Roxy's Reviews: April 2013

Tuesday, 30 April 2013

Release Day Launch: Review & Giveaway: Wrecked by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Hello, Therians!!

Happy Book Birthday to Alyssa Rose Ivy and Wrecked!

Check out the giveaway or a chance to win a signed copy of Wrecked, as well as a

Wrecked mini-posted!

SYNOPSIS

When your past catches up, it's time to stop running.

Jake Mathews messed up yet again— but this time his misstep lands him in the hospital. He wakes up to find the girl of his dreams and the memory of having his deepest secret revealed.

Emily Taylor needs a break. She's been working double shifts as a nurse just to pay the bills while trying to heal a broken heart. The last thing she needs is to fall for a patient.

Strapped with community service and the knowledge that he's disappointed everyone in his life, Jake is determined not to let Emily slip through his fingers. Emily wants Jake, but can she really open herself up to heartache again?

REVIEW

I had a bit of a hard time getting into this story.

I enjoyed the interaction between Jake and Emily in the very beginning, when he was in the ICU and she was his nurse, but once he left the hospital, the chemistry I was expecting just kind of fizzled out. Not that I didn't see potential, I just had a hard time connecting with the story and the MCs’ relationship. It seemed a bit rushed, and I missed the sexual tension and spark that draws me to NA Contemporary Romances.

Having said that, I did enjoy the characters. Emily was really sweet. My heart went out to her. Her life hasn’t been easy, but even with everything she's been through, she sucked it up and forged on. Jake was fun and kinda had that boy-next-door charm. He’s had his fair share of trouble but I warmed to him despite his past behavior.

I only really started to "feel" this story once Noah came into the picture. It was a real surprise and I’m sure something like that would create tension in any relationship, especially one just starting out. Jake’s reaction was expected but I was glad that he didn’t allow it to get in the way of his feelings for Emily.

From then on things moved quite smoothly for the pair. I was expecting a bit more turmoil, or some kind of near-tragic event to happen that would tear Emily and Jake apart, only for them to reunite again; something that would liven up the story a bit. Unfortunately I was left deflated.

The story had potential, I was just expecting more.

It gets…

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alyssa Rose Ivy is a Young Adult and New Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

Connect with Alyssa:

Website: http://www.alyssaroseivy.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlyssaRoseIvy
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlyssaRoseIvy
WRECKED Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16208128-wrecked
Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5047249.Alyssa_Rose_Ivy

Check out the other stops in the Blog Tour

April 29^th

Vilma’s Book Blog

April 30^th

RELEASE DAY LAUNCH

May 1^st

Books Over Boys
Shhh Mom’s Reading

May 2^nd

Book Loving Me
The Bookish Babes

May 3^rd

I Read Indie
FicTalk

May 4^th

Romance Addict
Book Addicted AA

May 5^th

A Bookish Escape
Stuck in YA Books

May 6^th

Unabridged Bookshelf
The Autumn Review

May 7^th

New Adult Addiction
SM&I Book Club

May 8^th

Total Bookaholic
Hackaroo Reviews

May 9^th

Book Bitches Blog
Bookworm’s Multiverse

May 10^th

Always YA at Heart
#BookNerd

May 11^th

A Book Lover’s Review
Ticket to Anywhere

May 12^th

Reader Girls
Tiffany Talks Books

Release Day Launch: Review & Giveaway: No Attachments by Tiffany King

Hello, Therians!

The day has finally come!! No Attachments by Tiffany King is here!!

Happy Book Birthday!!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway below to win some amazing prizes, including a signed copy of

No Attachments!

SYNOPSIS

Ashton Garrison walked away from a privileged life in order to hide from the one thing she's not willing to face. She knows she left behind a trail of pain, but in the long run, her betrayal will hurt less than the truth. She now has one goal: Live life to the fullest with no regrets and no attachments. She has high hopes that a move to new surroundings will provide the escape she desires, but what Ashton doesn't count on is how fate always seems to find a way to screw up any good plan. Sometimes, when love comes knocking, the pull is too strong not to answer. Suddenly, what she thought she wanted to escape from is what Ashton now wants more than anything.

Nathan Lockton has one mission: find his target and complete the task he was hired to do—no attachments and no emotion necessary. He's done it over and over again. What he thought was a typical lost-and-found job has turned into a life examining moment as Nathan is forced to deal with something he has always ignored--his feelings. Now faced with a decision, Nathan must choose to either follow his heart or complete the job.

Love can come when you least expect it. The question is: If the odds are stacked against you, how far are you willing to go for the one you love?

REVIEW

This was such a fun, exciting read - until the end, when my heart leapt into my throat and refused to budge until I switched off my Kindle.

The MCs are wonderful and I immediately fell in love with them. Ashton is sassy but sweet. I loved her quick comebacks. Nathan is sexy and charming, but without the arrogance. He also has an amazing soft side that showed more and more, as he wooed Ashton.

Dual POV reads are always fantastic, because it gives the reader insight into both MCs. I really enjoyed how Nathan gave off this confident, masculine vibe but the more vulnerable Nathan stepped out of the shadows from time to time. He was genuine and no matter his reasons for finding Ashton, I could feel his love for her growing as the story progressed.

Ashton was a bit of a mystery. I was intrigued to find out the real reason she left Florida. I was even more intrigued as to why someone so young had a bucket list and was so eager to get through everything on that list. Even though it came up every now and then, I was taken by surprise when the truth came out. And I hated how things ended with her and Nathan in Woodfalls, but I understood where she was coming from, even if it seemed a bit stubborn and selfish.

Other than the two amazing MCs, there were many other great characters.

I loved Fran. She was sweet but had a wicked sense of humor, and wasn't afraid to tell it how she saw it. Her candor was refreshing if not sometimes shocking. That woman would have made me blush with some of comments. The same goes for Tressa. She's an awesome friend, and I think anyone reading this book will relate to having a friend like her at some point in their lives.

I immersed myself in this story and couldn't put my Kindle down. I often found myself smiling or bursting out with laughter, much to my family's amusement. But there were also many 'Awwww' moments, that had me sighing.

Ashton and Nathan were made for each other and I was just hoping against hope that they would both finally admit their feelings for each other. Nothing about their relationship was traditional, but it was one of the most beautiful ones I've had the pleasure of watching unfold.

This story reminded me that sometimes, the most unlikely path is the one that leads to true happiness.

It gets...

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tiffany King is the author of The Saving Angels Series, Wishing for Someday Soon, Forever Changed, Unlikely Allies, Miss Me Not and Jordyn: A Daemon Hunter Novel book one. Writer by day and book fanatic the rest of the time, she is now pursuing her life-long dream of weaving tales for others to enjoy.

She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats). Her addictions include: Her iphone and ipad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask.

Connect with Tiffany:

Twitter- @AuthorTiffany

Facebook- Tiffany King

Pintrest- Tiffany King

Blog- authortiffanyjking.blogspot.com

Goodreads- Tiffany King

Check out the other awesome stops in the Blog Tour

April 29^th

Reality Bites
#BookNerd

April 30^th

RELEASE DAY LAUNCH

Hypable

May 1^st

Always YA At Heart
Books Over Boys

May 2^nd

Book Bitches Blog
Novel Thoughts Blog

May 3^rd

3 Chicks & Their Books
Chapter By Chapter

May 4^th

Lite-Rate-Ture
Book Angel Booktopia

May 5^th

Book Addicted AA
Magic of Words

May 6^th

A Book and a Latte
Books VS Boys

May 7^th

I Love Indie Books
Mostly YA Book Obsessed

May 8^th

Into the Hall of Books
FicTalk

May 9^th

Total Bookaholic
I Heart Big Books

May 10^th

A Book Lover’s Review
Once Upon A Twilight

May 11^th

Book Nerds Across America
Ramblings of a Book Junkie

May 12^th

Reader Girls
The Romance Bookie

Monday, 29 April 2013

SPOTLIGHT: The Winnowing Season by Cindy Woodsmall

Hello, Therians!

Do you love Amish Fiction? Check out Cindy Woodsmall's The Winnowing Season. This is the second book in the Amish Vines and Orchards series.

Never read Amish Fiction? Well check out the sneak peek below. You may discover a new genre to love :)

SYNOPSIS

The tornado that devastated Kings’ Orchard pushed Rhoda, Samuel, and Jacob to make a new start in Maine. Are they strong enough to withstand the challenges of establishing an Amish community—and brave enough to face the secrets that move with them?

On the eve of their departure to begin a new Old Order Amish community outside of Unity, Maine, Rhoda Byler is shocked to discover that choices made by her business partner and friend, Samuel King, have placed her and her unusual gifts directly into the path of her district’s bishop and preachers. She is furious with Samuel and is fearful that the Kings will be influenced by the way her leaders see her, and not what they know to be true—that Rhoda’s intuition is a gift from God.

Jacob King won’t be swayed by community speculation. He loves Rhoda, believes in her, and wants to build a future with her in Maine. But when the ghosts of his past come calling and require him to fulfill a great debt, can he shake their hold before it destroys what he has with Rhoda? Samuel has a secret of his own—one he’ll go to great lengths to keep hidden, even if it means alienating those closest to him. Throwing himself into rehabilitating the once-abandoned orchard, Samuel turns to a surprising new ally.

Book 2 of the Amish Vines and Orchards series asks: can the three faithfully follow God’s leading and build a new home and orchard in Maine? Or will this new beginning lead to more ruin and heartbreak?

Praise for The Winnowing Season

“Cindy Woodsmall weaves a page-turning plot in The Winnowing Season, featuring the mysterious Rhoda Byler and a supporting cast of other complex characters. This story grabbed my heart and kept on tugging—long after I’d read the last word. I can’t wait for the third book in the series!”
—Leslie Gould, author of Courting Cate

“Cindy Woodsmall creates Amish characters in a way no other author does. Her obvious love for and intimate knowledge of the Amish allow the reader into the characters’ lives aside from the religious aspect of the community. They laugh, and I laugh with them. They hurt, and so do I. Add to the characters a compelling plot and a girl with an unusual gift, and the book is impossible to put down.”
—Tracey Bateman, author of The Widow of Saunders Creek

Here's a Sneak Peek! Enjoy!!

The Winnowing Season by Cindy Woodsmall (Sneak Peek) by WaterBrook Multnomah

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cindy Woodsmall is a best-selling author of numerous works of fiction and non-fiction book Plain Wisdom whose connection with the Amish community has been featured on ABC Nightline, in the Wall Street Journal, and throughout other Christian and general news outlets. She lives outside of Atlanta with her family.

Sunday, 28 April 2013

InkSlinger Blog Tour: Excerpt & Giveaway: Suddenly Royal by Nichole Chase

Hello, Therians!!

I'm super excited to have been included in the Blog Tour for Nichole Chase's Suddenly Royal!

I really loved this book. Check out my REVIEW.

Below is a little sneak peek into just how amazing Sam and Alex are together. They have fantastic chemistry, which was so fun to read!

SYNOPSIS

Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.

Alex D’Lynsal is trying to keep his name clean. As crown prince of Lilaria, he’s had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women—especially women in the public eye. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She’s stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone’s front-page news.

While Sam tries to navigate the new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders.

Grab your copy today!

Amazon Paperback
Barnes and Noble
Books a Million
Smashwords

EXCERPT

“How many of you work here?” Alex was helping transfer some of the birds while I cleaned cages. He hadn’t needed much direction. It was easy to tell he spent a great deal of time with raptors.

“Depends on the season.” I hauled a bucket over to use for trash. “In the summer we have volunteers who help out. There are shows and education programs as well that help raise money for the birds.”

“Education is the key, isn’t it? The more people understand about these creatures, the more they will be able to see their vital importance.” Gently, Alex coaxed the horned owl from her perch and onto his gloved arm. “That’s one of the things I’m working on back home. I run a charity that goes to schools and town centers to help educate the public. The kids love it.”

“What’s it called?”

“The Future Bird Trust.” He didn’t look at me as we talked, his eyes solely on the bird, so didn’t see my dumbstruck expression.

“You run the FBT? I thought they were based in France.”

“Yes, we work very closely with the French government to uphold the laws protecting these beauties.” He looked at me over the owl’s head, his eyes full of determination. “It’s my goal to spread the FBT to the surrounding countries to educate the public about the importance of raptors. I hope that with more knowledge people will understand why it is so important to preserve these birds.”

“I’ve read about the FBT.” I leaned the shovel I was carrying against the wall and went to wash my hands. “They’ve done some great things.”

“Thank you.” He looked back at the owl, examining the large gash on her beak. “What happened to this one?”

“Car.” I turned back to the table to finish getting the food sorted. Rats and mice were the entrée for tonight. Not exactly my favorite part of the job, but I’d become immune to it at this point. Everything has to eat. I brought a small rat over to Dover, the owl Alex was holding. Alex took it in a gloved hand and proffered it to the bird.

“C’mon, sweetheart. Don’t be shy.” Alex clucked when Dover turned her head away from the meal. “I saw you eyeing it while the lovely Samantha got it ready.”

“She’s a coy one.” I smiled at him, not sure if I was more amused by the coaxing tone or by him calling me lovely.

He mumbled a few words in Lilarian, at least I thought they were Lilarian, and Dover turned to look at him. He chuckled and offered the rat again, which she deigned to accept. I didn’t blame her for turning to look at him. While he spoke English easily with an almost British accent, those words were beautiful.

“Well, that may be the fastest she’s ever accepted a meal from anyone.”

“That so?” He smiled over at me.

“It’s the accent. Women always swoon for an accent.” I rolled my eyes.

“And does the accent work on you?”

“You wish.” I fumbled with the gloves I was trying to put on. I looked at him over my shoulder to see if he was watching.

“Too true.” He winked at me. My heart jumped and I turned to finish making the meals. Unfortunately I knocked over the shovel and was rewarded with a loud clanking that sent all the nearby birds into a flutter. I bent over to pick up the shovel and glanced at Alex. He was openly watching my backside.

When he realized he had been caught ogling, he smiled and raised an eyebrow. “Nice jeans.”

“Thanks.” I turned back to the task at hand.

“No—thank you.” He chuckled and I blushed.

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nichole Chase is a daydreamer. No, really, just ask any of the math teachers that had the misfortune of seeing her name appear on their class schedule.
For years she has had story lines and characters begging for attention, but she resolutely pushed them aside to focus on more normal (read, boring) jobs.

Well, no longer! She is currently heeding the voices in her head and frantically writing their stories. Ms. Chase is the author of the Dark Betrayal Trilogy, Flukes, and Suddenly Royal (including several short stories).

Nichole resides in South Georgia with her husband, energetic daughter, dog, tortoise, and two cats. When not devouring novels by the dozens, you may find her writing, painting, crafting, or chasing her daughter around the house while making monster noises.

Connect with Nichole:

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Suddenly Royal Goodreads

Goodreads Author

Check out all the blogs on the tour!

April 21^st

I Read Indie-Dream Cast
Globug and Hootie-Excerpt

April 22^nd

A Life Bound By Books-Guest Post
Dear, Restless Reader-Interview