Book Blitz - Channel 20Something by Amy Patrick

Channel 20Something by Amy Patrick
(20Something #1)
Publication date: August 12th 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

From award-winning author and two-time GOLDEN HEART® finalist Amy Patrick comes a New Adult contemporary series about twenty-somethings entering the world of TV broadcasting, where what happens behind the scenes is the real news.


22-year-old Heidi Haynes is almost one year into her “real life”. She has her first reporting job, her first apartment, and a comfortable relationship with her college sweetheart. But for some reason she’s not as eager to talk about walking down the aisle as he is.

Heidi secretly longs for big cities, big-market breaking news, and real independence from her way-too-close-by helicopter parents. Problem is, the last time she left the security of home for new places and new people, things didn’t go so well. Disastrously, in fact, and she came running back to a local college and a “safe” boyfriend.

Aric Serrano is definitely not safe.

He’s six-feet-four-inches of missing-Hemsworth-brother-hotness and plans to stay in small-market-Southern-Hell just long enough to grab a cup of coffee and put together a kick-ass “escape tape”. He’ll serve his one-year contract, then he’s taking off for a higher rung on the TV sports ladder—alone—the way he likes it. Then he meets his new co-anchor.

Heidi would be so much more comfortable if she could simply ignore Aric. He’s just her type—the type she’s so careful to avoid these days. But that becomes impossible when she's forced to work closely with him on the weekend newscast. Now the attraction between them is growing even faster than the ratings, and what happens behind the scenes is the real news.

Goodreads

Purchase:

Amazon | NOOK/Barnes and Noble | Kobo | All Romance

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AUTHOR BIO

Amy is a two-time Golden Heart finalist (2013 and 2014) who writes Young Adult fiction as Amy DeLuca and New Adult romance as Amy Patrick.  

She lives in Rhode Island with her husband and two sons and actually craves the heat and humidity of Mississippi, where she grew up. 

She's been a professional singer and news anchor and currently narrates audio books as well as working as a station host for a Boston TV station.

Author links: 

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Excerpt:

The baby reached out for the stick mic, grabbing a handful of the foam windscreen covering it. Her mom scolded her and tried to pry her tiny hand away. “No, no, Cassie.”
“It’s okay. She can’t hurt it,” Aric reassured. He cupped the baby’s downy head, his large hand covering the entire back of her skull. As he cooed in her face, the baby gazed at him as if he was all that existed in the world. “May I please have this back, Cassie? Can I? Are you going to let me have my microphone back?”
She released her grip and gave him a wide gummy grin dotted with two tiny front teeth.
“Oh, thank you.” Aric stroked her plump cheek.
Oh my God. I’m envious of a baby. I shook my head to clear it. I really needed to get a hold of myself. Especially now that I knew Aric was involved with someone long-distance and he believed I was in a committed relationship. I had to work on my just-friends attitude and banish the improper thoughts that insisted on popping up every few minutes when I was with him.
We finished the interview, Aric thanked the family, and then we talked to a few students on camera, getting some good usable sound bites and some that would never make air. One group of frat guys we met had clearly started the party early. They were loud and happy and flirted with me outrageously.
“You’re beautiful,” slurred a lanky guy with a mop of platinum hair and a maroon blazer. He looked like a freshman and teetered over me like a skinny tree that might go down with the next strong breeze.
“She is, isn’t she?” Aric said in a clipped, impatient way. “Okay guys, just a couple of
questions—”
Another one of them, a stocky guy in a wrinkled button-down and crooked tie, ignored Aric completely and pushed things a step further. His whiskey-soaked breath surrounded me as he crowded my personal space. “You’re way cuter than you are on TV. They should make the news desk see-through. You have great legs.”
The guy lurched back from me as Aric stepped in and gave him the buddy-slap on the shoulder, employing more force than seemed necessary. “Okay, friend. Time to move along. This one’s spoken for.”
Aric’s voice sounded even deeper than usual. Though he’d obviously been referring to Hale, the protectiveness of his tone struck a shameful chord of pleasure in my midsection. I hadn’t actually been afraid—we were in a crowd of people in broad daylight—but there’s something almost magnetic about a guy whose instinct is to stand up for you.
In his state of drunken invincibility, the stocky kid bowed up, frowning in offense. Then he apparently realized how far up he had to crane his neck to see Aric’s intimidating expression. He shrank away and joined his friends stumbling into the stadium.
We picked up our gear and headed for the sidelines, flashing our media passes at the security guard on the way in.
“Thanks,” I said quietly.
Aric cut a glance in my direction and grinned. “Anytime. Reporter, photographer, bodyguard. Whatever you need.”

Review - Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Attachments

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Pages: 327

Release date: 14th April 2011

Publisher: Plume

Blurb from Goodreads:

"Hi, I'm the guy who reads your e-mail, and also, I love you ..."

Beth Fremont and Jennifer Scribner-Snyder know that somebody is monitoring their work e-mail. (Everybody in the newsroom knows. It's company policy.) But they can't quite bring themselves to take it seriously. They go on sending each other endless and endlessly hilarious e-mails, discussing every aspect of their personal lives.
Meanwhile, Lincoln O'Neill can't believe this is his job now- reading other people's e-mail. When he applied to be "internet security officer," he pictured himself building firewalls and crushing hackers- not writing up a report every time a sports reporter forwards a dirty joke.
When Lincoln comes across Beth's and Jennifer's messages, he knows he should turn them in. But he can't help being entertained-and captivated-by their stories.
By the time Lincoln realizes he's falling for Beth, it's way too late to introduce himself.
What would he say ...?

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US 

My Review:

 *I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Penguin Group Plume and NetGalley*

3/5 stars

Lincoln is an internet security officer at a newspaper. 

His job is to read flagged email and he hates it. 

But one perk are the funny personal emails that Beth and Jennifer send to each other.

It took me a while to get into this book and to warm to the characters. 

Lincoln was an okay character and I enjoyed reading as he grew as a person.

My favourite parts were the emails between Beth and Jennifer. I liked their relationship.

The book didn't really grip me and the plot was slightly predictable. 

In a way I did like the ending but in another way I didn't as I thought it might have been good if Lincoln had ended up with someone else.

Overall this was a good read but after all the hype about the author I was slightly disappointed.

Book Blitz + Giveaway - The Silver Siren by Chanda Hahn

The Silver Siren by Chanda Hahn
(Iron Butterfly Series #3)
Publication date: May 25th 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Every journey has an end.
Unable to find the answers she sought in Skyfell, Thalia, Joss, and Kael travel to Haven with a prisoner in tow. An attack on the road waylays their plans, and Thalia finds herself traveling alone with
Kael to the hidden sanctuary of the SwordBrothers.
But war is on the horizon and the Raven is amassing his army. This time, the target is not Calandry, but the Sirens of Sinnedor. When family ties are revealed, Thalia must choose sides. Desperate to break the final seal on her power and save those she loves, will Thalia willingly taste the bitter pain of the iron butterfly machine one final time?

Goodreads

Purchase:

Amazon | B&N

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AUTHOR BIO

 

Chanda is a bestselling and award winning author of the UnEnchanted: An Unfortunate Fairy Tale series and the Iron Butterfly series. She’s been a bestseller in five countries and was named one of Amazon’s top 100 customer favorite author. She uses her experience as a children’s pastor, children’s librarian and bookseller to write compelling and popular fiction for teens. She was born in Seattle, WA, grew up in Nebraska and currently resides in Portland, Oregon with her husband and their twin children.

Learn more about this author visit her website.
Follow her on Twitter.

Excerpt:

The barn burst into flames, the Septori burst into flames, and Talbot screamed as he beat at his clothes to stop the fire. The fire shot across the beams of the barn.

The Septori in a panic, tried to drag me out of the barn.

The shriek of a horse made me glance to Faraway, and I saw him outside of the barn screaming in terror.

He was going to try and run in to save me. With a wave of power, I slammed the barn door closed on him, keeping him out. I was going to end this once and for all. I had a glimpse of what I was becoming and I didn’t like it.

“Burn,” I whispered and watched as the flames licked higher. Energy flowed through my body, and I could hear something just beyond my consciousness. Like a sigh being released. My body became warm, tingling. And then more pain.

“Her eyes. Look at her eyes!” One of my captors backed away from me and ran out the side door.

“Don’t look at her, just grab her!” Talbot screamed.

I felt more hands grasp me and I hated it. I hated them. Looking up along the beams of the barn, I saw the main support beam.

It was time to end this for everyone. I gave in to the pain and anger, reached for a smaller support beam, and pulled at it. Half of the burning roof came down on a large group of the Septori. They screamed and tried to cover their heads as it fell. Too late.

“Stop her! She’s going to kill us all,” Talbot cried waving his hands at me.

I smirked. I was. 

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My Week in Books (4th-10th August)

Read:

Doctor Who: Engines of War (Doctor Who: New Series Adventure Specials, #4) by George Mann 

3.5/5 stars

Read my review here. 

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

4/5 stars

A Kiss in the Dark by Cat Clarke

3.5/5 stars

Read my review here.

On the Fence by Kasie West

3/5 stars

Read my review here.

For Review:

Big thank you to Simon & Schuster UK Children's!

So excited to read this!

Thanks to Patchwork Press - Spencer Hill Press.

Thanks to Hachette Children's Books.

Currently Reading:

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

All pics from Goodreads.

Hope you all had a good week!

Review - On the Fence by Kasie West

Title: On the Fence

Author: Kasie West

Pages: 320

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release date: 1st July 2014

Blurb from Goodreads:

For sixteen-year-old Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, being raised by a single dad and three older brothers has its perks. She can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows—including her longtime neighbor and honorary fourth brother, Braden. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world of makeup, lacy skirts, and BeDazzlers. Even stranger, she's spending time with a boy who has never seen her tear it up in a pickup game.
To cope with the stress of faking her way through this new reality, Charlie seeks late-night refuge in her backyard, talking out her problems with Braden by the fence that separates them. But their Fence Chats can't solve Charlie's biggest problem: she's falling for Braden. Hard. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US 

My Review:

*I received a copy of this book via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss*

3/5 stars

Charlie lives with her dad and three protective older brothers. 

She is a total tomboy so when she gets a job at a boutique to pay off a speeding fine Charlie's eyes are opened to a new world of make-up and skinny jeans.

Charlie starts talking to her neighbour Braden, who is like a brother to her, when she can't sleep at night at the fence that separates their gardens. 

It took me a while to connect with Charlie but once I did I liked her.

I loved Charlie's brothers and how protective they were of her, especially when it came to other guys. 

I thought it was good that characters from The Distance Between Us were mentioned (Caymen was in one scene and Skye was in a few parts of the book).

I had to keep blinking away tears towards the end of the book when something sad was revealed and then the happy ending made me tear up a bit too.

I enjoyed reading as Charlie realised that there was more to her than she thought and grew as a person.

The storyline was slightly predictable but I enjoyed the writing style.

I like the cover but I'm not sure why the girl on it is wearing a dress when Charlie is a tomboy.

Overall this was a good summer read that I enjoyed.

 

 

Review - A Kiss in the Dark by Cat Clarke

Title: A Kiss in the Dark

Author: Cat Clarke

Pages: 384

Release date: 3rd April 2014

Publisher: Quercus

Blurb from Goodreads:

When Alex meets Kate the attraction is instant.
Alex is funny, good-looking, and a little shy – everything that Kate wants in a boyfriend.
Alex can’t help falling for Kate, who is pretty, charming and maybe just a little naive…
But one of them is hiding a secret, and as their love blossoms, it threatens to ruin not just their relationship, but their lives.

Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US 

My Review:

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley. Thanks to Quercus Books and NetGalley*

3.5/5 stars

Alex and Kate meet at a concert after talking on the band forum and are immediately attracted to each other. 

They soon fall in love but a secret will tear them apart.

This was my first Cat Clarke book and I enjoyed it.

The secret was just wow! I was not expecting it at all and it made this book completely different to anything I've read before.

Out of Alex and Kate I preferred Alex as Kate annoyed me at times with how naive she was but she was only 15! 

I did feel sorry for them both - Alex was struggling with guilt the longer things went without the secret being revealed and I felt bad for Kate not knowing.

Reading this was a bit like watching a car crash - you know it's going to end badly but you just can't stop watching, or in this case reading.

I thought Alex and Kate were sweet together and was happy with the ending. 

Overall this was a well-written, good read with an interesting theme with characters that you really feel for.

Blog Tour + Interview + Giveaway - A Slither of Hope by Lisa M. Basso

Find the tour schedule here.

Title: A SLITHER OF HOPE (ANGEL SIGHT #2)

Publication date: August 5, 2014

Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.

Author: Lisa M. Basso

Rayna struggles to piece her life back together, but hiding in plain sight from the police, the SS Crazy, and the Fallen isn’t a foolproof plan—something Kade, the World’s Worst Roommate, reminds her of everyday. The late nights of failing to teach Ray how to protect herself against the Fallen are getting to Kade, changing him in ways he doesn’t like, and after a family emergency sends Ray back into Cam’s arms, Kade decides he’s had enough. News of Rayna’s resurfacing brings both angels and the Fallen to San Francisco by the dozens, all eyes scouring the city for the girl with the gray wings. Rayna will need both Kade and Cam’s help to ensure her family’s safety, navigate the new dangers and enemies springing up all over the city, and manage the surprises that arise with her new set of wings.

Goodreads

Purchase links:

Chapters Indigo! | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo 

The Book Depository | IndieBound

About the Author:

Lisa M. Basso was born and raised in San Francisco, California. She is a lover of books, video games, animals, and baking (not baking with animals though). As a child she would crawl into worlds of her own creation and get lost for hours. Her love for YA fiction started with a simple school reading assignment: S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders. When not reading or writing she can usually be found at home with The Best Boyfriend Fiancé that Ever Lived ™ and her two darling (and sometimes evil) cats, Kitties A and B.

Author Links:  

 Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

- First, I’d like to take the time to thank you for participating in the blog tour and hosting me today. 



When did you start writing? 

- I first started writing at around thirteen. I wrote off and on through High School. It was nearly ten years ago when I decided writing was it for me. Since then I’ve been dedicating almost all my free time to doing what I loved. 


What makes you want to write? 

- First, I love to write. Second, my characters. I love putting them through their paces, see what horrible things I can do to them, and letting go—seeing how they react. Following their journeys alongside them is something so amazing it never gets old, no matter how many stories I write. 


Do you ever get writer's block and what do you do to get over it? 

- I get hampered with writer’s block at least twice per project. A good way I’ve found to stomp that dreaded writer’s block into submission is to try something different. It can help to jump ahead in your story to a part you’re really excited about writing (maybe a kissing scene or a scene with a good amount of action), and then come back to the scene that has been giving you problems with new eyes. Go for a walk, clear you head and get your blood pumping. I do a lot of good thinking in the shower. Sometimes I take a recorder in with me and make myself talk out the issue and list a bunch of different options. Or take a real day off. When I was stuck on a scene for A Slither of Hope, I took time off and went to a concert. While the band was playing, I looked out at the crowd around me, enveloped in the music, and knew I found a solution to the scene I was having trouble with. 


Do you have a special way of going about writing? 

- I like to plot as much as I can before doing any actual writing. Ideally, I’d plot the whole book then get to writing, but this job isn’t always ideal. Usually, as long as I have the first third of the book plotted, I can start writing, then, once I have a better feel for the story and the characters I’ll go back and finish plotting.

As for writing, I do my best work in the morning. I have a part-time day job, so I write in the afternoons on the days I work and on the days I don’t, I try and write at least until one or two in the afternoon. When I’m in writing mode, I usually take a lot of naps. It helps the brain recharge.

Editing is a whole different animal, but I try to treat it the same as writing, knocking out as much as I can as early as possible. 


What are your hobbies? 

- I’m a huge geek, so when I’m not writing, I’m usually reading, catching up on some of my favorite TV series, movies, and, of course videogames (on the PS3 and PS4, naturally). 



How did you choose the character names for the Angel Sight series? 

- The names of the angels and Fallen were all researched from actual angel names. The main character, Rayna, who goes by Ray, was named because I wanted her to be a ray of light. 



Do you have any works in progress? 

- Currently, I’m working on edits for the third and final book in the Angel Sight series, and when I have a few spare minutes, I’m polishing a fun, dark contemporary fantasy which I’m hoping to use to hook an agent. 


Who is your favourite character in A Slither of Hope? 

- There are a few really surprising characters (and some interesting changes to a few of the returning characters) in A Slither of Hope. My favorite would have to be the new bad guy who lives to stir up trouble and has fun doing it. I won’t mention his name. All I can say is that his name begins with the letter L (and he’s awesome!). 


Where did you get the idea for the Angel Sight series? 

- The first time the idea to write about angels and Fallen angels came to me, I knew I wanted to make it as different as I could. I knew their wings would be different colors, and that their choices and personalities wouldn’t be just black and white, but shades of gray (no, not that kind of shades of gray). It was when the idea of adding a heroine that wasn’t quite crazy but also not
quite sane (depending on who you talked to) to the story that everything started coming together. After that it was months of hard and fast plotting and writing—then several more months of rewrites. 


What was your favourite part of writing A Slither of Hope? 

- Without giving too much away, I would have to say writing (and reading) the new point of view in the book. The new POV character is spontaneous and a bit of a riddle. I hope the readers enjoy reading this new POV as much as I did writing it. 


What are you currently reading? 

- I’m currently reading Killer Instinct by S.E. Green. I’m only a few chapters in so far, but I’m really liking it. It has a YA female POV Dexter kind of vibe. Love me some dark young adult lit! 


What is your favorite book? 

- This is a question I can’t answer. One cannot have a single favorite book—or at least I can’t. There are too many great books out there, so I’m pleading the fifth. 


Who is your favorite author? 

- There are so many great authors out there, and I don’t have one favorite. Maggie Stiefvater, Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, Jeri Smith-Ready, Keri Arthur, Tahereh Mafi, and John Green are some of my favorites, but picking just one would be impossible. 


What is your favourite film? 

- My favorite movie is a classic. Gone With The Wind. Scarlett O’Hara is the ultimate scrappy heroine who did whatever it took to keep moving forward. I love her for that. Plus the romance is swoonworthy. 


What is your favourite TV show? 

- For me favorite shows depend on what season it is. Game of Thrones is fantastic, so are Sons of Anarchy, The Walking Dead, and Vampire Diaries. As long as there’s drama, action, and a touch of romance, I’m in. 


Quick-fire questions: 

Chocolate or ice cream? - Ice cream!
Paperback or ebook? - Both are awesome, but there’s something about holding a physical book in your hands that can’t be beat.
Dogs or cats? - Cats. I have two, Kitties A and B, and even though they are a handful.
Go out or stay in? - Stay in. I’m definitely a home body.
Summer or winter? - Oooh. Tough one. Normally I’d carve my own path and say fall, but since this summer has been beyond awesome so far, I’ll say summer.

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