ARC Review: NO KISSING ALLOWED by Melissa West plus Giveaway


NO KISSING ALLOWED
Release Date: 07/28/15
Entangled Embrace New Adult



Summary from Goodreads:
Armed with her besties, an embarrassing number of shots, and her list of 10 Wild Things To Do Before Adulthood, recent grad Cameron Lawson is partying it up before she starts her dream job at New York's biggest ad agency. Her last task?  Hook up with a random guy. And while it's so not her style, the super-sexy guy sitting next to her is definitely game. No names. No details.At least, that was the plan.
On her first day of work, Cameron discovers her hook-up is none other than Aidan Truitt—her new boss's boss. Talk about failing the “no fraternizing with coworkers” policy on an epic level. Especially when Aidan makes it clear their one night was only the beginning. Falling for him could cost her everything, but sometimes the only way to get what you want is by breaking a few rules... Add it on Goodreads.

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BOOK REVIEW:
Rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve read every book by Melissa West and I can honestly say that it’s impossible to not love her books. I devoured No Kissing Allowed; I was sleep-deprived the next day. But when I have a book as good as this who needs sleep anyway? (Sleep? What sleep?) 

No Kissing Allowed is one of those books that would grip you from the start. I love every page and I adore the characters! Cameron Lawson is a strong, hardworking and driven woman. She’s one of those people who strives to be the best in everything she does. She’s a great heroine and I admire her greatly for being the kind of person who goes after what she wants and says exactly what she thinks. She’s funny, very independent, easily relatable and really stubborn. But most importantly, Cameron doesn’t take losing well. So when her friends give her a list of dares to do before she officially steps into the real world, she doesn’t back down. But that the-world-stopped-moving-on-its-axis kiss she shares (in the name of a dare) with a complete stranger? A hot, swoony complete stranger? Turns out the stranger’s no stranger. He’s her boss. 

Aidan Truitt is every girl’s dream. He’s charming, sweet and cocky with just the right amount of mystique to keep you intrigued. I was actually a bit disappointed that the book was told in Cameron’s POV only. I would have loved to read about Aidan’s thoughts. He seemed like the kind of guy who doesn’t exactly share everything and I have a feeling I would have enjoyed reading from his perspective. Also, is it just me or does Aidan remind anyone else of Connor Ryan from The Catching Kind (Caitie Quinn)? They’re both so intent on telling themselves that they don’t want the picket fence future but is obviously just lying to themselves. Aidan is a great character. I love his honesty, patience and protectiveness. 
And the flirty banter! How could I forget? From the moment they met, Aidan and Cameron had this undeniable chemistry and off-the-charts sexual tension. I was mentally banging my head when they both deny what’s clearly between them. 

No Kissing Allowed is an amazing book! It’s easy to lose yourself in the story and fall in love with the amazing set of characters. Cameron’s bestfriends, Lauren and Grace, although weren’t entirely in the story sounded like great people to know. And Cameron’s family especially her mom had a way of sneaking into you. I have a big family too so holidays are always filled with relatives seeing each other again after months (sometimes years) of no contact so I can relate. I like Gayle (she seemed like a cool character) and Alexa didn’t really make an impact on me. But what was with Trevor? I really thought there was a story there. But after the one chapter, he was completely forgotten. 
Most importantly though, I love the southern setting. The way the author so vividly described it, it truly felt like home. (I wanted to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with Cameron’s huge family myself.) 

I have always admired Melissa West’s writing style and after reading this book, I just love it even more! I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Melissa West writes heartfelt Southern romance and teen sci-fi romance, all with lots of kissing. Because who doesn't like kissing? 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. Connect with Melissa at www.melissawestauthor.com or on Twitter @MB_West. Connect with Melissa:  Website * Goodreads * Twitter * Facebook

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Blog Tour Organized By:



Cover Reveal: EVERY WRONG REASON by Rachel Higginson

  

First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes the… really nasty divorce. Kate Carter thought she married her soul mate. She thought she had her happily ever after. But seven years into Kate’s marriage, she realizes that her husband Nick is not what she wanted. He’s selfish, he’s oblivious and he doesn’t love her anymore. Maybe she doesn’t love him anymore either. Divorce is the only option if either of them wants to find happiness. 
Kate and Nick thought they knew what they wanted, but neither is prepared for the heartache that separating will bring them. The journey they embark on is not the freedom they wished for, but a painful look at the people they’ve become. At the end of it, Kate has to decide if this is really the life she wants or if maybe there’s a way to salvage her broken heart.

Available September 22, 2015
Pre-order on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Jqwc7I

    

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Rachel Higginson is the creator of The Star-Crossed Series, Love & Decay Novella Series, The Starbright Series, The Siren Series, Bet on Us and the soon to be released, The Five Stages of Falling in Love! She is also the co-creator of the podcast "Zach & Rachel Take Over the World." She was born and raised in Nebraska, and spent her college years traveling the world. She fell in love with Eastern Europe, Paris, Indian Food and the beautiful beaches of Sri Lanka, but came back home to marry her high school sweetheart. Now she spends her days raising four amazing kids. In the few spare moments she has to herself, she is either reading for hours on end or writing her own stories.
Connect with Rachel: Website * Facebook * Twitter


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Release Blitz and Giveaway: HARD TO LET GO by Laura Kaye

HTLG RWB banner


We are so excited to bring you the Release Week Blitz for Laura Kaye's HARD TO LET GO! HARD TO LET GO is the 4th novel in Laura's Hard Ink Series, published by Avon Romance
Grab your copy of this sexy, suspenseful book today!!

  Hard to Let Go - cover


EXCERPT: 
Beckett was a wrung-out mess. He’d just spent the past hour talking to Emilie, and it was maybe more than he’d talked at one time in his whole life. He couldn’t exactly say he felt good, and maybe not even better, but he could say that he was a little proud of himself for facing his past. Didn’t matter that dealing with that shit was as comfortable as swallowing crushed glass, because choking it down was the only way he’d have a chance at a future. 

At least, a future that he really, truly wanted.

One where he wasn’t alone. One where he wasn’t angry. One where he wasn’t wasting the time he might have left on this earth—time his seven fallen teammates no longer had.

Jogging down the stairs from the third-floor apartment, Beckett headed to the gym. No matter how trashed he felt, he had one more conversation that absolutely had to happen tonight.

With Nick. About Kat. 

Beckett had seen the all-knowing looks on Marz’s and Jeremy’s faces when he and Kat joined the all-hands’ meeting earlier in the evening. If he didn’t go to Nick soon, the guy was going to learn about them some other way. And then the hell was going to be even worse to pay. And Beckett didn’t want that to happen. Not just because he didn’t want the hassle. But because he owed it to Nick—as his friend and his brother—to come clean.

Didn’t mean that his gut wasn’t all twisted up about whether Nick would think him good enough for his baby sister, though.

He reached the gym door, took a deep breath, and punched in the pass code. Man up, Murda. Right.

Inside, things were hopping, despite the fact that it was pushing eleven o’clock. Some Ravens were lifting weights. Others were shooting the shit around the table. And two guys were tossing a ball back and forth, driving Eileen crazy by bouncing it over her head. Easy was pounding out a fast pace on the treadmill. And, in the back corner, Nick, Marz, and Shane were poring over something on Marz’s desk.

Beckett had faced down terrorists who wanted nothing more than to take his life with their very hands, and he’d probably never been as nervous as he was right now. For fuck’s sake.

He moved into the room. About midway across he spied Cy peeking out from behind a weight machine. “You and me are gonna have a talk soon, too,” he said, pointing at the cat. A one-eyed blink was his only answer.

And then he was standing on the far side of Marz’s desk next to Shane, peering down at what the three men were examining.

Marz gave him a smile and tapped his finger against the pages. “Just going over all these instances when Merritt noted Kaine as having changed orders regarding counternarcotics missions.”

“Marz was right,” Nick said, looking up at him. “Some of these gave me a bad feeling in my gut at the time, because they seemed out of character for Merritt. He was never a last minute kinda guy. Every damn time he’s marked those changes as having been ordered by Kaine.”

Beckett nodded. And then his mouth acted without his brain’s permission. “I’d like to date your sister.”   

Hard Ink Series Trailer:


About HARD TO LET GO:
Beckett Murda hates to dwell on the past. But his investigation into the ambush that killed half his Special Forces team and ended his Army career gives him little choice. Just when his team learns how powerful their enemies are, hard-ass Beckett encounters his biggest complication yet—a seductive, feisty Katherine Rixey. 

A tough, stubborn prosecutor, Kat visits her brothers’ Hard Ink Tattoo shop following a bad break-up—and finds herself staring down the barrel of a stranger’s gun. Beckett is hard-bodied and sexy as hell, but he’s also the most infuriating man ever. Worse, Kat’s brothers are at war with the criminals her office is investigating. When Kat joins the fight, she lands straight in Beckett’s sights . . . and in his arms. Not to mention their enemies’ crosshairs.

Now Beckett and Kat must set aside their differences to work together, because the only thing sweeter than justice is finding love and never letting go.    

  HTLG Reviews Tease

Praise for HARD TO LET GO: 
“Kaye wraps up her bestselling series with this action-packed story, highlighting her talent for alpha military heroes, hot romance, and an ensemble cast of characters who are unique and engaging. A super sexy, high-octane romantic suspense novel that concludes the popular Hard Ink series in a completely satisfying way.” ~Kirkus Reviews 

“TOP PICK! Kaye brings her Hard Ink series to a spectacular conclusion that successfully wraps up the overarching mystery and brings closure to her compelling characters. Kaye really nails it with this awesome book and series!” ~RT Book Reviews 

“HARD TO LET GO will blow you away! Anyone who has been following Laura Kaye’s fantastic Hard Ink series will expect something great for the last book in the series, and to say HARD TO LET GO does not disappoint would be the understatement of the year! Ms. Kaye writes sex scenes like it’s nobody’s business, and the blistering chemistry between Kat and Becket will leave you panting and begging for more! If you expected world-class action in HARD TO LET GO, think again and multiply that by ten! HARD TO LET GO has to be the most explosive conclusion to a series ever! Do not miss it at any cost!” ~Fresh Fiction 

*** And don’t miss the other Hard Ink books, 
NOW AVAILABLE: ***

Hard as It gets



Hard as You Can



Hard To Hold On To


Hard To Come By Cover


Hard to Be Good - Cover


Praise for the Hard Ink Series: 
"TOP PICK! If you're looking for danger, gritty action, and sizzling passion, then Kaye has just the book and the series for you." ~RT Book Reviews Magazine  

  HTLG Available Now  


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
   Author Photo


Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over twenty books in contemporary and paranormal romance and romantic suspense. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.      

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ARC Review plus Giveaway: FAKING PERFECT by Rebecca Phillips


FAKING PERFECT by Rebecca Phillips 
Release Date: 06/30/15 
K-Teen 272 pages 

Praise: 
"Edgy and honest, Faking Perfect is the real thing." - Huntley Fitzpatrick 

"Poignant, edgy, and real, Faking Perfect is an honest look at the courage and strength it can often take simply to be yourself." - Julianna Scott, author of The Holders


Summary from Goodreads: 
When Lexi Shaw seduced Oakfield High's resident bad boy Tyler Flynn at the beginning of senior year, he seemed perfectly okay with her rules: 

1. Avoid her at school. 
2. Keep his mouth shut about what they do together. 
3. Never tease her about her friend (and unrequited crush) Ben. 

Because with his integrity and values and golden boy looks, Ben can never find out about what she’s been doing behind closed doors with Tyler. Or that her mom’s too busy drinking and chasing losers to pay the bills. Or that Lexi’s dad hasn’t been a part of her life for the last thirteen years. But with Tyler suddenly breaking the rules, Ben asking her out, and her dad back in the picture, how long will she be able to go on faking perfect? Add to Goodreads.

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BOOK REVIEW:
Rating: 3.7 of 5 stars

Lexi Shaw as a heroine is hard to like at first. She kept on insisting with the whole "pretend to be perfect so your supposed friends will not find out who you really are and maybe dump you if they don't like it" facade. The first few chapters I really thought of her character as someone shallow and way too vain who cares too much of other people's opinions but cares very little about how she feels about herself. The whole faking perfect thing she's got going on? Yeah I hated it. But what I hated even more is her obsession over Ben. Okay it might be a bit extreme to call it obsession but right now I have no other words to describe it so I'll stick with the word... Okay fine, it was more of an admiration slightly bordering on obsession. So there. Ben was the perfect guy with the perfect hair, perfect grades, perfect clothes, perfect freakin' everything. But what Lexi saw in her I did not at all see. I always were more biased towards the imperfect bad boy and/or nerd who secretly cares and shows it in his imperfect, sweet ways. So Ben? Yeah, wasn't a big fan of his.

And now that that's all out of the way, I'd tell you why I loved FAKING PERFECT. Tyler Flynn would be on top of my list. Tyler Flynn with the rumpled clothes and bad boy personality. He's the exact opposite of Ben and I couldn't not love him. Although I'm a bit disappointed that Tyler and Lexi's relationship was underdeveloped I couldn't complain about the swoon-inducing moments Rebecca Phillips wrote. Whenever Tyler was in the picture I couldn't help feeling the urge to shake Lexi and yell at her to stop fantasizing about Ben when Tyler is in front of her and clearly cares. Granted, Tyler isn't exactly the kind of person you'd think would want a committed relationship but a girl would have to be completely blind to not see that the infamous bad boy likes her. One of the things that actually drew me in to this book (aside from that gorgeous cover) is the idea of a secret, illicit relationship between Lexi and Tyler. If that doesn't intrigue you and makes you want to read the book, I don't know what would. And I'm so glad I've got Tyler Flynn to add to my ever growing list of book boyfriends (Of course with Will Herondale still being number one and the rest tied at two.)

Secondly, although I did mention about Lexi seeming vain and shallow, I admired her honest flaws. I know we all have this fear of not belonging and we'd be willing to go through lengths to feel accepted and that's exactly what Lexi was trying to do. And in that regard I could relate. So after the first three to four chapters, I went from disliking her to admiring her and rooting for her. I loved watching her grow into her own self and own up to being her no matter what anyone thinks. The journey of discovery she went through felt real and was heartbreaking at times. It takes a lot of courage to be who you are and that's exactly what Lexi has shown. 
I'm still not sure what I think about Lexi's father returning to her life. Again, this is one of those things I would've wanted to have been given more attention by the author.

Lastly, I love the writing. It's simple and direct with just the right pace. And although some of the minor characters are completely forgettable, Nolan is amazingly written. I think half the fun of reading this book came from him. I've always wanted to see a platonic relationship between a girl and a boy. (Most novels and even tv series nowadays revolve around a boy and a girl bffs who turn out to be in love with each other and I'm kinda getting sick of it.) Some people say it's impossible but I believe if there's one other thing aside from family that's gonna withstand time and distance, it would be friendship. And I loved seeing the genuineness of Nolan and Lexi's. 

Overall, FAKING PERFECT is far from being perfect but it does have its merits and I highly enjoyed it. It would be really wrong of me not to recommend it.

I received an arc of the book as part of the tour.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Website │ Goodreads │ Twitter │ Facebook

Rebecca Phillips has been a fan of contemporary young adult fiction ever since she first discovered Judy Blume at the age of twelve. After a brief stint writing bad poetry as a teenager, she finally found her niche with realistic, coming of age YA. Her third novel, OUT OF NOWHERE, was a finalist in the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. She's also the author of the best-selling JUST YOU series. Her next YA novel, FAKING PERFECT (Kensington), is set to be released on June 30, 2015. 

Rebecca lives just outside the beautiful city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with her husband, two children, and one spoiled rotten cat. She absolutely loves living so close to the ocean. When she’s not tapping away on her laptop, she can be found vacuuming up cat hair, spending time with her family, watching reality TV, reading all different genres of books, or strolling around the bookstore with a vanilla latte in her hand.

Rebecca is represented by Carly Watters of P.S. Literary Agency.


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