Wednesday, July 26, 2017

What's Next, Wednesday (65)


  •  To play along share a book you've been looking forward to reading, whether it's new or has been on your reading list for a while.

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I'm looking forward to...

Well, I'm still waiting on a couple of books to get to me, but I am looking forward to Hopatcong Vision Quest by Steve Lindahl. The title kind of threw me at first, but this book sounds truly exciting. After two mysterious deaths, Diane decides to use hypnosis to uncover 'hidden memories' and they end up revealing that Diane and her group of friends were Native Americans in a past life. Same spirits, different people and time periods, interconnecting storyline... Yep, very excited to read this one. 

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Teaser Tuesday (274)


Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR, or just share what you are currently reading. It is very easy to play along:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! Everyone loves Teaser Tuesday.


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Mansfield Park (p.167)
     - Jane Austen

"I am not going to urge her," -- replied Mrs Norris sharply, "but I shall think her a very obstinate, ungrateful girl, if she does not do what her aunt and cousins wish her -- very ungrateful indeed, considering who and what she is." 

Monday, July 24, 2017

Breaking the Ice

8675517When routine driven box office assistant Samantha Smith meets the stars of 'Skating on Broadway' her life is turned upside down. Immediately attracted to the infamous lead skater Jimmy Lloyd, Samantha does her best to deny her feelings. But when all you can do is burst out laughing and hyperventilate every time you're under pressure, keeping things under wraps is a hard task. When the future of her beloved Civic Hall is threatened Samantha must rise to the challenge to ensure its survival. Constantly scrutinised and criticised by her zany sister Cleo and her brogue wearing boyfriend Jeremy, can Samantha save her job, save the Civic Hall and stop her panic attacks just long enough to give her away her heart?

*May Contain Spoilers*

Mandy Baggot shares the story of an unexpected romance between a previously reckless celebrity and an increasingly careful young woman in her novel, Breaking the Ice. As both main characters falter over their personal struggles, they find a sense of peace and hope for the future in each other resulting in a book where opposites do much more than just attract. 

Samantha was a difficult character to like at first. She's very routine and sometimes that can come across as boring. Samantha likes everything in order -- emphasis on the everything. She has a job which she enjoys, shares a flat with her sister, and does not date on account of her very picky nature. Yet, as the book continues, readers will get a better sense of who she is when she isn't comparing herself to her wild sister, Cleo. Samantha evolves into a more assertive version of herself who is willing to fight for what she wants, even though her panic attacks threaten to send her to the hospital every time something doesn't go her way. Her cautious nature and high anxiety help make Samantha a more down to earth person, giving her faults and hurdles that she must overcome if she wants to make it to 'happily ever after.' I think readers will find her growth entertaining as well as heartfelt, as Jimmy helps her come out of her shell. 

Jimmy Lloyd is a famous ice skater who has had previous trouble with alcoholism. After his time in rehab, he was given a second chance in the show premiering at Samantha's theater in England. Jimmy, though troublesome in the past, has become a very patient, kind, and caring man. He is very polite and accommodating with Samantha, as he helps her overcome her fears. As a celebrity, Samantha believes that there is no way he could be interested in her romantically, yet finds herself falling for him. When Jimmy admits to his own feelings, sparks start to shine as their relationship unfolds. Readers will admire Jimmy's struggle to overcome his alcohol addiction and respect his honesty and perseverance.  Plus, he plays the hero to shy Samantha, and that's endearing all on its own. 

The plot of the novel revolves around Samantha's career as she learns that the theater in which she works may be shut down. This pushes Samantha to fight for what she wants and really overcome her fears. With Jimmy by her side, and her sister adding humor and hilarity to the book, Samantha tries to achieve her goals. Though her predicament isn't the only interesting story line as Jimmy also finds himself in a bit of trouble regarding his reputation and alcoholism. Yet, as Mandy Baggot's books always finish with a happy ending, it wasn't hard to figure out what was going to happen. However, it's always a nice feeling to get exactly what you want as a reader, even if the path is twisted and, sometimes, gloomy. For readers who enjoy love stories and character growth, as well as detailed relationship development and a slightly slower pace, I would happily suggest this book. 

Rating: 2.5/5 Cups

Friday, July 21, 2017

Meet Me Under the Stars - Blog Tour

Release Week Blitz! MEET ME UNDER THE STARS



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Author: KD Proctor
Genre: NA Romance
Release Date: July 18, 2017
Publisher: BookFish Books (www.bookfishbooks.com)
Cover Designer: Anita B. Carroll, Race-Point US (www.race-point.com)  

About the Book...

When ratings for her popular DIY show start to circle the drain after the sudden death of her sister, Charlotte “Charlie” Conti has only one mission—to plan a comeback. But her sister had other plans. As part of the will, Charlie must work with *him*  to create a memorial scholarship in her sister’s memory. The same *him*  Charlie fell in love with three years ago while working at a summer camp.

The same *him* she dumped to protect his heart.
Sexy British player, Nate Walsh, has sixty days to find a new job or he’ll be deported back to England where he’s no longer welcome. He doesn’t have time to work on a memorial scholarship with *her*. The same *her*  who shattered his heart without explanation or warning.
The same *her*  he’s never gotten over.
Unable to agree on a benefactor for the scholarship, Nate and Charlie challenge each other to a winner-takes-all competition. They both know the only way to win is to turn up the heat and tease one another with the one thing they both want: each other. But as sparks fly, their true feelings resurface. Nate and Charlie must decide if their love is worth the effort or if they'll allow their disastrous past mistakes to destroy their chance at forever.

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Review from The Coffee Pot

Talk about relatable topics!
First love - Check.
Heartbreak - Check.
Regret - Check.

KD Proctor covers the ins and outs of falling in love in her book, Meet Me Under the Stars. Charlie and Nate are two characters that put it all on the line and readers will connect with them from the very beginning.

Charlie Conti is a bit of a celebrity. She hosts her own DIY show complete with Youtube channel and magazine covers. She's sweet, creative, and down right stubborn. But, there's this thing with her DNA that gives her more fear than hope when it comes to relationships. Basically, she's at a higher risk of dying from a brain aneurysm because of her heredity. This caused her to push Nate away three years ago and she still regrets it.

This slight defect in her biological make-up makes it pretty understandable why Charlie would be afraid of letting everything go for love. Especially since her sister died after her second aneurysm and Charlie's witnessed how devastated her boyfriend was after Gwen's death. This fear of relationships, being all in, is a universal feeling. Relationships can be scary. Opening up to someone can be scary. I can't imagine how much more scary that is when an aneurysm is thrown into the mix. But Proctor makes it as easy as she can. With first person point of views, readers get an in-depth look into the minds (and hearts) of Charlie and Nate. And though I wanted to scream at Charlie to just go for it, I still felt like I understood where she was coming from.

Just as I understood where Nate was coming from, though I don't condone all of his actions. Nate is a research biologist who is nearing the date of his deportation. If he doesn't find a job that will sponsor a work visa soon, then he'll be forced to leave the US. The first person perspective brings readers into this fight with him, letting them see all of his worries and fears about being forced to go back to a family that never supported him. I enjoyed how Nate wasn't afraid of his feelings for Charlie. He knew that they were real and, for the most part, accepted them. Though, as he was the one ghosted by Charlie, it's difficult for him to see her, which leads to the part that I didn't really like.

Though the games were entertaining, I didn't enjoy them from a relationship perspective. By trying to out-wit Charlie and beat her, instead of opting to work together from the start, Nate lost a few points in my book. The competition between them made for a fun, if a bit chaotic, storyline, but I think it kind of pushed them apart, before it allowed them to be together. However, on the flip side of that coin, the competition did allow them to work through their personal issues, giving them each a better chance to explain themselves and figure out what they wanted and needed -- which is important and another relatable aspect of the novel.

For those readers who enjoy a fun, romantic novel with a chance of disaster, I highly recommend Meet Me Under the Stars. It was personal and real with the good, the bad, and the dangerous. Though there is some explicit language that might turn some readers away, I think the dialogue was necessary to accurately represent college-aged students on the cusp of adulthood. Overall, KD Proctor shares a contemporary love story that reaches the heart of relationship wariness while providing emotional attachments for readers and a solid group of characters.

Rating: 3/5 Cups


About the Author…

KD Proctor loved college so much that when it came time to graduate, she didn’t want to leave.  Trading in her textbooks for student handbooks and policy manuals, she began a career in College Student Personnel and she fulfilled her wish to stay on a college campus forever.  She always joked that one day she’d write a book about college students, never expecting that to come true!

KD lives in West Central, Minnesota with her husband and fur-kids.  She likes to write fun twists on the usual tropes that we all love. Her characters are smart, funny, and always swoony.  And yes. They always get their happily ever after.

Before being accepted for publication, MEET ME UNDER THE STARS (formerly titled IF YOU'RE EVER IN TOWN) was the 2016 YARWA winner for the New Adult category.

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Rafflecopter link- Two SWAG boxes with $25.00 gift card, signed paperback, and other goodies!




Find KD here:




Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/kd_proctor/



Teasers:

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Wednesday, July 19, 2017

What's Next, Wednesday (64)


  •  To play along share a book you've been looking forward to reading, whether it's new or has been on your reading list for a while.

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I'm looking forward to...

The Unexpected Daughter by Sheryl Parbhoo. I'm still waiting on a copy of this book, but I'm looking forward to reading it. Three characters, Jenny, Roshan, and Esha, come together in unsuspecting circumstances and a relationship between Jenny and Roshan ensues. But Roshan and his mother were running away from something and their peace may be disrupted.

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Teaser Tuesday (273)


Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR, or just share what you are currently reading. It is very easy to play along:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! Everyone loves Teaser Tuesday.


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Meet Me Under the Stars (Kindle 59%)
    - KD Proctor

He and Melanie have a genuine friendship. A pure one. And if I want him to seek me out to share his secrets and demons, I need to show I'm trustworthy too. 

Which means I need to find a way to tell Nate about my demons. He deserves to know the truth.







Blog Tour and Book Review coming Friday!

Friday, July 14, 2017

Girl on Point

34676703Alexandra Campbell’s life comes to a crashing halt the night her younger sister is killed during a convenience store robbery. Shattered by guilt, Alex distances herself from her friends and family. Months later, with the police investigation stalled, she fears justice may never be served.

Determined to avenge her sister’s murder, Alex disguises herself and joins the gang responsible for the shooting. To identify the one who pulled the trigger, Alex must put her own life at risk in a world of dangerous criminals. But the longer she plays her new game, the more the lines blur between loyalty and betrayal.

*May Contain Spoilers*

This book was terrifying -in a real life, I can't believe this happens, kind of way. Cheryl Guerriero tackles a very intense topic with her novel, Girl on Point - gangs, murder, drugs, robbery. A topic, a world, that we all know exists, but a world that some of us don't experience everyday, or never experience at all. And that makes this book a terrifying representation of a real world problem, thrilling and frightening and heartbreaking. 

Alex is a teenage girl who loved basketball and planned on going to college. But when her sister is shot in a shady convenience store while their team is at an away basketball game, everything changes for Alex. She falls into a deep depression and dreams of escaping the pain of her grief. Yet, she can't let go because whoever killed her sister is still out there somewhere. Though it was difficult, I can totally understand how someone would refuse to let the death of their family member go. Especially when it's a gang related murder. I couldn't imagine anyone I know going to the extremes that Alex goes to in this book, but with her psyche so damaged and overshadowed by injustice and depression, I can't say I wouldn't believe that someone would do this. Alex is determined to find what the police missed so she decides to do anything she can to be a part of the gang who killed her sister with the hope that she'll uncover some actual evidence. 

After Alex becomes a part of this violent world, who she is and who she is pretending to be blend together, until her character is so blurry it's hard to see the real her. She starts participating in crimes in order to become closer to this gang of young girls. She starts doing drugs and drinking because they do -- and she wants to fit in with them. Alex wants them to trust her. She doesn't kill anyone, but she takes part (and sometimes the leading role) in these crimes. And then she realizes that she is a criminal. She has become one of them. Alex sacrifices everything to find out who killed her sister down a rabbit hole that, to me, could only end two ways. One possibility, Alex is killed by the gang she tries so hard to bring down. Or two, Alex is arrested right along with the girls, as she is no longer the innocent. This all adds up to an incredibly intense novel that is moving, heart-wrenching, down right scary, and confusing. The main question I couldn't stop asking myself was: can I blame her for trying this? The police had reached a seemingly dead end and instead of suicide, Alex chose to try to find her own answers. In a lose-lose situation, can we, as readers, see the justification of this behavior? I think so. And I think that's why anyone who reads this book will understand and connect with Alex. We may not like her choices or her actions, but we can see how the death of a sister and a police case that's quickly going cold could push someone to that edge. Which makes it all the more terrifying. 

Because of the drug use, the criminal activity, the cursing, and the violence in general, I can't recommend this book to everyone. It feels too real, which is a good thing with this topic. The author did an amazing job at capturing this part of the world, making it feel legitimate and believable. It provides a view of a part of the world that tends to be ignored, except for those who live in it. That gives this book power, evoking sadness, a sense of unfairness, and a hope that future generations find a solution to this kind of violence. 

Rating: 4/5 Cups

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

What's Next, Wednesday (63)


  •  To play along share a book you've been looking forward to reading, whether it's new or has been on your reading list for a while.

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I'm looking forward to...

Meet Me Under the Stars by KD Proctor. The blog tour for this book is coming up soon and I'm so excited about it! Main characters Charlotte and Nate have some history, but in order to successfully create a scholarship in honor of Charlotte's sister they'll have to work together. This book just sounds like such a fun read; I've been looking forward to it since the cover reveal! :) 

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Teaser Tuesday (272)


Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR, or just share what you are currently reading. It is very easy to play along:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! Everyone loves Teaser Tuesday.


34676703


Girl on Point (Kindle 22%)
   - Cheryl Guerriero

I know I used to have friends. I know I used to have a sister. 
But I have no idea who I am. 

Sunday, July 9, 2017

When Darkness Falls (The First Vampire Redemption Story)

29585481Lexie Miles, a strong-willed Southern woman with a raw vocabulary and a taste for sex, is living her dream life in Paris. She is devastated when her best friend Emma is brutally murdered by vampires. From that moment Lexie's "perfect world" begins to crumble. She discovers her entire life has been a sham and everyone she cares about has been lying to her. Angry doesn't begin to describe her reaction to the news.

Plunged into a two-thousand-year-old war between good and evil, she is propelled into a world of blood, lust and dark secrets. She must embrace her birthright to fight an ancient threat to humanity. Bequeathed with the dubious gift of being the "Chosen One," Lexie meets the enigmatic Etienne Benoit. She falls hard for him and when he betrays her, she vows to get revenge. After all, she is a vampire executioner and killing vampires is what she does.

*May Contain Spoilers*

Ellen Chauvet explores the world of good and evil in her novel, When Darkness Falls. After the death of Emma, Lexie is pulled into a world she thought of as fictitious and learning it's in her blood is a whole other betrayel. This book revolves around Lexie as she tries to come to terms with her heritage and her innate career of vampire hunting. 

Lexie Miles is nearly thirty and almost ready for a husband and a white picket fence. That is, until she learns that she was born in to a family of vampire hunters. This southern belle is forced (not really but kind of) into giving up her fluffy dreams of happily ever after and handed a stake to drive into any hearts she feels need breaking. There's no doubt that Lexie is a strong character. She deals with the death of her best friend and decides to really take on this 'calling' of being a vampire hunter with little to no idea what she is truly getting into. That strength of character goes a long way, as I wasn't really a fan of Lexie's personality or southern mannerisms. To me, Lexie is a bit naive in terms of romance, trust, and love. If I were her, I feel like I would have been overly cautious. And she definitely should not have jumped into bed with a vampire. No matter how cute or whatever he was. However, that wasn't even the worst thing. The thing that bothered me the most was Lexie's dialogue. Her character is from Atlanta and, as I actually know people from Atlanta, I don't think they use as many "southernisms" as Lexie did. On the other hand though, catching culture in dialogue is a tricky thing to do for any author and I do give Chauvet props for leavin' off the 'g's and spelling out Lexie's southern drawl. 

The plot of this novel was pretty interesting and I think it's what kept driving me toward the end even though I didn't connect with the main character. Emma, Lexie's friend who is murdered, is a scientist who developed some sort of antiserum to protect the human race from being turned into vampires. Francois and Marielle are two very old vampires who have been building an army for about five hundred years. Needless to say, they want this antiserum, the formula, and something called 88p, which from what I could gather would make them basically unstoppable. Before her death, Emma hid the information and left a trail of clues for Lexie, Tom, and Etienne (members of the Society). Time is running out, and they must finish this treasure hunt before Francois and Marielle attack. Très divertissant! Oh, did I forget to mention that there is French sprinkled throughout the book? That was my favorite aspect of the novel. However, one other thing I need to mention about this book is that there are quite a few erotic sections. I thought these sections detracted from the storyline because it's written with such a 'time is of the essence' sense. So, I do want to recommend this book for the storyline because it really is interesting. However, the erotic sections make it inappropriate for some readers.  

Rating: 2.5/5 Cups

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

What's Next, Wednesday (62)


  •  To play along share a book you've been looking forward to reading, whether it's new or has been on your reading list for a while.

34676703

I'm looking forward to... 

Girl on Point by Cheryl Guerriero. Main character, Alex, decides to join the gang that is responsible for her sister's death so she can determine which member killed her. This book sounds like it will be not only exciting, but a heart-pounding and nerve-tensing kind of thrill. 

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Teaser Tuesday (271)


Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR, or just share what you are currently reading. It is very easy to play along:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! Everyone loves Teaser Tuesday.


29585481

When Darkness Falls (The First Vampire Redemption Story) (Kindle 4%)
    - Ellen Chauvet

Despite her strong feelings for Francois, she had managed to keep her wits. Instead of giving him what he wanted she devised an elaborate plan to conceal the authentic antiserum and formula. As she reviewed the details she felt confident the life-saving items would be safe. She was playing with fire, surviving the night was uncertain. 

Monday, July 3, 2017

Strange the Dreamer

28449207The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?

The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? And if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?

*May Contain Spoilers*

This new novel is everything I want from each Laini Taylor book I read. It's full of rapt descriptions, amazing imaginative details, and deep, complicated meaning. Strange the Dreamer excels in creating a whole new world of fantasy that allows love to blossom, magic to bloom, and leaves fear to rule. 

Lazlo Strange is a dreamer. A dreamer is what he is at heart, at the very core of his being. He's interested in magic and myths and especially stories. He likes to know them all, in particular the ones that no one else knows. So he studies Weep, in the dark and forgotten rooms of the library. Weep was a magical land that no stranger ever set eyes on and Lazlo wants to one day see it for himself now that it's empty and forgotten, though it isn't either of those things. Lazlo's character is open minded, helpful, persistent, honorable, and has an unbelievable, limitless imagination. When he gets the chance to go to Weep, Lazlo agrees to be the great Eril-Fane's secretary, doing any odd jobs that will get him to the lost city. But there's something strange about Lazlo Strange and I think readers will catch on to it early. Throughout the whole book, it seems like he is meant for something greater. He is the main character after all. With this sense, readers will connect with Lazlo, wanting him to be something more because he wants to be something more. He wants to be the hero of his own story and the readers will want that too. And when he meets Sarai... that path opens to him. 

Sarai is half-human, half-god. To the citizens of Weep, she's known as godspawn, which is a negative moniker. She lives in a statue that floats above the city of Weep with four others like her, and no one in the city knows they're there. The gods that came before these five were harsh, selfish, controlling, and committed unspeakable acts. That's why the great Eril-Fane killed them all. Now the five that survived live in fear that one day the people of Weep will learn of their existence. And that time has come. Sarai knows that she should want revenge and feel hate for what the people of Weep did, but she doesn't. Sarai wants peace and she wants to be able to live her life, not just try to stay alive. Readers will connect with Sarai through her dreams, regrets, and hopes for the future. Taylor's writing style is so descriptive that readers will get a three-dimensional view of these main characters. Readers will knows what is in their heads, hearts, and dreams, which makes for very understandable and relatable characters. 

Strange the Dreamer is a book about stories, myths, and dreams. The main plot line follows Lazlo as he is recruited with a group of other foreigners to solve the problem of Weep. The problem being that there is an enormous angel statue floating above the city, blocking out the sky, the sun, and the moon. Yet, the city doesn't know that there are survivors living in the statue. And, surprisingly, Lazlo is the first to learn of this as Sarai visits him in his dreams. And with that, the legend that will be is beginning. The only thing I didn't like about this book was the ending. Even though there will be a sequel, and I'm sure an answer will surface, the ending was not a happy one. But, as I said, this is only the beginning and I trust Taylor to craft an amazing series that will resonate with all her readers. 

Rating: 4.5/5 Cups