Feature and Follow Friday!

Check out Parajunkee & Alison Can Read for more information on this Friday blog hop and to sign up and join the fun.

This week an activity:

What book are you embarrassed to admit you LOVED? (try to think beyond Twilight)

Honestly, I don't have a book I'm embarrassed about...even Twilight ;) I pretty much proudly display every book I read and love. So I guess I'm taking a bye week. However, I look forward to seeing your choices!

So, instead here is some Halloween fun I found at http://heathersanimations.com/halloween.html

As always, Happy Friday and Stay Gold!

Happy Halloween from Meredith & Jennifer!

Have a Safe, Spooky, and Happy Halloween!

So tell us, what are you gonna be for Halloween?

When Stars Die by Amber Skye Forbes Book Blitz & Giveaway

When Stars Die
by Amber Forbes
Release Date: 10/22/13

Summary from Goodreads:
Amelia Gareth's brother is a witch and the only way to save her family from the taint in his blood is to become a professed nun at Cathedral Reims. However, in order to become professed, she must endure trials that all nuns must face.

Surviving these trials is not easy, especially for Amelia, who is being stalked by shadowy beings only she can see. They're searching for people they can physically touch, because only those they can touch can see them. Amelia soon learns why she is being stalked when she accidentally harms her best friend with fire during the third trial. Fire is a witch's signature. The shadows are after witches.

Now Amelia must decide what to do: should she continue on her path to profession knowing there is no redemption, or should she give up on her dream and turn away from Cathedral Reims in order to stop the shadows who plan to destroy everything she loves?

Available from:

 

About the Author

Amber Skye Forbes is a dancing writer who prefers pointe shoes over street shoes, leotards over skirts, and ballet buns over hairstyles. She loves striped tights and bows and will edit your face with a Sharpie if she doesn't like your attitude. She lives in Augusta, Georgia where she writes dark fiction that will one day put her in a psychiatric ward...again. But she doesn't care because her cat is a super hero who will break her out.

Author Links:
   

***GIVEAWAY***

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Book Blitz Organized by:

Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout-Meet our SETH!

Book summary for Pure

There is need. And then there is Fate. 

Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's "other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her. When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon--and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude--or killing her. When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone

Goodreads/Amazon/B&N

Interview:

For JLA – Pure has been called Seth’s book.  Did fans reaction to Seth surprise you?  I wasn’t really surprised by the reaction to Pure because I knew that the book focused more on Seth than Aiden.

For Alex -  Knowing what you know about Leon, do you think there was more to him being the one to find you in labyrinth?  Oh, I’m sure there was more to it.

For Aiden -  By far, the zoo was the best scene in Pure.  What did you enjoy most about being at the zoo with Alex?  I loved knowing that I was doing something for her that made her happy. 

For Seth – That whole sleeping issue that you and Alex have in Pure, did you realize what was up or were you just going with it?  I would’ve just gone with it.  But, truth?  I knew what was up.




In Pure, we really get to know Alex's "other half" Seth. We get to see his good side, his sexy as hell bad boy side, and his secretive side. There are just too many sides to count for this love-him, hate-him, want to fix him character. So Jennifer and I decided we would have a little fun casting the lust-worthy, and slightly misunderstood Seth. Love, hate, whatever you feel about him, Seth knows how to stir emotions in people. He's lean, muscular, and sexy as hell. The lovely Regina from Mel, Erin, and Regina Read-A-Lot is a huge Seth fan, so I asked for her help in finding the right person for this challenging role. I absolutely loved her pick. So here is our choice for the delicious Seth:

And another shot:

So what do you think? Does this hot, hunk of a bad boy make you think of Seth? Let us know and share your casting choices in the comments below!

For the record, as much as Jennifer and I love watching Seth act out and toss around his Apollyon weight, we are totally #TeamAiden all the way!

If you haven't read this AMAZING and SWOON-WORTHY action-packed series, get started today! Sentinel comes out in a few days and we are drooling in anticipation to find out what happens next!

# 1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer L. Armentrout Lives in West Virginia.

All the rumors you heard about her state aren’t true.

Well, mostly. When she's not hard at work writing, she spends her time, reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write.

She is the author of the Covenant Series (Spencer Hill Press), the Lux Series (Entangled Teen), Don't Look Back (Disney/Hyperion) and a yet untitled novel (Disney/Hyperion), and new YA paranormal series with Harlequin Teen.

Jennifer also writes New Adult and Adult romance under the pen name J. Lynn. The Gamble Brothers Series (Tempting the Best Man/Tempting the Player) and Wait for You. Under her pen name, she is published with Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

***Giveaway***

Spencer Hill Press is giving away a $200 gift card to Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Book Depository or any indie bookstore of the winner's choice to not only stock up on amazing books, but to perhaps buy a Nook HD or Kindle Fire. 

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The Only One by Magan Vernon Blog Tour and Giveaway

Author: Magan Vernon
Publication Date: October 10th

Goodreads

It's full on panty throwing, puddle of goo, fetal position rocking action kinda love for that boy!- Ava at Book Nerds Anonymous

Honor student, manager at the campus coffee shop, owner of an impressive sweater collection – Melanie Wilder has it all together. Then John “John Boy” Walden strolls into her life wearing nothing more than an impish grin and all-too-revealing loin cloth.

Soon, make-out sessions replace homework, lust triumphs over work. And to further crumble her perfect world, an unexpected phone call threatens to take away everything she’s worked for.

Now, as Melanie struggles to pick up the pieces, she realizes that John may be the only one to put her life back together…unless he shatters it first.



**This is not a sequel to The Only Exception. It's a companion novel with two characters from the first book. You don't need to read The Only Exception to understand this book.**

I am so excited to host Magan on the blog today as we discuss Book Boyfriends! (Ahem...Ace can still beam into my room anytime!) So I asked Magan to share with us her top ten book boyfriends. Get the tissues out ladies to wipe the drool after this discussion ;) Of course the biggest question is....will we see soe guyliner?

Top Ten Contemporary Book Boyfriends

10.) Travis Maddox from Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

*Sigh* He wasn’t always a book boyfriend. I didn’t like him at first. Then I realized I was comparing every New Adult bad boy to him and they just couldn’t compare to the original, Mr. Maddox.

9.) Jordan from The Truth about Letting Go by Leigh Moore

Geek boys can be sexy. Religious. Wears glasses? Longer hair? Call me crazy, I found it adorkable.

8.) Audric from The Best Friends Forever Series by Dawn Pendleton

He has kind of the alternative vibe to him. Taller. Lanky. Does what he can for his friends. And if you’ve seen the model that Dawn is using for him you would SWOON hardcore.

7.) Charlie from The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I have a thing for the intellectual geeks. Even before Logan Lerman was cast, I had a think for the Wallflower.

6.) Liam from Crossing by Stacey Wallace Benefiel

Not your typical male lead. He has some secrets and some guyliner, but I’m a sucker for that.

5.) Adam from If I Stay/ Where she went

Yes, I compare every single musician lead male to him. Adam was the original for me. His love for Mia also makes me swoon like a teen girl.

4.) Parker Whalen from Cross my Heart

The bad boy with a secret that you’ll never see coming. I also got to read an early copy of Collateral Damage and I fell even harder for him. I should go re-read that book.

3.) Garrick from Losing It

British. Rides a motorcycle. Likes awkward girls. Makes cats purr. Hummanah Hummanah Hummanah

2.) Hunter Zaccadelli from My Favorite Mistake by Chelsea Cameron

He cooks. He cleans. He dances. He plays guitar. He has tattoos. And he likes to go downtown.  (if you know what I mean). SWOON CITY.

1.)    Marcus Flutie from The Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty

My number one book boyfriend always and forever. The first time he asked Jessica to pee in a cup for him and she got a view of the dreadlocked wonder boy, I was sold. SOLD. Every since I first read this book 12 years ago I’ve had a think for dreadlocked boys, but not of them hold a candle to Marcus Flutie.

Jennifer's Review:

The Only One is a contemporary romance, but it deals with other issues pertinent to real life. While Magan's witty humor and sexual innuendos exist in this book (and will have you laughing out loud) there is a very serious story being told here and its almost a teaching book to young adults. Clearly I can't reveal what serious life changer is because you need to feel the shock for yourself when you read it and then work through it alongside Melanie.

Melanie: Her Harry Potter obsession was cute and made her likable to me. She was a normal 19 year old college student. She is a little bit of a "nerd" and has a hard time letting loose (john boy helps her with this issue). She "talks" to herself through out the book which was pretty hilarious (but all of Magnan's books are pretty hilarious). The story is told from her point of view and when she encounters a life altering issue (that could happen to anyone) it really throws a curve ball at her and the reader.

Melanie's love interest -- John Boy -- He was a fraternity jock but with definitely more than meets the eye. He helped Melanie to be her own person, was there for her the whole time and was down right honest with her. I would remiss if I didn't mention just how hot he was too -- loincloth as a Halloween costume and looking good in it :-). They made a cute couple that had your rooting for them from the start -- think "Opposites Attract". The epilogue from John's perspective was great -- I make no secret that I LOVE changes in point of views -- so I really loved this!

The secondary characters added some depth. We saw a little bit of Monica -- which being the companion book to The Only Exception was expected. I liked her character: loud, outspoken, and a great best friend to Melanie.
So the next major secondary character was Melanie's sister: Val. I liked her no nonsense attitude and her humor. I could see taking her character to the next level in a 3rd companion book :-)

Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world. She is in a very serious, fake relationship with Adam Lambert and constantly asks her husband to wear guyliner. He still refuses. She also believes her husband is secretly an alien, disguised as a southern gentleman.

Author Links:

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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Nothing to Tell by Ashelyn Drake Cover and Trailer Reveal!

Nothing to Tell (Campus Crush #.5)

by Ashelyn Drake

Release date: October 29, 2013

S.B. Addison Books

Some guys have the art of hooking up down to a science.

They know all the right words to say and all the right games to play.

Except...for guys like Mike Hannigan.

The dude has got no game, his pick-up lines never work, and to make matters worse, his wing-man is his female best friend, Mindy.

Until one day, a mysterious raven-haired beauty catches Mike's eye and he's determined to have her. He doesn't care what lengths he has to go to. He'll do whatever it takes to perfect his game and figure out what to say without sounding like a sleaze.

But...

There's always something strange about mysterious girls.

They're usually mysterious for a reason and this girl in particular might be more than Mike bargained for.

This is a FREE short story prequel to the Campus Crush Series. Add it on Goodreads.

Check out the other books in the Campus Crush Series:

And to tempt you more, here's the Campus Crush trailer:

Find Ashelyn Drake online:

   

Feature & Follow Friday

Check out Parajunkee & Alison Can Read for more information on this Friday blog hop and to sign up and join the fun.

This week an activity:

Photograph your fave read in a funny place.

Well, I can't say it's my fave read...but I just got it in the mail :)

Yup, I went a bit overboard. But it's the FIRST day in probably NINE MONTHS that it isn't 90 degrees!

Happy Friday and Stay Gold!

Seven Day Fiance by Rachel Harris Review

ARE YOU READY FOR CANE????

Seven Day Fiancé (Love and Games #2)

by Rachel Harris 

Release Date: 10/14/13

Entangled Bliss

Summary from Goodreads:

Angelle Prejean is in a pickle. Her family is expecting her to come home with a fiancé—a fiancé who doesn’t exist. Well, he exists, but he definitely has no idea Angelle told her mama they were engaged. Tattooed, muscled, and hotter than sin, Cane can reduce Angelle to a hot mess with one look—and leave her heart a mess if she falls for him. But when she ends up winning Cane at a charity bachelor auction, she knows just how to solve her fiancé problem.

Cane Robicheaux is no one’s prince. He doesn’t do relationships and he doesn’t fall in love. When sweet, sultry-voiced Angelle propositions him, he hopes their little game can finally get her out of his head. He doesn’t expect her to break through all his barriers. But even as Angelle burrows deeper into his heart, he knows once their seven days are up, so is their ruse.

Jennifer's Review:

I loved the first book in this series, Taste the Heat, but I loved this one even more. I loved Cane's character in that book so I was very excited to see that she gave him his very own book... he totally deserved one :-) Yes it's the second book, but it can absolutely be read as a stand alone if you wanted too -- I would recommend reading "Taste the Heat" at some point though. You will see previous characters, but will be introduced to a whole slew of new ones.

Cane Robichaux isn’t the settling down kind of guy. If you read book 1 you know he’s Colby’s brother and he runs the family restaurant… he’s a closet nerd, but a smoking hot one with his tattoos and a motorcycle. This book is told in both Angelle and Cane's POV -- a quality that I love -- and I did love getting some perspective into Cane's thoughts in this book. WOW!

Angelle is the new girl. Working for the fire department with Jason -- Colby's fiancé/Cane's best friend, she has moved to Magnolia Springs to escape the expectations of her hometown/family and a fiancé that just wasn't "her one and only".She did get a bit of a "bad rep" in "Taste the Heat" and I found myself hesitating in liking her at the beginning of this book but as her story unfolds and you see that she is a great girl and has built a solid friendship with Sherry and Colby (main characters from "Taste the Heat" and Cane's sisters). The Robicheaux sisters have become like family to Angelle and with their stamp of approval I pressed forward and really liked Angelle's character. :-) Angelle is shy, quiet, independent and sweet with just a touch of fire within her. She does a great job as MC in this book and is a character you want to have as a best friend in real life.

Throw these two together and you have some serious chemistry! And Rachel does that chemistry very well. The story kicks off with Cane participating in a charity auction and Angelle ends up bidding on him! Much to her own surprise and his :-)

So Angelle has a reason for bidding on Cane -- she has sort of already told her family she is engaged to Cane (to get them off her back about leaving her town and breaking up with her fiancé), so she asks him to go home with her and pose as her fiancé for thanksgiving week. Cane jumps at the chance --taking Angelle by surprise as thought she would have to convince him and taking himself by surprise as well.  

The story twists and turns from here on out. The backdrop of Angelle's loving but overprotecting and somewhat smothering family and the beautiful flavor of a small town of Louisiana -- with its traditions and family values is great -- Rachel does a create job with it and it really adds to the overall book.

Rachel's books are great - I have to say I loved Tale of Two Centuries and My super sweet 16th century. This plot was cute & fun, the characters were amazing (Loved CANE), and her writing brings its all home. Its a fast and light read. I can't say I am a Cajun food lover but the way she writes makes you feel like you are right there in the Cajun Bayou with the characters and has you wishing you had some Creole food and a beer to dive into. It takes a good writer to make the reader feel like you are right in step with the characters.

About the Author

I grew up in New Orleans, where I watched soap operas with my grandmother and stayed up late sneak reading my mama’s favorite romance novels. Now a Cajun cowgirl living in Houston, I still stay up way too late reading my favorite romances, only now, I can do so openly. I firmly believe life’s problems can be solved with a hot, powdered-sugar-coated beignet or a thick slice of king cake, and that screaming at strangers for cheap, plastic beads is acceptable behavior in certain situations. 

When not typing furiously or flipping pages in an enthralling romance, I homeschool my two beautiful girls and watch reality television with my amazing husband.

I write YA, NA, and Adult Fun & Flirty Escapes. Taste The Heat is my adult romance debut, and I'm also the author of MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY and A TALE OF TWO CENTURIES, as well as a ton of other books to come. I love hearing from readers and dishing books!

House of Hades by Rick Riordan

The House of Hades (The Heroes of Olympus #4)

by Rick Riordan

Goodreads Summary

At the conclusion of The Mark of Athena, Annabeth and Percy tumble into a pit leading straight to the Underworld. The other five demigods have to put aside their grief and follow Percy’s instructions to find the mortal side of the Doors of Death. If they can fight their way through the Gaea’s forces, and Percy and Annabeth can survive the House of Hades, then the Seven will be able to seal the Doors both sides and prevent the giants from raising Gaea. But, Leo wonders, if the Doors are sealed, how will Percy and Annabeth be able to escape?

They have no choice. If the demigods don’t succeed, Gaea’s armies will never die. They have no time. In about a month, the Romans will march on Camp Half-Blood. The stakes are higher than ever in this adventure that dives into the depths of Tartarus


Jennifer's Review
So, I finished House of Hades in step with my 3rd grader.

It has been a long time since I read a Rick Riordan book. But over the summer my daughter read all the Percy Jackson series (which I read quite some time ago and enjoyed) and then she moved onto the Lost Hero Series. My daughter was beyond excited for the The House of Hades to come out so here we are go:

To me, this book was about development of the characters. Rick changes the POV which I LOVE as I think allowing the reader able to see things through all the different characters viewpoints gives them perspective and understanding.

There are two stories going on in the book -- one of them being the team of demigods that are coming to save Annabeth and Percy and then following Annabeth and Percy through the depths of Tartarus.

Leo: I really liked this character and love where Rick took him in this book. He gets a love interest -- can we just say Yeah Yeah Yeah! Go Leo! I can't wait to see where Rick goes with him and the love interest in the next book. I also love his love interest :-)

Frank grew as a character in more ways than one in this book. He changed physically and has more defined and new role within the group and within the Roman Camp.  He does some serious butt kicking in this book!

Hazel.... We learn a lot of things about Hazel and I enjoyed getting to know her better -- that was long overdue. We also learn about her abilities which are to put it mildly -- are really, really cool! We also learn that she is very brave.

Nico: I have always liked his character too. I have to say I was surprised Rick Riordan put a homosexual twist in a kids series, but while it created some problems for me its probably a good thing that kids understand and perhaps some identify with (I found myself having explain to my 8 year old about a boy liking a boy -- guess that's what I get for having a kid that's reading above her grade level --which is also why I read the books too) Character-wise this helps us understand Nico more too, such as why he does the things he does. Also, we see a friendship bond develop between Jason and Nico which is good because Nico needs a friend and it was getting old to me that he was always so distant and withdrawn. I hope we see Nico open up and start trusting more of his peers in the following book.

Jason: We finally learn a bit more about his back story. I like that we all thought Jason was a rule-follower but it turns out that he is not all of a rule follower all the time. He wants new traditions and wants to improve the old traditions. He wants to be a Greek over a Roman.  I like that he is different than Percy --- when they first introduced Jason Grace I thought he was just going to be the Roman Percy. He's not - thank goodness! I think this book offered so well needed depth to Jason.

Coach Hedge -  he is funny and we get a welcomed discovery about his love life in the book. I hope we see the softer side of Coach Hedge in the next book.

Percy and Annabeth go through Tartarus. Can't say much here without giving anyway any spoilers. But Percy and Annabeth come out changed. They make some unlikely friends - the most memorable being Bob, the memory-less Titan who has turned into a sweetheart, and Small Bob, the kitten/skeleton/saber-tooth tiger who is a loyal friend of Bob’s. Tartarus was sad and terrifying and Rick does a great job with explaining in such a matter than the reader feels the fear that Percy and Annabeth have. I have to say that I loved BOB! I hope we see this sweet Titan come back in the next book!

Why You Should be Watching REIGN on The CW!

REIGN

I have to admit, I was a skeptic when it came to the TV show REIGN. It sounded good, but I didn't exactly have high expectations. I missed the first episode, but managed to record it when it played again. Then I finally watched it last night....and well....

This show is good. Like, creepy good! I can't believe how much I enjoyed it. From the eerie ghost story vibe to the freaktastic chick with the burlap sack...I really can't wait to see where this show goes.

The show starts out with a bang, or rather some blood when a poor nun does a deadly taste testing for Mary, Queen of Scots. Looks like the secret hiding place isn't so secret anymore. So Mary is sent to the French Court for her safety, and because her future husband is there. She's, ya know, becoming "of age" so might as well get reacquainted with her betrothed. 

Thankfully Mary is greeted by her fabulous childhood friends:

And then they all wait as Prince Francis appears:

But oops, that's not him. That's his half-brother. But YUM!

So won't the real Prince Francis please stand up?

Yes there you are. Both great guys in their own right. Hmmm, is that a love triangle I smell coming?

Now there is also the issue of the mother-in-law, Queen Catherine. And I thought I had mother-in-law issues...This lady is crazy evil (in a good way of course).

But can she stop her son from falling for Mary's charms:

Only time will tell on that one.

Now, I get it. For the history buffs out there this show is a nightmare. It's not historically accurate it any way, shape, or form. Did you get that? IT IS NOT HISTORICALLY ACCURATE. What it is is a guilty pleasure that is full of pretty people, creepy intrigue, gorgeous fashion, and a fabulous music score. This show is just plain FUN. If you can let go of the whole, "But Mary, Queen of Scots, did not do that, or that, and Prince Francis didn't have a half-brother, and.." blah...blah...blah..hello this is The CW people. It's all about the fun. Watch it and have fun with it for what it is. I know I will!

So you know what I'll be doing every Thursday between the hours of 8PM EST and 10PM: