Textrovert


Title: Textrovert
Author: Lindsey Summers
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Release Date: May 2, 2017
Rating: ★★★★

Keeley lost her phone at the country fair. When she went back to the picnic table where she was eating, she found it underneath. But that might, when she was in bed, someone called her claiming that she had his phone. Keeley had missed calls from her brother in the middle of the night. He needed a ride home because he had been drinking, but she had the wrong phone so he ended up driving home anyway. That’s only the beginning of the problems between Keeley and her twin brother Zack. He is worried about his chances of getting into college with a football scholarship. Keeley continues texting with the guy who has her phone until he can return it. They start a relationship that threatens to ruin everything else in Keeley’s life. 

This is a cute book. I’ve read some other stories like it before, with phones getting mixed up and the two people having a secret relationship over texts. That premise wasn’t original but the way it conflicts with the other relationships in Keeley’s life was unique. 

This the second book that was originally published on Wattpad that I’ve read recently. It’s amazing how writers can publish their stories online and then have them printed too. 

This is a good, light young adult read for the summer. 

Book Blitz and Giveaway: Twenty-Four Hours

Twenty-Four Hours
Carolyn Anthony
(A Shattered Boundaries Novel)
Publication date: July 3rd 2017
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

The second chance that might never happen…

Eve Luccio waited years for her first love, but somehow their lives were never quite in sync. Now, at thirty-six, her only focus is completing the final year of her PhD. The last thing on her mind is the honor-driven former Navy SEAL who stole her heart as a teen and left her unable to love any other man since.

When Jake Theron walks back into Eve’s life, his presence shatters her walls of self preservation. He unleashes a dark sexuality that Eve never imagined she would experience, much less come to crave. All he wants from her is a day of her trust—twenty-four uninterrupted hours before she crosses the country for her Post Doctorate position in New York. But letting down her guard for even twenty-four hours with Jake might just destroy her.

For Jake Theron, Eve was always “the one that got away,” except even after two decades, she’s still under his skin. When Eve finally agrees to see him, Jake vows he won’t let her slip through his fingers again.

But nobody knows better than Jake what a vicious bitch fate can be. When his life gets in the way, he realizes he may have to let Eve go once again—this time for her own good.

All he has left are the next twenty-four hours. One day and night in a seaside hotel, after which he has no choice but to let her walk out of his life with no guarantee he’ll ever see her again. The problem is, now that he’s had a real taste of the woman who should have been his twenty years ago, he’s not sure he’ll have the strength to let her go.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

He moved his lips to her ear. “That’s what home feels like.”

Eve framed his cheeks and leaned back. “You are home to me, Jake.”

“Mmm.” He kissed her forehead, pushed his hands under her ass and lifted her up without pulling out.

“What are you doing?” She smiled into his shoulder.

“Bed. No need to mess up the kitchen. I knew that dress would be useful for something other than looking amazing on you.” He knelt on the bed and fell forward with her.
“Jake!”

They both laughed as her back hit the mattress with him on top of her.

Pulling back, he stared down at her before kissing her forehead and slowly pulling out. “Stay here. I’ll get you a towel.” Stark ass naked, he walked to the bathroom.

A smile pushed at her lips as he came back with her towel and his boxers on.

With a longing look at the table full of food, Jake groaned as he walked past it to her.

“You’re hungry.” She fought back a laugh.

Looking amused, he dropped to the bed beside her and gently cleaned her up. Jake was like a grumpy bear when he was hungry.

“I’m fucking starving. I gotta eat something other than you.”

He stood up, grabbed her ankles and pulled her to him by the side of the bed. Then handed her one of his T-shirts.

“Go clean up. I’ll heat it up. We’ll eat then…what? Movie?”

She wrapped the towel around her and sat on the side of the bed. “A movie’s fine.”

Before she could reach the bathroom, Jake’s voice stopped her. “Baby….”

She turned to him. “Yeah?”

“You know I won’t make it through a movie with you…”

Sadness washed over her, because there wasn’t enough time.

“I know.” Never enough time.

His vivacious laugh rang through the small room. “Just so we’re clear. This right here—” He waved his hand over the food. “—Is about refueling. Don’t plan on sleeping too much.”

“I’ll be right out.” She walked into the bathroom, leaving him to heat up dinner. Eve’s body ached and her heart broke. Tomorrow…today would be on a long list of yesterdays—days she could never get back. While it would be one of the best in her thirty-six years, it would bleed into yet another painful memory with little hope of healing.


Author Bio:

Carolyn Anthony is a sucker for a dark romance with a dominant, tattooed, alpha badass man at the helm.

Her characters deal with real life issues: the painful, the tragic, the damaging sort of life events that leave both external and internal scars, because she’s been there.

Her heroines are strong women at the core who will always find what’s been lost, taken or exploited: their strength, their self-worth, their identity, their innocence or their love. She writes about women exploring their sexuality, owning that sexuality and enjoying it. Along for the ride, the hot-ass men who prove worthy enough to be on that journey with them.

Book one in the Shattered Boundaries Series, Twenty-Four Hours, will be available to buy on July, 3, 2017. Each book is a stand alone with a well earned HEA. Book two coming soon as well as Phoenix, the first book in a Contemporary second chances trilogy.

Feel free to stalk me everywhere!

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Heart of the City


Title: Heart of the City
Author: Robert Rotenberg
Genre: Crime 
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Release Date: August 1, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Ari Greene was a detective in Toronto until he was charged with murder. When they eventually cleared his name, he went to England and met the daughter he never knew existed. Now he is working at a construction site in Kensington markets. His daughter, Alison, is supposed to be in journalism school, but she dropped out to start the blog, Kensington Confidential. She writes about the controversies in that neighbourhood, including the condos being built by Livingston Fox. When Livingston Fox is murdered, Greene finds his body. Greene goes back to working alongside his former coworker Kennicott so solve this murder. 

This story was fast paced and thrilling. I read it in just a couple of hours. 

Being from Toronto, I loved all the references to the city. I could picture where everything was happening, including most of the stores that were mentioned. I felt a close connection to this story. 

I haven’t read any other books in the series, but it was easy to pick up. Things in their past were explained quickly, so the story could move forward. At the same time, I learned enough about the characters to understand them. 

This was a great read, especially for Toronto residents!

Book Blitz and Giveaway: Right Text Wrong Number

Right Text Wrong Number
Natalie Decker
(Offsides, #1)
Published by: Swoon Romance
Publication date: July 11th 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult

High school juniors, Layla and Tyler, are complete opposites. Sure she’s a cheerleader and he’s a football player, but she thinks he’s the biggest jerk in the school and he thinks she is too high on her horse to even be worth of a second glance from him. And when the two of them are near one another, sparks fly in all the wrong directions. They are NOT interested in speaking to one another, let alone date.

But when Layla unknowingly sends Tyler a smack-down text meant for the girl sending naked photos to her then-boyfriend, Adam, Tyler has no idea it’s Layla and decides to play along. After all, Tyler cannot resist messing with the pissed off girl firing off texts about junk pictures, cheating, and girl code.

As the fallout from Adam’s sexting scandal plays out in front of the entire school, Tyler and Layla secretly continue to text one another using fake names. But as days and weeks pass, things take a turn for the serious between them, and suddenly, their texts mean more. They both begin to consider revealing their true identity to the other and taking the relationship from texts to dates, then kissing and maybe more.

They say there’s a thin line between love and hate. Can reality live up to the fantasy, or will Layla and Tyler be forever offsides?

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

Beep! Beeeeeeeeep! “Stop screwing with your phone and pay attention to the road!” I blow my horn some more. The light is green, has been for a good forty seconds. I glance over at my best friend for some support for my general crabbiness this morning. She’s not giving it though, she’s too busy tapping away on her own cellphone.

“You believe this guy? Same to you, Buddy!” I yell as I catch his middle finger pop up in front of his rearview mirror.

Rachel doesn’t say anything. She’s still engrossed in messages from whomever is texting her. Possibly the latest gossip, or party happening. Who knows?

I’m usually a perky, non-violent person. All of this has seemed to change recently. I saw an episode on the news about how much society is turning into walking mutants because they’re so absorbed in their phones. You won’t catch me searching for the perfect snap shot of yourself, only to be mauled by a huge mountain lion ready to pounce from behind. I don’t want to be mauled by some crazy animal in a park. I mean how awful would that be, death-by-selfie. So, I gave up on taking poses in the cute outfits I wear and selfies altogether.

And don’t get me started on texting. I loathe it. I know what you’re thinking. What kind of weirdo hates texting? The kind who’s dyslexic. And when everything looks like absolute gibberish anyway, and now I have to read words on a small screen just to find out who made out with whom; no thanks. If it weren’t for my text-to-voice app, I’d be screwed. People would think I’m a complete airhead because I couldn’t decipher a silly text.

“Sorry; what were you having a beyotch fit about?” Rachel asks drawing my eyes from the road and landing on her. “Austin was telling me what happened to Jared during football practice yesterday. Plus, I guess there is this monster party after the game Friday. You in or out?” She looks up from her phone.

“In,” I answer reverting my attention to the line of cars turning into the school’s parking lot. I know my boyfriend Adam will want to go hang out with his team so it’s a given that I’ll be tagging along. Although I really would rather it just be him and me this weekend. Lately we’re either in group functions, at parties, on double dates at the movies, or hanging out with his friends. I just want some me-time with him. No disgusting belching contests happening in the background or listening to other couples make out next to me. Gross.

“Austin wants to know if your sister’s coming?”

This question shakes me from my miserable funk, and I snort laugh. My twin sister at a party? HA-HA-HA. OMG; I think I peed my pants a little. “That’s not happening. Unless the words ‘book,’ ‘ComicCon,’ or ‘mud’ were in front of the word ‘party.’ Then she’d probably go. But yeah; no. Why’s does he want to know? Is he crushing on my sister?” That could be news I could get down with.

“He said one of the guys was asking.”

Raising a brow, I inquire, “Which one?” It’s probably Chase, but that would be weird considering he’s her best friend and knows her daily schedule.
She’s tapping away again as I pull up to the school parking lot. “He won’t say.”

“Why not?”

“Do you really care or are you just morbidly interested that someone might actually like your super wacked out sister?”

“She’s not … wacked out.”

Rachel is my best friend, but she’s not a fan of my sister, Juliet. In fact, she pretty much despises her. My twin isn’t mean or anything, she’s just … super smart. And sometimes tends to let her geekiness fly. She can recite the first five chapters of each Harry Potter book. She knows all the lines word-for-word in every Star Wars movie. Every stinkin’ one.

Speaking of my awesome twin, she pulls up next to me and slams her Jeep door. “You did it again! You know you only have one simple chore. One. And every time I get stuck with it.”

I roll my eyes at her. “Calm down, sis. I’ll get it next time.”

She smiles wickedly at me. It’s like looking in a mirror since our physical features are almost exactly the same. The only one small difference isn’t something most people notice just from looking at our faces: she has a small birthmark on her neck just below her ear, shaped like a heart, whereas I do not. Everything else is definitely the same, from the dark, rich brown hair to the mossy-green eyes, right down to the height of a whopping 5’6”. I’ve thought about cutting my waist-length hair to my shoulders just so people can tell us apart.

“You say that every time! I’m done helping you out Layla. Maybe next time instead of rushing off to get Starbucks, see Adam, or pick up your BFF you’ll do your chores and stop putting them on me. I have a life too you know.”

Rachel cuts in. “You have a life, since when?”

“Butt out Rach.” I shift my attention back to my sister who is currently glaring at my bestie. “Juliet, I’m sorry,” I say.

Her eyes cut to me. She shakes her head and walks away. I call out, “Juliet.” She doesn’t look back. Instead, she flips me off—and okay this time —I rightly deserve it.

I totally thought she’d take out the recycling for me again. “Dang it. Mom’s going to kill me.”

“This is why your sister is a freak,” Rachel says as we head into the school. Once we’re inside, she ditches me for Austin and I head to my destination, Adam.


Author Bio:

Natalie Decker is the author of RIVAL LOVE series and the Scandalous Boys series. She loves oceans, sunsets, sand between her toes, and carefree days. Her imagination is always going, which some find odd. But she believes in seeing the world in a different light at all times. Her first passion for writing started at age twelve when she had to write a poem for English class. However, seventh grade wasn’t her favorite time and books were her source of comfort. She took all college prep classes in High school, and attended the University of Akron. Although she studied Mathematics she never lost her passion for writing or her comfort in books. She’s a mean cook in the kitchen, loves her family and friends and her awesome dog infinity times infinity. If she’s not writing, reading, traveling, hanging out with her family and friends, then she’s off having an adventure. Because Natalie believes in a saying: Your life is your own journey, so make it amazing!
Find out more visit: http://www.authornataliedecker.com

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Alexander Hamilton: The Graphic History of an American Founding Father


Title: Alexander Hamilton: The Graphic History of an American Founding Father
Author: Jonathan Hennessey
Genre: Graphic Novel
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
Release Date: August 8, 2017
Rating: ★★★

Alexander Hamilton was born in the West Indies in the 1700s. His mother died when he was young and his father abandoned him. He wished for a war to start, so he could make a name for himself in the world. Years after arriving in America he got his wish. He fought alongside George Washington to make America an independent country. Following that, he became a lawyer and polititian. 

This story tells about the early America, under the influence of Hamilton. He is just a part of the narrative. It tells about things happening around his life, but not just about him. 

The graphics are really nice in this book. Each frame shows a different place, from South America to New York. They are great depictions of the time period. 

There wasn’t enough dialogue in this book for me. The only speech parts were taken from real quotes. Graphic novels can be great teaching tools for young readers, but there was so much narrative and not enough story, so I think kids would get bored. Just because it’s a historical story, doesn’t mean it has to be boring and just state the facts. It could tell the story in an exciting way to entertain as well as teach, but I don’t think this story did that. It felt like more of an essay with pictures than a graphic novel. 

Book Blitz and Giveaway: I Stop Somewhere

I Stop Somewhere
T.E. Carter
Published by: Feiwel & Friends
Publication date: February 27th 2018
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

THE LOVELY BONES meets ALL THE RAGE in a searing, heartbreaking contemporary story of a lost teenager, and the town she leaves behind.

Ellie Frias disappeared long before she vanished.

Tormented throughout middle school, Ellie begins her freshman year with a new look: she doesn’t need to be popular; she just needs to blend in with the wallpaper.

But then the unthinkable happens and Ellie is trapped after a brutal assault. She wasn’t the first victim and now she watches it happen again and again. She tries to hold on to her happier memories in order to get past the cold days, waiting for someone to find her.

The problem is, no one searches for a girl they never noticed in the first place.

TE Carter’s stirring and visceral debut not only discusses and dismantles rape culture but also makes you slow down and think about what it is to be human.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

EXCERPT:

Later, I remember how my dad would stand in my doorway, watching me. Trying to reach me across so little space, yet so much. He stared at me like you look at a museum display or a creature in the zoo. I was the coelacanth and he was awed by my strangeness.

“I brought you something,” he said, holding a bag out across the threshold to my bedroom.

My room was an experiment. Posters and magazine pages and images covered the walls and the vanity and my dresser. All the people I wanted to be, wanted to look like. They were the people who mattered. I stared at myself in the mirror, hating how I looked. I hated how the curves made the boys poke me through the back of my chair in class, and how they made the girls call me fat. I hated how far the people in the magazines were from me. I thought I would never count, because I wasn’t them.

“What is it?” I asked my dad, gesturing toward the bag he was holding.

“I thought you might like it.”

It happened every few nights. He’d show up, presenting an offering in a plastic bag. Makeup. Clothes. Hair bands. He tried. He tried and so I tried, but the discount stickers said it all.

They were marked down, because the lipstick was too orange. The tank top wasn’t cut right. The hair pins would have been perfect for a girl my age – ten years ago. But I wore them for him and he smiled, because he didn’t know the difference.

“Thanks, Dad. I love it,” I lied.

“You’re beautiful, Ellie.”

I was a markdown girl.

I did know the difference.

Author Bio:

TE Carter was born in New England and has lived in New England for pretty much her entire life. Throughout her career, she’s done a lot of things, although her passion has always been writing. When she’s not writing, she can generally be found reading classic literature, obsessing over Game of Thrones (she’s one hundred percent Team Lannister), playing Xbox, organizing her comic collection, or binge watching baking competitions. She continues to live in New England with her husband and their two cats.

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Geekerella


Title: Geekerella 
Author: Ashley Poston
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Quirk Books 
Release Date: April 4, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Elle’s father died in a car accident and she was left in the care of her stepmother and twin stepsisters. Her father created a fan convention for his favourite TV series, Starfield. He passed his love for that Star Trek-esque show down to his daughter. Her stepmother and stepsisters don’t share this fandom love. But when their favourite teen actor, Darien Freeman, is cast as the lead in the upcoming movie reboot, the twins are willing to go to the convention to meet him. Meanwhile, Darien has been a secret fan of Starfield for years, though it doesn’t fit with his teen heartthrob image. He’s worried about making an appearance at the convention, because the true fans don’t approve of his new role. So he texts the number for the creator of the convention, but ends up getting ahold of Elle instead. They start texting back and forth, each developing feelings for the myserious person at the other end of the line. With the help of Elle’s coworker, Sage, her fairy godmother, and their food truck the Magic Pumpkin, Elle makes it to the convention to have her happily ever after. 

I love adaptations of classic stories and fairytales, so I was super excited to read this book! It was all I expected it to be! The way that the Cinderella story was perfectly adapted into a fangirl fan fiction is amazing. Everything down to the costumes, the Magic Pumpkin food truck, and the glass slippers was perfect. 

One thing I loved about this book, that isn’t part of the story, is the cover. I love how the wraparound cover has drawings of the major characters. The illustrations are perfect and a great addition to the story. 

I read this story in less than 24 hours. I’m so glad I finally picked it up! 

Book Sale and Giveaway: Leslie North Books

Make sure not to miss Leslie North’s Massive Military Romance Sale on August 7th only!

All of her Military Romance boxsets will be $0.99 (a 70%+ Discount)!

PLUS: 100% of revenue will go to the Wounded Warriors Project.

All boxed set details and links can be found here!


Author Bio:

Leslie North is the pen name for a critically-acclaimed author of women’s contemporary romance and fiction. The anonymity gives her the perfect opportunity to paint with her full artistic palette, especially in the romance and erotic fantasy genres.

The truth of the matter is she loves her fictional persona, Leslie North, more than her normal, day-to-day persona! Her bestselling books focus on strong characters and particularly women who aren’t afraid to challenge an alpha male. Inspired after years of travel, her stories are set all over the world, from the tough streets of Russia to the beautiful beaches of the middle east.

Leslie fell in love with romance when she first picked up a scrappy, dog-eared romance book from her local library. She began writing soon after and the rest, as they say, was history. She now lives in a cozy cottage on the British coast and enjoys taking long walks with her two Dalmatians, George and Fergie.

She LOVES reader feedback, and if you have any comments, don’t hesitate to contact her via e-mail: leslie@leslienorthbooks.com.

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The Address


Title: The Address
Author: Fiona Davis
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Dutton
Release Date: August 1, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

In 1885, Sara Smythe was the head of housekeeping at a hotel in London, until she met Theodore Camden. He asked her to be the manager at the Dakota, an apartment in New York. Sara packs up and goes there, and ends up with more than a job from Theodore. One hundred years later, Bailey has just gotten out of rehab. She goes to her cousin’s apartment in the Dakota to renovate it. Her cousin, Melinda, is Theodore Camden’s great great  granddaughter. Though they say they are cousins, Bailey and Melinda are not related by blood. Bailey’s great grandfather was taken in as a ward of Theodore Camden, but he never felt like part of the Camden family. Now, when Bailey starts digging into the Dakota’s history, she learns things that will change her life forever. 

This was an amazing story. I love historical fiction, though I prefer English historical stories. The plot was so intriguing! I really couldn’t put it down. 

The story switched perspectives between Sara and Bailey. Sometimes that kind of narrative can be confusing, but it worked well here. The alternating chapters were consistent and the story had a great pace. 

The end was full of twists that I couldn’t have predicted. I was pleasantly surprised by how it turned out. I highly recommend this book!