Cover Reveal: The Lie by Karina Halle

     

The Lie
By Karina Halle
Release Date: February 15, 2016

Their love led to a lie. Their truth led to the end. Scottish enigma Brigs McGregor is crawling out from the ashes. After losing his wife and son in a car accident - and, subsequently, his job - he's finally moving forward with his life, securing a prestigious teaching position at the University of London and starting a new chapter in the city. Slowly, but surely, he's pushing past the guilt and putting his tragic past behind him. Until he sees her. Natasha Trudeau once loved a man so much she thought she'd die without him. But their love was wrong, doomed from the start, and when their world crashed around them, Natasha was nearly buried in the rubble. It took years of moving on to forget him, and now that she's in London, she's ready to start over again. Until she sees him. Because some loves are too dangerous to ever rekindle. And some loves are too powerful to ignore. Can you ever have a second chance at a love that ruined you? The Lie is a second-chance romance with a dark, forbidden twist.  

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About the Author

With her USA Today Bestselling The Artists Trilogy published by Grand Central Publishing, numerous foreign publication deals, and self-publishing success with her Experiment in Terror series, Vancouver-born Karina Halle is a true example of the term "Hybrid Author." Though her books showcase her love of all things dark, sexy and edgy, she's a closet romantic at heart and strives to give her characters a HEA...whenever possible.

Karina holds a screenwriting degree from Vancouver Film School and a Bachelor of Journalism from TRU. Her travel writing, music reviews/interviews and photography have appeared in publications such as Consequence of Sound, Mxdwn and GoNomad Travel Guides. She currently lives on an island on the coast of British Columbia where she’s preparing for the zombie apocalypse with her fiancé and rescue pup. 

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Waiting on Wednesday (223)

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

Wicked Heart (Starcrossed #3)

By Leisa Rayven

Release Date: May 3, 2016

Liam Quinn is talented, gorgeous, and one of the biggest movie stars in the world. 

He's also the only man Elissa Holt has ever truly loved. 

After being out of her life for six years, he and his gorgeous fiancé are set to star in the new Broadway show Elissa is stage managing. The only trouble is, when late night rehearsals bring Elissa and Liam together, the line between what is and what could have been gets blurred, and one moment of weakness will lead to a scandal that echoes around the world.

Elissa knows that falling for Liam again would be a tragedy in the making, but as any good romantic will tell you, love doesn’t always follow the script.

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Words can't even begin to describe how much I loved Bad Romeo when I read it this summer. I fell head over heels for Ethan and was obsessed with the story while I was reading it. I haven't had the chance to read the second book yet, but when I saw that the third book was going to be about Elissa, I freaked out. I loved Elissa's character in Bad Romeo and can't wait to see how her own romance will turn out in this work. Hopefully I can catch up with this series before this third book comes out in May! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Most Anticipated Releases for the First Half of 2016

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: Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the First Half of 2016

1. When We Collide by Emery Lord

2. The Score by Elle Kennedy

3. The Year We Fell Apart by Emily Martin

4. In Real Life by Jessica Love 

5. Wanderlost by Jen Malone

6. The Last Time We Were Us by Leah Konen

7. Starflight by Melissa Landers

8. Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

9. Wicked Heart by Leisa Rayven

10. Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum

Stacking the Shelves (175)

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

From TBTB Secret Santa

Every year, I get the most AMAZING TBTB Secret Santa gifts ever. And I mean EVER. Danielle from Bookish in Texas sent me FIVE books! I am blown away by how thoughtful her choices were and how amazing she is for spoiling me like that. I am beyond excited for all of the books she sent, but the icing on the cake is definitely the beautiful version of My True Love Gave to Me. I actually got the US version as a secret santa gift last year, but I have been lusting after this gorgeous blue copy ever since I saw it over a year ago. And now I own a copy! I cannot that Danielle enough for being the best secret santa ever! 

From Santa

I had a lovely bookish Christmas this year! My sister got me the pillow from Bookworm Botique's shop on Society6. Then, Santa got me some things from my wish list and I was so excited!! I got the gorgeous Jamie Pop! Funko and can't wait to add him to my bookshelves. Santa also got me See Me and The Mistake, two books I have been dying to get my hands on. I am so very thankful for Santa and my sister for these amazon gifts :) 

Christmas Gift

 

My friend Sarah is amazing and got me Cinder by Marissa Meyer and an Anna Pop Funko! from Frozen to go with my Kristoff Pop! Funko that I had gotten a couple of weeks earlier. I can't thank Sarah enough for the amazing Christmas gift! Then, yesterday, we exchanged gifts with my brother and his fiancé and they surprised me with a personalized copy of Gone Girl! They had seen Gillian Flynn speak about a month ago and had her sign a book for me! I was definitely surprised and very excited!! 

That's it for me! What did you all add to your shelves this week? 

Book Review: The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

The Bronze Horseman 

By Paullina Simons

Release Date: January 1, 1997

Source: Own Copy

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The golden skies, the translucent twilight, the white nights, all hold the promise of youth, of love, of eternal renewal. The war has not yet touched this city of fallen grandeur, or the lives of two sisters, Tatiana and Dasha Metanova, who share a single room in a cramped apartment with their brother and parents. Their world is turned upside down when Hitler's armies attack Russia and begin their unstoppable blitz to Leningrad.

Yet there is light in the darkness. Tatiana meets Alexander, a brave young officer in the Red Army. Strong and self-confident, yet guarding a mysterious and troubled past, he is drawn to Tatiana—and she to him. Starvation, desperation, and fear soon grip their city during the terrible winter of the merciless German siege. Tatiana and Alexander's impossible love threatens to tear the Metanova family apart and expose the dangerous secret Alexander so carefully protects—a secret as devastating as the war itself—as the lovers are swept up in the brutal tides that will change the world and their lives forever.

Words can't even begin to explain how hyped this book is. I've had this book on my shelves for awhile and decided to finally take the plunge during Christmas break. Since I love romances, I was ready to be blown away by the incredible romance so many people describe this book to have… 

Tatiana Metanova has always been close to her family and they are all she has. Sharing two bedrooms with her parents, grandparents, older sister Dasha, and twin brother Pasha, Tatiana is used to sacrificing some things for the good of the family. What she doesn't expect to have to sacrifice, though, is the love of her life. From the moment they laid eyes on each other, the young Army officer Alexander cannot deny the intense attraction he and Tatiana have. When they go home together, though, Tatiana learns that Alexander is the soldier Dasha had recently revealed as the love of HER life. As war arrives and torments Russia, Tatiana must give up her soldier for her sister, but their love proves to be stronger than any war. 

Like I said, I had very high expectations for the romance in this book. Unfortunately, I didn't end up enjoying this book as much as it seems everyone else has. First off, I was annoyed with how naive and young Tatiana seemed in the beginning. A huge part of her character was about how naive she was, but I just got annoyed with her and how she acted like she was 12 instead of 17. She did definitely mature by the end of the book, but I wasn't enjoying her character in the beginning. I also hated her reasonings for not putting herself first. I got that she loves her family, but come on! There is only so much a girl is expected to give up before she should be able to do something for herself. 

As a historical book (it takes place during WWII), it is definitely realistic in what the citizens of a war torn country go through. That being said, though, parts of this book dragged on when Tatiana was trying to survive in the city. I understand the author is trying to be realistic, but I felt like parts of this book dragged on way too much and I was just bored. Only a year goes by in the 800 pages of this book and I think a lot of things could have been fast forwarded instead of reiterated over and over again. 

While many people have described this romance as heart wrenching, I was more annoyed with the trials Tatiana and Alexander went through. They were so frustrating with how they acted towards each other and how much they doubted each other. It's like they both wanted to sabotage their relationship at points and I was just annoyed and wanted to yell at them to just get over themselves. The trials they went through were more annoying than heart wrenching. 

Overall, this was a severe disappointment. I struggled through the 800 pages and was so happy when it was finally over. Don't get me wrong, the whole war aspect was very eye-opening and realistic, but I was not a fan of the romance and just couldn't get behind the decisions the characters made. I went back and forth between a 2 and a 3 star rating, but the potential for an amazing story was there, it just didn't completely click with me.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like #Grinchmas

I'm a sucker for Christmas. Everyone who knows me knows that as soon as Thanksgiving ends, it is Christmas season all the way until New Year's Day. I love everything about Christmas-- the lights, the trees, and most importantly, the presents! 

Random House contacted me about their #Grinchmas campaign and I knew that I had to be a part of it! They released this adorable box set of a plush Grinch, a copy of How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, and a Good Deed journal. 

About the Set

The First-Ever Good Deed Journal and Grinch Plush!

Children of all ages can read the iconic story while they cuddle with the iconic character whose heart grows three sizes when he learns the true meaning of Christmas.  And with room to record the details of 25 good deeds, the 32-page paperback GOOD DEED JOURNAL is the perfect way to encourage children to grow their own hearts by helping others—and a keepsake in the making! This special new boxed set is available in stores and retails at $32.99. 

Nationwide Costume Tour!

The Grinch-mas celebration continues with the robust return of the Costume & Storytime Tour. This year, 58 different venues across the country are participating! The complete list of locations and times can be found at Seussville.com 

“25 Days of Good Deeds” Sweepstakes!

Visit GrinchGoodDeeds.com every day leading up to Christmas during the “25 Days of Good Deeds” to share your child’s good deeds. For every deed shared, Random House Children’s Books will donate a book to a child in need through First Book. Plus, your child will be entered to win a special “Grinch Daily Gift” from Random House Kids and our charitable sponsors. We also invite you to share your child’s good deeds on Facebook and Twitter to help inspire others by using #Grinchmas and #GrowYourHeart.

I absolutely LOVE this box set! The first thing I adore about this set is the Grinch himself. He is just so cute! I love his little grin and his santa hat…it's the perfect Christmas decoration for my bookshelves! Secondly, everyone needs to own a copy of the classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The story is impossible not to love and the illustrations are whimsical and perfect for the story. Lastly, the Good Deeds journal is a super cute activity to do with kids. There is room to record 25 good deeds in order to win "The Grinch's Good Deed Badge" that can be cut out of the back of the journal. How adorable is that? I love how Dr. Suess's beloved book is encouraging kids to do good deeds, especially when so many good deeds are popping up on social media for the holiday season. While children don't need to pay thousands of dollars to cover people's layaway costs at Walmart, it's important to teach them that it's important to give back, no matter how small. Overall, this Grinch box set is the perfect gift for little ones and is sending an important message to children everywhere. 

Waiting on Wednesday (222)

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

The Angels' Share (The Bourbon Kings #2)

By JR Ward

Release Date: July 25, 2016

In Charlemont, Kentucky, the Bradford family is the crème de la crème of high society—just like their exclusive brand of bourbon. And their complicated lives and vast estate are run by a discrete staff who inevitably become embroiled in their affairs. This is especially true now, when the apparent suicide of the family patriarch is starting to look more and more like murder…

No one is above suspicion—especially the eldest Bradford son, Edward. The bad blood between him and his father is known far and wide, and he is aware that he could be named a suspect. As the investigation into the death intensifies, he keeps himself busy at the bottom of a bottle—as well as with his former horse trainer’s daughter. Meanwhile, the family’s financial future lies in the perfectly manicured hands of a business rival, a woman who wants Edward all to herself.

Everything has consequences; everybody has secrets. And few can be trusted. Then, at the very brink of the family’s demise, someone thought lost to them forever returns to the fold. Maxwell Bradford has come home. But is he a savior...or the worst of all the sinners?

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Oh. My. Gosh. It's Edward's story! Or at least that's what I'm assuming from the synopsis. I absolutely loved The Bourbon Kings and was hooked from book one. One of my favorite parts about the book was that we got to follow the main couple, but were also given bits and pieces of the other Bradford siblings. I really enjoyed Edward's character and wanted him to have his happily ever after so bad. Hopefully he can get one in this book! And hopefully this book is just as addicting and scandal-filled as the first one! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Wouldn't MInd Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year

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: Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year

Ughhhh what books do I not want for Christmas, because that list would probably be shorter than the list of books I really want. Haha, but that's just the problem of pretty much every book blogger. Every year, I have a list of 5 or 6 books on my Christmas list and Santa always surprises me with a couple of books from there. So much thought goes into this list because I have to think of the books I really really really want and cannot live without. So, without further ado, here are some of the books I asked Santa for this year! 

1. The Mistake by Elle Kennedy

2. After You by Jojo Moyes

3. Until Friday Night by Abbi Glines

4. Unfixable by Tessa Bailey

5. See Me by Nicholas Sparks

6. Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan

7. Before We Were Strangers by Renee Carlino

8. Play On by Michelle Smith

9. Between the Notes by Sharon Huss Roat

10. Thing We Know By Heart by Jessi Kirby

Stacking the Shelves (174)

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

Bought Myself

I went to Half Price Books to return a book that I had bought for my Secret Sister but realized she already had. Of course, I ended up buying books for myself…but I couldn't help it! Chosen At Nightfall is the last book in the series by CC Hunter and the only book in the series that I don't own. And it was on sale for $1. Then, Asa was on clearance for only $2! I have two of the books in the series, so I couldn't pass up on that one. Lastly, I found Unwrapped at the Dollar Tree and decided to get it. I love Erin McCarthy and Kate Angell and thought it would be the perfect holiday themed book to read this Christmas. 

From OTSP Secret Sister

I received my December OTSP Secret Sister package and it is definitely the best one yet! My Secret Sister sent me a copy of A Darker Shade of Magic, which I am so excited for! Then, she sent me a Barnes and Noble gift card, an adorable cat mug, and an ornament for me AND my sister! How sweet is that? My sister loves the ornament and I am flipping out over the adorable mug. Thank you thank you thank you secret sister! You're the best! 

That's it for me! What did you add to your shelves this week?