Review—Eyes on Me by Rachel Harris

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Published: March 26, 2019

Genre: YA Contemporary 

Source: Print Copy

Rating: 4 Stars

Goodreads

Buy me from Amazon here 

Buy me from Amazon UK here 

Blurb:

Look up the word “nerd” and you’ll find Lily Bailey’s picture. She’s got one goal: first stop valedictorian, next stop Harvard. Until a stint in the hospital from too much stress lands her in the last place a klutz like her ever expected to be: salsa dance lessons.

Look up the word “popular” and you’ll find Stone Torres’s picture. His life seems perfect—star of the football team, small-town hero, lots of friends. But his family is struggling to make ends meet, so if pitching in at his mom's dance studio helps, he’ll do it.

When Lily’s dad offers Stone extra cash to volunteer as Lily’s permanent dance partner, he can’t refuse. But with each dip and turn, each moment her hand is in his, his side job starts to feel all too real. Lily shows Stone he's more than his impressive football stats, and he introduces her to a world outside of studying. But with the lines blurred, can their relationship survive the secret he's been hiding? 

Review:

I always know going in to a Rachel Harris novel that I will inevitably fall in love. She writes such witty, spunky, and romantic books that always leave me feeling pretty good afterwards. At first I didn’t know if I were going to like the main character, Lily. She’s very studious and while I liked that about her, I didn’t like how rigid and cold she seemed at first. 

But I should never judge a character when only reading a few pages. Lily was awesome—as well as passionate, loyal, friendly, and seriously and all around kick-butt character. I could totally see why Stone would fall in love with her. I liked that he wasn’t your typical bad boy type. Instead, he’s kind and he cares for his friends and family like you wouldn’t believe. I loved that about him. It’s nice to see such a genuine hero for a change. 

The book is centered around dancing and I highly enjoyed that. It was refreshing to see Lily overcome her plights that she felt held her back. Her story teaches that not everything can be in your control and that’s okay! There was definitely vibes for a story for certain two characters I hope we get. Soon, I hope :)

Overall, Harris has earned herself a lifetime fan. I always know that she won’t steer me wrong and will feed my unhealthy addiction to books that make me feel all goo-goo, gah-gah over them. 

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the Author:

New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Rachel Harris writes humorous love stories about girls-next-door and the hot guys that make them swoon. Vibrant settings, witty banter, and strong relationships are a staple in each of her books...and kissing. Lots of kissing. Rachel's books have been featured in USA Today and Glitter Magazine, and her stories have been finalists in the National Reader's Choice Award, the Holt Medallion Award, and The Golden Quill. 

For the latest news & exclusive excerpts, visit her website at www.RachelHarrisWrites.comand sign up for her NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/olH75

Blog Tour Review—Wicked Saints (Something Dark and Holy #1) by Emily A. Duncan

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Published: April 2, 2019

Genre: YA Fantasy

Source: E-ARC

Rating:4.5 Stars

GOODREADS

BLURB:

“Prepare for a snow-frosted, blood-drenched fairy tale where the monsters steal your heart and love ends up being the nightmare.” - Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen

A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself.

A prince in danger must decide who to trust.

A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings. 

Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war.

In a centuries-long war where beauty and brutality meet, their three paths entwine in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light. Wicked Saints is the thrilling start to Emily A. Duncan’s devastatingly Gothic Something Dark and Holy trilogy.

“This book destroyed me and I adored it.”- Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval

Review-

Wicked Saints started off with a bang. I knew it was a book for me as soon as I read the blurb. A strong female lead? Yes! Sign me up for all the strong female vibes. Plus there’s a Prince and romance and war. All signs pointing to a book that could take me far, far away from the place I come from. I like the fact that it inspires a Russian and Polish setting—the backdrop was as beautiful as the writing. 

For the most part, I was very engaged with the characters and the storyline. But there were times that I felt the book dragged. It wasn’t enough to completely take me away; I’m just stating a fact that it could be a bit boring in certain areas. Nadya was a great character and I liked her immediately. She showed great strength and bravery in such a scary world. 

Overall, I think this is a great book for readers to put on their TBR lists! It’s an interesting premise with a promise of more to come. 

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

AUTHOR BIO:

EMILY A. DUNCAN works as a youth services librarian. She received a Master’s degree in library science from Kent State University, which mostly taught her how to find obscure Slavic folklore texts through interlibrary loan systems. When not reading or writing, she enjoys playing copious amounts of video games and dungeons and dragons. Wicked Saints is her first book. She lives in Ohio.

REVIEWS:

“Prepare for a snow frosted, blood drenched fairy tale where the monsters steal your heart and love ends up being the nightmare. Utterly absorbing.” - Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen 

"Full of blood and monsters and magic—this book destroyed me and I adored it. Emily is a wicked storyteller, she’s not afraid to hurt her characters or her readers. If you’ve ever fallen in love with a villain you will fall hard for this book." - Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval

"This is the novel of dark theology and eldritch blood-magic that I’ve been waiting for all my life. It’s got a world at once brutal and beautiful, filled with characters who are wounded, lovable, and ferocious enough to break your heart. A shattering, utterly satisfying read." - Rosamund Hodge, author of Cruel Beauty and Bright Smoke, Cold Fire 

“Wicked Saints is a lush, brutal, compelling fantasy that is dark, deep, and bloody—absolutely riveting! With a boy who is both man and monster, mysterious saints with uncertain motives, and a girl filled with holy magic who is just beginning to understand the full reaches of her power, this gothic jewel of a story will sink its visceral iron claws into you, never letting go until you’ve turned the last page. And truthfully, not even then -the explosive ending will haunt you for days! ” - Robin LaFevers, New York Times bestselling author of the His Fair Assassin trilogy 

“Dark, bloody, and monstrously romantic. This is the villain love interest that we've all been waiting for.” - Margaret Rogerson, New York Times bestselling author of An Enchantment of Ravens 

"Seductively dark and enchanting, Wicked Saints is a trance you won’t want to wake from. Duncan has skillfully erected a world like no other, complete with provocative magic, sinister creatures, and a plot that keeps you guessing. This spellbinding YA fantasy will bewitch readers to the very last page." - Adrienne Young, New York Times bestselling author of Sky in the Deep 

BUY LINK: 

https://static.macmillan.com/static/smp/wicked-saints/

SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: https://eaduncan.com/
Twitter: @glitzandshadows
Instagram: @glitzandshadows
Tumblr: http://glitzandshadows.tumblr.com/

Spotlight—The Goodbye Café (The Hudson Sisters #3) by Mariah Stewart

Book details

THE GOODBYE CAFÉ

The Hudson Sisters series, Book 3

On sale March 26, 2019

Trade Paperback • Price: $16.00 • ISBN: 9781501145124

eBook • Price: $7.99 • ISBN: 9781501145162

Book description

California girl Allie Hudson Monroe can’t wait for the day when the renovations on the Sugarhouse Theater are complete so she can finally collect the inheritance from her father and leave Pennsylvania. After all, her life and her fourteen-year-old daughter are in Los Angeles.

But Allie’s divorce left her tottering on the edge of bankruptcy, so to keep up on payments for her house and her daughter’s private school tuition, Allie packed up and flew out east. But fate has a curve-ball or two to toss in Allie’s direction—she just doesn’t know it yet.

She hadn’t anticipated how her life would change after reuniting with her estranged sister, Des, or meeting her previously unknown half-sister, Cara. And she’d certainly never expected to find small-town living charming. But the biggest surprise was that her long-forgotten artistry would save the day when the theater’s renovation fund dried up.

With opening day upon the sisters, Allie’s free to go. But for the first time in her life, she feels like the woman she was always meant to be. Will she return to the West Coast and resume her previous life, or will the love of “this amazing, endearing family of women” (Robyn Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author) be enough to draw her back to the place where the Hudson roots grow so deep?

About the author

Mariah Stewart is the award-winning New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of numerous novels and several novellas and short stories. A native of Hightstown, New Jersey, she lives with her husband and two rambunctious rescue dogs amid the rolling hills of Chester County, Pennsylvania, where she savors country life and tends her gardens while she works on her next novel. Visit her website at MariahStewart.com, like her on Facebook at Facebook.com/AuthorMariahStewart, and follow her on Instagram @Mariah_Stewart_Books.

Cover Reveal—BRED by Ginger Scott

Check out this gorgeous cover for BRED by Ginger Scott! BRED is a coming-of-age romance inspired by Great Expectations you won't want to miss!

Bred by Ginger Scott

Mature Young Adult Contemporary Romance
Release day: May 10, 2019
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2TwSsER

BRED
A coming-of-age romance inspired by Great Expectations
By Ginger Scott

My life was irrevocably changed the moment I stepped foot inside Elena Alderman’s grand front doors. A lifeless tomb on the edge of Chicago’s South Side, the Alderman home sat in one of the city’s oldest and wealthiest neighborhoods, and Elena Alderman was the queen.

She was also mad.

Not the kind of madness that’s readily apparent. No, her psychopathy was far more surgical—more…insidious. She was surrounded by beautiful things—most notably her grand piano and her adopted son, Henry.

I fell in love with both.

My gift blossomed when my fingers touched her black and white keys. But my life began when I became haunted by the boy. Henry Alderman was a handsome blend of arrogance and seduction, and as we grew up together, I found it more and more impossible to separate him from my thoughts. I envied his life. I imagined how my name—Lily—would look with his. I became his closest friend…and more. I gave him my kiss, locked away his secrets, and loved him even when it was hard to.

But we were just a game. Elena Alderman made the rules. And when she decided to change them, she broke everything.

Almost.

About the Author:

Ginger Scott is an Amazon-bestselling and Goodreads Choice Award-nominated author of several young and new adult romances, including Waiting on the Sidelines, Going Long, The Hail Mary, Blindness, How We Deal With Gravity, This Is Falling, You and Everything After, The Girl I Was Before, Wild Reckless, Wicked Restless, In Your Dreams, The Hard Count, Hold My Breath, A Boy Like You, A Girl Like Me, Memphis and Cry Baby.

A sucker for a good romance, Ginger’s other passion is sports, and she often blends the two in her stories. (She’s also a sucker for a hot quarterback, catcher, pitcher, point guard…the list goes on.) Ginger has been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines and blogs for more than 15 years. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors, scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns. For more on her and her work, visit her website at http://www.littlemisswrite.com.

When she's not writing, the odds are high that she's somewhere near a baseball diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce Harper or cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ginger lives in Arizona and is married to her college sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork 'em, Devils).

Social Media Links:
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GingerScottAuthor
Twitter: @TheGingerScott
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/thegingerscott/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GingerScottAuthor
Google: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+GingerScottAuthor/posts
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/GingerScott
Website: http://www.littlemisswrite.com

Blog Tour Review + Giveaway—Small Town Hearts by Lillie Vale

ABOUT THE BOOK

Small Town Hearts

by Lillie Vale

Publisher: Swoon Reads

Release date: March 19, 2019

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

Rule #1 - Never fall for a summer boy. 
Fresh out of high school, Babe Vogel should be thrilled to have the whole summer at her fingertips. She loves living in her lighthouse home in the sleepy Maine beach town of Oar’s Rest and being a barista at the Busy Bean, but she’s totally freaking out about how her life will change when her two best friends go to college in the fall. And when a reckless kiss causes all three of them to break up, she may lose them a lot sooner. On top of that, her ex-girlfriend is back in town, bringing with her a slew of memories, both good and bad.
And then there’s Levi Keller, the cute artist who’s spending all his free time at the coffee shop where she works. Levi’s from out of town, and even though Babe knows better than to fall for a tourist who will leave when summer ends, she can’t stop herself from wanting to know him. Can Babe keep her distance, or will she break the one rule she’s always had - to never fall for a summer boy?

Review:

Small Town Hearts is a cute contemporary romance that’s perfect for those who love a good summer romance. I know I do! Babe and Levi are two characters that define what it means to fall in love when you’re least expecting to. 

Want to know one the coolest things about the book? It has a BI MC! I think it’s a great addition to diverse books in the YA community. We’ve got to be able to report all types of relationships—because at the end of the day, love is love is love. 

I liked the feeling of being in a small town and I thought that Vale was able to be both authentic and fresh in bringing that to life. Also the food. This is a book that made me so hungry! Overall, this is a book you don’t want to miss out on!

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest an unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

BOOK LINKS

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36192190-small-town-hearts

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SDC5py

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/small-town-hearts-lillie-vale/1128119413?#/

Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Small-Town-Hearts-Lillie-Vale/9781250192356

IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/search/book?keys=Small+Town+Hearts

TOUR SCHEDULE

http://fantasticflyingbookclub.blogspot.com/2019/03/tour-schedule-small-town-hearts-by.html

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LillieLabyrinth

GIVEAWAY

Prize: 1 Signed Finished copy of Small Town Hearts by Lillie Vale (USA only)

Starts: 3/25/19

Ends:  4/5/19

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Review—99% Faking It by Chris Cannon

Title: 99% Faking It

Author: Chris Cannon

Genre: YA RomCom, Sweet Romance

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Publication Date: March 4th, 2019

Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR

Blurb: 

Lisa is a card-carrying, book-loving Gryffindor. Solid. And that’s why everyone knows she’s awesome. Well, except for her crush, Matt. He only ever sees her as a friend. Plus, he's got his eye on another girl. Oh well, plenty of fish and all that.

Good thing Lisa just read a book on the “wedding ring phenomenon”—you get more attention when you’re already taken. What if Lisa pretends to be Matt’s plus one? Maybe it’ll help Matt get his girl and Lisa can hook her own fish. 

After the plan works, Matt suddenly claims he doesn’t like the view from the friend-zone and wants her instead… But she isn’t interested in being anyone’s second choice. If this guy wants to earn her attention, he’ll need more than some silly “phenomenon.” 

He’ll need to go all out...

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43799830-99-faking-it

Review-

I’m not gonna lie to you; I had a hard time getting into this book than I thought I would. The fake dating/marriage trope is one of my all time favorites. Mainly because I love seeing the characters fall in love with what is clearly right in front of them!

99% Faking It is the second book in the Dating Dilemmas series; but they are complete standalones. Do I think you could get more enjoyment from reading the first book in the series? Absolutely, yes. That being said, I had a hard time getting into this one. Mainly because I found the male lead so darn unlikeable. 

Matt and Lisa are best friends. Lisa was out immediately friendzoned when the two first met. Cool. Not a big deal at all! Lisa buries her feelings for Matt in the meantime. Then a new boy shows up at school and he gives lisa the attention she’s always desired from Matt. 

But Matt is in “love” with his little sister’s best friend, Jane. So he comes up with the perfect plan. To fake date Lisa and hope for the best in making Trey and Jane realize what they’ve been missing out on. Again, cool! I’m so on board for this. 

Matt. He’s a jerk. The things he says and does to Lisa; I would have just said screw if and not helped him. I get his reservations when it comes to not wanting to ruin his friendship with Lisa. But he’s totally ruining everything just by speaking. His actions aren’t much better. 

And if I had to hear one more time how Lisa is his nerdy friend, I would scream! What’s so wrong with being a nerd?! The story does end up making up for it’s terrible hero somewhat. I dare say he almost redeemed himself. But the 3 stars go to Lisa. She was awesome and yeah, I might be biased. But I thought she could do much better than Matt!

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Author Bio: 
Chris Cannon is the award-winning author of the Going Down In Flames series and the Boyfriend Chronicles. She lives in Southern Illinois with her husband and several furry beasts. 

She believes coffee is the Elixir of Life. Most evenings after work, you can find her sucking down caffeine and writing fire-breathing paranormal adventures or romantic comedies. You can find her online at www.chriscannonauthor.com.

Author Links: 

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2vXeeaJ

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8285334.Chris_Cannon

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccannonauthor

Web: http://www.chriscannonauthor.com/

Fan Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1444443819173580/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chriscannonauthor/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/chris-cannon

Buy Links: 
The Dating Debate: http://amzn.to/2GdaA0R

99% Faking It: https://amzn.to/2tpEPN9

Blog Tour Review—Devil's Daughter (The Ravenels #5) by Lisa Kleypas

Publisher: Avon

Published: February 19, 3019

Genre: Historical Romance 

Source: Print Copy from Pub

Rating: 5 Stars

GOODREADS

ABOUT DEVIL’S DAUGHTER

Although beautiful young widow Phoebe, Lady Clare, has never met West Ravenel, she knows one thing for certain: he’s a mean, rotten bully. Back in boarding school, he made her late husband’s life a misery, and she’ll never forgive him for it. But when Phoebe attends a family wedding, she encounters a dashing and impossibly charming stranger who sends a fire-and-ice jolt of attraction through her. And then he introduces himself...as none other than West Ravenel.

West is a man with a tarnished past. No apologies, no excuses. However, from the moment he meets Phoebe, West is consumed by irresistible desire...not to mention the bitter awareness that a woman like her is far out of his reach. What West doesn’t bargain on is that Phoebe is no straitlaced aristocratic lady. She’s the daughter of a strong-willed wallflower who long ago eloped with Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent—the most devilishly wicked rake in England.

Before long, Phoebe sets out to seduce the man who has awakened her fiery nature and shown her unimaginable pleasure. Will their overwhelming passion be enough to overcome the obstacles of the past? Only the devil’s daughter knows…

Review-

I don’t know about you guys but I’ve been waiting for West’s book since we first met him in the first book, Cold-Hearted Rake. There’s just something so genuine and carefree about him. This tells the story of West and Phoebe; Sebastian St. Vincent’s freaking daughter! And to answer your question, yes. We totally see Evie and St. Vincent. Swoon!

Lady Clare has been in mourning over her late husband, Henry. She’s now ready to go back into society and mingle. Phoebe’s never once met West Ravenel but she’s heard more than enough. Such as how much of a mean bully he was to Henry when they were at school together as young boys. Once West and Phoebe meet, sparks fly before they even know what hit them. 

Here we follow these two love-able characters as they try to navigate their lives changing in directions they never thought possible. West doesn’t think he’s good enough. Phoebe already has plans as to whom she wants to marry. And it doesn’t include any sort of passion whatsoever. Charming West would like to show her that just because her husband left the world, doesn’t mean she had to as well. 

I enjoyed this book so much. What makes it so amazing is that we get cameo appearances from characters in other books and series (such as the Wallflowers!) in the world that Kleypas has created. West is such a beautiful and complex character—I almost liked him more than all the St. Vincent fellas. Phoebe is a strong female lead that I have no problem rooting for. 

Phoebe’s sons, Justin and Stephen, were adorable! I loved every time they were in a scene. Bonus points for every scene they were in with West. Overall, I think this was a great edition to the Ravenel series. It’s full of romance, chemistry, and falling in love with all the characters. 

*Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

ABOUT LISA KLEYPAS

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas graduated from Wellesley College with a political science degree. She’s a RITA award-winning author of both historical romance and contemporary women’s fiction. She lives in Washington State with her husband Gregory and their two children.

Connect with Lisa

Website: https://lisakleypas.com/

Facebook: @LisaKleypas

Twitter: @LisaKleypas

Instagram: @LisaKleypas

Buy links for DEVIL’S DAUGHTER:

Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/yd3aftfc

IndieBound: https://tinyurl.com/ycr862mk

Barnes & Noble: https://tinyurl.com/ydhwzv3f

Books-A-Million: https://tinyurl.com/yahfn6su

iBooks: https://tinyurl.com/yapuz923

GooglePlay: https://tinyurl.com/yarh9xp9