Blog Tour: Trying to Score [Assassins #2] by Toni Aleo [Review/Excerpt/Giveaway]

Hello and welcome to Dreaming In The Pages! I am so glad to have you stop by today, because over the last few months I have grown extremely close and fond of this author right here. She is just pure amazing and, like her books, hard not to love. Today I am going to be giving you guys a review and a little peek at what book two, Trying to Score, has in store for you. If you missed my review of Taking Shots, the first book in the Assassins series just head on over here and check it out. But now I know I am boring you, so let's get on with it!

[:

Trying to Score [Assassins #2]
Toni Aleo

Release Date: April 11th 2012

( Barnes & Noble / Amazon)

Fallon Parker’s dream was to have her family’s wine company at the top of all wine magazines and to have a cellar of her own. After graduating from college, she has worked hard to make that dream a reality, even if that meant having a nonexistent love life. She had her chance at love and that was a bust, so she put everything into the wine company. After becoming the official sponsor of the Nashville Assassins, Fallon finally feels like everything is falling in place, that is until Lucas Brooks comes back into her life.

Lucas Brooks hates his life. He is lonely, he is sober, and he is angry. On the ice, when he’s not in the sin bin, he the leading scorer in the NHL but off the ice, he is a mess. He threw away the most important person in his life, and has regretted it ever since but when Lucas sees Fallon again after being traded to the Assassins; he is bound and determined to get her back. Even if she wants nothing to do with him.

The sexual tension between Fallon and Lucas is electrifying as Lucas tries to convince Fallon that he is a changed man. Fallon tries to resist Lucas, but it is so hard when all her body wants is his. But when Lucas finds out that Fallon has been keeping a huge secret from him, the game he is playing stops and penalties are called.

With new rules and new players on the ice, will Fallon and Lucas be able to work out their differences and work as a team or will they be left trying to score alone

-Goodreads-

*A copy of this book was given to me by the author for the blog tour hosted by AToMR* 
:Thoughts/Review:

*sigh*

Yes folks. I am starting out a review with a sigh. Because 1) I can. And 2(I am in total and complete love with the second book in the Assassins series. I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t nervous as hell to pick up this book either. I was so enamored with Shea and Elli in Taking Shots I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to open up my heart to yet another Hockey stud muffin who was gunning for my heart. But alas, I was so very wrong. A little steamy, a little heartbreaking, and a whole lot of fanning yourself are in order this time around readers. Are your cheeks feeling a little pink yet? Get use to the feeling.

Now, as I said, I didn’t know if I was even able to love a story as much as I did Shea and Elli’s. I KNOW Elli [I swear, she is me] and how could I love someone more than I love Shea Alder?! [I’m still not sure I actually can…] After the first chapter I had no doubt Toni was going to be blowing me away yet again. Fallon and Lucas’s story is a total 180 from what we read in Taking Shots. Like Elli, Fallon has her own sets of faults and personal problems going on, but once Lucas Brooks enters the story we notice that Fallon and Lucas’s relationship is far more intertwined than we could have first imagined. I quickly fell for the banter and quirks between these two. As Fallon was extremely slow to even warm up to Lucas, I fell for him hard and fast and couldn’t help but to cheer him on as he tried to get Fallon back into his arms.

Now, before I go all gaga over Lucas Brooks some more, I wanted to say how much I LOVED being able to see Elli and Shea in this book. It was AMAZING to get to see their story even after we thought it was ‘over’ when their book ended. Now, since that is aside, I can address how much I love how Toni sets a story up. I love that when I am done with one of her books, I feel like I’m complete. Like Taking Shots, Trying to Score was no short story. You are taking through the up’s and down’s of this relationship and you feel like once you take one step forward you take five steps back and then your heart is aching for what almost happened. Toni gets me so wrapped up in this story that once even something little happens [like Fallon coming to her senses on certain subjects] I seriously jump up in my seat and squeal out in glee. There is nothing like seeing someone completely turn around.

Fresh, new, and something completely unexpected I quickly became glued to Toni Aleo’s second work of masterpiece and, to be honest, it has actually made me start watching hockey. [Go Preds!] If you fell in love with Taking Shots, I have no doubt in my mind that you will fall for Trying to Score. There is nothing like watching a story you thought was long over, blossom and become everything you ever wished it would have been. There is also nothing like a little steam and fanning oneself either. But why are you sitting there reading the end of my review?! Shouldn’t you be rushing out to go buy this?! Oh, and be sure to say hello to Lucas Brooks for me. I have a feeling you two will get along swimmingly.

 ; ]

:Excerpt:

“So how long have you guys been together?” Lucas asked. Lucas’ eyes watered from trying to keep in his laughter, and Fallow swore if she could hit him, she would.

“Together?” Rob asked looking over at Fallon.

Acting before thinking - not one of her best traits - Fallon nodded before leaning up and placing her lips on Rob’s. It was only for a second but it felt like an hour because everything went quiet around her. Lucas stopped laughing and Rob froze underneath her lips. She swore the whole room stopped, but really it didn’t. Oh gosh, this just kept getting worse by the minute.

When she pulled back, she smiled up at Rob’s shocked face and said, “A long time, right honey?”

Fallon glanced over at Lucas, one of his eyebrows was arched as his face quirked up on one side. It made Fallon’s heart skip a beat since it was the exact same smile Aiden would give her when he was amused. “It is that serious that you had to kiss this kid to make me believe you have a boyfriend?”

“He is,” Fallon answered.

“Who? Me?” Rob sputtered.

“Yes you, silly! Goodness me! Am I that horrible?”

“No,” Rob said with his hand in front of his chest, “not at all.”

“Thanks Rob,” Fallon said, and at that moment, Fallon knew her plan had just gone to shit. Rob was still wiping his mouth as Lucas just grinned widely at her.

“So Rob, this hot woman, is your girlfriend?” Lucas asked, and Fallon shot daggers at him with her eyes.

Rob looked at Fallon before looking back over at Lucas. He started to shake his head no as he said, “Yes, she is.”

That had Lucas in a fit of laughter as Fallon glared something crazy at him. “Thanks a lot Rob.”

“I’m sorry, but who picks an openly gay guy as their boyfriend!” Rob said throwing his arms in the air. “I’m wearing an orange suit!”

“A nice suit at that,” Lucas added.

“Thanks!” Rob said before looking back at Fallon, “but really, I’m the worst person to pick for a fake boyfriend, since I like guys.”

With that Rob walked off, leaving Fallon extremely embarrassed and actually considering firing him. She would if he wasn’t so good at the marketing reports that made her head spin. Fallon couldn’t help but to watch her ‘boyfriend’ clad in an orange suit walk away. She wished like hell that Rob wasn’t gay so he could act like her boyfriend because this reunion between Fallon and Lucas was not going the way she wanted it too.

Posing a gay guy as he boyfriend? Not one of her best ideas.

Fallon wanted to look successful, sexy — a stronger woman then he left behind. She basically wanted to make Lucas jealous, not give him the entertainment of the night! That’s what she paid the band for! She hated that she had made a mess of things. Lying was never her strong suit; and she knew Lucas wasn’t gonna let her live this down.

 “So how about that dance, since I think your boyfriend is gay,” Lucas determined.

Heat filled Fallon’s face as she wished Lucas to the fiery depths of hell. “Oh fuck off, Lucas Brooks.”

⚜
Now, if you are not completely hooked already [which how could you not be?! did you just read that excerpt?!] I have a little something for you...
An eBook giveaway! Because let's face it, after that excerpt Toni knew you all would need to get your hands on the book right away.; ]
Are you jumping up and down on your seat with anticipation?! Want to know how to enter?!Just leave a comment below with your e-mail address and let me know why you've just got to win a copy of Trying to Score!
Simple as that! The winner will be selected at random on May 9th so don't forget to get those comments in!
Good luck to all!And...Thanks for stopping by!

This blog tour runs through the 5th. To follow the other tour stops which include, author interviews, book excerpts, giveaways, and more click here. 

 

Review: Lies Beneath [Lies Beneath #1] by Anne Greenwood Brown

Lies Beneath [Lies Beneath #1]
Published by: Delacorte Press
Anne Greenwood Brown
Release Date: June 12th 2012
( Barnes & Noble / Goodreads )

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge.

They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistible good looks and charm on unsuspecting girls.

Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.
-Goodreads

*An eGalley was provided to me by Random House and NetGalley for review purposes.*

Thoughts/Review:

I have come to be a HUGE fan of NetGalley and all its wonders. Thanks to them and Random House publishing I was lucky enough to get my hands on this debut book From Anne Greenwood Brown. Let me tell you, mermaids [or should I say mermen] have never looked so good, or so absolutely creepy. I have not read that many mermaid books and I fell head over fins for this. Deception and revenge. Two words I feel fit perfectly with this story. You get plenty of both and then some. But that’s not all that awaits you in these pages.

I really enjoyed the fact that we got the story from Calder [a sexy alluring merman] and not from one of his sisters. Because typically that is what I see when I browse mermaid books, so it was a nice little change. But once I cracked open [well, touched open] this book I was hooked.  You get a feel for Calder and all of his uniqueness before you see what mermaids really like to do. I was kind of freaked out by Maris and Pavati, though his third sister Tallulah seemed to have a control on her craziness. See, mermaids are not all nice and pretty, they are deadly beautiful and won’t hesitate to suck your happiness [and soul] away. [Sounds a little like dementors right?!] And they have their sights set on revenge, with or without Calder’s help.

The love story in this book was nothing short of amazing. I really enjoyed Calder and Lily’s relationship for one fact only. He thought he was smooth and would get her to fall for him right away, and all he did was creep her out. You know, eventually Lily succumbed to her feelings for Calder, but I thought that was great. Lily was strong, determined, and forceful. I loved how surprising she was from page to page and I completely understand how Calder was so enthralled by her. As I kept reading, I was entranced in the words on the page and what was going on. Anne writing is so detailed that I couldn’t help but feeling like I was right there. There were gasps, screeching, yelling and some punching of a pillow. Anne had no trouble extracting my emotions from this story.

Reading this story unfold was nothing short of thrilling. I was surprised, pissed, giddy, and so much more. Anne Greenwood Brown has successfully captured me in her tangled web of words and I can’t wait to read more of Lily and Calder’s story. This story packs a punch and an action packed ending that will leave you with such a craving for the next book, you may take a bite out of someone near you. So yeah, don't say I didn't warn you folks!

Rating:

★★★★½

Four n' a half Stars

[You can suck my happiness any day Calder]

**** **** **** ****

Eeep people! This book seriously made me love mermaids, or should I say mermen. You need to check this beauty out and fall for Calder all on your own. I don't want to be blamed for it. [:

Review: Taking Shots [Assassins #1] by Toni Aleo

Taking Shots [Assassins #1]
Toni Aleo
Published By: Toni Aleo/Amazon
Release Date: October 5th 2011
( Barnes & Noble / Goodreads )

Elli Fisher has never thought she was good enough. Let it be her job, her weight, her love life, nothing, she was convinced she couldn’t do anything right. She had walked through life for the past six years in a daze, never thinking that life could be good again after the abuse she endured from her ex boyfriend. She is lonely, sad, and depressed, that is until she meets Shea Adler. After doing a promotional shoot for the NHL team, the Nashville Assassins, she meets the hunky hockey player who shoots a puck, shattering her world. 

Shea Adler was tired of the life he was living outside of the rink. The girls, the money blowing, the drinking, everything had to stop and it all did when he met Eleanor Fisher. He had never met anyone like her. She is feisty, witty, shy, and simply gorgeous. When he laid eyes on her, it was as if he was taking the hardest hit of his life into the boards, and he had to have her. 

Elli is a little skeptical of Shea, but he knows that they were meant to be together, and he needed her in his life. But Elli just doesn’t understand what Shea could see in her. She is overweight, loud, and not even that pretty, so why would someone so gorgeous and so amazing want to be with her? It seemed that no matter how hard she tried to shake Shea off, he wasn’t going anywhere, and for the first time Elli didn’t feel alone. 

But could Elli throw her insecurities out the window and love Shea with everything inside of her? Or will she let a past relationship, and her family ruin any chance of her being happy?

Would Elli miss her shot at love?

:Thoughts/Review:

I have been very fortunate lately when it comes to book recommendations and Taking Shots is no exception. Not knowing exactly what to expect when I stared, I was blown away by just about everything I read. It has been FOREVER since I read a contemporary romance that was so emotionally packed and had enough sexy action to keep those pages turning well past my bedtime. This book was a long one, but I mean that in the best possible way. There are a lot of emotional problems going on, and it was so refreshing to see a book tackle those emotional problems fully and realistically. Taking Shots took me by surprise and I just have one question…Where the hell can I get my own Shea Alder?!

What I really want to do is give Toni Aleo a giant hug and a ton of kisses for making the ultimate lead character[s]. It was so easy to identify with Elli and her problems that I was instantly in love. You often come across girls who are self-conscious in books, yet they are described as beautiful, skinny, and yadda yadda yadda. With Elli, I felt her issues, I KNOW those issues and I was eager to see how she worked through them, in a relationship with a sexy hot hockey player nonetheless.  Oh and don’t even get me started on Shea Alder. That man was meant to be in my life, and I need my own ASAP! I am no hockey fan, but I swear to you, after reading this book I am going to watch myself a few games and promptly drool all over myself while I am doing so.

I may have loved the characters first and foremost, but what comes in a close second is how real the book felt. Like I said, this is a long book, but it covers every topic it addresses realistically. There is no ‘I looked into his eyes and knew I was in love so we immediately had sex and got engaged and married within a month!’ There is depth in the relationship due to the problems these two faced together or mentally on their own. You get to see Shea and Elli grow and fight together and with each other. And the emotions Toni made me feel! Agh! I went from blissfully happy, to steamy hot, to wanting to beat someone ass in just a few pages. When I start punching pillows I know the book has made its way into my heart for good, and I wouldn’t want this one anywhere else.

When all is said and done, this book took me for the best spin I could ever imagine taking. I got to see probably my favorite female lead of all time get her dream ever after. Not only did Taking Shots fill me with giddy passion, but filled with blissful closure as well. If you are any kind of romance fan this book will take you by your teeth and have you begging for more when it is over. Toni Aleo, I will follow you anywhere you go from here on out because damn it, you have shown me and everyone else out there how real women and relationships are and I love you for it. But I still have one question for you. When and where can I get my own Shea Alder? Seriously, I’m dying here. *runs off looking for the perfect man*

:Rating:
★★★★★
Five Fever Inducing Stars
[I never knew hockey could be SO entertaining and yummy]

⚜

Wow! My first review posted in over a month. I am SO SORRY you guys! But it couldn't be over a better book I am sure! I loved this one people. I was swooning, crying, and pissed beyond belief. All you romance lovers out there have GOT to give this one a shot. Add it to your lists today and be prepared to fall head over skates for one Shea Alder.

; ]

Blog Tour: On The Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves [Review/Excerpt/Giveaway]

 Hello and welcome to Dreaming In The Pages! It is my pleasure to be a stop on this blog tour because, lets face it, I LOVED this book. I could honestly go on and on gushing about how much I enjoyed the book but I figured you guys would like to read my review and get a little excerpt from it instead. Who could blame you?! So if you are in the mood for a read that will definitely take you away, get to reading below!

On the Island
Tracey Garvis Graves
Released: October 11th 2011
Published by: CreateSpace
( Barnes & Noble / Goodreads )

When thirty-year-old English teacher Anna Emerson is offered a job tutoring T.J. Callahan at his family's summer rental in the Maldives, she accepts without hesitation; a working vacation on a tropical island trumps the library any day. T.J. Callahan has no desire to leave town, not that anyone asked him. He's almost seventeen and if having cancer wasn't bad enough, now he has to spend his first summer in remission with his family - and a stack of overdue assignments - instead of his friends.

Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.'s family in the Maldives when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Adrift in shark-infested waters, their life jackets keep them afloat until they make it to the shore of an uninhabited island. Now Anna and T.J. just want to survive and they must work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter.

Their basic needs might be met but as the days turn to weeks, and then months, the castaways encounter plenty of other obstacles, including violent tropical storms, the many dangers lurking in the sea, and the possibility that T.J.'s cancer could return. As T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man.
-Goodreads

*A copy of this book was given to me by the author for the blog tour hosted by AToMR*

:Thoughts/Review:

I am not going to lie to you. When I first looked at this book and read the synopsis I did the first thing everyone who has read the synopsis probably did. I said “Wait, am I reading this right?! A 30 year old and a 16 year old?!” But readers, don’t judge a book by its synopsis…wait…I mean…well… Just take a chance and read it! While I went into it with skepticism, what I ended up with was a smile on my face that was probably ridiculously large and goofy. From beginning to end  Tracey Garvis-Graves will have you on the edge of your seat and I promise, you have never read an island story quiet like this.

Any doubt I had about this book disappeared as soon as I was finished with the first chapter. What I think first endeared me to this story was not only the characters [Anna and TJ] but how each chapter was told from alternating points of view. This gives you so much more depth to the story and really helps you identify and connect with Anna and TJ and before you know it, you are throwing age out the window. But, for those still squirming in their seats…nothing happens until TJ is old enough, you know, for it to be against the law. But really, when you read it, you wonder how it would ever be deemed wrong in the first place.

Their situation is scary, yet I wondered how I was going to stay hooked about a book of two people living life stranded on an island. Well, I was blow away at how fast I was turning the pages, and how it never felt fast enough. Frantically wanting to find out what happens next, what TJ thinks of this or what does Anna think about THAT?! I couldn’t put it down for one second. And just when you think things are looking up they go south, and when you think things really couldn’t get any worse, they totally do. You feel as though your feet are never firmly planted on the floor, which makes for one hell of a rush. And I, for one, couldn’t get enough.

On the Island is one of those stories that makes you realize love comes in the most unexpected packages. You can’t help but to fall and feel for these characters and the situation they are in. From the gripping beginning to the edge of my seat ending I knew that I was hooked on Tracey Garvis-Graves and I had to have more of her. Her writing kept me skillfully hooked the whole time and I adored how I felt complete at the end. I will tell you one thing readers, I WILL be waiting in line for Tracey’s next book. After a story like that, I would follow her anywhere.

:Excerpt:

We ate nothing but coconut and breadfruit for the next eighteen days and our clothes hung on us. Anna’s stomach growled in her sleep, and I had a constant ache in mine. I doubted the rescuers were still looking for us, and a hollow, empty feeling that had nothing to do with hunger joined the pain in my gut whenever I thought of my family and friends.

I thought it would impress Anna if I could spear a fish. I managed to stab myself in the foot instead, which hurt like hell, not that I let her know.

“I want to put antibiotic ointment on it,” Anna said. She dabbed it on the gash and covered it with a band-aid. She said the island humidity was perfect for germs and the thought of one of us getting an infection scared the crap out of her. “You’ll have to stay out of the water until that heals, T.J. I want to keep it dry.”

Great. No fishing and no swimming.

The days passed slowly. Anna got quiet. She slept more, and I caught her wiping her eyes when I came back from collecting firewood or exploring the island. I found her sitting on the beach one day, staring up at the sky.

“It’s easier if you quit thinking they’re coming back,” I told her.

She looked up at me. “So I should just wait for a plane to randomly fly overhead someday?”

“I don’t know, Anna.”

I sat down beside her. “We could leave on the life raft,” I said. “Load it with food and use the plastic containers to collect rainwater. Just start paddling.”

“What if we ran out of food or something happened to the raft? It’d be suicide, T.J. We’re obviously not in the flight path for any of the inhabited islands, and there’s no guarantee a plane would fly over. These islands are spread over thousands of miles of water. I can’t be out there. Not after seeing Mick. I feel safer here, on land. And I know they’re not coming back, but saying it out loud seems like giving up.”

“I used to feel that way, but I don’t anymore.”

Anna studied me. “You’re very adaptable.”

I nodded. “We live here now.”

✸✸✸✸ ✸✸✸✸ ✸✸✸✸ ✸✸✸✸

Now, if all that doesn't have you itching in your seat to read this book, I don't know what will. Should I dance around? Throw confetti up in the air for you all to frolic in?!

Oh I know, how about I tell you about the awesome eBook giveaway that I get to give to you?!

Check it out!

☟

Review: My Only by Sophia Duane

My Only
Sophia Duane
Published by: The Writer's Coffee Shop
Release Date: March 8th 2012
( The Writer's Coffee Shop / Goodreads )

Shy, awkward Adam is resigned to sit on the sidelines of life, overshadowed by his outgoing and popular twin brother, Aaron. Adam James’ life is far from perfect. A deeply internal person, Adam is silently confused about his lot in life, including life after high school. A talented drummer from a small suburb of Chicago, Adam keeps to himself, downplaying his abilities, thinking that he is less than all those around him. By living a life of moderate isolation coupled with his ambivalence toward most people, he is unable to gain new perspectives on himself.

But when a free spirited new girl with a troubled past moves in across the street, Adam's eyes are opened to a new world of possibilities. Olivia Cartwright is a fun loving, beautiful girl whose philosophies on life give her a deeper understanding of the world around her. Previously living a semi-nomadic life, Olivia is out of her element in the quiet, slow-moving suburb of Lakeside, Illinois. An instant connection between Adam and Olivia draws them closer, but why would anyone choose him when a better version exists? What will happen when Adam’s outgoing twin Aaron takes an interest in Olivia as well?

Adam has a choice to make: Keep his relationship with Olivia merely friends or fight to take it further, keep safely within the dormant cocoon he’s lived in for years or find and cultivate all of his good qualities. Which will he choose?

Will the friendship with Olivia change him? Will he adopt her philosophies, or will he continue to close himself off in his own world? It seems Adam has a lot to learn about love....and life.
-Goodreads

*An eARC was provided to me by the publisher for review purposes.*

Thoughts/Review:

If I told you that I was pleasantly surprised by this book I would be lying. I was blow away by my first Sophia Duane book and had to use more than a few tissues to control my stream of tears. Since I went into this book only reading the synopsis and no reviews I wasn’t sure what I would get. But once I flipped the last page, I can tell you that I got one the most bittersweet stories I have ever had the privilege of reading. Now since I immensely enjoyed this book, I want to offer you the same privilege.  As in, I will not go into incredibly detail as to why I love this book so much, I just hope you can get a feel of this wonderful story and choose to read it yourselves. 

This is a very personal emotional journey for Adam [our MC]. He is the youngest [by only a few minutes] to his twin Aaron and lacking in the conversational talent that his brother so easily has. Adam is more of an introverted band ‘geek’ who likes to keep to himself and stay off the radar of anyone in the halls of his high school. These two twins couldn’t be further from each other as far as social status come, but as brothers they are as close as conjoined twins. Always knowing when the other is down or hurt and always being able to confide in one another. But when the spirited and bold Olivia moves next door, everything between them changes. Fate is never fair. Nor are two brothers with a crush.

Okay, so that is a fair summary, I could add a trillion things to it spice it up but PEOPLE! This book kept me on my toes the ENTIRE time. I thank that largely to the fact that I didn’t read any reviews going into this. I want you to feel that crush build in your heart, the blood boiling under your skin with rage, and most of all I want you to feel the gut wrenching pain that is falling in love. Yes pain, because love isn’t always pretty and it defiantly doesn’t always have a happy ending. But it helps you grow, pushes you, and sometimes you end up finding yourself in the aftermath.

If you haven’t noticed by now, I LOVE this book. Sophia Duane is an amazing author capable of bringing out every emotion in you and then some. This was also Sophia’s first Young Adult book and she pulled it off flawlessly. Somewhere between the infectious characters and the shocking, jaw dropping craziness that is this ending I fell in love. With the characters, with the story, with the message, and most of all, I fell in love with the epilogue. I just want you all to know, I have a new author on my favorite list. If you are looking for an emotional journey with a pit stop in angst then you need to pick up My Only by Sophia Duane. Oh, and don’t forget your box of tissues.


Rating:
★★★★
Four Bittersweet Stars
[Please excuse my heart. It is trying to mend itself.]

✴✴✴✴ ✴✴✴✴ ✴✴✴✴ ✴✴✴✴

If you haven't added this to your goodreads shelf yet then what are you doing?! Head on over and add it today, and then don't forget to come back March 5th for a guest post from Sophia Duane herself!

See you Monday readers!

Review: Pandemonium [Delirium #2] by Lauren Oliver

Pandemonium
[Delirium #2]
Lauren Oliver
Release Date: February 28th 2012 by HarperTeen
( Barnes & Noble / Goodreads )

I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push, push, push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence, behind a wall of smoke and flame.

Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.
-Goodreads

*I won an ARC copy of this book from HarperTeen*

Thoughts/Review:

If you are looking for a book that will leave you on the floor screaming at the top of your lungs with your hand clutching your heart then look no further readers. Pandemonium is the most kick ass sequel I think I have ever read and it left me hanging so bad I swear I have whiplash. If you have/had any doubt in your mind about Lauren Oliver delivering a knock out sequel to her trilogy then push that thought out of your mind NOW! I promise you, Pandemonium will leave you screaming for more and then some. A year is an excruciating wait after that ending.

The thing I really enjoyed about this book [and was super worried about how Oliver was going to do it] was how the chapters are told from alternating times. Every chapter flips between Now and Then and was the perfect way to show how Lena has grown since she jumped the fence and left her old life behind forever. We definitely get to see a new side to Lena that never existed before. While Delirium was all about love, Pandemonium is all about hate and anger. Anger towards herself, anger towards others and the hate she has in her heart for the things that went wrong. In order to grow and move forward you have to come to terms with the past and that is exactly what Lena is forced to do.

Now, I really wish I could babble on and on about all the things that shocked me, stole my breath, and caused me to faint but I can’t.  What I can tell you is that Lena is one bad ass chick once she finally starts to grow into herself and you are all in for one crazy heart wrenching ride. A new book comes with new characters and new problems to face and it was done magnificently. Now, I KNOW you all don’t want to hear this, but there IS a new man in the picture. Before you flip out and pull all of your hair out, just breathe! You have to read it for yourself and make your own opinion but boyyyyyyy are you going to be torn and confused and pissed off at yourself for enjoying a certain shower scene that shouldn’t make you smile [but totally does anyway]. Curious?! You should be!

I know I have been entirely vague but you will thank me when you read the book for yourselves. I need you all to make your own opinions on this one because I am so torn I feel like the other half of myself is floating off somewhere. Deep down I KNEW it was going to end like that but nothing compares with actually reading and feeling it. Lauren Oliver I just have one thing to ask you…Do you enjoy stomping on my heart and then making me wait a year to fix it?! All I have to say readers is buckle up. You are in for one intense ride. Pandemonium is all you could want in a sequel and more. Heartbreak, loss, determination and a drive that will inspire you to go beyond what you think you can do. Say goodbye to everything you knew, because nothing will ever be the same.

Rating:

★★★★★

Five Heart-Stopping Stars

[Seriously, a year?! I have to wait a YEAR?!]

**** **** **** ****

Uh people. I finished this book a month ago and I STILL feel my heart breaking. The only problem I think you will have with this is the fact that you will have to wait A YEAR to see what happens next. Seriously folks. Get ready, your world is going to be turned upside down.

Review: Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

Wanderlove
Published by: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Kirsten Hubbard
Release Date: March 13th 2012
( Barnes & Noble / Goodreads )

It all begins with a stupid question:

Are you a Global Vagabond?

 No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.

Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.

But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.

Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry to this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story.
-Goodreads

*An eARC was provided to me by the publisher/NetGalley for review purposes*

Thoughts/Review:

As soon as I read the synopsis for Wanderlove I knew it was going to change me. I’ve always enjoyed traveling books and I have to say this is the best one I have ever read. Not only was it a traveling book where I felt like I was honestly there, but the love story behind it had me week in the knees. There is just so much more to this book than traveling and love though. It is about finding yourself when you thought you couldn’t be found, and learning that sometimes you have to face forward and use the past as a stepping stone to move on.  A journey has never taken my breath away such as Wanderlove has, and I must tell you all to get ready for a ride that will leave you wondering if you have even found yourself yet.

Suffering from not only a terrible breakup but losing her art as well, Bria Sandoval has never felt more lost in life. But one brochure with one question [Are you a Global Vagabond?] changed her life forever. Fast forward a few plane rides and a less than thrilling touchdown that brought to light that instead of backpacking, Bria Sandoval was stuck with a tourist group. Not the ideal trip that she had in mind. But once Starling and Rowan enter the picture Bria’s trip takes a turn she never knew she was ready for. Trading a tour bus for the unknown of backpacking and learning just what the heck Wanderlove is, Bria is going on one trip she will never forget.

When it comes to books that you absolutely adore, the hardest thing to do is write a review, so I will try my best here. When I opened this book the first thing that hit me was the artwork that was done by the author. Seeing as that our MC Bria is a use to be artist it was very fitting and, pleasantly, it shows up more and more as our story goes on. The words were jumping off of the pages at me as I read and I can only thank that to the fact that the author of this book , Kirsten Hubbard, is a backpacker herself. That gave this book a huge advantage and felt so real I had to keep pinching my arm to make sure I wasn’t there myself. Artistic and amazing with her words Kirsten Hubbard had me hooked.

I wasn’t only enthralled with the scenery but with the cast as well. Bria was easy to connect to, as being at one point or another we have all been lost [physically or emotionally…] There were times I was reading and I just wanted to help shove her along and get her out of the box her ex put her in. There was so much in her wanting to be let out but Bria was scared of it. Like I said, connecting with Bria had never been easier.  Oh, and then there was Starling and Rowan. A brother and sister pair has never made me laugh or enjoy myself like these two did. Starling never ceased to amaze me as the pages turned and Rowan…oh, what can I say about him?! Dreamy, thoughtfully and moving forward with his life, this man had my heart from the first time I saw his pony tail. Who wouldn’t fall for a tan backpacking god?

When all is said and done this book wrapped itself up perfectly. Squirming in my seat I couldn’t contain my emotions and I am pretty sure I let out a scream or two when I was finished. I know this is a standalone book but I have gotten so attached to these characters I would kill to just read what happened when everything was over… But I think ending on the note we did made it so much more amazing and inspiring than anything else. All I want to do with my life now is go backpacking and hope to find myself like Bria and Rowan found themselves. Kirsten Hubbard, you have infected me with a traveling bug I may never be able to get rid of, and I thank you for it. Don’t pass this one up folks, you just may want to get infected with the traveling bug too.

Rating:

★★★★★

Five Finding Stars

[I'm behind on life. Gone backpacking]

**** **** **** ****

Ah people! This book was amazing and better yet it comes out on my birthday!!! If you are into traveling book or just a book about moving forward in life then DON'T forget to click on the B&N link above to pre-order it. You don't want to miss out on this one.

Review/Giveaway: Fairy Metal Thunder [Songs of Magic #1] by J.L. Bryan

Fairy Metal Thunder
[Songs of Magic #1]
J.L. Bryan
Released: September 16th 2011 by CreateSpace
( Barnes & Noble / Goodreads )

Jason plays guitar in a teenage garage band called the Assorted Zebras, but they have no fans and no gigs, and they're going nowhere. Even worse, Jason has a crush on the lead singer, but she already has a near-perfect boyfriend.

One night, Jason steals enchanted instruments from the fairy world. Suddenly (with a little help from YouTube) every kid in the Midwest is crazy about the Assorted Zebras.

The fairy instruments drive the crowds wild, but the new gear is brimming with dangerous and destructive magic. The band struggles to gain control of their instruments and avoid the supernatural bounty hunters sent by Queen Mab of Faerie to track them down, all while trying to finally land their first gig.
-Goodreads

*An eBook was provided to me by the author for review purposes* 

Thoughts/Review:

As a huge fan of the Jenny Pox trilogy I couldn’t wait to read the first book in J.L. Bryan’s newest series.  Though it is aimed at a younger audience than the Jenny Pox trilogy was, I loved it no less.  One thing I that caught my eye [or ear] the most was the huge aspect the music played in this story. It was incredible to see what a little fairy magic could do to a group of kids. This story is a fast paced read you can’t put down until all is said and done. But be ready for an ending that will leave you hanging in the best possible way.

Just like in his previous books, falling for J.L. Bryan’s characters was an easy feat. Right as the book opened up I knew I was going to love Jason. I mean, how could you not like someone writing a love song for the person he is pining over?! Then once the whole band [who are named The Assorted Zebras by the way] was introduced I was a goner. Each and every character made me crack up in one way or another and I just loved watching the relationship that Jason and Erin did have develop. But what really got this story going was Jason’s little sister Katie [whom I adored!] and his journey into Faerie World. The descriptive writing that J.L. provides us with was so fun to read while he was discovering Faerie.

Another thing I thought was really nifty about this book were the few chapters told from the Fairy’s point of view. You know, the Fairy that Jason stole the instruments from? I wasn’t expecting this but it was interesting to see what she went through after Jason just nabbed her instruments and ran. You also got a lot more background on the faerie world that J.L. had built and I have a feeling it will all come together even more in book two. While I am talking about Faerie World, I can’t tell you how much I loved Grizlemor  [who is a Goblin]. He is the one who opened up Jason’s eyes to the world of the Fae and man he had me rolling. I don’t think I have ever enjoyed a dirty goblin more, if ever.

Overall this book is a fun ride to get lost in. Though I despised Jason’s parents I loved everyone else that graced the pages of this musical journey. J.L. Bryan’s witty remarks and fun dialog keep the book moving along and by the time you are on the last page it just doesn’t seem possible. Like I said before, be ready for this ending! You will be surprised at how fast you actually read the book and will be left saying ‘What?! Really?! Where is book two?! I need it NOW!’ I can’t wait to see how Jason’s world will continue to warp in the coming books, and I highly suggest you find out what The Assorted Zebras are all about.

Rating:

★★★★

Four Fabulous Stars

[Get ready to rock the house down]

**** **** **** ****

Giveaway

Okay, now when J.L. Bryan provided me with a copy of this book he was SO kind as to thrown in another copy of the eBook for one of you to enjoy! Exciting right?! Just fill out the info below to enter to win! Good luck! [:

Review: Because Of Low by Abbi Glines

Because of Low
Published by: Abbi Glines
Abbi Glines
Release Date: February 14th 2012
( Barnes & Noble / Goodreads )

In my debut novel, Breathe, Sadie may have fallen in love with the teen rock star, Jax Stone, but readers fell head over heels for Marcus Hardy. This is his story… 

Marcus Hardy had hoped to enjoy a year away at college while he put the summer he’d rather forget behind him. But instead, he’s jerked right back to the coastal town of Sea Breeze, Alabama due to a family crisis. His dear ol' dad found himself a girlfriend only a few years older than Marcus. So now his sister needs help dealing with their mother who is mentally falling apart. The only bright spot to returning is the fascinating red head who sleeps over several times a week. The problem is she's sleeping in bed with his new roommate, Cage Watson. 

Willow “Low” Foster needs a place to live. Running to Cage’s apartment every time her sister kicks her out isn’t exactly a long term solution. Juggling her courses at the local community college and a part time job doesn’t produce excess income. But Cage has a new roommate and suddenly sleeping over at her best friend’s apartment isn’t such a bad thing. Not when she gets to see those sexy green eyes of Marcus Hardy’s twinkle when he smiles at her like he wants her there. Even though Cage seems a little territorial where Low is concerned, Marcus finds time to spend with Low without upsetting his roommate. Cage may use his small college baseball star persona to sleep with every hot female in his path but he’s still under the disillusion that when he’s through sowing his wild oats, he’s going to marry Low. Marcus intends to change that assumption for both Cage and Low. Until his carefully laid plans come crashing down with a revelation he never expected. He’ll have to choose between Low or his family. Because once the truth comes out.... there’s no other choice.

-Goodreads

*An eARC was provided to me by the author for review purposes*

Thoughts/Review:

Oh Abbi Glines the words you weave! If any of you know me at all [or stalk my twitter], you know I have read and immensely enjoyed every single book Abbi has written and this one just blew the top off of them all. Not only did she make me fall even more in love with her writing and characters but she transitioned into the world of New Adult flawlessly. I was fanning myself, giggling like a school girl, and swooning all over the place. Don’t let that fool you though folks. You also get a heaping dose of frustrating angst to go with it. Sounds like the perfect mixture does it not? One can never be disappointed when it comes to a Gline piece of genius.

Now, if you have read Breathe [which you should have by now!] you already know Marcus. I was more than ready to see Marcus get his own happy ending since everything with Sadie went to shit for him in Breathe. But nothing could have prepared me for this story.  It consumed me from page one, no joke. Not only do we get to see Marcus’s journey of trying to open up and find love again while juggle a family crisis he could have never seen coming but we get Low’s own story complete with her own set of family drama. See, what I think I enjoyed most about this book was it was told in both Marcus and Low’s point of view. I revel in double narratives like this and it made me so much more emotionally attached to the story being told. Once I picked it up I didn’t put it down until I was done a few hours later. My eyes were glued.

Now I never became super attached to Marcus in Breathe because I knew he was getting this book, so once I started reading I was captivated. It is safe to say I love Marcus more than Jax. [Pst, you get to see Jax in this book.  You didn’t hear it from me…] But what I really think made Marcus pop for me in this book was the fact that Low was introduced. Low is struggling with the worst possible circumstances and she managed to completely capture my heart. I loved everything about Low, even if she was so down on herself.  I adore a character building book and damn it if this wasn’t the best one I have read this year. I ate up seeing Low and Marcus go through their highs and lows together and getting to see each of them really grow into a new phase of themselves.

If their own personal troubles weren’t enough to keep you hooked then the relationship that these two go through will. I guarantee your fist will meet a pillow, or two, possibly three I lost count. There was SO much I wanted to happen and then I got the rug pulled out from underneath me and my heart went plunging on more than one account. I found myself yelling with my headphones in [listening to a heart breaking song no doubt] and someone had to tell me to be quiet. I just, I couldn’t.  The relationship between these two was enough to make my heart explode.  And for that reason right there is why I will ALWAYS run to an Abbi Gline book to feed my hunger for a good romance. Even if I do want to seriously hurt someone half way through. 

When all is said and done Because of Low is an epic tale of love, loss, and the ultimate sacrifice you are willing to take to make it all work. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed reading this story and falling for a whole new set of characters. Hell I can’t tell you how much I loved Low. I hope I get to see her and Marcus again somewhere in the future. People, Abbi Glines has done it yet again and I have a feeling she will keep us on our toes for many years to come. Falling in love has never been so frustratingly sweet and I am always going to be coming along for the ride. Don’t miss your chance! Pick up Because of Low now!

Rating:

★★★★★

Five Flourishing Stars

[Playboys don't always get the girl]

**** **** **** ****

I was going to wait to post this review, but Because Of Low got released early! The link to Barnes & Noble is above so click your way on over! DO NOT miss out on this one people. Go get your copy of Because of Low today and revel in all that is Marcus Hardy! Happy reading. [: