Blog Tour: “After” (After Series #1) by Anna Todd – My Review & Preorder Links

Title: “After” (After Series #1)

Author: Anna Todd

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Date: 21st October, 2014.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Tour Hosted By: The Hot Bed

SYNOPSIS

Anna Todd’s After fan fiction racked up 1 billion reads online and captivated readers across the globe. Experience the Internet’s most talked-about book, now newly revised and expanded, for yourself!

There was the time before Tessa met Hardin, and then there’s everything AFTER…Life will never be the same. #Hessa

Tessa is a good girl with a sweet, reliable boyfriend back home. She’s got direction, ambition, and a mother who’s intent on keeping her that way. But she’s barely moved into her freshman dorm when she runs into Hardin. With his tousled brown hair, cocky British accent, tattoos, and lip ring, Hardin is undeniably hot! But he’s also rude – to the point of cruelty, even. For all his attitude, Tessa should hate Hardin. And she does – until she finds herself alone with him in his room. Something about his dark mood grabs her, and when they kiss it ignites within her a passion she’s never known before. He’ll call her beautiful, then insist he isn’t the one for her and disappear again and again.

Despite the reckless way he treats her, Tessa is compelled to dig deeper and find the real Hardin beneath all his lies. He pushes her away again and again, yet every time she pushes back, he only pulls her in deeper. Tessa already has the perfect boyfriend. So why is she trying so hard to overcome her own hurt pride and Hardin’s prejudice about nice girls like her? Unless…could this be love?

ADD TO GOODREADS

 

My Review

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I have to say that I am sitting back with a rather strong urge to hit something…Please do not misunderstand me: I loved so many parts of this book! So the reason that I have this peculiar urge to commit some kind of violence has nothing to do with my enjoyment, as such. No, it is because Miss Todd has just ripped my heart to pieces! And I am feeling pretty annoyed that the second book is not out yet..*wink* Oh, well…Patience is a virtue, as one wise person once said. But the waiting of this particular sequel will be very difficult me.

If you, like me, has a soft spot for romances when “the good girl” falls in love with “the bad boy”, I am pretty confident that you will come to love Tessa and Hardin’s very emotional and turbulent story.

Tessa is going away on college with a very firm career plan in mind, and even though she is sad to leave her boyfriend, Noah, behind, she is thrilled to leave home and her rather controlling mother. She arrives at Washington brimmed with nerves and excitement, like very 18-year-old feels, and ready to commit herself completely to her studies. Her roommate, Sadie, is so far from the person she envisioned to live with, and Sadie’s friends are in a completely different league from her own. Especially Hardin, a moody, rude, and downright infuriating British student. But even though he treats her with disdain, Tessa finds herself drawn to him in some inexplicable way…

For some reason that Tessa cannot understand, Hardin seems to be just as fascinated with her as she is with him – that is, when he stops patronizing her – and, despite knowing better, Tessa allows her heart to take charge for once in her life: Hardin makes her feel alive, and that is something she has not really experienced before, not even with her boyfriend.

Tessa possess many qualities that I admire: she knows her own mind (career-wise, that is), she is not afraid to work hard in order to achieve her goals, and the fact that she finally lets herself completely live her life to the fullest made me smile huge! Yes, she did sometimes frustrate me, and I absolutely do not condone her dishonesty towards her boyfriend, but let me remind of a very significant detail: she is only 18 years old! Of course she makes mistakes! Who, in their right mind, acts like a grown-up all the time at that age? I certainly did not.

Hardin is such a contradiction: Hot, then cold. Sweet, then horrible. Passionate, then withdrawn. Tessa does not know what to make of him at all, and her feelings of hurt and confusion are depicted very well by Miss Todd. I found myself so immersed with the drama, the angst, and the romance that I completely let the real world slip away – that does not happen often, by the way – and even though Hardin’s “cat-playing-with-the-mouse” game, and Tessa’s inability to keep to many of her decisions, frustrated me a great deal more than once, I just could not stop reading! I am, in some ways, a bit surprised about this fact, actually, but this tells me that I have read a book by an author who has a true gift with words.

As for the ending of this book…wow! My heart and soul hurt as I read the final pages, and even though I had a strong urge to drop my Kindle – because the more I read, the more outraged and hurt did I become – I just had to know what happened. Obviously, I cannot tell you what takes place, but suffice it to say that this ending is why I feel pretty angry – and I love it! Even if the characters of the book I am reading does not come as cross as completely like-able, or even if I have trouble with connecting fully with them, I love it when an author has the ability to evoke such powerful emotions in me. I feel pain, anger, betrayal, and I have already mentioned the bad condition of my heart.

So why not give this book my highest rating, then? Well, there are a couple of reasons for this, and you may already have guessed them, but I will elaborate further:

Although I enjoyed most of Tessa and Hardin’s very passionate and turbulent outbursts, I sometimes felt as if they were going around in circles a bit. And it just made me feel as if the story was prolonged unnecessarily: as if certain scenes were repetitive, or close to it.

I also found Hardin’s mood swings a bit over-the-top sometimes, but that may have to do with the fact that each time I thought I had him pegged, his behavior shifted, and I wanted to knock some sense into him!

As always, reading is subjective, and other readers will definitely disagree with me, but I am just being honest here, explaining my own thoughts and feelings.

Despite the above mentioned reasons for not giving this book five stars, I still truly enjoyed “After”: there is a great deal of irony, wit and banter thrown between Tessa and Hardin, and I found myself reading many passages twice because they were just such great scenes! And whenever Hardin let his guard down, opening himself up to Tessa, I could not help but fall a bit more in love with him. The chemistry between these characters is fantastic, and there is definitely pleanty of steamy scenes that even made me blush sometimes…

Like I stated in the beginning of my review, I am very anxiously awaiting the sequel to “After”, and I honestly believe that Miss Todd will make me experience a wide range of emotions again – I cannot wait to found out what happens next!

 

UK PREORDER LINKS

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anna Todd is a first-time writer spending her days in the Austin area with her husband, with whom she beat half the statistics by getting married one month after graduating high school. Between her husband’s three deployments to Iraq, she worked odd jobs from a makeup counter to the IRS processing counter. Anna was always an avid reader and boy band and romance lover, so now that she’s found a way to combine the three she’s enjoying living a real-life dream come true.

SOCIAL LINKS

Facebook

Website

 

“Strike” (Spark Series #3) by Jennifer Ryder – My Review

Title: “Strike” (Spark, #3)

Author: Jennifer Ryder

Genre: Adult Steamy Erotic Romance

Release Date: 29th August, 2014.

 ADD TO GOODREADS

 

SYNOPSIS 

Fast. That’s how I like life, especially my two great joys: bikes and women. I’m committed to exclusively riding one, but not the other.

Until April.

A sexy-arse freelance photographer who’s travelled the world, and doesn’t do long walks on the beach or romantic candlelit dinners. She enjoys running with the bulls and food spicy enough to make your hair fall out. If that weren’t enough to get me hard, she rides a mean mother of a motorcycle.

I’ve gotta have a taste of this wildcat.

~Spencer (Jones)

I don’t do fast. Not anymore. I’ve got my career, my independence, and since I fled Spain to come back home I promised myself that I wouldn’t be put second—or third, for that matter—again.

Then I meet pretty boy Spencer.

He’s smooth, oozing the most potent pheromones probably known to modern science, and he’s making a move on me. One kiss was almost enough for my promise to dissolve.

My head says no—my treacherous body screams yes. I’m gonna make Spencer work for it. Make him fight for the chance to have me, because I know that deep down I’m worth it.

~April MacIntyre

 

*The book can be read as a stand-alone, but it is best to read after the first two in the series, as the main characters in Spark and Spike continue to appear in each book in the series.*

My Review

Complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

 

If you, like me, are a reader who loves being surprised by characters, I do believe that you will love “Strike”. I had no idea, going into this book, that I would fall so hard and fast for Spencer Jones, but Miss Ryder had me so intrigued by this MX rider from the very beginning. He is so different from who I initially thought him to be.

We all know what it is like to only do what other people expect us to do – and how many of us long to break free of them. As in Spencer’s case, I do not think that it matters how old you are before you find the courage to spread your wings and try to fulfill your dreams. And I think it really comes across in this author’s writing.

April and Spencer’s first meeting is different, interesting, fun, and sexy. I loved it! At first, I felt that April seems to be so carefree and all about having fun, but then I stopped my reading and started to reflect on it…And the more I thought about it, the more determined I became to get beneath the surface of this feisty photographer. No woman, I believe, is that free of a spirit, not in the real world, I mean. There has to be a story behind it, and I immediately wanted to uncover it.

April wanting to keep her relationship to Spencer a secret had me worried quite a bit. You see, I can definitely understand her reasons, but I immediately thought that a happy outcome would not really be realistic. Because these kinds of secrets usually have a way of making themselves known – and always at the worst possible time! Still, I kept hoping for the best and simply enjoyed how these two characters got to know each other better.

As April & Spencer’s relationship progresses, I was absolutely convinced that they belong to each other. I really love how April just takes charge and goes after the things she wants. She is feisty, sexy, smart, and funny. Oh, and adorable, too. The fact that she is all those things makes her perfect for Spencer: she shows him what life should be all about, and her supporting him in every way makes him realize that he truly has the strength to go after his dreams. And, in my opinion, he needs a firecracker like April as his woman.

As for Spencer: well, he…is…HAWT! Oh, my goodness! Phew! Like I stated above, I did not believe that I would become so in love with him…But I love his sensitive side…his humour…his dirty thoughts…Oh, and his man-whore past? It is quite easy to understand why he acted that way….He is not perfect, of course, and I actually think that he should insist upon coming clean to Mac in more firm way, but I can understand his reasons for not doing it. The fact that he lets April set the pace of their relationship even though he is saddened by not being upfront about everything, makes him perfect BBF material in my eyes. It is just a joy getting to know him and realizing what a sweet, genuine guy he has become since “Spike”. I love being surprised by characters, and Miss Ryder has certainly fulfilled that wish.

The fact that April is making Spencer work really hard to earn her affections? Well, first: poor guy! Second: it gives you some great insight into April’s character, and as we learn about her past heartaches, it actually makes sense! Moreover, it teaches Spencer that there is more to a relationship than the sex – at least, there should be – and even though it may seem old-fashioned to some, I really like it. It also builds a lot of anticipation and tension – and, wow, this author really had me squirming in my seat! You can most definitely feel how much Spencer yearns and aches to make April his.

Overall, I really enjoyed this installment in the Spark series. April and Spencer complement each other perfectly. Whereas April is always about taking chances, even risks, Spencer knows when it is time to slow down a bit when necessary – at least, that is how I feel – so there is a great balance in their relationship. There is not a single scene in this book that seems off or over-the-top. The conversations between all the characters are genuine and lifelike – not unrealistic, annoying or stilted – and the pace of the story is smooth – not too fast, not too slow.

Both April and Spencer learn that in order to move forward, it is necessary to let go of the past. And what their love story tells me is this: You have to reach for their dreams, no matter what other people want for you, and even though you will face countless troubles, they are easier to overcome when you are not alone.

My final note before finishing this review will be about the writing. In my opinion, Miss Ryder has a gift: she creates such realistic, honest, and genuine characters. Furthermore, this author incorporates wit into even some pretty heavy situations, and I love how she can make steamy and sexy scenes fun. Her words make me sigh, laugh, cry, and swoon. When I read her books, I never want to get to the last page…and when I do reach “The End”, I immediately want to read them again.

There you have it: my honest opinion on why I believe this book deserves five stars. I hope you enjoy Spencer & April’s wild love story. And be prepared to have your panties combust once or twice…*wink*

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon US

Amazon UK

 Barnes & Noble

 

Interested in reading the first two instalments in the Spark Series?

“Spark” (Spark #1)

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Goodreads

“Spike” (Spark #2)

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | B&N | Kobo | iBooks | Goodreads

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New Adult and erotic romance writer, and author of the Spark series.

A sexy imagination, a life-long love of books and a sucker for romance, Jennifer Ryder couldn’t stifle her creativity any longer.

Writing steamy adult romance has become her new focus. Living on a rural property in New South Wales, Australia, she enjoys the best of city and country.

Her loving husband is ever willing to provide inspiration, and her two young cherubs, and sheep that don’t see fences as barriers, keep life more than interesting.

Jennifer placed third in the International Stringybark Erotic Short Fiction Award 2013.

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“Greetings From Sugartown” (Sugartown #3) by Carmen Jenner – My Review

Title: “Greetings From Sugartown” (Sugartown #2.5)

Author: Carmen Jenner

Genre: New Adult Contemporary/Erotic Romance

Release Date: 9th September, 2014

SYNOPSIS

Life in Sugartown hasn’t always been easy, not for an ex-con like Elijah, and certainly not for Ana, who grew up desperate for a way out.

Meeting Elijah changed all that; Elijah changed a lot of things.

You’d think that after three years together and the worst behind them that life would be a walk in the park, but Sugartown’s sexiest couple may be about to face their biggest obstacles yet.

Between failed marriage proposals, a trampy ex-lover and a tempting new biker, Sugartown is suddenly not so sweet.
They’re head-over-heels in love. It should be simple—but it rarely is.

Will they make it down the aisle to the happy ever after they deserve? Or are some relationships just destined to fail?

ADD TO GOODREADS

My Review

Complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

If there is one Australian author who understands how to make me laugh, cry, shout, and swoon, it is Miss Jenner. I have loved her Sugartown series from the very beginning, and I am more than thrilled to say that being back with Elijah Cade & Ana Belle in this latest installment has been absolutely fantastic!

This couple has had it difficult from the beginning, to say the least, and even though they love each other more than anything, their pasts are still lurking in the background, waiting to rear their ugly heads again. And the question is if they can find a way to move forward, once and for all, instead of always waiting for a bomb to explode.

Elijah, who holds a very special place in my heart, is, however, ready to take their relationship to the next level – and no, I will not reveal what that is, sorry – but he feels rather insecure about how Ana will react. He continues to doubt her wanting to stay with him, and he is filled with a lot of insecurities about himself as well.

Ana, on the other hand, has definitely become stronger in many ways since her attack a few years back, but Elijah’s cagey and rather suspicious behavior makes her doubt if she will ever really be enough for him! And so the roller coaster starts again…

Now, I cannot write this review without mentioning how much I really like how Miss Jenner shows us a more mature side to her writing skills this time. Please do not misunderstand me: there are still plenty of great laughs in this book, and some really embarrassing, yet endearing, moments, too, and I would definitely not be without them, but it honestly seems to me that there is a more serious tone of voice to this book than we have seen before from Miss Jenner.

Both Elijah and Ana have grown up a lot since we last saw them, and I really enjoyed seeing how they have evolved in many ways. Furthermore, due to the hardships they have to endure this time, they finally realize the ways to be strong for one another – whenever it is necessary, of course. Meaning: they are still pretty nutty, and so adorable that you will never get enough of them, but they come to understand the truly important matters in life. That is how I feel, at least.

I think I have mentioned this before, but one of the best ways to explain if I have truly loved a book is if I keep thinking about it days after I have finished reading it. I miss Elijah and Ana so much right now, but I still feel that their turbulent love story has come to a perfect end. But why am I not giving the book five stars? Well, to tell the truth, I wanted to see a bit more suspense, or angst, as Ana and Elijah are confronted with the fact that her attacker is back in town. In short: I would have liked seeing a few more scenes when Ana is forced to confront her issues some more. It is so difficult writing this review without giving you any spoilers, and I am sorry if you feel confused about my reasoning. Read the book, and then make up your mind – reading is, after all, subjective!

“Greetings From Sugartown” has become a favourite book of 2014 for me, and like I stated above: there are lots of laughs, drama, and angst as is the case with the previous books in the series. Oh, and some very steamy and hot sexual encounters – phew! They will definitely make you tingle in all the right places. Need I say more? No, I think not. *wink*

If you have been a fan of the Sugartown Series from the beginning, just like me, I am absolutely positive that you will love being back with the whole crazy gang again! I loved practically everything about this book – especially some of the funnier moments when Holly and Jackson make an appearance – and I loved seeing Elijah and Ana finding faith and trust in each other. They are, plain and simple, perfect for another – but they are not perfect themselves. However, that is what makes them seem so real: it is so easy to relate to them because life is messy out in the real world, but there is always hope that things will fall into place. And that is a comforting thought…

Miss Jenner, you have done it again! I loved being back in Sugartown, and even though I am sad to leave – for now, at least – I am uplifted by the thought that I can always come back: because I know that I will read your books many times in the years to come. ❤

 1/2

 

 

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon US

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iBooks

Kobo

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carmen Jenner is a thirty-something, USA TODAY Best Selling Author, doctor, pilot and CIA agent.

She’s also a compulsive, flagrant prevaricator who gets to make things up for a living.

While Sugartown may not technically exist, Carmen grew up in a small Australian town just like it, and just like her characters, she always longed for something more. They didn’t have an Elijah Cade, though.

If they did, you can be sure she would have never left.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

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Blog Tour: “Wherever You Will Go” (Try Again #1) by Stephanie Smith – My Review, Excerpt, Playlist, Book Trailer & Giveaway

Title: “Wherever You Will Go” (Try Again #1)

Author: Stephanie Smith

Publication Date: August 7, 2014

Genre: Contemporary Romance

 

Synopsis

Brooke Willis had everything she ever wanted: a happy marriage, volunteer placement at the art gallery, and the promise of starting a family with the man of her dreams.

Saxon Reed had everything he ever thought he needed: a successful career, nice cars, expensive apartment, and more money than he knew what to do with.

After losing her husband Brooke insists on taking over his company to keep his dreams alive. Struggling in an industry she knows nothing about, Brooke turns to Saxon, her husband’s best friend and business partner, for guidance and support. Their mutual grief, and Saxon’s need to look after his best friend’s wife, creates a connection beyond just business.

Can Brooke take over the company and find a new life without saying goodbye to the past? Can Saxon protect and care for Brooke without scaring her away?

What happens when your heart doesn’t listen to your head? When lines are crossed and boundaries are pushed?

“Life goes on, whether you choose to move forward and take a chance in the unknown or stay behind, locked in the past, thinking of what could’ve been. I don’t want to live in the past anymore. I’m so lonely; there’s nothing for me here.”

My Review

Complimentrary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

I want to start this review by saying that I really believe this to be a very well written, heartwarming, and beautiful second-chance love story. Even though I did not really have the time to read it straight through in one sitting, I found myself thinking about it when I was busy with my everyday life, and that is definitely one of the reasons I give it such a high rating: when you cannot fully let go of a story, when you are impatient to get back to it, and when you simply want to forget the real world and read instead, are all major factors as to why I end up loving a book.

However…I believe this is the first time in my “career” as a book blogger when I find myself rather unsure about how many stars to give a book, and it is also the first time I choose to stay a bit undecided, thus providing half a star to my overall rating. Meaning, I have ended up giving it 4.5 stars in total. I promise that I will get back to it later, but let me begin with my review first.

Brooke is a very sweet, down-to-earth woman who suffers the kind of loss that we all hope to never experience in our lives, and the way that she struggles with the sudden death of her husband, Nate, felt very real and honest to me. How do you get yourself back after losing your soul mate? How do you even learn to want to look forward? How are you supposed to react when you actually do start finding a purpose in life again? Are you allowed to laugh and enjoy yourself? Should you continue to feel guilty because you are alive? And so on and so forth. We all react differently after losing a loved one, but I could really connect with Brooke and the way she handles everything.

The range of emotions Brooke goes through is vast, and I could truly feel her grief, her sadness, and her guilt…To be perfectly honest, I was crying once or twice! Yes, this is a very emotional book, and I love it! But I also love how she eventually allows herself to laugh again – even though she is still burying her head in the sand and stubbornly refuses to confront her issues. Oh, and by the way: this did not bother me in the least. Brooke needs to get herself back together on her own terms.

“As humans we can control our actions, even control how we think about things, but we have no control over our Hearts: how we feel, what we really want, what we cherish, and who we love.”

 As for Saxon, the closest friend to Nate: well, I am really glad that the author chose to give us his point of view as the story progressed, because it provides the readers a chance to fully connect with him. Saxon is a bit of a man-whore, to tell the truth (and we do like our “bad boys”, do we not?), but looks can be deceiving, and there is definitely more to him than what meets the eye. His strong need to protect Brooke is primarily born out of his loyalty to Nate, but as these two end up spending so much time together, his feelings change…And then what is he to do?

I like seeing the true extent of Saxon’s feelings towards Brooke. I like knowing that he is actually like most real men: a bit insecure and a lot vulnerable when it comes to the woman he loves. Because real men feel just as much as women do – they just tend to show it in a somewhat weird manner sometimes – and that is why I also fell in love with Saxon. I just want to hug him! Yes, I do love alpha males, and Saxon can definitely be one on occasion, but I just feel that he is perfect for Brooke because he has this sensitive soul. His frustration and hurt whenever Brooke chooses to regard their relationship as less than it is feel, again, very genuine to me…

“I just can’t get it right when it comes to this woman. She deserves better than to have me as her protector. I could never do the job that Nate did. Am I trying to do Nate’s job? The lines have blurred, and I’m not sure if I’ve crossed them yet or not.”

Now, the reason I am a bit unsure about my rating is because of a few minor – maybe even miniscule –details I keep thinking about. As usual, this is my opinion alone, and other readers/reviewers may not be bothered by them. I am really worried about giving any spoilers– because it really is a wonderful book – so I will just hint at them instead:

I sometimes felt as if certain scenes between Brooke and Saxon were a bit rushed or repetitive – trust me, these did not occur often – or that Saxon’s past and upbringing were glossed over, not explained fully. And.that.is.it! Those are my reasons. They are, perhaps, a bit vague, but I loathe spoilers and refuse to simply hand everything over on a plate! This is still one of my favorite books this year, and Miss Smith has definitely made me a fan of her work already.

 

To sum up: if you love a second-chance love story, filled to the brim with many conflicting emotions, with a bit of angst and main characters that you find believable and real, I would definitely recommend this book to you. Like I stated in the beginning of my review, the writing is beautiful, the pace flows well, and there is also a lot of quirky, adorable scenes that will make you laugh and sigh happily. Pure book heaven! ❤

I cannot wait for more from Miss Smith!

1/2

 

 

Watch the Book Trailer!

 

Enjoy the excerpt!

I head to the door, still clutching at a piece of peppermint chocolate and trying to dissolve the large piece in my mouth. Swinging open the door I yell, “What the hell, bitch?”

Saxon’s eyes are wide and he has an amused grin on his face. “Well, good morning to you too.”

My mouth is hanging open, and I know all the blood has rushed from my face. I’m shocked and not only because Saxon is here, but because he stands before me in dark wash jeans with a tight black t-shirt. It has been years since I’ve seen him in anything but a suit or tuxedo. He looks so much younger dressed casually. Less stressed and almost more… carefree.

Shaking those thoughts, I meet his eyes. “I thought you were Rach. What do you want?” My words come out more harshly than I intended, and Saxon’s smile turns to a frown, his eyes losing their sparkle.

My stomach twists and there’s something about him frowning which turns my gut. I don’t like it. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just surprised to see you. What’s up?” I ask in a much more friendly tone.

He looks up at me, nervousness shining in those bright green eyes. “I wanted to see if I could take you out today?” The confident, cocky Saxon is gone, and I would’ve never believed this insecure one existed underneath.

He wants to take me on a date? Hell no.

“Bugger, I’m actually just on my way out,” I say with fake disappointment.

Saxon raises his eyebrows at me, and the cocky bastard is back. “Really?” he says as he looks me up and down. I follow his eyes down to my outfit.

Sometimes even I can’t believe how stupid I am. I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my chest in defiance, as I also remember not only am I in my flannel pyjamas but I don’t have a bra on. He smiles a cocky smile while looking at my chest, clearly letting me know he caught that also.

 

Listen to the music that inspired the book!

 

 PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | B&N

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I’m first & foremost a reader & fangirl, I will always be first & foremost a reader & fangirl. I am on street teams, I pimp and I brag. I LOVE my Authors!!
I have recently started writing as a way to relax and spend some time for me. My first novel Wherever You Will Go is due to release later this year. I’m having so much fun writing my first story and I’m looking forward to the journey it is taking me on.

SOCIAL LINKS

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Enter the Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK!

***One Year Blogoversary Post: Thoughts & Giveaway***

Hello, lovelies!

Can I just say: WOWZA! I have now been a book blogger for an entire year, and I can scarce believe it. This year has just flown by in a complete whirlwind, and I want to thank you ALL for giving this Dane some of your time and attention since the day I started this blog.

To be perfectly honest, I did not set out with a big goal in mind when I first created this blog…I just thought that paying back my favourite authors, including some new ones, by writing reviews and spreading the word about their work would be a good idea. I had hoped that more readers from my country would follow it, of course, but I do not think that is the case. Never mind that – it does not matter that much, really.

To all the authors who gave this new blogger a chance: THANK YOU! Thank you for your wonderful stories! And thank you for the friendship… ❤

Now, in order to celebrate this very satisfying milestone, I want to give you all the chance to WIN one of my favourite books: “Ugly Love” by Colleen Hoover. I was very fortunate to receive a paperback copy from the UK Publisher, BUT I had also preordered it on Amazon before that…So I thought to myself: “I do not really need two copies of the same book, now do I?” *wink* Nope, I absolutely do not. SO I am giving one copy away! Yes, this giveaway is OPEN INTERNATIONALLY! Yes, I will even dispatch the copy to Timbuktu if that is where the winner lives. I honestly do not mind doing this…So many giveaways are US only – and I really do understand this, because the shipping costs are MAD – and I just want everyone to have a chance at winning this fantastic book.

So: if you are unsure about whether or not this is a book for you, I have included my review in this blog post – you will find it below. Perhaps that will convince you. AND if you are jumping up and down already with excitement, just keep scrolling further down, and you will find the link to the Rafflecopter I have set up.

Right, I will finish now, but again: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE!!! I truly appreciate it!

❤ ❤ ❤ GOOD LUCK ❤ ❤ ❤

Title: “Ugly Love”

Author: Colleen Hoover

Genre: Contemporary New Adult Romance

Release Date: 5th August, 2014.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

SYNOPSIS

When Tate Collins finds airline pilot Miles Archer passed out in front of her apartment door, it is definitely not love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. But what they do have is an undeniable mutual attraction.

He doesn’t want love and she doesn’t have time for a relationship, but their chemistry cannot be ignored. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up, as long as Tate can stick to two rules: Never ask about the past and don’t expect a future.

Tate is determined that she can handle it, but when she realises that she can’t, will she be able to say no to her sexy pilot when he lives just next door?

This new romance from Colleen Hoover will have you laughing and crying in equal measure – definitely her best book yet!

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My Review

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Do you all know how some books make you want to read them again as soon as you have finished reading them for the first time? That is how I always feel when I read a book by Miss Hoover – I believe I read “Slammed” three times when it was first released back in 2012 – and it is no different with “Ugly Love”. Since turning the final page three days ago, I have been nursing a massive book hangover – and, yes, I want to read the book again already! But I must confess that I find it quite a challenge putting my thoughts down, because I know – just know – that I will not be able to fully express my love for Tate and Miles’ story. It is just one of those times when I believe that my words will be inadequate; on one hand, I want to tell everyone all the details about the story – because I love it – but on the other hand, I will never forgive myself for revealing everything to you. Naturally, I refuse to do the latter – but that leaves me almost lost for words…I will do my best, though, to try to describe all the feelings I went through while reading this book. I went into this book without having read more than the synopsis on the back of the book. It is true: I did not want to read any reviews – spoiler free or not – because I wanted to be surprised. And, oh yes, my wish was granted: I was in for many surprises along the way.

Tate Collins meets Miles Archer in a rather unconventional way: passed out drunk in front of the door to the apartment she is about to share with her brother, Corbin, for a couple of months while finishing her masters in nursing. To say that these two get off on the wrong foot would be an understatement, and the last thing Tate needs in her life right now is a crush on her brother’s friend.

“He wants me for sex. I kind of miss sex. It’s been a while. I know I’m definitely attracted to him and can’t think of anyone else in my life I’d rather have casual, meaningless sex with than my airline pilot, laundry-folding neighbour.”

Despite the fact that Miles is taciturn, never divulging anything about him, and is downright rude, Tate finds herself becoming very attracted to him. And the strangest thing is that Miles is attracted to her…Then a bargain is made between them, one that seems simple and straight. But what happens when Tate finds herself wanting to break the two simple rules that Miles has set up?

‘“Don’t ask about my past,” he says firmly. “And never expect a future.”’

Well, the answer lies in the book, naturally.

Tate is a very strong character, in my opinion. I like how she always has a quick comeback when either Miles or Corbin says something she disagrees with. She is also a rather temperamental and emotional person, but I think that is why I connected so strongly with her. As she starts developing deeper feelings towards Miles, my heart was bleeding for her, because I was so afraid that she would snap at some point, and that the outcome would not be pretty – and I was right. It was ugly, gut-wrenching, yet believable.

As for Miles…He is such a conundrum, plain and simple! Yes, you get his point of view in the book, but not in the way you expect it. (And that is one of the surprises I cannot divulge…) Miles is such a deeply broken man, but he was not always like this, of course. Due to some very traumatic events, he has chosen to close himself completely off from life. He is not exactly living…simply existing. As I got to know Miles – past and present – I found myself almost biting my nails because of the suspense, and I could not see how he would ever become able to fully breathe again. Allowing himself to become involved with Tate, however, slowly makes him realize that he has to start living his life to the fullest instead of living in the past. Did I want to throttle him sometimes? Oh, absolutely! He made me very frustrated, but once I learned the truth, I understood him so much better and was able to forgive him.

“She’s absolutely beautiful. Her hope is beautiful. The smile on her face is beautiful. The tears streaming down her cheeks are beautiful. Her love is beautiful.”

If you, like me, are a fan of Miss Hoover’s work, I am sure that you will want to buy “Ugly Love” simply because of that. And, as I stated above, you are in for many surprises in this latest work of hers. But I cannot say that I am surprised about the fact that I found myself crying – a lot – while reading the book, because that is what always happens when I read one of this author’s stories: they pull at all your heartstrings, making you fall in love with her characters, and making you completely engaged in their story. And even though I personally always truly hope and pray for a happy-ever-after, I always wonder: “Will there really be one this time?” Miss Hoover’s HEAs are somehow always bittersweet, but I find myself thinking that that is part of why I love them so much: her characters and the circumstances they find themselves in are always real, and honest. Life is messy, and the heartache and sadness many of us go through at some point in our lives make us come out stronger. And that, in my opinion, is the same for Miss Hoover’s characters.

“The difference between the ugly side and the beautiful side of love is that the beautiful side is much lighter. It makes you feel like you’re floating. It lifts you up. Carries you. The beautiful parts of love hold you above the rest of the world. They hold you so high above all the bad stuff, and you just look down on everything else and think, Wow. I’m glad I’m up here.”

“Ugly Love” is, without a doubt, one of the best books I have ever read. It is also very sexy and steamy, something completely new from Miss Hoover, but she manages it quite well *wink* Tate and Miles are such opposites, but they complement each other in the best way possible at the same time. As ever, Miss Hoover’s writing is poignant and flawless, and she provides us with some great secondary characters that only enhance your reading experience without ever taking the focus away from the main story.

Yes, love can be ugly, horrible, painful…but it can also be beautiful, uplifting, and hopeful. The twists and turns of the book will make you gasp, you will swoon over Miles (even when you do not really want to), and Tate’s sassy demeanor will make you laugh. There will be times when you are scared of reading the next chapter, but will it be worth it? Absolutely! In short: if I could give the book more than five stars, I would: it deserves at least ten! So thank you, Miss Hoover, for a wonderful reading experience. “Ugly Love” now sits among your other work on My Favorite Books shelf, and I am already looking forward to reading it again.

 

PURCHASE LINKS

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Amazon UK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Colleen Hoover lives in the United States with her husband and three children. She loves to write in her spare time and prefers stories that are both humorous and heart-wrenching. Her goal through writing is to give readers a pleasant experience that will leave them viewing life from a slightly different angle. To read more about this author, visit her website at http://www.colleenhoover.com

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