A Review for Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry + Author Interview + Giveaway (US/CAN only)

Posted by Donna

Expected Release Date: July 31st, 2012

Finished Date: March 23rd, 2012

Publishers: Mira Ink / Harlquin Teen

Source: ARC For Review

Format: Paperback 

Pages: 392
Buy : Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo / B&N / Indie Bound 

SO WRONG FOR EACH OTHER...AND YET SO RIGHT.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with “freaky” scars on her arms. Even Echo can’t remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.

But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo’s world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.
Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she’ll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

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The Review: This was another book I had NEVER heard of until I went to a bloggers party hosted by Mira Ink way back in March. The lovely Mira had given me a goody bag and guess what was included, YES, Pushing the Limits and I literally started it within a few days and devoured it within less than 24 hours - yes it is that good! 
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Echo Emerson's life has changed since she was hanging around with the popular crowd only a few months ago. After an event that changed her life and left her with permanent scars to her arms, she's now known as a freak and everyone wants to know what happened. Echo has a hard time opening up to people and even going to therapy doesn't help that much. That is until Noah Hutchins enters her life. Noah is known as the bad guy at school and Echo will do anything to keep away from him, but for some reason she finds he's the only person that can really understand her. As they embark on a friendship, both Echo and Noah are fast to fight their attraction for one another but sparks soon fly. 
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Katie McGarry has created a phenomenal debut novel with Pushing the Limits and I loved every single minute of it. It’s full of raw emotions and heart-breaking scenes – ones that are full of angst and sadness, but beneath all that there’s hope. Hope that two troubled characters can come together against all the odds that their lives throw at them. Their complete opposites but find trust in each another enough to open up and even though their relationship isn’t perfect, it’s still beautiful and very solid. 
I adored Echo, even with all her problems she was still a fantastic character. She struggles to go through day to day life because she’s so intent on trying to find out what happened to her, even though deep down, she’s not sure she wants to know. And then there’s Noah, who has just as many problems but he really see’s Echo for whom she is, and even though they push each other away a number of times, something draws them back to together. I loved them together. I loved their scenes. I loved their chemistry. I loved everything about them. With the story being told from both Echo and Noah’s point of view – which I love, I had time to get to know each of them, so by the end of the book, I was an emotional wreck because their journey isn’t easy but it was a very, very enjoyable as a reader. And quotes like this....easy convinced me to love this story;
'A shy smile tugged at her lips and at my heart. F*** me and the rest of the world, I was in love.' - Noah
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Pushing the Limits is one of them books that you could read all day long and wish it never had to end. It has a little bit of everything for every reader, and if you love a story that’s heart-wrenching, real and beautifully written, then I urge you to read Pushing the Limits – because you won’t be disappointed! 

Q&A With Katie McGarry

Q: What was your inspiration for writing Pushing the Limits?
A: I had two main inspirations: One, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to write a story in which my characters felt strong enough to leave their pasts behind and create new futures for themselves. The first scene I ever saw in my mind was Echo and Noah leaving town after graduation. Two, I wanted to write two characters who were facing over- whelming issues and who, through battling these issues, found hope at the end of their journey.

Q: How did you come up with Echo’s name?
A: Echo went through several name changes as I wrote the manuscript. For a while, she had a very normal name, but it always felt off. It wasn’t until I looked at Echo from her mother’s point of view that I found her name. Echo’s mother loved Greek mythology so it made perfect sense that she would name her children after the myths. I read several Greek myths and the moment I found Echo’s, I fell in love. Echo, to me, was the girl who lost her voice. Thankfully, she finds it by the end.

Q: Which character is the most “like” you?
A: All of them. I gave each character a piece of me (though some have larger slices of me than others). Overall, I’d say I’m a strange combination of Echo, Lila and Beth. Echo has my need to please, Lila has my unfailing loyalty to my friends and Beth encompasses my insecurities.

Q: Did you experience friendships with Grace types when you were in high school?
A: Yes. And the more people have read this story, the more this question comes up. Grace has struck a stronger nerve in people than I ever would have imagined. It seems most of us have unfortunately experienced a relationship where a person wants to “like” you and wants “be your friend,” but only if it serves their needs. In case anyone is wondering, that isn’t friendship.

Q: Are there any parts of the story you feel particularly close to?
A: Yes. The relationship between Noah, Isaiah and Beth. Beyond my parents and sister, my nearest family members were over fourteen hours away. My friends became my family. The people I grew up with were more than people I watched movies with or talked to occasionally on the phone. These were people with whom I shared life’s most devastating moments, but also my hardest laughs. These were people who I would have willingly died for and I know they would have done the same for me. They shared my triumphs with smiles on their faces and congratulatory hugs. They held me when I cried and offered to beat up whoever hurt my feelings. These were also the same people who were more than happy to get in my face if they thought I was making a wrong decision.

Q: Did anything that happens to Echo happen to you?
A: Sort of. I was bitten by a dog when I was in second grade and repressed the memory. It felt very strange to have no memory of an incident that other people knew about. It was even strang- er to have injuries and not have an inkling where they came from. In college, I finally remembered the incident when a dog lunged at me. I relived the horrible event and sort of “woke up” a few minutes later to find myself surrounded by people I loved. Even though I “remember” the incident, I still don’t remember the whole thing. I only see still frames in my mind and there is no blood in any of the memories.

Author Bio: KATIE MCGARRY was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, follow her on Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.

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A Review for Eternal Starling (Emblem of Eternity #1) by Angela Corbett + Author Interview + Giveaway (Int)

Posted by Donna

Release Date: December 6th, 2011

Finished Date: June 7th, 2012

Publishers: Pendrell Publishing

Source: Bought

Format: Kindle

Pages: 320
Buy : Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

A love so strong, even eternity can’t separate them.
Evie Starling has lived a relatively uneventful life hanging out with friends, gossiping about boys, and driving her 1966 Mustang. All of that changes when she moves to Gunnison, Colorado, to start college and meets two mysterious men.
For centuries, Alex Night and Emil Stone have yearned for Evie—but they each have their own reasons for wanting to be with her. When both men claim to be her soul mate and tell her about an unbelievable past, Evie learns that she’s not the person she thought she was. Soon, Evie finds herself in the middle of an age-old battle between the Amaranthine Society—the soul protectors, and the Daevos Resistance—the soul destroyers. With a past she doesn’t understand, and a future rife with danger, Evie has to decide who she can trust. But Alex and Emil aren’t the only ones who want Evie, and her soul is about to become the rope in an eternal tug-of-war.

The Review: Eternal Starling has been high on my list to read ever since its release way back in December, and finally 6 months later, I’ve read it and guess what, I loved it! 
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This story follows Evie, who has just moved to Colorado where she is about to start college. But when she meets two men; Alex and Emil, who both claim to be her soul mate, her life is suddenly turned upside down and starts becoming dangerous - fast. Evie soon learns that her soul has been reincarnated several times over the last century and both Alex and Emil, play a key role in her past lives. But with both men reluctant to share details with her, and both men whom hate each other, Evie doesn’t know who to trust. But she needs to figure it out soon, because Alex and Emil aren’t the only ones after her soul......

Awwww Alex and Emil! I need to speak about these characters first because I can’t contain my excitement over these two. Wow, just wow. If you ever thought love triangles were hard, wait until you read this book. Author Angela Corbett does not make it easy on us readers because she throws in two absolutely outstanding and HOT men into this story. First we meet Alex and it’s hard to not like him. Even though it’s clear he’s hiding Evie's past, he’s very protective of her and you can see how much he cares for her. But then we get Emil, sigh……and his entrance in to the book is just…..wow! His presence is very strong and he’s determined to get what he wants. He’s kind of the bad guy in the story but deep down, he’s not. I’m totally Team Emil and if Evie’s past lives are anything to go by, I’m hoping she picks Emil. Don’t get me wrong, I do like Alex, but I think he’s a little too quick to judge and bad mouth Emil and for that, I want Emil to get the girl. 

The story itself is beautifully written with enough scenes to make you weak at the knees. There’s also danger around every corner, giving you enough excitement and action to make this story very thrilling, and then of course, there’s the flashbacks, which give you the right amount of knowledge into Evie’s past lives – which I loved. The concept of “Soul Mates” wasn't something new to me, as I have read books similar before but I enjoyed how Angela put her own twists on it. I’m a huge fan of destiny and forever so Eternal Starling hit the right spots for me. I cannot wait to read more from this author because so far, I’m a fan and plus I’m dying to find out who Evie really belongs with. 

Author Interview with Angela Corbett

1)      What inspired you to write Eternal Starling?

I knew I wanted to write an eternal love story, but I wanted to create my own mythology and make it different from anything I’d read before. I saw a TV show about reincarnation and realized it would be perfect for the love story I wanted to write. Then one day I was driving in my car and heard Gavin Rossdale’s song, “Love Remains the Same” on the radio. Everything fell into place in my head and I started writing Eternal Starling that night!

2)      How long did it take to write? 

I wrote the first draft in 3 months in 2008. I spent the next year revising it, then started querying agents. I queried agents and publishers and continued revising it until I received a publishing offer from Pendrell Publishing. From first draft to offer took almost 3 years.

3)      With the story being based around soul mates and reincarnation, are you a believer of this?

I'm definitely a believer in soul mates. I love the idea of soul mates being able to find each other. If there are lives after this that we can find each other in, even better!

4)      How did you come up with the characters names?

I've always loved the name Evangeline. Even before I had the plot figured out, I knew I wanted my heroine to be named Evangeline, and go by Evie. I got Evie's last name, Starling, when I was flipping through TV channels and stopped for a minute on a documentary about birds. In early drafts, Evie's birthmark was a star instead of a lily, so Starling originally tied in with the star birthmark. Alex's name came from a name search. It means "defender of men," and that's how I viewed Alex when I first started writing his character. Emil's name was another name I've liked for a long time. When I looked up the meaning of the name, I found out it meant "rival" and felt like that was perfect for his character.

5)      Who’s your favourite character?

Evie is a really fun character to write. I enjoy her personality and her inner dialogue, so she's probably my favorite in the series. I also really liked writing the villain in Eternal Starling. 

6)      What’s your favourite quote from the book? 

"I licked my lips without realizing I'd done it and had the fleeting thought that if he wanted to have me for dinner, I'd help him light the charcoal."

7)      Would you ever consider writing chapters from Emil’s or Alex’s point of view? PLEASE do Emil! <3

LOL! I have! I think about it often. There's so much that happens in Evie/Alex/Emil's story before her life in Gunnison. I'll never be able to fit it all in the trilogy, and I'd like to explore it more...maybe with some prequels. We'll see what happens. :) I'll definitely keep an Emil POV in mind! 

8)      If Eternal Starling was made into a film who would play Evie, Emil & Alex? 

This is such a hard question because the characters look different to everyone! Amanda Crew looks almost exactly like Evie in my head. The resemblance is so strong that the first time I saw her in a movie, I dropped the remote and yelled, "That's Evie!" It scared my dog. Channing Tatum would be a great Alex, and Chord Overstreet would make a good Emil.

9)      How many books are you planning to write in the series?

3! The series is a trilogy. 

10)   What’s the progress on book two? Is there a release date or title yet?

I'm working on book 2 now! No release date yet, but the cover and title should be revealed sometime in the next few months!

Thank you for joining us Angela! 

Author Bio: .As a child, Angela Corbett’s most prized possession was a set of read-along books. She used to follow along with the narrator on the stereo and dream of when she would be able to read by herself. Her childhood reading habit led her to consider her future career. However, after consulting with her parents, she realized she had already exceeded hobbit height and since fairies and dragonslayers were tricky jobs to get, she decided she wanted to create worlds of her own. She started writing poetry in elementary school and worked as a journalist in high school and college, but could never leave her love for writing fiction behind. 

She is a graduate of Westminster College where she double majored in communication and sociology. She has worked as a journalist, freelance writer, and director of communications and marketing. She loves classic cars, traveling, and escaping in a good book. She lives in Utah with her incredibly supportive husband and their five-pound Pomeranian, Pippin, whose following of fangirls could rival Justin Bieber's.

Eternal Starling is her debut novel and the first book in the Emblem of Eternity trilogy. 

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Blog tour for Wings of Arian by Devri Walls; Review.

Posted by Guest Reviewer Melanie
Release Date: Available Now

Finished Date: June 30th, 2012

Publishers: Stonehouse Ink 

Source: For Review

Format: Kindle 

Pages: 462
Buy : Amazon UK / Amazon US 

Kiora thought she had never heard a lie until she was sixteen. But she was wrong. Her entire existence was based on nothing but. She thought that evil did not exist. Lie. That magic was not real. Lie. And that the land of Meros was all there was. One more lie. With Aleric telling her that evil is knocking on the door and that she is the only one who can stop them she has a choice to make. Refuse, or start the wildest most painful ride of her life. She reluctantly dips her toe into her new existence of magic and threads, dragons and shapeshifters, and the person who wants to take control of it all: the evil Dralazar. However, this journey was never meant to be hers alone. She will be accompanied by a Protector. To her disbelief, and utter irritation they name the hotheaded, stubborn, non -magical, (albeit gorgeous) Prince Emane. They will have to trust each other with their lives, but right now Kiora would settle for a non hostile conversation. And now it comes down to this, If you had never heard a lie, would you know when you heard one? Is knowing good from evil innate? Kiora finds herself having to decide who lives and who dies on those very questions.

The Review: Wings of Arian is an epic fantasy and I loved it! 4.5 stars!

It tells the story of a world that knows no evil and hasn’t for over 1000 years, but things are stirring; evil is stirring. . . and ready to make a play to become the ultimate power.

There is also a prophecy. . . . one in which a solus will appear and defeat evil one final time. . . and evil will be no more.

In the land of Meros lives humans, and these humans are totally unaware of magic or evil – never having felt or experienced it. They live their lives in total peace ruled by a long line of kings who kept the history secret from their people. . . . Until now! Now the search begins for the ‘Solus’ for it is of the utmost importance that the Solus be found and trained before it’s too late.  They do find the Solus – and it’s the most unlikely person ever – and with that discovery comes the Protector (the Solus’ loyal guard) which in turn is a big surprise. Can they come together to save the world from evil? Can they make it through the discoveries they will make and the knowledge that the world isn’t what they once thought it was?

Wow! That’s all I want to say. . .

I love these kind of books – true epic fantasy – and you can tell a lot of work went into bringing this to life, the world the author has created is just wonderful. It’s filled with all kinds of different creatures, places, filled with magic, history, prophecy and right in the middle of it is the unsuspecting humans. The characters are all great, likable and well written. Obviously the emphasis is on Kiora and Emane as the Solus and protector, we see them through everything – the discovery of who they are, their training to become who they need to be, we watch them evolve from their naïve, sheltered lives to the harsh reality of what is upon them and this is when we truly ’get’ their characters. Plus we get a little bit of love- a nice, slow burning, creeping up on you kind of love – just perfect. I loved reading about them, seeing them develop, they go through huge amounts in this and we are left with the promise of more. Other characters of note include Aleric – their trainer/teacher and Eleana – an all knowing woman with unseen powers, mysterious and beautiful who are both great too but then we get a whole host of wonderful creatures like – shape shifters, Pegasus & flying dragons to name but a few and it was all just wow!

The storyline was great, my kind of book and one of my favourite genres. I love prophecies (I’m sure I’ve mentioned before) and reading them playing out, I love fantastical worlds filled with awesomeness, fantasy creatures and things beyond my imagination. I love good vs evil scenarios and of course I love a good dose of romance and this had it all – ticking all my boxes, the pacing was great too. I have been saying this a lot lately but this is another movie worthy book that would be visually stunning, the in-air fight scenes for sure and I would definitely go to see it just as I will definitely be reading the rest of the series to which this book is an excellent start. 

Don't forget to stop by The Bookish Brunette and enter the giveaway. HERE

Waiting on Wednesday (#22)

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

Melanie's WoW

Thirteen (Women of the Otherworld #13) 
by Kelley Armstrong

Release date: July 26th, 2012

It’s been more than ten years, a dozen installments, and hundreds of thousands of copies since Kelley Armstrong introduced readers to the all-too-real denizens of the Otherworld: witches, werewolves, necromancers, vampires, and half-demons, among others. And it’s all been leading to Thirteen, the final installment, the novel that brings all of these stories to a stunning conclusion.
A war is brewing—the first battle has been waged and Savannah Levine is left standing, albeit battered and bruised. She has rescued her half brother from supernatural medical testing, but he’s fighting to stay alive. The Supernatural Liberation Movement took him hostage, and they have a maniacal plan to expose the supernatural world to the unknowing.
Savannah has called upon her inner energy to summon spells with frightening strength, a strength she never knew she had, as she fights to keep her world from shattering. But it’s more than a matter of supernaturals against one another—both heaven and hell have entered the war; hellhounds, genetically modified werewolves, and all forces of good and evil have joined the fray.
Uniting Savannah with Adam, Paige, Lucas, Jaime, Hope, and other lost-but-notforgotten characters in one epic battle, Thirteen is a grand, crowd-pleasing closer for Armstrong’s legions of fans.

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Melanie's Thoughts: For my WoW I’m going to choose Thirteen (Women of the Otherworld, #13) by Kelley Armstrong. I’m not so much waiting on, but rather counting the days down for this book because a) it is written by my all-time favourite author and b) it is the last book in my all-time favourite series. I am both excited to read it  because I love it but I’m also really sad because it’s at an end and the characters have been with me for so long that it feels like I’m losing a group of friends so as you can imagine I have mixed emotions about it -  but i know as soon as it drops through my letterbox, I will devour it - especially with only 6 days to go!

Donna's WoW

 Prodigy
by Marie Lu
Release date: January 29th, 2013
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Jan. 4. 1932 Hours.
Ocean Standard Time
Thirty-Five Days After Metias’s Death
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June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.
It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.
But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengence, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?
..

Donna's thoughts: I NEED THIS BOOK! Honestly, I loved Legend and the Prodigy release date needs to come quicker! I can not wait to get this book in my hands and be with these characters again. Love Dae! 

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What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

Want to participate? 
Grab the logo, post your own WoW entry on your blog, and leave your link at Breaking the Spine. 

Happy Reading!

A Review for Losing Lila (Lila #2) by Sarah Alderson

Posted by Donna

Expected Release Date: August 2nd, 2012 

Finished Date: June 13th, 2012

Publishers: Simon & Schuster UK

Source: ARC For Review

Format: Paperback 

Pages: 320
Buy : Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

Alex and Lila are on the run, desperately trying to stay one step ahead of the Unit, which somehow is managing to track their every move. Whilst Alex is determined to keep Lila safe and her ability secret at any cost, Lila’s only thought is of finding a way back to California so that she can rescue her brother and mother from the military base where they’re being held.
Struggling to control both her growing power and her deepening feelings for Alex, Lila decides the time has finally come to stop running and start fighting. Together with Alex, Demos, and the people she’s come to think of as family, Lila plans not just to save her brother and mother, but to completely destroy the Unit and everything it stands for. 
But the plan requires Lila to return alone to California, make friends with the enemy, and to risk losing everything - Alex, her family, and even her life.

The Review: "It isn't just your fight, it's our fight. It's not just about revenge...it's about stopping them. I would fight this battle even if it wasn't about your mum. Or about you."
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 Sarah Alderson has done it yet again, and created another completely remarkable book. Losing Lila is full of pure-awesomeness, unputdownable and one of my favourite reads this year!

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After the shocking events in Hunting Lila, Alex and Lila are on the run from the Unit, but it’s not long before the unit is hot on their trails. Alex goes to desperate lengths to keep Lila safe, which leads them to the most dangerous parts of Mexico and joining Demos’s team to take down the Unit.  But Lila’s main focus is on her family. She will do anything to keep them safe – even if that means revealing her gifts in front of her enemies –  then  so be it.  But, can Lila do the impossible and defeat her enemy once and for all or will they all become the Unit’s test subjects?

Losing Lila was just as great as its predecessor – if not even better. It's such a page turn that is full of adrenaline packed scenes, exciting and dangerous moments, with fantastic characters. What else could you need from a book? Losing Lila is everything you want from a book and more. But - honestly, I’m not ready to give up this up. I’ve fallen in love with everything about this series, that I cannot help be enthralled by Sarah’s remarkable talent to be able to create such a  fascinating story, that I just want more. 

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I completely adore Lila as a YA heroine. I think she is a great role model and she has so many likable qualities. She really grows as a character during this story, because she finally takes charge of her life and doesn’t just sit back and let everyone protect her. She puts herself in the firing line and actually endangers herself. Her relationships with her family are very special to her, especially the bond she has with her brother and Alex which are very touching to read about. Alex and Lila's relationship is very special and loving that you can't help love these two together. 
Now Alex, sigh! I'm lost for words with him! He's such a swoon-worthy character and he's so damn hot, that Lila is really one lucky girl. I literally have to keep reminding myself that "HE'S NOT REAL". Everyone needs a guy like him, he's everything you want from a male lead and I absolutely adore him. 
Not only that but the secondary characters are second to none. I found myself really enjoying scenes with Suki and Key because they bring so much humour to the story and also I liked that we got to see Lila's Dad more too. 

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Overall, Losing Lila is an unforgettable and phenomenal read, and once you read Sarah Alderson's work, you will continue to want more. I cannot wait to read this series over and over again in the near future and I'll keep praying for more books about Lila and Alex. A must read! 

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A huge thank you to Simon & Schuster UK for giving me the opportunity to review this book and also for the opportunity to meet Sarah too! 

US vs UK (#51)

Welcome to Book Passion for Life's 51st US vs UK book cover battle. 

The idea of this battle is once a week we'll post 2 sets of books of our choice, one US cover and one UK cover, and we'll just give our opinion on which one we love the most. Which cover captures the story, which one would catch our eye if we saw it on the shelf in a shop. The US cover will be on the left, and the UK cover will be on the right.

The Scores so far are:

US: 13  UK: 18 Draw: 20

US vs UK Round 51


As Jess is on holiday fora week, out guest reviewer Melanie will be helping today! 

 The  Forsaken by Lisa Stasse

VS  

Melanie says: I like the US one because it’s abstract – it makes me think it has a scientific feel to it with the satellite, geometric structure and hints of a hidden base. The UK one has a ‘Hunger games’ feel to it, again this implies seclusion within a forest and the barbed wire gives a trapped/enclosed hint. Both book covers fit the bill well although in different areas – The US one focussing more on the government/scientific area of it whereas the UK one emphasises the escape aspect of the plot. Both are fitting and both would make me take a second look so I think for this I will have to go for both.

Donna says:  I think Melanie raises some good points but personally me, I prefer the US cover. I'm not really a fan of covers where it look like a comic and that's how I see the UK cover. The US cover makes me want to pick it up and if I was to pick on to sit on my shelf, it would be the US one.

Add it to your Goodreads TBR list:

Hysteria by Megan Miranda

 VS  

Melanie says: The US one gives the impression that some-one is a blank canvas or is missing something from them-selves mentally and that’s about all I’m getting from that. The UK cover is more interesting, the girls’ eyes draw you in making you think she is on edge, vigilant, secretive and has a plan in motion plus the blood spatter on the sides gives it a more dangerous feel maybe deadly.  If I saw these in a book shop I would probably ignore the US cover all together and take a further look at the UK so we have a winner – UK wins this this round.

Donna says: This is an easy on on for me because not matter how much a cover looks interesting, I'll always pick a pretty one, so yes, US gets my vote. Not that I don't like the UK one but it looks kinda creepy, where as the US one, looks interesting and beautiful at the same time. The blood on the UK cover kind of creeps me out too. So US for me. 

Add it to your Goodreads TBR list:

Which do you prefer? Leave us your comments below!! =) 

__________________

Okay guys, this weeks US vs UK goes to........US with 3 votes!

Showcase Sunday (#10)

Showcase Sunday is a new weekly meme hosted by Vicky @ Books Biscuits and Tea. We will now be taking part in Showcase Sunday instead of In My Mailbox. If you'd like to join see HERE for more details.

Hey guys, hope you've had a fab week. It's just me (Donna) this week as Jess is on holiday for the week. I got some great books, so see below! =)

Donna's Showcase

For Review: 

Rift by Andrea Cremer

Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

Stolen Night by Rebecca Maizel - See my review here

Thank you Atom, Double Day and Macmillam!

Bought: 

Bared to You by Sylvia Day

Half price in WHSmith's, need I say more? 

Won from Totally Bookalicious:

Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Coriell

Gifted: 

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Thanks a million Nat. I can't wait to read it. 

Gifted from Piatkus:

Eternal Hunger by Laura Wright 

Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas 

Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison

A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean

Unfortunately I couldn't attend Piatkus's blogging event but they were kind enough to send me a goodie bag anyway. So sweet! - THANK YOU Piatkus. 

eBooks for Review: 

(Click on the bookcover to be taken to Goodreads) 

Free off of Amazon UK / Bought 

(Click on the bookcover to be taken to Goodreads) 

  

That's it for me this week. Thanks for reading.

Blog Tour for A Night of Southern Comfort by Robin Covington; Author Interview, Excerpt + eBook Giveaway (Int)

A Night of Southern Comfort
by Robin Covington

Release Date: Available Now

Publishers: Entangled Publishing
Follow Robin: Website / Facebook / Twitter 

Buy : Amazon UK / Amazon US / Entangled 

One night of passion... Detective Jackson Cantrell never imagined that one night with an irresistible stranger would turn his life upside down. He’s spent years living in the shadows, but Dr. Michaela Roarke awakened a passion inside him he'd buried years ago. 
He never expected the woman would turn out to be the governor's daughter...and his next assignment. The governor blackmails Jackson to secretly watch over Michaela and protect her from a stalker, or kiss his dream job at the FBI good-bye. Swearing to keep things strictly professional, Jackson moves in with Michaela. Too bad his heart can't keep the same promise. But when the stalker's attacks quickly escalate beyond mere photographs to bodily harm, Jackson must race to save Michaela's life. And he’ll have to figure out how to keep her once she discovers his lie.

1) What inspired you to write "A Night of Southern Comfort"?

I wanted to write a story set in a place like my hometown of Danville, VA.  I’m a southern girl and I was so lucky to live in a town where I was surrounded by family (we all lived on the same street!) and knew I belonged. The Southern Comfort diner is based on a diner where my Daddy would take me on Saturdays and we would get a hamburger, fries and a coke in those little green glass bottles. I wanted to recreate that place and share it with everyone.

2) How long did it take to write?

It took me 6 months to write it.  I work full-time as an attorney and I have two small kids so I write at night after they’ve gone to bed and I’ve spent time with the Main Man. It was only the second full manuscript I completed. I write more quickly now – it usually takes me about 60 days to write a whole book now.

3) Are your characters based on anyone in real life?

Lots of them. “The Boys” are based on my male cousins.  They were always getting up to no good. And almost all of the secondary characters are based on or named after real people from Danville.  No one is an exact duplicate of any one person but I definitely took parts of them and wove it into the story.

4) Who's was the most challenging thing to write about?

I think the hardest thing was just what a terrible father the Governor was.  My father is a wonderful, loving man and I really didn’t have first-hand knowledge of the way he acted towards Michaela.  I had to resist the urge to try to make him a nice guy like my dad.

5) What actors/actresses would you pick to play the main characters?

Jackson was always Joe Mangianello (Alcide on True Blood) and Gwyneth Paltrow was Michaela Roarke.

6) What's your favourite quote from the book?

I have several faves but here is one that caught my breath when I wrote it. Michaela and Jackson have just made love and they are lying in each other’s arms:

She continued to grin at him. “What’s your favorite color?”

He answered without thinking. “Blue.” Jackson stared into eyes that were the color of the ocean when she was happy, as dark as midnight when she was aroused, and the color of rain when she was unhappy. “My favorite color is blue.”

7) Can you tell us what your next working on?

I just sold a Christmas novella to Entangled which will come out this December.  I am now working on the sequel to ANoSC – Lucky’s book – and I have plans to write Teague and Beck’s books as well.  I have lots planned for 2013, so stay tuned at my website or on Facebook!

Fun Questions: 

Sand or Sun? Sun

Hot or Cold? Hot

Coffee or Tea? Ice cold Sweet tea

Chocolate or Sweets? Chocolate

Twitter or Facebook? Facebook

Paperback or Kindle? Kindle

Who's your favourite writer? Harper Fox

What's your favourite song of all time? Where I Stood by Missy Higgins

Favourite time of year? Christamas! 

Read below for a sneak peak of A Night of Southern Comfort.

Mr. Sex-on-a-Stick took his last shot and accepted the congratulatory thumps on the back from his friends. He didn’t smile in response, just quirked his full, sensual lips and turned to face her head-on with an expression full of hot promise. Catcalls and low whistles from his friends drifted across the crowded bar.

Come on, handsome. Don’t let me strike out at my first real bar pickup.

The breath she didn’t realize she was holding whooshed out as he separated himself from his friends and headed over to her. His movements were precise, controlled, and deliciously predatory. He possessed the confident demeanor of either military or law enforcement. He definitely wasn’t a paper-pushing warlord or a politico. Years of experience trained her to spot those guys a mile away. No, his mask of control was one born of the need for survival, much like hers.

Okay, big boy. You let me peek behind yours and I’ll let you peek behind mine.

He stopped in front of her, his thigh brushing her leg and setting off a series of sparks underneath her skin. His chocolate brown eyes met hers, filled with the assurance of decadent possibilities.

Michaela opened her mouth and shut it again. Now that he was here, she had no idea what to say. What would Angelina do? Channel your inner Jolie.

She cleared her throat. The result was a sultry, sexy voice she didn’t know she possessed. “May I buy you a drink?”

He glanced at the glass in her hand and nodded.

“A Southern Comfort.” She spoke in the general direction of the bartender, unable to tear herself away from her companion. “Neat.”

He slid onto the stool next her, his leg still against hers and her temperature hovering near the boiling point. He leaned on the bar, creating their own intimate circle as the noise of the busy bar faded into the background. His lips curved into a slight smile.

“Is there something funny?”

“No. Not at all.” His deep voice rumbled in her ear, his warm breath grazed her cheek. “I didn’t take you for the whiskey type.”

“And what type am I?”

He leaned back, examining her ice-blue satin, strapless cocktail dress and matching Manolo Blahnik pumps. She squirmed in her seat as her body responded to the desire pulsing between them.

“Honestly?” He cocked his head. “You strike me as the chardonnay type. A proper drink for a proper lady.”

She laughed. Any other night, his description would have been close to the mark. “Whiskey’s a drink of control and power.” She took another sip and caught his stare over the rim of her glass.

“I see.” He lifted his glass and downed the contents, then turned his full attention back to her. “So…why are you drinking alone?”

“I’m not drinking alone. Now.” Michaela gestured toward his drink and ordered him another when he nodded.

“Okay, so you’re here…?”

“Celebrating my new life.”

“Aahhh.” He lifted his glass to her in salute. “Let me be the first to say that your ex-husband is an idiot.”

Author Bio: On her fortieth birthday, Robin Covington decided that having a mid-life crisis and finding a boy-toy were far too tacky, so she delved a little deeper into the “bucket list” and pulled out the long-shelved dream of becoming an author. Now, she spends her time writing sizzling romance where the hero and heroine can’t keep their hands off each other. She doesn’t miss the boy-toy at all.

Robin is a member of the Romance Writers of America, the Washington Romance Writers, a faculty member at Romance University, a member of the Waterworld Mermaids, and a guest contributor to the Happy Ever After blog at USA Today.

Robin lives in Maryland with her hilarious husband, brilliant children, and ginormous puppy.  You can find Robin on her website, Facebook,  and Twitter.

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