Sam wakes up in the hospital expecting to find his girlfriend by his bedside. Instead, he finds a bleached-blond diva, claiming to be his fiancée, hovering over him. When he learns that he's just woken up from a coma and has lost the last three years of his life, any semblance of stability he thought he had falls down around him. All he wants – all he needs – is Lil.
After countless visits with her shrink and too many sleepless nights waiting for the one man she loves to walk back through the door, Lil wants nothing more than to separate herself from the life she used to have. But the moment Sam smiles at her, Lil knows it's going to take more than self-restraint to stay away.
Second-Rate Chances is about a young man fighting to regain his memory, and the one thing in his life that felt real. A modern-day Samson and Delilah, it's a look at what it means to love and be loved, and to fight though it seems hopeless. Links: Goodreads AmazonBarnes & Noble
Lil & Sams book picks:
Lil’s picks-
The Babysitters
Club. It was every adolescent girls favorite series.
Little
Women
The Harry Potter Series
The Great Gatsby
Twilight-
only the first one
Sam’s picks-
The entire collection
of RL Stine books.
Friday Night Lights
The Harry Potter
Series
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
People have often told me that I live in a fantasy world. Little did they know, I was building an empire of stories in my head to one day share.
I'm a mother first, a wife second, and a writer third. I'm so thankful to have been given this chance to get my stories out of my head and onto paper.
When I'm not writing, I sell plumbing (no I'm not kidding) and read romances that leave my heart a flutter. I know a ridiculous amount of pop culture information and can quote certain movies word for word. Music drives me to write and to also sing off key. Links: GoodreadsFacebookTwitterBlog
Shelly Laurenston, New
York Times bestselling author and a star in the paranormal romance
genre, comes the eighth book is the successful Pride series, that blends
outrageous humor and sexy shapeshifters to create irresistible heroes
that readers fall in love with. Ricky Lee has no plans of getting
serious about anyone, but he will protect Toni Jean-Louis Parker. Not
just because he’s been hired to do so, but because it’s the right thing
to do. And if that means traveling around the country with one
complicated She-jackal, dealing with chocolate-eating wild dogs,
instigating trouble between his brothers, and having the most amazing
sex he’s ever had…well, who said his job didn’t have perks? Toni
doesn’t know how she keeps getting herself into these situations. But
even she has to admit there’s something about Ricky Lee Reed that she
finds kind of interesting…and downright sexy. Now they just have to
survive long enough to figure out if what they have is worth fighting
for…
Review
****NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book for my honest review.****
Toni lives in a family full of geniuses and prodigies; she
takes care of her neurotic brothers and sisters. The family moves to New York so that Toni’s
mother can mentor a young violinist who she is sure will be great. Toni gets a
job with the shifter New York Sports center, it is perfect for her, she takes
care of neurotic players. Ricky Lee meets Toni and he wants her, she doesn't
have time for a relationship between feeling guilty for taking a job and trying
to do that job, while taking care of her family at the same time she is run
ragged. I don't want to say anymore and give away parts of the book, but
hilarity and chaos ensues along with some danger and betrayal. A bunch of the
characters from previous books make appearances throughout this one. The new
characters are funny, eccentric, sarcastic, loving and slightly crazy. This
book was written in such a way that it brought sanity to chaos; there is a huge
dose of comedy that kept me laughing for most of the book. The sex scenes are
scorching hot and creative. Laurenston has created another great shifter book
in her series. I love this book and recommend it to any one who is looking for
a good funny read.
The Prophecy by Rachel Deagan
Publication date: February 8th, 2013
Genre:YA Urban Fantasy/Science Fiction
“The cards tell me of the children of the stars.”
Jacey thinks her life is worthless, when she finds herself in a psychiatric hospital after a failed attempt to end her life; her wounds miraculously healed. Devin, who claims to kill on touch, is also there. When Michael arrives, bearing telekinetic powers, he insists the government, and an even darker, more powerful force, wants them dead.
In a desperate attempt to escape for their lives, the three teens find they must confront an even greater adversary, themselves - and with a prophecy forced upon them, they must find a way to accept their fate, or rebel together, as one. Links: AmazonGoodreads
Interview: Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?
No. I wanted to be an actress and an Olympic Equestrian Rider first. Funny thing is, in fourth grade I wrote my first ‘book’. It was about horses. Although, the equestrian dream has fizzled over the years, I do think my love of acting helps greatly in developing and feeling out the characters I write.
What authors inspire you?
As far as authors go, I love Cassandra Claire’s flare for characterization and storytelling. Although, I didn’t start reading her work until after my first book, Caged Moon, was into the editing phase. My original inspiration stemmed mostly from Maggie Steivater’s Shiver, Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely Series. Julie Kagawa, and her Iron Fey Series are definitely a favorite of mine now.
Is your family supportive of your writing?
Yes, once my parents realized the seriousness of my writing, they became some of my most forefront advocates. My boys two little boys are also probably my best cheer squad.
Does your characters talk to you when you’re writing?
All the time. They never shut up and sometimes we even argue when they want to go in a direction that I hadn’t planned. The happened numerous times over the course of writing, The Prophecy. They told me to throw out my book outline numerous times. I finally gave up on that. ;)
Do you like it quiet or do you need noise when you write?
It honestly depends on my mood. Sometimes it’s hard for me to focus with music on, because I end up listening to it instead of zoning in on the writing, but sometimes it helps set the mood if I can put into the ‘background’ and focus. It can aid the emotional mood of a scene. If I do have music on, it’s usually non-vocal thematic music from movies.
Are you currently writing anything?
Yes! The Prophecy is the first book of a series. There is a book two in the works. I’m also finishing up Book two to my Caged Moon Series, which will be out shortly. Right now, we’re looking at an early April release date.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
I have two little boys that keep me pretty busy, but when I do find time to myself, I always enjoy watching a good movie/tv show. I’m hooked on The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural. I also love reading, and have recently taken up Zumba.
Rachel grew up in small town Massachusetts where she spent most of her time writing about strange paranormal creatures instead of paying attention in class. She has always been considered the 'dreamy' one with her head in the clouds. She now lives in Nevada with her two sons, a cat, and a rat named Sam. Links: BlogGoodreadsTwitterFacebook
Tara Collins just wants to be normal. Everyone else wants her dead. Tara’s
eccentric aunt raised her to be fearful of the world and follow the
rules. But after her aunt’s death, Tara is ready to take control and
experience life for the first time. But she quickly discovers that
everything she’s been told is a web of lies. Determined to solve the
mystery of who she is truly, she hires private investigator to help her
uncover the truth. Christian Roth is more than your average PI. A
vampire and ex-demon hunter, Christian lives among the humans, trying
to be “normal.” But recently, things seem to be falling apart. There’s a
crazed demon hell-bent on revenge hunting him down, and a fae assassin
on the loose with an unknown target. And the Order he abandoned
desperately needs his help. As the secrets of Tara’s past collide
with the problems in Christian’s present, she finds herself fighting
her attraction to the dark and mysterious investigator. Falling in love
does not fit into her plans at all, but Tara soon learns that some rules
are meant to be broken.
Review
****NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book for my honest review****
Tara has lived a sheltered
life, her aunt kept her away from the world and now that her aunt has died she
wants to know what and who she is. She hires private investigator Christian Roth;
she doesn't know that he is a vampire. Christian left the Order and is trying
to live as normal life as he can, but demons are killing his friends the fae
need his help finding something, the Order wants him back and he now he wants Tara. The two of them grow close trying to find out what
she really is and Tara has to decide if having
a normal life is really what she wants. Christian has to decide what he is
willing to risk to keep Tara safe. Tara was an interesting heroine; she was very innocent,
smart and had a backbone. I liked how the author didn't make her a weak woman;
she stood up for herself and fought for her loved ones. Her innocence actually
added a certain charm to the mix that softened the edges without making Tara annoyingly ignorant. Christian oh how I loved the
big bad vampire with a soft heart. The plot line was not the most original,
girl meets boy has no idea she is something "other," boy likes girl
helps her out. The two of them fight their attraction, there is conflict and
angst. However, the author does write a very entertaining story, the world
building is done very well. I liked the war between the demons and fae that is
being fought on earth; it added an interesting little twist to the story. The
sex scenes in the book were good, not to graphic and not boring. I really liked
this book it was an entertaining read and I am interested in seeing where the
series will be going.
Enter the rafflecopter at the bottom of the post to win your choice of any one of Madelines books. You must be 18+ to enter this contest, this contest is open internationally.
Madeline Sheehan, a Social Distortion enthusiast and devoted fan of body art, has been writing books since she was seven years old. She is the author of The Holy Trinity ebook trilogy and Best Selling Novel, Undeniable. Homegrown in Buffalo, New York, Madeline resides there with her husband and son.
"I'm half out of my mind in love with life, the good, the bad, it's all worth it just to see another day." Links: Madeline SheehanGoodreadsTwitter
Interview with Madeline:
1. Undeniable is in my top 10 books of last year, it was truly a fantastic
read. When you were writing it, were you expecting it to be as big a hit
as it was? Has the response of your readers shocked you?
No way! I never thought such a controversial book would blow up the way it did. The response was overwhelming (and awesome).
2. Deuce
and Eva's story is probably going to stay with me forever, I felt truly
attached to them by the end (thank you, thank you!) When you started
writing their book were the characters all fully formed? I ask this
because they seem so very real, where did you get your inspiration for
them?
Deuce was Deuce from the
get go. I played around with other characters, developing them as I
wrote the story. My characters are usually a hodge-podge of people I
know/known, always a little bit of myself and my wild and crazy
imagination.
3.
The Holy Trinity trilogy is a post apocalyptic and paranormal series,
what is it about these two genres that drew you enough to write a story
in them?
The Romani people (Gypsies) and
Motorcycles Clubs are two very intriguing and secretive subcultures that
I find immensely interesting. The fact that one cannot know truly what
goes on inside them unless they are a part of them is fascinating to
me. It allows for some fun research and the ability to let my
imagination run wild.
4. Your bio says that you are a fan of body art, what type of body art?
I love tattoo's and piercings. LOVE.
5. Do you have any, would you care to share any stories behind them if you do?
Sure.
One of the few piercings I still wear is in my left nostril which
awesomely enough was my first piercing and I did it myself when I was
thirteen, in my bathroom with a sewing needle.
6. What book have read this year so far that is your favorite?
Sadly, the only book I've read this year was "Rapture"
(A Fallen Angels Novel) by J.R. Ward. But I adore anything she write
so more than likely nothing else I read this year will compare except
for her next BDB Novel, "Lover at Last" coming out in March.
7.
I loved your book Undeniable, it took me several revisions and multiple
hours to write a review for it that actually made sense, the book was
emotionally exhausting in the best of ways, are there any books that you
have read that have made you feel the same way?
Anna Karenina by Tolstoy most
definitely took me on a roller coaster of emotions and so does every
book in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series.
8. Favorite thing to wear while you are writing a book?
Sweats, hoodie, and big furry boot slippers. :-)
Books: Undeniable Series
Warning: This is not a typical love story. This is an all-consuming, soul-crushing, tear-your-heart-into-pieces story. It’s intense, gritty and raw, dark and disturbing, and it doesn’t happen overnight. This is an epic love story that knows no boundaries and has no time limits. It grows and develops—with hurt, sacrifice, and heartache—over the span of a lifetime.
Eva Fox is the princess of the Silver Demons Motorcycle Club. Growing up with bikers in the club lifestyle is all that she knows. When she’s a young girl, Eva meets the reason for her existence. Deuce West is the sexy, biker bad-ass of the Hell’s Horsemen Motorcycle Club. Like Eva, he was born and raised in the club—but that’s where the similarities end. Their first meeting is innocent, but as Eva matures into a woman, their chance reunions evolve into a fit of lust and love. Fate continues to bring them together time and time again, but their twisted journey is filled with pain, betrayal, and bloodshed that could tear them apart. Eva sees in Deuce what he cannot see in himself—a man worthy of love—and Eva spends her lifetime proving to him that her undeniable love is the one thing he can’t live without.
This is Eva and Deuce’s story.
It wasn’t easy.
Nothing worth doing ever is.
And love is worth everything.
*Warning: This book contains several aspects of the uglier side of life; it is not for everyone.*
The story of Ripper and Danny.
The first time I fell in love it was with a pair of blue eyes and a wide dimpled grin.
“Your old man loves ya, Danny girl,” He whispered. “You never ever forget that, yeah?”
I never did. And I never thought I could ever love any man as much as I loved my father. But as we grow, we change, we begin to make our own decisions and thus become independent and self sufficient and start turning away from our parents and turning to others. We form friendships, strong bonds and ties and begin experiencing life outside of the bubble we grew up inside of.
And we fall in love…a second time.
The second time I fell in love it was with a badly scarred face, the stuff of nightmares; the sort of disfigurement that mothers steer their children away from. Ugly, jagged slashes marred the skin from the top of his skull, down over his right eye, an eye that had been dug out of his face with a serrated blade. The scars continued across his cheek, over his lips and down his neck, ending at the top of his shoulder. His chest was a hundred times worse; scar tissue as far as the eye could see.
“Baby,” He said gruffly, “Man like me got no business with a girl like you. You’re nothin’ but fuckin’ beauty and I’m a whole lot of fuckin’ ugly who’s already halfway to hell.”
But he was wrong.
Everything has beauty. Even the ugly. Especially the ugly.
Because without ugly there would be no beauty.
Because without beauty we would not survive our pain, our sorrow, and our suffering.
And in the world I lived in, the world he lived in, a secret world within the world, a world of of constant crime and cruel, cold, death, there was almost nothing but suffering.
“You may not be beautiful the way you were before,” I whispered, cupping his ruined cheek. “But you’re still beautiful. To me.”
The Holy Trinity:
Trinity had an ordinary life. That is, until she barely escaped a worldwide apocalyptic plague that took her loved ones from her and transformed most of humanity into flesh-eating monsters.
Gerik, her savior, a six-foot-four-inch Scandinavian Gypsy, takes her back to his magically protected Gypsy camp where she discovers a whole new way of life that she never knew existed – as well as a whole new set of problems.
Gerik has power over her that she cannot begin to understand, and she is convinced he is using his magic on her. Through her journey of trying to understand her feelings and this new magic-filled life she’s been brought into, she begins an unlikely friendship that grows into having potential to be something more.
While the remaining humans are fighting for their survival, Trinity is fighting a battle of her very own – the right to choose her own destiny.
Is Gerik’s hold on her too strong? Or can new love set her free?
The second book in the Holy Trinity Trilogy:
When Trinity escaped a worldwide apocalyptic plague in the arms of Gerik, a Scandinavian Gypsy, she never imagined they would be soul mates . . . or what that even meant. Xan showed Trinity that love could save her from the seemingly unbreakable ties she had to Gerik . . . or so she thought.
After a brutal attack on camp and being abandoned outside of the wards, Trinity, now possessing her own - and very unstable - magical powers, is left to her own devices surrounded by Skin Eaters and all other dangers of the unknown.
Now, Trinity is alone. Having no idea where her husband, her soul mate, or the Popa Clan are, Trinity is forced to discover her powers on her own.
On a journey full of self-discovery, chance encounters, unwelcome news, and enlightenment, Trinity is fighting for survival in a world where the only thing certain is death.
The third and final book in the Holy Trinity Trilogy.
After a long separation, Xan has finally found Trinity, only Trinity...has changed.
Between Dark Magic, her time alone spent fighting for her life and the brutal loss of her soulmate Gerik, Xan's once sweet and innocent wife is no more.
As the estranged couple try to fight their way through numerous betrayals and heartache back to one another, a storm is brewing off in the distance.
One that will re-connect them both with the friends and family they lost...
And quite possibly kill them all...
Forged in Grace by Jordan E. Rosenfeld
Publication date: February, 2013
Genre: Psychological Suspense (Adult w/ YA and NA crossover appeal)
Grace Jensen survived a horrific fire at age 15. The flames changed her: badly scarred in body and mind, Grace developed an ability to feel other people’s pain. Unable to bear human touch, she has made a small life for herself in Northern California, living with her hoarder mother, tending wounded animals, and falling a little in love with her former doctor. Her safe world explodes when the magnetic Marly Kennet reappears in town; Grace falls right back into the dynamic of their complicated friendship. Marly is the holder of many secrets, including one that has haunted Grace for over a decade: what really happened the night of the fire?
When Marly exhorts Grace to join her in Las Vegas, to make up for the years they have been lost to each other, Grace takes a leap of faith and goes. Although Marly is not entirely honest about her intentions, neither woman anticipates that enlarging Grace’s world will magnify her ability to sense the suffering of others—or that she will begin to heal wounds by swallowing her own pain and laying her hands on the afflicted.
This gift soon turns darker when the truth of Marly’s life—and the real reason she ended her friendship with Grace—pushes the boundaries of loyalty and exposes both women to danger.
Excerpt:
From Chapter 7
Marly’s shriek of alarm wakes me. I am alone in her bed, still in my clothes. On her night table sits the bowl I cleaned her face with, the bloody water now a murky brown. Marly shrieks again, the sound coming from the bathroom. My leap is so fast that the skin of my right leg stretches painfully in indignation. In the bathroom she is turned sideways inspecting herself in the mirror.
“Don’t look. It makes it hurt worse when you look.” I know exactly what it’s like to wake up totally changed from your former self. I can remember Adam as a young resident in training, holding a mirror tilted upward at a careful angle so that all I could see in it were the tiny pinhole dots of ceiling tiles—a galaxy of symmetry. Thirteen years before I raised that mirror with terror, bits coming into view as foreign as if I had stepped off the plane onto Mars. There was no me in this view, only raised, raw, red mounds of flesh. Chewed, ruined, scourged, masticated, swollen, raw.
“What did you do to me?” she says now in a tight, low voice.
Why didn’t I call 911 and make them take her to the emergency room? What kind of a friend am I? “I’m so sorry Marly. I just didn’t want to fight you…”
Slowly she pivots toward me.
“That’s…not…possible,” I say when I see her.
No bruises. No swelling. No traces of blood. Her few chicken pox scars are gone and her skin is truly glowing. I am grateful to have so few hair follicles, for those remaining are all standing painfully on end. Marly walks toward me and I have the urge to back away, like she has been made undead.
“You healed me, Grace.” Marly’s eyes are wide and bright. They unnerve me.
“That’s ridiculous.” My voice is a barely audible whisper. “That’s impossible.”
“Grace, I’ve read about this type of thing. Marly runs her hands across her face. “I looked like Mike Tyson’s handiwork last night. There is a bowl of bloody water by my bedside, so you can’t tell me it wasn’t real.” She runs a finger down her smooth cheek. “You have a gift, Grace.” She sounds euphoric, like she is about to fall at my feet and kiss the hem of my skirt.
I’m not saying it’s possible but…How? Why now?”
The top of her head seems to grow taller with the widening of her eyes. “What do you mean ‘why now!’ Grace, you always…always saved my ass.” She bows her head, and I have a bright and unwelcome flash of memory: Marly in a yellow dress, smeared with blood. “You’ve never tried until now, have you?”
I stare at her, forming a protest. Of course not! Touch is painful to me. I close my eyes, rest my palms against my cheeks, and take a deep breath, wondering if I’ll feel that serpent-like energy again.
Marly circles her right wrist with the fingers of her left hand with a suddenly wistful expression. “Oh,” she says softly. “It’s gone.”
“What?”
She looks up at me with ocean-dark eyes. “Oh…it’s stupid.”
“Well now I want to know for sure.”
“I had a scar from the fire.” She sounds afraid of what I’ll say.
“I always wondered if you had any, if you were burned.” A laugh, slightly hysterical, wants to escape but I bite it back.
She keeps rubbing the skin, as though burnishing a piece of silver. “It was a part of me I was used to. But it’s gone now.”
There’s something more under the surface that I can’t read, but I’m so shaken by what’s happened I can’t begin to sort out her unspoken feelings, too.
I stand there for several minutes, breathing in and breathing out, trying to clear my mind. If I could, if I did remove Marly’s scars, what could I do for my own body? I hold an image of my cheeks as they were before…smooth and freckled, my eyelashes long and reddish-blonde. I’d thought myself plain, especially in comparison to Marly. Now, I’d consider myself a supermodel to look that way again. Foolish as I feel, I place my hands on my face. After what must be ten minutes I feel something—the strain of holding my hands up to my face. My shoulders ache and I drop them with a sigh.
Marly looks at me, hopeful.
“Nothing.”
“It was real,” she says, “what happened. You can do it again.”
Her certainty makes me uncomfortable. I want to put our feet back in the real world. “Whatever happened, you do realize we have no proof now that Loser attacked you. There’s nothing to take to the police.”
Jordan E. Rosenfeld learned early on that people prefer a storyteller to a know-it-all. She channeled any Hermione-esque tendencies into a career as a writing coach, editor and freelance journalist and saves the Tall Tales for her novels. She earned her MFA from the Bennington Writing Seminars and is the author of the books, Make A Scene: Crafting a Powerful Story One Scene at a Time (Writer’s Digest Books) and Write Free! Attracting the Creative Life with Rebecca Lawton (BeijaFlor Books). Jordan’s essays and articles have appeared in such publications asAlterNet.org, Publisher’s Weekly, The San Francisco Chronicle, The St. Petersburg Times, The Writer and Writer’s Digest magazine. Her book commentaries have appeared on The California Report, a news-magazine produced by NPR-affiliate KQED radio. She lives in Northern California with her Batman-obsessed son and Psychologist husband. www.jordanrosenfeld.net Links: Website GoodreadsTwitter
She refuses to be owned. Alexa Parrino escaped a life of servitude and survived danger on the streets to become one of the most trusted, influential people in Sector Four, where the O’Kanes rule with a hedonistic but iron fist. Lex has been at the top for years, and there’s almost nothing she wouldn’t do for the gang…and for its leader. Lie, steal, kill—but she bows to no one, not even Dallas O’Kane. He’ll settle for nothing less. Dallas fought long and hard to carve a slice of order out of the chaos of the sectors. Dangers both large and small threaten his people, but it’s nothing he can’t handle. His liquor business is flourishing, and new opportunities fuel his ambition. Lex could help him expand his empire, something he wants almost as much as he wants her. And no one says no to the king of Sector Four. Falling into bed is easy, but their sexual games are anything but casual. Attraction quickly turns to obsession, and their careful dance of heady dominance and sweet submission uncovers a need so deep, so strong, it could crush them both
Review
****NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book for my honest review****
"I can't do this without you. I can't be Dallas without Lex."
Another exciting instalment in Beyond series by Kit Rocha. In this world gone wrong, the Sectors are not a nice place to grow up. Declan "Dallas" O'Kane is the King of Sector Four. He has a fierce need to protect what is his, there is not a thing he can't control and look after...well maybe one thing. Alexa Parrino. A desperately, passionate affair ensues throughout this book between a man used to controlling everything in his domain and a woman who refuses to be a possession to anyone. I have been absolutely dying to get my hands on Lex and Dallas's story since I finished the last page of Beyond Shame on September 21st 2012. I have just finished this one and I am already itching to get my hands on the next one! Kit Rocha has done a fabulous job of building a dark, raunchy futuristic world and making it work as an erotic book. Sexy as hell, this book will not disappoint you in the steam department. In the Sectors where sexual freedom is something that is celebrated, the O'Kanes sure know how to "party"! Bloody, violent, dirty, sweaty and sexy! This is not just a one dimensional love story, or erotic book. The Futuristic dystopian world sucks you in with its sectors battling for power. The author paints a bleak picture of society and what happens when we are stripped down to our baser instincts of survival. In saying all that though this is still a love story, passionate and full of angst. When feelings finally get out in the open they are touching, tender and sincere. I was blown away by Dallas and Lex, I am however a sucker for when the big, tough men fall.
"I'll be any man you want. A king or a beggar or a farmer or a
killer. But I'll never be the man who can let you walk away."
All in all I am completely satisfied with this book. I got more of O'Kanes and not just the main characters, the POV's are shared between many of the gang members, each with their different personalities and stories, I felt a deeper connection to them all because of this. They all touched my heart and I will be waiting for their books longingly. I got more of the dark, gritty world that I came to love in the first one with their, tattoos, cage fighting and raunchy parties. I got more of Kit Rocha's fabulous writing. I am now at a loss as what I am going to do until the next one comes out ....Six and Bren... their story is going to be awesome. 5 sexy, steamy, dirty, fun loving stars!
I’m dying, I
thought. This was unexpected and not at all how I envisioned my death. I
was supposed to die gardening in a flowerbed as a hundred-year-old
woman, not as a seventeen-year-old trapped in a lake beneath inches of
ice. Llona Reese is used to living on the run. After the
Vykens killed her parents, she knew they would eventually come for her
too. She can’t take any chances. But when she starts to make friends for
the first time in her life, she gets careless and lets her guard down.
Big mistake. As an Aura, Llona can manipulate light and harness
its energy. But if she wants to survive, Llona will have to defy the
Auran Council and learn to use her power as a weapon against the Vyken
whose sole desire is to take her light. Now she’s caught in something
even bigger than she can understand, with a power she can’t wield, and
no one she can trust, except, just maybe, a mysterious stranger. In
this breathtaking and romantic adventure, Rachel McClellan delivers a
truly mesmerizing story that will keep you guessing to the very end.
Review
****This book was part of a blog tour, I received a copy for my honest review****
This book started out with an
abnormal girl, who doesn't like to be noticed and doesn't really know anything
about her gift. Then we have a guy who knows all about her, he is protective
and tells her they can only be friends. There are these bad guys Vykens who kills Auras, Llona has to learn how to use her powers and
fight to protect herself. Christian helps her while trying to not to get
emotionally involved with her. The beginning of this book started out like so
many other young adult paranormal books that I have seen recently, there were a
few things that set it apart. The characters were well developed, easy to
relate to and had certain little quirks that set them apart from other typical
young adult characters. I was interested in the story and while it wasn't
something I couldn't put down, it was still a engaging. The writing itself was
good, the author created a great world within a world. I would have rated this
higher, but I have read another series with a similar plot line. Overall this
book was your typical young adult novel; it had great characters, an angsty love story and a conflict. I am going to read the next book in this series, a lot of
the time the second book is a lot better than the first.
Llona will do whatever it takes to protect her new found friends and home, but the dark plot that is threatening Lucent Academy, a school that’s supposed to be a safe place for Auras, may be too powerful for even Llona to defeat. This fast-paced tale of love, loyalty, and overcoming the darkness will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page! Currently Reading
Book two of Wicked Play When Kendra Morgan attends a party at an exclusive sex club, she's not driven by mere curiosity. Hoping to prove she's put the past behind her, Kendra must instead face up to needs she's denied for too long. Despite her lingering fears, she can't resist the temptation to play… Deklan Winters has had his eye on his attractive neighbor for months, but only senses Kendra is no stranger to the BDSM scene when she walks into his club. And he can tell that's not her only secret. What surprises him is his own overwhelming desire to give her what she craves—and to show her a side to the Dom/sub relationship she's never known. With Deklan's guidance, Kendra begins to accept her forbidden needs and to recognize the fine line between pleasure and pain. But when her former Master returns to reclaim her, it will take all her courage—and all of Deklan's love—to defy her past. For more tales from The Den check out Bonds of Trust.
Review
****NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book for my honest review****
Let me just start by saying that even though this was the second book in the series I did not feel like I missed out on anything due to not having read the first. This was a separate couple with separate problems, although I have to admit to now being curious about the first one. We begin this book in the mind of Kendra who is running from an abusive relationship, where an total power exchange occured despite her not wanting it. She is struggling with the shame and guilt of feeling like,her ex's abuse was her fault due to her being a masochist. However she finds she still cannot resist this life as it is apart of who she is....but she is very, very afraid. Then she meets Deklan and he see's her need and wants to help heal her..... From their very first meeting you feel the tension between them, but this was not a wham bam thank you mam book. Deklan had to use some skill and patience to bring Kendra to a place where she didn't freeze up with self loathing. I found I liked this book for that. This story was well written, with well defined characters. Sometimes erotic books can skimp on the details to get to the sex but I didn't feel like this book did that. My only problem was the ending where the problems with the ex and her parents seemed to be wrapped up far to quickly, it seemed out of pace with the rest of the book. It was also dealt with "behind the scenes", so we didn't actually get to see what happened. If not for that I would have rated Bonds of Need higher. Very enjoyable , I would like to read the next one.
Gossip girl meets Hollywood in this new series by That Boy author, Jillian Dodd. Keatyn
has everything she ever dreamed of. Her life is following the script
she wrote for the perfect high school experience. She’s popular, goes to
the best parties, dates the hottest guy, and sits at the most coveted
lunch table. She’s just not sure she wants it anymore. Because really, things aren’t all that perfect. Her best friend is threatening to tell everyone her perfect relationship is a scam. Her perfect boyfriend gets drunk at every party they go to. It’s exhausting always trying to look and act perfect. And deep down, she isn’t sure if she has any true friends. To add to the drama, her movie star mom’s long-time fan has turned stalker. An older man is flirting with her and telling her they should make a movie together. And she’s crushing on an adorable surfer. Dating a guy like him would mean committing social suicide. So she writes a new script. One where all the pieces of her life will come together in perfect harmony. But little does she know, there’s someone who will do anything to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Review
****This book was part of a blog tour, I received a copy for my honest review****
Keatyn has the perfect life on paper, the perfect boyfriend,
good friends and popular. In reality her boyfriend always gets drunk, her
friends may only like her because Keatyns mom is a superstar and popularity is
not all it's cracked up to be. I loved this book, it was funny without trying
to be with lots of drama without being to serious. I really enjoyed how Jillian
merged the script that Keatyn wrote for her life with the book. The characters
ranged from lovable and caring to bitchy and selfish. I started reading this book;
before I knew it I was caught up in the story and cared about the characters.
There was so much going on in this book, but it wasn't to busy and was really
easy to follow. I am a bit burned out on love triangles, but this one was done is such a way that I didn't feel like it was a repeat of other ones I had seen. While I normally loathe cliffhangers I already have the next book so it did not bug me. I think anybody over the age of sixteen is going to love this
book.
I've always written scripts for my perfect life. But no way could I have ever scripted this. My life is so far from perfect, it’s not even funny. All because of a stalker. I’m at a boarding school where I have to lie about who I am. I can’t see my family. I’m tutoring a Hottie God that tortures me with his smile. The most popular girl already hates me. But there’s this boy. This hot, sweet, sexy boy. So I’m going to stop trying to script my life and just live it. Because who knows how long I have left.
Review
****This book was part of a blog tour, I received a copy for my honest review****
Kiss Me is the second book in the Keatyn chronicles and
starts right where Stalk Me left off, Keatyn is away at a boarding school. She
can't talk to any of her friends; she is in a new place and has all new
problems. The queen bee of the school hates her, the hottest guy likes her and
she still has to worry about the stalker. I was once again sucked into the
story that is Keatyns life, but I missed all the characters from the first
book. It was nice to get new characters; it just took me a little while to start
liking these new characters. The new boy problems were the same as the old ones; but the new boys were just different enough from the old ones that it was fresh instead of a repeat. I still really liked the book; it was full of
humor and showed how Keatyn has grown up a little bit. Jillian wrote another
great story with wonderful characters. I want to say more about this book but I
don't want to give anything away, so I will just say that this was a wonderful
book and I can't wait to read the next one.
Sam wakes up in the hospital expecting to find his girlfriend by his bedside. Instead, he finds a bleached-blond diva, claiming to be his fiancée, hovering over him. When he learns that he's just woken up from a coma and has lost the last three years of his life, any semblance of stability he thought he had falls down around him. All he wants – all he needs – is Lil.
After countless visits with her shrink and too many sleepless nights waiting for the one man she loves to walk back through the door, Lil wants nothing more than to separate herself from the life she used to have. But the moment Sam smiles at her, Lil knows it's going to take more than self-restraint to stay away.
Second-Rate Chances is about a young man fighting to regain his memory, and the one thing in his life that felt real. A modern-day Samson and Delilah, it's a look at what it means to love and be loved, and to fight though it seems hopeless.
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