Holiday Reads

The holiday season is in full swing and now we're counting down the days until Christmas.  For some of you, this will mean that you've broken up from school/college/university and some lucky people may have time off work to enjoy as they wish (I hate you all...not really).  I'm obsessed at this time of the year with finding holiday inspired fiction to read and I thought I would share what I've found with you.

For the Young Adults...

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares 

 "I've left some clues for you.If you want them, turn the page.If you don't, put the book back on the shelf, please." 

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the "New York Times" bestselling authors of "Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist." Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions? 

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own. 

Let it Snow

 The New York Times bestseller!

Sparkling white snowdrifts, beautiful presents wrapped in ribbons, and multicolored lights glittering in the night through the falling snow. A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks. Thanks to three of today’s bestselling teen authors—John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle—the magic of the holidays shines on these hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and breathtaking kisses.

 

Decked with Holly 

Smartly blending of-the-moment pop culture references and timeless themes, Bates follows her YA debut, "Awkward", with a hilarious, over-the-top adventure about a teen girl who becomes the fake girlfriend of a cute rock star.

Taking a Christmas cruise with her two cousins from hell isn't Holly's idea of a good time. And when seasickness forces her into an open suite, she's pepper-sprayed by a gorgeous guy called Nick. But when Holly makes her exit, she's greeted by a horde of screaming teenage fans. Because Nick happens to be Dominic Wyatt, drummer for one of the hottest bands in America. Suddenly rumours are swirling and Holly's face is plastered all over the Internet. The band can't risk a scandal destroying their family-friendly image, so Dominic convinces Holly to be his fake girlfriend - just for two weeks. How bad could it be to be "fauxmantically" involved with a cute rock star? She's about to find out...

Ex-Mas 

Two Exes. One holiday adventure. Merry Ex-Mas?

Seventeen-year-old Lila Beckwith's parents just left for vacation, and Lila's all set to throw the holiday party of the season. But when her Christmas-obsessed little brother, Cooper, discovers that global warming is melting the North Pole, he and his best friend, Tyler, take off on a runaway mission to save Santa. 

Lila has to get Cooper safely home before her parents get back on Christmas Eve. But the only person who can help her is Tyler's older brother, Beau — a.k.a. Lila's musician, anti-everything ex-boyfriend. 

It'll take more than a Christmas miracle for Lila and Beau to overcome their differences and find their fugitive brothers. But could a journey destined for disaster help these polar opposites fall in love...all over again?

North Pole High: A Rebel Without a Clause

 

MEET SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD CANDYCANE CLAUS. 

She's the most popular girl at North Pole High. Her father is world-famous. And every day is Christmas. What more could any girl want?

BOYS! And the new boy, Rudy Tutti, is hot chocolate. But he hates anything to do with Christmas!

When Candy and Rudy are forced to work together on a school Christmas-tree project, her world is turned upside down: Her grades start to suffer, she loses her taste for ice cream, and now the two North-Star-cross'd teens must contend with her overprotective father — Santa Claus — before Christmas is ruined for EVERYONE!

 

 

 

 

Secret Santa 

A tale of love, romance, confusion, and Christmas perfectly timed for the holiday season.

Noelle, a hopeless romantic, just knows that her gifts have to be from her senior crush! And geeky Froggy thinks the game is the perfect way to get super-popular Celia to fall for him...except she thinks his gifts are from Jake, the school's resident bad boy, and starts to crush on him! Romantic mishaps abound, but all is revealed the night of the Winter Dance, where there's more than one surprise waiting under the mistletoe!

Mistletoe

Snuggle up beside the fire with this juicy collection of four different, but equally sizzling, winter romances.

Glittering white snowflakes. The handsome blond ski instructor. The sparkle on a cashmere skirt. Hot cocoa and kisses in front of a crackling fire. The holiday season is the ESSENCE of magic...and romance. Four of today's bestselling teen authors -- Melissa de la Cruz (THE AU PAIRS), Aimee Friedman (SOUTH BEACH), Hailey Abbott (SUMMER BOYS), and Nina Malkin (6X) -- bring us delectable tales of love and lust and holiday cheers (and tears) in this one-of-a-kind collection that teens will devour faster than a plate of Christmas cookies.

Snowed In

 Well, apparently I live here now--my mom just bought the place. And named it after me, Ashleigh, which was nice. But did she know how cold it is here

Um, it's a tiny island with not much to do, unless you really like sleigh rides. But I gotta say there are quite a few hot guys on this cold island . . .

Love on the Lifts

 

 
Winter Break super-secret perfect cocoa recipe:
8 oz steamed whole milk

(no skim! doesn't work!)
2 tbsp. dark cocoa powder (big scoops)
1 tbsp. sugar (can't be too sweet)
4 dried, crushed mint leaves (or 1 tbsp. mint syrup)

Stir thoroughly. Add mint swizzle stick. Combine with cute ski instructor, or brother's cute best friend, or cute guy you never noticed was so cute...Enjoy.

The Prince and the Snowgirl

Everyone thinks Tom Miller is lucky. For starters, Tom looks so much like England's Prince George that he makes money impersonating him. Unfortunately, that usually involves signing autographs at the latest supermarket opening. Still, Tom is one of the most popular guys at Emerson High, the finest school in the area. And best of all, nearly every girl falls for his princely good looks—every girl, that is, except Louise.

Tom wishes he could find the way to Louise's heart, and the school skiing trip seems like the perfect opportunity to impress her with his royal charm. But when the real Prince George arrives at their hotel, it's time for Tom to shed his public persona and start living up to his own potential.

Jingle Boy

 

Sixteen-year-old Paul Nicholas is a self-confessed Christmas fanatic. That’s why he’s so smitten with Sarah—a girl who smells like peppermint and thinks picking out presents to the strains of “Winter Wonderland” is the ultimate afternoon activity. But when he catches Sarah making out with Santa Claus at the Paramus Park mall, his dad’s over-the-top lights catch the Nicholas house on fire, and his mom gets fired from Fortunoff’s because of something he did for Christmas for Sarah, Paul gets caught in a downward spiral of holiday gloom. This year, the spirit of Scrooge has settled in—and it’s not going to be pretty. Or will the spirit of the holiday prevail?

 

 

 

 

French Kissmas

 

For Nicole Larson, the Christmas season in Paris is more than just a romantic interlude?it's also a homecoming. Nic studied abroad in Paris a year ago, and is back in town with her friend Annike to spend Christmas and New Year's in the City of Light. Of course, now that Nic is there, the chemistry she once had with Parisian hottie Luc instantly reignites. But why fuel a romance that has only three weeks to survive? Nic would rather spend time with her new buddy Mike . . . until it becomes clear that Mike is also interested in being more than just friends. With a backdrop of twinkling lights on the Champs-Elys?es and Parisian Christmas carols, it's going to be difficult for Nic to deny the romance around her. . .

For the Adults...

Under the Mistletoe with Me

This is a novella featuring characters from Kristen's book Come Away With Me. 

 Isaac and Stacy Montgomery have been married for ten years. They have a beautiful new baby girl, Isaac’s construction business is thriving, and Stacy enjoys being a stay at home mom, reviewing sexy romance novels for her blog. With a very large extended family, and the many privileges they enjoy, Stacy will be the first to admit that they are blessed beyond measure.

When suspicious phone calls and text messages begin, Stacy questions Isaac’s faithfulness for the first time in their marriage. She knows that a new baby brings changes into a relationship, but has the stress of parenthood sent Isaac into another woman’s arms, threatening to destroy their marriage?

This With Me In Seattle novella shows us a glimpse into Jules’ brother, Isaac, and his wife Stacy’s lives, introduces us to some new characters, and reminds us of what it means to reconnect with the person you love the most, even if they never left in the first place.

A Very Naughty Xmas 

SHARE ME by Olivia Cunning
Lindsay longs for an amazing Christmas Eve with her favorite band, Sole Regret, and spends one snowy night with two generous rock stars who love to share their gifts.

JINGLE BALL by Cari Quinn
This Christmas, rocking the holiday office party has taken on a whole new meaning...

LIGHT ME UP by Cherrie Lynn
She's dreaming of a little sparkle in her stocking this year. He's planning a night that's anything but silent...

AN INDECENT PROPOSITION by Stephanie Julian
Two men. One Woman. Half a million dollars. A very indecent proposal...

CHRISTMAS IS COMING by Raven Morris
The best gifts are all tied up with bow.. 

Naughty and Nice: Three Holiday Treats

’Tis the season for romance with three original holiday-themed novellas! Unwrap this festive eBook bundle and discover why these authors are quickly becoming the biggest names in the genre. Ruthie Knox tells a heartwarming contemporary story of first loves given the gift of a second chance; Molly O’Keefe releases the ghosts of Christmas past with a prequel to her novel Crazy Thing Called Love; and Stefanie Sloane weaves an irresistible Regency tale of fiery passion that burns deep on a cold winter’s night.

ROOM AT THE INN by Ruthie Knox

Carson Vance couldn’t wait to get out of Potter Falls, but now that he’s back to spend Christmas with his ailing father, he must face all the people he left behind . . . like Julie Long, whose heart he broke once upon a time. Now the proprietor of the local inn, Julie is a successful, seductive, independent woman—everything that Carson’s looking for. But despite several steamy encounters under the mistletoe, Julie refuses to believe in happily ever after. Now Carson must prove to Julie that he’s back for good—and that he wants her in his life for all the holidays to come.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU by Molly O’Keefe

Maddy Baumgarten and Billy Wilkins are spontaneous, in love, and prepared to elope the day after Christmas—that is, if Maddy’s family doesn’t throw a wrench in their plans. After all, Maddy’s barely out of high school and Billy’s a notorious bad boy. Maddy doesn’t care about Billy’s rough past—all she cares about is living in the here and now. But after Maddy’s mother stops speaking to her in protest, and a Christmas Eve heart-to-heart with her father leaves her with butterflies, Maddy starts to get cold feet. She loves Billy, but is she taking this big step too soon?

ONE PERFECT CHRISTMAS by Stephanie Sloane

After being jilted by her fiancé, Jane Merriweather turns to her dear childhood friend, the Honorable Lucas Cavanaugh, for support—and unlocks the smoldering desire simmering in the man’s troubled heart. Frightened by his newfound feelings, Lucas flees to Scotland. But when the Christmas season brings them together again, one glance is all that’s needed to reignite his yearning. If Lucas can convince Jane that his intentions are as pure as the falling snow, they’ll turn a dreary December into a joyous Yuletide affair.

 

 

 

 

Unwrap Me

 

 

 This year, Christmas comes early for grad-student Peyton Wagner. Being asked to T.A. a handful of classes may not be cause for celebration for her classmates, but for Peyton, it is. Not only will it ensure a snazzy recommendation from her professor at the end of the term, but it keeps her out of her Podunk town—and away from her abusive ex, Blake Hunter. Now that's a holiday miracle.

But as Peyton soon discovers, some miracles come with unexpected and deliciously tempting surprises. And when her past and present collide in a shocking yuletide twist, Peyton has to choose between playing it safe with her mended heart, or risking it all for the chance at a new future . . . and the gift of true love.

Unwrap Me is the first in a series from Carolina Jordan and Samantha Spencer for Swoon Romance. 

 

 

 

 

 

Wolfsbane and Mistletoe

 

 

The editors of "Many Bloody Returns" deliver the perfect howl-iday gift, with new tales from Patricia Briggs, Carrie Vaughn, and many more.

"New York Times" bestselling authors Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, Keri Arthur, and Carrie Vaughn—along with eleven other masters of the genre—offer all-new stories on werewolves and the holidays, a fresh variation on the concept that worked so well with birthdays and vampires in "Many Bloody Returns."

The holidays can bring out the beast in anyone. They are particularly hard for lycanthropes. Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner have harvested the scariest, funniest and saddest werewolf tales by an outstanding pack of authors, best read by the light of a full moon with a silver bullet close at hand.

Whether wolfing down a holiday feast (use your imagination) or craving some hair of the dog on New Year's morning, the werewolves in these frighteningly original stories will surprise, delight, amuse, and scare the pants off readers who love a little wolfsbane with their mistletoe. 

 

 

This is probably just a small selection of what's out there and available but whatever you choose to read this holiday, I hope you enjoy! 

  

Falling Kingdoms Blog Tour

Welcome to the final stop on the UK leg of the Falling Kingdoms Blog Tour. If you haven't heard me raving about this book all over Twitter then here is the synopsis:

In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power--brutally transforming their subjects' lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:

Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.

Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished--and finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.

Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past--and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword...

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

Trust me when I tell you that you need to read this EPIC YA fantasy and if you don't believe me, look out for my review which I'm posting on Monday.  In the meantime, I am very pleased to welcome Morgan Rhodes to the blog to discuss her Top 5 Favourite Fantasy Characters.

#5 – Q
This will reveal my secret love of Star Trek (specifically The Next Generation), but I was absolutely fascinated by the character Q, the omnipotent, immortal trickster who plagued the Enterprise and Captain Picard with his self-involved antics and games. I always loved Q’s episodes the most. Q was a badass and up to no good, but there was that slight spark of humanity in him that made him totally fascinating to watch.




#4 – BUFFY SUMMERS
Personally, I think that a large chunk of urban fantasy and YA fiction is inspired by the kick-butt vampire slayer. Buffy sure inspired me! That clueless blonde girl who always was the first to die in horror movies is instead the one who can do the damage and defend not only herself but everyone else, too. Love it! And Buffy’s vampiric love life (with either Angel or Spike) never failed to entertain (or break my heart). Buffy forever!



#3 – TYRION LANNISTER
Tyrion from Game of Thrones is, to me, that perfect mix of dark and light. He can definitely be a selfish jerk and comes from an evil family, but this guy has so many layers it’s impossible not to love him. Plus, he’s played absolutely brilliantly by Peter Dinklage in the TV series.



#2 – DOCTOR WHO
I only embraced the franchise of Doctor Who at the end of David Tennant’s reign, but quickly caught up on the series (starting from 2005, anyway). The Timelord is a fascinating and complex character that always surprises me. I must admit that Ten was my favorite and I miss him so!



#1 – HARRY POTTER
The Boy Who Lived ignited the love of reading for a generation of kids…and adults too! Both the amazing books and the thrilling movies went hand in hand in making Harry a timeless and relatable character. I just wish very hard that J.K. Rowling would change her mind and write more about him and his friends. Much more!!


Thank you Morgan!  Falling Kingdoms is one of my picks of 2012 and I urge you to pick it up.  Come back on Monday for my review but while you wait, here's the trailer to whet your appetite.

Shadow and Bone Review

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.
When a book receives nothing but glowing reviews from across the world, you know you have to sit up and pay attention. Thankfully my fellow book bloggers were right – this book is amazing.  I went on a cruise holiday back in August and I took this book with me as part of my holiday reads.  If you’ve ever been on a cruise you will know that there is ALWAYS something going on and tons to do but you know what?  I could. Not. Put. This. Book. Down.  Gone were the ornate surroundings and the call of the buffet as big as a small country, the world fell away whilst I entered a new world.  The world of Shadow and Bone (or The Gathering Dark if you’re in the UK).

After reading, I can hardly believe that Shadow and Bone is a DEBUT NOVEL and I’m super impressed with the story, the world building and the ideas behind everything.  A lot of it is Russian sounding and I’m guessing that inspiration was taken from folklore.  Shadow and Bone is a fantasy novel and I loved everything about it, especially how the romance was very much secondary to the story but still important.  Alina and Mal are orphans who grew up together and what started as a brother/sister bond became so much stronger.  Separated by fate, Alina is in trouble and Mal (one of the most gifted trackers in Ravka) is the only one who can find her but he’ll have to face the Darkling, who has his own reasons for wanting to keep Alina close.

The idea behind the Darkling fascinates me and I really liked the way that he was feared one minute but through his interactions with Alina, we saw a very human side to him.  I’ve always liked the idea of light and dark and the balance between them. In some ways, I believe the Darkling is not evil and that HE believes he is doing the right thing by bringing about much needed change for his war torn country. The idea of Grisha’s is equally as fascinating and whilst not everything is clear to me at this point, I got the general gist.  All children are tested for Grisha abilities and the magical elite are to be treasured, especially by the Darkling it would seem.

Shadow and Bone (The Gathering Dark) is a truly great book that wowed me into ignoring a bloody great big cruise ship containing four and half thousand passengers.  Now THAT’s impressive.  This is one of my favourite books of the year and I can’t wait to read more from this promising series.  Siege and Storm will be released in 2013.

Shadow and Bone/The Gathering Dark was published on 17th May, 2012 in the UK and 5th June, 2012 in the US.   To find out more about Leigh Bardugo and her books, please click here to visit her website.

US Book Trailer

UK Book Trailer

Avow Review

Scarlet remembers. Everything. Her past lives, Tristan, Gabriel, Nate: she remembers it all--including how to get to the Fountain of Youth. But time is running out.

Heather and Gabriel have been kidnapped by Raven, while the curse that has plagued Scarlet and Tristan for centuries has shifted, putting the star-crossed lovers in more danger than ever before. Water from the Fountain of Youth is the only thing that can save Scarlet and her loved ones. But the water comes at a price.

With lives--and hearts--at stake, Scarlet leads her friends on a dangerous journey to the Fountain of Youth. Where eternal life is possible, but death is certain.

I’ll be honest, I don’t even know how to start this review.  I’m a huge fan of Chelsea’s writing and this series especially which is sadly coming to an end as Avow is the last book in the series.  Normally, that would make reading a bittersweet experience but there had to be a resolution, some kind of ending for Tristan, Scarlet and Gabriel who have been suffering with the curse for the past 500 years,  God love them.  This review is sort of a love letter to The Archers of Avalon series as I’ve loved every minute of reading the books.  Anew was one of the first books that really left me speechless and incoherent after reading.  I just totally GOT the story, it was like it had been written just for me.  And who doesn’t love two hot brothers in love with the same girl?!   I should stop here and say that if you haven’t read Anew (review here) and Awry (review here) then WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GO GET THEM and also please don’t go any further or you will encounter spoilers.

You may remember the awesome ending of Awry and how Scarlet’s memories came flooding back to her, the way the curse had reversed between her and Tristan so now she was feeling HIS feelings and Tristan was finally no longer in pain.  Raven has kidnapped Heather and Gabe and you may also recall that Scarlet KNOWS where the fountain is, the very thing they’ve been searching for, for centuries, the answer to their prayers or so they believe but Scarlet is hiding something.  Apparently everything comes with a price.

In Awry, the past and the present were interlaced through alternating chapters and Chelsea took us right back to the beginning so we could learn how Scarlet became engaged to Gabriel and why Tristan is so in love with her.  And don’t forget about THAT tattoo.  I don’t think I can ever forget about THAT tattoo ;)   In Avow, we’re treated to another history lesson that shows us what happened in Scarlet’s past lives from the time she first died up until now.  We learn how they discovered about the curse, how they met Nathan and how Scarlet knows where the fountain is.  Chapter four lulls you into a hypnotic state and it’s like “Annnnnnnd.....sleep” whilst we slip into a series of flashbacks and then by Chapter 32 it’s like “3,2,1.....you’re back in the room”.

I’m going to have to be really careful with what I give away about the plot here as there is no way in hell that I’m spoiling it for you but in Avow, Team Awesome are BACK and ready to do battle.  What I will say though is that they’re going to have to kick some ashmen ass along the way, everything you’ve ever wanted to know is explained and the ending makes sense.

I don’t think there are words to show my love for Tristan and how much I adore his love for Scarlet which is literally beyond words.   Tristan is like the ultimate fictional boyfriend who would die to protect you and suffer so that you can live.  And I think you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of shirtless scenes in the book ;) Besides Tristan though, I think my favourite character has to be Heather and here I go again professing my adoration for her. She is the only character that makes me literally laugh out loud and I appreciate her comedic timing given the tension between other characters which is ever present. I’d love to see a Heather Chronicles spin off of some kind which I’d totally get behind and I am DELIGHTED (and by delighted, I mean more excited than Heather running riot in a shoe store) to exclusively reveal to you...THAT THERE WILL BE A HEATHER AND GABE SPIN OFF!!!!!! HOORAH!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t wait for that one as I know it’s going to be hilarious.  I’m already designing some kind of Heather fan club t shirt in my head LOL.

Avow is a wonderful end to a beautiful series but I’m still hoping that it’s not quite the end.  I devoured the book in one sitting and I loved every minute of it.  Now, please excuse me whilst I clean up the melted version of me that is now a puddle on the floor.  

Avow is published on 11th December, 2012.  To find out more about Chelsea Fine 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 Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire.  Here's the synopsis:


Beautiful Disaster told in Travis' point of view.

How much is too much to love?

Travis Maddox learned two things from his mother before she died: Love hard. Fight harder.

In Walking Disaster, the life of Travis is full of fast women, underground gambling, and violence. Just when he thought he was invincible, Abby Abernathy brings him to his knees.

Every story has two sides. In Jamie McGuire's New York Times bestseller Beautiful Disaster Abby had her say. Now it's time to see the story through Travis' eyes.  

I LOVED Beautiful Disaster like woah and I CANNOT WAIT to read Walking Disaster and fall in love with Travis all over again.  That boy captured my heart and would not let go (which made reading other books difficult in the aftermath).  This book cannot be released soon enough as far as I'm concerned and I already have it on pre-order ;) 

Walking Disaster is published on 16th April, 2013 in both the US and UK.  

Seducing Cinderella Review

Mixed martial arts fighter Reid Andrews’ chance to reclaim his title as light heavyweight champ is shattered when he’s injured only months before the rematch. To make sure he’s healed in time, his trainer sends him to recuperate under a professional’s care—Reid’s best friend’s little sister, all grown up.

Disorganized and bookish Lucie Miller needs some professional help of her own. She’d do anything to catch the eye of a doctor she’s crushed on for years, so when Reid offers seduction lessons in exchange for 24/7 conditioning for the biggest fight of his career, Lucie jumps at the chance.

Soon Reid finds him himself in the fight of his life...winning Lucie's heart before she gives it to someone else.

It wasn’t so much the title but the synopsis that grabbed me.  Seducing Cinderella by Gina L. Maxwell was one of the launch titles for Entangled’s Brazen imprint and within less than a month, it hit the New York Times Bestsellers List.  If that’s not enough of a recommendation, I don’t know what is. 

I have to be honest and say that whilst it sounded great, at first I wasn’t sure I would enjoy reading the book because I deal with orthopaedic surgeons and physiotherapists on a daily basis as it is but it turns out that I did enjoy it, especially when Reid burst onto the scene ;)  A mixed martial arts fighter with a hot body and a fiery thirst for life? COME TO MAMA.  He’s hot in all the right ways and even though I’m not keen on the fighting aspect (although in some ways, I have to admit that it’s hot) I would have no hesitation in going out with Reid.  

Reid has known Lucie since they were kids but hasn’t seen her in some time, they meet again when Reid has to recover fast from an injury and Lucie becomes his full time physiotherapist.  She’s agreed to go all out on the condition that Reid helps her seduce the surgeon she’s been lusting after for years – the guy who’s barely noticed her FYI.  The lines become a little blurry; as you can imagine and it seems that more than one guy is sitting up and taking notice of Lucie now.

I have to tell you that I LOVED the book.  I thought the writing was excellent with no cheesy/corny dialogue and I loved the fact that it wasn’t all about the sex – although the tension was great!  Lucie and Reid actually got to know each other again and were interested in doing so which was nice to see.  I don’t really have a bad word to say about the book and I’m really impressed overall.  I understand that there will be more books in this series and I will DEFINITELY be reading them and anything else this lady writes.

Seducing Cinderella was published on 20th July, 2012.  To find out more about Gina L. Maxwell, please click here to visit her website.

Letterbox Love (#32)

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!)

Sorry this is a day late but yesterday I spent the day with my boyfriend and we went to see Skyfall at the cinema which by the way was very good!  

Review Books

The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna

I am VERY excited about this book.  It sounds a bit like the movie The Island, only Eva is fully aware of what she is and I'm excited to see how that all pans out.

Level Two by Lenore Appelhans

I am so, so proud to hold this book in my hands as it comes from the very wonderful Lenore Appelhans, fellow book blogger from Presenting Lenore.  I couldn't believe it when I found out that she'd got a major book deal and I couldn't be more pleased for her.  The book sounds awesome and right up my street, I can't wait to read it!

Hidden Among us by Katy Moran 

Honestly, I'm not sure about this book.  It's based on folklore and features elves which makes me think of faeries and that makes me nervous. I'll probably wait for some reviews before deciding whether or not to read this one.

OMG! Is this actually my life? by Rae Earl

I LOVE this title but the protagonist is only fourteen and it all sounds a bit young for my tastes. 

Thank you publishers!!

Books Bought

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

I wasn't planning on getting this one until I found out that it was actually a take on the Peter Pan story and the narrator is Tinkerbell.  SAY WHAT? OH YES.  Also, a friend and fellow book blogger couldn't stop raving about it and ultimately, it was she that made me press the buy it now button.

EBooks
Temptation's Heat by Michelle Zink (Bought)
I hate to admit it but I've never read a book written by Michelle Zink although I do have some on the shelves! I bought this because it's an adult novella and has a great blurb from Cora Carmack (author of Losing It).  It's a paranormal romance and I'm definitely intrigued.

Finding Chase by Lacey Weatherford
After having my heart ripped out with book one, Chasing Nikki, I'm back for more as I simply have to know what happened next.
 

Back To You by Priscilla Glenn (Bought)
This is a debut novel and it was recommended by an author I trust.  I'm not sure if you can classify it as New Adult or Adult but I have a feeling it's going to be an emotional rollercoaster!

Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Bought)
Y'all have to know by now how much I love this series and pretty much anything Jennifer writes.  OF COURSE I had to get this, especially when I knew it was being released early!  I've actually just finished reading it and all I can say is OMG THAT ENDING!

Ruining Me by Nicole Reed (Bought)
A New Adult book that was recommended to me.  I like the idea of a girl and three guys from her past, present and possible future being there when it all goes to hell in a handbasket for her.  

Weighted by Ciara Knight (Bought)
A futuristic world and a girl with a gift.  Sounds good to me but I'm concerned that it's only about 30 or so pages long.  I forget why I bought this, it must have been recommended or free or something. 

Just For Now by Abbi Glines (Bought)
This is part of the Sea Breeze series which I haven't started yet but I read a snippet from this book and it was SMEXY with a capital S. 

The Vincent Brothers by Abbi Glines (Bought)
I read The Vincent Boys a while ago now, which I still haven't reviewed yet as ANOTHER version came out and now I have to read it again...anyway...at the time, I really wanted to read the sequel but it had been taken off Amazon due to the fact that they were going to be published.  All of a sudden, it came back up and I downloaded it and then I remembered that I probably shouldn't have as there will be ANOTHER version of it with 10,000 extra words and steamy scenes so I'm holding off and then downloading it all over again *sigh*.

Unwrap Me by Samantha Spencer and Carolina Jordan (Free)
This is a novella, it's romance, it's Christmasy, what's not to like?!

Pen Name: How to Create Yours by Jennifer Blanchard (Free)
I'll be honest and say that I got this one because it was about writing and it was free. 

Coming Home by Laurie Breton (Free)
Incidentally, this has the same book cover as Back To You (which I've only just noticed). To be honest, I thought it was another book but as it was free, I might just give it a go.

I've decided to stop feeling guilty about my ebooks obsession now, especially as the books ARE cheaper than getting a hard copy of them.  I hope you've all had a great week for books and please leave your links.

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 Extracted by Sherry D. Ficklin and Tyler H. Jolley. Here's the synopsis:


Welcome to the war. 
The Tesla Institute is a premier academy that trains young time travelers called Rifters. Created by Nicola Tesla, the Institute seeks special individuals who can help preserve the time stream against those who try to alter it.   The Hollows is a rogue band of Rifters who tear through time with little care for the consequences. Armed with their own group of lost teens--their only desire to find Tesla and put an end to his corruption of the time stream.   Torn between them are Lex and Ember, two Rifters with no memories of their life before joining the time war.When Lex’s girlfriend dies during a mission, the only way he can save her is to retrieve the Dox, a piece of tech which allows Rifters to re-enter their own timeline without collapsing the time stream. But the Dox is hidden deep within the Telsa Institute, which means Lex must go into the enemy camp. It’s there he meets Ember, and the past that was stolen from them both comes flooding back.   Now armed with the truth of who they are, Lex and Ember must work together to save the future before the battle for time destroys them both…again.  

Three words - Time Travel and Tesla.  THAT'S ALL I NEED TO KNOW before I hit the pre-order button.  I think this book sounds fanbloodytastic and I cannot wait to get my little mitts on it!  We've got a bit of a wait for it though as the release date is November, 2013 with no news of a UK publisher as of yet (but as always, online resellers are your friend).

Sneak Peek of AVOW

Check out the SNEAK PEEK from...

AVOW

Archers of Avalon, Book Three

*****

 

CHAPTER 1

Scarlet had her memories back, which meant two things.
She knew where the Fountain of Youth was. 
And she was mad at Tristan.
Still clutching a bloodstained knife in her hand, she marched through the graveyard and glanced over her shoulder at the green-eyed boy she’d loved for centuries. “By the way, you suck.”
“Wow,” he said.
“I can’t believe you tried to kill yourself.”
“I was trying to keep you alive.”
“Agh. Spare me your sacrificial agenda.” Another memory hit her and she turned to face him, her blood boiling. “And you let me wander around with amnesia for two years before meeting me?”
He opened his mouth, but Scarlet cut him off. “And then you let me date Gabriel? What the hell, Tristan?”
A muscle flexed in his jaw. “First of all, I was supposed to die. So I didn’t think intervening in your love life was any of my business. Gabriel made you feel happy and safe and I wasn’t about to screw that up for you. And second,” he raised his voice over the protest on Scarlet’s lips, “the reason I didn’t ‘meet’ you for two years was because I didn’t think I’d be able to follow through with killing myself if you and I were, you know…pals.” His eyes glinted.
She scowled. “Well that was selfish of you.” Turning, she resumed her walk through the dark cemetery.
“You think I was selfish?” Scarlet could almost hear his jaw drop as he followed behind her. “You’re the one who shut everyone out. You’re the one who kept secrets and stole stuff and ran away—“
“I had to run away,” she snapped.
His voice rumbled in anger. “Did you have to die too?”
Spinning around to face him—again—Scarlet met his hard eyes in the darkness. “I wasn’t trying to die.”
“But you did,” he said coldly.
They stared at each other for a moment, heartbreak colliding in the space between them. Because of her connection to him, Scarlet could feel the hurt and fear pulsing through his veins as his eyes traced over her in the moonlight.
But she could also feel the love heating his core as he took her in. And it was the love—that undying fire that blazed in him and burned through her—that stole her words away as she looked at him.
He was so beautiful. Even standing in a graveyard, covered in dirt and blood, he was striking. His dark hair fell wild around his face and his green eyes shone in the moonlight.
A shiver of desire ran through him--or was it her?--and Scarlet clenched the knife in her hand so she wouldn't do something stupid. Like crush her mouth to his and claw at his clothes until there was nothing between them but heat and skin. But that would, of course, lead to death.
Everything always led to death.
Tristan softened his voice as he scanned her face. “What happened in your last life, Scar? What are you hiding?” 
Scarlet's chest tightened at his question.
Millions of Avalon stars winked from above and reminded her of a time when she and Tristan spent their days in the trees and everything was fair; everything was simple.
Nothing was simple anymore.
He tilted his head and repeated,"What are you hiding, Scar?"
She could feel his heartbeat echoing inside her soul; powerful and constant, as his emotions swam into her.
Patience... Love... Worry...
Could she tell him the truth about the fountain? The whole truth?
The truth that would undo any hope they had of a happy ending?
She opened her mouth—
“Holy crap! Did you guys see that?” Nate jogged up to them with a knife in his hand, a grin on his face, and a trickle of blood running down his neck. “I totally kicked Ashman ass over there! I was all like hi-ya and you wanna piece of me? I was a super slayer! Buffy’s got nothing on me.”
Scarlet shut her mouth and shifted away from Tristan’s searching eyes as Nate continued.
“It was life and death out there, guys. Life and death. They just kept coming at me and I just kept putting them down.” Nate took a moment to catch his breath. “I mean, sure, I screamed like a girl a few times and accidently stabbed myself at the beginning, but still. I feel amazing! For the first time in five hundred years I feel alive.”
Moving his gaze away from Scarlet, Tristan eyed Nate's neck. “You’re bleeding.”
Nate touched his wound and drew back bloody fingers. “I’m bleeding. Haha! I have a battle wound. Oh, this is so awesome.” Tucking his knife into his waistband with a smile, he looked around. “Where’s everyone else?”
Scarlet’s stomach churned as reality whooshed in and slapped her in the face. “Raven kidnapped Heather.” Saying it out loud had emotion crawling up her throat.
Nate’s face fell. “What?”
With a deep breath, Scarlet summed up the evening’s events. “Raven is actually Clare—Heather’s boss at the coffee shop—not Laura. Laura was working for Raven, but Raven killed her and dumped her body in a grave—”
Ohmygoodness. Laura was really dead.
Scarlet blinked.
My guardian is dead.
More emotion wiggled up her throat and she quickly swallowed, trying to keep her focus on the things at hand.
Scarlet cleared her throat. “Then Raven had an Ashman kick the crap out of me so she could kidnap Heather and hold her ransom for the map to the fountain. And the lifeforce between Tristan and I shifted. So I can still feel his emotions, but he can’t feel mine anymore.”
Thank God.
If Tristan were still able to sense her, he’d know she was freaking out. Not just about Heather or Laura. But about the fountain and what finding it would mean.
A sick feeling swirled inside her gut.
“And because the lifeforce shifted, Scarlet now has her memories back,” Tristan added, sliding his eyes to her.
Nate blinked. “What? I go slaying for ten minutes and I miss everything—wait.” His eyes shot to Scarlet. “Does that mean you know where the fountain is?”
Scarlet hesitated.
It was decision time.
No truth? The whole truth? A vague truth?
“Yes,” she said, going with vague. It was always safer to start vague. “But we need to rescue Heather before we do anything else.”
Her heart started to hammer at the thought of her happy friend being held hostage by a vengeful witch with a drug problem. So many things could go wrong.
So many things already had.
Nate nodded. “Did you see which direction Raven took her?”
Looking around the cemetery, Scarlet shook her head and let out a groan of frustration as guilt swamped her soul. “This is all my fault. I should have stayed by Heather’s side. I should have protected her.”
Tristan scanned the premises. His coat was sliced open in several places and dark splotches of blood slowly seeped through the shredded fabric of the black T-shirt he wore beneath.
His immortal body wasn’t healing like it should, which meant his wounds had been inflicted with Bluestone weapons.
Not good.
“Dude.” Nate caught sight of Tristan’s injuries. “Are you okay?”
Tristan looked down at his stained clothes and shrugged as if the slashes in his skin were more of a nuisance than anything else. “I’m fine. The cuts are shallow. Where’s Gabriel?”
Scarlet furrowed her brow. “He came with me to the coffee shop, but he was gone when I came out. He wasn’t with you guys?”
They shook their heads and worry crept through Scarlet’s veins.
“I’m sure he’s around here somewhere.” Tristan looked calm as he glanced around, but Scarlet could feel concern coiling inside his chest. “Why don’t you two go look for him at The Millhouse and I’ll search the rest of the graveyard.”
Scarlet nodded.
Good plan.
Split up. Find Gabriel. Rescue Heather.
And stay away from the fountain.
Okay, that last part might be difficult since Amnesia Scarlet spilled the beans about the freaking map, but whatever. She could still throw them off. She could lie.
She’d been lying for years.
As Scarlet and Nate headed out of the cemetery, Tristan walked deeper into its shadowy depths. Distant music from the ongoing Avalon carnival drifted through the night air, making the wind sound eerily happy as it wrapped around headstones and swept through Scarlet’s hair.
Putting her knife away, she rubbed her head where it still throbbed from the blow Raven had dealt her with the business end of a crossbow.
One more reason to hate the crazy witch.
Everything was so screwed up—
A sharp pain darted up Scarlet’s body and twisted around her insides with liquid fire until she doubled over. Sinking to the ground, Scarlet clutched her chest and stomach, afraid her skin might split open and empty her insides all over the grass. She tried to suck in air, but her lungs wouldn’t work.
Nate dropped down beside her with terror in his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
The fire turned to ice and wrapped around her organs and bones, squeezing without mercy. Scarlet couldn’t help but cry out loud.
“Tristan!” Nate called, checking her pulse before pulling at the skin beneath her eyes to check their color.
Usually when Scarlet felt pain of any sort it was because her heart was failing. And when her heart started to fail, her eyes would glow and her nose would bleed. But this didn’t feel like heart failure.
This felt like something else entirely.
She squeezed her eyes shut and grimaced until the agony started to subside. Her muscles loosened, her lungs started to expand, and soon Scarlet wasn’t hurting anymore.
Out of pain, but still very confused, she opened her eyes to find Tristan crouched beside her.
His green eyes were glowing into the night as panic oozed from his pores. “What just happened?” He searched her face.
Good question.
Scarlet rubbed her chest to make sure all her insides were where they were supposed to be. Yep. Still in one piece.
Phew.
“She just collapsed in pain.” Nate turned his eyes from Scarlet to Tristan. “Dude. You need to calm down. Your eyes are super green.”
Tristan rubbed a hand over his mouth, still looking at Scarlet. “It must be the transition. Maybe when the curse shifted we switched places, putting Scarlet in pain without me, just like I used to be in pain when I was without her.”
Well crap.
That would suck.
“I guess that would make sense.” Nate scratched the back of his head. “Especially since her pain went away when you walked back over to us.”
Scarlet stood from the ground and brushed the cemetery grass off her pants as Tristan and Nate rose to stand beside her.
A surge of guilt rolled through Tristan and Scarlet hurried to reassure him. “I’m fine now—”
“You’re not fine,” he snapped. “You fell to the ground in pain when I was only thirty feet away from you.”
Yeah.
That was weird.
Nate pressed a finger to his lips. “If the lifeforce reversed your roles—”
“Oh no.” Scarlet’s eyes widened as the possibility sank in. “If our roles have been reversed, does that mean my touch can make Tristan sick? My touch can kill him?”
She took a step away from Tristan and felt his pounding heartbeat soften. Stepping back up to him, the pounding resumed. “Oh no. No, no—”
“Okay. Don’t freak out.” Nate held a hand up.
Too late.
“His heart responds to my nearness.” Scarlet shook her head as her chest tightened in despair. “No, no, no.”
This couldn’t be happening.
“So it appears the curse has shifted,” Nate said calmly. “We can handle this.” He held up a calm hand to match his calm face and calm eyes as he looked at her. “All we need to do is make sure you two stay within close range of one another so you don’t writhe in pain, but far enough away so Tristan doesn’t, you know, die.” He shrugged. “Easy. We’ll just reenact the ten-foot rule between you guys.”
Nate stared at them. Waiting.
“What?” Tristan said.
Nate rolled his eyes and thrust his hands in between Scarlet and Tristan, pushing their bodies away from one another. “Ten feet. There you go. Now let’s go find Gabriel so we can get our Heather rescue on. Then we can finally find the Fountain of Youth and cure everyone of this God-forsaken and completely obnoxious curse.” Turning, he headed down the street toward the Millhouse.
Scarlet and Tristan slowly followed after him in stunned silence. 
She was killing Tristan with her very presence.
Glancing at him under the yellow glow of the streetlamps, Scarlet ran her eyes along his profile as he stared forward with a clenched jaw. He was fierce. He was patient. He was everything she loved.
And he was dying.
Divulging the truth about the Fountain of Youth was no longer an option. Tristan’s life was at stake.
To hell with happily ever after.

Available December 11th! 

Grab the first two books in the Archers of Avalon series!

 

   
   

ANEW (book one)          AWRY (book two)

Kindle  Paperback  Nook           Kindle  Paperback  Nook

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake Review

A lady does not smoke cheroot. She does not ride astride. She does not fence or attend duels. She does not fire a pistol, and she never gambles at a gentlemen's club.

Lady Calpurnia Hartwell has always followed the rules, rules that have left her unmarried—and more than a little unsatisfied. And so she's vowed to break the rules and live the life of pleasure she's been missing.

But to dance every dance, to steal a midnight kiss—to do those things, Callie will need a willing partner. Someone who knows everything about rule-breaking. Someone like Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston—charming and devastatingly handsome, his wicked reputation matched only by his sinful smile.

If she's not careful, she'll break the most important rule of all—the one that says that pleasure-seekers should never fall hopelessly, desperately in love.
It started with a kiss.  A very scandalous kiss I might add and that was only the first thing on ‘the list’.  At twenty eight, Lady Calpurnia Hartwood (Callie), resigned to being left on the shelf finally grabs life by the balls after her brother calls her “passive”.  She suddenly comes to the realisation that she has no idea why she should give a damn about her reputation when her only destination is spinsterville (I was practically fist pumping at this point).  Basically, Callie makes a list of scandalous things she’d like to do – like visiting a public house, smoking, drinking scotch – all things not pertaining to a lady’s behaviour and sets her heart on ticking off the items, one by one.  What she doesn’t expect however is to fall for the very guy who’s agreed to help her do it.  

Nine Rules is a thoroughly enjoyable historical romance and a very adult book with mature content (just warning you now).  That being said, I think it was very tasteful and that’s probably something to do with the historical element and the way people conversed and behaved in those days.

Although Ralston is a player, he’s respectful and a decent guy who doesn’t pretend to be anything that he’s not.  He may be a rule breaker (and because he’s a man, he can get away with it) but he treats ladies well enough whilst he’s with them and I do believe that like most players, he just haven’t found ‘the one’ yet.  Callie on the other hand is the exact opposite.  She is innocent and there’s a sad streak to her in the beginning before her true bravery comes to light.  She is described as plain and ordinary, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that message came through loud and clear whilst reading.  Basically, the stunning looking beauty in the corner isn’t always ‘the right one’ and personality counts for A LOT.  Ralston thought she was pretty anyway so that’s all right.

What I liked most about Nine Rules is the message between the lines.  It’s a book about taking chances and risks, living life to the fullest because it’s only when Callie embraces life that she truly starts living and potentially finds the one thing she is without and has craved for so long...love.  Callie believed she was nothing and acted accordingly, she made the world believe this so they treated her as such.  I wonder what would have happened if she had been different from the outset?  WE WOULDN’T HAVE HAD SUCH A GOOD NOVEL I hear you say and yes, you’re quite right.

I really enjoyed this book and whenever I read a historical novel, I always ask myself why I don’t read more books in this genre.  After reading, I immediately bought the two companion novels in the series and I look forward to finding out what happens to the rest of the characters.  This book comes highly recommended by me and I’m definitely going to be checking out more of Sarah MacLean’s work.

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake was published on 30th March, 2010.  To find out more about Sarah MacLean and her books, please click here to visit her website.

Letterbox Love (#31)

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

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

This was one book I was DYING to read and when I found out it was being published in the UK, it totally made my day.  I forgot to show this one last week as I was sent a huge manuscript!  I took it to work and read it on night shifts and LOVED IT LIKE WOAH.  I can't stop thinking about it and I need the sequel like yesterday.  

Books Bought

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

Isn't this one of the most prettiest covers EVER?  And it's a cute story about a school trip to London.  WHY IS THIS NOT BEING PUBLISHED IN THE UK?  I hope we get to see it over here ;)

Inside HBO's Game of Thrones

A gorgeous looking companion book but apparently, I can't read it until I've seen all of season two as there are spoilers! 

Ebooks

A Very Naughty Xmas - compilation (Bought)
I'm very excited to read this Christmas themed compilation of sexy stories by some of my favourite authors!  I'm thinking this is going to be at the top of the TBR pile.

Always You by Kirsty Moseley (Bought)
This is about a girl who develops a crush on her best friend and he just so happens to be the biggest player going.  I'm interested to see where this story is going to go. 

Creating Space: The Case for Everyday Creativity (Free)
This is a 30 page manifesto that is supposed to help you make space in your life to be creative.  What can I say, it was free and I like the idea of it. 

Noah (5th Street #1) by Elizabeth Reyes (Bought)
This is adult/new adult featuring an older woman and a younger guy.  I just finished reading this one and really enjoyed it.  I believe there are more books in this series and I will definitely be reading them!

Darkride by Laura Bradley Rede (Bought)
This is a paranormal book and I'm not sure whether it's YA or NA to be honest.  I also can't remember why I bought it but I must have had a good reason and it's had nothing but 4-5 star reviews.  I did groan at the inclusion of vampires/werewolves but I'm willing to give it a go.

Crash by Nicole Williams (Bought)
One of my friends was talking about this book to me and she told me that she was really into it.  It's about a good girl and a very, very bad boy.  I like it already lol.

Jingle all the YA Sampler (Free)
This was free and is a sample of 14 books. 

Transcend by Christine Fonseca (Bought)
If you know me well, you know that The Phantom of the Opera is my all time favourite musical and love story.  When I heard that this book was based on Phantom (I think it's a YA retelling) I KNEW I had to read it and I'm excited to do so!

Touched by Corinne Jackson (Bought)
I can't even tell you how excited I am to read this, let me just say that this book has MY NAME ALL OVER IT.  It's about a girl with the ability to heal and I've always wanted to write a book like that myself so I'm sure I will take great pleasure in reading it.

None of the Regular Rules by Erin Downing (Bought)
I LOVE the synopsis for this book and to be honest, what sealed the deal was the blurb from Jennifer Echols whom I love.  Looking forward to this one. 

Sex Lessons by Daniel Grant (Bought)
This is an adult book and is supposed to be really funny.  Again, I'm looking forward to reading this and having a good laugh.

Gravity by Melissa West (For Review)
YA Sci Fi? I'M IN! I *love* the cover for this book and I'm definitely intrigued by the synopsis.  I may have to buy this for the shelves, for the cover alone. 

Flawed by Kate Avelynn (For Review)
This one sounds interesting yet tragic and explores the relationship between a brother and sister - it kind of reminds me of the relationship between two characters in the film The Butterfly Effect. 

I'm always amazed how many ebooks I buy in a week, even when I'm actively trying not to (will try harder next week).  It's been a quiet week for review books and I only bought two hardbacks this week but it's quality, not quantity ;)  I hope you had a great week for books, please leave your Letterbox Love links below!