Friday, May 31, 2013

[Review]: "The Awakening: Aidan"

The Awakening: Aidan by Abby Niles Publisher: Entangled: Covet (April 23, 2013)
Genre: Paranormal Romance







Is the gift of eternal love a blessing or a curse?

After years of counseling grieving shifters, psychiatrist and half-shifter, Dr. Jaylin Avgar has become jaded on shifter mating. She wants to marry a human and forget about the love for eternity crap. Then she meets Aidan O’Connell, an infuriatingly laid back shifter who represents everything she doesn’t want. Yet, the more he pursues her, the more she craves a future with him. Only one thing stands in her way: death. Can she overcome her fear of losing Aidan to the one guarantee in life?

Millionaire consultant, Aidan O’Connell knows he’ll one day meet a woman who’ll awaken an unrelenting mating instinct. Unfortunately, that woman is Jaylin, who has no qualms about telling him that he and his so-called eternity can shove it. When she pushes him away, he takes a drastic step so she can no longer escape. The close proximity throws the instinct into overdrive. Can he control the need engrained in him until he’s certain she will reciprocate the bond, or will a moment of weakness doom him to hell on earth?









Where to Buy*:
More Info:




My Review:



I'm a huge fan of shifter novels. Hence the reason I started “Shifter-a-Thon-Read-a-Long” with Wickedly Delicious. But as much as I love this genre, the one thing I love the most is finding a new author, a new world to explore, and especially a new twist on the shifters. I'm happy to say I found all of these things in The Awakening: Aidan. I loved this book!

 

Niles created a wonderful shifter world, one that I'm dying to visit again and again! Niles, you now have a new fan for life!

 

Oh Aidan, I love you! I loved how he wanted to fight for his mate, and even for his friends when they needed him to. But most importantly, I loved how he took the time to woo Jaylin. Aidan's beast wanted nothing more than to claim here and mark here; this instinct was something he could have easily given in to. He fought it instead, holding it off until he could convince Jaylin that she should claim him, accept him as her mate. I loved that; it's not just the male who does the claiming, and in fact the most important claim in the relationship is her claim for him. Without it, there can be no HEA.

 

Jayline was a strong heroine, and I enjoyed watching her struggle to come to terms with her feelings for Aidan. She's worked with shifters for years, seen her own mother's pain and loss after her mate died; Jaylin knows how the bond between mates can cause more pain than anything else. But after meeting Aidan, she slowly begins to question her stand on the matter. After talking to Rafael, a Wydowed shifter and friend of Aidan, she begins to see the bond in a new light—but can she convince Aidan that she wants him for eternity?

 

Really, I can't tell you how much I loved this book. I was completely engrossed in the story, my stomach in knots, hoping everything would work out for Aidan and Jaylin!

 

4.5 STARS! Not only will I be begging Niles for the next book in this series, but I will be recommending this one to other shifter fans as well! For a sexy, yet heart-warming read, this is the book to pick up! You will fall for Aidan, cheer for Jaylin, and want to stay in this new world Niles has created.








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I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.

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If you're interested in joining next month's Shifter-a-Thon-Read-a-Long, click here.

If you'd like to read the discussion we had for The Awakening: Aidan, click here.

Stop by and read Wickedly Delicious review of The Awakening: Aidan! :)



 
Have you read Abby Niles before?






Enjoy!   





Until Next Time,





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*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Blog Tour: Guest Post with Danica Winters!



WELCOME TO THE BLOG, DANICA! :)



Danica Winters is a bestselling author who is known for writing award-winning books that grip readers with their ability to drive emotion through suspense and often a touch of magic. When she’s not working she can be found in the wilds of Montana working on her patience while she tries to understand the allure of various crafts (quilting, pottery and painting are not her thing). She always believe the cup is neither half full nor half empty, but it better be filled with wine.


Where to Find Danica:


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Montana Mustangs in God’s Country

I will forever by thankful for being blessed with the opportunity of growing up in the great state of Montana.  Through many well-intended choices and a few fateful events, my life has allowed me to continue living in what the locals refer to as ‘God’s Country’.   It is easy to see why Montana has been revered with such a dignified nom de plume.  Any day of the week we are reminded exactly how small we are in the grand scheme of life.  There are days in which the only other creatures I see (aside from my own family) are the deer outside my window and the occasional wolf running through our property. 

With this wild edge of living come many pitfalls.  Just like in my latest novel, Montana Mustangs, we (just like my characters) are reminded how fickle nature can be and what a fine line we must walk in order to make it to the next day.  I’m constantly reminded that each day I’m given is a gift that must not be wasted.

When my family has gone to bed and the day has passed I find myself unwilling to lose precious moments and I always reach for my computer.  I find that the one gift I want to share with the world is my passion for the written word.  In Montana Mustangs I found that not only did I get to feed my passion in writing the book, I also had the pleasure of incorporating my love of my home state.  I tried to tap into the romance of the sweet splendor of a cool fall and the feelings of mystery which always seems to come when the timbered mountains are illuminated by the full moon. 

In this half mountain and half prairie state it is easy to see the magic in everyday life—and no time more than the spring when new life begins to peak its head up from the snow-covered ground.  It was large, but unencumbered, steps which lead me to writing award-winning and nationally recognized paranormal romance.  If you like reading books which are true to life, but carry a fresh edge of magic—then I whole-heartedly recommend The Nymph’s Labyrinth and Montana Mustangs to you (the first and second books in the Nymph Series).  You will not be disappointed. 

As you read my books, please come to them with an open heart, be ready to step into my world—a world that has been shaped by the beauty of God’s Country and the hunger for great fiction.  You will be transformed.  You will escape.  You will love.

Happy Reading!

~Danica Winters


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Montana Mustangs by Danica Winters Publisher: Crimson Romance (May 6, 2013)
Series: The Nymph Series, 2
Genre: Paranormal Romance



A nymph: a woman with the ability to seduce at will, shift to protect, but cursed with the fate to have the man she falls in love with die a tragic death. As one of these ill-fated nymphs, Aura Montgarten has spent her lifetime drifting from one place to another hiding from love. Until she meets Dane.

When a body washes up on the shore of a rural Montana lake, police officer Dane Burke is faced with the task of finding the killer—even if it means he will be forced to put his life and heart at risk by working with a drifter. As the truth of Aura’s Mustang-shifting nymph ways are revealed, Dane learns exactly the amount of danger he and Aura are in, but can’t force himself to leave a case unsolved when the truth is just outside his grasp.

When the killer decides he needs to take another victim—Dane—Aura must choose between their forbidden love and her immortal life. Can there be life without love or is death her only choice?


Where to Buy*:
More Info:



 
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Thanks for stopping by today, Danica! :) I've always wanted to visit Montana; I love the quiet beauty of the open country like that. Here in my small-town in UT, there are a few more people around than in your area, but it's nothing like the big city (thank God!). I look forward to reading these books, they sound great!
 
Have you read Danica's books? Do you like reading a PNR with mythology involved? (I do!)







Enjoy!   




Until Next Time,


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*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

[Review]: "Live For You"

Live For You by Marquita Valentine Series: Boys of the South, 1 Genre: New Adult (Contemporary Romance)


On the surface, twenty-two year old Cole Morgan is exactly what any girl would be proud to take home to meet her parents: He’s charming, intensely handsome and goal-oriented...Only he has some secrets of his own, which include provoking bar fights and a former drug-addict of a mother slowly wasting away in a medical facility.

At barely twenty, Violet Lynn is Country Music's hottest star, until one night of partying gets out of control. Violet ends up in jail and on TMZ. Suddenly, she’s the girl least likely to be invited anywhere. Sick of the drama and keeping secrets, she runs away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi to her grandmother’s home in Forrestville, North Carolina.

A chance meeting knocks Cole off his feet, but he doesn’t recognize Violet for who she is. In fact no one does and Violet plans to keep it that way.

Circumstances, however annoying,keep throwing Violet and Cole together. Unable to stop themselves they give into the inevitable.

But when Nashville is ready to forgive and forget, Violet is forced to choose between Cole and claiming her spot as the new and improved Princess of Country Music.

Will Violet and Cole have the courage to live for their dreams...Or their hearts?




Where to Buy*:
Kindle | NOOK 
More Info:




My Review:


As a devoted Marquita Valentine fan, I'll read anything with her name on it. I always love her books, always fall for the hero and become friends with all the other characters. Live For You is no different!


I have to be honest though. While I loved Live For You,  I had a hard time adjusting to the 1st person POV used, as I am accustomed to Valentine's previous books, all in 3rd person. However, many of the writing characteristics that I've come to love from Valentine were still present, and by the last page, I had a goofy-happy smile on my face. So, mission accomplished, Marquita—I did have a blast reading Violet and Cole's story!


“I really don’t think I should. I mean, you’re not dressed for company.” Heat creeps up my neck as his blue eyes pierce me. My response is ridiculous; I’ve been on world tours before and have seen men and women in various stages of undress.

And there’s my ex-boyfriend, Jaxon, who I had seen nude countless times before. But his abs, while nice and tight, weren’t—I lick my lips—made for video like Cole’s.

One of Cole’s hands goes to the towel, to the very spot where it’s tucked inside. He fiddles with the material and it drops lower, so does my gaze.
“Let me change, first, since this towel offends your delicate sensibilities.

Then I’ll let you take the cake holder back home with you.” Before I can turn him down again, he walks away, pauses and shoots me a wicked grin over his shoulder.

That grin does things to parts of me that have no business coming to life. Heat skims my body. “What?”

“I sure hate offending you.” He drops his towel, exposing his very fine butt. There are dimples on each side and at the base of his back. “Close your mouth, darlin’.” Muscles ripple and flow as he strides into his bedroom.

I snap my jaw shut.

Dear God, I need to sit down. Maybe in the freezer, with a bucket of ice. Instead I plop the cake carrier on the middle of the table, then start searching through his cabinets to find a plate or something to transfer it to. The faster I can get this done, the faster I’m out of here.

Then I can think about his fine butt on my walk back or the way he calls me darlin’. In private. Like a normal person would.


Cole is an interesting hero, a little bit of a bad boy, but deeply responsible and loyal to his family (which does not, in his mind, include his mother or father). He's working hard to follow his own life while taking care of his little sister, with help from his brother. He's got a few tattoos, and even has gauged ears, and he likes to start fights. And yet I fell for him, and felt that he belonged with Violet. Both loved each other for who they are, not for who the world thinks they are.



My phone vibrates and I glance at it.





Good night. < 3 Rae

That little heart emoticon gives me the goofiest swell of emotion in history. Hell, I think I could give Wyatt a run for his money. He’s the king of goof.

Night.
I add a heart because it seems like the appropriate thing to do. Guess that makes me the king of goof’s bitch? Or is that love’s bitch?
Either way, this girl owns me.




4 STARS! Live For You is a quick, sexy...and sweet new adult romance that is sure to please! I'll admit I may have loved Valentines' previous books just a teeny-tiny bit more, but don't let that fool you—I still loved this one, and I look forward to each and every book in this series (so many interesting guys just waiting to have their story told, and I'm anxious to read it!). I now know that whether its adult or NA, I'm sure to fall in love with anything written by this truly talented author!





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I received an e-ARC of this book from the author (as part of the blog tour put together by AToMR), in exchange for my honest opinion.

*Note: The quotes used belong to Marquita Valentine; TBQ's Book Palace does not claim them.

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Have you read Marquita Valentine yet? Which book is your favorite? Do you read NA?






Enjoy!


Until Next Time,

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*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Lusting for Covers (126)


Lusting for Covers is a weekly meme, held on Sunday, that allows bloggers to share their current cover obsession with fellow book lovers.

This meme is hosted by TBQ @ TBQ's Book Palace.

To view complete instructions on how to participate, as well as grab the HTML code for the graphic, see this page first!



Once you are ready to join the fun,

please fill out Mister Linky below with

your name/blog name and the direct

link to your Lusting for Covers for this

week!



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Here's my candidate for the week:
 


 
Wild Wolf by Jennifer Ashley
Publisher: Berkley (January 7, 2014)
Series: Shifters Unbound, 6
Genre: Paranormal Romance
 
 




In the latest Shifters Unbound novel, a man has resigned himself to a life half lived. But a beautiful, courageous woman has him longing for something more…

Graham McNeil knows that his pack is unruly, but he’s not sure he can take the next step toward pack stability. After losing his first mate long ago, Graham has worked hard to keep his heart in check. Besides, even if he was inclined to choose a new mate, his girlfriend, Misty, is human—a fact that won’t sit well with Graham’s old-fashioned pack.

But Misty is going through a crisis of her own, one that brings danger and death to the pack. With the wolves doubly convinced that there needs to be a shake-up, Graham must now defend his leadership and save the woman he has grown to love—before Shiftertown is pulled into an all-out war.


 
 

 
 


Where to Buy*:  
More Info:


 







 

 

Why?

Easy. Shifters. Enough said. :) LOL. Okay, and a sexy hero.

I've only read book one in this series (it was last month's S-a-T-R-a-L), and I really enjoyed it, so I'm looking forward to not just this book, but the entire series. Plus, I love Jennifer's writing, no matter the genre.

 

 









 





 


 




What cover are you currently lusting for? Tell me, I want to know! Follow the directions above on how to post your own Lusting for Covers, and leave a comment telling me what you think of the cover for Wild Wolf?



 


Calling all Shifter Romance fans: Come join the Shifter-a-Thon-Read-a-Long, hosted by Wickedly Delicious and I! You can find out more about the group here, including the link to the GoodReads group.


Today is our discussion of the May book, The Awakening: Aidan. Stop by and join the fun! :)
 





















 
Enjoy!





Until Next Time,

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*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

Saturday, May 25, 2013

[Kame's Review]: "Trying to Score"

Trying to Score by Toni Aleo
Publisher: Loveswept (April 10, 2012)
Series: Assassins, 2
Genre: Contemporary Romance

In a captivating novel of second chances and healing hearts, the newest member of the Nashville Assassins pulls a power play to make things right with the one that got away.

Fallon Parker’s dream has always been to turn her family’s wine company into a runaway success and eventually start a cellar of her own. Since graduating from college, she has worked relentlessly to make that dream a reality, especially after taking a chance on love—and losing. By the time Fallon becomes an official sponsor of the Nashville Assassins, she feels like all her hard work is finally paying off. And then the man who broke her heart skates back into her life.

On the ice, Lucas Brooks is the NHL’s leading scorer—at least when he’s not in the box. Off the ice, he’s a mess, with all his anger and misery bottled up inside. He threw away the most important person in his life and has regretted it ever since. But when Lucas returns to Nashville in a trade, he’s determined to convince Fallon that he’s a changed man. The attraction is still there. The tension is electrifying. But the odds are stacked against them—especially after Lucas finds out that Fallon has been keeping a devastating secret.

 

 
 
 



Where to Buy*:
More Info:


Kame's Review:

 



Fallon decides she can finally let loose.  She just finished the last of her finals of her freshman year of college, now she has her summer in front of her to enjoy before she buckles down for sophomore year; never knowing that her fake id and her trip to the bar would change two people’s lives forever. 

Fallon Parker meets Lucas Brooks a professional hockey player.  Their first kiss rocks Lucas to the core and he realizes there will never be another woman in his life besides Fallon.   The main part of the book happens nine years after the first night they met, seven years after Fallon walked out of Lucas’ life.  Fallon works for her family’s winery and the vineyard is a major advertiser the Assassin’s hockey team, Lucas was just traded to the team. The instant Lucas sees Fallon he is determined to get her back into his life.

I found it hard to rate this book, there were parts I really enjoyed and some that grated on me.  There were character traits in Lucas I liked a lot. He is a gifted hockey player, who lost his dad young and he did not find the best way to cope with the loss. Only after losing Fallon Lucas found a better way to cope. For me this flaw coupled with the dyslexia he was trying to hide made him adorable and believable on the page. Fallon’s character in the prologue was fun and full of life, as the chapters start nine years later we do see a more reserved and mature Fallon; which is what you would expect, however I didn’t feel any life in her character, at times I wanted to reach through the pages and slap her. Yes her disposition could be a way to show how her life changed since she left Lucas; but as their love rekindled her character did not change much, until the final conflict before the promise of the HEA. There are hockey references, but even someone not familiar with the sport should be able to follow the book.

This is the second in a series of books revolving around this hockey team; one of the leads in the next book is Fallon’s sister that we see a lot of in this book. She intrigued me enough to check out the next book in the series. I hope when I get a glimpse of Fallon and Lucas his love of life has brushed off on Fallon.

 


 

 3 1/2 STARS!





 
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Kame received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for her honest opinion.
 
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Meet Kame:

Kame is part of a family of readers; one day she picked up the Nook she purchased for her husband and discovered her love of e-books. A few months later he purchased one for her so he could have his back! Kame’s Nook is never far, and she is hard pressed to pick a favorite book, genre or author. As long as there are characters that make her want to sit down and have a chat and a plot keeps the pages turning, she’ll read it.

Kame's GoodReads 
 



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Thanks for the review, Kame! :) Sounds like you had some minor problems with this one like I did with book 1. Still, like you, I think I will continue this series in the future.

Have you read Toni Aleo? Which one is your favorite book?


 


Enjoy!



Until Next Time,
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*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

Friday, May 24, 2013

Blog Tour Review: "Welcome to Paradise"




Welcome to Paradise by Rosalind James
Publication Date: April 12th, 2013
Series: The Kincaids, 1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
 
They’re going to party like it’s 1885.

Mira Walker is hoping that competing on a “living history” reality show will give her what’s missing from her real life. Maybe she’ll get closer to her boyfriend, who hasn’t been all that nice to her lately. Get fired up about her job again. Who knows, she might even win a million dollars.

Gabe Kincaid and his brother Alec are after that million too, though. Mira and Scott are no threat at all, not when everybody involved is going to want to kill Scott after the first day. And there’s no bond stronger than a twin’s. What could possibly go wrong?


Where to Buy*:
More Info:




My Review:


As I started reading Welcome to Paradise, I wasn't sure what to expect. Obviously a little fun, following the characters through this game show. And definitely some drama of some kind. Maybe even a little romance. But I was surprised at how much I liked this book, and I think I may look into trying another book by Rosalind James in the future.



The storyline for this was pretty interesting, and unique. I would definitely watch a show like the one described in this book! Heck, I think it would be interesting to be on such a show, though I'm not sure if I'd be able to stick it out long enough to win. :) I thought the author did a wonderful job at creating this story; I was definitely entertained!



3.5 STARS! If you're looking for something a little different to read, I suggest you pick up Welcome to Paradise. It's not just a romance, though the romance aspect is done nicely (Gabe, ah, I think he stole my heart a little, too!). This was truly a fun read, and I liked watching the characters try to live like it was the 19th century. The only problem I had with the book was the characters; at times I felt like they were a little flat, and I found myself reading more for the story than for them. Still, an enjoyable read, and one that will at least stick out in my mind. Oh, and did I mention the shaving scene? That was enough to make me melt a bit, Gabe is a keeper for sure! I'm curious to see Alec's story and who he will end up with.



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I received a copy of this e-book through the blog tour, in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Have you read any of Rosalind James' books? It looks like she has a previous series, set in New Zeland, that sounds kind of interesting! :)
 
 
Oh, and Rosalind is running a giveaway right now on her Facebook page---be sure to check it out!






Enjoy!


  


Until Next Time,


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*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

Thursday, May 23, 2013

[ARC Review]: "Dare You To"


Dare You To by Katie McGarry
Publisher: Harlequin Teen (May 28, 2013)
Series: Pushing the Limits, 2
Genre: YA Romance
 
Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."


If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....



Where to Buy*:
More Info:



My Review:


“I like you. I. Like. You. I'll admit you're annoying. Sometimes you agitate me to the brink of insanity, but you can throw it back at me like no one else. When you laugh, I want to laugh. When you smile, I want to smile. Hell, I want to be the one to make you smile.”


How often do you read a book that grabs your insides and twists them—hard? How often do you find a book that changes your mind about a character? How often do you find yourself worried sick about the outcome of a book? It's rare for me to find such a book, but when I do it's an instant keeper, one that I can't stop thinking about, long after that last page is turned. Dare You To is such a book!



“I hold the bottle out into the rain and watch as the steady flow slowly fills it. When there is enough, enough that Beth can clearly see, I close the bottle and hand it to her.

She raises a skeptical eyebrow, but accepts the bottle.

"It's our rain Beth."

Her head barely shakes to show her confusion while I rub the back of my neck and search for my courage. "I told you I loved you in this rain and when you doubt my words, I want you to look at this bottle.”



I can't say that I am surprised that I loved this book. After all, McGarry already proved her talent with Pushingthe Limits, which I adored. In PTL, I was unsure that I would ever like Beth. Okay, let's be honest—I was certain I would always hate her; she was, simply put, such a hard bitch. But as DYT began, and more of Beth was revealed, bit by bit, I came to realize why she acts the way she does. Before too long, I was anxious for her to realize what her life could be if only she'd put the past behind her and start living her life the way she wants. 


“You're a lot like that bird in the barn. You're so scared that you're going to be caged in forever you can't see the way out. You smack yourself against the wall again and again and again. The door is open, Beth. Stop running in circles and walk out.”




And as Ryan started to steal my heart (which he did!), I was cheering for him and Beth. They deserved their chance at a HEA, screw what the world thinks of them together.


“Screw what Mom and Dad think. Screw the rest of the town. Screw perfection. This girl is mine.”


I really connected with Beth and her relationship with her uncle, Scott. Why? Because, like Beth, I was close to my youngest uncle as well. Much like Scott, my own uncle was a pre-teen when I was born. And there the similarities end; my life wasn't a copy of Beth's, nor was my uncle's a copy for Scott's (other than the fact that both were good men who loved their family). But that strong bond between them touched me, reminded me of my own childhood. I lost my uncle, four years ago this month, and to this day it still kills me inside to know that he's no longer here. What does this have to do with the story, or the author's writing talent? Nothing, really. But I think it's important that a good book has this affect, allowing you to find such connections while reading. Regardless of anything else Beth did or went through, this is what I will always connect with her over, and yes, even envy her for, as she still has years ahead of enjoying her uncle's company.



4.5 STARS! Truly, I can't even begin to explain how much I loved this book, nor can I tell you why. But I can tell you this: McGarry has a fan for life! Two books so far and both have broken my heart, twisted me into knots with worry...yet in the end, put a happy smile on my face. Emotional, and all to realistic at times, Dare You To is going at the top of my list of favorites. I will be buying myself a copy to keep alongside PTL, and I cannot wait until Isaiah's story is finally here. Until then, I think I need to read a few lighter novels. Every time I pick up a novel from this author, I cry even as I find myself thoroughly enjoying the journey. Thank you, Katie McGarry, for another amazing story!







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I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.

*Note: The quotes used belong to Katie McGarry. TBQ's Book Palace does not claim them.

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Have you read any of Katie McGarry's books? If not, what are you waiting for? Even if YA isn't your genre of choice, I think any romance fan, any fan of a great emotional story with real characters, will love these books. I can't stop gushing about PTL and DTY! I'll be rereading these books for years to come, and recommending them to everyone!

Oh, and let's talk about McGarry's awesome covers for a moment, shall we? I was lucky enough to receive a hardback of PTL last year, and let me tell you that as beautiful and sexy as the cover looks online--it's ten times better in print! I'll admit to stroking my book a few times; under the dustcover the hardback's cover is a glossy print of the cover. Love. It.

Now, I haven't ordered my copy of DTY yet, but I will. First, like I already said, the book itself is amazing and I want my own copy to keep. But second, the cover is sexy as hell, and I *must* have a copy of that to stroke and stare at, too. :D CoverWhore, remember?






Enjoy! 





Until Next Time,



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*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

[Kame's Review]: "Own the Wind"

 
Own the Wind by Kristen Ashley
Publisher: Forever (April 2, 2013) *ebook release date*
Series: Chaos, 1
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Too hot to handle...

Tabitha Allen grew up in the thick of Chaos--the Chaos Motorcycle Club, that is. Her father is Chaos' leader, and the club has always had her back. But one rider was different from the start. When Tabby was running wild, Shy Cage was there. When tragedy tore her life apart, he helped her piece it back together. And now, Tabby's thinking about much more than friendship...

Tabby is everything Shy's ever wanted, but everything he thinks he can't have. She's beautiful, smart, and as his friend's daughter, untouchable. Shy never expected more than friendship, so when Tabby indicates she wants more--much more--he feels like the luckiest man alive. But even lucky men can crash and burn..




Where to Buy*:
More Info:


Kame's Review:


Tabitha “Tabby” Allen and Parker “Shy” Cage have known each other since Tabby was sixteen. At the time Tabby was trying to find her way. Her mother felt she was a “bad” girl; Tabby needed love and support to have the strength to prove her wrong. Shy was a recruit for her father’s motorcycle club and was called to help rescue her out of a bad situation. We see snippets of interaction through the years from that fateful night when Tabby was sixteen until an event which causes Tabby to seek out Shy. They learn that they both made choices in their lives that were not true to themselves.  Realizing that the other helps them achieve their “true self” they commit to trying a relationship, it is only after a lot of discussion and it is not a decision either of them went into lightly. The resistance among their friends and family is shocking and disheartening to them.




“Nothin’ to say, Tabby. Life was shit. Lost my family, years later, found a new family. Then life wasn’t shit anymore.”

I love Kristen Ashley’s writing style, my writer friends tell me it’s her voice – so I love Kristen Ashley’s voice! Her characters have many dimensions – Shy is a biker, but he has such a great sentimental side that at times made me melt – his dedication to love and family is incredible. Tabby is so much more than a biker dude’s daughter, she has a song she loves (I don’t want to name it as it would be a spoiler) and she sees it as a guide to her life – but something she is not sure if can ever come true. Kristen Ashley weaves in bits of information on other characters (some old, some new) in the story so we can see their progression and growth; possibly laying the foundations for future books (I can cross my fingers).


“How’d you get so wise?”
“Had a good teacher,” he answered.
“Your dad before he died?”
“My dad before he died and your dad when I found him.”


While this novel is the first book in Kristen Ashley’s new Chaos series its characters are not completely new.  Many of them we have met in other Kristen Ashley books, and most of them were present in Motorcycle Man. Do you have to read every Kristen Ashley book ever written before this one, no (now that being said her books are amazing and I fully intend on going back and reading every word she has ever written!), but I highly recommend you read Motorcycle Man before you read this book – it will only increase your enjoyment and allow you to fully appreciate the relationships between Tack, Tyra, Rush, Shy and Tabby.

“I have never, not once, not in my life, made love to any woman. Not once. Not until what I just did with you.”





I don’t just love this book – I ADORE it!  I purchased this book for my Nook and I will preorder the second book in the Chaos series as soon as possible!




5 STARS!





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Kame bought this book.
*Note: Quote used belongs to Kristen Ashley; Kame and TBQ's Book Palace do not claim it*
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Meet Kame:

Kame is part of a family of readers; one day she picked up the Nook she purchased for her husband and discovered her love of e-books. A few months later he purchased one for her so he could have his back! Kame’s Nook is never far, and she is hard pressed to pick a favorite book, genre or author. As long as there are characters that make her want to sit down and have a chat and a plot keeps the pages turning, she’ll read it.

Kame's GoodReads 
 



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Thanks for the great review, Kame! I haven't read any of Ashley's books yet, but maybe I need to try one. Would you suggest I start with this book, or one of her previous?

Have you read Kristen Ashley? Which one is your favorite book?




Enjoy!



Until Next Time,
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*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!