Review: Falling for Hadie by Komal Kant

Title: Falling for Hadie
Author: Komal Kant
Genre: YA, Contemporary Romance
Released: March 2013
 

Running away from his old life in New York City, Lincoln Bracks ends up in the small town of Statlen, Iowa. He isn’t interested in making friends or getting to know anyone. He just wants to keep his head down and disappear amongst the crowd.

Nursing a broken heart and the realization that the boy she’s loved her entire life isn’t Prince Charming, Hadie Swinton is set against ever falling in love. But when new boy, Lincoln arrives in town, she may have to eat her words.

Hadie fears being hurt and Lincoln fears hurting her, so when they begin spending more time together and form a connection, they try to fight it at all costs. When they finally start to give into their feelings, Lincoln’s secret stands in the way of them ever being together.

Falling in love was the last thing Lincoln wanted to do, so how will he convince himself to fall out of it?

Hadie Swinton hates boys. Well, she didn’t used to but she definitely does now after catching her douchebag boyfriend, Bennett, making out with a girl that definitely was NOT Hadie at a party over the weekend.

Lincoln is the new boy in school. He is good-looking, charming and confident—everything that Bennett was, which makes Hadie hate him at first glance.  

And guess who has been assigned to show the new kid around?
Yep—Hadie.

Lincoln doesn’t want to make friends or get close to anyone, especially not a girl like Hadie. But he can’t figure out why she seems to hate him so much…

Hadie assumes Lincoln is a typical arrogant jock. But when he doesn’t do anything that she expects him to do, she finds herself curious about him against her better judgment.

There is definitely more to Lincoln then just a pretty face, BUT Lincoln is hiding something…a secret that he doesn’t want anybody to discover because when they do, they will never look at him the same again.

I L-O-V-E-D this book!

The romance between Hadie and Lincoln was sweet and funny and adorable with just the right amount of steaminess.Oh! And speaking of some of the steaminess….. Hadie’s parents really cracked me up! Especially her dad! OMG! (This might not make sense to you right now, but trust me, when you read the book—which you SHOULD—you’ll completely understand!)

Hadie is very likeable. She is just an all-around nice girl who while she may feel like she is boring and frumpy, she’s okay with that. She doesn’t try to make people like her, but you can’t help but like her because she has such a good heart.  Lincoln is wonderful, a little moody in some parts but in the end you definitely understand why.   
I love that we got to see Ashton and Luca and all of his friends again. I loved Eddie in IMPOSSIBLE and love him even more after reading FALLING FOR HADIE. I have already requested that he get his own story. J
Out of all of Hadie’s friends, Estella was definitely my favorite and I’m excited to read her story next in WRONG SIDE OF TOWN.
Though I had an idea of Lincoln’s secret about half way through the book (Sometimes I think I might be psychic), it was still HORRIBLE when he finally told Hadie and I spent the last 1/4 of the book bawling my eyes out.

Any book that can bring out such strong emotions in me is definitely 5-stars! Komal did an amazing job and I continue to be impressed with the skill in which she can tell a story.   

I highly recommend FALLING FOR HADIE to everyone!

 

 

WAIT FOR YOU by J. Lynn: Cover Reveal

What do early readers have to say about WAIT FOR YOU?

 

“J. Lynn creates a wonderful cast of characters that will make you laugh, swoon, and cry. Cam stole my heart.” – Cora Carmack, NYTimes and USA TODAY Bestselling Author of LOSING IT

“For the love of all that is Cameron without a shirt on! Wait for You will have you laughing out loud, fanning yourself and anxiously waiting to know what will happen next.” – Molly McAdams, NYTimes and USA TODAY Bestselling Author of FROM ASHES and TAKING CHANCES

 “I don't think I have ever read a NA Contemporary novel with as much depth as this one. It really moved me and by the end I was just speechless over how inspirational and uplifting it was as well as being sexy and cute and funny and emotional.” - K Books

 “Wait For You is uniquely different from anything else J. Lynn's written but it might possibly be her best work yet.” – Jenuine Cupcakes

 “For all of you in love with Aiden and Daemon, PREPARE YOURSELVES! Your heart will have to expand a little more for Cam.” Total Bookaholic

“For the love of all things CAM, this book deserves more than 5 stars.” – Mundie Moms

 

Excited? Ready to see the cover for WAIT FOR YOU?

 

 

 

 

Some things are worth waiting for…

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn’t need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing…

Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.

Some things should never be kept quiet…

But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she’s has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?

And some things are worth fighting for…

WAIT FOR YOU is available now!

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

J. Lynn, also known as Jennifer L. Armentrout, is the USA TODAY Bestselling author of the adult romance Gamble Brothers’ series, the young adult Lux Series and award winning Covenant Series. She pretty much writes everything—contemporary, paranormal, and fantasy. All of her books have one thing in common no matter the name or genre: kissing… and stuff. When she’s not busy writing, which is never, she’s usually hanging out with dog Loki, watching reruns of The Walking Dead, or procrastinating on the Internet. You can find out more about Jennifer by visiting the following websites:

Twitter
https://twitter.com/JLArmentrout

Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/JenniferLArmentrout

Website:
                                                 http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/

Dashers Panel: Opal by JLA

We are all pretty big fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout. In the months of December and January, we pushed her latest release: Opal into our reading piles. If you were like me (Michelle), it moved to the front of my list, immediately.  But we decided to get together (er, via-the blog) and do another Dashers Panel. Maybe some day we will branch out farther than JLA.

What was your favorite scene with Katy and Daemon? 

Michelle: Any time he flusters Katy. I like the banter and the sexual tension scenes. But when Daemon flusters Katy, I think it's cute. :)

Erica: I love their banter so any time they are teasing each other is my favorite. :)

Dee's and Katy's relationship had dramatically changed. How did you feel about it in this novel? 

Michelle: It's definitely different but JLA would have been remiss if she had kept their relationship light and bouncy. Dee is going through a lot of stuff. And sadly, Katy is right in the middle of it. With no outlet, I think Katy makes a perfect focus point for Dee. I have no doubt that there relationship will get back to normal. *crosses her fingers*

Erica: I agree with Michelle 100%. Dee has a lot to deal with and everything comes back to Katy, so of course that is who she is going to direct her anger at.

Dawson, sigh, he's got some issues, and who wouldn't. But now that we got to spend a little more time with him, what is your take on him? 

Michelle: I am happy JLA didn't bounce him back into a "normal" character. I like that he doesn't adjust right away. And while I know his history and his love for Bethany, there's a certain unstable and creepy element about him. Which, is a great dynamic in the list of characters. 

Erica: There is definitely something "off" about him...I can't put my finger on it but I just have a weird feeling about him....

The ENDING! OMG! Without any spoilers, what was your reaction to it? 

Michelle: I was angry. I said, "Oh! My God!" JLA did it again, she wrote a bang up cliff hanger and I immediately searched when the next installment would be. *Now that I sit here, I'm getting flustered again!*

Erica: I was shocked! I definitely didn't see that coming!

If you had to pick between the Obsidian series or the Covenant series, which one would you pick? 

Michelle: Oh, this is tough! I love Daemon. I do. I love his attitude. But I love Alex. I like the strength of each character, so I would say there are certain books in each series that I love, and depending on which I am reading, my answer would change.
Erica: While I definitely think Daemon is hotter than Seth or Aiden, I like the story of the Covenant series better.

What did you think of Opal? 

Review: Stitch by Samantha Durante

Stitch - Samantha Durante
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Released: August 1st, 2012

Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa's body screams at her to run... but yet she's powerless to move.

Still struggling to find her footing after the sudden death of her parents, the last thing college freshman Alessa has the strength to deal with is the inexplicable visceral pull drawing her to a handsome ghostly presence. In between grappling with exams and sorority soirees - and disturbing recurring dreams of being captive in a futuristic prison hell - Alessa is determined to unravel the mystery of the apparition who leaves her breathless. But the terrifying secret she uncovers will find her groping desperately through her nightmares for answers.

Because what Alessa hasn't figured out yet is that she's not really a student, the object of her obsession is no ghost, and her sneaking suspicions that something sinister is lurking behind the walls of her university's idyllic campus are only just scratching the surface...

The opening installment in a twist-laden trilogy, Stitch spans the genres of paranormal romance and dystopian sci-fi to explore the challenges of a society in transition, where morality, vision, and pragmatism collide leaving the average citizen to suffer the results.



** spoiler alert ** Warning: Spoiler-ville ahead! Seriously, DO NOT read this if you don't want the novel spoiled for you!

I went into STITCH knowing what to expect from the get-go. I’d read enough reviews of the book to know which direction Samantha was heading in with this story. Did it take anything away from the story? Absolutely not! I was still affected by all the twists and turns that Samantha threw at me.

STITCH is hard to box into one specific genre and I have come to the realization that it spans across THREE genres, not two. The book started out as a Paranormal Romance. I was completely captivated by the ghost story that was unfolding. The connection between Alessa and Isaac was undeniable. I looked forward to the brief moments where Isaac’s “ghost” appeared and Alessa was trying to figure out why she was so affected by him.

The book took a Science Fiction turn for me when the “wormholes” and “time travelling” plot came about. I was like, “Whaaat?” At first, my logical mind was resisting this plot twist, but on the other hand, I really wanted Alessa to stop the fire from happening and, in turn, prevent Isaac’s death. Just as soon as I was beginning to accept the Sci-Fi of it all, THAT happened.

By “THAT”, I mean we are suddenly told that, “No, STITCH is not really a Paranormal Romance or a Science Fiction novel about wormholes; STITCH is really a well-disguised Dystopian novel.” Um, WHOA! It sounds like a lot, right? You’re wondering how a debut, self-published author can pull something like that off, right? Trust me, the revelations aren’t overwhelming at all. Samantha Durante is one hell of a writer!

The writing was excellent and I found myself flying through this book (it totally broke my reading slump!). The characters and their relationships with each other were intriguing, and the glimpses into the Dystopian world and Paragon were really interesting. We didn’t get to see a whole lot on it, but I know there is a sequel and I’m sure many of our questions will be answered in SHUDDER.

All in all, STITCH was a fantastic debut by Samantha Durante. She has done an amazing job crossing genres and is a talented writer. I really can’t wait for SHUDDER’s release, so I’m off to bug Samantha to write faster!

Reading Slump. Yikes!

I am here today because some of you may have noticed that I have been a wee bit absent. Part of it is yes, the baby that's on the way. But I will admit, I am in a reading slump. Have you ever had one of those?

I have read multiple books in the last three weeks (maybe more weeks) and nothing appeals. I have no doubt the story is well-written, the characters realistic or unrealistic since my taste runs toward paranormal, I am just not gripped. I actually stopped reading because I felt I was being judgemental.

Now, for a nerdy, English teacher, this is a crisis. Its not that I am unwilling to read, I just need that pull, that desire to get back to the book, to see what happens.

So what do you do when in a reading slump?

What book is your go to book for a reader? Plz suggest it!

Anyone else having this problem?

Review: The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

 Title: The Indigo Spell

Author: Richelle Mead

Publisher: Razorbill

Released: Feb 12th 2013

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.


Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.

 

 

After I finished reading The Indigo Spell, I sat looking at my computer for a long time trying to figure out how to put the awesomeness into words. I finally gave up and just decided to start writing and hope that I am able to convey to you how much I love this series, especially the 3rd installment.

The Indigo Spell is jammed pack full of action, humor and swoon-worthy moments (courtesy of Mr. Adrian Ivashkov).  I’ve been a fan of Adrian’s since VA but he really shines in the Bloodlines series. He is brave, chivalrous, sweet, charming and sexy (Can we take a moment just to swoon over those Spirit Dream escapades?)

“I’ll just love you whether you want me to or not”

While I like Sydney in the VA series, I was hesitant to read Bloodlines because she seemed, well, a little boring but I loved Adrian and knew he was going to be one of the main characters so I picked it up and I was so glad I did! Sydney is the complete opposite of boring.  After reading the Bloodlines series, I actually find her endearing. I smile when she worries about silly things like unbuttoning the top two buttons of her blouse (how scandalous!) and when she packs flats because it’s “just smart planning for any occasion”.

As the series progresses, Sydney is changing--in a big way. She has turned into quite the little warrior, not like Rose, but she can definitely hold her own.  I love watching her character grow as she learns more about her world and finally embraces her feelings (that have been so completely obvious from the first book in my opinion!). Plus, she's pretty funny!

“His face was the picture of politeness and restraint, meaning something disastrous was probably about to happen.”

The banter between Sydney and Adrian has always been great. They make me smile. They have great chemistry and might just be my new favorite literary couple. At first glance they seem like an odd pair because they are so completely different from each other BUT they really understand each other. They have an amazing connection. I just love them!

“It’s a pirate skeleton, not the Mona Lisa. You’re not going to decrease it’s value.”

It’s been a couple of years since I’ve read the VA series, but I don’t remember them being nearly this romantic (or steamy for that matter).

 “Everything about her has to do with me.”

My one and only complaint about The Indigo Spell is the let-down I felt over the character of Marcus Finch. I was expecting something more after reading all of those hints about him on Facebook. Did you guys see those?

 

Anyway, I guess I was expecting a stronger character. I was even expecting (not happily or anything) Marcus to rival Adrian for Sydney’s affection, but he was just sorta of flat. Which is good, I’m glad because I want Adrian and Sydney together. I suppose The Indigo Spell could’ve just been a “teaser” about Marcus and he’ll be more important in later novels but for all the hype about him before the release, I was just surprised he wasn’t a bigger player in this installment.  

But the rest of the story and characters more than made up for this slight disappointment.

“Any life worth having is going to have risks.”

Seriously guys, if you haven't picked up this series yet, what are you waiting for? It's fabulous! All of the action of VA but with way more romance tossed up in the mix. Definitely one of my favorites!

Now the wait for The Fiery Heart begins....finally getting inside Adrian's head? Yes please!

Interview: Erica Cope

I am so excited to get the chance to interview Erica Cope! As y'all know, she is one of my critique partners and also a very good friend, and I have been super excited about her debut novel, Lark, for a very long time. Lark is THAT book. You know? The one with the drop-dead gorgeous cover. Yeah, that one.

Erica Cope lives in Missouri with her husband and their three children. She has been writing short stories and poetry since childhood, but LARK is her first novel. She enjoys knitting, pretending she knows how to play her guitar, and reading pretty much anything you put in front of her.

____________________________________________________________________________

For those who are unfamiliar with Lark, can you briefly tell us what the story is about?

It’s a story about a completely ordinary girl who thinks she has a pretty good life. Then her world is completely turned upside down when she discovers that her real dad (who abandoned her before she was born) is actually the king of the Light Elves and that nothing is as she thought it was.

What was your inspiration behind the story?

I actually, as cliché as it sounds, woke up from a dream that I couldn’t get out of my head. I laid awake for hours before I finally just got up and wrote the whole thing down. I fell asleep after that but the next day I started thinking about what would have happened before and after the scene I dreamt. After that I started writing.

Describe your main character in five words.

Independent, caring, courageous, but also a little short-tempered and impulsive. 

She, like most teenagers, doesn’t always think things through but her heart is the driving force in her decision making.

 

Holy Jacoby! I am seriously in love with him, though Greyson is pretty awesome too. What can you tell us about this love triangle and the inspiration behind the love interests?

 I think most people “fall” for more than just one person while they are in high school. Mia is no different in that sense, but what is different is that while both Greyson and Jacoby serve a role in Mia’s life, only one of them is “right” for her.

However, she doesn’t spend the entire book contemplating which one! LOL I wanted to show that as Mia learned more about herself that she would ‘out grow’ her crush, which would then open her up to something more.

What has been your biggest challenge of being a self-published author?

I’ve been incredibly lucky to have so many people offer me advice and to answer all of my questions but a lot of it I still had to learn for myself. I guess my biggest challenge was the decision making part of it all. I didn’t want to make the wrong decision about something as simple as trim size or cream vs white paper, pricing and then end up regretting it or worse, forgetting to do something important! Like adding page numbers to my paperback…yeah…that happened. Whoops!

What do you love the most about being an author?

My most favorite thing is hearing all the positive feedback from readers. I love it when someone tells me they read it, loved it and can’t wait for the sequel…those days I’m pretty giddy and I walk around with a huge smile on my face.

I know you are super busy juggling three kids. How do you find the time to write?

Oh gosh! When I was writing LARK I would start writing as soon as I put the three Blondies to bed and I would often write until 3am without even realizing how late it was! I was in the zone! But when your kids wake up around 7am, that’s not much sleep! I survived those months by drinking a lot of caffeinated beverages!

I try to squeeze in writing whenever I can, sometimes I’ll get something stuck in my head so I’ll have to jot down some notes on a piece of paper and type it up later that night. Which in theory is a great idea but usually I write my notes so quickly that I can barely read my own handwriting!

What are you currently reading?

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead. I adore Adrian!

Do you have any upcoming projects that you can tell us about?

I’m about 75% done with the first draft of a contemporary romance I started last fall and I’m also currently writing the sequel to LARK. Ideally, I would like to have one of the two ready to be released by this fall.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

I would encourage aspiring authors to pick good crit partners! I’m immensely grateful for mine!

- FUN FACTS -

Human or elf? I could totally be an elf.

Jacoby or Greyson? I can’t say. ;) Don’t want to be unfair to my guys by picking favorites!

E-book or book? I love the convenience of ebooks but I love the smell of the real thing!

Amazon or book store? For shopping, definitely Amazon, but I could spend hours browsing a book store and sipping on coffee.

Pen or keyboard? Definitely a keyboard. Sometimes I can’t even type fast enough for my thoughts so when I do write them down I have a hard time deciphering my chicken scratch!

Thank you so much for stopping by, Erica! It was wonderful having you here!

_____________________________________________________________________________

You can find out more about Erica at the following social network sites:

Blog/Website

Facebook

Twitter - EricaCope3

Add Lark on Goodreads

Lark can be purchased in the following places:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Review: LARK by Erica Cope

Lark - Erica Cope
Genre - Young Adult Fantasy
Released - February 5, 2013

The last time she checked, Mia Carrington was pretty sure that she was a normal girl with a completely ordinary life.

She goes to high school, has a crush on the gorgeous and mysterious new boy in town, and has strange dreams that she can’t help but feel are real somehow.

Okay, so maybe she’s not all that normal after all.

A freak accident changes Mia’s life forever when she is thrown into another world and left to deal with the revelation that she is the daughter of the King of the Light Elves. Throw in an ominous prophecy predicting that Mia will break a curse unleashing the Dark Elves on the world and well, things don’t look too good.

There is danger lurking at every corner in this strange world and Mia isn’t sure who she can trust…
The only thing she is certain of is that the Dark Elves know about her, and they will stop at nothing until they have her.


*WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD*

I was lucky enough to be one of the first people to read this book and since that moment I fell in love with the story, the characters, and the fantastical world of Alfheimr.

Mia is an interesting protagonist and you get swept up in her journey as she discovers her identity as a Half-Blood and daughter of the King of the Light Elves. I especially enjoyed the history of the Light Elves and the Dark Elves. The prophecy was well-written and the plot was strong and engaging. The world-building was done well, the pacing was great and there was a lot of action that left me turning the pages.

Oh, and I have a new book boyfriend! Jacoby, oh Jacoby! Swoon! The banter between Jacoby and Mia was so witty and left me with this goofy smile on my face. There is also another love interest in the form of Greyson, and believe me when I say that he is just as swoon-worthy as Jacoby is.

Erica Cope’s debut novel is well-written, fresh, and entertaining. I was left feeling satisfied at the end, but also eager for the sequel. All in all, a fantastic debut! I highly recommend it!

Bloodlines series and the VA movie

I haven't read anything new in over a week! Shocking! I can't think of a time I've gone this long without reading anything. Yes, I have a good excuse (I've been working on getting my debut novel ready for publication) but it's more than that. I think that I'm looking forward so much to the upcoming release of The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead that I can't even think about reading anything else knowing it's soooooooo close to being released.
Richelle Mead has been doing daily "book club" posts on her blog and I've been loving all the recap and insights into each of the chapters of Bloodlines and The Golden Lily. It's been fun remembering all the funny and super swoon-worthy Adrian parts. I've always been Team Adrian though I knew Rose HAD to pick Dimitri. Rose and Dimitri are perfect for eachother but I always loved Adrian. Reading the Bloodlines series is making me love him even more!
I know that a lot of people have been hesitant to pick up the Bloodlines series because they are worried it won't live up to Vampire Academy, but they are seriously missing out. Sydney is great, Adrian is ah-mazing and just writing all this out is making me want to go re-read the first two books just so I can get an Adrian fix before February 12th.
*sigh*
But speaking of the VA world, are you guys as super stoked as me about the casting choices for the movie???

Rose

Lissa

I looked up the actress who is going to play Rose and I gotta tell you, I think she is dead on! I'm not 100% sold on Lissa based on this picture but I have seen a couple of other pictures of her that I thought "Okay, yeah, I can see it" but I will reserve judgement until after the movie.

And as for the actor playing Dimitri...Holy smokes:

Grow his hair out and he is perfect.
Filming is set to start this summer and I can not wait to see this movie! Even though I'm usually disappointed in book-to-movie adaptations, I'm an eternal optimist so I'll keep hoping.

What Makes a Great World?

So while The Owens Legacy: Redemption sits waiting for me and my dream walker novel sits waiting for me to pick TOLR up again, I started a new WIP. Yeah. I know it doesn't make much sense, but this WIP has been bouncing around in my head for a little while (at least since summer). So I am putting it down on paper.

It's a dystopia (I'm aware that the trend has died out, but when the idea is there, you go with it).

But I want all of you to go back to your Dystopia phase. I was hoping you would tell me what you think makes the world well-rounded. For the dystopia's world to be believable, what components do I need to include and fully develop?

Put it down.

Thanks!