COVER REVEAL: Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

We are so excited to bring you the Cover Reveal for EVERY LAST BREATH, the hotly anticipated conclusion to the Dark Elements trilogy from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout!!

EVERY LAST BREATH is a Young Adult Paranormal being published by Harlequin Teen and is a part of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s The Dark Elements Series. It is being released on July 28^th, 2015. Pre-order EVERY LAST BREATH and then be sure to read the first books in this amazing series before its release!

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iBooks ** IndieBound ** Kobo ** BAM

EVERY LAST BREATH Synopsis:

Some loves will last 'til your dying breath

Every choice has consequences—but seventeen-year-old Layla faces tougher choices than most. Light or darkness. Wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or Zayne, the gorgeous, protective Warden she never thought could be hers. Hardest of all, Layla has to decide which side of herself to trust.
Layla has a new problem, too. A Lilin—the deadliest of demons—has been unleashed, wreaking havoc on those around her…including her best friend. To keep Sam from a fate much, much worse than death, Layla must strike a deal with the enemy while saving her city—and her race—from destruction. Torn between two worlds and two different boys, Layla has no certainties, least of all survival, especially when an old bargain comes back to haunt them all. But sometimes, when secrets are everywhere and the truth seems unknowable, you have to listen to your heart, pick a side—and then fight like hell…
“Armentrout is a major talent…I just can’t stop reading!” --New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter“Armentrout works her magic with swoon-worthy guys and a twist you never see coming.” --#1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines on White Hot Kiss

And we have a surprise for you!
The first books in the series have been given a new look too!!

Don't miss the previous titles in The Dark Elements Series-now with new covers! Readers interested in downloading the new cover jackets for their previously purchased Dark Elements Series titles, can download them HERE!

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** BAM ** iBooks ** IndieBound ** Kobo ** Walmart

WHITE HOT KISS synopsis:

One kiss could be the last.

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul. But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iBooks ** IndieBound ** Kobo ** BAM

STONE COLD TOUCH Synopsis:

Every touch has its price

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…
"Constantly entertaining...the narrative sizzles with as much tension as romance." —Kirkus Reviews on White Hot Kiss

And the Prequel Novella, BITTER SWEET LOVE...

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iBooks ** BAM ** Kobo

BITTER SWEET LOVE Synopsis:

In a sizzling prequel novella to her new series The Dark Elements, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout draws readers into the extraordinary, irresistible world of Wardens and demons.

Dez wasn't just Jasmine's crush. A gargoyle Warden like Jas, he helped her come to terms with her destiny—fending off demons and maintaining the balance between good and evil. He was her everything…right until the moment he disappeared without a trace.

It didn't help that Jas's father had just announced that she and Dez would one day be mated. Hard not to take that personally. And now he's back, three years older, ten times hotter, ready to pick up exactly where they left off. But Jas isn't taking that risk again. Dez has seven days to meet all her conditions and earn back her trust. Seven days filled with terrifying danger and sweet temptation. Seven days to win her heart—or shatter it all over again…

"With her signature flare for combining humor, romance and action, Armentrout weaves a fast-paced read that will have readers' hearts racing in more ways than one. Like Armentrout's previous heroines, Jasmine is fun and full of attitude, while Dez is as snarky as he is sexy. This is a must read for new and old fans alike!"

-RT Book Reviews

Jennifer L. Armentrout/J.Lynn Bio:

#1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.
Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math.
Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.
She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Jennifer L. Armentrout Goodreads | EVERY LAST BREATH Goodreads | STONE COLD TOUCH Goodreads | WHITE HOT KISS Goodreads | BITTER SWEET LOVE Goodreads

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Release Day: Breaking The Rules by Katie McGarry + Giveaway

We are so excited to bring you the Release Day launch for Katie McGarry's BREAKING THE RULES! BREAKING THE RULES is a Young Adult contemporary romance published by Harlequin Teen, and is the follow-up book to Katie's PUSHING THE LIMITS. You do not want to miss Noah and Echo's story! Grab it today!

 

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** Books-A-Million ** Kobo ** iBooks ** Google Play

BREAKING THE RULES Synopsis:

A summer road trip changes everything in this unforgettable new tale from acclaimed author Katie McGarry.
For new high school graduate Echo Emerson, a summer road trip out west with her boyfriend means getting away and forgetting what makes her so . . . different. It means seeing cool sights while selling her art at galleries along the way. And most of all, it means almost three months alone with Noah Hutchins, the hot, smart, soul-battered guy who's never judged her.
Echo and Noah share everything--except the one thing Echo's just not ready for.
But when the source of Echo's constant nightmares comes back into her life, she has to make some tough decisions about what she really wants--even as foster kid Noah's search for his last remaining relatives forces them both to confront some serious truths about life, love, and themselves.
Now, with one week left before college orientation, jobs and real life, Echo must decide if Noah's more than the bad-boy fling everyone warned her he'd be. And the last leg of an amazing road trip will turn . . . seriously epic.

And don’t forget to read the first books in the Pushing the Limits Series…

PUSHING THE LIMITS

CROSSING THE LINE

DARE YOU TO

CRASH INTO YOU

TAKE ME ON

Belle:

Okay, I am so confused with the timeline of this series because each of the previous books centered on different characters. In Pushing the Limits (I've read this one – I loved some aspects in PtL but others I didn't like that much, so I'm quite mixed on reading the rest of the series) we focus on Echo and Noah.

In Crossing the Line, a Pushing the Limits Series novella, we look at Lila, Echo's bestie (I adore her *GIRLCRUSH*) and her love interest, Lincoln.

In Dare You To, we peek into Beth's (one of Noah's best friends) life and her new love, while in Crash Into You we get to delve into the story of Rachel (I honestly don't know who this is...whoops) and her new love Isaiah (Noah's other best friend).....and I said new both times because, well, I'm pretty sure that when I read PtL, Beth was sorta in a relationship with Isaiah. I'm so confused!

As for Take Me On, I've never heard of either MCs, so no help from me there. Sorry hons.

And now to, yes, Breaking The Rules! I'm a little surprised that Echo and Noah are having a sequel since I was quite happy with the ending of PtL, but it seems the author still has room for both characters to grow, which I guess can't be a bad thing (Echo and Noah are quite....ahem, complicated beings). I'm interested to see how McGarry has continued the great Echo and Noah saga. *claps hands*

TEASER ALERT (Noah's POV):
“Did you fall into some paint, Echo?” Isaiah asks, changing the subject.
Echo’s shoulder slumps as she pivots toward the mirror. She groans as she touches her cheek and forehead that are more red and pink than skin. “Dang it. Why am I such a mess?”
“I think it’s sexy as hell,” I say.
“I think I’m going to barf,” Beth mocks my tone.
Death radiates from the look I send her way. Enough that it should melt her. “Ever sleep in a tent, Beth?”
Beth focuses on the screen while raising her middle finger in my direction.
“Screw it.” Echo turns away from the mirror. “I need a shower.”
I smile, Echo blushes, then I laugh. Damn me for inviting Isaiah and Beth to share our room.
“Anyhow.” An excited glint strikes Echo’s eyes. “Are you ready? I hope you like it. It’s sort of…for you. But it’s not done, okay? I mean, something like this would actually take a while to perfect, so I guess I’m saying—”

“Echo.”

“Yeah?”

“It’s all good.”

“Okay.” Her fingers drum nervously over the top of the canvas before she repeats, “Okay.”

“I’m assuming that’s not the constellation Aires?”

“No. I’ll have to start on that tomorrow.” With a deep inhale, Echo pulls out a chair from the table and rests the painting on the arms and leans it against the back so it will stay upright.
Air rushes out of my body, and I sink onto our bed. It’s the same damned shock as when she drew my parents this past spring. There’s awe and joy and this ache that hits deep in my gut. I bend forward and rest my joint hands on my knees and stare at the sight in front of me.
Fuck me, my eyes burn. I shut them, attempting to get my shit together. It’s a painting. Only a painting. I reopen them, and it’s the same disorientation as a right hook to the head. It’s more than a painting, and that’s the reason my throat swells.
Last night meant as much to me as it did to her and she painted it, capturing it in a way unique to Echo. She’s right, it’s not done. It’s a skeleton compared to her other work, but I see enough to know what she desires, what she plans to design. Up close all those colors would look like chaos, but when viewed as a whole it creates this beautiful picture. In the end, that’s the best way to describe me and Echo, our relationship. Our love.
The bed dips as Echo eases onto it, settles behind me and props her chin on my shoulder. Her signature scent that reminds me of walking into a bakery becomes an invisible blanket surrounding me. “What do you think?”
“It’s us,” I whisper, and knots form in my stomach. Echo always finds a way to blow my mind. She tenses behind me and I continue, “It’s where we spent last night.”
“It is.” Echo relaxes, and her fingers curl around my biceps. “Do you like it?”
Struggling for composure, I place my hand over hers and pause. “It’s…” I’m not Echo. I don’t have words for what happens inside me. If I did, I’d fail at describing this. I shift to rest my forehead against hers. “I don’t deserve you.”
“That’s my statement,” she says so only I can hear. “I wish we were alone again.”
I press my lips to hers, slide my hand through her hair and watch as the curls bounce back into place. “Me, too.”

About Katie McGarry:

Katie McGarry was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan. Katie is the author of full length YA novels, PUSHING THE LIMITS, DARE YOU TO, CRASH INTO YOU, TAKE ME ON, BREAKING THE RULES, and NOWHERE BUT HERE and the e-novellas, CROSSING THE LINE and RED AT NIGHT.
Her debut YA novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS was a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction, a RT Magazine's 2012 Reviewer's Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel, a double Rita Finalist, and a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick. DARE YOU TO was also a Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Best Book Award for Young Adult Contemporary fiction in 2013.

Website | Twitter @KatieMcGarry | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Tumbler | Instagram

 

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Blog Tour Stop – Reluctant Prince by Dani-Lyn Alexander

Here is my Tour Stop for the new young adult fantasy from Dani Lyn Alexander. Below, you'll find all the information about the book plus my excerpt!!

Reluctant Prince Synopsis:

Betrayal lies cloaked in shadow.

Seventeen year old Ryleigh Donnovan is certain her life is cursed. Nothing ever goes smoothly, and her first job interview is no exception. An earthquake rocks the building, sending Ryleigh on a frantic search for her younger sister, a search which lands her in the hospital. Terrified they’ll push her for answers she can’t afford to give, Ryleigh flees with a mysterious stranger. Jackson Maynard is about to be ordained as a Death Dealer, a warrior for the Kingdom of Cymmera, but first he must pass one more test. When he fails to acquire the human girl the prophet has chosen, he’s forced to stand trial for treason. Banished from his realm, he seeks out the girl from the vision, Ryleigh Donnovan, and together they embark on a journey to save his dying kingdom.

Advance Praise for Reluctant Prince

"A gorgeously wrought fantasy realm with a heroine who will make you cheer!"

~Wendy Higgins, NYT and USA Today bestselling author of the Sweet Evil trilogy.

Excerpt:

A rhythmic rocking comforted Ryleigh. She couldn’t open her eyes, but that was okay. She would just float in peaceful obscurity.

“Ryleigh.” A man shook her shoulder. “Ryleigh, can you hear me?”

Yes. She wanted to answer, but she couldn’t form the words. Humming, familiar, though she couldn’t quite place it. Something pricked her arm.

“Ryleigh, can you answer me?”

“Mmm hmm.”

Pressure against her head. Oww. Why did her head hurt so bad? Why wouldn’t these people leave her alone? A flicker of memory teased her. Rocking, bumping, the floor moving. Was she moving now? She reached for consciousness, only to be dragged back into oblivion.

A bright light shone against her eyes. She lay still for a moment, enjoying the orange and black swatches of color that swirled behind her closed lids. The blackness began to take on shape, the oranges and yellows merging to form a halo around a human shaped silhouette. The silhouette of a guy, his broad shoulders.

“Ryleigh.” The man spoke louder this time.

She struggled to respond. The dreamy image dissipated the instant her eyes fluttered open, but the memory plagued her, followed her into consciousness. Everything hurt, as if she’d been run over by a truck. Background noise intruded on her confusion, beeping, talking, footsteps, more beeping. Bright light burned her eyes, added to the already thunderous headache threatening to overwhelm her. Bile surged up the back of her throat.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Reluctant Prince Goodreads

Dani Lyn Alexander Bio:

Dani-Lyn Alexander lives on Long Island with her husband, three kids and three dogs. She loves spending time with her family, at the beach, the playground, or just about anywhere. In her spare time, which is rare, she enjoys reading and shopping—especially in book stores.

Some of her favorite things include; Bernese Mountain Dogs, musicals, bubble baths and soft blankets. She’s an incurable insomniac and has an addiction to chocolate.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Author Goodreads

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Release Day Launch: Reluctant Prince by Dani-Lyn Alexander

I am so excited to bring you the new young adult fantasy from Dani Lyn Alexander. Below, you'll find all the information about the book and an exclusive excerpt plus a giveaway!!

Reluctant Prince Synopsis:

Betrayal lies cloaked in shadow.

Seventeen year old Ryleigh Donnovan is certain her life is cursed. Nothing ever goes smoothly, and her first job interview is no exception. An earthquake rocks the building, sending Ryleigh on a frantic search for her younger sister, a search which lands her in the hospital. Terrified they’ll push her for answers she can’t afford to give, Ryleigh flees with a mysterious stranger. Jackson Maynard is about to be ordained as a Death Dealer, a warrior for the Kingdom of Cymmera, but first he must pass one more test. When he fails to acquire the human girl the prophet has chosen, he’s forced to stand trial for treason. Banished from his realm, he seeks out the girl from the vision, Ryleigh Donnovan, and together they embark on a journey to save his dying kingdom.

Advance Praise for Reluctant Prince

"A gorgeously wrought fantasy realm with a heroine who will make you cheer!"

~Wendy Higgins, NYT and USA Today bestselling author of the Sweet Evil trilogy.

Exclusive Excerpt:

Ryleigh stood. This couldn’t be happening. With only a few months left until graduation, she didn’t want to be forced to drop out, but what else could she do? “Look, Mr. Jacobs, can’t you just—”

Vertigo assailed her. The room rocked, and she grabbed the desk.

Mr. Jacobs grabbed the back of his chair. His eyes mirrored her panic. Books flew from the shelves. Glass shattered. She had to get to Mia. She turned to run.

The building bucked, and she toppled, slamming her knee into the hard wood floor. Pain shot up her leg. She grabbed the chair to pull herself up, but the next wave threw her back down. She tried to regain her footing, but someone yanked her to the ground.

“Stay down.” Mr. Jacobs shoved her forward. He crawled beside her, half pushing, half dragging her toward the door. Debris pelted her back, shoulders, and head. How could she have left Mia? Tears blurred her vision.

“If it’s an earthquake, it should stop any minute. Just keep crawling toward the door.” Desperately wishing she could cover her ears to block the screaming, she clawed forward. Her knee dragged behind her, pain pulsing with each movement. Falling apart wouldn’t help matters. She had to get to Mia.

Ryleigh crawled through the doorway, into utter chaos. People trying to push through the mess, others huddled in corners shielding their heads. An injured woman cried as she rocked back and forth clutching her arm. A man crouched over her. Fear and disorientation held Ryleigh immobile.

Belle: I'm currently reading Reluctant Prince since I'm part of the blog tour! It's okay so far, tho I admit the writing is a little novice :P But of course, me being a lover of fantasy, I'm definitely happy to give it a go ;)

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Reluctant Prince Goodreads

Dani Lyn Alexander Bio:

Dani-Lyn Alexander lives on Long Island with her husband, three kids and three dogs. She loves spending time with her family, at the beach, the playground, or just about anywhere. In her spare time, which is rare, she enjoys reading and shopping—especially in book stores.

Some of her favorite things include; Bernese Mountain Dogs, musicals, bubble baths and soft blankets. She’s an incurable insomniac and has an addiction to chocolate.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Author Goodreads

Enter Dani-Lyn's giveaway!

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Book Trailer: Book of Ivy by Amy Engel

Book synopsis:

After a brutal nuclear war, the United States was left decimated. A small group of survivors eventually banded together, but only after more conflict over which family would govern the new nation. The Westfalls lost. Fifty years later, peace and control are maintained by marrying the daughters of the losing side to the sons of the winning group in a yearly ritual.

This year, it is my turn.

My name is Ivy Westfall, and my mission is simple: to kill the president’s son—my soon-to-be husband—and return the Westfall family to power. 

But Bishop Lattimer is either a very skilled actor or he’s not the cruel, heartless boy my family warned me to expect. He might even be the one person in this world who truly understands me. But there is no escape from my fate. I am the only one who can restore the Westfall legacy.

Because Bishop must die. And I must be the one to kill him…

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** Kobo ** iTunes

Goodreads Giveaway:

There is a giveaway on Goodreads to win The Book of Ivy. 3 copies available, and only in US and CA, unfortunately ;( Here's the link to the giveaway

And now, here's the book trailer!!

Belle: I've heard a bit of hype about this book, so hopefully it's as good as it sounds ;) Perhaps it'll be like The Selection but action-ish and less whiny....if so I'll happily read it xD Because I've skimmed The Selection, but there's no way I'd ever consider properly reading it, sorry Selectioners :P

About Amy Engel:

Amy Engel was born in Kansas and after a childhood spent bouncing between countries (Iran, Taiwan) and states (Kansas, California, Missouri, Washington, D.C.), she settled in Kansas City, Missouri where she lives with her husband and two kids.  Before devoting herself full time to motherhood and writing, she was a criminal defense attorney, which is not quite as exciting as it looks on TV.  When she has a free moment, she can usually be found reading, running, or shoe shopping.

Find Amy online: Website / Twitter

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Release Day Launch + Review: The Collector's Society by Heather Lyons!

 

Holy cannoli! It's here!!! We are extremely excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Heather Lyons' THE COLLECTORS' SOCIETY!! THE COLLECTORS’ SOCIETY is an Adult Romantic Fairy Tale, full of adventure and fantasy. This is Alice as you have never seen her before...

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** Kobo ** iTunes

THE COLLECTORS’ SOCIETY Synopsis:

From the author of the Fate series and The Deep End of the Sea comes a fantastical romantic adventure that has Alice tumbling down the strangest rabbit hole yet.

After years in Wonderland, Alice has returned to England as an adult, desperate to reclaim sanity and control over her life. An enigmatic gentleman with an intriguing job offer too tempting to resist changes her plans for a calm existence, though.
Soon, she’s whisked to New York and initiated into the Collectors’ Society, a secret organization whose members confirm that famous stories are anything but straightforward and that what she knows about the world is only a fraction of the truth. It’s there she discovers villains are afoot—ones who want to shelve the lives of countless beings.
Assigned to work with the mysterious and alluring Finn, Alice and the rest of the Collectors’ Society race against a doomsday clock in order to prevent further destruction . . . but will they make it before all their endings are erased?

Review:

Just because a story ends, doesn't mean it's finished.

Opening the first few pages, a 25 year old Alice has been in a mental asylum for close to half a year now, but her past and how she ended up in the asylum from when she was in Wonderland is very obscure. Then a mysterious man turns up and urges her to help him save Wonderland. And of course, she accepts, and is taken to New York to join The Collector's Society. And it is there that she learns that everything she thought she knew isn't what it seems.

Oh. My. God.
This book is gold!! The idea of having book characters that have come out of classic books like Alice in Wonderland to appear in our world......it's like Matrix cross Inkheart. It brought me right back to being a kid and wishing characters would come to life, except it's spun so that they learn who they are, join The Collector's Society, and live in secret among us while protecting the other 'story worlds', otherwise known as Timelines.

Sadly I've never read the classic Alice books by Lewis Carroll, but I still kept up with the story because, one, it's not vital to know who the characters are (tho I suppose it would be pretty fun to go Ohh me gosh I know who that is! lol) and two, it's true, Alice is very famous, so whether you've read the classics or not, you should know enough to get the general idea.
I must admit tho, with my main source being the latest Alice in Wonderland movie with Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, I was surprised a couple times.....like when said character turned out to be a weak and grovelling sex crazed lunatic XDD

I don't know how she writes in other books, but Lyons's writing style in this was perfect. It suited the story to a T, and even tho most of the characters are from some earlier century (in a timeline, not our world, but close enough xD), Lyons managed to make them fit in with modern times while keeping their 19th or 20th century way of speaking.

I loved Alice! She's so wise and mature and knowledgeable, and such a far cry from all those whiny girls in YA books xD I liked that when she was thrown into the deep end and her whole world shifted under her feet, she didn't cry or break down, which is a great feat, but I guess she has quite a bit of experience in that area. She did discover Wonderland after all!
Oh, and I adored the friendship between Alice and Mary (one of The Collector's Society members). Those two are so cool together :P
“Aha!” She’s triumphant. “So there is something going on between you two!” Her hands rub together. “The A.D. and I had a bet going. He said there was no way you two were going to get involved. Said you were too much an Ice Queen to even think about hooking up.” She snorts. “Ha! Queen! Get it?”
I roll my eyes. “I’m from Victorian England, not the Stone Ages, Mary.”
“The point is, I’m getting myself a nice, fat pile of money when we get back.”
“I’m glad my emotions are profitable for you.”

I was surprised with the lack of angst surrounding the romance, but in a sense I was relieved after reading so much teenage angst in YA books! There were two love interests, but it wasn't you're usual love triangle because....well, there wasn't a love triangle. XD Sounds a bit weird, I know. But it was because even tho Alice had strong feelings for both Finn and Jace, she knew she couldn't be with Jace, and both Jace and Alice had accepted that they couldn't be together. Which made any potential animosity between Jace and Finn nonexistent. In fact, they sort of became friends. Again weird, I know! I felt really sad for Jace tho :'( *sniffs*

Also, I thought I'd point out that this is definitely NA.
Lunatic Belle: NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, BAATMAAN.
That was totally out of context......*sighs and continues*
So do not touch this book if you're solely a YA reader ;) Mind you, it's not that NAish compared to other books. It was actually more focused on the romance, which was cute :p

And now it's time to look at flaws. This was that special type of book where you don't even think about flaws because you're so enraptured! <3 But, when I looked back, the only problem I found was that the ending seemed too easy. That is, there wasn't really a climax, but no matter. It's only the first book in the series ;) That's right, there will be more books yayy! I don't know how many yet, but I'll definitely read it when them when they come out :)

On a final note....I couldn't help going a step further and thinking, maybe the real truth is that someone called Heather Lyons wrote a book called The Collector's Society, and it's about all these book characters meeting and saving book worlds called Timelines, and someone, namely a reader (*sticks up hand* PICK ME), can indeed disappear into the book to meet them.....hehehe okay, I'm being really evil. And improbable, but I couldn't help myself.....that was too tempting not to write out :p

4.5 stars

—MissBloodsucker™ All Sucked Out!

Excerpt:

“Do you find my ability to converse lacking, Doctor?”
He chuckles softly, no doubt remembering how I wasn’t chatty with anyone, himself included, for the first month of my stay. To be fair, it is difficult to carry on an invigorating discussion when one is shaking so hard from withdrawals they fear they might shatter into thousands of painful pieces before a single word can be uttered. Plus, there was the whole bit of how once I did open up, I raved liked a lunatic about things no normal person could imagine being true.

“Certainly not,” he says to me. “But as I must stay at the Pleasance and you must go forth into the world, it will do you good to practice on somebody new.”

“Then send in one of the orderlies. Or one of the nurses. I’ll happily chat with a staff member.” One of his bushy, out-of-control eyebrows lifts high into his forehead.
“There are people out there who are quite content being solitary,” I point out. “Who do not need to converse with anybody but themselves and their dogs.”
He sets his pen down. “What about cats?”
Rigor mortis sets in ever so briefly at this question. “You father said you were quite fond of cats growing up. There was one in particular that you favored. Dinah, was it not?”

“I’m—” I have to clear my throat. “Lately, I wonder if perhaps I’m more of a dog person after all.”

About Heather Lyons:

Heather Lyons has always had a thing for words—She’s been writing stories since she was a kid. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. Heather is a rabid music fan, as evidenced by her (mostly) music-centric blog, and she’s married to an even larger music snob. They’re happily raising three kids who are mini music fiends who love to read and be read to.

Website ** Author Goodreads ** Twitter ** Facebook ** THE COLLECTORS’ SOCIETY Goodreads

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RELEASE DAY LAUNCH: Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout!

We are thrilled to bring you the Release Day Launch for Jennifer L. Armentrout's STONE COLD TOUCH! STONE COLD TOUCH is the second full-length novel in Jennifer's The Dark Elements Series, a young adult paranormal romance being published by Harlequin Teen!!

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** Kobo ** iTunes

STONE COLD TOUCH synopsis:

Every touch has its price.

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay...

Belle: I'm so excited to read this omg! The Aus iBooks store doesn't have it yet so I thought I wouldn't get to read it straight away, but I just won an ebook copy of SCT and I feel so lucky! :D

EXCERPT:

I’d remained in bed after that, trying to sort through the odd tingling in my chest. There was a slight smile on my lips, because Zayne…well, he’d made my day, but then I’d remember what Roth had said to me the night before and the smile would wash away as if it had never been there. I probably needed to get used to the whiplash mood swings. It wasn’t until after dinner that I decided to scrub a day’s worth of gunk off myself.

Gingerly, I peeled the bandage off, happy to find that the cut in my arm was healing as expected. I didn’t need to cover it anymore. The arm was still tender, but the Warden blood in me was quickly undoing the damage from the iron.

After changing into fresh pj’s, like a total hermit, I padded over to my desk, where I’d left my cell phone. It had been on silent all day and when I tapped the screen, I wasn’t surprised to see a slew of texts from Stacey.

Where r u? R u skipping, u ho? A minute later:
Your locker misses u. Guess u sick with the herp? Oh my God. I laughed out loud, grinning as I thumbed through her texts.

Our bio sub is still hot. U r missing this. Bio is lonely. My boobs miss u. How weird is that? That was notably weird and yet not surprising.

If I get my cell taken from me, it’s ur fault. Holy shit, Layla, where r u?!? Air punched out of my lungs as I read the next text and the several following them.
U have no idea who just walked into bio!!! Roth is here! Holy Canola oil, why aren’t u here to witness this? Ok. He says he had mono. Srlsy? Do people still get mono? And who in the duck was he kissing? A second later—Duck? I didn’t mean duck. That’s SO not what I meant, autocorrect.
Another text had come in about fifteen minutes after the last one. He asked where u were. I told him u joined a cult. I laughed. He didn’t.
Finally, the last text was to call her if I wasn’t dead. “What in the Hell?” I tossed my cell onto the bed, mouth hanging open.

And don't forget! The choice is yours...

Beginning today you’ll have 3 weeks to visit the series website, www.thedarkelementsseries.com, to take a poll and decide which guy Layla should ultimately choose in the final book in the trilogy, Every Last Breath. At the end of 3 weeks, we will tally all the votes, and that’s when Jennifer L. Armentrout will start writing Every Last Breath.

The guy who gets the most votes is the one Layla will pick. To prevent early spoilers, we're not going to reveal who won the poll in advance…you’ll have to wait until Every Last Breath goes on sale on July 28th, 2015 to find out whether Zayne or Roth wins Layla in the end. We promise the book will be epic and definitely worth the wait! Who do you want Layla to end up with? Go to www.thedarkelementsseries.com and vote for your choice!

About Jennifer L. Armentrout:

#1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Series Website | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Jennifer L. Armentrout Goodreads | STONE COLD TOUCH Goodreads

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Spotlight Tour and Review: Reclaiming the Sand by A Meredith Walters!

We are so excited to bring you our stop on the RECLAIMING THE SAND Spotlight Tour hosted by Inkslinger PR!!!

SYNOPSIS:

Bully and victim. Tormenter and tormented. Villain and hero. Ellie McCallum was a bully. No connection to anyone or anything. A sad and lonely existence for a young woman who had come to expect nothing more for herself. Her only happiness coming from making others miserable.

Particularly Freaky Flynn. Flynn Hendrick lived a life completely disconnected even as he struggled to become something more than that boy with Asperger's. He was taunted and teased, bearing the brunt of systematic and calculated cruelty, ultimately culminating in a catastrophic turn of events that brought Ellie and Flynn’s worlds crashing down.

But then Flynn and Ellie grew up. And moved on. Until years later when their paths unexpectedly cross again and the bully and the freak are face to face once more. When labels come to define you, finding yourself feels impossible. Particularly for two people disconnected from the world who inexplicably find a connection in each other. And out of the wreckage of their tragic beginnings, an unlikely love story unfolds. But a painful past doesn’t always want to let go. And old wounds are never truly healed…and sometimes the further you try to run from yourself the closer you come to who you really are.

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REVIEW:
This was a very emotional book. And also quite beautiful.
But I will say that for the beauty, you also get a face full of depression. This book is full of ugly truth and harsh realities. You just want to run away at first, and yet there's this little part of you that just sits there soaking up the melancholy because you know it has to get better. You have to believe it'll get better. And better it does ;) Eventually.

Reclaiming the Sand is by no means a light book. Or a funny book. It's gritty and deep with a tiny light of innocence where Flynn lights up Ellie's world and makes her see hope and happiness in life.

It's written in alternating POVs of Ellie in current time, and Flynn six years ago. At first I found this a little weird, but then I realised it worked out pretty well because you learn a lot about Ellie and Flynn and their past six years back, as well as how that past affects them now.

Ellie grew up in the foster care system after her mum abandoned her when she was young. She went from one home to the next, and with each new foster home her heart hardened that little bit more to hide the cracks of her brokenness. It was in her last foster home that she met Dania, another foster kid who was the same age as her. When she was fifteen Flynn moved to their town.
Flynn was taunted and bullied because of his Asperger's, especially by Ellie and her group of friends, Dania, Stu, Shane and Reggie. Eventually Ellie got to know Flynn and liked being his friend, but gave into peer pressure and continued to taunt him in front of others to save face, and in the end she was too scared by her feelings and destroyed their friendship in one of the worst possible ways and he moved a while after.
6 years later she's wasting her life away working at a rundown store and getting drunk every night to numb everything until one day Flynn returns and sets in motion a completely different path for Ellie.
Reclaiming the Sand is the story of a girl who lost herself and the boy who made her whole.

Ellie's friends are absolutely horrid. I mean, Ellie even says it herself!
“I couldn’t stand Stu. Or Reggie. Or Shane. In fact I hated most of the people I called friends. They were selfish and inconsiderate and at times downright cruel. But they were all I had. Just like Dania, they had known me for years and they were like stuck to me like crap on my shoe.”
They're rude, irresponsible, bullying, alcoholic druggies who don't do anything remotely useful with their lives. It's really disgusting, and even tho there's this little part of me that wants to feel sorry for them, I can't, because they don't even try to straighten themselves out. That's the difference between them and Ellie for me.
Dania is the one friend Ellie is closest to, and she's both the best, and the worst of them. Best because she has a soft side, and seems to realise her mistakes in the end, but worst because what she does to her child is inexcusable. If she didn't want the boy, she could've just given him up for adoption, but drinking and taking drugs while pregnant is just......wrong. She almost killed the poor kid before he was even born! And now he'll forever have to pay for Dania's stupidity.
I am glad that Dania eventually did what was right by Ellie tho, and let her go make a better life for herself, because if she hadn't I doubt Ellie would've left. In Ellie's words about Dania.....
“So even if I didn’t like her choices, even if she made me want to pull my hair out most of the time, I would never turn my back on her. That’s how I rolled. Loyal to the point of stupidity.”

Ellie was born in Wellsburg, West Virginia; once a thriving mining town until a horrific mining accident caused the place to crumble into disrepair. Long story short, most of the town is now a terrible place to live. Wellsburg is for the most part, rundown, shoddy, and full of shady characters and poor drunken souls who have resigned themselves to this sad way of life. Can anyone spell You. Can't. Get. Out. Of. This. Town. Fast. Enough?
Wellsburg reminded me of how in Beautiful Creatures (the movie at least.....I haven't read the books) Ethan was obsessed in getting out of his hometown. Same kind of if-you-stay-here-you'll-get-stuck-here little town theme going on ^^
In a moment of boredom and morbid curiosity I searched up Wellsburg, and there is in fact a Wellsburg in West Virginia xD Tho I didn't see a mention of mines, oh wells!

I knew where Ellie and Flynn's relationship would head eventually, and at first I didn't think I'd be able to connect to their romance, but I was pleasantly surprised :)
I loved how there was absolutely no insta-love or insta-friendship, and that their relationship, tho way more volatile than most, was raw and real. I especially adored the star watching moment.....that's when I really started shipping them <3
I admit, I don't find Flynn to be a swoon-able guy. Not because of his Asperger's exactly, but just because my book crushes are generally the cocky bad boys.......yup, I sure know how to pick 'em *cracks up* XD He was described to be quite gorgeous for a guy, tho ;) and really sweet.

This book also holds a piece of my heart because I really connected to Ellie's struggle with taking hold of her future education, being that I'm in a situation reminiscent of that. Not similar tho, I have a rather good education ahead of me. Just reminiscent because I'm constantly second guessing myself about chasing my academic dreams, and so I really understood why she constantly went back and forth about pursuing her dreams for fear of getting rejected.......it is truly really scary.

4 stars!

—MissBloodsucker All Sucked Out!

About The Author:

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary and Paranormal romance including The Find You in the Dark and Bad Rep series as well as the upcoming stand alone romance, Reclaiming the Sand, and a dark new adult series for Gallery Books.

A. Meredith spent ten years as a counselor for at risk teens and children. First working at a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault program and then later a program for children with severe emotional and mental health issues. Her former clients and their stories continue to influence every aspect of her writing. When not writing (or being tortured with all manner of beauty products at the hand of her very imaginative and extremely girly daughter), she is eating chocolate, watching reality television that could rot your brain and reading a smutty novel or two. A. Meredith is represented by Michelle Johnson with the Inklings Literary Agency.

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Chasing The Tide is the sequel releasing on Dec 16:

***The powerful continuation of the story that began in Reclaiming the Sand – a tale of love and forgiveness and learning to move on from a past that has come to define you.***

Bully and Victim. Friend and Lover. Past and Future.

Ellie McCallum and Flynn Hendrick’s story was as painful as it was devastating. But they were able to find within each other an unlikely yet beautiful love. Despite the obstacles that tried to keep them apart. And together they rose out of the ashes of their tragic history.

Now years after their life changing reunion Ellie is back in Wellston, having just graduated from college and ready to start her future with the man who taught her how to love. However, returning to a town that held so much bitterness and anger was the last place she wanted to start over. But for Flynn, who is now an art professor at the community college and firmly rooted in the place that gave them their beginning, she’d do just about anything. Yet it’s difficult building a life when you’ve only just learned how to live. And love, no matter how strong, doesn’t always conquer all.

Ellie and Flynn must learn how far they are willing to go to stay together. Or whether the ghosts of the past will consume them both. Because finding a happily ever after is harder than it seems. Particularly when you’re fighting against the one thing that could destroy you. Yourself.

Belle: There's a sequel?! :O Errmmeegosshhhhh!!

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Release Day Launch – Whatever Life Throws At You by Julie Cross

We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Julie Cross' WHATEVER LIFE THROWS AT YOU! WHATEVER LIFE THROWS AT YOU is a Young Adult Contemporary Romance, published by Entangled Teen!!

Amazon ** Amazon UK ** Barnes & Noble ** iBooks ** Powell’s Books

About WHATEVER LIFE THROWS AT YOU:

Seventeen-year-old Annie Lucas is too young to remember her dad’s glory days as a pitcher for the Yankees. So when her father is offered a coaching position with the Kansas City Royals, Annie is intrigued to see the baseball side of her dad. Of course, knowing he’ll be a mentor to hot young rookie pitcher, Jason Brody, certainly makes it more enticing.

After an awkward first meeting with “Brody” involving very little clothing and a much-too-personal locker room interview, Annie’s convinced she knows Brody’s type: arrogant, self-involved, bossy. As her dad grows closer to the pitching phenom, the friction between Brody and Annie increases. But when opening day arrives and it looks like both her dad and Brody may lose their dream jobs, Annie steps up and offers support. She and Brody call a truce that grows into friendship—and beyond.

Falling for a rising star who’s quickly reaching a level that involves rabid female fans is not what Annie would call smart, except suddenly she’s getting hints that maybe this crush isn’t one-sided after all. Could someone like Brody actually fall for a girl like her?

Whatever Life Throws at You by Julie Cross Excerpt:

He eyes me skeptically. “What kind of article?”
“It’s for Sports Illustrated,” I say without hesitation and then quickly realize that I don’t look nearly old enough to be a real reporter for a huge publication. “I’m an intern,” I add. The skepticism falls from his face and he looks nervous, which gives me a boost of confidence.
I walk closer and pull out the chair in front of the locker beside his, propping my feet up on the bench across from me. “Frank Steadman said you’d be willing to answer a few questions.” His mouth falls open, and he looks down at his towel and then back at me. Water drips from his hair and off his dark shoulders. “Um…okay,” he says. “Mind if I get dressed first?” I wave off his concerns, my face heating up, blowing my confident cover. But him getting dressed might allow enough time for Dad to return, and I’d rather not have to deal with that. I duck my head down, letting my hair hide my cheeks and flip open the first page of the notebook. “This will just take a minute… So, you’re nineteen? And you’re from Texas?”
“Chicago,” he corrects. I had no idea where he was from but figured it sounded better if I pretended to know. I write down this information and then search my brain for some more questions. “Does the wind in Chicago affect your curveball? Do you throw into it or against it?”
He gives me a funny look. “I…well…I just throw toward home plate.” My face gets even hotter. “Right, kidding. What’s your favorite color?”
“Orange.” I take my time writing orange in really big loopy cursive while I think of my next question. “What are your opinions on sushi?” His forehead wrinkles like I’ve just asked him to publicly declare a political party. “Raw fish and seaweed? I think it’s best eaten while stranded on a desert island with no other options.”
“Very diplomatic.” I scribble down his answer. “How many strikes have you thrown in your career?”
“Don’t know,” he says. “Do people actually count that stuff? Before the majors?”
“Some of them do,” I say, though I have no idea. “If you could be any magical creature in the Harry Potter series, which would you choose?”
“You said this is for Sports Illustrated, right?”
“Yeees, But it’s the…kids’ edition.”
“Oh, right.” He scratches the back of his head. “I guess maybe one of those elves.”
“A house elf? Seriously? They’re slaves.” I shake my head. “Why would you want to be an enslaved elf? They can’t even wear clothes.” He grips his towel tighter and releases a frustrated breath. “Fine, I’ll choose an owl. That’s what I’d want to be.” I snort back a laugh and drop my eyes to the page again. “What? What the hell’s wrong with being an owl? They’re smart, they know geography and shit like that.”
“Owls in real life are actually pretty stupid. But no big deal, I’ll just relay that message on to the children of America. Jason Brody, temporary Royals pitcher, wants to be an owl when he grows up because they know geography and shit like that.” Okay, I’m getting way too into this fake reporter role.
“Who says this is temporary?” he snaps.
“Your two-way contract.” Isn’t that how Dad explained it? He plays a few games then goes back to Triple-A, all without signing a real major league contract. He yanks a pair of jeans from his locker and then grabs a bundled up orange T-shirt. “Well, I plan on kicking some ass on Opening Day and making this a permanent gig.”
“I think you need a reality check,” I say. “One game isn’t going to be enough--”
“Annie, what the hell are you doing?” I leap off the bench and turn around to face Dad and Frank standing about five feet from me. “Introducing myself to your new pitcher.”
“Brody, what are you doing here, son?” Frank asks. “We’re off today.”
“Just getting in some cardio and weights.” His gaze darts from me to Dad to Frank. “I was just finishing up this interview for Sports Illustrated. The kids’ edition.”
“Well, we won’t keep you from getting your clothes back on, then,” Frank says, like he’s trying not to laugh. “And just for future reference, all interviews will go through the team’s publicity department so no one will be wandering in here, surprising you. Savannah will meet with you tomorrow to discuss publicity.”
Dad moves forward and extends a hand to Jason Brody. “Jim Lucas, nice to meet you, son. I’ve seen your spring training videos. You’ve got some real talent. I’m looking forward to working with you.” Brody shakes Dad’s hand, his eyes still on me. “And this is my daughter Annie,” Dad adds.
Brody glares at me. “Let me guess—you don’t work for Sports Illustrated?”

Julie Cross Bio:

Julie Cross lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three children. She’s a former gymnast and longtime gymnastics fan, coach, and former gymnastics program director with the YMCA. She’s a lover of books, devouring several novels a week, especially in the young adult and new adult genres. Outside of her reading and writing credentials, Julie is a committed—but not talented—long-distance runner, creator of imaginary beach vacations, Midwest bipolar-weather survivor, and expired CPR certification card holder, as well as a ponytail and gym-shoe addict.

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