BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Inner Core (Stark #2)

Welcome to my stop on the Inner Core blog tour, organized by Xpresso Book Tours! Read on for my review, then enter to win a $100 Amazon gift card. And, don't forget to check out the other stops on the tour.

Inner Core (Stark #2), by Sigal Ehrlich
Published January 25, 2014
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-book, provided by the author and Xpresso Book Tours
Genre:  adult contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon

Rating:  3.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) When Hayley makes a resolution to take back the control over her life, and declare their relationship R.I.P, it’s all good in theory…

That is until Daniel decides to prove her wrong and get her back.

Together, Hayley and Daniel seem to have it all. But can love ever be enough when two strong personalities collide and while reality takes the lead?

Faced with more obstacles than she could have ever bargain for when it comes to Daniel, struggling to keep her own identity while sharing a life with her man. Buds of doubt start rooting in Hayley’s confidence, making her rethink her decision.

And just when it seems that they might make it together after all, life happens. Bringing a threat that neither Hayley nor Daniel could ever anticipate, a threat that could break them apart forever .

Daniel is the sexiest, most awesome nerd ever, and I love him to itty, bitty pieces. Sigal Erlich did a fantastic job bringing him to life in Inner Core.

After he and Hayley had a falling-out at the end of Layers, Daniel is determined to get her back at all costs. He knows that nothing short of a grand gesture will do. After winning her back, Daniel thinks it's time for them to start living their lives together. But, Hayley still seems intent on putting the breaks. Is whatever is causing her mental block going to spell the end of their relationship forever?

I've got to be honest with you. Hayley made me want to throw something during most of the time I read Inner Core. She was constantly whining, waffling and wallowing in indecision. More than that, she treated Daniel terribly. 

Despite his mistakes, Daniel strives to make amends from the very beginning. He makes the necessary grand gestures we all love to see from the men in our books. He says all the pretty words and is willing to make the big commitments. Mad props to Daniel for putting up with what few men would. 

Hayley strung Daniel along in the worst way. I say the worst way, because she actually had feelings for him. She really did love him. There should've been no roadblocks to her naturally moving forward with him in their relationship. But, instead, she made excuses in order to maintain her independence, as if it's a mutually exclusive thing. Her conversations with Daniel go something like..

"I love you SO MUCH, Daniel. I never want us to be apart. I can't picture my life without you! But, wait. A commitment?? Pfftht. You must have me confused with someone else. Let me have a drawer for a few years. Then, maaaaaaybe you can talk me into a few feet of your closet. But, I really love you. I want to be together with you forever. I just don't want to marry you. Or live with you. Or have anything with you that's labeled with any sort of permanancy. But, I love you, baby."

Infuriating. 

But, once she got over her stupid hang-ups, that's when things got good. I wish it would've happened earlier in the story, but I'll take what I can get. Daniel's job gets him in a sticky situation  that causes Hayley to question how she's been going about things. Her epiphany was a long time coming and very much wanted. And then the after... it made it all worth it. The very end was pretty darn amazing and totally swoony. I loved it. 

Despite the fact that I had a hard time getting behind Hayley and her motives for doing... well, most everything... Daniel made it all worth it. Overall, it was a good ending to their story. 

About the Author

By teen age, Sigal already lived in three different continents where she had the luck to experience and visit varied places, meet unique people, which only helped fuel her overly developed imagination. Currently, Sigal calls Estonia home where she lives with her husband and three kids.

Not exactly sure where they will end up next…

When she is not hiding in her office, writing, she enjoys music, reading and taking care of her little clan.

With a great believe in "don’t wait for things to happen - make them happen," she enjoys anything exciting life has to offer.

Learn more about Sigal Ehrlich --> Facebook / Website / Twitter

Giveaway

Enter to win a $100 Amazing gift card or a signed copy of Inner Core.

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REVIEW: Fire & Flood (Fire & Flood #1)

Fire & Flood (Fire & Flood #1), by Victoria Scott
To Be Published February 25, 2014
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Format: ARC, obtained from the publisher
Genre: young adult sci-fi/fantasy
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

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

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

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

I've heard Fire & Flood described as a cross between The Hunger Games and Survivor. I, personally, feel like that's putting this incredible book in too small of a box. Certainly, there are elements of the best-selling book and the popular TV show in this story about a girl who enters an extreme race in order to save her brother's life. But, Victoria Scott has infused her unique style and some truly unique elements which make Fire & Flood something truly special.

Tella's brother is dying. There's not much hope when she receives a blue box with an earpiece that invites her to be a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. If she wins, her brother will live. Despite the fact that the mall is her temple and she never leaves home without her mascara, Tella sets out for parts unknown, determined to do what she has to. Along the way, she makes friends and enemies and experiences things that will change her forever.

Victoria Scott has an incredible ability to create complex and compelling characters, both main characters and the ones on the periphery. Tella is the main character, and the enigmatic Guy becomes the object of her affection. Harper, Caroline, Ransom, Titus - all of the members of Tella's gang in the race have distinct personalities, and I loved discovering more about them as the book went on. Tella is an amazing character. On the surface, she seems superficial and certainly not cut out for spending two weeks in the rain forest. But, it doesn't take long for her drive and determination to override the lack of flush toilets. She truly loves her brother and will put other things aside for him. 

My dad didn't think I could do this... But, maybe he doesn't know his little girl as well as he'd like to believe. Because when it comes to doing something for my family, I'm not just his daughter. I am strong. I will be strong for my brother. 

The Brimstone Bleed seems to amplify personality traits that they usually keep buried. Harper is confident, so in the Bleed, she easily becomes the leader. Titus was probably a bully in real life. In the Bleed, be becomes an outright villain. Guy was probably always the strong, silent type. In the Bleed, he was incredible, capable and mysterious.

In a race where there can only be one winner, Tella is unusually compassionate. In the beginning, she came off as superficial and materialistic. Until she got around her brother - then, she softened and seemed willing to do whatever he wanted of her. That softness really came out when she had no choice but to put aside her "stuff" and fight to survive. She was quick to form bonds with other Contenders. She also has a particularly soft spot for the Pandoras. 

Ah yes - the Pandoras. This is easily my favorite part of Fire & Flood. Each Contender starts the race with an egg. The egg hatches and the animal that comes out is genetically enhanced in unique ways to assist the Contender with winning the race. These animals are amazing. There's a lion who breaths fire, a raccoon that can produce spikes and a cheetah who can produce night lights from its eyes. But, Tella's Pandora, who she names Madox, is the most amazing of them all with some surprising abilities that make him coveted by all the other Contenders. 

These Pandoras are one of the most unique things I've seen in a book in a very long time. Let's face it - most plot devices have been done before. Many times over. I have NEVER seen anything like the Pandoras before. Bravo, Victoria Scott - you have one wicked creative mind. 

All the characters in Fire & Flood were so colorful and incredible. But, Guy - holy smokes was he cool. He wasn't drop dead gorgeous like so many boys in books. But, he had a quiet strength that more than made up for it. And, the way he cared for Tella - even from the very first moment they saw each other - was endearing. The romance between them was slow to develop, but it was perfect for the story. 

I feel like I could go on and on about all the things I loved about this book. Bottom line, this is a fantastic page-turner full of amazing characters and a uniqueness that you don't even realize you're craving. Do yourself a favor and read it as soon as you can.

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 Books That Will Make You Swoon

1. Taut: The Ford Book, by J.A. Huss - At first glance, you wouldn't think someone as abrasive and offensive as Ford Aston could make you swoon. But, give him the right girl, a little time and a sweet baby, and I promise you, you will see why jelly legs come standard with this book.

“We've got our whole lives to get it right and be together. I'll grow old with you, Ashleigh. We'll do this together.” 

2. Pulse (Collide #2), by Gail McHugh - As frustrating as Emily was in Collide (Collide #1), Gavin was equally as incredible in Pulse. He somehow always says and does the right things. And, he's rich, gorgeous and protective of what's his.

“I want to break the rules with you. Kiss you passionately every day. Make you smile when you’re about to cry. I want no regrets with us. I want us to laugh together until we can’t breathe and it hurts. No man will ever love you the way I’m going to love you, Emily. You’re it. My last. My forever.”

3. Before Jamaica Lane (On Dublin Street #3), by Samantha Young - Nick and Olivia seemed to have it all. They were besties and then they fell in love. Then, as it happens so many times in books like these, Nick's head gets in the way and messes things up. When he realizes his mistake, the lengths he goes to to prove his love to Liv is impressive.

“You're not ready to hear this yet," he concluded. "But I do need you to know that I'm going to fight for you. I'm not making the mistake of walking away from you again. The only man in your future is me, Liv. The only kids in your future are mine.” 

4. Deity (Covenant #3), by Jennifer L. Armentrout - Aiden St. Delphi has topped my list of favorite book boyfriends for a few years now. Deity is my favorite book in his Covenant series because it is in this book that he finally makes his feelings about Alex known. No matter if he's speaking English or Greek, everything that comes out of his mouth absolutely makes my heart melt.

“I can’t keep pretending that I don’t want this – that I don’t want you. I can’t. Not after what happened to you. It thought… I thought I’d lost you, Alex, forever. And I would’ve lost everything. You are my everything.” 

5. Sweet Peril (Sweet Evil #2), by Wendy Higgins - Kai is the ultimate bad boy. He's in a band. He's British. He's the son of a demon. And, yet, Anna manages to tame him. Somehow, because of who he is, when Kai professes his love to Anna, it is so much sweeter (pun intended).

“I love you," I whispered.

"I've loved you longer," he said. 


6. Origin (Lux #4), by Jennifer L. Armentrout - Daemon spent so long fronting when it came to his feelings about Katy. For three books, he withheld the L- word. He made up for lost time in Origin. When I wasn't cringing, I was most definitely swooning. Origin gave me a huge case of the sighs.

“I want to marry you because I'm in love with you, Kat. I will always be in love with you. That's not going to change today or two weeks from now. I will be just as in love with you in twenty years as I am today.” 


7. This Girl (Slammed #3), by Colleen Hoover - As if you didn't already know how incredible Will Cooper was, reading the recap of both Slammed and Point of Retreat from his POV will make you weak in the knees. He loved Layken so much nearly from the very beginning. Everything they went through to get to their HEA makes for the most amazing love story.

“She deserves to be kissed by someone who loves her. Someone who spends every waking moment trying to do everything right by her. Someone who would rather die than see her hurt. She doesn't deserve to be kissed by anyone other than me.” 

8. Losing It (Losing It #1), by Cora Carmack - Garrick was awesomely amazing. He's protective and jealous and sweet. He takes care of Bliss when she's sick. He is patient with her. And, he loves cats. Oh - and, he reads Shakespeare in bars If that isn't swoon-worthy, I don't know what is.

“I’ll remind you every day how amazing it feels when your body touches mine. I’ll remind you of the good times, and help you forget the bad. I’ll remind you who you are when life has beaten you down and made you doubt it. I’ll bust down your door in the middle of the night and kiss you until you remember that your fears are just that, and they can’t control you. I’ll take my chances against your fickle heart if it means it’s mine.” 

9. Dragonfly In Amber (Outlander #2), by Diana Gabaldon - Let's face it. If you are at all familiar with the Outlander series, you know that I could've picked any book in this series for this list. Jamie is absolutely the swooniest. But, my favorite in the series is Dragonfly In Amber. It is full of the best and most dynamic moments - and the best lines.

“Blood of my Blood," he whispered, "and bone of my bone. You carry me within ye, Claire, and ye canna leave me now, no matter what happens. You are mine, always, if ye will it or no, if ye want me or nay. Mine, and I wilna let ye go.”

 
10. Forever Too Far (Too Far #3), by Abbi Glines - That wedding! The baby!! OMG - there was SO MUCH to swoon over in this book. Rush was amazing, and his words and actions all backed up the fact that he loves Blaire more than anyone else on Earth.

“What changed you? You’re so completely different than that guy I met back in June,” I said, smiling at his confused face.

Rush reached out and slipped his hand into my hair and tangled his fingers around the strands. “This sweet, determined, sexy-as-hell blonde walked into my life and gave me a reason to live.”