Friday, January 8, 2016

Weekly Reading Update! 1/1/2016-1/7/2016

For 2016, I decided to do a weekly reading update! My goal is have a post every Thursday or Friday, updating everyone on what books I read during the week. Anyone that is friends with me on Goodreads will know that I read way more than I review on here. Most books I review on this blog are ones I received to review. I also review for Romance Reviews Today, and those reviews cannot be cross-posted - so with these weekly updates, I can let you know what my recent reads have been. Not everything will be included, just my favorites or ones I found interesting.

So let's see what happened this week...

 I finished "The Mistake" by Elle Kennedy. I have had "The Deal" on my kindle for months. I read about it and knew I'd love it, so I one-clicked it so hard. And since I had some days off around the holidays, I finally dove into it. And the second I finished it, I had to buy "The Mistake" - it was that good. I started it New Year's Eve, before heading off to a party, and then picked it back up the second I woke up New Year's Day. It was so good! I can't wait to read "The Score" when it releases later this month. If you like New Adult - check out the Off Campus series by Elle Kennedy!!

Next up is "Dirty Billionaire" by Meghan March. A friend and I came across this book on Goodreads, and we chuckled like crazy at the description - and then we both promptly bought it for our kindles. I held off reading it because I knew it would count for my 2016 reading challenge, as "A book that brings you joy" - anything with a description like this book is sure to amuse me! A warning: be prepared to one-click the next book in the series when you finish this one!

The next book I picked up was "Prince's Gambit" C.S. Pacat. Oh my gosh, guys. I knew this series got some buzz a while ago, but I honestly figured it was just because it was a m/m romance that got more mainstream than others. Since I had a little downtime a couple weeks ago, I picked up the first book - and I was hooked from the first page. Turns out, the buzz was because the books are AMAZING, not just because of the subject matter. That certainly teaches me to pay more attention to my GR friends! I finally got the second book in, and couldn't put it down. I actually had to pre-order the third book. I'm almost glad it took me until now to read these, because that means I have less of an agonizing wait for the third book! Even now, I'm not sure I can make it until the February release date. I wish I had something to compare this to, but nothing comes to mind. It's just that good. Definitely check it out! Though now that I think about it, it kind of reminds me of "Talon of the Silver Hawk" by Raymond Feist - a lot of political maneuvering with hidden identities, and an entire world at stake. Ugh, so good!

Look for this again next week!

Happy Reading
~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Thursday, January 7, 2016

REVIEW: "The Inheritance" by Morgan K. Wyatt

Release Date: May 30th, 2015

Type: Stand alone, Contemporary Romance, Veteran, Sweet-as-heck

About the Book: Melody’s work as a hospice nurse both gives her life purpose and rips her heart out when her patients die. Her latest client left her his lakeside home. After years of living in foster homes, Melody seizes the opportunity for a real home. 

Her happy residence comes to an abrupt halt when her benefactor’s missing nephew, Levi, shows up. A bomb shattered his leg and life, which left him in need of a safe place to figure out the rest of his life. The will leaves the house to both of them, but only if they cohabit for a year. Otherwise, the house goes to a third party. 

Melody detests Levi for never writing or visiting his dying uncle. Levi considers Melody little more than a gold digger similar to his ex-wife. There’s no way he’ll let her have his inheritance. [Description from Goodreads.com]

My Review: I'm going to start this review off with what didn't work for me, that way we can end on the high notes that are what I really enjoyed. The thing that made me second guess myself the entire time I was reading this book was the pacing. It was tough for me to figure out exactly how much time had passed every time we moved to a new scene. Beside that, some of the conclusions that Melody and Levi jump to seemed a little far-fetched. But despite these fall backs, I kept reading because this is a legitimately good story, and I wanted to know what would happen to Levi and Melody.

This is my first book by author Morgan K. Wyatt, but it will not be my last. I like the writing style, and how real her characters feel. Despite the fanciful way Melody and Levi are thrown together (is what his uncle did even legal?) - I loved to see how they would handle such a difficult situation. They felt genuine, and it was fascinating to see how they struggled separately, as well as how they struggled to come together.

At just over 200 pages, this is one of those short-and-sweet books. It was a perfect read for an evening curled up on the couch. And certainly lifted my spirits despite the gloomy weather!

Cover Lovin': Simple, yet elegant.

Recommendation: Definitely a good one-sitting read.

Final Rating: THREE POINT FIVE out of FIVE stars (3.5/5)!! A great read for a gloomy day. The characters felt like good friends and I loved watching their story unfold.

Make sure to get your copy of "The Inheritance" by Morgan K. Wyatt today!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review. Thanks Morgan!

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Release Week Blitz: BUILT by Jay Crownover! EXCERPT

BUILT - RWB banner

 

We are so excited to bring you the Release Week Blitz for BUILT by Jay Crownover. BUILT is a Contemporary Romance novel being published by HarperCollins, and it is the 1st full-length novel in The Saints of Denver Series, a spinoff of her New York Times bestselling Marked Men Series. This amazing book is out now so grab your copy today! And be sure to check out the awesome sweepstakes! Info and links below!

 EXCERPT:
“How come you don’t drive your cool truck during the week?”
Both his eyebrows shot up and I had to wait while he finished chewing to answer me. “My cool truck? The International? I know about a hundred sixteen-year-old boys that would disagree with you about the Jeep not being cool. Especially here in Colorado.”
I shrugged a little and gave up trying to be delicate with the messy sausage. I was sure I had yellow all over my face, but I didn’t care. The thing was delicious. Seattle Sayer had no idea what gloriousness she had been missing.
“I like the old truck. It’s pretty and it’s so neat to see something like that restored and well loved.”
“I do love it. That’s why I don’t drive it to jobsites. Too many nails and other stuff getting carelessly tossed around. I try and baby her.”
I made a face. “The truck is a her?”
He laughed again and cleanly polished off the rest of his brat. I was amazed he did it all without getting anything in his face fuzz. That was real talent right there, I thought begrudgingly as I continued to make a mess all over myself.
“Sure. She’s classy, elegant, made of study stuff, expensive as hell to keep running and keep pretty. She’s only good to me if I’m good to her, so obviously she’s a girl.
I rolled my eyes and then wiped my hands on the outside of my pants when I finished off my own dinner. Briefly I thought my dad would be horrified at the action but I shoved that thought down and instead focused on Zeb and only Zeb. “How long did it take you to restore her?”
He shrugged, got to his feet, and moved to pry open the massive bucket of white primer he had been using as a chair. My buddy Wheeler sold the body to me for next to nothing when I got out of prison. We went to high school together and I think he knew I needed something to keep me busy because the only kind of work I could find right after being released was shit work for shit pay. Every week I would give him a few bucks here or there and he would find me a part or a piece of motor and we slowly but surely got her altogether. It was one of the reasons I knew I had to find a long-term way to support myself. Just because I had a record didn’t mean I wasn’t a valuable employee or a hard worker. I got really sick of being treated like a second-class citizen because of one mistake.”
His eyes cut to mine and all I could do was nod in sympathy as he poured the liquid into trays and fished a couple of roller brushes out of a plastic bag.
“I actually met Rowdy through Wheeler. He had done a bunch of Wheeler’s tattoo work, and when I told Wheeler I wanted something to remind me not to do stupid things that would cost me years of my life again, he recommended Rowdy and the Marked shop. Rowdy was the one that recommended me to the guys that own the tattoo shop when they decided to open and renovate the new location downtown. It all seemed very meant to be, ya know?”
I did know. Everything was tied together with thin threads of fate, and when one loosened or tightened it was surprising how impactful it could be. Kind of like how I had ended up where with Zeb now.

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  About BUILT: From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men books comes an electrifying new spin-off series,Saints of Denver, featuring all the characters fans have been dying to read about. Sayer Cole and Zeb Fuller couldn’t be more different. She’s country club and fine-dining, he’s cell-block and sawdust. Sayer spends her days in litigation, while Zeb spends his working with his hands. She’s French silk, he’s all denim and flannel. Zeb’s wanted the stunning blonde since the moment he laid eyes on her. It doesn't matter how many smooth moves he makes, the reserved lawyer seems determinedly oblivious to his interest—either that or she doesn't return it. Sayer is certain the rough, hard, hot-as-hell Zeb could never want someone as closed off and restrained as she is, which is a shame because something tells her he might be the guy to finally melt her icy exterior. But just as things start to heat up, Zeb is blindsided by a life altering moment from his past. He needs Sayer’s professional help to right a wrong and to save more than himself. He can’t risk what’s at stake just because his attraction to Sayer feels all consuming. But as these opposites dig in for the fight of their lives, battling together to save a family, the steam created when fire and ice collide can no longer be ignored.   BUILT - RWB - Teaser 2    

Enter to Win a Trip to the MILE HIGH AUTHOR EVENT from Jay Crownover!

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Fill out the form at https://a.pgtb.me/sVzsRB!

*Alternate entry methods available. See Official Rules.
BUILT - RWB - Teaser 1    

And don’t miss the previous novella in The Saints of Denver Series!

LEVELED - cover

LEVELED

    Jay Crownover - author picAbout Jay Crownover: Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men and The Point series. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she'll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.        

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Monday, January 4, 2016

REVIEW: "Against The Wall" by Jill Sorenson

Release Date: February 2nd, 2016

Type: New Adult Romance, Contemporary, Stand alone (kinda?), Tattooed Bad Boy, Art, He's a good bad guy - or maybe a bad good guy?

About the Book: Eric Hernandez is the bad boy of every schoolgirl’s fantasies—and every mother’s nightmares. But after serving time for manslaughter, he’s ready to turn his life around. He just needs a chance to prove himself as a professional tattoo artist. The one thing that keeps him going is the memory of the innocent beauty he loved and left behind.

Meghan Young’s world isn’t as perfect as it looks. The preacher’s daughter is living a lie, especially now that Eric is back. Tougher, harder, and sexier than ever, he might be the only person she can trust. But there’s no telling what he’ll do to protect her if he learns the truth, and that’s a risk Meghan won’t let him take. And yet, back in the arms of the troubled boy with the artist’s soul, Meghan can’t help surrendering to the man he’s become.
[Description from Goodreads.com]

My Review: So wow. I just finished this one, and I have to say, I was blown away. This is my first book by author Jill Sorenson, but the name is definitely one I've seen around. And after reading "Against The Wall" - I'm ashamed it's taken me this long! There was so much right about this book. Eric's love of art felt real - not just something given to soften him up, or make him sympathetic. He had passion for art, and you could feel how humbled and grateful he was when anyone said he was good at it. 

This book was just so.. gritty and real. I love New Adult Romance, and contemporary romance in general - but so much feels like it happens in a dreamy, perfect world. "Against the Wall" is definitely rooted in reality, and you can see the consequences for every action they take - or in Eric's case, what he did in the past. If you want a darker contemporary romance read, "Against The Wall" should definitely be on your wishlist. 

What kept this book from being a full five stars was the ending. One of the big story arcs of the book was just left so open ended. It was given a one sentence brush off in the last chapter, and that's it. Definitely not enough! Not when it was so emotionally powerful. Since this novel slightly follows a previous book, titled "The Edge of Night," I'm hoping that maybe Kelsea might get her own story in the future - and the stalker on campus will be mentioned there. 

Before I finish out the review, I want to include my absolute favorite quote from the book. And a super high five to the author for writing this!
    ' "Let me give you a professional tip," Noah says. "When you don't amp up security in front of a building that has already been vandalized, in which female students are frequently targeted with rape threats, you're sending the mesage that their safety is not a priority." '

Cover Lovin': I don't think this cover does the book justice. There's nothing to make it pop, or to showcase the characters.

Recommendation: You need to love your men on the bad side, because Eric is far from a goody-two-shoes!

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE stars (4/5). Again, the stalker plot point that was thrown aside at the end kept this from being a full five stars. But trust me, even with that - this book is 100% amazing read. A great example of romance that is real and powerful. 

Make sure to pre-order your copy of "Against the Wall" today! You don't want to miss this one, trust me.

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Disclaimer: I received a free, advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks, Netgalley!