The Color of Us (College Bound #2) by Laura Ward and Christine Manzari

Hey Readers! Ethan here with the first of several reviews I'll be sharing today. Best part about sharing this one first is that it's also RELEASE DAY! Woohoo! I am so excited to be sharing my thoughts on a NA novel that blew me away. This time on the chopping block? The Color of Us, the second installment in the College Bound series by Laura Ward and Christine Manzari. Before we get to my thoughts, here's a bit about the novel and our authors:

Title: The Color of Us (College Bound #2)
Authors: Laura Ward & Christine Manzari
Release Date: June 20, 2016

Eighteen year old Alexis Sinclair is lost in the darkness of grief. Since the death of her sister in a car accident, she can’t find the will to get out and enjoy life again. When she’s forced to face her biggest fear and take a summer Driver’s Ed course, she’s surprised to find hope in the most unlikely person.

Liam O’Connell is trouble. He isn’t proud of his dark past, and he knows Alexis is the one girl he has no business pursuing. Doing the right thing has never been easy for him, but this time, it just might be impossible.

The perfect girl and troubled boy are all wrong for each other, but as Liam helps Alexis cope with her grief, they realize nothing has ever felt more right.

That is, until Alexis uncovers a secret about Liam that breaks her heart.

Liam knows he can’t allow the one good thing in his life to walk away without a fight, and he’s determined to convince Alexis they can find their way out of the darkness together.

Can he prove he’s worthy of her, or is some love too tainted to be saved?

     

About the Authors:

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

Christine Manzari

The first thing Christine does when she's getting ready to read a book is to crack the spine in at least five places. She wholeheartedly believes there is no place as comfy as the pages of a well-worn book. She's addicted to buying books, reading books, and writing books. Books, books, books. She also has a weakness for adventure, inappropriate humor, and coke (the caffeine-laden bubbly kind). Christine is from Forest Hill, Maryland where she lives with her husband, three kids, and her library of ugly spine books.  
Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads 

***

My Thoughts:

Last summer, I discovered that two of my favorite NA authors were teaming up to co-write a new NA series that was sure to impress. I anxiously awaited The Pledge and absolutely devoured it. While I had a few issues with their collaborative debut, I knew I saw a spark in this series that would only grow brighter with each passing chapter. By the end of book one, I was confident they had found their stride and was pumped about book two. Knowing the readers would get an incredible novel made this long wait almost unbearable.

I am so excited to say that the wait was well worth it. In fact, The Color of Us may have just become one of my favorite novels of the year! 

I will admit that much like The Pledge, it took me a few chapters to really get into the story on this one. Thankfully, it didn't take too long though before I was absolutely immersed in the story Ward and Manzari had crafted. It's their best collaborative work yet! 

I'll talk about this more a little later, but people. Be prepared for feels. I'll tell you, the plot for The Color of Us is an emotional roller coaster if I've ever seen one. You'll go from mad to happy to excruciating emotional pain over the span of this novel. The plot is so intimate and the settings and situations are so real, you can almost reach out and comfort the characters yourself in their time of need. It's truly an eye-opening novel and while I won't spoil any of the plot for anyone, I really didn't see most of it coming. I was a little iffy about one particular aspect of this story, but in the end I think it really helped pull the story together in the best of ways. Ward and Manzari make use of time jumps. The story isn't chronologically set in one time period, but rather jumps months or years into the future. It was very easy to follow, but I will admit there were times I would have like to see more in one time frame before jumping to the next. For a variety of reasons, this literary device worked extremely well in TCoU compared to other stories in which I have seen it attempted. My biggest input I can give on the plot of this one is to not give up, and certainly expect the unexpected. I won't say there are huge plot twists left and right, but there were several points in the story where I was genuinely surprised (and overtaken with emotion) with what I had read. It's truly a work of collaborative literary genius, 

When it comes to the characters in this one, I don't even know where to start. Both Liam and Alexis are written to perfection, but I have to be perfectly honest and say that Liam really stole the show for me in this one. Alexis was extremely well-written and we see some great scenes and quotes from her, but Liam's story really hit hard for this reader. It may just be me relating to the male character by default, but I found Liam's struggles to be so real and fitting to the story that I ended TCoU with massive amounts of respect for his trials. While the NA genre is really known for it's college-age character and campus settings, I really appreciated the path the authors took with Liam's character choosing an alternate path in life. It's important for young readers to realize that college is not the only path in life. I was extremely pleased by the authors presentation of Liam. The relationship that Alexis and Liam build is truly an unconventional one, but Ward and Manzari definitely did an incredible job crafting a respectable relationship and not falling to the trends of insta-love. The secondary characters in the story are numerous, but each play an important role in the story and build up the emotional plot that I fell in love with. 

While this novel is the second in a series, it has very little to do with The Pledge and each novel can be read as a standalone. I definitely recommend reading book one as well, but rest assured you won't be missing out on any part of the plot by starting with book two. 

In true Ward-Manzari fashion, you probably won't make it to the epilogue without drowning in feels. I know I sure couldn't. Right from the very first chapter we see the signs that TCoU is about to hit on some extremely hard hitting themes. Themes of maturity and forgiveness are huge in this story. Definitely themes that are very important to all New Adults. Other hard hitting themes include death, family, love, and overcoming uncertainty. It's truly a testament to the writing styles of Ward and Manzari that they can relate so fully to the trials of the NA generation. It's so refreshing to read an NA about true NAs. Honestly. Major kudos to them.   

As you guys can clearly see, I was a huge fan in the second installment of the College Bound series by Ward and Manzari. It impressed me beyond my wildest dreams and I am so glad to have gotten to read it. I can definitely say that I am more than excited about the future of this series. With the combined genius that is the Ward-Manzari team, I know this series will get better with each passing installment! That being said, it should come as no surprise that I am granting The Color of Us a near-perfect 5-star review. I highly recommend this read to all lovers of New Adult and romance series. Don't miss out on this read! 

**This can be read a a standalone**

***

Alright folks, there you have it. My thoughts on The Color of Us by Laura Ward and Christine Manzari. It's an absolutely incredible novel that I can't wait to devour again. Be sure to check this one out. Don't miss out on the release day sale 6/20 ONLY! Thanks for stopping by and until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

The Color of Us (College Bound #2) by Laura Ward and Christine Manzari Cover Reveal

Hey readers! Ethan here with an exciting post. I am SO PUMPED to be sharing the cover for the second installment in a NA Romance series co-written by two of my absolute favorite authors ever. I hope you will all add this awesome novel to your TBR! Here we go:

Title: The Color of Us (College Bound #2)
Authors: Laura Ward & Christine Manzari
Release Date: June 20, 2016

Eighteen year old Alexis Sinclair is lost in the darkness of grief. Since the death of her sister in a car accident, she can’t find the will to get out and enjoy life again. When she’s forced to face her biggest fear and take a summer Driver’s Ed course, she’s surprised to find hope in the most unlikely person.

Liam O’Connell is trouble. He isn’t proud of his dark past, and he knows Alexis is the one girl he has no business pursuing. Doing the right thing has never been easy for him, but this time, it just might be impossible.

The perfect girl and troubled boy are all wrong for each other, but as Liam helps Alexis cope with her grief, they realize nothing has ever felt more right.

That is, until Alexis uncovers a secret about Liam that breaks her heart.

Liam knows he can’t allow the one good thing in his life to walk away without a fight, and he’s determined to convince Alexis they can find their way out of the darkness together.

Can he prove he’s worthy of her, or is some love too tainted to be saved?

About the Authors:

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

Christine Manzari

The first thing Christine does when she's getting ready to read a book is to crack the spine in at least five places. She wholeheartedly believes there is no place as comfy as the pages of a well-worn book. She's addicted to buying books, reading books, and writing books. Books, books, books. She also has a weakness for adventure, inappropriate humor, and coke (the caffeine-laden bubbly kind). Christine is from Forest Hill, Maryland where she lives with her husband, three kids, and her library of ugly spine books.  

Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads 

*****

Alright readers, that's all I have for you today on the topic of The Color of Us. Isn't that an incredible cover?! Be sure to add this one to your TBR and be on the lookout for my thoughts soon. My ARC hit my inbox yesterday and I'm already pumped to start it. Until next time, Happy Reading! 

-Ethan

Redemption (The Sophisticates #3) by Christine Manzari Review

Hey Readers! Ethan here with an exciting post for you today. With only FOUR days until Christmas, who would have thought you'd find yet another novel to add to your wishlist? Well, I've got one for you today. I am so excited to be sharing my thoughts on the finale to one of my favorite YA series with you all today. This time on the chopping block? Redemption by Christina Manzari. Before we get to my thoughts, here's a bit about the novel and our author:

The hunted have become the hunters.
Cleo finally has the freedom that she’s always craved, but it’s come at a terrible price—the Program wants to terminate the Deviant Dozen and now she and her friends are on the run. To make matters worse, she’s finally learned to use her deviation—except when she’s around Ozzy. Even an innocent touch or kiss can cause her skills to spiral out of control. He’s the last person she’d ever want to hurt, but he’s also the one in the most danger if she can’t learn to master her skills and emotions.

Ozzy’s duty has always been to protect the Dozen, but now he must make the difficult choice between laying low to stay safe or starting an all-out war so that the Dozen can truly be free. He knows that if they have any chance of outsmarting the Program, they’ll have to look for help in unlikely places—even if that means trusting their enemies.

Rune and the Others have always been anonymous, hiding in the shadows as they carried out acts of terror and revenge. That all changed the moment the Program discovered they existed. To survive, Rune and the Others will be forced to make an alliance that is just as likely to kill them as it is to save them.

Program officials are determined to erase their mistakes, but when they terrorize innocent civilians and Sophisticates in an effort to flush out the Dozen, they discover a harsh truth—the weapons they created are fighting back.

          

Christine Manzari

The first thing Christine does when she's getting ready to read a book is to crack the spine in at least five places. She wholeheartedly believes there is no place as comfy as the pages of a well-worn book. She's addicted to buying books, reading books, and writing books. Books, books, books. She also has a weakness for adventure, inappropriate humor, and coke (the caffeine-laden bubbly kind). Christine is from Forest Hill, Maryland where she lives with her husband, three kids, and her library of ugly spine books.  

Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads 

*****

My Thoughts: 

As a reader, one of the most challenging aspects of the industry is anxiously awaiting the next installment in a series that is near and dear to your heart. With new novels hitting the shelves each day, as time goes on it gets easier, but your bookish mind is always ready for what your favorite authors have up their sleeves next. In the fall of 2014, I discovered a new-to-me young adult paranormal/dystopian series that truly blew me away. It was so far off the reach from my 'norm' that I still don't know exactly what prompted me to take the plunge, but I am so ridiculously glad I did. A new-to-me author and a new series were exactly what the doctor ordered. Deviation was fresh, original, and shook my world in the best of ways. Immediately after, I devoured Conviction and was yet again blown away. But that wasn't it. Manzari had one last story up her sleeve. The finale to end all finales, but I had to wait A YEAR to get my hands on it! 

Was Redemption worth the wait? Could it possibly live up to its' predecessors? 

HELL YES. And then some.

Oh man readers, I don't hardly know where to start. If you guys have read my reviews of the first two novels in this series, you'll know how much I absolutely loved each and every word in them. Manzari left us with a huge cliffhanger headed into the series finale that had me bouncing with excitement. Could this entire story come full story and end with one final round? 

Of all the incredible things I'll say about this one, I will say that, in my opinion, the very best part was that Manzari was able to wrap up the entire story to perfection. All loose ends were tied and the reader was left with a very satisfying conclusion to a mind-blowing series. With a plot a complex as The Sophisticates, I will admit that I had my doubts.

The plot for this one was extremely fast paced and Manzari took little time to rehash the past events of the previous installments. I highly suggest brushing up on the first two novels before diving into this one, because if you're anything like me, it's been awhile and you'd forgotten a lot. Once I was able to wrap my mind around the story and full immerse myself back into Manzari's world, I couldn't set this one down. I don't know the last time I devoured a story like Redemption. This should go without being said, but I will absolutely say that this is not a series you will be able to pick up on book three and understand what is happening, you must read books one and two before starting this one. 

As a huge fan of Manzari's for quite some time now (and having read all of her published works), I was thoroughly impressed with the evolution of her writing style as evident in this latest release. From young adult to new adult romance, Manzari has recently branched out of her comfort zone and really knocked the ball out of the park (her New Adult Romance, Hooked, remains one of my all-time favorites in the genre). An incredible testament to her talent, Manzari completely astounded me with the final product of Redemption. The plot, character development, and intriguing settings made for one novel I was genuinely thrilled to have devoured. 

The only real downside about this series is the huge cast that it features. I'm talking 40+ very important/supporting characters at all times. I won't lie, it's confusing. Names are thrown around so constantly that as a reader you have to take your time to get 'into' the world to know who is who and why they are important. After you can finally get that down, it makes a whole lot more sense. As a fan who had been away from the series for over a year, I found myself consulting the cast list (included in the front of the novel) several times. You know you've got a legit story on your hands when you need a cast list. Aside from the large cast of characters, it's refreshing to see that each character was truly written to perfection. The development throughout the series was truly a work of genius and a pleasure to read. Cleo, Ozzy, Rune, Queenie, and all the rest of the gang opened my eyes wider with each passing scene. I don't know that I've ever seen an author pour such complex emotions into so many YA characters in a series. I'm telling you folks, it's awesome!

As evident by the title of this novel, the entire storyline focuses on the overarching theme of 'redemption'. I won't lie, this one is an extremely deep read with some dark undertones that will leave the reader questioning their own beliefs and thoughts on redemption while struggling to keep their emotions in check with the plot twists and feels that Manzari throws their way. It's a beautiful tapestry the author weaves through her words. If you make it through this novel without reflecting on your own thoughts and beliefs, you've read it wrong friend. 

With Redemption, the Sophisticates series is officially at a close. And to be honest, I'm okay with that. Manzari ended this series (one that's very close to my heart) on an incredible note. The ending was everything I was looking for and then some. Definitely not something I can say often enough. 

As you guys can clearly see, with literary brilliance, Christine Manzari has wrapped up The Sophisticates series to perfection. I couldn't have been more pleased with the final result. It's been a genuine pleasure to consider myself one of this series' biggest fans and I absolutely cannot wait to share the love with an entire new group of readers. I absolutely highly recommend this series to all readers of YA, paranormal, dystopian, and sci-fi novels. You will not be disappointed. It should come as absolutely no surprise that I am granting Redemption a near-perfect 5-star review. Add this one to your TBR folks, it's a decision you won't soon regret. As for me, I won't mourn the finale to one of my all-time favorite series, I'll revel in the fact that I'm perfectly at peace knowing it received the sendoff it so desperately deserved. Kudos to you Manzari, you truly are a treasure to the genre. I absolutely cannot wait to see what you have in store next! 

*****

Check out my reviews of the first two novels 

in the series by clicking the covers below!

     

Deviation is FREE for a limited time only (until Dec. 25, 2015)

Conviction is ONLY $0.99 for a limited time (until Dec. 27, 2015)

Don't miss your chance to get both novels for less than $1!

*****

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Redemption, Christine Manzari is giving away a $50 Amazon gift card AND a Kindle Fire just in time for Christmas! Who could resist that prize! Head on over to her post by clicking the graphic below to see how you can win!

*****

Alright readers, that's all I have for you on the topic of Redemption by Christine Manzari. It's definitely a bittersweet moment for this reader to have to say goodbye to the characters I've come to love, but I know with an author like Christine Manzari, it's only a matter of time before I fall for another amazing work of hers. Add this series to your TBR today. Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Hooked by Christine Manzari Book Blitz

I am so excited to share HOOKED by Christine Manzari! Christine is sharing an excerpt and giveaway with us today, so check it all out!!

If you ask the confident and snarky skater girl, and she’s in the mood to share, she’ll tell you her name is Cat. She might even tell you that she’s hooked on graffiti, 80s movies, and having fun—the riskier the better. Cat will share a good time with you, but she won’t ever trust you enough to share her heart. It’s protected by secrets and she’d like to keep it that way. Cat knows one thing for certain: Love isn’t really her thing. If you ask the confident and rich pretty boy, he might tell you his name is Huck. He might even tell you he loves a challenge and is used to getting his way. He won’t tell you that his life is a mess because he risked his heart by trusting the wrong girl. Huck is ready for a change, he just wasn’t ready to get hooked on someone like Cat. Huck knows one thing for certain: Love hasn’t done him any favors, but Cat just might be worth the risk. Cat and Huck think a one-night stand seems harmless, but when all the little secrets they didn’t share turn out to be toxic truths, they realize how easily a one-night stand (or a few) could ruin everything. The thing is, you can be ruined in more than one way. Once you’re HOOKED, what wouldn’t you risk for the chance at more? 

Buy Links: Amazon   

Exclusive Excerpt: Huck’s lips came back to mine, dangerous and urgent as his hands and mouth pulled soft moans from me. Finally, I unhooked my feet and gently pushed back on his chest without breaking the kiss. He seemed desperate to keep his lips on mine, but he allowed me to move his body. I turned us around and then pushed him down into a seated position on the ground, his back against the wall. Then I straddled him, my bare knees digging into the sand uncomfortably. I didn’t care. The discomfort was nothing compared to the ripples of pleasure that were pulsing through the lower part of my body when I settled into his lap. Huck’s hands slid under me, his thumbs grazing the edge of my panties as he cradled my bare cheeks. “This thong is a sin,” he growled, twirling the strap in his thumb as if he was going to rip them off. Part of me wanted him to. “Why are we sitting on the ground?” he asked, his voice low and husky. “Less chance of being seen,” I said. “Seen doing what?” he mumbled against my shoulder as he kissed along the bare skin. I hesitated for a moment, knowing I should stay quiet. But my brain wasn’t in control anymore, my body was. Huck’s lips were at the hollow of my throat, his tongue tracing a wicked circle before his lips followed. His hands were still on my ass and I’m not even sure if he was aware he was moving my hips, grinding me down on what was clearly his appreciation of my sinful thong. “Huck.” His name was a moanful plea. “I’ll never get tired of hearing you say that.” “What?” “My name. Say my name again.” “Huck.” He groaned, his lips back on mine, eager to catch his name falling from them. He pushed my hips down while he lifted up into me and I could feel our bodies falling into a tempo we couldn’t deny. Our hips moved against each other as we kissed one another in our secluded little spot on the beach. “Huck, I’m wearing my fuck-me dress. Don’t let it go to waste.” Unexpectedly, he went still underneath of me. “What?” I asked. After all that talk about what he’d do to me, was he really going to chicken out? “I don’t have a condom, Cat.” “You’re a guy, isn’t it some kind of guy code that you always carry one?” I couldn’t help being irritated. How could he not have one? “No.” He frowned. “Do you have one in your bag?” “This wasn’t exactly planned,” I pointed out. “Well, that sucks.” He was no longer moving underneath me and his thumb released my thong, but his lips were back on mine, taking what little bit I could give him. It was good, but it wasn’t enough. Not now that the other question was lingering in the air around us. I pulled away to look at him. “Have you ever gone bareback before?”


*****

The first thing Christine does when she's getting ready to read a book is to crack the spine in at least five places. She wholeheartedly believes there is no place as comfy as the pages of a well-worn book. She's addicted to buying books, reading books, and writing books. Books, books, books. She also has a weakness for adventure, inappropriate humor, and coke (the caffeinated bubbly kind). Christine is from Forest Hill, Maryland where she lives with her husband, three kids, and her library of ugly spine books.

  Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads



  Enter Christine’s Giveaway!

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Top 10 Most Anticipated Reads of Fall 2015

Hey readers! Ethan here on this first day of Fall 2015 with an exciting post for you all. Fall is, without question, my favorite season. Ethan here hates the summer heat. I love the back to school feeling, the harvest time, all things Halloween, and so much more. Bonfires, hayrides, and MY FREAKING BIRTHDAY all sit just on the horizon and will be filling my next few months. Who wouldn't be excited?

Fall has historically been known to present me with my favorite books of the entire year as well. Last year was a huge winner so 2015 has a lot to live up to. I thought I'd start out the season by showcasing my Top 10 Most Anticipated Reads of Fall 2015 with you guys so you can add them to your TBRs as well!

Please keep in mind that some of these novels do not have covers, official synopses, etc as of yet, but I'll include whatever I can! Without farther adieu, here are my top 10!

*In no particular order*
*My thoughts in orange*

1. Playing with Fire (Hacker #1) by Sherry D. Ficklin

With the incredible Sherry Ficklin at the helm, what's not to be excited about? I've seen her tackle history, paranormal, and even sci-fi. I know she's got the perfect skills to knock this story out of the park! As one of my favorite authors, I couldn't have more faith in Sherry if I tried!

One brilliant young hacker.
One experimental government aircraft.
One chance to keep it all from going up in flames.

Still recovering from her troubled past, Farris is no stranger to change. But when the military transfers her father across the country to an experimental aircraft squadron, settling in to a new life is the least of her problems. As a series of apparent computer glitches threaten the security of the fleet and the blame falls on her father, she decides to put her computer skills to use digging up the truth. Soon she’s drawn into the perilous world of a hacker who is determined to ground the fleet—at any cost.

When all signs lead to someone close to her as the mastermind, Farris will have to burn more than bridges to get to the truth. She will have to risk her fragile new life to uncover the identity of the cyber criminal before they can escalate from harmless tampering… to all out murder.

Release Date: October 27, 2015

2. Redemption (The Sophisticated #3) by Christina Manzari

Last year I spent a long time with a serious bookish hangover after devouring the first two novels in this series. I've been anxiously awaiting the finale of this trilogy ever since! So far this year, Manzari has unleashed two AMAZING NA Romances on us, but I am so excited to see her get back to the roots I fell in love with with Redemption!

No synopsis for this one yet, but check it out anyway!

Release Date: Early December 2015

3. Fatal Beauty by Nazarea Andrews

Any of my followers will know that I am more than a slightly obsessed with Nazarea Andrews. This woman has tackled more genres than any other author I know. I have massive amounts of respect for Andrews and have yet to read something of hers that didn't completely blow me away. I'll also add a confession here, I'm kind of on a dark romance kick (thanks KB Nelson) right now, and this couldn't speak to me any louder if it had a megaphone!

Charlotte was a good girl.

Sweet and innocent, a debutante with her Daddy’s credit card and a fiancée who doted on her.
She was destined for a perfect picture life in Charleston.
Until everything goes wrong.

EJ grew up with everything she could ever want, and bored as hell.
Nothing surprises her and nothing ever changes, and she wants out—whatever it takes.
Getting involved with Anthony Jacobs is probably the worst idea she’s ever had—and that makes it irresistible.
Until Charlie needs her.

New Orleans. Memphis. Vegas.
Beautiful girls who know just how to get exactly what they want.
It’s all fun and games, sexy nights and wild parties.

But you can only manipulate your way out of so much, and the body count is rising. When their past catches up, not even a pretty smile will get them out of trouble this time.

Release Date: October 6, 2015

4. For the Memory of Dragons (Dragons of Eternity #2) by Julie Wetzel

You guys may remember this series as the one that first turned me on to dragons. Prior to Julie Wetzel, they were my least favorite fantasy trope, she made me a believer! I was lucky enough to already devour this one, but I'm super pumped about the print release in October so I can rave about it all over again!

What do you do when a dragon crash-lands in your backyard?

That’s the question Terra’s faced with when one of these creatures plows down into her cornfield. Should she help out the hunk of a man the dragon turns into, or turn him over to the trigger-happy ‘authorities’ that have come looking for him? The deciding factor—he has no memory. Giving him up just doesn’t seem right… at least until she knows the truth of who he is.

Alex has forgotten a thing or two—his name being one of them—but he knows there is something important that he needs to remember, if he could just get his battered brain to work properly. A little rest might help, but there’s no time for that when the bullets start flying.

Now, he has to follow the few clues he has to discover who he is, and why people are trying to kill him. But that’s the easy part. The hard part will be keeping his hands off the lovely lady helping him.

Release Date: October 20, 2015

5. Ignited (Donovan Circus #4) by Liz Long

Okay. Anyone who knows me is aware that this is one of my all time favorites. Liz's writing gets better with each passing installment and this one is no exception. I've beta read this and I'm dying for the final copy so I can add this beauty to my bookshelf. This may be my favorite of the series thus far. Fans of Liz and her Donovan Circus are definitely going to love this one!

"Maybe I had to accept that the Donovan Circus no longer felt like home." 

Lucy might've beaten Alex the Chameleon, but the cost of his defeat was too much to bear. After losing a beloved member, Sheffield Donovan temporarily disbands the show. Abandoned by the ringmaster and her friends, Lucy is left to pick up the pieces of their ruined circus - and defend it against those waiting for the opportunity to strike. During one of these attempts, Lucy learns of Augustus Rivers, the leader of his so-called gifted mafia. When Lucy is offered a chance to infiltrate the Rivers' household, she jumps at the opportunity to seek vengeance on the mastermind. Augustus instead surprises everyone by proposing that the powerful female Firestarter work for him. It's everything the Donovan Circus isn't, an offer Lucy finds more enticing than she ever expected. With the Donovan Circus in shambles and the gifted world on the cusp of war, can Lucy Sullivan figure out who she's meant to be? Or will her fire destroy everything they've built?

Release Date: October 30, 2015

6. After Alice by Gregory Maguire

Gregory Maguire is my all-time favorite author. The man has changed my life in more ways than I could ever type out. His track record of retelling classic tales has forever secured him a spot on my auto-buy list. Imagine my delight and surprise when I found out he was tackling yet another of my all-time favorite worlds and stories? Maguire was born to re-write Wonderland. I have no doubt it'll be absolutely amazing!

When Alice toppled down the rabbit-hole 150 years ago, she found a Wonderland as rife with inconsistent rules and abrasive egos as the world she left behind. But what of that world? How did 1860s Oxford react to Alice's disappearance?
In this brilliant new work of fiction, Gregory Maguire turns his dazzling imagination to the question of underworlds, undergrounds, underpinnings — and understandings old and new, offering an inventive spin on Carroll's enduring tale. Ada, a friend of Alice's mentioned briefly in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, is off to visit her friend, but arrives a moment too late — and tumbles down the rabbit hole herself.

Ada brings to Wonderland her own imperfect apprehension of cause and effect as she embarks on an odyssey to find Alice and see her safely home from this surreal world below the world. If Euridyce can ever be returned to the arms of Orpheus, or Lazarus can be raised from the tomb, perhaps Alice can be returned to life. Either way, everything that happens next is After Alice.

Release Day: October 27, 2015

7. Eternal Sacrifice (Mortal Enchantment #3) by Stacey O'Neale

This series. Oh man. I can honestly say I've never been so hooked on a series so fast as I was with Mortal Enchantment. From the very first page, I knew this was a YA series to be reckoned with. It's become one of my favorites! I'm Stacey's self-proclaimed biggest fan and I have been constantly bugging her for into on the final installment! Elemental fiction at its' finest right here! Definitely going to be a bittersweet story. The end of an era for Stacey and this series! Excuse me while I sob in the corner come release day.

No synopsis for this one yet, but check it out anyway!

Release Date: Early December 2015

8. Rite of Revelation (Acceptance #2) by Sarah Negovetich 

Rite of Rejection (book one) was the final book I read of 2014 and ended my year on a really high note. In a bookish world where dystopian novels are everywhere, it takes a special author with true talent to stand out above the crowd. Thankfully Sarah Negovetich has just that. I absolutely cannot wait for this one to hit the shelves! 

No cover or synopsis for this one yet, but check out book one in the meantime!

Release Date: November 5, 2015

9. The Professor Woos the Witch (Nocturne Falls #4) by Kristen Painter

Last month, I devoured the first three novels in this series in record time. A town where it's Halloween every day? Sign me up! These stories were exactly what I needed at the time: short, sweet, and full of fun! Even after nearly a month I still get giddy just thinking about them! Can't say enough awesome about this Nocturne Falls series from Kristen Painter. We may not have a cover yet, but with as great as the past few have been, I can only imagine it'll be awesome. I'm kind of hoping for a green-theme with this one!

No cover or synopsis for this one yet, but check out book one in the meantime!

Release Date: October 2015

10. The Fifteenth Minute (Ivy Years #5) Sarina Bowen

Sarina Bowen is, quite possibly, my favorite New Adult author of them all. Each and every one of the novels (and novella) in this series have topped my 'best of' lists. In fact, one of them is one of my all-time favorite NA stories! Lianne really grew on me in book four so I have no doubt this this one will become a quick favorite! Plus, Sarina is just amazing. Like 'bow down and exalt' amazing. Long Live Queen Sarina!

Freshman Lianne Challice is known to millions of fans as Princess Vindi. But sometimes a silver screen sorceress just wants to hang up her wand, tell her manager to shove it, and become a normal college student. Too bad that’s harder than it looks.

She’s never lived a normal life. She hasn’t been to school since kindergarten. And getting close to anyone is just too risky — the last boy she kissed sold the story to a British tabloid.

But she can’t resist trying to get close to Daniel "DJ" Trevi, the hot, broody guy who spins tunes for hockey games in the arena. There's something haunting his dark eyes and she needs to know more.

DJ's genius is for expressing the mood of the crowd with a ten second song snippet. With just a click and a fade, he can spread hope, pathos or elation among six thousand screaming fans.

Too bad his college career is about to experience the same quick fade-out as one of his songs. He can't get close to Lianne, and he can't tell her why. And the fact that she seems to like him at all? Incredible.

Release Day: October 13, 2015

*****

Alright guys, there you have it: my Top 10 Most Anticipated Reads of Fall 2015! With my favorite season starting and all these amazing books on the horizon, I've got ten huge reasons to smile! Be sure to add all these reads to your TBR and come on back later in the season to see my thoughts on each of these novels. I can't wait! What are YOUR most anticipated reads of the season?

Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time, Happy Reading (and Happy Fall)!

-Ethan

The Pledge (College Bound #1) by Laura Ward and Christine Manzari Review Tour (Review + Giveaway)

Hey readers, Happy Monday! Ethan here with a fun post for you guys today. My stop on the blog tour for one of my most anticipated reads of the summer. A collaboration between two of my favorite authors that really blew me away. What are we talking about? The Pledge by Laura Ward and Christine Manzari. Before we get to my thoughts, here's a bit about the novel and our authors:

Title: The Pledge

Authors: Laura Ward & Christine Manzari

Age: New Adult

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Cover Designed by: Okay Creations, Sarah Hansen

Release date: July 27, 2015

Taren needs a do-over. She’s decided the best way to put the high school bullies behind her is to pledge a Taylor-Swift-lip-syncing, beer-guzzling, sorority. Sisterhood helps Taren find the acceptance she’s always craved, but not the love she needs.

Alec wants freedom. To escape his father’s iron fist and unrealistic expectations, he pledges a campus acrobatics club where he finds that drugs and alcohol aren't the only ways to get high. His addiction to danger helps him gain his independence, but it comes at a heavy price.

When the two cross paths, Alec fears his undeniable attraction to the party girl just might threaten everything he's worked so hard to earn. Taren hasn’t forgotten that Alec humiliated her back in high school, but she also can't deny the chemistry they share.

Alec and Taren have nothing in common, but fate is bound and determined to bring them together. They know falling in love is a risk, and yet it’s too hard to ignore. When their worlds clash and they both end up suffering, will they fight to stay together? Or are some pledges too hard to keep?

About the Authors:

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

Christine Manzari

The first thing Christine does when she's getting ready to read a book is to crack the spine in at least five places. She wholeheartedly believes there is no place as comfy as the pages of a well-worn book. She's addicted to buying books, reading books, and writing books. Books, books, books. She also has a weakness for adventure, inappropriate humor, and coke (the caffeine-laden bubbly kind). Christine is from Forest Hill, Maryland where she lives with her husband, three kids, and her library of ugly spine books.  

Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

As anyone who follows this blog well knows, I am a huge fan of both Laura Ward and Christine Manzari. I have been closely following their careers for over a year now and have absolutely loved each novel they have released. Imagine my excitement when I discovered the two of them were collaborating on a new project, a new adult contemporary with a lot of potential! Well, did it live up to the hype?

In short? Yes. But, it didn't come without a few faults. Allow me to explain.

The most intriguing part, to me, about this collaboration was just how Laura and Christine were going to pull it off. Anyone who has read from these ladies will tell you that they write very different stories with very different content. Their writing styles are like night and day at times. I love their writing for multiple reasons, but each reason is different. I go to one author when I want one style and the other when I'm looking for another. Make sense? So... as you can imagine, I was a bit nervous about the collaboration between the two of them. 

I will go ahead and admit that The Pledge took me a while to really get into. I was enjoying it at a surface level, but the spark that makes both of these authors so special to me really wasn't there for a while. Each chapter in this story alternates POVs between Alec and Taren. Each character was written by a different author. And it's very distinctive. It's almost as though you are reading two entirely separate novels for a little while. I found myself anxious until I got to the part where the story finally 'clicked' and it was smooth sailing from there.

I'll also admit that prior to reading The Pledge, I have had very little experience with reading novels that are co-written (Beautiful Creatures being the only other that comes to mind). I've spoken with other readers who have confirmed to me that this is a normal feeling when reading a collaboration between two authors so I do feel better about it now than I did when I first devoured the story. 

Once I was able to see find the 'streamline' part of the story where the chapters blended together much easier, I was really able to plant myself into the story. In one sense, this was kind of a negative to me, but in another sense, after finishing the novel, I found the feeling to be very fitting. It really showcased just how different our MCs are from one another and is reflective of the plot as a whole. I don't imagine I will see any other collaborations between Manzari and Ward to have this issue, but seeing as this was their first collaboration, I can totally understand how this would happen. Writing is hard when you're doing it alone. I can't imagine how co-writing would be!

When it comes to the plot of The Pledge, I was overall satisfied. There were a few bumps in the road and a few things I didn't completely understand at the time of reading, but in the end all questions were more or less answered. One of the really unique aspects of this plot was the inclusion of Gymkana. I love college books with a twist or some kind of special activity/organization that makes their college experience unique. The Gymkana thing really was fun to read about. Each scene was fun and did a fantastic job of setting the tone. The novel had a few plot twists that I didn't really see coming which were fun as well. When it comes to college novels, I really get ridiculously aggravated when the characters done have 'real life' college experiences. Thankfully, I found The Pledge to be an accurate description of college life. That was a huge plus for me. 

The Pledge really pulled out the feels in terms of characters. While I absolutely loved our MCs, I despised the supporting characters. I don't know if it was because of their attitudes or what, but I found nearly all of the supporting characters to just be all around horrible people. Their were immature, really crappy friends, and... just not very important in the grand scheme of things. Particularly the supporting female cast, I was really shocked at just how much I despised those characters. I'm hoping that in future installments of this series they grow on me a bit, but for now I really didn't care for them. Back to Alec and Taren though, I really enjoyed them both. I will say I was a bigger fan of Alec, just because I was really able to relate to some of the hardships he faced. Alec really has a big 'growing up' moment in The Pledge that really shapes his future in the novel. It was emotional for me in particular, but I gained so much more respect for him as a character. It was so refreshing as a male reader to see such a turnaround and inspirational development from a male character. Huge kudos to both Ward and Manzari for that.

While I've never been to the University of Maryland, I loved the description that Ward and Manzari put into The Pledge. Having recently graduated from college myself, I was able to immerse myself into the setting and really get the most out of the story. Everything from the campus feel to the college dive-bar atmosphere, I really felt myself transported into the story in a way I haven't been in quite some time. 

In true Laura Ward fashion, The Pledge included themes dealing with mental illness. I really love how Laura finds a way to include these special characters into her stories. Each character gives the story heart and emotion in a way you don't see anywhere else in the genre. It's truly an art to see these characters and setting so beautifully crafted. Manzari's signature snark is present as well. One of my favorite things about Manzari's writing is how well she able to emulate the YA/NA mindset into her written words. It's not easy to plant readers within the mind of a character and to see things their way, but Manzari always blows me away with this and Alec and The Pledge were no exception.

As you guys can clearly see, I have a lot of thoughts on The Pledge, and thankfully most of them were huge pluses! I know I has a few negatives to point out in this one, but overall I still enjoyed the story immensely. I believe that this first collaboration between Ward and Manzari was an awesome journey that will only strengthen their bond as authors and with their readers. With a full series planned, I know each passing installment will get better and better. I am ridiculously excited to see what these ladies come up with next!

All-in-all, I am granting The Pledge a well-deserved 4-star review. While it isn't my favorite story from either author, I found it to be a fantastic addition to the New Adult genre and highly recommend it to any NA reader who is looking to add something a little different to their summer TBR lists! Thank being said, do yourself a favor and check out The Pledge and the other works from these amazing authors, I can assure you that you'll not be disappointed!

***

GIVEAWAY:

THE PLEDGE: 1 print 3 ebooks

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Alright readers, that's all I have for you on the topic of The Pledge by Laura Ward and Christine Manzari. I'm huge fans of each of these ladies works and consider them to be both friends and great inspirations of mine. They truly are amazing women. Reading this first ever collaboration from the two of them was a great honor. I cannot wait for more from them! 

Special thanks to our authors and the team at Mark My Words Publicity for allowing me to participate. Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan