Review- One Snowy Night by Jill Shalvis

Summary-

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis returns to Heartbreaker Bay with a fun and festive holiday novella!

It’s Christmas Eve and Rory Andrews is desperate to get home to the family she hasn’t seen in years. Problem is, her only ride to Lake Tahoe comes in the form of the annoyingly handsome Max Stranton, and his big, goofy, lovable dog Carl.

Hours stuck in a truck with the dead sexy Max sounds like a fate worse than death (not), but Rory’s out of options. She’s had a crush on Max since high school and she knows he’s attracted to her, too. But they have history… and Max is the only one who knows why it went south.

They’ve done a good job of ignoring their chemistry so far, but a long road trip in a massive blizzard might be just what they need to face their past… and one steamy, snowy night is all it takes to bring Max and Rory together at last. 

Release date: November 8th, 2016

Published by: Avon Impulse

Page numbers: 160

Review-

I love Jill Shalvis and everything she writes. Her books are comfort reads for me so obviously I picked up One Snowy Night which is a novella set in her Heartbreaker Bay series. Now I have to clarify, the last book I read in her Heartbreaker Bay series which was The Trouble with Mistletoe was kind of a disappointment for me. One Snowy Night on the other hand didn't disappoint me but it didn't blow me away either. 

Firstly, I am not very fond of novellas so I knew I had to keep my expectations low for One Snowy Night. This is the story of Rory and Max. Rory is one of the girls whom we'd met in The Trouble With Mistletoe. She works in a pet shop and is in general trying to get her life together. Rory had a hard past. She had some bad experiences which made her wary to trust anyone. I liked Rory. Once we get her backstory its easy to understand her.

Now Rory needs to get home for Christmas. She wants to fulfil the promise she's made to her family. But she's stuck and her only mode of transportation is Max and his adorable dog. Max and Rory have history from high school and its not the good kind. Max is still holding a grudge but Rory is determined to talk it out with him. I liked Max but I didn't find anything super special about him.

Max and Rory are stuck travelling home together and obviously sparks fly in closed quarters. Finally things are cleared up between them and they start seeing each other for who they are in the present. That also comes with accepting their feelings for each other. I liked Jill Shalvis' writing style but I definitely wanted more time with Max and Rory which was just not possible with a novella format. So overall even though I liked One Snowy Night it was an average read for me.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the author/publishers via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Release Day Blitz- Managed by Kristen Callihan

MANAGED

VIP Series

By Kristen Callihan

Release Day: November 14, 2016

It started off as a battle of wits. Me: the ordinary girl with a big mouth against Him: the sexy bastard with a big...ego.

I thought I’d hit the jackpot when I was upgraded to first class on my flight to London.

That is until HE sat down next to me. Gabriel Scott: handsome as sin, cold as ice. Nothing and no one gets to him. Ever. He’s a legend in his own right, the manager of the biggest rock band in the world, and an arrogant ass who looks down his nose at me.

I thought I’d give him hell for one, long flight. I didn’t expect to like him. I didn’t expect to want him. But the biggest surprise? He wants me too. Only in a way I didn’t see coming.

If I accept his proposal, I leave myself open to falling for the one man I can’t manage. But I’m tempted to say yes. Because the real man beneath those perfect suits and that cool façade just might be the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And I just might be the only one who can melt the ice around his heart.

Let the battle begin…  

AMAZON | iBooks | B&N | KOBO | Paperback

          EXCERPT

I stroll toward the bedroom but come to an abrupt halt at the threshold. For a second, I can only gape at the sight that greets me. It’s so shocking, I turn around to check whether there are cameras rolling and I’m being punked.

“Why are you looking about like that?” Gabriel drawls, not taking his eyes from the TV.

“Just checking to make sure I hadn’t wandered into an alternate reality.”

“Amusing as always, Darling.”

Who could blame me for being suspicious? Gabriel Scott is out of his suit and wearing a soft, gray long-sleeve thermal and black sweats. This is shocking enough—but at least I’ve seen it before. The fact that he’s lounging in his bed, while eating some sort of dessert out of a bowl, is what has me flabbergasted.

“You’re staring,” he says dryly as he…

“Are you watching Buffy?” My voice has a tinge of a squeal.

He rolls his eyes. “Deal with it.”

“I’m just so…” My hand flutters to my chest. “Are you sure I’m not being punked?”

A snort escapes him. “You’re not famous, so no. I, on the other hand, have my moments of doubt that you aren’t here to punk me.”

I’m so happy, I have to fight grinning like a loon as I kick off my shoes and crawl onto the end of the bed. “If I were to punk you, I’d change out all your suits for polyester.”

At that, his eyes finally slide to mine, and his skin actually pales. “That’s just cruel, Darling.”

“Stop calling me that.” I steal his spoon.

“It’s your name.”

“Are you sure that’s what you’re calling me by?” I ask suspiciously, as he moves his bowl out of reach.

“What else would I be doing?” There’s a glint in his eye that leads me to answer in a sing-song voice.

“A term of endearment? Declaring your undying lurve for me.”

His nose wrinkles. “You’re going to put me off my pudding.”

“Pudding? Is that what you’re eating?” I lunge for the bowl, but he’s too quick, and I end up sprawled across his chest.

We both go still, me clutching the spoon in one hand, my other palm pressed against the firm swell of his pec, him with one arm still outstretched, his other one pinned beneath me.

His breathing goes deep and strong as he peers down at me. My attention drifts to his lips, beautifully sculpted and softly parted. How would he kiss? Would he start off slow, taking little nibbles, testing the waters? Or would he be the type to go all in, possess my mouth with his?

Heat floods my body, fluttering through my belly.

Gabriel’s lids lower, and his breath catches.

In the background, someone is shouting Buffy’s name. It’s enough to snap me out of whatever fog that touching Gabriel has pulled me into.

“You smell like apple pie,” I whisper inanely.

His gaze darts from my mouth to my eyes. “It’s crumble. Apple crumble.”

“Why did you call it pudding?”

“It’s what we Brits call dessert.” He’s still staring at my mouth. Dessert indeed.

My lips part, sheer lust making them plump. “Give me a bite.”

With an audible swallow, he slowly takes the spoon from my hand. I don’t look away from his eyes as he scoops up a bit of the crumble.

The spoon shakes just a little. Cool metal slides over my lower lip, and hot crumble fills my mouth. I barely suppress a moan, my lips closing around the spoon as he slowly draws it back out. He grunts in response, a short, helpless sort of sound that he quickly smothers. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

  

Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal , best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Blog Tour: Promo Post- Giant Slayers by Jeff Altabef and Ken Altabef

Giant Slayers

by Jeff Altabef & Ken Altabef

Genre: YA Historical Fiction/Fantasy

Release Date: September 20th 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

The Kingdom or the Girl?

Demons attack him.

Spirits protect him.

A seer foretells his shocking destiny.

In a primitive land filled with magic, witches and giants, a sixteen-year-old musician named David is summoned to chase away the nightmares haunting the King each night. But more than bad dreams trouble the King. Demons torment him, and David will need more than music to break the curse.

Demons are only the first sign of a deeper and darker evil that plagues the countryside. Bent on revenge and an insatiable thirst for power, the Witch of Endor and a giant named Goliath lead an invading force against the kingdom. King Saul’s army is crumbling and only a champion can save them, but who would be fool enough to face the giant?

Princess Michal is frustrated by the constraints of palace life, but David’s arrival makes things infinitely more interesting. She finds herself drawn to him, but the King strictly forbids her from having a romance with a poor musician. Only by defying her father’s wishes and risking her freedom do they have a chance to be together.

Armed with just his sling and his love for Michal, David must prove his worth by defeating Goliath against impossible odds. Worst of all, he must choose between saving the kingdom or being with the girl of his dreams. He can’t do both.

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About the Authors:

Jeff Altabef lives in New York with his wife, two daughters, and Charlie the dog. He spends time volunteering at the writing center in the local community college. After years of being accused of "telling stories," he thought he would make it official. He writes in both the thriller and young adult genres. Fourteenth Colony, a political thriller, is his debut novel. Jeff has a blog designed to encourage writing by those that like telling stories. You can find his blog, The Accidental Writers Workshop, on The Patch. Jeff also rights a column for The Examiner under the byline - The Accidental Writer.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter

Ken Altabef- As a Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America member, my short fiction has frequently appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. I also had stories in Interzone, Buzzymag, Abyss & Apex, Unsettling Wonder and Ominous Realities. 

ALAANA'S WAY, my 5-part series of epic fantasy novels is published by Cat's Cradle Press. Described as "cutting-edge fantasy from the top of the world" the arctic setting and unique characters will bring something new to even the most jaded fantasy enthusiast. You can preview this work and others at my website.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter

Blog Tour Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

Review- Stolen by Lucy Christopher

 BOOK SUMMARY:


It happened like this. I was stolen from an airport. Taken from everything I knew, everything I was used to. Taken to sand and heat, dirt and danger. And he expected me to love him.

This is my story.

A letter from nowhere. 

Sixteen year old Gemma is kidnapped from Bangkok airport and taken to the Australian Outback. This wild and desolate landscape becomes almost a character in the book, so vividly is it described. Ty, her captor, is no stereotype. He is young, fit and completely gorgeous. This new life in the wilderness has been years in the planning. He loves only her, wants only her. Under the hot glare of the Australian sun, cut off from the world outside, can the force of his love make Gemma love him back? 

The story takes the form of a letter, written by Gemma to Ty, reflecting on those strange and disturbing months in the outback. Months when the lines between love and obsession, and love and dependency, blur until they don't exist - almost.

Release date: May 4th 2009

Published by: Chicken House Ltd

Page numbers: 304

REVIEW: 

Stolen. Hmmm. What do I say about this book? One thing I know for sure is that my friends Glass and Tanja over at Ja citam, a ti? will be very happy and proud of the fact that I finally read Stolen. You should check out their buddy review of the same. Another confirmation I can make is that these two girls always recommend very, very good books, but I always knew that anyway. 

When it comes to the story, Stolen wasn't anything new to me. I won't spoil anything for people who haven't read the book though. One aspect of Stolen that for me makes the story what it is is the setup. The story takes place in a deserted desert in Australia, and it is portrayed so beautifully. At first, the over descriptive narration really irritated me and slowed my reading pace, but the second person point of view is what kept it interesting. Once I crossed the fifty percent mark, however, the book took such a wonderful turn that I couldn't put it down. This is not just the story of Gemma and Ty, but of nature and how we have to love what needs to be loved and there is so much hidden behind that. 

Speaking of Gemma and Ty, the main characters. Oh my God, the characters. They made the story. If I were to describe my feelings for Gemma and Ty in two words, those two words would be: mixed feelings. They are two of the most complicated, well developed, well portrayed and thoroughly amazing characters. They were the kind of characters or people that you love to hate and hate to love. I felt so connected to them both. And that in itself is a feat. With so much going on in the book which ultimately means so much going on on the reader's mind at the same time, the characters manage to really establish a relation with the reader. One moment, I wanted to hug Gemma and Ty and the next, I wanted to slap them. I loved Ty for his caring and thoughtful nature and I hated him for forcing his lifestyle on someone else. I hated Gemma for not adapting to the situations life put her in, and I loved her not for being strong, but for not being weak. They were both beautifully portrayed. 

The ending of the book was good. It was pretty apt and predictable, but... There's always going to be a but there. So I will just conclude by saying that Lucy Christopher has written a very amazing, beautiful and wonderful book that is definitely worth a try. 

Buy the book: AMAZON/ FLIPKART

Waiting on Wednesday #179

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Devil in Spring by Lisa Kleypas

Publication Date- February 21st, 2017

Summary-

An eccentric wallflower…

Most debutantes dream of finding a husband. Lady Pandora Ravenel has different plans. The ambitious young beauty would much rather stay at home and plot out her new board game business than take part in the London Season. But one night at a glittering society ball, she’s ensnared in a scandal with a wickedly handsome stranger.

A cynical rake…

After years of evading marital traps with ease, Gabriel, Lord St. Vincent, has finally been caught-by a rebellious girl who couldn’t be less suitable. In fact, she wants nothing to do with him. But Gabriel finds the high-spirited Pandora irresistible. He’ll do whatever it takes to possess her, even if their marriage of convenience turns out to be the devil’s own bargain.

A perilous plot…

After succumbing to Gabriel’s skilled and sensuous persuasion, Pandora agrees to become his bride. But soon she discovers that her entrepreneurial endeavors have accidentally involved her in a dangerous conspiracy-and only her husband can keep her safe. As Gabriel protects her from their unknown adversaries, they realize their devil’s bargain may just turn out to be a match made in heaven... 

I LOVE Lisa Kleypas. I am beyond excited for Devil in Spring. It is actually one of my most awaited reads for 2017.

What are you waiting on? :)

Blog Tour: Promo Post + Giveaway- Carmine by Alan Janney

Carmine

by Alan Janney

Genre: YA Dystopian/Adventure/Romance

Sparkle Press

Summary:

She wakes as society crumbles

She wakes up with no memory

She wakes up a queen

The girl once known as Katie Lopez wakes up in an abandoned Wal-Mart with no memory, possessing only the vague sense that something has happened.  Where is her family?  Where is her boyfriend?  She has a faint recollection of him, a ghost of a memory.  The world, she discovers, is staggering from the weight of rampaging mutants, victims of a bizarre surgery gone wrong.  Once intended to bring about a utopia, now the victims threaten societal meltdown.  Much to her surprise, the girl with no memory discovers she is their queen.

Add to Goodreads

Buy Link: Amazon

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

GIVEAWAY:

Enter towin one of fifteen free copies of Carmine, OR Amazon gift cards!

Blog Tour Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

Review- Love, Whatever That Means by Aditi Mathur Kumar

Summary-

Hi, I'm Tina. I work for a TV news channel. I have quirky, adorable friends and a Mr. Army Guy who seems like The One. What can go wrong?

Turns out, a lot! My boss is a pervert, the job is meh and no friend is single any more. Also, the special someone is too intense to be true. Help me, someone!

A punch in the nose, deep romance, lots of over-analyzing, a steamy kiss and pure, crazy Tina makes this book a fun read. Laugh out loud or shake your head giggling - Love, Whatever that Means - will warm your heart.

This is the much awaited second book from the hilarious author of the book 'Soldier & Spice: An Army Wife's Life' which is called the handbook for every modern day Indian Army Wife. 

Release date: May 30th, 2016

Published by: Pirates Inc

Page numbers: 260

Review-

Sarika and I had the pleasure to meet Aditi for the second time at Pune Literature Fest 2016. Aditi is such a great person to talk to and I love the way she writes. I absolutely adored Soldier and Spice so I was super excited to read Love, Whatever That Means. Now I have to confess, I think Soldier and Spice still continues to remain my favourite book by her but Love, Whatever That Means was definitely a good read for me.

This is the story of Tina. Tina works for a TV News Channel, she has a group of friends she spends her free time with and in general she's trying to get ahead in life. But things are obviously not as simple as they seem. Her new boss is a pervert and she may or may not be falling hard for a certain Army guy. We get to see Tina wade through life while trying to keep her head above the water.

I loved Tina. She was such a cute and sweet girl. I found her thought processes to be extremely funny and easy to relate to. Tina was young. She had her vulnerabilities and insecurities but she was also all in all a good person. I loved Tina's friends as well. There couldn't be a more supportive bunch and the way they rallied around Tina when she was in trouble was great to see. I liked how we got to know a little about each one of them and what was happening in their lives.

Now for the best part, obviously, the romance for me. It was amazing. I found Virat aka Army Guy to be the perfect match for Tina. Virat was the strong and silent types basically the complete opposite of Tina. But he was steady and intense and so sure of his feelings for her. I loved how patient he was with Tina when she was unsure of her feelings. The romance was definitely swoon worthy for me. 

Love, Whatever That Means at the core is Tina trying to find her footing in life. Combined with that are the issues she has to deal with. Aditi's writing is engaging and easy. I kept flipping the pages. One flaw I'd like to point out are the typos in the book. It got a bit annoying and that did decrease my enjoyment of the book a little bit. Nevertheless, Love, Whatever That Means was a great read for me. I would definitely recommend it!

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.