Title: Surviving Ice (Burying Water #4)
Author: K.A. Tucker
Publisher: Atria Books, 352 Pages (October 27th, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK, iBooks, Kobo, IndieBound

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: The USA TODAY bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths series and Burying Water—which Kirkus Reviews called “a sexy, romantic, gangster-tinged page-turner”—returns with a new novel packed with romance, plot twists, and psychological suspense.

Ivy, a talented tattoo artist who spent the early part of her twenties on the move, is finally looking for a place to call home. She thinks she might have found it in San Francisco, but all that changes when she witnesses a terrible crime. She’s ready to pack up her things yet again, when a random encounter with a stranger keeps her in the city, giving her reason to stay after all.

That is, until Ivy discovers that their encounter wasn’t random. Not at all…

Excerpt:

          “You’re two hours late!” I holler, rolling the shade up, preparing my best scathing glare for Bobby. It’s not his giant frame I find looming outside, though.
          It’s that guy from yesterday.
          We simply stare at each other through the grimy glass for a moment: me, in surprise; him, something unreadable, his eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses. He’s swapped his black T-shirt for navy today, to go along with the jeans. Simple, clean, unremarkable.And yet very appealing on him.
          “Is it Thursday yet?” There isn’t so much as a hint of a joke in his voice. I can’t tell if he’s serious.
          “You’re persistent.”
          “Yes.”
          “Persistence annoys me.”
          Finally, a slight smile touches his lips, and I instantly find myself fighting the urge to match it. He slides his sunglasses off his face, meeting my eyes with that cool, indifferent gaze. “And what doesn’t annoy you?”
          “Not much, honestly.”
          Another staring match. As intense as the weight of his gaze is, it’s not nearly as uncomfortable as it was yesterday, now that I’m no longer wary of his intentions.
          I should be difficult and tell him to come back in a few days. The thing is, I don’t want to be difficult. I want to be very easy for him right now, because I’ve been thinking about him more than is wise since yesterday. Especially since last night. If just a sketched picture and thoughts of him could get me off so quickly and easily, I wonder what the real man could do to me.
          Not that I would ever flip my hair or giggle at his jokes or do anything else to make my interest obvious.
          I unlock the door and pull it open, stepping back to give him room. “The guy I was supposed to be working on hasn’t shown up, so I guess you’re in luck, because I’m all ready to ink and I need skin to work on.” I let my gaze drift over his arms, honed with muscles and free of any markings, before moving over to his chest and stomach. Wondering if the rest of him is this perfect. Wondering exactly which part of him I’ll get to touch.
          “You look more rested today,” he murmurs, a secretive smile touching his eyes. As if he can read my mind, as if he knows that he helped put me to sleep last night.
          I don’t answer, pushing the door closed. I lock it once again with a sly smile. As far as I’m concerned, if Bobby shows up now, no one’s here.

About K.A. Tucker:

Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.        

Find Kathleen Online:

Website |  Twitter | Facebook  | Author Goodreads | YouTube | Pinterest | Instagram

GIVEAWAY!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Title: Counting Stars
Author: Keris Stainton
Publisher: Hot Key Books
From: eBook ARC from Netgalley
Format: 336 pages, (September 3rd 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: A new life in a new city - what could possibly go wrong . . . ?

When eighteen-year-old Anna leaves school and moves to Liverpool, she feels like her life is finally beginning. She's landed her dream job at a theatre, and she's moving into an exciting (if not slightly run-down) houseshare on a buzzing street lined with shops, bars, and buskers. Best of all, her new flatmates are kind, welcoming and a lot of fun - what more could she ask for?

But her new life is also a little overwhelming. Anna's job quickly falls through, and then she realises that although her new friends are great, they're also a little mixed-up... and it's not long before Anna starts using her blog to talk about her experiences, from the hilarious to the ridiculous to the little-bit-scary. But when Anna spills a bigger secret than she can handle, suddenly the consequences are all too real. She'll have to prove she has the mettle to make it in the big city, or risk losing everything she thinks she wants.

Review: 3.5-4 stars - I am a fan of Keris Stainton so when I found Counting Stars on Netgalley I had to request it. The fact that Counting Stars is also set in the city I was born, also had an impact on me reading it.

Anna has moved to Liverpool to start working in a theatre where she did work experience. She’s found a room in a house to rent and she is looking forward to her first big adventure as a ‘grown up’.
Unfortunately when the job falls through, Anna is all ready to give up and go home to her parent’s house.

With the help of her housemates Anna starts to create something resembling an adult life. But learns along the way, things are always as easy of they seem.

Counting Stars is told from third person POV- Anna and her 5 housemates. I did enjoy this, as you get to experience what’s going on in their lives first hand.
Anna is a Vlogger, who has always kept her true self hidden, she is nothing like her internet alter ego, but she wishes she could be. Add into the mix lustful Sean, Molly’s romantic and eccentric ways, Alfie’s need to look after everyone and prove himself to his father, and Nina who is unfortunately subject to an abusive relationship. You never know where Counting Stars is going to go next.
Having said this I do wish there had been more of a definitive story line, rather than it being more of a roundabout coming of age novel. I’d personally rather have a high impact story than one that tells of every day life.

I also enjoyed reading about parts of Liverpool, and on a recent trip to the city I found myself looking up on Bold Street (where the book is set) and seeing different things to what I’d normally see.

A change from my usual fantasy/sci-fi reads, Counting Stars was mostly light hearted, scandal filled and enjoyable to read. I love the idea of a big adventure for Anna, and in one respect I’m jealous of the character because I never had the bravery to move out to uni.

That brings me onto another slight personal bug; the College/University word usage in teen literature.
Recently I’ve read more and more UK YA authors who are trying to appeal to the American market- this is no bad thing; but because in the US university is called college, there is sometimes confusion when reading as to how old the characters are. This happened to me on more than one occasion when reading Counting Stars. What also got confusing for me was that some of the housemates attend Performing Arts College; so it’s referred to as college. Most 18 year olds I know refer to college/university as uni, not college, no matter where they are studying.

Due to certain subject matter in this book I recommend it for older readers, NA subjects included.

A good read for anyone who likes Stephanie Perkins, Jenny Valentine and James Dawson.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is an event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. The purpose of this weekly event is to spotlight a soon-to-be-released book that you are very much anticipating. "Waiting On" Wednesday will also give bloggers an opportunity to share ideas for our TBR lists.

Title: Tough Enough (Tall, Dark, and Dangerous #2)
Author: M. Leighton
Publisher: Berkley, 336 Pages (November 3rd, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "Adult/New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: From the author of the New York Times bestselling Bad Boys novels comes the second book in a dark, sexy contemporary trilogy.

He’s a fighter who never loses, but is he tough enough to win her heart?

There was a time when I had everything–a wonderful family, a bright future. Love. But all that was taken away in a single night, torn from me like flesh from bone. Since then, I’ve hidden away in my second-choice job as a makeup artist. But I prefer it that way, actually. I’m comfortable in the shadows, where no one can see my scars.

Kiefer Rogan literally took my breath away the moment I met him. MMA champion-turned-actor, notorious playboy, charming to a fault—he’s everything I vowed to avoid.

But he just wouldn’t stop until I opened up and let him in. Maybe I should’ve tried harder to resist him. Maybe I shouldn’t have fallen in love with him. Because I, of all people, know that everyone has secrets. Scars. And that they’re usually ugly and painful and destructive to the people we love most.

I just never guessed that they could be deadly, too.

Title: Cam Girl
Author: Leah Raeder
Publisher: Atria Books, 320 Books (November 2rd, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "Adult/New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: Vada Bergen is broke, the black sheep of her family, and moving a thousand miles away from home for grad school, but she’s got the two things she loves most: her art and her best friend—and sometimes more—Ellis Carraway. Ellis and Vada have a friendship so consuming it’s hard to tell where one girl ends and the other begins. It’s intense. It’s a little codependent. And nothing can tear them apart.

Until an accident on an icy winter road changes everything.

Vada is left deeply scarred, both emotionally and physically. Her once-promising art career is cut short. And Ellis pulls away, unwilling to talk about that night. Everything Vada loved is gone.

She’s got nothing left to lose.

So when she meets some smooth-talking entrepreneurs who offer to set her up as a cam girl, she can’t say no. All Vada has to do is spend a couple hours each night stripping on webcam, and the “tips” come pouring in.

It’s just a kinky escape from reality until a client gets serious. “Blue” is mysterious, alluring, and more interested in Vada’s life than her body. Online, they chat intimately. Blue helps her heal. And he pays well, but he wants her all to himself. No more cam shows. It’s an easy decision: she’s starting to fall for him. But the steamier it gets, the more she craves the real man behind the keyboard. So Vada pops the question:

Can we meet IRL?

Blue agrees, on one condition. A condition that brings back a ghost from her past. Now Vada must confront the devastating secrets she's been running from—those of others, and those she's been keeping from herself...

Title: Hotel Ruby
Author: Suzanne Young
Publisher: Simon Pulse, 288 Pages (November 3rd, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

Synopsis: Stay Tonight. Stay Forever.

When Audrey Casella arrives for an unplanned stay at the grand Hotel Ruby, she’s grateful for the detour. Just months after their mother’s death, Audrey and her brother, Daniel, are on their way to live with their grandmother, dumped on the doorstep of a DNA-matched stranger because their father is drowning in his grief.

Audrey and her family only plan to stay the night, but life in the Ruby can be intoxicating, extending their stay as it provides endless distractions—including handsome guest Elias Lange, who sends Audrey’s pulse racing. However, the hotel proves to be as strange as it is beautiful. Nightly fancy affairs in the ballroom are invitation only, and Audrey seems to be the one guest who doesn't have an invite. Instead, she joins the hotel staff on the rooftop, catching whispers about the hotel’s dark past.

The more Audrey learns about the new people she's met, the more her curiosity grows. She’s torn in different directions—the pull of her past with its overwhelming loss, the promise of a future that holds little joy, and an in-between life in a place that is so much more than it seems…

Welcome to the Ruby.

*covers are always subject to change.

Book Wars a weekly feature hosted between two book review blogs – A Life Bound By Books & Much Loved Books!

It’s a fact that book lovers know all about the covers of the books they covet. Often when a title is released here in the UK, it’s sometimes vastly different across the pond in the US. So, Michelle from Much Loved Books and I have come together to create Book Wars to talk about the difference in covers when it comes to the US vs. UK versions.

We hope from time to time authors will chime in with their thoughts as well. We welcome everyone to comment and share their thoughts too! The more the merrier!

Before we get to this weeks Book Wars, we have a winner to announce.The Book Wars winner for Redemption Road by Katie Ashley is...!!!!!! Thank you to everyone who voted for both books, and for picking a winner.

Also, there's a poll at the bottom of the post that we'd love to hear your input for the two covers! Tell us which one YOU love the most.

Left: US - Right: UK

Title: The Drafter
Series: The Peri Reed Chronicles #1
Author: Kim Harrison
Publisher: US - Gallery Books, 442 Pages, (September 1st, 2015), UK - Piatkus, 432 Pages, (September 1st, 2015)
Add to Goodreads: USA Version | UK Version
Order online here: USA: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository UK: Amazon UK, Waterstones, W H Smith, The Book Depository

NOTE: This is a Adult novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: Detroit 2030. Double-crossed by the person she loved and betrayed by the covert government organization that trained her to use her body as a weapon, Peri Reed is a renegade on the run.

Don’t forgive and never forget has always been Peri’s creed. But her day job makes it difficult: she is a drafter, possessed of a rare, invaluable skill for altering time, yet destined to forget both the history she changed and the history she rewrote.

When Peri discovers her name on a list of corrupt operatives, she realizes that her own life has been manipulated by the agency. She joins forces with a mysterious rogue soldier in a deadly race to piece together the truth about her final task, unable to trust even herself.

About the Author:

Kim Harrison, author of the New York Times #1 best selling Hollows series, was born in Detroit and lived most her her life within an easy drive. She's currently working on the Peri Reed Chronicles, and when not at her desk, is most likely to be found landscaping her new/old Victorian home, or in the garden.

Find Kim Online: Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Let the Wars Begin: Its now time to make our decision, let's see what we think about the covers and pick our favorite cover.

Lisa Michelle picked a book this week that I've not heard of or seen the covers for and going into this blind I have to say I'm not really impressed with either of them.

They are both kind of bland and unimpressive. And the only thing that the two have in common is the clock theme.

When I take a look at both of these I have to choose the UK cover for one thing and one thing only. It's a bit brighter with the orange and red tones. While the US cover is just kind of... there.

It might look like this week was easy for me, but it wasn't. It's sometimes difficult in choosing a favorite when you aren't pulled in one direction or the other at all. Good choice Michelle!

Do you have a favorite? Give us your vote below.

Michelle I love both of these covers for The Drafter, and how vastly different they are. I have this book waiting to be read, so I have no idea if any of the covers have a relevance to the story itself, without the clock faces.

I like the rougher effect of the US cover, how the clock face is faded and worn. But I like how bright and vibrant the UK cover is, and sitting next to eh US cover, this is the one that would stand out more for me.

My vote this week goes to the UK cover. I love the brightness, the deep vibrant red, the clock effect, and the shadowy figures. Don't forget to cast your vote below.

VOTE for YOUR favorite cover of The Drafter by Kim Harrison NOW!

Title: Darkest Before Dawn (KGI #10)
Author: Maya Banks
Publisher: Berkley, 384 Pages (October 27th, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK, iBooks, BAM, IndieBound, Google

NOTE: This is a Adult novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: THE ALL-NEW KGI NOVEL from the “incredibly awesome" (Jaci Burton) #1 New York Times bestselling author of When Day Breaks.

The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super-elite, top secret, family-run business.
Qualifications: High intelligence, rock-hard body, military background.
Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the U.S. government can’t...

The enigmatic Hancock has been both opponent and ally to the KGI teams for as long as they've known him. Always working a deep game, Hancock's true allegiance has never been apparent, but one thing is for certain—he never lets anything get in the way of duty.

But now, his absolute belief in the primacy of his ultimate goal is challenged by a captive he's been ordered to guard, no matter how much she suffers in her prison. She's the only woman who's ever managed to penetrate the rigid walls surrounding his icy heart, but will he allow his perplexing feelings for the beautiful victim to destroy a mission he's spent years working to complete or will he be forced to sacrifice her for “the greater good.”

About the Author:

Maya Banks is the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 50 novels including the KGI series, Slow Burn series, and the Breathless and Surrender trilogies. A wife and mother of three, she lives in Texas. Visit her website at www.mayabanks.com.

Find Maya Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Title: Untouchable
Author: Ava Marsh
Publisher: Berkley, 336 Pages (October 6th, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a Adult novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: Spend a night of sexual adventure with this gritty, debut thriller.

In a toxic world of lust, lies, and elegant hotels, London’s high-class escorts cater to the carnal appetites of powerful men. It’s a game Stella knows how to play, one that allows her to escape the nightmares of her past. The rules are simple: always leave your client satisfied, don’t get involved, and never disclose your real name. But when a fellow call girl is murdered, the game changes completely. And there’s only one rule—survival.

Once a respected professional, Stella knows how easily men can get away with murder—especially when the victim is a prostitute. Determined to get to the truth, she finds herself sucked into a deadly conflict with some of the world’s most powerful men. But while they may consider themselves above the law, there’s one secret every escort knows: no man is truly untouchable.

Praise for Untouchable:

“[A] well executed debut. . . . Readers will want to see more of this unusual heroine.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Untouchable is the stiletto of crime books—sleek, deadly and sexy as hell.”
—Eva Dolan, author of Tell No Tales

“A gritty, no-holds-barred thriller, with a flawed, uncompromising heroine—it had me racing through its pages.”—Ruth Ware, author of In a Dark, Dark Wood

About the Author:

Ava Marsh grew up in Margate, Kent. A former broadsheet journalist, she now works as a freelancer in the charity sector and writes novels.

Ava lives in Battersea, London. Her hobbies include running, kayaking and photography.

Find Ava Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY!!!

ONE winner will receive a finished copy of Untouchable!

Rules and how to enter:

Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter this giveaway.
Easy Entry for all! (Clicking this provides name and email which is the only requirement when entering. This is for the sole purpose of contacting the winner.)
You must be at least 18 years old to enter.
This giveaway is open to US mailing addresses only.
Giveaway ends: November 10th, 2015 (12:00AM EST)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to Berkley for providing a finished copy of this title for giveaway. The book will be mailed directly from the publisher.

If you have any questions please check my policy page or feel free to email. 

Good Luck to everyone!

"Waiting On" Wednesday is an event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. The purpose of this weekly event is to spotlight a soon-to-be-released book that you are very much anticipating. "Waiting On" Wednesday will also give bloggers an opportunity to share ideas for our TBR lists.

Title: Friction
Author: Sawyer Bennett
Publisher: Montlake Romance (October 27th, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "Adult/New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: At the powerhouse law firm of Knight & Payne, winning comes first and ethics a distant second. Leary Michaels uses her female charms to daze opponents, and it’s always worked well—until now. On her most personal case yet, she finds herself going up against a defense attorney just as skilled, shameless, and seductive as she is.

Reeve Holloway has never met a woman as sure of her own sexuality, or as ruthless in wielding it, as Leary is. But he won’t be toyed with. What Leary starts, he’ll finish—in the courtroom, the bedroom, or any-damn-place he wants. The sex is uninhibited, electrifying, and absolutely against the rules. Reeve’s job is to ruin Leary’s case…even if it destroys her in the process and costs him the woman he’s come to love.

Title: Baking and Babies (Chocoholics #3)
Author: Tara Sivec
Publisher: (October 30th, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "Adult/New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: "I’m pregnant."

Molly Gilmore had a good life before she uttered those two stupid words. While preparing to graduate from culinary school and building up the courage to make a move on her hot, sugar-cookie-smelling pastry instructor Marco, she can't wait to finally have the GREAT life she’s always dreamed about, instead of just the good one she’s been living.

Always known as the quiet ninja, she fully intends to stay hidden in the shadows with her nut-job family, so they have no chance to embarrass her around the man she's crushed on for two years. Unfortunately, her family has other plans. When they yank her straight out of her comfort zone, she finds herself starring in the craziest train wreck she's ever witnessed.

Molly ultimately gets a more exciting life that doesn't revolve around school, but she's pretty sure the man of her dreams won't be sticking around long after her family gets ahold of him. There aren't too many guys who can handle smelling like pee, having the whole world know how he masturbates, and being forced to eat an entire bag of dicks.

Join the Chocolate Lovers and Chocoholics gang for one final story about love, baked goods, making poor life choices, and remembering how important family is—even if they drive you insane. Mostly because it's illegal to kill them.

Title: Paint My Body Red
Author: Heidi R. Kling
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC, (November 2nd, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Amazon UK

Synopsis: They think I'll be number seven. Unlucky number seven.

Dead teenager number seven. With the rash of suicides at my school, I've been shipped off to my dad's Wyoming ranch for “my own safety.” My mom worries I'll be next—another depressed teenager whose blood will end up on the train tracks. But she doesn't know my secrets...or what I did.

Everything has changed at the ranch since I was there last. The staff is gone, and there aren’t any visitors. The place is struggling, and ALS is destroying my dad. The one bright spot in this mess is his new—and only—ranch hand, Jake. He’s gorgeous, cheerful, healthy and sane. Shadows don't haunt his eyes and eat away at him in the night.

But the ranch and Jake can't save me from the darkness inside, or the knowledge of what I've done. This time, it's up to me to save myself...

*covers are always subject to change.

Book Wars a weekly feature hosted between two book review blogs – A Life Bound By Books & Much Loved Books!

It’s a fact that book lovers know all about the covers of the books they covet.  Often when a title is released here in the US, it’s sometimes vastly different across the pond in the US.  So, Michelle from Much Loved Books and I have come together to create Book Wars to talk about the difference in covers when it comes to the US vs. UK versions.

We hope from time to time authors will chime in with their thoughts as well. We welcome everyone to comment and share their thoughts too! The more the merrier!

Before we get to this weeks Book Wars, we have a winner to announce. The Book Wars winner for The Rest of Us Just Live Here By: Patrick Ness is..... the  Cover!!!  Thank you to everyone who voted for both books, and for picking a winner.

Also, there's a poll at the bottom of the post that we'd love to hear your input for the two covers! Tell us which one YOU love the most.

Left: US - Right: UK

Title: Redemption Road 

Series: (Vicious Cycle #2)
Author: Katie Ashley
Publisher: US - NAL Trade, 336 Pages (October 6th, 2015) UK - Headline Eternal, 336 Pages (October 6th, 2015)
Add to: Goodreads USA Version | Goodreads UK Version
Order online here: USA: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository UK: Amazon UK, Waterstones, W H Smith, The Book Depository

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: The New York Times bestselling author of Vicious Cycle plunges readers into a world of danger and desire in her newest in the Vicious Cycle motorcycle club romance series.

Looking for a walk on the wild side, Annabel Percy, the daughter of a powerful politician, starts dating a biker she knows is completely wrong for her. But she finds herself living a nightmare when she’s kidnapped and transported into a hell on earth she never could have imagined.

Born and bred into the Hells Raiders MC, Nathaniel “Reverend” Malloy lives and dies for his brothers. But when he becomes the unexpected savior of a rival club’s captive, Rev makes it his personal mission to nurse Annabel back to health—and to shelter her from the nightmares that torment her.

Once Annabel heals, she’s stunned to realize she is falling for the seductive man who saved her. Faced with their impossible attraction, can she accept the life he leads, or will Rev walk away from the only life he’s ever known for the woman he was never supposed to love?

About the author: 

Katie Ashley is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon Best-Selling author. She lives outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her two very spoiled dogs. She has a slight obsession with Pinterest, The Golden Girls, Harry Potter, Shakespeare, Supernatural, Designing Women, and Scooby-Doo.

With a BA in English, a BS in Secondary English Education, and a Masters in Adolescent English Education, she spent 11 1/2 years educating the Youth of America aka teaching MS and HS English until she left to write full time in December 2012.

Find Katie Online: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Let the Wars Begin: Its now time to make our decision, let's see what we think about the covers and pick our favorite cover.

Lisa So, this week I've picked another MC book. I mean you won't see me saying no to an MC book, why not two awesome covers to go up against each other again this week?

I haven't read this one yet, but I do have it to read I hope soon and am really looking forward to it. And when I look at these two covers.. wow! I kind of like them BOTH!

For the first book in the series I had voted for the US cover and this time around while I DO like the US cover a lot I'm leading more to the UK side this time around. I like the text a bit more, I like the colors and the color treatment that the UK cover has this time around... and I'm liking the model a bit more too. ;)

All around I really like the look of the UK cover and I can't wait to see it in person!

With the UK getting my vote this time around, which one gets YOURS? Let us know below.

Michelle This is the first time I have seen the US cover for this book. The UK one is currently on NetGalley so I've gotten a glimpse or two of this very nice cover.

Looking at both of these covers side by side it's easy for me to see which one I prefer. The US cover is very eye catching, and I like how we get to see more than just the cover model. The UK cover though is the one that I'm drawn to. I like how dark it is, and that we get a very up close and personal shot of the cover model. Like Lisa, I also like the styling of the text and how it's laid out, even down to the addition of the wings at the side.

It's a UK vote for me this week, don't forget to leave your vote below.

VOTE for YOUR favorite cover of Redemption Road NOW!

Title: The Fifteenth Minute (The Ivy Years #5)
Author: Sarina Bowen
Publisher: (October 13th, 2015)
From: the Author
Format: eARC
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK, iTunes, Kobo

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: Just because she's famous doesn't mean she's happy.

Freshman Lianne Challice is known to millions of fans as Princess Vindi. But sometimes a silver screen sorceress just wants to hang up her wand, tell her manager to shove it, and become a normal college student. Too bad that’s harder than it looks.

She’s never lived a normal life. She hasn’t been to school since kindergarten. And getting close to anyone is just too risky — the last boy she kissed sold the story to a British tabloid.

But she can’t resist trying to get close to Daniel "DJ" Trevi, the hot, broody guy who spins tunes for hockey games in the arena. Something's haunting his dark eyes, and she needs to know more.

DJ's genius is for expressing the mood of the crowd with a ten second song snippet. With just a click and a fade, he can spread hope, pathos or elation among six thousand screaming fans.

Too bad his college career is about to experience the same quick fade-out as one of his songs. He can't get close to Lianne, and he can't tell her why. And the fact that she seems to like him at all? Incredible.

Review: 4 Stars - The Fifteenth Minute is the fifth title in author Sarina Bowen’s The Ivy Years series. The series follows different characters set in the same college, so each title can be read as a standalone as each title is its own story. However, characters from the past do make appearances so reading the book prior will give you some insight into who is who and their past.

Now that Ive gotten the important bit if info out of the way I'm free to gush about this series that I’ve read from the very beginning and have come to love, and without a doubt looked forward to.

One of the things I love about this series is the fact that each title has characters’ who are dealing with real issues, big and small. It’s one of the things I look forward to when I find a new book is being written. And in this fifth installment the author has taken issues to a whole new level with what her poor characters are forced to go through this time around.

And you might guess what’s going on… which I had an idea; however it didn’t take away from reading in the slightest because these characters and the way that the books written, you can’t stop, you can’t look away, you can’t put the book down until you reach the end! And when you do get to the end you wish you’d have read the book slower to savor it as the characters feel like friends and your heart has bled for them in their struggles.

The two main characters are DJ and Lianne. Both from different worlds, yet each is struggling with something so far removed from who they are, it’s shocking to see two people who are so different at the root of what is hidden deep down inside. Lianne is a movie star yet knows nothing when it comes to being a “normal” teenager in college, yet that’s exactly what she wants. A chance for a “normal” experience away from the spotlight, so she chooses a college far away from Hollywood and all its glamour.

Then there’s DJ, just your normal everyday college teen with a passion for music and hockey. He’s looking to finish his second year and is facing a difficult time at every turn. Forced to live off campus, he’s hiding from more than he knows what to do with. He looks forward to spending time with the Hockey team that his brother plays on and the time he can play music during the weekly games.

Neither of these characters saw the other coming and neither quite knows what to do when emotions and hidden secrets start to bubble over in their happy, fun, easy going relationship.

It’s the issues that create so much depth from these characters and makes the story with how it’s written, so much more than I could have asked for... and then some. I love these books, these characters, and this title didn’t let me down. It has all the things I love when it comes to a great book.

If you love characters with depth and a well written story then look no further than the Ivy Years book. There’s a buildup of the story that starts from the first page and doesn’t stop right through to the end. The issues are honest and will tug at your heart and the characters will stick with you long after reading. It’s a contemporary series centered around a college and college Hockey team that’s more than just about the sport. So, what are you waiting for? Go get started on this book today!

​Excerpt:

Lianne Challice is chatting me up.

As I fetch the pizza I ordered from the window, I try to decide whether or not I’m going insane. Maybe all the stress in my life has finally cracked me.

But no. When I deposit the pie on a table, her big eyes cut from the jukebox over to me, before darting away again. She is so freaking cute and so feminine that it’s making me crazy. Her mouth is like a little red candy that I’m dying to taste. And who has teeth that straight? She intimidates the fuck out of me, to be honest.

I make another trip to the pizza counter for paper plates and napkins. Usually we just grab slices off the tray like animals. But tonight I’m trying to be classy. The idea makes me snicker to myself. As if. Impressing Lianne Challice isn’t something I’m capable of. But I’m having fun trying. And there hasn’t been a whole lot of fun in this year for me. So that’s something.

Years from now I’ll look back on this night and laugh. Guys, did I ever tell you about the time I chatted up a movie star? I mean, my father is still telling people about the time he sat one table over from Tina Fey at Nobu.

Lianne sneaks another glance in my direction and I beckon to her. “Have a slice?” If she wants one, now is the time. In a minute my brother and his teammates will fall on the pizza like seagulls.

“Thank you. I guess I should. I didn’t make it to the dining hall tonight.”

“Your enthusiasm for Capri’s pizza overwhelms me,” I tease. “Aren’t you a fan?”

She slides a slice onto a paper plate, considering the question. “Pizza is like a nineties hit. Pretty good, especially if that’s all there is and you’re hungry.”

My own slice stops halfway to my mouth and I laugh. “Seriously?”

“What?”

“I don’t know if we can be friends,” I say before taking a bite.

“Because I don’t love pizza?”

I shake my head. “Who doesn’t love pizza? It’s, like, a basic human desire.” I cram a bite into my mouth to prove my point. Smooth, right?

She bites her bottom lip, and I realize I’d rather have that for dinner. “It’s okay. But it’s mostly just something you eat when you’re in a hurry or need to feed a crowd on the cheap.”

“Ah, I see,” I say when I can speak again. “The problem is that you haven’t had any great pizza. You’re a freshman, right? You don’t know all the glory that is Harkness pizza. Have you been to Gino’s Apizza?”

Lianne shakes her head. “I don’t think so.”

“She doesn’t think so,” I scoff. “Baby, if you’d had great pizza, you’d remember.” And now I sound like a real perv, but Lianne Challice is smiling at me, watching me with her big doe eyes, and I feel it like a drug. “They make everything from scratch. Even the sausage. We’ll go together, so I can prove my point.”

Annnd I think I just asked a movie star out on a date. Here comes the crash and burn.

First her eyes widen just a smidge. Then two pink spots appear on her face, one on either cheekbone. “Well, it would be a shame to live in this town and never know its true pizza greatness.”

I replay that sentence in my head and realize that she didn’t turn me down. “True,” I agree. “Do you think Thursday would be a night to experience pizza Nirvana?” I’m overselling the hell out of Gino’s now, but it’s working for me.

She gives me a serious frown, and I’m hoping she’s not busy on Thursday. Because I have back-to-back hockey games to DJ on Friday and Saturday. “Thursday it is. I shall prepare to be amazed.”

​QUOTES:

Sarina Bowen’s Ivy Years is my favorite New Adult series of all-time!” — Elle Kennedy, New York Times bestselling author of The Deal

“A love story brimming with emotion and tenderness. Read it and fall in love like I did.”
— Kristen Callihan, USA Today bestselling author of The Hook Up

About the Author:

Sarina Bowen makes her home in the Green Mountains of Vermont, where she lives with her family, eight chickens and a large pile of skis and hockey equipment. She is a graduate of Yale University.

Find Sarina Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

When you receive an email from Victoria Scott asking you... as a "Jockey" and favorite blogger to help post teasers from her up and coming title - TITANS - first you freak out a bit because it's Victoria Scott and you LOVE her! And, secondly you calm down enough to say HECK YES!!!

So, earlier this week, we asked on twitter for readers and fans to pick random page numbers and she'd select teasers from those page numbers and well, take a look at what she's picked to share with us below!!!

Then after you're done reading these EPIC teasers, how about a giveaway??? 

Title: Titans
Author: Victoria Scott
Publisher: Scholastic Press, 320 Pages (Feburary 23rd, 2016)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

Synopsis: From Victoria Scott, author of FIRE & FLOOD, comes a thrilling story of impossible odds. 

Ever since the Titans first appeared in her Detroit neighborhood, Astrid Sullivan’s world has revolved around the mechanical horses. She and her best friend have spent countless hours watching them and their jockeys practice on the track. It’s not just the thrill of the race. It’s the engineering of the horses and the way they’re programmed to seem so lifelike. The Titans are everything that fascinates Astrid, and nothing she’ll ever touch.

She hates them a little, too. Her dad lost everything betting on the Titans. And the races are a reminder of the gap between the rich jockeys who can afford the expensive machines to ride, and the working class friends and neighbors of Astrid’s who wager on them.

But when Astrid’s offered a chance to enter an early model Titan in this year’s derby, well, she decides to risk it all. Because for a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, it’s more than a chance at fame or money. Betting on herself is the only way she can see to hang on to everyone in the world she cares about.

TEASERS:

Page 19
“Steel grinds against steel as the horse turns sharply and barrels toward the gate, running full speed toward me. I jump backward, and almost don’t make it out of the way in time. The Titan slams into the space where my fingers were, and the jockey tears off his handkerchief and sunglasses. ‘Practices are closed to the public,’ he snaps.”


Page 31
“There’s a man standing in his open garage wearing a welding mask, a machine between his hands. He’s sliding something under the machine slowly but steadily, rotating the piece every few seconds. Orange sparks fly in all directions, and a high-pitched whirring reaches my ears.”


Page 46
“My grandfather’s gambling cost us our first family home, and my dad’s addiction will soon cost us our second.”


Page 53
“Cool metal rumbles beneath my fingers for only a fraction of a moment. And then its eyes flash open.”


Page 72
“The Titan slams against the starting gate, and I can’t help but agree. It’s like I’ve been back here an eternity, like I’ve spent my whole life in this exact spot, waiting to feel the breeze off a track slice through my hair.”


Page 213
“Releasing a scream, I push the hurdle button.”

About the Author:

Victoria Scott is the author of TITANS (Scholastic, Spring 2016), the FIRE & FLOOD series (Scholastic), and the DANTE WALKER trilogy (Entangled Teen). Her latest novel, SALT & STONE, received a starred review by Kirkus Reviews, and the first book in the series, FIRE & FLOOD, has been nominated as a YALSA Teens' Top 10 book for 2015. Victoria's novels have been bought and translated in eleven foreign markets, and she is represented by Sara Crowe.

The author lives in Dallas, and loves cotton candy something fierce.

Find Victoria Online:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

GIVEAWAY!!!

SIGNED Titans Poster!
US Mailing Addresses Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

NYT Bestselling Author Kendall Ryan brings you a brand new exciting series, Alphas Undone. Each book is a standalone. We are very excited to announce the first book Bait & Switch, which will release on February 9th, 2016.  

Title: Bait & Switch (Alphas Undone Book 1)
Author: Kendall Ryan
Publisher: (February 9th, 2016)
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: iBooks

NOTE: This is a "Adult/New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 18+

Synopsis: Love is a trap, a trick only other people fall for. Former Navy SEAL Nolan has no such illusions. The only things real in his life are his beloved bulldog and the two women who regularly share his bed. One is light—soft, innocent, and tender touches. The other is dark—and gives him all of the wicked things he craves behind closed doors. It’s not cheating when each is aware of the other. But when he begins to feel much more than he ever bargained for, the order of his carefully crafted world is shaken, and he stands to lose everything.
Nolan thinks we met by chance. We didn’t. I sought him out, seduced him, and in return got the sanctuary I needed to survive. But now, impossibly, I’ve fallen in love with him. I don’t care that he has another lover, because when he finds out who I am, it’s going to ruin any chance I ever had with him anyway. She’s the least of my worries.
Bait & Switch is Book 1 in a new contemporary romance series by Kendall Ryan.

EXCERPT

“So, how does all this work? Do you mind if I pry a little?” Her cheeks heated slightly, knowing all the questions spinning in her mind. It was one thing to hear about it over drinks the other night, it was quite another to see it with her own eyes.

“Pry away,” he chuckled softly, his hand slowly stroking up and down against her spine.

Awareness zinged through her. It had been a long time since she’d felt a man’s touch. Six months to be exact.

“How did she end up living here with you?”

“I knew her through a mutual acquaintance, and after breaking up with her ex, she needed somewhere to live. I offered my guest room up. Rent free. No strings. And she said yes.”

“That was awfully nice of you.” She blinked at him in wide-eyed astonishment. It wasn’t something many people would do.

“Trust me, I’m very far from being a white knight.” His voice dropped lower, and his hand came to rest at her lower back again. “Our relationship sort of evolved from there.”

He didn’t continue, leaving Lacey to guess if it was some type of BDSM interest that they shared.

“What else is going on inside that pretty head of yours?” he asked.

“H-how did you come to be this way?” She cringed when she realized how it sounded. As though he was damaged goods. Then again, maybe he was. Nolan didn’t even raise an eyebrow to her question.

“After a demanding career as a SEAL …” He let out a deep sigh, gazing down at the courtyard. “My goals are much simpler now – to enjoy life one day at a time and take pleasure where I find it.”

She simply nodded. He didn’t elaborate, but he didn’t need to. Growing up in a family of men who served, she knew he had seen too much, done too much, probably experienced losing teammates he fought beside. She knew it could mess a man up. At the very least, it changed them. And in Nolan’s case, it made him harder and closed him off to the hearts and flowers kind of love she hoped to find someday. He was surviving, in his own way.

“I need to know what you taste like,” Nolan murmured.

She blinked up at him, her eyes still searching his. There was so much she was unsure about, but the electricity buzzing between them wasn’t one of them. 

He leaned forward, moving slowly, and brought his lips to hers. Hesitating for just a moment, as if to give her a chance to decide, Nolan’s warm breath ghosted over her mouth. Lifting up onto her tip toes, Lacey touched her lips to his. With one hand stroking her jaw, his other came to settle against her hip, his thumb running along the bare skin at the waistband of her jeans. Nolan pulled her body close, until she felt the hard ridge of him against her belly. He felt massive. Her lips parted in a silent gasp and he stroked his tongue against hers.

His mouth seemed made to fit over hers. And the skillful way he moved his tongue provoked thoughts of what other ways he could use that tongue. While her panties grew wet, and her breathing turned ragged, they kissed deeply for several minutes.

Her hands wandered, running over his firm biceps, and down the front of his shirt where rounded pecs waited invitingly under his shirt.

Sex rolled off of him in waves. No, not just sex. Fucking. Lacey was sure that being intimate with Nolan would be unlike any other experience she’d had. And that excited the hell out of her.

“God damn, woman,” he murmured breaking away from her lips.

Lacey couldn’t disagree. Everything about that kiss felt right. Backgrounds ceased to matter. Messy entanglements forgotten. When she was kissing Nolan, nothing mattered except getting even closer. More, her body begged. 

 “Just keep an open mind,” he said, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

About the Author:
A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than 18 titles, Kendall Ryan has sold more than a millionebooks and her books have been translated into several languages in countries around the world. She's a traditionally published author with Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins UK, as well as enjoying success as an independently published author. Since she first began self-publishing in 2012, she's appeared at #1 on Barnes & Noble and iBooks charts around the world. Her books have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller list 23 times.

Visit her at: www.kendallryanbooks.com for the latest book news, and fun extras.
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