Nocte (The Nocte Trilogy #1)

Nocte

(The Nocte Trilogy #1)

Courtney Cole

Release Date:

November 3, 2014

Publisher:

Lakehouse Press

Pages:

320

Source:

My Personal Copy

Reading Level:

New Adult

Description:

Save me and I'll save you...

My name is Calla Price. I’m eighteen years old, and I’m one half of a whole. 

My other half-- my twin brother, my Finn-- is crazy. 

I love him. More than life, more than anything. And even though I’m terrified he’ll suck me down with him, no one can save him but me.

I’m doing all I can to stay afloat in a sea of insanity, but I’m drowning more and more each day. So I reach out for a lifeline. 

Dare DuBray. 

He’s my savior and my anti-Christ. His arms are where I feel safe, where I’m afraid, where I belong, where I’m lost. He will heal me, break me, love me and hate me. 

He has the power to destroy me. 

Maybe that’s ok. Because I can’t seem to save Finn and love Dare without everyone getting hurt. 

Why? Because of a secret. 

A secret I’m so busy trying to figure out, that I never see it coming. 

You won’t either.

Teaser Sentence:

"...I'm not a trekkie. I'm a die-hard Whovian. I don't think I can be both."

My Thoughts:

There is not much I can say that the description doesn't tell you without letting in spoilers. And I absolutely do not want to spoil anything if you have not read this. Nocte is a piece of literary art.The story sucks you in, and the characters are well written and likable. I find that when you read a lot of books, the way most of us do, you tend to be better at picking up the subtle hints and predicting endings. I never saw the twist at the end of Nocte coming, And OMG was it a twist! It was definitely not something you could have predicted. My only fear with continuing this series is that the first book was so great I am scared the next installment won't be able to hold up to the first. I still have a lot of hope for it, and cannot wait for it's release date. I would give Nocte more than five stars if my scale went that high! I recommend you drop whatever you are currently reading, and start reading Nocte. You can always go back to what you were reading once you finish.

Mirror of Shadows Review & Giveaway

Mirror of Shadows

T. Lynne Tolles

Release Date:

September 1, 2012

Source:

Review Copy Provided*

Reading Level:

New Adult







View the Trailer Here


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Description:

Ella McKaye returns home for her grandmother's funeral to find she's inherited a ton of money and a run down mansion she never knew existed, called Grey Manor. Her greedy mother is appalled when the will stipulates specifically that Ella can't give her any of the inheritance. She quickly throws Ella out of her home forcing her to take up immediate residence in the spooky old mansion.

Within minutes of entering her new home she has a strange interaction with a creepy old mirror in the main hallway and the ghostly inhabitants of the past get more and more agitated the longer Ella's there. Nearly fatal back to back accidents make Ella start to wonder if she's angered some ghost or if there is something more sinister at work. Will Ella unravel the deadly mystery before she becomes a ghost herself? Or will fate take

another one of the Grey ancestors to the grave.

Teaser Sentence(s):

He looked absolutely mortified as he grabbed a dishtowel and held it in front of him as if to hide the fact he was in his underwear. Of Course the boxers could be seen from all edges of the dishtowel, making Ella want to giggle at his sudden realization of his lack of pants.

My Thoughts:

Mirror of Shadows was a nice paranormal mystery.

Elle was a very independent protagonist. She wasn't dependent on a man to come in and save the day, even though that did keep happening. I was happy she didn't come off as being perfect. She even made herself look a little crazy at the beginning when she first met Jeremy. I hated Matt straight from the beginning, but I love Jeremy. He was the silent, keep-to-himself type, and that drove me crazy wanting to get to know him. Jeremy was another character who wasn't perfect. He was handsome and, obviously, likes cats, but he was far from flawless and had a somewhat bad background. There was not any insta-love or hooking up, so I have my fingers crossed for a follow up book with more on Elle and Jeremy's relationship.

Jeremy and Elle were well written and, to me, felt like they could be real people. I enjoyed the mystery aspect of the story. It was fun (and creepy) trying to figure out the secrets of Willow along with Elle. Who was she? Why did she die? Is she good or bad? What the heck is up with that mirror in the hallway? The ending was good, and I would recommend this to anyone who wanted a clean, paranormal romance.

Enter below to win a copy of Mirror of Shadows + some swag. Open internationally.

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T. Lynne Tolles

T. Lynne Tolles is a lifelong avid reader of all things paranormal and now is a writer of new adult paranormal romances for readers 15 to 115. She grew up in the sunny California San Francisco bay area. She's the mother of two, wife to one and pet mom to three cats and Newfoundland dog. 

Blood of a Werewolf is the first of five books in a series called, the Blood Series. Other titles include Somber Island and Mirror of Shadows - both unrelated to the series.

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*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not paid for my opinion.

Drowning in You Book Blitz and Giveaway

Drowning in You

Rebecca Berto

Release Date:

April 12, 2013

Reading Level:

New Adult

Genre:

Contemporary Romance

Description: 

Secretly crushing

Crushed by a tragedy

Charlee May's been crushing on Dexter Hollingworth since she was fifteen. Five years later, a horrific skiing disaster at Mason's Ski Lift Resort leaves her millionaire dad  critically injured and her mom dead at the hands of Dexter operating the lifts. Charlee is suddenly the sole caretaker for her little brother while their world falls apart.

Dexter couldn't be more different from Charlee. He's tattooed, avoids exclusive relationships and his dad has a fair share of illegal dealings. With Dexter's reputation, almost everyone believes he planned the Mason's skiing disaster.

And after all these years he's still crushing on Charlee May, the girl who's too good for him.

When this cruel twist of fate ties Charlee's family and Dexter's reputation together, Charlee and Dexter wonder if their feelings are reciprocated, while Dexter discovers his dad is trying to steal the May's millionaire fortune.

But like an addiction, one look, one touch, one taste- they're hooked no matter the consequences.

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Rebecca Berto is the author or the dark contemporary/literary novella, Precise and the upcoming new adult contemporary romance novel, Drowning in You. She is also a freelance editor.

She writes stories that are a bit sexy, and straddle the line between Literary and Tear Your Heart Out. She gets a thrill when her readers are emotional reading her stories, and gets even more of a kick when they tell her so. She's strangely imaginative, spends too much time on her computer, and is certifiably crazy when she works on her fiction. Rebecca Berto lives in Melbourne, Australia with her boyfriend and their doggy.

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Excerpt:

I like Dexter Hollingworth.

Dexter Hollingworth “killed” my parents.

1. Killer Crush

Charlee

As per all the fourteen- to eighteen-year-olds at our school, I started crushing on Dexter Hollingworth around the age of fifteen. There was one girl who hated him, but she was into girls.

From the football field sidelines to graduation day and beyond, my best friend Rosa and I have wanted him. But guys like Dexter don’t notice girls like us who spend most of our time talking about cool people like him.

At twenty years old, I still “love” him.

I love the way his body personifies what a male God should be without looking like Fabio.

I love the way his perfect tanned skin is inked and how he wears those aviator sunglasses and how he’d use up his lunchtimes to teach the little kids in our school guitar lessons.

But I hate the way I love him.

I hate how Dexter was the one controlling the ski lifts at Mason’s Ski Resort the day my mom was killed because it also put me here, in this position, praying to a God I’ve never believed in to spare my dad’s life.

In this hospital room, the air is as quiet as the still of night and my dad’s languid breathing and drawn-out, heavy movements remind me that my perfect family life was never meant to be forever.

If I’m being honest, it seems like things are already over. Dad’s skin keeps a yellow color—at best—from the IV drip. His meds help with the simple tasks his heart and other organs can’t. My thoughts wander again. I don’t let myself consider the alternative—that maybe it’s wishful thinking. I go with this:

“Dad,” I say, jealous my little brother, Darcy is holding our dad’s hand—the hand he can squeeze with. “Look at you.” I wink.

“Is she okay, Dad?” Darcy asks, sounding as though he’s confused.

“Charlee?” The confusion is contagious, but Dad’s patient zero—not Darcy.

There are bars that raise and lower around Dad’s bed, and they’ve been raised forever. Surely they must be there because they’re too hard to put down in their scratched, old state. My dad doesn’t need silly bars around his bed! My dad owns Roycroft Engines.

“I think you’re squeezing Darcy’s hand too tight,” I say.

“Wha-at?” Darcy says. He’s staring at me with squinted eyes, probably thinking what’s wrong with my sister? She’s supposed to be the adult.

It hurts smiling like this, the creases halfway up my cheeks. But maybe it’ll work. “Isn’t that right, Dad?”

Dad’s eyes are like I remember them now. There’s vibrancy in the rich brown color, like my eyes. I bet he’s thinking is his daughter crazy? He tilts his head to the side—

Injured people don’t understand things like this. Injured people don’t get what’s unsaid. Dad’s not that injured.

—as it clicks. Dad shakes out of Darcy’s grip and waggles his finger at him. “That nurse…”

“Lisa Hollingworth,” I say.

“Yes, Lisa. That nurse Lisa said motor function is good. Squeezing someone’s hand uses up a lot more strength than you think, son.”

Darcy’s mouth flops open and stays that way. He checks out Dad, who’s nodding, and me—should I nod?—so I nod also.

“Squeezing your hand probably takes Dad twenty muscles and millions of brain cells just to do something like that.”

“No way!” Darcy grins and punches the air. “Dad, that’s cool.”

And just like that, Darcy has that same face on as he had when Mom told him she had to wait three hours in line to buy Desert Warcraft and yeah, she really, really got it for him.

That face is why I haven’t downed twenty sleeping pills yet. God knows these last weeks have felt like months, which actually felt like years. That makes me the most ancient twenty-year-old alive.

Why, Dexter? Why did it have to be you in that seat, in that room, at that time?

Grave Bound BOOK RELEASE EVENT/GIVEAWAY

Title: Grave Bound (Secrets, #1)

Author: T. R. Graves

Release date: March 1, 2013

Genre: Adult Contemporary

Age Group: Adult (17+ - profanity and sexual situations)

Event organized by: AToMR Tours

Goodreads        Amazon       Barnes and Noble

Book Description: 
Some secrets follow you to the grave. Others send you there.

Emily Riddle has lived her entire life inside a patriarchal commune led by her father. There are many rules, but the most important one, 'keep it in the commune', is the most difficult for her to follow... especially since the only people willing to champion her cause live on the outside. When Emily learns her father has promised her to Lorenzo, a perverted man who has plans for her that extend well beyond marriage and kids, she rebels. Regardless of the consequences, she refuses to marry someone who'd rather beat her than caress her. A day of hooky that starts out as a tiny act of defiance - sneaking out of the commune for a swim - turns into a day filled with hope. After spending time with Levi, a man camping near the lake, she finds what true romance looks like and catches a glimpse into a future that's filled with love and admiration rather than hate and submission. That tiny peek is enough to change the course of Emily's existence and makes it nearly impossible for her to go back to the commune and pretend she'll ever be able to tolerate the life chosen for her instead of the life she longs for. One that includes Levi. Fighting to escape the commune, its leaders, and her fiancé proves to be more dangerous than Emily expected. The secrets she knows, as the leader's daughter, will either follow her to the grave or send her - and Levi - there.

About the Author

The author of The Warrior and the Secret series—currently available—and the Moral Dilemma and the Underwater series—to be released in 2013/2014.
She lives in Texas with her husband, their nineteen-year-old daughter, and nine-year-old son. Besides being blessed with a supportive family, she counts her career as an administrator and registered nurse in not-for-profit hospitals among her most fulfilling accomplishments.

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Excerpt:

Levi

God dammit!
I fling the sleeping bag off. Then, I snatch the tent's zipper open and run as fast as I can toward the forest in the same direction Emily went earlier. I have no idea where the fence's hole is or the exact location of her house, but I'm determined to find it and her.

Emily
I hear Levi as he jerks the tent flap open, the twigs breaking under the weight of his all-out run, and his breath as it comes faster and faster. He meant what he said earlier, and he's running to save me.
"Em… there's no way for me to get there quick enough… I want you to tuck my cellphone… somewhere no one will know about it… I want to hear what's going on… Do you understand me?" he says between breaths. The desperation in his voice frightens me more than I am already.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The newest round of beating on the front door causes my hands to shake, but I'm determined not to let that or my racing heart prevent me from doing what I need to do.
"Listen, Levi. You stay put. The last thing I need is for you to make your way into the fence and for Alex or Bobbi to catch you."
"I'm coming, Emily. I don't give a shit what they do to me."
It's my job to make him see reason. It's my job to protect him. From himself.
"Just wait. I'll have the phone with me. You'll know if I need anything. If I do, you can call whoever you want. Okay?"
I can almost hear him as he slows. "All right, Em. I want you to talk loud enough for me to know what's going on… Please."
"I will. I promise."
BANG! BANG! BANG!
This round of knocks is so powerful I think the door's hinges might actually break.

Giveaway: 
(1) eBook copy of GRAVE BOUND - mobi and epub formats available. Open International. If you do not have an e-reader you can download the Kindle app for your computer or mobile device. All winners will be sent to the author at one time after March 19th. Winners should expect the book by March 25th.

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T.R. Graves's Books: 

Warriors of the Cross (Warrior, #1)     

Guardians of the Cross (Warrior, #2) 

Enemies of the Cross (Warrior, #3) 

Underground (Secrets, #2) - Late Summer 2013 

Dark Angels of the Cross (Warrior, #4) - Fall 2013 

Worth Dying For (Underwater, #1) - 2013/2014 

Worth Living For (Underwater, #2) - 2013/2014

Wait For You COVER REVEAL / EARLY RELEASE

What do early readers have to say about Wait for You?

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

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

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

"Wait For You is uniquely different from anything else J. Lynn's written but it might possible be her best work yet." -Jenuine Cupcakes

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

"For the love of all things CAM, this book deserves more than 5 stars." -Mundie Moms

"I cannot even being to explain how much I adored this perfectly crafted contemporary." -Shortie Says

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

Some things are worth waiting for...

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

Some things are worth experiencing...

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

Some things should never be kept quiet...

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

And some things are worth fighting for...

WAIT FOR YOU is available now! 

AMAZON               BARNES AND NOBLE

Whatcha Readin' on Wednesday?

No, No, I am not doing a meme. I have not give in to that, yet. I do not have a review to post today, and I am just honestly curious what everyone is reading today. I am always looking for more books to read-even though my TBR read list is about 100 miles long. What better way to find new books then to see what you guys are liking or disliking. 

So, tell me, whether YA, NA, or Adult, What are you reading today???

I am currently reading Fatal Intent by Ryshia Kennie. I just started it late last night, and I am only a few chapters in. I really can't say if it's good or bad yet. But would you look at that cover! The cover absolutely made me pick up this book. Check back soon for my review of Fatal Intent. *This book is for Adults*

Description: An expedition into the Borneo rain forest is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for entomologist Garrett Cole. It’s this trip that could finally make her a star in her field. But when her team’s guide is found dead and headless on the banks of the river, Garrett’s dream trek suddenly becomes a nightmare. Lost in the heart of the jungle, she must fight to maintain her composure while leading a panicked team of scientists to safety.

When sexy and rugged Aidan arrives in the jungle looking as if he belongs, Garrett has no choice but to accept his help. But Aidan is more than she bargained for—a man of few words and fewer answers, as comfortable in the jungle as the mysterious native tribesmen. And as the days pass and passion flares between them, Garrett wonders if Aidan’s good intentions are just another of the jungle’s illusions.

In a land rife with predators and a killer still on the loose, can she trust the one man who claims to be their rescuer?

In the Band

Description: When family problems push Riley Middleton into giving up a percussion scholarship in another state and attending college from home, her friends push her to try out for a local rock band. Of course, Riley makes the band. She rules at the drums. Riley soon finds out rock bands have a different dynamic than marching bands, especially when each of her male band mates has a major ego and is a major player. Two of them relentlessly flirt with her. The other-a dark, sexy rock god she can't help being attracted to- is a total jerk and pushes her to quit. She becomes determined to ignore his rudeness and his hotness. Even if she was interested in jerks, a hook up would probably get her booted out of the ego-ridden band, and playing keeps her sane. Behind the drums, the world and her family's troubles evaporate. If she wants to stay in the band, Riley just has to ignore the growing sparks between her and her band enemy. But as she gets to know the man behind the stage persona, ignoring him proves to be more difficult than flowing through a time shift. -Amazon

Author: Jean Haus

Release date: October 18, 2012

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Pages: 306

Source: My personal copy

Reading level: New Adult

Teaser Sentence: 'He places a hand on the side of the van next to my head and leans near my ear. "I'll play the fiddle for you."'

My thoughts: This book was really good. I love that Riley is a kick-ass chick drummer. She could be whinny and a push over at times, but she could also be strong and determined. Some of both those personality traits made her a pretty good protagonist. She loves her family, and works hard to get done what needs to be done. Romeo is absolutely my new book boyfriend of the moment. Hot, smart, and plays a lot of different instruments, I was hooked even when he was being a jerk. The only thing that really bothered me was the ending. The story was good. The romance was good. The characters were good. The ending was wrapped up in very few pages. I didn't feel like I got the closure I needed. Maybe I just wanted more Romeo. I really could not put this book down, so I am going to say it wasn't a bad ending after all. I just wasn't ready for it to be over. Definitely read this one if you if you find a copy of it!

Rating:

Reading the Alphabet

Okay I saw this 'Reading the Alphabet' Challenge on Ramblings of a Book-A-Holic, and thought, "Hey, I want to do that!" So here goes:

Duration: 
January 1, 2013 - December 31, 2013.

Rules:
You can read in any order you wish.

You have 12 months to read 26 books.

Either the first word in the title of the books or the author’s name (first or last) should correspond with a 
letter in the alphabet.

You should omit “a” and “the” in the titles.

Letters Q, X and Z can be positioned anywhere in the titles or author names. 

Examples: C- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins,   D- Daughter of Smoke and Bone.



I want to know if you are doing this challenge! If you have a blog or website please leave me a link to your A-Z Challenge in the comments below. Even if you do not have a blog or website still let me know, just leave a copy of your list in the comments below.



And here is my A-Z list. Make sure to check back for reviews on most of these!


A- American Gods by Neil Gaiman

B- Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl

C- Cursed by Jennifer L Armentrout

D- The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark

E- Everdark by Elle Jasper 

F- Falling Stars by Sadie Grubor

G- The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

H- Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris

I- Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

J- Angel's Ink by Jocelynn Drake

K- The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

L- Torment by Lauren Kate

M- A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

N- Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

O- The Odyssey by Homer

P- Pure by Jennifer L Armentrout

Q- The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

R- My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent

S- The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

T- Toxic by Jus Accardo

U- Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

V- The Collector by Victoria Scott

W- The Waste Lands by Stephen King

X- Existence by David Brin

Y- The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff

Z- House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski