March 25, 2014

Cover Reveal + Giveaway: At Any Turn by Brenna Aubrey

As a huge fan of At Any Price by Brenna Aubrey, I was so pleased for the opportunity to help reveal the cover for its sequel, At Any Turn.

Here's a bit about the book:

At Any Turn by Brenna Aubrey
Release Date: April 30, 2014
Publisher: Self-Published
Series: Gaming the System #2

Synopsis:
So You Want to Be a Hero?

Millionaire CEO Adam Drake, overcame a tortured past to build his own gaming empire. He’s in complete control of his life. With his new found love for brilliant geek girl blogger, Mia Strong, the last piece of his life is in place. He's at the top of his game.

Your Princess Is in Another Castle.

Until suddenly, she withdraws from him, leaving him in the dark. Something tells him she needs help. But she's too stubborn or scared to ask for it, and the more he tries to take control, the further he pushes her away. He can’t solve this problem by writing a check or a few lines of code.

He’ll have to dig deep and put himself at risk…or risk losing her forever.

And here's the cover:



Thoughts? I really like it, and I love how it fits with the first book.

About Brenna:
Brenna Aubrey is an author of New Adult contemporary romance stories that center on geek culture. Her debut novel, At Any Price, released December, 2013.

She has always sought comfort in good books and the long, involved stories she weaves in her head. Brenna is a city girl with a nature-lover’s heart. She therefore finds herself out in green open spaces any chance she can get. A mommy to two little kids and teacher to many more older kids, she juggles schedules to find time to pursue her love of storycrafting.

She currently resides on the west coast with her husband, two children, two adorable golden retriever pups, two birds and some fish.

Brenna’s short story “The Love Letter” was the Grand Prize winner of the Jane Austen Made Me Do It Short Story Contest. As such, it was included in the anthology of the same name (Ballantine, 2011)

Where to find Brenna:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Newsletter

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

March 20, 2014

Kissing Eden by T.A. Foster (Top 10 List, Review, & Giveaway)

Kissing Eden by T.A. Foster
Release Date: March 6, 2014
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages: 174
Series: n/a
Review Source: eARC from Inkslinger PR

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

Have you ever thought of taking a vacation alone? I mean step on a plane, check into your hotel, and lie on the beach completely and utterly alone. No? Me either, but then right before senior spring break I got dumped.
Something about break ups makes you do things you didn’t want to do, and try things you didn’t know you were capable of.

That’s how I ended up at the Palm Palace.
That’s how I met Grey.
That’s how my spring break turned into the most unforgettable week of my life.
My Thoughts:
Eden’s spring break starts off on all the wrong notes, and I found it easy to put myself in her shoes and really feel for her. I thought she handled the situations she was put in with incredible grace, considering everything going wrong. Personally I would have freaked out way more, so I could tell from the beginning that Eden was strong and unflappable. As the book goes on you learn how smart and hardworking she is. I really admired how Eden was willing to take her vacation time and use it to help someone else.

Grey is interesting as a love interest because he sends a lot of mixed signals and he's kind of a jerk in a few moments. However, in his better moments? Definite potential. I would have liked to have seen a more gradual change in him, with more time at the end to see his good side. However, with him changing and learning from his mistakes, I could really see him and Eden being good together.

There are so many aspects of this book I liked. The small Texas island setting was great, and I liked the secondary characters, the locals that Eden meets. I also enjoyed Eden's business smarts and seeing the way she thinks about things. There were also models of positive female friendship, which is always a good thing. On the negative side, the romance was pretty fast moving, considering Eden just jumped out of another relationship. It felt especially quick because in one minute Eden is upset about the end of the relationship, wondering what went wrong, but then as soon as she sees how her ex is acting she acts differently. She starts to remember how bad everything was in their relationship, and how the relationship was over before it was officially over. It felt a bit like revisionist history.

In many ways Kissing Eden was a beginning. Readers are left hanging to make their own conclusions about where Grey and Eden end up and how they find a way to be together. You can infer that there will be a Happily Ever After, but we’re left guessing as to the details. I don’t see this as a bad thing, necessarily, but if you like books where everything is all wrapped up you might be a bit unsatisfied.

Overall? Kissing Eden is a New Adult book that’s short, fun, and sweet.

The Cover:
Like!

Rating:
[3.5/5]

Purchase Links:
Kobo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Top 10 Things to Try Over Spring Break

Whether you’re still in spring break mode, with that special week marked off your calendar and the perfectly calculated countdown app ticking away on your phone, or not—we could all use a little spring break fun. Eden had more than her share on her trip to South Padre, Texas. She sheds a little insight on her top ten spring break to-dos whether you are booked for a staycation or a vacation.
  1. Dance—crank up the tunes and shake it. In your car, in the kitchen, or out on the dance floor. I promise you will have a smile on your face when you’re done.
  2. Get a massage—we all need this and too many times we neglect our personal TLC. If you’re on vacation, check with your hotel, but if you’re home make an appointment for yourself pronto!
  3. Try a new cocktail recipe—Sure, wine is divine, but mix it up a little with a fun fruity, beach drink. Try www.thebar.com if you need some inspiration. Mix, sip, and pretend the waves are crashing in front of you.
  4. Grab a new book—what vacation faux or real is complete without a good book? Curl up, turn off your phone, and escape into another world—preferably a hot and steamy one.
  5. Try a new polish—it seems simple, but how good do you feel when you look down and see one of the new shades of spring on your nails? Perfect way to start a vacation.
  6. Make your own soundtrack—if you had to replay a play list all week that defined your vacation, what would it be? Beach? Country? Dance? Reggae? Pull the songs that put a smile on your face and you’re set to travel.
  7. Go for a walk—if you’re off the coast of somewhere new and beautiful, take it all in. If you’re living it up on your staycation, try to find something new in your surroundings you’ve never seen before. You can always walk with that new soundtrack you just made.
  8. Buy one new outfit—If you’re going somewhere warm and sunny, lucky you! If not, try bright colors, or florals to perk you up. Don’t have time to hit the mall? I love www.modcloth.com for online ideas.
  9. Sleep in—it might be a luxury for some, but on vacation it’s a must. Set aside a true spring break day at home and lock the door. Maybe order some room service.
  10. Get kissed—what goes better with vacations than awesome kisses? Nothing. Find someone cute and pucker up.

About T.A.:
T.A. Foster is a Southern girl whose heart and spirit are connected to the beach. She grew up catching rays and chasing waves along the North Carolina Outer Banks and now resides in the state with her adventurous pilot husband, two children and two canine kiddos.

Her long love affair with books started at an early age, and as soon as she was able, she transformed imaginative stories into words on paper. Time Spell is T.A.’s debut novel, and the first in a series about a very adventurous, clever, and magical girl named Ivy.

T.A. has an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. When she’s not chasing her two-legged and four-legged children or trying to escape for date night, you can find her reading, writing or planning her next beach trip.
- See more at: http://www.tafosterauthor.com/about_me/#sthash.kxsHReKf.dpuf

Where to find T.A.:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Google+ | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

T.A. Foster also has a super fun giveaway going on until tomorrow (the 21st). What's your spring break destiny? Find out on T.A.'s Facebook page. Post your destiny and enter to win an e-copy of London Falling.

March 19, 2014

Recklessly Royal by Nichole Chase

Recklessly Royal by Nichole Chase
Release Date: March 25, 2014
Publisher: Avon
Pages: 384
Series: Suddenly
#2
Review Source: Edelweiss

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

Catherine has spent her life being the perfect princess. She’s kept her hands clean, her head down, and most importantly—men at arm’s length. After all, most men are after only one thing, and for Cathy there’s a lot more at stake than her bed; she has to worry about the fate of an entire nation. But at the rate she’s going, Cathy is afraid she’ll give the Virgin Queen a run for her money. She is tired of waiting for someone good enough to come along. She has a plan, and it all hinges on seducing the one man who seems utterly unimpressed by all things royal. The one man she is tempted by more than any other . . .

When David arrives at the royal wedding of his friend, the newly ordained Duchess Samantha Rousseau, he expected to feel uncomfortable and out of his element, but he wasn’t prepared to be targeted by Prince Alex’s gorgeous younger sister. With Cathy’s giant blue eyes, killer figure, and sense of humor, it won’t take long before he gives in. But when he finds out just how innocent the crown princess really is, will he play the part of knight in shining armor or the dashing rogue?
My Thoughts:
Recklessly Royal is a very cute story, if a short one (the page numbers are for mass market pb format). This book is a follow-up to Suddenly Royal, and this time we’re focused on Cathy, Prince Alex’s younger sister, and David, Sam’s friend and colleague. Cathy and David are sweet, both as individuals and together. I loved how there was an initial attraction and chemistry between them, but that they took their time to get to know one another.

I wasn’t sure what Cathy’s story was about overall. She was pretty well-rounded from the beginning, knowing herself and her role, so I didn’t see a lot of development on that side of things. Where there was development was in the romantic relationship, and how Cathy viewed love and romance. As the book goes on she sees that it is possible to find someone who embraces all aspects of her.

If you’re looking for a sweet but sexy romance, then I definitely recommend Recklessly Royal. I basically find any book about royalty to be fun, and here you get to experience the glamourous parts while also seeing the negative attention and lack of privacy. This is one of those books that isn’t life changing, but it’s a fun, enjoyable read nonetheless.

The Cover:
Not bad.

Rating:
[3.5/5]

Purchase Links:
Kobo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Chapters-Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

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