Stupid Girl by Cindy Miles ~ Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the Stupid Girl Blog Tour hosted by Xpresso Book Tours! Click here to follow along with the full tour schedule.

Title: Stupid Girl

Series: Stupid in Love #1

Author: Cindy Miles

Publication date: May 13th 2014

Genre: New Adult Romance

Source: Copy for review

Purchase: Amazon | B&N

Only fools fall in love...

After her senior year of high school leaves behind nothing but heartache, Olivia Beaumont is sure of this: She's no stupid girl. She sets out for Winston College, promising herself that she will remain focused on her first and only love - astronomy. But all it takes is cocky sophomore Brax Jenkins and an accidental collision with a football, to throw her entire year off course. 

A quick-tempered Southie who escaped the inner city streets of Boston to pitch for Winston, Brax is known to play way more fields than just the baseball diamond. So, when his name is drawn to take part in his fraternity's hazing dare, Brax eagerly accepts the mission to take Olivia's virginity. But he doesn't plan on falling hard for the sweet and sassy Texas girl who sees right through his bad-boy persona.

As Olivia and Brax battle their feelings for each other, echoes of the past year begin to surface. A boy who once turned Olivia's whole world upside down reappears, and "harmless" pranks wreak havoc. Pretty soon the aspiring astronomer is on the verge of revealing her most difficult, heartbreaking secret. All the while, Brax must wrestle with the irrevocable dare, and Olivia struggles against all logic as she does the one thing only a stupid girl would do: fall in love.

One of my favorite songs in high school was "Stupid Girl" by Garbage, so the title and the cover of this book called my name. I HAD to read it!! The synopsis definitely drew me in - I wanted to know how Brax's dare was going to play out, and Olivia sounded like a super smart girl. Astronomy is not an easy subject - I took an intro class for an elective thinking it's a fascinating subject (and it is), but I had quickly drop it. The class was over my head. Stupid Girl is about a girl who is anything but stupid, trust me.   

Olivia Beaumont has lost trust in people, especially guys, after what her high school boyfriend did to her during her junior year. After spending a hellish senior year of high school, she moves a few hours away to college for a fresh start where no one knows her or anything about her past. There at college she meets Brax, not even ten minutes after arriving! 

I loved the way Brax called her Gracie (Grace is her middle name). While Olivia is a Texan, Brax is from Boston, and I liked how she teased him about his accent. He had a way of disarming her and slowly began crumbling the walls she had built up. I'm not sure why, but he felt protective of her. Though my first inclination was to roll my eyes when he thought about how different she is from all the other girls, he's right. She isn't like other girls at all. That's why I could really relate with her. I know what it's like to want to make a fresh start and to want to go to college to learn, not party.    

Olivia's roommate, Tessa, is as high energy as a tornado - she's fun to be around, and I loved how well she and Olivia connected right away. Girls can be bitchy to one another, so it was awesome that Olivia made a friend. While Tessa can be immature at times, she makes it clear that she'll always be in Olivia's corner, and I loved her for that. Her warnings to Olivia to stay away from Brax are so strong I wondered if SHE had personal experience with him...

Overall, I loved Stupid Girl and couldn't get enough of Brax and Olivia's banter. Both of them made me laugh more than once. I just enjoyed reading about them so much. When they weren't together, I counted the minutes until they were again. Stupid Girl flew by for me - I read it in one sitting and had no intention of putting it down. I'm definitely reading the next book, Stupid Boy, and highly recommend this series if you're a fan of new adult romance with a lot of heart and wit. 

My Rating:

Coming in 2015 - Stupid Boy

National bestselling author Cindy Miles writes edgy romance, ranging from contemporary love stories to sexy paranormals. A native of southern coastal Georgia, she loves reading (naturally), baking swoon-worthy desserts, traveling abroad, yoga, and classic rock. The cover for her upcoming New Adult romance, STUPID GIRL, was featured on USA Today's Happily Ever After blog. In the novel, a volatile mix of bad boys, sassy smart girls, dark secrets, and red-hot romance add up to one wild ride through college. 

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Memories from a Different Future by David Pandolfe ~ Nerd Blast with Giveaway!

Hey guys! Thanks for checking out this Nerd Blast for David Pandolfe's Memories from a Different Future, the second book in the Jump When Ready Series hosted by Jean BookNerd. I snagged a copy of this book a couple of weeks ago and am looking forward to reading this series!! Don't forget to enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a $15 iTunes GC!    

Title: Memories from a Different Future

Series: Jump When Ready #2

Author: David Pandolfe

Publication date: August 28th 2014

Publisher: Createspace

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal  

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository  

For Nikki, it feels like no time has passed since they rescued Henry's sister from her abductors. After all, in the in-between realm, time is completely different than for those still "living." Even though it's been almost twenty years, only lately has Nikki started crossing between realms again. She's been checking on Ian - the person they knew as Curtis before he jumped into a new life. Nikki hasn't admitted it to the others but she's been curious. Could Ian's life really be as good as it seems? Can she find the courage herself to try the other realm again despite what happened last time?

When Nikki suddenly starts receiving ghostlike visits from Curtis - all these years since he returned to the physical realm - she can't imagine how it's possible. She also realizes it has to mean something serious. Nikki soon learns that, three days from now, an incident on Earth will end Curtis's new life. Now, Nikki, Henry and Jamie must find a way to alter the outcome of a future event only they know will take place. They'll also have just minutes to make that happen. Otherwise, Curtis is going to die again, taking with him any hope Nikki and her friends had for starting over.  

David Pandolfe is the author of three novels, Streetlights Like Fireworks, Jump When Ready and Memories from a Different Future (Jump When Ready #2). His short fiction has also appeared in literary reviews.

While he's still writing about himself in third-person, David should probably also mention that he lives outside Richmond, VA, with his wife, two kids and a dog who's terrified of thunder (not the best situation since it thunders from spring until fall in Richmond). 

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Cross Me off Your List by Nikki Godwin ~ Cover Reveal!

Welcome to the cover reveal for Nikki Godwin's Cross Me off Your List (Saturn Series #2) organized by Lola's Blog Tours. 

Cross Me off Your List (Saturn series #2) By Nikki Godwin
Genre: contemporary
Age category: Young Adult

Blurb:
Spring break in Los Angeles with her BFFs has been Marisol's driving force to get through senior year. But when a falling out dents her plans, Marisol tucks the broken friendship into her back pocket with her cell phone and spring break bucket list.

Surf city Crescent Cove isn't exactly LA, but once she meets a tattooed brunette named Noah in the hotel elevator, Marisol really doesn't mind crossing off the items on her list without her friends - especially after Noah offers to help. Unaware that Noah fits the criteria for item #3 (meet a celebrity), Marisol is instantly thrown into the world of paparazzi, wild nights, and a spring break she'll never forget.

While her friends are making memories in LA, Marisol is making tabloid headlines. But after slipping a Spaceships Around Saturn secret to the media, Marisol has to fight hard to survive her fifteen minutes of fame and get back on Noah's good side before he crosses her off of his list for good.

About the Author:
Nikki Godwin is a YA/NA/LGBT author. She can't live without Mountain Dew, black eyeliner, and music by Hawthorne Heights. When not writing, she internet-stalks her favorite bands and keeps tabs on surf competitions. She adores pro surfer John John Florence and has made it her life goal to meet David Desrosiers of Simple Plan.

Author links:

 Website | Facebook | Twitter 

 Goodreads author page

Avery by Charlotte McConaghy ~ Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the Avery Blog Tour hosted by CBB Book Promotions. Click here to follow along with the full tour schedule.

Title: Avery

Series: The Chronicles of Kaya #1

Author: Charlotte McConaghy

Publication date: July 1st 2013 

Genre: Adult/Mature YA Fantasy, Romance

Source: Copy for review

Purchase: Amazon  

The people of Kaya die in pairs. When one lover dies, the other does too. So it has been for thousands of years - until Ava. For although her bondmate, Avery, has been murdered and Ava's soul has been torn in two, she is the only one who has ever been strong enough to cling to life. Vowing revenge upon the barbarian queen of Pirenti, Ava's plan is interrupted when she is instead captured by the deadly prince of her enemies.

Prince Ambrose has been brought up to kill and hate. But when he takes charge of a strangely captivating Kayan prisoner and is forced to survive with her on a dangerous island, he must reconsider all he holds true...

In a violent country like Pirenti, where emotion is scorned as a weakness, can he find the strength to fight for the person he loves...even when she's his vengeful enemy? 

Avery is a sweeping, romantic fantasy novel about loss and identity, and finding love against all odds.

 Now also available: Thorne (The Chronicles of Kaya #2)

Amazon | Goodreads     

The idea of dying in pairs immediately intrigued me, and I knew I had to read Avery. The very first line of the synopsis drew me in like a magnet in a powerful way. Not to mention the gorgeous cover. Not to mention I read Charlotte McConaghy's Fury and enjoyed it. She creates intriguing and original concepts for her novels, and I'm looking forward to what she comes up with in the future. 

Avery is told from four POVs - Ava, Ambrose, Thorne, and Rosalyn - but don't let that worry you. The characters are easy to follow, and you always know which character you're reading about because their name appears in bold before the paragraphs. Each character has his or her distinctive voice. 

Ava and Avery were engaged, and after Avery is killed, Ava was supposed to die as it's always been with their people. Except she doesn't. Her people shun her, calling her a monster, and even her fiance's family turn her away. Failing to kill the Barbarian Queen but instead is captured by Prince Ambrose. Ambrose and Ava end up stranded on an island, and if you think you know how this is going to play out, trust me when I say you're going to be refreshingly surprised. Their story is nothing like I thought it was going to be - it could have been very cliche; however, it was anything but. 

Ambrose's brother, Thorne, and Thorne's wife, Rosalyn, are weaved into the story as well. I strongly empathized with Rosalyn, who wishes Thorne would just love her. But emotions are seen as a weakness in Pirenti, and he doesn't know how to express them even if he thought it would be okay to do so. 

Ambrose grew on me - he's different than his people. There's something inside of him that's intriguing and waiting to be explored. I wasn't fond of Thorne, and especially not the way he treated his wife, Rosalyn. He was despicable to her. I loved Ava and her strength. She was broken after losing Avery and her home, but she was so brave. She felt she had nothing to lose, and her bravery came from that feeling. I loved Rosalyn, too. She might seem weak, but she just doesn't belong with the people of Pirenti. That was so clear to me. 

Overall, Avery was a fascinating read with fresh and original concepts. The pacing was a bit slow for me in the beginning but picked up not long afterward. This is a fantasy romance but is very different than anything I've read before, and I highly recommend you pick this one up.        

My Rating:

Charlotte started writing her children's fantasy series 'The Strangers of Paragor' as a teenager and has since gone on to publish five novels. After a Masters degree in Screenwriting she wrote 'Avery', the first in her adult fantasy series 'The Chronicles of Kaya', published by Random House. She now lives in Sydney, Australia, and has just released a new dystopian sci-fi novel called 'Fury - Book One of The Cure', published by Momentum. 

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My Flash Friday Entry #4

I participated in Flash! Friday again hosted by Rebekah Postupak!!! Last week I didn't win or get even an honorable mention, which has only made me more determined to put my best writing out there and kick some a$$. This time I didn't wait until the last minute - I swear, scrambling around trying to cut words is SO nerve wracking - and I think that helped a lot. We'll see on Monday how I did.  

If you'd like to participate, click the link above for the rules and come join us next Friday! 

Today we were required to do the following: 

• Use the below photo
• Include a death
• Word count between 140-160

Here's the photo prompt:

Typhoon Maid Thursday. CC photo by Shuji Moriwaki 

~ Last Breath After Coma ~

Ghosts of the past and memories too painful to bear haunt me as I stand on the riverbank gazing at water. A distant beeping temporarily distracted me but soon ceased. I can hear soft voices but know not to whom they belong. Still as a statue, I longingly strain to hear what they're saying. 

My mind begins to wander, and I think about how as a child my parents told me the same story every night. When I asked where it came from, they only assured me it was a story. But I knew better. 

Images of an accident in the water assail me, and instead of a river, I now see myself on a bed. My parents sit next to me but cannot hear me when I try to speak. They're telling me the story one last time as my heart aches for one last chance to say good-bye. 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 

I'm asking for constructive criticism please. What can I do to make my pieces stronger and stand out from the pack? 

Would you like to participate in Flash! Fridays? 

Let me know so I can cheer you on! 

Feature & Follow #57 ~ Who Should Get a Twitter Page?

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. Mingle and make some new bloggy friends! :D

Follow me any way you'd like 

as long as you keep coming back, lol! ;) 

I do like bloglovin' & GFC follows :D

Q:  Book character(s) you'd like to see with their own Twitter page - Suggested by A GREAT Read 

A: Anna Pierce from the Touched Girl Series by Robyn Jones 

 

When Anna was only five years old, she traded her voice to stop having nightmares. Imagine how bad those nightmares had to be for her to agree to that! She can also see the potential future of people she comes into contact with - also part of the deal she made. 

Eventually in the first book, the deal is off, and she must talk again. Can you imagine how much she would have to say? I'd follow her on Twitter for sure just for updates on her grandma and cousins let alone the vampire action, lol. 

And her Twitter handle? 

@TwirlingAnna