Which ARC Am I Wishing For? ~ Feature & Follow #63

Feature & Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read where two blogs are featured. Click the links above to follow the hosting bloggers and featured bloggers. Enter your own post's link in the linky, then hop around to as many blogs as you can - find new blogs to follow and gain new followers as well. :D 

Follow me any way you'd like 

as long as you keep coming back! 

Q: If you could get an ARC of any book, already published, or not yet, what would it be? - Suggested by Words I Write Crazy  

A: Ever since I read the synopsis for The Body Institute by Carol Riggs, I've been dying to read it! I love science fiction stories where society has found a supposed solution to a problem, but the solution actually ends up causing more problems and raises ethical questions that aren't easy to answer. I love books that make me think what would the world be like if this really did happen? The premise of this story sounds shiver-inducing, and I can't wait to see what problems arise from being a Reducer. 

Here's the synopsis from Goodreads:

Are we our minds...or our bodies?

Meet Morgan Dey, one of the top teen Reducers at The Body Institute. 

Thanks to cutting-edge technology, Morgan can temporarily take over another girl's body, get her in shape, and then return to her own body - leaving her client slimmer, more tones, and feeling great. Only there are a few catches...

For one, Morgan won't remember what happens in her "Loaner" body. Once she's done, she won't recall walks with her new friend Matt, conversations with the super-cute Reducer she's been text-flirting with, or the uneasy feeling she has that the director of The Body Institute is hiding something. Still, it's all worth it in the name of science. Until the glitches start...

Suddenly, residual memories from her Loaner are cropping up in Morgan's mind. She's feeling less like herself and more like someone else. And when protests from an anti-Body Institute organization threaten her safety, she'll have to decide if being a Reducer is worth the cost of her body and soul... 

What ARC are you wishing for? 

The Legacy & The Missing by Necole Ryse ~ Blog Tour: #BookReview

Hello Donnie Darlings! Welcome to my stop on The Legacy & The Missing Blog Tour hosted by Diverse Book Tours. Click here to follow along with all of the tour stops.

Title- The Legacy

Series- Birthright Trilogy #1

Author- Necole Ryse

Release date- July 17th 2014

Publisher- Necole Ryse

Pages- 252

Genre- Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/YA

Source- Copy for review 

Purchase- Amazon

Synopsis

Nineteen-year-old Raevyn Jones has never worn a designer gown. She's never had access to unlimited champagne or chauffeured limo rides. But when she is dropped in the midst of the Black Ivy League - against her will - she has to pretend that everything is normal, as if she belongs. 

When her new friends start to question her sketchy past and her shaky legacy at Benjamin Wallace Fitzgerald University, the first Ivy League institution for African Americans, Raevyn realizes she will have to rely on her street smarts more than ever before. 

Raevyn starts to receive cryptic text messages and emails from an anonymous sender and she soon discovers that not only does someone want her to leave B.W. Fitz - someone also wants to end her life. 

The Legacy is a young adult mystery thriller sure to leave you on the edge of your seat!  

The Legacy is a quick story - you can read it in a couple sittings. I've been getting into YA mystery and thriller novels lately, and this series sounded interesting, and look at those covers! They're gorgeous and caught my eye right away. I'm also reading novels that tell a variety of stories about a variety of people. We need diverse reads! :D

When The Legacy begins, Raevyn is on her way to a prestigious Ivy League school for African Americans. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, the problem is she's being dragged against her will. Raevyn's dad pulled a lot of strings to get her enrolled, and she has to pretend to fit in because she's in some sort of trouble and there's nowhere else for her to go. She has to rely on her cleverness to make up for what she doesn't know. 

A really crappy situation all the way around. I think this book about gave me a heart attack - I was terrified Raevyn's secret would come out, that she isn't a legacy and had major strings pulled to get into the school. I kept waiting for her to be found out, and then I wasn't sure what would happen to her. As the plot unfolds, you find out more about Raevyn and why her dad forced her to go to B.W. Fitzgerald. 

Regina, Andrea, and Corrine are the three girls who taken Raevyn under their wing, yet she finds herself on shaky ground with them. There are moments where she truly has fun with them and they're like real friends to her, but then there's times where she feels out of her element around them. Think of Mean Girls. You never know where you stand with girls like those. Not really. 

Then there's the two guys at the university who both try to win Raevyn's affection - Andre from her French class and Jeffrey. Something about both of them seemed off to me, and I couldn't help wondering why Raevyn allowed herself to be romanced by them when she was still planning a future with the guy she was forced to leave behind - her boyfriend, Antoine, who's in prison and also part of the trouble she's in.

I was dying to find out why Raevyn's dad never mentioned he went to B.W. Fitzgerald, who wants Raevyn gone badly enough to threaten her, and what was going to happen next. What sort of trouble was she in with Antoine and could she really trust him? I wanted to uncover her family secrets as much as she did! All of these thoughts kept me turning the pages quickly, and the suspense ratcheted up several notches. The Legacy does end with a cliffhanger, and I'm looking forward to the next book.           

Title- The Missing

Series- Birthright Trilogy #2

Author- Necole Ryse

Release date- December 16th 2014

Publisher- Necole Ryse

Pages- 291

Genre- Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/YA

Source- Copy for review 

Purchase- Amazon

Synopsis

Reeling from her boyfriend's disappearance, Raevyn Jones is shocked to learn that she is considered suspect number one. To make matters worse, rumors are swirling that golden boy, Jeffrey Donnelly, isn't just missing...he may never be coming back.

And Raevyn is being framed. 

Her second semester at Benjamin Wallace Fitzgerald University, the nation's first Ivy League institution for African Americans, is full of twists and turns. With detectives closing in fast, soon Raevyn will learn not to trust anyone, not even the people she calls friend.

The Missing is the highly anticipated young adult mystery/thriller sequel to The Legacy!

   

About the Author

Necole Ryse graduated from Towson University with Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communications. Bored with life as an adult, Necole decided to follow her dreams to write fiction and she hasn't looked back. She enjoys chocolate covered pretzels, Criminal Minds marathons, and all things Harry Potter. 

Connect with the Author

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram 

Blog Tour organized by:

The Trouble with Playing Cupid by Tamara Philip ~ Blog Tour: #BookReview

Hello Donnie Darlings! Welcome to my stop on the Trouble with Playing Cupid Blog Tour hosted by Diverse Book Tours! Click here to follow along with all of the tour stops! :D 

Title- The Trouble with Playing Cupid
Author- Tamara Philip
Publisher- Vanilla Heart Publishing 
Release date- July 23rd 2014
Genre- Interracial romance
Pages- 97 
Source- Copy for review

Purchase- Amazon | B&N

Synopsis

One New Year's Eve, shy singer December Brown drunkenly texts her talk show host pal, Trace Randall, about her long time crush on the aloof actor, Tom Elmswood. Thinking the two celebrities would make a cute couple, he unwisely decides to play matchmaker...in front of a live studio audience. 

Things start to go downhill when Tom admits he's never even heard of December before. Now what seemed like a sure fire hit quickly becomes a flop. Will these two lonely hearts ever make a love connection or has this cupid's arrow missed its mark? 

The Trouble with Playing Cupid is a cute and sweet story that you can read in one sitting. December is a successful singer with a heart of gold. I LOVE December! I found her non-divaness refreshing, and she donates a lot of money to charities. She uses her fame and money to help others, and that endeared her to me for life. 

Tom is a British actor and a total heartthrob. I wasn't quite rooting for a romance between the two at first because during the appearance on Trace Randall's show, Tom seemed a little bit like a jerk and too aloof for my liking. Does he not pay attention to who other people are? He didn't even know who December is! I'm pretty sure IRL British actors know American celebrities. They mix. They mingle. I was kind of like, "How dare you, Tom!" See how much I love December??

"When he played the role of a self-indulgent vampire..." = best line ever! I laughed so hard when I read that about Tom! Kind of sounds like a Lestat-type character. 

When I realized there's more to Tom than what he shows on camera, I was on board for him to get together with December. I liked the buildup to their romance, and it was very sweet. 

The Trouble with Playing Cupid had me laughing, swooning, and cringing - sometimes all three at the same time. I ended up loving the characters, especially December's bodyguard and stylist. There was more telling than showing sometimes, but it's a short read, so I think it was in order to give background on the characters. I thought The Trouble with Playing Cupid was a standalone going in, but once I found out there's a sequel, I'm looking forward to finding out more about December's best friend and agent, Clarissa.   

About the Author

After spending most of her life in New York City, Tamara Philip decided to let love lead her on an international adventure, where she's met many amazing people and ate entirely too much. Tamara and her English-born fiance, Chris, now split their time between the United Kingdom and the Caribbean.

The Trouble with Playing Cupid is her debut novel, and writing has been her secret passion since childhood. Quirky female leads are her trademark. 

On any given day you can find Tamara telling people what to do, dodging wedding planning, and promoting her books including the sequel called, The Trouble with Romance. 

Connect with the Author

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads 

Blog Tour organized by:

The Beginning of Never by O.E. Boroni ~ #BookReview & #Giveaway @writersaremade

Hey Donnie Darlings! Welcome to my stop on the Beginning of Never Blog Tour hosted by YA Bound! Click here to follow along with all of the tour stops. :D

Title- The Beginning of Never

Series- The Never Trilogy #1 

Author- O.E. Boroni

Release date- April 26th 2015

Waves Corporation

Pages- 326 

Source- Copy for review

Purchase- Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iBooks | Smashwords  

   

Synopsis

Twilight meets Eleanor and Park in this contemporary romance story about a love that insists on forever. 

When Lenora Baker and Nathan Roque run into each other in their boarding school courtyard, they have no idea that they are about to begin a journey that will take them the rest of their lives to recover from. Both scarred from parents who were once in love but ended up destroying each other, they are sworn off the possibility that there can truly exist a love that will never end. 

But when with each other they find a passion so strong that it heals as powerfully as it burns, a love that will run out is no longer an option for them. Together, they discover just how far they are willing to go to preserve what they know they will only find once in their lifetime.

This is the start of their journey, and here you will come to realize, that falling in love is only the first part of the story... 

Though I haven't read Eleanor and Park yet, I have read Twilight, and the thought of those two books meeting together sounded irresistible. Though it says in the synopsis this book is a contemporary romance, I still thought there was going to be a paranormal element like vampires to the story, but there isn't one. I was actually relieved there weren't vampires to be honest.  

The Beginning of Never is a novel that may look and sound like it's a typical teenage tale of angst and woe, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. Rather, this novel is about working through pain, falling in love for the first time, dreaming of something better, and becoming who you want to be. The characters are realistic and have unique, individual voices, and I loved getting to know them.  

I'm drawn to characters who have lost a parent. It's something I have in common with them and am interested in reading how they deal with the loss. At the age of 14, I lost my mom to cancer, and it may seem strange, but I really like reading about characters who have that similar kind of pain to work through. I feel like I'm working through my own right alongside them. 

Lenora is angry. Very angry. I know what it's like to feel that way and not know what to do with any of it. Carrying all of that around is exhausting. She's been robbed of years with her mother, who died the day before Lenora's birthday three years ago. She doesn't handle her anger well, to say the least, and when her behavior becomes alarming, her dad sends her away to boarding school. There she meets Alex.

Alex's middle name is Nathan, and that's how Lenora refers to him throughout the book, so I will here, too. Nathan is hot and cold with Lenora, and while I may have rolled my eyes a time or two, I couldn't help thinking some teenage boys really are like that. Their romance develops naturally with some bumps along the way. There's bound to be misunderstandings between two people, even those who seem to be the most in sync, and with Nathan not terribly outspoken about his emotions, it makes it even more likely Lenora would find his behavior difficult to decipher. At times I found his behavior difficult to decipher, too. 

I wanted The Beginning of Never to keep on going and never stop. The writing is superb, and the characters were so vividly brought to life, I felt like I really did know them. I love this book like I do a dear friend. This book does end on a cliffhanger, but not to fear - the next installment will be out really soon. And I can't WAIT to get my hands on a copy!! 

  

About the Author

I currently live in England. My days are spent in the Project Management field while my nights are spent with books. I'm either reading them or writing the ones that I want to read. My favorite things and in this particular order are books, Korean dramas, ice cream, and people who smile through everything. I consistently tell people that these are the four things they need to be happy but do they believe me?

No! Well I believe me, and you should too.

Connect with the Author

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook 

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At the Heart of the Deep by Carrie L. Wells ~ Blitz: #Interview & #Giveaway

Hey Donnie Darlings! Welcome to the At the Heart of the Deep Book Blitz hosted by Xpresso Book Tours! Check out the book info plus an interview with the author below. :D  

Title- At the Heart of the Deep

Series- A Falling in Deep Collection Novella

Author- Carrie L. Wells

Publication date- June 23rd 2015

Genres- New Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Purchase- Amazon | B&N

Synopsis

Oceanographer Luke McAllister races to figure out why the ocean depth is changing off Florida's Treasure Coast. But before he and his crew discover what's transforming the deep, he stumbles upon an even greater mystery. Leagues below the waves, he swears he sees...a mermaid? 

Anya isn't allowed to get close to humans. But when a golden-haired researcher gets too close to her island, she can't afford to stay away. 

Together, this unlikely pair will seek to discover what's causing shifts in the ocean floor. While their new alliance is forbidden, Anya will risk everything to save her beloved ocean. The only problem is, she's not sure what's really luring her in, her love of the sea or the tempest Luke has stirred in her heart. Either way, Anya knows that the dangers facing the sea are nothing compared to what will happen to her when her father learns she's broken the merfolks' most sacred law. 

Can Anya and Luke discover what lurks at the heart of the deep before it's too late?

Interview with the Author

Q1: What is your favorite mermaid story or myth? 

Growing up in New England, it seems all stories were about the ocean. I know it is cliche, but I remember sitting on my grandmother's porch, looking at the water, and wondering if Marina, the "real" little mermaid was actually out there. I guess she started it all for me.

Q2: What was the inspiration for your mermaid novella?

I spend a lot of time down in Vero Beach, FL where my sister lives, and since it is on the Treasure Coast there are plenty of stories about buried and found treasure. I wanted to mix pirates with mermaids, and while I didn't quite do that here, this leads into the next book in my series, The Mark of the Mermaid, which does just that.

Q3: Cast your characters. If your novella was made into a movie, who would play your main characters? 

Anya would be a Drew Barrymore type, independent and a bit silly. I could see her tripping in front of Luke and just laughing it off. Luke, well, I wrote him with the surfer version of Matthew McConaughey in mind. Focused and fun, at home in the water, and cut!

Q4: What was most challenging writing about mermaids?

The challenge was determining how much time to put them on land. It isn't easy to offer mermaid human interaction in the middle of the ocean, so you need a plausible world where they walk on land. 

Q5: Ursula or Ariel?

Ariel's curiosity, but not her "sell my soul" naivete. 

Q6: What else should we know about your novella?

It's my first! I have plenty more in the works, but I'm busy reveling in this one right now.
     

About the Author

Carrie L. Wells crosses genres, writing everything from newspaper editorials and textbooks to paranormal romance novellas. Her first fiction publication, The Heart of the Deep, will release in June 2015, followed by Playing with Magic in October 2015. A New England native, she spent her childhood on the beach and inland, fishing and dancing, before moving to Florida. And while she doesn't tan, nothing keeps her from a walk on the beach.

Carrie earned her Master's degree in English with a minor in Psychology from Hardin-Simmons University and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida. With a love of chocolate, books, and her family, Carrie braves the world and chaos only children can bring. She currently lives in Florida with her fire-medic hubby and three children. She is an English instructor at Eastern Florida State College. 

Connect with the Author 

Blog | Facebook | Pinterest 

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