5 Star Review + 2016 Favorite: F*ck Love by Tarryn Fisher

Posted on 01/08/2016 by shellbellereads

F*ck Love

by Tarryn Fisher

Buy : Amazon / B & N / ITunes

Synopsis:

Helena Conway has fallen in love.

Unwillingly.

Unwittingly.

But not unprovoked. Kit Isley is everything she’s not—unstructured, untethered, and not even a little bit careful.

It could all be so beautiful…if he wasn’t dating her best friend. Helena must defy her heart, do the right thing, and think of others.

Until she doesn’t.

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25828204-f-ck-love

Chapter One

#wtf

“You are supposed to be with me.”

What words are these? They startle me, and at first I think I’ve heard him wrong. He’s leaning across the table while our significant others are twenty feet away, waiting in line for our food.

“You and me,” he says. “Not us and them.”

I blink at him before I realize he’s making a joke. I laugh and go back to looking at my magazine. Actually, it’s not really a magazine. It’s a math journal, because I’m super cool like that.

“Helena…” I don’t look up right away. I’m afraid to. If I look up and see that he’s not joking, everything will change.

“Helena.” He reaches out and touches my hand. I jump, pull back. My chair makes a horrid scraping sound, and Neil looks over. I pretend that I dropped something and reach under the table. Under the table are our shoes and legs. There is a blue crayon lying at my feet; I pick it up and resurface.

Neil is at the front of the line ordering our food, and my best friend’s boyfriend is waiting for my response, his eyes heavy with burden.

“Are you drunk?” I hiss. “What the fuck?”

“No,” he says. Though he doesn’t look so sure. For the first time, I notice the scruff on his face. The skin around his eyes is sallow. He’s going through something, maybe? Life is being bullshit.

“If this is a joke, you’re making me really uncomfortable,” I tell him. “Della is right there. What the hell is wrong with you?”

“I only have ten minutes, Helena.” His eyes move to the blue crayon, which is resting between our hands.

“Ten minutes for what? You’re sweating,” I say. “Did you take something, are you on the crack?” What type of drugs make you sweat like that? Crack? Heroine?

I want Neil and Della to come back. I want everything to go back to normal. I spin around to see where they are.

“Helena…”

“Stop saying my name like that.” My voice shakes. I make to stand up, but he grabs the crayon, then my hand.

“I don’t have much time. Let me show you.”

He’s sitting very still, but his eyes remind me of a cornered animal: frightened, panicked, bright. I’ve never seen that look on his face, but since Della’s only been dating him for a few months, it’s a moot point. I don’t really know this guy. He could be a druggie for all I know. He turns my hand over so it’s palm up, and I let him. I don’t know why, but I do.

He places the crayon in my palm and closes my fist around it.

“You have to say it out loud,” he says. “Show me, Kit.”

“Say it, Helena. Please. I’m afraid of what will happen if you don’t.”

Because he looks so afraid, I say it.

“Show me, Kit.” And then, “Should I know what this is?”

“No one should,” he says. And then everything goes black.

Robin’s Review

Life comes to a complete standstill each and every time that I read a Tarryn Fisher novel. I hibernate – find a quiet corner of the house – to devour her words. Fisher is a pure genius at marketing her brand. She doesn’t announce a release date for her novels. Instead, she enjoys building fervor and excitement to the point of torment, sending her fans into a frenzy. Just when you think you can’t stand the torment any longer, she publishes the book. But the really cool thing about Tarryn Fisher is that she backs up all of the hype with her writing. Her lyrical, thought-provoking writing touches the minds and hearts of so many.

It’s been awhile since Tarryn Fisher published a new adult/contemporary romance, so to say that I’ve been excited for F*ck Love is putting it mildly. F*ck Love is narrated from the point of view of Helena Conway, and the plot is based on a dream. Helena dreams about a future with Kit Isley – a dream so vivid and realistic that when she pinches herself, she doesn’t wake up. It’s a dream full of beautiful possibilities, and when Helena awakens, the dream stays with her. It haunts her. It’s quite a dilemma for Helena because Kit is dating her best friend Della, and she has been dating Neil.

Helena is my favorite Tarryn Fisher heroine to date. She is awkward, honest, and real. Helena makes no apologies for who she is, and she’s an extremely witty character. Because Helena loves Harry Potter, there’s an abundance of Harry Potterisms throughout the novel. There are passages in F*ck Love that had me roaring with laughter! Because of her dream, Helena is so very awkward around Kit, but he is still charming and sweet. The conversations that take place between Kit and Helena are equally hopeful and full of angst, cementing my attention to the pages of the novel. I should also mention that I think the secondary characters in F*ck Love, especially Greer and June, are some of the best Fisher has ever written.

F*ck Love is a consummate slow-building romance, full of angst and humor. I just love a great slow-building romance. Instead of what I consider insta-love, the feelings between Helena and Kit develop at a nice, gradual pace. Tarryn Fisher is an artist. Her personality shines within the pages of this novel. Her writing is open and honest, with much of her own personal story mixed into this fiction novel. It’s chock full of symbolism, irony and themes. From the undeniable focus on a myriad of colors mentioned throughout the story to references of written material or the inclusion of characters from previous novels, I was positively giddy while I was reading F*ck Love! F*ck Love is right there with Thief in the running for my favorite Tarryn Fisher novel. I’m giving it a 5-star rating and including it on my list of 2016 favorites!

__________________________________________________________

Tarryn Fisher’s Bio

Tarryn Fisher is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of seven novels. Her newest novel, F*ck Love, will release in early 2016 and she is currently working on the third installment of Never Never. She is the co-founder of Clothed Caption, a fashion blog she runs with her friend, Madison Seidler. Tarryn resides in the Seattle area with her family. She loves rainy days, Coke, and thinks Instagram is the new Facebook. Tarryn is represented by Amy Tannenbaum of the Jane Rotrosen Agency.

Tarryn Fisher is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of six novels. Her newest novel, Marrow, just released in April 2015 and she is currently working on the second installment of Never Never. She is the co-founder of Clothed Caption, a fashion blog she runs with her friend, Madison Seidler. Tarryn resides in the Seattle area with her family. She loves rainy days, Coke, and thinks Instagram is the new Facebook. Tarryn is represented by Amy Tannenbaum of the Jane Rotrosen Agency.

Facebook | Twitter | Website | Instagram |

6-Star Review + 2016 Favorites: This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

Posted on 01/05/2016 by Saucy Southern Readers

Amazon ~ B&N ~ iBooks

Synopsis

10:00 a.m.
The principal of Opportunity, Alabama’s high school finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.

10:02 a.m.
The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.

10:03 a.m.
The auditorium doors won’t open.

10:05 a.m.
Someone starts shooting.

Buy Links:

Amazon ~ B&N ~ iBooks

Robin’s Review:

This is where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

An entire student body is trapped in a high school auditorium. One teenage boy has a gun. Fifty-four minutes of terror narrated from four different points of view. This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp is so relevant to our current day and age, stirring thoughts of terrorism and violence we so often hear about while watching the national news headlines. I dare say many people will recognize this story to be their worst nightmare laid out on page. This book is heart-stopping young adult fiction that reads more like a thriller, and it’s wholly terrifying.

Nijkamp calls to mind the fear victims must have felt at Columbine High School, at Century 16 in Aurora, Colorado, at an office party in San Bernardino, at the Bataclan Theatre in Paris as the events of the morning progress at Opportunity High School. What would drive Tyler Browne to corner an entire school body in the auditorium, to right all of the wrongs, the injustices, he perceives to have been done to him? Underneath the violence of this story, the author combines points of view from Claire, Autumn, Sylvia and Tomás, four individuals who have a history with the shooter, to help us understand the “why” behind his actions – something many of us are often left wondering when we hear about real life events on the news.

Nijkamp wholeheartedly captured my attention from the get-go. The pacing of This is Where it Ends moves quickly. It’s full of non-stop action, with most of the characters facing mortal danger as the story plays out. Oh my goodness – did I ever feel anxious with this book! In fact, my adrenaline spiked like crazy as I was reading. I knew this thriller would be difficult for me to read, but I didn’t anticipate how hard it would be for me to put this book down before I had finished! Nijkamp tempers the violence in this novel with backstory, timing the reveal of pertinent information about primary and secondary characters as the violence plays out.

Although the span of this book takes place over fifty-four minutes, Nijkamp does a fantastic job of crafting a thought-provoking story. It’s not just about the violence – there’s more to it than that. It’s about perception of injustice. Bullying. Loneliness. Parental issues. I felt a varied range of emotions while reading This is Where it Ends – anger, sadness, relief, empathy, anxiety, shock – I even cried tears. Many of you know that I’ve reviewed novels for a while now. I’m aware readers can sometimes be fickle about a novel with difficult subject matter, but I was personally left with a sense of awe. Marieke Nijkamp grabs a solid 5-star rating for This is Where it Ends and earns the first spot on my list of 2016 favorites!

Author Bio:

Told over the span of 54 harrowing minutes from four different perspectives, terror reigns as one student’s calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.

Marieke Nijkamp was born and raised in the Netherlands. A lifelong student of stories, language, and ideas, she is more or less proficient in about a dozen languages and holds degrees in philosophy, history, and medieval studies. She is a storyteller, dreamer, globe-trotter, geek.

Marieke’s debut young adult novel This Is Where It Ends, a contemporary thriller that follows four teens over the course of the fifty-four minutes of a school shooting, will be published by Sourcebooks Fire in January 2016. Visit her at mariekenijkamp.com.

Betrayal by Aleatha Romig is live! 2015 Favorite + 6 Star Review

Posted on 10/13/2015 by shellbellereads

One week. No future. No past. No more.

Alexandria Collins has one week to live carefree—no ghosts of her past or pressures of her future haunting her. Reinventing herself as “Charli,” she is knocked off her feet by a sexy, mysterious man who brings her pleasure like she never imagined. With her heart at stake, she forgets that decisions made in the dark of night reappear in the bright light of day.

“Some of my tastes are unique. They aren’t for everyone. I understand that.”

Lennox “Nox” Demetri is wealthy, confident, and decisive—he knows what he wants. From the first time he sees Charli at an exclusive resort, he knows he wants her. Although he is usually the one to make the rules, together they agree on one:

One week. No more.

When betrayal comes from those closest to Alexandria, she must decide how far she is willing to go to survive. Choices are not always easy, especially when they involve the heart, body, and soul. After all, Infidelity is a business, and some rules are meant to be broken.

“Is it really cheating if you’re doing it to yourself?”

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Aleatha Romig comes a sexy, new dominant hero who knows what he wants, and a strong-willed heroine who has plans of her own. With classic Aleatha Romig twists, turns, deceptions, and devotions, this new epic dark romance will have readers swooning one minute and screaming the next. Have you been Aleatha’d?

BETRAYAL is a full-length novel and the first of five in the INFIDELITY series.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes

AMAZON PAPERBACK

EXCERPT

I motioned around the patio. “Is this what you do? You save women from the resort leaches and lure them to your lair?”
“My lair? Am I Batman?”
“Are you? I don’t know.”
He smirked. “If only I could make a living at doing just that, but alas, no. You’re my first rescue.”
I stopped my reach for a piece of cheese and looked back up at him. “You’re first?”
“My first rescue,” he clarified. “Hardly my first.”
“Why?”
He lifted his glass toward me in a toast. After I lifted mine, he said, “To you, Charli with an I, and to learning more about you.”
After our glasses clinked and we both took a sip, I asked the question that I’d been dying to know ever since our morning encounter. “You seem to have a clear advantage. You know my name, but I’ve yet to learn yours.”
“Do I?”
“Do you what?”
“Do I have an advantage?” He leaned closer. “Do I know your name? You see, I had the resort’s reservations scoured. I wanted to send a gift to your room and confirm our dinner, yet Charli was nowhere to be found.”
I took a deep breath. “Well, I’m here with my sister. I guess my name isn’t on the reservation.”
“You’re sister?”
“Yes, and you—if I were to have the reservations scoured?”
The sun had now fully set, falling below the water and the darkening sky was beginning to fill with stars, especially over the water.
“Would you believe, Batman?” When I didn’t respond, he said, “Bruce Wayne?”
Though I pursed my lips, I felt the twinkle in my eyes.

Robin’s Review

Creative writing almost seems effortless for Aleatha Romig. Her writing just flows. It’s smooth, easy-to-read and consistently clean of editing issues. She writes stories that will capture your attention and leave you yearning for more insight. Plots no one else would ever dream of. Novels that are dark and twisty, entertaining, and keep you theorizing long after you have finished reading.

Betrayal is the next great novel to be published by Aleatha Romig. It’s the first novel of her brand new Infidelity series, and Romig considers it dark romance. Please don’t judge Betrayal by its name. It’s not about a love triangle or cheating on a partner. According to Romig, “It’s about compromising your own beliefs for your heart and dreams.”

Our protagonist is Alexandria Charles Montague Collins. Alex is a Montague. The Montague family of Savannah, Georgia comes from old money. Montague women are proper Southern belles who are expected to marry and have babies to carry on the family name. A career is completely out of the question, but even so, Alex dreams of becoming an attorney. She’s well on the way to reaching her goal when she graduates summa cum laude from Stanford University and is accepted to Columbia Law School.

Just a few weeks prior to her move across the country, Alex and her best friend, Chelsea, decide to spend a week at the exclusive Del Mar Club and Spa. It’s a week without being confined to the pretentious Montague family cage. A week away from the rigid focus on her career and dreams. Her goal is to spend a week free of her restraints, living only for the moment, with her best friend, Chelsea. Alex reinvents herself as Charli (with an “I”).

“This was her week to live, to do what Alex wouldn’t and Alexandria couldn’t.”

It doesn’t take long for Charli to be approached. Her mystery man has broad shoulders, defined abs, a trim waist and thick thighs. He is dominant, confident in what he wants, and what he wants is to have dinner with Charli.

“Though I felt as though I, Charli, was betraying Alex, the woman I’d worked so hard to be, I agreed.”

The physical relationship that develops between Nox and Charli is extremely hot! It’s not about how explicit Betrayal is – it’s all about the chemistry, the control and trust, Charli letting go of her self-imposed and familial restraints. It includes everything that happens between them during one short week.

The main characters continue to stir my curiosity now that I am finished reading. Betrayal is mostly told from the point of view of Alex Collins, with the timeline shifting back and forth between present and past by chapter. Romig gives readers a decent picture of Alex, but something tells me we have only begun to crack the surface of her real life. I think Alex has skeletons in her closet that are yet to be revealed. Because Nox and Charli agree to “no past and no future” when they meet at Del Mar, we are given no indication of who Nox really is. We get a glimpse of his point of view towards the end of the story, and I am intrigued, that’s for sure.

Aleatha Romig has five novels planned for this series, and I have no doubt she is going to lead willing readers down a rabbit hole. Remember the Consequences series? I expect nothing less than a complicated plot that is full of twists and turns and heaps of irony. My mind is already swirling with theories and possibilities. Truly – what a fantastic start to a series! Betrayal deserves no less than a 5-star rating, but I’ve even toyed with giving it 6 stars. Congratulations to author Aleatha Romig for earning a spot on my list of 2015 favorites!

Aleatha Romig is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Aleatha has raised three children with her high school sweetheart and husband of nearly thirty years. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she’s not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time with her family and friends. Her other pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams!

Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than half a million e-readers. Aleatha released the first of her series TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE, INSIDIOUS, in the fall of 2014. These standalone thrillers continue Aleatha’s twisted style with an increase in heat. In the fall of 2015, Aleatha will move head first into the world of dark romance with the release of BETRAYAL, the first of her five novel INFIDELITY series.

Aleatha is a “Published Author’s Network” member of the Romance Writers of America and represented by Danielle Egan-Miller of Browne & Miller Literary Associates.

NEWSLETTER WEBSITE FACEBOOK AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE GOODREADS INSTAGRAM TWITTER PINTEREST

Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway: The Affiliate by K.A. Line

Posted on 09/24/2015 by shellbellereads

The Affiliate Synopsis:

On the day of her Presenting, in front of the entire Byern Court, seventeen-year-old Cyrene Strohm’s lifelong plans come to fruition when she’s chosen as an Affiliate to the Queen.

Or so she thinks. When Cyrene receives a mysterious letter and an unreadable book, she finds nothing is as it seems. Thrust into a world of dangerous political intrigue and deadly magic, Cyrene’s position only grows more treacherous when she finds herself drawn to the one man she can never have…

King Edric himself.

Cyrene must decide if love is truly worth the price of freedom. Find out in this first book in USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde’s new Ascension series.

Buy Links:

Goodreads | Amazon | Itunes

Exclusive Excerpt:

“I see the way you look at her, Edric. Your eyes follow her, you dance the longest dances with her, and now, you’re sending her presents. I’ve known you too long not to know that this is unlike you. You’re not Kael. You don’t fraternize with the Affiliates who parade themselves in front of you, hoping for a scrap of your time. Yet here you are with this Cyrene. What is she to you?” Daufina asked.

At her question, Edric paced the long room. She watched him through the silence and wondered what he was thinking.

“You told me once that you would inform me if you wanted to take a mistress—”

“I do not want to take a mistress,” Edric snapped.

Daufina straightened in surprise. He never raised his voice with her.

“I apologize,” he said with a sigh. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Just talk to me.”

“Would you believe me if I said that I didn’t want anything to do with her?” His eyes were pleading.

“No,” Daufina admitted.

“No,” he agreed. “No, I wouldn’t either. I keep telling myself that I’m acting like a fool, Daufina, but then I see her again.” He stroked his chin as he tried to find the words. “She has this pull. When I’m with her, the throne slips away, and I’m just a man with a beautiful woman. It both intrigues and terrifies me.” He splayed his hands before him. “I can never be anything but the king…but when I’m with her, I want to be.”

Robin’s Review

In her acknowledgments, author K.A. Linde tells us The Affiliate was borne from her great love for reading fantasy and young adult fantasy. She explains The Affiliate has been a book that’s been “several years in the making.” Linde is the author of the Take Me Duet, and the Avoiding, The Record, and the All That Glitters series. Her typical writing falls into the new adult and contemporary romance genres. I was incredibly excited to learn Linde was writing The Affiliate! To the best of my knowledge, this is her first venture into the young adult fantasy genre. I really love seeing an author step out of his or her comfort zone, and it’s exciting when those efforts are successful!

Cyrene Strohm dreams of becoming an Affiliate. Although she was raised in a First Class family, it doesn’t guarantee her own placement in First Class. But on her seventeenth birthday, the day of her Presenting Ceremony, Cyrene catches the attention of handsome King Edric. She is named Affiliate to the Queen in First Class, just as her mother was before her. Even as the dreams for her future come to fruition, a whole world of court politics and intrigue opens up before Cyrene. She starts to notice strange occurrences and senses the presence of evil and deadly magic. King Edric and Prince Kael both vie for her attention, while she also garners the unwanted attention of Queen Kaliana. Cyrene has a long, dangerous road ahead of her as she navigates through the difficulties of her new life.

Linde plans at least four novels for her Ascension series, and much of the first novel is dedicated to world-building and the introduction of characters. She sets the Ascension series in a world named Emporia. Linde provides readers with a detailed map of Emporia to refer to while reading. This map includes locations of kingdoms, cities, mountains, lakes and rivers. Readers will also notice there is a pronunciation guide, which is important, because the names of characters and locations are unique and have unusual pronunciations. Linde explains the differences in the Class system, and she gives a very important history lesson about the Kingdom of Byern.

Linde begins The Affiliate with an intriguing prologue, sharing background information that immediately piqued my interest. Don’t cast aside what you read in the prologue. In my opinion, this information will be very important to the entire Ascension series. From the start, I was captivated by the fantasy, magic and intrigue. Royalty and court politics. The energy that flows between Edric and Cyrene. If you look beneath the surface of the story, I believe there much going on that is just beyond our reach. We are given a wealth of information to speculate about, and I have many theories. This is the type of story that I thrive upon – a story full of mystery, clues and foreshadowing, and I’m looking forward to finding out if any of my theories are correct!

While I was in the process of reading The Affiliate, thoughts of this story were in the back of my mind during my workday. I couldn’t wait to get home to pick back up in my reading. Although there are moments in the story where the pacing felt a little slow, my overall opinion of The Affiliate is very positive. The Affiliate is a strong start for the Ascension series, and I have no doubt this series will continue to strengthen with the addition of future novels. I’m giving The Affiliate a 4.5 star rating, and adding it to my list of 2015 favorites! Congratulations to author K.A. Linde!

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K.A. Linde Bio:

USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde is the author of The Affiliate, the first book in the Ascension Series. As a military brat, she traveled the world with her family, imaginary friends, and ever-increasing supply of books. She has spent much of her life dreaming up new worlds and characters and forcing them into uncomfortable, usually life-threatening scenarios. After graduating from the University of Georgia with a masters degree in political science, she began spending every waking hour putting those characters onto paper.

When not writing, she spends her time dancing, collecting paperbacks in the hopes of filling a Beauty and the Beast style library one day, traveling to visit her friends who live all over the country, and still reading anything she can get her hands on. She currently resides in North Carolina with her husband and two puppies, Lucy and Riker, where she is hard at work on her next novel.

Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Enter K.A. Linde’s fantastic giveaway!
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Release Day Blitz + 5 Star Review + 2015 Favorite + Giveaway: Fade To Red by Willow Aster

Posted on 09/21/2015 by shellbellereads

Fade To Red

By Willow Aster

Synopsis

Dancing in pop superstar Beckham Woods’ entourage was the last thing Roxie wanted. Her life with little Leo was blissfully ordinary; she didn’t have time for the drama that stirring up old memories would surely cause.

But when Roxie took a spot on an international tour with Woods and rock icon Ian Sterling, the lure of financial security and her passion for dance pulled her into an emotional storm that threatened to spin out of control and hurt the ones she loved most.

Just as she began to adjust to her new life, it became apparent that danger was in the shadows, waiting for a chance to move…

***Fade to Red is a standalone novel featuring characters from True Love Story.***

Buy: Amazon

Robin’s Review

Willow Aster introduces a new facet of her writing in her newest novel titled Fade to Red. She is proficient at telling a story, and although her novels aren’t many, those Aster has written are beautifully-crafted. True Love Story. In the Fields. Maybe Maby. Two of her previously written titles are contemporary romances, while the third is a coming-of-age novel. But Fade to Red is a different type of story for Willow Aster. It’s a romantic suspense novel, a genre in which Aster very obviously excels, and something I was pleasantly surprised to discover!

Roxie Taylor loves dancing. She’s absolutely incredible in her audition for a spot with the dancing entourage for superstar Beckham Woods. Roxie doesn’t think she’ll be offered a position, but when Beck sees her dance, he specifically requests that she be chosen for his upcoming tour with Ian Sterling. He doesn’t realize it, but Beck and Roxie have a history. When they dance together, their sexual chemistry is off the charts, but so is the underlying tension. Roxie carries a whole lot of anger for Beck, and he has no idea why.

Fade to Red is mysterious. Willow Aster kept me guessing about the circumstances surrounding Roxie and Beckham’s past for most of the book. Clues about their past begin early in the story and continue to be sprinkled throughout. Fade to Red drew on my interest like a moth is drawn to a flame. I couldn’t wait to get to the bottom of the truth, but I also enjoyed experiencing their story along the way.

Wow – Willow Aster writes great romantic suspense! I was excited to explore this new component of her writing, especially since I thought Fade to Red was a contemporary romance. She writes a scary villain – one who is mentally unstable, but cunning enough to evade detection – in Fade to Red. I was a nervous wreck the entire time I was reading! The suspense aspect, combined with the element of mystery, really makes Fade to Red a page-turner!

Fade to Red is a spinoff novel of True Love Story. Instead of a small guest appearance of Ian Sterling and Sparrow Fisher, fans of these beloved characters will be delighted to learn this couple plays a huge role in Fade to Red! In fact, along with Beckham and Roxie, Ian claims one of the four points-of-view in Fade to Red. I’ll leave the fourth point-of-view as a surprise.

Willow Aster has her own, unique writing voice, which seems to fit her personality. In Fade to Red, the writing flows beautifully and the pacing is continuous. The author quickly captured my attention with the mystery and clues and by steadily building the suspense element to the explosive climax. My nerves were completely wrecked by the time I finished reading Fade to Red! The back and forth, the push and pull between Roxie and Beck, and the mystery behind their past – all of this combines to create sexual tension that is scorching hot! Fade to Red is truly an outstanding romantic suspense novel, and I really hope we see more in this genre from Willow Aster in the future! Fade to Red grabs 5 stars and is one of my 2015 favorites!

Giveaway

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About Willow Aster

Willow Aster loves nothing more than writing the day away–anywhere will do. Her ideal place to write would be a remote treehouse somewhere, but not just any treehouse. It would need to be more like a fabulous cottage inside and free of bugs. Oh!–and a refrigerator full of Coca-cola, Orangina, and cheese. www.willowaster.com

Author of True L̶o̶v̶e̶ Story (USA Today Bestseller), In the Fields, Maybe Maby and the upcoming Fade to Red.

Connect with Willow

Webpage: http://www.willowaster.com/

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/willowasterauthor?fref=ts

Facebook Fan Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/870978829643191/

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6863360.Willow_Aster

Goodreads Fan Group: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/169437-fans-of-willow-aster

Instagram: https://instagram.com/willowaster1/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WillowAster

Newsletter Signup link: http://eepurl.com/bvmq9L

Release Day Blitz: Dirty Promises by Karina Halle – The Dirty Angels Series – Book 3

Posted on 09/15/2015 by shellbellereads

Dirty Promises

Dirty Angels Series – Book 3

By Karina Halle

Release Date : September 15, 2015

Synopsis

Dirty Promises is the final book in The Dirty Angels Trilogy. While the first two books can be read as standalones, Dirty Promises can not. Reading Dirty Angels and Dirty Deeds beforehand is HIGHLY recommended.

Also, people sensitive to violence and immoral characters who make questionable decisions should refrain from reading this book. The real cartel life is not pretty, not easy and certainly NOT romantic and that is more than reflected in Dirty Promises.
Blood. Sex. Revenge.
It ain’t easy being king.
Drug lord Javier Bernal has sliced and diced his way to the top of the Mexican drug trade, presiding over the country’s largest cartel. But his rise to power comes at a brutal price: the death of his sister, Alana. Devastated and wracked with guilt, he turns away from his new wife, Luisa, forcing their marriage into a steady decline. But it isn’t until she’s pushed into the waiting arms of Esteban Mendoza, his right-hand man, that Javier realizes everything he’s lost.
And it isn’t until he learns the truth about Alana, that he realizes everything there is to gain.
Blood will spill.
Cities will burn.
Heads will roll.
Because Javier will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants.
And what he wants is raw, ruthless revenge.
The most dangerous man is the one with nothing left to lose.

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

EXCERPT

My gun began to feel heavy in my hands. I needed to use it, and soon.

Light was seeping in underneath the door, so I pushed my goggles up on my head and slowly pushed it open.

The kitchen was empty, and the only light came from above the stove. The fridge hummed and the house was silent except for muffled laughter coming from down the hall.

A terrible scream splintered the room.

A man’s scream.

Had the ambush already begun?

I exchanged a worried glance with Diego as we heard doors further down the hall being flung open. Footsteps.

People ran past the kitchen, heading up the stairs toward the scream, not bothering to look our way.

All of them except for Juanito, that was.

He stopped dead in his tracks at the archway, staring at us like we were ghosts. I couldn’t help but grin.

He snapped out of it, reaching for his gun, but mine was already aimed at him. I shot him in the kneecaps, both of them, just as his gun fired, bullets cracking the ceiling.

Then, as if on cue, all of the outside erupted in gunfire. The sound shook the walls, and through the rattling windows bursts of light filled the sky. My army was here.

I ran over to Juanito who was screaming in pain, and picked him up by the collar, shaking him.

“All right you little fuckface,” I sneered at him, trying to fight the urge to strangle the fucking life out of him. “Tell me where Esteban is and I’ll make your death painless. Don’t tell me and I’ll break your bones with a hammer. Which one is it?”

His screaming wouldn’t stop. I shook him again. “You can’t protect him now. You’ll never fucking walk again and he sure as hell won’t give two fucks about a pathetic piece of garbage like you. So talk.”

But before he could, Diego was calling out my name. I let go of Juanito, rolling over him just in time as the air above me burned with bullets. Diego fired back at the assailants, and I kept rolling until I was behind the kitchen island. I quickly reached for the grenade which I knew could take out enough of them without damaging the structural integrity of the house, and tossed it out of the kitchen. It rolled down the hallway.

They yelled at each other to move but it was too late. I pressed my hands over my ears as the blast went off.

“Jesus, Javi,” Diego swore as pieces of plaster rained down on him. “You haven’t even moved back in yet.”

I didn’t care if it was sloppier than my usual methods — it was efficient. I scrambled to my feet and stared at the wreckage. There was a ragged hole in the wall, smoke and flames licking the edge.

I shrugged. “I wanted to open up that room anyway.”

Miraculously, or something of that nature, Juanito was still alive, holding on to his bleeding and blasted knees as he writhed on the floor.

He was missing half his face though, so it wasn’t like he escaped the explosion unscathed. He was very scathed and crawling for freedom.

I covered my nose and mouth with the crook of my elbow and walked into the smoke, letting it wash over me. Juanito looked up at me with what was left of him, begging for mercy with an outstretched hand.

I stepped on his hand instead, crunching the bones beneath my boot.

“That was for my sister,” I seethed. “I know you intercepted her call when she was calling me for help.”

“Javier, we have to go,” Diego said, coughing and coming over to stop me. A war was raging around me, but none of it mattered. All that mattered was an eye for an eye.

This time I stomped on Juanito’s arm, driving it in with all my might, like I was squashing a cockroach, until I felt it break beneath me.

He screamed.

I smiled.

But I was the furthest thing from happy.

And Juanito couldn’t even speak at this point. His mouth was a flap of burning skin, covering a gaping hole. He was useless.

I slid the hunter’s knife out of its sheath, and with one swift motion, stabbed it downward into the top of his skull.

The screaming stopped.

Robin’s Review

So…..I just finished reading Dirty Promises by Karina Halle. Dirty Promises is absolutely phenomenal, but this story is not going to be for everyone. If you’re expecting a new adult or contemporary romance similar to Where Sea Meets Sky or Racing the Sun or Love, in English, you are going to be surprised! You need to have a strong threshold for reading about torture, rape and many other depraved acts. If you are sensitive to these types of violence, please thoughtfully consider whether or not to move forward with reading this story. Now on to the good stuff!

Although each novel of the Dirty Angels series can be read as a standalone, I recommend these books be read in order. In fact, I will take this statement one step further and recommend that you read Sins & Needles, Shooting Scars and Bold Tricks before beginning the Dirty Angels series. The events that take place in The Artists Trilogy occur before the Dirty Angels series and many of the characters cross over into Dirty Angels, Dirty Deeds and Dirty Promises. It’s not absolutely necessary, but I think if you read The Artists Trilogy first, it may improve your reading experience. I consider both of these series to be dark romantic suspense, with a key emphasis on the word dark.

The plot of Dirty Promises centers on a Mexican cartel, with the main characters being drug lord Javier Bernal, his queen Luisa Bernal, and their second-in-command, Esteban Mendoza. Javier and Luisa are having marital problems. Esteban is jealous of Javier and power hungry. He seeks to exploit any weakness that Javier may have. What plays out is a chess match – players maneuvering to see who will come out on top. I don’t want to give too much away, but as you can imagine, the cartel lifestyle is brutal. It’s every man for himself, and as you probably know, drug lords rule by fear.

Esteban Mendoza. Javier Bernal. Esteban is sexually depraved. Javier, our antihero, likes to inflict pain. Actually, both of these men like to inflict pain, but at least Javier has the capability of feeling remorse. Esteban is pure evil. Both of these men are fueled by hatred and rage, while Luisa spirals downward into an exceedingly black frame of mind. Dirty Promises is told from the perspective of each of these characters. Karina Halle pushes the boundaries of dark writing in this novel. It’s creativity at the darkest level. Reading their thoughts put me in a very dark place. In fact, there were moments when this novel was almost too intense for me to read.

The true strength of Dirty Promises lies in the writing. Karina Halle has written more than twenty-five books which span over several genres. With this being said, I believe Dirty Promises may be Halle’s best book yet. She shows the true extent of her talent and creativity, and her artistic and storytelling skills. Her descriptive writing appeals to the senses of those who read her novels, even the most seasoned readers, and the effect is truly astounding. Her descriptive writing gives you the feeling of witnessing a scene firsthand, kind of like the movies, with the benefit of knowing what the characters are thinking. I’m going to be honest with you. If you love dark novels, if you think you can handle the violence, I highly recommend Dirty Promises! Karina Halle gets a 6-star rating from me, and I will definitely be including this novel on my list of 2015 favorites!

Michel’s Review

Dirty Promises by Karina Halle is the grand finale in the Dirty Angels Series. The ending was epic! Karina Halle pulled out a handful of surprises, gruesome shockers, and realistic scenes that make this story credible. She allowed these characters to fail and hit rock bottom . When they found the strength to pick themselves up and fight back, it was not a classic fairytale battle where Prince Charming conquers, wins the princess, and they live happily ever after. It’s a dirty dark story. It’s a dirty fight. Some would say that Javier conquered his world and won. He may have came out the last man standing but it was not without paying a very heavy price.

Javier Bernal is the King. He’s become the leader of one of the most powerful cartels in Mexico. He rules his kingdom with a heavy hand. He’s ruthless, at times heartless, and would not hesitate to kill if you cross him. He lives by his own code of honor and has stayed true to it throughout the years. But one incident changes him and his kingdom begins to crumble. His marriage begins to fail. His power is waning. His right hand man, Esteban Mendoza, is stepping in and taking his kingdom, including his queen, Luisa Bernal.

Javier has sunk to deepest depths of hell. He has become the devil himself. He has lost his sense of honor. He has become the man he never wanted to be. Power was too seductive. It cost him his wife and family. It cost him his cartel and power.

Javier will have to reach deep to find himself. He has some powerful tricks up his sleeve. He will never surrender, even if it means his queen must die.

Luisa Bernal is caught in Javier’s path to hell. She is a pawn between two men seeking absolute power. Her love for Javier has destroyed her. Her love for Javier will be her death. She may not have chose this life but she will choose to die with her dignity. Even Javier cannot take that away from her.

A brutal bloodbath that takes many lives will prove who will come out on top. No one is going to be the same.

This book was very realistic portraying the violence in the Mexican Cartels. It is gruesome, violent, abusive, and degrading. At the same time there are valuable life lessons learned. Choices that will either define them as humans or monsters. In the end Javier Bernal is going to face his sins. It will be up to him to choose what kind of man he wants to be.

Karina Halle did not hold back in this story. She gave the reader an action packed, edge of the seat ,dark romantic suspense book. Her writing was incredible. As a reader you are drawn into their world and witnessing this dark story as it unfolds.

I highly recommend The Dirty Angels series. These books need to be read in series order. I would also recommend reading the Artist Trilogy along with the novella, On Every Street. The Artist Trilogy introduces the readers to Javier Bernal as a young man on his quest for power. The reader gets a true sense of the man he is and how he evolved into what some would call the devil himself.

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The Dirty Angels Trilogy

Dirty Angels

Dirty Angels Trilogy – Book 1

From the USA Today Bestselling author of Love, in English and The Artists Trilogy, comes a dark romance about a good girl and a very, very bad man. It’s a deliciously twisted take on forbidden love, set among the drug cartels of hot, steamy Mexico and is not for the faint of heart. It contains explicit sex, violence, abuse, drug use, bad language and sexy Mexicans. You have been warned…

For Luisa Chavez, a twenty-three year old former beauty queen, a better life has always been just out of her reach. Sure, she’s had men at her feet since she was a young teenager but she’s never had the one thing she’s craved – security. Having grown up in near poverty, her waitressing job in Cabo San Lucas can barely let her take care of herself, let alone her ailing parents. Every day is another unwanted advance, every day is a struggle to survive.

When Salvador Reyes, the depraved leader of a major Mexican cartel, takes an interest in her, Luisa is presented with an opportunity she can’t afford to pass up. She’ll become Salvador’s wife and exchange her freedom and body for a life of riches – riches she can bestow upon her deserving parents. But Luisa quickly finds out that even the finest wines and jewels can’t undo the ugliness in her marriage, nor the never-ending violence that threatens her every move.

Soon, Luisa is looking for an escape, a way out of the carefully controlled life she’s leading. She finally gets her wish in the worst way possible.

As it is, being the wife of Salvador makes her an ideal target for rival cartels and there’s one particular man who needs Luisa as part of his cartel’s expansion. One particular man whose quest for power has destroyed lives, slit throats and gotten him out of an American prison. One particular man who will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants.

That man is Javier Bernal. And he wants Luisa. He wants to take her, keep her, ruin her.

Unless she ruins him first.

Some men were born to create empires, some women were meant to be queen.

**Dirty Angels is the first standalone novel in the Dirty Angels Trilogy, in which all books feature or involve different characters. The character of Javier Bernal is from The Artists Trilogy, and while reading TAT is recommended if you want additional insight into this twisted character, it is not required.**

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

************

Dirty Deeds

Dirty Angels Trilogy – Book 2

By Karina Halle

Synopsis

From The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling author of The Pact and Sins & Needles, comes the next standalone novel in the darkly romantic suspense Dirty Angels Trilogy – DIRTY DEEDS.

As a flight attendant, Alana Bernal has had her share of suitors. She’s also had more than her fair share of tragedy within her messed-up family. But what she hasn’t had is love. Real, rip-your-heart-out, tear-your-clothes-off, all-consuming love.

At least that was the case until she met an American tourist, Derek Conway, a ripped ex-soldier with steely eyes and a commanding presence.

What started as a chance encounter between the two in Puerto Vallarta, a weekend full of hot sex and mindless passion, has led to something more.

Something deadly.

Because Derek isn’t the type of man to fall in love. He’s not a man who sticks around.

And he’s definitely not in Mexico on vacation.

Derek is a mercenary, a killer-for-hire, a man who does the ugly jobs for the highest bidder.

Unfortunately for Alana and Derek, the highest bidder has the power to destroy whatever worlds they have created for themselves.

The highest bidder can destroy everything.

NOTE: this book follows Dirty Angels but can be read as a standalone. It has scenes of violence, harsh language and sexual situations. Not intended for those under 18.

Buy: Amazon

Dirty Promise

Book 3

Buy: Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo
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Karina Halle is a former travel writer and music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of Where Sea Meets Sky, Racing the Sun, The Pact, Love, in English, The Artists Trilogy, Dirty Angels and over 20 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her rescue pup, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.

Halle is represented by the Waxman Leavell Agency and is both self-published and published by Atria Books/Simon & Schuster and Hachette in North America and in the UK.

Hit her up on Instagram at @authorHalle , on Twitter at @MetalBlonde and on Facebook. You can also visit www.authorkarinahalle.com and sign up for the newsletter for news, excerpts, previews, private book signing sales and more.

FACEBOOK TWITTER GOODREADS AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

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Limited Time…Dirty Angels…FREE…Dirty Deeds on Sale…Dirty Angels Trilogy by Karina Halle

Posted on 09/09/2015 by shellbellereads

Dirty Promises

Dirty Angels Series – Book 3

By Karina Halle

Release Date : September 15, 2015

Synopsis

_________________________________________________

The Dirty Angels Trilogy

Dirty Angels

Dirty Angels Trilogy – Book 1

Soon, Luisa is looking for an escape, a way out of the carefully controlled life she’s leading. She finally gets her wish in the worst way possible.

That man is Javier Bernal. And he wants Luisa. He wants to take her, keep her, ruin her.

Unless she ruins him first.

Some men were born to create empires, some women were meant to be queen.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

________________________________________________

Michel’s Review

It is no secret that The Artist Trilogy by Karina Halle is one of my all time favorite series. I absolutely loved all the characters. I admit that I was definitely team Camden. But on the other hand I was darkly fascinated with Javier Bernal. He was one of those characters that you hated to love and you loved to hate. He was ruthless, a bit psychotic, cruel, dark, and oozing with sex appeal. His character was unforgettable.

After his demise in the final book of the Artist Trilogy, readers were left wondering how the hell he was going to get out the situation he was in. Ahhh….Javier is a very crafty and calculating man. He did not become the leader of one of the largest drug cartels by accident. It was sheer ruthlessness, precise calculation, and diabolical patience that made him the king of one of the most barbaric drug cartels.

Dirty Angels by Karina Halle is Javier Bernal’s ominous kingdom and his quest for his queen. It is not a fairy tale that is roses and rainbows. It is your worst nightmare. It is a love story based on despicable deeds and monstrous behaviors. But it is the only kind of love story Javier can have. His world is violent, diabolical, and gruesome. There are no second chances. Life is expendable. Even for those you love.

What starts as a power play ends up being a blood bath. The bargaining chip is the very beautiful wife of the leader of a rival drug cartel. Her value will change all the rules. Her innocence will bring Javier to his knees. Her sinister acceptance will escalate Javier’s passion. Her dark beauty will mark his soul.

Javier is on a very dark road. His actions will be henious. His reactions will be shocking. His code of honor will be admired as well as abhorred.

Luisa will win the reader’s hearts. Her bravery and fate will have the reader reeling. Her evolution into the darkness will prove that she is a Queen to be reckoned with.

Dirty Angels is a hard edged, gritty, gruesome, and sensual book. Karina Halle did not pull any punches with this book. Her portrayal of the underworld of the Mexican drug cartels is brutally honest. This is a novel with high octane, violent suspense that will keep the readers glued to the pages. Readers will love to love Javier, they will hate to love Javier, and they will love to hate Javier. They will embrace Luisa and commend her for evolving into the Dark Queen.

Karina Halle has wrote another superb story! Dirty Angels will definitely go on my 2014 Favorite Reads List!

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Dirty Deeds

Dirty Angels Trilogy – Book 2

By Karina Halle

Synopsis

At least that was the case until she met an American tourist, Derek Conway, a ripped ex-soldier with steely eyes and a commanding presence.

What started as a chance encounter between the two in Puerto Vallarta, a weekend full of hot sex and mindless passion, has led to something more.

Something deadly.

Because Derek isn’t the type of man to fall in love. He’s not a man who sticks around.

And he’s definitely not in Mexico on vacation.

Derek is a mercenary, a killer-for-hire, a man who does the ugly jobs for the highest bidder.

Unfortunately for Alana and Derek, the highest bidder has the power to destroy whatever worlds they have created for themselves.

The highest bidder can destroy everything.

NOTE: this book follows Dirty Angels but can be read as a standalone. It has scenes of violence, harsh language and sexual situations. Not intended for those under 18.

Buy: Amazon

Robin’s Review

If you loved the non-stop action of The Artists Trilogy by author Karina Halle, I feel confident that you will enjoy the Dirty Angels series! Although each of the novels in the Dirty Angels series can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend they be read in order. In fact, I’ll take it one step further and recommend that you read The Artists Trilogy before reading Dirty Angels, Dirty Deeds, and Dirty Promises. There is a significant amount of backstory you will learn about many of the characters, and I think this will improve your overall reading experience.

Dirty Deeds is the second novel of the Dirty Angels series. It’s a dark, romantic suspense novel that focuses on mercenary-for-hire Derek Conway and Alana Bernal, the sister of drug lord Javier Bernal. This story is sexy, exciting, dangerous and full of twists as Derek and Alana fall in love.

I had forgotten just how much I thrived on Karina Halle’s brand of suspense. She is absolutely fantastic at writing a dramatic, thrilling scene involving fights and deadly pursuits! There are moments in Dirty Deeds where Halle’s descriptive writing feels so realistic that you can envision or smell or taste what she is describing! If you have already read and enjoyed her new adult and contemporary romances, be sure to read one of her romantic suspense novels – this is where Karina Halle shines! I enjoyed Dirty Deeds. This 4-star novel was a quick read and left me chomping at the bit for Dirty Promises!

Dirty Promise

Book 3

Coming …September 15,2015

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Author Bio:

Halle is represented by the Waxman Leavell Agency and is both self-published and published by Atria Books/Simon & Schuster and Hachette in North America and in the UK.

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Happy Release + Review: Darken The Stars by Amy A. Bartol – The Kricket Series – Book 3

Posted on 09/08/2015 by shellbellereads

Darken The Stars

The Kricket Series – Book 3

By Amy A. Bartol

Synopsis

Kyon Ensin finally has what he’s always wanted: possession of Kricket Hollowell, the priestess who foresees the future. Together, their combined power will be unrivaled. Kricket, however, doesn’t crave the crown of Ethar—she has an unbreakable desire to live life on her own terms, a life that she desperately wants to share with her love, Trey Allairis.

As conspiracies rage in the war for Ethar, Kricket’s so-called allies want to use her as a spy. Even those held closest cannot be trusted—including Astrid, her sister, and Giffen, a member of a mysterious order with a hidden agenda. But Kricket’s resolve will not allow her to be used as anyone’s pawn, even as the Brotherhood sharpens its plans to cut out her heart.

As the destiny prophesied by her mother approaches, Kricket will backtrack through her fiery future to reshape it. For she knows one thing above all else: the only person she can truly count on is herself.

Buy: Amazon / B & N

Robin’s Review

***Many thanks to 47North and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of Darken the Stars by Amy A. Bartol. This is my honest review. This review may contain spoilers***

The final installment of The Kricket Series by Amy A. Bartol is now upon us. Darken the Stars has been highly anticipated since readers were left hanging from a veritable cliff in the climatic ending to Sea of Stars. After finishing the final novel of this trilogy, I realize writing a spoiler-free review for Darken the Stars isn’t going to be easy to accomplish, so I am giving readers a spoiler warning. Before I begin, it’s important to mention The Kricket Series should be read in order. Darken the Stars is not meant to be read as a standalone novel.

Readers who have followed this science fiction/fantasy series will remember that our heroine, Kricket Hollowell, is a priestess who has the power to see the future. She’s also a soothsayer who can discern if someone is speaking the truth. Kricket is believed to be the priestess of the prophecy – the priestess born of two worlds and two Houses (Rafe and Alameeda) who will become the Empress of Ethar.

Darken the Stars continues where Sea of Stars ended. Just like the first two novels of The Kricket Series, Darken the Stars is full of non-stop action. The five Houses of Ethar are on the precipice of war. Kricket discovers she is a pawn, caught between two ruthless leaders who are vying for supreme rule over Ethar. She is also being held by Kyon Ensin, a member of the Alameeda Brotherhood who plans to make her his consort, on his tropical island estate. Kricket continues to have visions of the future, where she learns the machinations planned for her and the future of Ethar. With each new vision that occurs, Kricket counters to change future events. It’s a game of chess between warring factions, and Kricket is the pawn, being used by others for their own gain.

Bartol has an extremely creative imagination. But what I find equally important is her ability to express her imagination on paper. She’s an excellent author. When I look back at the content of this trilogy, it’s truly impressive. Amy Bartol created a whole new world with its own vocabulary. She even includes a glossary in the back of her novels to assist readers!

Halfway through the story, I knew Darken the Stars was going to be my favorite novel in this trilogy. Bartol slowly reveals the true nature of each player in The Kricket Series. Kricket learns who has her best interests at heart. People Kricket thought she could trust are not so trustworthy. For me, just learning these characters are not all black and white – sometimes they are gray – gives The Kricket Series more depth.

All Kricket has ever wanted is to be able to make her own choices, to live a life of her own choosing. I’m going to be honest. For me, the conclusion of The Kricket Series is bittersweet. I have a feeling Darken the Stars is going to be very controversial. Everything about this book screams 5 stars! If I knew Amy Bartol planned to write more story about these characters, I would definitely give Darken the Stars a 5-star rating. But I was left wanting more, and the series is finished. So much is left unresolved that it leaves me with no choice but to give Darken the Stars a rating of 4.5 stars. I really enjoyed reading The Kricket Series. There’s no doubt in my mind that Darken the Stars is my favorite book of The Kricket Series, and I’m adding it to my list of 2015 favorites!

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The Kricket Series

Under Different Stars

The Kricket Series- Book 1

By Amy A. Bartol

Synopsis

Kricket Hollowell never wished upon stars. She was too busy hiding in plain sight, eluding Chicago’s foster care system. As her eighteenth birthday approaches, she now eagerly anticipates the day she’ll stop running and finally find her place in the world.

That day comes when she meets a young Etharian soldier named Trey Allairis, who has been charged with coming to Earth to find Kricket and transport her to her true home. As danger draws close, he must protect her until she can wield the powers she cannot use on Earth…and he soon realizes that counting a galaxy of stars would be easier than losing this extraordinary girl.

Kyon knows the powerful depths of Kricket’s gifts—gifts he’ll control when he takes her for his tribe and leads the forces that will claim Ethar and destroy his enemies, starting with Trey Allairis. Now, Kricket faces the most difficult choice of her life: whether to wage a battle for survival or a fight for love.

Winner of four 2014 utopYA Awards, including Best Book of the Year and Best Sci-Fi Book of the Year.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Sea of Stars

The Kricket Series – Book 2

By Amy A. Bartol

Synopsis

Eighteen-year-old Kricket Hollowell was looking for her place in the world when she discovered that the universe was bigger—and more dangerous—than she had ever dreamed. Now, whisked across space to the planet Ethar, Kricket learns that her genetic ability to see the future makes her a sought-after commodity…and the catalyst for war between her star-crossed parents’ clans. According to Alameedan prophecy, one house will rise to power and the other will be completely wiped out, and Kricket’s precognition is believed to be the weapon that will tip the scales.

A target of both the Rafe and the Alameeda houses, Kricket finds protection—and a home—in the arms of Trey, her Etharian bodyguard-turned-boyfriend. But her visions of what’s to come disturb her deeply, especially since she must discover whether the gift of foresight will allow her to rewrite the future, or if her fate is as immovable as the stars.

The highly anticipated sequel to Under Different Stars, winner of four 2014 utopYA Awards.

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

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Author of Inescapable: The Premonition Series (Volume 1), Intuition: The Premonition Series (Volume 2), Indebted: The Premonition Series (Volume 3) , and Incendiary: The Premonition Series (Volume 4). Currently working on a fifth novel in the Premonition Series entitled Iniquity.

Under Different Stars (Kricket Series Book 1)
Sea of Stars (The Kricket Series Book 2) – (Release date 3/31/15)

The Divided – A Science Fiction Romance short story, which is included in the Take Me To Your Reader: An Otherworld Anthology.

I live in Michigan with my husband and our two sons. My family is very supportive of my writing. When I’m writing, they often bring me the take-out menu so that I can call and order them dinner. They listen patiently when I talk about my characters like they’re real. They rarely roll their eyes when I tell them I’ll only be a second while I finish writing a chapter…and then they take off their coats. They ask me how the story is going when I surface after living for hours in a world of my own making. They have learned to accept my “writing uniform” consisting of a slightly unflattering pink fleece jacket, t-shirt, and black yoga pants. And they smile at my nerdy bookishness whenever I try to explain urban fantasy to them. In short, they get me, so they are perfect and I am blessed. Please visit me at my website: http://www.amyabartol.weebly.com

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Reviews + Giveaway: The Year I Became Isabella Anders by Jessica Sorensen

Posted on 09/08/2015 by shellbellereads

Happy Release Day to Jessica Sorensen and her new YA book, The Year I Became Isabella Anders! Make sure to enter the giveaway for a signed paperback of this book! #NewSeries #TopFave

♥ BUY THE BOOK ♥

Amazon

Isabella Anders has always been the girl that never fit in. Most days she feels invisible, especially when she’s around her older sister, Hannah, who catches the eye of everyone, including Kai and Kyler, the boys who live next door.

Isabella has had a crush on Kyler for years, but knows he’ll never see her as anything more than Hannah’s little sister, unless she finds a way to standout.

When Isabella gets an offer from her grandmother to travel overseas for the summer, she seizes the opportunity, hoping she’ll discover more about herself. And she does, but not in the way that she expected.

Three months later, Isabella returns home an entirely new person. The change is enough to catch both Kyler and Kai’s attention. But Isabella is still struggling with what she discovered over the summer and until she deals with the truth, she’ll never truly be herself.

Cover Created by Sarah Hansen Okay Creations

Photography by Lauren at Perrywinkle Photography

Buy: Amazon

Cold rain instantly soaks through my clothes as I skip down the driveway, moving awkwardly, because I can’t bend one knee. I don’t care though. Rain is awesome. And it smells so great. Seriously, if I could, I’d skip around in the rain all the time.

My hair is drenched by the time I reach the sidewalk, and the flip-flops splash water from the puddles all over the backs of my legs. It reminds me of this one time Kai and I walked home in the rain and we intentionally splashed in all the puddles.

“Isa! What are you doing?!” Someone shouts with a hint of laughter in their voice.

My head whips to the side as I stumble to a stop.

Kai is standing out on the side deck, beneath the shelter of the roof, and I think he might be laughing at me, but the veil of rain crashing from the cloudy sky makes it difficult to see.

“Going to the paint store!” I shout then wave at him and start to skip off again.

“Are you crazy?” he calls out. “You can’t walk to town in the middle of a rainstorm.”

I sigh and slow down again. “I’m not walking! I’m skipping!” My eyelashes flutter against the rain.

“Can’t you wait until it at least stops raining?” he asks, shaking his head as I jump into a puddle.

“No way! It’s either the rain or being in the house with Hannah. And I choose the rain. Besides, rain is awesome!”

I can hear him laughing all the way from over here.

“Would you get your ass over here?” He waves at me to come to him. “I’ll drive you if you really want to go. But it’s too damn cold for you to be playing around in the rain, no matter how cute you look.”

Cute? Did he just call me cute?

Enjoy a sneak peek into two trailer teasers created by Becca at Bibliophile Productions

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Robin’s Review

When I learned that Jessica Sorensen had a young adult novel about to release, I jumped at the chance to participate as a reviewer on her release day! Sorensen is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She has a wealth of writing experience, as evidenced by the more than 50 titles she has published. Sorensen is a talented author, and it shows in The Year I Became Isabella Anders. This story is really good. It’s one of those novels that ends too quickly and leaves you yearning for more.

Our protagonist is seventeen-year-old Isabella Anders. Isa has always been the odd one out in her family. Her interests lie in manga, comic books, zombies, blogging and a boy who lives next door – Kyler Meyers. She’s a tomboy who wears hoodies and baggy clothes – that is until she spends the summer in Europe with her Grandma Stephy. Isa opens herself up to a world of self-discovery and excitement, and when she returns home, her dramatic changes catch the attention of not one, but both of the boys who live next door.

One of the most interesting aspects of The Year I Became Isabella Anders is that this story is multifaceted. Sorensen includes several subplots which combine for one very interesting story. Don’t be misled by the synopsis. It’s accurate, but there is whole lot more going on with Isabella than mentioned in the synopsis. Isa has a complicated, confusing and somewhat mysterious life. There are many things to ponder about our protagonist, and I have many questions that I am dying to have answered! If you love mystery and intrigue, this story has it in spades!

And can I talk about those boys who live next door? Kai and Kyler Meyers are absolutely swoon worthy! Jessica Sorensen always creates interesting and complex characters, and these boys are no exception! Except for the final chapter, this novel is told from Isabella’s perspective. First person point of view tends to create mystery because, as readers, we never know exactly what the other characters are thinking. We never truly know the motivations behind their actions. Kai Meyers has me especially intrigued. Although it’s not too angsty and intense, I should probably mention there is a love triangle in The Year I Became Isabella Anders.

Isabella Anders is a complex protagonist, and even with a second novel on the way, she is already showing character development. Although this story has a minor cliffhanger, it’s not at all unbearable like some cliffhangers can be. I really can’t think of anything negative to say about this novel. Jessica Sorensen will soon be publishing a second novel about Isabella Anders – The Year of Falling in Love – and I can’t wait to delve into more story about these characters. The Year I Became Isabella Anders is a 5-star novel, and I’ll be adding to my list of 2015 favorites!

Michel’s Review

It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of Jessica Sorensen’s books. Every time she releases a new book or starts a new series I instantly add it to my “Must Read Now” list. I devour the books and am left wanting more. Jessica Sorensen has a gift of creating characters that come to life and jump off the pages. Her characters are always complex individuals with multiple layers to their personalities. She adds adversity and emotional angst that makes them vulnerable. She allows them to take their personal journey with humility and strength. Throughout their journeys the characters grow as individuals and become the people they were meant to be. She does not hide the ugly realities of their lives and portrays those realities so that the reader is completely sympathetic to their plights. I always find myself deeply connected with her characters and their stories.

The Year I Became Isabella Anders is fantastic. It’s a story of a young woman discovering her self worth and embracing her inner beauty. It’s a story of a girl becoming a strong young woman brave enough to face the realities of her life. A story of a young woman embracing change with a natural grace. She is also learning to open up and allow others into her small world to make it brighter.

Isabella Anders has always been the odd duck. She doesn’t fit into the mold her family has tried to put her into. She has lived in her perfect older sister’s shadow all of her life. She has failed to inherit the perfection her mother seems to possess at all times. She is an outcast among her peers in school. One summer changes everything for Isabella.

A trip abroad with her grandmother and cousin is the best thing to happen in her life. For once she is treated as valuable individual. She is appreciated for her unique individuality. Along the way she learns to look at herself in a new way. Her cousin helps her perfect her outer beauty. Her grandmother teaches her to cherish her inner beauty. As the summer progresses, Isabella transforms into a confident beautiful young woman. But she also learns that her place in her family is much more complicated than not fitting into their mold. There are secrets that even her own grandmother is not privy to. Secrets only her parents can answer. Secrets that explain why Isabella Anders is the way she is. Secrets that could either free her or destroy her.

When Isabella returns home a newly improved Isabella, the Meyers Brothers take notice. Her life long crush, Kyler Meyers, finally sees Isabella as a beautiful girl. Kai Meyers has always seen who Isabella Anders is, now he must show her that he has always had his eyes wide open. But all is not as it seems in the Meyers household. They too have their secrets.

As Isabella’s friendships with Meyers boys grow, the mysteries of her own past are not the only ones she wants to solve. She too has her eyes wide open now. She’s ready to handle every secret shoved under the rug. She’s ready to handle the Meyers Brothers. She’s ready for anything life has to throw at her. Her biggest choice is which Meyers boy will hold her hand and capture her heart.

I loved this book. It is a story of a young woman finding herself while uncovering secrets that have been hidden to long.

The Year I Became Isabella Anders ended on a cliffhanger that leaves the reader dying for more. Look for The Year of Falling In Love – book 2 soon! Meanwhile…enjoy this book!

Jessica Sorensen is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author from the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.

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Jessica Sorensen’s THE YEAR I BECAME ISABELLA ANDERS Release Day Giveaway

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Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Before We Were Strangers by Renee Carlino

Posted on 08/18/2015 by shellbellereads

From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Sweet Thing and Nowhere But Here comes a love story about a Craigslist “missed connection” post that gives two people a second chance at love fifteen years after they were separated in New York City.

To the Green-eyed Lovebird:

We met fifteen years ago, almost to the day, when I moved my stuff into the NYU dorm room next to yours at Senior House.

You called us fast friends. I like to think it was more.

We lived on nothing but the excitement of finding ourselves through music (you were obsessed with Jeff Buckley), photography (I couldn’t stop taking pictures of you), hanging out in Washington Square Park, and all the weird things we did to make money. I learned more about myself that year than any other.

Yet, somehow, it all fell apart. We lost touch the summer after graduation when I went to South America to work for National Geographic. When I came back, you were gone. A part of me still wonders if I pushed you too hard after the wedding…

I didn’t see you again until a month ago. It was a Wednesday. You were rocking back on your heels, balancing on that thick yellow line that runs along the subway platform, waiting for the F train. I didn’t know it was you until it was too late, and then you were gone. Again. You said my name; I saw it on your lips. I tried to will the train to stop, just so I could say hello.

After seeing you, all of the youthful feelings and memories came flooding back to me, and now I’ve spent the better part of a month wondering what your life is like. I might be totally out of my mind, but would you like to get a drink with me and catch up on the last decade and a half?

AMAZON *** BARNES & NOBLE *** iBooks

Robin’s Review

I knew it would have to be a very special story to surpass my love for Sweet Thing, but I now have a new Renee Carlino favorite! Before We Were Strangers has all of the characteristics that I love to see in a contemporary romance. I love the friends-to-lovers scenario, and if it is done right, they can be so very satisfying. Carlino had me wrapped around her little finger with Matt and Gracie. I just love how they dance around each other as their feelings for each other evolve. Before We Were Strangers is also a second chance romance. These are characters that I absolutely adore, and I fell in love with them, their relationship, not once, but twice.

In many ways, Matthias William Shore and Graceland Marie Starr are a typical college couple. They meet at the beginning of their senior year at NYU. They are kindred, free spirits. A photographer and cellist, both having extremely artistic souls. Their relationship is lighthearted and sweet. Matt and Gracie are fast friends, confidants, and before the year is over, lovers. It is a whirlwind year, but graduation closes in around Matt and Gracie, and they are pulled in separate directions. Fast forward fifteen years. Matt and Gracie have been living completely separate lives. That is, until the day Matt sees Gracie on the subway train that is pulling away, and his heart aches to reconnect with her.

There is something very special about Matt and Gracie, and more specifically, how these two interact to each other. Their college relationship is playful, and their personalities are buoyant. They enjoy each other’s friendship, but there is a real tension which sparks between them. In reality, they face problems like all college kids do, but it’s the way they respond to their problems which sets this couple apart. I really connected with these characters, and I found myself fully invested in their story. I felt all of the emotions you are supposed to feel when you read a really good book – everything from pure joy to sadness and loss.

Renee Carlino included some very profound passages in Before We Were Strangers. You’ll find beautiful descriptions, including one which stood out to me that describes the intensity and importance of the first time you feel loved by another person. Another excerpt that caught my attention focuses on the passing of time. So many of us spend too much time focusing on memories or looking forward to the future, and we miss out on the beauty and opportunities of the now. Renee Carlino inserted a ton of wisdom into this story. Her writing has always been exceptional, but in my opinion, it continues to strengthen with each new novel. The writing in Before We Were Strangers is Carlino’s best yet.

I have nothing but positive things to say about Before We Were Strangers. It’s a solid 5-star novel. That’s the truth. It’s firmly on my list of 2015 favorites, and it may even make my top novels at the end of year. I highly recommend this contemporary romance!

Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and bestselling author of romantic women’s novels. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog June. When she’s not at the beach with her boys or
working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to
concerts, and eating dark chocolate.

FACEBOOK WEBSITE TWITTER INSTAGRAM

Giveaway

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/ZmI3ZDdhMzc3MTRjYzM5OTBkOWY1YmM5NmQ5OWMyOjE=/?

And a cute Missed Connections Link that is a great companion piece that you can use:
http://enterprise.supadu.com/images/ckfinder/26/files/sam-graham/48138-BeforeWeWereStrangers-MissedConnectionAd.jpg

Saucy Southern Readers

professional, honest, and timely book reviews

Category Archives: Robin

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Betrayal by Aleatha Romig is live! 2015 Favorite + 6 Star Review

Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway: The Affiliate by K.A. Line

Release Day Blitz + 5 Star Review + 2015 Favorite + Giveaway: Fade To Red by Willow Aster

Fade To Red

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About Willow Aster

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Release Day Blitz: Dirty Promises by Karina Halle – The Dirty Angels Series – Book 3

Happy Release + Review: Darken The Stars by Amy A. Bartol – The Kricket Series – Book 3

Release Blitz + Excerpt + 5 Star Reviews + Giveaway: The Year I Became Isabella Anders by Jessica Sorensen

Release Blitz + 5 Star Review + Giveaway: Before We Were Strangers by Renee Carlino

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Fade To Red

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About Willow Aster

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