Blog Tour+ARC Review: Maverick (North Ridge #2) by Karina Halle

Thursday, October 19, 2017

Maverick by Karina Halle

Release Date: October 17th

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Maverick, an all-new contemporary STANDALONE by New York Times Bestselling author Karina Halle is LIVE!!!

Maverick is a complete standalone novel and the second book about the rough and rugged Nelson brothers. Get ready for one wild alpha mountain man - Canada's never felt so hot!

Forget playing it safe.

John “Maverick” Nelson likes to live his life on the edge – literally. A crucial member of the search and rescue team in the mountainous British Columbian town of North Ridge, Maverick’s brash and bold attitude means he’s the first one to ascend into danger, no matter the risk.

When it comes to women, though, Maverick errs on the side of caution. For all his cocky charm, rugged good looks and sexual swagger, he remains as unreachable as the surrounding peaks. Hot, wild sex? He’ll tell you there’s no better way to spend a cold, wintry night. Relationships? He’d rather freeze.

That is until he lays his eyes on American Riley Clarke. Trading in the crippling expenses of Aspen for BC, Riley is North Ridge’s newest member of their search and rescue team and the only woman on the job, which means spending a lot of time with Mav in adrenaline-pumping situations.

With the chemistry between them hot enough to melt snow, keeping their hands off each other is the detriment to the success of their team. Besides, Maverick’s her boss and she didn’t work her ass off in Colorado just to throw it all away for some mind-blowing sex.

But when the worst winter in years sweeps in, Riley and Maverick will have to battle the elements along with their attraction for each other. And if either of them slips up, both of them will be in for a deep freeze.

Read Today!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2yvfC70

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2ghnwqQ

iBooks: http://apple.co/2y9gYoh

Nook: http://bit.ly/2zcY4KC

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2zq2JK1

Add to GoodReads: https://goo.gl/Trpi1f

REVIEW

I received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I never get bored of reading the books of Karina Halle! They are funny, emotional and very, very hot. So, Maverick was also no exception! The boss of the Search and Rescue (SAR) team, he knows how to do his job and falls hard for Riley!

The prologue of this book was one of the most heart-breaking I've read in the books of this author. I couldn't help but compare it to a title of her other series "The Lie". And despite the plot and the emotions burning here, along with the sexual tension, there was a good chuck on information concerning all those who dedicate their time and lives in order to help those in need. It's a tough job, with sometimes few resources and taxing too.

I truly enjoyed Maverick and I can't help but be excited for the next and final book in the series too!

Meet Karina:

Karina Halle is a former travel writer and music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of The Pact, Love, in English, The Artists Trilogy, Dirty Angels and over 20 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her rescue pup, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books. Halle is represented by the Root Literary and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster and Hachette in North America and in the UK.

Connect with Karina:

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

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2vo9pq4

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorhalle/

Join her Reader Group: https://goo.gl/wpCBSS

Stay up to date with Karina by signing up for her newsletter here: https://goo.gl/Ve4eCh

http://authorkarinahalle.com

Review: "Zero Repeat Forever" (The Nahx Invasions #1) by Gabrielle Prendergast

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Zero Repeat Forever by Gabrielle Prendergast
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

He has no voice, or name, only a rank, Eighth. He doesn’t know the details of the mission, only the directives that hum in his mind.

Dart the humans. Leave them where they fall.

His job is to protect his Offside. Let her do the shooting.

Until a human kills her…

Sixteen year-old Raven is at summer camp when the terrifying armored Nahx invade, annihilating entire cities, taking control of the Earth. Isolated in the wilderness, Raven and her friends have only a fragment of instruction from the human resistance.

Shelter in place.

Which seems like good advice at first. Stay put. Await rescue. Raven doesn’t like feeling helpless but what choice does she have?

Then a Nahx kills her boyfriend.

Thrown together in a violent, unfamiliar world, Eighth and Raven should feel only hate and fear. But when Raven is injured, and Eighth deserts his unit, their survival depends on trusting each other…

BUY ON

AMAZON | BOOK DEPOSITORY

REVIEW

This book was one of my most anticipated titles. Ever since the cover reveal and the pitch line of "The 5th Wave meets Beauty and the Beast", I truly wanted to have this book in my hands.
But let's get something clear. While the situation between the "5th Wave" and "Zero Repeat Forever" is similar, Gabrielle's book is far more emotional, touching with no philosophical bul*it about stars.

The story follows Raven, a troubled teen who had issues with drugs and her behaviour and was sent to a summer camp along with her boyfriend and his twin brother. When the Nahx invade and survival becomes vital for all, a group of brave ones along with Raven, begin to travel in order to find rescue and escape the Nahx soldiers who scout the earth, killing the humans in sight.

Enter Eight, a Nahx soldier who feels far more than he is allowed to and he can't help but feel defective and sorry for his existence.

While the pace is indeed slow (and I saw many fellow reviewers mentioning that), the story picks up through the middle of the book and on. But the first part makes a great job on setting the emotional plane of both characters and also outline how the loss of life affects everyone and how devastated and savage humankind can be when reason goes out of the window.

The title is also explained, which was one of the saddest moments in the book and my heart ached for Eight. He is so strong, yet his emotional state and POV made me feel like he was a constantly kicked puppy. His devotion to Raven is beyond words and I also loved the way he could communicate only with sign language. In some scenes his POV was so emotional, I couldn't help but remember the song the Beast sang on the new "Beauty and the Beast" movie!

Both characters also are POC, which I will let you discover it on your own.

The book was a small cliffhanger for me because it gave away a crucial clue about the truth behind everything. I can only pray that the ending of this series won't be like the one on the "5th Wave" because I will be devastated.

A great read with a gorgeous cover, which I would love to have as a tattoo and an amazing story!

About the author:

Gabrielle is a writer, teacher and designer living in Vancouver, Canada. She is represented by Barbara Poelle at the Irene Goodman Literary Agency.

Release Blitz: "Maverick" (North Ridge #2) by Karina Halle

Maverick by Karina Halle

Release Date: October 17th

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Maverick, an all-new contemporary STANDALONE by New York Times Bestselling author Karina Halle is LIVE!!!

Maverick is a complete standalone novel and the second book about the rough and rugged Nelson brothers. Get ready for one wild alpha mountain man - Canada's never felt so hot!

Forget playing it safe.

With the chemistry between them hot enough to melt snow, keeping their hands off each other is detriment to the success of their team. Besides, Maverick’s her boss and she didn’t work her ass off in Colorado just to throw it all away for some mind-blowing sex.

But when the worst winter in years sweeps in, Riley and Maverick will have to battle the elements along with their attraction for each other. And if either of them slip up, both of them will be in for a deep freeze.

Read Today!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2yvfC70

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2ghnwqQ

iBooks: http://apple.co/2y9gYoh

Nook: http://bit.ly/2zcY4KC

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2zq2JK1

Add to GoodReads: https://goo.gl/Trpi1f

Meet Karina:

Connect with Karina:

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

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2vo9pq4

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorhalle/

Join her Reader Group: https://goo.gl/wpCBSS

Stay up to date with Karina by signing up for her newsletter here: https://goo.gl/Ve4eCh

http://authorkarinahalle.com

Top 10 Tuesday: Ten Yummy Books Or books with Sweets on their Covers!

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

This meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week’s topic is Top Ten Tuesday #123: Yummy covers, sweets and food mentioned in the book! This list will have almost everything!

Also as an extra and maybe the most desired to be eaten by me:

THE DAUNTLESS CAKE!

Blog Tour+ARC Review+Giveaway: "27 Hours" by Tristina Wright

Thursday, October 12, 2017

27 Hours by Tristina Wright

Publication Date: October 3, 2017

Publisher: Entangled Teen

BLURB

Rumor Mora fears two things: hellhounds too strong for him to kill, and failure. Jude Welton has two dreams: for humans to stop killing monsters, and for his strange abilities to vanish.

But in no reality should a boy raised to love monsters fall for a boy raised to kill them.

Nyx Llorca keeps two secrets: the moon speaks to her, and she’s in love with Dahlia, her best friend. Braeden Tennant wants two things: to get out from his mother's shadow, and to unlearn Epsilon's darkest secret.

They’ll both have to commit treason to find the truth.

During one twenty-seven-hour night, if they can’t stop the war between the colonies and the monsters from becoming a war of extinction, the things they wish for will never come true, and the things they fear will be all that’s left.

27 Hours is a sweeping, thrilling story featuring a stellar cast of queer teenagers battling to save their homes and possibly every human on Sahara as the clock ticks down to zero.

Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Book Depository

REVIEW

I received an e-ARC from the publisher from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was one of the most unexpected surprises of 2017! I knew from the blurb that it was going to be a diverse book, but I never expected the whole spectrum of the LGTB+ themes to show! Add in the sci-fi genre, a picturesque planet which is far more dangerous than it shows and you have a thrilling adventure which takes place in the span of 27 hours.

Honestly, for a moment I was reminded of the show "24 Hours", which had a similar base; the story evolves through the span of these hours and the protagonists all face their troubles and fears.

I loved every character in the book, but mostly I loved Nyx and Jude. They were so empathetic, striving to express their emotions and fears. Not that the rest of the gang wasn't good but these two hit too close to my heart for me.

Did I also mention that the monsters of the planet are actually....gargoyles? YUP, you had me with the term gargoyles! Also, the book has action and you don't get bored through the course of the plot.
I really can't wait to see what will happen to the next book!

Link to Tour Schedule:

http://www.chapter-by-chapter.com/tour-schedule-27-hours-by-tristina-wright/

AUTHOR INFO:

Tristina Wright is a blue-haired bisexual with anxiety and opinions. She’s also possibly a mermaid, but no one can get confirmation. She fell in love with science fiction and fantasy at a young age and frequently got caught writing in class instead of paying attention. She enjoys worlds with monsters and kissing and monsters kissing. She married a nerd who can build computers and make the sun shine with his smile. Most days, she can be found drinking coffee from her favorite chipped mug and making up more stories for her wombfruit, who keep life exciting and unpredictable.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway Details: A 27 Hours Prize Pack, including:
* A 27 Hours Candle
* A set of 27 Hours Character Cards
* AND a copy of an October release *
*Open internationally wherever The Book Depository ships

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC Review: "The Emperor of Evening Stars" (The Bargainer #2.5) by Laura Thalassa

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

The Emperor of Evening Stars by Laura Thalassa
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

In the beginning, there was darkness.
Before he met Callie, before he became the Bargainer, there was Desmond Flynn, the bastard son of a scribe. A boy born to a weak mother, cursed with little magic, and destined to marry a slave.

But fate had something else in mind.

Till darkness dies.
From the barren caves of Arestys to the palace of Somnia to the streets of earth, this is how Desmond Flynn, a fairy who began with nothing, became the Emperor of Evening Stars.

PRE-ORDER ON

AMAZON

REVIEW

I received an e-ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This book-length novella follows the story of Desmond before he became the Night King and also before meeting Callie. It begins with his life as a poor boy who later became the most notorious thief and finally the King of the Night Kingdom. Also, from a point later we can see his POV after meeting Callie and how he felt when he met her for the first time.

I must admit that the guy has an amazing poker face. And honestly, I couldn't help but compare him a little to Rhysand from the ACOTAR series. They are both amazing and Des has a wicked sense of humour. This connects nicely to the third book which I hope won't be as bloody as I fear it.

And don't miss the amazing first two books of the series!

RHAPSODIC

A STRANGE HYMN

About the author:

Found in the forest when she was young, Laura Thalassa was raised by fairies, kidnapped by werewolves, and given over to vampires as repayment for a hundred year debt. She’s been brought back to life twice, and, with a single kiss, she woke her true love from eternal sleep. She now lives happily ever after with her undead prince in a castle in the woods.

… or something like that anyway.

When not writing, Laura can be found scarfing down guacamole, hoarding chocolate for the apocalypse, or curled up on the couch with a good book.

Never want to miss a release? Sign up for my newsletter HERE

Like to discuss my books? Join my Goodreads fan page HERE or my Facebook fan page HERE

Official Site: http://www.laurathalassa.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraThalassa/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraThalassa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurathalassa/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/laurathalassa/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+LauraThalassa/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Laura-Thalassa/e/B00DN9YA3S/
Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/LauraThalassa
Email: laurathalassa.author@gmail.com

Cover Reveal: "Cherish Hard" (Hard Play #1) by Nalini Singh

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh kicks off her new Hard Play contemporary romance series with a sizzling story that’ll leave you smiling…

Sailor Bishop has only one goal for his future – to create a successful landscaping business. No distractions allowed. Then he comes face-to-face and lips-to-lips with a woman who blushes like an innocent… and kisses like pure sin.

Ísa Rain craves a man who will cherish her, aches to create a loving family of her own. Trading steamy kisses with a hot gardener in a parking lot? Not the way to true love. Then a deal with the devil (aka her CEO-mother) makes Ísa a corporate VP for the summer. Her main task? Working closely with a certain hot gardener.

And Sailor Bishop has wickedness on his mind.

As Ísa starts to fall for a man who makes her want to throttle and pounce on him at the same time, she knows she has to choose – play it safe and steady, or risk all her dreams and hope Sailor doesn’t destroy her heart.

Meet Sailor & Isa on November 14th!

Pre-order your copy today!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2yaHnQG

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2i1LhHC

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2yXwnFB

iBooks: http://apple.co/2xw0U0O

Nook: http://bit.ly/2yf01bI

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2i2wvR1

EXCERPT

Fuming, Ísa made sure to set the alarm system and lock up. Everyone else was already well into their summer vacation—the sole reason Ísa was here was because she hadn’t been able to work on her lesson plans at home.

Her upstairs neighbor was having repairs done to her bathroom that required banging and hammering.

Not all of it involved nails and wood.

Hopefully the repairs would be finished by now. There was only so much ecstatic orgasmic screaming that a single woman in online-dating purgatory could stand without being driven to violence.

She spotted the tan-colored gardening truck the instant she came down the front steps of the school’s imposing redbrick main building and turned left to head toward her car. The hot gardener had parked it right next to her zippy blue compact. The front of the truck had four doors with tinted windows while the large bed was piled with shovels and other manly tools as well as a huge sack of clippings.

His light brown T-shirt was hanging over the top of the tailgate.

Which meant he was still walking around topless somewhere around here.

“Get in your car, Ísa,” she muttered to herself, well aware what would happen if she came face-to-face with that delicious hunk of manhood. Because while she might’ve conquered her shyness, she knew her limits.

Confronted by a bare-chested man who made her ovaries explode, she’d turn bright pink, lose her ability to form speech, and end of story. “Oh—”

She would’ve bounced off that sculpted chest if he hadn’t grabbed her by the hips.

“Hey, sorry,” he said with a startled smile that lit up the dazzling blue of his eyes. “I didn’t see you.”

“No, um, my fault.” It looked as if he’d crouched down to check one of his tires or something else but had risen to his feet right when she swung around to get into her car. And God, his skin was so hot and smooth and he was so tall and his shoulders were so broad and her mouth was drying up. The stuttering would begin at any moment.

The same stuttering Suzanne had mocked relentlessly when they were fourteen. Until Ísa had gone silent around everyone except the few friends she trusted. And now that horrible, ugly-hearted girl was getting married, having a baby, getting a happily-ever-after. Added to which, Ísa’s mother was jerking her on a string like she was a marionette, and her last “date” had asked her to call him Woofy and reward him with doggy biscuits.

The blue of the gardener’s eyes flickered with a hot flame.

And she thought… I know him. But before she could follow that faint thread, all the fury and hurt and frustration and sheer aggravation in Ísa ignited into an incandescent inferno.

She went mad.

Grabbing the hot gardener’s beautiful face in her hands, she said, “I want to kiss you.”

A wicked grin. “Go on ahead.”

And Ísa pressed her lips to his.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Nalini Singh is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling, Guild Hunter, and Rock Kiss series. She lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing.

If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts and free short stories on her website. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while Angels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. The Rock Kiss books are all stand alone and can be read in any order.

STALK HER: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads

Top 10 Tuesday: Ten Books With Fall/Autumn Covers

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

This meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week’s topic is Top Ten Tuesday #122: If there is a season themed cover, I love it very much! (well I adore all beautiful cover but who cares!). Also, this list will have books that take place both in fall and/or in winter so you may see some Halloween themed books too.

10: Coraline by Neil Gaiman: Creepy and amazing this book and the movie know how to make you feel a chill about...spiders.

9: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness: Taking place also in the autumn, this book is being made into a tv series! I can't wait to see the characters come into life!

8: Snow like Ashes by Sara Raasch: We have all seasons here and the war that rages is terrifying and amazing!

7: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis: The Witch with the winter, the amazing scenery and of course, one of the best adaptations of the book in the cinema!

6: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake: One of the best Halloween themed books with ghosts, haunted houses and romance!

5: The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons: Taking place in the Russian winter during World War II, this historical romance is way too realistic and eye-opening about the pain of hunger.

4: Brightest Kind of Darkness by P.T. Michelle: Taking place in the fall this story is a mix of mythology, romance and mystery!

3: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater: My choice for this book was mainly the colours and because all the trilogy takes place in the course of a year, so both fall and winter are featured. Not to mention wolves!

2: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: The book is magic incarnate, with an amazing storyline and also featuring an enchanted winter!

1: An enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson: Beautiful, amazing and one of my favourite fall reads! There are many seasons featured here, not to mention the ravens!

Two 2018 ARC Reviews: "Heart on Fire" (Kingmaker Chronicles #3) by Amanda Bouchet & "Keep Her Safe" by K.A. Tucker

Monday, October 9, 2017

Heart on Fire by Amanda Bouchet
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

The riveting conclusion to the Kingmaker Chronicles, available January 2018!

Who is Catalia Fisa?
With the help of pivotal figures from her past, Cat begins to understand the root of her exceptional magic, her fated union with Griffin Sinta, and Griffin's role in shaping her destiny.

Only Cat holds the key to unlocking her own power, and that means finally accepting herself, her past, and her future in order to protect her loved ones, confront her murderous mother and taking a final, terrifying step—reuniting all three realms and taking her place as the Queen of Thalyria.

What doesn't kill her will only make her stronger...we hope.

PRE-ORDER ON

AMAZON | BOOK DEPOSITORY

REVIEW

I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The thrilling conclusion in the Kingmaker Chronicles had everything I loved in a good NEW Adult fantasy! Action, banter, romance, and tragedy. Cat and Griffin will have to win the war against Cat's mom in order to unite the realms and rule as one. But there are far more deadly forces than they expect.

The beauty of the book was the inner growth of the characters. All of them from Cat and the Beta Team to the supernatural and mythological creatures of this world. I also realized that some of the secondary characters can have more stories added from their POV. There is a rich world building here which I would love to see more expanded. A set of novellas set in this world would be a delight!

The Kingmaker Chronicles:

A Promise of Fire (Book 1)

Breath of Fire (Book 2)

About the author:

Amanda Bouchet grew up in New England where she spent much of her time tromping around in the woods and making up grand adventures in her head. It was inevitable that one day she would start writing them down. Drawing on her Greek heritage for the setting and on her love of all things daring and romantic for the rest, her debut trilogy, The Kingmaker Chronicles, took form. She writes what she loves to read: epic exploits, steamy romance, and characters that make you laugh and cry.

A French master’s graduate and former English teacher, Amanda lives in Paris, France. She met her husband while studying abroad, and the family now includes two bilingual children who will soon be correcting her French.

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

Keep Her Safe by K.A. Tucker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary from GoodReads

Making a Murderer meets Scandal in this story of police corruption, family secrets, and forbidden desire from bestselling author K.A. Tucker, celebrated for her “dark, twisty tale[s]” (Lisa Gardner, author of The Killing Hour) filled with “clever twists and turns” (Publishers Weekly).

Noah Marshall has had a privileged life thanks to his mother, the highly decorated chief of the Austin Police Department. But all that changes the night she reveals a skeleton that’s been rattling in her closet for years: she doesn’t deserve her commendations or her medals—in fact, she deserves to be locked behind bars for what she did to a fellow officer to save her own reputation. When she finally succumbs to the guilt of destroying an innocent family’s life, she leaves Noah alone to carry the burden of this shocking secret, which she makes him vow never to share.

Gracie Reynolds wasn’t born into trailer park life, but after ten years of learning how to survive in The Hollow, it’s all she knows anymore. At least here people don’t care that she is a byproduct of a white mother and a black father. And they certainly don’t care that her dad was a corrupt Austin cop. Here, she and her mother can almost forget the shame he brought upon them…until a man who clearly doesn’t belong shows up on her doorstep one night, asking questions.

Together, Noah and Gracie set out to uncover the truth about the Austin police department’s dark and messy past—but the scandal they uncover is bigger than they bargained for, and goes far higher up than they ever imagined.

Complex, gritty, sexy, and suspenseful, We Sold Our Souls solidifies K.A. Tucker’s reputation as one of today's most talented new writers of romantic suspense.

PRE-ORDER ON

AMAZON | BOOK DEPOSITORY

REVIEW

I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

K.A. Tucker knows how to write a story that can both make you swoon over and have a book slump after! "Keep her safe" is a story of corruption, police investigations and scorching romance. Not to mention that it also tackles social issues like prejudice against women, human trafficking, and drugs.

Noah and Gracie make a really sweet, challenging duo. United against a common cause and with the growing feelings for each other, they sure know how to get in trouble. I seriously didn't expect some truths to be revealed and while the book had me sitting on the edge, I really also loved the dialogue and the banter between them.

The alternating POVs through the novel offered a nice break in the storyline making it even more engaging. Noah sure was adorable, without being an alpha, kind and polite. Gracie may be more on the wild, more head-strong side but she was smart and strong enough to withstand everything that came in her way.

I would love to see K.A. Tucker writing more mystery because it sure suits her very much!

About the author:

K.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge.

She is the USA Today bestselling author of 14 books, including Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water, and her latest Adult Suspense novel, He Will Be My Ruin. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, and Publisher's Weekly.

K.A. Tucker currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and a Chug.