BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Eversea (Eversea #1) and Forever Jack (Eversea #2)

I'm so excited to be a part of the Eversea & Forever Jack blog tour, organized by Xpresso Book Tours! This was a pair of awesome new adult books! Check out my reviews for both of them and the enter to win one of FOUR Kindles (I know, right?!) and your own copies of Eversea and Forever Jack! Don't forget to check out the other stops on the tour, too.

Eversea (Eversea #1), by Natasha Boyd
Published June 4, 2013
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-book, provided by the author and Xpresso Book Tours
Genre:  new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) An orphaned, small-town, southern girl, held hostage by responsibility and self-doubt.

A Hollywood A-list mega-star, on the run from his latest scandal and with everything to lose.

A chance encounter that leads to an unlikely arrangement and epic love affair that will change them both forever.

When his co-star and real-life girlfriend is caught cheating on him with her new director, A-list hottie, Jack Eversea, finds himself in sleepy Butler Cove, South Carolina. Jack hopes the sultry southern heat in this tiny coastal Lowcountry town will hide him not only from the tabloids and his cheating girlfriend, but his increasingly vapid life and the people who run it. He doesn’t count on meeting Keri Ann Butler.

Keri Ann has relied on herself so long, dealing with her family’s death and the responsibilities of keeping up her family's historic mansion, that boys and certainly the meager offering of eligible boys in Butler Cove, have never figured into her equation. But fate has other plans. Suddenly face to face with the man who played the movie role of her favorite fictional character, Jack has Keri Ann yearning for everything she has previously avoided ... and Jack must decide whether this funny, sassy girl is worth changing his life for, before his mistakes catch up to him.

Usually the "actor" books aren't my bread and butter. I don't know - I always find them a little pretentious and stuffy. I'd heard good things about Eversea, though, despite the fact that the swoony, brooding object of desire was a movie actor. Always one to take good friend's suggestions (I'd never have discovered half the awesome books I have if I didn't listen to my friends), I read it anyway. And was once again SO glad I listened to my friends.

Keri Ann is biding her time in her sleepy coastal South Carolina town until her older brother finishes med school and can come home and take care of the family house. Until then, she has put her life on hold, working at the local bar and fixing up the house as money allows. One night while working, the famous movie actor, Jack Eversea, wanders into the bar incognito. He escaped to a friend's beach house there after a very public break-up with his long-time girlfriend. He strikes up a conversation with Keri Ann and is absolutely taken with her honestly and realism. But, when the world finds out where Jack's been hiding, will he still want to give her the time of day?

Okay. I loved Jack. I loved him because he wasn't all those typical things I thought "actor" bad boys were. He wasn't pretentious and stuffy. He is just a boy trying to live the life he wants while maintaining a high-profile job. And, he's just as insecure as Keri Ann is about his life and future. 

"You can't see what you want, what you feel, whether you're any good at what you're doing. You suddenly feel like you need the fame, the attention, because it's the only thing that's telling you that you are any good. But, then you wonder, it's all just bullshit anyway, right? It's not you and your talent, it's your luck. It's the fans and their whims. It's the money on the deals, the franchise. They spin the story, create your life and if they take it away, then you're nothing. You don't exist."

Keri Ann is scared to trust herself and her feelings with this guy because what she feels from the very beginning is intense. And, she's well aware that hooking up with Jack Eversea is not part of her master life plan. Being famous and having money isn't what she wants. Does she have the strength to change everything for him? 

Right about the time she decides she does have the strength, several events unfold in rapid succession that immediately cause her to question that decision. When the final nail is driven through the coffin, Keri Ann feels like the only way to survive Jack Eversea is to walk away from him. And it nearly destroys both of them. 

Eversea was a really emotional book. Keep tissues handy - you will need them. Also, keep Forever Jack (Eversea #2) handy, because after the cliffhanger ending, you will need that too.


Forever Jack (Eversea #2), by Natasha Boyd
Published November 25, 2013
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-book, provided by the author and Xpresso Book Tours
Genre:  new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) A feisty small-town girl and the Hollywood star who broke her heart.

An all-consuming love threatened by fame.

One last chance at FOREVER.

Keri Ann Butler's life changed on the night she met movie star, Jack Eversea. She thought she knew a Jack that was very different to the man adored by fans the world over. In the wake of his betrayal and abandonment, Keri Ann has had to pick up and move forward with the life she was supposed to live and has put off far too long.

Suddenly Jack is back, and his explanations for why he left seem more and more plausible, and his declarations more seductive. But being Jack's latest tabloid accessory isn't on Keri Ann's career agenda, no matter how much she is attracted to him. And how can she can ever trust him again?

Jack knows he let the only 'real' thing that ever happened to him slip through his fingers. And his hands have been tied to try and stop it. Until Now.

Jack is now fighting to save his relationship with Keri Ann, even as his crazy life threatens to tear them apart. Again. The question is, can he convince her she can have it all? And have him? Forever?

Told in dual POV, in Forever Jack we find out why Jack left Keri Ann and the lengths he's willing to go to to get her back. It's an incredibly romantic and exciting story. 

Jack is even more tortured when he returns to claim Keri Ann many months after leaving her. He has explanations and reasons (very good ones, too), and knows they might not be enough. But, Keri Ann never stopped loving him, and soon finds it impossible to resist him for the second time. This time, though, may very well be her undoing, especially when the world discovers her and shatters the privacy and solitude she cherishes. Is she cut out for this kind of life?

To be honest, Keri Ann kinda made me feel stabby for most of Forever Jack. She really gave Jack a hard time for leaving, as well she should've. But, even after he explained why, she still continued to bust his balls every chance she got. Even after accepting him back in her life, she's still very wishy washy. She wants him, but not his job or his lifestyle. She wants to be his girlfriend, but wants to keep it a secret. That's not love. That's selfishness. And I really couldn't stand her for awhile because of it.

Jack, for his part, accepts the part he played in Keri Ann's heartbreak and tried to make amends for it right away. But, the circumstances of why he left Keri Ann and how he feels about her have really made him guilt-ridden and sad. 

"The thing about pain, whether physical or emotional, is there's no running away. You can't escape it and you can't hide from it. Not by ignoring it, not by drugging it, not by doing a swan dive into a bottle. Sooner or later you'll have to take a breath, let the pain rush in and get to the other side like your life depends on it. because it does."

Keri Ann's biggest hang up was dealing with the publicity should her and Jack's relationship go public. It was hard for her to get to that place where it didn't matter. Where she realizes that how they feel about each other is so much more important. Her brother and best friend are her sounding boards - one in favor of her relationship with Jack, the other not so much. Her art is her therapy, too. And something she wants to keep just for herself. 

Natasha Boyd's writing is absolutely beautiful. Check this out from Keri Ann's perspective:

"It occurred to me that the moment in space and time before lips touch, the small exquisite sting of wanting, a beat of thirst, of yearning, was the most underrated part of kissing. There should be sonnets and epic poems written about the space before a kiss, and the thrilling rush that comes with the moment of contact."  

Awesome, right? Forever Jack was a romantic and super sexy story. The Eversea series is definitely one that I would recommend to any fan of contemporary romance. 

About the Author

Natasha Boyd is a writer with a background in marketing and public relations. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and lives in the coastal Carolina Lowcountry, complete with Spanish moss, alligators and mosquitoes the size of tiny birds.  She has a husband, two sons and a host of scared relatives that worry the next book will be about them.  She is a member of Georgia Romance Writers, Romance Writers of America and Island Writers Network, where she has been a featured speaker. Forever, Jack is the sequel to her award-winning and first full-length novel, Eversea.


Giveaway

Prizes:

 - 4 Kindles (Open wherever Amazon ships)

 - 2x signed copies of both book 1 & 2 + sea turtle pendant (Open INTL)

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REVIEW: Reaper's Legacy (Reaper's MC #2)

Reaper's Legacy (Reaper's MC #2), by Joanna Wylde
Published January 28, 2014
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Format: trade paperback, provided by the publisher
Genre:  adult contemporary romance/contemporary erotic romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Eight years ago, Sophie gave her heart—and her virginity—to Zach Barrett on a night that couldn’t have been less romantic or more embarrassing. Zach’s step-brother, a steely-muscled, tattooed biker named Ruger, caught them in the act, getting a peep show of Sophie he’s never forgotten.

She may have lost her dignity that fateful night, but Sophie also gained something precious—her son Noah. Unfortunately, Zach’s a deadbeat dad, leaving Ruger to be Noah’s only male role model. When he discovers Sophie and his nephew living in near poverty, Ruger takes matters into his own hands—with the help of the Reapers Motorcycle Club—to give them a better life.

Living with outlaw bikers wasn’t Sophie’s plan for her son, but Ruger isn’t giving her a choice. He’ll be there for Noah, whether she wants him or not. But Sophie does want him, has always wanted him. Now she’ll learn that taking a biker to bed can get a girl dirty in every way…

Perhaps it was my recent exposure to the super cool show that is Sons of Anarchy (thank you, Netflix), but I have to say, I really enjoyed Reaper's Legacy much more than the first book in the Reaper's MC series, Reaper's Property. 

Or, maybe it's just that, after the first book, I might have gotten used to girls being called "old ladies" and "sweetbutts" and "property." Or, perhaps it was all in Ruger's delivery. I mean, this guy is just as rough around the edges as Horse was from Reaper's Property. But, for some reason, when Ruger practiced his extreme alpha male assertiveness, it seemed much more endearing. In any case, I think I'm now solidly in the MC fangirl club. 

Ruger decides to move his nephew and his nephew's mother to his house after it's made clear to him that they are living in less than ideal conditions. It's a difficult situation for everyone except for 7-year-old Noah, who adores his uncle. Sophie has been in love with Ruger for years, and Ruger's been attracted for Sophie for just as long. Yet, they both resolved to never act upon their feelings. But, now that they're living under the same roof, that's becoming infinitely more difficult. 

I really felt for Sophie. She's been trying to make a good life for her son, but his dad is a total deadbeat and her waitressing job can only go so far toward providing for them. She's trying to be a good mom, yet still maintain a shred of dignity. Ruger does not make that easy, either. 

In the beginning, there were several times when I was really pissed at him for railing on her about her choices. Things don't always work out the way we want them to, but in Sophie's case, it certainly wasn't for lack of trying. I think part of the reason Ruger was so hard on her was that, even in the beginning, he was fighting his feelings for her, and that was the only way he knew how. I guess I can't entirely fault him for that, but he was pretty harsh sometimes. I'm not quite sure how Sophie tolerated being called a bitch so many times by him. 

Sophie's other problem with living with Ruger has to do with her feelings about the Reapers. In her mind, motorcycle clubs are comprised of thugs that engage in illegal activities and hang out in dens of iniquity. Although that might be true to a much lesser extent than what she's created in her mind, there's an entirely other side to it that she's never experienced - the family. 

I have to admit, I'd probably be scared witless to hang out with a motorcycle club. But, the family aspect as described wonderfully by Joanna Wylde, sounds wonderful. It sounds like growing up a part of such an environment ensures that you're constantly surrounded by people who will love and protect you. You will always have friends and others to play with and hang out with. Girls that will stick with you closer than a sister will always be available to help when you need it or lend a shoulder to cry on. 

For a long time, Sophie has a hard time reconciling these two sides of the same coin in her mind. There's the community, which she loves and could see herself a part of. But, then there's the seedy and scary parts - the bikers who are less than trustworthy, the dangerous situations they sometimes get themselves into and the man whoring that always seems to go on at the clubhouse. Sophie has a son to think about. Does she give Ruger her heart knowing that both the best and the worst parts of the club go along with it? She struggles with that decision for the majority of the book, and I can understand why. 

Biker politics play a major part in Reaper's Legacy, and they result in some sticky and dangerous situations in which Sophie finds herself toward the end of the book. They shake her to the core and threaten to destroy all the positive feelings she had developed for Ruger and the female members of the club. It's only when Ruger, Horse, Picnic and others come through for her in ways that no one else could've that she starts to see things in a different light. 

The Reapers MC series is not a romantic story. I'm sorry, but it's not. These boys don't have pretty words and grand gestures like you're used to seeing in romance novels. They're gritty and dirty and rough around the edges. You'd never see Ruger standing outside Sophie's window holding a boom box over his head. But, you know what? That's okay. Because the club members have other ways to woo the women they love. They fix things, they fight bad guys for them, they protect them with their lives. It might not be sweet in the traditional sense, but I dare any woman to not swoon and fall completely in love with hot alpha males who would die for them. 

It took me a little while to get fully on board, but I'm there now. Ruger sold the MC for me, and I'm now fully along for the ride.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Silver Heart

I'm so excited to be a part of the Silver Heart blog tour, organized by Xpresso Book Tours. This is an awesome new adult book - perfect to read during these winter months! Check out my review and then enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card. Don't forget to check out the other stops on the tour!

Silver Heart, by Victoria Green
Published July 25, 2013
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-book, provided by the author and Xpresso Book Tours
Genre:  new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) There comes a moment in everyone’s life when they must decide which road leads to personal happiness. For Dylan Silver, this is that moment…

For the past twenty-two-years, Dylan has been living in her parents' carefully crafted world, always putting her own dreams on hold to play the role of a dutiful daughter.

So when her best friend coaxes her into a winter getaway to a mountain cabin, she sees it as a chance to forget about the responsibilities waiting for her at home. At least for a little while.

But then her past catches up to her—in the form of sexy snowboarder, Sawyer Carter.

Six years ago, Dylan bid goodbye to the only boy she ever truly loved. Now he's standing right in front of her, bringing up bittersweet memories and igniting suppressed desires as he dares her to be the person she has always wanted to be.

Dylan and Sawyer’s unexpected meeting is a second chance, but will a girl who doesn't believe in fate and taking risks be able to overcome her fears of losing control and finally embrace the life she desperately wants?

Only one thing is certain: after a week in Whistler, Dylan's world will never be the same.

Silver Heart has two things that I love most in new adult books – a relationship founded first on a friendship and a relationship that picks up after years apart. This made it an absolute must-read for this NA fan.

You know those stories where the guy and the girl have been separated by time and space, and very coincidentally and unexpectedly one day come face to face once again? They’re so much more dramatic and anticipatory than regular boy-meets-girl stories. It’s like the drama and angst and the general tone of the book goes from zero to sixty with one glance. And, the reader is wondering if the reunion is going to be a happy one, a sad one, a pissed off one? Victoria Green used this angle perfectly in her tale of a professional snowboarder reuniting with the girl from his past who he never took a shot with.

Dylan Silver is a girl who follows everyone else’s dream for her life. Even though she wants to be a photographer, she has just graduated from pre-med just like her parents wanted her to. She’s fake dating her parents’ version of “the perfect guy.” And six years ago, she stayed silent and let her best friend and love of her life leave her behind because she thought it was exactly what he wanted. So, when she sees Sawyer across the bar in a winter resort town while on vacation, she’s not sure whether to accept this as a second chance at life or the beginning of her downfall.

Mad props to Victoria Green for writing some kick ass sexual tension. Which, of course, I love. The more, the better. It’s obvious from the first moment that Dylan and Sawyer catch sight of each other. I got all excited and apprehensive, wondering what was going to happen next. We knew they had been close years ago and that they were then separated by something. Was it bad? Sad? Does he still love her? Is he going to be mad that his past is colliding with his present?

It doesn’t take long before Dylan and Sawyer start to reconnect and it’s certainly not without its stops and starts and drama. Some are happy about their reunion. Others not so much. Sawyer has plans to go to the Olympics, which would inevitably take him away from Dylan again. And, Dylan has plans to go to medical school across the country. Even though they’ve found what they lost in each other, there’s the constant elephant in the room – the big questions of whether what they feel for each other is enough to overcome all the crap.

I absolutely LOVED the setting for this book. It’s set among chalets and villas in a ski resort town. Sawyer is a world-class snowboarder. Dylan can’t ski. It makes for some really fun opportunities for Sawyer to get close to Dylan as he supplements her skiing lessons. And, Victoria Green uses Dylan’s learning to ski as an opportunity to allow her to work through her fears of letting go and just being free to do what you want.

“I’m not sure if I’m afraid or if I’m just used to being afraid,” I told him honestly.

Silver Heart is so well written. The pacing is perfect, the characters well developed and the plot interesting and angsty. It’s told entirely from Dylan’s POV, but she and Sawyer are together nearly all the time, so I was okay with that. The romance between them was sweet and super sexy. This was definitely a hot read (that’s a good thing for me!). Sawyer is SO swoony. He is most definitely worthy to be added to those lists of top book boyfriends out there.

“So, what do you suggest my first big risk should be?” I whispered.

“I think you know the answer to that,” he replied immediately. “Me. Let it be me.”

This is a perfect book to read when the snow is coming down outside and you have a good excuse to sit around and do nothing all day long. It’s an easy read and will capture your attention, so be prepared to finish it in one sitting.

About the Author

Victoria Green is a New Adult author who enjoys writing about unspoken love and second chances. She’s a travel junkie and a huge photography enthusiast. Her experience growing up in a war-torn country has helped teach her the importance of living life to the fullest and appreciating every single day. She believes in true love, good chocolate, and great books. She lives in Canada with her high school sweetheart (though he’s graduated to a fiancé now) and their pack of puppies, and also writes Young Adult novels under a different name.

Learn more about Victoria Green --> Website / Facebook / Twitter

Giveaway

Enter below to win a $25 Amazon gift card - open internationally
 
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BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Wild Things (Chicagoland Vampires #9)

Once again, I have the amazing opportunity to help the incredible Chloe Neill tell the world about her latest addition to one of my favorite series, the Chicagoland Vampires. WILD THINGS was utterly fantastic, and I can't wait for you all to read it too! Read on for my review, then enter to win some really cool Chicagoland Vampires swag, plus a signed book (U.S. only). Be sure to head over to Chloe's website to enter the international tour-wide giveway. Trust me - it's pretty awesome. 

Wild Things (Chicagoland Vampires #9), by Chloe Neill
To Be Published February 4, 2014
Publisher: NAL Trade
Format: e-book, provided by publisher
Genre:  adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Since Merit was turned into a vampire, and the protector of Chicago’s Cadogan House, it’s been a wild ride. She and Master vampire Ethan Sullivan have helped make Cadogan’s vampires the strongest in North America, and forged ties with paranormal folk of all breeds and creeds, living or dead…or both.

But now those alliances are about to be tested. A strange and twisted magic has ripped through the North American Central Pack, and Merit’s closest friends are caught in the crosshairs. Gabriel Keene, the Pack Apex, looks to Merit and Ethan for help. But who—or what—could possibly be powerful enough to out-magic a shifter?

Merit is about to go toe to toe, and cold steel to cold heart, to find out.

One would think that by the ninth installment of the Chicagoland Vampires Series that the stories would be getting stale or ridiculous and our obsession with “Methan” would have run its course.

Wild Things was, in my opinion, the best book yet in this incredible series.

(There will be teeny spoilers from previous installments in the Chicagoland Vampires Series. Sorry, but, by the ninth book, it’s unavoidable – please don’t be mad!)

When we last saw our favorite Cadogan House vampires, Ethan was being encouraged to make himself scarce before the Chicago PD came to arrest him for killing a fellow vampire in self-defense. As much as he hates to do it, Ethan and Merit decide to hide out at the Breckenridge estate. Their self-imposed exile soon becomes a huge inconvenience as supernatural groups all over the city are attacked, and members of each group kidnapped – including Gabriel Keene’s shifters. To try and make things copacetic between vampires and shifters, Gabe asks Ethan and Merit to investigate the attacks and find the kidnapped victims. And, of course, in the middle of all this, a favor Merit promised in exchange for some help is called in, and the ramifications could spell the end of her and Ethan.

Chloe Neill has done a brilliant job planting seeds and letting them slowly grow over time until, before you even realize it, they’ve turned into something amazing. Remember that intriguing prophecy that Gabriel mentioned to Merit in Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires #3) about a baby with Ethan’s eyes that wasn’t Ethan? CLV superfans have been waiting with bated breath for some movement on this. It’s been mentioned once or twice since then, but in Wild Things, we finally, FINALLY hear more about it, including the revealing of it to Ethan. The best part is Ethan’s reaction. I think I read that part three times. And, what’s even better, is there’s still more to come on this subject.

The corruption of the GP was introduced early in the series, with a much finer point put upon it in Drink Deep (Chicagoland Vampires #5). Even though Cadogan House is no longer a member, the GP is still trying to flex on them. Based on actions taken in Wild Things, there’s hope that the GP’s mafia mentality may soon come to an end, although most assuredly, not without a fight.

After all this time, we still get a few delightful surprises in Wild Things. A never-before-seen brand of sup is revealed (and they’re pretty creepy, too), and believe it or not, we finally get the Librarian’s name.

Very nearly all our favorites from CLV books past are featured at least a little. The original Scoobies – Merit, Catcher, Mallory and Jeff – team up again, many times with assistance from Ethan. Luc and Lindsey are there with their usual snark (Luc always has the best one-liners), Malik offers stability and support, and Jonah once again backs Merit up in an RG capacity. We even catch up with Seth Tate, who we’ve not seen since Biting Cold (Chicagoland Vampires #6).

And, there’s no way I can talk about favorites without mentioning the shifters. As you might be able to tell from the name of the book, The North American Pack plays a very prominent role. Gabe, his wife Tanya and his baby boy are front and center nearly the entire way through the book. We are also blessed with appearances from Nick Breckenridge, his brothers, his father, den mother Berna (pun very much intended), Fallon and new hottie shifter Damien, who serves as Gabe’s muscle.

Without a doubt, though, the best part of Wild Things is Merit and Ethan. With all the stopping and starting of their relationship through the first six books in this series, it sometimes felt like we’d never get to this place of stability and comfort. Ethan is finally not afraid to show ANYONE that he’s desperately in love with Merit, even though his PDAs embarrass her to no end. The sureness of their relationship is a wonderful addition. And, thankfully, that doesn’t in any way mean a tempering of the passion. Holy hotness – When Ethan and Merit set their mind to doing something, they do it well and good. It’s fan-freaking-tastic.

If you’re someone who may have started the series early on, but hasn’t finished yet, let this be your call to action. Because, for as much as I LOVED Wild Things, I get the impression that we haven’t seen anything yet.

Giveaway

Enter below for a super cool giveaway for U.S. only residents. It will include the following:

• Limited Edition Cadogan House Novitiate Luggage Tag
• Chicagoland Vampires Tote Bag
• An autographed Chicagoland Vampires or Dark Elite novel
• Plenty o’ swag, including “I Survived Hard Bitten” buttons and Chicagoland Vampires bookmark

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

The fun doesn’t stop here! Want more chances to win? You can also enter Chloe’s Wild Things Grand Prize Giveaway, which runs January 27  through February 7 on Chloe’s web site.
 

Limited Edition Luggage Tags

What is the Grand Prize Giveaway prize?

• A Kindle Paperwhite
• A $50 Amazon gift card!
• A complete set of Chicagoland Vampires Audiobook CDs (graciously provided by Tantor Audio)
• An autographed Chicagoland Vampires or Dark Elite novel
• Two Cadogan House Novitiate Luggage Tags
• A Cadogan House lanyard and BITING BAD All Access Pass
• Chicagoland Vampires bookmarks, pens, buttons, and swag!

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This is one meme I can get on board with - I LOVE lists! I'll show you mine if you show me yours!

Top Ten Worlds I'd Never Want To Live In

1. Ireland in the Fever Series by K. M. Moning - Granted, one could argue that any world with Jericho Barrons in it would be awesomesauce. However, if you can get past his hotness, you would probably agree that an Ireland where shadows suck people dry and demons stalk them in bars doesn't sound like much fun.

2. Anywhere in The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black - The vampires in The Coldest Girl in Coldtown scared the socks off me (Gavriel notwithstanding). And, I usually think they're pretty hot! The world in this book is cold and dark and really sad. It doesn't really seem like a fun place to be.

3. Panem in The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins - Sorta self-explanatory, right? As a mom, just the thought of ever having to put my kids through a reaping makes me want to throw up.

4. San Francisco in the Penryn And The End Of Days Series by Susan Ee - In any other series, angels coming to Earth is a good thing. Not so in Angelfall by Susan Ee. Angels have destroyed civilization as we know it. People scavenge for food during the day and hope like hell they aren't killed or carted off at night. Not unless I have Raffe (*sigh*) keeping me safe, would I ever want to find myself in this world.

5. Atlanta in The Demon Trapper's Daughter Series by Jana Oliver - This series takes place in 2018 - only four short years from now. In Jana Oliver's world, during that time, inflation skyrockets, which forces much of the population into poverty. Gas is 10 bucks a gallon, businesses have been shuttered and demons run rampant through the city.

6. Internment in Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano - While Internment doesn't seem all bad on the surface, it doesn't take much scratching before that surface gets badly tarnished. Living in an oppressive society where you aren't free to marry whom you want or be what you want or go where you want is bad enough. When that society is only a few square miles and hung in the sky so there's no way to escape, EVER - so much worse. 

7. Baltimore in the Shade Series by Jeri Smith-Ready - Ghosts are creepy. I would hate it if I could see them everywhere. Especially if they were ghosts of people I knew and loved. Imagine not ever getting closure after a death. It's not something I'd ever want to experience. Even if I did have Zachary Moore by my side. 

8. West Virginia in the Lux Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout - Aliens are awesome. Especially when they look like Daemon Black. But, despite that, I wouldn't want to live in a world where the government acted in the ways they do to manipulate and exterminate a race of people who do no more harm than the humans. 

9. Texas in the Reboot Series by Amy Tintera - When I die, I expect that to be the end for me. I don't really want to be reanimated in any way. Zombie Krista wouldn't be pretty. Can you imagine being afraid to die - not because you don't know what's beyond, but because you might wake up again and be this ghost of your former self? I think being afraid of dying would prevent me from really living. 

10. Cincinnati in The Hollows Series by Kim Harrison - Killer tomatoes? What???

RELEASE DAY EVENT: Seeking Her (Losing It #3.5)

I am so excited to share in the Release Day Launch and giveaway for Cora Carmack's SEEKING HER!! SEEKING HER is a novella in Cora’s bestselling Finding It Series, published by William Morrow (an imprint of HarperCollins)! Go out and grab your copy today!

About Seeking Her

Jackson Hunt gets his turn in this Finding It prequel novella …

Jackson Hunt hasn't been out of the military for long, but he needs to get a job and find a sense of normalcy if he is going to keep his demons at bay. The job that falls into his lap, though, is anything but normal. Becoming bodyguard (and babysitter) to spoiled rich girl Kelsey Summers isn't exactly what he had in mind, but it's a chance to travel, to get away. The catch: Kelsey's father doesn't want her to know she's being followed. She's vibrant and infuriating, exciting and reckless, mysterious and familiar. When Jackson sees her falling into the same patterns he suffered years ago, he decides it's time to stop watching and help her instead. But getting to know Kelsey is more difficult than he thought, especially because the more he knows her, the more he wants her.




Excerpt From Seeking Her

I was going to have to find some way to cope with this. If not, I was better off calling Mr. Summers and suggesting he find someone else to take over his daughter-watch.

I felt a pang of something at that thought. It was a general kind of discomfort, and I wasn’t sure whether it was the thought of returning home or something else that made that thought so unappealing.

After the cooling walk earlier, and now standing under the cool, calming rush of water, it was easier to think that I could control myself, but I knew better. It always seemed easier in my head than it really was.

I wiped the water from my eyes, and tried to think of some other way to deal. There was always the hope that Kelsey would get bored. That she would mellow out. If she only partied a couple nights a week, I should be able to resist. But that seemed unlikely.

All that restless energy; the way she’d soaked up the attention from the people around her. I couldn’t see her giving that up. And it was working for her. She was still in the phase where partying made her feel good. That was the one thing that helped me stay clean. The few times I’d slipped up since I started the program had left me miserable and angry, and even more frustrated than when I started. I’d found new ways to chase the high. And maybe that wasn’t any healthier, not when one way involved being in the midst of flying bullets.

It wasn’t the same kind of rush, but it did the trick. I pictured Kelsey again, laughing with her head thrown back, her shirt falling off her shoulder and displaying the gentle curve of her neck. It reminded me of the way she’d tossed her head back that first day out in the woods.

The memory of that caused a different kind of rush in me, and I groaned, pressing my forehead into the tile. Before I could help myself, I pictured her long legs straddling that guy in the gardens. The bright green material of her bra, and the way it conformed to her perfect chest. She leaned back, her fingertips trailing from the bark of the tree to his shoulders.

In an instant, the memory shifted into fantasy, and those were my shoulders she clung to, not his.

That was my undoing. There was only so much resisting I could do in one night.

About the Author

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.





Giveaway

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NEW ADULT MONDAYS: Unbroken (Beachwood Bay #1)

The New Adult genre - their bad boys and big problems and epic loves make them engrossing tales that are so easy to lose yourself in. What's not to love about that? And, now, thanks to the cool chicks at Bewitched Bookworms, we can show these books the love they deserve in a weekly feature - New Adult Mondays.

Unbroken (Beachwood Bay #1), by Melody Grace
Published March 11, 2013
Publisher: self-published
Format: audiobook, purchased
Genre:  new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Juliet McKenzie was an innocent eighteen-year old when she spent the summer in Beachwood Bay—and fell head over heels in love with Emerson. Complicated, intense Emerson, the local bad boy. His blue eyes hid dark secrets, and just one touch could set Juliet ablaze. Their love was demanding and all-consuming, but when summer ended, tragedy tore them apart. Juliet swore she’d never go back, and she’s kept that promise… Until now.

Four years later, Juliet’s done her best to rebuild the wreckage of her shattered life. She’s got a great boyfriend, and a steady job planned after she graduates. Returning to Beachwood to pack up her family’s beach house to prepare it for sale, Juliet is determined that nothing will stand in the way of her future. But one look from Emerson, and all her old desire comes flooding back. He let her go once, but this time, he’s not giving up without a fight. And Emerson fights dirty.

A heartbreaking history. An unstoppable passion. Torn between her past and future, Juliet struggles to separate love from desire. But will they find a way to overcome their tragic secrets—together? And after so much damage has been done, can a love remain unbroken?

My list of book boyfriends I wish were real has just increased by one. And I loved Emerson because he wasn't picture perfect. In fact, there were times when I thought he was the biggest d-bag ever. That was what made him full of awesome. 

Juliet spent one summer falling in love with Emerson. It was the perfect three months until the end when her mother died and Emerson harshly dumped her for no apparent reason. Four years later, Juliet is slowly still trying to put the pieces of her heart back together. She's in a relationship with Daniel, and it's finally time to unload the house at Beachwood Bay. Juliet goes back to pack it up and runs into a very different Emerson. It soon becomes clear that even four years apart can't diminish the spark these two have. It can only complicate it. 

Unbroken brought on the feels. I spent 90% of the time listening to it massaging the tightness in my chest and yelling into the air. Gah - I LOVE books like that! When you get so involved in the characters' lives that you get genuinely angry or frustrated at the stupid choices they make. You bawl like a baby when sad things happen. You grin like an idiot when it all works out in the end. 

Juliet's and Emerson's relationship was really insta-lovey. It was very "star-crossed lovers meeting in the night." Once I got past that, though, I was totally invested in what was going on with them. It was clear from the very beginning that Juliet was living an unfulfilled life. I was sure that, even though we didn't get Emerson's POV, he was equally unhappy. The big question that seeped in through the cracks in this book was, why? Why were these two apart when they should so clearly be together? And why was Juliet with someone else?

The back story is interwoven with the story in the present as Juliet reminisces about the summer she fell in love. As the details of what went so wrong with them are slowly revealed, it does nothing but bring up more questions. If Emerson was as in love with Juliet as he seemed to be, why did he break up with her? Why was he so mean about it? And why, for the love of Mike, did he decide that the day of her mother's funeral was the best day to do it? It's no wonder Juliet was so destroyed. 

On top of that, I enjoyed quite a bit of loathing on Juliet's part for her father and sister. What horrid, selfish, messed up people. There's a scene where Juliet and Daniel have dinner at her sister's house with her and their father. It was so awesomely cringe-tastic. It was in that moment when I stopped being annoyed at Juliet for making the safe choice and not going after what she really wanted. How can anyone with such an awful support system be expected to reach deep inside and make the really hard choices? I think that was the turning point for Juliet too. 

Melody Grace did a fantastic job of fleshing out her characters and not revealing their secrets too quickly. The heat between Emerson and Juliet was so delicious. They were amazing together. The audio version was very well done, too. I would definitely look for the next book in the series in audio format. 

Loving the bookish feels the way I do, it turns out that Unbroken was the perfect book for me. It had just the right amount of secrets, angst and sexual tension. And, of course an HEA. 

REVIEW: Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2)

Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2), by Marissa Meyer
Published February 5, 2013
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Format: audiobook, purchased
Genre:  young adult sci-fi/fantasy
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

I am in love. In love with Kai. With Wolf. With Thorne. And especially with Marissa Meyer and this absolutely incredible series she's created.

Scarlet Benoit's grandmother has been kidnapped. With the help of a shady character named Wolf, Scarlet sets out across France to try and find her. Meanwhile Cinder is on the run from both the Earthen Union and the Lunars with the help of another fugitive, the charismatic Captain Thorne. She decides to seek out Michelle Benoit (otherwise known as Scarlet's grandma - see where this is going?), a former European military, and hopefully someone who has the answers she desperately needs about her past. Scarlet's and Cinder's paths are destined to cross as they search for the same person.

First and foremost, I am astounded and delighted at the amazingly creative way that Marissa Meyer bridged the gap between the stories of Cinder and Scarlet. Scarlet is told in third-person, so it's relatively easy to shift from one person's POV to another's. During the course of the book, we get SIX different POVs - Scarlet, Wolf, Cinder, Kai, Thorne and Levana. Crazy, right? Wrong. I don't know how she does it, but Marissa Meyer worked those POVs in seamlessly so that it never crossed my mind that I should be confused or distracted.

And, honestly, it kept things really interesting when the story shifted from Scarlet and Wolf on the ground to Cinder and Thorne in the sky. We never had time to get bored or bogged down in any one character's story or setting. There is so much action and intrigue in Scarlet that the book is never slow and never stalled.

Scarlet and Wolf are new characters on the scene. Eighteen-year-old Scarlet is one tough cookie. She loves her grandma and is determined to get her back from those who took her. She meets Wolf, a hottie with genetically-enhanced wolf-like abilities, is instantly attracted to him, but then finds out he had a hand in the plot to kidnap her grandma. Now Scarlet is confused - should she trust him when he says he wants to help her, or should she drop him like a bad habit and make a go of the rescue plan by herself? You always get the sense that something is going on with Wolf that you don't know about. I loved being confused about his motives and background. Wolf was anything but predictable.

Meanwhile, Cinder and Thorne are hiding from everyone. Levana issues a mandate that Cinder is to be captured and brought in or she will attack Earth. Kai is stuck between a rock and a hard place. He doesn't want a war, but he is sort of glad Cinder busted out and is safe. He doesn't know who to trust either, but he knows for sure he doesn't trust Levana. My heart broke for Kai and his impossible choices. And, at the same time I wanted to shake him and demand that he see the truth - that Cinder never betrayed him or lied to him or mind-screwed him. And that she's so much more than he is aware of.

My only complaint in regards to Scarlet was the distinct lack of shared screen time between Cinder and Kai. I'm dying for them to get face-to-face so that some freaking communication can happen! She has lots of things she needs to come clean to him about. I can't wait for that to happen. Because those two have the true love of fairy tales - even fractured ones.

Of course, things come to a head, the proverbial shit hits the fan and all hell breaks loose toward the end. Finally our two girls meet up and a plan for moving forward is hatched. Which brings us to Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3)... or almost to Cress. Just over a week away, and I'm so excited, I could pee my pants. I can't wait to find out what happens and if this will finally be the book where the world - or at the very least Kai - finds out the big secret that Cinder's been keeping. Goodness, I hope so.

Once again, Rebecca Soler's performance on the audio version of Scarlet was PHENOMENAL. She absolutely made the characters and this wonderful crazy world come to life. Her voices for Scarlet and Cinder are great. Her interpretation of androids and machines is flawless. Her accents for all the world's leaders is impressive. I loved what she did with the audio version so much that I've already pre-ordered the audio version of Cress. Sure, I could get it done a lot faster if I just bought the book. But, then I wouldn't get to subject myself to Rebecca Soler's amazing performance, and that would be a travesty.

If you have yet to experience the Lunar Chronicles series, seriously, what are you waiting for?

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY - All The Pretty Poses (Pretty #2)

I LOVE Michelle Leighton and her hot, sexy stories. So, I am positively thrilled to help her and Inkslinger PR introduce her newest book, ALL THE PRETTY POSES (Pretty #2) to you! Check out my review, and then enter to win one of two $250 Visa gift cards! Don't forget to visit the other tour stops for more information on this awesome book!

All The Pretty Poses (Pretty #2), by M. Leighton
To Be Published January 26, 2014
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-book, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre:  new adult contemporary romance

Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) He never wanted to be a hero…until she needed him to be.

Strength…
It took Kennedy Moore years to put her life back together after Reese Spencer shattered it. But she did. Now, years later, strong and independent, she is in pursuit of a single dream—to dance with the Altman American Dance Theater. Unfortunately, Kennedy is learning that a girl from nowhere with no money and no contacts might never be able to reach her goal.

That is, until Reese reappears, offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that Kennedy just can’t refuse. In exchange for working on his yacht for a few short weeks, he’ll get her an audition with the famous dance troupe. All Kennedy has to do is keep her head down, work hard and resist Reese. That sounds easy enough, right?

Weakness…
Reese doesn’t want to make it easy for Kennedy. Seeing her again has started a fire in his blood—an unwelcome one. It took him years to forget about her before, so this time he has a plan. It’s simple: Get Kennedy on his yacht, seduce her, get her out of his system, move on with his life. That sounds easy enough, right?
But the one thing Reese didn’t plan for was Kennedy herself—a girl so strong yet so broken, she makes him want to rescue her, to take care of her. To save her. Even if he has to save her from himself.

Holy smokes. If you think you've met your book boyfriend match, you haven't met Reese Spencer yet. I don't know how M. Leighton does it time and time again. She is the expert author goddess when it comes to creating men that will make you swoon and make all your pretty parts tingle. Speaking of pretty...

In All The Pretty Poses, we delve into the fast and lonely life of Reese Spencer, whom we met superficially in All The Pretty Lies (Pretty #1). He is ridiculously rich, and besides his brother Hemi, doesn't have any personal attachments. At least not since his teenage girlfriend Kennedy, whom he left high and dry 14 years earlier. Imagine Reese's shock when he realizes Kennedy is a dancer in one of his clubs. He recognizes a golden opportunity to get her back and invites her to work on his yacht for three months. Kennedy is determined to guard her heart this time, but Reese's offer is too good to refuse. 

Reese is everything I love in a fictional man whore. He's cold and abrasive and a little pretentious. He owns a string of strip clubs, for crying out loud. He uses women for a few minutes of distraction before moving on to the next thing on his to-do list. He's really not the kind of guy who's easy to like.

I know I could walk up to any one of them and, within ten minutes, leave with them. I wouldn't even have to tell them who I am. It's just one of the many gifts I possess. I'm not arrogant about it. It's just fact. I have something they want. And they have something I want. For the night anyway.

Which is what makes Reese's transformation so much fun to read. Just the sight of Kennedy throws him into an unfamiliar tailspin. He tries to maintain control of the situation, but he soon figures out that this girl who he gave his heart to so long ago still owns it. 

Kennedy is a total ball buster, and I love her for it. Reese broke her heart badly, and she needs to make sure he doesn't do it again. But she also needs to follow her dream of being a dancer and Reese is willing to make it possible if she is willing to work for him on his boat for three months. Kennedy doesn't make it easy for Reese to get close to her again, and for good reason. 

This story about what tore these two apart so long ago and what it takes to put them back together again was so incredible. The sexual tension between Kennedy and Reese made me completely crazy. And there were some ca-razy secrets that I never saw coming. This is more than a story about two lovers who broke up and reunited by chance years later. SO much more. 

Kennedy's story absolutely broke my heart. She endured so much more than the reader even thought possible. The entire book, the surface is barely scratched with her, so that when her whole story - and not just what happened with Reese - comes out, I found myself reeling from all the revelations. 

But, this is when Reese's rehabilitation becomes very obvious. He becomes everything that Kennedy always needed him to be. 

"I've made millions, I've dined with diplomats, I've had the very best of everything in life, but I've never felt happy, really happy, until you told me you'd work on my boat. And every moment since then has been the best of my existence."

All The Pretty Poses is told in dual POV - my favorite! Reese's head was such a fun place to be. Especially once he realized that he didn't have the situation with Kennedy as well in hand as he thought he did. When she started getting under his skin and they started getting under each others' skin - literally - the signature heat we've all come to know, love and expect from M. Leighton comes out in full force. This book is a scorcher in all the best ways. 

I sincerely hope that M. Leighton continues to write about these incredibly strong, brave, and sometimes idiotic, men. Because I love them so much. 

About the Author

M. Leighton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Wild Ones and The Bad Boys romance trilogies.  She is a native of Ohio, relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she lets her mind wander to romantic settings with sexy Southern guys much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books.  When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.  

For more about M. Leighton, visit her website at www.MLeightonBooks.blogspot.com or follow her on Twitter@mleightonbooks.

Giveaway

What’s up for grabs? 2 - $250 Visa Gift Cards

How do I enter? Via the Rafflecopter posted here and on each participating site, you may:

• Like the M. Leighton, Author Facebook page (5 points, can only do once)
• Follow @mleightonbooks on Twitter (5 points, can only do once)
• Share the giveaway graphic on Twitter along with one reason that you’re excited to meet Reese (10 points, can do once per day)
• Tag three different friends in the comments under the graphic on the M. Leighton Author Facebook page with one reason you’re excited to meet Reese (10 points, can do once per day)

Details! The giveaway begins at 12:00 am EST on January 14, 2014 and ends at 12:00 am EST on February 3, 2014.  Winners will be randomly selected by 5:00 pm EST on February 5, 2014.  For a complete list of rules, please see the “Rules” section of the Rafflecopter. 

  
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REVIEW: White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements #1)

White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements #1), by Jennifer L. Armentrout
To Be Published February 25, 2014
Publisher: HarlequinTEEN
Format: e-ARC, obtained from publisher
Genre:  young adult paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) One kiss could be the last.

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

OhmygoshohmygoshohmyGOSH!!!! White Hot Kiss is one of the best books I read in 2013. Layla. Zayne! ROTH!! I fell in love with these characters so fast and so hard. I was brought to tears several times by the desperation and hopelessness of Layla's situation. I was angry as hell at Zayne's reactions sometimes to what was clearly just her frustration at the hand that was dealt to her. And, I laughed out loud at Roth's devil-may-care attitude (pun very much intended).

The relationship between the gargoyles (Wardens) and demons was explained a lot more as the mystery surrounding Layla's parentage is unraveled. When the secrets are revealed, an intricate plot to bring about the end of the world is also revealed as is the knowledge that Layla is imperative to the plan's success.

Seeing Zayne and Roth unknowingly trade off protection duty was fun. It's apparent that both boys care very much for Layla, but the manifestations of these feelings are very different. Zayne has a tendency to shelter Layla from harm - to protect her from all the boogeymen out there that might hurt her. Roth goes the opposite direction and enjoys seeing Layla embrace both sides of herself while educating her on her abilities to protect herself.

And yet, Layla's situation seems so hopeless. She is half warden and half demon. Her warden side ensures she has a soul. Her demon side gives her this awful ability to suck the souls from others when she's physically close to them. It makes a relationship with Zayne, whom she's loved for years, virtually impossible (can you imagine never being able to kiss someone you love??). Plus, wardens hate demons. I mean, they were created to destroy them. Layla is, at best, tolerated by the other wardens. Most outright hate her and try to kill her as they do other demons.

What is Layla to do? Her choices aren't really choices at all. She can either continue pining after Zayne, the boy she has loved forever but can't have, or she could hook up with Roth who is a very bad ass demon. Since demons have no soul for her to suck away, the physicality roadblock is removed. But, he's inherently EVIL. She's been raised to hate them. And, he can never really love her, right? I'm having a hard time putting into words the desperation and bleakness I felt from her.

Everyone around her is moving forward with their lives. But, Layla is in a constant state of sameness. So many times, Layla wonders why she should exist if she can never be truly happy or have what she wants. I get that. I'd feel the same way. But, Layla's so much stronger than anyone gives her credit for. Instead of sitting in her room crying for what she can't have, or even killing herself, she tries to make herself useful and faces her fears and prejudices to team up with Roth to find out what is behind all the bad mojo in the city.

Everyone in White Hot Kiss has pigeon-holed themselves into their "role." Zayne is the Protector. Roth is the Bad Guy. Layla is the Outcast. One of my favorite parts of this book was watching everyone bust out of the molds in which they were kept. Zayne has to learn to trust that Layla can take care of herself sometimes and make her own decisions (and mistakes). Roth learns that "bad" is not black or white. And Layla sees truly how much people care about her when they are willing to risk everything for her.

Jennifer Armentrout did an outstanding job making me FEEL. Seriously, there are so many feels in this book, there were times when I had to talk myself into picking it back up because I just knew I was going to go into emotional overload. There's action and a cool mystery and amazing new paranormal characters. But, there's also a lot of sadness and frustration and desperation. And one hell of a love triangle. There's that too.

If you've already read Bitter Sweet Kiss (Dark Elements #0.5), rest assured - you find out very early on how things are going with Dez and Jasmine. There's only a brief mention of Dez and no actual appearance of him. Jasmine and her sister Danika pop up quite frequently, however. 

There just aren't enough good things to be said about this absolutely brilliant new series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. It is captivating, fascinating and just plain crazy good. I can't wait for more.