The Two Brains of Book Reviewers: November 2015

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

The Last Orphans by N.W. Harris Excerpt

The Last Orphans by N.W. Harris

Genre: YA, post-apocalyptic

Publication: October 9th, 2014 by Clean Teen Publishing

One horrifying day will change the life of sixteen-year-old Shane Tucker and every other kid in the world.

In a span of mere hours, the entire adult population is decimated, leaving their children behind to fend for themselves and deal with the horrific aftermath of the freak occurrence. As one of the newly made elders in his small town, Shane finds himself taking on the role of caretaker for a large group of juvenile survivors. One who just happens to be Kelly Douglas—an out-of-his-league classmate—who, on any other day, would have never given Shane a second glance.

Together, they begin their quest to find out why all of the adults were slaughtered. What they find is even more horrifying than anything they could have expected—the annihilation of the adults was only the beginning. Shane and his friends are not the unlucky survivors left to inherit this new, messed-up planet. No, they are its next victims. There is an unknown power out there, and it won’t stop until every person in the world is dead.

A spine-tingling adventure that will have you gasping for breath all the way until the last page, The Last Orphans is the first book in an all-new apocalyptic series.

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- Excerpt -

Light faded from the gloomy heavens as Shane climbed over his aunt and out of the passenger side of the cab. Ominous green clouds still choked the sky, but the air was calm and quiet. He walked a few yards away and turned around, staring absently at the wreckage and wanting to die. The truck door hung open, his aunt’s swollen feet sticking out. Crippling numbness overtook him, pressing in on all sides, as if he were being buried in wet cement. It invaded his mind, drowning his thoughts, and leaving only dejected questions that no one could answer. What was he supposed to do now? Why did he have to still be alive when everyone he loved was being taken from him?

“Help!” A girl’s hysterical voice ripped through his viscous daze like a bullet through a soda can. “Can you please? Help!”

The voice was pitched with agony and grief, but also very familiar.

Shane pivoted, the weight of his aunt’s nightmarish demise making it hard to move.

Two girls ran up the Douglas’ long, gravel driveway toward him. The taller one’s tangled, blonde hair billowed behind her. She wore cutoff blue jeans and a baggy, white T-shirt with crimson paint smeared across her chest. She dragged a shorter version of herself by the hand behind her as she ran. It took a second for Shane to register who it was.

“Kelly?” he shouted, his voice hoarse with shock. Struggling to break free of the catatonic state threatening to turn him into stone, he jogged heavily down the driveway to meet her.

“They killed my dad and my mom!” she shrieked, her eyes wild and her gaze darting like she expected some horror to jump out of the fields and attack her. “They went berserk and trampled them!”

“Wait—slow down.” Shane grabbed her shoulders to steady her. Her distress tore his mind away from the despair seeping through every part of his body, starving him for breath and welding his joints together. “Who killed your parents?” He realized the red on her clothes was fresh blood.

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- Giveaway -

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Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Denial by Lisa Renee Jones

Blurb

From New York Times bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones, the first book in the CARELESS WHISPERS series.

Please note: This is the standalone spinoff of the INSIDE OUT series. New readers can enjoy this without reading INSIDE OUT but those who love INSIDE OUT will FINALLY find out what happened to Ella!

Ella Ferguson awakes alone in Italy, unsure of who she is, and a gorgeous man has claimed her as his own. He's tall, dark, and sexy, with money and power, the kind of man who makes a girl want to be possessed. And he does possess her, whispering wicked wonderful promises to her, stealing her trust and her heart. Soon though, the past finds her, yanking her from a cocoon of passion and safety. Everything is not how it seems. The truth will shatter her world, but it can set her free, if it doesn't destroy her first.

Darra's Review:

Mystery, confusion and a fantastic cliff hanger best explains what you get from this book. There were so many characters that are questioned what their motives were. I felt as though she should question each and every person throughout the book.
The story evolves and I could not put the book down because you know something jaw dropping will happen. Enthralled is the best word to explain how the reader will feel.
I cannot help but love Kayden. He is mysterious and you will fear he will turn for the worse.

This is one of those books you wish for an optimistic ending. A vague way to explain my thoughts, however I do not want to give away too much. I kept checking the next page for more and was at a loss for how it ended. That was when I said out loud "Really. You end it here!" Lost for words. One of the best cliffhangers I have ever read. Beyond frustrated in a good. I will absolutely be reading the next book. You can't leave me hanging here!

I rate the book a 4.7. An ending that will leave you shocked beyond belief!

Sunny's Review:

I really like this book. There is a lot of mystery and intrigue in this book. I was basically sitting there through the whole book trying to figure everything out. I have not read the series before this one and I personally don't feel like I was at a disadvantage. I really can't wait for more and if I have time I will have to go back and read other series.

Kayden...oh boi. I really like him. There are some issues but seriously when aren't there. I definitely would not mind waking up in the hospital to him. I like Ella too. I can't imagine not knowing who I am, who I can trust, what I have done in the past. Honestly, I think she handles it all fairly well. Again, I can't wait for more! Go get this book. I am giving 4.6 stars out of 5.

Excerpt

I couldn’t sleep. I meant to go to the kitchen and then I ended up here because I wanted . . .” His reaction cuts like his anger. “Just never mind.” I try to move around him but his hands press to the wall beside me, caging me, and now I’m angry. “Are we doing this again? Don’t bully me. My stupid flashbacks are doing a fine job of that on their own. I said I’m sorry. Just let me go back to my room.”

“You wanted what?”

“I wanted you to do what you swore you could,” I blurt, having nothing to lose when everything is already gone.

“Only I don’t want you to fuck me until I can’t remember my name. I want you to fuck me until I stop thinking about that man and the gun. Because you were right. Memories are the enemies that never die. But I know you don’t want—”

His hand slides under my hair and he drags me to him, my hand flattening on the hard wall of his chest. “I do want. So fucking bad it’s killing me.”

My palm is directly over his heart, and I can feel it racing, the air around us crackling with barely contained passion. “I don’t need a hero to save my virtue tonight. I need you. So please. Fuck me and then fuck with my head so no one else can. Let me choose my own sins.”

He is stone, unmoving, his body steel, his expression unreadable, the sexual tension crackling between us. “You want sin, sweetheart,” he says. “I’ll give you sin.” His mouth closes down on mine, his tongue licking into my mouth, wicked with demand, and I can taste his hunger, his need. A deep, aching need I want to fill.

Buy The Book! Amazon B&N

For more information about Lisa's CARELESS WHISPERS series and to read chapters one and two of DENIAL visit her website at:

http://lisareneejones.com/connected-books/careless-whispers/

About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT SERIES, and is now in development by Suzanne Todd (Alice in Wonderland) for cable TV. In addition, her Tall, Dark and Deadly series and The Secret Life of Amy Bensen series, both spent several months on a combination of the NY Times and USA Today lists.

Watch the video on casting for the INSIDE TV Show HERE

Since beginning her publishing career in 2007, Lisa has published more than 40 books translated around the world. Booklist says that Jones suspense truly sizzles with an energy similar to FBI tales with a paranormal twist by Julie Garwood or Suzanne Brockmann.

Prior to publishing, Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by Dallas Women Magazine. In 1998 LRJ was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.

Lisa loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at on her website and she is active on twitter and facebook daily.

GIVEAWAY

$25 Amazon gift card, 2 limited edition Denial coffee mugs,

and 2 sets of limited edition Careless Whispers shot glasses. (5 Winners)

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Monday, November 23, 2015

The Ninth Inning Series by Lindsay Paige and Mary Smith!!

The Ninth Inning series presents Memphis Angels' pitcher, Felix Hernandez.

Felix Hernandez's life is baseball, baseball, baseball, and then his family. He rarely remembers anything that doesn't concern the game. He's never had a good enough reason to reprioritize his life or change his ways.

Relying on her sisters most of the time, Abigail Harris is trying to put her life in order. She's now a graduate student and living on her own. It's not until Felix deems her his lucky charm that her life begins to change. Now, Abigail isn't sure if she should be focusing on her happiness or the professional baseball player.

Can the two handle any fastballs that come their way or will they strike out under pressure?

Sunny's Review:

So we all know how much I love baseball. I mean I was an Astros fan when they were the Lastros :( I was totally looking forward to this series. I love the sport themed books that Lindsay Paige and Mary Smith do together. So far they have all been about hockey so I was interested to see how they pulled off the baseball books. I am pretty happy with it.

Felix is a pitcher and by pitcher I mean an amazing pitcher. He finds his good luck charm and then makes sure that she is there at his games to keep his luck going. Baseball players to tend to be extremely superstitious so I like that they got this into the book. I like Felix and he was a pretty good character. I liked Abigail too. I liked that she was not falling all over herself for him when she found out he was a baseball player and the fact that she played along as his lucky charm. Both characters had some issues to deal with and there were times I wanted to strangle them both but they redeemed themselves.

I am giving this book 4.3 stars out of 5.

Buy the Book: Amazon Barnes & Noble

The Ninth Inning series presents Memphis Angels' catcher, Blake Foster.
Blake Foster has a love/hate relationship with the game he plays for a living. On good days, he smiles and enjoys baseball. During the rest of the time, he's battling his demons and looking out for his mother. He has a hard time keeping ahold of the good things in life no matter how badly he wants them.

Sofia Gardner might come from a rich family, but she has worked for the opportunity for a position on the staff for the Memphis Angels. However, when she meets Blake, she realizes there's more to him than his constant grumpy expressions. She feels he needs a friend and in her good-natured way, she reaches out to him, only to find the demons he's battling are much worse than she thought.

When the bases are loaded and it all comes down to the catch at home plate, can they get their out or lose it all when it matters most?

Sunny's Review:

You get to see a little bit of Blake and Sofia in Felix's book. I was interested to see if I was going to like Blake. Sometimes for me the second book in the series tend to fall flat. This has been across the board on almost all books and series but I actually like this book better than Felix. Don't get me wrong, Felix was a good book but I really like Blake.

Blake has a lot of things going on in his personal life and really deals pretty well but not really. You are going to have to read the book to see what that means. He is one of the only Memphis Angels that remained after a scandal and should technically be the leader of the team. He isn't but Hector kind of latches onto him and tries to make him more personable. Sofia works for the team as a massage therapist and is a strong girl. She tries to be Blake's friend and does put up with a lot of crap from him. I like that she is pretty well adjusted and does push Blake past his comfort zone. There is a lot of drama in this book.

I can't wait to see what Hector's book is like. He is pretty funny and I like him a lot.

I am giving this book 4.4 stars out of 5.

Buy the Book!! Amazon Barnes & Noble

The Authors!!

Lindsay Paige is the author of multiple Young Adult, New Adult, and Sports romances. She also coauthors sports romances with Mary Smith. Along with writing, she loves reading, watching hockey, especially the Pittsburgh Penguins, and finding funny terrible puns and recipes on Pinterest. All the while, she is also focused on completing college.

Lindsay resides in North Carolina and is inspired by the world around her and the people in it. She is currently working on numerous solo works and a couple of projects with coauthor Mary Smith as well.

Best Selling Author, Mary Smith, has been coming up with stories her whole life. She has written A HOCKEY TUTOR, THE ICE SERIES, as well as co-authored THE PENALTY KILL TRILOGY and OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN SERIES. When not busy writing or rooting for the Chicago Blackhawks you can find her with her nose stuck in her Kindle.
You can visit her website at: www.authormarysmith.blogspot.com
Follow her on Twitter: @maryms1980
Or Faceook: www.facebook.com/authormarysmith

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Heart of the Music by Kaithlin Sheperd's Release

When stubborn and determined collide, sometimes you have to fight dirty to win.
Title: Heart of the Music

Author: Kaithlin Shepherd

Release Date: November 21st

Genre: Contemporary / Rock Star Romance

Series: Saints & Sinners, book 1
Cover Designer: Claire Smith

Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing

Saints and Sinners front man, Jarrod Banks, has the looks and the voice that make women swoon, and he knows how to take advantage of every lyric and every wink. Not used to having to fight for the attention of an attractive woman, he can’t help but be drawn to his publicist, Patricia, who refuses to play his games. She’s the one woman whose love he’s going to have to earn and he’s not afraid to fight dirty.

Even managing a rowdy group of music sensations, Patricia Monroe is the consummate professional. For five years, she has kept her attraction to Jarrod under wraps, enduring his endless supply of women, but one day when locked in an elevator, revelations are made that could change it all.

When their relationship is put to the test, Jarrod is left with no other option than to pull every dirty trick in the book to show her she’s the only woman he’ll ever love.

On sale for $2.99. Original price $3.99

Hit & Run by Meghan Quinn Release Blitz

Hit And Run

by Meghan Quinn

Goodreads

Right when Jane and Brady have everything right in the world, they lose the one thing they didn’t know they wanted. The pain is too much, the expectations are too high and the pressure they put on each other tears them a part.

They have one chance to make it right, one chance to try and move on from the hurt and pain but is Jane ready to put her past behind her or is she going to take the easy road out and give up?

The drama finally concludes in this heart-wrenching series full of twists, turns, cliffhangers, deaths, and hot, steamy nights.

Life isn’t as easy as it seems, especially under the heat of living in Hot-Lanta.

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Meghan Quinn

Born in New York and raised in Southern California, Meghan has grown into a sassy, peanut butter eating, blonde haired swearing, animal hoarding lady. She is known to bust out and dance if “It’s Raining Men” starts beating through the air and heaven forbid you get a margarita in her, protect your legs because they may be humped. 


Once she started commuting for an hour and twenty minutes every day to work for three years, she began to have conversations play in her head, real life, deep male voices and dainty lady coos kind of conversations. Perturbed and confused, she decided to either see a therapist about the hot andsteamy voices running through her head or start writing them down. She decided to go with the cheaper option and started writing… enter her first novel, Caught Looking. 

Now you can find the spicy, most definitely on the border of lunacy, kind of crazy lady residing in Colorado with the love of her life and her five, furry four legged children, hiking a trail or hiding behind shelves at grocery stores, wondering what kind of lube the nervous stranger will bring home to his wife. Oh and she loves a good boob squeeze.

Caught Looking Book #1

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

Playing the Field Book #2

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

Warning Track Book #3

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

Hit and Run Book #4
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Wednesday, November 18, 2015

The Baller by Vi Keeland Cover Reveal!!!!

THE BALLER

(A standalone novel)

A Contemporary Romance novel

New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author

Vi Keeland

RELEASING JANUARY 18TH!

Add THE BALLER to your TBR list on Goodreads!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27406436

Shortlink: http://bit.ly/1QlcmP0

Blurb

The first time I met Brody Easton was in the men’s locker room.

It was my first interview as a professional sportscaster.

The famed quarterback decided to bare all.

And by all, I don’t mean he told me any of his secrets.

No. The arrogant ass decided to drop his towel, just as I asked the first question. On camera.

The Super Bowl MVP quickly adopted a new hobby—screwing with me.

When I pushed back, he shifted from wanting to screw with me, to wanting to screw me.

But I don’t date players.

And it’s not because I’m one of the few women working in the world of professional football.

I’d date an athlete.

It’s the other kind of player I don’t date.

You know the type. Good looking, strong, cocky, always looking to get laid.

Brody Easton was the ultimate player.

Every woman wanted to be the one to change him.

But the truth was, all he needed was a girl worth changing for.

Turned out, I was that girl.

Simple right?

Let’s face it. It never is.

There’s a story between once upon a time and happily ever after…

And this one is ours.

About the Author

Vi Keeland is a native New Yorker with three children that occupy most of her free time, which she complains about often, but wouldn't change for the world. She is a bookworm and has been known to read her kindle at stop lights, while styling her hair, cleaning, walking, during sporting events, and frequently while pretending to work. She is a boring attorney by day, and an exciting smut author by night!