It's Release Day!! FRACTURED LINES by Jen McLaughlin

Fractured Lines by Jen McLaughlin is available today! This is an adult, standalone novel that is part of the Out of Line series. Be sure to check out the links below and the contest for some hand-made items by Jen!

   

BOOK BLURB: The lines we once crossed so easily have widened and torn us apart… Once upon a time I thought Finn and I would live happily ever after, but real life doesn't always have a happy ending. He's testing my trust, and I'm losing faith in the man I thought I'd spend the rest of my life with, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. He’s the one I trusted to keep me safe, but now he’s the source of my greatest pain… Forgiveness is fragile, and some fractures never fully heal... One mistake—a slip in a moment of weakness—might cost me everything I've worked so hard for. The thing about trust is that it's a lot easier to lose than it is to build. Just as I'm about to give up and surrender to the demons from my past, an unexpected threat reminds me what I'm best at: protecting the woman I love. Whether or not she wants me, I will fight for Carrie and our daughter, and I will keep them safe—no matter the cost. Even if I have to put my life and my heart on the line.  

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1r4c81A

Kobo Link: http://bit.ly/1CB7bB4

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway       Jen McLaughlin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy New Adult books. Under her pen name Diane Alberts, she is a multi-published, bestselling author of Contemporary Romance with Entangled Publishing. Her first release as Jen McLaughlin, Out of Line, released September 6 2013, and hit the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal lists. She was mentioned in Forbes alongside E. L. James as one of the breakout independent authors to dominate the bestselling lists. She is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal-clear water. Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal-clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, and a cat. Her goal is to write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

Website: http://dianealberts.com/ 
Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/DianeAlberts6 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DianeAlberts 
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6921962.Jen_McLaughlin   

 

Stacking the Shelves (25)

This week I'm joining Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews and sharing the books that I acquired throughout the past week.

Scholastic Book Order and Harlequin Teen

from my local used bookstore

Thanks Liza from Who RU Blog!

The Summer of Letting Go by Gae Polisner (Purchased)
The Murmurings by Carly Ann West (Purchased)
Nicholas Dane by Melvin Burgess (Purchased)
Wish Me Tomorrow by Karen Rock (Purchased)
Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park (audiobook; Purchased)
Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley (For Review/Promotion)
My Nest Isn't Empty, It Just Has More Closet Space by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella (Won)
Meet Me at Emotional Baggage Claim by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella (Won
Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog by Lisa Scottoline (Won)
Best Friends, Occasional Enemies by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella (Won)
Have a Nice Guilt Trip by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella (Won)

Love My Indie Bookstore with Author Joanne Rock

Love My Indie is a feature where fellow bloggers, readers, and authors share their favorite independent bookstores. I love the feeling I get when I go into an independent bookstore - like it is filled with hidden treasures just waiting for me to find them.

Showing some Indie Love today is:

Author Joanne Rock

The first time you visit Flying Pig Books in Shelburne, VT, you know you’re somewhere special. The store carries 35,000 titles, but co-owners Elizabeth Bluemle and Josie Leavitt seem familiar with everyone of them, deftly steering each customer toward a book they’ll love based on favorite past reads. Tell Josie, Elizabeth, or any one of their book-passionate staff what kind of book you’re in the mood for and you’ll soon have a highly personalized suggested reading list of other releases you might enjoy.

Personal, friendly, book-savvy attention is just one of the reasons I love my indie store. Flying Pig Books is also an advocate for local authors, making sure their customers know about working writers in their area. As an author, I’ve visited lots of bookstores for signings, but my visit to Flying Pig was the first time I’d been greeted with balloons and a chalkboard in front of the store where Elizabeth sat with chalk in hand, writing a message for passers-by about the signing. I’m not John Grisham—I don’t see red carpet treatment from most booksellers, but Flying Pig made me feel like a star for the day. Even better, I know they talked about my visit to customers throughout the week, boosting my visibility with regional readers.

Karen and Joanne Rock, aka J.K. Rock signing at Flying Pig

Another reason I love my indie store… you can’t beat it for shopping ambiance. Housed in the former Shelburne Inn,  Flying Pig has lots of nooks and turns high shelves and smartly organized sections. This is the kind of store that makes you want to take your time browsing. There are benches, chairs, and quiet spots to flip through pages. And since the store is run by dedicated readers, everyone here appreciates the fun of that. You’ll never be rushed. I like to make a day of it and then visit the Bearded Frog restaurant next door for an amazing dinner or drinks with my shopping partner. It’s a good spot to admire all your beautiful book purchases and anticipate settling in to read.

Visit Elizabeth and Josie’s Shelftalker blog for Publisher’s Weekly. Follow Flying Pig Books on Facebook and Twitter.

**Follow romance & YA author Joanne Rock on Twitter and Facebook.

Waiting on Wednesday: ALL THE RAGE by Courtney Summers

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:

ALL THE RAGE 
by Courtney Summers
Publication Date: April 14, 2015
Published by St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 336
Add to Goodreads








(from Goodreads)

In her hardcover debut, from the author of Cracked Up To Be and This is Not a Test, comes a powerful new young adult novel.　

The sheriff’s son, Kellan Turner, is not the golden boy everyone thinks he is, and Romy Grey knows that for a fact. Because no one wants to believe a girl from the wrong side of town, the truth about him has cost her everything—friends, family, and her community. Branded a liar and bullied relentlessly by a group of kids she used to hang out with, Romy’s only refuge is the diner where she works outside of town. No one knows her name or her past there; she can finally be anonymous.But when a girl with ties to both Romy and Kellan goes missing after a party, and news of him assaulting another girl in a town close by gets out, Romy must decide whether she wants to fight or carry the burden of knowing more girls could get hurt if she doesn’t speak up. Nobody believed her the first time—and they certainly won’t now—but the cost of her silence might be more than she can bear.　

With a shocking conclusion and writing that will absolutely knock you out, All the Rage examines the shame and silence inflicted upon young women after an act of sexual violence, forcing us to ask ourselves: In a culture that refuses to protect its young girls, how can they survive?

Why I'm Waiting

I read this excerpt and it was written beautifully and it's sad and told a story all on its own. Courtney Summers has something to say and it's time we start paying attention. 

Review: The Sweetest Thing You Can Sing by C.K. Kelly Martin

The Sweetest Thing You Can Sing

by C.K. Kelly Martin

Publication Date: September 1, 2014

Published by Dancing Cat Books

Pages: 217

Source: Xpresso Book Tours

Add to Goodreads

Purchase Amazon / B&N 

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.

My Thoughts

C.K. Kelly Martin has a way of stirring up emotions in a subtle, quiet way that you don't even realizing that it is happening until it consumes you. She has done this once again with The Sweetest Thing You Can Sing. With her story, she captures the experiences of a girl growing up, figuring out what she wants, and finding her voice.

I loved the varied relationships throughout the book. We get to see Serena with her parents and learn of their new family dynamic after her older has left home. We see Serena with her oldest brother - the golden boy - as she tries to figure out their relationship. We see the new friendships that develop between a group of girls who are tired of rumors and slut-shaming and want to do something about it. We see a romantic relationship develop between Serena and Gage - the too-cute guy who stops in her place of work. Through all of these relationships we get to know Serena and her fears and doubts and her insecurities, but we also get to see her strengths and her convictions as she attempts to figure out who she is and what she wants.

The relationship that develops between Serena and Gage is complicated. There is attraction and intimacy. There are misunderstandings and hurt feelings. They have their secrets and half-truths (and even some lies), but eventually there is communication. They discussed wants and desires and boundaries and limits in a way that was genuine. We get to see a real friendship develop between them and see how funny they are together as they fall for each other.

I remember what a confusing age fifteen was with trying figure out what I wanted, what I should want, and questioning my friendships. I could see parts of my teenage self in Serena. She isn't perfect, and I think that is why I liked her so much.

I loved reading this book and getting to know the characters. I found it to be an emotional and fulfilling story. I hope that other readers will love it just as much as I do.

Disclaimer:  I received this e-ARC from XPresso Book Tours 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.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

AUTHOR BIO

 

C.K. KELLY MARTIN’s bestselling debut novel, I Know It’s Over, was published in 2008. It was followed by One Lonely Degree, The Lighter Side of Life and Death, My Beating Teenage Heart and the sci-fi thriller, Yesterday. A graduate of the Film Studies program at York University, Martin loves good books, movies, music, web design, and Ireland. She currently resides in Oakville, Ontario.

 

 

 

Author Links:
http://www.ckkellymartin.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3015727.C_K_Kelly_Martin

https://www.facebook.com/ckkellymartin

https://twitter.com/CKKellyMartin

Stacking the Shelves (24)

This week I'm joining Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews and sharing the books that I acquired throughout the past two weeks.

From Laurie's book launch at Books of Wonder!

Thanks Heather from Buried in Books!!

Thanks Zest Books!!

Adrenaline Crush by Laurie Boyle Crompton (Purchased)

To Be Perfectly Honest by Sonya Sones (Purchased) - Review

This Girl by Colleen Hoover (Purchased)

Firecracker by David Iserson (Purchased)

Dare Me by Eric Devine (Gifted)

Of Monsters and Madness by Jessica Verday (Gifted)

Tabula Rasa by Kristen Lippert-Martin (Gifted)

Tomboy by Liz Prince (For Review)

Daisy to the Rescue by Jeff Campbell (Gifted)

not pictured

Stained by Cheryl Rainfield (Purchased; e-book)

Saving Forever by Jasinder Wilder (Purchased/Free; e-book)

Switched by Cassie Mae (Purchased; e-book)

Almost by Anne Eliot (Purchased; e-book)

A Hard Day's Night by Elizabeth Eulberg (Purchased/Free; e-book)

What books did you get this week?

Love My Indie Bookstore with Jen from I Read Banned Books

Love My Indie is a feature where fellow bloggers, readers, and authors share their favorite independent bookstores. I love the feeling I get when I go into an independent bookstore - like it is filled with hidden treasures just waiting for me to find them.

Showing some Indie Love today is:

Jen Bigheart of I Read Banned Books

You've heard the saying "everything is bigger in Texas", right y'all? Well it's true and our festivals and bookstores follow in line. BookPeople in Austin is the largest Indie in Texas and on top of their awesome book store and cafe offerings they are in a partnership with the Texas Book Festival to bring Texas Teen Book Festival, a very cool, very large YA book festival. They host authors like Rick Riordan, John Green, Chelsea Handler, David Sedaris, and everyone in between. They host monthly SCBWI meetings, local author nights, and amazing summer kids camps like Camp Halfblood and Ranger's Apprentice Training Camp. These folks are at the forefront of everything cool in the literary world. 

Texas Book Festival 2012

 

The Texas Teen Book Festival is coming soon! October 18, 2014

Get more information at texasteenbookfestival.org  

Follow on Twitter @TXTeenBookFest

Visit BookPeople online at  http://www.bookpeople.com/

Follow on Twitter @BookPeople

Thank you Jen for sharing your favorite independent bookstore!

Jen Bigheart is the Outreach Supervisor for Westbank Community Libraries, PR Director, Texas Teen Book Festival, blogs at I Read Banned Books and Literary Lonestars. She is also on the YA Literature Symposium Marketing & Planning Task Force, YALSA, and a Young Adult Round Table Social Media Manager for the Texas Library Association.