Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Tour Stop: You Are Mine by Janeal Falor


You Are Mine (Mine #1) by Janeal Falor
Release Date: May 6, 2013
Series: Mine #1
Pages: 273
Genre: Fantasy, YA, Romance

Goodreads Summary:

Serena knows a few simple things. She will always be owned by a warlock. She will never have freedom. She will always do what her warlock wishes, regardless of how inane, frivolous, or cruel it is. And if she doesn’t follow the rules, she will be tarnished. Spelled to be bald, inked, and barren for the rest of her life—worth less than the shadow she casts. Then her ownership is won by a barbarian from another country. With the uncertainty that comes from belonging to a new warlock, Serena questions if being tarnished is really worse than being owned by a barbarian, and tempts fate by breaking the rules. When he looks the other way instead of punishing her, she discovers a new world. The more she ventures into the forbidden, the more she learns of love and a freedom just out of reach. Serena longs for both. But in a society where women are only ever property, hoping for more could be deadly.
Purchase: Barnes & Noble / Amazon / Kobo


This Book is on Sale Now for $.99!! 

Advanced Praise for You Are Mine:

“I was blown away by the beautiful writing, haunting themes, and chilling visuals.” ~Becca at Nawanda Files 

“There were times when I had to fight back my tears and the emotion that this book drew from me made me feel so connected to what was going on as if I was actually there. You Are Mine should be on everyones to-read list and I cannot wait to see what Janeal Falor comes up with next.” ~Danielle at Coffee and Characters


“May I kiss you now?”

 No. Kisses leave me feeling sick. “I suppose it would be for the best.”

 He leans closer. I want to pull away. Thomas's kisses were callous. Painful even. The thought of more of that makes me feel queasy. But giving my permission somehow makes it harder to pull away.

His hand reaches up and brushes my face. Flecks of gold are mixed with the green of his eyes. Suddenly, he scoops me into his arms and plops me on his lap. I yelp. “Sorry, I guess I should have warned you first.” 

After straightening my skirt with quivering fingers, I hold myself stiff. His nose nuzzles against the side of my neck. Warm lips brush my jaw and sweep along my cheek until they reach the corner of my mouth. My breath comes in shallow gasps. He smells lightly of citrus.

I don't move. His fingers tangle in my hair. His lips hover over mine. A nervous flutter grows in my chest. The creak of the door opening spurs him into action.

His lips touch mine. Flowing and sunny. They grow firmer. It feels so much better than I thought it could. His fingers run through my hair, the tendrils falling out of their confinement. Heat grows between us. He pulls me closer to him. Not only do I manage to refrain from fighting him, but I want to draw even closer.




Janeal Falor lives in Utah where she’s finally managed to live in the same house for more than five years without moving. In her spare time she reads books like they’re nuts covered in caramel and chocolate, cooks whatever strikes her fancy, and enjoys the outdoors. Her husband and three children try to keep up with her overactive imagination. Usually they settle for having dinner on the table, even if she’s still going on about the voices in her head.

Author Connect: Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Website


***GIVEAWAY*** 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Thursday, July 25, 2013

Review: Addicted to You by Becca & Krista Ritchie

Addicted to You by Krista Ritchie & Becca Ritchie
My rating: 4.5 of 5 genies
Published: July 1, 2013
Series: Addicted #1
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: K.B. Ritchie
Source: Purchased
Pages: 324
Format: eBook
Purchase At: Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

No one would suspect shy Lily Calloway’s biggest secret. While everyone is dancing at college bars, Lily stays in the bathroom. To get laid. Her compulsion leads her to one-night stands, steamy hookups and events she shamefully regrets. The only person who knows her secret happens to have one of his own.

Loren Hale’s best friend is his bottle of bourbon. Lily comes at a close second. For three years, they’ve pretended to be in a real relationship, hiding their addictions from their families. They’ve mastered the art of concealing flasks and random guys that filter in and out of their apartment.

But when they go on a family boat trip, surrounded by open seas and limited male bodies in sight, Lily’s confronted with a big fear. Only one guy onboard can fill her addiction, and she’s sworn off going there with Loren Hale ever again.

Now the only person who can truly help her can barely help himself.

**This is a New Adult book recommended for readers 18 and up**

The Review

I struggled with this book. The themes are hard to deal with, and the conflicts Lily and Loren are engaged in made me ache for them. They went through so much! I think what challenged me most with this read was that it really brought to question the topic of addiction and how quickly it is a dismissed/tabooed subject in society. We don't want to deal with people with problems like Lo or Lily because they're difficult, messy situations we would all rather stay out of. You think "addiction" and immediately some idea of what it means to suffer from an uncontrollable compulsion comes to mind, whether it be hoarding, drinking or some other kind of addiction. We think we know, but really no one knows where the shoe pinches except those wearing the Prada.


True that!

Addicted to You is an example of why all books in the New Adult genre are not just about sex. Sure, Lily is a sex addict and to be honest her problem was frightening. The way her compulsion led her to seek out sexual partners constantly, making due when none was available, ran my blood cold. She's so controlled by this need to fulfil herself sexually that it truly does interfere with any chance of her having a normal life. At one point, her life even stands in jeopardy. The seriousness of the issue was never undermined and I really do give props to the Ritchie sisters for bringing the gravity of her circumstance so beautifully across. It was a hard subject handled well.


To you, ladies.

On to the Serious.

I'm not going to lie, there is a level of graphic content to the novel, topics such as self love and pornography are repeatedly engaged and the sexual relationship with Loren and Lily is detailed, adding context but still considerably explicit. Sexual addiction has many facets and I felt that they were adequately addressed here. When things got graphic I had to sit back, breathe, before getting back to the read. It wasn't an easy journey with this book; it asks commitment from the reader, that they engage and feel the torment Lily does when she's through sleeping with a stranger, the shame of knowing she couldn't control her body's ever present need and will probably fall prey to the same urges in future. Things like that really punched me in the gut, and then there was Loren.


Oddly, this is fitting.

Believe me when I say that this guy gets beat around a ton, and then some. He's not harmed by people necessarily, but instead by shocking occurrences which serve to pummel him somewhat into asphalt. Lo has an addiction too; he's an alcoholic and between himself and Lily they have everyone fooled into thinking they're a couple.They are hiding their addictions with this big lie and up until a quarter or so into the book, it's just routine faking their relationship while indulging in forbidden pleasures. They have a system and everything works because Lo and Lily have been friends forever. As can be expected, the addictions get in the way of them having normal social interactions and they are isolated, so much so they are the other's best and only friend.

You would think that because of this connection and past that they would be capable of putting aside their selfish desires in order to get help for the other, but this is not the case and even their affection and concern can't compare to the pull of their fixations.

For all intensive purposes, they fit. Or at least they should, but their respective compulsions get in the way, making their try at a real relationship near pointless. Each cares more about protecting themselves, keeping from being exposed before their families, and sticking still to destructive lifestyles that it is impossible to believe they truly love one another completely. I think they share a love, but the kind shown in Addicted to You is not yet strong enough to withstand the strain of their addictions. They have a lot to get past and work through, and I suppose when you've been doing things the way they have for so long, the road to recovery is indeed a long stretch.

In Conclusion

This book showed how thoroughly an addiction can not only infiltrate, but also destroy lives. The realistic way that it is depicted here leaves no doubt in mind how devastating and far reaching the affects of being an alcoholic or nymphomaniac are. It was never just Loren's issue or Lily's, because Lily's "issue" got in the way of her relationship with everyone around her. She distanced from family and endures such deep self-loathing that anyone with eyes can see she isn't happy. Loren too, his alcohol dependency so interferes in his school life that all semblance of order is stripped away as he fails his way through classes, earning disappointment and disdain from his father and drowning the pain in booze. All in all the effects are far-reaching and I'm glad that the authors made me aware of the struggle, I had no idea how challenging it can be to go through an ordeal like Lily's or Loren's, let alone be the person afflicted.

Addicted to You gave me an intense glimpse into the mind of complex, tortured characters that simply grew on me and stuck to the end. I'm a fan of these writers because of their execution in this novel as well as mature handling of very sensitive and real ordeals. You will like Addicted to You because it has purpose and will make you cry as you smile your way through to a satisfying ending, I did.

4.5/5 genies: The Ritchie girls are phenomenal; I could not be any more satisfied with this book. It goes to dark places and still manages to end with an emotional punch that literally strikes my heart in two. This book is fantastic, and a new favourite of mine, Addicted to You exceeds! 





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Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday (13): Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles

*Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill@Breaking the Spine and is a weekly meme allowing for bloggers to connect and share their most anticipated reads.*


This week I'm waiting on...

Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles
Releasing: September 24, 2013


Goodreads Summary

After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama.

Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain--people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?


I like my bad boys done well, and Simone Elkeles seems like the woman for the job. I'm looking forward to this release also because the Perfect Chemistry series, again by this author, was outstanding in its genre. I'm hoping that Wild Cards will continue the tradition. When I think steamy bad boys? Fuentes kind of pops immediately to mind. Maybe Derek will bring new meaning to the words, fingers crossed!

Are you waiting too?

XX,




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Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Review: Saved By The Music by Selene Castrovilla


Saved By The Music by Selene Castrovilla
My rating: 2.5 of 5 genies
Published: May 13, 2013
Series: N/A
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Westside Books
Source: Review Copy
Pages: 280
Format: eBook
Purchase At: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes

Goodreads Summary
The last place fifteen-year-old Willow wants to spend her summer is on a run-down former coffee barge, which her aunt is converting into a floating concert hall. In Saved by the Music, Willow thinks she’s alone until she meets Axel, an older teen who lives isolated from the world on the sailboat docked nearby. An unlikely romance sparks as the two grapple with their darkest secrets and bond through shared pain and laughter. It is a summer where music must do more than just soothe the soul.

My Thoughts

The most unique thing about this book is its setting. The barge, or where fifteen year old Willow ends up spending the summer is cool because her aunt plans to make it a concert hall of sorts, an intimate setting for people looking to enjoy music to come together and relax, truly appreciating the music. Willow ends up getting wrapped up in the repair and restoration of the weathered boat and as she works to reconstruct it she discovers more about herself. It is also a tale of self-discovery and heart, the importance of family and how the influence of these all-important people in our lives can either help grow or break us.

Furthermore this book reminded me of just how beautiful the sea is. I thought the docks with the barge and fishermen was the right setting for Saved by the Music. It was realistic with its portrayal of wealth disparity, some parts of the docks being wealthier than others, and everyone seemed like real people with failings and insecurities of their own. The characters have multiple issues to work through and Willow escapes to the barge to avoid a particularly difficult home situation. She's the kind of character with an opinion and mouth of her own, pretty much saying what she felt and she and Axel were a good foil with him being more reserved and sombre. I liked that there is give and take in their relationship, that they both bring something to the table and neither assumes that they're perfect.

As the title suggests, Willow is eventually "Saved by the Music" and music offers reprieve to many of the book's characters, its importance in their lives made more than evident. Music transforms the barge into something beautiful and saves Willow's life, I think reading about her struggles might very well resonate with readers, and if not save their life, at least make it easier.


Saved By The Music: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes

2.5/5 genies: A contemporary novel with emotion and promise, a read that could appeal to you!



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Monday, July 15, 2013

Review: Sins & Needles by Karina Halle

Sins & Needles by Karina Halle
My rating: 4 of 5 genies
Published: January 25, 2013
Series: The Artists Trilogy #1
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Metal Blonde Books
Source: Purchased
Pages: 438
Format: eBook
Purchase At: Amazon.com

Goodreads Summary

Ellie Watt is used to starting over. The daughter of a grifting team, Ellie spent her childhood being used as a pawn in her parents' latest scam. Now she’s much older, wiser and ready to give her con artist life a rest. But returning to the dry desert town of Palm Valley, California means one more temptation than she bargained for – Camden McQueen. Once known as the high school weirdo, Camden is bigger and badder than the boy he used to be and a talented tattoo artist with his own thriving business. Ellie’s counting on Camden still being in love with her but what she’s not counting on is how easily unrequited love can turn into obsession over time. When Camden discovers Ellie’s plan to con him, he makes her a deal she doesn’t dare refuse, but her freedom comes with a price and it’s one that takes both Ellie and Camden down a dangerous road.


***The Artists Trilogy is a dark and sexy contemporary ride about three flawed individuals caught in a world where it's so easy to justify the bad things we do. This is a pure adult read (Not YA or NA).

This is the 1st book in the trilogy. It is followed by the novella On Every Street (released in March 2013) and the sequel Shooting Scars (released in May 2013). The third and final book in the series will also be released in 2013.***


My Thoughts

I felt like an outlaw reading this. Like I had a black bandanna wrapped around half my face or something, holster at the ready and strapped to my waist. The book provided me with this vibe and I merely sunk into it. This probably has something to do with the tiny little fact that the protagonist engages in numerous criminal activities such as fraud and theft, but that doesn't necessarily have to mean something, it could be just me.


Don't be a smart ass, Ariel.

The amazing soundtrack chosen by the author to accompany the happenings in this book also plays a huge part in creating the sense of danger and foreboding that pretty much sustains throughout the novel. In a lot of ways Sins & Needles managed to keep me at the edge of my seat, and when Ellie and Camden were on the lam I was just as tense, almost looking over my shoulder when things would escalate and they would just barely escape being caught. Of course I knew this cat and mouse chase element couldn't go on forever, reality bites and there is an ending to this story that jabs at your heart with a pair of brass knuckles and twists hard. In this way, it was a pretty stressful read.

It all starts with Ellie returning to the town she grew up in, finally being herself for a change. What I mean is that she assumes her true legal identity, but isn't about to open up to every aspect of who she was in the past. Because even though she gets to be Ellie Watt again, the woman is still wanted and on the run from some bad folks who bring to mind Spanish mafias and fatal shoot-outs. Ellie stays with her uncle, planning to at least look for work in town, and when that endeavour fails she wants to beat it like a hot cake just went bad and it's every man for himself. That is until she runs into childhood friend Camden McQueen.




Yup, Ellie and I are alike in that when Camden gets into the picture, everything else ceases to matter as much. Getting out of town, finding that job...Why would we want to leave Camden? The queer boy from their high school days is long gone, and in his place is a successful, talented gorgeous tattoo artist of a MAN. Needless to say, Ellie and I were both very pleasantly surprised.




At first glance I didn't expect much from this love interest. He's a bad boy with tats, so what? Haven't I seen them before? Well not like Camden! DANG does this walking needle have issues! He's all dark, hurt, and gloriously complicated; I couldn't get enough of him. While I'm sure the boy could make getting a tattoo seem painless and like a very worthwhile proposition, Camden comes with a lot of his own baggage. I'mma let you read the book to work through a majority of them, but the main source of conflict between him and Ellie is how she treated him when they were younger. They were buds until she ditched him for short-lasting popularity, and even though I see how she could do it, 100% harshness of the act aside, Camden hasn't been able to ever get over being ditched and humiliated.

As soon as they meet you know something is going to go down. Sure the blurb gives it away that he finds out about her ploy to con him once her attempt at getting a reasonable job goes South, but that only added to the anticipation. I sat there rocking in one spot, fidgeting like mad and waiting for him to catch her in the act. They play nice and are flirty, grabbing a few drinks and whatnot, but underneath all the pleasantries you know Ellie isn't ready to give up her habit of taking the easy way out and conning people. Also, you can't help but sense Camden will be hella pissed once she tries those old tricks on him. Waiting for it all to go down was another matter entirely, and I was a wreck.



Oy, the suspense!


You think this is it, the end of the book story wise? They quarrel, fight and make up, book done? Nope, it doesn't end there! The past Ellie tries to outrun makes a reappearance and it is pretty chilling in a finely muscled sort of way. Those friendly mafia folk catch up to her, and it all goes to hell. If I was to split it in half, then the second half of Sins & Needles definitely went by quicker than the upper half. I think this is partly because the story was laid out by then and started driving itself closer to the end. Much happens and you never really breathe until the end.

Minor Concerns:

- This is not a New Adult novel. I classify New Adult as having to do with college students in their early twenties bumping around, dealing with love/family issues while somehow trying to find their way, but Camden and Ellie are adults. Adult things happen and I wouldn't recommend younger audiences read the book due to the presence of more mature themes.

- Many people mention that Ellie sucks at being a grifter because the girl doesn't lose the stupid cell phone like any well-thinking person on the run would (or at least someone claiming to be a con artist). This is true, Halle should have done better in this aspect because the cell ruins everything. This is why we have dustbins! Beware, this could annoy you too. Also, she gets caught. You'd think that after grifting for as long as Ellie has you would pick up some level of expertise, then again if she escaped and things were honkey dorey, there wouldn't be much to read about.


In Conclusion

Other than the two points tackled above, I really liked Sins & Needles because it was everything and more than I expected going in. The characters are conflicted and each with a set of their own troubles, and the plot as well as setting provides them with the perfect layout to work through these discrepancies. There's a lot riding on the second book since this one was a bit cliffy at the end, but I'm all down for more outlaw adventures, sign me up!

4/5 genies: Sins & Needles gave me a lot more than I was expecting, and it sets the stage with a high-stakes drama that will keep readers coming back to the series for more.




POST DIVIDER

Friday, July 12, 2013

Giveaway: Win Everville The First Pillar by Roy Huff

Hi All!

Today I have one special copy of author Roy Huff's The First Pillar up for grabs! The books is the first in his Everville series and one lucky winner will receive an Amazon giftcard to purchase the book. Now you don't necessarily need a kindle to read ebooks so that kind of opens the gate for entry a little, so as long as you can receive digital books from Amazon you should be good to enter! Before I go any further though, let me post a few details on the book and author below:

The First Pillar by Roy Huff
Published: April 1, 2013
Series: Everville #1
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science-Fiction, Adventure
Publisher: Roy Huff
Pages: 196
Format: eBook
Purchase At: Amazon.com or Barnes & Nobles

Goodreads Summary

Owen Sage is the emblematic college freshman at Easton Falls University. With all the worries about his first year in college, he was not prepared for what would happen next. His way of life was flipped upside down when he mysteriously crossed into another dimension, into the beautiful land of Everville. His excitement was abruptly halted when he discovered that there was a darkness forged against both the natural world, which he knew well, and the new land which he discovered, Everville. He must devise a plan to save both worlds while joining forces with the race of Fron and The Keepers, whom both harbor hidden secrets he must learn in order to gain power over the evil that dwells in The Other In Between.
With a race against time to save both worlds, his short time at Easton Falls did not quite prepare him for the evil, dark forces he must fight in order to conquer The Other In Between.
Roy Huff is the author of Amazon's #1 international bestselling epic fantasy novel, Everville: The First Pillar. He is a man of many interests including science, traveling, movies, the outdoors, and of course writing teen and young adult fantasy fiction. He holds five degrees in four separate disciplines including liberal arts, history, secondary science education, and geoscience. Roy Huff's background includes work in art, history, education, business, real-estate, economics, geoscience, and satellite meteorology. He was born on the East Coast but has spent more than half his life in Hawaii, where he currently resides and writes his epic fantasy sagas.
Find Roy: Twitter / Goodreads / Facebook / Website


With that said, it's time for the...
Roy has kindly offered one copy of The First Pillar which will be received by one lucky winner. As far as I can tell, the Giveaway is international, although those living in Middle East countries and China might not be capable of participating due to their agreement issues with Amazon. It would be awful for a winner not to receive their prize due to this issue so make sure you are eligible. I think that is the last of my announcements, be fair and enter in the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win this great book. Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Tour Stop: Selene Castrovilla's Saved By The Music Character Interview & GIVEAWAY

Saved By The Music Blog Tour


Saved By The Music by Selene Castrovilla
Published: May 13, 2013
Series: N/A
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Westside Books
Pages: 280
Format: eBook
Purchase At: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes

Goodreads Summary
The last place fifteen-year-old Willow wants to spend her summer is on a run-down former coffee barge, which her aunt is converting into a floating concert hall. In Saved by the Music, Willow thinks she’s alone until she meets Axel, an older teen who lives isolated from the world on the sailboat docked nearby. An unlikely romance sparks as the two grapple with their darkest secrets and bond through shared pain and laughter. It is a summer where music must do more than just soothe the soul.






ABOUT SELENE CASTROVILLA
Selene Castrovilla is an award-winning teen and children’s author who believes that through all trends, humanity remains at the core of literature. She is the author of Saved By the Music and The Girl Next Door, teen novels originally published by WestSide Books and now available digitally through ASD Publishing. Her third children’s book with Calkins Creek Books, Revolutionary Friends, was released in April. Selene holds an MFA in creative writing from New School University and a BA in English from New York University. She lives on Long Island with her two sons. Visit her website www.SeleneCastrovilla.com for book excerpts and more information!

Author links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads


(Featuring Willow from Saved by the Music!)

Q. How important is music to you?

Willow: Music literally saved my life. First, Jim Morrison’s voice calmed me and helped me through all the loneliness at home. Jim became my best friend! Then I met Axel – who looked like Jim Morrison but played the cello so beautifully he nearly brought me to tears. Listening to him play made me appreciate the healing qualities of music, and I felt calmed. Life became manageable – maybe even bright? That’s when I opened up to listening to Aunt Agatha play, as well. My whole world turned around, thanks to music.

Q. If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be and why? If you could, who would you take along?

Willow: I would like to visit Jim Morrison’s grave in France. I would bring Axel with me to France because it’s so beautiful there I would want to share it with him. I know we would enjoy holding hands along the Seine. But I would not take him to the grave because it would upset him. I would take a train to see Monet’s gardens in nearby Giverny, but I wouldn’t take Axel there because he can’t take being around plants. We could head to England, to visit Shakespeare’s birthplace – because Shakepeare is Axel’s god, and I would love to watch him bask in his Promised Land.

Q. Willow, what do you think of Jim Morrison, and what role does his music play in your life?

Willow: Finding out about Jim Morrison came at such a crucial stage in my life, it was like he was my guardian angel. He was a poet, and he had a tortured soul. Learning about him made me feel like I had an ally in the cruel world. His music is like my tranquilizer – an instant relief. I think he was a tragic figure, and I’m sorry for what he when through. That it was largely self-inflicted makes it even sadder. When I hear his music it’s like he’s telling me his story, sharing his sad soul with mine. When I listen I am reminded that we are all responsible for our own happiness, and I must make sure to find mine.

Q. Is there anything you regret, a point in time you wish you could rewind and do again differently? If so, why?

Willow: I would not get involved in any way with Craig Culligan. He changed my life in a very bad, irrevocable way.

Q. Willow, describe yourself in 5 words?

Willow: Loving, honest, deep, sarcastic, real.

Q. If you could have anything in the world, regardless of value, what would it be?

Willow: I don’t really care about the monetary value of things. I would want a limitless supply of unconditional love. Thanks for inviting me to stop by! It’s great making new friends!

Q: Thanks Willow! It was great having you, thank-you for dropping by :)




Ms. Castrovilla has been generous enough to include a fabulous, crazy giveaway! If you liked the Interview and Review, be sure to check out the below Giveaway for your chance to win a copy of this book! The winner gets their choice of either iPod Nano or Kindle Fire (or Paperwhite) PLUS Saved by the Music ebook (US ONLY)
10 Second Prize winners stand a chance to receive ebook copies of Saved by the Music (INTERNATIONAL). Enter quick!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Other Stops on the Tour:


July 1  - A Book and a Latte (Kick-off interview)
July 2 The Fake Steph Dot Com (Guest Post)
July 3Cuzinlogic (Review)
July 4Ja Ĩitam, a ti? (Character Review)
July 5OtherwhereCo (Guest Post)

July 8alwaysjoart (Review & Guest Post)
July 9 - Katie's Books (Review)
July 10Judith's Choice Reads (Review & Character Interview)
July 11Ladybug Storytime (Review)
July 12 Reader Girls (Review & Guest Post)

Be sure to check them out and as always, don't leave without telling me what you think of both the book and the review ;) LOVE YOU LOTS!!

XX




POST DIVIDER

Waiting on Wednesday (12): Learning Not to Drown by Anna Shinoda


*Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill@Breaking the Spine and is a weekly meme allowing for bloggers to connect and share their most anticipated reads.*


This week I'm waiting on...
Learning Not to Drown by Anna Shinoda
Releasing: April 1st 2014
Goodreads Summary

There is a pecking order to every family. Seventeen-year old Clare is the overprotected baby; Peter is the typical, rebellious middle child; and Luke is the-can't-do wrong favorite. To their mother, they are a normal, happy family. And then there are the roles we give ourselves. Clare: the ambitious striver; Peter: the angry ticking time bomb; and Luke: a drug addicted, convicted felon who has been in and out of jail for as long as Clare can remember. To Clare, they are a family on the verge of disaster. Clare has long refused to believe her brother is truly bad...he dotes her, doesn't he? But as Clare starts piecing together the truth about her brother's stints in jail, it starts changing the way she thinks about him. It has also changes the way the community views the family. The only thing it hasn't changed is the way their mother feels about Luke. Each time she welcomes him home with open arms and brushes off his crimes as "wrong place and wrong time," Clare can feel a little piece of her happy home life being taken away. And when her mother does the unthinkable--takes Clare's hard-earned college savings to post bail for Luke's latest transgression--Clare has to decide if sticking up for herself and her future means selfishly turning her back on family...or if it's the only way to keep herself from drowning along with them.

Debut novelist Anna Shinoda's raw, gritty, powerful novel cuts right to the bone and brings to life the skeletons the lurk in the closet


This book could be educational. Leaning not to drown is a necessity is it not? I think I'll enjoy the lesson ;) That's pretty much why I'm waiting, are you?

Over and out dears!

XX





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The Truth And Nothing BUT...

Going by FTC guidelines, allow me to point out that all the novels reviewed on this blog were either bought by me, or given by an author or publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Those books received from Authors and Publishers will be stated clearly as such, as will the ones purchased by myself. There is no shady business going on; no coercion, bribery or compensation has or will ever be received in exchange for any reviews. These thoughts are mine, wacky as they may be, and my honest opinion is all you can truly expect. Still reading? You should be off checking out those awesome reviews ;)