Giveaway and Excerpt: Thrive by Krista & Becca Ritchie

Title: Thrive
Authors: Krista & Becca Ritchie
Series: Addicted #2.5
Pub Date: July 18th, 2014

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18479451-thrive?ac=1

Amazon: Purchase links not available until July 18th

SUMMARY

Two years will change them forever.

When rumors spread like wildfire—like having three-ways with her boyfriend’s rock climbing brother—Lily Calloway spirals into a dark place. Her bedroom. Loren Hale is more confident and determined to keep their sex life private, even from their friends, and he helps Lily in the only way he knows how. But how much love is too much?

Their lives are filmed, watched, and criticized. And through it all, Lily and Loren have to face enemies they never thought they’d see, demons they don’t know if they should bury, and setbacks they didn’t think they’d meet. Not this soon.

And one rumor could be too much for them to handle. It will test their greatest limitations, and if they don’t hold onto each other, someone is going to drown.

A full-length New Adult Romance that bridges the gap between the second and third books. Thrive must be read before Addicted After All if you have not read the Calloway Sisters spin-off

Excerpt

Loren Hale’s POV

Ryke takes out his phone and texts someone before setting his cell on the table near mine. When the waitress returns, we place our orders, and then three girls giggle loudly at the bar. They notice us in the back and smack each other’s arms. I read their lips: that’s them.

All wear themed sorority shirts like Go Greek! and Tri and Beat Us with running shorts. In their twenties—the kind of girls that go to the college I was expelled from.

University of Pennsylvania.

Ryke openly checks the girls out, and they nearly shriek, their eyes bulging.

“You’d think that you just gave them a ride in your Maserati,” I say to my brother.

“I don’t own a Maserati.” It was a figure of speech. He stands up and tosses his napkin on the chair. “Give me five minutes.”

Connor pockets his phone. “That long?”

“Fuck off,” Ryke says easily before leaving to approach the girls.

I think the redhead on the end is going to faint.

****

I love this series!
Great stories and the men are hot, hot, hot!

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AUTHOR BIOS

Krista & Becca Ritchie are identical twins. They write New Adult books that make you cringe, gasp, and go ooh-la-la. (If you do that sort of thing.) They are currently working on the spin-offs and final books in the Addicted series. Connect with them on twitter and their website: kbritchie.com

AUTHOR LINKS
Website: http://kbritchie.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kbritchie

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KBRitchie

Tumblr: http://kbmritchie.tumblr.com/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kbmritchie/

Sale Price for Mortal Enchantment by Stacey O'Neale

“Mortal Enchantment spins a unique twist on elemental mythology. This series is not to be missed.”
Jennifer L. Armentrout, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

In Kalin Matthew's world, elementals control the forces of nature. They are divided into four courts: air, woodland, fire, and water. At sixteen she will leave the life she's built with her mortal mother. Kalin will move to Avalon to rule with her father—the elemental king of the air court. Along the way, she's attacked by a fire court assassin and saved by Rowan, a swoon-worthy elemental with a questionable past.

Worst of all, she learns her father is missing.

To rescue him, Kalin will have to work with a judgmental council and a system of courts too busy accusing each other of deceit to actually be able to help her. But, they aren’t her biggest challenge. With the Midwinter’s Ball only five days away, Kalin must take over her father’s duties, which includes shifting control of the elements—power Kalin has yet to realize.

As Rowan attempts to train her, a war looms between the four courts. If Kalin fails, her father will die and the courts will fall, but the betrayal she’s about to uncover may cost her even more... 

Buy Link: Amazon 

Don't forget the Prequel: The Shadow Prince  

Buy Link: Amazon

"Filled with betrayal and intrigue, THE SHADOW PRINCE is a dark and twisty novella from an exciting new author!"
Katee Robert, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

"THE SHADOW PRINCE is an amazing story, written well, with a unique story and intense plot. O’Neale is one hell of a storyteller."
Rachel Rivera, Parajunkee

"O'Neale's The Shadow Prince is a fast paced, action packed, exciting introduction to a world of intrigue, and danger. I think fantasy and paranormal readers are going to love meeting her sexy male lead, Rowan. I'm a fan of both, and I really enjoyed this book. I can not wait to get my hands on Mortal Enchantment!"
Katie, Mundie Moms

Sixteen-year-old Rowan has spent most of his life living among the mortals—learning to control the element of fire, impatiently awaiting the day his vengeful mother, Queen Prisma, will abdicate her throne. When he finally returns to Avalon for his coronation, his mother insists he must first prove his loyalty to the court by completing a secret mission:

Kill Kalin, the half-human, half-elemental daughter of the air court king.

Willing to do anything to remove his mother from power, he agrees to sacrifice the halfling. He returns to the mortal world with his best friend, Marcus, determined to kill the princess. But as he devises a plan, he starts to question whether or not he's capable of completing such a heinous task. And what price he will pay if he refuses?

ARC Review: One Plus One by Jo Jo Moyes

One single mom. One chaotic family. One quirky stranger. One irresistible love story from the New York Times bestselling author of Me Before You

American audiences have fallen in love with Jojo Moyes. Ever since she debuted stateside, she has captivated readers and reviewers alike, and hit the New York Times bestseller list with the word-of-mouth sensation, Me Before You. Now, with One Plus One, she’s written another contemporary opposites-attract love story that reads like a modern-day Two for the Road.

Suppose your life sucks. A lot. Your husband has done a vanishing act, your teenage stepson is being bullied and your math whiz daughter has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you can’t afford to pay for. That’s Jess’s life in a nutshell—until an unexpected knight-in-shining-armor offers to rescue them. Only Jess’s knight turns out to be Geeky Ed, the obnoxious tech millionaire whose vacation home she happens to clean. But Ed has big problems of his own, and driving the dysfunctional family to the Math Olympiad feels like his first unselfish act in ages . . . maybe ever.

What I thought about One Plus One

This is one of those books where I look at the other 5 star reviews and ask myself whether I read the same book. I've been following the outstanding reviews for this author and decided to give One Plus One a try. While I didn't hate this book, I didn't love it either.

I had some problems with this book from the start. The beginning felt like I was dropped right into the middle of the story and I struggled with multiple point of views from multiple characters I hadn't met yet. It was a bit unsettling to start the book that way, and at one point I put it down, read a different book and came back to this one. Not usually a good sign. But once I got to know who the players were, things became better.

Jess is a good woman. She works two jobs to support her two children, the youngest with an ex-husband who's been missing from the picture for a while. The other is her ex-husband's son from a previous marriage. She barely makes ends meet, is quick to excuse her ex-husband's lack of financial support. When her daughter is recognized for outstanding math aptitude and receives a scholarship to a prestigious school, Jess has to find someway to make up the extra money that the scholarship doesn't cover.

Ed's a wealthy co-owner of a software company and he's gotten himself into a bit a trouble. He's also one of Jess's cleaning clients. Turns out his inability to cut his girlfriend loose ends turns into insider trading accusations and investigations. After a drunken night at a pub where Jess works, his life becomes linked with Jess's, and he ends up escorting them all, including the family dog, to Scotland for the Math Olympiand, Jess's last chance to get the money she needs to send her daughter to a better school. Turns out Ed has a pretty big heart too. I liked that about him. He wasn't afraid to use his money or his time to help others.

I did like this story for it's message about not giving in to negativity in the face of struggle, and Jess's love for her family was just heart-warming. I especially liked how she interacted with Nicky. She's not related to him by blood, yet that doesn't matter when it cam to nurturing him. Nicky might have been my favorite character.

As for Ed, I did have some sympathy for his situation, especially the loss of his friends because of a very stupid mistake. But when it came to the romance between Jess and Ed, which I was looking forward to reading, it fell short for me. When they finally get a moment of privacy and come together, it happens off page, and I thought the intimacy between these two main characters was missing in a big way. That is probably my biggest complaint with this story. I didn't feel the connection between these two main characters. I wanted to -- I waited for it, and the feeling that these two characters had to be together just never came for me.

If you are looking for a "white-knight" sort of story and don't mind the knight having a bit of tarnish, One Plus One might be for you.

3.5 stars

Cover Reveal: All Broke Down by Cora Carmack

I'm so excited to get to share the cover for Cora Carmack's ALL BROKE DOWN today! A New Adult Contemporary Romance, and published by William Morrow-an imprint of HarperCollins, this is the second book in her Rusk University Series, and it is set to be released on October 28, 2014! But you can pre-order it NOW! Check out what it's about and then fall in love with this gorgeous cover! 

 ABOUT ALL BROKE DOWN: 

In this second book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack’s New Adult, Texas-set Rusk University series, which began with All Lined Up, a young woman discovers that you can’t only fight for what you believe in . . . sometimes you have to fight for what you love Dylan fights for lost causes.

Probably because she used to be one. 

Environmental issues, civil rights, corrupt corporations, and politicians—you name it, she’s probably been involved in a protest. When her latest cause lands her in jail overnight, she meets Silas Moore. He’s in for a different kind of fighting. And though he’s arrogant and infuriating, she can’t help being fascinated with him. Yet another lost cause.

Football and trouble are the only things that have ever come naturally to Silas. And it’s trouble that lands him in a cell next to do-gooder Dylan. He’s met girls like her before—fixers, he calls them, desperate to heal the damage and make him into their ideal boyfriend. But he doesn’t think he’s broken, and he definitely doesn’t need a girlfriend trying to change him. Until, that is, his anger issues and rash decisions threaten the only thing he really cares about, his spot on the Rusk University football team. Dylan might just be the perfect girl to help.

Because Silas Moore needs some fixing after all.

                                   Pre-Order Your Copy Today!

                        Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iTunes

                  And don’t forget to grab your copy of ALL LINED UP Today!


                                    Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iTunes

About Cora Carmack: Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.


Website ** Twitter ** Facebook
Author Goodreads ** ALL BROKE DOWN Goodreads

ARC Review: 4 stars for Hold On Tight by Serena Bell

In Serena Bell’s heartwarming novel, a young mother and a battle-scarred veteran must decide if they can rekindle the sparks they once shared.

Fighting for his country gave Jake Taylor’s life shape and meaning. Now as an injured war hero he struggles to find purpose, until he runs into the gorgeous woman he dated briefly—and disastrously—before being deployed eight years ago. Turns out Jake doesn’t just need to figure out how to be a civilian . . . he also needs to learn how to be a dad.

Eighteen, pregnant, and totally lost, Mira Shipley couldn’t track down the soldier who fathered her child, so she put college on hold and focused on making a good life for her son. Now she’s determined to be something more than Sam’s mom, her parents’ daughter, or Jake’s girl—as hot as she finds her old flame’s take-charge attitude in and out of bed. Soon Mira and Jake realize that their passion didn’t disappear when Sam was conceived—and that instead of running away, sometimes it’s better to hold on tight.


Buy Links:  Amazon         Barnes & Noble


What I thought about Hold On Tight

I'm a bit of a sucker for a military romance, so I had a feeling when I started this I would like it, and I've got to say that Serena Bell's Hold On Tight was everything I wanted in this genre.

Mira and Jake have a brief fling that is part rebellion on Mira's part and military leave playtime for Jake. Neither one is ready for the feelings they develop and in a very sad and surprising scene, they decide that it's best if they part ways. Of course, Mira has no idea that the few seconds of fooling around sans-condom will have a lasting impact on her life. She tries to find Jake without any luck, and ends up being a single-mom for the last seven years.

Jake is a lifer in the military, until a devastating IED incident in Afghanistan not only takes his best friend's life, but also Jake's leg. He's rehabbing back home, just around the time when Mira decides to cut the apron strings with her parents in Florida to move back to Seattle. As fate would have it, Mira and Jake run into each other and so begins their second chance.

Over the remainder of the story, both Mira and Jake struggle through many different feelings as they try to determine what their relationship is going to be. Will they be able to sort out the obvious attraction still between them? Can Jake get over his insecurities and fears of having a family of his own? And can they even have a relationship without Sam getting hurt in some way?

For me, the most interesting part of this story was how they would resolve their relationship, after being somewhat forced together because of their child. I liked that they both had doubts and nothing was resolved quickly or easily.

This was a very enjoyable read for me. Recommended when you want a sweet second chance love story.

Arc courtesy of Loveswept and Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

Excerpt & Giveaway: Until We Fly by Courtney Cole Release Day Launch

 

We are so excited to bring you the Release Day Launch for Courtney Cole's UNTIL WE FLY!! UNTIL WE FLY is an amazing NA contemporary romance and the fourth novel in Courtney’s Beautifully Broken Series!!

I love this series and reading Until We Fly made me want to go back and start from the beginning!  Come back on July 11 when I'll be posting my review. 
~ Trader

 
EXCERPT:

“You don’t want me here?” she asks breathily, her fingers curled around the counter edge. Her knuckles are white.

“I didn’t say that,” I answer quietly, still not moving. Because right now, with her soft curves pressed into me, I do want her here. And unfortunately, my dick chooses this moment to agree with me. 
It hardens against her and her eyes widen.

“I see,” she murmurs. 
I rotate away, straightening up and leaning on my crutches once again.

“Sorry about that,” I tell her. “I hope I didn’t crush you.” With my hard-on.
 

                              Barnes and Noble ** Amazon ** iBooks

UNTIL WE FLY Synopsis: 

Ex-Army Ranger, Brand Killien, has always been good.

 A good friend, a good soldier, a good everything. .

The problem is, good hasn’t gotten him anything but a crushed heart. 

So after licking his wounds, he decides to move on. And moving on doesn’t include being good anymore. 

Bad sounds so much better.

Jaded and detached, Brand is determined to never open himself up to anyone again. It’s not worth the pain. Instead, he becomes closed, hardened, aloof. 

But then he’s called back home for a family emergency… a family that he is estranged from. A family that he put out of his mind a long time ago for very good reasons…reasons that involve secrets and pain. 

Reasons he tried hard to forget. 

But home is where the heart is, and it just might be where Brand finds his again. 

Why? Because home is where Nora Greene is. A fiery, red-headed spitfire, Nora is a thing from his past. A beautiful, feisty thing. When Brand left, she was away at boarding school. 

But she’s back now. 

And she wants Brand, scars and all.

UNTIL WE FLY on Goodreads

And don’t miss the other Beautifully Broken, now available:

IF YOU STAY

IF YOU LEAVE

BEFORE WE FALL

Praise for the Beautifully Broken Series: "I loved If You Stay. Like, really really loved it. The kind of love that kept me reading until 2:40 am and left me crying, smiling, devastated, and elated. The best kind of book love." - Andrea, The Bookish Babe

"Beautiful, raw, gritty, emotional and breath-taking are just a few of the words I can find to describe this book...reading this book was one of the best experiences I have had." -Amanda, Globug and Hootie Need a Book

"In If You Leave, we continue the wild ride Courtney Cole started us on in If You Stay. This raw story of heartbreak and hope solidifies Cole's standing as a rising star in hot contemporary romance." --- New York Times Bestselling author of Down to You, M. Leighton

 "Another raw, gritty masterpiece with a sexy-as-hell Army Ranger to swoon over." --- K.A. Tucker, author of Ten Tiny Breaths

a Rafflecopter giveaway


 

  ABOUT COURTNEY COLE: Courtney Cole is a novelist who would eat mythology for breakfast if she could. She has a degree in Business, but has since discovered that corporate America is not nearly as fun to live in as fictional worlds. She loves chocolate and roller coasters and hates waiting and rude people. Courtney lives in quiet suburbia, close to Lake Michigan, with her real-life Prince Charming, her ornery kids (there is a small chance that they get their orneriness from their mother) and a small domestic zoo.


  

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ARC Review:4 1/2 Stars for Looking for Trouble by Victoria Dahl

A good reason to be bad...

Librarian Sophie Heyer has walked the straight and narrow her entire life to avoid paying for her mother's mistakes. But in tiny Jackson Hole, Wyoming, juicy gossip just doesn't go away, so the last thing she needs is for history to repeat itself. Falling hard for the sexiest biker who's ever rode into town would undo everything she's worked for. And to add insult to injury, the sexy stranger is none other than Alex Bishop--the son of the man her mother abandoned Sophie's family for. He may be temptation on wheels, but Sophie's not looking for trouble!

Maybe Sophie's buttoned-up facade fools some, but Alex knows a naughty smile when he sees one. Despite their parents' checkered pasts, he's willing to take some risks to find out the truth about the town librarian. He figures a little fling might be just the ticket to get his mind off of family drama. But what he finds underneath Sophie's prim demeanor might change his world in ways he never expected.

What I thought about Looking for Trouble

Alex returns home to Jackson to face down the twenty-five year old family scandal, bury his father's remains and deal with his mother’s borderline personality disorder. What he didn’t count on was meeting Sophie, the sweet librarian living a few houses from his mother, but from the minute they meet, their sexual attraction is off the charts.

I really liked Alex and Sophie. This is a great little love story and I thought the author did a good job of showing them gradually falling in love with each other, yet knowing that their lives were so very different, it would probably never work. Even so, they can’t help the attraction and their developing feelings or ignore the way they can heat up the sheets.

All of this is framed around the incident from years ago and the scars it left on both of their lives. There’s a great series of scenes at the end when everything just blows up for both Alex and Sophie and the conversations that come afterward are thoughtful and seemed very real. Not only was I choked up, but I was rooting for these two to find some way to make it work.

I might be falling a little in love with the stories in this Jackson series with its endearing characters. Recommended. 


ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble