First Lines Friday (3) Trigger by Scarlett Dawn

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?  If you want to make your own post, feel free to use or edit the banner above, and follow the rules below:

• Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
• Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
• Finally… reveal the book!

"Are you going to beg again?" Logan asked."

 The Book:

Trigger by Scarlett Dawn

Waiting on Wednesday (170) Freefall by Joshua David Bellin

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, created by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on:

Freefall by Joshua David Bellin

In the Upperworld, the privileged 1% are getting ready to abandon a devastated planet Earth. And Cam can’t wait to leave. After sleeping through a 1,000-year journey, he and his friends will have a pristine new planet to colonize. And no more worries about the Lowerworld and its 99% of rejects.

Then Cam sees a banned video feed of protesters in the Lowerworld who also want a chance at a new life. And he sees a girl with golden eyes who seems to be gazing straight though the feed directly at him. A girl he has to find. Sofie.

When Cam finds Sofie, she opens his eyes to the unfairness of what’s happening in their world, and Cam joins her cause for Lowerworld rights. He also falls hard for Sofie. But Sofie has her own battles to fight, and when it’s time to board the spaceships, Cam is alone.

Waking up 1,000 years in the future, Cam discovers that he and his shipmates are far off-course, trapped on an unknown and hostile planet. Who has sabotaged their ship? And does it have anything to do with Sofie, and the choices—and the enemies—he made in the past? (Blurb via Goodreads)

Expected publication: September 26, 2017 

What are you waiting on?

Teaser Tuesday (153) The List by Tawna Fenske

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read(s)
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) -- or less or more -- “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

“She laughs, and the tension between us is smashed into a million bits. I've wanted her from the second I walked through the door, but I want her more now.”

The List by Tawna Fenske

First Line Friday (2) Nemesis by Anna Banks

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?  If you want to make your own post, feel free to use or edit the banner above, and follow the rules below:

• Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
• Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
• Finally… reveal the book!

"If I were not such a coward, I would hurl myself from Nuna's back and plummet to the Underneath below."

 The Book:

Nemesis by Anna Banks

Waiting on Wednesday (169) Royally Roma (The Royals #1) by Teri Wilson

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, created by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on:

Royally Roma (The Royals #1) by Teri Wilson

In this charming, modern retelling of the classic Audrey Hepburn film Roman Holiday, a royal prince tries to escape his hectic and rigid life and ends up leading a young graduate student on a chase through the Eternal City.

Julia Costa is too busy trying to complete her PhD while also holding down a full-time job as a private tour guide in Rome to keep up with celebrity gossip. So when she crosses paths with a real, actual prince, she mistakes him for a client and takes him on a daylong tour of the city.

Intrigued by the idea of spending time with someone who obviously has no idea who he is, and delighted at the prospect of a day free of royal obligations, Niccolo La Torre, Crown Prince of Lazaretto, acts on impulse and assumes the role of Julia’s client. He swears to himself that he’ll return to his royal duties after only half a day…but he’s having the time of his life.

Until Julia presents him with the bill. Since he snuck out of the hotel without so much as a dime, he tries to escape, only to discover that she won’t let him out of her sight until he can pay her back. She’s determined to get her money…and perhaps more from the handsome stranger she’s fallen for. (Blurb via Goodreads)

Expected publication: March 27, 2017 

What are you waiting on?

Teaser Tuesday (152) About a Dragon by G.A. Aiken

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read(s)
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) -- or less or more -- “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

"“What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” She coughed, and released Talaith’s hand. “Except
you have some powerful enemies.”
“Tell me what I don’t know, witch.”
“Powerful enemies who are gods.”
For a moment, Annwyl was shocked beyond all reason…then
she shrugged. “Now that I think of it—I don’t know why I would be
surprised.”

About a Dragon by G.A. Aiken

First Line Fridays (1)

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?  If you want to make your own post, feel free to use or edit the banner above, and follow the rules below:

• Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
• Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
• Finally… reveal the book!

"A hundred doves burst out of the pie.
I don't know why I was surprised."

 The Book:

 Long May She Reign by Rhiannon Thomas

Waiting on Wednesday (168) Wolf Hunt (SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team #6) by Paige Tyler

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, created by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on:

Wolf Hunt (SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team #6) by Paige Tyler 

A STORM IS BREWING...
Remy Boudreaux is back in his hometown, New Orleans. He's there with three of his fellow Dallas SWAT officers for a week of training with the NOLA PD. On the eve of a tropical storm, Remy and his buddies prowl the French Quarter. One tantalizing scent captures Remy's senses, forcing him to follow until he is face to face with Triana Bellamy—his beautiful high school crush.

After reconnecting, Remy and Triana are close—very. Remy struggles to keep things casual. Ever since his partner—and first love—was killed on the job, he's kept women at a distance.

But when a mysterious wolf pendant ropes them both into danger, Remy's protective instincts kick in. He may have to reveal his true self...and hope Triana accepts him. (Blurb via Goodreads)

Expected publication: June 6, 2017 

What are you waiting on?

Teaser Tuesday (151) Magic Revealed by Linsey Hall

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read(s)
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) -- or less or more -- “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

"Nothing about us is normal."
"True." Her grin turned serious. " But there's quirky not normal and you need a brain scan not normal.”

&

"It was always the bookish ones you had to be worried about. They knew shit."

Magic Revealed by Linsey Hall

Waiting on Wednesday (167) Blade Bound (Chicagoland Vampires #13) by Chloe Neill

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, created by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on:

Blade Bound (Chicagoland Vampires #13) by Chloe Neill

The thrilling final installment of Chloe Neill’s New York Times bestselling urban fantasy series sees a sinister sorcery advancing across Chicago, and it may usher in the fall of Cadogan House…

Since the night of her brutal attack and unwilling transformation to vampire, Merit’s stood as Sentinel and protector of Chicago’s Cadogan House. She's saved the Windy City from the forces of darkness time and again with her liege and lover, Ethan Sullivan, by her side.

When the House is infiltrated and Merit is attacked by a vampire seemingly under the sway of dark magic, Merit and Ethan realize the danger is closer than they could have ever imagined. As a malign sorcery spreads throughout the city, Merit must go to war against supernatural powers beyond her comprehension. It’s her last chance to save everything—and everyone—she loves. (Blurb via Goodreads)

Expected publication: April 25, 2017 

What are you waiting on?

(eARC Minute Review) The Girl's Got Secrets (Forbidden Men #7) by Linda Kage

The Girl's Got Secrets (Forbidden Men #7) by Linda Kage

Here’s the same old “girl posing as a boy” story but with a rock-n-roll twist.

Remy Curran dreams of one day being in a band, except the group she wants to join refuses to hire a girl drummer. So, she auditions as a guy...and makes the cut.

Becoming “Sticks,” a member of Non-Castrato, isn’t quite what she dreamed it would be, though. She spends most of her time keeping up the subterfuge and learning how to walk, talk, act, and drink like a man.

But what’s even harder to deal with is acting oblivious when the band’s heartthrob lead singer, Asher Hart, treats her like one of the guys and not a woman. She never imagined he’d be so much more than a pretty face with a nice voice. But he’s better than perfect. He’s perfect for her.

When love and lies combine, Remy must keep up the act or lose everything. But who knew lying to reach one dream could prevent you from attaining an even bigger dream? (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} ebook, 426 pages. Published November 28th 2015 by Self-Published. Source: eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 3/5 - I liked it!

{Review}

 

I liked the premise - even if some elements were over the top and a bit unbelievable. Remy has gotten herself into quite a sticky situation. She's a talented drummer and deserved to have her shot auditioning for the band so I can't really blame her for doing whatever it took. But once in the band, once she gets close to Asher, she realizes she may have gotten in the band but all her lies may cost her everything. Poor Asher has a sad story and the more I learned about him, the more I liked him. I loved seeing his relationship with Sticks, with Pick, with Mozart. My favorite part of the book was after the truth came out, seeing how both Remy and Asher deal with the fallout, with forgiveness, with the hurts of the past and finding their way to happiness.

Teaser Tuesday (150) Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read(s)
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) -- or less or more -- “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

“Do you not listen to our daily meetings about the state of your lands?”
“Of course I don’t. They’re dead boring.”
“Not everything can involve bloodshed, Annwyl.”
“Can’t you come get me when there is bloodshed? Otherwise just leave me alone to read.”

Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken 

{eARC Review} Call to Honor (Team Poseidon #1) by Tawny Weber

The Poseidon team are hard-bodied, fiercely competitive navy SEALs. But when a sensitive mission goes disastrously wrong, three of the team's finest will have to trust their hearts and instincts to uncover the truth…

"No man left behind" is inscribed in the DNA of every SEAL and Lieutenant Diego Torres is no exception. But with a team member killed—and the body missing—Diego's honor is sorely tested. Now his career and reputation are on the line, and a traitor is hiding among them. Diego wants answers…and only one woman has them.

Single mom Harper Maclean has two priorities—raising her son Nathan and starting a new life. Her mysterious new neighbor may be impossibly charming, but Diego asks too many questions about her past—and about the father of her child. Questions she fears will reveal her burning attraction for Diego, and ultimately put them all in danger's path. (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC, 384 pages. Published January 31st 2017 by Harlequin Books. Source: eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

{Rating} 5/5 - I loved it

{Rating}

I loved this one. I was drawn in from the first page. Tawny Weber does a great job of introducing her characters. You get to see who they are, their personalities, motivations, and more, quickly, but organically. 

Diego is a great hero. He's all about honor. About doing the right thing. He struggles with the concept that one of the 'brothers' in his SEAL team is a traitor, he just can't believe any of them aren't as honorable as he is. He also isn't sure what to do about Harper and Nathan. Diego hates the idea of lying to Harper, of grilling her and her son for information, but he's a guy who gets the job done even if it's hard.

Harper is a strong, devoted heroine. She's pulled herself out of challenging circumstances and built a stable, happy life for her and her son. Nathan was an adorable kid. He lets us see the softer side of Diego, the warm, protective Harper but also their fiercer sides.

The story flows well, slowly unfolding the mystery of the traitor (even if it's not a big mystery), but still leaving me interested in how things will turn out.

By the end of Call to Honor Tawny Weber has shown me enough about Team Poseidon that I'm eager to see what's going to happen next. This may be my first Tawny Weber novel but it definitely won't be the last.

Waiting on Wednesday (166) The Glass Spare (The Glass Spare #1) by Lauren DeStefano

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, created by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on:

 The Glass Spare (The Glass Spare #1) by Lauren DeStefano

A banished princess.
A deadly curse.
A kingdom at war.

Wil Heidle, the only daughter of the king of the world’s wealthiest nation, has grown up in the shadows. Kept hidden from the world in order to serve as a spy for her father—whose obsession with building his empire is causing a war—Wil wants nothing more than to explore the world beyond her kingdom, if only her father would give her the chance.

Until one night Wil is attacked, and she discovers a dangerous secret. Her touch turns people into gemstone. At first Wil is horrified—but as she tests its limits, she’s drawn more and more to the strange and volatile ability. When it leads to tragedy, Wil is forced to face the destructive power within her and finally leave her home to seek the truth and a cure.

But finding the key to her redemption puts her in the path of a cursed prince who has his own ideas for what to do with her power.

With a world on the brink of war and a power of ultimate destruction, can Wil find a way to help the kingdom that’s turned its back on her, or will she betray her past and her family forever? (Blurb via Goodreads)

Expected publication: October 24, 2017 

What are you waiting on?