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Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Blog Tour: Review, Playlist, Giveawy: Sweet Thing by Renee Carlino



Mia Kelly is a twenty-five-year-old walking Gap ad who thinks she has life figured out when her father’s sudden death uproots her from slow-paced Ann Arbor to New York City’s bustling East Village. There she discovers her father’s spirit for life and the legacy he left behind with the help of an old café, a few eccentric friends, and one charming musician.

Will Ryan is good-looking, poetic, spontaneous, and on the brink of fame when he meets Mia, his new landlord, muse, and personal heartbreaker.

A story of self-discovery and friendship, Sweet Thing shines light on the power of loving and letting go.

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Review
Wow. There is so much to say about this book. Initially I had a hard time getting in to it. It was interesting, but I was just at a point where I was struggling to get in to stories. We’ve all been there. But I’m glad I kept going. There was just so much to this book!
Mia’s character frustrated the crap out of me quite often. I wanted to shake her and tell her to just open her eyes. But, I understand why she was that way. She’d been through a lot in her life, especially the most recent times. She was just confused and you just have to love her through it.
Will. Bah. That guy. He sounds totally dreamy and amazing. But, there were times I wanted to shake him, too. I wanted him to just come out and say whatever it was he needed to say instead of just stopping. However, in true Will fashion, there was a reason behind his way of doing things. It made sense in the end.
The writing throughout the book is flawless. It flows perfectly and captivates your interest. It is conversational as well as reflective, but certainly not cheesy. This was a fabulous read and I cannot WAIT to read more by Ms Carlino!

{em}

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Playlist
Sweet Thing was inspired almost entirely by my love for music and the music scene.  There are so many famous songs not only referenced in my book but performed by the characters as a tribute to those artists and further proof of my obsession.  Sweet Thing follows the trials and tribulations of two twenty-something musicians, Mia and Will, who fall in love over the course of a year and find that their shared musical appreciation and talent is the ultimate catalyst in their relationship.

I thought I would list a few songs referenced or performed from the book and then list a few that I just listened to while I was writing it.  Many times a song would evoke an emotion in me, which aided in making a scene more dramatic, powerful or sweet.


“Ask” by The Smiths

There is just something inherently happy about this song and when Will sings a couple of lines to Mia, it speaks volumes.



“Yellow Ledbetter” by Pearl Jam

This is an old favorite of mine that Will performs at Kell’s Café.  Even though he doesn’t sing the words until the very end, I just had to have him play that smooth, sexy guitar solo.


“Pictures of You” The Cure

This song has stuck with me for many, many years.  There is this building up feeling with the guitars in the beginning; it’s like a really delicate crescendo before Robert Smith starts singing.  Will plays this in the apartment, just goofing around with the song, when Mia surprises him and discovers how truly talented he is.  I always thought of Will singing these lyrics to her because I think the lyrics are powerful and romantic. I chose a live version because they jam a bit longer in the intro and I love that.


“Wash”(iTunes Session) by Bon Iver
and a stem remix called “We Washed Texas” by St. South

THIS IS THE SONG.  This song wrote half the scenes in my book.  I’m putting two versions because of how much I love it. The emotion in the original version and again that building up, the crescendo that helped me to build the drama in a scene is what I love about it.  I would get completely emotional listening to this.  When Mia asks Will to make her feel better in chapter (Track) 17, this was the song I was listening to when I wrote it. The second version I just recently started listening to while writing two new scenes from Will’s point of view.  It’s a much softer and sort of melancholy version.





“Cheer Darlin’” by Damien Rice

This is such a sexy, bluesy, sad song.  I didn’t reference it in Sweet Thing, but I felt like Will was singing this to Mia for much of the book while she strung him a long and especially when he walks in to find her with Robert.




“Hole in the Ocean Floor” by Andrew Bird

I listened to this many times, especially while Mia was in Memphis.  It helped me to visualize the scene.  I like the fragility in it.  It’s one of those songs where you need to be quiet and just listen to fully appreciate it.  This extremely talented artist inspired some of Will’s gifts.



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About the Author

Renee’s first friends were the imaginary kind and even though her characters haven’t gone away, thankfully the delusions have. She admits she’s a wildly hopeless romantic and she blames 80’s movies staring Molly Ringwald for that. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog June. When she’s not at the beach with her boys or working on the next book, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate.


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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Blog Tour: Review, Teaser, Giveaway: Light In the Wound by Christina Brae


Affected by her parents’ highly publicized divorce, Isabel grows up isolated and alone, with a resolve to never fall in love and repeat their mistakes. 

When Jesse Cain enters her life, she falls hopelessly in love with him, and every sadness she’s ever felt is washed away by his intensity and passion. But people change as they grow up. Things can never stay the same forever.

Jesse and Isabel fight to stay together, determined to hold on to what they once had. Isabel wonders if a second love can ever be enough to make her forget her first.

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Review
This book started out in the present then went back to the past and told the story until we were in the present again. I enjoyed getting to know Isabel’s character, seeing her downfalls and watching her grow. She lived a life of privilege that most don’t even get a glimpse of and I felt like I could easily live that life.  Because of events that take place during the book the identity of the husband that is mentioned at the beginning is not revealed until near the end. I had my suspicions but could never commit my guess for sure, the obvious answer would be one guy one minute and a couple of chapters later it was someone else. Due to that, this book kept me on my toes. I blissfully lost myself in this book and in some ways was sad that it ended.

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About the Author
 
I love to read, write about reading, shop, write about shopping, three day weekends, high heels and purses. I’m a wife, a mother, a corporate executive, a loyal friend and a passionate believer in true love. This is all you need to know about me. If you get my stories, you get my heart.


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Monday, July 29, 2013

Blog Tour: Review, Ten Random Facts, Giveaway: The Fab Life by Mercy Amare



It’s the life I was born to live: billionaire’s daughters, living amongst the rich & famous. But my mom kept me a secret from my dad. Until now.

I am so out of my league. Fancy parties, expensive cars, and a private school for the elite… It sounds like a dream. But everything is not as perfect as it seems on the outside. Here, the secrets are dirty, and the lies comes easy.

Welcome to my fab life.

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Review
The Fab Life started out as a fun easy read. I enjoyed stepping into the rich, privileged life with Kihanna. Being introduced to her Billionaire father at 17 and moving across the country to live with him, his wife and step-son is quite a lot to take in for Kihanna. She quickly learns how to handle her “pervy” step-brother Toby and makes a name for herself on the first day of school. I really enjoyed the banter between Kihanna and Toby. They quickly formed a sibling bond and pervy comments aside he really cares about Kihanna and would do anything to protect her. I found myself wanting to be Kihanna for a day, with the chandelier in the bathroom, $9,000 dress, and closet full of shoes already color coordinated. But all the money comes with a price.
I can’t wait to read I Hate Goodbye, book #2 in the Kihanna series, at the end of the year as well as books #3, #4 and #5 next year. I can’t tell you how excited I am that this is a 5 book series. I love longer book series where you really get to know and love (and sometimes hate) the characters. That is something you don’t always get with single and 2 book series.

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10 Random Facts
10 – When I was 12 years old, I was obsessed with Avril Lavigne. Because of that obsession, I learned to play the guitar. (I quickly out grew that phase – I am not a fan of her now).

9 – I used to play guitar & bass in a band. And we traveled. I have actually been ON THERADIO. Talking. Singing. Good times.

8 – When I first started writing, it was music. I wrote hundreds of songs. And then when I was 14, I wrote my first book. And another at 15. And so on.

7 – I have ALWAYS loved books. Before I could even read, I made my mom read to me ALLTHE TIME. It was my favorite.

6 – The first non-children’s or MA book I read was The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks when I was 12. I’ve been reading romance books ever since. (Not erotic. Romance).

5 – Growing up, I wasn’t allowed to read or watch Harry Potter. So after I turned 18, I had a field day reading HP, Twilight, and any other paranormal & fantasy book I could get my hands on.

4 – I didn’t have any friends from age 13 to 16. I was homeschooled, and very much sheltered from the world. (Don’t worry, when I turned 16 and could drive myself I made LOTS of friends).

3 – I dream big. When I was a teenager, I thought I would be a rock star. I could have been. But my dream changed. I wanted to be a writer. I did both for a long time, and then decided when I was 21 that I wanted to be a full-time writer. Now, 2 years later, here I am.

2 – I just bought a house. After way too long of writing in bed, on the couch, at the dining room table… I FINALLY have an office. Which I am decorating now! It’s purple. (Which btw, is my new favorite color. It used to be pink).

1 – I have always wanted to die my hair pink, but I never got up the nerve. I probably never will.

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About the Author
I am a YA/ NA author, with an addiction to NOS & Red Bull energy drinks. My guilty pleasure is the TV series The Lying Game and The Vampire Diaries. I'm 23 years old. I currently live in St Louis, with my husband of 2 years.


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Friday, July 26, 2013

Blog Tour: Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway: Promise Me This by Sarah Ashley Jones


Welcome to the South - where the tea is sweet and the accents are sweeter. This Southern way of life is all Charlie has ever known. It’s not until she loses the only person who pushed her to break free of the Southern Belle mold that she starts living the life she needs and not the life her parents forced on her.

Jhett has lived on the edge for as long as he could remember - constantly teetering back and forth between being a rock star and living a normal life. His rebellious and sometimes arrogant attitude is known to get him into trouble, especially with the girls who hang on his every move.

Charlie never thought that a trip to pack up her brother’s apartment would leave her feeling even more unsettled about the grainy details of her brother’s death. Her quest for information leads her straight to his old hangout and into arms of Jhett, who suspiciously knows more about her situation than he ever should.

Only a few questions remain - Can you trust someone based on their word alone? And if you make a promise, how far will you go to keep it?



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Review
First off, I LOVE the cover of this book. The sweetness of the beach and the sunset off set by the sexiness of the tattoos is a perfect pair. I admittedly have a thing for guys with tattoos so it’s no surprise that I fell in love with Jhett. I also fell in love with the story line.

Jhett does his best to fulfill a promise he made to Charlie’s brother to take care of Charlie if anything were to happen to him, he also does what her brother was never able to do; talk Charlie into being her own person and not always conforming to what was expected of her. Charlie was able to discover herself and find love in the midst of tragedy.

I will say I was bummed that it ended in a cliffhanger, I’m glad it stopped where it did and not half a chapter earlier but I will want so badly to know NOW what happens with Jhett and Charlie. I will be anxiously awaiting the release of Promise Me Forever towards the end of the year.

{A}

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Excerpt
Panic quickly spread throughout my body. Someone was in the house. It was my worst nightmare. Frantically, I searched the kitchen for the closest sharp object, producing a butcher knife from the block on the counter. I held my breath as I crept on my tiptoes down the hall.Another boom caught me off guard. It came from my
room. I hadn’t spent much time in there since I moved in, because things with Jhett escalated pretty quickly. I reached for the doorknob with one hand and raised the knife above my head with the other. Squeezing my eyes shut with hope that I could figure out how to defend myself, I flung the door open with my shoulder.
“DON’T MOVE! I HAVE A KNIFE!” I shouted into the dim room. My adrenaline spiked so high, I could have been one of those people who tossed cars around with one hand. I scanned the room furiously before my eyes landed on a small, shadowy frame in the corner.
“Seriously? That’s what you would do if someone broke in? ‘Don’t move. I have a knife.’” Laughter spilled out from the mocking figure that stood in front of me. I was so scared and confused that it was difficult to focus. I just stood there stupidly with my mouth to the floor. “Okay, let’s just put this knife away before you hurt someone, Rambo.”

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About the Author

Sarah Ashley Jones was raised in San Diego, California, but currently wrangles her husband and four dogs in Clarksville, Tennessee. When she's not writing she works in a pottery studio and comes home covered in paint on a daily basis. She has a slightly unhealthy obsession with cupcakes and chapstick. She is an eternal optimist and can often be found dancing and singing to music at any given time. It's rare to see her not smiling or laughing, but if you do, just bring her a cupcake and it will cheer her up.

Promise Me This is her first novel and is a story that weaseled its way into her heart and wouldn't leave her alone until she typed it up on the computer. She already is hard at work on ideas for her next book and hopes that the characters never stop coming to her. Her huge imagination was always in overdrive as a child and now she is beyond excited to put it to good use as an adult. She plans to write as long as she has stories that need to be told.

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Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway: In Spades by K. Pinson




Avalynn has been running from her past for a couple of years now....never very far but always extremely fast. With an alcoholic father, a void of a mother and a town full of gossip, she struggles to find her place in the world.The only thing that saved her on her path of self destruction is her beautiful little sister, her miracle. Desperately trying to save Abby from a life that Avalynn has been trying so hard to escape from, she plots to take Abby away.The plan going dangerously astray, leaving Avalynn beaten and broken in what once was the hallway mirror in her childhood home. Avalynn finally comes to in the hospital after nearly being beaten to death. Father-Dead, Mother-Missing, Abby-In foster care--Everything changing in the blink of an eye.
                                                                         
Avalynn immediately sets to work to get her life in order , receive custody of precious Abby and focusing every ounce of attention, giving Abby the the life she deserves. Avalynn, now a 22 year old Elementary School Teacher and New Mommy, struggling to raise a beautiful and feisty five year old whom was just diagnosed with Mild Autism Disorder. Lots of challenges for her to face in the midst. Avalynn is ready to go at them all head on if it means Abby is raised in a happy and healthy home. Abby is the only thing she cares about...not even caring about herself or her life...that is...until she meets him. The man that can shatter her entire world with one glance. Their relationship a roller coaster ride from start to finish. One that Avalynn never wants to get off of..but she may not have a choice. Her happily ever after coming to a screeching halt yet again. Heartbreak, love, loss and hope--This story has it all, In Spades.




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Review
K. Pinson throws you into the story head first right away. You find out the horrors of Ava’s childhood in the prologue. The remainder of the book is just as fast paced but at the same time it is not rushed and it doesn’t leave you behind.  I swooned over Dax throughout the whole book, he’s the whole package. He’s the gorgeous lead singer of the bar band In Spades with a model’s body, arms covered in tattoos and a voice that makes the ladies wet. Add to that his sweet and loving persona, music therapist day time gig who is also a wonderful cook and still visits his Gram every Sunday for dinner, who wouldn’t want in on that? Daxton slowly and successfully breaks down the walls Ava has built over the years during her focus to be everything Abby needs. Ava eventually realizes that Dax completes their package and lets him settle into their lives, a place Dax feels very comfortable in.  This book is not without its ups and downs. Dax has a strained relationship with his brother that Ava tries to figure out without prying into his past and Ava has a lifetime of verbal and physical abuse that continues to haunt her everyday life.  When a couple unexpected visitors show up it throws Dax and Ava’s worlds upside down. This book was well written and got me hooked in right away. It was one I was not able to put down. I can’t wait for House of Cards and Queen of Hearts as well as anything else she releases.

Warning- This book ends in a cliffhanger. But fear not book 2 in the Mirrored series House of Cards will be out next month.

{A}


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About the Author

22 years old. Lives in a small farm town. Work full times as a Manager for an assisted living program for mentally challenged adults. I love my job. :) Getting my degree in music therapy.


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Monday, July 22, 2013

Cover Reveal: Easy to Love You by Megan Smith

Cover Reveal
Easy to Love You
By Megan Smith
Release date: August 2013




Hunter finally has MacKenzie Cahill, the girl of his dreams. A horrible accident finds those dreams threatened. As their lives change, secrets begin to surface. These revelations could prove to be either the downfall of Hunter and MacKenzie or the catalyst that strengthens their bond.
Hunter has painful choices to make. Will he realize what he has before it’s gone? He knows what he must do to save his future, but will he be leaving everyone else in his past?
Will the bond between the two families be strong enough to keep them together?



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Teaser


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About the Author
Megan is the author of USA Today and Amazon Bestselling novel, Trying Not To Love You.

She lives in New Jersey, with her husband and son.

During the day Megan is behind a desk purchasing computer equipment. At night, she's writing and planned for her next release or chasing around her very active son.

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