Cover Reveal: When You Are Mine and Loving You Always by Kennedy Ryan

Today, I am very excited to be a part of the cover reveal of Kennedy Ryan's two novels coming out this year, When You Are Mine and Loving You Always. These two look like they're going to be pretty steamy romances, and I can't wait! Onto the books…

When You Are Mine

By Kennedy Ryan

Release Date: June 17, 2014

Summary: Forever is a heartbeat away . . .

Kerris Moreton knows how to make things work. Bounced from foster home to foster home as a kid, she adapted; when opportunity arose, she thrived. Now, about to open her own business and accept a marriage proposal, Kerris is ready to build the life she's always wanted. The only thing missing? A passionate connection with her would-be fiancé, Cam. Kerris wants to believe that sparks are overrated-until Walsh Bennett lights her up like the Fourth of July.

. . . but what about love?

As one of the East Coast's most eligible bachelors, Walsh enjoys financial independence, fulfilling work with his family's nonprofit, and plenty of female attention. But lately he's been distracted by the one woman he can't have. Lovely to look at and even sweeter to know, Kerris is the soul mate Walsh never thought he would find. The problem is, his best friend found her first . . .

Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Goodreads

Loving You Always

By Kennedy Ryan 

Release Date: October 17, 2014

Summary: Book two in The Bennett’s Series. We don’t want to spoil anything, so you’ll just have to wait to see what happens with Kerris, Walsh and Cam in When You Are Mine first!

Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Goodreads

About the Author

Author Kennedy Ryan has had several signs that she would be a writer, and finally circled back after years of gainful employment. She is a mom to a wonderful son living with autism. This is her debut novel and a percentage of her royalties are donated to families living with autism through her personal foundation as well as through TACA, Talk About Curing Autism. You can learn more about Kennedy Ryan at her Website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Follow My Book Blog Friday (125)

This is a meme hosted every Friday by Parajunkee, where book bloggers answer a question each week and check out how others answered it. It's a cool way for bloggers and viewers to connect and learn more about each other!

Question: Change the plot. If you could, what book would you change the ending or a plot thread? Go ahead and do it…change it. 

Answer: This is actually a REALLY hard question. As mad as I get at books, I wouldn't love them as much if they always went they way I wanted them to. We all want the perfect, happy ending, but do you know how boring books would be if they were all perfect? If I had to change a book, though, I would change…

Persuasion by Jane Austen. I wouldn't change the story for me, but for the main characters. I wish that Anne had gone ahead and just married Wentworth when she was 19, instead of wasting EIGHT YEARS of her life by not marrying him because Lady Russell didn't think he was rich enough. They could have had eight more years together, but Anne had to go and throw those eight years away before realizing that she really did want to be with Wentworth. But, if they had gotten together when they were supposed to, we wouldn't even have this novel. So I guess it's perfect just the way it is.

Blog Tour/Review: Fates by Lanie Bross

Fates

By Lanie Bross

Release Date: February 11, 2014

Source: Blog Tour

Summary: Perfect for fans of Jennifer Armentrout, Julie Kagawa, Rachel Vincent, and Sarah J. Maas, and for girls who love all things pretty, romantic and inspirational.

One moment. One foolish desire. One mistake. And Corinthe lost everything.

She fell from her tranquil life in Pyralis Terra and found herself exiled to the human world. Her punishment? To make sure people's fates unfold according to plan. Now, years later, Corinthe has one last assignment: kill Lucas Kaller. His death will be her ticket home.

But for the first time, Corinthe feels a tingle of doubt. It begins as a lump in her throat, then grows toward her heart, and suddenly she feels like she is falling all over again--this time for a boy she knows she can never have. Because it is written: one of them must live, and one of them must die. In a universe where every moment, every second, every fate has already been decided, where does love fit in?

Review: One look at this cover, and I knew that this was a book I had to read. Just look at how gorgeous it is! And I loved the idea of how the main character is actually one of the people who carry out fate in the world. I thought it would be fun to see fate from the other side of the spectrum. 

For the past 10 years, Corinthe has been living on Earth, carrying out the fates that she has been sent through tiny marbles. Now, Corinthe only has one more fate to complete before she can finally return to the home she was banished from so many years ago. The only problem, though, is that this fate involves Luc, a boy Corinthe has started to feel things for that she's never felt before. Can Corinthe kill Luc in order to return home? The fates say only one of them can live, but can they fight that fate? 

Like I said, this book sounded so cool. It reminded me of The Adjustment Bureau with Matt Damon, only from the perspective of the people who actually work the system of fate. I liked Corinthe and Luc enough, but the whole world they live in and the journey they go on is a pretty confusing one. Only a small portion of the book actually takes place on Earth during human time, while the rest takes place in different universes with crossroads and really strange creatures/people. Maybe I read through it too fast, but I often found myself confused as to where exactly the characters were, and how they and gotten there in the first place. I think that too much happened in such a short time frame, so it was hard to keep everything straight. 

While this whole book is basically centered around Luc and Corinthe's romance, I didn't feel the connection as much as I wanted to. They would talk about how they felt this strange pull towards each other, but they never really got to know each other. Yeah, they had one conversation about their troubled lives, but that was it. I wish that they had gotten to know each other more in the beginning when they were still on Earth, instead of instantly falling in love and risking everything for each other. Corinthe may have been conflicted over her feeling and not completely willing to let them rule her decisions right away, but I just wanted a stronger, more realistic connection. 

Overall, the idea behind Fates was very intriguing and I loved how the ending left me begging for more. During the story, though, I wanted more from the relationship and was left hanging as the characters went through universe after universe without taking a breath. If you are a fan of fantasy and mythology, I'd say give Fates a try when you can, just be prepared to focus and really pay attention to this unique world where fate is a carefully constructed plan that is not supposed to change, no matter what. 

Waiting On Wednesday (132)

This is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where every Wednesday bloggers highlight a book that they are eagerly anticipating the release of!

Boys Like You

By Juliana Stone

Release Date: May 1, 2014

Summary: One mistake.

And everything changes.

For Monroe Blackwell, one small mistake has torn her family apart –leaving her empty and broken. There’s a hole in her heart that nothing can fill. That no one can fill. And a summer in Louisiana with her Grandma isn’t going to change that…

Nathan Everets knows heartache first-hand when a car accident leaves his best friend in a coma. And it’s his fault. He should be the one lying in the hospital. The one who will never play guitar again. He doesn’t deserve forgiveness, and a court-appointed job at the Blackwell B&B isn’t going to change that…

Captivating and hopeful, this achingly poignant novel brings together two lost souls struggling with grief and guilt – looking for acceptance, so they can find forgiveness.

-------------------------------------

Oh gosh, how heart-wrenchingly emotional does this book sound? I wonder what it was that Monroe did that tore her family apart? Did it have to do with Nathan's accident? They both sound like they have some pretty deep emotions to deal with, and it sounds like they're the only ones who can help each other heal. And the fact that Nathan's a musician doesn't hurt either. I can't wait to dig into this one!

Movie Review: Non-Stop

Non-Stop

Director: Jaume Collet-Serra

Release Date: February 28, 2014

Summary: An air marshal springs into action during a transatlantic flight after receiving a series of text messages that put his fellow passengers at risk unless the airline transfers $150 million into an off-shore account.

Review: Wow, guys. Just…wow. I was so lucky to be able to see an early screening of this movie at a theater just off campus. A friend from one of my classes is in charge of the early screenings and got me a couple of tickets. When I heard they were showing Non-Stop, to say I was excited is a huge understatement. Kick-butt action movies are my favorite, and I knew that Liam Neeson was going to kick some serious butt in his newest movie. 

During a flight to London, air marshal Bill Marks receives a text message on the secure air marshal line. The mystery texter is demanding $150 million to be wired to an off-shore account. Oh, and while Bill figures out how to transfer the money, a passenger will be killed off every 20 minutes. Little does he know, the off-shore account is under Bill's name. Now, no one knows who to trust and Bill has to figure out who's behind the threats before everyone on the plane is dead. 

I knew this was going to be good. But, seriously? It was AMAZING. For the full 106 minutes, I was on the edge of my seat, jumping at every little sound on screen. The mystery and suspense behind the texter draws the audience into the plane right along with Liam Neeson. His character is so complex, that you literally don't know if you can trust him, let alone anyone else on the plane. In that situation, Liam Neeson's character is so paranoid that the bad guy could literally be anyone. I did not predict a single thing that happened in this movie, which made it that much more exciting. 

As an avid Downton Abbey fan, I was most looking forward to Michelle Dockery's performance as an air flight attendant on Liam Neeson's plane. Since they were heading to London, she still had her English accent (yay!), and she did such a good job playing her role. Being on a plane where people are slowly being killed of would be absolutely terrifying, and I think the actors were able to capture those emotions perfectly. I had no idea Julianne Moore was in this movie too, but I loved her character as well. Having to spend an entire flight to London stuck next to the paranoid Liam Neeson? Now that'd be a flight I'd never forget!

Overall, this movie was full of action, suspense, and a whole lot of mystery. You never know who to trust and Liam Neeson pulls no stops when it comes to taking down the bad guys. Any fan of action movies has to see this one. There wasn't a dull moment and nothing was completely revealed until the very end, which made the movie so much more engaging and thrilling. Seeing this movie made me face the simple truth: You just don't mess with Liam Neeson. 

Launch Day Blitz: Undone by Shannon Richard

Undone 

By Shannon Richard

Release Date: February 25, 2014

Summary: 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?

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.

About the Author

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.

Website // Goodreads // Facebook // Twitter // Amazon // Barnes and Noble // iTunes 

Top Ten Tuesday: REWIND!

This is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where each week bloggers share a list of books for the prompt given. So hopefully I'll have a new list to share with you all each week!

This Week's Topic: Books on my shelf that I've been dying to read

This week is a rewind week, but instead of choosing a past topic, I decided to make up my own. Just looking at my bookshelf, there are books I've been dying to read but haven't had the time to read. I bought them with every intention of reading them right away, but reviewing and life gets in the way, so I have yet to read these books I couldn't wait to get my hands on. Here's a list of the top ten books I have sitting on my shelf that really, really, really want to read but just haven't had the time to…

1. How to Love by Katie Cotugno

2. Sweet Thing by Renee Carlino

3. Love, Rosie by Cecilia Ahern

4. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchel

5. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

6. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

7. A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin

8. Looking for Alaska by John Green

9. Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple

10. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 

Weekly Roundup [2/18-2/24]

Another week has come and gone, and boy did this one fly by! I was able to finally visit home after four weeks of being away at school. I spent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday spending some quality time with my parents and sister. I had such a fantastic time with them and, as always, the time went by way too fast. Since I was spending so much time with them, though, I barely had time to read! I did, however, finally go through all of the books I've received from the past four weeks. And I am SO EXCITED for the books I got. I don't even know where I'm going to begin. Hopefully I find some time to spend with my books in-between homework and classes this week….

Book Reviews

The Fever Tree by Jennifer McVeigh

Time After Time by Tamara Ireland Stone

Memes

Top Ten Tuesday: Reasons I Love Being a Blogger/Reader

Waiting On Wednesday (131)

Follow My Book Blog Friday (124)

Stacking the Shelves (89)

Miscellaneous

Excerpt Reveal: Best Kind of Broken by Chelsea Fine

Stacking the Shelves (89)

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where bloggers share what they got throughout the week!

From Publisher

Oh my gosh. So. Many. Books. I came home Thursday for the first time in a month (about 4 weeks), and all of these lovely books were waiting for me! My mother is the best person in the entire world because every time a package comes, she opens it up, snaps a picture to send me, and keeps the books in a neat pile for me when I come home. So I knew all of these goodies were waiting for me, it was just a matter of waiting until I could finally come home for a weekend to collect them all. And I finally have them! They all look so good and I have no idea which one I'm going to read first. All I know is that I definitely have a lot of reading ahead of me!