Saturday, August 31, 2013

Book Blitz: Aberrant by Ruth Silver



Aberrant (Aberrant )
Release Date: 04/17/13

Summary from Goodreads:
In the future Dystopian society of Cabal, the government instills equality for all and offers its citizens the perfect system. There is food, shelter and jobs for everyone. The one requirement is to follow the rules without question, including the government's match in marriage and "The Day of the Chosen", a lottery that randomly selects families to conceive children as natural means hasn't existed in generations. Following her eighteenth birthday, Olivia Parker accepts her requirement to marry her childhood best friend, Joshua Warren, and is eager to start her work assignment and new life when it all comes abruptly to an end as she's arrested and thrown in prison. The only crime committed, her existence. Olivia is unlike the rest of the world born not from "The Day of the Chosen." The truth haunts the government and puts her life in grave danger as one simple fact would destroy the perfect system.

With Joshua's help, Olivia breaks free of prison and is forced on the run. Together they set out to find the promised rebel town in search of a new home and new life together. Their situation seems less than promising as they reach the town of Haven. New rules and customs must be adhered to in order to stay. Leaving would mean most certain death in the large expanse of the Gravelands. Time is running out as the government mounts an attack to destroy Olivia and bury her secret with her. Thrown into a world unlike their own, they must quickly adapt to survive.


Available from:
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Excerpt: 

...I sighed softly and did something I'd only read about in forbidden novels. I leant in, brushing my lips against his. The kiss was soft and chaste. It lasted no more than a mere second before I pulled back. 

"What was that, Olive?" He gave me a horrified look and all I could feel was my stomach somersault. I knew romance and love weren't ever spoken of in Genesis. There was no need when the government knew who was perfect for one another, and children were won by lottery and conceived in a lab. Intimate acts were considered unnecessary. 

"I read about it in a book," I whispered, afraid I'd done it all wrong. "It was a kiss," I breathed, chewing on my bottom lip nervously. I’d never kissed anyone before and worried he thought it was terrible. I’d never seen two people share a kiss, I didn’t quite know what it was supposed to look like, but I thought I’d done it right after reading about it. My hand reached out, grabbing his arm. "Please don't be mad at me." I breathed. "You have to swear you won't tell anyone!" Joshua hesitated for only an instant before he leaned in, taking another taste from my lips trying again. The second kiss was softer and satisfied both of our curiosities. My heart raced and my skin warmed to his touch. "I thought today was going to turn out so much worse," I confessed. 

Joshua laughed as he pulled back slightly, staring at me. His eyes had darkened a deeper richer shade of blue. I'd never seen his eyes change colors before. His fingers moved to tickle my stomach with a grin. "Worse? Really? You're not happy you married me? You're just relieved it wasn't someone worse?" 

"No!" I shrieked, "That's not what I meant!" I tried to catch my breath, but he hardly gave me a second more than necessary. I pulled from his ticklish grasp, jumped from the couch and ran across the room in a fit of laughter. He quickly followed, jumping over the sofa as he was just inches from me. He was close now, smiling and trailing behind me as I ran toward the bedroom. It was probably the worst place I could go, trapped between Joshua and a mattress. I felt him tackle me down onto the plush bed, his hands skimmed my stomach but he was no longer tickling me. The laughter still hadn't subsided. 

"Breathe," Joshua said, staring intently at me. 

"Trying," I gasped between fits of laughter. Lying down helped settle the feeling of my racing heart, and after a moment I shifted along the mattress, reaching out to him. "I want to tell you a story," I insisted as my fingers found his cheek. "One I read in a book." I wanted him to learn the things I had about love and romance. I couldn't help but feel my body stir with a strange fire and warmth as he loomed just above me. Staring up at him I froze on the mattress hearing the latch click on the front door. I knew it had been locked.


About the Author
Ruth Silver first began writing poetry as a teenager and reading heaps of fan fiction in her free time. She has written under three unique pseudo names and penned well over a hundred stories.

She attended Northern Illinois University in 2001 and graduated with a Bachelor's in Communication. While in college she spent much of her free time writing with friends she met online and penning her first novel, "Deuces are Wild", which she self-published in 2004. Her favorite class was Creative Writing senior year where she often handed in assignments longer than the professor required because she loved to write and always wanted to finish her stories.




Her love of writing, led her on an adventure in 2007 to Melbourne, Australia. Silver enjoys reading YA novels and sharing her favorite books with other readers. She runs her own book blog and also enjoys photography and traveling.


Her favorite YA genre is a mix of Dystopian & Fantasy which is evident in the upcoming release of her latest book, Aberrant. Slated for release April 2013 by Lazy Day Publishing, it is the first in a trilogy.
***Author Links***
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***GIVEAWAY***
1 signed paperback of Aberrant (US only)
3 scrabble tile necklace charms & signed bookmark (INT)
3 bottlecap keychains & signed bookmark (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz Organized by:


Blog Tour : Unafraid (Beachwood Bay #2) by Melody Grace


Add to GOODREADS

Unafraid 
(Beachwood Bay #2)

Author: 
Melody Grace
Release Date: 
August 27th 2013
Genres: 
NA / Contemporary Romance

Purchase Links:


Synopsis:

"The first time I saw her, I knew this girl was wilder than any stallion I’d ever trained. She was headstrong, wounded, passionate and free. And I had to have her…"

Brittany Ray doesn’t care about her bad reputation. Growing up in a sleepy beach town with a junkie mom and a runaway dad, Brit’s learned the hard way that the people you love will only let you down. It’s no use hoping for love or happiness. Some dreams aren’t meant for girls like her.


Hunter Covington is one of those dreams.


Gorgeous, charming Hunter is damn near perfect—and it’s killing him. Son of Charleston royalty, he’s been trapped in a gilded cage since the day he was born. Now he’s breaking free. He’s quit law school to restore his grandpa’s old horse ranch, trying to soothe the demons in his soul. But Beachwood Bay is full of old ghosts, like the mysterious girl who spent an unforgettable night with him—and then slipped away before dawn. Brit. 


Everything about her screams danger, but Hunter doesn’t care: he’s never felt a connection so deep. And try as she may, Brit can’t resist the desire consuming her —or the safety she finds in Hunter’s arms.


A reckless passion. An undeniable bond. Scarred by their pasts, Brit and Hunter fight to heal old wounds. But will dark secrets tear apart their new beginning? And when love is the biggest risk of all, can they find the courage to face the future unafraid?






Beachwood Bay Series


Untouched (Beachwood Bay 0.5)  Goodreads
Unbroken (Beachwood Bay #1) Goodreads



Welcome to our stop on the Unafraid Tour.  This tour is brought to you by Inkslingerpr


Tour Schedule:

August 26th
August 28th
Once Upon A Twilight-Excerpt
A Good Addiction-Character Interview
August 29th
Romance Addict-Author Interview
Book Crazy-Review Only
August 30th
August 31st
September 1st  
September 2nd
Tiffany Talks Books-Guest Post
Book Fixation-Review Only
September 3rd
Lovin Los Libros-Character Interview
SMI Book Club-Review Only
September 4th
Stuck in Books-Excerpt
Rampant Readers-Review Only
September 5th
True Story Book Blog-Character Interview
Confessions of a Vi3ti3abe-Review Only
September 6th
The Autumn Review-Review Only
Books Over Boys-Guest Post
September 7th
Book Addict Mumma-DreamCast
Books Books Books-Review Only
September 8th
I Love Indie Books-Review Only
Cocktails & Books-Author Interview





My Review:

Unafraid by Melody Grace was the perfect summer escape! This book was a quick captivating read. Even though there are two other books in the Beachwood Bay Series (Untouched & Unbroken), Unafraid can be read as a stand-alone without giving out many details from Emerson & Juliet's story. I love it when we get to see characters featured in previous books. You always want to know what your favorites are up to. I have read Untouched & Unbroken before I read Unafraid. I LOVED Juliet and Emerson, but Brittany and Hunter totally CAPTIVATED me. This story was a breath of fresh air! I enjoyed the reverse situation in this book. Usually I read about the ''Bad Boy'' who falls for the ''Good Girl'', but this was different and I loved it! 

Brittany was very easy to love. I loved that the author included Brittany's desire to become a fashion designer to the story. Brittany works hard to make her dream come true, even if nobody is giving her a chance. The determination to finish that exquisite dress, shows how much of a strong person she is. Her town gives her a reputation and she ends up believing that she is that kind of person after hearing it so much. She's afraid of getting hurt, so she leaves any relationship before she gets invested in it. Brittany was brought up by her brother Emerson. Even if Emerson gives her all his love, she thinks that nobody is ever going to love and care for her.  When Hunter comes along, Brittany plays hard to get and that makes the chemistry between them even more hotter! Once she falls under Hunter's spell, she is ready to accept that she does deserve to be loved and that she can trust somebody with her heart. I was cheering for her until the very last page. She deserved to find a man who could sweep her off her feet and make her feel what love is all about.

Hunter made my heart race with his sweet/sexy personality. You could see that Brittany marked his heart when they shared that one night of passion a few years back. He's trying really hard to make a life for himself, away from his parents and the family business. He's been suffocating in it for far too long. Starting his new life at his grandfather's ranch is exactly what he needs to make all the demons from his past go away. I loved the way he slowly infiltrated himself into Brittany's life. Day by day, he would show her that she could trust him and he made her believe in a HEA. I did get frustrated in some situations he had with Mommy Dearest! I was like ''Really Hunter? Do something!!! Fight for what you want!'' He did score big points with his seduction plan ;) That ranch tour he gave Brit … HOLY HOTNESS !! Ladies, Hunter knows how to bring the heat ;)

I give Unafraid by Melody Grace, 4.5 heart-melting, sexy, romantic stars ! I can't wait for the next installment in this series! Melody Grace created fascinating characters that are simply I-R-R-E-S-I-S-T-I-B-L-E ! Her stories leave you with a big smile on your face and a heart bursting with love. Escape to Beachwood Bay ... You won't be disappointed ;)







Picture Teasers







 About the Author:

Melody Grace is the USA Today bestselling author of UNBROKEN and UNTOUCHED. A small-town girl turned SoCal beach-lover, she spent years with her nose in a book before deciding it was time to write them for herself. She loves bad boys, good books, and pistachio-flavored ice-cream.




Giveaway
 ecopy of UNAFRAID with a $25 Amazon GC for 1 winner
and 1 signed set of UNBROKEN and UNAFRAID for 1 winner

Friday, August 30, 2013

Triangles Book Blast Tour



The Triangles

Win a Frikkin' Cruise

Sweepstakes!!

The Grand Prize Winner gets to go on a cruise!

Two runners-up will win $50 gift cards from Amazon (in US) or Book Depository (Worldwide).


What do you do?  

Take a Picture or Draw a Picture of Yourself with Triangles! 


 
A cruise ship. A beautiful island. Two sexy guys. What could possibly go wrong?

In the Bermuda Triangle—a lot.

Hoping to leave behind the reminders of her crappy life--her father's death years ago, her mother's medical problems, and the loser who’s practically stalking her--seventeen-year-old Autumn Taylor hops on a ship with her sister for a little distraction. When she wakes up in the Bermuda Triangle, she fears she's gone nuts for more than one reason: that loser’s suddenly claiming they're a happy couple... a hot guy is wrapping his arms around her and saying "Happy Anniversary"... and suddenly, she’s full of bruises, losing her hair, and getting IV medication. Autumn visits the ship's doctor, hoping for a pill or a shot to make the craziness go away. Instead, she's warned that these "alternate realities" could become permanent.

She just has to ask herself one question—how the hell is she going to get out of this mess? 




(pic with book you purchased or borrowed, drawing with book, you get the idea...) 

with this form to Spencer Hill Press!  

They MUST have it by September 14th. 

Drawing on September 16th.







Thursday, August 29, 2013

Book Review: If You Leave (Beautifully Broken #2) by Courtney Cole


To Add to Goodreads Click HERE
IF YOU LEAVE

Beautifully Broken #2
By:  Courtney Cole
Published: August 6, 2013
Publisher:  Forever
Source:  Publisher
Mature Content:  18 & Up


GR's Summary


26-year old Gabriel Vincent is a badass hero. Or he used to be, anyway. As an ex-Army Ranger, Gabe never thought he needed anyone. But after one horrible night in Afghanistan scars him in a way that he can't get past, he needs someone who can help him heal...even if he doesn't realize it.



25-year old Madison Hill doesn't need anybody...or so she thinks. She grew up watching her parents' messed-up abusive relationship and she knows there's no way in hell that she's ever letting that happen to her.



They don't know it in the beginning, but Gabriel and Madison will soon develop a weakness: Each other.



But Gabriel's got a secret, a hidden monster that he's afraid Maddy could never overcome... And Maddy's got issues that she's afraid Gabe will never understand. They quickly realize that they need each other to be whole, but at the same time they know that they've got demons to fight.



And the problem with demons is that they never die quietly.






First Book in the Series:

To Add to Goodreads Click HERE

*To Read My Review on If You Stay Click HERE


My Thoughts:


I loved If You Stay, so when I saw that Mila's sister Maddy was getting her own story, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it!  After Mila and Maddy's parents died, her life completely changed.  Where once she was carefree, attending college, and fulfilling her dream of being a model, not her life was bogged down with a painful new reality.  She left college, and her dream career.  Instead, she had to become the strong, responsible, protective, and nurturing sister. She took over running her parents restaurant, lived in their house, and was plagued with bad memories from her childhood.  Maddy had a love hate relationship with her parents before they died.  Their dysfunctional marriage had left her with afflicted emotions, and traumatized her.  After their death, the carefree Maddie disappeared, she became boggled down with inherited responsibilities, and unhappy as she began living her parents life.


No man could make Maddy feel butterfly's, longing, and desire.  She envied what her sister Mila shared with her husband Pax.  Then, when she went out to a nightclub one night with her best friend Jacee, she met Gabe who was tall, gorgeous, arrogant, sexy, and had an air of danger about him.  Gabe made Maddie feel like a woman, with desires, and needs that she hadn't felt in a long time.  After she met Gabe, her life completely changed.  He was an Army Ranger who has just returned from Afghanistan with his best friend Brand, was suffering from severe P.T.S.D. and in no way ready or in want of a series relationship.  However, the more time he spent with Maddy, the more he fell for her, and wanted to make her his.  Gabe had some series issues, and Maddy had a deep fear of being left behind.  How would these two deal with their past demons, that were still very much alive in the present, and would love be enough?


I LOVED If You Leave.  It was a very angst-filled and emotional read for me.  Gabe symbolized the hero's and protectors in our lives that we call soldiers.  As a reader, you will live his memories of war, blood-shed, pain, fear, guilt, and emotional turmoil right along with him.  You will see everything from his view point very clearly, and what you see will affect you deeply.  Maddy was such a selfless character.  She gave up so much in her life for her sister Mila.  Then, when she was with Gabe, she was so patient, nurturing, kind, compassionate, loving, and sensitive to his needs.  I loved getting a continuation of Mila and Pax's story too.  They were so cute together, and it was heartwarming to see how loyal and protective Pax was towards Maddy.  Brand was such a sweetheart.  I really hope he gets his own story too.  Jacee drove me a little crazy with her poor decision making, but I am dying to read her story, Before We Fall, which is the next story in the Beautifully Broken Series.   


My Rating:




I give If You Leave By Courtney Cole 4.5 Hauntingly Beautiful, Passionate, Soul-Searching, Healing and Transformative Stars!  Maddy and Gabriel made me ache for all that they had both endured in their lives.  Their heartache and pain bled through every page, and made me feel for their plight.  If You Leave does an excellent job of showing how love is the most powerful force in the world, and it can heal even the most damaged and broken heart.  Ms. Cole has a talent for making readers feel deeply for her characters.  Maddy and Gabe were real to me.  The Beautifully Broken Series is quickly becoming one of my absolute favorites.  It is filled with real people, real issues, and as a reader you cannot help but care and connect with these characters in one way or another.  Read, If You Leave, a story filled with angst, drama, passion, and a real life hero.  Even ordinary people can do the extraordinary, and love can heal like nothing else.





My Favorite Quotes:



"I decide that Gabriel Vincent is an enigma.  A blatantly arrogant enigma.  A scorchingly sexy, dangerous-as-hell enigma.  An enigma with a rippling six-pack and smoldering eyes." (eARC, Loc. 868)

~Maddy


"I love the night because I love snuggling against Gabe's hard chest.  I love it when his arms close around me and he holds me close.  I feel safe and secure, as though nothing from the real world can touch me."  (eARC, Loc. 3026)

~Maddy


"I tried to sleep with Maddy for the very same reason I slept with everyone else.  But I fell in love with her instead.  And now she's all I want."  (eARC, Loc. 4106)

~Gabe


"As I look at her, backlit by the sun and gorgeous as fu**ing hell, it's the only thing I can think of.  All I need is her."  (eARC, Loc. 4368)

~Gabe


"Madison, I don't deserve you.  That much is true.  But all I want is you.  And if I can't have you, then I don't want anyone."  (eARC, Loc. 4389)

~Gabe


"I look at him, and for some reason, all the leftover feelings...the being mad at him, the hurt, the fear...it all fades away.  I know what's important now.  Him and me.  That's it.  That's all that matters."  (eARC, Loc. 4405) 

~Maddy


Purchase At:








About the Author:




I am a novelist who loves thunderstorms, Autumn, Harry Potter books and picking all of the cookie dough out of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.
I am the author of If You Stay (book one of the Beautifully Broken series). I am represented by Catherine Drayton of Inkwell Management.
My other books include: The Minaldi Legacy (Of Blood and Bone), The Paradise Diaries (Dante's Girl and Mia's Heart), The Cougar Chronicles (Confessions of an Alli Cat), The Bloodstone Saga (Every Last Kiss, Fated, With My Last Breath and My Tattered Bonds), The Moonstone Saga (Soul Kissed and Soul Bound), Princess, and Guardian.