Leanne Crabtree's Blog, page 8
December 26, 2013
Book Review – Song of the Fireflies
Name: Song of the Fireflies
Author: J.A. Redmerski
Genre: New Adult
Release Date: 4th February 2014
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
I received this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Elias Kline and Brayelle Bates have been inseparable since they were kids. When Bray moves to South Carolina, separating the two for the first time, they realize that their innocent childhood friendship has developed into something much more. So when Bray returns to Georgia -and to Elias-four years later, things between them couldn’t be more perfect…until one fateful night changes everything.
Desperate not to go to prison for a terrible accident, Elias and Bray decide to run. As they try to make the most of their freedom, the two find themselves relying on a rebellious group of people who tempt the duo into a wild and daring new life. But they can’t run from their troubles forever.
As the consequences of their past catch up to them, the couple must face reality. Even if they can make it through the unimaginable, Elias knows the truth about Bray’s painful history, and in the end he may not be able to save Bray from herself…
Though I’ve loved previous books by the author, The Edge of Never and Killing Sarai (with The Edge of Always waiting on my kindle and Reviving Izabel on my wish list), I have to admit I wasn’t as into this as I was the other two.
I didn’t feel much of a connection to the characters or their predicament and I wasn’t sure I understood their actions. Well, I did understand but at the same time I knew it would only make things worse for them and I spent the rest of the book waiting for everything to catch up with them.
I liked Elias, he was so in love with Bray from such an early age and he’d do anything to keep her safe. It was sweet to read at times and heart-breaking for him at others. Then there’s Bray, who’s had a tough life. I didn’t really get her, she seemed pretty messed up mentally and did/allowed strange to happen at times.
Secondary characters like Tate were cool, he was pretty laid back and looked out for his friends and family, though I didn’t like his brother Caleb too much, he seemed a little…creepy at times, but maybe that was the drugs he used.
An appearance by one of the author’s other couples was nice too, though the scene didn’t necessarily end well, and I’m looking forward to continuing their story soon, when I get time.
Song of the Fireflies came across as very dark with lots of drugs, sex and several scenes of violence (mainly fighting) and I just couldn’t connect with it, I’m afraid. Admitting that almost feels like blasphemy since I love the author’s writing but on this, I just didn’t feel it. I liked it but I wasn’t blown away by it.
I read books for the romance aspect and I feel like I missed out on it in this, or maybe it just got lost under everything else that happened.
Next review: Elect by Rachel van Dyken (ARC)


December 24, 2013
Merry Christmas!
December 19, 2013
Cover Reveal – The Deep End of the Sea
We are extremely excited to be able to share with you the cover for Heather Lyons’ THE DEEP END OF THE SEA!! The cover alone is giving us chills! You can buy THE DEEP END OF THE SEA February 13, 2014!!
About THE DEEP END OF THE SEA:
What if all the legends you’ve learned were wrong?
Brutally attacked by one god and unfairly cursed by another she faithfully served, Medusa has spent the last two thousand years living out her punishment on an enchanted isle in the Aegean Sea. A far cry from the monster legends depict, she’s spent her time educating herself, gardening, and desperately trying to frighten away adventure seekers who occasionally end up, much to her dismay, as statues when they manage to catch her off guard. As time marches on without her, Medusa wishes for nothing more than to be given a second chance at a life stolen away at far too young an age.
But then comes a day when Hermes, one of the few friends she still has and the only deity she trusts, petitions the rest of the gods and goddesses to reverse the curse. Thus begins a journey toward healing and redemption, of reclaiming a life after tragedy, and of just how powerful friendship and love can be—because sometimes, you have to sink in the deep end of the sea before you can rise back up again.
Heather Lyons has always had a thing for words—She’s been writing stories since she was a kid. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. Heather is a rabid music fan, as evidenced by her (mostly) music-centric blog, and she’s married to an even larger music snob. They’re happily raising three kids who are mini music fiends who love to read and be read to.
Links:
Website: http://www.heatherlyons.net
Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/heatherlyons
THE DEEP END OF THE SEA Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18844839-the-deep-end-of-the-sea?ac=1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hymheather
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heatherlyonsbooks?fref=ts
DEE


December 16, 2013
Book Review – Addicted to You
Name: Addicted to You (Addicted, #1)
Author: Krista & Becca Ritchie
Genre: New Adult
Release Date: 22nd August 2013
Rating: 3½ out of 5 stars
I received this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
She’s addicted to sex. He’s addicted to booze…the only way out is rock bottom.
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 as they sink beneath the weight of their addictions, they cling harder to their destructive relationship and wonder if a life together, for real, is better than a lie. Strangers and family begin to infiltrate their guarded lives, and with new challenges, they realize they may not just be addicted to alcohol and sex.
Their real vice may be each other.
I liked this but it’s really hard to put my feelings into words.
The insight into what it’s like for a sex addict was eye-opening, the way it’s almost a physical pain for her to ignore the urge to sleep with someone. You really sympathise with Lily on this, it’s not like she enjoys it, especially when her and Loren decide to try a proper relationship together.
Loren–Lo–Hale is an alcoholic, has been for many years and Lily has been his crutch, hiding his addiction from everyone, like he does with her. His feelings for Lily are fairly obvious from early on and in a way I felt sorry for him, knowing that she spent the night with one or more guys almost every night…
The thing is they both really care about each other and sometimes choose to ignore the other’s addiction rather than confront it when it causes problems.
Dealing with their affluent families also takes it toll on them all. Lo and his alcoholic father who ignores him half the time unless he’s done something wrong and Lily and her meddlesome parents and sisters. It’s a good job they have some well-meaning friends by the end.
It’s nicely written and instead of judging the characters you tend to sympathise with them instead.
You should try it if you like the sound of it. It’s the first NA book I’ve read based on an addiction of any kind.


December 13, 2013
Book Review – Forever, Jack
Name: Forever, Jack (Eversea, #2)
Author: Natasha Boyd
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Release Date: 25th November 2013
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
I received this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
A feisty small-town girl and the Hollywood star who broke her heart
An all-consuming love threatened by fame
One last chance at FOREVER
Keri Ann Butler’s life changed on the night she met movie star, Jack Eversea. She thought she knew a Jack that was very different to the man adored by fans the world over. In the wake of his betrayal and abandonment, Keri Ann has had to pick up and move forward with the life she was supposed to live and has put off far too long.
Suddenly Jack is back, and his explanations for why he left seem more and more plausible, and his declarations more seductive. But being Jack’s latest tabloid accessory isn’t on Keri Ann’s career agenda, no matter how much she is attracted to him. And how can she can ever trust him again?
Jack knows he let the only ‘real’ thing that ever happened to him slip through his fingers. And his hands have been tied to try and stop it. Until Now.
Jack is now fighting to save his relationship with Keri Ann, even as his crazy life threatens to tear them apart. Again. The question is, can he convince her she can have it all? And have him? Forever?
Well, I read book 1, Eversea, back when I went on holiday last month and fell in love with Jack Eversea.
In this, we see the lengths he goes to to make it right for the girl he loves, Keri Ann, and so she isn’t dragged into the backstabbing world that he’s grown weary of. And if possible I fell even harder for him.
But in the five months he’s been gone from her life, Keri Ann, has tried to move on and he’s got a job on his hands getting back in her good books. I didn’t blame Keri Anne for not taking him back instantly after what happened at the end of Eversea, but at the same time I was willing them almost desperately to get back together because they are one hell of a good couple.
Audrey annoyed the hell out of me again. I wasn’t a fan in the first and she angered me more in this one. How desperate can you be not to ruin your image to threaten a girl you’ve never really taken the time to know or talk to? She hacked me off big time at the beginning; I could have smacked her and at the end, too.
The life of a celebrity never does run smooth.
I loved Eversea but there’s something about Forever, Jack…there’s so much more emotion in it and I was sucked in whole-heartedly. I am now a die-hard fan of Natasha Boyd and look forward to reading future books.
Next review: Addicted to You


December 10, 2013
Book Review – Broken Beauty
Name: Broken Beauty (Broken Beauty Novellas, #1)
Author: Chloe Adams
Genre: Contemporary, Abuse
Release Date: 22nd September 2013
Rating: 3½ out of 5 stars
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sometimes bad things happen to beautiful people.
When socialite party girl Mia Abbott-Renou wakes up in a garden she has little recall of the previous night — except that she is naked…hurt…terrified. Not only has she been raped, but she knows one of her assailants: the son of a wealthy politician who happens to be her own father’s political ally.
Mia wants and needs justice. Except this privileged boy has an alibi and her father forbids her from going to the police. It’s a critical election year, one that his party might lose if his image as a doting father is soured due to Mia being labeled a lush or worse, promiscuous.
Devastated at not having the support of her family, Mia finds herself in a tug-of-war with her conscience over what to do, especially since she can’t remember exactly what happened that night. Worse, the men who attacked her have hurt several other girls, and Mia may be the key to stopping them.
Mia tries to forget, until the unthinkable happens, and she’s left reeling once again, faced with a new challenge that will force her to take more control of her life.
This is a novella length story, the first of six, and deals with the aftermath and issues surrounding rape. It was a tough read at times but a good strong story.
I felt sorry for Mia. Being brought up in a political family and then being raped…and her father wants to glorify it to get more voters so he can win his election. How twisted can your life get? Her family do and say things to get voters, whether it’s helping Mia cope or not–mainly not–and I wanted to scream and shout at them in her defence.
And despite all that, some people do care. Dom, the policeman that found her in the first place, tries to help her realise that the only way her attackers will not get away with it, is to tell the truth and stop following her family’s wish to let it drop. He’s so nice and gentle with her. Her friend, Ari, tries to do whatever Mia wants but seeing how she’s struggling…what can you do?
It’s an emotional and sometimes tough story to read but after finishing this, I’m looking forward to the next part in the series to see what Mia does next. I hope she’s strong enough to go against her family.
Next review(s): Forever, Jack or Addicted to You


December 9, 2013
Going good
Well Charlotte and Sebastian, or as I like to call them–Charlie and Seb–is still going strong. YAY! And I’m just starting work on chapter 5. So far we’ve had a battle with some rogue werewolves, two blood donations, two attacks: one verbal, one physical, some intense physical attraction and I still have quite a few more things I want to add so it’s looking good!
It’s currently at 7755 words and I’m hoping, if I don’t get distracted (fingers crossed), to get it to well over 8000 by the end of the day.
Also, because I’m hoping I get it finished, I’ve done a cover for it. What do we think? Here it is:


December 5, 2013
Book Review – Offside
Name: Offside (Barker Triplets, #1)
Author: Juliana Stone
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports
Release Date: 28th September 2012
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
When hockey phenom Billie-Jo Barker returns home and decides to play in the local Friday night hockey league, all hell breaks loose. Not because Billie’s talent is in question, but because Billie is a woman. And though these are modern times, some of the local guys still have a problem letting a girl into their ‘men’s club.’
Soon, Billie is at the center of a small town battle of the sexes, with everyone choosing sides. Her sisters. The townsfolk. Her friends. And yet, the only person whose opinion she cares about doesn’t seem to care much at all. Logan Forest, the man who broke her heart when she was eighteen and the man she now shares the bench with every Friday night.
She’s got a lot to prove and though Billie Jo Barker scores on the ice, will this girl ever score with the man of her dreams?
It’s been on my kindle forever (it’s a freebie!!) and I thought it was about time I read it, and you know what? I enjoyed it. It’s the kind of contemporary romance I like.
Though how those triplets are related, I’ll never know. They’re always arguing and b*tching about one thing or another in each others lives and it drove me wild whenever they were together in the same room. I get sibling rivalry, but jeez, they were vicious!
As for the romance between Billie-Jo and Logan, I really liked it. It was slow and sweet and had me sighing at certain parts. As the story progressed and we saw hints about the past, I wasn’t expecting one thing that was revealed (though them being triplets, how did I not figure it out?!)
I liked the storyline, a female ex-professional ice hockey player playing on an all men’s team and showing them that she’s good enough to do it and in most cases better than them.
The bits we saw of Bobbie-Jo kinda made me like her, though I’m sure I’ll come to like her fully when I read her and Shane’s story. As for Betty-Jo, she seemed like a bit of a b*tch with what she did to Billie in this and at present I’m not a fan.
Bobbie-Jo’s story continues in Collide and Betty-Jo’s continues in Conceal.


December 2, 2013
Cover Reveal & Giveaway – Thrash (Bayonet Scars, #2) by JC Emery
Name: Thrash (Bayonet Scars, #2)
Author: JC Emery
Release Date: January 2014
Synopsis:
Loneliness suffocates the heart. Acceptance breaks down walls.
As a Lost Girl to the Forsaken Motorcycle Club, Nicole Whelan knows how to party. She’s not cut-out for relationships and her life is way too complicated for anything more than casual encounters. But one night when she falls into Duke’s bed at the clubhouse, he sees something in her that he can’t let go of—no matter how many times she tries to run.
Having been left to raise her teenage brother, Jeremy, she’s already got her hands full and isn’t looking for anymore complications. But Duke’s just watched his best friend fall for the only girl he couldn’t have, and then lose her so shortly after, shaking him to his core. Faced with his own loneliness, he’s more determined than ever to break down Nic’s walls and show her that he can be good for her; but he’s got a bad track record and she’s got a bad temper. Changing his ways isn’t easy when he’s not sure what he’s even changing for.
The violence and turmoil are at an all-time high, and Forsaken is in a vulnerable place when a twist of fate breathes new life into the club. It’s a much-needed beacon of hope for the embattled biker family, even if everyone’s not exactly on board. With Duke and Nic’s relationship already on shaky ground, and something even more important at stake, the Forsaken Motorcycle Club will fight like hell to keep their family together and whole.
Love is never more precious than when it’s new.
(Book 1, Ride, is out now. http://www.amazon.com/Ride-Bayonet-Scars-JC-Emery-ebook/dp/B00G7T94IW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1385921025&sr=1-1&keywords=ride )
Rafflecopter Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the Author:
As a child, JC was fascinated by things that went bump in the night. As they say, some things never change. Now, as an adult, she divides her time between the sexy law men, mythical creatures, and kick-ass heroines that live inside her head and pursuing her bachelor’s degree in English. JC is a San Francisco Bay Area native, but has also called both Texas and Louisiana home. These days she rocks her flip flops year round in Northern California and can’t imagine a climate more beautiful.
JC writes adult, new adult, and young adult fiction. She dabbles in many different genres including science fiction, horror, chick lit, and murder mysteries, yet she is most enthralled by supernatural stories– and everything has at least a splash of romance.
Links:
Blog: www.jcemery.wordpress.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jc_emery
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-JC-Emery/301706559938830
Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6902956.J_C_Emery
Trash Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18730386-thrash
This post is courtesy of:


November 29, 2013
Cover Reveal – Drew + Fable Forever by Monica Murphy
We are extremely thrilled to share the cover of Monica Murphy’s novella DREW + FABLE FOREVER. Fans of the One Week Girlfriend Series will want to preorder now for just $.99!!! We know you’ll love this novella as much as we do!
DREW + FABLE FOREVER releases on January 14!!
ABOUT DREW + FABLE FOREVER:
Monica Murphy returns with her most beloved characters, Drew and Fable, in this eBook original short story that brings her bestselling New Adult series full circle.
Fantasy. How I ended up with NFL player Drew Callahan, the guy every woman wants, is beyond my wildest dreams. All I know is that once he chose me as his one and only, I sure wasn’t looking back. I had past wounds and he showed patience and concern—even accepting responsibility for my messed-up kid brother. Now, yet again, he’s found a way to blow my mind: an exotic wedding and honeymoon miles and miles away from home. What else could a girl ever ask for?
Reality. Except now the honeymoon’s over. Drew’s football schedule takes him on the road constantly, while I need to stay put and look after my brother until he finishes high school—because God knows our sorry excuse for a mother won’t. I know Drew loves me with all his heart, and I’ll always be over the moon about him. This just isn’t how I imagined life as newlyweds . . . dealing with the distance, missing him constantly. But we’ve gone through hard times before. We can get through this, too, right? We’re Drew and Fable, together forever. At least I hope so. . . .
EXCERPT:
“We should check out Ocean Avenue tomorrow,” Drew whispers close to my ear, amusement tingeing his deep voice.
“What? Are you serious?” Even though I’ve come to terms with being here, it doesn’t mean I want to linger and make it a serious vacation. Besides, Drew needs to get back home so he can resume practice.
“Well yeah, remember the spot where we kissed?” His eyes are warm as they search my face, filled with so much love I feel my heart swell.
“Yes,” I whisper achingly. “Of course I remember.”
“I want to go back there.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, his index finger lingering on my skin. “I want to kiss you again in that little alley and remember how wet we were from the rain. How nervous I was. I was scared you might reject me.”
I’d felt the same way. We’d dealt with much of the same feelings and fears and hadn’t even known it.
“I want to take you to that store where you got the dress that just about killed me and buy you whatever you want,” he continues, his fingers drifting across my jaw. My eyes flutter closed as memories rush back at me. “I want to sit outside the dressing room and have you come out to show me every single thing you’re trying on.”
That he remembers all the little details sends a thrill of pleasure spiraling to the very depths of my soul.
“And then I want to wander off for a bit and let you do whatever you want, secretly hoping that you’ll send me a text that says marshmallow. Though if you don’t that’s okay because I’ll send you one instead.” He offers up a crooked smile and the sight of it cracks my heart wide open, overflowing with so much pure love for him I want to cry. “Because we made a deal. Whenever we see or hear that word,
the other comes running. I’ll always be the one to rescue you, Fable. You never have to worry about that.”
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite. A wife and mother of three, she writes New Adult and contemporary romance for Bantam and Avon. She is the author of One Week Girlfriend and Second Chance Boyfriend.
Pre-Order Links:
Links:
Website: http://www.monicamurphyauthor.com/#
Blog: http://missmonicamurphy.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsMonicaMurphy
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MonicaMurphyauthor
Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5934418.Monica_Murphy
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Monica-Murphy/e/B00AVPYIGG
DREW + FABLE FOREVER Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18733803-drew-fable-

