Oct 02 2017

Blog Tour: WITHOUT MERIT by Colleen Hoover

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: 1 Comment

WITHOUT MERIT

BY COLLEEN HOOVER

Not every mistake deserves a consequence. Sometimes the only thing a mistake deserves is forgiveness.

Visit www.WithoutMeritbook.com for teasers, tour dates and more.

ABOUT WITHOUT MERIT:

The Voss family is anything but normal. They live in a repurposed church, newly baptized Dollar Voss. The once cancer-stricken mother lives in the basement, the father is married to the mother’s former nurse, the little half-brother isn’t allowed to do or eat anything fun, and the eldest siblings are irritatingly perfect. Then, there’s Merit.

Merit Voss collects trophies she hasn’t earned and secrets her family forces her to keep. While browsing the local antiques shop for her next trophy, she finds Sagan. His wit and unapologetic idealism disarm and spark renewed life into her—until she discovers that he’s completely unavailable. Merit retreats deeper into herself, watching her family from the sidelines, when she learns a secret that no trophy in the world can fix.

Fed up with the lies, Merit decides to shatter the happy family illusion that she’s never been a part of before leaving them behind for good. When her escape plan fails, Merit is forced to deal with the staggering consequences of telling the truth and losing the one boy she loves.

Poignant and powerful, WITHOUT MERIT explores the layers of lies that tie a family together and the power of love.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Slammed, This Girl, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, Losing Hope, Finding Cinderella, Maybe Someday, Ugly Love, Maybe Not, Confess, November 9, and It Ends with Us. She has won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance twice – for Confess in 2015 and It Ends with Us in 2016. Confess was adapted into a seven-episode online series. In 2015, Colleen and her family founded The Bookworm Box, a bookstore and monthly subscription service offering signed novels donated by authors. All profits are given to various charities each month to help those in need. Colleen lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. Please visit ColleenHoover.com.

FIND COLLEEN ONLINE:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Book Review

Without Merit is one of the quirkiest yet one of the most human/compassion filled stories I have ever had the privilege of reading. Colleen Hoover has a wonderful way of shifting perspective and allowing readers to critically think about a range of issues. It allows the reader to step into the shoes of not only the protagonist, but also all of the characters you come to know and love in her novels. Without Merit tells the incredible story of a young woman who struggles to come to grips with her reality and all that has impacted her way of being. In true CoHo fashion I saw a lot of layers and complexities which is something I love most about her writing. I texted my sister immediately after I finished reading this book because I was in complete awe and needed to share it with someone. Her response was, “Colleen Hoover…geez man” she knew, she understood. That’s all the response you ever need reading her novels. You don’t quite realize the depth of the experience you will have when you commit to reading a Colleen Hoover novel, but I’d say you always know you will be in for one hell of a ride.

This novel comprised of one of the most peculiar dynamics I’ve ever encountered yet it fit and made sense. I laughed, I cried, I reflected and I devoured every word. One thing I love about her writing is she never fails to impress me with her ability to not only look at an individual in their context, but to get the reader to do the same. She discusses a few heavy and extremely relevant issues. Her worldview doesn’t stay in one frame of reference, she takes a very human approach to what’s happening in the world of each individual character and how their experiences have impacted and shaped them. She uses real world experiences and topics that I don’t see many authors acknowledge. I admire that about this author and it was nice seeing someone who could have taken a stereotypical approach about topics use her platform to shed light on numerous issues.

On a serious note, this book is worth the read (as are all her novels). This one is unique and challenges the reader to look beyond the surface…to see a new perspective. I feel as though every book I read by this author turns into “my new favorite book.” While I’ll probably say the same for this one Colleen Hoover takes a very different turn with this novel, one that addresses serious topics, but also one that makes you reflect on your own family dynamics. This is 100000000% hands down a top recommendation as I believe everyone can benefit from reading this novel. I’d say the best way to describe the feelings I had after reading Without Merit is connected. I felt connected to every member of that quirky family in an unusual yet gratifying way. I craved more and while the reader will feel completely satiated by the end, it allowed me to hope for a future sequel. Wishful thinking, I know…please make it happen CoHo 😉

WITHOUT MERIT

BY COLLEEN HOOVER

http://www.withoutmeritbook.com

Atria Books Paperback | 384 pages | ISBN: 9781501170621 | October 3, 2017 | $16.00

eBook: 384 pages | ISBN: 9781501170638 | $7.99

ORDER WITHOUT MERIT:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | iBooks | Indiebound | Kobo | Google | Nook

Now for the fun….the #WithoutMerit Contest!

Enter the Rafflecopter to win a limited edition signed hardcover copy of WITHOUT MERIT! (5 winners in total) Contest is open until October 30^th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don’t miss Colleen on tour for WITHOUT MERIT:

SEATTLE, WA

Monday, October 2^nd

THIRD PLACE BOOKS

7:00 PM

https://www.thirdplacebooks.com/event/colleen-hoover-without-merit

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/137295906877328/

LOS ANGELES, CA

Tuesday, October 3^rd

CHEVALIER’S BOOKS

7:00 PM

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-talk-and-signing-with-colleen-hoover-for-her-new-book-without-merit-tickets-37139282594

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1911946199130358

KANSAS CITY, KS

Wednesday, October 4^th

WOODNEATH LIBRARY CENTER

7:00 PM

http://www.mymcpl.org/events/calendar/story-center-speaker-series-colleen-hoover

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/174560183089713

CHICAGO, IL

Thursday, October 5^th

ANDERSON’S BOOKSHOP – LA GRANGE

7:00 PM

http://hooverandersons.brownpapertickets.com

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/264445024062577

CINCINNATI, OH

Friday, October 6^th

JOSEPH-BETH BOOKSELLERS

7:00 PM

www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3081217

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/113057092698266

POTTSTOWN, PA

Saturday, October 7^th

BOOKS-A-MILLION

6:00 PM

Coventry Mall

351 W. Schuylkill Road Ste G16

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-colleen-hoover-at-books-a-million-pottstown-pa-tickets-37311651153

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/352249878530498

NEW YORK, NY

Sunday, October 8^th

NEW YORK COMIC CON

3:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Hudson Mercantile

New York, NY 10018

https://www.showclix.com/event/ColleenHoover5yf6nuy

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1979991848924145

DALLAS, TX

Tuesday, October 10

SMU BOOKSTORE

7:00 PM

B&N College

Southern Methodist University Bookstore

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/colleen-hoover-book-launch-for-without-merit-tickets-37360492238?ref=elink

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/746877452165014

Mar 29 2017

Book Review: It Happens All The Time by Amy Hatvany

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

ABOUT THE BOOK:

From master storyteller Amy Hatvany—whose writing has been hailed as “gripping and emotionally honest” (Stephanie Evanovich, New York Times bestselling author)—comes a provocative and compelling novel about two friends whose lives are changed by a drunken kiss.

I want to rewind the clock, take back the night when the world shattered. I want to erase everything that went wrong.

Amber Bryant and Tyler Hicks have been best friends since they were teenagers—trusting and depending on each other through some of the darkest periods of their young lives. And while Amber has always felt that their relationship is strictly platonic, Tyler has long harbored the secret desire that they might one day become more than friends.

Returning home for the summer after her college graduation, Amber begins spending more time with Tyler than she has in years. Despite the fact that Amber is engaged to her college sweetheart, a flirtation begins to grow between them. One night, fueled by alcohol and concerns about whether she’s getting married too young, Amber kisses Tyler.

What happens next will change them forever.

In alternating points of view, It Happens All the Time examines the complexity of sexual dynamics between men and women and offers an incisive exploration of gender roles, expectations, and the ever-timely issue of consent.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Amy Hatvany is the author of Best Kept Secret, Outside the Lines, The Language of Sisters, Heart Like Mine, and Safe with Me. She lives in Seattle, Washington, with her family.

FIND AMY ONLINE:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Book Review

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

Without sharing too much of the content, I will give a trigger warning that it deeply explores the process of consent and rape culture. The author does provide a very solid and meaningful warning at the beginning of the book, but I felt it necessary to provide another.

Wow. Talk about intense. This weighed on my heart, but I respect Amy Hatvany’s initiative for writing a book about such a sensitive topic, but also in such a unique way. It is powerful. I have a vested interest in this topic as my background is in crisis and trauma counseling and I work with college students who have had similar experiences. Believe it or not understanding consent is one of the most difficult things to convey to college students. While everyone knows the word, a true understanding without casting doubt, self-blame or understanding drug facilitated assault and what that means for consent is incredibly relevant – not only to college aged individuals, but for anyone who has had an experience invalidated by another or questioned. Obviously with fiction there are elements that are inaccurate or biased. This book not only paints a very real picture of ones experience and the complexity of opposing viewpoints, but it also acknowledges several facets of the societal norms and constraints that box in or compartmentalize individuals experiences. Gender roles and expectations play an integral role in the content of this book, but there are so many layers to what Hatvany is trying to convey.

While I applaud Amy Hatvany for her understanding and portrayal of a very difficult topic, there were moments where I felt individuals in the characters lives violated that sense of consent and empowerment. So I’m extremely torn on my thoughts about the language used at times. Keeping in mind that anyone who has a support system in place would likely have individuals in their lives that want them to tell. For me, there were situations in the book that produced feelings of anger as I felt the language used at times was a bit less supportive and more coercive. I did remind myself that this is a work of fiction and that in real life, family and friends often feel helpless and want to support, without always knowing how. The author did a great job creating those dynamics while allowing the main characters the space to grow and their own stories to develop. I believe it is crucial for someone who has been through a trauma to reclaim power and autonomy. Their decisions should be their own and not influenced by the thoughts or views of others. You will experience that in this book, there is a sort of reclaiming and redemption aspect that make this a significant yet heartbreaking experience for the reader.

This is a heavy read, I cried at several points, but I will say the depth of these experiences is well worth exploring. It Happens All the Time is a book that is truly necessary as it accurately captures thoughts, feelings and behaviors of individuals who have experienced trauma. It may be triggering for some, but cathartic for others. I would highly suggest knowing your limit before reading, but perhaps leaning into your discomfort to understand a view you may have never considered. It may also make you connect to thoughts, feelings or views you’ve experienced or shared. While I can’t say the author intended to have the reader sympathize with individuals in the book, what she did was humanize them and that to me was incredibly powerful despite my very strong beliefs about consent and victim blaming. I was affected and I know any reader who picks this book up will have a strong reaction to the content. I appreciate the way she built the foundation of the relationships of everyone involved and how anyone can relate to having individuals like this in their lives without ever knowing they might be the victim or even worse a perpetrator. This is a book I’d recommend to all readers, not just women!

IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME by Amy Hatvany

Atria Books Hardcover | ISBN: 9781476704456 | On sale: March 28, 2017 | 320 pages | $26.00

Atria Books eBook | ISBN: 9781476704463 | On sale: March 28, 2017 | 320 pages | $11.99

ORDER NOW ON:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound

| Walmart | Apple | Google | Kobo

Resources for Survivors or Loved Ones

RAINN Online Hotline – Free & Confidential – Available 24 hours/7 days a week

National Sexual Assault Hotline – Call 1-800-656-4673 – Available 24 hours/7 days a week

1 in 6 (Support for Men who have experienced sexual abuse)

Darkness to Light (Service for Child Sexual Abuse)

Book Review: SWEAR ON THIS LIFE by Renée Carlino

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

ABOUT SWEAR ON THIS LIFE:

From USA TODAY bestselling author Renée Carlino (Before We Were Strangers), a warm and witty novel about a struggling writer who must come to grips with her past, present, and future after she discovers that she’s the inspiration for a pseudonymously published bestselling novel.

When a bestselling debut novel from mysterious author J. Colby becomes the literary event of the year, Emiline reads it reluctantly. As an adjunct writing instructor at UC San Diego with her own stalled literary career and a bumpy long-term relationship, Emiline isn’t thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of a young and gifted writer.

Yet from the very first page, Emiline is entranced by the story of Emerson and Jackson, two childhood best friends who fall in love and dream of a better life beyond the long dirt road that winds through their impoverished town in rural Ohio.

That’s because the novel is patterned on Emiline’s own dark and desperate childhood, which means that “J. Colby” must be Jase: the best friend and first love she hasn’t seen in over a decade. Far from being flattered that he wrote the novel from her perspective, Emiline is furious that he co-opted her painful past and took some dramatic creative liberties with the ending.

The only way she can put her mind at ease is to find and confront “J. Colby,” but is she prepared to learn the truth behind the fiction?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Renée Carlino is the author of Sweet Thing, Nowhere But Here, After the Rain, and Before We Were Strangers. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog, June. When she’s not at the beach with her boys or working on her next book, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate.

FIND RENÉE ONLINE:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Book Review

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

This week I’ve had the pleasure of featuring not one, but two upcoming/new releases that are sure to be EPIC reads of 2016. Swear on This Life is definitely a top 5 contender. I could not put it down. From the first line to the very last this book consumed me. I devoured every single word. Readers will be captivated by this beautifully creative and unforgettable journey. You will hang on to every word eagerly awaiting the outcome…tearful and hopeful. Honestly every time I read a Renée Carlino book she manages to capture my attention and completely own it. This book was no different, but this may have been her absolute best work to date.

Emiline, now an adult living in San Diego has struggled to come to grips with her past, but when she picks up a new bestseller she realizes how eerily similar the story of Emerson and Jackson seem to mirror her own upbringing with Jase, her best friend and first love. Written in her perspective Emiline is pissed that Jase would have the audacity to write her own story, but she can’t put it down. Em has been struggling to face what she’s been through and has never really opened up to anyone about her past, but as she reads Jase’s novel it forces her to start chasing some of those demons, but not before she finds and confronts Jase for what he’s done.

Cleverly crafted, raw, and intense. This book is all-consuming. It will grab hold of you and nothing else in the world will exist. Five stars for this emotionally addictive ride.

~ Happy Reading Lovelies ~

ORDER (US)

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound | Apple | Blio | Google | Kobo

ORDER (UK)

Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Google

ORDER (AUS)

Amazon | Apple | Booktopia | Fishpond

RAFFLECOPTER:

5 signed copies of SWEAR ON THIS LIFE

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Aug 01 2016

Book Review: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

IT ENDS WITH US

BY COLLEEN HOOVER

“Colleen Hoover reminds readers that love is a fragile thing, built from courage, hope, and tears. Every person with a heartbeat should read this book.”
– Kami Garcia, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Visit www.ItEndsWithUsBook.com for teasers, tour dates and more.

ABOUT IT ENDS WITH US:

Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up—she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan—her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

With this bold and deeply personal novel, Colleen Hoover delivers a heart-wrenching story that breaks exciting new ground for her as a writer. Combining a captivating romance with a cast of all-too-human characters, It Ends With Us is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Slammed, This Girl, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, Losing Hope, Finding Cinderella, Maybe Someday, Ugly Love, Maybe Not, and Confess. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. Please visit ColleenHoover.com

FIND COLLEEN ONLINE:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Book Review

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

Wow. I feel like I preface every Colleen Hoover review with that simple word yet it’s generally the best way I can describe how I feel immediately following my “CoHoma” (aka the Colleen Hoover induced haze/shock that immediately follows reading one of her books). This was super complex and deeply personal. I cried a lot of ugly tears…mostly toward the latter part of the book, but definitely not surprising because her books always get to me somehow. I don’t know this woman, I’ve never met her, I know her the way most readers do, through her words and let me tell you if you follow anything about her, you’ll know just how kind and generous she seems. Reading this book made me feel as though I knew a deeper part of her and it may sound weird, but I saw some of the best in her through this one book. She manages to make you question everything you ever think you knew by simply making her characters so human. You fall in love with them, you take journeys with them, your heart is sometimes broken by their actions, but in the end you have a better understanding of not only them, but yourself. This is what It Ends With Us does to the reader, it allows you to not only engage in a wonderfully complex journey, but it also makes you do some soul searching.

I’ve followed her work since Slammed and have been an avid fan ever since, I go through the same process with every release…asking questions like, “is this my new Colleen favorite?” and then grunting or sighing because I know rating or ranking any of her work is pointless because everything she writes is golden. There has never been a bad Colleen Hoover book and I’m convinced there never will be. Her books are generally very poignant, thought provoking, usually witty and always ; her characters are perfectly flawed, they have depth and their stories generally shock you into a “CoHoma” (this is my new word and I’m sticking to it because her books are spellbinding). It Ends With Us is different in that it pushes limits, makes you question yourself and what decisions you would make if you were any of these characters. This isn’t very different from most of her books because she always shocks me, but her voice and the plot twists combined are completely unparalleled. This was a tough read in so many ways for me because it was so relatable. For many who pick this book up you might have been through something similar or chances are you know someone that has. You may have even judged, commented or witnessed something similar, regardless of the how, I’m betting that you will relate in some way. When you realize how easily black and white can turn to grey it is then that you will understand what it truly means to unravel the mystery that is a Colleen Hoover read. She finds a way to make even the most difficult situations real and creates a challenge for the reader by daring them to confront ugly truths or in this case naked truths.

Lily is an incredibly strong character that will both inspire and transform you. I’m afraid to say this was Colleen Hoover’s best work yet, but because of how personal it is I have to applaud her for sharing such a difficult yet brilliant story with her readers. There are a handful of books I’ve read with similar storylines and they’ve never gotten to me to this degree. I hate to be so vague, but this story is worth withholding the plot, the summary does not begin to explain what you will go through reading this, but it is worth every second. Although the end seems final and complete (and totally perfect) somehow I hope she somehow is inspired to continue this as a series or at least a novella. I hope you all will take a chance on this one it is probably on my top 5 best reads of all time and might be my favorite book published in 2016. This book is heavy at times, but if you pick up one book this year please please please let it be It Ends With Us. I promise you won’t regret it.

It Ends With Us releases Tuesday, August 2, 2016 (that’s right less than 24 hours) get your pre-orders in now and be sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a signed copy!

~ Happy Reading Lovelies ~

Grab your copy of IT ENDS WITH US:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | B-A-M | iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo | GooglePlay | Nook

IT ENDS WITH US

BY COLLEEN HOOVER

http://www.itendswithusbook.com/

Atria Books Paperback | 384 pages | ISBN: 9781501110368 | August 2, 2016 | $16.00

eBook: 384 pages | ISBN: 9781501110375 | $7.99

Now for the fun….the #ItEndsWithUs Contest!

Enter the Rafflecopter to win a signed copy of IT ENDS WITH US and a limited edition Everything’s Better in Boston magnet (trust us, you’ll get it after you read the book)! (3 prize bundles in total) Contest is open until August 26^th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don’t miss Colleen on tour for IT ENDS WITH US:

BOSTON, MA

Tuesday, August 2^nd

BROOKLINE BOOKSMITH

7:00 PM

279 Harvard Street

Brookline, MA 02446

www.brooklinebooksmith.com

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1765869680321385/

MADISON, NJ

Wednesday, August 3^rd

SHORT STORIES COMMUNITY BOOK HUB

7:00 PM

23 Main Street

Madison, NJ 07940

www.shortstoriesnj.com

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1816436548588340/

NEW YORK, NY

Thursday, August 4^th

STRAND BOOK STORE

7:00 PM

828 Broadway

New York, NY 10003

www.strandbooks.com

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1266828406680888/

CINCINNATI, OH

Friday, August 5^th

JOSEPH-BETH BOOKSELLERS

7:00 PM

2692 Madison Road

Cincinnati, OH 45208

www.josephbeth.com

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/277088292641430/

CHICAGO, IL

Saturday, August 6^th

ANDERSON’S BOOKSHOP

2:00 PM

Meiley-Swallow Hall

On the campus of North

Central College 31 S Ellsworth Street

Naperville, IL 60540

http://www.andersonsbookshop.com/

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/260878437616737/

LOS ANGELES, CA

Sunday, August 7^th

CHEVALIER’S BOOKS

6:30 PM

126 N. Larchmont Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90004

www.chevaliersbooks.com

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/260712770964176/

PHOENIX, AZ

Monday, August 8^th

CHANGING HANDS BOOKSTORE

7:00 PM

6428 S. McClintock Drive

Tempe, AZ 85283

www.changinghands.com

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1188482081195713/

HOUSTON, TX

Tuesday, August 9^th

BARNES & NOBLE – Town & Country

7:00 PM

12850 Memorial Drive

Houston, TX 77024

www.barnesandnoble.com

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1755063464713808/

DALLAS, TX

Wednesday, August 10^th
HALF PRICE BOOKS

7:00 PM
5803 E. Northwest Hwy
Dallas, TX 75231
www.halfpricebooks.com

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1714556692137769/

Jun 06 2016

Book Review: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: 2 Comments

ABOUT ONE TRUE LOVES:

In her twenties, Emma Blair marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse. They build a life for themselves, far away from the expectations of their parents and the people of their hometown in Massachusetts. They travel the world together, living life to the fullest and seizing every opportunity for adventure.

On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse is on a helicopter over the Pacific when it goes missing. Just like that, Jesse is gone forever. Emma quits her job and moves home in an effort to put her life back together. Years later, now in her thirties, Emma runs into an old friend, Sam, and finds herself falling in love again. When Emma and Sam get engaged, it feels like Emma’s second chance at happiness.

That is, until Jesse is found. He’s alive, and he’s been trying all these years to come home to her. With a husband and a fiancé, Emma has to now figure out who she is and what she wants, while trying to protect the ones she loves.

Who is her one true love? What does it mean to love truly? Emma knows she has to listen to her heart. She’s just not sure what it’s saying.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Taylor Jenkins Reid is an author and essayist from Acton, Massachusetts. She is the author of Forever, Interrupted, After I Do and Maybe In Another Life. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alex, and her dog, Rabbit. You can follow her on Twitter @TJenkinsReid.

FIND TAYLOR ONLINE:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Book Review

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

Once upon a time I hated romance novels. I hate love triangles, drama and most of all the mushy often cliché writing. I can’t stand to sit and read about flawless, imperfect people and people who don’t struggle or grow. In any novel these are things I still look for. Obviously, you all can tell my opinion of romance novels has changed. I do still have moments where I find a book too cheesy for my liking, but as I’ve grown older, my appreciation for the art of romance/adult fiction has evolved and I do love a good romance novel. Although I wouldn’t classify Taylor Jenkins Reid’s writing as simply romance, I’d say it could be categorized as contemporary adult/women’s fiction with romantic elements — with a lesson or two thrown into the mix. Definitely more along the lines of what I love to read.

I discovered Taylor Jenkins Reid after reading Maybe in Another Life. I fell in love with her writing style and knew I had found a new author to follow. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on One True Loves. Her writing with Maybe in Another Life was quite profound and evoked pensive thoughts. I found this also to be true while reading One True Loves. I’ve found her books have strong heroines that are faced with tough decisions, but they grow a great deal throughout the course of her novels. The lessons they learn and the experiences they endure are often difficult, but meaningful. Her writing generally has important life lessons that people neglect to really sit and ponder, but while reading you seem to find yourself thinking like you’ve never thought before. It’s actually one of the things I love most about her books.

One True Loves is the type of book that will gut you and leave you an emotional wreck. The writing is beautiful, the emotions palpable leaving you with no choice but to keep reading, to keep devouring all that Taylor Jenkins Reid has to offer. This was an incredible read. I laughed, I cried, I smiled, I sighed. Emma experienced an unimaginable tragedy, one that left her unsure of how she’d continue on each day, but somehow she managed, somehow she dug herself out and started to rebuild. Life seemed better, it didn’t seem as painful, as hard to continue moving forward, that is until Jesse resurfaces only complicating and confusing her about what she thought she wanted and who she thought she was.

I read One True Loves in one sitting. The author does an incredible job building the story up and she will keep you guessing. I felt as though I experienced all the pain and loss that each of these characters were faced with. I empathized with each of them and even I had a difficult time figuring out who Emma would ultimately end up with. The funny thing is you will fall in love with all of them, so much so that the who matters less in the end than the journey that led them there. Her characters are perfectly flawed, they are complex, well developed, genuine and lovable. Just a fair warning, you may need a tissue or two while reading, this one will definitely gut you, but the angst is completely worth it. And as always with a Reid book, you may also learn a thing or two about yourself. Raw, poignant and completely heartfelt, One True Loves is an definite 5 star must read perfect for contemporary romance readers and the quintessential summer read.

~ Happy Reading Lovelies ~

ONE TRUE LOVES by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Atria/Washington Square Press Paperback | ISBN: 9781476776903 | On sale: June 7, 2016 | 352 pages | $16.00

eBook: Atria/Washington Square Press | ISBN: 9781476776910 | On sale: June 7, 2016 | 352 pages | $11.99

ORDER:

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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY:

2 COMPLETE SETS OF SIGNED TJR BOOKS

5 SIGNED COPIES OF ONE TRUE LOVES

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Apr 22 2016

Book Review: The Randy Romance Novelist by Meghan Quinn

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: 1 Comment

We’re celebrating the release of The Randy Romance Novelist by Meghan Quinn!

Check out my review and giveaway!

THE RANDY ROMANCE NOVELIST by Meghan Quinn

Scheduled to release: April 12, 2016

Romantic Comedy

Cover designer: Meghan Quinn

BLURB:

It finally happened, I lost my virginity. Cue applause and cheers.

For a while life was all rainbows and kittens prancing in a sky full of cotton candy clouds…that was until the demands of the real world set in.

My best friend is getting married and she asked me to be her maid of honor. She’s not worried about flowers, or the dress, or the food at the venue. No, she’s worried about the bachelorette party, what kind of penis crown she will wear, and the nipple size of the stripper who will be attending.

I’m in way over my head trying to balance life with a boyfriend, planning a penis party, and writing my romance novel. Something is bound to give.

This is my life after my happily ever after…

Book Review

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

The Virgin Romance Novelist is one of the funniest books I have ever read. When I heard Meghan Quinn was continuing Rosie’s story I was elated. Rosie is quirky, eccentric and all sorts of naïve, but in all honesty that’s what made her such an endearing character. Her quirks, her often absurd and sometimes bizarre quandaries are a big part of why I loved her story. She found herself in ridiculous situations and often. Through all the drama, predicaments and laughs she is truly a lovable character. She is someone you will cheer for on the sidelines hoping she won’t embarrass herself again, but instead find that happily ever after…or at least a happy medium.

The Randy Romance Novelist is everything I expected it to be and then some. It was hilarious, there were times when I was in tears from laughing so hard other times I would laugh out loud, much to the dismay of those around me. Oops….just a day in the life of a voracious reader…it’s not wholly unexpected. Meghan Quinn writes with an authenticity and wit that reminds me of reading a Tara Sivec novel. Not to compare the two, but they are two of the funniest authors I’ve ever read and both produce unforgettable reads. I’m talking laugh out loud, tears in the eye…maybe a run to the bathroom…hey, don’t deny that’s happened to you at least once from laughing so hard. Meghan Quinn has a way with words and if you enjoy racy, unpredictable often amusing antics then this is a great read for you. I only warn you that you will laugh and often.

This story is a continuation of The Virgin Romance Novelist, so if you haven’t read that book yet, you should. It’s hilarious and will make you fall in love with not only Rosie, but a whole host of integral characters that I will not name in order to avoid spoiling these stories for anyone who hasn’t read the first book. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry…mostly from laughing, but you will also fall in love with the sweet side of these characters and their love for one another. I may have forced a guy friend to read The Virgin Romance Novelist (he is definitely not a romance reader) and he laughed so much he recommended it to some of his girl friends so with that said I truly believe anyone will enjoy this read, but if you’re a fan of Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy or New Adult you’ll especially enjoy it . Check it out, read it with a friend, loan it to a friend…you won’t be disappointed.

~ Happy Reading Lovelies ~

GIVEAWAY:

Signed Print copy and $15 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Purchase THE VIRGIN ROMANCE NOVELIST HERE!

Her bosom heaved at an alarming rate as his rough hand found its way down to her soft, yet wiry briar patch…

Can you say briar patch in a romance novel? What about meat sword? That’s what it is…a meat sword, right, all meaty and sword like, slaying through the inner dungeons of a woman’s dark desires. What about breasts? Do bosoms really heave?

God, I have no idea what happens when private parts touch.

I’m a virgin trying to write a romance novel and can’t seem to write past a sex scene thanks to my lack of experience.

My two best friends encourage me to drop the pen for a while and gain some real life practice through multiple dating facets such as blind dates, online profiles, and random hookups.

But losing my virginity is proving to be tougher than expected…

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | Nook

About the Author:

Born in New York and raised in Southern California, Meghan has grown into a sassy, peanut butter eating, blonde haired swearing, animal hoarding lady. She is known to bust out and dance if “It’s Raining Men” starts beating through the air and heaven forbid you get a margarita in her, protect your legs because they may be humped.

Once she started commuting for an hour and twenty minutes every day to work for three years, she began to have conversations play in her head, real life, deep male voices and dainty lady coos kind of conversations. Perturbed and confused, she decided to either see a therapist about the hot and steamy voices running through her head or start writing them down. She decided to go with the cheaper option and started writing… enter her first novel, Caught Looking.

Now you can find the spicy, most definitely on the border of lunacy, kind of crazy lady residing in Colorado with the love of her life and her five, furry four legged children, hiking a trail or hiding behind shelves at grocery stores, wondering what kind of lube the nervous stranger will bring home to his wife. Oh and she loves a good boob squeeze!

Like me on Facebook | Find me on Goodreads | Visit my website

Feb 18 2016

Book Review: Ink & Lies by S.L. Jennings

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: 1 Comment

Ink & Lies FOR WEB

Ink & Lies

by S.L. Jennings

Release Day: February 9th, 2016

Synopsis

From International Best Selling Romance Novelist, Hope Hughes, comes a gripping, heartfelt tale of two lovers, fighting for the freedom to…

No. Scratch that. Too cheesy.

…two people, torn apart by the tumultuous tides of life, only to discover refuge in…

WTF? What does that even mean? DELETE.

…two people, confused as shit as to where they should be and who they should love and none of this means a damn thing because it’s all lies!

Lies.

I’m not Hope Hughes. I’m not some fierce woman romance machine. Hell, I’m not even a woman.

I’m a liar.

And while I refuse to believe my own BS, deceit masked in heartfelt phrases of love and devotion, I want to make her believe them. Because maybe—just maybe—if she can find the soul within my words, she’ll also be able to find the truth scribbled on my heart.

You see, I once lived for the perfect plot twist.

I just never expected to actually live it.

This is my story. Well, maybe her story. I just wish I could make it our story.

The one I’m still writing.

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Purchase Links

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Nook | iBooks | Kobo

Review

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

“I guess the most epic romances are still tucked away within the pages of her favorite novels, safely swathed in inked lies and faded paper promises. Forever fictional. Just like love.”

This book is a work of magic. I absolutely loved it and now that I’ve read it, I am so jealous for everyone that gets to read it for the first time. EPIC. I fell in love hard with this story, the characters and the clever way S.L. Jennings penned their story. I spent a good portion of this read highlighting text because I was so enamored with her writing. August Rhys Calloway is a struggling author…Hope Hughes, not so much…but as the liar extraordinaire struggles to navigate his fictional persona and real life he never imagines the two will intertwine. Book boyfriends like these are hard to come by — he is guarded, pretends to be devoid of emotion, but as we all know, there’s always an exception to the rule. One can only pretend for so long before all those lies come crashing down and August is about to get the rudest awakening of his life.

I was pleasantly surprised with the storyline and although I had no idea what to expect, this book has easily made it’s way to my favorite reads. I’m sure I’ll be revisiting and recommending this book to everyone for weeks. It’s clever, witty, unique and poetic. The emotion penned on these pages only helped solidify my love for reading. I really love as a reader when authors can transport you and make you feel every emotion through their writing. S.L. Jennings repeatedly does this by not only giving you an inside glimpse into the mind of an author, but by displaying how heartbreakingly beautiful the process of baring oneself can be for self and others. August’s story will make you feel a range of emotions from heartbreak to anger to love and hope, but the entire story is a journey and only makes you appreciate the bumps in the road that lead to the end result.

I won’t spend time discussing the rest of the characters because the beauty of this story for me was the uncertainty. I wasn’t sure what to expect. The concept seemed pretty interesting, but it wasn’t until I started that I knew I’d be hooked. I’ll just say this is a friends to lovers angst-filled contemporary romance that will leave you swooning, tearing, and book stung as the story unfolds. I loved every minute of this read and I hope you will too!

~ Happy Reading Lovelies ~

Giveaway

Signed paperback of INK & LIES by S.L. Jennings

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Most known for her starring role in a popular sitcom as a child, S.L. Jennings went on to earn her law degree from Harvard at the young age of 16. While studying for the bar exam and recording her debut hit album, she also won the Nobel Prize for her groundbreaking invention of calorie-free wine. When she isn’t conquering the seas in her yacht or flying her Gulfstream, she likes to spin elaborate webs of lies and has even documented a few of these said falsehoods.

Meet the Liar

Facebook | FB Fan Group | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

Some of S.L.’s devious lies:

INK & LIES

TAINT (a Sexual Education novel)

TRYST (a Sexual Education novel)

FEAR OF FALLING (a Fearless novel)

AFRAID TO FLY (a Fearless novel)

THE DARK LIGHT SERIES

・Dark Light

・The Dark Prince

・Nikolai (a Dark Light novella)

・Light Shadows

Jan 25 2016

Book Review: He Will Be My Ruin by K.A. Tucker

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

“A nail-biting thriller…clever twists and turns will keep readers in suspense, and just when they think they have figured out what happened to Celine, the story veers in another direction.”—Publishers Weekly

The USA TODAY bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series makes her suspense debut with this sexy, heart-pounding story of a young woman determined to find justice after her best friend’s death, a story pulsing with the “intense, hot, emotional” (Colleen Hoover) writing that exhilarates her legions of fans.

Synopsis

A woman who almost had it all . . . On the surface, Celine Gonzalez had everything a twenty-eight-year-old woman could want: a one-bedroom apartment on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, a job that (mostly) paid the bills, and an acceptance letter to the prestigious Hollingsworth Institute of Art, where she would finally live out her dream of becoming an antiques appraiser for a major auction house. All she had worked so hard to achieve was finally within her reach. So why would she kill herself?

A man who was supposed to be her salvation . . .Maggie Sparkes arrives in New York City to pack up what’s left of her best friend’s belongings after a suicide that has left everyone stunned. The police have deemed the evidence conclusive: Celine got into bed, downed a lethal cocktail of pills and vodka, and never woke up. But when Maggie discovers a scandalous photograph in a lock box hidden in Celine’s apartment, she begins asking questions. Questions about the man Celine fell in love with. The man she never told anyone about, not even Maggie. The man Celine believed would change her life.

Until he became her ruin.

On the hunt for evidence that will force the police to reopen the case, Maggie uncovers more than she bargained for about Celine’s private life—and inadvertently puts herself on the radar of a killer. A killer who will stop at nothing to keep his crimes undiscovered.

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY ON GOODREADS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY

Book Review

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

Maggie Sparkes has been best friends with Celine Gonzalez since they were kids. Although not blood related, they are as close to a family as can be. Though distance and time have separated them, they’ve managed to remain close and with each visit they always find a way to pick up right where they left off. When word reaches Maggie that Celine has died and her death has been ruled a suicide Maggie is stunned. She’s known Celine for most of her life and through all the ups and downs she can’t believe Celine would take her own life. Maggie’s nagging suspicion only grows when she travels to New York to handle Celine’s belongings. As Maggie rifles through Celine’s possessions her list of unanswered questions only grows leading her to begin her own investigation. What she doesn’t realize is on her quest to uncover the truth, she may be leading herself directly into harms way. As things begin to unravel she tries to piece together Celine’s last days uncovering bits and pieces of a life that seems foreign to her. One that only makes her question how well she actually knew Celine. The deeper she delves the more you’ll begin to wonder if some secrets are best taken to the grave.

He Will Be My Ruin is an incredible story. It draws you in from the very first page and keeps you transfixed until the very end. Once I started reading I couldn’t stop aka I was up until 3am with a book hangover the next morning, but it was completely worth it. K.A. Tucker blew me away (as usual). She did an amazing job keeping my interest and she definitely kept me guessing. This was a bit of a different read for me it’s more mystery/suspense than romance, but the author absolutely nailed it. There are elements of romance so you’ll definitely get your fill, but a lot of this story is about a friendship and a woman who is so desperately seeking the truth in order to find peace. It delves into how well you know those closest to you and to what extent some will go to protect themselves or others.

He Will Be My Ruin will make you think you have it all figured out then BAM you’re thrown a curveball and then another. You’ll likely be guessing until the final chapter. I suspected everyone and I imagine you will too. One of the things I loved most about this book is I tend to figure out storylines rather quickly and it isn’t often that an author surprises me, but boy did she keep me guessing…and second-guessing. I absolutely loved it. You’ll fall in love with secondary characters and become enthralled with not only Celine’s story, but Maggie’s as well. Suspenseful and cleverly calculated, K.A. Tucker will have you on the edge of your seat! I highly recommend this upcoming release, you won’t be disappointed!

Happy Reading Lovelies xo

RELEASES FEBRUARY 2ND, 2016

PRE-ORDER:

Amazon US | Amazon Canada | Amazon UK | Amazon AUS

iBooks US | iBooks Canada | iBooks UK | iBooks AUS

Barnes & Noble | BAM | Kobo | Indigo | IndieBound

Blio | Waterstones | Other

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

K.A. Tucker is the author of the Ten Tiny Breaths and the Burying Water series. She currently resides outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

Nov 24 2015

Book Review: PERFECTLY IMPERFECT by Harper Sloan

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

Meet Willow and Kane in the newest stand alone by Harper Sloan!

NOW AVAILABLE on the following retailers:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Nook | iBooks

Blurb

Mirror, mirror … who’s the fairest of them all?

I still cringe when I hear that line. A fairy tale that had girls pretending they were the fairest, the most beautiful, and the most entitled. A fairy tale most couldn’t grow out of turned my haunted childhood memories into a living nightmare. Girls who grew up believing that pile of garbage became the meanest of all ‘mean girls.’

And those mean girls were right – it was a line meant for all the beautiful people in the world – and I knew the answer would never be me.

The women with long legs, flat stomachs, and perfect chests.

The type of women Kane Masters gravitated toward.

Well, that’s definitely not Willow Tate.

No. That will never be me.

Because I’m completely imperfect.

And … I hate myself.

I have no idea what Kane could possibly see in someone like me when he could have them.

Book Review

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review.

All thoughts and comments are my own.*

Perfectly Imperfect is absolute perfection. It is a deeply personal account of struggles with body image and self-worth. It is bold, raw and entirely unapologetic. I loved it, I devoured it and I could not get enough. The story follows Willow, a woman who’s self-loathing, upbringing and experiences have only sunk her deeper into the rabbit hole. As she fights to claw her way out and make peace with who she’s becoming, she struggles, continuously struggles to find and own the person she truly wants to be. It is a bumpy, painful sometimes heartbreaking ride, but every step she takes towards healing and growing is entirely worth it. Willow’s endurance, strength and the love and support she receives from those closest to her help transform her into someone who is fiercely beautiful in every way. She overcomes many adversities, learns to love the woman she is becoming and begins to realize just how perfect imperfect can be.

Kane — oh goodness what can I say about Kane other than I AM IN LOVE! Can I get a Kane? Please??? Just send him my way and all will be right in the my world hehe. From the moment we meet Kane he is a man on a mission. His intentions are clear, but he takes his time and is exactly what Willow needs at a time where her world seems to be crumbling apart. He takes a piece of your heart and begins to weave his way around it making you fall in love just a bit deeper with every encounter. He is the embodiment of what a loving support system should be and although Willow has her reservations every moment between these two is electric. He is kind, loving and patient. Their connection, their trust, their attraction and their ability to support each other in all the simplest ways is absolutely incredible. Willow begins to learn what it feels like to receive unconditional love and support, something she lacked for many years that only contributed to her self-contempt. What Kane offers Willow isn’t a cure or a patch to fix her, no, he offers her so much more. Although Willow is as big of a Kane supporter as he is to her, what I loved the most about these two is the trust between these two is one of the things that allowed them to grow together.

Through it all Willow’s journey to self discovery is one that will inspire you. Perfectly Imperfect will walk you through the good, the bad and the awful, but in the end you will see just how far she’s come. This is a wonderful book that is clearly written through the eyes of someone who has experienced what it feels like to struggle with loving the person you are and accepting all those imperfections that make you…YOU. Harper Sloan has written another wonderful story, a bit more personal, albeit phenomenal and very necessary. Books like this inspire and give hope to people, like Willow, who may not realize just how much their so called flaws might be the exact thing that makes them perfect in not only their eyes, but the eyes of someone who can truly offer selfless, unconditional love.

This is a must read! It is a multi-layered story told from dual POV. I hope you love it as much as I did.

~ Happy Reading Lovelies ~

Excerpt

“Are you nervous right now?”

I nod.

“Tell me why.” His demand, steady and calm, gives me the courage I need to tell him. To open a vein and bleed my insecurities.

“I’m not perfect,” I whisper.

“And neither am I, Willow. I don’t want perfect. What so many see as perfect, to me, is fake. Perfect isn’t achievable naturally. No one, and I mean no one, is perfect.”

I’m shaking my head before he’s even done speaking, but one long finger comes up and presses against my lips before I can speak.

“No, let me finish. There isn’t beauty in perfection. It’s as fake as the image the word projects. Beauty is found in imperfection, Willow, because to admit you’re not perfect means you’re admitting you’re not whole and absolute. When I think of myself, I see someone willing to admit he’s as far from complete as it gets because, in order to get to that perfection, I need to find the other part of me who will make my life better. To take all the faults I have and fill them, and only then will I be there. You see, the way I see it, the only way to become perfect is to find that perfectly imperfect person who brings it out of you.”

When he stops, I swear I might have stopped breathing. How am I supposed to respond to that?

“Do you trust me?” he asks, his voice strong and sure.

“Yes, Kane. Nerves or not, I do.”

“Then let me show you what I see when I look at you.”

He brings his hands up, framing my face once again in a way I’m quickly becoming addicted to the feeling of. His warm eyes implore, begging me without words to let him continue. I do not intend to stop him, regardless of the butterflies currently taking over my system. I’m all in.”

About the Author

Harper lives in small town Georgia just a short drive from her hometown of Peachtree City. She (and her 3 daughters) enjoy ruling the house they dubbed ‘Estrogen Ocean’, much to her husband’s chagrin. Harper has a borderline unhealthy obsession with books; you can almost ALWAYS find her with her eReader attached. She enjoys bad reality TV and cheesy romantic flicks. Her favorite kind of hero–the super alpha kind!

Harper started using writing as a way to unwind when the house went to sleep at night; and with a house full of crazy it was the perfect way to just relax. It didn’t take long before a head full of very demanding alphas would stop at nothing to have their story told.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram

GIVEAWAY
$50 Amazon Gift Card

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THANK YOU!

Nov 16 2015

Book Review: NOVEMBER 9 by Colleen Hoover

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

NOVEMBER NINE

BY COLLEEN HOOVER

“November 9 is yet another breathtaking novel by Colleen Hoover that’s full of blushing, gushing, and heartache. I loved every page and breathed in every beautiful word.”
—Anna Todd, Author of the After series

Visit www.November9.com for teasers, tour dates and more.

ABOUT NOVEMBER NINE:

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day of her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

Can Ben’s relationship with Fallon—and simultaneously his novel—be considered a love story if it ends in heartbreak?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Slammed, This Girl, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, Losing Hope, Finding Cinderella, Maybe Someday, Ugly Love, Maybe Not, and Confess. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys.

FIND COLLEEN ONLINE:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Book Review

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review.

All thoughts and comments are my own.*

To rate this book 5 stars would be an understatement. It is by far the best book I’ve read this entire year and may very well be the best book Colleen Hoover has ever written. She outdid herself and with every book release she continues to remind me why I love her writing so much. She’s brilliant. She makes you feel, makes you cry, makes you angry, makes your heart break – practically guts you before there can even be a HEA. For some, the end of a book is usually the most dreaded part, because you’ve become a part of this world you can’t describe yet you connect with these characters so well, you hurt with them, you love with them, you feel with them and when it comes to an end you just want more. When I read a Colleen Hoover book that expectation goes out the door. For me, the endings have become my favorite part because the journey her characters take to get there are some of the most heart-wrenchingly beautiful I’ve ever experienced. You learn some valuable life lessons and by the end it’s a bittersweet goodbye that leaves you completely satiated. A Colleen Hoover book is an experience you will truly never ever forget.

There’s this process I go through on an annual basis where I try to pick the best book I’ve read all year. I read, love and repeat this process over and over again often citing how this one is a favorite or that one is absolute poetry, but with every Colleen Hoover release this process becomes a battle because it’s like her books continuously try to outshine the previous release. They often do, but my thoughts range from OMG I love it, I have a new book boyfriend to what the heck does Colleen have in store for us next? In the past I’ve said it’s too difficult to rank her books in order of my favorite to my least favorite because they’ve all been favorites. Her books are truly gems, but November 9 just changed the game for me. I know without a doubt (and I mean no disrespect to any authors I’ve read or will read from here on out, but) this will be the best book I’ve read for all of 2015. The wait was grueling, but it was definitely worth it. Secondly, this is likely the best book I’ve EVER read and I have only said that about a handful of books (which I’ll sort through and list at a later date). Colleen Hoover deserves awards for this release. It is brilliant, chilling and poignant. I fell in love and was devastated with equal measure. I was in tears and on edge for about 30-40% of this book. She threw unexpected curves and shattered my heart and I swore she’d never render it whole again.

I’m not going to summarize the plot, the synopsis is wicked enough for that. Instead I’ll tell you that November 9 is easily the best book you will ever read. It is a book that you will want to own and read over and over again. It will draw you in and make you wish you could find a love as epic as Fallon and Ben’s. This is a must read, must own, must be made into a film…. fingers crossed on the last one there. It was the most beautiful story I’ve ever read. Colleen Hoover never disappoints and with all the release dates and published books that alone speaks volumes. She’s opened a book store, started a monthly book subscription service with all proceeds going to charity, has a family and makes time to deliver us masterpiece after masterpiece. She is truly amazing and when you read a work like this, her brilliance and creativity shine through. I hope she continues to bring more great releases like this one. It is outstanding.

~ Happy Reading Lovelies ~

BUY IT NOW

NOVEMBER NINE

BY COLLEEN HOOVER

www.november9book.com

Atria Books Paperback | 320 pages | ISBN: 9781501110344 | November 10, 2015 | $16.00

eBook: 320 pages | ISBN: 9781501110351 | $7.99

ORDER NOVEMBER 9:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bilo | Books-a-Million

iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo | Google | Nook

Don’t miss Colleen on tour for NOVEMBER 9:

DALLAS, TX

Monday, November 9^th

HALF PRICE BOOKS

10:00 PM

5803 E Northwest Hwy

Dallas, TX 75231

www.hpb.com

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/571747856307832/

CINCINNATI, OH

Tuesday, November 10^th

JOSEPH-BETH BOOKSELLERS

7:00 PM

2692 Madison Road

Cincinnati, OH 45208

www.josephbeth.com

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/910564405703742/

CHICAGO, IL

Wednesday, November 11^th

ANDERSON’S BOOKSHOP

7:00 PM

26 S. La Grange Rd.

La Grange, IL 60525

www.andersonsbookshop.com

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/877624532344894/

RIDGEWOOD, NJ

Thursday, November 12th

BOOK ENDS

7:00 PM

211 E. Ridgewood Avenue

Ridgewood, NJ 07450

www.book-ends.com

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/176661676006949/

WHITE PLAINS, NY

Friday, November 13^th

BARNES & NOBLE #2202

7:00 PM

230 Main Street

White Plains, NY 10601

www.barnesandnoble.com

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/760158847428849/

MIAMI, FL

Saturday, November 14^th

BOOKS & BOOKS

5:00 PM

265 Aragon Avenue

Coral Gables, FL 33134

www.booksandbooks.com

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/903716756377916/

BOSTON, MA

Sunday, November 15^th

BROOKLINE BOOKSMITH

5:00 PM

279 Harvard St

Brookline, MA 02446

www.brooklinebooksmith.com

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1484734548495141/

LOS ANGELES, CA

Tuesday, November 17^th

CHEVALIER’S BOOKS

7:00 PM

126 N. Larchmont Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90004

www.chevaliersbooks.com

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1008186655868793/

AUSTIN, TX

Tuesday, December 8th
BOOK PEOPLE

7:00 PM
603 N. Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78703
512-472-5050
http://www.bookpeople.com/

RSVP and details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1642732965964748/

GIVEAWAY

Now for the fun….the #November9 Contest!

Enter the Rafflecopter to win a prize bundle of one signed copy of NOVEMBER 9 and a pair of #November9 sunglasses! (5 prize bundles in total) Contest is open until November 30^th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nov 10 2015

Book Review: Cam Girl by Leah Raeder

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

ABOUT CAM GIRL:

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 will bring back a ghost from her past.

Now Vada must confront what she’s been running from. A past full of devastating secrets—those of others and those she’s been keeping from herself…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Leah Raeder is a writer and unabashed nerd. She is also the USA Today bestselling author ofUnteachable and Black Iris. Aside from reading her brains out, she enjoys graphic design, video games, fine whiskey, and the art of self-deprecation. She lives with her very own manic pixie dream boy in Chicago. Visit her at www.leahraeder.com.

FIND LEAH ONLINE:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

BOOK REVIEW

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review.

All thoughts and comments are my own.*

Wow. Just wow. Leah Raeder’s third release Cam Girl is powerful and hauntingly beautiful. “Love is love.” A friend of mine has those words etched on her skin. She’s an incredible mother and likely one of the biggest LGBTQ supporters I know. When I read this book, I didn’t really know what to expect. As I read Cam Girl, that message reverberated in my mind. I knew Leah Raeders books are usually deep and likely strike a chord for some. The writing is powerful and I found myself highlighting lines from nearly every page. My only suggestion to readers is to go into this with an open heart and mind. Try not to open the book with preconceived notions and you’ll likely appreciate what a masterpiece it is.

As with all of Raeder’s books, Cam Girl offers an insightful perspective that resonates deeply. Leah’s evocative and poetic prose draws you in and leaves you utterly spellbound. One of the reasons I’ve never been disappointed with Raeder is the writing although dark at times, it’s an honest account of powerful emotions that many people experience, yet few are brave enough to acknowledge. For some, Raeder’s books may be seen as controversial, but they are nonetheless captivating. I’m glad there is a writer out here that can connect not only with the LGBTQ community, but she is an author whose voice can transcend gender and sexuality and force people to take a hard look at themselves as well as their perception of others.

There is a raw and painful undercurrent that forces you to think, forces you to feel, forces you to connect with these characters. Leah Raeder’s writing often gives you a bit of a harsh yet plausible reality check and you’re usually left stunned. I read this book in one sitting and could not put it down. I knew from Black Iris and Leah’s hilarious tweets that Cam Girl would be different and it definitely was. I stopped thinking in terms of gender and just read about these characters who loved, hurt, and clung to each other for support and hope. It was a poignant reminder of how far we still have to go. I don’t make a habit of reading reviews about books I read, but I came across a few that made me wonder if these characters were heterosexual would the ratings have been a bit higher? I’ll leave that to you to decide. For me this was a wonderful book. Every character was connected to some piece of Leah’s puzzle and by the end you may figure it out as I did, but the way things unravel is always the prize. I implore you to also read the acknowledgments. They always give you bit more of who Leah is and what struggles helped created this amazing author. As with all of Raeder’s books, if you really pay attention, you’ll learn something. Highly recommend this to all my readers.

Happy Reading lovelies xo

ORDER CAM GIRL by Leah Raeder

eBook: Atria Books | ISBN: 9781501115004 | On sale: November 3, 2015 | 432 pages | US $5.99

US LINKS:

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AUS LINKS:

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Sep 30 2015

Book Review: Unlawful Desire (ALFA PI, #2) by Chelle Bliss

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: 1 Comment

Title: Unlawful Desire
Series: ALFA PI Book #2

Synopsis

No matter how hard I tried to push her away, fate thrust us together again.

Screw relationships. My motto: Hit it and quit it.
Simple worked. Feelings weren’t on the line, hearts weren’t able to be broken,
and I could keep my life simple.
My friends told me to move on and find the “one,” but I wasn’t ready to love again.
Until I met her.
A dirty-mouthed temptress with a killer body that had me questioning everything.
I knew I could ruin her forever, but not without losing myself.
I wouldn’t do it.
But Georgia Phillips was innocent, pure, and total perfection.
I wouldn’t be the one to strip her bare and break her heart.
I swore I’d never call another woman mine, but that was before I almost lost her.

Warning: If you can’t handle a cocky bad boy or a badass chick with a dirty mouth,
this might not be the book for you.

BUY IT NOW:

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Review

*This was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review.

All thoughts and comments are my own.*

Holy F&#%, Unlawful Desire is hands down my favorite Chelle Bliss book to date! Ok, I seriously love all her books, but this one lived up to every imaginable expectation and then some. I was impatiently awaiting the release for this one and I loooooooved it! I could not put it down. It was definitely a one sitting read. I sat in a café and lost hours not even realizing I had been there so long until it was nearly closing time (hangs head in shame). Sigh, I knew I would fall hard for Frisco and I 1000000% did. He is the epitome of the dream alpha male book boyfriend.

Frisco swore off relationship, but the day he meets Georgia he knows he’s in for trouble. He does everything in his power to fight his feelings, but Georgia isn’t like the rest. She’s smart, sassy and pretty freaking bada$$. There’s something about her that Frisco can’t escape and try as they may, fate keeps intervening pushing these two closer together. I loved the banter between Georgia and Frisco. They were playful and snarky in a way that only Chelle could perfect. I fell hard for Frisco and Georgia, unsure of their fate, I devoured every page and rooted for them along the way. I hoped these two would find a way to open up and trust one another. Georgia and Frisco’s lives intersect at a time when they both need to drown out past hurt. What they never imagined is that they’d find solace in one another. Will they take a leap together or will Frisco’s reservations and Georgia’s innocence be the thing that tears them apart?

As with all Chelle Bliss books this one felt familiar, as though they could be your own friends, it was witty, and I laughed a lot at certain points (when you get there you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about). Let’s just say that extended family and friends are always an important factor in Chelle’s books and they certainly make the stories interesting and utterly hilarious. As always, the steam factor was off the charts, but I do believe Unlawful Desire may have had some of the steamiest, blush worthy moments I’ve ever read. This book is everything! 5 stars hands down for Unlawful Desire. It is erotic and steamy, but the second chance romance aspect will sucker punch you at times leaving you breathless and longing for more. I am a huge fan of this book and the ALFA PI series. This is a must read for all Erotic (Adult) Romance/Second-Chance Romance/Contemporary Romance fans! You will not be disappointed.

Happy Reading Lovelies xo

Unlawful Desire Excerpt

She leaned back against the bar with her tits jutting out and her arms crossed underneath. “What’s your problem with me? Did I do something to you, Frisco?”

Caught off guard by her question, my body jerked backward. “N-no,” I stuttered.

She tapped her foot. “You ditched me, marched off when you heard my age, and tonight, you seem less than happy that I’m here. What the fuck gives?”

I cleared my throat, trying to find my voice and a reasonable explanation. “I don’t have anything against you.” I was in so much trouble.

“Let’s cut the shit, Frisco. I’m a big girl. What’s the problem? Would you rather I leave?” Her body oozed attitude.

I cringed. I never wanted to hurt anyone, but I knew that I had hurt her feelings. “No. Don’t go. I’m sorry. It’s just that Sunshine…” My chest tightened. “She’s trying to fix us up.”

Georgia filled her cheeks with air before slowly exhaling. “Is that so bad?” She narrowed her eyes. “If I’m not your type, it’s cool. But otherwise, what’s the issue? I thought we had a nice time up until you left the party. I’m a big girl. Just be honest with me. I’m not into playing games.”

I wanted to play games. Naked games that ended with us against a wall, tangled together like we’d played the sexiest game of Twister.

SINFUL INTENT – ALFA PI BOOK 1 (My Review)

GRAB A COPY TODAY!

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Chelle Bliss, USA Today Bestselling author, currently lives in a small town near the Gulf of Mexico in Florida. She’s a full-time writer, time-waster extraordinaire, social media addict, and coffee fiend. She’s written over thirteen books and has three series available. She loves spending her free time with her boyfriend, 2 cats, and her hamster.

Before becoming a writer, Chelle taught high school history for over ten years. She holds a master’s degree in Instructional Technology and a bachelor’s in history. Although history is her first love, writing has become her dream job and she can’t imagine doing anything else.

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