Sara B. Larson's Ignite (Defy #2)

Sara B. Larson's Ignite releases TOMORROW! I read Defy (first book in the series) and devoured it within a day. I've been waiting *patiently* for book number 2!

 

 

Above is the BEAUTIFUL cover for Ignite!!

Small excerpt from my current project

*Unedited*

“I have to see Mathew all summer,” I whispered more to myself than the others but that grabbed both of their attention.

“No, you don’t,” Ethan snapped. “You can get better.”

           “You don’t understand,” I started, but I paused, unable to utter any other words. Fear held me firmly in it’s grasp. I couldn’t move or even think evenly. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the whirling storm within. I rubbed my sweaty palms together as the large cafeteria closed in on me. My eyes slid shut, hoping to stop my rising panic attack. Sarah grabbed my lunch tray and dumped the trash out. Finally, when Sarah returned to the table, I shuddered and released a sigh. When I finally reopened my eyes, I said, “We got hired at the same overnight summer camp as camp counselors.”

             Hope you enjoyed!

IVY CHRONICLES BOOK 3: WILD BY SOPHIE JORDAN

Wild by Sophie Jordan

NA Contemporary

*WARNING: THIS IS A NEW ADULT BOOK, NOT YA*

Goodreads Summary:

Months after her boyfriend dumped her, Georgia can still hear the insults he hurled at her. Boring. Predictable. Tame. Tired of feeling bad, she’s ready to change her image, and go a little wild. What better way to prove her ex wrong than a hot night of sexual adventure at the secret campus kink club?

In the shadowy den of the kink club, she unexpectedly runs into Logan Mulvaney, her friend’s little brother. A player extraordinaire too hot for his own good, he may be younger, but the guy is light years ahead when it comes to sexual experience. Now he’s telling her to go home—“good girls” don’t belong here!

Georgia is tired of having others define her. She’s going to teach Logan a lesson he won’t forget—one white hot, mind-wrecking kiss . . . that leads to another . . . and another . . . and. . . . Realizing she’s way in over her head, Georgia runs.

Only Logan won’t let her go. Everywhere she goes he’s there, making her want every inch of him. Making her forget who she is. Who he is. And just how wrong they are for each other.


Gabrielle's Review:

        How is it that Sophie Jordan knows how to write an amazing opening page that keeps you hooked until the last word? All three books in the Ivy Chronicles were addictive. Georgia is adorable, nice, caring, and cares a little too much about what her parents think. Logan is Reece's younger "whore" brother. Although Logan did sleep around A LOT, it was easy to fall in love with him (probably a lot of the reason why I did was because I already fell in love with Reece. Logan and Reece look a lot alike and have some of the same personality traits.) For Logan, his heart was stolen almost immediately from Georgia without her even realizing it. He noticed her before her jerk of a boyfriend cheated on her and dumped her. The small but thoughtful things she did never made it past Logan's watchful eye.
            One of my only issues with Wild (which there aren't many) is that Logan easily fell for Georgia but it usually takes a lot more for a man whore to actually fall for a girl, especially a good girl like Georgia but it didn't hold the story back.
             I loved how even though Georgia tried to fight her attraction to Logan, he never gave up AND he didn't try push her. Well - at least not until he knew she was totally into him but then again who WOULDN'T be into him? I had to keep myself from swooning every five seconds over him. Under his man whore exterior, he was really a thoughtful and caring young man.
            I'm not exactly sure how Sophie Jordan knows every string to pull to make you fall in love with her characters but she DOES. She even kept the other characters from the first two books in the third book. I loved having them in the story. It added extra layers into the book.
            THANK YOU SOPHIE JORDAN FOR ANOTHER WONDERFUL READ. I can't wait to read more of your books! I definitely recommend this series to anyone who likes New Adult contemporaries! I can almost guarantee you will fall in love as I did.

TEASE BY SOPHIE JORDAN

*WARNING: THIS IS A NEW ADULT NOVEL, NOT YA*

NA Contemporary

Goodreads Summary:

What happens when a girl who always calls the shots meets a guy who's too wild for even her?

A born flirt and good-time party girl, Emerson has never had a problem finding a willing guy. She's always chosen her hookups carefully, and she's never broken her three cardinal rules:

Never let them see the real you.
Never fall in love.
Always leave them begging for more.

Then Shaw comes along. A hottie from the wrong side of the tracks, he's immune to her flirtatious banter and come-hither smile. After rescuing her from a disastrous night at a biker bar, he doesn't even try to take her to bed—he calls her a tease and sends her home instead. Unable to resist a challenge, or forget the sexy, dark-eyed, bad-boy biker, she vows to bring him to his knees.

But instead of making Shaw beg, Emerson finds herself craving him. For the first time in her life, she's throwing out her rule book. Suddenly, she's the one panting for a guy she can't control—a guy who won't settle for anything less than the real Emerson and who forces her to do things she's never imagined, including facing a past she thought she'd buried.

A guy who just might leave her wanting more. . . .

Gabrielle's Review:

       Tease is tied with Wild for my second favorite in The Ivy Chronicle series BUT that didn't mean Sophie Jordan didn't capture me within page 1. It begins with Emerson going to a biker bar with a girl she doesn't trust. That's where she meets Shaw and several scary looking men who want to eat her alive but when the girl leaves Em at the bar, Shaw comes to her rescue. Both tried to deny their attractions to one another in the beginning but Shaw gave up and tried winning Em's heart over but Em isn't ready for the type of commitment it would require.
           Shaw is hot, determined, a veteran who believes his cousin's death is his fault, and loyal. Shaw and Emerson keep ending up at places together and whenever a guy hits on Em and plans to use her, Shaw swoops in and takes her away. Em doesn't understand and gets angry with Shaw but slowly she begins to return the affections Shaw has for her.
           Two unlikely people begin to realize just how right the other is for them.
           Something that bothered me throughout the book is how Shaw kept controlling situations in Emerson's life and it didn't really bother her. Yes - at first she seemed upset but it wasn't for long. For someone as independent as Emerson I thought she would fight more with Shaw about his controlling but she didn't. I understood why Shaw acted the way he did but Emerson's character didn't hold up to who she was.
          But the small flaws throughout the book didn't tarnish my thoughts on the overall story. It was a beautiful tale about two people who thought they were wrong for each other but ended up being what the other needed. I soaked in every word as if it was the last book I'd ever read.
Thank you, Sophie Jordan, for bringing Emerson and Shaw into my life.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves stories about romance. It does have sexual scenes so I caution those who don't like it.

Happy reading!
      -Gabrielle
          

Review for Defy by Sara B. Larson

Young Adult Fantasy.

 

Summary from Goodreads:

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

 

Gabrielle's Review:

            Before I say anything else I need to say that I LOVE how Alexa (the heroine) puts her Kingdom before her own heart when it comes down to it. She is definitely a good heroine for teenagers to follow. She is forced to disguise herself as a boy when her parents are killed because if she doesn't she will be forced into birthing babies in horrible baby making buildings.

            She is strong willed, smart, talented fighter, and loyal until the end. MOST of the supporting characters having striking personalities. A few of them seemed to blur together but the important characters all had distinct personalities. I LOVED Rylan (Team Rylan all the way!). He knew Alexa's deepest secret but didn't expose her. He didn't even tell her he knew until it was forced. Prince Damian seemed a little creepy to me (considering he knew Alexa's secret, too) but his overall character was a nice balance. He was mysterious and not the spoiled, bratty prince everyone thought he was which was REFRESHING.

            My only complaint is that the book was too easy of a read and it didn't seem as layered as most fantasy novels. Also, the "abduction" was really odd and the trek could have been handled differently.

            I can't wait until Ignite (Defy #2). I'll love to see how the love-triangle plays out and see how good of a ruler Prince Damian turns out to be. Ignite releases December 30th, 2014.

WICKED By Jennifer L. Armentrout is now OUT!

Wicked Summary from Jennifer L. Armentrout's author webpage:

New Adult Paranormal
Book 1 in a Wicked Trilogy
Publishes December 8th, 2014 in print and digital

 

 

Things are about to get Wicked in New Orleans.

Twenty-two year old Ivy Morgan isn’t your average college student. She, and others like her, know humans aren’t the only thing trolling the French Quarter for fun… and for food. Her duty to the Order is her life. After all, four years ago, she lost everything at the hands of the creatures she’d sworn to hunt, tearing her world and her heart apart.

 

Ren Owens is the last person Ivy expected to enter her rigidly controlled life. He’s six feet and three inches of temptation and swoon-inducing charm. With forest-green eyes and a smile that’s surely left a stream of broken hearts in its wake, he has an uncanny, almost unnatural ability to make her yearn for everything he has to offer. But letting him in is as dangerous as hunting the cold-blooded killers stalking the streets. Losing the boy she loved once before had nearly destroyed her, but the sparking tension that grows between them becomes impossible for Ivy to deny. Deep down, she wants… she needs more than what her duty demands of her, what her past has shaped for her.

But as Ivy grows closer to Ren, she realizes she’s not the only one carrying secrets that could shatter the frail bond between them. There’s something he’s not telling her, and one thing is for certain. She’s no longer sure what is more dangerous to her—the ancient beings threatening to take over the town or the man demanding to lay claim to her heart and her soul.

 

Can't wait to read this! I love all of Jennifer's books!!

The Ivy Chronicles. Book 1: Foreplay By Sophie Jordan.

*WARNING* THIS BOOK REVIEW IS FOR A NEW ADULT BOOK, NOT YA!

                        Summary from Goodreads:

            Pepper has been hopelessly in love with her best friend’s brother, Hunter, for like ever. He’s the key to everything she’s always craved: security, stability, family. But she needs Hunter to notice her as more than just a friend. Even though she’s kissed exactly one guy, she has just the plan to go from novice to rock star in the bedroom—take a few pointers from someone who knows what he’s doing.

Her college roommates have the perfect teacher in mind. But bartender Reece is nothing like the player Pepper expects. Yes, he’s beyond gorgeous, but he’s also dangerous, deep—with a troubled past. Soon what started as lessons in attraction are turning both their worlds around, and showing just what can happen when you go past foreplay and get to what’s real…

 

                        Gabrielle's Review:

 

            I originally discovered Sophie Jordan's books when I read Firelight (Which is another great series but completely different type of read). I hadn't heard of the Ivy Chronicle series until the past few months. I read all three books in the Ivy Chronicle series in one and a half days.

            In Foreplay, the characters are sweet (Pepper and Georgia), sassy (Em), sexy (Reece *swoon*), and completely irresponsible (EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER EXCEPT HUNTER). Pepper's friends get it into their head that Pepper needs experience before going after the guy of her dreams and somehow they convince her to try hit on the man-whore bartender. In reality, no girl would fling herself at another guy for "experience" when the man she has wanted since she was a little girl suddenly becomes single BUT the way Sophie Jordan weaves it into the story, I couldn't stop reading. I was addicted. I spent an ENTIRE Saturday devouring this series. She had me hooked from page 1 until "The End".

            Pepper is really relatable, especially for me. As a teen, I was in love with the same guy since I was ten years old. He saw me as a best friend, part of the family, not as a potential girlfriend. But as I turned 16, I was suddenly and strangely on his radar but when he finally came around, I was over him. I waited six years for him.

            Even though I was saddened by the fact Pepper thought she needed "experience" before she could go for Hunter, it was one of the best New Adult reads I have read so far. Sophie Jordan is very talented and every book of hers that she wrote, I like. Well done! I can't wait for UNLEASHED.

The Write Stuff by Tiffany King.

Goodreads Summary:

            Twenty-two-year-old historical romance writer Nicole Blake, or N.S. Blake to her readers, hasn't taken an official poll, mind you, but she is convinced she may be the only romance author on the planet who is still a card-carrying member of the virgin club.Not that she hasn't tried to end her membership. Life just keeps finding pesky ways to interfere. With no prospects on the horizon, Nicole begins to feel like the closest she will ever get to experiencing a man is within her own stories.

            Opportunity presents itself in the form of hot-as-sin-on-a-lollipop-stick bartender/premed student Alec Petropoulos, who agrees to be the cover model for her upcoming book. Sparks fly instantly between them, and Nicole begins to entertain the possibility that she's finally found the right guy to hand over her tattered V-card. Alec has all the makings for a perfect one-night-stand candidate except, much to Nicole's surprise, he seems to be the only man in existence not interested in bagging a virgin.

            Stuck between a rock and a stubborn male, what's a virgin to do? Seduce him, of course. How hard could it be? If it works for the characters in her stories, why wouldn't it work for her? After all, what happens under the cover…stays under the cover.

 

Gabrielle's Review:

            I am still new to Tiffany King's books. I read her No Attachments, Misunderstandings and now, The Write Stuff. I have to say that so far The Write Stuff is my favorite. It's fun, cute, and sexy.

            It starts off with Nicole writing like a maniac. She is a self published author who is still trying to get her name out into the world. Her best friend calls her and begs her to stop writing and to come to the photo shoot for Nicole's newest book cover. When Nicole finally agrees, she doesn't shower, brush her hair, change, or even try to make herself look decent. So - when she arrives at the photo shoot and sees the uber sexy male cover model, she instantly regrets not showering. The chemistry between them is instant and who knew that under all his sexiness was a smart and caring man.

            Tiffany King does a wonderful job at creating lovable characters (including Nicole's overbearing family). I especially enjoyed getting into the mindset of a writer. I asked Tiffany if some of the thoughts and writing habits came from personal experience and she said, "A lot of it was pulled from personal experience." But she made sure to specify that the scene where Nicole showed up like a wreck embarrassing herself in front of the sexy cover model was NOT from personal experience. (I laughed at that.)

            Tiffany did well with making sure the book wasn't too "sexy" but it was just enough if you like that kind of thing. I have read some New Adult books where it was almost erotica with absolutely no plot but The Write Stuff had a cute plot with lovable characters, and yes a little sexiness.

            My only complaint is how hard Nicole wanted to throw her virginity away. Girls should hold that close until they find someone they love but Nicole is 22 years old and feels like she's missing out.

            If you are under the age of 18 I wouldn't recommend it unless you are allowed to read New Adult books. That's my small warning for parents but it honestly isn't as "sexy" as other books. Just enough, though.

Meeting C.C Hunter at Another Anime Convention in Manchester, NH

C.C Hunter visited New Hampshire and attended Another Anime Convention. She had two panels I attended. When she spotted me, she recognized me went out of her way to talk to me. She is one of the nicest authors I have met. She took a bunch of time out of her busy day just to talk to me. She asked about me and showed a genuine interest.
Her newest series is Shadow Falls: After dark. I posted reviews about both the books in the series that are out. Check her out!

Shadow Falls: After Dark. Eternal.

            Eternal is the second book in the Shadow Falls: After Dark series. And as usual, C.C. Hunter does NOT disappoint. Della, on the outside, is a snarky and sarcastic person, but she is one of the nicest people (or vampire!) ever. She's loyal, passionate, and caring. After being reborn, she is able to see and communicate with ghosts. She is visited by a ghost that doesn't communicate very well and is thrown into visions. She learns of two newly turned vampires, dying and trapped. Even though everyone says they are dead, she is determined to save the two kids and prove everyone wrong. Even though everything is working against her, she never gives up. Her heart breaks, and she has many of her own problems but she shoves everything aside to focus on helping two complete strangers. Even as her heart battles between loving Steve and Chase, she never wavers in her mission. THAT is a protagonist I would want my daughter to look up to.

            Della is someone that I can follow and love. She's not a typical teenaged girl who will wallow in self pity over nonsense issues. She is a true hero, even if she sometimes views herself as a monster.

            Even though I am upset about the cliff-hanger ending (and about certain people leaving), I CAN'T wait for the next book. C.C. Hunter is very talented and knows how to weave a story that almost anyone can love.

            Even if you haven't read her Shadow Falls Series, you can still read Della's story, BUT I HIGHLY recommend you read Shadow Falls first. Reborn is the first book in Shadow Falls: After Dark. If you haven't read it yet, you should because Della is a protagonist worth rooting for.

Shadow Falls: After Dark Series. Reborn.

I want to start off by saying how much I love all of C.C. Hunter’s books. Ever since the first book I read of hers (Born at Midnight), I have been hooked. I devoured every book so far and can’t wait for Eternal (Shadow Falls: After Dark Book #2).

Reborn is the first novel in Shadow Falls: After Dark. Shadow Falls: After dark follows Della, the best friend of Kylie Galen (the main protagonist in Shadow Falls Series). Shadow Falls is a camp for paranormal teenagers (Vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, faes). All the main characters from Shadow Falls Series is still in the books (Kylie, Miranda, Derek, Lucas). 

Della is a vampire whose only relative knows the truth about her has somehow disappeared, causing Della to dives further into her family’s heritage and tries to find more relatives that may be vampire. A mysterious vampire named Chase shows up at Shadow Falls and vies for her attention. Steve, a shapeshifter, has been trying for a long time to gain Della’s trust and claim her as his girlfriend. But when Della’s life is at risk and the only way to save her may destroy Steve’s chances with her, he still determinedly tries to save her, even if it means losing her. But as always, C.C. Hunter finds a way to keep the love triangle going and Della still has feelings for Steve. (Even if she tries to deny them.)

I can’t wait for Eternal, the second book in the Shadow Falls: After Dark Series.

As usual, C.C. Hunter rocked this book and I am still counting down the days until Eternal. (12 days!)

-Gabrielle

Review for Amy Finnegan's NOT IN THE SCRIPT

I was a little wary at first when I began to read Not in the Script, by Amy Finnegan, because I wasn't sure if I would be able to connect with Hollywood movie stars. I am glad that I did, though. It's the kind of book that keeps you smiling, and rooting for the characters.
One of my favorite lines was: "I'm being replaced by two lizards who eat bugs, can't talk, and lose a limb whenever you frighten them." I laughed out loud while in a public place and people glanced at me with curious looks.
I was able to imagine actually being on the set of Coyote Hills with Emma, Jake, Brett, and Kimmi. Each actor was different in their own unique way. All of the characters evolve, even the relationships do. I loved the fact that Emma was extremely relatable even though she was a famous movie star. She wasn't conceited, and truly cared about all the people in her life. She tried keeping her high maintenance best friend happy even though she didn't appreciate Emma's help. Emma even founded a charity when most kids her age would rather party, drink, and do drugs.
My favorite character was Jake. He started off as a model, then went into acting. You would think a guy called "the bod" would be full of himself and use girls as if they were disposable. But NO, he took the acting gig to help pay for his disabled mother's medical bills. (What kind of girl would pass a guy like that up?)
It was easy to fall in love with the main characters of Not in the Script. Amy Finnegan knows how to work her magic with weaving a beautifully written and cute romance. You could tell that Amy did her research on the film industry, and I will definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves YA Contemporary Romance. I can't wait for more books by this author!

J. Lynn's STAY With Me

Today is the release day for J. Lynn's STAY with me. Linked is the teaser for it and a giveaway! http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/stay-with-me-release-day/ This series is one of the best I have ever read. It has romance, suspense, and characters you can relate to! Everything you want in a book.

Meeting James Dashner!

           This past June, I attended WIFYR (Writing and Illustrating For Young Readers). James Dashner spoke to us about his novels and his upcoming movie based on The Maze Runner. (I can't believe that The Maze Runner is now in theatres!) Anyone that I spoke to at the conference that knew him more than just the author of The Maze Runner, only had wonderful things to say about him. He proved them right during his speech. He was funny, intelligent, and certainly wasn't boring. There wasn't a dull moment during his speech. Everyone either laughed or went, "Awww!"

          His books include: The Jimmy Fincher Series, The 13th Reality Series, The Infinity Ring Series, The Maze Runner Series, and Eye of the Minds.

 

          I will post my review of The Maze Runner (book & movie) soon!

 

 

                        -Gabrielle

YA BOOK GIVEAWAY

I always love giveaways so I wanted to spread the word! If you love YA books then this is for you!
There is a giveaway for Jennifer L. Armentrout and Martina Boone! Full Lux series and a signed copy of White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout and personal ARC of Compulsion by Martina Boone. Go to the YA Series Insiders website for more info!

Happy Reading!