Friday Fling! - Two more @EntangledPub authors to fall in love with!

 

During Friday Fling , I share with you a "just for fun" romance book or novella that I read and really enjoyed.  It will generally be a "mini review" instead of a full review and I'll often stray from my YA focus into the realm of adult romance (which, in case you're curious, is my guilty pleasure).  These are books that I think are fun, quick reads that are definitely worth checking out!



As I mentioned last week, I went on a romance reading binge not too long ago.  I got away with it because that's what we were studying in class that week and I could tell my hubby that it was homework. ;)  Here are two more of the fabulous titles that I devoured.

Publisher: Indulgence (Entangled Publishing)

Release Date: 14 February 2012
Get it! Amazon | B&N

As a result of a business disagreement (or really, disaster), Kizzy Dean is forced to accompany Andreas Lazarides to Greece, where he promises her employment.  The tension between the two runs high as Kizzy alternately wants to strangle and ravish the man.  The two are a well-matched  pair and temptations eventually win out...

Kizzy and Andreas are a phenomenal pair to watch.  Their sexual tension is sky-high and their relationship is anything but docile and easy.  Andreas is definitely the alpha-male type who's used to gold-digging women and never being told no, and Kizzy is definitely a challenge for him.  She 's not willing to cave to his every desire and it makes the tension truly explode between the two. This one has absolutely GORGEOUS settings, sizzling sexy times, and fabulous characters for you to fall in love with.

Publisher:  Indulgence (Entangled Publishing)

Release Date: 14 February 2012

Get it!  Amazon | B&N

Brit is known as The Slayer for his ruthlessness in the boardroom...and the bedroom.  When he meets high-powered attorney Tori Anderson, his plans to seduce her for information are shot to hell when he finds himself actually falling for a woman for the first time. As their one-night-stand turns into a fling and then possibly more, will their relationship survive his initial deceit?

With another sexy alpha-male, how can you go wrong?! Tori is also simple stunning to read about. She's ferocious in her career and she stands up for herself, yet she's vulnerable in many ways when you consider how she cares for her mother and her simple desire to feel like a woman.  This story is simply delightful--two people who micro-manage their lives becoming helpless in the face of love and a respite from their loneliness. 

YA Book Review: Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

Release Date: 13 March 2012

Publisher: Dealcorte BFYR
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy! Amazon | B&N

Goodreads description:

It all begins with a stupid question: Are you a Global Vagabond?

No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.

Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.

But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.

My Thoughts...

Waiting on Wednesday (56)

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where book bloggers discuss the books that they are most anxiously waiting for! (And this fabulous button was designed by my dear blogger friend Lindsay at The Violet Hour)

This week I'm waiting on...

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
© 11 December 2012 by Razorbill

Sixteen-year-old Cleo has grown up in luxury, the royal heiress to a prosperous kingdom. But beneath her nation’s seemingly peaceful surface lies dangerous unrest. Whispers of war are growing ever louder—intensified by a murderous incident for which Cleo’s betrothed, Aron, is accused.

Amidst the ongoing intrigue, Cleo has a more desperate mission. She defies her father’s orders and sets off on a secret and perilous journey into a neighboring country, seeking a magic long thought to be mythical. If it’s real, it could be the cure that heals her ailing sister. If it’s only legend, Cleo will be stranded in a kingdom that has just declared war on her own.

(ARC) YA Book Review: Slide by Jill Hathaway

Release Date: 27 March 2012

Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy! Amazon | B&N

Goodreads description:

Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

My Thoughts...

YA Book Review: Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig

Release Date: 13 March 2012

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Goodreads description:

Willa’s secret plan seems all too simple: take from the rich kids at Valley Prep and give to the poor ones.

Yet Willa’s turn as Robin Hood at her ultra-exclusive high school is anything but. Bilking her “friends”-known to everyone as the Glitterati-without them suspecting a thing, is far from easy. Learning how to pick pockets and break into lockers is as difficult as she’d thought it’d be. Delivering care packages to the scholarship girls, who are ostracized just for being from the “wrong” side of town, is way more fun than she’d expected.

The complication Willa didn’t expect, though, is Aidan Murphy, Valley Prep’s most notorious (and gorgeous) ace-degenerate. His mere existence is distracting Willa from what matters most to her-evening the social playing field between the have and have-nots. There’s no time for crushes and flirting with boys, especially conceited and obnoxious trust-funders like Aidan.

But when the cops start investigating the string of burglaries at Valley Prep and the Glitterati begin to seek revenge, could he wind up being the person that Willa trusts most

My Thoughts...

Friday Fling showcasing more of my @EntangledPub addiction!

 

During Friday Fling , I share with you a "just for fun" romance book or novella that I read and really enjoyed.  It will generally be a "mini review" instead of a full review and I'll often stray from my YA focus into the realm of adult romance (which, in case you're curious, is my guilty pleasure).  These are books that I think are fun, quick reads that are definitely worth checking out!



I've been featuring just one title per week, but it makes me feel like I'm getting "behind" in posting about the romance novels that I read and if you're a romance reader, you definitely should consider checking these out! SO....this week I'm going to share two once again.  Just can't help myself. ;) (And I will probably feature more Entangled Publishing titles over the next few weeks because I went on a reading binge so stay tuned! I'll just do two at a time.)

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Release Date: 2 August 2011
Get it! Amazon | B&N

After losing her swanky art gallery job, Autumn Cole uproots her 12 year old son and returns to the small town where she grew up to take care of her aging father.  She never expected Henry Tobler--the guy she loved and left when she found out she was pregnant--to be there (guess that explains clocking him in the nose with an encyclopedia).  As Henry and Autumn explore the remaining feelings that they have for each other, will they find the strength to move beyond their difficult pasts and embrace love?

The "What If" Guy was a fast and fabulous read. Autumn's personality is authentic and makes her a fun character to get to know. Add in the very attractive Mr. Tobler, a sarcastic 12-year old son, a drunken father, and a way too "in your business" small town and you've got the makings of what was a really fun romance novel.  The relationships that Autumn rekindles with both the townspeople and her former love make this a read that you won't be able to put down! The story is entertaining and realistic.  Brooke Moss certainly knows how to write a story that you feel could be happening in your own small town any day now.

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Release Date: 14 February 2012

Get it!  (This one's a best-seller for a reason!!)
 Amazon | B&N

Alexa McKenzie needs money to save her family's home. Billionaire Nicholas Ryan has money to spare but he needs a wife to secure his fortune.  The two make a business deal that secures Alexa's family home and Nick's fortune and vow that their one-year marriage will be strictly business.  But are business and pleasure mutually exclusive?  What happens when the two can't fight their growing attraction?

The Marriage Bargain is a sexy read that explores the chemistry of two people with a history.  Nick broke Alexa's heart many years ago, but she'll do anything to save her family's home.  Alexa is both fiercely independent and fiercely loyal.  She's dedicated to her little bookstore (yay!) and helping her family.  Nick is ever the sexy un-attached billionaire, but you can't help falling for him little-by-little as he becomes unable to ignore his desire for this woman he married for business reasons.  Jennifer Probst's writing will pull you in and leave you smiling.  She's definitely an author that will give you a taste of her writing and storytelling skills and send you looking for more of her work.

(ARC) YA Book Review: My Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin

Release Date: 1 March 2012

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Format: eBook
Source: eARC via publicist

Get a copy! Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Goodreads description:

Kelsey Finkelstein is fourteen and FRUSTRATED. Every time she tries to live up to her awesome potential, her plans are foiled – by her impossible parents, her annoying little sister, and life in general. But with her first day of high school coming up, Kelsey is positive that things are going to change. Enlisting the help of her three best friends — sweet and quiet Em, theatrical Cass, and wild JoJo — Kelsey gets ready to rebrand herself and make the kind of mark she knows is her destiny.

Things start out great - her arch-nemesis has moved across the country, giving Kelsey the perfect opportunity to stand out on the soccer team and finally catch the eye of her long-time crush. But soon enough, an evil junior’s thirst for revenge, a mysterious photographer, and a series of other catastrophes make it clear that just because KELSEY has a plan for greatness… it doesn’t mean the rest of the world is in on it.

My Thoughts...

Waiting on Wednesday (55)

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where book bloggers discuss the books that they are most anxiously waiting for! (And this fabulous button was designed by my dear blogger friend Lindsay at The Violet Hour)

This week I'm waiting on...

Feedback by Robison Wells
© 2 October 2012 by HarperTeen

Benson Fisher escaped from Maxfield Academy’s deadly rules and brutal gangs.

Or so he thought.

But now Benson is trapped in a different kind of prison: a town filled with hauntingly familiar faces. People from Maxfield he saw die. Friends he was afraid he had killed.

They are all pawns in the school’s twisted experiment, held captive and controlled by an unseen force. As he searches for answers, Benson discovers that Maxfield Academy’s plans are more sinister than anything he imagined—and they may be impossible to stop.

(ARC) YA Book Review: Allegiance by Cayla Kluver

Release Date: 28 February 2012

Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy!

Goodreads description:

Only I saw Narian for who he truly was: a young man with courage and an independent mind, and made to pay for what was outside his control. He couldn't help his past any more than he could help the way those intense, deep-blue eyes pierced me and held me captive.

An eighteen-year-old queen in love with the enemy as their countries pass the point of no return...

Bound to a man she cannot love, Queen Alera of Hytanica must forget Narian, the young man who holds her heart. For Narian is destined to conquer Hytanica at the behest of his master, the powerful magic-user known as the Overlord. Alera doesn't truly believe Narian will fight against Hytanica-until Cokyrian troops attack with Narian commanding the charge.

Faced with the greatest betrayal a heart can know, Alera must set aside personal feelings and lead her kingdom through its darkest time. And when all hope, will and courage seem lost, she must find strength and remember that even the blackest night must have a dawn...

My Thoughts...

While I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Kluver's debut, Legacy, I went into the sequel with equal amounts excitement and trepidation.  I suppose it's that latter part that kept me from reading this one right away and I certainly with I had take the dive back into this world sooner! In Allegiance, she has taken the beautifully crafted world of Hytanica and pulled readers right back into the world that we left a year ago.  Very little time has passed since the end of Legacy--you dive right back into Alera and Steldor's wedding...

Alera has transformed from a free-spirited young woman into a rather sullen yet feisty Queen.  She hides the depth of her feelings for Narian, even when her relationship is finally revealed to her now-husband Steldor. You can tell that she longs to break free of her role as Queen from the moment it begins but is trapped by responsibility and her love for her family. While I was wholeheartedly cheering for Narian in Legacy, I found that there were definitely moments when I wanted Alera to at least throw Steldor a bone, especially toward the beginning.  His actual love and affection for her is quite obvious and endearing.  He does a number of things later on that are not exactly endearing, but all the while his intentions really do seem like that of a man in love.

The world-building and storytelling is once again fabulous in this novel and I'm constantly astounded at the story that Ms. Kluver crafted at such a young age.  I felt like her writing matured quite a bit in this novel as well and I didn't find myself bogged down in over-attention to minute details as I did with Legacy.  The heart-pounding action in this novel will most definitely keep readers on their toes.

If you enjoyed Legacy, I recommend that you rush out to read the sequel because it is even better than its predecessor!

Friday Fling! Melt by Natalie Anderson @EntangledPub

 

During Friday Fling , I share with you a "just for fun" romance book or novella that I read and really enjoyed.  It will generally be a "mini review" instead of a full review and I'll often stray from my YA focus into the realm of adult romance (which, in case you're curious, is my guilty pleasure).  These are books that I think are fun, quick reads that are definitely worth checking out!



Romance novellas aren't for everyone, but if you've got a busy schedule like mine, they're a perfect brief distraction from whatever else is on your mind (and they're easy to fit in among lots of homework!). I've said it before but Entangled Publishing is putting out some really great romance novellas that you should totally check out. :)

Publisher: Entangled Ever Afters
Release Date: 19 December 2011
Get it! Amazon | B&N

Emma and Hunter have both steeled their hearts against love.  For Emma, a fling gone wrong and years of being abandoned by those close to her have warned her away from getting too attached.  For Hunter, his parents' split one Christmas many years ago warned him away from attempting to love someone else.  But what do you do when you're in the frozen Antarctic wilderness and you can't get another person off your mind?

Melt was a quick read with characters that made you ache right along with them. Each one pulls on your heartstrings in different ways and makes you long for their coming...togetherness.  This novella length lacks nothing in plot, characters, or steaminess! While I found the ending a bit over the top and perhaps predictable, I have to admit that I often read romance novels/novellas for the "warm fuzzies" that they give me and this one certainly fit the bill. 

(ARC) YA Book Review: Thou Shalt Not Road Trip by Antony John

Release Date: 12 April 2012

Publisher: Dial Books
Format: ARC
Source: Around the World ARC Tours

Goodreads description:

When sixteen-year-old Luke's book, Hallelujah, becomes a national best seller, his publisher sends him on a cross-country tour with his unpredictable older brother, Matt, as chauffeur. But when Matt offers to drive Luke's ex-crush, Fran, across the country too, things get a little crazy. Luke thinks he's enlightened, but he really needs to loosen up if he's going to discover what it truly means to have faith, and do what it takes to get the girl he loves.

My Thoughts...

Waiting on Wednesday (54)

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly bookish meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine where book bloggers discuss the books that they are most anxiously waiting for! (And this fabulous button was designed by my dear blogger friend Lindsay at The Violet Hour)

This week I'm waiting on...

Between You & Me by Marisa Calin© 7 August 2012 by Bloomsbury USA

Phyre knows there is something life-changing about her new drama teacher, Mia, from the moment they meet. As Phyre rehearses for the school play, she comes to realize that the unrequited feelings she has for Mia go deeper than she’s ever experienced. Especially with a teacher. Or a woman. All the while, Phyre’s best friend—addressed throughout the story in the second person, as "you"—stands by, ready to help Phyre make sense of her feelings. But just as Mia doesn’t understand what Phyre feels, Phyre can’t fathom the depth of her best friend’s feelings . . . until it’s almost too late for a happy ending. Characters come to life through the innovative screenplay format of this dazzling debut, and unanswered questions—is "you" male or female?—will have readers talking.

(ARC) YA Book Review: Partials by Dan Wells

Release Date: 28 February 2012

Publisher: HarperTeen

Format: eARC

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Get a copy! Amazon | B&N

Goodreads description:

The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.

Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic in training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws threaten to launch what’s left of humanity into civil war, and she’s not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will discover that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them—connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

My Thoughts...

While Partials started out a bit on the slow side (for me), I became addicted to the world and the characters and flew through the second two-thirds of the book.  Dan Wells has crafted a wonderfully descriptive novel that throws the reader into a futuristic society that will both scare and awe.

Each life has a different purpose, and some peopel can find their purpose more easily than others. The key, ...the most important thing you can eve know, is that whatever your purpose is, that's not your only choice. ... No matter why you're here, you're never tied down to fate. You're never locked in. You make your own choices, Kira, and you can't let anyone ever take that away from you.

-p66, eARC

I have to start with our main character, Kira, because I developed a pretty deep bond with her throughout the novel.  She's the type of heroine that I love to see.  She's willing to stick her neck out for the things that she believes in and she's not willing to cave to outside pressures.  She's very much her own person.  And yet she has a deep connection with the people around her that I totally appreciated.  She's willing to stick her neck out for them when she needs to, but she's not willing to let the stop her from reaching for her ultimate goals/dreams. Her hope and perseverance made her somewhat of an enigma in her society and really made her stand out.

Happiness is the most natural thing in the world when you have it, and the slowest, strangest, most impossible thing when you don't. ... It's like learning a foreign language: You can think about the words all you want, but you'll never be able to speak it until you suck up your courage and say them out loud.

-p66, eARC

The storyline itself, as I said, starts a bit slow, but when it really starts to get going, you won't be able to put the book down.  Wells has written a book that explodes with tension and action.  There are some moments where potentially I felt there was a tad too much "discussing what we're going to do and then here is how we did it" (does that makes sense?), but overall, I found that once the world was established at the beginning, the process of discovery smoothed out and the story started flowing. I appreciated as well that Wells seems to give his audience's intelligence some credit in his use of military and medical jargon.  He doesn't shy away from complicated terminology and descriptions.

War, see, is when two sides fight, maybe not evenly, but at least they both get a few swings in.  What we call the Partial War was manking gettin' mugged in an alley.

-p47, eARC

Overall, Partials is a true dystopia for the science fiction fan who loves detailed description and strong scientific investigations. Wells' world will really suck you in and if you're anything like me, you'll be begging for the sequel as soon as you turn the last page.  There's a little romance in the story, but it always takes a back seat to the stories bigger struggles and issues.

@EntangledPub Cover Reveal & Excerpt: My Super Sweet 16th Century by @RachelHarrisYA

Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Release Date: November 2012

On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze.

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore.

Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

Add it to your "To Read" List on Goodreads!
Pre-order the paperback from Amazon

Check out this excerpt that I've been luck enough to get to share with you!!!

Excerpt from My Super Sweet 16th Century:

Alessandra jerks back like I just suggested she prance around the square naked or something. “No! I believe I understand your meaning, and Lorenzo is certainly not my suitor. He is like a brother to me—the three of us grew up together.”

She resumes walking and I fall in step beside her, understanding there has to be more to the story. And as we near the end of the row, I finally ask, “If you’re not into the guy, then what’s the problem?” At that same moment, a rich, deep chuckle hits my ears. My stomach involuntarily clenches and my gaze sharpens on the back of this mysterious Lorenzo.

Alessandra sighs. “That is the problem.” She places her hand on my arm and solemnly looks me in the eyes. “You must be careful. Lorenzo is beautiful, and it is not uncommon for a girl to walk away from meeting him with a piece of her heart left behind. But he is just eighteen, and not yet ready for marriage.”

I roll my eyes and laugh, then realize she’s serious. “Yeah, I assure you, there’s no danger on my end. I’m not exactly looking for marriage myself.” Because that would be crazy-town.

Alessandra wrinkles her nose as if she doesn’t believe me, but she removes her hand. We close the distance and Cipriano flashes me an open, honest to goodness, lighthearted smile.

“Lorenzo, this is the cousin I was telling you about.”

Slowly the guy turns and I fall head first into the richest chocolate-brown eyes I’ve ever seen. He blinks and long, luscious lashes feather across his bronzed cheeks. I can feel myself gawking, but I physically can’t drag my eyes away. Lorenzo doesn’t smirk or act all conceited, either. He simply stares back, his eyes casually skimming over me, causing my skin to warm and break out in a whole body tingle.

Time seems to stop, and the sounds of the market mute. Alessandra was right. This boy is beautiful.

And he’s looking at me.

Friday Fling! The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

 

During Friday Fling , I share with you a "just for fun" romance book or novella that I read and really enjoyed.  It will generally be a "mini review" instead of a full review and I'll often stray from my YA focus into the realm of adult romance (which, in case you're curious, is my guilty pleasure).  These are books that I think are fun, quick reads that are definitely worth checking out!



Sometimes a short, fun romance is just what you're looking for! This was a really quick read (a couple of hours maybe) that was perfect for a homework break on a Sunday afternoon. :)

Publisher: Poppy
Release Date: 2 January 2012
Get it! Amazon | B&N

Hadley was late for her flight--just minutes too late to catch her flight to the UK for her father's wedding to a woman she's never met.  Lucky for her, Oliver takes pity on her and keeps her company in the airport and, in a twist of fate, on the airplane.  When the two part at the airport, Hadley can't help but continue to feel drawn to Oliver--the boy she's only known for hours...

I really enjoy books set in short periods of time (a day, a night, etc.) and TSPoLaFS definitely fits the bill there.  We really only spend two days with Hadley (and Oliver) but it's just enough time to grow to love them.  I worried this would come off like another inst-love story, but I found that it was really a lot sweeter than that.  Their budding romance isn't forced or contrived--it's just sweet and new. They each have a bigger event that they have to deal with as well, which rounds the story out some.

If you're a sucker for love at first sight stories, then I definitely suggest checking this one out.