Monday, November 16, 2015

{eARC Review} Walk Through Fire (Chaos #4) by Kristen Ashley

Walk Through Fire (Chaos, #4)
Walk Through Fire (Chaos #4) by Kristen Ashley
Millie Cross knows what it's like to burn for someone. She was young and wild and he was fierce and even wilder-a Chaos biker who made her heart pound. They fell in love at first sight and life was good, until she learned she couldn't be the woman he needed and made it so he had no choice but to walk away. Twenty years later, Millie's chance run-in with her old flame sparks a desire she just can't ignore. And this time, she won't let him ride off . . .

Bad boy Logan "High" Judd has seen his share of troubles with the law. Yet it was a beautiful woman who broke him. After ending a loveless marriage, High is shocked when his true love walks back into his life. Millie is still gorgeous, but she's just a ghost of her former self. High's intrigued at the change, but her betrayal cut him deep-and he doesn't want to get burned again. As High sinks into meting out vengeance for Millie's betrayal, he'll break all over again when he realizes just how Millie walked through fire for her man . . .
(Blurb via Goodreads)
{Details} eARC, 615 pages. Published October 27th 2015 by Forever. Source: eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review


{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it!
{Review}
I'm conflicted. I gave Walk Through Fire four stars, meaning I really liked it and I did. I also hated it. I cried my way through most of it. The first third was agonizing, the pain of now, the flashbacks to happy times but knowing it would end, and end badly. It does get better, the joy of rediscovery, but it's also bittersweet. Rebuilding is emotional, they've changed, experienced things, but ultimately makes them stronger. 

I think Millie was one of the most loving, self-sacrificing, confused girls I've ever met. She sacrifices everything, is living this sad little half life, and when we finally find out why she did what she did I was both awed at her sacrifice, and knowing Millie, the depth of her love, it is exactly what she'd do. I also wanted to smack her up side the head - hard - because she was also ridiculously stupid. I liked her endless capacity of love, her generous spirit, and was happy to see her finally get her happily ever after.
I hated Logan. A lot. For quite a while. But once we see his point of view it's hard not to understand his pain too. And then seeing Logan with his kids, with his brothers, when he's sweet and tender with Millie, I liked what I saw. But he's also hot headed, quick to act - and overreact.

Full of Kristen Ashley's trademark alpha males and sassy, independent women with drama and passion on every page. If you're a fan of the Chaos series or Kristen Ashley you won't be disappointed.

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Stacking the Shelves (124)


 Stacking The Shelves, a weekly meme from Tynga's Reviews
where I list what I've read, what I've reviewed, what I've acquired
and anything else worth mentioning
  • Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry
  • Wicked Desire by Ava Alexia
  • Playing Games by Liliana Rhodes
  • Tall, Dark and Polar by Maria Amor
  • Tiger Lily 2 by Amelie S Duncan
  • Tiger Lily 3 by Amelie S Duncan
  • Pin Down by Kaily Hart
  • Tackling Summer by Kayla Dawn Thomas
  • Awakening by Samantha Long
  • Soar by Alyssa Rose Ivy
  • Rising Shadows by Bridget Blackwood


Umm. Check back later this week.
Book image property of Microsoft  

Friday, November 13, 2015

M9B Friday Reveal: Author Spotlight – Krystalyn Drown with Giveaway #M9BFridayReveals

M9B Friday Reveal: Author Spotlight – Krystalyn Drown with Giveaway #M9BFridayReveals
M9B-Friday-Reveal-Bannernew
 
Welcome to this week’s M9B Friday Reveal!
This week, we are featuring
Krystalyn Drown
author of Tracy Tam: Santa Command, a Tantrum Books Title!
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!
 
Krystalyn Drown
Krystalyn spent thirteen years working at Walt Disney World in a variety of roles: entertainer, talent coordinator, and character captain. Her degree in theatre as well as many, many hours spent in a dance studio, helped with her job there. Her various other day jobs have included working in zoology at Sea World, as an elementary teacher, and currently as a support technician for a website. In the evenings, she does mad writing challenges with her sister, who is also an author. Krystalyn lives near Orlando, Florida with her husband, son, a were cat, and a Yorkie with a Napoleon complex.
Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube
 
When I was a child, my Christmas traditions were pretty simple. I would get up and open my presents. Then, I would have Christmas dinner (always turkey, green beans, dressing, cranberry sauce shaped like a can, and the most amazing homemade rolls you could ever taste) with my mom’s side of the family.
After dinner, my dad’s parents would come get me. I would go over to their house and repeat. Presents, dinner, and spending the night with my cousin giggling under the covers as we did our best to stay awake as long as possible.
As I grew older, our families were separated by distance, so those traditions gradually faded away.
As an adult, I have made my own traditions with my husband and my son. Whether we celebrate at home in Florida or with family in Indiana, we have some things that are always the same.
Our Elf on the Shelf, Elfie, does his best to win Cutest Elf of the Year.
 
Elf on the Shelf
 
We wear matching pajamas.
 
Family
 
And we make amazing memories with our family. Because no matter how traditions change, all that really matters is the time we spend with those we care about. A night spent playing board games or a drive to look at Christmas lights can create memories that last forever.
Although, I do have one tradition that always stays the same. I still have to have my cranberry sauce shaped like a can.
 
Cranberry Sauce
 
Tracy-Tam-Cover
Tracy doesn’t believe that Santa can deliver all of those presents in one night with out a little help from science. A flying sleigh can only be powered by jet engines, and Santa’s magical abilities can only be the result of altered DNA. In order to test her theories, she sneaks onto Santa’s sleigh and ends up at Santa Command, the place where a team of humans monitors Santa’s big night. When Tracy attempts to hack into their computers, she accidentally introduces a virus to their system. As a result, three states get knocked out of sync with the rest of the world. Before the night is over, Tracy has to fix time and help Santa finish his deliveries. And she has to do it all with Santa’s magic, which she doesn’t believe exists.
add to goodreads
 
Giveaway
Complete the Rafflecopter for a chance to win!
 
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Thursday, November 12, 2015

M9B Two for Thursday Book Blitz: A Whispered Darkness by Vanessa Barger and Fire in the Woods by Jennifer M. Eaton with Giveaway #T4T

M9B Two for Thursday Book Blitz: A Whispered Darkness by Vanessa Barger and Fire in the Woods by Jennifer M. Eaton with Giveaway #T4T
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Welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday Book Blitz #T4T presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!
Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy, and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!
You just might find your next read!
This week, #T4T presents to you:
A Whispered Darkness by Vanessa Barger and Fire in the Woods by Jennifer M. Eaton
Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!
 
A-Whispered-Darkness-Cover
When Claire Mallory’s father leaves, her mom moves them to a new town and into a dilapidated Victorian house.
The old house creaks and whistles, and smells well — like it’s been abandoned for years. But as the nights grow longer and the shadows take on substance, Claire wonders if the strange sounds and occurrences might be more than the house showing its age.
Just as things start to pick up in Claire’s love life, her mother becomes possessed. In an attempt to save her mother and their new home, Claire enlists the help of two boys, each of whom is interested in Claire for different reasons. As she chooses one boy over the other, something dangerous is unleashed, and the spirits make their move.
They aren’t content to moan and scream inside Claire’s house, or even control her mom. They want a taste of freedom, and she’s their key to getting it. But is Claire strong enough to fight off the evil spirits, or will they claim her and her mom before it’s all over?
add to goodreads
 
WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:
 
“Drama, romance, a girl who can talk to ghosts and a possessed mom made for a cool weekend afternoon read” – Laurie Treacy, Author
 
“A Whispered Darkness did not disappoint. If you like ghost stories, you'll want to add this one to your TBR list” – Kimber Leigh Wheaton, Author
 
“As a non-horror reader, A WHISPERED DARKNESS kept a strong creepy thing without taking it overboard.” – Jennifer, The Dragon Blog
 
about-the-author
 
Vanessa Barger was born in West Virginia, and through several moves ended up spending the majority of her life in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She is a graduate of George Mason University and Old Dominion University, and has degrees in Graphic Design, a minor in Medieval and Renaissance Literature, and a Masters in Technology Education. She has had articles published in Altered Arts Magazine, has had some artwork displayed in galleries in Ohio and online, and currently teaches engineering, practical physics, drafting and other technological things to high school students in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. She is a member of the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and the Virginia Writer's Club. When not writing or teaching, she’s a bookaholic, movie fanatic, and loves to travel. She has one cat, who believes Vanessa lives only to open cat food cans, and can often be found baking when she should be editing.
Connect with the Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest |YouTube
 
Fire-in-the-Woods-Cover
When a plane crashes in the woods near Jess’s home, the boy of her dreams falls out of the sky—literally. But David’s not here to find a girlfriend. He’s from another planet, and if Jess can’t help him get back to his ship, he’ll be stuck on Earth with nothing to look forward to but the pointy end of a dissection scalpel.
But her father runs their house like an army barracks, and with an alien on the loose, Major Dad isn’t too keen on the idea of Jess going anywhere. Ever. So how the heck is she supposed to help the sweetest, strangest, and cutest guy she’s ever met?
Hiding him in her room probably isn’t the best idea. Especially since her Dad is in charge of the squadron searching for David. That doesn’t mean she won’t do it. It just means she can’t get caught.
Helping David get home while protecting her heart—that’s gonna be the hard part. After all, she can’t really fall for a guy who’s not exactly from here.
As they race through the woods with Major Dad and most of the U.S. military one breath behind them, Jess and David grow closer than either of them anticipated. But all is not what it seems. David has a genocide-sized secret, and one betrayal later, they are both in handcuffs as alien warships are positioning themselves around the globe. Time is ticking down to Armageddon, and Jess must think fast if she’s to save the boy she cares about without sacrificing Earth—and everyone on it.
add to goodreads
 
WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:
 
“David is the alien and the way Jennifer M. Eaton describes him as an alien is soo interesting!” – Brianna, Brianna's Bookish Confessions
 
“Overall, this novel surpassed my expectations. Truly a job well done and I’m already dying to get my hands on Ashes in the Sky, book two in the series!” – Kayla, Goodreads Reviewer
 
“Overall it's a quick fun and entertaining read alien fans everywhere will enjoy. It's been a good while since I've read a really good alien book and Fire in the Woods provided a much needed dose.” – Angela, Souther Bred Southern Read
 
about-the-author
Jennifer M. Eaton
Corporate Team Leader by day, and Ranting Writer by night. Jennifer M. Eaton calls the East Coast of the USA home, where she lives with her husband, three energetic boys, and a pepped up poodle.
Jennifer hosts an informational blog “A Reference of Writing Rants for Writers (or Learn from My Mistakes)” aimed at helping all writers be the best they can be.
Beyond writing and motivating others, she also enjoys teaching her dog to jump through hoops—literally.
Jennifer’s perfect day includes long hikes in the woods, bicycling, swimming, snorkeling, and snuggling up by the fire with a great book; but her greatest joy is using her over-active imagination constructively… creating new worlds for everyone to enjoy.
 
Giveaway
Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!
 
Chapter-by-Chapter-blog-tour-button
 

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday (121) Resist (Redzone #2) by Tracey Martin





"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: 

Truth is a powerful weapon…but explosives never hurt.

Sophia can run but she can’t hide. RedZone is on her tail and those of the six tech-augmented soldiers who escaped its clutches with her. If she could only focus on fighting her way to safety, she might live long enough to disappear. But it’s not just her own backside she needs to watch out for.

At her side is her boyfriend, Kyle. He’s the reason she found the courage to escape, and she’ll do anything to keep him and his secrets out of RedZone’s hands. Only problem is, since she was once sent to capture him, he has good reason not to trust her.

In fact, there’s not much trust to go around. RedZone keeps finding them, suggesting someone is a traitor. And if that’s not enough to recapture the group, the organization has a backup plan. One that will force Sophia and Kyle to choose between safety and risking everything one more time.

Warning: Contains killer robots, mutant college students, and dangerous super soldiers. And those are the good guys. It’s enough to make a rogue assassin wish she were taking her philosophy final instead.
(Blurb via Goodreads)

Expected publication: November 17, 2015
What are you waiting on?

Monday, November 9, 2015

{Release Blast + $100 GC Giveaway} How to Lose A Bachelor by Anna Banks


Enter to Win a 
$100.00 Amazon eGift Card


HOW TO LOSE A BACHELOR
Anna Banks
Releasing Nov 9th, 2015
Entangled: Bliss


When Rochelle Ransom auditioned for the dating show Luring Love, she had big plans for winning the prize money to help her favorite charity–and if she won the hot bachelor's heart, even better. But at the last minute she finds out the hot bachelor is her ex-boyfriend, Grant Drake. Desperate to keep her distance from him, she'll do anything–and everything–to get voted off.

Years ago, Rochelle broke Grant’s heart, and he's out for revenge. There's no way he'll vote her off.  After all, vengeance is a dish best served red-hot...and on live television.

When her hilarious antics to get kicked off the show escalate, Grant’s reminded why he fell in love with her the first time. Now he isn't sure which might be more fun... Seeing how far Rochelle is willing to go to get away or how far he will to keep her forever.

BUY NOW
Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes

{Excerpt}

Grant crossed his arms. “Really? Because I asked around too, and several of our lovely contestants said the ‘wardrobe malfunction’ was that she refused to put on any dress chosen for her. You realize why she wore a FSU shirt, don’t you, Richie. I hate that team. And as for ratings, I don’t give a rat’s—”
            “Please, lower your voice. This isn’t as bad as it seems.”
            “What did you say to her to make her stay? Don’t give me anymore BS about loopholes in contracts, either.”
            Richie pressed his fingertips together thoughtfully. “You say this woman was the love of your life, yet you don’t even realize what she’s doing. I find that difficult to believe.”
            “You said she was the love of my life. I told you to let her go.”
            “Not going to happen, Grant. Besides, I thought you’d be happy about this turn of events. About what it means for you.”
            Grant scowled. “Are you incapable of being direct?”
            “Isn’t it obvious, Grant? She’s making what I would call a tremendous effort for you to vote her off. Which means she still has feelings for you.”
“You have a warped sense of reasoning.” She might have feelings for him, but they sure as hell weren’t romantic in any way. What, she was trying to woo him with a sweatshirt that smelled like hot dumpster trash? Richie was crazy.
“She can’t stand to be around you because of all the feelings your presence dredges up. Is that so hard to understand?”
Grant blinked. It actually wasn’t; he could relate. He wished he could turn off the memories her presence provoked in him. “You can’t let her run wild on the set, Richie. She’s making a joke out of your show. Don’t you care about that?”
Richie laughed. “She’s doing exactly what I’d hoped she’d do. The question is, are you going to let her beat you at this game?”
            Grant took the seat behind him and leaned on Richie’s desk with his forearms. Of course, she was trying to get voted off the show. She hated his guts, and had an entire decade to let this medley of hatred and anger simmer. This was her loophole. Her way of getting out of the contract.  “You don’t know Chelle. She won’t give up. These tantrums will only get worse.”
            “Look,” Richie said with a sympathetic sigh that barely hid his delight. “There’s a fine line between love and hate. Haven’t you ever heard that? She obviously has strong feelings toward you. It’s up to you to change the nature of those feelings.”
            Grant wiped a hand down his face. Changing Rochelle’s mind about anything had always been a challenge. But changing her heart? Was that even possible?
            “You handled yourself quite well last night,” Richie continued. “Very composed for the situation.”
            “Am I just supposed to ignore her behavior? That’s not fair to the other women.”
            Richie smirked. “Do you even remember the names of any of the other women?”
            Touché.


Anna Banks is hosting a Special 
Release Day Giveaway!
Click here to enter



a Rafflecopter giveaway


NYT Bestselling YA author of The Syrena Legacy series: OF POSEIDON (2012) OF TRITON (2013) OF NEPTUNE (2014). Repped by rockstar Lucy Carson of the Friedrich Agency. I live with my husband and daughter in the Florida Panhandle. I have a southern accent compared to New Yorkers, and I enjoy food cooked with real fat. I can't walk in high heels, but I'm very good at holding still in them. If you put chocolate in front of me, you must not have wanted it in the first place.


Sunday, November 8, 2015

Stacking the Shelves (123) + October Month in Review


 Stacking The Shelves, a weekly meme from Tynga's Reviews
where I list what I've read, what I've reviewed, what I've acquired
and anything else worth mentioning
  • Sixth Grave on the Edge by Darynda Jones
  • Tiger Lily 1 by Amerlie S Duncan
  • Pride by Alannah Blacke
  • Dirty English by Ilsa Madden Mills
  • Under the Surface by Katrina Penaflor
  • Liberty and Justice For All by Leigh James
  • Sabin by A.M. Hargrove - Review to Come
  • Blood Magic by Jennifer Lyon

http://clevergirlsread.blogspot.com/2015/11/blog-tour-review-giveaway-rescued-alley.html
4 star review

October Month in Review
41 books read
7 books reviewed
2 - 3 star reviews
2 - 4 star reviews
1 - 5 star review
Book image property of Microsoft