Aug 31, 2013

Audio Book Review: Katja Millay - The Sea of Tranquility

Katja Millay - The Sea of Tranquility



• Pub Date: November 13, 2012
• Publisher: Simon and Schuster Audio
• Format: Audio book, 13hr 10min
• Age Range: Young Adult
• Source: Publisher (thank you!)

Former piano prodigy Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone learning about her past and to make the boy who took everything from her—her identity, her spirit, her will to live—pay.

Josh Bennett’s story is no secret: every person he loves has been taken from his life until, at seventeen years old, there is no one left. Now all he wants is be left alone and people allow it because when your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.

Everyone except Nastya, the mysterious new girl at school who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. But the more he gets to know her, the more of an enigma she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he will ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding—or if he even wants to.

The Sea of Tranquility is a rich, intense, and brilliantly imagined story about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.

Holy wow. I knew from the beginning that this book could be a 5-star book. It takes a LOT to get 5 stars from me, and this book was so very close. It's raw, real, and full of emotion. This book captured me from the beginning, and I didn't want to stop listening. Nastia and Josh are broken, but they find each other. It's a great story.

The only thing that really makes this book a 4.5-star book is that I could hear the grammatical errors while listening to the audio book. When self-published books are picked up by major publishers, aren't they edited again? Or was this not a previously self-published book? Either way! Those thing should be caught. I don't have specifics because I didn't take notes. I just made the note on Goodreads about hearing grammatical errors, but I think it had a lot to do with "I" vs. "me" many times.

This book took me by surprise though. I had no idea what it was about before I picked it up. I like things that way. I'd been told to read it, and I'm so glad I did. It had a few problems, like it's kind of long and it drags out a bit. But my goodness, I absolutely adored the ending. Really only the last two words. And that's all I'm saying. Wowee wow wow wow.

Bottom line: Everyone should read this book. Seriously. The ebook is only $3.79 on Amazon!


Rating:


4.5 book sharks!


Aug 30, 2013

Book Blast: Dawna Raver - Colour Wielders






Behind the Faerying Mysts, hidden from Mortal eyes, is a land where gods and creatures of myth and legend dwell. And in the Mortal Realm, their Princess is hidden away.

Quinn Sinclair lives an ordinary life with her less-than-loving mother in Conifer, Colorado, clueless of her true nature. On the night of her birthday, a staggering betrayal sends her life spinning out-of-control. As she struggles to pick up the pieces, a vision of a man with haunting tourmaline-blue eyes begs her for help, and she is transported into a Magykal battle-forever changing her life.

Arik Morgaine-Demigod bad boy and outcast of the Magykal Realm-tried to avoid contact with Princess Quinn for eighteen years, not wanting to make good on an old threat. But the fates have other plans. Arik can no longer deny his growing desire for Quinn, or the need to protect her from those wanting to control her burgeoning powers. Can the two of them come together and save the Magykal Realm from being destroyed by the Darkest of Magyks?


New Adult. Recommended for 18 and above. Mature themes, sexual situations, and profanity.









Chapter One

Virgin Territory


Gentle fingertips grazed the edge of her jaw, trailing down her neck to her collarbone. His citrine gaze stared deeply into her eyes, and her body heated at his tender touch.

“You’re okay, yeah?” Thaene asked, his voice hoarse from their lovemaking.

Am I okay? She hardly knew. Though she had nothing to compare it to, this feeling was more than giving her virginity to him. Quinn felt like something bigger inside had stirred to life, wanting to escape.

“You know I love you. I’m sorry if it hurt.” He kissed her again, his lips caressing hers, as if he could take the ache away.

“Say something, Quinn. Please.”

“I love you, Thaene.” She pressed herself into him, passionately returning his affection. As their kiss continued, Quinn wondered if he wanted more. She also wondered if she had more to give.

“I want us together, always. Do you want that, Quinn?” Thaene’s eyes danced with a mixture of emotions—love, passion, possessiveness, and something else she couldn’t name.

“We can have forever. You want that, don’t you?” Thaene asked.

“Yes,” Quinn answered breathlessly, before realizing what she’d agreed to. She smiled, finding his need for her exciting.

“Forever is a long time. But I could do it with you.”

Thaene smiled back. Happiness lit his face. He looked like he’d just won a major prize—he looked triumphant.

“Being with you on your twenty-second birthday was very special to me. You’ve given me such a precious gift.”

“I love you. I can’t imagine my first time with anyone else.”

Besides, my gift of Sight showed you to me, over and over. How could I not give myself to you?

Her gift had shown her something else as well. Since she didn’t understand it, Quinn ignored it. She’d followed her heart where Thaene was concerned. Not even her mother’s dislike—or in spite of it— changed her mind. Following your heart always led you down the right path.

Thaene lightly brushed her hair from her face, then he rested his forehead on hers.

“There’s something else I’d like you to give me. Will you do that? Give me what I desire the most?”

The longing in his voice made Quinn squirm underneath him. Right now, she’d give him anything.

“It’s the most precious gift of all. One I’ll cherish forever.”

Oh my God. He wants to marry me.

“Yes,” Quinn said, drawing in a breath. “I’ll give you anything.”

“Good.” Thaene nuzzled her neck. “I want you to show me your Magyk.”

“What?” Quinn blinked at him, wondering if she’d heard him right.

“If you want us to have forever, you must show me your Magyk.”


Buy it...
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Want a Review copy? Colour Wielders is live at Story Cartel, available for download for review. Also each review is entered for a chance at 3 $10 Amazon Gift Certificates. :)









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Dawna Raver is an author of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Colour Wielders, Book One, is her debut novel. When she's not spending time in her fantasy world, Dawna loves football, reading, and pretending she's a top chef in the kitchen. Oh, and fawning over her dogs and husband, sometimes in that order.


Find Dawna:
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Cover Reveal: Dawn Pendleton - Liar, Liar









Hazel is a freshman at Coastal Carolina and looking forward to making new friends. When she meets Roman, she’s head over heels for him. There’s one problem, though: he’s still hung up on Hazel’s roommate, Cheyanne. But Cheyanne has a secret, one that has the potential to ruin her life in college. When Hazel learns the secret, she’s determined to use it against Cheyanne to win over Roman. She never imagines her plan could backfire, leaving her as a pariah among her new circle of friends.

The BFF series follows the lives of new adults, Hazel, Miranda, Cheyanne, Destiny, Audric, Nolan, Andre, and Roman. Follow their stories as the first season of novellas are released once a week from September to March.

Release date: September 17, 2013











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15-Day Book Blogger Challenge: Day 4 - Throwing Books

click the picture to participate!

Hello! Welcome to day four of the 15-Day Book Blogger Challenge! 

Today is all about the last book I flung across the room. I haven't read too many books lately. I'm ridiculously busy editing, working, and going to school. Oh, and keeping two blogs alive. But I have read some books that have made me pretty emotional in a 'throw the book out the window' kind of way. The last two would have to be Down to You and Girl on Tour.



Down to You made me want to punch things. If you've read this book, then you'll probably understand. You're probably agreeing with me right now. I mean, seriously. Olivia was a bit of a hot mess there for a while, and she was pretty irritating at times. And then the whole Cash vs. Nash stuff.. Lord have mercy. I was not havin' it! Plus, some of the descriptions and sexy things going on/being said kind of made me squirm. And I'm not exactly a prude. Anyway, this book really made me want to throw it. And it was the audio version!!


Girl on Tour is another book that makes me want to scream. I love me some Trace and Kylie. I really, really do. And I'm not going to say much because this book JUST came out this week, so probably some of you haven't read it yet. Kylie and Trace, as you know if you've read Girl with Guitar, just have bad timing or something. They can't get it together at the same time. It's just how it goes. FINALLY they get it right and then other people enter the picture. Ayeee. Plus, I'm at this place in my life where I don't feel like I have time to mess around anymore. No need to hide what I want. No need to not be honest about things. So I just don't get it. But I freaking loved it, so I hope you all do too. Caisey Quinn is amazing if you don't already know. So even though I wanted to chuck this book out the door (meaning throw my computer out because that's how I was reading it), I trust her judgment. She'll tell their story right. *deep breath in* *slowly breath out* It'll be fine. It has to be.

Find the other posts in the 15-Day Book Blogger Challenge here.

Find the other bloggers joining me on the Challenge:

Aug 29, 2013

99¢ Sale: Caisey Quinn and Elizabeth Lee

Hey all! Shameless book pimping here!




If you haven't read anything by Elizabeth Lee or Caisey Quinn yet, now is a great opportunity to get some great new book and a few seriously hot book boyfriends for super cheap!! Three amazing novels are on sale! They're only 99¢ for a limited time! 

Go check them out on Amazon here:



Aug 28, 2013

Win a Frikkin' Cruise: Kimberly Ann Miller - Triangles




The Triangles

Win a Frikkin' Cruise

Sweepstakes!!

The Grand Prize Winner gets to go on a cruise!

Two runners-up will win $50 gift cards from Amazon (in US) or Book Depository (Worldwide).


What do you do?  

Buy Triangles! 



 
A cruise ship. A beautiful island. Two sexy guys. What could possibly go wrong?

In the Bermuda Triangle—a lot.

Hoping to leave behind the reminders of her crappy life--her father's death years ago, her mother's medical problems, and the loser who’s practically stalking her--seventeen-year-old Autumn Taylor hops on a ship with her sister for a little distraction. When she wakes up in the Bermuda Triangle, she fears she's gone nuts for more than one reason: that loser’s suddenly claiming they're a happy couple... a hot guy is wrapping his arms around her and saying "Happy Anniversary"... and suddenly, she’s full of bruises, losing her hair, and getting IV medication. Autumn visits the ship's doctor, hoping for a pill or a shot to make the craziness go away. Instead, she's warned that these "alternate realities" could become permanent.

She just has to ask herself one question—how the hell is she going to get out of this mess? 




Send confirmation of purchase 

(Receipt, pic with book, drawing with book, pic with library copy of book...you get it the idea) 

with this form to Spencer Hill Press!  

They MUST have it by September 14th. 

Drawing on September 16th.







Aug 27, 2013

Release Day: Caisey Quinn - Girl on Tour

Caisey Quinn is celebrating the release of Girl on Tour, book #2 in the Kylie Ryans novels! Make sure to check out the excerpt below and enter the giveaway Caisey is offering!



Title: Girl on Tour: Kylie Ryans #2
Author: Caisey Quinn
Release date: August 27, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult


An up and comer trying to make a name for herself...

KYLIE never expected to be stuck on a tour bus with a pampered princess and her boyfriend’s ex.

A troubled artist struggling to hold onto his career...

TRACE thought he was finally getting to do things his way. Until the label added co-headliner Gretchen Gibson, the only person in country music with more issues than him, to his No Apologies tour.

Surrounded by tabloid rumors and people they can't trust, Kylie and Trace need each other more than ever. But the choices they make will change everything.

Because chasing your dreams and following your heart don’t always lead you to the same place…


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Caisey Quinn lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband, daughter, and other assorted animals. She is the author of several New Adult Romance novels featuring country girls finding love in unexpected places. She is currently working on Girl in Love, the third and final book in the Kylie Ryans series. You can find her online at www.caiseyquinnwrites.com.






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