Blog Tour - Walk the Edge by Katie McGarry + Excerpt

Title: Walk the Edge (Thunder Road #2)

Author: Katie McGarry

Publisher: HarlequinTEEN

Release Date: March 29, 2016

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

One moment of recklessness will change their worlds.

Smart. Responsible. That’s seventeen-year-old Breanna’s role in her large family, and heaven forbid she put a tow out of line. Until one night of shockingly un-Breanna-like behavior puts her into a vicious cyber-bully’s line of fire—and brings fellow senior Thomas “Razor” Turner into her life. 

Razor lives for the Reign of Terror motorcycle club, and good girls like Breanna just don’t belong. But when he learns she’s being blackmailed over a compromising picture of the two of them—a picture that turns one unexpected and beautiful moment into ugliness—he knows it’s time to step outside the rules. 

And so they make a pact: he’ll help her track down her blackmailer, and in return she’ll help him seek answers to the mystery that’s haunted him—one that not even his club brothers have been willing to discuss. But the more time they spend together, the more their feelings grow. And suddenly they’re both walking the edge of discovering who they really are, what they want, and where they’re going from here.

Katie McGarry is without a doubt one of my favourite authors and her books are all among my favourites. Every time I get my hands on a new Katie McGarry book, I can’t help but drop everything to read it. That’s what I did with Walk the Edge and I loved every moment of it.

Breanna has always been the reliable one, the daughter her parents could always count on to take care of her younger siblings now that all her older ones have left home. But she doesn’t just want to be the smart and reliable girl anymore. She wants to stop being invisible and finally be herself. She just never expected that doing so would bring Razor, one of the members of the local motorcycle club, into her life. Razor has always been all about the Reign of Terror motorcycle club. They’ve been there for him since his mother’s death and he would do anything for the club. But when he finds out new information about the night his mother died, Razor starts to doubt everything he’s been told by the people he calls family. The one person who can help him is Breanna, the girl who’s become the victim of a cyberbully because of a picture of the two of them together. Razor will help Breanna with her blackmailing bully if in return she helps him crack the mystery around his mother’s death. But while looking for answers, Razor and Breanna discover they need each other for more than they ever thought.

It’s no secret that Katie McGarry is one of my favourite authors and, as such, has written some of my all-time favourite books. She is, after all, the person who created Isaiah Walker. But that’s not the point right now. The point is that Katie McGarry writes some fantastic stories that are both gripping and captivating and that take you on an emotional ride. For me, there’s nothing quite like diving head first into a new Katie McGarry story. Even though every story is different, I just know going in that this is going to become a favourite. That I won’t be able to stop reading until I’m all the way through, no matter how much I might want to slow down to make the story last longer. That’s exactly how I felt with Walk the Edge. I wanted to read the story so badly, I wanted to know what would happen to these characters I came to love, but I also didn’t want the story to end. I got caught up in this story, flipping the pages (well, technically, clicking the “next page” button) until I had made it the whole way through. And there was so much that I loved about this story.  I loved all the different family dynamics, whether it was Breanna’s actual blood family or Razor’s motorcycle club family. How those family dynamics played in to the greater story. And as with any book written by Katie McGarry, the romance just worked and I bought into it right away. It wasn’t exactly hard to root for Breanna and Razor. And it really wasn’t hard to love them.

Before I even read a single word of Walk the Edge I already wanted to know more about Razor. The whole time I was reading Nowhere But Here last year, I wanted to know more about Razor. There was just something about him that caught my attention. He intrigued me and I just knew that there was a whole lot more to him than what everyone seemed to think. And I was so right. Razor is officially right up there with Isaiah when it comes to my favourite Katie McGarry boys. I loved how much he cared, sometimes to the point of extreme stubbornness. I loved his fierce protectiveness of the people he cared about, his determination to do whatever it took to keep those people safe. And I love who he was and how he was with Breanna. Breanna was such an interesting characters. I was so fascinated by the way her brain worked and the way it affected her life, especially when it came to her family life. So many times while I was reading I wanted to yell at Breanna’s family for the way they treated her. All she wanted was for someone to be there for her as opposed to being the person who’s always there for everyone else or has to wait in line behind all her siblings. So I loved that Breanna got to be herself with Razor and that Razor understood her in a way other people didn’t. They were perfect for each other and I loved reading their story. I only wish I could have kept reading their story forever.

Once again, Katie McGarry blew me away with Walk the Edge. This book is most definitely a new favourite even if it has left me absolutely desperate for more. And I cannot even begin to explain how much I am looking forward to reading Violet and Chevy’s story in the third Thunder Road book.

Excerpt

     Her face is white against her raven hair. Ghost white. I’d bet my left ball she hasn’t breathed since I spoke. Her hand is outstretched toward the busted cell on the ground, but her wide hazel eyes are cemented on me. I turn my head and I’m greeted by the amused faces of my brothers from the Reign of Terror who stand next to their bikes in the parking lot. They’ll be harassing me on this for weeks. Fuck me for trying to be chivalrous.

     “You okay?” It’s a variation of the question I asked a few seconds ago, but this one she seems to understand as her body trembles to life.

     “Um…” she stutters. We’ve been at the same schools since elementary age, otherwise I’d wonder if she was a foreign exchange student with limited English. “I only have twenty dollars.”

     The muscles in the back of my neck tense. “I’m not going to jack you for your money.” 

     She quits breathing again.

     “Nice to know your current bank account status,” I bit. “But I asked you if you were okay.”

     Color returns to her cheeks as I pin her with my gaze. She accused me of trying to rob her. I know it, she knows it, and she’s now informed I’m not the asshole in this scenario.

     “Yes,” she finally answers. “I’m okay. I mean no…I mean…I broke my phone.”

     She did and that sucks for her.

     Her eyes flicker between me and the phone like she wants to retrieve it, yet she’s too paralyzed. Saving us from his torture, I swipe the pieces of the cell and lean against the wall.

     The distance between us relaxes and that gulp of air was audible as she tucks herself tight in the corner fattest from me. This reaction isn’t new. I’ve seen it since I was a child whenever my father or anyone from the Terror entered a room full of civilians. To everyone outside of the club, we’re the evil motorcycle gang bent on blowing the house down.

     People and their hellish nightmare folklore involving us piss me off. I don’t know why I told the guys to give me a minute. I’m late for plans I made with Chevy and some girls, plus I’m on call in case the board chooses to meet sooner rather than later to discuss Detective Jake Barlow.

     But something about how this chick appeared alone and frightened messed me up. It reminded me…The thought stalls and the emotional speed bump causes a flash of pain in my chest. Screw it, her expression reminded me of Mom the last time I saw her—the night she died.

     My mom. I shake my head to expel her ghost. One visit from one bastard trying to use me and I’m being haunted by a past I can’t change. That’s what the detective was salivating over—to use me for info on the club. He’s one of too many who believes our club is the devil’s prodigy.

     What he doesn’t see is that we’re a family—the type of family that comes when called. Obviously not like this girl’s family.

     “Is it yes or no?” It’s damn difficult to shove the battery in now that the frame is bent.

     “Yes or no what?” her long black hair sweeps past her shoulders. She has the type of hair that would have to be pulled up if she rode on the back of my bike. Gotta admit, I like her hair, especially how it shines under the lights of the school’s overhang.

     “If you’re okay.” I survey the mostly empty area to prove a point. “If we leave, you’ll be alone, and I don’t care of that. There’s some real psychos out there.”

Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry

Title: Nowhere But Here (Thunder Road #1)

Author: Katie McGarry

Publisher: HarlequinTEEN

Release Date: May 26, 2015

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

An unforgettable new series from acclaimed author Katie McGarry about taking risks, opening your heart and ending up in a place you never imagined possible.

Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she’s curious about her biological father—the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent—but that doesn’t mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear, nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both.

Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They’re good guys. They protect people. They’re…family. And while Emily—the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club’s most respected member—is in town, he’s gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it’s his shot at his dream. What he doesn’t count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down.

No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home.

Over the last few years, Katie McGarry has easily become one of my favourite authors. Anything she writes, I will happily read and it is almost guaranteed to become a favourite book. I was so excited when she announced her new series, and I absolutely loved the first book, Nowhere But Here.

Emily has been perfectly happy with the life she’s led so far. She has good friends, goes to a good school and has parents who take care of her. She’s always wondered about her biological motorcycle club member father, but she has never had a particular desire to see what his world is like. She’s happy sticking to their annual visits and leaving it at that. When Emily is forced to spend her summer vacation with her biological father’s family, she discovers that everything she was told might not have been the truth. Spending time with her relatives and the motorcycle club, Emily ends up with more questions than answer. And the one person willing to give her some answers is Oz, the boy her father has assigned to watch over her. Oz can’t fail when it comes to keeping Emily safe. If he does, he’s never going to become a member of the Reign of Terror, the motorcycle club that is his family. Looking out for Emily shouldn’t be too difficult, except she’s dead set on finding answers to her questions and Oz can only resist her for so long.

I can’t even begin explain how much I love Katie McGarry and her books. Ever since I stayed up way too late reading Pushing the Limits, I’ve been absolutely hooked. Anything she writes, I will read. Literally. When she announced her new Thunder Road series, I immediately wanted to read it. I was intrigued by the idea of a story set in the world of motorcycle clubs. It definitely sounded new and different. So to say I was excited at the idea of reading Nowhere But Here would be a major understatement. When I finally got a copy of the book in my hands, I literally dropped everything and read it right then and there. I couldn’t have put the book down if I had tried. The story drew me in right away. I became curious about everything that was happening, finding out about how everything worked in the motorcycle club, and, you know, the romance that was waiting to happen between Emily and Oz. But I’ll get to them momentarily. The story in Nowhere But Here was just engrossing and it got me even more excited about the Thunder Road series. I’ve already gotten so attached to the characters, and I can’t wait to see what happens to them in the next books.

Oh man. I absolutely loved Emily and Oz. Emily had clearly lived a very sheltered life so it was interesting, and at times even entertaining, to see her dropped into the world of motorcycle clubs. She was so out of her depth, but at the same time she was doing her best to make it seem like she was comfortable in her new environment. And I loved seeing her growth over the course of the story. I loved seeing her find her place with this family she hadn’t known for most of her life because she finally saw that they cared about her, even if they often didn’t show it in the most traditional ways. And I loved that Oz was there to help guide her through it all. Though granted at first, Oz wasn’t exactly excited at the prospect of having to spend his summer basically babysitting Emily. But even when he wasn’t particularly nice to Emily, I already loved Oz. I loved his loyalty to his family and the motorcycle club, I loved that he was ready to do just about anything for the people he cared about. And I loved how much he grew to care about, and love, Emily. And Oz and Emily together? Well they just made me happy. Beyond just Emily and Oz, I loved so many of the other characters in Nowhere But Here. With all of Katie McGarry’s books, the secondary characters are always just as great as the main ones. And as I’ve already said, I’ve already gotten so attached to people like Chevy, Razor and Violet and I can’t wait to read all of their stories. 

I wasn’t surprised in the least when I read Katie McGarry’s Nowhere But Here and completely fell in love with the story and its characters. I loved every single page of this book and I can’t wait to see where McGarry takes the characters and the story next.

COVER REVEAL - Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry

West Side Story meets Sons of Anarchy?? Yes, please!

Katie McGarry's newest novel, NOWHERE BUT HERE, has a cover and we are thrilled to get to help reveal it to you today. The first novel in her upcoming The Thunder Road Series, NOWHERE BUT HERE is a young adult contemporary romance that will keep you turning the pages long into the night. We have no doubt that when you get done, you're going to wish you were on a motorcycle and had your own cut of leather across your back! Follow along today as pieces of the cover are revealed, and then stop by the HarlequinTeen Page to see the full cover at 7pm EST! And that's not all, of course! We have a few Behind-The-Scenes pictures from the photo shoot itself for you to enjoy as well! Check out the Behind-The-Scenes pictures and then scroll down for our puzzle piece!

        

And here's the first piece to the cover for you!

 

About NOWHERE BUT HERE:

An unforgettable new series from acclaimed author Katie McGarry about taking risks, opening your heart and ending up in a place you never imagined possible

Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she’s curious about her biological father—the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent—but that doesn’t mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both.

Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They’re the good guys. They protect people. They’re…family. And while Emily—the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club’s most respected member—is in town, he’s gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it’s his shot at his dream. What he doesn’t count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down.

No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home.

Add it to your Goodreads Now!

Preorder NOWHERE BUT HERE

Amazon ** Kobo ** BAM ** Barnes and Noble ** iBooks ** IndieBound

About Katie McGarry

Katie McGarry was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan. Katie is the author of full length YA novels, PUSHING THE LIMITS, DARE YOU TO, CRASH INTO YOU, TAKE ME ON, BREAKING THE RULES, and NOWHERE BUT HERE and the e-novellas, CROSSING THE LINE and RED AT NIGHT. Her debut YA novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS was a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction, a RT Magazine's 2012 Reviewer's Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel, a double Rita Finalist, and a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick. DARE YOU TO was also a Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Best Book Award for Young Adult Contemporary fiction in 2013.

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Goodreads ** Pinterest ** Tumbler ** Instagram

Don't miss all of the puzzle piece reveals throughout the day!

 

11am EST

Buttermybooks - Romance Obsessed Book Blog - Sundays in Bed with Books - Emilie's Book World - Live Read and Breathe - Bound In Ink Book Blog - Books and Swoons - 2 Greek Girls Reading - BookCatPin - Bumbles and Fairy-Tales - Bows & Bullets Reviews - Mama's Dirty Little Reads - Winter Reads - Total Book Geek - Romance and Fantasy for Cosmopolitan Girls

12pm EST

Once Upon a Twilight - Amaterasu Reads - Bittersweet Reads - The Breakfast Blog - Books Need TLC - Bookishly Britt - The Racy Lit Reader - Sultry Steamy Reading - Watcha Reading - StarAngels Reviews - Bookworm Misfit - flirty fiction blog - Addicted Readers - I Dare You To Read - Little Bookworm Reviews

1pm EST

The Book Belles - Read It Write Now - Little Read Riding Hood - Ficwishes - Cesya MaRae Cuono, Author - Soulmates Talk About Books - Kimmy Loves to Read - BCS Reviews - Adventures in Writing - Kissed by Ink - Book Nerd Addict - Jess Time To Read - All in a Book - Book Vigilante Reviews - Indy Book Fairy

2pm EST

Prisoners of Print - Bittersweet Enchantment - BookHounds YA - Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews - All Night Books - Reading Over Sleeping - WOrkS of FiCTioN - Lovin' Los Libros - A Thousand Lives Lived - Bookish Things & More - Avid Reader Musings - Girl meets Books - Reviews by Tammy and Kim - Nose Stuck in a Book - pageturnersblog

3pm EST

Ogitchida Kwe's Book Blog - Jenuine Cupcakes - Eat, Sleep, and Read - Mystical Lit Lounge - BFF Book Blog - We're Jumpin' Books - Lovely Reads - TSK TSK What to Read - Chapter by Chapter - Pages to Explore - Deszy könyvajánlója - Becky on Books - SassyCat's Books Review - Worn Down Glories - Ripley Loves to Read

4pm EST

Booklovers For Life - Contagious Reads - Got Books? - Books to Breathe - 21st Century Once Upon A Times - Lost in Ever After - The Phantom Paragrapher - The Eater of Books! - Jackie's Book World - Ceresbooksworld - Renee En-tress's Blog - Milky Way of Books Gaga Over Books - Step Into Fiction - Lost in Literature

5pm EST

Divergent Gryffindor - Bibliophile Mystery - Undercover Book Reviews - Stephanie Witter - naughty Book Eden - Wonderful Monster Book Blog - Beppe DM Books Blog - Scandalous Book Blog - Book Angel Booktopia - Gemma reads too much for it to be normal book blog - Book Babes Unite - Sara In Bookland - The Fairest of All Book Reviews - Red Hot + Blue Reads - Cosying Up With Books

6pm EST

So Bookalicious - Musings of the Book-a-holic Fairies, inc. - Kindle and Me - Mundie Moms - The Shadow Realm - Confessions of a Y.A. and N.A. Book Addict - Stay Bookish - Library of a Book Witch - The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club - Tumbleweed Book Reviews - The Cover Contessa - In My Secret -Book- World - Book Boyfriend Reviews - Corrie the Book Crazed Girl - Mary Had a Little Book Blog

7pm EST

Readers Live A Thousand Lives - Typical Distractions - The Book Hookup - Southern Belle Book Blog - When Books Defy Gravity - Holly's Red Hot Reviews - Book Marauder - Greyland Reviews - Ellesea Loves Reading - Megpie93's Book Blog - Seeing Night Reviews - BookCrushin - Tyhada Reads - StuckInBooks - Waiting For Wentworth - Chapters Pages Words - Beletristas - Mommas Secret Book Obsession - Vera is Reading

 

Take Me On by Katie McGarry

Title: Take Me On (Pushing the Limits #4)

Author: Katie McGarry

Publisher: HarlequinTEEN

Release Date: May 27, 2014

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

Acclaimed author Katie McGarry returns with the knockout new story of two high school seniors who are about to learn what winning really means.

Champion kickboxer Haley swore she’d never set foot in the ring again after one tragic night. But then the guy she can’t stop thinking about accepts a mixed martial arts fight in her honor. Suddenly, Haley has fro train West Young. All attitude, West is everything Haley promised herself she’d stay away from. Yet he won’t last five seconds in the ring without her help.

West is keeping a big secret from Haley. About who he really is. But helping her—fighting for her—is a shot at redemption. Especially since it’s his fault his family is falling apart. He can’t change the past, but maybe he can change Haley’s future.

Haley and West have agreed to keep their relationship strictly in the ring. But as an unexpected bond forms between them and attraction mocks their best intentions, they’ll face their darkest fears and discover love is worth fighting for.

It’s no secret that I love Katie McGarry and her books. Actually, I more than love her books, I absolutely ADORE them. So I’ve pretty much been pining for her latest, Take Me On, since I flipped the last page of Crash Into You. Now that I’ve read it, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I absolutely loved Take Me On. I mean, how could I not?

A year ago, Haley Williams walked away from fighting even though she was a champion kickboxer. It was the only way she could think of to protect the people she cares about. But when West Young walks into her life, Haley finds herself throwing punches once again to protect West, a complete stranger. West has been getting into fights for as long as he can remember. But never has he considered training to be a fighter. Now, West finds himself volunteering to fight for Haley, the girl he’s just met but who he can’t seem to stop thinking about. Haley and West should keep things simple between each other. Neither is in a position to be in a relationship. But the more time they spend together, training, the deeper their feelings for each other get. The big question for Haley and West is whether what they feel for each other worth fighting for?

Oh how I love Katie McGarry and her books. I’ve already said it, but I’ve pretty much been pining for Take Me On since I flipped the last page of Crash Into You. There’s just something about these stories that is incredibly addicting. So when I picked up Take Me On, I made sure I had lots of time on my hand because I knew that I wouldn’t want to stop reading. And I was totally right. The day after I started reading, I was at work and I kept looking at my bag, wishing I could be reading Take Me On instead. Because it was oh so good. As typically happens with Katie McGarry’s books, I was hooked right from the start. It helped that I had already met West in Crash Into You and I was dying to find out more about him. But even if I hadn’t known him, I would have been hooked. I wanted to find out all about these characters and their lives. I wanted to find out why Haley had walked away from fighting. I wanted to see if West’s father would realize how much he was making his son miserable. And of course, I wanted to see West and Haley together. I wanted to see their relationship grow and develop. Because West and Haley needed each other, even though they didn’t alway see it. 

In Crash Into You, I had gotten a glimpse of West Young and I wasn’t sure how I felt about him. But then Take Me On came along and I was all over West. Just like with Rachel in Crash Into You, it didn’t take long for me to realize just how miserable West was because of his parents, especially his dad. West was just in a bad place, he needed to get out. But until he was forced out, he didn’t really know how to get himself out. And really, what West needed was Haley—someone who would get under his skin in ways no one else could. But Haley was also someone who understood West the way no one else did. And much like it didn’t take long for me to fall for West, it took even less time for me to love Haley. I wanted so much for Haley. If I thought West was in a bad place, Haley was in an even worse situation and she had no way out without losing everything and everyone she’s ever cared about. I loved her, but I also wanted her to get her fight back. The whole time I was reading I could tell that she had this urge to fight back against her situation, but she kept on suppressing it. But when she met West, that started to change and I was happy about it. So yes, I LOVED West and Haley. On a different note, I still want to find out more about Ethan, West’s younger brother and Rachel’s twin. Also can Abby have her own story yet? Because I would read that in a heartbeat.

It should come as no surprise whatsoever that I loved Katie McGarry’s Take Me On. From page one, I was hooked and I couldn’t have asked for a better story for West and Haley. If you still haven’t read one of Katie McGarry’s books, you really should get on that. Because I honestly can’t wait to read what she writes next.

Waiting on Wednesday (83)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to reading.

THIS WEEK'S PICK:
TAKE ME ON BY KATIE MCGARRY

Acclaimed author Katie McGarry returns with the knockout new story of two high school seniors who are about to learn what winning really means.

Champion kick boxer Haley swore she'd never set foot in the ring again after one tragic night. But then the guy she can't stop thinking about accepts a mixed martial arts fight in her honor. Suddenly, Haley has to train West Young. All attitude, West is everything Haley promised herself she'd stay away from. Yet he won't last five seconds in the ring without her help.

West is keeping a big secret from Haley. About who he really is. But helping her--fighting for her--is a shot at redemption. Especially since it's his fault his family is falling apart. He can't change the past, but maybe he can change Haley's future.

Hayley and West have agreed to keep their relationship strictly in the ring. But as an unexpected bond forms between them and attraction mocks their best intentions, they'll face their darkest fears and discover love is worth fighting for.

At some point in the last two years, you've probably seen me fangirling over Katie McGarry and her books at some point or another. So really it shouldn't be that much of a surprise that I am BEYOND excited at the prospect of being able to read her next book, Take Me On. I've loved everything I've read of her's so far, and I can't wait for me. Katie McGarry also has this ability to write characters that feel like real people and every time, without fail, I fall completely in love with them (don't even get me started on Isaiah). I can't wait to have that feeling again.


Take Me On by Katie McGarry will be published May 27, 2014 by HarlequinTEEN.

Crash Into You by Katie McGarry

Title: Crash Into You (Pushing the Limits #3)

Author: Katie McGarry

Publisher: HarlequinTEEN

Release Date: November 26, 2013

Source: ARC from Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository

From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane.

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life--that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets form her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers…and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker--a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks--no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

Anyone who knows me knows I love Katie McGarry and her books. The second I got my hands on my copy of Crash Into You, I started reading. There was just no way I was waiting any longer to read Isaiah's story. And I was not disappointed. I ADORED Crash Into You and I just can't say enough good things about this story.

Rachel knows what her role is. She is the replacement daughter, destined to always be living in her dead older sister's shadow. As such, her brothers have always worked to keep her safe, to protect their parents from any more heartbreak. But having four overbearing brothers will drive anyone to seek a thrill. And Rachel finds that thrill on dark country roads, racing strangers in her Mustang GT. And she also finds that thrill with Isaiah Walker, the boy she knows she should stay away from but can't seem to resist. Isaiah knows he shouldn't get involved with Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get involved with a girl who could never understand where he comes from. But when the two get thrown together, there's nothing they can do but find a way to save each other.

So I had no restraint whatsoever when Katie McGarry's Crash Into You showed up in my mailbox. Like none at all. I told myself I would wait until I finished my current read before starting on this one, but that plan went out the window when I tore open the envelope and found myself with the book in my hands. So yeah, I tore through this book. Every time I told myself to slow down to make the story last longer, I only read faster. There was just so much to love in this story. Katie McGarry writes these stories that are just addicting. I start reading and there's nothing else I can do, I'm just completely hooked. With Crash Into You, I wanted to find out more about Rachel's story, I wanted to see if they would finally realize just how much pressure they were putting on her. And I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to see Rachel and Isaiah's relationship develop. Because first and foremost, that's what this story is about: these two people who really should have never crossed paths but somehow did and it's the most unlikely relationship. But it works, it just does. Because it's Rachel and it's Isaiah and they are perfect together. 

I love Isaiah Walker. There, I said it. I mean, how could I not fall in love with him? After reading Dare You To and seeing what happens to him there, my heart just broke. I knew it had to happen and that it was for the best, but I just couldn't deal with Isaiah not being happy. And then Crash Into You came along and the next thing I know I am completely in love with Isaiah. And it really didn't take long, by page 56 (I wrote it down!) I was done for. There is just so much more to Isaiah than meets the eye. If you just look on the surface, he looks like this tough foster kid who is ready for trouble. But really, that's not who Isaiah is. At this point, he's just trying to survive but can't help but take care of others, even when taking care of himself is hard enough. It's just really hard to explain Isaiah in a way that will do him justice. But the best parts of Isaiah came out when he was with Rachel. Rachel couldn't have been more of an opposite to Isaiah. She was the girl who had everything she could ever really need. But even though she had everything she could possibly need, she didn't have what she wanted: for her family to see her as who she really was. And if you want my honest opinion, they were missing out. Because I loved Rachel. I may have had some serious issues with her family, but I loved her. There was something so sweet and innocent about her that was just what was needed to balance out Isaiah. I will admit, though, that as much as I had some major problems with Rachel's family, I'm looking forward to finding more about West. (Really, though, who I really want to find out more about is Ethan, Rachel's twin bother.)

In case it wasn't glaringly obvious by now, I ADORED Katie McGarry's Crash Into You. Isaiah and Rachel's was at times both heartbreaking and heartwarming and made for one seriously addicting story. The only thing I could possibly have wanted more of is Isaiah. But, really, that's just my major crush on the guy talking. By the time you finish Crash Into You, you'll be in the same boat as me. Trust me.

Top Ten Tuesday: Fall 2013 TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is Top Ten Books on my fall TBR list.

I will preface this post by saying that some of these books have already been published, others are books that will be published at some point in the next few months. Regardless of if the book has been published or not, I am looking forward to reading all of these in the coming months.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth - There is a strong likelihood that Allegiant is on just about everyone's list and I totally understand why. After everything that went down in Insurgent, I can't wait to see how it will all come together. Plus we get Four's point of view.

Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes - I found myself liking Falling Kingdoms last year so I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next. I've had an ARC of Rebel Spring sitting on my bookshelf for a few months and now that the release date is getting closer, I have the perfect excuse to read it.

The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead - Richelle Mead. Adrian Ivashkov. Enough said.

Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano - The premise of Perfect Ruin is that it takes place in a utopian world. And it's written by Lauren DeStefano. That's pretty much all I need to know in order to know I will want to read this book.

Crash Into You by Katie McGarry - My heart broke a little in Dare You To with what happened to Isaiah so I can't wait to finally read his story in Crash Into You. Plus, as far as I'm concerned, Katie McGarry can do no wrong.

How to Love by Katie Cotugno - I was lucky enough to get an ARC of How to Love while at BEA and I proceeded to read it on the bus ride back from NYC. But it's one of those books that I really, desperately want to reread. So since it's coming out soon, I'll most likely be doing just that.

The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White - So far I have loved everything I have read by Kiersten WHite. And now she writes a book about mythology? Count me in.

Resist by Sarah Crossan - I loved Breathe. I want to know what happens next (though I may need a refresher between now and then). And that's all that really needs to be said about Resist.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black - Vampires and Holly Black. Do I really need to explain this any further?

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater - I only just recently read The Raven Boys but the moment I finished, I wanted the sequel. And now I have it. So you can bet I'll be reading The Dream Thieves and Ronan's story quite soon.

What books are on your fall TBR list?

Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Title: Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2)

Author: Katie McGarry

Publisher: HarlequinTeen

Release Date: May 28, 2013

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the replays. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again…

"I dare you…"

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does…

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock--with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dar becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams--and his life--for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all…

Seeing as I am a lover of all things contemporary, it shouldn't come as a surprise that I love Katie McGarry and her books. I absolutely loved Pushing the Limits last year, and this year I fell completely in love with Dare You To. These stories are the reason why I love contemporary as much as I do.

Beth hasn't had anyone in her corner for a long time. It's always just been her and Isaiah against the world. But things are changing, especially now that her uncle Scott is back in town. For Beth that means leaving everything she knows and everyone she loves behind. And that's when she meets Ryan, the golden boy with the perfect life and all the opportunities. Ryan couldn't annoy Beth more. But sometimes, the ones that get under your skin are the one who are worth keeping. Even if it all started as one big dare.

Katie McGarry writes addicting stories, there's no doubt about it. Even if I knew that when I sat down to read Dare You To, it still took me by surprise when I didn't get up again until I had finished the book. Right from the start, the story grabbed my attention. I wanted to see how far Ryan and his friends would take the whole dare thing. I wanted to know why Beth was so angry at her uncle. And more importantly, I wanted to see where the story would take Beth and Ryan. Because, if anything, I loved Beth and Ryan's story even more than I loved Echo and Noah's story. There was just something about Dare You To that captured my heart and I think that had a lot to do with Beth and Ryan themselves.

When I read Pushing the Limits Beth was the girl with Isaiah, and to me they just seemed to belong together. But when I got to know her more in Dare You To, I realized that Isaiah wasn't what was best for Beth. Even though seeing that play out broke my heart a little because I could see how much it all hurt Isaiah, I knew it was for the best. But Ryan really brought out the best in Beth, no matter how cliché that sounds. And the reverse is also true. Beth challenged Ryan in a way no one else could. And the more Ryan moved away from being who everyone wanted him to be and towards who he really was, the more I loved him. But more than anything, I loved who Beth and Ryan became when they were together, for reasons I can't really seem to put into words.

Once again, Katie McGarry wrote an amazing story. Dare You To was even more than I hoped it would be. I said this after reading Pushing the Limits and I'll say it again now: broken characters are the ones who make for the best stories. 

Summer Reading - 2013 Edition (1)

Among my friends, I'm known as the book person. As a result, whenever someone is looking for a book recommendation they come to me. This time of the year, this happens a lot since summer is fast approaching and a lot of my friends are typically seasonal readers--as in they read when they have time to do so and that time is often summer. Like I did last year, I thought I would post these recommendations--by genre--her on the blog as well. First up, some contemporary recommendations.

- Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally - Last year I recommended Catching Jordan and I would still stand by that recommendation for anyone looking for a great contemporary read. But this year I read Things I Can't Forget and I have to admit I loved it even more. Like Kenneally's other books, Things I Can't Forget is different from other YA contemporaries out there, so if that's what you're looking for then I strongly recommend this one.

- Just One Day by Gayle Forman - Everyone has been raving about Gayle Forman's Just One Day and that is totally warranted. If you're an older YA reader, then I would strongly recommend Just One Day. The story will pull at your heartstrings and take you on a crazy emotional ride. Be prepared to scream at the characters and want to throw your book across the room at certain parts. But it's totally worth it.

- Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach - Once again, if you are looking for a contemporary that is completely different from any other out there, than give Geoff Herbach's Stupid Fast a try. This one can also appeal to male readers as the story is very much boy-centric, with the may character being a slightly socially awkward teenage boy. And if you pick up this book, I can guarantee you will be in for a laugh.

- Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson - Second Chance Summer is one of those books that will pull at your heartstrings. There is no way you can read this book and not tear up at least a little. But it's not necessarily a depressing story, just a very emotional one. But be prepared to be greatly surprised by this story, because I was. But it's completely worth your time.

- Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry - Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry took me completely by surprise. This is an incredibly touching and surprisingly deep story that may or may not keep you up reading half the night. This is definitely one of those less happy contemps though, so be warned. But it's still a fantastic one.

This is by far not an extensive list of contemporary recommendations. There are just so many fantastic contemps out there and this list could go on forever. You can always check out last year's post for more contemporary recommendations. And be sure to come back next week for some paranormal recommendations.

Pushing the Limits GIVEAWAY

Today I have the pleasure to be able to offer one lucky blog reader a gorgeous finished copy of Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry. Now I've already read Pushing the Limits and let me just say that you are seriously missing out. This is the kind of books that will keep you up for hours when you are reading because you will just be dying to know what happens next to Echo and Noah. If you're having any doubts, you can always check out my review in order to get more information about the book and to see what I thought.

Thanks to Harlequin Teen one of you now has the chance to win a copy. To enter the giveaway, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. The giveaway is open to US/Canada only and you need to be 13 or older in order to enter.

Good luck to everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Title: Pushing the Limits

Author: Katie McGarry

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: July 31, 2012

Source: From Publisher

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository

So wrong for each other..and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants to go back to normal.

But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might each her how to love again.

Ever since I first heard about Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry I knew it was a book I would want to read. Then I heard it was amazing and that only made me want to read it even more. And then it was 4:30 AM and I was still awake and I wasn't able to put Pushing the Limits down. So, yeah, it was absolutely amazing.

Echo Emerson used to have it all, until that one fateful night almost two years ago that changed everything. But despite all her efforts, Echo can't remember what happened and how she got those horrible scars on her arms. All Echo wants is for everything to go back to normal, but that may be easier said than done. At least until Noah Hutchins walks into her life. Echo should hate everything about Noah, but it doesn't take long for her to be attracted to him. Because with Noah, Echo starts to feel safe again and starts to think she could have normal again. But Noah has his own issues to deal with and those may be what stands in their way.

The books that will keep me awake and reading until 4:30 AM are pretty rare, but Katie McGarry's Pushing the Limits was one of those books. It was an absolutely amazing read. Right from the beginning, it didn't take long for me to have trouble putting the book down. It wasn't so much that there was a lot of action taking place, but the story just dragged me in completely. It got to the point where it felt like I was right there with all the characters. But this story was also incredibly well written and majorly heartbreaking on more than one occasion. And that's why I loved Pushing the Limits was much as I did. I love any story that tears at my heartstrings and this definitely happened. There were so many times where I was in tears, because that's what the characters did to me.

The story in Pushing the Limits alternated points of view between Echo and Noah, and I loved that it allowed me to get into both of their heads. There was so much going on with both of them and the fact that they were damaged and trying to fix themselves and each other made me love them that much more. I could understand Echo's desperation when it came to remembering what happened to her that night. And Noah was a good guy dressed up as a bad boy. Every time he was with his little brothers my heart swelled and I inevitably found myself tearing up. And when Noah and Echo were together, I pretty much felt all the emotions. What was so great is that it wasn't a perfect relationship, and that's what made me love it so much more.

Pushing the Limits was an unbelievable read. Through her fantastic writing, Katie McGarry made me feel a whole range of emotions, confirming that damaged characters simply make the best stories.