A Special Announcement about the Temptation Series by Karen Ann Hopkins

Now for a Special Announcement!

from Publisher's Marketplace Newsletter

(for TV)

Karen Ann Hopkins's TEMPTATION series of Young Adult romances, a trilogy about the dramatic and forbidden love between two teens, one who's Amish and one who's not, and the sacrifices they must make in order to be together, to Pilgrim Studios, producing in conjunction with Danielle Von Zerneck, by Christina Hogrebe at Jane Rotrosen Agency.

This is AMAZING, EXCITING, and THRILLING NEWS!!! As a fan of the TEMPTATION series, I would LOVE to see the story come to television. 

CONGRATULATIONS KAREN!!! 

About Karen Ann Hopkins:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

A native of New York State, Karen Ann Hopkins now lives with her family on a farm in northern Kentucky, where her neighbors in all directions are members of a strict Amish community. Her unique perspective became the inspiration for the story of star-crossed lovers Rose and Noah. When she’s not homeschooling her kids, giving riding lessons or tending to a menagerie of horses, goats, peacocks, chickens, ducks, rabbits, dogs and cats, she is dreaming up her next romantic novel.

Blog Tour: The Mean Girl Apologies by Stephanie Monahan

The Mean Girl Apologies

by Stephanie Monahan

Available Now!!

Book Synopsis:  

You know that catchy song you keep hearing on the radio?

It’s about you.

Natalie Jamison has spent five years trying to forget the girl she was in high school: popular, pretty…and, okay, mean. Now in her twenties and living once again in her small town, she’s right back where she was: following Queen Bee Amber and keeping secrets from her best friend, Sarah.

Secrets like Jack Moreland.

Everyone knows Jack Moreland—his new album, Good Enough, is everywhere. He’s famous. Impossibly handsome. Completely untouchable. But what none of Natalie’s old clique knows is that in high school, Natalie and Jack fell in love. And their secret relationship was incredible, painful—and earth-shattering enough to inspire an entire album.

Facing friends and enemies isn’t easy, but Natalie will go to great lengths to prove she is good enough—to her friends, to herself, and most of all, to the small-town boy turned worldwide heartthrob she never forgot.

 *************************

 Last week I shared my thoughts about The Mean Girl Apologies. I liked this book A LOT!!

" . . . as soon as the book made it on my Kindle, I devoured it."

" I had to know how their love fell apart and why Jack had to write a song about her. The story satisfied my curiosity and I loved it from start to finish."

"The Mean Girl Apologies really clicked with me."

  "Jack Moreland is a boy to fall in love with, there's no doubt about that."

*************************

Find The Mean Girl Apologies

Goodreads Amazon Barnes & Noble Entangled

Entangled Embrace:

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

Twitter: @EPEmbrace  Steals and Deals

Author Bio:

Stephanie Monahan received her degree in English Literature from Binghamton University. In addition to reading and writing, she is passionate about her dog and cat, British pop music, and the beach. Born and raised in upstate New York, Stephanie now lives in central Massachusetts with her husband. Her first book, 33 VALENTINES, was nominated for a 2013 Book of theYear award at Coffee Time Romance & More. You can find her online at www.stephmonahan.com.

Website Blog Twitter Facebook Goodreads

Giveaway Info:  

An ecopy of 33 Valentines and a $10 Amazon gift card

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the rest of the Blog Tour Here 

Review: Blue by Lisa Glass

Blue

by Lisa Glass

Publication Date: June 5, 2014

Published by Quercus Books

Pages: 352

Source: Publisher

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Purchase 

from Goodreads

Surfing is sixteen-year-old Iris's world, and when the ultra-talented Zeke walks into her life, it soon becomes her passion.

Over one amazing summer, as she is drawn into his sphere, she experiences love, new friendships, but also loss, with an intensity she never dreamed of.

But is Zeke all he seems? What hides beneath his glamorous and mysterious past? When Iris decides to try for her own surfing success, just as her ex-boyfriend comes back into her life, she will test her talent, and her feelings for Zeke, to the limit..

My Thoughts

If you are looking for that one book to kick off your summer reading, Blue by Lisa Glass is the book you should pick up. With Iris and Zeke meeting in a yoga class, in an awkward, but compromising position, there is instant attraction between these two. It drew me in, that's for sure. Both Iris and Zeke are sporty and exude a level of confidence that made them want to know each other more. And as the reader, I wanted to know too.

While there is an immediate attraction and Iris and Zeke are drawn to each other, there is no insta-love here. Readers who are leery about insta-love stories can rest easy as you get to see the characters get to know each other and experience the friendship that begins to turn into more. But both Zeke and Iris are guarded and we begin to understand that their love story might not be so simple after all. 

There were instances in Blue that took the story in a more serious direction than I ever expected. It tackles some serious issues (which I can't mention because they can be plot spoilers), and does so in a way that keeps the story from becoming overwhelmed by them. 

There are many things that I loved about this book:

• the friendship between Iris and her best friend, Kelly - this added a lot of humor to the book
• the relationship between Zeke and his brother (and the rest of his family) - this explained a lot about Zeke
• reading about Iris and how she grew into this more confident person after having her heart broken by her high-school boyfriend, Daniel
• all of the emphasis on surfing - the rules, the lingo, the surf culture, the surfing lifestyle and the freedom that the characters experienced

And I especially loved reading the descriptions of being out in the ocean and the waves - it was hypnotic. It made me yearn to be in the water.  It didn't make me what to go out and try to surf any time soon, but I could easily envision the surfers, in the water, experiencing the thrill of it all.

I fell hard for this book and Iris and Zeke and their story. I would call Blue a true summer read (although you could read it any time of the year). There are other characters in Blue who were interesting enough that their story lines could lead to their own books. I certainly hope that that happens in the future.

Disclaimer:  I received this ARC from Quercus Books  in exchange for my honest review.  I was not compensated in any way other than the ARC provided. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review: Flat-Out Celeste by Jessica Park

Flat-Out Celeste

by Jessica Park

Publication Date: May 22, 2014

Pages: 338

Source: WordSmithPublicity and Amazon

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Purchase: E-Book / Paperback

from Goodreads

For high-school senior Celeste Watkins, every day is a brutal test of bravery. And Celeste is scared. Alienated because she’s too smart, her speech too affected, her social skills too far outside the norm, she seems to have no choice but to retreat into isolation.

But college could set her free, right? If she can make it through this grueling senior year, then maybe. If she can just find that one person to throw her a lifeline, then maybe, just maybe.

Justin Milano, a college sophomore with his own set of quirks, could be that person to pull her from a world of solitude. To rescue her—that is, if she’ll let him.

Together, they may work. Together, they may save each other. And together they may also save another couple—two people Celeste knows are absolutely, positively flat-out in love.
 

My Thoughts

I became a huge fan of Jessica Park's writing with her novel, Flat-Out Love. My book club read it and raved about it. We read it over a year ago and it still comes up in our conversations time and time again. When Jessica announced that she was writing a book about Celeste, I was overwhelmed with excitement. Celeste was a memorable character who I adored so much.

Having finished the book, I am still left in a state of awe. Jessica's writing - her humor and depth of characters - make this book so fantastic. I loved getting to know Celeste as a senior in high school. I found her attempts to fit in and create a new identity hilarious and entertaining, but not at the expense of the character. I can't make fun of Celeste, that girl has my heart.

One thing that really stuck out to me was the attention that the author gave to all of Celeste's relationships. This wasn't just a story about Celeste and her potential love interest, Justin. Much emphasis was given the her relationship with her brother, Matt and her developing friendships with her classmates. We get to see Celeste navigate her world beyond her schoolwork and beyond herself. Even though this book is more than a love story, I do have to say that many of my favorite parts were the email exchanges and texts between Celeste and Justin. Celeste, with her affected speech, and Justin, with his stream of consciousness thought patterns, brought about many interesting conversations. 

The only regret that I have about reading Flat-Out Celeste was that I read it too fast. At one point I realized I'd read over 80% of the book and it was almost over. I needed to slow down and enjoy the journey I was on with Celeste and Justin. I know that I can always go back and read it again, but there is nothing more special that falling in love with a story as it unfolds word by word. 

There are so many things to love about this book, but what I loved most about the Flat-Out Celeste is the acknowledgment that:

• it's OK to be who you are
• it's OK to accept who you are, just as you are
• it's OK to love who you are, without apologies

I don't think that a reader can have too many favorite books and Flat-Out Celeste has made the list. Really, there was no doubt. Jessica has given readers something really special with this book and I will recommend it to EVERYONE! LOVED IT!!!

Disclaimer:  I received this e-ARC from Wordsmith Publicity in exchange for my honest review.  I was not compensated in any way other than the e-ARC provided. I have also purchased a copy of this title for my personal library. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Sweetest Thing You Can Sing by C.K. Kelly Martin

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
 
This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

The Sweetest Thing You Can Sing
by C.K. Kelly Martin
Expected Publication Date: September 1, 2014
Published by Dancing Cat Books
Pages: 256
Add to Goodreads








from Goodreads

Losing weight over the summer gains Serena some popularity, but it also means discovering first-hand the pains of being a fifteen-year-old girl in a world that both sexualizes and shames young women. After narrowly avoiding exploitation in a shortlived relationship, Serena aligns with a new friend who was the victim of an explicit image that was shared at school. When Serena finds herself in a relationship with a new guy, she is surprised to find a different set of expectations. But have her previous experiences damaged her too much to make it work? As Serena struggles to find who she is as opposed to who she is expected to be, she begins sighting Devin - her older brother who disappeared months earlier.

What are you waiting on this week?

 

Review: The Mean Girl Apologies by Stephanie Monahan

The Mean Girl Apologies

by Stephanie Monahan

Publication Date: June 2, 2014

Published by Entangled Embrace

Pages: 200

Source:Publisher

Add to Goodreads

Purchase Amazon / B&N 

from Goodreads

You know that catchy song you keep hearing on the radio? It’s about you.

Natalie Jamison has spent five years trying to forget the girl she was in high school: popular, pretty…and, okay, mean. Now in her twenties and living once again in her small town, she’s right back where she was: following Queen Bee Amber and keeping secrets from her best friend, Sarah.

Secrets like Jack Moreland.

Everyone knows Jack Moreland—his new album, Good Enough, is everywhere. He’s famous. Impossibly handsome. Completely untouchable. But what none of Natalie’s old clique knows is that in high school, Natalie and Jack fell in love. And their secret relationship was incredible, painful—and earth-shattering enough to inspire an entire album.

Facing friends and enemies isn’t easy, but Natalie will go to great lengths to prove she is good enough—to her friends, to herself, and most of all, to the small-town boy turned worldwide heartthrob she never forgot.

My Thoughts

The title, The Mean Girl Apologies, grabbed my attention and as soon as the book made it on my Kindle, I devoured it. I admit this is a rare occurrence. Usually I will have a book for a few days or weeks before I start reading it, but I immediately had to know Natalie and Jack and their story. I had to know how their love fell apart and why Jack had to write a song about her. The story satisfied my curiosity and I loved it from start to finish.

The opening scene of Natalie and her high school friends in a bridal shop was a great way to begin the story. We get to see the dynamics of Natalie's friendships right off and how the girls interact with each other. Natalie is torn between who she is now and who she was when she was still friends with these girls. Time and distance made her become someone else. Does she want to go back?

One of my favorite parts of the book was the set up of chapters with lyrics from Jack Moreland's songs. Each song referred back to a memory of Natalie and Jack's hidden relationship. I loved finding out their story and how they ended up falling in and then out of love. Jack Moreland is a boy to fall in love with, there's no doubt about that.

I thought that there would be a lot more "mean-girl antics" between Natalie and her old high-school friends and it was a relief that those old tendencies weren't there. It proved that Natalie had grown beyond her high school days. Readers can take from this book is that an apology can be powerful. Being able to admit that you are wrong and asking for forgiveness isn't a weakness, and the ability to forgive yourself is just as important as being forgiven.

The Mean Girl Apologies really clicked with me. I loved the background love story, the friendship between Natalie and her fan-fiction writer/co-worker Gillian, and Natalie finding her voice as a reformed mean girl. This book gets a five-book (star) rating from me. A highly recommended fun read.

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

It's Release Day!! The Mean Girl Apologies by Stephanie Monahan

It's Release Day

The Mean Girl Apologies by Stephanie Monahan

from Entangled Embrace

I read this last week and loved it! Check back for my review.

The digital book is on sale for just $.99 for a limited time so be sure to pick up your copy today before it goes back to full price!

The Mean Girl Apologies

by Stephanie Monahan

Publisher: Entangled Embrace

Pub. Date: June 2, 2014

Find it: 
Goodreads, Amazon, B&N

About the Book

You know that catchy song you keep hearing on the radio?

It’s about you. 

Natalie Jamison has spent five years trying to forget the girl she was in high school: popular, pretty…and, okay, mean. Now in her twenties and living once again in her small town, she’s right back where she was: following Queen Bee Amber and keeping secrets from her best friend, Sarah.

Secrets like Jack Moreland. 

Everyone knows Jack Moreland—his new album, Good Enough, is everywhere. He’s famous. Impossibly handsome. Completely untouchable. But what none of Natalie’s old clique knows is that in high school, Natalie and Jack fell in love. And their secret relationship was incredible, painful—and earth-shattering enough to inspire an entire album.

Facing friends and enemies isn’t easy, but Natalie will go to great lengths to prove she is good enough—to her friends, to herself, and most of all, to the small-town boy turned worldwide heartthrob she never forgot.

Follow the blog tour HERE!

(Starts 6/2)

Find Stephanie Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook