Sep 30, 2013

New Releases (Week of 9/29/13)


There about 5 books coming out this week that I am very excited about. Sorry about posting this so late but I had Homecoming on Saturday!!

A new series from a well loved author, the first book is...Unbreakable by Kami Garcia!

Unbreakable (Legion, #1)Release Date: October 1, 2013
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Number of Pages: 320

Synopsis:
"I never believed in ghosts. Until one tried to kill me.
When Kennedy Waters finds her mother dead, her world begins to unravel. She doesn’t know that paranormal forces in a much darker world are the ones pulling the strings. Not until identical twins Jared and Lukas Lockhart break into Kennedy’s room and destroy a dangerous spirit sent to kill her. The brothers reveal that her mother was part of an ancient secret society responsible for protecting the world from a vengeful demon — a society whose five members were all murdered on the same night.
Now Kennedy has to take her mother’s place in the Legion if she wants to uncover the truth and stay alive. Along with new Legion members Priest and Alara, the teens race to find the only weapon that might be able to destroy the demon — battling the deadly spirits he controls every step of the way.
Suspense, romance, and the paranormal meet in this chilling urban fantasy, the first book in a new series from Kami Garcia, bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures novels."
The next book is written by a favorite author of mine and it is...Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano!!

 Perfect Ruin (Internment Chronicles, #1)Release Date: October 1, 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster for Young Readers
Number of Pages: 356

Synopsis:
"On Internment, the floating island in the clouds where 16-year-old Morgan Stockhour lives, getting too close to the edge can lead to madness. Even though Morgan's older brother, Lex, was a Jumper, Morgan vows never to end up like him. She tries her best not to mind that her life is orderly and boring, and if she ever wonders about the ground, and why it is forbidden, she takes solace in best friend Pen and her betrothed, Basil.
Then a murder, the first in a generation, rocks the city. With whispers swirling and fear on the wind, Morgan can no longer stop herself from investigating, especially when she meets Judas. He is the boy being blamed for the murder — betrothed to the victim — but Morgan is convinced of his innocence. Secrets lay at the heart of Internment, but nothing can prepare Morgan for what she will find — or who she will lose."
I love the cover for this book, it is...How to Love by Katie Cotugno!!

 How to LoveRelease Date: October 1, 2013
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Number of Pages: 389

Synopsis:
"Before: Reena Montero has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember: as natural as breathing, as endless as time. But he’s never seemed to notice that Reena even exists…until one day, impossibly, he does. Reena and Sawyer fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town without a word, leaving a devastated—and pregnant—Reena behind.
After: Almost three years have passed, and there’s a new love in Reena’s life: her daughter, Hannah. Reena’s gotten used to being without Sawyer, and she’s finally getting the hang of this strange, unexpected life. But just as swiftly and suddenly as he disappeared, Sawyer turns up again. Reena doesn’t want anything to do with him, though she’d be lying if she said Sawyer’s being back wasn’t stirring something in her. After everything that’s happened, can Reena really let herself love Sawyer LeGrande again?
In this breathtaking debut, Katie Cotugno weaves together the story of one couple falling in love—twice."
I'm jumping in my seat waiting for this next release it is...Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles!!

 Wild Cards (Wild Cards, #1)Release Date: October 1, 2013
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Number of Pages: 288

Synopsis:
"After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama.
Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain--people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?"
The book that I am most excited for is...Red Hill by Jamie McGuire!!! *SQUEALS*

 Red HillRelease Date: October 1, 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Number of Pages: 368

Synopsis:
"When the world ends, can love survive?For Scarlet, raising her two daughters alone makes fighting for tomorrow an everyday battle. Nathan has a wife, but can’t remember what it’s like to be in love; only his young daughter Zoe makes coming home worthwhile. Miranda’s biggest concern is whether her new VW Bug is big enough to carry her sister and their boyfriends on a weekend escape from college finals.
When reports of a widespread, deadly “outbreak” begin to surface, these ordinary people face extraordinary circumstances and suddenly their fates are intertwined. Recognizing they can’t outrun the danger, Scarlet, Nathan, and Miranda desperately seek shelter at the same secluded ranch, Red Hill. Emotions run high while old and new relationships are tested in the face of a terrifying enemy—an enemy who no longer remembers what it’s like to be human.
Set against the backdrop of a brilliantly realized apocalyptic world, love somehow finds a way to survive. But what happens when the one you’d die for becomes the one who could destroy you?
Red Hill grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go until its stunning conclusion. This is #1 New York Times bestselling author Jamie McGuire at her unforgettable best."
What new releases are you excited about? 
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Blog Tour + Giveaway: In Harmony by Helena Newbury

Author: Helena Newbury
Publisher: Foster & Black
Number of Pages: 400

 Synopsis:
"Everyone expects her to succeed….Karen plays the cello like an angel, and it’s the only thing that makes her truly feel alive. But her father’s dream—for her to join a prestigious orchestra—leaves no time in her life for anything but music…not even love. Trapped on her path, she doesn’t know how to rebel.Everyone expects him to fail….Connor plays rock guitar like the devil himself, and his ability has got him all the way from a dead-end life in Belfast to a scholarship at Fenbrook Academy. But beneath his arrogance and charm, he doesn’t believe he has what it takes. He’s spent his time in New York drinking and partying, and the only future he sees is a return to Ireland as soon as he flunks out.But what no one expects….When Karen’s duet partner is injured, the bad boy guitarist and the shy, sheltered cellist are forced to team up. Neither likes the idea, but what begins as anger and distrust slowly spirals into love…and lust. If they can face up to their feelings, they might just have a chance together. If Connor will allow Karen to stop his fall, maybe he can show her a life she never thought possible...."

This is the sequel to Dance for Me, which you all know I loved. I felt the same way about this book. 

First thing I loved about it was that the Professor's name was Harman and my name is Harman! I was really excited because I've never seen my name on a real book-got me all giddy. So 5 out of 5 stars for name selection.

I really loved the whole music aspect of this book. I'm a singer and I know how music is a part of my life and I would never be able to give it up. I could totally relate with Kate on that. 

Karen is such a sweet girl. I really related a lot with her on many different levels- especially with the music and the parents-being-tough-on-you. I get it all the time. Otherwise she was a very believable character who I would love to be friends with.

Connor is drool worthy. Helena you really know how to make your male characters amazing and just plain eye candy. Seriously, where do I get one?!? He's an electric guitarists (#jealous. I've been wanting to learn since I was 6.) but fails in school. Overall I thought he was a nice guy the only problem I had was that at the beginning he was kind of  the rude, bad boy type, and then all of a sudden his whole personality changed. It was a little unbelievable but I didn't focus on that.

The plot was amazing, I love reading about stuff like this and I very much enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it but be aware that this book contains situations that could be inappropriate if you are under the age of 17/18.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars!!

*A copy of this book was provided by the author and tour host in exchange for an honest review.

Buy Links:

Author Bio
Helena Newbury is a New Adult Romance author with a love of bakingly hot summer days, strawberry gelato, good coffee and interesting people. Unlike the characters in her books, Helena cannot dance, act or play anything (though she is substantially more flexible since she started writing Dance For Me and tried doing dancer’s stretches, so she's hoping that something will rub off on her from each book).
Helena writes in a very noisy, very busy coffee shop which means she sometimes end up mainlining caffeine to keep her seat. You’ll know when this happens because she’ll still be on Twitter that night at4am.
She loves meeting and talking with other authors, traveling to new places and discovering new books. You can find her on:

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Sep 29, 2013

Review: Dance For Me bu Helena Newbury

Dance For Me (Fenbrook Academy #1)Author: Helena Newbury
Publisher: Foster & Black New Adult
Number of Pages: 259

 Synopsis:
"Natasha is one of the most promising ballet dancers at the prestigious Fenbrook Academy of Performing Arts and she’s just landed a life-changing audition. But no one knows the guilt she carries...or the damage it makes her inflict on herself when she’s alone.
Darrell is a multi-millionaire designer at 25. But past traumas have pushed him into isolation and the intense pressure of his work has brought him to the edge of burnout. Seeking inspiration, he sees Natasha dance and hires her as his muse.
As she dances for him, the two become entwined in a passionate but troubled relationship. He starts to see the pain inside her and helps her gradually lower her defenses...but Darrell has demons of his own. Can two broken people save each other? Or will the darkness they’re hiding consume them both?"
Gah! This book!I adore it, I loved it, I just couldn't get enough. Of course I got my hands on the next books ASAP, but that's a story for tomorrow.

 Natasha's a ballet dancer, #jealous, but she's got issues too. I loved her soo much. She's such a believable character and I loved how she had an issue that we see a lot in today's society-especially with teens. She inflicts pain on herself and she knows it's wrong but she just can't stop. 

 Darrell is a freaking gazillionaire-haha just kidding, he's only a multi-millionaire-and he's good looking and smart. Can I just get a fan and a mop to pick up this ocean of drool around me. Damn! This man is amazing. He's dealing with so much, all these demons, and yet he's still so lovable!
The characters in this book just deserve an award-no, Helena you deserve an award, and I deserve a cupcake! But seriously I loved the characters. They were very realistic and amazing, I just fell in love.
"You're beautiful," he said,and it was so out of nowhere that I wobbled."Sorry" he said quickly."But you are."
The chemistry between  these two was there from the beginning and you could easily see it, I'm pretty sure even a blind person could tell. It was really adorable how they both interacted with each other.  It was the type of love and awesomeness that everyone wants to find in their life. 

 The plot was very well developed except in one or two places but that was minor and I didn't really care for it because I was too focused on Natasha and Darrell (where do I find a man like that?!?). 

 I do really recommend that you pick this book up, but be aware this book has some situations that only people 17/18 years or older might be comfortable reading.

 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars!!

* A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
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Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves #17

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer~It's a chance to share news~A post to recap the past week on your blog, and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

I went back to school last week and as you can all see the blogging as definitely decreased. I am sorry! You will all get a blog post explaining why soon!

 So there were no reviews...sorry once again. I definitely have two coming up this week!

 Reviews

I know I suck... :( I'm sorry


 Features
Here's some highlights from when I didn't post a Sunday Post! :)
Giveaways
...I know I suck... :(

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! Visit Tynga's Reviews to learn more about this weekly meme.


For Review
Permanent Shadows (The Punishment Sequence # 2)    Code Name: Atlas    Without You

Bought

Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna, #1)    From What I Remember...    Crap Kingdom    
Amy and Roger's Epic Detour    Luminous

Won

Unearthly (Unearthly, #1)
  • Unearthly by Cynthia Hand -Thanks to Cynthia Hand for this one! Love this foreign edition!
What books hit your shelves this week?
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Sep 28, 2013

The Jamieson Collection Release Blast!

I am so excited to be a part of this blast because I have already read these books and am super psyched that Angie Stanton is finally traditionally published. She deserves this 100% and I can't wait to get my hands on the physical copy of both these hug-able books. Angie Stanton I love you and so glad that I have had the joy and pleasure of reading your books! Thank you Harper Teen for recognizing this amazing lady!!

Rock and a Hard Place
by Angie Stanton

*Book 1 in the Jamieson Collection*

Synopsis:

"Perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen, Jenny Han, and Susane Colasanti, Angie Stanton's swoon-worthy romance--about an ordinary girl and a young rock star--will keep readers on the edge of their seats . . . and leave them wanting more.
In an instant, Libby's life went from picture-perfect to a nightmare. After surviving a terrible car accident, Libby is abandoned by her father and left with her controlling aunt. A new town, a new school, no friends--Libby is utterly alone. But then she meets Peter.
The lead singer in a rock band with his brothers, Peter hates that his parents overly manage his life. Constantly surrounded by family, Peter just wants to get away. And when he meets Libby, he's finally found the one person who just wants to be with him, not the rock star.
But while Peter battles his family's growing interference in both his music and personal life, Libby struggles with her aunt, who turns nastier each day. And even though Libby and Peter desperately want to be together, their drastically different lives threaten to keep them apart forever."

Snapshot
by Angie Stanton

*Book 2 in the Jamieson Collection*

Synopsis:
"Marti Hunter hates rockers and anything remotely related to the rock-and-roll lifestyle. She thought she’d left that all behind, along with her drug-addicted mother and absent-minded rock legend father. Now she lives with her grandmother, and Marti’s life is finally normal. Just the way she likes it.

For Adam Jamieson, normal is not possible. He is the genius guitar player of the band Jamieson. He’s ecstatic to finally get a two-week break from his micromanaged life and a chance to hang with regular teens. Adam’s shaving off his trademark curls and going undercover.
But when Marti, the reluctant rock princess, and Adam, the undercover guitar wizard, meet, sparks fly in more ways than one. They spend their time alternating between making out and driving each other crazy. But their summer adventures of skinny dipping, storm watching, and stolen kisses are brought to a halt when tragedy strikes.
Suddenly, they’re on opposite sides of the country, just when they need each other the most. Can Marti survive life with her dad and his vicious girlfriend? Will Adam get so fed up with his over-managed life and controlling parents that he quits the band?
Snapshot. A moment in time that changes two people forever."

Excerpt from Rock and a Hard Place (Enjoy! This is one of my favorite scenes!) 

 “I have something for you.” He had moved heaven and earth to pull this together.
“You do?” Her eyes glittered in surprise.
“Yup. Close your eyes and hold out your hands.” He couldn’t wait to see what she thought. Libby obeyed. Her dark eyelashes lay against her rosy cheeks. His heart beat in anticipation. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a white plastic bag, then glanced up. Her closed eyes changed to little slits.
“Hey, stop peeking!”
Libby squeezed her eyes closed and laughed. She held out her hands and waited. Peter pulled the slim item out of the bag and placed it in her hands.
“Okay, look.”
She peered at the shiny device and then back at him in disbelief. “You gave me a cell phone?” She stared at the gift. “You gave me a cell phone!” This time she yelled it.
Her excitement touched him. “It seemed like a good idea. You didn’t have a phone number to give me, and I really missed you. It’s gonna get harder to see you. I thought this way we could stay in touch and actually talk whenever we want.”
She closed her hand around the precious phone and turned pensive.
“Is something wrong?” He wondered what could have upset her.
“I don’t know if I should accept this.” She gazed up at him with large doe eyes. He couldn’t believe this. She needed to take the phone.
“We barely know each other, and, well…” Mischief lit her face, and he wondered what she was up to. “We’ve never even kissed.”
Peter paused and took a good look at her. He’d been wondering how to sneak a kiss; she just made it simple.
He tossed the umbrella aside and pulled her close. He let his fingers tangle in her wet hair and lowered his mouth to hers. He kissed her long and slow, taking his sweet time. Cold rain trickled down his neck as he savored each moment. Startled at first, Libby now matched his kiss. He enjoyed each touch of her tender lips.
He slowly pulled away.
“Now can you take the phone?” His forehead rested against hers.
“Yeah, I think so,” she answered in a breathy voice.
“I’d better be sure.” Empowered by their perfect chemistry, he leaned in for more. Her body melted against him. He wrapped his other arm around her and pulled her close.
“Wow,” she whispered, her eyes dark and smoky.
“Haven’t you ever been kissed before?” His eyes searched hers.

“Not like that.”

 Author Bio
Angie StantonAngie Stanton never planned on writing books, she wanted to be a Rockette. However, growing up in a rural setting with her brothers' 4-H pigs as pets, dance didn't work out. Instead she became an avid daydreamer. After years of perfecting stories in her head she

began to write them down and the rest is history.
She loves dipping french fries in chocolate shakes, all natural disaster movies and Broadway Musicals. When not writing, Angie is concocting ways to make more dreams come true, whether it be tickets to a Broadway show or convincing her family they should rent an RV and travel the country. She's still working on that one.
Angie is a proud double finalist of the 2011 National Readers Choice Awards for Love 'em or Leave 'em, as well as a finalist for the Golden Quill Awards.


Giveaway
All open International
(1) $50 Amazon Gift Card
(1) $25 Amazon Gift Card
(1) $15 Amazon Gift Card

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Sep 25, 2013

Mini Review: Before You Go by James Preller

Before You GoAuthor: James Preller
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Number of Pages: 199

 Synopsis:
"The summer before his senior year, Jude (yes, he’s named after the Beatles song) gets his first job, falls in love for the first time, and starts to break away from his parents. Jude’s house is kept dark, and no one talks much—it’s been that way since his little sister drowned in a swimming pool seven years ago when Jude was supposed to be watching her.
Now, Jude is finally, finally starting to live. Really live. And then, life spins out of control. Again. 
Acclaimed author James Preller explores life, death, love, faith, and resilience in his first young adult novel that will grip readers from the book’s dramatic first few pages to its emotional end."
An emotional book that shows the importance of staying strong and never giving up.

 I read this book for the ReaLITy Reads feature on Teenreads.com. If you guys haven't check out this website then I highly recommend it. I'm also on the TeenBoard and I love working with all the awesome people who are a part of this website.

 I'm basically just going to cut and paste the questions into here because these questions sum up the review and how I felt about it. Enjoy!

 In a couple of sentences, how would you describe this book to your friends?
It teaches you how to cope with loss or death. It teaches you that life goes on and time will help you heal, and no matter how hard it hits you or how hard it seems to find the will to get up in the morning, you will always get up and learn to finally get up and live again.
If you had to pick three words to describe the book, what would they be?
Three words that definitely describe this book would be intriguing, inspiring and heart-warming.
What was your favorite part?
This whole book was amazing but my favorite part would have to be the accident, not because I find it fun to read about, but because it’s the major point in the book, and it just hits you. The whole time you’re reading this, you know that the accident is going to happen and that you are going to read about. The thing is when you do reach that point, it still hits you as a surprise. You feel as if you are actually there, that you are actually seeing the accident and hearing the screech of the tires. You feel it all.
Did you have a favorite character and if so, what did you like about him/her?
I don’t have a favorite character because I feel as if every character is important to the story, even the ones that have already passed on or that next door neighbor that the character sees watering his or her plants. Every character is crucial to the story, and if you took even one of those characters out, the book would almost be incomplete.
What did you take away from reading it?
I definitely feel different about loss and how to cope with it. I know many people who have lost a loved one; I’ve lost a loved one, and you feel as if the world just came to a stop and that you can’t move on from the death of that person. But this book shows you that the world doesn’t stop. It keeps spinning --- people keep laughing, working and just simply enjoying life. You will learn to deal with the pain and move on in life.
Who would you recommend it to?
This book is for everyone because everyone experiences death at some point in their life, even if that person isn’t a loved one, you will still experience it. If I had to pick one specific group then this book is perfect for the people who are having a hard time getting over the death of somebody. This book will definitely show them that they will move on and will continue to smile. This book is truly an inspiration to everyone and I absolutely LOVED this book.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars!
*A copy of this book was provided by Teenreads.com and Macmillian.
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Waiting On Wednesday #16

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's "Waiting On" Wednesday is... How to Love by Katie Cotugno!

How to LoveRelease Date: October 1, 2013
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Number of Pages: 389

Synopsis:
"Before: Reena Montero has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember: as natural as breathing, as endless as time. But he’s never seemed to notice that Reena even exists…until one day, impossibly, he does. Reena and Sawyer fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town without a word, leaving a devastated—and pregnant—Reena behind.
After: Almost three years have passed, and there’s a new love in Reena’s life: her daughter, Hannah. Reena’s gotten used to being without Sawyer, and she’s finally getting the hang of this strange, unexpected life. But just as swiftly and suddenly as he disappeared, Sawyer turns up again. Reena doesn’t want anything to do with him, though she’d be lying if she said Sawyer’s being back wasn’t stirring something in her. After everything that’s happened, can Reena really let herself love Sawyer LeGrande again?
In this breathtaking debut, Katie Cotugno weaves together the story of one couple falling in love—twice."
What book are you "waiting on"? 

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Sep 24, 2013

The Mephisto Mark Release Launch!

The Mephisto Mark
by Trinity Faegen

Synopsis:
Orphaned at six and sent to live with abusive relatives in Bucharest, Mariah learned early in life to box up violent, agonizing memories and put them in permanent mental storage. Now almost nineteen, she has a paying job, a tiny apartment, and a plan to attend university. She loves her independence and is steadily overcoming her past, but when an enigmatic stranger walks into the pub where she works and the trajectory of her life changes yet again, she begins to wonder if she’ll run out of mental shelf space.The only females unafraid of the Mephisto brothers are the extremely rare Anabo, born without Original Sin. Over one hundred years ago, Phoenix was first to find one, but he made a fatal mistake and she was murdered by his oldest brother and enemy, Eryx. Phoenix soldiered through the next century wrapped up in grief and guilt, his only outlet planning takedowns of those who pledged their souls to Eryx. When one of his brothers brings Mariah to Mephisto Mountain, he’s torn between his instinctive, powerful need to pursue her, and his certainty that he can never have her.Drawn into the world of the Mephisto, Mariah sees the pain and misery Eryx unleashes on humanity, and the boxes in her mind begin to fly open, one by one. All that keeps her from slipping off the edge is her unlikely, sexually charged friendship with Phoenix. He’s incredibly screwed up; she’s completely broken. It would take a miracle for them to find happiness. Then Eryx brings the war for Hell to a whole new level, forcing Mariah and Phoenix to make a choice that will bind them together for all eternity, or rip them apart forever.
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18046744-the-mephisto-mark

 Excerpt
Watching Mariah shout her triumphant joy as she came closer to me at breakneck speed, my want, my need to join her was a physical thing that coiled around me and squeezed so hard, I was breathless.

Her stop was flawless. She was breathing hard, laughing up at me as she moved her goggles to her cap. Her eyes were bluer, I could see her glow, and her scent was beautiful. My brothers and Sasha skied up just behind her and looked at me with obvious anxiety. They knew I was pissed.

Mariah didn’t. I bit back what I wanted to say to them and instead said to Mariah, “I wish you weren’t a liar. That whole I’m poor thing really had me going. Clearly you’ve lived in Switzerland your entire life and trained with the Olympic team.”

“This is the most fun I’ve ever had. It’s such a rush! And the mountains are beautiful, and all the snow.” Still breathing hard with exertion, making her breasts rise and fall, she looked down at my boots. “Where are your skis?”

Peeling my gaze away from her chest, I focused on her eyes. “I don’t have skis.”

“What? Why? Go get some and ski with me.”

“I’d love to, but I have to work on—”

“Are you scared? I mean, it’s dangerous, I guess, but it’s not like you’re ever permanently hurt. If I get hurt, Sasha says she can fix me.”

The only thing in the world I was scared of was what I could do to her if I wasn’t constantly on guard. She was so wounded. I had to keep that front and center in my mind at all times. Had to be careful and not step over a line. Not only my words, but actions and even thoughts.

I fought to keep from looking at her breasts again. Jesus, that dream had me undone. I wished I could see her as I saw Sasha – like a sister. I’d never, even once, had a sexual thought about Sasha. Strange, because honestly, I had sexual thoughts about most women. Except for the Luminas. I was a son of Hell, but even I couldn’t have impure thoughts about angels.

Would this low hum of sexual awareness disappear once Mariah became a Lumina? Could I then see her as a beautiful girl and not a hot woman I’d sell my soul to see naked, to touch, just once? I cleared my throat and said, “I assure you I’m not scared of skiing.”

“Then work later and ski with us now.”

I leaned down and whispered, “You’re away from the mountain, at risk.”

With her face scarcely two inches from mine, she whispered back, “They think I don’t know, but Sasha is keeping Eryx front and center in her mind. He’s in Washington and I’m nowhere on his radar. Come on, Phoenix, don’t worry so much. Go get some skis and do this with me, just for a little while.”

“I’d rather take you home.”

“Three more hours until dark, then I’ll go back and stay there until it’s safe for me to leave again.”

I knew I should say no. It was a needless risk. But the look on her face, the sound of her laughter – I wanted to hear it again and again. I sighed. “All right, fine, but the second you ski too far away from any one of us, we’re going back. Capice?”

She grinned at me and my heart thudded hard against my ribs. “Let’s race.”

I groaned, then we all popped down to Mountain Village so I could get some skis. And food. I hadn’t eaten and was starving.

We went in the Blue Dog Grill and ordered crab claws, chicken kabobs, and burgers. Mariah ate almost as much as Sasha, who ate far more than an ordinary human girl because of Mephisto. I wondered if Mariah was too poor to buy food? She obviously relished what she ate, seeming to enjoy every single bite.


When we were back up on the slopes, she beat me twice, I beat her twice, and Jax said we had to have a tie-breaker, which is how we wound up at the top of the most difficult run at Revelation Bowl. I looked down at the almost vertical drop, at the tiny figures that were Jax and the others waiting for us at the bottom, and asked her, “Are you sure about this?”

“You’re chicken, aren’t you?”

“They say chicken in Romania?”

“It’s a worldwide euphemism for cowards.”

“I doubt that.”

“Look it up.” She schussed left ski, then right ski, gripping her poles, focused on the slope. “Are you in, or not?”

This was going to be epic. “I’m in.”

“Prepare to lose, my friend.”

“I’m out of practice.” I was never actually in practice. Until today, I’d skied four times my whole life, and those were related to a takedown back in the fifties. I learned, practiced, then we did the takedown, and my skiing career was over.

“Excuses already? You must think you’re going to lose.”

My competitive nature roared to life. “Not hardly.”

“Okay, on three.”

We counted together and as soon as we both said three, I pushed off. Just as I’d thought, it was incredible. Exhilarating. I risked a glance at her and saw she was laughing. We were neck and neck, moving faster and faster. I could see Jax and the others clapping and yelling. I’m pretty sure they were all rooting for Mariah, which only made me want to win that much more.

Unfortunately for my manhood, she smoked me, probably because I tried to be tricky and jumped a mogul instead of skiing around it. My landing almost sent me crashing, and by the time I’d regained my balance, she was ten yards ahead, and I never caught up.

When we were with the others, she pulled off her goggles and hat and high-fived Sasha. And she laughed. For the first time in a thousand years, I didn’t mind losing. I’d do it over and over, just to hear her laugh. 

 Author Bio
Author of the RITA winning Pink Files series, Stephanie Feagan has had a love affair with romance novels since she was eleven and discovered there are kissing scenes in Victoria Holt books. She spent a lot of time in her closet with a flashlight, reading as fast as possible to get to the end, only to start a new book and begin the whole Leave-Me-Alone-I’m-Reading cycle all over again. She still stays up until the wee hours to finish books, now courtesy of a lighted e-reader which she believes is mankind’s greatest invention ever.
Stephanie also writes Young Adult and New Adult paranormal romance as Trinity Faegen. A practicing CPA who loves travel, books, new pencils, old keys, and smart guys, she lives in the oilfields of west Texas with her engineer husband and a mean cat. She’d love to hear from you. She answers to Stephanie, Trinity, Hey Lady, and Mom, and can be reached atStephanie@StephanieFeagan.com or Trinity@TrinityFaegen.com

She’s aware the similarity between her pseudonym, Faegen, and her real name, Feagan, confuses pretty much everyone, herself included. Since so many mispronounce Feagan as FEEgan instead of FAYgan, she thought she’d mix it up when she took a pseudonym and make it easier on people. Now people say FayEEgen, and spell it wrong. Next time she takes a pen name, she’s totally going with Smith or Jones.
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Sep 23, 2013

New Releases (Week of 9/22/13)

There about 5 books coming out this week that I am very excited about.

 The whole world's in love with this series so to learn more about it read...The World of Divergent by Veronica Roth!

 The World of Divergent: The Path to Allegiant (Divergent, #2.5)Release Date: September 24, 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Number of Pages: 50


 Synopsis:
"Don't miss Divergent, soon to be a major motion picture in theaters March 2014!
Fascinated by the world of the Divergent series? This fifty-page bonus, previously only available in the Divergent Series Box Set, includes faction manifestos, a faction quiz, Q&A with #1 New York Timesbestselling author Veronica Roth, book playlists, discussion questions, series inspirations, and much more! It also contains ten enticing teasers from Allegiant, the final book in the Divergent series."
The next shining book here is...Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller!

 Where the Stars Still ShineRelease Date: September 24, 2013
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children
Number of Pages: 308

 Synopsis:
"Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She's never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love--even with someone who seems an improbable choice--is more than just a possibility.
Trish Doller writes incredibly real teens, and this searing story of love, betrayal, and how not to lose your mind will resonate with readers who want their stories gritty and utterly true."
We've been waiting a long time for his next novel, it's...The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks!

 The Longest RideRelease Date: September 24, 2013
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Number of Pages: 416

 Synopsis:
"Ira Levinson is in trouble. At ninety-one years old, in poor health and alone in the world, he finds himself stranded on an isolated embankment after a car crash. Suffering multiple injuries, he struggles to retain consciousness until a blurry image materializes and comes into focus beside him: his beloved wife Ruth, who passed away nine years ago. Urging him to hang on, she forces him to remain alert by recounting the stories of their lifetime together – how they met, the precious paintings they collected together, the dark days of WWII and its effect on them and their families. Ira knows that Ruth can’t possibly be in the car with him, but he clings to her words and his memories, reliving the sorrows and everyday joys that defined their marriage.
A few miles away, at a local rodeo, a Wake Forest College senior’s life is about to change. Recovering from a recent break-up, Sophia Danko meets a young cowboy named Luke, who bears little resemblance to the privileged frat boys she has encountered at school. Through Luke, Sophia is introduced to a world in which the stakes of survival and success, ruin and reward -- even life and death – loom large in everyday life. As she and Luke fall in love, Sophia finds herself imagining a future far removed from her plans -- a future that Luke has the power to rewrite . . . if the secret he’s keeping doesn’t destroy it first.
Ira and Ruth. Sophia and Luke. Two couples who have little in common, and who are separated by years and experience. Yet their lives will converge with unexpected poignancy, reminding us all that even the most difficult decisions can yield extraordinary journeys: beyond despair, beyond death, to the farthest reaches of the human heart."

 This series has really made a mark on my heart, it is...The Mephisto Mark by Trinity Faegen!

 The Mephisto Mark (The Mephisto Covenant, #3)Release Date: September 24, 2013
Publisher: Pink Publishing, LLC
Number of Pages: 200

 Synopsis:
"Orphaned at six and sent to live with abusive relatives in Bucharest, Mariah learned early in life to box up violent, agonizing memories and put them in permanent mental storage. Now almost nineteen, she has a paying job, a tiny apartment, and a plan to attend university. She loves her independence and is steadily overcoming her past, but when an enigmatic stranger walks into the pub where she works and the trajectory of her life changes yet again, she begins to wonder if she’ll run out of mental shelf space.
The only females unafraid of the Mephisto brothers are the extremely rare Anabo, born without Original Sin. Over one hundred years ago, Phoenix was first to find one, but he made a fatal mistake and she was murdered by his oldest brother and enemy, Eryx. Phoenix soldiered through the next century wrapped up in grief and guilt, his only outlet planning takedowns of those who pledged their souls to Eryx. When one of his brothers brings Mariah to Mephisto Mountain, he’s torn between his instinctive, powerful need to pursue her, and his certainty that he can never have her.
Drawn into the world of the Mephisto, Mariah sees the pain and misery Eryx unleashes on humanity, and the boxes in her mind begin to fly open, one by one. All that keeps her from slipping off the edge is her unlikely, sexually charged friendship with Phoenix. He’s incredibly screwed up; she’s completely broken. It would take a miracle for them to find happiness. Then Eryx brings the war for Hell to a whole new level, forcing Mariah and Phoenix to make a choice that will bind them together for all eternity, or rip them apart forever."
I need a drink for this next book because it is...Not A Drop To Drink by Mindy McGinnis!

 Not a Drop to Drink Release Date: September 24, 2013
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Number of Pages: 320

 Synopsis:
"Regret was for people with nothing to defend, people who had no water. 
Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.
Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.
But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it….
With evocative, spare language and incredible drama, danger, and romance, debut author Mindy McGinnis depicts one girl’s journey in a barren world not so different than our own."
What new releases are you looking forward to? 
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