Tour Stop: REBOUND (Boomerang #2) by Noelle August ARC Review plus Giveaway


REBOUND
- a Boomerang novel -
by Noelle August

At Boomerang, one night can change everything…

Noelle August has taken the New Adult genre by storm, and readers can’t wait to see what chaos, confusion, and connections arise at the Boomerang offices next.

Adam Blackwood has it all. At twenty-two, he’s fabulously wealthy, Ryan Gosling-hot and at the top of the heap in the business world. His life is perfect, until a scandal from his past resurfaces and threatens to knock the tech wunderkind down and throw his company, Boomerang, a hook-up site for millennials, into chaos.  

Alison Quick, the twenty-one-year-old daughter of a business tycoon—and the very ex-girlfriend of Boomerang’s former intern, Ethan—has a problem of her own. After flunking out in her senior year of college, she has one chance to redeem herself to her father by proving that she deserves a place in his corporate empire. That means spearheading her father's plan to sink big money into Adam's company and launch it into the stratosphere - provided Adam has no skeletons in his closet.

When the two meet, their sizzling chemistry makes it tough to keep things strictly professional. But when Alison discovers Adam's secret, she knows she should bring it right to her father - who'll leverage it for his own gain and use it to ruin Adam. The only  problem: she's falling for Adam - hard.
Will earning her father's approval come at the price of losing her first real love? Or can Adam and Alison leave behind past mistakes and conquer the world - forever?  

BOUNCE, the last installment in the BOOMERANG series, will be on sale August 2015!

Book Review:
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
What did I not love about Rebound? Is it the humorous dialogue? The quirky and unique characters? The off the charts sexual tension? The amazing storytelling? Sexy, cocky Adam? Oh what the heck, there's nothing I didn't love about the book because everything about it is pretty darn good! I'll admit I didn't expect that I'd love Rebound. I wasn't a huge fan of Alison in Boomerang so I thought this would be another one of those companion series where you fall in love with the first book but end up feeling "meh" with the rest. Also I was actually surprised when I first found out the book centered around Adam and Alison. I just couldn't imagine them together. They seem like an unlikely pair. Alas I read the book and was proven wrong. Turned out I fell in love with this book more than I did with the first one. 

From the first moment Adam and Alison met, sparks flew and sexual tension ignited. Meeting them in Boomerang painted them to me as someone uptight who prefers to work alone and keep everyone at arm's length. And although this turned out to be right, there's actually more to those two than mere stubbornness to be independent. There's a lot they have to prove. Adam being extremely rich but still young has to prove himself capable and deserving of what he has achieved. It's not easy to build a company as successful as he did his. Everyone is watching him. Just waiting for the moment he makes a mistake and brings the company down. 
I love Adam's devotion and passion. He's that kind of guy who, when he sets his mind on something, he does everything he can to get it. And when I learned about his secret? It just cemented my love for him. I don't know a lot of people who would do what he did. To have that kind of respect, loyalty and love for someone - it's not something you see everyday.

As for Alison, we got a background story on her in Boomerang but not enough to really see how it made her who she is. I felt sorry for her. She's that girl who has everything in terms of money and beauty but never got the affection she wanted from her parents. I know it sounds cliché. It is. But Noelle August wrote it in such a way that you'd sympathize with Alison and root for her. All while throwing obscenities at her father for being a thoughtless, selfish jerk. Alison grew on me. It's refreshing to be in her head and see things from her point of view. It paints her in a different light far from how Ethan and Mia sees her. I love Alison's determination to prove her father wrong and make him see she's more than she looks. I can't say I'm a big fan of some of the choices she made but at least now I understand better why she made those choices.
Also, Alison and Adam both seem to be the quiet, un-fun type so I was really glad to see the thrill-seeking and outgoing side to their personality. 
I love everything about Rebound. From the flirty banter, the intense chemistry that fills the room whenever Alison and Adam are together, the slow and steamy romance that draws you in to the family drama that seemed to complicate things further and the bunch of fun characters that made things more enjoyable. I too love the humor and the engaging, vivid writing.
I'm very excited to see where Noelle August would take the third book in the series, Bounce, next! (It would be super exciting if it's Cookie's book though.) Must-read!


Book Excerpt:
 Adam's POV
Ali laughs. Her gaze feels like sunshine on my back, but I don’t turn around. I pull my wetsuit up to my waist, adjusting myself so I’m comfortable. The cool Neoprene layer feels familiar and my body responds, my heart thumping hard, anticipation rushing through my veins. The prospect of the ocean always does this to me. This has nothing to do with the girl behind me. 
“Adam?”
Ali’s voice is close. Turning, I almost bump into her.
Her wetsuit is all the way on, which is good. And terrible.
“What’s up?” I ask. 
She smells like suntan oil and peaches. This close, I see that her cheeks are turning slightly pink from the sun. With her hair pulled back, no makeup, and the wetsuit covering her completely, she looks better than she has all week at the office. Better than she did in the Catwoman costume. There’s something powerful about her now. The way her slender legs are planted firmly on the swaying boat, like she’s not trying at all. She’s at home on the water. This from an admitted equestrian. I can only imagine what she’s like with her horses.
“Sorry, but . . .” She smiles and points at her back. “My zipper’s jammed.” She turns around and pulls her ponytail up. “Can you help me out?”
“Sure. You want this on, right? Just want to be sure.”
I can’t see her face, but I know she’s smiling. “Yes. On please.”
I allow myself a moment to enjoy the way she looks right in front of me. Then I take the zipper leash, letting my knuckles drift over her back, just above the knot of her bikini.
If I weren’t completely focused on her, I’d have missed the way she curls slightly toward me.
Focus, Blackwood. Zip the wetsuit up.


About the Author:
Question: What do you get when friends pen a story with heart, plenty of laughs, and toe-curling kissing scenes?
Answer: Noelle August. The pseudonym for renowned editor and award winning writer Lorin Oberwerger and New York Times bestselling YA author Veronica Rossi, the masterminds behind Boomerang. You can visit them at noelleaugust.com@noelle_august and facebook.com/NoelleAugustBooks

Giveaway: 
Enter below for a chance to win three copies of BOOMERANG


Cover Reveal: BROKEN BLOOD (Dirty Blood #5) by Heather Hildenbrand

How do you defeat an enemy that knows your every thought … even as you think it? 


BROKEN BLOOD
(Dirty Blood #5)
by Heather Hildenbrand

I thought watching my Werewolf boyfriend get arrested for murder was the worst experience of my life. But then I was knocked out and dragged off to a cell of my own by the very people who were supposed to protect me from danger.  I thought being held prisoner in solitary confinement for weeks on end was the worst experience of my life. But then a visitor came, and I realized I’d been wrong all along. There are worse things than torture and death. Much worse.  

He wants my blood. More than that, he wants to get into my head. To use my bond to control his army, to wipe the world clean of anything with dirty blood. I can’t let that happen, but if I don’t he’ll kill every single person I’ve ever cared about—beginning with my Werewolf pack.  

The prophecy said I would have to make an impossible choice, but I must be doing this wrong—so far every choice I’ve made has only led to more pain and danger and death. Hunters are pitted against Werewolves and I’m alone in my war against Gordon Steppe. I can’t fight him off anymore; all I can do is try to keep him out of the important places. And I’m failing at even that.  

I thought the demons were out there, clearly marked and clinging to the shadows. But they’re not. The monsters are within the ranks of those sworn to protect. The enemy is among us.

BROKEN BLOOD, book 5 in the Dirty Blood series is coming March 11, 2015!!


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COLD BLOOD (Dirty Blood #2)

Sometimes Family Can be the Death of You.

Wood Point Academy is not at all what I expected. For one thing, it looks like a cross between military school and Buckingham Palace. Everyone stares, the floors shine so bright you can see your reflection in them from a mile away, and no one smiles.  

At least I’ve got plenty to take my mind off the fact that my psycho cousin, Miles De’Luca, keeps calling and declaring his love and promising to come for me just as soon as he’s destroyed anyone standing in our way. Wes isn’t going to like that idea. So between Miles, Wood Point’s evil welcoming committee, and the drill sergeant hottie trainer from hell, I just keep asking myself, how did I end up here?



Release Day Giveaway and Excerpt: THE GHOST OF YOU by Amanda Burckhard



THE GHOST OF YOU
Release Date: 02/24/15
Swoon Romance

Summary from Goodreads:
Emmy has everything she’s ever wanted: a hot boyfriend she adores, great friends, a promising future, and even a well-connected family. But one night rips it all away.

A car accident shatters her world, claiming the lives of her twin brother and her best friend. In the wake of the accident, her friends drift away, her family falls apart, and her boyfriend cheats.

The grief is more than she can handle, so she finds escape at the bottom of a bottle of painkillers. Taking the pills makes her brother alive again, if only in her head. Seeing and talking to her brother as if he were still alive is the only thing that keeps her going. Until Logan King moves to town.

Logan sees past the mask of pristine popularity she wears in public and he’s the only one who can tell she hasn’t moved on. His uncanny ability to read her forces her to open up and she starts to fall for him, no matter how unwilling she is to admit it. But Emmy isn’t the only one keeping secrets and when a close brush with death sparks events that bring everything to light, Emmy will have to decide what’s more important: learning how to forgive and move on, or holding onto the pills and the ghost of her past.

ADD IT ON GOODREADS:

BUY LINKS:

BOOK EXCERPT:
Everything in my room reminded me of him somehow. The candle Mom got me he used to joke smelled like cinnamon on steroids. The lopsided dream catcher we made at a school carnival in middle school. The running shoes he got me last Christmas. I didn’t want to see any of it. I wanted him. 

Then I was screaming, ripping, tearing, throwing anything I could get my hands on. My vision blurred. My head pounded in my ears. When my hand tightened around a smooth cylinder on my desk, I almost didn’t realize what it was in time to stop myself from shattering it against the wall. Derek had given me the green, plastic flashlight when we were ten as a way to ward off nightmares. It didn’t work anymore, even with new batteries, but I could never bring myself to get rid of it. I collapsed onto the floor, hugging the flashlight to my chest, crying and sobbing so hard I couldn’t breathe or see or think. 


What was I going to do without him? We were the Grayson twins. We did everything together. I didn’t know who I was without him. He couldn’t be gone. He couldn’t. 


When I pulled myself off the floor, it was nearly dark out. I looked around the room that appeared as if a tornado went through it. The shelves from my dresser lay on the floor, their contents scattered. Papers and posters lay crumpled and torn into pieces. My bedding and clothes were strewn everywhere. Almost every visible inch of the floor was covered. I couldn’t remember doing most of the destruction. I didn’t even feel better after doing it. 


Something on the ground caught my eye. Something orange and familiar. I reached for the small bottle of pills and read the label. Vicodin. They were from my tonsillectomy last year. They must’ve been stuck away in a drawer, forgotten and unused. 


I remembered how they made me feel like I was floating on water, like my brain was fuzzy and nothing seemed like a big deal. That feeling would be a nice change to what I felt now. 


Throwing two pills into my mouth, I grabbed a week-old bottle of Gatorade from my dresser and took a swig. I left my disaster of a room and went down the hall to Derek’s room. The room felt dull and lifeless without him. The posters of old rock bands plastering the walls and wrestling trophies displayed on every shelf didn’t fit without the boy who had put them there. 


I set the flashlight on his nightstand and crawled into his bed. His pillowcase smelled of peppermint. Jess and I had picked out that shampoo for him a few weeks ago. He swore he’d never use it, but I guess he changed his mind. 


I stared at the flashlight until the pills made my eyelids droop and my mind slipped off into darkness.

 
Derek’s voice reached out to me just as I was falling asleep. “It’ll be okay, Em. Sleep. I’m here.”


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Amanda Burckhard grew up exploring bat caves and hunting for dinosaur bones in the Black Hills of South Dakota. When she wasn’t crossing paths with mountain lions, she was making up stories and devouring books at the library. Although, she still does that.
Amanda loves to travel and cross out things on her adrenaline packed bucket list. Some of the things she's been able to cross out include see an active volcano erupt, ride a gondola in Venice, and pet a tiger.
She currently lives in North Sioux City, South Dakota and works as a microbiologist by day. Some of her obsessions include comic book movies, hot chocolate, sushi, sunshine, and Doctor Who.

AUTHOR LINKS:
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COLLIDE (The Taking #3) by Melissa West ARC Review plus Giveaway



COLLIDE (The Taking #3)
Release Date: 02/09/15
Entangled Teen
320 pages

Summary from Goodreads:
Military legacy Ari Alexander has survived alien spies, WWIV, and a changing world order. But when the new leader of Earth uses Jackson—the only boy she's ever let herself care about—to get to her, Ari has no choice but to surrender.

To free Jackson, she agrees to travel to the national bases to train others to fight. What she discovers is a land riddled with dying people. Ari has the power to heal by turning the fighters into aliens—half-breeds like her. If she succeeds, together, they have a chance at overthrowing the alien leader, Zeus. But if she fails, everyone she holds dear will be wiped away forever.

Once again, everything Ari’s come to believe is thrown into question. In a world of uncertainty, loyalties are tested, lies are uncovered, and no one can be trusted. If Ari and Jackson have any hope at survival and at preserving a life for the future, they must fight the final war with their eyes wide open.




BUY LINKS:
AmazonB&NKobo

BOOK REVIEW:
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have no idea what to say. I just turned the very last page of the final book in the trilogy that I really, really LOVE and I feel overwhelmed, sad and ecstatic all at once. I've read Gravity and Hover and felt nothing but awe with both books and I'm so happy to say Collide is no different. This book will make you swoon, cry, smile, scream and have you on edge until the end. It's the perfect conclusion to an amazing and unforgettable series!

Hover ended on a really huge cliffhanger so when I finally got my hands on an arc of Collide I dropped everything and immediately dived into this foreign but beautiful world. I didn't think it was possible for the series to get better but it did! There was so much intense action, drama and romance going on that it never got boring. Jackson and Ari never fail to amaze me. They're both so stubborn, selfless and willing to do anything it takes to save everyone. Unfortunately, you cannot save everyone in a war. Death is inevitable. I got teary eyed and my heart broke for Ari several times. Watching her go through the grief but not being able to show it is just... sad. I have always admired her determination and fierce personality and it shows every time just how strong of a person she is. She's one kickass heroine. I love seeing her character grow. She used to be the kind of girl who never depends on anyone but herself. She makes decisions and acts on them without really thinking about her safety. She's still all those things but now she sees that she's not alone and she doesn't have to be. She knows that she's a part of something bigger - with her family, all her friends and Jackson. I've said it then and I'll say it again, I am IN LOVE with Jackson Castello. 

“I don’t want to fight. Or yell. Or even talk to you. What I want to do is…” I trail off, not sure I want to admit my true thoughts with my parents a wall away.
Jackson smirks, his head tilting in that way I love. “Is what, exactly?”

How could anyone not love him? He's protective, understanding, gentle and caring. He has lost a lot of the people he loves but he never falters to be there for Ari when she needs him. And that scene with Ari's mom and dad! Talk about every guy's nightmare (lol). 

Collide was full of action, drama, swoon-worthy moments, heartbreak, excitement and everything you could ask for. I love the twists and turns to the story, the addition of new characters and the feeling of not knowing who to trust (I was very suspicious of everyone). So what's up with my one star missing review you may ask? Well I've always had in my mind that when Ari and Zeus finally come face to face in battle, it would be this epic, bloody and super intense fight to the death. Unfortunately (just like in HP and Hex Hall) that's not what I got. I admit I was kinda disappointed when I came to that particular part of the book and how the ending felt just a bit rushed. But since I've always had a special place in my heart for the Taking series, I didn't let those bother me too much. The ending didn't feel like it was wrapped up too nicely and neatly which was okay with me. I like my endings feeling hopeful and full of so many possibilities. Hey as long as I get to see Ari and Jackson well and together, you won't hear me complaining.

I have to say my heart is breaking to have to say goodbye to this great series. But since all good things come to an end and I could still stalk Melissa West in all of social media, I'd happily and eagerly wait until her next book comes out. And if you haven't started the series yet, I highly recommend that you do now. Must-read!

I received an e-arc to read and review as part of the tour.

Books in this series:
(covers linked to Goodreads)
 photo gravity_zps96ec702b.jpg  photo hover_zps0a09d157.jpg

Buy Links to Gravity (Book One):
AmazonB&NKobo Books

Buy Links for Hover (Book Two):
AmazonB&NKobo Books


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.

Author Links:
   


GIVEAWAY:
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Book Tour Organized by:

Release Day Blitz and Giveaway: HOW TO UNBREAKUP by Rebekah Purdy


HOW TO UNBREAKUP
Release Date: 02/10/15
Swoon Romance

Summary from Goodreads:
First rule of breakups: There’s no going back.

For three years, seventeen-year-old Grace Evers has regretted breaking up with Sage Castle.

That day, she lost her boyfriend and best friend. And let's be honest, it's impossible to just be friends with the one person who gets you, faults and all, and loved you anyway. It's impossible not to think about how it felt to be held by him, or the way he looked right before he was about to kiss you with the most perfectly yummy kiss goodnight.

And now that things are over between them, they've become strangers to one another. Sage won’t even look at Grace, let alone talk to her!

Breakup life sucks and Grace is utterly miserable, doing whatever she can to ease the pain of losing Sage. She's spent the better part of high school pretending to be something she’s not and hanging out with people who probably wouldn't notice if she wasn't there. Crappy dates, backstabbing friends, and Sage's cold shoulder have taken their toll.

So when her parents propose going away to their house on Lake Michigan for the summer, Grace is thrilled. No more massively bad dates with horrible kissers or lunch with frienemies. Just three months of swimming, hiking, and relaxing before senior year starts.

But when Grace learns Sage and his family will be joining them, she readies herself for a totally awkward family vacation of disastrous proportions. How can it be anything but awful if Sage won't even acknowledge she exists?

This is it, Grace's last chance to get Sage back and unbreakup.


BUY LINKS:
Amazon

BOOK EXCERPT:
“Let’s check out the deck.” Mom looped her arm through mine as we made our way around the furniture to the glass doors. As soon as we pushed them open, the scent
of the lake and beach hit me. The sound of gulls echoed in the air. Beach chairs lined the deck, the view breathtaking. From here, I saw there was already a fire pit dug out on the beach. The doorbell rang from inside and Mom squealed. “Come on,” she said. 
My parents rushed to the front door, us kids on their heels. “Time for our other surprise.” Dad glanced at us as he whipped open the door. 

There, standing on the porch, was the Castle family. No. Flipping. Way. 
Sage’s mouth dropped open in disbelief. He met my gaze then looked away, obviously his parents hadn’t let him in on the surprise either. I squeezed my eyes tight then opened them again, trying to ignore the sick pit in my stomach. Okay. Just keep calm. It isn’t the end of the world. Not yet anyway. 

“Welcome Castle family,” Dad said, hugging Mr. and Mrs. Castle. “The Evers and Castles together again.” Mr. Castle chuckled. “Now how’s this for a surprise?” “I gave up soccer camp for this?” Sage asked, his eyes narrowed. “Yep, and you’re going to enjoy it. End of discussion.” Mr. Castle gave him a warning look. 

Sage pushed inside, carrying his stuff, not even bothering another glance in my direction. Crap. This wasn’t happening. It might be the end of discussion for Mr. Castle, but I had a feeling this was far from over. If things kept going like they were, it’d be a long, miserable summer for all of us. 

Allie smiled as she came inside. “This is freaking sweet. We’ll be able to hang out all summer. Just like old times.” “Yeah. Just like old times.” I gave her a quick hug. Minus the part where Sage actually talked to me. Things in my life were about to get a whole lot more complicated.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Rebekah Purdy grew up in Michigan, where she spent many late nights armed with a good book and a flashlight. When not hiding at her computer and getting lost in her stories, she enjoys reading, singing, soccer, swimming, football, camping, playing video games and hanging out with her kids. 
She loves the unexplainable like Bigfoot, the Dogman, and the Loch Ness Monster (lots of good story material)! She admits to still having all the books she bought throughout her childhood and teen years, and she may or may not have an obsession with anything chocolate…

AUTHOR LINKS:
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GIVEAWAY:

Book Blitz Organized by:


Release Day Blast and Giveaway: COLLIDE (The Taking #3) by Melissa West



Collide (The Taking #3)
Release Date: 02/09/15
Entangled Teen
320 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

Military legacy Ari Alexander has survived alien spies, WWIV, and a changing world order. But when the new leader of Earth uses Jackson—the only boy she's ever let herself care about—to get to her, Ari has no choice but to surrender.
To free Jackson, she agrees to travel to the national bases to train others to fight. What she discovers is a land riddled with dying people. Ari has the power to heal by turning the fighters into aliens—half-breeds like her. If she succeeds, together, they have a chance at overthrowing the alien leader, Zeus. But if she fails, everyone she holds dear will be wiped away forever.

Once again, everything Ari’s come to believe is thrown into question. In a world of uncertainty, loyalties are tested, lies are uncovered, and no one can be trusted. If Ari and Jackson have any hope at survival and at preserving a life for the future, they must fight the final war with their eyes wide open.


Buy Links:
AmazonB&NKobo

Books in this series:
(covers linked to Goodreads)
 photo gravity_zps96ec702b.jpg  photo hover_zps0a09d157.jpg
Buy Links to Gravity (Book One):
AmazonB&NKobo Books

Buy Links for Hover (Book Two):
AmazonB&NKobo Books

Book Excerpt:
My gaze drifts over to Jackson to find him watching me, his blue-green eyes no longer beaten, but strong. Alive. Raging.
I walk over and press my hands to the glass, my eyes never leaving his. In them I see everything he’s thinking and feeling. His anger at Kelvin. His sadness at losing Mami. His love for me, an unwavering fire inside him. And then I see his determination, so clear it’s as though I’m thinking it myself—he’s going to kill Zeus.
It’s time to begin.
Jackson nods once to me, and I grip the glass tighter, feeling its composition, and then the glass vibrates, harder and harder. Law goes still. I draw a breath, my focus on the boy I love and his raging eyes, and then a tiny crack splits out from my right pinky finger like a spider web across the glass, splitting again and again. Another starts from my left hand and I lean farther into the glass, imagining Jackson and me back on Loge, Emmy and Mami, and then the window bursts, the glass shooting out in a thousand directions.
Jackson stands slowly, effort etched into his face, the muscles in his arms flexing. The door to his room starts to open, and my gaze flashes over, every fiber in me focused on keeping it shut. “They’re coming,” I say.
“It doesn’t matter,” Jackson replies, his voice like a warm blanket over my heart, soothing the ache that’s been there since he disappeared. The ache I feared would never go away. “They can’t contain us. They will never contain us.”

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.

Author Links:
   

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