30 April 2014

Cover Designer: Regina ~ Mae I Design
Title: The Light of the World
Author: Randi Black
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance 18+
Publication Date: June 27, 2014

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+


Synopsis: It was 1995 in the Southern California wasteland.

I was barely legal and far from innocent. I loved The Gun Club more than I loved Walter, my high school sweetheart. He was the only person who knew why I stopped singing and playing guitar after what happened to me when I was 16. But even an engagement ring couldn’t save us after what he did to me that one afternoon.

I used to worry that college would come between us, but I never thought it would happen on move-in day.

That was the day I met Franz : a tall, handsome 23-year-old ex-jock from Germany. He was so not my type, but the more I got to know him, the more I knew he was the right guy for me. And after Walter betrayed me for the last time, it was time for me to break up with him and be with Franz for good. I never thought he’d be a safe place for me to explore my darkest sexual fantasies. Nor that he’d be a kindred spirit who knew exactly what it felt like when someone ridiculed your musical aspirations.

We gonna start playing music together and be who we were meant to be. Nothing and no one was gonna stop us.

Not even Walter.

Note: This is the standalone sequel to Miss World, which was self-published in 2011, and takes place a month later.  




About the Author:

The Light of the WorldRandi Black has worked as a phone sex operator, cashier, writing tutor, and librarian. She holds an MFA and an MSLIS, and is responsible for the controversial debut novel, Miss World. For now, she lives in Chicago with her long-suffering partner and spoiled cat.

Connect with the Author:



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Cover Design: Okay Creations 
Title: To Have and to Harm (Remedy Series, #2)
Author: Debra Doxer
Release Day: JUNE 10TH
Genre: Paranormal Romance Age Group: New Adult
Add to: Goodreads

Check out my review of: Keep You From Harm (Remedy Series, #1)

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: She kept everyone from harm, except herself…

Raielle’s life was shrouded in secrets. Her power was a secret and so was her past. When she came to Fort Upton, everything changed. She discovered her family, and she found the boy who would own her heart forever. But it couldn’t last. Knowing so little about her power nearly destroyed her. She had to leave and break both their hearts.

Now she’s back in California, and she doesn’t have to hide who she is anymore. But there is no relief in that because she’s drowning in regret. She knew it would take a miracle or a sin to save her, and there was no miracle. Her survival came at too high a price. She found her father, but she can’t go back to Lucas until she finds redemption.

She saved him. Then she left him…

She came out of nowhere and changed him forever, then she disappeared and left him reeling. Her whole life, she never had anyone who really loved her. Until him. Did she think he wouldn’t come for her? Did she believe she wasn’t worth it?

Lucas leaves everything behind to follow Raielle. When he finds her, she’s a pale shadow of the girl he remembers. Her power is betraying her and so are the people around her, but one thing hasn’t changed. She selflessly wants to save the world, and he just wants to save her.

With more secrets to uncover and dark truths to face, Raielle and Lucas must make sacrifices to be together again. But in the end, will those sacrifices bring them closer together or tear them apart? When he’s forced to make the ultimate sacrifice, will she turn her back on everything she believes in to save him again?

~ This book is intended for mature readers due to sexual situations and strong language. ~

The first book, Keep You From Harm wasn't anything I was expecting and when I finished the book I couldn't wait to read more. Looking forward to seeing what the heck is going to happen next and love the cover too!


Title: Keep You From Harm
Author: Debra Doxer
Expected release: September 27th, 2013
Genre: Paranormal Romance Age Group: New Adult
Cover designed by: Okay Creations
Add to: Goodreads

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+
Synopsis: Secrets…

They weigh you down. I’ve kept a secret all my life. It’s my mother’s secret, too. I inherited it from her along with a unique ability that only we possess. She’s gone now, another victim of addiction. If her death isn’t enough to bring me to my knees, her betrayal flays me to the bone. Because the secret my mother and I have been keeping is just one of many she’d kept. She never told me I have an older brother. And now he’s here, eager to be my guardian.

There is no one else. So I move across the country to live with this stranger, my brother. But experience has taught me that most situations are temporary and forming attachments only leads to hurt in the end. That’s why I’m determined to keep to myself in this new place, struggling to seem aloof while I’m quietly breaking apart.

Then I meet Lucas…

His magnetism is hard to resist, and most girls at school aren’t resisting. I don’t fall so easily though, especially not for guys who use their good looks as a weapon. From the start, our interactions are tense and volatile. I know it’s because I’m denying the unwelcome desire that grips me when he’s near. I think he feels it, too. He looks at me with an intensity that threatens to unhinge my resolve. Soon he’s trying to break through the walls that past hurts have built.

But I’m not what I appear to be, and it wouldn’t be fair to get involved with him. At least that’s what I tell myself. Until a terrible act of violence reveals that Lucas has a secret, too. It’s a secret that links us together and ties us to an evil history I never could have imagined.


About the Author: 

Debra Doxer was born in Boston, and other than a few lost years in the California sunshine, she has always resided in the Boston area. She writes fiction, technical software documents, illegible scribbles on sticky notes, and texts that get mangled by AutoCorrect. She writes for a living, and she writes for fun. When her daughter asks when she’ll run out of words, her response always is, “When I run out of time.”

Find Debra Online:

Blog | Twitter


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1
Cover design by Sharp Designs
Title: A Tale of Two Pretties (Hopeless in Hotlanta #1)
Authors: Dawn Pendleton & Magan Vernon
Release: May 19, 2014

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+
Synopsis: MacAllister "Mac" Barlow thought she was living the life she always dreamed of. When she catches her fiancé in the act with his secretary, she high tails it out of their apartment without looking back. Looking for a new life, she drowns her sorrows in a pitcher of beer at Tony's Pizzeria.

Darcy Pepper isn't one for long-term relationships. Bouncing from guy-to-guy to get what she wants isn't satisfying her anymore. Walking out on her current boy-toy, she finds herself at a tiny hole-in-the-wall pub. More disappointed in herself than she's ever been, she sees Mac, a girl she vaguely remembers from high school.

Left flat broke, the girls quickly enlist the help of a waiter at Tony's and before they know it, they've got an apartment, jobs, and possibly even love interests beckoning.

Maybe things aren't so hopeless after all.

YAY for a cover for the awesome cover of this book! I can't wait read it!!! 

fc8f9-abouttheauthor

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Dawn's bio:  Dawn Pendleton is a new adult author who began her writing journey in New England with her husband and their pup, though she now resides in Georgia and promptly became a Southern Belle (or so she likes to think). When she isn't staring at a blank page, willing the words to jump from her head to the screen, she's usually playing on her iPhone, reading a book, or taking pictures with her fancy camera (which she has no idea how to use).

Magan's bio: Magan Vernon is a New Adult author who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world. When not writing she spends her time fighting over fake boyfriends via social media.

Dawn and Magan have been BFFs since they found out they weren't catfishing each other and decided to take a roadtrip together. Writing a book together seemed like the next logical step.

Author Links:

Dawn:

Magan:
www.twitter.com/maganvernon

Please join Dawn & Magan for their Facebook release party on May 19th here: 


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"Waiting On" Wednesday is an event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. The purpose of this weekly event is to spotlight a soon-to-be-released book that you are very much anticipating. "Waiting On" Wednesday will also give bloggers an opportunity to share ideas for our TBR lists.


Title: Renegade (MILA 2.0 #2)
Author: Debra Driza
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books, 448 Pages (May 13th, 21014)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

Synopsis: There is no one left for Mila to trust. Except for a boy she barely knows.

But Hunter has no idea who—and what—Mila really is. She can’t bear to reveal her secret, even though he’s unwittingly joined her search for Richard Grady, a man who may know more details of Mila’s complicated past.

Yet the road to the truth is more dangerous than ever. With General Holland and the Vita Obscura scouring the earth for her whereabouts, Mila must rely on her newfound android abilities to protect herself and Hunter from imminent harm. Still, embracing her identity as a machine leads her to question the state of her humanity—as well as Hunter’s real motives.

Perfect for fans of I Am Number Four and Divergent, this action-packed and heart-wrenching second installment of MILA 2.0 will leave readers breathlessly awaiting the series conclusion.

Title: Blue Notes
Author: Carrie Lofty
Publisher: Gallery Books, 352 Pages (May 6th, 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

Synopsis: For fans of Jamie McGuire and S.C. Stephens, a sizzling new adult novel featuring the tumultuous relationship between a young piano prodigy and a reluctant billionaire playboy—set against the vibrant backdrop of a New Orleans college campus.

After being bounced from foster family to foster family, Keeley, a talented pianist, is ready to start over as a junior at Tulane. But when she plays a small concert that attracts the attention of Jude, a brooding playboy and heir to an enormous fortune in the wake of his parents’ tragic death, suddenly Keeley’s life is thrown off balance once again.

Jude is the first person to confront her about the pain behind her music, and she struggles with whether or not to let him into her life, or to keep protecting herself from the hurt that relationships have caused her in the past. But Keeley’s about to learn that the melancholy young billionaire who appears to have everything he wants can open her eyes to exactly what she needs…

This week while I was looking for books to put into this weeks WoW post I picked two that are coming out in the next week or two. Two books that I'm really looking forward to reading. I think these two pretty much speak for themselves. Also, if you haven't read the first book in the trilogy by Debra Driza - Mila you should check it out. It's a great sci-fi title that had me ready for more at the end of the first book. 

Anyone else looking forward to either or... or both of these?

*covers are always subject to change.

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29 April 2014


Title: Out of Mind (Out of Line #3)
Author: Jen McLaughlin
Publisher: 215 Pages (April 29th, 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+


Synopsis: Reaching for sunlight...

Finn survived the ambush and came home to me, but in his head, the battle is still raging. He’s falling apart and I’m trying my best to pick up the pieces of him, to find the us we used to be. I love him as much as I ever did, but love isn’t enough to fix this. I thought telling my father about our relationship would be the hardest thing we’d ever have to face. I was wrong.

Lost in shadows...

All I wanted was to be worthy of Carrie. One mission, just one, and I’d be able to give her the future she deserved. Then everything went wrong, leaving me tainted and broken. Carrie wants me to be who I was, but all that’s left is what they made of me. I’m no good for her. No good for anyone like this. I have to figure out how to move forward. Alone.

Sometimes love isn’t enough…



Order the first two books in the trilogy online here:

OUT OF LINE (Book #1)


OUT OF TIME (Book #2) 

Amazon | Barnes and Noble


FACEBOOK PARTY!!!

Jen is having a PAR-TAY! You can stop on Tuesday, the 29th from 6/9pm ET and join in! 

Join here and please share this link:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1402881646653655/ 




About the author: 

Jen McLaughlin writes steamy New Adult books for the young and young at heart. Her first release, Out of Line, is due out September 2013. She also writes Contemporary Romance under the pen name Diane Alberts. She is a multi-published, bestselling author and is represented by Louise Fury from the L. Perkins Agency. Since receiving her first contract offer under the pen name Diane Alberts, she has yet to stop writing.

Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, a cat, and a Senegal parrot. In the rare moments when she’s not writing, she can usually be found hunched over one knitting project or another. Her goal is too write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

Find Jen Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads


GIVEAWAY!!!

Jen is giving away a FINN necklace and a signed set of the OUT OF LINE series. US Only.

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Title: The Bet (The Bet #1)
Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Publisher: Paperback Release - Forever, 288 Pages (April 29th, 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK, iTunes

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+
Synopsis: "I have a proposition for you." Kacey should have run the minute those words left Seattle millionaire Jake Titus's mouth. It's been years since Kacey's seen her childhood friend Jake, but the minute Jake mentions his ill grandmother, Kacey is ready to do anything for the sweet old woman. And if that means pretending they're engaged for her sake—so be it.

But Kacey wasn't counting on Jake's older brother Travis still being there. She calls him "Satan" for a reason: she's never forgotten the way he teased and taunted her. Yet when they meet again, Travis's gorgeous smile is a direct hit to her heart . . . and Kacey's more confused than ever. As the days pass, only one thing starts to become alarmingly clear-she never should have accepted Jake's deal . . .

Excerpt:

        “Kace!” Travis strolled into the room, absolutely shirtless and wearing nothing but pajama pants. Was her tongue hanging out of her mouth? Oh God, she was beginning to sweat. Geez, at least turn the air on in this place.
        Averting her eyes, she managed an awkward laugh. “What’s up?”
        “Movie night.” He threw a pillow at her and went to the DVDs.
        “Um, is it naked movie night? I’m not sure I got that memo.”
        She looked him up and down when he turned around.
        “I’m sorry. Does my masculinity frighten your prudish nature?”
        She snorted. “Please. I just don’t want to get last night’s skank on me. I hear diseases travel through too much skin contact.”
        He rolled his eyes. “I’ll put on a shirt if you take off yours.”
        How tempting that was . . . “Take off my shirt? So you can finally see my boobs? Oh gosh, Travis. Let me think. Give you the fantasy you’ve been dreaming of for years or keep my pride? Yeah, I think I’ll keep my pride.”
        He shrugged. “Suit yourself, but it really isn’t a slumber party if you’re not naked.”
        “What the hell kind of slumber parties were you subjected to as a child?” Kacey asked.
        Travis grinned shamelessly. “Only the good ones. Now seriously, go change into sweats. I’ll wait.”
        “Fine.” She hopped off, her heart beating erratically out of her chest. This witty banter had to stop. For crying out loud, they were adults! Not teenagers! She grabbed some short Victoria’s Secret shorts and a black tank and put on her slippers to make it look less . . . seductive. Not that she was seducing him. Her stupid skin betrayed her in the mirror as it turned a very nice crimson color.
        She really needed to start dating more.
        Taking the stairs two at a time, she went back down to the living room and saw Travis opening a bottle of wine; thankfully he had put a shirt on. She wasn’t sure she could handle any more of his glistening muscles that evening. “Thought you could use this, even though it’s not good for the baby.” He winked.
        “I would drink that whole bottle if I knew it wouldn’t get me completely drunk. I miss wine.”
        “Um, you haven’t had it for one night, and you miss it?”
        “Clearly, you underestimate my relationship with wine and what I do on the weekends when I’m by myself reading.”
        “You wild thing, you.” Travis nudged her and filled her glass to the brim. He should be sainted, immediately.
        Their fingers brushed slightly as he handed the wine over. His eyes flickered to her shorts, and he cleared his throat. “Those are nice.”
        “Thanks.” She inwardly smiled.
        “Are they shorts or underwear?”
        Was he being serious? “Shorts, you ass. Now, what movie are we watching?”
        “Guess.”
        “Not in the mood, not near enough wine in my system for me to embark on such a strenuous activity.”
        “Ah, pregnancy brain, it does it to ya; it really does.” Travis got up and turned off the lights, then pressed Play. “I thought you might want to watch a horror movie.”
        “Horror movie?”
        A cartoon popped up on the screen. Kacey blinked as the music came on, then nearly fell out of her seat. “Oh my gosh, we can’t watch this, Travis. I can’t watch this. It’s been forever and . . .”
        “Conquer your fears, Kace.”
        Kacey scooted a little closer to him, just in case some of the cartoons did in fact decide to pop out and devour her.
        He pressed Pause and laughed. “Kace, really? I thought you’d be over this fear by now.”
        “It’s not a fear.” Kacey drank her wine faster. “It’s a scary movie!”
        “It’s Alice in Wonderland.”
        Kacey shook her head a few times and drank some more wine.
        “Damn that Cheshire cat.”
        Travis held up his wine. “To conquering old fears?”
        Something shifted between them then. His eyes, though it was dark, seemed to be hiding something, as if he were talking about more than her stupid phobia. She leaned in, now completely relaxed from downing half her wine already, and whispered, “To conquering old fears.”




About the Author:

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor. She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston Churchill. She loves to hear from readers! You can follow her writing journey at www.rachelvandykenauthor.com.

Find Rachel Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads


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28 April 2014

Title: Carnival
Author: K.B. Nelson
Publisher: Neon Lights Publishing (June 16th 2014)
Genres: New Adult, Romance
Add to: Goodreads
No pre-order links at the time of posting

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Synopsis: Blue’s a carny and he’s got molly. Charlie’s a local and she’s got ninety-nine problems but Blue ain’t one. Enter the world of neon lights….

Charlie never intended to sleep with a perfect stranger at the county fair. Finding out he was a carny was like winning the bonus round of the worlds worst game. Blue grew up in the carnival, never staying anywhere long enough to call home. He didn’t mean to seduce Charlie that night, but he’s use to living life on the edge.

Charlie’s supposed to be packing her bags for college. Blue’s supposed to get in his jeep and drive to the next town. She’s ready to leave for a life she’s not certain she wants and he’s searching for a place to call home.

Unable to resist him, Charlie makes the choice to stay. She follows Blue down the rabbit hole; into a world with no regard for rules and consequences. But when tragedy strikes, will it send her and Blue down a more destructive path? Or will it bring them closer together? Either way, they both come to realize that life is just like a carnival ride.

What an AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL and STEAMY cover!!! WOW!!! This is one of those titles that I've been excited about for awhile now and seeing it's cover just makes me want to read it even MORE! I can't wait!!! Roll on June!


About the Author:

I grew up on a farm in Ohio, but that's not very interesting, is it? When I'm not writing you can find me doing one of two things; getting lost on highways or getting lost in the lives of fictional characters. If my heart had two feet, one foot would be in romance and the other solidly in geekdom. I hope you'll all follow me on my journey through this carnival they call life.I promise there will be a happy ending.

Find K.B. Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads


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Book Wars a weekly feature hosted between two book review blogs – A Life Bound By Books & Much Loved Books!

It’s a fact that book lovers know all about the covers of the books they covet.  Often when a title is released here in the UK, it’s sometimes vastly different across the pond in the US.  So, Michelle from Much Loved Books and I have come together to create Book Wars to talk about the difference in covers when it comes to the US vs. UK versions.

We hope from time to time authors will chime in with their thoughts as well. We welcome everyone to comment and share their thoughts too! The more the merrier!

Before we get to this weeks Book Wars, we have a winner to announce. The Book Wars winner for Moon Called By: Patricia Briggs is..... the US COVER!!!  Thank you to everyone who voted for both books, and for picking a winner.


Also, there's a poll at the bottom of the post that we'd love to hear your input for the two covers! Tell us which one YOU love the most.

Left: US - Right: UK

Title: Monsters (Ashes Trilogy #3)
Author: Ilsa J. Bick
Publisher: US - Egmont USA, 688 Pages (September 9th, 2013) UK - Quercus, 608 Pages (September 26th, 2013)
Add to: Goodreads USA Version | Goodreads UK Version
Order online here: USA: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository UK: Amazon UK, Waterstones, W H Smith, The Book Depository
Synopsis: The Changed are on the move. The Spared are out of time. The End...is now.

When her parents died, Alex thought things couldn't get much worse-until the doctors found the monster in her head.

She headed into the wilderness as a good-bye, to leave everything behind. But then the end of the world happened, and Alex took the first step down a treacherous road of betrayal and terror and death.

Now, with no hope of rescue-on the brink of starvation in a winter that just won't quit-she discovers a new and horrifying truth.

The Change isn't over.
The Changed are still evolving.
And...they've had help.

With this final volume of The Ashes Trilogy, Ilsa J. Bick delivers a riveting, blockbuster finish, returning readers to a brutal, post-apocalyptic world where no one is safe and hope is in short supply.

A world where, from these ashes, the monsters may rise.


About the author:

Among other things, I was an English major in college and so I know that I'm supposed to write things like, "Ilsa J. Bick is ." Except I hate writing about myself in the third person like I'm not in the room. Helloooo, I'm right here . . . So let's just say that I'm a child psychiatrist (yeah, you read that right)as well as a film scholar, surgeon wannabe (meaning I did an internship in surgery and LOVED it and maybe shoulda stuck), former Air Force major—and an award-winning, best-selling author of short stories, e-books, and novels. Believe me, no one is more shocked about this than I . . . unless you talk to my mother.

Find Ilsa Online: Website/Blog | Twitter

Let the Wars Begin: Its now time to make our decision, let's see what we think about the covers and pick our favorite cover.

Lisa This is another trilogy that I LOVE. And when the covers originally changes I LOVED them. Still do. When you take a look at both sets of books side by side both publishers here in the US and in the UK did an amazing job creating a set of covers that fit so well together. When you look at then in both countries you can't help BUT be drawn in to take a look. After that it's just all down hill because the synopsis then pretty much round out the need to read these.

That being said... Gosh this is so hard to do because I love BOTH versions. I think I'll have to stick with the US cover. I want to vote the UK cover but I'm sitting here, looking at this monster of a book (pun intended) and I just LOVE these new covers. There's so much depth to them, I can't look away. So, this weeks for for me goes to the US cover.

How about you? Which cover do YOU like the best? Vote below!
Michelle This is a series I need to pick back up again and finish. While I did vote for the UK cover last time, I am going to have to vote USA this week.

I love the UK cover, how we get to see the persons face, and how we get the silhouettes of the monsters in the background but I just don't think this cover suits the title as much as the USA one does.

The USA one is definitly creepy, and has you trying to figure out what is coming through the mist. It just stands out that little bit more for me.
VOTE for YOUR favorite cover of  NOW!

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27 April 2014

So you’ve met Rule, Jet, Rome, and soon Nash! But there’s a new boy in town, along with a new series, by Jay Crownover. Better When He’s Bad (Welcome to the Point #1) is a new adult novel scheduled for publication on June 17, 2014, by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishing. 


Title: Better When He's Bad (Welcome to the Point #1)
Author: Jay Crownover
Publisher: William Morrow (June 17th, 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-Order online: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | IndieBound | Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+


Synopsis: Welcome to the Point

There’s a difference between a bad boy and a boy who’s bad . . . meet Shane Baxter.

Sexy, dark, and dangerous, Bax isn’t just from the wrong side of the tracks, he is the wrong side of the tracks. A criminal, a thug, and a brawler, he’s the master of bad choices, until one such choice landed him in prison for five years. Now Bax is out and looking for answers, and he doesn’t care what he has to do or who he has to hurt to get them. But there’s a new player in the game, and she’s much too innocent, much too soft…and standing directly in his way.

Dovie Pryce knows all about living a hard life and the tough choices that come with it. She’s always tried to be good, tried to help others, and tried not to let the darkness pull her down. But the streets are fighting back, things have gone from bad to worse, and the only person who can help her is the scariest, sexiest, most complicated ex-con The Point has ever produced.

Bax terrifies her, but it doesn’t take Dovie long to realize that some boys are just better when they’re bad.

I'm so excited to read this one... you guys have NO idea! Thankfully I was granted a eARC and I hope to dive right into Bax and Dovie's story soon. So, take a peek, see what you think and get ready for another book bad boy!



This is how Jay describes her new novel/series:

“It’s dark and dangerous and set in a fictitious underworld/bad part of town. The men in all of the books are way more along the line of being anti-heros than true leading men. I guess the easiest way to sum them up is by saying the books are all about the choices these characters have to make and the outcomes and results of those decisions. Bax’s book is all about having to make the hard choices and what becomes of him and his lady in doing so. They are super fun, very atmospheric and I think really what writing a bad boy should be like if you’re going to do it :)”

Look in the back of Nash’s book to find the first chapter ofBetter When He’s Bad.”


About the Author:

I’m supposed to share interesting details about myself so that my readers get to know me so here we go in no particular order: I’m an natural redhead even though I haven’t seen my real hair color in years, I’m a big fan of tattoos and have a half sleeve on either arm and various other pieces all over the place, I’ve been in the bar industry since I was in college and it has always offered interesting insight into how men and women interact with each other, I have 3 dogs that are all crazy, I live in Colorado and love the snow, I love music and in all reality wish I could be a rock star not a writer or a bartender but I have zero talent so there is that.

I love to write, love to read and all I’m interested in is a good story with interesting characters that make the reader feel something.

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26 April 2014

Interview - The Sound author, Sarah Alderson!

Title: The Sound
Author: Sarah Alderson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK, 320 pages, (August 1st 2013)
From: bought from Amazon.co.uk
Format: e-book
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

Synopsis: When aspiring music journalist Ren Kingston takes a job nannying for a wealthy family on the exclusive island of Nantucket, playground for Boston's elite, she's hoping for a low-key summer reading books and blogging about bands. Boys are firmly off the agenda.

What she doesn't count on is falling in with a bunch of party-loving private school kids who are hiding some dark secrets, falling (possibly) in love with the local bad boy, and falling out with a dangerous serial killer...

Author Interview:

Welcome to A Life Bound By Books and Thanks for chatting with me today. I'm excited to have you visiting with us on the blog. I have some questions that I'm eager to ask, so how about we get started?

1.In a few sentences how would you describe The Sound to future readers?

It’s like Gossip Girl crossed with The Killing. It’s about an English girl who is an aspiring music journalist who goes to Nantucket for the summer to work as a nanny. She falls in with a group of private school kids who have lots of dark secrets and despite not wanting to falls for the local bad boy (who also reads books, fixes bikes and plays guitar) who has some secrets of his own. At the same time there’s a serial killer on the loose…(obviously).

2.How much of your own experience as a nanny in Nantucket did you use towards writing The Sound?

Well I did draw on the beauty of the landscapes. I had the best time. I was 17. I was staying in this beautiful house with a wrap around porch and a view of the salt flats and sea. I had a bike (much like Ren) and cycled all over the island and made friends with lots of the kids holidaying there, who were every bit as preppy as Jeremy and crew.

I had a holiday romance and went to a few parties like the ones described in the book. It was a really idyllic beautiful time. But it didn’t include a serial killer.

I always tell aspiring writers to travel – I have drawn on so many instances from my life that at the time I had no idea would one day make it into a book. Live life to the fullest!

3. If you could meet one of your characters in real life; who would it be, why and what would you say to them?

Oh man, that’s such a hard question! I would love love LOVE to meet my characters in real life. In fact the closest I have come so far was casting the actors for The Sound trailer. That was so strange. To see them leap off the page and stand before me speaking my words. And the fact Jesse was almost too beautiful for words was rather nice too.

I have so many characters I am crazy fond of. I hope one day Lila becomes a film as I’m really intrigued to finally meet Lila and Alex. But actually I have a secret crush on Demos (don’t tell) and also on Cyrus from Severed. They are two of my favourite characters. I would tell them that I’m sorry I didn’t give them what they most desired and that I made them suffer.

4. After reading The Sound, what do you hope readers take away with them from Ren's story?

Ren is my most every-girl character. She’s a Brit – my first purely English character – and I loved imbuing British humour into her. I live in Bali and am surrounded by ex-pats who are all American so I really miss British humour. When I make a joke here most people stare at me blank-faced, so I relished Ren’s sarcasm and dry wit. I think she’s a girl seeking truth, there’s an element of that in all my books. All my girl characters are seeking truth and aren’t afraid to stand up and confront liars.

I hope too that readers are inspired by the idea of stepping out of your comfort zone, of travelling and striving after dreams.

5. Could you share with us a favourite line or two from the Sound without giving anything away?

“I narrow my eyes at him. ‘Don’t try to take me on with sarcasm. I am the queen of it. I’ve studied it, perfected it. I come from a land where we own sarcasm and the use of it. There is nothing you can teach me about sarcasm.’

‘OK,’ he says, grinning up at me, ‘Professor Emeritus Sarcastus. You can own the sarcasm. What I meant was you might learn how to change the chain on a bike, for example.”

And: “Well good, I think, maybe he’s thinking that he’s being a total tool and reassessing the whole idea. Maybe he’s going to figure out that going to jail would be a dumb idea. And that kissing me would be a not so dumb idea. Goddamn all men. Goddamn them. They all have shit for brains.

6. Can you tell us anything about what you're currently working on and when it might be available to readers?

My head is spinning from working on too many things at once. The Sound is out in the US in May. Out of Control, my next YA thriller is out in the UK in May too. And then I have my first new adult novel Come Back To Me (published under the name Mila Gray) out in June! I have also just finished the screenplay for Hunting Lila (which has taken about two years!)

7. What was the last book you read that just blew you away?

I’m currently reading Dreams of Gods and Monsters and I can barely think about anything else. I think Laini Taylor is hands down the best author writing YA at the moment. Her wordcraft is just that – it’s craft. I read her books and fall into them. She is enormously talented.

also just read The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and it flew into my top ten books of all time.

8. What has been the draw to you in writing YA titles?

My original inspiration was to write a book that wasn’t Twilight. I wanted to write a book about a girl who had power and I ended up writing Hunting Lila. After that it was just a no-brainer. I really enjoy writing for young adults. I think because I had such an up and down teenage life, moments of bleakness that were lifted by some incredible pinpoints of light – like travelling to Nantucket, falling in love, backpacking around the world. A lot of those adventures have found their way into my books.

But now I’m also writing new adult books because it turns out I’m quite good at writing steam and my agent and publisher pushed me (very kindly) in that direction so I leaped at the chance.

Sarah, Thanks for taking the time to talk, it's been great having you join us on the blog. Feel free to drop by sometime, we'd love to have you!





About the Author:

Having spent most of her life in London, Sarah quit her job in the non profit sector in 2009 and took off on a round the world trip with her husband and princess-obsessed daughter on a mission to find a new place to call home. After several months in India, Singapore, Australia and the US, they settled in Bali where Sarah now spends her days writing by the pool and trying to machete open coconuts without severing a limb.

She finished her first novel, Hunting Lila, just before they left the UK, wrote the sequel on the beach in India and had signed a two book deal with Simon & Schuster by the time they had reached Bali.

A third book, Fated, about a teenage demon slayer, was published in January 2012.

The Sound, a thriller romance set in Nantucket, was published in August 2013. She has a further three thrillers due for release in the next few years.
You can find Sarah on facebook and at www.sarahalderson.com or follow her blog at www.canwelivhere.com

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25 April 2014

Review - Only Everything By: Kieran Scott

Title: Only Everything (True Love #1)
Author: Kieran Scott
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 336 Pages (May 6th, 2014)
From: the Author & Publisher
Format: ARC
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

Synopsis: High school romance is tough—even for a bona fide love goddess. Can Cupid succeed as a mortal matchmaker?

When Eros (aka Cupid) is expelled from Olympus for defying Zeus after falling in love with Orion, she is banished to what she believes to be hell. We call it New Jersey. If she ever wants to go back to the comforts of her old life, she will have to find love for three couples—without using her powers.

Eros, now calling herself True, immediately identifies her first project in Charlie and believes finding him love will be a piece of cake. Charlie is new at school and eager to break out of his old image of band geek, so it’s lucky for him when he falls in with the right crowd on his first day. But music is still his passion. That is, until he meets Katrina...

Katrina is floundering after the death of her father and takes refuge with a boy who, while not entirely supportive, will be there when she needs him, unlike her mother. Too bad True thinks any girl Charlie talks to is perfect for him. Can she get out of her own way and help Charlie and Katrina connect, or will she be stuck in New Jersey forever?

Review: 4 Stars - Only Everything is the first title in the latest trilogy from author Kieran Scott. In this wonderfully written, laugh out loud funny title Kieran writes about the trials of High School life for banished goddess Cupid who has a task she must complete and only a short time to complete it in.

I had no idea what to expect before reading but knowing Kieran I was excited and jumped at the chance to read an early copy of what turned out to be an amazing story with quirky characters and lots of laughs. I found myself laughing out loud more than once and couldn't get over just how whacky Eros, better known as Cupid turned High School student named True was. Watching her for most of the book I cringed and chuckled because, well... you really need to read this title to understand what I mean. I couldn't get over this character who quickly found her way into my heart.

The book itself is written from three different points of view. We have True who I've mentioned above, we have Karina who is somewhat of an outcast and is dealing with her own set of heartbreak and issues. The other point of view is written from new student Charlie who loves the drums and just want's to be accepted by his football couch dad and to be seen for the person he is and not the person his family thinks he should become.

Each point of view and the three characters' stories are intertwined as they navigate high school and come to terms with choices and the other students around them. They stumble, True more than most as she tries to come to terms with her new status while trying to succeed at the task she had been given by Zeus in an effort to save her love Orion.

I enjoyed the flash backs of True's life because we only get a small piece of the puzzle at the very beginning of the book. It was nice to see how things happened, yet I was wishing for more. I wanted to know all about the time True spent with Orion before all hell broke loose. However, I think with how this ended we'll see much more of that in the next installment because that ending.. I didn't see coming. AT ALL and wow, my heart broke a bit for True and what she's going to have to do now.

I also loved having a new character to meet – Heath, he was there to help guide True and man, did she need it! I'm looking forward to more of him in the next installment as well. Speaking of Heath, I have a theory about this character that I won't say here for fear it'll end up a spoiler. At least I hope it'll happen. Since I've mentioned Zeus... can I just say HUGE jerk!? I get he's all powerful and a ruler but wow, harsh.

The lore was also interesting and entertaining and the writing was done extremely well which made the book so much more from beginning to end. I didn't want it to end, yet the ending was both satisfying and frustrating because of that last couple of sentences. Did it end on a cliffhanger? Yes! A shocking one that which I had to reread a few times to make sure what I was seeing on the page was correct.

In the end this was a fantastic book with tons of humor, great characters and writing from a wonderful author. I highly recommend this title to any and all readers because there is plenty to love and lots to relate to from the vast amount of characters and the issues they find themselves in. It's a clean YA title with kissing, talk of drinking and that's about it. Thankfully you won't have to wait much longer before it's release and when it does I know it'll be a huge hit with readers everywhere. Enjoy!


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Title: Finally, Forever (First Comes Love #3)
Author: Katie Kacvinsky
Publisher: (May 9th, 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
Order Katie's books here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK

NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+

Author's Note: Can be read as book three of the First Comes Love series, or as a standalone.
Synopsis: College baseball player, Gray Thomas, had to go far out into left field to find a girl like Dylan, the ex-love-of-his-life. More than a year later, literally at a crossroads, they find each other together on a journey that is a pause between a painful past and an uncertain future. In this sexy and offbeat summer read, Gray and Dylan discover that a destination isn't always a place. More often, it's a person. Now it's time for them to finally decide, is this forever?

Interview with Gray Thomas, college baseball player from Finally, Forever. 

What do you look for in a person?

A sense of humor.

What is the worst mistake of your life?

 I let someone amazing slip through my fingers. I think I made the right decision for her, but it was a crappy decision for me.

What do you think is important in a relationship?

Sex. Lots of incredible sex. Okay, I’m kidding. No I’m not. Seriously, I think compromising is important—just being on the same page with each other. Relationships will never work if you aren’t on a mutual path. I’ve definitely learned that.

What song are you obsessing over right now?

This spring I was in a coffee shop meeting with a study group. There was a song playing by Beck. It’s an old song, called Loser.  That song intrigues the hell out of me. The lyrics make NO SENSE. I’m a Beck fan in general, so I did some research, and the lead singer claims that’s the point of the song. It’s not supposed to make sense. They are just random lines meant to get a rise out of people, to surprise them, to entertain them and keep their attention. I think that’s a great metaphor for life in general. And it’s a pretty awesome song.

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Dylan said something to me a few years ago that I’ll never forget. She reminded me to stop taking myself so seriously. She said you need to take life seriously, but not yourself. She’s right. Focusing on yourself is detrimental to your happiness.

Do you think you will play professional baseball?

That seems to be my calling. Baseball has always come naturally to me. I like the control on the field, it’s so different from how out of control it is in the real world. The field is my escape. I love being at the pitcher’s mound and staring down a batter. I love the feeling of striking him out. It’s a strange sort of therapy.

If you couldn’t play baseball, what would you do?

I don’t know. I’d probably stalk Dylan and see what she’s up to.

What is your strength?

I have a really good memory. It’s hard for me to forget anything. Or anyone.

What is your weakness?

I have a really good memory. It’s hard for me to forget anything. Or anyone.

If you had to pick a musician to write a soundtrack to your life, who would it be?

That’s tough because my mood changes and so does my taste in music. If I’m having a bad day, I would say Eminem. If I’m inspired, then probably The Killers. But I think I would have to go with Ryan Adams.





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Hi, I’m Lisa and I'm a proud bibliophile.

I enjoy reading and reviewing a variety of different books within the Young Adult, "New Adult" & Adult genres/categories. If you have any questions or if you are an author or publisher and would be interested in promoting a book, please feel free email. You can find my email under the "mail" button or under the contact link at the top of the page.

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