Articles

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

Jun 17 2015

Book Review: Amber to Ashes by Gail McHugh

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

AMBER ^toASHES

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR

GAIL McHUGH

They were a storm I never saw coming, an unforeseen heartbreak on the edge of a dangerous cliff.

In AMBER TO ASHES (Atria Paperback; June 9^th, 2015), Amber Moretti’s life changes in the span of minutes. An orphaned outsider, she is desperate to start fresh the moment she walks onto campus. In the time it takes to cross the university’s dining hall, she meets two men who bring color, air, and light to her darkened world.

They became my addiction, each a needle to my next hit, my high.

Brock Cunningham’s appeal is dizzying, a potent force Amber can’t deny. A green-eyed smooth talker, he instantly attracts Amber. It doesn’t take long for him to consume her every thought, her every breath.

Ryder Ashcroft, a blue-eyed, tattooed, and pierced bad boy, turns Amber off immediately—that is, until he kisses her, stealing a piece of her heart, her soul.

They were as opposite as fire and ice, yet I ached for them equally.

Never knowing she could be broken down in so many unexpectedly beautiful yet petrifying ways, Amber finds herself falling for both men.

Immoral? Maybe. I say undeniable. Uncontained.

But one devastating event changes everything, shattering each of their lives…and Amber isn’t sure she can recover from it.

Book Review

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

All thoughts and comments are my own.*

My favorite thing in the world is picking up a new book and reading through all the words an author has penned together creating a new journey for me to embark upon. Words are powerful and can reveal the most beautiful or even the ugliest inner workings of someones mind. Gail McHugh has a gift with words and through it they reveal a story in which she has claimed contain many layers of her own reality. Parts of her own story woven together with fictional elements to create a gem that will captivate you from start to finish.

This is the first book I’ve read by Gail McHugh and it definitely won’t be my last. I don’t think I have EVER read a story like Amber to Ashes. I was completely spellbound. I could not put it down. I read it in one sitting by the final page I was dying for more. Addiction, obsession, desire, love, lust, pleasure, pain by the end you’ll have fought a battlefield of emotions and even question your sanity. The physical and emotional turmoil all three characters experience will tear at your heart. Their desires overwhelming at times, torturous and completely unlike any story you’ll ever read. It is not an erotic fantasy come to life, it is a dangerous and desperate yearning that plague these three and may be the beginning of the end for all of them. I was intrigued and as I delved deeper into the story it was hard to form an alliance or choose. I almost felt like I was Amber because I became as torn as she was. Parts of this story at least the arrogance of the two leading men made me a bit suspicious of their intentions at times. This book will mess with your head. Gail’s poetic style of writing leaves you to ponder many painful yet harsh realities of love, life, death and everything in between.

Amber to Ashes is a raw and artfully crafted masterpiece that takes you on a bumpy, deeply emotional, chaotic and passionate journey through the lives of three people whose stories culminate in the mother of all cliffhanger endings. This is a dark and gritty story that will rip you to shreds rendering you absolutely speechless . It is a book you won’t soon forget. One that will seep its way into the depths of your soul and completely own you. It is an all-consuming, fiery, get your heart racing, question your sanity kind of ride. I loved every minute of it and I cannot wait for more. Check out an excerpt here.

Buy NOW

AMBER TO ASHES by Gail McHugh

Atria Books Paperback | On sale: June 9, 2015 | 480 pages

ISBN: 9781476766010, $15.00 | eBook ISBN: 9781476766041, $7.99

Order the AMBER TO ASHES paperback:

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

Order the AMBER TO ASHES eBook:

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

About the author:

Gail McHugh is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Collide and Pulse. She is the mother of three beautiful children and has been married to her husband for fifteen years.

Visit Gail online at:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Giveaway

Enter to win one (1) of ten (10) signed copies of AMBER TO ASHES HERE

Mar 11 2015

Book Review: CONFESS by Colleen Hoover

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

CONFESS

BY COLLEEN HOOVER

Atria Books | Paperback
On-Sale: 03/10/15
Paperback ISBN: 9781476791456, $16.00
eBook ISBN: 9781476791463, $7.99
320 pages

Get Your Copy Now!

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

SEE MORE RETAILERS

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a new novel about risking everything for love—and finding your heart somewhere between the truth and lies.

Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

For once, Auburn takes a risk and puts her heart in control, only to discover that Owen is keeping some major secrets from coming out. The magnitude of his past threatens to destroy everything important to Auburn, and the only way to get her life back on track is to cut Owen out of it.

The last thing Owen wants is to lose Auburn, but he can’t seem to convince her that truth is sometimes as subjective as art. All he would have to do to save their relationship is confess. But in this case, the confession could be much more destructive than the actual sin…

REVIEW

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

Some secrets should never turn into confessions. I know that better than anyone.

There are a million reasons why I love reading and Colleen Hoover is one of those reasons! Authors like her grab your attention from the very first line and keep you hanging on to their every word. To say I experienced emotional turmoil reading Confess is an understatement. I cried big ugly tears, but what else is new when it comes to Colleen? I think she is the only author that consistently makes me cry and for some reason I read and repeat the process with every release. She’s figuratively punched me in the gut time and time again and yet I keep coming back for more. All I can say is, so far every book has been well worth the tears. She brings the reader into a very realistic world with relatable issues (for the most part). When I read Colleen’s books it’s as if a piece of art is being painted in my head (how apropos) or puzzle pieces coming together, either way, she’s ingenious. Her creativity knows no bounds, she’s made a book with an accompanying album, one that included slam poetry and has even co-authored a book with Tarryn Fisher. Now she’s teamed up with the amazing UK based artist Danny O’Connor. Together, they have created an absolute masterpiece. The art in Confess creates the perfect visual for the reader. Danny O’Connor’s work is brilliant. His art adds so much intensity to this novel. I spent time looking at his work and I absolutely fell in love. I understand why Colleen decided to work with him. The joint effort was well worth the wait!

I’m not a fan of spoilers, never have been, never will be. I’ll attempt to give you as much information about Confess without giving away too much of the storyline. Confess is the story of Auburn Reed and Owen Gentry. It reveals how their lives intersect and the upheavals they experience following their first interaction. There is an attraction that begins as curiosity, but slowly builds to an indescribable desire and a connection that makes you feel as though you’ve just witnessed a fairytale match coming alive, but all fairytales experience trials and tribulations before they ever make it to the HEA and boy did Auburn and Owen get a run for their money. This book will give you angina. I hurt for these two. I cried for them and I wanted to throw this book against a wall at times.

I don’t watch much television and people like to look at me like I’m crazy for admitting I prefer to read, but to me, I am visualizing everything as if it were TV or a movie. I like to tell people when I read I AM watching a movie (in my head). With Confess you’re living the movie with Auburn and Owen. Every emotion, every heartrending incident, every breathtaking moment you LIVE with them. I wasn’t sure what direction she would take with the storyline and I have to admit I grew nervous as the ending grew closer. ANGINA I’m telling you! I kept looking at my kindle like, “Why are you at 80% and all the things I need to happen aren’t coming together yet? Please tell me this will be a HEA or I really will throw this kindle.” Yes, I had this internal monologue. Don’t judge me because trust me, you will too! I have to admit Colleen vividly and flawlessly captures the emotions and behaviors of all the characters. And although I was heartbroken for a while I felt as though I were truly witnessing an accurate portrayal of control, helplessness and genuine heartfelt love.

This is one of those novels that make you enjoy every step of the reading process. It is utterly heartbreaking at times, yet incredibly beautiful. This book gutted me and I wasn’t sure I’d ever recover. So many things were happening and as usual Colleen kept the surprises coming. I laughed, I cried and held my breath waiting patiently for my demise at the hands of a book. I was captivated by the realistic and complex characters, the multilayered plot and emotionally charged storyline. This book is the epitome of unputdownable. I was addicted from the minute I started reading and I COULDN’T stop, until I begrudgingly turned that final page. Confess is an incredible read with plenty of bumps along the way, but the final outcome is well worth your time ahem and tears. Oh, and did I mention this book is written in dual POV!!!!

Colleen has Confess prints for sale at her online store HERE and if you’re interested in viewing or purchasing art from Danny O’Connor you can find his work HERE.

My Confession:

Comment with yours.

GIVEAWAY

Enter for a chance to win! Visit Atria’s Tumblr page from 3/9 – 3/22 to enter to win and a grand prize of a signed framed print of one of the images in the book plus a signed copy of CONFESS or one of the runner up prizes of one of four signed copies of CONFESS.

About the Author:

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Slammed, Point of Retreat, This Girl, Hopeless, Losing Hope, Maybe Someday, Finding Cinderella, and Ugly Love. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. Please visit ColleenHoover.com.

Find Colleen online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Jul 02 2014

Cover Reveal: Leaving Me Behind by Sigal Ehrlich

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

Expected Release Date: Autumn 2014

Cover Designer: Damon from Damonza.com

About Leaving Me Behind

Fed up with her comfortable and dull-to-boredom life, Liv takes the bravest leap, leaving it all behind. Unfortunately the crux of her issues – her entrenched, well-kept emotional guard – tags along for the ride.

With the spirit of change burning from every pore and a determined plan to break free from her self-oppressed lifestyle to enjoy life’s simplest pleasures, she moves half way across the globe to a peaceful Spanish coastal town.

With an aim to feel whole again, liberated and happy by herself, Liv begins her journey while maintaining weekly-cyber therapy sessions with her long time, questionable shrink.

As Liv finally begins to enjoy her new life and experience the varied goods the exotic country has to offer, a sudden major turn leads Liv to be swept into the most tantalizing roller coaster of her life.

A turn that leaves her questioning everything she thought was right.

Excerpt

“So how did you like our wine?” he gestures with a hint of a knowing glee at the half empty evidence on the table.

“Umm, it was good.”

He cocks an eyebrow.

“Frankly, I’m not much of a wine person. I’m more a sweet cocktail kind of gal. It was very good, but I couldn’t elaborate on the taste or anything else like you experts would…”

“I see…” he says somewhat pensive. He motions for me to take a seat at the sofa, and settles himself on the coffee table in front of me. His legs are slightly parted, almost touching mine nudged between them. He takes the bottle and deftly gets rid of the cork.

“Let’s try to do it together,” he says, his voice a degree huskier. “You need to use your scent, taste and sight to evaluate wine.” He gives me a soft, yet very suggestive look. “Sight,” he says as he brings the bottle to his mouth. His lips wrap around the narrow opening and he takes a slow sip. I swallow hard. He then inclines his head toward me, cups my neck to slightly tilt my head back and touches his mouth to mine. As I part my lips, his tongue reaches in with some of the wine and starts to stroke mine through the rich moistness. It twirls around, letting the delectable liquid reach every part of my mouth. I suck hard on his tongue, tasting the wine and my desire that grows with every erotic stroke of his.

“Taste,” he says low as he pulls back. “Keep your eyes closed, Liv. I’m going to do that again. I want you to suck on it, swirl it in your mouth, and try to think what flavors come to your mind.” And he does, and everything inside me tightens, and everything around me melts, and everything about me arouses.

“Open them, now tell me if it’s balanced,” he kisses my lips gently. “Complex.” Another kiss. “Evolved.” A more profound one.

Tastes like an orgasm? I close my eyes, lick my slightly pulsing lips, his hand trails slowly under the hem of my dress, holding my thigh. I lick my lips again.

“It tastes … warm, and rich.”

“Mmm, hmm,” his hand sprawls, making my skin burn at the spot.

“Fruity, and sexy,” I add quietly, my eyes still closed, the edge of my lips slightly curving.

“Keep going,” his other hand cups my cheek, and his thumb is touching, not touching my lips.

“It tastes like something I want again in my mouth.” My eyelids slowly lift and I look at him with everything that rages inside of me.

“Sold,” he says gruffly, with a hint of a smile. “Oh, and there’s the scent,” he adds next, nuzzling the area just below my ear. “Divine.”