Friday, October 31, 2014

BLOG TOUR: When We Met by Various Authors [ARC Review + Excerpt + Giveaway!]


Title: When We Met
Author(s): A.L. Jackson, Molly McAdams, Tiffany King & Christina Lee
Publisher: NAL Trade
Expected Publication: November 4th 2014
Format: eARC | Pages: 397
Genre: NA, Contemporary, Romance
Source: InkSlinger PR
★★★★✩ (4.5/5) Stars!

Today’s premiere New Adult authors combine their talents to tell four original stories from inside one house.

When four girls decide to live off campus together as juniors at a college in Michigan, they expect it to be their best year yet. Little do they know, it’s a year that will change the rest of their lives.

BEHIND HER EYES by A.L. Jackson 
Unable to live down her ex-boyfriend’s deception, Misha is determined to avoid betrayal. When, the new guy next door, Darryn starts to get under her skin, her defenses start to crumble. But trusting Darryn seems impossible, especially if he’s not sure he can trust himself.

SAVING ME by Molly McAdams 
On the outside, Indy is always ready for a party—but inside she’s breaking. Kier makes a weekly routine of saving the girl next door from herself on Saturday nights… but when will she be ready to remember him on Sunday morning?

FOULING OUT by Tiffany King 
Working at a sports bar, Courtney has become a pro at sidestepping propositions from arrogant jocks—which makes her a more elusive catch for campus basketball star Dalton than he expected. But when he falls for the saucy waitress, Dalton will have to rethink his game plan to prove he’s not the jerk Courtney expects.

BENEATH YOUR LAYERS by Christina Lee 
In order to ace her fashion internship, Chloe must team up with local college dropout and set builder, Blake—much to her chagrin. But after some "hands-on" experience, Chloe will have to ask herself if Blake factors into her carefully laid plans…



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I received a copy of this book from InkSlinger PR, for a blog tour, in exchange for an honest review. In no way did this sway either my review or my rating!

Since this is an anthology from four separate authors I'll be posting a mini review for each story along with the individual rating I would have given it if it were it's own book. Above will be the average rating of the four added together. On with the reviews!

Behind Her Eyes by A.L. Jackson ★★★

I was really back and forth over this first story. I never quite liked Misha's character. She came across very immature and too much high drama. She was the type of person that I normally try to avoid having around me or in my life. I understand that what she went through with her ex was awful, it really truly was. But every scene from Misha's POV mentioned Hunter, the ex, at least once or twice. It got old, her highly dramatic internal ramblings got old. So it was difficult to feel a connection to her except for maybe a slight twinge of something towards the end. 

As for Darryn he started out awesome. He was confident and sort of intense but there didn't seem to be any inner jerk underneath. Then he went, in his own thoughts when it was in his POV even, kind of stalkerish. Dude, there is no "kind of" about it when you're trying to discretely follow the girl down the street and ducking into the shadows so you don't get caught when she looks behind her. Hate to break it to you...but that's stalking! So I started to lose that loving feeling.

Really the storyline was pretty good and sure there was that awkward stalker like thing going on for a bit of the middle of it there with Darryn, but underneath that brief moment of weirdness he really was a great guy and made up for the fact that I wasn't too fond of the woman he chose to love and protect, Misha.





About the author:

A.L. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Take This Regret and Lost to You, as well as other contemporary romance titles, including Come to Me Quietly, Come to Me Softly, Pulled, When We Collide, and If Forever Comes.

She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student.  She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.

Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children. Her favorite pastime is spending time with the ones she loves.

To stay up to date with important news on A.L. Jackson, including new releases, sales, and exclusive specials and excerpts, text “jackson” to 96000 to subscribe!



Saving Me by Molly McAdams 

It's funny because this story is the one I was least looking forward to. The last book by Molly McAdams I read, the only one so far actually, really screwed with my head. Understandably, I was nervous. Though surprisingly Saving Me is probably going to turn out to be the one I like the best. I wasn't so sure at first because Indy was just...well really there's no other way to put it but kind of a drunken slut? *Wince* Then along comes Kier and I absolutely freaking melted. As it says in the blurb every Saturday when she goes next door to their house parties, I can't give all the details about how freaking awesome he is, but he ends up taking care of her each night and yet the next day she doesn't have a clue everything he's done for her, that they've even talked, let alone the fact that she never even remembers his name. 

They're both so messed up. Both with really sad pasts that's made them both react to life in different ways. Indy with self-destructive behavior; drinking to forget, sleeping around, basically going wild and others that soon get revealed. Yet it was Kier's past that really hit home. Didn't even see it coming. But for him it turned him into a quiet, fades into the background introvert. Very powerful story that was worth reading the entire book for. Sigh. I wish it wasn't such a short story I want more Kier so bad! Kier and his safe door.

Keep going to read an excerpt from this story!!






About the author:

Molly grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband and furry four-legged daughters. When she's not diving into the world of her characters, some of her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling, and long walks on the beach … which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies and fried pickles, and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm ... or under one in a bathtub if there are tornados. That way she can pretend they aren't really happening.

Come be my friend!



Fouling Out by Tiffany King 

I freaking love Tiffany King's humor. I made a huge mistake reading her story at one in the morning because I ended up falling into multiple fits of laughter that would just burst out before I could remind myself of the time. Like at one point when Dalton was talking about the dog he had growing up versus the one he currently had saying that Riley, the current dog, was special and Courtney busts out with "Like runs-into-the-walls-and-tries-to-eat-his-own-tail special?" There were quite a few humorous moments like that. 

I was worried though at the beginning because initially Dalton came off as a very conceited guy and it never felt cute in any way. It just made me want to smack him upside the head. I got over it quickly though because he just doesn't let you have it any other way. You can't help but love these characters. Something Tiffany King does extremely well, character creation. This was such a quick, sweet and fun story. Once again, one I wish were longer! I'd love more of these two.





About the author:

USA Today Bestselling author Tiffany King is a lifelong reading fanatic who is now living her dream as a writer, weaving Young Adult and New Adult romance tales for others to enjoy. She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats). Her addictions include: Her iPhone and iPad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, zombies and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask. 


For information on any of Author Tiffany's titles, visit her blog at www.authortiffanyjking.blogspot.com

Email: authortiffany@yahoo.com


Beneath Your Layers by Christina Lee 

Didn't really get to see much of Chloe in the first three stories so she was still quite a mystery to me before I started this one. I really enjoyed Chole and Blake's story. It was a perfect mix of fun and lots of sexual tension. These two do not get along at the start of the book, all mostly from judgmental first impressions. Him seeing her as just this fashionista, stuck up princess and her seeing him as a dropout with zero ambition. When they're forced to work together on her final project for one of her classes Blake starts a game of truth or dare that becomes a running theme throughout the book. The sexual tension became so thick at times when they'd start playing and Blake would ask Chloe truth or dare inside I was screaming "Say dare! Dare! Dare! DARE!!" 

The storyline was great, the characters were extremely likable, I would have loved to have an entire book of Chloe and Blake they were so sweet. Really enjoyed my first book by Christina Lee, even if it was only a short story. I'm looking forward to trying out something else from her in the future!





About the author:

Mother, wife, reader, dreamer. Christina lives in the Midwest with her husband and son--her two favorite guys. 

She's addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything. She believes in true love and kissing, so writing romance novels has become a dream job. 

Author of the Between Breaths series from Penguin. ALL OF YOU, BEFORE YOU BREAK and WHISPER TO ME available now, PROMISE ME THIS on October 7th, 2014. 


Also Adult contemporary romance TWO OF HEARTS coming from Peguin/NAL on May 5th 2015.






So we were given a file that had an excerpt to pick from, one from each one of the stories, and while I loved each and every one...Saving Me completely stole my heart.

Excerpt:

Saving Me 
by Molly McAdams

“I’m about to embarrass the hell out of myself, but I don’t care anymore. I feel like when I’m near you, I’m safe, and it makes no sense to me. It is the weirdest feeling to have with someone I only know three things about.”

My eyebrows rose at that and I turned to fully face her. “Three?”

“Yes. Three things. Your name is Kier, you’re extremely quiet, and you are the biggest puzzle I’ve ever tried to figure out.”

“I’m the puzzle?”

“Yes!” she said in exasperation.

That had to have been the most backward statement I’d ever heard. “And why am I a puzzle?”

“Because of what I just told you. I don’t know you, you don’t even talk to anyone, and I feel safe when you’re near me! Why is that? I feel like I’m going crazy because all I’ve been able to think about for these past two weeks is you, and how every time you open your mouth it’s like déjà vu, and I just—I don’t know what’s happening.” Her green eyes were massive and she looked like she was on the edge of losing her shit.

I took a few steps toward her and lowered my voice. “Calm down, Indy. You’re fine.”

“I just don’t understand,” she said loudly, the pitch of her voice rising. “Do you believe in past lives?” she asked suddenly.

I paused, a laugh slipping past my lips. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Past lives? Like that whole stupid YOLO saying is really just bullshit, because we’re about to get another shot down the road?”

I tried to contain my smile, but she was really fucking adorable when she was like this. “What does that have to do with what you’re freaking out over?”

“In stories with soul mates they find each other no matter what in every life. And it’s like they have a weird connection they can’t explain.”

I closed the distance between us and dropped my head so I was looking directly into her eyes. “Are you saying we’re soul mates?”

“No!” she said, horror lacing her voice, her cheeks filling with heat.

“I think you were,” I teased.


“I wasn’t, I was just saying that in stories . . . I don’t know what I’m saying, okay? But I don’t get what’s going on with us!” 

“So now there’s an us?”


“Oh my God,” she whispered. “I need to stop talking.”


I laughed and took a step back. “I’m teasing you, Indy. And no, I don’t believe in past lives. I think we have this one, and that’s it.”


She sighed, and her body visibly relaxed. When she spoke again, she sounded exhausted—and in a way, defeated. “I don’t, either, but I can’t figure out how to explain this feeling like I know you.”

I ground my jaw for a few seconds as her green eyes held mine. “Because maybe you do know me. You’re just not ready to remember why.”




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BLOG TOUR: The Pure Souls Trilogy by Killian McRae + Giveaway!


Pure & Sinful
(Pure Souls #1)
by Killian McRae

Published:
September 20th, 2012

Genre:
Adult
Paranormal
Romance

Summary:

APPROPRIATE FOR MATURE READERS ONLY.

When it turns out your ex was actually a sexy demon sent by the devil to seduce you to evil, you'd think the next guy, no matter what he's like, couldn't be a worse decision. Enter Father Marc Angeletti, a smooth talking piece of forbidden fruit with onyx eyes and a razor wit, and Riona Dade may as well start packing her luggage for damnation now. But come Hell or... well, Hell, Marc, Riona, and demigod Dee Zitka have a mission: serve as a Pure Soul and vanquish Lucifer's minion scum from the face of the Earth to protect humanity from evil.

Oh, and don't get seduced into sin yourself, because a fallen Pure Soul is one of Lucifer's biggest thrills. As long as Riona and Marc can keep things professional and north of the sheets, no problem, right?

Yeah, that worked out great in the Thornbirds, too...



Once You Go Demon
(Pure Souls #2)
by Killian McRae

Published:
April 3rd 2013

Genre:
Adult
Paranormal
Romance

Summary:

Heaven hath no fury like a demon reborn...

Proving that Big Boss is not without a sense of whimsy, Hell’s former all-star demon, Jerry Romani, finds himself a traded player in the classic war of good versus evil. Taking up residence in the human shell left behind by the death and damnation of Marc Angeletti, Jerry seizes on the chance both to win a trip to the pearly gates and reclaim the heart of witch Riona Dade. Not pleased with the butt-kicking the Pure Souls served up, Lucifer enlists his fallen angel compatriots, the Grigori, to stir up trouble topside. Time ticks closer to the inevitable: Marc's resurrection as a demon on Earth, and Jerry is determined to protect Riona and his shiny new Pure Soul status at all costs. He quickly finds two thousand years of living la vida demonica aren’t easily undone, however, and old habits are hard to break. Walking the true path is problematic, and Jerry finds his role reversed when he must convince Riona that it’s in her best interest to do the same. Even if letting her give into temptation is more conducive to his efforts. And just as Project Woo a Witch starts bearing some forbidden fruit, Destiny delivers one hell of bitch slap. Jerry may have been sent back to Earth to do something Riona can't, something that will ensure the only thing he'll be kissing where she's concerned is his ass goodbye.



With God Intentions
(Pure Souls #3)
by Killian McRae

Published:
October 1st 2014

Genre:
Adult
Paranormal
Romance

Summary:

The last time Dee saw his father, his wife Carol lay dead at Zeus’ feet. He vowed never to return, but someone has to rescue Riona from his crazy Greek God family. At least this time the visit should be brief: he just has to sponsor Jerry, find the keystone, and get the hell out of Olympus. Crossing paths with feisty quartergod Anwen Yates proves how the best laid plans sometimes don't mean jack. Seems Anwen has a couple of demons on her tail, and Olympus with its demon-free climate would be the perfect place for her to hide out. The fact that Dee finds her frustrating, funny, and sexy as hell has nothing at all to do with his decision to bring her along. Nope. 

Biding her time with Hades and Persephone, Riona feels like a third wheel to the ancient, troubled marriage. The cherry on the cake? Uninvited angels are subject to death in Olympus, and suddenly her magic has a life of its own! Needing to get her heavenly hexing under control before her hybrid heritage is exposed, Hades helps her find an angelic mentor. And wouldn’t you know it that Azazel brings his newly-minted demon Marc Angeletti along for Riona’s target-practicing pleasure. Or maybe just her pleasure in general… 

As the days tick by, the lines of right and wrong, purpose and persuasion, and sin and sanctity begin to blur. Rumors fly, the Heaven-Hell Accords stretch thinner than a sheet of filo dough, and Zeus grows more cryptic by the day. Riona's angelic instincts throw her libido haywire, Hades makes a Hail Mary pass to save his marriage, and Jerry fears that his may be over before it’s even begun. Meanwhile, the two pillars draw closer to Olympus, and Dee closer to facing his father, his family, and his past. But can he honor his wife’s memory, while evermore wanting to do right by Anwen? The road to Hell is paved with God intentions.




About the author:

Killian McRae would tell you that she is a rather boring lass, an authoress whose characters’ lives are so much more exciting than her own. She would be right. Sadly, this sarcastic lexophile leads a rather mundane existence in the San Francisco Bay Area. She once dreamed of being the female Indiana Jones, and to that end she earned a degree in Middle Eastern History from the University of Michigan. However, when she learned that real archaeologist spend more time lovingly removing dust with toothbrushes from shards of pottery than outrunning intriguing villains with exotic accents, she decided to become a writer instead. She writes across many genres, including science fiction, fantasy, romance, and historical fiction.



Giveaway:


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BLOG TOUR: ARC REVIEW: Baby, It's Cold Outside by Various Authors + Giveaway


Title: Baby, It's Cold Outside
Authors: Jennifer Probst, Emma Chase, Kristin Proby, Melody Anne and Kate Meader
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: October 28th, 2014
Format: eARC | Pages: 384
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: InkSlinger PR
★★★★ (4/5) Stars!

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling indie authors Jennifer Probst, Emma Chase, Kristen Proby, Melody Anne, and debut author Kate Meader come together to write a sizzling romance anthology.

Outside it may be frosty, so turn the heat way up with these stories of desire!

Can a determined woman executive and a playboy billionaire survive being stranded together in a snowstorm? Jennifer Probst depicts an encounter almost too hot to handle... 

Drew and Kate play an encore to Tangled in this sexy take on a "Christmas Carol" by Emma Chase. When a Christmas Eve argument condemns Drew to a troubled night, three dream women teach him that no gift could be more tantalizing than Kate... 

With Kristen Proby, ski slopes are quite delightful. Grace Douglas is sure she'll never learn to ski, but instructor Jacob Baxter could teach her lessons of a different kind... 

Can a southern California transplant survive Montana's deep snows? Melody Anne, author of the bestselling Andersons series, melts the icy drifts completely away with the heat between sexy Hawk Winchester and brand-new teacher Natalie Duncan... 

What could be hotter than a firefighter? Kate Meader shows how, as Brett Farraday and heiress-turned-tattoo-artist Lucy Cochrane discover, nothing ignites holiday flames like rekindling a lost love...



I received a copy of this book from InkSlinger PR, for a blog tour, in exchange for an honest review. In no way did this sway either my review or my rating!

So this may be a bit long and I apologize. As it's an anthology with five separate authors I find it's only fair to give my thoughts for each story along with what I would have rated it if they were each their own books. The rating at the top of this post will then be an average of the five combined for the overall rating of the book as a whole. So let's get started shall we?

*****

Searching For You by Jennifer Probst ★★★★

Sometimes there's nothing better than reading a story where two people who appear to be enemies fall for each other. The fighting, the pushing of buttons that at same point come to a head and it explodes. Somebody gets thrown against a wall and is quite thoroughly kissed. Whew...did it suddenly get warm in here? *Pulls at collar* Ahem...anyway.

I feel like my only complaint was that for a lot of the story Riley really had a major stick up her behind and it was hard for me to relate to her. It's supposed to be part of her personality which I understand. It was just that I, personally, wasn't a big fan. It wasn't until Dylan started to loosen her up and she started to let go that I was able to get over all of it and care about her.

All in all though it was a fun and sizzling read!





About the author:

Jennifer Probst’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels, novellas, and ebooks include the acclaimed Marriage to a Billionaire series, as well as Searching for Someday and Searching for Perfect. She lives in upstate New York. Visit her at www.jenniferprobst.com.






It's A Wonderful Tangled Christmas Carol by Emma Chase ★★★★★

Holy crap have I missed Drew! I'm one of those horrible fangirls who read Tangled, fell head over heels for it and him, but has yet to move on and read past book one. I didn't even get through the first page of this one and his voice and charisma came pouring out and in turn I was already cracking up. I mean how perfect is it that Drew is in his own version of A Christmas Carol?! I expect no less but for him to have needed a little reminder that his family needs to come before work.

I swear it's rare to find a character as cocky and egotistical as Drew is and have me still loving every little bit of it. He's even smug about how adorable he had been when he goes back to the past and sees his 5 year old self. This story was all sorts of perfection. It was true to the Christmas Carol storyline yet with all the flare and humor of Drew Evans. Freaking loved it!

I will say though if you're like me and have only read the first book or not any of the Tangled series yet but plan on reading them at some point, wait to read this after. It takes place after Tied so even though I pretty much knew what to expect for the most part there is a possibility of finding out stuff you wanted to be surprised on.





About the author:

Emma Chase is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Tangles, Twisted, Tamed, and Tied. She lives in a small town in rural New Jersey with her husband and children. Follow Emma on Twitter and Facebook, or visit her at www.emmachase.net.






Saving Grace (A Love Under the Big Sky Novella) by Kristin Proby ★★★★★

I get the warm and fuzzies just thinking about this story. Big time. Which is pretty frickin' amazing seeing as how this one is a wee bit on the insta-love side. Okay, so they don't come right out and say "I love you" right away, but after a two day weekend and then three days apart, Jacob is pretty much ready to move her in and thinking about 'forever'. Normally something like this would have me irked beyond reason, but I just couldn't feel that way here. I loved every second of Grace and Jacob's story.

The thing is Jacob and Grace were hard not to love. Grace is so damn funny and, unlike her name, a complete klutz. She was so endearing. Then there's sexy, billionaire, ski resort owning, British (uh yum!) Jacob. He's so delicious and I loved seeing how smitten he becomes with Grace. Queue cheesy grin and sigh here...The chemistry with these two is so hot I'm surprised they didn't melt the snow off the mountain!

Sweet, sexy, winter fun. Totally in love with this one!



About the author:

Kristen Proby is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Loving Cara and Seducing Lauren, as well as the popular With Me in Seattle series. Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. Visit her at kristenproby.com.






Safe in His Arms by Melody Anne ★★★

Even though in the previous review I was praising the story that I felt was a bit insta-loveish, this one was just okay for me. Maybe it was because of the fact that things progressed a whole lot faster in this one. I'm not sure but I just wasn't feeling it as much. It was still enjoyable though with sweet school teacher Natalie and sexy fire chief Hawk. The sparks were there I think maybe for me this one would have been better as a full length novel.

The concept was great. I even love having meddlers trying to throw people together! I think that might have been my biggest issue though. I usually like the meddlers to be a bit more discreet.  As the reader you can see what's going on and chuckle to yourself when you realize the couple being pushed cleverly together has no chance. The prologue and the epilogue though were both from this group of ladies, one of whom being the mom of one of the main characters Hawk, that make it their mission to make sure these boys in town who run from commitment are happily settled down. I mean it's cute and funny I just like it to be a bit more low key and less out in the open if that makes sense?

Still enjoyable though and a sweet holiday read.




About the author:

Melody Anne is the New York Times bestselling author of the indie published Billionaire Bachelors series, the Baby for the Billionaire series, and the Surrender series, and she has a new series coming soon from Pocket Books. She lives in the Pacific Northwest. Visit her at www.melodyanne.com.






Rekindle the Flame by Kate Meader 

The storyline was good on this one, but it sort of fell a bit flat for me. I liked it, but I wasn't in love with it. So this will be the shortest mini review because I'm not sure what else to say. Mostly my problem was that I connected more to the secondary characters Beck's brothers. Which is the reason for my rating. They had me entertained and laughing and made it worth the read. If anything it introduced me to them and made me realize I will more than likely be getting the first book in the Hot in Chicago series by Kate Meader which is about one of the brothers named Luke. I wish I had more to say about this one. I love second chance romances but this one just wasn't for me.




About the author:

Kate Meader is the author of the sexy new series Hot in Chicago, coming soon from Pocket Books. When not writing she works in an academic library in Chicago. Visit her at www.katemeader.com.








*****

Purchase Links:



Giveaway:

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BLOG TOUR: The Collectors' Society by Heather Lyons [ARC Review +Giveaway]


Title/Series: The Collectors' Society | The Collectors' Society #1
Author: Heather Lyons
Publisher: Cerulean Books
Published: October 23rd 2014
Format: eARC | Pages: 355
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Source: InkSlinger PR
★★★★★ (5/5) Stars!

From the author of the Fate series and The Deep End of the Sea comes a fantastical romantic adventure that has Alice tumbling down the strangest rabbit hole yet.

After years in Wonderland, Alice has returned to England as an adult, desperate to reclaim sanity and control over her life. An enigmatic gentleman with an intriguing job offer too tempting to resist changes her plans for a calm existence, though. Soon, she’s whisked to New York and initiated into the Collectors’ Society, a secret organization whose members confirm that famous stories are anything but straightforward and that what she knows about the world is only a fraction of the truth.

It’s there she discovers villains are afoot—ones who want to shelve the lives of countless beings. Assigned to work with the mysterious and alluring Finn, Alice and the rest of the Collectors’ Society race against a doomsday clock in order to prevent further destruction . . . but will they make it before all their endings are erased?

*This is the first book in the Collectors' Society series.




I received a copy of this book from InkSlinger PR in exchange for an honest review for a blog tour. In no way did this sway either my review or my rating!

The adventures, the dangers, the surprising characters and the fun were all expected and quite thoroughly executed. What I wasn't expecting, and what took me completely by surprise, were the moments that made my heart flutter, my stomach flip flop, and the scorching heat that nearly had me bursting into flames.  Sigh. I have become quite thoroughly obsessed with this book and Finn. Oh. My. Heart. Thank you Heather Lyons!

Alice is perfect. She's exactly how I picture a grownup version of her character would be. A bit paranoid, a bit untrusting, sarcastic, confident, tough as nails and maybe just a slight bit off. I feel like her characteristics and demeanor were captured perfectly knowing all that she more than likely went through in her time spent in Wonderland. Alice in this book kicks so much ass. Both literally and figuratively! But one of the things I loved most, just one of the many mind you, was watching Alice adjust to life in the 21st century, something else that Heather Lyons was able to capture perfectly. Alice's awe, fear, confusion, frustrations, all of it as she learns to navigate this new, technological world around her were very accurately portrayed. Especially for her character.

So many of the characters in this book were from stories, or related to characters from stories, that I loved and read often in my youth. Every time someone would pop up that I recognized I would quite literally say to the book "Shut. Up!" It's exciting to see them all mixed together in modern day New York and interacting together. Even form relationships, argue and fall in love.

What really had me was the trip to Wonderland though. It was crazy fun and a whole new view on the place that had both my jaw dropping and laughing my butt off at the same time. It's definitely not the same Wonderland you're expecting. The characters are very...different and I was loving it. Though for a few reasons all of it's own, the trip to Wonderland is completely bittersweet as well.

The build up toward the next book was fantastic and now I'm left sitting here utterly depressed because this one isn't even released yet at the time of my writing this and I'm already dying to get my hands on the next book. It had everything; moments of humor, danger, adventure, battles, angst, pain and of course...love. Sigh. The Collectors' Society has quite easily taken the spot at the top of my list of favorite books. I can't wait for more. I need more. Like yesterday! For now I'll just have to read all of her other books while I wait (im)patiently. She says as if she's going to suffer doing it...ha right!


Giveaway!

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About the author:

Heather Lyons has always had a thing for words—she’s been writing stories since she was a kid. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. Heather is a rabid music fan, as evidenced by her (mostly) music-centric blog, and she’s married to an even larger music snob. They’re happily raising three kids who are mini music fiends who love to read and be read to.



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