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Up next on my TBR!!

Update 1/25: I am on chapter 5, and I can't put it down.  This book is hilarious.


Shark Bait by Jenn Cooksey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 had me laughing my ass off stars!

My favorite guilty pleasures of all time are YA romances, and cheesy 80's movies and music. This book manages to take all of these things, and roll them all into one. Camie is Awesome...in that totally, bodacious, 16 candles way. You find yourself laughing and cheering her on all at the same time.
And Jake Ryan.....I mean Tristan, swoon!!
To top it all off her sister is an evil genius, with devious tendencies. I love her, and want to see a story about her.
The story line was fast paced, and believable, and made me sigh on several occasions.

While it was said to be New Adult, I think it would fit as a more mature YA. There is some heavy petting, drug use (just pot), and underage drinking....but that's it. The vocabulary used advanced for most high school kids, but still appropriate for the age group.

And once again......I love this book! For real, it rocked. Just wanted to make that clear.

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Cover Reveal

If you fill out the information box at the bottom, you will get info on releases, and some will be chosen to receive free or discounted books.  Thanks for playing, this amazing cover was done at Immortal Ink!

You have not attended a Demonstration this month.

In Sola’s city, everyone obeys the rules. Stay away from the trigger cameras and regularly update your Debtbook, and you just might survive. But having to watch the way criminals are dealt with—murdered by Demonstrators in the Stadium—is a law Sola tries to avoid. When a charming Demonstrator kisses her at a party, however, she’s thrust into the Stadium and forced into the very role she despises.

Armed with only natural resourcefulness and a caring nature, Sola narrowly survives her first bout. Her small success means she’s whisked off to a training camp, where she discovers a world beyond the trigger cameras and monitoring—a world where falling in love with a killer doesn’t seem so terrible.

Yet life as a Demonstrator has no peace. Sola must train her way through twenty-five more Demonstrations before she can return home to her father. At the end of each battle, only one survivor remains.

Sola could face anyone in the Stadium . . . even a loved one.

Code Red by Amy Noelle

I am about half way through this one right now, and it is pretty funny.  This writer reminds me a lot of RL Mathewson in her writing style and love of baseball.  If it keeps on track, it will be a 4-4.5 read.

Udate 1/24

Code Red by Amy Noelle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Did you have that group of girls in college that you shared everything with, even heartbreak?  This is a story about the last hold out in the "I'll never fall in love again" club.  She meets the oh so dreamy Josh, who is too good to be true and  calls a "code red".  Her friends are supposed to jump to her rescue....they totally bail and make her date.
I think I liked this book so much becuase it reminded me of something me and my friends would do.  I totally identify with Nicole, like in we were seperated at birth, except for the cats.  I have a chihuahua, which is almost like a cat in loyalty.  She's snarky, funny, and has lots of embarrassingly funny times.
This book is not overly long, so if you are looking for something to read in one night, this is your pick.


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Reaper's Property

Reaper's Property by Joanna Wylde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5

I would say this is a mix up of Kristen Ashley's Motorcycle Man, and Undeniable. It is not as raw as Undeniable, but way more use of the C-word than you find in an Ashley book.
I found myself hooked to it. There was lots of action, and smexy times, to keep you entertained. The anal fetish of the anti-hero was a little offputting, but I perservered. I see a sequel in the future for some of the other characters. I will be picking it up.

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SAVED Cover

Sorry that took soo long, my computer died, and I am having to use my Mom's.  Going from my Macbook to a Netbook is a little bit of an adjustment!  So here is the beautiful cover.  I can't wait to read Ari and Jeff's story.

 

 

Saved by: Kelly Elliot Cover Reveal

Monday Monday Monday!!!  I will revealing the cover to Saved, the sequel to Wanted by Kelly Elliot.  Stay tuned, I may be giving a prize away.

The Proposition by Katie Ashley

The Proposition by Katie Ashley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review to come, I quickly downloaded the next one the Proposal and could be bothered to do stuff like sleep, eat, or write a review right now.

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Update: 1/17/13
This is going to be a twofer review.  I pretty much read The Proposition, and The Proposal back to back.  This may not have been such a good idea.  I will give The Proposition 4 out of 5 stars.  The story was original, funny, and sexy.  The characters were rich and well written, full of scars and emotional walls.  I literally could not put it down.

The Proposal only gets 2.5 out of 5 stars.  I don't know if it is because I read it right after finishing the first one, or if it just dragged.  The Aiden and Emma just kept rehashing the same issue over, and over, and over.  Not to mention pregnant sex is not hot.  Just a personal opinion of mine.  I have three boys, so I know about being pregnant and feeling sexy.  It just isn't my thing, and some of the things they claimed to be doing I am not sure are even possible using the accepted laws of physics.  I skimmed a lot of this book just to see what happened at the end.

Good series, maybe just not read one after the other.

With Love by: Shawnte Borris

Her life was all set…she had everything she had ever dreamed of. Promises of forever…. But promises can be broken. Alyson Almon, or Ally as she is called, finds this out in a tragic way. The emotional scars on her heart are ones only she can feel. With a change of location and a makeover she tries to start her life anew. She is drawn to a beautiful wedding and snaps some photos, capturing the love between the bride and her father. Luke McDerment, brother of the bride, is a man who is dealing with his own loss. Their paths cross when he spies her gorgeous photos and the instant attraction is something neither of them can deny.

Luke, with the help of his family who also find themselves drawn to this haunted young woman, involve her in a project that throws her right in the middle of this loving, warm family. They have a Gala coming up and Ally is the perfect photographer to capture the moments. Ally is embraced by the family and finds that she needs the love and warmth this family gives so effortlessly. She also finds the attraction to Luke is something she can’t deny. Can they fight the electricity between them and just walk away or will they let fate hand them the happy ending they both desperately need?


4.5 Stars
Even though this is a novella, a lot of emotional ground is covered in a spectacular way.  You learn how families can either fall apart, or become stronger in the process of grieving. Shawnte Borris definitely leaned from the Molly McAdams of emotional warfare, lol. Making you fall in love with all the characters, and internalizing their struggles.   

The journey starts in a cab coming from who knows where. It feels like you are coming into the middle of something important, you just don't know what it is yet.  You know something is terribly wrong, but aren't quite sure what it is. While riding in the cab, you realize Ally is lost and is running away from something.  I was hooked to the story, for good or bad, at this point.  I felt Aly had let me come along on a journey full of pain, and she needed me to stay strong and hear it all out to the end.  I know I maybe a little too attached to my reading....but it hasn't served me wrong yet!

As the story developes and grows the character introduced become important to the story.  All of them have a history and pain that needs to be explored.  As this family takes her in, she is also, somehow, fixing them at the same time they fix her.  It is absolutly beautiful.

No review would be complete with the mention of Luke.  Ah...Luke.  Sucessful business man, caretaker of the family, devestatingly beautiful, damaged, and fully smitten with Ally from first sight. Watching them do a dance of flirting and pushing was fun.



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The Perfect Game by:J. Sterling

He's a game she never intended to play. 
And she's the game changer he never knew he needed.

The Perfect Game tells the story of college juniors, Cassie Andrews & Jack Carter. When Cassie meets rising baseball hopeful Jack, she is determined to steer clear of him and his typical cocky attitude. But Jack has other things on his mind... like getting Cassie to give him the time of day. 


They're both damaged, filled with mistrust and guarded before they find one another (and themselves) in this emotional journey about love and forgiveness. Strap yourselves for a ride that will not only break your heart, but put it back together. 

Oh no, not this story again

4 Stars (but she made me earn it)

When I first started this book a lot of elements sounded very familiar....Pretty girl (who doesn't think she's pretty) with daddy issues, Hot guy who sleeps with everything in a skirt (but only once) with Mommy and Daddy issues, and two supporting characters that are completely normal and the voice of reason that is never listened to.  I am pretty sure I have read this before.  The hot guy everyone chases only wants the girl that doesn't fall for his bullshit.  But, what can I say, it is a formula I enjoy.  I am just glad no one was a virgin in this one.  That might have been too much to take.

After a rough start to the story, and then a rough start to the dating of Jack and Callie, things started to move forward in a pretty normal relationship pace.    This is where the story starts to become it's own creature sucking you in.  You get to see the sweet, protective side of Jack, and how he is with Cassie.  Except for a small hiccup at his first away game things are wonderful.  Jack's baseball career goes pro, and they are still in love.....

Everything is all cute, happy, and wonderful.  Every one's dreams are coming true.  It almost lulls you into a sense of security, which makes me brace for the impact. (I know these stories all to well).

And then it happens.  I am not going to tell you,  and ruin the story for you, but it goes something like this


First I was all.....

                                                               Then I was like                             My life is over!

This stage lasted for quite a while.  I went back and forth between these two for quite a while.  When the book was finally over I had been through the emotional ringer, and loved every minute of it.  I was yelling at the book, crying, laughing....I looked like a basket case.  Good thing it was in the middle of the night and no one was awake to see me!

I highly recommend this book to all lovers of angst and books that make you feel.

Escorted by: Claire Kent

4 stars!! Pretty Woman with reversed gender roles. This book is super hot! I know, I know another 26 year old virgin....but just try it. I was up all night reading this book, and woke up early wanting to finish the rest. If you are in the mood for a quick, sexy read, pick this one up!

From Rags by Suzanne Wright

There has only been three people in Jaxxon Carter's life who truly mattered to her. Her mum, who committed suicide. Her sister, who she hasn’t seen since her teens. And Connor McKenzie, who disappeared from her life the same day he left their foster home. The hardest part of that was that he never completely left her life because she was forever seeing him on T.V. or in magazines as a Formula One Driver. But Jaxxon refuses to live a ‘woe is me’ life, even in spite of living alone in her one-roomed flat and being expected to survive on a ridiculously low income. Then one night she is offered a modelling job and before she knows it she has been catapulted to the peak of success, gaining fame, fortune and security. Oh and a stalker. 

Connor McKenzie is busy trying to shake off his crazy ex-girlfriend – another woman who thought she could get around his no marriage rule – when he sees Jaxxon on the cover of a magazine. Remembering how close they had once been, he’s shocked when she doesn’t respond to his attempts to contact her and then acts indifferently to him when they meet. But Connor can’t let it go. The only reason he had kept his hands off her ten years ago was that she had been younger than him. Now that they’re adults, he isn’t prepared to allow anything – not even Jaxxon – to stop him from having her. 

4 Glorious Stars!!

This book was written with a lot of British slang, so I had to break out the urban dictionary to figure out what they were calling each other.  I never knew so many innocuous sounding words could mean such vile things. I love it!  From Rags kept me on my toes.  Just when I thought I had the book figured out, the whole thing turned on it's head.  Total page turner.

Conner:  He is a formula 1 race car driver, womanizer, and childhood crush for Jaxxon.  In other words, sex on a stick!  One of my favorite scenes with Conner is when he is having an inner monologue about how he is going to call Jaxx, and she is going to fall all over herself, and agree to be his bed buddy once or twice a month.  Ha!!  She wouldn't even call him back.  Jaxx is awesome.

Jaxxon:  She is a kick-ass heroine....like for real, she beats people up.  Jaxx is not a 5'2", super skinny girl either, she is curvy!  I love a curvy leading lady, it makes all us normal girls feel better. She has a total potty mouth, and some serious inner demons.  She is also the only woman that Conner can't intimidate and boss around.  Some female leads can't pull off all rough edges persona, Wright writes her well and it works.  

My only issue with the book is the constant and random POV changes.  There were several times I was reading and had no idea who was talking/thinking.  I think she should have stuck to just the main characters POV to make it less confusing.

My Sweet Sixteenth Century by:Rachel Harris

On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother-to-be and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze. 

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore. Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

Cover:          4/5

Plot:             4/5

Characters: 3/5

Ending:        2/5

How would you feel if you stepped into a Gypsy tent to get your tea leaves read, and walk out to 16th century Italy?  The author handles most of the obvious pit falls of having no family, and not speaking Italian by having her immediately recognized by her aunt and uncle, and spontaneously understanding Italian.  Normally this would annoy me, but it was written in a way that made sense. It is also a true YA book.  There are few chaste kisses, and some cheesy pick up lines (which I am sure sound sexy as hell in Italian), but it is completely appropriate for young readers.  That being said, it was still sophisticated enough to hold my attention.

There were some 90's television show references that made me laugh.  When Cat first realizes she has been transported to 16th century Italy she thinks about the show Quantum Leap.  I have seen every episode, at least twice, so I started to imagine Sam and his handy calculator of destiny.  I, personally, love books written for teens that still appeal to adults.

The ending did bug me a little, don't worry I won't give it away.  There was a little bit of a cliffhanger, and the issue with the devastatingly handsome Lorenzo was only partially wrapped up.  It left room for a sequel, but I am not sure the author has plans for one.

Update: The author just informed me the sequel will be out in August and is titled "A Tale of Two Centuries"

Look what came out early!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Up-The-Bad-Boys-ebook/dp/B00AWZNGHM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1357365210&sr=1-1&keywords=up+to+me+m+leighton

The Summer He Came Home by: Juliana Stone

3.5 Stars
Sleeping with the Enemy meets Sweet Home Alabama.

Cain is a reformed bad boy who has come back to his small town Michigan roots for the funeral of a close friend. Fresh from a tour with his band, and a divorce from his hussy, starlet wife. He is all kinds of rock star hot and broken, in need of a good woman to heal his wounds.
Maggie is a cute, spunky, red-headed southern belle that cleans houses for the locals.  She has a cute 7 year old son, and is obviously running from some kind of past.
There are even a few slutty townies and Snobby rich folks thrown in for good measure.
I enjoyed this one as my first read of 2013.  It wasn't a thought provoking piece of literature, it was a light and fluffy read to get you through a lonely New Year's Eve.  The characters had me drawn in from the beginning, and I can't wait for more Crystal Lake Bad Boys. There is definitely a story behind all the main characters, and I can't wait find out.