COVER REVEAL + EXCERPT: As You Turn Away by Molli Moran

Today, I'm so delighted to be one of the blogs taking part in Molli Moran's cover reveal for her awesome NA novel As You Turn Away which is soon to be released!  I personally think it sounds fabulous and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.  You might know Molli from Books and Whimsy (formerly Once Upon a Prologue) and I'm so excited that a book blogger is publishing her own book - what a fantastic achievement!  Without further ado, here is the super gorgeous cover lovingly designed by Marie...

Title: AS YOU TURN AWAY (The Walker Boys #1)
Tentative release date: March 1, 2014 (So soon yet so far away!)

Synopsis: 

When Quinnlan Reynolds left home at 18, she escaped her small, Georgia town and her suffocating upbringing. She started a new life as a ballerina, and tasted freedom for the first time. But four years later, her first visit home turns tragic. Reeling, Quinn tries to piece her life back together again. But doing so is easier said than done when sexy Jonah Walker saunters back into her life.

Quinn shattered Jonah’s heart once, so getting involved with her isn’t something he’s sure he’s ready to do again. He became someone he didn’t recognize when he left home. He’s spent the last years burying his pain by keeping everyone in his life at arm’s length. Now he needs to get to know his family again, and finally become who he wants to be.

But neither Quinn or Jonah can stay away from each other, especially when old feelings resurface. Something is pulling them back together, and they can’t deny their chemistry for long. One Georgia summer could change both their lives forever, if they can work through their past to have a future together. 

Author Bio
Molli is a Southern writer who doesn't consider her day complete if she hasn't written. She loves coffee and talking fast, things she attributes to being raised by Gilmore Girls. She's a romantic at heart, and brings that to her books. When not reading or blogging, she can be found obsessing over Doctor Who, cuddling her various pets, or spending time with friends, family, or her girlfriend.

Author Site | Twitter | Facebook page | Book Blog |

Doesn't it just sound like such a gorgeous story?  Do show Molli your support and add As You Turn Away to your To-Read shelf on Goodreads HERE!

Molli has also kindly allowed us to share some excerpts from the book with you and the one I've chosen is just so beautiful...

A Kiss

Jonah only had to take one step to erase the distance between them. Her lips parted as he put one hand on either side of her face. He brought his mouth to hers, and Quinn parted her lips for him almost immediately. Her skin under his palms was warm as he tipped her head back slightly, and took her upper lip in between his. He shifted his body, taking in more of her warmth; she was flushed skin and silk as her dress curled around them. Jonah increased the pressure of their kiss, easing his tongue into her mouth. He moved one hand to the back of her neck, and one to her waist.

He kept the kiss languid, exploring her mouth with his, but not in any rush. He could taste wine on her lips, and Jonah slowly guided Quinn out of the kitchen and into the living room. He sank onto the couch and tugged her with him. Jonah moved his mouth to her neck and down to her collarbone, and she made a small, sighing sound that threatened to destroy his composure.

***

*sighs* Doesn't that just make you want to meet Jonah and Quinn straight away?

I cannot wait until March and I hope you're all excited for its release too!

And guess what?  It's not all over yet!  There's still a giveaway for you to enter:


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Good luck and I hope you enjoyed reading this post!  Many thanks to Molli for letting me participate - I'm so happy for you <3 p="">
Happy reading,
Beverley
xxx

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Blog Tour: Forever ME Excerpt

Hi everyone! Today I'm part of the Forever ME blog tour hosted by Thomas Amo, the author himself. I'll be sharing with you what Forever ME is about and an excerpt from the book!

About Forever ME

Forever ME
by Thomas Amos
Publisher: GothicTwist Publishing
Release Date: October 11, 2012
Synopsis via Goodreads:

Forever Me is considered YA and NA. 
Inspired by True Events
Hannah Richards isn't your typical 16 year-old at Wichita Falls High. Fashions, trends, cosmetics and style are unimportant to her. An avid reader, guitar player, classic movie and television buff, Hannah marches to the beat of her own drum. Visible only to her Father the town Sheriff, and her two best friends. Hannah lives a simple, un-pampered life as an "Eastie."
After coming to the aide of Taylor Monroe, a popular member of the ultra snobby "Stilettos" at school, Hannah's life beings spiraling out of control. As she starts spending more time with Taylor, her best friends abandon her, after a series of misunderstandings, causing Hannah to re-invent herself.
Hannah quickly gets caught up in a life much different than the one she knows, where status, glamour, makeup, appearance and acceptance become her masters. And what of the dark secret that haunts the streets of Wichita Falls?
Can Hannah survive the lies, deceit, jealousy and rage that are now waiting for her behind every corner? Will she succumb to the pressures of popularity? Or will she be crushed under the heels of the "Stilettos"?
~High school is hard enough just being yourself, let alone being someone you're not~

Amazon  - Twitter - Facebook - Author Goodreads

Excerpt

Wichita Falls High was your typical Texas educational institution. It boasted a fine athletics’ department with a focus on football. The student body was composed of about fifteen hundred students, the majority being mostly Caucasians and Hispanics. While the African American and Asian students were smaller in numbers, they all mixed well with one another. Like most high schools, you could find plenty of, emo, goths, stoners, jocks and cheerleaders. The only segregation that seemed prevalent at Wichita High was the one between the Clubbers and the Easties. Clubbers were the young adults whose families belonged to the country club. These were the students who went out of their way to not interact with the teens who were from, that part of town. Hannah and Lauren were Easties. If you lived east of Chester Street, then you were socially unimportant. To translate into pop culture terms, Easties were Mudbloods.

            There was one other group at Wichita Falls High that commanded its own title, and it belonged to a small band of girls known as the Stilettos. They were, Shelby Farrell, Courtney James, Vanessa Chezwick, Madison Winthrop and Taylor Monroe. They were Clubbers of the highest order. Their fathers had the most money, and they lived in the exclusive section of the country club, with the exception of Taylor. Taylor’s family lived just outside the club. Her inclusion in the Stilettos came in the form of a proxy, as her father was Shelby’s father’s best friend.

            Taylor was easily one of the most attractive girls at Wichita Falls High. She had striking, golden honey colored eyes, set within an oval shaped face. Her dark eyebrows accentuated her luxurious long blonde hair. She was the most petite member of the Stilettos, standing only at five-foot-three. Shelby was the accepted leader of the clique; her tall five foot ten height alone made her appear like the one in charge. She had long brunette hair, porcelain skin, and emerald green eyes that seemed to peer directly through you. Like the rest of her clique, she too was sixteen. They all drove, but to be a friend with Shelby, it was a requirement to ride in her Mercedes. The way her tall legs carried her, she walked as if she owned the school. Her second in command was Courtney, a medium height and slight build of a redhead. She was freckled and pale and her disposition was always dour and disagreeable. She loved taunting other students, especially girls she considered ugly or fat. The two remaining members of the Stilettos were Vanessa and Madison. Vanessa was a stunning Japanese/Italian girl with rich, naturally wavy, black hair and almond shaped, chestnut eyes. Her olive toned skin appeared flawless and her heart shaped face was beautiful when she smiled. That, however, only happened when she was bullying younger students. She was just slightly shorter than Shelby, which was in her favor. Madison took care to be certain she never wore heels that made her taller than Shelby. Otherwise, it would be considered an act of defiance. Madison had been into Cosplay during her middle school years. Being a slightly overweight child, her involvement in costume play had been a means to find acceptance among others. She loved the idea of dressing up as a character from a film or television show. She mostly wore Catholic schoolgirl uniforms that were reminiscent of popular 90’s Japanese anime. By time she became a Stiletto, everyone was so used to it, it would have been odd for her to wear anything else. She too was pretty with brunette hair and blonde streaks. She wore glasses but Shelby forced her to go to contacts that year. She was slightly shorter than the rest, yet taller than Taylor. She was also a bit chunkier than the other girls but it didn’t take away from her looks in the slightest.

            To be a member of this clique, looks were not enough. You had to be beyond good looking if you were going to walk with this privileged collection of goddesses, and you better have the money, the heels, and social standing to go with it.

            Hannah didn’t care she was considered an Eastie by the Stilettos or the Clubbers. She was happy with who she was. Designer labels and loads of makeup didn’t make you prettier in her mind. Hannah never bothered with makeup; why spend hours in front of a mirror trying to become something she wasn’t. She tried it once when she was twelve to impress her friend Haylee’s older cousin, Nick. She applied false eyelashes and blue eye shadow, complete with bright red lipstick. She thought things were going well, until Nick asked her how much she charged. Hannah was as embarrassed as any preteen girl could ever be. Makeup became a thing of her past after that day.

*

  About Thomas Amo

Thomas Amo is the author over 20 comedies and farces for the live theatre. This former full time theatrical producer has spent the last thirty years writing in many different genres, from pilot scripts for television to screenplays on independent films. Outside acting, directing and producing, his first love has always been writing. Forever ME, marks his debut into YA fiction.

Happy reading, everyone!

Jen xx

Blog Tour: The Last Academy Excerpt and Giveaway!

Hey y'all! Today I have a blurb, excerpt, and giveaway to share with you all, as I am part of The Last Academy blog tour hosted by Shane at Itching for Books! Thanks for letting me be a part of this tour. To see the full tour schedule, click here.

Blurb

The Last Academy
by Anne Applegate
Publisher: Point
Release Date: May 1, 2013
Synopsis via Goodreads:

Curtis Sittenfeld's PREP meets THE SIXTH SENSE in this spine-tingling, unforgettable debut.
Camden Fisher arrives at boarding school haunted by a falling-out with her best friend back home. But the manicured grounds of Lethe Academy are like nothing Cam has ever known. There are gorgeous, preppy boys wielding tennis rackets, and circles of girls with secrets to spare. Only . . . something is not quite right. One of Cam's new friends mysteriously disappears, but the teachers don't seem too concerned. Cam wakes up to strangers in her room, who then melt into the night. She is suddenly plagued by odd memories, and senses there might be something dark and terrible brewing. But what? The answer will leave Cam--and readers--stunned and breathless, in this thrilling debut novel.

Amazon -  Author Website - Twitter

Excerpt

*This excerpt was taken from an uncorrected proof*

When I'd been in fourth grade, my parents didn't get along so great. That year, I biked the five miles from my house to Lia's practically every day. The stuff with my folks eventually evened out, but ever since, I'd more or less been adopted by Lia's family.

I grabbed the knife and went out to set it on the table. "Go put on your suit." Lia elbowed me, frowning at my lavender skirt and white T-shirt. The basketball guys had just dropped in -- about eight of them, all wearing cutoffs. Lia's other friends, Brooke and Grace, were decked out in jeans and tank tops. Lia was the only one in a swimsuit. A brand-new cherry-red bikini, and it showed off her tan perfectly.

I went over to the lawn chairs, grabbed my bag, and made an act of riffling through it. I knew what I'd find.

"I can't believe I forgot to bring it," I had to tell her a minute later. By then Lia was asking Hank from basketball which of the four city high schools he'd go to next year. The question sent a zing of excited nervousness through me. High school! Lia rolled an unbelieving eye at me. I tried not to act guilty. I hadn't forgotten my swimsuit. It was right where I'd left it. At home. The thing was, lately I'd been… well, developing like a Polaroid picture. When I'd tried my suit on that afternoon, it didn't fit. My plan had been to wallflower it up by the onion dip while Lia flirted with Kevin, who hadn't arrived yet.

"Cam… den," Lia whined. She adjusted her bikini and heaved a sigh. "My yellow swimsuit's in the dresser. Go put that on."

I knew the yellow suit. One-piece, old, and ugly. Lia wore it for swim meets last year.

"I'm fine," I said.

"Please," she whispered, smiling nervously as Brooke and Grace walked over. "I'm the only one in a suit. Super please?"

Lia made puppy eyes at me that were impossible to resist. So I nodded, and she hugged me, and I trudged into the house. The sliding glass door closed on Lia's laughter as the basketball guys threatened to throw each other into the pool.

When I finally found the yellow swimsuit, stuffed in the back of Lia's bedroom dresser, it was uglier than I remembered. It was even worse on, making me look like a weird fried egg, my thighs the color of the white. I spend a few minutes telling myself how nervous Lia was, waiting for her crush to show up, standing around practically naked, by herself. It wouldn't hurt me to look a little ugly for one stupid party. Then I told myself Lia would totally owe me.

On my way out, I stepped on a bag from Girl from Ipanema swimwear shop. When it crinkled under my foot, I could tell there was something there. Slowly, I pulled it out. It was a bikini, in a bunch of different shades of green. Lia must have bought two and decided last-minute on the red. That was so completely like her. Probably, with all the craziness of getting the party together, she'd forgotten to mention it.

I held it up in the mirror. Thing was scandalous pretty. I tried it on.

I actually look good, I thought, shocked as I twisted and turned in front of the mirror. Unlike my swimsuit at home, this fit me perfectly. I mean, I didn't even look like myself. And since my other option was fried egg…

I walked back to the party. At the sliding glass door, I had to do a little happy dance for my BFF-- Kevin had arrived. He stood with Lia, right next to the Jacuzzi. He slouched as she talked, his hands in his jeans pockets, tossing his head every few minutes to get his glossy brown hair out of his eyes.

The underwater lights for the pool were on, and the sky was twilight. Hank peeled off his shirt, cannon-balled into the water, and came back up, laughing. One of his buddies dove in after, and Grace laughed. Out of nowhere, Hank caught my eye and smiled at me. Completely giddy, I sort of pranced down the path toward Lia.

"Whaddaya think?" I asked, pointing at the suit and laughing. I though Lia'd laugh, too. Instead, Kevin let out a low whistle.

"Whoa there. Niiiii-ce," he said, checking me out. I blushed, embarrassed by his tone. I didn't know what Lia saw in him. "You are smoking hot." He grabbed my hand and spun me like we were dancing. I heard myself giggle, but I could see Lia's face going red. I was messing up her plan. Worse, I was hurting her somehow. I pulled my hand away.

"That's not the yellow suit," she said. "It's my brand new one."

Brooke came over. "Isn't that Lia's new suit?" she asked, which made me mad, because Brooke was just saying it because Lia had said it. My best friend flashed the fakest smile I'd ever seen. It hit me like a ton of bricks: She hadn't forgotten about the green bikini at all. She'd wanted me to look ugly.

- Loc 24

Giveaway!

Enter to win a finished copy of The Last Academy! :) 

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Happy reading,

Jen xx

Blog Tour: Faster We Burn Excerpt!

Hey everyone! I'm happy to be taking part in the Deeper We Fall blog tour, hosted by Giselle at Xpresso Book Tours. I have an excerpt to share with you all. To see the full schedule, click here!

About Deeper We Fall 

Deeper We Fall by Chelsea M. Cameron(Deeper We Fall #1)

Genre: New Adult Contemporary

Publication date: January 24th 2013

Synopsis:

Two years after her best friend was involved in a car accident that caused a traumatic brain injury, Lottie Anders is ready to start her freshman year of college. Ready to move on. Ready to start forgetting the night that ripped her life apart. Her plans come to a screeching halt when not one, but both brothers responsible for the accident end up back in her life again. Zack is cruel, selfish and constantly rubbing what happened to her friend in Lottie's face. Zan is different. He listens to her awkward ramblings. He loves "To Kill a Mockingbird" as much as she does, and his dark eyes are irresistible. His words are few and far between, but when he does speak, she can't help but listen. The trouble is, Zan was the driver in the accident, and now Lottie's discovered he lied to her about what happened that night. Now she must decide if trusting him again will lead to real forgiveness, or deeper heartache.

Amazon - Barnes and Noble 

About Faster We Burn

Faster We Burn by Chelsea M. Cameron(Deeper We Fall #2)

Genre: New Adult Contemporary

Publication date: April 20th, 2013 

Synopsis: 

The last thing Katie Hallman needs is another guy in her life, but Stryker Grant is there anyway. What starts out as just an escape from her previous relationship disaster soon turns into something more. Stryker gets under her skin the way no one has before, and soon she realizes she can't shake him, even if she wanted to. But is Katie ready to trust her already-battered heart to the guy who could shatter it into a million pieces?

Amazon - Barnes and Noble 

Excerpt

 This excerpt is from Faster We Burn.

I couldn’t find a good radio station, so I picked up my phone and put it on speaker, setting it in a little clip on my dashboard. I should have one of those headsets, but I thought they made people look like assholes, so I’d never gotten one.

He picked up on the second ring.

“Hey, I’m driving back and I just thought I would check in with my friend. How are you, friend?”

He sounded like he was in a room full of people.

“I’m good, friend. How are you?” The voices faded, as if he was walking away from them.

“You’re not in class, are you?”

“No, I was just getting something to eat.”

“When’s your next class?”

“Not for a while. I’m all yours, friend.”

“Well that is good to hear, friend.”

He went on to tell me about all the things that I’d missed on campus, from someone getting thrown out for setting a couch on fire, to the frat that was on probation, to the professor who’d gotten caught smoking pot on campus with a few students.

It was all silly and mundane and distracting enough that I could get out of my own head for a few minutes. It was a blessed relief.

He also filled me in on the crew. Lottie was dying to have me back and had stocked up on ice cream in preparation for lots of Law and Order marathons.

Trish had almost gotten fired from her job for mouthing off to her boss, Will and Audrey had finally kissed in public and Simon was trying to convince everyone to participate in some sort of charity event that involved running around campus in your underwear.

“I’m not freezing my junk off, even if it is for charity,” he said as I pictured his junk. It was pretty nice junk, and I wouldn’t like it if anything happened to it, even if I wasn’t going to be using it anytime soon.

It was all well and good to call ourselves friends over the phone, but in person, I had no idea how it was going to go.

“How’s your mom?”

“I guess she’s as good as can be expected. She goes from sobbing to cleaning like the Queen is coming over, then back to sobbing. I’m going back this weekend so Kayla can have a break.”

“Do you feel guilty?” Stryker always had a way of asking the questions I didn’t want to answer.

“Yeah. How can I not?”

I waited for him to tell me that I shouldn’t, but he sighed.

“You’re right.”

“Wait, what was that?”

He laughed.

“I said that you’re right. A little guilt is okay. It’s the big, soul-crushing guilt I’m worried about.”

Happy reading, everyone!

Jen xx

Blog Tour: Strangelets Blurb, Excerpt, and Giveaway!

Hi everyone! Today I'll be sharing the blurb, an excerpt, and a giveaway with you guys, as I am part of the Strangelets Blog Tour! Click here to see the rest of the tour. Thanks Shane at Itching For Books for letting me be a part of this wonderful tour!

Blurb

Strangelets
by Michelle Gagnon
Publisher: Soho Teen
Release Date: April 9, 2013

17-year-old Sophie lies on her deathbed in California, awaiting the inevitable loss of her battle with cancer…17-year-old Declan stares down two armed thugs in a back alley in Galway, Ireland…17-year-old Anat attempts to traverse a booby-trapped tunnel between Israel and Egypt… All three strangers should have died at the exact same moment, thousands of miles apart. Instead, they awaken together in an abandoned hospital—only to discover that they’re not alone. Three other teens from different places on the globe are trapped with them. Somebody or something seems to be pulling the strings. With their individual clocks ticking, they must band together if they’re to have any hope of surviving.  Soon they discover that they've been trapped in a future that isn't of their making: a deadly, desolate world at once entirely familiar and utterly strange. Each teen harbors a secret, but only one holds the key that could get them home. As the truth comes to light through the eyes of Sophie, Declan, and Anat, the reader is taken on a dark and unforgettable journey into the hearts of teens who must decide what to do with a second chance at life.

Excerpt 

*Please note that this excerpt is taken from an uncorrected e-galley.* 

Declan was helping Sophie manage the last few yards to the door when Anat's cry pierced the hot, stagnant air. He whipped around and spotted her bounding across the parking lot-- paces ahead of an enormous, dark shape.

"Holy mother,"  he said. "It's a feckin' bear!"

"Oh my God," Sophie gasped.

Nico and Yosh had already reached the entrance. If he and Sophie ran, they'd be able to join them and bolt the door. But Anat...

The branch in her hands look pitifully small. Even a gun probably wouldn't bring down an animal that size, at least not with a single shot. As the bear charged, its mouth fell open, tongue lolling to the side. It was impossibly fast. There was no way she'd make it.

Declan shoved Sophie forward, yelling, "Get everyone inside and close the door!"

Heart pounding, he kept his eyes on Anat. She was fifteen feet away... then ten... the bear had narrowed the gap, she could probably feel its breath on the back of her neck.

"I said run, you idiot!" she screamed as she passed him.

"Blood ungrateful," Declan muttered. He hefted the garbanzo bean can up with both hands. Summoning all his strength, he heaved it. Direct hit-- it smacked the bear on the snout. The animal shook its head, but barely broke stride. 

Not exactly the effect he'd been hoping for-- and now the bear looked pissed to boot. Declan spun on his heels and raced toward the door. He quickly caught up with Anat, whose long legs chewed up the pavement.

"That was a bad plan," Anat panted.

"Everyone's a bloody critic. Apologies for trying to save your arse."

"I don't need your help," she gasped.

"Right, you had that completely under control. You can thank me later, if..." The words died in his throat as he checked back over his shoulder. The bear was coming up fast, and they were still ten feet from the door. They weren't going to make it. Declan pictured it all with awful clarity: the giant paw slashing across his back, followed by teeth clamping down on his throat. Distracted by the image, he stumbled and went sprawling. He landed hard on his chest, getting a mouthful of dirt. In desperation he flung both arms over his head.

Nothing happened. 

His breath came in hard, sharp pants.

Cautiously, Declan lowered his arms.

The bear was gone.

- 29%, Loc 842 of 2919

Giveaway!!

Enter to win a signed copy of STRANGELETS! (US only)

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Happy reading,
Jen xx

Promotional Post: Summer's Desire Excerpt + Giveaway

Summer's Desire
by Olivia Lynde
Genre: New Adult
Publication date: March 20, 2013

A girl who's lost her voice, and a boy who carries a world of anger bottled up inside.A girl haunted by soul-crushing guilt and regret, and a boy who knows he can't afford the weakness of feeling—not if he is to survive.
They meet by chance and are unwillingly fascinated with each other. They become unlikely friends, and in each other, they find redemption.Until they are betrayed.
Can they ever regain their friendship? And if they do, can they trust each other enough to take the biggest risk of all: falling in love?

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE - GOODREADS - AMAZON - TWITTER 

Excerpt

“I may have survived, but I am broken," I remind him sadly.

"No, Sunny, you're just a bit battered. We both are. Or if we're broken, that's only when we're alone. But now we're together, baby! And together, we're both whole."

Giveaway

Enter to win 1 ebook copy of Summer's Desire! This giveaway is international.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy reading!
Jen xx

Blog Tour: Legacy of the Clockwork Key Excerpt + Giveaway!

Hi everyone! Today I'm going to be sharing with you all an excerpt of Legacy of the Clockwork Key. Make sure you enter the giveaway as well! Thanks to Shane at Itching for Books for letting me be a part of this wonderful tour. Make sure you check out the rest of the tour here!

Excerpt

*This excerpt was taken from an uncorrected proof copy, tentative to change.*

"It ruffled my petticoats as I leaned under the mantel. I gasped as the light from the candle illuminated a narrow spiral staircase descending into the inky shadows below. The dank scent of mold and dust wafted up from the depths.

I paused, listening again for any sound, any sign that I had disturbed the sleeping household. There was nothing but stillness, and I felt an irresistible urge to explore the passage.

I ducked through the fireplace, bending low to keep from brushing against the cinder-blackened walls. The smell of ash clung to my skin as I found myself standing on the edge of the first stair. It felt like ice beneath my stocking-clad feet.

There were probably rats.

I took a step, sheltering my candle, my only source of light.

It could be a passage to an old catacomb.

I took another step.

There might be skeletons and all sorts of unpleasantness.

My foot moved forward again.

I would be trapped in the dark, buried forever. No one would hear me. No one could help" (51-52).

 ---

This particular scene gave me the shivers! It made me want to find out more what was happening in the story. Doesn't it sound good? :D

Giveaway Time!

Enter to win a copy of Legacy of the Clockwork Key, US only! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I hope you all check out this book, and happy reading!

Jen xx

Nobody But Us Blog Tour: Blurb and Excerpt!

Today, the Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook blog tour is stopping by.  Below, you will find a blurb and excerpt from the book.  Thank you to Shane at Itching For Books for hosting the tour. To see the full tour schedule, click HERE.

Blurb

Bonnie and Clyde meets IF I STAY in this addictively heart-wrenching story of two desperate teenagers on the run from their pasts.
They’re young. They’re in love. They’re on the run.
Zoe wants to save Will as much as Will wants to save Zoe. When Will turns eighteen, they decide to run away together. But they never expected their escape to be so fraught with danger....
When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can’t run fast enough.
Nobody But Us, told in alternating perspectives from Will and Zoe, is an unflinching novel, in turns heartbreaking and hopeful, about survival, choices, and love...and how having love doesn’t always mean that you get a happy ending. Described as “beautiful, heartbreaking, and exhilarating” by Kody Keplinger, author of The DUFF, Nobody But Us will prove irresistible to fans of Nina Lacour, Jenny Han, and Sara Zarr.

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Excerpt

ZOE

It's beautiful sleeping in his car.  I've never slept anywhere but in my own bed in my own room.  Unless you count the times I blacked out on the floor.  But I don't think of that as sleeping.

  It's not a deep, constant sleep, because even though my body wants to rest, my brain doesn't.  It wants to be awake with Will, watching what we're passing, looking back at what we're leaving behind. Feeling the touch of his hand on my neck, hearing his steady breath next to my ear.

  Sometimes my body wins, and I doze.  I dream about lying next to Will in ways we never have before, feeling the heat of embarrassment mixed with nervous longing as I sleep; but other times my brain wins and I wake drowsily and ignore the pounding in my head to play with the fairy song of my mom's chimes or to smile at Will and put my fingers on his cheek.  He's handsome to me, in his rough way.  I've always thought he was handsome, since the day he transferred to the home and, later, to my school.

  Being in the home gave him a ready-made group of people to hang out with   He spent that first day walking the halls with Charlie Harmon, who graduates this year and plans on going into the army, and Lexi Simon.  She's two years younger than Will but dropped out a couple of weeks ago when she found out she was pregnant.

  He commented on the bruise on my forehead that day, an unfamiliar voice floating out of a group crowded around a couple of lockers, and I tripped over my own feet.

I suppose everyone else in town was used to seeing them.  The dark marks I tried to cover with makeup.  I figured I had been doing a really good job  because nobody said anything when I showed up with some new disfigurement   But then this guy I'd never met before walks up and talks to me and he makes me doubt everything I thought I believed.

***

What do you think?  I hope that through this excerpt, some of Zoe's vulnerability has been conveyed and perhaps compelled you to pick up the book!

Happy reading,
Beverley

Undeadly Blog Tour: Review, Excerpt, and Giveaway!

Hi guys!! Today I am participating in the Undeadly blog tour, hosted by Shane at Itching For Books! I was very fortunate to be able to read the book in advance, and write a review for it! I also chose one of my favorite scenes to share with you guys. PLUS THERE'S A GIVEAWAY. Yep, you guys will have the opportunity to win a copy of the book, signed!! Be sure to check out the rest of the tour here! Well, without further ado, let's get on with it!

Review

Name: Undeadly

Author: Michele Vail

Publisher: HarlequinTEEN

Release Date: November 20, 2012 (US)

Pages: 272, Paperback

Source: For Review for blog tour

Rating: 4 Teacups

The day I turned 16, my boyfriend-to-be died. I brought him back to life. Then things got a little weird...
Molly Bartolucci wants to blend in, date hottie Rick and keep her zombie-raising abilities on the down-low. Then the god Anubis chooses her to become a reaper-and she accidentally undoes the work of another reaper, Rath. Within days, she’s shipped off to the Nekyia Academy, an elite school that trains the best necromancers in the world. And her personal reaping tutor? Rath. Who seems to hate her guts.
Rath will be watching closely to be sure she completes her first assignment-reaping Rick, the boy who should have died. The boy she still wants to be with. To make matters worse, students at the academy start turning up catatonic, and accusations fly-against Molly. The only way out of this mess? To go through hell. Literally.

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Jen's Review

Necromancy, zombies, ghosts, reaping, and ghouls?! What more could you ask for? Undeadly was a funny paranormal read that has a very sarcastic main character, plenty of laugh out loud moments, and great creativity. Undeadly was overall a very enjoyable read.

The concept--er, concepts--were very well done. The paranormal creatures were all dead in some way, and I don't think it was disorganized at all! Each supernatural element complemented the other very well! At first it was a bit confusing but Vail is able to ease the reader in comfortably. Plot-wise, it could have had more variation; the entire book was pretty evenly-paced, but it's definitely acceptable.

Goodness, the humor had to be my favorite part in the entire novel! Molly's voice is just so humorous and sarcastic, I fell in love with her character instantly. It definitely kept the story light while the ideas and conflicts of the novel were more dark and serious. It was a great balance!  While Molly was a great character herself, I found that her relationships with the other characters in the story were weak. For example, there was definitely romance involved, but there was so little of it after the beginning that I found myself wondering if it's really necessary at all. This totally could have just been a paranormal YA novel…

But awkward character relationships aside, Undeadly is a fun dead-paranormal-creatures read with a hilarious main character that you won't want to miss! I certainly had a great time reading it. Highly recommended!

4 Teacups for Undeadly!

*Thanks to Michele and Shane for providing me with a copy to review!*

Excerpt Time!

*This excerpt was taken from an advance reader copy. Text is not final.*

"Mina and I are over. I don't want her or her poison." He drew me into his arms, right there in front of everyone (including Mina… nyah, nyah), and leaned down. "I like you, okay?"

I nodded.

Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds started to play. Dad! He'd gotten that damned song into the mix, after all. Rick smiled. "Wow. This is old school, Mol."

He held me closer and I lay my head on his shoulder as we swayed to the music. Someone turned off the living room lights. The lamps on the end tables were on, but their muted glow barely pierced the darkness.

Still, I could see Rick lean down, his nose almost touching mine. I'd brushed my teeth twice and refrained from food and drink. Because I wanted our first kiss to be perfect--you know, without the Doritos taint. (63.)

His lips ghosted across mine. My belly pulled tight with excitement. I was chest to chest with him. Oh, gawd.

"Sweet Molly," he murmured. He angled his mouth against mine and I opened for him. My eyes fluttered closed. Tentative, I met the gentle thrust of the tongue. I felt electrified. I clung to him, completely unsure about what I was doing.

He drew away, just a little, took a shuddering breath, and returned. I was pressed so close to him that I could feel how his heartbeat matched the ferocity of mine. I felt awkward and amazed and--

The lights snapped on. I opened my eyes, blinking, horrified that Dad might have come down to checkup on us crazy teenagers and freaked to see me lip-locked with Rick.

"Mina! No!" Rick tried to push me out of the way, but he ended up projecting me right into Mina's path.

The full contents of the punch bowl showered me. Red liquid splattered my face, hair, and clothes. Ice cubes fell down my shirt and spun off my toes. Some of the sticky sweet drink dribbled into my mouth. Shocked beyond words, I could only stand there like an idiot. (64). 

GIVEAWAY

Now that I have you guys all excited after reading that excerpt, I know you'll want to win a copy!  

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Happy reading, 

Jen xxx

Chasing McCree by J.C. Isabella Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway

Today, I'm delighted to introduce you to J.C. Isabella and her YA contemporary novel, Chasing McCree. It sounds like a really great contemp that I'd enjoy so hopefully I'll be able to read it soon! Below, is an excerpt from the book itself and don't forget to enter the giveaway as well! Enjoy!

 

Briar Thompson had it all. The right clothes, the right friends, the right car. Being popular was all that mattered. Her parents were rich and treated like royalty throughout the community. She thought her senior year of high school was going perfectly, until the night her drink was spiked at a party by one of her so called friends.
That was the night she met Chase McCree.
Chase wanted to go back to Montana. To the ranch and the wild, wide blue sky that went on forever. He wanted nothing to do with flashy cars or spoiled rich kids. But he found himself head over boots for the quirky cheerleader who turned her back on her social status. She befriended him when no one else would.
Shunned and hurt by the people who were once her friends, Briar flees with Chase to his family ranch in Montana. There she discovers another world, and apart of herself she never knew.
The cowboy wasn’t like anyone she’d ever met. The cheerleader wasn’t like anyone he’d ever met. Apart their lives didn’t seem to make sense, but together, they were chasing forever.

Excerpt

Chapter 4 - Chase

 “Tuesday nights I fix a mean pot roast.” Grandma said, her frail, boney arms clutching me in a tight hug. I was surprised by her strength, for such a small older woman. “Look at you, not an ounce of fat.”

“Uh, thanks.” My face went red, and Briar pulled her off of me.

But Grandma wasn’t finished. “My hubby was that fit once. A prized fighter. What a doll. A really awesome boxer. He could knock em’ out. One two! Down on the mat they go, stars in their eyes, teeth missing outta their heads.”

“Wow, really?” I asked, trying to hold in my laughter as she held her fists up and punched the air.

“Yup,” Grandma clicked her tongue. “Unfortunately, he took one to many hits to the noggin, if you catch my drift. Never was the same after the bar brawl of eighty-two.”

“Your grandfather was in a bar fight?” I glanced at Briar.

She smiled. “I hear he was pretty wild.”

Grandma purred. “An animal. Next time I see you, I can tell you some stories about our trip to Africa. I almost got married off to a tribal chief when Grandpa lost a poker game to a witch doctor and a monkey who played the harmonica.”

Briar laughed. “Grandma, I’m going to say goodbye to Chase, why don’t you go check on your sangria?”

“Oh, I see how it is. You kids want to smooch while the old bird isn’t looking.” Grandma turned for the house, socks jingling as she opened the front door. “I wasn’t born yesterday, you know. I got these gray hairs and wrinkles from a hotheaded husband and a son who couldn’t keep his pecker in his pants. Don’t know how he’s managed to stay married to your mother for so long. She must have a magical vagina.”

The door shut. I looked at Briar. She went pink with embarrassment, and I was about to tell her I loved her grandmother, but the front door reopened. Grandma poked her head back out. She narrowed her wrinkly eyes and pursed her lips together, studying me closely, then Briar. “I know times are different now, and you kids do things that would turn my hair white. Do yourselves a favor and use protection. No glove, no love.”

The door snapped shut behind her, and I couldn’t make eye contact with Briar as we walked back for the truck. Her grandmother didn’t mince words.

Author Spotlight 

I'm J.C. Isabella, and I love to write. I've been writing for about ten years now. Mostly it was just for fun, for me. But my friends liked my work, so I decided to self publish. I hope you enjoy the rest of my site, and the books I have written. The reason I chose to write romance, is because I love a happy ending. In YA there are so many lessons to be learned, so many firsts to be had. Why not write about first kisses, first crushes, or trying to explain to your father you were bitten by your boyfriend, who happens to be a werewolf? One thing I will always promise in my books is a happy ending. I've always hated getting to the end of a really great novel, and feeling let down because it didn't end the way I thought it should. So about ten years ago, I decided to write a book. I remember it was about these kids who hijack a boat to find buried treasure in Mexico.... Needless to say, my writing has come a long way since my teen years, and I know I have room to improve, but I feel guilty having these books sitting in my computer, with no one to read them. So I'm putting them out for the world to see! I try not to take myself too seriously. I'm not an editor, nor am I a total wiz when it comes to grammar or language. I try my darndest though, and I hope to give people an enjoyable read that is nice a break from reality. I put a lot of work into what I do, and I appreciate people reading my work. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Hehe, I giggled so much at that! I absolutely ADORE feisty grandparents in books so I can't wait to meet Briar's grandma!  Let me know what you thought of it in the comments!

And now for the giveaway.  Up for grabs are 5 e-book copies of Chasing McCree and another 5 e-book copies of McCree's Star Spangled 4th which is a short story.  Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favour!

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Happy reading,
Beverley xx

Blog Tour: Familiar Ties by Naya Nikki

Today, the Familiar Ties by Naya Nikki Blog Tour is stopping by A Reading Daydreamer.  I'm intrigued by this book: it sounds like a really sweet read!  Below, there is an excerpt from the book which I hope you will enjoy and maybe afterwards you'll be intrigued too?

Synopsis: 

Max West is a widower raising Phoebe, his four-year-old daughter. Phoebe has to live with the fact that the day she was born is also the day of her mother’s death. As her fifth year without her mother approaches, Phoebe finds solace in her godmother, Amy Riley, and her daughter, Grace Crawford, another single parent family.

  Amy Riley is a successful fashion designer who spends most of her days raising her four-year-old daughter, Grace, while her wayward boyfriend is travelling the world making the next best film. As the fifth year without her best friend looms she finds comfort in her ex-boyfriend, Max, and his daughter, Phoebe.These two “broken” families have a tough week to face as the dreaded day approaches.

  However through their past, present and debatable future will their choices affect the outcome both parents clearly want and are simply denying? Or will Phoebe and Grace lose the only “whole” family they have ever known?


Excerpt:

“Amy,” Max warned, “You’re not going to just take pictures.”

He chuckled as he stood behind Amy, who was trying to figure out the new camera. Grace and Phoebe were posed perfectly on the sofa like little angels, big smiles showing rows of shiny white teeth, with the odd one or two missing. “You see,” he showed her. “There's this new, fancy thing called a timer. This means that all of us can be in the picture, including you.”

She playfully swatted him, as he jumped back, “Oh zip it.” She laughed, “I look a mess. Anyway I want a picture of you three for my desk, not me.”

Grace sat up as she swung her little legs off the edge of the sofa, her feet not even scraping the floor. “Come on, Mommy! Pwease?” She was missing her two front teeth and therefore she couldn’t pronounce her L’s properly. Amy thought it sounded so cute and secretly hoped that they’d never grow back.

How could she possibly say no to her little darling? She watched as Grace began to pout and bat her big, grey eyes at her. It was her infamous look that could make anyone fall for her, including her mother and her Uncle Max.

“No, not the pout,” she joked. “Anything but that, Gracie you know I can’t resist that cute little pout of yours.”

Once Max finished setting the timer, he curled his fingers around Amy's pale bangle covered wrist and pulled her towards the girls and the sofa. As they both sat down, on either side of the girls, he leaned over the girls’ heads to whisper, “I taught her that pout.”

“Yes, I know,” she replied. “Because that’s how you got Anna to fall for you.” She was about to laugh when she realized what she’d said. There was a moment of silence as both contemplated the loss of Anna. “Sorry,” she whispered to him. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“It’s fine,” he whispered back, before he could say anymore Phoebe crawled onto his lap. He smiled and saw the splitting image of his deceased wife staring back at him. He didn’t mind that Anna was gone, because she’d left him the most precious of gift. Amy smiled as she lifted Grace onto her lap. Both parents shuffled closer together as a unit.

“How long do we have, Daddy?” Phoebe asked, as she snuggled into her father’s chest.

“Thirty seconds,” he answered. “Can you smile big for me?” he asked.

Phoebe nodded as she smiled her massive toothy smile and reached for Grace's hand. “You too, Grace!” Phoebe instructed her friend. “Smile really, really big!”

For a moment, Amy remembered Anna again. They’d both been only eight years old when they’d sat and posed for a different camera. Amy still had that picture on her bedside drawer, next to one of Phoebe and Grace as babies. 'Smile real big,' Anna had said as she’d tilted her head against Amy’s to become one.

The smile on Amy's face wasn’t a sad one anymore. She was fortunate that she could feel Anna’s presence, through her charming daughter.

As she looked at the camera, she hadn’t realized that Max had put his free arm around her waist, pulling them closer. The camera started to blink, indicating to be ready. “Ready?” she asked them. “On the count of three, okay? One…Two…”

“Three,” they all said together, smiling big for the camera, to produce the perfect family photo, to anyone who didn’t know them.

 ***

Author Bio:

Born and raised in London, England, Naya Nikki is a student who’s spent most of her life taming her creative streak through writing short stories. She’s signed her first contract with InkSpell Publishing to publish her first book “Familiar Ties.” The story follows the journey of two single parents whose daughters want nothing more than for them to become a happy family.

She is currently earning a degree in English with a minor in Creative Writing that will allow her to build her writing career. When she isn’t at the university, Naya loves nothing more than spending time with her parents and grandparents as well as meeting her friends for gossip sessions over some hot coco.

Hopefully you enjoyed reading the excerpt and it's compelled you to give it a try!  And thanks to the tour co-ordinator who let me take part!

Happy reading,

Beverley x