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...
Series: Between the Lines #4
Category/Genre: MatureYA/NA Contemporary
Publisher: Tammara Webber
Publication Date: 8/6/13
Everyone has secrets. Some are buried so deep, their existence is forgotten. But a secret never told can turn into a lie. And in love, a lie is one thing: Poison.
Here Without You is the fourth, final book in the Between the Lines series, which includes: Between the Lines, Where You Are, and Good For You.
Why I'm Waiting ... If you've ever read Tammara Webber's books, you're not asking this question. Chances are you've already pre-ordered Here Without You. I love this series so much that I own it in Kindle and print. Between the Lines is a series that is an all-time favorite of mine, along with one of my top two YA book guys, ever in Graham Douglas. But this is Reid's book, and I do love that boy more than I ever imagined possible. I can't wait to find out how his story ends.
Series: N/A Genre: Contemporary YA Publisher: Te Da Media Publication Date: 10/17/12 Format: eARC Pages: 244 Source: Received from publisher, via Edelweiss.
Why the hell can’t chicks be more like guys?
That question plagues high school senior Sam Cruz. Sam is perfectly happy being a player. He just wishes girls wouldn’t change the game from sex to relationships. It makes him look like an asshole. But when Sam’s best friend, Ally Klinger, gets dumped, she begs him to transform her into someone who can screw around then screw off. No risk of heartbreak that way. It’s Sam’s chance to create the perfect female AND cheer up his best friend. Armed with Sam’s Three Step Guide to Backseat Success, Ally gets the game better than Sam thought she would and before long, Sam has his wish: the female version of himself. Too bad it’s driving him nuts. Told from Sam’s and Ally's alternating POVs, Sam Cruz’s Infallible Guide to Getting Girls is a fast-paced romantic comedy that follows these teens as they navigate the minefield of sex, love, and friendship.
This book contains strong language, drinking, euphemisms, and lots of “bow chicka wow wow.”
Why I Read Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide:
Ellen at Always YA at Heart reviewed this recently and her review convinced me that I must read this book!
I am a huge fan of those classic teen movies in which the coolest guy in school gives a hopeless nerdy, but adorable, girl a makeover. Once the magic has been worked, the boy then realizes how beautiful the girls is, what a catch she was all along, and falls ridiculously in love with her. The first movie that comes to mind is She's All That, with Freddie Prinz, Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook. Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide to Getting Girls is a story much like what I've described, but told with an unabashed realism and honesty about what guys and girls are actually thinking about sex, relationships and love.
Sam Cruz is seriously one of the funniest books I've read in a while. The reaction that Sam has to the new and improved Ally made me laugh out loud, blush, and roll my eyes. The boy seriously "stood at attention" practically every time he looked at or even thought of Ally. As the mom of a boy, I am totally unprepared to even consider that these reactions occur in guys. As a girl, I am resigned to the fact that I know it happens. A lot. The fact that the author went there with Sam, didn't sugar coat the physical desires and actions of the teens, made me appreciate the story on a greater level. It's nature, there's no need in shame, is how I tend to look at these things. Ask me if I still feel that way when I have teenagers and you may get a different story.
Another factor that made me appreciate the story was Ally's ownership of her sexuality. I loved that she took charge of her desires, that she was able to express herself. Did she always make the right choices? Probably not. But she was safe, and completely consientious of what was happening. Ally didn't just sit there and let things happen, and no matter if you think teen sex is right/wrong/or something to fight at every level, a girl who knows what she wants, and is in charge of her own body is a girl that I respect.
As for the love story...it was definitely a slow road for Ally and Sam. As lifelong best friends, there are some lines that shouldn't be crossed for the sake of the friendship. Sam, who is deep-down afraid of abandonment, knows Ally can't handle the friends with benefits situation, and is not willing to risk losing her. Ally is less cautious and once she makes up her mind, she is willing to take the leap from friends to love. And though the relationship is a huge risk, I'm with Ally. Best friends who become boyfriends are the very best.
A story of friends, love, sex, and relationships, Sam Cruz' Infallible Guide to Getting Girls will make you laugh, root for these fantastic characters, then laugh some more.
Favorite Quotes:
"I try reason. 'You faked a dead battery to trick me into coming out here so I would have sex with you.'
'Well, it's not like you said 'no', she retorts.
'Because I'm make and breathing. If there were going to be other conditions on this offer you should have shown me the small print. Beforehand.'
'If I'd done that, you would have freaked out.'
And there you have it, boys and girls. The place where my rules, carefully constructed to ensure a mutual good time, fall to shit." -Sam (eARC, 2%)
"She gives me a huge hug. Except she's still in her lingerie, making my dragon roar its head again. I pull away.
Ally glances down at my crotch and with a knowing grin, punches me in the arm." -Sam (eARC, 25%)
"Hooking up with her is like playing the home version of WrestleMania. There's rolling, tossing, name-calling, and the occasional threat. I'd put her in a headlock to get her back in line but she's just wormed her way on top of me." -Sam (eARC, 47%)
"I pass Etienne, jumping around manically in what I guess is dancing. 'It's like Labiapalooza in here,' he calls out. 'Come mosh." - Sam (eARC, 76%)
Welcome to The Bookish Babe's stop on the Going Under Blog Tour! The tour is being hosted by AToMR Tours. You can find the complete tour schedule here. This week is all about Shallow, book two in the Going Under Series. My stop includes my review of Shallow and a tour giveaway.
Series: Going Under #2
Publisher: Georgia Cates
Publication Date: Sept 21, 2012
Format: ebook (Kindle)
Pages: 261
Source: Received from author for review.
Payton Archer's best friend, Claire, strives to be perfect in every way. Payton doesn't and this is her story.
Nick Hawke likes his car fast and his girls even faster. He blows through females quicker than his muscle car races down the "The Strip" in Collinsville and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Determined to avoid the devastation he has watched his father endure in the aftermath of his mother leaving, he believes there is no room in his life or his heart for a relationship lasting more than one night. He seeks happiness in things that won’t let him down...fast cars, adrenaline and one night stands. To his absolute dismay, all of that changes when he unexpectedly runs into an old friend and is introduced to Payton Archer, the first girl he ever wanted for more than one night. There’s only one catch...she is completely immune to him and his smooth talking ways.
Payton Archer is looking for what Claire has with Jessie, but she has given up on finding it...at least until she leaves for college in the Fall because she is certain that is where she will find the perfect guy to fit into her perfect world. She plans on Summer being nothing but three uneventful months of fun, but it turns out to be anything but ordinary when Payton is introduced to Nick Hawke, one of Jessie’s old Collinsville friends. She is shocked by her immediate and intense attraction for “Hawke” because nothing about him is what Payton is looking for. Sure, he’s hot and sexy but he comes from Collinsville and that is definitely not on her list of prerequisites. Everything about him makes Payton’s heart speed because he is exciting and dangerous, but his fast car and the dangerous chances he takes aren't what scares Payton the most...it’s the way Nick Hawke makes her feel every time he looks at her. Can Payton find that moment of total fearlessness and make the decision to leave the safe, shallow end of love to risk going under completely?
With an against-all-odds couple that you will love and root for, Shallow is a beautiful sequel in the Going Under Series by Georgia Cates.
Wow. I had high hopes for Shallow because, let's face it, Payton is one badass chick. The girl nearly stole Going Under from Claire and Jessie and I was beyond pumped for her to have her own story. Georgia Cates delivered. Shallow was everything I'd hoped for and so much more. Seriously, the story, particularly Payton, was almost too awesome to handle.
In Shallow, just like Going Under, you have another privileged girl falling for a boy from the wrong side of the tracks. It's a story of a girl who has everything, but only wants one thing: love. It's a story of a boy who is looking for another hook-up, but stumbles into the love of a lifetime. I said this with my review of Going Under: the particular story isn't anything new, but with characters that you will love and root for, Georgia Cates delivers stories that will win you over.
I would love nothing more than to sit here and gush, gush, gush over Payton and Nick. These two are some of my favorite characters I've read in quite a while. Payton is truly one of a kind. With her smart mouth and "never back down" attitude, she was clearly (in my mind) written for me.
"Sarcasm, insult, and mockery...my work here was done."
I'm serious, I want to be best friends with Payton. I could only hope to be half as awesome as this girl.
As for Nick, we're talking Swoon City here, ladies. Nick is exactly my favorite type of bad boy. He's actually not that bad at all. Sure, he sleeps around, but that's something I can overlook. What matters to me is that he is good to girl he loves. That he is sincere and honest. And holy geez, the boy apparently has some serious skills. *waggles eyebrows*
Shallow was everything I hoped for and more. I got a great love story, characters that made me laugh and cry, and I just had a darn good time reading it. I know I've already said this multiple times in this review, but Payton Archer is one of the best, funniest characters I've ever read. I honestly hate to let Nick and her go. And when you leave a book with those feelings, you can truly not ask for more. To tell the truth, I may or may not have already started begging Georgia for another Going Under book. Fingers crossed!
Favorite Quotes:
"Shizzle, that eyebrow lift thing he did was sexy. I mentally pimp slapped myself and doused my face with ice water." (ebook, 3%)
" 'Jessie and I aren't that different. I can promise you that he couldn't give Claire a number if she asked for it.'
She smiled the sweetest smile and I wondered what had crossed her mind. 'Maybe not, but she's the only number that counts. His last.' " (ebook, 11%)
"He looked down in the direction of his tattoo as if it might have changed from the last time he saw it. 'You don't like it?'
'No, I sure don't.' Liar, liar, pants on fire, and boy were they." (ebook, 34%)
"Did I just attach my lips to Nick Hawke's neck like a Dyson vacuum? Why, yes I did and I apparently did a bang up job at it according to the smile on his face." (ebook, 38%)
"Somewhere along the way, the distinct line of what Nick was to me had changed. I couldn't pinpoint the moment he had gone from being nothing I wanted to everything I didn't want to live without and it scared the hell out of me." (ebook, 43%)
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)
Today I have a guest at the blog that I'm pretty excited about. Author Jaye Frances recently contacted me about reviewing her book, The Possibilites of Amy, and the premise instantly hooked me. I knew that my schedule would keep me from reviewing the book right away, but didn't want the readers to miss out on the book. So today I have a very insightful guest post from Jaye, an excerpt from The Possiblities of Amy and a giveaway! So let's get to it!
Series: Stand-alone
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: March 17, 2012
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 romance is best suited for an older YA/New-Adult or Adult reader, and contains some mature language.
Thank you, Andrea, for hosting me today on The Bookish Babe with my New-Adult romance novella,The Possibilities of Amy.
Even as a mature, sexually-active woman, I’ll be the first one to admit that I miss the old days, when a car date provided the ultimate playground for my burgeoning high school libido, and the suggestion of a drive-in movie sent tingles down my spine—and sometimes further. Even before entering the hallowed ground of the bumpy parking lot—presided over by a five-story outdoor screen—I would fantasize about cuddling next to a dreamy guy with nothing but a layer or two of flimsy fabric between us.
I always envisioned a big tub of buttered popcorn and a large Coke as part of the dating ritual. And after feeding each other the greasy kernels, and tasting each other’s tongue on a shared straw, I would wonder how long it would take for the windows to fog, secretly hoping that the natural veil of privacy would induce a mutual lack of interest with the events taking place on the screen.
When I was writingThe Possibilities of Amy, all of those memories came flooding back, and I realized the story would be much more interesting if I put myself into the male mind of one of those guys who was hoping for more than holding hands and a good night kiss.
I hope you enjoy the following excerpt as the main character, Dave, and the girl he’s infatuated with, Amy, get to know each other at a drive-in movie.
Here’s an excerpt:
The lines at the snack bar were short, and as always, it was apparent who had dates and who didn’t. There was a certain stance, a look of confidence when ordering for two. Those with dates patiently waited in line, nodding to each other, silently acknowledging others of their own kind, their behavior separating them from the conspicuous stags that shuffled back and forth, desperately searching for someone they knew.
In minutes, I was stuffing a tub of popcorn and two sodas into a pop-out cardboard tray, the paper cups giving off little blackboard squeaks as I twisted them in tight.
As I walked back through the incandescent twilight, the rise and fall of the aisle humps forced me to slow down to keep the drinks in balance. I hesitated as I approached each new row of cars, ready to steer away from those that were familiar. I didn’t want any friendly interruptions or unexpected visitors.
I remembered how a few hours earlier—just before leaving to pick up Amy—I had practiced holding her, wrapping my arms around empty space, imagining how her body would feel next to mine.
I spotted the Falcon, and inside, Amy’s shadowy form still hovering on the passenger side of the car. She recognized me, gave a little wave and scooted over to open my door.
“Was it crowded?”
“Not really.”
She reached out with both hands, taking the popcorn and one of the drinks. Tossing the cardboard tray to the ground, I balanced the other soda in one hand and turned sideways, wedging myself back into the seat.
What happened next was so unexpected, yet so welcome, I instinctively knew I would hold the memory of that moment for the rest of my life.
There, on my glorious, factory-installed, green vinyl bench seat, Amy had left just enough room for me to squeeze in and shut the door. I slid in beside her like the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle, feeling the razor sharp exhilaration that comes from the first touch of a woman’s body.
"Am I crowding you?” she asked.
"No, you’re fine. Perfect.”
She was more than perfect, better than fine. With her body pressed against me, I was acutely aware of the shapely contours of her breasts, her narrow waist, the seductive curve of her hips and the muscles in her thighs. I could feel a stray wisp of her hair teasing the back of my neck, and with each breath, I could smell the clean, unmistakable scent of lilac soap.
I looked toward heaven and offered a quick prayer of thanks. Maybe I would give up cursing, or jack-off only every other day. Surely I could give up cursing.
“Open up,” she commanded.
"What?”
"Open your legs a little.”
I did it without thinking.
"We need a place for this.” She wedged the tub of popcorn between my thighs. Shoving a straw through the plastic lid of her drink, she jousted with the ice cubes, then held it up to my mouth.
Without hesitation, I took it between my lips and sucked until I tasted the sweet liquid. She waited for me to release, then brought it to her own lips. The translucent paper tube darkened as she filled her mouth. We were sharing fluids, from the common end of a straw.
She reached down, digging into the popcorn. I could feel the movement of her fingers through the side of the container.
She brought several kernels to my mouth. As I parted my lips, she gently placed them inside, her fingertips lingering on my tongue. I sucked on the oily corn, believing I could discern the taste of her skin from the slick greasy coating.
Had something happened while I was at the snack bar? Had someone recognized my car and stopped to chat, assuring her that I would never take advantage of the unwilling?
It didn’t matter. I wasn’t going to question my good fortune, and I pretended there was nothing unusual about a beautiful girl feeding me with bare fingers.
Holy cow! I loved that excerpt. I have a feeling I will be reading The Possiblities of Amy even sooner than I'd hoped. But you don't have to wait. Jaye is giving one lucky reader the chance to win an ebook (Kindle) of The Possibilities of Amy.
Jaye Frances is the author ofThe Kure, a paranormal-occult romance novel,The Possibilities of Amy,a coming-of-age story of high school romance,The Cruise-All That Glitters, a humorous adult satire about a single guy hoping to have a romantic encounter at sea, andThe Beach,a sci-fi fantasy about a man who is given the opportunity to receive his ultimate wish—and lives to regret it. She is also a featured columnist for the NUSA SUN magazine. Born in the Midwest, Jaye readily admits that her life’s destination has been the result of an open mind and a curiosity about all things irreverent. When she’s not consumed by her writing, Jaye enjoys cooking, traveling to all places tropical and “beachy” and taking pictures—lots of pictures—many of which find their way to her website. Jaye lives on the central gulf coast of Florida, sharing her home with one husband, six computers, four cameras, and several hundred pairs of shoes. For more information, visit Jaye’s website atwww.jayefrances.com, or Jaye’s Blog athttp://blog.jayefrances.com
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.
When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she’s single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, stalked by her ex’s frat brother, and failing a class for the first time in her life.
Her econ professor gives her an email address for Landon, the class tutor, who shows her that she’s still the same intelligent girl she’s always been. As Jacqueline becomes interested in more from her tutor than a better grade, his teasing responses make the feeling seem mutual. There’s just one problem—their only interactions are through email.
Meanwhile, a guy in her econ class proves his worth the first night she meets him. Nothing like her popular ex or her brainy tutor, Lucas sits on the back row, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. At a downtown club, he disappears after several dances that leave her on fire. When he asks if he can sketch her, alone in her room, she agrees—hoping for more.
Then Jacqueline discovers a withheld connection between her supportive tutor and her seductive classmate, her ex comes back into the picture, and her stalker escalates his attention by spreading rumors that they’ve hooked up. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.
Author Recommendation: Mature Young Adults (language, drinking, sexual situations)
My Teaser ~
"He glanced up and caught my gaze. Held it.
His mouth pulled into a ghost of a smile and he stretched his neck and rolled his shoulders, returning my stare. Glancing at my pad, he tapped the end of his pencil against it and sprawled back in his seat, lashes fanning down as he examined his work." (ebook, 23%)
When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she’s single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, stalked by her ex’s frat brother, and failing a class for the first time in her life.
Her econ professor gives her an email address for Landon, the class tutor, who shows her that she’s still the same intelligent girl she’s always been. As Jacqueline becomes interested in more from her tutor than a better grade, his teasing responses make the feeling seem mutual. There’s just one problem—their only interactions are through email.
Meanwhile, a guy in her econ class proves his worth the first night she meets him. Nothing like her popular ex or her brainy tutor, Lucas sits on the back row, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. At a downtown club, he disappears after several dances that leave her on fire. When he asks if he can sketch her, alone in her room, she agrees—hoping for more.
Then Jacqueline discovers a withheld connection between her supportive tutor and her seductive classmate, her ex comes back into the picture, and her stalker escalates his attention by spreading rumors that they’ve hooked up. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.
Author Recommendation: Mature Young Adults (language, drinking, sexual situations)
"Love is not the absence of logic
but logic examined and recalculated
heated and curved to fit
inside the contours of the heart" ~Easy
What can I honestly say about EASY? I can't tell you anything that hasn't been written by almost every person who's read this book, that EASY was amazing, brilliant, engrossing, lovely, utterly un-put-down-able, etc, etc. Because it is. This book is every single one of those adjectives and so many more.
EASY wasn't an easy story to read. Make no mistake, it's brilliantly, beautifully written, but the subject matter was tough. EASY is about identity, self-worth, self-awareness, trust, sexual assault, the long-lasting impact of traumatic events, for starters. This was an emotionally heavy, draining book. I read it slowly, making myself absorb each and every moment, made myself step away for a few moments when I became overwhelmed. And Webber handled each sensitive subject with remarkable sensitivity, and honesty. As someone who has experienced (to an extent) what Jacqueline does in this story, I'll admit, I was scared to read this and bit overwhelmed while I did. Jacqueline isn't the only one in the story dealing with trauma, though, as she discovers when she begins to fall in love. I can't go into it because of spoilers, but let me say, my pillow was soaked with tears after I discovered the truth about this characters past. It was heartbreaking. Bit by bit, though, Webber brings the characters through to the other side, giving them awareness and strength to overcome. It as tremendously apparent that she gave careful consideration to each word, thought, and action of her characters.
As much I've talked about the serious aspects to the book, I have to tell you, EASY was funny. I spent a lot of the time reading staring at my kindle with a smirk on my face or just flat-out laughing. The interactions between Lucas, with his laid-back manner, and Jacqueline were so cute. The emails between Jacqueline and her tutor Landon were adorable and flirtatious. The hands-down funniest moments, though, were courtesy of Jacqueline's best friend Erin. This girl is an absolute riot. With lines like this....
"I have to get to French on time on Monsieur Bidot will question me mercilessly in passe' compose'. I can barely do past tense in English. God knows I can't do it en francais at ass o'clock in the morning."(ebook, 5%)
And trust me, that's mild for Erin. But she is also fiercely loyal, determined. I gotta say, I would love for her to have her own story. But my point is, yes, EASY is very intense, and has so much depth, but there is also laughter in the midst of the pain. Much like life.
Tammara Webber writes characters that I want to know, that I care about, and always hate to leave behind. Her female characters have an adorable, endearing manner that makes me want to protect them, and be their best friend. And her guys? I've been stating for months now that Graham Douglas (from the Between the Lines series) is the fictional love of my life (Not in a skeevy way, of course. I just love him.) That's still true, I think. But holy cow, Lucas gives Graham a run for his money. I'm not sure what it is, they're both thoughtful, gorgeous, and quietly sexy. One advantage that Lucas has is his tattoos. He has lots of them. And what's even better is, his tattoos are meaningful. The type of meaningful that makes your heart drop and leaves you a little bit dizzy. Much like his kisses. *sighs deeply*
Tammara Webber is one of the best authors out there, period. Each of her books has been a pleasure, a priviledge to read. So if you haven't read every one of her books, do yourself a favor and go get them. I guarantee that you won't regret the money and time spent.
Favorite Quotes:
"I felt an impulse to bring my fingertips to his face and trail them over his freshly shaven jaw, the sexy scruff from yesterday gone. His skin wouldn't redden mine now if he kissed me, hard. I would feel nothing but his mouth on mine - and maybe that slim ring at the edge of his lip..." (ebook, 16%)
"My heart reached for him as we listened, staring at each other, and I felt the threads of connection between us- fragile filaments, so easily snapped. Like the poem etched in his side, we were each curving to fit inside the other, and this melting and reshaping be deeper, more resilient." (ebook, 88%)
"The way he kissed me felt like a brand. Like he was tattooing himself under my skin.
He knew all my secrets, and I knew his." (ebook, 89%)
I am so happy to be participating in another great cover reveal hosted by AToMR Tours. Today we are revealing the cover of THE UNLOVED by Jennifer Snyder. The cover was designed by Stephanie Mooney of Mooney Designs. THE UNLOVED is a Young Adult Contemporary. Yay!
I love this cover.
Are you ready??
Sometimes the love our heart needs to heal can be found in the familiar eyes of a childhood friend...
Julie Porter learned the hard way that trust is something which must be earned and not something to be given out lightly, those who say they love you are those who hold the power to hurt you most, and best friends can help you survive anything—until they move away.
Owen knows a thing or two about a hard life. At a young age Nick learned how to take a hit and to make lemonade out of the lemons life tossed his way. Returning home after nearly two years of being away, all Nick cares about now is protecting his mom from the abusive hands of his father and catching up with his best friend—the girl who lived across the street, the girl he can’t seem to stop thinking about.
Finally reunited after two years apart, Nick and Julie are about to learn that age does nothing to protect you from life’s trials and tribulations, heartache and loss, but maybe together they’ll find a way to survive.
(Mature Young Adult, contains violence, language, and sexual situations.)
When Hollywood It Boy, Reid Alexander, arrives on location to shoot his next movie, his goals are the same as always—film another blockbuster hit and enjoy his celebrity status to the fullest while doing so. His costar is a virtual unknown with whom he had blazing hot chemistry during her auditions. The universe is lining up nicely to grant whatever he wants, as usual, until he’s confronted with unexpected obstacles on location like a bitter ex-girlfriend and a rival for the first girl to spark his genuine interest in years.
Emma Pierce just got her big break after more than a decade of filming commercials for grape juice, department stores and tampons, and more recently, bit parts in made-for-TV movies. Nailing the lead role in a wide-release film sent her agent, father and stepmother into raptures, and should have done the same for her. The Problem? Emma is experiencing a building desire to be normal, and starring in a silly, modernized adaptation of one of her favorite novels—opposite the very hot Reid Alexander—isn’t going to advance that aspiration.
Graham Douglas doesn’t fear playing the part of a nerdy dimwit; when it comes to choosing film roles, if it pays, he’ll do it. Besides, his friend Brooke Cameron snatched up the role of the bitchy hot girl and could use his help as a buffer, because her ex is the star. Graham has no problem keeping a handle on the situation, until he finds himself attracted to Reid’s costar, Emma, the girl Reid is pursuing full-throttle with his standard arsenal of charm, good looks and arrogance.
Author recommendation: Mature teens+ (language/drinking/sexual situations) ~From GoodReads
I have friends who recommend books to me all the time. Great books. I usually read what I'm told, sometimes I push it off, saying "soon". My friend Autumn at Autumn Review and I have an agreement: If one of us doesn't read an "OMG-You-Must-Read-This-Series-Now!!!" recommendation when we're told, the recommend-er is allowed to punch the non-compliant recomend-ee in the face. Virtually, of course.
So here I am, offering my face up for a beat down, with no arguments, because Autumn, among others, has been telling me to read Tammara Webber's BETWEEN THE LINES series for months. Why didn't I listen?? I could have been in on all of the fun, and I've been missing out. I hate missing out.
This book? It went above and beyond my high expectations. You have Reid, beyond gorgeous, the hottest young actor in Hollywood. Reid is a womanizer, to say the least. He can have any girl he wants, and he wants them all. He's a bit of a sleaze. Except...there's more going on with Reid. His parents are royally screwed up, distorting his perception of healthy relationships. I'm hoping to see Reid have some redemption later in the series. But for now?
Reid wants Emma, his new co-star. Emma was a completely endearing, sweetheart of a character. ADORE. Emma is the type of character that you want to smoosh up and hug when she's upset. She is self-aware and self-assured. I love that she knows who she is and what she wants for her future. Despite the fact she is a rising actress, she's yearning for a normal, happy life. I love that even when she is hurt by a guy, she is even more devastated by her troubled relationship with her best friend. I love that even though one of the hottest guys in the world wants her, she can't stop thinking about Graham.
Graham.I just...I just can't adequately describe my feelings for the sensitive, introverted, intense, beautiful boy. Graham is everything I love about books guys. He has the quiet moments that speak so much. Most of the book, Graham is a mystery. Not dangerous, just unknown. I liked him so, so much throughout the story. He is an anchor for Emma. I completely fell head over heels, completely and forever in love with him in the last several chapters of the story.
I honestly did go into this book with the highest of expectations. Dangerous, I know. I just knew I would love Tammara Webber's writing. I was hooked from the first paragraph. The characters were alive to me. The story was engaging. I actually left a music festival to go read for an hour in my hotel room. A music festival. That's serious business, guys. And soooo worth it. The ending completely killed me, in the best way possible. And as soon as I turned the last page, I started book two, WHERE YOU ARE.
Favorite Quote~
"He releases one wrist long enough to catch it with his other hand, and he flattens my hands to the bed on either side of my head. His eyes are black in the low light of the room. 'Do you surrender?'
My heart is pounding, and I'm tingling from head to toe. 'Surrender to what?' I whisper, my chest rising and falling, my eyes locked on his.
His gaze doesn't waver. 'A kiss.' "
Graham Douglas doesn’t do romantic relationships, but he was knocked for a loop when he met Emma Pierce on the set of his last film. As they grew closer, he did everything in his power to keep from falling for a girl being pursued by superstar Reid Alexander. Now home in New York, his life is once again under control, until Emma appears and shows him how not over her he is.
Emma Pierce is forsaking an up-and-coming Hollywood career to embark on a life she’s only dreamed of—the life of a regular girl. After spending months burying her feelings for the two night-and-day guys who vied for her heart while filming her last movie, a twist of fate puts her in a coffee shop in the middle of Manhattan with the one she still misses.
Brooke Cameron was a fresh-faced Texas girl when she arrived in LA. Now she’s a beach sitcom star turned conceited heiress on the big screen. Having just survived three months on location with her ex—Hollywood’s reigning golden boy—she’s older and wiser and has set her sights on her close friend Graham. The only thing standing in her way is the girl he can’t forget.
Reid Alexander can sum up his life in one word: boring. Between film projects, there’s little going on outside of interviews, photo shoots, and the premiere of the film he finished last fall. The next-to-last thing he expects is to get a second chance with Emma, the girl who rejected him. The last thing he expects is for his still-bitter-ex to be the one to offer it to him on a platter.
Author Recommendation: Mature Young Adults (language, drinking, sexual situations) ~From GoodReads
**While this review is spoiler-free for WHERE YOU ARE, there may be spoilers if you haven't read book one, BETWEEN THE LINES.**
When I read BETWEEN THE LINES, I thought Tammara Webber had written a great book. And she did. But I could take all my feelings about BETWEEN THE LINES and compound that by 40 bajillion. Squared. To the nth power. And I hate math.
The reason I love WHERE YOU ARE with such obsession is Graham Douglas. I have never, ever, EVER loved a boy as much as I love Graham. (Sorry to all my fictional BFs!) I was intrigued by Graham in BETWEEN THE LINES, but I didn't actually know anything about the true Graham until the last few chapters of the book. And, OHMYGOSH!, I did not see that coming at all. Graham is quiet and smart and thoughtful and careful and intense...I feel like my heart could swell five sizes when I think of all the ways I love Graham. If you think I'm exaggerating, this line will prove my point:
"I tilt her chin up and bend my face to hers, silently praising every woman who's had a hand in making her who she is." (ebook, 81%)
The way he loves Emma is what we all wish for ourselves, our daughters. The way he respects her, holds her in reverence (all without being a creeper) makes me weak.
And Emma, sweet Emma. She continued to hold my heart in this book. She knows where her heart lies, and isn't afraid to jump. She accepts things about Graham, no hesitation,that a lot of girls her age would give pause to. She's beyond wise and so endearing. I will love Graham and Emma forever.
As for Reid and Brooke. I can't even go there now. I admire Reid a teeny tiny bit for having at least one moral standard and listening to his conscience. But, ugh, it's going to be hard to be his personal cheerleader. And Brooke? I feel stabby, blackout rage for her right now.
This entire series, and WHERE YOU ARE in particular, have pole vaulted into my all-time favorites short list. I am so, so sad to leave Graham and Emma behind. I could honestly read about them until the end of time.
Favorite Quote:
This quote is one of the most beautiful I've ever read. Hands down.
"Something about first love defies duplication. Before it, your heart is blank. Unwritten. After, the walls are left inscribed and graffitied. When it ends, no amount of scrubbing will purge the scrawled oaths and sketched images, but sooner or later, you find that there's space for someone else, between the words and in the margins." (ebook, 1%)
Reid Alexander's life is an open book. His Hollywood celebrity means that everything he does plays out in the public eye. Every relationship, every error in judgment is analyzed by strangers. His latest mistake totaled his car, destroyed a house and landed him in the hospital. Now his PR team is working overtime to salvage his image. One thing is clear—this is one predicament he won’t escape without paying for it.
Dori Cantrell is a genuine humanitarian—the outward opposite of everything Reid is about. When his DUI plea bargain lands him under her community service supervision, she proves unimpressed with his status and indifferent to his proximity, and he soon wants nothing more than to knock her off of her pedestal and prove she's human.
Counting the days until his month of service is over, Dori struggles to ignore his wicked magnetic pull while shocking him with her ability to see past his celebrity and challenging him to see his own wasted potential. But Dori has secrets of her own, safely locked away until one night turns her entire world upside down. Suddenly their only hope for connection and redemption hinges on one choice: whether or not to have faith in each other.
Author Recommendation: Mature Young Adults (language, drinking, sexual situations) ~From GoodReads
**Although there are no spoilers for GOOD FOR YOU, there are spoilers if you have not read BETWEEN THE LINES and WHERE YOU ARE.**
So....Tammara Webber did it. She made me, against all odds, love Reid Alexander. Reid amused me in BETWEEN THE LINES. He was a jerk, yes, but when it came down to the wire, he was no match for Graham when it came to winning Emma's heart. I was not amused with Reid in WHERE YOU ARE. The way he actively schemed with Brooke to split Emma and Graham up? Uh uh. Although he redeemed himself in a small way at the end, I just didn't know how I would take to him in GOOD FOR YOU.
I knew I would love the book because, HELLO?, Tammara Webber is a genius author. I just didn't know how I could ever move on. But Webber took the egocentric, reckless, dangerous Reid and made him into something more. You get to see, in a way, how Reid became the way he is. Reid lives in a dysfunctional family. It's all he knows. His mother is an alcoholic, his father is emotionally distant. He hasn't lived with any type of boundary in five years and he's only nineteen. That's a sure recipe for disaster. Add to that a lavish lifestyle in which people live to cater your every whim, it's not wonder Reid is a Class A jerk.
Then, Reid meets Dori. Dori is as selfless as they come. The daughter of a pastor and a nurse, she has been raised to serve those in need. Dori is generous, kind, respectful, loving. She is basically the classic good girl. Dori also happens to be hiding a lot about herself from everyone she knows.
When Dori meets Reid, it's not pretty. They don't know each other, but they do know enough to write the other off. But day by day, as Reid proves himself at the job site, and as Dori lets down her guard, they discover that maybe, they could be good for one another.
I really don't know what I can say about this book without being stupid. I loved it like crazy. The way Tammara portrayed these characters, fiery and passionate one moment, fragile and unsure the next, it made me dizzy with happiness. The characters are fully fleshed, their stories, the painful journeys, are heart breaking and raw. GOOD FOR YOU was an emotionally draining yet beautifully uplifting book that I could not have enjoyed more.
Favorite Quote:
"There's something uncontaminated about her, and I don't even mean sexually or whatever. I mean the way she is, at her core. Like when you wake up and the world has been blanketed by snow overnight, and not a single footstep or tire track has spoiled the untouched perfection of it. (ebook, 46%)
" 'When you tell me to be good, it makes me want to be good,' I say, hearing the undisguised desire in my voice. I run my fingers through the hair at her temples, taking her face between my palms, and she doesn't move. 'It also makes me want to be very, very bad.' And then I kiss her." (ebook, 50%)
Published December 15th 2011
You can purchase GOOD FOR YOU at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Source: Won in a giveaway with no obligation to review.
A Note About The Series: BETWEEN THE LINES (the series) is a series I put off far too long. I can not aptly describe how much I loved each book. Tammara Webber is one of the most gifted authors I've had the pleasure of reading and is now on my auto-buy list. If you haven't read this phenomenal series, do yourself a favor and start now. You will not be sorry.
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.
When Hollywood It Boy, Reid Alexander, arrives on location to shoot his next movie, his goals are the same as always—film another blockbuster hit and enjoy his celebrity status to the fullest while doing so. His costar is a virtual unknown with whom he had blazing hot chemistry during her auditions. The universe is lining up nicely to grant whatever he wants, as usual, until he’s confronted with unexpected obstacles on location like a bitter ex-girlfriend and a rival for the first girl to spark his genuine interest in years.
Emma Pierce just got her big break after more than a decade of filming commercials for grape juice, department stores and tampons, and more recently, bit parts in made-for-TV movies. Nailing the lead role in a wide-release film sent her agent, father and stepmother into raptures, and should have done the same for her. The Problem? Emma is experiencing a building desire to be normal, and starring in a silly, modernized adaptation of one of her favorite novels—opposite the very hot Reid Alexander—isn’t going to advance that aspiration.
Graham Douglas doesn’t fear playing the part of a nerdy dimwit; when it comes to choosing film roles, if it pays, he’ll do it. Besides, his friend Brooke Cameron snatched up the role of the bitchy hot girl and could use his help as a buffer, because her ex is the star. Graham has no problem keeping a handle on the situation, until he finds himself attracted to Reid’s costar, Emma, the girl Reid is pursuing full-throttle with his standard arsenal of charm, good looks and arrogance.
Author recommendation: Mature teens+ (language/drinking/sexual situations) ~From GoodReads
My Teaser~
"I think about Graham pushing a strand of hair behind my ear when we'd ducked out of the rainstorm, the feel of his fingers sliding over my skin, how he listened when I talked about losing Mo. I think about the hunger in Reid's beautiful eyes, the heated difference in his off-screen kiss, and the way he teases me. 'I like them both. They're just...different.' " (ebook, 43%)
"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...
When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she’s single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, stalked by her ex’s frat brother, and failing a class for the first time in her life.
Her econ professor gives her an email address for Landon, the class tutor, who shows her that she’s still the same intelligent girl she’s always been. As Jacqueline becomes interested in more from her tutor than a better grade, his teasing responses make the feeling seem mutual. There’s just one problem—their only interactions are through email.
Meanwhile, a guy in her econ class proves his worth the first night she meets him. Nothing like her popular ex or her brainy tutor, Lucas sits on the back row, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. At a downtown club, he disappears after several dances that leave her on fire. When he asks if he can sketch her, alone in her room, she agrees—hoping for more.
Then Jacqueline discovers a withheld connection between her supportive tutor and her seductive classmate, her ex comes back into the picture, and her stalker escalates his attention by spreading rumors that they’ve hooked up. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy. ~From GoodReads
Why I'm Waiting ~
I've heard only great things about Tammara Webber's books. I have her BETWEEN THE LINES series on my tbr-list and hope to read them soon. EASY sounds brilliant. I love Mature YA. So yeah, I think I definitely have enough reasons to read EASY!
Expected publication: May 25th 2012
Be sure and add it to your To-Read List on GoodReads by clicking the icon above.
Series: Between the Lines #4
