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Teaser Tuesday: Forged (Altered 0.5) by Jennifer Rush

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!




“I have a surprise for you. Head up to your room and clean up. I’ll come get you in a bit.”

"Another surprise?" I asked.

- p. 33, "Forged", Jennifer Rush


PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here!

Total Book Geek
 

Review: Heartbeat by Elizabeth Scott

*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Emma would give anything to talk to her mother one last time. Tell her about her slipping grades, her anger with her stepfather, and the boy with the bad reputation who might be the only one Emma can be herself with.

But Emma can’t tell her mother anything. Because her mother is brain-dead and being kept alive by machines for the baby growing inside her.

Meeting bad-boy Caleb Harrison wouldn’t have interested Old Emma. But New Emma—the one who exists in a fog of grief, who no longer cares about school, whose only social outlet is her best friend Olivia—New Emma is startled by the connection she and Caleb forge. Feeling her own heart beat again wakes Emma from the grief that has grayed her existence. Is there hope for life after death—and maybe, for love?

Review:
Emma's mother has died, but her body is kept alive for the baby growing inside her. The moment you read that, you know it's not going to be an easy fluffy novel.

It's a story about a family that got lost and now they have to find a way back, to become a new sort of family. They will have to find some sort of happiness or else it stays this dysfunctional mess.

Emma has an overload of emotions, mostly anger. She is so mad at Dan, her stepfather, for choosing to keep her mother alive pure for the baby. At least that is the way Emma sees it. The anger and the sadness are often so overwhelming to read about. I really liked the intensity of the emotions, though they were often very misplaced.

I had difficulties connecting with Emma, because I didn't understand her reasoning and thought she was often being very selfish. It's only three quarters in when you finally get to know the real reasoning why Emma has been behaving so badly on all aspects of her life and why she is so scared. Unfortunately for me it was a bit too late, certainly since it doesn't seem to resolve anything.

In this novel the love story doesn't overrule the entire book. As in, it is present, but it doesn't become the main focus. It is about Emma and her personal struggle with losing her mom and the baby inside her. Which I thought was a bit misleading when you read the summary. Caleb has a big impact on Emma, but I would liked to have seen more of his life. I mostly see the way meeting Caleb has helped Emma, not the other way around though.

Overall the story really grips your heart and it will make you think about spending some more quality time with the family and not taking them for granted.


Connect with Elizabeth Scott:

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Music Monday (Dec. 30)

Music Monday is a weekly book meme, hosted by Athena of Total Book Geek. Everyone can join in, you just have to do the following:
  • Choose a book or a scene from a book.
  • Choose a song that fits said book or scene.
  • Tell us why you paired them together.
  • Don't forget to share the title and author.
  • Be careful not to include spoilers!





I thought this song Adore You by +Miley Cyrus seemed fitting for Blue Lines by Toni Aleo. It reminds me of how much Piper loves Erik and how sure she is of that love for him.

Please leave a comment with a link to your Music Monday post! If you don't have a blog and want to participate just share your links to the book and song in the comments.

Total Book Geek
 

Saturday Series: Storm (Elemental #1) by Brigid Kemmerer

Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her, Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys—all the ones she doesn't want. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water—just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They’re powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.

Secrets are hard to keep when your life’s at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who’s hiding the most dangerous truth of all.

The storm is coming . . .

Other reviews in the series
Review:
You don't have to read the novella Elemental before reading Storm, but it does give you a little background to start with and it definitely makes you wonder what has happened since then. It seems so much has changed.

We are now a couple of years later and Chris, the youngest of the bunch, is already sixteen years old. Just like his older brothers he has a knack for getting into trouble. It's not that he likes to fight, people just keep coming after him. That is how he and Becca first meet. Him getting his butt kicked, she saving his life. I always like it when the roles get turned around a bit.

After that little incident Becca gets thrown in the life of Elementals. Since she helped Chris she now also has a bullseye on her back. Also ever since Chris' parents died, the whole harassing things has been escalating and it now seems to be coming towards a climax.

I loved the dynamics between the four brothers. Michael has been pushed in the parent role, which mostly means getting mad at his brothers whenever they get into trouble. Gabriel is THE foremost trouble maker in the family. His twin brother Nick makes sure they don't get into the worst trouble and usually has to temper everyone down. And then Chris, the baby of the family. These guys are the most powerful Elementals around in about a radius of a thousand miles, so there is bound to be some tension and fights once in a while. As long as they remember they have each others back, they'll be good.

They will be needing it, because it seems someone called the Guides on them. They are a group of Elemental police. Which means the boys will need to behave if they don't want to die. This all would be a lot easier of course, if other weaker Elementals weren't constantly on their case.

And what has the new kid Hunter have to do with all this, you say. Well let's just say that he isn't what he seems to be.

Overall Storm was a very enjoyable read. I really liked the characters, even though the emotional parts sometimes went a little fast between Chris and Becca. The story was pretty predictable, but in no way was that a hindrance to me. The idea of having these powers, not superpowers though, and having to keep quiet about it and trying to live a regular life, speak to the geek inside of me. I am curious at what the other brothers have in store for us!


Connect with Brigid Kemmerer:

       



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Review: Captivate (Submerged Sun #1) by Vanessa Garden

*I've won a copy of this book.*
In a glittering underwater world, nothing is as it seems...

For the past twelve months since her parents’ death, seventeen-year-old Miranda Sun has harboured a dark secret — a secret that has strained the close relationship she once shared with her older sister, Lauren. In an effort to repair this broken bond, Miranda’s grandparents whisk the siblings away on a secluded beach holiday. Except before Miranda gets a chance to confess her life-changing secret, she’s dragged underwater by a mysterious stranger while taking a midnight swim.

Awakening days later, Miranda discovers that she’s being held captive in a glittering underwater city by an arrogant young man named Marko...the King of this underwater civilisation.

Nineteen-year-old Marko intends to marry Miranda in order to keep his crown from falling into the sinister clutches of his half-brother, Damir. There’s only one problem. Miranda is desperate to return home to right things with her sister and she wants nothing to do with Marko. Trying to secure her freedom, Miranda quickly forms an alliance with Robbie — Marko’s personal guard. However, she soon discovers that even underwater, people are hiding dangerous secrets...

Review:
The whole mermaid thing seems to be coming up more and more in books and I have been intrigued by it, but so far the books I've read weren't able to deliver.

After reading Captivate I felt like half of the book was missing, there were so many holes in it and lack of explanation, description and development.

First of all, kidnapping a girl to force her into marriage and conceiving children is never the right idea. Taking the wrong girl, since Miranda is only seventeen and not of age, is completely stupid. Besides she wasn't specially chosen, no, she was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. Seriously, Robbie gets the order from Sylvia (Marko's sister) to go to the surface and bring back a woman. That's it. No more details.

The whole reason Miranda is down there, is because nobody can produce children anymore. So here is hoping she doesn't have any fertility problems or she would have been kidnapped for nothing.

The biggest problem I have with the story is how nothing seems logical. Marko is nineteen and king, but his dad got murdered by Marko's older brother when he was still young, like ten years old. So Damir has been in hiding since then and Marko has been king since the murder? Why didn't Damir take the throne back then? Also there is this law of who has an heir first gets to be king. Which means if Damir gets someone pregnant first he would be king?

Another weird thing. Damir has been living in the underworld. Which I first took very literal, since I was still in the believe of them being some kind of mermaids, so there might have been something involved with gods. But no, the underworld just pretty much means the bad side of town. How big is this city that you can't find one guy and throw him in the cellar? It's not like the dude has any special powers or anything, he's just human, like they all are.

Them being regular humans was also kind of disappointing. They all pretty much chose to live down on the bottom of the ocean. Vanessa Garden tries to portray it as some magical place, but honestly I wasn't feeling it. To me it felt more like living under a dome, with a dark sky and surviving on artificial light. It's just a big prison to me.

Also all the people who've chosen to live there are supposed to be very rich or very smart, so to me it seems weird they would go to tactics like kidnapping someone to save their people. Which in fact isn't a solution to their problem. All the other women and girls still wouldn't be able to get children.

This relates to Marko not choosing his own wife. He goes to the surface once a month to trade their pearls for other goods. So the guy has had contacts with humans on the surface, why not try to find a girl who likes him and convince her to come back down with him and start a family. Once again, why the kidnapping?

I've been left with too many questions for me to like the story. There will be a second book, but I won't be reading it. I do believe if Vanessa Garden would have gone deeper into certain areas and characters this could have been a good book. As it is now, I really am not feeling it.


Connect with Vanessa Garden:

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Truth Or Dare (12/27)


Truth or Dare is a weekly meme invented by Jenna Does Books. Each week she gives you the choice between a Truth or a Dare.

TRUTH: What was your favorite book in 2013?

DARE: Replace one word/part of a word in the titles of FIVE books with “SANTA”.

I really like dares so I present to you my SANTA books!

  

    


Don't forget to put the link to your Truth Or Dare post in the comments!

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Excerpt & Giveaway: Wild Hearts (Forever Wild #2) by Magan Vernon



BOOK SUMMARY: 

Wild Hearts is the second book in the Forever Wild Serial. (This is a six part series with one book releasing every 3 weeks) 


Going back to Chicago with her accidental husband should have been torture for Valerie. But when Wes has her bent over the first class bathroom sink, torture is the last thing on her mind.

After landing back in Chicago reality sets in. So does the glaring eye of her roommate, and her former friends with benefits, Max, who seems to be a lot friendlier since Wes came in the picture.

After a meeting with a divorce lawyer, Valerie and Wes find out that they have thirty days for both of them to sign the papers, ending their quickie marriage.

But Valerie doesn’t know if she wants to move on or forever stay Mrs. Wild.


BUY LINKS: 
Wild Hearts is just .99 cents! 
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1exZW4u

And, some good news: ONE WILD NIGHT is now FREE! 

One Wild Night buy links: 

Excerpt:
Wes put his chin on my shoulder. “What the hell is that?”

I put my phone down and turned to face him. “Nothing that concerns you.”

“Are you seriously sexting another guy while I’m in your bed?”

“What?” I raised an eyebrow. “No. Who the hell even says that word? That’s reserved for political scandals.”

“I’m saying it because you were dirty texting another guy while you had me in bed with you? Are you also sending pics of your boobs too?”

My mouth gaped open. “What the hell? Do you just think I’m some kind of slut?”

He groaned, propping up on his elbow. “No. I just know how guys think. If some dude is texting you at 1 AM it’s not because he wants to go out for tea and cookies. He wants sex.”

“And I’m sure you haven’t done that millions of times.”

“I’m not an animal, Val. I have a little bit more respect for women than that.”

“Says the guy who married a girl he just met in Vegas.”

He grunted, grabbing my phone and putting it on the table beside us. “I could have done a lot worse.” He placed a quick kiss on my cheek but let his lips hover just above it. “And I don’t regret it one bit.”

“I’m sure that’s not true,” I whispered, barely able to get the words out. Truth was, I was starting not to regret it either.

He pushed a strand of hair behind my ear before his lips trailed back to my cheek and then down my neck, his stubble tickling my sensitive skin. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now than here with you in this bed. I could lay here forever underneath these fake stars.”

I sucked in a breath, unsure of what to say next. But the moment didn’t really need words either. He breathed into my neck as if he was inhaling all of me. Trying to make a memory of my scent.


Author Information
Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world. When not writing she spends her time fighting over fake boyfriends via social media. You can find her online at www.maganvernon.com.

**GIVEAWAY**

Magan is giving away an eARC of The Wild One and the winner will also get their name in book #4 of the series. 


Total Book Geek
 

Teaser Tuesday: Captivate by Vanessa Garden

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!





"I didn't like the idea of somebody getting so comfortable down here they forgot their own family."

- loc. 1123, "Captivate", Vanessa Garden


PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here!

Total Book Geek
 

Music Monday (Dec. 23)

Music Monday is a weekly book meme, hosted by Athena of Total Book Geek. Everyone can join in, you just have to do the following:
  • Choose a book or a scene from a book.
  • Choose a song that fits said book or scene.
  • Tell us why you paired them together.
  • Don't forget to share the title and author.
  • Be careful not to include spoilers!




I'm linking this Heart Attack by Demi Lovato to Keri Ann from Eversea by Natasha Boyd. (Click here for my review) It is quite a powerful song, but I think it fits her, expressing the intensity of the feelings involved. Keri Ann doesn't play with boys, still somehow even when she's not trying she gets their attention. Then Jack walks in and she gets a bit starstruck, saying things she didn't mean to. When they start hanging out Keri Ann knows she is setting herself up for heartbreak, but she couldn't stop it even if she wanted to.

Please leave a comment with a link to your Music Monday post! If you don't have a blog and want to participate just share your links to the book and song in the comments.

Total Book Geek