Review: Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles

Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: October 1, 2013

Rating: 2 stars

Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama.

Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain--people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?

What I Liked:

First, let me say that I have never read a book by Elkeles, so I don't know if I would like her books, or if it's just this one, or if I would probably dislike all of her books. Before (and after) I read this book, I've heard Elkeles fans say that this book wasn't her best. So, it's not just me. I still might look up some of her older books, and even read some of her upcoming ones if I get the chance.

Derek's father re-married a really young, bimbo-type woman, who is actually only a bit older than Derek himself. Derek's father is in the Navy, and so he is always away. Derek's stepmother decides to move back to Chicago, and Derek is forced to go with her. In Chicago, the stepmother's sister, Ashtyn, is the only girl who plays on the football team. She's a tomboy, rude, non-girly, and doesn't want anything to do with the yummy Derek, who actually was a football legend himself, years ago.

I loved Derek in this book. He isn't a "bad boy", though you can tell that was the angle Elkeles was trying to get. He is thoughtful and contemplative, and he fixes sheds and mows the lawn without being told to do so. Also, he does all of that shirtless. YAY for shirtless!

But seriously. He's a good guy. He's the only reason why I gave this book two stars, and not one. Well, him, and his grandmother. That lady is HILARIOUS.

Okay, but that's it.

What I Did Not Like:

This book really made me want to rip some hair out, or launch it to the next country. Of course, there would be no hair-ripping-out, because I LOVE my hair, and I can't launch the book anywhere, because that would involve launching my Kindle, and I NEED my Kindle.

Let's start with Ashtyn. Gosh, I hated her SO MUCH. This book is written in alternating first person - between her and Derek. So... we get her inner monologue A LOT. I enjoyed Derek's (for the most part), but not hers. She is selfish, self-absorbed, self-important, all the "self" adjectives I can think of. It is BRUTAL, reading her train of thought. Everything is about her, and her football, and her football camp, and her boyfriend, and her wanting to be with Derek BUT WAIT. She hates him. Right?

And by the way, what is UP with the football thing?! Okay, to all you feminists, I get it. Women should be able to football with me, blah blah blah. To that, I say WHATEVER. I've always watched football with MEN, and I enjoy the game with MEN. I didn't like the football aspect of the book, because Ashtyn is such a b**** off and on the field, and she makes the sport so pansy in the book.

Again, feminists. I get it. I'm a female too. But I like football... with men. Ashtyn on the men's football team? Weird. 

And the football plot was dumb. Ashtyn got picked as team captain. Ashtyn was all mopey because she couldn't go to football camp, but then she could, because it just happened to be in Texas, where Derek is from, and Derek just happened to be summoned to Texas by his grandmother. Ashtyn was bullied and ignored at football camp. You think I feel sorry for her? No, I don't. I still think football - at least on a collegiate/school/professional level - should be played by men. And the football plot was silly. And trivial.

Ashtyn was also annoying because every five seconds she's like, I don't like Derek one bit. But then, she's like, I think I love him and I want him to stop flirting with my friends and other girls, and I want him to love me and care about me and stay. I want him to build his entire life around me and my football. I'm totally allowed to get mad at Derek because he didn't tell me about him being a football prodigy. IT'S TOTALLY OKAY THAT I'M SO SELFISH!

Yup, that's Ashtyn. Queen of denial and complaining and selfishness. 

Derek was bad too - in terms of his inner monologue about Ashtyn. Everything was about Ashtyn, and her bossy attitude, and her hot body, and her life problems that made her so strong. WHAT PROBLEMS DOES SHE HAVE?! It's not like she was uprooted from one state to the other! She has zero "grown-up", "tough" issues to deal with AT ALL. 

So... I hated the romance, but really because of Ashtyn. She's so controlling and selfish and bossy and she strings Derek along wherever she goes. She blames him when he doesn't tell her things. She gets mad at him ALL THE TIME. Seriously - the bickering NEVER STOPS. It's not even the cute, or chemistry-filled banter. It's like the I-HATE-YOU banter, but you know they are in lust (or love, I guess).

Ew.

And the ending is so hunky-dory. Derek decides to stay and follow Ashtyn, as always. He starts doing something that he gave up a long time ago FOR ASHTYN. He drags his grandmother with him, FOR ASHTYN. Everything thing is for f****** Ashtyn and her "perfect" self.

Excuse me while I barf. I'm finished.

Would I Recommend It:

No. Not even to Elkeles fans. Don't do it. This book is ridiculous. The romance is ridiculous. It isn't even steamy! Ugh!

Rating:

1.5 stars -> rounded up to 2 stars. Because I liked Derek. He's a good guy.

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Review: Charming by Elliott James

Charming by Elliott James

Book One of the Pax Arcana series

Publisher: Orbit

Publication Date: September 24, 2013

Rating: 3 stars

Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

John Charming isn't your average Prince... 

He comes from a line of Charmings — an illustrious family of dragon slayers, witch-finders and killers dating back to before the fall of Rome. Trained by a modern day version of the Knights Templar, monster hunters who have updated their methods from chainmail and crossbows to kevlar and shotguns, he was one of the best. That is — until he became the abomination the Knights were sworn to hunt.

That was a lifetime ago. Now, he tends bar under an assumed name in rural Virginia and leads a peaceful, quiet life. One that shouldn't change just because a vampire and a blonde walked into his bar... Right?

What I Liked:

Read the summary. Doesn't this book just SOUND awesome?! Paranormal fiction with a tiny bit of history involved... I was all over this one on NetGalley. And look at the COVER! That wonderful, long sword, curling typography, and smoky background just make a fabulous cover. Am I right?!

I must say, the action of the book lived up to the awesome cover. There was plenty of action, but also, plenty of calculation and strategy. Those are some of the things I love about John - he's shred and intelligent and rarely do his instincts lead him astray.

John has a quiet job as a bartender. He's on the down-low, not bothering anyone, minding his own business. But then, a rogue vampire and a hot non-human female walk into his bar... and things get weird. The vampire is one of many, following the lead of a queen bee vampire. The non-human female is tracking them. 

Turns out, the non-human female is a Valkyrie. Also, John is attracted to her, and vice versa. But she has a boyfriend, an astral traveler (I think that's what they're called?), and he's got a bad, NASTY attitude. Sig, the female, is part of a team, with her boyfriend, his two nephews, and a man whose name I cannot remember.

It takes a little convincing, but John agrees to help them - after he makes sure they know that he has to disappear after the hunt. The boyfriend hates John, the other guy (I think his name is Choo) likes John, Sig likes John. So, you can imagine the car rides, when they are out hunting. 

The book is in John's POV (first person), which was nice. There are no alternations in POV - it's just John. So, we get a lot of drivel and info-dumping, but it fits John. Sort of. 

I like the historical/mythological parts of this book. John is a "Charming", and he hunts the bad guys. We have vampires, Valkyries, astral travelers, humans, werewolves and more weird creatures. 

The romance is hilarious. John and Sig don't really get together, at any point in the book. Well, there is the scene at the grocery store. But Sig stays with her boyfriend (whose name I can't remember) because she feels guilty, but in the end, she and John are sort of a couple. Not really, though.

The end resolves the vampire nest problem. And John figures things out about himself. It's not the end for John and Sig,which is good, I suppose, because their relationship is really messy at the end of the book. But, the end of this book is great!

What I Did Not Like:

Hmm, I mentioned that there is a lot of drivel and info-dumping. I also said that that was okay because it fits John. But honestly, there were a lot of points in the book where I was just like, SKIP! Or SKIM! I mean, if there are whole paragraphs after whole paragraphs, I'm likely to skip some of the information and details, and move on to where there is dialogue.

Unfortunately, that's about fifty-fifty, in this book. John isn't always surrounded by people. Much of the book, he is alone. Hence, the drivel. So basically, there were points in this book where I just couldn't handle the boredom. But I muscled through this one, and I finished it.

Believe me, that wasn't always the thought in my mind - to finish this one.

In terms of the romance... while I liked that John and Sig didn't really have much of a physical relationship, I didn't like that it was all kind of unresolved in the end. I know there will be more books in this series, but really?! I'm not really liking the ambiguity.

Would I Recommend It:

I was REALLY excited about this one, and to be honest, I was let down a little, but I still would recommend it. It's a great action-filled book, with a little romance, but it's also a bit confusing, a bit dry, and a bit boring. Still, it was worth the read.

Rating:

3 stars. I haven't decided yet if I want to read any of the future books in this series, but I'm sorry that I read this book!

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Blog Tour Review and Giveaway: The Darkest Part by Trisha Wolfe

Welcome to the blog tour for The Darkest Part by Trisha Wolfe! I enjoyed this book, and I hope you do too!

Follow the rest of the tour HERE.

The Darkest Part by Trisha Wolfe

Book One of the Living Heartwood series

Publication Date: August 6, 2013

Rating: 3 stars

Source: eARC from the author

Summary (from Goodreads):

Pressing the boundaries of both the psyche and the heart, Sam and Holden embark on a dangerous journey that will test the limits of love.

Sam Wintry’s life used to be almost perfect. She was engaged to her childhood best friend and high school sweetheart, Tyler Marks, planning an amazing cross-country honeymoon during her college break. But after a hit-and-run leaves her in ruin, she begins seeing Tyler’s fractured, ghostly presence, and her family believes she’s losing her mind. Not until she completes their journey, stopping along the way to scatter Tyler's remains, will Tyler be able cross over. Only...is Sam ready for him to leave her?

When the black sheep of the Marks' family, Holden Marks, returns to check on Tyler's case, Sam convinces him to give her his brother's ashes. Despite their shaky history, she needs him...plus, he owes it to Sam and his brother. What she doesn’t count on is Holden’s relentlessness to go on the trip.

On the road, Holden realizes just how unhinged Sam has become. Dealing with her psychosis forces him to confront his dark past, making it harder to keep secrets hidden that should remain buried. Especially from Sam, the only woman he’s ever loved. And as Sam starts to unravel the truth, she begins to question if the brother she's unwillingly falling for again is in an even darker place than her.

What I Liked:

You all KNOW that I am a fan of Trisha Wolfe, yes? I loved her fantasy novel, Of Silver and Beasts (and I cannot wait for Of Darkness and Crowns). Trisha has a way of creating a beautiful, intricate story, with tough, interesting characters, and a swoony, sweet romance.

But anyway. I was apprehensive about this book, because I usually dislike New Adult contemporary romance novels. They seem like the same story, over and over, right? And yet, somehow, authors are making a ton of money with New Adult contemporary romance stories, even though the stories seem recycled!

But it's Trisha's novel, and I am SO GLAD that I gave this book a chance! I didn't love this book - it wasn't life-changing for me - but I really enjoyed it. This book is definitely a different kind of New Adult contemporary romance. There was a dark, raw edge to this book, and it wasn't about rape or abuse or anything that most NA contemporary romance include.

Sam is suffering, because her boyfriend and fiance died five months ago from a hit-and-run accident. The sad thing is, she's totally seeing his ghost. It's all a figment of her imagination, a product of broken psyche. Everyone thinks she's crazy... and she totally is. Sam is the only one who fervently believes that she isn't insane, that Tyler's ghost is real, and that she can see him and hear him.

Things begin to unravel when Holden, Tyler's brother and Sam's first crush, comes back to town. Sam and Holden are slightly at odds, but they strike up a terse agreement, and agree to go on a roadtrip together (there is so much more to the story than that, but I'm just giving an overview).

Basically, this book is one long roadtrip. Actually, I think it's a week long. But the entire book is the roadtrip involving Sam and Holden. During this time, we get to see how tormented both of them really are. Both of them have so much to handle, in their own ways. Both of them have self-inflicted problems, and both of them are in denial about something.

I didn't LOVE Sam in this book - in fact, I probably disliked her a little. She's a weak person throughout the book, in terms of her personality, and even in the end, she still seems weak. I feel like her character development wasn't all that great. Like, she came to a certain decision at the end... but it didn't feel like she went through the long process and came to that decision. It felt like she just pulled it out of nowhere.

But I really liked Holden. He's not flashed in front of us as the typical New Adult contemporary romance male protagonist. He's hot, yes, and he has a ton of tattoos, but he's not thrust out of the pages, teeming with abs and cocky grins and melty voices and arrogant swaggers. He is complex and twisted in his own way, and not a total alpha male (though there are some alpha male parts of his personality that shined through the story).

The story is kind of slow, and the pacing is slow, but I enjoyed the story. I enjoyed the psychological progression of Sam's healing. I really liked the dual points-of-view, but I feel like that's a prerequisite for New Adult contemporary romance novels. I love the perspective that feature adds to the story though!

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I probably won't be re-reading this book a billion times, but I am so happy that I got a chance to read it!

What I Did Not Like:

Well... we all know how I feel about people and their bulls***. In this book, Sam definitely puts out a lotttttttt of bulls***. She's crazy in the worst way possible, after Tyler's death. I totally understand that there are psychological ramifications to a traumatizing event such as death, but I have zero tolerance for bulls***.

And Sam has a lot of problems. And bulls***. And I got irritated with her a lot. But I understand and can empathize. That made this book easier to read.

I feel like the characters in this book don't communicate very well, until the very end. This is a problem with most New Adult contemporary romance books though. The guy and the girl never really explain how they feel, until the very end of the book. I can see why this appeals to authors - it shows growth in the characters - but at the same time, so many books feature characters that don't communicate well. I mean, not EVERYONE has a hard time expressing s***.

Would I Recommend It:

This is a good read! I would recommend to New Adult contemporary romance lovers, but also to people who like a book with a solid romance and heartbreaking plot. This book isn't all about what one would think about, when referring to an NA contemporary romance novel. So, there are so many audiences for this book!

Rating:

3.5 stars -> rounded down to 3 stars. This is definitely NOT your typical New Adult contemporary romance novel!

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Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

About the Author:

I’m the author of the YA Steampunk DESTINY'S FIRE (Omnific Publishing), ASTARTE'S WRATH NA Historical/Supernatural, and the upcoming YA Utopian FIREBLOOD from Spencer Hill Press, October 2013. My NA Dark Fantasy OF SILVER AND BEASTS available May 2013.

I’m the creator of YA Bound, a promotional site for the Young Adult genre. Also a member of SCWW and The Apocalypsies.

A proud business owner, I'm partnered with my partner, my husband. When I’m not busy doing all of the above, I’m a wife and the mother of a gorgeous teen boy who's the sounding board for my male characters.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

The Giveaway:

1 signed print copy of The Darkest Part (US)

1 ebook (ePub or Mobi) copy of The Darkest Part (INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stacking the Shelves (#40)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, in which bloggers share the books and swag they've received in the past week!

So, what did I get in the week of Sunday, September 22nd to Saturday, September 29th?

From Edelweiss:

HARPER AUTO-APPROVAL, HECK YEAH!

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

All That Glows by Ryan Graudin

Avalon by Mindee Arnett

Salvage by Alexandra Duncan

Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens

Uninvited by Sophie Jordan

Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam

Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong

Panic by Lauren Oliver

House of Ivy & Sorrow by Natalie Whipple

Touch by Michelle Sagara

I haven't read ANY of the books up there, but I am pretty excited to read all of these!

Review: Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter

Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter

Book Two of the White Rabbit Chronicles

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: September 24, 2013

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

Inspired by the childhood classic Alice in Wonderland, this harrowing and romantic story features teen zombie slayer Alice Bell who has lost so much—family, friends, her home. After a strange new zombie attack, Alice fears she may be losing her mind as well. A terrible darkness blooms inside her, urging her to do wicked things. The whispers of the dead assault her ears and mirrors seem to come frighteningly to life. She’s never needed her team of zombie slayers more—including her boyfriend, Cole—than she does now. But as Cole strangely withdraws and the zombies gain new strength, Ali knows one false step may doom them all.

What I Liked:

I'm not sure which book I liked better: Alice in Zombieland or Through the Zombie Glass. But it's safe to say that I really liked (LOVED) them both! I loved them both, but for very different reasons. This book definitely had a darker tone than the first book. Things were not as smooth for the characters. But I loved this book, with all of that!

I'll try not to spoil anything in THIS book, but I can't guarantee that I won't spoil things in the first book.

Ali is officially a zombie slayer. She's dating the "boss" of the slayer team, Cole Holland, who is hot and yummy, and sweet, and moody and bossy. She has an awesome Nana, an amazing best friend Kat. She occasionally sees her dead little sister, Emma. Life is pretty good!

Except it's not. At the end of book one, Ali took on a ton of zombie toxin. So much, that something is changing in Ali. A new presence, Zombie Ali, seems to be manifesting. And it's destroying Ali's life. Ali can't seem to control Z.A., and only with a constant injection of the antidote does Ali feel a little better.

To make matters worse, Ali shares visions with someone other than Cole - a new slayer named Gavin. The visions are ambiguous, but Cole fears that Alie and Gavin are seeing something similar to what he and Ali saw in their first glances. So, Ali and Cole's relationship deteriorates.

That's kind of the big thing in this book. Cole and Ali are not together anymore. One of Cole's exes, Veronica, shows up as well. Cole broke up with Ali, but we both know that the two of them regret that. I think Ali handles the break-up very well. 

Despite the horrible crumbling relationship, I found that Ali was strong, even with the dark presence. She tried her best to be a competent slayer, but Z.A. gets in the way. The Hazmats get in the way. A spy, unknown to the group, gets in the way. Nothing is going Ali's (or the group's) way.

So, you know that the romance between Ali and Cole dissipates - in terms of the relationship, that their no longer dating. BUT, Showalter still finds ways to put them together, and all that pent-up frustration and time apart wears the two of them down - especially Cole.

I still liked Cole, despite his breaking up with Ali for basically no rational reason. I understood why, and in the end, I'm glad he learned his lesson. The end for everything - Z.A., Cole and Ali, Kat and Frosty, Reeve and Bronx - all ends pretty well. I'm not going to say that everything is resolved, but things, zombie- and relationship-related, is settled.

What I Did Not Like:

The drama between Veronica and Ali is so silly. I don't know why Ali stooped to Veronica's level. I can understand why Showalter put certain interactions between the two of them in the book, but I still didn't like it. If I were dealing with an ex of the boy I still loved, but was no longer with, I would ignore her shenanigans. 

Also, like the first book, this book is longggg. Which isn't a bad thing, because I like long books, but like the first book, I felt the length sometimes. Other times, I just ripped right through the book!

Would I Recommend It:

I would TOTALLY recommend this book, even to people that didn't like book two. For those of you that thought book one was insta-lovey, this book will change your mind. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, and in Cole and Ali's case, that is true!

Rating:

4 stars. I cannot wait to read book three! I wonder what the title will be. I can't wait to see it, and read it!

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

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Cover Reveal and Excerpt: Seven Day Fiancé by Rachel Harris

Another cover, you all!

I LOVE Rachel Harris, so I am THRILLED to help reveal this one :D

I feel like a lot of people will love this one - it's pretty great!

So... here it is!

Seven Day Fiancé by Rachel Harris

Book Two of the Love and Games series

Publisher: Entangled Bliss

Publication Date: October 14, 2013

Summary (from Goodreads):

Angelle Prejean is in a pickle. Her family is expecting her to come home with a fiancé—a fiancé who doesn’t exist. Well, he exists, but he definitely has no idea Angelle told her mama they were engaged. Tattooed, muscled, and hotter than sin, Cane can reduce Angelle to a hot mess with one look—and leave her heart a mess if she falls for him. But when she ends up winning Cane at a charity bachelor auction, she knows just how to solve her fiancé problem.

Cane Robicheaux is no one’s prince. He doesn’t do relationships and he doesn’t fall in love. When sweet, sultry-voiced Angelle propositions him, he hopes their little game can finally get her out of his head. He doesn’t expect her to break through all his barriers. But even as Angelle burrows deeper into his heart, he knows once their seven days are up, so is their ruse.

The Excerpt:

Angelle stopped beside a folding table boasting boxes of fresh, crispy cracklins and selected a thick piece. Cane watched, mesmerized, as she puckered those gorgeous lips and blew on the sliver. With a flirtatious glint in her eyes, she held it up to his mouth, and he opened.

Holy crap.

He’d had cracklins before. Fried pork fat was a standard gas station treat, usually shrink-wrapped and stale as shit. But this, fresh from the pot and piping hot, was unbelievable. Cane widened his eyes, and it was possible he even moaned. It was that good. And as he swallowed, Angel rewarded him with a rich, throaty laugh.

“Ca c’est bon?” she asked, grinning when he grabbed another handful.

He touched her nose and popped a piece in his mouth. “Good would be an understatement.”

Grinning, she took a fried morsel for herself and sent the balding, overweight gentleman tending the table a wink. “Now that’s what we like to hear.” Then she closed her eyes as she savored the treat.

The sounds of Angel moaning, and watching her face soften in the throes of a foodgasm, had to be the sexiest damn thing Cane had ever seen. His pants tightened, embarrassingly so considering he knew the audience was still watching, but what pushed him over the edge was when her eyes opened. The pleasure in them was his undoing.

Feeling the weight of the crowd’s disapproving stares and not giving a damn, figuring now was as good a time as any to give the people the show they clearly wanted, he grasped her hip and tugged her forward, pausing only to inhale her gasp of surprise before brushing her mouth with his.

It was like setting off a damn forest fire.

Angelle, his shocking little hellcat, pounced. Forgetting all about their audience, or maybe not giving a damn either, she wound her arms around his neck, lifted onto her toes, and kissed him back with everything she had. Cane had intended to steal a quick taste, take the edge off his craving for her, and prove their point with the town’s people. But hell if he was gonna be the one to back down now. Tightening his grasp on her slim hips, he brushed his thumbs across the smooth, exposed skin near her waistband. He deepened the kiss, thrilling over her telltale shiver. Whimpering, she yanked on the hair at his nape and sucked his bottom lip into her mouth. Hot damn.

Okay, now he had to start backing down. With all her male relatives watching, not to mention the knives and axes still lying around from the butchering earlier, if Cane valued his life, he needed to wrangle control of the situation. He’d heard patience was a virtue. That was a line of bull—he’d always sucked at waiting for anything he wanted. But for Angel, he was willing to try.

Loosening his grip on her belt loops, Cane slowed the intensity of the kiss. He smoothed the hem of her shirt down, grazed her lips one last time, and, placing his forehead against hers, inhaled through his nose. Sunflowers mixed with cayenne may be his new favorite scent. Angelle released a heavy breath, a flush blooming on her cheeks. She darted a glance at the crowd, then looking into his eyes, grinned lazily. “My goodness. If anyone doubted we were a couple before, I guess that showed them.”

About the Author:

I grew up in New Orleans, where I watched soap operas with my grandmother and stayed up late sneak reading my mama’s favorite romance novels. Now a Cajun cowgirl living in Houston, I still stay up way too late reading my favorite romances, only now, I can do so openly. I firmly believe life’s problems can be solved with a hot, powdered-sugar-coated beignet or a thick slice of king cake, and that screaming at strangers for cheap, plastic beads is acceptable behavior in certain situations. 

When not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, I homeschool my two beautiful girls and watch reality television with my amazing husband.

I write YA, NA, and Adult Fun & Flirty Escapes. Taste The Heat is my adult romance debut, and I'm also the author of MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY and A TALE OF TWO CENTURIES, as well as a ton of other books to come. I love hearing from readers and dishing books!

Cover Reveal Organized:

Cover Reveal and Giveaway: The Secret Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow

COVER REVEAL TIME!

*Does jig*

*Is excited*

You may have already seen this cover posted on Facebook... but I was scheduled to post this today, and I just got the content, so hey, why not?! :D

Here is Harlequin TEEN's latest!

The Secret Diamond Sisters by Michelle Madow

Book One of The Secret Diamond Sisters series

Publisher: Harlequin TEEN

Publication Date: February 25, 2014

Official Summary:

Savannah. Courtney. Peyton. 

The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite. Suddenly the Strip's most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

Follow the Author:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Launch Party:

Click HERE for information about the launch party for this book!

The Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Swoon Thursday (#36): Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter

Swoon Thursday is a hot meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at YA Bound!

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter!

He meshed his lips against mine, infinitely tender, going slowly savoring every moment, as if he could draw out a response - or was willing to do anything necessary to earn one.

That's all it took.

The spark that had always burned between us exploded into a wild inferno. I thrust my tongue against his, and he thrust back. Neither of us was gentle. I clung to him with all of my strength, demanding more, taking more. Taking everything.

It wasn't enough.

I wasn't sure if I would ever get enough.

He moved his hands through my hair, fisting the strands at the strands at the base of my neck and forcing my head to tilt allowing him deeper access to my mouth. In that moment, he owned me.

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

I really enjoyed this book! And the swoons were even HOTTER in this book :D