Waiting On Wednesday (163) Soulprint by Megan Miranda @MeganLMiranda

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Wednesday is my absolute favorite day of the week because I get to share the books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

Soulprint by Megan Miranda

Expected publication: February 3rd 2015 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A new literary, sci-fi thriller from acclaimed author Megan Miranda.

With the science of soul-fingerprinting a reality, Alina Chase has spent her entire life imprisoned for the crimes her past-self committed. In an attempt to clear her name, Alina unintentionally trades one prison for another when she escapes, aided by a group of teens whose intentions and motivations are a mystery to her. As she gets to know one of the boys, sparks fly, and Alina believes she may finally be able to trust someone. But when she uncovers clues left behind from her past life that only she can decipher, secrets begin to unravel. Alina must figure out whether she’s more than the soul she inherited, or if she’s fated to repeat the past.

This compelling story will leave readers wondering if this fictional world could become a reality.

I have previously read Fracture, Vengeance, and Hysteria by this author, so I'm looking forward to reading this one too.

What are you waiting on this week? Be sure to leave a link to your WoW post so I can visit you back.

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Waiting On Wednesday (162) The Boy Next Door by Katie Van Ark

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Wednesday is my absolute favorite day of the week because I get to share the books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

The Boy Next Door by Katie Van Ark

Expected publication: January 6th 2015 by Swoon Reads

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Maddy Spier has been in love with the boy next door forever. As his figure skating partner she spends time in his arms every day. But she’s also seen his arms around other girls—lots of other girls.

Gabe can't imagine skating with anyone but Maddy, and together they have a real chance at winning some serious gold medals. So, he’s determined to keep thinking of her like a sister. After all, he’s never had a romantic relationship that lasted for more than two weeks.

But when their coach assigns a new romantic skating program, everything changes. Will this be the big break that Maddy’s been hoping for or the big breakup that Gabe has always feared?

I've picked another contemporary this week. Doesn't this sound oh so cute?

Be sure to leave a link to your WoW post so I can visit you back.

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Christmas.

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Christmas Novella Mini Reviews Part 2

You may be able to tell from my previous Christmas novella reviews and yesterday's Christmas movie recommendations that I am going all in for Christmas entertainment this year. Movies, books, and lots of music!

I'm back today with more reviews of free Christmas novellas from Amazon. (These were free when I downloaded them, but the price may have changed, so be sure to check before you purchase.)

The Gift by Karli Perrin

The synopsis says this "is intended to be a quick, fun and flirty read" and it definitely was! With an emphasis on the flirty. This really brought a smile to my face. I loved the characters and the story. Nice, quick Christmas read with lots of fun banter.

Home for Christmas (A Romantic Short Story) by Carol Burnside

Oh my goodness. This was so good, but it's way too short! It's basically just one scene told from the guy's POV. I turned the page expecting more, but that was the end of the story and it made me so very sad. I would love to read this one as a full length novel.

Western Holiday Duets by Paty Jager

Two historical western romance short stories. Both of these were really nice and very sweet.

Mistletoe in Manhattan by Talli Roland

This was a nice little Christmas story that I really enjoyed. Long enough to flesh out the characters and storyline a bit. Holly was a likable character, and she and Alex seemed to start a promising relationship. The ending left me hanging, so I would love to have more of a conclusion to this story.

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Christmas Movies!

I've been going a little overboard on watching Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel. Too many movies, not enough time! With Christmas only a week away, I've checked out Hallmark's schedule, and you still have time to catch all of these movies and enjoy.

I've watched the following movies more than once... which means I enjoy them and highly recommend. I don't do sappy and over emotional or preachy, so these movies might be a little on the fluffy side. I say Fluff is good.

The movie I have watched the most times this year is..... Window Wonderland. LOVE! It's so cute and adorable and I love the characters! The storyline is reminiscent of Mannequin, without the part where the mannequins come to life. Who wouldn't love that?

I adore the brothers SO much in Christmas With Holly, which is a nice, heartwarming story.

A Bride For Christmas is really cute. I like Jessie because she has a lot of spunk, and I think her dad is hilarious. Also, Jessie's sister plays the lead in The Nine Lives of Christmas. Which I should tell you is nothing like the book. Well, except for the cat. But the cat doesn't play matchmaker in the movie. The movie is pretty cute though, so give it a chance.

Naughty or Nice is a fun movie. And totally worth watching to see Kyle XY. I seriously didn't realize it was him until my daughter pointed it out. Funny thing is, neither one of us has ever watched Kyle XY. The main character, Hilarie Burton, is also in a new movie this year, Christmas on the Bayou. It was okay, not very Christmasy feeling, but worth watching to get an eyeful of Tyler Hilton. Just sayin'.

A Very Merry Mix-Up is cute enough, even though it's not plausible. So suspend your disbelief and enjoy it for what it is. Same goes for Snow Bride, which is enjoyable but not very realistic.

I watched Christmas Cupid on Netflix. It's pretty cute, and Christina Milian is fun to watch.

12 Dates of Christmas was another cute and fun Netflix watch.

New for me this year was Angels and Ornaments, which was pretty good and very heartwarming. The Christmas Parade was okay, but I was distracted by how much makeup was piled on AnnaLynne McCord.

Christmas Movie Overload!!! I hope you get the chance to watch some of these movies, and if you have any recommendations be sure to leave me a comment!

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Waiting On Wednesday (161) Remember by Eileen Cook @Eileenwriter

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Wednesday is my absolute favorite day of the week because I get to share the books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

Remember by Eileen Cook

Expected publication: February 24th 2015 by Simon Pulse

Synopsis from Goodreads:

A thrilling tale about what a girl will do to get back a memory she lost…or remove what she wants to forget.

Harper is used to her family being hounded by protesters. Her father runs the company that trademarked the "Memtex" procedure to wipe away sad memories, and plenty of people think it shouldn't be legal. Then a new demonstrator crosses her path, Neil, who’s as persistent as he is hot. Not that Harper’s noticing, since she already has a boyfriend.

When Harper suffers a loss, she’s shocked her father won’t allow her to get the treatment, so she finds a way to get it without his approval. Soon afterward, she’s plagued with strange symptoms, including hallucinations of a woman who is somehow both a stranger, yet incredibly familiar. Harper begins to wonder if she is delusional, or if these are somehow memories.

Together with Neil, who insists he has his own reasons for needing answers about the real dangers of Memtex, Harper begins her search for the truth. What she finds could uproot all she’s ever believed about her life…

Doesn't this sound intriguing?

What are you waiting on this week? Be sure to leave a link to your WoW post so I can visit you!

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November Recap and December TBR

I'm late again with my monthly recap post. I've been SO busy that blogging has taken a backseat lately. I did pretty good with keeping up with my reading schedule last month. Yay me! I'm still a few books behind on my Goodreads goal for the year, but I think I'm over that.

I only have a few review books this month, which I'm happy about because it puts less pressure on me. And it gives me more time to read some of the Christmas novellas that I've gotten from Amazon.

Books Read in November:

Killer Instinct (The Naturals #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (My Review)

Mistletoe and Mr. Right by Lyla Payne (My Review)

A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall (My Review)

Stone Cove Island by Suzanne Myers (My Review)

December TBR:

No Place to Fall by Jaye Robin Brown

After Us (Before & After #2) by Amber Hart

Love and Other Theories by Alexis Bass

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Waiting On Wednesday (160) Please Remain Calm (This is Not a Test #2) by Courtney Summers

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Wednesday is my absolute favorite day of the week because I get to share the books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

Please Remain Calm (This is Not a Test #2) by Courtney Summers

January 20th 2015 by St. Martin's Griffin

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In this gripping sequel to THIS IS NOT A TEST, Rhys and Sloane are headed for a safe haven when they get separated along the way. Rhys is determined to reunite with Sloane until he discovers people who might need him more--people who offer him the closest he'll get to everything he's lost, if they can just hold on long enough.

Rhys thinks he has what it takes to survive and find the girl he lost, but in a world overrun by the dead, there are no guarantees and the next leg of his journey will test him in unimaginable ways ...

Please Remain Calm is a 100 page e-novella told from Rhys’s POV.
Is anyone else excited about reading this?
FYI - There are read alongs and giveaways going on over at Courtney Summers tumblr account.

What are you waiting on this week? Be sure to leave a link to your WoW post so I can visit you back!

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Mini Reviews: Free Christmas Novellas from Amazon

Today I have mini reviews of a few of the Christmas Novellas I have read recently. All of these were FREE from Amazon within the past week. No guarantees that they are still free, so check carefully. And please let me know if you have any recommendations for me since I haven't gotten my fill of Christmas novellas yet!

Mistletoe & Memories by Matilda Maxwell

This is my favorite New Adult Christmas novella that I have read so far this season. I loved both of the protagonists and I really enjoyed the story. The book was long enough to have a fully fleshed out back story and great character development. Really cute and sweet and perfect for a quick holiday pick me up.

Ten Minutes for Christmas by Jennifer Conner

At 84 pages, this New Adult novella had more substance to it. The writing was a little clunky at times and it could use some serious editing. I liked both of the main characters, and I liked that the author managed to include a little bit of back story so you can see how their relationship progressed. There's some family drama and angst, but overall this was a nice Christmas story.

Her Christmas Bonus by Rain Danvers

This story unfolded at a rapid pace, which didn't allow me time to get to know the characters. I immediately disliked Terrance because he was pushy and presumptuous. The relationship was too much, too soon, and I wasn't feeling any of it. At least this was a really short novella!

A Curvy Coldwater Christmas by Jenn Roseton

This adult contemporary romance was really short and nice enough for being such a quick read. The 2 main characters are pushed together by their mutual friends who are all happily married and determined to make them a couple too. If you can get past the silly lines Santa and Mrs. Claus utter to each other on the parade float, then you might enjoy this novella.

Kissing Santa by Aithne Jarretta

Really sweet, but unbelievable and slightly uninspiring, this story has all the cheese of the season! I would be interested in reading this as a fully fleshed out story because the novella leaves a LOT unsaid and undone.

Noelle's Wish by Nicole Garcia

Good thing this was short because it was painful to read at times. The plot was all over the place and the pacing was odd. Roman was tolerable, but I didn't like Noelle, so I found it hard to care about their relationship. Maybe skip this one?

That's it for now. I still have more novellas to read, so I'll have more mini reviews coming soon.

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Breaking The Rules by Katie McGarry Release Day Launch and Giveaway

I am so excited to bring you the Release Day launch for Katie McGarry's BREAKING THE RULES! Breaking The Rules is a Young Adult contemporary romance published by Harlequin Teen, and is the follow-up book to Katie's PUSHING THE LIMITS. You do not want to miss Noah and Echo's story! Grab it today!

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** Books-A-Million ** Kobo ** iBooks ** Google Play

BREAKING THE RULES Synopsis:

A summer road trip changes everything in this unforgettable new tale from acclaimed author Katie McGarry.

For new high school graduate Echo Emerson, a summer road trip out west with her boyfriend means getting away and forgetting what makes her so . . . different. It means seeing cool sights while selling her art at galleries along the way. And most of all, it means almost three months alone with Noah Hutchins, the hot, smart, soul-battered guy who's never judged her. Echo and Noah share everything--except the one thing Echo's just not ready for.

But when the source of Echo's constant nightmares comes back into her life, she has to make some tough decisions about what she really wants--even as foster kid Noah's search for his last remaining relatives forces them both to confront some serious truths about life, love, and themselves.

Now, with one week left before college orientation, jobs and real life, Echo must decide if Noah's more than the bad-boy fling everyone warned her he'd be. And the last leg of an amazing road trip will turn . . . seriously epic.

And don’t forget to read the first books in the Pushing the Limits Series…

PUSHING THE LIMITS

CROSSING THE LINE

DARE YOU TO

CRASH INTO YOU

TAKE ME ON

Excerpt:

From Noah’s POV

“Did you fall into some paint, Echo?” Isaiah asks, changing the subject.
Echo’s shoulder slumps as she pivots toward the mirror. She groans as she touches her cheek and forehead that are more red and pink than skin. “Dang it. Why am I such a mess?”
“I think it’s sexy as hell,” I say.
“I think I’m going to barf,” Beth mocks my tone.
Death radiates from the look I send her way. Enough that it should melt her. “Ever sleep in a tent, Beth?”
Beth focuses on the screen while raising her middle finger in my direction.
“Screw it.” Echo turns away from the mirror. “I need a shower.”
I smile, Echo blushes, then I laugh. Damn me for inviting Isaiah and Beth to share our room.
“Anyhow.” An excited glint strikes Echo’s eyes. “Are you ready? I hope you like it. It’s sort of…for you. But it’s not done, okay? I mean, something like this would actually take a while to perfect, so I guess I’m saying—”
“Echo.”
“Yeah?”
“It’s all good.”
“Okay.” Her fingers drum nervously over the top of the canvas before she repeats, “Okay.”
“I’m assuming that’s not the constellation Aires?”
“No. I’ll have to start on that tomorrow.” With a deep inhale, Echo pulls out a chair from the table and rests the painting on the arms and leans it against the back so it will stay upright.
Air rushes out of my body, and I sink onto our bed. It’s the same damned shock as when she drew my parents this past spring. There’s awe and joy and this ache that hits deep in my gut. I bend forward and rest my joint hands on my knees and stare at the sight in front of me.
Fuck me, my eyes burn. I shut them, attempting to get my shit together. It’s a painting. Only a painting. I reopen them, and it’s the same disorientation as a right hook to the head. It’s more than a painting, and that’s the reason my throat swells.
Last night meant as much to me as it did to her and she painted it, capturing it in a way unique to Echo. She’s right, it’s not done. It’s a skeleton compared to her other work, but I see enough to know what she desires, what she plans to design. Up close all those colors would look like chaos, but when viewed as a whole it creates this beautiful picture. In the end, that’s the best way to describe me and Echo, our relationship. Our love.
The bed dips as Echo eases onto it, settles behind me and props her chin on my shoulder. Her signature scent that reminds me of walking into a bakery becomes an invisible blanket surrounding me. “What do you think?”
“It’s us,” I whisper, and knots form in my stomach. Echo always finds a way to blow my mind. She tenses behind me and I continue, “It’s where we spent last night.”
“It is.” Echo relaxes, and her fingers curl around my biceps. “Do you like it?”
Struggling for composure, I place my hand over hers and pause. “It’s…”
I’m not Echo. I don’t have words for what happens inside me. If I did, I’d fail at describing this. I shift to rest my forehead against hers. “I don’t deserve you.”
“That’s my statement,” she says so only I can hear. “I wish we were alone again.”
I press my lips to hers, slide my hand through her hair and watch as the curls bounce back into place. “Me, too.”

About Katie McGarry:

Katie McGarry was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie is the author of full length YA novels, PUSHING THE LIMITS, DARE YOU TO, CRASH INTO YOU, TAKE ME ON, BREAKING THE RULES, and NOWHERE BUT HERE and the e-novellas, CROSSING THE LINE and RED AT NIGHT. Her debut YA novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS was a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction, a RT Magazine's 2012 Reviewer's Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel, a double Rita Finalist, and a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick. DARE YOU TO was also a Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Best Book Award for Young Adult Contemporary fiction in 2013.

Website | Twitter @KatieMcGarry | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Tumbler | Instagram

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Sunday Updates (50)

Inspired by features from The Sunday Post from Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Sunday Summary from Book Twirps.

Good News: I've been reading a bit more than usual this week. Mostly free Christmas novellas from Amazon, because I need to get into the spirit of the season. More good news, I've been sewing tons and watching Christmas movies. I've even watched some of them twice because I enjoy them so much. Bad News: I haven't purchased a single Christmas present yet. Yep. I suck. I also hate feeling obligated to exchange gifts, especially with *ahem* family members who, every year, tell us 'Let's not do gifts for each other, we'll just keep it between the kids.' And then they give us something even more expensive and outrageous than the year before. I'm so over it. I just want to get together with family without the pressure of gift giving. Rant Over.

There are SO many pretty, pretty books coming out in 2015. I've added so many to my tbr, and many of them are showing up on Edelweiss and NetGalley. There's no way I can download and review all of them, so I'm having to pick and choose wisely. Below is the list of the books I have for now. I'll be downloading more arcs when I can fit them into my schedule to read and review. I'm looking forward to reading all of these!

Received For Review:

What Waits in the Woods by Kieran Scott

Thanks to Scholastic

Denton Little's Deathdate by Lance Rubin

Thanks to Random House Children's

After Us (Before & After #2) by Amber Hart

Thanks to Kensington Books

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things by Ann Aguirre

Thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group

The Remedy (The Program 0.5) by Suzanne Young

Thanks to Simon Pulse

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Review: Stone Cove Island by Suzanne Myers

Stone Cove Island by Suzanne Myers

Publication Date: November 11, 2014
Page Count: 240
Published by: Soho Teen
Source: eArc received from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The Stepford Wives meets Stephen King in this debut mystery: a sleepy New England beach town is wrecked by a hurricane that reveals an unthinkable 30-year-old secret.

When a catastrophic hurricane devastates Stone Cove Island, a serene New England resort community, everyone pulls together to rebuild. Seventeen-year-old Eliza Elliot volunteers to clean out the island’s iconic lighthouse and stumbles upon a secret in the wreckage: a handwritten, anonymous confession to a thirty-year-old crime.

Bess Linsky’s unsolved murder has long haunted the island, and the letter turns the town inside out. Everyone who knew Bess is suddenly a suspect. Soon Eliza finds herself in the throes of an investigation she never wanted or asked for. As Stone Cove Island fights to recover from disaster, Eliza plunges the locals back into a nightmare they believed was long buried.

This turned out to be a really good YA murder mystery with an unpredictable outcome. Well written and easy to read, it managed to capture my attention from beginning to end.

Eliza and Charlie were both likable, but I didn't get to know either of them very well. While I enjoyed the romance between Eliza and Charlie, their relationship developed a bit too quickly for my taste. But I actually liked how well they worked together to solve the mystery, and the romance wasn't the main focus of the story, so it was all good in the end.

With each new character that was introduced, I couldn't help but wonder who the murderer was. Everyone that Eliza came in contact with was a suspect. As Eliza and Charlie delved deeper into the island's dark past, long buried secrets finally came to the surface. When all is said and done, will Eliza ever be able to view her quaint hometown and it's residents the same way ever again?

The story was easy enough to follow, but it did become a little complicated at times with all of the characters and their back stories. The build up of the mystery was compounded by the secretive nature of the residents and Eliza's determination to discover the truth regardless of the consequences. Overall, Stone Cove Island was enjoyable enough and held my interest throughout. I just wish there had been more build up and suspense. This was a clean YA book that would be perfect for a younger teen reader.

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

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Waiting On Wednesday (159) Promposal by Rhonda Helms @RHelmsBooks

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

Wednesday is my absolute favorite day of the week because I get to share the books that I am super excited about and can't wait to read.

(The New Cover!)

(The Original Cover!)

Promposal by Rhonda Helms

Expected publication: February 10th 2015 by Simon Pulse

Synopsis from Goodreads:

promposal (n.)--an often public proposal, in which one person asks another to the prom, eliciting joy or mortification.

Camilla can't help hoping her secret crush, Benjamin, might randomly surprise her out of the blue with a promposal. However, when she's asked to prom by an irritating casual acquaintance--wearing a fancy tux and standing in front of a news crew--she's forced to say yes. Yet all hope's not lost. A timely school project gives Camilla a chance to get closer to Benjamin...and it seems like the chemistry between them is crackling. But is she reading into something that isn't there?

Joshua, Camilla's bestie, has been secretly in love with his gay best friend, Ethan, since middle school. Just as he decides to bite the bullet and ask Ethan if he'll go to prom with him, even if just as friends, he gets a shocking surprise: Ethan asks Joshua for help crafting the perfect promposal--for another guy. Now Joshua has to suppress his love and try to fake enthusiasm as he watches his dreams fall apart...unless he can make Ethan see that love has been right in front of his eyes the whole time.

The road to the perfect promposal isn't easy to navigate. But one thing's certain--prom season is going to be memorable.

This sounds like another cute contemporary. You guys know how much I love my contemps!

What are you waiting on this week? Be sure to leave a link to your WoW post so I can visit you back!

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