BLOG TOUR: Girl on Tour (Kylie Ryans #2) by Caisey Quinn ARC REVIEW + GIVEAWAY

Title/Series: Girl on Tour | Kylie Ryans #2
Author: Caisey Quinn
Publisher: Caisey Quinn
Published: August 27th 2013
Format: eBook | Pages: 198
Genre: NA, Contemporary, Romance
Source: ARC provided for blog tour
★★★★ (4/5) Stars!

An up and comer trying to make a name for herself...

KYLIE never expected to be stuck on a tour bus with a pampered princess and her boyfriend’s ex.

A troubled artist struggling to hold onto his career...

TRACE thought he was finally getting to do things his way. Until the label added co-headliner Gretchen Gibson, the only person in country music with more issues than him, to his No Apologies tour.

Surrounded by tabloid rumors and people they can't trust, Kylie and Trace need each other more than ever. But the choices they make will change everything.

Because chasing your dreams and following your heart don’t always lead you to the same place…

 My Review:

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Boy what a difference one book can make! I mean all throughout Girl with Guitar I never had any doubts. I was totally rooting for Kylie and Trace through the whole thing. Even when things seemed like they'd hit an all time low I just kept thinking "they'll make it" and I really believed it. But with Girl on Tour, oh my lord! There came a point, well actually at a few places actually, where I just wanted them to cut their losses and quit with all the pain and hurt. After I reached into the book and grabbed both Kylie and Trace by the backs of their necks and bonk their heads together of course! Thankfully Caisey warned me and my fellow #GwB girls that we were not to be expecting a HEA for this one or I'd probably have been sending her multiple "what are you doing to me" or "what are you doing to them" types of emails  haha. Don't worry Caisey I still heart you mucho :)

Kylie was just the same as I remembered her to be. I simply adore her, but I wanted to throttle her a time or two during this one. I mean Trace doesn't call her a hothead for nothin! She made a lot of bad decisions and some of her actions had me questioning what on earth she could have been thinking. But when it comes down to it, she was a girl who's in love and sometimes instead of facing what she knew deep down she should do or how she should react in certain situations, it seemed like she was kind of just hoping if she ignored the big bad thing long enough it would just go away. Honestly after I had some time to decompress and really let everything I read sink in, she's just a normal girl. Hell I've done some of the stuff I was cursing at her for. She was on a slow downward spiral throughout Girl on Tour and by the end of the book my heart was breaking for her.

And Trace. Sigh. Oh Trace. Why, oh why do you do the things you do? That boy had me so stinking angry as time went on. I love him to death! He's one of my favorite male MCs. But he is so broken that I had to wonder if he'd ever get fixed. He's an addicted through and through. Thinkin he's got everything under control and he'll be okay once he makes it through this one thing. And then something else happens and he just needs to make it through that and everything will be okay. His fall was breaking my heart with the turn of every page. There was one line I read. Three little words that had me fuming, and it got me to a point where I had literally given up on Trace and Kylie's future together, didn't even want it anymore. That was the point I knew I had to walk away from my Kindle and slept it off. I'd like to say that when I picked it back up again the next day that Trace got better...but sadly he didn't fully. But, by the end I will say that though I wasn't over the moon I was satisfied and felt like for once he did something right.

It wasn't all anger and heartbreak though. There were some sweet moments and some hot and steamy moments as well. When things are good with Trace and Kylie it is such a swoon fest. It has me sighing and smiling like a big dork as I read.

We get to know a couple new characters as well. The other two girls on Kylie's tour. Mia, who is Trace's sort of ex I suppose, though she was mentioned and very briefly in Girl with Guitar, but we really get to know her in this book. I'm still not 100% a big fan of hers. She's not the most pleasant person when she's around and she started to grow on me just a tiny bit by the end of the book, but I'm still not liking her all that much. Then there was Lily. Oh man, I couldn't stand girls like her when I was her age (16) and I still can't deal with them. Spoiled-rich-my-daddy-buys-me-whatever-I-want types of girls. You know the type. I did start to feel some sympathy for her though once we got to dig deeper in her family life. Then touring with Trace we have Gretchen. Could. Not. Stand. Her. Well in the beginning at least. There was a lot more to Gretchen than her outward appearance. Think Trace as a female and you basically have Gretchen.

Okay so I was kind of excited that for a little bit we got to see Steven Blythe again. Oh who am I kidding, I was a lot excited! There was just something about that guy. He stuck out to me in the first book and so when I saw him make an appearance here I will admit I sort of might have squealed a little. Ha! And I will say that, even though I'm not a fan...yet, I really liked the vibe, the spark that I saw popping between Mia and Steven. I'm just gonna throw this out there... but I think Steven needs his own story. Even if it's only a novella. I'm just sayin... ;)

Overall was I upset? Yes. Was I angry? Um Yes! Did I love it? Of course! There's one thing you've gotta understand about me. I will get pissed and complain or cry like a baby and whine or be over the moon and fangirling like crazy sure. But all of those things mean one thing. I'm feeling. And sometimes books make me feel...passionately! It just means I'm attached and I care what happens to these characters. I may not have my "Happily Ever After" yet, but I have faith that Caisey will end Trace and Kylie's story on a happy note. And I can't wait for Girl in Love to come out so I can see it happen!

About the author:

Caisey Quinn lives in Birmingham, Alabama with her husband, daughter, and other assorted animals. She is the author of several New Adult Romance novels featuring country girls finding love in unexpected places. She is currently working on Girl in Love, the third and final book in the Kylie Ryans series.

Caisey Quinn | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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BLOG TOUR: Addicted to You by Colina Brennan ARC REVIEW + GIVEAWAY

Title/Series: Addicted to You
Author: Colina Brennan
Publisher: Colina Brennan
Published: June 22nd 2013
Format: eBook | Pages: 183
Genre: NA, Contemporary, Romance
Source: ARC provided for blog tour
★★★ (3/5) Stars!

When twenty-one-year-old Leah Carter's latest one night stand burglarizes her apartment, her roommate forces her to attend therapy for sex addicts. Leah insists she isn't a sex addict; she just doesn't do relationships. After all, sooner or later, everyone lets you down.

At first, the group sessions are little more than an education on how to be promiscuous. Until she meets the newest addict—blue eyes, killer body, and a smile that tempts relapse.

Psychology student Will McLean is posing as a fellow addict while researching a case study on unusual addictions. But the more he learns about Leah, the more certain he is that his desire to break through her walls and unearth her secrets has nothing to do with his assignment.

As the uncertainties spike alongside the sexual tension, the only thing Leah knows for sure is that falling in love would be disastrous. Too bad love might be one addiction she can't kick.

My Review:

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review:

Addicted to You wasn't your average New Adult novel. I mean who knew you could meet the love of your life at a support group for sex addicts! Though to be completely fair, in my opinion, I don't feel like either of the main characters truly belonged there. Still it made for an interesting, though sometimes frustrating and  pretty humorous plot.

Leah's problem is less on the sex addiction side and more closing herself off and not knowing how, or really wanting to for that matter, to express emotions and she'd lose interest after she'd been with a guy. It wasn't like she was running around with sex on the brain all the time and would jump into bed after bed. She just had never met anyone to spark her interest for more than a one night stand. I actually liked her character quite a bit. She was of course a bit frustrating at times with all her anger and attitude with pretty much everyone, I mean until he found out her name Will referred to her as his "grumpy beauty". But the more I got to know her and her past I could see where most of it was coming from. But where she really got to me was her relationship with her kid brother Elijah. It was amazingly sweet the way she took care of him and watched out for him and all the sacrifices she made to actually be his sister.

Will is actually a psychology major who's posing as an addict to gather information for research for his work study boss. I liked Will instantly, I mean come on, he's Scottish! Oh wait, there's more to him than that...that's right. Even though his reason for being in the group was completely false, there was something about Leah that had him jump to her defense at the fist meeting he was at, even though she wasn't exactly the friendliest person there. He was a keeper in my book after that. He's this sweet, smart and protective guy and from the little bit we get to know of him, his family really isn't that great and I felt for the way his father treated him.

There was instant attraction between these two though thankfully the relationship was a bit slower of a buildup. For most of the book they didn't even  know each other's names. But when things did spark up between them...they had some intense chemistry! Will makes Leah feel things she's never felt for anyone before and it freaks her out. She fights him and her feelings through quite a bit of the book. Thankfully Will is stubborn and doesn't give up.

Besides Elijah one of my favorite secondary characters was Will's best friend Finn. That guy was so hilarious. He was one of those people that rarely has a filter for his mouth and he made for some great comic relief at times.

I enjoyed getting to know these characters and even though it was a bit slow at times the plot was very unique and interesting, worth the read.

About the author:

I’m a new adult author with a love for the fantastical and the romantic. My new adult contemporary novel ADDICTED TO YOU will be available June 25.

Colina Brennan | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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BLOG TOUR: Taming Cross (Love Inc #2) by Ella James ARC REVIEW + EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY

Title/Series: Taming Cross | Love Inc #2
Author: Ella James
Publisher: Barkley's Books
Published: August 20th 2013
Format: eBook | Pages: 236
Genre: NA, Contemporary, Romance
Source: ARC Provided for blog tour
★★★★ (4/5) Stars!

For twenty-three years, Cross Carlson was a playboy. You know the type. Tall, dark, and wealthy. Blue-eyed. Charming. He seemed to have it all so easy. But Cross was harboring a terrible secret - one that helped ruin the life of an innocent girl and almost ended his own.

Finally out of the hospital, Cross is flailing, scarred in both body and mind and stifled by the weight of the secret he still keeps. The only way to absolution lies in a Mexican convent, and going there could cost him everything.

If there's anyone who knows what it's like to screw up big time, it's Meredith Kinsey. Just a few years ago, Merri was an ordinary girl with a job at her college newspaper and white picket fence kind of dreams. Now she's holed up in a Mexican convent, hiding from a drug lord who thinks he owns her.

What happens when the only way out of hell is with the son of the man who put you there? They say love conquers all, but does it really?

My Review:

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

So I read Selling Scarlett the other day while I was waiting for my Taming Cross ARC to arrive, to sort of get myself ready to jump into it when I finally got it in my Kindle. And while I enjoyed it...enough. I wasn't about to do cartwheels and go fangirl crazy over it. Most of the characters just weren't that likable. To me. But one thing I knew for sure was, even as brief as his appearances were in Selling Scarlett, I adored Cross. So I was torn between excitement and worry. I really wanted more Cross. I wanted to know more about him. Though the first book nearly fell flat for me, so what did that mean for Taming Cross? Was there any hope? I would have to say most definitely yes!

Taming Cross is told in the dual POVs of Cross and Merri. Which was a pleasant surprise because I thought I knew what was going to happen with Cross from the last bit of Selling Scarlett, I think it's part of what had made me a bit nervous to read this. It seemed like Suri, one of his best friends, might be the love interest and, to be perfectly honest, I didn't really like or connect with her very well and I wanted something different for Cross. Thankfully I got that.

I was already intrigued with Cross when I started this one, but while reading it and getting to know his character deeper, he absolutely stole my heart and made me really feel for him. He's such a broken guy. In both his body from his wreck and in his soul from his past and family life. You honestly cannot read this book and not fall in love with him. He's at a very low point in the beginning. He can't do the job that he loves, the girl he had developed feelings for, one of his best friends, is engaged to someone he doesn't like, the other best friend has developed feelings for him that he doesn't return and his parents are complete assholes who didn't even go see him in the hospital for the couple months he was in a coma because what was the point? Nice right? Yeah, if there was ever I time I wanted to reach into a book and strangle someone I would be adding them to my list!

I loved getting to know Merri as well. She's nothing like I expected her to be. We know very little about her from Selling Scarlett. Mostly the fact that she was one of the first missing escorts who was sold as a sex slave down in Mexico to a druglord. She was targeted for specific reasons that, in a way, connect to Cross. Merri was so sweet and strong and positive. She had a lot going for her and got involved with the wrong guy in college and it was one of those little mistakes that set off a chain of bad choices that landed her in Mexico. It wasn't like she was a horrible person she just put her trust in all the wrong people.

When Cross makes the decision to go down to Mexico to find and rescue Merri, that's when everything gets crazy. I was on the edge of my seat, anxiously turning page after page while these two fought their way to freedom and into each other's hearts. It was dangerous and exciting and heartbreaking all at the same time. I can't really say much else without spoiling things. Definitely the best addition to the Love Inc series and everything I'd expect from Ella James. I highly recommend you meet Cross and Merri.

Excerpt:

I pull away from him, and I can feel myself blushing. There should be another word for this.  One that more resembles burning. 

With my hands dangling at my sides where they belong, I glance up at him, feeling like the old-school, mid-20th Century definition of the histrionic woman.

I mean, it's not like we're good friends or anything. What logical reason do I have to be this worked up over Evan's quality of life?

I get the nerve to peek at him, and I confirm I'm right: He looks edgy. Uncomfortable. Like I've crossed a line.

He shifts his feet, like he wants to step away, but instead of doing that, he looks into my eyes for a few long seconds. The depth of his stare actually makes me shiver; I get the feeling he's trying to find something there. I'm doing the same thing, but whatever I see in the depths of his blue eyes feels nameless.

A second later, he thumbs a tear off my cheek, his perfect lips pressing together in a sad, resigned kind of look. “Don't cry for me, Meredith. I'm doing fine.”

I nod, feeling a glow all over my body because I'm standing so close to him.

I want to touch him. For this reason, I make myself take a small step back, tilting my head up more to meet his eyes. “I'm sorry for going all emo on you.”

The grave look on his face slips, and for a second I see something else—something vulnerable in his beautiful features. It's gone the next second, replaced by something stoic and untouchable.

I back away a little more and he lifts his hand, like he wants to touch me. Instead he just holds it there, palm out: the classic symbol meaning ‘stop’.

That's what you should do, dummy. Just stop this. You're living in a fantasy.

Evan seems to be searching for something to say. His eyes, on me, burn. I swallow and he tilts his head a little, looking unhappily perplexed. “I didn't deserve what you did for me, but I appreciate it.” He looks me over, head to toe. “You're a good person, Meredith Kinsey.”

Before I can respond, he lowers his hand and turns to go back to the table. He glances at me over his shoulder as he moves, and when he sits down, he bites into a piece of sausage. I move back behind the island and force myself to be calm, the way I would be if one of my children got hurt and I didn't want to alarm them. I force my mannerisms to remain gentle and unhurried as I eat my own breakfast, but internally, I'm going a million miles an hour.

I feel mortified. Desperate. Hungry. The feeling is familiar, and from long ago: It reminds me of the way I felt about Sam, the assistant band director. My first full-on crush.

I pour myself a glass of water and sigh, because how typical is that? Will I always be the blushing girl with the inappropriate crush?

Well, I guess I’m not blushing anymore, that’s for sure, but this guy is very much off limits.

Not because of all the many obvious things, but because of my secret. The one he doesn't know—and I won't tell him. The one that’s the likeliest of all my baggage to reach across time and distance and end me.

What I should tell him is that I'm not the kind of person he thinks. I probably never was, but I'm definitely not now.

About the author:

I'm a Denver, Colorado author who writes teen and adult romance. I am happily married to a man who knows how to wield a red pen, and together we are raising a feisty two-year-old who will probably grow up believing everyone's parents go to war over the placement of a comma. My books have been listed on numerous Amazon bestseller lists, including the Amazon Top 100 and the Amazon Movers & Shakers List; two were listed among Amazon's Top 100 Young Adult eBooks of 2012. To find out more about my projects and win prizes and swag, find me on Facebook at facebook.com/ellajamesauthorpage. Questions or comments? Tweet me at author_ellaj or e-mail me at ella_f_james@ymail.com.

Ella James | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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RELEASE DAY LAUNCH + GIVEAWAY: Unafraid (Beachwood Bay #2) by Melody Grace

Unafraid (Beachwood Bay #2)

by Melody Grace

Published: August 27th 2013

by Melody Grace

Genre: NA, Contemporary, Romance

Summary:

"The first time I saw her, I knew this girl was wilder than any stallion I’d ever trained. She was headstrong, wounded, passionate and free. And I had to have her…”

Brittany Ray doesn’t care about her bad reputation. Growing up in a sleepy beach town with a junkie mom and a runaway dad, Brit’s learned the hard way that the people you love will only let you down. It’s no use hoping for love or happiness. Some dreams aren’t meant for girls like her.

Hunter Covington is one of those dreams.

Gorgeous, charming Hunter is damn near perfect—and it’s killing him. Son of Charleston royalty, he’s been trapped in a gilded cage since the day he was born. Now he’s breaking free. He’s quit law school to restore his grandpa’s old horse ranch, trying to soothe the demons in his soul. But Beachwood Bay is full of old ghosts, like the mysterious girl who spent an unforgettable night with him—and then slipped away before dawn. Brit.

Everything about her screams danger, but Hunter doesn’t care: he’s never felt a connection so deep. And try as she may, Brit can’t resist the desire consuming her —or the safety she finds in Hunter’s arms.

A reckless passion. An undeniable bond. Scarred by their pasts, Brit and Hunter fight to heal old wounds. But will dark secrets tear apart their new beginning? And when love is the biggest risk of all, can they find the courage to face the future unafraid?

About the author:

Melody Grace is the USA Today bestselling author of UNBROKEN and UNTOUCHED. A small-town girl turned SoCal beach-lover, she spent years with her nose in a book before deciding it was time to write them for herself. She loves bad boys, good books, and pistachio-flavored ice-cream.

Melody Grace | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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RELEASE DAY LAUNCH + GIVEAWAY: Time Spell (Ivy Grace Spell Series #1) by T.A. Foster

Time Spell

(Ivy Grace Spell Series #1)

by T.A. Foster

Summary:

Ivy Grace is learning that magic--and love--are all about the right timing. 

Follow the adventures of this spirited young Southern woman as she embarks upon a successful new career writing novels and movies that explore romantic mysteries of the past.

Ivy, a witch who spends her days practicing her brand of good magic in a sleepy little city, often travels back in time to observe events of yesteryear and turn them into compelling stories for her modern-day fans. But as her uncanny ability to weave enthralling historic tales lands her in the limelight, she quickly finds that fame sometimes comes with a price.

Evil forces now know who she is and threaten to reveal her family’s most sacred magical secrets.

With the help of her ruggedly handsome editor and a sexy supernatural ex-boyfriend, Ivy must unravel history while fighting to keep these ominous forces at bay.

Will Ivy be able to make the ultimate sacrifice for the people she loves the most?

About the author:

T.A. Foster is a Southern girl whose heart and spirit are connected to the beach. She grew up catching rays and chasing waves along the North Carolina Outer Banks and now resides in the state with her adventurous pilot husband, two children and two canine kiddos. 

Her long love affair with books started at an early age and as soon as she was able, she transformed imaginative stories into words on paper. Time Spell is T.A.’s debut novel, and the first in a series about a very adventurous, clever, and magical girl named Ivy.

T.A. has an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University.  When she’s not chasing her two-legged and four-legged children or trying to escape for date night, you can find her reading, writing or planning her next beach trip.

T.A. Foster | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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BLOG TOUR: Welcome to the Darkness (Darkness Trilogy #1) by L.M. Justus ARC REVIEW + GIVEAWAY

Title/Series: Welcome to the Darkness | Darkness Trilogy #1
Author: L.M. Justus
Publisher: Taurpio Publishing
Published: August 5th 2013
Format: eBook | Pages: 353
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Source: ARC provided for blog tour

★★★✩ (3.5/5) Stars!

A typical teenager, seventeen-year-old Reed Hennessy doesn’t realize how lucky he is to lead a normal life until he loses everything, including his humanity. The attacker who slaughters his family and destroys their home turns out to be a vampire, a creature Reed had considered a myth.

Now a vampire himself, but with the unique ability to walk in sunlight, Reed struggles in the dark underworld he didn’t even know existed. His only two allies in his fight to stay alive are his reluctant mentor, Nathaniel, a vampire with over two hundred years’ worth of emotional baggage, and Sarah, a rookie cop with a secret ability of her own.

Together, Reed and his companions face a harrowing, cross-country journey before stumbling into a plot which could mean the end of everything for humans and vampires alike.

 I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm always one for a good vampire book and, though I had a few issues with it, I still really enjoyed this book. It was different and a bit darker than the average vampire novel that I normally read. It was fast paced and kept me engaged from start to finish. Once I picked it up I was hooked and found it difficult to put it down.

This book was told in multiple POVs. Well three to be exact; Nathaniel, Sarah and Reed. Though what I found kind of odd and one of the things that annoyed me was the fact that when we were in Nathaniel or Sarah's POV everything was in the third person, but when it was Reed it was in the first person. I don't mind switching between narrators but when you then also throw in the constant back and forth between first and third person it just sort of felt a bit messy.

I was pulled in from the opening of the book, which is actually quite tragic as 17 year old Reed's family is slaughtered by a vampire and in the mix of it all he makes one huge mistake trying to kill the intruder, which ends up getting him turned. I felt for him immediately. To witness something so horrible happen to the people you love and then come to the realization that you've turned into the very thing that did this to them... I think he was probably my favorite character throughout the book. He's not the average vampire though, and has special gifts that set him apart from the rest. Which puts him on everyone's radar and not necessarily in a good way.

Youngling vamps aren't allowed to be out on their own without a mentor of sorts with them, teaching them the ropes and rules so that they don't expose their kind obviously. If one is found they're supposed to be killed. This is how we meet Nathaniel. Though when he comes across Reed, he decides to bring him in to the Queen instead of killing him when he finds out just how different Reed is. Nathaniel was funny at times, I mean he's a 200 year old vampire so he still had that sort of proper and stuffy air about him. And as hard as he tries not to, he forms a bond with Reed that I found sort of sweet and endearing.

Through a series of events we're also introduced to Sarah who is a rookie cop and has a very special gift of her own (as a human). She is my other issue within this story. She all too easily, for my taste, accepts this world of vampires and puts her trust in Reed, who by the way, absolutely does some very untrustworthy things when they first meet. It just made no sense to me that she would then skip off with him and allow herself to be thrust into their dark world and even fall for him. I felt like there should have been more fight there. Instead it was just sort of like she shrugged it off and goes off with him without a second thought.

I guess, to me, it seemed as if quite a few things over all just happened to fall in to place way too easily  like that. There was either a simple solution or not very much resistance with anything that went wrong through a lot of the book. Regardless of any of those minor complaints I had, none of them were so aggravating that I lost interest. Because the story itself, and the lore and the world created were very fascinating and I had a hard time stopping myself from turning the page to find out what happens next. And it leaves you with just enough of a cliffhanger that I'm very eagerly awaiting book 2 to find out what happens to these people...err and creatures!

About the author:

Lisa Justus' path to becoming an author took a circuitous route through the University of Waterloo where she earned a Bachelor of Mathematics, followed by jobs in quality assurance and technical writing at a high-tech company. With a keen interest in creative fiction, she wrote her first fantasy novel as part of NaNoWriMo as well as an early chapter book for her kids when they were younger.  Her YA paranormal fantasy novel Welcome to the Darkness is the first book in the Darkness Trilogy.

These days Lisa is busy writing her fourth novel, reading, finishing her basement, doing volunteer work, and trying to stay in shape by running somewhat regularly. She, her husband, and their three children live in Ottawa, Ontario

Lisa Justus | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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