Cover Reveal: Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

No one is like Daemon Black.
When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.

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http://jenniferarmentrout.blogspot.com/p/october-1-2012.html

 USA TODAY Bestselling author, Jennifer L. Armentrout, lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She also writes adult romance under the name J. Lynn.

Find Jennifer on:  Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website | Blog

Review: The Farewell Season by Ann Herrick

The Farewell Season

Author: Ann Herrick 
Pages:150
Publisher: Puddleton Publishing Group
Release Date: Nevember 11th 2011
Author Website | Twitter 
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Source: ARR

Eric used to think he'd live forever, but not any more. As football season starts, he hopes he can live normally again after the death of his father, but his refusal to face his grief results in anger at his coach, fights with his sister, resenting added responsibilities, and disillusionment with football. It takes a special relationship with a girl dealing with the divorce of her parents to see he is angry with his father for dying and the way to get through grief is by grieving.

My Take:

What happens when you lose the person you thought would be there forever, wht happens when your love for a sport was only the love you spent with that person while playing. The love for a game in anyone is strong but a bound and a shared love is even stronger, for Eric losing his father turned his life upside down. It seems that life moves forward and even though he present he doesn't feel like he did before. The love for football was always shared between Eric and his father and without him, something seems different Eric is different. 

Going through routines, Eric sees that life might easier without football, its not until Eric meets Glynnie and interviews him for the paper that he starts to see that football  means even more to him than he thought. Everything Eric sees at home though is tough for him because he sees his mom spending time with other men, his sister spending more time with his best friend. Yeah life at his house is hard, at least with Glynnie is seems easier. Its because she doesn't expect anything from him and he able to just talk. Even though he sees Glynnie as the type to not bother with jocks, she surprises him. 

The Farewell Season was more than just the love of a sport, it was a bound that shared equally and even though Eric and his family lost someone in memory that person is always there and will always be. His story had me crying because his pain was displayed for all to see. Eric taught me that life should be valued and the memories along your journey help shape who you end up being. Football to me was always just a sport but for someone else its a shared love and should be shared with the world.  

5/5 Stars

Review: After Ever by Jillian Eaton

After Ever

Author: Jillian Eaton
Pages:196
Publisher: Bay Horse
Release Date: June 12 2012
Author Website | Goodreads
Available for Order: Amazon

Source: ARR

“Just because you’re dead doesn’t mean you can’t die again in a thousand different ways.” 
For sixteen-year-old Winnie Coleman, dying is the least of her worries. Between coming to terms with her mother’s unexpected death, trying to think up new and inventive ways to break up her father and Girlfriend #3, and keeping her brother from chewing off his fingers, she has her hands full. Courtesy of a thin patch of ice and failed swimming lessons, all of that changes in the blink of an eye. 

In death Winnie will find the answers that eluded her in life, and a whole slew of other questions she never thought to ask. Like why is she stuck with Sam for a guide? Sure, he’s funny and cute in a geeky sort of way, but he wears sweater vests… and loafers. For a girl who has tattoos on her face and glue in her hair, it’s not exactly the best match up.

But when Sam is taken and his very existence threatened, Winnie must make the ultimate choice between cowardice and courage. Faithlessness and loyalty. Family... and love.
Suspenseful and action packed, After Ever is a must read for anyone who ever wondered: what happens next?

My Take:

Ever wonder what happens after you die, for Winnie just an ordinary teen one day and gone the next isn't something she ever thought of. But when she unexpectedly falls and dies her life doesn't end like that, the Ever works differently. But what happens when death offers you so much more than what life offered, like being able to relive any memory and remember all as if your actually living it. But communicating with the living is a no no and even though the temptation is there Sam is there to help her understand why the living need to be in the dark in these things. Meeting someone while alive who isn't actually alive is one thing add in the fact that he is her guide after what happens is just crazy right? Winnie  just wonders why now and of course her.

The answers of course are never so straight forward, and with  some time in the Ever Winnie will gain some insight about what she has to look forward to in the afterlife. Of course everything isn't all what it seems, with many warnings from Sam, Winnie knows that just she is in the ever doesn't mean she can not get hurt and more. Just understanding that she is not apart of world she once knew has to tough, to bad it's short lived when other problems start happening. With her life as well Sam's in danger Winnie has to come to grips that life or unlife just got complicated and the rules have changed forever.

After Ever was a story about finding out that life shouldn't be taken for granted and sometimes life goes on. Of course losing someone like Winnie did has to be tough for anyone and even though her father always looked to her to take care of her brother didn't mean she had to stop living life. Of course now her the Ever is a different playing field, and rules must be followed. I liked that the ever offered a way to live your life until that end came but when your stuck on a memory, life goes on. After Ever offered an insight to what could happen next and when things get tough its easier to stick together. 

5/5 Stars

Tempting The Best Man by J. Lynn

Tempting The Best Man (The Gamble Brothers #1)

Author: J. Lynn
Pages:172
Publisher: Entangled Publishing:Indulgence
Release Date: April 23rd 2012
Author Website | Twitter 
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Madison Daniels has worshipped her brother's best friend since they were kids. Everyone thinks she and Chase Gamble would make the perfect couple, but there are two major flaws in their logic. 1) Chase has sworn off relationships of any kind, and 2) after blurring the line between friends and lovers for one night four years ago, they can't stop bickering.

Forced together for her brother's wedding getaway, Chase and Madison decide to call a truce for the happy couple. Except all bets are off when they're forced to shack up in a tacky 70’s honeymoon suite and survive a multitude of "accidents" as the family tries to prove their "spark" can be used than for more than fighting. That is, if they don't strangle each other first…

My Take:

Having a crush on one of your brothers friends is one thing that family and friends pick up on over the years. For Madison Daniels she has it bad for Chase Gamble and even though she displayed it once she is determined to see that her brother's wedding goes with no arguing between her and Chase. Of course though with her arriving last and just one room available sharing with non other than Chase the weekend was sure to be long.

Chase has never seen himself as the type to have everything, even as successful as he is with three clubs. He just never saw himself settle with anyone except maybe one, Madison. For him though she is hands off except that one time that he has regretted the way he handle things, but for her sake its easier for her to not like him at all. Too bad as luck would have it one room left and who is his bunk mate non other than Madison and the room is the old honeymoon room. Yeah luck isn't on his side or is it, he just has to get through the weekend and he can go on. 

Both seem to like and care for each other its just for Chase going for your best friends sister is just not something you ever do. But can these last until the wedding without tearing at each other and even when Madison is so tempting to him, he knows not to touch of course that goes for all the other guys present. Tough luck guys, Madison may not be taken but that doesn't give you access not while Chase is around. 

I loved this so much not only because the author's writing in any form is pure joy but because it had me laughing, screaming, and sometime even wanting to slap Chase is the face. Madison knew what she saw in Chase and saw that he wasn't like his dad and he would treat any girl right. If only Chase would see that he really is the right guy for her. I liked the fact that he tried so hard to stay away but she was just so tempting and infuriatingly sexy. This was enjoyable and seemed like a breeze that I wouldn't mind reading again I enjoyed everything about it and others will too. 

5/5 Stars- loved ever word of this!!!!!

Review: The Summer Before I Met You by Sarah Rees Brennan

The Summer Before I Met You

Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Pages:13
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 5th 2012
Author Website | Twitter | Facebook
Available: Here

“Take care of your spirit, Kami,” said Megumi. “And don’t burn the place down.”

Kami grabbed both the suitcases and headed for the cabin she was sharing with Liz and Angela. Liz walked with her, and on their way Kami stopped.

“My Sobo was exaggerating,” she said earnestly. “There have been very few fires.”

My Take:

This was a short story told through the perspective of Liz and what she saw while working at a camp that both Kami and Angela work at the summer before everything happened in Unspoken. Sarah gave us an intro to what happened and what changed Kami's life forever. Also allowed us to see Kami through another person, and how she basically seemed to put it together after a tragedy happened that summer. It also allowed us to see what others thought of seeing Kami speak to someone who wasn't there. I loved this because of what it showed us and allowed us to see that Kami had something major happen to her and was able to still show face. This was a lovely intro a world that had me wonder of the voice in my own head.



5/5 Stars- loved this little piece of magic

Review: Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Onyx (Lux #2)

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout 
Pages:416
Publisher: Entangled Publishing 
Release Date: August 14th 2012
Author Website | Twitter | Facebook
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Source: Own

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarre connection. I’ve sworn him off even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But against all common sense, I’m falling for him. Hard.

Our relationship issues aren’t out biggest problem…

The Department of Defense is here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we’re linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And when a new boy shows up a school with a secret of his own, things get complicated fast. I need to choose between my own instincts and Daemon’s.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. Daemon’s never going to stop searching until gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies.

My Take:

HavIng a connection to someone is one thing add in the fact that he is an alien from another planet and you have Daemon Black waiting for you. Katy has it bad or good, either way you put it her life just got complicated. She is connected to Daemon and has no idea if the connection influences her feelings towards him or not. Of course Daemon doesn't help because he is the biggest distraction on the planet, and Katy needs some time.

In comes another distraction, Blake who is new and nice even, but Damon doesn't approve of the time he is spending with her. But Katy doesn't see any danger in spending some time with Blake. Of course what Katy doesn't see is that Blake has a secret and he knows she has one also. Add in the fact that Katy has powers which are similar to Daemon is tough. What is a girl to do but try and find out the how and why of it all, Katy just has to realize she puts not only herself in danger but also those around her.

In Onyx, you got the sense of her side of the connection that both Daemon and Katy try so hard to hide. Even Dee sees that Katy is spending a lot of time with Daemon which could be good or bad. Blake was a little sketchy to me, the moment he stepped in and didn't question anything strange happening around Katy, that was a warning sign. Of course if Daemon was here he would back me up completely and say the same thing. I fell in deep with Daemon because everything he would say had me off my seat. I also saw Katy's reasons to hide her feelings and to see if they where their, and even though she fought till the end she also saw how much Daemon cared about her and he is willing to do anything for her. If I whore her shows for a minute I don't think I would be able to stop myself. Sorry Katy just saying.:) 

5/5 stars- Loved this so much got my sister to love the series as well

Review: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

Unspoken 

Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Pages:370
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 11th 2012
Author Website | Twitter | Facebook
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Source: Netgalley

Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . .  a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

Ever wonder what life would be like if you can speak to someone inside your head, for Kami the fantasy that Jared wasn't really their turned into reality when she met him. When the other person can hear you as if your right next to them, what are you supposed to do. Being a reporter, Kami needs to know everything their is to know about why Jared and her share a connection. It's still kinda weird to know that the he knew everything you ever felt, at least she is never really alone. But things are never really normal are they, one day you meet the person you thought was all inside your head and the next thing you see maybe related to a certain new family who is linked to Jared.

The infamous Lynburn family return, who have own most of Sorry-in-the-Vale, and with their return questions need some attention. Jared knows Kami and since has tried to help in any way possible. He cares about her and even though he didn't know what to do at first he has since been able to there for her. But when things happen in the forest and blood is found. Kami and Jared team together to find out how a town have so many questions and so few questions. Also can Kami trust herself around Jared and his family because all signs seem to point their way.

Unspoken spoke volumes, and had me feeling that maybe that voice in my head can be a cute guy just wait to get my attention for real. The story felt real in the sense that even though Kami wasn't sure about the connection she knew what she felt. Jared surprised me because he showed up and turned Kami's life upside down. They both seemed to take knowing each other before they met pretty well, I mean its not every day you can just say come and get me and not use any minutes, that was a cool factor. To be able to communicate like that would be cool if it was family or something because than I would think the link was meant to happen can any one say linked to the possible degree. So pick this up if your looking for your imaginary friend he might just be in here.

5/5 Stars- loved the feeling of a connection