Book Review: Slammed by Colleen Hoover

Title: Slammed
Author: Colleen Hoover
Publisher: Createspace
Release Date: January 1st, 2012

Find Colleen Hoover Online: Twitter | Website | Facebook

After the unexpected death of her father forces eighteen year old Layken and her family to move across the country, away from everyone and everything she knows, her outlook on life is anything but hopeful.

Enter Will Cooper: the attractive twenty-one year old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry. After a night together that turns out to be everything but the expected, both Layken and Will are left with feelings they never knew they could have. Unfortunately in Layken's life, things are never what they seem. Just as quickly as it develops, their relationship is derailed by a shocking revelation, sparking a tumultuous battle between their hearts and their ethics.

As if the dramatic turn of events in her life isn't enough, Layken is slammed again when her mother reveals a secret of her own. A secret so intense, all of Layken's current problems pale in comparison to her seemingly insurmountable future. Unable to confront the changes that lie ahead of her, Layken ignores her conscience as she turns to Will for solace. Struggles ensue as both Layken and Will search for a balance between that which keeps them apart and the feelings that pull them together.

My $0.02

The second I started Slammed I couldn’t stop.  It wasn’t because the story was just that gripping but the author’s writing definitely was.  From the get-go, Ms. Hoover’s writing sucked me in so fast and so hard that I was star-struck and couldn’t do anything but continue reading.  Ms. Hoover’s writing was beautiful, eloquent, peaceful, calm, and very inspirational.  When I first started reading, I didn’t know what to expect but because I was so mesmerized by Hoover’s writing I kept on reading and reading and reading.  Soon enough, I was madly hooked because Slammed starts off with a bang and you find yourself questioning what’s going to happen next and why this is happening and who this is and…basically, you find yourself asking the five W’s of life:  Who?  What?  Where?  When? and Why?

But as soon as I was sucked in, I was kicked back out and landed on my derriere.  Within the first few chapters, there’s a shocking revelation that for me, personally, I couldn’t shake it.  I started Slammed during the evening of one night and I was excited that I was so hooked on it that I didn’t want to stop reading but the following day when this explosive secret was revealed I was a bit deterred from my reading.  I guess you could even say I was weirded out, creeped out, yucked (???) out, even.  Afterwards, I stopped reading for a bit and I was about to start another book when I realized I had put Slammed on hold.  I decided to go ahead and finish it because honestly, what could it hurt!?

After I overcame that hurdle, I ran into another one.  Our leading MC, Layken aka Lake, got under my skin quite a few times.  There were various times that she seemed clinging and desperate for Will Cooper’s attention.  She seemed like that so much that I was turned off by her character for most of the beginning of the book.  But as I kept pushing myself to read further and further into the story, I became so involved with what was happening with the storyline that all those concerns and worries kind of got pushed to the back of my mind.  I mean, they were still there but they went from being this big to being this big.  In other words, there were other pressing issues at hand that my mind wasn’t so focused on them.

As the story unfolds, I found myself liking it more than I thought I was going to.  I didn’t expect to like it as much as I did because well…I had a hard time getting through parts of it.  But something about the way Hoover writes makes it hard to not get lost in her words.  Like there’s more to the story and her words than what is really being said.  The three characters that I felt had the biggest impact throughout the story were Lake’s mom, brother and best friend.  They were like the constant reminders that you need in life—that no matter how hard life threw its hardest punch, you just get right back up and punch life square on in the face as well!

Overall, I didn’t like Slammed but I liked Slammed.  It’s one of those where I’m unsure how to feel.  I like it but at the same time there were stuff that I didn’t like and then I find myself weighing my options, seeing if the like outweighed the didn’t like.  After sitting here, gathering my thoughts, I think I…liked Slammed more than I didn’t like Slammed.  The ending to Slammed was very powerful and if I could, I would quote the whole thing.  Actually, there were so many lines from Slammed that I want to quote; I want to print out a bunch of lines from the book and tape them all over my bedroom!  Slammed was very inspirational and it reminds you to be strong no matter what life throws at you and it reminds you that everything will be fine and it will all find a way to work itself out.

Links to purchase Slammed: Paperbacks: Createspace | Amazon | Ebooks: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Cover Reveal: Breaking Glass by Lisa Amowitz + Book Trailer

Title: Breaking Glass

Author: Lisa Amowitz

Blog | Twitter

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

ISBN: 978-1-937053-38-3

Release Date: July 9, 2013

Formats: Paper, e-book

Genre: Young Adult paranormal mystery

On the night seventeen-year-old Jeremy Glass winds up in the hospital with a broken leg and a blood alcohol level well above the legal limit, his secret crush, Susannah, disappears. When he begins receiving messages from her from beyond the grave, he's not sure whether they're real or if he's losing his grip on reality. Clue by clue, he gets closer to unraveling the mystery, and soon realizes he must discover the truth or become the next victim himself.

Book Trailer

[SPOILER ALERT]: Fangirls on Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

That banner you see right there is my lame attempt at making a banner. Don't laugh. It's embarassing as is. I didn't want to start this post off with just words because well...I wouldn't read it. Would you? Sometimes when I see a post without any pictures I'm just like, "Blergh, too many words for me!" LOL, no joke! Anyway, if you couldn't tell by the all caps in my title, this is a spoilery post about some of my favorite scenes from Catching Jordan. If you couldn't tell from my two past posts and all my twitter tweets, I'm currently very obsessed with this book! So obsessed and in love with it that it's almost not healthy. ALMOST.

So, if you haven't read Catching Jordan, I suggest you stop reading now. Like, for seriously. Or else you'll be so spoiled that sour milk wouldn't even befriend you. ;) Also, if you haven't read Catching Jordan, for the duration of this blog post, you are no longer my friend.

BUT if you have read Catching Jordan and would like to weigh in on some of my favorite parts/scenes from the book, feel free to stick around to the very end! Actually, please stick around! I would love to hear what some or all of your favorite scenes were and why!

• • • • • • • • • • •

Like I've said a few times before, I don't know why I love this book so much. Well, maybe I do but I just suck at putting it into words so instead...I'm settling for scenes and what not. BIGGEST SPOILER FROM THE BOOK:  Henry. Being truly, madly, and deeply in love with Jordan. [Aaannnd...now's the time to grab your copy of the book.] I didn't see that train coming at me at full speed until page 142 and shortly after that, the chapter titled Revelations came into play and then...BOOM! At least, I was a bit prepared, right!? Well, as prepared as I can get within a time frame of three pages.

When Jordan found out, I felt relieved...in a way. I get that Ty's super macho and hot and sexy and you just wanna undress him with your eyes and uuuunnnffff, that guy! BUT as I read more and more, some of the things he said or did just kind of like...turned me off. In a way. From the get-go, you're introduced to him and Jordan's mad infatuation with him that you just can't help but fall for him but even then I was still a bit hesitant and iffy. Anyway, back to Henry. After that revelation came to light, I was so overly tuned into him and Jordan's relationship that...man, it just did something to me. Like I sorta hinted at in my review, there were little things that they did together that didn't really mean much until you realize that Henry's in love with Jordan. Before I start bulleting off some of the scenes that stood out to me, in my review, I mentioned three songs by One Direction that I felt were more than perfect for the book so I wanna go back and explain why I picked the three that I did.

First up, One Thing:

- When I first started reading the book, I thought for sure that Ty Green was going to be the leading male so One Thing started out as a song coming from Ty's point of view. For example, some of the lyrics go something like:

I've tried playing it cool
But when I'm looking at you
I can't ever be brave
'Cause you make my heart race

Shot me out of the sky
You're my kryptonite
You keep making me weak
Yeah, frozen and can't breathe

Something's gotta give now
'Cause I'm dying just to make you see
That I need you here with me now
'Cause you've got that one thing

But soon enough, you realize that Henry was the guy your eyes should have been on and then the song quickly changed and started coming from his point of view. The only lined that mattered to me after I realized that was: But I need that one thing and you've got that one thing <333

Also, not only is the song kinda, sorta, really perfect for the book, it has an upbeat feeling to it that just encompasses all of Catching Jordan. Onto song number two!

I Wish:
- Just from the title, you can already tell whose song this belongs too! Yes, you totally guessed it right! Sam Henry <33 (Man, I love that dude!) To really get my point across, I'll just share the lyrics with you guys!

He takes your hand
I die a little
I watch your eyes
And I'm in riddles
Why can't you look at me like that?

When you walk by
I try to say it
But then I freeze
And never do it
My tongue gets tied
The words get trapped
I hear the beat of my heart getting louder
Whenever I'm near you

But I see you with him slow dancing
Tearing me apart
Cause you don't see
Whenever you kiss him
I'm breaking,
Oh how I wish that was me

He looks at you
The way that I would
Does all the things, I know that I could
If only time, could just turn back
Cause I got three little words
That I've always been dying to tell you

If you're looking something like this

I know,

RIGHT!? I told you. Totally Henry. Oooh, Henry! That reminds, what a coin-ka-dink - one of the singers from One Direction is named Henry <333 Henry Styles! Maybe that's another reason why I love Sam Henry so much!

[UPDATE (3/14/2013): I now realize what a stupid dork I am because his name is Harry Styles and not Henry. But hey, I was in a moment of squee, so, you know, my mind wasn't with me. ;p What a lol moment. Coming back to read this definitely made my day!]

Third song is Moments:
- As Jordan and Henry's relationship becomes more conflicted and harder, this song immediately came to mind. The push and pull, the change and shift in their relationship, the emotional struggle - was wrapped into this song. I pictured this coming from the both of them throughout different scenes. And because this song was playing in the background, my feelings and emotions intensified like...that much more towards the book <333

Shut the door
Turn the light off
I wanna be with you
I wanna feel your love
I wanna lay beside you
I cannot hide this
Even though I try

Heart beats harder
Time escapes me
Trembling hands
Touch skin
It makes this hard girl
And the tears stream down my face

If we could only have this life
For one more day
If we could only turn back time

You know I’ll be
Your life
Your voice
Your reason to be
My love
My heart
Is breathing for this
Moment
In time
I’ll find the words to say
Before you leave me today

Close the door
Throw the key
Don’t wanna be reminded
Don’t wanna be seen
Don’t wanna be without you
My judgments clouded
Like tonight's sky

Hums are silent
Voice is numb
Try to scream out my lungs
It makes this harder
And the tears stream down my face

If we could only have this life
For one more day
If we could only turn back time

You know I’ll be
Your life
Your voice
Your reason to be
My love
My heart
Is breathing for this
Moment
In time
I’ll find the words to say
Before you leave me today

Flashing lights in my mind
Going back to the time
Playing games in the street
Kicking balls with my feet

There’s a numb in my toes
Standing close to the edge

There’s a pile of my clothes
At the end of your bed

As I feel myself fall
Make a joke of it all

So, check out those three songs and let me know what you think of them below in the comments section! I would love to hear what you guys think! And if you guys don't think the songs fit...well, at least you've discovered three brand new songs to get addicted to! ;) NOW, here come some of my favorite scenes/quotes! Bear with me because there might be quite a few!

• "Laughing, I speed up. Soon I'm sprinting as fast as I can go, but Henry catches up anyway. He's so damned fast. He might as well be Forrest Gump. Passing by me, Henry runs to the end of the block, where he turns around and does this stupid victory dance. It looks like he's roping a bull at a rodeo." -Page 55
  Why I like: Because Henry's dancing! DUUH.
• "I'll never forget how we were sitting out in Henry's front yard playing rock, paper, scissors while eating a big box of Cracker Jacks. I pulled the prize out, and we both desperately wanted it. Since we were at Henry's house and they were his Cracker Jacks, he thought he deserved the plastic football. But since I'm the one who pulled the football out of the box, I thought it should be mine.
  
  So we rock, paper, scissors-ed for it. I made scissors with my hand. He made rock.
  
  He's worn the charm around his neck ever since." -Page 56
  Why I like: Because it explains the special meaning of their friendship and the necklace.
• "I yank the covers back and crawl in, and Henry lies down next to me, reeking of shea butter. 'Ugh. You smell,' I say. 'Turn around. We have to sleep head-to-toe. Mom's orders.'
  'We can't tonight. I heard a rumor that you have athlete's foot, and I can't risk getting it in my nose.'" -Page 80
  Why I like: Because Henry always has an excuse to sleep head-to-head!
• "His eyes focus on mine and we stare at each other for a while. With his tan skin and emerald eyes, Henry is an extremely cute guy, and it occurs to me how many girls at school would love to find themselves in a potting shed with him." -Page 133
  Why I like: Because Henry was so sweet in this scene and it's just one of my favorites!
• "All those nights of sharing a bed
  All those times he put an arm around me
  All the things he's done to make me happy
  ...encouraging me to give Ty a chance..." -Page 145
  Why I like: Because Jordan finally realizes!
• "Another tear falls from my eye, but I don't have the strength to wipe it away. All my energy is being used by my heart, because it's having to pump twice as hard just to keep working. Why wouldn't he kiss me?
  Henry keeps dealing. When all the cards have been separated, I pick up my stack and shuffle my cards again. Then I look up into Henry's eyes, and he's staring back at me, at my tears, and I see all these tiny wrinkles around his eyes - sadness wrinkles. He frowns, biting his lip." -Page 152
  Why I like: This scene was so sad - I can't explain it; I just love it. Crazy!
• "Henry:
  I love the way his curls flop around and hang across his forehead.
  I love how he never just lets me win. I have to earn it.
  I love how he touches me just because.
  I love his loyalty.
  I love how when we sleep head-to-toe,
  he always finds a reason to sleep head-to-head instead." -Page 153
  Why I like: Jordan starts to realize all the things she loves about Henry and the one I italicized is my favorite.
• "'Remember when I first started playing ball? And I was looking for crickets and then I threw the ball back to you?'
  
  'No.'
  
  What? We used to joke about this all the time. How I destroyed his future career as quarterback of the Titans." -Page 172
  Why I like: It's hard to explain why for this one; it's just the little moments, I guess.
• "Tears trickle out of my eyes as I slowly buckle my chinstrap.
  
  All I know is, without him as my friend, I'm just a shell. Just a playbook without any plays." -Page 173
  Why I like: This one is self-explanatory. <3
• "We clap and break, and JJ hikes the ball again. I dash back several feet, avoiding the linebacker trying to sack me, and throw the ball to Henry, but it's way short. I don't get enough on the throw and he runs the wrong route - he was supposed to come back on the ball, but didn't." -Page 176
  Why I like: Because of where their relationship stands, it's clear that they're both frustrated and they just can't play straight. :)
• "When Henry comes up for air, he looks over Savannah's shoulder at me. He mouths, 'I'm sorry.'" -Page 179
  Why I like: You know, it was just another one of those scenes that stabbed my heart. To pieces.
• "When unrequited love is the most expensive thing on the menu, sometimes you settle for the daily special." -Page 183
  Why I like: Because I just do and because it's deeeeeep, man! ;)
• "But my ceiling is bare
  Like my heart
  Mom comes in
  Curls up next to me
  'Mom'
  It comes out as a cry
  'I know'" -Page 210
  Why I like: Because sometimes a mom just knows without you having to say anything.
• "As the slow song ends, Henry's green eyes find mine, and I pull away from Ty and begin walking toward my friend. Henry stares at me, then stares at my dress. And then he just turns around and leaves the gym, dropping the stupid crown." -Page 217
  Why I like: Because One Direction's I Wish is frickin' perfect for this scene!
• "I skip stones and throw rocks until the sun starts to set. Just as I'm getting ready to leave, I see a large splash in the river, so I jerk around to find the thrower of the rock. And there he is. Henry. Standing there with a handful of rocks, launching them into the river. No one knew I was coming here, so he must've just shown up, just like me." -Page 233
  Why I like: Because that was like... their special spot.
• "My tears are everywhere. I sop them up using my sweatshirt, and when I look at his face, he reaches around his neck and pulls off the silver chain that holds the plastic football charm, fingering it. He stares down at the charm, then finds my eyes and puts the chain around my neck." -Page 234
  Why I like: Because throughout the whole book, they're constantly fighting over it and now that he gives it to her, I felt like he sorta just gave up. </3
• "'Henry?'
  
  'Yeah?'
  
  I take a deep breath. 'Remember that time I was searching for crickets at your game, and the ball went out of bounds and I threw it back to you?'
  
  'Yup,' he says with a grin." -Page 244-245
  Why I like it: Because earlier when she asked, he said no but now he says that he remembers which signifies that their relationship is getting back on track!
• "'For what it's worth,' Dad says, running his fingers over the picture, 'I've never seen anyone run faster than Henry after you hurt your knee last week.'" -Page 263
  Why I like: Because obviously, Henry's crazy about Jordan!
• "'What's the occasion?' I ask.
  He glances up at me and takes a deep breath. 'You're the occasion, Woods. I've missed you so, so much.'
  Lowering my chin, I bite my lip. A tear drops down my cheek. I throw down an ace, he throws down an ace. I deal three cards facedown, and he mimics me. At the same time, we each drop a fourth card. He has a queen; I, a king." -Page 278-279
  Why I like: EEEEEEEEEE!
• "He guesses right, because he takes me by the elbows and pulls my body up so our noses touch. His breath smells like chocolate-chip cookies. My favorite.
  We kiss.
  Finally." -Page 279
  Why I like: Because like Jordan said: FINALLY! ;)
• "We kiss some more, and his soft lips are making it hot in here, so I pull off my sweatshirt, revealing a tank top underneath, and Henry focuses on the plastic football charm, taking it in his fingers. I hesitate, then pull the chain off and drop it around Henry's neck." -Page 280
  Why I like: Because that necklace means a whole lot to the both of them and that was such a sweet moment!

Okay guuuuuuuuuuuuuys, whew! Again, I told ya to bear with me, hahahah! Boy oh boy, I'm so in love with this book! Weeeelll, now it's your turn! What were/are some of your most favorite scenes/quotes!? Share 'em with me! Also, anything spoilery that you wanna discuss!? Leave 'em in the comments and lets get a discussion going, eh? :)

And if you're still hear reading this whole entire post of nothing but fangirling stuff, well then... you get my heart! I love you and you're the bestest!

Book Review: Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Catching Jordan
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: December 1st, 2011

Find Miranda Kenneally Online: Website | Twitter | Facebook

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starting position... suddenly she's hoping he'll see her as more than just a teammate. 

My $0.02

You know those books that catch you way off guard?  The books that shoot out of the dark and completely blind you!?  But like…in a really good way?  YEAH, Catching Jordan totally caught me off guard!  Well, I don’t know if being blind is really a good thing…but you know what I mean!  Catching Jordan is fun and witty and exciting and Ms. Kenneally depicted high school in a way that made me go, “Wow, this is so real!”  All those things that you experience and go through in high school were very present and Catching Jordan definitely leaves you squirming and squealing and drooling for more, more, and MOAR! ;)

Because of blogging, my life seems to be living by this statement: so many books and so little time.  And because of that statement, when I pick up a book, I need to be grabbed by the balls—right away or else I’ll most likely not continue with it.  Not to say that I won’t ever read it again, just that it will go back on my shelf until there comes a time when the above statement becomes: not enough books and too much time. ;)  What I’m trying to say is that Catching Jordan was one of those books that grabbed my attention from the first page and it gripped me so hard that I became paralyzed until I finished it!

Immediately, I was wrapped into Jordan’s world of football and the guuuuuys.  I love Jordan’s character—how she’s basically one of the guys and her bromance with them and the way she talks to and with them and…it was totally awesome!  Onto her entourage of testosterone: I loved every single one of them!  I also really loved how Kenneally gave each of them their time to shine, so to speak, in certain chapters.  In doing so, you grow to like each and every one of them in their own way.  The guys that I’m speaking of are JJ, Carter, and Henry.  They were Jordan’s dudes, dude!  They’re so funny and they sound like a ton of fun!  I wish I could hang with them for a day!  They each have their own personality and Jordan goes to each of them for different reasons and they seriously have her back like a bra strap!

I’m so flustered right now because other than shouting at the top of my lungs, “I LOOOOOOVE THIS BOOK AND BECAUSE I DO, YOU SHALL TOTALLY READ IT!” I don’t know what else to say.  I just loved everything about it.  The family problems that Jordan goes through to all the high school drama and of course, all the boy drama-llama made me fall heavily in love-love with Catching Jordan!  As I was reading, the only thing that had me kind of go, “Uhhh…” was the short of amount of time that Jordan fell for Ty—that kind of, sort of caught me off guard but as the story progresses and as it unfolds, it makes sense…if you know what I mean by that.  There was one thing that I wasn’t really expecting but I sensed it coming that had me squeal (on the inside) so loud that I almost couldn’t stand it!  To not make you worry, it was a good thing.  A really good thing.

Henry is Jordan’s best friend for like, ten years.  Between the two of them, they have all of these cute little things that they do that just made my heart swell.  Little things that just made me go “awh!”  Things like when either one of them have something serious to say to one another, they kind of start off by breaking the ice with a funny story or they play a game.  Also, I love how they challenge each other and how they can pretty much just read each other inside out!  If you’ve seen my goodreads update, I just really want myself a Sam Henry. <3

Now onto Ty Green.  Instantly, you’re falling and tripping over yourself because he’s just that hot!  But as I got to know more and more about him, there was something about him that seemed a bit off to me—something that made me feel a bit fishy about him.  Eventually, you find out why he is the way he is but even then I was hesitant about letting myself fall completely for him, lol!

Catching Jordan was highly enjoyable and now that I’ve finished it, I’m wishing that I didn’t read it so fast because I wanna re-read it all over again without no recollection of what happened so I can have that “feel-good” feeling once more!  Catching Jordan definitely packs a good load of ear to ear smiles, tingling feels in your toes and fingertips, lots of “awh” and “ooh” moments, and of course, plenty “Omg, that is so me!” statements!  This book is totally my happy place right now and it’s for sure going on my Favorites Shelf where it will always remain!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

One Direction - One Thing

One Direction - I Wish


One Direction - Moments

Links to purchase Catching Jordan: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Teaser Tuesday (19): Catching Jordan

This meme is brought to you weekly by MizB over at Should Be Reading!

Anyone can play along, just do the following:

• 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 and the author, too, so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR List if they like your teaser!

I just finished this book yesterday evening so a bunch of my favorite quotes are still fresh in my mind so bear with me as I have quite a few teasers to share with all of you guys! I promise they're not long ones but as I was reading, a bunch of them stood out to me that I really wanted to share with all of my bookworms!

My 1st Teaser 

At least I've got football.

It's been my life since I was seven, but sometimes Henry says I need to spend less time focusing and start "living life like I'm going to hell tomorrow."

- Page 10, Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

My 2nd Teaser

When unrequited love is the most expensive thing on the menu, sometimes you settle for the daily special. 

- Page 183, Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

My 3rd Teaser

"...You don't need anyone's permission to do what you love. You should just do it."

- Page 157, Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

These three are just a few among the hundreds of favorite quotes from this fantabulous book that I am totally enamored with! If you haven't read it yet, please do so like...yesterday! I promise you'll love it lots and it definitely creates that feel-good feeling!

Have you read Catching Jordan!? What were some of your favorite quotes from the book? I had one more that I wanted to share but after reading through it a couple of times, I realized that it could be a bit spoilery...so I didn't share that one but boy did I want to! If you haven't read the book yet, what do you think of my teasers!? If you have a TT, drop a line below and I will come check it out!

Happy Tuesday and happy reading, everyone!

The Launch of #DeityIsland || #HalfBloodLegion

As many of you know, I am a die-hard fan of anything written by Jennifer L. Armentrout so it was an honor when Vivian from Confessions of a Vi3tBabe contacted me and asked if I had wanted to take part in the launch party for the very first official fansite for the Covenant series called Deity Island!
Starting tomorrow, there will be lots of things going on so make sure you stop by the blog, look around, make yourself at home, and....maybe give it a follow to keep up to date with all the new things coming!
Check out this post for all the details and while you're there, grab a blog button and help spread the word!

Cover Reveal: What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor + Book Trailer

Title: What I Didn't Say

Author: Keary Taylor
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook
Release Date: May 11th, 2012

Getting drunk Homecoming night your senior year is never a good idea, but Jake Hayes never expected it all to end with a car crash and a t-post embedded in his throat.

His biggest regret about it all? What he never said to Samantha Shay. He’s been in love with her for years and never had the guts to tell her. Now it’s too late. Because after that night, Jake will never be able to talk again.

When Jake returns to his small island home, population 5,000, he’ll have to learn how to deal with being mute. He also finds that his family isn’t limited to his six brothers and sisters, that sometimes an entire island is watching out for you. And when he gets the chance to spend more time with Samantha, she’ll help him learn that not being able to talk isn’t the worst thing that could ever happen to you. Maybe, if she’ll let him, Jake will finally tell her what he didn’t say before, even if he can’t actually say it.

Book Trailer

Cover Reveal: Taste by Kate Evangelista + Book Trailer

Title: Taste

Author: Kate Evangelista

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press

At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans.

When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.

Book Excerpt plus a second excerpt → follow the link found below! ;)

I sat up and followed Calixta’s gaze upward. I rubbed my eyes. I didn’t know what I was seeing at first. A statue? ¬My brain refused to snap together coherent thoughts. I didn’t realize I’d fallen so close to one of the garden benches until I stared up at the boy that sat on one. He was strikingly beautiful. His tumble of blonde hair curled just above his sculpted cheekbones. He wore a silk shirt and a loosened cravat, like he’d become bored while dressing and decided to leave himself in disarray. His ivory skin and frozen position was what had me mistaking him for something carved from marble by Michelangelo. Then he sighed—a lonely, breathy proof of life. If I had to imagine what Lucifer looked like before he fell from heaven, the boy on the bench would certainly fulfill that image. My brain told me I had to look away, but I couldn’t.

“Luka,” Calixta said again, her voice unsure, almost nervous. It no longer contained the steel and bite she had threatened me with, which made me wonder who the boy was.

He leaned on his hands and crossed his legs, all the while keeping his eyes fixed on the night sky. His movements spoke of elegance and control. I’d encountered many people with breeding before, but his took on the air of arrogance and self-assuredness of someone used to getting what he wanted when he wanted it.

I only realized I’d been holding my breath when my lungs protested. I exhaled. My heart sputtered and restarted with a vengeance. Luka tore his gaze away from the stars and settled it on me. I’d expected pitch-black irises, like the other Night Students, but blue ice stared back at me.

“Human,” he whispered.

He reached out, and with a finger, followed an invisible trail down my cheek. I stiffened. His touch, cooler than Demitri’s, caused warm sparks to blossom on my face. He lifted his finger to his lips and licked its tip. He might as well have licked me from the way my body shivered.

Luka’s curious gaze held mine. “Leave us,” he said, but not to me.

“But—” Calixta protested like a spoiled child.

He spoke in a language I hadn’t heard before, remaining calm yet firm. The words had a rolling cadence I couldn’t quite follow, like rumbling thunder in the distance. They contained a harsh sensuality. The consonants were hard and the vowels were long and lilting.

Footsteps retreated behind me.

Luka reached out again.

It took me a minute to realize he wanted to help me up. I hesitated. He smiled. I smiled back timidly and took his hand, completely dazzled. Even with my uniform soaked from melted snow, I didn’t feel cold—all my attention was on him and the way his callused hand felt on mine. Without moving much from his seated position, he helped me stand.

“What’s your name?” he asked. He had a voice like a familiar lullaby. It filled my heart to the brim with comfort.

I swallowed and tried to stop gawking. “Phoenix.”

“The bird that rose from the ashes.” Luka bent his head and kissed the back of my hand. “It’s a pleasure meeting you.”

My cheeks warmed. My head reeled, not knowing what to think. I couldn’t understand why I felt drawn to him. And the strange connection frightened me.

From behind, someone gripped my arms and yanked me away before I could sort out the feelings Luka inspired in me. I found myself behind a towering figure yet again. Recognizing the blue-black silk for hair tied at the nape, relief washed over me. Calixta hadn’t come back to finish me off.

Demitri’s large hand wrapped around my wrist. Unlike the night before, no calm existed in his demeanor. He trembled like a junky in need of a fix. The coiled power in his tense muscles vibrated into me.

“What are you doing here?” Demitri asked.

I didn’t know he’d spoken to me until I saw his expressionless profile. I sighed.

“Phoenix.”

I flinched. The ruthless way he said my name punched all the air out of me. “You owe me answers,” I said with as much bravado as I could muster.

“I owe you nothing.” He glared. “In fact, you owe me your life.”

“I don’t think so.”

Ignoring my indignation, he faced Luka, who’d remained seated on the bench during my exchange with Demitri. “Why is she with you, Luka?”

“I wasn’t going to taste her, if that’s what you’re implying,” Luka said. “Although, she is simply delicious. I wouldn’t mind if you left us alone.”

There it was again. Taste. The word that kept coming up between these Night Students and I was connected to it in an increasingly uncomfortable way. To taste meant to sample, but what? My flesh? They had to be joking because the alternative wasn’t funny.

“The sins of the father …” Demitri left his sentence unfinished.

Luka’s smile shifted into a snarl. “Obey my command.” His chin lifted. “Kneel.”

Demitri’s stance went rigid. His grip tightened around my wrist.

Okay, weird just got weirder. Why would Luka want Demitri to kneel before him? I thought back to Eli and the others bowing to Demitri when he questioned them, but they didn’t kneel. Seriously? Were they all living on a different planet or something?

“Kneel.” Luka’s detestable smirk made his features sinister rather than angelic. The real Lucifer: a fallen angel.

Without letting go of my wrist, Demitri knelt down on one knee and bowed his head, his free hand flat at the center of his chest. “Your command has been obeyed,” he said formally.

Luka nodded once.

Demitri stood up and pulled me toward the school without telling me where we were going. Not having the time to thank Luka for saving me from Calixta, I risked a glance back. Luka smiled at me. His smile spoke of whispers, secrets, and promises to be shared on a later date.


Book Trailer

Song Credits: "Hunger" © Noelle Pico.

Full Download available at http://sheisnoelle.bandcamp.com

More About the Author

When Kate Evangelista was told she had a knack for writing stories, she did the next best thing: entered medical school. After realizing she wasn't going to be the next Doogie Howser, M.D., Kate wandered into the Literature department of her university and never looked back. Today, she is in possession of a piece of paper that says to the world she owns a Literature degree. To make matters worse, she took Master's courses in creative writing. In the end, she realized to be a writer, none of what she had mattered. What really mattered? Writing. Plain and simple, honest to God, sitting in front of her computer, writing. Today, she has four completed Young Adult novels.

Author Website | Twitter | Facebook

Crescent Moon Press page for Taste: http://crescentmoonpress.com/books/Taste.html

Book Review: Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Pure
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Release Date: April 3rd, 2012

Find Jennifer L. Armentrout Online: Twitter | Blog | Facebook | Website

There is need. And then there is Fate...

Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's "other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her.

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon... and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude... or killing her.

When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.

My $0.02

Oh my sweet goodness!  I can’t even…WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!  And once again, Jennifer L. Armentrout has delivered another mind-blowing novel!  Actually, she went over and beyond because right now, my mind and brain is screwed.  I don’t even know what to think…nonetheless, how.

Throughout the whole time that I read Pure, I felt like I was approaching the steep drop of a roller coaster ride.  The action, the emotions, the pain—it was never-ending.  It was like the thrill of the drop that your stomach inevitably experiences when you ride a roller coaster.  I found myself experiencing all of that with Alex, over and over again.  And even after I had read a certain scene, the emotions I felt because of it, stayed with me until the very end.

Pure picks up where Half-Blood ended and it does not take long for you to get wrapped up in Alex’s world, once again.  Pure certainly allows you to explore more of the Covenant or Covenants, I should say, and it definitely dives deeper into the politics and crazy make-up of everything that the Half-Bloods and Pures are.  In this nail-biting sequel, a whole lot of $&*! goes down for sure and you will find yourself flipping through the pages quicker than your eyes can read over the words.  When I read Pure, I certainly got all the feels!  All my emotions were very present and very raw.  I bawled in this one, I have to admit, and for all of you who have read it…you probably know what scene I’m talking about.  Heck, you guys might even know what page.  Remember how I had written in my Half-Blood review that you don’t see much of Seth until the end?  Well, in Pure, Seth is written all over it.  As you know, I’m an Aiden gal (forever and ever, amen!) but man, was Seth oh-so-very…everywhere in Pure or what!?  No matter how much you wanted to escape him and run to Aiden, you just couldn’t.  I don’t know what is in store for Alex and Seth and Alex and Aiden…but whatever it is, Alex just better end up with Aiden or else…I’ll be coming after JLA with pitchforks and everythang!

Like I mentioned above, the story gets a whole lot more complicated, more things come into play, Alex is pushed to the limit…over and over again; she’s constantly being tested and most of the time, I felt for her.  I couldn’t imagine what she was going through; I couldn’t even comprehend how she was still functioning day to day.  But hello, that’s why I love her so much—she’s so strong and resilient and she always bounces back because you know, there’s no point in dwelling on what was and you just have to move forward and do something with what’s been handed to you.  She experiences and witnesses some things that are kind of like eye-openers and she really starts thinking about where her heart lays versus where her head tells her heart to lay.  LOL!

Pure seriously opened up a can of worms!  After I finished reading it, I was left with so many unanswered questions and I just kept asking who this, what that, when this, how that, and just…WHAT THE EFF!?  I was very conflicted about Aiden in this one.  Yes, I will always be Team Aiden. St “Thunderstorm eyes” Delphi but I felt like he was so evil and mean in this one, which was totally understandable because you know…hello, Pures and Halfs are forbidden but man, I missed the nice and kind Aiden.  I felt like he was gone for most of the book…and he was, which gave Seth his chance to sort of slip in and work his charms on Alex, but I don’t think she fell for anything and even if she did, I don’t think she fell too hard. ;)  And that ending—oh my freakin’ geeee!  I just remember thinking, “But…but…but I just got Aiden back!  NOOOO!” That statement might not make too much sense…but if you wanna discuss what I meant by that, well you know where to reach me!  See?  I told you, I got all the feels for this one.  I am still so conflicted and I don’t even know what is going to happen!  Or what could possibly happen.  Another reason why I love JLA—she knows how to keep me on my toes, waiting for that inevitable drop! ;)

I am dying for Deity and thank the gods (haha) that we don’t have to wait too long for its release!  I can’t believe what JLA delivered to us in Pure—the storyline is, without a doubt, building for a very intense and crazy ending in the series and no matter where JLA decides to take it, just know that I will have popcorn ready because I am so ready to see what is going to go down!

Links to purchase Pure: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Book News: The Lure of Shapinsay by Krista Holle

Ever since Kait Swanney could remember, the old crones of the village have been warning her to stay away from the selkies. They claim that like sirens of old, the seal men creep from the inky waters, shed their skins, and entice women to their deaths beneath the North Sea. But avoiding an encounter becomes impossible when Kait is spotted at the water’s edge, moments after the murder of a half-selkie infant.

Unexpectedly, Kait is awoken by a beautiful, naked selkie man seeking revenge. After she declares her innocence, the intruder darts into the night, but not before inadvertently bewitching her with an overpowering lure.

Kait obsesses over a reunion deep beneath the bay and risks her own life to be reunited with her selkie. But when she lands the dangerous lover, the chaos that follows leaves Kait little time to wonder—is it love setting her on fire or has she simply been lured?

Book Trailer

Find Krista Holle Online: Twitter | Website | Facebook

Teaser Tuesday (18): Crewel

This meme is brought to you weekly by MizB over at Should Be Reading!

Anyone can play along, just do the following:

• 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 and the author, too, so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR List if they like your teaser!

My Teaser

"Girls—" my mother begins, but I'll never know what she was going to say.

There's a hammering at the door and the sound of many, many boots on our porch. I drop my fork and feel the blood rush out of my face and pool in my feet, weighting me to my chair.

"Adelice," my father breathes, but he doesn't ask, because he already knows.

"There isn't time, Benn!" my mother shrieks, her perfectly applied foundation cracking, but just as quickly she regains control and grabs Amie's arm.

A low hum fills the air and suddenly a voice booms through the room: "Adelice Lewys has been called to serve the Guild of Twelve. Blessings on the Spinsters and Arras!"

- ARC → Page 17 & 18, Crewel by Gennifer Albin

Omg, you guys don't understand how stoked I was about getting to read Crewel! I'm not too far in as you can tell but omgomgomgomg, it's amazeballs thus far! Every time I continue reading it, I get all tingling and super excited because I just know it's going to be supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (that's my new word to express my "aahhhh" feeling)!

It's such a crazy world! I can't wait to delve deeper into it!

So, what do you guys think of that teaser!? Are you guys as excited as me? I can't wait for all of you to read it as well! Eep!

Happy Tuesday and happy reading, everyone!