Thursday, February 28, 2013

Blog Tour: Second Rate Chances by Holly Stephens (Review & Giveaway)

Second Rate Chances
Second Rate Chances by Holly Stephens
Release Date: January 11, 2013
Format: ebook, 225 pages
Source: Author for blog tour

Description from Goodreads:
Sam wakes up in the hospital expecting to find his girlfriend by his bedside. Instead, he finds a bleached-blond diva, claiming to be his fiancée, hovering over him. When he learns that he's just woken up from a coma and has lost the last three years of his life, any semblance of stability he thought he had falls down around him. All he wants – all he needs – is Lil.

After countless visits with her shrink and too many sleepless nights waiting for the one man she loves to walk back through the door, Lil wants nothing more than to separate herself from the life she used to have. But the moment Sam smiles at her, Lil knows it's going to take more than self-restraint to stay away.

Second-Rate Chances is about a young man fighting to regain his memory, and the one thing in his life that felt real. A modern-day Samson and Delilah, it's a look at what it means to love and be loved, and to fight though it seems hopeless.


Second Rate Chances is the kind of book that I either love or hate. There's usually no in-between. Whenever a main character loses their memory, the way the story is told in that state of mind either enthralls me or loses me. In the case of Second Rate Chances, I was swept away with this book from page one.

Considering the fact that the plot of this book weighs heavily on Sam's memory loss, Holly Stephens actually did a great job of not letting that take everything over and bore us to death with his confusion. Written in third person POV, we jump between Sam and Lil. That's another thing I adored about this book (because I completely LOVE this book, guys!)--the POV alternating. I always love this when it's in first person, but in this book, third person just worked so well and flowed beautifully.

There was a lot of emotion in this book, but nothing overwhelming. I enjoyed this. It wasn't a book that made me ball my eyes out and put me in a funk for days, but it was most definitely a book that I felt as I read. I laughed, got pissed, got hopeful, all that jazz right along with the characters and/or FOR the characters.

And of course there was the romance. Sweet things. This was spot-on for me. It wasn't over the top, but it was sweet. Incredibly cute. There was so much longing in this book and to watch this couple work through everything--not only their relationship, but their own little issues as well--together, was just perfect. Sam and Lil are an amazing couple. Thinking of them put a smile on my face. They were real and they were perfectly impoerfect. Again--BEAUTIFUL.

Characters! There was Sam and there was Lil. There are more characters, of course, but the main ones we work with are Sam and Lil. Sam is a sweetheart. My boy all the way. I cannot imagine HOW he changed in the way that was described to make him and Lil break up before he loses his memory, but the way he is after he loses his memory is such an adorable thing. He's a character who definitely has a place in my heart. Lil! I liked her. I didn't LOVE her, but I liked her. She wasn't too bad, as far as female protaganists go. I just don't understand HER side of the problem that broke them up. I'm not going to go into detail here, but I don't feel all the blame should be on Sam here. Then again, I completely sympathize with Lil and would certainly slap Sam for his part in everything, while I'd only hug Lil for hers. So yeah. :)

Overall, Second Rate Chances was a beautiful story that I don't dislike anything about. Honestly. And that almost NEVER happens. I am most definitely looking forward to reading more by this incredible author.

Giveaway:
We're having a tour-wide giveaway! Just enter through tha Rafflecopter form below to win some cool stuff!
 
♥Jessica(:

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Cover Reveal: Wait For You by J. Lynn♥


What do early readers have to say about WAIT FOR YOU?

J. Lynn creates a wonderful cast of characters that will make you laugh, swoon, and cry. Cam stole my heart.” – Cora Carmack, NYTimes and USA TODAY Bestselling Author of LOSING IT

“For the love of all that is Cameron without a shirt on! Wait for You will have you laughing out loud, fanning yourself and anxiously waiting to know what will happen next.” – Molly McAdams, NYTimes and USA TODAY Bestselling Author of FROM ASHES and TAKING CHANCES

I don't think I have ever read a NA Contemporary novel with as much depth as this one. It really moved me and by the end I was just speechless over how inspirational and uplifting it was as well as being sexy and cute and funny and emotional.” - K Books

 

Wait For You is uniquely different from anything else J. Lynn's written but it might possibly be her best work yet.” – Jenuine Cupcakes

 

For all of you in love with Aiden and Daemon, PREPARE YOURSELVES! Your heart will have to expand a little more for Cam.” Total Bookaholic

 

For the love of all things CAM, this book deserves more than 5 stars.” – Mundie Moms

 

I cannot even begin to explain how much I adored this perfectly crafted contemporary.” – Shortie Says

 

Excited? Ready to see the cover for WAIT FOR YOU?


 

 

Synopsis

Some things are worth waiting for…

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn’t need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing…

Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.

Some things should never be kept quiet…

But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she’s has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?

And some things are worth fighting for…

WAIT FOR YOU is available now!


 J. Lynn, also known as Jennifer L. Armentrout, is the USA TODAY Bestselling author of the adult romance Gamble Brothers’ series, the young adult Lux Series and award winning Covenant Series. She pretty much writes everything—contemporary, paranormal, and fantasy. All of her books have one thing in common no matter the name or genre: kissing… and stuff. When she’s not busy writing, which is never, she’s usually hanging out with dog Loki, watching reruns of The Walking Dead, or procrastinating on the Internet. You can find out more about Jennifer by visiting the following websites:


 
Eeeep! I am sooooo excited to read this book.
 
What about you? Do you think the cover is as stunning as I do? Are you EXTREMELY excited to read this book? Have you been impatiently waiting (like some people...*cough*I*cough*) have for this book to be released?
 
Let me know!
 
♥Jessica(:

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Tracy Deebs & Emily McKay Signing in Houston + GIVEAWAY!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!
 
 
presents

Hello everyone!

As you can see above Tracy Deebs aka Tessa Adams and Emily McKay will be signing at Barnes and Nobles in Houston/Humble Tx. 

Deerbrook Mall
20131 Highway 59
Humble, TX

We invite everyone to come out, chat and get your books signed by these wonderful authors. Tracy and Emily will bring lots of swag and would love to see all your lovely faces there so don't miss out!
 
For all you fans who can't make it to this event but would still like signed copies of books by Tracy and Emily you are in luck. A pre order sale has been set up HERE!

Deadline to order is March 7th midnight CST

GIVEAWAY

We are giving away an exclusive signed tote bag and one signed book of your choice just by helping us spread the word. Enter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

♥Jessica(: 

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Blog Tour: Barbie Girl by Heidi Acosta (Review & GIVEAWAY)

Welcome to my stop on the Barbie Girl blog tour! To see the whole schedule and whatnot, click HERE! Today, I have a review and giveaway for y'all! :)
 
Review:
Barbie Girl by Heidi Acosta
Release Date: November 1, 2012
Format: ebook
Series: Baby Doll #1
Source: Author for blog tour
Buy It: Amazon | B&N | Smashwords
                                                          Description from Goodreads:
The only thing that 17 year old Barbie Starr wants to do is graduate high school so she and her little brother, Everett, can get out of Alabama. She doesn’t care about the rumors that are spread around about her like wild fire. Rumors are nothing new to her. Sure, maybe she could change her reputation, but why bother. She is leaving Alabama as soon as she can. That is, if she can pass algebra and graduate.

The only thing Dylan Knight would like to do is go through high school unnoticed; he has had enough of the drama that is high school. He took the whole of last summer to bulk-up: finally he is not being called names or being shoved into lockers. He wants to remain on the outside of the circle of constant rumors that surround the so-called popular kids who get all the attention. He would not, however, mind if his long time crush Katie took notice of him.

But it is Barbie who notices Dylan and she offers him a deal he can’t pass up: if he helps her pass algebra, she’ll help him get the girl of his dreams. Dylan agrees, but, as it turns out, nothing is simple when it comes to Barbie. Somehow, she can’t help but draw attention to herself — and to him. Soon Dylan finds himself tossed into the whirlwind of rumors that seem to follow Barbie everywhere. Can he save his reputation and still get the girl of his dreams? Or will Barbie be the one to break through his carefully-built facade?
 
Okay, let's cut to the chase. I loved this book. It was a really great contemporary that takes some aspects of a contemp story that we consider "normal" and twists them a bit. Instead of a bad boy who's actually good, we have a girl. Instead of a perfect, swoon-worthy boy, we havea nerd. And instead of having a clean-cut, predictable story, we have something that I DID NOT see coming.

So, yeah. I love this book.

My one, little complaint would be that some of the transitions between scenes were a tad awkward. Not enough that I couldn't follow what was going on or anything, it was just something I noticed. This also did not take away from my happy-happy feelings about this book. Because, believe me, it's still awesome.

Character Rundown:
Barbie: Yes, her name is ACTUALLY Barbie, and I love it! How often do you have a character named Barbie without it looking silly? EXACTLY. And it doesn't look silly. It actually makes perfect sense and fits beautifully, once you read the book. And her name isn't the only thing out of the ordinary about her. She is also out bad girl who's actually good. She was so confident and sure of herself. As long as her little brother was fine, she dealt with whatever was on her plate without complaint. Ahhh, she was such an amazing character. Immensely strong, as well. She didn't take crap from anybody. Yet another female MC I can add to my very short list of the ones I like.

Dylan: Whereas I seriously loved Barbie, I'm not a huge fan of Dylan. His character was very well written--I just did not like him. He's actually kind of a self-centered jerk. He made little to no effort to try to really get to know Barbie. The only time(s) he made even a little effort was when they were together. After that, he acted like she didn't matter. And that is NOT cool. I admit, he had his moments that made me smile, but overall? I didn't do much swooning over him.

Third: I HAD to include Third here, because HE is my boy. I don't care what he looks like or what girls normally think of him, he is just a huge sweetheart. While Dylan was being a jerk, he was a great friend for her and stuck by her side throughout all the horrible times. THAT is a true friend. He was without a doubt my favorite character in the book. Seriously, no contest.

Plot. If you read the description and think you know what's going to happen in this book, I'm going to tell you right now--YOU'RE WRONG. I admit, the first...eh, about half of this book is somewhat what we expect. SOMEWHAT what we expect. Not 100%. But then we have the second half. And that...is not something I saw coming. And neither will you, I'm sure.

Sweet things. Barbie and Dylan have their fair share of sweet moments. They really do. But Dylan...ahhh, I want to slap him. I think he really COULD truly love Barbie, if he were to put more effort into it. He's always so quick to give up. And Barbie...she could be a little more open. Other than that, I approve of her. All this said, I really do want Barbie and Dylan to end up together. They deserve it. As I said, they DID have their moments, and I loved those moments. I WANT MORE. And then Third, being the sweetheart I adore, gave his own sweet moments (such as the piggyback ride) that were terrific. He may be just a friend, but he's such a sweet friend!

The ending. So, there's going to be a sequel. And I thank living goodness for this. I sincerely want more of these characters ASAP. Oh, and that pretty, predictable ending you have in your mind right now? I suggest you trash it. That's not what happens. ;)

Overall, Barbie Girl is a fabulous story that I had ana amzing time reading. The characters drew me in and held my attention from the first page to the last and I truly cannot wait for the second installment in this series. I strongly suggest you read this fantastic book. It's just so wonderful!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Heidi.jpgHeidi Acosta was born on Long Island, New York. Moving around a lot when she was younger, she has lived in New York, Arizona, New York (again), Washington, Georgia, and Florida, in that order. Each place offered her something special, but she will always consider New York her home.

Heidi started writing as soon as she could spell. When she was three, Heidi’s mother gave her a copy of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House in the Big Woods; thus beginning her lifelong love affair with literature.

Writing soon also became a form of therapy for Heidi, when she realized that no matter what was happening in her life, she could find emotional escape while writing. Some of her earliest stories featured her as a princess who explored new worlds with her horse Buttercup. If it sounds romantic, it wasn’t, there was no prince charming in those fairy lands (boys where yucky).

Heidi now resides in Florida with her husband, very active daughter, one hyper Chihuahua, two sweet cats, and one very fat moody cat.

Author Links:
 
 
Giveaway:
Today, we're giving away ONE e-copy of Barbie Girl by Heidi Acosta! Trust me, you want this book. The giveaway is international, my policy applies, and all you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter below!
(e-copy = PDF, .mobi, or, .epub)
 
♥Jessica(:

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Cover Reveal: The Truth About Letting Go by Leigh Talbert Moore!

A companion to The Truth About Faking (not a sequel; the books can be read out of order), The Truth About Letting Go (link) takes readers back to Shadow Falls, or more specifically Shadow Creek, with Ashley Lockett as she learns about real friendship, love, and letting go.
Get me
The Truth About Letting Go (link) by Leigh Talbert Moore Ashley wants to smash everything in her once-perfect life. Charlotte wants to walk in Ashley's seemingly charmed shoes. Colt wants to turn Smalltown USA on its ear--with Ashley at his side. Jordan wants to follow his heart... but Ashley is the one sacrifice he never expected to make. Up until now, Ashley Lockett has always followed the rules. She's always done the right thing, played it safe, and then her ideal life is shattered when her dad dies suddenly. Fueled by anger and grief, she vows to do everything opposite of how she lived before. She rejects safety, the rules, faith, and then she meets Jordan. Jordan has big dreams, he's had a crush on Ashley for years, he's a great kisser... but he's also safe. Enter Colt. He is not safe, and he's more than willing to help Ashley fulfill her vow.
Get it today on Amazon * Barnes & Noble * iTunes * Kobo

Add it on Goodreads.


Excerpt: I feel Colt laugh, and he looks down into my face. That’s when he seems to realize what
I’ve been acutely aware of for the last several minutes—our bodies are pressed together.

“It’s awesome, yeah?” he says.

“Adrenaline rush.”

“Yeah,” I breathe. “I guess.” I’m not sure if he’s going to kiss me until he does. His mouth covers mine, and energy mixes with the alcohol flooding my body. Our tongues slide together, and I grip his shirt so I don’t collapse.  Every single bit of this is wrong, and there’s no way I’m stopping it. It’s back, that good feeling. The sadness has been pushed out again, and in its place is this rush, this rush of adrenaline like Colt said. 

He pulls back and smiles at me. “We’re going to start dating. Now. You’re my partner in crime.”


About the Author:
Moore
Leigh Talbert Moore is a wife and mom by day, a writer by day, a reader by day, a former journalist and editor, a chocoholic, a caffeine addict, a lover of YA and new adult romance (really any great love story), a beach bum, and occasionally she sleeps. -The Truth About Faking is her debut young adult romance (on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and Kobo) -Rouge is her first New Adult romantic suspense novel (on Amazon). Leigh loves hearing from readers; stop by and say hello! Blog * Facebook * Amazon Author page * Goodreads * Twitter * Tumblr


OHSWEETGOODNESS, I want to read this book. I wanna read this book sooooooooooo baaaaaaaaad!

And that is all. What do you think?

♥Jessica(:

YA Paranormal Giveaway Hop!

 
I'm not even going to linger around this time. What am I giving away?
 
Well, y'all are lucky it's a paranormal hop, otherwise someone would be getting The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
 
But since it IS a paranormal hop, I'm giving away...
 
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead!
 
Why? Because Adrian is my boy. Plus, The Indigo Spell just recently came out, so I've been thinking about this series. Also, this is the first book that popped into my mind when I tried to think of something to give away for this.
 
So yeah.
 
PLUS.
 
If you've already read and/or already own this book, and you win, you can ask for either of the other two books in the series, too, and I shall reward you with those for being randomly picked by my meanie-pants Rafflecopter.
 
 
So...yay!
 
Read on for details and all that stuff.
 
Details!
- This giveaway is US ONLY. Sorry, guys. My last giveaway was kind of huge.
- One winner will be randomly selected to win the book specified in this post
- My giveaway policy completely, 100% DOES apply. Read it.
- Fill out the meanie-pants Rafflecopter below to enter!
(Rafflecopter was not being cooperative yesterday. All is well now, though. Ha)
 
Thank you so much for entering. Now hop on, good people!
 
 

 
♥Jessica(:

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Blog Tour: Breaking Waves by Danielle Sibarium (Review!)

Breaking Waves by Danielle Sibarium
Release Date: January 10, 2013
Format: Paperback
Series: Heart Waves #2
Source: Author for blog tour
Buy It: Amazon | B&N

Description from Goodreads:
From the moment they met, Jenna knew Reece would break her heart, but she never dreamed it would happen like this. Jenna is left shattered and broken. When life becomes too painful to deal with and she feels completely alone, there’s only one person to help her pick up the pieces and move on. The one person she doesn’t want to turn to. The one person she promised to stay away from. Tyler.

Can Jenna put aside everything she knows about him and let Tyler help heal her broken heart?


After finishing Heart Waves, I was incredibly excited to jump into this book. Reece and Jenna were adorable and I was completely interestedin seeing what came next for them. So I started Breaking Waves...and was flabbergasted at what happened! It was something I should have seen coming but just...didn't.

So, I'm just going to say that there's not as much Reece and Jenna in this one. As I told you, Reece is stubborn. BUT, there is loads and loads of Tyler. Which I did not expect whatsoever. Personally, I think I liked/loved Breaking Waves even more than Heart Waves. Whereas book 1 was sweet and cute, this one was sweet and OMG. Yeah. I said it. And there's a difference, and I loved it.

Character Rundown:
Jenna: I'd say Jenna was a tad bit easier to deal with in this one. Mostly because, I get what she was going through and cut her some slack. I still don't like her very much, but same as before, that's okay.

Tyler: I. LOVE. TYLER. Whereas Reece was believable, Tyler was completely REAL. He was who he was and I loved it. I definitely feel that Tyler was a much stronger character than Reece, even though Reece is near and dear to my heart. Also, I am Team Tyler. Just feel like that's worth mentioning. ;)

Reece: For the sake of not spoiling, I'm not going to say much about this boy except that I just want to shake him for, like, hours. Just...AH. Slapping him would be nice, too. Then I'd hug him because I care about him regardless.

Plot. There was a big BOOM at the beginning, then there was a bunch of dealing with said BOOM for a while. Then things start to get funky, and then there's a POP near the end. And then we end...well, I'll tell you in that section of the review.

Sweet things. Tyler is the source of most sweet things in this book. I must say, he did an amazing job of making me smile. And that's what it's all about, really. He also did a wonderful job of making Jenna NOT act...in irritating ways. And that's all I can say, because, aha, I'm close to spoiling again.

The ending. This is the POP I was talking about. And then you want more because you really need to know what comes next. How's Jenna going to deal with it? What's Tyler going to think? And, goodness...Reece. So, yeah.

Overall, Breaking Waves was a fantastic follow-up to Heart Waves and most definitely left me wanting more. If you read Heart Waves I totally think you should read Breaking Waves. Now we just need book 3...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Danielle Sibarium grew up as an only child of divorced parents in Brooklyn, New York. Her imagination was developed at an early age. Surrounded by stuffed animals and imaginary friends, she transported herself into a fantasy world full of magic and wonder. Books were the gateway between her play world and reality. On any given summer afternoon she became Snow White sweeping and cooking for the dwarfs, or Cinderella waiting for the prince.
Danielle always loved dialogue and in elementary school began writing plays and short stories. This is when she began to understand she could not only bring her fantastical world to life for herself, but she could enchant others as well. And so she wrote. She wrote and wrote and wrote.
Sadly the first piece she ever sent out for publication of any sort was a letter to the editor of The Home News Tribune. It was a piece thanking the first responders for their bravery and selflessness on Sept 11th. It was chosen as letter of the week.
In 2007 Danielle collaborated with Charlotte Doreen Small to write songs for her CD More. Danielle wrote the lyrics for Take My Hand, and Goodbye, while Charlotte contributed the melody.
In October 2011 Danielle’s debut novel For Always was released. She has since released Heart Waves and the second book in the Heart Waves series, Breaking Waves.
Danielle graduated from Farleigh Dickinson University with honors, and currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and three children.
Connect with Danielle Sibarium:
Website: http://www.daniellesibarium.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sibarium
Goodreads page: http://www.goodreads.com/Daniellesibarium
Heart Waves Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/heartwavesbook

Giveaway!
This is a tour-wide giveawy and INTERNATIONAL! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter. :)
 a Rafflecopter giveaway
**I am not responsible for this giveaway in any way**

♥Jessica(: 

Monday, February 18, 2013

Blog Tour: Breaking Waves by Danielle Sibarium ♥ REVIEW of Heart Waves

Heart Waves by Danielle Sibarium
Release Date: June 1, 2012
Format: Paperback, 251 pages
Publisher: KFR Communications
Series: Heart Waves #1
Source: Author for blog tour

Description from Goodreads:
Jenna Kingsley has a gift. She knows things. With a simple touch she can pick up personal information from jewelry or objects. While at a neighbor’s party, a voice mesmerizes her. Jenna is momentarily frozen as a ring is placed in her hand. White electricity surges through her and a dire prediction is made. “It’s like Romeo and Juliet. You’re going to break my heart.”

From the moment they meet Jenna is enchanted and entranced with Reece Walton. She’s thrilled to learn he’s spending the summer two houses away from hers. Every moment they spend together is magical. But she can’t get the prediction out of her mind. As the summer draws to a close and secrets are revealed, can Jenna get past the fear of being left with a broken heart to live in the moment with Reece or will her fear of being hurt fulfill the prophecy?


The first thing that caught my eye about this book was the Romeo & Juliet reference. Say what you will, but I love that play. I do admit, a big part of my reason for this is that the class I read it in was AMAZING, but I also think there are parts and aspects of it that are beautiful. But anyway, I was excited to read a story kind of sort of like Romeo & Juliet.

Personally, now that I've read the book, I don't see how it parallels to Romeo & Juliet. BUT, I can tell you that if you stick around for book 2, Breaking Waves, you will most definitely start to see it. But I'm not reviewing that, so yeah.

Let's put the ROmeo & Juliet thing aside. This book is incredibly cute. It's a super cute summer love story with a dash of paranormal elements thrown in, and by that I mean, the main character is psychic. Other than that, not much paranormal, which I thought was really nice because it put more focus on her every day life. A lot of times in paranormal stories, the actual LIFE of the characters takes the backseat to all the special stuff going on. It was cool to see it the other way around for a change.

Character Rundown:
Jenna: Oh, Jenna. I think I tolerated her very well. Needless to say, she is not my favorite protag ever. I just don't feel like she lived up to everything she was supposed to be. Especially the "Ice Queen" thing. I did not see that. But it's okay because I still loved the book and the way that Jenna was DID make for some really nice events that entertained me. So it all worked out. Doesn't mean I like Jenna, though.

Reece: Heeeey, Reece. I really, really, REALLY liked Reece. He was stubborn and caring, but also a believable character for the most part. There was a moment or two where I wished I could punch him in the face and I LOVE that. It made him feel real to me and not in an annoying way. And he always made his way back from those I-wanna-punch-you moments. I completely approve of this boy.

Plot. So, as I said, this book is mostly a summer romance. Then they DO start school, but that's only super close to the end, so I'm making an exception here. So most of this book is the usual relationship-building stuff--until the end, that is. Then...well, yeah. Stuff happens. STUFF, guys. Hahahahahaha, you'll see. I'm not going to spoil and tell you. That would be wrong. ;)

Sweet things! Say what you will about Reece, but he can have his sweetheart moments. I wouldn't say he's the sweetheart of this book (that would probably be his little brother, Aaron), but he most definitely made me smile more than once. He also makes Jenna seem okay to me, thus helping me to seriously like--if not love--this book.

The ending. I didn't see it coming. You probably won't either. And just remember--there is a book to come after this one.

Overall, Heart Waves was a cute, fun, romantic read with little dashes of paranormal here and there to spice things up a bit. Book 2 is definitely something I went right for after I finished this one--I wanted more Reece & Jenna!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Danielle Sibarium grew up as an only child of divorced parents in Brooklyn, New York. Her imagination was developed at an early age. Surrounded by stuffed animals and imaginary friends, she transported herself into a fantasy world full of magic and wonder. Books were the gateway between her play world and reality. On any given summer afternoon she became Snow White sweeping and cooking for the dwarfs, or Cinderella waiting for the prince.
Danielle always loved dialogue and in elementary school began writing plays and short stories. This is when she began to understand she could not only bring her fantastical world to life for herself, but she could enchant others as well. And so she wrote. She wrote and wrote and wrote.
Sadly the first piece she ever sent out for publication of any sort was a letter to the editor of The Home News Tribune. It was a piece thanking the first responders for their bravery and selflessness on Sept 11th. It was chosen as letter of the week.
In 2007 Danielle collaborated with Charlotte Doreen Small to write songs for her CD More. Danielle wrote the lyrics for Take My Hand, and Goodbye, while Charlotte contributed the melody.
 
In October 2011 Danielle’s debut novel For Always was released. She has since released Heart Waves and the second book in the Heart Waves series, Breaking Waves
 
Danielle graduated from Farleigh Dickinson University with honors, and currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and three children.
  
Connect with Danielle Sibarium:
 
Website: http://www.daniellesibarium.com/
 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sibarium
 
Goodreads page: http://www.goodreads.com/Daniellesibarium
 
Heart Waves Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/heartwavesbook


♥Jessica(:

Blog Tour: Pieces by Michelle Davidson Argyle (Excerpt!)

Welcome to my stop on the Pieces blog tour! Today, I have an excerpt to share with y'all. :)
 
There were always dragons, but never as dark as the ones before her now. She stood in a burning valley so hot that ash fell from the sky like slow-drifting snow. The dragons had started the fire, their scales blackened, skin peeling, their eyes hard as diamonds. She watched four of them land in front of her. Thick smoke curled to the darkening sky.
“I want to leave!” she screamed, but their only response was to open their mouths and breathe flames at her. She didn’t feel the pain, but when the fire cleared and she held out her arms to see the damage, she saw her skin was like dragon skin—black and peeling in jagged pieces. Falling to her knees, she grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it at the dragons. Their mouths turned up in sneers, showing their pointed, blood-stained teeth.
You read too many fantasy novels, she could hear Jesse’s voice in the back of her head.
They don’t love you, her mother said.
Remember why you fell in love with him.
She stopped at the memory of that last set of words, trying to remember who had said them to her. The dragons moved closer, and then she remembered it was Finn who had said the words. She saw the saltshaker on the table as he pushed it around in circles.
With a start, she sat up in bed, realizing all the journal entries were still fresh in her mind. She had finished reading them hours ago and then stumbled into the bedroom to find Jesse already asleep. She had crawled in with him and drifted off, but the nightmares made her toss and turn. Jesse stirred beside her now, his toned arms reaching out for her. Morning sunlight fell across the bed.
“You alright?” he asked, pulling her close.
“I think so.” Lying back down, she snuggled into him. He smelled like spicy soap from his shower earlier. She took in a deep breath, savoring the feel of him holding her.
Remember why you fell in love with him.
Shut up, Finn!
She wanted to scream the words into the silent bedroom, but couldn’t. She loved Jesse because he loved her. It was that simple. He sacrificed things for her. He wanted to make her happy, and she wanted the same for him. She had left everything to be with him.
A knock on the front door made Naomi jump. It frightened her to think of who might knock on their door so early in the morning. Jesse stirred again, mumbling something she couldn’t understand.
“You want me to get it?” she asked, almost afraid to wake him.
Groaning, he sat up and blinked. His hair had dried in spikes. “Where the hell is my phone?” he asked. “Why are the curtains wide open?”
He was always cranky when he was woken up too early. “I wanted to look at the stars as I fell asleep.”
Turning to her, he blinked again. The sun made his green eyes pale. “How did that go, then? Last night? Did you read it all?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
She looked away. “I was so tired I’m not sure how much of it stuck.”
“It’s all in your head now. You can start sorting through it and face it all.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Another series of knocks. Jesse cursed and got out of bed. He was in his boxer shorts, and pulled on a pair of sweats before grabbing his phone off the dresser. He walked out of the bedroom. Curious, Naomi slipped out of bed and peeked down the hallway as Jesse looked through the peephole. She asked herself if she cared that he had lied to her about his parole, that he was a fugitive. Did it matter? Her stomach clenched.
“What is it?” Jesse asked, opening the door a crack. His body blocked her view of whoever was on the other side. There was an answer. A man’s voice. A shudder went down Naomi’s spine.
“No,” Jesse said, “she’s here.”
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
And that was the excerpt! I kinda sorta really can't wait until I get to read this book.
 
Pieces by Michelle Davidson Argyle
Release Date: February 14, 2013
Publisher: Rhemalda Publishing
Series: The Breakaway #2
Buy It: Amazon | B&N
Description from Goodreads:
Staying in love can mean running away...

Two years after watching her kidnappers go to prison, Naomi Jensen is still in love with one of them. Jesse will be released in a few years, and Naomi knows college is the perfect distraction while she waits. But when her new friend Finn makes her question what is right and what is wrong, she begins to wonder if Jesse is the one for her...until she discovers he's out on parole. Naomi must sort through her confusion to figure out where love and freedom truly lie-in Finn, who has no connections to her past, or Jesse, who has just asked her to run away with him.
The Breakway by Michelle Davidson Argyle
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Rhemalda Pulishing
Series: The Breakaway #1
Buy It: Amazon | B&N
 
Description from Goodreads:

The Breakaway (The Breakaway, #1)When Naomi Jensen is kidnapped, it takes her parents two days to realize she's missing. Escape isn't high on her list of priorities when all she has to return to is an abusive boyfriend and parents who never paid much attention to her. For the first time in her life she's part of a family-even if it is a family of criminals. But she's still a captive. In a desperate attempt to regain some control in her life, Naomi embarks on a dangerous plan to make one of her kidnappers think she's falling in love with him. The plan works too well, and when faced with the chance to escape, Naomi isn't sure she wants to take it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Michelle lives and writes in Utah, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. She loves the seasons, but late summer and early fall are her favorites. She adores chocolate, sushi, and lots of ethnic food, and loves to read and write books in whatever time she can grab between her sword-wielding husband and energetic daughter. She believes a simple life is the best life.

Author Links:
 
 
♥Jessica(: