BLOG TOUR | REBOUND by Noelle August

Title: REBOUND (Boomerang #1) 

Author: Noelle August (Website | Twitter) 

Publication Date: February 10, 2014

Publisher: William Morrow

SYNOPSIS

At Boomerang, one night can change everything…

Noelle August has taken the New Adult genre by storm, and readers can’t wait to see what chaos, confusion, and connections arise at the Boomerang offices next.

Adam Blackwood has it all. At twenty-three, he’s fabulously wealthy, Ryan Gosling-hot and at the top of his game in the business world. His life is perfect, until a scandal from his past resurfaces and threatens to knock the tech wunderkind down and throw his company, Boomerang, a hook-up site for millennials, 

Alison Quick, the twenty-one-year-old daughter of a business tycoon—and the very ex-girlfriend of Boomerang’s former intern, Ethan—has a problem of her own. After nearly flunking out in her senior year of college, she has one chance to redeem herself to her father by proving that she deserves a place in his corporate empire. That means spearheading her father’s plan to sink big money into Adam’s company and launch it into the stratosphere—provided Adam has no skeletons in his closet.

When the two meet, their sizzling chemistry makes it tough to keep things strictly professional. But when Alison discovers Adam’s secret, she knows she should bring it right to her father, who’ll leverage it for his own gain and use it to ruin Adam. The only problem: she’s falling for Adam—hard.

Will earning her father’s approval come at the price of losing her first real love? Or can Adam and Alison leave behind past mistakes and conquer the world—together? 

REBOUND will be available wherever books and e-books are sold on February 10th, 2015 (ISBN: 9780062331083 | $13.99 | e-ISBN: 9780062331090 | $11.99).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Question: What do you get when friends pen a story with heart, plenty of laughs, and toe-curling kissing scenes? 

Answer: Noelle August, the pseudonym for renowned editor and award-winning writer Lorin Oberweger and New York Times bestselling YA author Veronica Rossi, the masterminds behind the Boomerang series. You can visit them at NoelleAugust.com, @Noelle_August, and facebook.com/NoelleAugustBooks.

GOODREADS 

Purchase links: Amazon / B&N / IndieBound

Thank you so much HarperCollins Publishers and William Morrow for sending in an invite and having me on this blog tour for REBOUND by Noelle August. I’m so thrilled to be a part of this tour since I adored their debut novel, Boomerang, so much and was really looking forward into reading the second novel in the series. You gave me that chance and even better, with allowing me to be a part of the tour. Thank you again. You made my fangirl and booknerd heart very happy!

Just by looking at Rebound’s book cover, you can already say that it is going to be a light and fun read. What more if you get into reading this book already. I promise you that it’s going to give you such a great reading experience. Though I have noticed some commonalities with Boomerang and Rebound’s formula, particularly the beginning of the story – how the characters got acquainted with each other and how the complication with their relationship started.

Speaking of the main characters, the prediction that I have after finishing Boomerang was dead-on right. I knew it!!!

RAMBLINGS | All About Advance Reader’s Copies...

I wasn't planning on writing a blog post for today but then an issue came up which concerns books and blogging. It caught my attention and I just can't help myself from keeping mum about it. 

It started off when somebody posted (in a certain Facebook group that I'm part of) a screenshot of an IG account which apparently sells ARCs. What the? Seriously, they're selling ARCs? Uh-oh, I smell chaos. Oh and I'm quite right with that 'cause once I logged in onto my Twitter account, a lot of my Filipino book blogger friends took notice of that specific post too. 

So now, here we are and you'll be reading through my sentiments about selling ARCs. 

The owner of this shop clearly don't understand the label placed by the publishers on the front cover of those ARCs: "UNCORRECTED PROOF NOT FOR SALE". I’m sorry but don’t give us that first sale doctrine you’ve posted over your IG account because le duh it has been stated that ARCs aren’t for SALE. That’s basically the term that these publishers set when you were granted ARCs.

Note that, there shouldn’t be monetary transactions involved when it comes to ARCs too. Publishers aren’t gaining profit from it and this shop just has the nerve to sell these ARCs. ARCs which were given and delivered to them for free. That’s just so wrong. Purely unethical. If you don't want those ARCs, the best way is for you to donate, lend or host a giveaway on your account.

The owner also didn’t factor in that he/she should consider him/herself to be lucky and privilege to have those. It's a blessing to receive an ARC and what more with SEVERAL ARCs at that. Damn, acquiring ARCs is a tough task to accomplish, you know? I’ve worked my ass off before I was granted print ARCs by Harper Collins International and am always working hard for the eARCs. This is just a very sad and disappointing situation. 

Anyways... Book nerds who happen to stumble upon ARC sellers, please please don’t patronize them. If you want to acquire ARCs, go over Twitter and test your luck in ARC giveaways! That’s the best way to snag a copy of your anticipated releases. 

Here are some additional reading materials for you if you want to know some thoughts coming from bloggers regarding this matter: StackedBooks, This Is Not Your Book Blog and Writer for Misfits. 

What is happening to us, Philippine book community?

Okay. I'm done here. I just hope I got my point across to you, my blog readers.  x

BOOK REVIEW | RED QUEEN by Victoria Aveyard

Title: RED QUEEN 

Author: Victoria Aveyard (Website | Twitter) 

Publication Date: February 10, 2015

Publisher: Orion 

SYNOPSIS 

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win? 

GOODREADS 

Pre-order links: Amazon | B&N | iBooks

With a very stunning cover and enticing synopsis, I’m sure that readers will be patronizing Red Queen once they set their sights of it in book stores near them. I actually have been lusting over this book since June 2014 and after several months, I finally (Yes finally!!!) had the chance to read it already. I can certainly say that Red Queen lived up to the hype that it’s been getting from bloggers across the globe and especially with my expectations.

You want a kick-ass debut novel? Then you better grab a copy of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. She definitely laid down her offering of a thrilling trilogy starter with this one and I can see readers eating it up.

Red Queen’s story takes place in a world wherein people are divided in to two social classes: Silvers and Reds. The Silvers are the powerful people in their community. I’m not just pertaining to them in a sense that they are the ones ruling their society but these Silvers are gifted with god-like powers. As for the Reds, they are mere commoners. Reds are plain human beings with no power and who are constantly suffering from poverty and of being dragged into the front lines of the on-going war in their nation.

The story line and conflict for Red Queen is basically rooted from the cruelty being done by the Silvers to the Reds and Mare’s (our main character) will to change their society. Her determination to change it will lead her into the depths of the Silvers, confounded with how things work for them and be dealt with a trick card on whom to trust.

MOVIE TALK | FIFTY SHADES OF GREY

I’m no uber fan but as person who read the book, I can say that 'Fifty Shades of Grey' fans and readers will definitely be pleased with its movie adaptation. With fans being the reason for this book getting a movie deal, the author and the movie crew truly honored it by giving them a film that they will certainly approve of and will live through with their expectations. I may have issues here and there but I have to give it to them for staying faithful to their material. I’ll be discussing more about my thoughts regarding this movie in several divisions that I would love to comment on. Rest assured that I would be highlighting both the strengths and weaknesses of the movie.

Material vs. Content of the Movie

I’m going to start this off by saying that I’m no way okay with most of what happened in the story, Fifty Shades of Grey. There were just so many issues that deemed unacceptable for me but I won’t go deeper about that in this post. Maybe you’re thinking why I even bothered watching the movie when I have issues with it. Simple, I want to know how they are going to translate and handle such a controversial book. Are they going to choose the road of romanticizing it? Or are they going to be bold enough and stick with the content and how it was presented in the book? 

The greatest possible fear that I have in my mind with the thought of having this book being made into a movie was if Hollywood would romanticize it for commercial reasons. Because they just couldn’t do it and persuade/twist the public’s mind into thinking that everything is okay and acceptable with that kind of relationship like Ana and Christian. It wouldn’t be Fifty Shades of Grey if that happens too. But fear not, my dear Greysessed, the movie didn’t take that route. The movie making people presented everything as raw as the book and left it open for public’s own input. They didn’t shove it down the viewer’s throats that it’s okay to be involved in something like that and I admire them for doing just that.

They heavily focused on the sex scenes. I know that it’s the core of the story and relationship of Christian and Ana and I applaud them for mostly retaining the important sexual moments between the two. But once the sex scenes commenced it turned out to be one sex scene after another. Again, I know that there are a number of sex scenes in the book but they could’ve at least inserted breather moments in between those. Breather moments could have helped in setting the tone and pace of the movie and not giving the viewers some kind of a whiplash.

I know it’s a common concern for book to movie aficionados to note differences and scenes that didn’t made the cut. It’s an annoying habit, right? But hear me out first, on the previous paragraph I mentioned about breather moments. The email conversations in the book could be just that. The emails were highly important in this series because it’s the part wherein we see some development between the relationship of Ana and Christian. Yes, there were email conversations in the movie but it wasn’t enough to showcase their growth.  I must say that if these emails were included in the movie and given much focus, it could’ve catapulted it into a better one. Small scenes like that could’ve added more to the entirety story.

But all in all, the movie is really the book. 

BOOK REVIEW | AXEL (Corps Security #1) by Harper Sloan

Title: AXEL (Corps Security #1)

Author: Harper Sloan (Website| Twitter) 

SYNOPSIS

Fate hasn’t always been friends with Isabelle West. In fact, fate has been a downright bitch. 

Isabelle has learned the hard way how hard life can be when fate isn’t by your side. It can hand you dreams on silver platters, but it can snatch them right back and hand you nightmares. One thing Isabelle knew for sure fate was consistent with was taking away everything she ever loved.

For the last two years Isabelle has been slowly clearing the clouds of her past. Happiness is finally on the horizon. She has a thriving business, great friends, and her life back. All she has to do is jump over the last hurdle…her ex-husband. 

When problems start causing her to fear her new life, and memories that are better left forgotten start rushing to the surface the last thing she needs is a ghost from her past to come knocking on her door. 

Axel never thought he would look into the eyes of Isabelle West again, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to now. He’s carried his anger for so long he isn’t sure he can just turn it off, but when he is faced with protecting her and an unexpected desire to have her again, life gets a little more complicated. 

How will Axel and Isabelle deal when all their cards are put on the table and everything they thought was true blows up in their faces? 

Note from the author--This book is intended for a mature reading audience and isn't suitable for younger readers.

GOODREADS

Purchase links: Amazon | B&N 

I’ve been eyeing Harper Sloan’s Corps Security series for a long time now but just didn’t have the time to read and really get into it since it’s quite lengthy. Five books and a novella, right? However, during the last few days of January I came across the synopsis for Harper’s upcoming book which is Unexpected Fate and I immediately liked it. Have you read the synopsis? Damn, that alone is already breaking my heart. I’ll probably be needing tissues while reading that book. I did some scrolling over its Goodreads page and saw that the story will revolve around the kids of the main characters from Corps Security. That gave me the push and so here I am, doing my assignment and getting acquainted with these characters.

“Fate hasn’t always been friends with Isabelle West. In fact, fate has been a downright bitch.” More than ten years of being pinned down under Fate’s thumb, piled up misunderstanding since then and “quite free” from her abusive ex-husband, a blast from her past comes strolling back in her life.

Axel. Her first and true love.  

After years of scouring all over the place, Axel never thought that he’d FINALLY see her. Fate’s playing around with them again. Not funny. Their confrontation and years of pent up anger must take a back seat first because of Izzy being placed in a life threatening situation brought in by her douchebag of an ex-husband, Brandon.  Deal with Brandon and talk.

Now that they’re reunited with each other, Axel’s desire to protect her, to love her and basically his every desire for her fires up in his system while Izzy craves for him and his love too.  Lust. Love. Yes, they still pretty much have it for each other. But before they are going to be able to move forward, there are a lot of things that they need to address first concerning their past.

Both of them need answers. But can they handle it when everything is all said and done? Is their love for each other strong enough?

COVER REVEAL | SWEET TEMPTATION by Wendy Higgins

Title: SWEET TEMPTATION 

Author: Wendy Higgins (Website | Twitter) 

Publication Date: September 8, 2015 (Available in Paperback and eBook)

Publisher: HarperTeen 

Sweet Temptation Blurb:

Bad boy Kaidan Rowe has never wanted for anything—money, popularity, musical talent…hot girls—but seducing them is part of his duty as a Nephilim, slave to the demon Dukes. As the son of the Duke of Lust, Kaidan has learned his father’s ways, becoming a master of passion, a manipulator of chemistry. Disobeying his father would mean certain death. Thankfully for Kaidan, he’s good at his job. And he enjoys it. 

Until he meets Anna Whitt—sweet, smart, feisty, and inexplicably good—the one girl seemingly immune to his charms. The daughter of a guardian angel and a fallen one, she has a certain power over him, one that makes him wish for more than he could ever deserve. 

Determined to save all the Neph from their dark lives as the influencers of sin, Anna joins forces with Kaidan to overcome the demons’ oppressive ways. In the light of her affections, Kaidan must undergo his toughest test of all, a battle of the heart.

Sensual and swoon worthy, this companion volume to the acclaimed Sweet Evil series from New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins, told from the perspective of the irresistibly sexy and mysterious Kaidan Rowe, gives readers revealing insights into his struggle, his intense connection to Anna, and most of all, the true emotions that drive him.

GOODREADS

Pre-Order Links: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | iBooks

GIVEAWAY

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[Year-Round YA and NA Guide: A List of My Most Anticipated 2015 Releases] Q&A with Katie Cotugno, Author of 99 Days

Title: 99 DAYS 

Author: Katie Cotugno (Website | Twitter) 

Publication Date: April 21, 2015

Publisher: Balzer + Bray 

SYNOPSIS 

Day 1: Julia Donnelly eggs my house my first night back in Star Lake, and that’s how I know everyone still remembers everything—how I destroyed my relationship with Patrick the night everything happened with his brother, Gabe. How I wrecked their whole family. Now I’m serving out my summer like a jail sentence: Just ninety-nine days till I can leave for college, and be done.

Day 4: A nasty note on my windshield makes it clear Julia isn’t finished. I’m expecting a fight when someone taps me on the shoulder, but it’s just Gabe, home from college and actually happy to see me. “For what it’s worth, Molly Barlow,” he says, “I’m really glad you’re back.”

Day 12: Gabe got me to come to this party, and I’m actually having fun. I think he’s about to kiss me—and that’s when I see Patrick. My Patrick, who’s supposed to be clear across the country. My Patrick, who’s never going to forgive me.

Why is this book included on my list? It was November of last year that I've read her debut novel, How to Love, and I instantly love her writing. So when I checked on Goodreads if she has an upcoming novel, TADA! I saw 99 Days, read the synopsis (which I really love and made me super excited to read the book) and added it on my TBR list. I'm uber curious as to how the story will flow in this one. Will this be as realistic as How to Love? I hope so! 

GOODREADS

Amanda (A): Hi Ms. Katie! Thank you so much for granting my request and giving me this opportunity of interviewing you in such a short notice. I’m so thrilled to have you on my blog! Can I first say that I’m in love with the covers of your books – How to Love and with this one in 99 days. Who’s in charge of those lovely covers?  Thumbs up to them. 

Katie Cotugno (KC): Thank you so much! The covers are put together by fabulous teams at Alloy Entertainment, Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins, and Quercus.

A: Before I proceed in asking questions about 99 days, I shall ask you first something a little about yourself. Who’s your favorite author and what are your favorite books? How did this author and these books influence you as a person and as a writer? 

KC: I have lots of favorite books and authors--I love Barbara Kingsolver and Michael Chabon, as well as YA authors like Brandy Colbert, Nina LaCour, and Sarah Dessen. Reading their work always inspire me to push myself harder as a writer. 

[Year-Round YA and NA Guide: A List of My Most Anticipated 2015 Releases] Q&A with Emma Chase, Author of Overruled

I recently chatted up with the author of the Tangled Series, Ms. Emma Chase, and we talked about her upcoming new novel and series - Overruled, first book from the Legal Briefs series. I think, this may be one of my favorite interviews that I ever did here in my blog. I just had so much fun asking Ms. Emma some questions and learning more about her and her books. Especially now that she's starting this new series, it's really interesting to know how she came up with idea, what were the preparations she did and those pre-writing thoughts. All great stuff. I've also thrown in a couple of questions wherein I mentioned the Tangled series and you definitely might want to know the answers of Ms. Emma to those. *winks*

I'm sure you'll enjoy this quick and short interview that I did with her. So you better start scrolling now, read the interview and check out the treat that she left in this post. You'll certainly be teased with Overruled.

Title: OVERRULED (The Legal Briefs #1)

Author: Emma Chase (Website | Twitter) 

Publication Date: April 28, 2015

Publisher: Gallery Books 

SYNOPSIS 

Emma Chase, New York Times bestselling author of the Tangled Series, returns with the first installment of the Legal Briefs Series. 

As a DC defense attorney, Stanton Shaw keeps his head cool, his questions sharp, and his arguments irrefutable. They don’t call him the Jury Charmer for nothing – with his southern drawl, disarming smile and captivating green eyes – he’s a hard man to say no to. Men want to be him and women want to be thoroughly cross examined by him.

Stanton’s a man with a plan. And for a while, life was going according to that plan.

Until the day he receives an invitation to the wedding of his high school sweetheart and mother of his beloved ten-year old daughter. Jenny is getting married — to someone who isn’t him.

That's definitely not part of the plan.
***

Sofia Santos is a city raised, no-nonsense litigator who plans to become the most revered criminal defense attorney in the country. She doesn’t have time for relationships or distractions.

But when Stanton, her "friend with mind-blowing benefits" begs for help, she finds herself out of her element, out of her depth, and obviously out of her mind. Because she agrees to go with him – to The-Middle-Of-Nowhere, Mississippi – to do all she can to help Stanton win back the woman he loves. 

Her head tells her she's crazy...and her heart says something else entirely.
*** 

What happens when you mix a one stop-light town, two professional arguers, a homecoming queen, four big brothers, some Jimmy Dean sausage and a gun-toting Nana? 

The Bourbon flows, passions rise and even the best laid plans get overruled by the desires of the heart.

Why is this book included on my list? It's a book coming from Emma Chase, so duh! I need it! Fact: I'm waiting for April to come nearer for me to get started in reading the last book of the Tangled series. Yes, I haven't read it yet. I still can't part with Drew so I'm saving it up and waiting for the release of this one. Me and my weird brain. *shrugs* 

GOODREADS

Amanda (A): Hi, Ms. Emma! Thank you so much for granting my request and giving me this opportunity of interviewing you. I’m so thrilled to have you on my blog! Before I proceed in asking questions about your upcoming book, Overruled, I shall ask you first something a little bit about yourself. Who’s your favorite author and what are your favorite books? How did this particular author and these books influence you as a person and as a writer?

Emma Chase (EC): Thank you for having me! I’ve always loved historical romances – Julie Garwood & Johanna Lindsey are two of my favorites. What I like best about their stories, and how they’ve influenced me as a writer, are that there are real emotions – laughter, tears, heartache and swoons – but there’s a lightness too them as well. A security that things won’t get too dark and the happy ending will come through.

A: Have you really dreamt of becoming a writer? Who or what inspired you to become one?

EC:  I’ve wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. It’s something that I’ve always loved doing – writing stories for myself, sharing them with friends. Being a published author is truly a dream come true.

[Year-Round YA and NA Guide: List of My Most Anticipated 2015 Releases] APRIL 2015

In the coming days, I'll be resuming and posting the rest for this bookish activity that I have here in my blog. The first three months kind of exploded here in my blog, which made me decide to put a halt into this activity. You, guys, should be excited because there are several months and a couple more of interviews left that I need to share and post. So yeah, exciting stuff will happening here in the following days! 

For the month of April, I have a total of five books on my list and it's quite a mix of genre. Something from the Young Adult, New Adult and Romance. I hope you'll be able to pick and take note again of book titles that you'll be adding up on your TBR list!

Title: THE QUEEN OF BRIGHT AND SHINY THINGS

Author: Ann Aguirre (Website | Twitter) 

Publication: April 7, 2015

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

SYNOPSIS

Sage Czinski is trying really hard to be perfect. If she manages it, people won’t peer beyond the surface, or ask hard questions about her past. She’s learned to substitute causes for relationships, and it’s working just fine… until Shane Cavendish strolls into her math class. He’s a little antisocial, a lot beautiful, and everything she never knew she always wanted.

Shane Cavendish just wants to be left alone to play guitar and work on his music. He’s got heartbreak and loneliness in his rearview mirror, and this new school represents his last chance. He doesn’t expect to be happy; he only wants to graduate and move on. He never counted on a girl like Sage.

But love doesn’t mend all broken things, and sometimes life has to fall apart before it can be put back together again…

Why is this book included on my list? Intriguing last line right there. 

GOODREADS