November Update at Thoughts

I've decided to do monthly updates instead of weekly updates here at Thoughts. So here's a racap of the month of November for you.

~*Reviews*~

TOTAL: 8

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Marie Landry

Foreplay by Sophie Jordan

Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

Northanger Alibi by Jenni James

Rushing Into Love by Ashelyn Drake

Becoming Bryn by Angela Carling

Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard

Finding It by Cora Carmack

~*Books Finished*~

TOTAL: 10

Rushing Into Love (Campus Romance #3) by Ashelyn Drake

Layers Deep (Layers Trilogy #1) by Lacey Silks

Switched by Cassie Mae

To Be Perfectly Honest: A Novel Based on an Untrue Story by Sonya Sones

My First, My Last by Lacey Silks

Hard to Handle (Love in the Balance #2) by Jessica Lemmon

The Almost Girl by Amalie Howard

Kiss Me Again (If We Kiss #2) by Rachel Vail

Entwine (Entwine #1) by Rebecca Berto

Allegiant (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth

~*Tours/Blasts/Reveals*~

Book Blitz, Excerpt, & Giveaway: Forty Days/Forty Nights by Stephanie Parent

Cover Reveal: Star-Crossed by Luna Lacour

Book Blast: Unstoppable by S.R. Johannes

Blog Tour: Chasing Stars by L. Duarte

Blog Tour: Sweet Victory by Ember Casey

Blog Tour and Review: Rushing Into Love by Ashelyn Drake

Get Addicted Tour: Teaser from Addicted For Now by Becca and Krista Ritchie

~*Otherwise*~

If Only We Blog Tour Day Six

If Only We Blog Tour Day Seven

Stacking The Shelves #19: October Edition

~*As for me...*~

Let's see!

It has been a month and a few days since If Only We was released, believe it or not! The month has flown by, I can barely believe that my first novel was published just over a month ago. And right now, you guys can enter to WIN a print copy of If Only We on Goodreads...

Goodreads Book Giveaway

If Only We

by Jessica Sankiewicz

Giveaway ends December 31, 2013.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Isn't it AWESOME?!?!

Also, there are TWO blitzes coming up for If Only We AND there are two spaces left to read and review If Only We on Goodreads for free. Here are the links if you're interested in signing up for either. Hopefully sign-ups won't be closed for the first one when this post goes up, but if they are, you can always sign up for the other one. ^_^

• YA Bound Book Tours Book Blitz ~ runs from December 2nd-9th 2013
• Irresistible Reads Tours Book Blitz ~ will run on January 3rd 2013
• YA & NA Romance Group Open Read to Review ~ must read/review in 1 month

I started a new job at the beginning of the month. It has turned out to be a really great job. I spent the last nearly NINE years working in a retail pharmacy (three different ones) so to finally get a job where I can have not only my own desk but a cubicle AND a spinning chair? That's just awesome. I has been four full weeks today, and I'll be starting my regular schedule next week. EXCITING.

I've managed to keep up with all my TV shows. I guess that isn't a huge feat considering I only watch three or four anymore, but it sometimes feels like it. That's probably because I work full time and have to keep my place clean and am trying to finish writing my novella too. My TV shows are very distracting and they sometimes cause me to lose my focus. Which isn't that hard, considering I'm slightly ADD at times.

Hopefully everyone has had a great November and here's to a great December!!

Review: Finding It by Cora Carmack

Title: Finding It
Author: Cora Carmack
Published: October 15th 2013
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

Sometimes you have to lose yourself to find where you truly belong...

Most girls would kill to spend months traveling around Europe after college graduation with no responsibility, no parents, and no-limit credit cards. Kelsey Summers is no exception. She's having the time of her life . . . or that's what she keeps telling herself.

It's a lonely business trying to find out who you are, especially when you're afraid you won't like what you discover. No amount of drinking or dancing can chase away Kelsey's loneliness, but maybe Jackson Hunt can. After a few chance meetings, he convinces her to take a journey of adventure instead of alcohol. With each new city and experience, Kelsey's mind becomes a little clearer and her heart a little less hers. Jackson helps her unravel her own dreams and desires. But the more she learns about herself, the more Kelsey realizes how little she knows about Jackson.

My Thoughts:

After reading and LOVING Losing It, I knew I needed to get my hands on Finding It. When it showed up on Edelweiss I requested it right away. I dove in immediately and for seriousness, I could not stop reading it.

As I started it, I thought about how I wanted to smack Kelsey. The situation she was in, all I could think was how stupid she was. Enter Jackson, and I'm just enchanted by him. I'm not kidding. The chemistry between the two of them, it's new. There's attraction, but there's also hesitancy on both sides. I loved how this became an adventure with travel and experiencing new things. All I expected from this was a romantic tale, but what I got was romance AND a journey. And you guys know how much I love love love those stories. Once we get near the end, a secret is revealed and you're hopeful that it won't ruin the magic between Kelsey and Jackson.

Finding It took me on an adventure of love and life. I adored Kelsey and Jackson and everything they did and said. Kelsey grew and you grew with her. Cora Carmack, I swear, I don't know how she does it. Everything I read, I love, and I'm not going to stop reading her work. Ever.

My Rating:

Review: Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard

Title: Like Mandarin
Author: Kirsten Hubbard
Published: March 8th 2011
Source: Won in a giveaway
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

It's hard finding beauty in the badlands of Washokey, Wyoming, but 14-year-old Grace Carpenter knows it's not her mother's pageant obsessions, or the cowboy dances adored by her small-town classmates. True beauty is wild-girl Mandarin Ramey: 17, shameless and utterly carefree. Grace would give anything to be like Mandarin.

When they're united for a project, they form an unlikely, explosive friendship, packed with nights spent skinny-dipping in the canal, liberating the town's animal-head trophies, and searching for someplace magic. Grace plays along when Mandarin suggests they run away together. Blame it on the crazy-making wildwinds plaguing their Badlands town.

Because all too soon, Grace discovers Mandarin's unique beauty hides a girl who's troubled, broken, and even dangerous. And no matter how hard Grace fights to keep the magic, no friendship can withstand betrayal.

My Thoughts:

When you read a synopsis like that, you know you're going to be taken on a journey. Those stories, to me, are amazing. A journey into a new perspective, a new take on life. That's what this one gives.

Grace is already to a point of frustration when Mandarin becomes part of her life. Grace is afraid of stepping out there, but Mandarin's carefree (and sometimes careless) spirit causes her to take a step. Grace is swept into a different world with Mandarin, one that takes her away from the world she once knew. While Mandarin has a new view on life, and a desire for something better outside Washokey, she's got this other side to her, one that is a little bit off-kilter. There's something dark about her, but at the same time you want to scoop her up because you know she's dark because of something. Grace tries to ignore it since she wants so much to be like Mandarin, but sometimes ignoring signs can have consequences.

Like Mandarin was very much in the style of Kirsten Hubbard--hard not to love. I could feel Grace's struggles of pleasing people and desiring to really live and go outside your box. It's a deep story with twists and it's just perfect in its imperfection.

My Rating:

Get Addicted Tour: Teaser from Addicted For Now by Becca and Krista Ritchie

Welcome to my stop on the Get Addicted Tour!

Title: Addicted for Now

Author: Krista & Becca Ritchie

Series: Addicted #2

Pub Date: Novemeber 30th, 2013

Goodreads ~~ Amazon ~~ Barnes & Noble

He's addicted to booze. She's addicted to sex...staying sober is only half the battle.

No. More. Sex. Those are the three words Lily Calloway fears the most. But Loren Hale is determined to be with Lily without enabling her dangerous compulsions. With their new living situation—sleeping in the same bed, for real, together—Lily has new battles. Like not jumping Lo’s bones every night. Not being consumed by sex and his body.

Loren plans to stay sober, to right all of his wrongs. So when someone threatens to expose Lily’s secret to her family and the public, he promises that he’ll do anything to protect her. But with old enemies surfacing, Lo has more at stake than his sobriety.

They will torment Lily until Lo breaks.

And his worst fear isn’t relapsing. He hears the end. He sees it. The one thing that could change everything. Just three words.

No. More. Us.

About the Authors:

Becca Ritchie claims she's from Mystic Falls, but really, she lives in Atlanta where humidity is her greatest foe. She loves comic books, blue nail polish and Jonathan Taylor Thomas circa 1995. She frequents Twitter to dish about too many TV shows, and when she's not blogging, she writes novels and has teamed up with her twin sister to collaborate on a New Adult series.

Krista Ritchie has a clone...or someone who looks exactly like her. If she's not writing books with her twin sister, she's pouring over entertainment news and ingesting copious amounts of pop culture. She likes tennis, that thing called the TV, and beating Becca (her clone) on Sega Genesis. She created YA Book Exchange to combat her book buying addiction and started Nawanda Files, a YA Book Blog that features books into movies news, to share her love for all things bookish. Oh, and she does something called science. Whatever that is.

Krista & Becca Ritchie write New Adult books that make you cringe, gasp, and go ooh-la-la. (If you do that sort of thing.) They are currently working on the spin-offs and final books in the Addicted series. Connect with them on twitter and their website: kbritchie.com

AUTHOR LINKS

Goodreads
Krista: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4953690-krista-nawanda-files
Becca: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2754148.Becca_Ritchie)

Twitter

Krista: https://twitter.com/Nawanda_Files
Becca: https://twitter.com/Becca_Ritchie

Website: http://kbritchie.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AddictedSeries
Tumblr: http://kbmritchie.tumblr.com/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kristaritchie/the-addicted-series/ 

Teaser:

Teaser Quote #1 – Addicted for Now (Addicted #2)

LOREN HALE’S POV

I bridge the distance between us and my lips find hers. Her surprise stiffens her shoulders and freezes her arms, and I edge her mouth open, slipping my tongue inside. She wakes up, her hands swooping around my neck. I smile against her soft lips. Lily is like a raunchy Sleeping Beauty, reanimating from a deep-throated kiss.

Giveaway:

$15 Amazon Gift Card
US Residents: Paperback copies of Addicted to You and Addicted for Now
(OR)
International: Ebooks of Addicted to You, Ricochet, and Addicted for Now.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Becoming Bryn by Angela Carling

Title: Becoming Bryn
Author: Angela Carling
Published: June 15th 2013
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

For months, Jesse has been envious of her twin sister Bryn and even has a crush on Bryn’s gorgeous, popular boyfriend, Quinton. When Jesse awakens from a coma to learn that everyone thinks she IS Bryn, the option of actually taking over her sister’s life is beyond tempting, but there’s a downside. She’d have to give up Ethan, her best friend and the only person she trusts. Could she actually live as Bryn for the rest of her life? And if her family and friends found out, would they ever forgive her?

My Thoughts:

The idea of this one, let me tell ya, is pretty intense. When I first picked it up, I'm not sure what it was that I was expecting, but when the moment comes where everyone thinks Jesse is Bryn... Yeah, that's when I discovered it was going to be different.

Jesse pretending to be Bryn is a mix of hope and heartbreak. At first, you are trying to wrap your head around why Jesse would WANT to be Bryn, and you sort of get it. But then, you see the flipside of things and you're really flustered and wishing she hadn't made such a poor choice. Unfortunately though for Jesse, and sometimes for us, when faced with a split second decision, it's so easy to be confused and just jump over the fence expecting greener grass. And while she had to discover it the hard way, she still made the best of her situation, especially considering all the circumstances involved.

Becoming Bryn went to places I didn't expect. You want to laugh and cry and swoon (yes, very much swooning indeed... there was an excellent kiss... not telling you with WHO though!) and not be able to put the book down because of it. Angela Carling knows how to hold together an intricate story and tell it in the best way possible.

My Rating:

Blog Tour and Review: Rushing Into Love by Ashelyn Drake

Welcome to my stop on the Campus Crush Series Blog tour!

~*~

Title: Rushing Into Love
Author: Ashelyn Drake
Published: September 10th 2013
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

As a college junior, Mindy Stanton has no interest in dating a freshman.

That is until Ben Whitmore shows up and serenades his way into her heart at the dorm social she’s running. And after hearing him sing, even Mindy can’t deny that he has a deep, sexy voice that makes her melt.

Even though Mindy makes it clear that she doesn’t date younger guys, Ben pursues her anyway. After all, he doesn’t seem like the typical college freshman, who is only interested in hooking up, partying until he can’t remember his name, or joining a frat. He’s a gentleman, a romantic, and definitely knows all the right things to say to sweep a girl off her feet.

So Mindy drops her guard. She allows herself to fall for him. Before she knows it, Ben is all she can think about. To her, he’s perfect.

But it doesn’t take Mindy long to discover that even the most perfect guys…

Have secrets.

My Thoughts:

All three of these novels sounded good, so it was hard for me to pick just one. This one intrigued me the most, maybe because of how Ben sounds in the synopsis. In any case, this was a very enjoyable story.

While the whole point of this story is very much instalove, I couldn't help but be drawn in to Mindy's life and how she views Ben. He's kind of undeniable when it comes to his sweetness and charm, I can see why it was hard for her to resist him. Especially the whole being serenaded thing. *swoon* Then she's given a smack to the face by Ben's secret, which, to be completely honest, I knew long before she knew. But there is more to the secret than anyone knows.

Rushing Into Love is a cute read. While I did pretty much predict how things would turn out, I still had fun enjoying the ride that led to the end. The reason why, I think, is because it is a shorter story, so the plot had to move faster. I might be checking out more of Ashelyn Drake's books in the near future because of this one.

My Rating:

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The Books:

Romancing the R.A. by Ashelyn Drake

Behind Closed Doors by Ashelyn Drake

Rushing Into Love by Ashelyn Drake

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About the Author:

Ashelyn Drake is a New Adult and Young Adult romance author represented by Lauren Hammond of ADA Management. While it’s rare for her not to have either a book in hand or her fingers flying across a laptop, she also enjoys spending time with her family. She believes you are never too old to enjoy a good swing set and there’s never a bad time for some dark chocolate.

~ Ashelyn Drake's Website ~

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Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

http://bit.ly/1ieJ4Mm

Review: Northanger Alibi by Jenni James

Title: Northanger Alibi
Author: Jenni James
Published: January 15th 2012
Source: Purchased
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

The Russo family and Seattle, Washington, are no match for Claire Hart and her savvy knowledge of all things vampire-related. Thanks to her obsession with the Twilight series, if there is anyone who would know a vampire when she saw one, it's Claire. And she's positive totally hot Tony Russo is a vampire - she just has to prove it!

In this modern retelling of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, follow Claire's hilarious journey on her first summer adventure away from home, where she learns everything isn't what it seems, and that in some instances, reality is way better than anything she'd ever find in a book.

My Thoughts:

My two favorite Jane Austen stories are Persuasion first and Northanger Abbey second. I still need to read Northanger Abbey, but as far as the story goes, I just adore it. So, getting my hands on a retelling of it by Jenni James... yeah, that was a must.

The premise is engaging, and extremely hilarious. If I had read this back when I was still obsessed with Twilight, I probably would have been a lot more into the story. Claire is very funny though, it's hard not to like her, no matter how ridiculous she can be. I really loved how the author got the comparisons down, and how she absolutely surprised me with additional story lines.

All in all, Northanger Alibi was quite the read. While I did find some of it slightly annoying, I know it was because this is YA. It reads like YA and the characters are very YA, sometimes slightly Middle Grade. But due to how many stories got woven in, I found myself sucked into it since it piqued my interest. If you like slightly cheesy stories that feature an underlying Twilight-esque tale and/or Jane Austen retellings, this might be right up your alley.

My Rating:

Blog Tour: Sweet Victory by Ember Casey

Welcome to my stop on the Sweet Victory by Ember Casey Blog Tour!!

Title: Sweet Victory

Author: Ember Casey

Release date: November 19th, 2013

Genre: Erotic Romance / Steamy Contemporary Romance

Tour: Irresistible Reads Book Tours 

A His Wicked Games novella coming November 19th, 2013.

One night. One game. One wicked experience they’ll never forget… It’s Lily and Calder’s first night in their new apartment—and Calder proposes a steamy showdown that’s certain to leave both of them breathless. In a challenge like this, things are sure to get heated—but neither of them can be prepared for the surprises that await them as their ultimate game unfolds…

Add to your shelf on Goodreads

Buy on

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ All Romance

About the Author:

Ember Casey is a twenty-something writer who lives in Atlanta, Georgia in a den of iniquity (or so she likes to tell people). When she's not writing steamy romances, you can find her whipping up baked goods (usually of the chocolate variety), traveling (her bucket list is infinite), or generally causing trouble (because somebody has to do it).

Website ~~~ Facebook ~~~ Twitter

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Schedule: http://bit.ly/1gxe3a2

Review: Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Stealing Parker
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Published: October 1st 2012
Source: Purchased
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

Red-hot author Miranda Kenneally hits one out of the park in this return to Catching Jordan's Hundred Oaks High.

Parker Shelton pretty much has the perfect life. She’s on her way to becoming valedictorian at Hundred Oaks High, she’s made the all-star softball team, and she has plenty of friends. Then her mother’s scandal rocks their small town and suddenly no one will talk to her.

Now Parker wants a new life.

So she quits softball. Drops twenty pounds. And she figures why kiss one guy when she can kiss three? Or four. Why limit herself to high school boys when the majorly cute new baseball coach seems especially flirty?

But how far is too far before she loses herself completely?

My Thoughts:

After reading and loving Catching Jordan, it was pretty much necessary for me to keep reading Miranda Kenneally's novels. My high expectations were met for sure and I'm blown away by her ability to capture such candid stories in her words.

Parker is a girl with a lot going on, and this is just putting it LIGHTLY. The synopsis touches on the basic points, but there's so much more when you actually read it. This story had several threads strung throughout. Because of this, it was hard for me to know what (cough *more like WHO* cough) to root for since there is so much at play. With everything that Parker faced, she managed to prove to be a heroine to root for, even when she wasn't making the best choices.

Stealing Parker is definitely amazing. With all the personal opinions, religious views, and romantic ties that could create scandal. I did not expect most of it going in--it was a pleasant surprise though. I was quite happy with the way it all worked out in the end: the relationships renewed and ended. It felt very real and it was emotional. Like I said, Miranda Kenneally knows what she's doing.

My Rating:

Blog Tour: Chasing Stars by L. Duarte

Welcome to my stop on the Blog Tour for Chasing Stars by L. Duarte!

~*~

Title: Chasing Stars

Author: L. Duarte

Release date: July 13th, 2013

Genre: New Adult, Romance

Tour: Irresistible Reads Book Tours 

As a pampered Los Angeles teen, Portia McGee once created a bucket list with her best friends Tarry and Niki. Though falling in love topped their list, it was the last thing she could ever imagine doing. Through the rejection of her parents, Portia learned early in life that love is elusive.

Now a famous and frivolous A-list actress, Portia has a Hollywood pedigree sealed in gold by a celebrity actress mother and New York mogul father. When Portia’s latest role requires an elaborate temporary tattoo, she meets Will, a gifted tattoo artist with a tortured past. The attraction is electric and immediate, but Will refuses to take the encounter to the next level—a decision Portia associates with the ring he so clearly wears on his wedding finger. Those old, familiar feelings of rejection take hold, and Portia now realizes that she must face the past in order to forge a new future. As their deep bond ignites in Portia an unexpected spirituality, can she finally free herself to once again chase the stars of her early days?

Add to your shelf on Goodreads

~*~

About the Author:

I have found that there is only one thing better than reading, and that is writing. I am always torn between the two. I am also frequently torn between chocolate and coffee. However, I emphatically do not like the month of February, lies, and flies. For me, bravery is defined by the courage to do what we fear the most. This conviction is reflected in my debut work of romantic fiction, Chasing Stars. I live in Connecticut with my husband and two children. Drop a few lines. I would love to hear from you.

http://bit.ly/1gCR5iP

Book Blast: Unstoppable by S.R. Johannes

Welcome to the Unstoppable by S.R. Johannes book blast!

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Unstoppable by S.R. Johannes

After everything that has happened, Grace goes to the Everglades to live with her grandmother, Birdee. Even though she is now home-schooled by her bird-obsessed grandmother, the move gives Grace time to relax. She learns to scuba dive and starts boating with old man Rex, Birdee's casual friend/boyfriend.

One day while out in the marshes of the Everglades, Grace rescues an abused Florida panther, currently on the endangered list. The more she dives into the animal’s horrific condition, the more she ventures into the underground world of the roadside zoos that run rampant in Florida with a total disregard for the law. Eventually, she stumbles upon one large roadside zoo filled with a variety of endangered and illegal animals.

Before she can gather evidence and report her findings to the authorities, she is kidnapped by the ruthless owner and dragged deep into the Everglades for a hunting challenge. Only this time, Grace is the prey.

During a sick game of cat and mouse, Grace is offered one chance at survival. With a one-hour head start and very little supplies, time and skill are now all that stands between the hunter and the hunted.

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Author S.R. Johannes

S.R. Johannes is the award-winning author of the Amazon bestselling thriller series, The Nature of Grace. Johannes is currently repped by Lara Perkins at ABLA. For foreign rights on the Nature of Grace series, contact Jennifer Custer at AM Heath (London).

S.R. Johannes is the YA advisor of ALLi and a winner of the 2012 IndieReader Discovery Awards (Young Adult category) as well as a Silver medalist (2nd place) in the IPPY awards for YA Fiction. She was also nominated for 2012 Georgia Author of the Year (Young Adult category), a Finalist in The Kindle Book Review’s Best Young Adult of 2012, and a YA Finalist in the US Book News Best Book of 2012.

After earning an MBA and working in corporate America doing marketing for over 15 years, S.R. Johannes traded in her expensive suits, high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of writing. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her dog, English-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world.

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Newsletter | Bilan Inc

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Giveaway

Book Blast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 12/5/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: Star-Crossed by Luna Lacour

Welcome to the cover reveal for Star-Crossed by Luna Lacour!

~*~

Star-Crossed by Luna Lacour

Release Date: January 2014

Summary from Goodreads:

Secrets

Deception
Lies

...Lust.

It started with a game - seduce the new teacher.

Eighteen-year-old Kaitlyn Laurent is living the American Dream. Born into a wealthy, socialite family with more opulent surroundings and material things than any girl could even fathom, Kaitlyn is the fresh, young face amidst a sea of morally-amiss Manhattan Debutantes. She is educated, poised, and on the outside - entirely virtuous. Her life, in short, is perfect.

Or so it would seem.

Inside the walls of her Upper East Side mansion, Kaitlyn is struggling. After her parents' divorce and her father's remarriage to a beautiful but otherwise utterly vapid woman, Kaitlyn quickly finds herself living in a realm of self-created fantasy, completely detached and entirely clashing with her new family – particularly, her classmate-turned-stepbrother, Marius. Arrogant and with a penchant for playing games, he is intrigued and infatuated by Kaitlyn's faux-chaste outer facade that she uses to cover an otherwise calloused heart.

When the two of them enter into into their final semester at Trinity Prep, and the buzz around campus is that a gorgeous new teacher has set foot in the classroom, Marius makes Kaitlyn a bet: seduce the man who is now her Literature teacher.

If she wins, she gets his trust fund. Money that she can use to finally escape a life that she has come to loathe.
If Marius wins...he gets her virginity.

When an initial spark turns into full-blown obsession, and her affections are inevitably returned – Kaitlyn learns that there are no actions without consequence, and some affairs are simply star-crossed.

Check out the Dream Cast for Star-Crossed!

About the Author:

I'm a reader, lover of coffee and all things comical, and the author STAR-CROSSED (January 2014).

Author Links:

  

Cover Reveal organized by:

Book Blitz, Excerpt, AND Giveaway: Forty Days/Forty Nights by Stephanie Parent!

Welcome to the Forty Days/Forty Nights by Stephanie Parent Book Blitz!!

Forty Days (Neima's Ark #1)

by Stephanie Parent

Release Date: 02/10/13

Summary from Goodreads:

The entire village knows Neima’s grandfather is a madman. For years the old man has prophesied that a great flood is coming, a flood disastrous enough to blot out the entire earth. He’s even built an enormous ark that he claims will allow his family to survive the deluge. But no one believes the ravings of a lunatic…

…until the rain starts. And doesn’t stop. Soon sixteen-year-old Neima finds her entire world transformed, her life and those of the people she loves in peril. Trapped on the ark with her grandfather Noah, the rest of her family, and a noisy, filthy, and hungry assortment of wild animals, will Neima find a way to survive?

With lions, tigers, and bears oh my, elephants and flamingos too, along with rivalries and betrayals, a mysterious stowaway, and perhaps even an unexpected romance, FORTY DAYS is not your grandfather’s Noah’s Ark story.

FORTY DAYS is approximately 45000 words, the length of a shorter novel, and is the first installment in a two-part epic story. It does contain a cliffhanger ending. Readers looking for a traditional, religiously oriented version of the Noah’s Ark story should be warned that FORTY DAYS may not appeal to them. The novel will, however, appeal to lovers of apocalyptic fiction, historical fiction, and romance, as well as anyone who’s ever dreamed of having a baby elephant as a pet.

Get your copy free:

 

Forty Nights (Neima's Ark #2)

 by Stephanie Parent
Release Date: September 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

Neima, her family, and her grandfather Noah have found themselves trapped aboard an ark as a great flood destroys all life in the world. As their time aboard the ark lengthens, food begins to run out, wild animals grow restless, and family tensions become as much of a threat as the flood outside. In the second and final installment of Neima’s Ark, the stakes are higher, the conflicts are greater, and Neima finds herself facing a choice as impossible as the destruction all around her.

Forty Nights is a continuation of the story begun in Forty Days, and it’s recommended that you read Forty Days first for the best experience. Forty Nights does, however, contain a character guide to refresh readers’ memories. The Neima’s Ark series is a historical, feminist reimagining of the story of Noah’s Ark rather than a religiously oriented one, and the novels are best suited for readers who are comfortable with new interpretations of biblical stories.

Available from:

 

PRAISE FOR
THE NEIMA’S ARK SERIES: 

“Stephanie Parent takes a story I would have immediately shrugged off and turned it into a story with a surprising amount of reality and despite being religious based is not at all religious. Stephanie somehow created a paradox… When I think of a word to describe this story I think, layers. The tension is extremely layered. We get internal tension among the characters, tension relating to the animals, and tension from the storming raging outside. It’s not even supernatural elements, it’s all practical points like food and animal needs. The characters are also well defined and fleshed out.”

--Michelle, In Libris Veritas

The romance is slow and imperfect, but it's realistic and believable. I can honestly say that this love story is one of if not the best one I've read so far…a very thrilling read full of some great twists…[the ending] was everything I could have asked for and more, it was a perfect ending to an imperfectly perfect story.

--Zachary Flye, Zach’s YA Reviews

About the Author

Stephanie Parent is a graduate of the Master of Professional Writing program at USC and attended the Baltimore School for the Arts as a piano major. She moved to Los Angeles because of Francesca Lia Block's WEETZIE BAT books, which might give you some idea of how much books mean to her. She also loves dogs, books about dogs, and sugary coffee drinks both hot and cold.

***Author Links***

   

Excerpt:

If I kiss Jorin again, I’ll be making a promise. A promise I’m not sure I’m prepared to offer, much less keep. I turn my head away…

…and the want, the need rises inside me again, forcing aside all thoughts of being fair and reasonable. Just as before, when Father made his terrible confession, when Kenaan helped heal our dove, I’m overcome with the thought that everything is wrong, upside down, broken. The wanting consumes me, until I would do anything, anything to turn things right once again. Only now—now I know how to make the world whole, if only for a moment.

In one swift movement, I pivot back toward Jorin and press my lips to his. I’d swear the rain grows stronger as our mouths open, tongues meet, hands roam and clutch at each other’s arms and shoulders and necks. Water whirls around us, slams into us from all sides, forcing us closer and closer together until our edges dissolve and we become one thing, one seeking, reaching, desiring being. The rain can go on forever, can pelt us like stones, break us to pieces. I don’t care, so long as I can stay like this.

*GIVEAWAY*

1- ebook of Forty Nights & $10 Amazon Gift Card (INT)
2- ebook copies of Forty Nights (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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