Blog Tour Review and Giveaway: Asking For Trouble by Tessa Bailey

Welcome to the Asking For Trouble blog tour! I am so excited to be a part of this tour, because I love Brazen and Tessa Bailey! So, enjoy the post, and good luck!

Asking For Trouble by Tess Bailey

Book Four of the Line of Duty series

Publisher: Brazen

Publication Date: November 25, 2013

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC sent by the publisher

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Official Summary:

Pretending to be in love has never felt so sexy.

Brent Mason and Hayden Winstead can't stand each other. She plans exclusive parties for her rich family’s charities. He’s a rough and tumble cop who rigs explosives for a living. Could two people be any less suited for conversation? They think not and prefer to keep it that way.

Unfortunately, their two best friends are deeply, disgustingly in love. Forced together, the mutual attraction simmering beneath the surface of Brent and Hayden’s non-relationship grows with every argument until it explodes into a scintillating night of mind-blowing sex. And it won’t be the last, as far as Brent’s concerned.

Hayden has a secret, though. Her father’s company is relying on a merger to save them from financial ruin, and only Hayden’s marriage to the CEO’s wealthy son can secure the deal. If she’s to protect her family, she’ll have to forget Brent. And he has no intention of being forgotten. 

What I Liked:

First, thank you so much, Brazen, for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. The publicists for Brazen Books sought me out to offer this opportunity, and I could not resist. I love Tessa Bailey's Officer Off Limits, and I love Brazen Books. Why wouldn't I take this opportunity!?

Well, once again, Tessa Bailey has me hooked on her adult contemporary romance novels! I haven't read an adult contemporary romance novel in a few weeks, so this was refreshing. It doesn't hurt that Bailey knows how to keep things fresh and interesting! One of the things I really liked about this book was how fast it went by. I was so engaged in Hayden and Brent's story, I found myself whizzing through this book!

Hayden is Story's best friend, and Brent is Daniel's best friend. We know all about Story and Daniel from Officer Off Limits. It's not necessary to read any of the previous books in this series, but you should read Officer Off Limits if you want to know more about Story and Daniel. Which you do, believe me. 

But anyway. It would seem that Hayden and Brent are so, so, SO wrong for each other. They argue ALL THE TIME. They get on each other's nerves. But you know what they say about anger... it's a true form of passion. And after one heated exchange, suddenly, that's all these two can think about. But Hayden's family - rich, snobby, upper class -  has financial problems, problems that could drive Hayden to do something she would never want to do.

Almost every scene of this book involves Brent and Hayden, and I love that. They don't just bicker, they legitimately argue and fight. It was so funny to read their dialogue - I bet Bailey had the best time writing this book. And while I loved the constant dialogue between Brent and Hayden, I loved the scenes with just one of them, to get to know their thoughts. 

Bailey does a great job of letting readers get inside each protagonist's head. She also does a good job of pacing the plot of the book - something with which I find a lot of romance books have issues. This book is relatively short, but Bailey keeps the plot flowing, and nothing feels rushed. One of the things I really dislike is rushed romance - but the romance in this book was well-placed and well-timed.

What happens in the end? Do Brent and Hayden get their happy ending? You'll just have read this one to find out...

What I Did Not Like:

This is a general thing, but I hate how adult do NOT effectively communicate. Like, you just shut down when someone is trying to explain a situation? NO. You stop and LISTEN, instead of feeling sorry for yourself and getting angry. There is this one scene towards the end of the book that made me a little ragey. Brent totally shuts down when he finds out about something, and doesn't want to hear an explanation from Hayden.

No no no. Whether she is right or wrong, you don't just jump to conclusions. Especially if YOU'RE wrong. Then you just look like a jacka**. Just saying.

Would I Recommend It:

I recommend this book to all contemporary romance lovers! Of adult books, that is. It's a short and fun read, and it will definitely keep you interested! I can't see why romance readers WOULDN'T love this one, overall.

Rating:

4 stars. Go Tessa Bailey! Go Brazen! I was super pleased with this book, and so happy that I had the chance to read it.

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

Connect with the Author:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

The Giveaway:

Want a chance to win an autographed copy of Tessa’s first two books Protecting What's His & Officer Off Limits? It’s the first time they've ever been in print!

She'll be giving away three sets. All you have to do is leave a comment below to enter. Giveaway ends 12/01. Limited to USA residents only.

Increase your chances of winning by visiting the rest of the tour HERE. Good luck!

Review: Control by Lydia Kang

Control by Lydia Kang

Book One of the Control series

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: December 26, 2013

Rating: 4 stars

Source: ARC sent by a blogger friend (Thank you, Nereyda!)

Summary (from Goodreads):

An un-putdownable thriller for fans of Uglies

When a crash kills their father and leaves them orphaned, Zel knows she needs to protect her sister, Dyl. But before Zel has a plan, Dyl is taken by strangers using bizarre sensory weapons, and Zel finds herself in a safe house for teens who aren't like any she’s ever seen before—teens who shouldn't even exist. Using broken-down technology, her new friends’ peculiar gifts, and her own grit, Zel must find a way to get her sister back from the kidnappers who think a powerful secret is encoded in Dyl’s DNA.

A spiraling, intense, romantic story set in 2150—in a world of automatic cars, nightclubs with auditory ecstasy drugs, and guys with four arms—this is about the human genetic “mistakes” that society wants to forget, and the way that outcasts can turn out to be heroes.

What I Liked:

YAY I REALLY LIKED THIS BOOK! I was afraid that I wouldn't, because this one was one of my highly anticipated debut novels of 2013. I hate that feeling when you wait for something for so long, and then it is just BAD. Well, that is not the case with this one! For me, at least.

Oh, and big thanks to Nereyda from Mostly YA Obsessed, for sending me this book. This review would not be possible without her and her amazing self. You rock, lady!

Back to the review. This book is so complex! Set in the future, this book exemplifies the wonders and terrors of science. Mutations are possible - and in this book, children with special traits can be used for their traits, and exploited. Zel and her sister Dyl are separated, after their father dies, and Zel knows something is wrong. Apparently, Dyl has a special trait (unknown to Zel or Dyl), and Zel will stop at nothing to get her sister back, and to safety. 

One of the things I really liked about this book is how unique Zel is. After reading so many YA novels, you kind of see the same type of YA heroine over and over. Not in EVERY novel, but in many novels, especially the recent ones, the heroines start to act and sound and seem the same. Well, Zel is different. Her attitude is different. Her being is different. All of this makes her character development different. 

Zel considers herself deficient, underdeveloped, ugly, especially when compared to her sister. Zel was born with Ondine's curse, a condition that makes her much less than perfect. She has difficulty breathing, and has to wear something that regulates her breathing. Also, she seems to be a late bloomer. Her body isn't very... developed, for a seventeen-year-old.

Well, no matter. In the beginning of the book, Zel seems very depressed and hollow, despondent and weak. As the book goes on, and Zel has to fight to get her sister back, she grows, in character and in physicality. Living with new people - Vera, Hex, Wilbert, Cy, and Marka - isn't easy, and it definitely builds her character. I really liked the character development in Zel. In the end, she has to use dirty tricks to do what she must, but she has to do so. I do no fault her, because honestly, I'd probably do the same, if it were my sister involved.

This book's plot deals with getting Dyl back. Another group has Dyl, a group that wants to exploit her potential abilities for financial gain. But there is something else. They want something else from her, something tied to Ana, Cy's sister. Everything is twisted and connected, and Zel is in the middle of everything.

I loved how interesting Kang kept this book. I don't think I was ever truly bored at any point in this book. Every time I thought the plot would steady, Kang threw in another plot twist or revelation or new piece of information. This isn't to say that there was TOO MUCH going on - no, not at all. Kang had a way of keeping the plot moving, but not to the point where the plot was moving, but readers would be left behind.

The romance is a pretty sizable part of this book. It isn't the overarching theme of this book, or the dominant part of the plot, which is good. It's there, and in the first half of the book, it's somewhat subtle. I really liked the romance in this book, because it creeps up on you, slowly and progressively. I think readers really get a chance to fall in love with the couple, so, no insta-love. In my opinion. No love triangle either.

I LOVE how science-y this book is! You all know I'm huge in math and science - environmental engineering major, what up! Kang uses her science background to her advantage, and in turn, this book is heavily science-based. I personally don't think the science was overwhelming, but I'm used to quite a bit of biology/chemistry/genetics studies, so I enjoyed the employment of so much science.

The ending. I kind of saw it coming (not a bad thing at all), so I wasn't enraged or devastated or cheering or celebrating or anything very passionate. I like the ending. It fits this book really well, even if it is, um, a smidgen bittersweet. I don't want to give anything away. Don't worry about liking/disliking the ending! If you pay attention in this book, and if you really read this book and understand this book, you'll see that no other ending would fit this book better than the one that Kang wrote.

What I Did Not Like:

This might scare some of you, but I kind of wanted more scientific explanations. I don't really understand the mutation thing - that certain babies have traits due to mutations, and others don't. Why? How was this brought about? Perhaps I need to re-read this book and see if I missed the explanation somewhere. I re-read a certain passage, but it didn't clear up much. And the thing that Zel was doing with the DNA linking? I don't really understand that either - not the linking part, but the purpose of that. What was she achieving, by stringing and linking all the DNA?

Kind of minor, nit picky complaints, but as a science nerd, I truly would like to understand. But that's it (from me) for dislikes! This book just felt like a four-star-read to me, versus a five-star-read.

Would I Recommend It:

This is definitely a novel for science fiction lovers! As I said, I loved how this book was so entrenched in science - specifically, genetics and genomes. However, you don't have to love science fiction to enjoy this book! It's an amazing thriller as well, and the romance in this book is simple and sweet. All around, Control is a good fit for many, many audiences!

Rating:

4 stars. Bring on Catalyst! I cannot wait to see what book two has in store for us.

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Excerpt Reveal and Giveaway: Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

Book One of the Fire & Flood series

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: February 25, 2014

Summary (from Goodreads):

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

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

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

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

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

The Excerpt:

The Brimstone Bleed started four hours ago, give or take. I’ve traveled as far as necessary for now, put adequate distance between myself and the other Contenders. There will be plenty who travel without stopping, without making a plan. 

Idiots. 

Like the others, I don’t know anything about this race, only that I need the prize—the Cure—more than I need my own beating heart. I can still remember my mother’s words as I left our home. 

“I don’t know where you think you’re going, Harper,” she said. “But you can’t just leave us like this. Not now.” 

But I did leave. It’s not like I could tell her about the invitation. Or explain what would happen next. Because the truth was, I didn’t know. Two days ago, I was lounging on my bed, listening to Linkin Park and watching MTV on mute. Today, I’m here, in a jungle, fighting to save the most important person in my life.

A caw rips through the late afternoon, and the dense canopy overhead rustles. I breathe in the smell of rich, damp soil that is almost invigorating. The air is thick and damp and clings to my skin, and everywhere I look is a plant I’ve never seen before. The world is a canvas of purple vines and orange flowers and greenery that swallows the ground beneath my feet. It’s both horrific and captivating at once.

Every few seconds, I stop to swipe insects off my skin. It doesn’t bother me. I’m not the squeamish type. The only thing I’m worried about is the egg in my Brimstone Bleed issued bag. A Pandora, the device said. An animal that will help me win this competition. My heart roars in my chest when the bag against my hip stirs once again. 

Now that we’re alone, I drop to my knees and remove the egg. When I see a prominent crack down the side, my entire body buzzes with anticipation. I’ve never had a pet before. Not a dog, not a cat…not even a goldfish. And now I’m supposed to travel with an animal that could potentially save my life and Lillian’s? It’s hard to absorb.

The egg cracks again, and I freeze. My hands hover over the iridescent shell, unsure of what to do. But this Pandora doesn’t need my help. It’s eager to escape its prison, eager to fulfill its destiny. I admire its tenacity already, but my stomach churns wondering what my Pandora will be like. Will it be ruthless? Endearing? Will it make it so that I don’t feel utterly alone? 

The egg burst open and I fall back, a gasp escaping my throat. I glance around to ensure we are alone. And when I look back, my hands shaking, my eyes widening, I see it—

A feather.

The Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stacking the Shelves (#48)

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, November 17th to Saturday, November 23rd?

(all links to Goodreads are provided!)

In the mail:

Okay, so, I don't know EXACTLY what Harper Collins sent me, but apparently, at home, there is a giant package with multiple books in it, waiting for me. I usually go home on weekends to do laundry and get my mail, but I'm going home on Tuesday for the holidays, so I figured I'd stay at school for the weekend.

A bit of a mistake, no? I REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS IN THE PACKAGE! It came on Wednesday! WEDNESDAY! THIS IS AGONY!

But don't worry, I'll post pictures next Saturday.

From NetGalley:

Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I know, I know. That's it? But remember: giant package with many books from Harper Collins. And also, THIS COULD BE GOOD FOR ME :D

We'll see.

In advance, have a great Thanksgiving, my USA-ian STS commenters! 

Blog Tour Interview with Trisha Wolfe, Author of Fireblood (and GIVEAWAY!)

Welcome to the Fireblood tour! I am honored to be a part of this tour, as Trisha Wolfe is one of my favorite authors. Her upcoming novel, Fireblood, was one of my most anticipated fantasy novels of 2013! In this post, I interview Trisha, and you could win this book! I hope you all enjoy my blog tour post :)

Meet Trisha Wolfe!

Alyssa: Hi, Trisha! Thank you so much for joining today on my blog!

Trisha: Yay! Thanks for having me, Alyssa. I’m so happy to be here at your awesome blog, on this wonderful tour.

Alyssa: Awww, you are the sweetest! I am honored. So, Trisha. Describe Fireblood in fourteen words. GO!

Trisha: Futuristic Camelot. Bad knights. Evil kings. One hot, swoony knight…and a fierce princess. 

Alyssa:  Futuristic Camelot would have sold me from the start, if I hadn't already read this book! What interested you in high fantasy?

Trisha: Growing up, I was a true fantasy nerd. Dungeons and Dragons, Forgotten Realms, Ravenloft…and the list goes on. I watched it all, read it all, and I always knew I’d one day try to write it all. 

Alyssa: O_O lol

Is there anything about your book that you would change?

Trisha: Ha! Not sure if I can answer this without getting in trouble…but yes. I would probably change the writing. Most editors don’t like my rule breaking style, and I don’t blame them. But trying to force my writing to be grammatically correct, well, it just doesn't flow well. So I’d probably change up a lot of the sentences that I feel are stilted. 

Alyssa: What is something that you must have when writing? 

Trisha: Coffee. And chocolate. But overall, coffee. 

Alyssa: Of course, of course. What type of books do you like to read? What are you currently reading?

Trisha: Just about everything. I tend to read a lot in one genre until I get a bit burned out feeling, then I switch it up. I’m currently reading…nothing. Strange, right? But sometimes I have to have a reading break, just to let me brain rest. 

Alyssa: That makes complete sense! You need to recharge before you dive in. What’s your favorite distraction when writing under deadline?

Trisha: Shopping. I get sucked into Internet shopping lol

Alyssa: IT IS THE BEST. Well, until your credit card number gets stolen or something. But anyway. What’s the largest amount of words you've ever written for the final version of one of your books?

Trisha: 105,000…and it was for FIREBLOOD. FB is the longest book I've written to date. 

Alyssa: That is awesome! So many words. What’s one song that embodies Fireblood?

Trisha: That’s a tough one…just because FB, even though it’s set in the future, has a very old world feel. I listened to Titanium a lot while driving and thinking of scenes. So I guess that one kept me going with the strong girl aspect.

Alyssa: That's a good point. I could feel the old world aspect clearly, but you never let us forget that this book is futuristic. What are you currently working on - something new? Anything contracted? 

Trisha: I’m currently finishing up OF DARKNESS AND CROWNS, the sequel in The Goddess Wars series. And then will begin writing an untitled book, which will be the second book in The Living Heartwood series, my New Adult Contemp series. 

Alyssa: WOOT! I cannot wait to read ODAC! Thank you for stopping by today, Trisha!

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, December 2013. My NA Dark Fantasy OF SILVER AND BEASTS and my NA Contemp THE DARKEST PART are available now. 

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. 

Check out the rest of this website TrishaWolfe.com for more on my books and bonus material. Follow me on Twitter @TrishWolfe

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

About the Book:

Fireblood by Trisha Wolfe

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Publication Date: December 17, 2013

Official Summary:

To save a kingdom, Zara must choose between a prince who could be the answer and a rising rebellion that threatens to take control.

When Zara Dane is chosen to marry Prince Sebastian Hart, son of the man who ordered her father’s capture, Zara knows she must fight to save everything she loves from ruin. 

Being betrothed to the prince means a life trapped behind the towering stone walls of the Camelot-forged realm. Under the watchful eye of the prince's first knight, Sir Devlan Capra, changing her future becomes difficult. 

When an unlikely rebel reveals the truth about the deadly secrets that fuel King Hart’s twisted world, Zara’s path to rescue her father becomes clouded by deception. The Rebels clear her path by forcing Zara’s hand with an ultimatum: sway Prince Sebastian to join the Rebels, convincing him of his father’s evil nature, or they will take him out. 

But Zara is uncertain about a future under the Rebels’ command and where the prince’s heart truly lies. She must decide who to trust, what to believe, and what she’s truly fighting for before the king destroys all of Karm, including her heart.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

The Giveaway:

1 copy of Fireblood  US only
1 eBook of Fireblood International
1 Fireblood T-Shirt US Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Tour Schedule:

Week One:
11/18/2013 -  Two Chicks on Books - Guest Post
11/18/2013 - Chapter by Chapter - Review
11/19/2013 - Bookish - Interview
11/19/2013 - K-Books - Review
11/20/2013 - Pieces of Whimsy - Review
11/20/2013 - Bookish Things & More - Guest Post
11/21/2013 - Mostly YA Book Obsessed - Review
11/21/2013 - Kindle and Me - Guest Post
11/22/2013 - Book Nerds Anonymous - Review
11/22/2013 - The Eater of Books! -  Interview

Week Two:
11/25/2013 - The Reader's Antidote - Guest Post
11/25/2013 - Book Briefs - Review
11/26/2013 - A Backwards Story - Interview
11/26/2013 - Fluttereal Flight - Review
11/27/2013 - Michelle & Leslie's Book Picks - Review
11/27/2013 - She Dreams in Fiction - Interview
11/28/2013 - Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, and Romance - Guest Post
11/28/2013 - The Demon Librarian - Review
11/29/2013 - Fiktshun - Guest Post
11/29/2013 - The Cover Contessa - Review

Blog Tour Review and Giveaway: Dangerous Depths by Karen Amanda Hooper

Welcome to the Dangerous Depths blog tour! Check out my review of this book, read the teaser, and enter to win the book below! Enjoy!

Dangerous Depths by Karen Amanda Hooper

Book Two of the Sea Monter Memoirs

Publisher: Starry Sky Publishing

Publication Date: November 20, 2013

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC sent by the publisher

Official Summary:

Hell hath no fury like a selkie separated from his true love. 

The gate to the sea creature realm is finally open. Rownan assumes the worst is behind him when he returns home after years of waiting to be reunited with his wife, Vienna. Only to find out that Vienna didn’t wait for him. She traveled to the evil realm of Harte years ago, hoping the legend of another gateway to Earth’s realm was real, but she was never heard from again. Rownan claimed he’d go through hell to be with Vienna, and now he must prove it. 

Yara wanted to bask in the glow of her happily ever after in the magical realm of Rathe. She planned to explore Medusa and Poseidon’s world and dive deeper into her relationship with Treygan, but as the new leader of Rathe, her powers are needed to save more than one member of her own kind. Treygan vowed to always be Yara’s guardian, but long ago he also swore to go any lengths to protect his brother Rownan. Now, he must fulfill his promise to both of them. 

Rownan, Yara, and Treygan are about to put their lives and souls at risk by traveling to the most dangerous realm of the worlds. Love should conquer all, but no one has ever conquered Harte. 

What I Liked:

You all must know by know that I am a huge fan of Karen and her books. She's a Baltimore native, her books are amazing, the covers are gorgeous, and she's super fantastic. What's not to love?! Well, congratulations on your fourth AMAZING release, Karen! It's sad that this is the first novel of hers that I am reviewing, but I've read the others, and I love them. Tangled Tides is my favorite, but this sequel did not disappoint. If anything, this sequel is almost as fabulous!

One of the brilliant things about this book is that you don't really have to remember much from the first book to read the second one. I didn't really have a hard time getting back into Yara and Treygan's world. Hooper doesn't really recap events of the first book all at once in the beginning, like most authors do with sequels. Rather, she lets information flow gently into the book, naturally, so it never feels like there is an info-dump anywhere. But, it's clear enough that you recall major events from book one. This is important to me, because I didn't re-read book one before reading this one.

Anyway. Rownan, Treygan's brother is determined to get his wife back. Vienna is stuck in a hellish place called Harte - and yes, it is literally hell. Yara, Treygan, and Rownan set out to find this impossible and terrible place, bring Vienna back, and somehow, do all of this without losing their minds, or worse, their lives.

Such an interesting premise. Definitely not a what I was expecting, when the synopsis was first revealed, but I was intrigued nonetheless. I was expecting something more related to the overall plot with Yara and her strange being, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that while going to Harte did not have to do with Yara and her role in the general plot specifically, it did have much to do with the general plot of the series. This is good, because sequels are the books that step into the overarching plot of the series. In the first book of a trilogy, the protagonist gets a taste of the different, unique life into which he/she has been thrown. In the last book of a trilogy, the final showdown takes place. So, bravo to Hooper on that aspect - subtly keeping to the grand scheme of things!

Yara and Treygan are not quite at the forefront of this novel. I was surprised to find that this book was written with not one but three first-person perspectives - Yara's, Rownan's, and Nixie's. All three perspectives are very important, and I think it will be interesting to see how each character plays a role in the final book. With the exception of one. No spoiler.

While Yara and Treygan are not at the front and center of this book, they are still very, very important. Their relationship grows beautifully, just as the relationship between the two protagonists should, in a sequel. I love that no love triangle has been introduced - sort of. I have a hard time believing in anyone but Treygan and Yara.

The plot is so bendy and twisty! At times, it dragged a little, but I found that for the most part, I was flipping through this book, wanting to know what would happen next. Most of the book takes place in Harte. A good way to think of Harte is Davy Jones' Locker (if you've seen Pirates of the Caribbean). That is exactly what I thought of, every time Hooper described a part of Harte.

On that note, the imagery is SUPERB in this book. The descriptions of everything is so beautiful and captivating. Even those of Harte, of the nasty, haunting place, had its on luster. Hooper has a way of describing things - you can really picture it in your mind. 

Suffice it to say, I really enjoyed this book! 

What I Did Not Like:

I mentioned this before, but I found that the plot dragged at times. The beginning definitely is slow. It took me about 30% to really start getting into the story, and about then, the team entered Harte. So, if you're having trouble starting and finishing this book, fret not, because it does have a slow beginning.

Would I Recommend It:

YES! I most certainly would! If you loved book one, you'll love book two. If you're contemplating reading this series, do it. The first book, and the sequel, are FANTASTIC. And if you didn't like book one... try again. You might find that this series is quite epic.

Rating:

4 stars. I cannot wait to read Sacred Seas! November 2014 is too far away.

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

The Teaser:

About the Author:

Karen was born and bred in Baltimore, frolicked and froze in Colorado for a couple of years, and is currently sunning and splashing around Florida with her two beloved dogs. She's addicted to coffee, chocolate, and complicated happily-ever-afters.

Karen has been making up stories for as long as she can remember. Due to her strong Disney upbringing, she still believes in fairy tales and will forever sprinkle magic throughout all of her novels.

Website | Blog | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

The Giveaway:

ONE Grand Prize Winner will get: Sea Monster Memoirs Prize Pack Including Signed Paperback Set of Tangled Tides & Dangerous Depths

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Swoon Thursday (#43): Dangerous Depths by Karen Amanda Hooper

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 Dangerous Depths by Karen Amanda Hooper!

His fingertip landed just below my neck as he started writing a story as always. I said the words out loud while his hand scrolled down the length of my body. "Once upon a tide..." 

He had reached my stomach. I tried to breathe steadily, but he leaned down and kissed each of my hips, then his lips slowly trailed to my thigh. My hallmarks were swirling so fast I could feel my skin rippling, but then Treygan stopped and his fingers returned to my neck.

"Let's continue our story, shall we?"

A tortured grunt was all I could manage. He smirked, and then wrote down my body again. I tried focusing on the trails his finger made as he wrote letter after letter down to my toes, but it was a blur of tingling and desire. 

"You lost me," I muttered. "What did you write again?"

"I'll write it again."

As if that would help. He formed each letter slower, which only made my craving for him that much stronger. His smug face proved he was enjoying teasing me way too much. I pulled his down to me and kissed him. 

- eARC, 40%

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Check out my review (and win this book) HERE.

I loved this book! Seriously, you should check out ALL of Karen's books. She's amazing!