ARC Review and Giveaway: ANATOMY OF A PLAYER by Cindi Madsen

ANATOMY OF A PLAYER (Taking Shots #2)

by Cindi Madsen 

Age: NewAdult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Entangled

Add it on Goodreads

ABOUT THE BOOK:

This bad boy is about to get played…

After getting her heart broken by a player again, Whitney Porter is done with men. She’s focusing on her future career and her first assignment at the college newspaper: Posing as a sports writer for an exposé on the extra perks jocks receive. But Hudson Decker, the bad boy of the hockey team, is about to test her resolve. To keep herself from breaking her no-sex rule with the temptingly tattooed athlete, she decides to use him for a side project: Anatomy of a Player, to help Whitney—and women everywhere—spot a player, learn what makes him tick, and how to avoid falling for one.

With his life spiraling out of control, Hudson Decker’s looking for a distraction. When his teammates bet him that he can’t land the gorgeous but prickly new reporter, he accepts the challenge, boasting he’ll have her in bed by the end of the semester. But Whitney is so much more than Hudson expected, and soon enough, he’s in too deep. The last thing he needs is another complication, but staying away isn’t an option. One thing’s for certain: this girl totally throws him off his game.

BOOK LINKS:

Amazon

iBooks

Kobo

Nook

Google Play

BOOK REVIEW:

Rating: 3.8 of 5 stars

First of all I have never read any Cindi Madsen book before this (I know.. I'm lame). Nor have I read the first book in the series. So I went into this not knowing what to expect (but really hoping that this book is as amazing as the blurb suggests). And I have this grin on my face right now because the book turned out great!

I'm not going into details but I'm going to say that I enjoyed reading Anatomy of a Player a LOT. My only issue was Whitney's too judgmental attitude. I get that she's just trying to be careful and distance herself from "players" but the whole "I'm gonna judge everyone (male AND female) and see only their faults while I'm just here being Ms. Perfect" got kinda annoying real fast. (Would have given this a four-star if it weren't for that.)

Anatomy of a Player is your typical college romance. It's fun, angsty and romantic with a touch of drama. What I liked most was the two main characters' growth. Whitney and Hudson had a lot of growing up to do and the author wrote it in such a believable and authentic way.

But what I LOVE about AoaP? Hudson Decker. I don't think I need any explaining to do. I mean come on, even his name is HOT. Hudson is the bad boy jock who sleeps around. (Sounds like any hero you know?) But like most of my fictional boyfriends there's a lot more to Hudson than his reputation. I really like his honesty. He's not trying to be some person he's not but owns up to who he is. Aaannd his weird fascination over dinosaurs? Totally cute. Totally hot. I AM IN LOVE.

“I’m badass, my dinosaurs are badass.” 

Overall, Anatomy of a Player is a really enjoyable read. There wasn't too much drama which I liked and nothing particularly unique in the story which was fine. It was predictable but I had a great time so no real complaints there. Cindi Madsen's writing was amazing though so excuse me while I go devour all her books.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

USA Today Bestselling author Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she'd be even crazier. She has way too many shoes but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they're sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.

Visit her at www.cindimadsen.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter and learn about upcoming releases.

Cindi is the author of YA books All the Broken Pieces, Cipher, Rift, Resolution, and Demons of the Sun, and adult romances Falling for Her Fiancé, Act Like You Love Me, Resisting the Hero, Cinderella Screwed Me Over and Ready to Wed.

GIVEAWAY:
Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4a501259559/?

Review: THE LORDS OF VALDEON by C.R. Richards

THE LORDS OF VALDEON (Heart of the Warrior Book 1)

by C.R. Richards

January 7, 2016

Goodreads | Amazon

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A new series from award winning Author, C.R. Richards: The epic tale of two men begins. The first - a man of honor trying desperately to turn his country from civil war. The other - a boy struggling to discover his destiny before agents of evil find him first. 

Coveted by two ancient enemies of a long forgotten age, the continent of Andara holds the key to victory in an endless struggle for dominance. Eight hundred years have passed since the god-like Jalora struck a bargain with the first King of Valdeon. The Lion Ring, symbol of the covenant and conduit of power, gives its bearer incredible abilities. The ring's borrowed magic protects the people of Andara from covetous evil, but there is a price. As with most predators, the Lion Ring must feed. Only the blood of the D'Antoiné family line will satisfy its hunger. 

A rival for Andara's treasures, the Sarcion has waited impatiently for its time upon the land. Whispers of treason in the right ear aid its treachery. The King of Valdeon mysteriously disappears, leaving his lands in danger of a civil war by the hand of a murderous usurper. His Lion Ring is lost and the covenant is broken. The Jalora's power begins to seep away from the land. Evil's foothold grows stronger. Can the Lords of Valdeon, Sacred Guard of the covenant, stop the tides of war? Or will Andara fall into chaos? The future rests in the blood of a boy...

BOOK REVIEW:

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

This is not my usual cup of tea so yes I was pleasantly surprised when I ended up liking it. It wasn't particularly great but there was a lot going on that would keep anyone reading.

I've never heard of C. R. Richards before this. But after reading the book I have to say she's an amazing storyteller. There was world building, very descriptive sword fights and realistic characters. I admit the book may appeal more to male readers but somehow the author wrote it in such an interesting manner. There was a lot of excitement, action and suspense.

It sounds great doesn't it? It is. So why the average rating you say? Well it took me quite some time to really get into the story. I think it took me almost a week to finish the book because it started out really slow for me and I keep putting it down. It was very fortunate that it picked up pace halfway through because I was thinking of just DNF-ing this. 

Also the main characters didn't exactly made much of an impact to me.

I would like to see where the author takes the story next so yes I'll be looking forward to book two!

---------------------------

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A huge lover of horror and dark fantasy stories,

C. R. Richards enjoys telling tales of intrigue and adventure. Having began writing as a part-time columnist for a small entertainment newspaper, Richards has worn several hats: food critic, entertainment reviewer and cranky editor. She has now published a handful of novels, including Phantom Harvest - book one in The Mutant Casebook Series - which took home the EPIC eBook Award for Fantasy in 2014.  Richards beat out entries from the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and other English speaking countries. 

The youngest of five army brats, Richards was born on a military base in Utah.  She spent much of her childhood in the back of her family’s sky blue station wagon on trips to see her grandmother - who would show her how to spot faeries in the backyard.  “Sometimes she’d put candy in small silk slippers and tell us the pixies had done it,” says Richards. “She’s the one who gave me my love of fantasy creatures.”

Her most recent literary projects include the horror short story, Lost Man's Parish and the newly-released dark fantasy thriller, Pariah. She is an active member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and Horror Writers Association.

In January, Richards releases her epic fantasy novel The Lords of Valdeon, the first installment in the Heart of the Warrior series. Through her storytelling. Richards aims to reach lovers of fantasy who are exploring alternatives to the traditional status quo. Her message is simple: One person can be a catalyst for change. 

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Release Day and Giveaway: ANATOMY OF A PLAYER by Cindi Madsen

We're celebrating the release of Anatomy of a Player by Cindi Madsen!

ANATOMY OF A PLAYER

by Cindi Madsen 

Age: NewAdult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Entangled

Add it on Goodreads

ABOUT THE BOOK:

This bad boy is about to get played…

After getting her heart broken by a player again, Whitney Porter is done with men. She’s focusing on her future career and her first assignment at the college newspaper: Posing as a sports writer for an exposé on the extra perks jocks receive. But Hudson Decker, the bad boy of the hockey team, is about to test her resolve. To keep herself from breaking her no-sex rule with the temptingly tattooed athlete, she decides to use him for a side project: Anatomy of a Player, to help Whitney—and women everywhere—spot a player, learn what makes him tick, and how to avoid falling for one.

With his life spiraling out of control, Hudson Decker’s looking for a distraction. When his teammates bet him that he can’t land the gorgeous but prickly new reporter, he accepts the challenge, boasting he’ll have her in bed by the end of the semester. But Whitney is so much more than Hudson expected, and soon enough, he’s in too deep. The last thing he needs is another complication, but staying away isn’t an option. One thing’s for certain: this girl totally throws him off his game.

BOOK LINKS:

Amazon

iBooks

Kobo

Nook

Google Play

BOOK EXCERPT:

It was all I could do to wait until the door to Whitney’s apartment closed to wrap my arms around her and kiss her. “Lesson one,” I said against her mouth. “You don’t want your opponent to know your next move. Keep ’em guessing. Fake a little.” I tilted my head one way, then moved it the other and lowered my lips to her neck.

I backed her up a few steps and pressed her flat to the door. “Get them against the wall.”

“Then what do you do with them?” she asked, her chest rising and falling with rapid breaths.

I kissed her again, tracing her lips with my tongue before sweeping it inside.

She ran her hands up my arms and linked them behind my neck. “Mmm. I like playing hockey more than I thought would. Do I get to check you now?”

Before I could think of a snappy comeback, she dropped her shoulder and bumped into me, shoving me a foot or so before going for some imaginary puck. I grabbed her arm and spun her back to me—while she gave a halfhearted attempt at resistance, we both knew it was futile.

Her tiny squeal filled the air as I lifted her, my hands on the ass I couldn’t stop thinking about, and her legs wrapped around my waist.

“That was a pretty good check, but I’m afraid you’re going to need more extensive lessons.” I gave her a good once-over, my blood rushing faster through my veins as I did so. “I’m thinking full-body checks all around.”

She ran her palm down my whiskers, her touch calming even as it stirred up a lust-filled storm. “If we start this, we’ll never get to the article or filling in my hockey education, and I was serious about that.”

“You’re saying if I’m a really good tutor at hockey, you’ll give me a chance to tutor you in other things.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Who says I need tutoring?”

“Not me, baby. How about we tutor each other?”

“You never stop, do you?”

“I can go all night.”

She tried to pull off a reprimanding look, but she only held it a couple of seconds before a grin broke free. She gave me a quick kiss, then she unwrapped her legs and slid down my body—one long, heavenly drag that made it hard to remember we were about to stop the kissing. Her gaze dropped to the obvious bulge in my pants, and she exhaled a shaky breath. “Water. I think we should start with water.”

While she went to get the drinks, I sat on the couch and started going through hockey plays to try to get to a place where I could explain them. When Whitney re-entered the room, a gray and white cat trailed after her. As soon as he noticed me, he froze.

“He’s got a bit of an inflated ego,” Whitney said, “but he’s okay.”

I thought she meant the cat, but then she winked at me—right. I was the one with the inflated ego. There was a lot of inflating going on with me right now.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

USA Today Bestselling author Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting, revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she'd be even crazier. She has way too many shoes but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they're sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.

Visit her at www.cindimadsen.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter and learn about upcoming releases.

Cindi is the author of YA books All the Broken Pieces, Cipher, Rift, Resolution, and Demons of the Sun, and adult romances Falling for Her Fiancé, Act Like You Love Me, Resisting the Hero, Cinderella Screwed Me Over and Ready to Wed.

GIVEAWAY:
Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4a501259559/?




Check back tomorrow for my review of the book! =)

Guest Post: THE LORDS OF VALDEON by C.R. Richards

THE LORDS OF VALDEON (Heart of the Warrior Book 1)

by C.R. Richards

January 7, 2016

Goodreads | Amazon

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A new series from award winning Author, C.R. Richards: The epic tale of two men begins. The first - a man of honor trying desperately to turn his country from civil war. The other - a boy struggling to discover his destiny before agents of evil find him first. 

Coveted by two ancient enemies of a long forgotten age, the continent of Andara holds the key to victory in an endless struggle for dominance. Eight hundred years have passed since the god-like Jalora struck a bargain with the first King of Valdeon. The Lion Ring, symbol of the covenant and conduit of power, gives its bearer incredible abilities. The ring's borrowed magic protects the people of Andara from covetous evil, but there is a price. As with most predators, the Lion Ring must feed. Only the blood of the D'Antoiné family line will satisfy its hunger. 

A rival for Andara's treasures, the Sarcion has waited impatiently for its time upon the land. Whispers of treason in the right ear aid its treachery. The King of Valdeon mysteriously disappears, leaving his lands in danger of a civil war by the hand of a murderous usurper. His Lion Ring is lost and the covenant is broken. The Jalora's power begins to seep away from the land. Evil's foothold grows stronger. Can the Lords of Valdeon, Sacred Guard of the covenant, stop the tides of war? Or will Andara fall into chaos? The future rests in the blood of a boy...

Aaannd here's author C.R. Richards!!

The Good, The Bad and The Preachy

"Write an essay on the Theme of your assigned reading."

The most dreaded phrase a high school or college student could hear from their English professor. Why? Themes are tricky. If a novel is well written and the author does her job, the theme should be a delicate touch on the reader's mind rather than a smack in the face.

I'll tell you a secret. Most authors don't know how to express the themes of their books until we're forced to write those nasty pitches and back cover blurbs. Ask an author what their book is about in the early stages of development and panic will ensue. They'll either freeze like an old water bucket in January or launch into a fifteen minute nervous ramble about the character's back story. 

What is the book about?

Time spent with several cups of coffee over a synopsis of the book,  the author should be able to articulate the obvious storylines. I'll use my latest release as an example. The Lords of Valdeon follows two main characters:

·         Xavier the Wolf is third-in-command of the Sacred Guard. After their king disappears and his son has launched a plot to seize the throne, Wolf must take responsibility for keeping his country from civil war.

·         Seth grew up in a small island nation. His mother's murder reveals secrets about Seth's true identity as the child of two ancient enemy nations.

Okay. What is the book really about?

Here we go. This is the theme or message the author is given to share with their readers.

·         Xavier the Wolf - Show honor and integrity no matter how difficult the situation becomes.

·         Seth - One person can be a catalyst for change if they have enough courage to take the first step.

Once the author knows the true message of their work, they must resist the temptation to preach it rather than take the reader along on the character's journey. Take Seth's storyline as an example. Shaking people and demanding they stop being mean to each other doesn't end well. I show the reader what kind of person Seth is and why he's worth befriending. Eventually they'll know him enough to be affronted by the ugliness he experiences for being different. Perhaps someone will be inspired by his story enough to stand up and take that first step toward positive change in their own lives.

Authors are storytellers with a long and grand tradition of showing truth in our tales. Each of us has the responsibility to be true to the stories we're given and the readers we are here to inspire. Next time you finish a story that touches your soul, ponder this: If the author is the tool or conduit of the story, then where did the message actually come from? I'll leave you with this tantalizing question. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A huge lover of horror and dark fantasy stories,

C. R. Richards enjoys telling tales of intrigue and adventure. Having began writing as a part-time columnist for a small entertainment newspaper, Richards has worn several hats: food critic, entertainment reviewer and cranky editor. She has now published a handful of novels, including Phantom Harvest - book one in The Mutant Casebook Series - which took home the EPIC eBook Award for Fantasy in 2014.  Richards beat out entries from the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and other English speaking countries. 

The youngest of five army brats, Richards was born on a military base in Utah.  She spent much of her childhood in the back of her family’s sky blue station wagon on trips to see her grandmother - who would show her how to spot faeries in the backyard.  “Sometimes she’d put candy in small silk slippers and tell us the pixies had done it,” says Richards. “She’s the one who gave me my love of fantasy creatures.”

Her most recent literary projects include the horror short story, Lost Man's Parish and the newly-released dark fantasy thriller, Pariah. She is an active member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and Horror Writers Association.

In January, Richards releases her epic fantasy novel The Lords of Valdeon, the first installment in the Heart of the Warrior series. Through her storytelling. Richards aims to reach lovers of fantasy who are exploring alternatives to the traditional status quo. Her message is simple: One person can be a catalyst for change. 

AUTHOR LINKS:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads