ARC Review: RED VELVET CRUSH by Christina Meredith

Release Date: June 14, 2016

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Page Count: 304 

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Teddy Lee’s mother ran off when she was in second grade. And ever since, Teddy Lee, the often-overshadowed middle kid, has tried to keep her family together. But her older brother Winston usually keeps himself busy with smoking, drinking, and girls, and who knows what else. Her younger sister Billie is occupied with her shoplifting habit and boys . . . and who knows what else. So when Teddy Lee finally takes the songs she’s always written and forms a band, maybe it’ll bring everyone closer together, maybe it’ll be her time to shine. Unless Billie steals the spotlight—and the boy—just like she always does. Christina Meredith explores the complicated relationship of sisters—both the unconditional love and the unavoidable resentments—in a novel full of music, urgency, the first blushes of love, and the undeniable excitement of hitting the road.

Release Day, Giveaway, & Exclusive Excerpt: BEFORE THAT NIGHT by Violet Duke

New York Times bestselling author Violet Duke's BEFORE THAT NIGHT is available today! We're so thrilled for everyone to get their hands on the first part of Caine and Addison's story.

Find out more about BEFORE THAT NIGHT below and enter to win a $50 gift card!

Before that night, Addison Millan had been just a college dropout secretly raising her two young siblings in a beat-up minivan she’d bought with her first semester’s tuition refund—the only money her addict mother hadn’t taken off with when she’d abandoned them the year prior.

Before that night, Caine Spencer had been just a rough, gruff cop sent to check out the phoned-in claims of suspected child neglect involving the same woman he’d met a month ago when she’d first served him the city’s worst diner coffee...which he’d been drinking daily ever since.

Before that night, Addison would never have thought the man she’d been fighting hard not to fall for—her only friend in her new shadow of a life—would be in a position to rip her family apart.

Before that night, Caine would never have believed any woman could make him fall head over heels, let alone make him feel so damn compelled to look the other way when it came to his job.

Then that one perfect night changed everything.

BEFORE THAT NIGHT (Book 1) chronicles the destiny-altering events that take place seven years prior to EVERY NIGHT WITHOUT YOU (Book 2), Caine & Addison’s emotional story of love, sacrifice, and the lengths one will run—and chase—when their past threatens their future.

Add BEFORE THAT NIGHT to Goodreads here!

Buy links for BEFORE THAT NIGHT are coming soon! Be sure to keep an eye on Violet Duke's facebook page for links as soon as they go live! You can also sign up here to be notified.

10 ARC Giveaway & Chapter Reveal: A TORCH AGAINST THE NIGHT by Sabaa Tahir

GOODREADS

A Torch Against the Night takes readers into the heart of the Empire as Laia and Elias fight their way north to liberate Laia’s brother from the horrors of Kauf Prison. Hunted by Empire soldiers, manipulated by the Commandant, and haunted by their pasts, Laia and Elias must outfox their enemies and confront the treacherousness of their own hearts.

In the city of Serra, Helene Aquilla finds herself bound to the will of the Empire’s twisted new leader, Marcus. When her loyalty is questioned, Helene finds herself taking on a mission to prove herself—a mission that might destroy her, instead.

How cool is it that you can read the first two chapters in A TORCH AGAINST THE NIGHT this soon? Click below to read the first two chapters! Let us know what you think in the comments below!

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

Three Books I WISH I Read My Freshman Year of High School

So I've been out of high school for nearly six months now- which, I know, is still not a lot of time.  But, in that period, I've had a lot of time to reflect on my (rather crazy) high school experience, and I've come to the conclusion that there are a quite a few books that, if I had read them my freshman year, would have helped me tremendously.  Whether it involved dealing with fake friends, bullies, crushes, or that constant need to overachieve, I know that all these books would have definitely helped me out a lot.  

1. Simon Vs. the Homosapien's Agenda by Becky Albertalli 

Now, this book was released (and read) my junior year of high school, but I SO wish I would've been able to get my hands on it sooner.  One of the reasons I cannot stop talking about my love for this book, is because of its underlying message of always being unapologetically "you".  Simon knows that he's different than his peers, and yet, that doesn't stop him from being himself.  While I like to think that I never faltered from being my true self, I know that I had moments where I would try to be someone I wasn't, or where I tried too hard to "fit in".  Simon is a perfect example of a book that shows that you don't have to fit in with the crowd.  



2. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell 

Another book that I read later on in my high school career, Fangirl is a story that I know would've been so helpful to me my freshman year.  As Cath deals with the trials and tribulations of starting school, making friends, growing up, and

following dreams, her story resembles (to an extent) what my high school experience was like.  Her struggle to fit in and find her place in her new school would have been so comforting to me at the start of my high school career.  



3. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson 

*Gasp* a non-fiction book?! Since I've been out of high school, I've been rediscovering non-fiction self-help/positive thinking books, and this has been one of my favorites lately.  I highly recommend it to anyone who's even a little bit interested in positive thinking, or anyone that tends to be high-strung (me). It really teaches you to let go of the small stuff, and live a happier life.  I can note so many times in high school where I was too anxious and too high-strung, and even moments now where I still am.  Whenever I jump into this mindset, I think of what that book said, and it helps to calm me down.  


So those are the three books that I wish I read my freshman year of high school! Have you read any of these books? Will you be picking any of these up soon? Let me know! 

Release Day + Exclusive Excerpt + Giveaway: TEMPTING ISABEL by Rissa Brahm

Today is the release day for Rissa Brahm’s exotic Tempting Isabel! I am so excited to share this sexy new romance with you. Be sure to check out the excerpt Rissa is sharing with us and enter her giveaway!

Luck. Lust. Love.

Wedding planner Isabel Ruiz is cursed. Her hometown of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico agrees, considering her tragic track record. Alone and loveless, she creates fairy-tale weddings for others. Her only distraction? The occasional anonymous fling. So to avoid further tragedy, her rule, one–night–only, is never broken…

Until Zack.

Self-made millionaire Zack James is in town for his brother’s wedding, when a sudden spell of depression hits. Maybe burned out by his fast and luxurious lifestyle? Not even his two female companions hold any interest.

That is, until he meets Isabel.

She humbles and captivates him, reigniting his thirst for life. With her, Zack feels more alive than ever. To his delight—and her dismay—they share a deep bond, a sensual connection, and one mind-bending night.

Zack must have her – to complete him. And Isabel must escape him – to save him.

Their game of catch and chase leads to lust-turned-love. For Isabel, it's fate’s cruelest joke. But Zack won’t quit, positive he’s the cure to her curse. Can he convince her to risk everything with him? Or will it all go south…in paradise.

**Mature Content Warning** 17+ for language, and adult situations. HEA.

Amazon

Cover Reveal: BROOKS by Chelsea M. Cameron

Today we are revealing the cover for BROOKS by Chelsea M. Cameron. This book is a new adult, contemporary romance novel. It kicks off the new standalone series, Benson Brothers. It is currently up for exclusive pre-order on iBooks.

BROOKS by Chelsea M. Cameron
Benson Brothers #1 / Releasing June 28th

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Brooks Benson is bored, stuck and miserable. When both his parents were unable to continue running the variety store, he dropped out of college and came back home to help. It’s been almost two years and he’s tired of making pizzas and selling scratch tickets to the locals of Hope Harbor, Maine. But as the second oldest Benson brother, he’s the one that stepped up. Now all he can see is a gray future in front of him.

Remington “Remi” Tate is disappointed, frustrated and out of options. After dropping out of college and trying to make a go of it in New York, she’s forced to come back home to live with her parents in Hope Harbor. Totally humiliating. Things are looking pretty grim until she starts baking again and runs into Brooks when she visits Benson Variety to ask if they’ll sell her whoopie pies, cakes, and cookies.

What was once a high school crush is now something much more mature that hits both of them like a ton of bricks. Brooks is game, as long as they keep things physical. which is just fine with Remi. She’s not planning on sticking around Hope Harbor forever and Brooks is definitely a lifer. They’re just two different to ever build something that could last.

Life rarely goes according to plan and what starts as just sex soon turns into something that splashes color into their once-drab lives. For the first time, they find peace and security in one another. But will it last? Or will everything crumble into pieces, leaving them with nothing?

Pre-order Now 

iBooks

Add BROOKS to Goodreads

Release Day + Exclusive Excerpt: SMUT by Karina Halle

What happens when the kink between the pages leads to heat between the sheets?

All Blake Crawford wants is to pass his creative writing course, get his university degree and take over his dad’s ailing family business. What Amanda Newland wants is to graduate at the top of her class, as well as finally finish her novel and prove to her family that writing is a respectful career.

What Blake and Amanda don’t want is to be paired up with each other for their final project but that’s exactly what they both get when they’re forced to collaborate on a writing piece. Since Amanda thinks Blake is a pushy asshole (with a panty-melting smirk and British accent) and Blake thinks Amanda has a stick up her ass (though it’s brilliant ass), they fight tooth and nail until they discover they write well together. They also might find each other really attractive, but that’s neither here nor there.

When their writing project turns out to be a success, the two of them decide to start up a secret partnership together using a pen name, infiltrating the self-publishing market in the lucrative genre of erotica. Naturally, with so much heat and passion between the pages, it’s not long before their dirty words become a dirty reality. Sure, they still fight a lot but at least there’s make-up sex now.

But even as they start to fall hard for each other, will their burgeoning relationship survive if their scandalous secret is exposed or are happily-ever-afters just a work of fiction?

iTunes | Nook | Kobo

Lauren Blakely's Surprise Announcement

Lauren’s sexiest couple ever, Julia and Clay, are back!That’s right! Fans asked and Lauren is delivering!

 The one question Lauren has received regularly in the last two years since the publication of ONE MORE NIGHT, the final novel in the Julia and Clay story in the Seductive Nights series, is “Can you please tell us what Julia and Clay are up to now?”

A WILDLY SEDUCTIVE NIGHT
is the answer to that reader request!

 

Release Blitz & Excerpt: STAY WITH ME by Kelly Elliot

Life moves on.

Only people who have never lost anyone they loved with all their heart can blindly believe those words.

What if I didn’t want to move on? What if I wanted to wake up every morning with that familiar ache in my chest, knowing I’d never see her again?

But, life can change in a moment.

I knew that better than anyone … So, when I couldn’t get those mesmerizing green eyes out of my head, I decided to do something about it.

Would one night with her be enough, or would my heart decide it was finally time to move on from the past?

Book Review: SUMMER OF SUPERNOVAS by Darcy Woods

Rating: 5/5 stars

Young Adult - Contemporary 

Fans of Jennifer E. Smith and Jenny Han will fall in love with this heartfelt and humor-laced debut following one girl’s race to find the guy of her cosmic dreams.

When zodiac-obsessed teen Wilamena Carlisle discovers a planetary alignment that won’t repeat for a decade, she’s forced to tackle her greatest astrological fear: The Fifth House—relationships and love.

But when Wil falls for a sensitive guitar player hailing from the wrong side of the astrology chart, she must decide whether a cosmically doomed love is worth rejecting her dead mother’s legacy and the very system she’s faithfully followed through a lifetime of unfailing belief.

(Synopsis provided by Goodreads.com)

Release Day + Excerpt: CHIMERA by Stephie Walls

I couldn’t be anything other than a romantic at heart — it’s my nature, it’s who I am. But this isn’t a typical story of traditional love. It isn’t a fairy tale. No happily ever after neatly tied up with a shiny bow. It’s a memoir of the reality left behind in the wake of grief — the desolation, the resurrection, and final culmination life offers to the fallen.

This is a journey through love…the love of self, love of a friend, and sometimes love is ugly, messy —destructive.

My name is Bastian Thames…and this is my story.

Cover Reveal, Excerpt, & Giveaway: A PROMISE KEPT by Anissa Garcia

Today we’re revealing the cover for A Promise KeptA Promise Kept by Anissa Garcia. We are so excited to share this gorgeous cover! Check it out and enter Anissa’s giveaway.

A PROMISE KEPT

By Anissa Garcia

Publishing: June 6, 2016 

Closing her heart a long time ago, Grace Clark made a promise she’s vowed to keep. Having Hollywood heartthrob Evan Matthews move in next door with his alluring good looks, charisma, wit, and sexy smile is a temptation that runs the risk of compromising the importance of that promise.

Evan is drawn to his new neighbor. Grace is the exact opposite of the women he normally encounters. Enticing, down-to-earth, and confident, she captivates him. She has no problems facing off with Evan, and he soon realizes Grace is much more than just a challenge. He wants to prove himself to her.

Grace can see the man beyond the actor, and with more than just her pride at stake, she needs to hold tight to her promise before Evan breaks through all her walls, exposing her heart.

Preorder today | Goodreads

Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, Giveaway: JUST ONE TOUCH by Jami Wagner

Secrets … they’re risky business.

Conner Brian was kept in the dark about being a father, so he isn’t a fan of people who aren't truthful. Now, with a four-year-old son, he’s adjusting to life as a dad. He’s getting along with his son’s mother, working at the Black Alcove bar, and he’s ready for classes in the fall. Life is good.

Alexis Parker has finally taken a leap of faith to meet her brother. Only he doesn’t know it. Terrified of rejection but determined to reunite with the only family she has left, she keeps the reason behind her move to Wind Valley to herself. She isn’t going to allow her past to steal her happiness any longer.

When Alexis moves into the apartment across from Conner, they both soon realize how pieces of their own lives affect the other. But even though their connection feels real, some things are better left unshared.

Her secret could break a promise he’s made to a friend and his secret could break her. If Conner and Alexis can’t trust in each other, they’ll be hurting more than just themselves.

A fun New Adult romance, Just One Touch fills your heart with love and tests the power of trust.

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