ARC Review: All of You by Christina Lee

Title: All of You
Author: Christina Lee
Format acquired: PDF (eARC)
Publisher: Intermix (Penguin Group (USA) LLC)
Publication date: September 17th 2013
Source: Received from the publisher via NetGalley
Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble



Avery has just met her hot upstairs neighbor. He's irresistible. Tattooed. And a virgin.

Nursing student Avery Michaels wants nothing to do with dating—she's perfectly happy single. Privy to too many of her mother's bad decisions and even worse taste in boyfriends, all Avery can handle is a string of uncomplicated hookups whenever the mood strikes.

When she meets smoking hot tattoo artist Bennett, she wants him—for just one night. But he won't accept a no-strings-attached arrangement. He lives by a straight-laced code of values based on his own troubled upbringing.

Bennett sees something special in Avery and he wants more from her. Way more. As Avery wrestles with her emotions for Bennett, danger and tragedy force them to open up to each other. And Avery must face the terrifying realization that she wants more from him, too.

So she needs to make a choice—let Bennett go or finally let him in.

(Image and summary taken from Goodreads)

Review:

Hee. Hee. Heeeeee!

Yup.

So eloquent, right?

But seriously speaking, that was pretty much how I was while reading All of You. Christina Lee reduced me into a pile of giggles. I love Avery and Bennett together and I am 100% sure you will too! All of You is not only about really thick sexual tension, it's also about trust and well, more trust. A lot of disheartening and slightly messed up things happen that will really tug at your heartstrings but don't worry, they'll straighten out.

It's not always that you read about a girl who takes charge and is, well, the player but you have that role-reversal here in All of You. Avery has trust issues, major trust issues, it's not that she's been burned by a former lover or anything like that, it stems deeper than that. But that doesn't stop her from being a carefree and slightly rebellious girl, it's just difficult for her to open up to other people, that's why she's got a lot of guys pining after her, don't judge her just yet though. Avery is responsible of taking care of her little brother, she's trying to give him a good life so that he doesn't turn out the way she does and her mother? Well, their relationship is strained but Avery is trying her best to be a good daughter and accept her mother's "lifestyle" that has also bled into hers. Avery is a great girl, she just needs to sort out her life and find the peace she really needs.

I love Bennett. I love, love, loooove Bennett. Really, really. It's not the fact that he's a virgin (yes, a VIRGIN), it's because he is such a great guy in general. The fact that he's the only one supporting his family and how wary he is of being with someone he knows might bail on him, differentiates him from so many guys out there. While he may be super hot and studly, he's also very smart and vulnerable. You just know that he's the type of guy who will be willing to lay his heart out on the line for a girl and Avery needs to see that... *le sigh*

When Avery and Bennett are together there are two outcomes, either they turn into something massively sexy and explosive or they just push each other away. They have an interesting relationship that will keep you waiting and wanting to see what will happen next. There were parts in this book wherein I was jumping for joy and crying out in sadness and frustration... and squirming because of the blatant sexual tension between the two. Christina Lee bring a whole new meaning to "attraction", seriously.

All of You is a definitely one of my favorite debuts of this year and I will be eagerly anticipating Christina Lee's upcoming books because WOW, I was really impressed. This book will turn you inside out and will excite, frustrate and make you fall in love with it. And you will fall hard. Also, I want my own Bennett. Please and thank you!

Rating:

.5

Blog Tour: ARC Review + Giveaway: Remy by Katy Evans

Title: Remy (Real #3)
Author: Katy Evans
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication date: November 26th 2013
Source: Received PDF via NetGalley from publicist (Thank you so much, Enn, Juliana, Katy and The Girls from The SUB Club Books!)
Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble



Underground fighter Remington Tate is a mystery, even to himself. His mind is dark and light, complex and enlightening. At times his actions and moods are carefully measured, and at others, they spin out of control.

Through it all, there's been one constant: wanting, needing, loving, and protecting Brooke Dumas. This is his story; from the first moment he laid eyes on her and knew, without a doubt, she would be the realest thing he's ever had to fight for.

Review:

Oh. My. Remy. Things just got seriously real, guys, and let me tell you why...

No matter how many times Brooke swoons, cries, rants and talks about Remy, you never really get a clear image of him but when you read Remy (the book title "Remy" will be in Italic and underlined but the name "Remy" will stay as is to avoid confusion) you really, really get to know him and it's definitely not an easy experience. Being inside Remy's head will mess you up in both good and bad ways so don't expect to come out of reading Remy alive because this book won't just tug at your heartstrings, it will pull, pull and pull until you fall headfirst into all the emotions that surround this book.

There are so many male protags with their own books (eg: Travis - Walking Disaster, Holder - Losing Hope, etc.) and every single one of them give their own contributions to the story, a perspective that we yearn to see and Remy is one of those guys. You just know that there's something missing in Brooke's story and once you've read Remy you'll understand what it is.

Remy isn't just the confidently delicious underground fighter, he's so much more. I'm sure you're already familiar with Remy's intensity and general possessiveness but now, I finally understand why he's that way. His affections for Brooke run as deep as his soul and it's so... interesting reading about what goes on in his mind when it comes to her because he turns into such a different person. He loses his confidence and turns into your average insecure guy wondering if a girl likes him or not... except he's completely capable of beating a person into a pulp if someone tries to approach his girl, so he's technically not your average guy... But yeah, his thoughts become more rapid and aggressive whenever he's around Brooke and it was both entertaining and saddening because he's always so concerned about his condition and how Brooke would react to it. It just shows us how human Remy really is and that he's not all that glorious. This book was just so raw and in-your-face (literally) that you won't want to stop reading, even for a bathroom break. It was painful reading about his struggles but beautiful seeing how he finds comfort in his companions and obviously, Brooke.

Katy Evans' books just keep getting better and better, and this may be my favorite book of hers (at least till I read the next one. Haha!). Remy isn't pretty, it isn't an easy-read and you definitely won't have giddy feels while reading it but it's definitely raw, tear-inducing, heart- and gut-wrenching, and beautiful, so undoubtedly beautiful. Katy Evans just knows what to write to give you every single thing you want and things you didn't even know you wanted (she must have ESPN. *pun pun*). If you haven't read her books yet, then you need to ASAP because you won't want to miss this roughened but tough diamond. 

Rating:

.5

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Hey!

I’m Katy Evans and I love family, books, life, and love. I’m married with two children and three dogs and spend my time baking, walking, writing, reading, and taking care of my family. Thank you for spending your time with me and picking up my story. I hope you had an amazing time with it, like I did. If you’d like to know more about books in progress, look me up on the Internet, I’d love to hear from you!

You can find me here:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Email

Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway: Bad Boy Rock Star

Click banner for the tour schedule.

Title: Bad Boy Rock Star
Author: Candy J. Starr
Publication date: November 18th 2013
Buy the book: Amazon



Hannah Sorrento never planned to be a band manager. She’s a princess and the toughest obstacle she's had in life is finding shoes to match her outfit.

Then her father disappears leaves her with only the money in her purse and a management contract for hot, indie band, STORM. She plans to sell the contract, one way or another, then pack up her designer wardrobe and head back to law school.

But lead singer, Jack Colt, has other ideas. She's never met a man like him before. His raw sexuality is messing with her head and her heart... and a lot of other body parts.

With the help of crazy rock chick, Angie, Hannah sets the band on their first steps to the big time and learns to survive on her own.

But this isn’t some game - soon the threat that Hannah fears most becomes reality.

Jack Colt - he’s arrogant and infuriating but he’s the one that’s there for Hannah when her world comes crashing down. With secrets of his own, will Jack Colt save Hannah or destroy her?

"Come on, let's go for a drink."

"Why are you Mr Friendly all of a sudden?"

He grinned at me, in that way that totally disarmed me. How could he go from being so surly to so charming?

"If you're sticking around, we may as well get to know each other."

My common sense told me that I did NOT want him wanting me to stick around but the fibres of my being tingled. You can't really turn down a drink from a guy who'd saved your life without looking pretty damn ungrateful.

I walked with him to a bar so dark and dingy, it took a while for my eyes to adjust after the glare outside. He strode over to the bar and ordered us both beers.

"I'll get it. You know, to say thank you." I didn't want to make eye contact with him so watched the woman behind the bar. It wouldn't take much to believe she had a bat hidden away in case of trouble and it would take nothing at all to imagine her using it.

"I'll get this one, you can get the next round. Let's play pool."

He punched me on the arm as though I were his best buddy. The happy part of me struggled with the part that waited for this all to fall apart. 

"You know how to play?"

I shook my head. "No idea. Where would I have learnt to play pool?"

"Just watch me and learn."

He put his money in the slot and the balls plonked down. Then he got the triangle and set them up.

"I'll break."

I nodded and sipped my beer.

He took his shot and potted a big ball then took another and missed. He thought he was so good.

"Why don't we have a bet on the game?" I asked. "Isn't that what people do? In movies and stuff?"

"It wouldn't be fair to bet with a beginner."

"It's okay. Just something friendly-like, to make it more interesting." I put my head on the side and smiled at him, all innocent and beguiling.

"Okay. If I win, you tell me the truth about why you’re managing the band."

I drew my lips into a tight line and looked away from him. 

"I guess that's okay, but you have to tell me why such a bad boy rock star lives in that apartment –"

"It's a shithole old warehouse."

"It's worth a bomb. I know real estate and that place can’t be cheap. And that car of yours, it's not within the means of a rocker playing dive bars either."

He shrugged and looked away but his little subterfuge didn't work on me. There was money there somewhere and you couldn't hide it.

"Fine. Loser spills the beans." He drained his beer.

I grabbed the cue, gripping it tightly and walked around the table, deciding where to shoot from. I finally settled on a spot and leaned over the table, propping the cue on one hand while gripping it in my right.

"Wait, let me show how to hold it. Otherwise this'll be like taking candy from a baby."

He unpeeled my fingers from the end of the cue and adjusted them then leaned over me to correct my other hand. The heat of his body rubbed against mine and I could smell that same citrusy scent I'd noticed when I'd woken up in his bed. With his arms around me like that, I could barely think. I was sure the beating of my heart ricocheted right through him. I ordered it to stop. I would not react to his closeness to me. I didn't feel a thing, he could rub against me all he liked, he could leave his hand lingering on my mine and his lips just millimetres from my ear. It did nothing whatsoever.

I squirmed away from him.

"I think I can manage on my own," I said, my voice choking.

I hit out, sending the balls flying. My red ball stopped just near the far pocket.

"Oopsies," I said. "I really thought that would go in."

"Better luck next time."

I went to the bar to get more beers while he took his shot.

He'd sunk a couple of balls while I'd gone but had done no real damage.

A few shots later and he'd sunk most of his balls but I had mine covering the pockets.

"Are you sure you haven't played before?" He narrowed his eyes, appraising me.

"Huh? I've not even got one ball in yet. I thought I'd at least have beginners luck."

I tried to look upset, even stuck my bottom lip out in a pout, but he'd begun to get suspicious. No help for it then, I might as well finish this game off.

I walked up to the table and potted my balls one after the other. As I lined up the black to finish the game, he stared at me.

"You bitch. You pool-sharking bitch."

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

CCandy J. Starr used to be a band manager until she realised that the band she managed was so lacking in charisma that they actually sucked the charisma out of any room they played. “Screw you,” she said, leaving them to wallow in obscurity – totally forgetting that they owed her big bucks for video equipment hire.

Candy has filmed and interviewed some big names in the rock business, and a lot of small ones. She’s seen the dirty little secrets that go on in the back rooms of band venues. She’s seen the ugly side of rock and the very pretty one.

But, of course, everything she writes is fiction.

You can find her here:

Blog / Twitter / Goodreads

Blog Tour: ARC Review: Fighting to Forgive by JB Salsbury

Click the banner for the tour schedule.

Title: Fighting to Forgive (Fighting #2)
Author: JB Salsbury
Publication date: November 19th 2013
Source: eARC received from Stacey Blake for blog tour (Thanks, JB, Stacey and Promotional Book Tours!)
Pre-order the book: Amazon



What do you do when everything you avoid, turns out to be exactly what you need?

Easy and predictable, just the way he likes it, Blake Daniels flies through life the way he burns through women: on his terms, no regrets.

With his fighting career in full swing, he's on the threshold of title contention. But when his training is compromised by injury, the stakes grow impossibly higher. The rage that fuels his punches also chips away at his focus, and he risks losing everything he cares about.

He won’t let that happen. Not again.

Layla’s through with men. After a marriage that never should’ve happened, she hopes to reclaim the pieces of the woman she lost years ago.

Emotional abuse has left her insecure and terrified. A master at faking what she’s not feeling, she masks her self-doubt in false confidence.

She’ll never let another man hurt her. Not again.

Chased by shadows of the past, Blake and Layla know what they don’t want, but their hearts have a different plan. As a web of lies and betrayal threatens to destroy them, they’re forced to make a choice.

Is love enough to heal even the deepest wounds?

Or will they be left Fighting to Forgive?

Review:

I really, really enjoyed Fighting for Flight (and so did my mom) and I was so ecstatic to have been chosen to be a part of this tour because oh. My. Word. Reading Fighting to Forgive is just... cray. In a good way. If you fell in love with Jonah, you’ll love Blake. I couldn’t not feel anything reading this book. Reading about both Layla and Blake’s pasts will really impact you in a big and shocking way. Seriously. So shocking it’ll feel like someone suckerpunched you in the face, hard. You won’t even come close to guessing what their “secrets” are because they’re really so unexpected. Trust me, they are.

Layla is a great character. Right from the very get-go, she already gives off that cool mother vibe. She genuinely loves her daughter and it was so sad reading about what she went through. I can say, without bias, that she didn't deserve anything that happened to her. It was inspiring seeing how she didn't lose her spirit in the midst of all the chaos that was happening around her. Layla seriously needs to go on  vacation for the next five years or something because she just works so hard for her and her daughter. And I'm sure we all know how hard it is to take care of a teenaged daughter. Yup. So kudos to Layla for being such a patient, hardworking and amazing mother, friend and person in general.

I adored Blake. Like, seriously. Usually those super cocky player type of guys turn me off but I loved Blake. You already get a glimpse of him in Fighting for Flight and you know how he is with the ladies but you get to know him in a much deeper level in this book. His "secret" was the most... interesting one in the story, depending on how you look at it. I loved all of Blake's pick up lines because let's face it, it wouldn't be a book about Blake if it didn't have his infamous pick up lines. I never doubted it but I was definitely shocked to see the sweet side of Blake. He does have a caring side and it was great finally seeing a different aspect to his personality. And it was cute how he always referred to Layla as "Mouse" because of her size. Haha! I didn't know Blake was into pet names...

One thing I will tell you is that this series only gets better and better. The characters get more and more interesting and the drama more intense. I don't doubt that I'll love the next book in this series because wow, wow, W-O-W. JB Salsbury just knows what her readers want, and what they didn't know they wanted till she gave it to them. Fighting to Forgive will grip at your heartstrings and tug hard, it will make you cry, laugh, get pissed, swoon and it won't stop till you've felt everything single emotion this book has to offer which is a lot. Another great book from the lovely JB Salsbury, cheers!

Rating:

.5

About the author:

Bestselling author JB Salsbury lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and two kids. She spends the majority of her day as a domestic engineer. But while she works through her daily chores, a world of battling alphas, budding romance, and impossible obstacles claws away at her subconscious, begging to be released to the page.

Her love of good storytelling led her to earn a degree in Media Communications. With her journalistic background, writing has always been at the forefront, and her love of romance prompted her to sink her free time into novel writing.

Fighting for Flight is her first novel in the MMA romance series.

You can find her here:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Blog Tour: ARC Review + Giveaway: Mine by Katy Evans

Title: Mine (Real #2)
Author: Katy Evans
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication date: November 5th 2013
Source: Received from publisher for review (Thanks, Gallery Books, Enn, Katy and The SUBClub Books!)
Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble



He's mine, and I'm his. Our love is all-consuming, powerful,
imperfect, and real...

In the international bestseller REAL, the unstoppable bad boy of the Underground fighting circuit finally met his match. Hired to keep him in prime condition, Brooke Dumas unleashed a primal desire in Remington "Riptide" Tate as vital as the air he breathes... and now he can't live without her.

Brooke never imagined she would end up with the man who is every woman's dream, but not all dreams end happily ever after, and just when they need each other the most, she is torn away from his side. Now with distance and darkness between them, the only thing left is to fight for the love of the man she calls MINE.

Review:

Whoa. There's something to be said about great sequels and Mine is definitely one of them. If you've already read Real, then you know how crazy exciting Brooke and Remy's life is but what till you get ahold of Mine, because as far as sequels go, this one is pretty great!

Right from the very beginning of the book, you can already feel the tension between the characters (the thing Brooke did in Real is still very much an open wound) and everyone is affected by it. Especially Brooke. She was still obviously recovering from what happened and is even more insecure about herself because of what happened with Remy. Honestly, I didn't think she'd be able to cope with the pressure and expectations of being with him but she did, and I am amazed. Brooke has definitely grown from the naive and innocent physical therapist to a strong, no-nonsense but playful woman. I was happy to see her grow into a great character and that made reading this book all the more exciting because nobody wants a boring protag, and Brooke is far from boring.

Oh, Remy, Remy, Remy. When will I ever be immune to your charms (I hope never) because you always manage to continuously amaze me. Which is completely true. While Brooke may have been the protag, I have always thought that Remy was the star of this series. Maybe it's because of his "problem" or because he's Brooke's love but there's just something about Remy that screams "Look at me!". And not in a bad way. I love that even though he's this cocky badass fighter, he still has a sensitive and sweet side that shows whenever he's with Brooke. And oh. My. Golly. Whenever he gets all protective and brings out the full force of Remy, I die just a little bit. While Remy still has his "problem" I'm glad he has people to take care of him while he goes and takes care of Brooke. Haha! I need my own Remy...

But Mine isn't all about romance and steamy, steamy scenes. There's A LOT of crazy stuff that happens in this book and Katy Evans has definitely brought out all her guns. There were literally times when I just wanted to fling my phone across the room because I was getting so angsty that I didn't want to read anymore. Mine almost killed me, seriously. Seriously.

I suggest that you be prepared for anything when you're reading this book. Mine is exactly what a person looks for in a sequel: exciting, exhilarating, hot and most of all, engaging. Katy Evans really upped the stakes with this one and knowing her and her books, you should expect that Mine will be one hell of a ride. Yeehaw!

Rating:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Hey! I’m Katy Evans and I love family, books, life, and love. I’m married with two children and three dogs and spend my time baking, walking, writing, reading, and taking care of my family. Thank you for spending your time with me and picking up my story. I hope you had an amazing time with it, like I did. If you’d like to know more about books in progress, look me up on the Internet, I’d love to hear from you!

You can find me here:

Website: www.katyevans.net 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Katy-Evans/521052267929550 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorkatyevans

Email: authorkatyevans@gmail.com

Review: The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White

Title: The Chaos of Stars
Author: Kiersten White
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication date: September 10th 2013
Source: Received paperback from publicist (Thanks, Megan!)
Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble



Isadora’s family is seriously screwed up.

Of course, as the human daughter of Egyptian gods, that pretty much comes with the territory. She’s also stuck with parents who barely notice her, and a house full of relatives who can’t be bothered to remember her name. After all, they are going to be around forever—and she’s a mere mortal.

Isadora’s sick of living a life where she’s only worthy of a passing glance, and when she has the chance to move to San Diego with her brother, she jumps on it. But Isadora’s quickly finding that a “normal” life comes with plenty of its own epic complications—and that there’s no such thing as a clean break when it comes to family. Much as she wants to leave her past behind, she can’t shake the ominous dreams that foretell destruction for her entire family. When it turns out there may be truth in her nightmares, Isadora has to decide whether she can abandon her divine heritage after all.

(Image and summary taken from Goodreads)

Review:

It's interesting to read a mythology book that isn't centered on the Greek or Norse gods/legends/etc. The Chaos of Stars gives an insight to the different gods there are in the Egyptian mythology and well, they're still incestuous/vain/power-hungry but insanely entertaining. Who knew that the Egyptians had that much drama in their lives too? It's like watching a Latin soap opera minus the Latin and the actually watching of the show. It all ties back to the family, you know?

Isadora gives a whole new meaning to having family issues. Like, seriously. Isadora is a likable character but her inherent need to be introverted and not let anyone in sort of blocks her appeal. I feel bad for her because she had to go through all that, and add in the fact that she's the only mortal in her family, she's got it pretty rough. She always feels like she's expendable and that her family will one day abandon her when there's a new child and I understand where the insecurity is coming from but I highly doubt her parents will leave her for dead. I think it's all about communication; that's the only way for her and her family to be able to properly convey what they feel and think. Other than the familial issues thing, Isadora's a pretty cool gal. She's an awesome interior designer and her designs sound amazing. It was interesting reading about her stay in the United States because I can just say, culture shock x100!! Her interactions with the people and her need to try to be normal was really cute. I also loved Isadora's wittisms and her love for the stars. It was pretty sweet.

Oh. My. Gosh. RY. RY. RY. He is such a sweeeeeeeet guy. I love that he writes poems and that even though he's insanely good looking and swoony, he's modest about it... okay, maybe not too modest. Haha! But yeah, Ry is a great guy (book boyfriend material) because with him, less is more. He doesn't say much but when he does, it's like a burst of sunshine and happiness... for me, that is. I actually felt really sorry for him because right from the get-go, Isadora friend-zoned him. Yes, she went there. It's mostly because she doesn't believe in love and everyone in her life is going to betray/abandon her so she told him they couldn't be more than friends... Ouch. (It's okay, Ry, I'm single!!) But everything is not what is seems, I don't know if you'll notice it but I did so I won't mention it but you'll know what it is when you see it. I am not being vague at all. *flies away*

There were literally times when I couldn't figure things out and I was left thinking, "Whuuuuut". It's good that there were unpredictable moments to battle out the parts that were sort of predictable because that just makes things more exciting. I loved that Kiersten White included Isadora's dreams because it really gave us an insight as to what might happen and they act as both a hint and a curveball. It all depends on what you make of it. Good luck, friends!

The Chaos of Stars shines with classic Kiersten White humor and wittiness that will draw not only entice you to keep reading but will also get you to join in on the laughter. While the romance aspect of the book was pretty evident, it was great that it was not the main focus of the story. The book was still mainly about the premonitions Isadora and her mom were having that will lead to something insanely crazy and exciting in the latter part of the book. Trust me, you will not see it. Unless you do... #Awkward I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can't wait for more of Kiersten White's books.

Rating:

Stacking the Shelves (27)

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews! It's where bloggers can share what they got for review, bought, borrowed, won or gifted (both physical and eBooks may be included! :D)

It's been a long time since I last posted a StS so here's the books I got over the weeks:

For review:

When the World was Flat by Ingrid Jonach (Goodreads)

*ARC* White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout [*DIESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*] (Goodreads)

Beautiful Bitch (Beautiful Bastard #1.5) by Christina Lauren (Goodreads)

Blood Family by Anne Fine (Goodreads)

*not pictured* Wallbanger by Alice Clayton (Goodreads)

White Trash Beautiful (White Trash #1) by Teresa Mummert (Goodreads)

Ultraviolet Catastrophe by Jamie Grey (Goodreads)

The Nightmare Affair (The Arkwell Academy #1) by Mindee Armett (Goodreads)

*not pictured* Antigoddess (Goddess War #1) by Kendare Blake (Goodreads)

*ARC* Sick by Tom Leveen (Goodreads)

The Burning Sky (The Elemental Trilogy #1) by Sherry Thomas (Goodreads)

The Bitter Kingdom (Fire and Thorns #3) by Rae Carson (Goodreads)

How to Love by Katie Cotugno (Goodreads)

Lost in Babylon (Seven Wonders #2) by Peter Lerangis (Goodreads)

Deception (Defiance #2) by C.J. Redwine (Goodreads)

The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White (Goodreads)

Into the Deep (Into the Deep #1) by Samantha Young (Goodreads) (Review)

Bought:

Bully (A Fall Away Novel #1) by Penelope Douglas (Goodreads)

*not pictured* Never Too Far (Too Far #2; Rosemary Beach #2) by Abbi Glines (Goodreads)

*not pictured* Forever Too Far (Too Far #3; Rosemary Beach #4) by Abbi Glines (Goodreads)

Tangled (Tangled #1) by Emma Chase (Goodreads)

Untold (The Lynburn Legacy #2) by Sarah Rees Brennan (Goodreads)

*signed* Wait for You (Wait for You #1) by J. Lynn (Goodreads)

One Week Girlfriend (Drew + Fable #1) by Monica Murphy (Goodreads)

Down London Road (On Dublin Street #2) by Samantha Young (Goodreads)

The Edge of Never (The Edge of Never #1) by J.A. Redmerski (Goodreads)

The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen (Goodreads)

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (Goodreads)

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (Goodreads)

Origin (Lux #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Goodreads)

The Collector (Dante Walker #1) by Victoria Scott (Goodreads)

Frozen (Heart of Dread #1) by Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston (Goodreads)

*not pictured* Allegiant (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth (Goodreads)

Thank you sooooooo much to Tashya + Harlequin Teen, Tina + A&C UK, Gallery Books, Jamie Grey, Alexis + Tor, Megan + HarperCollins International,  Random House UK, Samantha Young, Ingrid, Caroline + Strange Chemistry, National Book Store, Fully Booked and always, my parents! <3 You all rock!!

What did you get in your mailbox? :) Leave us a comment and we'll check it out!

Blog Tour: ARC Review + Giveaway: Off Chance by Sawyer Bennett

Click banner for the tour schedule.

Title: Off Chance (Off #5)
Author: Sawyer Bennett
Publication date:
Source: Received eARC from AToMR Book Blog Tours (Thanks, Andrea and Sawyer!)
Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble



He is seeking absolution.

Flynn Caldwell has a hero complex and it’s one of the reasons he joined the New York City Fire Department. He has spent his entire professional career trying to atone for that one person he failed to save. Because, if he can do that, then perhaps he can be worthy of love again.

She is seeking escape.

Rowan Page’s life is nothing short of a disaster. Always immersed in trouble, she has only herself to depend on. She’s determined to pull herself out of this mess and make something of her life, despite the hard years she has lived on the streets of New York.

Together, they have the chance to become complete.

Flynn and Rowan’s worlds exist miles apart, but when a chance meeting brings them together, neither of them can deny the instant pull that connects them to each other. What starts as a tiny spark eventually flares into a fire so hot, it refuses to be extinguished. 

For it to work, both of them will need to jump feet first into the flames to see where it takes them, despite the risk of being burned.

Review:

I am a big fan of the Off series (I keep reminding myself to review the other books but darn procrastination! One day...) and I am really sad to see it end. It was a great ending, by the way. You get a glimpse of what happens in the future and while it may not have been perfect, it was fitting to the story and to the rest of the characters. What I love about these books is that Sawyer Bennett always manages to give each character such distinct and unique qualities and personalities that really differentiates them from one another. No two characters are the same and it's so amazing that she is able to do that because it makes her books all the more interesting. And this one was no exception...

Off Chance was burning hot and no pun intended. It was smoking out so much steam I expected Sean Kingston to bust out and start singing "Fire Burning". Not kidding. It isn't even because Flynn is a fireman and a Caldwell (which is more than enough) or that they met because Rowen almost got burned alive, nope. And it's definitely not just because their chemistry is so intense even I need to cool myself off. No, it's because of the amount of emotion and vulnerability that this book has. Right from the very beginning, you already know that you have a set of characters that are imperfect and slightly broken but that didn't mean that they couldn't mend themselves because they did, with each other.

Flynn kind of has a hero complex, he always wants to help everyone out but after all of that, he's usually the one who needs saving. (Someone really needed to stage an intervention. Haha) But seriously speaking, Flynn is a great guy but I think that he gives people the benefit of the doubt too much and it ends up hurting him instead. He was the more vulnerable of the two because he was easy to accept his emotions compared to Rowen, who was still harboring some abandonment issues...

If there's one person who managed to keep a tough exterior throughout most of the book, it would be Rowen. There would be times when you would think that she was starting to lower her walls but they were still up there. Their story is kind of like Ever and Linc's it started off one-sided but managed to progress in the end. Rowen, like Ever, just didn't know how to trust people because she's always been let down by the people around her. And I totally understand where she was coming from but the key is to always take things into stride and not let it change you. I think Rowen did what she could in her circumstance that she was in.

Sawyer Bennett has created a couple that has become worthy to end the Off series and one that manages to shine as bright as the others. The Off books have never been one of those cheesy romances. Nope, they are classy and will melt all that cheese off because they are just so steamy... and sweet. I seriously need to get in on this... Are there anymore Caldwell relatives left?

Rating:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Sawyer Bennett is the pen name for a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn't have many weakness but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

You can find her here:

Website / Twitter / Facebook