Blog Tour: Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern

Say What You Will

by Cammie McGovern

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Release Date: June 3, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: ARC given by the publisher (Thank you, HC!)
Links: Goodreads | Author's Blog

SYNOPSIS

John Green's The Fault in Our Stars meets Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park in this beautifully written, incredibly honest, and emotionally poignant novel. Cammie McGovern's insightful young adult debut is a heartfelt and heartbreaking story about how we can all feel lost until we find someone who loves us because of our faults, not in spite of them.

Born with cerebral palsy, Amy can't walk without a walker, talk without a voice box, or even fully control her facial expressions. Plagued by obsessive-compulsive disorder, Matthew is consumed with repeated thoughts, neurotic rituals, and crippling fear. Both in desperate need of someone to help them reach out to the world, Amy and Matthew are more alike than either ever realized.

When Amy decides to hire student aides to help her in her senior year at Coral Hills High School, these two teens are thrust into each other's lives. As they begin to spend time with each other, what started as a blossoming friendship eventually grows into something neither expected.

Blog Tour: Infinite Sky by C.J. Flood

Infinite Sky

by C.J. Flood

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Coming of Age, Family, Romance
Release Date: May 20, 2014
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers 
Source: ARC provided for the blog tour (thank you, Dianne!) 

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Author's Blog

SYNOPSIS

A truly beautiful book about the summer that changed one girl's life, as her mum leaves home, travellers set up camp in the family's field, her older brother goes off the rails, and she falls in love for the very first time. Opening with a funeral, Iris is mourning the boy in the casket - but who is it? Sam, her tearaway brother, or Trick, her tentative boyfriend? Over one long hot summer, we find out just how their three lives were turned upside-down.

(Savor Blog Tour) Review + Giveaway

Savor (Vicious Feasts #1)

by Kate Evangelista

Genre: New Adult, Romance, Paranormal

Release Date: January 17th 2014

Source: eARC was given by the author (Thank you, Meg!)

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Author's Blog

SYNOPSIS
I’m Dakota Collins, a tough talking, eye patch wearing, workaholic photography student. Why am I important? Well, maybe because I get to spend an entire month with Vicious, only the sickest indie rock band out there.

You see, I needed a subject for my Spring Showcase introspective in order to graduate. During a chance encounter at a club I’d been sent to cover for the Daily Gossip, our ironically named college paper, the features writer I usually teamed up with introduced me to the band—by accident, I might add. It involved a run in with a scary, bald bodyguard. Anyway, long story short, I signed a contract to take pictures of Vicious. 

I should have known their handsome yet way too serious for his own good bassist, Luka Visraya, wouldn't be able to keep his hands to himself. He’s gorgeous and all, but the way he smiles spelled trouble with a capital L. I’m in for a long month with him around.

Crazy shit happens and then some. So, if you want the skinny on Vicious and the events revolving around my stay at Lunar Manor, read my story.

REVIEW

Savor was my first Kate Evangelista book and I had little knowledge about it when I started reading it. So little that I didn’t even know that this book happens in an alternate universe from Taste. I really thought that this book was a sequel, but with a different protagonist. Nonetheless, I was still impressed.

I really enjoyed reading Savor. It’s about Dakota Collins, a girl in need of something to shoot for her final project. As she was covering a club for her college’s paper, she meets Luka Visraya, the bassist of the well-known band Vicious. She watches Luka and his band perform, and she got captivated by them, so she signed a contract stating the she’ll stay in their manor for 30 days just to take their pictures. Little did she know that signing that contract not only means she’ll be taking their pictures, but also means getting involved with them. The only problem I had with the plot was that thing at the end. I feel like it should have been introduced way earlier in the story, so that the readers wouldn’t be that shocked.

From Dakota to Calixta, the characters were very likable. Having different attitudes, they’re very distinct, yet when they are together, they click! I would like to special mention the two main characters, Dakota and Luka. I really liked them. They’re probably my favorites out of the crew. Dakota with her fiery attitude and Luka with his playful, yet serious actions. I just ship them!

I, however, am not a huge of the writing style. I had this love-hate relationship with it. I loved how she described things vividly. She gave me clear pictures throughout the novel, so there weren't any problems in that department. What I had a problem with was her diction a.k.a. choice of words. It’s not that it was horrible. It just felt irk-y to me. It even felt forced, sometimes. It’s a good thing it was bearable or else that would have been an issue.

I'm still not sure what to rate this book, but I'll give it 3.5 stars (for now). I adored the plot and characters, but the writing? Not much.

RATING

GIVEAWAY

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

When Kate Evangelista was told she had a knack for writing stories, she did the next best thing: entered medical school. After realizing she wasn't going to be the next Doogie Howser, M.D., Kate wandered into the Literature department of her university and never looked back. Today, she is in possession of a piece of paper that says to the world she owns a Literature degree. To make matters worse, she took Master's courses in creative writing. In the end, she realized to be a writer, none of what she had mattered. What really mattered? Writing. Plain and simple, honest to God, sitting in front of her computer, writing. Today, she lives in the Philippines and writes full time.

(Knowing Jack Blog Tour) Review + Giveaway

Thanks for stopping by my little stop in the Knowing Jack Blog Tour hosted by Julie of AToMR Blog Tours. Be sure to go over the post because a giveaway awaits you below.

Knowing Jack

by Rachel Curtis

Genre: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Release Date: January 17, 2014

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Author's Website

SYNOPSIS

I am not a slut, although I’ve been called one often enough. Yeah, I spent three months screwing one of my college professors, but I was crazy about the guy. Then he broke up with me.

I am not a bitch, although people like to say I am. I kept our relationship secret. I’m not responsible for telling the university administrators about it, but a lot of students still blame me for getting their favorite professor fired.

I am not a drama queen, although everyone thinks I am now. When I got a few nasty messages, I just deleted them. When I got the threat, I assumed it was someone being stupid. I still think that’s all it was. My parents worry, though, so they hired me a bodyguard. Now Jack follows me around, intimidating everyone who approaches me and looking obnoxiously hot.

This is what I am. I’m Chloe. I’m a twenty-year-old art history major. Kind of shy, although I pretend not to be. Stubborn enough to stay here for my senior year, even though everyone hates me.

And I’m stuck with Jack.

He calls me “Princess,” but I’m not a princess either.

REVIEW

I was really intrigued upon reading Knowing Jack's synopsis thus I signed up for the book tour. Why? Because she fell for her professor and that's very... weird? It was weird as it was intriguing because I've been a fan of forbidden relationships since Twilight and Forbidden and I just can't seem to get enough of forbidden-ness.

Plot: Knowing Jack's plot is good enough, although not that much polished. I'm glad they met on the first few chapters because it's crucial—It makes the reader decide to read and finish the book or to not read it at all. The plot twists were very.. How do you say this...? Predictable? It's as though they weren't plot twists at all. Or they were just so common that I have read other books with plot twists same as the ones in this book. 

Jack: I really liked the interluding chapters written in Jack's POV because it gives me a break in reading from a bratty, bullied girl's POV. Jack's evolution all throughout the book was extraordinary. From the control freak, he went to being outrageous and loving and brave. I love how he reacts when he's Chloe. They have chemistry that makes me want to read and read and read.

Chloe: To be honest, Chloe and I didn't go off to a good start. She was like a drama queen borrowed from Mean Girls. But toward the end of the novel, she became a slightly likeable character. She decided to suck it all up and face the world. Good girl, Chloe.

To sum up, Knowing Jack was a really good read because it's a breath of fresh air. I've never seen a book where a student falls in love with her professor. AND THE ENDING, GAAAAH. I WANT MORE. MORE.

RATING

GIVEAWAY

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachel is a writer, a teacher, a romance reader, and a dog-mom. She loves animals and art and hot men with soft hearts under a tough exterior. She tries to write love stories that feel real, even in unlikely circumstances.

Rachel elsewhere: Website | Facebook

(Merch Girl Blog Tour) Excerpt + Giveaway

Merch Girl
by Rebecca Lewis
Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance
Release Date: May 1, 2013
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Author's Website | B&N | Smashwords | Kobo | iBooks

SYNOPSIS

Seventeen-year-old Lacey Kind doesn’t have the guts to talk to cute boys, isn’t a size two, and would rather stay home and listen to music than go to a party. But in the summer before her first year of college, she ends up thousands of miles away from home, in the back of a tour bus, underneath the half-naked body of the hottest teen rock star in the country.

When Lacey and her best friend Trina sneak into a Boston nightclub to see their favorite band, they not only get to watch their rock gods perform for the first time, but score a chance to meet the band too. Lacey’s heart races as she comes face-to-face with her idol, nineteen-year-old lead singer, Logan Shire.

The girls charm their way into being hired to sell merchandise on Lansdowne’s first summer tour. As “merch girls” Lacey and Trina quickly find themselves transported from their ordinary, suburban life to an exhilarating few months on the road. But they soon realize that life on the road isn’t always a smooth ride... 

EXCERPT

I turned my head to find who the voice belonged to and my body instantly froze. It was Logan Shire, and he was walking straight towards us. Even though I’d just seen him on stage, it was entirely different to see him up close. He looked too perfect; like there was absolutely no way he was part of the same species all the other males on this planet were part of. His long, shiny, dirty blonde hair was impeccably tousled, and his eyes were so bright blue that I could see them glisten, even in the dark. He wore tight, deep blue jeans and a snug black t-shirt. He was thin, but I could see the outlines of defined muscles on his chest and upper arms. He’d appeared in the majority of my dreams during the past few months, and now I was finally seeing him in the flesh.

GIVEAWAY

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rebecca Lewis is the author of the Young Adult novel, Merch Girl, and a lover of all things music! She's been writing stories since middle school and penned her first fanfic about a semi-popular boyband in 1997. Her passion for music and writing brought her to Boston University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the College of Communication. During her college career, she interned for various record labels in Boston and New York City, sold merch for local bands, worked at record stores, and did a whole lot of grassroots marketing. She currently resides in Florida with her husband and puppy.

Rebecca elsewhere: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

(Storm Warning Release Day Launch) Excerpt + Giveaway

Thanks for stopping by my little stop in the Storm Warning Release Day Launch hosted by Kelly of

InkSlinger PR. Be sure to go over the post because a giveaway awaits you below.

Storm Warning

by E. Lee and C. Quinn

Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance

Release Date: December 12, 2013
Publisher: Self

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Author's Blog

SYNOPSIS

Sometimes you can’t see the storm coming until it’s too late...

Severe Storm Warning Tip #1:
Be alert to changing weather conditions. Look for approaching storms.

Severe Storm Warning Tip #2:
If you see approaching storms or any of the danger signs, be prepared to take shelter immediately.

Severe Storm Warning Tip #3:
They may strike quickly, with little or no warning.

Situated just outside of Oklahoma City, Calumet County is divided into two drastically different communities: Hope’s Grove and Summit Bluffs. One is the small backward town where dirt roads lead the way to field parties and railroad tracks. And the other, a sprawling suburb where paved drives lead to the landscaped lawns of the wealthy and over privileged.

For five teenagers smack in the middle of Tornado Alley, summer is heating up fast. The winds of change are blurring the invisible line that divides the rich and the rural.

One has a secret.
One has a crush.
One has been lying.
One will get caught.
And one might not make it out alive.

They’re from two different worlds…but one summer is about to change everything. 

EXCERPT

Hope’s Grove was small. Everyone knew about her parents, and she was already dreading facing them since the news of her dad’s affair had hit. But facing them without her brother and her best friend would be her worst nightmare.

After the girls had said their goodbyes and she’d watched her friend’s taillights fade down the drive, Ella Jane scuffed her boots along the winding dirt road that led her home.

She was about halfway there, watching the sun sink low in the evening sky, when the unmistakable rumble of a pickup truck came barreling down the road behind her. She stepped aside to let it pass without looking back. But it didn’t pass. It slowed practically to a stop right next her.

She turned, wondering what the heck the driver’s deal was. There was more than enough room for him to go around. But the smiling face beneath the backwards trucker hat sent the words on the tip of her tongue swirling away with the dust the truck had riled up.

She bit her lip and grinned. Warm brown eyes gleamed in her direction. “Hey there, Ellie May. Need a ride?”

She rolled her eyes. Why Brantley Cooper couldn’t call her by her actual name was beyond her. But as long as he was talking to her, she really didn’t care much what he called her. He can call me ‘flower’ if he wants to.

He was a year older than her and a year younger than her older brother, Kyle. Smack in the middle of their ages and grades in school and usually smack in the middle of their arguments. Coop kept the peace. Balanced them out perfectly.

The three of them had met at the same time as kids but Coop and Kyle had become like brothers instantly. She’d always tagged along wherever they went. Kyle had whined about it when they were younger but Coop always made her feel welcome. He held doors open for her so she didn’t get left behind, made sure to invite her despite her brother’s protests, and lately he’d even stopped by and hung out even when Kyle wasn’t home. And this year, she’d be a junior and Coop would be a senior. With her big brother away at college, she couldn’t help but fantasize about what might happen if she and Coop spent time together alone.

“Hey, Coop. Lynlee just left so I was just…” She glanced toward home. Kyle wasn’t back from football camp yet, and her mom was baking herself to death, trying to keep her mind off of everything.

“Yeah, I heard the Wicked Witch was moving west. You up for some fishing? I have to drop my bike off at the house but we could swing by the lake after.”

She should get home. She knew she should. Should order a pizza and convince her mom to take it easy for a night. Except…it was Coop. And in all her sixteen years, he was the one boy she’d never been able to say no to.

“Yeah. Yeah I’m up for it.”

BOOK TRAILER

GIVEAWAY

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Whether you believe in destiny, divine intervention, or just plain ol' dumb luck, several things happened in 2013 that caused E. Lee and C. Quinn's paths to cross. It may have been that the stars aligned perfectly, or the fact anytime Luke Bryan was mentioned on a social media site both of them were tagged, or maybe it was just that their small town roots and country girl attitudes were magnetically drawn together—calling out to one another, “Y'all should write a book!” Despite geography keeping them apart—Lee in Illinois and Quinn in Alabama—they did. Thanks to three-hour phone calls, ridiculous amounts of online chats, and umpteen Google Docs—Storm Warning is the first book in their edgy new Young Adult series, Broken Heartland.

(Staying on Top Blog Tour) Character Interview + Giveaway

Thanks for stopping by my little stop in the Staying on Top Blog Tour hosted by Kelly of

InkSlinger PR. Be sure to go over the post because a giveaway awaits you below.

Staying on Top

by Lyla Payne

Genre: Contemporary, New Adult, Romace

Release Date: December 7, 2013
Publisher: Self

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Author's Blog

SYNOPSIS

Sam Bradford has it all—he’s the #2 tennis player in the world, plenty of girls want to date him, and he’ll never want for money. At least, that’s what he thought until his accountant stole everything and disappeared. Interpol has no idea where to start, and neither does the American F.B.I., so Sam figures he’ll just have to take care of his body and play a few extra years to make it back.

When Blair Paddington, the accountant’s daughter and a friend of a friend at Whitman, shows up and claims she can help Sam get his money back he’s torn between wanting justice and the very real possibility that Blair is just as big a con man as her father. When she promises not only money, but justice, Sam agrees—but only if he can go along on the search.

The two of them set off on an adventure neither rich kid is prepared for—cheap hostels, the same clothes three days in a row, and nothing but a backpack of possessions—so they can fly under the radar as college lovers on a winter break. In spite of Blair’s shady family, her daring and resourceful personality strike Sam’s interest and he finds himself falling for the one girl he shouldn’t.

When they finally find her father, the truths that come to light not only make Sam question his affection for Blair, but could cost him more than money—if they can’t work together one last time, neither of them may be going home. Ever. 

CHARACTER INTERVIEW

Questions for Sam: 

1.) Do you have a birthmark? Where is it? 

I have a small birthmark. It looks like a strawberry and it’s on the outside of my left ankle. 

2.) Have you ever been in love? With whom? 

Did she break your heart? Blair is the first girl I’ve ever been in love with, although I’ve certainly cared about others. She hasn’t broken my heart—yet. But she could if she wanted to. 

3.) What's your greatest extravagance?

I’m not sure what you consider an extravagance, because it’s probably different than me…but maybe the private jet? 

4.) What's the happiest moment in your life? (Apart from the moments spent with Blair.) 

When I broke the top 10 on the tour for the first time. 

5.) What is your greatest fear that you would tell to no one at all? (except for the germophobia) 

Injury. Not getting to the top of my game before I have to give it all up. 

Questions for Blair: 

1.) What are the traits of your mom that you really miss? 

She made me feel like I’m special for just being me, not for what I can bring to the table. I’m starting to learn to feel that way again on my own. 

2.) What is in your refrigerator? 

Um…I don’t have a refrigerator except for a small one—it has leftovers from last night’s pasta with Kennedy and a couple bottles of coconut water. 

3.) Who was your first love? 

Sam. I never knew anyone well enough to love them before him. 

4.) What is one strong memory that has stuck with you from childhood? Why is it so powerful and lasting? 

The first con I pulled for my dad on someone who didn’t deserve it. Usually the people were so terrible they really deserved it, but this old woman…her husband had just died and she was all alone. I think it stuck with me because I was only twelve, and it was the moment I knew that what Dad does is wrong, and that no matter how I justified it, one day I was going to have to decide whether I wanted to be bad or good. 

5.) What's your deepest, darkest secret? 

That I still don’t feel like I deserve Sam. It’s insecure and the kind of self-hate that I can’t stand in other women, but it’s hard to believe someone who has made all the mistakes I have could be with someone so purely good. I’m working on it.

GIVEAWAU

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I’ve long had a love of stories. A few years ago decided to put them down on the page, and even though I have a degree in film and television, novels were the creative outlet where I found a home. I’ve published Young Adult under a different name, but when I got the idea for Broken at Love (my first New Adult title), I couldn’t wait to try something new – and I’m hooked. In my spare time I watch a ton of tennis (no surprise, there), play a ton of tennis, and dedicate a good portion of brain power to dreaming up the next fictitious bad boy we’d all love to meet in real life.

Layla elsewhere:

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