Slow-Burning Romance and Blazing Action | The Fireproof Girl Blog Tour + Review

The Fireproof Girl

By Loretta Lost
(Sophie Shields #1)
Published on September 29, 2016
New Adult, Action, Romance
Trigger Warnings: Violence, Sexual Assault, Rape, Suicidal Thoughts

Abandoned at birth, Sophie Shields grew up in abusive foster homes, escaping into books and computers for solace. When the constant danger became too much to bear, she ran away, thinking she could survive on her hacking skills alone.

That was until she met Cole Hunter. He became the only person she could trust: her family, her friend, her partner-in-crime. Her everything. After struggling through college and starting their lives together, she believed that nothing could ever tear them apart.

Until it did.

And she’ll do everything in her power to fix what is broken. If it isn’t too late…

———

When Cole was nine years old, he watched his whole family burn to death in a house fire. Fueled by years of obsession, he started one of the world’s leading architectural firms, with a mission to design homes resistant to fire, earthquakes, floods, and every threat known to man.

Sophie was his secret weapon. She was his purpose. Since they were teenagers, he was determined to build a better life for her, so she could finally be safe, and they could be together.

But disaster has always followed Cole around, ripping away everything he loves. This time, if he isn’t careful…

His enemies might just take him down.

Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Kobo * iBooks

Is Normal all that Great Anyway? | Fifteen Seconds of Normal by Alex Marestaing

Fifteen Seconds of Normal

By Alex Marestaing
Published on October 11, 2016

294 Pages
Young Adult, Diverse



This book was provided to me from YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. I swear on my bookshelf that this has not affected my opinion of the book.

Step 1: Transfer High Schools. Step 2: Hide your Tourette’s. Step 3: Find your fifteen seconds of normal. 
Kaeya Garay has a plan. And it seems to be working. But when a curious interruption named Thatcher Kelly stumbles upon her “safe” place in the school’s abandoned art gallery, her grand plans for normalcy are suddenly derailed. 
Set over the course of three weeks, Fifteen Seconds of Normal is the quirky saga of a literature obsessed teen on the edge of a meltdown and the hope driven heroine who begins to pull him back.

Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Spoltight + Giveaway

I am happy to introduce to you the Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Party! My stop of the party includes an excerpt of Stone's Kiss by Lisa Blackwood as well as a HUGE giveaway. First place prize is a $1,000 Amazon Gift Card, but we also have 12 runner up ebook and paperback prizes! Entering will connect you with 21 paranormal romance and urban fantasy authors for more great deals, freebies, and giveaway, so in a way, everyone wins!

Before you enter the giveaway, check out an excerpt of STONE´S KISS by Lisa Blackwood, one of the authors sponsoring the giveaway!

Under the Trees by Ashley Maker | Cute characters who ignore politics

Under the Trees

By Ashley Maker
Published March 21, 2016
232 pages
Young Adult, Romance



This book was provided to me from YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. I swear on my bookshelf that this has not affected my opinion of the book.

Desperate to prevent an abusive arranged marriage, Princess Araya flees to a neighboring kingdom, only to land at the mercy of the impulsive Crown Prince Thoredmund, who provides refuge in a secluded forest and teaches her survival skills. Her surprise at the unexpected hold the prince has on her heart mirrors his shock at falling for the one girl he can’t have. 

As the young couple’s feelings for each other grow, the fragile alliance between the two kingdoms threatens to break apart. With a vengeful duke and an enraged king fast on their trail, Thor and Araya must decide how much they’re willing to risk for love. 

Even if staying together means starting a war.

Adorkable by Cookie O'Gorman | When a nerd falls in love

Adorkable
By Cookie O'Gorman
Released on March 31, 2016
283 pages
Debut, Young Adult, Romance

This book was provided to me from YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. I swear on my bookshelf that this has not affected my opinion of the book.

Summary from Goodreads: 
Adorkable (ah-dor-kuh-bul): Descriptive term meaning to be equal parts dorky and adorable. For reference, see Sally Spitz.
Seventeen-year-old Sally Spitz is done with dating. Or at least, she's done with the horrible blind dates/hookups/sneak attacks her matchmaking bestie, Hooker, sets her up on. There's only so much one geek girl and Gryffindor supporter can take.
Her solution: she needs a fake boyfriend. And fast.
Enter Becks, soccer phenom, all-around-hottie, and Sally's best friend practically since birth. When Sally asks Becks to be her F.B.F. (fake boyfriend), Becks is only too happy to be used. He'd do anything for Sal--even if that means giving her PDA lessons in his bedroom, saying she's "more than pretty," and expertly kissing her at parties.
The problem: Sally's been in love with Becks all her life--and he's completely clueless.This book features two best friends, one special edition Yoda snuggie, countless beneath-the-ear kisses and begs the question:
Who wants a real boyfriend when faking it is so much more fun?

Mini Reviews | Epic elemental magic and all the romantic feels

Since I do not have a Time-Turner, a TARDIS, or a cloning machine, I just do not have time to write a full review for all of the books that I read. So, I have decided to write mini-reviews to discuss the books that I do not have as much to say about. That does not mean that I did not like these books, but sometimes, as creative and amazing as my brain is, I just cannot think of that much to write about a book.

Today I am discussing the awesomeness of elemental magic in The Elemental Trilogy by Sherry Thomas and the cute fuzzy feelings that A Little Something Different by Sandy Hall gave me.

Review | The Truth of Never by O. E. Boroni

The Truth of Never

By O. E. Boroni
Never Trilogy #3
Adult, Romance
Released on October 20, 2015
360 pages






This book was provided to me from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I swear on my bookshelf that this has not affected my opinion of the book.

Can love really conquer all?
Thirteen years ago, Lenora Baker and Nathan Roque ran into each other in their boarding school courtyard. Despite the bitter losses and experiences that they were both nursing in their hearts, they somehow managed to find in each other a passion that healed as powerfully as it burned. But demons aren’t chased away that easily. 
Now, thirteen years later, everything is rekindled with a ferocity that neither of them can ignore. They’ve found their way back to each other but in this conclusion to the trilogy, their hope for the love-filled future that neither of them ever believed that they could have is on the line. 
Life happens; disaster rocks the already shaky ground that they’re standing on, and dreams begin to seem like nightmares.
Will they find the answers to the questions that have plagued them for so long, or will they once again succumb to their fears?

Review | Accidental Butterfly by Marisa Cleveland

Accidental Butterfly

By Marisa Cleveland
Published July 5, 2015
180 Pages
Young Adult, Romance
Review by Tessa



This book was provided to me from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. I swear on my bookshelf that this has not affected my opinion of the book. 

Alive, Kate Dunlap breezed through high school with meaningless friendships and relative ease. But after an accidental overdose ends Kate’s human existence, she’s granted the opportunity of a lifetime.
Return to Earth. Save Jake Barton. Prove her worth.

Success guarantees Kate an all access backstage pass to heaven. But as she falls in love for the first time, the reformed superficial social butterfly must risk her chance at redemption to guarantee Jake’s life on Earth.

Launch Celebration | The Truth of Never by O.E. Boroni

I am very excited to celebrate the launch of the third, and final, book in the Never Trilogy by O. E. Boroni!

I have been a champion for this series since the beginning of time (or The Beginning of Never, ha ha). I have reviewed the first two books in the series, and you should definitely check those out before proceeding. 

Click the images to see my reviews. 

(Spoiler Alert: They were both amazing!)

Since Boroni has a habit of leaving her readers dangling off of the most dangerous and enticing cliffhangers, I am excited that the final book can finally be in my greedy little hands!

The Truth of Never
The Never Trilogy #3
By O. E. Boroni
Publication Date: October 20, 2015
Pages: 360

Can love really conquer all?

Thirteen years ago, Lenora Baker and Nathan Roque ran into each other in their boarding school courtyard. Despite the bitter losses and experiences that they were both nursing in their hearts, they somehow managed to find in each other a passion that healed as powerfully as it burned. But demons aren’t chased away that easily. 

Now, thirteen years later, everything is rekindled with a ferocity that neither of them can ignore. They’ve found their way back to each other but in this conclusion to the trilogy, their hope for the love-filled future that neither of them ever believed that they could have is on the line. 

Life happens; disaster rocks the already shaky ground that they’re standing on, and dreams begin to seem like nightmares. Will they find the answers to the questions that have plagued them for so long, or will they once again succumb to their fears?

Blog Tour + Review | The Way to Never by O. E. Boroni

Today, I am happy to announce my stop on The Way to Never blog tour. A couple of months ago, I also participated in The Beginning of Never blog tour. If you want to see my review of the first installment of this series, then click here.

The Way to Never
By O. E. Boroni
Published July 25, 2015



*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review, but this ndoes not affect my opinion of the book in ANY way.*

When falling out of love, refuses to become an option… 

Nathan Roque first met Lenora Baker, a beautiful, exasperating, and bitter girl when she was just fifteen years old. He fell so deeply in love with her that he suspected that in his lifetime, nothing else could ever mirror the kind of commitment that she drew out of him. But she is left heartbroken when an unfortunate incident drives them apart. 

Thirteen years later, he sets out to reach out to her when he can no longer resist the consuming thoughts of her that have haunted him for so long. However, the same demons that caused him to let go of her in the first place are still holding him back. But when he is thrust into a situation where he has no choice but to become professionally involved with her, a Pandora’s Box of angst, resentment, and passion is unleashed. 

Now they are forced to make the decision on how to proceed. But will it justify the one that they made in the past, or will it mock it? 

Review | Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

Sea of Tranquility

Author: Katja Millay
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Pages: 426
Review by: Tessa




Nastya was a promising piano prodigy. Then her hand was shattered along with her bright future. Even a prodigy cannot play the piano with one hand.

Everything in her life is broken, except for the boy who did this to her. She intends to find him and make him feel her pain.

There is nothing left in Josh's life to break and everyone knows it. He spends his life alone in his force field of grief, sadness, and apathy. He does not let anything close enough so he does not have to fear losing anything else.

The only thing he has left is his talent to build things. But no matter how many elegant tables and chairs he builds, he does not think that he can build himself a new family.

It turns out that the broken boy's force field cannot hold up when the girl who breaks everything shows up in his life.

Blog Tour and Review | Snark and Stage Fright by Stephanie Wardrop

Snark and Stage Fright
by Stephanie Wardrop
Release Date: 03/10/15
Swoon Romance

Summary from Goodreads:

Happily-ever-after isn’t as happy or forever as Jane Austen makes it look. Just something Georgia Barrett learns when her sharp tongue costs her the only guy she’s ever really cared about: Michael Endicott.

Determined to move on, Georgia lands the lead role in the school’s fall musical. But to survive on stage, she’ll need to learn to express herself without her protective shield of snark. She soon discovers being honest with others means being honest with herself, and the truth is she’s still in love with Michael.

But from the looks of Michael’s new girlfriend, Georgia isn’t the only one who tried to move on. Apparently, some people are just better at it than others. And when Michael and his girlfriend join the cast of the fall musical, Georgia finds out that snark and stage fright are the least of her worries...

Buy Links

Amazon

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner

These Broken Stars

Authors: Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner
Series: Starbound #1
Release Date: December 10, 2013
Pages: 374
Review by: Max

Lilac LaRoux, heiress extraordinaire, and Tarver Merendsen, war hero extraordinaire, run into a bit of a problem when their spaceship decides to stop working and drops them off on an abandoned planet with no other survivors.

With no means to communicate, no information about they planet they've been stranded on, and some creepy things happening on the aforementioned planet, the only hope Lilac and Tarver have lies in each other.

This book tells the complicated tale of their adventures on the planet and struggle to get home, get along with each other, and survive in a harsh, harsh world, and I only have good things to say about it.

Release Day Blitz | Love and Other Unknown Variables by Shannon Lee Alexander

Love and Other Unknown Variables

by Shannon Alexander

Release Date: 10/07/ 14

Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

Charlie Hanson has a clear vision of his future. A senior at Brighton School of Mathematics and Science, he knows he’ll graduate, go to MIT, and inevitably discover solutions to the universe’s greatest unanswered questions. He’s that smart. But Charlie’s future blurs the moment he reaches out to touch the tattoo on a beautiful girl’s neck. 

The future has never seemed very kind to Charlotte Finch, so she’s counting on the present. She’s not impressed by the strange boy at the donut shop—until she learns he’s a student at Brighton where her sister has just taken a job as the English teacher. With her encouragement, Charlie orchestrates the most effective prank campaign in Brighton history. But, in doing so, he puts his own future in jeopardy.

By the time he learns she's ill—and that the pranks were a way to distract Ms. Finch from Charlotte’s illness— Charlotte’s gravitational pull is too great to overcome. Soon he must choose between the familiar formulas he’s always relied on or the girl he’s falling for (at far more than 32 feet per second squared).

Buy Links:
Amazon│Barnes& Noble│KoboBooks

Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen

Hey everybody! Cassia here! Happy Memorial Day! And to all veterans who might be reading this: Thank you so much for your service from all of us here at Crazy For YA, and we are remembering you and all of those who died serving our country. Also, here's another review for you all.

Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen

When Colie goes to live with her aunt for the summer, she expects the worst summer ever. What she doesn't expect is to meet Morgan and Isabel. As Colie spends more time there, she starts to realize things about herself and what she can do. Can she overcome her fear of being judged?

Okay you all know I love Sarah Dessen. But, I just didn't like this book as much. I don't know if it was because it was hard to get through or what, but it wasn't the best of her books. It was well written, yes, but even though Colie's history was interesting, she herself was not. The plot was a little slow, and it seemed...I don't want to say this...stereotypical. Stereotypical books aren't bad, but you need something to make it its own. This book just didn't do that.

Now for the characters. None of them really jumped out at me as great characters. Not that the main characters didn't have good qualities, they just weren't that...interesting. Colie, the protagonist, is likeable, but I mostly felt sorry for her. She was bullied all her life and had it all kept up inside her and never told anybody, not even her mom. In the book, her mom isn't really in the picture. She goes off to tour Europe and leaves Colie behind, but it turns out to be a good thing. I think my favorite character was Isabel. I liked her, but again, she wasn't extremely interesting. I liked Morgan, too, and I also felt sorry for her. Norman...yeah I like him. If there was a guy like him in reality, I would possibly have a crush on him. Not in the book, though. Well, okay, a little bit. :)

Now, don't get me wrong, I love Dessen's writing style. This book was very well written, as all of her books are. I liked it and it was good, but it just wasn't a book that stood out to me.

Dessen shows that even people who live in their past and hurt from it can turn their life around through a world of friendship and music.

Three stars!

Goodbye for now,

Cassia

Along For the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Hey everybody! Sorry we haven't been posting a lot lately. Right now we're working on a new system to our reviews. I'm not sure if we're posting on assigned days or not, but we're picking what books/series we're reviewing to make it fair. Here's another review for you all, and I'm planning to post another within the next week if not the next couple days.

Along For the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Auden is a straight-A student. Her parents are divorced, their fights were horrible, and ever since, she’s been an insomniac. She’s ready for college, her whole life is in order, her parents expect nothing less than 110%, she has to study during the summer, and she is not happy with her life at all. Her life has been protected with school and hardly any friends, and all she’s ever known is studying. When she moves to shore-side town Colby, North Carolina for the summer to spend time with her father and his new wife, she comes across three girls that are just the type she steers clear of: happy, carefree, and...girly. She also meets another boy like her--Eli. He is also an insomniac, but his night life is totally different from Auden’s. Her parents want her to go to college, but what if she just wants to have fun?

This is the second of Dessen’s books that I’ve read so far. I fell in love with the first one I read of hers (The Truth About Forever) and I automatically picked up this one.