Blog Tour - Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout - Character Interview & Giveaway

Today I have the pleasure of being part of the blog tour for Jennifer L. Armentrout's latest book, Stone Cold Touch. I am so happy to be taking part because I absolutely LOVED this book. And now I get to have Layla, Zayne and Roth answering a few questions. Be sure to keep reading to the end for your chance to win a signed copy of the book!

Emilie: Roth and Zayne, you’ve recently had to work together a little. How has it been doings something you never thought you would do?

Zayne: I hate working with a demon, but I’d do anything for Layla.

Roth: I’m more open-minded than Stony. He’s obviously a little judgy.

Emilie: Layla, what’s it like having to almost play referee between Roth and Zayne?

Layla: I hate that Roth and Zayne don’t get along because they’re both important to me. I understand why it’s hard for them to like each other, but it’s a constant back and forth between them. It drives me crazy.

Emilie: What’s one thing each of you admires about the others?

Roth: Zayne takes care of Layla. So he can’t be all bad. Mostly, but not all.

Zayne: Roth made a sacrifice for Layla that I wasn’t expecting. I have to admire that about him.

Layla: I admire both guys for different reasons. Roth surprised me because he’s completely different than I expected from a demon and Zayne has always been there for me from the first time that I met him.

Emilie: From what I know, you didn’t really see what happened with the Lilin coming. What do you think is going to happen next?

Roth: Not sure, but even Hell is worried.

Zayne: It can’t be good.

Emilie: To finish off, what would each of you say or do to convince people who haven’t read your story to do so?

Roth: I don’t think I need to convince anyone once they’ve met me.

Zayne: That’s your answer? How do you even stand being around him, Layla?

Layla: *Sigh*

Thank you to Layla, Zayne and Roth for answering these questions and even keeping things civil. Well, for the most part. If you want to get your hands on a signed copy of Stone Cold Touch, just leave a comment below and I will pick a winner from all the comments. US/Canada only. Ends November 11.

About the Book:

Every touch has its price

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always proctedted her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers being to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could changer her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but will hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

About the Author:

#1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories…which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published by Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant series has been optioned for TV.

She also write adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Blog Tour - All Broke Down by Cora Carmack + Giveaway

Title: All Broke Down (Rusk University #2)

Author: Cora Carmack

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Release Date: October 28, 2014

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo / B&N

In this second book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack’s New Adult, Texas-set Rusk University series, which began with All Lined Up, a young woman discovers that you can’t only fight for what you believe in…sometimes you have to fight what you love.

“No one does romance and humor like Cora Carmack!” —Jennifer L. Armentrout

Dylan fights for lost causes. Probably because she used to be one.

Environmental issues, civil rights, corrupt corporations, and politicians—you name it, she’s probably been involved in a protest. When her latest cause lands her in jail overnight, she meets Silas Moore. He’s in for a different kind of fighting. And though he’s arrogant and infuriating, she can’t help being fascinated with him. Yet another lost cause.

Football and trouble are the only things that have ever come naturally to Silas. And it’s trouble that lands him in a cell next to do-gooder Dylan. He’s met girls like her before—fixers, he calls them, desperate to heal the damage and make him into their ideal boyfriend. But he doesn’t think he’s broken, and he definitely doesn’t need a girlfriend trying to change him. Until, that is, his anger issues and rash decisions threaten the only thing he really cares about, his spot on the Rusk University football team. Dylan might just be the perfect girl to help.

Because Silas Moore needs some fixing after all.

I fell completely in love with Cora Carmack's Rusk University series when I read the first book, All Lined Up, earlier this year. Knowing how much I loved the book, I wasn't sure how the next installment, All Broke Down, could possibly top it, but it did. It was exactly what I was hoping it would be.

If there's one thing Dylan knows how to do it's fight for lost causes. It's what she's spent the last few years of her life doing, hoping that she can do what was once done for her. But when she finds herself in jail, Dylan knows she may have taken things too far. Except, if she hadn't wound up in jail, she wouldn't have met Silas Moore. Silas should have known better than to start going at it with Levi. Even as he was fighting, he knew it was a bad idea. But Levi hit all his buttons. In jail, Silas meets Dylan and knows exactly the type of girl she is. Except as he starts spending time with her, Silas realizes that Dylan is not who he initially thought, instead Dylan might just be the girl he needs if he wants to stay on the football team.

How can I even begin to explain how much I loved All Broke Down? This is one of those times when I wish I could just tell you that the book was awesome and you all need to read it, and that would be that. But I'll make an effort and try to say a little more than that. In a way, I was a little afraid that All Broke Down would be just like All Lined Up, except with different main characters. I'm happy to report, though, that I couldn't have been more wrong. All Broke Down was definitely its own story and I loved reading every page of it. It didn't take long at all for things to get started. I mean, within the first few pages Dylan has managed to find herself in jail and Silas is throwing punches at Levi. And so it didn't take long at all before Dylan and Silas met things started getting interesting. And from that point on, things just became fun. I enjoyed seeing this story develop, even if at times there were parts that were difficult to read and broke my heart a little. On a more serious note, and without revealing too much about the last part of the book, I really appreciated the way in which Cora Carmack chose to approach a matter that has gotten a lot of attention recently. It was good to see that people can't just get away with doing things because of their status at a university. Hopefully, it can help some people who have gone through something like this that there is something that can be done for them. And that's the end of that serious note. The important thing is, I absolutely LOVED All Broke Down, even more than I did the first book. And that's in large part thanks to Silas and Dylan.

Holy Silas Moore. Where do I even start with him? I had gotten a few glimpses of Silas in All Lined Up and what I had seen hadn't exactly painted a very positive picture. What I saw in All Broke Down, though, is that Silas was very much a layered character. There was so much more to him than that tough exterior he put on for the world to see. I loved peeling back the layers of Silas's character and seeing who he really was at his core. Because that was someone worth knowing and worth caring for. much like Dylan, it didn't take long at all for me to fall for Silas's charm. And Dylan was just a very likeable and relatable character. Because of her background, Dylan has major people-pleaser tendencies and that was something I could definitely relate to. But more than that, Dylan was such a great contrast to Silas. They balanced each other out and brought out the best in each other. And you better believe that I was rooting for them. They were great together and that's all that really mattered to me. And I loved seeing Dallas, Carson and Stella again (and I'm still holding out hope for a Stella and Ryan story, which, considering some of the events of this book, could be really interesting).

As you might have guessed if you've gotten this far, there was nothing I didn't love about Cora Carmack's All Broke Down. If I'm being honest, I would keep reading Rusk University books forever and I would be happy. And it should go without saying that I can't wait to see the story in All Played Out. Knowing who it's about, I just know I'm going to love it!

Giveaway!

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Whatever Life Throws at You by Julie Cross

Title: Whatever Life Throws at You

Author: Julie Cross

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Release Date: October 7, 2014

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

Life loves a good curveball…

Seventeen-year-old Annie Lucas’s life is completely upended the moment her dad returns to the major leagues as the new pitching coach for the Kansas City Royals. Now she’s living in Missouri (too cold), attending an all-girls school (no boys), and navigating the strange world of professional sports. But Annie had dreams of her own—most of which involve placing first at every track meet…and one starring the Royals’ super-hot rookie pitcher.

But nineteen-year-old Jason Brody is completely, utterly, and totally off-limits. Besides, her dad would kill them both several times over. Not to mention Brody has something of a past, and his fan club is filled with C-cupped models, not smart-mouthed high school “brats” who can run the pants off every player on the team. Annie has enough on her plate without taking their friendship to the next level. The last think she should be doing is falling in love.

But baseball isn’t just a game. It’s life. And sometimes, it can break your heart…

There is nothing I love more than a sweet contemporary with a kick-ass girl and swoon-worthy guy. I'm always on the lookout for just that kind of story. So when I heard about Julie Cross' Whatever Life Throws at You, I knew it was going to be right up my alley. And it totally was and I just tore through this book.

Annie Lucas was perfectly happy staying in Arizona. She went to school, kicked ass in track and even had a scholarship lined up for college even though she had a year left of high school. But when her dad gets the opportunity to get back to professional baseball as a pitching coach, she knows she can't stand in his way. Even if it means moving across the country to Kansas City, Missouri. When she gets there, the first person Annie meets is Jason Brody, the completely off-limits new rookie pitcher for the Kansas City Royals. Annie couldn't be farther from the type of women Brody is usually seen with. But you can't fight attraction, even if it could result in her dad killing them both. 

Whatever Life Throws At You is a book I randomly came across a while back. It sounded like something that I would enjoy so I promptly added it to my Goodreads "to read" shelf, like I do for dozens of other books. But then I saw someone tweeting about it last week and was reminded it of it. I quickly checked and it was available for my e-reader so I figured, why not? Honestly, I couldn't be happier about that random decision. I loved every page of this story. It didn't take long for me to get caught up in Annie and Brody's story. It was just so fun and happy and sweet. It was just a great romance read that was perfect for the mood I was in at the time. But I also loved the sport element that was present throughout the story. Whether it was seeing the behind the scenes of a professional baseball team or being at Annie's track meets, I just loved how sports were integral to this story. At times, it even felt like baseball was a character in the book. But not enough of one to overshadow the actual characters who, FYI, I loved.

If there's one sport I can relate to, it's running. All through middle and high school I ran cross-country and track competitively. So right off the bat (baseball pun not intended), I could relate to that aspect of Annie's character. But beyond that, I loved Annie's drive, how she wasn't afraid to go for what she wanted, even if it sometimes meant she acted before thinking things all the way through. Annie was just an all around great character and I loved getting to read this story from her perspective. And there's nothing I enjoyed more than seeing her interact with Jason Brody. If you haven't already met Jason Brody, you are missing out. I'll be the first to admit that I didn't exactly think much of him at first. He very much came across as that stereotype you have of a young professional athlete. But once the layers started being pulled back, I just loved him more and more. Let's just say that I would happily let him whisper to me in Spanish to calm me down in the middle of a tornado warning. And needless to say that I loved seeing Annie and Brody's relationship go from friendship to something more.

Julie Cross's Whatever Life Throws At You is a fun and adorable contemporary romance, perfect for sports lovers. It was exactly what I was in the mood for when I read it, and I would strongly encourage you to do the same. Odds are, you won't regret it.

Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Stone Cold Touch (Dark Elements #2)

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publisher: HarlequinTEEN

Release Date: October 21, 2014

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

Every touch has its price

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

I don't really know that there's anything new about Jennifer L. Armentrout that I can say. With every book of her's that I read, it just confirms that she's one of my favourite authors. I was really excited about reading Stone Cold Touch when I got a copy at BEA and I'm surprised that I waited this long to finally read it. But I'm SO HAPPY to have finally read it. 

For the last few weeks, Layla has been trying to pick up the pieces of her heart. After everything that happened in the school's old gym, she isn't sure how to go on anymore. Roth was the only person Layla could truly be herself around. With him she could embrace her demon side without feeling ashamed. But now Roth is gone, burning in the fiery pits of Hell. The only person left on Layla's side is Zayne. Her completely off-limits best friend. The person who's always been there for her. But things seem to be changing with Zayne. All of a sudden, he seems to be seeing Layla as more than just a little sister. But that's not the only thing changing around Layla. Her powers are changing, the Wardens are convinced she might be becoming a threat. And when she least expects it, Roth returns.

So. Stone Cold Touch. What can I say, other than I loved it? I'll do my best to say a little more than that, because it's not entirely helpful. Here's the thing about me and series, I have trouble keeping up with them. No matter how much I love them, I can't bring myself to keep up with them. And then when it's the second book in a trilogy, I'm always afraid it's just going to act as filler to tide me over until the last book. But that was far from a problem with Stone Cold Touch. The story picks up shortly after the event of the first book, and as a reader, you're thrown right back into the middle of it. Much like in the first book, the nature of many of the characters made it difficult to know who I could trust, and who was actually telling the truth. Every so often I would think I had caught one of them in a lie, but then something new would be brought to light and I was back to being confused. But confused in a good way. And once again, the ending took me completely by surprise. I kinda figured something big was going to happen. Jennifer L. Armentrout had actually told me as much when I met her at BEA, but I didn't think that was going to be it. Needless to say, I'm excited to see where things are going to go in the final book.

After having read Stone Cold Touch, I still love Layla just as much, if not more, than I did after I finished reading White Hot Kiss. The world just seems to be against her no matter what she does, and I can't help but want better for her. I felt her pain at losing Roth. Hell, I was not a happy person when Roth ended up in the fiery pits in the first book. And I felt her struggle with her feelings for Zayne, wanting more, but always being afraid that it would result in her getting hurt. I just want GOOD stuff to happen to Layla, but at the rate things are going that might not happen for a while. And now here's the thing about Zayne and Roth. Once, again I kept going back and forth between the two. This time around, I definitely got to see a whole lot more of Zayne. Basically, I got to see a whole other side of him and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED it. Meanwhile, Roth was being kind of annoying but kept on doing these little things that made me love him. It's just hard to choose between the two. Which leads me to say that as much as I was doubtful of having readers pick who Layla ends up with in the final book (more info on that here), I can see how it might work because I honestly can't decide on who I want her with. Both boys have their flaws and their merits and I love them both for completely different reasons. And maybe we can just clone Layla so she can be with both boys and no one gets their heart broken. How does that sound?

So yeah, I loved Jennifer L. Armentrout's Stone Cold Touch. Is anyone who knows me actually surprised by that fact? I didn't think so. I was definitely not disappointed by this second installment of the Dark Elements trilogy, and I can't wait to see how it will all end in Every Last Breath.

Blog Tour - Even in Paradise by Chelsey Philpot

Today I am happy to be taking part in the Canadian blog tour for Chelsey Philpot's newly released Even in Paradise. As part of the tour, I asked Chelsey to talk about where she gets inspiration and ideas from. So if you're looking for new ways to get ideas, keep reading!

When it comes to uncovering ideas and discovering the right words, I’ve found that writing is more like searching through debris in a neglected attic than shopping a well-lit megastore. More often than not, my thoughts crawl instead of spring. More often than not, I produce more sentences that I can’t use than ones I can. More often than not, as Jack London once so famously said, “You can’t wait for inspiration. you have to go after if with a club.”

But how do you hunt an idea? Pin down a revelation? I can’t answer for every writer, but here are a few “clubs” that work for me.

1. Read poetry. Whether I’m writing fiction or nonfiction, poetry never disappoints. I particularly love the work of Paul Kane, Charles Wright, and Nancy Willard.

2. Look at some awesome travel photography. I’ve adored National Geographic since I was little.

3. Check out art. I have never met an art museum that I have not wanted to explore.

4. Move. Get away form the desk! I’m lucky to live near both ocean beaches and mountains.

5. Dance. I feel I don’t need to explain this one.

6. Do research. Whether my research involves looking through archives or watching YouTube videos, I love doing it—so much so that I have trouble stopping and getting to the actual writing.

7. Read about writing. I love discovering what rituals, practices, etc. for other writers.

8. Talk to strangers. Interviews with interesting people who may never have spoken to are among some of my best journalism experiences.

9. Have adventures. Travel. I would live out of a suitcase for the rest of my life if I could carry all my books with me.

10. Be brave. Each fresh experience, each time you try something strange or scary, might be the start of your next article, story, or book. Impulse can lead to crazy and wonderful stories.

Thank you to Chelsey for this post and sharing the strategies she found work to find inspiration and new book ideas!

About the book

When Julia Buchanan enrols at St. Anne’s at the beginning of junior year, Charlotte Ryder already knows all about the former senator’s daughter. Most people do…or think they do.

Charlotte certainly never expects she’ll be Julia’s friend. But almost immediately, she is drawn into the larger than-life-new girl’s world—a world of midnight rendezvous, dazzling parties, palatial vacation homes, and fizzy champagne cocktails. And then Charlotte meets, and begins falling for, Julia’s handsome older brother, Sebastian.

But behind her self-assured smiles and toasts to the future, Charlotte soon realizes that Julia is still suffering from a tragedy. A tragedy that the Buchanan family has kept hidden…until now.

About the author

Chelsey Philpot grew up on a farm in New Hampshire and now works as an editor and journalist. She’s written from the New York Times, Boston Globe, Slate, and numerous other publications. Like her main character, Charlotte, Chelsea attended boarding school in New England. You can visit her online at www.chelseyphilphot.com or on Twitter @ChelseyPhilpot.

And be sure to follow the rest of the Canadian Even in Paradise blog tour!

October 13 - A Glass of Wine

October 14 - Conversations of a Reading Addict

October 15 - Emilie's Book World

October 16 - Burning Impossibly Bright

October 17 - Lily's Book Blog

October 20 - SukasaReads

October 21 - Hiver et Café

October 22 - Lost At Midnight Reviews

October 23 - Feeling A Little Bookish

October 24 - Read My Breath Away

Falling Into Place by Amy Zhang

Title: Falling Into Place

Author: Amy Zhang

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Release Date: September 9, 2014

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

On the day Liz Emerson tries to die, they had reviewed Newton’s laws of motion in physics class. Then, after school, she put them into practice by running her Mercedes off the road.

Why? Why did Liz Emerson decide that the world would be better off without her? Why did she give up? Vividly told by an unexpected and surprising narrator, this heartbreaking and nonlinear novel pieces together the short and devastating life of Meridian High’s most popular junior girl. Mass, acceleration, momentum, force—Liz didn’t understand it in physics, and even as her Mercedes hurtles toward the tree, she doesn’t understand it now. How do we impact one another? How do our actions reverberate? What does it mean to be a friend? To love someone? To be a daughter? Or a mother? Is life truly more than cause and effect? Amy Zhang’s haunting and universal story will appeal to fans of Lauren Oliver, Gayle Forman, and Jay Asher.

It feels like everyone and their mother has been talking about Amy Zhang's Falling Into Place. I'm even one of those people who talked about the book long before I got a chance to read it. I was unbelievably excited about reading this book. I knew it had the potential to be a powerful and moving read. And let me tell you, it definitely was.

No one knows what happened on the day that Liz Emerson drove her car into a tree. To everyone looking in from the outside, Liz Emerson had the perfect life. But appearances don't always reflect reality. Everyone is asking themselves why Liz decided the world would be better off without her. Her friends wonder if they should have seen something they missed. Her mother wonders if things would have been different if she'd been around more. But unless Liz Emerson wakes up, no one will know exactly what happened on that fateful afternoon.

I started being excited about Amy Zhang's Falling Into Place pretty much from the moment I first heard about the book. It sounded like it was made up of everything I love about contemporary stories. Once people started reading the book though, I started getting a little worried. It seemed like either people absolutely loved the book or it wasn't for them. I started being afraid of how I would react. Would I be part of the group of people who absolutely love this story, or would I be disappointed by a book I was incredibly excited about? I didn't really have to worry about it though. I LOVED Falling Into Place. It was so completely different from anything I've read recently, especially in the way the story was told. Falling Into Place is not told in a linear way. Instead, it takes you back in time in an effort to explain what led to Liz Emerson driving her car off the road. I'll admit that it took me a little longer than usual to get into the story because of that, but once I was in, it's what kept me reading. All the jumps in time made me curious about what had led to this point. And that had a lot to do with understanding who was telling this story, and who Liz Emerson really was.

I'll be honest and say that Liz Emerson wasn't exactly a likeable person. None of what I really saw about her, especially in the flashbacks, did much to make me like her more. Liz was essentially the textbook definition of a mean girl, and even that might be putting it nicely. But as much as I wanted to dislike her, every so often I would get these glimpses of a different Liz. A Liz who understood that what she did was wrong, and who regretted everything she did. And that's the Liz I wanted to root for, the Liz I wanted to see pull through all her injuries from the accident. Really though, I wanted to believe in the version of Liz the narrator saw. And that brings me to the narrator. I new going in who the narrator of this story was, so I was curious to see how it would all work. And it really did. For most of the story I almost forgot who the narrator was, it just felt like I was reading a story told in third person. But then there were those moments that were heartbreaking, the ones where the narrator was trying to go back to a time where Liz was her better self. It's just really hard to explain it all in a way that makes sense. But it does. If you read Falling Into Place, it will all make sense.

Amy Zhang's Falling Into Place was everything I had hoped it would be. This was a moving story that left me completely raw. It wasn't until the very last page that I was able to let go of the breath I was holding. If you are looking for something completely different from what's out there, but feels entirely real, than this is the book for you.

Blog Tour - Burying Water by K.A. Tucker + Giveaway

Title: Burying Water (Burying Water #1)

Author: K.A. Tucker

Publisher: Atria Books

Release Date: October 7, 2014

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo / B&N

The top-selling, beloved indie author of Ten Tiny Breaths returns with a new romance about a young woman who loses her memory—and the man who knows that the only way to protect her is to stay away.

Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defines all odds and survives—but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her. Refusing to answer to “Jane Doe” for another day, the woman renames herself “Water” for the tiny, hidden marking on her body—the only clue to her past. Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, a crotchety but kind lady living on a nearby horse farm, Water slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions emerge: Who is the next-door neighbor, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won’t Ginny let him step foot on her property? And why does Water feel she recognizes him?

Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles doesn’t know how long it will be before Water gets her memory back. For her sake, Jesse hopes the answer is never. He knows that she’ll stay so much safer—and happier—that way. And that’s why, as hard as it is, he needs to keep his distance. Because getting too close could flood her with realities better left buried. 

The trouble is, water always seems to find its way to the surface.

It's no secret that I am a huge fan of K.A. Tucker and her Ten Tiny Breaths series. With that series having come to an end, I was excited to see what she would do next. Burying Water sounded like it had a lot of potential. Memory loss and a mysterious neighbor? Count me in! And I was not in the least bit disappointed.

When she wakes up in the hospital, she has no idea who she is, much less how she got there. Having been left for dead in field outside a small Oregon, she doesn't know where she comes from or what she could have done to be attacked in way she was. After months in the hospital being called "Jane Doe," she renames herself "Water," after discovering a tattoo o her body. Taken in by Ginny, an old lady who owns a ranch outside of town, Water sets about getting on with her life hoping that her memories will one day return. But she can't help but feel drawn to Jesse, the neighbor who spends most of his time playing with the engine of his car. Does she know him? Does he know what happened to her before she lost her memory? Jesse knows he should stay away from Water. After everything that happened he shouldn't let himself get close to her. But his feelings, much like Water's, can only stay buried for long.

There's so much I want to say about K.A. Tucker's Burying Water. I just don't know if I'll be able to get it all out, much less if I'll be able to do so coherently. But I'll try. I was a little apprehensive when I started reading Burying Water. I love K.A. Tucker's other new adult books so FREAKING much that I didn't know how this one would possibly be able to compare. I didn't help that when I started reading I didn't know how it was going to work not only to have the story told from two perspectives, but from two different points in time. Once I started reading, though, I got swept up in the story. The way Burying Water is written, it's almost as if I got two love stories: one of Jesse falling in love with Alex, and one of Water falling in love with Jesse. I absolutely LOVED seeing these two stories unfold. With Jesse's story, there was definitely more drama, questioning of whether he was doing the right thing. With Water's story, it was all about jumping into the unknown. And as much as I loved seeing the relationships and the romance develop, it also broke my heart. The more I read, the more I knew what was coming but I couldn't stop reading even if I knew it would result with me in tears. Through it all though, I was falling in love with Jesse and Water.

It would have been very difficult for me to not fall for Jesse Welles. From the moment I met him in Burying Water, I knew that he would quickly work his way into my heart. He didn't thin highly of himself, but the more I read, and the more I saw him interact with Alex (and I REALLY want to talk about Alex, but I can't because it would just be too complicated), I just knew that he was more than he was giving himself credit for. Sure, he had made bad decisions in the past, and even now some of his decisions were questionable at best, but what he did came from a good place. He was willing to do whatever it took to keep Alex safe, even if it meant hurting himself in the process. And that happened again with Water. Water is one of those people you can't help but feel for. She wakes up in the hospital after having been brutally attacked not knowing who she is. You an't help but want to root for this girl. And believe me when I say I did. It didn't take long for me to figure out what had happened to her, and when I did it only made me want to root for her even more. And as much as I wanted her to get her memories back, to understand who she really was, I didn't want her to have to relive everything that happened to her when she was attacked. And Water and Jesse were just good for each other, despite what the people around them might have believed. And more than anything, I wanted everything to be okay for them.

As you might have guessed by now, I loved K.A. Tucker's Burying Water. As apprehensive as I might have been about this book, I have no regrets now that I've read this story. And I can't help but look forward to Becoming Rain, the next book in this series.

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Blog Tour - Kiss Kill Vanish by Jessica Martinez

Title: Kiss Kill Vanish

Author: Jessica Martinez

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Release Date: October 7, 2014

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

Valentina Cruz no longer exists.

One moment, she was wrapped in Emilio’s arms, melting into his kiss. The next, she was witnessing the unthinkable: a murder in cold blood, ordered by her father and carried out by her boyfriend. When Emilio pulled the trigger, Valentina disappeared. She made a split-second decision to shed her identity and flee her life of privilege, leaving the glittering parties and sultry nightlife of Miami far behind.

She doesn’t know how to explain to herself what she saw. All she knows now is that nothing she believed about her family, her heart, or Emilio’s love, was real.

She can change her name and deny her past, but Valentina can’t run from the truth. The lines between right and wrong, and trust and betrayal, will be blurred beyond recognition as she untangled the deceptions of the two men she once loved and races to find her own truth.

I love a good thriller. When I first heard about Jessica Martinez's Kiss Kill Vanish, I knew it had the potential to be just that. The more I heard about it, the more excited about it I got. Everyone seemed to be loving this book. And having now read it, I can definitely see why because I am in the same boat as everyone who's loved this book.

After what she saw from Emilio's closet that night, Valentina Cruz didn't even take the time to back her things before she fled town. She couldn't believe what she had seen, that Emilio and her father could have done what they did. But she saw it with her own eyes. Now in Montreal, with nothing to her name, Valentina is surviving, doing what she has to in order to keep a roof over her head. But when what she thought she had left behind in Miami comes back to haunt her, Valentina doesn't know what or who to believe. How can she possibly understand what she saw when she can't even explain it to herself? She thought she knew her family's story, but now she doesn't know what's real anymore. Valentina knows she can't run away from the truth anymore, but what truth was she trying to run from in the first place? 

Thrillers are awesome. Whether in book form, TV show form or movie form, I love them all and can't seem to get enough of them. Whenever I hear about a new one coming out, I get excited and can't wait to read it. With Jessica Martinez's Kiss Kill Vanish, I already knew that I enjoyed this author's books so I was interested to see how I would feel about a thriller. Kiss Kill Vanish definitely had a lot of potential. When I first heard about it, I couldn't wait to read it. The closer it got to the release date, the more positive reviews I saw and the more excited to read it I got. Once I started reading, though, I wasn't exactly sure how I felt about the story. For a while, I just couldn't seem to get into it. It just felt like it was not going anywhere. But then once the story got going, I was very much into it. I saw some of the big twists coming. But here were many instances when I didn't know what to believe anymore. So often, I would feel just like Valentina did, trying to puzzle out exactly what her family is involved in and who around her she can trust. Because this was very much Valentina's story, finding out the truth about her past and her family's past.

I'm not going to lie, Valentina kind of bugged me at first. To be honest, the first part of the book kinda just felt like she was throwing this big pity party for herself. Don't get me wrong, I got that she was trying to figure stuff out and that she was dealing with the fact that she saw her boyfriend kill someone after being ordered to do so by her father. And yes, she was struggling. But still, I was very excited when she finally started doing something to help herself, even if I didn't completely agree with what she was doing. By the end of the book, though, I loved the person Valentina had become. And then there was Emilio and Marcel. I wasn't sure how to feel about Emilio. Valentina clearly loved him, but I was never sure if she loved him for the right reasons. There was just always something about him that seemed off at first. And Marcel, well I didn't think much of him at first. At all. I just thought he was going to be a background character. He didn't exactly make a great first impression, but the more I got to know him, the more I came around to Marcel. And much like with Valentina, I liked him very much by the time I finished reading Kiss Kill Vanish.

With Kiss Kill Vanish, Jessica Martinez moved away from the type of contemporary stories she had so far written and I am happy to report that it was a successful change. Once I got into it, I highly enjoyed this story, even if it wasn't always what I thought it was going to be.

Be sure to follow the rest of the Canadian Kiss Kill Vanish blog tour!

October 6 - A Glass of Wine

October 7 - Lost In Ever After

October 8 - Emilie's Book World

October 9 - More Than Just Magic

October 10 - BO-OK Nerd Canada

October 13 - Read. Sleep. Repeat

October 14 - Mermaid Vision Books

October 15 - Lost At Midnight Reviews

October 16 - Words of Mystery

October 17 - Read My Breath Away

Blog Tour - As Long As You Love Me by Ann Aguirre + Giveaway

Title: As Long As You Love Me (2B Trilogy #2)

Author: Ann Aguirre

Publisher: Harlequin HQN

Release Date: September 30, 2014

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo / B&N

Most people dream about getting out of Sharon, Nebraska, but after three years away, Lauren Barrett is coming home. She has her reasons—missing her family, losing her college scholarship. But then there’s the reason Lauren can’t admit to anyone: Rob Conrad, her best friend’s older brother.

Football prowess and jaw-dropping good looks made Rob a star in high school. Out in the real world, his job and his relationships are going nowhere. He’s the guy who women love and leave, not the one who makes them think of forever—until Lauren comes back to town, bringing old feelings and new dreams with her.

Because the only thing more important than figuring out where you truly belong is finding the person you were meant to be with.

I’m all about the books that share titles with Backstreet Boys songs. I loved the first book in Ann Aguirre’s 2B trilogy when I read it a couple of months ago. And having now read the second book, As Long As You Love Me, I can say that these are some highly enjoyable books.

Lauren Barrett is the only person ever left her small Nebraskan hometown, only to want to come back after having lost her college scholarship. What she’s not willing to admit to anyone though, is that she also came back for Rob Conrad, her longtime crush…and her best friend’s older brother. No one has ever looked past Rob’s good looks. All his life, he’s never been seen as more than a pretty face with muscle, working construction around his small town. But when Lauren shows up in town, stirring up old feelings, Rob realizes that he might be more than everyone has believed him to be. But is that enough for someone like Lauren?

Much like I did in my review of the first book in the series, I would like to take a moment to absolve myself of any responsibility should you end up with any Backstreet Boys song stuck in your head. I am not sorry, though I’m stuck with it in my head too. But that’s not the point. The point is that I really enjoyed Ann Aguirre’s As Long As You Love Me. After finishing the first book in this trilogy, I was lucky enough to be able to tread this one right away. And I got sucked right into this story. Though it could easily be read as a standalone,  As Long As You Love Me is the second book in a series. Because of that I already sort of knew the two main characters, making it so that the story could get going pretty fast. And that meant that the romance got started pretty fast. But it didn’t feel rushed or like it all happened too fast because Rob and Lauren had known each other pretty much their wholes lives. That also made it so there was an interesting dynamic between the two and I really enjoyed seeing it change into something more.

I’ll admit that neither Lauren nor Rob made much of an impression on me in the first book even though they were present in the background. But with As Long As You Love Me I got to find out more about them and I loved what I learned. Though people questioned the match, Lauren and Rob were good for each other. Around Rob, Lauren didn’t have to pretend to be more than who she was, she could just be her computer geek self. And Lauren was the first person to see more in Rob, to make him believe in himself because she believed in him. Both of them had a lot of growing to do and they were there to help each other through the process. But of course is wasn’t all easy. Lauren and Rob struggled with their respective lifetimes of insecurities and it hurt me to see them fight because I how good they would be together. They just had to get through it.

Ann Aguirre’s As Long As You Love Me was another great new adult read. Once again, I got sucked into the story and I loved losing myself in it for a few hour.s I can’t wait to read The Shape of My Heart, the final book in the 2B trilogy.

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Blog Tour - Not in the Script by Amy Finnegan

Title: Not in the Script (If Only... #3)

Author: Amy Finnegan

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's

Release Date: October 7, 2014

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

Millions of people witnessed Emma Taylor’s first kiss—a kiss that needed twelve takes and four camera angles to get right. After spending nearly all of her teen years performing on cue, Emma wonders if any part of her life is real anymore…particularly her relationships.

Jake Elliott’s face is on magazine ads around the world, but his lucrative modelling deals were a poor substitute for what he had to leave behind. Now acting is offering Jake everything he wants: close proximity to home; an opportunity to finally start school; and plenty of time with the smart and irresistible Emma Taylor…if she would just give him a chance.

When Jake takes Emma behind the scenes of his real life, she begins to see how genuine he is, but on-set relationships always end badly. Don’t they? Toss in Hollywood’s most notorious heartthrob and a resident diva who may or may not be as evil as she seems, and the production of Coyote Hill heats up in unexpected—and romantic—ways.

This novel in the deliciously fun If Only romance line proves that the best kinds of love stories don’t follow a script.

Fun and flirty YA contemporary romances are absolutely my favourite. There is nothing I don’t love about them. They just always make me happy. So it really shouldn’t be a surprise that I loved Amy Finnegan’s Not In the Script. Because I loved it A LOT.

Since she was twelve years old,e very one has known what was going on in Emma Taylor’s life. It’s what happens when you work in the entertainment industry. Now, though, Emma wonders how much of her life has been real. When you first kiss was essentially choreographed, how do you know if your romances have been real? She doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to boys, but when Emma meets Jake, her co-star on her new TV show, she thinks her luck might be changing. Except Emma has sown off on-set relationships. But Jake seems to be just the guy she needs.

Fun main character, swoon-worthy boys, cute romance, drama and movies stars, Not In the Script had it all. I absolutely loved Amy Finnegan’s debut. Based on the premise, I had a pretty good feeling I would enjoy Not In the Script. I mean, it sounded like a total “Emilie book.” I just hadn’t anticipated loving it as much as I did. When I sat down and started reading I figured I would just read a couple chapters. But that’s not what happened. Not even close. Instead, the next thing I knew it was dark and I had about 100 pages left to read. Not In the Script was an addictive story. I wanted to keep reading and see what would happen between Emma and Jake. I loved seeing their relationship develop because it was jut the kind of romance I love. There was immediate attraction between them, but it was also a slow burn kind of romance. Emma and Jake were friends long before they were something more. And I loved it. Almost as much as I loved Jake and Emma themselves.

I loved that I got to rad this story from both Jake and Emma’s perspectives because it meant I got to know both of them really well. They were definitely different, but at the same time they were so right for each other. Right from the start they had a connection and I loved seeing them both struggle with how they felt about the other. And of course the back and forth banter between Emma and Jake was also pretty awesome. I just loved what each one brought. Emma had been in the entertainment industry for so long that she didn’t really know who she was anymore, while Jake just wanted to do whatever he needed to in order to help his mom. So it was great to see Jake help Emma see what she really wanted for herself, and Emma in turn helped Jake figure out how to get out of this industry he didn’t really want to be in in the first place. All that to say, I really loved Emma and Jake, and apparently putting how much into words is proving to be difficult. So just read Not In the Script and hopefully you’ll fall in love with Jake and Emma as much as I did.

I was surprised by how much I loved Amy Finnegan’s Not In the Script. It was a fantastically fun read with just the right amount of love, drama and humour. And I LOVED every single page.

Make It Right by Megan Erickson

Title: Make It Right (Bowler University #2)

Author: Megan Erickson

Publisher: William Morrow Impulse

Release Date: September 9, 2014

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

Max Payton lives by two rules:

Size and strength win any fight, and never show weakness.

When a rash of assaults sends Bowler University for a tail spin, Max volunteers to help teach a self-defence class. One of the other instructors is the beautiful pixie-faced girl he keeps butting heads with…and who challenges everything he thought he knew. 

Lea Travers avoids guys like Max—cocky jocks who assume she’s fragile because of a disability caused by a childhood accident. She likes to be in control, and something about being with Max makes her feel anything but. But during the moments he lets his guard down, Lea sees a soul as broken inside as she is outside. Trusting him is a whole other problem…

When the assaults ramp up and hit close to him, Lea and Max must learn, before it’s too late, that true strength can come from vulnerability…and giving in to trust is sometimes the only way to make things right.

Last June I discovered Megan Erickson and her Bowler University series. I tore through the first book and absolutely loved it. I was really excited at the prospect of getting to read more stories set in this world so I jumped on the Make It Right, the second book, when it landed on my Kindle. And I loved it just as much as the first book.

Max has never been one for attachments. His last relationship didn't end particularly well, and he almost lost his best friend over a girl. But ever since he met Lea, a girl who challenges him in every way possible, he can't seem to stop thinking about her. Lea is different from all the other girls Max has been with and slowly she's changing everything he thinks he knows and wants. Lea knows better than to get involved with someone like Max. His reputation speaks for itself. But the more time she spends with Max, the more she finds herself wanting to let go of that control she has held on to for so long. When a series of assaults on campus leads to Max and Lea teaching a self-defence class together. But teaching the class together, means trusting the other. Something neither one is quire reading to do.

I LOVED Megan Erickson's debut Make It Count when I read it. In fact, I pretty much raved about it in my review. Because of that, I was extremely excited to read Make It Right. Any time Megan would release another teaser for the book, my level of excitement would go up exponentially. When the release day finally arrived I made sure to hop online so I could get a copy of the book on my Kindle. And by the end of that day, I was done reading Make It Right. It was just that good and engaging. It didn't take long at all for me to get wrapped up in this story and these characters. It helped that I already knew the world and some of the people in the story. Once again, I loved the humour that was present through out, and how it was mixed with the more serious aspects of the story. One thing I appreciated about the story was how the assaults that are present throughout aren't just affecting the female students at Bowler, male students were also getting attacked. It was just refreshing to see that the victims were mixed and everyone was dealing with it. On a lighter note, Megan Erickson completely delivered with the romance in Make It Right. I loved seeing Max and Lea's relationship develop. It was sweet, it was hot, it was intense, and it was what I hoped it would be.

Unfortunately, I was too late to call dibs on Max Payton by the time I tried to do so. But that won't stop me from talking endlessly about how much I loved him. Because I loved him. A LOT. Probably more than I should admit considering he is a fictional character, but that's just a minor detail in the grand scheme of things. And, I mean, who hasn't fallen for a fictional character before? I can't be the only one who fell under Max's spell. But aside from me loving him SO FREAKING MUCH, Max was just a fantastic character. I had seen him in Make It Count and let me just say that he hadn't really made a great impression. But any bad things I could have thought about him at the time, I take back. There was so much more going on with Max than I would have thought and I loved seeing that softer side of him come out whenever he was around Lea. Or around his rescued cat for that matter. But Lea. She was so completely different from what I thought she was going to be. I had briefly gotten a glimpse of her in Make It Count but it didn't even brush the surface. She was a complex character and I could definitely understand why she was the way she was. It was nice to see her learn to let other people in,  especially Max because they were so right for each other. And much like in the first book, one of the best parts of seeing Max and Lea together was the banter. It was perfect and sweet and adorable and just put a smile on my face. Especially when Alec and Kat would make an appearance and join in on the fun. 

Just like with the first book in this series, I absolutely loved Megan Erickson's Make It Right. It was the perfect mix of light and serious and I honestly loved every page of it. I can't wait to read the next book in this series, but at the same time I don't want it to end.