Cover Reveal: A Little Too Much by Lisa Desrochers

In the follow-up to Lisa Desrochers’ explosive New Adult novel A Little too Far, Alessandro Moretti must face the life he escaped and the girl he loved and left behind.

Twenty-two year old Hilary McIntyre would like nothing more than to forget her past. As a teenager abandoned to the system, she faced some pretty dark times. But now that’s all behind her. Hilary has her life on track, and there’s no way she’ll head back down that road again.

Until Alessandro Moretti—the one person who can make her remember—shows up on her doorstep. He’s even more devastatingly gorgeous than before, and he’s much too close for comfort. Worse, he sees right through the walls she’s built over these last eight years, right into her heart and the secrets she’s guarding.

As Hilary finds herself falling back into love with the man who, as a boy both saved and destroyed her, she must decide. Past or future? Truth or lies?

Blog Tour Review: Be My Downfall by Lyla Payne

Be My Downfall

Whitman University #3

Author: Lyla Payne

Publisher: Createspace

Publication Date: September 20, 2013

Genre: Contemporary Romance

~Synopsis~

Toby Wright has always prided himself on being one of the most normal guys at Whitman University. He loves his parents, has a great job lined up after graduation, and with the exception of attempting to cross the unbalanced Sebastian Blair sophomore year, has kept his nose pretty clean.

But the rich never have empty closets, and memories long stashed away come spilling free when notorious party girl Kennedy Gilbert almost dies in his dorm room.

Nobody really knows how Kennedy manages to stay in good standing at Whitman–she never goes to class, doesn’t pretend to care about her future, and as far as people can tell, is never sober. This isn’t her first meeting with a stomach pump, but it is the first time she’s woken up to Toby’s concerned brown eyes. Despite the fact that she prefers life without friends, he gets under her skin with his insistence on playing her guardian angel.

No one knows better than Toby that people can only be saved if they want to be, but the realization that she has no one else draws him back into the shadows of Kennedy’s life–and eventually into her bed. But she long ago came to terms with a truth that Toby refuses to accept: she doesn’t want to be rescued, she only wants to forget.

Unwilling to give up on her, Toby’s dragged under by this broken girl and her dark, twisted Whitman University he never guessed existed. If he struggles to the surface, he’ll abandon someone he loves for the second time in his life. If he doesn’t, it won’t be long until they both drown.

~Review~

This is my first Whitman University read, even though it is the third book and I can’t believe I haven’t read the other two. It was a deep and inspiring story of love, loss and healing. Both characters have suffered great tragedy and handled their situation in very different ways. While Toby is an over-achiever and Kennedy is the exact opposite, they have one thing in common; neither of them really feels anything until they meet each other.

Toby is sweet, smart, and a really good guy. He’s a bit of an introvert but it’s mostly because he is the son of a senator and he has to live his life on the straight and narrow. He has suffered a loss that has profoundly affected him but must suffer in silence because of his father’s position. This has caused him to feel this emptiness inside that can’t really be filled. He has casual sexual encounters but never holds a relationship because he feels nothing for any woman he meets. He has a passion for film and writing but he studies business to appease his father and decides to go into the business side even though it’s not what he wants. I think Toby is a bit of a people pleaser and he doesn’t always do what he wants but what others want for him.

Kennedy is messed up. I mean this girl has some serious issues and considering the loss she suffered, it’s easy to see why. However, I think she is way too hard on herself. She doesn’t feel like she deserves to be alive and she relishes in pain and suffering because it makes her feel something and reminds her that she is alive. She has no reason to feel guilt but she does and it propels her into a mess of alcohol and rough, punishing sex. I felt so sad for her because she really doesn’t deserve the life she’s living and it was rough to see her live her life the way she was.

Both Toby and Kennedy are just going through the motions of life but never really living or feeling any real emotions. When they meet, there is this instant connection that neither one of them expects. Toby knows he shouldn’t get involved with Kennedy and he tells himself this many times but something propels him to her. Both Toby and Kennedy feel something magical with each other and they really start to build this beautiful relationship and Kennedy finally opens up to Toby and it seems he is making real progress. I was so mad at Kennedy for running when things got real and my heart hurt for Toby because he was really falling for her and letting her go was really hard for him. However, he was always there for her and the way he protected her, even from afar was amazing.

I felt like this book had a really heavy feeling to it but it wasn’t depressing at all. I really felt for both Kennedy and Toby and found them perfect for each other because they seemed to be exactly what each other needed. Kennedy needed someone who really, truly cared to show her that she deserved to be happy and she had a life worth living. Toby needed someone to care for and show him that he didn’t need to be perfect, he just needed to be him. Kennedy motivated him to find himself and be who he really wanted to be. Despite the turmoil of their relationship and the way Kennedy pushed Toby away, I had faith that she would find her way back to him and he could help her reclaim her life and happiness again.

~IPOD Picks~

“Look After You” by The Fray

“Broken” by Lifehouse

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

*An eARC was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.*

Release Day Launch: No Turning Back by Casey Peeler

~Synopsis~

After getting involved with Dylan, the bad boy of the Dixon High Swim team, Charley decides to stay close to home for college. It’s just safer that way. Later, she realizes it’s a mistake, just like dating Dylan. She decides to put the past behind her and leave the small hick town of Grassy Pond. There is only one problem; she makes this decision three weeks before the fall semester begins.

Charley packs up her Honda and heads to Southern College. On the morning she’s about to leave, Cash walks back into her life. He has been her best friend since they were four and is the only one who knows the REAL Charley. She leaves her farm in Grassy Pond with all kinds of “what if” questions.

Charley decides to live her college career to the fullest. She finds a great group of friends, joins the swim team, and meets a guy named Joe. He’s got eyes that make ya wanna melt!

At college, she encounters a new problem. Charley has been away from home for only forty-eight hours before she breaks the two promises she made to herself. Will she be able to overcome her past? Find new love? What will happen with Cash now that he is back in her life? Will she find what she is wanting in Jackalope Joe? How will her first semester of college end? Joe, Cash, or alone?

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | SMASHWORDS

Casey Peeler grew up and still lives in North Carolina with her husband and daughter. Her first passion is teaching students with special needs. Over the years, she found her way to relax was in a good book.

After reading Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston her senior year of high school and multiple Nicholas Sparks’ novels, she found a hidden love and appreciation for reading.

Casey is an avid reader, blogger (Hardcover Therapy,) and now author. No Turning Back (Full Circle #1) is her debut novel releasing September 30th. Finding Charley (Full Circle #2) will release spring 2014.

Her goal is to one day be an author who is recognized nationwide like Jamie McGuire, Colleen Hoover, Tiffany King, and Amanda Bennett.

When Casey isn’t reading, you can find her listening to country music, spending the day at the lake, being a wife and dance mom, and spending time with friends and family.

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Cover Reveal: Lost Without You by Liz Hannah

Grace Young thought she was a survivor - until the day her twin brother died, leaving her parents heartbroken and their relationship with Grace fractured beyond repair. Now all Grace wants is a chance to experience something of a normal life, before it's all too late. 

Going to college hundreds of miles from home seems like the right way to embrace her new found freedom, especially after years of homeschooling, but while Grace takes to her classes naturally, it's the other side of college that she's unprepared for.

The parties. The friendships. The boys. Especially one Dean Michaels, the Haven University's star soccer player. Fate throws the pair together, and their friendship starts to turn into something more. But can Grace keep the secrets of her past hidden without hurting those she's come to count on the most?

About the Author:

Currently at university, I live in one of the most isolated cities in the world, dreaming of other exotic locations. When I’m not writing, I’m can be found reading, or spending way too much time on Pinterest or Tumblr. Lost Without You is my first novel.

My Monthly Audio Reviews: One Tiny Lie & Pushing the Limits

Recently I discovered the amazingness of Amazon's Whispersync. They have partnered with Audible and if you own the eBook, you can get the audio version for an incredible discount. If you listen to the book and then want to read it, they will sync together to your last read/listened spot. I love it because I discovered that I sometimes don't have the patience to wait until I'm in the car the next time to see what's going to happen in a book and I have to jump in and continue at home by reading. Because of my lack of patience, I have started buying the audio version of books I have already read so I would actually be able to finish one. I need this since I have a 30-45 minute commute and the audiobooks seem to placate my commute rage.

Anyways, enough of my ramblings. I decided to do a short review of my audios each month to give some insight into the audio version of the book. This month, I listened to One Tiny Lie by K.A. Tucker and Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry. To see my book review of each book, you can click on the book review link after the review.

One Tiny Lie

Author: K.A. Tucker

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Published: June 11, 2013

Narrator: Elizabeth Louise

I love this series by K.A. Tucker and I adored One Tiny Lie, sitting down and reading it in one sitting because I just couldn't put it down. I equally enjoyed the audio version. Even though I knew what was going to happen, I anticipated every moment of this audio and still struggled to stop when I reached my destination. The narrator was fabulous and I really felt Livie in her voice. She also did incredible voice overs for the other characters and even added an impeccable Irish lilt to her Connor voice. I definitely felt like all the emotions that are pulled from reading the book were equally felt listening to someone else narrating it and the choice in narrator was perfect.

Click this link to read my book review of One Tiny Lie: One Tiny Lie: June 22, 2013

Pushing the Limits

Author: Katie McGarry

Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises

Publication Date: August 1, 2012

Narrators: MacLeod Andrews, Tara Sands

Pushing the Limits is a fantastic book and one of my favorite YA Contemporaries. Listening to it was equally enjoyable as reading it. I loved the narrators, especially for Noah and I felt like his voice was really representative of the character. I could picture Noah and feel the emotions almost as much from the audio as the book. I also felt that the narrator for Echo did a great job though some of her voice overs were a little over done for me. However, I could really picture Echo in her voice and I liked that. Overall, I was just as enthralled in the audio as the book and it was definitely worth a listen.

Click this link to read my book review of Pushing the Limits: Pushing the Limits: April l1, 2013

The Sunday Post: Issue #15 ~ My Week in Blogging

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

September 23, 2013-- Cover Reveal: Beyond Fate

Cover Reveal: Caught Up in You

Review: Undeclared by Jen Frederick

September 24, 2013-- Cover Reveal: Ignite

Cover Reveal: Royally Lost

Release Day Launch: Safe with Me by Kristen Proby

ARC Review: Emerge by S.E. Hall

September 25, 2013-- Cover Reveal: Wild Child

ARC Review: Breaking Nova by Jessica Sorensen

September 26, 2013-- Cover Reveal: Say Yes

Release Day Launch: Wicked Thing

ARC Review: No One's Angel by Kelly Walker

September 27, 2013-- Cover Reveal: Just Once

Review: The Perfect Game by J. Sterling

September 28, 2013-- Saturday @ Starbucks: Holiday Reads & Salted Caramel Mocha

September 29, 2013-- Cover Reveal: Far Too Tempting

The Sunday Post: Issue #15

My Monthly Audio Reviews: One Tiny Lie & Pushing the Limits

A few of my awesome blogging buddies and I have started doing a weekly read-along over the weekend via Twitter. I thought the Sunday post would be a great way to spotlight the other girls reviews.

Winter is coming and I think we all might have more time to read. It rains a crap load here in Seattle so I know I'll be spending more time indoors. Can't wait for our next read along. In the meantime, check out these awesome blogs and see what they've been up to this week.

Trish @ Between the Lines

Jessica @ Lovin Los Libros

CeCe @ CeCe's Steaming Mug of Books

Shari @ Tangled up in Books

Danielle @ What Danielle Did Next

Wendy @ Book Scents

Tonya @ lilybloombooks

Books I received for Review/Blog Tours

 1. Bad Boy Rock Starr- Thank you to the Candy Starr and Xpresso Book Tours
2. Beyond Fate- Thank you to Heather Lyons & Inkslinger PR
3.Embrace- Thank you to S.E. Hall & her publicist, Samantha Stettner
4. Keep you from Harm-Thank you to Debra Doxer and ATOMR Tours
5. The Temptation of Lila & Ethan- Thank you to Jessica Sorensen, the publisher & NetGalley
6. Seven Day Fiance- Thank you to Rachel Harris, Inkslinger PR and the publisher.

Books I Bought This Week

 Audio Books I Bought This Week

Audio Book I Won This Week

September 30, 2013-- Blog Tour Review: Be My Downfall by Lyla Payne
Cover Reveal: Lost Without You
Release Day Launch: No Turning Back

October 1, 2013-- Cover Reveal: A Little Too Much
Release Day Launch: Lengths

October 2, 2013-- Cover Reveal: Escape in You
Review: The Game Changer by J. Sterling

October 3, 2013-- Release Day Launch: Watercolor
ARC Review + Dream Cast: Only for You by Genna Rulon

October 4, 2013-- Cover Reveal: Adrenaline Rush
Cover Reveal: Seamless
Blog Tour Review: Forever Innocent by Deanna Roy

October 5, 2013-- Blog Tour Review: Embrace by S.E. Hall

October 6, 2013-- The Sunday Post: Issue #16

There is a good chance this will change next week because I am crazy like that but as of now this is what I plan.

Cover Reveal: Far Too Tempting by Lauren Blakely

I freaking adore Lauren and all of her books. Loving this cover and I can't wait to read this one!

Jane Black has written the break-up album of the century, earning her a Grammy, a huge legion of new fans, and the pressure to repeat her success. Sure, the heartbreak from her husband’s unconventional abandonment might have been her inspiration, but it hasn’t done her any favors in the dating department. So when Matthew Harrigan, the toughest music journalist out there, asks for an interview, Jane agrees—as long as her personal life is completely off-limits. 

British, gorgeous, and way too tempting, Matthew’s the first guy Jane’s been attracted to since her husband. As she spends more time with him and their relationship heats up, though, so does her writer’s block. How can the queen of the break-up pen the perfect follow-up when she’s seriously in love?

PRE-ORDER LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

ABOUT LAUREN BLAKELY:

Lauren Blakely writes sexy contemporary romance novels with heat, heart, and humor, and her books have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks bestseller lists. Like the heroine in FAR TOO TEMPTING, she thinks life should be filled with family, laughter, and the kind of love that love songs promise. Lauren lives in California with her husband, children, and dogs. Her novels include Caught Up In Us, Pretending He’s Mine, Playing With Her Heart, and Trophy Husband. She also writes for young adults under the name Daisy Whitney.

Links:

Website: http://www.laurenblakely.com/

Blog: http://laurenblakelybooks.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenBlakelyBooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaurenBlakely3

Lauren Blakely Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6860216.Lauren_Blakely

Entangled Publishing: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/

Saturday @ Starbucks: Holiday Reads & a Salted Caramel Mocha

Saturday @ Starbucks is a weekly feature hosted by Starbucks & Books Obsession.

This week's topic is: 

Holiday Reads & a Salted Caramel Mocha

Featured Drink: Salted Caramel Mocha

Generally, I'm not a big fan of mochas because they are a little too sweet for me and I'm not a huge chocolate person but tis the season. I love Starbuck's seasonal drinks and the Salted Caramel Mocha is no exception. I usually get mine with only half of the chocolate but I love the contrast between the sweet and salty and that's why I love this drink.

DiscussionTopic: Holiday Reads

In all the past years, I've never really read anything different at the holidays or books specifically related to such. This is my first season as a blogger and I didn't realize there are so many books/novellas centered around the holidays. Most are Christmas but I love the season and I am super excited to do some Holiday reads this year to get me in the spirit. Here are a few I'm looking forward to reading.

What about you? Are you excited for any holiday themed reads this year?