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Category Archives: New Adult

Spotlight & Give-Away: Tragic by J A Huss

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Image Received from GCR Book Tours

Image Received from GCR Book Tours

TRAGIC: Rook and Ronin, #1

By J. A. Huss

New Adult Contemporary Romance

Published May 15, 2013

Science Future Press

Rook Walsh is TRAGIC

Because life so far – just sucks. Some girls get parents. Rook got the foster care system. Some girls get Prince Charming. Rook got an abusive frog. Some girls get lucky…

Rook got a second chance.

And she took it. Because when fate throws you a bone – you grab it with both hands and run.

Antoine Chaput knows the minute he spies Rook in his photography studio that she’s got The Look. The dark and desperate look he must have to land the exclusive TRAGIC media contract.

Rook is paired up with top model, Ronin, and he’s everything her abusive ex-boyfriend wasn’t. Patient, gentle, happy, attentive, and sexy! He knows exactly what to do to make Rook blush for Antoine’s camera.

Rook’s luck changes in an instant and suddenly she’s the darling of the modeling world. It’s a dream job to go with a dream guy and all she has to do is look pretty and follow directions. But there’s always a price to pay – and Rook is about to get the bill.

New Adult Contemporary Romance *Mature Content* Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language usage

 
 **Does contain strong language

I gather up all my clothes and stick them in the stackable washer in the closet just off the bedroom. The breeze caresses my naked limbs and gives me the chills, but I enjoy it. The goose bumps travel up my arms and spread out to my whole body. I shiver for a second and then head to the kitchen.And stop dead in the living room.Ronin fucking Flynn is sleeping on the couch.

What is he doing here? My eyes track to the front door and I suppose it’s my fault, I left it open. There’s nothing but a screen door between this apartment and the terrace. My gaze wanders back to the sleeping man. He’s lying on his stomach, his one arm tucked underneath him, the other falling over the edge of the cushion, and he’s shirtless.

And then I realize I’m naked.

“Shit!”

He stirs and I make a break for the bedroom. It’s one thing to let him see me naked half hidden in darkness and quite another to be fully illuminated by the bright morning sunshine. I wrangle the sheet around my body and then head back to the living room, wistfully looking at the washer that contains every single article of clothing I own.

“Ronin!” I say loudly.

Nothing except a half-muffled snore from him. Lord, this man has the most perfectly chiseled and muscular back I’ve ever seen. Both hands pull up and go under his face, like he’s blocking out the sunlight, and this gives me the perfect opportunity to study his flexing biceps. The muscles are thick and hard-looking near his shoulders. They curve down, dip into a little valley, and then climb once again.

I lean down and smell him.

“Why are you sniffing me?” he asks groggily.

“Uh—” Because you smell delicious, the inner Rook says. But luckily the outer Rook says, “I’m checking to see if you’re drunk. Why are you sleeping on my couch?”

He peeks up, opening one eye in my direction, squints, and then croaks out some words. “I love your outfit.” He grins, winks, and then drops his head back down into his arms.

“Are you leaving?” I ask, frustrated and confused at the same time. “I mean, why are you here?”

“I told you I’d come back with dinner. But when I got here, the lights were on and you were in bed. I only sat down for a second to think up a rational excuse to wake you up, but I guess I fell asleep.” He raises his head again, grins sheepishly, and then rolls over on his back, tucks his hands behind his neck, and flashes his perfect body at me as he closes his eyes, probably confident that I’ll be checking him out.

I do check him out. It’s quite hard not to notice that he’s got the perfect six-pack abs and that absolutely adorable fuzzy happy trail you see on a shirtless designer jeans model. Hmmmm… maybe he is that model? “You have no shirt on.”

Yes, after all that gawking, I finally manage the obvious.

He opens the one eye to look at me again. “Neither do you.”

Tantalising Trailers: Melody Burning by Whitley Strieber

Purchase your copy

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.

J. A. Huss likes to write new adult books that make you think and keep you guessing. Her favorite genre to read is space opera, but since practically no one reads those books, she writes new adult science fiction, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and books about Junco (who refuses to be saddled with a label).

She has an undergraduate degree in horses, (yes, really–Thank you, Colorado State University) and a master’s degree in forensic toxicology from the University of Florida. She used to have a job driving around Colorado doing pretty much nothing but shooting the breeze with farmers, but now she just writes, runs the New Adult Addiction and Clean Teen Reads Book Blogs, and runs an online science classroom for homeschoolers.

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Review: Inhale, Exhale by Sarah M Ross

Image Received from InkSlinger PR

Image Received from InkSlinger PR

Title: Inhale, Exhale
Author: Sarah M Ross
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: 4 May 2013
Source: Review Copy – Ebook
Rating: 3.5/5

Synopsis from Amazon

**Warning: Contains very strong language, and sexual situations.**

Jillian had a plan: celebrate the end of her first year of college with an amazing summer full of beaches, barbeques, and bonfires. When her mom insists she needs a summer job, and her boyfriend spends more time with his band than with her, Jillian’s plans go down the drain.

Grant had a plan: finish his Masters, get a great job at Google, and get the hell out of Georgia. He might be giving up some of the fun of his youth, but he knows his all work and no play method would be worth it when his dreams came true.

But things never go according to plan.

When temptation brings them together and tragedy tears them apart, Jillian and Grant will be forced to choose: fight for their dreams, or fight for each other.

REVIEW 

The book starts with a very powerful prologue that really grips your attention and makes compulsive page turning  necessity in order to try to match the rest of the story to the prologue.

Told in dual first person narrative (my favorite as I can get inside the head of both characters). Jillian is a little bit of a daydreamer but a truly nice person, she is very family orientated and a wonderfully loyal friend. However, she does tend to see her boyfriend, Christian,  through rose colored glasses justifying  their relationship even though she feels they are drawing apart. Grant is responsible, having been forced to grow-up quickly following his mothers death. He has terrific values even if they do get slightly warped with the plan he has for himself in his head.

There is an instant attraction between Grand and Jillian even though they both try to fight it. The intensity of their attraction both frightens and exhilarates them. they have so much in common and interact so well the idea of soul-mates blossoms within the imagination. Don’[t get me wrong this isn’t a case of insta-love more like insta-lust that develops into love.

As their friendship develops we get to see more of Grant’s romantic side that even he didn’t know existed providing some very swoon-worthy moments. The story is quite fast paced and gripping. It is a really quick read while still providing a connection to the characters that stays with you after the last page.

There are a number of surprise events that add tension to the story. Yet aid the realization that you can’t plan all of your life, sometimes life throws you off the path you have set in order to put you on the path you need to be on. Sometimes it is easy to forget what is truly important in life and events seemingly throw a spanner in the works actually lead us to where we should be. Once that happens all the pieces fall into place. It was a joy to follow the pieces falling into place for Grant and Jillian.

Inhale, Exhale is a great starter for those dipping their toes into New Adult Romance; quick, fast paced and yet utterly romantic.

Review: True Love Story by Willow Aster

Image from Fantastic Fiction

Image from Fantastic Fiction

Title: True Love Story
Author: Willow Aster
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: 17 Feb 2013
Source: Bought – Ebook
Rating: 2.5/5

Synopsis from Fantastic Fiction

Sparrow Fisher is transforming. No longer dressed up in antiquated clothes and ideals, she is finally trying on her freedom.

Before she moves to New York City, she meets Ian Sterling, a musician Sparrow has dreamed about since she first saw him. The attraction is instant, but their relationship isn’t so simple.

Over a five year span, Sparrow and Ian run into each other in unusual places. Each time, Sparrow has to decide if she can trust him, if he feels the same for her, and finally, if love is really enough.

REVIEW 

Told in first person narrative, from Sparrow’s point of view. At 18 she is very young, naive and innocent. She’s lead quite a sheltered, protected life with her overprotective mother taking control over all aspects even her clothes. Ready to leave for college and a plan to transform herself Sparrow meets Ian. Having already been drawn to him through his music there is an undeniable connection between them from their first encounter.

Unfortunately, the prologue set 5 years in the future, sets the tone of inevitability to the story. There is a constant tension awaiting events hinted at within the prologue that in all honesty did spoil it a little for me. The story follows the developing relationship between Sparrow and Ian after that first encounter across a 5 year time frame.

Ian is a little older and far more experienced than Sparrow, the detail in the story regarding his childhood and lack of affection provided some insight and understanding to his actions but on the whole it felt as if he was more immature than Sparrow with regard to dealing with his emotions. It really annoyed me how hot and cold he blew towards Sparrow, it felt as if he was toying with her emotions for the most part. It wasn’t until the end of the book that I felt Ian and Sparrow were remotely suited as the way in which their home lives had shaped them into adults did not gel together. Through their relationship Sparrow does make Ian a better person and Ian in turn gives Sparrow confidence. Essentially love at its finest when two people bring out the best in each other.

A few incidents within the plot felt unnecessary and detracted from the character development rather than enhancing it. I also found the name Sparrow initially irritating until the explanation behind her parents choice of name was revealed and did surprisingly endear her name to me. As well as allowing Ian to name her ‘Little Bird’ which provided swoon-worthy moments.

After all the tension within the story and the inevitable outcome, the story rejoins the present, five years after the initial meeting between Sparrow and Ian. Unfortunately,  the ending felt a little rushed and forced. I would have rather seen more of the relationship in the present than the length of the reflection on their previous relationship.

On the whole I did enjoy the story and must mention the letters Ian wrote to Sparrow near the end effectively changed my feelings to him. However,  I did feel as if the prologue overshadowed the story for me and the ending was too rushed for my personal preference. It is these issues that are reflected in my rating.

Review: Rule by Jay Crownover

Image from Fantastic Fiction

Image from Fantastic Fiction

Title: Rule
Series: Marked men #1
Author: Jay Crownover
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: 30 Dec 2012
Source: Bought – Ebook
Rating: 4/5

Synopsis from Fantastic Fiction

I loved Rule Archer since the first moment I ever laid eyes on him. He was everything I shouldn’t want and the only person I went out of my way to not try and please. He only saw me as a brat, as an entitled, stuck up princess but worse than that all he saw when he looked at me was his deceased twin brother’s girl. It broke my heart because as much as I had loved Remy Archer there was never anything romantic between us and no matter how hard I tried to convince myself that loving Rule was a terrible idea, my poor heart just wouldn’t listen. We tolerated each other, barely. We forged an uneasy alliance until one night I had too much to drink and changed the way we were forever. Suddenly life long secrets were no longer hidden and the one thing I always wanted for myself seemed obtainable as long as I was willing to go through hell to hold onto it.

Shaw Landon was a class act and I had no idea what to do with her. She was tied to my family, tied to the person that was my other half so I tolerated her and her haughty attitude because I didn’t have any other choice. What I didn’t know was that a short skirt and too many cocktails on her birthday was going to change my outlook on her for the rest of my life. Some people thought I hid behind all my tattoos and piercings, that I tried to distance myself from my dead twin, Shaw saw through it all and wasn’t scared of what was underneath.
We weren’t supposed to be together, weren’t supposed to be anything except uncomfortable acquaintances but that all changed in the blink of an eye. Now I had to figure out just how a girl like her and a guy like me were supposed to be in love without destroying each other. Add in her custom made ex and two disapproving sets of parents and the whole situation sounded to me like it was more trouble then it was worth.

Recommended for mature readers due to sexual content, language and drinking.

REVIEW 

Told in dual first person narrative; Rule is very head-strong, independent and stubborn. He has always been this way even as a child causing friction in his family relationships. Relations with his mother further deteriorate following the death of his twin brother. Rule exasperates the problem by his natural inclination to rebel, appearances suggest that Rule enjoys irritating people. Rule is far deeper than people give him credit for.

Shaw, on the other hand, does everything to try to please people even if it isn’t what she wants. Her parents, while wealthy, are cold people and she lacks affection and a nurturing environment. Best friends with Rule’s twin brother, Remy, since they were 14 but in love with Rule from the same age. Everyone assumed Remy and Shaw were a couple and they did nothing to dispel this assumption as it provided a form of protection for the both of them.

The way in which Rule’s mother treats him as a result of the depression she suffers with the grief of losing Remy is truly heart-breaking. Rule feels he is unworthy of love and pushes anyone away that tries to get close. He also carries a lot of guilt over Remy’s death.

Shaw’s capacity for love shines through the narrative, its almost as if she has enough love for the both herself and Rule. The description of her feelings was so powerful it felt like a physical blow to the stomach. Knowing she loved Rule for so long and all the things she has had to witness as a result pulls at the heart-strings.. You feel just how confused she is regarding her feelings for Rule and how hurt she has been by his actions.

The way in which both of them have grown-up together has shaped their lives; the memories that are woven into the story bring the characters to vivid life within the imagination.

The peripheral characters are all wonderful and really add depth to the story; proving that you can make your own family by surrounding yourself with the people that not only suit you but they understand and accept you without judgement.

Both narrative voices really stand out, they both lack confidence in themselves at a fundamental level and the ingrained belief they have that they are basically unlovable is tragic to witness. The narrative shows that emotional trauma suffered as a child leaves internal scars on the adult we become.

The plot is multi-layered combining romance and thriller with the portrayal of grief tearing both individuals and families apart. The character development is the main focus and is quite stunning in its fruition. Proving that no matter what you should just be the person you want to be and not try to please everyone else. People who genuinely love you will do so without you having to change a single thing about yourself.

The story provided a wonderful sense of optimism. The idea that love can provide comfort and security and therefore build self confidence (happy sigh).

Review: Real by Katy Evans

Image from Fantastic Ficiton

Image from Fantastic Ficiton

Title: Real
Series: Real #1
Author: Katy Evans
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: 8 April 2013
Source: Bought – Ebook
Rating: 4.5/5

Synopsis from Fantastic Fiction

*Mature New Adult/Adult novel – contains adult situations, high sexuality, some violence, and is suited for ages 18 and up*

A fallen boxer.

A woman with a broken dream.

A competition…

IS HE FOR REAL?

He even makes me forget my name. One night was all it took, and I forgot everything and anything except the sexy fighter in the ring who sets my mind ablaze and my body on fire with wanting…

Remington Tate is the strongest, most confusing man I’ve ever met in my life.

He’s the star of the dangerous underground fighting circuit, and I’m drawn to him as I’ve never been drawn to anything in my life. I forget who I am, what I want, with just one look from him. When he’s near, I need to remind myself that I am strong – but he is stronger. And now it’s my job to keep his body working like a perfect machine, his taut muscles primed and ready to break the bones of his next opponents . . .

But the one he’s most threatening to, now, is me.

I want him. I want him without fear. Without reservations.

If only I knew for sure what it is that he wants from me?

REVIEW 

One tip before you read this book, keep a fire extinguisher handy because this book is HOT :)

Told in first person narrative from Brooke’s perspective. Following a harrowing sports injury that destroyed here Olympic chances Brooke has redirected her efforts to sports therapy. The detail and accuracy of the anatomy and physiology references within the story really stood out making Brooke very realistic in her depth of knowledge.

When Brooke catches the eye of bad boy underground boxer, Remington Tate, he hires her to be his personal sports therapist and sparks seriously start to fly. The narrative is fraught with sexual tension. At first they both try to maintain a professional working relationship although there attraction to each other has an inevitable feeling to it. However, the more they get to know each other the attraction turns to something much deeper that neither were expecting.

There is a stunning twist that I honestly did not see coming but made so much sense in context. The way a very sensitive subject was handled proved insight into both sides of the problem. Remy is such an amazing yet complex character you can’t help but fall in love with him. The epitome of alpha male while at the same time possessing such sensitivity and caring toward Brooke my heart literally ached. The story is so intense that I had a physical response to the emotional turmoil. The characterizations are stunning.

The in depth look at Remy’s upbringing and strategies previously put into effect by well meaning but misguided friends provided much needed understanding of the situations  Remy and Brooke faced.

The use of music with Remy and Brooke using songs as a way of expressing themselves to the other was the icing on the cake for me :)

I am having a hard time not spoiling the plot for you on this one because I just want to spill every last thing about this book. So I’m going to tie it up by saying do yourself a favor  if you like NA your going to love REAL. It’s an NA must read :)