Annaberry Reads: June 2014

Blog Tour and Review: Where Life Takes You by Claudia Y. Burgoa (Includes book trailer and giveaway)

I am really excited to take part in the Where Life Takes You blog tour!

Title: Where Life Takes You

Series: Life, #1

Author: Claudia Y. Burgoa

Publication date: July 31st 2013

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

BECCA TRENT LIVED HER CHILDHOOD NEXT TO A CRUEL WOMAN—her mom—who lived to torment and neglect her. During her high school years, her mother married; bringing home not only a new husband, but a step sister her same age. The latter took over her Mom's role—making Becca's life miserable. Including stealing Ian—Becca's best friend and boyfriend—Lisa treated her worse than her mother had for the previous fifteen years. A couple years later, thing ended up in tragedy.

Becca buried that part of her life in the deep corners of her psyche, caught between sanity and nightmares. Between therapy, work and her constantly looming past she can't seem to find room to breathe. The memories of her late step-sister, Lisa, are her closest company.

Her best friend, Dan gives her that family love she always lacked. Everything was close to perfect, until everything and everyone from her past came back. Now she's trying to figure out how to survive and keep that bond which seems now to be held together by a thread.

Note: This is the first part of a two book novel

Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Book Trailer

My Thoughts:

Wow. I did not expect to become as emotionally involved in this story as I did. I literally devoured the whole book in one day. To be honest, it's been awhile since I have been so engrossed in a book that I barely even looked up from my kindle to complete my daily tasks. The time and pages just flew by!

Ok, first off, I have to warn you guys that this is a book that contains some sensitive material. The main character Rebecca (Becca, Bex), had been through a lot of crap in her life. She had such a hard childhood and there were a few times that I had to take a deep breath and dry some tears that escaped (damn it). I got angry, and I was appalled and sad at times. My heart ached for this girl, yet I had to smile when I saw the person that she had become was in spite of everything. Becca was cute, hard working, and quirky. Her best friend Dan (Daniel) was her rock, and helped her get on her feet and seek therapy. He was her person.

Dan, Dan, Dan...you know that I love you, but there were a few times you frustrated the heck out of me. You see- he also had a bad start in life, and he and Becca seemed to just gravitate towards each other from the moment they met. I believe Dan coped with his issues by controlling each and every aspect in his life. Sometimes that carried over to Becca's life too. I was a little surprised that it didn't seem to bother her more than it did (I know I felt a little smothered for her). At the same time, he did so with a good heart, and with the intentions of looking out for her. Becca, in turn, would sometimes use Dan as a crutch and to be her security. Either way, Dan was totally devoted and caring towards Becca.

There were other characters in this story that I grew fond of as well, and this story just reconfirmed that you don't have to be blood related to be family.

One thing that I wondered while reading Where Life Takes You, was why Danny insisted that Becca need a bodyguard at all times? What was she in danger of? I understood why he had one, but I was not clear as to why Rebecca would be in danger.

I really cannot wait for the sequel, Next to You, to be released! The ending of this book made my heart hurt. Truthfully, I can kind of see why Becca felt the way she did. Thankfully, I don't have to wait long (July 1) to find out what will happen next.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

About the Author:

Claudia lives in Colorado with her family and three dogs. Two beagles who believe they are human, and a bichon who thinks she’s a beagle. While managing life, she works as a CFO at a small IT Company. She’s a dreamer who enjoys music, laughter and a good story.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Giveaway

--A Kindle HD or 140$ Paypal Gift Card (INTL) - Ends July 8th

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Follow the rest of the Where Life Takes You tour!

Review- The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden, #1)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Date Published: April 24, 2012
Source: Gifted by a friend <3

To survive in a ruined world, she must embrace the darkness…

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-in city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them—the vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself dies and becomes one of the monsters.

Forced to flee her city, Allie must pass for human as she joins a ragged group of pilgrims seeking a legend—a place that might have a cure for the disease that killed off most of civilization and created the rabids, the bloodthirsty creatures who threaten human and vampire alike. And soon Allie will have to decide what and who is worth dying for… again.

Enter Julie Kagawa's dark and twisted world as an unforgettable journey begins.

My Thoughts:

Okay. Why did I wait to so long to read this? I'd heard nothing but great things about The Immortal Rules, and now I can see why. It was such a refreshing and exciting book! The explanations, characters, and the worldbuilding were all so well thought out and described. I felt like I was there in the future with Allie, feeling and experiencing what she was. I will say, this is definitely one of the darker YA series out there, so if blood and guts and the like make you queasy, than you might not be ok with certain parts of the book.

As I mentioned, Julie Kagawa really created a really interesting dystopian world. Normally with dystopian books, I tend to find a lot of plot holes or inconsistencies, but I didn't really notice any while I was reading. And really I didn't go looking like I normally do, because I was so engrossed in what was going on. There was so much action and conflict that I couldn't wait to turn the page. I was left guessing as to whether the characters I had met were going to make it out ok!

The main character Allie (Allison) was one tough girl! She had survived so much and had had a really good head on her shoulders. I really admired how she was able to survive in such a crazy world. Honestly, I don't know if I could do what she had to do. I admit, sometimes I got really frustrated with her, but she really grew on me. Kanin was a character that I just loved from the start. I immediately found myself wanting to know more about him, and I just bonded with him right away. Zeke was another character that grew on me. There was more to him than I originally thought. One thing that I especially liked about Zeke was the goodness and optimism that he exuded. I hope he never changes. I'm a little worried though.

This is a series that I will definitely be continuing! It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I have out what happens next. I must admit I'm a bit nervous, but I'm excited to be with Allie again, and see where she goes.

4.5 Stars

Cover Reveal for Ann Aguirre's 2B Trilogy

We are over the moon about the cover reveal for Ann Aguirre's 2B Trilogy Series!!! Published by Harlequin HQN, the 2B Trilogy Series is a New Adult Contemporary Romance series made up of 3 titles. I WANT IT THAT WAY is the first full-length novel in the 2B Trilogy and is set to be released August 26^th. Book 2, AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME, is releasing on September 30^th, and THE SHAPE OF MY HEART is scheduled to be released on November 25^th. You DO NOT want to miss this series, you guys!

About I WANT IT THAT WAY: Nadia Conrad has big dreams, and she’s determined to make them come true. But between maintaining her college scholarship and working at the local day care to support herself, dating’s the last thing on her mind. Then she moves into a new apartment and meets the taciturn yet irresistible guy in 1B…. Daniel Tyler has grown up too fast. Becoming a single dad at twenty turned his life upside down—and brought him heartache he can’t risk again. Now, as he raises his four-year-old son while balancing a full- time construction management job and night classes, the last thing he wants is noisy students living in the apartment upstairs. But one night, Nadia’s and Ty’s paths cross, and soon they can’t stay away from each other. The timing is all wrong—but love happens when it happens. And you can’t know what you truly need until you stand to lose it. "A tender, sweet, and sexy story about how life—and falling in love—can never be planned- Jennifer L. Armentrout, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wait for You.

Amazon / B&N / BAM / Indiebound / Vroman’s / Book Depository / Powell’s /
iTunes

Read the First Chapter of I WANT IT THAT WAY here!

About AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME: Most people dream about getting out of Sharon, Nebraska, but after three years away, Lauren Barrett is coming home. She has her reasons—missing her family, losing her college scholarship. But then there’s the reason Lauren can’t admit to anyone: Rob Conrad, her best friend’s older brother. Football prowess and jaw-dropping good looks made Rob a star in high school. Out in the real world, his job and his relationships are going nowhere. He’s the guy who women love and leave, not the one who makes them think of forever—until Lauren comes back to town, bringing old feelings and new dreams with her. Because the only thing more important than figuring out where you truly belong is finding the person you were meant to be with. "I loved everything about this book… I just have two words: more please!" —New York Times bestselling author Cora Carmack on I Want It That Way.

Read the First Chapter of AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME here!

About THE SHAPE OF MY HEART: Some people wait decades to meet their soul mate. Courtney Kaufman suspects she met hers in high school—only to lose him at seventeen. Since then, Courtney’s social life has been a series of meaningless encounters, though she's made a few close friends along the way. Especially her roommate, Max Cooper, who oozes damaged bad-boy vibes from every pore. Max knows about feeling lost—he’s been on his own since he was sixteen. Now it’s time to find out if he can ever go home again, and Courtney’s the only one he trusts to go with him. But the trip to Providence could change everything…. It started out so simple. One misfit helping another. Now Max will do anything to show Courtney that for every heart that’s ever been broken, there’s another that can make it complete. "New Adult storytelling with an elegant and refined voice that is entirely unique in the genre." —New York Times bestselling author Jay Crownover on I Want It That Way.

Read the First Chapter of THE SHAPE OF MY HEART here!

About ANN AGUIRRE:

Ann Aguirre is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author and RITA winner with a degree in English Literature; before she began writing full time, she was a clown, a clerk, a voice actress, and a savior of stray kittens, not necessarily in that order. She grew up in a yellow house across from a cornfield, but now she lives in sunny Mexico with her husband, children, and various pets. Ann likes books, emo music, action movies, and she writes all kinds of genre fiction for adults and teens, published with Harlequin, Macmillan, and Penguin, among others.

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Review for PATCH UP by Stephanie Witter

Title: Patch Up (Patch Up, #1)
Author: Stephanie Witter
Date Published: September 11, 2013
Publisher: Anchor Group Publishing
Source: ARC from author

Skye followed her long time boyfriend to Seattle for their first year of college, but he dumped her after only a week. The relationship brought only pain and destruction in Skye's life, and yet, she can't bring herself to open up and live her life.

"What if I am already broken into pieces?"

She hates to be touched, hiding under her oversized shirts and behind her wild frizzy hair. Even her bubbly roommate can't reach her. And yet ...

"I'm the guy who knows how you can hurt so much that your insides feel like they're cut and bleeding."

The tall, handsome, and tattooed TA in her psychology class changes everything when he literally collides with her and confronts her. For the first time in a long time, she wants to try and open up to this guy whose dark, intense eyes can't hide his own pain despite his dazzling smile getting to her.

However, just when she's starting to live again, her ex-boyfriend comes back, breaking her time and time again, making it all the more complicated.

She wants to fight for herself and for this building thing with the TA, even when he pushes her away, but can two broken people patch each other up?

"I never thought colliding with someone could change lives, but it is possible."

* Due to some shocking scenes, this novel is for readers of 18 and up.

My Thoughts:

I'm often drawn to books in which the main character has experienced a tragedy or a difficult past, and yet somehow manages to rise above his or her circumstances. Skye's story is somewhat unique, in that she is still experiencing her nightmare, and every time she thinks it's over, it comes back to haunt her in the form of her ex-boyfriend, Sean. You see, Skye dated Sean for three years (most of which was while she was still in high school), and then she followed him across the country in order to go to the same university together. Shortly after arriving, however, he abruptly ended things with her.

Or so she thought.

Skye is broken and defeated, and tries her best to not think of anything but her education. She shuts out everyone around her, and tries not to be noticed by anyone. Her ex really did a number on her.

Something that I admired about this book was how the author did not make all of the problems or psychological damage that Skye or Duke faced, go away overnight. And although Duke was supportive and let her trust him, Skye didn't use him as a crutch and did not just wake up the next day completely better all of a sudden. Vice versa, Duke continued to battle his own demons throughout everything. Now I'm not saying that I want characters to continue to suffer (that's not it at all), it's just that in some stories I read, the characters will have gone through hard situations, and once they let someone in (that they barely know), all of a sudden the insecurities and internal damage that the characters had been dealing with is just brushed over. I find myself scratching my head and feeling doubtful. Patch Up was all about the journey of two young adults who are trying to discover their worth, free themselves, and to face each day looking forward and not back.

One of my favorite characters in Patch Up, was Skye's roommate, Kate. Everyone should have a Kate. She tried so hard to be Skye's friend, and was determined not to give up on her. Although, she too had her own problems, she was just a beautiful person, both inside and out.

I have to say, this book had a lot of 'two steps forward and two steps back' for both Skye and Duke. Every time they would start to make progress or to begin to trust one another, something would happen and they would run away, refusing to talk things out. Sometimes it got frustrating. I could understand why it happened on Skye's part, but I didn't always get why Duke behaved that way.

I am really looking forward to the next book in the Patch Up series, and the continuation of Duke and Skye's story. I also understand that there will be a book with Kate's story, and I am beyond excited to read that!

4 Stars

Promotional Event for CINDERELLA SCREWED ME OVER by Cindi Madsen (With Excerpt and Giveaway)

Welcome to the promotional event for Cinderella Screwed Me Over by Cindi Madsen! In addition to a great excerpt and giveaway, we're thrilled to announce that there is a promotional price of $1.99! Grab it while it lasts!

Title: Cinderella Screwed Me Over

Author: Cindi Madsen

Age: Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Entangled

ASIN: B00BMKFPL6

ISBN: 1622660315

Goodreads

Blurb:

Darby Quinn has a bone to pick with Cinderella. Burned one too many times by ex-boyfriends, Darby has lost all belief in the happily-ever-after that the fairy-tale princess promised her. She's sworn off love, Prince Charmings, and happy endings and she's happy about it. Really. Or at least she was…until she met Jake, her gorgeous neighbor and the manager of her favorite restaurant. But Darby has rules about dating, ones she's culled from her years spent with so-called “princes,” and starting something with Jake would break all of them.

Charming, fun, and unwilling to give up on her, Jake doesn’t fit any of the profiles Darby has created from her case studies of ex-princes-gone-bad. Finally presented with her own Prince Charming, can Darby take a chance on a happily-ever-after?

Full of wit and sarcastic humor, Cinderella Screwed Me Over proves that sometimes the perfect love, like a perfect pair of shoes, is just within your grasp.

EXCERPT

Jake looked down at me and I noticed again how blue his eyes were. My gaze moved to his lips.

Mayday, mayday, mayday.
I dropped my hand from his arm and swallowed.

“And what did I do to deserve the brush-off?” he asked.

The elevator doors opened and I let out a sigh of relief. Saved by the bing! I moved for the doors, but Jake beat me to them. Only he put a hand out to hold them open and turned to face me, eyebrows raised. So much for escaping the question.

I could feel every beat of my heart, and the walls of the elevator seemed to be closing in on me. “It’s nothing against you personally. You seem nice—you’re very charming, actually, which I’m sure you know. But you live in my building, and I’ve got certain rules about that kind of thing. Before I stuck to the rules, my life was much messier.” I ducked under his arm—damn he smelled good—and started for my car.

Jake stayed by my side, our footsteps echoing through the garage. “I live in the wrong place and just like that, I’ve got no chance with you?”

I kept my eyes on my car, afraid that if I looked at him, I might give in. And yes, last night I’d considered trying one little date. But he noticed too much, and he pushed against boundaries I wasn’t ready to let go of. It was time I pushed back. “Why have you chosen to pursue me? I’m not playing hard to get. It’s not some game you’ve got to win.” I pointed my remote at my silver Dodge Durango and pushed the unlock button.

Jake stepped ahead of me and opened the car door for me. “I’m sure plenty of guys hit on you. Obviously you’re beautiful. But there’s something different about you that makes me not want to give up.”

“You don’t even know me,” I said.

“And whose fault is that?”

“Cinderella’s.”

Two creases formed between Jake’s eyebrows. “Cinderella’s?”

“Yeah, Cinderella screwed me over.” Without any more explanation, I got into my car, pulled the door closed, and fired up the engine.

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Check out the Cinderella Screwed Me Over PINTEREST board!

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About the Author:

Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children. She is the YA author of DEMONS OF THE SUN & ALL THE BROKEN PIECES, and the adult author of FALLING FOR HER FIANCE, ACT LIKE YOU LOVE ME and CINDERELLA SCREWED ME OVER.
Twitter: @CindiMadsen | Facebook | Website

Blog Tour for INTO THE FAE by Quinn Loftis (Includes Excerpt and Giveaway)

Today, we are celebrating the release of Quinn Loftis' newest book Into the Fae! I am really excited about this as I'm a big fan of her Grey Wolves series. I'm so delighted that she decided to write this spin-off, featuring Perizada!

Into the Fae (The Gypsy Healer Series, Book 1)

By Quinn Loftis

With peace finally descending on the Romanian Grey Wolves, longtime fae ambassador to the wolves, Perizada, has been given a new mission by the Great Luna. But Peri’s desire for revenge against her sister, Lorelle, burns in her heart. Further complicating matters, the great white wolf, Lucian Lupei, has been returned to the pack after centuries trapped in the Dark Forest, and it appears he is destined to be with Peri. Can she put aside her thoughts of vengeance long enough to accept Lucian’s love and complete her mission?

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iTunes / Smashwords

Excerpt

“So she isn’t with your group?” Anna asked.

“No,” Crina answered. “She is quite the opposite of being with our group.”

“But you know her?”

“Not exactly,” Sally rejoined the conversation, feeling slightly better that Costin was making

sure that Lorelle wasn’t hanging around outside waiting to ambush them. “It’s quite a long story

but the short version is that she’s evil.”

“Wicked,” Crina confirmed.

“Psycho,” Sally added.

“Diabolical.”

“Maniacal.”

Anna’s head bounced back and forth between the two as they tossed out adjectives.

“What their trying to say is she’s bat shit crazy and she will stab you in the back with a spoon,

dig your heart out and feed it to the vultures,” Peri’s voice came from behind Anna.

About the Author:

Quinn lives in beautiful NW Arkansas with her husband, son, Doberman and cat (who thinks she is a ninja in disguise). She is beyond thankful that she has been blessed to be able to write full time and hopes the readers know how much all of their support means to her. Some of her hobbies include reading, exercising, crochet, and spending time with family and friends. She gives all credit of her success to God because he gave her the creative spirit and vivid

imagination it takes to write.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

Meet Quinn:

June 20-22, 2014, UtopYAcon, Nashville TN: http://utopyacon.com/

July 21, 2014, Friends of the Library Meeting, Marion Co. Library, Yellville, AR http://

www.marcolibrary.org/

September 12-13 2014, Penned Con, St. Louis, MO: http://pennedcon.wordpress.com/

Giveaway

US Only

1st Prize

1 autographed copy of any Quinn Loftis paperback

Swag Pack

Werewolf Survival Kit

2nd Prize

1 autographed copy of Into the Fae

Swag Pack

3rd Prize

Any Quinn Loftis eBook

Swag Pack

International Only

3 separate prizes - each one can choose a Quinn Loftis eBook of their choice

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Release Day Blast for HOLD ON TIGHT by Abbi Glines (includes Excerpt and Giveaway)

We would love for you to join us in celebrating the release of Hold on Tight by New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Abbi Glines!

Title: Hold on Tight (Sea Breeze #8)

Author: Abbi Glines

Publisher: Simon Pulse (June 3, 2014)

Print Length: 288 pages
ISBN13: 9781481420778
ASIN: B00GKKU12G

Goodreads

Six years ago, Dewayne Falco's life changed. He lost someone he never expected to lose. Resigned to punish himself for something he felt he could have prevented, he goes through life without getting too close to anyone.

What he didn't expect was for the girl across the street to move back home and remind him of what they both lost: Dewayne's younger brother Dustin. However, when a miniature version of Dustin opens the door to greet him, Dewayne realizes he might not have lost everything after all.

Sienna Roy loved Dustin Falco most of her life. He was the boy next door, the high school basketball star and her best friend. But when his life was cut short, she realized he left a part of himself behind.

Now, she's back in Sea Breeze, thankful to have a home for her and Dustin's son, but not sure if she can ever forgive the people across the street who abandoned her when she needed them the most — The Falcos.

Betrayal, lies, and forbidden attraction might end Dewayne and Sienna's story before it's even begun.

EXCERPT

“It has been a long time. Why are you here?” I replied, not taking my eyes off Dewayne. He was still larger than life. More so than when I was a teenager. He had a few more piercings now and a couple more tattoos. His shoulders were even wider, and the thick, corded muscles in his arms were intimidating. The man was like a brick wall.

Yet those eyelashes of his were still too thick for a male, and even though he’d pierced his lip, it didn’t take away from the plumpness that women paid good money to mimic. The worn jeans that looked like they needed a good washing hugged him in a way I wanted to ignore. I had to ignore. This man was off-limits to me.

He wasn’t just the nice guy who had been my friend when I was younger. He was also a man who had abandoned me when I’d needed someone the most. Even if he was delicious and what female fantasies were made of, I would never forgive him. Dustin had adored him, yet Dustin’s son didn’t even know him.

He cocked an eyebrow at me, as if he was surprised by my reaction to him. “Came over to see who the new neighbors were. Beat-to-shit car parked out front concerned me. Neighborhood’s not what it used to be.”

Once I wouldn’t have been able to look past his perfectly chiseled face and full lips to get angry with him. That wasn’t the case any longer. My hands fisted at my sides, and I wanted nothing more than to punch him in the nose. I owned that car. I had worked hard to buy that car.

“I’ll keep that in mind. I can assure you we’re not going to cause any problems,” I replied, walking over to the door and putting my hand on it to let him know I was done with this visit and wanted him to leave.

Dewayne frowned, and his dark eyes, which in my dreams had looked at me like he had today when I’d walked into the room, were now narrowed. Great, I’d managed to piss off the massive, monster-size man who could knock me down with one hard puff. “Where did that sweet girl I used to know go? You lose her somewhere?” Dewayne’s voice was even, but the low, menacing sound to it bothered me.

What did he expect me to do? Bat my eyelashes at him and swoon like I had when I was a kid? “She learned to toughen up and trust no one.” I gripped the door, fighting the urge to slam it in his face. Because I was pretty sure he could rip it off its hinges if provoked. “Thanks for stopping by. Now that you know we aren’t about to dirty up the neighborhood with our presence, you can go on back to your parents’ place. We’re fine here.” I started closing the door. Dewayne stepped back. To my surprise, he turned around, then started walking away.

Giveaway:

5 Winners will win an ebook of Hold on Tight!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Other books in the Sea Breeze series:

Breathe:

Amazon | B&N

Because of Low:

Amazon | B&N

While It Lasts:

Amazon | B&N

Just For Now:
Amazon | B&N

Sometimes It Lasts:
Amazon | B&N

Misbehaving:
Amazon | B&N

Bad For You:
Amazon | B&N

Hold On Tight:
Amazon | B&N

About the Author:

New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of TWISTED PERFECTION, FALLEN TOO FAR, NEVER TOO FAR, JUST FOR NOW, WHILE IT LASTS, BECAUSE OF LOW, BREATHE, THE VINCENT BOYS, THE VINCENT BROTHERS, THE EXISTENCE TRILOGY.

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