Weekly Reading Update 6/24 - 6/30/16!

Another week, another update! As always, click the title for more information.

I started out the week (or rather, the weekend) a little slowly. I had plenty of chores and family time on Friday, so I got barely any reading done. But I wouldn’t trade the time spent hanging with my Mom, Aunt, and dogs for anything. Then I had to work Saturday, and Sunday was spent with a long-time friend visiting for the day. Definitely worth the lack of reading time! But I did eventually get back into the swing of things.

So on to what I did actually read throughout the week… I started off with Rainbow in the Cloud: The Wisdom and Spirit of Maya Angelou by, of course, Maya Angelou. I picked this up because it fit one of my summer reading challenge categories, and it was short. But I was blown away by how much I enjoyed it. Very inspirational! A good pick-me-up read.

At the Reader Author Get Together at the beginning of the month, all attendees were given a gift card for Evernight Publishing, since several of the attending authors have their books published through Evernight. I shopped around through the site (not too much, since I know I could have easily spent too much!), and ended up purchasing a few different books by new-to-me authors. One of the authors was Jenika Snow, and I knew the name sounded familiar - she was an author of one of the free books I got in my goody bag. So I read the book I got at RAGT, A Beautiful Prison, and I’m even more excited for the new one I bought.

From that point on, I mostly just re-read old favorites, with a few others tossed in for variety. I re-read The Professional and The Master by Kresley Cole. A friend of mine stayed over one evening, and I mentioned those books to her as something she’d like to try - so of course, that just made me want to re-read them! And since I re-read those, I went ahead and finished the trilogy by reading The Player. I had this one pre-ordered, but I have held off until now.. And I loved it! Of course I did, there were grifters and con artists involved. We all know how much I love that!

Continuing my re-reading binge, I re-read Lead by Kylie Scott. I love the Stage Dive series, and really, it’s what started my love for rockstar romances. I think Lead is probably my favorite. There’s just something about Jimmy… Sigh. I love the rest of the guys too, but what can I say, I’m a sucker for a lead singer!

I also did some listening. I went out of my audiobook phase for a while, just listening to music, but now I am back with a vengeance! I read Ladies Man by Katy Evans, the most recent in her Manwhore series. It was definitely worth a read, guys. I love Tahoe! The audiobook was good, for sure, but I think I’ll have to buy the book so I can re-read it in the future. And speaking of re-reads.. I’m listening to Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover. This is probably my favorite CoHo book, and someone on facebook said the male narrator does a fantastic job. So, well… I figured I might as well give it a try! And let me tell you, oh yeah - he is definitely a good narrator.

See you next week!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Review: MINE TO HAVE by Jade Sinner!

Release Date: June 30th, 2016

Type: Novella, Erotic, 18+, Taboo, Series-that-works-as-stand-alones

About the Book: Max...

I didn't ask for any of it. I didn't want any of it.
I had a life. A playboy reputation and money to burn.
But then it happened...all the things I didn't want...
Most of my family gone—taken by a distracted driver.
My father's multi-billion-dollar conglomerate thrust upon me.
And her, Lacy, my niece (sort of), in need of a guardian.

Here's the moral of this story (the only one): life doesn't give us what we want.
Or does it?

Three years later...Lacy's an adult and right under my nose, almost literally. No longer a girl, she's a woman with sexy curves and a way of taking over my every thought. I know it isn't right—she calls me uncle—but then again...maybe it is time for life to give me what I want. After all, she was given to me. She's mine to have. Standalone, fun, short, sexy contemporary romance. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face and a notch in your bookgasm belt! [Description from Goodreads.com]

My Review: Okay, I'll admit, I'm one of those people that like to read taboo things now and again. Sure, sometimes the step-siblings things interests me, but only if they weren't raised together. I have some (not many), but some personal standards. So I probably would have given this book a shot anyways - but considering who the author is? I was 100% interested. I am a Jade Sinner fangirl, what can I say. For a new author (well.. a new writing team, I guess), I'm already in love. Or maybe lust.

This is a very sexy, hot, fan-yourself, short read. It is due to this that the characters are not very fleshed out, and their relationship moves fast. Mind you, when it comes to erotica, sex usually happens pretty quickly. Isn't that why we're reading it after all? If you want something in depth, simmering, slow burn, that kind of stuff.. you're definitely going to want to give this one a pass. But if you want a book that will fog up the windows, look no further than Mine To Have. Or Jade Sinner in general.

In my personal opinion, I didn't love this one as much as Duncan: The Deal (see my review HERE), but it still left me squirming in my seat!

Cover Lovin': Yes, please! I do so love the jacket with no shirt combo.

Recommendation: This is one of those taboo-without-really-being-taboo books. So make sure you're aware of what you're getting into.

Final Rating: If I were to give this book a review solely for the plot itself, it would probably be a three or three and a half star read. But Jade Sinner knows her way around a sex scene, and I definitely got into it.. so that bumped it up to four stars.

Make sure to get your copy of Mine To Have by Jade Sinner from Amazon.com today!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. HTML

     

Max...

I didn't ask for any of it. I didn't want any of it.

I had a life. A playboy reputation and money to burn.

But then it happened...all the things I didn't want...

Most of my family gone—taken by a distracted driver.

My father's multi-billion-dollar conglomerate thrust upon me.

And her, Lacy, my niece (sort of), in need of a guardian.

Here's the moral of this story (the only one): life doesn't give us what we want.

Or does it?

Three years later...Lacy's an adult and right under my nose, almost literally. No longer a girl, she's a woman with sexy curves and a way of taking over my every thought. I know it isn't right—she calls me uncle—but then again...maybe it is time for life to give me what I want. After all, she was given to me. She's mine to have.

**These characters are not really related.

Warning: This is a fun, dirty book about forbidden love with a predictable HEA. If you like that sort of thing, it's guaranteed to make you grin. There's no cheating, and it's embarrassingly hot. We took a storyline that everyone has heard and pushed it beyond its limits. Then again, this quick read might not be for you, but if it is, we promise not to tell your secret.

If you decide to give Mine to Have a try, know you were warned!

Max will have you calling UNCLE!

 

AMAZON

     

    Jade Sinner is two friends, two New York Times bestselling authors, and two chicks with a secret. We like to write sexy, dirty books—the kind of books that would make both of our mothers blush. Since we don't want to see that across the Thanksgiving dinner table, we came together and created Jade. If you have a secret too—if you like to read books that make you not only blush but flush—if you like quick reads, hot guys, naughty love stories, super-steamy sex scenes, and the promise of always having an HEA (Happily Ever After) then we have the books for you. We won't tell your secret if you don't tell ours... Then again, if you like our books and you don't mind telling the world about our dirty little secret, by all means, please, share! We promise to keep writing until we have enough to keep you and your friends busy with bookgasms late into the night! You're welcome! FACEBOOK / Newsletter  

Review: HIS UNDERCOVER PRINCESS by Avery Flynn

Release Date: May 2nd, 2016

Type: Stand Alone, Royals, Hot Bodyguards, Suspense, Going Undercover - and under covers??

About the Book: Stylist Elle Olsen lives in fear of someone discovering her secret identity as Princess Eloise. But the men who killed her entire family in a bloody coup have done just that and now they’re coming for her. All Elle wants is to disappear into anonymity again, but the panty-melting billionaire who kidnaps her isn’t about to let that happen.

On the society pages, smoking hot financier Dominick Rasmussen is one of the world’s most eligible bachelors, but there’s more to him than meets the eye. As a secret resistance fighter, his one goal is to get Princess Eloise on the throne and restore the monarchy. The biggest problem? His stubborn and sexy undercover princess has no interest in ever wearing a tiara again.

Their goals couldn’t be more opposed, but neither Dom nor Elle can deny the attraction bringing them closer together. As the stakes rise and danger increases, they are forced to choose between love and country… [Synopsis from Goodreads.com]

My Review: Long-time readers of this blog might recognize the name Avery Flynn. I reviewed a few of her books eons ago, when I was just getting started. And I actually got to meet her last year at the 2015 Reader Author Get Together! Of course, that meant I looked her up again when I got home, and now I keep a close eye on all her upcoming works. I'm so glad I didn't miss this one!

All romance readers see the trends - the rise and fall of different romance tropes. I've noticed royals popping up more and more recently. It's not as prevalent as the billionaires, mind you, but it's happening. And this is a fantastic example of what I'd like to see when it comes to romances with royals (which is like dances with wolves, but cooler). I don't want the drama to just be that a royal fell in love with a commoner. Sure, that's sure to bring about some level of unrest, but I want more. And His Undercover Princess delivers. Yes, their relationship can't last because of her title - but more than that, her life is in danger. Now that, fellow readers, is some good drama.

And what I appreciate the most about this, is that Elle doesn't lose her fire. She's been on her own for years, and just because she's been found and is preparing to go back into her former role as princess, it doesn't mean she just sits idly by, waiting for it all to happen. She remains a strong woman throughout the book, with her own fierce independence. She doesn't need Dom (well, I mean.. she does a little), but she wants him.

I would have finished this in one sitting had my kindle not decided PDFs were strange and unfamiliar creatures. So once I got everything figured out, I went back to page one, curled up in the recliner, and just lost myself in this book. So worth a read.

Cover Lovin': Oh my!

Recommendation: After finishing this, you'll want to one-click the rest of Avery's books instantly - so be prepared!

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE stars (4/5)!! I've read a few royals books in the past, and this is a cut above the rest!

Make sure to get your copy of His Undercover Princess by Avery Flynn today!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Review: HOW TO TALK TO GIRLS AT PARTIES by Neil Gaiman

Release Date: July 5th, 2016

Type: Graphic Novel, Dark Horse, Science Fiction, Whaaaat?

About the Book: Enn is a sixteen-year-old boy who just doesn’t understand girls, while his friend Vic seems to have them all figured out. Both teenagers are in for the shock of their young lives, however, when they crash a local party only to discover that the girls there are far, far more than they appear!

From the Locus Award-winning short story by Neil Gaiman—one of the most celebrated authors of our time—and adapted in vibrant ink-and-watercolor illustrations by the Daytripper duo of Gabriel Bá and Fábio Moon, this original hardcover graphic novel is absolutely not to be missed! [Description provided by the publisher.]

My Review: First off, this story is odd and out there. But what else would you expect from Neil Gaiman? He is the king of "odd and out there." Weird is his version of normal. He knows how to take something that would be perfect normal, and shape it so that while you feel the strangeness, it doesn't really hit you until you're in the middle that something is wrong, or different. At first, I just assumed our narrator was so awkward that he wasn't really understanding what the girl was saying. But nope.

And second, you know what my favorite part about this was? The ending. It's left so completely open, that you're just sitting there, staring at the last page, waiting for it to give you some clue as to what the heck it all means. Gaiman does that to you. You sit there, wondering if you just missed something important. Like he has the secrets to the universe, and you just missed your chance to comprehend it.

And the art - the art is just as weird and angular as the story itself. Clearly, Gaiman and the illustrators - Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon - are a fantastic team.

Cover Lovin': Well done. The art is properly represented, and it only barely hints at the weirdness within.

Recommendation: You have to like open endings, and you have to like weird.

Final Rating: THREE AND A HALF out of FIVE stars! (3.5/5). An interesting, entertaining, fast read.

Make sure to pre-order your copy of How To Talk To Girls At Parties today!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

New Release: FOREVERMORE by Kristen Callihan!

       

Isolated and alone, Sin Evernight is one of the most powerful supernatural creatures in heaven and on earth. As an angel of vengeance, he hunts down the darkest evil, but when his long-lost friend, Layla Starling, needs him, he vows to become her protector. Even though she will be horrified by the man he has become.

Now a famous singer and the toast of London, Layla believes that Sin is only here to guard her from rabid fans and ardent suitors. However, the truth is far more sinister. Desperate to avoid losing Layla a second time, Sin will face a test of all his powers to defeat an unstoppable foe—and win an eternity with the woman he loves.

AMAZON / iBOOKS / B&N

               

Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal , best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Book Promo and Excerpt!: FOLLOW THE DOTTED LINE by Nancy Hersage!

Today I'm promo-ing FOLLOW THE DOTTED LINE by Nancy Hersage! And she graciously provided an excerpt, so check that out below. Buy links provided below.

About the Book:

A tale of endearing family dysfunction wrapped up in whopping good mystery!
Andrea Bravos is jolted into action when the ashes of her ex arrive in a burger box via the US mail. Andy’s quixotic adventure to find out what happened will upset the officials of several small countries, insult the founders of three major religions, give her four adult children acid reflux and lead her to assault with a deadly golf club. Bizarrely, the story is almost all true: even the avocados, WWII spy, IRS agent, palm reader and that spider. Move over Marple and Plum, here comes Andy!

Get your copy of FOLLOW THE DOTTED LINE today!

AMAZON 

EXCERPT:

Chapter 8

Cremains of the Day

“What the hell are cremains?” asked Lilly.

“It’s the industry term for ashes,” Andy said, after she got up and refilled the margarita glass herself. “Cremated remains. Cre-mains. Get it?” She waited, but the girls weren’t going to be sidetracked. “Okay. Okay. Here’s what happened. I just wanted to get some basic information. The cause of death. Did your dad have a will? Stuff like that. But getting that information is harder than you think without knowing just where and when he died and without, you know, technically being related to him anymore.”

“Oh, my god,” said an alarmed Lil, “you didn’t try calling Tilda, did you?”

“Me? Call Tilda? Absolutely not.” Andy shot optic daggers at Harley, who had no doubt about keeping his mouth shut this time. “All I had were the ashes, so I just went from there.”

“From there—to where, Mom?” Sam asked.

“Well, to at least confirming that he’s dead,” said Andy. “And that is what’s in the box. The DNA results from the cremains.”

All eyes now returned to Harley, who was still holding the FedEx package.

“They can get DNA from ashes?” Lil asked, skeptically.

“No,” Sam informed them. “It’s almost impossible to get DNA after cremation. Don’t you people know anything about science?”

“But this company we found online said they could test for DNA,” said Harley. “And we had to fill out a Cremains Acknowledgement Form and everything. And they promised we’d get most of the ashes back. For burial. Or whatever.”

“To be accurate, they said there was a 50/50 chance they could get DNA from their testing,” said Andy, trying not to look as ridiculous as she was feeling. “I thought it was worth a try.”

“We’ll that sounds like a scam, Mother. So I’m not even going to ask you what you paid,” said Sam. “Your bad. Now open the package.”

Harley tried to hand the box to Andy, but she waved him off. You do it, genius, she thought to herself, then said, “Would you mind?”

He dutifully slit the clear plastic wrap covering the cardboard with his fingernail and took out the paper envelope addressed to Andy. She waved her hand again, and he opened the letter.

“Read it,” she said, draining her glass.

“Dear Ms. Bravos,” Harley read. “Please find enclosed the laboratory results for the cremains testing performed by our company on the samples you sent us recently.”

“Wait a minute,” Sam interrupted. “Didn’t you have to send them a sample of Dad’s DNA for comparison?”

“Yeah,” was all Andy felt compelled to answer.

“So how did you get Dad’s DNA?”

“I, ah, had some,” Andy replied. “From a while ago.”

“You had some? Really? From a while ago? Care to enlighten us?” said Sam.

“Not really. But if I do, there will be no laughter, is that clear?” She could see Sam biting her lip in anticipation. “I mean it.” Both girls nodded agreement. “I have a lock of your father’s hair,” Andy said. “From when we were dating.”

Sam couldn’t help herself. A guffaw, if ever Andy heard one! She scowled back.

Lil put her hand on her mother’s and smiled affectionately. “I think that’s sweet.”

“Shut up,” said Andy. “Let’s get this over with.”

Harley continued. “The specifics of the test results are contained on page two of this letter. However, a summary of our findings indicates the following. Number one, the sample cremains were not suitable to extract for a DNA profile.”

“Bingo!” Sam said.

Having slipped from defensive to defeated in record time, Andy sighed audibly. “Would you mind, Sam? Let’s not make me feel like a bigger fool than necessary.”

Sam relented immediately. “Right. I’m sorry, Mom.”

“Want me to read number two?” Harley asked.

“Number two?” said Andy.

“Of the summary. Number two says, ‘The sample cremains show no signs of organic material and therefore do not, in all likelihood, include human tissue.’” Harley looked up, awaiting further instruction.

“Let me see the letter,” Sam said, taking the paper from Harley. She looked first at page one and then at page two. “It means the ashes are probably fake,” she said.

“Probably?” Lil wanted to know.

Sam grabbed the invoice. “The test cost $99, Lil. I doubt these folks can tell the difference between a corpse and cat litter.”

“But if there’s no organic material present,” Andy reiterated, reading the results for herself, “that means Tilda sent us dust.”

It took a few moments for the implications to sink in. And the one that sank in fastest was the bizarre behavior of the widow-in-chief.

 “Why on earth would Tilda send fake ashes?” asked Sam.

“Maybe she just wanted to keep his real ashes for herself,” Lilly theorized. “We all agree she’s weird.”

“Or maybe it’s her way of flipping us off,” Sam offered.

“Or maybe he’s not dead,” said Andy, trying to squeeze herself back into the conversation. It worked.

“Why would she pretend he’s dead?” asked Sam, genuinely confused.

“Who knows?” mused Andy. “She hated it every time Mitch tried to call your dad. She was jealous. Some women are like that. Especially women who marry a guy with children and don’t have any of their own. So she decided to tell us he was dead to get us out of their, you know, busy and satisfying lives,” Andy concluded, with what she thought was just the perfect touch of contempt.

“And you think a fake cremation would be okay with Dad?” Lil wanted to know.

Andy considered this and said, “I don’t know. I don’t know what to think.”

“Well,” Sam pointed out, “Dad still could be dead. These just aren’t his ashes. Whatever’s going on, this test doesn’t actually get us anywhere, Mom.”

The kid holding the faux remains raised his hand slightly, as if he were waiting to be called on before he spoke.

“What is it, Harley?” Andy asked.

“Why don’t you just call Uncle Mark? You know. On his cell. See if he picks up.”

Out of the mouth of boobs, Andy thought.

Sam picked up her phone and dialed.

“Hi, Samantha,” boomed the voice on the other end of the line. “What’s up?”

“Hi, Mitch. Sorry to call in the middle of work.”

“No problem.”

“Listen, I want you to call Dad.”

“Call him? How do I do that?”

“You have his cell number, right?”

“Yeah. But he’s dead, Sam. Remember?”

“I know. Just call the number.”

“Call the number? I don’t want to call the number.”

“Just do it, will you?”

“Why?”

“Mom had the ashes tested. They’re questionable. We want to know if he’s still taking calls.”

“Those weren’t his ashes?!”

“It turns out there’s room for doubt.”

“Well, that certainly creeps me out, Samantha. Why have I been nominated to make the call?”

“Because you’re a big boy, Mitch. Just do it.”

A long beat, as Mitch considered his responsibilities. “Okay. Hold on.” He clicked off, and the little review committee waited in silence. He was back on the line a minute later.

“Sam?”

“Did you get him?”

“No. The number’s no longer in service,” Mitch told her. “What does that mean?”

“Damned if I know,” said Sam. “I’ll get back to you.” And she hung up.

The possibility that Tilda Trivette might have been screwing with Mark Kornacky’s remains seemed to jettison his children into action in a way that the man’s reported death had not. In the two hours before Lilly had to leave for the airport to catch her plane back to Idaho, Team Kornacky came together in a rare show of unity.

 Huge thanks to author Nancy Hersage for providing us with an excerpt from Follow The Dotted Line! Make sure to get your copy from Amazon.com today!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Review: LIMBO by Dan Watters, Caspar Wijngaard

Release Date: June 7th, 2016

Type: Image Comics, Graphic Novel, Stand Alone, Single Volume, Science Fiction, Mythology, Technovoodoo

About the Book: A detective with no memory, no identity, and no manners. A femme fatale seeking escape from a powerful crime lord. A voodoo queen with a penchant for mixtapes and hi-tops. A goat-eating TV... A surreal neon-noir fusing hardboiled pulp with an 80s VHS visual aesthetic, dripping with neon and static. Collecting issues 1 through 6. Writer Dan Watters and artist Caspar Wijngaard are an up-and-coming creative team living and working in the UK. They are currently making their Image Comics debut with the surreal Neon Noir Limbo. [Description from Goodreads.com]

My Review: I'm so glad I took the time between finishing this and trying to review it. I think I needed to let it settle in my brain, to truly wrap my head around everything that happened. But one thought that for sure stuck with me - I still want more. I know this is it, or at least there doesn't seem to be any future issues in the works, but.. I'm not ready for it to end.

Limbo isn't really like anything else I've read. It's very much in the style of my favorite off-the-wall, quirky, beyond belief Image Comics titles. Honestly, if Image Comics publishes it, I will most likely love it. I haven't been let down yet. The techno weirdness reminds me of Saga, if it were set in the not-so-distant past. And the colors have moments that remind me of Five Ghosts. But despite the occasional similarities, Limbo feels wholly original and different.

I liked Clay. I really liked how magic was weaved into technology. A technoshaman? Awesome. A strange tentacled creature with a VHS port? Yes, please. A girl who practices voodoo by playing and dancing to mix tapes? Sign me up. Really, the only thing that kept me from falling 100% in love with this was that the wrap up felt too rushed. This could have benefited from adding one or two more issues, to really make it a cohesive whole. But with the time and space they had, I think the creators did a fantastic job creating a truly unique story.

Cover Lovin': It was enough to make me pick it up out of a line up of comics!

Recommendation: You need to like the odd, unlike-anything type of graphic novels.

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE (4/5) stars! Unique, original, and just plain strange. Loved it!

Make sure to get your copy of Limbo my Dan Watters and Caspar Wijngaard today!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.