Inspire Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway

Today, I'm happy to be one of the stops on the Inspire Blog Tour!

Inspire

By: Heather Buchine
Now Available!!!
Inspire on Goodreads here.

Synopsis:

18-year old Paige Rice, an exquisite beauty from East Hampton, NY, has just celebrated her high school graduation and is expecting to spend her summer living it up with all her socialite friends. But her parents have a different idea – she is being hauled away-literally- to the mountains of Vermont for the entire summer- in an RV!

Assuming she will be an outcast amongst the other teens at the campground still does not prepare her for the treatment she receives, which is far worse than she imagined. She also isn’t prepared for Travis, the campground owner’s son and the “Sexiest” guy she has ever laid eyes on. Travis is the only one who shows any interest in getting to know Paige. The only problem is that they have to explore what lies between them in secret. But once all the secrets are stripped away, the truth may be crushing.

***Intended for mature audiences due to language and sexual content***

Purchase Links: Amazon | B & N

My Thoughts:
Perfect Summer read!

I loved EVERYTHING about this read, it incorporated all of my favourite Romance cliches and still managed to come off as genuine (as opposed to cheesy). Paige is a great first person narrator, and has a lot of character (pun intended ;)) She was a breath of fresh air from all the emotionally damaged heroines that seem to be taking over the New Adult genre (not that there's anything wrong with that), and I feel the need to add that it was nice to see Parents actually acting as, Heaven forbid, Parents! ;). But seriously, Paige's strong relationship with her parents was very refreshing to read.

I fell pretty hard for Travis, even when I knew I should be mad at him (for reasons I won't mention for fear of spoilers) he was so adorable and sexy at the same time, kudos to Heather for writing such a complex character. And the romance between these two? Steaming! Even thought I felt sad for Paige that they continuously had to keep their relationship a secret, I really enjoyed reading the the little moments of privacy these two got and the opportunities they took with this time ;).

I really have no complaints with this read, I loved it and was so sad when I finished it, simply because I really wanted to continue Paige and Travis' story. I was so relieved to see that Buchine plans to make this a series, although I wish each book could be told from Paige's perspective, I'll settle for seeing these two as partially main characters in the next instalments.

Buchine is now an auto-read author for me, INSPIRE is a perfect, fast read for the beach. I would recommend this book to all New Adult Romance fans!

Happy Reading!!!

About the Author:

By no surprise my favorite hobbies are reading and writing. But beyond escaping into the

written fantasy world, I love experiencing new things. Surfing, motorcycle riding, snow blading, glass blowing, parasailing, SUP boarding are just a few that I have checked off my bucket list, but there is still so much more to explore. Right now, being a mom is my biggest adventure and the best by far!! In the quiet calm hours of the night though, I can usually be found typing away creating a world of romance where drama still exists but love (hopefully!!) always prevails.

Connect with Heather: Website | Goodreads | Facebook

Giveaway time!!! Do you want to read Inspire? Well here's your chance, enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win an e-copy of Inspire. Open Internationally!!! Good luck to all!

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Special thanks to Heather and Xpresso Book Tours, for allowing me to participate in this tour!

Going Under Blog Tour: Review, Top Ten List & Giveaway

Today, I'm happy to be one of the blog stops on the Going Under Blog Tour to celebrate Walden's latest release, Going Under!

Going Under

By: S. Walden
Now Available!!!
Going Under on Goodreads here.

Synopsis:
Brooke Wright has only two goals her senior year at Charity Run High School: stay out of trouble and learn to forgive herself for the past. Forgiveness proves elusive, and trouble finds her anyway when she discovers a secret club at school connected to the death of her best friend. She learns that swim team members participate in a “Fantasy Slut League,” scoring points for their sexual acts with unsuspecting girls.

Brooke, wracked with guilt over her friend’s death, decides to infiltrate the league by becoming one of the “unsuspecting girls,” and exact revenge on the boys who stole away her best friend. An unexpected romance complicates her plans, and her dogged pursuit of justice turns her reckless as she underestimates just how far the boys will go to keep their sex club a secret.

(This is a New Adult fiction book with mature themes. It contains graphic sex and language and a description of sexual violence.)

Purchase Links: Amazon | B & N

My Thoughts:

Very intense read...

Seriously, this title is not for the faint of heart who are looking for a feel good book with a guaranteed happily ever after. No, Going Under is a story of one girl's need for revenge. Going Under wasn't a typical read for me, but did I ever get sucked into Walden's world and Becca's need for vengeance against the boys responsible for her best friend's death. It truly shocked me to think that not one but multiple boys could be as sick and twisted as the ones that attend Becca's school.

Becca is a very complicated and damaged heroine, but while I had a difficult time empathizing (and sometimes) liking, her, I always rooted for her success in exacting her revenge, although I'm not sure completely sure the emotional loss was worth the end result.

There is a romance to this story (and a flipping AMAZING one at that), but even our hero, Ryan, has many damages and layers to him that Becca can't quite make out. He's an enigma- both strong and fragile. He's got major skeletons in his closet and is keeping a HUGE secret from Becca, one that could destroy everything that these two have, together. I really enjoyed the way Walden treated the growth of these two's relationship, especially towards the end of the novel.

There is a scene in this book that is pretty graphic and definitely disturbing and once again, I feel the need to warn those who are faint of heart, that you might want to pass on this. However, even though Going Under was a much darker read than I'm used to, I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless and am so glad that I didn't shy away from the warnings included with its synopsis. Walden has taken the controversial subject of rape, and showcased all of its ugly elements in the darkest and most honest way possible.

Going Under is a dark psychological thriller with an unconventional (but thrilling) Romance and I would recommend it to those who wish to read a well written contemporary New Adult title.

Happy Reading!!! (Although it feels ironic to include my regular 3 exclamation marks after such a dark review ;))

Walden's Top Ten Favourite Books of All Time

1. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

2. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya

3. Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

4. Naked by David Sedaris

5. Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Patterson

6. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

7. The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio by Terry Ryan 

8. The Giver by Lois Lowry

9. The Good Earth by Pearl Buck

10. Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller

About the Author:

S. Walden used to teach English before making the best decision of her life by becoming a full-time writer. She

lives in Georgia with her very supportive husband who prefers physics textbooks over fiction and has a difficult time understanding why her characters must have personality flaws. She is wary of small children, so she has a Westie instead. Her dreams include raising chickens and owning and operating a beachside inn on the Gulf Coast (chickens included). When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about it.She loves her fans and loves to hear from them. Email her at swaldenauthor@hotmail.com and follow her blogat http://swaldenauthor.blogspot.com where you can get up-to-date information on her current projects.

Connect with Walden:

Author Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook

Giveaway time!!! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win one of 3 awesome prizes!

Good luck to all!

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Special thanks to Walden and Xpresso Book Tours for allowing me to participate in this tour!

Wings of Nestor Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway

Today, I'm happy to be one of the blog stops on the WINGS OF NESTOR blog tour to celebrate Devri Walls' latest release!

Wings of Nestor (Solus #3)

By: Devri Walls
Now Available!!!

Wings of Nestor on Goodreads here.

Synopsis:

Kiora needs answers. Who is the Shadow? Who is Jasmine? Are they connected? And even more pressing: how can she stop Shadow from using Kiora’s dreams as a map to find them? They have escaped three times, but are living on borrowed time—and everybody knows it.

Her search for help will push her closer to Alcander, send her to the dragon mountain of Toopai, and straight back to Meros—where magic will finally return to the land of no magic. Answers will be uncovered and plans unearthed that have been waiting for thousands of years.

But with the Shadow’s forces gathering, it looks like the land’s path is hurtling towards one outcome: war with the Shadow and death to all rebels. Armed with knowledge and hope, Kiora is determined to change that path. But will fate allow it? Or will it deal her a hard lesson about following ones own destiny?

Purchase Links: Amazon | B & N

My Thoughts:
You can read my review of Books 1 & 2 in the Solus series here.

I'm so conflicted!

This is an addictive Fantasy series, with the most loveable characters. Wings of Nestor is a great instalment and filled with tons of action and romance. Devri has written an AMAZING love triangle in her Solus series. Once again we're given a story told from multiple third person narratives, giving preference to Kiora- I continue to appreciate Devri's choice to keep Emane and Alcander's narration to a minimum, especially when Kiora is within the scene.

Both Emane and Alcander are amazing heros and they both care a great deal for Kiora (lucky girl) but I do have a favourite between these two, and I've loved him from the beginning, so I have to say I'm very sad with whom Kiora ends up with at the end of the instalment (I won't say who cause I don't want to be spoilery) but this is only the third book, and my hope is that she will reunite Kiora with who (I think) is her true soulmate (hint hint).

Aside from this ending, I LOVED Wings of Nestor, it picks up right where Wings of Tavea leaves off- with our love trio and loveable comedic sidekick shapeshifter, Drustan on the run from the Shadow. There's tons of adventure in this series, which leads to amazing action. Walls really has a unique talent for creating the most Fantastical world. There's also a lot of character development, especially from our lead heroine, Kiora she's dealing with a lot of guilt from past and future choices, she continues to be a great and ethical character, whom I will continue to root for (even if I think she picked the wrong guy ;))

I have and will continue to recommend this series to fans of Fantasy and Romance, but be sure to read this series in order, because you will be lost otherwise. Looking forward to book #4!

Happy Reading!!!

About Devri Walls:

Devri Walls lives in Kuna Idaho with her husband and two kids. She has worked as a music teacher and currently, a preschool teacher. She majored in theater and her love of a story still drives her today. Thankfully, she has finally found an outlet for all the voices in her head. Her first novel, Wings of Arian, is available on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and Apple. The second book in the Solus trilogy, Wings of Tavea is scheduled for release Nov 2012.

Connect with Devri:

Author Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Don't forget to add Walls next book, Wings of Lomay, to your Goodreads to-read list here.

Giveaway time!!! Before you go, be sure to enter the Rafflecopter below because Devri has some great prizes that YOU could win!  

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Special thanks to Devri and Xpresso Books Tours for allowing me to participate in this tour!

What's the Story McCoy?

WHAT'S THE STORY MCCOY? is an occasional meme that combines the awesomeness of The Story Siren's In My Mailbox with epicness of Tynga's Reviews, Stacking the Shelves.

HEY GUYS!!!!

How y'all doing this fine weekend? I'm very sorry for rushing through this vlog, I really didn't want to ramble too much, I still did, but I think I'm making progress! :)

That's my story this week, what's yours?

Special thanks to HarperCollins Canada, Simon and Schuster Canada, HarlequinTEEN, Raincoast Books, Entangled Teen and Montana from The Book Belles!

Happy Reading!!!

CREEPS Blog Tour: Spotlight and Author Guest Post

Hey Everyone! Please join me in welcoming Darren Hynes to the blog today, for the next stop on the CREEPS blog tour!

Creeps
By: Darren Hynes
NOW AVAILABLE!!!
Publisher: Razorbill Canada
Order your copy here.
Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads:
Fifteen-year-old Wayne Pumphrey wishes he were courageous enough to actually send the heartfelt letters he writes to friends and family. He also wishes his father would drive on the right side of the street, his mother would stop packing her suitcase to leave, and his sister would stop listening to Nickelback. But most of all, he wishes that Pete “The Meat” would let him walk to school in peace. After all, how many times can one person eat yellow snow?

Then one morning, while facing Pete and his posse, Wayne is rescued by Marjorie, the girl with a dead father and a mother who might as well be. Together, the two of them escape Pete’s relentless bullying by rehearsing for the school play, and an unlikely friendship is formed. As they grow ever closer to one another, they begin to dream of escape from their small town and restricted lives. But Pete now has plans for both of them—and after a moment of sudden violence, nothing will ever be the same again for Wayne, Marjorie, or Pete himself.

About the Author:
Darren was born in Fogo Island, Newfoundland, but grew up in Labrador City. For fifteen

years Darren was a professional actor, having worked in many of the regional theatres in Canada as well as in film/television. In 2006 he was a student at The Humber School for Writers in Toronto. Creative Book Publishing (Killick Press) published his first novel, Flight, in 2010. His first Young Adult novel, Creeps, will be published this summer by Penguin Canada (Razorbill).

Presently, Darren is enrolled in the MFA Creative Writing program at The University of
Guelph. He lives in Toronto and is working on his third novel.

Connect with Darren:
Author website 

Author Guest Post: Overcoming Your Bully

  I remember listening to an interview between UFC welterweight champion, Georges St-Pierre and Jian Ghomeshi on ‘Q’ several weeks ago in which George talked about being picked on as a young boy. He said that bullies tend to pick on victims who lack confidence and/or appear weak. Only after finding martial arts and self-discipline and confidence, Georges said, did the victimization stop.  We all can’t be fighting champions of course, but I still think that the victims of bullying can stand up and overcome their bullies.

It’s important for victims to believe in themselves and not to think there’s anything wrong with them. I know someone close to me who’s been bullied for most of his school life and I can say with confidence that he’s one of the most charming, funny, sensitive boys I’ve ever known – qualities which will serve him well in his life. There’s strength in numbers, I think. Anti-bullying groups are a great way for victims to take power back. Also parents and teachers need to get involved, as well as students who are witnesses to the abuse. It takes a lot of courage to confront a bully, but speaking up for those less sure of themselves sends a strong message to bullies that violence and ridicule will not be tolerated.

I think we need to look at the bullies themselves too. Oftentimes there’s trouble in the home. No kid grows up desiring to hurt others. It’s a learned behaviour, I think, and therefore it can be unlearned.

We overcome our bullies when we find worth within ourselves. We overcome our bullies when we stand up for one another. We overcome our bullies when everyone gets involved. We overcome our bullies when we come to understand that bullying affects us all and therefore has no place in a civilized society.

Thanks for stopping by Darren and sharing your thoughts on such a prevalent and sensitive topic.

Have you ever had a bully you had to overcome?

Happy Reading!!!

Allegiant Giveaway!!!

So there's this book coming out this fall, maybe you've heard of it...

Allegiant (Divergent #3)
By: Veronica Roth
Release Date: October 22nd/13.
Publisher: HarperTeen
Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads:
One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

O yeah, and there's going to be a movie:

Are you as excited as me? Well I've got something to tide us both over,  A GIVEAWAY!!!! 

What's the prize you ask?

Wanna win? Fill out the Rafflecopter below and it could be ALL YOURS!!!

Good luck to all! Please read the terms and conditions at the bottom of the form!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Reading!!!