Release Day Excerpt and Giveaway: ACT LIKE IT by Lucy Parker

It’s release day for Act Like It by Lucy Parker! I am so excited to share this new contemporary romance with you! Lucy is sharing an excerpt and a giveaway with us today, so be sure to check it all out!

 

This just in: romance takes center stage as West End theatre's Richard Troy steps out with none other than castmate Elaine Graham Richard Troy used to be the hottest actor in London, but the only thing firing up lately is his temper. We all love to love a bad boy, but Richard's antics have made him Enemy Number One, breaking the hearts of fans across the city. Have the tides turned? Has English rose Lainie Graham made him into a new man? Sources say the mismatched pair has been spotted at multiple events, arm in arm and hip to hip. From fits of jealousy to longing looks and heated whispers, onlookers are stunned by this blooming romance. Could the rumors be right? Could this unlikely romance be the real thing? Or are these gifted stage actors playing us all? 

Review and Excerpt Tour: DARING HER LOVE by Melissa Foster

We are thrilled to bring you the Review/Excerpt Tour for DARING HER LOVE by Melissa Foster! DARING HER LOVE is a novella in the world of her Love in Bloom: The Bradens Series, brought to you by 1001 Dark Nights. It is due to be released on November 24, 2015! Grab your copy of this sexy novella today!

   

About DARING HER LOVE: This BRADEN novella features Kat Martin, Brianna Heart's best friend from HEARTS AT PLAY (The Bradens, #6) with appearances from the hot, wealthy, and wickedly naughty Bradens you know and love. In DARING HER LOVE… Kat Martin knows what she wants in a man—someone stable and adoring, definitely not the type of guy who sleeps around. After all, Kat rarely does the wrong thing—until she meets seductively enticing Eric James, and suddenly wrong has never felt so right. When it comes to his career, race-car driver Eric James is intense, obsessive, and passionate, but when it comes to sex, there’s only one kind—daring, unbridled, and no-strings-attached. One stormy night, a delayed flight and the dangerous allure of the unknown leads Kat to throw caution to the wind, and she indulges in a rendezvous that she vows to immediately forget—but the secret tryst stirs something possessive in Eric, and forgetting is not an option.

Review: DUMPLIN' by Julie Murphy

Release Date: September 15, 2015

Publisher: Balzar + Bray/ HarperCollins 

Page Count: 375

Rating: 4/5 stars

Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked…until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.

Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Clover City beauty pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all.

With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine—Dumplin’ is guaranteed to steal your heart.

ONCE UPON A DECEMBER by Sydney Logan, Black Friday Book Blast + Giveaway

Today we have a Black Friday Book Blast deal for you! Make sure you check out the giveaway at the end! 

Christmas is in the air, and best selling author Sydney Logan is gifting readers with a short story collection, just in time for the holidays. Once Upon a December features Sydney’s latest story, “What Child Is This,” along with her previously published holiday stories in one complete collection. Available for the first time in both paperback and ebook, these heartwarming and romantic tales are sure to bring you joy this holiday season.

What Child Is This?

Estranged from his family and the love of his life, Thomas Fisher finds himself stranded in an airport on Christmas Eve. Imagine his surprise when a young boy takes him by the hand and shows him the way home.

Mistletoe Magic

Melanie Taylor is on a mission to find the perfect Christmas gift for her husband. Something special. Something expensive. Something that will save her marriage. Can a chance encounter on an elevator make her Christmas wish come true?

The Little Drummer Boy

It’s Christmas Eve, and Justin Banks is on the hunt for a last-minute gift for his wife, Megan. With the help of a homeless man and the beat of a drum, Justin stumbles upon the one thing Megan has always wanted. The one thing money can’t buy. It's amazing what we can hear if we just take a moment and really listen.

Release Week Blitz + Excerpt: THE HARDER YOU FALL by Gena Showalter

We are absolutely thrilled to bring you the Release Week Blitz for Gena Showalter’s THE HARDER YOU FALL! Being released today, this fantastic contemporary romance in the Original Heartbreakers series is a scorching tale featuring an aloof bad boy and the rowdy Southern belle who rocks his world, published by HarlequinHQN! Order THE HARDER YOU FALL from the links below! And don’t miss the sexy excerpt we have for you below!

  THE HARDER YOU FALL Synopsis: From New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter comes another scorching Original Heartbreakers tale featuring an aloof bad boy andthe rowdy Southern belle who rocks his world… Millionaire video-game creator Lincoln West has a dark and tragic past. The sought-after bachelor lives by a rigid schedule and a single rule—one relationship per year, lasting no more than two months. No exceptions. When he gave up the big city for a small town, he hoped to escapethe worst of his memories—until a brash beauty dredges up long-buried emotions. A reformed party girl, Jessie Kay Dillon is determined to walk the straight and narrow. But her love-hate sizzle with West is just too irresistible. They can't be near each other without tearing off their clothes, but the last thing she needs is to be his next two-month dump. Will she becomethe one exception? Because as any former girl-gone-wild knows: rules are made to be broken.  

"Emotional, heart-tugging, kept me turning the pages!" —Carly Phillips, New York Times Bestselling Author

Happy Thanksgiving! - Here are some books we're thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! We hope you're day is full of fun and bellies full of yummy food!

Us at Oh, the Book Feels and GrownUp Fangirl would like to share some of the books we're thankful for! Of course, there's too many on our list to count, so we'll share a few with you!

Gah! Only pick a select few of my favorite books is such a hard task to do! I wish I could just go ahead and list all of the books that have a piece of my heart... but, we would be here forever if I did that! Instead, I'll just name a handful of books that I'm really thankful for!

The Infernal Devices Trilogy by Cassandra Clare

Ohhhh boy. I have no idea where to start with this trilogy because my words won't do it justice. This trilogy is my ALL TIME FAVORITE and the reason why I started my bookstagram account. I feel that I had not lived until I read this series (sorry Twilight, but these books take the cake)! The Mortal Instruments, and whenever they would mention the characters from The Infernal Devices, I automatically got teary eyed. I won't even mention the epilogue in Clockwork Princess.... I just... yeah. I can't even! 

 I have to thank one of my best friends for introducing me to these. I remember we both were reading these at the same time (she was one book ahead of me), and both were a blubbering mess.  I fell in love with the characters. All of them. The way that Cassandra Clare wrote these books literally took my breath away. There was so much action, heart-break, love, angst... *sigh*. Just writing this post makes me want to go back and revisit those beauties. I read these before I read

Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

I just recently read this series! I started reading them this summer because I was so intrigued by the premise, and I heard SO many great things about this series. And, the book covers are to die for. I'm a sucker for a strong female lead, Sarah J. Maas did exactly just that. These books were such a wild ride, and a PERFECT escape of reality. Plus, they have some pretty HOT guys in there too. Rowan... Prince Dorian... Chaol... Aedion... just... *heart eyes*! I also love a book that keeps me on my toes and gives me the unexpected. I didn't think there was a moment in this series where I expected something to happen. Also, I LOVED how Sarah connected absolutely everything. Nothing was left untouched and unanswered. She is a puzzle mastermind, and I applaud her for being a GENIUS.
Another series I know I'm going to love by her is A Court of Thorns and Roses. I already read the first one, and I FREAKING LOVED IT. I'm quite obsessed with it honestly!
Check out my review for both series/books!
Throne of Glass series review

A Court of Thorns and Roses review

Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer

I know. Seems cliché, right? Even though I used to read when I was younger, I had a VERY long break where I didn't read at all (middle school through high school). Needless to say, those were some dark days for me! But when I was introduced to this series, I read all four books within a week. That's roughly around 2,500 pages! I have to admit, I think my parents were starting to worry about me. I became a zombie during that week. I forgot to eat, I barely talked... not to mention that when I went through New Moon, I was probably equally as depressed as our dear Miss Bella Swan. Those books captivated me so much, it was impossible to put them down. I can't thank Stephenie Meyer enough for creating this series. It allowed me to start reading again, and I wouldn't be where I'm at today if it weren't for her. 

There are so many books I'm thankful for. It would take hours to write them all down, and even then I'm sure I'd find more to include. Instead, I chose the four series that have made the biggest impact in my life, and yes, they're also the biggest YA franchises. Some may say it's cliché, but hey, they're famous for a reason, and I know I'm not the only one who's been impacted by these books. 

Twilight: the book that started it all for me. I was a very reluctant reader. I loathed the sight of books, and used to cry when my parents, who both love books, would make me read for an hour every day. That was until I picked up Twilight at the ripe age of nine years old. It was the first story that ever kept me engaged and entertained; the only story that kept me on my toes and wanting to read more. I read the series a good 8 times through, and each time, my love for the story grew more and more. Twilight was the book that made me love reading. I'm forever thankful for my mom for giving it to me, and to the book itself for introducing me to one of my biggest loves. 

Harry Potter: My light in the darkness. Harry Potter is truly my happy place. The first fantasy book I ever read, Harry Potter impacted me in ways I couldn't even imagine. It taught me about the art of storytelling, and what it really means to escape into words. It introduced me to fan-fiction, which was where I spent a good five years of my life learning how to write. I'm writing my third novel today because of Harry Potter. I'm a kinder person because of Harry Potter. I know the true value of family and friendship and love and sacrifice because of Harry Potter. It has taught me some of the most valuable attributes in life, and has also led my to discover my passion in life. 

The Hunger Games: The Hunger Games came to me in a time when I needed fiction desperately. I read the books as soon as each one was released: THG in 2008, Catching Fire in 2009, and Mockingjay in 2010. Not long after Mockingjay was released, my grandfather passed away. I was still so young, only in 8th grade, and didn't really know how to deal with it. So, I did what I've always learned to do when times get tough- escape through fiction. Katniss' struggle to cope with death comforted me, and reminded me that I wasn't alone, and helped me to heal after that traumatic situation. 

Divergent: although Twilight sparked my love for reading, Divergent really ignited the flame. Nearly three years ago, in my sophomore year of high school, I picked up divergent after having not read a book in over a year. I had convinced myself that I had read everything worthy of reading, during that yearly period, and lost interest in reading all together. I stopped writing. I became disconnected from literature. However, I decided to start reading Divergent, and found myself flying through all three books extremely fast, then craving more. I couldn't buy books fast enough, and I couldn't stop reading after that. Not only did it bring back my love of reading, but it also introduced me to the world of Booktube and book bloggers. Desperate to talk to someone about the end of Allegiant, I decided to google "Allegiant Book Reviews", and found so many on Youtube! Had I not done that, I wouldn't be a Booktuber today. 

It also reintroduced me into writing again- through fan-fiction, naturally- which spiraled into me writing my first original novel several months later. Divergent brought back my love of literature, and took it to new heights. 

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays and I wouldn’t be a true book lover if I didn't acknowledge a few that I am truly thankful for.

As my friends Hazel and Gus taught me, some infinities are bigger than other infinities, so while I am thankful for so many books/series in different ways for different reasons I am going to narrow it down to a few that have really stuck with me and my infinite love has never wavered.

Up first is, 

The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare

For me...this series just takes the cake, and I am choosing the series as whole, because I do have a favorite you just can't single out a single book here. I couldn’t even review it for days after reading. It just took away my words. Which is so funny because I was really hesitant about it and didn’t think I would like the historical aspect of the Victorian era (which is completely nonsensical as I am a HUGE steampunk aficionado) but I was completely and totally wrong. This series...it shook me. It’s hard for me to even articulate what it is that drew me in and held on so tight. I think it’s a modpodge of many different elements. All I know is it gave me the tingles man. Those kind you get where you're reading and you can’t put the book down and when you can’t read, getting back to it is all you can think about? That obsessive kind of reading? That what happened to me. I devoured it. I loved it. It made me laugh and OOH MAN did it make me cry. To this day, it has been the best and most respectful love triangles I have ever and probably WILL EVER read. It such an intense kind of love. Between all of the characters…between me and this series. I feel like I should be more expressive in my reasoning but…..this is really all I have. I am so grateful for this story and how it makes me feel every time I read it.

“It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone. They could be honest with me, and I with them.”

― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Prince

Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

This series, but especially Sorcerer's, Chamber and Prisoner just give me the warm and fuzzies. They remind me of fall/Christmas time. I associate these books very heavily with the movies, which I am also obsessed with and pretty much marathon watch Nov-Dec. The series as a whole is just so magical and heartfelt and incredible, and I think most die hard YA book lovers will agree. I think this is a world we have all wanted to live in and for me it evokes so many fond memories every time I pick one of these books up. Memories of past time reading or the first time I devoured the pages. Memories or curling up with a blanket and binge watching the movies on Christmas break. This series taught me to imagine new worlds, and for that I am thankful.

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

I am so thankful for RED QUEEN because it blew my frickin' mind and straight into my BIGGER FAVORITES.

I wanted to add this book because sometimes I feel as an avid YA reader you can become desensitized to greatness. There are the top dogs of YA, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, Divergent. I mean these are the guys that set the groundwork for other YA to live up to...based on awesomeness and overall prevalence in society. Now I know there is a HUGE range of popular YA I haven’t read yet...but there’s also a  big chunk that I have and it all comes back to “some infinities are bigger than other infinities”. Some favorites are just bigger favorites. Sometimes you read a book and you LOVE it...but do you LOVE it as much as….Harry Potter? The Infernal Devices? Whatever your BIG favorite may be…?? Sometimes it can fall short of those high standards but still qualifies as a favorite of yours right??

This book had so much hype pre-release that I was pre-determined to not like it. Ten pages in I knew this book was going to rock me in the best way. It was like Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones meets its very own wonderful and amazing world. The power, the twists and turns!! The triangle...the ugly truth. I had a sense of excitement and rapture while reading that hadn’t been roused in a while. Even now I have such strong enthusiasm about this book, I will sing it’s praises to anyone looking for a recommendation. I am so thankful I picked this up and didn’t deny myself they total awesomeness that is Red Queen. This is without a doubt one I will cherish and re-read many times and cannot wait to continue on with.

“Words can lie. See beyond them.”

― Victoria Aveyard, Red Queen

There is more. So many more I am thankful for, from The Lorax and Where the Wild Things Are to NA gems like Beautiful Player...but  The Infernal Devices, Harry Potter and Red Queen are stories that have carved their way into my heart and will stay there forever.

Looking For Alaska - changed the way I looked at death and made me learn to miss someone in a healthier way. Started my itch to write. 

The Sky is Everywhere - touched me very deeply about death and learning to live again after it - pushed me to write. 

Cliche but Twilight because it made me start reading again. 

And authors like Chelsea Fine, Cora Carmack, Colleen Hoover, Christina Lauren, KA Tucker, Jay Crownover, Abbi Glines, and Anna Todd - trailblazers in writing for a group of people who really didn't have books out there for them yet. (And all the people I know I just out by accident) 

What are some books that you're thankful for?

Review: TWISTED PERFECTION by Abbi Glines

Rating: 

4/5 stars

Genre: 

New Adult

Life outside of her house was a new experience for Della Sloane. The dark secrets of her past weren’t something she ever intended to share with anyone. They would never understand. No one would ever get close enough to find out. There was always a chance she’d go crazy sooner than they expected…

Woods Kerrington had never been one to be attracted to fragile females. They seemed like too much work. He wasn’t in it for the work just the pleasure. A night full of naughty fun had been exactly what was on his mind when he’d laid eyes on the hot little number that didn’t know how to pump gas and needed some help.

What he didn’t know was she was as fragile as they came.
The carefree girl who spoke her mind and didn’t care what the world thought of her was more breakable than he could ever imagine…

Release Day + Freebie: THE BLOOD SCION and THE SCIONLESS HOUSE by Nazarea Andrews

 

Today we are celebrating the release of THE BLOOD SCION by Nazarea Andrews. It is the beginning of a brand new paranormal series from Nazarea, The Scion Legacy. Don't miss picking up The Scionless House, a novella in the series, because it is FREE!

I was just a reporter, trying to stay ahead of my student loans. I knew the rules, and I followed them. I thought I knew how the world worked—humans lived their petty little lives in the safety of the sun. We loved and fought and—when the sun sank—we scurried behind our walls and lived in fear. That is when the monsters came out to play. And even in the safety of the sun, we knew who ruled us. The Houses. And their Scions. Everyone knows the great Houses and their Scions—they are feared and loved and hated and envied. They are the gods who walk the shadows and rule all of our lives. They are salvation and death. And somehow, I am one of them.

Click here to add THE BLOOD SCION to Goodreads

Exclusive Release Day Excerpt: BUTTERFLY DREAMS by A. Meredith Walters

     

In a powerful romance hailed as “heartbreaking, real, and breathtakingly beautiful” by Stacey Lynn, New York Times bestselling author A. Meredith Walters tells the story of a troubled young woman and the unforgettable guy who teaches her to live—and love—to the fullest.   She’s waiting to die. . . . Corin Thompson is paralyzed by her obsession with mortality. Having lost both of her parents, she is terrified by the idea that she too will die young, and she loses control at any sign of illness. But when Corin connects with someone who has survived a very real brush with death, she begins to see the world in a whole new way. He’s learning to live. . . . As Corin struggles under the weight of her neuroses, Beckett Kingsley is attempting to rebuild a life that feels all too temporary. With the ever-present threat of heart failure never far from his mind, he just wants to make the most of whatever time he has left. And that means pursuing the girl he never expected to find. Together, Corin and Beckett finally learn to let go of their fears and take solace in everyday pleasures. Who knows what the future holds? After all, nothing lasts forever—the only promise they have is right now. 

One day until: THE TRUTH ABOUT HIM by M. O'Keefe

Today we are sharing some teasers and a few giveaways for THE TRUTH ABOUT HIM by M. O'Keefe. This title will be released tomorrow -- Tuesday, November 24th. Be sure to enter to win a $50 Gift Card for sharing the book materials. In addition, if you pre-order the book now, you will be entered to win another $50 Gift Card to the online book-retailer of your choice. Today is the last day to enter!

For fans of Christina Lauren and Jodi Ellen Malpas comes the next novel in M. O’Keefe’s breathtakingly sexy series about a woman called into a journey of the heart, body, and soul. We played our roles, told each other lies.

But now Dylan is no longer just a mysterious deep voice on the other end of the line. We’re face-to-face and our relationship is very, very real.

We still have secrets—but so much is crystal clear:

The thrilling danger.

The raw, naked desire.

The need to keep feeling the way he makes me feel. Forever.

Dylan is putting up walls, trying to keep me safe, but he can’t shut me out. He has seen my darkness and rescued me. Now it’s my turn, if only he will let me.

The Truth About Him is intended for mature audiences.

Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway: STIRRED by Nancy S. Thompson

I’m Eden MacLaird, and Fate screwed me good at the age of twenty-one, stole my first love, then my first child. Twenty years later, I still haven't found my happily-ever-after. Sure, from the outside, I have it all, including Declan, my gorgeous, rich-as-sin husband. But things aren't what they seem, and catching Declan in bed with my best friend destroys any dreams I harbor for love, much less sexual fulfillment. 

Then in walks Sean Bennett...

Just months away from earning his post-graduate law degree, Sean's smart, driven, and serious, but an unexpected encounter between us in a bar one night changes everything. His best friend, Trinitee, warns against getting too involved, but the heat between us is beyond intense, and neither of us are willing to walk away. 

With my marriage in shambles, I'm eager to make a go of it with Sean, despite our sixteen-year age difference. But while I relish my sexual reawakening, I fear giving up the posh life I've grown accustomed to. That life, however, and everything in it, comes crashing down as bodies start piling up around us, and all clues point to me and Sean. 

Secrets, betrayal, and revenge threaten to destroy not just my carefully-crafted reputation, but my very life. With our freedom at stake, Sean and I join forces to uncover those plotting against us. But as doubt and evidence mount, I must choose: give in to my suspicions and save myself, or trust our new-found love and save us both.

Review: THE AIR HE BREATHES (Book One in The Elements Series) By Brittainy Cherry

I was warned about Tristan Cole.

“Stay away from him,” people said.

“He’s cruel.”

“He’s cold.”

“He’s damaged.”

It’s easy to judge a man because of his past. To look at Tristan and see a monster.

But I couldn’t do that. I had to accept the wreckage that lived inside of him because it also lived inside of me.

We were both empty.

We were both looking for something else. Something more.

We both wanted to put together the shattered pieces of our yesterdays.

Then perhaps we could finally remember how to breathe.

Genre: New Adult (Mature readers)

Rating: …..So hard to do guys! 3.5/5 stars!

Review: DIRTY ENGLISH by Ilsa Madden-Mills

A scarred fighter. A girl with rules. One night of unbridled passion. There are three things you need to know about Elizabeth Bennett: she’s smart as a whip, always in control, and lives by a set of carefully crafted rules. She’s learned the hard way that people you love the most always hurt you in the end. But then she meets Declan Blay, the new neighbor at her apartment complex. A tattooed British street fighter, he’s the campus bad boy she’s supposed to avoid, but when he saves her from a frat party gone bad, all her rules about sex and love fly out the window. She gives him one night of unbridled passion, but he longs for more. With only a cardboard-thin wall separating their bedrooms, he dreams of possessing the vulnerable girl next door forever. One night. Two damaged hearts. The passion of a lifetime. *a modern love story inspired by Pride and Prejudice*

Genre: New Adult (18+ up due to steamy content!!)

Rating: 4.5/5 STARSSS!

Exclusive Excerpt: IGNITE by Kelly Elliott

Today we have an exclusive excerpt from IGNITE by Kelly Elliott! This series is FAST and sexy! Check it out! -A

 

There were two things Emmit Lewis loved. Racing cars and Adaline Morgan. Time was stolen from the two young lovers and Emmit vowed never again would he allow anything to come between the two of them. Blurred lines both on and off the track have Emmit being tested beyond his limits. Will he reach the checkered flag and ignite Adaline’s heart, or will he be black-flagged and lose everything he has ever dreamed of?

Exclusive Excerpt: TETHERED BOND by Emma Hart

Today we have exclusive excerpt from Tethered Bond by Emma Hart! Make sure you check it out and pick up your copy today!

Detective Drake Nash: hot, alpha, bossy, and… mine.

Now, if someone could tell his ex that... I don’t care if the summer fayre is coming to Holly Woods and she’s on the planning committee. What I do care about is sugar-filled food, bright lights, late nights… and danger. The type that won’t come in the form of Nonna’s new cantankerous British parrot, Gio. (Please see the damage done to Mom’s new curtains.)

Unfortunately, when the danger comes, it comes in the form of something Holly Woods has never seen. The town is rocked to its core, and once again, I’m in danger. Only this time, it isn’t because of my clients—this time, I’m in danger because of who I am… Because of my heritage.

And despite the HWPD’s best efforts, the bodies keep on piling up.

Drake’s determined to protect me. I’m determined that I can do it myself.

Danger. Mystery. Darkness. Malice.

It’ll be a miracle if any of us make it out of this with guns unfired, cupcakes still frosted, and hearts intact…

Add to Goodreads!