is a close second) and I still can’t over the beauty of this book and these characters and these words and these songs and these lyrics. And I probably never will. 5+ hearts!

5-hearts

lacey

Hey guys!

I know I haven’t been on this blog for a while now (but look at how successful it’s gotten! so proud of Lacey (‘:  ) but I decided to write a post for this book.

I will always come back for Colleen Hoover.

Ahh yes, once again, Hoover has lived up to our expectations, if not exceeded them, with Maybe Someday. My feelings throughout the book? Heartbreak, awe, loneliness, happiness, and of course, sadness because of the 1/billion chance of meeting a guy like Ridge. I read this entire book in one sitting, and honestly it was probably the best 3 hours of my life.

When Colleen said that this book would be accompanied with a playlist, I was so excited to see how it would turn out! Since the main characters are both musicians and end up writing songs together, it feels so much more realistic when we actually get to hear the music. Griffin Peterson sounds amazing as well! The lyrics and his voice go together so well, and he sings with so much emotion that completely fits the songs. Not going to lie though, when I heard the first song, i was a bit skeptical because…well, Peterson didn’t sound like what I thought Ridge would. I grew used to it though, and I’ve actually had the entire soundtrack on repeat for the last week. Yep.

Ridge and Sydney’s situation was a mess. It made me cringe, smile, cry, laugh, and shake my head “no” repeatedly. ALSO- can I just say that Warren (Ridge’s best friend) was absolutely HILARIOUS? One of my favorite moments was when Sydney found out that Ridge was part of a band that was pretty well-known, and she started fangirling wow i COULD TOTALLY RELATE (that actually gave me hope that one day I will meet my favorite band member and we will begin our wonderful relationship and have a happily ever after). Their relationship was so cute and so funny, and I JUST LOVE IT. There was so much meaning in everything that they did, and every lyric that they wrote. This was a book that went from lust to heartbreak to even more heartbreak to love to heartbreak and then to full-on love.

It’s actually really amazing how Colleen Hoover is one of the very few authors that has never written a book that I was disappointed in.
Translation: Go read her books.

Until next time! (6 hearts because why would Colleen Hoover deserve anything less)

shirley

Update: Colleen Hoover released a novella about Warren!!

Maybe Not by Colleen Hoover
Review • Ebook • Goodreads

Book News, Sales, Recent/Upcoming Releases & Weekly Recap! {20}

Cover Reveals!!

Take a Chance by Abbi Glines

Take a Chance (Chances #1; Rosemary Beach #6) by Abbi Glines
Release Date: February 25th 2014
Preorder: Amazon

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines comes the story of Grant, the sexy playboy who first captured readers’ hearts in Fallen Too Far.

When Harlow Manning’s rocker father goes on tour, he sends her to Rosemary Beach, Florida, to live with her half-sister, Nan. The problem: Nan despises her. Harlow has to keep her head down if she wants to get through the next nine months, which seems easy enough. Until gorgeous Grant Carter walks out of Nan’s room in nothing but his boxer briefs.

Grant made a huge mistake getting involved with a girl with venom in her veins. He’d known about Nan’s reputation, but still he couldn’t resist her. Nothing makes him regret the fling more than meeting Harlow, who sends his pulse racing. Yet Harlow wants nothing to do with a guy who could fall for her wicked half-sister, even if there are no strings between Grant and Nan. Grant is desperate to redeem himself in Harlow’s eyes, but did he ruin his chances before he even met her?

Saving Quinton by Jessica Sorensen

Saving Quinton (Nova #2) by Jessica Sorensen
Release Date: February 4th 2014
Preorder: Amazon

From the # 1 New York Times bestselling author of Breaking Nova comes a gripping story about what it takes to save the one you love . . .

Nova Reed can’t forget him-Quinton Carter, the boy with the honey-brown eyes who made her realize she deserved more than an empty life. His pain was so similar to her own. But Nova has been coming to terms with her past and healing, while Quinton is out there somewhere, sinking deeper. She’s determined to find him and help him . . . before it’s too late.

Nova has haunted his dreams for nearly a year-but Quinton never thought a sweet, kind person like her would care enough about a person like him. To Quinton, a dark, dangerous life is exactly what he deserves. And Nova has no place in it. But Nova has followed him to Las Vegas, and now he must do whatever it takes to keep her away, to maintain his self-imposed punishment for the unforgivable things he’s done. But there’s one flaw in his plan: Nova isn’t going anywhere . . .

Love, in English by Karina Halle

Love, in English by Karina Halle
Release Date: April 22nd 2014

He’s thirty-eight. I’m twenty-three.

He speaks Spanish. I speak English.

He lives in Spain. I live in Canada.

He dresses in thousand-dollar suits. I’m covered in tattoos.

He’s married and has a five-year old daughter.

I’m single and can’t commit to anyone or anything.

Until now. Because when they say you can’t choose who you fall in love with, boy ain’t that the f*#king truth.

***

To a restless dreamer like Vera Miles, it sounded like the experience of a lifetime. Instead of spending her summer interning for her astronomy major, she would fly to Spain where she’d spend a few weeks teaching conversational English to businessmen and women, all while enjoying free room and board at an isolated resort. But while Vera expected to get a tan, meet new people and stuff herself with wine and paella, she never expected to fall in love.

Mateo is unlike anyone Vera has ever known, let alone anyone she’s usually attracted to. While Vera is a pierced and tatted free spirit with a love for music and freedom, Mateo Casales is a successful businessman from Madrid, all sharp suits and cocky Latino charm. Yet, as the weeks go on, the two grow increasingly close and their relationship changes from purely platonic to something…more.

Something that makes Vera feel alive for the first time.

Something that can never, ever be.

Or so she thinks.

Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan

Archer’s Voice (Sign of Love #4) by Mia Sheridan
Release Date: January 28th 2014

When Bree Prescott arrives in the sleepy, lakeside town of Pelion, Maine, she hopes against hope that this is the place where she will finally find the peace she so desperately seeks. On her first day there, her life collides with Archer Hale, an isolated man who holds a secret agony of his own. A man no one else sees.

Archer’s Voice is the story of a woman chained to the memory of one horrifying night and the man whose love is the key to her freedom. It is the story of a silent man who lives with an excruciating wound and the woman who helps him find his voice. It is the story of suffering, fate, and the transformative power of love.

The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness

The Book of Life (All Souls Trilogy #3) by Deborah Harkness
Release Date: July 15th 2014
Preorder: Amazon

The highly anticipated finale to the #1 New York Timesbestselling trilogy that began with A Discovery of Witches

After traveling through time in Shadow of Night, the second book in Deborah Harkness’s enchant­ing series, historian and witch Diana Bishop and vampire scientist Matthew Clairmont return to the present to face new crises and old enemies. At Matthew’s ancestral home at Sept-Tours, they re­unite with the cast of characters from A Discovery of Witches—with one significant exception. But the real threat to their future has yet to be revealed, and when it is, the search for Ashmole 782 and its miss­ing pages takes on even more urgency. In the tril­ogy’s final volume, Harkness deepens her themes of power and passion, family and caring, past deeds and their present consequences. In ancestral homes and university laboratories, using ancient knowl­edge and modern science, from the hills of the Auvergne to the palaces of Venice and beyond, the couple at last learn what the witches discovered so many centuries ago.

With more than one million copies sold in the United States and appearing in thirty-eight foreign editions and translations, A Discovery of Witchesand Shadow of Night have landed on all of the major bestseller lists and garnered rave reviews from countless publications. Eagerly awaited by Harkness’s legion of fans, The Book of Life brings this superbly written series to a deeply satisfying close.

Whisper of Sin

Whisper of Sin (Psy-Changeling #0.6) by Nalini Singh
Release Date: February 25th 2014
Preorder: Amazon

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh returns to her phenomenal Psy-Changeling world as a woman in peril finds herself in the arms of a dangerously beautiful shapeshifter…

San Francisco is under threat from a violent gang…a gang that has no idea who they’re challenging. The DarkRiver pack of leopard changelings has already claimed the city as their territory, and they will fight with wild fury to protect its residents. Emmett, a lethally trained leopard soldier, isn’t about to let outsiders muscle in on his home ground—especially when they target a human named Ria.

Emmett has one word for the smart stranger with her curvy body and tough spirit: mine.

Possessive, dominant, unyielding in his demands and desires, Emmett is unlike anyone Ria has ever before met. But while the sexy leopard changeling makes her body ignite, his kisses molten and his touch addicting, she’s no pushover and she has a few demands of her own. This leopard has met his match…

Revealed on the blog (covers go to Amazon page if available):

Dazed by Kim Karr Enjoy Your Stay by Carmen Jenner Keep Me by Faith Andrews
Fully Automatic by Jade C. Jamison Perfect Kind of Trouble by Chelsea Fine
The Wild One by Magan Vernon Worth the Chance by Vi Keeland

Snippets!!

★ OMG!!! Colleen Hoover has a teaser from Maybe Someday!!

I’m mindlessly tapping my feet and singing along to his music with my made-up lyrics when he stops playing mid-song. He never stops mid-song, so naturally, I glance in his direction. He’s leaning forward, staring right at me. He holds up his index finger, as if to say, Hold on, and he sets his guitar beside him and runs into his apartment.
What the hell is he doing?
And oh, my God, why does the fact that he’s acknowledging me make me so nervous?
He comes back outside with paper and a marker in his hands.
He’s writing. What the hell is he writing?
He holds up two sheets of paper, and I squint to get a good look at what he’s written.
A phone number. Shit. His phone number? When I don’t move for several seconds, he shakes the papers and points at them, then points back to me. He’s insane. I’m not calling him. I can’t call him. I can’t do that to Hunter. The guy shakes his head, then grabs a fresh sheet of paper and writes something else on it, then holds it up.

Text me.

When I still don’t move, he flips the paper over and writes again.

I have a ?

A question. A text. Seems harmless enough. When he holds up the papers with his phone number again, I pull out my phone and enter his phone number. I stare at the screen for a few seconds, not really knowing what to say in the text, so I go with:

Me: What’s your question?

He looks down at his phone, and I can see him smile when he receives my text. He drops the paper and leans back in his chair, typing. When my phone vibrates, I hesitate a second be- fore looking down at it.

Him: Do you sing in the shower?

I shake my head, confirming my initial suspicion. He’s a flirt. Of course he is, he’s a musician.

Me: I don’t know what kind of question that is, but if this is your attempt at flirting, I’ve got a boyfriend. Don’t waste your time.

I hit send and watch him read the text. He laughs, and this irritates me. Mostly because his smile is so . . . smiley. Is that even a word? I don’t know how else to describe it. It’s as if his whole face smiles right along with his mouth. I wonder what that smile looks like up close.

Him: Believe me, I know you have a boyfriend, and this is definitely not how I flirt. I just want to know if you sing in the shower. I happen to think highly of people who sing in the shower and need to know the answer to that question in order to decide if I want to ask you my next question.

I read the lengthy text, admiring his fast typing. Guys aren’t normally as skilled as girls when it comes to speed-texting, but his replies are almost instantaneous.

Me: Yes, I sing in the shower. Do you sing in the shower?

Him: No, I don’t.

Me: How can you think highly of people who sing in the shower if you don’t sing in the shower?

Him: Maybe the fact that I don’t sing in the shower is why I think highly of people who do sing in the shower.

This conversation isn’t going anywhere.

Me: Why did you need this vital piece of information from me?

He stretches his legs out and props his feet up on the edge of the patio, then stares at me for a few seconds before returning his attention to his phone.

Him: I want to know how you’re singing lyrics to my songs when I haven’t even added lyrics to them yet.

My cheeks instantly heat from embarrassment. Busted.
I stare at his text, then glance up at him. He’s watching me, expressionless.
Why the hell didn’t I think that he could see me sitting out here? I never thought he would notice me singing along to his music. Hell, until last night, I never thought he even noticed me. I inhale, wishing I’d never made eye contact with him to begin with. I don’t know why I find this embarrassing, but I do. It seems as if I’ve invaded his privacy in some way, and I hate that.

Me: I tend to favor songs with lyrics, and I was tired of wondering what the lyrics to your songs were, so I guess I made up a few of my own.

He reads the text, then glances up at me without a hint of his infectious smile. I don’t like his serious glances. I don’t like what they do to my stomach. I also don’t like what his smiley smile does to my stomach. I wish he would stick to a simple, unattractive, emotionless expression, but I’m not sure he’s ca- pable of that.

Him: Will you send them to me?

Oh, God. Hell, no.

Me: Hell, no.

Him: Please?

Me: No.

Him: Pretty please?

Me: No, thank you.

Him: What’s your name?

Me: Sydney. Yours?

Him: Ridge.

★ Preorder Maybe Someday (releases March 18th 2014): Amazon
★ Preorder Ugly Love (Colleen’s other upcoming release, out Aug. 5th 2014): Amazon

★ Teasers from Kiss the Sky by Krista & Becca Ritchie!

KISS THE SKY — EXCERPT — Rose’s POV

“I struggle to keep my eyes on his. I am so aware of the people in the room, of the cameras, of the fact that he’s on top of me, my legs hanging with uncertainty around him.

As his crotch digs into me, my nerves prickle, and my toes constrict in my high heels. Oh my God…

Is this really happening? In front of everyone? And soon-to-be nationally televised.

What did I get myself into?”

Kiss the Sky teaser quoteKiss the Sky teaser

Series order:
★ (#1) Addicted to You | My review
★ (#1.5) Ricochet | My review
★ (#2) Addicted for Now | My review
Spinoffs:
Kiss the Sky (Rose & Connor)
Hothouse Flower (Daisy & Ryke)

★ Monica Murphy has an excerpt from Drew + Fable Forever (Drew + Fable #4) here!

Drew + Fable Forever teaser

Series order:
★ (#1) One Week Girlfriend | My review
★ (#2) Second Chance Boyfriend | My review
★ (#3) Three Broken Promises | My review
★Preorder (#3.5) Drew + Fable Forever (out Jan. 14th 2014)
★ Preorder (#4) Four Years Later (out Feb. 25th 2014)

★ Jeaniene Frost has quotes and a snippet from Up from the Grave (Night Huntress #8)! Read it here.

★ Preorder Up from the Grave: Kindle | Paperback

★ Another teaser from Be with Me (Wait for You #2) by J. Lynn!

Be with me teaser

Pre-order Be with Me: Amazon Kindle | Amazon Paperback | B&N

Series order:
★ (#1) Wait for You ($0.99!)
★ (#1.5) Trust in Me ($1.99!) | My review
★ Preorder (#3) Stay with Me (out Sept. 2nd 2014)

★ An excerpt from Rare and Precious Things (The Blackstone Affair #4) by Raine Miller!

We both stood there panting,  our faces so close, but yet, not touching; him in his tux with the purple brocade vest, me in my vintage inspired lace wedding dress, the sexual tension crackling in the air between us like a raging electrical storm about to go nuclear.

I told Ethan what I wanted.

“I n-need to get ready for you,” I managed on a shaky breath, hoping he understood this was something important to me.

He swallowed hard, making his Adam’s apple flex at his throat.  “All right,” he said slowly.  “I’ll do the same.”

I looked back to where the glow from the en suite bathroom showed me the way.  “Where will you go?” I asked him, feeling slightly guilty about kicking him out, even if for just a short while.

“The adjoining bedroom is also very nice.”  He gestured toward a door in the wall to the left of the bed.  “These old manor houses always had lord and lady connecting bedrooms so they could meet up for the real important, private stuff that happened in the night.”  He drew a finger across the low neckline of my bodice, moving especially slow over the swell of my breasts sitting against the lace of my gown.

“Oh?  The important private stuff you say.”

“Undoubtedly, baby.  The shagging…is…very…very…very…important.”  He gave me soft, seductive kisses between each of the words.

“Which room are we in right now?  Lord’s or lady’s?” I asked breathlessly.

He shrugged.  “No idea.  Don’t care either.  I shag and sleep wherever my lady is, and I always will.  Pick a room, Mrs. Blackstone.”

I sighed with need and forced myself to take a step backward, creating some distance between our bodies.  “Okay…how does this room in fifteen minutes sound?” I stepped backward again, moving closer toward the bathroom door, my eyes never leaving his blues as they tracked my movements.

Those same beautiful blue eyes also glittered at me with all the shuttered heat of a man who would be ravishing me very soon.  Please, and thank you.

He gave me the serious Ethan-stare, the one I’d seen many times and was well familiar with—the one raw with male prowess…and the overpowering sexual dominance.

“Like fifteen minutes too fucking long, my beauty.”

Series order:
★ (#1) Naked
★ (#2) All In
★ (#3) Eyes Wide Open
★ (#3.5) Cherry Girl
★ Preorder (#4) Rare and Precious Things (out Feb. 28th 2014)

★ Read a deleted scene from Tangled by Emma Chase here!

★ An Unbeloved (Undeniable #4) teaser from Madeline Sheehan!

UnBeloved Teaser
By Madeline Sheehan
© Madeline Sheehan Books 2014

Grinning, Cox raised his glass in the air. “To Prez,” he said, “for giving all us idiots a home, and to Eva…” Shifting his gaze to Eva, he flashed her a wide, genuine smile, far different than his typical shit-eating grin.

“To Eva,” he repeated, “for makin’ us a family.”

“You’re a goddamn woman,” Ripper muttered, punching him the arm. “You know that, yeah?”

Ignoring Ripper’s jab, Cox whirled around to face the bar. “And to Blue!” he shouted, “for always takin’ the best seat at the bar, for always hidin’ the Patrón where I couldn’t find it, for never shuttin’ the fuck up and mindin’ his own damn business, for—”

“Dibs on Blue’s seat!” Ripper shouted. Shoving Cox out of his way, he took off running for the bar.

© Madeline Sheehan Books 2014

Series order:
★ (#1) Undeniable
★ (#2) Unbeautifully
★ (#3) Unattainable
★ (#4) Unbeloved

★ Phenomenal X teaser from Michelle A. Valentine!

He grabs the drink from my hand and slams the plastic cup down on the floor, splattering its pink liquid all over a group of guys standing a little too close while watching the action unfold. X tugs me behind him, effectively putting a wall of muscle between Jared and I, shielding me with his body. He stares down at Jared, his fingers flexing into fists at his sides like he’s ready to rip into my would-be dance partner. “You think I didn’t see what you put in her drink back there, motherf**ker? There’s no way in hell I’m going to allow a little pecker-stain like you to attempt to drug this girl and get away with it.” All the blood drains from Jared’s face, leaving his skin pale while his mouth hangs open in shock. At first I think there’s no way a nice guy like Jared would do that, but when he doesn’t deny the accusations instantly, I know he’s guilty.

X shakes his head in disgust. “You just gave me the green light to end your f**king world.”

★ Pepper Winters has an excerpt from Destroyed (releases February 2014)!

His hands wrapped around my throat and slammed me against the wall.

I dropped the sheets and fought. My nails raked along his forearm, drawing blood instantly. The scar on his cheek only amplified the empty tomb of a soul inside him. His eyes showed nothing. No remorse. No excitement. Nothing.

My heart galloped as his fingers squeezed tighter. It was as if he wasn’t there. A robot. A well-oiled machine.

So, I did the only thing available to me.

I pushed off the wall and fought his devoidness with humanity. I kissed him. I bit him. I fought him.

And his fingers instantly loosened the noose and I slithered to the floor in shock. Lucky number third. This scarred stranger was the third man who ever dared hurt me against my will and he would pay.

Not by police or a judge, but by me. I took care of me. No one else.

Standing on shaky feet I launched into his body, tackling him to the bed. I expected a fight, but he did nothing. Nothing until I punched him square in the legs.

Then life exploded into his vacant eyes. The pain woke him from whatever slumber he’d been in and instead of the monster who just attacked me, a bomb of confusion and horror erupted in his eyes.

“Oh, my fucking God. I didn’t. Not again. Not again.”

Shoving me off him, he sat upright and clutched his skull in his hands. Rocking on the side of the bed he said. “It happened again.”

This man hurt my heart. Not because he’d shown me just how unstable he was, but because he looked on the edge of breaking. Holding onto his sanity with the slipperiest of grips, destined to fall down and down until he it lost completely.

I couldn’t let that happen. “Let me help you.”

And that’s when he lost it. Completely.

★ Loving Cara (Love Under the Big Sky #1) by Kristen Proby snippets!

loving cara teaser
Loving Cara teaserLoving Cara teaser 2

★ Preorder Loving Cara: KindlePaperback

★ Snippet from Cora Carmack’s upcoming book All Lined Up (Rusk University #1)!

I look over at Carson as I sit back, and catch him staring at the strip of skin on my back where my shirt had ridden up.

I raise an eyebrow. “You’re a little slow on the uptake when it comes to this friendship thing, huh?”

He grins. “Practice makes perfect.”

★ Preorder All Lined Up

★ Teaser from Perfectly Damaged by E.L. Montes!

perfectly damaged teaser

★ Amy A. Bartol has a teaser from Iniquity (The Premonition #5) here!

Series order:
★ (#1) Inescapable
★ (#2) Intuition
★ (#3) Indebted
★ (#4) Incendiary

★ Read a teaser from Abandon (Shattered Hearts #3.5) by Cassia Leo here!

Series order:
★ (#0.5) Forever Ours (out April 2014)
★ (#1) Relentless
★ (#2) Pieces of You
★ (#3) Bring Me Home
★ Preorder (#3.5) Abandon (out Jan. 27th 2014)
★ (#4) Chasing Abby (out July 2014)

★ Teaser from More Than Him (More #3) by Jay MacLean!

More Than Him teaser

Series order:
★ (#1) More Than This
★ (#2) More Than Her

Other News!!

★ Katie Ashley’s The Pairing (The Proposition #3) now has a blurb!

After her former boyfriend left her pregnant and alone, Megan McKenzie swore off men. She spent the last eighteen months focused solely on her son, Mason, along with finishing nursing school at the top of her class. Although she’s not ready to complicate her life with a long-term relationship, a nice no-strings attached hook-up is just what she needs. At her godson, Noah’s, baptism, she finds the perfect candidate in the soft-spoken godfather, Pesh Nadeen. After all, the widower could use a good time too. But after drinking too much, the night doesn’t end the way she thought it would. Forced to leave Pesh’s house through a walk of shame, Megan hopes to never, ever see him again.

For Pesh Nadeen, the very sight of Megan sends him into an emotional tailspin. Since she reminds him too much of what he has lost, he wants to be out of her sight…at first. But the more he gets to know her, there’s something about the diminutive blonde that causes his protective side to go into overdrive, and he finds himself wanting more. When Megan is assigned to him to complete her nursing clinicals, he sees it as fate, but she’s having no part of it. She only wants a physical relationship while he wants far more.

What happens next is a sexy game of cat and mouse to see who will break first or if both of them will eventually get more than they ever bargained for.

Go here to read a teaser.

Series order:
★ (#0.5) The Party (FREE!)
★ (#1) The Proposition
★ (#2) The Proposal

★ Deleted excerpt from Addicted for Now (Addicted #2) by Krista & Becca Ritchie:

“You know those days where you wake up from bed and you just can’t move? It feels as if your muscles are weighed by cinder blocks, chained to the mattress. And yet, it’s not slumber that keeps you motionless like a drug. It’s this sense that nothing is going to turn out okay. That everything in your life looks a little different, like a Picasso painting on crack. It’s crying without the tears, and screaming without the sound.I am rooted to everything and nothing at all.”

Plus, read an amazing interview with the authors here!

★ Karina Halle is currently writing a story called Dark Paradise, and you can read it for FREE as she writes it! Read more about it here.

Thoughtless fans! S.C. Stephens is currently writing Kellan’s POV of Thoughtless!

I haven’t done a “What are you working on?” update in a while. Why? Because I wasn’t sure if the story I was working on would ever see the light of day. Now that I am over halfway through writing it though, I am 99.9% sure I’m going to publish it.

So, what have I been working on? Kellan’s point of view of Thoughtless. Yes, I’m going to give you the story through his eyes, and let me tell you, it’s not always easy experiencing it through Kellan’s POV. I’ve cried more than once. It has been a lot of fun though, and I hope that you enjoy the companion piece to Thoughtless, which I have tentatively titled Thoughtful.

I’m currently writing the last third of the book, and I don’t have a street date for you yet. I also can’t predict when it might be available, since several different people will be involved with the process of choosing a release date: editors, publishers, cover designers, formatters, and more! Know that it’s coming though, and soon you’ll have more Kellan!

Read more on her blog post here.

Series order:
★ (#1) Thoughtless
★ (#2) Effortless
★ (#3) Reckless

★ Nashoda Rose has a Logan POV scene from her Tear Asunder series! There will be SPOILERS for those who haven’t read Torn from You yet. Read the scene here.

Series order:
★ (#0.5) With You | My review
★ (#1) Torn from You | My review

★ New book from Jamie McGuire (author of Beautiful Disaster)! It’s called Apolonia! From her Facebook:

Pulled the third all-nighter in a row, and APOLONIA is finished. Oh, my. Oh, oh my. Lotsa romance. Lotsa angst! Lotsa action! Lotsa WHAT THE HELL IS MCGUIRE GOING TO THROW AT US NEXT?! This is the first time I’ve had to stop myself from going back and reading it because it’s so fun and get back to work so I could finish since Beautiful Disaster! I am really loving this one. Can’t wait to share it with you! Agh! I hate waiting!

★ Gail McHugh has something great in store for Collide’s first birthday! Go here to read about it (it miiight include… Gavin).

Series order:
★ (#1) Collide
★ (#2) Pulse

★ You can see what Jessica Sorensen will be releasing in 2014 here!

★ Carmen Jenner is writing a Sugartown novella, book 2.5 of the series, called Greetings from Sugartown, coming mid-2014!

Series order:
★ (#1) Welcome to Sugartown
★ (#2) Enjoy Your Stay (out March 3rd 2014)

Sales!!

  • $0.99 – Bully (Fall Away #1) by Penelope Douglas | Purchase (LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!)
  • $0.99 – Sempre (Forever #1) by J.M. Darhower | Purchase | My review (A mafia romance!)
  • $0.99 – Mystery Man (Dream Man #1) by Kristen Ashley | Purchase (Has a total alpha-male hero!)
  • $0.99 – Play it Safe by Kristen Ashley | Purchase
  • $0.99 – Heaven and Hell (Heaven and Hell #1) by Kristen Ashley | Purchase
  • $0.99 – Arouse (Spiral of Bliss #1) by Nina Lane | Purchase
  • $0.99 – A Little Too Far (Too Far #1) by Lisa Desrochers | Purchase | My review (Love this series!)
  • $1.99 – A Little Too Much (Too Far #2) by Lisa Desrochers | Purchase | My review
  • $0.99 – Relentless (Shattered Hearts #1) by Cassia Leo | Purchase
  • $0.99 – Night Owl (Night Owl Trilogy #1) by M. Pierce | Purchase
  • $0.99 – A Different Blue by Amy Harmon | Purchase (Student-teacher romance!)
  • $0.99 – Ride (Bayonet Scars #1) by J.C. Emery | Purchase
  • $0.99 – Poughkeepsie (Poughkeepsie #1) by Debra Anastasia | Purchase | My review (Beautifully written love story)
  • $0.99 – Tears of Tess (Monsters in the Dark #1) by Pepper Winters | Purchase
  • $0.99 – Playing for Keeps (Neighbor from Hell #1) by R.L. Mathewson | Purchase (So funny and sweet!)
  • $0.99 – Perfection (Neighbor from Hell #2) by R.L. Mathewson | Purchase
  • $0.99 – Kaleb (Alluring Indulgence #1) by Nicole Edwards | Purchase
  • $0.99 – A Beautiful Lie (Playing with Fire #1) by Tara Sivec | Purchase
  • $0.99 – Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress #1) by Jeaniene Frost | Purchase
  • $0.99 – Beauty from Pain (Beauty #1) by Georgia Cates | Purchase (A very hot and sexy romance!)
  • $0.99 – Exquisite Betrayal by A.M. Hargrove | Purchase
  • $0.99 – The Seaside series by Rachel Van Dyken | Purchase
  • $0.99 – Wait for You (Wait for You #1) by J. Lynn | Purchase (Such a good NA contemporary romance!)
  • $1.99 – Trust in Me (Wait for You #1.5) by J. Lynn | Purchase | My review
  • $1.99 – Love Unscripted (Love #1) by Tina Reber | Purchase
  • $1.99 – Reason to Breathe (Breathing #1) by Rebecca Donovan | Purchase
  • $1.99 – Barely Breathing (Breathing #2) by Rebecca Donovan | Purchase
  • $1.99 – Out of Breath (Breathing #3) by Rebecca Donovan | Purchase
  • $1.99 – Crash (Crash #1) by Nicole Williams | Purchase | My review (One of my all-time fave series!)
  • $1.99 – Hard As It Gets (Hard Ink #1) by Laura Kaye | Purchase
  • $1.99 – Torn (Torn #1) by K.A. Robinson | Purchase
  • $1.99 – Twisted (Torn #2) by K.A. Robinson | Purchase
  • $1.99 – One Pink Line by Dina Silver | Purchase
  • $1.99 – Outlander: with Bonus Content by Diana Gabaldon | Purchase (A nearly 900 page book for only 1.99!)
  • $2.99 – Walking Disaster (Beautiful #2) by Jamie McGuire | Purchase (Travis! <3)
  • $3.99 – Beautiful Disaster (Beautiful #1) by Jamie McGuire | Purchase
  • $5.50 – Slammed (Slammed #1) by Colleen Hoover | Purchase (FAVE BOOK EVER!! Slammed has a $2 price drop!)

Bully by Penelope Douglas Sempre by J.M. Darhower Mystery Man by Kristen Ashley Play It Safe by Kristen Ashley Heaven and Hell by Kristen Ashley Arouse by Nina Lane A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers A Little Too Much by Lisa Desrochers Relentless by Cassia Leo Night Owl by M. Pierce A Different Blue by Amy Harmon Ride by J.C. Emery Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia Tears of Tess by Pepper Winters Playing for Keeps by R.L. Mathewson Perfection by R.L. Mathewson Kaleb by Nicole Edwards A Beautiful Lie by Tara Sivec Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost Beauty from Pain by Georgia Cates Exquisite Betrayal by A.M. Hargrove The Seaside Series- Boxed Set by Rachel Van Dyken Wait For You by Jennifer L. Armentrout Trust in Me by J. Lynn Love Unscripted by Tina Reber Reason to Breathe by Rebecca Donovan Barely Breathing by Rebecca Donovan Out of Breath by Rebecca Donovan Crash 2 by Nicole Williams Hard As It Gets by Laura Kaye Torn by K.A. Robinson Twisted by K.A. Robinson One Pink Line by Dina Silver Outlander by Diana Gabaldon Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire Slammed by Colleen Hoover

Recent Releases!!

Brutally Beautiful by Christine Zolendz Masquerade by Nyrae Dawn Rome by jay Crownover Before Jamaica Lane by Samantha Young The Destiny of Violet and Luke by Jessica Sorensen Awaken by Nina Lane Come to Me Quietly by A.L. Jackson Unhinged by A.G. Howard Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill Howling for You by Chloe Neill Ethan by Nicole Edwards Lucky Number Four by Amanda Jason After the Storm by Maya Banks Hope Flames by Jaci Burton Erased by Jennifer Rush Love Reborn by Yvonne Woon Too Consumed by Skyla Madi Nude Caucasian Woman Thrash by J.C. Emery Undone by R.E. Hunter

Upcoming New Releases!!

Drew + Fable Forever by Monica Murphy Forever with You by Laurelin Paige Behind His Eyes by Aleatha Romig Fighting For Irish by Gina L. Maxwell In Bed with Mr. Wrong by Katee Robert Falling For Her Soldier by Ophelia London Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

Weekly Recap!!

Reviewed on the blog:

Blog Tours:

Holding Out Blog Tour Banner Tour Banner Vendetta Surrendering to Us Tour Banner Branded tour banner fallen crest public tour banner

Don’t forget to check out the giveaways listed on the blog on the right!

Book News, Weekly Recap & Recent/Upcoming Releases! {19}

Cover Reveals!!

Brutally Beautiful by Christine Zolendz

Brutally Beautiful by Christine Zolendz
Release Date: January 5th 2014

A deadly game of hide and seek.

With blood still on her hands, Samantha Matthews is on the run, running from dark secrets and a man she prays to God will never find her. Running and hiding, just to stay alive. She had no choice but to run, to leave, to hide and forget about her life before. When Samantha believes she’s gained enough distance from her past and her demons, she stops running, hoping to find her future in the heavily wooded area of the Adirondack Mountains, a place she never expected to encounter a man with secrets as dark and as sordid as hers.

Kade Grayson is hiding, not from the demons after him, but from himself and from the entire outside world, wishing every day he could have just died. Arrogant and domineering, he’s tormented and terrorized by his past, seeing nothing good for his future. With the ghosts of his past still haunting him, he has exiled himself to a life of solitude, only living for his words and through his stories.

Until her.

An undeniable attraction, turns into hate and then ultimately obsession, an obsession that grows into a powerful story of love and redemption.

Will the bond they have begun to build between them grow stronger than the tragedies that have scarred both of their lives? Or will they allow their demons to consume them?

This book is a full length Adult Contemporary Romance and is intended for mature audiences due to strong language and sexual content.

Forever Yours by Elizabeth Reyes

Forever Yours by Elizabeth Reyes
Release Date: February 2014

Angel Moreno and Sarah Fiero fell in love in Forever Mine, but for a couple of high school sweethearts, forever is a really long time…

Catch up with them and the whole gang in college as past insecurities resurface. As if dealing with her best friend Sydney wasn’t enough, Angel now has two more men to deal with in Sarah’s life. There’s no shortage of edge-of-your-seat, angsty drama, tears, and laughter as Angel and Sarah’s love is put to the ultimate test in this addition to the Moreno Brother series.

Unraveled by Jen Fredereick

Unraveled (Woodlands #3) by Jen Frederick
Release Date: March 25th 2014

Twenty-five-year-old Sgt. Gray Phillips is at a crossroads in his life: stay in the Marine Corps or get out and learn to be a civilian? He’s got forty-five days of leave to make up his mind but the people in his life aren’t making the decision any easier. His dad wants him to get out; his grandfather wants him to stay in. And his growing feelings for Sam Anderson are wreaking havoc with his heart…and his mind. He believes relationships get ruined when a Marine goes on deployment. So now he’s got an even harder decision to make: take a chance on Sam or leave love behind and give his all to the Marines.

Twenty-two year old Samantha Anderson lost her husband to an IED in Afghanistan just two months after their vows. Two years later, Sam is full of regrets—that she didn’t move with her husband to Alaska; that she allowed her friends to drift away; that she hasn’t taken many chances in life. Now, she’s met Gray and taking a risk on this Marine could be her one opportunity to feel alive and in love again. But how can she risk her heart on another military man who could share the same tragic fate as her husband?

Snippets!!

★ OMG! Colleen Hoover put a teaser from Ugly Love on her Facebook page! Pre-order Ugly Love: Amazon

His mouth works its way to my other breast, just as his hands slip inside my panties at my hips.
“I think I have to rip these off you, because I sure don’t want you to move off my lap,” he says.

I smile. “Fine with me. I have more where these came from.”

I can feel him grin against my skin as his hands pull at the elastic band of my underwear. He yanks on one side, but fails to tear them. He tries ripping the other side to pull them off me, but nothing gives.
“You’re giving me a wedgie,” I say, laughing.

He lets out a frustrated sigh. “It’s always so much sexier when they do this on TV.”

I readjust myself and sit up straighter. “Try it again,” I encourage him. “You can do it, Miles.”

He grabs the left side of my panties and yanks them hard. “Ouch!” I yell, scooting in the direction he’s pulling to lessen the pain of the elastic digging into my right side.

He laughs and drops his face to my neck. “Sorry,” he says. “Got any scissors?”

I cringe at the thought of him coming at me with a pair of scissors. I scoot off of him and stand up, then pull my underwear down, kicking them off and away from me.
“Watching you do that was totally worth my failed attempt at being sexy,” he says.

I smile. “Your failed attempt at being sexy actually made you sexy.”

My comment makes him laugh again. I walk toward him and climb back onto his lap. He repositions me so that I’m straddling him again.
“My failures are a turn on for you?” he asks teasingly.

“Oh yeah,” I murmur. “So hot.”

His hands are on me again, roaming across my back and up into my hair and down my arms. “You would have loved me from the ages of thirteen to sixteen,” he says. “I failed at pretty much everything. Especially football.”

I grin. “Now we’re talking,” I say. “Tell me more.”

“Baseball,” he says, right before he presses his mouth to my neck. He slowly kisses his way up to my ear. “And one semester of world geography.”

“Holy shit.” I moan. “Now that’s hot.”

He moves to my mouth and pulls me in for a soft kiss, barely touching his lips to mine. “I failed at kissing, too,” he whispers against my mouth. “Terribly. I almost choked a girl with my tongue once.”

I laugh.

“Want me to show you?” he asks.

As soon as I nod, he’s repositioning us on the couch until I’m lying on my back and he’s on top of me. “Open your mouth,” he says.

I open it. He drops his mouth to mine and shoves his tongue inside, giving me what is quite possibly the worst kiss I’ve ever experienced. I push against his chest, attempting to get his tongue out of my mouth, but he doesn’t budge. I turn my face to the left and he begins licking my cheek, causing me to laugh even harder.
“Oh, my God, that was terrible, Miles!”

He pulls his mouth away and lowers himself on top of me. “I got better.”

I nod. “That’s a fact,” I say, agreeing wholeheartedly.

We’re both smiling. The contented look on his face fills me with so many emotions; I can’t even begin to classify them. I’m happy, because we’re having fun together. I’m sad, because we’re having fun together. I’m angry, because we’re having fun together and it makes me want so much more of this. So much more of him.

We quietly stare at each other, until he slowly dips his head, pressing a long kiss against my lips. He begins placing soft kisses all over my mouth until the kisses become longer and more intense. His tongue eventually parts my lips and the playfulness disappears.

It’s quite serious now as our kiss grows more hurried and his clothes begin to join mine on the floor, piece by piece.
“The couch or your bed?” he whispers.
“Both.”
He obliges.

★ Teaser for Take a Chance by Abbi Glines! Pre-order Take a Chance: Amazon

“I wasn’t a violent guy. I never lost my cool, but right now I was close to it. Harlow was here. She’d heard me and Nan. Holy hell!” – Grant Carter from TAKE A CHANCE

Be with Me teaser!

Be with Me teaser

And read a teaser of White Hot Kiss here!

Pre-order Be with Me: Amazon | B&N
Pre-order White Hot Kiss: Amazon

★ Teaser from Kiss the Sky by Krista & Becca Ritchie!

Kiss the Sky teaser

★ SQUEE!! Sylvia Day posted a teaser from Captivated by You for New Years, and it’s Gideon’s POV! Read it here.

★ Teaser from Before Jamaica Lane (On Dublin Street #3) by Samantha Young! Pre-order Before Jamaica Lane: Amazon

“I shut the door behind me, leaned against it, and turned the lock. Our eyes met across the room and clung. “New lesson?” The words came out all husky and needful.

Nate straightened up to his full height. “Tonight’s lesson: Use your initiative.”

Without saying a word I shrugged out of my jacket and began to undress.

Nate’s eyes smoldered as he prowled toward me. “Good initiative.”

★ Excerpt from Play (Stage Dive #2) by Kylie Scott! Pre-order Play: Amazon

“Trouble in paradise?” Jimmy Ferris stepped out onto the balcony, his trademark sneery smile in place. I could have kissed him for his timely intervention. Except kissing was what had gotten me into this mess.

“Hiding from Indie?” asked Mal, calmly.

Jimmy flicked his dark hair back. His gaze slid to me before moving onto the city lights below. There was a non answer if I’d ever seen one.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Mal snorted. All of his intensity had evaporated into thin air, thank god.

“We’re all good thanks, bro. Just picking out names for our future children. Anne wants Malcolm Junior for a boy but I said no, absolutely not. Kid should at least have a chance at a life out from underneath the shadow of his old man.”

“That’s real big of you,” said Jimmy.

“I know right? Being a parent is all about the sacrifices.”

Mal slid his hand behind my neck, rubbing at the tight muscles. “Relax,” he ordered. “It isn’t good for the baby.”

“I am not pregnant.”

“Ah, shit, that’s right. We were ‘sposed to be keeping it quiet. Sorry, Pumpkin.” He smacked himself in the forehead. I would’ve been happy to do it for him.

“Don’t worry,” said Jimmy. “We’ve been friends since we were kids. I know when he’s speaking shit.”

I wish I did.

“Who’s pregnant?” asked David Ferris, wandering out onto the balcony with his wife in one hand and a beer in the other.

With a look of great pride, Mal rubbed my belly. Any roundness was far more likely due to a weakness for cake than any acts of procreation.

“We were keeping it on the down low,” said Mal. “We didn’t want to upstage you two lovebirds.”

“Fast work,” said David.

“My boys can swim.” Mal winked.

“I don’t think you can actually tell that soon, dickhead.” Jimmy crossed his arms, leaning against the wall of windows. “Science and stuff, right?”

“A real man knows when his woman is knocked up, Jimbo. I don’t expect you to understand.”

“A real man, huh?” Jimmy pushed off the window, walking slowly toward Mal. His smile would’ve given a shark second thoughts. Hell, they were both smiling. What was it about males that they felt this primal need to beat the shit out of each other for the fun of it? Why?

“Guys,” said Ev. “No punching at my do-over wedding, playful or otherwise.”

“What about bitch-slapping?” asked Mal, swinging his arm in Jimmy’s direction.

“Let’s not.” I grabbed his hand and dragged it down by my side before he could do anyone any damage.

★ Pepper Winters is writing a new book called Destroyed! Here’s a snippet:

“I can order my own liquor, princess.”

“Not princess,” she snapped, never taking her eyes from the page informing her how to get seven fucking orgasms in one go. Oh please. A woman should clap and bow and give us the key to the city if she even achieved one orgasm. That shit was hard work. Seven—that was just asking for a Nobel prize with an Oscar winner trophy all in one go.

Stupid woman.

“You want me to prove to you how ridiculous that claim is?” I twisted further so my finger hovered over the small blurb saying: I came just by looking into my soul-mates eyes.

She chuckled and turned the page. “I already know it’s ridiculous and don’t need a pumped-up idiot who’s afraid of women to tell me.” She smacked her lips. “Now, leave me alone.”

★ Loving Cara (Love Under the Big Sky #1) by Kristen Proby snippet! Pre-order Loving Cara: Amazon

“Okay, then teach me how to do this.” She positions the white ball on the green felt of the table, lining it up to hit a green stripe in the corner. I lean back against my stool and watch her lean over the table, her ass pulling the cotton of her dress tight, and she shoots, completely missing.
“Josh?” She looks back at me over her shoulder.

“Yes, baby?”

“Help.”

“Put the cue down, Cara.”

She frowns and lays the cue on the table and turns to me.

“Come here.”

My arms are crossed over my chest, hands tucked firmly under my biceps as I lean on the chair, my feet shoulder-width apart.

“What is it?” She comes to stand directly in front of me.

I stare down at her for a moment, taking in her wide amber eyes, glassy from a little too much beer, and her long blond hair, tucked behind her ears now, showing off the hoops in her ears.

“You don’t want to play pool?” she asks with a raised brow.

I shake my head no, my face perfectly calm. “What do you want to do?”

I lean in, still not touching her, and whisper directly into her ear, “I want to take you home and f*ck the hell out of you all night long.”

I pull back in time to see her mouth drop in surprise, and then she sends me a sassy smile. “What are we waiting for?”

With a laugh, I bend down and lift her onto my shoulder, my forearm looped over the back of her thighs, careful to make sure the hem of her dress is covering all the necessary parts so I don’t have to kill anyone for looking up her skirt, and carry her out to the delight of the patrons still in the bar.

“Hey!” She slaps my ass and then braces herself on my hips as I slap hers back.

“Stay still, baby.”

“I was right, you are a caveman.”

“At least I’m not dragging you by your hair.”

“No, but can you still pull it later?” She giggles, earning another slap on her ass.

“Absolutely.”

“You sure slap my ass a lot, caveman.”

“I f*cking love your ass, baby.”

-Josh and Cara, LOVING CARA, available January 21, 2014 from Pocket Books.

Other News!!

Rival (Fall Away #2) by Penelope Douglas has a BLURB!

It’s different within these four walls—behind this closed door, at night, in the dark. I’m not Madoc, and she’s not Fallon. I’m not smiling, cracking jokes, or putting up a front. And she’s not cutting me down with her smart mouth or looking at me and wishing I was a million miles away from her.

Here—in her room, on her turf—is where she’ll let go of everything that makes her fight me everywhere else. I told her that she could lock the door to keep me out. She never does.

Madoc thinks that he has me pegged. He thinks that what you see is what you get, and that he’s on top of this game. Three years ago, I was cast aside and kicked out of my home all because of him. The little prince plays a game not even knowing that we’re at war.

Some people call it fighting. Others call it angst. Our parents call it sibling rivalry.

★ EEP!! Darynda Jones has written a Charley Davidson Christmas story called Shimmer! You can read it here, but there will be spoilers for those who haven’t read Fifth Grave Past the Light! PLUS, read Glow, Shimmer in Reyes’s POV, here!

★ Another bonus scene in Braden’s POV from Samantha Young! Read it here.

★ You can read teasers of Coming Home and enter giveaways from Priscilla Glenn on her Facebook page here!

★ Read a deleted scene from Howling for You by Chloe Neill here!

★ Abbi Glines discusses 2014 and her upcoming releases here!

Pre-order Take a Chance: Amazon
Pre-order One More Chance: Amazon

★ You can read Up from the Grave (Night Huntress #8) quotes here! Pre-order Up from the Grave: Amazon

Weekly Recap

Reviewed on the blog:

Books to review (links go to Amazon, book covers go to Goodreads):

Song of the Fireflies by J.A. Redmerski Savor by Monica Murphy

*Thanks to Forever, Avon Impulse, Netgalley and Edelweiss for the review copies*

Blog Tours:

Return to Poughkeepsie blog tour

Rome tour Banner

Don’t forget to check out the giveaways listed on the blog on the right!

Recent Releases!! (links go to Amazon, book covers go to Goodreads)

Raw by Belle Aurora Consumed by Emily Snow Fallen Crest Public by Tijan Return to Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia Finding My Forever by Heidi McLaughlin Music of the Soul by Katie Ashley How To Run With A Naked Werewolf (Naked Werewolf #3) by Molly HarperHow To Run With A Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper Taste of Darkness by Maria V. Snyder Three Broken Promises by Monica Murphy

Upcoming New Releases!! (links go to Amazon, book covers go to Goodreads)

Brutally Beautiful by Christine Zolendz Masquerade by Nyrae Dawn Rome by jay Crownover Before Jamaica Lane by Samantha Young The Destiny of Violet and Luke by Jessica Sorensen Awaken by Nina Lane Come to Me Quietly by A.L. Jackson Unhinged by A.G. Howard Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill Howling for You by Chloe Neill Ethan by Nicole Edwards After the Storm by Maya Banks Hope Flames by Jaci Burton Erased by Jennifer Rush Love Reborn by Yvonne Woon

Top Ten Tuesday {17}: Books I Read In 2013

top ten tuesday banner

It’s Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! This week’s theme is…

Top Ten Books I Read In 2013

Okay, um, do you know how hard today’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is? IT FREAKING IS. I don’t even know how I’ll only fit 10 of my top reads of 2013. So… I cheated a little.

Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover Finding Cinderella by Colleen Hoover This Girl by Colleen Hoover

1. Losing Hope (Hopeless #2), Finding Cinderella (Hopeless #2.5), This Girl (Slammed #3) by Colleen Hoover
My reviews: Losing Hope | Finding Cinderella | This Girl

Colleen Hoover is literally my favorite author of all time, and with every single one of her books I end up loving with my whole heart!

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

2. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

The most adorable book I’ve ever read! E&P is and forever will be one of my all-time favorite books!

One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean

3. One Good Earl Deserves a Lover (The Rules of Scoundrels #2), No Good Duke Goes Unpunished (#3) by Sarah MacLean
My reviews: One Good Earl Deserves a Lover | No Good Duke Goes Unpunished

This is the BEST historical romance series I’ve ever read! LOVE Cross and Temple!

Bully by Penelope Douglas Until You by Penelope Douglas

4. Bully (Fall Away #1), Until You (#1.5) by Penelope Douglas
My reviews: Bully | Until You

Two words: Jared. Trent. ❤

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

5. Wallbanger (Cocktail #1) Alice Clayton

This is the funniest book I’ve ever read. Seriously, it made my sides hurt from laughing and giggling.

Addicted to You by Krista Ritchie & Becca Ritchie Ricochet by Krista Ritchie & Becca Ritchie Addicted for Now by Krista Ritchie & Becca Ritchie

6. Addicted to You (Addicted #1), Ricochet (#1.5), Addicted for Now (#2) by Krista & Becca Ritchie
My reviews: Addicted to You | Addicted for Now

So freaking ADDICTING!! And the characters are just too amazing. Love everything about this series!

Dare You To by Katie McGarry Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

7. Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2), Crash Into You (#3) by Katie McGarry
My reviews: Dare You To | Crash Into You

My favorite YA contemporary romance series ever! You can’t go wrong with Katie McGarry

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan

8. Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy #1), Untold (#2) by Sarah Rees Brennan

Hilarious and awesome and badass pretty much sums up this series and these characters.

The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson

9. The Bitter Kingdom (Fire and Thorns #3) by Rae Carson
My Review

The most incredible conclusion to my favorite fantasy series ever.

Beautiful Stranger by Christina Lauren Beautiful Player by Christina Lauren

10. Beautiful Stranger (Beautiful Bastard #2), Beautiful Player (Beautiful Bastard #3) by Christina Lauren
My review: Beautiful Player

Ack, I just love Max and Will! Their stories are sooo good.

So what are your favorites of 2013?

lacey

Book News, Weekly Recap & Upcoming Releases! {18}

Cover Reveals!!

Rusty Nailed by Alice Clayton

Rusty Nailed (Cocktail #2) by Alice Clayton
Release Date: June 24th 2014

In this sequel to Wallbanger, the second book in the Cocktail series, fan favorites Caroline and Simon negotiate the rollercoaster of their new relationship while house-sitting in San Francisco.

Playing house was never so much fun—or so confusing. With her boss on her honeymoon, Caroline’s working crazy long hours to keep the interior design company running—especially since she’s also the lead designer for the renovation of a gorgeous old hotel on Sausalito. So with her hotshot photographer boyfriend gallivanting all over the world for his job, she and Simon are heavy-duty into “absence makes the heart grow fonder” mode. Neither has any complaints about the great reunion sex, though! Then Simon decides he’s tired of so much travelling, and he’s suddenly home more. A lot more. And wanting Caroline home more, too. Though their friends’ romantic lives provide plenty of welcome distraction, eventually Caroline and Simon have to sort their relationship out. Neither wants “out of sight, out of mind,” but can they create their own happy mid-ground cliché?

USA TODAY bestselling author Alice Clayton delivers another delicious, frothy cocktail of a book, shaking up her characters, stirring in laugh-out-loud humor, and serving sizzling romance straight up!

Screwdrivered by Alice Clayton

Screwdrivered (Cocktail #3) by Alice Clayton
Release Date: September 2nd 2014

In the third book in the bestselling Cocktail series, a romantic at heart decides that she will not ever, under any circumstances, fall for the engineer next door.

Viv Franklin is a retired Army captain who now designs software programs. She’s also a romance junkie who longs for a knight in shining armor or a cowboy on a wild stallion or a strapping firefighter to sweep her off her feet. Knowing she’s never going to meet her hero by spending all her time behind her keyboard, she uproots her life to move to California, where she meets an actual cowboy. And—sigh—an engineer. But which man is truly Clark Kent and which is her Superman?

A madcap romantic comedy with unforgettable characters and the promise of true love, Screwdrivered has just what you need.

Twisted by Emma Chase

Twisted (Tangled #2) by Emma Chase
Release Date: March 25th 2014

There are two kinds of people in the world. The ones who look first, and the ones who leap. I’ve always been more of a looker. Cautious. A planner. That changed after I met Drew Evans. He was so persistent. So sure of himself – and of me.

But not all love stories end happily ever after. Did you think Drew and I were going to ride off into the sunset? Join the club. Now I have to make a choice, the most important of my life. Drew already made his –in fact, he tried to decide for the both of us. But you know that’s just not my style. So I came back to Greenville. Alone. Well, sort of alone….

What I’ve come to realize is that old habits die hard and sometimes you have to go back to where you began, before you can move ahead.

TWISTED picks up two years after Tangled’s end, and is told from Kate’s POV.

Tamed by Emma Chase

Tamed (Tangled #3) by Emma Chase
Release Date: May 27th 2014

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: girl meets player, they fall in love, player changes his ways.

It’s a good story. But it’s not our story. Ours is a lot more colorful.

When I met Dee I knew right away that she was special. When she met me, she thought I was anything but special–I was exactly like every other guy who’d screwed her over and let her down. It took some time to convince her otherwise, but turns out I can make a convincing argument when sex is at stake.

You might know where this story’s headed. But the best part isn’t where we ended up.

It’s how we got there.

TAMED goes back in time to the Tangled days. But this time around, it’s not Drew dishing out the advice and opinions – it’s his best friend Matthew, who of course is dealing with Dee Dee.

Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally

Breathe, Annie, Breathe (Hundred Oaks #5) by Miranda Kenneally
Release Date: July 1st 2014

Eighteen-year-old Annie Winters can barely run a mile without wheezing. Still, she’s training to run the Music City Marathon in seven short months. Running is so not her thing, but she has to finish what her boyfriend started… before he died.

Annie feels guilt that she’s still alive and blames herself for his death; she has to do this to honor him – running a marathon was his dream. Plus training gives her something to do, it’s a distraction. So is Jeremiah Brown.

He’s an adrenaline junkie who runs marathons backwards. He flirts with Annie on the trails and it makes her feel alive and happy and guilty all at the same time. She wants to both race into his arms and sprint in the opposite direction – because loving is a risk she’s not sure she’s ready to take again…

Stolen Wishes by Lexi Ryan

Stolen Wishes (New Hope #1.5) by Lexi Ryan
Release Date: January 7th 2014

Cally…

A sexy smile. Intense blue eyes. A goodness that makes him want to save me from these rumors when no one else would care. I didn’t ask for a hero. William Bailey was never supposed to be anything more than a wish, a dream, an unrequited crush. Not for a girl like me–a girl whose fractured family has stolen her chance at a decent life.

William…

Since the death of my parents, I’ve always done what’s expected of me, what’s “best” for me. Until Cally. The moment her haunted eyes meet mine, the fractured pieces of my heart feel whole again. I don’t just want to save her. I need her to save me.

Stolen chances. Unbroken wishes. Two lonely souls grasping for hope in the darkness.

Twisted Together by Pepper Winters

Twisted Together (Monsters in the Dark #3) by Pepper Winters
Release Date: Early 2014

“After battling through hell, I brought my esclave back from the brink of ruin. I sacrificed everything—my heart, my mind, my very desires to bring her back to life. And for a while, I thought it broke me, that I’d never be the same. But slowly the beast is growing bolder, and it’s finally time to show Tess how beautiful the dark can be.”

 

Q gave everything to bring Tess back. In return, he expects nothing less. Tess may have leashed and tamed him, but he’s still a monster inside.

 

Behind His Eyes by Aleatha Romig

Behind His Eyes (Consequences #4) by Aleatha Romig
Release Date: January 14th 2014

BEHIND HIS EYES – CONSEQUENCES is a reading companion, by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Aleatha Romig, recommended to be read aftercompleting all of the CONSEQUENCES SERIES: Consequences, Truth, and Convicted. It is not a standalone book and should not be read as such.

This companion was written to explore the thoughts and motivations of Anthony Rawlings, the man behind the consequences. It was not intended as a total rewrite of Consequences, but meant to enhance the reader’s understanding. BHE-Consequences contains significant scenes from the novel Consequences, as experienced from Anthony’s point of view. It also contains never before read, behind the scenes information, as well as, a glossary of the characters and a timeline devoted to the events within Consequences.

BEHIND HIS EYES CONSEQUENCES is a dark journey into the mind of the man who believes that he controls everything and controls nothing. Because there is more to learn about a man who:

Once upon a time, signed a napkin that he knew was a contract. As an esteemed businessman, he forgot one very important rule—he forgot to read the fine print. It wasn’t an acquisition to own another person as he’d previously assumed. It was an agreement to acquire a soul.

—Aleatha Romig CONVICTED

It was a long and painful acquisition—especially from Behind His Eyes!

Seducing Lauren by Kristen Proby

Seducing Lauren (Love Under the Big Sky #2) by Kristen Proby
Release Date: August 19th 2014

In the second book in the Love Under the Big Sky series from this USA TODAY bestselling author of the With Me in Seattle series, life in Montana gets spicy when a woman and her divorce lawyer sign off the papers—and sign on to love.

Now that his best friend, Josh, has happily settled down with his true love on a Montana ranch, small-town lawyer Ty Sullivan starts thinking that maybe single life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. And when Lauren Cunningham’s no-good ex-husband comes after her for an unexpected trust fund, Ty steps in to protect her. But soon he can’t help but think of her as more than a client. Lauren’s in no mood to jump into another relationship, so how can Ty convince her that her mistake wasn’t getting married, but marrying the wrong guy?

Perfectly Damaged by E.L. Montes

Perfectly Damaged by E.L. Montes
Release Date: January 20th 2014

Schizoaffective disorder: a mental illness in which a person experiences a combination of mood disorder and schizophrenia symptoms.

I know about this illness—very well—because I suffer from it. It’s been four years since my diagnosis, and ever since, I’ve been living in a dark hole. Voices constantly invading my thoughts. Hallucinations. All of which force me to question if what I’m experiencing is even reality.

But here I am, still hanging on, still breathing and living through it.

That is, until he stumbled into my life. Logan Reed. I don’t want any part of him. I’ve pushed him away, but he isn’t easily deterred. I’ve told him I’m different, but he doesn’t care. He’s trying to slowly break me down. I’m trying just as hard not to let him. He doesn’t know how truly damaged I am; what will happen when he does?

I know the truth—he’ll never be able to look at me the same way again. Just like everybody else.

Forever Ours by Cassia Leo

Forever Ours (Shattered Hearts #0.5) by Cassia Leo
Release Date: April 2014

Forever Ours is the highly anticipated prequel to the New York Times and USA Todaybestselling Shattered Hearts Series. This can be read as a stand alone or beforeRelentless.

Sometimes, it takes more than love to mend a shattered heart.

After eight years of being tossed around from one home to another, never forming any meaningful friendships or bonds with her foster families, Claire’s caseworker gives her an ultimatum: Behave or your next home will be a halfway house.

When fifteen-year-old Claire arrives at the home of Jackie Knight and meets Jackie’s fifteen-year-old son, tattooed guitarist Chris, she fears she’ll be seeing the inside of that halfway house soon. But Chris isn’t like any other guy Claire has ever encountered and he soon gains her trust through his music and unwavering patience.

Claire has finally found her forever home and she and Chris soon find themselves falling in love.

But Chris’s dreams of musical stardom and Claire’s need for a stable home soon put their love in jeopardy. Chris struggles deeply with his plans for the future, entirely reluctant to leave Claire behind; until Claire does something that may break their love — and the only home she’s comes to know — forever.

The Forgotten Girl by Jessica Sorensen

The Forgotten Girl by Jessica Sorensen
Release Date: February 27th 2014

Twenty-three year-old Maddie Asherford is haunted by a past she can’t remember. When she was fifteen years old, there was a tragic accident and she was left with amnesia.

In the aftermath, Maddie’s left struggling with who she is—the forgotten girl she was eight years ago or the Maddie she is now. Sometimes it even feels like she might be two different people completely—the good Maddie and the bad one.

Good Maddie goes to therapy, spends time with her family, and works on healing herself. Bad Maddie rebels and has dark thoughts of hurting people and sometimes even killing them.

Maddie manages to keep her twisted thoughts hidden for the most part. That is until she starts having blackouts. Each time she wakes up from one, she’s near a murder scene with no recollection of what happened the night before and this helpless feeling like she’s losing control of her life. Maddie doesn’t want to believe she’s a killer, but she begins to question who she really was in her past. If she was bad Maddie all along and that maybe she was a killer.

***Stand Alone. Dark Thriller**

Snippets!!

★ Cassandra Clare has a Christmasy snippet from City of Heavenly Fire! You can read it here.

★ OMG! Colleen Hoover put this up as a status update on Goodreads! It’s from Ugly Love!

“Yes, Miles. You’re right. I am. Because I like you and I know you like me and when we’re together, it’s phenomenal, so that’s what normal people do. When they find someone they’re compatible with, they open up to them. They let them in. They want to be with them. They don’t f*@k them against their kitchen table, then walk away and make them feel like complete shit.”

Preorder Ugly Love: Amazon

★ Teasers for Behind His Eyes by Aleatha Romig!

followed your rules

perfect wife

★ A snippet for The Destiny of Violet and Luke (The Coincidence #3) by Jessica Sorensen!

Violet and Luke teaser 4

Other News!!

★ Nalini Singh, one of my favorite authors ever, has deleted scenes from Heart of Obsidian (one of my favorite books of 2013)! You can read them here.

★ EEP!! Darynda Jones has written a Charley Davidson Christmas story called Shimmer! You can read it here, but there will be spoilers for those who haven’t read Fifth Grave Past the Light!

★ Ilona Andrews has a wonderful gift for their readers here!

★ Wendy Higgins has a bonus scene of parts of chapters 17-20 of Sweet Peril in Kai’s POV! Read it here.

★ In the print version of Be with Me (Wait for You #2) by J. Lynn there will be an exclusive never-before-seen scene between Teresa and Jase that won’t exist in the e-book version!

Preorder Be with Me: Amazon | B&N

★ The title of the sequel to Breaking Nova by Jessica Sorensen will be called Saving Quinton!

★ Ugly Love has a release date: August 5, 2014! Preorder on Amazon

★ Breakable by Tammara Webber is up for preorder on Amazon!

★ S.C. Stephens wrote a holiday short in Kellan’s POV (from the Thoughtless series)! Read it here.

★ It’s Søren’s birthday (from The Original Sinners series), so author Tiffany Reisz has a deleted scene from The Saint! Read it here.

★ You can read the prologue of Ofelia by Pepper Winters here!

★ Kristen Ashley news!

The Will, the start of a three-part series called the Magdalene Series, will be released in April 2014. I got to fulfill two bucket list items with this one. One, writing a hero who is a boxer and two, giving into the request of a number of readers and writing a couple that are just a wee bit older. You may think one and two don’t go together but wait until you meet Jake and Josephine. Jake is the…absolute…bomb and Josephine is so damned funny, I haven’t laughed that hard writing a book since Rock Chick Revolution. Can’t wait for you to meet them!

Here’s what else you can look forward to in 2014.

  • Untitled, the continuation of The ‘Burg Series (Frankie and Benny’s story).
  • Another Untitled, the finale of The Three Series will be written after I leave The ‘Burg.

I’m hoping to get at least one more book in by the end of 2014 and I’ll update you what that/those might be when I know what they might be!

Weekly Recap

Reviewed on the blog:

Books to review:

White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout Return to Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia Seeking Her by Cora Carmack A Little Too Hot by Lisa Desrochers Taste of Darkness by Maria V. Snyder Awaken by Nina Lane Fallen Crest Public by Tijan Thou Shalt Not by J.J. Rossum

Blog Tours:

Quintessentially Q Tour Banner

Addicted for Now banner

tour banner under different stars

The Redhead Plays Her Hand banner

Otherwise Unharmed tour banner

Exquisite Betrayal Tour Banner

Entangled Dec Tour

Don’t forget to check out the giveaways listed on the blog on the right!

Recent Releases

The Sweetest Game by J. Sterling Broken Dove by Kristen Ashley The Spider by Jennifer Estep Beck by Harper Sloan Needing Her by Molly McAdams With You by Nashoda Rose Torn from You by Nashoda Rose

Upcoming New Releases!! (Last releases of the year!)

Fallen Crest Public by Tijan Return to Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia Finding My Forever by Heidi McLaughlin Music of the Soul by Katie Ashley How To Run With A Naked Werewolf (Naked Werewolf #3) by Molly HarperHow To Run With A Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper Taste of Darkness by Maria V. Snyder Three Broken Promises by Monica Murphy Warrior by Ellen Oh