Monday, September 30, 2013

Cover Reveal: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Marie Landry


Hello everybody! Welcome to the cover reveal for the awesome Marie Landry's upcoming novel The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. ^_^

~*~


The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
by Marie Landry
Release Date: November 5th 2013
Available for Pre-Order in the next couple weeks
on Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Apple!!!
Add to your shelf on Goodreads

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, right? At least that’s what twenty-year-old Ginny Bailey’s grandmother always told her, and Ginny believed it until Grama died. She even put on a brave face the following two Christmases, carrying on Grama’s traditions and decorating her house and cafĂ© with Grama’s favorite decorations.

But Ginny can’t pretend any longer. When she finds out she’s going to be alone for the holidays this year, her Christmas spirit goes out the window, along with her luck. Everything that can go wrong does, and Ginny just wants to spend the holidays hiding under the covers...until Dean Riley comes back into her life. With a shared past, old feelings begin to resurface almost immediately, and Ginny thinks Dean might just be the Christmas miracle she’s been waiting for to help her remember why Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year.

~*~

About The Author

Marie Landry is the author of BLUE SKY DAYS (contemporary YA—January 2012), THE GAME CHANGER (women's fiction—November 2012), WAITING FOR THE STORM (contemporary YA—April 2013), and THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR (a new adult holiday novella-November 2013). Marie has always been a daydreamer; since early childhood, she's had a passion for words and a desire to create imaginary worlds, so it only seemed natural for her to become a writer. She resides in Ontario, Canada, and most days you can find her writing, reading, blogging about writing and reading, listening to U2, wandering around with a camera in her hand, watching copious amounts of TV on DVD, or having grand adventures with her nephews and niece. For more on Marie and her books, please visit sweetmarie-83.blogspot.ca

~*~

Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jessica

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Want to get your hands on an ARC of If Only We?


You know you do. *wink wink*

All teasing aside, I'm being serious.

I am so excited to say that the time has come for If Only We to start going out into the world. Final edits are being done right now and PDF copies will be available very soon. If you're a book blogger/Goodreads reviewer interested in reading and reviewing IOW, you have the opportunity to get your hands on a copy. All you have to do is fill out the form below.

To sweeten the deal, anyone who signs up to read/review If Only We will be entered into a drawing to receive a signed If Only We postcard! Wanna see what they look like?


Aren't they PRETTY?!

So... do you want to receive an ARC?

Please fill out this form:



~*~

About The Book:

If Only We
They say all it takes is one wrong move and you lose the game. One false step and you’re trapped. One slip-up in your choice of words and you ruin a friendship forever. That is what they say. They say I lost.

I do not believe them.


At the end of the summer after graduation, Adrienne wonders what happened to cause her life to be in ruins. She isn’t getting along with her mom, her stepsister isn’t talking to her, and, to top it off, the boy she’s been in love with doesn’t want anything to do with her. She believes the turning point was a choice she made at graduation. When she wakes up the next day, she has been transported back three months to that moment, the one where everything started to fall apart.

Adrienne realizes she has been given a second chance--and this time she doesn’t want to mess anything up. Reliving the entire summer, though, turns out to be a lot harder than she thought. As the same days and weeks go by, she starts to see how simple decisions can make a huge impact on the world around her. Despite knowing some of what lies ahead, there are some things she didn’t anticipate. She thought she knew what mistake led her to where she ended up the first time. She was wrong.

And by the time summer is over, she discovers what was really at stake.

~*~

Blog Tour/Book Blitz/Giveaway:

I am in the process of putting together a blog tour/book blitz/giveaway type thing for release week for If Only We. If you would be interested, there is a section on the form you can fill out for that. There will be another post specifically for the Blog Tour once I work out all the details. Keep an eye out for that as well!

~*~

Thank you everyone! <3

Jessica

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Review: Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Title: Charlotte's Web
Author: E.B. White
Published: January 1st 1900
Source: Purchased
Genre: Childrens
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers
Charlotte's Web  is the story of a little girl named Fern who loved a little pig named Wilbur—and of Wilbur's dear friend Charlotte A. Cavatica, a beautiful large grey spider who lived with Wilbur in the barn.

With the help of Templeton, the rat who never did anything for anybody unless there was something in it for him, and by a wonderfully clever plan of her own, Charlotte saved the life of Wilbur, who by this time had grown up to quite a pig.

How all this comes about is Mr. White's story. It is a story of the magic of childhood on the farm. The thousands of children who loved Stuart Little, the heroic little city mouse, will be entranced with Charlotte the spider, Wilbur the pig, and Fern, the little girl who understood their language.

The forty-seven black-and-white drawings by Garth Williams have all the wonderful detail and warmhearted appeal that children love in his work. Incomparably matched to E.B. White's marvelous story, they speak to each new generation, softly and irresistibly.

My Thoughts:

I chose to reread Charlotte's Web for Banned Books Week this year mostly because I haven't read it in probably more than 15 years. I did read it numerous times growing up, so I remembered a lot of it. What I took away this time around was probably more than I ever took away back then though. Most of you already know the story, so I won't go into that. What I will talk about is how the book made me feel.

One of those things was Fern. She was loving and caring and full of life. She knew what was going on with the animals and she talked about it all the time. There was something extra special about her. I think what got to me was how much she just enjoyed the simple pleasures in life. Sitting on the stool by Wilbur's pen, taking in the sights and sounds. How many of us get to do that anymore? How many of us wish we could do that right now?

Of course, there was also Charlotte. Wonderful and amazing Charlotte. Her outlook on life and her wisdom are amazing. The way she and Wilbur interacted touched my heart. Wilbur learned a lot about life from Charlotte, and in the end he became the terrific pig she always knew he could be. The absolute best thing about their friendship can be summed up in this conversation between the two of them:

"Why did you do all this for me?" he asked. "I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you."

"You have been my friend," replied Charlotte. "That in itself is a tremendous thing."

That quote... typing it out is bringing the tears to my eyes. It's such a beautiful quote.

Reading Charlotte's Web by E.B. White again brought back so many memories and caused me to have a brighter outlook on life. Friends are important, helping each other is important, enjoying the simple things in life is important. If you haven't read this one since you were a kid, I strongly recommend that you read it again sometime. It will warm your heart just as it did before. I am certainly glad I took the time to.

My Rating:

Friday, September 27, 2013

Thoughts Weekly Update (39)


Welcome to the Weekly Update here on Thoughts! This is where I will share what books I finished, what I am currently reading, the current word count on my WIP, links from the posts from the last week, and maybe a little something on what's going on in my life.

Finished


Charlotte's Web by E.B. White (-Goodreads-)
Northanger Alibi by Jenni Jones (-Goodreads-)

Currently Reading


Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally (-Goodreads-)
Becoming Bryn by Angela Carling (-Goodreads-)

Word Count 

If Only We ~ 58,845
Check out my writer blog for the latest.

On The Blog This Week


The Latest With Me

Again, nothing really happening right now. But, I DO have news. I have finally decided on a release date for If Only We...

October 27th!

Woot! I'm so excited. And coming up on Monday, there will be a special sign up post for anyone interested in reading and reviewing If Only We. The book is NOT DONE just yet but I should have it to that point shortly.

Hope you have a great weekend!!!

Jessica

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Review: Locked by Maya Cross

Title: Locked
Author: Maya Cross
Published: March 25th 2013
Source: Purchased
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

Who is Sebastian Lock?

The bar Sophia Pearce is in doesn’t look like much. The wine is bad and the decor worse. But when a sudden attack of curiosity leads her to sneak past security and into the back room, she discovers something unimaginable. The most lavish party she’s ever laid eyes on, in the most unlikely of places.

But that’s nothing compared to what comes next, to the man she meets back there. Sebastian Lock. Gorgeous, commanding, and radiating charm, he is exactly the sort of silver-tongued rake Sophia has sworn to avoid. Unfortunately, he doesn’t care much for her promises.

Every instinct tells her to run, but the chemistry between them is as inescapable as gravity. Soon, he’s opening her eyes to a whole new world of pleasures, pleasures she never thought she’d enjoy.

There’s just one problem. Sebastian is more than he seems. Between the famous company he keeps and the almost paranoid secrecy of his employers, he’s a puzzle Sophia can’t quite solve, and his insistence on keeping things casual forces her to confront the demons of her past.

Can she learn to trust again? Or will Sebastian’s privacy tear them apart?

My Thoughts:

When I initially considered purchasing this, I wasn't sure if it was worth it. Several people made comments on it being too short. For the cost, however, being short doesn't matter much. So I dove in and hoped for the best. I can see why the first book is cheap... not because it's bad, but because it's so intriguing you really want to get your hands on the rest of the trilogy!

The progression of interactions between Sophia and Sebastian is just right. It isn't some "jump right into it" kind of thing. Sebastian might be intriguing and sexy, but Sophia is smart enough to know what she wants. The two of them aren't all about romance, they actually talk about things in real life. You don't get that much in stories like this, so I appreciated it a lot. The romance though, very passionate, and a lot of build up before the first kiss.

Locked is a mysterious and glamorous story. It ends on a cliffhanger, but it's not an unexpected cliffhanger, and it gives you just enough that you actually want to continue to read, not that you need to read. Maya Cross certainly knows how to get, and keep, your interest. It has definitely made me want to see what happens between Sophia and Sebastian next.

My Rating:

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop! Enter to win bookish things...


Welcome to the Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop! Brought to you by the wonderful I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Bookhounds. The dates for this hop run from September 22nd through 28th.

 
Here is what you can win from me today:

ONE BANNED BOOK OF CHOICE! *

Need some ideas? Here are some I recommend! BUT, if you have another one in mind (that has been banned) and it's under $12 and available from The Book Depository, you can get that one.


1. Crank by Ellen Hopkins
2. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
3. Hold Still by Nina LaCour
4. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
5. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
6. Forever by Judy Blume

* Cover you receive may vary based on what is available from The Book Depository.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sound good? Good! Here's the official rules/guidelines for the giveaway:

1. You must be a follower.
2. You must be over 15 years old.
3. This is open to international followers.
4. This contest runs from September 22nd through 28th.
5. You can gain extra entries by "liking" my Facebook page and/or following me on Twitter @Jess_Sankiewicz.
6. Winner will be selected at 12:01 a.m. on September 29th via Rafflecopter random selection.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Thank you for following and entering!!!


Jessica

Friday, September 20, 2013

Thoughts Weekly Update (38)


Welcome to the Weekly Update here on Thoughts! This is where I will share what books I finished, what I am currently reading, the current word count on my WIP, links from the posts from the last week, and maybe a little something on what's going on in my life.

Finished


Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard (-Goodreads-)

Currently Reading


Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally (-Goodreads-)
Northanger Alibi by Jenni Jones (-Goodreads-)
Becoming Bryn by Angela Carling (-Goodreads-)
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White (-Goodreads-)

Word Count 

If Only We ~ 58,845
Check out my writer blog for the latest.

On The Blog This Week


The Latest With Me

Another long week. I was able to read through notes from two of my betas and it is definitely going to help make my book better in many ways. I'll be going out to dinner with my friend Rebecca tonight, then spending the day in my old town for a little festival they have every year. It's mostly booths of crafts, garage sales, and a car show, but it's fun. Plus, I'll be able to show my mom and brother one of the episodes of Castle that they missed last season, which was one of the best they've done.

Next week is BANNED BOOKS WEEK. Woot! I know I have promised that I would record one of those Virtual Read Out videos... and I had every intention of making one this year. Unfortunately, due to some real life circumstances cutting into my free time, I was not able to record one. I wish I could have though! I've been looking forward to making one for awhile now. Maybe if things settle down in October, I'll record one and upload it anyway. Even if I can't make one of those, maybe I can make another video, since I keep saying I'm going to. Blast real life for getting in the way always! *sigh*

But, anyways, Banned Books Week is coming--starting Sunday. I'll be having a giveaway where you can win a banned book of choice. I'm going to read Charlotte's Web this weekend and post my review next Saturday. It has been YEARS since I read it and I can't wait to read it again. ^_^


Hope you have a great weekend!!!

Jessica

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Review: His Wicked Games by Ember Casey

Title: His Wicked Games
Author: Ember Casey
Published: June 11th 2013
Source: Purchased
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

Trapped with a billionaire in his mysterious mansion... Can she beat him at his own game?

Lily Frazer would do anything to save the Frazer Center for the Arts—even take on the infamous billionaire Calder Cunningham. When Lily breaks onto the Cunningham estate, she only wants to find and reason with Calder. (All right, all right, she wants to punch him in the face, too, but that's Plan B.) As it turns out, the arrogant billionaire is willing to give her the money he promised, but there's a catch: she must win it from him.

And the games he has in mind aren't exactly... innocent.

Lily isn't about to give up the money without a fight (or let some haughty bastard seduce her), but she quickly discovers that there might be more to the brooding Calder than she initially perceived. As their games of cat and mouse become increasingly sexual in nature, she suddenly finds herself confused by her own emotions. Can she deny her attraction long enough to win the money she needs?

A contemporary, steamy take on Beauty and the Beast, His Wicked Games is a tale of devilish deeds, wild passions, and wicked romance.

My Thoughts:

I snagged a copy of this one while it was on sale. It sounded very intriguing, like it had a lot of depth to it outside the romantic rendezvous. Let me tell you... it SOOO did. Very much. Much more than I ever dreamed possible.

Lily has a determination I can get behind. Of course, not everything goes as planned... especially when she's stranded there with Calder. Hot, sexy Calder... who owes the art center money. She can't let him get away with it. Then they begin the games, these little bets to get what they want. Of course, those start off innocent, and begin to quickly turn into something much steamier. MUCH steamier. *fans self* There's just something about the sexiness that which is Calder.

While these games go on (and on), there's much more going on outside of it. This story isn't all about the romance, like I said above. There's a lot happening for both Lily and Calder outside their games. And these things, well, let's just say none of it can be taken lightly. And, as usual, this little tryst may have more to it than either of them anticipated. Considering all things, who could resist from wanting more? I know I sure couldn't.

His Wicked Games was, quite simply, one of the sexiest books I've read. Lily and Calder were a great pairing, and their chemistry was undeniable. The story went deeper than most, which I loved. Ember Casey has definitely earned a place in my favorites. I couldn't stop reading, I had this whole book devoured so quickly, it pained me to find out the next book wasn't released yet (lucky for YOU, Truth Or Dare has been released since). I highly recommend this book (well, this whole series) to anyone and everyone!

My Rating:

Monday, September 16, 2013

Gilmore Girls Mondays (5)


Welcome to Gilmore Girls Mondays!

After weeks of not watching, I finally decided to get back into it. Since I have only seen season one, I have been super anxious to watch season two. I had a problem though: I didn't HAVE season two. BUT the always amazing Marie Landry sent me season two. ♥ TY MARIE!!! ♥ Once that problem was solved, I had another problem. I really wanted to finish watching season one to catch up to where season two starts. And I tried... but I kept getting distracted with EVERYTHING. So, I had to kick myself in the booty and say, "Jessica, just skip ahead to season two, you know that's what you really want to watch." So I did, and here I am today to talk about part of season two!

It was pretty awesome to see where things started heading in the first four episodes. Since I've read some spoilers here and there about Gilmore Girls (out of my own curiosity when I had first watched the series), I already knew a couple things that were coming. Like Lorelei breaking off her engagement with Max. Before it happened, I could feel it was happening. The signs were there, it was apparent (to me, anyway) that her feelings weren't deep. And for her to accept to begin with when she didn't feel ENOUGH, that is worse than breaking off an engagement. I don't have much else to say with regard to the episodes, but I do have some quotes I loved...

My favorite quotes this week:

Lorelai: I've got to check in at the Inn. Michel's there by himself. People could die.
Michel: I feel like crap on toast.
Rory: I think we're lost.
Lorelai: We can't be lost, we don't know where we're going.
Lorelai: Can I ask you stupid questions?
Luke: There's no such thing.
Lorelai: How does the ink come out of pens?
Luke: Okay, there is such a thing.


So, my lovely followers, do you like watching Gilmore Girls? Join in and watch with us!


Jessica

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Review: Cake by Lauren Dane

Title: Cake
Author: Lauren Dane
Published: September 15th 2013
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

She won’t be satisfied with just one bite...

Art student-slash-bike messenger Wren Davis pursues what she wants. And what she wants now is Gregori Ivanov, rock star of the Seattle art scene. With his tattoos, piercings and sensual sneer, Gregori is the ultimate bad boy. Wren’s gotten to know the man beneath the body art, too—and it only makes her crave him more.

But Gregori loves women like he loves cake and champagne—intensely, but only for the moment. And after Wren experiences just how scorching sex with Gregori is, she’s determined to show him that just one taste won’t be enough...

My Thoughts:

After requesting another book from Cosmo Red-Hot Reads, I saw this one and thought it was worth giving a shot. Since it's a novella, it makes for a quick read. While I did find it pretty cute, it wasn't as great as anticipated.

The friendship that developed between Wren and Gregori pre-novella was clear in their initial interactions in the book. It was amusing to see how they talked to each other, how much they knew about each other. Their potential chemistry was there, despite the fight on his end. Their romance develops sweetly, and you can tell that Wren and Gregori both long for more. Can they handle it only being temporary?

Cake was one of those appealing short love stories. Lauren Dane told this romance in a very sweet way. Gregori, while an interesting sort of fellow, didn't seem like such a bad boy. He was more wary of commitment due to the past. It was nice to see Wren bring out the best in him. Although this isn't among my usual category of reads, I would recommend it to those who like them.

My Rating:

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Review: Fearless by Tawny Weber

Title: Fearless
Author: Tawny Weber
Published: September 15th 2013
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

Promising career: check

Amazing apartment: check

The best of friends: check

Sex life: MIA

There’s just one thing missing from Gia Renyard’s life: sexual adventure. And the one man she’d like to have it with is her hot co-worker, Luke Monroe. If only company rules didn’t prohibit her from asking him out. So Gia comes up with a plan: make herself over into a fantasy seductress, follow Luke to a convention in Sin City, and have her way with him for one erotic weekend. The man will never even know who did him.

Everything is going according to plan—until Gia discovers that Luke is perfect for her outside the bedroom too. And suddenly she’s no longer content to let what happens in Vegas stay in Vegas…

My Thoughts:

I went into this intrigued by the premise of a forbidden work romance. And I was thinking it would appeal to me because of all the New Adult I've been reading lately; Women's Fiction should surely be just as good, right? Unfortunately, not so much for me.

Don't get me wrong, it was an interesting and appealing story. Gia and Luke have a very nice romance throughout. What I didn't like were a few things. One of them being that it was told in the third person, not just Gia's perspective, but also Luke's. I'm just not a fan of that. That aside, the way the story progressed just wasn't working for me. It didn't keep my attention to the point where I found myself inadvertently skimming to get somewhere. Then add on the way everything wrapped up in the end and I was just like, okaaay. Not that it was bad, just too easy, too expected. Me reading it: "Yep. Knew that was coming. That too." That kind of thing.

Fearless may not have been the type of book I expected upon going into it, but I did enjoy the story. The interactions and passion between Gia and Luke were great, they made the story worthwhile. I can say that Tawny Weber is definitely able to craft a cute story. I'd say give it a try if you like books in this category.

My Rating:

Friday, September 13, 2013

Thoughts Weekly Update (37)


Welcome to the Weekly Update here on Thoughts! This is where I will share what books I finished, what I am currently reading, the current word count on my WIP, links from the posts from the last week, and maybe a little something on what's going on in my life.

Finished


Truth Or Dare by Ember Casey (-Goodreads-)

Currently Reading


Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally (-Goodreads-)
Northanger Alibi by Jenni Jones (-Goodreads-)
Becoming Bryn by Angela Carling (-Goodreads-)
Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard (-Goodreads-)

Word Count 

If Only We ~ 58,845
Check out my writer blog for the latest.

On The Blog This Week


The Latest With Me

Let's see. I haven't really done anything. A little bit of writing, a little bit of reading. I have a handful of things to take care of this weekend (some annual test I have to take for work, listing stuff online). I also have something AWESOME too. I'll be going over some beta reader notes! Yay! If Only We is getting closer and closer to being complete! I might be able to get a release date to you in the next week or two. WOOT!


Hope you have a great weekend!!!

Jessica

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Review: Words Of Lust by Lise Horton

Title: Words Of Lust
Author: Lise Horton
Published: September 9th 2013
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

Serafina Luca, straitlaced Manhattan professor of erotic literature, isn't one to blush at a few raunchy words, but her experience in the bedroom is hardly bestseller material. She's not sure the passion in the books she teaches is possible in real life, let alone for her. But then she meets Nick Stellato.

The construction foreman may look like a guy's guy, but he knows how to treat a woman. One look at Serafina's luscious figure, and he wants to prove it to her. One dinner date and their sizzling chemistry is undeniable. Soon, it's the professor getting a lesson or two...and Nick is a willing teacher. What surprises him is how much he enjoys the time he spends with Serafina outside the bedroom--and how easily he can imagine a future together.

Before long, Serafina is falling hard for Nick, too. But how can a timid academic with virtually no past fulfill his dreams of an adventurous future?

My Thoughts:

Upon starting this one, it had a good feel to it. I liked how Serafina and Nick met and how their relationship first developed. As the story progressed though, I wasn't that impressed.

Serafina and Nick's romance was sort of the typical one you find in this genre. They had their moments where I liked them, where it was interesting to see the way they interacted with each other. Then there were moments where I just wanted to roll my eyes. There was a side story that, well, kind of annoyed me. When it was getting close to the end, I could see where it was leading to and I didn't like it. Not that it was bad, just dramatic and I knew exactly what would happen.

Although it wasn't exactly as amazing as expected, Words Of Lust was still pretty good. The way Lise Horton wrote the romance was nice, and I liked the progression of Serafina and Nick's relationship for the most part. It was worth the read, and it might be for you too.

My Rating: