Miles from Kara by Melissa West - Review, Excerpt & Gift Card Giveaway

The Charleston Haven Series (stand - alone)

New Adult Contemporary

Release: December 2, 2014

Published by Penguin/InterMix

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Kara Marcus is desperate to forget the past and move on. But she can’t escape her choices—especially when she finds herself falling in love…

Since the first day she stepped into her childhood Southern Baptist church, two truths have been engrained in Kara Marcus’s head: sex before marriage is bad and murder is a sin. And that’s why Kara can never forgive herself for what she did at the age of sixteen.

Now, as second semester of freshman year comes to a close, Kara has stood by her high school boyfriend, Ethan. But as they seem to grow further and further apart every day, Kara realizes that she has feelings for someone else: Ethan’s roommate Colt.

Suddenly, Kara’s clear-cut world shifts out of focus, and she’s torn between what her head tells her is right and what her heart is desperately pushing her to do—even if it means committing another undeniable sin...

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My review:
An up-front warning: this is a book that deals with abortion. Kara does not have an abortion in this story, but Miles from Kara is not only a romance between Kara and Colt but is just as much about Kara dealing with her emotions about her abortion when she was 16 years old.

Kara is majoring in psychology, and she starts volunteering in a counseling center. Kara is immediately confronted with her own past when one of the first people she is assigned to help is a young pregnant girl because Kara had been in this situation herself. Kara's mother had decided that she should get an abortion, and Kara basically went along with it. Some people will judge Kara for this and not like her as a character, but we also have to remember she was 16 when her mother scheduled the abortion for her and she basically felt she had no choice. The relationship that Kara develops with Maggie, the pregnant teen, is oh so unhealthy and unprofessional, but, at the same time, it seems to be what Kara needs to deal with the issues about her abortion, and Maggie certainly needs someone like Kara.

Kara's relationship with Colt just puts the icing on the cake. We already have a great story with Kara and Maggie, but the love interest with the sexy Australian accent makes it even better. Kara knows that things aren't right between her and her long-time boyfriend, Ethan, but she feels like they should stay together because it's what's familiar. However, she finally realizes that she needs to break it off. I didn't like how Kara wouldn't or couldn't break it off with Ethan until it seemed certain that Colt was going to return her feelings of attraction for him. However, the rest of the relationship with Colt made up for it. Colt is like a dream boyfriend. Besides being hot and having a sexy accent, he is very understanding and patient about Kara's issues in the bedroom. It certainly makes him a keeper.

A sweet and sexy love story with a lot of emotional issues all rolled into one makes this is a great read, and I would recommend it.    

An ARC was provided for an honest review.

Excerpt:

Colt started to say something, then shook his beer. “I’m out. Want another?”


Three? I’d nursed the second one, so I wasn’t feeling it just yet, and I’d already said and done morethan I would have if I were fully sober. I should stop. I should let my buzz wear off and go sleep in Ethan’s room. But instead, I kicked off my sandals and pulled my legs crisscross on the sofa. “All right, I’ll have another,” I said, mimicking his accent.

He grinned. “Very funny. You know you have an accent, too.”

“Yeah, but mine’s not nearly as sexy.” As soon as the words slipped from my mouth, my eyes went wide and I covered my mouth, my face burning. “I . . .” There was nothing I could say to take it back.

His grin switched to a smirk and he cocked his hip against the kitchen counter, crossing his arms so his biceps bulged against the tightness of his T-shirt. “You think I sound sexy, huh? What else do you think of me?” He started toward me, a slow strut that made my insides ignite. His dirty blond hair fell over his eyes as he studied me. His jaw was covered in fine stubble and I found myself wishing I could run my fingers across it. I flushed.

“Nothing.”


“All right. How about I tell you what I think of you?” I started to argue, but he continued before Icould get a word out. “I think you’re smart, though you doubt yourself. I think you’re kind, though you’re hard on yourself. I think you’re funny and your laugh draws attention no matter where you are.” He was standing before me now, staring down, his presence a force I couldn’t ignore. “And I think you are the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen in my life. So beautiful, in fact, I have a hard time being around you . . . without staring.”

About the Author

Melissa West writes young adult and new adult novels for Entangled Teen and Embrace and Penguin/InterMix. She lives outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband and two daughters and spends most of her time writing, reading, or fueling her coffee addiction.

She holds a B.A. in Communication Studies and a M.S. in Graphic Communication, both from Clemson University. Yeah, her blood runs orange.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

GIVEAWAY

The author is giving away (1) Copy of PIECES OF OLIVIA and (1) $10 Amazon Gift Card - International

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It Was You by Anna Cruise - Review

It Was You
by Anna Cruise

Abby Sellers knows what she wants.

Enduring eighteen years in the shadow of her identical twin sister, Annika, she wants a fresh start. A chance to create her own life, separate from her conniving, deceptive twin.

Surprising both her family and friends, Abby ditches her plans for college and enrolls at a new school instead. There, she encounters West Montgomery, a sexy fellow student who immediately disarms her with his good looks and charm. West takes a liking to Abby and she suddenly finds herself walking a thin line, fabricating a fictional life created not by lies but by omission. She soon discovers West has secrets of his own, secrets that he's not altogether interested in sharing.

Out from under the shadow of her twin, Abby's life—and her relationship with West—blossoms. When Abby leaves town one weekend, something unthinkable happens and her relationship with West is shattered. Reeling from the discovery, Abby fears all of her plans have backfired and she's created a mess for both of them, a mess that no one can clean up.

But West isn't willing to let her go that easily. When he forces her to confront secrets they've both been hiding, Abby must decide more than if she's willing to forgive and forget. She must also decide just what kind of life she wants...and who she wants to live it with. 

Amazon * Goodreads 

My review:

It Was You is a sweet, yet sexy, new adult romance. I actually admired Abby's sudden decision to change all of her plans so that she could be her own person, get away from her sister, and have the kind of life she wants. Of course, it's hard to get away from a twin sister, or any family for that matter, unless you move far away, and Abby's plan to get away from her sister doesn't really turn out like she wanted. Annika still manages to insert herself into the part of Abby's life that she is trying to keep secret. When reading this book, it may seem a little obvious what is about to happen with Annika, but this book is still an enjoyable read. Anna Cruise provides you with romance, humor, a great best friend, and family issues, plus there is obvious attraction between Abby and West, and the sexy scenes are hot and well done. I would recommend it.

I got this book during a free promotion on Amazon and was not required to write a review.

About the author:

Anna Cruise has been writing and drooling over boys since middle school. Lots of years have passed but some things never change...

Her books include the best-seller IT WAS YOU, IF I FALL (Mature YA) and MAVERICK (Contemporary Romance. Additional titles include DOWN BY THE WATER (Romantic Suspense), SET IN STONE (YA Paranormal) and IT WAS ME and IT WAS US, the follow-up stories to IT WAS YOU.

Anna loves to hear from readers and authors. Email her at authorannacruise@gmail.com. You can also like her Facebook page, find her on Twitter @AnnaCruiseBooks or friend her on Goodreads.

 

Definitely, Maybe in Love by Ophelia London - Review

Definitely, Maybe in Love
by Ophelia London
Published: October 28, 2013
by Entangled: Embrace

Spring Honeycutt wants two things: to ace her sustainable living thesis and to save the environment. Both seem hopelessly unobtainable until her college professor suggests that with a new angle, her paper could be published. Spring swears she’ll do whatever it takes to ensure that happens.

“Whatever it takes,” however, means forming a partnership with the very hot, very privileged, very conceited Henry Knightly.

Henry is Spring's only hope at publication, but he's also the über-rich son of a land developer and cash-strapped Spring’s polar opposite. Too bad she can't help being attracted to the way he pushes her buttons, both politically and physically. As they work on her thesis, Spring finds there's more to Henry than his old money and argyle sweaters…but can she drop the loud-and-proud act long enough to let him in? Suddenly, choosing between what she wants and what she needs puts Spring at odds with everything she believes in.

Definitely, Maybe in Love is a modern take on Pride and Prejudice that proves true love is worth risking a little pride.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Goodreads

My short and sweet review:
Spring jumped in full force when she decided to major in Environmental Sciences at a super competitive university, including changing her wardrobe, wearing her hair in braids, and going vegetarian. So when Henry offered to help her with the opposing viewpoint for her sustainable living thesis, which her professor says she needs if she has any hope of publishing, she takes him up on it. Both formed unfavorable opinions of the other upon meeting. These first impressions combined with an undeniable attraction and both of them feeling passionately about their opposing sides makes for some amusing encounters.

This is one of the best Pride and Prejudice retellings I have read so far. It paid respect to Jane Austen and stayed true to the classic but with a fresh perspective. Spring is a strong, determined character, and I really enjoyed her passion for green living. Brooding and misunderstood Henry was Mr. Darcy personified (but updated).

You will like this book if you are a fan of Pride and Prejudice or if you enjoy romances.

You may not like this book if you do not like romances or if you are not fond of retellings.

A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

About the author: 
Ophelia London was born and raised among the redwood trees in beautiful northern California. Once she was fully educated, she decided to settle in Florida, but her car broke down in Texas and she's lived in Dallas ever since. A cupcake and treadmill aficionado (obviously those things are connected), she spends her time watching arthouse movies and impossibly trashy TV, while living vicariously through the characters in the books she writes. Ophelia is the author of DEFINITELY, MAYBE IN LOVE, ABBY ROAD, the Perfect Kisses series including: PLAYING AT LOVE, SPEAKING OF LOVE, and "FALLING FOR HER SOLDIER" (coming Jan 2014). 

Visit her at www.ophelialondon.com.    

Out of Time by Jen McLaughlin - Cover Reveal & Signed Copy Giveaway

Out of Line by Jen McLaughlin

Expected publication: December 3, 2013

BOOK SUMMARY:

Desperate to keep him...  

I've finally gotten everything I ever wanted: love, freedom, happiness, and, most importantly, Finn. Our love is everything I expected it to be and more. We've finally found each other, but the world seems determined to tear us apart. We thought my father was the only obstacle between us, but now it's the military. With Finn’s departure looming, we’re squeezing in every moment together before we run out of time.    

Trying to make every moment count…    

Being Carrie’s bodyguard was one thing. Being her boyfriend is another. Every day she’s mine is a day the sun shines in my life. Yet our time together is running out. Her father will never think a tattooed Marine will be good enough so I’ll do with whatever it takes to be worthy of her love. But the road will take me away from the girl who makes me feel alive--the girl I can't live without.  

Time only gets us so far...

**SPECIAL CONTEST:**
Jen McLaughlin (aka Diane Alberts) is also offering up a special contest. For every 200 adds she gets on goodreads for OUT OF TIME before the release (December 3rd), she will reveal 5 pages of the book early!

If the book hits 2500 adds before the release, she will release a bonus scene from Finn's POV! 

So, don't forgot to add OUT OF TIME on Goodreads!

Plus, to celebrate the release of OUT OF TIME, the first book in the series, OUT OF LINE, is only .99!

About the author:

Jen McLaughlin is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She writes steamy New Adult books for the young and young at heart. Her first release, Out of Line, came out September 2013. She also writes bestselling Contemporary Romance under the pen name Diane Alberts.Since receiving her first contract offer under the pen name Diane Alberts, she has yet to stop writing. She is represented by Louise Fury at The Bent Agency.

Though she lives in the mountains, she really wishes she was surrounded by a hot, sunny beach with crystal clear water. She lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her four kids, a husband, a schnauzer mutt, a cat, and a Senegal parrot. In the rare moments when she’s not writing, she can usually be found hunched over one knitting project or another. Her goal is to write so many well-crafted romance books that even a non-romance reader will know her name.

Website: http://dianealberts.com/

 

GIVEAWAY:

Jen is giving away a signed paperback copy of OUT OF TIME (US only) and 5 ebook copies of OUT OF LINE (international).

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Keep Me Still by Caisey Quinn - Cover Reveal & Teaser

This standalone edition of Keep Me Still will be released on Nov. 11, 2013 and includes the prequel novella Let You Leave and the sequel novella Hold Us Close. 

Deleted and extended scenes from Special Edition will also appear in this all-inclusive edition. Hold Us Close will also be available as a separate novella.

Keep Me Still 

by Caisey Quinn

 

Layla Flaherty had the perfect life, or close to it. Until a stranger gunned her parents down right in front of her, leaving her with seizure inducing PTSD. After years of trying to pass as normal and failing miserably, she resigns herself to being invisible. But new to town Landen O’Brien sees her, and he likes what he sees. Much to Layla’s surprise, he doesn’t freak out when she has a seizure in front of him. He does the exact opposite, calming her until the tremors subside. But Landen has secrets of his own. Secrets that both bind them together and tear them apart. 

Scarred by loss, Layla leaves her hometown of Hope Springs, Georgia, hoping to put her painful past behind her and start over in college in California. When she runs into Landen at freshmen orientation, she has a choice to make. Reinforce those steel walls she's built up around herself or give the only boy who can keep her still a second chance.

Landen’s more than ready to tear down those walls but this time when they come crashing down, they might bury her.

 

 

 Add on Goodreads.

About the author:

Wearer of cowgirl boots, writer and avid reader of New Adult romance, lover of wine, who is addicted to chai tea lattes. Brand spanking new author of Girl with Guitar and soon to be released novels Girl on Tour, Girl in Love, and Keep Me Still (which may or may not include spanking).

I'm a Gemini, wife, mom, and former high school English teacher living in Birmingham, Alabama. I spend my days chasing a three year old and hiding away with my Macbook. I spend my nights writing because sleep is overrated.

Find out more at CaiseyQuinnWrites.com.