Lori L. Clark's Blog, page 208

Book Review: Remember When 2

Remember When 2 by T. Torrest: 

You know how sometimes, your high school crush grows up to be an insanely famous movie star? Okay, probably not. But I do. ~Layla Warren

Back in high school, Trip Wiley’s fanbase only encompassed the denizens of the nothing little suburb of Norman, New Jersey.

Ten years later, all that is about to change.

In the summer of 2000, Layla Warren is enjoying her career as a journalist in New York City (well, sort of), while Trip spends most of his time grabbing Hollywood by the balls. In the days before what will turn out to be his skyrocketing fame, they’ll find themselves confronted with some life-altering choices.

Remember When 2 is the second story in an NA romance trilogy. It will bring you back to that exuberant and riotous time of life in your twenties when you struggled to figure out your place in the world and the person you were meant to be…

…and the person you were meant to be with.

**Intended for ages 18+ due to some questionable language and sex.**


My thoughts: I was so lucky to be given this ARC in return for an honest review from the author.

Okay, this book picks up in the year 2000 so almost a decade after Remember When#1 and Oh, how Layla and Trip’s lives have moved on..... needless to say I’m not going to be posting any spoilers in this review as I can’t think of anything worse than finding out what happens in a book before you've even read it!

Let me say that I literally couldn't put this book down and read it in a day and didn't want it to end, Tina Torrest has the ability to wrap you up in her book and you find yourself thinking about it long after you've finished it and trust me when I say that you are going to feel exactly the same when you've read it for yourself and what an ending...argh!!

Tina tells me that 3rd and final book in this trilogy should be out in the summer or the end of the summer of this year and I can’t wait for it to come out, I’m in serious need of finding out how Layla and Trip’s story ends so much so that I’ll think I will combust while waiting, lol!! This book is what I call an easy read.... So easy to read, but so hard to put down until you've reached the very last page!

So, here's my tip......READ IT!!!! You will not be disappointed!! You will need to read them in order as they do carry on from one another.

My rating *5Hearts* I LOVE, LOVE, LOVED IT!!!

What are you waiting for?? Go read it now :)

Interview: Mae I Design

It's my pleasure to welcome Regina Wamba of Mae I Design to She Reads New Adult! I'm sure many of you recognize the beautiful cover of The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorenson, one of the amazing book covers May I Design has done! Thank you again, Regina!


SRNA: How did you get started designing book covers?

MID: By my love of reading and my love of art and graphic design. I went to college for Visual Communications and Graphic Design, so putting my love for art, design, and drawing into one is awesome. :D

SRNA: Out of all of the covers that you've designed, do you have a particular favorite?

MID: It’s hard to pick a favorite, but the Coincidence of Callie and Kayden will always be close to my heart because of the process I went through to get the cover completed. From idea to photoshoot to design, it was all very eye opening, and creative.. and I love it. :D

SRNA: You are also a photographer. Do you use your own models for your book covers, or do you buy images?

MID: I actually do both. For authors wanting something completely custom, I will set up a photoshoot with them, scout models, etc.. then proof those images and make the cover! :D

Then for those who would like stock, I still scout images for the best stock I can. Usually a lot of hunting is involved to make sure the stock isn't overly used.

I also work with some other photographers that allow usage of their images for covers. :D

SRNA: What graphics program do you use to design your covers?

MID: I use a mix between Illustrator CS6 and Photoshop CS6

SRNA: In addition to book cover design, what other types of services do you offer?

MID: Photography, Author Branding, Book Trailers, Print Promotional Materials and Website/Social Media graphics. Essentially, Branding for authors to make sure they are representing themselves in a strong cohesive manner. :D

SRNA: Do you read the book before you design the cover or do how do you decide where to go with your creativity?

MID: I wish I did, but I wouldn't have time to do all the covers I currently do. I usually ask questions that provide me with visual inspiration.. such as: “Do you have a music playlist that helped move you through writing the story?” This can help me visualize what kinds of “feels” are on the interior.








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Cover Reveal: Becoming More

At first it was all freedom, fun, and games for Lilly Fairfield. Being a freshman in college was supposed to create some of the best memories of her life, especially with her best friend, Lauren, and longtime boyfriend, Sander, by her side.

But the excitement begins to slip away when the people closest to her start to change. They begin moving in a direction Lilly doesn't want to go, forcing Lilly to be faced with a decision. Should she fight for her relationships with both Sander and Lauren or move on to something different? Something unknown. Someone like…

Colton Davenport. Colton isn't Lilly’s typical type. He's shockingly sexy with his colorful tattoos, shiny silver lip ring, and ear gauges. His smile alone leaves her breathless. Then again, she hasn’t had a specific type other than Sander. When she meets Colton she feels an automatic attraction that stuns her into utter stillness. She can’t look away, doesn’t want to look away.

Lilly must decide between a life with Sander, a life she always thought she wanted, and an unknown path with Colton.

Will Lilly make the right choices for her future, Becoming More?





Bayli Lane didn't realize how much she loved creating a world from nothing until college. She went to Marian University where she majored in Communications but in her spare time wrote and read. Her love for reading is what really brought out her desire to create her own novel. After starting loads of stories and not finishing them, she finally decided it was time to put her passion to work. Becoming More is her first novel but certainly not her last. Bayli lives with her husband, Tim, in Indiana where she is probably sitting with a large cup of coffee and her computer working on her next book.

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Cover Reveal: Conjure by Jennifer Snyder

Available July 1, 2013

Sometimes to understand the present you have to conjure up the past...

The last thing Addison Harmon needed was to become tethered to the broody, often seemingly cold, Theo Van Rooyen, but that's exactly what happened.

Forced to partner up with Theo to figure out a way to break the tether, Addison soon realizes she may have bitten off more than she can chew.

(New Adult/Mature Young Adult: Contains sexual situations, language, underage drinking, and drug usage.)

Jennifer Snyder lives in North Carolina were she spends most of her time writing new adult and young adult fiction, reading, and struggling to stay on top of housework. She is a tea lover with an obsession for Post-it notes and smooth writing pens. Jennifer lives with her husband and two children, who endure listening to songs that spur inspiration on repeat and tolerate her love for all paranormal, teenage-targeted TV shows.

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GCReading Book Tours

Author Interview: Cassie Mae

I had the awesome opportunity to interview the wonderfully talented and brilliantly humorous New Adult author Cassie Mae and I am thrilled to be able to share it with you!

Jamie- You write YA and NA. Do you prefer writing one over the other?

Cassie- No preference. It’s all about the characters. YA is super fun to write because I feel like I have more freedom with their voice, but probably because I've been writing YA longer. However, I've absolutely LOVED writing people out of high school. So, I go back and forth. I’m indecisive like that.

Jamie- Who is your favorite character in Friday Night Alibi and why?

Cassie- Chase (Moron). Hands down my favorite. Maybe it’s because I have an obsession over book boys, or maybe it’s because he challenged me. But I did have a whole lot of fun looking at inspirational pictures of him ;)
Oh look… here’s one:



Jamie- You say that your goal when writing stories is to make the reader pee their pants. Can you share one of your favorite lines from one of your stories that made you pee your pants while writing it? How about from another story?

Cassie- Oh goodness, let me pull something out here…
This is from PULLING THE SWITCH, which is set for publication this December :)
And it's unedited and subject to change, just FYI ;)

I've heard of morning wood, but have never seen it firsthand. I mean, I was an only child and never had sleepovers with boys. I’m sure looking at me screams VIRGIN! Even though that’s not exactly by choice. So when I move my face to snuggle farther into Wesley’s lap, I get the shock of my life when I see… that straining against his jeans and pressing against my nose.

Please still be asleep…

“Uh…”

“Oh crap.” I bolt upright and cover my burning face. “I’m so so so sorry. I didn't mean… I was still sort of asleep,” I blabber, shaking my head and wishing I could teleport. Just take me anywhere but here!

I spread my fingers to peek through them and Wesley’s face is as red as mine. He’s looking down at his pants like the thing is sticking out of the zipper and not just pressing against it. And when I notice the dark, wet spot, that’s when I really start to freak out.

He did not just…

“That’s not me!” he shouts.

Jamie- When you are reading and not writing, who are some of your go to authors/books?

Cassie- Miranda Kenneally. I read her stuff all the time and over and over. Jolene Perry, Kristen Walker, Elizabeth Scott… oh, and Colleen Hoover, but I can’t read her stuff while I’m drafting anything, because then I start REALLY thinking I suck, haha!

Jamie- Your writing career has really taken off and has been such an exciting journey. Can you offer any advice to new authors looking to share their work with the world?

Cassie- Be yourself. It wasn't until I stopped thinking about who I thought I SHOULD be and what I thought I SHOULD write, and just went with what I wanted that I sold my books. People can tell when an author’s heart isn't in their work. My heart is now in every word I write.
Cue: Awwww! ;)

Jamie- Tell us something about yourself that we might not know.
Cassie- “I can fit my whole fist in my mouth? Wanna see?”



Oh, and I like to quote movies ;) Ten cyber gold stars for whoever knows what movie I just quoted. ;)

Jamie- What's next for Cassie Mae? Any excited projects that we can keep an eye out for?

Cassie- Well, I have the first book in the How To Series, HOW TO DATE A NERD coming out in September (as of now), PULLING THE SWITCH (my next NA from Random House Flirt) in December, and ahem… super secret NA project that I haven’t announced yet, lol. I think it’s safe to say I’ll be annoying the crap out of the publishing world for a while ;)

Jamie- Thank you Cassie for always bringing a smile to my face! I can’t wait to get my hands on your new releases!

Cassie- Thank you! Mwa!

Amazon Top 10 New Adult Books: June 16, 2013

1. Conquer Your Love by J.C. Reed: "Meeting Jett was like bad luck. Dangerous. Unpredictable. And better avoided. In his game, the stakes are high. But are they worth the risk? Brooke Stewart, a realtor in New York, finds forgetting is hard, but forgiving is harder. When the man she trusted, betrayed her, the only way to forget is to move on. Brooke is determined to start a new life, until she meets him again: the green-eyed, sexy as sin, six foot two sex god. The man who played dirty. The man who played her."


2. Before Now (Sometimes Never) by Cheryl McIntyre: "Park Reed is a bastard in every sense of the word. He hasn't always been this way. But after his heart was broken by the only girl he ever loved, being heartless gets him through the day and allows him to fill his nights with the nameless girls he has no intentions of seeing again. He now lives his life following the ever-growing list of "life lessons." Lucy Braden is everything Park is not. She’s sweet, caring, and an all-around nice person. She tries to follow Lucy's Rules to Live By every day."


3. Reason To Breathe (The Breathing Series, #1) by Rebecca Donovan: "In the affluent town of Weslyn, Connecticut, where most people worry about what to be seen in and who to be seen with, Emma Thomas would rather not be seen at all. She’s more concerned with feigning perfection—pulling down her sleeves to conceal the bruises, not wanting anyone to know how far from perfect her life truly is. Without expecting it, she finds love. It challenges her to recognize her own worth―at the risk of revealing the terrible secret she’s desperate to hide."


4. Off The Record by Sawyer Bennett: "Ever Montgomery suffered the ultimate betrayal by the one man who she should have been able to count on for anything. It has left her hurt, jaded and incapable of forming relationships, but it also means that she can spot a liar a mile away. These traits are earning her a reputation as a reporter with a keen nose for a good story and a complete understanding of the extreme power of the written word."


5. My Side by Tara Brown: "Erin Benson felt like she'd won the lottery when she arrived all the way from North Dakota with the keys to her first home in hand. Crisp white walls: Check. Breathtaking view of downtown Boston: Check. Minutes from Northeastern School of Law: Check. But home is not always where the heart is. Sometimes it’s where you find Mr. Random shacked up and sprawled out on what was supposed to be your new bed."


6. The Impact of You by Kendall Ryan: "Needing an escape from her past, Avery chooses a college where no one knows her. Keeping a low profile was the plan, falling for the intense frat boy, Jase wasn’t. Yet she can’t deny how alive she feels when he’s near. Even as common sense implores her to stay away, her body begs her to get closer."


7. Trying Not To Love You (Love Series) by Megan Smith: "MacKenzie Cahill has dealt with overbearing and overprotective brothers her entire life, making it near impossible to enjoy her teenage years. Having a boyfriend was practically impossible until she met a guy that wasn't afraid to stand up to them - Dominic. He was sweet, thoughtful, and everything MacKenzie ever wanted in a man."


8. Forever You (Forever Trilogy, #2) by Sandi Lynn: "Connor Black’s life consisted of his company and his use of multiple women. There was never going to be love, relationships or a fairy-tale life. Emotionally dead and damaged, that stemmed from a personal tragedy, Connor Black vowed never to love or fall in love with a woman, that was until Ellery Lane walked into his life by accident and changed him forever. He starts experiencing feelings and emotions he never felt before and finds himself being drawn into her world."


9. Forever Black (Forever Trilogy #1) by Sandi Lynn: "When Ellery moved to New York with her boyfriend, she thought they'd live happily ever after in their small New York apartment. She never thought he'd pack his bags and leave because he "needed space." With her newfound single status and fear of being alone, Ellery buries herself in her artwork and paintings until one night she helps a mysterious intoxicated stranger get home safely."


10. Damaged by H.M. Ward: "Life sucks. And, as soon as Sidney picks up the pieces something always knocks her back onto her butt. It's never pretty, but this time is different. This time pretty isn't even the right word. Peter is the personification of perfection. It's like he fell off his angel perch in purgatory, because let's face it--any guy that hot has got to be naughty. He was probably sent here to ruin her life."

Book Review: April Showers

April Adams is about to find out the hard way.

When April enrolls at Manchester University, it feels like a whole new life. New city, new house, new friends...new crush.

Isaac Sharpe is the hottest guy on campus - with an even hotter reputation. After a chance meeting, April quickly finds herself wrapped up in all that he is. But what if all that he is isn't what it seems?

Caught up in a battle between what she wants and what she thinks she needs, April meets Lukas Roberts. Lukas is the security blanket that she craves so desperately and she finds solace in their friendship. But what happens when she finds more than she bargained for?

April has always been a big believer of fate, but will she learn that she's in control of her own destiny before it's too late?

Join April as she embarks on a life changing journey of love and loss, which will have you laughing and crying until the very end.
My thoughts: I received an ARC of Karli's April Showers as part of the blog tour.

Okay, first of all let me tell you that I was hooked from the very start of this book, and to be really honest I couldn't put it down, I read 76% in one sitting and only stopped because it was really late and I had to get up for work early the next day otherwise I would of carried on reading!

The pace of April Showers was really good, it starts by going straight into it, love that about a book and that's what gets you hooked :) and the pace carries on right throughout the book.

I'm not going to post any spoilers as I'm not a fan of that and quite often think “well whats the point in reading the book” and I want you to enjoy April Showers for its true worth.

The characters in this book are all very likable bar one or two(one in particular), but you've always got to have at least one or two not very nice characters in a book to help make things more interesting, lol. April is a character who is very likable  she’s brilliant at her sarcastic one liners and Issac gives as good as he gets! Now Issac… don’t even get me started on him, he’s extremely hot and very swoonworthy and from his description would be just my type ;) Argh!! I could quite easily just carry on writing about the details in this book and details of all the characters but I'm not going to because I really don't want spoil it for anyone.......just read it and see for yourself, Karli's book is what I like to call easy reading, so easy to get into, so hard to put down and gets you completely hooked, I'm still thinking about the ending even the day after, can't wait for book 2, I just hope Karli doesn't keep me and everyone else waiting too long, lol.

I only have two little things that I picked up on which I've mentioned to Karli and that's the fact there's no actual description of April in the book so I kinda went with the girl on the cover mixed with how I would want her to look and I would of like a little more detail in the nitty gritty parts.. do love me some detailed naughty bits, ha ha, but that never took away the fact that I totally loved this book and couldn't put it down! ;) Oh and I particularly love the store cupboard part but I’m saying any more on that front, lol !!




My April and Issac. :)

Karli this is your first book and you should be one very proud lady!! Now hurry up and get writing the next book!

My rating for this book is simply 5 hearts for me.....loved it :) 

Book Review: Remember When

Ever wonder how often Brad Pitt's high school girlfriend must ponder jumping off a bridge? Ever think about the girl that had her hooks in George Clooney before he took off for TV stardom? How about Leonardo DiCaprio's ex, or Johnny Depp's first groupie, or any number of young women who got left behind when their boyfriends set off for greener pastures and eventually achieved unfathomable Hollywood fame?

My name is Layla Warren and I don't need to wonder about any of those things. I already know. Because years before Trip Wiley could be seen on movie screens all over the world, he could be seen sitting in the desk behind me in my high school English class.

This was back in 1990, and I cite the year only to avoid dumbfounding you when references to big hair or stretch pants are mentioned. Although, come to think of it, I am from New Jersey, which may serve as explanation enough. We were teenagers then, way back in a time before anyone, himself included, could even dream he'd turn into the Hollywood commodity that he is today.

I'm sure I don't need to tell you who Trip Wiley is. But on the off chance you've been living under a rock for the past decade, just know that these days, he's the bad boy actor found at the top of every casting director's wish list. He's incredibly talented and insanely gorgeous, the combination of which has made him very rich, very famous and very desirable.

And not just to casting directors, either.

I can't confirm any of the gossip from his early years out in Tinseltown, but based on what I knew of his life before he was famous, I can tell you that the idea of Girls-Throwing-Themselves-At-Trip is not a new concept.

I should know. I was one of them.

And my life hasn't been the same since.

**Author's Note: Remember When is the first book in a romance trilogy. It is intended for mature teen readers and immature adult readers due to some high school sex scenes, underage drinking, questionable language and 1980s flashbacks.**
File Size: 475 KB
Print Length: 262 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1482012294
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00AUV1R42
Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray: Enabled
Lending: Enabled

My thoughts: I was given a copy of Remember When in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, let me first start by saying that this review will be spoiler free as I don’t believe in spoiling a blooming good book for others when you really should just read this book yourself because quite simply you would not be disappointed!!

This book is set in the 90’s, so my era, I was 16/17 years old then too so with reference to the big hair and dodgy clothing I was so there for that, lol, it takes me back to my secondary/college days of crushing over the hottest boy but simply believing that your well out of his league and then you sense a glimmer of hope but the journey is never a smooth one and it’s the same for Layla. Layla is an extremely likable character who has been through an awful lot in her 17 years and Trip…. Well he is simply hot and I’m not surprised that practically every girl was drooling over him, I think I would have been one of them in my younger days (well if I was in this book), lol. I found the whole friendship group through this book so believable and loved that Lisa (Layla’s best Friend) had been a pillar of strength to her when she needed it most, but high school comes to an end and they've all gotta move on……… and I am saying nothing else ~ you've just seriously need to read it :)

This book was so heartwarming, I was chuckling away to myself one minute and had a lump in my throat the next and was a tad snotty and that equals a blooming good book and yes I did actually cry…. That ending ~ well I was in a bit of a state I can tell you!!

How I picture Layla & Trip:



So I give this book 5 hearts and I can’t wait for book 2, not long to wait now and it can’t come quick enough for me!

Book Review: The Guys are Props Club

The Guys are Props Club by Ingrid Seymour: During her senior year in high school, Maddie Burch promised herself not to ever fall for a cute guy – or any guy – again. Cute guys are players and not to be trusted, a fact she learned the hard way when her first boyfriend ran her heart through a paper shredder. Two years later, her promise is still intact, and she’s determined to make it through college without falling victim to another creep. She has her job, school and The Guys Are Props Club to keep her mind and hormones in check.

The club was founded by Jessica, Maddie’s best friend. It is a sisterhood of girls who have fallen prey to heartless jerks and who have vowed to turn the tables. Once a semester, Jessica requires members to “do onto others as they've done unto you.” Setting the example, Jessica’s next play is Sebastian Capello, a theater major with heartthrob looks and a flair for Latin dance, whose heart she plans to break the way hers was once broken.

What the friends don’t know is that Sebastian is different. Despite his perfect looks and popularity, he’s not a jerk. He doesn’t play games to get his way. Instead, he keeps it real and goes after what he wants with honest intentions. And what he wants is not a bombshell like Jessica, but a down-to-earth girl like Maddie – even if it causes a riff in the girl’s friendship. Even if it means getting Maddie to break her personal vow.

*** New Adult - Due to language and sexual situations this book is recommended for ages 17 and older.
File Size: 384 KB
Print Length: 257 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0615820999
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: PenDreams; 1 edition (June 10, 2013)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00DC2ZY9A
Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray: Not Enabled
Lending: Enabled

My thoughts: *I was sent this ARC by the author in exchange for an honest Review*

First of all let me start by saying that this book takes me back to my college days, which I adored...... I love books that are based in college, university etc.

Now, I'm not going to list any spoilers as I don't put spoilers in my reviews because a lot of the time if I read a review as such I kinda think "well there's not a lot of point in reading it now".

Okay, so my thoughts: Well I loved this book and couldn't put it down, I read up to 73% yesterday alone and thought I must go to bed as was up early, gets into bed and thought "Just one more Chapter" and that crept up to 81% before I finally turned the light out, needless to say I have just finished it and I totally loved it :) I gave this book 4.5 hearts but to be honest it's bordering on a 5 for me, there was just one thing which I've mentioned to the author and I'm not gonna say what it is as I don't wanna give anything away :P

Ingrid is a lovely person who has written a really good first book and it was an honor to read it for her, can't wait to read more of her work in the future :)

Book Review: Real

Real by Katy Evans: A fallen boxer.

A woman with a broken dream.

A competition…

He even makes me forget my name. One night was all it took, and I forgot everything and anything except the sexy fighter in the ring who sets my mind ablaze and my body on fire with wanting…

Remington Tate is the strongest, most confusing man I've ever met in my life.

He’s the star of the dangerous underground fighting circuit, and I’m drawn to him as I’ve never been drawn to anything in my life. I forget who I am, what I want, with just one look from him. When he’s near, I need to remind myself that I am strong–but he is stronger. And now it’s my job to keep his body working like a perfect machine, his taut muscles primed and ready to break the bones of his next opponents...

But the one he’s most threatening to, now, is me.

I want him. I want him without fear. Without reservations.

If only I knew for sure what it is that he wants from me?
File Size: 596 KB
Print Length: 268 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1482335395
Publisher: Gallery Books (May 28, 2013)
Sold by: Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc
Language: English
ASIN: B00CRAMM02
Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
X-Ray: Enabled
Lending: Not Enabled

My thoughts: This took me a little bit to get into and I confess, I did skim a little bit here and there. There's sexual tension. A LOT of sexual tension and for the better part of the first half, there's more talking about it than doing it. Which, I guess, would make for a lot of sexual tension. I won't give away any spoilers about why Remy is the way he is. But I couldn't figure out why she could love him when he hadn't said over five sentences to her. She fell in lust with the image I think at first. Then she fell in love with the man behind the image for his quiet intensity. I personally could have done without all the wet panties, nipples hard as diamonds talk, but that's just one person's opinion. Once I was made aware of what's going on with Remy and the things he's been through and is still going through in his life, I began to empathize with him a whole lot more. I do look forward to reading the next book in this series.

We will have an author interview posted very soon from Katy Evans!