Special Accouncement from Tracey Garvis-Graves!

Posted May 11, 2014 by Jana in Bookish News / 4 Comments

GUESS WHAT!? Tracey Garvis-Graves (author of On the Island, Uncharted, and Covet) is releasing an adult romantic suspense novel sometime this year! I am SO EXCITED. I love romantic suspense and mysteries, and I have loved every one of Tracey’s novels so far! She is an auto-buy author for sure, and I will be trying to get my hands on it as soon as possible. Here’s what we know so far:

Title: Every Time I Think of You
Cover Coming Soon!
Author: Tracey Garvis-Graves
Release Date: Sometime in 2014
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Thirty-year-old Daisy DiStefano has two people she holds dear: the grandmother who raised her, and her three-year-old son, Elliott. But when Daisy’s grandmother is killed in a seemingly random act of violence, Daisy must take steps to protect herself and her child.

Despite a thriving career in San Francisco, thirty-six-year-old Brooks McClain has returned home to spend what little time his mother has left before she succumbs to the deadly disease that is ravaging her. The seasoned investigative reporter has taken a position with the local newspaper and been on the job less than twenty-four hours when he’s summoned to cover the death of Pauline Thorpe.

Brooks is all business, but the more time he spends with Daisy DiStefano, the more invested he becomes; there’s something about a single mother, a defenseless child, and an unsolved crime that has stirred Brooks’s protective instincts like nothing ever has before.

And when the unthinkable happens, Brooks will do whatever it takes to clear the name of the woman he’s fallen for and the child he’ll protect at any cost.

Romantic and suspenseful, Every Time I Think of You shows how far two people will go to fight for the ones they love, and the life they’ve always imagined.

HELLO! I am so excited!!!! How good does this one sound!?

Check out the book’s trailer!

Book Excerpt
(In case you need any more reasons to be excited about this…)

My watch said 11:00 p.m. Way too late to show up unannounced, but I knocked on Daisy’s door anyway, picturing her tip-toeing quietly to look through the peephole. It took a full minute because I’d undoubtedly roused her from a sound sleep. But then she opened the door far enough for me to cross the threshold and locked it again behind me.

The apartment was dark, save for a small beam of light that spilled into the hallway from her bedroom. As my eyes adjusted I noticed her hair. I’d never seen it down before. It fell way past her shoulders and was slightly messy, like she’d been tossing and turning in her sleep before I arrived. She wore a pair of pajama pants and a tank top with narrow straps, one of which had fallen off her shoulder.

“What is it?” she asked. “Are you okay?”

“My mom died,” I said. It felt strange to say the words out loud. My voice sounded flat, unemotional.

“I’m so sorry, Brooks,” she said, but she didn’t say anything else.

I wanted something that would take away the empty, restless feeling inside of me. Something solid and real. She was standing close enough that one step was all I needed to close the gap between us. She must have taken a shower right before she went to bed because when I plunged my hands into all that hair, grabbing fistfuls and pulling her up against me, I felt the dampness and smelled the faint traces of her shampoo.

I moved my hands to the sides of her face and cupped it. She didn’t miss a beat when I pressed my lips to hers. She was probably wondering how I could possibly kiss her at a time like this, but it didn’t stop her from putting her arms around me and kissing me back like it was exactly what she needed, too.

Like the steady turn of a release valve, everything that had been bottled up inside of me escaped slowly through that kiss. I hadn’t realized how rigidly I’d been holding my body until it slackened against hers. How tightly I’d been clenching my jaw until I relaxed it to kiss her. All the tension I’d been feeling disappeared when she opened her mouth and let me in.

It was a long slow kiss, the kind that wasn’t meant to lead to anything else and was all the more powerful because of it. When I’d finally had enough I said, “I don’t know why I came. It’s late. I woke you up.”

“It’s okay,” she said softly. “I don’t mind.”

“Go back to bed,” I whispered.

She nodded and I opened the door. “Lock this behind me,” I said, and I waited in the hallway until I heard the tumble of the lock clicking into place.

 

About Tracey

Tracey Garvis-Graves is the author of On the Island, Uncharted, and Covet. She lives in a suburb of Des Moines, Iowa with her husband, two children, and hyper dog Chloe. She blogs at www.traceygarvisgraves.com using colorful language and a snarky sense of humor to write about pop culture, silly television shows, and her suburban neighborhood. You can e-mail her at traceygarvisgraves@gmail.com. She’d love to hear from you.

Announcement brought to you by Wordsmith Publicity


Bout of Books 10 – Goals

Posted May 10, 2014 by Jana in Personal / 9 Comments

Bout of BooksI’m so excited to be officially participating in Bout of Books this week! I’ve always wondered what this Bout of Books thing is, and then I came across a couple blogs with goals posted, read a little about it, and found out it starts Monday! Now that school’s done, I can totally do this! It should be a lot of fun!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 12th and runs through Sunday, May 18th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 10 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books team

Books I want to read this week:

1. How to Meet Boys by Catherine Clark
2. Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly
3. Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend by Katie Finn
4. The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes


Additional goals for the week:

  • Learn the ins and outs of how this read-a-thon works!
  • Make some new blogging friends!
  • Tackle my massive review pile.
  • Get out of my reading slump, because I am dying.
  • Participate in two or three challenges.


Read-A-Thon Progress:

Monday – 5/12 – (This is the day my dad had a heart attack.)
Books Finished Today: 0
Currently Reading: What is Hidden by Lauren Skidmore
Total Books Read: 0
Total Pages Read: 9

Tuesday – 5/13 – (Dad still in hospital, had surgery for artery blockage.)
Books Finished Today: 0
Currently Reading: What is Hidden by Lauren Skidmore
Total Books Read: 0
Total Pages Read: 155

Wednesday – 5/14 (Dad home.)
Books Finished Today: 0
Currently Reading: What is Hidden by Lauren Skidmore
Total Books Read: 0
Total Pages Read: 155

Thursday – 5/15
Books Finished Today: 0
Currently Reading: What is Hidden by Lauren Skidmore
Total Books Read: 0
Total Pages Read: 177

Friday – 5/16
Books Finished Today: What is Hidden by Lauren Skidmore
Currently Reading: Catch a Falling Star by Kim Culbertson
Total Books Read: 1
Total Pages Read: 280

Saturday – 5/17
Books Finished Today: 0
Currently Reading: Catch a Falling Star by Kim Culbertson
Total Books Read: 1
Total Pages Read: 280

Sunday – 5/18
Books Finished Today: 0
Currently Reading: Carrier by Vanessa Garden (Set aside Catch a Falling Star for another time)
Total Books Read: 0
Total Pages Read: 310

End-of-Week Wrap-up: 5/19/14

Well… I failed Bout of Books. I mean, if you take my last month of reading into account, one book for the week is really good for me! So in that respect, I did do well! It was a crazy week and I was just not feeling the book I tried to focus on. I should have just set it aside sooner. Catch a Falling Star is very cute, but apparently not what I was in the mood for. I’ll finish it next month hopefully. Carrier is very good, so I’m doing better with reading now! Next Bout of Books, I’ll make sure not to set my goals too high and to remember I’m just out to have fun.


Open Road Summer by Emery Lord | Book Review

Posted May 9, 2014 by Jana in Book Review, Young Adult Fiction / 5 Comments

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord | Book ReviewOpen Road Summer by Emery Lord
Published by Walker Children's on April 15, 2014
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance
Pages: 342
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (Netgalley)
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After breaking up with her bad-news boyfriend, Reagan O’Neill is ready to leave her rebellious ways behind. . . and her best friend, country superstar Lilah Montgomery, is nursing a broken heart of her own. Fortunately, Lilah’s 24-city tour is about to kick off, offering a perfect opportunity for a girls-only summer of break-up ballads and healing hearts. But when Matt Finch joins the tour as its opening act, his boy-next-door charm proves difficult for Reagan to resist, despite her vow to live a drama-free existence. This summer, Reagan and Lilah will navigate the ups and downs of fame and friendship as they come to see that giving your heart to the right person is always a risk worth taking. A fresh new voice in contemporary romance, Emery Lord’s gorgeous writing hits all the right notes.

When I think of this book, my heart soars and flutters a little. I was SO in the mood for a light, sweet little romance and Emery Lord gave it to me. As always, my main points are bolded. :)

1. What a fun idea for a book! I love that the book takes place on a tour bus and in hotels along a 24-city country music tour! It’s such a unique and fresh idea, and I enjoyed listening in on the characters’ discussions as they drove along the open road.

2. I adore the deep and protective friendship that exists between Reagan and Lilah/Dee, and I love the friendship between Dee and Matt. Even though there was a bit of romance to the story, the focus was mostly on friendship and I found that to be extremely refreshing. Everyone was so concerned for each other.

3. I liked seeing the non-glitzy, non-perfect side of celebrity life, and I loved that it did not ruin Lilah. You would think her life was perfect, but she has a lot of pain and sadness built up inside that the world of pop culture doesn’t get. The are pushing on her for information about her break-up, and they are trying to ruin her life with lies. She has to put up this front and come off as America’s little sweetheart, while she cries behind closed doors like any normal teenager would. She is real, and I felt for her.

4. I love how protective Reagan is over Dee. When Matt shows up, Reagan pretty much wants to punt him in to the next universe. But his sweetness and sincerity melts through Reagan’s reservations. The three form a really cute trio.

5. I am SO a fan of swoony Matt Finch. He’s sensitive and charming and a little broody. He seems to be very clean cut and gentlemanly. Totally the boy next door. Plus, he can sing in a melt-your-heart melodic way, rather than a I’m-going-to-scream-obscenities-until-I-bust-a-vocal-chord way.

6. I kind of skimmed over the romance aspect before, but it needs to be addressed. I LOVE THE SWOONS. Matt just knows how to say all the right things. And the way he picks Reagan up and puts her back together melted me.

7. I absolutely loved the writing style. Emery is really good at writing about teen angst, emotion, love, and friendship. I hung on her every word.

Basically, if you’re looking for a sweet summer romance with a little meat to it then this is your book! I will always look back on this fun summer road trip fondly. Open Road Summer is a new favorite, and I highly suggest you go grab yourself a copy.


Goals for My Second Trip to Italy – Wish You Were Italian Release Event

Posted May 8, 2014 by Jana in About Me / 8 Comments

wish you were italianWish You Were Italian is my favorite book of 2014 so far! I loved it so unbelievably much. In honor of the book’s release on May 6th, Kristin Rae, the author, has asked us early readers of the book to share our goals for Italy, just like Pippa (the main character in the book) did before she began her Italian adventure.

I’ve already been to Italy once, and saw a TON of cities and towns and art… but one can never do everything in only one trip! So, these are my goals for the NEXT time I go. Because, honestly, I will be back. The coin I threw on the Trevi Fountain proves it. :)

1. Not be sick this time.
I got to Italy by transatlantic cruise, and contracted a bad case of pneumonia on the ship. My doctor says it’s because I was in such close quarters with a bunch of people from all over the world and pretty much made my own sickness. I was gone for six weeks, and was sick for the entire thing. :'( I actually broke my rib coughing in Florence. SO painful, and so disappointing. I did not let it get me down too much, though. Although when I got home and went to the doctor, he told me I should have been in the hospital. He did a chest x-ray (probably looking for tuberculosis) and could not see my heart through the pneumonia. I was SO sick.

2. Eat more gelato.
Gelato is pretty expensive, and I did not eat nearly enough. I keep thinking back to this gelateria in Florence that sold a “cookies” gelato. It was vanilla with some kind of bakery cookie covered in chocolate mixed in. It was to DIE for, and I swear three cups of it was not enough.

3. Walk the Bridge of Sighs and go into the Dodges Palace in Venice.
Seriously. I looked at this bridge and I looked at this palace but did not go in. WHY? It’s like it did not occur to me! I was so enchanted by Venice that I wanted to be outside the whole time, I guess.

4. Spend more time in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City.
My mom and I are the art history buffs, but my dad and sister couldn’t care less. I had been wanting to see this lovely little chapel forEVER, but my mom and I felt pressured to leave sooner than we wanted because the rest of the family was bored. We should have just told them to go out without us. I could have sat there for at least another hour.

5. Visit Cinque Terre
I wanted to go to Cinque Terre before I read Wish You Were Italian, but after reading so much about it, I want to go even more, especially to Riomaggiore!

6. Actually go to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa
I just sat at the bottom of it and looked up at it. There were SO MANY STAIRS to get to the top, and sickly me would just not have made it!

7. Visit the Galleria Borghese in Rome.
I’m an ART person and I did not get the chance to see this museum! There was just not enough time!

8. Stay at the Hotel Metropole in Bellagio even longer.
This hotel is the most beautiful, with the most exquisite views I’ve ever seen. We had a corner room with double balconies. My mom and I splurged on this hotel, but it was so worth it. Seriously, click on the link above and go see pictures. Bellagio is the most magical little town, and I loved exploring it.

9. Break the law more.
Haha. I know, this sounds weird. But so many of the places I went to had men yelling at tourists to not take pictures. And at first I complied. But when they tried to take my memories away of the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s David in the Academia in Florence, that was where I drew the line. I got one amazing photo in the Sistine Chapel, which was pure luck. I was in the middle of a huge crowd and just went for it because I knew the guards could not get to me. David was another experience. I held my camera against my stomach and tried to take pictures without being noticed. There was this really scary woman Nazi guard type who was going around making people delete their pictures! I took a risk, and she glared at me and wiggled her finger at me, but I came home with one picture of David as well. I just wish I had more!

10. Stay longer.
There were so many things I wanted to see and do, but there was just not enough time! Next time, I just need to stay in Italy longer. Or move there. *sigh*

 

Well, I hope you liked my list of goals! If you’re wanting to go to Italy, but just can’t afford it or make the time, grab yourself a copy of Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae! It’s the next best thing. :)


Have you heard about Camp Payback by J.K. Rock? + a Giveaway!

Posted May 7, 2014 by Jana in Blog Tour, Book Spotlight, Giveaway / 1 Comment

Have you heard about Camp Payback by J.K. Rock? + a Giveaway!

Welcome to my stop along the Camp Payback blog tour, hosted by AToMR Promotions! Last summer I read the first book of the series, Camp Boyfriend, and ADORED it. It is such a fun, summery romance that had me itching to go to summer camp, even though I hate bugs and dirt and campfire smoke. Check out my review of Camp Boyfriend here (the authors even wrote a fun guest post to go along with my review)! Anyway, I have been eagerly anticipating Camp Payback’s release, and you should be too! Here’s everything you need to know about it! My review will come later, as some crazy school/life stuff happened and I fell into a major reading slump that left me liking nothing I read. :)


 

camp paybackCamp Payback by J.K. Rock
Series: Camp Boyfriend #2
Published by: Spencer Hill Contemporary on April 29, 2014
Genres: Contemporary, contemporary romance, romance
Buy the BookAdd to Goodreads

Alex has big plans for camp this year, starting with making it the best summer ever. Having fun and breaking some rules will get her the payback she wants against her parents and her ex-boyfriend. Because of his disgusting texts, she’s headed to a super strict all-girls school in the fall.

Then she meets Javier and revenge doesn’t seem nearly as important as getting to know the troubled loner determined to keep a low profile at camp. But Alex’s trouble-magnet personality and Javier’s need to stay in the background don’t mix nearly as well as their irresistible chemistry.

With her home life eroding under her feet and her last year of summer camp speeding to a close, Alex wants to make her mark on the world and squeeze every bit of fun out of her time with Javier. Too bad her old plans for revenge turn back on her just in time to ruin everything. Will she lose Javier too?

All the Links:

Author Website | Tumblr | Pinterest | Google+ | YouTube | Facebook | Goodreads


International Giveaway!

WOW. What an awesome giveaway J.K. Rock has for you! Good luck! I hope you win. :)

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