Cover Reveals, Yes Two! THE HEARTACHE DUET by Jay McLean

DUET COVER REVEAL

The Heartache Duet

RELEASE DATES:

Heartache and Hope (Book 1): June 28, 2019

First and Forever (Book 2): July 12, 2019

DUET SYNOPSIS:

Ava Diaz needs saving.

She just doesn’t know it yet.

Just like she doesn’t know a thing about the boy

she sits next to on the first day of senior year.

He thinks she’s a brat.

She thinks he’s entitled.

Maybe first impressions don’t always last…

Because Connor Ledger’s about to save her.

He just doesn’t know why.

Add the Duet to your TBR: bit.ly/GRJMacHH

$100 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway → http://bit.ly/2Qx3OZq

AUTHOR BIO

Jay McLean is an international best-selling author and full-time reader, writer of New Adult and Young Adult romance, and skilled procrastinator. When she’s not doing any of those things, she can be found running after her three little boys, investing way too much time on True Crime Documentaries and binge-watching reality TV.

She writes what she loves to read, which are books that can make her laugh, make her hurt and make her feel.

Jay lives in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, in her dream home where music is loud and laughter is louder.

For publishing rights (Foreign & Domestic) Film or television, please contact her agent Erica Spellman-Silverman, at Trident Media Group.

AUTHOR LINKS

Facebook | Fan Group | Web | Twitter | Instagram 

Review: THE BRIDE TEST by Helen Hoang

THE BRIDE TEST

by Helen Hoang

Publication Date: May 7, 2019

Published by Berkley

Pages: 296

Source: Publisher | Netgalley

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Synopsis

Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions—like grief. And love. He thinks he’s defective. His family knows better—that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride.

As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can’t turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn’t go as planned. Esme’s lessons in love seem to be working…but only on herself. She’s hopelessly smitten with a man who’s convinced he can never return her affection.

With Esme’s time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he’s been wrong all along. And there’s more than one way to love.

My Thoughts

"Em yêu anh yêu em."

Just like THE KISS QUOTIENT, I adored THE BRIDE TEST. I liked how this couple was brought together by a loving, but meddling mother who was trying to find a companion for her son. I loved Khai and Esme's interactions and how two seemingly different people fit together so perfectly. I liked that neither of them tried to be who they thought the other person needed or who they wanted, but I'd felt bad for Esme for the things she thought she had to keep a secret for Khai. 

One of my favorite scenes includes Khai, Quan, and Michael (yes, TKQ Michael!). It make me laugh so much as they tried to give Khai some guidance with Esme. And Quan gave Khai some of the best book recommendations!

THE BRIDE TEST is full of compassion and humor and made me laugh and smile and sometimes get a bit teary-eyed. I loved it!

Disclaimer:  I requested this e-ARC from the publisher for review consideration. I was not compensated in any way other than the e-ARC provided. I've purchaed a finished copy for my personal library. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

From My Shelves Giveaway: THE GIRL IN THE PICTURE by Alexandra Monir

I MUST MAKE MORE ROOM ON MY SHELVES. 

What does that mean? More giveaways on my blog! 

First up: THE GIRL IN THE PICTURE

THE GIRL IN THE PICTURE is a thrilling read. I questioned everything. I would recommend it to readers who like YA mysteries and thrillers.

THE GIRL IN THE PICTURE

by Alexandra Monir

Publication Date: November 15, 2016

Published by Delacorte Press/Random House

Pages: 272

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Synopsis

Nicole Morgan has been labeled many things — the geeky music girl, the shy sidekick to Miss Popularity, and the girl with the scar. Now only one name haunts her through the halls of Oyster Bay Prep.

The Girl in the Picture.

After high school heartthrob Chace Porter is found dead in the woods near the school, the police are in search of the girl whose picture with Chace is the only clue found amongst his personal belongings. A girl who no one knew was even close to Chace–and whose dormmate, Lana Rivera, was Chace's girlfriend.

Nicole is that girl and now she's the primary suspect in his murder.

But what really happened that night? Were Nicole and Chace dating behind Lana’s back; were he and Lana over? Could either of them have killed him?

Told in alternating points of view, that of our suspect, Nicole Morgan, and her former best friend and roommate, Lana Rivera, readers will piece together the story of a starcrossed love, a fractured friendship–and what really happened the night Chace was killed.

Giveaway Details

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U.S. addresses only

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Giveaway ends June 15, 2019

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New Release: SALTY SEBASTIAN by Jen Luerssen

Salty Sebastian

Smirk Series #3

Available Now

Salty Sebastian by Jen Luerssen 

Cover by Just Write. Creations

Photo by Christopher John

Model- Stephen Bottoms

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Purchase: Kindle/KU | Paperback

Blurb

Salty? I mean, it’s better than “f*cking” or “just” but I think it paints an inaccurate picture of my genial personality. I’m assuming that “sexy” or “sophisticated” were too pedestrian or already taken. Joe tells me that I can pretend it’s about how I taste. I ignore that affable deviant as much as possible. 

Generally, I’m a pretty easy going and friendly guy. 

My new intern, Kit calls me “Salty” and so I guess it’s a thing now. Joe says I tend to act like an ass around women I’m attracted to.

Am I attracted to Kit? Hell yes and in the past I’ve treated her very well. Several times in one night as a matter of fact. A night we didn’t exchange real names or numbers, it was Vegas, for fuck’s sake.

Maybe I’m a tiny bit salty that I find that the co-owner of my winery, Mikey, hired Kit as our new intern. I’m not the type of guy who sleeps with his interns.

If being stuck working with a woman I’ve been intimate with, who is amazing at her job, yet treats me like I gave her chlamydia pushes me a little in the salty category, then I guess that’s an apt description. Despite her clear displeasure with me now, Kit was once happy in my company. I’m just going to have to figure out if it’s worth making her happy again.

Other Books by Jen Luerssen:

Just Joe https://goo.gl/5JYLLj

F*cking Frank https://goo.gl/DzjS2F

Storm Brewing https://goo.gl/3mfbYW

Grown Woman https://goo.gl/86WEfE

High Note https://goo.gl/HjcqjE

The Tide is High https://www.amazon.com/Tide-High-Jen-Luerssen-ebook/dp/B01HYRL5DM/

Too Far to Care https://www.amazon.com/Too-Far-Care-Jen-Luerssen-ebook/dp/B01A8XLK3Y

About Jen Luerssen:

Jen Luerssen grew up in New Jersey and then lived for 20 years in the San Francisco Bay area. She has held various jobs in her adult life. Some examples are nanny, waitress, receptionist, dispatcher, caterer, and finally teacher. She spent 10 years teaching 4th and 5th graders, until she finally felt the call to write. It's been plaguing her thoughts and dreams for years, and those thoughts finally fought their way out.

Jen loves to read, obsessively. She has an unhealthy attachment to her Kindle and is rarely seen without it. She'll read anything, but especially loves good smut or a post-apocalyptic young adult book.

After "retiring" from teaching, Jen sat down and wrote a book and then another and another and it was the most fun she's ever had working. She is self-published even though she's not sure how it works and hopes that people like her funny stories.

Jen is back in her native New Jersey and lives with her husband, daughter, and dog, enjoying suburban life.

Jen’s links:

 Facebook

Facebook Reader's Group

Amazon

Website

New Release Giveaway: BRIGHT BURNING STARS by A.K. Small

NEW RELEASE GIVEAWAY

BRIGHT BURNING STARS

by A.K. Small

Published May 21, 2019

by Algonquin Young Readers

Pages: 304

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Synopsis

Best friends Marine Duval and Kate Sanders have trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School since childhood, where they’ve formed an inseparable bond forged by respective family tragedies and a fierce love for dance. 

When the body of a student is found in the dorms just before the start of their final year, Marine and Kate begin to ask themselves what they would do to win the ultimate prize: to be the one girl selected to join the Opera’s prestigious corps de ballet. Would they die? Cheat? Seduce the most talented boy in the school, dubbed the Demigod, hoping his magic would make them shine, too? Neither girl is sure.

But then Kate gets closer to the Demigod, even as Marine has begun to capture his heart. And as selection day draws near, the competition—for the prize, for the Demigod—becomes fiercer, and Marine and Kate realize they have everything to lose, including each other. 

Giveaway Details

Must be 16 years or Older to enter

U.S. addresses only

To enter, fill out Rafflecopter below
(invalid entries will be disqualified)

Giveaway ends June 15, 2019

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New Release: UNBROKEN by Jay Crownover

 

From New York Times bestselling author Jay Crownover comes UNBROKEN, the prequel novella in her brand new Loveless, Texas series! Check out the amazing excerpt below, and grab your copy today!

 

About UNBROKEN:

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series comes a captivating novella about a rugged rodeo star who will do anything to protect the people he loves.

When rodeo star Crew Lawton loses everything in a bad bet, he has no choice but to take a new job to pay off his debts – even if it means becoming the face of an expensive male skincare line. Crew is used to getting sweaty and rustling in the dirt, not posing for photo shoots. And he’s certainly not used to being bossed around by a woman who doesn’t even know the difference between bulls and broncs. But Crew owes money to dangerous criminals, and he’ll do anything Della says in order to pay them back and keep them far away from his family in Loveless, Texas…

The launch of her new men’s line for her family’s company means everything to Della Deveaux, and she’s not willing to let some rugged, arrogant cowboy ruin her campaign. Crew Lawton is the last man she would have chosen to represent her chic, sophisticated brand. Unfortunately, her father already invested millions in Crew’s stupidly handsome face. Yet the more time they spend together, Della and Crew realize that opposites do attract. But when the time comes for Crew to face his past mistakes, will he be able to protect his family…and the woman he’s come to love?

 

GRAB YOUR COPY OF UNBROKEN TODAY!

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books Google Play | KoboGoodreads

   

“This the one, Ms. Priss?” I turned in a circle, hating how restrictive and stiff the refined suit felt. There would be no staying on the horse for eight seconds in something like this. I doubted I could even bend over and pull my boots on in this getup. I failed to see how being dressed like I was going to high tea with the queen was going to convince normal men with a little extra cash to buy the junk in my hair. It felt like overkill, but I would chew my tongue off before telling Della that. I knew how much this campaign meant to her, and I needed her to keep me around so I could get paid. .. and get to kiss her again.

Della circled around me, eyes scanning from head to toe. A small frown tugged her perfectly arched brows down into a V, and her lush, soft mouth pulled into a pout I was becoming achingly familiar with. She lifted a hand and touched the knot of the silk tie where it rested at the base of my throat. She fingered the delicate material and heaved a sigh.

“You look perfect, but something is still off.” She met my gaze with a scowl. “Can you try and look a little less like you’re being tortured? That might help the overall image.”

Her snippy tone and the upturn of her nose made me grin. I rolled my head around, causing my neck to pop and my shoulders to relax. Della’s expression softened when I was no longer standing at attention, but she still let out a dejected-sounding sigh and reached for my tie, releasing me from the expensive noose.

“You have a body made for designer clothes, but something is lost when you put them on. I feel like we’re trying to wrap the Mona Lisa in silk or something. Frankly, it’s annoying that you make denim and flannel look just as good as Versace and Prada.” Once she had the tie off, she told me to go ahead and get back into my own clothes. I asked her what the plan was for the shoot and a brief flare of panic and doubt lit up her cat like eyes. She forced a smile and told me she would figure it out.

Since I was totally a fish out of water in this scenario, all I could do was follow orders like a good soldier. I stripped out of the fitted vest and worked on the tiny buttons of the shirt. I was handing them both off to the flirty wardrobe girl who was enjoying the impromptu striptease when Della’s “Wait a second!” had both of us freezing on the spot.

She was looking at me in the mirror, eyes roving over my half-dressed form. She wandered over to where my jeans and boots were tossed in a haphazard pile on the floor. After a second of rooting around, she came toward me, my black wifebeater in one hand and my boots in the other.

“Put these on with the pants.” She looked at the wardrobe girl with a lifted brow and had to snap her fingers in the woman’s face to get her attention. “Go find me a pair of suspenders, leather if you have them.” The other woman scurried off to do as she was told and I dropped to the seat to pull on my boots.

“I keep trying to turn you into something better.” I looked up at Della as she snorted out a laugh. “But from the start, you were perfect the way you are.”

Be sure to pre-order JUSTIFIED, the first novel in this brand new, sexy series!

About JUSTIFIED:

The New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series delivers a romance about a rugged Texas sheriff who must protect the woman who was once his sworn enemy... Case Lawton comes from a family of criminals. So as the sheriff of Loveless, Texas, he's determined to do everything by the book--until he's called to Aspen Barlow's office after a so-called break-in. The last thing he wants to do is help the woman who cost him custody of his son. But Aspen isn't the heartless lawyer Case remembers, and he starts to question his long-held grudge... Aspen is scared for her life, and Case is her last hope for protection. But to get him on her side, she'll have to reveal the painful truth from all those years ago. Now, as they work together to track down a dangerous criminal, Case and Aspen learn to trust each other. And as the threats escalate, it becomes clear there's a thin line between love and hate... because there's nothing Case wouldn't do to keep her safe.

Pre-order your copy of JUSTIFIED today!

 

About Jay Crownover: 

  Jay Crownover is the international and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men series, the Saints of Denver series, the Point series, the Breaking Point series, the Getaway series, and the Loveless, Texas series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.    

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Review: LOVE FROM A TO Z by S.K. Ali

LOVE FROM A to Z

by S.K. Ali

Publication Date: April 30, 2019

Published by Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Pages: 352

Source: Publisher | Netgalley

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Synopsis

From William C. Morris Award Finalist S.K. Ali comes an unforgettable romance that is part The Sun Is Also a Star mixed with Anna and the French Kiss, following two Muslim teens who meet during a spring break trip.

A marvel: something you find amazing. Even ordinary-amazing. Like potatoes—because they make French fries happen. Like the perfect fries Adam and his mom used to make together. 

An oddity: whatever gives you pause. Like the fact that there are hateful people in the world. Like Zayneb’s teacher, who won’t stop reminding the class how “bad” Muslims are. 

But Zayneb, the only Muslim in class, isn’t bad. She’s angry.

When she gets suspended for confronting her teacher, and he begins investigating her activist friends, Zayneb heads to her aunt’s house in Doha, Qatar, for an early start to spring break.

Fueled by the guilt of getting her friends in trouble, she resolves to try out a newer, “nicer” version of herself in a place where no one knows her. 

Then her path crosses with Adam’s. 

Since he got diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November, Adam’s stopped going to classes, intent, instead, on perfecting the making of things. Intent on keeping the memory of his mom alive for his little sister. 

Adam’s also intent on keeping his diagnosis a secret from his grieving father. 

Alone, Adam and Zayneb are playing roles for others, keeping their real thoughts locked away in their journals. 

Until a marvel and an oddity occurs…

Marvel: Adam and Zayneb meeting. 

Oddity: Adam and Zayneb meeting.

My Thoughts

For me, reading S.K. Ali's Author Note and her acknowledgements left just as much of an impact as reading the Adam and Zayneb's story. In her author's note for LOVE FROM A TO Z, S.K. Ali wrote:

"Onward, readers, into a better world born from empathy, lit by the sparks of truth, courage, and love. "

My experience reading LOVE FROM A TO Z exemplifies why reading is a huge part of my life. I turn to books to make sense of the world, to see myself and to see others. I turn to books to seek refuge, to find strength, and to fall in love. I hope readers experience all of these things when they read LOVE FROM A TO Z.

What I loved:

• Adam and Zayneb's differing approaches to writing in their Marvels and Oddities journals and what they consider a marvel and an oddity. We get to understand their personalities through their writing
• The breaking of the fourth way - when the narrator speaks to the reader clarifying Adam and Zayneb's interpretations of situations
• Zayneb and her aunt - I love how her aunt supports her and helps her effectively channel her anger and frustrations
• The dynamics of the friendships between Zayneb and her friends back home and the new friends she makes in Doha
• A flashback to a tender moment between Adam and his mother making french fries and her giving him permission to cry. This is possibly one of my favorite scenes in the book.

Favorite Quotes:

Maybe that’s what living is— recognizing the marvels and oddities around you.

What I loved most is that LOVE TO A TO Z is a love story through and through. Even with all of the hurt and pain and frustration and anger Adam and Zayneb experience (each in their own way), they find a way to be open and vulnerable and try to give what they are feeling for each other a chance.

Absolutely wonderful.

Disclaimer:  I received this e-ARC from the publisher for review.  I was not compensated in any way other than the e-ARC provided. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

Author Bio

S. K. Ali is a teacher based in Toronto whose writing on Muslim culture and life has appeared in the Toronto Star. Her family of Muslim scholars is consistently listed in the The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World, and her insight into Muslim culture is both personal and far-reaching. A mother of a teenage daughter herself, S. K. Ali's debut YA is a beautiful and nuanced story about a young woman exploring her identity through friendship, family, and faith.

Blog Tour Schedule

Mon, April 29 – Utopia State of Mind

Tues, April 30 – Andi’s ABCs

Weds, May 1 – Runaway with Dreamthieves

Thurs, May 2 – Take Me Away

Fri, May 3 – Vicky Who Reads

Sat, May 4 – Book Scents

Mon, May 6 – Mary Had A Little Book Blog

Tues, May 7 – As Told by Zaheerah

Weds, May 8 – The Infinite Limits of Love

Thurs, May 9 – Pop! Goes the Reader

Fri, May 10 – Rich in Color

Mon, May 13 – Actin’ Up With Books

Tues, May 14 – Kaitlyn Gosiaco’s Blog

Weds, May 15 – It Starts at Midnight

Thurs, May 16 – Sleepy Sam Reads

Fri, May 17 – Wishful Endings