Friday, February 27, 2015

Release Week Blitz + Giveaway- Soulbound by Kristen Callihan



Summary-

Once two souls are joined...

When Adam's soul mate rejected him, there was more at stake than his heart. After seven hundred years of searching, his true match would have ended the curse that keeps his spirit in chains. But beautiful, stubborn Eliza May fled—and now Adam is doomed to an eternity of anguish, his only hope for salvation gone...

Their hearts will beat together forever...

No matter how devilishly irresistible Adam was, Eliza couldn't stand the thought of relinquishing her freedom forever. So she escaped. But she soon discovers she is being hunted—by someone far more dangerous. The only man who can help is the one man she vowed never to see again. Now Adam's kindness is an unexpected refuge, and Eliza finds that some vows are made to be broken..

Buy links-
Kobo 

Excerpt-

Eliza sat back on her heels, while Adam merely stared at her as though he had all the time in the world. “Fine,” she said. “Three weeks. I free you and you help me.” She gave him a warning look. “I’ll need your word that you will help me, that this” she waved her hand between them, “isn’t merely a way to trick me into freeing you.”
“This business was your idea, woman,” he said with affront.
“Nevertheless, I’ll need your word.”
The demon’s nostrils flared with a sharp exhalation. “My word then.” Eliza did not look away from him, and he glared back in obvious exasperation. “What now?”
“I’m merely considering if I ought to trust your word,” she said.
A low growl rumbled in his chest as he bared his teeth. “I keep my word, whether I want to or not. My word is my bond. Honor, Miss May. Unlike you, I have it.” 
“How dare you—” 
“How dare you?” He craned forward, the muscles along his shoulders bunching. “Not so long ago you broke your promise of fealty. To me!” 
“Oh, yes, how quick you are to remind me.” Eliza leaned close, grinding her teeth to keep in a shout. “You enjoy being quick, don’t you?” 
His thick, dark brows furrowed. “What in the bloody blazes are you talking about?” 
“You gave me all of ten seconds to make a choice.” Eliza’s fists ached from clenching them. “And what a choice. I was dead, my body sliced open, my blood on the ground. I would have done anything, anything,” she thumped her fist to her chest, “to get back my life.” 
“So that makes it better?” he snapped back in outrage. “Desperation gives you leave to go back on your word?” 
“No. That is not what I meant.” 
“Then you agree that you bloody well have no honor—” 
“You never explained what was involved. You never said I’d be chained to you, like some animal, for the rest of my days,” Eliza shouted. “I was told I would be a GIM. I was ready to serve you in that manner. You knew full well that’s what I believed. If anything, you swindled me!” 
All at once, he sagged, though he still eyed her with resentment and distaste. Well, she had a healthy helping of those feelings for him too. 
“Tick, tock, Eliza,” she mimicked. “You rushed me because you didn’t want me to think things over.” 
When he broke eye contact, his hard jaw twitched. 
“I’m correct, aren’t I?” Ire and a red rage surged up within her. “And you have the brass to sit on your high horse and talk of honor. Well let me tell you something, demon. There is little honor in forcing a person’s hand. Or using your power to coerce those weaker than you.”
A black scowl twisted the demon’s face as he glared at some distant point. “Fine. May I continue, or have you more complaints to heap upon my head?”
“Please do continue,” Eliza granted.
His golden gaze flicked back to her. “I want to kiss you.”
“No.” The word burst out of her with force. “Absolutely not.”
Unfazed, Adam shrugged. “Unless you have something to offer in exchange for your freedom, Mellan and Mab will, as you say, merely hunt us down, and you’ll be back to where you started.”
“Then I shall find out what he wants.” Eliza straightened her back. She could do that. She must. Like hell was she going to kiss this demon.
Adam simply gave her a slow, wicked half-smile. “Fortunately for you, lass, I already know what he wants. What they both want. More than controlling you. More than torturing me, even.”
“Then why in blazes haven’t you used it to secure your own freedom?” Eliza blurted out.
“I’m only alive because they cannot break me into revealing where this item might be.” The belligerence burning in his eyes was gone in a blink, replaced by a look of pure cunning. “However, I might be persuaded to help you use the knowledge. All I require is— ”
“Fine,” she snapped, irritation getting the best of her. “I’ll kiss you.”
Silence fell, and Adam stared at her with those eyes of his. Devil’s eyes. Eyes that made a woman forget herself. Heat rose up over her breasts and crawled along the back of her neck. Eliza grasped her skirts, her fingers twitching. She would kiss him. Kiss a man who had brought her nothing but irritation. Maybe she’d bite him to boot.
His chest, gleaming with sweat, rose and fell in a soft pattern. A bead of perspiration broke free from the top of his shoulder and ran down along the firm rise of his pectoral muscles, straight toward the dark nub of his nipple. All this time arguing with him, she’d forgotten his state of undress. Not so now. She’d have to press up against those hard muscles, touch his skin. Eliza wrenched her gaze back to his face, and his sinful lips curled in a knowing smile.
“You know,” he said casually, “I believe I shall pass for the moment. I’d rather it be when you aren’t wearing such a sour face. Kills a bloke’s ardor, you realize.”
Eliza blinked. And then his meaning hit her. “Why you…rutting…cheap, trickster…”
He laughed, a flash of even teeth. “Come now, Eliza, fret not.” He stopped then, that obnoxious smile growing and heating with promise. “I’ll take that kiss soon enough. ”
She rose to her feet in a rustle of skirts. “And I’ll be sure to bite that wicked tongue when you do!”
She marched out of the cell, slamming it behind her, as he began to laugh again. Bastard. She might just leave him here to rot after all. His laughing taunt echoed through the dark. “Now that I know tongues are involved, I’ll be sure to collect.”

About Kristen Callihan-



Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she'd rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewers' Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book, Firelight, received RT Book Reviews' Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher's Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.


Kristen’s social media- 

Giveaway-

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks guys! Happy reading! :)



Book Event- Finding Jake by Bryan Reardon

Finding Jake Cover

Title:  Finding Jake
Author:  Bryan Reardon
Genre: Suspense/Thriller Release
Date:  February 24, 2015
Publisher: William Morrow & Company, an imprint HarperCollins
Pages: 272
ISBN: 9780062339485
ASIN: B00KPVB4MM
List Price: 26.99 USD      

~Synopsis~

A heart-wrenching yet ultimately uplifting story of psychological suspense in which a parent is forced to confront what he does—and does not—know about his teenage son, in the vein of Reconstructing Amelia, Defending Jacob, and We Need to Talk about Kevin.

While his successful wife goes off to her law office each day, Simon Connolly takes care of their kids, Jake and Laney. Now that they are in high school, the angst-ridden father should feel more relaxed, but he doesn’t. He’s seen the statistics, read the headlines. And now, his darkest fear is coming true. There has been a shooting at school.

Simon races to the rendezvous point, where he’s forced to wait. Do they know who did it? How many victims were there? Why did this happen? One by one, parents are led out of the room to reunite with their children. Their numbers dwindle, until Simon is alone.
As his worst nightmare unfolds, and Jake is the only child missing, Simon begins to obsess over the past, searching for answers, for hope, for the memory of the boy he raised, for mistakes he must have made, for the reason everything came to this. Where is Jake? What happened in those final moments? Is it possible he doesn’t really know his son? Or he knows him better than he thought?

Brilliantly paced, Finding Jake explores these questions in a tense and emotionally wrenching narrative. Harrowing and heartbreaking, surprisingly healing and redemptive, it is a story of faith and conviction, strength, courage, and love that will leave readers questioning their own lives, and those they think they know.

******

  FINDING JAKE, the debut novel from Bryan Reardon (William Morrow Hardcover; on-sale February 24, 2015), is a unique psychological thriller that will stay with you long after you finish and Kirkus calls it “a compelling read; disturbingly relevant in contemporary America.” In the vein of such blockbuster successes as We Need to Talk About Kevin and Reconstructing Amelia, comes a story with a different twist that will appeal to the same audiences.
School shootings. They are every parent’s worst nightmare and unfortunately in this day and age has become an all too common reality. FINDING JAKE is told from the point of view of Simon Connolly, the angst-ridden father who finds out his son is unaccounted for directly after a shooting at his school. Because of this Jake becomes one of the prime suspects in the case and Simon is forced to obsess over the details of his son’s childhood. Were there mistakes he made as a parent? Did he miss something? Could this have been prevented? Did he really not know his own son? Simon unravels mentally and emotionally as he searches for answers and struggles to keep alive the hope and belief that his son could not be a cold-blooded killer. FINDING JAKE is a harrowing yet redemptive novel that depicts the power of faith, courage, and family love – it will leave readers questioning their own lives, and wondering if they really know those they think they are closest to.
Personal note: When Bryan became a father ten years ago, he and his wife made the decision that he would be the parent to stay at home with their twin children. At a time when this was very uncommon, Bryan left his high-powered job in politics and started a freelance writing business while raising their young boy and girl. There are many parallels and awkward situations in both Bryan and Simon’s life as both were often the only males picking up their children from school and chaperoning play dates. When Bryan writes about Simons’ anxieties and worries as a parent, he draws on his own self-doubts at that time.

Early Praise for Finding Jake:

“A compelling read; disturbingly relevant in contemporary America.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Reardon deftly builds suspense by setting his dual story lines on a collision course toward a shattering—and surprising—conclusion.” — Publishers Weekly

“Reardon beautifully captures the parental second-guessing that is magnified in times of crisis. In the early stages of the investigation, the speculations about Jake affect his father, sister, and mother all in different but perfectly believable ways. Reardon also does an excellent job maintaining suspense throughout the book. The reader is afraid to know what she thinks she knows. Ultimately, what is revealed about Jake is unavoidable and unpredictably heartbreaking.”
— Booklist

Finding Jake is a heart wrenching, heart breaking beautifully written must read.  A school shooting, parents’ worst nightmares, not understanding your teenager, questioning your parenting skills, and unconditional love all come together in this wonderfully told story.”
— Nancy McFarlane, Fiction Addiction, Greenville, SC

*A February 2015 LibraryReads Pick*

 

Buy the Book:

  Amazon | Barnes  & Noble

About the Author:

Bryan Reardon

 Bryan Reardon is a freelance writer specializing in medical communications. He co-wrote Ready, Set, Play with retired NFL player and ESPN analyst Mark Schlereth and Cruel Harvest. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Bryan worked for the State of Delaware for over a decade, starting in the Office of the Governor. He holds a BA in psychology from the University of Notre Dame and lives in West Chester, Pennsylvania, with his wife, kids, and rescue dog, Simon.
 
Connect with Jake:



Finding Jake

Giveaway:

5 Physical Copies of the book (US Only)

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Release Day Blitz- An Indecent Proposal by J.C. Reed and Jackie Steel


An Indecent Proposal by J.C. Reed & Jackie Steele

Release date: February 23rd, 2015

It was supposed to be easy. 
Hire a professional actor to play my fake fiancé. 
But when he steps in front of my door to pick me up for The Interview, my heart stops. Chase Wright is perfect. And hot. I mean like, burn up your dress hot. However, Chase isn't professional at all. I hate what he does to me with his sinfully sexy blue eyes. I hate that he wants me in his bed. 

One month…that’s all I need him for. All I have to do is stay out of his bed. But the rules slowly begin to change. My fake fiancé suddenly becomes my fake husband. When Chase offers me an indecent proposal, it's too late to fire him. It's too late to decline. 

Full-length novel. Includes free prequel novella THAT GUY.

Buy An Indecent Proposal:

Connect with J.C. Reed:
  Website | Facebook | Twitter 

Connect with Jackie Steele
  Website | Facebook | Twitter

455d6-goodreads-badge-add-plus-d700d4d3e3c0b346066731ac07b7fe47


GIVEAWAY (open worldwide)

$50 Amazon Gift Card & signed print copy


EXCERPT


Worldwide, print and ebook


Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Cover Reveal- Belong to Me by Laura Howard

BOOK & AUTHOR INFO:

Belong to Me by Laura Howard (A Moore Crossing Novel) 

Publication date: March 21st 2015March 31st 2015

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance



Cover designed by Najla Qamber Designs.

Synopsis:

Kate and Noah thought they had the kind of love that could last through anything. Until their world crumbles out from beneath them.
After months of separation, the tragic death of Jack, Kate’s twin and Noah’s best friend, throws them back together. As they try to heal from the horrific loss, will they be able to overcome old wounds or are they destined to live separately forever?


AUTHOR BIO:



Laura Howard lives in New Hampshire with her husband and four children. Her obsession with books began at the age of 6 when she got her first library card. Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High and other girly novels were routinely devoured in single sittings. Books took a backseat to diapers when she had her first child. It wasn’t until the release of a little novel called Twilight, 8 years later, that she rediscovered her love of fiction. Soon after, her own characters began to make themselves known. The Forgotten Ones is her first published novel.

Author links: 




Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Review- Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan

Summary-

When Bree Prescott arrives in the sleepy, lakeside town of Pelion, Maine, she hopes against hope that this is the place where she will finally find the peace she so desperately seeks. On her first day there, her life collides with Archer Hale, an isolated man who holds a secret agony of his own. A man no one else sees.

Archer's Voice is the story of a woman chained to the memory of one horrifying night and the man whose love is the key to her freedom. It is the story of a silent man who lives with an excruciating wound and the woman who helps him find his voice. It is the story of suffering, fate, and the transformative power of love.

THIS IS A STAND-ALONE SIGN OF LOVE NOVEL, INSPIRED BY SAGITTARIUS. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Review-

After reading many rave reviews and getting several recommendations I finally picked up Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan. I have to admit that Archer's Voice was one of the most unique books I've read and while I would have liked there to be a little less drama, I still enjoyed reading it.

The book mostly goes from Bree's point of view with a few chapters thrown in from Archer's pov with his past and present. Bree is running from her own demons when she lands up in the small town of Pelion. She is looking to move on from what happened and find her peace. I really liked Bree. She was a sweet and gentle soul. Though I found it a bit difficult to understand how she so easily trusted Archer.

Then we have Archer. Archer has been living in isolation for years, ignored by the town. He is mute and living with a horrible secret. I really felt heart broken for Archer. He is such a great man but life has been so extremely unfair to him. When Bree comes into his life she brings in light and hope but he still has his insecurities and fears.

I loved the way Bree and Archer's love story went. Yes, I would have liked if they'd taken things a bit slower but they had an undeniable attraction between them. The way they communicated with sign language and how easily they could understand each other without words was amazing to watch. I was really happy when they finally got their much deserved happy ending.

Mia Sheridan's writing style is soothing and beautiful. My only issue was the drama and I did wish that Bree and Archer asked others for help rather than being so into their own bubble. The ending should have been a bit more explained but none the less I really liked it. Archer's Voice was a good read.



Monday, February 23, 2015

Review- Hifi in Bollywood by Rishi Vohra

Goodreads Summary:

"AN ASPIRING FILMMAKER. THE DIZZYING HEIGHTS OF BOLLYWOOD. AND A STRAINED FATHER-SON RELATIONSHIP"

Rayhan Arora’s long cherished dream is to be a filmmaker in the Hindi Film Industry but his formidable father has other plans… a successful financial career in Corporate America, and a marriage of convenience with Vanita, a medical student in the US. 

In a final act of desperation, Rayhan abandons his promising life in California and secretly returns to Mumbai to work as an Assistant Director in Bollywood. The characters he encounters along the way become part of his journey of self-discovery - a self-proclaimed local goon with a penchant for acting; a powerful local politician who wants to marry Rayhan's part-time domestic help, who in turn covets stardom; an angst-ridden, homosexual film director; ego-ridden film stars with twisted agendas; and the mysterious Viola who captures his heart. 

HiFi in Bollywood takes the reader from the streets of Berkeley to the film studios of Mumbai; from red-light areas to police stations, and from reality to dreams and back to reality again!


REVIEW:

*NOTE: We (The Readdicts) received a copy of Hifi in Bollywood by Rishi Vohra in exchange for an honest review. We thank Rishi for the book! 

The story of a young boy Rayhan Arora and his journey of pursuing his dreams of being a filmmaker by being a rebel and a true heart follower, Hifi in Bollywood, contrary to author Rishi Vohra's debut Once Upon the Tracks of Mumbai, was a very conventional and stereotypical story, although it was quite an entertainer as well. After having read and really liked the author's previous novel, I went into Hifi in Bollywood with expectations of course, which unfortunately, weren't always fulfilled. While this review may sound mostly negative, like I said, the story was an entertaining roller coaster ride with lots of zigs and zags. It is definitely not bad as a one-time read; it is, in fact, worth it actually.

Hifi in Bollywood, as the summary pinpoints, takes the reader on a ride from the streets of Berkeley to Mumbai, the city of dreams. The Berkeley part was quite fascinating, and it was especially fun from Rayhan's point of view. Once the Mumbai part kicks off, the narration, like the city itself, speeds up, for the better of course. Another point that the summary suggests but fails to adhere to is the reality of the Hindi Film Industry which wasn't anything different from what we are used to reading in gossip columns. For me, the story itself was a Bollywood movie with the very typically Indian middle-class setup and the character portrayals. The book reminded me a lot of the movie I Hate Luv Storys


Coming to the main character Rayhan, he seemed like a decent, nice, simple, well mannered and easy-going guy, and it was really disappointing to see him succumb to not so pleasant measures at some point, especially when his own conscience pricked him someway or the other. His change in attitude regarding marriage and his rather chauvinistic demand towards the end were disappointing as well. At the same time, however, Rayhan was quite a cool and almost level-headed person who was very passionate about his passion. And like he himself says, it's all human nature. The other characters in the book were average in their buildup, and at some point, I saw the major spoiler coming, and it bugged me to no end, because it was way too obvious. Some characters like the local Mumbai goons added a comic element which was fresh and funny. 


It's not like I didn't like Hifi in Bollywood. It was a nice, quick and entertaining read. I just felt that it wasn't anything different. As always, the one aspect I really liked was Rishi's description of Mumbai. I don't visit the city often, but even I can say it was apt and spot on. While the epilogue was satisfying, I didn't feel like smiling once I shut the book. I was a teeny tiny bit disappointed with Hifi in Bollywood, especially seeing as it is Rishi Vohra's book, and he is definitely a great author who has really interesting stories to tell, which I will still be looking forward to in the future. 

RATING:



Friday, February 20, 2015

Book Blitz- Gathering Frost by Kaitlyn Davies


Gathering Frost 
(Once Upon A Curse #1)
Release Date: 02/17/15

Summary from Goodreads:

Will his kiss be enough to revive her frozen heart?

Once Upon A Time meets La Femme Nikita in GATHERING FROST, a dystopian romance from bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis that reimagines the classic fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty.


Jade was only a little girl when the earthquake struck. Before her eyes, half of New York City disappeared, replaced by a village that seemed torn out of a storybook. Horses and carriages. Cobblestone streets. A towering castle. And, above all, a queen with the magical ability to strip emotions away.

Ten years later and Jade has forgotten what it is to feel, to care...even to love. Working as a member of the queen's guard, she spends most of her time on the city wall staring at the crumbling skyscrapers of old New York. But everything changes when the queen's runaway son, Prince Asher, returns. Jade is tasked with an unusual mission--to let the Prince capture her, to make him trust her, and then to betray his secrets to the crown. In return, she'll earn her freedom. But life outside the queen's realm is more than Jade bargained for. Under Asher's relentless taunts, her blood begins to boil. Under his piercing gaze, her heart begins to flutter. And the more her icy soul begins to thaw, the more Jade comes to question everything she's ever known--and, more importantly, whose side she's really on. 


Buy Links:

Amazon
**This is a KDP select novel. $2.99 to buy or free on Kindle Unlimited!**

About the Author:

I've always been a writer. I grew up duct taping my novels together, started writing complete manuscripts in high school and studied creative writing at Johns Hopkins University. Upon graduating, I decided it was finally time to actually give my dream career a chance. So, of course, I started writing a young adult paranormal romance series -- and no, I'm not jumping on the bandwagon. I've been a true paranormal supporter for my entire life! I blame my obsession almost completely on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, my all-time favorite television show. And, before you ask: Yes, I own every season... even the post WB ones! I especially challenge anyone to watch the first three seasons and not fall in love with Angel, securing a lifelong love of vampires! Other culprits of my paranormal obsession are some of my favorite authors: JK Rowling, Raymond Feist, Meg Cabot, Richelle Mead, Lynne Ewing and Tamora Pierce.

Author Links:


Book Blitz Organized by:


Thursday, February 19, 2015

Review- The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Summary-

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.
She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.
They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.
She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

Review-

I wanted to read The Evolution of Mara Dyer since a long time. But I am so glad I waited for the trilogy to end because this book ends with a killer cliffhanger. I was glad I had the next book to dive right into. But coming back to Evolution, it was a great read and it had everything I was expecting and more.

The Evolution of Mara Dyer starts right off where Unbecoming ended. Mara has been hospitalized because everyone thinks that she is imagining things. But she finds a way out of it to go home. Still, crazy things keep happening to her and now she has to be really careful pretending to be normal while dealing with everything that is going on.

I really like Mara as a character. I like the way Michelle Hodkin puts Mara's thoughts together. They are eerie and creepy but so true and honest. The way Mara's feelings are laid out for us to see was amazing. Then we had Noah Shaw to add in to the amazingness. In the last book we'd only scratched the surface of Noah. Here we delve in much deeper.

I LOVE the chemistry Noah and Mara share. It is hot and intimate without being graphic. They were missing a tiny bit of their wit and humor which they shared in the first book but I still enjoyed all the conversations between them as they are trying to figure things out.

I really liked the back story which started in this book. It takes place in India so of course, I was a bit biased. I loved seeing Jamie. He was a great friend. I also really like Mara's family, especially Daniel. They only want what is best for her. The Evolution of Mara Dyer was a really good read.



Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday #114

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

Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry
Publication Date: May 26, 2015


Summary-

An unforgettable new series from acclaimed author Katie McGarry about taking risks, opening your heart and ending up in a place you never imagined possible.

Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she's curious about her biological father—the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent—but that doesn't mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both. 

Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They're the good guys. They protect people. They're…family. And while Emily—the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club's most respected member—is in town, he's gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it's his shot at his dream. What he doesn't count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down. 

No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home.

I really enjoy each and every single Katie McGarry book so yeah I'm definitely looking forward to reading Nowhere But Here.
What are you waiting on? :)