Feature and Follow #12

What its all about!

Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers -- but you have to know -- the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

RULES
1. (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
2. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
3. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "hi" in your comments and that they are now following you.
If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn't have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
4. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers. If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Question of the Week

Share something you’ve learned about book blogging or just blogging in general in the last month.

In the last month I have learned that I have to set alarms and calendar notifications for when I have to have books read by or blog tours set up by. I try really hard to stay organized! Without my schedule of which books to read next by I would be lost. I also set up my email folders this week to separate my review requests, ARC's, and blog tours. They do get lost sometimes and that sucks. Recently I have had so many requests, its crazy! So I am diligent about updating my calendar...I have three...don't judge me. 

I have also learned that sometimes life gets in the way of blogging. This is kind of off topic but, a family member of mine was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer last week and only given a few months to live. I have had to cancel blog tours and push back reviews because of it. Blogging however has been an amazing distraction. I honestly don't know what I would do with my spare time if I didn't have it. Especially lately. Everyone has been great regarding my life issues and its extremely appreciated. I still get posts up as quick as I can and a lot of them are done ahead of time and scheduled so that helps! **As a side note, sorry, I tend to over-share sometimes but, on my blog I feel like I can?**

ARC Review of Off Course by Sawyer Bennett

Goodreads Summary:
Renner Caldwell has her life perfectly mapped out. She has the ideal relationship, the perfect job and all is right in her world. When a shameful turn of events happens, she boards the first plane bound for Ireland to lick her wounds and get her head back on straight. 

Cillian O’Bradaigh is the sexy, front man to the Irish rock band, Over The Edge. His rising fame and sultry voice make him every woman’s fantasy come true. Not to mention his single-minded determination. To put it simply: what Cillian wants, Cillian always gets. And he wants Renner, because there’s just something about the flame-haired beauty he has to possess. 


If their relationship was just about sex and rock n’ roll, it would be easy for them to get lost in their desires. Only their relationship is anything but a hook-up. Will lies, deceit and hidden tragedy get in the way, making the path to true love uncertain? Or will the girl whose been knocked Off Course, find her footing with the man who is teaching her it’s okay to lose control?

My Review:
Renner has not had an easy life. The book opens with a scene from Renner's past that, despite what she says, kind of haunts her. She is currently living overseas with her family. What she never expected was for her past to sneak up on her. Cillian is a super sexy rocker. He is a bad boy in all ways possible.He isn't your typical hero/white horse riding guy. He is living the rocker life with different ladies and most importantly had relations with a band mate, Maeve. Someone he is always around. Out of all Bennett's books, Cillian is my favorite guy so far.  He remembers Renner from all those years ago. Renner is hard headed when it comes to they guys she is interested in. We're talking the whole nine yards. White picket fence, nice house, successful and reliable guy. All of those things Cillian isn't. Can a relationship survive? Will other people get in the way? Can Renner get over her insecurities about Cillian?

Cillian's family situation is really sad. What happened with them. He doesn't talk about it much. It's kind of his secret. I think that when him and the bad try to get Maeve to go into rehab she totally uses that against Cillian. I really grew to hate Maeve. She is the queen of manipulation. The other band guys were really cool though. Renner's secret has to do with a butt-head ex-boyfriend. He does not deserve forgiveness. I kind of loved the way Cillian dealt with that! Renner also has great cousin, Cady. She was awesome! Her friend Teagan is crazy awesome too. I wouldn't mind getting know their stories in the future! I have a feeling we are going to get Flynns, Renner's brother, story first. 

The romance between Cillian and Renner is scorching. Cillian is kind of a demanding kind of guy. His desire for control stems from his past but, I was totally ok with it. It's all fun and games for a while. They are both having fun, but those darn feelings always get in the way. They are perfect for each other and are scared to admit it. They both need each other in ways that can't fathom. Renner has to get over her "ideal man" crap and look at what's in front of her. Cillian needs to get his crap together in general and quit trying to fix everyone!  


I loved this book and read it really quickly. I am interested to see what is going to happen next for these families! There are so many possibilities!

BLOG TOUR: Something Great by M. Clarke

Hello and welcome to my stop on the Something Great blog tour! I loved this book and am so excited to be taking part in the tour! The author does some great giveaways on Facebook and her Blog so be sure to check them out! My post includes the cover, summary, book trailer, and my review! 

Title: Something Great

Author: M. Clarke

Release Date: July 24, 2013

Synopsis

She didn’t know what she was missing…until he found her.

Maxwell Knight was positively trouble, dangerously good-looking, and seductively charming. He was everything Jeanella didn’t need in her life. Only Maxwell didn’t see it that way. His pursuit was relentless, making her even more determined to push him away.

Fresh out of college, life was simple and plain for Jeanella Mefferd. Every part of her life was smooth sailing; her friends, her job, and even the guy she’d started dating. Then one night, while at dinner, she spotted someone who made her feel things she’d never felt before—dangerous, heart pounding and breathless heat. Thinking she would never see him again, she brushed it off, but when she started to run into him unexpectedly, all she could think of was how he made her feel with his sweet flirtations. Everything about Maxwell Knight screamed trouble, especially when she found out he was her new boss’s son. Now, heading to a New York fashion show, would she be able to focus on her career instead of Maxwell, who had been scheduled to attend with her? As much as she tried to forget their encounters, his good looks, smooth words and determination to win her over gravitated her toward him. The next thing she knew, her mind was utterly consumed by him. Would she be willing to ignore all the dangerous signs and jump into his arms? Or would she miss out on the chance of finding something great?

Book Trailer

My Review:

"Creating a world of love and passion, a hint of danger and broken rules, the characters are eccentric, fun, and loving. A captivating story that I could not stop reading."

 I was lucky enough to get an to take part in the blog tour for this book. In a few words, I loved it! I really liked Jenna as a character. She could have been my sister. She has a normal life and is trying to get the job of her dreams. Life then throws her a loop when she is out with her friend and sees a gorgeous stranger. He makes her all tingly in the right places. She is confused by this because she is dating someone. She ends up running into this guy numerous times and they become “lunch buddies”.  They talk about everything, including their jobs. When she finds out that mystery man Max is the boss’s son things get really fun. Max uses his name to get her to the fashion show she wants to work. Things with Max heat up pretty quick. Will a relationship with the boss’s son be a good thing? Will it be good for her job? Can she get over his playboy past? 

Jenna has a lot of fun traits.  I love the she is allergic to alcohol. It leads to a pretty hot situation. I thought it was unique and not something I have heard of before.  Her friend Becky is awesome! I wish I had a friend like that. She is snarky and fun and gives great advice to Jenna.  Jenna worries a lot about leaving her safety zone. Which is why she is dating Luke. Will Max pull her from her safety zone and give her something fiery, full of love, and lust?

I loved  Max! He was super sexy and had just the right amount of mystery to him. He wasn’t afraid to love her even though she was an employee. He knew just how to push Jenna’s buttons, all of them. He also shows a lot of restraint and doesn’t want to push her. I thought their relationship was great. There was series sexual tension between them.  Luke was different. I felt like their relationship was kind of cold, almost like it was easy so they just kept doing it. 

This was an awesome debut New Adult Novel for M. Clarke. I loved every bit of it. I would highly recommend this one!

About the Author

Mary Ting resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one. Why the pen name, M Clarke? She tours with Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children’s chapter book, No Bullies Allowed.

Contact the Author:

Facebook | Email | Blog | Twitter

Wishlist Wednesday #60

Wishlist Wednesday is a weekly post put on by Dani at the Pen to Paper blog. Where you post a book you really really want to read or one that has been on your wishlist! If you've seen my to-read list on Goodreads then you know there are plenty that I could use. So I decided to use this feature every Wednesday.

Title: Ignite Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Series Number: 3
Release Date: February 4, 2013

Summary:
The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, called "a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love"

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong.

In Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi created a captivating and original story that combined the best of dystopian and paranormal and was praised by Publishers Weekly as "a gripping read from an author who's not afraid to take risks." The sequel, Unravel Me, blew readers away with heart-racing twists and turns, and New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia said it was "dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense." Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and climactic end.

My Thoughts:
I have LOVED this series and was so excited to see the cover for book 3. Which I love by the way. I am sad that this will be the last book because this is an awesome series! If you haven't read it yet you must. It is one of my favorite series ever. It's so different from what's out there. Have any of you ever read this series yet?

Stacking the Shelves #7

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. It is hosted by Tynga's Reviews. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! Since In My Mailbox is on leave I had to find a new way to share my books! This is a combination of the last two week

O
Posts will be more sporatic in the coming months. A family member of mine was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer yesterday so I will be on and off for a while. 

Purchased

Goodreads Summary:

There comes a moment in everyone’s life when they must decide which road leads to personal happiness. For Dylan Silver, this is that moment…

For the past twenty-two-years, Dylan has been living in her parents' carefully crafted world, always putting her own dreams on hold to play the role of a dutiful daughter.

So when her best friend coaxes her into a winter getaway to a mountain cabin, she sees it as a chance to forget about the responsibilities waiting for her at home. At least for a little while.

But then her past catches up to her—in the form of sexy snowboarder, Sawyer Carter.

Six years ago, Dylan bid goodbye to the only boy she ever truly loved. Now he's standing right in front of her, bringing up bittersweet memories and igniting suppressed desires as he dares her to be the person she has always wanted to be.

Dylan and Sawyer’s unexpected meeting is a second chance, but will a girl who doesn't believe in fate and taking risks be able to overcome her fears of losing control and finally embrace the life she desperately wants?

Only one thing is certain: after a week in Whistler, Dylan's world will never be the same.


*Please note that this novel contains mature subject matter, including strong language and sexual situations that may not be suitable for all readers. Reader/buyer discretion is advised.*

Goodreads Summary: (I feel the need to point out that I got the hard cover of this one for $5.98 at B&N's bargain rack!)

In the darkest corners of the night in Caldwell, New York, a conflict like no other rages. Long divided as a terrifying battleground for the vampires and their enemies, the city is home to a band of brothers born to defend their race: the warrior vampires of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

John Matthew has come a long way since he was found living among humans, his vampire nature unknown to himself and to those around him. After he was taken in by the Brotherhood, no one could guess what his true history was- or his true identity. Indeed, the fallen Brother Darius has returned, but with a different face and a very different destiny. As a vicious personal vendetta takes John into the heart of the war, he will need to call up on both who he is now and who he once was in order to face off against evil incarnate.

Xhex, a symphath assassin, has long steeled herself against the attraction between her and John Matthew. Having already lost one lover to madness, she will not allow the male of worth to fall prey to the darkness of her twisted life. When fate intervenes, however, the two discover that love, like destiny, is inevitable between soul mates.

Goodreads Summry:
Some things are permanent.

Indelible.

And they cannot be changed back.

Joy Malone learns this the night she sees a stranger with all-black eyes across a crowded room—right before the mystery boy tries to cut out her eye. Instead, the wound accidentally marks her as property of Indelible Ink, and this dangerous mistake thrusts Joy into an incomprehensible world—a world of monsters at the window, glowing girls on the doorstep, and a life that will never be the same.

Now, Joy must pretend to be Ink’s chosen one—his helper, his love, his something for the foreseeable future...and failure to be convincing means a painful death for them both. Swept into a world of monsters, illusion, immortal honor and revenge, Joy discovers that sometimes, there are no mistakes.

Somewhere between reality and myth lies…


THE TWIXT

Goodreads Summary:
Live young. Live hard. Love deep.

Charley Redford was just an ordinary girl until Jake Caplin moved to her small town in Indiana and convinced her she was extraordinary. Almost from day one Jake pulled Charley into the deep and promised he was right there with her. But when a tragic incident darkened Jake’s life he waded out into the shallows and left Charley behind.

Almost four years later Charley thinks she’s moved on. That is until she takes a study year abroad in Edinburgh and bumps into none other than Jake Caplin at a party with his new girlfriend. The bad-boy-turned-good attempts to convince Charley to forgive him, and as her best friend starts spending time with Jake’s, Charley calls a truce, only to find herself tumbling back into a friendship with him.

As they grow closer, the spark between them flares and begins playing havoc with their lives and relationships. When jealousy and longing rear their destructive heads, Charley and Jake struggle to come to grips with what they mean to one another.


And even if they work it out, there is no guarantee Charley will ever trust Jake to lead her back into the deep…

BLOG TOUR: Letters to Nowhere by Julie Cross

Hello everyone and welcome to my stop on the Letters to Nowhere blog trour! Hosted by Living in a Book World. This was a great book and I am so glad I got the chance to take part! The book was an amazing story of love and conquering tragedy. While at the same time fighting for your dreams. Please feel free to take a look at my review and enter the giveaway at the end of the post!

Summary:

Her family may be shattered, but her dreams aren't...

From the International Bestselling Author of the Tempest series

A Mature YA contemporary set in the tough world of Elite Gymnastics.

Seventeen year old Karen Campbell has just lost both her parents in a tragic car accident. Grief stricken and alone, her gymnastics coach opens his home to Karen, providing her a place to live while she continues to train, working toward a spot on the world championship team. 

Coach Bentley’s only child, seventeen year old Jordan is good-looking and charming enough to scare away a girl like Karen—someone who has spent ten times more hours on balance beams and uneven bars than talking or even thinking about boys. But the two teens share a special connection almost immediately. It turns out Jordan has a tragic past of his own, grief buried for years. 

As Karen’s gymnastics career soars, her nightmares and visions of the horrible accident grow in strength. She can only avoid facing her grief for so long before it begins to surface and ultimately spin out of control in a very dangerous way. Can discovering love and lust (simultaneously) help with the grieving process or will it only provide a temporary distraction while waiting for reality to hit full force.

Excerpt
I turned around to face Jordan. He looked like the most vulnerable, worried boy ever, his hands stuffed in his pockets, his eyes not meeting mine. Then he finally did look at me and let out a long sigh. “I’m totally giving you the wrong idea here, aren't I?”

“Kind of.” I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans. “I’m just nervous, I guess.”

My admission seemed to give him confidence because he stepped closer and took one of my hands. “Just tell me what to do, Karen. I like us. I really like us. And I don’t want to screw it up.” He smiled at me. “In fact, if you could just give me a list of all the possible ways that I can screw this up that would be extremely helpful.”

Feeling brave all of a sudden, I took a step in his direction, closing the gap between us. “I’d say it would be an epic failure on your part if you brought me all the way here and didn't even kiss me at least once.”

“That . . .” He placed a hand on the back of my neck. “. . . was a great line.”


I looked up at him and laughed. “It was, wasn't it? I’m pretty proud of myself.”

My Review

Letters to Nowhere is a book about overcoming grief and tragedy. Karen is an elite gymnast. She has been working hard her whole life. Until, one day when her life is changed forever. Her parents are both killed in a car accident. That’s where the book starts. They are deciding where to place Karen since she is 17. Coach Bentley, Karen’s gymnastics coach, offers her a place to stay at his house. Karen chooses to live with her coach and continue her training in town at the gym. What Karen doesn’t know is that Coach Bentley has a son, Jordan.  This worries her just a little…sharing a house with two buys. She handles it really well though. Karen doesn’t have any experience when it comes to guys.  She has spent all her free time with gymnastics.  Her life isn’t like normal teens. She does online school and trains the rest of her day. Jordan is perfect for her. He has grief of his own to deal with and is just the person to help her pull through this. Will Karen be able to accomplish her dream with gymnastics? Will Jordan be her knight in shining armor? Will the nightmares ever stop?

Karen has a lot going on inside her head. She is trying to grieve and compete. See a therapist helps her I think. I think the therapist is able to kind of open Karen’s eyes and bring her back down to Earth with her goals. She has a lot that she can’t control. Karen also suffers from panic attacks. She keeps having dreams and imagining her parents after the accident in pieces. Specifically her Dad’s decapitated head. It is a work in progress. Karen feels like if she knows more about how the accident happened that the visions will go away. Unfortunately, that opens up a whole new can of worms that sets Karen back.

Jordan is a great guy. He has been through a lot. He is exactly what Karen needs. Maybe she will even learn more about boys and get her first kiss? Jordan has more experience but, he is so open with Karen. About everything! He knows when to talk to her, kiss her, or leave her alone. As Karen’s gymnastics take a turn for the better, she second guesses her choice to go to college. Will she and Jordan be able to work together and grieve together? Or is the breakdown inevitable? Will it be worse? 

I really liked this book. It was written so well and I felt close to Karen, like I was grieving right along with her. I am glad that her and Jordan got to know each other and didn’t just jump in bed to make each other feel better. It was a nice change. 

About the Author

I'm the author of the YA sci-fi trilogy, the Tempest series (St. Martin's Press). I'm also the author of the YA contemporary novel, Letters To Nowhere.

But even more importantly than the above, I'm a fan of books and an avid reader/reviewer. Keep in mind, however, that a review is just one person's opinion, one perspective. My goal is to show as much bias in my reviews as possible because this makes it easier for you to decide if your perspective is similar to mine or different. Everyone's tastes are different. I like books with emotion and believability. I don't mind edgy and heavy themes. I also like humor and quirk. I like weird characters in odd situations.

I have low tolerance for insta-love, flowery sex scenes, or mushy declarations of feelings. Not a fan of possessive/controlling male characters who get the girl in the end. When I recommend books, I always ask about favorite current reads and cater to each person's taste.

I believe every book plays an important role whether I love it or hate, it's having an effect on society. It's changing, shaping, and molding the future of publishing. Regardless of my feelings about a book, I value the author's time and effort put into creating their work. I only rate books available for purchase (or soon-to-be available) and consider those books as published works and their creators as professionals in their field therefore I treat them as professionals, giving my honest opinion on the work itself and not the person producing it.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

COVER REVEAL!! Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi!!

Ignite Me

By Tahereh Mafi

Release Date: February 4, 2014

Summary

The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, called "a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love"

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong.

In Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi created a captivating and original story that combined the best of dystopian and paranormal and was praised by Publishers Weekly as "a gripping read from an author who's not afraid to take risks." The sequel, Unravel Me, blew readers away with heart-racing twists and turns, and New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia said it was "dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense." Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and climactic end.

Praise for the Shatter Me series:

"Dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense. I dare you to stop reading."-Kami Garcia, #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures series

"Tahereh Mafi's bold, inventive prose crackles with raw emotion. A thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love, the Shatter Me series is a must-read for fans of dystopian young adult literature-or any literature!"-Ransom Riggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

"Addictive, intense, and oozing with romance. I'm envious. I couldn't put it down."-Lauren Kate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Fallen series

Feature and follow #11

What its all about!

Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers -- but you have to know -- the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

RULES
1. (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read}
(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
2. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
3. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say "hi" in your comments and that they are now following you.
If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn't have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed
4. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers. If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Question of the Week

Back to school. Create a reading list for the imaginary English Lit class you’ll be teaching this semester.

 

I like this question!! Here is my list:

- Pride and Prejudice

- 1984

- The Iliad (Because it was AWESOME...yup I'm that person)

- Beowulf

- Fallen Angels 

Wishlist Wednesday #59

Wishlist Wednesday is a weekly post put on by Dani at the Pen to Paper blog. Where you post a book you really really want to read or one that has been on your wishlist! If you've seen my to-read list on Goodreads then you know there are plenty that I could use. So I decided to use this feature every Wednesday.

Title: Cress (The Lunar Chronicles)
Author:  Marissa Meyer
Series Number: 3
Release Date: February 4, 2014

Goodreads Summary:

Rapunzel's tower is a satellite. She can't let down her hair - or her guard. 

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. 

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker – unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice. 

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

My Thoughts

I have loved the Lunar Chronicles books. They are such unique versions of classic stories. I need to know how this is going to happen next. These stories are so classic yet they are not. This should be a great book and I love the cover!!! Have any of you read this series?

Off Course by Sawyer Bennett Release Day fun!!

Title: Off Course

Author: Sawyer Bennett

Publisher: Big Dog Books

Release date: August 4, 2013

Genre: Contemporary

Age Group: New Adult 

Event organized by: AToMR Tours

Links to the book:

Goodreads | Amazon

Summary:

Renner Caldwell has her life perfectly mapped out. She has the ideal relationship, the perfect job and all is right in her world. When a shameful turn of events happens, she boards the first plane bound for Ireland to lick her wounds and get her head back on straight. 

Cillian O’Braidagh is the sexy, front man to the Irish rock band, Over The Edge. His rising fame and sultry voice make him every woman’s fantasy come true. Not to mention his single-minded determination. To put it simply: what Cillian wants, Cillian always gets. And he wants Renner, because there’s just something about the flame-haired beauty he has to possess. 


If their relationship was just about sex and rock n’ roll, it would be easy for them to get lost in their desires. Only their relationship is anything but a hook-up. Will lies, deceit and hidden tragedy get in the way, making the path to true love uncertain? Or will the girl whose been knocked Off Course, find her footing with the man who is teaching her it’s okay to lose control?

About the Author

USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn't have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Author social media links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Event Giveaway

The author is offering  a Release Giveaway of a (3) e-book combo pack of Off Sides, Off Limits, and Off the Record (mobi or epub). – International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt!!

Taking a deep breath, I open the door. I don't even have time to sort out my feelings because Cillian's hands snake out. One wraps around my waist and the other cups the back of my head, pulling me to him. His mouth covers mine and he literally bends me backward, giving me the deepest, hottest kiss I've ever had in my life. The moment his tongue invades my mouth, he lets out a groan that seems to emanate from deep inside of him and that sound completely melts my insides. I don't want to, but my hands do what they want and wrap around his neck to hang on.

The kiss is demanding, and yet he seems to be seeking something from me. Something more than just the immediate gratification of his desire.

But no sooner has the kiss started then Cillian straightens up his body, pulling me up flush with him. His kiss lightens until he's just nibbling on my lips, an action I find to be sexy and endearing at the same time. He finally pulls his lips away and rests his forehead against mine.

"God, I needed that," he says. He sounds tired.

I pull away to look at him. "Where have you been?" I hope my question sounds merely curious and not accusing in any way.

He releases me and rubs the back of his neck with one hand, as if he has the weight of the world resting there.

"I had some crap to take care of. Can I come in?"

Crap to take care of? And that was more important than calling me or seeing me, especially after we shared that pantie-shredding kiss?

I cross my arms over my chest and block the entrance to my apartment. Now that his body is removed from mine, some of my common sense is returning. I'm now remembering why I tend to shy away from men like Cillian. He's too unpredictable. Unreliable. He has the power to disappoint me.

"I don't think that's a good idea," I say, hoping my words don't betray the desire my body is still feeling and very much wants to invite him in.

He tilts his head to the side and narrows his dark eyes at me. "The way you kissed me just now says different. Why the cold shoulder?"

My own eyes narrow back at him. "Cold shoulder? I find it funny you would accuse me of that."

Cillian sighs and rubs his neck again. "Look. I'm sorry I haven't been to see you. But something important did come up. Trust me when I say I would have rather been with you. I would have rather been anywhere than where I was."

Something about his voice weakens my resolve just a bit. I don't know if he would have rather been with me, but I don't doubt by the tone of his voice that he did not enjoy whatever it was he was doing. "Come on in and I'll make some tea. And you can tell me all about it."

I step aside to let him pass but he doesn't move. "It's not something I really want to talk about."

Um... yeah... that's just not going to do.

"Then you can just be on your merry way then. You kissed me the other night, Cillian, and it was good. No, that's not right. It was great. It was a kiss that told me something better was to come. It was a kiss that convinced me to possibly give you a chance. But I'll be damned if I'm going to be strung along and I'll be damned if I'm going to be available for your whims. You can either convince me that the something else was more important, or you can get the hell gone."

I hold my breath, waiting for his reaction. I'm not even sure if I really care which direction he will choose. Part of me wants to expand my horizons and see what this insane attraction is that’s brewing between us. But another part of me, the part that is still the safe, responsible Renner Caldwell, wants him to turn tail and run. That ultimately would be the easiest on me.

My options to Cillian are to leave or to come in and tell me where he was. He chooses to do neither.

Instead, he moves so fast, I don't even have time to register what he's doing. His hands come and grip my head. His mouth comes down on me brutally, pushing my lips apart while he starts walking me backward into my apartment.

I'm vaguely aware he kicks out with a booted foot to slam my door shut. He continues walking me backward until I'm flush up against my living room wall.

The halt in my backward progress doesn't stop him. He merely reaches down with one hand, wraps it under my ass, and hauls me up so that my core is pressed up against his hardness. He does this without even breaking the kiss, thoroughly intent on exploring every inch of my mouth with his tongue. 

ARC Review of The Solitude of Passion

Goodreads Summary:
When old love and new love collide an impossibility is born.

When Lee Townsend’s husband leaves on a community outreach to China, the last thing she expects is for him to never come back—for him to have tragically met his demise.

Lee goes on to marry his adversary and settles into life and business with him, merging her vineyard with his and creating a worldwide conglomerate.

Five years later a twist of fate brings the past back to her and forces Lee to make a decision that will change the landscape of her life forever. 

Secrets emerge, forcing relationships to be examined—magnifying the surprising true underpinnings of her marriage to both Mitch and Max. 

Lee’s heart is unwilling to surrender her love for either Mitch or Max.
She must choose to carry forward with the past or present. 

Lee has a choice to make.
Mitch can’t figure out how to win.
Max never loses.

Worlds collide in THE SOLITUDE OF PASSION

My Review:
I feel like I have to start this review by saying that I do not like love triangles. Most of the time I really don't like them. So I kind of set myself up with this one. The story was very well written and had some serious shock value. Lee has had a rough life. Her husband Mitch "died" when he went on a work trip to China. She was also pregnant at the time. She then has to try to get her life together and get ready to be a single mom. Thank goodness she had family and Max to help her through it. She ends up marrying Max and they have a child together. Then Lee's world turns upside down yet again. Mitch comes back from the dead and is still head over heals for Lee. What Mitch isn't prepared for is that Lee is married to his enemy, Max, and has more then one child. Oh and Lee merged his business with Max's. Lee is forced into a life where she is technically married to two men, both of which she loves. Who will she decide to spend her life with? How can she get through this without hurting one of them? How will this affect her family?

I liked Lee when she was with Mitch and Max separately. Before Mitch came back from China. She was also a great Mom. She was a great wife when she was married to them separately. When she was stuck between them I felt like she did a lot of questionable things. I understand that she was in an awful situation and loved both men but, having sex isn't always the answer. It's not going to fix things. I just wanted to shake her and tell her to kick them both out until she figured things out! I understand that she loved them both but, she was only hurting herself and the guys. Both of them were really insensitive about the whole thing. They hated each other and made it very clear. They kept pulling Lee in different directions. She was vulnerable and loved them both so I felt like the guys were totally in it for themselves. Again, I don't like love triangles so this one was really hard for me. 

I'm not sure why I liked Max more then Mitch, I just did. I felt like he was a great man and was there for Lee when she needed him. I think Mitch gave a valiant effort to get Lee back but, should have thought about the kids more rather then himself. The thing that I hated the most about Lee was that she used her relationship with one of the guys to get when she wanted. For example, when Mitch wanted to go back to China she "chose him" to try to get him to stay. She did that a few other times too and I didn't like it at all. I felt like that was the easy way out. I did feel bad for Lee, this is the worst possible situation any woman can be in. I can't even imagine it. I have no idea what I would do if it were me. Probably the same thing. She was a mess of confusion a lot. I'm glad that she went to therapy. That is something they needed. It is to hard to figure this kind of thing out without help. Lee's heart was in the right place and so were the guys. It's an impossible situation. The kind that changes your life forever. It's something nobody can possible plan or prepare for. 

The ending was interesting. I didn't see that coming at all. I thought things were going to get crazy. Hudson was such an idiot. Max was truly a good brother to him and Hudson didn't really deserve it. Anyway, I did cry at the end. I felt like that was the easy way to resolve the whole mess though. I do understand why it worked with the story though. 

I did enjoy this book. It was well written. I love this author and she has written some amazing books. This one just wan't my favorites. Mostly because of my personal preference when it comes to books. I still plan on reading anything else she writes because she is that good of a writer. 

Stacking the Shelves #6

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. It is hosted by Tynga's Reviews. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! Since In My Mailbox is on leave I had to find a new way to share my books! This is a combination of the last two weeks!

eARC's

Goodreads Summary:

Twenty-four-year-old Olivia Taylor Jones has the perfect life. The only daughter of a wealthy, prominent Chicago family, she has an Ivy League education, pursues volunteerism and philanthropy, and is engaged to a handsome young tech firm CEO with political ambitions.

But Olivia’s world is shattered when she learns that she’s adopted. Her real parents? Todd and Pamela Larsen, notorious serial killers serving a life sentence. When the news brings a maelstrom of unwanted publicity to her adopted family and fiancé, Olivia decides to find out the truth about the Larsens.

Olivia ends up in the small town of Cainsville, Illinois, an old and cloistered community that takes a particular interest in both Olivia and her efforts to uncover her birth parents’ past.

Aided by her mother’s former lawyer, Gabriel Walsh, Olivia focuses on the Larsens’ last crime, the one her birth mother swears will prove their innocence. But as she and Gabriel start investigating the case, Olivia finds herself drawing on abilities that have remained hidden since her childhood, gifts that make her both a valuable addition to Cainsville and deeply vulnerable to unknown enemies. Because there are darker secrets behind her new home, and powers lurking in the shadows that have their own plans for her.

Goodreads Summary:

When old love and new love collide an impossibility is born.

When Lee Townsend’s husband leaves on a community outreach to China, the last thing she expects is for him to never come back—for him to have tragically met his demise.

Lee goes on to marry his adversary and settles into life and business with him, merging her vineyard with his and creating a worldwide conglomerate.

Five years later a twist of fate brings the past back to her and forces Lee to make a decision that will change the landscape of her life forever. 

Secrets emerge, forcing relationships to be examined—magnifying the surprising true underpinnings of her marriage to both Mitch and Max. 

Lee’s heart is unwilling to surrender her love for either Mitch or Max.

She must choose to carry forward with the past or present. 

Lee has a choice to make.

Mitch can’t figure out how to win.

Max never loses.

Worlds collide in THE SOLITUDE OF PASSION

Goodreads Summary:

When Avery finds out that the cowboy who requested her services for the night is Marty, things take an unexpected turn. If Avery declines her friend, she'll be in trouble with Miss Black, but if she accepts--this could mean a new, normal relationship and saying farewell to Sean forever.

Genre: New Adult Romance

This story unfolds over multiple volumes approx. 20,000 words each.

~The Arrangement Vol 1-9 are on sale now.~

FERRO family novels: DAMAGED & STRIPPED

Purchased

Goodreads Summary:

Their love could destroy them all.

Through the ages, Marked Ones have harnessed the powers of the four elements: Water, Fire, Earth, and Air. Much about the elements is shrouded in mystery, but one thing is certain: A relationship between two Marked Ones has the potential to cause widespread devastation.

Megan and Adam—Air and Water—are determined to defy the risks.

But the power that swirls inside Megan is growing in twisted ways. And the closer she is to Adam, the closer Megan comes to unleashing a dark force that could spell destruction for the entire Marked line.

Goodreads Summary:

My name is Tate. He doesn't call me that, though. He would never refer to me so informally, if he referred to me at all.

We're neighbors, and once, we were best friends. But then, one summer, he turned on me and has made it his mission to screw up my life at every opportunity. I've been humiliated, shut out, and gossiped about all through high school. His pranks and rumors got more sadistic as time wore on, and I made myself sick trying to hide from him. I worried about what was around every corner and behind every door. 

So I left.

I spent a year studying abroad and bathed in the freedom of life without Jared. Now I'm back to finish up high school and get the hell out of here forever. I'm hoping that after a year of breathing room, he's moved on and forgotten all about me. 

But even if he hasn't changed, I have. I'm not interested in avoiding him or turning the other cheek anymore. We're going to go head to head, because neither of us wants to back down.

Goodreads Summary:

This series is intended for mature audiences. It contains graphic sex, violence, and language that may not be suitable for those under 18. 

Volume 1 in Blurred Lines Serials

Genre: New Adult Erotic Romance Series

*** Cadence lives her life without holding back. She's all in. Her life is raw, real, and unapologetic. If you aren't afraid to experience all Cadence has to offer, read this series. *** 

Hooking has four important rules.

1. Cash only.

2. Use protection.

3. Carry mace.

4. Don’t fall in love.

Twenty-year-old Cadence is a prostitute and she lives by the rules. They keep her alive and they keep her heart protected. But when she agrees to take one last job to get out from under her pimp, she discovers some of the rules might be worth breaking.

Goodreads Summary:

I can’t remember the last time I felt completely safe. Security seemed more like a luxury to me, reserved for those who were fortunate enough to have picture perfect childhoods. For those who didn’t bear the ugly scars that keep me bound in constant, debilitating fear. I’ve run from that fear my entire life. But when I met him, for once, I couldn’t run anymore.

He scared the hell out of me in a way that excited every fiber of my being. It wasn’t the tattoos or the piercings. It wasn’t the warmth that seemed to radiate from his frame and blanket me whenever he was near. It was just…him. The scary beautiful man that threatened to alter 23 years of routine and rituals, and make me face my crippling fear.

My name is Kami and I am constantly afraid. And the thing that scares me the most is the very thing I want.

“Don’t worry,” he smiled, pulling me into the hard warmth of his chest. “I’ve got you. I’ll always catch you when you fall.”

And just like that, Blaine had staked his claim on the untouched part of me that no living soul had ever moved. He had captured every fear, every reservation, and crushed them in the palm of his inked hand.

Author Disclaimer: Abuse is real- verbal, emotional, physical and sexual. It takes place all around us; it doesn’t discriminate against race or gender, wealth or poverty. It affects us all- those of us who’ve had to live through it, or watch it happen, even those of us who’ve only heard about it. We are all affected. We are all forever changed. 

This is not a story for the faint of heart; this is the story of one woman’s very real struggle through a world against her, the people who hurt her, her real life demons and the people who showed her that every gray sky, no matter how dark, has a sun waiting to break through.

Goodreads Summary:

Infinite possibilities….

Infinite passion…..

Infinite danger….

His touch spirals through me, warm and sweet, wicked and hot. I shouldn’t trust him. I shouldn’t tell him my secrets. But how do I not when he is the reason I breathe? He is what I need.

At the young age of eighteen, tragedy and a dark secret force Lara to flee all she has known and loves to start a new life. Now years later, with a new identity as Amy, she’s finally dared to believe she is forgotten–even if she cannot forget. But just when she lets down her guard, the ghosts of her past are quick to punish her, forcing her back on the run. 

On a plane, struggling to face the devastation of losing everything again and starting over, Amy meets Liam Stone, a darkly entrancing recluse billionaire, who is also a brilliant, and famous, prodigy architect. A man who knows what he wants and goes after it. And what he wants is Amy. Refusing to take “no” as an answer, he sweeps her into a passionate affair, pushing her to her erotic limits. He wants to possess her. He makes her want to be possessed. Liam demands everything from her, accepting nothing less. But what if she is too devastated by tragedy to know when he wants more than she should give? And what if there is more to Liam than meets the eyes?

For Review 

Goodreads Summary:

When Riga Hayworth finds a dead body in her bedroom a week before her wedding, it’s par for the course. When the corpse drives off with her fiancée… That’s a problem.

Riga knows dead. More intimately than she’d like. So when a murdered photographer gets up and walks away, she’s believes there’s necromancy afoot. And when she discovers that several of her wedding guests are under the influence of dark magic, she’s certain. But how can she catch a killer and stop a necromancer when even her nearest and dearest are lying to her?

Murder. The undead. Irritating relatives. The Infernal Detective is a fast-paced, paranormal mystery, where nothing is quite as it seems, and magic lies just beyond the veil.

Goodreads Summary:

Oleg Petrosian, the self-made Russian Billionaire, wonders when his un-beating heart will experience a glimmer of love. On a business trip to London, to seal a gas deal, he meets Sam Latham, the chef at a swanky restaurant in South Kensington. After she caters for a business meeting at his nearby home, his private Learjet (flown by his cosmonaut sister) whisks Oleg, Sam and her younger actress sister to Oleg's cliff top home in Russia's Anapa, a health resort on the Black Sea. But can their fledgling romance survive Oleg's deep, dark secret?

Goodreads Summary:

Josh Collins has the perfect life—a beautiful girlfriend and a baby on the way, until an accident takes his life and he’s suddenly forced to fight for everything and everyone he loves.

Alone and pregnant, Avery Rhodes is suddenly faced with a painful new reality. Life without the man she loves is turbulent. Nothing feels the same any more without him and she finds herself facing the unimaginable.

With his newfound guide Gabriel, Josh is forced to learn what happens IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES.