Review & Promo Tour : Lucian Divine by Renee Carlino

Lucian Divine

By:
Renee Carlino

Standalone

Release Date:
Jan. 9, 2017

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Source:
Author via Review Tour Host

eARC received in exchange of honest review

Book Summary:

“My guardian angel is a drunk.” 

Evelyn Casey's life is at a standstill. She's in her mid-twenties, struggling with the dating scene in San Francisco. Nothing seems to be working out, and she’s starting to think that she’ll live out her days in her crummy apartment with her overbearing roommate, Brooklyn. It's absurd, but sometimes Evey longs for a guardian angel to show up and save the day. 

And then he does. Seriously. His name is Lucian and he's a guardian angel, been on the job for two thousand years. His sudden presence in her life is both good—he's brilliant, witty, and warm—and bad—he's brilliant, witty, warm, and hot as ----. But as perfect as Lucian seems, he’s got problems of his own. He’s taken up drinking and he’s brazenly inserted himself into Evey’s life, going against the greatest cosmic law ever created. 

For Evey, the rules are simple: You are not allowed to hook up with your guardian angel. But sometimes fulfilling your destiny requires a leap of faith, a confrontation with God. 

Yes, God as in God.

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

About Renee Carlino:

Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and bestselling author of contemporary women's novels and new adult fiction. Her books have been featured in national publications, including USA TODAY, Huffington Post, Latina magazine, and Publisher's Weekly. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog June. When she's not at the beach with her boys or working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate. Learn more at www.reneecarlino.com 

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Release Day Blitz : Lucian Divine by Renee Carlino

Lucian Divine

By:
Renee Carlino

Standalone

Release Date:
Jan. 9, 2017

Add to Goodreads

Book Summary:

“My guardian angel is a drunk.” 

Evelyn Casey's life is at a standstill. She's in her mid-twenties, struggling with the dating scene in San Francisco. Nothing seems to be working out, and she’s starting to think that she’ll live out her days in her crummy apartment with her overbearing roommate, Brooklyn. It's absurd, but sometimes Evey longs for a guardian angel to show up and save the day. 

And then he does. Seriously. His name is Lucian and he's a guardian angel, been on the job for two thousand years. His sudden presence in her life is both good—he's brilliant, witty, and warm—and bad—he's brilliant, witty, warm, and hot as ----. But as perfect as Lucian seems, he’s got problems of his own. He’s taken up drinking and he’s brazenly inserted himself into Evey’s life, going against the greatest cosmic law ever created. 

For Evey, the rules are simple: You are not allowed to hook up with your guardian angel. But sometimes fulfilling your destiny requires a leap of faith, a confrontation with God. 

Yes, God as in God.

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

About Renee Carlino:

Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and bestselling author of contemporary women's novels and new adult fiction. Her books have been featured in national publications, including USA TODAY, Huffington Post, Latina magazine, and Publisher's Weekly. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog June. When she's not at the beach with her boys or working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate. Learn more at www.reneecarlino.com 

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Release Day Blitz Hosted By:

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Cover Reveal: Lucian Divine by Renee Carlino

Lucian Divine

By:
Renee Carlino

Standalone

Release Date:
Jan. 9, 2017

Book Summary:

“My guardian angel is a drunk.” 

Evelyn Casey's life is at a standstill. She's in her mid-twenties, struggling with the dating scene in San Francisco. Nothing seems to be working out, and she’s starting to think that she’ll live out her days in her crummy apartment with her overbearing roommate, Brooklyn. It's absurd, but sometimes Evey longs for a guardian angel to show up and save the day. 

And then he does. Seriously. His name is Lucian and he's a guardian angel, been on the job for two thousand years. His sudden presence in her life is both good—he's brilliant, witty, and warm—and bad—he's brilliant, witty, warm, and hot as ----. But as perfect as Lucian seems, he’s got problems of his own. He’s taken up drinking and he’s brazenly inserted himself into Evey’s life, going against the greatest cosmic law ever created. 

For Evey, the rules are simple: You are not allowed to hook up with your guardian angel. But sometimes fulfilling your destiny requires a leap of faith, a confrontation with God. 

Yes, God as in God.

Preorder At:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

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About Renee Carlino:

Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and bestselling author of contemporary women's novels and new adult fiction. Her books have been featured in national publications, including USA TODAY, Huffington Post, Latina magazine, and Publisher's Weekly. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog June. When she's not at the beach with her boys or working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate. Learn more at www.reneecarlino.com

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Book Review: Swear on This Life by Renee Carlino

Swear on This Life

By:
Renee Carlino

Published:
August 9, 2016

Publisher:
Atria Books

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Goodreads

Source:
eARC from publisher in exchange for a honest review

GR's Summary:

When a bestselling debut novel from mysterious author J.Colby becomes the literary event of the year, Emiline reads it reluctantly. As an adjunct writing instructor at UC San Diego with her own stalled literary career and a bumpy long-term relationship, Emiline isn’t thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of a young and gifted writer. 

Yet from the very first page, Emiline is entranced by the story of Emerson and Jackson, two childhood best friends who fall in love and dream of a better life beyond the long dirt road that winds through their impoverished town in rural Ohio. 

That’s because the novel is patterned on Emiline’s own dark and desperate childhood, which means that “J. Colby” must be Jase: the best friend and first love she hasn’t seen in over a decade. Far from being flattered that he wrote the novel from her perspective, Emiline is furious that he co-opted her painful past and took some dramatic creative liberties with the ending. 

The only way she can put her mind at ease is to find and confront “J. Colby,” but is she prepared to learn the truth behind the fiction?

 

My Thoughts:

Swear on This Life, by Renee Carlino, is a second chance at love romance.  This story was emotionally stirring, thoughtful, and filled with life lessons.  As I read about the main characters, my heart was broken and then mended back together.  Emiline "Em" and Jase are unforgettable characters that came to life with the way that Ms. Carlino gave them so many layers and facets to their characterization.

Emiline is an adjunct professor and struggling writer.  She has been in a tepid and apathetic long-term relationship with Trevor for seven years.  When her good friend and roommate, Cara, recommends a book called, All the Roads Between, she decides to read it, and is shocked to realize that it is the story of herself and her first love, Jase.  He has now become a huge success, and this bothers Emiline, because he has become famous by telling her story.  Jase is on a book tour and will be stopping in San Diego, where she currently resides.  What will happen when Emiline decides to confront Jase at his book signing?

I enjoyed reading both Emiline's present, as well as her past through excerpts of All the Roads Between.  Swear on This Life was a poignant and bittersweet story.  It was painful to read about all that Em and Jase had to endure in their youth.   Yet, Ms. Carlino did an excellent job of establishing Em and Jase's deep connection, the way that they were forced to grow up way too soon, and how their childhood shaped the adults that they would become.  It was easy to see why they longed for one another, and their tragedies forged a love that no one else could ever compete with.

My Rating:

I give, Swear on This Life, by Renee Carlino, 5 Tragic Youth, Lovesick Teens, One and Only Love Filled Stars!  If you are looking for an emotional story that will hook you, and keep you turning pages until the very end, you have found the perfect book! 
  

Book Teasers:

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo

About Renee Carlino:

I’m the author of Sweet Thing, Sweet Little Thing, Nowhere But Here, After the Rain, Before We Were Strangers and upcoming SWEAR ON THIS LIFE (August 2016') . I’m a California native currently residing in a beach town in Southern California where I live with my husband, our two boys, and our sweet dog June.

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Release Day Launch & Book Review : Before We Were Strangers by Renee Carlino

Before We Were Strangers
by Renee Carlino

Release Date:
August 18th, 2015

Publisher:
Atria Books

Source:
Publisher via NetGalley

eARC received in exchange of honest review

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Synopsis:

From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Sweet Thing and Nowhere But Here comes a love story about a Craigslist “missed connection” post that gives two people a second chance at love fifteen years after they were separated in New York City. 

To the Green-eyed Lovebird: 

We met fifteen years ago, almost to the day, when I moved my stuff into the NYU dorm room next to yours at Senior House. 

You called us fast friends. I like to think it was more. 

We lived on nothing but the excitement of finding ourselves through music (you were obsessed with Jeff Buckley), photography (I couldn’t stop taking pictures of you), hanging out in Washington Square Park, and all the weird things we did to make money. I learned more about myself that year than any other. 

Yet, somehow, it all fell apart. We lost touch the summer after graduation when I went to South America to work for National Geographic. When I came back, you were gone. A part of me still wonders if I pushed you too hard after the wedding… 

I didn’t see you again until a month ago. It was a Wednesday. You were rocking back on your heels, balancing on that thick yellow line that runs along the subway platform, waiting for the F train. I didn’t know it was you until it was too late, and then you were gone. Again. You said my name; I saw it on your lips. I tried to will the train to stop, just so I could say hello. 

After seeing you, all of the youthful feelings and memories came flooding back to me, and now I’ve spent the better part of a month wondering what your life is like. I might be totally out of my mind, but would you like to get a drink with me and catch up on the last decade and a half? 

Purchase Links:

Amazon | B&N | iTunes

My Thoughts:

Before We Were Strangers was a stunningly beautiful story.  I would go so far as to say that it is in my top favorite second chance at romance stories.  I have read all of Renee Carlino's books, and loved them all.  However, this one and Sweet Thing are my top two favorite's.  I don't know how to describe what this story did to me, but I will try my best to do it justice.   My reading experience with Matt and Grace was profound.  It took my breathe away, and resonated in to my very being.   This story pulled on my heart strings, and I experienced every emotion, a deep sense of longing, and the once-in-a-lifetime type of love that these two characters experienced right along with them.

The story begins in the present time.  Matt is in his late thirties, and unhappy with his life.  He is divorced and works with his pregnant ex-wife and her husband (who use to be his friend) at National Geographic.  He is a successful photographer, but you quickly realize that he is not in a good place.  One day, while at the subway with his boss and current friend, he captures a glimpse of Grace in the window of the train.  They both make eye contact, and he races towards the train, but it is too late.  As a reader, you quickly realize that he and Grace have a strong connection and she is someone from his past.  Matt does everything in his power to find Grace, but to no avail.  He finally writes a passage in the missed connections section on Craig's list at the urging of his boss/good friend.

From this point, Matt reflects on the past, (fifteen years ago when he was a senior) when he met Grace.  We get her perspective as well, and learn about the epic love that these two once shared.  There is no other word to describe what these two meant to one another except to say that they were soulmates in the truest and deepest meaning of the word.  The story then takes us in to the present and future with the alternating perspectives of Matt and Grace.  I can't possibly recommend this book enough, except to say, please read it.  You will fall in love with these two characters and their amazing love story.   

I loved Matt and Grace.  They complimented each other perfectly, were very likable and unique characters.  Their story was romantic, bittersweet, heartbreaking at times, extremely passionate, and full of surprises along the way.  Their story was brought to life by their unique voices, and Ms. Carlino's brilliant insight in to human emotions, love, and loss.  I would love to see this story turned in to a movie.  It was powerful and wove a magic spell on me with the way that it transported me in to the very lives of Matt and Grace.   

My Rating:

I give, Before We Were Strangers, by Renee Carlino, 5 Serendipitous, Sweet Passionate Love, Soulmates Forever Filled Stars!

Teasers:

About the Author:

Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and bestselling author of romantic women's novels. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog June. When she’s not at the beach with her boys or working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate.

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Release Launch Hosted by:

Blog Tour: After the Rain by Renee Carlino

After the Rain
By: Renee Carlino
Published: November 11, 2014
Publisher: Atria Books
Source: Publisher
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GR's Summary:

From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Sweet Thing and Nowhere But Here comes a deeply emotional contemporary romance about the second chances waiting beyond the shattered dreams of youth. 

Under the bright arena lights of a rodeo show, young Avelina Belo falls for a handsome cowboy with a larger-than-life personality. After a whirlwind courtship, she happily moves away from her family in northern California and settles into married life with her cowboy on a seven-thousand-acre cattle ranch in Montana. One freak accident later, Avelina’s hopes for the future come to an end. 

Nate Myers graduated from UCLA medical school at the top of his class, ready to follow in the footsteps of his father, a superstar cardiothoracic surgeon. Six years later, Nate’s career is being ruined by a malpractice suit. Questioning himself for the first time, he retreats to a Montana cattle ranch to visit his uncle and gain perspective. There, he meets a beautiful young woman named Avelina who teaches him more than he ever knew about matters of the heart.

My Thoughts:

After the Rain by Renee Carlino was a beautiful story.  It was very true to real life.  It was emotional, tragic, devastating, and bittersweet.  After the Rain is one of those stories that felt like it was speaking directly to me.  It was honest in how the raw depth of excruciating loss was depicted.  Ms. Carlino could have made this story more cliche and cookie cutter.  She could have taken the easy way out, but instead delivered something so powerful in its authenticity.

Avelina (Ava) is just a young girl when she see's how death can destroy the living.  When her father dies, her mother becomes a shell of her former self.  As she grows in to a beautiful young woman, she falls madly in love with a handsome, and charming young cowboy.  They quickly get married, and it seems as through Ava's life is complete.  However, the tides quickly change when fate deals her a most painful tragedy.

Nate has had a wonderful life, loving parents, and is use to things coming easily to him.  He decides to follow in his father's footsteps by becoming a Cardiothoracic Surgeon.  When he begins his new job, things come to a standstill in his life and career when he loses a patient, and is threatened with malpractice.  Nate's father gives him a leave of absence and sends him to Montana to spend time with his Uncle Dale and Aunt Trish as a way to get perspective on his life.  While on the Ranch, he meets the beautiful, but lost Ava, and builds a beautiful friendship with her.  While they share an attraction and chemistry, Ava's broken heart never mended, and Nate doesn't know if there will ever be hope for the two of them to be together.

Ava and Nate were such richly created characters.  From the beginning of the story, I was hooked, and crying my eyes out.  My heart physically ached for Ava.  I applauded Nate for his patience and compassion towards Ava.  I was proud of Ava as well for being true to herself.  She was strong in her own right.  Yes, she lost her way at one point, but the fact that she could pick herself up after all that she had gone through took courage, strength, and perseverance.  The plot was extremely well developed, and the characters were fully fleshed out.  The life lessons in this story were abundant and relatable.  Be prepared for your heart to break, your eyes to tear, and your heart to quiver.  After the Rain is an epic life story, as well as love story!    

My Rating:

I give, After the Rain by Renee Carlino 4.5 Paralyzing Tragedy, Epic Love, Forever is Only Now" Filled Stars.  This story will shatter your heart, and then mend it back together again.    

My Favorite Quote:

"In all my years, I've learned that life delivers many storms for us to weather.  Some will be slow, brooding, quiet beasts, and others will be loud, thunderous, and frightening.  But if you're willing to look close enough, no matter how devastating the storm may be, after the rain you'll always find new life sprouting in the aftermath."  (eARC, Loc. 3755)

~Edith

Book Teaser:

Purchase At:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

About Renee Carlino:

Renée Carlino lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog, June. When she's not at the beach with her boys or working on her next book, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate. To learn more, visit ReneeCarlino.com.

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