Thursday, July 30, 2015

Playing the Player (Entangled Crush) - Review

Playing the Player (Entangled Crush)Playing the Player by Lisa Brown Roberts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars  

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was amazing! I loved the concept, and the characters were just, umph! I love Slade and Trina's characters. I have never actually read a book quite like this, and that made me love it even more.I am in love with this book! Lisa Brown Roberts has brought a fresh plot to the world of reading, and Playing the Player has definitely won me over.


Plot/Characters: Playing the Player a good, light, summery read. Slade is funny, and Trina is admirable. Obviously, the storyline follows the “bad-boy” who falls for the “good-girl”, but who does not like that in a book? I saw Slade’s character to be inspired. He was great with the kids. Granted he went from one girl to the next, but perhaps he did not realize what he was looking for until Trina set of sparks.


My Honest Opinions/Thoughts: This book was amazing! I loved the concept, and the characters were just, umph! I love Slade and Trina. I have never actually read a book quite like this, and that made me love it even more. The plot was refreshing, and I loved reading it. I also will be keeping an eye open for more of Lisa Brown Roberts’ work. 

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Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Destroying Angel Book Blitz+Giveaway!!!


Destroying Angel
Release Date: 07/09/15
187 pages

Summary from Goodreads:
Gates McFarland’s mother has just been proclaimed brain dead by a neurologist. But fifteen-year-old Gates doesn’t believe it’s true, because she hears her mother’s voice in her head. The command is simple: Find my heart. It’s the last thing Gates hears from her mother before the neurologist pulls the plug.

After contacting the Organ Procurement Agency, Gates learns there is no record of her mother’s organ donation. She meets Dr. Ascuitto, her mother’s neurologist. A menacing figure, he threatens to institutionalize Gates if she continues her inquiries.

Determined to find the truth, Gates gets help from John Ed, a street-smart, sixteen-year-old recovering addict. Together, they navigate an underworld of body theft, interstellar drug trafficking and doctors who double as dealers. She finds herself attracted to John Ed’s musical talents and emotional strength even as she is drawn ever-deeper into an alien world accessible only by use of a hallucinogenic spore. Hostile and governed by a sinister waif named Penny, the world holds secrets about Gates’ mother’s death…and the key to Gates’ survival.


Buy Links:

The book release party is Tuesday, July 28 in New Orleans. Everyone is welcome to attend! The Facebook invitation is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/391976724334930/


EXCERPT 1

I go to the sanctuary of the high school outcast—the library. It’s almost as posh as the cafeteria: a sun-filled room with floor-to-ceiling windows that have sweeping views of the Rocky Mountains. I find a DVD of The Magic Flute, my favorite opera, and check it out. I love Mozart; always have, ever since seeing a movie about him when I was little. Dad says I had a crush on the actor that plays Mozart, but it wasn’t just that. The childhood fame, the ridiculous talent, the drinking, the mysterious early death...he was like a proto-rock star. The kind of person I dream of becoming, except without the early death. I’m a little washed up for a child prodigy, but there’s still some hope for me. I just need to do something amazing this year or next, like write a symphony or become a wunderkind fashion blogger.
Or maybe just write a decent research paper.

EXCERPT 2

I need you to find my heart, Mom had said when she was dying in the hospital. Find Mom’s heart...what then? Do I cozy up to some old dude and listen to it beat? I know she’s not coming back, and I know I may be delusional thinking she spoke to me when she was already gone, but looking at these pictures sparks something in me. I want to find out who received her heart, not only because she asked me to, but also because I’m curious. And maybe I do want to hear it beat again. Maybe there is some comfort in knowing part of Mom is still alive in the world. Maybe I do want to know who received her “gift of life.”
I dial my cell phone.

EXCERPT 3

My heart speeds up. “You could get in a lot of trouble.”
John Ed shrugs as if he doesn’t care. I suppose he doesn’t. From what I’ve heard, he’s gotten into trouble before, trouble much worse than this.
“I could get in trouble,” I say.
“Forget I said anything.” John Ed releases the automatic locks and gives me a farewell salute. But I don’t want to leave. I don’t want this to be all—a favor, a polite goodbye. And as my heart beats ever faster, I think I hear my mother’s in it. Maybe this is what she wants for me. Maybe this is what she’s pulling me toward.
“There’s a land line inside,” I say. “That’s what we should use. Park in the cul de sac by the greenbelt.”

EXCERPT 4

“Penny shot him with an arrow. I think the tip was covered in Amanita spores,” I say.
Scott shakes his head. “That’s incredibly toxic. In the bloodstream, it spreads like, well, like a mold. It can take people over. Animals, too, I’d assume.”
“What happens when people get taken over by the Amanita?” I ask.
“They aren’t themselves anymore,” Scott says flatly. “That’s why you should never snort it or shoot it. But some people, well, they don’t listen and then you wind up with Sporeheads.”
“You think that’s what’s happening to Papageno? That it’s spreading though his body...colonizing him?”
“That’s what fungus does. Filthy stuff. I hate selling it. One of these days, I’m gonna tell Penny that’s it, I’m through...” Scott trails off on his rant. “Anyway, we better make sure that wound’s clean.”

EXCERPT 5

After the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, Kittie appears. With her shining eyes and radiant expression, she doesn’t seem to think I sound hokey at all. “I thought I saw a newcomer out there,” she says. “Welcome! Can I give you a hug?”
“Sure.”
Kittie’s embrace is fierce and tight—none of that awkward air-hug thing where you don’t touch the other person. I feel her pregnant belly, as round and hard as a little cannon ball.
“I could really relate to your talk,” John Ed says. “The destroying angel got me, too. For a while.”
I feel so flattered that Kittie has come up to me when the whole meeting is buzzing about her. I want her to know that her talk mattered to me, that it moved me. I’ve never heard anyone be so...what’s the word I’m looking for? Compelling? Eloquent?
“But for the grace of God...” Kittie walks her fingers across a tabletop, then mimics falling off in a dramatic arc.
“You were so honest,” I blurt. “I’ve never heard anyone be so honest before.”
I’ve heard that the truth will set you free. I never knew the truth would also compel people to listen.

EXCERPT 6

Outside, the sky is a leaden gray, and snow is beginning to fall. I slide down to the soft, deep rug, leaning against the desk. Why did I hesitate so long? I should have escaped much sooner. I’d wanted to leave before I even got here, and again the minute I saw its sign and glimmering windows in the sunset. But if I left, this place would be allowed to go on. With its deception, trafficking, faked overdoses, and whatever else is going on. Whatever weird experiments they’re running here. Cammie would be lost; possibly Lena, too. And John Ed. How could I leave him?
But if I stay, I could end up like Penny, pulled down deeper into an alien world by the Amanita, not dead but not really alive, just a detached consciousness that doesn’t even know it’s a ghost. That can trick people like me and Cammie and Lena, people who might share its fate. Yet, if what Ine is saying has any truth to it, this world is where I come from. I feel a pull and a throb like an undulating tide: the incessant beating of my mother’s hidden heart. I know I’m closer than ever before.


BOOK PLAYLIST
I play keyboards and sing backup vocals in a band called Shouts and Murmurs. There are always rehearsals and recording sessions going on in my house, so the book playlist is our debut album, “New East Berlin And Other Stories.” Listen to it here: https://shoutsandmurmurs.bandcamp.com/


AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Q: In your book, Gates’ mother dies and donates her body to science, and Gates goes on a quest to find it. Why did you write about organ donation?

A: It’s a topic that kept finding its way into my life. My friend Zane died unexpectedly and became an organ donor. Then, my friend Lauren, who had cystic fibrosis, died waiting for a lung transplant. And last, my former boyfriend Jonah, who had muscular dystrophy, died waiting for a heart transplant. So organ donation is something I was thinking a lot about while writing DESTROYING ANGEL.

Q: Were you good at English in school?
A: Yes, I was a relentless reader, so I absorbed a lot of information about grammar and spelling that way. I was very good at diagramming sentences. When I was in fifth grade, I went a year without watching TV, just to prove I could, and read some books that remain favorites today: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Gone with the Wind are among them.

Q: What does your writing process look like?
A: Well, I am a full-time journalist, so I write at work, during my lunch breaks and random down time. It just looks like me tapping at a Word document. Some days are busy, so I don’t get much time to write fiction. On those days, I try to write something, even if it’s just a sentence. Any day that I write, I consider a success, even if I only write for a couple minutes.

Q: You’re also a blogger at www.nowlistenmissy.com. Is it hard to write books and maintain a blog?
A: No. They’re very different types of writing, and I enjoy doing both. I find that the more I write, the more I can write, if that makes sense. It’s similar to how, if you start running, you’re able to run longer and longer the more you do it. Anything that motivates me to write is a good thing. Plus, I’ve made wonderful connections through blogging.

Q: What is the most useful thing you’ve found for marketing books?
A: Definitely writing guest posts for blogs and articles for online publications. Most let you link to your blog, and it’s a way to get your name out to a wide audience who might not otherwise have heard of you.

Q: Your protagonist gets in trouble with the police. Have you ever been arrested?
A: Yes, when I was 21 I spent a weekend in jail on felony possession charges. I went to court-ordered rehab, completed a year on probation, did community service, paid a lot of fines, and haven’t had any trouble with the law since. You could say I’ve been rehabilitated.



About the Author
Hi all! I'm a book fiend turned professional wordsmith who tells stories both fictional and factual. My debut novel, DESTROYING ANGEL, was published this year by Torquere Press. I freelance for publications including xoJane.com, HelloGiggles.com, BRIDES and Country Living, and I have served as a local editor for Zagat and Fodor guides.

I work as a full-time journalist at Gambit Weekly, THE BEST source for news in New Orleans (I'm biased, obviously). 


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Thorn - Cover Reveal

I am a little late in posting this cover reveal, but here it is!

Thorn
by Liv Hayes 
Release Date: 10/01/15

Summary from Goodreads:

They say that bad news comes in threes – and for Emilia Hall, this is an understatement.


The anniversary of her son's death, her husband's affair, and a scathing separation. All on her 30th birthday.

In sorrow's wake, she leaves her editorial job at one of New York's largest publishing houses behind, packs a single suitcase, and exchanges Manhattan – and the past twelve years - for her long-abandoned and deceivingly idyllic hometown of Montauk.

There, on the beach-front, she meets a boy. They share a single night together. And she believes, like everything else, that she'll never see him again.

When she takes accepts an impromptu position as a Creative Writing teacher at the local high-school, she sees a way to begin picking up the pieces. A new chapter of life. A chance to heal.

But when a familiar face appears in her classroom – the boy from the beach, Bryan Thorn – everything changes.

She is broken. He is troubled. And despite the whispers, pain, and the shared pasts that threaten to destroy them both – neither can keep themselves away.

One thing is certain: some affairs prick like thorns.

About the Author
L. Hayes is voracious reader and lover of words. When not immersed in pages, she's usually writing them.

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Before & After - Review

Before & AfterBefore & After by Nazarea Andrews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Book Description: Rike and Peyton fell in love in college.
A boy from the wrong side of the tracks, covered in ink and crooning in a bar is the last person a straight laced girl with an art major should fall for, but his rough edges made her jagged, alive, shaving away the coddled southern princess and revealing a soul wild and brilliant. They fell in love, despite her family and his past and all the reasons why it wouldn't work--and with their best friends, they made a life. Everyone was supposed to live happily ever after. They, more than anyone, knows that life doesn't go according to plan. Rike and Peyton fell in love in college. A boy with a guitar, and a poet's heart, and a girl with freckles dusted over her nose, a perfect fucking fairy tale. But what happens when the fairy tale doesn't fall apart--but is forgotten?

Plot/Characters: The description says it all, but let’s go below the surface. Our two main characters are Rike and Peyton, and their best friends are Lindsey and Scott. Rike loves Peyton; Scott and Lindsey are a THING. I love the flow of the plot, the chapters that go to the before bring out the best of the characters in the after. As all awesome books do, there are many UPs and DOWNs. Fair warning: there are F-bombs in here. So I would not suggest this book for anyone under-age. Also, I love Peyton’s brother, Brody. I wish he were a real person. I wish Rike and Scott were real! Rike and Scott’s brotherly relationship brings out how much they care about each other, and their girlfriends.. Boy will be boys. Girls will be girls. I love how the book switches from Peyton’s perspective to Rike’s. Being in both of their heads helped me to understand both points of view.
                                                                                                                 
My Honest Opinion/Thoughts: I would just like to start this off by saying, I LOVED THIS BOOK! Not only is the cover beautiful, but the actual content is exemplary. I love the characters; the plot just brought on a bunch of feels! I felt slightly uncomfortable about certain scenes and details in the dialogue. Granted, this is the first real New Adult novel I have read in my life, so I shoved it aside. This was a book I could not put down, except to each lunch. And it left me wanting more!! As it should.

Disclaimer: I have received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Links: GoodReads Amazon

About the Author: Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog.

Author's Links: Website Author-Amazon Page Twitter Blog GoodReads



Sunday, July 26, 2015

A Dance With Death - Wattpad Review


Disclaimer: This story was requested for a review by the author. Normally, I do not read books like this. But the plot itself was so intriguing, I could not refuse. And I made the cover for it. Also, this will be a non-spoiler review. If you want to know what happens, you will have to go read it on the site on your own. Let's count how many 1D puns I throw in here, shall we? Fab-Louis!


Plot/Characters: The story follows the well known boy-band, One Direction. This story is told in former band-member Zayn's POV (point of view) and wow, it is so well done. So well thought out, so well described; I think there should be another book that follows up on the events that lead up to the ones in this story. I was close to tears while reading the prologue, and knowing One Direction's history, I was able to relate to the emotions that were projected. I got spooked at times (granted, it is paranormal themed, which I have been quite a bit lately . . . ), and I was on the edge of my seat. It was ama-Zayn. 

My Honest Thoughts/Opinions: This story is bril-Liam. I did worry at the beginning, whether I would enjoy the story or not, but I did. There was one part that I did not quite follow, probably because it was something I do not support. All in all, I would give this 4.5 stars, if it were on GoodReads. 
I say that you should go and read it for yourself. You might have a different perspective than mine. I know that I have not given any phenoma-Niall details for you to bite on. If you would like to see the other extraodi-Harry works of NoviReck, here are the links - Wattpad and Instagram 

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Enemy Of Mine (Pike Logan) - Review

Enemy of Mine (Pike Logan, #3)Enemy of Mine by Brad Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was awesome! Pike Logan is an amazing character, and you do not want to come between him and his lady. The thriller kept me on the edge of my seat, and though it has taken me almost three days to read it, everything picked right back up, as though I had never put down the book. Brad Taylor brought in the knowledge of what armed forces do, and that made the book believable. I wish I had the other books, because I see this is a third installment, or something like that. I look forward to reading more of Taylor's work...

Plot/Characters: The storyline is full of hidden surprises, and crazy plot-twists around every corner. It is no question that the author does know how to give the reader(s) a picture of what this subject is like. And there are cliffhangers that leave you with questions. The characters were very realistic, and you, almost, immediately have your favorite. This book kind of reminded me of those Matt Damon movies (Green Zone, Bourne, etc), but in terms of suspense and the mysteries. Stuff like that happens all the time, we just don't see or hear about it. Obviously, this is an adult thriller. There is mention of adult elements, but it is not an overload. You want the bad guy(s) to get caught; you want Pike to get revenge for certain scenerios that take place. And you want him and Jennifer to make up their minds about each other. Yes, it has that dash of romance.

My Honest Opinions/Thoughts: I already said what I thought about it, but I definitely enjoyed this book. I wish I had more of Brad Taylor's work, because I want to continue following Pike Logan and his partner, Jennifer. Since I own a print copy, I will definitely read it again.

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Thursday, July 23, 2015

Snowed In - Review

Snowed InSnowed In by Rachel Hawthorne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this book! I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good teen romance. It is awesome!

Some would say it is a total cliché, but honestly, who cares. One thing I love most has to be Josh Wynter's character. A kindhearted, handyman, who wears plaid shirts and snow boots. Ashleigh Sneaux likes horror movies, so imagine her reaction when she saw this guy walking around.

I recently read this book again, and loved it even more. It's a quick, light read, and it just pulls you right in. Rachel Hawthorne makes romance sweet, with a little dab, a lot of swirl.

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Monday, July 20, 2015

Dodgeball High - Review

Dodgeball HighDodgeball High by Bradley Sands
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The book follow main character, Justin Lucas, a very witty, sarcastic, and very funny kind of dude. Or better said, Justin is the cocky-confident dude, with a super cool mustache. Justin speaks directly to the reader, interjecting his ever thought of those surrounding him. Here is Justin’s introduction to himself:
The first thing you should know about me is that I am very handsome, nice, smart, athletic, and funny. Basically, I'm the coolest kid on the planet. And I've even got the coolest name in the universe.
Are you ready for it?
It's...
Justin Lucas.
Whoa, I flip out a little every time I think about it.

Like the book description says, Justin starts a new high school with a curriculum dedicated to playing dodgeball. The description basically tells the entire story, but it does go much deeper than the surface. This book is very funny, especially the moments when Justin gets caught up in his sense of humor.

My Honest Opinions/Thoughts: Truth to be told, some of the chapter titles came at a slight offense, probably because I try to refrain myself from using such language. But of course, to each their own. I loved the book. I wish Justin were a real character. He kind of reminds me of one of my brothers, who is just as confident as Justin, but at a lower level. I have a small inkling that this is kind of throwing the school system to the spotlight; ‘They are not teaching the curriculum that you thought they were.’ Of course, I could be wrong. All the same, this book gave me a good laugh. I would not recommend this for under age readers. I found it a little inappropriate, and I skipped over many paragraphs so that I would not have to stop reading. I probably won’t be reading this book again, personal reason.


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Aurelious Forty; Volume One - Book Blitz+Giveaway!


Aurelious Forty; Volume One
Release Date: 12/20/14
252 pages

Summary from Goodreads:
Aurelious Forty has led a lonely, troubled life. He stays disconnected from the world around him with no family and no friends. He lives merely to exist…to survive.

Aurelious’ life changes in an instant when an impulsive decision forces him to abandon everything he has ever known. Choosing to follow strangers into a new world, he discovers he was born with a gift so strong, so unique; it could give him the power to change humanity.

But the shadows of his childhood are long and dark and run through every fiber of his soul. Can Aurelious break the chains of his past and use his gift for good? Or will the nightmare of his tormentors set him on a path of revenge so fierce it could destroy us all?



Buy Links:
AmazonBarnes & NobleKobo Books


A Deeper Look at a Main Character: Aurelious Forty
Aurelious is, at times, a bit of an enigma. He is a very emotional character and while he shares his emotional experiences with the reader, he tries desperately to hide them from the characters that he interacts with on the page. He is typically unsuccessful in masking his own emotions from those around him though he’s generally unaware of how unsuccessful he is because he’s fairly self-absorbed, at least in the beginning of the book. Enigma.

There is a lot to love in Aurelious but he makes you work at loving him, he doesn’t give it right away. There are times when you might think it’s easier to dislike him but then he draws you in and you’re reminded of what he endured as a child and you’re proud of how far he’s come.

Although he is the main character and the one telling us his story, he isn’t the hero. He is really more of a sidekick who has to learn from the hero and finds himself fumbling along the way, a lot. He fumbles so much that he makes the hero a little less heroic for a minute. But, when he starts to look outside of himself, when he starts to connect with and care for the people around him, when he shows us how much he changes and overcomes, then he does become a little bit more of a hero himself. Or at least makes us question how a hero could be defined. 

Aurelious Forty struggles. He learns. He grows. He changes. He is an imperfect character, just like the rest of us. And, in his imperfection, he is worthy of being loved, just like the rest of us. As the person who created him, I must confess, I hope people will embrace his flaws and love him.


Playlist inspired by Aurelious Forty; Volume One
I think the thing that stands out for me most with Aurelious Forty is how emotional it is. The characters and, as a result, the readers go on an emotional journey that can be pretty extreme at times. Much like our own lives, there are highs and lows for each person that we meet on the pages.

I listen to music all the time. I mean all the time. Driving, cooking, doing laundry, taking a walk, daydreaming, you name it and I’ll have music on while I’m doing it…even if I’m doing nothing. Don’t get me wrong, I love silence, I think best when there is no noise at all and I can’t write with music on but I often use music to get into the mind or soul of a character.

When I was writing the last two chapters of Aurelious Forty; Volume One I listened to It Will Rain by Bruno Mars about a million times simply because, to me, it sounded like the intensely emotional scene that I was writing. So anytime that I wasn’t actively writing that scene on the day I wrote it, I was playing that song so I could stay in the mindset of my characters. I’m pretty sure my son thought I was nuts, but the process worked for me, it’s an intense scene to say the least!

So, that song is on my playlist inspired by Aurelious Forty; Volume One along with a whole host of others. The songs are either representative of a particular character or situation they are in and they all evoke some emotion, well for me they do and maybe they will for you too. And in case you were wondering, I listened to a lot of Mumford and Sons while writing Volume Two!

A Simple Man by Shinedown
If I Tremble by Front Porch Step
Too Close by Alex Clare
Sail by Awolnation
Drowning by Banks
Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked by Cage the Elephant
Pompeii by Bastille
It Will Rain by Bruno Mars
Now and Forever by Drake
Jar of Hearts by Christina Perry
More Than Words by Extreme
Round Here by Counting Crows
Centuries by Fall Out Boy
Handlebars by Flobot
Lightning Crashes by Live
The Wolf by Mumford and Sons
Where Are You Now by Mumford and Sons
Timshel by Mumford and Sons
Plain Sailing Weather by Frank Turner
Say Something by A Great Big World
Stay by Rhianna ft. Mikky Ekko
Headstrong by Trapt
Outside by Staind
Just Breathe by Pearl Jam
Uprising by Muse

About the Author
Dianna Beirne lives in a fantasy world. Okay not really, but part of her wishes she did and, since that’s technically impossible, she writes about fantasy worlds instead. Her first Young Adult novel entitled Aurelious Forty; Volume One quickly turned into her first Young Adult series with the addition of Aurelious Forty; Volume Two and, Aurelious Forty; Volume Three.



When not writing, she’s generally daydreaming which morphs into wondering if that last daydream could turn into a book. She has also recently discovered podcasts but doesn’t exactly understand what they are or why they’re different from regular radio shows. So it’s safe to assume that her next book won’t be about a podcast. Instead she’ll just keep listening to the ones that she finds that hilarious because laughing is one of her favorite pastimes and she finds way too many things funny!



Prior to dedicating her time to writing, Dianna taught undergraduate and graduate courses about using literacy in the elementary, middle, and high school classroom. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, a Master’s degree in Literacy and a Doctorate in Education specializing in Curriculum and Teaching.


Dianna lives in New York and is the grateful mother of a son whom she misses terribly when he is away at college.


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