REVIEW: "Alone Forever: The Singles Collection" by Liz Prince

Disclaimer: I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Type: Graphic Novel, Comics, Autobiography, Memoir, Humor, Perfect for after Valentine's Day! Maybe?

About the Book: Liz Prince, author of the world's cutest relationship comic, "Will You Still Love Me If I Wet the Bed?", returns with a new comic about being — gasp! — SINGLE. 

Finally bringing her popular webcomic to printed form, Alone Forever explores the joys of flying solo, free to focus on what really matters: comics, punk rock, and cute boys with beards.

Drawn in Liz Prince's ultra-charming style, filled with self-deprecation and cats, there's something for everyone to relate to in this celebration of self-reliance in the age of OkCupid. [Description provided by Netgalley.com]
My Review: The awkward girl in me is in love with Liz Prince, because I feel like we would be best friends. And/or mortal enemies. Have you ever felt alone? Awkward? Started feeling like your cats are your only soul mates in the world? Then this book is for you. And maybe all Liz Prince books - I'm not sure, but I will be checking out more by her in the very near future.

Alone Forever is a collection of situations, former dates, and cat lady stories, showcasing just why Liz Prince will be alone forever. And anyone that has used OKCupid, or just met up with people in the "real world" will totally get how she feels in these situations.

A fun, quick read. Be sure to check it out!

Cover Lovin': Ha! Hilarious cover. I'd definitely pick it up.

Recommendation: For fans of humorous nonfiction, or graphic memoirs. Or maybe just awkward weirdos like me.

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE stars. Hilarious! Fun read, perfect for my Valentine's Day, or your any day!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda at Novel Addiction ~!~

REVIEW: "Rot & Ruin: Warrior Smart" by Jonathan Maberry

Disclaimer: I received a free, advanced e-copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Release Date: April 21, 2015

Type: Graphic Novel, Comic Book, Series, Zombies, Young Adult, Teen, IDW Publishing, I think I've heard this before..

About the Book: Brand-new adventures set in the world of Rot & Ruin! 

Written by New York Times best-selling author and multiple Bram Stoker award-winner, Jonathan Maberry, this all-new storyline continues events from the award-winning series of novels. 
We meet Benny, Nix, Lilah, and Chong as they travel through the Sierra Nevada mountains just one faltering step ahead of zombie hordes and one giant leap behind the plane flying through the sky that set them on their journey of discovery. [Description provided by Netgalley.com]
My Review: I'm going to start with what I didn't like about this, and end on a positive note. My biggest issue with this graphic novel was the cliched story line. There were some new twists on something I've seen several times in post-apocalyptic stories (SPOILERS: women as broodmares), but at this point, it's getting to be a cliche. The second the farmer guy mentioned "cows"... I knew what was coming.

Next issue: When I read the first novel of this series, I was excited because I knew it would be a great one to suggest to younger teen readers, especially reluctant readers. There were some adult themes, sure, but they were handled well. This graphic novel, however, I would be hesitant to hand over to some of the younger readers.

Now on to what I liked. Despite the cliched story, as I said, there were some new twists to make the story somewhat original. The art was very well done, especially in the fighting scenes, which can be difficult to portray. Clearly the story was good enough to keep me reading. All in all, this is a nice add-on to the series. But nothing spectacular.

Cover Lovin': Pretty good cover. I understand the dark spaces at the top and bottom, but it makes it feel like the cover is unfinished or lacking.

Recommendation: For fans of the series, and for zombie lovers. This can be read by someone unfamiliar with the Rot and Ruin series.

Final Rating: THREE out of FIVE stars. The story was compelling, but it was also pretty cliched and I knew what was coming. Not bad, but nothing spectacular.

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda at Novel Addiction ~!~

REVIEW: "Trees, Volume 1" by Warren Ellis

 

Disclaimer: I received a free, advanced, e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

Release Date: February 24, 2015

Type: Graphic Novel, Comic Book, Multiple POVs (sorta?), Science Fiction, Aliens, Intelligent Life..somewhere.

About the Book: Ten years after they landed. All over the world. And they did nothing, standing on the surface of the Earth like trees, exerting their silent pressure on the world, as if there were no-one here and nothing under foot. 

Ten years since we learned that there is intelligent life in the universe, but that they did not recognize us as intelligent or alive. 

Trees, a new science fiction graphic novel by Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan, Red) and Jason Howard (Super Dinoasaur, Astounding Wolf-Man) looks at a near-future world where life goes on in the shadows of the Trees: in China, where a young painter arrives in the “special cultural zone” of a city under a Tree; in Italy, where a young woman under the menacing protection of a fascist gang meets an old man who wants to teach her terrible skills; and in Svalbard, where a research team is discovering, by accident, that the Trees may not be dormant after all, and the awful threat they truly represent. [Description provided by Netgalley.com]

My Review: I found this graphic novel to be incredibly original. There are lots of characters I liked, and several I fell in love with during the course of the story. And about half of those had brutal endings - already! So the end of this book left me somewhere between in love and totally upset. Which is how a lot of good books end, really. 

Since this is the first in a brand new series, there is a lot of introduction the writer needs to get through. So while a lot happens during the course of this book, at the same time.. not a lot happens. This story is told by following multiple people in different parts of the world. As of right now, other than the Trees, we have little idea of what is connecting them. I, for one, absolutely cannot wait to see how it all turns out. 

Cover Lovin': Talk about eye-catching! This is an excellent cover. Doesn't necessarily tell you anything about the story, but it will encourage people to pick up the book and read the back!

Recommendation: For fans of weird stuff. For fans of speculative fiction and science fiction. 

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE stars. Loved this one. Couldn't put it down. And I cannot wait until the next volume to see where it's going!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda at Novel Addiction ~!~ 

Author Promo: AGAINST THE SKY by KAT MARTIN! and GIVEAWAY!

****GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED, THANK YOU!*****

Kat Martin is here again to celebrate the release of her newest book "Against the Sky!"

What Makes A Good Setting For A Story?

  On January 27th, the second book in my Brodies of Alaska trilogy, AGAINST THE SKY, stories about the rugged Brodie brothers, is being released.  

Though I usually start with either the plot or the characters, with these stories, the setting was an essential element, part of the plot before the novel was even conceived.    

It all began with a month-long trip my husband and I recently took to Alaska.  It was the second such trip, both of which involved traveling cross-country, staying in a tiny pickup camper.      

Every day spent out in the wide open spaces filled my  head with story ideas.  By the time we got back, I had the rough outlines for the Brodie brothers, Dylan, Nick, and Rafe, hot, rugged, outdoor hunks, and the women who tame them.

In AGAINST THE SKY, Nick Brodie is a former Anchorage homicide detective with a serious case of burnout.  He wants a new life, something that doesn't include blood and death.  Unfortunately when his neighbor, twelve-year-old Jimmy Evans, comes to him beaten and battered, claiming his father was murdered, Nick has no choice but to help him.

To make matters worse, Nick has a lady friend visiting from San Francisco.  Samantha Hollis, owner of the Perfect Pup pet grooming parlor, isn't cut out for the harsh life in Alaska.  Unwillingly swept into Jimmy's problems, she finds herself on a wild ride with Nick that leads them into passion and terrible danger.

Since I live in Montana, I was familiar with the mountain setting and much of the wildlife, but there is no place on earth like Alaska.  The beauty of the landscape filled my senses and the people I met along the way gave me ideas for some of the interesting characters who appear in the books.

To help orient myself to different locales, I use Google Maps extensively.  They have street maps, street cameras, satellite views, and still photos, all of which help me remember what certain places look like or help me see areas I haven't seen before.  Pretty amazing stuff.

Actually going there, of course, is the best way to chose a setting.  For me, there are places I couldn't write about without actually going there.  Alaska was one of them.

We spent a couple of days in Anchorage, where Nick worked as a cop, and visited the areas around it.  Nick's small house at Fish Lake was based on an area called Big Lake about an hour away from the city.

I do my best to choose a setting that fits my characters.  I try to pick fun, interesting spots so the readers will have fun with the story.

I hope you enjoy my Alaska hottie, Nick Brodie, along with city girl, Samantha Hollis, in AGAINST THE SKY, and watch for Rafe in AGAINT THE TIDE.  Till then, very best wishes and happy reading, Kat  

When Lane and Dylan work to solve the mystery, they discover a legacy of injustice and murder.  With danger stalking their every move, Dylan must risk everything to save Lane and his daughter and uncover the truth--before it’s too late.

AGAINST THE SKY

By Kat Martin

Release date: 1/27/15

BACK COVER COPY:

ALASKA. In America’s last wilderness there is no limits to what a man can do.

For detective Nick Brodie, that means keeping the perps off the streets of Anchorage 24/7. Nick has never backed down from danger, but after the horrors he’s seen, he’s definitely in need of a break.

Samantha Hollis never thought she’d meet anyone like Nick, especially in a place like Las Vegas. But after one reckless, passionate night, she discovers the charismatic stranger is everything she wants in a man. But can he ever be more than a one-night stand?

When Nick invites her to Alaska, Samantha decides to find out, never guessing the depths she’ll discover in him or the tangle of murder, kidnapping, and danger about to engulf them both …

SHORT BLURB:

AGAINST THE SKY is a fish out of water story.  Nick Brodie, an ex-Anchorage cop, is tough as nails, a true man's man, comfortable in the hard life in Alaska.  But Samantha Hollis, owner of a pet grooming parlor in San Francisco likes shopping at Sak's and a day at the spa.   Unwillingly swept into Nick’s problems, Samantha finds herself on a wild ride that leads them in to passion and terrible danger. 

It was fun finding ways to make their relationship work when they seem so very far apart. This one’s very fast paced, but it has a soft heart.  It turned out to be one of my favorites.

AGAINST THE SKY BOOK TRAILER VIDEO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxy5mi2cFJM

CONTEST

http://www.katmartin.com/contests/

BUY LINKS

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Against-Sky-The-Brodies-Alaska/dp/1420133845/ref=tmm_mmp_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1418677451&sr=8-1

BN

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/against-the-sky-kat-martin/1119437332?ean=9781420133844

Indiebound

http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781420133844

REVIEW QUOTES

“Against the Sky by Kat Martin sizzles enough to melt a polar icecap. She allows these two polar opposite to find that elusive chemistry that the world craves, but their differences present enough of a challenge that one wonders I love can conquer all or not. Kick in the suspense and danger from the Russian mob and voila! Romantic suspense!”

“Wow, the action scenes are so exciting. I never knew what would happen next.”

“The second book in Kat Martin's Brodie's of Alaska series delivers an awesome punch of suspense and romance.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatMartinAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/katbooks

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22046517-against-the-sky

Pintest: http://www.pinterest.com/westwrite/books-by-kat-martin/

Release Day Promo! "BETTER WHEN HE'S BOLD" by Jay Crownover!

 

We are thrilled to be able to bring you the Release Day launch for BETTER WHEN HE’S BOLD by Jay Crownover! BETTER WHEN HE’S BOLD is a New Adult Contemporary Romance novel being published by HarperCollins, and it is the 2^nd book in The Point Series. This amazing book releases today!! Check it out below then grab your copy.

 

Amazon ** Barnes & Noble ** iBooks ** Kobo ** IndieBound ** Other

  About BETTER WHEN HE’S BOLD: From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jay Crownover, comes the second book in a combustible new series, Welcome to the Point, that is sexier, darker, and better than ever. There’s a difference between a bad boy and a boy who is bad. . . . Welcome to the Point. In a dark and broken kingdom, a ruler has be fearless to control the streets and the ruthless people who run them. Race Hartman is just bold enough, just smart enough, and just lost enough to wear the crown. Places like The Point will always have bad things and bad people, but the man in control of all that badness can minimize the devastation. Race has a plan, but can he prevent total annihilation without destroying himself? Brysen Carter has always seen the real Race—a guy too pretty, too smooth, and way too dangerous. Basking in his golden glow is very tempting, but Brysen knows she’ll eventually get burned. She has enough problems without the risky danger and mayhem that comes with a guy like Race. Too bad Brysen faces a threat close to home that might be more dangerous than anything The Point has ever produced.. And the only person interested in keeping her safe is the one man she can’t allow herself to have. Sometimes being bold is the only way to stay alive. But can she let Race save her life . . . if it means losing herself to him?

  Excerpt: I wheeled the Mustang into the compound and watched to make sure the gates swung closed behind us. The security lights flickered on overhead, casting her in an ethereal, bluish glow. Everything about her was refined and pure looking. God, I wanted to mess her up. I wanted my hands in her hair, my marks on her skin, and my taste in her mouth. I wanted her to look as rough as she made me feel on the inside. No one had ever riled me up like that before. Maybe because I was so used to just getting without having to ask, and Brysen never offered that to me. I always had to ask her what the next move was going to be, and her answers often surprised me. She was not a sure bet, and I think the challenge of that made her even more desirable. “The lengths we go to in order to keep our family safe, to do right by those we love, is often a weighty burden to bear.” I got out of the car and went around to let her out of the passenger side. When I pulled her up, I pressed her back into the side of the car with the full length of my body and bent down so that my mouth hovered enticingly over the plump ridge of hers. “I would do anything for Dovie, anything. I have done things for her that made me hate the man I had to be in order to do them, but it was in her best interest. I admire you being able to put your own life down and pick up a different one out of loyalty to your sister, but somewhere in there, you need to remember she’s going to have to learn to take care of herself. She’ll eventually have to admit that your parents are fucked and move on with her own life. Dovie found the one person in the world to love who has the ability to insulate her from anything the Point wants to throw at her. Your sister will eventually have to find her stability as well. She won’t need you forever.” I saw something flare deep in those cerulean eyes, a spark of pain, maybe of realization that I was right, but then it was gone and she was pressing up on her tiptoes and sealing her mouth over mine. I let my hands glide down her sides and fall under her backside. She had the nicest butt on any girl I had ever seen, the nicest body really. There was no end to all her curves and dips, and anywhere my hands decided to land, they were filled with firm and sexy flesh. The brief glimpse I had had of her out of her towel the last time we were this close together had been enough to burn out the image of any other female I might’ve seen naked in the last few years. All I could see was Brysen and her pretty, pale skin, her high breasts with perfectly pink nipples, and her most private of places that were just at elegant and alluring as the rest of her. She was a blond bombshell and I could feel my body urging me to stop playing around and finally seal the deal with her.    

And don’t miss the previous book in The Point Series!

BETTER WHEN HE’S BAD

About Jay Crownover: Jay Crownover is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men and The Point series. Like her characters, she is a big fan of tattoos. She loves music and wishes she could be a rock star, but since she has no aptitude for singing or instrument playing, she'll settle for writing stories with interesting characters that make the reader feel something. She lives in Colorado with her three dogs.      

Website ** Blog ** Facebook ** Twitter

BETTER WHEN HE’S BOLD Goodreads ** Jay Crownover Goodreads

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Release Day Launch Party!! "FALLING FOR JILLIAN" by KRISTEN PROBY! **GIVEAWAY**

We can't wait to share this Release Day Launch for Kristen Proby's FALLING FOR JILLIAN with you! FALLING FOR JILLIAN is an erotic contemporary romance and the third book in the bestselling Love Under the Big Sky Series, published by Pocket Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Check out this amazing book below and grab your copy today!

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Booksamillion | Indiebound | iBooks

FALLING FOR JILLIAN Synopsis:

From New York Times bestselling author Kristen Proby comes the third romance in the Love Under the Big Sky series, featuring a veteran struggling with PTSD and the one woman who can help him recover—and learn to love again.

Jillian thought she was a city girl through and through; the fast cars, high fashion, and glamour—she loves it all. But when her ex tells her he’s having a baby with his new wife (after Jillian struggled for years to get pregnant), she hightails it back to Montana to cry on the shoulder of her best friend, Cara.

But in truth, Jillian would rather be comforted by someone else…specifically Zack, Cara’s brother-in-law. Zack is a veteran of the Iraq War who came back to the family ranch to raise his preteen son after the boy’s mother took off. He’s struggling to re-establish a relationship with his son, and warding off the demons of PTSD, which still haunt him. The last thing he needs is bold, brassy Jillian…but why can’t he keep his hands off her?

And don’t forget to read the first book in the Love Under the Big Sky Series… 

LOVING CARA

SEDUCING LAUREN

EXCERPT:

“Okay, plug them in.”

I run to the porch and plug in the lights, then run back into the front yard to see them.

“Oh, they’re so pretty!”

“Thank God they all work,” he says as he tosses the black shoe down to the ground and then moves carefully down to the ladder. “It would be a bitch to have to take them back down.”

“I checked them,” I assure him, and when his foot finally lands safely on the snow and he turns to me, I hit him on the arm. “You shouldn’t have done that! You took ten years off my life!”

I throw my arms around his torso and squeeze him tightly, then back away.

“No, you shouldn’t have been on that ladder. If I catch you on one again, I’ll spank your ass until it glows.”

My jaw drops as I gaze up into his frustrated face. For once in my life, I’m speechless. I scowl as I pull myself together and clench my fists. “You wouldn’t dare . . .”

“Put yourself in danger again and see if I don’t,” he replies calmly and crosses his arms over his chest.

“Did you come here to bully me?”

He sighs and pulls his beanie off his head, pushing his fingers through the messy brown strands. I want to sink my fingers in that thick, dark hair.

“No. I came because you won’t answer your fucking phone so I can apologize for the other night.”

“I don’t want your apology,” I reply and throw the extra lights and staple gun back into the tote and turn away, but he catches my arm and turns me back to him, takes the tote, and sets it down.

“I’m going to give it anyway.” His jaw is firm. “I had no right to kiss you like that in the parking lot for everyone to see.”

I jerk back, mortified. “You’re apologizing for kissing me?”

About Kristen Proby:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kristen Proby is the author of the bestselling With Me In Seattle and Love Under the Big Sky series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong, humorous characters with a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type; fiercely protective and a bit bossy, and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves.

Kristen lives in Montana, where she enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps.

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Author Goodreads ** FALLING FOR JILLIAN Goodreads

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Cover reveal!!! "ALL PLAYED OUT" by Cora Carmack!

Holy smokes are we excited to bring you the cover for Cora Carmack's ALL PLAYED OUT! ALL PLAYED OUT is a New Adult Contemporary Romance and is the 3rd book in the Rusk University Series, published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins. It is due to be released on May 12, 2015!! If you haven't had a chance to read this sexy, fun series yet, be sure to grab ALL LINED UP and ALL BROKE DOWN!

Pre-Order Your Copy Today!

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Add ALL PLAYED OUT  on Goodreads!

About ALL PLAYED OUT:

First person in her family to go to college? CHECK.

Straight A’s? CHECK.

On track to graduate early? CHECK.

Social life? …..yeah, about that….

With just a few weeks until she graduates, Antonella DeLuca’s beginning to worry that maybe she hasn’t had the full college experience. (Okay... Scratch that. She knows she hasn't had the full college experience).

So Nell does what a smart, dedicated girl like herself does best. She makes a "to do" list of normal college activities.

Item #1? Hook up with a jock.

Rusk University wide receiver Mateo Torres practically wrote the playbook for normal college living. When he’s not on the field, he excels at partying, girls, and more partying. As long as he keeps things light and easy, it's impossible to get hurt... again. But something about the quiet, shy, sexy-as-hell Nell gets under his skin, and when he learns about her list, he makes it his mission to help her complete it.

Torres is the definition of confident (And sexy. And wild), and he opens up a side of Nell that she's never known. But as they begin to check off each crazy, exciting, normal item, Nell finds that her frivolous list leads to something more serious than she bargained for. And while Torres is used to taking risks on the field, he has to decide if he's willing to take the chance when it's more than just a game.

Together they will have to decide if what they have is just part of the experiment or a chance at something real.

And don’t miss the first two books in the Rusk University Series…

ALL LINED UP, Book 1

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ALL BROKE DOWN, Book 2

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About Cora Carmack:

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

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