Here Without You (Between the Lines #4) by Tammara Webber

* * * *

Everyone has secrets.

Some are buried so deep, their existence is forgotten.

But a secret never told can turn into a lie.

And in love, a lie is one thing:

Poison.

Reid's in love with Dori, though she hasn't told her parents that she's fallen hard for the guy they'd forbidden her to see. Now she's leaving for college, and Reid's promise not to push her to go public is wearing thin, especially when she can't - or won't - return those three important words he wants to hear.

Five years ago, Brooke and Reid were a Thing. That relationship is long gone, detonated amid allegations of cheating - but they still share a secret that would stun everyone they know and alter public perception of them both if it ever comes out. And it's about to do just that.

Here Without You is the fourth, final installment in the Between the Lines series, which includes: Between the Lines, Where You Are, and Good ForYou.

Review:

Spoiler Alert: The books in this series are so entwined that it’s impossible to review them without spoilers.  

This story belongs to four people – Reid, Dori, Brooke and River.  

Dori is struggling to make a new place in the world.  Her faith is lost and she doesn’t know how to live without it.  Her once strong relationship with her parents is on edge.  And now that Reid has convinced her to make their relationship public she is not sure she can handle the spotlight.  Add to all of that the fact that Reid and his ex-girlfriend, Brooke, have been photographed together recently and Dori is drowning in all her new and old insecurities.

When Brooke asked a private investigator to search and check up on the son she gave up for adoption she never expected to learn that he is now in foster care.  She sees an opportunity that someone in her position rarely, if ever, has.  She starts taking the steps to gain custody of the child she gave up for adoption four years ago.  She never expected the process to be so invasive or so difficult.  But she is determined to give her son a new life and in turn maybe give herself one too. 

When Reid told Brooke he wanted to be kept in the loop in regards to their son he never in a million years thought that would end up in Brooke trying to gain custody.  He’s not ready to be a parent.  Brooke is more than willing to let him relinquish any rights to his child but he’s not sure if that’s the right decision to make.   On top of that, this is the one thing he hasn’t shared with Dori.  Because he is afraid of what she will think of him when she finds out.  Afraid that Dori will realize how similar this thing he is keeping from her is to her situation when she was fifteen.  And because he has kept this one truth from her and he knows that his lie of omission is still a lie, he’s terrified of how Dori will react.  Reid has to take a hard look at his options and make the difficult decisions he never expected to make at the age of nineteen.  

River, Reid and Brooke’s son, also has a voice in this story.  His quiet and frightened voice gives the reader a chance to see how maybe, if they can come together, River, Reid and Brooke can help each other become better people.

If you’ve read this series, you know what a terrible person Brooke is.  But yet again, Tammara Webber has taken a character that I found despicable and has completely humanized her.  As she works through her desire and fears of becoming a mother you can’t help but love her just a little.  

Unlike Brooke, Dori is not facing her fears head on. She is so overwhelmed that her instinct is to run.  And this segues into the number one reason I love Reid.  He is so confidently tenacious.  He sees Dori drifting and even with this other huge thing hanging in the balance he fights for her without hesitation.  

This was a beautiful end to the Between the Lines series.  Even though the first installment was a little rocky for me, this has easily become one of my favorite contemporary series of all time.

Nat

Ignite Me (Shatter Me #3) by Tahereh Mafi

* * * * 3/4

The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, called "a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love".

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong.

In Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi created a captivating and original story that combined the best of dystopian and paranormal and was praised by Publishers Weekly as "a gripping read from an author who's not afraid to take risks." The sequel, Unravel Me, blew readers away with heart-racing twists and turns, and New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia said it was "dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense." Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and climactic end.

WOW!!! The description does not lie. Ignite Me is rife with a lot of turmoil and uncertainty but it also comes with a surprising amount of humor.

Last we saw, Juliette was fighting for her life and Warner, with the help of the twins, set about to save her. When Juliette wakes up disoriented, she is greeted by a relieved Warner who has to give her the unfortunate news that the rest of her comrades are dead from the attacks carried out by his psychotic father.  Warner keeps her at his compound, safely hidden from the public eye as she recuperates. Things were already getting complicated between them previously and now they're both doing this awkward dance around each other. He basically lays all his cards on the table for her and she would rather not say anything, well, because she’d have to make up her mind once and for all – Adam or Warner. It’s scary. And it’s Warner for crying out loud!

Anyway, while they’re busy with that, there is the matter of the Reestablishment and what to do about daddy dearest. Juliette firmly believes that she can’t do anything without her friends and with Warner’s help, she seeks them out. The rest of the story is essentially enemies and friends coming together to take down the order that has ruined their lives. Alliances never thought possible are born but that doesn't erase any suspicions or tensions easily.

Speaking of tension, while it’s easy to just zero in on the whole Juliette-Warner-Adam love triangle, Ignite Me is really about Juliette. She’s no longer a dainty wallflower. This is where she realizes her full potential. She’s had enough and wants to get rid of the current regime once and for all. Her conflicted feelings for Adam and Warner may distract her temporarily here and there but manages to find her focus. 

I have to say another of the best parts of Ignite Me has been Kenji, Adam's best friend. He’s a much-needed foil to Juliette’s tendency to live inside her head. Honest to goodness, he had me laughing out loud several times. (Once while I was at my kid’s basketball practice. That earned me a few weird looks. Their loss.)  I have many, many passages in this book highlighted and they’re mostly Kenji’s quotes. Their friendship is built on solid trust and encouragement. It’s heartwarming to see Juliette have that after years of misery and isolation. Her friends mean more to her than the possibility of a relationship with either of the other two men in her life. When she finally figures that mess out, it’s on her terms after she has sorted herself out first. You even notice her change through her language. Gone are the series of repetitive, almost hypnotic thoughts that get scratched out every so often. It’s a rough road with some broken hearts, harsh truths and uncomfortable changes. This new Juliette is a far cry from who we met in Shatter Me and it’s awesome!

The entire series has been an absolute thrill ride with plenty to keep me excited about and on edge. The sexual tension between Juliette/Warner/Adam may have had me swooning but that’s secondary to the real story. Juliette’s hard-fought journey to become the assertive, formidable young woman and warrior that she is in this final installment is what makes Ignite Me impressive.

~ Bel

Waiting on Wednesday (93)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that highlights future releases that we are excitedly anticipating.

By Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publication Date: April 15, 2014

Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend. 

Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash. 

But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?

Launch Day Blitz for Angel Seduced by Jaime Rush and Sun God Seeks Surrogate? by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

We are celebrating the Launch Day of Angel Seduced by Jaime Rush and Sun God Seeks Surrogate? by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff.  If you are looking for some smoking hot paranormal romance this week, check out these titles!  Don't forget to enter the giveaway in the rafflecopter below before you leave!

Kye knows that her boyfriend Kasabian is in grave danger, investigating a series of kidnapped children.  She knows he's pushing her away for her own safety, but she won't let him face it alone.

Kasabian will risk anything to rescue the children, and he has a bold plan to allow himself to be taken hostage by the kidnapper, Silva.  While he tries to reason with Silva, Kye is racing against time to discover where the kidnapper is holding him.  

If Kye is reunited with Kasabian, will their combined powers be enough?  The fate of the Crescents - and Kye and Kasabian's hearts - hang in the balance.

Excerpt:

It was damn annoying how Kye's attention kept straying to Kasabian through the night, how her mind kept replaying their conversation. Women gawked and flirted, but he didn't flirt back. She was glad to see him leave while she finished up with a client session after closing time.

Her relief evaporated when she stepped into the well-lit parking lot and spotted him leaning against a deep yellow sports car. As though he were waiting for her. The thought fluttered in her chest. Not helping, the Lotus's license plate read NOANGEL, and black angel wings spread across the hood. She told herself it was enough to enjoy the view. Men who took care of their bodies, working out enough to build muscle without looking too jacked up, were eye candy. No calories in looking. 

The thick black heels of her short boots clunked on the asphalt. She felt such an odd pull toward him that she forced herself to give him a brief smile and bypass him.

“Aren’t you hot in that?” he asked, gesturing as though he were wearing a 
jacket.

She slowed to a stop in front of him. “Only when I dance.” No matter how warm she got, she never took off the black leather jacket with her patches and studs.

“And you didn’t dance.” He tilted his head, giving her an oh-my-gods-stop-my-
heart pout. “Pity.”

"Are you flirting with me?" 

"You make it sound like a crime."

"What you're hearing is surprise. I know it's painful for Caidos to feel desire, 
punishment you unfairly suffer because your angel forefathers fell to human 
temptation. Don't worry. As a therapist, I'm sworn to secrecy," she added. "Caido clients tell me it's easier to shut down their desire. Yet you do … feel desire."

"Ah, so you did sense it."

"You threw me off back at the bar. First that you were flirting, then that you 
asked me outright to feel you. I mean, to sense your feelings. You're different."

"Very. I don't usually flirt." He let his gaze drift down over her black leather skirt and fishnet stockings. His eyes met hers again, jumpstarting her heart. "You have a strange effect on me."

Ditto, buddy. Which made her all too aware that they were outside alone 
together.  His chuckle rolled across her skin. "Don't worry, I'm not waiting out here to pounce on you."

She'd forgotten how Caidos could pick up others' emotions. "But you are waiting for me." 

"Yes, I am."

"You're not going to ask me out or anything, are you? Because I don't date." He didn't say anything, which made for a really awkward few seconds. "It's a general rule, nothing personal. If … that's what you were going to ask." She would have thwapped herself on the forehead if it wouldn't look stupid.

And, of course, as a Caido, he picked up everything she was feeling, which put a damned incredibly sexy smile on his face. "As much as I'd love to hook up with you, it's not feasible. Or wise." 

He'd love to hook up with her. She tried to staunch her reaction to those words. 

He gave her a sympathetic smile. "The love guru doesn't date? That seems sad."

She debated being obtuse but decided it was better that he knew she wasn't 
just playing hard to get. "Being involved with someone interferes with my abilities. The drama and distraction, even if things are going well, takes over my mind. All I get is noise when I read someone." 

"And that terrifies you. Why?"

She really hated that he could read her. "Helping people is important to me."

"Which leads beautifully to the reason I'm waiting for you. The Caido/Deuce 
couple who came in and greeted you like you were their best friend, who danced together, and kissed … you helped them, didn't you?"

Kye had watched them snuggling together on the dance floor with just a tiny bit of longing. "Sorry, client confidentiality." 

He rubbed his chin. "So you did help them. The only way they could be together is by doing the Essex. I assume you know about the exchange of essences that balances the Caido so he's not as sensitive to her emotions. Because it only temporarily ease his pain, a long-term relationship would mean that her essence would eventually be depleted. No self-respecting Caido would do that to someone he cares about. So how is it that they're together?" 

She could only give him a general answer. "I've come up with a way to make the Essex permanent."

He pushed away from the car, interest crackling off him as he came closer. "Tell me more."

She fought the instinct to back up a step. "I've had a few mixed-Caido couples approach me about circumventing the pain. They hadn't meant to fall in love, but now they wanted to be together. I tried several different spells and magick devices, but nothing worked." 

He crossed his arms in front of him and rocked back on his heels. "And you takeit very hard when you can't fix someone."

"You get that from me too?"

"I suppose we both bear a similar burden in picking up feelings we have no 
business sensing. How does it work?"

She laid one of her hands on top of the other and let her fingers barely settle 
between each other. "With the Essex, you're limited to how much essence you can exchange, kind of the way my fingers can't slide together. That's why it's temporary. The Cobra, which I named for the tantric position, allows both essences to reach fully toward each other, like this." She laced her hands together, fingers straight so that they formed an X. "This starts the bonding process. The last step is when both parties actually pull each other's essence into their souls, permanently locking them together." Her fingers wrapped over her hands as though in prayer. "At least, I think it's permanent. The first couple did it four months ago and it's still holding strong."

"Why haven't I heard about this magick of yours? The Caido community should be buzzing."

"There are some side effects I'm still working out. The Caido is bombarded by every emotion he's ever repressed. It can be intense. One Caido even experienced a resurgence of buried memories."

Kasabian's eyes shimmered. "Buried memories?"

"It apparently caused some big problems, but he couldn't give me any details 
beyond that. He just wanted me to know that it happened." 

He went silent for a few moments, rubbing his fingers across his mouth. "Can 
you do it so a Caido can simply experience desire?"

"Only if you have a committed partner who wants to be permanently bonded to you. Because that's what it does."

"That would not be a good thing. For any woman."

"Why?" The mystery of him pulled at her, the dark desire she'd sensed. 

"Oh, love, there you go, needing to help even though you know you should 
run the other way." He lowered his chin, the street light reflecting off his razor-sharp jawline. "And you should. I'm forty ways fucked up." 

She swallowed. No one had ever made her this off-balanced. "I do want to help. Too many messed up people are not only suffering but inflicting their misery on others."

"I assure you that I'm not inflicting my anything on anyone." He reached out with the back of his hand and brushed it down her cheek. "As much as I'd like to."

She stumbled back, his touch curling throughout her body. "I should go." 

Hunger flashed in his eyes. "Yes, you should."


Go, run, and never look back.

About Jaime Rush

Things that go bump in the night have always fascinated Jaime Rush.  Sometimes those things are human; other times, not so much.  Now she has twisted them all together in the Hidden, a trilogy about humans with the essence of gods who walk the knife's edge between the glamour of Miami and a place filled with dark magick and dangerous beauty.  

Jaime is the author of the Offspring series and also writes under the name Tina Wainscott.  She is the bestselling author of eighteen romance novels.  She lives in Southwest Florida with her husband, daughter, and cat.

Living in New York City, Penelope Trudeau has seen a lot of weird stuff - but nothing like the insane redhead who accosts her with a wild proposition.  Penelope will get a millions dollars if she has a baby with the strange woman's brother.  With her mother dying from a mysterious disease, Penelope can use the money.  Yet the terrified waitress is adamant that her womb and eggs are not for sale... until she meets her intended mate.  He's impressively built, gorgeous, and red-hot, literally.  He's a freaking immortal Sun God.

For thousands of years, Kinich (Nick to his friends) didn't believe in fraternizing with humans, so procreating with them is definitely a no-no.  But after one sizzling encounter with the beautiful, passionate Penelope, Nick begins to think he was wrong... until he realizes meeting Penelope was just another one of his crazy sister's schemes at manipulation.  But now that he has Penelope in his life, he can't let her go.  Especially because doing so means throwing her into the hands of his dangerous enemies.  


Excerpt:

The next morning, I slowly stretched my deliciously sore body while luxuriating in the softness of the silky sheets beneath me and the warm, oh-so-very-naked, well-built man snuggled to my side.

My heart fluttered when I opened my eyes and found Nick sleeping next to me, his bed-play-mussed, golden brown hair sweeping to one side across the pristine white pillow. His heavenly eyes were closed, allowing me to study the golden lashes fanning out against his bronzed face, looking like tiny threads of caramelized sugar. He was a picture of exquisite male perfection.

I sighed and resisted the urge to kiss his exposed, chiseled chest—yes, yes, perfectly tanned like the rest of him (nude sunbather?)—and stroke the perfectly formed swells of his biceps, one of which was attached to the arm draped over my waist.

Last night had been the most…the most…

I sprang from the bed in horror. “Oh crap!”

Nick’s eyes instantly popped open. A warm smile swept across his face. “Oh, you’re up.” 

His large frame stretched across the length of the extra-long, king-size bed.

I stared at him, wondering what to say; somehow screaming, “Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!” didn’t seem appropriate.

Okay. Breathe, Penelope. Breathe. Just ask him what happened!  But I didn’t want to insult the guy. Because from the look of his delectable body, it had to have been the best night of my life.

That is…that is…if we did.

Of course you did! Look! Even your eggs are smoking a cigarette.

No! Demon crackers, no!

He rolled onto his side and propped his head up with his arm. “Why are you standing there, naked? Come back to bed.”

I glanced down my body. Oh crappity! I was naked.

I scrambled to the bathroom—a large, modern affair of stainless steel and glass—and grabbed a fluffy, white towel.

Oh shit. Oh shit. What was going on? I needed to go out there and ask him, point blank, what happened. Not with your iguana breath. You might melt the man’s face off.  As long as I get to keep his rockin’ body.  Pen!

I quickly found a bottle of mouthwash in the cabinet and swished. Then I checked the mirror and noticed I was wearing an odd-looking necklace with a large, shiny black stone dangling in the middle. Had he put it on me last night?

Darn it! Why couldn’t I remember what had happened?

Don’t be a child, Penelope. Just ask him.

Yes. That’s what I would do.

Again I glanced in the mirror. “Oh no,” I hissed at my reflection. My dark hair resembled a beehive, but without the symmetry. I ran my fingers through the mess a few times, but it was useless. I’d have to make a polite exit, go home, and ensure I looked hot enough on our next date to erase any memories of my current discombobulation. Is that even a word, Penelope? And do you really think he wants to date you? You’re a one-nighter for a guy like that.

Christ. What had I gotten myself into?

I took three quick breaths and opened the door. My heart ignited from the sight of him still propped up on one elbow and lying in bed with a smug, male smile stretched across his face. He looked frigging perfect, practically glowing. Dammit. So unfair!

“Everything okay?” he asked.

I smiled sheepishly. “Yeah, I needed to wrangle the tornado.” I pointed to my matted hair.

“You look sexy as hell.” He patted the empty space next to him. “Come here.”

Mischief sparkled in his eyes, and though I didn’t know him well, I knew what that look meant: Encore.

I held up my hands. “Whoa. I think we need to talk.”

His lower lip stuck out in a slight pout and his shimmering eyes seemed to glow against the backdrop of his toasty-almond-colored skin. Damn if he wasn’t the most irresistible man on the planet.

And he wanted me. Wow.

I slowly padded over to the bed. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but what happened last night?”

He cocked one brow, “You don’t remember?”

I shook my head and gave him an apologetic smile. “I’m sure it was…great. The best toe curling sex ever—but…no, I don’t remember a thing.”


His smile melted away. “Bloody Christ! Neither do I.”

About Mimi Jean Pamfiloff:
Before taking up permanent residence in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mimi spent time living near NYC (became a shopaholic), in Mexico City (developed a taste for very spicy food), and Arizona (now hates jumping chollas, but pines for sherbet sunsets).  Her love of pre-Hispanic culture, big cities, and romance inspires her to write when she's not busy with kids, hubby, work, and life... or getting sucked into a juicy novel.

She hopes that someday leather pants for men will make a big comeback and that her writing might make you laugh when you need it most.  

Hope you enjoy!  Happy Launch day to Jaime Rush and Mimi Jean Pamfiloff!

~Shel




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Launch Day: Undone by Shannon Richard

We are super excited to be part of the Undone Launch Day Blitz! We first reviewed this delightful romance when it was published digitally.  We are super excited that it will now be available in PRINT!  Read on for an EXCERPT and then enter the GIVEAWAY to win a copy of Undone and a $25 gift certificate to Zappos.

About UNDONE:

Things Paige Morrison will never understand about Mirabelle, Florida:

• Why wearing red shoes makes a girl a harlot
• Why a shop would ever sell something called "buck urine"
• Why everywhere she goes, she runs into sexy-and infuriating-Brendan King

After losing her job, her apartment, and her boyfriend, Paige has no choice but to leave Philadelphia and move in with her retired parents. For an artsy outsider like Paige, finding her place in the tightly knit town isn't easy-until she meets Brendan, the hot mechanic who's interested in much more than Paige's car. In no time at all, Brendan helps Paige find a new job, new friends, and a happiness she wasn't sure she'd ever feel again. With Brendan by her side, Paige finally feels like she can call Mirabelle home. But when a new bombshell drops, will the couple survive, or will their love come undone?

Buy Links:
Amazon  Barnes and Noble  iTunes





About Shannon Richard:

Shannon Richard grew up in the Florida Panhandle as the baby sister of two overly protective but loving brothers. She was raised by a more than somewhat eccentric mother, a self-proclaimed vocabularist who showed her how to get lost in a book and a father who passed on his love for coffee and really loud music. She graduated from Florida State University with a BA in English Literature and still lives in Tallahassee where she battles everyday life with writing, reading, and a rant every once in a while. Okay, so the rants might happen on a regular basis. She's still waiting for her Southern, scruffy, Mr. Darcy, and in the meantime writes love stories to indulge her overactive imagination. Oh, and she's a pretty big fan of the whimsy.

Social Media:
Website   Twitter  Facebook



Undone Excerpt:

Paige was wrapped in just a towel as she searched for something to wear. She had exactly twenty minutes before Brendan was supposed to pick her up. There was a knock on her door as her hands closed over a pair of jeans. 

“Come in,” she called over her shoulder. 

The door opened and Paige turned, throwing her jeans onto her bed. 

“What time is he picking you up?” Denise asked as she stuck her head inside the doorway. 

Paige had a sudden flashback to high school when her mother would help her get ready before a date. She immediately thought of Brendan and Grace and how their mother had died when they were both so young. They’d missed out on so much, especially Grace. Paige couldn’t imagine not having all of those years with her mother and she felt intensely grateful for every single one of them. 

“At seven. You busy?” 

“No,” Denise said, shaking her head. 

“Will you sit and talk with me while I get ready?” Paige asked. 

“Yeah,” Denise said, her mouth breaking into a smile. She opened the door farther and walked into the room, a glass of wine in hand. She shut the door behind her and sat down on the edge of Paige’s bed, just like old times. “What are you going to wear?” she asked, grabbing a pillow and playing with the frilly lace edging. 

“Jeans,” Paige said, pointing to the pair on her bed. “I haven’t decided on a shirt though,” she said and turned back to her closet. 

“Shoes?” 

“My black wedges.” She knew they drove Brendan crazy, and that’s exactly what she planned to do tonight. She didn’t feel guilty about it at all either; he obviously had no problem doing it to her. Turnabout was just fair. 

“What about your red peasant top. The one that hangs off your shoulders and hugs your waist.” 

Paige grabbed the shirt and turned around, holding it up to show her mom. 

“Red on a first date?” 

“You look good in red,” Denise said. 

“You don’t think it’s too much?” 

Her mother gave the blouse a critical eye. “Just wear ugly underwear. If you wear stuff that you don’t want him to see, you’ll be less likely to sleep with him.” 

“Mom!” Paige said shocked. “I’m not going to sleep with him on the first date.” 

“I know. Just wear something to keep you grounded, and then you won’t slip.” 

“I have some self-control.” 

“Yes, well, I’ve seen that boy. Slipping would be completely justifiable considering the circumstances.” 

“What circumstances would those be?” Paige asked as she walked over to her dresser and opened her underwear drawer. 

“That gleam in his eyes,” Denise said. 

“What gleam?” Paige asked, turning to her mom. 

“The one he gets when he’s looking at you. It’s something that goes way beyond sex.” 

“Well, he is a nice young man,” Paige said mockingly. 

“Yes, he is.” Denise nodded, taking a sip of her wine.

She grabbed a fairly tame pair with yellow and white stripes. Stripes didn’t scream “I’m going to have sex tonight,” at least not like black or red lace would have. She could’ve sworn she’d read that stripes were unflattering on everyone. Or was that faux fur? 

She dug around in the drawer and found her strapless bra. She grabbed her clothes from the bed and went into the bathroom.

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A Peek In The BiblioBin #91

Welcome to our Stacking the Shelves post! Stacking the Shelves (or as we like to call it, A Peek in the BiblioBin) has been created by the lovely ladies at Tynga's Reviews.

Stacking the Shelves is a way for bloggers to share what books they have won, received for review, bought from the bookstore, borrowed from the library or friend, etc.

For Review:

Fire & Blood (Fire & Blood #1) by Victoria Scott

The Chase (O'Hare & Fox #2) by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg

Playing By The Book by S. Chris Shirley

No Such Thing by A.M. Arthur


Purchased:

Bitter Sweet Love (The Dark Elements #0.5) by Jennifer K. Armentrout

Best Kind of Broken by Chelsea Fine - Excerpt

We are so excited to get to share with you a huge excerpt for Chelsea Fine's upcoming New Adult Contemporary Romance, BEST KIND OF BROKEN. The first book in the Finding Fate Series, Chelsea is sharing part of the book with the world early!

You can read the Excerpt HERE! 

But first, check out all of the information about BEST KIND OF BROKEN and Chelsea Fine! 

BEST KIND OF BROKEN LEGACY Synopsis:

SOMETIMES MOVING ON MEANS MOVING IN

Pixie Marshall wishes every day she could turn back time and fix the past. But she can't. And the damage is done. She's hoping that a summer of free room and board working with her aunt at the Willow Inn will help her forget. Except there's a problem: the resident handyman is none other than Levi Andrews. The handsome quarterback was once her friend-and maybe more--until everything changed in a life-shattering instant. She was hoping to avoid him, possibly forever. Now he's right down the hall and stirring up feelings Pixie thought she'd long buried . . .

Levi can't believe he's living with the one person who holds all his painful memories. More than anything he wants to make things right, but a simple "sorry" won't suffice--not when the tragedy that scarred them was his fault. Levi knows Pixie's better off without him, but every part of him screams to touch her, protect her, wrap her in his arms, and kiss away the pain. Yet even though she's so close, Pixie's heart seems more unreachable than ever. Seeing those stunning green eyes again has made one thing perfectly clear--he can't live without her.

"By turns humorous and heartbreaking, Best Kind Of Broken has become one of my favorites!"
--- CORA CARMACK, New York Times bestselling author of Losing It.

"You'll fall for Pixie and Levi, just like I did!"
--- JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT (J. Lynn), #1 New York Times</ i> bestselling author of Wait For You

"Tangled with friendship, history and heartbreak--not to mention a huge dose of
humor--Chelsea Fine's New Adult novel is not to be missed! Beyond an
incredibly HOT read, Pixie and Levi's longing for each other will have
you rooting for them till the very end."
--- JAY CROWNOVER, New York Times bestselling author of Rule

"This book destroyed me. Tore me into little tiny pieces. But somehow with
lots of laughs and some very steamy times, Chelsea put me back together
again! Chelsea Fine's style is witty, visceral and fresh. All I wanted
to do was crawl inside this book and live with the characters. And now
all I want is MORE."
--- CHELSEA M. CAMERON, New York Times bestselling author of My Favorite Mistake

"Sandwiched between laugh out loud moments and some serious heat, Best Kind of Broken is an unforgettable story of loss and forgiveness that will leave your heart aching."
--- LISA DESROCHERS, USA Today bestselling author of A Little Too Far

BUY LINKS:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

ABOUT CHELSEA FINE:

Chelsea lives in Phoenix, Arizona where she spends most of her time writing stories, painting murals, and avoiding housework at all costs. She’s ridiculously bad at doing dishes and claims to be allergic to laundry. Her obsessions include: superheroes, coffee, sleeping-in, and crazy socks. She lives with her husband and two children, who graciously tolerate her inability to resist teenage drama on TV and her complete lack of skill in the kitchen.

LINKS:                               

Website: www.chelseafinebooks.com</ span></ div>

Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/ChelseaFineBooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChelseaFine

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ user/ChelseaFineBooks

Instagram: http://instagram.com/chelseafinebooks</ span></ div>

Goodreads: http:// www.goodreads.com/author/show/4984399.Chelsea_Fine

BEST KIND OF BROKEN Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18360175-best-kind-of- broken?ac=1

World After (Penryn & The End of Days #2) by Susan Ee

* * * * *

In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world.

When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

Being that I'd originally read and written the review for Angelfall two Christmases ago, (I had posted it until yesterday), I’d forgotten how chaotic and devastating those final moments were. World After picks up from there with Penryn separated from Raffe. She’s wondering how he’s coping and he most likely believes she’s dead. She doesn’t have the luxury to dwell on him so much as she still has to look after her hapless mother and unrecognizable sister and lead them to safety.

This is a terrifying world where people are left to their own devices to survive. Penryn is working so hard to keep it together in this harsh reality especially in the face of her mother’s insults and her sister’s plight. Paige is almost unrecognizable physically thanks to some graphic experiments that the angels performed on her. Penryn has become fiercer about protecting her sister even though she can’t quite bring herself to accept what Paige is transforming into. It’s easy to forget that Penryn is merely a seventeen- old child who needs to be taken care of herself. She is in constant survival mode with every movement is calculated. It also doesn’t help that people seem to believe that she’s some sort of savior who can rescue them. All she wants to do is take care of her family but she is always at that fork in the road where she has to decide if she’s just going to watch her back or be the good Samaritan.

Raffe and Penryn aren’t even together for most of the book except through “flashbacks” provided by Raffe’s sword that’s now in Penryn’s safekeeping. The sword not only provides Penryn with insight into Raffe’s mindset, it also keeps him close to her. She has to admit that she feels something for him and she almost admonishes herself for having a crush on someone – an archangel no less – when there is so much more at stake during this troublesome time.

It’s once Raffe and Penryn finally see each other  that the sparks go wild. Everything is said in a single stare as everything comes to a standstill. I was so thrilled that I was applauding their reunion! It’s also when they finally encounter each other that the weight she carries is truly felt. As they’re escaping a party gone terribly wrong, (what do you expect with out-of-control angels?), Penryn allows herself this one time to be someone in need of rescue. It’s her moment to have a break:

“But for now, for just this moment, I let myself be a seventeen-year-old girl in a strong guy’s arms. I even let some of the what-ifs seep in, the kind of possibilities that might have blossomed between us in the World Before. Just for a little while. Before I carefully fold my dreams away into the vault in my head.”

It's quite sad whenever she refers to life as either the World Before or World After. That sense of hopelessness and loss rings so loudly. She doesn't want to be a hero, she just wants to be a teenager. And when Raffe comes back into the picture, we get a few glimpses of what that teenager may be like. With him around, she regains her sense of humor and it’s nice to see her be playful side even if for a fleeting second. They clearly mean something to each other but neither is willing to reveal too much. In fact, their relationship status could say “it’s complicated” and it would be the truth.

World After is masterfully written. I am in awe of this tragic and complex world featuring our annihilated planet at the whim and mercy of intricate angel politics. Some characters are complete live-wires ready to snap, others are on the cusp of insanity and the rest are simply toiling away, lost and broken. Penryn and Raffe are unlikely partners in this war to regain a home and a future. By the end, Susan Ee does it again with an astonishing cliffhanger that left me clutching at all the mad ideas in my head as to what’s going to happen next. 

~ Bel

Blog Tour & Giveaway - Once In A Lifetime by Jill Shalvis

Hi Everyone!  Welcome to the BiblioJunkies stop on the Once In A Lifetime Blog Tour.  You can check out my review here.  We are lucky enough to have a Q & A with the fabulous Jill Shalvis herself.  Check out the excerpt and giveaway below too!

Your main character Aubrey is remodeling her aunt’s bookstore so it can be a haven for other booklovers as it was for her when she was younger. Did you have a special place growing up (or do you have one now?) where you love to read?

I always had a soft spot for bookstores.  And libraries.  They were my special hideaway haven.  I really went back and forth on using a bookstore in today’s day and age, but in the end, I wanted to pay homage to one of my favorite places on earth.  :)

Where did you get the idea for Aubrey to go back to the people she’d wronged and make amends?

I’ve always wanted to take a “mean” girl and turn her around.  There’s no easy way to do that except to start at the beginning and make amends.

Describe Ben in 3 words

Ben: sexy, grumpy, alpha

What’s the most interesting way you got around a plot problem?

I wrote myself into a corner in Once In A Lifetime, twice.  I wrote XX happens here and it will be brilliant and funny.  And then I accidentally left that in when I sent it to my editor.  I’m sure she wasn’t as amused as I was.

If you owned a bookstore, what book would you make sure was in stock?

All of them.  And let’s just say the romance section would be VERY well stocked.

Warning - Hilarious excerpt ahead!

Aubrey got a look at the man she’d inadvertently drenched and stopped breathing. Oh, God. Had she really thought her day couldn’t get any worse? Why would she tempt fate by even thinking that? Because of course things had gotten worse. They always did.

Ben McDaniel slowly stood up from his barstool, dripping vodka from his hair, eyelashes, nose… He was six feet plus of hard muscles and brute strength on a body that didn’t carry a single extra ounce of fat on him. For the past five years, he’d been in and out of a variety of Third World countries designing and building water systems with the Army Corp of Engineers. His last venture had been for the Department of Defense in Iraq, which Aubrey only knew because Lucky Harbor’s Facebook page was good as gospel.

He swiped his face with his arm, deceptively chill and laid-back. In truth, he was about as badass as they came.

Aubrey should know, she’d seen him in action. But she managed to meet his gaze. Cool, casual even. One had to be with Ben, the man could spot a weakness a mile away. “I’m sorry,” she said. 

“Are you?”

She felt herself flush. He’d always seemed to see right through her. And she was pretty sure he’d never cared for her. He had good reason for that, she reminded herself. He just didn’t know the half of it. “Yes, I am sorry,” she said. Her heart was pounding so loudly she was surprised she could hear herself speak. “Are you okay?”

He ran his fingers through a sexy disorder of sun-streaked brown hair. His eyes were the same color, light milk chocolate marbled with gold caramel. It was hard to make such a warm-colored gaze seem hard, but Ben managed it with no effort at all. “Need to work on your aim,” he said.

I hope you all enjoy Once In A Lifetime as much as I did!  Don't forget to enter the giveaway before you leave.

~Shel



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