Monday, February 29, 2016

Cover Reveal: Rock by J.A. Huss

Rock
J.A. Huss
Publication date: March 7th 2016
Genres: Rock-star Romantic Suspense

Welcome to RK’s rock star life.

I was living the dream, I was full throttle, all in, one hundred percent on top of the world. But it’s a hell of a long fall back down when you finally crash and burn.

Welcome to the delusions, the final act, the coming-to-Jesus moment when there’s nothing left to do but look yourself in the mirror and ask… How did I get like this?

I am RK’s living nightmare. I am RK’s empty soul. I am RK’s unchecked fantasy world that makes no sense to anyone.

I only have one thing left. Just one girl holding my broken pieces together.

And even she might be a lie.

Rock is a standalone rock-star romantic suspense by the New York Times bestselling master of twist, JA Huss.

Add to Goodreads

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Every day this week JA Huss is giving away FIVE ROCK super swag packs on her Facebook page!
Enter HERE➔ http://on.fb.me/1MXMGHG

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Author Bio:

JA Huss is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty romances. She likes stories about family, loyalty, and extraordinary characters who struggle with basic human emotions while dealing with bigger than life problems. JA loves writing heroes who make you swoon, heroines who makes you jealous, and the perfect Happily Ever After ending.

You can chat with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AuthorJAHuss), Twitter (@jahuss), and her kick-ass romance blog, New Adult Addiction (www.newadultaddiction.com).

If you're interested in getting your hands on an advanced release copy of her upcoming books, sneak peek teasers, or information on her upcoming personal appearances, you can join her newsletter list (http://eepurl.com/JVhAr) and get those details delivered right to your inbox.

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook


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Sunday, February 21, 2016

Weekly Wrap-Up & Stacking the Shelves #13

So I haven't been posting much. First I got sick. Then I got busy at work and home. Then I just didn't feel like posting. The books I would have felt like posting about had been read weeks ago and I'd read several others since them. However, I don't want to completely quit blogging. I'd still like a place that I can meet other bloggers and support the authors I love. So I've decided I'm not going to be making posts just to make a post. I'll post about the books I'm excited about when I feel like it. I'll also still be taking part in the challenges I signed up for. I really enjoy tracking my progress on them.

This week I finished reading book #10 in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. I really enjoy this series. I've got book 11 and book 15, but not the ones in between. So I'm not sure if I'll pick up book 11 next or move on to Game of Thrones. One night this week I started reading what I thought was book one in this series, but it turns out that it was a later book. I enjoyed what I read and was able to follow it (this genre is out of my usual read). So I'm actually looking forward to starting the actual book one.

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Welcome to my post for this week’s Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews. This is where I can post about the books and book swag I received this week. I will be posting my list on Sundays and will include anything I received Sunday through Saturday. 

So last week I mentioned that I had some money on Amazon gift cards and couldn't bring myself to actually spend any of it when I had so many unread books on my Kindle. Well, I actually decided on a book last week to purchase. It's pictured below. This is a series I started years ago just before going on a family vacation to Disney World. I was so into the first book that I couldn't wait until I had some down time at the resort to read more. I think I even purchased book two while I was still on vacation. I think my husband got a little irritated with me that trip because I just couldn't put the book down. However, before I can start this book I purchased this week, I need to refresh my memory of what has happened so far in the series. So I've started to reread book one.  

PURCHASED
Lies in Blood (Dark Secrets, #4) 

FREEBIES

Hope you all have a great week!


Saturday, February 20, 2016

Review: Bending Under Pressure by Lindsay Paige

Bending Under Pressure

Bending Under Pressure by Lindsay Paige
Release Date: February 20, 2016
Genres: Young Adult, Romance
Pages:272
Source: E-Book, ARC
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Goodreads Description:
Haley Summers is struggling. She's in a new town with new teammates. She's unsure if she likes her new stepdad. She doesn't know why her father isn't answering her calls and keeps bailing on her. The only thing she has going for her is a boy who is struggling just as much as she is.

Keelan Moore is always feeling pressure. He wants to be a good kid for his adoptive parents while getting reacquainted with his birth mom and that part of his family. The only thing he has going for him is Haley and showing her just how fun her new home can be.

Pressure is hitting them from all sides. Can they survive unscathed while bending under pressure?


Notes about the book:
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Quote:
Haley’s eyes dart over my face, waiting. Her breathing has already hitched, and all I’ve done is rest a hand on her hip, my thumb moving back and forth underneath her shirt.
“Well?” she breathes.
“I said you were gonna kiss me, Hales. Not the other way around.” Her eyes widen, but otherwise she shows no emotion. She loves the anticipation.
Haley presses her forehead against mine. God, this was a terrible idea. She’s going to kill me before she kisses me!
“Keelan?” she whispers.
“Yeah, Hales?”
“Feeling crazy yet?”
I chuckle. “Insane.” She smiles.
“Good. Now you know how I feel when I’m around you.”

My Review
I immediately fell in love with Haley and Keelan as well as their names. Although, I have to say that I repeatedly questioned Haley's actions. They were typical actions of a teenager and I think I was thinking with the mom side of my brain a bit too much. It all turns out well in the end though.

Both Haley and Keelan are dealing with some of the toughest things for teenagers to deal with. They find strength in each other. Keelan has a great family to fall back on as well and it a perfect gentleman because of his family. That's one of the things I love about his character. Haley has a great family to rely on as well. She just doesn't realize it throughout most of the book. 

There were several other characters I loved in this book. Keelan's brother Cameron is a lot like Keelan but with a bit more repressed anger. His girlfriend is Jess and I'd love to read their story. Then there's the local restaurant owner Elsie and her husband Mr. Elsie whose story I'd love to hear most of all. Plus the town the book is set in sounds like a great place for future books to be set in. I'm sure there are other characters around this town who I'd love to get to know.

Haley and Keelan are attracted to each other from the start and are kissing before long. I love their hammock moments! I also like that even though they are tempted to take their relationship to the next level, they both realize that doing so would just add more to their already troubled lives.

The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars was because I felt that the end fell short. There were issues with both of their problems that just weren't fully resolved. However, I also think that the things Haley and Keelan are dealing with were pretty big things and more than likely wouldn't have been all better by the end of the book. That's why I only dinged the book half a star. I think it was more a personal issue on my end then a problem with the book. 

Overall this was a good book filled with lots of funny and sweet moments. Definitely worth the read!

Monday, February 15, 2016

What Are You Reading Monday? February 15, 2016

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? hosted by The Book Date is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It's a great post to organise yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone.

Finished Reading

Hired by the Cowboy (Windover Ranch #1) To the Nines (Stephanie Plum, #9) Stupid Girl (Stupid in Love, #1)

Currently Reading

The Walking Dead, Vol. 01: Days Gone Bye Little Women 
These are the books listed as "Currently Reading" on my Goodreads. But to tell you the truth, I'm not all that into either of them. It's not that they're bad. They're just not the sort of book I want to be reading right now. I'm supposed to be reading Little Women as part of a read-along. But I think I'm just going to give up for now. Then the graphic novel just lacks so many words. It's the first graphic novel I've attempted to read and I'm just not used to it.

What Will I Read Next?
A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1) Ten Big Ones (Stephanie Plum, #10) Broken at Love (Whitman University, #1) 
So I've finished To the Nines and said I'd pick up Game of Thrones afterward. I probably will. But I'm also thinking about starting the next Stephanie Plum book just because I really want to know what comes next for Stephanie, Morelli and Ranger. Broken at Love is a new to me series I found yesterday and that I'm contemplating starting.

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Stacking the Shelves #12

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Welcome to my post for this week’s Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews. This is where I can post about the books and book swag I received this week. I will be posting my list on Sundays and will include anything I received Sunday through Saturday.

I one-clicked even fewer books this week. I have money on my Amazon gift card and I keep looking at books I'd like to buy. Then I think about all the books I have on my Kindle that I haven't read yet and I don't buy anything. Sigh. Here’s my list for this week.

FREEBIES
*Please check prices before one-clicking*

The Good Life Contemporary Cowboy Romance 3 Book Box Set Monday (Timeless Teaser)

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Weekly Recap Feb 13, 2016

I'm still alive! Just dropping in to give a quick update. I've been having a little too much stress in my life lately and last week I just sort of checked out blog-wise. I've still been reading. Thursday I discovered a mistake in two of the W-2s I sent out to employees and had a melt-down. I really felt bad for the man that works with me. I'm his supervisor for all extensive purposes. He just came into my office at the wrong time. I got it all figured out Friday and things are good now.

Then my son's basketball team has made it to the championship game of the Junior High District Tournament. We're headed there in about an hour. It's a hour and a half drive to the host school and this will be our fourth trip there in the last two weeks. If you all could just say "Go Panthers!" that would be great! UPDATE: They won! It was an amazing game. They lead by like 10 points at the half. Then had some troubles in the 2nd half. But they never gave up the lead and won 47-46. They beat the #1 seated team. So proud and happy for these boys!

I just looked at my read bookshelf on Goodreads to see if I'd finished any books this week and the last book I finished was last Sunday. So while I've been reading this week, I haven't actually finished any books. I have been reading To The Nines by Janet Evanovich the last few days and have realized it was probably what I needed to get me out of my reading funk. It's full of so much snark that I frequently find myself laughing as I read.

I'll leave you all with this picture of my parent's new puppy. He's a German Shepard and is 6 weeks old I think. He was so soft and cute. But I'm glad it's them that has to deal with all the puppy stuff and not me. For some reason they have named him Larry. I hope you all have had a great week and that your weekend is going well.



Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day! That makes me think of something else that happened this week. My 14 year old son asked his girlfriend to go see a movie with him. She unfortunately has family commitments that will keep her from going. My son has also bought her flowers and a stuffed animal. I'm just not sure that I'm ready for my last child at home to grow up like this. It's thrown me for a little loop.

Monday, February 8, 2016

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? Feb 8th 2016 Edition

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? hosted by The Book Date is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It's a great post to organise yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone.

Finished Reading

I was sick last week and didn't do much other than read as you can see below. I was also on a cowboy kick. I will probably try to put up reviews on my blog for the Cora Seton books, but not the other two. I just read last week. I didn't highlight any quotes or make any notes. So it will be difficult to write reviews. But I really enjoy Cora Seton's books and would like to feature them here if I can.
One Night with her Roommate (One Night novellas, #5)The Cowboy's E-Mail Order Bride (The Cowboys of Chance Creek, #1)The Cowgirl Rides Away: A Cowboy Love Story (Bluebonnet Texas Book 1)The Soldier's E-Mail Order Bride (The Heroes of Chance Creek, #2)

Currently Reading

I'm reading Little Women as part of a read along. I'm coming in late and trying to read fast. Stupid Girl was a NA romance I started last week. the other two are physical books that have fallen by the wayside unfortunately. I have been reading non-stop and usually when I get in bed I continue the Kindle book I was reading instead of picking either of these two up. Maybe I'll get back to them this week.
Stupid Girl (Stupid in Love, #1)Little WomenThe Walking Dead, Vol. 01: Days Gone ByeTo the Nines (Stephanie Plum, #9)

What Will I Read Next?
 I've been in a slump of sorts when it's come to what I'll read next. I search and search through the books on my Kindle trying to figure out what to read next. I've had A Game of Thrones on my list since I started doing this meme practically and have yet to pick it up. But I will as soon as I finish To the Nines. Here's a few covers that have caught my I as I was preparing this post. But no guarantee that these are what I'll pick up next.
Emerge (Emerge Series, #1) Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1) 

What are you reading? Feel free to recommend something to me. There's just too many things to pick from and I can't narrow it down.


Sunday, February 7, 2016

Stacking the Shelves #11

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Welcome to my post for this week’s Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews. This is where I can post about the books and book swag I received this week. I will be posting my list on Sundays and will include anything I received Sunday through Saturday.

I caught a cold last week that kept me home from work for 1 1/2 days. Then it moved into my chest. I've not done much since it hit me but read. I just haven't felt like doing anything with my blog. I sorted some books on Goodreads just now and I can feel the urge coming back. If only I could get rid of the headache and head congestion! Because of this I didn't download too much this week. Here’s my list for this week.

FREEBIES
*Please check prices before one-clicking*

Outside The Ropes Stalked (Black Riders MC, #1) Rough (Chicago Underground, #1) Reaching the Edge (Edge, #2.5)

Frost Burn (Fire and Ice #1) The Soldier's E-Mail Order Bride (The Heroes of Chance Creek, #2)

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Review: The Muse & The Fairy Tale by Mary Smith

The Muse and the Fairy Tale
The Muse and the Fairy Tale by Mary Smith
Release Date: February 2, 2016
Genres: New Adult, Romance
Source: E-Book, ARC
My Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Goodreads Description:
Meadow Hylton has held onto the dream of Prince Charming sweeping into her life and falling madly in love with her. Until it happens, she fulfills her fantasy by writing sports romance books. However, that love has been hit with a bout of writer's block. A new muse on social media helps diminish that block quickly.


Kyson Wick is a newly traded player to the New Hampshire Bears, and he’s thankful for the change. His goal is to be the best hockey player and forget the ex-girlfriend who broke his heart. He’s also hoping a new venture with an author looking for a new cover model is the distraction he needs.


Soon, the chemistry between Kyson and Meadow begins to grow. But when their dreams collide, will the muse be able to fulfill the fairytale?
Notes about the book:
This is the first of Mary Smith's that I've read and I will definitely be reading more of her books. I've read several of her co-authored books with Lindsay Paige.  I did receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This books is not meant for anyone under 18 as it does contain mild sex scenes.

Book Quote:
“Meadow, I’m not leaving you. I can’t promise you I’ll turn into Edward Cullen and live forever, but I’m down for tearing this headboard up right now.”


My Review
The only thing keeping me from reading this book in one day was the fact that I had to work the next day.  The writing flowed so well and was entertaining enough that if I had nothing else to do, I could have read it in one sitting.

I enjoyed seeing some of the behind the scenes moments of being an author. The female main character, Meadow, is honest about the pitfalls of being a full-time author. "The downside of being an at-home writer: I never left home."  Although some days in my hectic life this would seem like a dream come true. Then we also get to hear about how she finds her book ideas. "I did go to the gym, but it was mainly to check out hot guys and see what might fit into my current storyline." I'm sure all women (and men??) would admit to doing this at some point or other.

I've always liked when the reader was given a view into the chats that two romantic characters hold before the romance begins. This book employs the use of Facebook chat and again I enjoyed the chatter back and forth. I liked that Meadow and Kyson teased each other good naturedly from the start of their Facebook chats.

I chuckled, wanting to rile her up a bit and see what she was really like.
"Will I be showing my dick on the cover?"
"Good Lord, no! It’s not porn. It’s a book cover."
"According to some reviews, you write some steamy scenes."
"This is true, but that isn’t on the cover. Well, not a lot of it anyway."

Meadow and Kyson's relationship is started as a business endeavor and continues when that is over. Things start out sweet and quickly escalate to HOT. But of course there always has to be someone or thing that throws a wrench into the relationship. For this book, it's someone that is easily hate-able. It's kind of like one of those stupid horror movies where you wish you could just reach into the TV/movie screen and stop the characters from doing some stupid thing that puts them right in harms way. In this book, you know exactly what things need to be avoided and of course they aren't. But how could there not be a happy ending with this kind of title?

There are other side characters that I loved and I hope maybe they'll one day get their own book. Meodow's book editor Harlow would be my first choice. I absolutely loved her! We all need a friend like her in our lives.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone needing a good romance with a Happily Ever After!

Monday, February 1, 2016

It's Monday. What Are you Reading?

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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? hosted by The Book Date is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It's a great post to organise yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone.

Finished Reading

Rarity Bending Under Pressure

Currently Reading

To the Nines (Stephanie Plum, #9) The Walking Dead, Vol. 01: Days Gone Bye

What Will I Read Next?
Little Women A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1)