Sorcha O'Dowd's Blog, page 28
October 16, 2014
Book Blitz ~ ‘Frost’ by Kate Avery Ellison.
Frost by Kate Avery Ellison
(The Frost Chronicles #1)
Publication date: March 28th 2012
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult
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SYNOPSIS
In the icy, monster-plagued world of the Frost, one wrong move and a person could end up dead—and Lia Weaver knows this better than anyone.
After monsters kill her parents, Lia must keep the family farm running despite the freezing cold and threat of monster attacks or risk losing her siblings to reassignment by the village Elders. With dangers on all sides and failure just one wrong step away, she can’t afford to let her emotions lead her astray. So when her sister finds a fugitive bleeding to death in the forest—a young stranger named Gabe—Lia surprises herself and does the unthinkable.
She saves his life.
Giving shelter to the fugitive could get her in trouble. The Elders have always described the advanced society of people beyond the Frost, the “Farthers,” as ruthless and cruel. But Lia is startled to find that Gabe is empathetic and intelligent…and handsome. She might even be falling in love with him.
But time is running out. The monsters from the forest circle the farm at night. The village leader is starting to ask questions. Farther soldiers are searching for Gabe. Lia must locate a secret organization called the Thorns to help Gabe escape to safety, but every move she makes puts her in more danger.
Is compassion—and love—worth the risk?
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~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~
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He came out of nowhere, hitting me hard from one side and knocking me over. We rolled together across the floor and he came out on top, his hands on either side of my head, holding my wrists down against the stones. His burning eyes bored into mine.
I couldn’t seem to find my breath. The whole world slowed down, and I realized with perfect clarity that he might kill me.
“Don’t scream,” he hissed.
I shook my head.
“How far is the village?” He whispered it, the words harsh and raspy in the air between us. I could see his mind working behind his eyes—was he calculating how long it would take him to try to struggle away on his own, how long before they found my lifeless body?
I was neither brave nor stupid. I told him what he wanted to know. “The village is less than a mile.”
He grimaced, and I realized he must be half-mad with the pain. Maybe if I moved suddenly, I could throw him off and get to the door…
He must have sensed my plan, for he pressed down harder on my wrists, keeping me pinned. “And the gate?”
“What gate? You mean the village gate?”
He didn’t explain. “The mountains, then.”
“The farm sits in its shadow,” I gasped. His hands were cutting off my circulation. “But killing me does nothing to help you. You are too weak to get far, and the Watchers fill the woods.”
His eyebrows drew together sharply, and he coughed. He was weakening—I could see it. “Kill you?”
His grip on my wrists slackened. I saw my chance, and I took advantage of it.
I slammed my elbow into his face. The Farther cried out, falling sideways like a puppet with its strings cut. I scrambled up for the door and yanked it open.
“Stop—wait—”
I turned. He was crumpled on the ground, his limbs shaking. I could see that he had no strength left.
“I’m sorry if I hurt you,” he gasped. “I just needed answers.”
I lingered, not running but not relaxing, either. “You would kill me for information, then?”
He pressed a hand against his side and wheezed a bewildered laugh. “I’m not a murderer of farm girls. Not even those who plan to harm me.”
“Harm you?” My words were sharp. “I’m sticking my neck out for you. I’m putting my family in danger for you. I’m sheltering and feeding you—and for what? It’s you who just tried to harm me.”
“I just needed information about my location,” he said, wincing at my words. He struggled up into a kneeling position and raised his dazzling blue eyes to mine. Blood colored his lip red. “I won’t try anything again, I promise, even though I know you want me dead.”
It was my turn to laugh, breathlessly. “You make no sense.” I grabbed the herbs from my pocket and brandished them at him. “I came to bring you these for your wound. I’m not going to kill you. I just want you gone before you can cause any more trouble.”
His expression turned inside out—the planes of his face softened in surprise, and his eyes widened slightly. But then they slitted shut, and I could tell he didn’t believe me. “You’re lying.”
“Why would I lie?” I snapped. “If I wanted to kill you, I’d have done it by now. I could have simply left you in the snow, or refused to clean your wounds, or refused to feed you.”
He was silent, considering this. Some of the wild terror on his face eased at the logic of what I’d said. “Why haven’t you? Left me to die, I mean?”
I didn’t answer that, because I didn’t know how to put my reasons into words. I didn’t even quite know what the reasons were.
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What book are you reading now?
Requiem, by Lauren Oliver. Fantastic book. Every word she writes is poetry.
Do you read a lot?
Yes! Although lately I’ve been reading more nonfiction. I try to read voraciously and widely, though—it’s important to stay exposed to lots of genres and styles as a writer.
Where do you like to write?
I usually write at my local public library, or a coffee shop near my house. I like to lose myself in the noise and atmosphere of quiet hustle and bustle—it keeps me focused and somehow filters out my own mental distractions. When I’m at home, I tend to procrastinate with Youtube or Netflix too much.
What is your writing process like?
I usually start with an outline, or something that you might call an outline if you squinted at it just right. I hate outlining, but it’s a useful way to organize preliminary thoughts and make sure you have a clear direction for the story. Then I sort of ignore the outline and just start writing. I almost always write in order from start to finish, but it depends on the book. If there’s a scene I’m itching to write and I see it all perfectly in my head, I might skip ahead and get it down on paper. When I’m done with the first draft, my editor and my beta reader get their hands on it, give me feedback, and then I revise. Rise and repeat. Most of the writing process comes down to revision and editing.
What was it like to write Frost?
When I write, I get immersed in the world of the story. Frost is set in a cold, dangerous place, so I lived in this mindset of chilly, grimness. When I’d finished the series, I started work on a new series set in about as different a place as I could imagine—warm and tropical. That became my Secrets of Itlantis series.
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Kate Avery Ellison
I live in Georgia with my wonderful husband and two spoiled cats. When I’m not writing, I’m usually catching up on my extensive Netflix queue, reading a book, giggling at something funny online, or trying to convince my husband to give me just ONE bite of whatever he’s eating.
Learn more about my writing and books at my blog find teasers for upcoming works on my Facebook page, and subscribe to my new releases newsletter to be notified of new novels as soon as they hit stores.
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Book Blitz organised by Xpresso Book Tours.
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Book Review ~ ‘Third Time Lucky’ by Pippa Croft.
Third Time Lucky by Pippa Croft
Oxford Blue #3
Genres: Romance, Women’s Fiction, Contemporary
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SYNOPSIS
The love story continues – Third Time Lucky is the third book in Pippa Croft’s compelling Oxford Blue romance series.
Fans of E L James, Tammara Webber and Samantha Young won’t be able to get enough of Pippa Croft’s Oxford Blue romance series. Lauren and Alexander’s journey begins in The First Time We Met, and follows on in the brilliant sequel, The Second Time I Saw You, which are both available as Penguin ebooks.
Pippa Croft is the pen name of an award-winning romantic novelist. After studying English at Oxford, she worked as a copywriter and journalist before writing her debut novel, which won the RNA’s New Writers’ award and was later made into a TV movie. She lives in a village in the heart of England with her husband and daughter.
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Book Review ~ ‘Third Time Lucky’ by Pippa Croft ~ 5 Stars!
I am a self-confessed Alexander Hunt addict, so needless to say the cliffhanger at the end of ‘The Second Time I Saw You’ very nearly killed me. As soon as ‘Third Time Lucky’ appeared on my Kindle, it was immediately devoured, and I was once again swept along by Lauren and Alexander’s turbulent relationship.
Pippa Croft has an amazing ability at setting the scene in her books. It didn’t take any time at all for me to get used to being back in Lauren’s mind frame, and her fear, pain, heartbreak and hope all hit me straight away and had me feeling from the events of Book 2 and desperate to see whether her and Alexander can salvage their relationship.
What I’ve always liked about this series is the way that Pippa Croft portrays Alexander and Lauren’s relationship as fun and passionate but seeped with uncertainty and refusal to think about the future it could take. It is so wonderful to see a very truthful portrayal of how young people think about the future, and Lauren is the perfect example of a young girl who doesn’t want to be pulled back from making her own career and future,
The secondary characters were as well rounded and brilliantly portrayed as in the first two books, and the feelings that I had for some of these characters, particularly Scott and Valentina is part of what made me so invested in this series. They felt real to me, therefore their threat felt real. It’s not enough to just dislike them because of their intrusion into the main characters lives, but to feel worried by the threat that they pose to the main characters. This is something that I often feel is lacking in the development of secondary characters in contemporary stories.
This series is one that will stay with me for a long time. Between the beautiful descriptions of Oxford University, the heart-pounding romance between Lauren and Alexander, and the curse-the-witch-that-is-Valentina moments, this series is one not to be missed.
5 Stars!
*Review copy was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
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Pippa Croft
~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website ~
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October 13, 2014
Tour Stop ~ ‘Made in Nashville’ by Mandy Baggot.
Made in Nashville by Mandy Baggot
Published by: Harper Impulse
Publication date: February 6th 2014
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
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SYNOPSIS
An on-stage attack left Honor Blackwood with more scars than just the one on her face. It’s been ten years since she left her spot as Nashville’s brightest country music star. Is now the time to return? And is she brave enough to do it?
Country rebel and rock star, Jared ‘Jed’ Marshall is hot property on the Tennessee music scene in more ways than one. He’s wild, he’s sexy and everybody wants a piece of him. But when he sets his sights on Honor, is it pure attraction or just distraction on his mind?
Honor’s record label sign the ex-boyfriend that dumped her and suddenly going back to her old life is harder than she thought. Can she get a new contract? Will she get to perform at the Marlon Festival? Or will Dan Steele destroy everything?
When a secret from the past becomes public knowledge it’s no longer just about the music. Are all the people in her life lying to her to get what they want? And who is really behind the anonymous gifts she keeps getting sent?
Join the country scene to find out!
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Book Review ~ ‘Made in Nashville’ by Mandy Baggot ~ 5 Stars!
‘Made in Nashville’ was such a breath of fresh air! I always love reading stories about people who are multi-dimensional and show real depth of character and emotional growth and ‘Made in Nashville’ had all of this.
Honor was the perfect heroine for this novel, and I loved how normal she was portrayed. We always see celebrities saying that they are normal people, so it was wonderful to see Mandy Baggot bring that out in Honor. I loved the psychological elements that were weaved beautifully throughout Honor’s story and to see her road to recovery and the huge fight she had to make against the fear that had her hiding from the world for so long.
Enter Jared ‘Jed’ Marshall *swoon*. I’m not all that clued up on country music or the current artists in this genre, but oh my, just reading about Jared Marshall singing made me go straight to YouTube and look up some country music. That is something that shows just how good Mandy Baggot wrote this story that I felt a part of the music scene and just had to listen aIong.
I absolutely adored Jed in this story, and it was his utter devotion to Honor and to helping her move on from her past that had me rooting for him from the word go. I loved seeing the transition he made throughout this novel as well, and to see him open up to loving after having been let down in the past. The relationship that he and Honor developed was one of the most beautiful I have witnessed in contemporary fiction, with the pacing being perfect for them, not too fast and not too slow. I felt happy that they were moving at the right speed for them, and that Jed was such a gentleman that he didn’t allow his physical feelings for Honor to make him move too quickly with her. I was swooning throughout, and planning on making Jed Marshall posters for my wall (Self-confessed Jed fangirl!).
What I really liked about this novel, and what really stood out to me, was the lack of unnecessary drama. I’m all for a bit of drama and angst because I love the emotions it evokes in me, but with Made in Nashville, I really liked seeing Honor and Jed just be themselves without hiding their true natures of feelings and having petty arguments and splitting apart over them. This made the drama that did open up between them so much more emotional because of its realistic nature and had me on the edge of my seat in waiting to see whether they could move past it.
This was my first book by Mandy Baggot, and I knew straight away that it would definitely not be my last. Her talent with words, story and character development, pacing and the sheer emotion that seeps through the page is something that is so rare in contemporary fiction, and I can’t wait to see where she takes me next.
5 Stars!
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~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~
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Mandy Baggot
Mandy Baggot is an award-winning romantic fiction author, writing hot heroes and emotional reads.
Represented by Kate Nash of the Kate Nash Literary Agency she is also a contributor to writing blogs, magazines and short story anthologies and regularly takes part in fiction festivals and literary events.
Mandy loves mashed potato, white wine, country music, Corfu, shoes and handbags. She has appeared on ITV1’s Who Dares Sings and auditioned for The X-Factor.
Mandy is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband, two daughters and cats, Kravitz and Springsteen.
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~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website ~
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Blog Tour organised by Xpresso Book Tours.
Click the banner above to follow the ‘Made in Nashville’ Blog Tour.
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October 11, 2014
Book Spotlight ~ ‘Family Law vs The Godfather: Fiction with Full Dramatic License’ by An Gore.
Family Law vs The Godfather by An Gore.
Fiction with Full Dramatic License
(Credit Crunch: From Vadovia with Hate Book 1)
Genres: Legal Fiction, Crime.
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SYNOPSIS
Vadovia is an imaginary country. Its culture is anti-whistleblower. Its economy is dominated by its ‘banking mafia’. And its sinister hit-squads silence corporate dissidents using ‘living death’ contracts based on the rule of law. Then Godfather, Hektor Ingold, puts a contract out on beautiful Adriana, using the rule of law as practiced by mercenary English family lawyers. And this is how Adriana finds herself in the gothic splendour of London’s Royal Courts of Justice and pitted against Bendt, her Vadovian ex-husband, for custody of their baby son, Robert. ‘Family Law vs The Godfather’ is fiction with full dramatic license.
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October 10, 2014
Book Blitz ~ ‘Day Zero’ by Summer Lane.
Day Zero by Summer Lane
(The Zero Trilogy #1)
Publication date: October 10th 2014
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult
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SYNOPSIS
Elle is a survivor.
Since the collapse of modern society, she’s been living in the remains of downtown Hollywood, California, foraging for food and fighting for her life.
And then everything changes.
After she is forced out of her home, she heads north. What she finds is a group of bunker survivors, unlikely comrades, and the hope of a safe haven. Together, they journey toward the dregs of civilization, facing starvation, imprisonment and death.
They are alone, but they are ready.
Day Zero begins today.
Day Zero is a novella, the first installment in The Zero Trilogy, a novella series complementing the international bestselling Collapse Series.
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~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~ Createspace ~
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Writing about Post-Apocalyptic Hollywood and Santa Monica
Writers of post-apocalyptic fiction have the interesting task of taking the world in which we live and transforming it into an entirely different reality. For Day Zero, I chose Hollywood and Santa Monica, California, as the primary setting for my novella. Why those two cities? For one, I’m very familiar with them. I’ve spent a lot of time in southern California, visiting the Walk of Fame and Santa Monica Boulevard. It’s always best to base fiction on the legs of reality, so I went with what I knew.
I also recall asking myself the question, What would happen if Hollywood became uninhabitable? It’s interesting to think about the city without the glitz and glamour, with only the threads of civilization hanging on. I researched and visited famous places like Wilshire Boulevard, the Santa Monica Pier and Millions of Milkshakes on Santa Monica Boulevard. I believe grounding a story in something that exists makes it relatable to the reader – and fun for the author!
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INTL Giveaway
A pack of eBooks including:
Dead Girl Walking, by Ruth Silver
Fractured Dream, by K.M. Randall
Spirit Warriors: The Scarring by DEL Connor
Eyes of the Enemy by Kelly Hess
Jacob, King of Portalia by Casey Club
Destiny Gift by Juliana Haygert
Aftershock by Roberta Trahan
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Summer Lane
Summer Lane is the author of the international bestselling Collapse Series, which includes State of Emergency, State of Chaos, State of Rebellion and State of Pursuit. The fifth installment, State of Alliance, is releasing January 2015. Summer is also the author of The Zero Trilogy and an upcoming survivalist/science fantasy series coming in 2015. She owns WB Publishing, Writing Belle Magazine, and is an accomplished creative writing teacher and journalist.
Summer lives in the Central Valley of California, where she spends her time writing, teaching, and writing some more. When she is not writing, she enjoys leisurely visits with friends at coffee shops, dates to the movies, hiking in the mountains and strolling on the beach.
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~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website ~
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Book Blitz organised by Xpresso Book Tours.
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October 9, 2014
Tour Stop ~ ‘Apolonia’ by Jamie McGuire.
We would love for you to join us in celebrating the release of APOLONIA by New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jamie McGuire!
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Title: APOLONIA
Author: Jamie McGuire
Age: NA
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance
Publisher: Jamie McGuire LLC (October 6, 2014)
Cover Design: Okay Creations, Sarah Hansen
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SYNOPSIS
“They killed me, but I survived.”
Three years after Rory Riordan foiled her own murder, she still trusts no one. Not Dr. Z, the eccentric college professor who has taken her under his wing, not Benji, the endearing, attractive classmate who insists on following her around, and certainly not Cy, the beautifully dark and mysterious boy who sits on the first row in Dr. Z’s Astrobiology class and asks far too many questions.
When Rory witnesses Cy being abducted by soldiers in the middle of the night, she finds herself submersed in a world that holds even more secrets than she could imagine–even darker secrets than her own.
From #1 New York Times Bestseller Jamie McGuire, experience the perfect combination of her bestselling books Providence & Beautiful Disaster. This New Adult Sci-Fi Romance is an action-packed, whiplash-inducing roller coaster ride. Page after page, this unpredictable, dark and sexy nail biter will keep readers guessing until the very end!
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Book Review ~ ‘Apolonia’ by Jamie McGuire ~ 5 Stars!
I’ve loved Jamie McGuire’s contemporary New Adult novels so was really excited to see what she would do with a New Adult Sci-Fi. As if I could ever have doubted it, Jamie McGuire never fails to deliver, no matter what genre she writes. She has this insane ability to make every character, both main and secondary so well rounded and well crafted that I feel as though I experience every situation and emotion that her characters are confronted with.
Rory is very different to the typical New Adult Romantic heroine, and for that reason I loved her even more. The first chapter was heartbreaking in its honesty in how one night can literally change the person you are for the rest of your life. Rory was a real heroine, with real feelings, real pain and deals with that pain in a way that many young people do, by pushing people away with harsh words and dedicating all their time to something that makes them feel safe. McGuire portrayed this beautifully with Rory, and where she could easily have come off as an unlikeable character, she instead had me viewing her sympathetically and feeling proud that instead of giving up, she had made the most of what she was given.
I loved the twist that Jamie McGuire made in this novel which took me by surprise, but which I absolutely adored. From the synopsis I immediately thought I’d fall for the dark and brooding Cy, which although I did, I loved that the author didn’t take the common path for Rory’s relationship. Benji was a character that slowly grew on me but who I began to love so much as Rory began to feel differently for him too. It was wonderful to see the difference between the kinds of love that you can feel for two people, both romantic and platonically, and I rejoiced in seeing how Rory and Benji’s romantic relationship developed, alongside her friendship with Cy.
The sci-fi elements in this novel were absolutely brilliant and the action scenes were electric, making me sit on the edge of my seat and biting my lip. I was in suspense throughout, never knowing who it was Rory could trust and seeing the allegiances change. I don’t want to spoil any of the story for potential readers but I’ll just say that Rory, Cy and Benji may not be who you think they are.
5 Stars for this incredible story, and I can’t wait to see what Jamie McGuire does next with that amazing writing talent of hers.
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~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ iTunes ~ Kobo ~ Nook ~
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3 Prints, 5 APOLONIA ebooks
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Jamie McGuire
Jamie McGuire was born in Tulsa, OK. She attended the Northern Oklahoma College, the University of Central Oklahoma, and Autry Technology Center where she graduated with a degree in Radiography.
Jamie paved the way for the New Adult genre with international bestseller, Beautiful Disaster. Her follow-up novel Walking Disaster debuted at #1 on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. She has also written apocalyptic thriller Red Hill, a novella titled A Beautiful Wedding, and the Providence series, a young adult paranormal romance trilogy.
Jamie lives on a ranch just outside Enid, OK with husband Jeff and their three children. They share their 30 acres with cattle, six horses, three dogs, and Rooster the cat.
Find Jamie at http://www.jamiemcguire.com or on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
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~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website ~
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Blog Tour organised by Wordsmith Publicity.
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October 7, 2014
Book Review ~ ‘The 100′ by Kass Morgan.
The 100 by Kass Morgan
(The 100 #1)
Genres: Young Adult, Dystopian, Sci-Fi.
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SYNOPSIS
No one has set foot on Earth in centuries — until now.
Ever since a devastating nuclear war, humanity has lived on spaceships far above Earth’s radioactive surface. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents — considered expendable by society — are being sent on a dangerous mission: to recolonize the planet. It could be their second chance at life…or it could be a suicide mission.
CLARKE was arrested for treason, though she’s haunted by the memory of what she really did. WELLS, the chancellor’s son, came to Earth for the girl he loves — but will she ever forgive him? Reckless BELLAMY fought his way onto the transport pod to protect his sister, the other half of the only pair of siblings in the universe. And GLASS managed to escape back onto the ship, only to find that life there is just as dangerous as she feared it would be on Earth.
Confronted with a savage land and haunted by secrets from their pasts, the hundred must fight to survive. They were never meant to be heroes, but they may be mankind’s last hope.
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Book Review ~ ‘The 100′ by Kass Morgan ~ 4 Stars!
I love novels set in the dystopian genre, so when I saw the adverts on television for the TV adaptation of this book, I knew straight away that I had to read it.
The dystopian elements are what drew me into this story, but it was the emotional elements and character development that kept me engrossed in the book. I really enjoyed the way that Keira Cass made almost half of this novel flashbacks to the past and half in the present day, as I loved getting little snippets of information about the characters pasts and the reasons for their current situations little by little so that in the end the characters that I really liked I began to see in a less than flattering light, and the characters I was unsure of, I began to really care for.
As soon as I started reading this book I had one hope for the story, and that was to see Clarke and Wells reconnect and move on from the trauma of their past, so I was so disappointed to see the author take the story in another direction, particularly as I felt that Wells was being painted as the bad guy too often, when in fact he was doing everything he did out of love for Clarke. Sadly, I think it was Clarke’s storyline, the one that I originally was most invested in, is the reason that I couldn’t give this book 5 Stars. Everything that Clarke did I began to feel angry about, and the introduction of Bellamy and the spark of connection between the two made me feel desperately sad as to the way the story was being taken, which made me begin to view these two characters, originally ones that I really liked, with annoyance.
However, that being said, the other storylines in this novel were in my opinion executed perfectly. I loved Glass, and she became the character that I rooted for above all the others, which was in a way a bit disappointing, as I was looking forward to seeing the action on earth, but due to my issues with the characters, I was more invested on the goings on in the ship. Luke was such a great character, and I loved seeing him and Glass reconnect. I felt far more emotionally connected to this couple than I did to the idea of Clarke and Bellamy, and my heart broke for Glass when she escapes the ship to earth only to discover that Luke had moved on with an old friend of his. This storyline was one that kept me on the edge of my seat and my mouth was hanging open at the end in shock. HOW COULD IT END WITH THAT!? The author did a great job at pulling me into the world and leaving me reeling with the secrets of the past.
Overall this was a really unique novel and one that I did enjoy, however I felt a bit let down with Clarke’s storyline, and in the end didn’t feel much of a connection with her, as I thought her affections seemed to jump around like a yoyo, making her seem a bit unrealistic. Nevertheless I shall read the next book in the series, and I really hope I grow to love Clarke as much as I hoped I would.
4 Stars.
*Review copy was kindly provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
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~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~
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Kass Morgan
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Book Review ~ ‘Shameless’ by Nina Lemay.
Shameless by Nina Lemay.
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance.
Publication Date: August 18th 2014.
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SYNOPSIS
~New Adult Contemporary Romance — recommended for mature readers~
Girls like me don’t get happy endings.
I know what I am. At worst a cliché, at best a cautionary tale. I put an international border between me and my past, only to wind up working in a low-end titty bar. Even my excuse is as lame as it gets: I’m paying for college, getting my art degree from Montreal’s most prestigious school. Although some days it becomes confusing: am I just a student who moonlights as a stripper, or a stripper who masquerades as a student?
But the inevitable happens and my two lives collide. And now there’s one other person who knows both the quiet, antisocial Hannah and the sensual, shameless Alicia. One person who keeps my secret.
He’s beautiful, he’s sophisticated. He comes from the other side of life, the one where I’m not wanted or accepted. But he calls me la petite Américaine, and his hot, hot hands on my skin promise me things I long ago gave up on.
The problem? He teaches my Classic Photography class.
This is a standalone novel, no series, no cliffhanger.
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Book Review ~ ‘Shameless’ by Nina Lemay ~ 5 Stars!
I’d been in a bit of a book funk with some of the books that I had been reading before I picked up ‘Shameless’, and was in desperate need of a story that would excite and intrigue me, so I was more than relieved when I started ‘Shameless’ and was immediately dragged into the unique storyline and felt connections forming with the exceptionally well-rounded characters.
I absolutely adored Hannah as the heroine for this book because she was fiesty, independent and strong, whilst also holding a heart-wrenching fear brought about by regrets of her past experiences. It was such a breath of fresh air to see a young girl as a heroine regretting her first sexual encounter in such a way that it affects the way she develops her relationship with men that she is attracted to. I always find that young characters grow up so quickly in new adult books so it was wonderful to see Hannah missing the innocence she felt she used to have.
Throughout the book I really connected with Hannah as a person as opposed to her as a character in a story and I rooted for her from the word go, even when I didn’t agree with her actions and decisions and just wanted her to let go of her pain and need for independence and let herself be happy.
I adored the storyline that Nina Lemay created in this novel, and it was one that I was really swept away by. The mix of great characters, perfect pacing, and the wonderful way that the world of photography and art weaves throughout the main storyline made this book really stunning. I loved Emmanuel and the ways that he taught Hannah about, not just the field of photography, but about finding herself and expressing herself through her art, which was just beautiful to read, and I loved him as a hero. It was a unique experience for me to not immediately fall for the hero in a story, as we are introduced to Emmanuel in circumstances that make you frown at his credibility, but I loved that I had to warm toward him throughout this novel, grow to love him and become certain in his good nature alongside Hannah’s discovery of him. This really helped me understand her feelings and emotions when it came to her starting a relationship with him, and I loved the slow-burn of their romance even more for it.
This was a stunning, heartbreaking and romantic read which I recommend to all lovers of the New Adult genre. The added mix of a forbidden romance, and sacrifices made in order to save the person you love made this book a real winner.
5 Stars!
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~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon US ~ B&N ~
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Nina Lemay
~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Website ~
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Review Copy was kindly provided by the author through Xpresso Book Tours Review Opportunities in exchange for an honest review.
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October 5, 2014
Book Blitz ~ ‘The Truth About Air & Water’ by Katherine Owen.
The Truth About Air & Water by Katherine Owen
(Truth in Lies #2)
Publication date: August 25th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
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SYNOPSIS
The Truth In Lies Series. READ ‘This Much Is True’, Book 1 first, although it’s been written as a standalone. Readers say, don’t do that.
“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.” -Ernest Hemingway ~ A Farewell To Arms
They share an epic love but one moment changes everything. A life together that seemed certain is shattered. One learns you never love the same way twice; the other learns what it means to come home. You only think you know how this love story goes, but do you really know how an epic love can end?
She is living color, and I’ve been in a black-and-whi
“There are all kinds of love in this world but never the same love twice.”
-F. Scott Fitzgerald
te world for far too long without her.
Powerful stuff. It surrounds me. I’ve felt it since I first arrived. The forcefield of her. The magnetism of her. The power she wields over me. I’m alive again because of her, like a dying plant that finally gets some water. I’ve got it bad for this girl.
Reality dawns.
The light comes through the darkness and shines on me.
She’s my water.
-Lincoln Presley
The truth is I breathe with him. He is my air. Raison d’etre.
-Tally Landon
Author’s note: This novel is part of the Truth In Lies series. It can be read as standalone, however, fans of my fiction already are highly recommending that those new to my work, READ This Much Is True book 1 FIRST.
As Lincoln Presley would say, “do as you must, Princess.”
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“She’s got the story,” I say to Linc hours later as we lie next to each other taking up only half of the king-sized bed because our bodies remain intertwined at an all but intimate level. The money shot photograph session took twice as long as the interview. After another three hours, we finally told Candy we had to go. I had to pick up Cara from preschool and Linc had a late practice.
We left Candy and her photographer while they were still packing up their gear. By this time, the reporter had given up on asking us any more questions. She had the money shot. She had the story. We weren’t going to like it. The unsettled feeling nagged at me, but Linc didn’t seem to care. “She’s got the story.” Apparently, my fears need repeating.
“So?” He asks with a laugh. “Come here.” He pulls me closer and trails his hands down between my legs knowing full well this is my ultimate weakness for him. I cannot not respond. His touch right there gets me to do just about anything for him. I moan. He laughs again as he starts to make his move.
We put Cara to bed fifteen minutes ago and left the bedroom door slightly ajar so we can hear her but closed enough so she doesn’t hear us. Usually, we wait the agreed-upon half-hour before commencing with doing the deed as I still like to call it, but she was extra tired because I let her stay up late to watch Entangled. I’m not sure she understands the story line completely. I’m not sure I do either but she loves Rapunzel’s long hair. We watched it together while we waited for Linc’s return from practice. Cara played with my hair for most of the movie and kept running her little fingers through it over and over, while I filled out endless wedding invitations, imploring the ninety-five percent of strangers I do not know to come witness our nuptials in the middle of October.
“The article won’t run for weeks. Don’t worry about it. By the time it does, the season will probably be over. We’ll be married. Settled. Nobody is going to care about how we met or what happened in Moscow. They’ll be staring at your photograph, the Dirty Dancing one, and be thinking how did that guy get so lucky and get a girl like her? All those Sports Illustrated fans wishing they were me and holding you up in the air just like Baby.”
“Even the girls?”
He laughs. “Even the girls. When are you going to start believing we’re the two luckiest people in the world?” I turn into him then and stroke his face and search his eyes for solace and truth but I don’t answer. “When are you going to let go and let this happen and believe in it? In me? In us?” Linc asks again.
I trace his lips and kiss him. Lightly. Just a trace.
In the next, he smothers my face with kisses of his own and eventually pulls me up beneath him. “Come on, Tally. Let it go. Let it all go. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. Don’t put a time clock on this. Don’t walk down the aisle toward me, less than a month from now, still not believing that this isn’t real or this won’t last because it will. I’m here. You’re here. So. Believe it. In me. In us. Now.” He pulls away from me and studies my face. Guilt arrives right on time. I wince along with it.“What is it? What aren’t you telling me? Because with that face? It is definitely something.”
“Dr. Eldon scheduled an ultrasound. I just…she’s optimistic and I just hope that we can find a way to have another child. I want to give you a son because you’ve given so much to me. And I want you to be happy. With me.”
“I am happy with you. I love you because you’re my life. You’re my water. Don’t forget that. I couldn’t survive without you.” He plays with a strand of my hair and lets it slip through his fingers. “And I’m your air.” He sighs a little. “I love you just as you are whether we have more kids or not. That’s why we’re going to make it. But you have to stop believing that something bad is going to happen. You have to believe in us as much as I do. We’re going to have this great life together. We already do. I love you. You love me. And believe me; love is enough. Our love is enough.”
I hold my breath and gaze at him for a long while. The commitment and compassion I see in the depths of his eyes begins to steady me. All the doubt, and even the guilt, begin to fade away. Like a protective shield, his love encircles me from all around.
Then when he pulls me into his arm and looks at me as if I’m the only one that counts, just before he kisses me, it is reassuring in the only way that matters.
Lincoln Presley, baseball star, is one of a kind.
And, he’s mine.
It’s a miracle really.
What an unbelievable stroke of luck at having him in my life and loving me back. I kiss him and let go of all my deep-rooted fears: falling, failing, even losing. I actually feel them disappear as if a strange wind has come by and blown them away.
I take in air—his air—that allows me to live and breathe.
“Okay,” I eventually say.
Then, I grab his hand and lightly kiss the inside of his wrist, and then trail my lips along his broad chest. He leans back against the pillows with a knowing look pulling me along with him, but cedes all control to me. I start to smile, but then another errant thought crashes in on me and threatens to undo all of these joyous declarations.
Everything breaks.
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Truth In Lies Series by Katherine Owen
This Much Is True (Truth In Lies, #1)
SYNOPSIS
Both on the verge of fame. A ballerina who lies. A baseball player who believes her. Well, the truth changes everything.
Since Valentine’s Day, Tally Landon has owned the most tragic story at Paly High. Now, she just wants to graduate, pursue her ballet career in New York, and leave this personal tragedy of hers far behind. Her best friend convinces her to attend one last party–a college party–where she meets Stanford’s latest baseball wonder. Tally has a little fun at this guy’s expense when she lies about her age and who she really is, intent on being someone else for just one night. After all, what’s the harm in a few innocent lies, especially when she’s so good at telling them?
Lincoln Presley’s future is all mapped out. There is only baseball. With the big leagues circling with a lucrative offer, the star pitcher is solely focused upon securing his future. His cousin’s party serves as a welcome distraction but then he sees the girl from Valentine’s Day–the one he rescued from the burning wreckage on the 101. He can’t quite hide his disappointment when she appears to look right through him, obviously not remembering him at all. Linc vows to learn her name at least. What would be the harm in getting to know this girl? What’s the worst that can happen?
Fate brings them together. Fame & lies tear them apart. One truth remains…
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See my Review for ‘This Much is True’
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Prize Open Internationally
Paperback copy of The Truth About Air & Water AND This Much Is True (Book 1)
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Katherine Owen
A penchant for angst, serious drama, and the unintentional complications of love began early on when she won a poetry contest at the age of fourteen and appears to be without end. Owen has an avid love of coffee, books, and writing, but not necessarily in that order. She lives in an old house near Seattle with her family where she is working on her next book.
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Book Blitz organised by Xpresso Book Tours.
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October 4, 2014
Book Blitz ~ ‘The Last Thing You See’ by Emma South.
The Last Thing You See by Emma South
Publication date: September 26th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult
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SYNOPSIS
Harper Bayliss is about to pay the full price of fame. That is, if her stalker’s plans work out.
Hollywood’s new favourite starlet is already feeling overwhelmed by the insecurity of her past, a family that controls her every move, and the stresses that come with her job when a brutal attack from a madman takes that stress to a whole new level. But what neither Harper nor her attacker saw coming was the 6’4”, heavily muscled ex-Marine, Nick Martell, throwing himself in harm’s way to save her. After she visits him in the hospital to offer her thanks, she can’t help but be intrigued by the man she finds beneath the bad boy exterior.
Plagued by guilt over his failure to protect the one person that mattered the most, all Nick wants is to find some peace. The tattooed former Marine is scarred, inside and out, but saving Harper Bayliss might be his first step toward redemption. What’s more, her answer to his heartfelt question is about to send them both down a path of scorching passion…and maybe even love.
With the pressures of Harper’s fame and Nick’s guilt working against them, will their feelings be enough to overcome all the obstacles, including the stalker that’s still out there? If he gets his way he’ll show them that, even if they choose each other, you seldom get to choose the last thing you see.
The Last Thing You See from USA Today bestselling author Emma South is a New Adult Romance about letting go of the past to find unconditional love in the present.
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“At that moment, of all the things in the world I wanted to be real, I wanted Nick to be real the most. It was hard to believe I was here, at the place I usually only came alone to, with somebody like him.
There was more to him than a sexy bad boy exterior, more than the muscle-bound villain I’d thought of when I first saw him. So much more. I brought my hand up along his strong back, to the rear of his neck, and gently stroked there with my fingers as I looked into his eyes.
Our lips could only have been a couple of inches apart. Under my hand, I could feel Nick shivering in anticipation or some kind of self-restraint that was barely holding up under the pressure. After pouring my heart out I felt like it was filling up with something else, something better, and a voice just kept repeating in my mind kissmekissmekissme.”
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Prizes: Open INTL
1x $15 Amazon Gift Card
1x $10 Amazon Gift Card
5x $5 Amazon Gift Cards
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Emma South
Now a USA Today Best Selling Author!
Please visit http://emmasouth.com/?page_id=31 to sign up for my newsletter.
I’m in my thirties and living in New Zealand. About 2 years ago I lost somebody very close to me. I was lucky in a way, I was given enough time to make a promise. My promise was that I would never forget our young and innocent love, and it’s a promise I intend to keep.
My writing is a way to help me keep that promise. I’ve always enjoyed writing but was forced into being ‘prudent’ and giving myself over to soul-crushing office work for the sake of a steady salary. Recent events forced me to re-evaluate my priorities and I decided to take a chance. I like to put little pieces of ‘us’ into my writing, from funny conversations we had, to apocalyptic arguments, to that special feeling you get when you hop into bed fully aware that your feet are freezing but your partner doesn’t kick you away.
Even though these things are set in fictional worlds and attached to fictional characters, in a way it feels like I’m doing something that will make our love live forever. If somebody reads one of my stories and likes a joke or sheds a tear, then our love has lived on, and I thank any readers I might have for that.
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Book Blitz organised by Xpresso Book Tours.
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