Dreamfever by Kit Alloway

Finding out that she is the True Dream Walker hasn't gone at all the Joshlyn Weaver would have expected it to. The only special gift she seems to have is an ability to create archways, which really isn't that special. In addition to her inability to connect with the Dream, she has also started having nightmares that are so terrible she can't tell anyone about them. Not even Will.

Just when Josh thought her life couldn't get any more complicated, the lost dream walker princess returns to claim her parents' right to the throne, right as the Lodestone party threatens to take control of the government during the upcoming Accordance Conclave.

With the clock running down, Josh must rely on not only her friends, but also her enemies, to stop the radicals from taking power and controlling the Dream. But how can she expect to save everyone else when she's struggling to pick up the pieces of her own shattered life? 

Goodreads Summary

Being a dream walker sounds like...a dream.  Joshlyn can enter dreams and help solve nightmares.  However, for Joshlyn, it's not all that it is cracked up to be.  One would think that if she's a dream walker she could save herself from bad dreams.  Unfortunately for Joshlyn, this is not the case.  She has such terrifying dreams that she does not feel safe sharing them with anyone.  A dream walker princess mysteriously returns and tries to claim that she is the rightful heir to the throne.  The Lodestone party has something to say about it though and all of the discontent also affect Joshlyn.  

Joshlyn's character was brave.  Some of the nightmares in the book would scare me to death.  It must have been difficult to learn the way of dream walking.  The reader will read from three different viewpoints: Will, Joshlyn, or Mirren.  This book reveals more about their characters and will further the readers' enjoyment of them.  There is the possibility that the group might split up and there are cracks occurring in the dream walkers' community.  This fast-paced book is recommended to young adult/teen readers.

4 Stars


This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Meet Tor Editors on Tour!

Follow along with our very first ediTOuR. Melissa Frain, Whitney Ross, and Miriam Weinberg take a road trip to visit authors, bookstores, and roadside attractions on their way to joining V.E. Schwab, Susan Dennard, and Veronica Rossi on their respective Nashville and Asheville tour stops.

 

We'll be hitting many great stores and locations along the way, including Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington, Parnassus Books in Nashville, Malaprop’s Bookstore in Asheville, Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, One More Page Books in Arlington, and Politics & Prose in D.C.

 

Follow along on Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr on #EdiTORsOnTour

Here's the full schedule:

Monday, February 22nd: Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington, KY

Tuesday, February 23rd: Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN for the launch of V.E. Schwab's A GATHERING OF SHADOWS

Thursday, February 25th: Malaprop's Bookstore in Asheville, NC for #TruthRider tour with Susan Dennard (TRUTHWITCH) and Veronica Rossi (RIDERS)

Friday, February 26th: Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, NC

Friday, February 26th: One More Page Books in Arlington, VA

Saturday, February 27th: Politics & Prose in Washington, DC

*Courtesy of Tor Publishing

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Tease Me Thursday: Promo!

Tested by her Web Master by Normandie Alleman

Amazon

Controlling Interest by Francesca Hawley

Amazon

Into the Fire by Kelly Hashway

Amazon

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

A Drop of Night by Stefan Bachmann

Seventeen-year-old Anouk has finally caught the break she’s been looking for—she's been selected out of hundreds of other candidates to fly to France and help with the excavation of a vast, underground palace buried a hundred feet below the suburbs of Paris. Built in the 1780's to hide an aristocratic family and a mad duke during the French Revolution, the palace has lain hidden and forgotten ever since. Anouk, along with several other gifted teenagers, will be the first to set foot in it in over two centuries.

Or so she thought.

But nothing is as it seems, and the teens soon find themselves embroiled in a game far more sinister, and dangerous, than they could possibly have imagined. An evil spanning centuries is waiting for them in the depths. . .

A genre-bending thriller from Stefan Bachmann for fans of The Maze Runner and Joss Whedon’s The Cabin in the Woods.

You cannot escape the palace.

You cannot guess its secrets. 

Goodreads Summary

This book both confused the heck out of me and made it impossible for me to put it down.  The scenes flowed into each other so perfectly that I never felt like the chapter was truly over.  Anouk, adopted at a young age, has never fit into her family.  She has tried to run away...with disastrous results.  When she is offered a chance to participate in the excavation of an antique palace, she jumps at the chance . However, what she finds is not dust, but something(s) very much alive.

Anouk's character was mysterious.  There was always something more to her than met the eye.  She discovers qualities and traits about herself during the book, as well, adding to the complication.  The other characters were no less intriguing and somehow the author ties them all together in the end.  One of the characters technically dies before the book is even a quarter over.  The rooms of the palace are scary and booby-trapped.  This book reminded me of a horror movie I once watched where people had to make it out alive despite near guaranteed fatality.  I was surprised at the ending and enjoyed the flashbacks of what really happened in the palace a long time ago.  I liked how the author tied in a historical event, as well.  This book is recommended to young adult/adult horror/thriller readers.

4 Stars

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Dead Girl by Tessa Marie: Cover Reveal!

Dead Girl by Tessa Marie

COVER REVEAL

February 24th, 2016

If her mother wasn’t watching, Kylie Presby would punch Queen Bee, Natalie Silvers, in the face -again. But as Kylie wipes her tears away with the layers of toilet paper encasing her car, she knows she can’t retaliate like she did last time. Her dead mother wouldn’t approve. Kylie no longer cares about popularity. Invisible would work just fine.

Then the new kid, Braydon, mysterious, good looking and too clever for his own good, shows up and sacrifices his social status, becoming Kylie’s shield from the front line assault. After enough chocolate ice cream and movies it’s as if they’re best friends. Crazy, since Kylie knows so little about him.

As Natalie continues her relentless attacks on Kylie another person deals with his own line of bullies. Jack Stine was popular until his deepest secret was revealed and his friends abandoned him. Kylie and Jack bond over their tormentors and form an unbreakable friendship.

Three lost souls each with a story that binds them together, but will it be enough when the bullying goes too far and secrets are revealed?

ADD IT TO YOUR GOODREADS TBR

~*~ABOUT TESSA~*~

Tessa Marie aka Theresa Paolo lives on Long Island, NY with her fiancé and their fish. She is the author of NA and YA contemporary romances. Her debut novel (NEVER) AGAIN, released in Fall 2013 with Berkley (Penguin) and the companion novel (ONCE) AGAIN released Summer 2014. Both her books HOME IS WHERE YOU ARE and PROVE ME WRONG are Amazon bestsellers. She is also the coauthor of the Amazon bestselling Beds Series. She has a hard time accepting the fact she’s in her early thirties (very early), and uses her characters to relive the best and worst years of her life. She put her love of writing on hold while she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Dowling College. When she’s not writing, she’s behind a camera, reading, watching Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars, or can be found on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook.

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Blocked by Jennifer Lane: Promo!

Blocked by Jennifer Lane New adult sports romance College freshman Lucia Ramirez has a secret crush on Dane Monroe. He’s a tall drink of water — blond, brash, and one hell of a volleyball player. ¡Híjole! Lucia hopes her volleyball scholarship to his school will make him notice her. Too bad what’s noticeable is Dane’s obvious hatred for Lucia. Her family’s politics contradict everything he stands for. And politics are front and center in both their families. Dane’s mother is about to face Lucia’s father in the race for US President. When Secret Service throws them together, Dane can’t deny his frustrating attraction to Lucia’s athletic curves and sweet faith in the world. Amid the intense pressure of college athletics and presidential politics, can opposites not just attract, but overcome overwhelming odds to be together? Or do their differences block their match from the start?

  About the Author Get psyched for romance with psychologist/author (psycho author) Jennifer Lane! By day she's a therapist, and by night she's a writer. She can't decide which is more fun. Jen adores creating sporty heroines and hot heroes in her college sport romances. Volleyball wonder Lucia Ramirez found her love match in Blocked despite the glaring political spotlight aimed on her family. In Aced, the second book in the Blocked series, it's her brother Alejandro's turn to get lucky in love. A swimmer and volleyball player in college, Jen writes swimming-based romances as well: Streamline, a military mystery, and the free New Adult novella Swim Recruit. Stories of redemption interest Jen the most, especially the healing power of love. She is also the author of The Conduct Series, a romantic-suspense trilogy that includes With Good Behavior, Bad Behavior, and On Best Behavior. Ultimately, whether writing or reading, Jen loves stories that make her laugh and cry. In her spare time she enjoys exercising, attending book club, and visiting her sisters in Chicago and Hilton Head.

  Find the Author Here: Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter * GoodReads * Instagram Buy Blocked: Amazon US * Amazon UK

  Excerpt: Now that we were alone in the hallway, my eyes swept up Lucia’s firm body, and I decided to play with her a bit.
“Did you hear what one of those reporters said?”
 She studied me with nervous eyes, then shook her head.
 “They asked if we slept in the same bedroom.”
 Her lips parted as she drew a breath, and her face turned a delicious shade of pink. I watched one hand smooth down her thigh, then dart up to the back of her neck. The other hand fidgeted at her side. It looked like she had to force a swallow. Sweet Jesus. Her embarrassment totally turned me on.
 “So, um...what did you tell them?” she finally asked.
 A sense of pressure below my belt pulled me toward her. Her eyes widened as I approached, but she seemed more excited than frightened. Her breezy, floral scent mingled with the liquid courage in my veins, and before I knew it I was running my fingers into her thick, damp hair. What the hell am I doing? God, it felt good, and she tilted her ear toward me like she enjoyed it too. There was a cute little dimple on her right cheek that winked at me. I found myself leaning closer to her face, and considering her impressive height, I didn’t have far to go. Her shiny eyes turned back to me, and she gazed up with such yearning, such depth. My heart thundered. Stop seducing me, Devil Spawn! Those sensuous lips opened for me, their sweetness luring me forward. I held my face over hers, breathing in her smell, and her eyes fluttered shut as she surrendered to me. I stared at her soft features for too long, shocking myself with an insane desire to kiss those sweet lips. Before I totally freaked myself out, I shifted an inch to press a kiss onto her warm cheek, right on her dimple. I could feel her tremble beneath my touch. My hand still tangled in her hair, I pulled back to gaze into her mesmerized eyes.
“I told them I never kiss and tell.”
 When I let her go, I heard a little squawk of protest. That adorable noise reminded me of the pressure down below — pressure I needed to do something about. I turned and took swift strides down the hall.
 “Where are you going?” Her breathy voice was tinged with desperation. I grinned. She was just too easy to mess with.

  This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Bad Boy by J.C. Reed and Jackie Steele: Promo and Giveaway!

Bad Boy by J.C. Reed and Jackie Steele

Release Date: February 23rd, 2016

Full length, 350pp
Synopsis:

I should have seen it coming.
Sexy? Handsome? Trouble? Check, check, and check.
Is he messing up my life? Hell yes.
All the signs are there: he is a bad boy.
Even his name is a lie. Too bad I married him. I can't wait to get divorced. Does this make me sound crazy?
I know I should avoid him, run as fast as I can. However, when a harmless misunderstanding lands me in a foreign prison cell, my dear, lying husband is the only one who can get me out. Crap. I shouldn't accept.

But how to say no to trouble when said trouble is the one who makes me fantasize all the dirty things he could do to me?

BUY LINKS:

Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~  Barnes & Noble ~ iBooks ~ Kobo

Author J.C. REED
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Author JACKIE STEELE
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

(open worldwide)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

BAD BOY by J.C. Reed and Jackie Steele is now available worldwide

on Amazon, iBooks, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Down to My Soul by Kennedy Ryan: Promo and Giveaway!

COMING MARCH 31!

We are so pleased to bring you the cover for DOWN TO MY SOUL,

the much-anticipated sequel to MY SOUL TO KEEP!

Pre-Order DOWN TO MY SOUL on iBooks for Special Release Price - 99¢!

   

SYNOPSIS

RHYSON

She doesn't wear my ring. We never stood before a preacher. The only vows exchanged were between our bodies; between our souls. But she was mine and I was hers until I ruined it. I have to believe that every day, every step, every breath brings me closer to making things right. To making her mine again.

KAI

I've seen promises broken. I know love makes no guarantees. But things were different for Rhys and me, until he lied, and I walked away. Only there's a chain between our hearts that I can't break. Even if I forgive him, a shadow from my past hangs over us; over this love that reaches all the way down to my soul.

 

Click here to be notified AS SOON as DTMS is live on all platforms!

Add DOWN TO MY SOUL TO Goodreads

   

Make sure to read Book 1, MY SOUL TO KEEP, first!

Available for the First time EVER on all platforms!

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Read the first THREE Chapters Free!

 

GIVEAWAY

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Kennedy Ryan

 

I just can't write about myself in third person for one more bio! I'm a wife, a mom, a writer, an advocate for families living with autism. That's me in a nutshell. Crack the nut, and you'll find a Southern girl gone Southern California who loves pizza and Diet Coke, and wishes she got to watch a lot more television. You can usually catch me up too late, on social media too much, or FINALLY putting a dent in my ever-growing To Be Read list! I love to hear from readers at kennedyryanwrites@gmail.com.

 

Let's Connect!

 

 

Newsletter | Facebook | Amazon | Twitter | Book Group | Instagram

 This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Sweet Spot by Lucy Felthouse: Release Blitz and Excerpt!

Blurb:

Virginia Miller is an up-and-coming tennis star. She’s gone from a ratty tennis court in a park in south London, England, to the world’s top training facility—Los Carlos Tennis Academy in California. In awe of the talent around her, Virginia is all the more determined to make the most of the opportunity and show that she’s worthy of her place there. Her mentor, Nadia Gorlando, has every faith in her.

But Virginia finds herself distracted—Nadia, as well as being a top-notch tennis player, is seriously sexy, and Virginia’s mind keeps wandering where it shouldn’t. Will her crush get in the way of her career, or can she find a way to push the other woman out of her mind before it’s too late?

Please note: This is a re-released title with a new cover—the book content hasn’t changed.

Amazon: http://mybook.to/sweetspot

Other buy links: http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/sweet-spot/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21521972-sweet-spot

*****

Excerpt:

Nadia Gorlando and I had just gotten off the exercise bikes in the gym when one of the academy’s coaches, Peter Ross, headed over to us, all smiles.

“Hey, Nadia,” he said, his all-American grin widening and his blond hair flopping down over his forehead, “I need a huge favor.”

I flicked my gaze to Nadia. She raised one of her perfectly shaped eyebrows and waited for him to continue. He did.

“I totally lost track of time just now and I have an appointment with Travis Connolly. Would you mind wiping down my machine for me? Or maybe stick a note on it saying it’s out of order? I don’t want to leave it all sweaty for someone else. You’ll be doing me a real solid. I’ll owe you.”

My jaw almost hit the floor.

Now Nadia rolled her eyes, looked over at the offending machine, then back at Peter. “Sure, I understand,” she said, as cool as ice. “The world’s number one can’t wait. Go right ahead—I’ll fix it for you.”

He babbled a load of thanks, then jogged out of the gym.

I gaped at her. “You’re not going to do it, are you?”

Nadia chuckled. “Of course not. He may be coaching Travis Connolly and Rufus Lampani for the US Open, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to clean up his mess.” She pointed with her chin over to the machine Peter had just vacated. “Come on, V, I’ll show you how I’m going to deal with this.”

I followed her, grinning. Her tone told me that it was going to be something fun. Well, for us, anyway. Probably not for Peter.

Sure enough, when she returned from the room off the side of the gym, she had a pad of paper and a pen in her hands. Deliberately shielding the pad from my view, she wrote something down, then pulled off the top sheet. Folding it, she then propped it on the sweat-slicked seat so the writing was on view to anyone who happened past.

When I’d read and absorbed the words, I turned to Nadia, impressed. Her smile lit up her face, showing dimples in each cheek, and her brown eyes gleamed with amusement.

It was in that moment that I decided I had the serious hots for Nadia Gorlando.

The sign read,

PLEASE EXCUSE THE STATE OF THIS MACHINE. PETER ROSS, TENNIS COACH SUPREMO, “LOST TRACK OF TIME”.

*****

Author Bio:

Lucy Felthouse is the award-winning author of erotic romance novels Stately Pleasures (named in the top 5 of Cliterati.co.uk’s 100 Modern Erotic Classics That You’ve Never Heard Of, and an Amazon bestseller) and Eyes Wide Open (an Amazon bestseller). Including novels, short stories and novellas, she has over 140 publications to her name. She owns Erotica For All, is book editor for Cliterati, and is one eighth of The Brit Babes. Find out more about her writing at http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk, or on Twitter and Facebook. You can also subscribe to her monthly newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/gMQb9

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Why They Run the Way They Do by Susan Perabo

A “darkly beautiful” collection “suffused with astonishing wit and tenderness” (Jenny Offill, New York Times bestselling author of Dept. of Speculation). From the celebrated author of Who I Was Supposed to Be comes twelve beautiful short stories celebrating the everyday truths of people facing unusual or challenging situations…often of their own making.

In Why They Run the Way They Do, critically acclaimed author Susan Perabo illustrates the triumphs and tragedies of daily life. Perfectly distilled into moments of sharp humor and poignancy, her latest collection features ordinary people in sometimes extraordinary circumstances. Two young students try their hand at blackmail upon learning an illicit secret; a woman grapples with feelings of betrayal after discovering her spinster sister’s pregnancy test; the ghost of a couple’s past comes back to haunt them in the form of their toddler’s stuffed toy.

Weaving the banal and bizarre together, “Perabo’s clear, wry sentences meld a prose style that's reminiscent of Raymond Carver’s with a sensibility that's informed by People” (The New York Times). Here, this “literary talent” (The Boston Globe) captures the human condition through struggles that are quiet and grand; dark and provocative. Brilliantly crafted, Why They Run the Way They Do is ultimately an homage to the philosophy that life without humor is no life at all.

Goodreads Summary

A wise president once said (and I paraphrase) that if we could all kick the person who causes us the most trouble in life none of us could sit for a month (Theodore Roosevelt).  This collection of stories provides for laughter and reticent agreement of that quote.  Many of the stories were touching and will remain with me for a long time (particularly the one involving brain cancer).  The stories contain life's little ironies and idiosyncrasies.  The characters could be your friend, family member, or work acquaintance.  Susan Perabo has a way of fully connecting with the reader during the short stories and making it difficult to set the book down.  These stories seem very realistic and the scope could fit into our own lives.  

Some of the stories have "good" endings and others end in ways that are sad, but poignant.  I liked some of the characters and others I did not connect with as much, but I still realized their relevance to everyday living.  The small quirks and twists in these short stories (some of which are so short you might read them twice!) will keep the reader intrigued.  This book is recommended to adult readers.

4 Stars  

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Keeper of the Stars by Robin Lee Hatcher

She blames him for her brother's death. Can she let go of resentment and open her heart to love?

Penny Cartwright found it difficult to understand why her younger brother would choose to join a country singer’s band rather than return to Kings Meadow after college . . . and the separation strained their relationship. Then a car accident made certain her brother could never return.

Trevor Reynolds has chased stardom in Nashville for more than a dozen years, but it remains out of his reach. After an accident kills his young drummer, Trevor goes to Kings Meadow to keep a promise—and perhaps to discover what truly matters in this life.

Thrown together by circumstances, Penny and Trevor must learn to give and receive forgiveness. And if they do, perhaps something beautiful can rise from the ashes of heartbreak.

Goodreads Summary

Although it wasn't Trevor's fault that Penny's brother died he still partly blames himself.  When her brother died, Penny lost her faith in God.  Trevor made a promise to her brother and he intends to keep it.  This promise leads the two into a budding romance.  The romance is sweet and depicted as hope after a tragedy.  It's not an "insta-romance"  and the author takes time to build up their relationship.  The reader will likely find themselves as invested in the relationship as I did!  It takes time to recover after such a crushing loss and I can't imagine losing my sister.  

The novel did touch on hard topics, but there were lighter subjects interspersed and focused upon, as well.   I liked how the author explored loss and recovery.  Her style of writing was fun and made the book a fast read.  The reader does get to meet Penny's brother in flashbacks and will feel as if he/she knows him quite well.  The flashbacks will make the reader truly feel the loss of one of the major characters.  This book is recommended to adult readers.

4 Stars


This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Tested by Her WebMaster by Normandie Alleman: Promo!

Tested by Her Web Master by Normandie Alleman

Series: Web Master Trilogy

Release Date: February 19, 2016

He's my addiction, my love—my life. He's my Dominant—my everything. He's changed me, and I never want to go back.

But now, he's asking for too much. Going too far. It's out of my comfort zone--not who I am.

I'll swallow my pride and face my fears But something tells me he has ulterior motives for this extreme request, and I will get to the bottom of it.

That is, if I can pass his test.

Tested by Her Web Master is the second book in the Web Master Trilogy and should be read following Her Web Master. If cliffhangers make you clammy, never fear - Claimed by Her Web Master, the conclusion of the trilogy, told from the perspective of the mercurial “MC,” is coming May 19, 2016.

Buy Now or Read for free with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US - Amazon UK

Goodreads

About the Author

A former psychologist, Normandie has always been fascinated by human behavior. She loves writing quirky characters that are all too human. Fiber arts, baking, and Pinterest are a few of her favorite pastimes. A shamelessly proud basketball mom, Normandie lives on a farm with a passel of kids, an adorable husband, and a pet pig who’s crazy for Red Bull.

Follow her on: Twitter - Pinterest - Facebook - Bookbub - Google + - Amazon Author Page

Newsletter Sign-Up - Goodreads - Website

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Lady Bridget's Diary by Maya Rodale

In the first novel of Maya Rodale's stunning new series, an American heiress must learn to navigate London society and an infuriatingly irresistible rake . . .

Lord Darcy is the quintessential Englishman: wealthy, titled, impossibly proper, and horrified that a pack of Americans has inherited one of England's most respected dukedoms. But his manners, his infamous self-restraint, and his better judgment fly out the window when he finds himself with the maddening American girl next door.

Lady Bridget Cavendish has grand—but thwarted—plans to become a Perfect Lady and take the haute ton by storm. In her diary, Bridget records her disastrous attempts to assimilate into London high society, her adoration of the handsome rogue next door, her disdain for the Dreadful Lord Darcy, and some truly scandalous secrets that could ruin them all.

It was loathing at first sight for Lady Bridget and Lord Darcy. But their paths keep crossing . . . and somehow involve kissing. When Lady Bridget's diary goes missing, both Darcy and Bridget must decide what matters most of all—a sterling reputation or a perfectly imperfect love.

Goodreads Summary

I expected this book to be more of an "English" romance, but the author combined England with America and focused more on the American theme.  Bridget and her family tries to conform to English high society, but not all of the attempts go well and Bridget simply must write down the mishaps, trials, and errors in her diary.  Some of what she writes is scandalous and would ruin her chances of making a proper marriage and potentially harm her family's new reputation (which is already under threat due to their presence as newcomers).  When her diary can't be found, she enlists the help of Lord Darcy to keep her secret feelings and memories under wraps.

Bridget and Darcy were hilarious together.  When they first meet each other it is the opposite of love at first sight.  Lord Darcy is skeptical of the new American family next door and Lady Bridget did not picture Lord Darcy when she thought of "English gentleman."  They don't work together well in the beginning, but their dialogue and flirtation drives the plot.  I can't imagine losing a diary (though presently I don't keep one).  It would be horrifying...especially at a time where you can lose your reputation based on its contents.  Overall, this would be a fun read for romance readers.

4 Stars

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell

For as long as she can remember, Gwendolyn Allister has never had a place to call home—all because her mother believes that monsters are hunting them. Now these delusions have brought them to London, far from the life Gwen had finally started to build for herself. The only saving grace is her best friend, Olivia, who’s coming with them for the summer.

But when Gwen and Olivia are kidnapped by shadowy creatures and taken to a world of flesh-eating sea hags and dangerous Fey, Gwen realizes her mom might have been sane all along.

The world Gwen finds herself in is called Neverland, yet it’s nothing like the stories. Here, good and evil lose their meaning and memories slip like water through her fingers. As Gwen struggles to remember where she came from and find a way home, she must choose between trusting the charming fairy-tale hero who says all the right things and the roguish young pirate who promises to keep her safe.

With time running out and her enemies closing in, Gwen is forced to face the truths she’s been hiding from all along. But will she be able to save Neverland without losing herself?

Goodreads Summary

When I first read this book, I wasn't sure what to make of it.  I used to love watching Peter Pan as a child. My favorite character was Tiger Lily.  When Lisa Maxwell introduced this novel, darker version of Neverland I wasn't sure I liked it in the beginning, but then it began to grow on me.  Gwen and Olivia are kidnapped by weird supernatural beings and end up in Neverland.  Gwen's mother has gone above and beyond to protect her, but her protection only extends so far and once the girls are in Neverland it will take all of Gwen's wit and bravery to survive.

I really liked Gwen's character even though there were parts where she made silly decisions.  The story is told from her point of view so it is easy for the read to slip inside her head and experience Neverland as she views it.  The Captain is my favorite love interest (though romance is not at all the focus of this book); he is strong, charismatic, and does what needs doing.  Pan is a trickster in this book as he is in the movie and Gwen will have to decide if he is friend or foe.  I really liked how the author tied the events together and revealed truths from Gwen's past at the end of the novel.  This book is recommended to young adult/teen readers.

4 Stars 

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Guest post by Chris A. Jackson and a Giveaway!

How I became “The Pirate Guy”

Last year while attending PaizoCon, Paizo’s gaming convention in Seattle, a fellow pointed at me and said, “You’re the pirate guy!”  I made a quip about not being an actual pirate, but I knew what he meant.  I was the guy who wrote pirate stories. I had acquired a reputation that I still wasn’t quite sure I wanted.

With decades of experience on the ocean, and a life-long love of fantasy and science fiction, why would I not embrace that moniker? First, it’s like an actor being typecast into a specific type of role. I feared that from that point forward publishers would expect me to write only pirate stories. Second, I initially balked at writing “pirate stories” because I didn’t want to get labeled as someone trying to rip-off the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

Eventually, when I decided to try nautical fantasy, I vowed to make my story as far from those movies as I could. This yielded Scimitar Moon, which was picked up by Dragon Moon Press. The novel won a gold medal from Foreword Reviews Magazine for best fantasy novel of the year.  Feeling somewhat vindicated, I followed that up with three more novels in the series. When the second, Scimitar Sun, won another gold medal, I was convinced; I had accomplished what I set out to do.  When the third, Scimitar’s Heir, also won a gold medal from Foreword, something that had never been done before, my jaw dropped.  I had to admit that I had found my niche.

With those successes under my belt, and having played and loved the Pathfinder role-playing game for years, I approached Paizo’s fiction editor, James Sutter, and pitched myself as the guy who could write nautical Pathfinder Tales. The publisher had just released the pirate-oriented “Skull and Shackles” adventure path, but no other writer was telling sea stories.  James asked me for some web fiction, which I was elated to provide. He liked it, but before it was even published, one of his contracts went south, and he had a hole in his novel publishing schedule.  If I could get him a manuscript in five months, he would publish it.  I was elated, and said yes.  There were some tense moments when I submitted a romantic story line (not something you see much in an RPG tie-in novel), and not a conventional one at all (verging on paranormal), but he liked the story.  Pirate’s Honor got great reviews, and fans loved the romance.  Vindication again! The second novel, Pirate’s Promise, had even more romance, and got even better reviews.  My third, Pirate’s Prophecy, released in February, and there are two more novels in the works. I’ve since been approached by other publishers to write other pirate-related tales, and as any writer knows, it’s hard to turn down work.

So, yeah, I’m the pirate guy, but with this caveat: My pirates do not say “Arrr” or “Matey.” They have emotions, fall in love (quite often with the wrong person), and do things they later regret (even when sober) as real people do.  There will be more pirate stories on the horizon, but I’ll write non-nautical stories, too. Who knows where the future will take me? All I need is a tall ship…and a laptop.

Anyone interested in my true-life sailing adventures—Yes, I really do sail the Caribbean—can drop by our sailing blog at www.sailmrmac.blogspot.com. You can follow my writing adventures at jaxbooks.com.

CHRIS A. JACKSON is the author of the Pathfinder Tales novels Pirate's Honor and Pirate's Promise. His self-published and small-press work includes the Scimitar Seas and Weapon of Flesh series, which have won three consecutive gold medals in the Foreword Reviews Book of the Year awards, as well as becoming Kindle best sellers. Jackson has also written a novella set in Privateer Press's RPG fiction line. He lives on a sailboat in the Caribbean.

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This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Riders by Veronica Rossi: Blog Tour and Review!

An excerpt of Jode Ellis, aka Conquest, of RIDERS

In this excerpt, we hear main character Gideon’s early impressions of Jode. Enjoy!

Jode was nineteen, like Sebastian. He’d grown up in Londan and was in his first year at Oxford. The Ellises had owned land for generations but had recently—as in this century—expanded into banking. From what I gathered, his family was in the business of making truckloads of money.

Jode knew about everything. We learned that we could throw out any random name or place, and he could Jodepedia it for us. The flip side was that he came off a little superior sometimes. A lot of the time.

VERONICA ROSSI is a New York Times bestselling author of fiction for young adults. She completed undergraduate studies at UCLA and then went on to study fine art at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco. She lives in Northern California with her husband and two sons. When not writing, she enjoys reading, painting, and counting down the minutes until she can get back to making up stories about imaginary people.

REVIEW:

 For eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake, nothing but death can keep him from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. As it turns out, it does.

Recovering from the accident that most definitely killed him, Gideon finds himself with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he can't remove. His death has brought to life his real destiny. He has become War, one of the legendary four horsemen of the apocalypse.

Over the coming weeks, he and the other horsemen--Conquest, Famine, and Death--are brought together by a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl to help save humanity from an ancient evil on the emergence.

They fail.

Now--bound, bloodied, and drugged--Gideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any chance of saving his friends and the girl he's fallen for--not to mention all of humankind--he needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is in imminent danger.

But will anyone believe him?

Goodreads Summary

I can't imagine being one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, but if I had to be one, I would choose War.  Gideon discovers he is the embodiment of War the hardest way possible-via dying.  Daryn appears to help Gideon on his new quest: to find the other horsemen.  They travel to discover who the horsemen are and what they're eventually duties will be.

Gideon was portrayed as a stereotypical male character.  It would have been nice if he had more depth to him, but I did like how he was brave in the face of death and very patriotic towards his country.  The reader will learn a lot about Gideon from the interrogating officer at the beginning of the story (Gideon is telling the story of his "death" and what occurred afterwards to an interrogating officer).  I think it can be hard to write from the perspective from a male character.  Daryn was a "sort of" love interest.  Gideon had better things to do and more to worry about than developing a serious romance with Daryn.  I enjoyed meeting the other horsemen and unraveling the author's take on the four horsemen of the apocalypse.  I found it really interesting and a fresh view.  The author spends a lot of time developing the characters and interactions between the four horsemen.  Overall, a young adult/teen reader will likely find this a fun read.

4 Stars

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Mundie Moms http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/ and Book Crushin http://bookcrush.in/

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ