Mini Review: The Redhead Revealed by Alice Clayton

The Redhead Revealed (Redhead, #2)
by Alice Clayton
Release Date: September 28, 2010
Publisher: Gallery Books
Source: Personal Copy
Reviewed By: Nahomi
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / IndieBound

My Rating: 3 stars out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
LONG-DISTANCE LOVE JUST GOT HOTTER!
Life is sweet. Grace Sheridan has just won her dream role in a new off-Broadway play, and the talented hunk flooding her phone with scintillating texts and scandalous photos is Jack Hamilton, the twenty-four-year-old "it" Brit whose Hollywood career is about to climax faster than...you know. So what if their steamy relationship is bicoastal and under wraps, or that L.A. fangirls are grabbing Jack's ass?

Absence does make the heart grow fonder and the libido hotter, but their few weekend visits feel more like fast food than the five-course dinner they crave. And then- the creator of Grace's new show is the man who broke her heart back in college, and he seems to have written the play just to make amends with his leading lady.

As rumors spread that Jack and his lovely, leggy ex-girlfriend have gotten back together, Grace starts to wonder about her own feelings. Can lust alone keep our favorite, feisty duo together, or will Grace find herself back in safer, more familiar arms?

     I was anxious to get this book started because I was really interested in finding out what happened with Grace and Jack. Luckily I didn't have to wait so, I jumped right in. Grace and all of my favorite characters are back and we get to know some new ones! Alice Clayton has a way of making characters that make you feel invested in them. They are fleshed out, realistic and really just great characters that say some really funny things and aren't afraid to speak their minds most of the time. 

For a big part of this book I was biting my nails for several reasons. There is a lot more suspense in this novel than in the first in reference to the characters and what their futures hold. I felt like something was off from the beginning but I couldn't put my finger on it until it hit me like a brick wall. Then all of a sudden things happened a little faster and I was losing hope right up to the very end. I felt that the pacing of this book was better but towards the end it dragged a little. Overall I feel a had a good experience reading this book and I can't wait to read The Redhead Plays Her Hand.

Quotes (#40)


Morning Swooners,
Only a few days until the end of the year, I hope the new year brings y'all great books, happiness and all the health and love you guys deserve. Until next year! Have a wonderful week and great holiday!

"He was everything I'd ever wanted, and everything I hadn't even known I needed."

"You can talk with someone for years, everyday, and still, it won't mean as much as what you can have when you sit in front of someone, not saying a word, yet you feel that person with your heart, you feel like you have known the person for forever.... connections are made with the heart, not the tongue." 

"Goodbye," said the fox. "And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!"

"If we listened to our intellect we'd never have a love affair. We'd never have a friendship. We'd never go in business because we'd be cynical: "It's gonna go wrong." Or "She's going to hurt me." Or, I've had a couple of bad love affairs, so therefore..." Well, that's nonsense. You're going to miss life. You've got to jump off the cliff all the time and build your wings on the way down."

"Life, a good life, a great life is about "Why not?" May we never forget it."

"Of all the words of mice and men, the saddest are, "It might have been."

Review: Officer Off Limits by Tessa Bailey

Officer Off Limits (Line of Duty #3) 
By Tessa Bailey
Release Date: June 10, 2013
Publisher: Entangled Brazen
Source: Personal Copy
Reviewed by: Jenn
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

My rating: 3 stars out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
His need to possess her is non-negotiable.
Story Brooks' fiance just called off their wedding two weeks before the happy day. As if that isn't bad enough, her semi-estranged father, an infamous NYPD hostage negotiator, has suffered a heart attack. Not wanting to examine her lack of emotion over the broken engagement, she hops on a plane to reconnect with her father before it's too late.
Playboy hostage negotiator Daniel Chase has never, not once, been refused by a woman, so when a debate over hospital snack foods with a delectable kindergarten teacher ends in a flat-out rejection, he makes it his mission to seduce her. His only obstacle? She's the daughter of his mentor who implicitly forbade Daniel from pursuing her.
Despite her father's warnings and Daniel's troubled past, Daniel and Story can't resist their intense attraction to one another. But when the reason for her fiance's abrupt wedding cancellation comes to light, can Story and Daniel's already forbidden relationship survive.

From the first page of Officer Off Limits, I was hooked. It starts with Story, the female main character, being dumped by her fiance. As I continued on, I was intrigued by Daniel, Story's love interest by how sexy and dirty he was. Maybe it too much information but there were several scenes that had me fanning myself, wondering where my boyfriend was.

Story (seriously, her name is Story, very distracting at times) was a like-able character and I found myself able to relate to her on certain things. Daniel is very UNFy at times but I found him to be a little *too*much of an alpha male for me. After sleeping with Story once, he doesn't want her wearing short dresses so no one can ogle her. It could have been a sweeter scene if he hadn't proceeded to carry her out of bar after stating it. If I choose to overlook that, which I tried, I can find him to be hot.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. The sexy times were very realistic and hot and again, UNFy. The plot was a little predictable but it not something that really bothered me. It was a good book to help me get out of the YA mindset.

Christmas Giveaway! YALLFest Edition

Hi there lovelies,

Our little YALLFest group
So when Nahomi and I went to YALLFest back in November we met A LOT of authors. It was such an exciting and mind-blowing experience and I wish it lasted several days instead of that really long and exhausting day. To prepare for the event, we broke down the schedule and the authors attending and we went to town organizing our schedule and checking to see which books we had and which one we had to buy.

While planning and buying books, we realized that we wanted to give away some signed books to our lovely followers. While we wanted to get a ton of books signed for everyone, unfortunately there was limit on how many books an author could sign at time. But I like to think that we managed to get some really cool books and swag for some lucky winners.

So in the spirit of Christmas, (and really, in procrastination. YALLFest was back in November and I've been meaning to do this post for a while) we'll be doing a giveaway of all our signed goodies, such as: signed books, bookmarks, tote bags and posters.

Here's what up for grab:
  1. There will 3 winners for the signed books. The 1st winner will get to pick 2 books and then the 2nd winner will choose between the two books leftover and the 3rd winner will get what left. Here are the books up for grab: Just One Day by Gayle Forman, Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, Legend by Marie Lu and The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson.
  2. There will be a winner for a *book shimmy* tote bag from Epic Reads along with some swag. (Some signed by the author).
  3. Three Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi chapters sampler excerpt.
  4. A signed poster by Marie Lu with some swag and
  5. A Divergent movie poster with some swag as well.
Whew! Getting that organized was a mission. And if that wasn't clear enough, that NINE (9) winners!

Since I'm doing this with only a few days before Christmas, and it being such a big one as it is, the giveaway will be running until January 17th, 2014.


So just go and have fun filling out the Rafflecopter! Good luck, Swooners!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mini Review: The Unidentified Redhead by Alice Clayton

The Unidentified Redhead (Redhead, #1)
By Alice Clayton
Release Date: February 16, 2010
Publisher: Gallery Books
Source: Personal Copy
Reviewed by: Nahomi
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / IndieBound

My Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
WATCH OUT, HOLLYWOOD!
Grace Sheridan is back. Ten years after discovering that looks and talent are a dime a dozen in Los Angeles, she's wriggling into a pair of badass jeans and ready to show the film industry that there's way more to her than just a head of gorgeous red curls. And Hollywood's newest Brit super-hunk Jack Hamilton certainly sees a lot to like. Grace is trying to restrain herself from jumping a man who is nearly a decade her junior, but Jack is making it clear that he personally has zero problems with that idea.

While Grace and Jack are still swapping innuendo-loaded quips and text sex though, the paparazzi have caught up with them, headlining the "unidentified redhead" who's been photographed trysting at a restaurant with the heartthrob of the year. Now Grace is in stuck in a double bind. She's head over heels in lust with Jack, but there's her own career to think of as well. A sizzling romance with the newest "it" boy may garner her industry attention...but is it the kind of attention she's always dreamed of?

        Out of all of the adult books I've read, I would say Grace is one of the funniest, unconventional and confident main character out there. I love how comfortable she is in her own skin. Even though she has insecurities; Grace doesn't let her insecurities get in the way of what she wants. I really like that Grace is 33 years-old and although, she isn't a fresh out of college, still struggling to accomplish her dreams.

Jack Hamilton is the love interest, he's 24, HOTT, and has a British accent. I love me some Jack. He is sweet, romantic, but has just enough caveman in him to seem realistic. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention Jack has very talented hands among other things. There was plenty of screaming going on *wink wink*.  Grace and Jack's relationship is honest, playful, and lacks all of the pretenses and expectations that normally accompany relationships in the beginning stages. 

In certain sections I felt the story dragged a little. What kept me reading and engaged was the characters and the dialogue. The dialogue was interesting and funny, I found myself laughing out loud constantly. The characters are endearing; I was hooked and needed to know what happened to them. Alice Clayton does a wonderful job creating the characters and making this story realistic and humorous. I am looking forward to reading The Redhead Revealed.

Cover Reveal - The Romeo Club by Rebekah L. Purdy

Expected Release Date: march 25, 2014
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Summary from Goodreads:
THE ROMEO CLUB is Hitch meets The Secret of My Success.

What happens when you agree to help your brother “de-nerdify” so he can catch the attention of the popular Chloe Anders, and to everyone's surprise, he actually lands her?

And what if his equally geeky friends come running with girl wish lists of their own, offering money for your services?

Well, if you’re sixteen-year-old, Delyla Denson, then you start The Romeo Club. A secret club where she’ll teach these guys how talk, act, and be cool around girls. It’s a win-win situation.

She’ll get enough money for the awesome prom dress she’s had her eye on, and the guys, well, they’ll get dates and maybe learn how to do something other than beat the next level on their video games.

There are only two problems with this plan. One, her quarterback/track star boyfriend is getting jealous of how much time she’s spending away from him and decides to try and figure out what’s going on. And two, Delyla is kind of falling for her brother’s BFF, Trey who she’s been hanging out with a lot more. And who thanks to her help, has caught the attention of the beautiful, perfect, and popular, Portia Rickard. With Portia and Trey heating up, Delyla realizes that maybe the person she’s meant to be with has been in front of her all this time.


But falling for Trey means she’ll have to take drastic measures including sabotage, with a capital S.


About the author:

Rebekah Purdy grew up in Michigan, where she spent many late nights armed with a good book and a flashlight. When not hiding at her computer and getting lost in her stories, she enjoys reading, singing, soccer, swimming, football, camping, playing video games and hanging out with her kids. She loves the unexplainable like Bigfoot, the Dogman, and the Loch Ness Monster (lots of good story material)! She admits to still having all the books she bought throughout her childhood and teen years, and she may or may not have an obsession with anything chocolate…

Author Links:
 photo iconwebsite-32x32_zps1f477f69.png photo icongoodreads32_zps60f83491.png   photo iconfacebook-32x32_zps64a79d4a.png

Cover Reveal Organized by:

Waiting on Wednesday (#39)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spinethat spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Morning swooners!

This week pre-publication "can't wait to read" selection is:

Expected Release Date: April 15, 2014
Synopsis:
From the author of My Life Next Door comes a swoony summertime romance full of expectation and regret, humor and hard questions.

Gwen Castle's Biggest Mistake Ever, Cassidy Somers, is slumming it as a yard boy on her Nantucket-esque island summer. He's a rich kid from across the bridge in Stony Bay, and she hails from a family of fisherman and house cleaners who keep the island's summer people happy. Gwen worries a life of cleaning houses will be her fate too, but just when it looks like she'll never escape her past - or the island - Gwen's dad gives her some shocking advice. Sparks fly and secret histories unspool as Gwen spends a gorgeous, restless summer struggling to resolve what she thought was true - about the place she lives, the people she loves, and even herself - with what really is.

A magnetic, push-me-pull me romance with depth, this is for fans of Sarah Dessen, Jenny Han, and Deb Caletti.

I'm super excited about this. I've heard so many wonderful things about Huntley's My Life Next Door as well as this one, that I can't to read them. 

What are you "Waiting on," Swooners?

Book Blitz - That One Summer by C.J. Duggan

Expected Release Date: Dec. 17, 2013
Genre: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance
Blitz organized by: Xpresso Book Tours
Synopsis:
Loving Chris Henderson would wrong. Diabolically disastrous. I mean, what is there to love? He's moody, bossy, brooding, a control freak, and that's on a good day... but there was one achingly obvious fact that haunted my every thought, every minute of every day...

He sure could kiss.

As the countdown to the new millennium begins, there is one thing everyone agrees on: no one wants to be in Onslow for New Year's Eve.

So that can only mean one thing: road trip!

No longer the mousey, invisible, shy girl from years ago, Tammy Maskala is finally making up for all those lost summers. A new year with new friends, which astoundingly includes the bossy boy behind the bar, Chris Henderson.

She likes her new friends (at least most of them), so why does she secretly feel so out of place?

After chickening out on the trip, a last-minute change of heart sees Tammy racing to the Onslow Hotel, fearing she's missed her chance for a ride. The last thing she expected to meet was a less-than-happy Onslow boy leaning against his black panel van.

Now the countdown begins to read the others at Point Shank before the party is over and the new year has begun. Alone with only the infuriating Chris Henderson, Tammy can't help but feel this is a disastrous start to what could have been a great adventure. But when the awkward road trip takes an unexpected turn, Tammy soon discovers that the way her traitorous heart feels about Chris is the biggest disaster of all. 

Fogged up windows, moonlight swimming, bad karaoke and unearthed secrets; after this one summer nothing will ever be the same.


Excerpt
Chris leaned forward to lower the music, but it was too late now; there was a ringing in my ears.He had nice hands, tanned by the sun, tidy fingernails; he could totally be a hand model with hands like those. If you were going to notice Chris and like him, his hands would probably be the first thing that would draw you to him, seeing as his face was always an intimidating scowl. It wasn’t the first time I had noticed his hands – there had been countless times he had served me a drink at the bar, or handed me change and I had noticed how nice they were. The second thing I noticed about Chris (if I was noticing things) was his shoulders. They were so square, so symmetrical; he looked like he was a swimmer. He had great posture, even when he stood behind the bar between customers, with his arms folded – his stance was straight, proud, and expectant. Yep! Your eyes would trail from those hands to those shoulders and usually be met with a piercing flick of the deep brown eyes that would cause you to quickly look away, or caused me to, anyway. He had been pretty intimidating in the beginning, but as time wore on I just found him downright rude, no matter how lovely his hands and shoulders may be.
“What are you staring at?” Chris’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
Oh crap! Was I staring?
I snapped my head away to look out of the window. “Nothing.” 
“They’re not that white, are they?” he said.
My attention moved from the window to Chris again with a confused frown.“Sorry?”
His head tilted downward as he shifted his leg a little to expose … a kneecap.
I smiled. “You’re wearing shorts?”
“You don’t have to sound so surprised.” He lowered his leg.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you in shorts before.” My eyes trailed over his tan cargos; it seemed that in line with nice hands and shoulders, Chris had nice legs. Okay, best not to stare, I thought. But then something grabbed my attention.
“You have impressively tanned legs for someone who lives in Levi’s,” I mused. “You don’t sun-bake in a pair of budgie smugglers on the weekends, do you?” That would just be too much.
Chris burst out laughing, so loud and abruptly it caused me to flinch at the unexpectedness of it. Laughter from Chris was as rare as seeing him in shorts.
“Budgie smugglers?” he asked.
“Yeah, you know, Speedos, Y-fronts,”
“I know what they are, Tammy, and the answer is no, no I don’t do that.” He grinned, concentrating on the road.
I took a moment to study Chris, not out of the corner of my eye this time but to unapologetically study him. I wanted to fully absorb the rarity of his smile, of his good humour, because let’s face it, it would probably be the first and last time I saw it.
I curved my brow. “So exceptionally tanned legs but no weekends spent in budgie smugglers, eh? Curiouser and curiouser,” I smirked.
Chris coughed. His face flexed back into those familiar stern lines as he straightened in his seat. “Tamara?” 
I cocked my head. “Yes, Christopher?”
His lips twitched as he fought not to smile. “Stop staring at me.”
About the author:
C.J. Duggan is an Australian author who lives with her husband in a rural border town of New South Wales, Australia.
The Boys of Summer is Book One in her Mature Young Adult Romance series. 
For more  on C.J. and the 'The Summer Series', visit www.cidugganbooks.com.

Author Links: Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Top Ten Tuesday: Top 10 New-to-Me Authors I Read in 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful girls at The Broke and The BookishEvery week the girls come up with a subject and we have to answer them.

Morning Swooners, 

For today list, it the new-to-me authors that we read in 2013:

Jenn's pick:

1. Sarah J. Maas - this author has become a favorite of mine ever since I picked up Throne of Glass this past summer. It quickly became one of my favorite series and I'm so excited to see where she takes it. I need book 3 now, though.

2. Rainbow Rowell - After Fangirl and Eleanor & Park, she is going to be on my go-to-author for 'The Feels'.

3. Suzanne Young - I read The ProgramThe Treatment, and Just Like Fate which she coauthored with Cat Patrick. And they all ended up being favorites books of 2013.

4. Trish DollerWhere the Stars Still Shine was such an lovely and painful read that I'm kicking myself for not picking up more of Trish's book earlier.

5. Gennifer Albin - Her book Crewel and Altered are so unique and it has made an impression on me.

6. Robyn SchneiderThe Beginning of Everything is just plain lovely.


Nahomi's pick:

8. Wendy Higgins - Sweet Evil and Sweet Peril. Kaiden Rowe, that's all I'm saying.

9. Cora Carmack - Losing It and Garrick. Hot and British Garrick, yes please!

10. Anna Carey - Eve

That's it for us, but do tell me what new author you read this year?

Review: The Promise of Amazing by Robin Constantine

The Promise of Amazing
Author: Robin Constantine
Expected Release Date: Dec. 31, 2013
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Source: Balzer + Bray through Edelweiss
Review by: Jenn
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads / IndieBound

My rating: 3 stars out of 5 stars
Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she's not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, "good" girl who's always done what she's supposed to - only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn't know how.
Grayson Barret was the kind of St. Gabe's. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future - until he was expelled for being a "term paper pimp." Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn't know how.
One fateful night their path cross when Wren, working at her family's Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring who they are - and falling in love.
*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher but it did not influence this review in any way.*

        With the title The Promise of Amazing, I was expecting a pretty amazing book (pun intended). However, it did not deliver. The Promise of Amazing was a cute, fluffy read with some drama and angst. The drama, however, felt a little unnecessary, like they were just creating drama for the sake of it.

My biggest turn-off in this book was that it had my dreaded insta-love. When Wren saves Grayson's life, they automatically feel this instant connection with each other. As if they were meant to be in each other life. Now, I'm all for destiny and fate and the mushy stuff, but this was just too much for me. I just rolled my eyes and scoff at how many times their heavy attraction was mentioned. If insta-love is well done and feels genuine, I can hop on board with it but not like this.

The story is told in dual point of views so we get to know both of the main characters, Wren and Grayson. Wren is a good, quiet girl with good friends and family. In school and in life in general, she is considered the quiet girl but has finally had enough and no longer wants to be called quiet. However, she doesn't know what to do to change that. Wren was a really nice character, however, I didn't care what happen to her. I actually enjoyed her friends, Maddie and Jazz a lot more than Wren; they were a trip. Unfortunately, I just couldn't sympathize with Wren. Grayson, on the other hand, I wasn't very impressed with him. I couldn't find him to be attractive as Wren found him. I don't even see his appeal, to be honest. Gray was also in a point of his life that he needed to change but didn't know how. But after meeting Wren and having a short conversation with her, he decided how he wanted to change his ways. He wanted to change for her. Yea...

I also found the plot to be a little bit wonky. From what Grayson first tell us, his secret, I thought is was a unique twist. However, we quickly find out that there is another secret that he is hiding and I honestly thought that it was too much. It just added to the drama that already felt too much and it cause it for it to feel wonky and disjointed.

All in all, this book was kind of a disappointment for me. Gray and Wren felt too much like flat characters and I just couldn't click with either of them. The ending was a little to far-fetched for me but by that point I had already mentally checked out of the book and I just wanted to finish it. The book had potential but unfortunately it did not do it for me.

Quotes (#39)

Good morning swooners,
Today is a special day for me, so I have an extra day off! I hope your Monday treats you well and goes by quickly.

"Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world." - L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

"Some nights the sky wept stars that quickly floated and disappeared into the darkness before our wishes could meet them." -Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone

"I can't imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once."

"Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained." -C.S. Lewis

Review: Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

Into the Still Blue (Under the Never Sky #3)
By: Veronica Rossi
Expected Release Date: Jan. 28, 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: HarperCollins through Edelweiss
Reviewed by: Jenn
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads / IndieBound

*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher but it did not influence this review in any way.*

My rating: 5 stars out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it's time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world.

The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe-haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do - and they are just as determine to stay together.

Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. When Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won't even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost.

Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission - because Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival, he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.

In this final book in her stunning Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi raises the stakes to their absolute limit and brings her epic love story to an unforgettable close.


*Please be aware that there are hints of spoilers in this review. Of the previous two books as well as Into the Still Blue.*

       This book was absolute perfection. It had your romance mixed with some action, suspense and some comedic relief. I just keep thinking that this is how you end a series. It was so perfectly done and I want to hug Veronica Rossi for giving me closure to this trilogy. I read this book pretty quickly, not only because I had to find out what happens next but because it was also go-go-go in this book. There was never a dull moment.

Into the Still Blue picks up right where Through the Ever Night left us. From there, we learn the aftermath of bringing in Aria's friends from the Pod and having them interact with people from the Tides. We also see how Perry is coping with Cinder's kidnapping and with the shocking news he received at the end of Through the Ever Night.

I love Aria and Perry's relationship. They each had their obstacles together and apart but they persevered. One of the things I enjoy so much about their relationship is that they don't need to be together all the time to know that the other person loves them. They don't doubt the other person's love because they know that with everything that is going on, that they have that other person's love and support.

Aria has become a completely different person since we first met her in Under the Never Sky. Because of her parents background, that we learned about in Through the Ever Night, it definitely made her an asset to Perry and his team. Especially given how in the end, she is given the role of an adviser. So I'm very happy at how far Aria has come. Perry! Perry became the leader he was always meant to be and it was just incredible seeing him step up to the role. His over-protectiveness of Cinder and Talon and everyone else is very touching, considering that people were questioning his leadership in the previous books. I do have to admit that there was a point in the book when I was worried about the outcome of his fate. I knew rationally that nothing could happened to him (or so I hoped) but the irrational part of my brain was freaking out and I was worried for him.

As for Roar, my poor Roar, my heart broke for him and I just wanted to hug him. However, I felt that by the end, he was slowly learning to cope and like always, he was a wonderful friend to Perry and Aria. Some characters I grew to like were Brooke and Soren. Soren certainly tested everyone's patience and for several scenes I was worried about his loyalties. However, he certainly proved himself worthy and I love how he and Roar became friends. Brooke, I haven't read her novella yet, but the little she was in the book certainly redeemed herself in my eyes.

I love Into the Still Blue. I feel like Veronica Rossi gave the happy ending that these characters deserved. She delivered on everything and more. I am truly sad to say goodbye to these characters but I know they'll do just fine. If you haven't yet read this series, I beg you to go out and buy it. You will not regret it.

Review: Losing It by Cora Carmack

Losing It (Losing It #1) by Cora Carmack
Release Date: October 15, 2012
Publisher: William Morrow
Source: Personal Copy
Reviewed by: Nahomi
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Indiebound /

My Rating: 5 stars out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
Virginity. Bliss Edwards is about to graduate from college and still has hers. Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, she decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible-a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half a brain would ever believe.

And as if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theater professor.

She'd left him naked in her bed about eight hours earlier....

        I love this book!! It's funny, and sexy with a dash of awkward, no wait make that a big helping of awkward. Cora Carmack does an excellent job at engaging her readers. I found the pacing to be steady, perfect for the story. The dialogue was really engaging which I love. Not only were the main characters great, so were the supporting characters. I found myself wanting to hang out with Bliss's friends, too.

 I really love the main character's name, Bliss. It's cute yet a little ironic at the same time because her life is anything but blissful. Bliss is awkward and funny but has this inner strength that really pulls her through some tough situations. The love interest Garrick, is soo freaking HOTT. He might just deserve an extra T just because he's awesome, has a British accent, and wait for it... he reads! Of course he is physically attractive as well but who am I kidding I am a sucker for British accents. Oh and did I mention that Garrick is extremely sweet and thoughtful. Hmm.. I could go on about Garrick forever. *sighs* 

I enjoyed how Bliss and Garricks' relationship progressed, and the hint of forbidden added because of their situation makes the story that much sexier. This book has a great balance between the regular story and the sexy scenes. The intimate scenes flowed organically from the characters, it didn't feel forced or out of place. I will say this about the sexy scenes they are really steamy. Lets just say I was in need of several cold showers after reading them. 

This novel had me up to the wee hours of the morning so that I could finish it. Even after I finished I ended up purchasing the novella  Keeping Her so that I could continue to get my Bliss and Garrick fix. Losing It was exactly the book I needed to get out of the reading slump I was in. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the Losing It series.

Waiting on Wednesday (#38)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spinethat spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Morning swooners!

This week pre-publication "can't wait to read" selection is:

Expected Release Date: December 17, 2013
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads 

Synopsis:
IT'S GETTING HOT (AND HEAVY) IN HOLLYWOOD!

Grace Sheridan is flying high. With Scorching passion from her gorgeous Brit superstar Jack Hamilton plus the lead role in a new television dramedy, she could just pinch herself. Then a demand from her show's directors to drop fifteen pounds brings her back down to earth with a thump. Forced to subsist on air, cucumbers, and boot camp, Grace wonders if the body that brings the newly crowned "Sexiest Man Alive" to his knees is just too booty-licious for Hollywood. Jack, meanwhile, seems overly enamored of the celebrity lifestyle. Forbidden by his publicity-conscious manager to reveal his relationship with Grace, he's hitting the industry party scene way too hard.

As Grace's bod incites fiery debate about the message of "thin is in," Jack's jealous fans are downing the hate-erade, viciously slamming her curves. Grace longs for Jack's support, but he's showing up late and disheveled to her most important moments. With tempers between them flaring, Hollywood's most talked-about redhead might have more to lose than a few stubborn pounds. She and Jack were clearly made for each other-but will the day ever come when they can walk the red carpet together, hand in hand? 

Recently, we had the opportunity to meet Alice Clayton at a book signing last weekend and she totally won me over I've started her Redhead series, and can't wait to get my hands on this. 

What are you waiting on Swooners?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books on our Winter TBR List

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful girls at The Broke and The Bookish. Every week the girls come up with a subject and we have to answer them.

Morning Swooners, 

This weeks TTT is our top 10 books TBR book for winter. Here's what we are itching to get started on this winter!

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads 

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads 





Expected Release Date: January 7, 2014


10. Panic by Lauren Oliver


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