Blog Tour: Gold Rush

About the Book:
Title: Gold Rush
Author: Jennifer Comeaux
Publication date: January 9, 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis: 

Liza Petrov’s entire life has been about skating and winning her sport’s top prize – Olympic gold. She’s stayed sheltered inside her bubble, not daring to stray from her destined path.
Until she meets Braden Patrick.
He makes her heart flutter with possibility, and for the first time she gets a taste of a normal teenage life. She longs to have both the boy and the gold, but stepping outside her bubble comes with a price. As Liza begins to question both her future and her past, can she stay focused on the present and realize her ultimate dream?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iBooks

Author Bio:

Jennifer Comeaux is a tax accountant by day, writer by night. There aren’t any ice rinks near her home in south Louisiana, but she’s a diehard figure skating fan and loves to write stories of romance set in the world of competitive skating. One of her favorite pastimes is traveling to competitions, where she can experience all the glitz and drama that inspire her writing. When she’s not writing, traveling, or calculating taxes, you can find her feeding her television addiction.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Review:

This is the first book that I have read by Jennifer, and boy did she win me over! I've always had a thing for ice skating (it's always a definite much watch for me in the Olympics) so I was excited to pick up a novel dedicated entirely to ice skating with a dash of romance thrown in for good measure. I honestly was impressed by how much I enjoyed this story, and I am definitely checking out Jennifer's other books in the future!

Gold Rush is a nice, clean YA story that is fun and sweet all the way until the very end. There is so much to love about this book: the characters, the plot, the romance...I could go on and on. It's definitely a read that you will get lost in. I loved Jennifer's writing style. It was incredibly real and raw. In all the time that I've watched ice skating on TV, I never once thought about the mindset of the skater and what it actually takes to make it to the top. And Jennifer nailed it so perfectly in this novel! You feel all of Liza's anxiety, thoughts, and hopes throughout reading, and you're cheering for her during the entire book. I was with Liza through every high and every low; I was excited and heartbroken right along with her. I knew right after I started reading this book that I would fall in love purely because of the writing.

Liza is an amazing main character for this book. I didn't actually realize this was part of a series (and no, you don't need to read any of the other books in order to understand what's going on), but I'm definitely checking out the rest of the books now! I loved how dedicated Liza was to her goals. However, she also yearns to be that normal teenager that has the typical teenage experiences. Liza undergoes quite an amazing journey during this book, and I loved watching her become the person she is meant to be. She realizes that not only can she have the best of both worlds, but she deserves it. Liza deserves to be happy and Braden played a role in helping her become her best self. I loved seeing her character's development over the course of the story in that she becomes headstrong and more resilient. 

When Liza meets Braden sparks fly, and I loved every single second of their romance. I could gush about Braden for days because he is seriously perfect. Liza and Braden's relationship started as a friendship and grew from there, and because of this, it felt incredibly realistic. Even though they did have a bit of insta-love going on, they actually made the decision to start things off slow and be friends first (because it was what made the most sense). That right there is what made me love this book just a bit more. I appreciated an author doing this because it's more true to life. There are many trials Braden and Liza go through as well as hills they have to climb, but they get through things together and act like adults when things get rough. And the conclusion will make your heart flutter. 

Overall, this was an excellent book that I highly recommend checking out! It's a quick, clean YA story that has all the things you want in a romance story. I will most definitely be checking out Jennifer's other stories and she is an author to watch. The story will stick with you long after you finish, and it's the perfect Valentine's Day read!

Happy reading :)

GIVEAWAY!
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~Cassie

Waiting on Wednesday #85

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Jocelyn's Waiting On: 

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
Publication Date: April 11th, 2017

Synopsis: 

Seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love. No matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can’t stomach the idea of rejection. So she’s careful. Fat girls always have to be careful.

Then a cute new girl enters Cassie’s orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly’s cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Meanwhile, Molly's totally not dying of loneliness—except for the part where she is. Luckily, Cassie's new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster-boy sidekick. If Molly can win him over, she'll get her first kiss and she'll get her twin back. 

There's only one problem: Molly's coworker, Reid. He's a chubby Tolkien superfan with a season pass to the Ren Faire, and there's absolutely no way Molly could fall for him. 

Right?

I've been a fan of Becky Albertalli since Simon and his love of Oreos! I loved every single thing about how Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda was written, so of course I'm excited to read another book  by Ms. Albertalli! 

Cassie's Waiting On:

Proof of Lies (Anastasia Phoenix #1) by Diana Rodriguez Wallach
Publication Date: March 7, 2017

Synopsis:

Some secrets are best kept hidden… 

Anastasia Phoenix has always been the odd girl out, whether moving from city to international city with her scientist parents or being the black belt who speaks four languages.

And most definitely as the orphan whose sister is missing, presumed dead.

She’s the only one who believes Keira is still alive, and when new evidence surfaces, Anastasia sets out to follow the trail—and lands in the middle of a massive conspiracy. Now she isn’t sure who she can trust. At her side is Marcus, the bad boy with a sexy accent who’s as secretive as she is. He may have followed her to Rome to help, but something about him seems too good to be true.

Nothing is as it appears, and when everything she’s ever known is revealed to be a lie, Anastasia has to believe in one impossibility.

She will find her sister.

This one sounds so good! The cover seems kind of spooky, and who doesn't love a good conspiracy? The bad boy with a sexy accent doesn't sound half bad either :P Sometimes these types of books can be a real miss for me, but I hope this one is a winner!

PNR Giveaway Event

Welcome to the PNR, Urban Fantasy & Dystopian Party!

This giveaway is brought to you by 22 fabulous Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, and Dystopian authors!In this giveaway, EVERYONE who enters will win TWENTY-TWO FREE – EXCLUSIVE – ebooks by the sponsoring authors (to be delivered at the conclusion of the giveaway), and one GRAND PRIZE winner will also receive a $1000 Amazon Gift Card! The Winner will be announced on April 1st at our Facebook Event. The winner will also receive an email directly.

There will ALSO be other prizes and giveaways happening at that event between now and our Grand Prize announcement! So make sure you mark yourself as attending so you don’t miss those great opportunities to win more prizes and snag more freebies!

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Here's a sneak peek from one of the sponsors:

Discern - an award-winning and bestselling urban fantasy novel by Andrea Pearson

About the Book:

Title: Discern (Mosaic Chronicles #1)

Author: Andrea Pearson

Pub. Date: August 25, 2014

Pages: 257

Synopsis:

Nicole Williams is an Arete—a fourth child with magical abilities—yet no matter how hard she tries, she can’t Channel her power. In fact, she seems to be the only student at Katon University who fails at magic.

That doesn’t stop magic from finding her. It starts with possessed books and cursed spiders before moving quickly to freaky shadows and magical currents. Nicole turns to her best friend for help, along with fellow student Austin Young, who is considered by all a magical rarity. He also happens to be the hottest guy on campus and just might be interested in her.

Nicole soon finds herself competing to be included on a university-led expedition to Arches National Park. She is determined to show everyone, but mostly herself, that she does belong. Yet, to qualify for the trip, she must produce at least a speck of Wind magic, and that appears to be impossible.

As the competition progresses, Nicole wonders if she’s making the right choice—especially when she learns that the strange fossils they’ll be studying in Arches might not be as dead as everyone thinks. 

Exclusive Excerpt:

Nicole put her things down, not wanting anything to be in her hands when she picked up the disgusting book. She reached for it, but hesitated. Already, she could sense warmth coming from the leather cover, and she wasn’t even touching it. Its magical pulses were different from the other items—they seemed to drip off the book like sweat.
Nicole hesitated, but wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t as if something bad would happen, right? She took a deep breath and placed her hands on the book. It shivered under her touch and she cringed, pulling back. The sensation of warm leather made her flesh crawl, and she rubbed her hands and arms on her jeans, trying to get the feeling to go away.
Come on, Nicole. Don’t wimp out.
Without letting herself think about it, she picked up the book and lifted the cover.
A wind rushed over her, blowing her hair back, roaring in her ears. She caught a brief whiff of tobacco smoke before the surge of air reversed and sucked the breath out of her lungs, making her gasp.
The floor under her quaked. The book vibrated. The leather on the cover moved, muscles beneath it flexing. Nicole tried to drop the book, but couldn’t. She was unable to control her hands or fingers. They clenched so tightly, they ached. A shadow covered the pages of the book, preventing her from reading.
What was going on? She gasped again, trying to breathe against the strong wind. She felt someone touch her shoulder, but she couldn’t move. Her fingers still clung to the book. The shadow on the pages shifted, roiled, and turned toward her, the brief outline of a face visible. It watched her for several moments.
Nicole . . .
The voice was soft, deep. A strange yearning inside her made her want to read the book, to understand. To join the owner of the voice, though she didn’t know where or what he was.
The wind slowed to a gentle and familiar caress across her cheek. Familiar?
Then suddenly, it all stopped. The book fell from her hands and slammed itself shut. She backed away, her arms, legs—everything—shaking.
“What happened?” Professor Coolidge asked next to her, making her jump.
“I—I don’t know.” Nicole tried to smooth her hair, but her hands shook too much. She tucked them under her arms. “It said my name . . . and there was a shadow. In-inside it.”
Coolidge lifted the leather book. His mouth popped open in surprise. “You’ve activated a force within it—something alive.” He looked at her, fear and worry on his face. “How did you do that?”
Nicole shook her head. “I don’t know,” she repeated.
Professor Coolidge put the book back on the table. “I’m not sure what to say, other than the book is much more powerful than it used to be.” He peered at her, scrutinizing her. “And I’d love to know why it called to you, why you woke it up, when so many others have not.”

 

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!

~Cassie

Book Blitz: Few Are Angels

About the Book:
Title: Few Are Angels (Volume I-IV)
Author: Inger Iversen
Publication date: December 26th 2016
Genres: New Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Synopsis:

The entire Few Are Angels series in one click for only .99c!
• Few Are Angels
• Immortal Heart
• Awakened
• Eternal Light
War is raging between the Immortals and the Dark Prince’s army of half-breed vampires — and gifted Ella finds herself at the center. Can renegade half-breed vampire Kale keep her safe as their forbidden love awakens? After a fatal hit and run accident, Ella Monroe fears that she’s lost more than her beloved parents. Horrifying visions of a past life and a disturbing voice in her head have psychiatric professionals convinced that she’s lost her sanity as well. But when Kale–a dark and handsome stranger with a mysterious past–reveals the true meaning of her visions and the tremendous power she wields through them, Ella must come to terms with the devastating truths of her own past, while eluding an ancient Dark Prince who seeks to control not only her future.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iBooks

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Check out the trailer produced by Timid Monster and WINNER of Best Book Trailer – UtopYA Con 2014:

Read the final short story, After the Fall, free on Inger’s site!

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EXCERPT:

The snow was deep, and the air so cold that he felt the wind’s sharp teeth pierce his skin. In the distance, someone was burning wood. The scent was strong and familiar. It reminded him of his home so long ago with Illiana and Agnes. He couldn’t afford to be disrupted by their memory. At one point, his actions had been for their survival. The need for bloodshed and vengeance once weighed heavy on his mind. He hadn’t intended to become the monster they’d claimed him to be, but now he prided himself on the names they called him. His personal favorite was the Dark Prince. He was not royalty, but his name would never be forgotten, nor could he forget the reason he’d become the man he was today. His men, through his connection to the Arc, had traced her to a state on the east coast. Their bond had grown stronger because of her visions, which had become longer and fiercer. It pleased and excited him to know how close they were to finding her exact location. It wouldn’t be much longer.
The Council was close on his heels. He and his men had reduced their numbers, but they remained quite bothersome. He never understood why their leader would not create more Immortals, as he had done. His brand of Immortals was vastly different than himself and the Council. He’d found a great use in half-breed vampires, or Chorý, even though they were not as powerful as a pure blood. They were still physically challenging to the younger Eternals. Ancient Eternals such as himself and the leader of the Council could crush a half-breed without breaking a sweat. Because they were not accepted by their own kind and unable to inform humans of their existence, half-breeds were very easy to control, especially when rewarded with acceptance.
The Dark Prince returned to his room and closed the balcony door. Darke, the first in command in his arsenal of Chorý, waited for him in the office. The Dark Prince removed his coat and placed it gently on the chair in front of Darke. He wouldn’t invite the man to sit. He wouldn’t provide even that small comfort until his job was completed.
“News?” he demanded.
Darke bowed his head and placed his arms at his sides. “Sir, we have tracked her to a city called Virginia Beach, but she is no longer there. We searched her home, and though it’s still furnished, it looks abandoned. It’s because of her parents’ demise that we believe her connection to you had begun.”
The Dark Prince already knew the cause of the initial connection, and he would use that to his advantage once he found her, but curiosity didn’t allow him to remain silent. “What has become of the girl?”
“She was sent to a facility for the mentally insane, sir.”
“What?” the Dark Prince bellowed. Surprised at his own outburst, he calmed himself and sat.
The Dark Prince had chosen Darke to lead his men because of his fearlessness and vicious battle tactics. Darke’s discomfort didn’t go unrecognized by Laurent.
Darke shifted his stance and cleared his throat before he continued. “Sir, if I may? This could be good for you. She may feel alone at a time such as this and need only for someone to accept her.”
There were times that the half-vampire was of more use to him than he’d like to admit. The girl would be an outcast amongst her own kind. He would exploit that insecurity as he had done to so many others—it would be perfect. Illiana had once called him ‘gentle devil’ because of his ability to lead an opponent to their death while pretending to cushion the fall. Suddenly, the air around him was thick with the scent of roses and sandalwood. It was her scent. Each Arc had a unique scent. The new Arc’s essence was delectable. The aroma of roses was light and innocent while the sandalwood was as strong and fierce as her power.

Author Bio:

Inger Iversen was born in 1982 to Anne and Kaii Iversen. She lives in Virginia Beach with her overweight lap cat, Max and her tree hugging boyfriend Joshua. She spends 90 percent of her time in Barnes and Noble and the other ten pretending not to want to be in Barnes and Noble.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

~Cassie

Waiting on Wednesday #84

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Jocelyn's Waiting On: 

Hunted by Meagan Spooner
Publication Date: March 14th, 2017

Synopsis: 

Beauty knows the Beast’s forest in her bones—and in her blood. Though she grew up with the city’s highest aristocrats, far from her father’s old lodge, she knows that the forest holds secrets and that her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering them. 

So when her father loses his fortune and moves Yeva and her sisters back to the outskirts of town, Yeva is secretly relieved. Out in the wilderness, there’s no pressure to make idle chatter with vapid baronessas…or to submit to marrying a wealthy gentleman. But Yeva’s father’s misfortune may have cost him his mind, and when he goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one prey: the creature he’d been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance. 

Deaf to her sisters’ protests, Yeva hunts this strange Beast back into his own territory—a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of creatures that Yeva’s only heard about in fairy tales. A world that can bring her ruin or salvation. Who will survive: the Beauty, or the Beast?

Aside from this STUNNING cover, this book seems like a unique Beauty and the Beast retelling! I'm all about retellings, I think I just like seeing other people's interpretations - so I am definitely ready for this book to be published! 

Cassie's Waiting On: 

The Great Pursuit (Eurona Duology #2) by Wendy Higgins
Publication Date: March 7, 2017

Synopsis:

Lochlanach has traded the great beast for something far more terrible, a Lashed enemy veiled in beauty, deception, and a vengeance passed down through generations: Rozaria Rocato. And she’s offering the hunter Paxton Seabolt power and acceptance he could never receive in his homeland. Pax must decide how far he’s willing to go under her tutelage, knowing she is the opponent of Princess Aerity Lochson.

In a land where traditionalists dread change, the Lochlan throne must contend with mysterious foes and traitors, while attempting to keep revolt at bay. As dire circumstances strike the royal family, matters of the castle are left in Aerity’s hands. It's time to put aside her fears and grasp the reign, taking actions that have the potential to save or destroy her people.

One hunt has ended, but the pursuit for love and justice continue. In this sequel to The Great Hunt from New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins, political intrigue and romance intensify in another thrilling fantasy. Princess Aerity embraces a quest for identity and passion before making the ultimate sacrifice for her kingdom.

Not only is this cover gorgeous, but I was absolutely in love with the first book in this duology.  I seriously can't wait to read what Wendy Higgins has in store for us with this installment.  The ending of the first book set up this book perfectly, and I know there will be some major twists and turns that no one will see coming!

Book Review: The Lovely Reckless

About the Book:
Title: The Lovely Reckless
Author: Kami Garcia
Pub. Date: Oct. 4, 2016
Publisher: Imprint
Pages: 384
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis:

I’ve become an expert at avoiding things that could hurt me—which means I will figure out how to stay away from Marco Leone.

Seventeen-year-old Frankie Devereux would do anything to forget the past. Haunted by the memory of her boyfriend’s death, she lives her life by one dangerous rule: Nothing matters. At least, that’s what Frankie tells herself after a reckless mistake forces her to leave her privileged life in the Heights to move in with her dad—an undercover cop. She transfers to a public high school in the Downs, where fistfights don’t faze anyone and illegal street racing is more popular than football.

Marco Leone is the fastest street racer in the Downs. Tough, sexy, and hypnotic, he makes it impossible for Frankie to ignore him—and how he makes her feel. But the risks Marco takes for his family could have devastating consequences for them both. When Frankie discovers his secret, she has to make a choice. Will she let the pain of the past determine her future? Or will she risk what little she has left to follow her heart?

Review:

When I found out that Kami Garcia was writing a new book I knew I had to add it to my TBR right away! And when I read the synopsis, I was definitely eager to get my hands on it. I have a thing for novels that feature street racing (who knows why, but it's this awesome bad-ass thing to me). While I had some ups and downs with the book, overall this one is another winner from Ms. Garcia, and seriously addicting. Even though there are things that normally bother me, for some reason Kami Garcia won me over and made me forget that I actually hate those things. I never wanted to stop reading because I fell for these characters so much. Kami just has a way of writing that makes you love to read the story she is telling, and I can't wait to read what she writes next!!

The story follows Frankie, who after her boyfriend dies in front of her, becomes a completely different person. Gone are the days of the good girl who lives by the rules...instead is a girl who is traumatized, angry, and rebellious. She doesn't care about the rules she breaks or going after the good guy. She wants to live on the edge and not look back. I actually liked watching Frankie rebuild her life more so than the actual romance of the story purely because it was quite a transformation to watch. I wasn't always the hugest fan of her character, but overall she was a great MC to follow. Marco is your stereotypical bad boy, but I did like when we saw a different side of him (one he doesn't show to many people). I think in many ways seeing this different side of Marco allowed Frankie to grow into a better person as well. Lexie, Frankie's BFF, was one of my favorites in this book. The way she stuck by Frankie no matter what (even when Frankie was an absolutely terrible friend to her, was extremely admirable. She was a constant that Frankie desperately needed, and I loved how well Lexi balanced Frankie out. Lastly, Cruz...I LOVED this girl! She was hilarious, amazing, and unapologetically herself. I seriously would love to have a friend like this, and I truly enjoyed the friendship that blossomed between her and Frankie. 

The couple of things that I didn't like about this novel were mainly the romance and Marco (hear me out on this one). First, the romance was way too insta-love for me. If you follow my reviews, you know I can't stand insta-love, and this is no exception. Frankie and Marco fall for each other after basically one conversation (and trust me, that convo isn't that long!) and then for the entire story, they aren't really together all that much. Yet, they fall madly in love with each other and trust each other implicitly. They put their lives in the others hands and have full faith that the other will catch them if they fall. I don't know, it just didn't fit well to me especially when you consider the plot and the personalities of the characters. However, it didn't bother me enough (for who knows what reason) that I didn't enjoy the book. The other problem I had was with Marco. I personally loved him except for how possessive he got at times. This ties back into the whole insta-love thing, but no one should be that possessive really at any point in a relationship, but especially after just meeting/getting to know some girl. 

Kami Garcia has written an edgy read that will make you desperate to find out what will happen as soon as you finish the first chapter. This book is a great read (I know it might not seem that way from some of the things I said), and I highly recommend checking it out when you get the chance!! Kami Garcia certainly didn't disappoint and I look forward to reading whatever she writes next!

Happy reading :)

~Cassie

Trailer Reveal: Till Death

Novels and Necklaces is super excited to present the brand new trailer for Jennifer Armentrout's newest book, Till Death!!  You all know how hard I fangirl over Jen, so it's pretty easy to guess that I'm counting down the days until this book comes out.  So without further ado, here's the trailer for Till Death :)

Wasn't that trailer absolutely gorgeous?! It makes me even more excited to get this book in my hands.  Now, here's all the details about the book, including pre-order links!

About the Book:

Title: Till Death

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publication Date: February 28, 2017

Synopsis:

In New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout’s gripping new novel, a young woman comes home to reclaim her life—even as a murderer plots to end it. . .

It’s been ten years since Sasha Keaton left her West Virginia hometown . . . since she escaped the twisted serial killer known as the Groom. Returning to help run her family inn means being whole again, except for one missing piece. The piece that falls into place when Sasha’s threatened—and FBI agent Cole Landis vows to protect her the way he couldn’t a decade ago.

First one woman disappears; then another, and all the while, disturbing calling cards are left for the sole survivor of the Groom’s reign of terror. Cole’s never forgiven himself for not being there when Sasha was taken, but he intends to make up for it now . . . because under the quirky sexiness Cole first fell for is a steely strength that only makes him love Sasha more.

But someone is watching. Waiting. And Sasha’s first mistake could be her last.

***

Pre Order links:

Amazon |  B&N |  iBooks |  IndieBound

Jen's Social Media links:

Facebook |  Twitter |  Instagram |  Website

~Cassie