Not Yet by Laura Ward Review

Hey folks! I sincerely apologize for the ridiculous past couple of weeks! I am so far behind on reviews, but fear not, they ARE coming! I have a special review for you guys today from a debut author who really rocked my socks off. Today on the chopping block? Not Yet by Mrs. Laura Ward! Here's some info about the book and the author before we get to my thoughts!

Emma Harris is learning that life is just a series of lessons.

Lesson #1: Nothing goes the way you plan.
Lesson #2: You can’t trust men. Especially not the pretty ones.
Lesson #3: Turns out, appearances are almost always deceiving.

Emma thinks she has life all figured out, and what she knows isn’t good. For years, she’s put her big sister, who was born with Down syndrome, first. Now Emma’s ready to start her own life, but fate has other plans. To do the right thing for the sister she loves, Emma’s dreams will just have to wait.

She doesn’t plan on meeting Landon — a rich, flirtatious jock, who never has to wait for anything. Not for attention, not for money, and certainly not for girls. Meeting Emma marks the first time in his life that he’s had to fight for something. And Landon doesn't know how to lose.

Emma has no interest in wasting her summer with a superficial guy like Landon. But very soon she realizes she is wrong about him. The question is, can she trust him? Or will he let her down like every other guy in her life? But most importantly, can Emma trust herself enough to live the life she's always dreamed of?

Life has a way of sneaking in the most important lessons when you aren't looking. And once the heart gets involved, that's when the real learning begins.

 

Laura Ward

Laura Ward lives in Maryland with her loud and very loving three children and husband. She married her college sweetheart and is endlessly grateful for the support he has given her through all their years together, and especially toward her goal of writing books. When not changing diapers, driving to lacrosse practice, or checking spelling homework, Laura is writing or reading romance novels. 

Find Laura Ward

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

 Get Your Copy Now! 

(On sale for only $0.99 through 10/1)

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My Thoughts:

I was contacted by Mrs. Laura Ward this past Friday about possibly reviewing her book. She was sent in my direction by a few other amazing authors who I LOVE, Mrs. Christine Manzari and Miss Cora Carmack! After reading all about Not Yet, I was intrigued. I was intrigued, but a little on the fence. I keep telling myself I am DONE with romance, that I never want to read another romance novel, ever! And then... Bam. An absolutely amazing one lands in my lap. Doggone you Laura Ward, you've made me a believer. Okay, let me start from the top:

Young love, summertime, family drama: all of my favorite things. NOT. You would think I'd have rolled my eyes after starting this one. Generally I would have, but something about this read struck me as different. I don't know what, specifically, it was, but by the time I finished this read I was broken. This book broke me. I seriously have nothing but praises for this read. It isn't often that I read a novel by a debut author and think: "Holy Hell, Ethan... This is one author to watch!" Let me tell you folks, Laura Ward is THE author to watch. Such talent. 

*Before I go any farther, let me just say one thing. This novel has a HUGE twist that results in the novel taking a trip down the path to a trope I NEVER read. One that I didn't think could be written in a respectable way. Then again, I'd never met Laura Ward. I do have to say that the publicity and synopsis of this novel do an AMAZING job of not letting the big twist slip. My biggest advice to readers is that you KEEP reading. TRUST me. You will NOT regret it!

At it's core, Not Yet is a New Adult romance. There was love, there was angst, there was passion, and there was steam. I will say, however, that the steamy scenes were few and far between. Mrs. Ward made it a point to build such a beautiful relationship between her characters and their development, that it wasn't until close to the end of the novel (during a sex scene) that I realized: "wait, where was all the sex?" Exactly. Any of my occasional readers know that I have a hard time reviewing books with steamy content because they always seem either: 1) Forced 2) Uncomfortable 3) COMPLETELY unrealistic or, my favorite 4) Fake. (In the words of the late, great Edna Krabapple, "She's faking it.") As a reader and HUGE supporter of the New Adult genre, I have had to read a LOT of romance reads that have fallen into those four categories. Thankfully, Not Yet was nowhere close to that! The relationships were real, emotional, and left me at a loss for words on more than one occasion. 

I have to say that my absolute favorite part of Not Yet was the layout of the novel. Instead of chapters, Ward laid out this story in the form of "Life Lessons". Each chapter begins as "Lesson 1, Lesson 2, etc" and at the end of each chapter there is a neat clipart displaying the "Life Lesson" learned from that chapter. These life lessons are hilarious and, oftentimes, very good lessons. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Life Lesson: Sometimes it's the wait... the not yets of life that are the very best reason of all to learn.
• Life Lesson: Be brave. Be strong. Persevere. 
• Life Lesson: There are times in life when people cause you to think you have lost it all. That it will never get better. That you will never recover. These are the times when the only thing to do is pick your head up, look those assholes right in the eye, and fucking finish strong

I have to say that last one is probably my favorite!

The setting of Not Yet really helped to clench the story for me. Set in small town Indiana, this story was one I could, very easily, relate to. The small gossipy town, the drama filled high school, everything about this setting spoke to me. I won't say too much to avoid any spoilers, but I don't think the backdrop setting for this story could have been any better. Such a powerful story projected on such an unforgiving landscape. Yes, it was awesome. Settings like this always make the novel for me!

Can I go on a personal tirade for a moment here and say that I am pretty sure Laura Ward was channeling me when she wrote this novel? For starters, our MC Emma just graduated with a degree and has moved back to her hometown where she can't find a job and realizes that post-college life isn't what she expected. Uh... get out of my head Laura Ward. Second, she is passionate about history and decides to get her Masters in History... Uh.... again, creepy. And third, and most crazy, a very pivotal scene in out novel takes place in Springfield, Missouri.... I graduated from college in Springfield, MO AND just moved back to Southwest Missouri last weekend. This book had WAY too many parallels to my own life for me to not enjoy it. Also, just as a side note, Mrs. Ward. The Hilton in Springfield doesn't have a view of downtown, nor does it have 17 stories. The only reason I know this is because I loved on the 19th floor of the second tallest building in Springfield for a year. LOL. Not that I'm one of those creepy "OMG I'VE BEEN THERE!" kind of fans or anything... :P *steps off soapbox*

The characters in Not Yet were written in such a unique way. They were so real and raw that I was able to empathize with every since emotion they felt. That was such an incredible feeling. This all goes back to how "real" I felt the story was. I really liked that. Now I will say the book has a bit of a scandalous undertone to it, but funny enough, I never got that vibe. I never felt "wrong" from reading the plot. It all felt so acceptable and real. Why? Because the characters were so much more than words on a page. Our female MC, Emma, is strong, intelligent, and one of the most caring and compassionate characters I have read. Landon, our male MC, starts out as "the guy to fix", but in the end actually become an entirely different character. The character development between these two characters was one of the highlights for me. Speaking of the characters brings me to probably the most important points I want to discuss pertaining to Not Yet.

Not Yet is an extremely unique in one, very important, aspect: the inclusion of multiple characters with intellectual disabilities. Yes Mrs. Ward, I just learned this new terminology from you! Woohoo! This book has a handful of main character who are living with forms of mental illnesses including Down syndrome and Autism. I have never read a book that featured numerous characters with mental disabilities. At first I was worried it would make for an uncomfortable read, but in the end it completely changed my views on those with special needs. I will be honest and say that I haven't had a great deal of experience with these types of individuals, but thanks to Laura Ward I have a whole new respect for those living with these disabilities. I am not even afraid to admit that I teared up more than once during scenes involving these very special characters. Not Yet wasn't just about love or romance, it was about accepting others and learning to see the true beauty in life. I am so thankful fro authors like Laura Ward who are unafraid to push the boundaries of literature and write on such a sensitive topic. Thank you Mrs. Laura Ward for being brave enough to tell their story. Cheers to you, Mrs. Ward!

I will honestly say that I don't even have a number scale that accurately gauges my feelings for Not Yet, while I'm not saying it was my favorite read of all time, I am saying that this story was extremely special and I will carry its' many, many messages and lesson with me for a long time to come. All-in-all I am giving Not Yet by Laura Ward a perfect 5-star review. I cannot wait to see what comes next in the world of Laura Ward, but I can tell you with certainty that this fan will be in line to get his copy!

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Thank you all so much for stopping by to check out my thoughts on Not Yet by Laura Ward! Special thanks to Mrs. Ward for supplying me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. Have you read Not Yet? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments! Until next time, Happy Reading!!

Before you go, have you heard all about the Halloween Author Invasion party I am hosting? Click the graphic below to be taken to the event page! The last week of October the page will be taken over by 20+ of the biggest names in the paranormal book world! I cannot wait for all the fun we are going to have! Be sure to check out the event by clicking below! HUGE giveaways, fun games, and a spooktacular time you wont want to miss!

-Ethan

MEMORIES FROM A DIFFERENT FUTURE by David Pandolfe NERD BLAST

Hey guys, got another awesome promo post for you guys today! This one looks awesome, I can't wait to put it on my TBR! Read all about it, enter the giveaway, and hit me up and let me know what you think about this one! Here's some info about the book and our author:

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.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

David Pandolfe

David Pandolfe is the author of two novels, Jump When Ready and Streetlights Like Fireworks. Currently, he’s working on a sequel to Jump When Ready, to be published in 2014. 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).

WEBSITE: http://davidpandolfe.com/
TWITTER: @IndieWriterRVA
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7045055.David_Pandolfe
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/david.pandolfe


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Special thanks to Jean from JeanBookNerd and our author for allowing me to participate in this awesome NERD BLAST! Until next time, Happy Reading!

  

-Ethan

SILVERN by Christina Farley NERD BLAST + GIVEAWAY

Hey readers! Got an awesome promo book blast for you guys today! Check out all this awesome in the form of Silvern by Christina Farley! Be sure to enter the giveaway as well! Here' some info about the book, our author, and an excerpt! Enjoy!

Jae Hwa Lee has destroyed Haemosu, the dangerous demi-god that held her ancestors captive, and now she’s ready to forget about immortals and move on with her life. Then the god of darkness, Kud, sends an assassin to kill her. Jae escapes with the knowledge that Kud is seeking the lost White Tiger Orb, and joins the Guardians of Shinshi to seek out the orb before Kud can find it.

But Kud is stronger and more devious than Haemosu ever was. Jae is soon painfully reminded that by making an enemy of Kud, she has placed her closest friends in danger, and must decide how much she can bear to sacrifice to defeat one of the most powerful immortals in all of Korea.

Get your copy today!

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

Christina Farley

After teaching and traveling internationally for ten years, Christina started writing about her adventures, tossing in a little fiction for fun. This inspired her to write the GILDED series, a YA series based on Korean mythology about a Korean-American girl who takes her destiny into her own hands.

Besides writing, Christina loves traveling, running, driving too fast, and eating dark chocolate.

Christina writes fantasy for teens. She is represented by Jeff Ourvan of the Jennifer Lyons Literary, LLC.
Learn more about Christina by visiting her at www.christinafarley.com

or by chatting with her on Twitter @christinafarley.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

Giveaway

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Alright readers, there's the awesome book blast for Silvern  by Christina Farley! Thanks for stopping by! Be sure you enter the giveaway for the $50 giftcard! Until next time, Happy Reading! Special thanks to the author and Jean from Jean Book Nerd for allowing me to participate!

-Ethan 

Exciting Announcement about Queen of Someday by Sherry Ficklin!

EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT 

QUEEN OF SOMEDAY by Sherry D. Ficklin!

Queen of Someday by Sherry D. Ficklin won't be your average young adult book. No, this book will have something extra special within it. Queen of Someday will be enhanced with embedded videos throughout the story. These videos will give you behind the scenes looks into the life of Catherine the Great, as well as author commentary. Enhance your reading experience with this new enhanced young adult book! Enhanced e-books are fairly new, and Clean Teen Publishing is excited to be able to offer one to you! Queen of Someday is scheduled to release on October 7, 2014. Watch the video below to hear more about this exciting announcement from Author Sherry D. Ficklin. Make sure to hop over to her website before you leave to enter her giveaway and definitely don't forget to pre-order your copy today and save $2. The price of Queen of Someday will increase on the day after release! 

*Please note that many reading devices may not be able to show enhanced content. In this case, you will be able to follow a digital link that is embedded within the e-book to view each video online. Currently the best reading platform for enhanced e-books is iBooks. However, most Kindle and Nook devices will allow you to follow the link to our external secure website to view the bonus content. 

PRE-ORDER QUEEN OF SOMEDAY TODAY! 

Save $2 when you pre-order your copy today! 

Release Day: October 7, 2014

Published by: Clean Teen Publishing

Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Series: A Stolen Empire Series

Before she can become the greatest empress in history, fifteen-year-old Sophia will have to survive her social-climbing mother’s quest to put her on the throne of Russia—at any cost.

Imperial Court holds dangers like nothing Sophie has ever faced before. In the heart of St. Petersburg, surviving means navigating the political, romantic, and religious demands of the bitter Empress Elizabeth and her handsome, but sadistic nephew, Peter. Determined to save her impoverished family—and herself—Sophie vows to do whatever is necessary to thrive in her new surroundings. But an attempt on her life and an unexpected attraction threatens to derail her plans.

Alone in a new and dangerous world, learning who to trust and who to charm may mean the difference between becoming queen and being sent home in shame to marry her lecherous uncle. With traitors and murderers lurking around every corner, her very life hangs in the balance. Betrothed to one man but falling in love with another, Sophie will need to decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice in order to become the empress she is destined to be.

In a battle for the soul of a nation, will love or destiny reign supreme?

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:

The true story of Catherine the Great is one fraught with betrayal, intrigue, and romance. While a good deal of my story is drawn from actual people and events, I have been very liberal in the rearrangement of dates, events, and places. Whenever possible I took my cues from her own words, intermixing my own thoughts and ideas. My thought upon the creation of the book was simple. I looked at the woman she was when she claimed the crown and then wondered, how did an innocent girl from Germany become such a force of nature? Most people aren’t born cold or ambitious, but have circumstances that forge them into those people. And that was the story I wanted to tell in this book. I wanted to see the events in her early life that would have changed her into the person she became, and not knowing the truth of that story, I simply made something up. That is what we, as writers, do best.

If you are curious about the real history behind Catherine, I suggest heading to your local library and doing a bit of research. This is not meant to be a historically accurate representation, but a flight of fancy, one that I hope you, dear reader, will enjoy as much as I have.

WATCH THE OFFICIAL BOOK TRAILER:

ABOUT SHERRY D. FICKLIN

Sherry D. Ficklin is a full time writer from Colorado where she lives with her husband, four kids, two dogs, and a fluctuating number of chickens and house guests. A former military brat, she loves to travel and meet new people. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she’s on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.

She is the author of The Gods of Fate Trilogy now available from Dragonfly Publishing. Her previously self-published novel After Burn: Military Brats has been acquired by Harlequin and will be released in 2015 with a second book in that series to follow. Her newest YA steampunk novel, EXTRACTED: The Lost Imperials book 1, co-written with Tyler H. Jolley is now available everywhere books are sold and her newest YA novel, Losing Logan, is due for release in 2014 from Clean Teen Publishing.

Want to READ MORE from Clean Teen Publishing? Check out our huge selection of amazing reads! There's sure to be something for every reader!

BE THE FIRST TO KNOW about our GIVEAWAYS, NEW RELEASES, COVER REVEALS and MORE! JOIN OUR VIP MAILING LIST! 

WWW.CLEANTEENPUBLISHING.COM

Reluctant Prince by Dani-Lyn Alexander Cover Reveal + Giveaway

Today we have a gorgeous cover reveal for Dani-Lyn Alexander’s Reluctant Prince. She’s also sharing an excerpt with us and hosting a giveaway!!! So make sure to keep reading and check all the goodies we have for this awesome cover! :)  

Title: Reluctant Prince (Kingdom of Cymmera Book One)
Author: Dani-Lyn Alexander 
Release Date: November 3, 2014

 

Reluctant Prince Goodreads

Betrayal lies cloaked in shadow. Seventeen year old Ryleigh Donnovan is certain her life is cursed. Nothing ever goes smoothly, and her first job interview is no exception. An earthquake rocks the building, sending Ryleigh on a frantic search for her younger sister, a search which lands her in the hospital. Terrified they’ll push her for answers she can’t afford to give, Ryleigh flees with a mysterious stranger. Jackson Maynard is about to be ordained as a Death Dealer, a warrior for the Kingdom of Cymmera, but first he must pass one more test. When he fails to acquire the human girl the prophet has chosen, he’s forced to stand trial for treason. Banished from his realm, he seeks out the girl from the vision, Ryleigh Donnovan, and together they embark on a journey to save his dying kingdom.    

Advance Praise for Reluctant Prince "A gorgeously wrought fantasy realm with a heroine who will make you cheer!" ~Wendy Higgins, NYT and USA Today bestselling author of the Sweet Evil trilogy.    

Buy Links: Amazon Barnes & Noble 


Exclusive Excerpt: Jackson clutched the stone wall of his chamber and gasped for air. What had just happened? He had returned to Cymmera, of that he was certain, but how? He hadn’t accessed the gateway. At least he didn’t remember opening it. A vision of her assailed him, beat at him, reminded him that he’d failed. Oh, man. He was in trouble. He pushed away from the wall. Images of his target taunted him. He shoved a chair aside and tore through the pictures scattered across the table in a desperate search for salvation. There. He pulled the shot from the mess but found only condemnation. The long blond hair flowing behind her in the snapshot had not been visible to him, but there was no mistaking the deep blue of her eyes. The pounding of a fist against the heavy wood door released him from whatever spell she’d cast. “Jackson.” Another loud thud punctuated his name. He struggled to get his bearings, tried to slow the racing of his heart. “Yeah, one minute.” “Now. Your father wants to see you, immediately.” Kai, his father’s most trusted warrior. He was in more trouble than he’d originally thought. Was it possible the king would sentence him to death for ignoring a direct order? Surely not without offering him a fair trial, or at least granting him the opportunity to explain. But what could he say? What explanation could there be for failing to deliver the girl? None. “I won’t knock again.” The warrior would soon break down the door and drag him before the throne. He crumpled the offending photo, the evidence of his disgrace, into a ball. Instead of tossing it in the trash as he’d intended, he shoved it into the small leather satchel he wore at his waist. With a deep breath, he released the latch and pulled open the door. “Come.” Kai turned his back on him and strode purposefully down the corridor, their footfalls echoing through the silence of accusation. The thought of escape taunted him, but he would never make it out of the castle. He had only recently completed his warrior training under Kai’s watch and would be no match for the seasoned soldier. Besides, Kai was a stickler for the rules. If he tried to run, the warrior would surely take him down, protégé or not.     


About Dani-Lyn Alexander 

Dani-Lyn Alexander lives on Long Island with her husband, three kids and three dogs. She loves spending time with her family, at the beach, the playground, or just about anywhere. In her spare time, which is rare, she enjoys reading and shopping—especially in book stores. Some of her favorite things include; Bernese Mountain Dogs, musicals, bubble baths and soft blankets. She’s an incurable insomniac and has an addiction to chocolate. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Author Goodreads



Enter Dani-Lyn’s giveaway!!  
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Alright everyone, thanks so much for stopping by! Can I just say I FREAKING LOVE THIS COVER?! What what!? Also, I'll be reviewing this one soon! Be on the look out! Special thanks to Nazarea and the rest of the amazing team at InkSlinger PR for allowing me to participate! Until Next time, Happy Reading! 

Football Friday: The Sophomore Season Week 1 + HUGE GIVEAWAY

Hello readers and a very Happy Friday! Congratulations again on making it through yet another week. I know many of you, like myself, will be will be winding down our busy weeks here in the next few hours so this is a very special day for us all, with many reasons to celebrate! Before you start the partying, I have a VERY special edition of OneGuysGuideToGoodReads to share with ya'll. I know you guys are just as excited as I am so here we go: it's Football Friday!! As you guys have undoubtedly heard, I am an avid fan of Cora Carmack and a member of her Street Team, promoting her newest Rusk University novel, All Broke Down, coming at ya on October 28, 2014! Just in case you have been living under a rock, I have all the information about All Broke Up available on the sidebar of my blog! Look over here>>>>>

In case you guys aren't good with math, that's only 5 weeks away! Actually, not even that. Cora and our amazing crew have decided to reward you, the readers, with a special treat each Friday. I welcome you to my first post to get the crowd ready for book two of the Rusk University series. It's been almost 6 months since you've seen one, but it's time, are you ready: Football Friday! Each Friday until release day I, along with some fellow Street Teamers and Cora herself, will be giving you guys an insight to some of the books main characters and themes!

In case you are confused about what this is, check out my previous Football Friday posts at any of the links below! Each one is about a different character in Cora's first book of the series, All Lined Up!

Week One: Meet Carson McClain

Week Two: Meet Dallas Cole

Week Three: Meet Stella Santos

Week Four: Meet Silas Moore and Levi Abrams
Week Five: Meet Ryan Blake

Alright everyone, hope you're ready, because here is our first edition of our sophomore edition of Rusk University Football Friday!

Today's post topic: ALL ABOUT ALL BROKE DOWN! 

This is going to be a little different from previous Football Fridays. Each week I will be featuring info about the book (info that I have been granted permission to release by Miss Carmack)! I can't/won't spoil this awesome read for you guys, but I promise by the time October 28th comes along, you will be ITCHING to get your own copy! Here we go with ALL THE INFO about All Broke Down!

Before we get started here with all things All Broke Down, if you haven't read or aren't familiar with book one of the series (All Lined Up), head over to my blog tour and review by clicking here! Hopefully you're already in the know about the Rusk University series so I'll just jump right in and give you guys a little info in the form of the official synopsis for All Broke Down!

Check out the cover and synopsis and then some info about the AMAZING Cora Carmack!

In this second book in New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack’s New Adult, Texas-set Rusk University series, which began with All Lined Up, a young woman discovers that you can’t only fight for what you believe in . . . sometimes you have to fight for what you love

Dylan fights for lost causes. Probably because she used to be one.

Environmental issues, civil rights, corrupt corporations, and politicians—you name it, she’s probably been involved in a protest. When her latest cause lands her in jail overnight, she meets Silas Moore. He’s in for a different kind of fighting. And though he’s arrogant and infuriating, she can’t help being fascinated with him. Yet another lost cause.

Football and trouble are the only things that have ever come naturally to Silas. And it’s trouble that lands him in a cell next to do-gooder Dylan. He’s met girls like her before—fixers, he calls them, desperate to heal the damage and make him into their ideal boyfriend. But he doesn’t think he’s broken, and he definitely doesn’t need a girlfriend trying to change him. Until, that is, his anger issues and rash decisions threaten the only thing he really cares about, his spot on the Rusk University football team. Dylan might just be the perfect girl to help.

Because Silas Moore needs some fixing after all.

Alright, now that you guys have seen that awesome cover, take yourself a minute to calm down, I know the excitement can be a little much! Now take a minute to learn a little bit about our amazing author, my great friend, and fearless leader of the Carmcats, Miss Cora Carmack:

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.

 Find Cora Carmack!

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Author Goodreads

 

Pre-Order Your Copy Today!

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iTunes

 

GIVEAWAY
For these next several weeks I will be hosting a HUGE All Broke Down Giveaway to celebrate the release of this amazing novel! Please fill out the rafflecopter below for a chance to win one of three ecopies of All Broke Down as well as one of five Cora Carmack SIGNED swag packs!

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Alright guys, are you pumped?! I have LOTS more Football Friday posts for you guys to devour, but I wanted to make sure you guys knew all about All Broke Down before I tease you with new info each week! Be sure to enter my "Football Friday" wide giveaway and come back next week to learn all about our main character, Mr. Silas Moore! In the coming weeks be on the look out for some info on upcoming author events and a few more book reviews I am working on! Don't be a stranger guys, comment below and say hey! I love to hear from my readers! Happy Reading! Bleed Rusk Red!

-Ethan

Inspire by Cora Carmack Cover Reveal!

We are thrilled to bring you the cover for Cora Carmack's INSPIRE! INSPIRE is a New Adult Paranormal Romance novel and is due to be released on December 15, 2014!

 

The cover was designed by VLC Productions.

Add INSPIRE on Goodreads

 

About INSPIRE: Kalliope lives with one purpose. To inspire. As an immortal muse, she doesn’t have any other choice. It’s part of how she was made. Musicians, artists, actors—they use her to advance their art, and she uses them to survive. She moves from one artist to the next, never staying long enough to get attached. But all she wants is a different life— a normal one. She’s spent thousands of years living lie after lie, and now she’s ready for something real. Sweet, sexy, and steady, Wilder Bell feels more real than anything else in her long existence. And most importantly… he’s not an artist. He doesn’t want her for her ability. But she can’t turn off the way she influences people, not even to save a man she might love. Because in small doses, she can help make something beautiful, but her ability has just as much capacity to destroy as it does to create. The longer she stays, the more obsessed Wilder will become. It’s happened before, and it never turns out well for the mortal. Her presence may inspire genius. But it breeds madness, too.    


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.  

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Author Goodreads

Any of my regular readers will tell you I'm a huge Cora fan! Check the sidebar! I'm a member of her Rusk U Street Team! LOVE ME SOME KOPA!! Anyways... I've been pumped about this "secret" for months and am SO excited to finally be able to freak out alongside you all!! AHH! This WILL be reviewed right here in a few months, be on the look out! Thanks to the amazing (and beautiful, and fantastic, AND 'handful and a half') Cora Carmack and the amazing team at InkSlinger PR for allowing me to participate! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Press Play by Eric Devine Trailer Release

Hey everyone! Got a fun post for you guys, a trailer release for a new novel I am itching to check out! Here's some info about the book before we get to the trailer! Be sure to enter the giveaway below!

Greg Dunsmore, a.k.a. Dun the Ton, is focused on one thing: making a documentary that will guarantee his admission into the film school of his choice. Every day, Greg films his intense weight-loss focused workouts as well as the nonstop bullying that comes from his classmates. But when he captures footage of violent, extreme hazing by his high school’s championship-winning lacrosse team in the presence of his principal, Greg’s field of view is in for a readjustment.
Greg knows there is a story to be told, but it is not clear exactly what. And his attempts to find out the truth only create more obstacles, not to mention physical harm upon himself. Yet if Greg wants to make his exposé his ticket out of town rather than a veritable death sentence, he will have to learn to play the game and find a team to help him.
Combine the underbelly of Friday Night Lights with the unflinching honesty of Walter Dean Myers, and you will find yourself with Eric Devine’s novel of debatable truths, consequences, and realities.

Eric Devine

Eric Devine is the author of multiple works of Young Adult fiction, most recently Dare Me, with Press Play being published 10/28. He is also a veteran high school English teacher who spends as much time teaching as he does completing field research for his novels. His work has been listed by YALSA and Booklist for reluctant readers and for Best in Sports. He is married to his high school sweetheart, and his wife and he have two wonderful daughters and two not-so-wonderful Labradors. Find out more at ericdevine.org

, facebook.com/ericdevineauthor, or Twitter: @eric_devine

Trailer

Giveaway 

Must be 13+ To Enter | Ships in US only. 1 Winner will get a signed copy of PRESS PLAY and a PRESS PLAY phone case. (Winners chooses case size)

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sounds like an awesome read and some even more awesome prizes! Special thanks to the author and the team at Me, My Shelf, and I for allowing me to participate! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan 

Waiting on Wednesday {7}

Hey everyone and welcome to my weekly Waiting on Wednesday meme post! This is just a once a week deal where each Wednesday I post about one book I am looking forward to reading and then link it up to the host blog, Breaking the Spine, where I can be connected to over 200 other readers and bloggers who are looking for a new read! My friend Kim from kimberlyfayereads participates in this meme each week and it has always looked like a great time. Below you will find the book cover, synopsis, Goodreads link and my reasons for waiting on this read! Enjoy!

This week's WOW is... Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Stone Cold Touch

Release Date: October 28, 2014
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance 

Every touch has its price

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…


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Why am I waiting?
So many things to say, so little time. Okay. Why am I waiting on Stone Cold Touch? Well. Why not? Have you guys checked out the other two books in this series? So far JLA has released a novella and a first novel. This will be book 2 of the trilogy. I have to say straight up that I was very hesitant to start this series because based upon the book titles and the covers, I was expecting an NA erotica paranormal series. Welp... I was wrong. On all accounts. Definitely YA, DEF not erotica. But it is an amazing paranormal series. In fact, probably my 2nd favorite series from JLA after Covenant! JLA is a member of my "holy trinity" of authors and she is an auto buy author for me! I cannot wait for this read to finally find out what happened to Roth after the events of book one! AHH! Seriously, if book 2 proves to be half as amazing as book one, it may be my favorite book of the year!
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What are YOU waiting on this week?

Check out this week's host post at Breaking the Spine by clicking here!

 

Thanks for stopping by, Happy Reading! 

 

-Ethan 

New Releases from Crimson Tree and Clean Teen Publishing!!

We have four amazing new releases for you today!!!!

KINDLING FLAMES BY JULIE WETZEL

SAVE $2 ON KINDLING FLAMES WHEN YOU BUY YOUR COPY TODAY. NORMAL PRICE: $2.99 / SALE PRICE $0.99!

Fresh from college and with no real work experience, Victoria Westernly considers herself lucky to land the coveted position of personal assistant to Darien Ritter, the CEO and owner of a multibillion-dollar company. His busy schedule and eccentric ways are enough to keep her on her toes. But, all is not what it seems when she discovers the handsome man employing her just happens to be the most powerful vampire in the area.

WORLDS BETWEEN (A CTP BOXED SET)

Nothing is as it seems in Worlds Between. There are places where hunger can't be contained and telepathy is possible, where the afterlife brings about more adventure than the living can handle, and sometimes employers might just bite.

WORLDS ENTWINED (A CTP BOXED SET)

Love can be many things in Worlds Entwined. It's a place where the fate of a kingdom can rest with an unlikely princess, the sea holds more than just dreams, and a heart can be mended amidst a tragedy. While fairytales are few and far away, Worlds Entwined will be sure to keep your blood pumping and your heart fluttering through to the very last page.

WORLDS UNDONE (A CTP BOXED SET)

It’s a fight for life in Worlds Undone. The only way to live through these post-apocalyptic times is to stand up against authority, hone in on special gifts, and learn to control the elements. In these stories of survival against all odds, heroes will rise and the evil ones will fall; and amidst the darkness, they might just find hope and love.

FOUR AMAZING RELEASES AND ONE HUGE PARTY!

THIS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2014

Join the party on Facebook by clicking on the picture above. There will be prizes, games, fun and more! You don't want to miss this huge party! We can't wait to celebrate with you!