Blog Tour: Breaking the Wrong by Calia Read

Breaking the Wrong is the second book in the Sloan Brothers series, however, it can be read as a stand-alone novel. If you'd prefer to read Every Which Way first, click here to purchase the ebook from Amazon.

Synopsis & My Review:

Emilia Wenworth would do anything for her sister.

For three years, Emilia has lived in the past, feeling her sister’s pain and hating those who are to blame, including one of the Sloan brothers.

Finally, she has had enough. The only way to be free is to create a Burn List with all the people who have ever hurt her sister.

As she crosses each name off the list, she gets closer and closer to her final target. But, things aren’t always as they seem.

Loyalties are tested.

Boundaries are crossed.

And the truth is revealed.

*I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour*

"Everyone wants to fall in love. But I think more people are in love with the theory of love. If you're looking in from the outside, it looks so beautiful On the inside, it's scary because it can take over your life. It's the strongest emotion but also the darkest. It can put you on a high for days, but it can wrap an anchor around your feet and drown you in less than a minute. If everyone knew the truth no one would really ask for love. But when it drops into your life, you can only hope that you have enough strength to hang on."

If you are my friend and/or follow my reviews on Goodreads, you’ll know that I didn’t finish the first book in this series, Every Which Way (GASP!) I know, I know, everyone was praising it and I really wish I could have loved it – I just didn’t. I got about 65% through before I gave up. I didn’t like Sev, I didn’t like Thayer, and I didn’t even like the story line. Now, I should tell you – I’m not a huge fan of love triangles; especially the ones where the girl continues dating Guy A, even though she has really strong feelings for Guy B. There’s a word for that: Rude.

Why is all of that relevant to this review? Well, because I was hesitant to read Breaking the Wrong simply because of my experience with Every Which Way. However, I was gifted an ARC for the blog tour and I wanted to be as fair in my review as possible. So, I went into this novel (which can be read as a stand-alone) with an open mind, slight apprehension, and a lot of hope. Hope that I would love it. And guess what? I did.

I absolutely, positively, shout-it-from-the-rooftops, loved this book. Honestly, I don’t think I can even express to you the pure joy that was coursing through my body when I finished this book – what?! No, I wasn’t happy because it was over; I was freaking ecstatic that I fell in love with it as much as I did. The characters go down as some of my all-time favorites: Macsen, Emilia, and even Chris. (Who else thinks Chris needs his own book, or at least a novella?! He’s effing hysterical.)  I softened a little bit to Thayer given his gradual attempt at a relationship with Macsen, and I actually felt sorry for Haley. She bugged me in Every Which Way, but after her little talk with Emilia when she explains her feelings for Macsen, my heart tugged for her a little bit. My feelings towards Sev remained pretty much the same; I still don’t care for her. But hey, you can’t love character you let into your life, now can you?

Macsen. This boy…I mean…I love him, I love him, I LOVE HIM! His relationship with Emilia is so loving, and adorable, and hot as fuck, and just plain perfect. They’re like macaroni and cheese – they just belong together. And when I said their relationship was hot as fuck, I mean it. The library scene. I can’t say anything else, but just know this…I think my vagina was doing backflips. For real.

Breaking the Wrong broke every wrong thought I previously had about Calia’s writing. This book made me a believer, and while I haven’t decided if I’ll try and finish Every Which Way, you can bet your ass I’ll be reading anything she publishes in the future. Until then, I’ll just have to keep re-reading Breaking the Wrong and fall in love with this story, and Emilia and Macsen all over again. 

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**Click HERE to enter the giveaway for a chance to win SIGNED PAPERBACK COPIES of both books in the Sloan Brothers series, Every Which Way and Breaking the Wrong**

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Excerpt:

“If you were bold...” Macsen shifts closer and I clinch the book tightly in my hands. “What would you do?”      

            My heart picks up speed as I open my mouth. I hesitate for a second, afraid to say what I feel. But when will this opportunity ever come again? Probably never. But it doesn’t make it any easier.

            Tell him or don’t. Tell him or don’t. I weigh the pros and cons in my head as I stare at him. After a few seconds pass between us, I let out a shaky breath.

            “I’d lean forward...” I whisper.

            His face moves closer and I watch his green eyes become hooded with lust. “And what?”

            I lean an inch closer. “I would kiss you.”

            Macsen’s eyes slam shut and the rejection I feel stings. I start to rise and when he opens his eyes back up. His hands gently hold my own to the floor and then his mouth is on mine. I want to shiver from how lightly his lips move against mine, how smooth they feel. They move coaxingly, with soft nips. My lips stay shut. I’m enjoying every single trick of his to get me to open up my mouth to him.

            My breathing is shallow as I pull away. His hands move away as he settles onto the floor, his legs wide apart. My nose brushes against his as I stare into his eyes. His pulse is pounding at the base of his throat. With my palms flat on the floor, I lean closer. My body is between his spread legs. Even though he’s silent, his chest rises and falls like he has just stopped running. I know he wants me. I shut my brain down, ignore what a mistake this is, and lean forward and kiss the side of his neck. He jumps slightly and I lick his skin.

            I hear him groan and move my lips upward.

            A kiss cannot replace the past. But with every kiss to his skin, my hurt becomes a distant memory. All my pain is gone and all I can feel is the blood roaring throughout my body. My lips tingle as I drag them across his jaw. When I reach his lips, I stop, and hover. I can only go so far before it’s his turn to take control.

            My eyes briefly flick down to his arms. He’s resting his weight on his palms, but I watch his arms shake. He’s losing his calm demeanor. The longer our lips are apart, the more the air snaps around us. My breathing is harsh as I wait patiently. When Macsen still hasn’t moved, I start to back away.

            “Don’t,” he says roughly and reaches out. Easily, his hands span my waist and he drags me onto his lap. 

            I grip his forearms tightly as my body sinks closer and my thighs hug his hips. Against the juncture of my thighs, I can feel how hard he is. I shift once and my thighs start to shake. He only pauses for a second, looking at me with such intensity, I’m waiting for my skin to melt. When his lips meet mine, there’s more urgency to our kiss. My nails dig into his flesh as he licks the seam of my lips and nips at my bottom lip.    

            I want to pretend, just for a few hours, that I’m someone filled with forgiveness. No scars on my past. No cuts on my emotions. I want to be a whole person, not someone sewn back together. And I feel put together with Macsen’s arms banded tightly around me.

            I open my mouth and his tongue slips in. I gasp loudly in shock at how good this feels. Goosebumps break out across my skin, and I move my tongue against his cautiously. My revenge runs in the opposite direction the longer his mouth is on mine.

            Slowly, I start to relax my body. I practically sigh when Macsen’s hands move from my hips and toward my face. He bites lightly on my bottom lip and soothes the burn with his tongue. Macsen angles my head and explores my mouth. I thrust my tongue against his and fist my hands into his hair. The grip on my face tightens before his hands drift away, traveling down my body.

            His fingers drift over my breast and through my bra, my nipples tighten. I want him to keep touching me there, but his hands move across my stomach and slip underneath my shirt. 

            How can I be doing this? None of this is part of the plan. My mind torments me and tries to pull me back to reality, but Macsen is my weakness. I can’t stop. My fingers drag up his arm, clinching his biceps. His hands explore my stomach and I breathe heavily, pulling away from his mouth and leaning my head on his shoulder. Those large hands inch closer to the lace of my bra and the two of us are breathing hard. His fingers veer around my chest and I feel him slip a finger underneath the strap of my bra. And even with the barrier of my shirt, he drags it down my shoulder and down my arm.

            There’s a torturous second where he does nothing and I think I stop breathing.

            Against his neck, against my will, I murmur, “More.”

            My brain has shut down and now my lust is talking. It’s a greedy feeling because all I can think about is having his hands all over me.

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About the Author

College seemed like too much stress for me. Traveling across the world, getting married, and having three kids seemed much more relaxing. Yeah, I'm still waiting for the relaxing part to kick in. 

I change addresses every other year. It's not by choice but it is my reality. While the crazies of life kept me busy, the stories in my head decided to bubble to the surface. They were dying to be told and I was dying to tell them. 

That was four years ago. Soon, the stories will be shared with you. I hope you'll enjoy escaping to the crazy world of these characters with me. 

I'm constantly on Facebook. 'Like' me there so we can gush and talk about everything books!

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On Every Street by Karina Halle

(The Artists Trilogy, book 0.5)

When young con artist Ellie Watt decides to call herself Eden White and go after the drug lord who ruined her as a child, she never expects to fall for one of his henchmen. But Javier Bernal is no ordinary man. Subtly dangerous and overwhelmingly seductive, Eden finds herself passionately in love with Javier, the very person she’s set-up to betray. With her body and heart in a heated battle against her deep need for revenge, no one will walk away from this con a winner.

This 50K word (100+ pages) novella takes place six years before Sins & Needles. It can be read before or after Sins & Needles and may also be read as a stand-alone.

Javier…YOU SON OF A BITCH! You make me fall for you when I didn’t even want to like you in the first place, and then even though I knew what was coming, you managed to rip my heart right out of my chest! There has never been a more perfect example of a love/hate relationship with a character – ever. I want to smack him across the face and rip all his clothes off at the same time. Karina, what have you done to me?!?

This novella is Javier and Ellie’s story, and it’s a fucking whirlwind. After reading Sins & Needles, I was torn on how I felt about a novella involving Javier. I had already made my mind about him and firmly planted myself on Team Camden. But there’s no way this novella would make me change my mind about him, right? I had to read it anyway. Then the unthinkable happened – I started seeing people’s posts about how dashing and charming and sexy Javier is, and now they don’t know who Ellie should end up with. Um…excuse the fuck out of me…but WHAT?! How could you possibly change your mind about this man??

And then I read On Every Street and I’m just as confused about my feelings as everyone else. Well, maybe not as torn, but there's some hesitation in my decision now. This novella allowed us to see the side of Javier that never surfaced in Sins & Needles, and really delve into their relationship. It wasn’t a huge train wreck or horribly one-sided like I thought it would be; it’s sweet and kind and loving…with a dash of crazy mother fucker. With having read Sins & Needles prior to On Every Street, I knew how their relationship would play out and just what actions would lead to their demise, but you know what? My heart hurt just as much this time as it did reading about it in Sins & Needles. Ellie is one of my favorite characters of all-time, and her meltdown in the truck was like taking a freaking hammer to my heart.

I didn’t want to like Javier or think that there might be some good underneath all that asshole, but I can’t help it. He got under my skin. I’m not to the point where I can say I don’t care who she ends up with, but Karina Halle definitely planted a little seed of doubt in my mind. Sure, Javier’s batshit crazy, but Camden isn’t perfectly sane either. On Every Street was an intense and suspenseful novella, and while I’m still Team Camden – the lure of Team Javier is giving me it’s come hither stare and the temptation has made its presence known. There is only one thing I know for sure at this point; I need Shooting Scars, like, yesterday! 

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Blog Tour: Give Me Something by Elizabeth Lee

Here’s the deal…I learned a long time ago that sometimes you have to use what you’ve got to make things happen. What I happen to have is a pretty smile, long legs and the ability to make men believe anything I say. Before you get on your high horse and start judging me, can you honestly say you’ve never batted your lashes at some guy for a free drink at the bar? That’s what I thought.

Keep in mind as I tell you my story of how I took it one step further. My story of lies, deceit, manipulation and love. Yeah, love. Believe me, it fits. Especially, when you factor in Nick and Tucker – one had my heart and the other one wanted it all for himself. Which one? Well, I can’t tell you that. It would defeat the purpose of the story. If I’m going to fill you in about me, Lila Garrison, and my life as a con artist you’re going to need to know all the facts, including the ones about the two guys who made me want to give up the life of fancy clothes, expensive jewelry, fast cars and easy money. Because sometimes, one person can give you something that’s more valuable than all of that.

If you’re still interested, stick around. Just remember, I’m pretty good at convincing people to do what I want, so if by the end of this whole thing you feel worked over, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

"I was pretty sure I was in love with Nick, falling for Tucker, and lying to them both." - Lila

A con artist, her sexy partner, an even sexier mark…and a bucket load of perfectly cheesy pickup lines. Anyone who knows me, knows I am a sucker for cheesy pickup lines; they make me laugh, and as Marilyn Monroe said, “If you can make a girl laugh, you can make her do anything.” Give Me Something is Elizabeth Lee’s second novel, and I love this book just about as much as I love her!

Give Me Something is a perfect mix of deception, angst, love, and suspense. The storyline is original and draws you in from page one; I was so wrapped up in the mess between Lila, Nick, and Tucker that I read the entire novel in a matter of hours! I seriously couldn’t put it down. I would tell myself, “Okay Ash, one more chapter and then you need to get some shit done,” but let me tell you something – the only shit I got done that day was starting and finishing this book.

The characters are some of my all-time favorites, and honestly, I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be a big fan of Lila before reading this. She is the type of girl who knows just how beautiful she really is and uses it to her advantage. And while I think we can all agree that we’ve all used our looks to get our way at some point, I was concerned that she would come across an arrogant girl with her nose up so high it might as well be in the damn clouds. I seriously could not have been more wrong; there was not one time during this book that I disliked her. Sure, I don’t agree with her and Nick’s business of conning people but even with that baggage, she was still a likable character. That’s the sign of a talented author, y’all!

Nick and Tucker…where do I even begin?! My feelings for Nick were all over the freaking place because the guy just seemed like a sneaky, little bastard. I liked him and then didn’t like him…and then I’d forgive him, and then there was one particular scene where I was all, “OH HELL MOTHER FUCKING NO HE DIDN’T!!!” I hated him in that moment; and then Elizabeth throws another curveball right at my face and makes me regret screaming angry obscenities towards him! The only thing that kept me from forgetting which was up was Tucker Kline. Sweet sassy molassey! I absolutely adore him!! His cheesy pickup lines were adorable, and his whole persona is like a breath of fresh air. Well, a steaming hot breath of fresh air. Excuse me for a moment while I wipe the drool off my face and collect my thoughts………

Okay. Good enough.

Honestly, I could go on and on about this book but now I have Tucker Kline on the brain, and it doesn’t appear he’s going away any time soon. If you haven’t read Give Me Something yet, you’re missing out. Buy this book and buy it noooow! Oh and E, the irony is not lost on me that this book is called Give Me Something and you really did give me something – a badass read and a hot, new book boyfriend. ;)

PS – Just because of the pickup lines in this book, I thought I’d share my all-time favorite cheesy pickup line with y'all: You’ve got 206 bones in your body. Want one more?  

You know that made you laugh… :)

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**Enter to win signed paperback copies of both Elizabeth Lee novels, SHATTERED and GIVE ME SOMETHING here!**

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About the Author

Born and raised in the middle of a Midwestern cornfield (not literally, that would be weird), I've spent my entire life imagining stories. Stories where the right guy always gets the right girl, first kisses are as magical as they are on the big screen and anything is completely possible if you believe. 

Although this journey began years ago, it recently took on a whole new life. After years of devouring hundreds of romance, YA and new adult novels, I had an epiphany...I should write a book. And I did! My first YA/New Adult novel is out now!

If I'm not reading, writing, enjoying drinks with my amazing group of girlfriends or chasing around a sarcastically funny one-year-old, I'm probably watching television shows that were created for teenagers, while my husband teases that I'm too old to watch them. 

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Make Me, Sir by Cherise Sinclair

(Masters of the Shadowlands, book 5)

Her job is to make his life miserable. His job is to make her submit. Whose heart will surrender first?

Across the country, rebellious BDSM submissives are being systemically kidnapped, one from each club. When her friend falls prey to the slavers, FBI victim specialist Gabrielle volunteers to be bait in a club not yet hit: the Shadowlands.

She finds that being a bratty sub comes naturally, especially when she gets to twit the appallingly conservative Master of the trainees. But she soon discovers he’s not as stuffy as she’d thought. Or as mean. She’d expected punishment, even humiliation, but she sure never expected to fall in love with a damned lawyer.

Courtesy of a prima donna ex-wife, Marcus loathes disobedient submissives. When the club owner insists he admit an incredibly bratty trainee, he’s furious. But as he comes to know Gabrielle and sees the alluring sweetness beneath the sass, he starts to fall for her.

Unfortunately, Marcus isn’t the only one who believes the feisty redhead is a prize worth capturing. And in the world of the slaver, such treasure is worth a hefty fee.

Publisher’s Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, strong BDSM theme and elements, violence.

I took a vacation away from the Shadowlands, but holy tits…I am so glad I came back. The first three books in this series were pretty great, but the main characters in the fourth book just killed all my momentum to read all six books in a row. I needed a break from the whips and chains and St. Andrews crosses at Club Shadowlands. Well, my little sex kittens, let me tell you something: Make Me, Sir brought me back to the Shadowlands – and it brought me back in a wonderful, vagina tingling way.

Make Me, Sir is my favorite of the Shadowlands books by far, not just because of the main characters, but also due to the plot line. Gabi worked her way right up next to the likes of Jessica and Kari (my two favorite subs from the books thus far) and Master Marcus…I mean…Christ on a cracker, he is just nice piece of fuckleberry pie. He’s smart, he’s strong, he’s a Dom, AND he has a nice, southern gentleman drawl?! I’ll take a slice of that, please. Actually, just give me the whole damn pie. I would let him chase me around the Capture Gardens any day.

I’ve really come to enjoy Cherise Sinclair’s BDSM novels, but the plot line in Make Me, Sir took my like to a whole new level. With the additional suspense and mystery of the sex trafficking ring, it added more depth to this novel and kept me intrigued and guessing from the first page right up until the very last line. I loved that we got a few moments from Jessica’s POV, and it delved a little deeper into the status of her and Z’s relationship. If you love the other couples from the previous Shadowlands books, no worries, they’re all here! AND one of my favorite aspects of Club Shadowlands is back in this book….THE CAPTURE GARDENS!! I wish I could explain why this concept is so ridiculously hot, but I don’t want to keep you here all night ;)

Make Me, Sir is a horribly sexy read that I would absolutely recommend reading…in the privacy of your home. (Trust me on this one!) The steamy scenes, not just between Marcus and Gabi, will leave your lady bits tingling and make you wish you had a Master Marcus of your own. If you like novels centered around BDSM activity, you need to read the Shadowlands series; I have yet to find a BDSM novel or series that compare to these books. 

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Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

(Caster Chronicles, book 1)
Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she’s struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town’s oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

I have to admit, there was only one reason why I found myself reading this book – the movie trailer. I heard of the series for the first time about a year or so ago, but I steered clear of it. Why? I heard soooo many people compare it to Twilight; I am not a Twilight fan. The books were just okay, and the movies were horrendous – but that’s another rant for another day. Back to Beautiful Creatures; I saw the movie trailer and immediately bought the book…and holy smacks, I am so glad I did. I fell in love with Lena and Ethan (and Link), and became enthralled with the Caster world in a completely unexpected way.

Just to clarify: this book is nothing like Twilight. The only reason why I can even assume people are making a comparison is strictly because it is a paranormal romance. Lena is a Caster (which is basically just a badass name for a witch) and Ethan is a mortal...well…sort of.  After realizing that Lena is the girl he has been dreaming about (literally), he makes every attempt to spend more time with her. There’s only one problem: Lena’s sixteenth birthday is approaching and with her life as a good or bad Caster hanging in the balance, she’s afraid to let Ethan get too close. Little does she know, having him close just might be what saves her.

I love that this is written from Ethan’s POV, not Lena’s. It’s super rare to read a romance that is solely from the male’s POV; it was a welcome change and not at all expected. While it does start off a little slow, and take a little while to really delve into the story line, I really enjoyed this novel. The unexpected plot twists made my jaw drop, and kept me on my toes right up until the very end. The strong character traits in Lena and Ethan are admirable and make you root for them even more – and while obstacles are thrown at them left and right, it kind of breaks your heart a little, too. 

My best friend and I went to see the movie after we both read the book, but unfortunately, I can’t give you feedback on that yet…because we only saw about 2 minutes. The stupid fire alarm went off and they herded everybody out like freaking cattle. I’ll definitely give y’all feedback on it when I have time to go see it again, but until then, if you haven’t read the book yet I highly recommend it. If you enjoy paranormal/sci-fi, romance, and little dashes of comedy, this is a perfect read for you. I can’t wait to start the second book in the series, and see where it takes Lena and Ethan. 

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Cloud Walking by A. Meredith Walters

(Find You in the Dark series, book 1.5)

While Clay and Maggie were falling apart…

Daniel and Rachel were falling in love.

Rachel Bradfield has loved Daniel Lowe for most of her life. She has had to sit quietly by while he throws his feelings away on a girl who doesn’t deserve them. Rachel knows she can be everything he needs.

Daniel has always known Rachel was special. She is one of his best friends. But what Daniel doesn’t realize is that the girl he has known forever might just be the one he really wants.

Love pulls two people together, while tearing two others apart. As Daniel and Rachel discover the beauty of first love, their best friend loses her heart to the deepest darkness. Unable to hold Maggie together, Rachel and Daniel find out that love doesn’t have to hurt and that it can change your life.

*The author gifted me an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

“Love has a way of consuming you. Making you lose all focus. But it could also lift you up and make your life that much better. Make you feel like it was the only thing in the world you needed.” – Daniel

Cloud Walking is a novella in the Find You in the Dark series and should be read after Find You in the Dark due to spoilers. 

This review is going to be short and sweet – much like Cloud Walking. I am so glad A. Meredith Walters gave us the opportunity to get inside the minds of Daniel and Rachel, and see firsthand how they turned a life-long friendship into something so much more.

Daniel, Rachel, and Maggie have been best friends since they were all knee high to a grasshopper. While Maggie and her boyfriend, Clay, are touched upon in Cloud Walking, they aren’t the focus; Daniel and Rachel are. Rachel has been in love with Daniel for as long as she can remember, but refuses to voice those feelings. Instead, she sits back and watches him date a girl who doesn’t deserve him, and lets Daniel walk all over her feelings. Daniel has always loved Rachel – in a best friend sort of way. Except lately he’s been seeing her in a different light. He doesn’t see her as just his best friend Rachel anymore; he sees her as a beautiful girl that would do anything for him – and he would do just about anything to kiss her. But does he want to chance it and risk losing her friendship forever?

I have been a huge fan of A. Meredith Walters ever since I read Find You in the Dark. Her writing style flows wonderfully, and she has a way of really making you connect with her characters. When I found out there would be not only a sequel to Find You in the Dark, but a short novella about Daniel and Rachel as well!? I think it’s sufficed to say, I was one happy girl.

I loved seeing the relationship between Daniel and Rachel evolve from friendship to romance on a firsthand basis. Sure, we got a little bit of that in Find You in the Dark, but it was from Maggie’s POV – we were on the outside looking in. In Cloud Walking, we finally got to see what was really going on in both of their heads while they wrestled with their overwhelming feelings for each other. It also really showed me that Daniel felt just as strongly about Rachel, as she did about him; in Find You in the Dark, that wasn’t horribly clear. It seemed a little one sided to me, at least up until the night at the cabin.

I said this was going to be a short review. Well, I guess I’m a liar so I’ll try to wrap this up. As I stated earlier, I would highly recommend reading Find You in the Dark before this novella, because it will give away spoilers. I adored Cloud Walking, and I think it was nice to have a feel-good romance to break up the angst-driven books in this series that showcase Clay and Maggie’s relationship. Plus, best friend romances are my absolute favorite – Christ on a cracker, I just love them! This was a great, quick read that shows us love shouldn’t hurt, it should make you feel wonderful…whole…damn it, it should make you feel like you’re cloud walking! ;)

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The New Hunger by Isaac Marion

(Warm Bodies series, book 0.5)

New York is a bayou. New Orleans is a reef. The entire country has been devastated by natural disasters and governmental collapse, and on top of everything else there is the annoying problem of zombies trying to devour you at every turn. But sixteen-year-old Nora and her younger brother, Addis, are about to discover the most frightening thing yet: being abandoned in this horrific world by their own parents.

Left with only a bag of clothes and a first-aid kit, Nora and Addis begin a harrowing journey to connect with anyone who isn’t looking to rob them or eat them. A wounded man wrecks a meal of green beans and French fries at the top of the Space Needle in Seattle. An attempt to get a good night’s sleep in a fortified motel is ruined by an undead face staring at them through the window. And they just can’t seem to shake someone – something – that’s been following them everywhere they go…

Meanwhile, a girl named Julie is traveling toward the city in an SUV with her parents. She is only twelve, but has already seen friends die and her school burn. She has watched her father become nearly as cold and remorseless as the Dead. All she wants is someplace to call home, even if it never really will be.

And somewhere nearby, a tall man awakens in the woods, unsure of exactly where he is, or even who he is. As he struggles to remember details of his life, a single consonant comes to him: R. He is…a name that begins with R…

*I received an ARC from the publisher, Zola Books*

If you loved Warm Bodies, I would definitely recommend The New Hunger. This novella is a prequel to Warm Bodies that takes you on three separate journeys in the early days after the US collapse. You’ll follow alongside a brother and sister struggling to find food, weapons, shelter, and basically anything that will help them stay alive; a twelve-year-old girl traveling across the country with her father and mother as they try to find any city, town, or suburb that hasn’t been wiped out; and lastly, a newly Dead zombie who is trying to figure out just exactly what he is, who he is – and more importantly, what this new “life” means for him.

This novella was only 128 pages, so there isn’t a whole lot I can say without giving away spoilers. You’ll get live  R’s first days as a zombie, see how he stumbles (literally) upon meeting M, and he gets his first glimpse of Julie. As much as I love R and Julie, my favorite story line in this prequel was that of Nora and Addis, a sixteen-year-old girl and a six-year-old boy trying to survive on their own. They’re relationship was heartwarming and comical, yet tragic as you see Nora absorb the motherly role for Addis after their parents leave them to fend for themselves.

Isaac Marion once again shows off his tremendous ability to weave gruesome, heartwarming, and suspense into the perfect zombie apocalypse series. The New Hunger is a quick read, and it fuses the story lines together to set up the relationships in Warm Bodies perfectly. In all honesty, if you haven’t read Warm Bodies, I would suggest reading this novella first; it will give you backgrounds on some major characters, and won’t reveal any spoilers. If you’re looking for a gritty, yet funny zombie series – look no further, because this is it, y’all. 

Purchase from Zola Books (available on 01/28/13)

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

(Warm Bodies series, book 1)

A zombie who yearns for a better life ends up falling in love – with a human – in this astonishingly original debut novel.

R is a zombie. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams. He doesn’t enjoy killing people; he enjoys riding escalators and listening to Frank Sinatra. He is a little different from his fellow Dead.

Not just another zombie novel, Warm Bodies, is funny, scary, and deeply moving.

“I don’t know what happened. Disease? War? Social collapse? Or was it just us? The Dead replacing the Living? I guess it’s not so important. Once you’ve arrived at the end of the world, it hardly matters which route you took.” – R

I fell in love with a zombie.

Yep. My newest book boyfriend is a gray-skinned, brain-eating, escalator-riding, Frank Sinatra-listening, sweet-as-all-fucking-get-out, zombie. (He may also need to star in an episode of Hoarders, but I guess I’ll let him deal with one problem at a time, and the whole zombie thing seems a little more important.) I never expected to like this book so much and was beyond pleasantly surprised – the story of R and Julie was odd and a little bit creepy, yet wonderfully sweet and endearing.

R isn’t your typical zombie – he doesn’t enjoy eating people, he only does it because it’s necessary for him to remain alive…well…not alive, but you get the point. If he’s going to continue wandering the Earth instead buried beneath it, homeboy has to eat. While out on a “food run,” R finds Julie and has an overwhelming desire to save her – he could never have known that in actuality, Julie would be the one to save him.

Warm Bodies was the perfect combination of humor, romance, violence, and hope. I mean, it’s a romance, but come on – you can’t expect a zombie book to be completely devoid of gore and cringe worthy moments! The way Isaac wove details into the storyline was pretty perfect; I want to get a mental picture in my head without getting bored. One instance in particular sticks out in my head: the description of the stadium. This required pages of descriptive details for the reader to really grasp what this “stadium-turned-city” looked like…and never once did I find myself skimming. Isaac found the perfect balance between a scarcity and an overload of descriptive information.

The story line was compelling and original, and the characters were wonderful. I loved R’s charm and compassion, and Julie’s sarcasm and bluntness were a nice dose of comic relief. The gradual connection between R and Julie was wonderfully done, and I adored watching her grow more and more fond of him.

I really, really enjoyed this novel, and the ending made my heart happy. I can’t wait to see Nicholas Hoult bring R to life on the big screen next month, and am even more anxious to read the sequel! If you want a paranormal romance that will blow vampire boyfriends out of the water, pick up Warm Bodies and get ready to have a charming, unlikely zombie steal your heart. (He won’t eat it, don’t worry!)

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Shattered by Elizabeth Lee

Alyssa Boyd had big plans. Big plans that included getting the hell out of the little town she’d grown up in with her two best friends. When she decided it was time to let one of them know her true feelings for him; a change of plans resulted in a tragic turn of events. Now, Alyssa is left alone to find her way out of the darkness that an untimely death has left in its wake.

Jesse Vaughn was never good at letting people in. He’d learned a long time ago that it’s easier that way because people leave, or unfortunately, die. The one person he wanted to let in doesn’t want him anymore. The only problem is he can’t stop thinking about her. Jesse returns to the childhood home he left behind with one goal in mind…to convince her that they should be together.

When Jesse finds Alyssa she’s not the same girl he left behind. She’s wild, reckless and hell-bent on not giving Jesse a second chance. Lucky for Jesse, his stubborn streak has always been a mile-wide and he’s not about to give up on her.

When your life has been shattered can you really pick up all the pieces and move on?

*I was gifted a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

So, Elizabeth was sweet enough to provide with a copy of Shattered to review on my blog, and then you know what I did? I put off reading it. Not because I was trying to be a dick, or I didn’t have any interest in it; I pride myself on not being a dick and I had it listed on my TR shelf on Goodreads before she gifted me the copy. So what made me hesitant to start this novel? The inevitable feeling of heartache. I mean, the synopsis lets you know that things don’t work out great – she loses both of her best friends. I needed to get myself in the right state of mind for Shattered and thankfully I did, because it is an incredible story of love, loss, letting go, and finding happiness when you feel like you don’t deserve it.

I felt immediately bonded to Alyssa, mainly because I’m a country girl myself. Riding on 4-wheelers, going mudding, “booze cruising” on dirt roads, having a guy put the moves on you in the bed of his pickup truck…check, check, check, AND check. I loved her character and felt so much for her. The scenes where she shut out the world and went into auto-pilot broke my heart, and the overwhelming guilt she battled with over Garrett’s accident just made me want to pull her into a huge hug. When she was picking up glass off the road that night – my heart broke and so did my tear ducts. Sure, she frustrated me at times with her stubbornness towards Jesse, but that’s when I reminded myself that she is only in high school and let’s face it, we were all pretty damn stubborn and stuck in our ways in high school.

Jesse – well, Jesse was a little bit country, a little bit bad boy, and a whole lot of sexy…all rolled into a nice romantic package. I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with alpha males; it’s weird, some of them I love, and some of them I hate. Jesse had a bit of an alpha personality, but he was vulnerable at the same time and after everything he had been through, you could easily see why. I absolutely love Jesse and Alyssa, and there is one moment in particular that sticks out in my head as the cutest, sweetest fucking thing ever. Two words: chocolate milkshake. (You didn’t really expect me to tell you the meaning behind that did you?!) Read it and I guarantee you’ll agree with me!

I loved that the story alternated between Alyssa and Jesse’s POVs, and past and present. I think it was necessary for the past and present to see how close these three really were before the accident. I really appreciated it because it gave us time to see just how great of a friend Garrett was…and he sounded pretty damn easy on the eyes, too! I’m convinced Elizabeth somehow read my mind and found out that a huge weakness of mine is a country boy in a flannel button down shirt, jeans, and a baseball cap…whew, so sexy.

Shattered is a wonderful novel that shows the unbreakable bonds of friendship, rekindled romance, and learning how to pick up the pieces of a shattered world and make it whole again. Elizabeth, thank you so much for gifting me a copy of your book and I’m fairly certain you and I are supposed to be best friends or something. Why? Because of this one line: “I’m not sure how good my coordination was at that point, but I knew one thing…when Luke Bryan told you to ‘shake it,’ by God, you shook it.”  You said it, girl – you always shake it for Luke Bryan!

PS – For those of you who have never seen sexy Mr. Luke Bryan shake it himself on stage…you’re welcome ;)

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