Tour Stop: Second Kiss by Natalie Palmer + Review

Did you uy miss me!? Yes, I know, I know. It’s been a while since we’ve had a blog tour around here, but better late than never, right?

Today we are starting of Natalie Palmer’s blog tour for her book Second to No One with a review.

A few things before we head that way…

What do you say we learn a little bit about Natalie first? This is what she has to say about herself:

I am a writer. But more importantly, I’m a mom, which is the best thing I could have ever hoped for in my life. I have three kids who amaze me every day with their little quips of humor and intelligence.  I can’t really applaud myself for how great they are, though, since I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing when it comes to mothering children.  But the fact that they’re turning out so awesome and I’m the one that hangs out with them all day makes me feel pretty good about myself.

I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah where I was spoiled to have the huge Wasatch Mountains in my backyard.  I graduated from the University of Utah with a major in English Literature but that’s boring.  The exciting part was when I met and fell in love with the boy of my dreams. He wasn’t my first or second kiss but he was by far my favorite and it didn’t take us long to figure out that life could never be as good apart as it was together. So we got married and have been living happily ever after ever since.

When I’m not attending to my homemaking and writing duties I love to exercise because it’s the only time that I have an excuse to listen to my music uninterrupted and as loud as I want.  I love all different genres of music but I run extra fast when I hear Dashboard Confessionals, Cold Play or Owl City on my iPod.  Besides music I love anything that has to do with water including but not limited to drinking it, skiing on it (in liquid or powder form), basking in the sun while boating on it and (these days) lazily dreaming while my kids play in it for hours on end.

So there you have it. I’m a wife, mother, writer and iPod blasting mermaid.  While my husband works his brains out I take care of our kids and conjure up storylines and characters and romantic turns of events.  And someday, if we’re lucky, we’ll be as happy as we are now.

Now, and before you run away on me let’s talk about the book!

What you need to know first is that Second to No One is the sequel to Second Kiss, the most adorable book in the world. So before you go thinking about reading this one do check Second Kiss first, because for one you would be totally lost and, second, it’s beautiful!

I fell in love with Second Kiss instantly (you can read my review here, by the way), so when I found out about a second book I went head first, and it did not disappoint.

Now it’s cover and blurb time!

“Things change. People change. Jess and I weren’t above it.”

Gemma’s first year of high school isn’t starting out the way she hoped. Jess is back from California and before she can memorize her class schedule their summer romance comes to a screeching halt. To add to her misery the gorgeous new girl in school also has eyes for Jess and despite Gemma’s unfailing attempts to win him back she keeps finding herself alone.

But when a late night car crash lands her a three month grounding and twenty hours of community service she discovers that there’s more to life than just romance and boyfriends.

Unpredictable and heart wrenching, Second to No One is the perfect continuation to the magical beginning of the Gemma and Jess romance.

Waiting On Wednesday: Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis

“Waiting on” Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights an upcoming release we are greatly anticipating.

This week’s selection is:

Book: Not a Drop to Drink

Authors: Mindy McGinnis

Release Date: September 24th, 2013

Goodreads | Amazon| B&N

Book Description:

Regret was for people with nothing to defend, people who had no water.

Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn’t leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it….

With evocative, spare language and incredible drama, danger, and romance, debut author Mindy McGinnis depicts one girl’s journey in a barren world not so different than our own.

Why I’m waiting:

I’ve been all to the apocalyptic-kind of books lately, so this one fits right it. And really, did you read that blurb? I mean, come on! This book sounds right about epic! Of course I want to read it!

And while we are talking about this kind of books, if you have any recommendations then please, do tell! I will be forever in your debt. 😉

So, what are you waiting on?  Leave a comment with your WoW link below and I’ll make sure to check it out!

Review: For the Love of Jack by Nicola Peterson

Book: For the Love of Jack

Author: Nicola Peterson

Published: December, 2012

My Rating: 1/5

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Book Description:

Tomaz Alexander discovers a love he thought he would never have, but would this love leave him a lonely man?

Amanita is in love with a man she cannot have and fears this love is going to leave her a sad and lonely woman.

Tomaz needs a mother for his child but can he trust the woman who jilted him?

My Review:

As some of you may know, I most of the time always choose books based on their covers. It’s a first inspection a book goes through before I decide to read it. But rest assured I’m not that shallow, so after the cover is a go I read the summary, and if that’s a go the book goes to my to-read list. There are too many books in this world, a girl has to base herself on something to narrow it down. Are we still talking about books here? Eh?

So! Against my better judgement I thought: “Hey, maybe I should take a chance, see where it leads.” And so I did. The story doesn’t end well…

Review: Someone’s Baby by Dani Sinclair

Book: Someone’s Baby

Author: Dani Sinclair

Published: May, 2001

My Rating: 3/5

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Book Description:

Gruff rancher Cade McGovern had been burned by love in the past and he had no intention of it ever happening again. But when he found an unconscious woman and her newborn baby, he had no choice but to open his reluctant and battered heart.

Someone had tried to take Jayne’s baby girl and had hurt her deliberately in the process. Where Cade came from, no one hurt a woman — and got away with it. So the solitary rancher made a vow to protect the two females suddenly thrust upon him.

But who was Jayne really? Because there was no way she could be the child’s mother — not when she’d been a virgin until she met him!

My Review:

Someone’s Baby is quite the book.

Jayne is a freelance private investigator with a baby, a baby that isn’t her own, a baby that she saved from being sold by a baby-trafficking ring. And now bad guys are after her.

I’m Still Alive…

Can we say yay, now? YAY!

Among the things that happened on the time I was away we can list the fact that I completely forgot how to make a post on this thing. And since it isn’t really hard, that should say a lot. It took me ten minutes to remember how to use it.

Moving on.

Life was crazy, I just finished my midterms yesterday and I have class on Monday all over again. Sucks! To those of you confused as to why I’m having midterms in July, let me tell you that here things are upside down. Just kidding… not really. Again, it sucks!

So let me just make a recap here. We are in winter, my classes start again on Monday, I have absolutely not time to breathe… anything good, you ask? Why yes! I got a couple of books while on my hiatus. Like these:

As some of you may know The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is my favorite book. Ever. And now I can read it on actual paper. GAH! I was jumping up and down when I answered the door to these books. And The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey is not far behind. I’ve heard too many amazing things about it that I did not resist getting it. So here they are. MINE!

What else did I do? Oh! I read quite some books. Something I could only accomplish by choosing to read instead of studying, something that  was not hard to decide as you might have guessed. 😉

So the next thing on my I-am-still-alive-to-do-list is read The 5th Wave, and then reread The Fault in Our Stars and then write reviews for all of the books I’ve been reading (too many Harlequin books for it to be healthy but oh well) and get this thing going again. Because I have no forgotten you guys!

We are baaack! Now, let’s party…  😉

Review: Charade (Games #1) by Nyrae Dawn

Book: Charade (Games #1)

Author: Nyrae Dawn

Published: October, 2012

My Rating: 5/5

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Book Description:

Nineteen-year-old Cheyenne tries to portray the perfect life to mask the memories of her past. Walking in on her boyfriend with another woman her freshman year in college threatens that picture of perfection.

Twenty-one-year-old Colt never wanted college and never expected to amount to anything, but when his mom’s dying wish is for him to get his degree, he has no choice but to pretend it’s what he wants too.

Cheyenne needs a fake boyfriend to get back at her ex and Colt needs cash to take care of his mom, so they strike a deal that helps them both. But what if Cheyenne’s past isn’t what she thought? Soon they’re trading one charade for another—losing themselves in each other to forget about their pain. The more they play their game, the more it becomes the only thing they have that feels real.

Both Cheyenne and Colt know life is never easy, but neither of them expect the tragedy that threatens to end their charade and rip them apart forever.

My Review:

Oh my god, I loved this book!

It reminded me a little of Beautiful Disaster at times, but it’s so much better. And this is said considering that I did like Beautiful Disaster quite some.

Charade is about this girl and this boy getting together in an attempt to hide themselves. Cheyenne needs to show her cheating ex-boyfriend that she’s better off. And Colt needs money to overcome his mother’s medical expenses. But neither are being truthful, with each other or themselves.

Cover Reveal: The Underground Witch (Incenaga #2) by Debbie Dee

Title: The Underground Witch (Incenaga #2)

Author: Debbie Dee

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal

Age Group: Young Adult

Book Description:

As the last of the Incenaga Witches, Emmeline has been tortured, abused, and forced to use her power to kill. But unlike the Incenagas before her, she has survived. With her freedom restored, she should feel safe, invincible even. After all, she has the protection of Erick’s army and a power strong enough to obliterate any enemy. Yet Emmeline lives in fear for the next person who will try to control her, and no one can seem to find the tyrant threatening to claim her.

Until it’s too late.

With everything on the line, and the enemy at her throat, Emmeline has no choice but to convince Erick she no longer loves him (or risk him following her) and disappear with the one person she vowed to hate. But when she finds a way to take back her freedom and fight for Erick, will Emmeline be able to use her power like never before? Even if it kills her?

In The Underground Witch, the second novel of the Incenaga Trilogy, Debbie Dee delivers enough adventure, heartbreak, and suspense to captivate readers at every turn.

Waiting On Wednesday: Project Cain by Geoffrey Girard

“Waiting on” Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights an upcoming release we are greatly anticipating.

This week’s selection is:

Book: Project Cain

Author: Geoffrey Girard

Release Date: September 3rd 2013

Goodreads | Amazon| B&N

Book Description:

Fifteen-year-old Jeff Jacobson had never heard of Jeffrey Dahmer, the infamous serial killer who brutally murdered seventeen people more than twenty years ago. But Jeff’s life changes forever when the man he’d thought was his father hands him a government file telling him he was constructed in a laboratory only seven years ago, part of a top-secret government cloning experiment called ‘Project CAIN’.

There, he was created entirely from Jeffrey Dahmer’s DNA. There are others like Jeff—those genetically engineered directly from the most notorious murderers of all time: The Son of Sam, The Boston Strangler, Ted Bundy . . . even other Jeffrey Dahmer clones. Some raised, like Jeff, in caring family environments; others within homes that mimicked the horrific early lives of the men they were created from.

When the most dangerous boys are set free by the geneticist who created them, the summer of killing begins. Worse, these same teens now hold a secret weapon even more dangerous than the terrible evil they carry within. Only Jeff can help track the clones down before it’s too late. But will he catch the ‘monsters’ before becoming one himself?

Why I’m waiting:

I’m not much of a thriller reader, I like to stick to contemporary or paranormal romance, but the cover got me, and then after reading the description I was trapped. It sounds seriously interesting and I’m really excited to read it. It’s not something I’ve heard before, it seems like a pretty original idea to me and I’m looking forward to checking it out.

So, what are you waiting on?  Leave a comment with your WoW link below and I’ll make sure to check it out!

Cover Reveal: The Liberator (Dante Walker #2) by Victoria Scott

Yes, you read it right! We are revealing the cover for the second Dante Walker novel, right about now. Are you excited? I sure am, and I haven’t even read the first book yet. Crazy, right? Well, you wouldn’t think so if you’d read the blurb for The Collector.

Wait. *Stares*

You haven’t read about The Collector, yet? *Gasp* Where were you? Living under a rock? Okay, that’s harsh. Mostly. But true. Anyhow. We don’t have a blurb for The Liberator as of now, but we’ll be getting one in April, excited much? YES! Still, here’s a note from the author, Victoria Scott that’ll get you by until you get to read the first book and then maybe, just maybe, help you cope with waiting for the second 😉

Hey guys! While I can’t reveal many details yet, I will say this book was enormously emotional to write. More action, new characters, higher stakes, and a whole lot of sexy. I hope you enjoy reading the next chapter of Dante Walker’s story!

By the way, Dante wants me to tell you…”Things only get darker from here, doll. Might want to hold my hand for this.”

Okay. I admit it, it might not be a very good help on the coping situation but it’s something. Right? *Shrug*

Are you wondering why I’m still talking? Yes? Have you guessed why? No? Well, it’s because Dante is MINE, so you better remember this as you take a peek at the newly released cover for The Liberator.  Remember it!

Now, without further ado, check it out!

[ARC] Review: An Act of Persuasion (Tyler Group #2) by Stephanie Doyle

Book: An Act of Persuasion (Tyler Group #2)

Author: Stephanie Doyle

Expected Publication: March 5th 2013

My Rating: 2/5

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Book Description:

For all the wrong reasons?

Anna Summers has always been more than Ben Tyler’s assistant. She’s even been more than his best friend. Too bad Ben didn’t realize it until after she quit. Now that he’s more like his old self after facing off against a life-threatening illness, he’s ready to win Anna back.

Of course, it’s not simple. One night Ben broke his own rule about getting involved with an employee. And now Anna is pregnant. She refuses to let him use the baby as a reason for them to reconcile. It will take an act of persuasion to convince her they belong together…and not only because of the baby.

My Review:

I’m not sure about much at the moment. I’m not sure how to rate it or how I really feel about this book.