Thursday, March 22, 2012

Idolizing In: The Unofficial Zack Warren Fan Club by J. C. Isabella

Format: Kindle Edition | File Size: 423 KB | Release Date: 2012 | Publisher: Self-Published | Obtained: Amazon.com / Carrie Ann Ryan's Giveaway

"The Unofficial Zack Warren Fan Club" by J. C. Isabella

My Book Summary : When Chloe was a little girl she had a crush on Zack, and with a few friends of hers who also liked Zack, they created 'The Unofficial Zack Warren Fan Club.' They would spy on him and follow him around. Somehow the girls' activities were done with Zack none the wiser. However, when Zack was a young man he would pull pranks on Chloe, and when Chloe was in fifth grade it was the last straw for her when he stole the pink streamers off her bike. Therefore, she vowed that she hated him from that point on and had nothing to do with the club. Yet when Chloe left the club her friend, Lana, took it over.

Now as a freshman in college, Lana has taken the club from high school to college and Chloe thinks it's high time to put an end to it. Especially since some of the things the girls in the club want to know is really an evasion of privacy. Another reason Chloe wants it to stop is because recently her mother decided to marry Zack's father so they'll be living together soon which will be hard enough without having the fear that he'll find out about the club any moment to worry about.

Even though Chloe and Zack both go to the same college, during spring break they finally have to deal with each other on a permanent basis since they help there parents move into their new house. Soon they find that they have more in common with each other then they ever thought, and become friends or at least they try to be for their parents' sake. Then they find out that their might be more behind their dislike for each other then they originally thought, more like they don't really dislike each other at all. They really like one another. However, with the new family relationships between them and the "hidden" club Chloe has to deal with, how can any romantic relationship between them ever work out for the best?

My Book Review : 5 out of 5 stars!! I LOVED the characters in this novel!!! Chloe and Zack are quite a pair about keeping false fronts about their feelings to each other for everyone else while their true feelings are quite different!! Plus, I loved the fact that they went, pretty much, their whole lives in love with each other and only now taping into those feelings. *sigh* It is a fun story that I thoroughly enjoyed reading!! From them finding out the truth of one another, to getting used to their new living arrangements, to dealing with their new jealousies and old secrets .... I just could not get enough to this book or this pair!!

I recommend this to anyone who enjoys young romances in the YA genre!! Especially ones that deal with old crushes, quirky friends, and guys that want to play games in more ways then one.

Author's Novel Extras : Buy Your Own 'The Unofficial Zack Warren Fan Club' Pin | The Unofficial Zack Warren Interview (it has spoilers)

Book Teaser(s) :
Teaser #1
“Is it just me, or do things here seem a bit, uh, bizarre?” Chloe asked as I stopped the van to let a man and his goat cross. He was walking him on a leash like a dog, and he was the only sign of life. I didn’t see anyone else around.
“I was thinking more along the lines of the Twilight Zone.” I slid closer to her, keeping my foot firmly on the break. She glanced up, curious. I pushed down the lock on her door, and then resumed my position at the wheel with a good amount of space between us, but I left my arm draped behind her on the seat.
“Why did you do that?”
“It seemed like a good idea.” I laughed, maybe a little nervously at her questioning look. I hoped my actions weren’t so obvious.
“Am I hallucinating?” She pointed out the front window. ~ within Chapter 6
“Mind if I join you?”
“It’s your social life at stake if you do.”
“Nah, Lana can’t touch me. I made her queen, remember that.” He dug into a sub from the cafeteria, hunching over the grass so nothing landed on his crisp baseball uniform.
“Why are you so dressed up?”
“Lost a bet. Have to wear this for the next three days.” He sucked down half a coke before speaking again. “Listen, this thing with you and Lana, it creeps me out.”
I froze. “What thing?”
“Dude, I’m not in the dark anymore.”
“I’m not sure if I follow.”
“The club, Baker. I know.”
I’m so dead. “Excuse me, but, oh shit.” ~ within Chapter 17
For more information on this book and/or any other books by J. C., then please check out her website.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Blog Tour - Feasted On: Omegas In Love by Annie Nicholas | Interview, Review, & Giveaway

Today I'm turning my blog over to Annie Nicholas, who I interviewed about her latest novel "Omegas In Love," which is the 4th book in The Vanguards Series!!

ALSO -- Be sure to comment on this post to be able to sign up for this tour's GIVEAWAYs (listed below)!! [Blog Tour will run from March 19 - 30, 2012]



My Q&A with Annie Nicholas :

Jess : Why did you choose to pursue this career path?

Annie : In all honesty, I think this career chose me. I’ve always loved to read. Where most children were told to stop watching TV and play outside, I was told to put down the book. LOL It never occurred to me to try writing until a few years ago. I was ill, house bound, and bored to death with nothing left to read so I entertained myself with a my own story.

Jess : What books did you enjoy reading while growing up?

Annie : I loved the Narnia series and was so excited when they came out in movies. (Probably more than my kids)

Jess : Which of your characters would you most/least to invite to dinner, from which book and why?

Annie : The least would be Tane, a Nosferatu vampire, from my Angler series. I would probably end up being dinner. LOL

But I would love to be invited to Pia’s parents' house for dinner. She is my succubus from Confessions of a Succubus series due to be released in fall. Her family is outrageous and Pia is playful and so much fun.

Jess : If you had to describe Katrina & Tyler (from "Omegas In Love") in one word, what would it be?

Annie : Devoted.

Jess : What sparked the idea for your Vanguards Series?

Annie : A long-ass drive to Canada and my home town, where I grew up a nerd, inspired this series. All the books I’d read were about alpha shifters, confident and dominant. What if I’d been placed in a pack? What happens to weaker shifters? My omegas were born. Sometimes a woman just needs to root for the underdog.

Jess : Which usually comes first for you, the character(s) story or the idea for the novel?

Annie : The character makes the story. Each person reacts differently in a situation so once I know who I’m writing about I start tossing conflicts at them and see how they react. This is where the stories begin.

Jess : In regards to your most recent novel, "Omegas In Love," if you could write it all over again, would you change anything about it?

Annie : Not a thing.

Jess : How many books have you written? Which is your favorite and why?

Annie : I have seven books published. Two novels in The Angler series and four novellas with The Vanguards, then a stand alone novella titled "Irresistible."

My favorite book is "Catch" because its action packed, I made sure you could never guess what will happen next, and it all tied in well together.

Jess : Do you have any other projects in the works? If so, can you share a little of your current work with us?

Annie : I’m in the process of editing the next Vanguards novella, "The Sigma," releasing August 2012. And also will begin edits on a new series titled "Confessions of a Succubus," the first novel releasing this fall. Very exciting stuff. There are a few super secret projects I’m working on as well for this year.



About the Author :

Annie Nicholas hibernates in the rural, green mountains of Vermont, where she dreams of different worlds, heroes, and heroines. When spring arrives the stories pour from her, in hopes to share them with the masses one day.

Mother, daughter, wife are some of the hats she happily wears while trudging after her cubs through the hills and dales. The four seasons an inspiration and muse.




- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Kindle Edition - File Size: 182 KB | Expected Release Date: March 19, 2012 | Publisher: Lyrical Press, Inc. | Obtained: Goddess Fish Promotions

"Omegas In Love" [The Vanguards Series, Book 4] by Annie Nicholas

My Book Summary : Tyler & Katrina have been together for just over a year and since things are going so well, Tyler plans to pop the question soon. However, on the day he plans to do so Katrina's past, and her previous pack from China, comes back to haunt them and kidnap her. She left that pack years ago because of the abuse that was going on, and doesn't want to go back. Yet when she tries to escape, she finds that she can't seem to reach her wolf. Scared of her previous Alpha and lost as to what to do, Katrina has to wait it out in hopes that Tyler will be able to rescue her.

Tyler knew Katrina had a bad past and pack, but he never really knew the details until now. In addition, even though he isn't one of the fighters in his pack, he is determined to bring Katrina back to him. But can he do so before it's too late and at what cost to himself or his pack?

My Book Review : 4 out of 5 stars! This is a quick read that is action-packed with HOT sex scenes, pack support, werewolf fights (some clever and some brutal), treachery! This book threw me for a loop with how many storylines it had in it while being a short story and being oh-so-good!! I LOVED IT!! Along with the characters, that I always enjoyed and liked getting brief updates about!

My only problem was I wish it were longer. Not because the plot needed it, but just because I didn't want the book to end!!

I recommend this to anyone who has read the previous stories in the Vanguards Series and/or to anyone who likes reading action-packed (in more ways than one) paranormal romances!!

My Previous Review(s) for this Series : Book 2

Author's Series Extras : Daedalus' Trading Card | Eric's Trading Card | Robert's Trading Card | Tyler's Trading Card

Book Teaser(s) :
“I can’t stay here. I’m going with you.” The doors opened and they rode to the lobby.
Eric leaned against the wall, his head hung low and his shoulders bent. “There’s going to be fighting.”
“I know.” He couldn’t meet his gaze. The sting of the comment too sharp on his battered soul. Over the past two years, Eric had matured from super geek to ultra alpha. Tyler gazed down at his own slight frame. Nothing had changed. Why did Katrina want him?
“You haven’t trained much, Tyler. I don’t want to rescue the girls and lose you in the process. Let me, Robert, and Esther go.”
All those chances to learn to fight and he’d blown them off, always thinking that there’d be other options besides violence. Now, all he wanted to do was tear Chen’s head off with his bare hands. ~ within Chapter 4
For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Annie, then please check out her website.



Book Excerpt :

Katrina attempted to transform into her wolf-beast form as Chen’s guard dragged her through the panicked human crowd. Her beast didn’t respond. Sharp claws of fear tore into her heart. What was wrong?
Her beast used to cower like this in the past when faced with Chen, but they’d grown so much since escaping to America. It only took one moment in her old alpha’s presence and they’d lost all they had gained. No, please no, she needed to connect with her beast and fight.
She looked at her true mate a last time as he stood in his red tinged magnificent form against Chen and his pack mates. Their gazes met and she reached for him, hoping one day he might forgive her secrets.
If only the past would have remained buried. No one knew of her life in China--she wanted the depravity forgotten. Her best friend, Sugar, had once told her to build a wall around the haunting memories, and she had. Now, Chen, her worst nightmare, showed up here, halfway around the world.
What did an alpha of a large shifter clan want with the lowest of daughters of her birth pack? She’d been nothing but garbage to him. There must be other females with the same pure shifter blood as her. Chen could mate and torture one of them. What made her so special?
She struggled in the guard’s arms, twisting and turning until she sank her flat, human teeth into his neck.
With a cry, he pulled her off by yanking on her long hair, then slapped her across the face hard enough to rattle her thoughts. Such hits had been common in her youth but it had been years since anyone had laid an unkind hand on her. Limp, she wasn’t difficult for him to carry and take away from Chinatown. The place where she’d met a misfit pack of omega shifters. The place she’d felt most at home. The place where Tyler had kissed her for the first time.



Giveaways!! :
  • A copy of one of the books in her backlist to one commenter at EVERY stop

  • An autographed copy of each of the first three Vanguards books and a $10 Gift Card to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble for one randomly drawn commenter during the tour

To Enter : Please leave a comment on this post, with a valid email address included at the end of it.

Soo .... COMMENT, COMMENT, COMMENT on this post!! And you could WIN!! =0)

ALSO -- Be sure to follow the tour around the other blog sites! Commenting on the other stops on the tour will also increase your chance of winning!


Find Annie Nicholas :

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Jacked Up

  • Today's "Waiting On" Wednesday by Jill - click here

  • "Jacked Up" [Fast Track Series, Book 6] by Erin McCarthy
    Expected Publication Released Date: June 5, 2012

    Author's Book Description:
      She’s holding tight. He’s hanging loose.

      Eve Monroe is a stock-car PR pro who puts her career first—until an on-track wardrobe malfunction reveals more than the sexy smile of her race-car brother’s jack-man, Nolan Ford. The video’s become an internet sensation, and it’s Eve’s job to calm the sponsors and put a spin on the unexpected exposure. It may be purely a public relations job, but now that Eve’s seen what’s under Nolan’s crew suit, it’s gotten a little personal—and after a few dates she has Nolan pretty revved up. If only she’d learn to relax and enjoy it...

      And they both have the same drive.

      Nolan’s sure that the spontaneous birthday bash he’s throwing for Eve in Las Vegas should loosen her up. It does more than that. Somewhere between cocktails and a smoking-hot motel-room derby, Eve and Nolan wake up hitched, thanks to a post-sex-high detour to a Vegas chapel. A hangover marriage to a virtual stranger isn’t good for anyone’s image, so Eve plans to play the happy wife long enough to satisfy the press, and then quietly part ways. Now all she has to do is convince her new personal jack-man. But Nolan has plans of his own...

    My Previous Review(s) for this Author : The Pregnancy Test | Flat-Out Sexy

    Teaser Tuesdays: The Unofficial Zack Warren Fan Club


  • Today's Teaser Tuesdays by MizB - click here


  • "The Unofficial Zack Warren Fan Club" by J. C. Isabella

    Book Teaser:
    “Each one of you is certifiable.” I glared at them, feeling the blood whooshing in my ears. This can’t be happening! “You’ve managed to keep this club a secret, but what happens if you loose a button?”
    Lana snorted. “We wont.” I tried a different approach. “What if Kyle finds them?”
    She shrugged, examining her purple nails. “I’ll keep them hidden.”
    “Like the club schedule he found?”
    “He didn’t know what it was for!” ~ within Chapter 1

    Monday, March 19, 2012

    Disappointmentville: Pregnancy & Passion Series, Book 3

    - This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Paperback - Pages: 193; Kindle Edition - File Size: 431 KB | Expected Release Date: March 6, 2012 | Publisher: Harlequin Desire | Obtained: NetGalley

    "Tempted by Her Innocent Kiss" [Pregnancy & Passion Series, Book 3] by Maya Banks

    My Book Summary : Ashley's dreams of being married to her perfect man who adores her goes up in flames when she finds out that he married her because her father told him it was the only way he'd agree to the merger of their businesses. Now at a loss as to what her life has become. Ashley decides she can try changing herself into the woman worthy enough for Devon. If only it didn't hurt too much in doing so ...

    ... But will Devon be able to love the new and approved Ashley or will he miss the woman she use to be??

    My Book Review : 2.5 out of 5 stars. The Author's book description gave me high hopes in this book, but it just fell flat for me. I mean, I liked Ashley even if she was a bit scattered and Devon did mean well in his own way, and I do believe that things could have worked out really well between them if Ashley's father didn't make the ultimatum. Nevertheless, the book has a slow start and then once everything was out in the open I just wanted to give up on this book, yet I'm happy I stuck with it because the last two chapters are really well written and wraps up this story nicely.

    So, give this story a try ... you might find you like it more than I did.

    My Previous Review(s) for this Author : Colters' Woman | Colters’ Wife

    Book Teaser(s) :
    "I have something special. It's a surprise."
    "Mmm, what kind of surprise?"
    "Umm, well, it was a gift from my girlfriends. They assured me no man alive would be able to resist me in it."
    "Oh well, remind me to thank them."
    She raised an eyebrow. ~ within Chapter 8
    For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Maya, then please check out her website.
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