Wednesday, September 4, 2013

[Book Review] Say When by Tara West

Say When (Something More #1)Say When
Tara West
He told me to say when, but I can’t. Not with Andrés. It’s so hard to say anything when he’s trailing feather soft kisses down my neck, or when his touch sends hot currents of lust rippling across my skin. 

Then there’s the way he smiles and offers soft words of encouragement when I’m creating art, almost like he believes I have talent. 

He’s not like any guy I’ve ever met. Not like my ex-fiancée. Not like my father. He’s got me thinking that maybe we can have something more. More than just lust, degradation, and abuse. 

And now I’m scared, because that means I’ll have to trust him with more than just my body, but with my heart, too.


*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

”I don’t hear the music. I don’t see the people I know must be staring at us. All I hear, all I feel, is him. That’s when I lean up and whisper into his ear. “You told me to say when, right?”

“Right.” His answer is a throaty growl.

“When.”

Say When is a very deep romance novel that tells a story about two broken people trying to love and forget their demons. 

Christina is engaged with a man who her mother wants to marry. He has the power and the money and all she needs to do now is set the date for the wedding. But she cannot stand him and the thought of making love to him makes her sick. She finally is able to break it off with him and calls her friend to leave him with his nasty fart-breaths. Accidently running into a hot Latino makes her blood boil and maybe this new Christina can do something she never done before – a one night stand. But this one night stand end up something more and she might fall for someone she does not deserve. 

After Andres came back from Afghanistan, his nightmares are not ending. Meeting Christina and spending the night with her stopped the nightmares for one night and he needs to find out if there is something more than just one night. But even if she is different, he can’t stop wondering if he is not good for her. 

The first 30% of the book were FREAKING AMAZING!!! There was so much humor and I loved Christina! I just thought it was so hilarious how she left her fiancé and how her night turned out. But as the book went on, I didn’t have that connection that I originally had. I would want to see more of Andres POV because his was way more interesting than Christina’s was. 

Otherwise I really liked the writing but the second part of the book felt abandoned. Even though there were a lot of emotions involved between the characters, the way it was written was very disconnected and dead.

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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

[Top Ten Tuesday] #4

This is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where each week bloggers share a list of books for the prompt given. 

This Week's Topic: Top Ten Books I wish were Taught in Schools

This one is a little tricky for me since I only moved to America in high school and have not discovered a lot of American classics. Here are 2 lists with Classics that I have read and that are still on my TBR list!

READ Classics. 
The Great GatsbyRomeo and JulietTo Kill a Mockingbird
The Catcher in the RyeLittle Women (Little Women, #1)


TBR Classics & Wish they taught in school.
Pride and PrejudiceAnna KareninaThe Fault in Our Stars
A Stop in the ParkThe Notebook

What's on your list today? Leave the link below so I can stop by and check it out!! Happy Tuesday! xoxo

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[Book Review + Giveaway] Crossing by Stacey Wallace Benefiel

CrossingCrossing
Stacey Wallace Benefiel
Due to heavy subject matter, Crossing is recommended for readers 17+.

He stole her lipstick…and her heart.

Twenty-year-old Dani Walker can’t believe her luck when she’s paired up with the gorgeous Liam Garrett as her Acting I scene partner – or when he ends up in her bed. Being a Plain Jane with a mouth on her hasn’t exactly served Dani well in the guy department. In fact, she’s had nothing but one night stands. Still, she lets go of her insecurities and falls for Liam, despite feeling like he’s holding something back.

When Dani finally discovers Liam’s secret, she must learn the true meaning of accepting the ones we love for who they are, or risk losing the best thing that’s ever happened to her


*ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

Crossing is a very deep love story about two people who are realistic with their personalities and emotions. It’s not a cliché story about perfect girl and perfect boy having the most perfect relationship.

"Stop making excuses for why you can’t let yourself have this. It’s not conventional but that doesn’t mean it isn’t real. What’s more important? Loving the man that loves you, or trying to achieve this bullshit idea you have of what a perfect relationship is supposed to be?”
Dani is not perfect. An aspiring college theatre major met Liam in a theatre class and does not think that a girl like her belongs with a guy like him. She knows that she’s not the skinniest girl in the world but she is confident in herself and doesn’t care. She’s corky, fun, and she is real.
Liam is charming and can have any girl that he wants. But he chooses Dani. He likes her for who she is and doesn’t care about other girls. Their love is real and the emotions and feelings that they have for each other cannot be ignored.


This was an amazing and absolutely beautiful story. This is the book that makes girls have that hope that their Price Charming is out there and all they need to do is wait. I was able to really connect with the characters and enjoy the story. A must read for everyone who wants to see true love through a real girl’s eyes. 


About the Author
Stacey Wallace BenefielStacey Wallace Benefiel is the author of the Zellie Wells trilogy, FOUND, the Day of Sacrifice series, The Toilet Business - a collection of essays,CROSSING, and multiple short stories.

She sometimes goes by S.W. Benefiel or Reina Stowe, but knows she's not foolin' anybody.

Stacey lives in an orange house in Beaverton, OR with her two young children.

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Sunday, September 1, 2013

[August Recap]


Oh my gosh! Where did August go? I feel like it was just yesterday that I was going away for 4th of July weekend! But August definitely was busy and flew by fast. Seattle is right on schedule and already had few showers. It's coat season!! But here's a little recap for the month of August and what is to be expected for September. 

"Sins & Needles" by Karina Halle
"Shooting Scars" by Karina Halle
"Dollhouse" by Anya Allyn
"Twisted" by K.A. Robinson
"Torn" by K.A. Robinson

Favorite book of the month
17230559
review coming soon.

In September I am expecting to review more books for NetGalley as well as some new Authors that I got in contact with! And I will be spending more time working on memes since this month I have not posted any. So stick around and don't forget to check back for new suggestions and giveaway! 

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Friday, August 30, 2013

[Guest Post] A Slow Burning Fire by J. F. Jenkins

A Slow Burning Fire
A Slow Burning Fire
J. F. Jenkins
Ever since super star, Arial Oakley, could remember, she's been in love with her hunky co-star Bryce Valentine. The only problem: Bryce has been in a relationship with another ac-tress for quite some time. Not wanting to be “the other woman”, Arial never pursued any of her feelings for him despite how well they connected.

When Bryce suddenly becomes single, both of their worlds are flipped upside down. To help him nurse his aching heart, Arial invites him back home to her family farm for some much needed peace and quiet from the paparazzi.

What neither of them expects is to fall in love: with the calm, with the country, with each other. But how much of it is real, and how much of it is a means to escape a broken heart?


Author Guest Blog: Top Five Songs
Home - Phillip Phillips (youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTg1n95--KE). I'm sure a lot of people are sick of this song. When I was writing this story, it was all the rage and on my radio all the time because of my child's obsession with music. It is a good song, and it fit my story perfectly, so I couldn't ignore it every time it came on. It became a staple to the tale.

Me Without You - Ashley Tisdale (youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KHkcYguLxs). This is a song about pure love and loving all parts of a person. It's just so sweet. "When everything falls apart, and it feels like the world is crashing at my feet. You like me the best when I'm a mess, when I'm my own worst enemy. You make me feel beautiful..."

Crazy For This Girl - Evan and Jaron (youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT7VCXX50Xs). Another great song about real love.

Two is Better than One - Boys like Girls ft. Taylor Swift, as covered by Gavin Mikhail (youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8QSctVEN7U). Because I can't not get a Gavin Mikhail reference in. ;) But the song is sweet and fitting and worth a listen.

Drive - Incubus (youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slRNXrn_5vE) This is probably my all time favorite song about self discovery. Can never go wrong with it.



About the Author:
J.F. Jenkins lives in Minneapolis Minnesota with her husband, son, and two cats. She graduated from Bethel University in 2006 with a degree in Media Communication with minors in both writing and film. When she is not busy writing, she spends her free time playing games, reading, and spending time with her family.

[Book Blitz] Don't Make Me Beautiful by Elle Casey


Don't Make Me Beautiful
Don't Make Me Beautiful
by Elle Casey
Release Date: 08/12/13

Summary from Goodreads:

A ROMANTIC SUSPENSE NOVEL. No one knew a woman lived there or that she even existed. A monster, living in darkness...

At twenty-six, Nicole doesn't even look human anymore. The beast made sure of that. So she hides. A monster consigned to a life of fear and solitude. This is all she deserves, she is quite sure of that.
And then one day out of the blue, the autographed baseball caught by Brian Jensen at the latest Marlins game enters her prison and manages to turn her world completely upside down.
Temptation comes in the form of pity at first, and then perhaps something more.
Does she dare to believe the things she's told, that this is not the life she was meant to live? That being a monster is not her forever-fate? And will she be willing to risk everything, to reach out and accept the helping hands around her? She knows only too well that hands can hurt. Finding out whether they can also heal is a risky proposition, especially when the beast is still out there. Looking for her.



Excerpt 

Brian walks up to the porch, taking the steps slowly as he looks around. He’s not sure what he’s looking for, but everything seems to be in order.
“What the hell am I doing here?” he whispers to himself. What am I going to say if that guy comes to the door again? I’ll ask him for the bill, that’s it. Tell him I want to pay right away. Be a good neighbor. Brian shakes his head at his ridiculous thoughts. He already told the guy to leave the bill in his box. Showing up again and ringing the bell when the sign on it says not to feels almost like harassment. He looks at the sign again, reading the heavy scrawl.
DO NOT RING BELL. DO NOT KNOCK. WE DON’T TAKE VISITORS.
Brian frowns. He can’t get past the feeling that it’s just a weird thing to do, to put a sign up like that warning people away. It’s like something he would have done as a kid on a clubhouse to keep other kids from discovering his secret hiding place. It’s so ridiculous it almost begs people to discover whatever it is he’s keeping inside.
Brian laughs nervously at himself. Don’t be stupid. You’re a grown man and so is he. This is his house. If you trespass he can shoot your stupid ass.
Brian steps back away from the door, prepared to leave and never come back. But then the sound of his son’s voice and the vision of him standing on their own front porch the night before comes back to him. “She’s not sick, Dad. She’s just really ugly.”
Brian doesn’t want to see a really ugly woman. That’s not what’s motivating him to stand her on this porch and risk pissing off this neighbor. It’s just that … he’s a math guy. Brian has always been strong in math, from the time he was Liam’s age. He uses it every day with his work at restoring furniture, both in the actual hands-on stuff and the figuring he has to do later when he does his billing. Everything always has to add up in his world, and this situation with the monster lady? It wasn’t adding up.
Brian glances over at the cardboard covering the hole. Maybe I’ll just take a look at the damage and make a call to a glass company myself. Then I can go get some cash out of the bank and be ready to pay the guy when he gives me the bill.
Brian takes a few tentative steps down the porch towards the front window. A car comes down the street and he freezes, waiting until it’s a few doors down before continuing. Once in front of the window, he looks around the neighborhood. No one is outside, and he sees no faces in any other windows. These people need an Ethel.

About the Author
Elle CaseyNew York Times Best-Selling author Elle Casey is an American girl living in southern France with her husband, three children, and several furry creatures. She writes in a variety of genre including YA Fantasy, YA Action/Adventure, New Adult Romance, and Adult Contemporary Romance. She's a little on the wild side, usually busy making people laugh, and always in the mood for adventure. There's not much in this world that she loves more than reader interaction, so feel free to drop her a line.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

[Book Review] Deeper by Blue Ashcroft

DeeperDeeper
Blue Ashcroft
Rain Wilson isn’t ever going to love again.

It’s a promise she made the day her boyfriend died in a water park accident, one she still blames herself for. Now she’s a senior lifeguard in a new town with a new pool and she’s just going to keep her head down and everyone safe.

Until a mysterious guy follows her into the waves at the pre-season bonfire and kisses her senseless. It’s just one mistake, and Rain is determined to put it behind her, until the dark haired, blue eyed hottie turns out to be her new co-supervisor Knight Mcallister.

Knight is hot, tatted, and carrying baggage of his own. He’s not happy about having Rain for a co-supervisor, and he’s even less happy about his attraction to her.

But between lifeguard drama, hot underwater kisses, and a growing attraction between them that can’t be stopped, Knight and Rain are being pulled deeper into their pasts, and realizing that sometimes too much broken can make a relationship impossible.

Then again sometimes it’s the broken parts of us that fit together best.

*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*


Deeper is an emotional story about two people with past that try to work at a relationship with many problems that come their way. With sad and sweet story, this book could have had more potential but unfortunately didn’t live up to it.


After the death of her boyfriend, Rain Wilson does not want to love again. She does not want to feel the pain and guilt wash over her every day. And when she sees Knight at her new job location, she knows it’s wrong. She is all about the rules but maybe breaking the rules might not be so bad after all. But she doesn’t realize that Knight has a past of his own and even with all the drama that is going on around them, she might be more invested into this than she expected.

Knight is not happy about another supervisor joining him in the summer. This is his pool and he spent too much time working on it. But he sees Rain, he cannot pull his eyes from her and the similarity of his ex girlfriend is unbearable. But she is not Camille, she will not get sexually abused, and she will not die. Not if he can’t stop it and protect her this summer even if she doesn’t want him to.

”I should have known from the moment my eyes found her at the bonfire, and it felt like a part of me was waking up after a long nightmare. And then I followed her into the water, like she was a siren”.

I really had mixed feelings about this book. It was interesting to learn about the lifeguard’s life and how they do things but the whole sexual abuse thing was a little over the top. It was like the whole water park was an attraction for the rapists and families did not go here.

It was…. Just sad. I did not see any twists, no surprising moments and nothing to blow away my mind. I would assume that with such a tragic story line, there would be something that would trigger my feelings but I had no connection with this whatsoever. The writing was beautiful but it didn’t have the spark that would my absolute favorite and memorable.


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