MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

I hope you're having a wonderful Christmas Day and you've received tons of bookish goodies from Santa!  I hope that in the background you can smell the delicious Christmas dinner cooking away, making your mouth water until you sit down to eat it and revel in not only the taste of the food but also being with friends and loved ones.  THEN, I hope you plant yourself on the couch to watch all the Christmas movies you can find while eating all the chocolates you received today and generally stuffing yourself silly.  Also, there needs to be some kind of alcohol in there too.  

Well, at least that's what I'll be doing ;)

See you in the New Year!!!

Letterbox Love (#80)

As always, Letterbox Love is a weekly feature that I'm hosting on the blog and basically, the idea came out of a discussion with other UK book bloggers about the need to do a weekly meme with more of a British feel to it. Therefore, Letterbox Love was born and the logo was lovingly designed by Dark Readers. Letterbox Love is a way for us to share the books that come through our letterbox, galleys and e books (through our electronic letterbox) and any other bookish goodies that we want to tell you about. Letterbox Love is intended to showcase upcoming books and build up some excitement for them as well as let you know what is available out there. It is not about competing with other bloggers or boasting of any kind (c'mon, we're British and we don't do drama!)

Review Books

 Junk Miles by Liz Reinhardt (Unsolicited)

This is book two in the Brenna Blixen series and if I'm honest, I'm not even sure I was sent the first one as I definitely haven't read it.  

Slow Twitch by Liz Reinhardt (Unsolicited)

Book three in the series.  See above.

Darkest Fear by Cate Tiernan (Unsolicited)

So this sounds a little weird - a romantic story where the MC turns into a jaguar.  I've seen mixed reviews for this one and I'm not entirely sure it's for me.  I might try it and see though.

Longbourn by Jo Baker (Unsolicited)

This book is the servant's story from Pride and Prejudice.  Although I love Pride and Prejudice, I'm not sure I want to take precious reading time away from books I really want to read to read this.

Salvage by Keren David (Unsolicited)

To be quite honest, this is not my kind of book at all and sadly I don't have enough time to read books I'm not mad about.  One for the library.

 God's War by Kameron Hurley (Unsolicited)

 Not sure this is a book for me so probably one for the library.

Thank You Publishers!!!

Books Bought

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

This book has one of the best covers I've seen this year but it was mainly the plot that drew me in - a YA sci fi with romantic elements? I'm all over this book and am thinking this is probably going to be a Christmas read for me. 

Save With Jamie by Jamie Oliver

Jamie Oliver is my favourite chef and I love his recipes.  I'm always interested in ways to save money, especially where food is concerned and this book was on offer when I bought it.

 

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

I still haven't read this yet but I found a hardback that was on sale and snapped it up.

 

The Art of Marriage by Catherine Blyth

I'm always interested in the secret to a long lasting marriage and this book was on sale.

EBooks

Christmas Gluten Free Me by Laura Pope (Bought)
I'm sure you all know by now that I'm gluten intolerant and there aren't a great deal of gluten free Christmas cookbooks available but I found this one that had some great reviews.  I won't necessarily be reviewing it but you never know, I might.

Tears of Tess by Pepper Winters (Bought)
As you might know, I'm fascinated with Stockholm Syndrome and this book explores that.  I've been warned that it's a bit dark but I really enjoyed Captive in the Dark by C.J. Roberts and I see this as a similar book. 

Quintessentially Q by Pepper Winters (Bought)
This is the sequel to the above.


Fifteen Days Without a Head by Dave Cousins (Bought)
I've heard about this book before and how funny it is and so whilst it's currently on sale, I snapped it up. 

Meta by Tom Reynolds (Bought)
I think this sounds really interesting and has had some great reviews.


Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini (Bought)
I do love the sound of this book and obviously the untimely death of the author led me to his work.


Alone by Ned Vizzini (Bought)
If I'm completely honest, this is a little bit of a morbid buy especially in light of the recently untimely death of the author.  This is the last thing he wrote and I'm curious to know what was going on inside his head. 

Over the River and Through the Woods by Lacey Weatherford (Bought)
This is a cute Christmas YA read from Lacey and is perfect for the holiday season.

A Reclusive Heart by R.L. Matthewson (Bought)
I love the sound of this book but I'm disappointed to find out that it's the second book in a series. I'm guessing it can be read as a standalone but now I'm wondering if I shouldn't just read the first book. 


The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (Bought)
I've never read a Neil Gaiman book but this was on sale and I thought I would give it a go.

The Christmas Cottage by Samantha Chase (Bought)
This is a cheap Christmas read and it sounds cute.

 
No Naughties at Christmas by Tarja Moles (Bought)
No Naughties by Tarja Moles (Bought)
No Naughties Pancakes by Tarja Moles (Bought)

These gluten free cookbooks had great reviews/ratings and so I thought I would give them a go.

200 Gluten Free Recipes by Hamlyn Cookbooks (Bought)
I bought this because of the reviews/ratings.


Heir Untamed by Danielle Bourdon (Free)
Hot royals? I'm so there.


Love and Decay Volume One by Rachel Higginson (Free)
I think this sounds so interesting and I definitely want to read it but I hate that it's serialised and would rather wait for everything to be lumped together in one book.  This is the next best thing as it's episodes 1-6 but I'm pissed off at having to buy separate episodes and sometimes that's enough for me not to read any further.


Salt by Danielle Ellison (Netgalley - For Review)
So I know this author and have actually beta read for her in the past.  I'm immensely curious about this book. 

Where You'll Find Me by Erin Fletcher (Netgalley - For Review)
I really like the sound of a guy living in your garage.  I know that sounds weird but it makes me think of Santa Claus the movie where the girl hides the homeless boy in the basement.  Definitely curious about this one. 

Ruined by Jus Accardo (Netgalley - For Review) 
I LOVE the sound of this book - it has everything I'm interested in and I'm curious to know whether I'll like it.  

Kiss Me at Midnight by Diane Alberts (Netgalley - For Review)
This is a contemporary romance/erotica novel and what I liked about it was it's set around New Year's Eve.  I also like the author. 

The Sunbird by Elizabeth Wein (Netgalley - For Review)
When I requested this book, I thought it was the newest offering from Elizabeth Wein, author of Code Name Verity.  It is - BUT - this is the third book in a fantasy series of hers that I haven't read so sadly, I'm not going to be able to read and review as I don't have the time to invest in the series, especially when I already have books waiting for me that I KNOW I want to read. 

Master of the Opera, Act 3: Phantom Serenade by Jeffe Kennedy (Netgalley - For Review)
The Phantom of the Opera is one of my very favourite stories and this series is based on that story.  I have the first two to read but unlike the above, it's something I am immediately interested in. 

Year of No Sugar by Eve O Schaub (Netgalley - For Review)
This is a really unusual request for me as this is a non-fiction book but I'm immensely curious about the effects of sugar on the body and I wanted to know HOW someone could go a year without sugar and what happened because of it.


Eversea by Natasha Boyd (Netgalley - For Review)
I've only just realised that I already have this on my kindle as I bought it some time ago LOL.  Oops.




I'm not sure yet whether this will be the last Letterbox Love until the new year but I guess it depends on what's happening and where I am next week.  If I can get to a computer and I have the time, then the post will go up but I won't guarantee it at this stage.  Like everyone else, this is a very busy time for me and sometimes your life and your happiness has to come first. 


Having said all that, I do hope that you have a fantastic Christmas and get lots of bookish goodies!  I would love it if you would share the link to your own Letterbox Love post below.  Thank you :)

Waiting on Wednesday

 "Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine , that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting on...hence the title. This week's pick is Nil by Lynne Matson. Here's the synopsis:

On the mysterious island of Nil, the rules are set. You have one year. 

Exactly 365 days--to escape, or you die.

Seventeen-year-old Charley doesn’t know the rules. She doesn’t even know where she is. The last thing she remembers is blacking out, and when she wakes up, she’s lying naked in an empty rock field.

Lost and alone, Charley finds no sign of other people until she meets Thad, the gorgeous leader of a clan of teenage refugees. Soon Charley learns that leaving the island is harder than she thought . . . and so is falling in love. With Thad’s time running out, Charley realizes that to save their future, Charley must first save him. 

And on an island rife with dangers, their greatest threat is time.

I love the sound of Nil and even better, author and blogger Lindsay Cummings loved everything about it so I know I will too.  I might even hit the pre order button for this one!

Nil is published on 4th March, 2014 with no news as of yet of a UK release.  

Exquisite Betrayal available now...

 

This interesting book entitled EXQUISITE BETRAYAL by A.M. Hargrove is released today and trust me, this is one you're going to want to read, just for the synopsis alone. 

 

A male Romance Author… a convention in Vegas… a female book blogger… a goal to lose her virginity… what next? Find out when you mix all the above!

Fallon McKinley is headed to Vegas for the Wicked Wenches Romance Con and losing her virginity is only one of her goals. The other is to meet her favorite author of romance novels, R.T. Sinclair. What she doesn’t realize is that the sexy green-eyed god she rams into at the airport is the real R.T. When they keep running into each other, she’s shocked, but excited, because the attraction is irresistible.

Ryland Thomas Sinclair doesn’t want anyone to know his true identity. He’s the author that all women love, but everyone thinks he’s a female. He hides his persona behind the public face of his twin sister, keeping his own a secret. But after meeting the lovely Fallon, his intentions to avoid a relationship come to a screeching halt. She’s put an unwanted kink into his perfectly laid out plans. His unusual reaction surprises him because after a heart-shredding breakup a few years ago, he’s managed to avoid women at all costs.

Resisting Fallon becomes more difficult than he imagines. Soon things are spiraling out of control, until a major miscommunication has Fallon walking out of his home and his life. Will Ryland Thomas succeed in losing the woman he loves? Or can he win her back?

I'm so intrigued by this book and I will be reading it in the near future so look out my review.  In the meantime, you can buy your copy here:

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1gAOchP

B&N: http://bit.ly/1dEP28l

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/JyBv9u

iTunes: http://bit.ly/1c6VuI8

It is also available on UK sites.

About A.M. Hargrove:

One day, on her way home from work as a sales manager, A. M. Hargrove, realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn't do something soon, it would quickly be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life.  So, she rolled down the passenger window of her fabulous (not) company car and tossed out her leather briefcase.  Luckily, the pedestrian in the direct line of fire was a dodge ball pro and had über quick reflexes enabling him to avoid getting bashed in the head.  Feeling a tad guilty about the near miss, A. M. made a speedy turn down a deserted side street before tossing her crummy, outdated piece-of-you-know-what laptop out the window.  She breathed a liberating sigh of relief, picked up her cell phone, called her boss and quit her job.  Grinning, she made another call to her hubs and told him of her new adventure (after making sure his heart was beating properly again).

So began A. M. Hargrove's career as a YA/NA and Adult Romance writer. Her books include the following: Edge of Disaster, Shattered Edge and Kissing Fire (The Edge Series); The Guardians of Vesturon series (Survival, Resurrection, Determinant, reEmergent and Beginnings); Dark Waltz and Tragically Flawed.

Other than being in love with writing about being in love, she loves chocolate, ice cream and coffee and is positive they should be added as part of the USDA food groups. 

Author Links:
 
Blog: http://amhargrove.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Amhargrove1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMHargroveAuthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5338829.A_M_Hargrove
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/amhargrove1/


GIVEAWAY: 

Win a bracelet, a “She Said Fire” t-shirt & Boom! EP album download, signed copy of Tragically Flawed, & $100 Amazon Gift Card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Letterbox Love #79

As always, Letterbox Love is a weekly feature that I'm hosting on the blog and basically, the idea came out of a discussion with other UK book bloggers about the need to do a weekly meme with more of a British feel to it. Therefore, Letterbox Love was born and the logo was lovingly designed by Dark Readers. Letterbox Love is a way for us to share the books that come through our letterbox, galleys and e books (through our electronic letterbox) and any other bookish goodies that we want to tell you about. Letterbox Love is intended to showcase upcoming books and build up some excitement for them as well as let you know what is available out there. It is not about competing with other bloggers or boasting of any kind (c'mon, we're British and we don't do drama!)

Massive apologies for not posting last week but I worked seven days in a row and generally had a rough week all round (apart from seeing my parents) and I'm just getting over my SECOND cold in three weeks :(   Now, bear in mind that this is a double post so there are lots of books, especially digital books.

Review Books

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

This is the UK paperback version and I'm quite excited to read this.

The Queen of Dreams

This is a beautiful albeit slightly creepy looking fairy tale book that might just be a little young for me although I do love things like Alice in Wonderland and the Chronicles of Narnia.

Reaver by Larissa Ione

I'll never understand why publishers send me the fifth book in a series I haven't read but there you go.  I'll probably donate this to the library. 

Dream Eyes by Jayne Ann Krentz

This is the second book in a series I haven't read *sigh* and another one for the library.

Thank You Publishers!!!

Books Bought

A Beautiful Wedding by Jamie McGuire

I'm a huge fan of Jamie's and her Beautiful Disaster series so it was just a given that I was going to get this for my collection.  I'm only sorry it's not signed like the rest of my hardbacks but then again, what a great excuse to get her to come back to the UK! :)  I've just sent a UK paperback copy to my sister, all wrapped up for Christmas.

Books Won

Doorways to Extra Time

This is an anthology put together by Spencer Hill Press and features a story from Erica Cameron, author of Sing Sweet Nightingale (which I have on pre-order!) As a massive time travel fan, this is the perfect book for me.

Beautiful Disaster, Walking Disaster, A Beautiful Wedding (UK Paperbacks)

I won this in a UK competition and have since sent my sister A Beautiful Wedding for Christmas (which she doesn't know about so shhh, don't tell her!).  I'm either going to keep the other two or give them away :)

EBooks

Mary Berry's Christmas Collection (Bought)
This was on sale and who doesn't love a great Christmas cook book, especially when it's ridiculously well priced!  Now, if I could just get Save With Jamie for the same price, I'd be happy ;)

A Beautiful Wedding by Jamie McGuire (Bought)
The Beautiful Disaster series is one of my favourite series EVER and so of course I had to get this.  Don't ask why I bought both the hardback and the eBook, it's just something I do sometimes!

Hard As It Gets by Laura Kaye (Bought)
Ex army, a guy with tattoo's - yep, I can't resist this one.

Rumor Has It by Elizabeth Grace (Bought)
This New Adult novel has an interesting plot which makes me want to read it.  Not sure about the celebrity thing (I don't know why that aspect always turns me off) but I like the look of the rest of it. 

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (Bought)
This book has been storming up the charts and is well loved and respected by bloggers who have read it.  I've never read a book by this author but I definitely want to and this is a good start.  It's due to be published in the UK soon but I just couldn't wait for a review copy.

Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Bought)
This is a prequel novella to Jennifer's new series The Dark Elements about gargoyles.  Interesting.

Holy Frigging Matrimony by Emma Chase (Bought)
I just read Tangled recently and loved it so I had to get this.  It was good but too short and sounded more like the beginning of a sequel!

The Trouble with Goodbye by Sarra Cannon (Bought)
I'm not sure why I bought this but I think it was on sale. I like the idea that she leaves her boyfriend to follow her dreams of going to an ivy league school and things go tits up.  I'm curious enough to read it and find out what happens.

Lover Undercover by Samanthe Beck (Bought)
I do love stories about twins assuming the other's identity (for whatever reason) and there's a hot undercover detective, what's not to like?!

Extinguish by J. M. Darhower (Bought)
Yes, it's another angel book BUT I love the idea of falling for the devil and THAT is the selling point for me.  I have no idea what this says about me *blush*.

Stinger by Mia Sheridan (Bought)
I didn't realise at the time that this is the third book in the series BUT it can be read as a standalone and I was intrigued by the fact that the male character is part of the adult entertainment industry and I guess it's a secret he keeps from the girl he falls for but presumably, he has to come clean eventually.  

Cage by Harper Sloan (Bought)
It's about hot security guys, right? That's all I need to know.

Temporary Bliss by B.J. Harvey (Bought)
I like the idea of a girl who is anti commitment but then meets someone who turns this idea on it's head for her and makes her question her beliefs.  It's nice to see a female in this role for a change.

Nothing Left to Lose by Kirsty Moseley (Bought)
I have to admit that I like the plot idea but when I found out that it was on Wattpad and had 25 million reads before publication, that immediately has me curious.  

Knight's Mistress by C.C. Gibbs (Bought)
This is another billionaire "I always get what I want and I want you" story which was on sale which is the main reason I bought it. 

Jake Undone by Penelope Ward (Bought)
This is a standalone companion novel to Gemini and features a nursing student and a hot, tattooed bad boy.  You can see why I bought it. 

Break in Two by M.J. Summers (Bought)
I love the fact that this is about a woman who leaves her boyfriend (who trades her in for a younger model) and makes a new start, and then falls for a cowboy.  Okay, there's more to it than that but I want to read it. 

Found in You by Laurelin Page (Bought)
This is the sequel to Fixed in You, which I have but haven't read yet. 

Rock the Beat by Michelle A. Valentine (Bought)
I'm so behind with this series but this was on sale so I snapped it up!

Rule by Jay Crownover (Free) 
Oooh, I like the idea of a pre med student who's a bit of a rebel and of course, there's a love story in there. 

Awakening by Serena Grey (Free)
This is not an original story - innocent girl meets dangerous man and they have a relationship but apparently, the writing is good. 

Stranded by J.C. Valentine (Free)
This is a novella and a start to a new series.  I've heard good things and it was free!

That First Kiss by J.C. Valentine (Free)
This is the second book in the new series and features a hot, mercurial writer and his assistant.  They meet as strangers, sparks fly but then they realise they're going to have to work together. Oops.

Dream of You by Kate Perry (Free)
I love the plot of this book but I don't love that it's book five in the series.  As each book is about a different character, I'm guessing you can probably read this as a standalone.

Faster Harder by Colleen Masters (Free)
I love the idea that this story revolves around the formula one racing scene which is a bit refreshing and different from fighters, military etc.  I'm definitely curious.

Inevitable by Angela Graham (Free) 
I love the idea of this story as it features a single father and there's going to be a lot of cute interactions between the four year old kid and the woman who's just moved in next door.  I suspect this is how she'll get to know the REAL guy living there.  Sounds like a cute story, I just hope it has a happy ending.

Back to Creative Writing School by Bridget Whelan (Free)
What can I say other than this was free and so I thought I'd take a look at it. 


The Coconut Oil Guide (How to stay healthy, lose weight and feel good) by R. Johnson (Free)
Paleo Diet by Jane Burton (Free)
Going Paleo (A quickstart guide) by Amelia Simons (Free)
Ultimate Paleolithic Collection by Amelia Simons (Free)
4 Weeks of Fabulous Paleolithic Breakfasts by Amelia Simons (Free)
4 More Weeks of Fabulous Paleolithic Breakfasts by Amelia Simons (Free)
4 Weeks of Fabulous Paleolithic Lunches by Amelia Simons (Free)
4 Weeks of Fabulous Paleolithic Dinners by Amelia Simons (Free)
Paleo Slow Cooker Soups and Stews by Amelia Simons (Free)
Paleo Slow Cooker by Amelia Simons (Free)

I don't know how many of you know but I have an allergy/intolerance to gluten and I want to sort my diet out properly in the new year as I want to eat healthy and lose weight.  I'm interested in the Paleo diet which is basically a caveman style diet and rather than paying a fortune on books, I found these freebies so I can take a look and decide if it's something I want to do. 

Simply Gluten Free and Dairy Free by Grace Cheetham (Netgalley)
Again, I thought it might be good to check this out and see if there are any good recipes there.  It's an American book though which I didn't realise at the time so the measurements might be slightly different but that's okay.

The Pulse by Shoshanna Evers (Netgalley - For Review)
A post apocalyptic NYC is the main setting in this romance/erotic story and I'm definitely curious but I've seen mixed reviews about it which makes me nervous.

Fighting Love by Abby Niles (Netgalley - For Review)
This is the sequel to Extreme Love which DAMN, is a book I still need to read so I'd better get on that!

Song of the Fireflies by J.A. Redmerski (Netgalley - For Review)
I wasn't a massive fan of J's last book but that's okay, because this is a new series.  The best thing about this book is that it's a standalone and that's refreshing! No more waiting around for a sequel.  It does sound interesting and definitely has potential. 

Knock Out by Michele Mannon (Netgalley - For Review)
There seems to be a lot of fighter books about since the runaway success of Real by Katy Evans but I'm not complaining too much.  I think this sounds interesting and I definitely want to read it. 

Ghost Aria by Jeffe Kennedy (Netgalley - For Review)
This is the second part of the Phantom of the Opera style story. 

Eternal Ever After by A.C. James (Netgalley - For Review)
This is a paranormal romance featuring a vampire and I can't resist a vampire story.


So there you have it.  I'm going to try and post again next week and then I will probably fall a little silent over Christmas and New Year.  It depends on where I am and what's going on but we shall see.  As always, I hope you had a great week for books and please share your links below.

Waiting on Wednesday

 

  
"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine , that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting on...hence the title. This week's pick is Phenomenal X by Michelle A. Valentine. Here's the synopsis:

Good Girl. Notorious Bad-Boy. One Phenomenal Love.

From the mean streets of Detroit rises the newest superstar of professional wrestling, Xavier Cold, better known as Phenomenal X. His muscular physique makes men cower before him and woman lose their minds with desire.

Anna Cortez is fresh out of college and naive to the harsh realities of the real world. Tired of living under the thumb of her conservative family, she defies them when she accepts a job as the assistant to wrestling’s most notorious bad-boy. Phenomenal X has an animalistic nature that even good girl Anna finds hard to resist.

One night forced to share a bed in a sold-out hotel, lines blur between them and they quickly learn that one lustful night changes everything and neither one of them will ever be the same.

Having read and LOVED Real by Katy Evans, I think the newest book from Michelle A. Valentine has basically got my name written all over it.  And did I mention the AWESOME cover?!  I seriously cannot wait to read this book and whilst it has no firm release date as of yet, it's sometime next year and 2014 cannot come soon enough!

Letterbox Love (#78)

As always, Letterbox Love is a weekly feature that I'm hosting on the blog and basically, the idea came out of a discussion with other UK book bloggers about the need to do a weekly meme with more of a British feel to it. Therefore, Letterbox Love was born and the logo was lovingly designed by Dark Readers. Letterbox Love is a way for us to share the books that come through our letterbox, galleys and e books (through our electronic letterbox) and any other bookish goodies that we want to tell you about. Letterbox Love is intended to showcase upcoming books and build up some excitement for them as well as let you know what is available out there. It is not about competing with other bloggers or boasting of any kind (c'mon, we're British and we don't do drama!)

Review Books

 I did not receive any review books this week.

Books Bought

Walking Disaster (Signed, Limited Edition) by Jamie McGuire

I am a HUGE fan of Jamie's and I'm so, so glad that signed, limited edition hardbacks of her books exist. I will buy a copy of every single one of her books in this format. 

Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes

I *loved* Falling Kingdoms with a passion and I have been waiting with baited breath for the sequel.  Unfortunately though, as we have to wait so long between books, I'm scared that I've forgotten a lot of the details so now I'm torn over what to do.  Re-read the first one? Hope for the best?  Sometimes I re-read the final chapters of the first book but I don't think that will help.  I think I will read my review and go from there.

E Books

Driven by K. Bromberg (Bought)
I'm really curious about this book especially when the number one anticipated book for next year is part of this series, according to one Goodreads list I've seen.  Looking at the reviews, it's either you love it or hate it but I'm definitely curious. 

Wethering the Storm by Samantha Towle (Bought)
This is book two in this series and I haven't read book one yet but it was on offer for 99p so I couldn't resist.  I've been told by a friend and fellow blogger that I will love the books and I trust her.

Trouble by Samantha Towle (Bought)
I can't resist a good bad boy and this will be the first book I've read from this author as I think I will probably get round to this one before the others. 

Evolve Series Box Set by S. E. Hall (Bought)
I love a good Southern romance/coming of age tale and whilst this sounds along the same vein as another author whose name escapes me right now since I'm really tired, I definitely want to read these books as it sounds like a story I will like.  Thankfully, this was on offer too. 
 
Falling for the Marine by Samanthe Beck (Bought)
I didn't realise that this is book two in the McCade Brothers series but it looks like it could be read as a standalone and as always, I cannot resist a man in uniform.  I do think it sounds a little bit awesome.

Sleigh Bells in the Snow by Sarah Morgan (Bought)
I love holiday romances, especially when both parties are snowbound and so I just know I'm going to love this one.  I plan to read it soon to get me in the festive spirit.

Officer Off Limits by Tessa Bailey (Bought)
His Risk to Take by Tessa Bailey (Bought)
Protecting What's His by Tessa Bailey (Bought)
Asking for Trouble by Tessa Bailey (Bought)

These are all part of the same series and I just cannot resist men in uniform.  I just can't.  Enough said. 
 
Shattered Hearts Trilogy Box Set by Cassia Leo (Bought)
This was on offer and seemed like a series I might enjoy. 

My Sweetest Escape by Chelsea M. Cameron (Netgalley - For Review)
This is the follow up to My Favorite Mistake and if I'm honest, I cannot remember who Jos is so I'm going to have to scan the first one to figure it out.  I'm not entirely sure about a love interest called Dusty but hey, it worked in Footloose, right?  I'm going to keep an open mind with this one.

Unite by Jamie Campbell (Netgalley - For Review)
I think this is self published but putting everything aside, I prefer to concentrate on the plot and then see if the writing holds up.  I think it sounds really interesting as it's about aliens secretly integrating into society and the fact that the government don't want that to happen. Teenage aliens FTW!

Forever by Karen Ann Hopkins (Netgalley - For Review)
I didn't realise at the time that this is book three in the series and this puts a bit of a spanner in the works.  I'll have to look into the first two books. 

Enders by Lissa Price (Netgalley - For Review)
Ever since reading Starters, I haven't been able to get the book out of my head (no, seriously) and so I'm ecstatic to have the opportunity to read the sequel.

Christmas in Tahoe by Elizabeth Barrett (Netgalley - For Review)
This sounds like a really cute, short Christmas novella with sprinklings of magic and romance.  In other words, perfect for the holiday season. 

Out of Time by Jen McLaughlin (For Review)
I LOVED book one and so of course, I'm dying to read book two!

Some really great books this week (as always) and like always, I just can't decide what to read first!  I'm currently working my way through Sempre by J.M. Darhower which is really good but it's a big book and I'm having to read a bit at a time, when I can.  This is a really busy time of the year for me, and especially this year so I'm just reading when I get time to.  This is also why this post sometimes goes up on Mondays instead of Sundays.   Anyway, as always, I hope you had a great week for books and please share your links below.

For Real Review

 

Two people. One fake relationship. What could go wrong?

When virgin Shannon Travers gets fed up with her friends demanding that she find a boyfriend, she enlists the help of tattooed, mohawk-rocking graphic design student Jett. He’s more than happy to play along with their Fake Relationship, including the Ten Rules of Fake Dating that control-freak Shannon comes up with. Even if he likes to violate them. Repeatedly.

But what happens when Fake Dating starts to feel… not fake anymore? Will Shannon be willing to let go and embrace the first thing in her life that’s ever felt REAL?
Hey you...

Yeah, I mean you...

Do you fancy reading a New Adult Contemporary where the storyline isn’t all about how broken and damaged the characters are? 

You do?

Well, look no further than For Real by Chelsea M. Cameron. This book is such a cute coming of age read told from twenty year old college student Shannon’s point of view.  Shannon is still a virgin, a “situation” her friends desperately want to help her with, much to Shannon’s dismay.  You see, there just hasn’t been anyone that’s interested her and she’s not about to give it up to just anyone.  So when her friends kidnap her phone and won’t let her leave a club without going home with a guy, Shannon is pretty upset and also pretty stuck until the guy she had a chance encounter with earlier appears out of nowhere and comes to her rescue.  Now, hold on a minute.  I’m not suggesting that Shannon throws herself at an almost complete stranger.  She’s a little classier than that.  In fact, Shannon is awkward to the nth degree and often comes out with the dumbest comments at the worst possible time which makes her quite endearing actually.  Not to mention the fact that she hates confrontation and doesn’t stand up to her friends when they’re being out of line. Oh, and she’s a bit of a control freak.  Jett on the other hand is a breath of fresh air from the usual college guy portrayed in New Adult books.  I LOVE the fact that he’s different and not arrogant or pretending to be something he’s not.  He’s just a nice guy who happens to have some interesting tattoos and sometimes experiments with his hair.  GUYS DO THAT and that’s okay.  He’s also pretty nice to Shannon and treats her with the respect she deserves. 

Anyway, so Shannon’s friends keep hounding her to get a boyfriend and lose her virginity and Jett’s roommate keeps nagging him to get a girlfriend so they come up with the perfect solution.  A fake relationship that keeps everyone happy.  They set ground rules (which they both keep breaking) and before long, it’s all feeling a little bit....real.  BUT because it’s a “fake” relationship, there was no pressure on either of them so they could relax around each other and be themselves which I suppose ultimately, is what helped them fall for each other.  It doesn’t hurt that they were attracted to each other from the beginning ;)

I thought For Real was a really sweet story with realistic scenes, especially the more intimate ones and who knew that virgins used safe words ;)  I didn’t like what Shannon’s friends did to her in the beginning which was stupid, reckless and dangerous but they realised afterwards and apologised.  I was slightly concerned with Shannon’s comment to her friends of “I hope I get raped” which yes, was said in anger but it was still enough to get my shackles up.  Also, do twenty year olds really stick their tongues out?  Y’know, besides Miley Cyrus I mean.  That seems a little babyish but then Shannon was a little sheltered so you can just about believe it.

One of the very best things about For Real is that whilst both characters had some family issues, it wasn’t all about that, and they weren’t portrayed as broken/damaged like a lot of other characters in these kinds of books.   I also really enjoyed the ending and there was no cliffhanger!!  I’m not sure whether this book is part of a series or not but it could easily be a standalone and again, I find that refreshing.  Overall, I enjoyed the story and I’m glad I got the chance to read it.  If you want a cute and realistic New Adult read, then this is the book for you and it's currently on sale. BONUS. 

For Real was published on 14th November, 2013.  To find out more about Chelsea M. Cameron and her books, please click here to visit her website.

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine , that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting on...hence the title. This week's pick is The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings. Here's the synopsis:

An action-packed, blood-soaked, futuristic debut thriller set in a world where the murder rate is higher than the birthrate. For fans of Moira Young’s Dust Lands series, La Femme Nikita, and the movie Hanna.

Meadow Woodson, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been trained by her father to fight, to kill, and to survive in any situation, lives with her family on a houseboat in Florida. The state is controlled by The Murder Complex, an organization that tracks the population with precision.

The plot starts to thicken when Meadow meets Zephyr James, who is—although he doesn’t know it—one of the MC’s programmed assassins. Is their meeting a coincidence? Destiny? Or part of a terrifying strategy? And will Zephyr keep Meadow from discovering the haunting truth about her family?

Action-packed, blood-soaked, and chilling, this is a dark and compelling debut novel by Lindsay Cummings.

The Murder Complex sounds like a YA version of Minority Report (the Tom Cruise movie) and I'm almost surprised this comparison wasn't made.  Unfortunately, it also sounds a lot like another YA book coming out next year but the name of it escapes me right now, much to my annoyance.  REGARDLESS, I'm definitely curious about the book and despite the potentially violent nature of the story, I'm still hoping for some romance!!  I guess we'll see on 10th June, 2014 when the book is published.

Letterbox Love (#77)

As always, Letterbox Love is a weekly feature that I'm hosting on the blog and basically, the idea came out of a discussion with other UK book bloggers about the need to do a weekly meme with more of a British feel to it. Therefore, Letterbox Love was born and the logo was lovingly designed by Dark Readers. Letterbox Love is a way for us to share the books that come through our letterbox, galleys and e books (through our electronic letterbox) and any other bookish goodies that we want to tell you about. Letterbox Love is intended to showcase upcoming books and build up some excitement for them as well as let you know what is available out there. It is not about competing with other bloggers or boasting of any kind (c'mon, we're British and we don't do drama!)

Review Books

 I did not receive any review books this week.

 

Books Bought

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (The Official Illustrated Movie Companion)

I have a confession to make.  I LOVE collecting these movie companions for YA books turned into movies.  I saw the actual movie at the weekend which was FANTASTIC by the way and so I HAD to get this.  I just had to.

EBooks

Tell Me Why by Sydney Snow (Bought)
This is Sydney Snow AKA Lacey Weatherford's first New Adult offering.  It's had some good reviews and because it's written by Lacey, I'm definitely interested to read it.

Tease by Missy Johnson (Bought)
This is an adult erotica title and I admit, I'm intrigued to read about a male escort who falls for a woman who thinks he sells insurance LOL.

Testament by Katie Ashley (Bought)
I really enjoy Katie's books and this one sounds so different from her normal books.  I'm excited about the romance aspect of it and the fact that it doesn't have a cliffhanger.

The Mighty Storm by Samantha Towle (Bought)
I haven't read any of the books from this series yet but I bought it because it was part of an offer for 99p only that didn't happen and I got charged full price for it.  I only bought this because I wanted to see if the discount would come off and it didn't.  Thankfully, I have now been refunded and can buy the rest of the books on offer.  I just hope the discount comes off this time otherwise it's another lengthy chat with an Amazon official. 

Take a Breath by Jaimie Roberts (Free)
This sounds interesting but in the end, I one clicked because it was free for a short time.  It's a little bit taboo (falling for your mother's boyfriend) but I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt.  

In The Blood by Sara Hantz (Won) 
This is a different sort of read for me, a little bit of suspense and mystery with a possible killer.  Doesn't sound like a Lynsey sort of book but I want to take myself out of my comfort zone. 

Exquisite Betrayal by A.M. Hargrove (For Review) 
I *LOVE* the sound of this book - A male romance author writing as a woman, a female book reviewer and a conference in Vegas.  I need to read this STAT.

Just One Year by Gayle Forman (Netgalley - For Review)
I'll admit that I haven't read Just One Day yet and so I can' t read this book until I've done so and having never read one of Gayle's books before, I do so hope they live up to the hype.

Red by Alison Cherry (Netgalley - For Review)
I'm definitely curious about this one but I'm not entirely sure that the premise is for me.  I'll give it a go anyway as I like to support debut authors.

Mistress of the Wind by Michelle Diener (Netgalley - For Review)
I do love the sound of this fairy tale retelling but I almost wish it was a movie instead of a book.  This might be a good fantasy book for Christmas.

The Waking World by Tom Huddleston (Netgalley - For Review)
This is a Young Adult Arthurian fantasy set in the future.  To be honest, I don't know whether I will read it or not but I want to give it a go.

White Space by Ilsa J. Bick (Netgalley - For Review)
I have featured this book on the blog before as part of a Waiting on Wednesday post.  Billed as The Matrix meets Inkheart, how can you not want to read this book after a description like that?  Definitely sounds interesting.


So, I saw Catching Fire at the cinema this weekend and even though I was starting to get sick, I thoroughly enjoyed the film and thought it was even better than the first one.  Now I can't wait for the third one and I have a feeling I'm going to need tissues for that one as it's going to be emotional!  After being sick as a dog all weekend, that's mainly why this post is a day late so apologies for that.  I finally feel well enough to read so I'm getting back to it tonight and hitting the review copies.   What are you reading right now?  As always, I hope you had a great week for books and please share your links below.

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, originally started by Jill at Breaking the Spine , that highlights upcoming book releases everyone is waiting on...hence the title. This week's pick is Salvage by Alexandra Duncan. Here's the synopsis:

Ava, a teenage girl living aboard the male-dominated deep space merchant ship Parastrata, faces betrayal, banishment, and death. Taking her fate into her own hands, she flees to the Gyre, a floating continent of garbage and scrap in the Pacific Ocean, in this thrilling, surprising, and thought-provoking debut novel that will appeal to fans of Across the Universe, by Beth Revis, and The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood.

Another Sci Fi, another Lynsey book to add to the wishlist.  I LOVE the cover and the synopsis for this book and I've heard that there might just be a dash of romance in there too to satisfy me.  This is a debut novel and one that I'm extremely excited to read. 

Salvage is published on 1st April, 2014 with no news of a UK release at present.  

Crave Review

Billionaire Archer Bancroft always gets what he wants—and he’s wanted Ivy Emerson, his best friend’s sister, for far too long. Being forbidden and untouchable only makes her more tempting. When a million-dollar bet with his friends throws down a challenge—last bachelor standing takes all—Archer knows he can win. That is, until one enchanted evening with Ivy takes his heart for a ride.

Ivy knows Archer is nothing but bad news: Infuriating, arrogant…and completely intoxicating. But despite her best efforts, she can’t seem to keep away. When a stolen kiss leads to a night of heated passion, Ivy realizes she’s in trouble and in head over heels.

But in the light of day, everything seems clearer and Archer’s not so sure a one-night stand is all he wants. Concocting a plan to keep Ivy by his side, Archer might just be willing to lose this bet…and win the jackpot instead.

CRAVE by Monica Murphy is the first book in the Billionaire Bachelor’s Club series and a cute contemporary adult romance story. I’ll tell you straight - there’s nothing new here, no fresh, new ideas and no original character traits.  Yes it’s all been done before and it’s completely predictable BUT...it’s well written and I am a sucker for these kind of stories and remember -  just because you know the destination doesn’t mean that the journey isn’t going to be enjoyable ;)  I also love the fact that this is part of a series and we get to see each billionaire bachelor fall hard for the girl of their dreams.  I mean, why have one millionaire when you can have three, right? Nope. Not jealous AT ALL.   I do think however it might have been nice to turn this idea on its head and have at least one female billionaire in there.  Just sayin’.

CRAVE is written in dual narrative so we get to see inside both Archer and Ivy’s heads.  Let’s start with Archer.  He’s hot, he’s arrogant, he’s annoying and he doesn’t do relationships.  He’s cock sure that he’s going to win the bet his friend’s have made with him that basically, the last billionaire left standing wins all.  Personally, I don’t know why you’d want to win that bet but that’s just me.  I don’t pretend to know everything about the male ego.  There’s just one little snag in Archer’s plan though, he’s kind of had a thing for his best friend’s little sister since they were kids but she’s completely off limits, something to do with that guy code of ethics that gets thrown around every now and then.  The banter between Archer and Ivy is cute in a who-can-annoy-each-other-the-most kind of fashion and it’s obvious that these two are full of sexual frustration as the tension...Oh, the sweet, sweet tension.

Ivy is not oblivious to it either.  She’s not blind and she’s not stupid.  She knows he’s hot but just lately, the temperature has risen a few notches above boiling point and she’s been looking at him in a whole new light. One night, passion spills over and the attraction between them won’t be denied any longer.  But Archer being Archer has to be a little bit of a jerk every now and then and actually made me say OUT LOUD “Oh, Archer.  What in the hell are you doing?”  Ultimately, it comes down to what he wants more – to win the bet or to win Ivy’s heart.

Predictability is not always a bad thing, sometimes it’s good to know what you’re going to get and I have to say that I really did enjoy this story.  So much so, that I’ve pre-ordered the next two as I have to know what happens with the other billionaire bachelors, particularly Gage (Ivy’s brother) who quite frankly, sounds like a selfish, immature prick and I need to see some girl smash through to his heart and bring him to his knees.  CRAVE is a very sexy read and if you like your romances with plenty of chemistry between the main characters, then this is definitely the book for you.  Now, if only I could put myself in the story and find my very own billionaire bachelor *sigh*.

CRAVE was published on 6th August, 2013.  To find out more about Monica Murphy and her books, please click here to visit her website.

Authors for the Philippines

I'm sure by now you've all heard how Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines on 8th November, 2013 and caused mass devastation.   People were killed, homes were lost and the survivors are desperate for food, clean water and shelter.  Author Keris Stainton wanted to help and created AUTHORS FOR PHILIPPINES which is an online auction to help raise money for the Red Cross' Typhoon Haiyan Appeal.  There are A TON of items to bid on and they are all pretty special - a lot of authors, both UK and international are involved and they have donated first editions, signed copies, manuscript critiques and ARC's of unpublished books to name but a few.  Book bloggers like myself have also donated to the cause.  I have donated three signed US hardcovers of SHIVER, LINGER and FOREVER by Maggie Stiefvater and Maggie herself has added to this by donating an audiobook of THE SCORPIO RACES and some limited edition book plates with her own art from THE DREAM THIEVES.  If you're interested, you can bid on this item here and it is currently a bargain.

I would urge you to take a look at the site as there are so many amazing items to bid on for such a worthy cause.  I'm going to scour the site myself this afternoon.  The auction ends on Wednesday 20th November so you only have a few days left to get your bids in.  Good luck!

To find out more about AUTHORS FOR PHILIPPINES and to visit the website, please click here.

Letterbox Love (#76)

As always, Letterbox Love is a weekly feature that I'm hosting on the blog and basically, the idea came out of a discussion with other UK book bloggers about the need to do a weekly meme with more of a British feel to it. Therefore, Letterbox Love was born and the logo was lovingly designed by Dark Readers. Letterbox Love is a way for us to share the books that come through our letterbox, galleys and e books (through our electronic letterbox) and any other bookish goodies that we want to tell you about. Letterbox Love is intended to showcase upcoming books and build up some excitement for them as well as let you know what is available out there. It is not about competing with other bloggers or boasting of any kind (c'mon, we're British and we don't do drama!)

Review Books

Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach

I'm really interested in this Space Opera (whatever that term means) and it reminds me a little of THE STARKILLER'S CYCLE which I read online.  I love anything set in space so I'm looking forward to this one!

Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando

I love the sound of this NA novel about two girls who are about to be roommates at university and start emailing each other before the new term begins.  I remember doing something similar when I started university the first time round although not quite like this, obviously.

Thank You Publishers!!!

Books Bought

Entangled by Amy Rose Capetta

Another story set in space, this is a Young Adult novel with a bit of romance, a bit of adventure and a bit of a mission.  Basically, it has my name all over it.

Won

 Touched by Corrine Jackson (signed and personalised)

I *love* TOUCHED and read it a while ago but I was ecstatic to win a signed, personalised paperback.  I actually won it a little while ago but my friend has just sent it to me :)  I must get on with the sequel!

Gifted

 

Revelations by J. A. Souders

This is the sequel to RENEGADE and a signed and personalised copy given to me by one of my best friends from the US.  

Renegade by J. A. Souders

This is a signed, personalised ARC of RENEGADE and whilst I already have the hardcover, it's always special when you get something signed.  This is a story set under water and I definitely want to read it, it's just a question of when it starts calling me from the bookshelves. 

Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer

This book was published in 2011 but I've never heard of it.  I do enjoy a good ghost story so I think I will like this one and I trust my friend who obviously thinks that I will enjoy it. 

EBooks

A Little Too Much by Lisa Desrochers (Bought)
This is the sequel to A LITTLE TOO FAR and is Alessandro's story although strangely, it is told from the point of view of Hilary, a character mentioned briefly in the first book.  I'm reading this at the moment.

Gok's Wok by Gok Wan (Bought)
This is obviously a non fiction book and more of a cook book but it had great reviews and at the time of buying, it was 49p. Bargain!

Mine by Katy Evans (Bought)
I've already read, reviewed and loved this book but I had an ARC and wanted a finished copy.  It was on sale and so I one clicked. Simple.

Hot Secrets by Lisa Renee Jones (Free) 
I've seen mixed reviews for this but it was free and I can't resist a story about hot brothers, especially if they're in the FBI and are all protective over a girl.

Sneaking Candy by Lisa Burstein (For Review) 
I've been wanting to read this book for SO LONG and I'm ecstatic to have it on my tablet.  I'm part of the blog tour so look out for my review soon.

For Real by Chelsea M. Cameron (For Review)
Not sure this is an original story with the whole fake dating turns real scenario but I think it will be enjoyable.  I'm looking forward to finding out. 

Remy by Katy Evans (Netgalley - For Review)
I cannot get enough Remy and so I'm jumping up and down at being able to read this!!!  This is the first book in the series that is told from Remy's point of view and I believe it is his account of what happened in REAL.  Cannot wait. 

Wanted by J. Kenner (Netgalley - For Review)
This is an erotic romance and I love a forbidden romance or a guy you must stay away from as it makes the temptation that much more.  I'll give this a go. 

Ruined by Tracy Wolff (Netgalley - For Review)
This is a New Adult novel that's getting some really good reviews on Goodreads.  I'm definitely interested to read this one. 

Roman Holiday 1 Chained by Ruthie Knock (Netgalley - For Review)
I love the sound of this one although I don't really understand the serialised novel concept as I feel it's just ripping people off when they could just write a whole book and be done with it. 


I think I've been quite good with the ebooks this week (again) and like I said, it's getting close to pay day now which affects things ;)  I have just pre-ordered A Beautiful Wedding by Jamie McGuire which is a novella from the Beautiful Disaster series and a book I simply HAVE to read.  What are you reading at the moment?  I hope you had a great week for books and as always, please share your links below.

Forest of Whispers Cover Reveal

Raised by an old fortune-teller within the dark veil of the Bavarian Black Forest, Rune has learned two valuable lessons: only take from the forest that which you can use, and never, never look anyone in the eye in the village. For something terrible happened in the forest long ago... and now, the whispers of a long-dead mother with a vengeful secret have come haunting.

Forced to flee all she has ever known, Rune soon learns of a legacy she is bound to--one that is drenched in fear, witchcraft and murder--a birthright that stretches beyond the grave to the trees where Rune is no longer safe.

FOREST OF WHISPERS is the latest offering from author Jennifer Murgia and I am in love with the creepy tree-like writing on the cover!  I'm always in the mood for a good witchy tale and so I'm adding this to the witch list *coughs*, I mean wish list immediately.  FOREST OF WHISPERS is published on 9th September, 2014 by Spencer Hill Publishing.

Jennifer Murgia has long loved the dark and speculative—and it’s from these dark places that she weaves fantastical stories, often hoping to find truth in them. Her Young Adult Fantasy & Contemporary novels include the upcoming Historical FOREST OF WHISPERS (9/9/14 – Spencer Hill Press), BETWEEN THESE LINES, ANGEL STAR, LEMNISCATE & THE BLISS. She is the co-founder and coordinator of YA FEST and currently resides in Pennsylvania with her husband, her two children, and a very spoiled cat.

To find out more about Jennifer Murgia and her books, please click here to visit her website.  She is also active on Facebook and Twitter.  You can add the book on Goodreads here.

Sneaking Candy Cover Reveal

You know when there's a New Adult book that's not been released yet that you're DYING to read?  Well, SNEAKING CANDY by Lisa Burstein is that book. From the very first time I read the synopsis, I knew I had to read this and today, I'm delighted to reveal the cover and here it is...

 

All I ever wanted was to make a name for myself as Candice Salinas, creative writing grad student at the University of Miami. Of course, secretly I already have made a name for myself: as Candy Sloane, self-published erotic romance writer. Though thrilled that my books are selling and I have actual fans, if anyone at UM found out, I could lose my scholarship…and the respect of my faculty advisor, grade-A-asshole Professor Dylan.   

 Enter James Walker, super-hot local barista and—surprise!—my student. Even though I know a relationship is totally off-limits, I can’t stop myself from sneaking around with James, taking a few cues from my own erotic writing…if you catch my drift. Candy’s showing her stripes for the first time in my real life, and I’ve never had so much fun. But when the sugar high fades, can my secrets stay under wraps? 

There is so much potential for this book and I'm looking forward to reading how Candice is going to keep it all quiet and just what lengths she will go to!

SNEAKING CANDY is published on 9th December, 2013 and you can add it on Goodreads .  To find out more about Lisa Burstein and her books, please click here to visit her website.  You can also find her on  Facebook and Twitter.

Lisa Burstein is a tea seller by day and a writer by night.

She received her MFA in Creative Writing from the Inland Northwest Center for Writers at Eastern Washington University. 

Lisa is the author of the YA Novels: PRETTY AMY, DEAR CASSIE, and the NA Novella: THE NEXT FOREVER. SNEAKING CANDY is her first full-length new adult novel.