{BLOG TOUR} GOING UNDER SERIES by GEORGIA CATES

 

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the Going Under Series Tour! This tour is spotlighting both books in the series, Going Under and Shallow. The tour is being hosted by the ladies at AToMR Tours. You can find the complete tour schedule here.  Today's stop includes my review of Going Under, an interview with Georgia Cates, and a tour giveaway.

Series: Going Under #1
Publisher: Georgia Cates
Publication Date: Mar. 10, 2012
Format: ebook (Kindle)
Pages: 222
Source: Personal Purchase

Jessie Boone is a self proclaimed bad boy and doesn’t march to the beat of anyone’s drum, but his own. Growing up in less than desirable circumstances has made him no stranger to the hard knock life and his determination to leave it behind is fierce. When he finds himself transferred to East Franklin High School, he sees his opportunity to use his athletic ability to snag a college football scholarship, but Forbes Henderson, the player Jessie means to replace isn’t giving up his spot willingly. In fact, Forbes is willing to go to extreme measures to retain his place as first string quarterback. When Forbes’ malicious plan to injure his replacement fails, Jessie is furious and determined to show him he messed with the wrong person; not only is he going to take the position of first string quarterback, he’s going to take his girl, too.

Claire Deveraux is perfection at it’s best. She is beautiful, intelligent and unaware she just became Jessie Boone’s conquest as revenge against her boyfriend, Forbes Henderson. Like her flawless performance as the perfect daughter and student, Claire’s production of being the perfect girlfriend has everyone fooled, except Jessie Boone, and she fears this tattooed bad boy will see her secret desire to explore his crude threats and promises to rock her perfect world. If she decides to give in to one uninhibited moment with Jessie, will she learn too late that it was all an act of vengeance or will Jessie learn the taste of first love is sweeter than that of revenge?

 

A heart-wrenching story of a love that can overcome all obstacles, Going Under will leave you believing love can conquer all.

For quite some time now, my friend Autumn has been insisting that I read Going Under. She's quite the persistent book pimp because I bought Going Under even though I'm buried in books. I was really excited when the tour came up because it gave me the extra incentive to read this book sooner rather than later.

Going Under is the classic story of a boy from the wrong side of town and the perfect, priviledged girl falling in love and fighting the odds. It's a fairly common story scenario in YA, and one that I happen to love more than most. What did make Going Under stand out, for me, was the characters.

Jessie is a reluctant bad boy who transfer to a school in the affluent part of town. He is smart, athletic, caring towards his siblings. His past, though, is a tragic story; one that will have you falling in love with this boy who only wants to improve his life and provide for those he loves.

Claire is the perfect daughter, student, girlfriend...at least on the outside. She feels constricted by what is expected of her, and is instantly drawn to the seductive Jessie. Claire was a trickier because too often characters like her, those who have it all and seem too perfect, can quickly become annoying. By giving her depth, in making mistakes and having a surprising past of her own, Cates made Claire a character to root for.

My favorite character was Claire's best friend, Payton. Ohmygosh, this girl was insane! Payton is a girl who made me laugh out loud, cringe with her honesty and in general just brought enjoyment of Going Under to a new level.

I will say that the ending of Going Under felt a bit rushed. It's not that all the plot threads didn't get wrapped up, because they did. It's just that I wanted more. When you read as much as I do, that's a Good Thing. I can't wait to read more about these characters in book two, Shallow.


Favorite Quote:

  "I watched the other players as they lined up to turn in their physicals and thought about how some things never changed for me. I had spent my entire life raising my hand to tell someone I didn't have the things I needed and here I stood, eighteen years old, still doing the same thing." (1%)


  "When you look back on this moment months from now, don't forget the one word I'm about to say to you, Claire Deveraux. Foreplay." <----Payton! (8%)


  "I won't disagree with you about Forbes and his skills, but I'm calling bullshit. I know the game like your crotch knows the palm of your hand and I definitely saw a move, so I'm giving you the luxury of a warning."  <----I love Payton! (9%)

You can purchase Going Under at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Smashwords 

INTERVIEW WITH GEORGIA CATES

Love and revenge seem to be themes of this book. What inspired this particular plot?

Georgia: I’m not sure I was inspired by anything. The idea just came to me out of the clear blue and once I started writing it, it was more like the book wrote itself and my fingers obeyed.

What makes this book stand apart from your other work?

Georgia: My other works are paranormal and this was my first contemporary work. It was an idea that came to me while I was writing my second Agape book and I couldn’t shake the need to write it.

What was the most difficult part in writing this story?

Georgia: I was used to writing paranormal, so I found it difficult to write “normal” things. With paranormal, some things simply don’t have to have a rationale and that’s not the case with contemporary. It has to be logical and realistic.

What was the most fun?

Georgia: I loved writing from the male POV. It was fun to get into Jessie’s head and try to connect with the things a guy might think and say, but I had to be careful. I couldn’t go “all out guy” with it because I had to keep it YA.

What is your favorite scene in GOING UNDER?

Georgia: The Epilogue is my favorite part, but I can’t tell you about it or I’ll give the best part away. I can say that it wraps the whole story up in a nice little package.

Is there anything you would like readers to take away after reading the book they may miss that you want to point out?

Georgia: There is one line in the book that I wouldn’t want readers to miss. It’s in Chapter 21 and the line solidifies the cover with the title.

"I leaned closer and pressed a light kiss on his lips and whispered, “I feel myself...going under. I’m drowning in you because I am so hopelessly in love with you. You’re the only one I want.”

Meet Georgia Cates -

I am a wife, mother of two daughters and a labor and delivery nurse. I have recently added Paranormal Romance Writer to my list of things to keep be busy, but I am ecstatic to release my debut novel, Blood of Anteros, the first book in The Vampire Agápe Series. Like others that enjoy a great story of paranormal romance, I am easily bored by the tale of an obtainable, ordinary romance and was inspired to create The Vampire Agápe Series. When I am not tied up with my family or delivering babies, I am working feverishly on the second book in The Vampire Agápe Series.(from Georgia Cates.com)

Connect with Georgia Cates at:
GoodReads | her website | Twitter | Facebook
 

 

TOUR GIVEAWAYS

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

THE WEEKLY REWIND at THE BOOKISH BABE, #22

THE WEEKLY REWIND is a weekly post in which I recap the bookish awesomeness from the past week, and post a book haul. Warning: I tend to ramble in my vlogs. Sometimes I get excited about things and I flail. Enjoy.

Book Haul

 

For Review:

• Shallow (Going Under #2) by Georgia Cates
• Fang Girl by Helen Keeble
• Ironskin (Ironskin #1) by Tina Connolly
• Angel's Ink (The Asylum Tales #1) by Jocelynn Drake

Bought:

• On Dublin Street by Samantha Young
• Dirty (Just Breathe Ephemera) by Kendall Grey
• Vexxed (Just Breathe Ephemera) by Kendall Grey
• Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr
• Sweet Venom (Medusa Girls #1) by Tera Lynn Childs
• Lengths by Steph Campbell and Liz Reinhardt

Awesome People

•  Georgia Cates
• Helen Keeble
• Tor Teen
• Harper Voyager

 

Search Terms That Led to This Blog

 

• "chris hemsworth" - Excellent. I do have a dream cast post for Breathe by Abbi Glines that features Chris.
• "edgy blonde actress" - I'm stumped. Maybe this Experiment in Terror Dream Cast with Taylor Momsen? 
• "pt michelle" - Excellent author. Here are my reviews for BKoD and Lucid.
• "wrong bed, right guy" - Good book. Here's my review.
• "the vincent boys waiting on" and "beau vincent" - Yes. Here's a character interview I did with Beau Vincent almost a year ago! Time flies.

As always, the most popular search term is Between the Lines by Tammara Webber. Happy heart.

 

 

This Week's Posts

Reviews ~

• Defy the Stars by Stephanie Parent
• Lucid (Brightest Kind of Darkness #2) by P.T. Michelle
• Surviving High School (A High School Novel) by M. Doty
• Down to You by M. Leighton
• Through to You by Emily Hainsworth
• {Mini Reviews} City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare, Fallen in Love and Rapture by Lauren Kate
• Vexxed (Just Breathe Ephemera) by Kendall Grey

Memes ~

• Teaser Tuesday (Surviving High School)
• Waiting on Wednesday (Unremembered by Jessica Brody)

Special Features ~

• Cover Reveal - Just For Now (Sea Breeze #4) by Abbi Glines
• Cover Reveal - Released (The Protector Series #3) by M.R. Merrick

 

 

Giveaways

•  Brightest Kind of Darkness Blog Tour Giveaway
 

Thanks for stopping by. Leave a comment, and I'll come check out your blog. Have a great week!

{REVIEW} THE POSSIBILITIES OF AMY by JAYE FRANCES

Series: Stand-alone
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: March 17, 2012
Format: ebook (Kindle)
Pages: 101
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Amy is the ultimate trophy girl—gorgeous face, killer body, and a vivacious personality. But there’s something else about her, something that makes her even more special. Amy is new. A transfer student from out of state, she’s starting her senior year without knowing a soul. And that means she’s up for grabs, available.

Infatuated from the moment he sees her, David is determined to meet Amy, and if the fates are willing, to spend the rest of his life with her. But his shyness prevents him from approaching her—until his friends devise a contest to determine who will be the first to prove their manhood by seducing her.

This coming-of-age story about high school dating and relationships contains mature language and situations, and is best suited for a Mature/Adult reader.

 

The Possibilites of Amy is a short story of a boy's (Dave) obsession for a girl he doesn't even know. Amy is the new girl that all the guys want, but Dave and his friends have a plan to get. But Dave starts to fall in "love" with this ideal he's built in his mind and when his friends plans for Amy become crude, he'll do anything to save her from them. But once Dave gets to know Amy, he discovers that the ideal doesn't always live up to expectations.

I don't really know what to say about The Possibilities of Amy. It's a short coming of age story, and it actually made me very...sad. Sad that this boy spent so much time on a girl he doesn't know; sad for Amy. It was nicely written, but I felt it was too abrupt. It was hard for me to feel anything for the characters since there's no backstory. I did sort of enjoy it for what it was, a brief moment in the life of a well-intentioned teenage boy.


Favorite Quote:

  "But I had nothing-nothing but fifty minutes a day, when she was close enought to see, but too far away to start a conversation. And so I sat at my desk like a devout parishoner attending church, worshipping her." (ebook, 3%)

You can purchase The Possibilities of Amy at:
Amazon
 

{FRISKY FALL SATURDAYS} VEXXED (JUST BREATHE EPHEMERA) by KENDALL GREY

Summer is over, but just because the temperature is dropping, doesn't mean we have to stop reading scorching hot books! Frisky Fall Saturdays is our new weekly post created by The Autumn Review, The Bookish Babe, Hackaroo's Reviews, and Sim-Sational-Books. Feel free to join in. (let us know so we can add a link to your post) As those leaves start piling up in the yard, ignore them and pick up a sexy book!

**The books featured on FRISKY FALL SATURDAYS are for adults. If you are under 18 years of age, or do not like smexy books, please stop here. **

Series: Just Breathe Ephemera
Publisher: Howling Mad Press
Publication Date: Sept. 19, 2011
Format: ebook (Kindle)
Pages: 32
Source: Personal Purchase

WARNING: This JUST BREATHE short story contains EXTREMELY graphic sexual content and explicit language. Not suitable for readers under the age of 18.

When Fire scorches Air, Vexx has no choice but to embrace the burn…
Free-spirited Aer Elemental Vexx finds herself in an ironic predicament when her boss pairs her up with Byrn, a brazen Fyre Elemental, to complete an undercover mission at a BDSM club. She’s been secretly crushing on Byrn for months, so playing Domme to his arrogant, snarky sub is a dream come true. Not only that, she can finally turn the tables on him for the all the suggestive taunting he dishes on a regular basis. But one small problem prevents Vexx from fully embracing her role. If Byrn touches her, she’s dead.
 

Vexxed is the latest installment in the Just Breathe Ephemera. The Ephemera serve as small spaces in time for the characters of the series. The story features two characters that will be in Just Breathe, Byrn and Vexx. Byrne is, you guessed it, a Fyre Elemental. Vexx is an Aer Elemental who is assigned to stake out a BDSM club with Vexx acting as her submissive. But in the Elemental game of Paper-Rock-Scissors, Fyre trumps Aer which means one slip-up will be the end of Vexx.

Riddle me this, boys and girls: How do you write a sexy story in which the two main characters can't touch without one of them being destroyed? I personally wasn't sure it could be done, or at least done well. Seriously, isn't the smexy all about being able to grope, fondle, caress, etc? In Vexxed, author Kendall Grey shows that sometimes, the tease, the tension built up by want and need, can almost be as sexual as the main event. And if that isn't enough to satisfy, a good rubber catsuit and a little self-manipulation just might do the trick.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Grey has a talent for erotica. She delivered one helluva story with Stifle, affectionately referred to a "Sinnder-Smut". And while Vexxed wasn't as hardcore as Stifle, it was sexy in it's own way. It also made me laugh, feel wistful, and want to know Vexx and Byre even more.

Vexxed was a fast, sexy read. One that I enjoyed, but would have loved more of. At this point, I'm considering just sending Grey any sexy scenario I can think of involving her characters, and enjoying whatever she comes up with. First up would definitely be "Scarlet-Smut." I'm positive that bitch is downright freaky in bed.


Favorite Quote:

  "You know as well as I do that Elementals don't dream. But I can rock your fantasies with a sonic cock boom you'll never forget." (18%)

  "Vexx draped her torso across Byrn's chugging chest, dropped her lips within an inch of his and breathed in his spicy scent. Their eyes locked. She swiped the reddish stubble on his cheek. 'This is gonna hurt.'
  Fire lit his irises. 'I sure hope so.' " (71%)

You can purchase Vexxed at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Smashwords 

{COVER REVEAL} RELEASED (PROTECTOR SERIES #3) by M.R. MERRICK

Exciting day here at the blog. Today is the cover reveal for the third book in the Protector Series by M.R. Merrick, Released. This cover...is pretty fantastic. It's gorgeous, it's eerie, and it's a perfect fit for the other covers in the series. I'm really excited about this reveal, and want to extend a huge Congratulations to my friend, Matt!

After uniting the shifters and calling in reinforcements, Chase has to face his toughest challenge yet: learning to control his emotions. But as tensions rise and his powers grow, controlling his emotions becomes the least of his problems.

Terrorized by a multi-shifter who is hell-bent on turning him, Chase questions just how far he’s willing to go to stop his father. Meanwhile, Tiki’s virtuous nature has placed him in the middle of Vincent’s past, leaving Chase to oppose a senate of vampires and defend a demon he hates.

Trying to balance his friends, his enemies, and his inner demons, Chase is left searching for answers about the Mark, his destiny, and where he can find the next soul piece. Stopping Riley is his top priority, but as more obstacles arise, he finds himself doubting all the decisions he’s made - especially regarding Rayna.

One thing is for certain: Chase has finally realized that he doesn’t know anything. The light doesn’t always quell the darkness, the monsters don’t always stay in the shadows, and the past doesn’t always stay in the past - sometimes, the demons inside are the hardest to fight.

Awesome, right?! The expected publication date for Released is December 10, 2012. But be sure to go ahead and put this book on your tbr list.

Connect with M.R. Merrick at:
his website | Goodreads | Exiled (Protector #1) | Shift (Protector #2)

Oh, and one more thing. Matt is running a contest for those who've posted the cover reveal. The blog with the most comments will receive an Amazon GiftCard. Now, I'm not one to bribe folks *wink*, but if you feel inclined, help a girl out by leaving a comment. I believe in paying it forward.  ;-)

{MINI-REVIEWS} CITY OF LOST SOULS (TMI #5) FALLEN IN LOVE (FALLEN #3.5) and RAPTURE (FALLEN #4)

I've started making the time to read more "me" books. The books that I've purchased or received and am reading without any pressure to review. But, I'm a bit spastic when it comes to not writing up a review, so I'm going to post several mini-reviews from time to time. They're not actually "reviews", but more a summary of my thoughts/feelings.

Series: The Mortal Instruments #5
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Publication Date: May 8, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 534
Source: Personal Purchase

The New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments continues—and so do the thrills and danger for Jace, Clary, and Simon.

What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

Let me just start by saying that I walk into every book Cassandra Clare writes, fully prepared to love it. It would take a train wreck of epic proportions to make me not love one of her books. I will admit, I was slightly disappointed with book four, City of Fallen Angels. I think that's mainly due to how FREAKING FANTASTIC City of Glass was. Seriously, I would have been completely happy if the story ended there. Not to say that I'm not happy to have more, but that book is kind of hard to top.

I loved City of Lost Souls. It was dark, suspenseful and morbidly funny. Cassandra Clare writes some of the best one-liners ever. Simon, Jace and Magnus all deliver sarcasm better than any other characters. The story was fantastic. With Jace being controlled by Sebastian, the emotional stakes were huge. And I will say that Clare is not afraid to go to dark and scary places. No character, no relationship is ever truly safe.

I do have two things I want to nit-pick on. First, the need to tell us, in every single scene, what every person, every surrounding smells like. There's only so many times I want to hear that Jace/Simon/Alec/Jordan smells like soap and some other "manly" descriptor. Really. Secondly, Sebastian has white/silver hair. We get it. You do not have to tell me in every scene how it contrasts with the blood that's in it or the darkness of his eyes. Sebastian = Evil. Got it.

Whew, I feel much better after that mini-rant. Having got that out of my system, I will still say that I desperately love this series. I'm so in love with the story, characters, the out-of-control feeling I get while reading them. City of Lost Souls ended wonderfully and I can't wait for the conclusion, City of Heavenly Fire.

Favorite Quote:

" 'I fell in love with you,' he said, 'because you were one of the bravest people I'd ever known. So how could I ask you to stop being brave just because I loved you?' " (pg. 523)



Series: Fallen #3.5
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Publication Date: January 24, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 201
Source: Personal Purchase

Unexpected. Unrequited. Forbidden. Eternal. Everyone has their own love story.

And in a twist of fate, four extraordinary love stories combine over the course of a romantic Valentine's Day in Medieval England. Miles and Shelby find love where they
least expect it. Roland learns a painful lesson about finding-and losing love. Arianne pays the price for a love so fierce it burns. And for the first -and last- time, Daniel and Luce
will spend a night together like none other.

Lauren Kate's FALLEN IN LOVE is filled with love stories . . . the ones everyone has been waiting for.

True love never says goodbye. . .

My heart. Ugh, you guys, I love the Fallen series so much. I know there are a lot of people who just don't get the appeal. They don't like Luce, Daniel, the story, etc. And that's fine. But I love it. I will admit that Torment was a bit of a letdown, but Passion totally brought me right back on board with the series and I have been dying to find out how it ends. When I learned Fallen in Love was going to be published, I was kind of thrilled, but felt it was superfluous to the actual storyline of the series. And though it doesn't actually move the plot along, Fallen in Love is a nice respite from the dramatics and gives nice insights into the characters.

The first story, Love Where You Least Expect It, is the Valentine of Shelby and Miles. Unlike a lot of fans, I haven't been overly fond of Miles and Shelby. They're nice kids who want to help out, but I wanted them to "be quiet so I can have more Daniel and Luce". But I honestly enjoyed this story. It was nice to see them get their own piece of happiness.

Next was Roland's story, Love Lessons. Roland has always been a big mystery to me. I've never understood his motivations. Though this story didn't overwhelm me, I did feel sorry for the poor guy. And though this was my least favorite of the stories, I do have a new appreciation for Roland.

Burning Love is Arriane's Valentine. Arriane has always been a favorite character of mine. She's a bit unhinged, and I like it. Think Kristen Ritter in the tv show Apartment 23. Arriane's story surprised me, in a good yet sad way. I guess I never considered her an emotionally serious character. I was wrong.

Last is Endless Love, The Valentine of Daniel and Luce. All I can say about this story is SWOON. If you love this couple, Endless Love is highly satisfying. It's so nice to see these two in a (short-lived) happy place. I don't want to say to much, but honestly, I got chills.

Fallen in Love was a gorgeously written, very romantic book. I don't know that it's absolutely necessary to read this before Rapture. But if you're a fan of the series, I don't see why you wouldn't want to.


Favorite Quote:

"Daniel and Lucinda were emblems of romance, ideals that every mortal and some immortals needed to believe in, whether or not they themselves were capable of making a connection so true. Daniel and Lucinda were an idea that informed the way the rest of the world fell in love." (pg. 69)

"Sometimes love needed a lift from its guardian angels, to get its feet off the ground. But once it made its first early beats toward flight, it had to be trusted to take wing on its own and soar past the highest conceivable heights, into the heavens - and beyond." (pg. 201)


Series: Fallen #4
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: June 12, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 448
Source: Gift

The sky is dark with wings . . . .

Like sand in an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past they must find the place where the angels fell to earth. Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this—live only to lose Luce again and again.

Yet together they will face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies . . . and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed. And suddenly Luce knows what must happen.

For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her—and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now will be the only one that truly matters.

In the fight for Luce, who will win?

The astonishing conclusion to the FALLEN series. Heaven can’t wait any longer.

I've been a huge fan of the Fallen Series since the beginning. Actually, Fallen is the first book I ever bought because of a review. (It was the Arkansas Democrat. Kate's husband is a native to the Little Rock area, which for some inexplicable reason makes me proud!)  As a fan, I've been largely happy with the series as a whole. Even when I didn't love parts of the storyline, Kate's writing is beyond gorgeous and a true pleasure to read. I had no idea how she would wrap up the series, all I hoped for was a Happily Ever After ending.

I loved Rapture. The story was scary for someone who was raised with a very literal interpretation of the Bible.  Very scary. The Bible does play a large part of the story, but only in a historical aspect. One of the things I love about the series is that it never becomes preachy. To the contrary, love is the divine power here.

What I was really looking for, besides love conquering all, was a full explanation and solution to Daniel and Luce's tragic love story. That's exactly what I got. Kate doesn't deal in generals here, the explanation for Luce's curse isn't glossed over or shrugged off. The curse goes back to the very beginning of Heaven, and it was extremely surprising.

The only part of Rapture that didn't feel fully explored was Cam. I've always loved Cam, even when he seemed irredeemable. I'm going to forgive this because I have a suspicion that Cam will return with his own series. If that's the case, consider me squealing with delight. I'll be the first in line for that story.

Rapture was gorgeous, beautiful, tragic, scary, sad and an overwhelmingly perfect love story. I was pleasantly surprised with the ending. I don't know how it could have ended any better. Reading The Fallen Series is one that I consider a true pleasure to have experience.

Favorite Quote:

"She basked in every reminder of how long and deep her and Daniel's love affair had been, even if the reminder was something small, like the cursive script that flowed along the centuries, spelling out Daniel as hers." (pg. 38)

  "Arriane flung out a hand to help Luce up, pulling her so hard her feet shot off the ground. 'Dee's an old friend. And a first-class party animal, might I add. Got the metabolism of a donkey. She almost brought the Crusades to a grinding halt the night she seduced Saladin.' " (pg. 204)

(I'm leaving this very vague, because this is a huge part of the story.)
"Our adoration never diminished the Throne, but your love diminished me. I never meant to hurt you. I only meant to stop you from hurting me." (pg. 408)

{REVIEW} THROUGH TO YOU by EMILY HAINSWORTH

Series: Stand alone
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: Oct. 2, 2012
Format: eARC
Pages: 272
Source: Received from publisher, via Edelweiss

Camden Pike has been grief-stricken since his girlfriend, Viv, died. Viv was the last good thing in his life: helping him rebuild his identity after a career-ending football injury, picking up the pieces when his home life shattered, and healing his pain long after the meds wore off. And now, he’d give anything for one more glimpse of her. But when Cam makes a visit to the site of Viv’s deadly car accident, he sees some kind of apparition. And it isn’t Viv.

The apparition’s name is Nina, and she’s not a ghost. She’s a girl from a parallel world, and in this world, Viv is still alive. Cam can’t believe his wildest dreams have come true. All he can focus on is getting his girlfriend back, no matter the cost. But things are different in this other world: Viv and Cam have both made very different choices, things between them have changed in unexpected ways, and Viv isn’t the same girl he remembers. Nina is keeping some dangerous secrets, too, and the window between the worlds is shrinking every day. As Cam comes to terms with who this Viv has become and the part Nina played in his parallel story, he’s forced to choose—stay with Viv or let her go—before the window closes between them once and for all.

Through to You is a story of grief turning to despair. A despair that leaps at the chance of a parallel life offering second chances, alternatives that aren't as perfect as they seem.

I gotta say, Through to You was a complete mind f*#k. That's a compliment, by the way. The story begins two months after Cam loses his girlfriend, Viv, in an accident he feels responsible for. His life has virtually ended with hers. He barely manages to make it day-to-day. Author Emily Hainsworth did such a beautiful job with Cam. His grief is written so stunningly well, that I wanted to cry and despair along with him. He's so enveloped by his pain, there seems to be no end in sight.

But there is an end in sight, when Cam sees a girl at the accident scene, and here's where my review goes down the chute. I swear, anything I say here on out will spoil the story! I can say that parallel dimensions confuse me, so I was left scratching my head a bit during Through to You. But my confusion actually worked because I felt as if I were uncovering the strange truth right along with Cam. And the ending was completely and mind-boggling brilliant! Everything that I didn't understand ended up making perfect sense. There were so many little breadcrumbs throughout the story, moments that I didn't consider significant at all, that were revealed to be amazing clues. I feel like Through to You is one of the most ingenious stories I've read in quite some time, or like I'm a huge idiot for not seeing this coming.

Through to You is a story that surprised me, captured me, entertained me, and totally jacked with my brain. I had an amazing time reading it, can't stop thinking about it, and can't wait to read it again.



Favorite Quotes:

"I wake up reaching for her and she isn't there. I'm alone in my bed. I bury my head beneath my pillow and hate everything, whisper every impossible thing I've wished for since that night in August. All I get is a damp pillow."  (eARC, 5%)

"I tip my head back and stare into the cold, starry sky, wondering if there's someone-something I should thank. Then I wonder if I'd even be saying it to the right sky." (eARC, 48%)


You can purchase Through to You at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

nes & Noble

{REVIEW} DOWN TO YOU by M. LEIGHTON

Publisher: M. Leighton Books
Publication Date: Sept 23, 2012
Format: eARC
Pages:
Source: Received from author for review.

The scorching tale of one girl, two brothers and a love triangle…that’s not.

Olivia Townsend is nothing special. She’s just a girl working her way through college so she can return home to help her father run his business. She’s determined not to be the second woman in his life to abandon him, even if it means putting her own life on hold. To Olivia, it’s clear what she must do. Plain and simple. Black and white.

But clear becomes complicated when she meets Cash and Nash Davenport. They’re brothers. Twins.
Cash is everything she’s always wanted in a guy. He’s a dangerous, sexy bad boy who wants her in his bed at any cost. He turns her insides to mush and, with just one kiss, makes her forget why he’s no good for her.

Nash is everything she’s ever needed in a guy. He’s successful, responsible and intensely passionate. But he’s taken. Very taken, by none other than Marissa, Liv’s rich, beautiful cousin. That doesn’t stop Olivia from melting every time he looks at her, though. With just one touch, he makes her forget why they can never be together.

Black and white turns to shades of gray when Olivia discovers the boys are hiding something, something that should make her run as far and as fast as she can. But it’s too late to run. Olivia’s already involved. And in love. With both of them.

Both brothers make her heart tremble. Both brothers set her body on fire.

She wants them both.

And they want her.

How will she ever choose between them?

 

From it's sexy, awesome opening sequence to the jaw-dropping end, Down to You is a story that will keep you laughing and swooning as you turn the pages.

Wow. I have absolutely no idea of how to write this review without spoiling the story! So I'm going to attempt to be very general in terms of story, but talk more about the characters. Here goes...

Olivia is a senior in college, and living with her uber-bitch cousin Marissa. When Olivia "meets" Cash (It's awesome. Trust me.) the chemistry is through the roof, but she writes him off as the typical "bad boy" she wants to avoid. Then Olivia finally meets Marissa's boyfriend Nash. Well-educated and well-employed, Nash is everything Olivia thinks she needs in a man. Oh yeah, he's Cash's twin. Olivia and Nash also have smoking chemistry, naturally, and this makes for some awkward and steamy situations because nothing says family like coveting your cousins BF. Cash wants Olivia. Olivia wants Cash...and Nash. And oh, what a tangled web is woven. Good times, right? The deeper Olivia becomes involved with the Davenport brothers, the more her heart is on the line. And when the truth finally comes out, Olivia is in for the shock of her life.

Oh, Olivia. I adored her, I really did. The poor girl just can't keep it together in front of the Davenport twins. Falling down in front of the guy she's lusting after, having a car that refuses to cooperate after falling down in front of said guy...

"What seems to be the problem?'
"I have no clue. I have ovaries; therefore I repel all things mechanical."

I loved Olivia's spirit. She's a fighter through and through. As for being hot-and-heavy with her cousin's boyfriend... not so much. But, like it or not, sometimes our hearts do the deciding for us and the choices aren't always pretty.

Cash and Nash are complicated. I can't say much more than that, honestly. They're sexy, seductive, smart, and charming. I loved Cash, hardcore. Sexy man without a girlfriend? Seems like the logical decision. Being that they're twins, I obviously liked Nash too. I mean, he is a really decent guy. Except that he has a girlfriend. A girlfriend who happens to be your cousin. That you live with. And Olivia can't help but fall for Nash, too. Stupid, stupid heart. Did I mention this scenario is complicated?

As the story unfolded, there were a few plot points and explanations that didn't quite fall into place for me. It was nothing that kept me from enjoying the overall story. It was more an issue of logistics and a feeling of details  being a bit rushed and explanations coming too easy, and perhaps more of this will be dealt with in the next book. YES! You read that right. There will be a book two!

Down to You is funny. And sexy. And sometimes funny while being sexy. This is easily the most hilarious book M. Leighton has written yet. And the sexiest. Okay, no more beating around the bush. I'll just say it: You're probably going to need some "spare parts", and some ice to cool you down, to get through the yummy, yummy sexy-times in Down to You.

Surprising, sexy and fun, Down to You is a book that will steam you up and have you guessing until the very last page.


Favorite Quotes:

  "Her breath is coming fast and shallow in my ear. 'What else?' she pants.
   I lean back and look down into her face. Her lids are heavy over her dazzling eyes and her cheeks are flushed with everything that's happening between us. She doesn't want to stop either. There's no doubt in my mind.
  'Taste.'
  He eyes flicker to my mouth and back again. 'And what do you taste?'
  'Everything. I want to taste everything.'  (eARC, 34%)


  "Nash is still holding my hand. I shake it loose and straighten my bodice. I can't help but grin at him when he finally meets my eyes.
  'So that's how you charm the cobra,' I quip.
  He smiles devilishly. 'If you really want to see what effect you have on my snake, I'd be happy to show you.' " (eARC, 36%)

 
  " I sigh. Loudly. Trying to give Ginger directions and then expecting her to actually show up at the correct location is a lot like throwing a knife into the air. It's dangerous, stupid and somebody could end up getting hurt. She has landed us in questionable parts of town more than once, places I would never dream of getting out of the car. Unless, of course, I was accompanied by two ninjas and a sumo wrestler."  (eARC, 62%)

You can purchase Down to You at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

I was born and raised in the United States, and I’ve lived in several of the fabulous fifty. Though I currently live in the deep South, I spent much of my childhood up North and hope to return there one day. A few other things about me: I believe that sometimes you have to look really, REALLY hard to find the good in people, but it's there. I believe that I'm shrinking (I swear five years ago I was two inches taller). I believe my husband is quite possibly one of the most amazing men in the entire world (I can't be sure because I haven't met all of them). I believe coffee and chocolate, when combined, could be the basis for world peace. I believe that Jesus rocks and communism doesn’t. I believe that white makes me look fat and black collects lint. I believe summer's too hot, winter's too cold and fall was made for football. I like dogs better than cats and the first movie in a trilogy is invariably the best. But most of all, I believe that love conquers all.

Connect with author M. Leighton at:
her website | Twitter | GoodReads page | Facebook

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selection is...

The only thing worse than forgetting her past... is remembering it.

When Freedom Airlines flight 121 went down over the Pacific Ocean, no one ever expected to find survivors. Which is why the sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating among the wreckage—alive—is making headlines across the globe.

Even more strange is that her body is miraculously unharmed and she has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories period. No one knows how she survived. No one knows why she wasn’t on the passenger manifest. And no one can explain why her DNA and fingerprints can’t be found in a single database in the world. Crippled by a world she doesn’t know, plagued by abilities she doesn’t understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can’t remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. But with every clue only comes more questions. And she’s running out of time to answer them. Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget? From popular young adult author, Jessica Brody comes a mesmerizing and suspenseful new series, set in a world where science knows no boundaries, memories are manipulated, and true love can never be forgotten.

Why I'm Waiting ~ Unremembered sounds like like such a great mystery full of mind games. I love that. I can't wait to get my hands on this book.

Expected publication: March 5th 2013 by Farrar, Straus, & Giroux (BYR)

You can preorder Unremembered at:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository

 

 



{REVIEW} SURVIVING HIGH SCHOOL by M. DOTY

Series: A High School Novel #1
Publisher: Poppy
Publication Date: Sept 4, 2012
Format: Paperback
Pages: 224
Source: Received from publisher for review.

Emily Kessler thinks she has it all figured out. She eats, sleeps and trains for competitive swimming. All she has to do is keep her grades high and swim times short -- short enough to live up to her sister Sara's. But walking the crowded maze of unfamiliar high school hallways is like diving headfirst into shark-infested waters. Shark #1: Dominique, her biggest competition on the swim team and all-around mean girl. Shark #2: The adorable and popular Ben Kale... Emily can't resist his smile no matter how hard she tries. When the pressure builds to the point where Emily isn't sure she can stay afloat, she begins to question the strict path her life has always followed.
Maybe there is more to life than studying and swimming. Maybe the secret to surviving high school is just to have a little fun.

The hit mobile game Surviving High School comes to life in an original novel about perfection, failure, and following your dreams.

A story that's not particularly lengthy, but full of a wealth of emotion, Surviving High School is proof that size sometimes doesn't matter.

Surviving High School tricked me. When I saw that it was based on a game, and contains a mere two hundred, eleven pages, I thought it would be sort of a "fluff" book. A book that skims the surface, nice, but never digging too deep. Boy, was I wrong.

Surviving High School centers around Emily, a girl who is beginning high school in the shadow of her newly deceased sister. Since her sister, Sara's death, Emily has been pushed into her role: model student, perfect athlete, quiet daughter. She even eats and trains exactly like her sister did. The other girls on the team? They're not Emily's competition. She's competing against her sister's swim times. It doesn't help that her grieving father is also her swim coach. He pushes and punishes Emily to the very edge, not realizing what a loose grip she has. When Emily becomes involved with a boy from school, and realizes she wants a life outside of the pool and the constraints, she begins to unravel. How long will it takes her perfect life to fall completely apart? And does she even want to save it?

Surviving High School was very nicely written. The third person narrative, and the manner in which the story is told gave me the sense of watching the story unfold from above. Sometimes that doesn't work for me, but in this case it was nice. Emily's emotions were conveyed so simply, yet strong enough that I didn't feel disengaged.

I find it very interesting that the story, and subsequent series is based on a game. I'm curious as to how it plays out, and I may even buy it for myself. I would love to talk to someone who has actually played it. The next book in the series, How to Be a Star, is based on Emily's best friend Kimi, who is an absolute riot. I'm definitely interested in reading that book as well.

Surprisingly thoughtful and full of depth, yet fun, Surviving High School is a book that I can recommend to adults and teens.


Favorite Quote:

"Suddenly, Emily's head felt light, and she realized she hadn't taken a breath since she was up on Ben's balcony. She needed some air. Now. Two competing impulses took hold: Press her lips against Ben's or swim to the surface and breathe. A first kiss or oxygen? She wasn't sure which one she wanted more." (pg. 102)

"How much more could she take? Maybe this was the moment when she would break, when the weight of the sky became too much for her shoulders, and it crushed her beneath its weight." (pg 145)

You can purchase Surviving High School at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

TEASER TUESDAY {SURVIVING HIGH SCHOOL by M. DOTY}

 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

·Grab your current read
·Open to a random page
·Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
·Be careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others.

Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles.

Series: Stand-alone
Publisher: Poppy
Publication Date: Sept 4, 2012

Emily Kessler thinks she has it all figured out. She eats, sleeps and trains for competitive swimming. All she has to do is keep her grades high and swim times short -- short enough to live up to her sister Sara's. But walking the crowded maze of unfamiliar high school hallways is like diving headfirst into shark-infested waters. Shark #1: Dominique, her biggest competition on the swim team and all-around mean girl. Shark #2: The adorable and popular Ben Kale... Emily can't resist his smile no matter how hard she tries. When the pressure builds to the point where Emily isn't sure she can stay afloat, she begins to question the strict path her life has always followed.
Maybe there is more to life than studying and swimming. Maybe the secret to surviving high school is just to have a little fun.

The hit mobile game Surviving High School comes to life in an original novel about perfection, failure, and following your dreams.

My Teaser ~

  "Suddenly, Emily's head felt light, and she realized she hadn't taken a breath since she was up on Ben's balcony. She needed some air. Now. Two competing impulses took hold: Press her lips against Ben's or swim to the surface and breathe. A first kiss or oxygen? She wasn't sure which one she wanted more." (pg. 102)

Check out my full review of Surviving High School.

You can purchase Surviving High School at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble

{BLOG TOUR} BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS SERIES by P.T. MICHELLE

 

Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the Brightest Kind of Darkness Blog Tour. This tour is being hosted by Refracted Light Reviews. You can find the entire tour schedule here. My stop includes my review of Lucid, book two in the series, and a giveaway.

First, take a look at book one in the series, Brightest Kind of Darkness.

 

Nara Collins is an average sixteen-year-old, with one exception: every night she dreams the events of the following day. Due to an incident in her past, Nara avoids using her special gift to change fate…until she dreams a future she can’t ignore.

After Nara prevents a bombing at Blue Ridge High, her ability to see the future starts to fade, while people at school are suddenly being injured at an unusually high rate.

Grappling with her diminishing powers and the need to prevent another disaster, Nara meets Ethan Harris, a mysterious loner who seems to understand her better than anyone. Ethan and Nara forge an irresistible connection, but as their relationship heats up, so do her questions about his dark past.     

Series: Brightest Kind of Darkness #2
Publisher: PT Michelle
Publication Date: July 9, 2012
Format: ebook
Source: Received from author for review.

Once Nara combines her prophetic ability with Ethan’s power to outsmart Fate at his own deadly cat-and-mouse game, she’s more determined than ever to help Ethan learn the meaning behind the raven sword tattoo that suddenly appeared on his back after their confrontation with Fate.

During her quest to uncover the tattoo’s secrets, Nara enlists the help of some new friends and discovers her own surprising connection to Ethan.

While Nara digs deeper into the mystery, her desire for answers leads her down a dangerous path full of powerful and ruthless enemies. Swept into an age-old battle, Nara quickly learns that keeping one’s enemies close can be a necessary evil, making an intangible enemy she can control far more preferable to the human enemies she can’t.

An intense, action-packed adventure of love and self-discovery, Lucid is a brilliant continuation in P.T. Michelle's Brightest Kind of Darkness Series.

I feel like I don't get to say this often enough about second books in a series, but WOW, Lucid was a fantastic book. P.T. Michelle took everything I enjoyed about Lucid, the magic, the relationships, the intensity, and brought the series to a whole new level.

After having fought off Fate in book one, Nara is still living and working with her unique abilities. She's still trying to protect those she cares about, without angering Fate any further. The ravens and crows continue to be drawn to her, proving that she and Ethan share even more of a mysterious connection. Meanwhile, Ethan is working to repair his relationship with his family, and that leaves Nara to explore her and Ethan's powers alone. Two new students, Harper and Drystan, arrive and quickly become involved in Nara and her friends' lives. Do both new characters have purely pure motives for befriending Nara? The more Nara becomes involved in her research, the more danger she is exposed to. Someone is after Nara, after her research...and will kill to get it.

Okay, if you're a fan of the series, you may have noticed that I mentioned Ethan being with his family; BUT don't let that deter you, or make you think the Nara/Ethan relationship isn't focused on in the story. It is! Nara's memories of Ethan, their phone calls and a bit of magic manage to keep Lucid super romantic. And just let me say....THE PAYOFF IS FANTASTIC! Ethan will make the absence worth the wait. Seriously, I thought I was going to swoon myself into a stupor when the romance kicks into high gear. P.T. manages to write the romance in such a way that the chemistry is through the roof, the promises, the suggestions...everything, but it's so tasteful that the story is still a great fit for teens.

Lucid was intense. I think I may have held my breath throughout the last portion of the book. It was a roller coaster of action, emotions, declarations, premonitions. The story went above and beyond my high expectations. P.T. Michelle has written a world with characters I don't want to let go. The ending was brilliant, everything you hope for in terms of satisfaction and promises for a great next installment. Ethan and Nara have quite a journey ahead of them in book three. I can't wait to join them.

Favorite Quote:

"A wicked smile crooked his lips as he ran his finger along my lower lip, swiping away strawberry juice before I could lick it. I stared in mesmerized fascination when he sucked the sweet liquid off his finger, murmuring in a deep rumble, 'Mmmm, Strawberry Nara.' "

"Ethan claimed my mouth once more, pressing his upper body against mine. Sandwiched between the door and his rock hard chest, I felt every thump of his heart knocking on my own, as if his body wholeheartedly agreed with his 'you're a part of me' declaration."

"Though Ethan hadn't said a word, I'd felt his emotions. His kiss had been intimate and boldly possessive, as if he'd just branded me, and an overwhelming, tender, 'I claim you' message settled in my heart."
  You're mine too, Ethan."



You can purchase Brightest Kind of Darkness at:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Read an excerpt of Brightest Kind of Darkness

can purchase Lucid at:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble 

Read an excerpt of Lucid



P.T. Michelle is the young adult pseudonym of Patrice Michelle, author of fifteen romance novels and novellas. When PT isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading or taking pictures of landscapes, sunsets and anything beautiful or odd in nature.


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