Kassie's Book Thoughts: Blog Tour

Showing posts with label Blog Tour. Show all posts

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Blog Tour (Review): Freed by Lynetta Halat

Truth. Pain. Freedom. An awakening like no other. When life is determined to buck you off, dig in and ride hard. The bull. The most dangerous lies are the ones we tell ourselves. To survive, I have to face the truth. Easier said than done when it’s not all black and white. There’s the in-between, and this murky void is where I always tend to land. The horns. Lies don’t always hurt. My lies protected me, but when they are exposed and I can no longer outrun the many shades of truth, I’ll be in for one hell of a reckoning. The ride. From the outside, my life looks like one big adventure after another. But, there is no freedom in anarchy, and that’s the way I’ve lived my life. Until now. Until Ransom. Denver Dempsey was a slut for oblivion. Now, she’s a slut for love. And it’s that kind of thinking that got her in trouble in the first place. Ransom awakens Denver in ways she never imagined, but when her true feelings send her reeling, will they catapult her into the arms of Greer—her ex best-friend-with-benefits? After never loving anyone, herself included, she now loves two. One kept her alive. One teaches her how to live. If they didn’t both love her … if hearts weren’t bound to be broken, it would be the stuff dreams are made of. Will Denver remain locked up in the bullpen, or is she strong enough to open the chute and be freed?

My Thoughts:

We have all been emotionally USED by Lynetta Halat, but she has FREED us with a little more of RANSOM & DENVER in FREED :D!!! Let me just begin by saying that I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED reading more from Ransom’s POV in Freed, because in USED we only got a few chapters in his POV. Freed picks up a few days after Ransom proposes the agreement to Denver in USED.

Denver’s character has improved so much from the girl we got in USED. She still blames herself a little for how things went down between her and Greer, but she has finally realized that she shouldn’t put the blame all on herself. With Ransom’s help, Denver is learning to love herself, not take the blame on all the things that happened in the past, and she is learning how it feels to love someone in return. I loved watching how Denver’s character developed in Freed and how Ransom, her friends, and the new people in her life have helped her free herself of all her troubles.

I was TEAM RANSOM from the very beginning of USED, so I was freaking excited that Lynetta gave us a lot more chapters from his POV in FREED!!! I was already in love with Ransom, but reading his POV in FREED had me falling in love with him all over again!!! Ransom just has it all going for him. He is a hot bull rider and fighter that will have all the ladies swooning throughout the whole story, because he is just the ideal book boyfriend. In FREED we get to know more about Ransom’s family, and Lynetta adds a few little twist to his character that I was not expecting at all. But one of these twists just shocked me, because I was not expecting this from Ransom’s character at all lol.

Ransom and Denver’s relationship picks up where it left off in USED. They were both attracted to each other from the beginning of USED, but they just didn’t let their attraction towards each other develop into a relationship. By the end of USED they both become friends in a way, and Ransom propose the agreement to Denver. In FREED, Denver accepts but not for them to just have a relationship like the one she had with Greer, but to be together as Boyfriend and Girlfriend with the added Bonus of the BDSM. I was expecting their relationship to be a little hotter, since Ransom is into the whole BDSM, but it was not as hot as I expected it to be. I can't complain though, because I was still getting a little hot with these scenes. So I still enjoyed the hot moments between them and their relationship, because they are just the perfect couple. Ransom found the girl he wanted and needed and Denver found in Ransom what she always wanted. I just love RANSOM AND DENVER :D!

I have to mention Greer, since he and Denver were all close in USED. I liked Greer at the beginning of USED, but absolutely HATED his character at the end of USED. In FREED, my feelings for his character changed again, because I just felt sorry for the guy. It wasn’t completely his fault in the way he acted with Denver, but it was still not right to rape her. In FREED, he changes and realizes how much damage they both did to each other, and he is becoming a new and better Greer. So I can say that by the end of FREED I ended up liking his character again.

FREED is what all the TEAM RANSOM fans wanted and expected it to be- at least it was for me. I loved watching Denver grow and become free of all her the troubles and bad experiences in the past, and to have the happy ending with RANSOM. Thank you Lynetta Halat for not making this a love triangle, because that would have just killed me. If you have been USED then be ready to be FREED! If you haven’t been USED, then you need to go and start reading these books.

Final Verdict: 4.5 Stars

Her love of the English language prompted her to pursue a Master's degree in English from Old Dominion University in Virginia, where she also minored in snark and interpretive dance. She lives somewhere along the Mississippi Gulf Coast with her adorable husband, two amazing sons, and two loveable dogs. When she's not writing riveting stories, she likes to focus on her macramé art and her scouring of eBay, where she buys locks of hair from her favorite rock stars, most especially Bret Michaels and Dave Grohl.

May 5

May 6

May 7

May 8

May 9

May 12

May 13

Tabby's Tantalizing Reviews | Ginger Read Review | Kitty Kats Crazy About Books | Stephanie Book Reports | BeanieBrain Reader

May 14

TheSubClubbooks | Love Drug Book Blog | I Love Lady Porn | Recommended Romance | Book 2 Book

May 15

For the Love of Books | She Heart Books | Lustful Literature | Redheaded Bookworm | Biblio Belles

May 16

Friday, April 25, 2014

Blog Tour (Review): USED by Lynetta Halat

I am a slut. No worries. I've come to terms with it, and you will too. I’m not one of those girls who thinks she’s too plain, too fat, too skinny, too shy … no, I don’t have that kind of luck. I’m the girl who knows she’s just right for everyone. — Denver A reputation as a manwhore–with–a–heart–of–gold tends to precede me. But, I don’t do girls with issues, that is until this girl. It's this girl I want to fix. This girl I want to protect. And maybe … more. — Ransom Being in love with the same girl your entire life isn't all it's cracked up to be. She uses me in every way imaginable. How does she see me? I am her perpetual one-night stand. No strings, no attachments. Just mind-numbing sex ... for her anyway. — Greer Feeling like the life is being choked out of her in the small town of Anaconda, Montana, Denver Dempsey craves the escape that college offers … even if that means leaving her “best friend with benefits” and looking for a new way to forget. Thinking she's found the perfect hookup in Ransom, Denver's outlook on college is bright. That is, until Greer shows up looking for a second chance, and Ransom's interest turns to hatred. Love. Hate. Triangle. Who's using who?

My Thoughts:

Use or be Used.
Wow. Talk about a book hang over. This is one thing I love about Lynetta Halat. All of her stories and characters are always different. I will never get bored of reading her books :D! Whenever I finish one of her books I am always left wanting more! I'm so glad I discovered her writing last year when she debuted her book Every Rose.

I don't feel like me anymore. So what does that mean? If I'm not me, who am I?
Denver is a complete emotional and psychological wreck. Her mother, father, and the men in her mother's life have completely ruined her. Denver believes she is a slut because of her mother's reputation. This leads Denver to carry all of her mothers burden on her shoulders. She is even afraid to show even a little bit of love to other guys, because she is afraid that she will turn out to be like her mother. Denver believes that she is the only one to blame in the situations she gets herself into. My heart seriously broke for her character, because of all the suffering she endures since a young age and all the way to the present time.

Liking her too much...even beyond liking her...is the real problem.
Ransom is your bull rider in shinning armor :D! Ransom is hot, a bull rider, all tattoos, and he is all alpha male. I have never read a book in which the guy is a bull rider. I have read a few books where the guy is your typical cowboy, but not a professional bull rider- Kodos for Lynetta Halat. I loved him since the very beginning of the story. There are a few sections in the story told from Ransom's POV. I loved reading the from his POV, because we get to see how deep Denver affects him and how he struggles with his feelings towards her. Now, I was not expecting the revelation Lynetta gives us about Ransom's character at the end of the book! I just can't wait to get more of Ransom in FREED.

"If I let you go, I'll go blind. I'll see nothing, be nothing."
I don't know where to start with Greer or how I even feel about his character. Greer is sweet, romantic, and lovable at the beginning of the book. I did like his character but I didn't love him as much as Ransom. There was just something about Greer that didn't hit me in the right way, and this was before the big situation in the story. After that I just hated him so much that I just couldn't stand reading more about him, especially the letter-sorry all Greer fans. I will flat out say that his love for Denver felt more like an obsession to me. I just didn't like how Greer acted and treated Denver in Used. But I won't lay all the blame on Greer's actions here, because Denver is also at fault.

I don't want to want to be with Ransom. I want to want to be with you.
I hate love triangles, because they just get on my fucking nerves with the whole indecisive love and jumping back on forth from one guy to the other. In Used, Lynette didn't make it seem like a love triangle at all. Thank you for saving my sanity! Denver's relationship with Greer is sweet, innocent love at a young age. As they grow up it just becomes a toxic, obsessive, possessive relationship. I loved the sweet memories and moments they share, but when it gets out of control it fucking broke my heart. Denver's relationship with Ransom is all desire, lust, and control. They both want each other and Ransom knows he can give Denver the type of relationship she needs to heal. I can't wait to see where it goes in FREED.

A wrecking ball only goes the direction you send it. It was only fair that it'd had come crashing back into me full force.
Used by Lynette is a gut wrenching that has lust, friendship, loss, betrayal, hate, desire, and angst. The setting and the story stand out from all the other NEW ADULT genre. Used has become a memorable, favorite and out-standing read. Thank you Lynette for writing heart breaking and gut wrenching stories that never fail to emotionally affect me. I will put down any book to read any new release from Lynetta. The ending wasn't much of a cliff-hanger, but Lynette definitely leaves you wanting more. I want FREED NOW!

Final Verdict: 5 Stars

Since the dawn of time, Lynetta Halat has lived to read and has written innumerable stories and plays. A lover of good books, bad boys, and kickass tunes, she'd always dreamt of penning books that people could connect with and remember. She also has a secret penchant for wringing the emotions out of unsuspecting readers, and she collects reader's tears in much the same way that wine connoisseurs collect their favorite vintage. Her first novel, Every Rose, was the perfect catalyst to launch her into the world of publishing, effectively burrowing her way into the hearts and minds of readers throughout the world. Everything I've Never Had was her follow-up adult romance novel. Now, she has penned Used, a New Adult Romance that she hopes sinks its teeth into you and doesn't let go. Her love of the English language prompted her to pursue a Master's degree in English from Old Dominion University in Virginia, where she also minored in snark and interpretive dance. She lives somewhere along the Mississippi Gulf Coast with her adorable husband, two amazing sons, and two loveable dogs. When she's not writing riveting stories, she likes to focus on her macramé art and her scouring of eBay, where she buys locks of hair from her favorite rock stars, most especially Bret Michaels and Dave Grohl.

April 21

Books to Breathe | The Lusty Literate | Ginger Read Review | True Story Book Blog | Reality Bites! Let's Get Lost!

April 22

April 23

April 24

Mommy's a Book Whore | LJ's Secret Addiction | Tabby's Tantalizing Reviews | The Fairest of All Book Reviews | Redheaded Bookworm

April 25

Friday, April 11, 2014

Blog Tour (Review) & Giveaway: GUNS by J.A. Huss

Welcome to my stop in the GUNS by J.A. Huss Blog Tour :D!!! I can't believe this is the end of the Rook & Ronin Series :(. I'm going to miss all of these characters, but I hope there will be more novellas about these characters. For my stop you can read my 5 Star Review of Guns and enter the giveaway at the bottom of the post.

GUNS:The Spencer BOOK (Rook and Ronin Spinoff) By JA Huss

Published March 31, 2014

Contemporary Romance, New Adult-ish, Suspense

Synopsis:

THIS IS NOT A STANDALONE BOOK - IT IS HIGHLY SUGGESTED THAT YOU READ ALL THE PREVIOUS NOVELS AND NOVELLAS BEFORE STARTING THIS BOOK

Spencer Shrike is a man with a plan. Get in. Get out. Move on. He loves Ron the Bomb, and her safety is the only thing on his mind these days. But life is a tricky bastard, and conning criminals for the better part of ten years brings its own set of problems. Sure, Rook lied her way out of a sticky situation, covering for crimes Ronin, Ford, and Spencer committed, and getting them all off scot-free in the process.

But not everyone is buying Rook’s story, and Spencer is desperate to figure out who’s in town setting them up for a fall.

Veronica the Bombshell Vaughn has put up with Spencer Shrike’s shit for years and where has it gotten her? A big fat nowhere. No ring, no house, no kids, and no promises. In fact, Spencer is worse than ever—completely distant and moody. She’s done sitting at home, pining over a man she can’t have.

But she’s not opposed to fighting for him.

Ron the Bomb fights hard and she fights dirty, so she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get Spencer’s attention.

But now there’s another man in town with his eye on her. He’s got secrets too, but unlike Spencer, Bobby Mansi is more than willing to let Veronica in on them.

The entire Rook and Ronin series comes full circle. Every con, every lie, and every skeleton in the closet is back for one final shot at vengeance and the only way to set it right… is to get out the guns.

Buy GUNS by J.A. Huss:

Amazon ~ B&N

Add GUNS by J.A. Huss to your TBR Pile----> Goodreads

My Thoughts:

This was one hell of a ride and journey with all of these amazing characters :D!!!! I loved reading Rook and Ronins story in the Rook & Ronin series, and getting the chance to meet Spencer, Veronica, and Ford in the series. But I was ecstatic when J.A. Huss released the news that both Ford and Spencer were getting their own story, because even though they are secondary characters they stood out and grow on you. Now, GUNS was Spencer and Veronica's story and it was just an explosive hot sexy ride with a twist you never see coming :D!

A quick note: You should read the ROOK & RONIN series before reading GUNS, because J.A. Huss raps up the whole story of all the characters in GUNS.

Spencer Shrike ladies is a hot body painter, dirty talking cavemen and biker!!! If you are offended by curse words, then you should mentally prepare yourself to read GUNS because there are a lot of curse words that come from Spencer's mouth- notice that I didn't say not to read this book, because this is a must ;). I am a die hard Ford fan/pet, but Spencer really got to me and had me swooning, hot, and wanting more Spencer Shrike! If you read BOMB, then you know what to expect from Spencer's character in GUNS, because we get the same guy we got in BOMB and the few missing pieces to Spencer's character are revealed in this story. I have to say that after reading these missing pieces I feel even more in love with his character, because of how deep his love for Veronica aka Bomb is. I will say that some of my favorite scenes were reading his memories :). All there is left to say is that Spencer Shrike is on a whole different level from both Ronin and Fords character- he is my second favorite from the guys, have to stay faithful to Ford's character.

Veronica Vaugh is one of my favorite kick-ass chicks!! She does have a few problems and she did make me want to slap her a few times in the story when she got all jealous and when she was all sad, but this girl is tough. A few words to describe Veronica's character are explosive, tough, kick-ass, hot, sexy, sensible, and lovable. My heart broke for Veronica's character in BOMB, because she is the only girl in her family with her own personal problems, add the fact that Spencer ignores her, and she just feels that no one really listens to her. Now, in GUNS she is working for Spencer as his personal assistant and she is standing up for herself and figuring out what she truly wants in life and what will make her happy. By the end of GUNS, she is finally able to confront and deal with her personal problems, and she is more sure of herself and her self-worth.

Veronica and Spencer's relationship is one fucking massive explosive, sexy, hot ride :D!! This is seriously no joke. Veronica and Spencer's relationship is one of the hottest, sexual angst, intense, explosive, dirty talking, fierce, and explosive relationships in the Rook & Ronin series. I hate to say this, but their relationship is hotter than Ford and Ashleigh's relationship. I just loved everything about Spencer and Veronica together, because even though they do have a few fights and make each other jealous every once in a while, they are just one of my favorite couples in this series. They stand on equal grounds with their love and each others personality. Remember how I said I loved reading Spencer's memories? Well I loved reading his memories of the amazing moments he shared with Veronica. There is also one part in the story when J.A. Huss just made it epic between these two, and it's one of my favorite moments of Veronica and Spencer- but I can't say more or I will ruin the book :). All I can say is that whenever these two are together there are a lot of hot sex scenes that involve dirty talking.

GUNS by J.A. Huss is the hottest read from the ROOK & RONIN Series, because Veronica and Spencer are explosively sexy hot. Now, there is a twist that you will never see coming and had my jaw dropping to the floor, because I just couldn't believe what was happening. This is the perfect ending to the series, but I'm a little sad it is over. The second part of the Epilogue had me smiling and crying at the same time, because it just gives us a glimpse to the happy ending of each couple. I'm hoping there will be more novellas with the characters or more novellas where they make an appearance. J.A. Huss thank you for giving us Rook, Ronin, Spencer, Veronica, Ford, and Ashleigh, and for taking us through this emotional and suspense journey through each character :D!

Final Verdict: 5 Stars

BIO

JA Huss is the author of the Amazon bestselling Rook and Ronin series, the epic science fiction I Am Just Junco series, and hundreds of kid-friendly science books in subjects such as biology, physics, anatomy and physiology, astronomy, and forensics. She has an undergraduate degree in equine science and a master’s degree in forensic toxicology. She has never taken a creative writing class and she hopes she never will.

Follow J.A. Huss:

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

OTHER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

(99 CENTS) ROOK AND RONIN OMNIBUS: TRAGIC - MANIC - PANIC

AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1oufHcj

B&N: http://bit.ly/1gWoHGI

FORD NOVELLA: SLACK: A Day in the Life of Ford Aston

AMAZON: http://amzn.to/J3neRC

B&N: http://bit.ly/1eYQdSN

FORD NOVEL: TAUT: The Ford book

AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1dNTjse

B&N: http://bit.ly/1eb1yhl

BOMB NOVELLA: A Day in the Life of Spencer Shrike

AMAZON: http://amzn.to/1gRv6AH

B&N: http://bit.ly/1bWf59t

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, March 24, 2014

Blog Tour (Review) & Giveaway: Beautiful Failure by Mariah Cole

Welcome to my stop in the Beautiful Failure by Mariah Cole Blog Tour, hosted by Dreams Come True Promotions :D!

Title: Beautiful Failure

Author: Mariah Cole

Genre: New Adult

Publication Date:December 17, 2013

Tour Host: Dreams Come True Promotions

If you're looking for a heartwarming story about a girl who falls deeply in love with a troubled boy who changes her life--a sob story with pretty metaphors and a million ways that'll tell you how "broken" she is, STOP. Don't read another word of this.

I'm not that type of girl.

My name is Emerald Anderson and I'm not going to bullshit you: I flunked out of college after my sophomore year, I've been fired from every job I've ever taken, and I've never had a fully functioning relationship in my life.

I wish I could say that I had a cheerleader in my corner, someone who says, "No, Emerald--You're great and you are good at something!" but I don't. My grandparents are completely oblivious to my life, and my mother's dying words to me were "You're going to end up just like me one day. A beautiful nothing."

She was right.

As I decide to start my life over and take two jobs that will forever change me--one from the inside, and one from the outside, I keep my mother's words close to my heart so I can keep the sexy and mysterious Carter Black away.

He's the first man who's ever pursued me, the first man who seems bent on finding out why I am the way I am, but he's wasting his time.

I'm not broken. I don't need to be fixed. I'm perfectly fine being a beautiful failure...

Beautiful Failure by Mariah Cole is a beautiful debut novel! The story is unique and the characters are what makes the story beautiful, bittersweet, and a little heart wrenching.

Emerald Anderson has only known two things in life: 1) You can never have friends, but you can always have sponsors and 2) Use your looks to get what you want in life. These are the two things her mother engraved into her mind since a very young age. Once her mother dies she keeps these two things close to her heart, and this advice ends up ruining her and making her a beautiful failure in life. This is why my heart broke for Emerald's character, because her character is tough, independent, and strong minded, but deep down she is a little broken. She doesn't even realize the problems she has, because her mother always taught her and raised her to believe that nothing was wrong with the things they did together as mother and daughter, when in reality is what ends up ruining her. I loved Emerald's character because she is not your typical broken girl that doesn't know how to handle her problems in life, she is strong and when she realizes what her problems are she faces them head-on and comes out being a better person. I loved the person Emerald develops to be by the end of the book :).

Carter Black is just wow!!!! I believe I have just found another 2014 Book Boyfriend to add to my Book Boyfriend list :D! I instantly feel in love with his character in the story. At first it did seem that he was being stalkerish with Emerald, but I understand the guy- she is a tough girl to go beyond her walls. Why did I fall in love with his character? The things he did and the way that he did not judge Emerald for all of her actions and the things she has done is just admirable. Other guys would have just kicked her to the curve or used her for sex. But this guy is a true gentlemen in every way, but don't get me wrong he can get down and dirty too :). Now, here is the thing with Carter Black that will have me reading the second book...we don't really know his story!!!!! I thought that if I kept reading more I would soon find something out about him, but no that never did happen. So yes, Carter Black is a hot and sexy mystery that I can not wait to uncover in Beautiful Temptation (Beautiful #2).

Emerald and Carter's relationship just sort of happens. They first meet when she is working at a coffee shop- I think it's Starbucks, but can't remember- and they both instantly feel the physical attraction towards one another, but Emerald just acts that she is not interested. Here is another thing about Emerald's character, she doesn't believe in love because she has never been in love before. So the next time they see each other is just a HOT- I can't say how, because I don't want to give a lot away. Anyway once they start to hang out with each other they just end up being in a relationship. There relationship is just one of those relationships that makes sense, because they are perfect together and it just flows. I really loved reading all the breathtaking kisses, swoon moments, and hot sex scenes between these two. I can't wait to see what will happen with them in Beautiful Temptation :D!!!!

Beautiful Failure by Mariah Cols is just a bittersweet, unique, heart wrenching, and beautiful story! This is definitely a must read, so go add it to your book shelf. Now, I will admit that the ending was something that I was not expecting and had my jaw dropping to the ground. But I'm a little scarred to read Beautiful Temptation, because I have a feeling that I already know how things are going to happen, but I will still read it because I want to know more about Carter Black :D!