Stacking the Shelves #47

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:

Forgiving Lies by Molly McAdams

Runaway Groom by Sally Clements

Come Back to Me by Coleen Patrick

Black Spring by Alison Croggon

Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover

High Risk Love Release Event and eBook Giveaway

High Risk Love Release Event

Title:  High Risk Love

Author:  Shannon Mayer

Publisher:  HiJinks Ink Publishing

Release date:  July 1, 2013

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Age Group:   New Adult

Event organized by: AToMR Tours

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17829224-high-risk-love

Amazon Ebook:  http://amzn.to/11ifDod

Amazon Paperback:  http://amzn.to/14EDJdF

Kobo:  http://bit.ly/11Slvo5

Book Description:

Photographs. 

Images. Snapshots in time.

This is how I experience my life. I’ve hidden behind my camera and viewed the world through the lens. I watch other people live their lives. I’ve given up on my dreams, and sheltered my heart from love; because both have given me nothing but pain. Even thinking about opening myself up, sends my fears into overdrive. It’s better to be safe, than to take a risk and have your life shattered into pieces alongside your heart. This is what I believed.

Dangerous.

Risks. Fear Nothing.

I live for the rush of adrenaline I get when I work my stunts. Nothing else matters but the feel of my heart pounding when I challenge the line between life and death. Women are nothing more than a distraction; they use me for my connections, as I use them to escape the pain of my past before moving on to my next adrenaline fix. My life is consumed with excitement, danger and risks—it’s all I needed.

 Denials. 

Fear. The complete wrong time.

Jasmin and Jet will face off over photos, stunts and the truth hidden in their hearts.  The last person Jasmin wants to be with is a man who takes life for granted.  Jet wants to give his heart to no one; especially one who might not understand the secrets that haunt him. Despite their protests, Jasmin’s and Jet’s lives tangle; the threads of love and fear bind them. Between their passions and their pasts, they fight to hang onto each other . . . but will the stakes be too high when faced with the ultimate sacrifice?

** 18+ for adult situations, sexual situations and language.

About the Author

Shannon Mayer lives in the southwestern tip of Canada with her husband, dog, cats, horse, and cows. When not writing she spends her time staring at immense amounts of rain, herding old people (similar to herding cats) and attempting to stay out of trouble. Especially that last is difficult for her.

She is the author of the The Nevermore Trilogy, The Rylee Adamson Novels and the Celtic Legacy series. Her first New Adult Romance, High Risk Love, is scheduled for release July 1, 2013.

Author social media links:

Website:  www.shannonmayer.com

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TheShannonMayer

Excerpt #1

Jogging to the stairs, I put Elise from my mind . . . something that was easy to do when I got a glimpse at the girl walking up the stairs, a camera slung around her neck. Photographer or tourist? She had long, wavy, dark hair that was causally messy and gave me an instant itch to bury my fingers into it; to see if it was as thick and silky as it looked. Grinning, I thought about Hugh’s suggestion and it suddenly seemed like a very good idea. I slowed my steps so we met on the next landing. I stood between her and the stairs going up, put on my best, crooked grin—the one that had earned me cookies, women and jobs, depending on my age.

“I’m sorry, you can’t go up there; it’s a closed set. I’m afraid I’ll have to escort you back to the lobby.” I pointed to the lower stairs, and then folded my arms across my chest, grinning like a fool. A whiff of perfume curled around me and the smile on my face stretched wider; she smelled like heaven, whispers of flowers and moonlit nights. Shit, I was damn near poetic in my musings.

Her eyes flicked up to mine, surprise crossing her face, but it was me who caught my breath. Her eyes were green, shadowed with a dark ring of black, smoky and full of depth. Those eyes sucked me in with an effortlessness that shot through my body. And although the beauty of her eyes was undeniable, there was something else, a quality I couldn’t put my finger on, a softness that I hadn’t seen since what seemed like a lifetime ago . . . .

“I have a pass,” she said, her sweetly husky voice coiling around me, lingering on my skin as if she’d touched me with her fingertips. She held up a tag and a camera that hung from her neck. “I have an appointment waiting for me.”

I gave into temptation, stepping closer to her, drinking her in; the curve of her cheek, the sudden hollow in her throat as she took a deep surprised breath. She blushed; she actually blushed! How long had it been since I met someone who wasn’t skilled at playing men? Who hadn’t worked what they’d wanted from the man in question and then left as soon as they could?

This girl was no model, no actress, not because she wasn’t beautiful, but because she was dressed in a t-shirt and cut off shorts with no name brand, and scuffed running shoes that had seen better days. Inwardly, I heaved a sigh of relief. She wouldn’t be after anything I had to offer, no connections for this girl.

She was perfect.

I continued to smile, feeling the tension between us and the pounding of my heart, like I was about to pull off a particularly risky move; knowing by the way her eyes dilated she felt the . . . whatever it was between us too.

“Excuse me, I don’t want to be late.” She tried to step around me, and I followed her, making sure to keep my distance, but not letting her get away from me. God damn, she was fine. Natural, that’s what it was; she had a natural beauty untouched by surgery, Botox or heavy make-up. She was clean and fresh, something I’d almost forgotten existed.

I wanted to taste her. Without another thought, I lifted my hand to brush along the edge of her jaw, her skin like satin under my fingers. Her eyes widened, dilating further as her mouth pursed and her jaw tightened. Such a mixture of desire and denial in those deep green eyes. The emerald color flashed with irritation, sparkling as if on fire—green fire to burn me all the way to my soul and back, if I let it. I stifled a shiver of anticipation, my muscles tensing, prepping me to move fast. To move in for the killer kiss that would seal the deal, leave her at my mercy.

The way she stood, the tension in her muscles, the spark of fire in her eyes at being touched without permission, all told me she wasn’t like the other girls. Which only made me more certain that I wanted her.

She was exactly what I’d been looking for without even knowing it.

I closed the distance between us, the tension in her body vibrating off her skin. She lifted her chin, eyes snapping with impatience, and put a finger to my chest, poking at me.

“I said excuse me; I meant it. I have a meeting, and I don’t think he will appreciate me being late. He’s a busy man.”

“What kind of meeting?” My lips quirked upward; damn, she had some spunk too. This was looking better and better. “You don’t mean like the kind of meeting that pays you by the hour, do you?” I had no such thoughts, but I couldn’t resist teasing her.

Her mouth dropped open. “I would . . . never . . . ugh!”

I held up my hands. “I had to ask. Because if we’re going to continue this relationship I need to make sure that I’m your one and only. I don’t share well, nor do I play well with others.”

She drew herself up, reached out and for a split second I thought she was going to touch my face, maybe even cup my chin for a kiss. Nope, not my Spitfire.

She grabbed my ear, twisted it hard, and punctuated her words with increased pressure and torque. “I will never be your one and only; it’s none of your business why I’m here, now get out of my way.”

I yelped, unable to pull away from her hand and my ear, which she continued to clutch as she dragged and pushed me from my place in front of the stairs.

“What the hell was that?” I griped as she let go and I put a hand over my now throbbing ear.

“That was a move I learned to use on my brother when he was being a pain in my butt.” She snapped over her shoulder as she strode up the stairs, long legs eating up the steps, her pert little ass beckoning me with each sway of her softly rounded hips.

Well, I’ll be damned.

I scrubbed at my ear and let her go; if she was here on some sort of assignment, I would track her down. I stared up the stairs, listening to the woman’s footsteps grow distant. To be fair, I’d have followed her if it wasn’t for Elise waiting at the top for me.

“Spitfire, don’t forget me!” I called up the stairwell.

“Shut up!” She shouted back.

I chuckled to myself. Nope, I wouldn’t be forgetting her anytime soon.

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Guest Review: Secret for a Song by S.K. Falls

Erin is another avid reader that will be sharing her reviews on Heather's Book Chatter. She has helped me tremendously to catch up on my TBR list since my workload has doubled this summer. Thanks Erin!

Goodreads Summary:

Saylor Grayson makes herself sick. Literally.

She ate her first needle when she was seven. Now, at nineteen, she’s been kicked out of college for poisoning herself with laxatives. The shrinks call it Munchausen Syndrome. All Saylor knows is that when she’s ill, her normally distant mother pays attention and the doctors and nurses make her feel special.

Then she meets Drew Dean, the leader of a local support group for those with terminal diseases. When he mistakes her for a new member, Saylor knows she should correct him. But she can’t bring herself to, not after she’s welcomed into a new circle of friends. Friends who, like Drew, all have illnesses ready to claim their independence or their lives.

For the first time, Saylor finds out what it feels like to be in love, to have friends who genuinely care about her. But secrets have a way of revealing themselves. What will happen when Saylor’s is out?

Publication Date: May 31, 2013

Erin's Review:

Saylor Grayson came from a monetarily rich family, but they lacked the love and emotional support most people need. The need for attention forced Saylor to hurt herself. Having a diagnosis of Munchausen Syndrome was the only life Saylor had known; until she meets and falls in love with Drew. Unlike Saylor, Drew is truly sick, and dying. Drew assumed Saylor was fatally ill and she allowed him to believe it. The lies or the inability to tell the whole truth ruined the only love Saylor had ever known.

This book was well written and had me wanting to read every minute of the day. There was chemistry between Saylor and her new ‘friends’ that we all long for. The heartbreak kept bringing this love story back into the ‘real word’.

SPOILER ALERT Out of 5 stars, I would rate this book at 4 stars simply because I was hoping for a little more closure with the end; whether it be death or relapse, I guess I found myself needing a little more. END OF SPOILER

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this novel for review!

Damaged 2 by H.M. Ward Release Event and Giveaway

DAMAGED 2 Release Event

Title: DAMAGED 2

Author: H.M. WARD

Publisher: Laree Bailey Press

Release date: June 24, 2013

Genre:  New Adult Contemporary Romance

Age Group: New Adult

Event organized by: AToMR Tours

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17800786-damaged-2

Amazon: http://amzn.to/10vsuzh

Book Description:

The steamy sequel to the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling New Adult novel DAMAGED by H.M. Ward.

Home isn't supposed to be dangerous, but for Sidney it is. Returning home means that she has to face her past. It's not just the man who hurt Sidney that makes it horrible, but the family that didn't believe her. They were dead to her, but now that her mom is really dying things seem different. It's a chance to set things right.

What Sidney doesn't realize is that she's dragging Peter into a collision course with his past. Peter must deal with the demons haunting him if he wants to move forward with Sidney. He's willing to give up everything for her, even wade deeper into his past life to help her move forward. But, Peter isn't sure if he can get over what happened to him in New York.

Genre: New Adult Romance
Length: Novel, ~325 pgs
Sequel to the Bestselling phenomenon DAMAGED

About the Author:

NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, & WALL STREET JOURNAL Bestselling author H.M. Ward recently appeared in FORBES. Ward was also featured in the Washington Post for her debut novel. Romance series by H.M. Ward include Secrets, Scandalous, The Arrangement, and The Secret Life of Trystan Scott.

Author social media links:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hmward  ; @hmward

Blog: http://Blog.DemonKissed.com

Excerpt #1:

Tension lines Peter’s neck and shoulders. His jaw shifts from side to side, like the conversation he just had pissed him off. His eyes flick up from the floor and meet mine. “My brother’s an asshole.”

I smile at him. “So is mine.”

Peter watches me for a moment and sighs. He runs his hands through his hair and stretches. The anger that was there washes away, but it’s not totally gone. “I need to tell you something.” The way he says it makes my stomach dip. The tone, and the way he looks away from me, sends a shiver down my spine.

Peter takes my hands and pulls me over to the couch. At first we’re seated next to each other and he’s holding my hand, but it’s like he can’t sit still. Peter is up and on his feet a few moments later, pacing. Every few seconds he tries to tell me something, but can’t choose the right words.

Peter makes an aggravated sound in the back of his throat. When he turns and looks at me, I know there’s something wrong. His dark brows lift and bunch together as his lips part. He stares at me for a moment, and then manages, “I didn’t want to bring this up, not now, but you need to know something about me.” He swallows hard and looks away.

I push off the couch and walk over to him. “You can tell me anything.” When I touch his arm, Peter jumps. It makes me nervous. Why is he acting this way? I grin at him. “You’re not the one who put the squirrel outside the bathroom window, are you?”

Peter snorts a surprised laugh and looks over at me. He takes me in his arms and pulls me to his chest. It feels so good, so safe.

He kisses the top of my head and says, “Do you know anything about the Ferro family?”

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Addicted to You by Krista and Becca Ritchie Blog Tour Stop and Review

Welcome to my stop on the Addicted to You blog tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours.  Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule!

***

Addicted to You (Addicted #1)

by Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie

Release Date: 07/01/13

Summary from Goodreads:

No one would suspect shy Lily Calloway’s biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own.

Loren Hale’s best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they’ve pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They’ve mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment.

But when they go on a family boat trip, surrounded by open seas and limited male bodies in sight, Lily’s confronted with a big fear. Only one guy onboard can fill her addiction, and she’s sworn off going there with Loren Hale ever again.

Now the only person who can truly help her can barely help himself.

**This is a New Adult book recommended for readers 18 and up**

Available from:

  

About the Authors

Becca Ritchie is a carnivore of pop culture, television, film and of course YA and NA books. While in college, she worked at The CW television network and put her vampiric knowledge to good use, blogging about hit series and swooning over actors’ abs. When she’s not blogging, she writes novels and has teamed up with her twin sister for their New Adult novel ADDICTED TO YOU. Available July of 2013.

Krista Ritchie is the mind behind popular trading website YA Book Exchange and created Nawanda Files, a book blog that also features books into movies news. When not pouring over entertainment news and the newest releases, she spends her time conducting research in a genetics lab. She’s happy to join forces with her sister, harnessing their twin powers to produce the first in a New Adult series.

Author Website│Nawanda Files│YA Book Exchange

Becca’s Links:

Goodreads│Twitter

Krista’s Links:

Goodreads│Twitter

My Review:

After reading the blurb, I was expecting something completely different than what I got with Addicted to You. This book is a startling look at a sick and twisted relationship between two people suffering from serious addictions.

Very rarely does a book make me uncomfortable, but this was the case with Addicted to You. I’ve never read a book about someone suffering from a sex addiction and the portrayal in the book seemed very authentic. Lily’s problem isn’t sexy, it’s humiliating to her and leaves her in situations that are potentially dangerous.

Lily lives with her best friend Lo, a raging alcoholic. They pretend to be a normal couple because the codependent relationship helps them both feed their addictions. The dynamic between the two kept me reading to see when the two of them would hit rock bottom and decide to get help.

Lo is seriously messed up and far from the romantic hero of most books. I couldn’t exactly cheer for their relationship to work out because of the origins of it. The secondary characters were well developed with some individuals who exacerbated the couple’s problems while others tried to help them.

The book was eye opening and certainly deeper and more serious than I anticipated. The ending I had mixed feelings over, but it is a start to a series.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

I received a copy of this book as part of the blog tour from YA Bound.

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Freedom to Read Giveaway Hop: Win an Amazon Gift Card!

Giveaway has ended. Congrats to Janie M!

Giveaway hosted by Bookhounds and I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.

International: Winner to Receive $15 Amazon Gift Card

Make sure to stop by the other blogs to win more great prizes!

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Branded by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki Blog Tour Stop and Review

Title: Branded (Sinners #1) by Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki

Genre: YA Dystopian Romance

Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17402117-branded

Book Trailer: http://video214.com/play/PlssJogkXB4H85hKKomnOA/s/dark

Summary:

Twenty years ago the Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadliest sins were the downfall of our society. He created the Hole where sinners are branded according to their sins and might survive a few years. At best.
Now LUST wraps around my neck like blue fingers strangling me.   I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit and now the Hole is my new home.

Darkness. Death. Violence. Pain.

Now, every day is a fight for survival. But I won’t die. I won’t let them win.
The Hole can’t keep me. The Hole can’t break me.
I am more than my brand. I’m a fighter.
My name is Lexi Hamilton, and this is my story.

Author Bio:

Abi and Missy met in the summer of 1999 at college orientation and have been best friends ever since. After college, they added jobs, husbands and kids to their lives, but they still found time for their friendship. Instead of hanging out on weekends, they went to dinner once a month and reviewed books. What started out as an enjoyable hobby has now become an incredible adventure.

Links:

Website: http://www.abiandmissy.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AbiandMissy

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AbiandMissy

My Review:

This book was intense! From the first page, there’s non-stop action in a dystopian setting. Although the pacing was off for me from time to time, overall this was an incredible book with a unique premise.

The beginning of the novel was a little rough for me and I think it was because readers are jolted from scene to scene too quickly. Within the first couple of pages, Lexi tries to commit suicide, runs from authorities, gets branded and is imprisoned within the Hole. I like fast-paced reads, but not to the point where I’m unable to grasp the world-building.

However, I kept with the book and I’m really glad I did. The authors created a terrifying world where “sinners” are separated from the rest of society and forced to survive in a dangerous prison. The book is very violent and I was feeling a little squeamish over a few scenes depicted. The authors definitely have a talent for descriptions.

The story is told from Lexi’s POV and I found her character interesting. She’s falsely accused of a crime and ostracized by her high-society family. She’s truly alone as she tries to survive the dangers of the Hole. Cole is the guard assigned to Lexi and probably the only empathetic guard working in the establishment.

The romance between Lexi and Cole is fast and passionate, which worked for the setting. Guards are forbidden from falling in love with a sinner and the couple must risk their lives in order to be together. Their relationship blossoms in the middle of an uprising that is simultaneously occurring inside of the Hole.

I thought I was over dystopians, but Branded was able to rekindle my enjoyment of the genre. Definitely a series to watch.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

I received a copy of this book as part of the tour from CBL Book Tours.