Review: The Truth About Faking

The Truth About Faking

By: Leigh Talbert Moore

Release Date: 09/01/12

Paperback/e-book

328 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

Jason just wants a date with Harley.
Harley just wants a date with Trent.
Trent's still getting over Stephanie.

When Harley and Jason decide to fake date, they uncover a school of deceptions. Trent's got a secret, but so does Jason. And the more time Harley spends secretly kissing her fake boyfriend, the further she gets from her dreams with Trent.

Worst of all, Harley's mom is getting cozy with her hot massage therapy student, and even Harley's Reverend Dad can't fake not being bothered by it. But when the masks finally come off, can everyone handle the real truth?

Wife and mom by day, writer by day, editor by day, reader when time permits, chocoholic, lover of contemporary romance, lover of YA, lover of great books, beach bum, occasionally I sleep.

"The Truth about Faking" is my debut young adult romance. It's just a light, happy book with a hot guy and a little message tucked inside. My first adult romance "Rouge" will be published in December 2012 by Pocket Books. It's neither light nor happy. Sorry. (But it does have a hot guy!)

Visit Leigh's website here

My Review:

The Truth About Faking is such a cute, sweet read that will leaving you feeling uplifted and happy. Full of young love, unrequited crushes, lessons in doing the right thing no matter what, and wonderful caring parents (as a parent I love it when YA books include good parents). 

Jason is so adorably cute I could barely stand it. He is sensitive without seeming overly so and he really puts up with a lot from a supremely confused Harley. Oh, and did I happen to mention that he is super adorable? 

Harley has been crushing on Trent for so long that she doesn't know how to stop even when she starts to realize that he may not be the one she wants to be with after all, and it's really stressing her out.  Add to that she is convinced that her mother's massage student is trying to steal her mother away from her father. Certain gossipy women have started to notice all the time that her mom and said student are spending together and want to cause trouble for her father, the reverend. Plus her best friend isn't acting very best friend like. All this adds up to massive stress for poor Harley. 

While at times a bit predictable The Truth About Faking really packs in the fun, romance and lessons in love. A wonderfully light quick read for those that enjoy reading about young love. 

PLOT:Wonderfully sweet and loveable but maybe a tad bit predictable.

CHARACTERS:  The characters were my absolute favorite part of The Truth About Faking.  My favorite characters being Jason and Harley's amazing parents. 

WRITING: Fun, easy and quick to read. You'll be absorbed till the end.

ENDING: Just what I was hoping for!

MATURE CONTENT: There are mentions of making out and some kissing and occasionally Jason let's a small "bad" word escape, but is quickly chastised by Harley to watch it.  Also there is one scene where wine coolers are consumed by the youngsters.

OVERALL:One of those books that are perfect to read while curled up with a blanket, a hot cup of tea,and few hours to lose yourself. 

Review: Time Out by Leah Spiegel

Time Out (Foolish Games book 2)
Author: Leah Spiegel
Release Date: September 22, 2012
Genre: YA/New Adult Romance
Published By: Kindle Edition

Summary from Goodreads:
Joie and her friends are continuing to follow the Grimm Brother’s Band across their countrywide tour. They thought the worst was behind them but they had no idea that things were just getting started. Terrorists’ bombings call for all entertainment venues to be on high alert. With all of the new staff and crew members, the band finds it hard to know who to trust. Meanwhile things begin to heat up between Joie and Hawkins in and out of the bedroom when an ex-fiancé suddenly shows up on the scene but the real surprise has yet to come. If the band wants to continue on the tour, they must figure out who is really behind it all before time runs out…

You can get a copy and you should here

My Review:
warning: this review has a lot of potential for supreme fan girl gushing

Leah Spiegel has become one of my most favorite authors with her Foolish Games YA/New Adult books. I'm pretty sure that I loved Time Out even more than Foolish Games. Right away I was yelling "no! no, no, no! Joie and Hawkins don't need any more complications!!!" I guess I was wrong though because the complications were vast and I loved every minute of it. Really, I'm not exaggerating. Every. Single. Minute.

Time Out pretty much starts off right where Foolish Games ends so we've gotten to know all of the characters and have already fallen in love with them. This allowed for the story to get right to it and  to quickly suck you in. Luckily I started this book on my vacation because there was no way I could put it down once I started reading.

I love how Spiegel writes a book that has it all. Drama, Romance, Mystery, and Suspense! Hawkins and Joie's sexual tensions are as hot as ever. Joie is such a great female protagonist, she's tough, snarky, and loyal to a fault. Hawkins, Hawkins, Hawkins, oh what can I say about sexy sexy Hawkins, I'm so totally in love with Hawkins! Yeah, he makes some dumb decisions but he always seems to make them in the name of love. How can you not love a guy that just wants his girl to be safe. Sexy Sigh!

Another thing that I love about the Foolish Games books are the amazing side characters. The building romance between Riley and a certain someone (no spoilers) is a great addition to the story and I really hope we get to see more of it in the next book. Yep, you heard me, I heard from a very reliable source that there will indeed be another book! Squeal!!!! Lizzie's character was toned down a bit and I'm not sure if I'm glad of that or not but I'm looking forward to where the story is heading for her as well. Obviously I can't wait to read book 3!

Plot: Contemporary perfection

Characters: Perfectly flawed and wonderfully written
Writing: So much fun to get totally lost in
Ending: Wraps up the current situation while setting things up for future wonderfulness
Overall: Really, what else can I possibly gush on about. Spiegel writes a gripping romantic tale with hot rock stars, a beautiful gay best friend, and suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Yeah, ok it's official  I've definitely gushed enough about this one.
Mature Content:The characters in this book are out of high school so the situations are definitely a bit older than the average YA contemporary. However, the sexual scenes while hot are not graphic at all.

Recommendation: If you are loving the New Adult contemporaries the way I am then I highly recommend The Foolish Games books.

   

   Shallow

   Going Under Series
   Book 2
   By Georgia Cates
    Genre: Young Adult 

    Contemporary
    Formats available: 

     ebook
    Cover Artist: Georgia 

    Cates
    

Book Description:

 Nick Hawke likes his car fast and his girls even faster. He blows through females quicker than his muscle car races down the drag strip in Collinsville and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Determined to avoid the devastation he has watched his father endure in the aftermath of his mother leaving, he believes there is no room in his life or his heart for a relationship lasting more than one night. He seeks happiness in things that won’t let him down...fast cars, parties and one night stands. To his absolute dismay, all of that changes when he unexpectedly runs into an old friend and is introduced to Payton Archer, the first girl he ever wanted for more than one night. There’s only one catch...she is completely immune to him and his smooth talking ways.
 
Payton Archer is looking for what Claire has with Jessie, but she has given up on finding it...at least until she leaves for college in the Fall because she is certain that is where she will find the perfect guy to fit into her perfect world. She plans on Summer being nothing but three uneventful months of fun, but it turns out to be anything but ordinary when Payton is introduced to Nick Hawke, one of Jessie’s old Collinsville friends. She is shocked by her immediate and intense attraction for “Hawke” because nothing about him is what Payton is looking for. Sure, he’s hot and sexy but he comes from Collinsville and that is definitely not on her list of prerequisites. 


Everything about him makes Payton’s heart speed because he is exciting and dangerous, but his fast car and the dangerous chances he takes isn’t what scares Payton the most...it’s the way Nick Hawke makes her feel every time he looks at her. Can Payton find that moment of total fearlessness and make the decision to leave the safe, shallow end of love to risk going under completely?

About the Author:

Georgia resides in rural Mississippi with her wonderful husband, Jeff, and their two beautiful daughters. She spent fourteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before she decided to pursue her dream of becoming an author.

Blood of Anteros, Book One in The Vampire Agápe Series, was her first novel and it was released in September 2011. She decided to briefly step away from the paranormal genre to try her hand at a young adult contemporary romance when she wrote Going Under, but returned to the paranormal romance platform to complete the second book in The Vampire Agápe Series, Blood Jewel.

Her current works in progress are Shallow (A Going Under Novel) which will release on September 27th and Blood Doll (The Vampire Agápe Series #3), to be released in January 2013.

Georgia Cates Blog
Georgia Cates on Facebook
Georgia Cates on Twitter
Shallow on Goodreads

Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout Release Day Blitz and Giveaway

Book notes:

Title: Cursed

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publication Date: September 2012

Suggested age range: 13 & up

BISAC Category: Juvenile Fiction (Fantasy and Magic)

Pages: 312

ISBN: 978-0-9831572-7-4
Amazon Barnes & Noble
Official book trailer: http://youtu.be/JlU4U1msXj

Dying sucks--and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand. After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.

Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he’s a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she’s more than interested. There’s just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out. However, she’s willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't?

But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not've been an accident at all, she’s not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life. For real this time.

I'm reading Cursed right now and can't wait to get back to it. So far it's rockin as Jennifer's books tend to do! Here are a couple of teasers to get you started.

-Collecting tardy slips had become sort of a hobby of mine. One day, I would have a pretty collage of pink paper with angry red writing. I'd hang it on the fridge for Oliva. She dug pink things. 

-My gaze dropped from his face to his shirt. It read: I BELIEVE IN TROPHY WIVES. Nice. 

-The girl inside me screamed and did a happy dance, but I quickly smacked her upside the head. I started backing off. 

-“I know—I know how crazy it sounds, but it’s like I came to know
you. I knew you sketched when you were upset. I saw how much you
loved your sister. How brave you were to keep going to that damn
school. And all those times I watched you, I grew to know every one of
your fake smiles. I never even heard you laugh. All I’ve ever wanted to
do is help you, because maybe then, you’d smile once and really mean it."

it.”

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Feauture: Perception by Lee Strauss

Perception

Seventeen year old Zoe Vanderveen is a GAP—a genetically altered person. She lives in the security of a walled city on prime water-front property along side other equally beautiful people with extended life spans.

Her brother Liam is missing.

Noah Brody is a natural who lives on the outside. He leads protests against the GAPs and detests the widening chasm they’ve created between those who have and those who don’t.  He doesn’t like girls like Zoe and he has good reason not to like her specifically.

Zoe’s carefree life takes a traumatic turn.  She’s in trouble and it turns out that Noah, the last guy on earth she should trust, is the only one who can help her.

PERCEPTION is a ( SF/mystery/romance) Young Adult novel that takes place in the not too distant future in a world changed by climate extremes, natural disasters and impending wars, and where scientific breakthroughs cause class divisions—both financially and philosophically.  It explores the clash between faith and science and how differences can separate us as enemies or ally us together. And in some cases, even in the midst of betrayal and personal crisis, there’s room to fall in love.

This is the first book in a planned three book series. 

Author Bio

Lee Strauss writes historical and science fiction/romance for mature YA and adult readers. She also writes light and fun stuff under the name Elle Strauss. To find out more about Lee and her books check out her facebook page. To find out about new releases sign up for her newsletter at www.ellestraussbooks.com .

Amazon

Waiting On Wednesday: Shallow (A Going Under Novel Book 2)

Author: Georgia Cates
Expected Release Date: September 27, 2012
Publisher: Georgia Cates

Summary From Goodreads:
Nick Hawke likes his car fast and his girls even faster. He blows through females quicker than his muscle car races down the drag strip in Collinsville and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Determined to avoid the devastation he has watched his father endure in the aftermath of his mother leaving, he believes there is no room in his life or his heart for a relationship lasting more than one night. He seeks happiness in things that won’t let him down...fast cars, parties and one night stands. To his absolute dismay, all of that changes when he unexpectedly runs into an old friend and is introduced to Payton Archer, the first girl he ever wanted for more than one night. There’s only one catch...she is completely immune to him and his smooth talking ways. 

Payton Archer is looking for what Claire has with Jessie, but she has given up on finding it...at least until she leaves for college in the Fall because she is certain that is where she will find the perfect guy to fit into her perfect world. She plans on Summer being nothing but three uneventful months of fun, but it turns out to be anything but ordinary when Payton is introduced to Nick Hawke, one of Jessie’s old Collinsville friends. She is shocked by her immediate and intense attraction for “Hawke” because nothing about him is what Payton is looking for. Sure, he’s hot and sexy but he comes from Collinsville and that is definitely not on her list of prerequisites. Everything about him makes Payton’s heart speed because he is exciting and dangerous, but his fast car and the dangerous chances he takes isn’t what scares Payton the most...it’s the way Nick Hawke makes her feel every time he looks at her. Can Payton find that moment of total fearlessness and make the decision to leave the safe, shallow end of love to risk going under completely?

I really enjoyed Going Under and can't wait to read Payton and Nick's story!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we (bloggers) are anxiously awaiting. So what book are you excited about right now?

COVER REVEAL: Beyond (Crossroads Saga Book 3) by Mary Ting

Torn between the past she can't remember and a future she isn’t ready for, Claudia feels at a loss. With unanswered questions, she is certain there is more to her past than just being a venator. 


Finding the missing pieces in her life won’t be easy because duty calls. When mysterious dark shadows get released, an apocalypse sets in motion. The venators and the alkins must work together once again. 


Knowing Claudia would be the key to destroying the demons that were released, a familiar stranger appears to protect her. Drawn to the beautiful angel, Claudia finds she must unravel the mysteries of her past in order to help save the world. 


Who is the angel assisting her and why does she feel a strong connection to him? Time is running out. Will she discover all the secrets before it’s too late?

Teaser from Beyond

“Don’t move. I’m here to save you,” his tone was low, sounding nervous. During the last encounter, she was unaware of him, but this time the situation was different. Michael’s heart was pounding out of his chest, matching the rhythmic pattern of Claudia’s. He fought back the urge to hold all of her tenderly in his arms. This was the second time he came to her rescue. It was just as difficult, if not even more and heart breaking to touch her. Her proximity was overwhelming. His heart felt light with happiness, yet the pain of leaving her and her not knowing him was tormenting, ripping through his heart.

“Then why are you holding me hostage?” Her tone was tolerant, though she should be angered at the person holding her. There was something about the sound of his voice that gave her comfort. She heard his voice before, but when and where?

“I’m not holding you hostage.”

“Hmmm…let’s see. You have your arms around me and won’t let me move…so I guess you have another definition of what a hostage is then?” she answered back with a sassy tone.

Michael smiled and laughed inwardly. He loved her spunky side. “I guess you’re right.”

“Let me go. I can take care of myself.”

“Just stay still. It’s dark. You never know what can appear.”
“Hmmm…so I’m your shield? What kind of hero are you?”

Michael lit a grin, trying not to laugh. “No. You are not my shield. And you’re right. I’m no hero.” But I used to be. Open up your heart, let me in and remember me. I want to be your hero again.

Claudia felt a sudden sadness in his tone so she decided to ease up. “Do I know you? Have we met?”

Beyond Will Be Released September 12, 2012

Waiting On Wednesday (7/25/2012) Defiance

Author: C.J. Redwine
Expected Release Date: September 6, 2012
Publisher: Atom

Summary from Goodreads:
Rachel’s world is confined to the protective walls around her city. Beyond them are violent wanderers, extreme terrain, and a danger straight out of legend: a beast called the Cursed One that devastates everything in its path.

When Rachel’s father goes missing, she is desperate to search for him. But her attempts to flee the city bring her to the attention of its overbearing ruler. His efforts to control her make the world within the walls seem as dangerous as that outside.

Her only chance at escape is Logan. Once her father’s apprentice, and now her only protector, he feels that helping her might mean losing her completely. But if he can put his feelings aside, they might be able to save more than Rachel’s father. They might be able to break down the walls, and set their people free.


I feel like if this book could be amazingly kick-ass!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we (bloggers) are anxiously awaiting. So what book are you excited about right now?

Waiting on Wednesday (7/11/2012) Nerve

Author: Jeanne Ryan
Expected Release Date: September 13, 2012


Summary from Goodreads:


A high-stakes online game of dares turns deadly 
When Vee is picked to be a player in NERVE, an anonymous game of dares broadcast live online, she discovers that the game "knows" her. They tempt her with prizes taken from her ThisIsMe page and team her up with the perfect boy, sizzling-hot Ian. At first it's exhilarating--Vee and Ian's fans cheer them on to riskier dares with higher stakes. But the game takes a twisted turn when they're directed to a secret location with five other players for the Grand Prize round. Suddenly they're playing all or nothing, with their lives on the line. Just how far will Vee go before she loses NERVE? 
Debut author Jeanne Ryan delivers an un-putdownable suspense thriller.

This one sounds like one that could really keep you on the edge of your seat. I really hope it is!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we (bloggers) are anxiously awaiting. So what book are you excited about right now?

Waiting on Wednesday (5/23/2012) Necromancing the Stone (Necromancer #2)

Author: Lish McBride
Expected Release Date: September 18, 2012
Summary from Goodreads:

With the defeat of the evil Douglas behind him, Sam LaCroix is getting used to his new life. Okay, so he hadn’t exactly planned on being a powerful necromancer with a seat on the local magical council and a capricious werewolf sort-of-girlfriend, but things are going fine, right?
Well . . . not really. He’s pretty tired of getting beat up by everyone and their mother, for one thing, and he can’t help but feel that his new house hates him. His best friend is a werebear, someone is threatening his sister, and while Sam realizes that he himself has a lot of power at his fingertips, he’s not exactly sure how to use it. Which, he has to admit, is a bit disconcerting. 
But when everything starts falling apart, he decides it’s time to step up and take control. His attempts to do so just bring up more questions, though, the most important of which is more than a little alarming: Is Douglas really dead? 


I'm so excited for this book I can't even tell you. Hold Me Closer, Necromancer has been one of my favorite paranormal books EVER! 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we (bloggers) are anxiously awaiting. So what book are you excited about right now?