Author Archives: Kristin

I’ll be at #RT16 next week!

9 April, 2016 9:19 am , 7 Comments ,

ramblings12

Mostly everyone in the book blogging world—and also the reading world—has heard about the RT Booklovers Convention. The first time I’d heard about it was when I was stalking… er, I mean visiting one of my favorite author’s websites and saw that they were going to be in Los Angeles that weekend at this RT Convention. I got really excited, told the Mr he was driving the 4 hour trip with me so that I could meet her. Then I realized that I had no flipping idea what day it was and that the convention’s book fair was the previous weekend. Waaah waaaah. Yeeeah. That was a pretty low moment for me. There may have been a glass or two of wine that night. And the RT Convention hasn’t been my way since… until this year! :cue the Rocky theme song:

That’s right! Homegirl has put on her boxing gloves and is finally stepping into the ring to redeem herself. The moment I saw that RT was going to be in Las Vegas—a mere 6.5 hour drive for me—I immediately started pestering the Mister about it. Needless to say, even when I told him the cost to simply attend the event—not including travel/hotel/food expense— he didn’t even bat an eyelash at me. *God, I love that man* So, I’ve been sitting here twiddling my thumbs waiting for the event to finally come… and it has!

So, this is just a heads up that I will be “out of the office” until next week. 😉 Heck, some of you may have noticed that I’ve been MIA for the past week or two. That’s because I’ve been shopping and pretty much going nuts trying to get ready last minute for the convention. I didn’t actually procrastinate this time but my steampunk costume had to be ordered in pieces online and well nothing worked out for me. I didn’t even have boots for my outfit until two days ago. It has been a stressful to say the least.

Anyways, if you’re going to be at RT this year, be sure to send me a tweet. I don’t have a smart phone (yes, I’m totally old school) so I will only really have access to twitter on my tablet.

Posted in: Ramblings

Review: White Tiger by Jennifer Ashley

8 April, 2016 3:15 am , 4 Comments ,

White TigerWhite Tiger
(Shifters Unbound, #8)
By: Jennifer Ashley
Publisher: Berkley
Published: April 5, 2016
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating:

Goodreads

A woman is lured into the shadows of a dangerous manhunt…
Wanted and on the run…

For twenty years, Kendrick, a white tiger Shifter, has been the Guardian of un-Collared Shifters who spend their lives living in secret—and in fear of being shunted into Shiftertowns. When Kendrick’s group is discovered and forced to flee, Kendrick is more desperate than ever to protect them

His only salvation was in a beautiful stranger.

In a diner in the middle of nowhere, lonely waitress Addison Price has seen a lot of unusual drifters come and go, but none has ever captivated—and intimidated—her like the imposing fugitive who wields a broadsword with incredible skill. But when he risks all to protect her, Addison’s fear turns to empathy—and empathy to desire as she learns more about her savior. Soon she’s more than willing to help the crushingly sensual white tiger and his cubs in a passionate bid for freedom. Whatever the cost.

 

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Posted in: Paranormal Romance , Tagged: ,

Review: Out of Play by Nyrae Dawn, Jolene Perry

6 April, 2016 3:43 am , 2 Comments ,

outofplayOut of Play
By: Nyrae Dawn, Jolene Perry
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Published: Aug. 6, 2013
Genre: New Adult Romance
Rating:

Goodreads

Rock star drummer Bishop Riley just needs a few months to relax and detox before his band’s next tour. But the last place he expected to do it is in Seldon, Alaska. And the last person he wants to do it with is Penny Jones.

Fiery, headstrong Penny has zero in common with the cocky, too-hot-for-his-own-good Bishop, and she’d like to keep it that way. But the more Bishop gets under her skin, the more she wants to let him in. And the more Penny lets him see, the more Bishop wants to know this stubborn girl with the killer body and soulful eyes.

The simmering heat between them won’t go away, no matter how hard either of them tries. Their time together in Alaska may be running out—but so is their resolve for not taking a chance on love.

 

 

1thoughtsOut of Play is a book about Bishop—a drummer for a well-known band—who has a problem with pills. In order to get clean, he’s sent to a cabin in Alaska with his bodyguard. While there, he meets the cabin owner’s daughter, Penny. Penny is in her last year of high school and is looking to hopefully get a scholarship to play on a boys hockey team. There’s something about Penny that helps quiet the noise in his head and makes him realize that maybe he does have a problem with pills. However, nothing is as easy as that. Penny’s father was killed by someone who was high on pills and the fact that she has no idea who he is or why he’s really renting out their cabins has Bishop regretting his addiction and wanting to change for her.

Out of Play sounded like a really interesting story. I was ready to dive in and fall in love with these characters. However, while I enjoyed the story, there was just something holding me back from really enjoying it and I don’t know what that was.

What I liked:
Penny’s a female hokey player on an all-boy team.
Penny is by far the coolest chick ever and someone that I’d love to be friends with. She’s your typical tom-boy.
Gramps (Penny’s grandfather). That dude was pretty freaking cool and I loved every scene with him in it.
Bishop’s struggle with his drug addiction.
It’s written by two authors. So, you get two completely mindsets in the same story.

What didn’t work for me:
The story itself fell flat for me and I don’t know why.
I didn’t find anything original to set it apart from other new adult romances I’ve read.
You knew how everything was going to go down shortly after meeting the characters.

 

1favequote“I was a druggie and screwed-up. Screwed-up a lot, but it doesn’t define me, and I’m not the only one.”

 

 

Posted in: NA Romance , Tagged: , ,

Excerpt: Listen to Me by Kristen Proby [Giveaway]

4 April, 2016 3:23 am , 11 Comments ,

Listen to MeListen to Me
(Fusion, #1)
By: Kristen Proby
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Release Date: April 12, 2016
Genre: Romance

Goodreads

Seduction is quickly becoming the hottest new restaurant in Portland, and Addison Wade is proud to claim 1/5 of the credit. She’s determined to make it a success and can’t think of a better way to bring in new customers than live music. But when former rock star Jake Keller swaggers through the doors to apply for the weekend gig, she knows she’s in trouble. Addie instantly recognizes him—his posters were plastered all over her bedroom walls in high school—he’s all bad boy…exactly her type and exactly what she doesn’t need.

Jake Keller walked away from the limelight five years ago and yearns to return to what’s always driven him: the music. If he gets to work for a smart-mouthed, funny-as-hell bombshell, all the better. But talking Addie into giving him the job is far easier than persuading her that he wants more than a romp in her bed. Just when she begins to drop her walls, Jake’s past finally catches up with him.

Will Addie be torn apart once again or will Jake be able to convince her to drown out her doubts and listen to her heart?

 

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Posted in: Excerpt, Romance , Tagged:

Review: This Sky by Autumn Doughton

30 March, 2016 7:57 am , 6 Comments ,

ThisSkyThis Sky
By: Autumn Doughton
Publisher: Self-Published
Published: Aug. 12, 2014
Genre: New Adult Romance
Rating:

When he touches me, the sky and the earth switch places

Gemma Sayers has spent the last six days rotting in a hotel room, wallowing in a noxious combination of gin, junk food and self-pity. She’s no stranger to disappointment but nothing could have prepared her for the chaos that unfolded when her celebrity boyfriend publicly humiliated her. Now the fairytale is officially over and Gemma is determined to put the past behind her and strike out to find a new dream. Just a few teeny-tiny details to work out: she’s currently broke, homeless and unemployed.

Landon Young has his own worries. Surfer by day and bartender by night, he doesn’t have the interest or the time to be anyone’s happily-ever-after. Weighed down by the memory of what happened two years ago, Landon can barely keep his head above water.

 

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Posted in: NA Romance , Tagged:

Review: Take Me Home Tonight by Erika Kelly

28 March, 2016 3:03 am , 5 Comments ,

TMHTTake Me Home Tonight
(Rock Star Romance, #3)
By: Erika Kelly
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Release Date: April 5, 2016
Genre: Romance
Rating:

Calix Bourbon might seem like a free spirit, but that’s all a front. In reality he’s just trying to keep his fractured family together while working as a session musician. When Blue Fire hires him to replace their keyboardist, Calix is determined to make the most of the opportunity—but he can’t help being distracted by the band’s sexy personal chef.

Mimi’s temporary gig is great, but she has her heart set on auditioning for a televised cooking show. There’s just one problem: she only has a week to acquire the skills necessary to survive the competition. Luckily, the band’s new keyboard player can teach her exactly what she needs, in the kitchen and in the bedroom…

 

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Posted in: Romance , Tagged: ,

Excerpt: Maneater by Cambria Hebert (Giveaway)

25 March, 2016 3:30 am , 6 Comments ,

ManeaterManeater
(Love in the 80s)
By: Cambria Hebert
Published: Self-published
Published: March 25, 3016
Genre: Young Adult

Goodreads

Watch out, girls. Here she comes.

There’s always that girl. She’s popular, beautiful, and has everything together. The one with the perfectly teased hair, arms full of colorful (but coordinated) bangles, and expertly painted bright-pink lips.

A teacher’s pet. Daddy’s girl.

Everyone loves her.

Because everyone is afraid to challenge her.

Kelly Ross is that girl. She uses her powers of popularity for good… her own good. She doesn’t care who she hurts.

She always gets what she wants.

Including your man.

When she walks down the hallway in her hot-pink heels and ruffled denim miniskirt, all the boys’ heads turn. And all the girls start whispering.

Man-eater.

There hasn’t been a single guy Kelly hasn’t been able to chew up and spit out.

Until now.

Kelly has finally met her match. He’s been there all along, and he’s the exact opposite of everything you’d expect.

 

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Posted in: Excerpt, Young Adult , Tagged:

Excerpt: Give Us a Chance by Allie Everhart (Giveaway)

23 March, 2016 3:14 am , 3 Comments ,

GuaCGive Us a Chance
(The Wheeler Brothers, #2)
By: Allie Everhart
Publisher: Self-published
Published: March 12, 2016
Genre: New Adult Romance

Goodreads

Jake Wheeler doesn’t date. He has a one and done rule. Some would say he’s a player but he disagrees. He’s always upfront with a girl, letting her know he’s not interested in a relationship. That is until he meets Ivy.

A talented carpenter who can hold her own on a construction site, Ivy worked for Jake last summer. He asked her out, multiple times, but she turned him down, something that’s never happened to him before.

Now, months later, Jake is ready to try again. He can’t get this girl out of his head and he needs to go out with her at least once to figure out why. When he asks her out, he assumes she’ll say no again, so he’s shocked when she actually says yes.

After the first date, Jake knows he’s in trouble. Ivy is actually someone he could see himself being with, for a lot longer than a night. But is that what Ivy wants? Or is she just playing him, the way she assumes he’s played women in the past?

 

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Review: Walk the Edge by Katie McGarry

21 March, 2016 3:30 am , 11 Comments ,

Walk the Edge
(Thunder Road, #2)
By: Katie McGarry
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: March 29, 2016
Genre: YA Romance
Rating:

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 toe 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.

 

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Posted in: YA Contemporary, YA Romance , Tagged: ,

Review: Kings Rising by C.S. Pacat

18 March, 2016 3:46 am , 12 Comments ,

KingsRisingKings Rising
(Captive Prince, #3)
By: C.S. Pacat
Publisher: Berkley
Published: Feb. 2, 2016
Genre: Fantasy M/M Romance
Rating:

Damianos of Akielos has returned.

His identity now revealed, Damen must face his master Prince Laurent as Damianos of Akielos, the man Laurent has sworn to kill.

On the brink of a momentous battle, the future of both their countries hangs in the balance. In the south, Kastor’s forces are massing. In the north, the Regent’s armies are mobilising for war. Damen’s only hope of reclaiming his throne is to fight together with Laurent against their usurpers.

Forced into an uneasy alliance the two princes journey deep into Akielos, where they face their most dangerous opposition yet. But even if the fragile trust they have built survives the revelation of Damen’s identity – can it stand against the Regent’s final, deadly play for the throne?

 

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Posted in: Romance , Tagged: ,