Brazen Blast

Looking for some naughty reads that are oh-so-nice? Welcome the newest Brazen releases to your ereader today!

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Crashed Out by Tessa Bailey

Jasmine

Taveras is the reason Sarge Purcell grabbed his six-string and bailed the hell

out of New Jersey four years ago. She's the fuel for every song he's ever

written—each one laced with bitter, hard-edged, hungry lust. Now, with

his hugely successful band on temporary hiatus, Sarge is determined to prove to

Jasmine that this “kid” turned into every inch the man she's always needed...

Men

are slim pickings for a single factory girl in Hook, New Jersey…until tall,

broad-shouldered hotness walks—or rather storms—into Jasmine's life.

Sarge's return shouldn't affect her this way. He's her best friend's much

younger kid brother, and the kind of rough, gritty, sexiness Jasmine has no

right to taste for herself. Even if he lets her.

But lust is a blinding,

insatiable force. And when it crashes, it will take both Sarge and Jasmine down

with it...     

Find your copy of Crashed Out by Tessa Bailey: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Entangled | Goodreads

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His to Take by Katee Robert

Erin Robinson is having an epically bad year. Her blossoming career on Broadway tanked, forcing her to crawl back to home to Wellington. The icing on her failure cake? Her former on-again, off-again fling is in town, and the sexy Marine is taking up way too much space.

Warren Davis always knew Erin was special, which is exactly why he can’t have her. A girl like her deserves something permanent—something neither of them wants. But now that they’re both back in town and she’s right there in front of him, a challenge in her eyes he’s never been able to resist, he’s questioning everything.

That challenge quickly escalates into an epic game of Truth or Dare. Erin’s sure she’s got him on lock, but as the night progresses, Warren’s dares intensify, drowning her in lust. But with the past still breathing down their necks, there’s no way either of them can win…

Find your copy of His to Take by Katee Robert: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Entangled | Goodreads

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Say You're Mine by Diane Alberts

Navy SEAL Steven Thomas has only ever been able to count on three things: waking up in the morning, going to sleep sometime during the night, and Lauren Brixton. She’s been his best friend since grade school, and what they have is the only relationship he’s managed not to ruin.

Until one drunken night puts that all in jeopardy.

Lauren’s watched Steven flit from one-night stand to one-night stand, seemingly not interested in something more. So when the long-ignored attraction between the two of them blows up in their faces, she does the only thing she can—she pretends she doesn’t want him. But all’s fair in love and war, and Steven’s not about to lose the only person in his life who matters…

Find your copy of Say You're Mine by Diane Alberts: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Entangled | Goodreads

Review: Hannah Both Ways - Rosie Greenway

 

A devastating Twitter prank yanks Hannah out of the popular crowd and turns her into the high school’s best bad joke. Determined to finish the year and graduate, Hannah must keep the humiliating details from her impulsive mother—who just might pack up their belongings and move. Again.

Hannah hovers below the radar by submersing herself in a new routine. Post-it notes, Dewey Decimal numbers and carefully planned trips to the library are her refuge. That is, until a persistent new student invades her space. Lucas has complete disregard for Hannah’s cynicism and snark, and he seems to know the bullies who targeted her. Can Hannah trust him, or is he part of another ploy to torment her?

Link to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27218824-hannah-both-ways

Purchase Links:

BAM | Chapters | Amazon | B&N | TBD ~*~

Oh Hannah Both Ways, I am so, so very glad I pushed past the slowish start to get to the meat of you!  I adore this book.  It’s such a wonderful, and true to life portrayal of the ups and downs of modern day high school.  As horrible as it sounds, I found Greenway’s skill with using social media, and it’s wildfire rumor mill, fantastic; because she took into mind, exactly how devastating it can be.

Further, I found not only Hannah and Lucas to be superbly wrought characters, each with very distinctive mannerisms; from Hannah’s grounding technique using the dewey decimal system, to Lucas’ ‘wise beyond his years’ feel - but, also, all of the secondary characters Greenway populated the novel with equally as well fleshed out.

While I feel that Hannah Both Ways and Greenways writing will appeal to not only fans of John Green and XX, and the contemporary side of today’s YA world, I do worry that the slower pacing and start to the story might lose a few readers.  That being said, I highly recommend Hannah Both Ways, both for its take of how social media influences our world, and for the sweet romance.  I cannot wait to get my hands on Greenway’s next book!

-Physical copy provided by publisher, in exchange for review during blog tour

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About the Author

Rosie Greenway grew up on the outskirts of Toronto, and continues to live and work in the GTA with her husband and family. After spending her formative years public-school hopping, Rosie attended the University of Toronto, specializing in English literature.  A former English teacher, Rosie now finds herself putting into practice the many lessons she used to impart to the students in her class room. While she has often turned to writing as a way to relax and unwind, Hannah Both Ways is her first foray into the world of Young Adult publishing.

When she isn’t writing, Rosie is an avid traveler, armchair film critic, enthusiastic foodie and voracious reader.  She is a passionate literacy advocate and one of her greatest achievements is instilling in her daughter the joy of reading.

You can connect with Rosie on Twitter @Rosie_Greenway.

Connect with the Author:   Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads Giveaway!!

• Two (2) winners will received a physical copy of Hannah Both Ways by Rosie Greenway (US/Canada)
• Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of Hannah Both Ways by Rosie Greenway (INT)

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Guest Post: Claire Daly

Title: Claire Daly: Reluctant Soul Saver 

Author: Michele Brouder

ISBN: 9781515080503

Publication Date:  September 20, 2015

Genre:  YA, Paranormal Romance



When seventeen year-old librarian wannabe Claire Daly is dragged kicking, screaming and cursing from everything she loves—her mam, her cozy Irish village and the dreamy boy next door—to take up arms in the battle of good versus evil, she learns the hard way that sometimes you don’t get to choose your own destiny, destiny chooses you.

 

Claire’s life plan is simple: head off to university to get her degree in library studies, summon up the courage to tell her best friend Chas that she loves him and live happily ever after. She never once entertained the idea that she might possess divine powers, that she might be predestined to battle Hell’s demons, or, to complicate matters further, that another love of many lives past might turn up on her doorstep. But life doesn’t always go as planned, and when a co-worker is viciously attacked by a demon and her own family threatened, Claire must face the truth: she is called to a higher purpose and has no choice but to answer. Claire sets aside her dreams and begins learning how to deal with the Unholy once and for all. Armed with only a crash course in soul saving and her wits, she gears up for the ultimate show down in Hell. But will it be enough?

Goodreads

 

Purchase Links:

BAM | Amazon | B&N | TBD | Amazon UK

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Here’s the Thing About Destiny

(a guest appearance by Claire)

Here's the thing about destiny: she's a right bitch.

My destiny—when my life was my own— involved Chas and books, a lovely romantic notion. Have you seen Chas? I mean, flippin' hell, he is fit! He's tall and he's got this curly, auburn hair and he wears these little gold, wire-rimmed glasses, his arms are rock hard solid and....oh well, you get the idea. Now it appears, Destiny has another itinerary for me. It's like going on a cruise and expecting to sit around the pool working on your tan and sipping tropical drinks with little umbrellas in them and then being told that no, you need to swim in shark infested waters— while you're having your period. Rough. Instead of going off to college to become a librarian—my dream job, I am now expected to fight the Army of the Damned, The Unholy. How they picked me is beyond me, someone definitely fell down on the job. Do I look like a leader? I certainly don't feel like one. Have they seen me? I'm a freckled six-footer with major issues with my hair (See the book to see what the hell actually happened) Things with my hair took a definite turn for the worse. Besides, how can you fight something that you can barely see half the time? And to complicate things further, Destiny throws Ari into my life. Let me tell you, a British fella of Greek heritage can really wind you up. Have you seen him? Same height as me with this gorgeous sable hair that makes you want to play with it. I, mean seriously, his hair makes me want to throw the books out the window and pick up a hairdryer and brush. This whole destiny thing isn't straightforward and that makes it all the more maddening. The God I didn't believe in not only exists but is laughing his ass off right now as we speak. I'm 18 now and I thought for sure I'd be spending my days with books and my nights being all loved up with Chas. Instead, I'm picked to deal with things that are the stuff of nightmares. I see both a psychiatrist and a padded cell in my future. I mean, really, flippin' hell! The struggle is real.

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About the Author

I was born in western New York, the oldest of 5. I've loved reading since I was very little. From the age of 9, I've wanted to be a writer. In high school, I wrote a lot of angst-ridden civil war dramas ala Gone With The Wind, knowing more about the Battle of the Bull Run than a normal teenager should know. I dabbled in writing after that but didn't get serious about it until 2006, when I decided that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

I've had many interesting jobs but my passion has always been writing.

I lived in Ireland from 2006-2013 with my husband and 2 boys. We moved back to the US and settled in Florida briefly (2 years) before returning back to Ireland in August 2015.

 

Connect with the Author:  Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

 

Giveaway Information:  Contest ends December 4, 2015

 

·         One (1) winner will received a $25 Amazon Gift Card, a copy of Claire Daly: Reluctant Soul Saver, a book mark, a coffee mug, and some other stuff for 'readers' from the author (INT)

·         Three (3) winners will receive a copy of Claire Daly: Reluctant Soul Saver by Michele Brouder (INT)

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Review: Breath to Breath - Craig Lew

Title: Breath to Breath

Author: Craig Lew

ISBN: 9781939775085

Publication Date: November 17, 2015

Publisher: Relish Media

Source: publisher

Uprooted from his home and sent to live with his estranged father, seventeen-year-old William's world is feeling tenuous at best. When he's unexpectedly dragged into a situation in which he has no choice but to help an abused four-year-old boy, William’s world is rocked to the core as he discovers the truth behind the mysterious young boy’s stories of extreme sexual abuse. He and this boy are connected in ways William can't even imagine and as horrible memories begin to flood his consciousness, William’s rage drives him to steal a neighbor's guns, convinced he must kill those responsible for causing a boy so much pain and betrayal. How William finds the love and compassion he needs to make the right choices is the heart and pulse of this riveting verse novel. Inspired by a true story, BREATH TO BREATH explores what hurt and healing really mean: to survive you hold your breath, but to live you must exhale.

LINKS: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | The Book Depository | Goodreads

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As a long time fan of Ellen Hopkins' wonderful, gut wrenching novels written in free verse poetry, I was more than willing to take on the challenge of reading Craig Lew's Breath to Breath; especially after I found that Hopkins had read it and given it a glowing review.  That being said, Breath to Breath is definitely a tough read, because like Hopkins' work, Lew doesn't sugar coat the darker aspects of life, even when telling the story from the perspective of teen narrator William.

Lew's skill with verse makes this novel sing with emotion.  Each word on the page is necessary, no fluff words added to dull the message of growth and healing woven throughout the novel.

I found William an easy narrator to sink into, and empathize with - even when his soul searching and anguish was strong enough to bring me to tears.  William is so true to life, and real, that it was difficult for me to divorce myself from him when I put the book down for a breather.  I found, as I went about my day, that he was haunting me, and I absolutely felt driven to return to him to find out how his story would be resolved.

Breath to Breath is a difficult read, yes; however, it is a book I feel needs to be read, lest we behave like ostriches, burying our heads in the sand to pretend that such evils aren't found around us.  I have already added Breath to Breath to my shelves, where it shares pride of place with my Hopkins collection, Ilsa Bich's Drowning Instinct, and Tabitha Suzuma's Forbidden. 

~Digital ARC, and physical copy, provided by publisher, in exchange for an honest review

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ENTER TO WIN A FINISHED COPY OF BREATH TO BREATH

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About Craig Lew:

Craig Lew’s storytelling career began even before he had learned to write. As a child, he used his father’s tape recorder to capture tales about strange planets and scary creatures. His favorite story openings at that time were, “Once upon a junk yard heap …” or “It was a dark and stormy night.”

A movie producer, director, award winning author, illustrator, and screenwriter, Craig still favors a Hitchcockian thriller over a broad teen comedy. Regardless of the genre, he believes the best stories involve a hero who is either seeking love or giving love. At heart he’s a big, mushy romantic.

Craig spends his days with his fiancé in a house on a hill with the corgi land seals Yobo and Zeekie, a three-footed Boston Terrier named Moogie, and Smittens, the kitten with the marshmallow mittens.

I strive to spread good karma. Artistically, I enjoy pushing the envelope because I believe this makes more room in the middle. I believe the keys to success are dreaming big, working hard, and being nice.

LINKS: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr

Review: A Royal Baby Surprise - Cat Schield

Title: A Royal Baby Surprise

Author: Cat Schield

ISBN: 9780373734061

Publication Date: July 17, 2015

Publisher: Harlequin

Source: purchased

Chasing the man who broke her heart halfway around the world to tell him she's pregnant is the hardest thing Brooke Davis has ever had to do. But when she catches up with him, he's got a surprise for her, too: he's been hiding his royal roots. Nic Alessandro is a prince, and Brooke's an unsuitable match—but their attraction is hotter than ever!

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Oh Harlequin, you provide me with such wonderful ways to pass the time. :)

Although this book is part of a series - all about the Sherdana royals, oo-la-la! - I read it as a standalone and wasn't left feeling as though I was missing the entire backstory.

I enjoyed Schield's writing, and the story between Brooke and Nic.  Their romance felt like a real, believable connection and not one of the insta-love kind I find in a lot of romance novels.  My one major complaint in the story was Nic's need to repeat the name of his former project, the Griffin, every other page.  It got redundant, and irksome.

More of a novella in length, A Royal Baby Surprise was a fun, quick read with a well crafted HEA that makes me want to find a copy of the first book in the series and find out what I've missed.

Waiting for Wednesday #7 - Hannah Both Ways

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to get our hands on.

This week's pick is:

Review: Perfected - Kate Jarvich Birch

“All that mattered was how things looked on the outside.”

Title: Perfected

Author: Kate Jarvich Birch

ISBN: 9781622662685

Publication Date: July 1, 2014

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Source: publisher

As soon as the government passed legislation allowing humans to be genetically engineered and sold as pets, the rich and powerful rushed to own beautiful girls like Ella. Trained from birth to be graceful, demure, and above all, perfect, these “family companions” enter their masters’ homes prepared to live a life of idle luxury.

Ella is happy with her new role as playmate for a congressman’s bubbly young daughter, but she doesn’t expect Penn, the congressman’s handsome and rebellious son. He’s the only person who sees beyond the perfect exterior to the girl within. Falling for him goes against every rule she knows… and the freedom she finds with him is intoxicating.

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I’m a total sucker for dystopian reads, be they YA, Middle Grade, or Adult.  I love being moved and disturbed by the often times believable glimpses into what could be our future.  Especially when the stories take a turn towards the dangerous realm of human slavery, and the different facets of said slavery.

Perfected begins with a group of perfectly poised, posed young ladies with no names waiting to be purchased and taken to their forever homes.  Birch immediately draws you into the world she’s created, your heartstrings being tugged at from page one.  The concept she brings to page is one which I have to admit is a favorite of mine, even as it worries me that the thought of specially bred, or raised humans being considered less human than everyone else.

Ella very quickly wormed her way into my list of well crafted characters.  She’s just so naive and innocent, and yet sure of herself and her place in the grand scheme of things; until she starts developing feelings and emotions she’s not ‘supposed’ to have.

Without exception, I found Birch’s characters to be solid throughout the entirety of Perfected.  Even when I didn’t, personally, like the character they still fit the personas they were meant to.  From the anti-Pet ‘nut’ to the disturbing Congressman, every one was believable and added to the overall story.

If I had a complaint with Perfected it was that there were so many questions left unanswered.  Like, what event in history led to people thinking ‘oh hey, let’s genetically engineer girls affluent people can own to raise their status’?  How did Ella’s ‘childhood’ in the kennels go?  And, why aren’t there male pets?  I’m really hoping that some of my questions are answered in Tarnished, otherwise I may have to hunt Birch down to politely demand answers. ;)

-Digital ARC provided by publisher, in exchange for an honest review.