[Blog Tour] Swear On This Life

SWEAR ON THIS LIFE by Renee Carlino

Atria Trade Paperback | ISBN: 9781501105791 | On sale: August 9, 2016 | 320 pages | $15.00

eBook: Atria Books | ISBN: 9781501105807 | On sale: August 9, 2016 | 320 pages | $7.99

From USA TODAY bestselling author Renée Carlino (Before We Were Strangers), a warm and witty novel about a struggling writer who must come to grips with her past, present, and future after she discovers that she’s the inspiration for a pseudonymously published bestselling novel.

When a bestselling debut novel from mysterious author J. Colby becomes the literary event of the year, Emiline reads it reluctantly. As an adjunct writing instructor at UC San Diego with her own stalled literary career and a bumpy long-term relationship, Emiline isn’t thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of a young and gifted writer.

Yet from the very first page, Emiline is entranced by the story of Emerson and Jackson, two childhood best friends who fall in love and dream of a better life beyond the long dirt road that winds through their impoverished town in rural Ohio.

That’s because the novel is patterned on Emiline’s own dark and desperate childhood, which means that “J. Colby” must be Jase: the best friend and first love she hasn’t seen in over a decade. Far from being flattered that he wrote the novel from her perspective, Emiline is furious that he co-opted her painful past and took some dramatic creative liberties with the ending.

The only way she can put her mind at ease is to find and confront “J. Colby,” but is she prepared to learn the truth behind the fiction?

Renée Carlino is the author of Sweet Thing, Nowhere But Here, After the Rain, and Before We Were Strangers. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog, June. When she's not at the beach with her boys or working on her next book, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate.

Website: http://reneecarlino.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorReneeCarlino

Twitter: https://twitter.com/renayz

Instagram: @reneecarlino1

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[Blog Tour] It Ends with Us

Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up. She graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, and maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant and has a total soft spot for Lily; and the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head, but Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his no dating rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan, her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.With this bold and deeply personal novel Colleen Hoover delivers a heart-wrenching story that breaks exciting new ground for her as a writer. Combining a captivating romance with a cast of all too human characters, “It Ends with Us” is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price. 

All humans make mistakes. What determines a person’s character aren’t the mistakes we make. It’s how we take those mistakes and turn them into lessons rather than excuses.

This is probably going to be one of the hardest book reviews I’ll ever have to write. I really did like this book, but it hurt my heart and messed with my head. It Ends With Us brought back an abundance of memories that I like to keep hidden far far away locked in a box behind a wall  that no one gets to see or hear about.  It’s actually taken me quite a while to get up the courage to even write this review because I knew it would dredge up memories that I NEVER want to relive, and as I try not to cry writing this… I will do my best to do this review justice.

It Ends With Us is poignant and influential.  This novel presents on intense subjects, one in particular being abuse.  I will say this is not intended for the faint of heart. Yes, there is romance and you’ll still get all the feels that you normally would get within a CoHo novel.  However, this book is hard to read. I will not say that I loved this book, and I will not say that I disliked this book. I will say that I am proud of the characters in this story. I’m proud of Colleen Hoover and this novel. Although I have mixed emotions about this novel, I believe in its excellence.

Cycles exist because they are excruciating to break. It takes an astronomical amount of pain and courage to disrupt a familiar pattern. Sometimes it seems easier to just keep running in the same familiar circles, rather than facing the fear of jumping and possibly not landing on your feet.

This book reminded me that every decision I made to get out of the situation that I was in was indeed the best thing I could have ever done for myself.  As I sit here thinking about how to praise CoHo for this novel, the only thing I can think of is that hopefully one day, someone who is in the worst situation of his/her life will decide that it’s OK to take the first step.  I know from experience that the first step is indeed the hardest. Do not let your strength and courage waver.  Toxicity in relationships is just not worth it. I can’t even begin to tell you how many excuses I made for my situation. To this day, certain things may be said and I’ll still go to make an excuse for the way I was treated…. But I stop myself. Just like Lily in the book - I remind myself that what happened was not ok. No one deserves that and the actions are inexcusable.

 CoHo drives that exact point home in this novel. These characters are the definition of strength and courage. I do have to say… I don’t hate Ryle. In the end you’ll understand why I say that.  Not only does this book touch upon abuse, but I also believe it touches on PTSD. PTSD comes in all shapes and sizes, and needs to be handled efficiently.  I feel like there’s a stigma around PTSD that it really only has to do with soldiers (Bless their hearts), but it doesn’t. These are real life issues, and its amazing that they’re finally being delved upon. Make. People. Listen.  CoHo is doing just that. Advocacy is such a great thing and I hope this novel really opens up the eyes of those who are shall we say blissfully ignorant to two of biggest mental health conditions in this world today.

If you’ve never been through a situation of abuse, I recommend you read this novel.  You’ll definitely get a new perspective on what it’s like to be a survivor. Some people say that physical abuse is worse than mental abuse. I disagree. They’re exactly the same.  The person will live with it for the rest of their lives. They will battle within themselves continuously.  Just think about that before you judge someone. I hope this book makes you understand what it’s like to “just make excuses” and hopefully you’ll see the abundant amount of COURAGE and STRENGTH that is needed by that individual to get out.

Thank you CoHo, for the reminder of why I started my life over, and addressing that these subjects shouldn’t be approached lightly or disregarded .  As I near my One year anniversary of what I like to call freedom, or the re-birth of Bethany… which happens to be the day before the release of this book (YAY! for Coincidence).  To all you survivors out there, Stay strong. You made the best choice of your life. To those thinking about leaving… make a plan because your well-being is most important. Don’t be ashamed of what people will think or say. There are so many domestic violence advocacies out there, please use them! It’s a long road, but it’s worth it. 

      

      

 I write because I need to. 
I review because I want to. 
I pay taxes because I have to. 

If you want to follow me, my username is @colleenhoover pretty much everywhere except my email, which is colleenhooverbooks@gmail.com

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[Blog Tour] November 9

"November 9 is yet another breathtaking novel by Colleen Hoover that's full of blushing, gushing, and heartache. I loved every page and breathed in every beautiful word."
—Anna Todd, author of the After series

NOVEMBER NINE

BY COLLEEN HOOVER

 

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day of her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

Can Ben’s relationship with Fallon—and simultaneously his novel—be considered a love story if it ends in heartbreak?

What can I possibly say about November 9. Well let’s see, it’s a Colleen Hoover novel, so I obviously devoured it. I can’t explain it… but the way that Colleen writes just  begs you to keep reading.  It’s so hard to put a book down written by her.  I’ve been in quite the book slump lately too, and once I finally picked this up to read it, I couldn’t stop.  Every moment that I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about the characters and what was going to happen to them.  I mean seriously, Colleen. How do you do it to me!?  EVERY. TIME.  I can’t help but immerse myself in the stories that Colleen tells. 

November 9, I have to say was a little bit different from her normal works. I mean I could be wrong, but I feel  like this one was different. The premise was absolutely stunning – as always. There was so much angst and passion it was ridiculous. So obviously I fell in love with this novel. Who doesn’t fall madly deeply in love with a Colleen Hoover novel though? I mean lets be real. First of all, the names that she chooses for her characters… I can’t even.  Especially Benton and Fallon; I couldn’t love those names more. 

I can’t even begin to put into words my feelings towards this book. I loved and hated it at the same time. I loved the passion between the two characters, and the devotion to keeping a tradition going for any amount of years with a technical stranger. I hated what happened to both of them.  I hated the hurt and turmoil that  each of them went through. I hated the secrets.  The part that I hated most of all, is that I didn’t hate it. Not even a little. Not even at all. Yes… I am slightly obsessed with the movie 10 things I hate about you, thus the reference. 

Not once, through this entire novel did I hate the male character. I loved Benton.  Fiercely.  Honestly I think I loved him more and more throughout the novel, even after you learn his secrets.  I got mad at Fallon quite a few times for her reactions, but I completely understood where her emotions were coming from.  I just couldn’t help it though, I fell for Ben. Hard. 

The tears this novel brought to my eyes were relentless. I’m  probably a little over emotional  at times, but the agony…  I can’t.  If you’re not a Colleen Hoover fan, read this book. It’s definitely worth your time. If you are a CoHo fan, I don’t need to say anything because you’ve already read it.  I guarantee this will give you the feels, no matter who you are.  But alas, I can’t reveal anything  about this because I would be ruining the story for you. I will say there are some pretty huge revelations though. Some, if you’re like me… you’ll see them coming. Hope to hell that they’re not real, but you know deep down that it’s true. It happened. It’s happening.  Those are the moments I live for as a reader, and once again CoHo has not failed me.  

 

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Slammed, This Girl, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, Losing Hope, Finding Cinderella, Maybe Someday, Ugly Love, Maybe Not, and Confess. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys.

NOVEMBER NINE by Colleen Hoover

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[Blog Tour] Maybe in Another Life

MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE

By Taylor Jenkins Reid

ABOUT MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE:

At the age of twenty-nine, Hannah Martin still has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She has lived in six different cities and held countless meaningless jobs since graduating college, but on the heels of a disastrous breakup, she has finally returned to her hometown of Los Angeles. To celebrate her first night back, her best friend, Gabby, takes Hannah out to a bar—where she meets up with her high school boyfriend, Ethan.

It’s just past midnight when Gabby asks Hannah if she’s ready to go. Ethan quickly offers to give her a ride later if she wants to stay.

Hannah hesitates.

What happens if she leaves with Gabby?

What happens if she leaves with Ethan?

In concurrent storylines, Hannah lives out the effects of each decision. Quickly, these parallel universes develop into surprisingly different stories with far-reaching consequences for Hannah and the people around her, raising questions like: Is anything meant to be? How much in our life is determined by chance? And perhaps most compellingly: Is there such a thing as a soul mate?

Hannah believes there is. And, in both worlds, she believes she’s found him.

MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Atria Books/Washington Square Press Paperback | 352 pages | ISBN:  9781476776880 | July 7, 2015 | $16.00

eBook: Atria Books/Washington Square Press | 352 pages | ISBN: 9781476776897 | July 7, 2015 | $11.99

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Taylor Jenkins Reid is an author and essayist from Acton, Massachusetts. She is the author of Forever, Interrupted and After I Do. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alex, and her dog, Rabbit. You can follow her on Twitter @TJenkinsReid.

FIND TAYLOR ONLINE:

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[Blog Tour] Amber To Ashes

AMBER  ^to ASHES

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR

GAIL McHUGH

They were a storm I never saw coming, an unforeseen heartbreak on the edge of a dangerous cliff.

In AMBER TO ASHES (Atria Paperback; June 9^th, 2015), Amber Moretti’s life changes in the span of minutes. An orphaned outsider, she is desperate to start fresh the moment she walks onto campus. In the time it takes to cross the university’s dining hall, she meets two men who bring color, air, and light to her darkened world.

They became my addiction, each a needle to my next hit, my high.

Brock Cunningham’s appeal is dizzying, a potent force Amber can’t deny. A green-eyed smooth talker, he instantly attracts Amber. It doesn’t take long for him to consume her every thought, her every breath.

Ryder Ashcroft, a blue-eyed, tattooed, and pierced bad boy, turns Amber off immediately—that is, until he kisses her, stealing a piece of her heart, her soul.

They were as opposite as fire and ice, yet I ached for them equally. 

Never knowing she could be broken down in so many unexpectedly beautiful yet petrifying ways, Amber finds herself falling for both men.

Immoral? Maybe. I say undeniable. Uncontained.

But one devastating event changes everything, shattering each of their lives...and Amber isn’t sure she can recover from it.

Atria Books Paperback | On sale: June 9th 2015 | 480 pages

ISBN: 9781476766010, $15.00 | eBook ISBN: 9781476766041, $7.99

a MILLION+ hearts!!!!

Holy shit. I mean HOLY SHIT...

I don't even know how to express how utterly stunning and unique this book is. Gail McHugh has just literally rendered me speechless, multiple times. This book will have you hooked from the first page until the very last, BEGGING For more. I know I am, I'm thinking about bribery to see if I can't get my hands on an early copy of Book Two. GAH! I need it right now. 

I have to say that this book has given me the ultimate book hangover. SO much so that I haven't been able to read anything in almost 2 weeks. I tried, but all I could think about was the outcome to this story. The absolute conviction of love that Ryder and Brock have for Amber is just bewildering. I have to say that I have loved and hated all three of these characters at some point in the story. I'm definitely team Ryder though. Brock had his moments for me, but in the end I had to go with the pure chemistry between Amber and Ryder. 

“Just like faith, love is another misconception held by those who believe in fairy tales. Fairy Tales don't exist; neither do knights on white horses. In my honest opinion every book princess in history was a stupid, naive twit.”

The characters that Gail McHugh has developed are beautifully damaged, undeniably tainted and have haunted my waking thoughts for the past weeks. The desperation, want, need, angst, lust, and agony create moments that you'll never forget. This story is purely magic, dark magic. I've never read a book quite like this and unless it's the upcoming novel(s) to this – I probably never will. Amber to ashes enchants you like no other, with dark undertones and animalistic sexual desire. 

There are so many things that I want to tell you about this novel, but I can't bring myself to tell you because this story is too epic to even tell you a little! All I have to say is Gail McHugh is a GENIOUS. I've undoubtedly become a true fangirl. I can't tell you how much I am anticipating her next release. I. Must. Own. Them. ALL. Also, YOU MUST TOO!! Hands down this is THE book to read this year. Oh, and next year too. Let's just say this is THE book to read foreverrrrrrrrrr! Or should I say Series....... 

So I'm gonna go crawl in a hole now until Gail McHugh's next release. See that rock over there? Yes. Over there. I'll be under it, so send some blankets, pillows, and food... and if you can make it happen – send over Gail, so I can hug her for such an incredible, impressionable, hauntingly beautiful, expressive read.

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A self-proclaimed chocoholic, married mother of three, and a lover of writing for as far back as she can remember, Gail McHugh is the author of two New York Times bestselling novels. The COLLIDE series, which includes COLLIDEand PULSE, was acquired by Atria Books on September 17th, 2013.

              

http://www.authorgailmchugh.com/

Twitter: @Gail_McHugh

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