ARC Review: Less Than Nothing

Less Than Nothing by R.E Blake

Publisher: Reprobatio, 2014

254 pages, kindle edition

Source: Netgalley

Synopsis (from Kindle):

Sage's life as a teenage runaway in San Francisco is simple: Snatch a few hours of sleep on park benches and bus stops; dodge perverts, predators, and cops; and make enough as a street musician to eat. But her world flips upside down when she meets Derek -- hot, tattooed, and charming, a singer from Seattle whose looks and talent take her breath away.

What begins as a reluctant partnership quickly develops into a cross-country race against time - and awakens a hunger in Sage that's unfamiliar and exciting.

As they travel from coast to coast, Sage and Derek pursue their dream, only to discover that they can never run far enough to escape the past demons from their pasts.

Less Than Nothing is the breakout debut NA novel from USA Today bestseller R.E Blake that critics are buzzing about and readers can't put it down.

My Review:

Sage is 17 years of age and lives on the streets. Her only source of income is a street musician, but when a stranger by the name of Derek comes and takes her usual busking spot, she totally flips out. But then she realises that this guy is an absolute stunner....but who can so no to such a pretty face? Sage and Derek embark on a musical mission, cross country adventure where they realise that they might just be more then good friends.

The main reason I love this book was because of the issues that it dealth with. How many NA books deal with the idea of people being homeless? Well let me tell you not many, thats for damn sure!!! Less Than Nothing isn't your usual NA book, it is a refreshing addition to a genre where many books are so, so similar to one another.

Second reason I fell inlove with this book was its characters. None of them were cliched and they all had a sense of mystery to them, which was exciting to see unravel.

The only "bad" thing about this book was the ending, I was left somewhat hanging. But then again, aren't good books supposed to make you want more? If so then I can't wait for the follow up! yusss!!!!!!!!!

My Rating:

ARC Review: The Hidden Blade

Review: The Hidden Blade by Sherry Thomas

Publisher: NLA Digital LLC, 2014

260 pages, first edition

Source: Netgalley

Synopsis (from Netgalley):
In the waning days of the last dynasty, in a quiet, beautiful corner of imperial. Perking, a young girl's bissful ignorance is shattered when she learns that she is the illegitimate daughter of an English adventurer and a Chinese courtesan. What future is there for such a girl? But a mysterious figure steps forward and offers to instruct her in the highest forms of martial arts -- a path to a life of strength and independence.

Half a world away in England, a young boy's idyllic summer on the Sussex downs implodes with the firing of a single bullet. Torn from his family, he becomes the hostage of a urbanely sadistic uncle. He dreams of escaping to find his beloved friend -- but the friends is in China, ten thousand miles away.

The girl trains to be deadly. The boy flees across continents. They do not know it yet, but their lives are already inextricably bound together, and will collide one fateful night when they least expect it.

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon meets Downton Abbey, this remarkable tale of friendship, danger, and coming of age will stay with you longer after you have finished the last page.

A prequel to My Beautiful Enemy, The Hidden Blade is part of The Heart of Blade Duology.

My Review:
 I was absolutely gobsmacked to discover that this is actually almost novel length at 272 pages, much longer than most novellas. This book doesn't really tell the story of the main character's parents, but really its the backstory of the main characters themselves. In fact, this prequel reads more like Part 1 of a fantastic romance novels must be 372 pages! So instead of reading a tiny little novella length romance of some other connected main characters, I got a very long lead-in to Sherry Thomas's novel that I will receive tomorrow -- thank goodness.

The characters Ying-ying and Leighton experience great heartache and adversity -- Leighton in England, Ying-ying secretly trains as a martial artist, while Leighton crosses wits with a cruel uncle set on controlling him.

I love to be able to grow attached to characters over a series-length of novels. We get that often for urban fantasies or the rare sort of series such as The Outlander, but the publishing community has decided we don't need that type of thing anymore. So Im really happy to experience this rare gift Sherry Thomas has given us. Im seriously anxiously awaiting My Beautiful Enemy.

My Rating:

Waiting on Wednesday #4

This is a weekly even hosted by Breaking the Spine where bloggers spotlight upcoming releases that you are eagerly anticipating.

Book that I am most eagerly waiting for this week is:

Priya in Heels
by Ayesha Patel

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Love doesn't conquer all...does it?

Pritanka Patel is the epitome of obedient daughter. She's finishing up her medical residency at one of Huston's busiest emergency departments, and has agreed -- albeit reluctantly -- to marry the man her family has chosen for her. The only thing that can derail the "perfect" life laid out before her is the sexy musician down the hall who wants into her life...and into her bed.

Tyler O'connor has been infatuated with Priya since she treated his sprained ankle in the ER, and after saving her from a brutal attack, he can't get her out of his head. When Priya puts her family's wishes before their relationship, agreeing to an arranged marriage with another man, Tyler is devastated.

But love is fierce and unreasonable and clashes with the carefully sculpted life her parents want for her. Is going after her heart such a big deal, or will it truly unravel Priya's world?

Release date: September 15th 2014

Series: None

Publisher: Entangled Embrace

Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Link: Goodreads

I have never read a book by this author so she is new to me and I'm excited to get my hands on a copy it seems like a really good read, like the saying goes never judge a book by its cover. I hope she becomes a favorite author of mine. But the jury is still out on that verdict.

I don't have a long wait ahead of me....

ARC Review: Nobody's Cowboy

Nobody's Cowboy by Debra Salonen

Publisher: Tule Publishing Group, 2014
142 pages, kindle edition
Source: Netgalley

Synopsis (from Kindle):
Austen Zabrinski looks the part -- He's got the ranch, the boots, the hat and even a few head of cattle, but everybody in Marietta, Montana, knows the former golden boy of Marietta High is a wealthy politician, not a cowboy. And even though that nasty scandal in Helena might have knocked him down a notch or two in the polls, what kind of fool would trade access to the falls of power in Helena and a Harvard law degree for a ranch in Western Montana? Possibly one whose new neighbor, Serena James -- the woman they guys at Grey Saloon call "...the Red Hot Llama Mama" -- makes him start to think about what he wants out of life, instead of whats expected of him.

Serena James knows trouble when it hops her fence -- Moving to Montana and deleting her blog seemed like the perfect solution to her online stalker problem. Serena's ready for a fresh start, but when her escrow on her ranch falls through, she has to scramble to find a immediate but temporary safe haven to rent for her herd of 50 alpacas, two llamas and one giant dog. Serena's barely moved in when Austen Zabrinski -- the man her landlord called "my absentee ranch owner brother who lives and works in Helena" -- Hops the fence in need of a lift. Even at first glance, Serena can tell he's nobody's cowboy, but who's to say that isn't a good thing? A little tryst with her gorgeous, sexy, here-today-gone-to-Helena-tomorrow neighbor might be the perfect welcome to Montana.

My Review:
Sometimes life gets hard, but going home is what you need to find perspective in life itself.

Austen Zabrinski feels defeated and powerless after his name is tarnished by a scandal. He's home at his ranch, but doesn't have a clue about ranching -- Petty you don't get a ranch manual -- he is just a wealthy so called politician. He has always had someone else to running his ranch.

Nicknamed by the town folk (locals) as "The Red Hot Llama Mama". Miss Serena James has recently rented the ranch she is on to raise her alpacas. She has moved from Cali to Montana to do a start over and hide from a stalker who found her through her blog.

Austen is more then willing to give a helping hand to his pretty neighbor with her chores when her helper doesn't show up for work. Working close together creates an instant attraction between the pair. They give in eventually to their temptation pretty quickly, after just meeting. But will they be able to keep their new found relationship a secret as to not attract any unwanted attention to Serena as she is still trying to keep a very low profile and Austen who is still trying to avoid any more scandals.

My Rating:

Cover Reveal: Molli Moran

Publication date: Decemeber 2014

Genres: New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

She needs a fill-in boyfriend. He needs a favor. It's the perfect, no-stings arrangement -- until they both realise it's too real...

Sophie-Clarie Wright's life is like a bad country song on repeat. She keeps running into her cheating ex, her songwriting career isn't take off, and to make matter worse, her roomate just kicked her out of their apartment. With nothing to lose, she decides to do the one thing she said she'd never do: she moves back home. She left her small southern town with big dreams, but now she's going home with empty pockets.

Life moves at a slower pace in Sophie's blink-and-you'll-miss-it hometown, but her well meaning, matchmaking mother doesn't have a slow gear. She invents a boyfriend to hold off her mother's efforts, but she's out of luck when her mom wants to meet Sophie's boyfriend. Sophie panics until she runs into Jake Cooper. Her high school crush is back in town, too, and when he asks her for a favor. she agrees -- on one condition. he says he'll fill-in boyfriend, so it should be simple: introduce him to her family and then break up with him after a few weeks.

Sophie is sure she'll be able to resist Jake this time and that their fake relationship will keep them both away from wagging tongues. Just because she was in love with him years ago doesn't mean she'll fall for him again now, right? But she didn't bargain for moments that feel all too genuine. Dates that don't seem fake. And she didn't count on old feelings resurfacing and complicating their arrangement -- which is starting to feel less like acting and more like the real deal.

Soon, Sophie can't tell which kisses are real or fake -- but she knows she's in deep. When she gets a chance to go back to Nashville and chase her dreams again, she has a choice to make: stay or go? Continue hoping that the life she wants is one song away, or write her own?

ADD TOO GOODREADS

AUTHOR BIO

Molli is a Southern writer who doesn't consider her day complete if she hasn't written. She loves coffe and talking fast, things she attributes to being raised by Gilmore Girls. She's a romantic at heart, and brings that to her books. When she's not reading or blogging, she can be found obsessing over Doctor Who, cuddling her various pets, or spending time with friends, family, or her girlfriend.

Author Links: Website | Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Top Ten Tuesdays #3

Top 10 books I read because I Judge the cover

Top Ten Tuesdays is an original weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish.

No specific order. But add to you Goodreads (Click on the titles)

1. Taking Chances by Molly McAdams
2. Seize Me by Crystal Spears
3. In A Heartbeat by Hilary Storm
4. The Mephisto Covenant by Stephanie Faegen
5. Storm by Brigid Kemmerer
6. Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
7. Jessica's Guide To Dating The Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
8. Carrier Of The Mark by Leigh Fallon 
9. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
10. Night School by C.J. Daugherty

Cover Reveal: JB Salsbury

Title: Fighting The Fall

Series: Fighting #4

Cover Design: Pixel Mischief Design

Release Date: November 4, 2014

Genres: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Sports

ADD TO GOODREADS

Synopsis:

The toughest fighters aren't created in the octagon but are born of necessity. When life delivers blow after punishing blow, you fight back or get destroyed.

Eve Dawson has had her fill of bad luck. A string of Unhealthy relationships has left her angry, bitter, and frustrated. She's given up on being happy and settles for content. Swearing off men, she repels advances and makes herself a challenge to even the most persistent suitors. After all, how much can the fragile human heart take? But life isn't finished with her, and when things can't possibly get worse....they do.

Stay on your feet.

It's Cameron Kyle's motto, but with his fighting career ripped from his grasp, a child he wasn't strong enough to save, and a marriage that even the brawn of a heavyweight couldn't hold together, it's getting harder and harder to stay upright. He takes on the position of CEO of the UFL, intent on hiding his biggest weakness in order to forge a path that leads him back into the octagon.

When an old rival mysteriously gets wind of Cameron's plan to fight again, he comes out of retirement to settle old debts, but secrets, lies, and betrayal threaten to deliver the death-blow. The distraction of a sass-mouthed girl seventeen years his junior is the last thing he needs until a tragic accident shatters the firm foundation of his resolve and he realises just how far he's fallen.

Will they risk it all and fight to be together?

Or does defeat lie within the the fall?

EXCERPTS

I feel his eyes on me, and when I turn I almost recoil at the intensity behind his stare. “Can you stop acting like we’re two old friends shooting the shit when you know good and fucking well you’re thinking the same thing I am.” My mouth falls open and I force it shut, only to have it drop open again.
“I’ve hand my hands and my mouth all over every inch of that gorgeous body, Eve. You think I can’t read you? Know what you’re thinking about right now?”
I swallow hard. “What am I thinking about?”
“Same thing I am.”

Available Now:

#1 Fighting for Flight
Amazon US | Amazon UK

#2 Fighting to Forgive
Amazon US | Amazon UK | iTunes | Kobo | B&N

#3 Fighting to Forget
Amazon US | Amazon UK | iTunes | Kobo | B&N

Author Bio

JB Salsbury, New York Times Bestselling author of the Fighting Series, lives in Arizona with her husband and two kids. She spends the majority of her day as a domestic engineer. But while she works through her daily chores, a world of battling alphas, budding romance, and impossible obstacles claws away at her subconscious, begging to be released to the page.
Her love of good storytelling led her to earn a degree in Media Communications. With her journalistic background, writing has always been at the forefront, and her love of romance prompted her to sink her free time into novel writing.
Fighting for Flight, Fighting to Forgive, and Fighting to Forget are the first three novels in the MMA romance series. Fighting the Fall is due to be released November 2014.
For more information on the series or just to say hello, visit JB on her website, Facebook, or Goodreads page.

Author Links: Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Website 

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