BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Chasing River (Burying River #3)

Eep! CHASING RIVER is out, and I'm so excited for you guys to read it. Because... HOT IRISH MEN. And hey - it's K.A. Tucker, and when has she let us down, right? Check out my review, and then enter the giveway!

Chasing River (Burying River #3), by K.A. Tucker
Publish Date: July 7, 2015
Publisher: Atria Books
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Armed with two years' worth of savings and the need to experience life outside the bubble of her Oregon small town, twenty-five-year old Amber Welles is prepared for anything. Except dying in Dublin. Had it not been for the bravery of a stranger, she might have. But he takes off before she has the chance to offer her gratitude.

Twenty-four-year-old River Delaney is rattled. No one was supposed to get hurt. But then that American tourist showed up. He couldn't let her die, but he also couldn't risk being identified at the scene—so, he ran. Back to his everyday life of running his family’s pub. Only, everyday life is getting more and more complicated, thanks to his brother, Aengus, and his criminal associations. When the American girl tracks River down, he quickly realizes how much he likes her, how wrong she is for him. And how dangerous it is to have her around. Chasing her off would be the smart move.

Maybe it's because he saved her life, or maybe it's because he's completely different from everything she's left behind, but Amber finds herself chasing after River Delaney. Amber isn’t the kind of girl to chase after anyone.

And River isn't the kind of guy she'd want to catch.

There are so many awesome things about CHASING RIVER - the setting, the history, the suspense... the romance. I've read all of K.A. Tucker's books, and I can safely say that this one is different - in all the best ways. 

Amber is tired of being the good little sheriff's daughter, so she takes four months off of work and heads off for a trip around the world. To guide her on her journey, she and her brother Jesse's girlfriend Alex develop a bucket list of things she must do. Item number one - have a torrid affair. When Amber is in Dublin, she meets River Delaney when he saves her life from a pipe bomb, and suddenly she realizes she might be able to check off item number one. Except, Amber's not a casual sex kind of girl. Feelings get mixed up, and in this case, only complicate matters. 

When I was in college, I could've studied abroad, but I chose not to. I had my nice, neat box in which I had placed myself and by that time, I was too scared to step out of it. So, Amber's story really spoke to me. She was in the same place, doing what was expected of her, looking pretty, dating duds. And, the last dud finally jump started her adventurous spirit and sent her on a four-month trip around the world. Can you even imagine putting your entire life on hold to do something like this? Alone? 

Amber gets stuck in a wrong place wrong time kind of situation in Dublin when she wanders into a park set up with a pipe bomb, and her savior comes in the form of hot ginger River Delaney. Even though he takes off as soon as he knows she's okay, she can't get him out of her mind, and when she finds him working behind a bar, she is instantly glad she sought him out to thank him for his help.

For River's part, his head is a jumbled mess. He's upset over his brother's continued involvement in a dangerous terrorist organization. He's worried about him and about the blow back from his actions that might fall on both River and their youngest brother Rowen. And, now he can't get Amber out of his head either. So, when she shows up at his bar, while momentarily stunned (I LOVED that part), he is instantly intrigued and wants to know more about her. Thus... a torrid affair begins. 

River is completely amazing. He tries to take care of everyone and everything. He is the middle brother, so he feels responsible for looking out for Rowen, and now that his older brother Aengus is so messed up, River feels like he has to take care of him too. He has to manage his family's pub and make sure his parents are okay. And then after meeting Amber, he wants something just for him. And, damn it, I wanted him to have it. I wanted him to have her. 

One thing I've noticed about K.A. Tucker's Burying Water series is that these books feature these relationships for which the HEA seems completely elusive. Chasing River is no exception. I absolutely loved River and Amber together. They are complete opposites, and because of that are perfect for one another. River is spontaneous and energetic and unpredictable. Amber is grounded and respectable and sensible. River has secrets and his brother is a criminal. Amber's father used to be the sheriff. Not only are they very different, but they live so far apart. It's not in Amber's nature to move to Ireland, and River simply is not capable of moving to the states. How on earth could they ever be together? 

I love that uncertainty. Because when that HEA does come - and it always does - it's even better. Because underneath it all, you're always assured that the two people involved are good people and they are trying to carve a life for themselves out of the crap hand they've been dealt. And you just want them to get there, you know? You want them to find a way to be happy together. And I wanted that for Amber and River so much. 

Chasing River is told in dual POV, which is perfect. There's so much going on in River's life and in his head, it was great that we got to spend so much time with him. I loved the bond he has with Rowen and how they worked together in their pub. I especially loved the Irish setting and all the history. K.A. Tucker really did her homework, and it shows. None of this book takes place in the states, and I was completely okay with that. This was so much better. And, now I can't wait to see what K.A. Tucker comes up with next.

Born in small-town Ontario, K.A. Tucker published her first book at the age of six with the
elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Author Goodreads ** YouTube ** Pinterest ** Instagram

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COVER REVEAL: Surviving Ice (Burying Water #4)

 

I am absolutely thrilled to bring you the Cover Reveal for K.A. Tucker’s SURVIVING ICE!! SURVIVING ICE is a New Adult Romantic Suspense novel, and the fourth novel in K.A. Tucker’s Burying Water Series, published by Atria books, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster. SURVIVING ICE is set to be released October 13, 2015!

 

SURVIVING ICE (US)

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SURVIVING ICE (UK)

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SURVIVING ICE (AUS)

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About SURVIVING ICE: Ivy Lee, a talented tattoo artist who spent the early part of her twenties on the move, is looking for a place to call home. She thinks she might have finally found it working in her uncle’s tattoo shop in San Francisco. But all that changes when a robbery turns deadly, compelling her to pack up her things yet again. When they need the best, they call him. That’s why Sebastian Riker is back in California, cleaning up the mess made after a tattoo shop owner with a penchant for blackmail got himself shot. But it’s impossible to get the answers he needs from a dead body, leaving him to look elsewhere. Namely, to the twenty-something-year-old niece who believes this was a random attack. Who needs to keep believing that until Sebastian finds what he’s searching for. Ivy has one foot out of San Francisco when a chance encounter with a stranger stalls her departure. She’s always been drawn to intense men, so it’s no wonder that she now finds a reason to stay after all, quickly intoxicated by his dark smile, his intimidating strength, and his quiet control. That is, until Ivy discovers that their encounter was no accident—and that their attraction could be her undoing.

And don’t forget BURYING WATER, BECOMING RAIN and CHASING RIVER, the first three books in this thrilling series…

BURYING WATER (US)

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BURYING WATER (UK)

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BURYING WATER (AUS)

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  About BURYING WATER: The top-selling, beloved indie author of Ten Tiny Breaths returns with a new romance about a young woman who loses her memory—and the man who knows that the only way to protect her is to stay away. Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defies all odds and survives—but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her. Refusing to answer to “Jane Doe” for another day, the woman renames herself “Water” for the tiny, hidden marking on her body—the only clue to her past. Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, a crotchety but kind lady living on a nearby horse farm, Water slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions emerge: Who is the next-door neighbor, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won’t Ginny let him step foot on her property? And why does Water feel she recognizes him? Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles doesn’t know how long it will be before Water gets her memory back. For her sake, Jesse hopes the answer is never. He knows that she’ll stay so much safer—and happier—that way. And that’s why, as hard as it is, he needs to keep his distance. Because getting too close could flood her with realities better left buried. The trouble is, water always seems to find its way to the surface.
 

BECOMING RAIN (US)

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BECOMING RAIN (UK)

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BECOMING RAIN (AUS)

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About BECOMING RAIN: Luke Boone doesn't know exactly what his uncle Rust is involved in but he wants in on it—the cars, the money, the women. And it looks like he's finally getting his wish. When Rust hands him the managerial keys to the garage, they come with a second set—one that opens up the door to tons of cash and opportunity. Though it's not exactly legal, Luke's never been one to worry about that sort of thing. Especially when it puts him behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 and onto the radar of gorgeous socialite named Rain. Clara Bertelli is at the top of her game—at only twenty-six years old, she's one of the most successful undercover officers in the Washington, DC, major crime unit, and she's just been handed a case that could catapult her career and expose one of the West coast's most notorious car theft rings. But, in order to do it, she'll need to go deep undercover as Rain Martines. Her target? The twenty-four-year-old nephew of a key player who appears ready to follow in his uncle's footsteps. As Clara drifts deeper into the luxurious lifestyle of Rain, and further into the arms of her very attractive and charming target, the lines between right and wrong start to blur, making her wonder if she'll be able to leave it all behind. Or if she'll even want to.

CHASING RIVER (US Preorder)

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound | Apple | Blio | Google | Kobo

CHASING RIVER (UK Preorder)

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CHASING RIVER (AUS Preorder)

Amazon | Apple | Booktopia

About CHASING RIVER: Armed with two years' worth of savings and the need to experience life outside the bubble of her Oregon small town, twenty-five-year old Amber Welles is prepared for anything. Except dying in Dublin. Had it not been for the bravery of a stranger, she might have. But he takes off before she has the chance to offer her gratitude. Twenty-four-year-old River Delaney is rattled. No one was supposed to get hurt. But then that American tourist showed up. He couldn't let her die, but he also couldn’t risk being identified at the scene—so, he ran. Back to his everyday life of running his family’s pub. Only, everyday life is getting more and more complicated, thanks to his brother, Aengus, and his criminal associations. When the American girl tracks River down, he quickly realizes how much he likes her, how wrong she is for him. And how dangerous it is to have her around. Chasing her off would be the smart move. Maybe it's because he saved her life, or maybe it's because he's completely different from everything she's left behind, but Amber finds herself chasing after River Delaney. Amber isn’t the kind of girl to chase after anyone. And River isn't the kind of guy she'd want to catch.  

About K.A. Tucker: Born in small-town Ontario, K.A. Tucker published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.          

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Novel Goodreads ** Author Goodreads ** YouTube ** Pinterest ** Instagram

 

COVER REVEAL: Chasing River (Burying Water #3)

We have been dying to share this Cover Reveal for K.A. Tucker's CHASING RIVER with you all! CHASING RIVER is a New Adult Romantic Suspense novel, and the third novel in K.A. Tucker’s Burying Water Series, published by Atria books, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster. CHASING RIVER is set to be released July 7, 2015! If you haven't had a chance to check out this series yet now is the time!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | IndieBound | Books-a-Million

Chasing River (Burying Water #3), by K. A. Tucker
To Be Published July 7, 2015
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: new adult contemporary romanc

(From Goodreads) Armed with two years' worth of savings and the need to experience life outside the bubble of her Oregon small town, twenty-five-year old Amber Welles is prepared for anything. Except dying in Dublin. Had it not been for the bravery of a stranger, she might have. But he takes off before she has the chance to offer her gratitude. 

Twenty-four-year-old River Delaney is rattled. No one was supposed to get hurt. But then that American tourist showed up. He couldn't let her die, but he also couldn’t risk being identified at the scene—so, he ran. Back to his everyday life of running his family’s pub. Only, everyday life is getting more and more complicated, thanks to his brother, Aengus, and his criminal associations. 

When the American girl tracks River down, he quickly realizes how much he likes her, how wrong she is for him. And how dangerous it is to have her around. Chasing her off would be the smart move. Maybe it's because he saved her life, or maybe it's because he's completely different from everything she's left behind, but Amber finds herself chasing after River Delaney. Amber isn’t the kind of girl to chase after anyone. And River isn't the kind of guy she'd want to catch. 

And don’t forget BURYING WATER and BECOMING RAIN, the first two books in this thrilling series…

 

BURYING WATER is just $1.99 for the month of April!

About BURYING WATER: The top-selling, beloved indie author of Ten Tiny Breaths returns with a new romance about a young woman who loses her memory—and the man who knows that the only way to protect her is to stay away.

Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defies all odds and survives—but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her. Refusing to answer to “Jane Doe” for another day, the woman renames herself “Water” for the tiny, hidden marking on her body—the only clue to her past. Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, a crotchety but kind lady living on a nearby horse farm, Water slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions emerge: Who is the next-door neighbor, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won’t Ginny let him step foot on her property? And why does Water feel she recognizes him?

Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles doesn’t know how long it will be before Water gets her memory back. For her sake, Jesse hopes the answer is never. He knows that she’ll stay so much safer—and happier—that way. And that’s why, as hard as it is, he needs to keep his distance. Because getting too close could flood her with realities better left buried. The trouble is, water always seems to find its way to the surface.

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iBooks ** Kobo ** IndieBound

 

About BECOMING RAIN: Luke Boone doesn't know exactly what his uncle Rust is involved in but he wants in on it-the cars, the money, the women. And it looks like he's finally getting his wish. When Rust hands him the managerial keys to the garage, they come with a second set—one that opens up the door to tons of cash and opportunity. Though it's not exactly legal, Luke's never been one to worry about that sort of thing. Especially when it puts him behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 and onto the radar of gorgeous socialite named Rain. 

Clara Bertelli is at the top of her game—at only twenty-six years old, she's one of the most successful undercover officers in the Washington D.C. major crime unit, and she's just been handed a case that could catapult her career and expose one of the west coast's most notorious car theft rings. But, in order to do it, she'll need to go deep undercover as Rain Martines. Her target? The twenty-four-year old nephew of a key player who appears ready to follow in his uncle's footsteps. 

As Clara drifts deeper into the luxurious lifestyle of Rain, and further into the arms of her very attractive and charming target, the lines between right and wrong start to blur, making her wonder if she'll be able to leave it all behind. Or if she'll even want to.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound | Apple | Blio | Books-a-Million | Google

About K.A. Tucker: Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.      

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Novel Goodreads ** Author Goodreads ** YouTube ** Pinterest ** Instagram

RELEASE DAY REVIEW, EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY: Becoming Rain (Burying Water #2)

If you read K.A. Tucker's Burying Water and wondered what the story was behind Jesse's BFF Luke, then your wait is over. BECOMING RAIN is out today, and it does not disappoint. Check out my review, then read the excerpt from Becoming Rain. Don't forget to enter the giveaway too! And, a big thank you to Inkslinger PR for organizing this tour!

Becoming Rain (Burying Water #2), by K.A. Tucker
Publish Date: March 3, 2015
Publisher: Atria Books
Format: e-ARC, obtained from NetGalley
Genre: new adult contemporary romance/crime suspense
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 4 STARS

(From Goodreads) Luke Boone doesn't know exactly what his uncle Rust is involved in but he wants in on it-the cars, the money, the women. And it looks like he's finally getting his wish. When Rust hands him the managerial keys to the garage, they come with a second set-one that opens up the door to tons of cash and opportunity. Though it's not exactly legal, Luke's never been one to worry about that sort of thing. Especially when it puts him behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 and onto the radar of gorgeous socialite named Rain.

Clara Bertelli is at the top of her game-at only twenty-six years old, she's one of the most successful undercover officers in the Washington D.C. major crime unit, and she's just been handed a case that could catapult her career and expose one of the west coast's most notorious car theft rings. But, in order to do it, she'll need to go deep undercover as Rain Martines. Her target? The twenty-four-year old nephew of a key player who appears ready to follow in his uncle's footsteps.

As Clara drifts deeper into the luxurious lifestyle of Rain, and further into the arms of her very attractive and charming target, the lines between right and wrong start to blur, making her wonder if she'll be able to leave it all behind. Or if she'll even want to.

We first met Luke Boone in Burying Water when he was introduced as Jesse's rich, slightly oblivious BFF. At first, I didn't think much of him. It seemed like he turned a blind eye to his uncle's criminal dealings, just because he liked the money that resulted from them. But, his actions at the end of the book proved that there was more to Luke than what met the eye. That assessment was never more true. 

Luke wants nothing more than to take over his Uncle Rust's garage, thus earning his respect and trust. Luke thinks he's prepared for anything and everything that comes with it, including the activities that are on the other side of the law. But, when he finally gets the chance to prove himself, he can't shake the bad feelings that come along with that side of the business. Those feelings of unease are amplified when he gets involved with Rain, a beautiful girl who seems perfect for him. But, Rain has secrets of her own that will most definitely tear them apart when Luke finds out what they are. 

My favorite part about Luke was how he embraced the gray areas. Luke is proof that one person is never all bad or all good. Everyone is shades of both. Luke is, inherently, a good guy. At his core, he wants to do the right thing. But, he also wants to remain loyal to his family and his upbringing. And, let's face it - the piles of cash brought in by his uncle's less than legal activities is pretty nice too. I get how the lines got blurred for Luke, and I really couldn't fault him for it. 

Clara starts out thinking in black and white terms. There are people who don't commit crimes and people who do. Good people and bad people. All or nothing. It's how Clara seems the world, and how she sees Luke initially. I loved how, in the beginning when Clara and Luke sit down to lunch, and Luke gives part of his to a homeless man, how stunned Clara was by that. It's like, she had already convinced herself that Luke was bad, which didn't leave any room for any sort of goodness. 

Although Clara's short-sightedness was frustrating at times, I did like how she became open to the possibilities beyond that pretty quickly. And, that was all thanks to Luke. Through her undercover work, she had to spend a lot of time with Luke. She got to see that, even though he may be doing some bad things, it doesn't mean that he is a bad guy. Unfortunately, that way of thinking compromised her job. 

As the plot thickens and the number of bad guys starts climbing, the story got really suspenseful and exciting. Because of the dual POV, we already knew that Luke was dabbling in grand theft auto, but he didn't have good feelings about it. We saw the inner wheelings and dealings as Luke and his uncle try to make deals with various nefarious people. And, we also saw Clara trying so hard to both find out what was going on and to steer Luke away from it. The more she grew to care for him, the more she wanted to protect him from what she knew was inevitable - the collapse of his uncle's crime ring and the incarceration of all parties involved. 

As a reader, I really like when, at halfway through the book, I have absolutely no idea how the two main characters could ever be together happily in the end. It shows the very successful development of a complex problem. At 48% I was convinced that Clara/Rain and Luke could find no way to be together. Clara was lying to him every day about who she was. Luke was doing bad things that went against everything Clara stood for. And, eventually, Clara would have to break cover and bring Luke in. And, Luke would most assuredly hate her for it. So, how on Earth could they ever find a way through all that? 
 
The uncertainty and excitement of the story propelled me forward and kept me interested. There was so much build-up that it almost felt like the ending came a bit too quickly and without enough drama to equal everything that had happened earlier. But, even with those very minor gripes, I still loved the story and the characters. I hope that K.A. Tucker has more in store for us in this world she created. 

“Let us know if you have any more problems.” Luke flashes that wide, charming smile that stalls my feet just a little.

Still no mention of connecting again. In fact, I’d say Luke has gone out of his way to skirt the subject. He’s just not interested. That’s all there is to it. Or maybe he’s waiting for me to bring it up again. But if he’s not, then bringing it up will make me look desperate. I’m guessing he doesn’t like desperate women.

Luke Boone has me in a tailspin. No target has ever had me second-guessing myself this much, this early. It’s just the pressure of the case, I remind myself. “I’m sure I will.” I take long, slow steps, ensuring my movements are sleek and appealing, the opposite of my frantic thoughts, as I desperately search for another hook, since nothing I’m casting has caught so far.

“So, when did you say you’re cooking dinner for me?”

I fight the urge to groan with relief but I can’t keep the smile from exploding across my face. “Whenever you call me.” I turn to regard him, to see his smug face—like he knew I was waiting for it all along, like he was toying with me—and nod to the sheet on his desk. “You have my number.”

“I do.” His eyes twinkle. “I’ll call you soon.”

Thank fucking God.

I wait until I’m in my car and around the corner before turning off my wire and squealing like a fourteen-year-old who just got asked out to the movies. I dial Warner to debrief, my heart still racing. It’s standard protocol to call in after every meeting with my target. Up until now, I’ve had nothing but failure to report. And, while this may not seem like much . . .

I think I’m finally in.

Born in small-town Ontario, K.A. Tucker published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

Learn more about K.A. Tucker:
Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Novel Goodreads ** Author Goodreads ** YouTube ** Pinterest ** Instagram

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Burying Water (Burying Water #1)

As a huge fan of K.A. Tucker's Ten Tiny Breaths series, it was an easy decision to choose to be a part of this tour, organized by InkslingerPR.

Burying Water (Burying Water #1), by K.A. Tucker
Published October 7, 2014
Publisher: Atria
Format: ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 4 STARS

(From Goodreads) Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defies all odds and survives—but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her. Refusing to answer to “Jane Doe” for another day, the woman renames herself “Water” for the tiny, hidden marking on her body—the only clue to her past. Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, a crotchety but kind lady living on a nearby horse farm, Water slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions emerge: Who is the next-door neighbor, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won’t Ginny let him step foot on her property? And why does Water feel she recognizes him?

Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles doesn’t know how long it will be before Water gets her memory back. For her sake, Jesse hopes the answer is never. He knows that she’ll stay so much safer—and happier—that way. And that’s why, as hard as it is, he needs to keep his distance. Because getting too close could flood her with realities better left buried.

The trouble is, water always seems to find its way to the surface.

If you think you know what Burying Water is all about because you read Ten Tiny Breaths, let me assure you that this is something completely different. It's darker, if you can believe that. And, yet, it's more hopeful. It was that contrast that makes this such a great book. 

A girl wakes up in a hospital bed, having been nearly killed. She has no memory of who she is or what happened to her. But, she is so drawn to the boy she ends up living next door to. It's like he's a comfort in a storm of uncertainty. When she renames herself Water and starts to make a life, she realizes that it doesn't make much sense without Jesse in it. Why is that? Was he a part of her life before? Or does she just so desperately want him to be a part of her life now?

I have to admit. I had a bit of a hard time getting into Burying Water. In the beginning it was really confusing to me what was happening when. It opens with Jesse discovering Water. Then Water waking in the hospital. Then, it skips back to Jesse several months earlier. And from then on, the reader gets a chapter in the past in Jesse's POV followed by a chapter in the present from Water's POV. It's not until around 20% through the book that the pieces start falling into place, and the reader figures out roughly what happened. That's a long time to be confused. 

Once I figured out what was going on, though, it was like a light went on, and I couldn't put Burying Water down. I especially loved the chapters in the present. I think it's because I knew what was going to happen in the past, and it was just so horrible that I didn't want to relive it. I read on for that moment when I knew Water would remember who she is and who she loves. I knew it would be both sad and exciting. It was. 

Water was compelling. The Water of the present was scared and unsure, yet determined to make her way in a dark world in which she knew no one - not even herself. The Water of the past was brave in an impossible situation. 

Jesse was incredible. He took amazing risks to try and help the people he loves. And when faced with the choice of either having what he wants or denying himself, he chose to deny himself because he knew it was what was best for everyone. Can you imagine? The one person who makes you whole is in your sights all the time. You had her once and the knowledge that she loved you too. And, now you could tell her everything and possibly go back to how things were before, but you hold back to keep her safe. That is a real man. 

The underlying story - the real story of Water's life - is horrible and sad. The moments between Water and Jesse, both in the past and in the present, were sexy, sweet and poignant. The chemistry was there from the first moment. It was one of the best parts about the beginning of the book when I felt so lost. 

The side characters all lent a more interesting flair. Crotchety Ginny, Jesse's parents Meredith and Gabe, hippy Dakota - they were all colorful and necessary to the remaking of Water. 

When it was all said and done, Burying Water really was an amazing book. 

About the Author

Born in small-town Ontario, K.A. Tucker published her first book at the age of six  with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader, and currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls,  and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures. 

Learn more about K.A. --> Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Author Goodreads



Giveaway

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RELEASE DAY EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY: Burying Water

Now out, from the author of Ten Tiny Breaths, K.A. Tucker, is something completely different - a new adult suspense novel. I've read it already, and let me tell you - it's incredible (look for my review next week). Are you intrigued yet? If I've only slightly piqued your interest so far, read on for an excerpt. It will blow you away.

Burying Water, by K.A. Tucker
Published October 7, 2014
Publisher: Atria
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble * iBooks * Kobo

(Synopsis) The top-selling, beloved indie author of Ten Tiny Breaths returns with a new romance about a young woman who loses her memory—and the man who knows that the only way to protect her is to stay away.

Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defies all odds and survives—but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her. Refusing to answer to “Jane Doe” for another day, the woman renames herself “Water” for the tiny, hidden marking on her body—the only clue to her past. Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, a crotchety but kind lady living on a nearby horse farm, Water slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions emerge: Who is the next-door neighbor, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won’t Ginny let him step foot on her property? And why does Water feel she recognizes him?

Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles doesn’t know how long it will be before Water gets her memory back. For her sake, Jesse hopes the answer is never. He knows that she’ll stay so much safer—and happier—that way. And that’s why, as hard as it is, he needs to keep his distance. Because getting too close could flood her with realities better left buried.

The trouble is, water always seems to find its way to the surface.

Excerpt

Prologue

Jesse

Now

This can’t be real . . . This can’t be real . . . This can’t be real . . .

The words cycle round and round in my mind like the wheels on my speeding ’Cuda as its ass-end slips and slides over the gravel and ice. This car is hard to handle on the best of days, built front-heavy and overloaded with horsepower. I’m going to put myself into one of these damn trees if I don’t slow down.

I jam my foot against the gas pedal.

I can’t slow down now.

Not until I know that Boone was wrong about what he claims to have overheard. His Russian is mediocre at best. I’ll giveanything for him to be wrong about this.

My gut clenches as my car skids around another turn,the cone shape of Black Butte looming like a monstrous shadow ahead of me in the pre-dawn light. The snowy tire tracks framed by my headlights might not even be the right ones, but they’re wide like Viktor’s Hummer and they’re sure as hell the only ones down this old, deserted logging road. No one comes out here in January.

The line of trees marking the dead end comes up on me before I expect it. I slam on my brakes, sending my car sliding sideways toward the old totem pole. It’s still sliding when I cut the rumbling engine, throw open the door, and jump out, fumbling with my flashlight. It takes three hard presses with my shaking hands to get the light to hold.

I begin searching the ground. The mess of tread marks tells me that someone pulled a U-turn. The footprints tell me that more than one person got out. And when I see the half-finished cigarette butt with that weird alphabet on the filter, I know Boone wasn’t wrong.

“Alex!” My echo answers once . . . twice . . . before the vast wilderness swallows up my desperate cry. With frantic passes of my flashlight, my knuckles white against its body, I search the area until I spot the sets of footprints that lead off the old, narrow road and into the trees.

Frigid fingers curl around my heart.

Darting back to my car, I snatch the old red-and-blue plaid wool blanket that she loves so much from the backseat. Ice-cold snow packs into the sides of my sneakers as I chase the trail past the line of trees and into the barren field ahead, my blood rushing through my ears the only sound I process.

The only sign of life.

Raw fear numbs my senses, the Pacific Northwest winter numbs my body, but I push forward because if . . .

The beam of light passes over a still form lying facedown in the snow. I’d recognize that pink coat and platinum-blond hair of hers anywhere; the sparkly blue dress that she hates so much looks like a heap of sapphires against a white canvas.

My heart freezes.

“Alex.” It’s barely a whisper. I’m unable to produce more, my lungs giving up on me. I run, stumbling through the foot of snow until I’m on my knees and crawling forward to close the distance. A distance of no more than ten feet and yet one that seems like miles.

There’s no mistaking the spray of crimson freckling the snow around her head. Or that most of her long hair is now dark and matted. Or that her silver stockings are torn and stained red, and a pool of blood has formed where her dress barely covers her thighs. Plenty of footprints mark the ground around her. He must have been here for a while.

I know that there are rules to follow, steps to make sure that I don’t cause her further harm. But I ignore them because the sinking feeling in my stomach tells me I can’t possibly hurt her more than he already has. I nestle her head with one hand while I slide the other under her shoulder. I roll her over.

Cold shock knocks the wind out of me.

I’ve never seen anybody look like this.

I scoop her limp body into my arms, cradling the once beautiful face that I’ve seen in every light—rage to ecstasy and the full gamut in between—yet is now unrecognizable. Placing two blood-coated fingers over her throat, I wait. Nothing.

A light pinch against her lifeless wrist.Nothing.

Maybe a pulse does exist but it’s hidden, masked by my own racing one.

Then again, by the look of her, likely not.

One . . . two . . . three . . . plump, serene snowflakes begin floating down from the unseen sky above. Soon, they will converge and cover the tracks, the blood. The evidence.Mother Nature’s own blanket to hide the unsightly blemish in her yard.

“I’m so sorry.” I don’t try to restrain the hot tears as they roll down my cheeks to land on her mangled lips—lips I had stolen plenty of kisses from, back when I was too stupid to realize how dangerous that really was. This is my fault. She had warned me. If I had just listened, had stayed away from her, had not told her how I felt . . .

 . . . had not fallen wildly in love with her.

I lean down to steal a kiss even now, the coppery taste of her blood mixing with my salty tears. “I’m so damn sorry. I should never have even looked your way,” I manage to get out around my sobs, tucking the blanket she loved to curl up in over her.

An almost inaudible gasp slips out. A slight breeze against my mouth more than anything else.

My lungs freeze, my eyes glued to her, afraid to hope. “Alex?” Is it possible?

A moment later, a second gasp—a wet, rattling sound—escapes.

She’s not dead.

Not yet, anyway.

About the Author

Born in small-town Ontario, K.A. Tucker published her first book at the age of six  with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader, and currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls,  and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures. 

Learn more about K.A. --> Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Author Goodreads



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COVER REVEAL: Burying Water

I am absolutely thrilled to bring you the cover reveal for K.A. Tucker's BURYING WATER! BURYING WATER is a New Adult Romantic Suspense novel scheduled for release October 7th! This book will blow you away. Get. Ready.

Add BURYING WATER on Goodreads!

Burying Water, by K.A. Tucker
To Be Published October 7, 2014
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre:  new adult suspense
Buy Links: Amazon * Barnes and Noble * iTunes
 
(Synopsis) The top-selling, beloved indie author of Ten Tiny Breaths returns with a new romance about a young woman who loses her memory—and the man who knows that the only way to protect her is to stay away. 

Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defies all odds and survives—but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her. Refusing to answer to “Jane Doe” for another day, the woman renames herself “Water” for the tiny, hidden marking on her body—the only clue to her past. 

Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, a crotchety but kind lady living on a nearby horse farm, Water slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions emerge: Who is the next-door neighbor, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won’t Ginny let him step foot on her property? And why does Water feel she recognizes him? 

Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles doesn’t know how long it will be before Water gets her memory back. For her sake, Jesse hopes the answer is never. He knows that she’ll stay so much safer—and happier—that way. And that’s why, as hard as it is, he needs to keep his distance. Because getting too close could flood her with realities better left buried. The trouble is, water always seems to find its way to the surface.

About the Author

K.A. Tucker was born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.      

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Novel Goodreads ** Author Goodreads ** YouTube ** Pinterest ** Instagram

BLOG TOUR REVIEW, EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY: Five Ways to Fall (Ten Tiny Breaths #4)

I am so in love with K.A. Tucker's Ten Tiny Breaths series. FIVE WAYS TO FALL is the final book in the series, so this blog tour, organized by Inkslinger PR, is bitter sweet for me. Read on for my review and an excerpt from Five Ways to Fall. Don't forget to check out the other stops on the tour after entering the giveaway for a Kindle Fire!

Five Ways to Fall (Ten Tiny Breaths #4), by K.A. Tucker
Published June 24, 2013
Publisher: Atria Books
Format: e-book, provided by the publisher and Atria Books
Genre: new adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 4 STARS

(From Goodreads) Purple-haired, sharp-tongued Reese MacKay knows all about making the wrong choice; she’s made plenty of them in her twenty-odd-years. So when her impulsive, short-lived marriage ends in heartbreak, she decides it’s time for a change. She moves to Miami with the intention of hitting reset on her irresponsible life, and she does quite well…aside from an epically humiliating one-night stand in Cancun with a hot blond bouncer named Ben. Thank God she can get on a plane and leave that mistake behind her.

Football scholarship and frat parties with hot chicks? Part of charmer Ben Morris’s plan. Blown knee that kills any hope of a professional football career? So not part of the plan. Luckily Ben has brains to go with his knockout looks and magnetism. After three long years of balancing law school with his job as a bouncer at Penny’s Palace, he’s ready to lead a more mature life—until his first day of work, when he finds himself in the office of that crazy, hot chick he met in Cancun. The one he hasn’t stopped thinking about.

If Ben truly were a smart guy, he’d stay clear of Reese. She’s the boss’s stepdaughter and it’s been made very clear that office romances are grounds for dismissal. Plus, rumor has it she’s trouble. The only problem is, he likes trouble, especially when it’s so good-looking…

Like I mentioned, Five Ways to Fall is the final book in the Ten Tiny Breaths series. This is playboy Ben's book, and one I've been looking forward to for some time now. I just knew he had a story behind his man whoring ways. Ben's always been a bit of an enigma. When Kacey first got a job at Penny's back in Ten Tiny Breaths, Ben was one of the bouncers by night while he toiled away at law school by day. He had a thing for Kacey at first, but when she started dating Trent, Ben got over it quickly with the assistance of Mercy and Hannah. *snicker* 

Now, Ben is a real lawyer and has secured his first job at a law firm. By chance, it's the same firm that Reese works at as a paralegal - Reese, the girl he had an awful near-one-night-stand with in Cancun a few months before. Reese, the first girl he hasn't been able to put out of his mind in... well, ever. And, now not only do they work together, but she happens to be the boss' step-daughter. 

Reese is trying to recover from a failed marriage and a lot of wild living. She was never supposed to see Ben again, and now she has to see him every day. For awhile they have this amazingly awesome love/hate thing going on. Reese is horribly embarrassed by what happened between them in Mexico and that Ben won't let her forget about it. But, then when she decides to use him to get back at her evil, cheating ex, they forge a sort of partnership. 

Both Ben and Reese are fun and free-spirited, so they really are perfectly suited for each other. Their snark and banter back and forth was hysterical and the perfect kind of foreplay for them. I absolutely loved these two together. This isn't the usual squishy, emo love story. Neither Ben nor Reese are the type to spout sonnets or flowery lovey dovey words. They get off on speeding around on dune buggies, playing paint ball and chugging beers. It was a very refreshing change.

That doesn't mean that the hallmarks of a good new adult book aren't present. Ben's backstory is truly sad, and unexpected. Reese's life was equally tragic and her relationship with her awful mother is completely unhealthy. Of course, this gives Ben and Reese some common ground and something to start a meaningful relationship on. That and hot sex. That always helps.

I loved the slow build of their relationship. It took Ben and Reese awhile to actually come together in a meaningful way. They seem to become good friends first, helping each other out of some sticky situations. Ben helps Reese get over her ex, and Reese helps Ben on his parents' citrus farm. And, in return, they reform their wild ways (at least with the opposite sex) and focus on each other. 

I'm so sad to see this series come to an end, but based on the characters that K.A. Tucker has created in her Ten Tiny Breaths series, I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Read on for an excerpt from Five Ways to Fall...

Excerpt

Reese

   The first forkful of pie is sliding into my mouth when my phone comes alive with the sound of minions singing the banana song.
   “Happy Monday,” I mutter into the phone.
   “I hate numbers.”
   “It’s a good thing you won’t be dealing with them on a daily basis for the next forty years, then.” Lina finished her undergrad degree last spring and passed her CPA exam with flying colors. Now she’s working at a small accounting firm down the street to collect a year of experience before she can apply for her license.
   “What are you doing?” she asks.
   “Hiding from karma at Bayside.”
   “Don’t drink the coffee,” she warns.
   “Too late,” I mutter, swirling the last bit of the toxic substance in my mug. Every time I come here, I order a cup to go with my chocolate pecan pie. It’s habit, I guess. There’s no other explanation. The coffee is weak, it has a salty aftertaste, and there’s always a weird film at the bottom of the cup. No one with taste buds would like this crap.
   With a heavy sigh, I divulge the horror of my day.
   “So Mason is friends with your botched exorcism,” she states flatly. I can always count on Lina to lay it out like it is. No beating around the bush. No softening the blow. “What did the guy say to you?”
   “That I owe him a new shirt.”
   She snorts. “Well, he’s got you there.”
   “Thanks.”
   “Maybe I’ll take a break and swing by. We can mock people together,” Lina offers. Another plus to this job: having my best friend only four blocks away from me.
   “Don’t bother. I’ve been here for two hours. I actually have to go back to the office. The law bot dumped three new cases on my desk today.”
   “Fine. Do you want to come over for dinner sometime this week? Nicki’s cooking.”
   “Does it involve turkey bacon?”
   “All unconventional meats have been banned.” Since Lina owns the small two-bedroom-plus-den condo that they moved into, she is well within her power to stop Nicki from inflicting others with her strange dietary preferences.
   “Then I’m in.”
   “Okay, good.” There’s a pause, and then Lina sighs. “Look, there’s something I need to tell you.”
   “Well, this doesn’t sound promising.” I shove a large piece of pie in my mouth.
   “It all depends on whether you want your best friend, the one who sticks up for you, has lied to the police for you, has gone along with all of your harebrained ideas, to be happy.”
   “You’ve never lied to the police for me.”
   “Senior year. The bottle of vodka in the trunk when we got pulled over.”
   “Fine. One time,” I heave with exasperation. “What has that earned you today?”
   “Well, I’ve started seeing someone that you may not . . .”
   Lina’s voice blurs as I watch a ginger-haired woman flounce through the patio, her purse swinging on her arm, as happy as any home-wrecking husband thief could possibly be.
   “Oh my God!” Chunks of piecrust get sucked down my throat with my gasp, stirring up a cough that I struggle to suppress. “It’s her!” I hiss.

About the Author

Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

Learn more about K.A. Tucker --> Website / Twitter / Facebook

 


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