Review: The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

Goodreads Summary:

Everyone has a lot to say about Alice Franklin, and it’s stopped mattering whether it’s true. The rumors started at a party when Alice supposedly had sex with two guys in one night. When school starts everyone almost forgets about Alice until one of those guys, super-popular Brandon, dies in a car wreck that was allegedly all Alice’s fault. Now the only friend she has is a boy who may be the only other person who knows the truth, but is too afraid to admit it. Told from the perspectives of popular girl Elaine, football star Josh, former outcast Kelsie, and shy genius Kurt, we see how everyone has a motive to bring – and keep – Alice down.

Publication Date: June 3, 2014

The Truth About Alice pulled me in with its setup: four different points of view are used to tell the story of teen Alice and the rumors surrounding her. I liked how each character’s unique personality added something different to the story. It was also clever to use the last chapter to finally hear Alice’s point of view.

When multiple points of view are used in a book, it’s difficult for the characters to become fully developed. Although I didn’t feel like I totally got to know a few of the characters, I found most of them relatable. Teen stereotypes are used somewhat as part of the characterizations, but I didn’t find it as irritable as I usually do.

My favorite characters were Kurt, Alice and Kelsie. Kurt was adorable and I loved how despite being considered the weird nerd in the school, he was still confident and not afraid to be his own person. Kelsie is the polar opposite, she’s very unsure of herself, but I still empathized with her. Alice’s fierce personality made her both admired and loathed.

The bullying plot was realistic and I did feel for Alice. Alice isn’t ostracized overnight, it becomes a gradual thing, the process long and drawn out. The book was a quick read and I couldn’t believe how I read through it in one sitting. The one thing I was disappointed in was I kept waiting for a big twist. Nothing happened that left me truly shocked and I almost wish the book started before the party and before Brandon’s death and not after.

The Truth About Alice was a standout debut and I definitely imagine hearing a lot of buzz about the book as the release date nears. A lot of readers will be able to identify with Alice and love her developing relationship with Kurt.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Stacking the Shelves #84

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and features books you've added to your shelves, both physical and virtual.

Purchased:

Unravel by Calia Read

Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan

For Review:

All Lined Up by Cora Carmack

Push by Claire Wallis

Ember Island by Kimberley Freeman

How to Fall by Jane Casey

Little Lies by Heather Gudenkauf

Heartbitten by Aubrey Rose

Falling for Autumn Paperback and eBook Giveaway

Falling for Autumn will be released soon and I'm so excited to share it. It's a New Adult novel with plenty of angst and heartache. But there's also a lot of healing and love thrown into the mix. There are some super intense scenes and although I loved writing it I am looking forward to writing Declan's spinoff book for the Second Sight series. It takes an emotional toll on me to write books like Falling for Autumn and it's the reason I enjoy mixing things up. As promised, here's the international giveaway for Falling for Autumn as well as a teaser.

Blurb:

Autumn Dorey had no problem leaving her hometown of Newpine and the friends there who’d betrayed her. Everyone thought they knew what happened the spring night Autumn’s world fell apart. Vicious rumors about the incident circulated, and she had to be homeschooled the last year of high school to escape her tormentors. All she wants now is to get away from it all and start over at Cook University. She leaves everything but the memory behind—something she swore she’d never forget—and sets off to rebuild what was broken.

Blake Preston is precisely the type of guy Autumn wants to avoid. He’s gorgeous, arrogant and the college’s beloved football star. As much as she believes he’s someone she should steer clear of, avoiding him proves to be impossible. He shows up everywhere around campus, offering her a no-strings attached friendship.

Autumn can’t deny Blake stirs up emotions she thought fled years ago. But things he’s been hiding begin to emerge and collide with her past, leaving her heart ravaged in their wake.

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Review: Above by Isla Morley

Goodreads Summary:

I am a secret no one is able to tell.

Blythe Hallowell is sixteen when she is abducted by a survivalist and locked away in an aban­doned missile silo in Eudora, Kansas. At first, she focuses frantically on finding a way out, until the harrowing truth of her new existence settles in—the crushing loneliness, the terrifying madness of a captor who believes he is saving her from the end of the world, and the persistent temptation to give up. But nothing prepares Blythe for the burden of raising a child in confinement. Determined to give the boy everything she has lost, she pushes aside the truth about a world he may never see for a myth that just might give meaning to their lives below ground. Years later, their lives are ambushed by an event at once promis­ing and devastating. As Blythe’s dream of going home hangs in the balance, she faces the ultimate choice—between survival and freedom.

Publication Date: March 4, 2014

This is a very rare case when I felt like I was reading two totally different books. The first half was engaging and suspenseful and I felt a strong connection to the main character.  But then the second half was weaker, boring and I didn’t like some of the underlying messages of the final act.

Blythe became a likable narrator as the story progressed. Blythe was a fighter and I liked how she never gave up hope for escape. She was a bit old-fashioned for her age and at times she came across as closer to 12 than 16. As time passes and she becomes a mother figure to Charlie and later a real mom to Adam, she became more relatable.

Dobbs was scary without being an overly violent individual. His crazy rants and raves created a terrific underlying tension. He was a well-developed villain and I squirmed each time he appeared on the pages.

The pacing was uneven and I felt some parts were quickly glossed over while others dragged on. The timeframe was also a little hard to follow at times, but that could’ve been the author’s intention.

The first half was really good and then bam a twist I saw coming a mile away came and I was left feeling irritated by the novel. It just made me lose interest in Blythe and Adam’s journey and I found it difficult to finish. SPOILER ALERT I also was seriously bothered by the idea Dobbs, a middle-aged man who repeatedly rapes a teen girl, could be redeemed. END OF SPOILER

Above falls in the middle for me, but it’s worth a read based on the superb first half of the novel.

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Review: Sing Sweet Nightingale by Erica Cameron

Goodreads Summary:

Mariella Teagen hasn't spoken a word in four years.

She pledged her voice to Orane, the man she loves—someone she only sees in her dreams. Each night, she escapes to Paradise, the world Orane created for her, and she sings for him. Mariella never believed she could stay in Paradise longer than a night, but two weeks before her eighteenth birthday, Orane hints that she may be able to stay forever.

Hudson Vincent made a pledge to never fight again.

Calease, the creature who created his dream world, swore that giving up violence would protect Hudson. But when his vow caused the death of his little brother, Hudson turned his grief on Calease and destroyed the dream world. The battle left him with new abilities and disturbing visions of a silent girl in grave danger—Mariella.

Now, Hudson is fighting to save Mariella's life while she fights to give it away. And he must find a way to show her Orane’s true intentions before she is lost to Paradise forever.

Publication Date: March 4, 2014

I loved Sing Sweet Nightingale and I can’t find one single critical thing to say about it. It was that good! I loved the characters, the imagery and the world building. I can’t wait for the series to continue and I hope to read more about Mari and Hudson.

Sing Sweet Nightingale hooked me from the beginning. The first chapter is set in Trenton (a very exciting detail for a Jersey girl who lives next to Trenton). Hudson captured my heart from the very first page and my heart broke for him when he lost his brother. He heads off on a revenge quest and it brings him into Mari’s life.

Mari was hard to get a read on at first and you could see how much Orane had entranced her to believe whatever he said. I enjoyed the scenes with Orane and Mari in the Dreamworld and loved the descriptive writing. It was fun to imagine being inside a world where anything is possible.

The romance was understated in Sing Sweet Nightingale, but I was still pleased with it. I found Hudson and Mari so likable and I loved their chemistry. The duo shared some really sweet moments especially when Hudson tries to protect Mari without freaking her out.

The pacing was excellent and I was anxious to see how everything would be resolved. There was such a strong sense of foreboding as I read and I couldn’t figure out how Hudson would be able to save Mari. The climax was exciting and I was glad the book concluded where it did.

It is a young adult novel, but definitely had crossover appeal. The novel is going on my favorites shelf and I can’t praise it enough.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Release Day Blitz: Twelve Steps by Veronica Bartles

Twelve Steps

by Veronica Bartles

Release Date: 03/25/14

Book Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Andi is tired of being a second-class sibling to perfect sister Laina. There in Laina's shadow, Andi's only noticeable feature is her pretty awesome hair. And even that is eclipsed by Laina's perfect everything else.

When Andi’s crush asks her to fix him up with Laina, Andi decides enough is enough and devises a twelve-step program to wrangle the spotlight away from Laina. After all, great hair must count for something.

Step 1: Admit she’s powerless to change her perfect sister, and accept that her life really, really sucks. OK, maybe that's two steps in one.

Step 4: Make a list of her good qualities besides great hair. There have got to be at least three good qualities, right?

Step 7: Demand attention for more than just her shortcomings, and break out of her shell. Easier said that done, but worth the effort in the long-run. 

When a stolen kiss from her crush ends in disaster, Andi finds that her prince isn’t as charming as she'd hoped, and realizes she may need a new program--perhaps with less steps!

As cracks in Laina’s flawless façade begin to show, the sisters work together to find a spotlight big enough for both to shine.

About the Author

As the second of eight children and the mother of four, Veronica Bartles is no stranger to the ups and downs of sibling relationships. (She was sandwiched between the gorgeous-and-insanely-popular older sister and the too-adorable-for-words younger sister.) She uses this insight to write stories about siblings who mostly love each other, even while they’re driving one another crazy.   When she isn’t writing or getting lost in the pages of her newest favorite book, Veronica enjoys knitting fabulous bags and jewelry out of recycled plastic bags and old VHS tapes, sky diving (though she hasn’t actually tried that yet), and inventing the world’s most delectable cookie recipes.  TWELVE STEPS is Veronica Bartles's first novel.

Author Links:

  



***GIVEAWAY***

1 ebook of Twelve Steps & $10 Amazon gift card (INT)

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Book Blitz Organized by:

Book Spotlight: The Devil's Temptation by Toni De Palma

The Devil’s Temptation by Toni De Palma

Published by: Crescent Moon Press

Release Date: March 14, 2014

Fighting the Devil brought Cooper and Grace together. But without a little evil to spice things up, the everyday life of a normal teenager is pretty dull. A summer job crewing on a billionaire’s yacht in sunny Italy might be just the ticket to rekindle passion. While the setting is perfect, the winding, sinister back streets of Naples are also the perfect playground for a scorned Lucifer to wreak havoc. And if evil doesn’t rip them apart, the sultry billionaire’s daughter and the sexy First Officer might be what it takes to finally destroy Cooper and Grace’s love forever.

About the Author:

Toni De Palma was born in Brooklyn, New York. As a child she spent many summers in Ischia, the Italian island where her father was brought up. Her first middle grade novel, Under the Banyan Tree, was published in 2007 and selected as a Kirkus New Voices Pick and a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. Her second middle grade novel, Jeremy Owl, was published in 2010. Her third book, The Devil’s Triangle, A YA paranormal is getting rave reviews. Toni holds her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College and she is a recipient of a New Jersey Arts Fellowship. She currently resides in New Jersey.

Buy Link:

http://www.amazon.com/Devils-Temptation-Toni-DePalma-ebook/dp/B00IX7LEVG/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-2-fkmr0&qid=1395065937

Links:

http://www.tonidepalma.com/

https://www.facebook.com/WriterToniDePalma

https://www.facebook.com/TheDevilSeries

https://twitter.com/ToniDePalma1

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20581502-the-devil-s-temptation

Stacking the Shelves #83

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and features books you've added to your shelves, both physical and virtual.

For Review:

Dark Metropolis by Jaclyn Dolamore

Relentless by Anna Wells

The Word Exchange by Alena Graedon

Deliver Me by Kate Jarvik Birch

Played by Liz Fichera

Carina Press New Adult Blitz and Giveaway

New Adult Releases:

Stephanie Tyler:

-          Latest release – Redemption: A Defiance Novel (book 2 in trilogy - Nov 2013)

Danube Adele:

-          Latest release – Quicksilver Dreams (book 1 in Dreamwalkers series - Jan 2014)

Kristine Wyllys:

-          Latest release – Wild Ones (book 1 in The Lane series – Jan 2014)

Stina Lindenblatt:

-          Latest release – Tell Me When (book 1 in new series - Jan 2014)

10 Things Every Aspiring Writer Would Know by Stina Lindenblatt

1. Rejections aren’t the end of the world, even if they feel that way at the time. They’re like a dare. A dare from the agent or editor to challenge yourself to be a better writer and storyteller.  

2. Rejections don’t mean your story sucks. It might just mean it’s not the right story for that agent or editor. Even Stephen King and J.K. Rowling received rejections. Hard to believe, huh?

3. Social networking isn’t a waste of time. It’s fun. It’s a chance to meet new friends who will later be your biggest supporters. Did I mention it’s fun?

4. Remember the saying about putting all your eggs in one basket? Well, it applies to EVERYTHING in publishing. Don’t put all your hopes on landing your dream agent (query others who are looking for your genre). Don’t focus on only one social networking platform (on the other hand, you don’t want to dilute your efforts by being on ALL of them. That’s too exhausting). Don’t…well see #5 for this don’t.

5. It’s so easy to fall in love with your first story and not move on. You keep polishing it, even after you’ve started querying. An agent sends you a form rejection with nothing more than ‘not for me’ as the reason for the rejection, and you tweak the manuscript some more. It’s time to move on. Your first baby is out there, flapping its wings, hoping to catch the wind for a safe landing. Great. Now get to work on your next novel. If you plan to self publish, your next project can be a sequel. If you plan to go the traditional route, start a project that has nothing to do with the first book. There’s no guarantee your first book will be published, and you’re only wasting time working on a sequel if it doesn’t sell.

6. It’s rare that a writer will land a publishing contract with her first manuscript. For me, it was my fifth. I didn’t finish editing all of them. Some I realized wouldn’t stand a chance in the competitive market, and I shelved them. I considered each book practice for the next one. And with each book, I strived to do better than the last. That attitude shouldn’t change once you’re published.

7. Enjoy each stage of the process. Focus on the journey and not on the destination. And while you’re at it, figure out what success means to you, but pick something obtainable. Everyone wants to be a New York Times and USA Today bestseller, but not everyone will be one. If that’s what you’re striving for, and only focus on that, you’ll miss out on what writing all is about—touching the hearts of your readers and writing the stories that are important to you.

8. Read. Read. Read. Don’t just read in your genre. You might get a brilliant, fresh idea from reading a different genre. And don’t forget to read lots of crafts books on different aspects of writing. All of this will help you grow as a writer.

9. Do. Not. Plagiarize. Chances are great you will be caught, especially if you plagiarize from bestselling authors. Their fans will recognize the prose and will call you out on it, which I can guarantee will go viral. It won’t sell books; it will kill your writing career.

10. Live your life. Spend time with your friends and family. Have fun! Because one day you will land a publishing contract and with that comes DEADLINES. Yes, these are the dreaded dates that tend to be scheduled for when you’re away on vacation (been there) or when your kids are off from school (been there, too).

Is there anything you wish you had known when you first started writing with the goal of publication?

GIVEAWAY

Blitz-wide giveaway

Prizes - Open INT - 2 winners will win this prize pack:

-Ecopy  - Stephanie Tyler - Redemption: A Defiance Novel (book 2 in trilogy)

-Ecopy  - Danube Adele - Quicksilver Dreams (book 1 in Dreamwalkers series)

-Ecopy  - Kristine Wyllys  - Wild Ones (book 1 in The Lane series)

-Ecopy  - Stina Lindenblatt  -  Tell Me When (book 1 in new series)

-One $25 Amazon gift card

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Review: Crazy for You by Juliet Rosetti

Summary:

In the tradition of Janet Evanovich and Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Juliet Rosetti ups the ante in her laugh-out-loud funny Escape Diaries series, as Mazie Maguire must use any means necessary to keep her main squeeze out of the slammer.

Once you escape from prison and ride off into the sunset with the gorgeous guy who helped you nail a killer, you live happily ever after, right? Well, not exactly—not if you’re Mazie Maguire, and the flow chart of your life looks like a pinball machine. Mazie has broken up with her guy, Ben Labeck, she can’t pay her rent, her car is infested with mice, and she’s working at a coffee shop where the dress code is teddies, thongs, and toe-cleavage heels. Now Ben is the chief suspect in a murder investigation, and Mazie’s tapping into her fugitive wiles to keep him out of jail. Strictly as friends, she vows. No kissing, no touching, no romance. But how is Mazie supposed to keep her thoughts platonic when her “buddy” is giving her erotic back rubs, and a make-believe-we’re-newlyweds charade puts her in the mood for a wedding night?

Publication Date: December 9, 2013

This was a cute and funny read. Mazie was quite the character and I loved her antics while she attempted to help solve a murder mystery. She had great chemistry with Ben and I can’t wait to read future books about the duo.

Crazy for You is the second book in the Life and Love on the Lam series. Although I hadn’t read the first book, it was easy to get into the plot. A brief overview of the last book is given, but I didn’t feel like it was done as an info dump. I liked Mazie’s sense of humor right off of the bat and like the blurb suggests the book is reminiscent of the Stephanie Plum series.

Mazie and Ben were hysterical once they came together to solve the murder. There chemistry was sweet and steamy. It definitely makes me curious to see how they got together in the first novel. Along with Mazie and Ben, I enjoyed the secondary characters and loved how their quirks added a lot of flair to the plot.

The pacing was excellent and I never grew bored of the plot. There were a lot of editing issues, but since I did have an ARC I’ll assume the copy was cleaned up before publication. There was a little bit of predictability when it came to the plot, but it was the perfect book for me to just turn my brain off for the night and enjoy the ride. Readers of romantic suspense who enjoy unique protagonists will love this series.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of Crazy for You for review!

Mental Health Giveaway Hop-Win an Amazon Gift Card and a Copy of The Disappearing Girl

Win a copy of The Disappearing Girl by Heather Topham Wood (ebook) and a $10 Amazon Gift Card. Giveaway is international and ends March 27. Good luck!

Goodreads Summary:

Kayla Marlowe is slowly vanishing...

Last year, Kayla’s world imploded. Her beloved father died, leaving her alone with a narcissistic mother who is quick to criticize her daughter’s appearance. During her winter break from college, Kayla’s dangerous obsession with losing weight begins.

Kayla feels like her world changes for the better overnight. Being skinny seems to be the key to the happiness she has desperately been seeking. Her mother and friends shower her with compliments, telling her how fantastic she looks. Kayla is starving, but no one knows it.

Cameron Bennett explodes into Kayla’s life. He’s sexy and kind—he has every quality she has been looking for in a guy. As Cameron grows closer to Kayla and learns of how far she’s willing to go to stay thin, he becomes desperate to save her.

Kayla’s struggles with anorexia and bulimia reach a breaking point and she is forced to confront her body image issues in order to survive. She wonders if Cameron could be the one to help heal her from the pain of her past.

New Adult Contemporary-Ages 17+ due to language and sexual situations.
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Review: Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

Goodreads Summary:

A modern day thrill ride, where a teen girl and her animal companion must participate in a breathtaking race to save her brother's life—and her own.

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

Publication Date: February 25, 2014

Although you’re bound to hear a lot of comparisons of Fire & Flood to The Hunger Games, I still found the novel enjoyable. There were enough unique elements to feel like the author was telling her own story. I found myself invested in Tella’s journey and I’m looking forward to the sequel.

As far as characters, I think I liked the secondary characters a bit more than Tella. I liked Tella, but her thought process didn’t always make sense to me. I think the author is funny and I like her writing style, but Tella worrying about her hair and makeup just took away from the sense of urgency in the plot. She came across as shallow and it made it difficult to root for her to win the race.

That being said, I still liked the setting and the rest of the characters were great. Guy was mysterious and heroic and Tella’s Pandora named Madox was amazing. When Tella was interacting with Madox, I found Tella the most likable. The romance wasn’t a major part of the plot, but there was room left for the relationship to develop. The villains were scary and since there is a competition, loyalties changed throughout the book.

The world building was a little vague for a lot of the novel, but I was glad to see it come together at the end. There was a lot of excitement in the final third of the novel and I felt the conclusion built up my anticipation for the next book.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Being Hartley by Allison Rushby Spotlight Post and Giveaway

Goodreads Summary:

Fifteen-year-old Thea Wallis was born to entertain. Her mother, Oscar winning actress Cassie Hartley, thinks differently and has kept her daughter out of the spotlight since day one. Coming from showbiz royalty, it hasn't been easy to go unnoticed, but mismatched surnames, a family home in Tasmania and a low-key scriptwriter father has made this possible.

Just like her cousin Rory on the hugely popular TV show Saturday Morning Dance, Thea loves to dance. She learns the show's routines off by heart each week, despite her mother's attempts to convince her that dentistry would be a far more fulfilling career choice.

However, when Rory goes off the rails in LA, Thea's mother is suddenly left with no choice at all – Rory needs them and to LA they must go. Within forty-eight hours, Thea finds herself a long way from Tasmania and living her dream – on the road to Las Vegas with the Saturday Morning Dance team.

It doesn't take long before Thea's talents are discovered and she's offered everything she's ever wanted on a plate, including the dance partner she's had a crush on forever. But, as her mother has always told her, Hollywood dreams come at a price. Thea soon realizes she will have to work out just how much she's willing to pay. And, ultimately, discover her own way to be Hartley.

Publication Date: February 2014

About the Author:

Allison Rushby is the Australian author of a whole lot of books. She is crazy about Mini Coopers, Devon Rex cats and corn chips. In November 2013, she will release her thirteenth book (she thinks… maths was never her forte). You can find her at http://www.allisonrushby.com, procrastinating on Facebook, or on Twitter at @Allison_Rushby. That is, when she’s not on eBay, or Etsy, or any other place she can shop in secret while looking like she's writing…

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Stacking the Shelves #82

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews and features books you've added to your shelves, both physical and virtual.

For Review:

Torn Away by Jennifer Brown

Amity by Micol Ostow

Of Monsters and Madness by Jessica Verday

Tabula Rasa by Kristen Lippert-Martin

The Broken by Shelley Coriell

Memory of Water by Emmi Itaranta

Review: White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Goodreads Summary:

One kiss could be the last.

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

Publication Date: February 25, 2014

White Hot Kiss turned out to be a fun and romantic ride! I liked the mythology of the Wardens and the demons and I thought the action scenes were very exciting. I didn’t love the book as much as the Lux series, but it was still a solid start to the series.

Layla was an interesting character since her heritage is half-Warden and half-demon. The Wardens are gargoyles that can shift into human form and they are appointed guardians of mankind against demons. Layla was taken in as a child by the Wardens and has to suppress her demon side. She is very conflicted about her heritage once she meets demon Roth.

I really liked both of the potential love interests Roth and Zayne, but I really wished there wasn’t a love triangle. Sometimes love triangles work for me, but this one just seemed unnecessary. I almost wished Zayne had been cast in a big brother role and have Roth as the sole love interest. Roth is a bad *ss demon, but I liked his protective side and also his funny little quirks like naming his snake Bambi.

The plot moved at a good clip as Layla and Roth try to figure out who is trying to release hell on earth. Layla also finds out more about her past with a few revelations that caught me by surprise. The author is a talented writer and I could feel the tension during the suspenseful scenes and the heat during the romantic parts.

I’m looking forward to the next installment especially after the surprise ending. I would highly recommend the book to fans of teen paranormal romance novels.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

  

Here and Trapped by Ella James Book Blitz

Here

Milo Mitchell's life used to be charmed, but that was before her father died, she went a little crazy, and her best friends started acting more like strangers. One Saturday morning as she roams the land around her family's Colorado wind farm, tagging deer for a project that used to be her father's, Milo makes a big mistake: a dart from her stun-gun takes down a teenage guy.

Dressed in a Brinoi tux and armed with a perfectly starched handkerchief, the guy looks like a young James Bond - or some country's missing, playboy prince. Trouble is, he could be either. Mr. Mystery has no idea who or where he is. Afraid her dart caused his amnesia, Milo takes him in, names him Nick, and tries to get used to a hot guy sharing her bedroom.

But Milo's Nick is more than he appears. Soon the pair find his face in a newspaper obituary, and Nick beings to have memories of Milo - who is sure she's never met him. If 'Nick' survived a plunge off a steep cliffside on his way to a family camping trip, why did Milo find him dozens of miles away, wearing a freshly pressed tuxedo?  If he's just a high-school athlete, why does he have moves like Jason Bourne? And why does he feel more for her than his surviving family?

When a train of black SUVs shows up on Mitchell property, Nick and Milo run - toward a shocking conclusion that could destroy both their worlds.

Teaser

I shouldn’t have come to Milo’s house, but I was riding for my life, and when I thought about it ending, all I’d wanted—literally the only thing I thought about—was her.

It was startling, the clarity, the sense of purpose, because shortly after I saw Milo’s concert, I got mind-jacked. I didn’t know by what, but the presence had a serious hard-on for calculus and physics, other things I shouldn’t know or care about. I had a freaky suspicion that it was the Real Me, and that the Real Me was some kind of wizard/astrophysicist.

I spent two days in my bed after it happened, hung over on numbers, figures, but by the third day I could handle it. And my superpower had come back, stronger.

I knew intuitively how to control the van, how many meters away the Harley was when I landed, how to start it, how to drive it.

I ran for it as the van spun, tires screeching as it turned to come back for me. It had been modified, was faster than the bike, but I knew the town grid completely, and I’d clogged their fuel injector, which meant that ten minutes after our little chase started, I had lost them.

I doubled back, took an indirect path to get to Milo’s house. I didn’t want to leave an easy trail. When I pulled up and they were nowhere to be seen, I thought I had evaded them, told myself I had gotten away. But it wasn’t until I saw Milo that I realized what I’d done. I should have added to my lead, driven far away, stolen another bike, a car, hopped a train, gone anywhere but were I was. Where she was.

And what did I get for my utter stupidity?

Milo, wide-eyed and concerned. Milo, rubbing my back, tapping my knee. Milo heedless of the danger. Milo, achingly close.

She was leaning over me now, blowing on the scrape she’d just cleaned. “That feel any better?”

I nodded, my nose and forehead digging into her blankets.

“Good.” I felt her hand trail up my spine, then lift away and land atop my hair.

“You can go to sleep, you know. I’ll keep watch, just in case.”

I shook my head, dizzy from the pill and her soft hand. “I need to…leave…”

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Trapped ( Here #2)  Releases on March 19, 2014

When Milo Mitchell falls for the beautiful, tuxedo-clad guy she found wandering her family’s rural Colorado property, she never dreamed he was a scout from another galaxy, or that their relationship would leave him with an impossible choice: eradicating humankind, or initiating the end of his own people.

Nick’s job is finding the elements his people need to power their elaborate interweb of minds. Being a scout means he is capable of traveling to other planets on his own. It also means that, unlike The Rest, he has access to primitive feelings and individual desires. For eons, he was part of the whole, but when he encountered Milo, his obsession with her changed everything.

Nick’s partner, Vera, is capable of independent thought, but not compelled by it. She is satisfied with her existence as one of The Rest, and she won’t agree that humans are worth sparing; not when their planet has a precious cache of the gold her people need so badly.

While Vera tries to force Nick into endorsing an Earth invasion, working behind the scenes to tie his hands, and the Department of Defense lays a trap for them with Milo’s mom as bait, Nick and Milo are waging their own war – against a primal desire that can only lead to one thing: heartbreak.

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About Ella James

Ella James is a Colorado author who writes teen and adult romance. She is happily married to a man who knows how to wield a red pen, and together they are raising a feisty two-year-old who will probably grow up believing everyone’s parents go to war over the placement of a comma.

Ella’s books have been listed on numerous Amazon bestseller lists, including the Movers & Shakers list and the Amazon Top 100; two were listed among Amazon’s Top 100 Young Adult Ebooks of 2012.

To find out more about Ella’s projects and get dates on upcoming releases, find her on Facebook at facebook.com/ellajamesauthorpage and follow her blog, http://www.ellajamesbooks.com. Questions or comments? Tweet her at author_ellaj or e-mail her at ella_f_james@ymail.com.

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