Thursday, November 28, 2013

Blog Tour + Review: Death is but a Dream by Erin Hayes





Death is but a Dream by Erin Hayes

Release Date: September 29, 2013
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Mythology
Pages: 272
Format: eBook
Source: Review Copy for Tour
Goodreads • Amazon • B&N


Caught between life and death, all Callie wants is to live again.

Homicide detective Callie Saunders knows that death isn’t all pearly gates and angels. After being hit by a bus, she finds that it's the ancient gods and goddesses of Greek mythology who are in charge of everything.

So when Hades offers her a deal, she accepts. If she wants to be brought back to life, she’ll have to figure out who is trying to kill his son. But if she fails, both her soul and the world will be destroyed.

With the odds mounting against her, it’ll take everything she has within her to wake up from death. But the rules are constantly changing. And someone wants her to stay dead.


I absolutely love a good mythological fiction. The characters and stories involved in the original mythology offer an incredible playground for authors to adapt and make their own with an already epic jump-off point. Death is but a Dream was definitely one such tale. Set primarily in the underworld with appearances by a number of mythological favorites, we follow Callie Saunders, who is tasked with protecting Hades and Persephone's son Plutus from an unknown enemy in order to earn her life back.

The investigation leads Callie on a wild ride through the hierarchy of the underworld and will leave you guessing. I only wished more of the story would have been set there, because the mortal world is just so boring in comparison.

As far as the players in the story, I especially loved the concept of Plutus' character. Although his parentage differed from classical mythology, he was still made lame and blind by Zeus in order to keep the distribution of wealth fair and those qualities in this story gave us a wounded, gorgeous man/god you can't help but love. His relationship with Callie was rife with tension and overcoming self-loathing and -deprecation. And because I'm a sap, I ate it up like nothin' else. I'm not above admitting he was my favorite part of the story.

The one struggle I had throughout this book was there were a lot of scenes where the editing felt rough. I tend to be a perfectionist and a stickler, so this can really be a deal breaker for me. Examples ranged from scenes where phrases would be repeated verbatim to dropped words and misused tenses. If you're like me and this gets on your nerves, be forewarned. With that said, I was wrapped up in the story enough that, even though my inner-editor cringed and twitched to whip out the purple pen, I kept reading till the end. The intricacies of the plot and characters were enjoyable enough for me that I could pass over the tough bits, but without them I probably would've tacked on at least an extra half star.

Death is but a Dream was an enjoyable, quick read with just the right blend of mystery, romance, and mythology to keep you interested. If any of those subjects interest you, check it out!

Check out the other stops on the tour here!



Giveaway!




About the Author

Sci-fi junkie, video game nerd, and wannabe manga artist Erin Hayes writes a lot of things. Sometimes she writes books, like the fantasy mystery Death is but a Dream and the sci-fi middle grade book Jacob Smith is Incredibly Average. You can reach her at tiptoegirl87@gmail.com and she’ll be happy to chat. Especially if you want to debate Star Wars.

Website   •   Goodreads   •   Twitter



Thursday, November 21, 2013

Cover Reveal: A Little Too Hot by Lisa Desrochers



A Little Too Hot (A Little Too Far #3) by Lisa Desrochers

Release Date: January 21, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: William Morrow Impulse
Goodreads  Amazon • B&N  iTunes  Play

From USA Today bestselling author Lisa Desrochers, comes the third book in her sizzling New Adult series.

If you play with fire…

Tossed out of college and cut off by her parents, Samantha West is in pretty dire straits. So when her rocker best friend hooks her up with a job dancing at a gentlemen’s club, who is she to turn it down? Plus, there are rules to dancing at Benny’s: No touching, keep your clothes on at all times, and never get closer than three feet. Unfortunately for Sam, her first private client makes her want to break every single one of them.

Harrison Yates is scorching hot, but he’s got a past that involves being left at the altar not too long ago. Sam is determined to make him forget about his ex, but when she makes her move, it flings her life into a spiral of chaos she never saw coming.

Because Harrison Yates isn’t who he seems to be. And his secret will probably get her killed.



Giveaway!




About the Author

Lisa Desrochers is the USA Today bestselling author of A Little Too Far, courtesy of HarperCollins, and companions, A Little Too Much (Nov 12, 2013), and A Little Too Hot (Jan 21, 2014). Also in stores is her YA Personal Demons trilogy (Macmillan).

She lives in central California with her husband and two very busy daughters. There is never a time that she can be found without a book in her hand, and she adores stories that take her to new places, and then take her by surprise.

Website   •   Twitter   •   Facebook   •   Blog   •   Goodreads



Friday, November 15, 2013

Book Blitz: Sisters in White by Melissa Foster




Sisters in White (Snow Sisters #3) by Melissa Foster

Release Date: October 9, 2013
Genre: Romance
Goodreads • Amazon • B&N

Danica and Kaylie Snow are about to celebrate the biggest day of their lives—their double wedding—on an island in the Bahamas. But no wedding is complete without a little family drama. The two sisters aren’t ready to face the father they haven’t seen since he divorced their mother and moved away to marry his mistress, and live with Lacy, the half sister they’ve never met.

While Danica has exchanged letters and phone calls with Lacy, Kaylie has fervently tried to pretend she doesn’t exist. Lacy is sweet, fun, and nearly a mirror image of Kaylie. To make matters worse, not only is Lacy looking forward to meeting her sisters, but she idolizes them, too. As the countdown to the wedding date ticks on, their parents are playing a devious game of revenge, and there’s a storm brewing over the island, threatening to cancel their perfect wedding. The sisters are about to find out if the bond of sisterhood really trumps all.



Giveaway!





About the Author

Melissa Foster is the award-winning author of four International bestselling novels. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women, the World Literary CafĂ©. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa is also a community builder for the Alliance for Independent Authors. She has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.

Melissa hosts an annual Aspiring Authors contest for children and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa lives in Maryland with her family.

Visit Melissa on The Women’s Nest, Fostering Success, or World Lit Cafe. Join Melissa and the YaYa Writer Girls at their annual in-person event. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and welcomes an invitation to your event.

Twitter   •   Facebook   •   Website


Thursday, November 14, 2013

Review: Finding It by Cora Carmack



Finding It (Losing It #3) by Cora Carmack

Release Date: October 15, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: William Morrow
Pages: 307
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased by Reviewer
Goodreads  Amazon


Sometimes you have to lose yourself to find where you truly belong...

Most girls would kill to spend months traveling around Europe after college graduation with no responsibility, no parents, and no-limit credit cards. Kelsey Summers is no exception. She's having the time of her life . . . or that's what she keeps telling herself.

It's a lonely business trying to find out who you are, especially when you're afraid you won't like what you discover. No amount of drinking or dancing can chase away Kelsey's loneliness, but maybe Jackson Hunt can. After a few chance meetings, he convinces her to take a journey of adventure instead of alcohol. With each new city and experience, Kelsey's mind becomes a little clearer and her heart a little less hers. Jackson helps her unravel her own dreams and desires. But the more she learns about herself, the more Kelsey realizes how little she knows about Jackson.


Occasionally a book comes along that I love so much, that I relate to so well, that I want to just throw up my arms, say "fuck the system," and add a very petulant sixth star. And then proceed to stick out my tongue and gloat about it. I'm seriously four on the inside.

Anyway, Finding It is one such book. I'm really not sure how to adequately convey how much I loved this book. So, prepare for the awkwardness that is me trying.

    "Everyone deserves one grand adventure, that one time in life that we always get to point back to and say, 'Then... then I was really living.'" (Location 38, Page 1)

We met Kelsey in Losing It, back when Bliss and the gang were still in college and life was simpler. In order to find her new direction, Kelsey Summers took off on a trek across Europe - to party or find herself or run from her problems. Maybe some of each. This book so poignantly captured the feeling of being at a stage in life that makes you feel like you're obligated to have all of your shit together, when, ironically, most of us don't have a clue. It was a feeling we've all had and it was like I ached with how much I could relate to it. (If it's not clear yet, my feelings are a little on the dramatic side, but, hey, they're honest.) Take the following for instance:

    "I knew I was lucky. Blessed, even. But it was a lot of pressure... trying not to waste what you've been given. I wanted to accomplish something. To love something. To be something. But I didn't know how. I didn't know what." (Location 439, Page 31)

I dare someone to claim they've never felt this way with a straight face. The world is so focused on comparing hardships to assign value to them. But we all need to realize that accomplishments are accomplishments because they are difficult and there is no reason to place one over another. (/rant) The sentiment behind this is basically the twenty-something (and beyond) condition.

    "Sure, I had no fucking clue what I was doing with my life or where I fit in this world, but I was a part of it all the same. I'd left footprints across the globe, and though you couldn't see them and they didn't necessarily matter, I knew they were there. And that was enough for now. It had to be enough." (Location 1408, Page 106)

    "This funny thing happens when you graduate college. You hear so much about being an adult that you start to feel like you have to become a different person overnight, that growing up means being not you. And you concentrate so much on living up to the term "adult" that you forget growing up happens by living, not by sheer force of will." (Location 1807, Page 136)

I mean, really? That's just... god. I don't even know. I wanted to weep with how true Kelsey's feeling felt to me. It was incredible, and the book had barely started!

And, of course, because it's Cora Carmack and she's amazing, all of this gut-wrenching honesty was delivered with the kind of humor that's perfect and the kind of awkwardness we don't want to admit to living. And I felt Kelsey was especially hilarious. I've always loved Cora's female protags, but Kelsey was just so up-front. Her inner musings and wit made her the kind of person you really want to get to know. Here are a few of my favorites:

    "There was no room for unhappiness when squeezed between two sets of washboard abs.
     New life motto, right there." (Location 125, Page 7)

    "He lifted both hands above his head to hold on to the bar, and it revealed that same section of skin at his waist that had been driving me crazy for the better part of twelve hours
     My mouth went dry.
     Would it be weird if I reached out and touched the toned muscle there? With my face?" (Location 1719, Page 129)

    ''My brain is too foggy with sleep to pick which way to kill you, but give me five minutes and I'll figure it out.'
     'Kelsey--"
     'Sharks,' I said. 'I would like to give you a few paper cuts and feed you to sharks.'
     'I don't think there are sharks in Switzerland.'
     'Then I'll find an aquarium!'" (Location 2381, Page 180)

    "His abs could have rivaled all of Tuscany for the most gorgeous rolling hills I had ever seen." (Location 2472, Page 187)

I actually laughed out loud a few times. I really need to learn to be more discretionary about what I read in public, because I'm pretty sure I looked completely nuts. So it goes.

But, of course, beneath all the humor and bravado Kelsey was still struggling. With what is, truthfully, more than any girl should have to handle in a perfect world. She was the picture of perfection that hid a lot of darkness. And watching her come out of it, with Jackson's help, was really something beautiful. And she's just so funny. I love this girl.

    "'Come on, princess. Let's see what kind of trouble we can get into.'
     I wanted to get into all of the trouble with him. Every kind. Multiple times preferably." (Location 1740, Page 131)

Love. Her.

Which brings us to Jackson Hunt himself. Oh. My. God. The swoon factor was absolutely ridiculous. At times, I felt a bit like I was cheating on Garrick and Cade (a similar feeling to when I first read Faking It), but I've just come to the realization that each Cora guy is going to inspire this feeling, determined only by the last book I read. She's that good. Need proof?

    "He kissed me carefully, thoroughly, like a man who knew that desire hid with the devil in the details." (Location 1017, Page 75)

    "'People find home in new places, new dreams, new people all the time. Home should be effortless, like gravity.'" (Location 1757, Page 132)

    "'The best parts of life are the things we can't plan. And it's a lot harder to find happiness if you're only searching in one place. Sometimes, you just have to throw away the map. Admit that you don't know where you're going and stop pressuring yourself to figure it out. Besides... a map is a life someone else already lived. It's more fun to make your own.'" (Location 1779, Page 134)

    "'I'm going to kiss you, princess. But not now, not when you're telling me to. Not when it's just something you want to check off a list. I'll kiss you when it counts.'" (Location 1860, Page 140)

It's not even fair how wonderful he is. And the emotionally-wounded soldier bit is just too much. This is a Book Boyfriend capable of ruining all real boyfriends in one fell swoop.

Their story was beautiful in the way they helped each other heal, and I became so invested that I lived in fear of the inevitable fallout. Because it had to happen and even though I knew they would come out of it, I still didn't want it to happen. And then this:

    "If I believed the stories I learned growing up, God made the world in six days and on the seventh day he rested. I wondered if, like me, the eighth day was when he watched it all begin to unravel." (Location 2934, Page 224)

My brain was just a chorus of "no, no, no" and adamant denial. And then the breakdown wasn't too bad and I began to think, "hey, maybe this won't carve my heart out with a rusty spoon!" Yeah, I know. Pesky idealism.

    "It's a quiet thing when your heart breaks. I thought it would be loud, louder even than the air rushing around us when we'd dove off that bridge. I thought it would drown everything else out.
     But it happened like a whisper. A small, clean split. It broke in a second, and the pain was little more than a pinprick.
     It's the echo that kills you. Like the echo inside the Grotta Azzura, that tiny little sound kept bouncing around the cavern of my ribs, getting louder and louder. It multiplied until I heard a hundred hearts breaking, a thousand, more. All of them mine." (Location 3614, Page 278)

Oh, god. The feels. I didn't see it coming, which made it that much worse. It was heartbreaking and the outpouring of emotion it caused in me was a little humiliating, but it just made it that much better when this happened:

    "I said, 'Let's go home.'
     He kissed me again with the same detail, the same intricacy I saw in his sketches. Fire raged everywhere our skin met, and he said, 'I'm already there.'" (Location 3998, Page 307)

Finding It was quite possibly my favorite of Cora Carmack's books. It's really hard for me to tell. But regardless, it was fantastic and should be read by all. She's a truly incredible author, and this book just further proves it. Just go read it. And also follow her on Twitter and Facebook because she's adorable and awesome and... yeah. She makes me fangirl a little. This isn't even the first time. I'll stop embarrassing myself now.

And with that, I return to my combo book hangover/emotional coma.



About the Author

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. She's a New York Times and USA Today bestseller... and a nerd (mostly the nerd part).

Website   •   Twitter   •   Goodreads





Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Blog Tour + Review: Memory's Wake by Selina Fenech




Memory's Wake (Memory's Wake Trilogy #1) by Selina Fenech

Release Date: June 16, 2011
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Fairies and Fantasy Pty Ltd
Pages: 330
Format: eBook
Source: Review Copy for Tour
Goodreads • Amazon • B&N • Kobo • iTunes


Lost in a world full of monstrous fairies, a troubled sixteen year old has to find out who she is and why her memories were stolen before she is found by those who want her dead.

She takes the name "Memory" and knows she has just one goal - to find her way home, wherever that is. But this land is strange. No technology to be seen, and iron is banned, thanks to a pact the humans have with the magical creatures who share their pre-industrial era world. In her t-shirt and torn jeans, Memory knows she's different, even before she performs impossible magic.

Haunted by her past, chased by a dragon, wanted by the king and stalked by the strange, handsome savage that seems to know her, everyone is after Memory, and she suspects it's not just for her eye-catching outfit. Her forgotten past holds dangerous secrets that will challenge everything she believes and risk the lives of everyone she loves.

Memory’s Wake contains over 45 illustrations by the author and artist.


After finding herself unceremoniously dumped in a forest in a strange world, with no memory of who she is or where she's from, Memory (hah) finds herself on a quest to escape those hunting her for reasons she can't understand and to regain her memory. On this quest is Eloryn, a magical girl who appeared in the forest with Memory, and Roen, the boy determined to protect them both on their journey.

Memory herself is a bit on the snarky side, with a wonderful dose of dark humor and a quick wit. She's also prone to some major jealousy issues, which got old really quickly for me. Eloryn is basically light everywhere Memory is dark - she's proper and polite, soft-spoken, shy, and content to do almost everything for other's. I found myself relating to and liking her a lot more than Memory most of the time. Roen I loved - despite his almost crippling self-loathing - for his devotion to both girls, especially Eloryn, and the fact that he would do anything for his family. And then there's Will, whose back story is achingly sweet, but his current feelings are, at least to me, a mystery. He obviously cares for Memory, but as to in what way... who knows?

Memory's Wake is a more classical take on fairy mythology, set in a land straight out of a, for lack of a better term, fairytale. The story itself contains all the wonder of such stories, the kind we all read as children, but with more action, mysteries, and teen angst. It was a fun ride in an absorbing world, full of wonder.

However, for all it's focus on fairies, I was surprised by how small a role they actually played in the story. I don't know if their role is larger in the second book, but I found myself wishing we'd learned more about them. I love the fairy mythology - the magic, intricacy, and beauty surrounding it - and really wanted it to be a more integral part of the plot. As it was, they were never more than supporting characters (barely, at that) and a background story line.

I was also left very confused by where the characters stood with each other. Neither Roen nor Eloryn seemed capable of getting their act together and figuring out their feelings, and I couldn't get a gauge for what Will was feeling at all. And then there's Memory, who appeared to oblivious on all romantic fronts. This conundrum alone is enough for me to want to read the second installment, if only for the hope that they'll all finally figure it out!

The illustrations were gorgeous and I spent a lot of time just studying them as I read. I only wished I had a hard copy to better see them, because they are truly amazing. Their addition makes the story truly reminiscent of a fairy  tale picture book from younger years, but with an older story. Selena Fenech is an incredible artist!

Overall, Memory's Wake was an enjoyable YA fantasy that reminded me of childhood story/picture books in the best possible way. If you're a fan a fairies, fantasy, or adventure, give it a try!

Check out the rest of the stops on the tour here!



Book Trailer




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About the Author

Born in 1981 to Australian and Maltese parents, Selina lives in Australia with her husband, her cute monster baby who’s far too clever, and an unnamed cat. During her life Selina has found ancient Roman treasure, survived cancer, had knights joust at her wedding, been mugged for doughnuts, made a living as a visual artist, and shared her imaginary worlds in paintings and now in her novels.

Website   •   Goodreads   •   Facebook   •   Twitter






Cover Reveal: Crashing Into You by B.D. Rowe


Inline image 1


Crashing Into You by B.D. Rowe

Release Date: October 3, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads • Amazon

Bookish college sophomore Sydney Baker wants Evan Taylor with every ounce of her being. The hottest stud on campus, Evan is six foot four, ripped, stacked with muscles. He’s even easy to talk to.

There’s just one problem: he’s her roommate Melanie’s boyfriend.

But when Melanie tragically dies after a night of wild partying, Sydney and Evan turn to each other in a time of intense grief. And it doesn’t take long for their close friendship to blossom into something more.

Unfortunately for Sydney, secrets from the past soon put her relationship with Evan to the test. Especially when a sexy blonde freshman makes her way into Evan’s life, and tries to rip away everything Sydney holds close to her heart.



Giveaway!

Giveaway is international. | Must be 18+ to enter.



About the Author

B.D. Rowe is a Sacramento native with a penchant for crafting tales of romance, mystery, and intrigue. Crashing Into You is B.D. Rowe’s New Adult debut.


Monday, November 11, 2013

Review: A Little Too Much by Lisa Desrochers



A Little Too Much (A Little Too Far #2) by Lisa Desrochers

Release Date: November 12, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: William Morrow Impulse
Pages: 416
Format: eBook
Source: ARC from the Publisher
Goodreads • Amazon


In the follow-up to Lisa Desrochers’ explosive New Adult novel A Little too Far, Alessandro Moretti must face the life he escaped and the girl he loved and left behind.

Twenty-two year old Hilary McIntyre would like nothing more than to forget her past. As a teenager abandoned to the system, she faced some pretty dark times. But now that’s all behind her. Hilary has her life on track, and there’s no way she’ll head back down that road again.

Until Alessandro Moretti—the one person who can make her remember—shows up on her doorstep. He’s even more devastatingly gorgeous than before, and he’s much too close for comfort. Worse, he sees right through the walls she’s built over these last eight years, right into her heart and the secrets she’s guarding.

As Hilary finds herself falling back into love with the man who, as a boy both saved and destroyed her, she must decide. Past or future? Truth or lies?


I loved the first installment in this series, A Little Too Far, but A Little Too Much was even better. In the last book we got to know Alessandro Moretti the, now former, priest-in-training. Riddled with guilt from his difficult past, he'd turned to the cloth to atone for his sins. Then he met Lexie and everything changed. With his previous path upended, Alessandro's now on a quest to confront his past ghost and determine what's next for him. One of which is Hilary McIntyre; his first. Years ago, when they were both just kids in a group home, he and his brother hurt her in very different ways.

Now 8 years later, Hilary is navigating through life the best she can, living in New York and trying to make it on Broadway. She's got her life together (more or less), but the effects of her childhood are never far below the surface. And Alessandro's return is guaranteed to bring them out. But neither can deny old feelings for long.

Prepare to really meet Alessandro Moretti without the looming priesthood. I couldn't help but fall for him in the last book, and he wasn't even trying then. He's still ridiculously sexy, and now not-as-forbidden. This is where how awesome he is gets cemented forever and luckily, this time, it happens with the right girl. His guilt still plagues him, but the tortured soul thing really works for him.

And Hilary matches him in every way in the difficult-past department. That was the aspect that put this book above the first for me. Both Alessandro and Hilary have extremely rich back stories, even beyond their childhood romance that are impossible not to get absorbed into. It was the first time in a long time that the "big reveal" in an NA novel was just that for me. I was hooked in every way and raced for the end while simultaneously wishing it would never come.

The development of their relationship was incredible to experience. It's once again impossible to keep from feeling with these characters and that made the ride even more enthralling. The way they struggled to open up and lean on each other is heartbreaking and wonderful and just... awesome. I have so much love for this book, it's ridiculous.

Fans of A Little Too Far will love to see Alessandro find his happiness. A Little Too Much is sexy, emotional, and beautiful, easily making my list of favorite NAs with the first. Lisa Desrochers is quickly becoming an auto-buy for me given how much I've enjoyed this series. Be sure to check it out when it releases tomorrow (November 12th)!



About the Author

Lisa Desrochers is the USA Today bestselling author of A Little Too Far, courtesy of HarperCollins, and companions, A Little Too Much (Nov 12, 2013), and A Little Too Hot (Jan 21, 2014). Also in stores is her YA Personal Demons trilogy (Macmillan).

She lives in central California with her husband and two very busy daughters. There is never a time that she can be found without a book in her hand, and she adores stories that take her to new places, and then take her by surprise.

Website   •   Twitter   •   Facebook   •   Blog   •   Goodreads



Sunday, November 10, 2013

Review: A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers



A Little Too Far (A Little Too Far #1) by Lisa Desrochers

Release Date: September 17, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 336
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased by Reviewer
Goodreads • Amazon


Have you ever gone just a little too far?

Lexie Banks has.

Yep. She just had mind-blowing sex with her stepbrother. In her defense, she was on the rebound, and it’s more of a my-dad-happened-to-marry-a-woman-with-a-super-hot-son situation. But still, he’s been her best friend and confidant for the better part of the last few years … and is so off limits. It’s a good thing she’s leaving in two days for a year abroad in Rome.

But even thousands of miles away, Lexie can’t seem to escape trouble. Raised Catholic, she goes to confession in hopes of alleviating some of her guilt … and maybe not burning in hell. Instead, she stumbles out of the confessional and right into Alessandro Moretti, a young and very easy-on-the-eyes deacon … only eight months away from becoming a priest. Lexie and Alessandro grow closer, and when Alessandro’s signals start changing despite his vow of celibacy, she doesn’t know what to think. She’s torn between falling in love with the man she shouldn’t want and the man she can’t have. And she isn’t sure how she can live with herself either way.


Lexie's story will suck you in from the start, full of laughs, blush-inducing steamy moments, and self-discovery. It's sexy, fun, and full of emotion. The feelings involved, ranging from lust to love, happiness to sadness, will leap off the page and make you feel them with the characters.

As a character, Lexie is fun, likable and relateable. She's trying to find herself, confused by all she's feeling and the particularly trying situation of falling for two unattainable guys. She's fun and loving, trying to figure out where she's heading in life. Cue Rome. A year abroad was supposed to give her the experience of a lifetime. Now it couldn't come at a better time, given her recent rebound lapse. Time away from home, from Trent to clear her mind is exactly what's needed.

Except it doesn't seem to be working. That is, until she meets the soon-to-be priest, Alessandro. He's kind, beautiful, and constantly trying to overcome his own demons. But what seems like a friendship that's exactly what she needs could be anything but.

I was rooting for Trent from the get-go. He and Lexie have the kind of relationship that blends friendship and love into something so beautiful, you just want one for for yourself. Despite that, it's impossible not to fall for Alessandro, at least a little bit, too. Which is when you start to really feel for Lexie, because she has a hard to choice to make.

A Little Too Far was without a doubt one of my favorite NA titles ever. I absolutely loved this book. I'm left wanting more, but also feeling like it ended on good note. Is there a better place to leave a reader? And there's more to look forward with Alessandro's story in A Little Too Much, out next week! I got an ARC (squeee!) and it's incredible!

So if you're a fan of NA and you haven't checked it out yet, put it on your list! You won't be disappointed.



About the Author

Lisa Desrochers is the USA Today bestselling author of A Little Too Far, courtesy of HarperCollins, and companions, A Little Too Much (Nov 12, 2013), and A Little Too Hot (Jan 21, 2014). Also in stores is her YA Personal Demons trilogy (Macmillan).

She lives in central California with her husband and two very busy daughters. There is never a time that she can be found without a book in her hand, and she adores stories that take her to new places, and then take her by surprise.

Website   •   Twitter   •   Facebook   •   Blog   •   Goodreads





Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Blog Tour + Review: Leave the Lights On by Karen Stivali





Leave the Lights On by Karen Stivali

Release Date: November 5, 2013
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Pages: 238
Format: eBook
Source: ARC for Tour
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“When love throws you a curve, swing for the fences.”

Parker Wood’s dreams of becoming a professional baseball player are shattered when he’s injured in a devastating car crash. After two years in hospitals and physical rehab facilities, he’s ready to move back to his childhood home and take over the family landscaping company. The house and business are his, now that his father has passed.

Sophie Vaughn has suffered through a hellishly public divorce from a husband who couldn’t manage to stay faithful for two months of marriage. Determined not to let her personal drama impact her successful wedding and party planning business, she buys her parents’ old house, hoping the comfort of familiar surroundings will help her heal.

When Parker and Sophie discover they’re neighbors once again, it’s as if time has stood still. Their friendship is quickly rekindled, along with the decade-long crush neither of them ever admitted having. Then the heat between them exposes a long-held secret that threatens to tear them apart…unless they can detach from their painful pasts and move forward - together.

Warning: Contains sultry summer nights, steamy pool-side encounters, and you’ll never look at a jar of peanut butter the same way again.


The friends-to-lovers scenario tends to be one of my favorite romance story lines, and Leave the Lights On didn't disappoint. From the beginning the chemistry between Parker and Sophie was abundant and it didn't take long for them to give in. Sometimes a slow burn is nice, but these two jumped in pretty quickly, which both was believable for their relationship and prevented a lot of the all-too-often used communication failures (there are still some later on, but there was a lot less internal groaning). The progression of their relationship is equal parts sweet and steamy and enough to put a happy smile on your face.

Both Sophie and Parker have suffered major betrayals in their past relationships, which is where their few struggles together tend to come from. They struggle with trusting others but mostly with the believing that they're enough for someone to want. I think it's a relateable insecurity and really helped to keep me engrossed in the story rather than getting overly caught up in whether their hang-ups are valid.

The only thing I really wish had been included was a little more character back story, especially in Sophie's case. There are very defined points in their lives that are well-illuminated, but I would have liked more stories of their growing up together, or details on the time apart. That being said, generally speaking I think it's better to have a little less than perfect than have to much. Questions from readers are better than feelings of being sick of it, right? So, although it was a bit of a bummer, it didn't take much away for me.

Leave the Light On is a quick, easy, and sweet friends-to-lovers that will make you smile. If HEAs are your game, look no further.

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About the Author

Karen Stivali is a prolific writer, compulsive baker and chocoholic with a penchant for books, movies and fictional British men. When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking extravagant meals and serving them to family and friends, who never seem to mind the excessive quantities she tends to prepare. She attributes her ability to multitask to the fact that she rarely sleeps, which gives her more hours every day. Prior to deciding to write full time Karen worked as a hand drawn animator, a clinical therapist, and held various food-related jobs ranging from waitress to specialty cake maker. Planning elaborate parties and fundraisers takes up what’s left of her time and sanity.

Karen has always been fascinated by the way people relate to one another so she favors books and movies that feature richly detailed characters and their relationships. In her own writing she likes to explore the dynamics between characters and has a tendency to craft romantic tales filled with sarcasm and sexy details. Although she writes in three genres (erotic romance, contemporary romance and women’s fiction) all of her stories are love stories with happily ever after endings.

Karen has published several erotic romance novels with Ellora’s Cave including two award winning stories: Always You (published September 2011, First Place Winner of the RWA Passionate Plume Award – 2012)and Marry Me (published June 2012, First Place Winner in the NEC-RWA Bean Pot Reader’s Choice Award – 2013).

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