BBReview: "Divergent 1: Divergent" By Veronica Roth

Genre: Young Adult - Dystopian
Publishing Date: May 3rd, 2011
Page Count: 496
Source: Bought from local bookstore
Format: Hardcover

Description from Goodreads.com:
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Review:
Do not let the sheer length of this book or the hype it has been given stop you from reading it, because it is amazing!! I have owned this book for at least three years and I always put off reading it, because it was SO long. This week, however, I finally started it and finished it in 24 hours! That is how good it is. I kid you not.

I love the idea of factions. It was such a neat concept to have different factions based on personality traits. The entire time I would find myself trying to figure out which one I belonged to as Tris described each one. I think I may be Divergent, though. The process of choosing which faction you belong is was also very interesting and reminded me a little of both Harry Potter and sorority bid day lol.

Tris is a very strong character and one that you can easily build a strong connection to. She has a fear of trusting people so a lot of the time she is in her head with the reader, and because of this I feel like I truly know who Tris is. Veronica makes sure her readers will have a strong bond with Tris and will fall in love with her. Like with Katniss, everyone will want to be Tris. She is a strong independent woman and I too, just like Katniss, want to be Tris. I found another book character hero!

Another thing I really liked about this book was that nothing felt repeated. A lot of times books will remind you of things too many times, or they will hint at something too strongly, and now the reader knows how it ends, but I found myself guessing the entire time what would happen next. Everything was also very original. I find that once you start reading from a certain genre that there are only so many "original" things that can happen. I mean once you've read a vampire novel you have kind of read them all. There will be something different about every single one, but they all have the same outline and Divergent didn't feel like that all. It all felt original and new to me. It was definitely it's own outline.

I loved that there was a lot of death and tragedy. I know that is a really morbid thing to say, but I like that Veronica wasn't scared to kill off characters. It definitely gave the book a much darker feel and made me more drawn to it. What does that say about me? I don't want to know, but I enjoyed it.

I absolutely cannot wait for the movie. I really think it is going to be awesome. If they do half as good of a job on Divergent, like they did on The Hunger Games, it will be fantastic! I mean, they really can't mess up the movie too much (knock on wood), because the sheer detail in Divergent is astounding. I could literally see everything in my head as clear as day AS IF I was watching the movie already. I will admit that I was a little apprehensive when I learned that Shailene Woodley was cast as Tris, but now after reading Divergent I think she will do great!

Overall:
Absolutely amazing! The sheer detail in this book, alone, will astound you and make you that much eager to see the movie in 2014. Tris is an amazingly strong character and will definitely be compared to Katniss. She is definitely my new book character hero. Divergent is very original and don't think I could really compare it to any other books. It was all very fresh and new. I loved how dark this book was and that Veronica wasn't scared to kill or hurt a few characters to get the desired effect by the end. This book was fantastic and I cannot wait to read the rest in the series. GO BUY AND READ IT NOW!

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 5/5


**The books cover, description, and info was all found on Goodreads. A link back has been provided. All other work and ideas are of my own creation. This book was personally bought at my local bookstore.**

Question of the Moment 118 ~ Books to Movies

I don't know about you guys, but I am absolutely LOVING that so many YA books are being made into movies! So, that is my first question.... Are you loving the new trend of YA books becoming movies?

My second question is what Books-to-Movie's are you most looking forward to?

Here is my list of most anticipated Book-to-Movie in order of when they come out. 

{2013}

Ok, so this book-to-movie already came out, but I haven't seen it or read it yet. I am planning to read it within the next couple weeks and then hopefully go see the movie. I have been wanting to read it for a long time, and have OWNED it for a long time, but just have never gotten around to it. Now, that it is a movie I must read and watch this!

This is an obvious one, but I am SO stoked to see Catching Fire in the next couple months. I am very interested to see how they are going to work things since they changed how Katniss got the Mockingjay pin, which didn't introduce the Mayor's daughter who plays a key role in Catching Fire. In other news when I was looking up books being made into movies I discovered that they are, in fact, breaking Mockingjay into two parts. I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS! Why do they torture us like this? Part one will be coming out in 2014 and part two will be out in 2015.

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{2014}

AHH!!! I am so excited to see this!!!! I just read the book this week in ONE DAY and I absolutely loved it. I can easily see how this book got picked up to be a movie, because there is such vivid descriptions of everything. I absolutely cannot wait to see it. At first I was a little apprehensive when I heard they cast Shailene Woodley (from The Secret Life of an American Teenager), but after reading the book I can totally see her as Tris. 

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{2015}

This is one I am both apprehensive and excited about. I am excited, because it was a really good book, but I am apprehensive, because they could mess this one up big time. The creepy photos that are in this book are a key role to giving this book it's creep factor. If they don't get the movie right when showing the peculiar children it could make this movie go from creepy to cheesy. People who have only seen the movie might not even check out the book to see how it is really supposed to be, and that would be a tragedy. So, hopefully they get it right. 

---

{????}

These next book-to-movies are one that are rumored to come out as movies, but do not have a set date yet. 

These are all going to be great!! Paranormalcy, The Forest of Hands & Teeth, Uglies, and Wicked Lovely I have not yet read, but are all ones I own and want to read. The rest I have read and absolutely loved and cannot wait to see them on the big screen. Again, all of these are just rumored to become movies, so they might not actually come to true, but I sure hope they do!!

So again... Are you loving the new trend of books to movies and which movies are looking forward to watching?

Let me know in the comments below =]

**Book covers were borrowed from Goodreads.com and movie info was found on this IMDb list.*

Teaser Tuesday ~ Frigid

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This Weeks Teaser Comes From:

For twenty-one-year-old Sydney, being in love with Kyler isn't anything new. They'd been best friends ever since he pushed her down on the playground and she made him eat a mud pie. Somewhere over the years, she fell for him and fell hard. The big problem with that? Kyler puts the 'man' in man-whore. He's never stayed with a girl longer than a few nights, and with it being their last year in college, Syd doesn't want to risk their friendship by declaring her love.

Kyler has always put Syd on a pedestal that was too high for him to reach. To him, she's perfect and she's everything. But the feelings he has for her, he's always hidden away or focused on any other female. After all, Kyler will always be the poor boy from the wrong side of tracks, and Syd will always be the one girl he can never have.

But when they're stranded together at a posh ski resort due to a massive Nor'easter, there's nothing stopping their red-hot feelings for each other from coming to the surface. Can their friendship survive the attraction? Better yet, can they survive at all? Because as the snow falls, someone is stalking them, and this ski trip may be a life-changer in more ways than one.

Teaser 1:

I had to make a terrible choice, and quick. Drop the e-reader or the cappuccino. 

Both things were necessary for survival, but the e-reader was like a precious wittle baby, so fragile and important to me. 

Tightening my hold on the e-reader, I let the coffee hit the floor and go splat, spreading dark liquid across the carpet like a gruesome crime scene. 

{ARC pg. 18}

Teaser 2:

The door behind me suddenly opened, and I was falling into empty space. I twisted around, my hand colliding with warm, bare flesh. Warm, hard bare flesh. A strong arm went around my waist, catching me before I face-planted on a flat, brown male nipple. 

Oh dear God in Heaven...

I jerked back, breaking the hold. Air rushed out of my lungs and my eyes went wide. I was face-to-face with the perfect pecs-the kind of pecs anyone would want to touch. My eyes did this wandering thing without my consent, and there was so much golden flesh on display that it was like a scene from Magic Mike coming alive. Messed-up thing was that I'd seen Kyler half-naked more times than I cared to admit, but doing so never failed to amaze me. 

{ARC pg. 19}

BBReview: "Such A Rush" By Jennifer Echols

Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary
Publishing Date: July 10th, 2012
Page Count: 325
Source: Borrowed from local library
Format: Hardcover

Description from Goodreads.com:
A sexy and poignant romantic tale of a young daredevil pilot caught between two brothers. 

When I was fourteen, I made a decision. If I was doomed to live in a trailer park next to an airport, I could complain about the smell of the jet fuel like my mom, I could drink myself to death over the noise like everybody else, or I could learn to fly.

Heaven Beach, South Carolina, is anything but, if you live at the low-rent end of town. All her life, Leah Jones has been the grown-up in her family, while her mother moves from boyfriend to boyfriend, letting any available money slip out of her hands. At school, they may diss Leah as trash, but she’s the one who negotiates with the landlord when the rent’s not paid. At fourteen, she’s the one who gets a job at the nearby airstrip.

But there’s one way Leah can escape reality. Saving every penny she can, she begs quiet Mr. Hall, who runs an aerial banner-advertising business at the airstrip and also offers flight lessons, to take her up just once. Leaving the trailer park far beneath her and swooping out over the sea is a rush greater than anything she’s ever experienced, and when Mr. Hall offers to give her cut-rate flight lessons, she feels ready to touch the sky.

By the time she’s a high school senior, Leah has become a good enough pilot that Mr. Hall offers her a job flying a banner plane. It seems like a dream come true . . . but turns out to be just as fleeting as any dream. Mr. Hall dies suddenly, leaving everything he owned in the hands of his teenage sons: golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson. And they’re determined to keep the banner planes flying.

Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business—until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers—and the consequences could be deadly.

Review:
Such a Rush was my first ever Jennifer Echols book. I have heard about her books for sometime now, but I just never picked one up for some reason. Well, I am so happy that I finally did and I cannot wait to read more by her. I am sure that I will end up reading all of her books. I think the thing that really has me attracted to her novels is that they all sound different. I know you are probably thinking, "DUH!" But, really when you think about contemporary romance novels they all basically have the same outline. The main character is a female, she has something rough going on in her life, she does something new to try and make herself feel happy again, and ends up meeting the love of her life. But, Jennifer's other books don't seem to all fit the same outline as the others, so that is why I am super DUPER excited to read the rest. Now, moving on to talking about this book specifically.

In the beginning I was not sure that I was going to like the main character, Leah. I just didn't like the fact that she let her "slut status" control her life. She never tried to right her image, or tell people they were wrong. She just let them think what they want about her. Some people would say that is brave, but when you constantly have girls talking crap about you and boys constantly harassing you, enough is enough. I just think I wasn't used to this type of lead character. Usually the main character is unpopular, but she is more invisible than in the spotlight. Leah was definitely in the spotlight. Alas, I did end up loving her character. I think it was really because Jennifer wrote Leah in a way where she was always telling the reader her true feelings. It showed a different side to her and made her likable.

Another character I wasn't too keen on was Leah's best friend. I just didn't understand how these two VASTLY different people could become best friends. I get that it was basically a fluke, but it still baffles me that they weren't at each others throats constantly.

The character who I always loved was Grayson. He is seriously the best kind of bad boy, and that's because I am used to bad boy characters where everyone thinks he is bad, but his kind, grown-up side gets brought out by the good girl. Grayson turned into that guy before Leah could even interfere. I think that's what I really liked about him, because he still showed up his old bad boy ways sometimes, but he was mostly trying to prove himself as a new man. It was very endearing.

The ending I thought was fantastic! It was extremely cute and it wrapped up the story very nicely. I liked that it didn't leave question for it to become a series. Sometimes you just need a standalone to read instead of racking up another series to stay on top of.

Overall:
Very cute story! I thought it was a very unique story as the main character, the best friend, and the bad boy were not your typical characters. They weren't the types that I am used to and it made it that more interesting. I loved that the ending really wrapped things up and didn't drop hints for a series to be made. Sometimes you just need a great stand alone, and this is it!

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 5/5


**The books cover, description, and info was all found on Goodreads. A link back has been provided. All other work and ideas are of my own creation. This book was borrowed from my local library.**

Question of the Moment 117 - Cover Loving

I consider myself a HUGE cover whore lol. I know they always say, "never judge a book by it's cover," but I always do. I can't help it. The cover determines if I am going to buy it for my bookshelf or Kindle. It also sometimes determines if I am even going to read it, because if the description isn't that great I'll look at the cover. There is probably people out there who think this is awful, but I think the majority are just like me. We all love the beautiful covers.

So, here is my question to you cover lovers...

What are you favorite new release covers?

Here are some of my favorites. As you can tell I have a thing for darker covers and soft romance lol. I think all of these covers are absolutely beautiful and I can't wait to own the ones I don't already have. 

So, what are your favorite new release covers? Let me know in the comments below =]

{Blog Tour/GIVEAWAY/Excerpt} "Beautiful Experiment" By January Valentine

Beautiful Experiment 

Book One of Island of Defiance Trilogy

By: January Valentine

Genre: Paranormal Fantasy Romance

Pages: 330

Isbn: 978-0615828596

Buy Links:

Amazon | Other

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Blurb:

Six unruly teens are abducted on their way to a juvie home. Dumped onto an uncharted island. Could things get any worse? Hell, yeah. Hostility and envy run rampant. Throw in some alphas, divas and demons, and what do you have? Beautiful Experiment. Book One of the Island of Defiance Trilogy.

The teens are referred to as waywards, informed their parents have sent them to the island for rehabilitation. While they struggle with their predicament, and each other, they come to a shocking realization ... for once in their lives, they have to follow rules.

Brook has lived on the Island of Defiance his entire life, with no choice but to believe everything he has been taught. As he approaches eighteen, the secret of who he is, and the ultimate fate he must face, begins to unfold. To complicate matters even more, Brook grows to experience something he has never known ... love.

How do you convince a stranger a dreadful mistake has been made? Gabriella Winslow is an honors student who has always helped others, but now has to fight for herself. Something unimaginable wants her as much as the beautiful island boy with whom she is falling in love.

Beautiful Experiment is Book One of The Island Of Defiance Trilogy (paranormal - fantasy - romance - for teens and adults) Mature 17+ for adult language, drugs & alcohol, mild sexual situations & violence.

---

Excerpt:

The surging tide is tempting. I'm concentrating on the foam that is quickly erasing my footsteps. It's not the caw of gulls that alerts me, because the winged creatures have vanished. In their place, the air is filled with my name. I lift my face to something startling, and my heart begins to pound.

The sky has burst into flame. Red and gold, it's raging. The sun is the sky. Scorching. Shooting stars, like flaming spears, are dropping all around me. If I don't shut my eyes, I'll be blinded. If I do, I'll be nothing but a solid target. The wind wails like a mother who has lost her child. "When the third moon falls, the beast will devour the sky." 

As suddenly as it started, it ends. I'm standing beside Father, totally disoriented. Am I standing? I look down at my feet, because I feel legless. I'm floating. Struggling to regain control of my mind, my body, the shock.

I grip the clipboard and pen with my knees, so that I can draw my palms across my twitching eyelids, astonished that I'm actually still holding onto anything.

"Did you see that flash? Did you hear that creepy voice?" I'm breathless, massaging my pounding temples with burning fingertips. "My head feels like it's about to split open." I rattle each eardrum with a pinky, then plug my ears to listen intently. Was the urgent whisper that turned me to stone inside my head? Phantom sounds? I've never experienced this kind of phenomenon before. "My eyes pain."

Father regards me with a mix of surprise and concern. "You have a migraine?"

"Migraine?" I scoff. What the fuck, loops through my head. I'm freaked out, left with a strange feeling this is not going to be like other days. I try to shake it off, like I shake him off.

The sky is now clear and so perfectly blue, it looks as though it's been painted by deliberate strokes of an artist's brush. It is a seamless dome of beauty. If we were not receiving today, I might be lying on the pristine beach, permitting my thoughts to wander far beyond my own boundaries. Maybe I'd be lounging on my bluff, or climb my watchtower tree, burrow into its welcoming arms where I collect my years, watch over all that is mine. 

"Feeling better?" His voice is buffered, but coarse enough to jar me from thought.

Skimming Father, my gaze snaps back to the waves, the skiff that is almost upon us. "I'm fine." I don’t mention how bad my body aches, and feels like it’s being torn apart. I stretch my arms, then my neck, trying to pin down what I did to cause these muscle spasms. The bomb that’s about to explode in my head.

When the ocean is calm it's translucent, sparkling with sunlight as though it's coated with billions of precious gemstones. Today it's not much more than rolling waves and seaweed.

"I've never seen it this rough." Between wind and thunderous surf, I have to face him or my voice will be useless. 

"Storms." His reply is blunt.

"You wouldn't know it by the sky." I bring my gaze to a more pleasant sight.

"There's one brewing out there. You'd feel it if you had my knees." Staring gravely at the ocean, his body is rigid.

"Are you in pain?" 

"Nothing I can't handle."

"Let's hope the weather holds off until we've settled them." 

"Rain or shine, we've got our work cut out for us, Brook."

"As always." My stomach rises to my throat as I watch their approach. I wonder if I'll ever get used to this way of life. Do I want to? Of course not. There are so many other things I'd rather be doing right now, like hopping onto that boat, and for starters, checking out the other side of this island.

Beyond the boat, a floating veil of mist rolls in like billows of steam from a tremendous boiling kettle. I am no longer able to see the large vessel from which the skiff was launched. 

The atmosphere of the island is as such, inviting one moment, rejecting the next. Father calls it a gentle beast, with characteristics and charm like the women he has known. My glance shifts, falling upon the shoreline curve where a jetty, composed of rocks chiseled and stacked by nature, projects like the nose of a dolphin and the forest begins. This is as far as my eyes pan.

"Thank you for cutting your hair." For a moment his eyes wash over me, then his gaze refocuses on the others who are struggling against the relentless current. "I know it pains you." 

"Don't you mean shearing?" I huff. "I don't understand why I can't grow it long. I have awesome hair, or so I've been told." I smirk.

He shoots me a phony glare. "You've been told, huh?  No cozying up to any of these girls. I don't want another batch begging to stay."

"I'm not a womanizer. Just good company." I shrug. 

"No nighttime jaunts to the lagoon, either. And I mean it this time." Now his glare is authentic.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. Stay out of the lagoon. Out of the forest. Out of the lockers. Pretend to like my boring life."

He almost looks sympathetic. "One of these days you'll understand."

"What? Why I can't swim at night?"

"You're impossible sometimes, and the reason I ask you to cut your hair is to set a good example."

I let out a tired sigh. My hand runs over my smooth scalp, the shadow of bristles so short and sun-bleached, my reflection in a mirror looks hairless. If not for my deeply tanned skin, I would look anemic. 

"Seems a waste. Six or more inches of attractive dark hair again and again swept into the trash." My jaw sets as our discussion continues. "I like my hair long. It makes me feel ..."

"Like a rock star?" He chuckles, scrubbing my head playfully. "In so many ways you remain such a child, yet you desire to be worldly. Do you admire them?"

"Not as you might be thinking." My eyes lower, landing upon my anxious toes digging through a mound of sand. 

I swing my gaze across the vast horizon which is now shaded with purples and blues, fantasizing about the places beyond. The order of the world not contained within this globe of existence called Defiance Island. I know the temperament of the waywards, but wonder what others are like. Are they beautiful? Intelligent? Kindhearted? Do they possess the nature that can make a man want to tear another to shreds?

---

About the Author:

January Valentine is the pen name of Victoria Valentine, New York writer and indie book publisher. See Victoria's Author page.

I chose to use a pen name because Love Dreams was originally going to be a red hot erotic story, and I wanted to separate Victoria, who writes contemporary fiction and children's storybooks. Since my birth month is January, January Valentine seemed an appropriate pseudonym.

I also host a blogtalkradio show: Away With Words, every Wednesday evening at 7 PM EST where my co host Jill and I interview other writers and poets and discuss writing in general.

I just released my first paranormal romance, Beautiful Experiment, book one of Island of Defiance Trilogy. I'm so not good about talking about myself, but I'll give it a shot.

I publish books for other authors through Water Forest Press, which I founded some years ago. In the past, I have written poetry and song lyrics, but now I focus on fiction. I've created multiple websites and blogs that I don't have time to manage very well.

My desire to be in a rock band brought me into a recording studio ... where my lyrics sprang to life with the help of a local alternative rock band. Together, we produced a CD.

I enjoy designing book covers and youtube videos. In summer, I enjoy hiking and swimming. I love all kinds of music. Watching horror flicks and Tyler Perry movies are my escape from reality.

I have an addiction to engraved pens that I buy to accompany each of my books. My office is filled with paperbacks and swag.

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My sites and pages:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Blog Talk Radio | Goodreads

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A bit about my books:

Love Dreams (Romantic Drama) is a story about a handicapped young man who secretly falls hopelessly (and helplessly) in love with a young woman who hides herself, and her past, beneath a grim but beautiful exterior. This gentle romance builds into a powerful "reality".

Sweet Dreams is a novel about a serial killer who is on the loose, working his way up the east coast. Readers get a glimpse into the killer's mind, as well as the hero's. 

Head Over Wheels, (New Adult Romance/Drama) focuses on Jewelia, whose lifelong dream of becoming part of the NYPD is derailed by hot medical student, Indigo. 

Beautiful Experiment details above. 

All book covers, videos, information and buy links can be found on my website.

I also have an online store.

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Giveaway Info:

One signed copy of Beautiful Experiment and Swag (USA) Two Kindle versions USA & Other

*This giveaway is not hosted by Book Bite Reviews*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tuesday ~ 3:59

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This Weeks Teaser Comes From:

Josie Byrne's life is spiraling out of control. Her parents are divorcing, her boyfriend Nick has grown distant, and her physics teacher has it in for her. When she's betrayed by the two people she trusts most, Josie thinks things can't get worse.

Until she starts having dreams about a girl named Jo. Every night at the same time—3:59 a.m.

Jo's life is everything Josie wants: she's popular, her parents are happily married, and Nick adores her. It all seems real, but they're just dreams, right? Josie thinks so, until she wakes one night to a shadowy image of herself in the bedroom mirror – Jo. 

Josie and Jo realize that they are doppelgängers living in parallel universes that overlap every twelve hours at exactly 3:59. Fascinated by Jo's perfect world, Josie jumps at the chance to jump through the portal and switch places for a day.

But Jo’s world is far from perfect. Not only is Nick not Jo's boyfriend, he hates her. Jo's mom is missing, possibly insane. And at night, shadowy creatures feed on human flesh.

By the end of the day, Josie is desperate to return to her own life. But there’s a problem: Jo has sealed the portal, trapping Josie in this dangerous world. Can she figure out a way home before it’s too late?

From master of suspense Gretchen McNeil comes a riveting and deliciously eerie story about the lives we wish we had – and how they just might kill you.

Teaser 1:

"Fuck you!" Josie shouted. She pounded on the steering wheel with both fists. She hated them both so much. How dare they be so happy? How dare they have done this to her? "Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you!" Then she accidentally hit the car horn with her fist.

{Pg. 40}

Teaser 2:

Josie turned away from the window toward the old mirror.

Only Josie didn't see her own reflection. 

From where she stood at the window, the antique mirror reflected her bed. And there, snuggled under the same blue-and-white floral comforter cover, was a girl. She wore a sleep mask, but even with it obscuring part of her face, in the bright lights of the room, Josie realized she was staring at someone who looked exactly like her. A doppelganger asleep in her bed. 

Josie glanced at her bed. Nope, it was empty, the covers and pillows a disheveled mess, just the way she'd left them that morning. But there, in the mirror, she could clearly see the image of herself sound asleep in her room.

{Pg. 71-72}

{Blog Tour/GIVEAWAY} BBReview: "Smash Into You" By Shelly Crane

Blog Tour:

Smash Into You

By Shelly Crane

Synopsis:

Jude has spent the whole twenty one years of his life running. From what, he wasn't quite sure. His mother tried to keep him safe; a low profile, a constant move on the horizon, a week's pay always stashed away. She tried to instill in him that he was special somehow, though would never elaborate. He never felt different. He was so completely normal and vanilla that he wondered if it had all been in her head. But then she was murdered and all he saw was a running silhouette of a man as his mother said three final words to him. Three words that changed his whole being. 

Never stop running…

Now he's semi-settled into a big town. The college is huge and easy to blend into. It's been three months since he had to move because 'Biloxi', as he calls the man who killed his mother, found him once more. 

Then Marley, an eighteen year old girl who is as infuriating as she is blissfully ignorant of her gorgeousness, smashes into his car with hers. Then smashes into his life as he realizes that whatever it is he has that Biloxi wants, she has it, too. And now, they're after them both.

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Review:

Smash Into You was a very superb story! I loved the whole bad boy/girl element that was going on, but there was way more to this story than a typical romance. Jude is running. From what, he doesn't know. All he knows is someone is after him and he can't let anyone get close to him. 

I adored that the book didn't revolve around the romance, but that it was still a big story element. I mean I always expect romance in a Shelly Crane novel, especially high quality romance, and I was not disappointed. There were definitely some very mushy gushy scenes and also very steamy ones as well. I absolutely loved it, but it was neat that there was this other big plot element to pay attention to as well. I don't want to give anything away, so I will just say that the other element was a very cool one. In a way it reminded me of Resident Evil for some reason. 

The pace was really well done. It was never too fast or too slow, and always kept me engaged. I did feel that somethings weren't explained well enough. Maybe I was reading too fast, but some details just didn't click with me until later on in the story when they were mentioned before. So, I don't know if they needed a better explanation when told the first time or if I was just so enthralled by the story that I read too fast and skipped over some parts. 

And that ending? It was excellent. I thought it fit really, really well. It definitely made the story feel complete and made me feel content. I should also mention that it made me cry like a girl lol. I absolutely love when an ending makes me feel something big. 

Overall:

Superb story! The romance was spot on and very steamy. On the other hand romance wasn't the only plot device and I loved that! This book definitely reminded me of Resident Evil in a way and that was great. There were some parts in the story that didn't click in my head till later on when mentioned again, but I may have just been reading too fast. And the ending was outstanding. It definitely completed the story and made me feel content and cry like a girl. 

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 5/5

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Trailer:

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About the Author:

Shelly is a NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY bestselling YA author from a small town in Georgia and loves everything about the south. She is wife to a fantastical husband and stay at home mom to two boisterous and mischievous boys who keep her on her toes. She loves paperbacks, coffee, and candy corn, and to spend time with her family and friends, go out to eat at new restaurants and site see in the new areas they travel to, listen to music and also LOVES to read.

Her own books happen by accident and she revels in the writing and imagination process. She doesn't go anywhere without her notepad for fear of an idea creeping up and not being able to write it down immediately, even in the middle of the night, where her best ideas are born.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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Giveaway:

*This giveaway is not hosted by Book Bite Reviews*

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{Cover Reveal & Excerpt} "Loving Cara" By Kristen Proby

Pre-Order:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

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About Loving Cara: 

CHEMISTRY WAS NEVER THIS SEXY IN HIGH SCHOOL.

In her sizzling new series, USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby sets the stage for a passionate reunion under the breathtaking Montana sky.

Cara Donovan’s summer tutoring job is turning out to be a challenge—and not just because of her troubled twelve-year-old student. It’s his uncle Josh who’s the real problem. If problem is the word for an irresistibly cocky, muscle-bound rancher with a taste for tight Levi’s and shameless flirtation. . . .

Cara is nothing like the wallflower Josh King remembers good-naturedly teasing in high school. This Cara is gorgeous, confident, fun. From the moment the fiery teacher steps foot on his family’s Lazy K Ranch, the stubborn playboy is determined to corral her. So what happens when his luscious lover takes over the reins?

The first in a steamy trilogy, Kristen Proby’s enthralling novel is filled to the brim with one hardworking family’s triumphs and challenges, all the wild adventure of the modern West, and a whole lot of titillating fun.

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Excerpt:

“Where are your jeans?” Josh asks as he meets me at my car the following morning.

“These are jeans.” I pull my tote bag out of the car and walk toward the front door of his house. “Is Seth here yet?”

“No, he’ll be a few minutes. I have him feeding the dogs at the big house.”

“Okay.”

“Those are not jeans.” He’s scowling down at my denim shorts like they’re the devil incarnate.

“They’re denim.”

He narrows his chocolate eyes at me, but I see the humor there, and the butterflies take up residence in my belly again.

I love riling this guy up.

“Fine, they’ll have to do. Go ahead and get settled, Seth will be here in a minute. I have to ride out with a few of the guys to repair a fence, so I’ll see you at lunch time.” He pulls on some gloves and settles his green baseball cap on his head backwards again.

“You don’t wear cowboy hats?” I ask without thinking.

“Not usually. I have one, if you’d rather I wear it.” He smirks.

“No, just curious,” I mumble and head toward the house.

“Don’t leave before I get back. I have plans for you.”

He grins wide, winks, and saunters off toward the massive barn that sits between his house and the big house.

Well, isn’t that view nice? His Levi’s hug his ass perfectly and sit low on his hips, and as he walks I can see his buttocks and thighs flex.

Dear God, I’m lusting after a rancher.

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About the Author:

KRISTEN PROBY is the USA Today bestselling author of the popular With Me in Seattle series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong characters who love humor and have a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type—fiercely protective and a bit bossy—and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves. Kristen spends her days with her muse in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, and sunshine. And naps. Visit her at KristenProby.com.

Twitter | Facebook | Author Goodreads | Loving Cara Goodreads

Where Am I?

Hello Lovely Readers,

I have been pretty sparse lately in terms of blogging, and I am sure you're probably wondering, "Where the heck is she?" WELL, I am here to tell you why I have been so absent for the past two weeks. My grandparents live in California while I live in Michigan. They have been bothering me for years to come and visit them and I always have some excuse. Well, this summer I didn't. SO when they drove their RV across country to Michigan to visit I decided to ride back with them, stay a couple weeks, and then fly back. The first week of this month I was getting everything ready (packing, writing down things to not forget, visiting everyone, saying a tear filled goodbye to my fiance). Last week I started my trek across country. Yesterday I finally arrived in Cali, and I'm not flying back till August 30th.

Now, I plan to try and blog as much as I can. It definitely won't be my usual amount, but that will prepare you for the shortage of posts during the upcoming school semesters. Plus I have seen a lot of amazing stuff so far and plan to see  more during my trip, which means I have taken a TON of photos. I will post those amazing photos for you all to see once I get back.

So, that about sums it up. I am off on an amazing adventure without my loving fiance. I'm pretty sure I might die of a lonely heart, though. He is seriously the best thing that has ever happened to me and I cannot believe I left him for this long. BUT, I will try and hold myself together in one piece for him. Don't tell him, but I'm really missing his cheek kisses. I know he's going to get an email notification that I posted on the blog so, HI BEAR! I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU TONS!

Keep watching for more posts, everyone. I have some really good book tours with reviews coming up next week!

-Becky

{Giveaway} "Lengths" By Steph Campbell and Liz Reinhardt Anniversary Post!!

Lengths by Steph Campbell and Liz Reinhardt is celebrating it's anniversary with an awesome e-book sale and a giveaway!! I am so excited to share this on the blog with you all today =D 

If you would like to just go ahead and take advantage of the sale price then go to the bottom of the synopsis and click the links to either Amazon, B&N, or Kobo to purchase your copy, but if you would also like the chance to win some awesome prizes in celebration of the anniversary, then scroll down to enter the rafflecopter! 

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Synopsis: 

Nineteen-year-old Whit Conrad leaves her conservative Pennsylvania home for sunny California, looking for independence, a fresh start, and a place to stash her grief. She promptly finds a job at a tattoo parlor, a craptastic first apartment, and one friend—Ryan—who is a little less friend, a little more benefits. 

Deo Beckett is a soulful surfer with a passion for tattoos and beautiful women. On the eve of his twenty-second birthday, he finds himself living with his grandfather, recently unemployed, and seriously adrift. He doesn’t know much about what he wants out of life, but he does know his current situation isn't cutting it. 

When Deo meets Whit, she’s all sexy makeup and fierce, smart-ass fun. It doesn’t take him long to see past her tough shell. And when he gets a good look at what's under all the superficial stuff that usually gets his attention, it leaves Deo wondering if there might be more to life than living fast and free. 

Too bad Whit has a past she doesn't plan on sharing—no matter how hot Deo is. She might want him, but she knows better than to let her guard down. 

Deo falls for Whit, and falls hard. But everything about her, down to that mysterious tattoo and the way she thrashes in her sleep, tells him that the girl he loves is hiding something. And the more he pushes for answers, the more Whit pulls away. 

Having your guard up is one thing, but are the lengths Whit goes to to protect her secret worth throwing away the second chance she has at happiness with Deo?

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Kobo

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About the Authors: 

Steph Campbell grew up in Southern California, but now calls Southwest Louisiana home. She has one husband, four children and a serious nail polish obsession.

Steph's works include Delicate, Grounding Quinn and Beautiful Things Never Last; My Heart for Yours and My Fate for Yours (with Jolene Perry); A Toast to the Good Times (with Liz Reinhardt) and the bestselling new adult LENGTHS series with Liz Reinhardt: Lengths, Depths, Limits, Ties & Riptides.

Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Liz Reinhardt was born and raised in the idyllic beauty of northwest NJ. A move to the subtropics of coastal Georgia with her daughter and husband left her with a newly realized taste for the beach and a bloated sunscreen budget. Right alongside these new loves is her old, steadfast affection and longing for bagels and the fast-talking foul mouths of her youth.

She loves Raisinettes, even if they aren't really candy, the Oxford comma, movies that are hilarious or feature zombies, any and all books, but especially romance (the smarter and hotter, the better), the sound of her daughter's incessantly wise and entertaining chatter, and watching her husband work on cars in the driveway.

She is the author of the Brenna Blixen series (Double Clutch, Junk Miles, Slow Twitch), the Youngblood series (Fall Guy, Perfectly Unmatched), and co-writes with the awesome Steph Campbell in the Lengths series (Lengths, Depths, Limits, Ties, Riptides).

Blog | Facebook | Twitter 

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Giveaway:

*Please note that this giveaway is not being hosted by Book Bite Reviews*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Cover Reveal & GIVEAWAY} "Edge of the Falls" By Nazarea Andrews

Edge of the Falls by Nazarea Andrews

After the Fall, #1

March 2013

Buy Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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Book Summary:

In a world torn apart by science and war, an outcast finds love with a beast.

Sabah has lived outside the Commission’s control her entire life. But as she approaches the age of Majority, her guardian pushes her to make a choice: life in the wild with a boy she barely knows, or a place in the nearby City with Berg, the boy she’s known since childhood.

But when Arjun, a monster created by scientists, saves her life, everything Sabah knows begins to change. Hidden away from her life and family, Sabah finds herself trusting the beast when he tells her secrets and more—falling in love with a creature she’s spent a lifetime fearing.

But in a world where control is everything, and life is something you fight for—can a love that defies society survive?

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Author Information:

Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog.

Site | Blog | Twitter | Facebook

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Giveaway: 

Nazarea is giving away a tote bag, swag pack, and ebook of Edge of the Falls. A second winner will get an ebook copy. The rafflecopter is below. 

*This giveaway is not hosted by Book Bite Reviews*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tuesday ~ Pivot Point

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This Weeks Teaser Comes from:

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

Teaser 1: 

“Laila, what do I have to do to get you here on time?” Mr. Caston asked. “Move the buildings closer together?” “Funny, Ms. Stader. Warning today. Lunch detention tomorrow. Walk faster.”

West, Kasie (2013-02-12). Pivot Point (p. 3). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition. 

Teaser 2:

As I open my bag of chips, Laila leans forward. “This stage isn’t very high, right?” What is she talking about? I follow her gaze to the ground. “I guess not.” “So it wouldn’t hurt too bad if someone got pushed off?” I look to the left, where several other regulars are lined up along the stage, lunches on their laps, feet dangling. “Who’s getting—” Before I can finish my sentence, she grabs my arm and flings me off the stage. I gasp in shock, wondering what evil plan this act has accomplished. I don’t have to wonder too long when Duke practically trips over me. “Are you okay?” he asks as I collect my scattered lunch. “Fine.” I shove my sandwich and chips into my ripped lunch bag and straighten up. “Addie,” Laila says, feigning concern and jumping down next to me. “Did you get hurt? What happened?” But her “concern” is instantly replaced with a smile for Duke. “Hey, Duke, we didn’t see you.” More like I didn’t see him. Laila quite obviously saw him from a mile away.

West, Kasie (2013-02-12). Pivot Point (pp. 59-60). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.