Finding the Rainbow (Chilton Crosse #2) by Traci Borum
Synopsis Holly Newbury’s life is on hold in the cozy English village of Chilton Crosse. While her friends are marrying, having children, and embarking on successful careers, Holly is raising her three younger sisters and working part time at the village art gallery.
Her life feels incomplete, but family is more important to her than anything. Then a film crew’s arrival galvanizes the community, and Holly becomes fast friends with Fletcher Hays, the movie’s love-shy American writer.
The production of an Emma film isn’t the only drama in town, though. Their father makes a choice that threatens everything she gave up her dreams for. Holly’s sisters endure growing pains.
And Fletcher plans to return to America as soon as filming is over, ruining any chance of their relationship blossoming further. After years of sacrificing for others, Holly must find the courage to take a risk on a future she never dared to expect.
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My Review Finding the Rainbow is a return to my favorite English village, Chilton Crosse, the place I fell in love with while reading Painting the Moon. The story picks up not long after the end of Painting the Moon and is told from Holly’s point of view, Noelle’s gallery assistant. Holly dropped out of university six years before to help raise her younger sisters after the sudden, unexpected death of her mother.
Holly takes care of her sixteen-year-old twin sisters, Rosalee and Bridget, and twelve-year-old baby sister, Abbey while her father commutes to London where he runs a successful business. Assuming the roles of mother, caretaker, and older sister, doesn’t leave Holly with much time for herself, although she takes courses online and escapes to her grown up playhouse out back to read in peace.
When the BBC production of Jane Austen’s Emma comes to Chilton Crosse, Holly decides a book club centered around the same novel is a wonderful way to immerse the town into the production. Walking through town, she stumbles upon one of the screenwriters, Fletcher, and American from Texas, and coerces him into addressing the book club, launching one of the best platonic male/female friendships I’ve read in awhile. The camaraderie is evident from the start, rather than developing after the whole lust-at-first-sight thing which is common in most romances of late. This is a refreshing change from the ordinary.
Plot
The plot in Finding the Rainbow is more subtle than in Painting the Moon. Overall, it’s about Holly finding where she fits, and the romance plays a role in that, but it’s so much more than that. When Holly’s father makes a choice that changes her function within the family, she feels adrift and without purpose. This is no “I need a man to be happy” story, though. Her friendship with Fletcher is well-established before anything romantic evolves and he isn’t her saving grace. Strong subplots involve the making of the movie and a romance involving Holly’s boss, Frank. Additionally, Holly’s father, all three sisters, and even Fletcher have their own arcs.
World Building
The world building is almost stronger this time around than in Painting the Moon. Sure, we’re already well acquainted with Chilton Crosse, but Noelle was a recent transplant, whereas Holly was born and raised there. This time, we get to see it through the eyes of a lifelong resident, allowing us to gain a more intimate understanding of the village and it’s colorful inhabitants.
Characters
I love all the characters, and I think that’s where Traci Borum’s writing really shines. She creates unique, three-dimensional characters that come alive in believable ways. Each and every character is distinct, even twins, Rosalee and Bridget. Holly is not Noelle 2.0 either, nor is Fletcher a reboot of Adam.
Writing Once again, the writing transports us to a quaint English countryside where life is slower paced and it rains. A freakishly lot. The pacing matches the laid-back lives of the characters that inhabit the pages.
Ending I thought the ending did justice to the story, and I liked it more than the end of Painting the Moon, which I thought was well done. The characters remain true to themselves, which I think is key.
Top Five Things I enjoyed about Finding the Rainbow 1. Holly’s Personality. I love her outlook on life, the way she’s so resilient and doesn’t allow herself to wallow, even though she has plenty of reason to.
2. Fletcher. I love that he was always a friend first to Holly. He could have been the typical American guy, looking for a quick lay and short-term romance until he left, but he never went that route.
3. Rosalee. Of Holly’s sisters, she was my favorite. Her passion and tender heart made her someone I’d want to befriend if she was a real person.
4. Emma. While not my favorite Austen novel (that would be Sense and Sensibility) I do love the Jane Austen themes that wind through both of Traci Borum’s novels.
5. Grown Up Playhouses. I love how Holly turned her childhood playhouse into and adult retreat. I’d kill for someplace like that in my own backyard!
Bottom Line Finding the Rainbow is a sweet story that is similar in some way to Painting the Moon, but has a little Notting Hill twist with a dash of The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain.
Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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About the Book Title: Finding the Rainbow Series: Chilton Crosse #2 Author: Traci Borum Release Date: March 24, 2015 Pages: 300 Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | GooglePlay
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Author Traci Borum
About the Author Traci Borum is a writing teacher and native Texan. She’s also an avid reader of women’s fiction, most especially Elin Hilderbrand and Rosamunde Pilcher novels. Since the age of 12, she’s written poetry, short stories, magazine articles, and novels.
Traci also adores all things British. She even owns a British dog (Corgi) and is completely addicted to Masterpiece Theater–must be all those dreamy accents! Aside from having big dreams of getting a book published, it’s the little things that make her the happiest: deep talks with friends, a strong cup of hot chocolate, a hearty game of fetch with her Corgi, and puffy white Texas clouds always reminding her to “look up, slow down, enjoy your life.”
Painting the Moon (Chilton Crosse #1) by Traci Borum
Synopsis When Noelle Cooke inherits a quaint English cottage and an art gallery from her famous Aunt Joy, she welcomes a departure from her San Diego routine.
But the lure of the Cotswolds, combined with a locked cottage room and a revealing journal, entice her to stay and discover more, including a way to save the gallery from financial ruin. And that means remaining in England.
When her childhood sweetheart, Adam Spencer, begins work on a restoration project in Noelle’s village, their friendship blossoms. But as her feelings for Adam deepen, she struggles with memories of what might have been and yearns for a future once thought lost.
Faced with a life-altering revelation Aunt Joy took to her grave and a wrenching choice regarding the man she loves, Noelle could lose far more than her heart.
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My Review For a San Diegan who loves England enough to consider moving there, Painting the Moon spoke to me in more than ways than one. I had to Google pictures of the Cotswolds, but once I did, I knew I’d be all over that opportunity if I was Noelle. Noelle is in a dead-end job, although she lives on the beach, so that’s almost a wash. But she has no love life and a jerk of a boss, so not sure the beach house wins out any more. When her great aunt passes away, leaving her entire estate to Noelle, she flies to England to handle the legalities.
The longer she’s in the English countryside, the less she’s in a hurry to return to her mundane job and her dreamy beach house. Her aunt’s cottage with all of its divine charm is a pretty good substitute. But it rains a lot in England, so we’re back to even. Until Noelle discovers a secret stash of never-before-seen paintings by her famous-artist aunt, and suddenly Noelle has more money that she knows what to do with.
Having spent her summers visiting her aunt and grandmother in her teens, Noelle rekindles her childhood friendships with her two best British friends, Jill and her teenage crush, Adam Spencer. Noelle realizes she still has feelings for Adam, but he’s engaged to someone else. Still, the draw of Chilton Crosse is stronger than San Diego and she decides to stay. The story unfolds slowly, like a lazy summer day, as Noelle adapts to her new life, and uncovers more secrets her aunt has kept hidden away for decades.
Plot
The main plot is likely the romance between Noelle and Adam, but the mysteries around Aunt Joy are almost neck-and-neck with the romance. The romance is subtle and there is almost zero heat, but there is a sweetness that more than makes up for it.
World Building
The author does an incredible job with scene setting. She places the reader in the heart of the small village outside of Bath. It’s easy to picture the sights, hear the sounds, smell the fresh air. She captures a small village atmosphere that feels like something right out of Waking Ned Devine.
Characters
The cast is intriguing, everyone from Noelle, the transplanted American, to the town full of eclectic characters, to childhood besties Jill and Adam, and even Aunt Joy, who we only know through her journal entries and paintings. There’s a complexity to each one, even Mac the caretaker, that makes the story come alive in a colorful way.
Writing The writing is fluid and nuanced, painting the scenery with words and placing three-dimension characters in that scenery to act out a layered story. The book seems to straddle the fence between woman’s fiction and literary, never quite landing on either side of that fence, making it unique.
Ending The ending wraps up all loose ends in a satisfactory way, bringing closure to the story in the way you’d close the door of your English countryside cottage at the end of the day and plop down on your favorite couch with a cup of tea. It’s soothing, comforting, and warm.
Top Five Things I enjoyed about Painting the Moon 1. Joy’s Paintings. The story of Joy’s hidden past, revealed through paintings was a clever tool for working in backstory, one I’ve not seen used before.
2. Adam. From unsure teen to rekindled love interest, he has this adorkable vibe about him that I love.
3. Jill. She’s fun, spunky, outgoing, the yin to Noelle’s yang in all the right ways.
4. Mac. There’s so much to love about this affable, yet sometimes cantankerous, Scotsman.
5. Joe’s Pub. This is the quintessential small English countryside village gathering place where everyone really does know your name.
Bottom Line I very much enjoyed Painting the Moon. It was a lazy stroll through a lush field on a warm summer day.
Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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About the Book Title: Painting the Moon Series: Chilton Crosse #1 Author: Traci Borum Release Date: June 7, 2014 Pages: 320 Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars Links:Goodreads | Amazon
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Author Traci Borum
About the Author Traci Borum is a writing teacher and native Texan. She’s also an avid reader of women’s fiction, most especially Elin Hilderbrand and Rosamunde Pilcher novels. Since the age of 12, she’s written poetry, short stories, magazine articles, and novels.
Traci also adores all things British. She even owns a British dog (Corgi) and is completely addicted to Masterpiece Theater–must be all those dreamy accents! Aside from having big dreams of getting a book published, it’s the little things that make her the happiest: deep talks with friends, a strong cup of hot chocolate, a hearty game of fetch with her Corgi, and puffy white Texas clouds always reminding her to “look up, slow down, enjoy your life.”
Today’s theme for 1 Line Wednesday, sponsored by RWA’s Kiss of Death Chapter is to post any line from page 112, 11, or 12 from my work in progress. This week’s line is from page 112 of The Ruins:
A crash from downstairs jolts me out of a deep sleep. Adrenaline pumping, I throw off the covers and rush out of my room.
You can see previous week’s themes and lines here.
Today’s teaser from The Ruins is from chapter 19, titled The Ruins.
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The Ruins (The Union Series #2) by T.H. Hernandez
About the Book
Title: The Ruins Series: The Union Series #2 Author: T.H. Hernandez Release Date: June 16, 2015 Genre: Young Adult Adventure Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Synopsis Heartbroken, grief-stricken, and wracked with guilt, seventeen-year-old Evan Taylor returned to the Union, leaving behind the boy she loved.
Now, she and her friends must find a way to do the impossible – warn the citizens of the Union about an impending rebel attack without alerting the government and risking retaliation against her friends in the Ruins.
When every move Evan makes is thwarted, it soon becomes clear she’s being watched.
Faced with a daily fight to stay one step ahead of her pursuers, she returns to the Ruins. But life in the Ruins has its own dangers, and soon she’s fighting a different battle – to stay alive long enough to discover the truth.
THE RUINS is the second book in THE UNION series, a young adult romantic adventure set in the near future.
Synopsis This is the third book in the Pepper Jones series. The following description contains spoilers for Pepped Up and All Pepped Up. It is highly recommended that you read the books in order.)
Pepper is finally a senior, and she’s determined to defend her national cross-country title. Although Jace is busy with the demands of college football, he’s still at Pepper’s side, supporting her goals. But is she taking her renewed enthusiasm for training too far?
As Jace and Pepper focus on their athletic ambitions, they discover that Jace’s social status has followed him to college, despite his attempt to keep a low profile. With her boyfriend as an idol on campus, Pepper discovers that she might just be a target to those who find Jace threatening.
Are Jace and Pepper strong enough to withstand the pressure from those who want something from them? It won’t be easy fighting for her title and her boyfriend, but nothing easy is worth winning… or keeping.
*This book contains mature content.*
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My Review I’m a huge fan of Pepper Jones and her creator, Ali Dean. This third book in the Pepper Jones series is a departure from the other two. Still focused on Pepper’s running career and her relationship with Jace, there’s less angst and more drama in other areas of Pepper’s life. Pepper has a lot to prove as the defending girls’ cross-country national champion, so she’s training harder than she ever has in her life. Wes is heading to an Ivy-league school soon, and Jace has moved to the dorms on campus, proving that the only constant is change.
What this iteration lacks in dripping teen angst now that Jace and Pepper seem to be on solid footing relationship-wise, it makes up for with uncertainty surrounding Pepper’s ability to compete with an injury and a mystery stalker that has Pepper living in fear.
Plot
The main plot is definitely about running. Whether or not Pepper will recover in time to compete, and if her recovery will be enough to allow her to qualify for regionals and nationals again. A solid sub-plot involves the mysterious stalker who is either trying to ruin Pepper’s chances at a repeat nationals title or to come between her and Jace. Where the story really excels is with Pepper’s running. Her inner turmoil is palpable. I could feel her fear, her drive, her panic over her future, over her identity, because if she’s not a runner, who is she?
There wasn’t nearly enough Jace/Pepper time though, but I think that was deliberate. With Jace in college and Pepper still in high school, their haphazard time together was authentic. They were always trying to squeeze in time for each other while juggling the rest of their busy lives, and the choppy nature of their time together was mirrored in the writing. I felt as unsettled and rushed reading about those stolen moments as the characters were feeling, experiencing them.
Characters
I love all the character growth in this latest installment. Pepper is maturing, learning to stand up for herself. Jace is settling down, giving up his partying ways, and even Zoe is coming out of her over-protective-parenting shell and hanging with the party crowd. Even little Jenny Mendoza, now a sophomore, is finding her voice. But better still, they all stay true to themselves. Even though they’re growing up, they’re still the same characters we know and love.
Writing There is a more mature tone to the writing in this book than in the previous two and I think that reflects the maturation of the characters between the pages. Pepper spends a lot more time inside her head, processing. There are a few times this introspection slows the pacing, but not horribly so. The one thing I would have liked a little different is a particularly long-awaited moment between Pepper and Jace. It would have been nice to be inside Pepper’s head a little more, got a deeper understanding of how much it meant to her. We’d been building up to it for two books and I almost felt it was rushed.
Ending The ending was satisfying, wrapping up the main plot points from this story, but still left me excited to find out what’s next for Pepper Jones.
Top Five Things I love about Pepped Up and Ready to Go: 1. Pepper’s Determination. Her commitment to her sport, her grit and determination, are role-model-worthy.
2. Buns. Once again, Pepper’s pot-smoking, cartoon-character-slipper-wearing grandmother steals the show.
3. Jace’s Loyalty. He’d do anything for Pepper and that is evident in everything he says and does. Sure, he has a storied past, but it’s all in the past. He’s stepped up and becomes the boyfriend Pepper deserves.
4. The Running. Reading about Pepper out there pounding the pavement, getting lost inside herself, has me itching to lace up my running shoes again.
5. Ryan. Still a big fan of the boy Pepper let go to be with Jace. I’d love for him to find his happy-ever-after.
Bottom Line Pepped Up and Ready to Go reunites my favorite young adult characters in a story that challenges them in new, and in some cases, more intense ways.
Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
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About the Book Title: Pepped Up and Ready Series: Pepper Jones #3 Author: Ali Dean Release Date: May 28, 2015 Pages: 203 Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars Links:Goodreads | Amazon
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About the Author Ali Dean lives in Colorado with her husband, twin babies, and golden retriever. In addition to reading and writing, she loves the outdoors- everything from marathon training and biking to snowboarding and skiing.
The Resistance (The Institute #2) by Kayla Howarth
Synopsis It’s what every Defective person wants – freedom, liberation from the Institute.
Allira had her chance. Then why is she still working for them?
It has been three months since she first started working as an agent for the Institute. She’s good at her job. She has to be. There’s too much at stake.
After an arrest goes awry, she’s faced with the possibility of escaping again, and an offer too good to refuse.
Things are meant to be different at the Resistance, everything is meant to be better. But when life is about survival, sacrifices must be made. What will Allira sacrifice for her freedom?
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My Review The Resistance is a solid follow-up to The Institute. We pick up Allira’s story several months after the end of The Institute, where she is working with Drew to round up other “defectives” for the Institute. But as we learned at the end of The Institute, an underground Resistance is doing their own recruiting and they want Allira. The problem is, Shilah and Tate are still at the Institute and her allegiances are pulling her apart. She’d love nothing more than to bring down the Institute, but not at the cost of her brother and best friend.
Plot The plot is intriguing, drawing me in as I learned more about the mysterious Resistance and who is calling the shots, what the Institute is really up to and who’s behind it, and what Allira’s future has in store for her. There are a lot of layers here, all seamlessly woven in, with more than a couple of twists I never saw coming.
World Building
The author deepens the world building in this second go-round, providing further clues to the underpinnings of both the Resistance and the Institute. The world is a bleak place in her dystopian vision, dark and suffocating at times, but with a peek at blue sky promises, if only they survive long enough to experience it.
Characters
There is more character development in The Resistance as Allira comes to terms with her fate, uncovers some surprising information about her past, and embraces her feelings for the important people in her life. Drew also goes through a transformation, but I never quite knew where he stands, which makes him still one of my favorite characters in the series.
Top Five Things I Enjoyed About The Resistance
1. The Ending. Once again the ending was not what I expected. It caught me off guard and slammed me into a wall, making me gasp for breath and beg for more!
2. Drew. He continues to evade stereotype. He refuses to allow me to either love or hate him. Instead, he pushes me away, only to pull me back in like a co-dependent lover. Can’t wait to see what happens with him in the next book.
3. The Twists. I love when an author can shock me, particularly when the plot twist is a natural evolution of the story.
4. Shate or Tailah. Not sure of the best “ship” name for this couple, but they are adorable.
5. Allira’s Determination. Even when she’s put in the worst situations, she manages to grit her teeth and find a way to persevere.
Bottom Line The Resistance is a worthy sequel to The Institute, better in almost every way. And The Institute was really good!
Disclaimer I was provided with a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
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About the Book Title: Resistance Series: The Institute #2 Author: Kayla Howarth Release Date: May 14, 2015 Pages: 352 Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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Author Kayla Howarth
About the Author Kayla was born and raised on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. She still resides there with her husband and son, working part time for a medical pathology lab while working on her writing.
Her love of reading and movies inspired her to start something she never dreamed possible: Writing her first novel.
When she’s not working, looking after her son, or writing, you’ll most likely find her hosting her own dance party in the kitchen while she does the dishes. (Where her husband will argue that more dancing is achieved than clean plates.)
Today’s theme for 1 Line Wednesday, sponsored by RWA’s Kiss of Death Chapter is to post any line from page 213, 21, or 13 from my work in progress. This week’s line is from page 213:
They’re getting these kids ready to, I don’t know what, but not to win. It’s as if they expect most of them not to come back.
You can see previous week’s themes and lines here.
I have a new teaser to share from The Ruins. This is from Chapter 6.
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The Ruins (The Union Series #2) by T.H. Hernandez
About the Book
Title: The Ruins Series: The Union Series #2 Author: T.H. Hernandez Release Date: June 16, 2015 Genre: Young Adult Adventure Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Synopsis Heartbroken, grief-stricken, and wracked with guilt, seventeen-year-old Evan Taylor returned to the Union, leaving behind the boy she loved.
Now, she and her friends must find a way to do the impossible – warn the citizens of the Union about an impending rebel attack without alerting the government and risking retaliation against her friends in the Ruins.
When every move Evan makes is thwarted, it soon becomes clear she’s being watched.
Faced with a daily fight to stay one step ahead of her pursuers, she returns to the Ruins. But life in the Ruins has its own dangers, and soon she’s fighting a different battle – to stay alive long enough to discover the truth.
THE RUINS is the second book in THE UNION series, a young adult romantic adventure set in the near future.
Synopsis Driving home from a bonfire party, eighteen-year-old John Hawk crashes, killing his girlfriend, Riley. Bullied and tormented at school, and crushed by his guilty conscience, John transfers to a school on the banks of the Mississippi River, where he attracts the eye of the principal’s daughter, Megan.
Though he’s reluctant, she convinces him to be her prom date. The morning after prom, Principal Jones reports Megan missing. Four days later, her body is recovered from the river, and John becomes the prime suspect in her death.
Charley Cotton, Megan’s best friend, knows that Megan had a secret, but she doesn’t trust John because of his past. John is desperate to avoid adding to the shame he carries for Riley’s death, though—it’s destroying his life.
With Charley’s help, he learns that others in Megan’s life had a motive to keep her quiet. But every effort they make to uncover the truth edges them closer to a desperate murderer with everything to lose.
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My Review After reading my first young adult mystery a few months ago, I’ve been hooked on the genre, trying to channel a little Veronica Mars, novel-style. The Weight of Guilt delivers. Told from dual points of view, Jon Ripslinger creates believable teen characters who are dealing with a lot. None of his characters have easy, carefree lives. John, one of his main characters, has had more crap in his short life than any kid should have to deal with. Even Charley, who has a decent home life, has to deal with the murder of her best, and really only true, friend.
When John moves to a small Mississippi River town after the death of his girlfriend, Megan, the daughter of the school principal, has her sights set on him. He’s good looking, mysterious, and will piss off her boyfriend, Cole, who she’s pretty much done with. Refusing to take no for an answer, she convinces John to escort her to prom. But when Megan disappears and her body is found four days later, John becomes the prime suspect. He and Charley team up to find out who really killed her, and friendship and maybe something a little more begins to blossom between them. But whoever killed Megan wants John dead, too, putting both of them in danger.
World Building
Small town America comes alive in Jon Ripslinger’s tale. The small tight-knit community, secrets, gossip, and lies all take a starring role.
Plot
The main plot is who killed Megan and it’s a solid teen mystery. Several subplots wind through, all of which include the potential other suspects, and a subtle romance between John and Charley, which is really well done.
Characters The strongest aspect is the character development. Each character is deep, layered, and complex, adding to the mystery. Even secondary and tertiary characters have depth and in some cases their own story arcs.
The Writing It took me a little bit to get into the story. It didn’t always read like young adult, but that isn’t a bad thing. There’s very little strong language, and a cast of young characters, but otherwise reads far more like an adult thriller or mystery. And I think that sets it apart from other books in the category. In a good way.
The Ending Although I kind of figured out who it was before the big reveal, the ending was still well done, and not predictable by any stretch.
Top Five Things I Enjoyed About The Weight of Guilt 1. John Hawk. He’s a fascinating character that I could totally get behind from the opening pages.
2. Anne. John’s sister takes him in and worries about him the way a sister should.
3. Charley Cotton. She’s the plain girl, always in the shadow of her bright and shiny best friend, and yet she has no jealousy. She’s fiercely loyal, strong, independent, stubborn, and a complex, fascinating character.
4. The Police. All the detectives and police officers are well-developed. Although stereotypical at times, not in an over-the-top manner, more in a believable, gumshoe kind of way.
5. Megan. There was so much to like about our victim, I was sorry we didn’t get more time with her.
Bottom Line The Weight of Guilt is a strong young adult mystery with a side of romance that moves from the opening pages.
Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
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About the Book Title: The Weight of Guilt Author: Jon Ripslinger Publisher: Red Adept Publishing, LLC Release Date: February 27, 2015 Pages: 242 Genre: Young Adult Mystery Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | GooglePlay
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Author Jon Ripslinger
About the Author After Jon Ripslinger retired as a public high school English teacher, he began a career as an author. He has published many young adult novels and truly enjoys writing books for teens. He has also published numerous short stories in Woman’s World magazine.
Jon and his wife, Collette live in Iowa. They are the proud grandparents of thirteen grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
When not working writing, Jon enjoys the outdoors, especially fishing. He waits patiently for the next “big one” to strike.
Welcome to the Pepped Up Book Tour. The Pepped Up Series follows teen running sensation, Pepper Jones, as she deals with first love, bullies, and the world of competitive running. Pepped Up is the first book in the series, followed by All Pepped Up. Book 3, Pepped Up and Ready, releases on May 28, 2015.
Pepped Up and Ready (Pepper Jones #3) by Ali Dean
About Book 3 Title: Pepped Up and Ready (Pepper Jones #3) Author: Ali Dean Release Date: May 28, 2015 Pages: 203 Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance Links:Goodreads | Amazon
Synopsis This is the third book in the Pepper Jones series. The following description contains spoilers for Pepped Up and All Pepped Up. It is highly recommended that you read the books in order.)
Pepper is finally a senior, and she’s determined to defend her national cross-country title. Although Jace is busy with the demands of college football, he’s still at Pepper’s side, supporting her goals. But is she taking her renewed enthusiasm for training too far?
As Jace and Pepper focus on their athletic ambitions, they discover that Jace’s social status has followed him to college, despite his attempt to keep a low profile. With her boyfriend as an idol on campus, Pepper discovers that she might just be a target to those who find Jace threatening.
Are Jace and Pepper strong enough to withstand the pressure from those who want something from them? It won’t be easy fighting for her title and her boyfriend, but nothing easy is worth winning… or keeping.
*This book contains mature content.*
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Pepped Up (Pepper Jones #1) by Ali Dean
About Book 1 Title: Pepped Up (Pepper Jones #1) Author: Ali Dean Release Date: November 16, 2013 Pages: 322 Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars My 5* Review: Pepped Up Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Synopsis: Pepper Jones is ready for an epic cross country season. She wants to qualify for Nationals, and she’s willing to do anything it takes to make it happen. She can handle long miles and hill sprints, but boys? That’s an entirely different challenge.
Pepper’s never considered revealing her deeper feelings for her longtime friend, Jace Wilder. After all, he’s got the personal magnetism and good looks to hook just about any girl in town — and he has. Their friendship stands apart from high school social circles, and they’re both just fine with that (or at least they pretend to be).
That is, until running star Ryan Harding moves to town.
When it comes to running, Pepper’s goals are clear. But when it comes to Jace and Ryan, it’s nowhere near as simple.
*This book contains mature content.*
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Excerpt I dig my feet into the mud and embrace the burning in my quads. The harder I push, the deeper the pain in my legs and my lungs. But I’m closing the gap with the two girls in front of me, and that makes it worth it.
Just before reaching the top, the girl in the yellow uniform pitches forward and hits the ground. She’s back on her feet already when I pass her, but she’s lost her momentum. It’s not easy to regain on this terrain.
I’m shoulder to shoulder with the girl in the red uniform when we hit the top of the climb. It’s a straight 100 meters to the finish. I can barely make out the finish line through my mud caked lashes, but it doesn’t matter.
I’m not easing up.
I’ve got one shoe on, and I’m soaked in mud from head to toe. Literally. This is my kind of race. The discomfort from the elements is nothing compared to the throbbing in my muscles. I welcome it all as I force my legs into sprint mode.
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All Pepped Up (Pepper Jones #2) by Ali Dean
About Book 2 Title: All Pepped Up (Pepper Jones #2) Author: Ali Dean Release Date: July 10, 2014 Pages: 187 Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars My 5* Review: All Pepped Up Links:Goodreads | Amazon
Synopsis This is the second book in the Pepper Jones series. The following description contains spoilers for Pepped Up, which should be read first.
Pepper Jones knew that being Jace Wilder’s girlfriend wouldn’t be simple. But she didn’t predict just how many complications would arise from his past. Jealous girls? That she expected. Family secrets? Not so much.
At least Pepper can always hit the trails to clear her head… except when it comes to racing. The high expectations from her phenomenal cross country season haunt her, and she can’t seem to get psyched up for track season.
Pepper’s junior year at Brockton Public is full of challenges on and off the track, but she’s not afraid to face them.
*This book contains mature content.*
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Excerpt “What took us so long to be together, anyway?” I ask.
He smirks at me, and I wiggle in my seat. No one can smirk like Jace Wilder. It’s a huge turn-on. “You weren’t ready for me, Pep.”
I tug my hand away and cross my arms. “What? I think you mean you weren’t ready for me. I didn’t have a single boyfriend until this year and you” – I wave my hand in his direction – “were with girls all the time. Then, as soon as I get my first boyfriend, you decide you’re ready for me. What’s up with that, huh?”
Jace tries to contain his laughter at my outburst but I see through it. My eyes narrow and I shove him in the chest.
“Okay, okay.” He raises his hand in defeat. “I didn’t want to mess things up with you. How many times do I have to tell you? You’re special, Pep. Too good for me, or anyone. I didn’t want to give something a try and fuck it all up and lose you.”
My head tilts to the side as I take this in. And then I smirk right back at him. “You” – I point at his chest – “big bad Jace Wilder. Were afraid of losing me” – I point to myself with a huge grin on my face – “little Pepper Jones, the girl next door?”
He grabs my finger and pulls me toward him so that I’m almost sitting on his lap. “I’m still scared,” he whispers gruffly. Jace’s head dips lower, nuzzling my neck. His warm breath sends goose bumps along my spine as his lips skim my jaw line. “Terrified, actually.”
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About the Author Ali Dean lives in Colorado with her husband, twin babies, and golden retriever. In addition to reading and writing, she loves the outdoors- everything from marathon training and biking to snowboarding and skiing.
The Game Changer (The Perfect Game #2) by J. Sterling
Synopsis Jack appeared at my door last night after six months of no communication wearing a Mets jersey and holding a dozen red roses. He told me he was sorry, that he loved me, and that he would earn my trust again. It took everything in me to not fall apart at the mere sight of him. I wanted to take him back into my life, but I needed to know that this time it would be forever…
In J. Sterling’s highly anticipated follow-up to her USA Today bestselling novel The Perfect Game, Jack and Cassie quickly realize that their new lifestyle can often be cruel and unforgiving. Their happiness is put to the test as the past is never truly far behind.
How do you stay together when the world’s trying to tear you apart?
My Review Once again, I found myself both loving this book and being ambivalent toward it. The first third is a recap of the end of the first book, but from Jack’s point of view. We hear how things went down with Chrystal, what he was feeling when he made the big romantic gesture, and what really went on down in the lobby. But it’s all revealed through dialogue — Jack telling Cassie what happened. I think the story would have been better without this. Bits and pieces could have been shared either in flashback or through conversation, but I felt it delayed getting to what THIS book was about. And what this book was about is how Jack and Cassie cope with Jack’s stardom.
The book really shines as it tackles the issues surrounding being a successful athlete in a big city, how the public feels they own you, and how cruel strangers can be, tearing a public figure down in online forums. Cassie’s heartbreak at being the subject of such ridicule was believable and extremely well done. I just wish it hadn’t taken so long to get there.
Plot Now that Cassie and Jack are back together, the story revolves around outside pressures threatening to tear them apart. The story takes place during the time between the end of the first book and the epilogue, which kind of made me wish I hadn’t read the epilogue, since I knew how it was going to end. The conflict is well done, but it takes too long to get there. I almost felt as if there were too many happy moments.
World Building
There was less baseball this time around and more life in New York, which I thought was believable. J. Sterling captures the essence of what it’s like to be a Southern Californian in the Big City — the cultural differences, the awe, the food!
Characters
I’m still a fan of Melissa and Dean, although I like Cassie and Jack more this time around. However, the “kitten” nickname is beginning to get on my nerves. Almost anything else would be better.
Top Five Things I Enjoyed About The Game Changer 1. The conflict that drives a wedge between Cassie and Jack. It’s well-done, believable, and leads to some sweet moments.
2. The scene between Cassie and Chrystal. I won’t give it away, but it was awesome.
3. New York. It takes a starring role and every location comes across as authentic
4. Dean and Melissa. They still belong together, and I still love them.
5. Cassie’s boss. She’s pretty cool. I wouldn’t mind working for her.
Bottom Line The Game Changer spends too much time covering the same territory, but once we get past that, it ramps up the tension in a satisfying way.
About the Book
Title: The Game Changer Series: The Perfect Game #2 Author: J. Sterling Release Date: June 25, 2013 Pages: 322 Category: New Adult Romance Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars Links: Goodreads | Amazon
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Author J. Sterling
About the Author I got fired from my last job. It’s true. I know you’re sitting there thinking “Jenn, how could anyone in their right mind fire someone as amazing and awesome as you???” And i’d love to give you a good reason, but the truth is- being this awesome is clearly very scary to other less awesome people.
So I said screw them and started writing my first book. And you know what I realized? Writing books that mean something to me is a million times better than working for my ass off for someone who doesn’t really care about anything other than the bottom line.
My soul feels more satisfied.
My heart, more full.
So thank you for reading, loving and recommending the stories I write. I appreciate it more than you know. 🙂
The Ruins, Book 2 in The Union Series releases on June 16, 2015! Check out this fabulous cover by award-winning graphic artist and fellow San Diegan, Mark Sgarbossa. And to help celebrate, you can pick up The Union on Amazon for free through Saturday, May 16. See below for details.
The Ruins (The Union Series #2) by T.H. Hernandez
About the Book
Title: The Ruins Series: The Union Series #2 Author: T.H. Hernandez Release Date: June 16, 2015 Genre: Young Adult Adventure Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Synopsis Heartbroken, grief-stricken, and wracked with guilt, seventeen-year-old Evan Taylor returned to the Union, leaving behind the boy she loved.
Now, she and her friends must find a way to do the impossible – warn the citizens of the Union about an impending rebel attack without alerting the government and risking retaliation against her friends in the Ruins.
When every move Evan makes is thwarted, it soon becomes clear she’s being watched.
Faced with a daily fight to stay one step ahead of her pursuers, she returns to the Ruins. But life in the Ruins has its own dangers, and soon she’s fighting a different battle – to stay alive long enough to discover the truth.
THE RUINS is the second book in THE UNION series, a young adult romantic adventure set in the near future.
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Excerpt Lisa opens the door still in her pajama pants and a tank top. Jack’s behind her in nothing but a pair of sweatpants. I raise an eyebrow in silent judgment. How could she have Jack spend the night with Colin here?
“Where’s Colin?” she asks, looking past me.
“What do you mean, where’s Colin? Isn’t he here?”
“No. He never came home last night. I thought he was with you.”
“You were with me.”
“No, I mean after we separated. I figured he showed up at your place.” Her cheeks turn bright red.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” My hands ball into fists of anger at my sides. “You can’t really be that…” I bite off the words. It’s not my place to share how Colin feels about her.
“He probably left with one of those girls we saw him with,” she says.
I push into her apartment and find Colin’s duffel bag on the floor where it’s been since he began camping out on her couch last week. “So, he just blew off his train?”
“Maybe,” she shrugs.
“Not likely,” I say, stalking back outside, unease gnawing through my stomach. If all this other shit wasn’t going on, I could chalk it up to Colin getting laid, but I can’t shake the feeling something isn’t right. I’m halfway to Bryce’s before I realize that’s where I’m headed. Hopefully he takes me seriously.
My fast walk turns into a jog as I cover the remaining three blocks and two flights of stairs down to the apartment he shares with Jack. I’ve only been here once before, but I think I remember which one it is. I lift my hand and knock on the pale blue door then pace the small empty concrete porch. Thirty seconds pass before I knock again, louder and longer this time. Still no answer. I’m beginning to think he’s not here when the lock clicks and the door cracks open.
Bryce swings the door wider, and my eyes zero in on a bare chest. My gaze drifts from his firm abs and pecs up to meet a pair of gray eyes, squinted against the morning light. Confusion fills his features as he stares at me.
“Colin didn’t come home last night,” I blurt out, my voice breaking.
His gaze rests on my face for a moment before circling the room, reminding me we’re being monitored. “I’m sure he’s fine, but let me get dressed, and we’ll look for him.”
Stepping inside, I close the door and bounce on the balls of my feet while I wait for him. The place is decorated in neo-classic guy. A fireplace and hearth runs the length of the front of the apartment, and opposite that is a solid glass wall overlooking a weedy, overgrown garden. The limited furniture is a jumble of chairs, a couch, and a couple of mismatched tables littered with empty beer bottles.
Bryce dresses in record time and takes my hand, pulling me outside. He leads the way to the depot to catch a train back to the nightclub. “I want to retrace his steps after we left,” he says. “He might’ve just found some company for the evening.”
“That’s what Lisa said, but I think there’s more to it.”
“It’s no secret how he feels about Lisa. He might’ve just wanted to get away for the night.”
“But his bag is still at her place. He would’ve had to come get it before catching his train.”
The nightclub is deserted with the exception of a handful of staff still cleaning up. Bryce walks up to a lanky guy pushing a broom. “Can I talk to the manager?”
A woman in her mid-thirties approaches us a few minutes later, wiping her hands on an apron. She sweeps a chunk of blond hair out of her face with the back of her wrist. “Can I help you?”
“Yeah, I’m Detective Cooper,” Bryce says, flashing his credentials. “We’re looking for a friend. He was here with us last night, but we’re not sure what happened to him.”
She glances between me and Bryce. “Did something happen to him?”
“That’s what we’re trying to find out. Can we take a look at the security feed from last night?”
“Sure,” she says, inclining her head. “Come on back.”
We follow her past the bar and into a small office beyond the kitchen. “Here,” she says, indicating a chair in front of a display screen.
Bryce sits and she shows him how to move through the video files. Bryce locates the one time-stamped from when we were here and forwards through frame-by-frame. I see us leaving for the night and Colin dancing with the girls, getting another drink, dancing some more, then about an hour later, Colin walks toward the exit alone. A guy in a sweatshirt, hood pulled up, hands shoved into his jeans pockets, approaches Colin. They appear to exchange words. Colin nods before following the guy out the front door.
“What the hell?” I ask. “Who was that guy?” Terror sweeps through me, turning my blood to ice. “And where the hell is Colin?”
“I don’t know,” Bryce says, reaching over to squeeze my hand. “But we’ll find him, I promise.”
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The Union (The Union Series #1) by T.H.Hernandez
About Book 1
Title: The Union Series: The Union Series #1 Author: T.H. Hernandez Release Date: November 18, 2014 Genre: Young Adult Adventure Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Synopsis After global warming and a second civil war devastated the former United States, two different societies rose from the ashes – the Union, a towering high-tech utopia, hugging the perimeter of the continent, and the devastated, untamed midsection known as the Ruins.
Seventeen-year-old Evan Taylor has an easy, privileged life in the Union. What she doesn’t have is any idea what to do with the rest of her life. She only knows she wants to do something meaningful, to make a difference in the lives of others.
When she’s kidnapped and taken into the Ruins as a pawn in a dispute involving her boyfriend, Bryce, her ideal world is turned upside down. What she learns while in the Ruins shakes her faith in everything she’s ever known, from Bryce, to her family, and even the Union itself.
Now Evan must choose whether to stay with Cyrus, the sexy, resourceful survivor who believes she’s in the Ruins for a reason, or return to the only life she’s ever known.
But when she stumbles upon a dangerous plot that threatens both worlds, her decision could tear her apart.
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Author T.H. Hernandez
About the Author When not visiting the imaginary worlds inside her head, T.H. Hernandez lives in San Diego, California, with one husband, three children, two cats, and one dog. In addition to her day job as a writer and editor, she writes young adult fiction and reads and blogs about books.
She particularly loves the young adult genre with the intensity of teen emotions and the way they’re still figuring out life.
When not writing, you can find her with her nose in a book, playing Plants Vs. Zombies on her iPad, or binge-watching Doctor Who with her kids. She’s obsessed with pumpkin spice lattes, Comic-Con, microbrewed beers, Bad Lip Reading videos, and the San Diego Chargers.
About the Artist Mark Sgarbossa is an award-winning artist from San Diego, California. A partial list of his clients include Jason Mraz, Target Stores, Tony Hawk, Franz Ferdinand, Major League Baseball, San Diego State University, Snowboarder Magazine, 3 Doors Down, and AC/DC.
In addition to art, Mark is a talented musician. He played rhythm guitar and sang vocals in the indie band The Shirlies as well as playing synth and singing in the live electro duo ROTATOR.
A special thank you to author, Jen Cumming, for today’s guest post on injecting humor into serious, sometimes painful topics. To find out more about Jen and her book, Ms. Conception, buy links, and details on her giveaway, please see below.
(Don’t) Stop Laughing, This is Serious
Don’t get me wrong, I love being a mom. I’d better, after all of the time and effort my husband and I put into becoming parents. I truly love it … but there are times when I dream about running away. Right now is one of those times. I am sitting at my computer, attempting to write a guest blog post – something deep and meaningful or hopefully witty – and I can’t get a minute to myself. Because I am also tugging two impossible pieces of Lego apart and attempting to help with fractions from grade 3 math. I hate fractions and I hate Lego that won’t come apart even with that bloody “tool.” So, between sentences, I am demonstrating fractions with the Lego and sweating as I claw pieces apart.
Chick lit, a verboten term in books these days, is my favourite genre. The British (and Irish) were the pioneers of chick lit. I love the dry British wit – Marian Keyes hits the right note every time, as do Sophie Kinsella and Helen Fielding, to name a few. They portray women trying to succeed in life, work, and love, with humor and compassion…
Sorry, just had to break up a fight over Lego for play versus Lego for fractions. I’m back.
When I decided to write my book, I had a few possible avenues. I could have made it a memoir; after all, my character and I had similar experiences. But truthfully, I’m not really a memoir-type gal. I don’t really enjoy reading them. I like to be entertained and transported when I read a book. I love forensic mysteries and period pieces (Tudor England is a fave), but those wouldn’t work with my story, so chick lit (or women’s fiction) it was.
There are lots of books about finding the right job, the right guy, the wedding, pregnancy, raising kids, et cetera, but very few about struggling to have a baby. Going through fertility treatments is no laughing matter. It is serious, it is depressing, it is isolating – it is NOT fun. My husband and I used humor as our coping mechanism. We exaggerated stories of waiting for the “shy” guy in a growing crowd of impatient men lined up for the “sample” room. I laughed off the internal ultrasounds with comparisons to elephants. That was how we managed to survive our three-year odyssey at the clinic. And after many attempts and many failures, we had success.
I have spoken to many friends of friends about our experiences. I always try to infuse humor in my shared experiences. I hope it makes them smile, because I know how hard it is to smile in the midst of that journey. I’m hoping my smile therapy works as my kids grow. After all the trouble we faced having kids, I figured the rest would be a piece of cake – possibly one-eighth of a cake. Hold on, I can show you with these Lego.
Jen Cumming
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Ms Conception by Jen Cumming
About the Book
Title: Ms. Conception Author: Jen Cumming Publisher: Tryst Books Release Date: May 4, 2015 Genre: Contemporary Romance Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon CA | Barnes & Noble
Synopsis Abigail Nichols has tried everything from rash-inducing herbal creams to acupuncture in a desperate, last-ditch effort to get pregnant.
Wedged into her iPhone schedule among new business pitches and rebranding design meetings is Abby’s ovulation cycle, along with potential opportunities for illicit afternoon quickies.
With all of their hopes and savings on the table, Abby and her husband Jack enter the whispered world of fertility clinics.
Along with a meddling mother-in-law, competitive pregnancies, and constant obligatory sex, Abby’s baby-track mind conspires to ravage her career, her marriage, and her sanity.
One thing she knows for sure: a healthy sense of humor (and the occasional glass of red wine) is the best coping strategy. One thing she wishes she knew: whether it will be enough.
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Excerpt A procreation vacation? What the hell is that? The first email is from my best friend, Jules, one of the few people who know Jack and I are struggling to have a baby. I ignore the rest of my inbox and start Google searching.
There are hotels in the Caribbean that offer fertility vacations? Seriously? Powder white sand beaches, private infinity pools, couples massages with fertility-boosting kelp wraps and reflexology, all to supposedly stimulate semen production. After three years of unsuccessful pregnancy attempts, I’ve found fertility utopia.
Wait, hold on; there’s something here about drinking sea moss elixirs. That doesn’t sound overly appetizing. I read a quote from a successful vacationer: “I conceived as soon as I got home.” With rising excitement, I check out the menu, knowing Jack loves a great meal. Darn, there’s a lot of tofu – this might not fly. My husband Jack is many things, but tofu lover is not on that list.
I click on another link and find the Fertile Turtle vacation package. Apparently sea turtles are symbols of fertility. “You can watch sea turtles hatch while trying to fertilize your own egg.” My cheeks flame. I couldn’t have sex with anyone watching, even poor sea turtles. Jules is definitely yanking my chain. Hitting reply to her email, I type, “The poor turtles. You bitch!”
This is what my life has come to. The ongoing struggle to have a baby has spilled over into desperate Internet searches, sexy lingerie purchases, and my ovulation cycle scheduled into our iPhones. Oh god, sexy lingerie purchases. My face flames brighter at the memory. I thought spicing up our sex life might help, but in my crazy one-track baby-on-the-brain mind, I’d stupidly put the office address in the “ship to” box. That was a really fun day in the office. Pressing my hands against the heat of my cheeks, I sigh and turn back to my computer. Another day begins for me, Abigail Nichols, marketing maven by day, fertility-obsessed sex fiend by night.
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Author Jen Cumming
About the Author Jen Cumming had two dreams: to be a mother and a writer. The first was much harder than she’d imagined, but it gave her plenty of material for her second dream. Now she’s realized both and traded drug cocktails and early morning line-ups at the fertility clinic for juice boxes and evening PTA meetings.
Jen’s latest dream is to live in a small village in France and eat croissants. Being allergic to wheat might hamper that dream, so in the meantime she does her best to balance life with two young children and run a business with her husband in Toronto.
She loves to spend time at the cottage in the summer, ski in the winter, and travel whenever she can.
From now through Saturday, May 16, the Kindle eBook version of The Union is free! Pick up book one in The UnionSeries and preorder The Ruins, book two for just $2.99. The Ruins releases on June 16.
The Union (The Union Series #1) by T.H.Hernandez
About the Book
Title: The Union Series: The Union Series #1 Author: T.H. Hernandez Release Date: November 18, 2014 Genre: Young Adult Adventure/Romance Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Synopsis After global warming and a second civil war devastated the former United States, two different societies rose from the ashes – the Union, a towering high-tech utopia, hugging the perimeter of the continent, and the devastated, untamed midsection known as the Ruins.
Seventeen-year-old Evan Taylor has an easy, privileged life in the Union. What she doesn’t have is any idea what to do with the rest of her life. She only knows she wants to do something meaningful, to make a difference in the lives of others.
When she’s kidnapped and taken into the Ruins as a pawn in a dispute involving her boyfriend, Bryce, her ideal world is turned upside down.
What she learns while in the Ruins shakes her faith in everything she’s ever known, from Bryce, to her family, and even the Union itself.
Now Evan must choose whether to stay with Cyrus, the sexy, resourceful survivor who believes she’s in the Ruins for a reason, or return to the only life she’s ever known.
But when she stumbles upon a dangerous plot that threatens both worlds, her decision could tear her apart.
Today’s theme for 1 Line Wednesday, sponsored by RWA’s Kiss of Death Chapter is to post any line from page 14, 47, or 147 from my work in progress. I’m winding down final edits on The Ruins, which will release on June 16, so my days of playing 1LineWed are numbered until I get another project going. This week’s is from page 14:
I glance at Bryce, trying to decide how I feel about him this morning. I settle on pissed but no longer homicidal.
You can see previous week’s themes and lines here.
Synopsis Allison McKready is a succubus. So is her twin sister. But while Allison spends her summer break hiding in the library behind her Goth makeup, Jade fools around as often as she can.
Allison can’t believe Jade would ignore their mother’s fatal example so recklessly, but concealing a cursed bloodline and its dangerous effects is far from Allison’s only problem.
Mean girl Julie’s snob mob is determined to ruin her summer, and Aunt Sarah’s Bible thumping is getting louder. Only her new friend, Ren Fisher, offers safe haven from the chaos of her life.
When one of Jade’s risky dates leads to humiliation and sudden tragedy, Allison reels, and Ren catches her. But as her feelings for him grow, so does her fear that she’ll hurt him—or worse—in an unguarded moment.
The choice is coming—love him or save him—but Allison might not live to make it. One way or another, the curse will have its due.
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My Review I’ll admit going into this, I had no idea what a succubus was. Yes, I know… But I really didn’t. Paranormal isn’t my normal genre. Sure, I read the Twilight series, but after that, I’d kind of had my fill and only pick up a handful of of paranormal stories a year. But this one, with the twin sisters and the bible-thumping aunt, caught my attention. As the mother of twins, I’m fascinated by stories about twins.
Allison tries to fly under the radar. She’s a succubus, and falling in love just isn’t for her. So by dressing like a goth girl, she attempts to keep people, particularly boys, at arms’ length. Somehow Ren sees through the facade to the beautiful girl inside, but they can never be anything more than friends. Or can they? Allison’s and Ren’s relationship moves beyond the friend-zone with consequences, but Ren is willing to take the risk, even if Allison isn’t. When her twin sister, Jade’s, riskier behavior comes back to bite her, it also affects Allison, resulting in tragedy. But Ren is there for Allison, taking their friendship to yet another level.
While the story starts off slower than I would have liked, it picks up about a third of the way in when it takes a twisted detour into tragedy. That was difficult to get through, but once I did, the story gripped me and never let go. Into a Million Pieces is a paranormal romance, but it reads far more like contemporary with a paranormal twist. That twist is responsible for creating a forbidden love that was so angsty, I could almost physically feel it at times. It’s also a bit of a mystery, which I didn’t see coming, although once I knew what had happened, I did figure out pretty quick who did it. That didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book, though, because at it’s core, it’s not a mystery.
World Building
The world building is very subtle, but utterly believable. The whole succubus thing is woven through the story without overpowering it. The story is about the romance between Allison and Ren. She just happens to be cursed with a gift that could kill the boy she loves if she ever has sex with him. If that isn’t the world’s best birth control for teens, I don’t know what is. But rather than a story about the world of succubi (is that the plural of succubus?), it’s about a girl, who just happens to be a succubus, falling in love with a boy.
Plot
The main plot is definitely the romance of Allison and Ren and it’s extremely well done. The teenage angst is as good as any I’ve read, and I felt the emotional pull far more than I ever did with Edward and Bella. The subplot revolving around Jade is strong and weaves through the main plot, touching every aspect of Allison’s relationship with Ren. Other than the slow start, I thought the plot was strong and there were a couple of really well-done twits.
Characters Allison and Jade are both well-developed as is the aunt. Ren is a little more than just two-dimensional, but I never felt like I got as good of a sense of who he is as I could have. He’s got some issues in his past as well, which are brought out, but I still felt like a little more development could have been done. However, if this is the first book in a series (please, please, please let this be the case) then it’s fine that the author has left this for a later book.
The Writing The writing is solid. Cook excels at scene setting and creating an incredible amount of heat between her characters without ever getting graphic. I wish more authors would do this, because it’s not easy, but it’s so much more intense to read.
The Ending The ending wrapped up all the main plot points, but left enough for another book (see above begging) if the author feels inclined. The conclusion is satisfying and hopeful without needing to create the perfect happily ever after. Because succubus and human.
Top Five Things I Loved About Into a Million Pieces 1. Twins. Because who doesn’t love stories about twins?
2. Ren. He’s sweet and the way he cares for Allison makes him a perfect book boyfriend.
3. Ren’s Grandmother. She’s an amazing woman who supports both Ren and Allison as only a grandmother can.
4. The mud fight. I actually smiled as I pictured the whole thing.
5. Allison’s integrity. The fact that she never gives into her desire in order to protect Ren is one of the things I love most about her.
Bottom Line Into a Million Pieces is a different kind of paranormal romance with a hint of a mystery that left me wanting more.
Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
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About the Book Title: Into a Million Pieces Author: Angela V. Cook Publisher: Red Adept Publishing, LLC Release Date: January 27, 2015 Pages: 206 Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | GooglePlay
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Author Angela V. Cook
About the Author Angela V. Cook lives a very unexciting, but never boring, life with her husband and two children just outside of Detroit. Like most writers, she’s been making up stories for as long as she can remember and can’t imagine a life that doesn’t involve creating worlds.
Angela loves to write novels for teens because it’s the best outlet for her sarcastic personality, immature sense of humor, and love of romantic firsts. Her idea of the perfect day involves a quiet house, a good book, and a piece of cheesecake. Or two.
Today’s theme for 1 Line Wednesday, sponsored by RWA’s Kiss of Death Chapter is to post any line from page 162, 62, or 16 from my work in progress. This is a line from page 162, taking place just seven pages after last week’s line:
Sure, he said we needed to talk, but he could’ve tried harder. He let me kiss him into silence.
You can see previous week’s themes and lines here.
Welcome to the next stop on the Taking What’s His blog tour. Taking What’s His is the fourth book in the Shillings Agency series by New York Times bestselling author, Diane Alberts. Today I have a top five list from the author and I actually squealed a little when I saw that Diane is a fellow Whovian. Her list of the top five Doctor Who moments rocks. See below for information on the book, buy links, a her top five Doctor Who moments, and details on her giveaway.
Taking What’s His (Shillings Agency #4) by Diane Alberts
About the Book
Title: Taking What’s His Series: Shillings Agency #4 Author: Diane Alberts Publisher: Entangled Brazen Release Date: April 28, 2015 Genre: Contemporary Romance Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
Synopsis A sexy category romance from Entangled’s Brazen imprint…
Some lines are meant to be crossed…
One explosive device was all it took to turn Holt Cunningham from ass-kicking Marine to IT technician. Hell, he’s still not over it. So when the cute little strawberry blonde at the bar asks him to kiss her, Holt can’t resist the temptation of a sexy distraction. Before he knows it, she’s blown his mind…and then skipped out the next morning.
Lydia Thomas never expected things with Holt to go quite that far, but oh, it was worth it. After being far too good for way too long, she was ready to be bad. Except that there’s that tiny detail that Lydia kept to herself-Holt just spent the night doing naughty things…with his best friend’s little sister.
One night isn’t nearly enough. But with his friendship on the line, how far will Holt go in order to claim what’s his?
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Favorite Scenes from Doctor Who
Hello! I’m Diane Alberts, but you might also know me as Jen McLaughlin! As Diane, I write sexy contemporary romance for Entangled Publishing. My latest book, TAKING WHAT’S HIS, is the fourth book in the Shillings Agency series (all can be read as Standalones, though), and it centers around Holt Cunningham and Lydia Thomas.
Holt, now, he’s one of my favorite heroes. He’s fresh out of the military—as are all the Shillings heroes—and he’s been injured. We don’t know the full extent of his injuries right away—and I will not post spoilers!!—but the injuries aren’t just superficial. They go deeper, too. But there’s another reason I love him, and that’s because…
He loves Doctor Who!
Some of you might not know what that is, but some of you might! My characters talk about it quite a bit in the book, so I thought it would be fun to list my favorite moments. It will come as no surprise, I’m sure, that some of these pop up in the book.
Rose and Ten. God, Rose and Ten. My favorite moment just happens to be the saddest, too. When Rose and Ten are separated by that wall for all eternity—GOD. It breaks me.
Then, of course, you have the moment where he literally BURNS A SUN to say goodbye, and doesn’t even get to say “I love you.”
Then she comes back, and kicks ass, and saves the world. LOVE THAT, TOO.
Okay, in fairness, I will give credit to Ten and Donna, too. She’s such a great friend for him, and I love how she sasses back at him equally. Ten got used to his companions loving him, and Donna isn’t having it! It’s why I love her, too.
Ah, his last episode when he regenerates. He goes and finds Rose…before she ever met him. He tells her she’s going to have a great year, because she’s about to meet him and doesn’t know it. IT SLAYS ME.
If you watch Doctor Who, what are your favorite moments?
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Author Diane Alberts
About the Author Diane Alberts is a multi-published, bestselling contemporary romance author with Entangled Publishing. She also writes New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling new adult books under the name Jen McLaughlin. She’s hit the Top 100 lists on Amazon and Barnes and Noble numerous times with numerous titles. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. Diane is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.
Diane has always been a dreamer with a vivid imagination, but it wasn’t until 2011 that she put her pen where her brain was, and became a published author. Since receiving her first contract offer, she has yet to stop writing. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, and a cat. Her goal is to write so many fantastic stories that even a non-romance reader will know her name.
