Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Blog Tour ~ The Hazards of Sleeping with a Friend by Alyssa Rose Ivy ~ Review, Excerpt & Giveaway!



Welcome to my stop on the Hazards Blog Tour!
I love this author and this series!



The Hazards of Sleeping with a Friend (Hazards, #5)
The Hazards of Sleeping with a Friend (Hazards #5) by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Release Date: March 26, 2015
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages: 204
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: Author
Purchase: Amazon
Haunt Author: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Warning: Sleeping with a friend might change your life forever.

Sleeping with Kyle was never in the plans. Pretending to be his girlfriend was one thing, but letting our relationship become anything but platonic was another. The problem with mixing friendship with sex is that inevitably feelings get involved, and when that happens there's no turning back.

When Kyle's life fell apart around him, I needed to help, but doing that meant opening myself up to the most terrifying thing in the world—falling in love.


This can be read as a standalone but I like reading them in order because you do get a little extra back story that way. Kyle and Jade were mentioned previously in the series. I was actually super excited for this book because I really really liked Kyle in the first book and third book. He was mentioned briefly only but he seemed like a nice guy that deserved a happy ending. I also love friends to lovers stories.

Jade and Kyle are friends and work at a radio show together. They both also like each other. We get both POVs which I always love in romance books so we know truly where their heads and hearts are. Kyle's family believes he has a girlfriend so he asks Jade to join him on a family trip and pretend to be his girlfriend. I for some reason always love stories with this kind of outrageous plot line. Like I should really just find a guy I like and tell him I need him to pretend to be my boyfriend and then we will end up together! LOL That happens in books and movies and I really wonder if it ever worked in real life. While a little out there I thought it worked well for this story. Kyle didn't want his mom setting him up so he lied and said he had a girlfriend and asking a friend to pretend makes sense.

Time together is just what they need to bring feelings to the surface. But like so many romances past feelings and lack of communication does get in the way. Tragedy strikes and I was surprised yet also kind of expecting it. I was hoping for a little more detail and resolve with it though. I kind of wanted to know if Kyle talked more to his parents about what was going on and if they ever found out for sure what happened. The story does stay on the more simple and less detailed side. It works though. Whenever I pick up a book in this series I know I'm going to have a fun and sexy romance. A very enjoyable and quick read.




"I'm here for as long as you need me."
"Even if that means forever?"
"Even if it means forever."

Rating: 4/5




Excerpt


I didn’t rush to turn the light off. I wasn’t sure if either of us were ready to go back to darkness again. If she was feeling even remotely like me, then sleep was the last thing on her mind.
If a kiss could make me feel that way, the sex was going to be incredible. That thought ran through my head on repeat as I tried to keep my eyes anywhere but on her. Eventually my willpower gave out, and I turned to look at her lying under the sheets next to me with a soft smile on her lips. I wanted to taste those lips again so bad I could barely take it.
She read my mind. “You officially have permission to kiss me anytime.”
“That’s great permission to have.” I rolled over on to my side next to her. I wasn’t giving up any opening she was willing to give.
“Do I have it too?”
“On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.” I ran my hand down her bare arm.    
“But today is Sunday.”
“I guess I can make an exception.” I grinned, loving how she’d moved us back to the teasing that came so naturally.
“Can you?” She sat up and looked down at me.
Something snapped. I needed her, and it wasn’t going to wait. I pulled her on top of me.
She giggled. “Wow, and I didn’t even say please.”
“I guess you didn’t.” I rolled her off me, and instead hovered above her.
She looked up at me through her unbelievably long eyelashes. “Would you please make an exception?”
“You have full permission to kiss me.”
She reached up and pulled my head down to hers. Her lips crashed into mine aggressively, and that only made me want her more. I didn’t wait for her to open up this time, I pushed my way into her mouth, determined to get every taste of her I could.
She slipped her hand underneath my t-shirt, and I needed more of her touch. I broke the kiss long enough to pull off my t-shirt.
“If we’re playing fair tonight, you can take mine off too.” Her words sent a thrill through me, but also an alarm. Taking off her shirt was entering new territory. Much more dangerous territory.
“You sure you want me to?” I ran my fingers over the strip of skin exposed by her tank top riding up.

“Yes. Positive.” She sat up and pulled off the tank top herself. 



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~ The Hazards Series ~

The Hazards of Skinny Dipping (Hazards, #1)    The Hazards of a One Night Stand (Hazards, #2)   The Hazards of Sex on the Beach (Hazards, #3)   The Hazards of Mistletoe (Hazards, #4)   The Hazards of Sleeping with a Friend (Hazards, #5)




Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.




~Giveaway~

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Blog Tour ~ Greta and the Glass Kingdom by Chloe Jacobs ~ Review & Giveaway!


Greta and the Glass Kingdom Blog Tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours! 
Follow the full tour HERE
You can see my review of the first book HERE


Greta and the Glass Kingdom (Mylena Chronicles, #2)
Greta and the Glass Kingdom (Mylena Chronicles #2) by Chloe Jacobs

Release Date: February 9, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pages: 320
Genre: YA Fantasy
Source: eARC from author
Purchase: Amazon | B&N | Kobo
Haunt Author: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Once upon a dark time… Greta the human bounty hunter never quite fit into the shadowed, icy world of Mylena. Yet she's managed to defeat the demon Agramon and win the love of the darkly intense Goblin King, Isaac. Now Isaac wants her to rule by his side—a human queen. And the very announcement is enough to incite rebellion… To make matters worse, defeating Agramon left Greta tainted with a dark magick. Its unclean power threatens to destroy her and everything she loves. With the Goblin King's life and the very peace of Mylena at stake, Greta must find a cure and fast. Her only hope lies with the strange, elusive faeries in the Glass Kingdom…if she can get there before the evil within her destroys everything.

I absolutely loved the first book, Greta and the Goblin King! I have been dying for this book and I'm so happy it didn't disappoint. My major worry was that there wouldn't be enough Isaac. LOL I mean I'm not sure there can ever really be enough but I was still happy that even though this story has Greta making a journey on her own Isaac is never far from her thoughts or dreams. If you have not read the first book and met this sexy and sweet Goblin King then you really must!

I love the fantasy setting. I'm not a big fantasy reader but this world doesn't confuse and I just love it. Greta beat the big bad from the first book, Agramon, but sadly her troubles are not over. First she has to face discrimination. Isaac wants her to be his queen (insert dreamy sigh here) but the people of Mylena will not be letting a human queen take over so easily. Plus something isn't quite right with her ever since she defeated Agramon. The fairies claim they can help so she ventures to the Glass Kingdom for answers.

In Mylena no journey is easy and no one is trustworthy. I could never guess what would happen next. Lots of surprises and twists and turns and unexpected betrayals. Unexpected heartbreak. Wyatt also hasn't completely left the picture. He was a sweet guy but I wasn't a huge fan of him in the first book. I definitely saw more of his loyalty, bravery, and carrying nature in this book. While he wasn't quite over Greta I didn't feel like the love triangle was dragging on. I really didn't feel like it was ever actually a triangle. Greta's heart and mine as well belong to the Goblin King! The ending was great although left quite a few things hanging. I'm just dying to see where the gang will go next and how they will react to this new development! I really hope the wait for the third book isn't quite as long as the wait for this one but either way I'm sure it will be worth it!




"Visiting the provinces has made me realize it's far past time I make it clear to one and all that my heart is claimed and my commitment to you is true."


"Come on, you know you want to get some alone time with me."
"I know how fond you are of ravishing me in closets," he whispered with a grin.
She shook her head. "One time...and you're never going to let me forget it, are you?"
"But when I do get you alone again, I don't want to be rushed."
The Great Mother save her, that sounded hot.


"Please, Isaac. I just want..."
"What wishes do you make of me now?" His voice was a low murmur that teased the wispy strands at her temple until she felt the hesitant press of his lips. "I'll grant every one."


"I'd prefer that you never let me go," he said, suddenly serious. "But if you must, know that because of you I will never truly be Lost. You can always call me back."

Rating: 5/5





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Greta and the Goblin King (Mylena Chronicles, #1)
While trying to save her brother from a witch’s fire four years ago, Greta was thrown in herself, falling through a portal to Mylena, a dangerous world where humans are the enemy and every ogre, ghoul, and goblin has a dark side that comes out with the eclipse. 

To survive, Greta has hidden her humanity and taken the job of bounty hunter—and she’s good at what she does. So good, she’s caught the attention of Mylena’s young goblin king, the darkly enticing Isaac, who invades her dreams and undermines her will to escape. 

But Greta’s not the only one looking to get out of Mylena. An ancient evil knows she’s the key to opening the portal, and with the next eclipse mere days away, every bloodthirsty creature in the realm is after her—including Isaac. If Greta fails, she and the lost boys of Mylena will die. If she succeeds, no world will be safe from what follows her back...





Chloe Jacobs is a native of nowhere and everywhere, having jumped around to practically every Province of Canada before finally settling in Ontario where she has now been living for a respectable number of years. Her husband and son are the two best people in the entire world, but they also make her wish she'd at least gotten a female cat. No such luck. And although the day job keeps her busy, she carves out as much time as possible to write. Bringing new characters to life and finding out what makes them tick and how badly she can make them suffer is one of her greatest pleasures, almost better than chocolate and fuzzy pink bunny slippers.




~Giveaway~

Monday, January 12, 2015

Release Day Launch ~ Dusk by Alyssa Rose Ivy ~ Review, Excerpt & Giveaway!


The second book in Alyssa Rose Ivy's series, The Dire Wolves Chronicles, releases today!



Dusk (The Dire Wolves Chronicle, #2)
Dusk (The Dire Wolves Chronicles #2) 
by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Release Date: January 12, 2015
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages: 222
Genre: New Adult Paranormal
Source: Author
Purchase: Amazon 
Haunt Author: Website | Facebook | Twitter

The Dire Wolves Chronicles continue...

After you have sacrificed your freedom what else is there to lose?

Mary Anne has given her word to Hunter that she’ll stay as his mate, but every second she spends with him takes her further away from Gage when he needs her the most. 

Caught between love and duty, Mary Anne discovers that her troubles are just beginning, and that sometimes love comes at a great price.

Hunter is trying to make Mary Anne fall in love with him. She promised to be with him. I was happy Hunter had his own POV. He seemed really creepy in the first book but seeing his side of things I began to understand him. I still think he is wrong to try to force Mary Anne into a relationship when obviously her heart is with Gage. But I know Hunter feels like Mary Anne is right for him and that she will help change things for the Dire Wolves which he is desperate to do. Even though I totally love Gage and want her with him, there were times when I began to want to see her with Hunter. Hunter was charming and was trying really hard to be good to Mary Anne.

Poor Gage is going through so much in this book. Trying to understand his change. Having to see Mary Anne with Hunter. Feeling helpless as to what he can do to make things right. He never gave up though. He knew he would find a way back to Mary Anne no matter what it took. Although he made some mistakes that complicate things further. Loved the Levi and Allie cameo. And the little surprise that Allie mentioned. Read this in one sitting. Very excited for the next book. I hope that somehow Mary Anne and Gage can help Hunter and they can all work together. The wolves seemed like creepers in the first book but they grew on me in this book and I want things to work out for them.

Rating: 4/5




Excerpt


“Hunter?” she asked in a low voice as we sat in front of the fire downstairs. We’d started back with our favorite evening ritual, only now she sat right at my side. The rest the pack was giving us plenty of space. There were benefits to being Alpha.
“Yes?” I smiled at her. She was so beautiful. I zeroed in on her lips, needing to claim them with my own.
“Tell me about your dreams.”
“My dreams?” I put an arm around her and pulled her down into my side. I could feel her heartbeat and that put me at ease. “What kind of dreams?”
“What kind do you have?”
“The usual types I guess.”
“Are they ever about me?” She looked up at me with those expressive eyes of hers.
“You mean now? Are you asking if I dream about you?”
“Now. Before.”
“Before? Why would I have dreamed about you before I met you? How would that be possible?” Someone had told her something. That someone was going to be in a lot of trouble.
“How is it possible that you’re a wolf? I’m starting to believe that anything is possible.”
I ignored her use of the term wolf. It wasn’t worth an argument. She’d start calling us Dires eventually. “Do you really want to know?” The can of worms had been opened. There was no turning back.
“Yes. Why else would I ask?”
“Come here.” I gestured with my hand.
“I am here.”
“On to my lap.” If she wanted something from me, I was getting something from her.
“You want me to sit on your lap?”
“You know exactly what I’m asking you to do.”
She put a leg over mine and straddled my lap. She settled herself down, awakening my body even more than it already was. “Happy now?”
“I’m always happy when you’re with me.”


   
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Dire (The Dire Wolves Chronicles, #1)
Gage was the first guy I ever wanted. He was my first crush and my first fantasy, but he wasn't my first in any other way because he never saw me as anything more than a friend— at least not until the night that changed everything. It was all Gage's fault. He insisted we drive through the storm and take the back roads. By the time the storm hit full force we had no chance. One night of snowbound sex changed our relationship forever. The problem was at the same time I caught another guy’s attention. This other guy happened to be the alpha of a pack of shifter wolves. I thought the wolves were the worst of my problems, but I was wrong. When things went from bad to worse I had to make a lifelong sacrifice to save Gage, but what price is too much to save the one you love?





Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.




~Giveaway~

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Release Day Launch ~ The Hazards of Mistletoe by Alyssa Rose Ivy ~ Review, Excerpt & Giveaway!


We are feeling the holiday spirit with the release day launch of Alyssa Rose Ivy's THE HAZARDS OF MISTLETOE! THE HAZARDS OF MISTLETOE is a contemporary romance novella and is a part of Alyssa Rose Ivy’s Hazards Series. It's available everywhere now!


The Hazards of Mistletoe (Hazards #4)
The Hazards of Mistletoe (Hazards #4) 
by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Release Date: November 20, 2014
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages: 149
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance Novella
Source: Author
Purchase: Amazon 
Haunt Author: Website | Facebook | Twitter

One snowy Christmas Eve, one mistletoe kiss, one friendship changed forever.

 Don’t underestimate the power of mistletoe. It looks innocent enough, but a single branch has the potential to change your life. One mistletoe kiss led to the most embarrassing night of my life, but thankfully by the next Christmas I ended up exactly where I was supposed to be.

This was a sweet romance to get me in the holiday mood. Savy and Glen see each other only once at year at Christmas. Their families are friends so they have been friends forever. One year some mistletoe brings the opportunity to change things. But it doesn't go so well. When Savy returns the next Christmas Glen demands they finally clear the air.

I love best friend romances. Was so glad this story had that element. It is always a difficult and scary transition. There was some miss communication but luckily Glen has finally come to his senses and plans to do everything in his power to make things right. Glen was a sweet guy but not the smartest. His actions were so obviously confusing and he should have made an effort sooner to explain himself but he didn't. I still loved the way he relentlessly pursued Savy until he made things right. Also lots of talk of snow, ice skating, hot cocoa, egg nog, and holiday movies to get you in the holiday mood. A cute, fun and a little spicy read perfect for this time of year.

SIDE NOTE: This is the 4th book in the Hazards series but can be read as a stand alone. For those that have already read the Hazards series there are a few tie-ins with the series and Jade and Juliet are mentioned.




"What do you mean? You didn't have to get me anything."
"Of course I did. You already got me the best gift every."
I stared at him. "What are you talking about."
"You. You gave me you."

Rating: 4/5





Excerpt


“Ice skating and hot cocoa? What are you buttering me up for?” I sat down on the bench and unlaced my skates. The snow was falling a little bit heavier, but the flakes were still light and more pleasant than a nuisance.

“I’m just enjoying an evening with a beautiful woman. I do have a romantic side you know.”

“Romantic?” What was Glen playing at? I’d had a crush on him for years, but things had stayed completely platonic. We were good friends who saw each other once a year, and teased each other through text messages and late night phone calls. That was it.

He didn’t hear me. He was already in line to return our skates. I waited for him to return with my boots, and not for the first time I was glad I’d worn wool socks. It was cold during the day, but the nights were absolutely freezing.

“Here you go, my lady.” He bent down and proceeded to put my foot into my boot.

I pulled away from him. “Knock it off. What’s gotten into you tonight?” As charming as Glen was being something seemed off with him. I wondered if maybe I wasn’t the only one who was upset.

He proceeded to move on to my next boot. “It’s Christmas Eve. Aren’t you Miss Holiday Spirit?”

“Usually.”

“Exactly.” He put on his shoes and tugged on my hand to pull me to standing. “Let’s get those hot chocolates.”

The line at the café on the other side of the rink was nearly out the door, but I was enjoying Glen’s company so much I didn’t mind.

He insisted on buying my hot cocoa for me, and considering he’d already paid for my skate rental, I was starting to feel uncomfortable. Glen had all the money he could ever need, but I wasn’t used to guys buying me anything. My dating experience wasn’t extensive, and it involved boys who were all about going dutch. “I really don’t mind paying.”

“Yeah, but I want to pay. Stop arguing and enjoy yourself.” He lightly bumped his shoulder into mine.

“Well, thanks.”

We walked around the village sipping our hot chocolate and not saying much. After a while we took a seat on a bench. It was underneath a tree, and the pine needles blocked some of the falling snow. I closed my eyes and listened to the chatter of people walking by mixed with the low hum of holiday music.

“You guys need to kiss.”

I opened my eyes and saw a girl staring at us. “You’re sitting under mistletoe. That’s the rules. You’re under mistletoe, you kiss.”

I looked up. Sure enough there was mistletoe hanging over us from the tree. It wasn’t real, it was just the decorative stuff they used, but it had the same unmistakable appearance.

Glen put an arm around me. “I think she’s right, Savy.”

I turned to glare at him. “Don’t even start.”

“Why not? Scared to kiss me?” he teased.

Yes. I was scared. Terrified. This was Glen. Kissing him wasn’t something I was prepared to do casually while sitting on a bench in the snow with a bunch of onlookers. Of course I couldn’t tell him that though. “Why would I be scared?”


“I don’t know. Just checking.” He got a twinkle in his eye. That twinkle should have given me all the warning I needed, but it didn’t. I was wholly unprepared when his lips made contact with mine. They were warm and soft, and they moved perfectly against mine. I kissed him back, desperately wanting to know what his mouth tasted like, and if his tongue felt half as good as his lips.




Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.




~Giveaway~

Monday, November 17, 2014

Blog Tour ~ A Darker Past by Jus Accardo ~ Review & Giveaway!

You can follow the full tour HERE
See my review of the first book, Darker Days, HERE


A Darker Past (Darker Agency, #2)
A Darker Past (The Darker Agency #2) by Jus Accardo

Release Date: November 11, 2014
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pages: 314
Genre: YA Paranormal
Source: Author
Purchase: Amazon | B&N 
Haunt Author: Website | Facebook | Twitter

The past is Darker than they thought... Between helping her mother with the Darker Agency and laying the smack down on monster baddies, Jessie Darker puts the “normal” in paranormal. But lately, things have gotten a little crazy...even for a smart-assed half-demon teenage girl. For starters, Jessie’s been contracted into fifty-five years of annoying servitude. To a demon. Then there’s Lukas Scott, her sexy new boyfriend. Once the former incarnation of Wrath, he’s been going through some...uh, changes. Like residual anger. And trading chaste hangouts for lusty make-out sessions. But it’s when Lukas and Jessie accidentally release a Very Nasty Demon that things get really bad, setting into motion a chain of death and mayhem that threatens both Earth and the Shadow Realm. Jessie has exactly four days to fix it...before all of Hell breaks loose.

I loved the first book in this series and was excited to get back into Jessie's world. Jessie works at a paranormal agency with her mom. They have a fun sort of Gilmore Girls partnership but with demons and mayhem. Jessie has been able to spend more time with her demon dad since he was freed. Except now Jessie is locked into a 55 year contract serving the demon, Valefar. She also has her new boyfriend that was trapped in a box with Wrath for over 100 years. Danger is never far from Jessie and she accidentally releases a new baddie demon that must be recaptured.

I just love every character and relationship dynamic in the book! Jessie and her mom are such a fun team. I usually get bored with parents in books but I do find Klaire to be a badass mom and I love the way they work together. Jessie's sarcasm is awesome. I love Jessie's protective demon father, Damien. I even love how Lukas has become a part of their family. I am especially enjoying Valefar. He makes an interesting demon boss. Really wondering why he is so interested in Jessie and wanting her to serve him. Demons love being owed favors but I think there is more going on with Jessie and the Shadow Realm. Either way I can't wait to see more of him.

I love Lukas and the chemistry between him and Jessie. Some super sweet and hot makeout scenes. I love how he is always trying to protect her although Jessie really doesn't need any protection but I do think she needs a partner in crime. I love how her best friend Kendra has been stepping up with her witch skills and wants to be Jessie's witch partner too. Lots of love for this book. I do wonder what Lukas is hiding. Jessie's dad is sort of helping Lukas learn the ways of the demon world and I think Damien and Lukas have some secrets and I wish more had been revealed! Now I have to wait for the next book!




"I hardly think your father's idea of guard duty entails the inappropriate placement of my hands and lips."


"That kiss in the park..."
"That was hardly just a kiss," he said gaze hungrily zeroing in on my lips. "It was me losing control."
"Yeah, but that's the kind of slip in control I could get behind.


"Protecting you isn't my jog It's my life. You're not an assignment, Jessie. You make me crazy, but at the same time, keep me anchored. You're my reason."
"Reason for what?"
"For everything."

Rating: 4/5






JUS ACCARDO spent her childhood reading and learning to cook. Determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps as a chef, she applied and was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America. But at the last minute, she realized her true path lay with fiction, not food.

Jus is the bestselling author of the popular Denazen series from Entangled publishing, as well as the Darker Agency series, and the New Adult series, The Eternal Balance. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald.




Darker Days (The Darker Agency #1) by Jus Accardo

Darker Days (The Darker Agency, #1)
Jessie Darker goes to high school during the day, but at night she helps with the family investigation business. Cheating husbands and stolen inheritances? They’re your girls—but their specialty is a bit darker. Zombie in your garage? Pesky Poltergeist living in your pool? They’ll have the problem solved in a magical minute. For a nominal fee, of course... When gorgeous new client, Lukas Scott, saunters into the office requesting their help to find a stolen box, it sounds like a simple case—until the truth comes out. The box is full of Sin. Seven deadly ones, in fact. They’ve got five days to recapture the Sins before they're recalled by the box, taking seven hijacked human bodies with them. Easy peasy—except for one thing... There’s a spell that will allow the Sins to remain free, causing chaos forever. When the key ingredient threatens the life of someone she knows, Jessie must make the ultimate choice between love and family—or lose everything.
GoodreadsAmazon | B&N 




~Giveaway~


Sunday, September 14, 2014

Release Day Launch ~ Dire by Alyssa Rose Ivy ~ Review, Excerpt & Giveaway!




Dire (The Dire Wolves Chronicles, #1)
Dire by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Release Date: September 15, 2014
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages: 191
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Author
Purchase: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo
Haunt Author: Website | Facebook | Twitter


Gage was the first guy I ever wanted. He was my first crush and my first fantasy, but he wasn't my first in any other way because he never saw me as anything more than a friend— at least not until the night that changed everything. It was all Gage's fault. He insisted we drive through the storm and take the back roads. By the time the storm hit full force we had no chance. One night of snowbound sex changed our relationship forever. The problem was at the same time I caught another guy’s attention. This other guy happened to be the alpha of a pack of shifter wolves. I thought the wolves were the worst of my problems, but I was wrong. When things went from bad to worse I had to make a lifelong sacrifice to save Gage, but what price is too much to save the one you love?

Mary Anne and Gage are traveling through the snow to get home. Mary Anne has known and loved Gage all her life so when they end up stranded together it seems like a dream come true. But they are stranded and go for help and then it goes all bad. A crazy possessive group of guys finds them and demands they stay while the leader wants to keep Mary Anne safe at all costs. It was very different from what I was expecting. I've read lots of werewolf stories and there are different werewolf cultures and degrees of psycho possessive behaviors but I'd say this one really pushed on that. It was weird. The group was so creepy. The leader, Hunter, didn't care that Mary Anne was obviously into Gage. He wants her to be with him and thinks it will happen.

I love Gage and Mary Anne together but they are kept apart quite a bit throughout the story. They really can't catch a break. I felt really bad for them. Such a difficult situation. Gage doesn't want to leave Mary Anne but Hunter will not let her go. I'm glad Gage is not giving up. The ending has me really dying to see what the heck they will do next. They are so screwed. While it wasn't a totally enjoyable read in the way that most of the characters were psycho, it still kept my attention and I finished it in a day. I really enjoyed the romance but hated the werewolves and witches. This takes place in the same universe as the Crescent Chronicles but it was very different from that series. I am hoping Hunter will come around and redeem himself a bit in the next book. He seems to care about Mary Anne and not be completely evil but he obviously needs to let her decide things for herself.

Rating: 4/5



Excerpt


A single howl made me stop short. “The wolves!”
“Let’s hope they are farther away than they sound.” Gage tightened his hold on my hand and pulled me forward.
Three more howls filled the night. “They sound closer.”
We picked up the pace, and I chanced a glance behind me. That was a mistake. Several large grey wolves came into view. “Run!”
Gage didn’t need to be told twice. He broke into a run without letting go of my hand.
I ran as fast as possible over the frozen snow, but we didn’t get far before the wolves started circling around us. “Oh my god.” Could things get any worse?
“You have to make a run for it.” Gage’s voice quivered. “They’re going to kill us.”
“I’m not leaving you.” I tried to stay strong, and I kept my eyes locked on the wolves. There were five of them. All of them were massive, much larger than any wolf I’d seen before, but one of them was even bigger and had a large silver streak running down its back. That wolf seemed to be staring right at me.
“I’ll distract them. You run. I’ll catch up.”
I spotted an opening next to one of the smaller of the wolves and went for it. I didn’t make it far before one of the wolves stepped in front of me. I froze, paralyzed with fear, before my legs were knocked from under me. Suddenly, I was lying in the snow with a giant wolf hovering over me.
“We’re fucked.” Gage voiced exactly what I was thinking.
The silver streaked wolf stared down at me. It’s almost glowing eyes bored into mine. Was I really going to die as half-frozen food for a giant wild animal?
Then things got hazy and the air seemed to buzz. Moments later it wasn’t a wolf on top of me—it was a man. A completely naked man with a faint scar across his face.
“What the heck?” I tried to scurry back, but Hunter didn’t move. His very exposed parts nearly touched me. I didn’t want to notice his size, but I did. He was huge. He also didn’t look remotely concerned with the cold.
His lips brushed against my ear. “Were you going somewhere?”






Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.




~Giveaway~

Monday, August 11, 2014

Release Day Launch ~ First & Forever by Alyssa Rose Ivy ~ Review, Excerpt & Giveaway!




First & Forever (The Crescent Chronicles, #4)
First & Forever (Crescent Chronicles #4)
by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Release Date: August 11, 2014
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages: 166
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Author
Purchase: Amazon | B&N
Haunt Author: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Ever wonder what Levi was thinking in FLIGHT? Find out in the two Levi POV novellas FIRST & FOREVER. This combined edition includes both FIRST (previously released) and FOREVER, a brand new novella.This edition also includes the bonus short story: The Royal Wedding. FIRST Levi's got it all. He's a paranormal prince with more money and power than he knows what to do with, but something is missing—a mate. He only has until college graduation to find her. Allie's perfect but she wants nothing to do with him. When attraction becomes something more, will he take a chance and show her who he really is or will he lose everything? FOREVER Levi's almost out of time. Allie's the one, he knows it in every grain of his being, but how can he make her see it? Desperate to keep Allie safe and at his side, he takes the biggest risk of his life. Reckless or not there is nothing he wouldn't do to keep her with him... forever.

This is a great series and I was very excited to be able to re-experience it through Levi's POV. Although I am kind of finicky when it comes to novellas that are basically re-tellings in new POVs. I want there to be enough new material that I don't get bored but I also want to see my favorite scenes from the new POV and this book did an excellent job of that. It was great to see what was behind some of Levi's actions and although I already knew he was crazy about Allie, being inside his head definitely had me swooning even more. There were still a few times I wanted to slap him. LOL He isn't perfect but that is what makes a great character. Forever was very emotional as we got to see Levi and Allie's wedding vows. A very sweet extra. Loved it! Definitely a must read for any fan and if you haven't started the series then you should!




"Are you done manhandling Levi yet, or are we going to stay here all night?"
"Shut up, Jared," Hailey snapped.
"She can manhandle me all she wants." I reluctantly turned back. I wanted her hands on me all night.

"There is nothing weird about it, most girls would be happy to find out they've become a princess."

Rating: 4/5


Release Week Sale! Currently Only $1.99


Check out the Crescent Chronicles series! 


Excerpt

We walked off into the darkness, and I held her hand firmly in my own. I’d never been a big hand holder, but it’s like I needed to have hers in mine. I needed to touch her constantly, and I wanted her to know she was always safe with me—even if I was far from safe to most anyone else.
She tugged on my hand, and I gladly followed her down closer to the water.
She took in another deep breath. “There is nothing like the beach at night.”
“You like it at night, too? I was worried you wouldn’t like it without the sun.” I wondered if I was unique in craving the quiet shadows of the dark beach.
“I like the beach during the day, but I love it at night. There is just something about listening to the waves in the darkness and the soft glow of the stars reflecting off the water.”
“Yeah. It’s nice.” I moved behind her, and she leaned into me. We stood that way for several minutes before I turned her to look at me.
She looked like a dream standing there in the glimmering of the moonlight. I studied her face, looking for a sign that she was something more than the beautiful human that had attracted me from the moment we met. Every part of me knew how significant she was to me, but I wanted more proof. “You’re so beautiful. So unbelievably beautiful…” I trailed off as my lips gave in to what they had wanted to do all day.


Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.




~Giveaway~