Cover Reveal: Hidden in Lies by Rachael Duncan

Hidden In Lies 

(Lies and Truth #1)

by Rachael Duncan

Genre: NA Romance

Release Date: February 5, 2015

Who needs love when you have money?

It used to be enough, but now it’s not.

Not since he walked into my life and made me question everything.

Now I want more, but I know that’s impossible.

Things aren’t always as they seem.

My true self is hidden, and that works for me.

Or it did.

I hide in a bed of deception to disguise myself, and I’m good at it.

Or I was.

I’m Elizabeth Fitzgerald.

I’m a Senator’s wife.

And I hate my life.

Amazon Amazon CA Amazon UK Amazon AU

Rachael Duncan is an Army wife living in North Carolina with her husband and two kids. She grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and went on to graduate from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with a bachelor’s degree in political science. After working on Capitol Hill for a short time, she realized that a career in politics just wasn’t for her. A couple years later, she rediscovered her love for reading and writing. She’s the author of Tackled by Love as well.

HOSTED BY:

Top Ten Tuesday: 2014 Releases I Meant To Read in 2014

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This meme was created because they are particularly fond of lists. I am too so that is why I am participating this week.

Top Ten 2014 Releases I Meant to Read in 2014

Camp Forget-Me-Not by J.K. Rock
Nowhere But Here by Renee Carlino

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord 

Wildflower by Alecia Whitaker 

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han 

Gasp by Lisa McMann 

Panic by Lauren Oliver

The One by Kiera Cass

Breakfast Served Anytime by Sarah Combs

It's a good thing that my goal for 2015 is to read books I already own. Looks like I'm all set.

EMBERS by Karen Ann Hopkins: Review and Giveaway

EMBERS

(The Wings of War #1) 

by Karen Ann Hopkins

Publication Date: October 21, 2014

Pages: 357

Add to Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon 

Synopsis 

There are descendants of angels walking among us. Ember is one of them. And she may be the only hope mankind has as the rapture approaches and evils rises.

Embers is an epic paranormal adventure about a seventeen year old girl who discovers that she's immune to fire and any other injury when she’s in a horrific car crash that kills her parents. Following a violent episode with her aunt's boyfriend, Ember flees Ohio to live with an old relative in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Ember's exuberance at escaping a bad home life soon turns to trepidation when she finds out that she's a Watcher, a descendant of angels. While Ember learns about her heritage, and the powers that go along with it, she strikes up friendships with two teenagers who live in a frightening walled compound in the forest. Inexplicitly drawn to one of the young men in particular, an impossible romance develops. But it is cut short when Ember discovers that her new friends are fighting on the opposite side of a war, one that’s been raging between two factions of Watchers for thousands of years. When the compound’s inhabitants threaten the townspeople, Ember takes action, sealing her fate in the ancient battle of good versus evil, and the grayness in between. Ember is up to the challenge, until she realizes that she isn’t only fighting for the lives of the locals and the souls of her new friends. She also might be one of the few champions who will make a stand for all of mankind as the rapture approaches and the end of days begin.

Embers is a dark and gritty YA novel that’s the first book in the series, The Wings of War.

My Thoughts

If you regularly follow my blog, you'll know that I've reviewed all of Karen's published books and jump at the chance to share them with readers. When I discovered that she was starting a new young adult series, I knew immediately that I would read it. I love her stories and the obstacles she places between her main characters. Embers, The Wings of War, is a story about angels and the continuing struggle between good and evil. There is action, adventure, drama, moments of intense horror, and forbidden love.

Going in reading Embers and knowing it is a series, I expected a lot of back story and world building and it was there. I got just enough detail to keep it interesting, but not too much detail that it was overwhelming or distracted from the story. There were a lot of characters introduced and each played their own role in the story. There were situations in the story that reminded me of Twilight (I know there are other books to compare it to, but Twilight is what I initially thought of, and hey, I like Twilight so this is a good thing), especially the histories of the older characters and how their lives influenced what was happening in the current day. 

Embers is a very action driven story. We meet Ember and she is thrust into this new life living with her aunt, going to a new school (for the first time), and she learns that she has powers that she never knew she possessed. She seems to take it all in stride, until she meets the boy from her dream, Sawyer. There is an immediate curiosity which becomes attraction. I wouldn't call it insta-love, because whatever is there, it is a part of them, and it can't be fought.  

The moments between Ember and Sawyer were intense. Sometimes smoldering (read the story and you will understand the pun). I got to see glimpses of who they were, but I wanted to know more about them. I wanted more moments between them when they weren't overwhelmed by the dangerous drama of their lives. I hope that there are more of those "normal" interactions between them in the next book.

There are some unanswered questions (as with any first book of a series), but Embers doesn't end with a major cliffhanger. I know that there is more to the story and expected it to end with an introduction to a new element to the story. And I can say that it makes me wish I had the next book in the series IN MY HANDS RIGHT NOW!  I can't wait to find out what happens!!

Disclaimer:  I received this e-ARC from Kismet Book Touring 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.

 

Giveaway Details:

Prize: e-book copy of Embers by Karen Ann Hopkins

Five winners will be selected

Must be at least 16 years old to enter

Enter by Rafflecopter below 

 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Books I Read in 2014

Here is a recap of all of the books that I read in 2014. I took the time to reread some favorites (I plan to do this in 2015 too) and listened to quite a few audiobooks. Here's the breakdown:

The date listed is when I finished the book.

*Library Book

**Borrowed from a friend

***reread

+ e-book 
# Advanced Reader Copy (ARC)

January
2: Jessica Darling's It List #1 by Megan McCafferty
6: Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando  #
9: Water Tales by Alice Hoffman 
18: The One Left Behind by Lena Nicole +
27: Made of Stars by Kelley York # ***
29: Forever by Karen Ann Hopkins # 

February 
2: The Real Prom Queens of Westfield High by Laurie Boyle Crompton #
4: Everneath by Brodi Ashton
6: Anything to Have You by Paige Harbison 
8: Frigid by J. Lynn +
15: Absent by Katie Williams # ***
18: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
26: His Hometown Girl by Karen Rock #

March
5: First Comes Love by Katie Kacvincsky + ***
9: Second Chance by Katie Kacvinsky + ***
12: Liv, Forever by Amy Talkington #
27: The Secret Side of Empty by Maria E. Andreu
30: Camp Payback by J.K. Rock #

April 
8: This Side of Salvation by Jeri Smith-Ready #
8: Finding My Way by Heidi McLaughlin #
9: Finally, Forever by Katie Kacvinsky #
12: Pretty Little Things by Teresa Mummert +
14: Harp's Song by Cassie Shine #
22: Finding My Way by Heidi Mclaughlin + ***
27: Don't Hate the Player . . . Hate the Game by Katie Ashley +

May
3: Out of Mind by Jen McLaughlin +
7: Royally Lost by Angie Stanton #
11: Breakable by Tammara Webber 
16: The A-Word by Joy Preble #
18: Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano
19: Lamb to the Slaughter by Karen Ann Hopkins #
24: We Were Liars by E. Lockhart #
27: The Mean Girl Apologies by Stephanie Monahan #
29: Just One Night by Gayle Forman +

June 
3: Shattered Lives Mended Hearts by Lena Nicole
6: Blue by Lisa Glass
8: Flat-Out Celeste by Jessica Park +
10: The Possibility of Us by Lisa Burstein #
10: All-Lined Up by Cora Carmack +
14: Stalk Me by Jillian Dodd +
17: Melt by Selene Castrovilla #
17: Orchards by Holly Thompson *
20: Bang by E.K. Blair **
22: Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally 
25: Melt by Selene Castrovilla # ***

July
1: The Possibility of Us by Lisa Burstein + ***
14: Breathe, Annie, Breathe by Miranda Kenneally #
19: The Geography of Girlhood by Kristen Tracy ***
19: Stop Pretending by Sonya Sones ***
19: Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McClosky 
20: Left Drowning by Jessica Park
25: The Sound by Sarah Alderson +
28: Gone by Anna Bloom #
31: Twist Of Fate by Jaime Whitley # 

August
2: You Before Me by Lindsay Paige
10: The Summer of Jake by Rachel Bailey
12: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (audiobook) *
16: One Night That Changed Everything by Lauren Barnholdt (audiobook) *
18: The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone by Adele Griffin #
28: The Reeducation of Savannah McGuire by Heidi McLaughlin +
28: Dare Me by Megan Abbott (audiobook) *
31: Landline by Rainbow Rowell

September
5: Left Drowning by Jessica Park (audiobook) *** 
7: Divergent by Veronica Roth + 
17: The Sound of Us by Ashley Poston +
24: Again by Lisa Burstein +
27: Elevated by Elana Johnson +

October
1: Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan + 
6: The Sweetest Thing You Can Sing by C.K. Kelly Martin #
13: Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (audiobook) *
19: Foreign Exchange by Denise Jaden #
19: Tomboy by Liz Prince
21: Get Happy by Mary Amato #
27: Here With Me by Heidi McLaughlin +


November
1: The Elite by Keira Cass
3: Alice + Freda Forever by Alexis Coe
9: Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
12: Daisy to the Rescue by Jeff Campbell
14: Dating Down by Stefanie Lyons #
18: Fractured Lines by Jen McLaughlin +
19: Left Drowning by Jessica Park (audiobook) ***
22: Bossy Pants by Tina Fey (audiobook) *


December
1: A League of Her Own by Karen Rock #
2: Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper
5: Melt by Selene Castrovilla ***
6: A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall
7: Trapped by Michael Northrop
7: Guitar Notes by Mary Amato
10: Love, Lucy by April Lindner # 
14: 12 Days of Forever (partial novella) by Heidi McLaughlin +
17: Hopeless by Colleen Hoover (audiobook) ***
24: A Soldier's Christmas: Presents Under the Tree by Joanne Rock
28: Top Ten Clues You're Clueless by Liz Czukas

Waiting on Wednesday: NO MORE CONFESSIONS by Louise Rozett

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:

NO MORE CONFESSIONS
(Confessions #3)
by Louise Rozett
Estimated Publication Date: January/February 2015
Published by Harlequin Teen
Pages:
Add to Goodreads






from Goodreads

ROSE ZARELLI is done confessing because ​confessions are for people who have done something wrong. ​And I haven't done anything wrong. Here, I'll prove it to you.

1) After my mother got that call, I “borrowed” her car. (Because you can’t steal your mother’s car, can you?) I don’t really remember driving downtown, but I do remember...

2) …getting past the bouncer at Dizzy’s (I mean, it’s his job to spot a fake ID, so that’s on him)…

​ 3) …and then later, telling my mother the truth about the bar but lying about how I got in. (A truth totally cancels out a lie, right?)

After all, what’s a little duplicity when finding Jamie Forta is the only thing that’s going to keep you from losing what’s left of your mind?

See? Junior year is off to a great start. 

Why I'm Waiting

• I thought the first book of the series was a 5 STAR read.
• I love this character!

Review: LOVE, LUCY by April Lindner

LOVE, LUCY

by April Lindner

Publication Date: January 27, 2015

Published by Poppy

Pages: 304

Source: Publisher

Add to Goodreads

Purchase Amazon / B&N / Indiebound

from Goodreads

While backpacking through Florence, Italy, during the summer before she heads off to college, Lucy Sommersworth finds herself falling in love with the culture, the architecture, the food...and Jesse Palladino, a handsome street musician. After a whirlwind romance, Lucy returns home, determined to move on from her "vacation flirtation." But just because summer is over doesn't mean Lucy and Jesse are over, too.

In this coming-of-age romance, April Lindner perfectly captures the highs and lows of a summer love that might just be meant to last beyond the season.

My Thoughts

Love, Lucy was a great book that I read along with my friends. I hadn't heard much about it before receiving it for the YALLFest Blogger Gathering, but my friends had. Their excitement over this title was contagious and after I started reading it, I understood why. 

There is travel, romance, college life, and self-discovery. I liked seeing Italy through Lucy's eyes and falling in "something" with Jesse Palladino. He definitely is crush-worthy.

One of my favorite terms from Love, Lucy was "vacation flirtation" - referring to the quick romance you experience while on vacation. This sounds like something my best friend and I would have termed.

I liked this story so much. There were times that I wanted more development, more answers to questions that I had about secondary characters, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Five Things I Want to Do After Reading Love, Lucy 

1. Travel abroad. This is a given. Grab a backpack and go!
2. Watch Roman Holiday. Lucy mentions it a few times and recreates a scene for a picture. I've never seen it and now I want to. 
3. Read A Room with a View by E.M. Forster. Love, Lucy is an adaptation 
4. Watch a live musical. Or maybe just sing along loudly to a musical soundtrack. 
5. Read more books by April Lindner.

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

I'm joining the 2015 TBR Pile Challenge!!

One of my goals for 2015 is to read more books that are already on my shelves, so it would make sense to join a challenge that would encourage me to do so. Adam at RoofBeamReader.com is hosting The Official 2015 TBR Pile Challenge. This challenge is in its 6th year, but this is the first year I am joining. If you are interested in joining, you can find all of the details HERE.

For this challenge, I have selected books that I "just had to have" and some review books that I haven't read yet and need to write reviews. While I have some older books that would certainly satisfy the requirement that the book has been on my shelf for more than a year, most of these books were published in 2011 to 2013 (and they have been on my shelf for at least a year).

Here are the books I plan to read and review:

1. Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala
2. The Kid Table by Andrea Seigel
3. The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner
4. Dear Dylan by Siobhan Curham
5. Stargazing from Nowhere by Isabel Thomas
6. Falling for You by Lisa Schroeder
7. And by the Way . . . by Denise Deegan
8. Playing Along by Rory Samantha Green
9. Psych Major Syndrome by Alicia Thompson
10. Accomplice by Eireann Corrigan
11. Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky
12. The Lighter Side of Life and Death by C.K. Kelly Martin

Alternatives:
1. The List by Siobhan Vivian
2.Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott