Cover Reveal: Far Too Tempting by Lauren Blakely

I am so excited to be unveiling the cover of Lauren Blakely's newest novel, Far Too Tempting! if you're a fellow Lauren Blakely fan, you know that it'll be freakin' awesome. Her books are like taking a joy ride in a land of hotties. Yessss. *fist pumps*

Title: Far Too Tempting

Author: Lauren Blakely

Publisher: Entangled: Edge

Publication date: October 2013

Pre-order the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

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?

About the author:

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.

You can find her here:

Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

Blog Tour: ARC Review + Giveaway: Only For You by Marquita Valentine

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Title: Only For You (Boys of the South #2)
Author: Marquita Valentine
Format acquired: ePub (eARC)
Publication date: September 16th 2013
Source: Received from AToMR Book Blog Tours (Thanks so much, Marquita and AToMR!)
Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble



Loose ends left loose for too long tend to strangle. Cole and Violet knew it wouldn’t be easy. They knew their relationship would take work. But when the press finds out about Violet Lynn’s newest boyfriend, they start digging. And when his past come to light, exposing all of his family’s secrets, their relationship begins to fray. 

Country Music’s Golden Boy, Jaxon Hunter, has it all, except the girl that got away. What she saw, she really didn’t. What she thought happened, he allowed her to believe for reasons so insane that no one would ever have believed him if he had confessed. But now that everything’s out in the open, he’s going to do his damndest to convince her that he’s the only one for her. 

Now Violet must choose between Jaxon— her first love and the guy she thought had cheated on her—and Cole—the guy who helped her heal and love again. 

Or will one of them make the decision for her?

(Image provided by AToMR Book Blog Tours; and summary was taken from Goodreads)

Review:

I fell in love with Cole and Violet in Live For You and loved them even more in Only For You. There were so many obstacles that stood in their way but this book is just another proof that love will endure all. There were moments when I got worried and I literally felt myself sweating because of nerves but I know (and trust) that Marquita will not leave us hanging... unless she decides to. Moving on! It was great how Marquita Valentine really showed the different aspects of Country music and how the touring process happened. It gave a more genuine feel to the characters and the story in general.

Violet was a lot stronger here than in the first book, which was a very good progression. She's always been such a fierce and quirky character but that multiplied by 10 and was added with even more coolness. The way she deflected Callie's bitchiness (who I hate with a vengeance, by the way), sidestepped Jax's advances and gracefully stayed faithful to Cole, made me so proud of her. She was such a great and inspiring character in terms of all that she's been through and the fact that she just kept going. It was so hard reading about Violet's pain in this book, her desperation to make things right but she was so helpless in all of it. But through it all, she persevered and stayed determined because she knew what was important to her and what she really needed to do. I was in awe of Violet in this book. In. Awe.

There were an air of uncertainty that surrounded this book, and it was evident mostly in Cole's space. It was sad seeing him get all hesitant and closed off. I don't doubt that he loves Violet but given his circumstance, I understand what he was going through. It's all Everett's fault (I could seriously egg that guy). I can't really go into the specifics of what happened but I'm sure you'll figure it out. It was really disheartening but I loved the support of his brothers and his friends. They were all great people and they made the book so much more lighter when the mood was so dark and gloomy. Marquita Valentine really knows how to give even minor characters interesting personalities and a proper turn at the spotlight. And yes, I forgive you, Cole.

I was suspicious of Jax throughout the first parts of the book but as the story went on, I started to really sympathize and understand the guy. He wasn't the bad guy that everyone made him out to be, he was actually a victim as well. Even though there were times I got pretty pissed at him for doing some not so nice stuff, I forgave him in the end. I felt bad for him too. Poor fellow. Someone needs to give him a hug... *looks at Bliss* There was definitely something blooming between him and Bliss and I can't wait to read more about them in True For You (love the cover of this book!). In your face, Callie! HA.

All in all, I was more than pleased with how this book turned out. Only For You was a beautiful song with the perfect amount of hard and fast beats; as well as slow and seductive rhythms. It was a great conclusion to Cole and Violet's story and a great start to another couple's adventure. I can't wait to read more of the Boys of the South series! *flails* Great job, Marquita! Also... *cough*Beau*cough* *wink wink, nudge nudge* I'm not being too obvious, am I? Hehe.

Rating:

.5

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About the author:

New York Times Bestselling Author, MARQUITA VALENTINE, writes small town romances that are anything but small. She met her husband aka Hot Builder at Sonic when they were in high school. She suggests this location to all of her single friends in search of a good man -- and if that doesn't work, they can console themselves with cheesy tatertots. She lives in North Carolina in a very, very small town with Hot Builder and their two children. 

You can find her here: 

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Review: The Ruining by Anna Collomore

Title: The Ruining
Author: Anna Collomore
Pages: 313 pages
Format acquired: Hardcover
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication date: February 7th 2013
Source: Received from Louisse
Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble



Annie Phillips is thrilled to leave her past behind and begin a shiny new life on Belvedere Island, as a nanny for the picture-perfect Cohen family. In no time at all, she falls in love with the Cohens, especially with Libby, the beautiful young matriarch of the family. Life is better than she ever imagined. She even finds romance with the boy next door.

All too soon cracks appear in Annie's seemingly perfect world. She's blamed for mistakes she doesn't remember making. Her bedroom door comes unhinged, and she feels like she's always being watched. Libby, who once felt like a big sister, is suddenly cold and unforgiving. As she struggles to keep up with the demands of her new life, Annie's fear gives way to frightening hallucinations. Is she tumbling into madness, or is something sinister at play?


"The Ruining "is a complex ride through first love, chilling manipulation, and the terrifying depths of insanity.

(Image and summary taken from Goodreads.)

Review:

I'm back from hiding under my rock.

I just realized I have not reviewed anything for the longest time!! If it weren't for Louisse constantly bugging reminding me to post a review, I would have severely neglected this blog. Thanks so much, Lou!!

Aaaand to break this reading dry spell, I present to you, The Ruining!!! *insert happy face*

This is not the first attempt I have a psychological thrillers/mysteries. I have read Pretty-Girl-13 and The Yellow Wallpaper (different plots but same concepts-ish) and they both amazed me quite a lot. I believe The Yellow Wallpaper served as an inspiration to The Ruining and in fact, I do see it as a more subdued and PG-rated version of the The Yellow Wallpaper. It tinkles with your mind and memory of the story, along with the main character (Annie) and the simple, straightforward narration really helped me follow along. I feel that if the narration were too messy or complex, I wouldn't be able to follow the story well anymore.

The book starts off with our girl, Annie who we know really wants to leave Detroit because it's sad and gloomy and everyone wears shades of grey all the time. Her ticket out is this new babysitting job that she got for a family in San Fran or Cali (? She mentioned Hollywood then a beach in San Francisco), where she will now live full time. She also expects to attend college at the same time, which I found odd because how would you take care of a 3 year old toddler whilst attending classes? It didn't click right with me, but I let it go. At first, Libby is the super friendly and hip mommy/employer/friend who helps Annie, though not that much. She made me really suspicious with the way she treated the toddler, but what do I know about toddlers? (they're small humans) Her only "real" help shown would be 1) Giving Annie the job and 2) Giving Annie some clothes. And even though she offered herself as a friend to Annie, I still wasn't buying it. Suspicious, remember? so for a while, and by a while, I mean like, 2 days, she starts turning really annoying and cold and "WTF, man?" She starts butting in Annie's life, an it doesn't matter whether Annie was her employee or not, she had no right to do so. Then we have Owen, who is a really strange character. He's like the cool dad, not really caring and stuff. But like Libby, it seems he was a bit off too. He was really chummy with her and all, but because of one mistake, he suddenly wanted to fire Annie's ass so violently. Libby actually had to reason with him to keep her, which I really didn't understand at that point because Libby was starting to complain how incompetent Annie was. Soooo. This may be the part where the who mental part kicks in. She starts hearing Libby call her "nanny", which was really clever, btw. Then she's blamed her for mistakes she doesn't remember doing at all, like buying so much condoms she had to use her credit card (!!!), or supposedly going through the kitchen with Owen the other night and making a mess out of it, stuff like that. Speaking of Owen, he seemed like a genuine guy but he seemed too cookie-cutter leading man, you know, the rich kid who loves you forever no matter what. But I still like him. Why? His parts or scenes with Annie really gave me a break from all the brain drain. It's like, Owens' scenes with Annie give us a bit of her sanity back. Maybe that means she feels safe and not mental with Owen around. Hmm. Then we have little the little toddler who really creeps me out, btdubs. She sings that nursery rhyme so much and she calls on to "mommy" a lot. *wink wink nudge nudge*

I really appreciated the book all in all. I really walked with Annie through her mental illness. You could see the progression or the decline of her mental health. I really felt what she was going through and even I understood her circumstances. And even in the Big Reveal, I was equally shocked as she was as I had never seen that coming. A lot of people say they did, but I really didn't. Maybe it's just me. But either way, it helped me stay in the story a lot.

The only thing I wished that was not is the near-end of the story. I felt that it was too abrupt and... neat? Nothing went down, no fights, no drama, no last minute revenge seekers and you had the perfect situation. Which by now even just as a young person I know never happens. Yep. Life didn't waste time showing me that!

All in all, The Ruining is a great psychological thriller/maze that you should definitely try to experience. I recommend it to anyone who wants a break from overly-romanticized books!!

Rating:

Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway: Into the Deep by Samantha Young

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Title: Into the Deep (Into the Deep #1)
Author: Samantha Young
Pages: 314 pages
Format acquired: Paperback
Publication date: August 8th 2013
Source: Received from the author (Thanks so much, Samantha! <3)
Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble



Live young. Live hard. Love deep.

Charley Redford was just an ordinary girl until Jake Caplin moved to her small town in Indiana and convinced her she was extraordinary. Almost from day one Jake pulled Charley into the deep and promised he was right there with her. But when a tragic incident darkened Jake’s life he waded out into the shallows and left Charley behind.

Almost four years later Charley thinks she’s moved on. That is until she takes a study year abroad in Edinburgh and bumps into none other than Jake Caplin at a party with his new girlfriend. The bad-boy-turned-good attempts to convince Charley to forgive him, and as her best friend starts spending time with Jake’s, Charley calls a truce, only to find herself tumbling back into a friendship with him.

As they grow closer, the spark between them flares and begins playing havoc with their lives and relationships. When jealousy and longing rear their destructive heads, Charley and Jake struggle to come to grips with what they mean to one another.

And even if they work it out, there is no guarantee Charley will ever trust Jake to lead her back into the deep…

(Image and summary taken from Goodreads)

Review:

I am a huge Samantha Young fan and her books always make my favorites list, and Into the Deep is no exception. I love this book something fierce! Into the Deep brims with Samantha Young's signature wit, snark, angst and steam. There was never a dull moment reading this book and I found myself furiously flipping the pages just to see what would happen next. Charley has to seriously be one of the most exciting and interesting protagonists I have ever read about and that is one of the things that makes Into the Deep so unique from other New Adult novels out there. Also, the alternating scenes between the present day and flashbacks helps the reader understand what happened in the past without feeling like the author is keeping something from you.

Charley, the only girl without superpowers that I can actually call a badass, is probably the most complex and controlled heroine I have ever read about. She's one of those rare women who can pull off the cool and stoic vibe without it feeling forced, but you can also see her vulnerability on the inside especially with all the stuff she went through. When you read the flashback scenes (you'll read about her former relationship with Jake) you'll see this witty and fresh teenaged girl. Her banter with Jake will only make you laugh out loud because not only are they sweet together, they also complement each other's personalities. But when you read the present day scenes, you'll see a distinct change to her. She's still the same snarky, sexy girl but you can also see a hardness to her, it's like she couldn't properly let loose. Once you read about what happened between her and Jake, you'd understand why she turned out that way. It was painful reading what happened to her, and she really didn't deserve any of that. And it was even more painful reading the scenes when she sees Jake with his new girlfriend, Melissa (I say this with so much contempt.) I just wanted to choke Jake and Melissa. But through it all, Charley stayed so strong and so firm, she didn't allow herself to be brought down by emotions. I confess, I totally have a girl crush on her. #TeamCharley

I'm pretty sure that everyone is totally in love with Jake (yeah, he's super swoony) and I love him too, but there were times when I want to cut the guy. I don't know if he was oblivious to the way Charley was feeling or if Charley was that good of an actress but have a care man, that's your ex over there and you're flaunting your new girl? Ouch. Throughout most of the book, you can actually see that Jake was trying to redeem himself and I appreciated the effort. It did show that he still cared what she thought about him, but I did get girl vibes from him sometimes. While Charley was cool and collected, you could see that breaks in Jake's wall of feelings. He was the one who showed more vulnerability and he did try to reach out to her. I was glad that they were able to resolve their issues and continue on as friends, even though there was still some hesitancy in both parts, there were still very cute and happy moments between them. I get why Jake pushed Charley away and did what he did, the fact that they had to go through that at such a young age, anyone would panic. I just wished that he thought about it before acting out because he really broke Charley and that was sad to see. Jake needed to forgive himself before he could face Charley and I guess it was good that he had time to reflect and find help before things got too messy. But through it all, you could see that he genuinely loved Charley, he just didn't know how to tell her because of all the issues and obstacles between them.

One of the things that really made Into the Deep so special are the minor characters, they were all pretty significant and made a big impact on the story as well. Beck and Claudia (Jake and Charley's best friends, respectively) were probably the most confusing couple in the book. They wanted each other, but didn't want each other. It was a constant push and pull between them and I can't wait to find out if anything really does happen between them. Matt, Denver and Rowena weren't as exposed as the others but they were great friends. I love how Matt always seems to get hit upside the head (I hope he doesn't get brain damage) and Rowena is such an insightful person. You could see that she's very keen and wise as well. Melissa... even though she didn't really do much, she still got on my nerves a lot. *eye twitch* And oh. My. Lord. I totally saved him for last. Who is "him" you ask? It's Lowe. Lowe is him. Oh, Loooowe. I am seriously so in love with him. (Excuse me while I fangirl right now.) He is such a great guy and I love that he gives his support to Charley and that he wouldn't hesitate to defend her honor. *swoons* I kinda don't want him to get his own story (no news there yet) because if he does, it'll mean that he'll end up with someone that isn't me... Hear my plea, Samantha! *raises hands in the air* You'll understand what I mean when you read the book. But remember, he's miiiine. *crazy eyes*

Into the Deep is such a great book. Not everyone may have gone through what Jake and Charley have but when you read about their experiences, you'll actually feel a connection with them. Whether it be their sweet moments or when they fight, you'll feel a sense of rightness and content. Samantha Young has created such real and raw characters that have their own issues deep inside, but she makes them so relatable that you can't help but feel what they're feeling. There were times when my heart literally hurt just reading about what happened to Charley. Into the Deep isn't just about two people who were in love with each other and are trying to find their way back into the other's arms, no. It's about so many other things, family issues, friendship and even bullying! This book is so multi-faceted that it will appeal to so many people and will definitely reach out into their hearts.

I'm going to tell you now, if you're looking for a book that will really tug at your heartstrings and will make you want to reread it so many times that your eyesight will start to blur (yes, this has happened to me) then this is the book for you. Samantha Young has gifted us with a book that shines with so many different but beautiful aspects that will make you fall so in love with it that you can't help but want more. Everything was executed perfectly but even then, I still need to know what will happen next. I don't doubt that Out of the Shallows will exceed my expectations, and I seriously can not wait to read it! (See you soon, Lowe. *winks*)

Rating:

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About the author:

Samantha Young is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. She's been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Author and Best Romance for her international bestseller ON DUBLIN STREET. ON DUBLIN STREET is Samantha’s first adult contemporary romance and has sold in twenty-three countries.

For more info on Into the Deep visit the official blog http://intothedeepseries.blogspot.co.uk.

For info on her other books visit www.samanthayoungbooks.com.

You can find her here:

Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Blog Tour: ARC Review + Giveaway: Finders Keepers by Nicole Williams

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Title: Finders Keepers (Lost & Found #3)
Author: Nicole Williams
Pages: 310 pages
Format acquired: eARC (ePub)
Publication date: September 16th 2013
Source: Received from the author (Thanks, Nicole and AToMR Book Blog Tours!)
Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble



There’s tortured. And there’s Garth Black.

His life has been a constant carousel of tragedy and disappointment, including his love life. Of course, applying the term “love” to Garth’s conquests is a gross misuse of the word. Some people were made to give and accept love, and others weren’t. Garth Black redefines the “others” category. He’s made a vow that the day he meets a woman who could sucker him into falling in love will be the day he runs away.

Garth’s plan has one flaw. What happens when he’s already fallen hard for a girl before the warning signs and red flags go up? What happens when the love he’s avoided his entire life brings him to his knees? What happens when Garth Black lets the dirtiest four letter word he’s ever known into his dark, lonely life?

This cowboy’s about to find out he can control some things, and he can’t control others. Number one on the what he can’t control list?

Love.

(Image and summary provided by AToMR Book Blog Tours.)

Review:

I'm positive that I'm not the only one who fell in love with Jesse in Lost & Found and Near & Far... but it was Garth who really intrigued me. If Jesse is the epitome of what good cowboys are, then Garth is the personified form of bad, but underneath it all is just a man looking for the good in himself. Garth's internal struggle in trying to figure out who he truly was and if he deserved to be loved was pretty heartbreaking. To see someone who strong and usually cocky be so vulnerable, it really hurts. It was a great move on Nicole Williams' part to write it in Garth's POV because we are really able to bridge a connection to the usually cocky player cowboy. It's normally hard to understand these types of people because we don't really know who they are on the inside but we can actually get a grasp of who Garth is in though his thoughts, he just hasn't really seen himself as a whole yet.

Our cowboy has lived a hard knock life and doesn't seem to ever catch a break but you can only see that there are people who genuinely care for him, such as Jesse, Rowen, Josie and the Walkers. He may feel like he's alone in the world but he really isn't, he just hasn't acknowledged that he does deserve their love and concern for him. Having lived with an abusive, alcoholic of a father, Garth has never really found a person who he can look up to. He's learned to live day by day (if you can really call what he's doing living.) The fact that he thinks that he's good for nothing is very disheartening because he's a smart and capable young man. I mean, he works at a ranch and he's pretty good with words. Garth just lets what other people say about him and his father get to him, he just needs to realize that he's above all of them. He's a great guy, he just needs a little nudge to the right direction.

I didn't particularly have any feelings towards Josie during the first two books, she was just a side character for me and I really didn't mind her much. But she did make a big impact in this book and it was then that I realized how much character she really has. Josie is a great girl but living in such a small town with a respectable family, it was hard to her to grow as a person. It was a place where everyone knew everyone and news traveled fast, but amidst all of that, I saw how interesting of a person she really was. She never let anyone talk her down and she certainly knew what she wanted from life, but there are times when we don't always get them. The tension between Garth and Josie is one of the most noticeable things in this book, I think their back and forth banter was actually foreplay in disguise. No matter how many quips they make towards the other, there is no love lost, just more love. It definitely didn't come easy to them, there was a lot of hurt and anger but if there's one thing we know about cowboys is that they aren't just persistent, they are resilient as well.

I completely adored Finders Keepers and I am pretty bummed that this series is ending but what a way to go! Nicole Williams finishes her series with a flourish and will definitely leave you 100% satisfied. Even bad boys deserve happy endings too!

Rating:

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About the author:

I'm the New York Times and USATODAY bestselling author of the CRASH series (HarperTeen, S&S UK), LOST & FOUND series, UP IN FLAMES (S&S UK), The EDEN TRILOGY, and a handful of others. I write stories about everyday kinds of people who find themselves in extraordinary kinds of situations. I tell love stories with happy endings because I believe in making the world a better place, and that's one tiny way I can make it so. I'm one of those people who still believe in true love and soul mates, and would rather keep my head in the clouds any day over having my feet firmly on the ground.

You can find her here:

Blog / Facebook / Twitter

Review: Taste by Kate Evangelista

Title: Taste
Author: Kate Evangelista
Pages: 259 pages
Format acquired: Paperback
Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Publication date: April 30th 2012
Source: Purchased from the author (Thanks, Kate!)
Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble



At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans. When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn't realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.

(Image and summary taken from Goodreads)

Review:

I love zombies. Like, loooove zombies. From the Carrie Ryan zombies to the ever evolving zombies from Resident Evil, I just have a soft spot for them. But Kate Evangelista's zombies? I may never settle for missing limbs and shambling again. It's always so refreshing to read books with a different take on the common mythology. Kate Evangelista will actually make you fall in love with a zombie. Join the club!

Right from the very beginning, I already liked Phoenix. She was a little spitfire but there was also a vulnerable side to her. I can actually imagine how crazy it must have been discovering there was a secret society of flesh-eaters that also studied in the same school as you. If you really think about it though, that's the premise of an exciting story, no? Reading about Phoenix's first impression of the Night Students was thoroughly entertaining and it only made me want to learn more about them. You what they say, curiosity killed the cat... but satisfaction brought it back. Another thing I liked about Phoenix was her tenacity, even though she knew that there was a chance that she might end up as someone's dinner, she still went for it anyway. And that was awesome, I mean who wouldn't want to read about a protagonist who was a total rebel? Everyone wants that, it gives the extra "umph!" to the story and Phoenix gave a lot of that.

No matter how much I enjoyed the book, there was one thing I hated about Taste... Kate Evangelista just had to make me choose. I mean, seriously? Demitri or Luka? Where's the "both" option there? The two are literally the exact opposite of each other, but I'm sure that they do share one thing in common... they are both very passionate. Demitri has that whole broody and mysterious thing going on while Luka gives off that naughty and carefree vibe but you just know that there's something dark lurking underneath. *locks both guys in my boyfriend closet* What noise?

There was a whole different world in Taste and I was amazed at how well-constructed and detailed it was. It's a world that you'll want to come back to -- all the time. There was something so magical and enthralling about it, the world of the Zhamvys. Taste isn't just all about the romance and the awesome world-building, there was the perfect amount of drama and intrigue that will really leave the reader wanting more. There were political strifes, crazy exes and even crazier bad guys, what more could you ask for?

Kate Evangelista brings us a fresh and succulent novel that will leave your mouth-watering and your body hungering for third, fourth and fifth helpings of Taste. Every single chapter of this book is filled with so much excitement that you will seriously never want it to end, I know I didn't. I can not wait to read more of Kate Evangelista's works because that woman has thoroughly impressed me. *applauds* *holds out plate* More, please!

Rating:

.5

Cover Reveal : True For You by Marquita Valentine

I love Marquita Valentine. Like, seriously. And I love Jax too. Like, waaaay serious. And I love this cover. Like, craaaazy. I really hope that you love the cover too! (It's sexy-sweet. Hee!)

A Boys of the South Companion Standalone Novel

By New York Times Bestselling Author Marquita Valentine

TRUE FOR YOU (Boys of the South, #3)

Contemporary New Adult

Coming October 2013

For country music bad boy, Jaxon Hunter, failure has never been an option, especially with an abusive father who controls his entire career. But when Jaxon's efforts to win back the girl that got away end up with him helping his rival, he concedes defeat— and sneaks away to Charleston, South Carolina to lick his wounds.

Only Jaxon wasn’t counting on the seamstress for the band driving the getaway car.

She may not have finished high school, but Bliss Davenport graduated with honors from the school of hard knocks. Four years ago, after barely surviving the most terrifying ordeal of her life, she ran away from home and never looked back.

Bliss is stunned when she wakes up married to the famous Jaxon Hunter. It only gets worse when she realizes he doesn’t even remember the ceremony.

While Bliss struggles to reconcile herself with the two sides of the man she’s falling in love with—sweet, thoughtful and humble--- or the character he plays on stage—arrogant, selfish and prideful, Jaxon’s battling his own demons, unsure who he wants to be, other than free.

Then just as the two of them start to learn to trust again, the past makes its way to the present, threatening their relationship. Threatening to suck them both back to where they were before, without each other.  

About the Author

New York Times Bestselling Author, Marquita Valentine, writes sexy heroes that make you swoon and sassy heroines that make you laugh. She’s the author of the bestselling contemporary romance series, Holland Springs, and the new adult romance series, Boys of the South.

Marquita met her husband aka Hot Builder at Sonic when they were in high school. She suggests this location to all of her single friends in search of a good man—and if that doesn't work, they can console themselves with cheesy tatertots. She lives in North Carolina in a very, very small town with Hot Builder and their two children.

You can find her here:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

Blog Tour: ARC Review + Giveaway: Good Intentions by S.L. Scott

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Title: Good Intentions (Welcome to Paradise #2)
Author: S.L. Scott
Format acquired: ePub (eARC)
Publication date: September 5th 2013
Source: Received from author for blog tour (Thank you, S.L. and AToMR Book Blog Tours!)
Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble



Two words sum up my summer in paradise—Evan Ashford. 

I have a life back home I must return to, though my heart battles this reality. What started as a carefree summer fling has become so much more. Evan has become so much more. He’s become everything. Cupping his face, I stare into his deep blue eyes, wanting to lose myself once more... needing to know he feels this too.

Although our connection won’t stop the summer’s end from rushing toward us or silence the demons Evan battles, I have faith our love can overcome the obstacles that will undoubtedly arise from us choosing to be together. I still worry… Will our good intentions be good enough? But I’m all in, willing to take the risk, knowing he can destroy my heart if I’m wrong.


Like a riptide, I was forever changed by one woman—Mallory Wray.

Our eyes meet and we spend a moment looking into the others’, reading the fear and the love that mingles within. I move slowly down and kiss her forehead, her nose, her eyelids, her cheeks, and her chin before I kiss her lips again—soft and gentle, not rushed, but sensual. She smiles and I die inside knowing that I won’t get to see her face every day. I’ve been spoiled by this sweet angel giving me all her days and nights. I possessively take hold of her wrists and like so many times before, the air stills as our connection intensifies. I can’t help myself when it comes to her.

I kiss her.

Rain pours down harder and I wrap my arms around her, engulfing her body, her love, her soul.

(Image and summary provided by AToMR Book Blog Tours.)

Review:

Oh. My. Goodness. Let me say that again, oh. My. Goodness.

I don't know if you saw my review of Good Vibrations (check it out HERE) but if you did, then you would know how much I enjoy that book. Definitely my favorite summer book! It had the perfect amount of drama, tension and the book overall will leave you wanting more. I fell in love with not only Evan *swoons* but even Mallory as well, she was such a headstrong and independent character that you can't help but just look up to her. And darn it, I fell in love with those two even more in Good Intentions.

At the very end of Good Vibrations there was a teaser for Good Intentions and when I read it I was just like, "Whaaaaat. Oh no she did-n't!" plus *head swivel* But when I finally got to read the sequel, all was made clear for me...

Here's what you need to do, if you've read Good Vibrations, multiply that to maybe a billion and then you'll get Good Intentions. S.L. Scott really pushed herself in this one because you don't just see a progression in the story but you also see a maturity and growth in the characters. Mallory, having gone back to her homestate, obviously had difficulty leaving the love of her live but she got through it, you know? She never doubted Evan (but of course, there were times when she was unsure of him because let's be honest, he's a chick-magnet, on purpose and not.) The distance between them plus Evan's mom's conniving she-devil ways were the obstacles that they faced that really threatened to tear them apart. I'm very excited to see what Mallory will do next in the third book (I recommend that she give Evan's mommy-dearest a good, hard bitch-slap. I volunteer!)

I adored Evan even more here. I was pretty shocked during the first few part of the book because I never expected that have happened to him, I mean, seriously? The guilt that he had to be carrying must've weighed like a ton of bricks. But moving on (no spoilers, hehe), Evan, coming from a wealthy family with a very cutthroat business, stepped up his game. He started taking big responsibilities and actually working for what he wanted, a future with Mallory. It was cool reading in his POV as well because you could really see what he went through, the "temptations", the struggles and all that. He didn't have it easy either but through it all, he was a guy with a goal and nothing ever hinders those kinds of guys.

S.L. Scott didn't sugarcoat this book with uber-cute moments and things like that, Good Intentions was filled with hurt, anger, passion and even hotter naughty scenes than its first book, it was very real and it will, without a doubt, grip you. There are characters that you will love and root for and there are also characters that you just want to get run over by an eighter-wheeler. #Truth I enjoyed this book even more than Good Vibrations and I'm positive that I'll love the third one just as much (or more!). It's not just the characters that mature every book, it's the author as well. S.L. Scott has her own signature writing style but you can definitely see a shift to her prose that will appeal to the readers. I can't wait for more Evan!! Ahem, I mean, Evan and Mallory. *awkward laugh*

Rating:

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About the author:

S.L. Scott has a degree in Journalism and is the author of Amazon bestseller, A Prior Engagement, her debut novel, Naturally, Charlie, and several novellas, including Amazon best seller, Sleeping with Mr. Sexy, and Morning Glory—all currently available on Amazon. Pursuing her passion for telling stories, she spends her days escaping into her characters, letting them lead her on their adventures. She is a Contributor to Huffington Post as well as writes for her own blog along with several other popular sites. Travelling, music festivals, and surfing are a few of her hobbies she loves, but she doesn’t get to enjoy on a regular basis. She has an obsession with movies, a varied taste in books, and collects Fitz & Floyd teapots. With a memory full of useless trivia facts, and a Keurig addiction, she loves a fun night in with her family as much as a loud night out with her friends. Scott lives in the lively city of Austin with her husband, two young sons, and two Papillons, enjoying life in the beautiful hill country of Texas. Visit her website at www.slscottauthor.com.

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