Wednesday 31 July 2013

Waiting on Wednesday



"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine , that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting on...hence the title. This week's pick is Evertrue by Brodi Ashton.  Here's the synopsis:

Now that Nikki has rescued Jack, all she wants is to be with him and graduate high school. But Cole tricked Nikki into feeding off him, and she’s begun the process of turning into an Everliving herself... which means she must feed on a Forfeit soon — or die.

Terrified for her survival, Nikki and Jack begin a desperate attempt to reverse the process using any means possible. Even Cole, who they expected to fight them at every turn, has become an unlikely ally — but how long can it last? Nikki needs to feed on Cole to survive, Cole needs Nikki to gain the throne in the Everneath, Jack needs Nikki because she is everything to him — and together, they must travel back to the Underworld to undo Nikki’s fate and make her mortal once more. But Cole isn’t the only one with plans for Nikki: the Queen has not forgotten Nikki’s treachery, and she wants her destroyed for good. Will Nikki be forced to spend eternity in the Underworld, or does she have what it takes to bring down the Everneath once and for all?

In this stunning conclusion to the Everneath trilogy, Brodi Ashton evokes the resiliency of the human spirit and the indomitable power of true love.

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am for this book but as always with the end of a trilogy, it's a bitter sweet longing as I don't want it to end!  I have loved every minute of reading these books and I simply can't wait to find out what happens next!  I am sincerely hoping that the final book will be as awesome and mind blowing as the first two and I'm putting all my trust in Brodi for that.  I'm thoroughly impressed with her as an author and will read anything she writes from now on. 

Evertrue is published on 21st January, 2014 - I am unsure about the UK date but I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same as the US. 

Saturday 27 July 2013

Letterbox Love (#62)

As always, Letterbox Love is a weekly feature that I'm hosting on the blog and basically, the idea came out of a discussion with other UK book bloggers about the need to do a weekly meme with more of a British feel to it. Therefore, Letterbox Love was born and the logo was lovingly designed by Dark Readers. Letterbox Love is a way for us to share the books that come through our letterbox, galleys and e books (through our electronic letterbox) and any other bookish goodies that we want to tell you about. Letterbox Love is intended to showcase upcoming books and build up some excitement for them as well as let you know what is available out there. It is not about competing with other bloggers or boasting of any kind (c'mon, we're British and we don't do drama!)

Review Books



All Our Yesterday's by Cristin Terrill (Finished UK Paperback)
This book is my MUST READ book of 2013 so far that I've already read, loved and reviewed on the blog.  I was sent a finished copy because I am quoted in there! Hoorah!  
 
The Night Itself by Zoe Marriott
I've heard so much about this book, sometimes I feel like I've already read it but in fact, I haven't...yet.  Full of Japanese myths and legends surrounding a Katana sword, this book sounds supremely interesting. 

Into the Grey by Celine Kiernan
This is apparently a chilling ghost story and the word "chilling" always makes me a little apprehensive.  It's no secret that I'm not fond of scary books and I kind of want someone to go first and tell me how it is and if I will scare myself stupid by reading it!





The Mortal Instruments City of Bones (Official Illustrated Movie Companion)
*Screams with excitement* You have NO IDEA how excited I am for this movie.   I love collecting movie companions for YA books and would have bought this anyway had it not been for a kind publisher.  Can't wait to dive in as I've only had a quick flick through so far!

The Shadowhunter's Guide
This is a relatively thin book and a quick and easy read.  Think of it more as a beginner's guide which you probably don't need if you've read the books but will probably want if you're a hardcore fan. 


A HUGE thank you to publishers this week!


Books Bought


Blurred by Tara Fuller 
I LOVED Inbetween, the first book, and I'm very excited to read the second book.  I actually have a digital ARC of it but haven't got round to reading it yet.  I know, shame on me.  I love this series and highly recommend that if you haven't read the first book, you do so immediately. 

EBooks

Knowing His Secret by K.C. Falls (Bought)
I won't lie, I'm loving the cover and this seems more like a novella in terms of word count than a novel so I know it's going to be a fairly quick read.  This is obviously a more adult romance novel and whilst I'm a little sick of the perfect, hot, billionaire trope, I'm still interested in giving this one a go. 

Wanderlust by Skye Warren (Bought)
This is a very adult book with some dark themes (kidnapping being one of them) and as I'm fascinated with Stockholm Syndrome, I wanted to read it. 

The Tantric Principle by Jennifer Probst (Bought)
I've read and enjoyed books from this author before and I like the idea of a hot, male yoga teacher in this adult contemporary romance.

Point of Origin by Amanda Havard (Bought)
This is book two in the Survivors Series (book one is currently free on Amazon) and I think it's YA.  The sequel is only 77p so why not?

Resurrection by A.M. Hargrove (Bought) 
This is book two in this YA series, Survival (which I downloaded last week) being the first.  It was only 77p.

Beginnings by A.M. Hargrove (Free)
This is a prequel novella to the Survival series and bonus, it was free!

The Survivors by Amanda Havard (Free)
It's historical, it's about witches and I am so there. 

Hope Breaks by Alice Bello (Free)
This is a new adult romantic comedy and it's free!  It's a novella so I have a feeling this will be a quick and fun read.

Knowing the Score by Kat Latham (Netgalley - For Review)
This is a new adult contemporary romance set in the UK and that immediately gets my attention as so much of it is US based.  I've always had a bit of a thing for rugby players so this book sounds right up my street!

Too Fast by Alexia Haynes (Netgalley - For Review) 
This is a new adult contemporary romance which is actually free on Amazon at the moment and had I known that, I would downloaded from there instead of Netgalley.  I'll give this one a go.


I'm trying to slow my reading down at the moment because I read much faster than I review and I'm running behind!  This gives me a good opportunity though to catch up with other things that need doing on a personal level.  I hope you all had a great week for books and as always, please share your links below.

Thursday 25 July 2013

The Rose Throne Review



Richly-imagined fantasy romance from the author of Princess and the Hound, a tale of two princesses--one with magic, one with none--who dare seek love in a world where real choice can never be theirs. For fans of Megan Whalen Turner, Catherine Fisher, and Cassandra Clare.

Ailsbet loves nothing more than music; tall and red-haired, she's impatient with the artifice and ceremony of her father's court. Marissa adores the world of her island home and feels she has much to offer when she finally inherits the throne from her wise, good-tempered father. The trouble is that neither princess has the power--or the magic--to rule alone, and if the kingdoms can be united, which princess will end up ruling the joint land? For both, the only goal would seem to be a strategic marriage to a man who can bring his own brand of power to the throne. But will either girl be able to marry for love? And can either of these two princesses, rivals though they have never met, afford to let the other live?

I love fantasy books, especially when they involve royalty and a splash of magic which is why I really wanted to read The Rose Throne. In this book, there are two opposing kingdoms, one tyrannical king with a lust for power, two princesses and a prophecy.  Sounds like a recipe for a good story and let me tell you that it was definitely an interesting little book with complex characters and a world not unlike ours by means of sharing common themes and threads. 

The story is told from two narrators, Princess Ailsbert and Princess Marissa (Issa) and I enjoyed reading about the differences between them.  Ailsbert is considered plain by most although I admired her wit and intelligence.  She has no magical capabilities, which sets her apart from everyone else, making her feel inadequate at times.  Although she is a princess and should be prepared to do her duty for her country, all she thinks about is music.  Issa on the other hand is everything a future queen should be.  She is kind, loyal, intelligent and her spirit is brimming over with magic.  She too has a duty to perform and in order to keep the peace and unite the two kingdoms, she is coerced into marrying Ailsbert’s younger brother, the Prince of Rurik but is that what Issa really wants? And what about the prophecy?

For all the romance fans out there, there are hints of romance in the book although I don’t want to go into details for fear of spoiling the plot.  What I will say is that Kellan is a worthy love interest although I didn’t always understand some of his interactions, particularly when it came to Ailsbert. I actually thought he was probably the most interesting character in the book by way of his motivations but I admit that I still haven’t got him all figured out yet.

As with most books about kingdoms, there is always a battle to rule and this book is of no exception.  But it is the magic that fascinates me the most.  In the world of The Rose Throne, there are several types of magic.  Taweyr is the more masculine energy, owned by the manfolk and used for battles, hunting, and war.  Neweyr is the feminine energy women have which is used for creation, beauty and nature.  There are those like Princess Ailsbet who are unweyr and do not appear to have any magic at all but it is the Ekhono that I am most fascinated with.  Those are people who have the ‘wrong kind’ of magic – females who emit masculine energy and males who emit feminine energy.  They are cast out from society by the King and persecuted by others, albeit not all, for what they are which they cannot help.  To be honest, it was glaringly obvious to me that this was just a metaphor for being gay; at least that’s what I perceive it to be.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and thought it showed a touch of originality about it but I wasn’t a big fan of the ending which seemed somewhat abrupt.  It’s obvious that there will be a sequel and I have since learned that this will be a series. I enjoyed all the plot twists, none of which were obvious and I look forward to a lot of my questions being answered in book two.

The Rose Throne was published on 14th May, 2013.  To find out more about Mette Ivie Harrison and her books, please click here to visit her website.


Monday 22 July 2013

All Our Yesterdays Book Trailer


So, there's this book that I've fallen hopelessly, and completely in love with called All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill that if you've been paying attention, you will remember that I reviewed here back in June.  Anyway, my very good friend and talented fellow book blogger Casey from Dark Readers has created a trailer for the book and I am delighted to reveal it on the blog today.


So, what did you think?  This is probably my favourite YA read of 2013 so far and the book comes highly recommended by me so I beg you to pick up a copy when it hits the book shops.  All Our Yesterdays is published on 1st August, 2013.  To find out more about Cristin Terrill and her books, please click here to visit her website.

Letterbox Love (#61)

As always, Letterbox Love is a weekly feature that I'm hosting on the blog and basically, the idea came out of a discussion with other UK book bloggers about the need to do a weekly meme with more of a British feel to it. Therefore, Letterbox Love was born and the logo was lovingly designed by Dark Readers. Letterbox Love is a way for us to share the books that come through our letterbox, galleys and e books (through our electronic letterbox) and any other bookish goodies that we want to tell you about. Letterbox Love is intended to showcase upcoming books and build up some excitement for them as well as let you know what is available out there. It is not about competing with other bloggers or boasting of any kind (c'mon, we're British and we don't do drama!)

Review Books


The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon (Finished Copy)
I can't believe I still haven't started this but I'm really, really excited to read this debut novel by a 21 year old British writer who's set to become 'the next big thing'.  Apparently, the movie rights have been sold even before the book is published and that's got to make it worth reading.   

The Glass Republic by Tom Pollock (Unsolicited)
This is the sequel to The City's Son which I have not read yet.  

Linked by Imogen Howson (Unsolicited)
This one actually sounds really interesting and is about twins with a massive touch of mystery and possibly sci fi added to the mix. 


Thank You Publishers!!!! 




Victoria Schwab recently ran a promotion where she promised to send book related trading cards out to those that had pre ordered her upcoming adult title Vicious and I just happened to pre order MONTHS ago and she sent me the cards.  They are beautiful and I can't believe that Victoria designed and made these herself.  



Books Bought

I did not buy any physical books this week.  


Books Won


Between the Covers (Promotional Sampler)
This is a promotional sampler which contains excerpts from several amazing books - authors like Lisa Desrochers, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Cora Carmack etc. 


Books Gifted


A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers
I'm a huge fan of Lisa Desrochers and I loved her Personal Demons series so naturally, I'm dying to read her new adult book.  To tell the truth, I've only had the book two days and I've already devoured it.  You'll be pleased to know that it's AWESOME and OMG I am desperate for book two in the series which sounds like more of a companion novel but you'll see why I want it so bad when you read THIS book.  I loved that it was mostly set in Rome and has some forbidden romance to it.  It couldn't have been more perfectly written for me.


EBooks

Axel by Harper Sloan (Bought)
A second chance romance with a hot alpha male, this has had nothing but great reviews and based on those reviews, I'm sold. 

Half Lives by Sara Grant (Bought)
I think this sounds so interesting and I love the fact that it's a YA dystopian novel written by a British author. 

Dark Light by S.L. Jennings (Bought)
This was on sale and has had some good reviews so I thought I would try it as it is the beginning of a series.

My First by Melanie Shawn (Bought)
I've seen some great reviews for this contemporary romance and based on the synopsis, I'm hooked.

Left Drowning by Jessica Park (Bought)

I've heard nothing but great things about Jessica's books but I haven't read any yet.   This book has had some really impressive blurbs from some well known authors and it does sound somewhat interesting despite the old trope of girl with tragic past meets boy with tragic past.  I definitely want to give it a go anyway.

Fading by E.K. Blair (Bought)
This is about a ballerina and a girl who needs saving in every sense of the word following a brutal attack.  I think it sounds interesting and worth a shot as I've seen some impressive reviews for the book.  

Frigid by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Bought)
I'm a big fan of Jennifer's and I'd pretty much read anything she had written so this was a must buy for me. 

Maid for the Billionaire by Ruth Cardello (Free)
I thought this was a historical when I downloaded it but apparently, it's not which goes to show you that titles and book covers can be misleading!  I thought I would give it a shot based on the positive reviews on Amazon. 

Mortality by Kellie Sheridan (Free)
I'm not entirely sure if this YA or not, dystopian or not but I can tell you that it sounds like a zombie novel.  Ordinarily I wouldn't give it a look but to my shock and horror, I may just be coming around to zombie novels.  Kind of.  
 
Control by Charlotte Stein (Free)
This is an erotic story and I think one that contains BDSM.  Other than that, I have no idea what it's about but I can pretty much guess LOL.  I downloaded it based on the reviews. 

Feel the Rush by Kelsie Leverich (Netgalley - For Review)
This is a companion novel to The Valentine's Arrangement and I simply can't resist novels with military men. 

Play Me by Diane Alberts (Netgalley - For Review)
I think this is part of the series and I'm pretty sure I have the other books.  I think I've read the first one and I know I enjoyed it! 

Vicious (Excerpt) by V.E. Schwab (Netgalley - For Review)
I'm a big fan of Victoria Schwab and I've been dying to read this book since I first heard about her writing it.  Unfortunately, this is just an excerpt and not the full copy.

Elite by Rachel Van Dyken (Netgalley - For Review)
I think this is a new adult title and I am intrigued by the synopsis which is well written and mysterious to say the least!

When the World was Flat by Ingrid Jonach (Netgalley - For Review)
I am so intrigued by this book.  I love the cover, the synopsis and the fact that it's an original sci fi romance novel which sounds right up my street and I can't wait to read it!

Some awesome books this week, despite the fact that I thought initially it was going to be a slow week.  I'm trying to slow down my reading at the moment because I need to catch up on reviews but I do love to read and I'm finding it really hard lol.  I hope you all had a great week for books and as always, please share your links below.

Wednesday 17 July 2013

Knock Out Love Review



One look at the beautiful man working in the produce section has her sneaking out of her house and lying to her husband.

One smile from him has her buying push-up bras and dancing stupidly in the aisles.


One kiss makes her question what true love is.


One night with CASH VALENTINE reveals she isn't the only one hiding secret desires.


What if the love you've always wanted, dreamed possible, and craved was right there for the taking? What if you could have everything you've always wanted, if only you didn't belong to another?


24-year-old CASH VALENTINE has always followed his heart. And now, he can't get the woman he met in the check-out lane out of his head. What started as flirtatious conversation with a muse, turned quickly into stolen moments with the love of his life. But what happens when the love of your life belongs to another man? And what if that man owns everything your family has worked for?


What would you risk for your true love?

With the new adult market being flooded with contemporary romances featuring damaged characters, what do you read if you want something that little bit different?  The answer is Knock Out Love by debut author Pella Grace, a fantastic little gem of a book that has come from nowhere and has quickly become my new favourite.

Lila is an unhappy woman and a wife that has been taken for granted for far too long.  She has done EVERYTHING to please her husband while he has ignored and neglected her.  She is angry at him and feels unfulfilled, and so when someone comes along who notices her, you can’t really blame her for paying attention.

I will state at this point that I am by no means condoning the act of cheating on a partner BUT not everything in life is black and white and I can understand what happened and exactly why Lila pursued Cash. I can identify with her much more than I’m comfortable to admit and let’s just say that if I were her, I wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to be with the right person if that situation presented itself.  I can hear the naysayers screaming at the top of their lungs “why doesn’t Lila just leave her husband?” and all I can say is that I don’t believe it’s as easy as that.  Personally, I do think she still has feelings for her husband and let’s not forget that it’s not easy to leave behind everything that’s comfortable and familiar.   On the other hand, her husband is no match for Cash Valentine who is intelligent, witty, attentive, and way too wise for his years.  Where in the supermarket can I get me one of these?!

"I want to knock her love out. I want to pull it from her chest while it’s beating fervently and be slapped for doing so.”

Cash has got to be one of the most fantastic book boyfriends I’ve come across so far and you know what I love most about him? HIS MIND.  How many times can you say that about a book boyfriend nowadays?  He wasn’t a bad boy, he’s not built like a brick shit house and I’m sure he’d rather look at the sky and paint pretty pictures than beat someone up (although he’s not afraid to stand up to Lila's husband when the need presents itself).  Cash is full of life and has a certain charm about him that means I’m willing to forgive his little obsession with Mariah Carey, although secretly I do think it’s adorably funny. 

I really liked the fact that Cash helps Lila to rediscover herself although she is by no means a weak character. She’s not emotionally all over the place, she doesn’t complain all the time unnecessarily and she doesn’t start acting like a twenty four year old just because she meets Cash.  Sure, she’s still got it baby and she’s got tons of fun and life left in her, but she’s still a woman in her thirties and that’s reflected in some of her actions and the way she thinks about things.

Knock Love Out is a fantastic debut novel that is intelligently written and has a unique writing style that I really enjoyed but what I liked most about the book was the message - just because you found love once; it doesn’t mean you can’t find it again and basically, age is just a number.  Who cares that Lila is the older woman?  Intellectually speaking, Cash and Lila are on the same page and pretty perfect for each other. On that note, I do wonder just how many women will be haunting the produce section of their local supermarkets after reading the book though ;)

If you’re after a contemporary romance that doesn’t rely on alpha males and damaged characters, doesn’t leave you hanging for the next book (as it’s a standalone) and is both poignant and laugh out loud funny at the same time, then this is DEFINITELY the book for you.  I am super impressed with Knock Out Love and I can’t wait to read more books from this brilliant author.  Bottom line, I LOVED IT and it was worth every penny.

Knock Love Out was published on 28th June, 2013.  To find out more about Pella Grace and her books, please click here to visit her website.

Monday 15 July 2013

Romancing the R.A. Review


Noelle Buckman is looking forward to making a fresh start in college, one that doesn’t involve immature high school boys. The second she steps on campus for freshman orientation, she can sense the possibilities. Especially when she spots Andy, a resident advisor who’s not just hot but also thoughtful enough to open doors for a girl.

And Andy has his eye on Noelle. Even when her nerves take control and she thinks she comes off as a hillbilly with no direction, Andy can see what she’s really like and he’s more than a little interested.

But orientation is less than two full days and there’s an entire summer between Noelle and Andy. Will her attempt to romance the R.A. be as short-lived as college orientation?

The synopsis of this book had me really excited to read it and when I started it, I’d settled in for the night with my hot drink and couple of biscuits.  To my complete and utter surprise, I’d finished the book before I finished my drink.  I had no idea that this was more of a novella length of book and I couldn’t believe it when it ended, as for me the story had JUST gotten started.  I feel like the author was just ‘testing the waters’ with this book but I wish she had taken the risk and written a full length novel for me to devour.  I enjoyed the premise and the characters but it ended up sounding more like a summer romance than anything else and I thought the best part would be when Noelle returned to college for real, only the book ended before we got to that part. 

I loved the chemistry between Andy and Noelle although in my opinion, I did feel like the sex scene was rushed through.  I also didn’t like when Noelle was invited to a social and says something along the lines of she’s not interested if Andy isn’t going to be there. Um, you’re starting college and you don’t know anyone apart from your friend who has accompanied you, why on earth wouldn’t you be interested in meeting new people as this is a major part of going to college, besides you know, getting an education!

So, all in all, Romancing the R.A. had a couple of flaws, the biggest one being that it was too damn short.  It may sound like a negative but it’s actually one of the best compliments the author could get.  Please write more!!!!

Romancing the R.A. was published on 28th May, 2013.  To find out more about Ashelyn Drake and her books, please click here to visit her website.

Letterbox Love (#60)

As always, Letterbox Love is a weekly feature that I'm hosting on the blog and basically, the idea came out of a discussion with other UK book bloggers about the need to do a weekly meme with more of a British feel to it. Therefore, Letterbox Love was born and the logo was lovingly designed by Dark Readers. Letterbox Love is a way for us to share the books that come through our letterbox, galleys and e books (through our electronic letterbox) and any other bookish goodies that we want to tell you about. Letterbox Love is intended to showcase upcoming books and build up some excitement for them as well as let you know what is available out there. It is not about competing with other bloggers or boasting of any kind (c'mon, we're British and we don't do drama!)

Review Books


The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher (Unsolicited)
So, I can't believe that I still haven't read Stolen by Lucy Christopher which was published a couple of years ago now and this is her new book which comes out in October.  Reading the synopsis, I'm not entirely sure this is a book for me but I am intrigued because of the massive success of her first book. 


The Beating of His Wings by Paul Hoffman (Unsolicited) 
This is the third and final installment in this fantasy series that I've never read.  Again, not sure if I will start this or not.

Thank You Publishers!!!!

Books Bought
I have not bought any physical books this week.


EBooks

Lick by Kylie Scott (Bought)
I LOVE the sound of this new adult rockstar book featuring a seemingly normal girl who just so happens to end up married to a rockstar, the only problem being, she can't remember getting married.  What happens in Vegas, baby.  Also, NO DAMAGED CHARACTERS FOR THE WIN!!!!!!  Just because of that, you should probably add this one to your list.

Shine Not Burn by Elle Casey (Bought)
This is a new adult/adult crossover novel and a standalone which means no cliffhangers and paying an extortionate amount for future books because you're already hooked on the series! YAY!
Apparently this book has everything - humour, romance and hot cowboys.  Looking forward to this one!

Stardust by Mimi Strong (Bought)
This is a new adult contemporary romance novel, only 49p at the moment and recommended for fans of Wallbanger and Tangled.  SOLD.  

Following Me by K.A. Linde (Bought)
Another 49p book with an interesting, mysterious plot about a girl who is running, but from what?  

Emerge by S.E. Hall (Bought)
The best friends who fancy each other but have never told each other is one of my favourite tropes ever and so this new adult contemporary romance has my name written all over it. 

Catching Liam by Sophia Bleu (Bought)
I do hate it when I see the same cover (or at least the same actors from another book cover on a completely different book cover) but that aside, I think the story sounds great.  Another trope I love is the girl who avoids love at all costs and this one has THE GUY trying to convince her that he's for real.  Sounds positively dreamy and definitely a book for me. 

The Language of Spells by Sarah Painter (Bought)
Sounds good and was on offer for 99p at the time of purchasing.  It's had nothing but good reviews and I'd be willing to give it a go as I love stories about witches. 

Buried by Leah Cypess (Bought)
I will admit that I have not read Nightspell yet or its subsequent sequel but I hate not having an entire collection once I've started buying the books and so I bought this novella to complete the set. 

Who Wants to Marry a Billionaire? by Emily Stone (Free) 
Um, I DO!I DO! But only if he's hot and we have sizzling chemistry.  This book is about a billionaire who has to prove himself to his potential clients and so he gets himself a fake fiancee.  Lines blur etc and whilst we all know what's coming, we still can't resist reading.  Or at least I can't.

Shades of the Stars by David James (Free)
I am immensely intrigued in this series and this is the latest in the series, which just so happens to be free for a limited time.  I have all the other books in the series and I really should start reading as I want to read more in the YA/NA genre by male writers simply out of curiosity.

Reverence by Shelly Crane (Free)
This is a short novella in this series that I haven't read yet, I just wanted it for my collection for when I do get round to reading it. 

I have read some awesome books lately, the one most notable is Knock Out Love by Pella Grace which was just fanbloodytastic, look out for my review really soon.  I don't have a plan of what I'm going to read this week, I'm just going to go with the flow and what I feel like.  Apologies for the lateness of this post but I was working on Sunday!  As always, I hope you had a great week for books and please share your links below. 

Friday 12 July 2013

Interview with writers of Extracted


One of my most anticipated books for 2013 is Extracted by Sherry D. Ficklin and Tyler H. Jolley.  Why? Because it sounds freaking AWESOME.  You guys know that I'm a huge fan of time travel books and this one even has Tesla, I mean seriously, what more could you want?!  Just in case you haven't heard of this book, here's the official synopsis:

Welcome to the war.

The Tesla Institute is a premier academy that trains young time travelers called Rifters. Created by Nicola Tesla, the Institute seeks special individuals who can help preserve the time stream against those who try to alter it.

The Hollows is a rogue band of Rifters who tear through time with little care for the consequences. Armed with their own group of lost teens--their only desire to find Tesla and put an end to his corruption of the time stream.

Torn between them are Lex and Ember, two Rifters with no memories of their life before joining the time war.

When Lex’s girlfriend dies during a mission, the only way he can save her is to retrieve the Dox, a piece of tech which allows Rifters to re-enter their own timeline without collapsing the time stream. But the Dox is hidden deep within the Telsa Institute, which means Lex must go into the enemy camp. It’s there he meets Ember, and the past that was stolen from them both comes flooding back.

Now armed with the truth of who they are, Lex and Ember must work together to save the future before the battle for time destroys them both…again.

I am thrilled to be part of a pre-release blog tour for Extracted and even more so to have the opportunity to pitch my questions to the writers which they answered in the form of a video just for you, dear readers.  Hope you enjoy it and be sure to watch right to the end as I have an EXCLUSIVE bit of info for you about the book (something no one else knows!!!!)




Thank you to Sherry and Tyler for producing the video and I can't wait to read the book which is published on 12th November, 2013 by Spencer Hill Press.  There is no news yet of a UK release but never fear, it will be available to buy online.

Wednesday 10 July 2013

Cover Reveal and Contest: A Little Too Far

Remember the other week when I featured A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers as my WOW?  Well, due to unforeseen circumstances (okay, let's get real, someone else published a book with the same cover), the cover has changed.  Does it make me want the book any less? HELL NO and I actually prefer THIS cover!  Here's the synopsis:

Have you ever gone just a little too far?   
 
Lexie Banks has. 
 
Yep. She just had mind-blowing sex with her stepbrother.In her defense, she was on the rebound, and it’s more of a my-dad-happened-to-marry-a-woman-with-a-super-hot-son situation. But still, he’s been her best friend and confidant for better part of the last few years…and is so off limits. It’s a good thing she’s leaving in two days for a year abroad in Rome.But even thousands of miles away, Lexie can’t seem to escape trouble. Raised Catholic, she goes to Confession in hopes of alleviating some of her guilt…and maybe not burning in hell. Instead, she stumbles out of the confessional right into Alessandro Moretti, a young and very easy on the eyes deacon…only eight months away from becoming a priest. As Lexie and Alessandro grow closer, and when Alessandro’s signals start changing despite his vow of celibacy, she doesn’t know what to think. She’s torn between falling in love with the man she shouldn’t want and the man she can’t have. And she isn’t sure how she can live with herself either way.
 
A Little Too Far is published on 17th September and Jennifer L. Armentrout (another one of my favourite authors) says this about the book: "More than a ridiculously sexy, HOT read, Desrochers takes you on a wild ride of self-discovery and bittersweet romance."  It's up for pre -order right now and as I feel like this book has been written especially for me, naturally I've already one clicked the shit out of it.  Because I love you guys, here's an excerpt from the book to whet your appetite before you enter the contest below...
 
 
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Waiting on Wednesday



"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine , that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting on...hence the title. This week's pick is Elusion by Claudia Gabel & Cheryl Klam.  Here's the synopsis:

Soon, Elusion® will change the world and life as we know it.

A new technology called Elusion is sweeping the country. An app, visor and wristband will virtually transport you to an exotic destination where adventure can be pursued without the complications—or consequences—of real life.

Regan is an Elusion insider. Or at least she used to be. Her father invented the program, and her best friend, Patrick, heir to the tech giant Orexis, is about to release it nationwide. But ever since her father’s unexpected death, Regan can’t bear to Escape, especially since waking up from the dream means crashing back to her grim reality.

Still, when there are rumors of trouble in Elusion—accusations that it’s addictive and dangerous— Regan is determined to defend it. But the critics of Elusion come from surprising sources, including Josh, the handsome skeptic with his own personal stakes. As Regan investigates the claims, she discovers a disturbing web of secrets. She will soon have to choose between love and loyalty…a decision that will affect the lives of millions.

Suspense, thrills, and romance fuel this near-future story about the seductive nature of a perfect virtual world, and how far one girl will go to uncover the truth behind the illusions.

So, obviously I have massive cover love for this book but I'm also really intrigued by the synopsis which reminds me of that movie Existenz - remember that?  I like books that mess with your head and so this one is definitely going on my wishlist.  Sadly, we've got a bit of a wait as Elusion isn't published until 18th March, 2014 with no news of a UK release at present.

Monday 8 July 2013

Hearts in Darkness Review


Two strangers…

Makenna James thinks her day can't get any worse, until she finds herself stranded in a pitch-black elevator with a complete stranger. Distracted by a phone call, the pin-striped accountant catches only a glimpse of a dragon tattoo on his hand before the lights go out.

Four hours…

Caden Grayson is amused when a harried redhead dashes into his elevator fumbling her bags and cell phone. His amusement turns to panic when the power fails. Despite his piercings, tats, and vicious scar, he's terrified of the dark and confined spaces. Now, he's trapped in his own worst nightmare.

One pitch-black elevator…

To fight fear, they must reach out and open up. With no preconceived notions based on looks to hold them back, they discover just how much they have in common. In the warming darkness, attraction grows and sparks fly, but will they feel the same when the lights come back on?

When I first read the premise for this book, I was immediately hooked.  Everything is just MORE in the dark – senses are heightened, intimacy is greater and inhibitions are thrown to the wind, after all it’s easier to talk, to touch, to feel when the other person can’t see you.  Things like body language and a person’s looks are irrelevant when all you know about them is their voice.

Hearts in Darkness tells the story of two strangers who meet in a lift (or elevator if you’re American) that suddenly loses power and all the lights go out. They’ve barely had a glimpse of each other before they’re baring their souls in order to keep each other calm and distracted from the situation. And yes, it gets a little hot under the collar in there and in some ways, that’s where I had to suspend a little disbelief at just how quickly this happened but then again, it’s a short novel of about 100 pages and a quick read. You just have to trust in their chemistry and man, is it electric.  I really did enjoy the connection between Makenna and Caden and I particularly enjoyed learning about the characters and the way they see themselves in contrast to the way they are seen in each other’s eyes.  I thought Laura did a fantastic job of putting the reader right there in the lift with them and I would not have minded in the least if this had been a longer book.

This is the first book I’ve read from Laura Kaye and let me tell you something, it will certainly not be the last.  I’m definitely impressed.  Also, where can I find me a Caden?

Hearts in Darkness was published in April, 2011 and republished in 2013.  To find out more about Laura Kaye and her books, please click here to visit her website.

Sunday 7 July 2013

Letterbox Love (#59)

As always, Letterbox Love is a weekly feature that I'm hosting on the blog and basically, the idea came out of a discussion with other UK book bloggers about the need to do a weekly meme with more of a British feel to it. Therefore, Letterbox Love was born and the logo was lovingly designed by Dark Readers. Letterbox Love is a way for us to share the books that come through our letterbox, galleys and e books (through our electronic letterbox) and any other bookish goodies that we want to tell you about. Letterbox Love is intended to showcase upcoming books and build up some excitement for them as well as let you know what is available out there. It is not about competing with other bloggers or boasting of any kind (c'mon, we're British and we don't do drama!)

Review Books
I have not received any review books this week. 

 Books Bought
I did not buy any physical books this week.

EBooks 

The Last Boyfriend by J.S. Cooper (Bought)
I'll admit that I bought this one because it was only 49p.  I've seen some mixed reviews but I'm willing to give it a go.

Rock My World by Michelle A. Valentine (Bought)
I love Michelle Valentine's books and this is the next in this series.  They are currently on sale and I was going to buy it anyway so BONUS.

Parallel by Lauren Miller (Bought)
I actually already have a copy of this book but it was on sale for kindle so I jumped on it.  Nowadays, it feels weird to read an actual physical book.

Extreme Love by Abby Niles (Bought)
I couldn't hold off any longer, I really want to read this book - after I can stop constantly staring at the cover of course ;)

Knock Out Love by Pella Grace (Bought)
I bought this one thanks to Georgia McBride who was bigging it up on Twitter. It sounds like a great read although it might not be a book for everyone as I think there is cheating involved.  I'm definitely curious about it though.

This Man Confessed by Jodi Ellen Malpas (Bought)
Initially, I was disappointed in the cost of this eBook and was going to wait and see if the price came down in the next few weeks but sadly, I couldn't wait as this is the last installment in this series and I had to know what happened next!  The book was brilliant and I love Jodi as a writer (and not just because she is British).  This series deserves a lot more recognition as it's a real joy to read and I'll read anything that Jodi writes next.

Search Me by Katie Ashley (Bought)
I'm a huge fan of Katie Ashley - and also books about hot military guys. Put the two together and you've got a book with my name written all over it.
Dare You To by Katie McGarry (Bought)
Again, I've got a physical copy of this book but it was on sale for kindle so I bought it.

Unchartered by Tracey Garvis Graves (Bought)
I just read On The Island by the same author (which btw comes highly recommended by me) and this is a companion novella that's just been released recently

Ember X by Jessica Sorensen (Free)
This is weird because it's a New Adult Paranormal version of a Young Adult book called Ember.  As such, this contains more adult content.  I'm not sure if I should read Ember and THEN this or just jump straight into this one to be honest.  Probably the latter.  


What a weird week for books but as you can see, it didn't stop me one clicking!  I just finished reading Goddess by Josephine Angelini and This Man Confessed by Jodi Ellen Malpas, both of which were EXCELLENT reads.  'm not sure yet what I feel like reading this week.  Apologies for the lack of reviews lately, my wrists are aching and I've been on night shifts which is probably a good thing as it's kept me off the computer.  Anyway, I hope you all had a great week for books and as always, please share your links below.

Wednesday 3 July 2013

Waiting on Wednesday


"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine , that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting on...hence the title. This week's pick is Cruel Beauty by Rosamunde Hodge. Here's the synopsis:
 
Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom—all because of a reckless bargain her father struck. And since birth, she has been training to kill him.

Betrayed by her family yet bound to obey, Nyx rails against her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, she abandons everything she’s ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, disarm him, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle—a shifting maze of magical rooms—enthralls her. As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. But even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, could she refuse her duty to kill him?

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.
 
Let's face it, I don't even care what this book is about as I'd buy it for the beautiful cover alone but the fact that it's a Beauty and the Beast retelling (which FYI is my favourite Disney film EVER) solidifies this for me as a MUST BUY.  Nuff said.

Cruel Beauty is published on 28th January, 2014.