05/21/13

TRAILER REVEAL & GIVEAWAY – BRANDED by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki

Branded cover small

♥ BRANDED: A SINNERS SERIES NOVEL ♥

by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki

New Adult Dystopian with a forbidden romance.
Expected release: June 28, 2013.

♥ TRAILER REVEAL ♥

Darkness. Death. Violence. Pain.

Now every day is a fight for survival. But I won’t die. I won’t let them win.

The Hole can’t keep me. The Hole can’t break me.

I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter.

My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.

♥ GIVEAWAY 

Open Internationally.
Void where prohibited. Must be over 18 to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

♥ SPOILER-FREE REVIEW 

“I love you… I don’t want you to ever question it. I’d give up my life for yours. That’s how much I love you. Don’t you dare ever doubt that.”

WOW!!!

Fast paced, action-packed and emotionally charged, Branded is a phenomenal Dystopian debut with a forbidden romance that will capture your heart! 

The writing was strong, I fell in love with the characters and was totally wrapped up in the world. There was a forbidden romance (and I mean REALLY forbidden), a swoon-worthy hero, a strong heroine and a super evil bad guy. Now, I don’t normally read Dystopians but this one had me HOOKED!!!

In a society where Sinners of the seven deadly sins are branded and incarcerated, everyone’s lives are always at risk. It didn’t matter than Lexi was innocent and it made no difference what she said. She was accused, condemned and thrown into The Hole – a hellish, filthy, self-contained prison with no rules and no way out.

“I don’t want to die, but at the same time, I wish I were dead.”

She was assigned a guard – Cole. But there was more to him than met the eye. Something about him was different than all the other guards. Something in him was good. And, as she slowly acclimatizes to her new life in the Hole, they grew closer and closer.

But in the Hole, relations between Guards and Sinners is punishable by torture and death. It is final, it is brutal and it is the world they live in. But… they’re still falling for each other. Hard.

“I never planned on falling for you. You were just an assignment. But it just sort of happened and now… There’s not a single thing I would change about you. When you smile, my entire world stops. All I see is you. I need you.”

I don’t even know where to start with how much I loved this! It was a total change of pace for me because I never usually read Dystopian books. I mean, I read the Hunger Games, but that was it. I guess I just generally prefer books that focus more strongly on romance. But sometimes you want more than just a romance, you know? You want a bit of an adventure… something thrilling and different that’ll sweep you away into another world and Branded delivered that.

It was a non-stop roller coaster ride. My emotions were all over the place. Fear. Disgust. Betrayal. Love. Swoon (yes, swoon is an emotion). Despair. Hope. It had my heart in knots and I loved every minute of it!

Now I know the story is classified as mature YA but let me tell you, it is gory, gruesome and gritty!! Certainly not for the faint of heart! I swear, there is this one flashback scene that I’m going to need therapy after reading!! But, that being said, that grittiness was so effective in pulling you right into the world. The world itself was gritty and you felt it.

I swooned pretty hard over Cole. In fact, let me take a minute here to shout this: I LOVE COLE!!!! The forbidden angle gave the romance such a thrill to it. You could see him fighting his feelings for her. Being so badass and protective of her. But there was so much more at stake than just their feelings.  There were just so many layers dictating all of their actions as they lived under the constant fear of punishment by death simply for the crime of falling in love. Mess up and die. Fall in love and die.

He takes my face into his hand, and reassures me. “So outside of these walls, we can’t stand each other.”

But you see their bond grow and it’s scary because you’re both rooting for their relationship and just terrified because you see first hand the consequences of a relationship between a Guard and Sinner. There was so much swoon and so much fear!

“The last thing I want is for you to be afraid of me. But I want you to trust me. I need you to trust me.” He sighs and I hear the pain and confusion in his voice.

“Why?”

“I don’t know why and it scares the hell out of me.” He swallows hard…

Part of me screams for him to run for his own safety, but I don’t want him to move. My heart begs… Please stay with me. Forever.”

Lexi was a strong, wonderful heroine you couldn’t help but sympathize with. She was a fighter at her heart but everything in her life just kept kicking her down. I loved seeing her strength grow over the course of the book.

“You won’t break me if that’s what you’re worries about.”
He walks over, places one arm around my back, and lifts me…
“After this, I’m not sure anyone could,” he whispers.

Now, relationship-wise this book is YA in that there is no sex in it. But let me tell you, this is one of those stories where the connection between the hero/heroine is so strong that the descriptions of their actions doesn’t need to be graphic for you to FEEL it. Like there’s this scene, after a fight and he’s just washing blood off her hand (not even something romantic per say) but ohhhhh myyyy God did it make my heart clench! Seriously. I FELT it.

“Shhh…” He grips me closer to his body and then softly whispers in my ear, “I’m about to kiss you, and once I start I won’t be able to stop. Just thought I should warn you.”

And this whole relationship is developing in the midst of a world with daily gun fights in the streets, explosions, rapes, murders, injustice and a world under the dictatorship of an evil Commander.

The book is not all dark and grit though. There were definitely happy moments that shone through the darkness showing that even in this pit of absolute despair, there were still people with good in their hearts! But holy hell!! There were also a few scenes that just rendered me speechless with how nightmarish they were! I loved that there was a bit of everything in this book though. The plot was full of twists and turns and was fast paced enough that you were always reading about something new and yet took it’s time enough that you were able to develop a close connection to the characters.

And I just want to point out that Branded has THE awesomest dog EVER in it. His name is Zeus, he belongs to Cole (though he’s pretty sure he belongs to Lexi) and I seriously adore him and could not review this book without sending him a shout out.

Don’t forget though that this IS a Dystopian. There’s fighting, battles, rebellions, and a whole story outside of the romance but for those of you who are hard-core romance fans, Cole and Lexi’s relationship will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens to them.

The ending is thankfully NOT a cliffhanger!! They were together and safe, for now at least. Their story is far from over but my heart can rest easy for now while I eagerly await book #2.

Fans of the Hunger Games absolutely MUST read this but know that, in my opinion, Branded knocks The Hunger Games out of the water!

Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki are an author power team to watch out for!

I can’t wait for more from the Sinners series and to find out what happens next with Lexi and Cole!

“Just leave me,” I whisper in his ear.
“Never.”

5 stars

CASTING

 

BRANDED WILL BE RELEASED ON JUNE 29, 2013.

♥ FIRST CHAPTER TEASER ♥

I’m buried six feet under, and no one hears my screams.

The rope chafes as I loop it around my neck. I pull down on it, making sure the knot is secure. It seems sturdy enough.

My legs shake. My heart beats heavy in my throat. Sweat pours down my back.

Death and I glare at each other through my tears.

I take one last look at the crystal chandelier, the foyer outlined with mirrors, and the flawless decorations. No photographs adorn the walls. No happy memories here.

I’m ready to go. On the count of three.

I inhale, preparing myself for the finality of it all. Dropping my hands, a glimmer catches my eye. It’s my ring, the last precious gift my father gave me. I twist it around to read the inscription. Picturing his face forces me to reconsider my choice. He’d be heartbroken if he could see me now.

A door slams in the hallway, almost causing me to lose my balance. My thoughts already muddled, I stand, waiting with the rope around my neck. Voices I don’t recognize creep through the walls.

Curiosity overshadows my current thoughts. It’s late at night, and this is a secure building in High Society. No one disturbs the peace here—ever. I tug on the noose and pull it back over my head.

Peering through the eyehole in our doorway, I see a large group of armed guards banging on my neighbors’ door. A heated conversation ensues, and my neighbors point toward my family’s home.

It hits me. I’ve been accused and they’re here to arrest me.

Click here to read the rest of Chapter 1 as a PDF
(it was too long to post here in full)

ADD TO GOODREADS

05/17/13

Book Review – Allure (A Spiral of Bliss #2) by Nina Lane

AllureBuy ALLURE for Kindle

5 stars!

I LOVE LOVE LOVED THIS BOOK!!!! 

I can’t stop thinking about it!!! Just BEAUTIFUL!!

Dean and Liv are officially one of my all-time favorite book couples. Their passion, love, heartache and healing hit me right in the heart.

“Our relationship, our love, cannot and will never be perfect. It will, however, always belong only to us in all its flawed, intense beauty. Perfect in its very imperfection.”

Allure is the sequel to Arouse and follows the same couple, Dean and Liv, in a direct continuation of where the first book left off. If you are new to this series, Arouse should absolutely be read first (see my review). Arouse was one of those special books that connected me deeply with the characters and made want to know more of their story. I loved the uniqueness of the plot because, contrary to most romance books, this one tells the story of an already-married couple.

This is the story of a marriage – the struggles, the triumphs, the highlights and absolutely rock bottom moments. It’s beautifully crafted, deeply thoughtful and perfectly detailed. Sensual, honest, and unpredictable.

If there was ever a book that highlighted how a true relationship works – how everything is needed in balance, this is the one. And it takes you through that journey with Dean and Liv as they  strive to find their happiness. It took the time to work through each of their issues and to strongly connect you to both of them both individually and as a couple. I just could feel every one of their thoughts, insecurities, fears, delights… everything was projected right out from the page and into my heart.

I think one of the reasons that people are loving this story SO much is that the issues that Dean and Liv face are just so REAL. They are heart-wrenching and utterly believable.

I loved that the book took the time to acquaint you with all the different little details of their lives. And I also loved that despite it being a deep heart-felt story, it still had these little lines that just made me burst right out laughing.

I loved that Dean called her “beauty”. Each time he did that, my heart melted just a little bit more. I loved that she called him “Professor”. I loved the way they loved each each other. I loved that it was impossible not to FEEL the depths of that love. That sweeping, passionate, bottom-of-your-heart, forever kind of love.

“He tightens his arm around me and brushes his mouth against my temple. “Right now I want you naked against me. I want to wake up cold because you’ve hogged all the blankets. I want to feel your leg between mine, your hair in my face, your arm flung across my chest… I want to sleep with you.”

I loved how protective they were of each other. I loved watching Olivia heal and grow stronger. I loved how Dean cherished her. I loved that, no matter what, they didn’t give up on each other. I loved the message they gave out about marriage.

I really felt like everything that happened, even the mistakes and misunderstandings was understandable. And most importantly, you could see them both learning from their mistakes even if they still continued to make them. They were just trying to make things work. I really didn’t feel anyone was ever specifically at fault, but sometimes while trying to do the right thing, people make the wrong decisions and that’s just part of the (sometimes painful) learning curve of life.

“We both want this so badly. I can feel it resonating between us like the hot pull of our first attraction, tangible and intense.” 

But Dean and Liv were always just one of those couples who no part of you could ever doubt that they were just meant for each others. They were soul mates.

“He is imprinted in my bones, my soul. He has marked me in ways more permanent than time.” 

I finished the story at 4:30AM and just sat there with tears streaming down my face. Not sad tears, just an overflow of emotion. It is a true tribute to the strength of the story and writing that this ending was as powerful as it was because the only way it could have been this powerful was if you had truly LIVED their story with them – so that each moment from their lives became precious and meaningful to you.

“The allure, huh?”

“I’ve learned a few things about castle architecture over the years.” Liv wraps one arm around my waist. “The allure is a passage behind the parapet of a castle wall. Great for defense when the enemy is approaching. You know you’re safe on the allure.” She tucks her head beneath my chin, twining her hand with mine. “Like we’re safe with each other.”

“No doubt about it, beauty.” I press my face against her sweet-smelling hair. “You’ll always be my allure.”

Nina Lane is one hell of an author and tells the story seamlessly from alternating POVs. Her descriptions, writing style and imagery are vivid, powerful and captivating. I could not put this book down even for a moment.

The ending took me by surprise and while there isn’t a direct cliffhanger, there is a bit of an external one. I’d say it was a similar style to the way to Crossfire books end – so that you feel they’ll make it but there still is a lot more of their story to tell. I definitely would say it’s safe to start the stories now though and not wait for the 3rd book.

Dean and Liv were not perfect people. And they did not have a perfect relationship. But they had true love. It was real. It was believable. It was beautiful.

I highly recommend this series. It’s one of those stories that I know I will be rereading.

If you are looking for an emotionally charged, sensual romance that will touch your heart, this is it!!

“Thanks for waiting,” I whispered.
“My beauty,” he said. “I’d wait for you forever.”

5 stars!

READING ORDER:

  • #1 AROUSE – currently available
  • #2 ALLURE – currently available
  • #3 AWAKEN  — to be released August 2013.

CASTING

Buy AROUSE on KINDLE
Buy ALLURE on Kindle

Allure

 

05/6/13

Reading Order: FIND YOU IN THE DARK series by A. Meredith Walters

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This series was a deeply touching, heavy and emotional journey of the intensity, strength and beauty of first love coupled with the heart-wrenching hardships and struggles of someone affected by a mental illness (bi polar disorder).  

It’s no fairy tale, but it a beautiful story of true love that you’ll feel with your whole heart.

A 5-star, highly recommended completed series with a happy ending.

“It was just two people who loved each other,
trying to make some sense in a world where there was none.”

SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS

My review of FIND YOU IN THE DARK (Book #1)
My review of CLOUD WALKING (Book #1.5)
My review of FIND YOU IN THE DARK (Book #2)

CASTING:

Maggie and Clay | Clay

READING ORDER + PURCHASE LINKS

Book #1: FIND YOU IN THE DARK (Kindle)
Book #1.5: CLOUD WALKING (Kindle)*
Book #2: LIGHT IN THE SHADOWS (Kindle)

*this follows 2 of the side characters and should be read in between books 1 + 2

05/4/13

Reading Order: UP IN THE AIR series by RK Lilley

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I’ve had a lot of people asking me for recommendations for books with heroes similar to Christian and Gideon – you know, powerful, controlling, dominant, gorgeous, and yet totally in love with their girl and I can promise you that if you are a fan of the Fifty Shades and Crossfire series, then you will LOVE these books!

Highly, highly recommended!!

Everyone should meet and fall in love with James Cavendish  ♥

SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS

My review of IN FLIGHT (Up In The Air #1)
My review of MILE HIGH (Up In The Air #2)
My review of GROUNDED (Up In The Air #3)

CASTING:

James and Bianca | James | Bianca

READING ORDER + PURCHASE LINKS

Book #1: IN FLIGHT (Kindle)
Book #2: MILE HIGH (Kindle)
Book #3: GROUNDED (Kindle)

05/4/13

Reading Order: ROCK CHICK SERIES by KRISTEN ASHLEY

ROCK CHICK

If you haven’t read one of Kristen Ashley’s series yet, you are seriously missing out on one of the pure joys of life. I really mean that. With all my heart.

This series is full of awesome – there are kidnappings galore, car chases, steamy bedroom scenes, swoony moments, outright hilarious moments, shoot-outs, explosions, a seriously epic food-fight, rock concerts, ALPHA heroes, insanely fun heroines, which of course lead to seven wonderful love stories.

I cannot possibly gush enough. Each book had me flipping pages like mad, grinning endlessly and laughing and squeeing out-loud more times than I could count! HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!

Each book focuses on a different couple and has a happy ending (some with epilogues) – NO cliffhangers!!! :)

Oh, and they should be read in order! No skipping! Trust me ;)

Here’s the full reading order and purchase links:

1. Rock Chick by Kristen Ashley (My Review)

Indy Savage, cop’s daughter, rock chick and used bookstore owner, has been in love with Lee Nightingale, once bad boy, now the man behind Nightingale Investigations, since she was five years old. No matter what ingenious schemes Indy used to capture his attention, Lee never showed an interest and Indy finally gave up. Now Indy’s employee, Rosie, has lost a bag of diamonds and bad guys are shooting at him. When Indy gets involved, Lee is forced to help. Complicting matters, Lee has decided he’s interested, Indy’s decided she’s not. But she can’t seem to keep Lee out of her life when she’s repeatedly stun gunned, kidnapped and there are car bombs exploding (not to mention she’s finding dead bodies).

Indy’s best bet is to solve the mystery of the diamonds before Lee. Lee’s challenge is to keep Indy alive and, at the same time, win back her heart.

“Jesus,” he buried his face in my neck. “There’s nothin’ better in the world than hearing you say my name when I’m inside you.” He slid in deeper, filling me. “I’ve been waiting years to be right here.” 

 

2. Rock Chick Rescue by Kristen Ashley (My Review)

Jet McAlister has a secret. Eddie Chavez has the hots for Jet (not to mention Eddie’s just plain hot). Jet has too many problems to realize that Eddie’s interested. Eddie loses patience when Jet ends her waitressing shift at a strip club with a knife at her throat. Since Eddie’s a cop, he figures he can help. Since Jet’s used to solving everyone’s problems she doesn’t want Eddie’s help.

Throw in a Dolly Parton look-alike, a gruff but lovable strip club owner, Jet’s ne’er do well father, his ne’er do well friend, Bear, Bear’s long-suffering, chain-smoking wife Lavonne and the crew from Rock Chick and you’ve got Rock Chick Rescue.

Rock Chick Rescue takes you on a wild ride with Jet, Eddie and the gang as they wrestle bad guys in a bagel shop, hit Denver’s backstreet poker tables (with big hair), and help the strippers at Smithie’s take down a would-be murderer.

Through this, Jet’s got to learn that even when life made you give up your dreams, you can still end up with the (hot) guy. Eddie’s got to rescue Jet from a bad man (so he can do better things with her) and teach her that some dreams can come true.

“Holy crap,” I whispered. 
It was like the Justice League of Super Heroes but instead it was the Justice League of Hot Guys.”

 

3. Rock Chick Redemption  by Kristen Ashley (My Review)

Roxie’s on the run from a bad boyfriend who will not catch the hint that it is o-v-e-r. She’s in no mood for love at first sight, but when her eyes fall on Hank, it’s trouble from the get-go. Roxie tries to hold Hank at arms length but Hank wants to be a closer (as in, a lot closer). Roxie’s trouble catches up with her and Hank wants to help but Roxie knows in her heart that she’s no good for a white hat guy. The problem is no one agrees with her, especially her crazy hippie best friend Annette or her parents; the even crazier small-Indiana-town Herb and Trish. Toss into the mix the gang from Rock Chick and Rock Chick Rescue and Roxie finds herself totally outnumbered.

Climb in for another Rock Chick wild ride through Rock Chick Redemption. As the odds stack up against Roxie, she has no choice but to hold on and just ride it out through the kidnappings, car chases, society parties, a riot at the strip club, Hank getting “Mom Bombed” and one crazy night at the Haunted House.

During all this Hank works at convincing her she really wants to stay and he, along with the Hot Bunch, go all out to make her safe. Hank also needs to work on showing Roxie that her past decisions don’t mean her future can’t include something as downright delicious as… normal.

“It looked like GQ was having a convention and all the best looking guys had decided to have coffee at Fortnum’s before going to seminars on how to cope with being really, unbelievably, fucking gorgeous.”

“This is crazy. You’re crazy. Denver’s crazy. All you boys skipped right over the last century, didn’t you? I think even the last million years. You’re cavemen.”

 

4. Rock Chick Renegade  by Kristen Ashley (My Review)

Jules has got a score to settle against the drug dealers of Denver. Vance has made it his mission that Jules won’t get dead while dishing out vigilante justice. Jules doesn’t have time for romance, she’s too busy saving the world and she enlists Zip (the gunstore owner), Heavy (an ex-PI) and Frank (a mysterious recluse) to help.

The Rock Chicks of Fortnum’s Bookstore get involved to provide romantic advice and guidance, none of which Jules accepts at first. The Hot Bunch of Nightingale Investigations adopt Jules as one of their own. Even though Jules tries to hang on to her inner Head Crackin’ Mamma Jamma, the Rock Chicks; Hot Bunch; Jules’s long-suffering Uncle Nick; Jules’s friend the rotund, African-American, Jackie-O wannabe, May; and especially Vance will stop at nothing to wear her down.

But Jules makes some bad guys pretty angry and one is dedicated to taking her out. Vance and the Hot Bunch have to pull out all the stops to keep her alive. At the same time, Jules and Vance learn the true meaning of home but once they find this precious entity they’ve been searching for all their lives, will Jules’s enemies tear it away?

“No matter what,” he said, his voice fierce and strong and rumbling through me. “You told me I was home to you and I get it. You’re home to me. I’ve never had a home. I like the one I found and I’m not losin’ it. No matter what.” 

“I want you. I want to taste you. I want to f*ck you. I want to make you come and I want to hear you moan my name when you do so I know that you know it’s me who made you come.”

 

5. Rock Chick Revenge  by Kristen Ashley (My Review)

Ava hates men, she has reason and she’s vowed not only never to get involved with another one again but also to exact vengeance on her best friend’s, lying, cheating husband. Since Luke, Ava’s childhood crush, is now a private investigator, she thinks to enlist him but changes her mind at the last second.

Too late, Luke knows she’s up to something and he’s already seen many a Rock Chick try to fight her own battles without the Hot Bunch stepping in. He’s having none of it. She’s having none of him. The clash of the Rock Chick and Hot Guy begins but Luke’s got the advantage. He has handcuffs and he’s not afraid to use them.

“I’m not lettin’ you go. I’m not lettin’ you push me away and I’m not giving up. I’m gonna keep working until I piece together what [they] stole from you. I’m gonna keep at you until you let me in. I’m not gonna stop until you tell me you’re mine, until it comes straight from your mouth, preferably when I’m deep inside you and you’re lookin’ at me like you look at me when I’m close to makin’ you come.”

“He isn’t my man.”
“Girl, it dont matter you don’t think he is, he thinks he is. Therefore in Badass Motherfucker Land, that means he is.”

“Swear to God, these boys should be locked up. It isn’t safe, men with that much testosterone coursing through their blood free to roam.”

 

6. Rock Chick Reckoning  by Kristen Ashley (My Review)

Stella’s the lead singer and lead guitarist of The Blue Moon Gypsies and Stella used to be Mace’s girl. Mace broke up with her, though, and the loss of him rocked her world. But Stella gets a call, late at night (again) from one of the members of her crazy band. She has to go play clean up (again) and runs into Mace and a shed load of police, and ends up getting shot.

Mace finds he doesn’t like it much that his ex-girlfriend got shot right in front of him but it’s worse. A very bad man has thrown down the gauntlet and all the Rock Chicks are in the firing line. Stella doesn’t want Mace to be the one to keep her alive, but she has no choice. Mainly because Mace isn’t giving her one.

“I fucked up and hurt you. It won’t happen again.” His fingers tensed around my head and his deep voice dropped low. “I promise you, Kitten, it won’t happen again.”

“What I’m sayin’ is shit happens to couples, In any relationship, there’s ebbs and there’s flows. You want that relationship to work you put on your life jacket and ride it out.”

 

7. Rock Chick Regret  by Kristen Ashley (My Review)

Sadie Townsend is known by all as The Ice Princess and she’s worked hard to earn her reputation. Her father, a now-incarcerated Drug Lord, has kept her under his thumb her whole life and she’s learned enough from living in his world to give everyone the cold shoulder. But one inebriated night, she shows the Real Sadie to the undercover agent she knows is investigating her father, the handsome Hector Chavez, and he knows he’ll stop at nothing to have her.

Hector makes one (huge) mistake; he waits for Sadie to come to him. Tragedy strikes and Sadie’s got a choice, she can retreat behind her Ice Fortress or she can embrace the Rock Chick/Hot Bunch World. Guided by Hector, the Rock Chicks, the Hot Bunch and her new gay roommates, Buddy and Ralphie, Sadie negotiates a life out from under her father’s thumb, a life that includes poison, arson and learning how to make s’mores.

“I want you in my bed, I want you in my house, I wanna come home to you.”

“Lee recruited men who, it turned out, had a strong ethic about women and how to treat them and an even stronger ethic about how they felt about men who didn’t treat them right. This wasn’t on the job application but, bottom line, it was the only kind of man Lee would have in his employ.”

“You okay?” he asked.
“No,” I answered…
Then… He promised, “You will be.”

 #8. The final book is in the process of being written. This book will conclude the series, but you do NOT need to wait to start the series for this since each book has it’s own conclusion (along with epilogues) and there are NO cliffhangers or ‘unfinished’ stories. I promise. Cross my heart. M’kay? Trust me and read them! :)

And, if you’re interested in the rest of Kristen Ashley’s books, CLICK HERE for the Complete Reading Order of all KA series.

rock chick

04/18/13

Book Review – Leo (A Sign of Love #1) by Mia Sheridan

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Click here to buy LEO on Kindle

“The thing about falling in love so that no matter where you are when it happens, you can’t help but to color those moments with beauty, even if you’re in a location of ugliness. He made what would have been a place of nightmares into a place to dream.”

SQUEEEE!!! OMG I have so many feels for this book!!!!! ♥♥♥

Everything about this story was beautiful!!

It me cry, laugh, swoon and fan myself and honestly, I just loved it all!! 

This is a spoiler-free review.

Second-chance love stories are my favorite but one’s with a cool twist are just a bonus. This is the kind of book that makes you want to re-read it, or at least certain parts of it. There is just so much to the story that you can only fully appreciate after having gone through all the big reveals… and knowing them just gives so much *more* to the story, so it’s going on my re-read pile for sure :)

Now, I know it’s only 192 pages long but honestly, it didn’t feel short at all. The story was never rushed and the ending wrapped up beautifully with a happy-tear-enducing epilogue. And sometimes you just WANT a really wonderful book that you can read in one sitting, you know?

The story starts out in a flashback. Evie is 14, Leo is 15. They met in the first foster home they were placed in and became the best of friends. They relied on each other, bonded, and as they grew older, that developed into love. He was “the boy who makes me want to stay awake because reality is finally better than my dreams.”

But when Leo gets adopted by a family across the country, they are forced apart. They make vows and he promises to come back for her when they turn 18… but that is the last time she sees him.

Eight years later, Evie has forged a life for herself. Despite having grown up in a life without family, filled with drugs, molestation and bad memories, she is strong, self sufficient and has gotten a job, a little home for herself, and generally has everything under control. She has moved on from the hurt of her past but has never forgotten what she felt for Leo. So when a guy shows up one day who says that Leo sent him to check on her,  it just throws her world. She feels pulled towards him somehow but there is something mysterious about him and his connection to Leo… and she has to decide whether or not she can trust him…

I was feeling the emotion right from the start of the book. By page 2, I already wanted to cry. The first scene of the book, which was also the scene of their first kiss/goodbye when Leo got adopted just made my heart HURT even though I barely knew them… definitely one of the most beautifully written first kisses ever!!

“I’m going to kiss you now, Evie, and when I do, it’s going to mean that you’re mine. I don’t care how far away we are from each other. You. Are. Mine. I’ll wait for you. And I want you to wait for me. Promise me…”

If that quote doesn’t make you want to read the book, I don’t know what will! From that line on, I was hooked! 

I loved the writing. It drew you right into the story and I felt totally connected to everything that happened. It was fast paced without being rushed and flowed very smoothly. It slowed down in the important parts of the scene but I loved that the story was constantly moving forward and adding more pieces to the puzzle.

It was told in back and forth flashbacks and present day…. but with the way the story was woven, it left me unable to put it down. I alternated between heart clenching during the flashbacks and swooning over the present day parts.

I have to say though that I read with a complete mixture of swoon and suspicion. I *knew* something was up, I just KNEW it but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was. I had theories and it kept me guessing….

And so when the big reveal happened, I had to read it twice. The first time was just in shock (call me naive but I did not see it coming!) and I just got these huge chills and shivers and had to stop and go back and read that page again and then I just started to cry. Oh. My. God…. incredible scene!!!!

I just looooved the twist! It explained and connected everything perfectly! But then… hmmm once the full explanation came out, I had to think a little about how that made me feel about the character. But the more I read, the more understanding I became. It didn’t make what happened okay in my eyes, but people make mistakes and they mess up. Nobody is perfect. And if they get to a point where you kind of have to choose to accept them or not and there was no doubt in my eyes that I wanted to accept.

I also wanted to add in that, despite the fact that this story is told from Evie’s POV, the author has an awesome way of describing the male characters in these little subtle ways (narrowing of the eyes, clenching of the jaw, raking a hand through the hair… ) that just added extra yum to them and I found myself reading a lot with a little half smile on my face.

I’d classify this book somewhere between New Adult and Adult, maybe closer to adult. There is certainly steam and there are several hot hot hot scenes that are rather descriptive so that’s what’s leaning me towards Adult. That being said, I thought the steam was very well done because the story took the time to FIRST develop the connection with the characters so that by the time they got into bed, you were feeling emotionally connected to them.

The ending is fully resolved and very swoony. No cliffhanger, guys!!!

And, as a bonus, we get an absolutely gorgeous epilogue. Seriously, bless the hearts of every author who writes an epilogue. If I could hug them all, I would. That extra piece to the story just adds that last little bit that puts your heart to rest about the future of the characters you’ve fallen in love with. And this epilogue was particularly heart melting – it was the perfect conclusion to their story.

Overall, LEO is a beautiful, well-written, swoony and emotional read with steam, a bit of mystery and a happy ending ♥

“I can’t make the fire go away,” she had seemed to say. “I can’t guarantee you won’t get burned. But… I can remain steady and strong, because I believe in you. Because you are mine.”

I’d highly recommend it and am adding it to my list of Best Books of 2013.

4.5 – 5 stars.

PURCHASE LINKS

CASTING

  • I actually LOVE the book covers so I’m going to use them below in the casting.

EXTRAS

  • The sequel “LEO’S CHANCE” which will be out in June. The author says it’s going to be “LEO” but from the guy POV along with a whole lot of extra stuff we haven’t seen before. I personally cannot WAIT!!don’t wait till it’s out to read this one because, like I said, this book has a fully resolved standalone-worthy ending.
  • The author says that paperbacks of both LEO and LEO’S CHANCE will be available in June along with the release of book #2.

LEO banner SMALL2

04/15/13

BLOG TOUR – Vain by Fisher Amelie

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♥ SPOILER-FREE REVIEW 

5 STARS!

STRUCK. SPEECHLESS.

Seriously one of the best books I’ve read in a while!

This book took me on a beautiful journey. It moved me, took my breath away and kept me up all night. It was a well-written, powerful, and deeply moving YA story that absolutely broke the mold and was unlike anything I’d ever read. It blew me away! READ IT!

This is not your typical romance novel where girl meets boy and they just fall in love. Yes, this book has a beautiful love story, but its also about so. much. more.

Its about learning the true value of life, about the price of ignorance, the weight of a self-less action, and the beauty of love.

This was one of those wonderful books that came to my attention very suddenly about 2 weeks ago. Literally, my inbox was full of glowing recommendations for it and I just knew that I had to drop everything and read it. Best decision I ever made!! Something about the idea of it just made my heart race. I swear I had butterflies even before I started reading.

It literally kept me up reading until 5:00 AM. I kept telling myself I was going to put it down and finish it the next day but I could. not. stop. turning. the. pages.

Hmmm, so what’s it about? Its about Sophie Price.

Sophie Price is vain. She is spoiled, filthy rich, with work obsessed parents who care only about the ‘appearance’ of a healthy family. She is hurt and angry on the inside. She uses, manipulates and discards friends, boys, everyone. She takes drugs, parties hard, and finds that she just can’t break out of the mold.

“Freedom is just that. Absolutely no restrictions. I abandoned myself to every whim I felt. Every want I fulfilled and every disire was quenched. I wanted for nothing.

Except attention.”

But everything changes the night her party is crashed by cops and, being on her second drug offence, her father arranges to have her sentenced to six months volunteer work at an orphanage in Uganda.

Scared out of her mind, thrown into a completely opposite life from anything she’s ever known, she is faced with a whole new world that will change her for ever.

The whole book is told through Sophie’s eyes and despite my love for alternating POVs, I found that this worked perfectly for the story. She was a very intriguing character who, despite her flaws and behavior, was not a ditz or shallow or stupid. She had simply taken several of the wrong turns in life and also, despite the wealth and opulence she grew up around, was deeply affected by the lack of familial love in her life. She wasn’t abused or anything. But this book really shows the damage that comes from a simple lack of care and love. It brought a whole new meaning to her vanity. Her looks meant everything to her because it brought her adoration from everyone, which was the closest thing she had ever come to love.

“I stood in front of the mirror and took a good hard look. I was as bare as I could make myself, no make up with wet, stringy hair. I hated to look at myself in this state. I didn’t feel real. I felt too exposed and that made me exceedingly nervous, but I made myself look that morning. I memorized that girl. That girl was the real me. Frightened. Worthless. A terrible friend. Terrible daughter. Well educated but so limited in ideas worth having. Beautiful yet repulsive… And finally honest.”

Fisher Amelie did a phenomenal job of instantly transporting you into Sophie’s life. I was right there with her every page of the book. I smiled, laughed, cried a little, fell in love, and felt her growth every step of the way.

I did love the book from the start, but the story is told in such a way that the more I read, the more strongly I connected to the story. My feelings just grew and grew till it just felt like my heart was going to burst.

Oh, and the guy? Right. Yes, the guy. Ian – or ‘Dingane’ as the kids called him. I literally loved him from his first line. Their first meeting was just SO powerful. I. FELT. It.

“It was like my body knew instantly that he was mine and that I was his.”

He was take-your-breath-away gorgeous. Blunt. Honest. And saw right through her. And the more we learned about his back story too, the more I loved him…. oh, and he cleared the bugs for her!! When you read the scene, I promise it’ll melt your heart a little :P

About Uganda and the orphanage. *deep breath*. Ok. I am mostly aware what is happening in the world. I read the news. I see the headlines and the pictures. But this was different.  So. So. Different. This brought the horrors of what was going on to light in a way I can’t even tell you. My heart broke into a million pieces for those kids. The word “horrors” seems too gentle for what I mean. I don’t think there is a word strong enough :(

My heart bled for those beautiful innocent children who had everything but their lives and their spirit so cruelly and heartlessly stolen from them and yet still sang songs every morning, smiled and found the beauty in life.

“And what is there to be joyful about?”… Another burst of silent tears streamed down.

“Life, Sophie. They still live. They breathe, they love each other, they find joy in the world around them for no other reason than because they are children. They are resiliant. They will always rise above. Always.”

I loved watching how Sophie, who had never known real love, grew, changed, and opened every part of heart to these kids and to their cause.

I loved watching her and Ian/Dingane fall in love. Ohhh their chemistry was palatable. It wasn’t a head-over-heels-at-first-sight thing, but it sizzled. I’ve said this before, but I. Felt. It.

“It’ll be all right,” Ian assured me.

“How do you know?” I asked when he revved the engine.

“I don’t,” he said, “but I’ll protect you.”

Their first kiss was seriously one of the best I’ve ever read. I squeed out loud!!!!! The gun lesson *fans self*… and that second last scene! *shivers* Yeah, I loved him. Completely.

I kept alternating between smiling and being near tears. Every part of the story wormed its way into my heart.

In the interest of full openness, I’ll say there were a few typos here and there, one or two moments of plot or dialogue that gave me squinty eyes, and despite there being an epilogue, I maybe might have wanted just a wee bit more at the end. But truly, it made no difference. The story was incredible so it didn’t affect my enjoyment of it.

This is a completely YA story – by that I mean the characters are younger than 20 and there is no sex in the book. But its the kind of beautifully written YA that makes even something as simple and subtle as just a shared glance give you epic butterflies, take your breath away and make your heart just race.

The story was heart breaking, exciting, beautiful, powerful, and thrilling. There were no dull or slow moments. Ever. There was always something new. Something happening. I was drawn completely into every part of the story. And its one that I won’t forget.

“I’m so deep there’s no getting out for me. You own me, you know?”

This book took me on a beautiful journey.

Guys, this is a must-read!!

Oh, and yes, there is a HEA :)

♥ PURCHASE LINKS 

Buy VAIN (Kindle)
Buy VAIN (Paperback)

♥ CASTING 

Ian and Sophie | Ian | Sophie

INTERVIEW with FISHER AMELIE 

Aestas!!! Squeeee! *does a little dance* Thank you for having me!

Q – The name of the series sounds so interesting! What are your plans for the rest of the series?

A – Oh! Thank you! Good question. So each novel in The Seven Deadly Series will focus on a deadly sin but they won’t be continuations of Ian’s and Sophie’s story. They’ll be companion novels featuring a secondary character from the previous novel. So, VAIN was book one, of course. If you’ve had the chance to read VAIN you’ll become familiar with my next lead, Spencer. His book will be called GREED.

As far as the remaining books in the series, you guys know about as much as I do. I’m sort of nibbling on an idea for the third book. I believe it will be LUST but the only thing that’s really set in stone for book three is the lead. He’s beyond yummy.

Q – What are you working on right now?

A – GREED! The impossibly scrumptious Spencer leads this action packed story of avarice, excess and an overwhelming desire for more. Spencer is greedy for many, many things including the tempting and alluring Caroline a.k.a. Cricket.

Q – How long did it take you to write Vain?

A – Too long. LOL! It was a six month turn around. A little long for most authors but I was extremely pregnant from beginning to end…well, almost the end. My son was two weeks old when I typed the last word. My books take me a little longer than I’d like because I’ve got babies under four. Also, I do an absurd amount of research and depending on how well acquainted I am with the scenery, so to speak, determines the writing process. You don’t know how many times I’ve wanted to kick myself for not picking a setting closer to home.

Q – What was your inspiration for the story?

A – Three years ago, my hubs and I were sitting on the couch like the lazy gits we are, flipping channels and we stumbled across this interview with Sam Childers, the Machine Gun Preacher. Not many know who he is but the impossibly yummy Gerard Butler portrayed him in the film of the same name. The film was…okay. LOL! Anyway, the interview was nothing short of devastating. It exposed Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army, their deeds and goals and we both walked away from it a little damaged. Immediately after, we decided to give a little money to the organizations opposed to Kony and it appeased our consciences for a little while but the images of these broken and beaten children would stay in my mind. I knew not a lot of America was aware of who Kony was, not even the infamous “KONY 2012″ video really put into words or images of just how terrible Kony is. So, last year we began sponsoring a little boy and his family in a dangerous part of Uganda. His story would forever brand itself onto my heart and soul. He is the reason I will forever fight for Kony’s capture. He is the reason I focus on Uganda. He is the reason I wrote this book.

Q – If Vain were to be made into a movie, do you have a dream cast for any of the characters?

A – You know, I’ve given this a lot of thought. A lot. And I can honestly say that I cannot imagine a single soul in Hollywood as Sophie or Ian. I suspect they’d have to be unknowns in order for me to be satisfied. I’d need someone untainted by stereotypes for both roles.

I can imagine someone like Helen Mirren as Karina and Ian McKellen for Charles. I would love to see some freakishly tall, black haired waif of an actor play Pemmy. I would die if they cast him with any sort of accuracy because my idea of what Pemmy looks like is almost comical.

Q - How often do you write?

A – They aren’t lying when they say you have to write every day. I took a week off after my second son was born and when I finally took up my metaphorical pen, I felt like a toddler at the keyboard. I was fumbling around with words as if they weighed a thousand pounds. In other words, everyday for as often as I can for as long as I can…as long as my kids’ needs are met a.k.a. when they’re asleep. Ba ha ha!

Q – What was the first scene that you wrote from Vain? and the last?

A – The first scene I wrote was the party at Sav’s parents’ house. The last scene I wrote was the scene with the burning baobab tree. You’ll know what scene I mean when you read the book. I was blubbering into my keyboard at three in the morning, sort of p.o.’ed at myself for doing what I did. My hubs woke up and was like, “What’s wrong? Is the baby okay?” I just turned, tears streaming down my face and nodded, sobbing gibberish. He saw I was writing and fell right back to sleep, not another question asked. He’s used to this apparently.

Thank you so much for having me, Aestas! I always love being here! So honored!
- Fisher “BoBisher” Amelie

♥ OFFICIAL BLURB 
(I’m including this because it was a big part of what sold me on the book)

If you’re looking for a story about a good, humble girl, who’s been hurt by someone she thought she could trust, only to find out she’s not as vulnerable as she thought she was and discovers an empowering side of herself that falls in love with the guy who helps her find that self, blah, blah, blah…then you’re gonna’ hate my story.

Because mine is not the story you read every time you bend back the cover of the latest trend novel. It’s not the “I can do anything, now that I’ve found you/I’m misunderstood but one day you’ll find me irresistible because of it” tale. Why? Because, if I was being honest with you, I’m a complete witch. There’s nothing redeeming about me. I’m a friend using, drug abusing, sex addict from Los Angeles. I’m every girlfriend’s worst nightmare and every boy’s fantasy.

I’m Sophie Price…And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most envied girl to the girl no one wanted around and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

♥  ABOUT THE AUTHOR ♥ 

Fisher Amelie is the author of The Leaving Series, Callum & Harper and Thomas & January. She began her writing career as a copywriter for an internet marketing company wherein one of their client’s said, ‘Hey! You’re funny. You should write books’. Which in turn she said, ‘Hey, get out of here! This is the lady’s restroom.’ While washing her hands and the embarrassment from her face, she thought they may have had a valid point. So, she took the thousands of hours of writing stories growing up, tucked them into her pocket and began writing and writing and writing.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | AmazonGoodreads

♥  GIVEAWAYS ♥ 

Blog Tour Giveaway

Aestas Book Blog Giveaway

VAIN new cover 

04/12/13

Book Review – In The Stillness by Andrea Randall

In The Stillness

6 HUGE STARS!!!! 

So far, I’m calling this the best stand-alone book of the year!

In The Stillness blew me away. A painfully heartbreaking, emotionally charged and beautifully crafted story of love, loss and healing.

YOU ALL SHOULD READ IT!!!!!!

I have to admit, when I first heard about this book, I was a little scared to start. It had a lot of dark and painful themes – namely that the heroine was a cutter. But from the few people I’d talked to who’d read it, all I heard were incredible things.

What convinced me to start though was finding out that it was a second-chance romance (one of my favorite kinds of love stories) and also honestly, just the sheer, raw, emotional reactions people were having to it peaked my curiosity to no end. I just *had* to see what it was all about.

My gosh, was it just mind-blowing. The writing was flawless and just so raw and honest, with perfect pacing and a beautiful flow to it that fully conveyed every emotion the heroine went through.

The book’s blurb really doesn’t tell you what the story is about so  I’m going to ‘set up’ the story a bit for you so that you can get a feeling of what it’s all about:

Back in college, Natalie and Ryker fell in love. Truly, madly, take-over-your-life deeply in love. But after 9/11, he was sent off to fight. And when he returned, his body was in tact but what he’d gone through had left him with a severe case of PTSD.

“His body came home, but his soul had been devoured in the firefight of a godless desert.”

Situations escalated and some lines were crossed and they broke up. A decade later, Natalie finds herself in a marriage she never wanted, with kids she never planned on having, straying further and futher away from the life path she always dreamed of. She feels trapped and utterly miserable. Each one of her hopes dreams have come crashing down and every turn in her life has taken her further and further away from happiness until it just pressed in from all sides and became over whelming. And so she cuts.

Cutting for Natalie was a release from the pain of her life. I may not have been able to relate to Natalie on a personal level but I certainly understood her. She was in a dark place. Utterly and completely unhappy with her life, and yet stuck with it. With responsibilities and duties that tied her down in a way that made her feel utterly trapped, and thus fueling her unhappiness. It was a never ending cycle. Or, more like a spiral actually, that pulled her deeper and deeper into the darkness. Cutting was her way of finding control and finding release. It wasn’t right, or healthy, but it was her coping mechanism.

“I feel like a caged animal, rabid with need for freedom that was stolen from me.”

And then one day, out of the blue, she sees Ryker again. I won’t tell you any more, but just know that I loved every single line of this book.

The story is told in told in a mixture of flashbacks and present day story lines. The writing is just so fluid. There are no wasted words, no extra fluff. And despite the fact that it jumped back and forth in time, the segments were arranged in such a way that I was never once unsure of what was going on and the pacing and flow of the story was such that I there were no interruptions in my connection to the characters. You could just feel it in every scene that a great amount of thought, time and research had gone into the creation of this book.

I loved the kind of love that Natalie and Ryker had. Ryker was just it for her. You know? They had the kind of love that just makes you shake. Cry. Laugh. Ache right down to your soul. It was an irreplaceable love. The kind that, once taken away leaves a hole that no other person can ever fill.

“I love you for a reason, Natalie. You’re mine and I’m yours.”

I can’t tell you how strongly I felt their love and their pull towards each other. It wasn’t because of epic swoon or anything. Their lives were just an imperfect mess of wrong turns and yet STILL the sheer strength of their pull towards each other was just overpowering. Natalie’s best friend summed it up perfectly:

“You two had something special — it’s the circumstances that were shitty.” 

I felt like I was on a constant emotional overflow. For the final half of the book I read alternating between crying and having a lump in my throat. My eyes were never dry and often tears were just pouring down my face. It was just one emotional hit after another. There were times when I had to stop reading for a minute or two, simply because I couldn’t see the words any longer through my tears.

“I love you so much, Natalie, and when I get home I’m going to keep loving you until you tell me to stop. But don’t, please. Don’t tell me to stop.”

Everything about this book was realistic, raw, and never hid the truth from you. I honestly can say that I do not have a single complaint about this book. Do I wish I could take away the pain of their lives? Sure. But would I change a single word of this book? No.

Something which was very important to me in this story and that I admired in Natalie was that despite all the pain, depression, and misery she was feeling in the inside, she never once let that seep into her relationship with her kids. She may not have wanted to be a mother, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t a good one. She was kind, sweet, patient and loving to them. Always. For some reason, I wasn’t expecting that of her going into the story, and I was pleasantly surprised at that side of her. To me, what that proved more than anything was that she wasn’t truly messed up, she was just dealing with an overwhelming amount of sadness and needed an outlet. But the fact that she kept her outlet contained to herself spoke volumes about her as a person. At least in my eyes.

I honestly could not put this book down. Not even for a second. It was the kind of story that sucks you right in and makes you want more. The story was constantly moving forward, with no slow spots. It build in layers giving you more and more pieces of the story until everything made sense and everything came together.

Everything about this book broke my heart. But in a good way, you know? I just had to believe that out of the horrible mess of their lives, there was some room, some hope for a happy ending.

And it did have a happy ending. You really got the feeling that they had gotten to a good point in their lives where from that point forward, they’d be able to rebuild and heal together.

I will say though that despite my giving it a 6-star rating, I would just LOVE if the author would write an epilogue one day. Not like a whole chapter, and not even more of the story at that point, but I would have loved a glimpse into their lives maybe a few months, or even a few years down the road. I mean, I know in my head how it would have all played out, but it’s something I would have loved to read in her words.

That being said, the book was just PHENOMENAL. Seriously. One of the best I’ve ever read. I adored it with all my heart and it’s earned itself a special place in both my heart and on my favorites shelf.

I really hope this book gets picked up by a publisher. It deserves to be distributed on shelves all around the world. I feel it’s the kind of story that regardless of whether or not you can relate to it, there is just no way that you won’t feel it deep down to the very bottom of your heart.

I highly, highly recommend it!!

Powerful. Painful. Raw. Emotional. Beautiful.

6 stars.

PURCHASE LINKS

CASTING

In The Stillness

04/2/13

Review & Bonus Scene – Own The Wind (Chaos #1) by Kristen Ashley

Own The Wind2

5+++ stars

I ABSOLUTELY FREAKING LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!

No word of a lie: I have quotes highlighted on nearly EVERY page!!

Kristen Ashley is one of those incredibly talented authors who has my complete and utter trust. I don’t need to read the synopsis or blurbs for her books, I don’t need to see reviews or ratings… Quite simply, if she wrote it, I’ll read it.

And true to KA style, this book ROCKED. MY. WORLD.

First, I just want to say that although technically this book can be read as a standalone, if you haven’t yet read the Dream Man series, you are going to miss out on a good chunk of the emotional impact of it. And to clarify: you’ll definitely feel the romance between Shy and Tabby for sure either way, but in order to get the full EPICNESS that this book has to offer (and trust me, there’s bucket-loads of epic!), you really have to read them after the Dream Man books. There are cameos from Tack, Tyra, Hawk, Elvira, Brock and Mitch, as well as Lee Nightingale, Tex and Fortums (from Rock Chick) so if those names don’t mean anything to you, their scenes won’t send you into the same squee-ing frenzy that they sent me into. So yeah, I suggest reading the Dream Man books first (click here for the full reading order).

Now that that’s said, on to the review :)

Parker “Shy” Cage has a bit of a reputation. One involving copious piles of women. Ok, hang on, let’s just take a collective moment to SWOON over his name. I’m in love with it. I’m in love with him. *dreamy sigh*… Ok, moving on. Yeah, let’s just say he’s gotten around. A lot ;) And to say that he and Tabby got off to a rocky start would be the understatement of the year.

As the daughter of the leader of the biker gang Chaos that Shy was a brother in, Tabby was off-limits to begin with. But when he sees her going down a path he thinks is bad for her, he decides to try and teach her a lesson. His intentions were good, but his delivery… not so much. His point goes through but he went too far and the hurt ran deep. And for the next few years, she can barely stand the sight of him.

But when a tragedy shatters Tabby’s world, Shy is there to help her put back the pieces and learn to be happy again. (And stop freaking out guys, Tack does NOT die!! Breathe. It’s okay!)

“You need a safe place to just forget shit and escape, I’ll give it to you. Tonight. Tomorrow. Next week. Next month. That safe place is me, Tabby.”

I totally loved both Shy and Tabby. Once they got past the initial misunderstandings and miss-communications and officially became a couple, my gosh were they ever functional!!! They were crazy in love and both valued what they had more than anything else in the world. It was precious to them and they weren’t about to let anything get in their way or come between them. They knew where their priorities lay and it was their relationship first. Above all else. I just absolutely freaking ADORED them as a couple!!

“Promise me right now, my dick still inside you, you naked on top of me in my bed, sharing what we just shared, us having a taste of what it’s like apart and knowin’ were better together, you won’t leave me…. You’ll stick with me until there’s nothing to stick to, if that ever happens.”

And as individual characters, they were both also amazing. Tabby was just incredible. She spoke her mind, stood up for herself and didn’t take shit from anyone (and considering that she was always surrounded by these badass biker dudes, that was quite a feat).

And Shy just stole my heart because despite royally fucking up in the beginning, he was the kind of guy who could own up to it, apologize, and move on. He was Alpha, protected and defended his woman, but at the same time wasn’t overbearing and loved her for who she was – the good and the bad.

I loved that despite the way the older bikers ran things, Shy, I guess being younger (27) and maybe more open to change was a biker through and through but at the same time, didn’t put up with a lot of the older ways of dealing with relationships. He had a lot of respect for Tabby in her own right and didn’t let anyone get in her way.

“Shy, she’s yours… Control your woman,” High demanded. “Get her ass out.”

My eyes went to Shy to see him looking at High, and he wasn’t looking pissed.

He was looking reflective.

Then he said, “Tab and I don’t play it that way. You wanna order your old lady around, do what you do, not for me to say. I asked her to go, she didn’t go. Not gonna make her. But you try, you’ll deal with me.”

This book was tight. The story flowed, it was engaging, something new was always happening and there were no dull moments. The imagery was vivid – I honestly feel like I saw the whole book play out in front of my eyes like a movie.

This story had a bit of everything. There were moments that warmed my heart right down to my toes, moments that had me fanning myself and moments that socked me in the gut so hard it took me breath away.

I really felt like the message that came through to me from this book was that the shit life sometimes puts you through can cut deep, right into your soul. But sometimes, if you push through it, you can find beauty you’d never have otherwise found.

I swear to God, KA’s writing has just SO much depth to it. She’s very much got her own style and let me tell you: that woman can WRITE. Brilliant dialogue. Scenes that make your heart squeeze and race. Scenes that make you sigh dreamily and just feel like you are right freaking THERE.

And seriously, this book has one of the most epic verbal smackdowns I have ever read. I was cheering and squeeing. It had some of the best lines from any KA book I’ve ever read (and I’ve nearly read them all). I swear I highlighted almost that whole chapter!!

And boy was this book HOT! When the main couple have a connection as strong as Shy and Tabby had, you can’t help but feel it. Again, EPIC.

“I knew this day would turn shit,” I whispered. “I knew with how great it started, there’d be farther to fall.”

His eyes flashed, his hand moved up to cup my jaw, he tilted my head way back, and brought his face to mine.

“May feel like you’re fallin’, Tabby, but remember, I’m at the bottom ready to catch you.”

It took all my will power not to just post updates every 2 minutes screaming “I FREAKING LOVE THIS BOOK!!!”

My only tiny complaint was that the epilogue was shorter than most and I do love me a big long gushy epilogue, but still… the book rocked!

Aaand also, on a bit more of a random note…. what’s better than a hot-as-fuck badass biker?? Well that would be a hot-as-fuck bad ass biker with a smokin’ hot soldier brother. I totally crushed on Shy’s brother, Landon, and really hope he gets his own book one day :)

The next installment in this series is well set up and I absolutely can’t wait for MORE!!!!

*squeeeeee*

Ok, wondering which Kristen Ashley book to start with?

PURCHASE LINKS

CASTING

 

bonus scene

Ok, so for my Blog Tour stop,
Kristen Ashley WROTE ME INTO A FREAKING BONUS SCENE!!!
With a hot biker dude!!!!
I swear I almost died when I read it.
Coolest. Thing. EVER.
Naturally, I just have to share it with you, so… here it is ;)

**SQUEEEEEEEEEE**
(ok, I’m done. Read on!)

Aestas felt a tickle along the back of her neck, she stopped perusing the boxes on the shelf and looked left.

A rough-looking man with messy dark hair, wearing faded jeans and black leather jacket, was staring at her behind.

He must have felt her eyes because his lifted to catch her gaze. She held her breath when she saw his face, but mostly his small smile. Then he turned and walked away.

That was when she gasped.

On the back of his leather jacket was the Chaos Emblem.

The Chaos Emblem!

Whoever he was, he was Chaos.

She put her hands to her cart, double-timing it to follow him. Searching aisle for aisle in that grocery store, he was nowhere to be found.

Dejected, she finished her shopping and headed to the checkout counter.

As she was waiting in line, dreaming all things Chaos, she felt the tickle at the back of her neck again. She turned her head and there he was, all broad-shouldered, six foot-one of him. Standing behind her in line, carrying a six-pack of beer in one hand, a bottle of bourbon in the other.

“Yo,” his deep voice grunted.

“Are you Chaos?” Aestas peeped.

That got her another grin and a nod.

She struggled for breath and informed him, “I know you.”

“Lotsa bitches do,” he replied, still grinning.

“Uh… I mean, I know Chaos, but not sure I know you. Which one are you?” she asked.

“Hound,” he answered.

Oh. Wow. Hound.

In truth, she would have preferred Tack. Or Shy. Or Hop.

But she’d take Hound, especially seeing as he was pretty freaking hot. As in pretty danged freaking hot.

“You’re hot,” she blurted.

That got her a full-blown smile.

“Feelin’ the love for Kit, she hasn’t spread that around… yet” Hound said. “Tack, Shy, Hop, they’re screwed. Women the world over wanna be all in their business. You get what I’m sayin’?”

Aestas nodded. She got what he was sayin’.

“So, uh, being a woman around the world that knows Chaos and Kristen Ashley, I’ve got a blog. Can you give me a scoop?”

He shook his head, but he looked like he regretted doing it. “Kit gets kinda pissy when we do that shit.”

Aestas’ brows went up. She tilted her head and gave him an encouraging smile. “Nothing? Not even a little something for my readers?”

He took in her head tilt then his eyes dropped to her mouth.

She again quit breathing.

“All right,” he sighed. “Just that the guys dig it that you bitches are so into us. We think it’s a hoot.”

Well, at least that was good.

“If memory serves, you, particularly, are a little crazy,” Aestas noted.

“Babe, I’m in a motorcycle club. Some kind of crazy is a requirement,” Hound replied.

That was probably the truth.

“Do you have a woman?” Aestas asked.

“Not yet, but you talk to her, you tell Kit to get on that. Man like me… he needs it regular. You get me?”

She nodded. She got him. But she was stuck on him getting it regular and how that might be a fun thing to give.

His eyes went beyond her to the line. “You’re up, babe.”

Aestas jumped and moved forward in line, threw her stuff on the belt and turned back to Hound.

When she did, he was gone.

She craned her neck to look for, him but he was nowhere to be seen.

She paid and took her groceries out to her car, thinking maybe she was going a bit nuts. Seriously, she’d just had a conversation with a fictional character in a grocery store.

On this thought, her groceries stowed away, she heard the low growl of a Harley.

Whirling, she saw Hound stop his bike and put a motorcycle boot to the asphalt.

“Can’t give you a scoop,” he yelled over the rumble of the bike. “Can give you a ride. You wanna hop on?”

Aestas had ice cream in her groceries.

She didn’t care.

She hopped on.

She would have liked a scoop.

But wrapped around Hound on his Harley, her chin set to the leather of his cut, the wind in her hair, she didn’t mind the ride.

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Own The Wind2

03/26/13

Book Review – Light In The Shadows (Find You In The Dark #2) by A. Meredith Walters

LIGHT IN THE SHADOWS front

“God I loved her… She was everything I wanted in my life but was still unsure I deserved… I wanted this. And I wanted to run from it. I wanted to pull her in and never let go. I wanted to push her away… I wanted to taste her skin and feel her heart beat beneath my lips.”

5 STARS!!!! Spoiler-free review.

PHENOMENAL!

I was in love with this story from the first word, until the very last.

“For those searching for the light… Never stop.”

I can’t even tell you how much I needed this book after finishing book #1 Find You in The Dark. FYITD was one of the absolute best books I’ve ever read and I felt so connected to the characters and drawn into the story that, honestly, my world was just not complete until I was able to read this book.

This book kept me up till 5AM. I just had to read it in one sitting, there was no way I was putting this book down!

The story was a direct continuation of book #1. It focuses a lot on healing, on recovery, on finding a healthy balance to life… on finding the light in the shadows ♥ (sniff… I’m getting teary here)

I want to take a minute and talk about Clay. I loved how well the author described him. Because despite having a mental condition, he was downright swoony. Everything about him was just pure, gorgeous, normal, rational, hot guy swoon material, he just also had an illness.

With the way the author described his POV, I felt like I got right inside his head. She wrote him in such a way that I couldn’t help but sympathize with everything he went though.  I experienced his mood swings with him. I was right there with him every step of the way. He had good days and bad days, days of coming to terms with things, days of gut wrenching pain and days of elation. I felt his highs, I felt his lows, I was totally connected to everything he went through.

“Just when I thought I had things under control, the reality of who I was smacked me squarely in the face. Being nuts was no fun let me tell you… my kind of nuts was scary and consuming… I was a far cry from being the man I wanted to be. But I was getting there.”

I think also that the fact that he had this condition made how much he loved Maggie so much stronger. Because he truly did – with every fiber of his being. And the fact that that love he felt was strong enough to make him push through everything was heart warming, inspiring and just downright beautiful.

“For a guy who struggled with finding his place in the world, standing next to Maggie, I understood one thing on a very fundamental level. Wherever she went, whatever she did, that is where I belonged.”

Maggie was such a strong heroine. She had her moments of weakness, but the depth of her love for Clay was enough to get her through anything. I loved watching them work together to make things work.

“My love for this beautifully broken, yet slowly healing boy, made me strong…. My soul belonged with him, was so entangled in him that I was no longer a single being.”

Clay and Maggie’s connection had always been intense to an extreme. Everything about them was heightened. And as a reader, I felt it SO strongly. Regardless of if they were even in the same scene together, sometimes just their feelings for each other would hit me so strongly (in a thought, memory, or note) and I’d just start to tear up.

The struggle they went though broke my heart. But I loved how strong they both were. I honestly have to say that despite the struggle of what they went through, they were really one of the most functional relationships I’ve read. To go through what they went through and to be able to come out of it strong and together was downright admirable.

They were both trying with all their heart, fighting the odds, and proving that love could truly conquer all.

“It was just two people who loved each other, trying to make some sense in a world where there was none.”

It was a rough, bumpy road. It was raw. Imperfect. Messy. But my dear God did I love this journey and this story.

It was no fairy tale, but it was true love that you felt with your whole heart.

I cried my way through the epilogue and when I finished the book, I literally just sat there with tears pouring down my face for several minutes… just over flowing with emotions ♥♥

Yes, there is a happy ending. It was believable, real, and absolutely perfect for them. The author truly did these beautiful characters justice.

Guys, this book duet is just incredible. I highly recommend them if you are in the mood for a beautiful, emotional, and unconventional love story.

Clay and Maggie’s story will remain in my heart forever ♥

“You are everything good in my life. Even when I had thought all I had was the darkness… you gave me something to live for.”

#EMOTIONS!!!!

CASTING (casting ideas taken from author’s FB page)

READING ORDER + PURCHASE LINKS (all currently available)

LIGHT IN THE SHADOWS front